The philosophie, commonlie called, the morals vvritten by the learned philosopher Plutarch of Chæronea. Translated out of Greeke into English, and conferred with the Latine translations and the French, by Philemon Holland of Coventrie, Doctor in Physicke. VVhereunto are annexed the summaries necessary to be read before every treatise

LACONICKE APOPH∣THEGMES, [ 20] OR THE NOTA∣BLE SAYINGS OF LACE∣DAEMONIANS.

The Summarie. [ 30]

PLutarch had in the collection precedent among the Apophthegmes of renowmed Greeks, mingled certaine notable sayings of King Agesilaus and other Lacedaemoni∣ans: but now he exhibiteth unto us a treatise by it selfe of the said Lacedaemonians, who deserve no doubt to be registred apart by themselves, as being a people who (of all other nations destitute of the true knowledge of God) least abused their tongue. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 which regard also he maketh a more ample description of their Apphthegmes, 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 by so many pleasant speeches and lively reencounters, that it was no marvell, if so 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Spar∣ta was) flourished so long, being governed and peopled by men of such dexterity, and so well 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the parts both of bodie and minde, and yet who knew better to do than to say. Moreover, this Cata∣logue [ 40] here is distinguished into foure principall portions: whereof the first representeth the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 speeches of Kings, Generall captaines, Lords and men of name in Lacedaemon: the second 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Apophthegmes of such Lacedaemonians, whose names are unknowen: the third 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 the customes & ordinances which serve for the maintenance of their estate: and the fourth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 certaine sayings of some of their women, wherein may be seene so much the more the valour & megna∣nimitie of that nation. As touching the profit that a man may draw out of these 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it is verie great in everie respect: neither is there any person of what age or condition soever, but he may learne herein verie much, and namely how to speake little, to say well, and to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him∣selfe vertuously, as the reading thereof will make proofe. We have noted 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and obser∣ved somewhat in the margin, not particularising upon everie part; but onely [ 50] to give a taste and appetite unto the Reader for to meditate bet∣ter thereof, and to apply unto his owne use, both it and all the rest which he may there comprehend and un∣derstand.

LACONICKE APOPH¦thegmes, or the notable sayings of Lacedaemonians.

AGESICLES a king of the Lacedaemonians, by nature given to heare and desirous to learne; when one of his familiar friends said unto him: I woonder sir since you take so great pleasure otherwise to heare men speake wel and eloquently, that you do not entertaine [ 10] the famous sophister or rhetorician Philophanes for to teach you? made him this answer: It is because I desirea 1.1 to be their schol∣ler, whose sonne also I am, that is, among whom I am borne. And to another who demaunded of him, how a prince could raigne in safetie, not having about him his guards for the suretie of his per∣son; Marie (quoth he) if he rule his subjects as a good father governeth his children.

AGESILAUS the Great, being at a certaine feast, was by lot chosen the master of the said feast; and to him it appertained to set downe a certaine law, both in what manner and how much everie one ought to drinke; now when the butler or skinker asked him how much he should poure out for everie one, he answered: If thou be well provided and have good store of wine, fill [ 20] out as much as everie man list to call for; butb 1.2 if thou have no great plentie of it, let everie guest have alike. There was a malefactor, who being in prison endured constantly before him all ma∣per of torments; which when he saw: What a cursed wretch is this and wicked in the highest de∣gree, who doth employ this patience and resolute fortitude in the maintenance of so shamefull * 1.3 and mischievous parts, as he hath committed! One highly praised in his presence a certaine ma∣ster of Rhetoricke, for that he could by his eloquent toong amplifie small matters, making them seeme great, wherupon he said: I take him not to be a good shomaker, who putteth on a big shoe upon a litle foot. When one in reasoning & debating a matter upon a time challenged him, and said: Sir, you gave your consent once unto it; and eftsoones iterating the same words, charged him with his grant and promise: True indeed (quoth he) if the cause were just, I approved it in [ 30] good earnest & gave my promise; but if not, I did but barely say the word & no more: but as the other replied againe and said: Yea, but kings ought to accomplish & performe whatsoever they seeme once to grant, & it be but with the nod of the head: Nay (said he againe) they are no more bound thereto, than those that come unto them are tied for to speake and demand all things just and reasonable, yea, and to observe the opportunity and that which fitteth and sorteth well with kings. When he heard any men either to praise or dispraise others, he said: That it behoved to know the nature, disposition and behaviour no lesse of those who so spake, than of the parties of whom they did speake. Being whiles he was very yoong, at a certeine publicke and festivall so∣lemnitie, wherein yoong boies daunced (as the maner was) all naked, the warden or overseer of the said shew and daunce, appointed him a place for to beholde that sight, which was not verie [ 40] honourable; wherewith notwithstanding he stood well contented, albeit he was knowen to be heire apparant to the crowne, and already declared king; and withall said: It is very well; for I will shew, that it is not the place which crediteth the person, but the person that giveth credit and honour to the place. A certeine Physician had ordeined for him in one sicknesse that he had, a course of physicke to cure his maladie, which was nothing easie and simple, but very exquisit, curious and withall painfull: By Caslor and Pollux (quoth he) if my destinie be not to live, I shal not recover though I take all the drogues and medicines in the world. Standing one day at the altar of Minerva surnamed Chalceoecos, where he sacrificed an oxe, there chanced a louse to bite him; and he was nothing dismaied and abashed to take the said louse, but before them all who were present, killed her, and swore by the gods, saying: That it would do him good at the heart, [ 50] to serve them all so, who should treacherously lay wait to assaile him, yea, though it were at the very altar. Another time, when he saw a little boy drawing a mouse which he had caught, out of a window, and that the said mouse turned upon the boy and bit him by the hand, insomuch as shee made him leave his holde, and so escaped; hee shewed the sight unto those that were pre∣sent about him, and said: Loe,d 1.4 if so little a beast and sillie creature as this, hath the heart to be revenged upon those that doe it injurie, what thinke you is meet and reason that men should doe? Being desirous to make warre upon the king of Persia, for the deliverance and freedome

of those Greeks who did inhabit Asia; he went to consult with the oracle of Jupiter within the so∣rest Dodona, as touching this desseigne of his: and when the oracle had made answere according to his minde, namely: That if it pleased him, he should enterprise that expedition; he commu∣nicated the same to the controllers of State called Ephori; who willed him also to goe forward, and aske the counsell likewise of Apollo in the citie of Delphos; and being there, he entred into the chapell from whence the oracles were delivered, and said thus: O Apollo, art thou also of the same minde that thy father is? and when he answered, Yea; whereupon hee was chosen for the generall to conduct this warre, and set forth in his voiage accordingly. Tissaphernes, lieutenant under the king of Persia in Asia, being astonied at his arrivall, made a composition and accord with him at the very first; in which treatie, he capitulated and promised to leave unto his be∣hoofe, [ 10] all the townes and cities of the Greeks which are in Asia, free and at libertie to be gover∣ned according to their owne lawes: meane while hee dispatched messenges in post to the king his master, who sent unto him a strong and puissant armie; upon the confidence of which sor∣ces he gave defiance, and denounced warre, unlesse he departed with all speed out of Asia: Age∣silaus being well enough pleased with this treacherous breach of the agreement, made semblant as though he would go first into Caria; and when Tissaphernes gathered his forces in those parts to make head against him, all on a sudden he invaded Phrygia, where he won many cities, and rai∣sed rich booties from thence, saying unto his friends: That to breake faith and promise unjust∣ly made unto a friend, was impietie; but to abuse and deceive an enemie, was not onely just, but also pleasant and profitable. Finding himselfe weake in cavallery, he returned to the citie of E∣phesus, [ 20] where he intimated thus much unto the rich men, who were willing to be exempt from going in person unto the warres, that they should every one set sorth one horse and a man: by which meanes within few daies, he levied a great number both of horse and also of men able for service, in stead of those that were rich and cowards; wherein he said: That he did imitate Aga∣memnon, who dispensed with a rich man who was but a dastard and durst not go to the warre, for one faire and goodly mare. When he solde those prisoners for slaves, whom he had taken in the warres, the officers for this sale, by his appointment, made money of their clothes and other furniture apart, but of their bodies, all naked by themselves: now many chapmen there were, who willingly bought their apparell, but few or none hads any minde to the persons themselves, for that their bodies were soft and white, as having bene delicately nourished and choisly kept with∣in [ 30] house and under covert, and so seemed for no use at all, and good for nothing: Agesilaus standing by: Beholde my masters (quoth hee) this is that for which you fight, shewing their spoiles; but these be they against whom you fight, pointing to the men. Having given Tissa∣phernes an overthrow in battel within the country of Lydia, and slaine a great number of his men, he overran and harried all the kings provinces: and when he sent unto him presents of gold and silver, praying him to come unto some agreement of peace, Agesilaus made this answere: As touching the treatie of peace, it was in the citie of Lacedaemons power to doe what they would; but otherwise, for his owne part he tooke greater pleasure to enrich his soldiers than to be made rich himselfe: as for the Greeks, they reputed it an honour not to receive gifts from their ene∣mies, but to be masters of their spoiles. Megabaetes the yoong sonne of Spithridates, who was [ 40] of visage most faire and beautifull, came toward him as it were to embrace and kisse him, for that he thought (as he was right amiable) to be exceedingly beloved of him; but Agesilaus turned his face away, insomuch as the youth desisted and would no more offer himselfe unto him; whereupon Agesilaus demanded the reason thereof, and seemed to call for him; unto whom his friends made answere: That himselfe was the onely cause, being afraid to kisse so fasire a boy; but if he would not seeme to feare, the youth would returne and repaire unto him in place right willingly: upon this he stood musing to himselfe a good while, and said never a word; but then at length hee brake foorth into this speech: Let him even alone, neither is there any need now that you should say any thing or perswade him; for mine owne part I count it a greater matter to be the conquerour, and have the better hand of such, than to win by force the strongest holde [ 50] or the most puissant and populous citie of mine enemies; for I take it better for a man to pre∣serve and save his owne libertie to himselfe, than to take it from others. Moreover, he was in all other things a most precise observer in every point, of whatsoever the lawes commanded, but in the affaires and businesse of his friends, he said: That straightly to keepe the rigour of justice, was a very cloake and colourable pretence, under which they covered themselves who were not willing to doe for their friends: to which purpose there is a little letter of his found written unto Idrieus a prince of Caria, for the enlarging and deliverance of a friend of his, in these words: If

Nicias have not transgressed, deliver him; if he have, deliver him for the love of me; but howso∣ever, yet deliver him: and verily thus affected stood Agesilaus in the greatest part of his friends occasions; howbeit, there fell out some cases, when he respected more the publike utility, & used his opportunity therefore, according as he shewed good proofe. upon a time, at the dislodging of his campe in great haste & hurry, insomuch as he was forced to leave a boy whō he loved full well behind him, for that he lay sicke: for when the partie called instantly upon him by name, & besought him not to forsake him now at his departure, Agesilaus turning backe, said: Oh how hard is it to be pitifull & wise both at once. Furthermore, as touching his diet & the cherishing of his bodie, he would not be served with more nor better than those of his traine and company. He never did eat untill he was satisfied, nor tooke his drinke untill he was drunke, and as for his [ 10] sleepe, it never had the command and mastrie over him, but he tooke it onely as his occasions and affaires would permit: for cold and heat he was so fitted and disposed, that in all seasons of the yeere he used to weare but one and the same sort of garments: his pavilion was alwaies pit∣ched in the mids of his soldiers, neither had he a bed to lye in, better than any other of the mea∣nest: for he was woont to say: That he who had the charge and conduct of others, ought to sur∣mount those private persons, who were under his leading not in daintinesse and delicacie, but in sufferance of paine and travell, and in fortitude of heart and courage. When one asked the question in his presence: What it was wherin the lawes of Lycurgus had made the citie of Sparta better? he answered: That this benefit it found by them; to make no recknoning at all of plea∣sures. And to another who marvelled to see so great simplicitie and plainnesse, as well in feeding [ 20] as appearell both of him, and also of other Lacedaemonians, he said: The fruit (my good friend) which we reape by this straight maner of life, is libertie and freedome. There was one who ex∣horted him to ease and remit a little this straight and austere manner of living: For that (quoth he) it would not be used, but in regard of the incertitude of fortune; and because there may fall out such an occasion, and time as might force a man so to do: Yea but I (said Agesilaus) do wil∣lingly accustome my selfe hereto, that in no mutation and change of fortune, I should not seeke for change of my life. And in verie truth, when he grew to be aged, he did not for all his yeeres give over and leave his hardnes of life: and therfore when one asked him: Why (considering the extreame cold winter and his old age besides) he went without an upper coat or gabardine? he made this answer: Because yoong men might learne to do as much, having for an example be∣fore [ 30] their eies, the eldest in their countrey, and such also as were their governors. We reade of him, that when he passed with his armie over the Thasians countrey, they sent unto him for his refection meale of all sorts, geese and other fowles, comfitures, and pastrie works, fine cakes, marchpanes, and sugar-meats, with all manner of exquisite viands, and drinks most delicate and costly: but of all this provision, he received none but the meale aforesaid; commanding those that brought the same, to carrie them all away with them, as things whereof he stood in no need, and which he knew not what to do with: In the end after they had beene verie urgent, and impor∣tuned him so much as possibly they could to take that curtesie at their hands, he willed them to deale all of it among the Ilots, which were in deed the slaves that followed the campe: whereup∣on when they demaunded the cause thereof, he said unto them: That it was not meet for those [ 40] who professed valour and prowesse to receive such dainties; Neither can that (quoth he) which serveth in stead of a bait to allure & draw men to a servile nature, agree wel with those who are of a bold and free courage. Over and besides, these Thasians having received many favours and benefits at his hands, in regard whereof they tooke themselves much bound and beholden unto him, dedicated temples to his honour, and decreed divine worship unto him, no lesse than unto a verie god, and hereupon sent an embassage to declare unto him this their resolution: when he had read their letters and understood what honour they minded to do unto him, he asked this one question of the embassadors; whether their State and countrey was able to deifie men? and when they answered, Yea: Then (quoth he) begin to make your selves gods first, and when you have done so, I will beleeve that you also can make me a god. When the Greeke Colonies in [ 50] Asia, had at their parliaments ordained in all their chiefe and principall cities to erect his sta∣tues; he wrote backe unto them in this manner: I will not that you make for me any statue or image whatsoever, neither painted nor cast in mould, nor wrought in clay, ne yet cut and engra∣ven any way. Seeing whiles he was in Asia, the house of a friend or hoste of his, covered over with an embowed roofe of plankes, beames and sparres foure-square; he asked him whether the trees in those parts grew so square? and when he answered, No, but they grew round: How then (quoth he) if they had growen naturally foure cornered, would you have made them round? He

was asked the question upon a time, how farre forth the marches and confines of Lacedaemon did extend: then he shaking a javelin which he held in his hand: Even as farre (quoth he) as this is able to goe. One demaunded of him, why the citie of Sparta was not walled about? See you not (quoth he) the walles of the Lacedaemonians; and therewith shewed him the citizens armed. Another asked him the like question, and he made him this answer: That cities ought not to be fortified with stones, with wood and timber, but with the prowesse and valiance of the inhabi∣tants. He used ordinarily to admonish his friends, not to seeke for to be rich in money, but in va∣lour and vertue. And whensoever he would have a worke to be finished, or service to be perfor∣med speedily by his soldiers; his maner was, to begin himselfe first to lay hand unto it in the face of all. He stood upon this and would glorie in it; that he travelled as much as any man in his [ 10] company: but he vaunted of this; that he could rule and command himselfe more than in being a king. Unto one who woondering to see a Lacedaemonian maimed and lame, go to war, said unto the partie: Thou shouldest yet at leastwise have called for an horse to serve upon: Knowest not thou (quoth he) that in warre we have no need of those that will flie away, but of such as will make good and keepe their ground? It was demaunded of him, how he wonne so great honour and reputation; In despising death (quoth hee.) And being likewise asked why the Spattanes used the sound of flutes when they fought? To the end (said he) that when in battell they march according to the measures, it may be knowen who be valiant and who be cowards. One there was who reputed the King of Persia happie, for that he attained verie yoong to so high and pu∣issant a State: Why so (quoth he) for Priamus at his age was not unhappie nor infortunate. [ 20] Having conquered the greater part of Asia, he purposed with himselfe to make warre upon the king himselfe, as well for to breake his long repose, as also to hinder him otherwise and stop his course, who minded with money to bribe and corrupt the governors of the Greeke-cities and the oratours that lead the people: but amid this deseigne and deliberation of his he was called home by the Ephori, by reason of a dangerous warre raised by the Greeke-States, against the ci∣tie of Sparta, and that by meanes of great summes of money which the king of Persia had sent thither; by occasion whereof, forced he was to depart out of Asia, saying: That a good prince ought to suffer himselfe to be commaunded by the lawes; and he left behinde him much sorrow and a longing desire after him among the Greek-inhabitants in Asia after his departure: and for that on the Persian pieces of coine, there was stamped or imprinted the image of an archer; he [ 30] said when he brake up his campe, that the king of Persia had chased him out of Asia with thirtie thousand archers: for so many golden Dariques had beene carried by one Timocrates unto Thebes and Athens, which were divided among the oratours and governors of those two cities, by meanes whereof they were sollicited and stirred to begin warre upon the Spartanes: so hee wrote a letter missive unto the Ephori, the tenor whereof was this: Agesilaus unto the Ephori, greeting.

We have subdued the greatest part of Asia, and driven the Barbarians from thence; also in Ionîa we have made many armours; but since you commaund me to repaire home by a day appointed: Know yee that I will follow hard after this letter, or peradventure prevent it; for the authority of command which I have, I hold not for my selfe, but for my native countrey and cōfederates:

and then in truth doth a magistrate rule according to right & justice, when he obei∣eth [ 40] the lawes of his countrey & the Ephori, or such like as be in place of government within the city. Having crossed the straights of Hellespont, he entred into the countrey of Thrace, where he requested of no prince nor State of the Barbarians, passage; but sent unto every one of them, de∣māding whether he should passe as through the land of friends or enemies? And verily all others received him friendly, and accompained him honorably as he journeyed through their coun∣tries: onely those whom they call Troadians, (unto them as the report goeth, Xerxes himselfe gave presents, to have leave for to passe,) demaunded of him for licence of quiet passage, a hundred talents of silver and as many women: but Agesilaus after a scoffing manner as∣ked those who brought this message: And why doe not they themselves come with you for to receive the money and women: so he led his armie forward; but in the way he encountred them [ 50] well appointed, gave them battell, overthrew them, and put many of them to the sword, which done, he marched farther. And of the Macedonian king he demaunded the same question as before; who made him this answer: That he would consult thereupon: Let him consult (quoth he) what he will, meane while we will march on: the king wondring at his hardinesse, stood in great feare of him, and sent him word to passe in peaceable and friendly maner. The Thessa∣lians at the same time were confederate with his enemies: whereupon he forraied and spoiled their countries as he went, and sent to the citie of Larissa two friends of his, Xenocles and Scytha,

to sound them & see if they could practise effectually for to draw them, to the league and amity of the Lacedaemonians, but those of Larissa arrested those agents, and kept them in prison; whereupon all the rest taking great indignation, were of this minde, that Agesilaus could doe no lesse, but presently encampe himselfe and beleaguer the citie Larissa round about: but hee saide that for to conquer all Thessalie, he would not leese one of those twaine: so upon composition and agreement, he recovered and got them againe. Being given to understand that there was a battell fought neere to Corinth, in which very few Lacedaemonians were slaine, but of Atheni∣ans, Argives, Corinthians and their allies, a great number: he was not once seene to have ta∣ken any e 1.5 joy or contentment at the newes of the victorie; but sighed deepely from the bot∣tome of his heart, saying: Alas for unhappie Greece, who hath herselfe destroied so many men [ 10] of her owne, as had beene sufficient in one battell to have defeated all the Barbarians at once. But when the Pharsalians came to set upon the taile of his armie in his march, and to doe them mischiefe and damage; with a force of five hundred horse, he charged and overthrew them; for which luckie hand, he caused a Trophe to be erected under the mountaines called Narthacii; and this victorie of all others pleased him most, for that with so small a troupe and cornet of his owne horsemen which himselfe put out and addressed against them, hee had given those the overthrow, who at all times vaunted themselves to be the best men at armes in the world. Thi∣ther came Diphridas, one of the Ephori unto him, being sent expresly from Sparta, with a com∣mandement unto him, that incontinently he should with force and armes invade the countrey of Baeotia; and he although he meant and purposed of himselfe some time after to enter with [ 20] a more puissant power; yet would he not disobey those great lords of the State, but sent for two regiments of ten thousands a peece, drawen out of those who served about Corinth, and with them made a rode into Boeotia, and gave battell before Coronaea, unto the Thebans, Athe∣nians, Argives, and Corinthians, where he wan the field: which, as witnesseth Xenophon, was the greatest and most bloudie battell that had beene fought in his time: but true it is, that hee himselfe was in many places of his body sore wounded, and then being returned home, not∣withstanding so many victories and happie fortunes, hee never altered any jot in his owne person, either for diet or otherwise for the maner of his life. Seeing some of his citizens to vaunt and boast of themselves, as if they were more than other men, in regard that they nouri∣shed and kept horses of the game to runne in the race for the prize; he perswaded his sister na∣med [ 30] Cynisca, to mount into her chariot, and to goe unto that solemnitie of the Olympick games, there to runne a course with her horses for the best prize; by which, his purpose was to let the Greekes know, that all this running of theirs was no matter of valour, but a thing of cost and expence, to shew their wealth onely. He had about him Xenophon the philosopher, whom he loved and highly esteemed; him he requested to send for his sonnes to be brought up in La∣cedaemon, and there to learne the most excellent and singular discipline in the world, namely, the knowledge how to obey and to rule well. Being otherwise demaunded, wherefore he estee∣med the Lacedaemonians more happy then other nations: It is (quoth he) because they professe and exercise above all men in the world, the skill of obeying and governing. After the death of Lysander, finding within the city of Sparta great factions and much siding, which the saide [ 40] Lysander incontinently after he was returned out of Asia had raised and stirred up against him, he purposed and went about to detect his lewdnesse, and make it appeere unto the inhabi∣tants of Sparta, what a dangerous medler he had beene whiles he lived: and to this purpose ha∣ving read an oration found after his decease among his papers, which Creon verily the Halicar∣nassian had composed; but Lysander meant to pronounce before the people in a general assem∣bly of the citie, tending to the alteration of the State, and bringing in of many novelties, he was fully minded to have divulged it abroad: but when one of the auncient Senatours had read the said oration, and doubted the sequell thereof, considering it was so well penned, and groun∣ded upon such effectuall and perswasive reasons, hee gave Agesilaus counsell not to digge up Lysander againe, and rake him as it were out of his grave, but to let the oration lie buried with [ 50] him: whose advice he followed, and so rested quiet and made no more adoo: and as for those who underhand crossed him and were his adversaries, he did not course them openly, but prac∣tised and made meanes to send some of them foorth as captaines into certaine forrain expedi∣tions, and unto others to commit certaine publike offices: in which charges they caried them∣selves so, as they were discovered for covetous & wicked persons, and afterwards when they were called into question judicially, hee shewed himselfe contrary to mens expectation to helpe them out of trouble, and succour them so, as that he gat their love and good wils, insomuch as

in the end there was not one of them his adversarie. One there was who requested him to write in his favour to his hosts and friends which he had in Asia, letters of recommendation, that they would defend and maintaine him in his rightfull cause: My friends (quoth he) use to doe that which is equitie and just, although I should write never a word unto them. Another shewed him the wals of a city how woonderfull strong they were and magnificently built, asking of him whether he thought them not stately and faire: Faire (quoth he) yes no doubt, for women to lodge and dwell in, but not for men. A Megarian there was who magnified, and highly extol∣led before him the city Megara: Yoong man (quoth he) and my good friend, your brave words require some great puissance. Such things as other men had in great admiration, hee would not seeme so much as to take knowledge of. Upon a time one Callipides an excellent [ 10] plaier in Tragedies, who was in great name and reputation among the Greeks, insomuch as all sorts of men made no small account of him, when he chanced to meet him upon the way, salu∣ted him first, and afterwards prosumptuously thrust himselfe forward to walke among others, with him, in hope that the king would begin to shew some lightsome countenance, and grace him; but in the end, seeing that it would not be, he was so bolde as to advance himselfe, and say unto him: Sir king, know you not me? and have you not heard who I am? Agesilaus looking wistly upon his face: Art not thou (quoth he) Callipides Deicelictas? (for so the Lacedaemoni∣ans use to call a jester or plaier.) He was invited one day to come and heare a man who could counterfeit most lively and naturally the voice of the nightingale; but he refused to go, saying: I have heard the nightingales themselves to sing many a time. Menecrates the Physician had a [ 20] luckie hand in divers desperate cures; whereupon some there were who surnamed him Jupiter, and he himselfe would over arrogantly take that name upon him, insomuch as he presumed in one letter of his, which he sent unto him, to set this superscription: Menecrates Jupiter, unto king Agesilaus wisheth long life: but Agesilaus wrote back unto him in this wise: Agesilaus to Mene∣crates wisheth f 1.6 good health. When Pharnabasus and Canon the high-admirals of the armada under the Persian king, were so farre-foorth lords of the sea, that they pilled and spoiled all the coasts of Laconia; and besides, the walles of Athens were rebuilded with the money that Pharna∣basus furnished the Athenians withall; the lords of the counsell of Lacedaemon were of advice, that the best policie was, to conclude peace with the king of Persia; and to this effect sent Antal∣cidas one of their citizens to Tiribasus, with commission treacherously to betray and deliver in∣to [ 30] the barbarous kings hands, the Greeks inhabiting Asia; for whose libertie Agesilaus before had made warres: by which occasion Agesilaus was thought to have his hand in this shame∣full and infamous practise: for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 , who was his mortall enemie, wrought by all meanes possible to effect peace, because he saw that warre continually augmented the credit of Agesi∣laus, and made him most mightie and honourable; yet neverthelesse he answered unto one that reproched him with the Lacedaemonians, saying: That they were Medified, or turned Medi∣ans: Nay rather (quoth he) the Medians are Laconified and become Laconians. The question was propounded unto him upon a time, whether of these two vertues in his judgement was the better, Fortitude or Justice? and he answered: That where Justice reigned, Fortitude bare no sway, and was nothing worth; for if we were all righteous and honest men, there would be no [ 40] need at all of Fortitude. The people of Greece dwelling in Asia, had a custome to call the king of Persia, The great king: And wherefore (quoth he) is he greater than I, unlesse he be more temperat and righteous? semblably he said: That the inhabitants of Asia were good slaves, but naughtie freemen. Being asked how a man might win himselfe the greatest name and reputa∣tion among men, he answered thus: If he say well, and yet do better. This was a speech of his: That a good captaine ought to shew unto his enemies, valour and hardinesse; but unto those that be under his charge, love and benevolence. Another demanded of him, what, children should learne in their youth? That (quoth he) which they are to doe and practise when they be men growen. He was judge in a cause, where the plaintife had pleaded well, but the defendant very badly; who eftsoones and at every sentence did nothing but repeat these words: O Agesi∣laus, [ 50] a king ought to protect and helpe the lawes: unto whom Agesilaus answered in this wise: If one had g 1.7 undermined thy house, or robbed thee of thy raiment, wouldest thou thinke and looke that a carpenter or mason were bound to repaire thy house, and the weaver or tailour for to sup∣plie thy want of clothes? The king of Persia had writ unto him a letter missive after a generall peace concluded; which letter was brought by a gentleman of Persia, who came with Callias the Lacedaemonian, and the contents thereof was to this effect: That the king of Persia desired to enter into some more especiall amitie and fraternitie with him; but he would not accept there∣of,

saying unto the messenger: Thou shalt deliver this answere from me unto the king thy ma∣ster; that hee needed not to write any such particular letters unto mee, concerning private friendship; for if hee friend the Lacedaemonians in generall, and shew himselfe to love the Greeks, and desire their good, I also reciprocally will be his friend to the utmost of my power; but if I may finde that he practiseth treacherie, and attempteth ought prejudiciall to the state of Greece, well may he write epistle upon epistle, and I receive from him one letter after another, but let him trust to this: I will never be his friend. Hee loved very tenderly his owne children when they were little ones, insomuch as he would play with them up and downe the house, yea, and put a long cane betweene his legs, and ride upon it like an hobby horse with them for com∣pany; and if it chanced that any of his friends spied him so doing, he would pray them to say no∣thing [ 10] unto any man thereof, untill they had babes and children of their owne. But during the continuall warres that he had with the Thebans, he fortuned in one battell to be grievouslie wounded; which when Antalcidas, saw, he said unto him: Certes you have received of the The∣bans the due salarie and reward that you deserved, for teaching them as you have done, even against their willes how to fight, which they neither could nor ever would have learned to doe: for in trueth it is reported, that the Thebans then became more martiall and warlike than ever before-time, as being inured and exercised in armes by the continuall roads and invasions that the Lacedaemomans made; which was the reason, that ancient Lycurgus in those lawes of his which be called Rhetrae, expresly forbad his people to make warre often upon one and the same nation, for feare lest in so doing their enemies should learne to be good souldiers. When he [ 20] heard, that the allies and confederates of Lacedaemon were offended and tooke this continuall warfare ill, complaining that they were never in maner out of armes, but caried their harnesse continually upon their backs; and besides, being many more in number, they followed yet the Lacedaemonians, who were but an handfull to all them: he being minded to convince them in this, and to shew how many they were, commanded all his said confederates to assemble toge∣ther, and to sit them downe pell-mell one with another; the Lacedaemonians likewise to take their place over-against them apart by themselves; which done, he caused an herald to cry aloud in the hearing of all: That all the potters should rise first; and when those were risen, that the brasse-founders and smithes should stand up; then the carpenters; after them the masons; and so all other artisans & handi-crafts men, one after another; by which meanes all the confederats [ 30] wel-nere were risen up, and none in maner left sitting; but all this while not a Lacedaemonian stirred off his seat, for that forbidden they were all, to learne or exercise any mechanicall craft: then Agesilaus tooke up a laughter, and said: Lo, my masters and friends, how many more soul∣diers are we able to send into the warres, than you can make? In that bloodie battell fought at Leuctres, many Lacedaemonians there were that ran out of the field & fled, who by the lawes and ordinances of the countrey were all their life time noted with infamy; howbeit, the Ephori seeing that the citie by this meanes would be dispeopled of citizens and lie desert, in that verie time when as it had more need than ever before of souldiers, were desirous to devise a policie how to deliver them of this ignominie, and yet notwithstanding preferre the lawes in their entire and full force: therefore to bring this about, they elected Agesilaus for their law-giver, to enact a [ 40] new lawes; who being come before the open audience of the city, spake unto them in this man∣ner: Yee men of Lacedaemon I am not willing in any wise to be the author and inventor of new lawes: and as for those which you have alreadie, I minde not to put any thing thereto, to take fro, or otherwise to alter and chaunge them, and therefore mee thinkes it is meere and reasonable, that from to morrow forward, those which you have, should stand in their ful vigor, strength and vertue accustomed. Moreover, as few as there remained in the citie; (when Epa∣minondas was about to assaile it with a great fleete and a violent tempest (as it were) of Thebans and their confederates, puffed up with pride for the late victorie atchieved in the plaine of Leuctres) with those few (I say) hee put him and his forces backe, and caused them to returne without effect: but in the battell of Mantinea, he admonished and advised the La∣cedaemonians [ 50] to take no regard at all of other Thebans, but to bend their whole forces against Epaminondas onely, saying: That wise and prudent men alone, and none but they, were valiant and the sole cause of victorie; and therefore if they could vanquish him, they might easily subdue all the rest, as being blockish fooles and men in deed of no valour; and so in truth it proved: for when as the victory now enclined wholy unto Epaminondas, and the Lacedaemo∣nians were at the verie point to be disbanded, discomfited and put to flight: as the said Epami∣nondas turned for to call his owne together to folow the rout, a Lacedaemonian chanced to

give him a mortall wound, wherewith hee fell to the ground, and the Lacedaemonians who were with Agesilaus called themselves, made head againe, and put the victorie into doubt∣full ballance: for now the Thebanes abated much their courage, and the Lacedaemonians tooke the better hearts. Moreover, when the citie of Sparta was neere driven and at a low ebbe for money to wage warre, as being constrained to entertaine mercenarie souldiers for pay, who were meere strangers; Agesilaus went into Aegypt, being sent for by the King of Aegypt to serve as his pensioner; but for that hee was meanely and simply apparelled, the inhabitants of the countrey despised him, for they looked to have seene the King of Sparta richly arraied and set out gallantly, and all gorgeously to be seene in his person like unto the Persian King; so foolish a conceit they had of kings: but Agesilaus shewed them within a while, that the magnificence [ 10] and majestie of Kings was to be acquired by wit, wisedome, and valour: for perceiving that those who were to fight with him and to make head against the enemie, were frighted with the immi∣nent perill, by reason of the great number of enemies, who were two hundred thousand fighting men, and the small companie of their owne side; he devised with himselfe before the battell be∣gan, by some stratageme to encourage his owne men, and to embolden their hearts; which po∣licie of his he would not communicate unto any person; and this it was: He caused upon the in∣side of his left hand to be written this word, Victorie, backward; which done he tooke at the priests or sooth-saiers hand who was at sacrifice, the liver of the beast which was killed, and put it into the said left hand thus written within, and so held it a good while, making semblance as if he mused deeply of some doubt, and seeming to stand in suspense & to be in great perplexity, [ 20] untill the characters of the foresaid letters had a sufficient time to give a print, and leave their marke in the superficies of the liver; then shewed he it unto those who were to fight on his side, and gave them to understand that by those characters the gods promised victory: who suppo∣sing verily that there was in it a certaine signe & presage of good fortune, ventured boldly upon the hazard of a battell. And when the enemies had invested and beleaguered his campe round about; such a mightie number there were of them, and besides had begun to cast a trench on everie side thereof, King * 1.8 Nectanebas (for whose aid he was thither come) sollicited and intrea∣ted him to make a sally and charge upon them before the said trench was fully finished, and both ends brought to gether, he answered: That he would never impeach the deseigne and pur∣pose of the enemies, who went (no doubt) to give him meanes to be equall unto them and to [ 30] fight so many to so many: so he staied until there wanted but a verie little of both ends meeting; and then in that space betweene, he raunged his battell; by which device they encountred and fought with even fronts, and on equall hand for number: so he put the enemies to flight, and with those few souldiers which he had, he made a great carnage of them; but of the spoile and booty which he wan, he raised a good round masse of money, and sent it all to Sparta. Being now ready to embarke for to depart out of Aegypt, & upon the point of returne home, he died: and at his death expresly charged those who were about him, that they should make no image or sta∣tue whatsoever representing the similitude of his personage: For that (quoth he) if I have done any vertuous act in my life time, that will be a monument sufficient to eternize my memorie; if not, all the images, statues, and pictures in the world will not serve the turne, since they be the [ 40] workes onely of mechanicall artificers which are of no woorth and estimation.

AGESIPOLIS the sonne of Cleombrotus, when one related in his presence that Philip K. of Macedon had in few daies demolished and raced the citie Olinthus: Par die (quoth he) Philip will not be able in many more daies to build the like to it. Another said unto him by way of reproch, that himselfe (king as he was, and other citizens men growen of middle age) were delivered as hostages, and neither their children nor wives: Good reason (quoth he) and so it ought to be ac∣cording to justice, that we our selves and no others, should beare the blame and paine of our faults. And when he was minded to send for certaine dog-whelps from home; one said unto him; that there might not be suffered any of them to goe out of the countrey: No more was it permitted heeretofore (quoth hee) for men to be lead foorth, but now it is allowed well [ 50] enough.

AGESIPOLIS the sonne of Pausanias (when as the Athenians said to him: That they were content to report themselves to the judgement of the Megarians as touching certaine varian∣ces and differences between them, and complaints which they made one against another) spake thus unto them: Why my masters of Athens, this were a great shame indeed, that they who are the chiefe and the verie leaders of all other Greeks, should lesse skill what is just than the Me∣garians.

AG is the sonne of Archidamus, at what time as the Ephori spake thus unto him: Take with you the yoong & able men of this citie, & go into the countrey of such an one, for he wil con∣duct you his owne selfe, as farre as to the verie castle of his city: And what reason is it (quoth he) my masters, you that be Ephori, to commit the lives of so many lustie gallants into his hands, who is a traitour to his native countrey? One demaunded of him what science was principally exercised in the citie of Sparta: Marie (quoth he) the knowledge how to obey and how to rule. He was woont to say, that the Lacedaemonians never asked, how many their enemies were? but where they were. Being forbidden to fight with his enemies at the battell of Mantinea, because they were far more in number: He must of necessity (quoth he) fight with many that would have the cōmand & rule of many. Unto another who asked what number there might be in all of the [ 10] Lceadaemonians? As many (quoth he) as are enough to chase and drive away wicked persons. In passing a long the wals of Corinth, when he saw them so high, so wel built, and so large in extent: Whath 1.9 maner of women (quoth he) be they that inhabit within? To a great master of Rhetorick who praising his owne skill & profession, chaunced to conclude with these words; When all is done, there is nothing so puissant as the speech of man: Why then be like (quoth he) so long as you hold your peace you are of no worth. The Argives having bin once already beaten & defai∣ted, returned neverthelesse into the field & shewed themselves in a bravado more gallantly than before, and prest for a new battell: and when therupon he saw his auxiliaries and confederates to be some what troubled and frighted: Be of good cheere (quoth he) my masters and friends, for if we, who have given them the foile be affraid, what thinke you are they themselves. A cer∣taine [ 20] embassador from the citie Abdera, came to Sparta, who made a long speech as touching his message, and after he had done and held his toong a little, he demaunded at last a dispatch, and said unto him: Sir, what answer would you that I should carry backe to our citizens: You shall say unto them (quoth Agis) that I have suffred you to speake all that you would, and as long as you list? and that I lent you mine eare all the while without giving you one word againe. Some there were who commended the Eliens for most just men and precise in observing the solemnitie of the Olympick games: And is that so great a matter and such a wonder (quoth he) if in five yeeres space they exercise justice one day? Some buzzed into his eares that those of the other roiall house envied him: Then (quoth he) doe they suffer a double paine; for first and for∣most their owne evils will vexe and trouble themselves; then in the second place, the good [ 30] things in me and my friends will torment them. Some one there was of advice, that he should give way and passage to his enemies when they were put to flight: Yea, but marke this (quoth he) if we set not upon them who runne away for cowardise, how shall we fight against them that staie and make good their ground by valour? One there was who propounded a meanes for the maintenance of the Greekes libertie; which (no doubt) was a generous and magnanimous course, howbeit very hard to execute; unto whō he answered thus: My good friend, your words require great store of money, and much strength. When another said that king Philip would watch them well enough that they should not set foote within other parts of Greece: My friend (quoth he) it shall content us to remaine and continue in our owne countrey. There was ano∣ther embassador from the city Perinthus, came to Lacedaemon, who having likewise made a long [ 40] oration, in the end demaunded of Agis what answer he should deliver backe to the Perinthians: Mary what other but this (quoth he) that thou couldest hardly finde the way to make an end of speaking, and I held my peace all the while. He went upon a time sole embassador to king Phi∣lip, who said unto him: You are an embassador alone indeed: True (quoth he) and good enough to one alone as you are. An auncient citizen of Sparta said unto him one day, being himselfe aged also, and far stept in yeeres: Since that the old lawes and customes went every day to mine and were neglected, seeing also that others farre woorse were brought in and stood in their place, all in the end would be naught and runne to confusion; unto whom he answered merilie thus: Then is it at it should be, and the world goes well enough if it be so as you say; for I re∣member when I was a little boy, I heard my father say, that every thing then was turned upside [ 50] downe, and that in his remembraunce all wentkim kam; and he also would report of his father that he had seene as much in his daies; no marvell therefore if things grow woorse and woorse; more woonder it were if they should one while be better, and another while continue still in the same plight. Being asked on a time how a man might continue free all his life time; he answe∣red: By despising death.

AGIS the yoonger, when Demades the oratour said unto him: That the Lacedaemonians swords were so short that these juglers and those that plaied legerdemain, could swallow them

downe all once, made him this answere: As short as they be the Lacedaemonians can reach their enemies with them wel enough. A certaine leud fellow and a troublesome, never linned asking him, who was the best man in all Sparta: Mary (quoth Agis) even he who is unlikest thy selfe.

AGIS, the last king of the Lacedaemonians, being forelaid and surprised by treachery, so that he was condemned by the Ephori to die; as he was ledde without forme of law and justice to the place of execution for to be strangled with a rope, perceiving one of his servants and mi∣nisters to shed teares; said thus unto him; Weepe not for my death; for in dying thus unjustly and against the order of law, I am in better case than those that put me to death; and having said these words, he willingly put his necke within the halter.

ACROTATUS, when as his owne father and mother requested his helping hand for to effect [ 10] a thing contrarie to reason and justice, staied their sute for a time: but seeing that they impor∣tuned him still and were very instant with him; in the end said unto them: So long as I was un∣der your hands, I had no knowledge nor sence at all of justice; but after that you had betaken me to the common-weale, to my countrey, and to the lawes thereof, and by that meanes infor∣med and instructed me in what you could in righteousnesse and honestie, I will endevour and straine my selfe to follow the said instruction and not you; and for that I know full well that you would have me doe that which is good, and considering that those things be best (both for a pri∣vate person, and much more for him who is in authoritie and a chiefe magistrate) which are just; sure I will doe what you would have me, and refuse that which you say unto me.

ALCAMENES the sonne of Teleclus, when one would needs know of him, by what meanes [ 20] a man might preserve a kingdome best, made this answer: Even by making no account at all of lucre and gaine. Another demanded of him wherefore he would never accept nor receive the gifts of the Messenians? Forsooth (quoth he) because if I had taken thē, I should never have had peace with the lawes. And when a third person said: That he marvelled much how he could live so straight and neere to himselfe, considering he had wherewith and enough: It is (quoth he) a commendable thing, when a man having sufficient and plentie can neverthelesse live within the compasse of reason, and not according to the large reach of his appetite.

ALEXANDRIDAS the sonne of Leon, seeing one to torment himselfe, and taking on despe∣rately because he was banished out of his native countrey: My friend (quoth he) never fare so for the matter nor vexe thy heart so much, for being constreined to remoove so farre from thy [ 30] countrey, but rather for being i 1.10 so remote from justice. Unto another who in delivering good matter unto the Ephori, and to very great purpose, but more words a great deale than need was: My friend (quoth he) thou speakest indeed that which becommeth, but otherwise than is becomming. One asked him why the Lacedaemonians committed the charge of all their lands unto the Ilotes their slaves, & did not husband and tend them their owne selves: Because (quoth he) we conquered and purchased them, for that we would looke to our selves, and not tend them. unto another who held that it was nothing but desire of credit and reputation that un∣did men, and whosoever could be delivered from the care thereof were happie; he replied thus againe: If it be true that you say, we must confesse and graunt that wicked men, who do wrong unto others are happy; for how can a church-robber or theefe who spoileth other men of their [ 40] goods be desirous of honour and glorie? When another demanded of him, how it came to passe that the Lacedaemonians were so hardy and resolute in all occurrences and dangers of warre, he rendred this reason: Because (quoth he) we studie and endevour to have a reverend regard of our lives, and not to enterteine the feare of our lives, as others doe. It was demaun∣ded of him, wherefore the Seniours or Elders fat many daies in deciding and judging crimi∣nall causes? and why albeit the accused party were by them acquit, yet he continued never∣thelesse in the state of a guiltie and accused person? As for the Senatours (quoth he) they be long in deciding capitall matters, where men are brought in question for their life; because those judges who have committed an errour in condemning a man to die, can never rectifie and amend that sentence: and as to the partie absolved and enlarged, he must remaine alwaies [ 50] liable and subject to the law, because they might ever after enquire and judge better of his fact according to the law.

ANAXANDER the sonne of Eutycrates, being asked the question why he and such other did not gather money and lay it up in the publicke treasury, made this answere: For feare lest wee being keepers thereof, should be corrupted and perverted thereby.

ANAXILAS, unto one who marvelled why the Ephori rose not up and made obeisance to the kings, considering that by the kings they were ordeined and put into that place? gave this

reason: Even because they are created Ephori, that is to say, overseers and controllers of them.

ANDROCLIDAS the Laconian, being maimed and lame of a legge, would neverthelesse be cnrolled in the number of those who were to serve in the warres; and when some withstood him because he was impotent of that legge: Why my masters (quoth hee) they be not the men of good footmanship, who can run away, but such as stand their ground that must fight with ene∣mies.

ANTALCIDAS making meanes to be admitted into the confraternitie of the Samothracian religion, when the priest his confessour, in houseling and shriving him, demanded which was the greatest sinne that ever hee had committed in all his life? If (quoth he) I have committed any sinne all my life time, the gods know the same well enough themselves. When a certeine [ 10] Athenian miscalled the Lacedaemonians, terming them ignorant and unlearned sots: In deed (quoth he) we onely of all the Grecians, are the men who have not learned of you to do ill. And when another Athenian bragged, and said: We have chased you many a time from the river Cephisus: But we (quoth he) never yet drave you from the river Eurotas. Unto another, who was desirous to know how one might please men best, he shaped this answere: In case he speake al∣waies that which pleaseth, and doe that which profiteth them. A certeine great master and pro∣fessour of Rhetoricke, would needs one day rehearse and pronounce before him an oration composed in the praise of Hercules: And who ever (quoth he) dispraised him? And unto Age∣silaus, being sore wounded in a battell by the Thebans: Nay (quoth he) you are well enough served and receive a due Minervall for your schoolage at the Thebans hands, whom you have [ 20] taught even against their willes that which they knew not, nor were willing to learne, to wit, for to sight: for in trueth, by meanes of the continuall incursions and expeditions that Agesilaus made against them, they became valiant warriours. Himselfe was woont to say: That the walles of Sparta, were their yong men; and their confines, the heads of their pikes. Unto another, who demanded why the Lacedaemonians fought with such short curtelaxes: To the end (quoth he) that we might cope and close more neerely to our enemies.

ANTIOCUUS being one of the Ephori, heard say that king Philip had bestowed upon the Messenians certeine lands for their territorie: But hath Philip (quoth he) given them withall, forces to be able for to defend the same?

ARIGEUS, when some there were that highly commended certeine dames, not their owne [ 30] wives, but wedded to other men: By the gods (quoth he) of good, honest, and faire women, there ought no vaine speeches to bee made, for that indeed they are not knowen of any other but their husbands who live ordinarily with them. As he passed once thorow the citie Selinus in Sicilie, he chanced to reade this epitaph engraven upon a sepulchre or tombe:

These men before Selinus gates were slaine in bloudie fight, As whilom they sought for to quench the lawlesse tyrants might.

And well deserved you (quoth he) to die, for seeking to extinguish tyranny when it burneth out of a light fire; for cleane contrariwise, you should have kept it from burning altogether. [ 40]

ARISTON hearing one praise and discourse of a sentence tha king Cleomenes was wont to use, at what time as the question was asked: What was the office of a good king? Mary even to do good unto his friends & hurt unto his enemies: But how much better (answered Ariston) my good friend, were it to benefit friends indeed, and of enemies to make good friends? but of this notable sentence, no doubt, Socrates was the authour, and upon him it is rightly fathered. Also when one demanded of him how many in number the Lacedaemonians were: As many (quoth he) as be sufficient to chase away their enemies. A certeine Athenian pronounced a funerall oration which he had penned in the praise of their owne citizens, who had bene defaited and were slaine by the Lacedaemonians in a battel: If your countreymen (quoth he) were so va∣liant as you say, what thinke you then of ours, who vanquished them? When one praised Cha∣rilaus [ 50] upon a time, for that hee shewed himselfe courteous indifferently to all men: And how can he deserve (quoth Ariston) to be commended, who is kind and friendly to wicked persons? Another reproved Hecataeus a professour in Rhetoricke, who being invited to eat with them at their seasts which they call Syssitia, spake never a word all dinner time; unto whom he made this answere: It seemeth that you are ignorant, that he who knoweth how to speake wel, can skil like∣wise of the time when it is good to speake and when to keepe silence.

ARCHIDAMUS the sonne of Zeuxidamus, when one asked him who they were that

governed the citie Sparta? answered: The lawes first, and then the magistrates who ruled ac∣cording to those lawes. When he heard one praising exceedingly a plaier on the harpe, and for his skill in musicke having him in singular admiration: My friend (quoth he) what honourable reward shall they have at your hands, who be men of prowesse and valour, when you commend so highly an harper? Another recommended unto him a musician and said: Oh, what an excel∣lent chaunter is there? This is (quoth he) even as much as a good cooke or maker of pottage among us: meaning that there was no difference at all betweene giving pleasure by sound of voice or instruments, and the dressing of viands or seasoning sewes. One promised to give him wine that was very sweet and pleasant: And to what purpose? (quoth he) considering that it ser∣veth but for to draw on more wine, and to make folke drinke the rather; and besides, to cause [ 10] men to be lesse valiant and unfit for any good things. Lying at siege before the city of Corinth, he marked how there were hares started even close under the walles thereof; upon which sight he said thus to those that served with him: Our enemies are easie to be surprised and caught, when they are so lazie and idle, as to suffer hares to lie and harbour hard under their citie walles, even within the trench and towne-ditch. He had bene chosen an umpire betweene two parties who were at variance, for to make them friends; and he led them both into the temple of Diana surnamed Chalceaecos, where he willed them both to promise and sweare, laying their hands up∣on the altar of that goddesse, that they would both twaine observe from point to point whatsoe∣ver he should award; which they undertooke to doe, and bound it with an oath accordingly: I judge then (quoth he) that neither of you both shall depart out of this temple, before you have [ 20] made an attonement, and pacified all quarrels betweene you. Dionysius the tyrant of Sicily, had sent unto his daughters certeine rich robes to weare; but he refused them, and said: I greatly feare, that when they have this raiment upon them, they will seeme more foule and ilfavoured than now they do. Seeing his owne sonne in a battell, fighting desperately against the Atheni∣ans: Either (quoth he) augment thy strength, or abate thy courage.

ARCHIDAMUS the sonne of Agesilaus, when king Philip after the battell which he had won against the Greeks, neere vnto Cheronea, wrote unto him a rough and sharpe letter; returned unto him backe againe this answere in writing: If you take measure now of your owne shadow, you shall finde it no bigger than it was before the victorie. Being demanded the question upon a time, how farre the territory of the Lacedaemonians did extend? he answered: Even as farre as [ 30] they can reach with their javelins. Periander the physician was a sufficient man in his art, and esteemed with the best and most excellent, howbeit he wrote in verse, but with a bad grace; un∣to whom he said one day thus: I marvell much Periander whether you had rather be named an ill poet or a good physician? In the warre which the Lacedaemonians made against King Philip, some gave him counsell to be wel advised where he fought, and to battell as far as he could from his owne countrey, unto whom he replied againe: This is not the thing (quoth hee) that wee ought to regard, but rather to consider and thinke upon this, how we may quit our selves so well in fight, that we be winners in the end. And to those who praised him for that he had woonne a field of the Arcadians, he made this answer: It had beene better that we had overcome them ra∣ther in wisedome and prudence than in might and force. About the time that hee entred by force [ 40] force and armes into the countrey of Arcadia, being advertised that the Eleans sent aide and succor unto the Arcadians, he wrate unto them in this sort; Archidamus to the Eleans, greeting: A blessed thing it is to be quiet & at repose. When the confederate & allied nations in the Pe∣loponnesiacke warre, demaunded how much money would serve for the defraying of the char∣ges to the said warre belonging? and requested him to taxe each one how much they should contribute: War (quoth he) knoweth no sum, & is not waged at any certaine rate. Seeing a shot which was levelled from an engine of batterie newly brought out of Sicily: O Hercules (quoth he) now is mans prowesse gone for ever. And for that the Greeks would not give credit and be perswaded by him, to performe those conditions of peace which had beene made with Antigo∣nus and Craterus, two Macedonians, for to live in their ancient libertie; alledging that the La∣cedaemonians [ 50] would be lords more rigorous and insupportable than the Macedonians: The sheepe (quoth he) hath alwaies one and the same voice; but man changeth it oftentimes in di∣vers sorts, untill he have brought about and finished his desseignes.

ASTICRATIDAS, when one said, after that King Agis had lost the field to Antigonus, a∣bout the citie Megale: O poore Lacedaemonians, what will you doe now? will you become slaves to the Macedonians? answered thus: And why so? Can * 1.11 Antigonus forbid and let us, but we will die in fight for Sparta?

BIAS being surprised by an ambush, which was laid for him by Iphicrates captaine of the Athenians, when his souldiers said: Now captaine what is to be done? What else (quoth hee) but to advise you to save your selves, and to resolve my selfe for to die in fight.

BRASIDAS found among dried figs a mouse that bit him by the hand, so as he was glad to let her goe, whereupon he said unto those that were present: Lo, how there is not the least crea∣ture that may be, but it is able to make shift and save it life, in case it have but the heart to defend it selfe against those who assaile it? In a certaine skirmish he was wounded with a javelling tho∣row his buckler, and when he had drawen the head out of his bodie, with the verie same weapon he slew his enemie who had hurt him; and to those who asked him, how he came so wounded? he answered thus: Because my buckler deceived me. When he put himselfe into his journey to [ 10] the warres, he wrote thus unto the Ephori: All that is requisite for this warre as touching the warre, do I will to my power or die for it. After he had lost his life in the quarrell of delivering the Greeks out of servitude who inhabit in Thracia, the embassdodrs which were sent from those parts to give thankes unto the Lacedaemonians, went to visit his mother Argileonis; of whom she demaunded first, whether her sonne Brasidas died manfully or no? And when the Thracian embassadors highly praised him, insomuch as they said, that he had not left his fellow behinde him: Oh (quoth shee) you are much deceived my friends; Brasidas was in deed a valiant and hardie man, but there be in Sparta many more farre better than he.

DAMONIDAS hapned to be placed last in the dance by him who was the master chori∣ster; whereat hee was no otherwise displeased, but said thus unto him: Well done, for thou [ 20] hast found the meanes to make this place honourable, which heeretofore was but base and in∣famous.

DAMIS, when letters had beene written unto him as touching Alexander the Great, name∣ly how Alexander by their suffrages was declared a god; wrote backe in this wise: We grant that Alexander should be called a god since he will needs have it so.

DAMINDAS, when King Philip was entred with a maine armie unto Peloponnesus, where∣upon one said unto him: The Lacedaemonians are in danger to suffer many calamities, unlesse they can make meanes to agree and compound with him: Thou womanish-man (quoth hee) how can hee bring us to suffer any miseries, considering that we make no reckoning at all of death? [ 30]

DERCILLIDAS was sent embassador unto King Pyrrhus, what time as he had his armie emeamped upon the verie confines of Sparta: and Pyrrhus enjoined the Lacedaemonians to re∣ceive againe their king Cleonimus whom they had banished, or else he would make them to un∣derstand, that they were no more valiant than other men; upon whom Dercyllidas thus replied: If you be a god we fear you not, because we have no way offended you, but if you be a man, know you that you are no whit better than we.

DEMARATUS talked and communed one day with Orontes, who gave him blunt speeches and hard words; and when one who heard their talke, said afterwards: Orontes, verie bold with you, and useth you but homely ô Demaratus: Nay (quoth he) he hath nothing faulted to me∣ward; for those who glose and flatter in all their speech, be they who doe most harme, and not [ 40] such as speake upon ill will and malice. One seemed to demaund of him, wherefore at Sparta those were noted with infamie, who in a discomfiture threw away their bucklers, and not they who cast from them their morrions, cuiraces or breast-plates: Because (quoth he) these armors and head-pieces, serve onely for those who weare them; but their shields & bucklers, have their use also for the common strength of the whole battailon. When he heard a certaine musician sing: Beleeve me (quoth hee) the fellow plaies the foole verie well. He was upon a time in a great companie & assembly, where he continued a long while and spake never a word; by occa∣sion whereof one said unto him: Is it for folly and want of matter to talke of, that you are so si∣lent? How can it be folly (quoth he) for a foole can never hold his peace? One asked of him what was the cause why he was banished out of Sparta, being king thereof? Because (quoth hee [ 50] the lawes there be mistresses and command all. A certaine Persian by continuall gifts had in∣veagled and gotten from him in the end a yoong boy whom hee loved, and afterwards in man∣ner of a skorne said unto him: I have so well hunted, that at last I have caught your love: Not so (quoth he) I sweare by the but rather you have bought it. A certaine gentleman of Per∣sia there was, who had rebelled against the king of Persia; but Demaratus by reasons and remon∣strances so wrought with him, that he perswaded him to yeeld and returne againe to his allege∣ance; the king incontinently minded to put this Persian to death; but Demaratus diverted him,

and said: Sir, this were an utter shame for you, if when you could not punish him for rebellion being your enemie you should proceed to his execution now, when he is become againe your servitor and friend. There was a certaine jester and parasite who used to play his part at the kings table, and gave unto Demaratus eftsoones, biting quips, and taunts by way of reproch for his exile; but hee answered him and said: Good fellow, I am not disposed to fight with thee now this time, being put as I am out of my biace and the raunge of my life, and having lost my standing.

* 1.12 EMEREPES the Ephorus, cut two strings of the nine with an hatchet, in Phrynis his harpe, saying withall: Then marre not musicke.

EPAENETUS was woont to say: That liers were the cause of all the offences and crimes in [ 10] world.

EUBOIDAS hearing some to praise another mans wife, reprooved them for it, & said: That strangers who were not of the house, ought not in any respect to speake of the behaviour and manners of any dame.

EUDAMIDAS hearing some to praise another mans wife, reprooved them for it, & said: That strangers who were not of the house, ought not in any respect to speake of the behaviour and manners of any dame.

EUDAMIDAS the sonne of Archidamus and brother to Agis, having espied Xenocrates, a man well striken in yeeres, studying philosophie hard, with other yoong schollers in the Acade∣mie, demaunded what old man that might be: one standing by, answered, that he was a wise man and a great clearke, one of those who sought after vertue: If he be still seeking of it (quoth hee) when will he use and practise it? Having heard a Philosopher dispute and discourse upon this paradox: That there was no good captaine in warre, but the great clerke and learned Sage [ 20] onely: This is (quoth he) a strange proposition and woonderfull, but the best is, he that main∣teineth it, is in no wise to be credited, for his eares were never yet acquainted so much as with the sound of a trumpet. He came one day into the open schoole or auditorie to heare Xenocra∣tes discourse at large upon some question; but it fell out so, that he had new done when hee entred into the place; then one of his companie began to say: Surely, so soone as we were present, he became silent: He did well (quoth Eudamidas) if he had made an end of that which he had to say: but when the other replied: It were not amisse yet that we heard him, and that he would set to it againe: if we (quoth Eudamidas) should goe to visita a man in his house who had supped already before we came, were it well done of us to pray him to goe to a new supper for the love of us? It was once demaunded of him why he alone would seeme to approove rest, [ 30] quietnesse and peace, considering that all his fellow-citizens with one consent were of opinion to take armes and make warre upon the Macedonians? It is (quoth he) because I nei∣ther need nor am desirous to convince them of their errour and lying. Another for to animate him to this warre, alleaged the prowesses and worthy exploits atchieved by them at other times against the Persians: Me thinkes (quoth he) you know not what you say, namely, that because we have overcome a thousand sheepe, we should therefore set upon fiftie woolves. He was upon a time in place to heare a musician sing, who did his part very well; and one asked him, how he liked the man, and what he thought of him? May (quoth he) I take him to be a great amuser of men in a small matter. When another highly extolled the citie of Athens in his pre∣sence: And who can justly and dulie (quoth he) praise that citie which no man ever loved, for [ 40] being made better in it? When Alexander the great had caused open proclamation to be made in the great assemblie at the Olympick games: That all banished persons might returne unto their owne countries, except the Thebanes: Behold (quoth Eudamidas) heere is a wofull pro∣clamation for you that be Thebans; howbeit honorable withall, for it is a signe that Alexan∣der feareth none but you onely in all Greece. A certaine citizen of Argos said one day in his hear∣ing: That the Lacsedaemonians after they be gone once out of their owne countrey and from the obeisance of their lawes, proove woorse for their travelling abroad in the world: But it is contrary with you that be Argives and other Greekes (quoth he) for being come once into our cities Sparta you are not the woorse, but proove the better by that meanes. It was demaunded of him what the reason might be, wherefore they used to sacrifice unto the Muses before they did [ 50] hazard a battell: To the end (quoth he) that our valiant acts might be well and woorthilie written.

EURYCRATIDAS the sonne of Anaxandrides, when one asked him why the Ephori sat every day to decide and judge of contracts betweene men: For that (quoth he) we should learne to keepe our faith and truth even among our enemies.

ZEUXIDAMUS likewise answered unto one who demaunded of him why the statutes and ordinances of prowesse and martiall fortitude, were not reduced into a booke, and given in wri∣ting

unto yoong men for to reade? Because (quoth he) we would have them to be acquainted with deeds and not with writings. A certaine Aetolian said: That warre was better than peace, unto those who were desirous to shew themselves valorous men: And not warre onely (quoth he) for by the gods, in that respect better is death than life.

HERONDAS chaunced to be at Athens, what time as one of the citizens was apprehended, arraigned, and condemned for his idlenesse, judicially and by forme of law; which when he un∣derstood, and heard a brute and noise about him, he requested one to shew him the partie that was condemned for a gentlemans life.

THEARIDAS whetted his sword upon a time, and when one asked him if it were sharpe, he answered: Yea, sharper than a slanderous calumniation. [ 10]

THEMISTEAS being a prophet or soothsaier, foretold unto king Leonidas the discomsiture that should happen within the passe or streights of Thermopylae, with the losse both of himselfe and also of his whole armie: whereupon being sent away by Leonidas unto Lacedaemon, under a colour and pretense to enforme them of these future accidents; but in truth, to the end that he should not miscarie and die there with the rest; he would not so doe, neither could he forbeare but say unto Leonidas: I was sent hither for a warrior to fight, and not as an ordinary courrier and messenger to carrie newes betweene.

THEOPOMPUS when one demaunded of him how a king might preserve his kingdome and roiall estate in safetie? said thus: By giving his friends libertie to speake the truth, and with all his power by keeping his subjects from oppression. Unto a stranger who told him that in [ 20] his owne countrey & among his citizens he was commonly surnamed Philolacon, that is to say, a lover of the Laconians: It were better (quoth he) that you were called * 1.13 Philopolites than Philo∣lacon. Another embassadour there came from Elis, who said: That he was sent from his fellow∣citizens, because he onely of all that citie loved and followed the Laconike maner of life; of him Theopompus demaunded: And whether is thine or the other citizens life the better? he answered Mine: Why then (quoth he) how is it possible that a citie should safe, in which there being so great a number of inhabitants, there is but one good man? There was one said before him, that the citie of Sparta maintained the state thereof entier, for that the kings there knew how to governe well: Nay (quoth he) not so much therefore, as because the citizens there can skill how to obey well. The inhabitants of the citie Pyle, decreed for him in their generall coun∣sell [ 30] exceeding great honors; unto whom he wrote backe againe: That moderate honors time is woont to augment, but immoderate to diminish and weare away.

THERYCION returning from the citie Delphos, found king Philip encamped within the streight of Peloponnesus, where he had gained the narrow passage called Isthmos, upon which the city of Corinth is seated; whereupon he said: Peloponnesus hath but bad porters and warders of you, Corinthians.

THECTAMENES, being by the Ephori condemned to death, went from the judgement place smiling away; and when one that was present asked him, if he despised the lawes and judi∣ciall proceedings of Sparta? No iwis (quoth he) but I rejoice heereat, that they have condem∣ned me in that fine which I am able to pay and discharge fully, without borrowing of any friend, [ 40] or taking up money at interest.

HIPPODAMUS, as Agis was with Archidamus in the campe, being sent with Agis by the king unto Sparta, for to provide for the affaires of weale publicke and looke unto the State; refused to goe, saying: I cannot die a more honorable death, than in fighting valiantly for the defence of Sparta: now was he fourescore yeeres old and upward and tooke armes, where hee raunged himselfe on the right hand of the king, and there fighting by his side right manfully, was slaine.

HIPPOCRATIDAS, when a certaine prince or great lord of Caria had written unto him, that he had in his hands a Lacedaemonian, who having beene privie unto a conspiracie and treason intended against his person, revealed not the same; demaunding withall, his counsell [ 50] what he should doe with him; wrote back againe in this wise: If you have heeretofore done him any great pleasure and good turne, put him to death hardly and make him away; if not, expell him out of your countrey, considering he is a base fellow uncapable altogether of vertue. He chaunced to encounter upon the way a yoong boy, after whom followed one who loved him; and the boy blushed for shame; whereupon he said unto him: Thou oughtest to goe in their company my boy with whom thou being seene, needest not to change colour for the mat∣ter.

CALLICRATIDAS being admirall of a fleet, when the friends of Lysander requested him to pleasure them in killing some of their enemies; and in consideration thereof he should re∣ceive of them fifty talents; notwithstanding he stood then in very great need of mony for to buy victuals for the mariners, yet would not he grant their request; and when Cleander, one of his counsell, said unto him: I would (I trow, if I were in your place) take the offer: So would I also (quoth he) if I were in yours. Being come to Sardis unto Cyrus the yoonger, who at that time was an allie and confederate of the Lacedaemonians, to see if hee could speed himselfe of him with money for to enterteine mariners and mainteine the armada; the first day he gave him to understand that he was thither come to speake with him; but answere was made: That the king was at the table drinking: Well (quoth he) I will give attendance untill he have made an end of [ 10] his beaver: after he had waited a long time, and saw that it was impossible for to have audience that day, he departed out of the court for that time, being thought very rude and uncivill in so doing: the morow after, when likewise he was given to understand that he was drinking againe, and that he would not come abroad that day; he made no more adoe, but returned to Ephesus, from whence he came, saying withall: That he ought not so farre foorth to take paines for to be provided of money, as to doe any thing unseeming Sparta: and besides, he fell a cursing those who were the first that endured such indignitie, as to subject themselves unto the insolencie of Barbarians, and who taught them to abuse their riches, and thereby to shew themselves so proud and disdainfull, as to insult over others; yea, and he sware a great oath in the presence of those who were in his company, that so soone as he was returned to Sparta, he would labor with all his [ 20] might and maine, to reconcile the Greeke nations one unto another; to the end that they might be more dread and terrible to the Barbarians, when as they stood in no need of their forren for∣ces to wage warre one upon another. It was demanded of him, what kinde of men the Ionians were? Good slaves they are (quoth he) but bad free-men. When Cyrus in the end had sent mo∣ney for to pay his souldiers wages, and besides some gifts and presents particularly to himselfe; he received onely the foresaid pay, but as for the gifts, he sent them backe againe, saying: That he had no need of any private or particular amitie with Cyrus, so long as the common friendship which he had with all the Lacedaemonians perteined also unto him. A little before he gave the battell at sea, neere unto Arginusie, his pilot said unto him: That it was best for him to saile away, for that the gallies of the Athenians were fasrre more in number than theirs: And what of all [ 30] that (quoth he) is it not a shamefull infamie, & hurtfull besides to Sparta, for to flie? simply, best it is to tary by it, and either to win, or die for it. Being at the point to encounter and joine med∣ley, and having sacrificed unto the gods, the soothsaier shewed unto him that the entrails of the beast signified and promised assured victory unto the armie, but death unto the captaine; where∣at he was nothing daunted nor affrighted, but said: The state of Sparta lieth not in one man, for when I am dead, my countrey will be never the lesse; but if I should recule now, and yeeld unto the enemies, she will be much impaired, and lose her reputation. Thus having substituted Cle∣ander in his place, if ought should happen otherwise than well, he gave the charge, and strooke a navall battell, wherein fighting valiantly he ended his life.

CLEOMBROTUS the sonne of Pausanias, when a certeine friend a stranger, debated and rea∣soned [ 40] with his father about vertue, he said unto him: In this point at least-wise is my father be∣fore you, for that he hath already begotten a sonne, and you none.

CLEOMENES the sonne of Anaxandrides, was wont to say: That Homer was the Poet of the Lacedaemonians, because he taught how to make warre; but Hesiodus the Poet of the Ilots, for that he wrote of agriculture and husbandry. He had made truce for seven daies with the Ar∣gives; and the third night after it beganne, perceiving that the Argives upon the assurance and confidence of the said truce were soundly asleepe, he charged upon them, flew some, and tooke others prisoners; and when he was reproched therefore, and namely, that he had broken his oth; he answered: That he never sware to observe truce in the night season, but in day-time onely; and besides, what annoiance soever a man did unto his enemies (in what sort it made no matter) [ 50] he was to thinke that both before God and man it was a point above justice, and in no wise sub∣ject and liable unto it: howbeit, for this perjurie of his and breaking of covenant, he was disap∣pointed and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of his hope and desseigne, which was to surprise the citie of Argos, for that indeed the very women tooke those armes which in memoriall of ancient victories were hung and set up fast in their temples, with which they repelled them from the walles: after this, he fell into a furious rage, and his wits were bestraught; insomuch as he tooke a knife, and slit his bodie from the very ancles up to the principall and noble vitall parts, and so laughing and scoffing, he

left his life. His very soothsaire would have disswaded and diverted him from leading his forces against Argos, saying: That his returne from thence would be dishonourable and infamous: and when he presented his power before the citie, he found the gates fast shut against them, and the women in armes upon the walles: How thinke you (quoth he) now, doe you suppose this a dishonourable returne, when as the women, after all the men be dead, are faine to keepe the gates fast locked? When the Argives abused him with reprochfull tearmes, calling him a per∣jured and godlesse person: Well (quoth he) it is in you to miscall me and raile upon me as you do, in word; but it is in me to plague and mischiefe you indeed. Unto the ambassadours of Sa∣mes, who came to moove and sollicit him for to warre upon the tyrant Polycrates, and to that ef∣fect, used long speeches and perswasions, he answered thus: As touching that point which you speake of in the beginning of your oration, it is out of my head now, and I remember it not; in [ 10] which regard also I doe not well conceive the middle part of your speech; but as for that which you delivered in the latter end, I mislike it altogether. There was in his time a notable rover or pirate, who made roads into the land, and spoiled the coasts of Laconia, but at the last he was in∣tercepted and taken; now being examined and demanded why he robbed in this sort? I had not wherewith (quoth he) to mainteine and keepe my souldiers about me, and therefore I came to those who had it, and knowing that they would give me nothing freely and by faire meanes, I assaied to get somewhat of them by force and strong hand: Naughtinesse I see well (quoth he) goeth the nerest way to worke. There was a leaud villaine, who did nothing but revile and mis∣call him: Thou seemest (quoth he) to go up and downe railing upon every man, to the end that [ 20] being amused how to answere those thy slanders and imputations, we might have no time not leasure to charge thee with thy wickednesse and lay open thy vices. When one of his subjects said unto him: That a good king ought alwaies and in every thing to be milde and gracious: Not so (quoth he) left he grow thereby despised and contemptible. Being sore handled with a long and redious maladie, and not knowing what to do, he put himselfe at last into the hands of forcerers, enchanters, wisards and sacrificers, unto whom he was woont never to give any credit before; whereat when one of his familiar friends marvelled much, he said unto him: Wherfore wonder you at the matter? for I am not the man that heretofore I was, but much changed by sick∣nesse; and as I am not the same, so I do not like & allow of those things which I did in times past. There was a great professor of Rhetoricke, who tooke vpon him in his presence to discourse at [ 30] large of prowesse and valour, whereat he began to laugh a good; and when the partie said unto him: Why laugh you to heare a man spake of valiance, especially being as you are a king? My good friend (quoth he) because if a swallow should talke as you have done, I would doe as you do; marie if it had beene an eagle, I should have beene silent haply and held my peace. The Argives made their boast & vaunted that in a * 1.14 second battel, they had recovered the loose which they sustained in a former: I wonder much at that (quoth he) if by the addition of * 1.15 two syllables onely, you are prooved better men now that earst you were. When one reproched him in foule tearmes, saying: You are a great spender Cleomenes and a voluptuous person: Better it is yet (quoth he) so to be, than unjust as you are, who being wealthie enough, are yet covetous, and get your goods by undue and indirect meanes. There was one who recommended a musician [ 40] unto him, and in truth praised the man in many respects; but among the rest for his excellent voice, saying: He was the best singer in all Greece: but Celomenes pointing with his finger to one hard by: Lo (quoth hee) here is a passing good cooke of mine, and namely at making of broth he hath no fellow. Meander the Tyrant of Samos, upon the comming and invasion of the Persians, fled into the citie of Sparta, where hee shewed unto Celomenes all the gold and silver which he had brought with him, praying him to take what he would of it; none would hee re∣ceive at his hands, but fearing left he would fasten some of that treasure upon other citizens, to the Ephori he went & said thus unto them: It were better for Sparta, if this Samian guest of mine were sent out of Peloponnesius, for feare he induce and misleade some one of the Spartments to be naught: the Ephori no sooner heard this advertisement of his, but the verie same day by open [ 50] proclamation banished him out of the countrey. One demaunded of him upon a time, and said. Why having so often vanquished the Arigives warring upon you, have yee not rooted them out cleane? Neither will wee ever so do (quoth hee) for we would have our yoong men alwaies to be kept occupied and in exercise: and when another asked him why the Spartanes never con∣secrated unto the gods the armors which they had despoiled their enemies of? Because (quoth he) they be the spoiles of cowardes; for those armes which have beene taken from such as held them cowardly, it is not meere either to shew unto yoong men, or to dedicate unto the gods.

CLEOMENES the sonne of Clombrotus, when one gave him certaine cockes of game which were verie eager and hot in fight, saying: That they would in combat for the victorie, die in the verie place: Nay (quoth hee) give me those rather that kill them; for surely such must needs be better than these.

LABOTUS unto one who made a long discourse before him, hee said: To what purpose makest thou such great preambles and prologues for so small a matter; words I tell thee must be cousens to the things.

LEOTYCHIDAS the first of that name, when one hit him in the teeth that he was incon∣stant and mutable: If I change (quoth he) it is in regard of the times which doe alter and be di∣vers; and not as you do, who alter ever and anon upon your owne naughtinesse. Unto another [ 10] who asked him how a man might best keepe the goods that presently he enjoyed; he answered: By not committing them all at once unto fortune. It was demaunded of him once, what it was that yoong gentlemen of noble houses ought to learne: Even that (quoth hee) which will doe them good another day, when they be men growen. Lastly, when one would needs know of him the reason why the Spartanes dranke so little: Because (quoth he) others should not consult of us, but we of others.

LEOTYCHIDAS the sonne of Ariston, when one brought him word that the sonnes of Dema∣ratus gave out verie hard speeches of him: By the gods (quoth he) I nothing marvell thereat; for there is not one of them all that can affoord any man a good word. There chanced to be a serpent seene, which clasped round about the key or bolt of the gate next unto him; which sight [ 20] the sooth-sayers pronounced to be prodigious and a great woonder: Why (quoth he) this see∣meth not to me any monstrous or strange thing, that a serpent should winde about a key or bolt; but surely it were a marvellous matter indeed, if the key or bolt should be wound about the serpent. There was a sacrisicer or priest named Philippus, who inducted and professed men in the ceremoniall religion of Orpheus; and so extreame poore he was that he begged for his li∣ving; howbeit he went about and said: That those who by his hand were admitted into those ceremonies, should be happy after their death: Foole that thou art (quoth he) why dost not thou thy selfe die quickly, to the end that thou maiest cease to lament and bewaile thine owne miserie and povertie.

LEON the sonne of Eucratidas, being asked in what citie a man might dwell most safely? [ 30] answered thus: Even in that, whereof the inhabitants are not richer or poorer one than another; and wherin justice doth prevaile, & injustice is of no force. When he saw cerraine runners pre∣pare to run a course for the prize in the race at the solemne Olympicke games, and marked how they espied all meanes possible to catch and winne some advantage of their concurrents: See (quoth he) how much more studious these runners are of swiftnesse than of rightcousnesse. And when one hapned to discourse out of time and place, of things verie good and profitable: My good friend (quoth he) unto him, your matter is honest and seemely, but your manner of handling it, is bad and unseemely.

LEONIDAS the soone of Anaxandridas, and brother to Clomenes; when one said unto him: There was no difference betweene you and us before you were a king: Yes I wis good Sir [ 40] (quoth he) for if I had not been better than you, I had never beene king. When his wife, named Gorgo, at what time as he tooke his leave of her and went foorth to fight with the Persians in the passe of Thermopylae, asked of him whether hee had ought else to commaund her? Nothing (quoth he) but this, that thou be wedded againe unto honest men and bring them good chil∣dren. When the Ephori said unto him, that he lead a small number foorth with him to the fore∣said straights of Thermopylae: True (quoth he) but yet enough for that service which we go for. And when they enquired of him againe, and said: Why sir, entend you any other desseigne and enterprise? In outward shew (quoth he) and apparance, I give out in words that I goe to empeach the passage of the Barbarians; but in verie truth to lay downe my life for the Greekes. When he was come to the verie entrance of the said passe, hee said unto his souldiers: It is re∣ported [ 50] unto us by our scouts, that our Barbarous enemies be at hand; therefore wee are to lose no more time, for now we are brought to this issue, that we must either defait them, or else die for it. When one said unto him, for the exceeding number of their arrrowes we are not able to see the sun: So much the better (quoth he) for us, that we may fight under the shade. To another who said: Lo they be even hard & close to us; And so are we (quoth he) hard by them. Another used those words unto him: You are come Leonidas with a verie small troupe, for to hazard your selfe against so great a multitude; unto whom he answered: If youregard number, all Greece

assembled together is notable to furnish us, for it would but answere one portion or cannot of their multitude: but if you stand upon valor & prowesse of men, certes this number is sufficient. Another there was who said as much to him: But yet I bring (quoth he) money enough, consi∣dering we are heere to leave our lives. Xerxes wrote unto him to this effect: You need not un∣lesse you list be so perverse and obstained as to fight against the gods, but by siding and combi∣ning with me, make your selfe a monarch over all Greece; unto whom he wrote back in this wise: If you knew wherein consisted the soveraigne good of mans life, you would not covet that which is another mans; for mine owne part, I had rather loose my life for the safetie of Greece, than be the commaunder of all those of mine owne nation. Another time Xerxes wrote thus: Send me thy armour; unto whom he wrote backe: Come your selfe and setch it. At the verie [ 10] point when he was to charge upon his enemies, the marshals of the armie came unto him, and protessed that they must needs hold off and stay until the other allies & confederates were come together: Why (quoth he) thinke you not that as many as be minded to fight are come alrea∣die? or know you not that they onely who dread and reverence their kings, be they that fight against enimies? this said, he commaunded his souldiers to take their dinners, for sup we shall (said he) in the other world. Being demaunded why the best and bravest men preferre an ho∣norable death before a shamefull life? Because (quoth he) they esteeme the one proper to na∣ture onely; but to die well they thinke it peculiar to themselves. A great desire he had to have those yoong men of his troupe and regiment, who were not yet maried, and knowing well that if he delt with them directly and openly, they would not abide it; he gave unto them one after [ 20] another two brevets or letters to carrie unto the Ephori, and so sent them away: he meant also to save three of those who were married; but they having an inkeling thereof, would receive no brevets or missives at al: for one said, I have followed you hither to fight, and not to be a carier of newes; the second also: By staying heere I shall quit my selfe the better man; and the third: I will not be behind the rest, but the formost in fight.

LOCHAGUS the father of Polyaenides and Syron, when newes was brought unto him that one of his children was dead: I knew long since (quoth he) that he must needs die.

LYCURGUS the law-giver, minding to reduce his citizens from their old maner of life, un∣to a more sober and temperat course, and to make them more vertuous and honest (for before time they had beene dissolute and over delicate in their maners and behaviour) nourished two [ 30] whelpes which came from the same dogge and bitch, and the one he kept alwaies within house, & used it to licke in every dish & to be greedy after meat; the other he would leade forth abroad into the fields and acquaint it with hunting: afterwards he brought them both into an open and frequent assembly of the people, and set before them in the mids, certaine bones, sosse & scraps; he put out also at the same time an hare before them; now both the one and the other tooke in∣continently to that whereto they had beene acquainted, and ranne apace, the one to the messe of sops, and the other after the hare and caught it: heereupon Lycurgus tooke occasion to in∣ferre this speech: You see heere my masters and citizens (quoth he) how these two dogs having one sire and one dam to them both, are become farre different the one from the other, by rea∣son of their divers educations and bringing up; whereby it is evident how much more powerfull [ 40] nouriture and exercise is to the breeding of vertuous maners, than kinde and nature: howbeit some there be who say, that these two dogs or whelps which he brought out, were not of one and the same dogge and bitch; but the one came from those curres that used to keepe the house, and the other from those hounds that were kept to hunting; and afterwards that he acquainted the whelpe that was of the woorse kinde onely to the chase, and that which came of the better race, to slappe, licke, and doe nothing else but raven; whereupon either of them made their choise and ranne to that quickly whereto they were accustomed; and thereby he made it appeer evidently, how education, trayning, and bringing up is availeable both for good and bad condi∣tions, for thus he spake unto them: By this example you may know my friends that nobilitie of bloud, how highly soever it is esteemed with the common sort, is to no purpose, no though we [ 50] bee descended from the race of Hercules, if we doe not practise those deeds whereby hee became the most renowned and glorious knight in the world, learning and exercising all our life time those things which are honest and vertuous. Having made a devision of the whole ter∣ritorie, and distributed to every citizen an equall portion; it is reported that a good while after, the being returned frō a long voiage which he had, into the said territorie about harvest time, when the corne was newly reaped and cut down, seeing the shocks & sheaves, cocks and stiches raun∣ged even and orderly, and the same like one to another; he rejoiced in his heart, and smiling

said to those about him: That the whole territorie of Laconia looked like unto the inheritance and patrimonie of many brethern who had lately parted and divided their portions together equally. When he had brought in the cutting off and abolition of debts, he went in hand with the division of all utensils also and mooveable goods within house into even shares, to the end that there might be no imparitie nor inequality at all among his citizens; but perceiving that if he went directly and plainly to work, they would hardly beare and brooke that any thing should be abridged and taken from them: he discredited first and formost all sorts of gold and sil∣ver coine, giving commaundement that there should be no money used but made of iron: and taxed a certaine rate and limitation to what summe each mans state should amount; ac∣cording to the estimation of the said money by way of exchange; which done, all wrongs [ 10] and unjust dealings were chased cleane out of Lacedaemon: for now by this meanes there could no man rob nor steale, there was no bribing nor corruption by gifts, no man might de∣fraud in contracts and bargains, nor embezzell any more, considering that neither they might conceale and hide that which was unjustly gotten, nor any man joined in possessing ought, nor could possibly use and occupie the same without perill, ne yet carie to and fro in safetic and se∣curitie: and withall by the same meanes, he banished out of Lacedaemon all superfluties, where∣by there were no more any marchants, nor pleading sophisters, no wisards & fortune tellers, no cogging mount-banks & juglers, no ingenious devisers of new fabricks & buildings that haun∣ted Sparta for why, he would not permit any money there which was currant in other places, but onely this iron coine was in request, and passed from one to another: as for the price [ 20] thereof it waighed an Aeginetick pound; but in woorth and valour, it went but for foure Cho∣chins. Moreover, having a purpose to root out delicate and superfluous pleasures, and to cut off cleane all covetous desire of riches, he instituted and brought up those meetings which they cal Syssitia: i. eating at publick meales and making merrie together: and when some demanded of him what he meant to devise the same, and also why he ordeined that his citizens should be di∣vided by little tables when they sat together in armes? To the end (quoth he) that they might be in more readinesse to receive commaundement from their superiors; as also if peradventure there should be some practise among them of change and alteration, the fault might be in some few; and moreover, that there should be equallity in their eating & drinking, & neither in their dishes of meat nor cups of drink, nor in their beds nor apparel, no nor so much as in the utensils [ 30] & implemēts of the house, or in any thing whatsoever, the rich shuld have any vantage over the poore: by this policy having brought to passe that riches was not set-by and desired, considering that such order was taken, that neither men had much occasion to use it, nor any joy & pleasure to shew it, he would thus say unto his familiars: My good friends, what a gay & goodly matter is it, to make it knowen by effect indeed, that Pluto, that is to say, the god of riches, is in trueth blinde, according as he is named to be. Furthermore, carefull he was, and had a speciall regard that his people should not first dine at home in their owne houses, and after that, goe to their publicke halles and meetings aforesaid, being full of other viands and drinks; for others would reproch and speake badly of a man who did not eat among them with a good appetite, as being a glutton, or one who for daintinesse and delicacy disdained this common and vulgar maner of [ 40] diet; but if any such happened to be seeme and knowen, he was sure to be condemned in a good round fine. Hereupon it was, that a long time after, king Agis (after his returne from an expe∣dition or voiage in warre, wherein he had subdued the Athenians) willing one day to suppe pri∣vately by himselfe with his wife at home, sent into the kitchin for his part or allowance of meat; but the marshable of the armie would send him none; and the morrow after, when the matter came to the knowledge of the Ephori, he had a fine set on his head for it: but by reason of these new ordinances, divers of the richer sort tooke snuffe, and in great indignation rose up against him, abused him with hard tearmes, threw stones and would have brained him; but he seeing himselfe thus furiously pursed, made shift by good footmanship, and escaped out of the com∣mon market place, & put himselfe within the sanctuarie of Minervaes temple, called Chalceae∣cos, [ 50] before the other could overtake him, only Alcander was so neere unto him, that when he cast his eie behinde to see who followed after, rought him a rap with his bason, and strake one of his eies out of his head: but Alcander afterwards, by the common sentence of the whole citie, was put into his hands for to do exemplarie justice upon him, according as he thought good how∣beit, hee wrought him no mischiefe nor displeasure at all; and that which more is, hee never so much as complained of any wrong or abuse that he had offered and done unto him; but having him to be a domesticall guest and to live with him, he did this good of him: That hee blazed in

every place where he came, his commendable parts, and namely, the orderly dier and maner of life, that he had learned by conversing with him; and in one word, shewed himselfe highly to af∣fect that discipline in which Lycurgus had trained him: afterwards, for a memoriall of this acci∣dent which befell unto him, he caused within the temple of Minerva Chalceaecos, a chapell to be built unto Minerva, surnamed Optiletis; for that the Doriens inhabiting those parts, do call in their language, Eies, Opteli. It was demanded of him upon a time, why he had not established a∣ny written positive lawes: Because (quoth he) they that are well brought up and instituted in that discipline as it apperteineth, know well how to judge that which the time requireth. Some asked him why he had ordeined that the roofes of houses should be made with timber rough hewen with the axe, and the doores of sawen planke or boord onely, without worke of any other [ 10] tooles or instruments at all? unto whom he answered: Because our citizens should be moderate in all things that they bring into their houses, and have no furniture therein that might set o∣ther mens teeth on water, or which other men do so much affect. From this custome by report it came, that king Leotychides the first of that name, being at supper in a friends house of his, when he saw the roofe over his head richly seeled with embowed arch-worke, demanded of his host whether the trees in that countrey grew square or no? When he was asked why he forbad to make warre often against the same enemies: For feare (quoth he) that being forced estsoones to stand upon their owne guard and put themselves in defence, they should in the end become well experienced in the warres: in which regard Agesilaus afterwards was greatly blamed for be∣ing the cause by his continuall expeditions and invasions into Boeotia, that the Thebans were e∣quall [ 20] in armes unto the Lacedaemonians. Another asked also of him, why he enjoined maidens marriageable to exercise their bodies in running, wrestling, pitching the barre, flinging coits, and lancing of darts? For this purpose (quoth he) that the first rooting of their children which they are to breed, taking fast and sure holde in able bodies wel set and strongly knit, might spring and thrive the better within them, and they also themselves being more firme and vigorous, beare children afterward the better, be prepared and exercised (as it were) to endure the paines and travels of child-birth easily and stoutly, over and besides, if need required, be able to fight in defence of themselves, their children and countrey. Some there were who found fault with the custome that he brought in, that the maidens of the city at certeine festivall daies should dance naked in solemne shewes and pomps that were set, demanding the cause thereof? to whom hee rendred this reason: That they performing the same exercises which men do, might be no lesse [ 30] enabled than they, either in strength and health of body, or in vertue and generosity of minde, and by that meanes checke and despise the opinion that the vulgar sort had of them. And from hence it came, that Gorgo the wife of Leonidas, as we finde written, when a certeine dame and la∣die of a forren countrey said unto her: There be no other women but you Laconian wives, that have men at command; answered in this wise: For why? we onely are the women that beare men. Moreover, he debarted and kept those men who remained unmarried, from the sight of those shewes where the yoong virgins aforesaid danced naked; and that which more is, set up∣on them the note of infamie, in depriving them expresly of that honour and service which yon∣ger solke are bound to yeeld unto their elders: in which doing, he had a great foresight and pro∣vidence [ 40] to move his citizens to marriage and for to beget children; by occasion whereof, there was never any man yet who misliked and complained of that which was said unto Dercillidas, by way of reproch, though otherwise he was a right good and valiant captaine; for when he came upon a time into a place, one of the yonger sort there was, who would not deigne to rise up unto him, nor give him any reverence; and this reason he gave: Because (quoth he) as yet you have not begotten a childe to rise up and doe his duety likewise to me. Another asked of him, where∣fore he had ordeined that daughters should be married without a dowrie or portion given with them? Because (quoth he) for default of marriage-money none of them might stay long ere they were wedded, nor be hearkened after for their goods; but that every man regarding onely the maners and conditioins of a yoong damosell, might make choise of her whom he meaneth [ 50] to espouse, for her vertue onely; which is the reason also that he banished out of Sparta all ma∣ner of painting, trimming, and artificiall embelishments to procure a superficiall beauty and complexion. Having also prefixed and set downe a certeine time, within the which aswell mai∣dens as yoong men might marrie; one would needs know of him why he limited forth such a definite terme? unto whom he answered: Because their children might be strong and lustie, as being begotten and conceived of such persons as be already come to their full growth. Some woondered why hee would not allow that the new married bridegrome should lie with his

espouse; but expresly gave order that the most part of the day hee should converse with his companions, yea, and all the nights long, but whensoever hee went to keepe company with his new wedded wife, it should be secretly and with great heed and care that hee be not surpri∣zed or found with her? This (quoth he) is done to this end that they may be alwaies more strong and in better plight of body: also that by not enjoying their delights and pleasures to the full; their love might be ever fresh, and their infants betweene them more hardie and stout: furthermore, hee remooved out of the citie all precious and sweete persumes, say∣ing: That they were no better than the verie marring and corruption of the good naturall oile; the art also of dying and tincture, which he said was nothing else but the slatterie of the senses: [ 10] to be briefe, he made the citie Sparta inaccessible (as I may say) for all jewelers and fine work∣men, who professe to set out and adorne the body: giving out, that such by their lewd artificiall devices, do deprave and marre the good arts and mysteries in deed. In those daies the honestie and pudicitie of dames was such, and so far off were they from that tractable facilitie and easie accesse unto their love; which was afterwards, that adulterie among them was held for an unpos∣sible and uncredible thing. And to this pupose may well be remembred the narration of one Geradatas, an ancient Spartane, of whom a stranger asked the question: What punishment adulterers were to suffer in the citie of Sparta? for that, he saw, Lycurgus had set downe no ex∣presse law in that behalfe: Why (quoth he) there is no adulterie among us: but when the other replied againe: Yea, but what and if there were? even the same answere made Geradatas, and none other: For how (quoth he) can there be an adulterer in Sparta, wherein all riches, all super∣fluous [ 20] delights and dainties, all outward trickings and embelishings of the bodie are despised and dishonoured? and where shame of doing ill, honestie, reverence and obeisance to superi∣ors carrie away all the credit and authoritie? One put himselfe forward, and was in hand with him to set up and establish the popular State of government in Sparta; unto whom hee answe∣red: Begin it thy selfe first within thine owne house. And unto another who demaunded of him, why he ordained the sacrifices in Lacedaemon so simple and of smal cost? To the end (quoth he) that we should never cease and give over to worship and honour the gods. Also when hee permitted his citizens to practise those exercises of the bodie onely, wherein they never stret∣ched foorth their hands; he was required by one to yeeld a reason thereof: Because (quoth he) none of us should in taking paines be accustomed to be wearie or to saint, and give over at any [ 30] time. Likewise being asked the reason why he gave order oftentimes to change the campe, and not in one place to lie long encamped? To the end (quoth he) that we might doe the greater damage to our enemies, and hurt more of them. Another was desirous to know of him, why he forbad to give the assault unto any walles? unto whom he answered: For feare that the best men might not be killed, by a woman, a child, or some such like person. Certaine Thebanes craved his advice and opinion touching the sacrifice, divine service, and dolefull moane which was so∣lemnely made in the honour of Leucothea; unto whom he answered thus: If you take her for a goddesse, weepe not for her as if she were a woman; if you suppose her to be a woman, sacrifice not unto her as to a goddesse. Unto his citizens who demaunded of him, how they might put backe and repulse the invasions of their enemies? Marie (quoth he) if you continue poore, and [ 40] none of you do covet to have more than another. Againe, when they would needs know why he would not have their citie to be walled about: Because (saith he) that citie is never without a wal, which is environed and compassed about with valiant men, and not with bricke or stone. The Spartanes also were verie curious in trimming the haire of their heads, alledging for their warrant a certaine speech of Lycurgus as touching that point, who was woont to say: That side∣haire made them who were faire more beautifull, and those that were foule, more hideous and terrible. Likewise he gave commaundement, that in their warres, when they had discomfited their enemies and put them to flight, to follow the chase so hardly, untill they were fully assured of the victorie, and then to retire withall speed, saying: That it was no act of a generous spirit, nor beseeming the brave minde of the Greekish nation, to massacre and execute those who had [ 50] quit the place and were gone; besides, this also would be safe and commodious for themselves, forasmuch as the enemies who knew once their custome, namely, to put those to the sword who obstinately resist and make head, and to spare those and let them escape who flie before them; find by that meanes that flight is better than to stand to fight. A certaine man asked him, for what cause he would not suffer the souldiers to rifle and spoile the bodies of their enemies as they fell dead: For feare (quoth hee) lest while they busie themselves, and stoupe forward to ga∣ther

the spoiles, they should neglect their fight in the meane time, but rather entend onely with their povertie and want to keepe their range.

The Tyrant of Sicilie Dionysius had sent unto LYSANDER two sutes of womens roabes, that he might choose whether of them he liked better, to carrie unto his daughter; but hee said unto him: That she herselfe knew best which to choose, and what was fittest for herselfe, and so he tooke both away with him. This Lysander was a verie craftie and subtile foxe, who ordered and managed most part of his affaires by cunning casts and deceitfull devices, esteeming justice onely by utilitie, and honestie by profit; confessing in word that truth was better than falshood; but measuring in deed the worth and price as well of the one as the other by commoditie. To them who reprooved and blamed him for conducting the most part of his enterprises by fraud [ 10] and guile, and not by plaine direct force, a thing unwoorthy the magnanimity of Hercules, hee would laugh and answere: That where he could not atchieve a thing by the lions skin, hee must needes sow thereto a piece of the foxes case. And when others charged and accused him mightily, for that he had violated and broken his oath, which he had made in the citie Miletum, he used to say: That children were to be deceived with cock-all-bones, but men with oaths: Ha∣ving defaited the Athenians in a battell by meanes of an ambush, in a certaine place called the Goats-rivers, and afterward pressed them so sore with famine, that he forced them to yeeld the citie unto his mercie, he wrote unto the Ephori thus: Athens is woon. The Lacedaemonians in his time were at some difference with the Argives about their confines; and it seemed that the Argives alledged better reasons, and brought forth more direct evidences for themselves [ 20] than the other; whereupon he came among them and drew his sword, saying: They that are the mightier with this, plead best for their confines. Seeing the Boeotians as he passed thorow their countrey, hanging in equall ballance, and as yet not resolved and certaine to which side for to range themselves, he sent one unto them for to know whether they would chuse, that he mar∣ched thorow their lands with speares and pikes upright, or bending downeward and trailing. In a certaine assembly of the estates of Greece, there was a Megarian who spake bravely and auda∣ciously unto him: Thy words my friend (quoth he) have need of a citie; meaning thereby, that he was of too weake and small a citie, as to give such glorious words. The Corinthians rebelled upon a time, whereupon he advaunced with his forces against their walles, which the Lacedae∣monians seemed to assaile verie coldly: but at the verie instant there was espied an hare, running [ 30] crosse over the towne ditch: whereupon he tooke occasion to say: Are yee not ashamed in deed ô yee Spartanes, to feare such enemies, who are so idle and stirre so little abroad, that hares can sleepe quietly, even under their verie walles. When hee was at Samothrace to consult with the oracle there; the priest was in hand with him to confesse what was the most wicked and enormious act that ever hee did in all his life time: whereupon hee asked the priest againe: Whether is it your selfe or the gods that would know thus much, and imposeth this con∣fession upon mee? The gods (quoth the priest) would have it so: Why then (quoth he) retire you aside out of my sight, and if they demaund the same of mee, I will answere them. A certaine Persian asked him what kinde of government hee liked best and praised most: Even that (quoth hee) which ordeineth for cowards and hardy men that reward and hire [ 40] which is meet for them. Another said unto him: That in every place where he came hee was ready to commend and defend him: I have (quoth he againe) in my grounds two oxen, and nei∣ther of them speaks a word; howbeit, I know for al that, which is good of deed, and which is idle and lazie at his worke. There was one who let flie at him divers odious and reprochfull words: Speake on good fellow (quoth he) out with it hardly and spare not, vomit up all and leave no∣thing behinde, if haply thou canst rid and purge thy heart of all the wicked venim wherewith thou seemest to swell. Some time after, when he was dead, there arose variance betweene the allies of Sparta as touching certaine matters; and for to know the truth and settle all causes among them, Agesilaus went to Lysanders house, for to search certaine papers that might give light and evidence to the thing in controversie; and among other writings he chaunced to [ 50] light upon an oration or pamphlet penned by him as touching policie & the State; wherein he seemed to perswade the Spartans to take the roialtie and regall dignitie from the houses of the Eurytionida and Agiadae, and to bring it to a free election of the citizens, that they might chuse for their kings out of all the citie those who were approoved and knowen for the woor∣thiest men, and not to be obliged for to take and admit of necessitie one of Hercules line; so as the crowne and regall state might be conferred as a reward and honour upon him who in vertue

resembled Hercules most, considering that it was by the meanes thereof, that unto him were assigned the honors due unto the gods: now was Agesilaus fully bent to have published this ora∣tion before al the citizens, to the end that they might take knowledge how Lysander was another kind of man than he had beene taken for, and withall to traduce those that were his friends and bring them into obloquie, suspicion, and trouble: but by report Lacratidas the principall man, and president of the Ephori, fearing lest if this oration were once divulged & openly read, it might take effect, and perswade that indeed which it pretended; staied Agesilaus and kept him from doing so, saying: That he should not now rake Lysander out of his grave, but rather enterre and burie the oration together with him, so wittily and artificially composed it was, and so effectuall to perswade. Certaine gentlemen there were of the citie, who during his lise were [ 10] suters to his daughters in mariage; but after his death when his estate was knowen to be but poore, they desisted and cast them off, whereupon the Ephori condemned them in great sines, for that they made court unto them, so long as they esteemed him wealthy; but afterwards when they found by his poore estate that he was a righteous and just man, they made no more recko∣ning of his daughters but disdained them.

NAMERTES being sent as embassadour into a forren countrey, there chanced to be one of those parts who said unto him: That he held and reputed him for an happie man, because he had so many friends; unto whom he replied and asked: Whether he knew the true proofe where∣by a man might be assured that he had many friends? the other answered: No, but I pray you tell me: Why then (quoth he) it is * 1.16 adversitie. [ 20]

NICANDER, when one brought him, word that the Argives spake ill of him: It makes no matter (quoth he) are they not sufficiently chastised and punished for railing upon good men? One asked of him wherefore the Lacedaemonians wore their haire long of their heads, & suffred likewise their beards to grow side; unto whom he answered: Because a mans owne proper or∣nament is of all other the fairest, and costeth least. A certaine Athenian being in communica∣tion with him, cast out this word: All you Lacedaemonians (Nicander) love your ease well, and are idle: You say true indeed (quoth he) but we busie not our selves as you doe in every trifling matter.

PANTHOIDAS, being sent in embassage into Asia, was shewed by the people of those parts a certaine strong citie well fortified with high and goodly wals: Now by the gods (quoth he) [ 30] my friends, this seemes to be a trim cloister to mue up women in. In the schoole of Academie the philosophers discoursed and disputed as touching many good themes, and after they had made an end, they said unto him: Now good sir ô Panthoidas, how like you these discourses? What should I thinke of them else (quoth he) but that they are goodly and honest in shew, but surely profitable they are not, nor edifie at all, so long as your selves doe not live accordingly.

PAUSANIAS the sonne of Cleombrotus, when the inhabitants of the isle Delos were at de∣bate, and pleaded for the proprietie of the said isle against the Athenians, alleaging for them∣selves that by an old law (time out of minde) observed among them, there might none of their women beare children within the said island, nor any of their dead be buried there: How then (quoth he) can this isle be yours, if none of you were ever borne or buried there? When cer∣taine [ 40] exiled persons from Athens sollicited him to leade his armie against the Athenians, and for to provoke him rather thereto, said: That they were the onely men who hissed and whistled at the naming of him, when he was declared victor in the solemnitie of the Olympick games: But what thinke you (quoth he) will they doe when we have wrought them some shrewd turne, since they sticke not to hisse at us being their benefactors? Another asked of him, wherefore the Lacedaemonians had enfranchized the poet Tyrteus their denizen? Because (quoth he) we never would be thought to have a stranger or alien our leader and governour. There was a very weak and feeble man of bodie who neverthelesse seemed very earnest and instant to make warre upon the enemies, and to give them battell both on sea and land: Will you (quoth he) strip your selfe out of your clothes, that we may see what a goodly man of person you are, to moove and [ 50] perswade us for to fight? Some there were who seeing the spoiles that were taken from the dead bodies of the Barbarians after they were slaine in the field, marveiled much at their sumptuous and costly clothes: It had been better (quoth he) that themselves had beene of more valour, and their habilements of lesse valew. After the victorie which the Greeks wan of the Persians be∣fore the citie Plateae, he commaunded those about him to serve him up to the table that supper which the Persians had provided for themselves, which being woonderfull excessive and su∣perfluous: Now Par-die (quoth he) the Persians are great gourmaunders and greedy gluttons,

having so great store of viands come hither among us, for to eate up our browne bread and course bisket.

PAUSANIAS the sonne of Plistonax, unto one who asked him, why it was not lawfull in their countrey to alter any of their auncient statutes, made this answer: Because lawes ought to be mistresses of men, and not men masters of the lawes. Being exiled from Sparta, and making his abode within the citie Tegea, he highly praised the Lacedaemonians; one of the standers by said unto him: And why then staied not you at Sparta, if there be so good men there? why I say fled you from thence? Because (quoth he) physicians doe not use to keepe where folke be sound and whole, but where they are sicke and diseased. One came to him and said: How shall we be able to defait & conquer the Thracians? Mary (quoth he) if we chuse the valiantest man for our [ 10] captaine. A certaine Physician advised & looked upon him very wistly, & after he had well con∣sidered his person, said: Thou ailest nothing, neither is there any evil in thee: I thinke so (quoth he) because I use none of thy counsell & physick. His friends reprooved him for speaking ill of a physician, of whom he had no proofe nor experience, and at whose hands he had received no harme: True indeed (quoth he) I have made no triall of him; for if I had, surely I should not have bene a lives-man at this day. When a Physician said unto him: You are now become old sir: Thou saist trueth (quoth he) because I have not enterteined thee for to minister physicke un∣to me. He was wont also to say: That he was the best Physician, who would not let his patients rot above ground, but dispatch them at once, and send them quickly to their graves.

PASDARETUS, when one said unto him: There is a great number of our enemies: Then [ 20] (quoth he) shall we win greater honour, for kill we may the more of them. Seeing one who by nature was a very dastard and coward, howbeit, commended otherwise by his fellow-citizens for his modestie and mildnesse: I would not have men (quoth he) praised for being like wo∣men, nor women for resembling men, unlesse peradventure a woman be driven upon some oc∣casion of extremitie to play the man. Having the repulse upon a time, when hee should have bene chosen into the counsell of the three hundred, which was the most honourable degree of State in all the citie, he departed from the assembly all jocund, mery and smiling; and when the Ephori called him backe againe, and demanded of him why he laughed? Because (quoth he) I joy in the behalfe of the citie, that it hath in it three hundred better and more sufficient citizens than my selfe. [ 30]

PLISTARCHUS the sonne of Leonidas, when one enquired of him the cause why they caried not the denomination of their families from the names of their first kings, but of the later? Be∣cause (quoth he) those in the olde time * 1.17 chose rather to be leaders than kings; but their suc∣cessors not. There was a certeine advocate at the barre, who in pleading for his client, was full of his jests and frumps, never ceasing to scoffe and move laughter: My friend (quoth he unto him) do you not consider and regard, that in seeming to make others for to laugh, you will cause your selfe to be ridiculous and a laughing stocke? even as those who by wrestling oft become good wrestlers? Report there was made unto him one day of a certeine foule-tongued fellow, who u∣sed to slander and back-bite all men, and yet spake all good of him: I wonder much (quoth he) if no man tolde him that I was dead; for surely he cannot for his life affoord any man living one [ 40] good word.

PLISTONAX the sonne of Pausanius, when a certeine Athenian oratour called the Lacedae∣monians, unlettered and ignorant person: Thou saiest true (quoth he) for we alone of all other Greeks, are the men who have learned no naughtinesse of you.

POLYDORUS the sonne of Alcamenes, said unto one who ordinarily did nothing els but menace his enemies: Doest not thou perceive how thou spendest the most part of thy revenge in these threats? He led upon a time the army from Lacedaemon against the citie of Messene; and one demanded of him, whether his heart would serve to fight against brethren? No (quoth he) but I can finde in mine heart to march into that inheritance which is not yet set out and parted by lots. The Argives, after the discomfiture of their three hundred men who fought against so [ 50] many of the Lacedaemonians, were defaited a second time, all in a ranged battell; by reason whereof, the allies and confederates of the Lacedaemonians were earnest with Polydorus not to let slip so good an opportunitie, but to follow the traine of victory, and to go directly to the op∣pugnation of their city walles, and to win it by force; which he might effect right easily, consi∣dering that all the men were killed up in the field, and none but women left alive within, to de∣send the citie; unto whom he answered: I am well appaied, and take this for my great honour and glory, that I have vanquished mine enemies in battell, fighting on even-hand so many to so

many; but being to determine the quarrell by dint of sword for our confines onely, and having exploited that, to proceed forward, and covet to affault and winne their city, I holde it not to be just and equall; for come I am to recover those lands of ours which they occupied, and not to seize upon their home-stalles. Being demanded why the Lacedaemonians exposed themselves so manfully to the hazzard of warre? It is (quoth he) because they have learned to reverence, and not to feare their rulers and captaines.

POLYCRATIDAS being sent with others, in ambassage to the lieutenats of the king of Persia, when they demanded of him & the rest, whether they were come of their own proper mo∣tion, or sent by commission from the State? If we speed of that (quoth he) which we demand, then are we come in the behalfe of the common weale; but if we misse, we come of our owne [ 10] heads.

PUOEBIDAS immediatly before the battell of Leuctres, when some gave out, and said: This day will trie and shew who is a good man: Such a day (quoth hee) is much worth in deed, if it be able to shew a good man.

Sous, as it is reported (being upon a time straightly besieged by the Clitorians, in a place which was very rough and without water) made offer to render into their hands all those lands which he had conquered from them, in case that he and all his company might drinke at a cer∣teine fountaine which was neere at hand: the Clitorians accorded thereto, and this covenant was concluded and confirmed by oath betweene them: so hee assembled all his men together, and declared unto them: That if there were any amongst them would abseine from drinke, he [ 20] would resigne up into his hands all his sovereigne power and roialtie; but there was not one of all his troupe who could conteine and forbeare, so exceeding thirsty they were all; but everie man drunke heartily, himselfe onely excepted, who went last downe to the spring, where he did nothing els but coole and besprinkle his body without, in the presence of his very enemies, not taking one drop inwardly: by which evasion, he would not afterwards yeeld up the foresaid lands, but alledged that they had not all drunke.

TELECRUS when one came unto him & said: That his owne father gave him alwaies hard words; made him this answer: Surely, if there were not cause to use such speeches, he would ne∣ver speake so. His brother also was discontented, and complained in this wise; The citizens do not beare mee such favour and kindnesse as they shew in your behalfe; notwithstanding we [ 30] are the sonnes of one father and mother; but they misuse me most injuriously: The reason is (quoth he) because you know not how to put up a wrong as I doe. Being demaunded why the custome was in their country, that yoong men should rise up from their places where they were set, and do reverence unto their elders: It is (quoth he) to this end, that in doing this honor unto those, who nothing belonged unto them, they might learne so much the more to honour their parents. unto another that asked him of what wealth he was, and how much goods he had? he answered: I have no more than will suffice.

CHARILLUS being asked the question why Lycurgus had given them so few lawes? Because (quoth he) they have no need at all of many lawes who speake but little. Another demaunded of him the cause, why as Sparta they suffered to goe foorth into publick place, virgins with their [ 40] faces open, but wives vailed and covered: For that (quoth he) maidens might finde them out husbands to be wedded unto, and wives keepe those whom they have maried already. One of the slaves (called Ilotes) behaved himselfe vpon a time over boldly and malapertly with him; un∣to whom he said: Were I not angrie, I would kill thee at my foot. One asked him what kind of government he esteemed best? Even that (quoth he) wherein most men, in managing of pub∣licke affaires without quarrels and sedition, strive a vie who shall be most vertuous. And unto another who would needs know the reason, why at Sparta the images and statues of the gods were made in armor? he shaped this answer: To the end that the reproches which are fastned upon men for cowardise, might not take hold of them; also that yoong men should never with∣out their armes make their praiers unto the gods. [ 50]

The Samiens had sent certaine embassadors unto Sparta, who after audience given, were very * 1.18 long and somewhat tedious in their orations; but when they had found the way to make an end, THE LORDS OF SPARTA made them this answer; The beginning of your speech we have forgotten, and we conceived not the rest because the beginning was out of our remembrance. The Thebanes upon a time had contested bravely, and contradicted them stoutly in certaine points in question, unto whom they answered thus: Either lesse hearts, or more puissance. There was one asked a Lacedaemonian upon a time why he let his beard grow so long? Because

(quoth he) whensover I see my hoary and grey haires, I might be put in minde to doe nothing unbeseeming them. When another highly praised certaine men for most valiant: a Lacedae∣monian heard him and said: Oh, such were sometime at Great Troy. Another of them hearing it spoken, that in certaine cities men were forced to drink after supper: And doe they not (quoth he) compell them also to eate? The poet Pindarus in one of his canticles nameth the citie of Athens the prop of al Greece: Thē wil Greece quickly come tumbling down (quoth a Laconian) if it beare but upon so sleight a pillar. Another beheld a painted table, wherin was the pourtrature of the Lacedemonians, how they were killed by the Athenians, and when one that stood by said; Now surely these Atheniās be valiant men: Yea mary (quoth he) in a picture. There was one see∣med to take pleasure in hearing certaine opprobrious and slanderous words untruely given out [ 10] against a Laconian, & to beleeve the same; but the partie thus misused said: Cease to lend your eare against me. Another when he was punished, went crying; If I have don amisse it was against my wil: Why then (answered a Laconian) let it be against thy wil also that thou art punished. An∣other seeing men going forth of the countrey, set at their ease within coches: (God forbid (quoth he) that I should sit there where I can not rise up to doe my dutie unto him that is elder than my selfe. Certaine Chians there were, who being come to see the citie of Sparta, chaunced to be well whittled and starke drunke, who after supper went to see also the consistorie of the Ephori, where they cast up their gorges, yea and that which more is, both vomited and discharged their guts, even upon the very chaires where the Ephori was wont to sit: the morrow after, the Lace∣daemonians made great search and diligent enquirie at the first, who they were that thus had [ 20] plaid the slovens and beasts, and namely whether they were any of their owne citie or no: but when they understood that they were these strangers and travellers from Chios, they made open proclamation with sound of trumpet; That they gave the Chians leave thus filthily to abuse themselves. Another Laconian seeing hard almonds sold at the double price: What (quoth he) are stones so geason heere? Another having plucked all the feathers off from a nightingale, and seeing what a little body it had: Surely (quoth he) thou art all voice and nothing else. There was likewise a Lacedaemonian, who seeing the cynick philosopher Diogenes in the mids of win∣ter when it was extreme cold, embrasing and clipping a brasen statue very devoutly, asked him if he chilled not for cold? and when the other answered, No; Why then (quoth he) what great matter doe you? A certaine Laconian reproched upon a time one borne in Metapontium, say∣ing; [ 30] They were all cowards and false-hearted like women: If it be so (quoth the Metapontine) how is it that wee hold so much of other mens lands as wee doe? Why then (replied the La∣conian) I see that you are not cowards onely, but unjust also. A traveller being come to Sparta for to see the citie, stood upright a long while upon one foore onely, and said unto a Laconian I doe not thinke thou canst stand so long of one leg as I do: Not I indeed (quoth the other) but there is not a goose but can do as much. There was one vaunted greatly what a Rhetorician he was, and namely that he was able to perswade what he would; Now by Castor and Pollux I sweare (quoth a Laconian) there never was, nor ever will be any arte indeed without verity. A certaine Argive boasted much, that there were in their citie many graves & tombes of the Lacedaemoni∣ans: And contrariwise (quoth a Laconian) there is not among us one sepulcher of the Argives; [ 40] giving him thus much to understand, that the Lacedaemonians had many times entred with a puissant armie into the countrey of Argos, but the Argives never into the territorie of Sparta. A Laconian being taken prisoner in warre (when hee should bee sold in port sale, as the crier began with a loud voice to pronounce: Who will buy a Laconian, who) put his hand to the cri∣ers mouth and said: Cry for Gods sake who wil buy a prisoner? One of those mercenary soldiers whom king Lysimachus waged, being demanded of him this question; Art thou one of these La∣cedaemonian Ilots? Why, thinke you (quoth the other) that a Lacedaemonian will deigne to come and serve for foure obols by the day? After that the Thebans had defaited the Lacedae∣monians at the battell of Leuctres, they invaded the countrey of Laconia, so farre as to the verie river Eurotas; and one of them in boasting & glorious maner, began to say; And where be now [ 50] these brave Laconians? what is become of them? a Laconian who was a captive among them, straight waies made this answer: They are no where now indeed, for if they were, you would ne∣ver have come thus farre as you doe. At what time as the Athenians delivered up their owne ci∣tie into the hands of the Lacedaemonians, for to be at their discretion, they requested that at leastwise they would leave them the isle Samos: unto whom the Laconians made this answer: When you are not masters of your owne, doe you demand that which is other mens: hereupon arose the common proverbe throughout all Greece:

Who cannot that which was his owne save, The Isle of Samos would yet faine have.

The Lacedaemonians forced upon a time a certaine citie, and wan it by assault; which the Ephori being advertised of, said thus: Now is the exercise of our yoong men cleane gone, now shall they have no more concurrents to keepe them occupied. When one of their kings made pro∣mise unto them for to rase another citie and destroy it utterly (if they so would) which of∣tentimes before had put those of Lacedaemon to much trouble; the said Ephori would not per∣mit him, saying thus unto him: Doe not emolish and take away quite the whetstone that gi∣veth an edge to the harts of our youth. The same Ephori would never allow that there should be any professed masters, to teach their yong men for to wrestle and exercise other feats of activi∣tie: [ 10] To this end (say they) that there might bee jealousie and emulation among them, not in artificiall slight, but in force and vertue. And therefore when one demaunded of Lysan∣der, how Charon had in wrestling overcome him and laid him along on the plaine ground: Even by slight and cunning (quoth he) and not by pure strength. Philip king of Macedonia, before he made entrie into their country, wrote unto them to this effect: Whether they had rather that he entred as a friend, or as an enemie: unto whom they returned this answer; Neither one nor the other. When they had sent an embassador to Demetrius the sonne of Antigonus, having in∣telligence that the said embassadour in parle with him, eftsoones gave him the name of King, they condemned him to pay a fine when he was returned home; notwithstanding that hee brought as a present and gratuitie from the said Demetrius, in time of extreme famine, a certain [ 20] measure of corne called Medimnus, for every poll throughout the whole citie. It hapned that a leud and wicked man delivered in a certaine consultation very good counsell: this advice of his they approoved right well, howbeit receive it they would not comming out of his mouth, but caused it to be pronounced by another who was knowen to be a man of good life. Two brethren there were at variance, and in sute of law together; the Ephori set a good fine upon their fathers head, for that he neglected his sonnes, and suffred them to maintaine quarrell and debate one against another. A certaine musician who was a stranger and a traveller, they likewise condem∣ned to pay a summe of money, for that he strake the strings of his harpe with his fingers. Two boies fought together, and one gave the other a mortall wound with a sickle or reaping hooke; & when the boy that was hurt lay at the point of death, & was ready to yeeld up the ghost, other [ 30] companions of his promised to be revenged for his death, and to kill the other, who thus deadly had wounded him: Doe not so I beseech you (quoth he) as you love the gods, for that were in∣justice; and euen I my selfe had done as much for him, if I had beene ought, and could have raught him first. There was another yong lad, unto whom certaine mates and fellows of his (in that season wherin yong lads were permitted freely to filtch whatsoever they could handsomely come by, but reputed it was a shamefull and infamous thing for them to be surprized and taken in the maner) brought a yong cub or little foxe to keepe alive, which they had stollen: those who had lost the said cub came to make search; now had this lad hidden it close under his clothes, & the unhappie beast being angred, gnawed & bit him in the flanke as far as to his very bowels, which he endured resolutely, and never quetched at it, for feare he should be discovered: but af∣ter [ 40] all others were gone and the search past, when his companions saw what a shrewd turne the curst cub had done him; they child him for it, saying: That it had been far better to have brought forth the cub and shewed him, rather than to hide him thus with danger of death: Nay Iwis (quoth he) for I had rather die with all the dolorous torments in the world, than for to save my life shamefully to be detected so, for want of a good heart. Some there were who encountred certaine Laconians upon the way in the countrey, unto whom they said: Happie are you that can come now this way, for the theeves are but newly gone from hence: Nay forsooth (by god Mars we sweare) we are never the happier therefore; but they rather, because they are not fallen into our hands. One demaunded of a Laconian upon a time, what he knew and was skilfull in? Mary in this, to be free. A yoong lad of Sparta being taken prisoner by King Antigonus, and [ 50] sold among other captives, obeied him who had bought him in all things that he thought meet for to be done by a freeman; but when he commaunded to bring him an urinall or chamber∣pot to pisse in; he would not endure that indignitie, but said: Fetch it your selfe for me, I am no servant for you in such ministeries: now when his master urged him thereto and pressed hard upon him, hee ran up to the ridge or roofe of the house, and said: You shall see what an one you have bought; and with that cast himselfe downe with his head forward, and brake his

owne necke. Another there was to be sold; and when the partie who was about him, said thus: Wilt thou be good and profitable if I doe buy thee? Yea that I will (quoth he) though you ne∣ver buy me. Another there was likewise upon market, and when the crier proclai∣med aloud: Here is a slave, who buies him, who? A shame take thee (quoth he) couldst not thou say, a captive or prisoner, but a slave. A Laconian had for the badge or ensigne of his buckler a slie painted, and the same no bigger than one is naturally; whereupon some mocked him and said: That he had mad choise of this ensigne, because he would not be knowen by it: Nay rather (quoth he) I did it, because I would be the better marked: for I meane to approch mine enemies so neere, that they may see how great or little my cognisance is. Another there was, who when there was tendered unto him at the end of a banquet, the harpe to play upon according to the [ 10] custome of Grecce, refused it and said: The Laconians have not yet learned to play the fooles. One asked a Spartan once, if the way that led to Sparta, were safe or no? but he answered thus: Even according as a man doth goe downe thither: for * 1.19 they who goe thither as lions, bee hardly entreated and rue their comming; but hares we hunt from under the shade of their bor∣roughs. In wrestling it chanced that a Laconian was caught hold on by the necke, and notwith∣standing that he strove what he could to make the other leave his hold; yet hee forced him and made him stoupe groveling downeward to the ground: the Laconian seeing himselfe feeble in the reines of the backe, and at the point to be laide along, bit the others arme who held him so hard, whereupon hee began to crie: What thou Laconian, doest thou bite like women? No (quoth he) but I bite as lions use to do. A certaine Laconian who was maimed and lame of his [ 20] legge, went to warfare, whereupon some mocked him; but hee said unto them: It is not for those to goe into the warres who are good of foot-manship and can runne away apace; but such as are able to make good their ground and keepe well their ranke. Another Laconian being shot thorow the body with an arrow, when he was at the point to yeeld up his vitall breath, said thus: It never grieves me to leese my life, but to die by the hand of an effeminate archer, before I came to hand-strokes, that is it that troubleth me. Another being come to an hostelrie or inne to be lodged in, gave his hoste that kept the inne, a piece of flesh to dresse for his supper; but hee called for cheese besides and oyle: And what needes that (quoth the Laconian) if I had cheese, do you thinke that I would desire to have any viands more? Another hearing the marchant named Lampis borne in Aegina, highly praised and esteemed happie, for that he was [ 30] exceeding rich, and had many great ships going at sea: I never (quoth hee) make reckoning of that felicitie, which hangeth by ropes and cords. Another likewise answered unto one who said unto him: Thou liest Laconian: And why not (quoth he) wee are free, as for others that hap∣pen to speake untruths, they are wel punish for it and crie out, alas. There was a Laconian who laboured hard to make a dead body stand upright upon his feet; but when he saw that he could not bring his purpose to effect, do what he could: Now by Jupiter (quoth hee) there wanteth somewhat that should bee within. Tynnichus the Laconian, when his sonne Thrasybulus was slaine in the warre, tooke his death verie well and like a man, whereupon was this Epigram made:

Thy body was upon the sheild ô Thrasybulus brought [ 40] All breathlesse to the armed troup, from place where thou hadst fought: Seven deadly wounds at Argives hands thou didst receive in fight, And on the fore part of thy corps, thou shewd'st them all in sight. Thy father old Sir Tynnichus it tooke with blood beraid, And putting it in funerall fire, [ 50] with good cheere thus he said: Let cowards weepe and waile thy death; but I thy father kinde, Will shed no teares, nor semblance make of sad and grieved minde: But thee enterre (my sonne) as doth

beseeme thy fathers child, And as a true Laconian, who loves to die in field.

The master of the baines where Alcibiades the Athenians was woont to bathe and wash him∣selfe, powred great store of water upon his bodie more than ordinarily upon others; a Laconi∣an being then by said: It seemeth that he is not cleane and neat, but that he is exceeding foule and filthie, that he bestoweth so much water upon him. When King Philip of Macedonia entred with a maine army into Laconia, at what time as it was thought all the Lacedaemonians were kil∣led up and dead, he said unto one of the Spartanes: O poore Laconians, what will you do now? what else (quoth the Laconian) but die valiantly like men; for we alone of all other Greeks have [ 10] beene taught to live free and not to serve in bondage under any others. After that King Agis was vanquished; Antipater the king demaunded of the Lacedaemonians for hostages, fiftie chil∣dren of theirs: Eteocles one of the Ephori for the time being, returned this answere: That hee would not deliver into his hands any of their children, for feare they would learne ill manners and lewd conditions; for that they should not be brought up and nourtered in the discipline of their owne countrey, and wanting it they would not proove so much as good citizens; but if he would be so cōtent, he should receive for pledges women or old men, twice as many. And when he menaced hereupon and said: That he would worke him all the despite that possibly he could; they answered all with one accord: If thou impose upon us those conditions which are more grievous than death, we shall die with so much the better will. One old man desirous to see the [ 20] combats at the Olympicke games, could not get a roome to sit in, but passed along by manie places, and no man would make him roome, but fell to laugh and made good game at him, un∣till he came at length to that quarter of the whole theater, whereas the Lacedaemonians were set; and there all the children, yea and many of the men rose up unto him, and offered him their place: all the whole assembly of the Greekes observed well this behaviour of theirs, and with great applause and clapping of hands, approoved and praised the same: then the good olde father

Shaking his head with haires all gray, His beard also as hoare as they.

and weeping withall: Ah, God helpe (quoth he) what a world is this? that Greeks should all of [ 30] them know well enough what is good and honest; but the Lacedaemonians onely practise it? Some write, that the same hapned in Athens also, at the festivall solemnitie called Panathenaea; where those of Attica plaied mock-holiday, and made themselves mery with a poore olde man, who they seemed to call unto them (as it were) to give him a place among them; but after hee was come to them, no roome he could have with them, but was well mocked and frumped for his labour: howbeit, when he had passed along by all the rest, at length he came to a place where certeine ambassadours of Lacedaemon were set, and they made him roome, and set him among them: the people there assembled, taking great pleasure to see this act, clapped their hands a∣loud, with great acclamation, in token that they approoved it: then one of the Spartans, who there was: By the two twin-gods, Castor and Pollux (quoth he) I sweare, these Athenians know [ 40] what is good and honest, but they doe not according to their knowledge. A begger upon a time craved almes of a Laconian, who answered him thus. But if I should give thee any thing, thou wouldest make an occupation of it, and beg still so much the more; for verily, whosoever he was that first bestowed almes upon thee, was the cause of this villanous life which thou lea∣dest now, and hath made thee so vagrant and idle as thou art. Another Laconian seeing a col∣lectour going about, and gathering mens devotions for the gods, said thus: I will now make no more reckoning of the gods, so long as they be poorer than my selfe. A certeine Spartan ha∣ving taken an adulterer in bed with his wife, a foule and ilfavoured woman: Wretched man that thou art (quoth he) what necessitie hath driven thee to this? Another having heard an oratour making long periods, and drawing out his sentence in length: Now by Castor and Pollux, what [ 50] a valiant man his here? how he rolleth and roundly turneth his tongue about, and all to no pur∣pose. A traveller passing thorow Lacedaemon, marked among other things, what great honour and reverence yoong folke did to their elders: I perceive (quoth he) there is no place to Sparta, for an olde man to live in. A Spartan was upon a time asked the question, what maner of Poet Tyrtaeus was? A good Poet beleeve me (quoth he) to * 1.20 whet and sharpen the courages of yoong men to warre. Another having very badde and diseased eies, would needs goe to warfare; and when others said unto him: Wilt thou go indeed in that case as thou art in? what deed thinkest

thou to do there? Why (quoth he) if I do no other good els, I wil be sure to dull the brightnesse of mine enemies sword. Buris and Spertis, two Lacedaemonians, voluntarily departed out of their countrey, and went to Xerxes king of Persia, offering themselves to suffer that paine and punish∣ment, which the Lacedaemonians had deserved by the sentence of the oracle of the gods, for kil∣ling those heralds which the king had sent unto them; who being come before him, were desi∣rous that he should put them to death in what maner he would himselfe, for to acquit the Lace∣daemonians: the king wondering at this resolution of theirs, not onely pardoned the fault, but earnestly requested them to stay with him, promising them liberall enterteinment: And how can we (say they) live here, abandoning our native soile, our lawes, and those kinde of men, for whose sake to die we have so willingly undertaken this long voiage? and when a great captaine [ 10] under the king, named Jndarnes, intreated them stil very instantly, assuring them upon his word, that they should be kindly used, and in equall degree of credit and honour, with those who were, in highest favour with the king, and most advanced by him, they said unto him: It seemeth unto us sir, that you full little know what is liberty and freedome; for he that wist what a jewell it were, if he be in his right wits, would not change the same for the whole realme of Persia. A certeine Laconian as he way-fared, came unto a place where there dwelt an olde friend and host of his, who the first day, of purpose avoided him and was out of the way, because he was not minded to lodge him; but the morrow after, when he had either hired or borowed faire bedding, coverings and carpets, received him very stately; but this Laconian mounting up to his beds, trampled and stamped the faire and rich coverlets under his feet, saying withall: I beshrew these fine beds [ 20] and trim furniture, for they were the cause that yesternight I had not so much as a mat to lie up∣on, when I should sleepe and take my rest. Another of them, being arrived at the city of Athens and seeing there the Athenians going up and downe the city, some crying salt-fish to sell, others flesh and such like viands; some like publicanes, sitting at the receit of custome, other profes∣sing the trade of keeping brothel-houses, and exercising many such vile and base occupations, esteeming nothing at all foule and dishonest: after he was returned home into his owne coun∣trey, when his neighbours and fellow-citizens asked him, what newes at Athens, and how all things stood there? Passing well (quoth he) and it is the best place that ever I came in (which he spake by way of mockerie and derision) every thing there, is good and honest; giving them to understand, that all meanes of gaine and lucre, were held lawful & honest at Athens, and nothing [ 30] there, was counted villanous and dishonest. Another Laconian being asked a question, answe∣red; No: and when the party who mooved the question said: Thou liest; the Laconian replied againe, and said: See what a foole thou art, to aske me that which thou knowest well enough thy selfe! Certeine Laconians were sent upon a time, ambassadours to Lygdamis the tyrant, who put them off from day to day, and hasted with them so, as he gave them no audience; at the last, it was tolde them, that hee was at all times weake and ill at ease, and not in case to be conferred with: the ambassadours there upon said unto him who brought this word unto them: Tell him from us, that we are not come to wrestle, but to parle onely with him. A certeine priest, induc∣ted a Laconian into the orders and ceremonies of some holy religion; but before that he would fully receive and admit him, he demanded of him what was the most grievous sinne that ever he [ 40] committed, and which lay heaviest upon his conscience? The gods know that best (quoth the Laconian: but when the priest pressed hard upon him, and was very importunate, protesting that there was no remedie, but he must needs utter and confesse it: Unto whom (quoth the La∣conian) must I tell it, unto you or to the God whom you serve? unto God (quoth the other:) Why then turne you behinde me (quoth hee) or retire aside out of hearing. Another Laco∣nian chanced in the night to goe over a church-yard by a tombe or monument, and imagined that he saw a spirit standing before him; whereupon he advanced forward directly upon it with his javelin; and as he ran full upon it, and as he thought, strake thorow it, he said withall: Whi∣ther fliest thou from me, ghost that thou art, now twise dead? Another having vowed to fling himselfe headlong from the high Promontorie Leucas, downe into the sea, mounted up the top [ 50] thereof, but when hee saw, what an huge downfall it was, he gently came downe againe on his feet: now when one twitted and reproched him therefore: I wist not (quoth he) that this vow of mine had need of another greater than it. Another Laconian there was, who in a battell and hot medley, being fully minded to kill his enemie who was under him, and to that purpose had lifted up his sword backe, to give him a deadly wound; so soone as ever hee heard the trumpet sound the retreat, presently stated his hand, and would no more follow his stroake: now when one as∣ked him, why he slew not his enemie whom he had in his hands? Because (quoth he) it is better

to obey a captaine, than to kill an enemie. There was a Laconian tooke the foile in wrestling at the Olympicke games; and when one cried aloud: Thy concurrent is better than thou, Laco∣nian: Better (quoth he?) not so, but in deed he can skil better than I of supplanting and tripping.

Notes

• a 1.1

  〈1 line〉〈1 line〉
• b 1.2

  〈1 line〉〈1 line〉
• * 1.3

  〈1 line〉〈1 line〉
• d 1.4

  〈1 line〉〈1 line〉
• e 1.5

  A good man rejoiceth no in the victory obteined in civill wars.
• f 1.6

  Signifying that hee was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 & his head out of temper.
• g 1.7

  He that hath done the inja∣rie is to make amends.
• * 1.8

  or 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• h 1.9

  High wals be a fortesse for women.
• i 1.10

  A man ought to grieve more for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sinne, than for be ing exiled.
• * 1.11

  or 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.12

  or 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.13

  A lover of your fellow citizens.
• * 1.14

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.15

  〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.16

  Or prospe 〈◊〉〈◊〉 .
• * 1.17

  Some reade thus: Were compelled of necessitie to be captaines or kings
• * 1.18

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Spartanes and Lacontans, whose names are not ex∣pressed.
• * 1.19

  Otherwise thus: We go forth to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hons, but hares we hunt in their har∣borroughs.
• * 1.20

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 Some inter∣pret cleane countrary, & reade 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to allure duty, gently han∣dle, or adorne the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 .