Parmenio said, "Sure I would accept of these offers, if I were as Alexander." Alexander answered, So would I if I were as Parmenio."

210. Alexander was wont to say, he knew himself to be mortal, chiefly by two things: sleep, and lust.

211. Augustus Cæsar would say, that he wondered that Alexander feared he should want work, having no more worlds to conquer: as if it were not as hard a matter to keep as to conquer.

212. Antigonus, when it was told him that the enemy had such volleys of arrows that they did hide the sun, said, “That fails out well, for it is hot weather, and so we shall fight in the shade.”

213. Cato the elder, being aged, buried his wife, and married a young woman. His son came to him, said; “ Sir, what have I offended, that you have brought a step-mother into your house?" The old man answered, "Nay, quite contrary, son: thou pleasest me so well, as I would be glad to have more such."

214. Crassus the orator had a fish which the Romans called Muræna, that he made very tame and fond of him; the fish died, and Crassus wept for it. One day falling in contention with Domitius in the senate, Domitius said, "Foolish Crassus, you wept for your Muræna.” Crassus replied, “That is more than you did for both your wives.”

215. Philip, Alexander's father, gave sentence against a prisoner what time he was drowsy, and seemed to give small attention. The prisoner, after sentence was pronounced, said, “I appeal.” The king, somewhat stirred, said, “To whom do you appeal?" The prisoner answered, “From Philip when he gave no ear, to Philip when he shall give ear."

216. There was a philosopher that disputed with the emperor Adrian, and did it but weakly. One of his friends that stood by, afterwards said unto him, “ Methinks you were not like yourself last day, in argument with the emperor; I could have answered better myeslf.” "Why," said the philosopher, "would you have me contend with him that commands thirty legions?”

217. When Alexander passed into Asia, he gave large donatives to his captains, and other principal men of virtue; insomuch as Parmenio asked him, “Sir, what do you keep for yourself?” He answered, "Hope."

218. Vespasian set a tribute upon urine; Titus his son emboldened himself to speak to his father of it: and represented it as a thing indign and sordid. Vespasian said nothing for the time; but a while after, when it was forgotten, sent for a piece of silver out of the tribute-money, and called to his son, bidding him to smell to it; and asked him, whether he found any offence? Who said, "No." "Why so?" saith Vespasian again; "yet this comes out of urine."

219. Nerva the emperor succeeded Domitian, who had been tyrannical; and in his time many noble houses were overthrown by false accusations; the instruments whereof were chiefly Marcellus and Regulus, The emperor Nerva one night supped privately with some six or seven: amongst whom there was one that was a dangerous man; and began

to take the like courses as Marcellus and Regulus had done, The emperor fell into discourse of the injustice and tyranny of the former time; and by name of the two accusers; and said, "What should we do with them, if we had them now?" One of them that was at supper, and was a free-spoken senator, said, “Marry, they should sup with us."

220. There was one that found a great mass of money digging under ground in his grandfather's house; and being somewhat doubtful of the case, signified it to the emperor that he had found such treasure. The emperor made a rescript thus: Use it," He writ back again, that the sum was greater than his estate or condition could use, peror writ a new rescript, thus: "Abuse it."

The em

221. Julius Cæsar, as he passed by, was, by acclamation of some that stood in the way, termed King, to try how the people would take it. The people showed great murmur and distaste at it. Cæsar, finding where the wind stood, slighted it, and said, “I am not king but Cæsar;" as if they had mistaken his name. For Rex was a surname

among the Romans, as King is with us.

222. When Croesus, for his glory, showed Solon his great treasures of gold, Solon said to him, "If another king come that hath better iron than you, he will be master of all this gold.”

223. Aristippus being reprehended of luxury by one that was not rich, for that he gave six crowns for a small fish, answered, "Why, what would you have given:" The other said, "Some twelve pence.' Aristippus said again, " And six crowns is no more with me."

224. Plato reprehended severely a young man for entering into a dissolute house. The young man said to him, "Why do reprehend so sharply for so small a matter? Plato replied, But custom is no small matter."

225. Archidamus, king of Lacedæmon, having received from Philip king of Macedon, after Philip had won the victory of Charonea upon the Athenians, proud letters, writ back to him, "That if he measured his own shadow, he would find it no longer than it was before his victory."

226. Pyrrhus, when his friends congratulated to him his victory over the Romans, under the conduct of Fabricius, but with great slaughter of his own side, said to them again, "Yes, but if we have such another victory, we are undone.”

227. Plato was wont to say of his master Socrates, that he was like the apothecaries' gallypots that had on the outside apes, and owls, and satyrs; but within precious drugs.

228. Alexander sent to Phocion a great present of money. Phocion said to the messenger, "Why doth the king send to me, and to none else?" The messenger answered, "Because he takes you to be the only good man in Athens." Phocion replied, " If he thinks so, pray let him suffer me to be so still."

229. At a banquet where those that were called the seven wise men of Greece were invited by the ambassador of a barbarous king, the ambassador related, that there was a neighbour mightier than his master, picked quarrels with him, by making impossible demands,

otherwise threatening war: and now at that present had demanded of him, to drink up the sea. Whereunto one of the wise men said, "I would have him undertake it." "Why," saith the ambassador, "how shall he come off?" Thus,” saith the wise man; “let that king first stop the rivers which run into the sea, which are no part of the bargain, and then your master will perform it."

230. At the same banquet, the ambassador desired the seven, and some other wise men that were at the banquet, to deliver every one of them some sentence or parable, that he might report to his king the wisdom of Græcia, which they did; only one was silent; which the ambassador perceiving, said to him, " Sir, let it not displease you; why do not you say somewhat that I may report?" He answered, "Report to your lord, that there are of the Grecians that can hold their peace."

231. The Lacedæmonians had in custom to speak very short, which being an empire, they might do at pleasure: but after their defeat at Leuctra, in an assembly of the Grecians, they made a long invective against Epaminondas; who stood up, and said no more than this; "I am glad we have brought you to speak long."

232. Fabius Maximus being resolved to draw the war in length, still waited upon Hannibal's progress to curb him; and for that purpose he encamped upon the high ground: but Terentius his colleague fought with Hannibal, and was in great peril of overthrow: but then Fabius came down from the high grounds, and got the day. Whereupon Hannibal said, "that he did ever think that that same cloud that hanged upon the hills, would at one time or other give a tempest.”

233. Hanno the Carthaginian was sent commissioner by the state, after the second Carthaginian war, to supplicate for peace, and in the end obtained it; yet one of the sharp senators said, "You have often broken with us the peaces whereunto you have been sworn I pray, by what god will you swear?" Hanno answered; "By the same gods that have punished the former perjury so severely."

234. Cæsar, when he first possessed Rome, Pompey being fled, offered to enter the sacred treasury to take the moneys that were there stored; and Metellus, tribune of the people, did forbid him: and when Metellus was violent in it, and would not desist, Cæsar turned to him, and said; "Presume no farther, or I will lay you dead." And when Metellus was with those words somewhat astonished, Cæsar added; "Young man, it had been easier for me to do this, than to speak it."

235. Caius Marius was general of the Romans against the Cimbers, who came with such a sea of people upon Italy. In the fight there was a band of the Cadurcians of a thousand, that did notable service; whereupon, after the fight, Marius did denison them all for citizens of Rome, though there was no law to warrant it. One of his friends did present it unto him, that he had transgressed the law, because that privilege was not to be granted but by the people. Whereunto Marius answered; "that for the noise of arms he could not hear the laws."

236. Pompey did consummate the war against Sertorius, when

Metellus had brought the enemy somewhat low. He did also consummate the war against the fugitives, whom Crassus had before defeated in a great battle. So when Lucullus had had great and glorious victories against Mithridates and Tigranes; yet Pompey, by means his friends made, was sent to put an end to that war. Whereupon Lucullus taking indignation, as a disgrace offered to himself, said; “that Pompey was a carrion crow: when others had strucken down the bodies, then Pompey came and preyed upon them."

237. Antisthenes being asked of one what learning was most necessary for man's life? answered; "To unlearn that which is nought."

66

238. Alexander visited Diogenes in his tub; and when he asked him, what he would desire of him? Diogenes answered; That you would stand a little aside, that the sun may come to me.' 239. The same Diogenes, when mice came about him as he was eating, said; I see, that even Diogenes nourisheth parasites."

240. Hiero visited by Pythagoras, asked him, "of what condition he was?" Pythagoras answered; "Sir, I know you have been at the Olympian games." "Yes," saith Hiero. "Thither," saith Pythagoras, come some to win the prizes. Some come to sell their merchandize, because it is a kind of mart of all Greece. Some come to meet their friends, and to make merry; because of the great confluence of all sorts. Others come only to look on. I am one of them that come to look on." Meaning it, of philosophy, and the contemplative life.

241. Heraclitus the obscure said; "The dry light is the best soul:" meaning, when the faculties intellectual are in vigour, not drenched, or, as it were, blooded by the affections.

242. One of the philosophers was asked; "what a wise man differed from a fool?" He answered, "Send them both naked to those that know them not, and you shall perceive."

243. There was a law made by the Romans against the bribery and extortion of the governors of provinces. Cicero saith in a speech of his to the people, "that he thought the provinces would petition to the state of Rome to have that law repealed. For," saith he, "before the governors did bribe and extort as much as was sufficient for themselves; but now they bribe and extort as much as may be enough not only for themselves, but for the judges, and jurors, and magistrates."

244. Aristippus sailing in a tempest, showed signs of fear. One of the seamen said to him, in an insulting manner : "We that are plebeians are not troubled; you that are a philosopher are afraid." Aristippus answered; "That there is not the like wager upon it, for you to perish, and for me."

245. There was an orator that defended a cause of Aristippus, and prevailed. Afterwards he asked Aristippus; "Now, in your distress, what did Socrates do you good?" Aristippus answered; "Thus, in making that which you said of me to be true."

246. There was an Epicurean vaunted, that divers of other sects of philosophers did after turn Epicureans; but there never were any Epi

cureans that turned to any other sect. Whereupon a philosopher that was of another sect, said; "The reason was plain, for that cocks may be made capons, but capons could never be made cocks."

247. Chilon would say, "That gold was tried with the touchstone, and men with gold."

248. Simonides being asked of Hiero, "what he thought of God?" asked a seven-night's time to consider of it: and at the seven-night's end, he asked a fortnight's time; at the fortnight's end, a month. At

which Hiero marvelling, Simonides answered; "that the longer he thought upon the matter, the more difficult he found it."

249. A Spaniard was censuring to a French gentleman the want of devotion amongst the French; in that, whereas in Spain, when the sacrament goes to the sick, any that meets with it turns back and waits upon it to the house whither it goes; but in France they only do reverence, and pass by. But the French gentleman answered him, "There is reason for it; for here with us Christ is secure amongst his friends; but in Spain there be so many Jews and Moranos, that it is not amiss for him to have a convoy."

250. Mr. Popham, afterwards lord chief justice Popham, when he was speaker, and the house of commons had sat long, and done in effect nothing, coming one day to queen Elizabeth, she said to him, "Now, Mr. Speaker, what hath passed in the commons house?" He answered, “If it please your majesty, seven weeks."

251. Themistocles in his lower fortune was in love with a young gentleman who scorned him; but when he grew to his greatness, which was soon after, he sought him: Themistocles said, "We are both grown wise, but too late."

252. Bion was sailing, and there fell out a great tempest; and the mariners, that were wicked and dissolute fellows, called upon the gods; but Bion said to them, "Peace, let them not know you are here."

253. The Turks made an expedition into Persia; and because of the strait jaws of the mountains of Armenia, the bashaws consulted which way they should get in. One that heard the debate said, "Here is much ado how you shall get in ; but I hear nobody take care how you should get out."

254. Philip king of Macedon maintained arguments with a musician in points of his art, somewhat peremptorily; but the musician said to him, God forbid, Sir, your fortune were so hard, that you should know these things better than myself."

255. Antalcidas, when an Athenian said to him, "Ye Spartans are unlearned," said again, "True, for we have learned no evil nor vice of you."

256. Pace, the bitter fool, was not suffered to come at queen Elizabeth, because of his bitter humour. Yet at one time, some persuaded the queen that he should come to her; undertaking for him that he should keep within compass: so he was brought to her, and the queen said, "Come on, Pace; now we shall hear of our faults." Saith Pace, "I do not use to talk of that that all the town talks of."

257. Bishop Latimer said, in a sermon at court, "That he heard