Papers a Speech concerning the changing of the form of Government And being about to publish it his Friends told him He ought not to Rake Lysander out of his Grave but rather bury his harangue with him Because it is dangerous to reveal what may hurt us Those that were Betroathed to his Daughters refusing to Marry them after his decease because he Dyed Poor the Ephori condemned them to pay Fines Because they had shewed more regard for Wealth then for their Faith At their return from a Battle a Lacedemonian being asked whether those that were slain were not the bravest Fellows Death said he must be very cunning to distinguish between Cowardize and Valour Some admiring the happyness of a Merchant who had many Vessels I do not value said a Lacedemonian a happyness exposed to the mercy of the waves A Lacedemonian beholding his Son brought home from a Battle with seven mortal wounds and all in Honorable places I do not weep for thee my Son said he it is the cowards should be wept for Philip being entred into Laconia some body said to a Lacedemonian what will you do now poor People We will dye replyed he for we have not learned to serve They answered to the demands that Prince made them with one word no. Antipater requiring of the Lacedemonians Fifty Young men in hostage they rather chose it should be Women or Ancient men lest their Youth should be corrupted with Forraign manners and when he threatned unless they would obey him If thou commandest us said they things worse then Death we will rather chuse to dye An Aged man at the Olympick Games running about every where to find a Seat no sooner came near the Lacedemonians quarters but all the Young men rose up which being observed with great Acclamations Great Gods said he all the Grecians know what Vertue is but there are none but the Lacedemonians that put it in practice Aged men were much Honored and respected amongst them whereupon one said pleasantly enough that it was an advantage no where but in Lacedemon to grow old A poor Fellow craving an Almes of a Lacedemonian He that gave thee the first said he ' ruined thee Because that incouraged his Idleness One having desired an offering of a Lacedemonian I do not value those Gods replyed he that are more Beggarly then my self Or that wants the Assistance of men Hearing an Orator very glib in a Discourse Great Gods said he how fast that Fellow's Tongue waggs Not setting any value on his Eloquence Another being asked what he thought of a Poet of those times said He is a fit Instrument to corrupt Youth Because of the Licentiousness of the Poetry of those times A couple of Lacedemomans having freely offered themselves to Death to expiate the crime committed against the Persian Ambassadors the King being astonished at their bravery and intreating them to stay with him We cannot said they live without those for whom we are willing to dye A Lacedemonian not being able to obtain Audience of a Prince who excused it by Reason of his indisposition Tell him replyed he that I did not come hither to Fight with him but to speak to him Another spying a Ghost whilst he was crossing over a place of Burial in the night time What doest thou come hither for Miserable Wretch said he to dye once agen and presented the point of his javelin to him A Lacedemonian having obtained leave to precipitate himself withdrew after he had observed the height of the fall and being Scoffed at for it I did not Think the favor they had done me would require a Second to put it in Execution He meant Resolution Another in a Battle hearing a Retreat founded just at the instant he was giving his Blow It is better said he to obey the Law then to kill an Enemy and so withdrew himself It being told a Lacedemonian who was worsted at the Olympick Games that his Adversary was too Strong for him Not so replyed he but too Skilful In Lacedemon they made Wrestling only an Exercise but had no teachers of that Art Fifty thousand Slaves being taken and carried away at one time out of Laconia How are we eased of a world of Rascals said a Lacedemonian Another who gloried in his Victory at the Olympick Sports and who refused a great Sum of Money if he would yield the Conquest being asked what his Reward would be to March said he crowned before the King For so Valour was Honored by them A Lacedemonian being overthrown and ready to be thrust through behind Strike me cryed he in the Forepart that my Friends may not blush for me when I am Dead A Lacedemonian Tutor being Interrogated what he would teach his Disciple Honor replyed he For that all the Precepts are contained in that Another said that a good tutor served to make that which was Vseful to become Pleasant A Lacedemonian being Sentenced to Death said he was glad they had condemned him to a Fine which he could easily pay down Another said the Lacedemonians spake but little because there was nothing so much like silence Or so near to silence That Calumny was so much worse then Injustice as a Traitor is worse then an open Enemy At Sparta it was usually said that those who were free were absolutely so and those who were Slaves the same By Reason of the full Liberty of the one and the extreme Servitude of the other APOPHTHEGMES OF SOME LACEDEMONIAN Women BRasidas being slain in Thracia his Mother enquired of some Ambassadors of that Country whether he dyed like a brave man and they having replyed that he was unparalell'd You deceive your selves said she there are many still in Macedonia that excel him The Daughter of King Cleomenes observing an Ambassador that made great promiâ—es to her Father Send away that stranger â—aid she lest he corrupt you Seeing his Servant one day dressing him she â—yed out that he had no hands And meeting another that let his Train drag after him out of State He does not so much as understand the Womans Trade yet said she Or could not act that effeminate part well Gyrtias when they brought home her little Son half dead with his wounds she turned out all her Friends and Servants that wept and bewailed him and said Brave people are not to be lamented but all their care must be to help to cure them Another time having received news that he was slain It was fit he should conquer or dye said she I am better satisfyed that he is dead honorably then to have lived long to no purpose Damatrias flew her Son being returned from Battle where he had behaved himselâ—â— coward-like Another did the same addingâ— he was none of hers A third sent hers worâ— there went an ill report of him which he musâ— wipe off or dye Another ran before heâ— Children who were Flying from the Enemy â— and pointing to her Belly asked
read by the ignorant nor by the Critical because the first understood too little the others too much Or because the first cannot spye the Beauties and the others lay open allâ— be Defects An importunate Poet reading some Verses and having a great many more to read asking of a sudden of him that sate by which were the best Those you have not yet read replyed he Because he had not been troubled with them Some body pretending to be Learned because he conversed with Learned men was told that a man was not Rich by frequenting Rich People A man making a seeming Apology for a Doctor of Physick that was too Rash said He did not use to make his Patients Languish long That Science has been defined The Art of killing men by Authority And Plato said that lying was as necessary in them as in the Politicks A Scholar having promised a Rhetorician to pay him down a certain Summ when he had taught him the Art of perswasion The Master finding he delay'd it too long Sued him at Law grounding his assurance of Success on this Presumption that if he should persuade the Judges that he owed him nothing then he would be obliged to pay it because he had the Art of Persuasion and if he could not persuade them then he lost his Cause But he answered with the same way of reasoning If I can persuade them I shall pay nothing because I gain my Cause and if I cannot persuade them then he is to have nothing because he has not taught me the Art of persuasion One of the Ancients said that none buâ— Ghosts would attack the dead To hint that no man ought to write against such as were no more A Prince Learning Musick upon some Instrument having sounded one String for another and taking it ill that his Master reproved him for it If you play as King said he you may strike what Strings you please but if as a Musician you are in the wrong One said the Sea is pleasant to behold but then you must look upon it from a safe Port. Another said a man is not so Lame tho he were crippled both in Hands and Feet as when he is so in his Purse Because nought can be done without money It hath been said of Alexanders Picture that the Alexander of Philip was invincible and that of Apelles inimitable A Lacedemonian seeing some men besiged who made no sallies asked whether the Women had lock'd up the Gates after the Death of their Husbands Apelles said of a Painter who boasted that he Painted quick Yes it appears plainly Or 1 see it A man interrogated at a Feast wherefore he was so mute that others may have time to talk their fill A Musician said that if others knew the great delight he took in Singing instead of giving him money for it they would ask him to give them some FINIS Some Books Printed for William Cademan at the Popes Head in the lower Walk of the New Exchange in the Strand Folio AN Institution of General History or the History of the World by William Howel L L. D. in two Volumes Historical Collections or an Exact Account of the Proceedings of the four last Parliaments in Queen Elizabeths Reign A Journey into Greece by Sr. George Wheler in Company of Dr. Spon of Lyons in six Books containing 1. a Voyage from Venice to Constantinople 2. An Account of Constantinople and the adjacent places 3. A Voyage thorough the lesser Asia 4. A Voyage from Zant thorough several Parts of Greece to Athens 5. An account of Athens 6 Several Journies from Athens into Attica Corinth Boeotia c. with variety of Sculptures Pharamond Compleat in English an Excellent Romance Clelia A Romance in English Parthenissa Compleat in English An Historical Heroick Poem on the Life of the right Honorable Thomas Earl of Ossory with his Picture neatly Engraven on a Copper Plate Written by Elkanah Settle A Protestant Plot no Paradox or Phanaticks under that name Plotting against the King and Government The English Iereboam or the Protestant Reforming Magistrate and what the Church of England may expect from such a one Considerations Offered to all the Corporations of England containing Seasonable advice to them in their Future Elections of Burgesses to Serve in Parliament Quarto An Historical Relation of the first Discovery of the Isle of Madera The Protestant Religion is a sure Foundation c. by the right Honorable Charles Earl of Darby The Jesuites Policy to suppress Monarchy by a Person of Honor. A Warning piece for the unruly in two Visitation Sermonsiby Seth Bushel D. D. The great Efficacy and Necessity of good Example especially in the Clergy in a Visitation Sermon at Guilford by Thomas Duncomb D. D. A Sermon Preached before the King by Miles Barne Chaplainin Ordinary to his Majesty A Sermon Preach't at the Assizes at Lancaster by Henry Pigot B. D. Praise and Adoration a Sermon on Trinity Sunday before the University at Oxford 1681. By Thomas Manningham M. A. late Fellow of New Colledge in Oxford A New years Gift for Antiprerogative men or a Lawyers Opinion in defence of his Majesties Power Royal of Granting Pardons as he pleases wherein is more Particularly discuss'd the Validity of the Earl of Danby's Pardon Octavo THe Spanish History or the Differences that happened in the Court of Spain between Don Iohn of Austria and Cardinal Nitard with all the Letters and Politick Discourses relating those Affairs Rapin's reflections on Ancient and Modern Philosophy The English Princess or the Dutchess Queen a pleasant Novel Court Songs and Poems being an exact Collection The Temple of Death with other Poems by a Person of Honour Hogan Moganides or the Dutch Hudibras FINIS Cyrus Strangers Cresus Darius Xerxes Artaxerxes Longimanus Cyrus the younger Artaxerxes Mâ—mnon Parysatis Orontus Memnon Kings of Egypt Ida-Thyrse Aâ—â—as Scilures Hannibal Tigranes Gelon Greeks Gelon's Wife Hieron Epicarmus Denys the Tyrant Polyxene Denys the Tyrant the younger Agathocles Dion Archelaus Philip. And indeed it was said that it was not he but his mony that conquered Greece Alexander Because of the ingratitude of Common People Perdicas Ptolomee Son of Lagus Ptolomee-Philadelphâ— Xenophanes Antigonus A piece of about seven pence Two hundred Guineys Demetrius Antigonus Lysimachus Antipater Antiochus Antiochus Hierax Eumenes Pyrrhus The Great Antiochus Pisistratus Themistocles Myronides Aristides As was their Customs Alcibiades Lamachus Iphicrates Timotheus Or were not subject to be repented of Chabrias Or a Hare Hegesipus Pytheas Phocion Nicostrates Epaminondas Thirty or forty Shillings Pelopidas Parmenion Demosthenes Demetrius Phalereus Manius Curius Fabricius Romans Martius Coriolanus Veturia Manlius Torquatus Fabius Maximus Terentius Varro Livius Salinator Scipio the African T. Quintus Flaminius Domitius Publius Licinius Paulus Emilius * By killing himself Cato Scipio the younger Scipio Nasica Cecilius Metellus Popilius M. Drusus Q. Scevolaâ— Luctatius Catullus M. Scaurus Lucius Crassus Livius Drusus C. Marius Marcus Crassus Lucullus Fulvius Caesar. Pompey who was in Asia Scipio Father in law Pompey Cato Utica Cicero Anthony The younger Antony M. Brutus Portia Cassius Iulia. Agrippaâ— Lucia Caligula Claudius Agrippina Nero. Galba Vespasian Titus Domitian Nerva Trajan Adrian Plotina Antonine Marcus Aurelius Pertinax Severus He had passed all the Offices of the Empire Pescennius Caracalla Alexander Severus * The Greek says Freemen Aurelina Saturninus Tacitus Probus Diocletian Iulian. Customs Valentinian Theodosius the younger Customs of the Lacedemonians It follows after this same Like the Knights of Malta with whom in other things they had much resemblance In the Greek it is to suffer Injuries According to Erasmus or a Porter for making his Sack of divers colours Nabis c. But by this means the homely ones did not easily get Husbands They were whipped once a year on Diana's Altar A man and wife Agasicles Agesilaus Agesipolis Son of cleâ—mbrotus Agesipolis Son of Paâ—sanias Agis Agis the younger Agis 3. Alcamena Alexandridas son of Leon. Anaxander Son of Eurycrate Anaxilas Antalcidas Or whether he had never done an illthing Antiochus Arigea Ariston Archidamidas Archidamus sonof Xeuxidamus Archidamus Son of Agesilaus or more advantageous Astyratidas Biâ—s Brasidas Calliratidas Chariles Clearques Cleombrotus Cleomenes Damis Damidas Damonide Demarat Dercillidas Emerepe Eâ—damidas Eudemonide Eurycratidas Herondas Hippodame Hippocratidas Leon. Or for the Victory Leonidas Glorious death Leotychides Leotichides Son of Ariston Lysander Or going to be initiated Namertusâ— Nicander Panthoida Pausanias Son of Cleombrotus Pausanias â— Son of Plistanax Pedaret Plistarcus Son of Leonidas Polydore Son of Alcamenes Polycratidas Telecres Thearidas Theopompus * some Republick to It was not allowed in without a generalcon make away ones self sent â—as at Marselles Brasidas Gorâ—â— Lacedemonian women Gyrtias Damatrias Thales Philosophers Pythagoras Chilon Pittacus Bias. Periander Cleobulus Anacarsis As Tragery Musick c. Myson Anaxagoras Socrates Or a bonus Genius Aesop. Empedocles Democritus Heraclitus Timon Xenophon Aristippus On a day of rejoycing Antisthenes Xenocrates Polemon Archelaus Bion. Aristotle And in virtue Diogenes The Greek saies coyned false Money Stilpon Menedemes Theophrastes Crates the Theban Pease flat and bitter Zenon Or talked Bigg Cleanthes Chrysipes Zenon Eleaâ—s Crantor Carneades Metrocles Xenophanes Anaxarques Pyrrho Demetrius Demonax Epictetes Divers Persons A particular sort of Musiâ—k Or a man great and not a great man The younger Or beaten Pleasant King of Thrace Ulysses Polypheme King of Macedon Young Scipio Au and O make two different pronunciations in the Latin That he should â—â—ther dye his Knees Or mend them Or run after him Valens For fear of the Crocodiles in Nylus This Island was neither Scotland Nor Iâ—eland I suppose
age having advised him at his taking his leave noâ— to do any thing in his anger till he had repeated the four and twenty letters of the Alphabet bâ— took this for a hint that he was too passionate and telling him he wanted him kept him another year at Court Hearing that Alexander after his return from his Conquests was troubled to know what he should do all the rest of his life and yet it is not said he a lesser Vertue to govern a Kingdom well then to conqueâ—â— one Having caused that Princes Sepulchre to be opened to contemplate him being asked whether he would not likewise see Ptolomy I was minded replyed he to see Alexander and not a dead Carkase He said to a Nephew of his whom he was sending into Armenia I wish thee the courage of Alexander and my own Fortune and that thou mayst be beloved of the People as much as Pompey was Speaking of Tiberius he said he left a Successor that never had deliberated twice upon the same thing Either from the soundness of his Iudgment or his Constancy Two young Officers quarrelling before him in the full Senate Give ear young men said he to an old one to whom old men hearkned unto when he was young An Illustrious Grecian having committed some insolence he told him he forgave him in consideration of his Family there being none â—â—ft but himself He wrote to the Athenians who had done â—â—mething that displeased him that he was very â—ngry with them but without any design of â—oing them displeasure He said to Piso who had built a magnificent â—alace That that made him believe Rome would â—e Eternal since their structures promised an eternal duration and likewise said he would â—eave it all of Marble though he found it but of Bricks One designing to make extraordinary courtship accused Cato in his presence To defend the Laws of ones Country is the part of an honest man said he His Daughter causing her grey hairs to be pulled out he without seeming to take any notice asked her whether she would rather have no hair then such as she then had she answered no Why does your dresser strive replied he to make you bald then Observing some certain strangers that made much of little Dogs and Monkeys he asked if there were no children in their Country Because it is ordinarily such people as have no Children that do so He had alwaies this saying in his Mouth That we should do nothing pecipitately which he expressed in Greek in these words Haste you slowly and affirmed that a thing was done soon enough when it was well done To shew that Honour ought to be dearer then Interest he said he would rather bestow the right of exemption than the right of Burghership The People making complaint to him of thâ— dearness of Wine he sent them to those Fouâ—â—tains which his Son-in-Law had brought intâ— the City To oblige a Parricide to deny his Crime bâ— said to him most certainly thou hast not muâ—thered thy Father A friend of his maintaining a slanderer whâ— had often bit him You feed said he aâ— ill-natured Beast and the other replyingâ— he would turn him away if he pleased No said he It was I that made you so good Friends As he was eating at anothers a servant having by chance broken a Crystal Jarr cast himself at his feet to implore that he might not be given to the Lampries not refusing any other manner of Death for that monster of cruelty fed perhaps those Fish with humane bodies to make them more delicious At which Augustus in wrath caused all the Crystal Vessels to be broken that were left as being the instrumental cause said he of the cruelty of his Friend after he had reproached him severely for his crime An Advocate having said in a cause that such a one had spoken ill of him he reply'd you shall be revenged by speaking ill of him when your turn comes Another time he said it was enough that he could do him no ill He never recommended his Children to the People without adding If they deserve it When he was dying he asked his Friends whether he had acted his part well and spoke â—o them as they are wont to do at the end of â— Comedy Clap your hands if the Play have â—leased you Augustus having gently chid his Daughter because she had dressed her self too gawdily â—he next day she attired her self more moâ—estly and he praising her for it I dressed â—ny self to day said she for my Father and â—esterday to please my Husband She â—ad spoken true if she had said for her Galâ—ant She being exhorted to imitate the modesty of her Father said he has forgot he is a Prince but I have not forgot I am an Empeâ—ors Daughter Agrippa said a Soveraign cannot endure Subâ—ects that are greater then himself That Princes left the most difficult undertakings to others and reserved the more easie to themselves Or rather That one mustâ—â—ake the danger to ones self and leave the Honour of the thing to the Prince It is said likewise That Princes leave the Acts of Justice to the Subjects and reserve those of mercy to themselves Tiberius would not suffer any one should call him Lord it being then a divine Title nor that they should say his Sacred Employments and one telling him he was come to attend the Senate by his order No said he but by my advice He scoffed at those who after three score years of age made use of any Physician Becaâ—â—â— they ought in that length of time to have observeâ— sufficiently what would do them good and what wâ—â— hurtful He did not often change those that were iâ— Offices or Governments and gave this foâ— his reason That Flies do not bite so mucâ— when they are glutted Or fresh Leeches sucâ— most Blood The one is more for the advantage 〈◊〉 the Subject the other of the Prince Being pressed to punish the Authors of some Libels he told them That in a free Towâ— their Tongues ought to be free likewise And the Senate continuing their Complaints he added That they had other business enough to do and if once they should set opeâ— that Door they should be able to do nothing else The Treasurers of the Provinces being of opinion that the Taxes should be encreased he said The Sheep ought to be sheared but not flayed Being informed that a criminal had made away himself he said He had escaped from his vengeance And another beseeching him to hasten his Death he added That he was not yet reconciled to him And indeed his Tutor said of him when he was young That he was compounded of Dirt and Blood mingled because of his sullen and cruel Humor His Mother declared that a chast woman was no more moved at the sight of a naked man then of a Statue Caligula speaking of his Subjects said Let them hate me provided they fear me Another time he said There is
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
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
Friends said he Stand in need of no recommendations to make them do Justice Some body shewing him the Fortifications of a Place and asking him whether they were not very fine yes for Women said he Another ask'd what Women dwell there and a third said there is a very fine apartment for the Ladies A celebrated Comedian admiring that he would not speak to him and inquiring whether he knew him yes said he are not you Callippides the Buffoon Because the Lacedemonians prized nothing but vertue otherwise that profession was not infamous amongst the Grecians tho it were prohibited in Lacedemonia When some would perswade him to hear a fellow that counterfeited the Nightingale â— have several times said he heard the Nightingale it 's self A Physician who would be called Iupiter as who should say the Saviour because he had wrought some famous Cures having sent a letter to him with this Inscription Menecrates Iupiter To King Agesilaus Health He replyed King Agesilaus to Menecrates Wisdome treating him as a Fool. Some telling him that the Lacedemonians took party with the Persians No said he it is the Persian hold Parties with the Lacedemonians So to those that called the King of Persia the Great King as we say at present the Grand Siginor he said he was not greater then himself unless he were more just not measuring his greatness by the Extent of his Empire but of his Vertues Being asked whether Valour were better then Justice It would be useless said he if all men were just He added that it would likewise be of no use unless accompanied by the other He said that the Inhabitants of Asia considered as free were nothing worth but they were passable for Slaves He said that we ought to teach Children that which would be of use to them when they are men One making an ill defence for himself before the Judges yet still imploring the benefit of the Laws In vain doest thou miplore the benefit of the Law said he unless thou make a better Plea This is the sence the Strictness of words are not so When the King of Persia sought his allyance he told him that were needless for if he were a true Friend to his Country he should be so to him A Friend of his Surprising him unawares as he was Sporting with his Children Stay said he and do no mock till you have Children of your own Or till you are a Father Such as were allied to the Lacedemonians complaining that they furnished them with more Souldiers then themselves raised he made it appear that they indeed furnished them with more men but not so many Souldiers because there was not one of them but had another Trade whereas the Lacedemonians practised nothing but the Art of War Necessity obliging them to do something that was contrary to their Laws he said that they must let them lye and sleep that day and on the morrow they would wake and rise with more Vigour To teach us that the Laws are made for men and not men for the Laws The Egyptians despising him because he had no great attendance nor extraordinary Equipage I will make them know said he that Royalty does not consist in vain pomp but in great vertues Philip having razed the City of Olynthia he cannot said Agesipolis in a long time rebuild such another To teach us that we ought not to resolve upon such great cruelties but in extremity Being twitted that he had been given in hostage in his youth It belongs to Kings said he to bear the faults of their Country A Stranger telling him the Dogs of Sparâ—a were good for nothing The men were no better at first replyed he but they are improved by study and exercise When the Athenians would have chosen those of Megara to be the Umpires or Judges in a controversy they had with the Lacedemonians It were a shame said Agesipolis that a small Village should know how to do Justice better then the two Capital Cities of Greece Agis said one should not inquire how many the enemies were but where they were This sounds more brave then wise as the most part of Apophthegmes have more of Gallantry then Solidity When they would have hindred him from giving battle at Mantinea because the Enemy was much Stronger When a few people said he would command over a great many they must not be afraid to Fight them He said to one who inquired how many Lacedemonians there were There are enough to beat the Enemy Anothersaid they were but few but would do much or to much effect Or they seemed to be many in a battle To one who was commendable for nothing thing but discourse he said when you are silent you are worth nothing The Argians having rallied after their defeat and coming furiously upon him he said to his men who were astonished Courage Companions if the vanquished have so much resolution what should the Victors have In the Greek it is if the Victors are astonished what shall the vanquished do A tedious Orator asking at the end of his Speech what answer he would give to those that sent him Tell them said he that I have given thee leave to say all thou hadst a mind to Or that I have let thee talk thy fill without interrupting thee To another he said tell them that you were much puzled to make an end and I to understand you In his presence as some were praising those of Elida for their well behaving themselves at the Olympick Games What a Miracle said he that once in four years they should do their duty well He said that envious people were very Miserable in being tormented as much at others happiness as their own Misfortune Or for their not being only troubled with their own Miseries but the good fortune of others As some were advising him in a battle to let those go by quietly that were flying How shall we assault those that stand to it said he if we fear those that run One talking very Magnificently of Liberty Thy discourses said he have need of power and wealth to maintain them His Father said it ought not be wondred at â—f things grew worse and worse but it would be more wonderful if things went better since all the World grew worse Being asked the means or way how to become free by despising death replyed â—â—e Demades saying in rallery that the Lacedemonians Swords were so short the Juglers of Athens swallowed them Yet we can reach our Enemies with them said Agis When they would have had him March to the assault of a place under the Conduct of a Traytor What reason is there said he to trust the lives of so many brave Soldiers under a man that hath betray'd his own Country A wicked fellow asking him who was the best of men in Sparta he that least resembles you replyed he Agis who was the last King of Lacedemonia and had been thrust into Prison because he would
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
not foreseen it and more couragious then those that durst not disclose it When Pisistratus sent to him to know upon what Grounds he undertook to oppose him he replyed upon my old Age As having nothing more to fear Cressus showing himself to him in all his Glory and asking Whether he had ever seen any thing Finer yes said he Peacocks and Phesants By how much their Beauty and Bravery is natural and his was borrowed Nor would he style him happy till he had finished his Race all being uncertain till the time of our Death Being asked whether he had given the Athenians good Laws Yes said he the best that they were capable of He said the Laws resembled the Spiders Webs that catched only poor Flies Because the little ones only are punished the great ones escape by their interests That to make an Empire lasting the Magistrates must obey the Laws and the people the Magistrates That the Athletes were good for nothing when they were become old after it had cost them a great deal to attain it That silence was the Seal of speech and time of silence Because it marks the season when to speak and when to refrain That he still learned by growing older That he had provided no Laws against Parricides because he did not believe there were any That to prevent injuries the way was that those who were not touched by them should the first Present them That Luxury attended by Riches degenerated into Tyranny He termed Cities the common-shoar of humane Misery Or the receptacle Chilon asked one who was vapouring that he had no Enemies have you no Friends neither Both the one and the other arising from the same Principle He said the perfection of man consisted in foreseeing the future as much as it was possible to do by Reason That good men differed in this from the bad that they had none but honest hopes That Gold was the Touch-stone of man That he repented himself but of one thing in all his life having advised a Party to agree that it might prevent his Friend from being condemned That is to say to prefer Friendship to Justice Or for having refused to Iudge between two for fear of giving it against one tho he had been choson Arbitrator for that purpose That when one saies what one ought not to say one is subject to hear what one would not hear That a dishonest gain is more to beappreed then a loss because we are sorry for that but once for the other all our life time Or should bemoan that but once c. That one should not undertake what one cannot perform That the Tongue ought not to outrun the Wit but must be bridled at all times especially at Feasts Because the heat of Wine and good Chear is apt to make one say things which one would not have done fasting That the three most difficult things were to keep a Secret to forget an injury and make good use of ones leasure That Iupiter's past time was to list some up and cast others down These are called the Sports of Fortune That one should not threaten because that â—orewarnes them to stand upon their Guard That one ought not to take a Wife too well qualifyed with Beauty Birth Grandeur or Riches for fear of taking a Mistriss instead of a Wife or Mate That we must not speak evil of those that cannot defend themselves He meant it of the Dead That we should honor old Age not only upon the Score of Reason but of Interest That care may be bad of us when old Age is come That the great ones ought not to be flattered lest they become proud That to make themselves be loved as much as respected they ought to temper their Majesty with sweetness Or they should descend a little from their height That to Govern a State well one should Govern his Family well That one must ever stand upon the Guard against ones self That one should guide ones self in such a manner as not to fall into contempt nor into hatred By too much pride or too little Spirit That one should despise Death but without neglecting life That what it had of most affrightful was the Preparation towards it That one should neither desire it nor fear it Which he expressed in these Terms I will not dye but I care not if I were Dead That one should be old when one is young and young in old Age that is to say wise in one and not peevish in the other That one ought to remember kindnesses received and forget those one has done Pittacus being told that to put in execution what he had propounded they must find out an honest man The thing is then impossible said he He said that a Pardon was of more value then Repentance That is to say then revenge which is subject to repentance That of all things the Ieast ingrateful was time the most obscure things to come the most faithful the Earth and the most unfaithful the Sea That the half was worth more then the whole It is a riddle which may be expounded of divers things and particularly of Riches and of Quality the Mediums of which are by Aristotle held the best That there is nothing more certain then to dispose of the Present without waiting the Future Because of it's uncertainty He added that it belonged to Prudence to foresee it and Resolution to undergo it When it comes and is unhappy That one ought not to divulge their designs lest missing one be laughed at He ordained a double punishment to those that did any Mischief being Drunk One for the fault committed and the other for the Drunkenness When some wicked Villains were invoking the Gods in a Tempest Hold your peace said Bias and if possible let them not know that you are here An Impious Fellow asking him what Piety was He gave no answer and when the other muttered at it what hast thou to do with it said he it concerns thee not Being Judge he wept at the Condemnation of guilty Persons and said He gave one to Nature the other to the Law He said the worst of wild Beasts was the Tyrant of tame ones the Flatterer That the most difficult to undergo of all things was the change of Fortune and added that those that had ever been unfortunate were not so That hope was the most pleasing thing of life but the most esteemed was profit That it was better to be a judge betwixt Enemies then betwixt Friends because amongst the first one was sure to gain a Friend among the other an Enemy Periander said to those that asked him wherefore he retained the Dominion That it was as dangerous to quit it as to take it Or to lose it as 't is in the Greek That Kings ought to be Environed with good Will in stead of Guards that is to say that to raign Securely it is necessary to have the Affections of the People Cleobulus said
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