And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever.
Ver. 7. If thou wilt be a servant to this people this day.] Lenity and moderation in a prince is very prevalent with the people, as to win their affections at first, so to hold them in obedience ever after. The advice of an ancient French counseller to his sovereign at his departure from court, hath been elsewhere related. Being wished to lay down some general rules for government, he took a paper, and wrote on the top of it ‘moderation,' in the middle of the leaf ‘moderation,' and at the bottom ‘moderation.'
Then they will serve thee for ever.] Thou mayest afterwards use them at thy pleasure. Thus these politicians, according to that of the poet,
“ Nil pudet assuetos sceptris. ”
England was once called the Pope's ass; and his officer John Florentinus was nicknamed Ferentinus for bearing away so much money from the English, of whom he received no less sums of curses than of coin, saith the chronicler. a
a Speed.