of the Unworthy; elfe, fhould we at this Hour (to inftance only in one Thing) fee the Mock-Chevalier poffefs'd of a Poft which ought to be fill'd by one more deferving? But the Widow has Charms and Intereft, and Count Biron has Fondnefs; elfe, what Man would have been drawn to the Chevalier's House to vifit, under the Disguise of an Old Woman? Two fuch Accomplishments as the Art of Gaming, and a beautiful Lady for his Companion, were enough to recommend any Man with as little Worth as the Chevalier, even to Count Biron's Favour; who is too wife to advance unprofitable Merit, too fond of the Ufeful, to introduce the Ufelefs: For what are Arts and Sciences to a Politician, a Statefman? What are Hiftorians, Poets, and Poems, but exuberant Branches, fuperfluous to the Growth of a Common-wealth, who raife and defend Notions of Right and Wrong; teach Principles and self-mifchievous Stedfaftnefs, without regard to Times and Seafons, or any of thofe Confiderations, that fo wife a Man as Count Biron takes along with him, in all his Actions?

He was born in Utopia, an Ifland, as I inform'd your Eminences, of the Adriatick, having the potent Venetian Common-wealth for their Neighbours. His Family was Patrician, and of very good Reputation, but not over-blefs'd with the Smiles of Fortune, which left this Gentleman a younger Bro ther, and his to make. After he had finish

ed

ed his Studies, he was introduced to the Favour of a Prince, one of the greatest in Utopia; renown'd for all Things, big and little, that can be taken into the Compafs of Humankind. Of the Dead, we fhould never speak at all, if we cannot commend; so that leaving his Defects, we will only rest upon his Merits, and tell you, that Count Biron could never have had fo great a Master for his Original; Happy alfo in this, that as he imitated his Vertues, he could take Warning from his Defects, and wifely avoid those Precipices into which the unwary Conduct of the Prince had betray'd him.

The Utopians are a People happy in their Climate, miferable in Themfelves. Though poffeffing all Things neceffary to Life, to Eafe, nay Pleasure; yet are fo reftlefs, that they seem to poffefs Nothing. Whoever governs there, what Prince foever fhall happen to be at their Head, had he the Merit of a God, the Juftice of Aftrea, ftill muft he defpair of being univerfally acceptable to a People fo divided, not only among themfelves, but each Man in himfelf: Few, very few, but have run Counter to their own Inclinations, and approve to Day, what they have before condemn'd. They change Par ties, they change Monarchs, with the fame Eafe that they fhift their Linnen, with as much Fondnefs for the New, and Contempt for the Old. No Obligations, no Intereft can fix them; for if a Ceffation of Faction, a Breathing of Difcontents and Tumults,

8

leaves them fome Years to grow rich in Eafe and Fulnefs of all Things; their Poffeffions increas'd, their Trade in a flourishing Condition: fo wanton they become with Plenty, fo fond are they of Change, that they barter all these Enjoyments for their Oppofites, and call out loudly for a Revolution; tho' 'tis odds, but they are ruin'd by what they require. 'Tis impoffible for any one Opinion to obtain! no Merit can there be faid to gain an univerfal Approbation; not the greatest Man for Brightnefs of Parts, Vaftnefs of Genius, fine Wit, and finish'd Un-i derstanding, muft ever pretend to be a Standard, where all are fo divided. That very Merit, which in fome creates Admiration, in another caufes Envy, and in fome Contempt. As to Religion, they have almoft as many Opinions as there are Families; yet is there a pretended national One, or rather Two, because we find it divided in Fact and Terms, of GREAT. and LITTLE. Unhappy must be that Sovereign, who reigns over a People whom he cannot govern! unhappy the Minifters and Fovourites of fuch a Prince, because they are fure to be rewarded for all their Diligence and Cares, with nothing but Envy and ftubborn, Difcontent! When they

Peace, they call for nothing but we in

that War, when once begun (though never fo reasonable and profperous) they grow weary of, and call yet louder for Peace; Create, Depofe, Affaffinate the General's

Fame;

Fame; elevate to the Heavens, or fink him low as Pluto, upon the Arrival of every Courier: Bold to face an Enemy, Foolhardy, they love Cruelty and Bloodthed, and rather than not fight, would be contented to be beaten. They ftand not to weigh the Oeconomy of the War, 'tis a Battle they, defire, let the Circumftances be never fo difadvantagious, as not understanding that. Delay can be accounted for. Action they require, 'tis Action they pay for, and tho they are fure rolofe by it, they will have it, or elfe a new General, a new Monarch and to finish their Character, as a famous Poet has it of another People,

Tis on Record,

That once in twenty Years they change their Lord; They lead their wild Defires to Woods and Caves, And think that all but Savages are Slaves.

Muft not he who can humour the Genius of fuch a People, and yet purfue the Interest of the Nation, which are two Oppofites, have himself a prodigious one, and a long Experience? So qualified is Count Biron; he ferved under four Reigns, before the prefent; in two admitted to the Cabinet; and though their Methods were different, he confidered himself was a Courtier, and confequently fhould not difpute, but obey. I forgot to tell you, that in Utopia, the Women are only capable of the Crown. The Princefs who laft reign'd (after a break in

the

the Line) found it in her Perfon cemented again. Count Biron was introduced before the was born, and poffeffed a fmall Poft under her Aunt, who then governed. She died, and her Sifter the Princefs Ormia fucceeded, who was Mother to the late Reigning Princefs.

Ormia had two Daughters; the youngest, contrary to the Cuftom of Utopia, fhe had married abroad to a Duke of Venice; where though the Dignity be but annual, his Intereft and Riches were fo great, that he held it an unprefidented Length of Time. Still with refpect to the Succeffion of his Motherin-Law's Kingdom, upon which he caft an Eye of diftant Regard, not defpairing, tho' he had not married the eldest Sifter, but by lucky Incidents, and his own good Management, to reign one Day in Right of his Princefs.

Ormia had a Favourite who was paffionately dear to her: She created him a Marquefs; and for fear of (or to cure) Cenfure, married him to one of the prettieft Ladies about the Court, now called the Marchioness of Caria. This Lady fhe put about the La dy Olimpia, her eldeft Daughter. Count Biron was alfo become a Favourite; it was not yet time to difpute the Will of his Sovereign, his Fortune was not perfected. Ormia took it into her Head, to make fome Innovations in Utopia, in favour of her only Son, a Child of two Years of Age; the would break the Laws and Custom, and

make