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though it had not been confirmed by miracles, yet was worthy to be received for the honesty thereof.

161. Mr. Bacon would say, that it was in his business, as it is frequently in the ways: that the next way is commonly the foulest; and that if a man will go the fairest way, he must go somewhat about.

162. Mr. Bettenham, reader of Gray's Inn, used to say, that riches were like muck; when it lay in a heap it gave but a stench and ill odour; but when it was spread upon the ground, then it was cause of much fruit.

163. Cicero married his daughter to Dolabella, that held Cæsar's party: Pompey had married Julia, that was Cæsar's daughter. After, when Cæsar and Pompey took arms one against the other, and Pompey had passed the seas, and Cæsar possessed Italy, Cicero stayed somewhat long in Italy, but at last sailed over to join with Pompey; who when he came to him, Pompey said, "You are welcome; but where left you your son-in-law?" Cicero answered, "With your father-in

law."

164. Vespasian and Titus his eldest son were both absent from Rome when the empire was cast upon Vespasian; Domitian his younger son was at Rome, who took upon him the affairs; and being of a turbulent spirit, made many changes, and displaced divers officers and governors of provinces, sending them successors. when Vespasian returned to Rome, and Domitian came into his presence, Vespasian said to him: Son, I looked when you would have

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165. Nero loved a beautiful youth, whom he used viciously, and called him wife: there was a senator of Rome that said secretly to his friend, "It was pity Nero's father had not such a wife."

166. Galba succeeded Nero, and his age being despised, there was much licence and confusion in Rome during his empire; whereupon a senator said in full senate: It were better to live where nothing is lawful, than where all things are lawful."

167. Augustus Cæsar did write to Livia, who was over-sensible of some ill words that had been spoken of them both: "Let it not trouble thee, my Livia, if any man speak ill of us; for we have enough that no man can do ill unto us."

168. Chilon said, that kings, friends, and favourites, were like casting counters, that sometimes stood for one, sometimes for ten, sometimes for an hundred.

169. Theodosius, when he was pressed by a suitor, and denied him, the suitor said, "Why, sir, you promised it. He answered: "I said it, but I did not promise it, if it be unjust."

170. The Romans, when they spake to the people, were wont to stile them, Ye Romans: when commanders in war spake to their army, they stiled them, My soldiers. There was a mutiny in Cæsar's army, and somewhat the soldiers would have had, yet they would not declare themselves in it, but only demanded a mission, or discharge; though with no intention it should be granted: but, knowing that Cæsar had at that time great need of their service, thought by that means to

wrench him to their other desires: whereupon with one cry they asked mission. Cæsar, after silence made, said: "I for my part, ye Romans." This title did actually speak them to be dismissed: which voice they had no sooner heard, but they mutinied again, and would not suffer him to go on with his speech until he had called them by the name of his soldiers and so with that one word he appeased the sedition.

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171. Cæsar would say of Sylla, for that he did resign his dictatorship: "Sylla was ignorant of letters, he could not dictate."

172. Seneca said of Cæsar, "that he did quickly show the sword, but never leave it off."

173. Diogenes begging, as divers philosophers then used, did beg more of a prodigal man, than of the rest which were present. Whereupon one said to him; "See your baseness, that when you find a liberal mind, you will take most of him.” “No,” said Diogenes, "but I mean to beg of the rest again."

174. Themistocles, when an ambassador from a mean estate did speak great matters, said to him, "Friend, thy words would require a city."

175. They would say of the duke of Guise, Henry, "that he was the greatest usurer in France, for that he had turned all his estate into obligations." Meaning, that he had sold and oppignerated all his patrimony to give large donatives to other men.

176. Cæsar Borgia, after long division between him and the lords of Romagna, fell to accord with them. In this accord there was an article, that he should not call them at any time all together in person. The meaning was, that knowing his dangerous nature, if he meant them treason, he might have opportunity to oppress them all together at once. Nevertheless, he used such fine art and fair carriage, that he won their confidence to meet all together in council at Cinigaglia; where he murdered them all. This act, when it was related unto pope Alexander, his father, by a cardinal, as a thing happy, but very perfidious; the pope said, "It was they that broke their covenant first, in coming all together."

177. Titus Quinctius was in the council of the Achaians, what time they deliberated, whether in the war then to follow, between the Romans and king Antiochus, they should confederate themselves with the Romans, or with king Antiochus? In that council the Etolians, who incited the Achaians against the Romans, to disable their forces, gave great words, as if the late victory the Romans had obtained against Philip king of Macedon, had been chiefly by the strength of forces of the Etolians themselves: and on the other side the ambassador of Antiochus did extol the forces of his master; sounding what an innumerable company he brought in his army; and gave the nations strange names; as Elymæans, Caducians, and others. After both their harangues, Titus Quinctius, when he rose up, said; "It was an easy matter to perceive what it was that had joined Antiochus and the Ætolians together; that it appeared to be by the reciprocal lying of each, touching the others forces.

178. Plato was amorous of a young gentleman, whose name was

Stella, that studied astronomy, and went oft in the clear nights to look upon the stars. Whereupon Plato wished himself heaven, that he - might look upon Stella with a thousand eyes.

179. The Lacedæmonians were besieged by the Athenians in the port of Pyle, which was won, and some slain, and some taken. There was one said to one of them that was taken, by way of scorn, "Were they not brave men that lost their lives at the port of Pyle?" He answered, "Certainly a Persian arrow is much to be set by, if it can choose out a brave man."

180. Clodius was acquitted by a corrupt jury, that had palpably taken shares of money before they gave up their verdict, they prayed of the senate a guard, that they might do their consciences, for that Clodius was a very seditious young nobleman. Whereupon all the world gave him for condemned. But acquitted he was. Catulus, the next day seeing some of them that had acquitted him together, said to them; "What made you ask of us a guard? Were you afraid your money should be taken from you?"

181. At the same judgment, Cicero gave in evidence upon oath : and when the jury, which consisted of fifty-seven, had passed against his evidence, one day in the senate Cicero and Clodius being in altercation, Clodius upbraided him, and said; "The jury gave you no credit." Cicero answered, "Five-and-twenty gave me credit: but there were two-and-thirty that gave you no credit, for they had their money beforehand."

182. Sir Henry Savil was asked by my Lord of Essex his opinion touching poets? He answered my lord: "that he thought them the best writers, next to them that writ prose."

183. Diogenes, having seen that the kingdom of Macedon, which before was contemptible and low, began to come aloft when he died, was asked, how he would be buried? He answered, "With my face downwards; for within a while, the world will be turned upside down, and then I shall lie right."

184. Cato the elder was wont to say, that the Romans were like sheep; a man were better to drive a flock of them, than one of them.

185. When Lycurgus was to reform and alter the state of Sparta, in consultation one advised, that it should be reduced to an absolute popular equality: but Lycurgus said to him; "Sir, begin it in your own house."

186. Bion, that was an atheist, was showed in a port city, in a temple of Neptune, many tables of pictures, of such as had in tempests made their vows to Neptune, and were saved from shipwreck and was asked, "How say you now? Do you not acknowledge the power of the gods?" But saith he; "Ay, but where are they painted that have been drowned after their vows?"

187. Cicero was at dinner, where there was an ancient lady that spake of her own years, and said, "She was but forty years old." One that sat by Cicero rounded him in the ear, and said; "She talks of forty years old; but she is far more, out of question." Cicero

answered him again; “I must believe her, for I have heard her say so any time these ten years."

188. There was a soldier that vaunted before Julius Cæsar of the hurts he had received in his face. Julius Cæsar, knowing him to be but a coward, told him; "You were best take heed next time you run away, how you look back."

189. There was a suitor to Vespasian, who, to lay his suit fairer, said it was for his brother; whereas indeed it was for a piece of money. Some about Vespasian told the emperor to cross him, that the party his servant spoke for, was not his brother; but that he did it upon a bargain. Vespasian sent for the party interested, and asked him; "Whether his mean employed by him was his brother or no?" He durst not tell untruth to the emperor, and confessed he was not his brother. Whereupon the emperor said, "This do, fetch me the money, and you shall have your suit despatched." Which he did. The courtier, which was the mean, solicited Vespasian soon after about his suit: "Why," saith Vespasian, “I gave it last day to a brother of mine."

190. Vespasian asked of Apollonius, what was the cause of Nero's ruin? Who answered, "Nero could tune the harp well, but in government he did always wind up the strings too high, or let them down too low."

191. Dionysius the tyrant, after he was deposed and brought to Corinth, kept a school. Many used to visit him; and amongst others, one when he came in, opened his mantle and shook his clothes; thinking to give Dionysius a gentle scorn; because it was the manner to do so for them that came in to see him while he was a tyrant. But Dionysius said to him; “I prithee do so, rather when thou goest out, that we may see thou stealest nothing away."

192. Diogenes, one terrible frosty morning, came into the marketplace, and stood naked, shaking, to show his tolerance. Many of the people, came about him pitying him: Plato passing by, and knowing he did it to be seen, said to the people as he went by; "If you pity him indeed, let him alone to himself."

193. Aristippus was earnest suitor to Dionysius for some grant, who would give no ear to his suit. Aristippus fell at his feet, and then Dionysius granted it. One that stood by said afterwards to Aristippus, "You a philosopher, and be so base as to throw yourself at the tyrant's feet to get a suit." Aristippus answered, “The fault is not mine, but the fault is in Dionysius, that carries his ears in his feet."

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194. Solon, when he wept for his son's death, and one said to him, "Weeping will not help ;" answered, Alas, therefore I weep, because weeping will not help."

195. The same Solon being asked, whether he had given the Athenians the best laws? answered, "The best of those that they would have received."

196. One said to Aristippus, 'Tis a strange thing, why men should rather give to the poor, than to philosophers. He answered, “Because

they think themselves may sooner come to be poor, than to be philosophers."

197. Trajan would say of the vain jealousy of princes, that seek to make away those that aspire to their succession, "that there was never king that did put to death his successor."

198. When it was represented to Alexander, to the advantage of Antipater, who was a stern and imperious man, that he only of all his lieutenants wore no purple, but kept the Macedonian habit of black; Alexander said, "Yea, but Antipater is all purple within."

199. Alexander used to say of his two friends, Craterus and Hephaestion, that Hephæstion loved Alexander, and Craterus loved the king.

200. It fell out so, that as Livia went abroad in Rome, there met her naked young men that were sporting in the streets, which Augustus went about severely to punish in them; but Livia spake for them, and said, "It was no more to chaste women than so many statues."

201. Philip of Macedon was wished to banish one for speaking ill of him; but Philip answered, "Better he speak where we are both known, than where we are both unknown."

202. Lucullus entertained Pompey in one of his magnificent houses: Pompey said, "This is a marvellous fair and stately house for the summer; but methinks it should be very cold for winter." Lucullus answered, "Do you not think me as wise as divers fowls are, to change my habitation in the winter season?"

203. Plato entertained some of his friends at a dinner, and had in the chamber a bed, or couch, neatly and costly furnished. Diogenes came in, and got up upon the bed, and trampled it, saying, "I trample upon the pride of Plato." Plato mildly answered, ““ But with greater pride, Diogenes."

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2c4. Pompey being commissioner for sending grain to Rome in time of dearth, when he came to the sea, found it very tempestuous and dangerous, insomuch as those about him advised him by no means to embark; but Pompey said, “It is of necessity that I go, not that I live."

205. Demosthenes was upbraided by Æschines, that his speeches did smell of the lamp. But Demosthenes said, "Indeed there is a great deal of difference between that which you and I do by lamp-light."

206. Demades the orator, in his old age was talkative, and would eat hard: Antipater would say of him, that he was like a sacrifice, that nothing was left of it but the tongue and the paunch.

207. Themistocles, after he was banished, and had wrought himself into great favour afterwards, so that he was honoured and sumptuously served, seeing his present glory, said unto one of his friends, "If I had not been undone, I had been undone.”

208. Philo Judæus saith, that the sense is like the sun; for the sun seals up the globe of heaven, and opens the globe of earth; so the sense doth obscure heavenly things, and reveals earthly things.

209. Alexander, after the battle of Granicum, had very great offers made him by Darius; consulting with his captains concerning them,

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