[_Catches sight of_ GUIDO _and starts back_.]
My sister’s son, your Grace, Who being now of age to carry arms, Would for a season tarry at your Court
You have the eyes of one I used to know, But he died childless. Are you honest, boy? Then be not spendthrift of your honesty, But keep it to yourself; in Padua Men think that honesty is ostentatious, so It is not of the fashion. Look at these lords.
Why, every man among them has his price, Although, to do them justice, some of them Are quite expensive.
So be not honest; eccentricity Is not a thing should ever be encouraged, Although, in this dull stupid age of ours, The most eccentric thing a man can do Is to have brains, then the mob mocks at him; And for the mob, despise it as I do, I hold its bubble praise and windy favours In such account, that popularity Is the one insult I have never suffered.
Have prudence; in your dealings with the world Be not too hasty; act on the second thought, First impulses are generally good.
Surely a toad sits on his lips, and spills its venom there.
See thou hast enemies, Else will the world think very little of thee; It is its test of power; yet see thou show’st A smiling mask of friendship to all men, Until thou hast them safely in thy grip, Then thou canst crush them.
O wise philosopher! That for thyself dost dig so deep a grave.
And be not over-scrupulous; clean hands With nothing in them make a sorry show. If you would have the lion’s share of life You must wear the fox’s skin. Oh, it will fit you; It is a coat which fitteth every man.
That is well, boy, well. I would not have about me shallow fools, Who with mean scruples weigh the gold of life, And faltering, paltering, end by failure; failure, The only crime which I have not committed: I would have _men_ about me. As for conscience, Conscience is but the name which cowardice Fleeing from battle scrawls upon its shield. You understand me, boy?
I do, your Grace, And will in all things carry out the creed Which you have taught me.
I never heard your Grace So much in the vein for preaching; let the Cardinal Look to his laurels, sir.
The Cardinal! Men follow my creed, and they gabble his. I do not think much of the Cardinal; Although he is a holy churchman, and I quite admit his dulness. Well, sir, from now We count you of our household