revenge against a beautiful Youth who had killed one of his Nephews that would have violated him He is worthy of a Recompence said he and shewed him honour He put a Crown upon his Head His Souldiers wanting water in his Wars against the Teutonicks and Cimbri he told them that they must go and fetch some of that which ran close by the Enemies Camp Being reproached for having bestowed the â—riviledge of Burghership on his Soldiery without observing the due forms and customs could not said he hear the Voice of the â—aw amidst the clattering of Arms. In the Wars of the Allys one of their Geâ—erals holding him besieged in his Camp sent â—im word that if he were so brave a man as was â—eputed he should come out and fight 'T is â—ou replied he if you are a Great Captain â—hat ought to force me out I have put this before to Antigonus Sylla who was called the Happy reckoned amongst his good fortunes the taking of the City of Athens and the gaining the Friendship of Metellus Whereof the one was taken by Storm after a long Siege without reducing it to ashes and the other was one of the most worthy men of his time Being necessitated to seize upon the Treasures of the Temples for payment of his Soldiers some body gave him notice that as they were going to plunder that of Delphos they heard the sound of Instruments Courage says he it is a good Sign for those do not use to play on Fiddles that are angry Because Apollo held a Violin in his hand His Soldiers having beaten a Magistrate of Rome to death with cudgels in the civil Wars he said they would do the better Service hereafter to repair the shame for such an Action Indeed he was not in a Capacity to punish them the Soldiers being their own masters in a time of Civil War At the Siege of Athens he said to the Ambaâ—â—sadours that came to tell him old stories That he was not come thither to be taught bâ—â— to be obeyed To stop his Soldiers from flying in a Fight he snatched an Ensign and turning toward the Enemy If you are asked said he to hiâ— men where you left your General tell theâ— you left him fighting the Enemy in the Fields of Orcomenes The place of Battle At an enterview with Mithridates he asked him without any other ceremony Whether he would make good his Agreement and finding him silent it behoves those said he that stand in need of Peace to ask it then seeing he wavered he reproached his perfidiousness and told him when he was about to excuse himself That he must needs be very Eloquent if he could find out any words would bear an excuse As he was causing the Throats of seven thousand men to be cut at one time the Senate who were near hearing their cryes It is nothing Sirs said he but some seditious Fellows I have caused to be punished Having resigned the Dictatorship a Youth following with Menaces and injurious language This young Boy said he will another time hinder any but my self from doing as I have done He said that Caesar was worse then Marius and would have put him to death had not his Friends prevented it Or that there were many Marius 's in Caesar. Crassus said that a private man was not rich he had not enough to maintain an Army â—his were better aâ—â—irmed of a Prince â—r what has a private Person to do with an â—rmy He said that a good servant was the chiefâ—st Furniture of a House and kept a great number of Slaves but that was a part of the Revenue of the Ancients and not an â—pence He first shook hands with Pompey upon a reâ—nciliation as who should say he that first â—eturns is the worthiest The Parthians having sent him a very haughâ—â— Embassy he told them He would return â—s Answer in Seleucia which was their Capital â—ity Being importuned to know what he would â—o in a business of consequence I will do said â—e what shall be for the Benefit of the Commonwealth The intrails of the Victims falling out of his â—ands in the Wars against the Parthians he â—erceiving they made an Ominous interpretaâ—ion of it The Sword said he shall not fall out of my Hand in battle The Enemy causing the Head of his Son to â—e carried on the point of a Launce let not â—hat trouble you said he to his Soldiers this â—ffront concerns none but my self Lucullus being ready to give Battle to Tigraâ—es they came and told him it was an unlucky day The better said he we will make 〈◊〉 fortunate by our Victory He told his Soldiers who apprehendeâ— the Enemies foot because they had â— good Armour on they would put theâ— to more trouble in killing them then in routinâ— them Pompey finding some fault with an House 〈◊〉 had in the Country because it was only fit for 〈◊〉 Summer Seat Sure I have as much Wâ— as the Cranes or Swallows that change their Habitation with the season said he Thanks being returned by some for that 〈◊〉 had treated them with great Magnificence â— did not do that replied he so much for yoâ— as for my self So to his Steward once exâ—â—sing himself that he entertained him 〈◊〉 better because he was alone Did not yoâ— know said he that I was to dine with my self Vnderstand he was very Voluptuous 〈◊〉 the Original it is that Lucullus was to dine with Lucullus When some would have perswaded him to attaque a Camp where there was much danger he said I would rather save one Roman Souldier then gain all the Enemies Plunder Fulvius slaying his Son with his own hands who was going to joyn with Cataline said I brought thee up to defend thy native Country not to oppress it Pompey who was as much beloved of the Romans as his Father had been hated got an Army together as soon as ever he was but out of his Child-hood and Sylla having sent for him he said he would never present himself before â—im till he was victorious His Army being upon a March he caused â—e Swords of all his men to be tyed in their â—abbards to hinder them said he from robbing â—nd murthering by the way Having quieted the troubles in Sicily as â—e Mamertins were alledging something in â—heir Excuse will you never said he leave â—rging the law to them that have the Sword â— hand Being resolved to put them all to the Sword â—e that commanded them offering his own Throat as the sole Author of that disturbance â—ying withal The innocent ought not to be â—unished for the guilty Pompey was so moved with it that he replied That for that time â—e guilty should obtain pardon for the innocent and forgave them all for his sake His Soldiers willing to proclaim him Impeâ—ator after he had vanquished Domitius in Africk â—e said he would never take that name while â—he Enemy's Camp was in being and went â—mmediately and took it in despite
no man besides the Soveraign but ought to be frugal Whereas in truth it may be said on the contrary That none ought â—o be so frugal as the Soveraign because none is at â—o great expence Or has so many occasions of exâ—ending The Emperor Claudius being Censor sent home a young debauched Fellow without any punishment he hath said he a Father to chaâ—tize him Having restored a man to his Fame he said The scar of that infamy would remain though the wound was healed The Astrologâ—rs having foretold Agrippina that her Son would put her to death if ever he came to be Emperor Let him kill me said she provided he Reign And when she was â—lain by his Command she said pointing to her Belly 'T is there you should strike For having brought forth a Monster Nero being to sign a Sentence of Death 〈◊〉 would to God said he I did not know how to write Dying he said he had neither Friends nor Enemies Because none would either save him nor kill him He said of Thrasia It were to be wished he loved his Prince as much as Justice Galba having made a great Present to a Musician that had pleased him This is not out of the publick Treasury said he 't is of my 〈◊〉 To shew that Princes ought not to squander that Gratuities Vespasian said to a young perfumed Gallaâ— That he had rather he should have smelt of Gaâ—â—lick then perfume and for that reason took â— Government from him He said to one that had conspired againâ—â— him That it was the Gods that bestowed Eâ—â—pires Or that it was an effect of Fortune not of Merit Having done good to an enemy he said He will remember it His Son being offended that he had set a Tribute upon Urine he told him making him smell to a piece of money that was part of that Tribute it smells of nothing Reticeâ— hath rendered it That profit smells well from whenâ— soever it is gathered My Lord Bacon gives 〈◊〉 thus Vespasian set a Tribute upon Vrine Tiâ— his Son emboldened himself to speak to his Fatheâ— of it and represented it as a thing indigne and fordid Vespasian said nothing for the time but â— while after when it was forgotten sent for a piece of Silver out of the Tribute Money and called to his Son bidding him smell to it and asked hiâ— whether he found any Offence Who said no Why so saith Vespasian agen Yet this comes oâ—â— of Vrine A private man having quarrelled with a Senator he declared that we ought not first to speak injuriously of a Senator but that we might reply Or that so much respect was to be allowed them as not to begin with them but oâ—â— was not bound to suffer any affronts from them but if they spoke injuriously it might be retorted Raising himself up a little before he died he said A Prince ought to die standing The Emperor Titus being reproached for promising more then he could perform he said That no man ought to go away disconâ—ented from the Presence of his Prince It seems his very denials ought to be pleasingly contriâ—ed One day being spenâ—â—â— which he had bestowed nothing Friends said he I have lost this day Domitian said that Princes passed for Tyrants â—â—inridding themselves of such as they suspected or otherwise they suffered themselves to be destroyed to keep their reputation Some attribute it to Adrian He added that such as gave Ear to slanderers are worse then slanderers Because they are the cause that there are any Nerva said He sought an Heir not to inherit his riches but for the Empire As being more important to chuse a King then a Successor Trajan said he would shew himself such towards his Subjects as he wished they might be towards him Or such as he wished when a private Man that his Prince might be to him He said to the Governour of Rome putting the sword into his hand which was the token of his power Take this sword and make use of it for me if I do well and against me if I do ill The Emperour Adrian used to say that a good Prince did not believe the goods of his subjects to be his And meeting one of his Enemies after he was become Emperour he said aloud to him you have nothing to feaâ— now As being lifted too high to think of revengâ— against a private person He said that â—ings ought not to be Kings in all things that is to say not to use their power in every thing 〈◊〉 The People desiring him to set one of his Slaves at liberty he said they must not thus dispose of other mens goods He sent one to bestow a box on the Ear upon one of his Servants who was walking betwixt two Senators and said he ought to remember they might be his Masters one day His intended Successor being infirm he said he leaned upon a falling Wall He said the Treasure of Princes was like the Spleen which never swells but as the other parts consume To instruct them to spare their Subjects Purses Dying he said that the multitude of Physicians had killed him He said to some Lawyers that desired that they might be allowed to plead That they had no want of leave but of ability His wife ascending the Capitol after his election May I live said she in this dignity as I lived before this was obtained Antonine the Emperor said That Marriage was not a title of voluptuousness but of dignity thereby excusing the pleasure he took with other Women When some would have hindered his Son from weeping for the death of his Tutor Marcus Aurelius said suffer him to be a Man before he come to be a Prince Being advised to repudiate his Wife who â—led an ill life Let us then restore the Empire to her said he which she brought in Marriage He ever consulted with his Friends before he would undertake any thing because said he It is more rational for one to follow the advice of many then many that of one At his Dying he told them they should rather think of death than of him and more of the Common Fate of all men than of his alone adding that he recommended his Son to them and to the Gods likewise if he were deserving The Emperor Pertinax being counselled to save himself from the fury of the Praetorian Cohorts What have I done said he for this It hath been said of the Emperor Severus as well as of Augustus That he should never have been born or that he never should have dyed His Soldiers having declared his Son Emperor whilst he had the Gout he caused himself to be carried to the Camp and having punished their insolence I will make you know said he that it is the Head commands and not the feet At his death he said that he had been all things and yet all that served for nothing That is to say
against Death He would not suffer the proud Inscriptioâ— that had been fixed under the Statue of Pescennâ—us to be defaced Whether he were such or no said he it is still the more honor to have thus defeated him Pescennius would have all the Judges to be allowed sufficient Salaries to do their duties said he without Bribes The Egyptian Soldiers asking him for Wine he shewed them the River Nilus and when they refused to fight unless they had some he told them they were to engage with an Enemy that drank nothing but water He said he would please whilst he was living and be praised after his death and as one would have rehearsed a Panegyrick in his praise make one upon some famous Captain of a former age to serve me for an example said he Caracalla causing his Brother to be consecrated whom he had killed no matter said he whether he be a God so he be dead Alexander Severus retrenched a great many of his Domestick Servants saying The Emperors had been ill Husbands in feeding so many useless mouths He said it was not Gold that made our offerings become acceptable but Piety That we must wish for good and suffer evil That pleasing things were delightful and hardships glorious One of the Antients said to the same purpose That trouble marched before Vertue and after Vice but that Pleasure followed Vertue and Vice was followed by Repentance That the Publick Safety depended on good â—rmies and that a Prince ought to take more â—are of his Forces then of himself That he that sold a Princes favours sold â—moak He caused one of his favorites to be burnt â—ith green wood for having done so That Friends must be preserved with good â—eeds and Enemies gained with fair â—ords That Soldiers defended their baggage with â—ore heat then their lives That a Thief maintained himself by giving litâ—le and taking much That by making the Majesty of Empire mildâ—r it became the more supportable He solicited a man that had obliged him to â—sk some recompence that I may not said he â—ie his debtor He would not suffer any Office in places of Judicature to be sold saying it were not â—trange to sell what one bought He meant Iustice. Some Vintners contending with the Christians about a House he said it were better they should adore a God there let him be what he would then make it a Tavern The Souldiers interrupting a speech he made with their loud shouts those should be used against the Enemy said he and not against your Prince He would not employ persons of condition in any service of his and said That personal service was the Office of a Slave He said upon the punishment of a Friend that his Friends were very dear but the Commonwealth was yet dearer The Emperor Aurelian having threatned â— rebellious City that he would not spare a dog let all the Dogs be destroyed said he and spare the Inhabitants Saturninus said to his Soldiers who woulâ— make him Emperor That they would loseâ— good Commander to find a bad Prince Thiâ— is to say he was a better Soldier then a Politiciaâ— or Ruler Tacitus the Emperor being denied some favour which he requested of the Senate They know said he they have to do with a Prince that can bear it Probus made his Soldiers work when they had no Wars That they may not eat the Publick Stock undeservedly Seeing a very fleet Horse he said it was a fit Beast for a Coward Diocletian said there was nothing harder then to govern well because of the continual Ambushes in and whispering underminings of Princes Ears to betray them He told those who would have recalled him to the Government after he had quitted it That if they had but seen his Gardens at Salona they would never have propounded it to him Because of the Sweetness of Repose and the Pleasantness of Gardening The Emperor Iulian expell'd from his Court the Multitude of Eunuchs Barbers and Cooks The first because having then no Wife he had no need of them the last because said â—e I eat no curious meats nor high Sauces and the other because one was enough for a â—reat many The Soldiers of Valentinian endeavouring to oblige him to do somewhat contrary to his Will he told them They had chosen him voâ—untarily but he would make them obey whether they would or no. The young Theodosius was so far from putting any to death that he said he wished â—e could call the dead to life again CUSTOMS OF LACEDEMONIA According to Plutarque BEfore the producing the Apophthegmes of the Lacedemonians Plutarque hath made a little digression concerning their Customes to shew the near relation and agreement there is between their sayings their manner of life By his example I have drawn an Extract out of a Treatise composed by * Xenophon to satisfie the Readers curiosity because the thing is well done and consisting of matters so remote from our times and Methods I thought it well worthy our knowledge were it only to discover the ground and principles upon which those great Men founded their Actions The Lacedemonians did eat all together in great Inns and the oldest told the last comers nothing is to be exposed abroad that we say here To preserve the Freedom of their Tables and the Liberty of Feasting according to the Proverb Odi memorem convivam They were very temperate in their eating and drinking and the greatest dainty that was brought to their Table was a certain pottage Tannè which was the ordinary food of their aged people Denys the Tyrant having expressly sent for a Cook from Lacedemonia to make some for him not finding it agreeable to to his palate 'T is said the Cook to be eaten on the brink of the River Eurotas after a Laconick Exercise because Labour whets the Appetite and a sharp stomack makes any thing relish well Witness him that drank Puddle Water in a great Thirst saying he never drank any so good before They retired every night to their homes without any lights to accustom themselves to be fearless Or rather to leave every one the liberty of going whither be pleased without being observed as they do at Venice for it is certain that Licurgus gave great allowance to the pleasures of love which is the common Entertainment of the Idle Now all his Subjects did nothing like our Nobility â—ut passed their time like them in Wars Love and Hunting After their Children could write and read they taught them nothing else but to obey the Magistrates to inure themselves to hardships and resolve to be Victors in fight or die on the spot The Masters of other Sciences were not so much as admitted in Lacedemonia The Lacedemonians wore no Doublets had but one Garment in a year without any change according to the season used little Bathing or Stows Oyled themselves but rarely and were not
Apophthegme be met with hâ—â—e which shall not be found in Plutarch or that it speak otherwise then he relates it let me not be rashly condemned but first examine the reasons of it's variation upon the grounds above mentioned Besides there are many in that Author under the name of him to whom they were spoken as for Example that of Parmenion when he found the Grecian Ambassadors murmurred while they attended at the Door of Philip because he made them wait so long before he gave them Audience Do not wonder Sirs said he that he Sleeps while you are waking for he was awake whilst you slepâ— to reproach them what advantages they had suffered him to take during their Divisions This Plutarch had placed on Philip whereâ—s it belonged to Parmenion Others are likewise ranged in a different order either because they were put in the beginning whâ— they should have been at the end as thoâ— which were spoken at their Death or eâ— because they were jumbled together unaware I need not to mention the many new ones iâ—â—serted amongst those that are purely pleasanâ— Nor shall I need excuse these or any other for not being set down according to the oâ—â—der of time for time signifies but little 〈◊〉 an Apophthegme and to bestow the pain of searching or computing the time woulâ— be of more trouble then benefit The name are not always mentioned neither it werâ— not worth the while to search for them beâ—sides that many in the Original are omitâ—ted Grave or Sententious APOPHTHEGMES OF Great Men. STRANGERS CYrus was wont to say That those that do no good to themselves are constrained to do good to others He meant in my opinion to their Heirs whom they enâ—ched by their covetousness though Erasâ—us hath taken it in another Sence Being yet a Child he told Astyages who would perswade him to drink Wine That â—e feared it was Poyson having observed that â—rinces reeling and other strange disorders in â—is drunkenness He said One is not worthy to command â—nless he be better or worthier than those he â—s to command At least in the Art of Government for it is possible that an ill man maâ— have Qualifications fit to Govern which hoâ—nest men are not always furnish'd with thougâ— he cannot have them all unless he be virtuouâ— He would not suffer the Persians to quâ— their barren and mountainous Country 〈◊〉 possess a more fruitful one For fear said he that should soften their courage as if thâ— Spirits of men did change with the Nature oâ— the Soil as well as Plants He would not be perswaded to let a beautiâ—ful Woman be brought into his presence thâ—â— he might see her while she was his Prisonerâ— For fear said he lest I should become a slave 〈◊〉 my slave His Steward asking what he would have 〈◊〉 be made ready for his Dinner while his Armâ— was on a march Some bread replies he for mean to encamp by a River To intimatâ— that all Luxury should be laid aside in a timâ— of War He said at his dying he could not be peâ—â—swaded that the Soul which had been able tâ— subsist so long in a mortal body could possiâ—bly perish when it was freed from it Cresus at the taking of Sardes seeing thâ— Soldiers plunder and destroy every thing askâ—ed Cyrus what they were doing They arâ— plundering your Riches said he Nay rather yours replied Cresus for the Treasures of the vanquished are the Conquerors This made him stop them from their pillaging Darius said That dangers made him become wise because they awaken our attention and encrease our Experience Some body upon the opening of a Granade â—â—pple asking him of what would you deâ—â—e to have as many as here are Kernels he â—â—swered as many Friends 'T is that indeed â—hich Kings stand most in need of because of â—â—e multitude of Flatterers One of his Subjects having horribly torn â—â—d mangled his face and body to gain credit â—â—ith the Babylonians who were revolted and 〈◊〉 that means insinuated himself and recoveâ—â—d the City for him by that artifice he exâ—â—essed much discontent and said he would â—ther have lost ten Babylons than one such â—riend or he would rather see Babylon again 〈◊〉 the Rebels hands than see his true Friend in â—â—at condition His Treasurers having setled the Taxes as â—irly and equally as they could let them aâ—te one half yet said he that the burthen be â—sie The last King of Persia admiring the Virâ—es of Alexander If the Gods said he will â—â—ke this Empire from me may they give it to one other but him Xerxes having reduced the Babylonians to â—â—eir duty brought all manner of Luxury and â—ebauchery in fashion instead of the Exercise 〈◊〉 Arms they used before To prevent them 〈◊〉 he from making a second revolt There â—ing nothing that so much effeminates the â—urage as debauchery Having a Present made him of Figs from â—â—hens let us forbear rasting them said he till we have conquer'd the Country that proâ—duces them To teach us to despise Forreigâ—â— Curiosities He said to those that admired to see hiâ— weep when he considered the infinite number of men that were in his Army It is becauâ—â— that of this swarm of thousands there shalâ— not one of them be living one hundred year hence Intending to pass over into Greece he calleâ— all his Generals and Governors of Provincâ— together and told them that he had not suâ—â—moned them to that place to hear their Opinâ—â—ons but to tell them his It had been moâ—â— modest to let them guess that then to 〈◊〉 them so for the burthen of subjection shoulâ— be made as easie as possible Being unable to force a passage he cried oâ—â— he had a great Army and but a few Soldiers and Arthemisa having acted wonders at the bâ—â—â—tle of Salamina he said the Men were turnâ—â— Women and the Women Men. Artaxerxes said that it was more worth for a Prince to give than to receive Becauâ—â— Riches and Liberality is the portion of tâ—â— Great and cannot be exercised by Inferiors When his great Lords committed aâ—â— faults he caused their Garments to be whiâ—â— instead of them To punish them said 〈◊〉 by their own shame In the East the Grâ—â—â—dees are wont to be punished like Rascals aâ— suffer the same as their Slaves One of his Officers having been promisâ— a sum of money if he could obtain a thing â—im that was unjust upon his Petition gave â—im the like sum of money but would not grant his Petition For I will shew my self â—â—beral said he but not unjust This is the â—ore noble because great men most commonly gratifie their own Officers out of other mens â—â—urses Themistocles taking Sanctuary under his proâ—ection after his banishment May the Gods â—aid he inspire all my Enemies with the like â—houghts and resolutions viz. of banishing â—heir ablest Counsellors As some would have hindred Cyrus the younger who made war upon his Brother to be
fears we have put them into for so many years It hath been said of him that he knew how to conquer but did not know how to make advantage of his Victories because he let slip his advantage after the Battle of Cannae An Armenian King seeing the Romans appear in small Parties before his Army which was innumerable said There were too many of them to be Ambassadors and too few to be Enemies It must be observed that the Ancients alway sent several together on an Embassy GREEKS A King of Syracuse having defeated the Carthaginians would grant them no peace but upon condition that they should not sacrifice their Children to Saturn This waâ— the more generous because the Conqueror herein had no other end but the advantage oâ— the vanquished However it is easie to make an Apophthegm of this by changing the Action into Speech which Plutarch hath omitted When his Soldiers went not to War he made them cultivate the untilled Lands to keep them as he said from idleness the Moâ—her of Seditions and make some Recompence for the Spoyls of War Having occasion for money he borrowed of his Subjects and repaid it when the Wars were ended boasting that by this means he had an unexhaustible Treasure in the Purses of his People While the Guests at a Feast took an Instrument turn by turn to make Musick and Mirth â—he called for his great Horse and began to maâ—age it before them to intimate that a Prince even in times of Peace should make it his Exercise and Meditation to prepare against a War A Curtezan having reproached him for his stinking breath he chid his Wife for not giving him notice of it that he might have sought a remedy but she replied That she thought all men had been so having never conversed with any one but himself The Grecian Dames had no frequent conversation with men being never admitted at Feasts and Publick Meetings with their Husbands Whereas the Romans had the same Liberty as the Ladies here with us Plutarch attributes this Apophthegme to the Princes Wife that follows Hieron said That he was always at leasure to hear those that would tell him the Truth and thereby banished all Flatterers and became of easie access to honest People He said likewise that those that discovered Secrets did not only offend those that had entrusted them but also those to whom they were revealed For when we would not have a thing known we do not only hate those that publish it but those that are made acquainted with it likewise He condemned a Poet to make satisfaction for having spoken somewhat too freely before the Queen and indeed it was an insolent Fellow for having once invited him to dinner at a Sacrifice he told him you would not invite me to that you made the other day hinting the execution of some great men These indiscreet Sallies of the Tongue produce more hurt to those that speak them then they do good to them they are addressed to Denys the Tyrant besieged in his Palace by a seditious Multitude cried out seeing an Oxe knocked down at one blow who would not venture so frail a thing as life is for an Empire His Son having violated a Woman of Quality he asked him in passion if ever he had seen him do the like That 's because you were not born Son of a King answered he You will never be the Father of one replied he if you continue these insolencies His Prediction was verified for his Son was dispossessed These are two excellent Apophthegmes in one Seeing in his Son's Chamber one day a great many Vessels of Gold and Silver which he had bestowed upon him Thou art not worthy to Reign said he since thou hast not been able to make Friends of these things all this while His Subjects complaining of a Tax he increased it so much that they laughed at the impossibility 'T is enough said he for this shews they have no more to lose Otherwise they durst not have derided him He said to his Mother who had a mind to marry again in her extream old age That Princes were able to alter the Civil Laws but not the Laws of Nature He severely punished those that robbed on the High-ways but pardoned such as pilfered Cloaks in the Night time to compel his Subjects to keep good hours and avoid debauchery In the Greek it is that stole Cloaths either at the bathing places or elsewhere Some body beseeching him to bestow a Talent upon him and to pretend that he had learned the Secret of him to discover all manner of Conspiracies He cried out aloud 'T is a most important Secret and bestowed the Talent upon him Another desiring to converse with him asked him whether he had nothing to do God defend said he there being nothing so insupportable as Idleness Others there are that think nothing so pleasing but we must distinguish one may desire to have Leasure but Idleness is to be hated It is a common thing to ask what shall we do to pass away the time Having been informed that two several Persons had spoken ill of him at time of a debauch he invited them to Supper and observing that one of them was very indiscreet and wild and the other very reserved He said that he forgave the first as having committed the fault by the frailty and lightness oâ— humour and caused the other to be put to death as guilty One of his Subjects having concealed a Sum of Money he caused it to be taken from him but being made acquainted that he had purchased a piece of Ground with the remainder he restored it to him again because he knows how to improve it said he He said a Prince ought not only to be aware of his Enemies but of his Friends It is because those that have the easiest access may the most easily destroy But this is trulier spoken of a Tyrant than a lawful Sovereign As a Herauld at a Sacrifice wished him according to their Custom a long Reign do not said he increase the rigour of Tyranny by endeavouring to make it Eternal A man condemned to death found a Friend so resolute as to be bound for him that he might have time to go abroad and settle his Affairs in order and having surrendred himself again Denys the Tyrant admiring the confidence and resolution of the one and the faithfulness of the other pardoned the criminal And for recompence I only desire of you said he to be received as the third in your Bond of Amity Accusing his Sister for having contrived her Husbands escape Do you believe me to be said she of so mean a Spirit as that I would not have stollen away my self from thy Tyranny had it been in my power His Son said he entertained men of Learning not for any esteem that he had for them â—ut for the esteem he gained thereby from oâ—hers A Grammarian finding fault with his Diaâ—ect
of his Family bâ— his Valour said he and refused him Zeno whom he esteemed above all the Philosophers being dead he said He had lost the Witness of his Actions and the Theatre oâ— his Glory Lysimachus being constrained to give uâ— himself and his whole Army for want of water cried out having drank great Gods foâ— what a small matter I have lost my Liberty and Country Antipater having heard of the Murther oâ— Parmenion If he were guilty said he iâ— whom shall Princes confide and if he were innocent where is the Prince we can confide in He said of Demades and Phocion That he had two Friends of a direct contrary humour for he could never satisfie the one nor ever get the other to accept of any thing Antiochus sent his Letters into all Parts at his first accession to the Empire That if there came any Orders from him contrary to the Laws they should not obey them He likewise withdrew himself from Ephesus fearing the great Beauty of Diana's Priestess should tempt him to violate her Antiochus surnamed the Hawk put himself â—â—to Mourning upon the report of the death 〈◊〉 his Brother though they made War against â—ch other and being after assured that he â— as living he caused publick Thanksgiving â—â—d Rejoycings to be kept To shew said he â—at the Law of Nature yet subsists amidst â—â—r disorders What was rare in those days â— now grown common A report being brought to Pergamos of the â—eath of Eumenes his Brother Attalus seized immediately on the Empire and married his â—â—iddow But the News proving to be false 〈◊〉 laid down the Crown and went to meet â—â—m in the habit of a private Person of which Eumenes took no other notice but only whisâ—ered in his Ear another time be not so haâ—y to marry my Wife till you have seen me â—id in my Grave He never after shewed aâ—y more resentment and at his Death left him â—is Wife and his Empire Attalus on the oâ—â—er hand did never raise any Children but reâ—â—ored the Diadem to the Son of Eumenes as â—â—on as he was of Age to Govern It would â—e difficult to find two such rare Examples the â—ne of Acknowledgment the other of Modeâ—â—tion He was wont to tell his Brothers If you treat me as your King I will treat you as Brothers and if you treat me as a Brother I will treat you as I am King To teach them to obey him Pyrrhus said He never had taken so many Cities by force as Cineas had taken by cunning The Inhabitants of a Town besieged haviâ—â— railed at him bitterly a thousand times duriâ—â— the Siege he told him as he was setling theâ— after the place was taken That they had greâ— need of Masters to teach them to rule thâ—â— Tongues Being asked which of two excellent Musiâ—â—ans he liked best he answered The Geneâ—â— Polyperque to shew that Kings ought to estâ—â—â—â— brave men and not Fidlers One who had never been in the Wars promising to instruct him in the Military Art 〈◊〉 told him That he never valued a General wâ—â— had never heard the sound of a Trumpet He said after the gaining of two battles against the Romans I am lost if I gain a thiâ— because they had cost him so many men aâ—â— therefore admiring their Valour he said thâ— he could easily conquer the whole World wiâ—â— the Romans or the Romans with him Otheâ— improperly attribute this to Antiochus wâ—â— was no great Soldier He said when he quitted Sicily I leaveâ— brave Field of Battle to the Romans and thâ— Carthaginiansâ— which proved true in the â—â—vent He bid those Commissaries whom he sent 〈◊〉 raise Forces be sure to chuse proper and luâ—â—â— Fellows and he would take care of the rest â— if courage and skill proceeded only from exercise which is not always so Being entred into Athens to Sacrifice â— praised the Athenians for the confidence theâ— had in him but withal told them that 〈◊〉 time they should have a care of letting in â—ny one that exceeded them in strength Having pillaged Laconia by surprize before â—ny War declared he answered the Lacedemoâ—ians who made Complaints to him that he did not use to divulge his secrets to any body His Children desiring to know of him at the time of his death to whom he left his Empire To him said he that hath the â—harpest Sword Though this were true in some sort it was ill in the mouth of a Father who thereby kindled the Flames of a Civil War in his own Family The great Antiochus having strayed from his Company at a hunting betook himself to â— little Caban where some People who knew him not discoursed of him some extolling his good Nature others saying that his Servants wrought upon it to ill purposes and that he spent too much of his time in hunting he at his return to his Company told them he had never heard so much truth spoken as that day At the Seige of Ierusalem the Iews having desired seven days Truce to celebrate their great Festival he not only granted their request but would needs honour that Ceremony in Person and himself conducted in great Pomp to their very Gates huge quantities of â—ncense and Victimes which touched them so sensibly that they surrendred to him as soon as the Festival was over To make an Apophthegme we should make him tell what he did but that would lessen it The Romans having lopp'd off a part of hâ— Empire he said He was obliged to them so having discharged him of a great portion 〈◊〉 his care Though this is truth yet Prince do not lay aside those burthens till they neeâ— must Pisistratus Tyrant of Athens finding hâ—â— Friends revolted who had seized on a Foâ—tress went and found them with his little Râ—tinue and when they inquired of him what 〈◊〉 intended to do Remain with you here saâ—â— he or get you to return with me Knowing that his Mother loved a younâ— man who durst hardly visit her out of the apprehension he had of him he invited him tâ— Supper and having treated him well Herâ—â— aâ—ter said he shew your self more complaisaâ— towards my Mother Another that was one of the finest shaped meâ— in the City having been so insolent as to kiâ—â— his Daughter in the open Street and the Mother desiring he would resent it If we punish those that caress us said he what shall we do to them that hate us This was but a colour to excuse the capriciousness or passion of the young man whom he presently sent foâ— to bestow his Daughter in Marriage on him Some debauched Fellows having done an injury to his Wife and coming the next day to beg his pardon You are mistaken said he my Wife was not out of doors yesterday but be more modest another time There is no pleasure in owning to have received an affront and especially in such cases and therefore Câ—â—sâ—â— deni'd that his Wife
must promise little and perform it but we do the quite contrary That when one eats more than one should One hath more Diseases than can be cured That he left his Son Estate enough if he were wise and if he were not so all that could be left him would signifie nothing Nicostrates General of the Argiens said to King Archidamus who sollicited him to do somewhat that was unjust You are not of the Race of Hercules who travelled over the whole World to punish the wicked since you endeavour to corrupt the good Epaminondas acquitted himself very well in an employment put upon him though it was an Office beneath him and said in his owâ— defence It was the man that made the Officâ— considerable and not the Office the man He would not allow for so much Oyl in aâ— account brought him for a Feast Because said he it is impossible that we should have eaten so much and not be sick with it He withdrew from a sacrificing Feast because of the great Pomp and Splendor saying they called me to a Sacrifice and I meet with a debauch Walking very pensively one time when all the City was rejoycing he told those that asked him the reason of it I am sad that you may take your fill of Mirth He would not render up a Criminal to Pelopidas but did it to a Curtizan giving this reason that it was a fit Present for a Curtizan but not for the General of an Army The Lacedemonians having declared War against Thebes having gotten divers Oracles some favourable others not he put them some on one side of the Chair others on the other hand and said If you behave your selves well these are for you shewing them the good ones if not you must expect the others Like a good Politician he makes our good or evil Fortune depend on our Actions not our Actions on them It hapning to thunder extraordinarily whilst he was marching an Army some having inquired of him what that signified That our Enemies are astonished replied he and shewed where they had entrenched themselves upon the Hills like men that were afraid or 〈◊〉 disadvantageous ground like People that â—new not what they did He owned that the Battle of Levetres did â—â—t please him so much for its importance as â—â—r the having gained it in his Father and Moâ—â—ers life time Appearing melancholy and thoughtful the â—ext day against his wonted Custom asking â—im the reason It is to allay replied he the â—xcess of Joy I felt yesterday The General of Thessaly having sent two â—â—ousand Crowns to him to defray the expence â—f an Enterprize which they had contrived â—ogether as knowing that he was very poor â—e quarrelled at him for it as if he would have â—orrupted him and satisfied himself with borâ—awing some small matter of a Friend of his â—or that purpose He refused Darius his Presents with the â—ame Moderation saying he ought not to do â—t if he desired nothing but what was just from â—im if not all the Riches he had could not â—corrupt him Or it is to no purpose if he be â—our Friend if not I can never be his but this â—is to be found elsewhere Being informed that a Soldier had enriched himself by the ransom of a Prisoner You are now too wealthy said he to be a Soldier go and set up a Tavern in some good City As a Soldier too much at ease is not fit for the War Talking how the Athenians were entred into Peloponese excellently well armed A good Musician says he never dreads to meet anotheâ— provided with a good Instrument So soon as he was Director of Beotia bâ— bid the Thebans furbish their Weapons becausâ— he intended to make use of them and not lâ— them rust in idleness and some advising theâ— to live in peace he said that under that faâ— pretence they designed to impose the greatâ—â— slavery upon them He called his Country the Theatre of Warâ— and said it could not be defended unless theâ— always had the Sword in hand Some comparing him to Agamemnon saiâ— he That Prince was ten years taking of oâ—â— Town and I for my part have set free aâ—â— Greece in one days time by the Battle of Lâ—ctres He patiently endured the ill humour of thâ— Thebans and said that one must no more takâ—â— revenge of ones Country than of ones Fatherâ— Likewise he affirmed the noblest death was 〈◊〉 dye for ones Country and obtained what hâ— commended A Rich man refusing to lend a Friend of his money who was in necessity Art not thoâ— ashamed said he to deny assistance to a good man It is not just so in the Original but â— have put it thus to make it better for in anâ— Apophthegm it is not so material for the truth as the force of the expression It being controverted who was the greatest Captain he or some other Stay till our deaths said he to judge aright because one oversight does sometimes sorfeit all their reputation Being brought to judgment with his Colâ—egues for having kept the command of the Arâ—y four Months after his time was expired he â—rdered them to lay all the fault upon him â—nd presenting himself at the day appointed â— am the sole Author said he of the Crime â—harged upon us and do not resuse to dye provided they add to the sentence That I am â—ondemned to death for having set Greece at liâ—erty and made my ingrateful Country triâ—mphant over the Lacedemonians ever till now â—nvincible This assurance did so astonish his Judges that they withdrew without daring to put it to the Vote He added that no Arguments were capable of justifying them if what they had done would not suffice because Deeds are better then Words how pompous soever they could be This serves to shew us that we must not juggle with the Actions of great men nor examine them by the strictness of Law Being wounded to death at the Battle of Mantiniea hearing that such as had been able to take the Command of the Army were all slain in the Fight he advised them to make a Peace since there were none left fit to carry on the War and the Event proved that he was in the right He would not suffer them to draw the Weapon out of his Wound till he was assured he had gained the Victory and finding they had saved his Buckler he told them He dyed contentedly to live eternally in the memories of men Some attribute to him the killing a Sentiâ—â—nal whom he surprized asleep saying by waâ— of excuse I left him as I found him Pelopidas took no great care to enrich himself and when his Friends put him in minâ— that money was necessary Yes indeed said he to that man there shewing them a pooâ— Cripple Going to the Wars his Wife recommended to him the care of his own Person Give thaâ— caution to others said he for it belongs to mâ— who am their Chief to have a care of
very curious in their habits or manners To banish Luxury and soft Delicacy as being contrary to war like People Their Youth lay in Troops upon Mats made of Reeds of the Flaggy tops which grew about the sides of their Rivers and in Winter they mixt somewhat that was warmer The heads of those Reeds ends like a feather and is foft enough besides it bears a wooly Substance with which good mats are made It might be perhaps of this warmer stuff that they used in winter to keep out the cold The courtship of Boyes was not allowed as in Greece but they loved Youth for their Vertues When the aged ones met a young man they asked him whither he went and what he was doing and if he answered not or replied impertinently he was chastized The Punishment was to go round about an Altar singing reproaches of himself It was a shame not to endure reprehension and those that did not admonish young men of their faults were punished â— Accomplices An old man was respected as ones owâ— Father which kept them in Union in the City because they took no less care for what was anothers then for their own and if any one had complained that another had corrected him the Father would have corrected him afresh As they gave but little to their Children to eat they were suffered to pilfer now and then but if they were taken in the fast they were scourged and obliged to fast Not so much for having stollen as for not doing it dexterously They feed ill in their Inns to accustom themselves to fare hard in time of War which was their chief Exercise besides they believed that a spare diet left the Spirits in more freedom and made the Body more nimble and active in their Military imployments But less strong and vigorus for the Athletes eat much Though they lived thus soberly yet they loved musick to entertain their mirth but their Musick was but mean and their Songs contained nothing but the praises due to noble actions and the blame belonging to ill ones As a spur to Vertue and a curb to Vice It is held that Licurgus mingled Musick exâ—ressly with Arms to moderate the fury The Kings themselves sacrificed to the Muses before â— battle that their Actions might be celebrated â—r to act so as to become worthy of it They would not suffer any change of their Ancient Musick and condemned the most celebrated Musician of his age to pay a fine though â—e were otherwise a great adorer of antiquity for having invented a new string which multiplied their notes and accords and cut off two which another had added to the Lyre Their Songs were composed of divers couplets in which they answered one another by turns In some the old ones told'em how brave they had been the middle-ag'd in another would tell how brave they were and the youths would promise they hoped to exceed them hereafter The steps were military as well as the time and their harmony being mingled with somewhat of Enthusiasme transported them to such a degree as to despise death it self They buried their dead within the City near their Temples without any ceremony or superstition or other Funeral state but only a red cloth which wrapped them all over and some Olive leaves this Burying was common to all mourning and effeminate lamentation as well as Epitaphs were banished which was never allowed to any but such as died in the Wars They would not permit their youth to travel that they might not be corrupted with forreign customs nor were strangers suffered to come and dwell in Lacedemonia Those young men that had not been bred according to the Spartan way could not enjoy any of their priviledges whereas a stranger that had been so enjoyed them all 'T is said they had their portions likewise when they first shared their Lands with this Proviso only that they might not sell them At their huntings they were allowed to make use of their Neighbours Dogs Horses and all other Equipage when they did not use it themselves restoring every thing to them again and not spoiling them In a time of War they were cloathed in red as being a Martial colour and on which the blood is not so conspicuous when wounded When they had overcome by a slight they sacrificed an Ox and when it was by force a Cock to prefer Prudence before Valour as a higher Vertue They asked nothing of their Gods but patience in their labour and to be happy when they did well This explication is proved by that Article where it is said they contended in sufferings which does not at all relate to injuries since it follows that a Lacedemonian was chastized for enduring an affront without resentment All their Gods Venus not excepted were painted in armour to honor Valour and make it known they were not in a condition to receive injuries They ordinarily said one must pray to the Gods with an Arm out-stretched as much as to say not with folded Arms but in putting the helping hand The Greek says at the beginning of an Enterprize otherwise not They were wont to shew their Slaves drunk to their Children to make them abhor Drunkenness When they were to go into any House they did not knock at the door but called aloud in the street that they should come open it In their Baths they used Rubbers made of â—eeds instead of Wyre ones They neither acted Tragedies nor Comedies that no offence might be committed against the Laws not even in Plays Or that they might not be accustomed to hear their Passions and crimes defended They expelled a Poet for having said that when a man had lost his Weapons he might recover others but life once lost was never to be regained As if he had thereby instructed them to cast away their Arms to fly with more â—ase The Boys and Girles had one common Sacrifice The Ephores condemned a Lacedemonian to pay a Fine for having endured many affronts without ressentment They caused a Soldier to be put to death for having painted his Shield and publickly reproved a young man for learning the way to a place where they lived Luxuriously They packed away an Orator who vaunted that he could discourse a whole day upon any Subject For discourse ought to be proportioned â— the Subject and not inlarged ad infinitum Their Children were whipped once a year upon the Altar of Diana to teach them to endure pain and they contended who should suffer most as if it were a Vertue However it is dangerous to make sufferings become despisable for we have nothing to bridle the wicked withal but thaâ— and Children hardned by too much whipping groâ— incorrigible It was a shame to exercise any Trade eveâ— Husbandry it self to which purpose they made use of their Slaves as their Farmers without taxing them too much or too little for fear of making them lazy or desperate The Lacedemonians were thus always at leasure which is
restore the discipline being asked if he did not then repent of his design Good actions replyed he are not subject to repentance His Father and Mother desiring him to do somewhat that was unjust I obeyed you whilst I was young said he give me leave now to obey the Laws and Reason It might have been said let me now put in practice the good instructions you gave me But that is not the Authors sense Being led to execution and beholding one of his followers weeping Do not weep said he for those that put me to death unjustly are more to be pittied than I. Some body inquiring of Alcamena the way to preserve ones honour By despising said he of Riches Another wondering he had rejected the Messenians Present I did it said he in obedience to the Laws which forbids it He told one who taxed him of being aâ— little too straight-laced in his way of living that it was better to obey his reason then his concupiscence or desires Alexandridas told one who being banished complained of his Exile You ought not to be troubled at your Exile but the subject that causes it According to the Stoicks thaâ— there is no evil but Vice Some body saying good things in a timâ— very unfit What good things out of season said he Being asked wherefore the Lacedemonianâ— caused their Lands to be cultivated by theiâ— Slaves They have work enough to improve or cultivate their Vertues replyed he One saying honour does a great deal oâ— mischief happy is he that wants it Rascalâ— replyed he are very happy then for theâ— are little troubled with it To such as admired that the Lacedemonianâ— exposed themselves so frankly to dangers hâ— said It was because honour was more dear tâ— them then life To others who asked why they were so long a time about giving judgment against a Criminal in Lacedemonia It is because said he there is no room for repentance when once a man is Dead Some inquiring of Anaxander wherefore the Lacedemonians had no publick treasury Because those that must keep the Keys might plunder it said he As much as to say the private people were the best guardians from whom they might have it upon occasion Anaxilas said that the greatest advantage of Kings was that they could not be out-done in good Deeds Being asked why the Ephores did not rise from their Seats before the King 'T is because they are Ephores replyed he As much as to say those Magistrates were to inspect the Kings actions A Samothracian Priest asking Antalcidas according to their custom upon the point of being imitated in those Mysteries what was the greatest crime he had ever committed God knows said he Which was to say he would not tell him An Athenian reproaching the Lacedemonians of their Ignorance It is true said one that you could never yet teach us to do any evil Another bragging how the Athenians had often drove them back from their City That is a reproach said he that we cannot cast upon you Because they never durst approach them Being interrogated of the way to gain love To speak nothing but what is pleasing and do nothing but what is useful replyed he A Declamator willing to read the praises of Hercules to him who is it said he that blames him Agesilaus having been wounded in a battle against the Thebans he told him it was no more then he deserved for having taught them in spite of their teeth to make War For this reason Lycurgus forbad them to make War too often upon the same Enemy He called the Youth the Walls of Sparta and said their Empire extended as far as they could lance their Javelins Some asking him wherefore the Lacedemonians wore such short Swords To joyâ— with the Enemy the nearer said he Antiochus having heard that Philip had given to the Messenians a Country yet contended for Hath he given them Forces likewise to defend it said he Because without that they could not preserve it Arigea said to one who was commending another mans Wife It belongs only to he own Husband to know her Or an honesâ— Woman is known only to her own Husband As they were commending the saying oâ— Cleomenes that we must do good to our Friends and harm to our Enemies Not so said Ariston we must do good to all to preservâ— the one and convert or gain the other This is likewise a saying of Socrates One having made a Funeral Oration in praise of some Athenians who were slain in a defeat What praises said he do not the Victors deserve if the vanquished are so praise-worthy Whilst they were praising one that he was gentle and mild to all the World What said he even to the Wicked To teach us that one cannot be merciful to those without being cruel to the good An Orator being blamed for having said nothing at a Feast Those that know how to speak replyed he know also how to be silent Or know when they ought to speak Archidamus being asked who was the Master of Sparta The Laws said he and next them the Magistrates A Musician being highly commended What commendations said he will you give a virtuous man To teach that nothing is very commendable but Virtue Another saying here is an excellent Musitian that is as if one should say here is an excellent Cook setting the same value upon all that belongs to the pleasing our senses But that is a little Barbarous Some body promising to give him excellent Wine That will only serve to spoil the tast of my ordinary drink said he Or to make me Drink more then I should and weaken my vertue Two men being come to him to be their Arbitrator he made them swear they should stand to what he said then ordained them not to stir thence till they were agreed From out of a Temple to which he had led them He would not suffer his Daughters to accept of some fine Garments which Denys the Tyrant had sent them Because they would appear more homely said he As it is said of Country Brides the more they are trick'd the â—glier they look or that they might esteem of 〈◊〉 Ornament but vertue Seeing his Son being but young Fight with too much eagerness A bate your courage my Son said he or increase your Strength To shew we must match the one with the other Archidamus replyed to Philip who wrote too Insolently to him after the battle of Cheronea If thou measurest thy shadow thou wilt not â—ind it longer then it was before A celebrated Physician neglected his Art to addict himself to Poetry wherein he Succeeded not well Wherefore wilt thou change thy quality of a good Physician for an ill Poet said he Some advising him to carry the War a long way from his own Country That is not the most important business said he but to gain the Victory Being applauded for having won a battle He said it
quality Demarat being a little rudely treated by Orontus told those who began to murmur at it It is those who flatter us that do us hurt and not those that treat us ill Being asked why such as lost their Bucklers were punished at Sparta and not those that threw away the rest of their Arms It is said he because they are permitted to forsake their own Defence but not that of others The joyning of several Bucklersâ— served as a kind of a Rampard to the bastaillon He said of a man that play'd well on the Lyre that man fools pleasantly enough In an Assembly where he was silent being asked whether it were out of stupidity or prudence A fool said he cannot hold his Tongue One having asked him wherefore he fled from Lacedemonia where he was King It is said he because the Laws have more power then the Sovereign A Persian Lord that had revolted from his Prince returned to Court at the instance of Demarat and when the Prince would have put him to Death It would be shameful said he to take away his life now he is your Friend since you could not do it while he was your Enemy Pyrrbus endeavouring to oblige the Lacedemonians to restore their King Cleonyme If thou art a God said Dercillidas we do not fear thee because we have done no ill and if thou art a man we are as brave as you can be An Ephory cutting the two Strings which a famous Musician had added to the Lyre Art not thou ashamed said he to corrupt Musick thus by rendering it low and effeminate whereas it was loud and Masculine Eudamidas told a Philosopher who talked of the art of War that none could discourse knowingly of it that had not been wakened by sound of Trumpet Or have practised what one would teach When they would have obliged him to make War upon the Macedonians after the Persians defeat It is not said he the same thing to have to deal with a thousand Sheep as with fifty Wovles Some speaking in praise of the City of Athens No man said he is become the better for having been thereâ— Another observing that the Lacedemonians were corrupted in Strange Countries but none said he are corrupted in Lacedemonia Alexander at the Olympick Games having caused Proclamation to be made that all such as were banished should be restored except the Thebans That is severe to them said he but it is Glorious Because Alexander feared them Observing an old Philosopher busy himselâ— still in the Search after Vertue When is it that the will put it in practice said he Another saâ—ing that none but a wise man could be a great Captain That 's very fine said he but it should be some great Captain that affirms it It being asked of a Lacedemonian wherefore the Ephori did Justice to private Persons To accustom themselves said he to do it to the Enemy They were the Soveraign Magistrates Having heard that at Athens they had condemned one because he did nothing Shew me said Herondas any one they have condemned for living nobly Because the Lacedemonians did nothing Upon the point of giving battle Agis would have sent home to Sparta an old man of Fourscore years to save him from danger Where can I find said he a braver place to dy in and would not go He dyed at his feet The Satrape of Caria having asked of Hippocratidas what treatment he would shew to a Lacedemonian who had not revealed a conspiracy If he were your Friend said he he hath deserved Death if not to be banished for not having courage enough to adhere to Vertue This is a little obscure Finding a young man much ashamed because he was met in ill company We ought to keep such company as will not make us blush said he One asking Leon where he should dwell to be in safety Where equallity reigns said he and whence injustice is banished at Lacedemonia At the Olympick Games seeing the Athletes making ready to take the advantage of starting upon the first Signal great Gods said he how much more passion have men for Honour then for Justice When Leonidas went forth to defend the pass of Thermopyles from whence he expected not to return his Wife asking whether he had nothing to say to her Nothing said he but only that you should marry again after my Death to some brave man that may get you Children like me The Ephori wondering he carried so few men for this enterprize Here are but too many said he to be â—lain And being asked what he would do with those few Companies Dye replyed he under the pretence of obstructing the Enemies passage To another that put the same question he said that all Greece did not equal those Enemies in number but these alone equall'd them in valour and being arrived let us lose no time said he the Enemy advances we must either dye or conquer Some body telling him aloud the Enemy approaches us and we them said he One telling him to amaze him that the very Sun would be darkned with the Persians Arrows The better said he we shall fight in the shade then Xerxes having sent him word that agreeing with him he would bestow the whole Empire of Greece upon him I had rather dye for my Country replyed he then command it unjustly He added that Xerxes deceived himself in believing it a Vertue to usurp anothers right That Prince having sent to him to Surrender his Arms he answered He should come and fetch them Being asked wherefore brave men preferred Death to life Because they hold one by Fate and the other from their Vertues said he Leotychides accused for being changeableâ— It is not I that change replyed he but the times Or affairs One asking him the way to preserve whâ—â— he had not to expose it to Fortune said he As some were telling another of that name that a Slanderer had spoken ill of him That is said he because a Slanderer can speak well of none The Prognosticators making it a great Prodigy that a Serpent had wound it self round the Key of his Chamber-Door No said he but it would be one if the Key should wind it self about the Serpent This alludes to that of Cato of the Mouse that had nibbled the Stockin A distressed wretch who was initiated in the Mysteries of Orpheus asserting that all such who were so should be thrice happy after their Death Why doest thou not die immediately then said he Lysander being reproached for doing things unworthy of Hercules from whom the Lacedemonians drew their Original We must piece the Foxes furr said he to the Lyons skin where it wants Alluding to Hercule's his Lyon Those of Argos alledging better reasons then the Lacedemonians upon some difference betwixt them He that hath the best Sword said he will have the most right This smells of the corruption of that Age for
there were two things to be feared the Envy of Friends and the Hatred of Enemies Anacarsis bid them tell Solon coming to see him that it was a Stranger who sought his Friendship Go and let him know replyed Solon that it is in his own Country he should make Friends and not amongst Strangers then coming in briskly to him I am in my own Country said he He was come to dwell in Greece He said the best Ship was that which was Arrived in Port and replyed to those that asked him Whether there were more Living or Dead Amongst which do you reckon those that are Sailing Another said those that are asleep Being asked whether there were any Musick in his Country He replyed that there was not so much as any Vines To show that was the Prompter to debauch He likewise said there were two sorts of Grapes the one Sweet the other Sowre To note the different effect of Wine in the divers use of it An Athenian reproaching him that he was a Scythian My Country said he is a shame to me and thou art a shame to thy Country To a Debauched man that did some Extravagancies he said if he could not bear Wine better in his youth he should be forced to drink Water in his old Age. He said that the publick Market Place was the Theatre of Injustice Because of the frauds committed in trade That Drunkenness was a lesson for Sobriety Because of the inconveniencies one endures and the infamy that follows the Greek saies the sight of Drunkards But my expression extends yet further That the Tongue was the worst and the best part of man Or member for the ill and the good it can do That the prosperity of the wicked was the affliction of the good That in Greece it was the Ignorant that gave judgement and the wise that were judged Because the common people presided in those sports of which they understood little regulated the Politicks in which they understood yet less and called the Generals to account without any Skill or Knowledge of the Military Art at all He wondered that at Feasts they began with little Glasses and concluded with great and thus Drank small Draughts when they were thirsty and greater when thirst was gone But otherwise their thirst would have been abated too soon and by consequence the pleasures of a Debauch could not have lasted He was Slain in Scythia attempting to bring in the Grecian Customes and said dying that the Envy which had spared him amongst strangers had murthered him at home To a Grecian who reproached him that he was a Barbarian He replyed thou wouldst be so in my Country as I am in thine Myson said that we must not judge of Things by the Words but of Words by the Things They are the Rulâ—â— and by consequence the only Measure Some admiring that he laughed to himself being alone 'T is for that Reason I laugh said he He loved no company When Anaxagoras his Kindred reproved him for that he took no care of his Wealth Do you take Care of it then replyed he and gave it them Note the saying of Cicero that there is nothing so Foolish but hath been said by some Philosopher One might add done Some body finding fault with him that he cared not for his Country You deceive your self said he pointing to the Heavens And therefore he said he was Born to contemplate the Sun and Stars Being twitted that he was deprived of his Country by his Exile as that is of me replyed he Diogenes said as much Of Mausoleus Tomb he said it was Gold turned into Stone The same may be said of all stately Buildings As some were bemoaning that he must dye in a Forraign Land The way to the other World said he is as near from one place as the other Pericles endeavouring to dissuade him from the resolution he had taken to dye When one would have the light of a Lamp to continue said he they put some Oyl to it He was in want He said that knowledge did as much hurt to such as knew not how to use it as it did good to others That Age and Sleep did by little and little teach us the way to Death That of all those whom we held to be happy there was not one that was so Socrates having received a kick will you not â—esent it said some No more replyed he â—hen if an Ass had struck me Of Heraclitus's Works he said that what he understood was very exquisite and he believed that what he did not understand was so too but that it required a good Diver to go to the bottom Because of their profoundness Alcibiades having bestowed a great deal of Ground upon him to build This is said he â—ike one that should bestow a whole Oxe Hide â—o make one pair of shoes As having no â—â—eed of a great House being but poor In a Fair beholding a multitude of Wares â—nd diversity of Merchandize How many â—hings I have no need of cryed he He was wont to say there is no Sauce like a good Appetite and that Water seemed good to the thirsty He said that knowledge and ignorance were the Principles of good and evil and that not only Nobility and Riches were no goods But that they caused many evils As some were reproaching Antisthenes that he was Born of a Thracian Mother That is said he because from two Athenians so great a man could not have proceeded Because of the Luxury and the softness of Athens He learned Musick in his old Age saying it was never too late to learn Or it was always time enough to learn Observing some were paying very dear for Fruits before the due season he asked whether they despaired that Season would eveâ— come While they were Acting a Tragedy of Euripides where he Scoffs at Vertue he wenâ— away saying it was a shame they took care to keep a Slave secure and yet suffered so precious a thing to be cast away Some body asking his advice whether hâ— should Marry or not which soever you do you will repent said he Because we arâ— ever wearied with our present condition finding thâ— inconveniences His Wife being offended that he but Sleâ—derly treated some people of Fashion If theâ— are worthy men said he they will be contented if not I do not care to pleaâ—â— them He said of those that were afraid to speaâ— before the People that they dreaded thoâ—â— in Companies whom they despised Single One of his Scholars having nothing to give him gave himself to him Thou doest not think said he what a great Present thou hast made me for since every thing was made for man man is more worth then any thing else that can be given When it was told him that he was Condemned to Death by the Athenians and they said he by Nature But it is unjustly added his Wife Wouldst thou have it to be justly replyed he The day he was to Drink
His Vessel laden with Purple being broâ—en to pieces by Storms at the Port of Athens â—eturned Philosopher and said that he had â—ot so much suffered by his Shipwrack in that â—â—rt as he had found a safe Port by his Sipwrack A Young man asking him some unhandsome â—ings he showed him a Looking-glass to â—ew whether that were becoming his Age. â—cause Bashfulness is the best complexion for â—â—â—th Some body telling him that he did not like â—iâ—thenes he asked Whether he could reâ—â—t any remarkable good Sentence out of his â—ritings No replyed the other Then said he 〈◊〉 are an unjust judge not to remember the â—od as well as the bad in him But t is orâ—uryin men to take more notice of the defects 〈◊〉 of the perfections of an Author Another saying that the discourse of a â—losopher ought to be short and his Syllaâ—es too if possible said he To a man that talked too much he said â—â—at his Ears were turned into Tongue and â—â—ded that Nature had bestowed two 〈◊〉 for one Tongue to teach us that we â—old hear twice more then we spake He said that if a Wise man ought not to â—â—re as some would maintain then nothing â—old be more miserable then beautiful Woâ—â— that should be Loved only by Fools That the Wisest were not Wise in all things â—other said at all times and that the Wise â—â—re ignorant in the most vulgar things That one part of knowledge consisted iâ— the being ignorant of such things as ought noâ— to be known He had always in his mouth that sayinâ— of one of the Ancients who striking one 〈◊〉 his Scholars that played the Huffe told himâ— that virtue did not consist in greatness buâ— greatness in virtue In like mauner said hâ— there is nothing more unbecoming then Pridâ— especially in Youth and censured a Youâ—â— man that talked too haughtily there beiâ—â— nothing that Sutes so well with green Yearâ— as modesty As well in Speech as Habit Gaâ— and Countenance He said a true Friend was another seâ— He compared those that speak well anâ— yet Acted no better then others to the Coâ— of Alexandria which was fair to look on bâ— of no more value then other money Against Publick Acclamations he saiâ— that an Auditor ought to be so far transportâ— with a curious discourse as to leave him â— time Or to make one forget to clap his hands A Scholar finding fault that he did not câ—â—rect him it is replyed he because I dispâ— of your Learning He said that a small matter gave the pâ—â—fection to a piece of Work tho that perfectiâ— were no small matter His Servant crying out while he was beâ— nig him for Pilfering I was predestinatâ— to Steal and to be beaten too said 〈◊〉 Observing a Fellow who belonged to Friend of his all bruised with beating Ifâ— said he to that Friend the marks of thy Fury A Young perfumed Gallant being in comâ—any where he was who is it that smells of the Woman here said he For that perfums 〈◊〉 not so becoming to men Interrogated how he Governed himself in â—ase of injuries Like those replyed he that â—end back an Ambassador without an answer As â—she said without any Resentment Crates pulling him away from Stilpon by the Cloak he told him It was by the Ears one should â—raw a Philosopher away Or by Reason and Persuasion Some Ambassadors from a Prince having â—reated him and admiring he spake never a â—ord they asked him afterwards what they â—ould tell their Prince of him Tell him â—eplyed he that you have seen an old man â—â—at could hold his Tongue at a Feast As a â—ing difficult enough A Disciple of Cleanthes asking his Master â—herefore he drew Water he told him draw I Drink I Water my Garden c. 〈◊〉 do every thing to gain virtue Or to beâ—e Wise. He endured the Raillery or Scoffs of his â—onarades and when they called him Ass he â—old them he wore only the Trappings of 〈◊〉 Such he called his Doctrine To those that reproached him for his Timeâ—osness he replyed it was that which kept 〈◊〉 from running into wickedness Or 〈◊〉 failing He preferred Poverty to Riches and theâ— Labours of Husbandry to other Exercises Some body overhearing him chiding himself said whom do you talk to To a manâ— replyed he that is not Wise in his Gray-hairs Or that wants Wit in old Age. It being said that Arcesilas Banished all virtue by his discourse He Establishes it said he by his Works Whereupon Arcesilas hinting that he did not love Flattery It is true saiâ— he that it were a lye to say that Arcesilaâ— said one thing and did the other Being asked what precept he would givâ— his Son he repeated that saying of Electra Peace Peace March slowly Intimating Silencâ— and Moderation A Lacedemonian saying that Labour waâ— a good thing he told him he came of good Race From Hercules whose Labours werâ— extoll'd Imagining a Young man to whom he talkeâ— did not hear him he asked him doest thoâ— hear me And he replying Yes Whereforâ— do not I preceive it my self said he To shoâ— that we must give some token of our attention A Poet saying one day in the Publicâ— Theater Those that are hurried with the fury Cleanthes He replyed nothing for whiâ— the People applauding him obliged the Pâ—â—et to crave his Pardon but he said thâ— Hercules and Bacchus could endure well enougâ— to be affronted every day in the openâ— Theâ—â—ter He said to a man that was talking to himself that he should have a care he did not converse with a wicked Person Or thou dost not talk c. Some Scoffing at his old Age It is true said he I ought to have departed long since but finding my self healthy and vigorous I stay yet He took Sneezing for a Mark of too much tenderness Having Fasted some days to cure a distemper he said since he must dye once and was now so forward on his way he would go thorough And so refusing to eat tho his distemper were quite gone he dyed Chrysipes being reproached that he did not do like other men replyed if I had done like others I should not have been where I am A great Philosopher Some body enquiring of him for a Master for his Son he named himself at which the other admiring If I had known said he any one more able then my self I would have named him And indeed it was said that if there were no Chrysipes there would be no Stoick Zenon being discovered of a Conspiracy against a Tyrant and being put on the Wrack and examined accused or named all the Tyrants Friends and after they were all put to Death the Tyrant asking him if there were any other No said he there are none but thy self that hast deserved to dye He called Instrumental musick a consort of Nerves or rational Guts He said one might know by their Dreams whether one had made a Progress in virtue Crantor
him double his usual Price Because said he I must both teach him to speak and to hold his Tongue A man of much Discourse Braging at Tableâ— if thou understoodest much said he thouâ— wouldest talk but little Being told he took too much for teaching he replyed that he would give twice as much to have that confidence he wanted Anacreon the Poet refusing a Princes money said that he would accept no Presents that should make his head ake But it troubles the head as much at least to be in want of money as to have more then one wants The Poet Philoxenes said to such as wondred why he represented Women bad whereas Sophocles made them all to be good that he represented them as they really were and Sophocles as they ought to be He quitted his Estate in Sicily because of the Debaucheries of that Island and said he would rather lose his Estate then his Estate should lose him To those that reproached him for his Birth he said that was part of his Glory to be beholding to none but himself for his Fortune Lysimachus asking a Poet what he desired of him what ever you please said he provided it be not your secret Pyrrhus having sent for some Young People that had spoken ill of him in their Cups instead of denying it they told him We had said a great deal more if we could have had more Wine They cunningly cast the Liberty they had taken on the effects of Drunkenness which obtained their pardon A man wrongfully accused before Augustus said after he had justifyed himself that another time he should inquire into nothing that was spoken of an honest man but amongst such as were honest That Prince having composed some Verses against Pollion it being admired at that he wrote no answer It is said Pollion because it 's not safe to write against ones Master In the Latin it is not to soribble against them that can proscribe A Night Bird breaking Augustus's rest was taken by a Soldier who having received no reward for it as he hoped I had rather it should live said he and let it go again A Veteran who had served him very well in his Wars coming to recommend a business of Importance to him he gave order to one about him to recommend it for him my Lord said the Veteran when it concerned your Service I did it always my self and never served you by Proxy Augustus Seeing a Poet come towards him who was wont to present him with Epigrams made one Extempore and gave it to him The Poet then drawing out his Purse The reward said he is not worthy your Merits but if I had more I would have bestowed it on you This Action touched Augustus so to the quick that he made him a very greatâ— Present not taking notice of his confidence which was a secret reproach for his covetousness because he had never gratifyed him An Artisan to whom a Pythagorician owed some money being dead the Pythagorician threw the Summ into his Shop that he might not accustome himself to withhold what was another mans due The Romans asking an Ambassador whether if they should consent to a peace it would be lasting Yes replyed he if it be just Asking another what he thought his Country-men deserved for their Revolting What ever brave men can deserve said he that think themselves worthy of Liberty A man whose Field produced a much better Crop then his Neighbours being accused of Witch-craft brought all his working Utensils into Court kept in good repair and order and pointing to them said behold here is all my Sorcery and Charms of Witchcraft Caesar willing to oblige a man to Disinherit one of his Sons It is easier for you said he to make me lose them all then to make me lose one voluntarily A wicked man Swearing before the Roman People the Roman People Swore aâ—oud they would not believe him Caesar the day he was Murthered said to an Astrologer who had predicted it that day Ha well said he it is come But it is not yet gone said he Or ended The Emperor Adrian having taken an ill Secretary it was told him that with all his Power he could not make an able man of a Fool. Some Body being put to Death unjustly said amongst other imprecations against the Author of his Death may he not dye when he desires it A Seditious man having caused a good man to be assassinated when he found that he was not dead of his Wounds he Summoned him to Justice and being asked what he would accuse him for for being still alive replyed he A Roman Consul threatning a man I have that will make thee obey said he And I replyed tother have that will prevent it Or exempt me Meaning he could kill himself A man who was condemned to Death swearing he dyed innocent No matter said his Adversary so he do but dye This made him be absolv'd A General killing his Horse on a day of Battle If I am overcome said he I shall want none and if Conqueror I shall get enow others While in a civil War they were consulting to Banish all the contrary party This will only be a means said one to bring divisions amongst our selves when we shall have no other Enemies left to keep us upon our Guard A Prince that had not wept for the Captivity of his Son nor his Daughter shedding Tears for his Servant said in excuse of it that we seldom bemoan any but small afflictions for the great ones are above all complaints and expressions Euripides reproved by the People in the Publick Theatre it is to instruct you that I write said he and not to receive Instructions from you Complaining to a Poet that he had been three days about making a few Verses and the other telling him that he made a hundred in a day And thine said he will last or live but three days and mine to Eternity Menander said to an ill Poet whom they Crowned in his stead Doest thou not Blush at thy Victory A Poet being asked wherefore he did not rather chuse to be a Barrister since the gains was much greater It is not at the Bar replyed he as on the Stage where we can make the Actors say what we please A Musician whose Songs were not acceptable said to comfort himself that he Sung for himself and the Muses another said he valued not a Publick approbation he desired none but his own Some body at a combate of Gladiators seeâ—ng the People cry out upon a great Blow a Gladiator had received tho he tâ—at was â—ounded said nothing Just thus it goes with â—he World said he those that undergo most â—y little whilst others make the noise A man excessively Fat and corpulent preâ—â—nting himself to make a Speech to a ppease â— Sedition they all burst out into Laughter â—â—s said he you Laugh because I am so overâ—own my Wife is yet much bigger then my â—â—lf notwithstanding when we agree togeâ—er one
be sent to the other World in his extream old Age as the Custom then was it is because said he I have no cause to complain of it Another said it was fit to continue life till one found by Experience that Death was more to be desired then life The Ancients made away themselves in their afflictions Another said that there was nothing more Charming then Beauty Nor nothing that decayed so soon Caesar leading Cato Prisoner a Senator cryed out that he would rather be a Prisoner with Cato then at Liberty with Caesar and followed him to Prison A Philosopher said he did not abstain from Lusts out of Temperance but of Pleasure Because of the smarts that attends it It is said of old of the Mulâ—iplicity of Laws they are Marks of the Corruption of a Nation as the great numbers of Physicians are a sign of many diseases A Judge refusing a Present from a Party Said it was for fear he should shew himself either ungrateful or unjust A Philosopher being asked wherefore he had not Learned Musick We do not find said he Iupiter either Singing or playing on a Fidle like the other Petty Deities in the Poets Another said of the Grandees that they do all they can to lose the use of their Feet and Hands which is the greatest Curse that can befal a man Because they make their Servants put on their Shoes and Cloaths Ride in Coaches and in a word do all they can by the Ministry of others while their own Laziness destroys or weakens them to inability of their natural Functions Some Body complaining one day of his mean Fortune he was told that whoever was not content with a little would never be satisfyed with a great deal A Philosopher accused for corrupting such as frequented him It is said he because they take that with their left hand which I present them with my right A Learned man submitting in a point disputed with an Emperour said it is not safe contending with one that hath twenty Legions at his command A Young Prince being admonished to forbear Fighting or making War till he were of riper Age I am afraid said he I should lose my courage with my Youth A Conqueror sending to demand money of some to Purchase their Peace They answered that they had no money to buy a peace withal but they had Swords to defend it The wife of Phocion dressing her self very modestly said her Husband was her Ornament and Bravery One of the Ancients said that it were easie for one to become Rich if one would become wicked This alludes to the Proverb poor and honest Another said upon the consideration of Plato and Denis the Tyrant whereof the one went into Sicily and the other was a Schoolmaster in Corinth That it was not so strange to see a Prince dethroned as a Philosopher ambitious viz. A true Philosopher A Courtier said he profer'd his Service to all the World but performed it only to that that deserved it An ill man holding his peace in company it was told him that a wicked or Treacherous man's silence was more to be apprehended then his discourse It being inquired of an old man how long he had lived But a little time replyed he and many years It being no living while we live not in ease Another being asked whether he desired to dye said it is good to be always ready to quit a falling House One restored from a long Sickness said it was but troublesome to begin the Journey again which must be gone early or late Or a trouble to return back when he was almost at his Iournies end A Statesman was wont to say that in Counsel it was not so proper to debate what should be done as what could be done Or not what was in their wills but in their power Philip of Macedon being at Variance both with his Wife and his Son and asking of Demarat whether the Greeks were in unity It becomes you well said he my Lord to iniquire after the disorders of the Grecians whilst you are at discord in your own Family When some would have persuaded a Prince to resent an Offence committed by a Drunkard Would you be angry said he with a man for running against you if his Eyes were Blindfolded A Prince driven from his Throne cryed out that he never knew his Friends from his Enemies till it was out of his Power to do them either good or harm A Declamator having made a very tedious discourse of the Art of War before an Eminent Captain the Captain told him he had never seen any thing so insolent It being very impertinent to speak of those things before a man that understands them better then our selves An Orator said of an arrogant Fellow that shewed but little respect towards his Prince He thinks it reflects on his Honor to stand in fear of his Sovereign One of the Ancients said that those that love too much were more troublesome to those they loved then those that hated them Some wondering at the great Poverty of an Orator it is because I know the Art of speaking better then the Art of getting said he Or I have Study'd to speak well not to grow Rich. A great Captain fallen from his Seat just before the beginning of a Battle Courage said he 't is a Sign we ought to be sitting no longer but stand up to our business A great talker that disturbed every mans Brain in the Company was told that he would certainly speak less if it were but as much trouble to him to prate so as to them to hear it A Courtier who had heaped up a great deal of Wealth said it was by returning Thanks when they did him injury A Prince inquiring of a Philosopher how he should do to reign a long time You must said he do good to all and trust but few As Nero was putting to Death the Consederates in a conspiracy against him asking an Officer of his Guards wherefore he joyned with them Because said he I could find no other remedy against your Crimes Another told him I loved you while you deserved it But I hate you since you are become a Particide Buffoon Coach-man and Incendiaty He delighted in driving a Chariot and set Rome on fire A Prince that was too easie having succeeded a Tyrant it was said that it was a great unhappyness to live under the rule of a Prince where nothing was permitted but it was not a less to live under the reign of one that permitted every thing A Prince admiring the curious Houshold Stuff of a Private Person and asking him where he had gotten all that When we enter under anothers Roof said he we should be Deaf and Dumb. A man much applauded for an Act of Valour said he had only lent his Arm and the Deities had done the Execution A Philosopher said we ought to desire of the Gods only Beauty Health and Wealth for the rest we might attain our selves The General of
the Battle of Leuctres was fought he said he wondered he could have leasure to dye in a time when they had so much to do Demosthenes said to a Thief who objected that his discourses smelt of the Lamp Meaning Study and Labour I know said he that you are vext that I keep my light in the Night time And to a Prodigal Fellow who had consumed all his own Estate and found the same fault You know that Oyl hath cost you more then ever it did me Meaning his Gaming by Night as the other Studyed When Archias who had been a Comedian advised him to forsake the Temple wherein he had Sheltred himself and put himself into Antipater's hands He told him he was no better an Orator then he had been a Comedian and that as he had never satisfyed him in one of his Qualities he should never persuade him in the other Romulus having Drank but very little at a Feast it was told him that if every Body should Drink like him the Wine would be very cheap Not at all said he but very dear for every one would Drink his fill Or as much as he could Flaminius having sent to demand an enterview of the Macedonian King and that Prince refusing to come without Hostages as pretending he was alone whereas the Romans had many other Generals I know he is left alone said he Because he had put all his Relations to Death He said of Philopemen who had great numbers of Horse and Foot but had no money to pay them that he had Arms and Legs but wanted a Belly That which made this raillery the more pleasant was that Philopemen resembled such a Figure Cato the Censor making a harangue against the Luxury of great Tables said He knew not how to make himself be understood or heard because the Belly hath no Ears He added that he marvelled how a City could subsist where they sold a Fish for more then an Ox. Jesting upon a Debauched Person who had eaten up all his Inheritance which lay along the shore he said That he was more unmerciful then the very Sea because he had swallowed what that had spared It being debated with much heat in the Senate whether they should send back all the old People that had been Banished to their own Cities To much purpose said he we make all this bustle to know whether these old people should be Buryed at their own homes or in Italy And when Polybius propounded the Restoring them also to their dignities He does said he like Vlysses who would needs return into the Cyâ—lops Den to recover his Girdle Which intimated that in contending for all he would venture to lose all A Roman who had Written their History in Greek desiring pardon if he had not succeeded well in a forraign Language That were but fit said he if thou hadst Written it by a decree of the Amphictyons As who should say by an act of Parliament Of three Ambassadors whereof one was a Fool and the two others had the Gout he said that Embassy had neither Feet nor Hands nor Head It is a little changed for the better in our Language He said to evade making Friendship with a voluptuous Person that he could not love those whose appetite was Sharper then their Wits Or whose tast was more exquisite then their judgements A Magistrate suspected to have Poysoned some body having propounded a most pernicious Law I cannot tell which is of greatest advantage said he either to Drink of the Liquor thou givest or to consent to the Laws thou propoundest One that carryed a piece of Timber which hit him crying out afterwards Beware What said he doest thou mean to hit me again Or hast thou any thing else to be aware of Of a Woman who had a lewd Debauched Son he said that when ever she Prayed for him she made imprecations against the Common Wealth He said he did not love those Soldiers who used their Hands more then their Feet on a March and their Feet more then their Hands in a Fight and Snored louder then they talked Thieves Cowards and Gormandizers A Soldier that had not been in the Battle saying he stay'd behind to guard the Camp I do not love said Scipio those that are so over-careful of their Baggage Or I do not love so much Circumspection in a Soldier One of his Friends putting in for the Consulship having waited a long time for Pompey who had promised them his assistance they were informed that he made a party for himself What do we stay here said he for a Piper as if we expected the assistance of the Gods and not of men Pompey was reported 〈◊〉 be the Son of a Piper and in their Service of â—he Gods they made use of Flutes or Flageoâ—â—tts Speaking against their Stoves and Baths he said None but Horses wanted Washing and Currying because they could not rub down themselves When he was Censor he condemned a Young man to pay a Fine for making a Pasty that represented Carthage while it was yet besieged Because said he thou hast deprived me of the Honor of taking Carthage first A wicked Fellow asking the Proconsul Sceâ—ola for an employment in his Province Thou doest not know replyed he what thou desirest for where canst thou find a better place to become Rich then in Rome where all sorts of Vice and Corruption are in their height Sylla giving some money to an ill Poet who presented him with some Verses of his aking Told him when he was returning thanks 'T is on Condition that you scribble no more Pompey angry at Cicero's railleries I would said he that he were still our Enemy that he might fear us at least if he did not respect us As they were Boasting of Caesar's Power he said that only by stamping with his Foot on the Ground he could raise up Legions Cato observing in a cause the railleries which Cicero made against the Stoicks We have said he a pleasant Consul Hinting that it was not becoming a Consul to make such railleries But Cicero was not there in quality of a Consul but of an Advocate and indeavoured to invalidate the Authority of Cato who was of that Sect which by this means he did effect Some body having reported that a wicked Villain was dead Cicero said when the News proved false the Devil take the Lyars It being afterwards doubted again well there is yet good hopes said he and the Freeman of him who was said to be dead coming with the news that all was well why then he is certainly dead replyed he A Fellow whom they judged to be an Affrican telling him that he did not hear him And yet your Ears are bored said he The Affricans wore Ear-rings An ignorant Lawyer who came in as a witness being asked a question and answering that he knew nothing of it Thou thinkest perhaps said he we are speaking of Law Metellus reproaching him that he had lost more by his witnessing against him
I put it on His Nomenclator who was a little defective in his memory going into the Market-place Take said he some letters of recommendation for thou knowest no body These Nomenclators made profession of knowing every body that so one might call them by their name◠when they saluted or met them Which was then ◠Mark of Honor and at present of contempt A man much in debt dying very old Le◠them buy his Bed for me said he it must be a very good one since he could Sleep so quietly in it under such Circumstances Those of Terragone coming to Congratulate him because a Branch of Palm-Tre◠sprung up upon an Altar consecrated to him It is a sign said he you have not often mad◠Fires there on Some body having made an Idle request to him and he observing another that stood ready to make a Second much like it I shall no sooner grant what you desire said he but shall grant what he requests likewise Being informed that Herod had put his own Son to Death he said he would rather have been his Hog then his Son The Iews killed no Swine because they eat none Being displeased that his Daughter kept only Young People about her and pointing to Livia who had none but such as were Aged Those were Young replyed she when she too◠them but are grown old in her Service Tiberius having seized on the Empire and out of Modesty refusing the proffers made him by the Senate it was said that others could hardly make good what they promised and he hardly promised what he made good◠A Grammarian whom he went to Rhodes to visit having put him off for Seven days he did no more but only put him off for Seven Years when he was Emperour and the other came to visit him Caligula called Livia a Gowned Vlysses and said that Virgil had no Wit and less Learning and that the Style of Titus Livius was too much extended and too much neglected and his Language relished of the Peasant A Senator going from Rome into the Country to be Purged and desiring a Prolongation of time he said They ought to Bleed him since Purging was ineffectual and so caused him to be put to Death A Judge falling asleep at a Publick Sale and nodding often with his Head he awarded him to pay an immense Summ for somewhat that was set up to be sold saying he made a Sign with his Head that he would have it at that price demanded for it When he Gamed he would Swear at every turn that his Chance was so and so and then Sweep up the stakes and going forth one day torefresh himself whilst another play'd his hand he confiscated the Estates of a couple of Wealthy Citizens and at his return said that he had never plaid a better Game Clodius complaining of his Poverty whilst those about him took from every one with both Hands he was told that if he would but go Snips with his Officers he might soon become Rich enough Nero having Poysoned him with a Dish of Mushrums◠did ever after call that Meat the Food of the Gods Because they consecrated the Emperours after their Death Having sent some to kill a Consul while he was at a Feast when he heard how much the rest of the company were affrighted he said they had paid dearly for the Honor of Eating with a Consul Being necessitated in his Flight to Drink some Water out of a Brackish Slough he said that that was none of Nero's Ptisane Vespasian informed by one certain Florus that he must Pronounce the O in the Latin words very open or broad the next Morning he saluted him by the name of Flaurus Having made a Present to a Lady that was Enamour'd with him his Treasurer asking how he should put that down in his account Put it replyed he to a Lady that thought me Handsome This is the more pleasant because he was very homely and ill favour'd looking like one that sits crowding on a Close-stool when too much bound which occasioned that repartee from a jeaster whom he would needs engage to say something I'l◠stay only till you have done your business Or empty'd your Belly One that waited upon him requesting a Favour from him for one whom he called his Brother he took this man aside and inquiring what he was to give him for doing it would needs have the Money himself and then told his Servant go and look thee out another Brother for this is mine Another time observing his Coach-man would needs stop and new Shoe his Mules to give one an opportunity to speak with him He afterwards asked him how much he had got for his shooing and would needs have the one half of it A certain City having designed or decreed to set up a Statue for him he told the Deputies that were sent to him about it I will have it here said he holding forth his Hand and made them pay down the money that was for it The Sepulchre of the Emperors opening of it self and a Comet appearing he said in a jeasting way that the first Prodigy concerned a Lady who was now forgotten being of the Caesars Family and the other the Parthian King who wore long Hair Dying he said he felt he was becoming a God As much as to say he was dying because they consecrated Emperours after Death Domitian said of one that trick'd up himself I wish I were as Handsome as such a one takes himself to be An old man having caused his Gray-locks to be dyed of a Youthful Colour requesting somewhat of the Emperour Adrian I have already refused your Father the same thing said he Alexander told another that he should rather change his Knees then his Hair Because old Age is most defective there and his Father added that such men were not to be trusted and set such a one aside from his place of Iudicature Knowing that a Woman had made some Secret reproaches to her Husband and hinting somewhat of it to him when he saw him Hath my Wife written the same things to you as she did to me replyed the Husband A Grecian whom Marcus Aurelius had sent for to be his Sons Tutor saying to him at his first approach that it was the Scholars part to go to the Master and not the Masters to come to the Scholar It has proved an easier thing for this man said the Emperour to come from Greece into Ità ly then from the City of Rome to the Princes Palace To tax his pride Heliogabulus called cowardly Senators long Gowned Slaves He said the price of Meats served to whet the appetite and could not relish or eat of such Food as was cheap Some condemning his great expence when he was but a private man I will be the sole Heir to my self said he Meaning he would devour all and leave nothing A Prince who Murthered his Brother having taken the name of Parthique afterwards it was said he ought to take that of Getique