Page images
PDF
EPUB

patrimony, to suffice the great donatives that he had made; "That he was the greatest usurer of France, " because all his state was in obligations."

149. Croesus said to Cambyses, "That peace was "better than war; because in peace the sons did bury their fathers, but in the wars the fathers did bury their sons."

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

150. There was a harbinger who had lodged a gentleman in a very ill room, who expostulated with him somewhat rudely; but the harbinger carelessly said; "You will take pleasure in it when you are "out of it."

151. There was a cursed page that his master whipt naked, and when he had been whipt, would not put on his clothes: and when his master bade him, said, "Take them you, for they are the hangman's fees."

152. There was one that died greatly in debt: when it was reported in some company, where divers of his creditors were, that he was dead, one began to say, "In good faith, then he hath carried five "hundred ducats of mine with him into the other "world" and another said, "And two hundred of "mine;" and some others spake of several sums of theirs. Whereupon one that was amongst them said, "well I perceive now, that though a man cannot

66

carry any of his own with him into the next world, "yet he may carry other men's."

153. Francis Carvajall, that was the great captain of the rebels of Peru, had often given the chase to Diego Centeno, a principal commander of the

emperor's party: he was afterwards taken by the emperor's lieutenant Gasca, and committed to the custody of Diego Centeno, who used him with all possible courtesy; insomuch as Carvajall asked him, "I pray, Sir, who are you that use me with thi courtesy ?" Centeno said, "Do not you know Diego Centeno ?" Carvajall answered, "In good faith, Sir, I have been so used to see your back, as I "knew not your face."

154. Carvajall, when he was drawn to execution, being fourscore and five years old, and laid upon the hurdle, said, "What! young in cradle, old in " cradle !"

155. There is a Spanish adage, “ Love, without "end hath no end:" meaning, that if it were begun not upon particular ends it would last.

156. Cato the elder, being aged, buried his wife, and married a young woman. His son came to him, and 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."

[ocr errors]

66

157. 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."

158. 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."

159. The same Philip 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."

160. 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 an"swered better myself." Why," said the philosopher, "would you have me contend with him that "commands thirty legions ?"

66

161. Diogenes was asked in a kind of scorn, "What was the matter, that philosophers haunted "rich men, and not rich men philosophers?" He answered, "Because the one knew what they "wanted, the other did not."

162. Demetrius, king of Macedon, had a petition offered him divers times by an old woman, and still answered," he had no leisure." Whereupon the woman said aloud, "Why then give over to be king."

163. The same Demetrius would at times retire

[graphic]

himself from business, and give himself wholly to pleasures. One day of those his retirings, giving out that he was sick, his father Antigonus came on the sudden to visit him, and met a fair dainty youth coming out of his chamber. When Antigonus came in, Demetrius said, Sir, the fever left me right "now." Antigonus replied, "I think it was he that "I met at the door."

66

.164. There was a merchant in debt that died. His goods and household stuff were set forth for sale. A stranger would needs buy a pillow there, saying, "This pillow sure is good to sleep upon, since he "could sleep that owed so many debts."

165. A lover met his lady in a close chair, she thinking to have gone unknown, he came and spake to her. She asked him, "How did you know me? He said, "Because my wounds bleed afresh;" alluding to the common tradition, that the wounds of a body slain will bleed afresh upon the approach of the murderer.

166. A gentleman brought music to his lady's window. She hated him, and had warned him often away; and when he would not desist, she threw stones at him. Whereupon a gentleman said unto him, that was in his company," what greater honour "can you have to your music, than that stones come "about you, as they did to Orpheus?"

[graphic]

"Athenians have condemned you to die:" he said again, "And nature them."

169. Demosthenes when he fled from the battle, and that it was reproached to him, said, “ that he "that flies might fight again."

66

170. Antalcidas, when an Athenian said to him, "Ye Spartans are unlearned;" said again, " True, "for we have learned no evil vice of you."

171. Alexander, when his father wished him to run for the prize of the race at the Olympian games, for he was very swift, answered; "He would, if he I might run with kings."

172. 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."

[ocr errors]

173. Antigonus used to often go disguised, and to listen at the tents of his soldiers; and at a time heard some that spoke very ill of him. Whereupon he opened the tent a little, and said to them,

66

If you would speak ill of me, you should go a lit"tle farther off."

174. 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 it; and asked him, whether he

« PreviousContinue »