The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

APOPHTHEGMS. 117
c" Ye Spartans are unlearned;" said again, ", True, goes to the sick, any that meets with it turns back
for we have learned no evil vice of you." and waits upon it to the house whither it goes:
171. Alexander, when his father wished him to but in France they only do reverence, and pass
run for the prize of the race at the Olympian games, by. But the French gentleman answered him,
for he was very swift, answered; ", He would, if ", There is reason for it; for here with us, Christ
he might run with kings." is secure amongst his friends; but in Spain there
172. When Alexander passed into Asia, he gave be so many Jews and Maranos that it is not alniss
large donatives to his captains, and other principal for him to have a convoy."
men of virtue; insomuch as Parmenio asked him, 179. Coranus, the Spaniard, at a table at dinner,
1" Sir, what do you keep for yourself 1" He answer- fell into an extolling of his own father, saying,
ed, "Hope." "If he could have wished of God, he could
173. Antigonus used to often go disguised, and not have chosen amongst men a better father."
to listen at the tents of his soldiers; and at a time Sir Henry Savil said, ", What, not Abraham."
heard some that spoke very ill of him. Whereupon Now Coranus was doubted to descend of a race
he opened the tent a little, and said to them, ", If of Jews.
you would speak ill of me, you should go a little 180. Consalvo would say, ", The honour of a
farther off." soldier ought to be of a strong web;" meaning,
174. Vespasian set a tribute upon urine; Titus that it should not be so fine and curious that every
his son emboldened himself to speak to his father little disgrace should catch and stick in it.
of it: and represented it as a thing indign and 181. One of the Seven was wont to say;
sordid. Vespasian said nothing for the time: but "That laws were like cobwebs; where the
a while after, when it was forgotten, sent for a small flies were caught, and the great brake
piece of silver out of the tribute money, and called through."
to his son, bidding him to smell it; and asked him, 182. Bias gave in precept,,Love as if you should
whether he found any offence. Who said, "' No." hereafter hate; and hate as if you should hereafter
"' Why so 19" saith Vespasian again; ", yet this love."
comes out of urine." 183. Aristippus, being reprehended of luxury by
175. There were two gentlemen otherwise of one that was not rich, for that he gave six crowns
equal degree, save that the one was of the an- for a small fish, answered, ",'Why, what would
cienter house. The other in courtesy asked his you have given." The other said, ", Some twelvehand to kiss: which he gave him; and he kissed pence." Aristippus said again, "And six crowns
it; but said withal, to right himself by way of are no more with me."
friendship, ", Well, I and you, against any two of 184. There was a French gentleman speaking
them:" putting himself first. with an English, of the law Salique; that women
176. Nerva the emperor succeeded Domitian, were excluded from inheriting the crown ofFrance.
who had been tyrannical; and in his time many The English said, "Yes; but that was meant of
noble houses were overthrown by false accusa- the women themselves, not of such males as
tions; the instruments whereof were chiefly Mar- claimed by women." The French gentleman
cellus and Regulus. The Emperor Nerva one said,,"Where do you find that gloss " The
night supped privately with six or seven: amongst English answered,,c I'll tell you, sir: look on the
whom there was one that was a dangerous man; back side of the record of the law Salique, and
and began to take the like courses as Marcellus there you shall find it endorsed:" implying there
and Rdgulus had done. The emperor fell into was no such thing as the law Salique, but that it
discourse of the inj ustice and tyranny of the former is a mere fiction.
time, and by name of the two accusers; and said, 185. There was a friar in earnest dispute about
", What should we do with them, if we had them the law Salique, that would needs prove it by
now 1" One of them that was at supper, and was Scripture; citing that verse of the gospel, "' Lilia
a free-spoken senator, said, " Marry, they should agri non laborant neque nent;" the lilies of the
sup with us." I field do neither labour nor spin; applying it thus:
177. There was one that found a great mass That the flower-de-luces of France cannot deof money digging under ground in his grand- scend, neither to the distaff nor to the spade: that
father's house: and being somewhat doubtful of is, not to a woman nor to a peasant.
the case, signified it to the emperor that he had 186. Julius Cesar, as he passed by, was, by
found such treasure. The emperor made a re- acclamation of some that stood in the way, termed
script thus: " Use it." He writ back again, that King, to try how the people would take it. The
the sum was greater than his estate or condition people showed great murmur and distaste at it.
could use. The emperor writ a new rescript thus: Caesar, finding where the wind stood, slighted
"Abuse it." it, and said, 1" I am not king, but Ciesar;" as if
178. A Spaniard was censuring to aFrench gen- they had mistaken his name. For Rex was a surtleman the want of devotion amongst the French; name amongst the Romans as King is with us
in that, whereas in Spain, when the sacrament 1 187. When Croesus, for his glory, showed So