lovers of themselves

L. Sylla, when he commanded Rome, raised Pompey (after surnamed the Great) to that height,

that Pompey vaunted himself for Sylla’s overmatch. For when he had carried the consulship

for a friend of his, against the pursuit of Sylla, and that Sylla did a little resent

thereat, and began to speak great, Pompey turned upon him again, and in effect bade him be

quiet; for that more men adored the sun rising, than the sun setting. With Julius Caesar,

Decimus Brutus had obtained that interest, as he set him down, in his testament, for heir in

remainder, after his nephew. And this was the man that had power with him, to draw him forth

to his death. For when Caesar would have discharged the senate, in regard of some ill

presages, and specially a dream of Calpurnia; this man lifted him gently by the arm out of

his chair, telling him he hoped he would not dismiss the senate, till his wife had dreamt a

better dream. And it seemeth his favor was so great, as Antonius, in a letter which is

recited verbatim in one of Cicero’s Philippics, calleth him venefica, witch; as if he had

enchanted Caesar. Augustus raised Agrippa (though of mean birth) to that height, as when he

consulted with Maecenas, about the marriage of his daughter Julia, Maecenas took the liberty

to tell him, that he must either marry his daughter to Agrippa, or take away his life; there

was no third war, he had made him so great. With Tiberius Caesar, Sejanus had ascended to

that height, as they two were termed, and reckoned, as a pair of friends. Tiberius in a

letter to him saith, Haec pro amicitia nostra non occultavi; and the whole senate dedicated

an altar to Friendship, as to a goddess, in respect of the great dearness of friendship,

between them two. The like, or more, was between Septimius Severus and Plautianus. For he

forced his eldest son to marry the daughter of Plautianus; and would often maintain

Plautianus, in doing affronts to his son; and did write also in a letter to the senate, by

these words: I love the man so well, as I wish he may over–live me. Now if these princes

had been as a Trajan, or a Marcus Aurelius, a man might have thought that this had proceeded

of an abundant goodness of nature; but being men so wise, of such strength and severity of

mind, and so extreme lovers of themselves, as all these were, it proveth most plainly that

they found their own felicity (though as great as ever happened to mortal men) but as an

half piece, except they mought have a friend, to make it entire; and yet, which is more,

they were princes that had wives, sons, nephews; and yet all these could not supply the

comfort of friendship.