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 state or condition could use. peror writ a new rescript, thus: abuse it. The em 165. 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 shewed 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 amongst the Romans, as king is with us. 166. When Croesus, for his glory, shewed 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. 167. 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. 168. Plato reprehended severely a young man for entering into a dissolute house. The young man said to him; why do you reprehend so sharply for so small a matter? Plato replied, but custom is no small matter. 169. Archidamus, king of Lacedaemon, having received from Philip king of Macedon, (after Philip had won the victory of Chaeronea, 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. 170. 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. 171. Plato was wont to say of his master Socrates, that he was like the apothecaries galleypots; that had on the out-sides apes, owls, and satyrs; but within, precious drugs. 172. Alexander sent to Phocion a great present of Phocion said to the messenger; why money. 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 think so, pray let him suffer me to be so still. 173. 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, pick'd quarrels with him, by making impossible demands; otherwise threatening war; and now at that present had demanded of the sea. Whereunto one of the him, to drink up wise men said, I would have him undertake it. Why, saith the ambassador, now 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. 174. 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 Grecia, 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. 175. The Lacedamonians 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. 176. 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 being overthrown; but then Fabius came down from the high grounds, and got the day. Whereupon Hannibal said; that he did ever think that the same cloud that hanged upon the hills would at one time or other give a tempest. 177. 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 sharper senators said, you. have often broken with us the peace, whereunto have sworn ; I pray, by what god will you swear Hanno answered: by the same gods that punished the former perjury so severely. you 178. One of the seven was wont to say; that laws were like cobwebs; where the small flies were caught, and the great brake through. 179. Lewis the eleventh of France, having much abated the greatness and power of the peers, nobility, and court of parliament, would say, that he had brought the crown out of ward. 180. There was a cowardly Spanish soldier, that in a defeat that the Moors gave, ran away with the foremost. Afterwards when the army generally fled, this soldier was missing. Whereupon it was said by some, that he was slain. No sure, (saith one) he is alive; for the Moors eat no hare's flesh. 181. Anacharsis would say, concerning the popular estates of Grecia, that he wondered how at Athens wise men did propose, and fools dispose. 182. When Queen Elizabeth had advanced Raleigh, she was one day playing on the virginals, and my lord of Oxford, and another nobleman stood by. It fell out so that the ledge, before the jacks, was taken away, so as as the jacks were seen my lord of Oxford, and the other nobleman smiled, and a little whispered. The queen marked it, and would needs know, what the matter was? My lord of Oxford answered; That they smiled to see, that when jacks went up, heads went down. 183. Sir Thomas More, (who was a man, in all his life-time, that had an excellent vein in jesting) at the very instant of his death, having a pretty long beard, after his head was upon the block, lift it up. again, and gently drew his beard aside, and said; This hath not offended the king. 184. Demonax the philosopher, when he died, was asked touching his burial. He answered, Never take care for burying me, for stink will bury me. He that asked him, said again; Why would you have your body left to dogs and ravens to feed upon? Demonax answered; Why, what great hurt is it, if having sought to do good, when I lived, to men; my body do some good to beasts, when I am dead? |