The Advancement of Learning (1605 first edition)

whereas it should seem an impossibility in Nature for the same instrument to make itself fit for both great and small works. And regarding your gift of speech, I am reminded of what Cornelius Tacitus says of Augustus Caesar: "Augustus possessed a flowing eloquence, such as became a prince" original: Augusto profluens & quæ principem deceret, eloquentia fuit.

For if we observe it well, speech that is delivered with labor and difficulty, or speech that savors of the affectation of art and rules, or speech that is modeled after the imitation of some pattern of eloquence (no matter how excellent), all of this has something servile about it, appearing subordinate to the subject.

But your Majesty's manner of speech is indeed prince-like: it flows as if from a fountain, yet it streams and branches itself into the order of Nature. It is full of facility original: "facilitie" — ease or fluency and felicity original: "felicitie" — an apt or pleasing quality; happiness in expression, imitating no one and impossible for anyone else to imitate.

And just as in your civil state there appears to be a rivalry and competition between your Majesty’s virtue and your fortune—a virtuous disposition balanced with a fortunate reign regiment; a virtuous expectation (in former times) of your greater fortune, with a prosperous possession of it when the due time came; a virtuous observance of the laws of marriage, along with the most blessed and happy fruit Referring to the King's children and heirs of that marriage; a virtuous and most Christian desire for peace, along with a fortunate inclination toward it among your neighboring princes—so likewise in these intellectual matters, there seems to be no less a competition between the excellence of your Majesty’s natural gifts and the universality and depth of your learning. For I am well assured that this which