Page 37 - UTOPIA

ed with the care of two kingdoms, was the less able to apply
his mind to the interest of either. When they saw this, and
that there would be no end to these evils, they by joint coun-
sels made an humble address to their king, desiring him to
choose which of the two kingdoms he had the greatest mind
to keep, since he could not hold both; for they were too great
a people to be governed by a divided king, since no man
would willingly have a groom that should be in common
between him and another. Upon which the good prince was
forced to quit his new kingdom to one of his friends (who
was not long after dethroned), and to be contented with
his old one. To this I would add that after all those warlike
attempts, the vast confusions, and the consumption both
of treasure and of people that must follow them, perhaps
upon some misfortune they might be forced to throw up
all at last; therefore it seemed much more eligible that the
king should improve his ancient kingdom all he could, and
make it flourish as much as possible; that he should love his
people, and be beloved of them; that he should live among
them, govern them gently and let other kingdoms alone,
since that which had fallen to his share was big enough, if
not too big, for him:pray, how do you think would such a
speech as this be heard?’
‘I confess,’ said I, ‘I think not very well.’
‘But what,’ said he, ‘if I should sort with another kind of
ministers, whose chief contrivances and consultations were
by what art the prince’s treasures might be increased? where
one proposes raising the value of specie when the king’s
debts are large, and lowering it when his revenues were to

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