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former way； it is necessary for a man to make himself ；
by his industry； capacity； or knowledge： To be prosperous in the
latter way； it is requisite for him to render himself
； by his wit； complaisance； or civility。 A strong
genius succeeds best in republics： A refined taste in monarchies。
And consequently the sciences are the more natural growth of the
one； and the polite arts of the other。
Not to mention； that monarchies； receiving their chief
stability from a superstitious reverence to priests and princes；
have commonly abridged the liberty of reasoning； with regard to
religion； and politics； and consequently metaphysics and morals。
All these form the most considerable branches of science。
Mathematics and natural philosophy； which only remain； are not
half so valuable。
Among the arts of conversation； no one pleases more than
mutual deference or civility； which leads us to resign our own
inclinations to those of our companion； and to curb and conceal
that presumption and arrogance； so natural to the human mind。 A
good…natured man； who is well educated； practises this civility
to every mortal； without premeditation or interest。 But in order
to render that valuable quality general among any people； it
seems necessary to assist the natural disposition by some general
motive。 Where power rises upwards from the people to the great；
as in all republics； such refinements of civility are apt to be
little practised； since the whole state is； by that means；
brought near to a level； and every member of it is rendered； in a
great measure； independent of another。 The people have the
advantage； by the authority of their suffrages： The great； by the
superiority of their station。 But in a civilized monarchy； there
is a long train of dependence from the prince to the peasant；
which is not great enough to render property precarious； or
depress the minds of the people； but is sufficient to beget in
every one an inclination to please his superiors； and to form
himself upon those models； which are most acceptable to people of
condition and education。 Politeness of manners； therefore； arises
most naturally in monarchies and courts； and where that
flourishes； none of the liberal arts will be altogether neglected
or despised。
The republics in Europe are at present noted for want of
politeness。 ；＇5＇ is an expression for rusticity among the French。 The
English； in some degree； fall under the same censure；
notwithstanding their learning and genius。 And if the Venetians
be an exception to the rule； they owe it； perhaps； to their
communication with the other Italians； most of whose governments
beget a dependence more than sufficient for civilizing their
manners。
It is difficult to pronounce any judgment concerning the
refinements of the ancient republics in this particular： But I am
apt to suspect； that the arts of conversation were not brought so
near to perfection among them as the arts of writing and
composition。 The scurrility of the ancient orators； in many
instances； is quite shocking； and exceeds all belief。 Vanity too
is often not a little offensive in authors of those ages；＇6＇ as
well as the common licentiousness and immodesty of their stile；
； pene； ； says Sallust in one of the gravest and most
moral passages of his history。 ； is an expression of Horace； in tracing
the origin of moral good and evil。 Ovid and Lucretius＇7＇ are
almost as licentious in their stile as Lord Rochester； though the
former were fine gentlemen and delicate writers； and the latter；
from the corruptions of that court； in which he lived； seems to
have thrown off all regard to shame and decency。 Juvenal
inculcates modesty with great zeal； but sets a very bad example
of it if we consider the impudence of his expressions。
I shall also be bold to affirm； that among the ancients；
there was not much delicacy of breeding； or that polite deference
and respect； which civility obliges us either to express or
counterfeit towards the persons with whom we converse。 Cicero was
certainly one of the finest gentlemen of his age； yet I must
confess I have frequently been shocked with the poor figure under
which he represents his friend Atticus； in those dialogues； where
he himself is introduced as a speaker。 That learned and virtuous
Roman； whose dignity； though he was only a private gentleman； was
inferior to that of no one in Rome； is there shewn in rather a
more pitiful light than Philalethe's friend in our modern
dialogues。 He is a humble admirer of the orator； pays him
frequent compliments； and receives his instructions； with all the
deference which a scholar owes to his master。＇8＇ Even Cato is
treated in somewhat of a cavalier manner in the dialogues 。
One of the most particular details of a real dialogue； which
we meet with in antiquity； is related by Polybius；＇9＇ when
Philip； king of Macedon； a prince of wit and parts； met with
Titus Flaminius； one of the politest of the Romans； as we learn
from Plutarch；＇10＇ accompanied with ambassadors from almost all
the Greek cities。 The Aetolian ambassador very abruptly tells the
king； that he talked like a fool or a madman （lhrein）。 'That's
evident；' says his majesty； 'even to a blind man'； which was a
raillery on the blindness of his excellency。 Yet all this did not
pass the usual bounds： For the conference was not disturbed； and
Flaminius was very well diverted with these strokes of humour。 At
the end； when Philip craved a little time to consult with his
friends； of whom he had none present； the Roman general； being
desirous also to shew his wit； as the historian says； tells him；
'that perhaps the reason； why he had none of his friends with
him； was because he had murdered them all'； which was actually
the case。 This unprovoked piece of rusticity is not condemned by
the historian； caused no farther resentment in Philip； than to
excite a Sardonian smile； or what we call a grin； and hindered
him not from renewing the conference next day。 Plutarch＇11＇ too
mentions this raillery amongst the witty and agreeable sayings of
Flaminius。
Cardinal Wolsey apologized for his famous piece of
insolence； in saying； 'Ego et Rex meus'； ； by
observing； that this expression was conformable to the Latin
idiom； and that a Roman always named himself before the person to
whom； or of whom he spake。 Yet this seems to have been an
instance of want of civility among that people。 The ancients made
it a rule； that the person of the greatest dignity should be
mentioned first in the discourse； insomuch； that we find the
spring of a quarrel and jealousy between the Romans and
Aetolians； to have been a poet's naming the Aetolians before the
Romans； in celebrating a victory gained by their united arms over
the Macedonians。＇12＇ Thus Livia disgusted Tiberius by placing her
own name before his in an in