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CHAP. II.
His morall sentences, precepts, and verses.
OF his Apothegmes, these are remembered by Laertius; he said, providence of future things collected by reason, is the vertue of a man. Being demanded wherein the learned differ from the unlearn∣ed? he answered in a good hope? What is hard? to conceal secrets, to dis∣pose of leasure well; and to be able to bear an injury.
* 1.1 Being invited to a feast by Periander, (with the rest of the wise-men,) he would not promise to come before he knew what other company would be there, saying, a man is necessita∣ted to brook an ill companion in a ship at sea, or in a tent in a camp; but to mix indifferently with all sorts of people at a feast is indiscretion. Up∣on the same occasion Plutarch recites these sentences of his; A Prince must not think upon any transitory mortall things, but only upon the eternall, and immortall. That common-wealth is best where the people minde the Law, more then the Lawyers. A family must resemble as much as possible a Citty governed by a King.* 1.2 Hearing a man say he had no ene∣mie, he asked him if he had any friend; conceiving love and hate necessarily must follow one ano••her.
His morall precepts are thus delivered by* 1.3 Demetrius Phalereus. Kn••w thy selfe. Speak not much in thy drink, for thou wilt transgresse. (or as Laertius, rule thy tongue, especially at a feast) Threaten not free persons, for it is not just. (Laertius, threaten none, for that is like a woman) Speak not ill of thy neighbour, if thou dost, thou shalt hear what will trouble thee. Go slowly to the feasts of thy friends, swiftly to their misfortunes. (Laertius, go more readily to a friend in adversity then in prosperity.) Celebrate marriage frugally. Speak well of the dead. Reverence thy elder (Laertius, honour age) Hate him who is in∣quisitive into the businesse of others. Preferre losse before unjust gain (for that (addes Laertius) brings grief but once, this for ever) Deride not the unfortunate. If thou art strong, behave thy selfe mildely, that thou maist rather be resp••cted then fear'd (Laertius, of thy neighbours. Learn to) Order thy house well. Let not thy tongue run before thy mind. Bridle thy anger. Covet not impossibilities. In the way hasten not forward. Shake not thy hand, (Laertius, in discourse) for it is like a mad-man. Obey the Lawes. Be reconciled to those who have wrong'd you, but revenge contumelies. To which Laertius addes these, To preserve thy selfe. Not to hate divination, make use of quietnesse.
* 1.4 Pliny speaking of authority, saith, that men ranked Chilon a∣mongst Oracles, consecrating three precepts of his at Delphil, in golden letters, which are these: Eve••y man to know himselfe, and to desire no••hing too much; the companion of anothers mony and strife is misery.
* 1.5 He only kept within bounds the two most fierce affections of the soule, Love, and Hate, saying, Love with such limitation, as if hereafter you might chance to hate: hate so farre, as that perhaps you might hereafter love.