The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

118 APOPHTHEGMS.
ion his great treasures of gold, Solon said to him, would have two tributes in one year, he must
"; If another king come that hath better iron than give them two seed-times and two harvests."
you, he will be master of all this gold." 196. Plato was wont to say of his master So188. There was a gentleman that came to the crates, that he was like the apothecaries' gallitilt all in orange-tawny, and ran very ill. The pots; that had on the outside apes, and owls,
next day he came again all in green, and ran and satyrs; but within, precious drugs.
worse. There was one of the lookers on asked 197. Lamia the courtezan had all power with
another; " What is the reason that this gentleman Demetrius, King of Macedon, and by her instigachangeth his colours 1" The other answered, tions he did many unjust and cruel acts; where-,, Sure, because it may be reported, that the gen- upon Lysimachus said, " that it was the first time
tleman in the green ran worse than the gentleman that he ever knew a whore to play in tragedy."
in the orange-tawny." 198. Themistocles would say of himself, " That
189. Aristippus said; "That those that studied he was like a plane-tree, that in tempests men fled
particular sciences, and neglected philosophy, to him, and in fair weather men were ever cropwere like Penelope's wooers, that made love to ping his leaves."
the waiting woman." 199. Themistocles said of speech, 1" That it was
190. Plato reprehended severely a young man like arras, that spread abroad shows fair images,
for entering into a dissolute house. The young but contracted is but like packs."
man said to him, "Why do you reprehend so 200. Bresquet, jester to Francis the First of
sharply for so small a matter." Plato replied, France, did keep a calendar of fools, wherewith he
" But custom is no small matter." did use to make the king sport; telling himr ever
191. There was a law made by the Romans the reason why he put any one into his calendar.
against the bribery and extortion of the governors When Charles the Fifth, emperor, upon confidence
of provinces. Cicero saith in a speech of his to of the noble nature of Francis, passed through
the people, 1" That he thought the provinces would France, for the appeasing the rebellion of Gaunt,
petition to the state of Rome to have that law re- Bresquet put him into his calendar. The king
pealed. For," saith he, " before, the governors asked him the cause. He answered, 1" Because
did bribe and extort as much as was sufficient for you have suffered at the hands of Charles the
themselves; but now they bribe and extort as greatest bitterness that ever prince did from
much as may be enough not only for themselves, another, nevertheless he would trust his person
but for the judges, and jurors, and magistrates." into your hands." "- Why, Bresquet," said the
192. Archidamus, King of Lacedaemon, having king, what wilt thou say, if thou seesthim pass
received from Philip, King of Macedon, after back in as great safety as if he marched through
Philip had won the victory of Chneronea upon the the midst of Spain 3" Saith Bresquet; 1" Why,
Athenians, proud letters, writ back to him, ", That then I will put him out, and put you in."
if he measured his own shadow, he would find it 201. Lewis the Eleventh of France, having
no longer than it was before his victory." much abated the greatness and power of the peers,
193. Pyrrhus, when his friends congratulated nobility, and court of parliament, would say, "That
to him his victory over the Romans, under the he had brought the crown out of ward."
conduct of Fabricius, but with great slaughter of 202. Sir Fulk Grevil, in parliament, when the
his own side, said to them again, " Yes, but if we Lower House, in a great business of the queen's,
have such another victory, we are undone." stood much upon precedents, said unto them,
194. Cineas was an excellent orator and states- 1" Why do you stand so much upon precedents 3
man, and principal friend and counsellor to Pyr- The times hereafter will be good or bad. If good,
rhus, and falling in inward talk with him, and dis- precedents will do no harm; if bad, power will
cerning the king's endless ambition; Pyrrhus make a way where it finds none."
opened himself unto him, that he intended first a 203. When peace was renewed with the French
war upon Italy, and hoped to achieve it; Cineas in England, divers of the great counsellors were
asked him, " Sir, what will you do then?" presented from the French with jewels: the Lord
" Then," saith he, "we will attempt Sicily." Henry Howard, being then Earr'of Northampton,
Cineas said, " WVell, sir, what then 3" Saith and a counsellor, was omitted. Whereupon the
Pyrrhus, "If the gods favour us, we may con- king said to him, ", My lord, how happens it that
quer Africa and Carthage." 1" What then, sir 3" you have not a jewel as well as the rest?" My
saith Cineas. " Nay then," saith Pyrrhus, ", we lord answered, according to the fable in ]Esop;
may take our rest, and sacrifice and feast every " Non sum Gallus, itaque non reperi gemmam."
day, and make merry with our friends." "' Alas, 204. An orator of Athens said to Demosthenes;
sir," said Cineas, ", may we not do so now with- " The Athenians will kill you if they wax mad."
out all this ado 3" Demosthenes replied,,' And they will kill yon if
195. The ambassadors of Asia Minor came to they be in good sense."
Antonius, after he had imposed upon them a 205. Alexander sent to Phocion a great predouble tax, and said plainly to him: ", That if he sent of money. Phocion said to the messenger,