168             OF THE TRUE GREATNESS OF
 

XXIX.

OF THE TRUE GREA TNESS OF KINGDOMS

AND ESTATES.

The speech of Themistocles the Athenian, which
vv^as haughty and arrogant in taking so much to
himself, had been a grave and wise observation and
censure, applied at large to others. Desired at a
feast to touch a lute, he said : " He could not fiddle,
but yet he could make a small town a great city."
These words (holpen a little with a metaphor) may
express two differing abilities in those that deal in
business of estate. For if a true survey be taken of
counsellors and statesmen, there may be found
(though rarely) those which can make a small state
great, and yet cannot fiddle ; as, on the other side,
there will be found a great many that can fiddle
very cunningly, but yet are so far from being able to
make a small state great as their gift lieth the other
way ; to bring a great and flourishing estate to ruin
and  decay.    And,  certainly,  those degenerate  arts