Let us first consider the
ambitious; and those, both in their progress to greatness, and after
the attaining of it. There is nothing truer than what Sallust says:
"Dominationis in alios servitium suum, mercedem dant": They are
content to pay so great a price as their own servitude to purchase
the domination over others. The first thing they must resolve to
sacrifice is their whole time; they must never stop, nor ever turn
aside whilst they are in the race of glory; no, not like Atalanta
for golden apples; "Neither indeed can a man stop himself, if he
would, when he is in this, career. Fertur equis auriga neque audit
currus habenas.
Pray let us but consider a little what mean, servile things men do
for this imaginary food. We cannot fetch a greater example of it
than from the chief men of that nation which boasted most of
liberty. To what pitiful baseness did the noblest Romans submit
themselves for the obtaining of a praetorship, or the consular
dignity? They put on the habit of suppliants, and ran about, on
foot and in dirt, through all the tribes to beg voices; they
flattered the poorest artisans, and carried a nomenclator with them,
to whisper in their ear every man's name, lest they should mistake
it in their salutations; they shook the hand, and kissed the cheek
of every popular tradesman; they stood all day at every market in
the public places, to show and ingratiate themselves to the rout;
they employed all their friends to solicit for them; they kept open
tables in every street; they distributed wine, and bread, and money,
even to the vilest of the people.
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