“Quae est ista laus quae:  possit e macello peti?”

     ["What praise is that which is to be got in the market-place (meat
     market)?” Cicero, De Fin., ii. 15.]

by abject means, and at what cheap rate soever:  ’tis dishonour to be so honoured.  Let us learn to be no more greedy, than we are capable, of glory.  To be puffed up with every action that is innocent or of use, is only for those with whom such things are extraordinary and rare:  they will value it as it costs them.  The more a good effect makes a noise, the more do I abate of its goodness as I suspect that it was more performed for the noise, than upon account of the goodness:  exposed upon the stall, ’tis half sold.  Those actions have much more grace and lustre, that slip from the hand of him that does them, negligently and without noise, and that some honest man thereafter finds out and raises from the shade, to produce it to the light upon its own account,

          “Mihi quidem laudabiliora videntur omnia, quae sine
          venditatione, et sine populo teste fiunt,”

     ["All things truly seem more laudable to me that are performed
     without ostentation, and without the testimony of the people.” 
     —­Cicero, Tusc.  Quaes., ii. 26.]

says the most ostentatious man that ever lived.

I had but to conserve and to continue, which are silent and insensible effects:  innovation is of great lustre; but ’tis interdicted in this age, when we are pressed upon and have nothing to defend ourselves from but novelties.  To forbear doing is often as generous as to do; but ’tis less in the light, and the little good I have in me is of this kind.  In fine, occasions in this employment of mine have been confederate with my humour, and I heartily thank them for it.  Is there any who desires to be sick, that he may see his physician at work? and would not the physician deserve to be whipped who should wish the plague amongst us, that he might put his art in practice?  I have never been of that wicked humour, and common enough, to desire that troubles and disorders in this city should elevate and honour my government; I have ever heartily contributed all I could to their tranquillity and ease.

He who will not thank me for the order, the sweet and silent calm that has accompanied my administration, cannot, however, deprive me of the share that belongs to me by title of my good fortune.  And I am of such a composition, that I would as willingly be lucky as wise, and had rather owe my successes purely to the favour of Almighty God, than to any operation of my own.  I had sufficiently published to the world my unfitness for such public offices; but I have something in me yet worse than incapacity itself; which is, that I am not much displeased at it, and that I do not much go about to cure it, considering the course of life that I have proposed to myself.