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facrificial feaft, fo foon as he entered he withdrew, because of the fumptuous furniture and attire of the place and people; faying, 'I was called at Leuctra to a facrifice, but I find it is a debauch.' The day after the great battle he obtained upon his enemies, he feemed fad and folitary, which was not his ordinary temper; and being asked why, answered, I would moderate the joy of yesterday's triumphs.' A Theffalian general, and his colleague in a certain enterprize, knowing his poverty, fent him two thousand crowns to defray his part of the charges; but he seemed angry, and anfwered, This looks like corrupting me;' contenting himfelf with lefs than five pounds, which he borrowed of one of his friends for that fervice. The fame moderation made him refufe the prefents of the Perfian emperor, faying, they were needlefs, if he only defired of him what was juft: if more, he: was not rich enough to corrupt him.' Seeing a rich man refufe to lend one of his friends" money that was in affliction, he faid, Art not thou afhamed to refufe to help a good man in neceffity?' After he had freed Greece from trouble, and made the Thebans, his countrymen, triumph over the Lacedæmonians, till then invincible, that ungrateful people arraigned him and his friends, under pretence of acting fomething without authority: he, as general, took the blame upon himself, justified the action both from neceffity and fuccefs, arraiguing his judges for ingratitude, whilft himfelf was at the bar, which caufed them to

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withdraw with fallen countenances, and hearts fmitten with guilt and fear. To conclude, he was a man of great truth and patience, as well as wisdom and courage; for he was never observed to lie in earnest, or in jeft. And notwithstanding the ill and cross humours of the Thebans, aggravated by his incomparable hazards and fervices for their freedom and renown, it is reported of him, that he ever bore them patiently, often faying, that he ought no more to be revenged of his country than of his father. And being wounded to death in the battle of Mantinea, he advised his countrymen to make peace, none being fit to command: which proved true. He would not fuffer them to pull the fword out of his body, till he knew he had gained the victory; and then he ended his days, with this expreffion in his mouth, I die contentedly, for it is in defence of my country; and I am fure I shall live in the eternal memory of good men.' This for a Gentile and a general, hath matter of praise and example in it.

f. XV. Demofthenes, the great orator of Athens, had these fentences: That wise men speak little, and that therefore nature hath given men two ears and one tongue, to hear more than they fpeak.' To one that spoke much, he faid, "How cometh it, that he who taught thee to speak, did not teach thee to hold thy tongue,' He faid of a covetous man, That he knew not how to live all his life-time, and that he left it for another to live after he was dead. That it was an eafy thing to deceive

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one's felf, because it was easy to perfuade one's felf to what one defired.' He faid, calumnies were easily received, but time would always difcover them. That there was nothing more uneafy to good men, than not to have the liberty of fpeaking freely: and that if one knew, what one had to fuffer from the people, one would never meddle to govern them. In fine, that man's happiness was to be like God; and to refemble him, we must love truth and justice.'

§. XVI. Agaficles, king of the Lacedæmo nians, or Spartans, which are one, was of the opinion, that it was better to govern with out force and, fays he, the means to do it, is to govern the people as a father governs his children.

§. XVII. Agefilaus, king of the fame people, would fay, that he had rather be mafter of himself, than of the greatest city of his enemies and to preferve his own liberty, than to ufurp the liberty of another man. A prince,' fays he, ought to distinguish himfelf from his fubjects by his virtue, and not by his ftate or delicacy of life.' Wherefore he wore plain, fimple clothing; his table was as moderate, and his bed as hard as that of any ordinary fubject. And when he was told, that one time or other he would be obliged to change his fashion: No,' faith he, I am not given to change even in a change and this I do,' faith he, C to remove from young men any pretence of luxury, that they may fee their prince practife what he counfels them to do.'

He added, That the foundation of the Lacedæmonian laws was to defpife luxury, and to reward with liberty: "nor,' faith he, should good men put a value upon that which mean and base fouls make their delight.' Being flattered by fome with divine honour, he asked them, if they could not make gods too? If they could why did they not begin with themfelves. The fame auftere conduct of life made him refufe to have his ftatue erected in the cities of Afia: nor would he fuffer his picture to be taken; and his reafon is good:

for,' faith he, the fairest portraiture of men, is their own actions.'-Whatsoever was to be fuddenly done in the government, he was fure to fet his hand firft to the work, like a common perfon. He would fay, it did not become men to make provifion to be rich, but to be good. Being asked the means to true happinefs; he answered, To do nothing that fhould make a man fear to die:' another time,

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To fpeak well, and do well.' Being called home by the ephori, or fupreme magistrates, the way of the Spartan conftitution, he returned, faying, 'It is not lefs the duty of a prince to obey laws, than to command men.' conferred places of trust and honour upon his enemies, that he might constrain their hatred into love. A lawyer asking him for a letter to make a perfon judge, that was of his own friends; 6 My friends,' fays he, have no need of recommendation to do justice.'-A comedian of note, wondering that Agefilaus faid nothing to him, asked, if he knew him;

Chap. XIX. Yes,' faid he, Art not thou the buffoon Callipedes?' One calling the king of Perfia the great king, he answered, he is not greater than I, unlefs he hath more virtue than I.'-One of his friends catching him playing with his children, he prevented him thus; Say nothing, till thou art a father too.'-He had great care of the education of youth, often faying, We must teach children what they fhould do when they are men.' The Egypti ans defpifing him because he had but a fmalb train, and a mean equipage; Oh,' faid he, I will have them to know, royalty confists not in vain pomp, but in virtue.'

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§. XVIII. Agis, another king of Lacedæmon, imprifoned for endeavouring to restore their declining difcipline, being asked, whether he repented not of his defign; answered, 'No; for,' faith he, 'good actions never need repentance.' His father and mother defiring of him to grant fomething he thought unjust, he anfwered, I obeyed you when I was young; I must now obey the laws, and do that which is reasonable.'-As he was leading to the place of execution, one of his people wept, to whom he faid, Weep not for me; for the authors of this unjust death are more in fault than I.'

§. XIX. Alcamenes, king of the fame people, being asked, which was the way to get and preferve honour; anfwered, To def pife wealth.' Another wondering why he refufed the prefents of the Meffenians, he anfwered, I make confcience to keep the laws that forbid it. To a mifer accufing him of