extolled,
though it be _impar congressus_, as that of Troilus and Achilles, _Infelix
puer_, he will combat with a giant, run first upon a breach, as another
[1951]Philippus, he will ride into the thickest of his enemies. Commend his
housekeeping, and he will beggar himself; commend his temperance, he will
starve himself.

------"laudataque virtus
Crescit, et immensum gloria calcar habet."[1952]

he is mad, mad, mad, no woe with him:--_impatiens consortis erit_, he will
over the [1953]Alps to be talked of, or to maintain his credit. Commend an
ambitious man, some proud prince or potentate, _si plus aequo laudetur_
(saith [1954]Erasmus) _cristas erigit, exuit hominem, Deum se putat_, he
sets up his crest, and will be no longer a man but a God.

[1955] ------"nihil est quod credere de se
Non audet quum laudatur diis aequa potestas."[1956]

How did this work with Alexander, that would needs be Jupiter's son, and go
like Hercules in a lion's skin? Domitian a god, [1957](_Dominus Deus noster
sic fieri jubet_,) like the [1958]Persian kings, whose image was adored by
all that came into the city of Babylon. Commodus the emperor was so gulled
by his flattering parasites, that he must be called Hercules.
[1959]Antonius the Roman would be crowned with ivy, carried in a chariot,
and adored for Bacchus. Cotys, king of Thrace, was married to [1960]
Minerva, and sent three several messengers one after another, to see if she
were come to his bedchamber. Such a one was [1961]Jupiter Menecrates,
Maximinus, Jovianus, Dioclesianus Herculeus, Sapor the Persian king,
brother of the sun and moon, and our modern Turks, that will be gods on
earth, kings of kings, God's shadow, commanders of all that may be
commanded, our kings of China and Tartary in this present age. Such a one
was Xerxes, that would whip the sea, fetter Neptune, _stulta jactantia_,
and send a challenge to Mount Athos; and such are many sottish princes,
brought into a fool's paradise by their parasites, 'tis a common humour,
incident to all men, when they are in great places, or come to the solstice
of honour, have done, or deserved well, to applaud and flatter themselves.
_Stultitiam suam produnt_, &c., (saith [1962]Platerus) your very tradesmen
if they be excellent, will crack and brag, and show their folly in excess.
They have good parts, and they know it, you need not tell them of it; out
of a conceit of their worth, they go smiling to themselve