uelties don in Rome were imputed to his mayster Seneca. The
like wronge was done to the Philosopher Chilo, by beyng burdened
with the neglygent nouriture of his Scholler Leander. They
truely were famous personages and greate learned men, in whom
the gouernemente of myghty Princes was reposed: notwithstandyng,
for not correcting them in their youth, nor teachying them with
carefull dylygence, they blotted for euermore theyr renoume, as
the cause of the destruction of many common wealthes. And
forsomuch as my pen spared none in times paste, bee well assured
Traiane, that the same will pardon neither thee or mee in tyme
to come: for as wee bee confederate in the fault, euen so we
shal be heires of the pain. Thou knowest well what lessons I
haue taught thee in thy youth, what counsell I haue gyuen thee,
beeying come to the state of man, and what I haue written to
thee, sithens thou hast ben Prince, and thou thy selfe art
recorde of the wordes which I haue spoken to thee in secrete: in
all whych I neuer persuaded thyng but that intended to the
seruice of the gods, profite of the common wealthe and increase
of thy renoume: wherfore, I am right sure, that for anye thing
which I haue written, sayd, or persuaded there is no cause I
should feare the punishment of the gods, and much lesse the
reprochful shame of men, verily beleuing that al which I coulde
say in secrete, might without reproch be openly published in
Rome. Nowe before I toke my pen in hand to write this Letter,
I examined my lyfe, to know, if (during the time that I had
charge of thee) I dyd or sayd in thy presence any thing that
might prouoke thee to euill example. And truely (vnmete for me
to say it) vpon that searche of my forepassed life, I neuer
found my selfe guilty of facte vnmeete a Roman Cytyzen, nor euer
spoke woorde vnseemelye for a Phylosoper: by meanes whereof I
doe ryght heartely wyshe, thou wouldest remember the good
educatyon and instructyon whych thou dyddest learne of mee.
I speake not thys, that thou shouldest gratifie me againe with
any Benefite, but to the ende thou myghtest serue thy selfe,
esteemynge that no greater pleasure there is that can redounde
to me, than to heare a good report of thee. Be then well assured
that if an Empyre bee bestowed vpon thee, it was not for that
thou wer a Citizen of Rome or a couragious person descended of
noble house, rich and mighty, but only bicause vertues did
plentifully abounde in thee. I dedicated vnto