is uulgi opinionibus abstulerunt; quo
quid turpius excogitari potest? Nam qui falso praedicantur, suis ipsi
necesse est laudibus erubescant. Quae si etiam meritis conquisita sit, quid
tamen sapientis adiecerit conscientiae qui bonum suum non populari rumore,
sed conscientiae ueritate metitur? Quod si hoc ipsum propagasse nomen
pulchrum uidetur, consequens est ut foedum non extendisse iudicetur. Sed
cum, uti paulo ante disserui, plures gentes esse necesse sit ad quas unius
fama hominis nequeat peruenire, fit ut quem tu aestimas esse gloriosum, pro
maxima parte terrarum uideatur inglorius. Inter haec uero popularem gratiam
ne commemoratione quidem dignam puto, quae nec iudicio prouenit nec umquam
firma perdurat. Iam uero quam sit inane quam futtile nobilitatis nomen,
quis non uideat? Quae si ad claritudinem refertur, aliena est. Videtur
namque esse nobilitas quaedam de meritis ueniens laus parentum. Quod si
claritudinem praedicatio facit, illi sint clari necesse est qui
praedicantur. Quare splendidum te, si tuam non habes, aliena claritudo non
efficit. Quod si quid est in nobilitate bonum, id esse arbitror solum, ut
inposita nobilibus necessitudo uideatur ne a maiorum uirtute degeneret.

VI.

As for glory, how deceitful it is oftentimes, and dishonest! For which
cause the tragical poet deservedly exclaimeth: "O glory, glory, thou
hast raised to honour and dignity myriads of worthless mortals!"[128]
For many have often been much spoken of through the false opinions of
the common people. Than which what can be imagined more vile? For those
who are falsely commended must needs blush at their own praises. Which
glory though it be gotten by deserts, yet what adds it to a wise man's
conscience who measureth his own good, not by popular rumours, but by
his own certain knowledge? And if it seemeth a fair thing to have
dilated our fame, consequently we must judge it a foul thing not to have
it extended. But since, as I showed a little before, there must needs be
many nations to which the fame of one man cannot arrive, it cometh to
pass that he whom thou esteemeth glorious, in the greater part of the
world seemeth to have no glory at all. And here now I think popular
glory not worth the speaking of, which neither proceedeth from judgment,
nor ever hath any firmness. Likewise, who seeth not what a vain and idle
thing it is to be called noble? Which insofar as it concerneth fame, is
not our