with Pyrrhus King of Epirus who made use of him in all his weighty Affairs and profest that he had won more Cities by the Charms of his Eloquence than he had taken himself by the strength of his own Arms. He perceiving the King earnestly bent upon his Expedition into Italy told him in private Sir the Romans have the Reputation of a Warlike People and command divers Nations that are so but suppose we overcome them What Fruit shall we reap by the Victory That 's a plain thing said Pâ—…rrhus for then added he No City will presume to oppose us and we shall speedily be Masters of all Italy And having made Italy our own return'd Cineas what shall we then do Sicily said he is near reaching out her Hand to us a rich and populous Island and easily to be taken It is probable said Cineas but having subdueâ—… Sicily will that put an end to the War If God said Pyrrhus gives us this success these will be but the Flourish to greater Matters for who can refrain from Africa and Carthage which will be soon at our beck And these overcome you will easily grant that none of those that now provoke us will dare to resist us That 's true said Cineas for 't is easiy to believe that with such Forces we may recover Macedon and give Law to all Greece But being thus become Lords of all what then Then dear Cineas said Pyrrhuâ—… sâ—…iling we will live at our ease and enjoy our selves When Cineas had brought him thus far and what hinders replied he but that we may now do all this seeing it is in our Power without the expence of so much sweat and Blood 29 Chilo said one ought to be young in his old Age and old in his youth that is an old Man ought to be Chearful and Good-humour'd and a young Man Wise. 30 Artaxerxes being routed in a Battle and put to flight after his Baggage and Provisions had been plundered he found himself so prest with Hunger that he was reduced to eat a piece of Barly Bread and some dry Figs. He relished them so well that he cried out O Gods how many Pleasures has Plenty deprived me of till this instant 31 Those of Cyrene desired Plato to make Laws for them I cannot said he dictate Laws to those whom Plenty and Prosperity has made incapable to obey 32 Archidamus besieging Corinth saw a great many Hares starting from under its Walls Then turning presently to his Soldiers These my Friends said he are the Enemies we are to fight withal we ought to be more afraid of their Heels than of their Hands 33 Julius Cesar landing on the Shore of Africa happened to get a fall as he went out of the Ship This fall which seemed to be an ill Omen for his Design upon that Country was by his ready Wit turned into a lucky Presage for as he fell he embraced the Earth and cried Now I hold thee Africa 34 Timotheus being accounted lucky in his Undertakings was by some envious Persons drawn with a Net in his Hand into which Cities fell of their own accord while he was asleep Timothâ—…us without expressing the least discontent upon it said to those who shewed him that Picture If I take such fine Cities while I am asleep what shall I do when I am awake 35 Sylla who robbed the Temples to pay his Soldiers was told that as they were going to plunder that of Apollo at Delphos a noise of some Instruments was heard there so much the better answered he for since Apollo plays on his Lyre 't is a fign he is pleased and is not angry with us 36 Alexander's Generals complained to him just before the Battle of Arbella that his Soldiers had been so insolent as to demand a Promise that the whole Booty should be theirs Come on said he that 's a sign of Victory those that speak with so much assurance do not design to run away 37 Diogenes came to Cheronea when Philip his Army was there he was taken by the Soldiers and carried before the King who not knowing him told him that without doubt he was a Spy and came to observe him Thou sayest right answered Diogenes for I came hither to observe thy Folly in that not being contented with the Kingdom of Macedon thou sâ—…kest at the hazard of thy Dominions to Usurpe the Province of thy Neighbours The King admiring the boldness of this Man commanded him to be set at Liberty 38 Julius Cesar going through a little Village some of his Friends took notice of the Tranquility of the Inhabitants and asked him whether he thought there was any great canvassing and interest made for the Magistracy I had rather answered Cesar be the first Man in this Village than the second at Româ—… 39 Darius's Mother then Prisoner of Alexander excusing her self to him â—…or that in one visit wherewith he honoured her she by a mistake had paid to Ephestion who accompained him the Respect due to the King said Alexander comforting her be not concerned at it Madam you were not mistaken for he whom you saluted is another Alexander 40 Chilo one of the seven wise Men of Grece to give us to understand that one ought to be moderate and cautious in ones Affections said We must love a Friend â—…o as we may one Day hate him and we must hate no Body but with a regard that we may afterwards unite Friendship with him 41 One comforting King Philip upon the Death of Hipparchus told him that his Friend being stricken in Years Death was not come upon him before his time True said Philip Death is come in time for him but since I had not yet honoured him with Benefits worthy of our Friendship his Death as to me is untimely 42 A Criminal sentenced to Death was bailed out of Prison by one of his Friends who remained Prisoner till the other had settled some Business which aâ—…soon as he had done he surrendred himself again Dionysius the Tyrant surprized at the Assurance of the one and the Faithfulness of the other pardoned the Malefactor And in requital of my Pardon said he I beseech you to admit me as a third into your Friendship 43 Memnon King Darius's General in his War against Alexander hearing one of his Soldiers beâ—…ch out many injurious Words against that great Enemy he gave him a great blow with a Halbert and told him I pay thee to fight against Alexander and not to abuse him 44 The Physician of Pyrrhus having offered to Fabricius the Roman General to Poison his Master Fabricius sent back that Traitor's Letter to Pyrrhus with these Words Prince know better for the future how to choose both your Friends and Foes To requite this Benefit Pyrrhus sent back all the Prisoners But Fabricius received them only upon Condition that he would accept of as many of his and writ to him Do not believe Pyrrhus I have discovered this Treachery to you out of a particular regard
Cicero said That as the Swallows appear in Summer and disappear in Winter so false Friends crowd about a Man in his good Fortune but go from him in his Adversity 179 One asked Aristotle what Liars got by telling lies He answered That the only thing they got by it was not to be believed even when they spoke Truth 180 The Tyrant Hiero having asked Simonides what God was the Philosopher desir'd a Days Consideration for his Answer then two and then four and so put it off from Day to Day At last Hiero ask'd him why he did not answer his Question but always defer'd it to another time because said Simonides the more I think the more I 'm at a loss to find out this dark and obscure Thing 181 Socrates advised young Men to look themselves in a Glass that if they were fine and handsom they might take care not to do any thing unworthy of their Beauty and if on the contrary they were ugly and deformed they should endeavour to drown the defects of the Body by the Virtues of the Mind 182 A Man who was neâ—… married would persuade Epictetus the Philosophâ—… to take a Wife shewing him by many Arguments that Marriage was a State both becoming and necessary for a Philosopher If it be so give me then one of your Daughters answered Epictetus 183 Servius Geminus going one Day to see Lucius Mallius a very skillful Painter and seeing his Children who were extreme ugly he could not forbear telling him that he wondred he did make so fine Pictures and get such ugly Children To which Mallius pleasantly reply'd don't be surpriz'd at it for I draw the Pictures in the Day and get the Children in the Night 184 King Antigonus retiring from the Presence of the Enemy who then were more powerful than he some took his Retreat for a Flight but he told them he did not fly but rather followed his Profit and Advantage 185 The same Prince being ask'd how one might overcome his Enemies answered by Strength and Policy And that if the Lions Skin would not do it must be ek'd out by the Fox's Case 186 A young Man who was a very great Talker making a Bargain with Isocrates to be taught by him Isocrates ask'd double the Price his other Scholars gave him and the reason said he is that I must teach you two Sciences the one to hold your Tongue and the other to speak 187 The Philosopher Anacreon having received a Present of ten thousand Crowns of Policrates King of Samos was taken with so great a fear of being robbed that he could not sleep for three Nights and Days which made him carry back the Present to that Prince telling him that he prefer'd his Repose before the Disquiets which attend Riches 188 One asked Chrisippus why he would not apply himself to the Government of the Common-wealth Because answered he if I do ill I shall displease God and if I do well I shall displease Men. But Sidonius his Disciple turned cunningly that Argument upon him and told him You cught on the contrary by all manner of Reasons to take upon you the Administration of Affairs for if you do well you will please God and if ill you will please Men. 189 Solon being in Company and holding his Peace according to his Custom there was a young Giddy-brain'd Fellow who told him he was silent because he was a Fool Solon without any concern answered him wisely That there never was a Fool that could hold his Tongue 190 Cambyses a very severe and rigorous King caus'd a Judge tho' his Friend to be flead alive because he took Bribes and did not administer Justice according to Law and Equity And having afterwards order'd the Judgment-Seat to be cover'd with his Skin he placed his Son upon it to succeed his Father in his Employment 191 Irene repairs with great cost and charge to Epidaurus visiâ—…s Aesculapius in his Temple and consults with him about all her Ailments First of all she complains That she is weary and spent with Fatigue And the God declares This is befallen her by the length of her Journey She says She has no Stomâ—…ch at Night the Oracle prescribes her To eat but little at Dinner She asks him What makes her so heavy and what Remedy for it The Oracle answers She must rise early in the Morning and use Exercise She tells him That Wine is hurtful to her so the Oracle bids her To drink Water That she cannot digest what she eats and he adds she must keep a strict Diet. My Sight decays says Irene use then Spectacles says Aesculapius I grow weak says she farther neither am I so healthful as I have been the reason of it says the God is because you grow old But which way shall I recover my self The best way Irene is to dye as did your Mother and Grandmother Is this answered Irene all that Wisdom which Mankind proclaims and which makes you to be reverenced by all the World What a rare Mystery you learn me Did I not know before all those Remedies you prescribe Why then did not you use them answers the God Without coming so far to me and shortning your Days by so long a Journey The Ephesian Matron 192 THere was at Ephesus a Lady in so great repute for Chastity that the Women of the neighbouring Parts flock'd thither out of curiosity to see her This discreet Lady upon the Death of her Husband was not contented to assist at the Funeral according to Custom with dishevelled Hair and beating her Breast before the Assistants but she must needs follow the deceas'd to the very Monument and having laid him in a Sepulcher according to the Grecian Manner watch'd the Corps and wept over it Night and Day she was in such Desolation and so fully resolved to starve her self that neither Relations nor Friends could persuade her from it The Magistrates themselves us'd also their endeavours to no purpose and so gave her over And now so illustrious a Woman lamented by all as one that 's dead and gone had been five Days without tasting any Food A faithful and affectionate Maid waited still upon this wretched Creature mingling her Tears with hers and repairing the light of a Lamp as often as it happen'd to go out She was therefore the only Discourse of the City and every Body confest that this was the greatest instance of Love and Chastity that ever they heard of It happened at that very time that the Governour of the Province caus'd certain Thieves to be crucified near that Vault where the virtuous Lady kept such desperate Mourning over the Corps of her dear Husband The Night following a Soldier who was set to guard the Crosses for fear the Bodies should be stollen away having seen a light in the Tomb â—…nd hearing the Sighs and Complaints of one in Sorrow out of a curiosity incident to all Men grew desirous to know what this might be and what passed there thereupon he
spread with a Fishing-net instead of a Table cloth but assoon as he was advanced to that high Dignity which he courted he told his Officers who would have served him as before Let me be served with Linnen I have no more occasion for a Net now the Fish is caught 36 A Buffoon told one Day King Francis the First that he had a Book of Fools wherein he had writ the Name of the Emperour Charles the V. the King ask'd him the Reason because said he by passing through France he exposes himself to be stopt But what wilt thou say continued the King if not oâ—…ly I let him pass but likewise deliver up to him those Places I have promised him Do you know said the Buffoon What I will do I 'll blot Charles the V ' s. name out of my Book and writ yours instead of his 37 Alphonsus King of Aragon was so liberal that he some times gave away whole Cities and Dutchies and took away great part of the Taxes from his People which gave him the Sir-name of Bored-hand and as one told him that his Donatives were excessive he said The chief care of a King ought to be to enrich his Subjects and let these be never so rich the Prince is never the poorer 38 The same King used to say To live quiet in Marriage the Husband ought to be Deaf that he mayn't hear his Wifes Brawling and Impertinence and the Wife Blind that she may not see her Husbands Debauchery 39 King Alphonsus being Sick and having try'd several Remedies to no purpose He left them all and betook himself to the reading of Quintus Curtius's History He was so much delighted with it that by degrees his Disease abated and at last being fully recover'd he said Farewel Hypocrates farewel Avicenna and all Physick long live Quintus Curtius my true Physician 40 King Henry the IVth having a Book of some Regulations for the State shewn him by his Taylor and compos'd by him said to one of his Officers Let my Chancellour come to me this minute to make me a Sute of Cloaths since my Taylor will pretend to make Regulatians 41 Alphonsus King of Spain hearing that those of Sienna who during the War of Italy remain'd Neuter had been Plunder'd by the Soldiers of both Parties as soon as the War was ended said That they were like those who live in the middle Stories of a House that are incommoded by the Smoke of those beneath and by the Noise of those above them 42 A Lord who during the troubles of the League had a long time been a Trimmer came one Day to the Court of King Henry the IVth whom he found playing at Primero assoon as the King saw him he told him Come Sir you are welcome if we Win no doubt but you 'll be on our Side 43 A Man of War crying up before Sigismundus Military Employments and vilifying Magistracy Hold â—…our Tâ—…ngue said the Emperor to him and learn that if all Magistrates perform'd their Duty we should have no occasion for Military Officers 44 Adolphus Count of Nassau being newly rais'd to the Empire of Germany sent a very abusive Writing to Philip King of France with many ridiculous Threats The King who was Master of more Temper contented himself to give the Courrier a whole Sheet of Paper wherein he had writ in Capitals only these Words for an Answer TOO MUCH A GERMAN 45 Charles the Vth. said To make up a good Body ef Soldiers I would have the Italians to be the Head the Spaniards the Arms the Germans the Breast because of their Faithfullness and Strength and the other Nations the Belly and Feet 46 Certain Soldierâ—… who were near the Coach of Catherine of Medicis said a â—…housand abusive Things of her and as the Cardinal of Lorrain told her that he was going to see them hang'd No no answer'd she let them go I will this Day shew to After-ages that in the same Person a Woman a Queen and an Italian have known how to command their Passion 47 King John being taken in a Battle which he fought before Poitiers against the English was conducted to their Camp where the Prince of Wales waited upon him bare-headed at Supper The King desir'd him several times to sit by him but the Prince excus'd himself with these Words It does not become a Subject to sit by his Lord Afterwards the King told him I design'd to have treated you to Day at Supper but Fortune has been willing that you should treat me 48 A Painter having promised the finest of all his Pictures to one who had no skill in them this Man came and told him cunningly that his House was on Fire The Painter cry'd presently to his Prentice Be sure you save such a Picture By that means he found that this must be the best and he asked it of him assoon as his Trouble was over and that he was satisfied that it was but a false Alarm 49 Certain Peasants complaining to a Captain that his Soldiers had Robb'd them he asked them whether they had left them any thing they answered Yes Well said the Captain then they are none of my Soldiers for they would certainly have taken all away 50 King Alphonsius answered certain Persons who pressed him to give Battle when he must have run a great Danger 'T is the Duty of a General not only to Fight but also to Conquer 51 Dragut a Turkish Pirate caused Ibrahim to be put to Death just after he had delivered up to him the Town Aphrodisium which the Moors call Mahudia and because he had promised him his Life and great Rewards he said for his Justification That no body is obliged to keep his Word with one who had been Traytor to his own Country 52 Alphonsus King of Aragon drunk so little Wine that his Friends wondring at it he said Alexanders excessive Love of Wine was a great Blemish to his Glory for it obscures Reason and Vertue He said likewise Wine has two very ill Daughters Fury and brutish Love 53 King Lewis XI hearing that Nicolas Raulin Chancellour to the Duke of Burgundy had founded a rich Hospital at Beaune said It is but reason that the Chancellor of Burgundy who in his Life-time has made so many Beggars should in his latter Days build an Hospital for them 54 Charles Duke of Calabria having Condemned a Gentleman to pay a Hundred Florins of Gold to a Maid whom he had abused commanded him to follow the Maid who had the Money about her and make as if he would take it away from her The Maid knew well enough how to keep it and being come back complained of his Violence to the Duke who told him Had you been as careful of keeping your Honour as defending your Money you would not have lost that Go Sweetheart do so no more 55 An Astrologer advised a Prince to settle his Affairs because within three Days he was to die a violent Death the Prince ask'd