Sénèque, lîpUres

Montaigne et Le timber de ben jonson 33

Voici encore comment Ben Jonson s'exprime sur le sujet de la clémence des rois : « No vertue is a prince's owne, or becomes him more, then this Clemency : and no glory is greater, then to be ablc to save with his power. Many punishments sometimes, and in some cases, as much discrédit a Prince, as many Funerals a Physician. The state of things is sccur'd by Clemency ; Severity represseth a few, but irritâtes more. The lopping of trees makes the boughes shoote out thicker : And the taking away of some kind of enemies increaseth the number '. »

A la lecture de cette phrase, tout naturellement se présente à l'esprit de M. Dieckow le fameux chapitre de Montaigne sur la clémence d'Auguste envers Cinna.

« Doe as Physitians are wont, who when their ordinarie receipts willnotworke, hâve recourse to the contrarie. Hitherto thou couldest neverdoe any good with severitie...; begin now to prove whatgood lenitieand clcmencie will doethee. Cinna is convicted, pardon him. To annoy or hurt thee now, he is not able, and thou shalt therely increase thy glory \ >y

Il est bien vrai que la pensée de Montaigne est voisine de celle de Ben Jonson ; mais quoi ? l'un et l'autre se souviennent encore ici de Sénèque, et Ben Jonson traduit même presque mot pour mot son Sénèque. On s'en assurera aisément. « NuUum tamen clemencia ex omnibus magis, quam regem aut principem decet. Ita enim magnée vires decori gloricTque sunt, si illis salutaris potentia est... regibus certior est exmansuetudinesecuritas. Quia frequens vindicta paucorum odium reprimit, omnium irritât... Alioquin quemadmodum pra^cisie arbores plurimis ramis repullulnnt, et multa satorum gênera, ut densiora surgant, recidantur; ita regia crudelitas auget inimicorum numerum, tollendo... Non minus principi turpia sunt multa supplicia, quam medico multa funera. Remissius imperanti melius paretur \ »