Pompey being fled, offered to enter the sacred
treasury to take the moneys that were there
stored; and Metellus, tribune of the people, did
forbid him : and when Metellus was violent in it,
and would not desist, Cesar turned to him, and
said;
، Presume no farther, or I will lay you
dead."
And when Metellus was with those
words somewhat astonished, Cæsar added,
"Young man, it had been easier for me to do
this than to speak it."

223. An Egyptian priest having conference with Solon, said to him: "You Grecians are ever children; you have no knowledge of antiquity, nor antiquity of knowledge."

but fulfilled the Scripture; the first shall be last, and the last first.""

230. Simonides being asked of Hiero, "what he thought of God ? asked a seven-night's time to consider of it ; and at the seven-night's end he asked a fortnight's time; at the fortnight's end, a month. At which Hiero marvelling, Simonides answered; "that the longer he thought upon the matter, the more difficult he found it."

231. Anacharsis, would say, concerning the popular estates of Græcia, that "he wondered how at Athens wise men did propose, and fools did dispose."

232. Solon compared the people unto the 224. The council did make remonstrance unto sea, and orators to the winds: for that the sea Queen Elizabeth of the continual conspiracies would be calm and quiet, if the winds did not against her life; and namely of a late one : and | trouble it. showed her a rapier taken from a conspirator that had a false shape, being of brown paper, but gilt over as it could not be known from a shape of metal, which was devised to the end that, without drawing it, the rapier might give a stab; and upon this occasion advised her that she should go less abroad to take the air weekly, unaccompanied, as she used. But the queen answered; "That she had rather be dead, than put in custody."

225. Chilon would say, "That gold was tried with the touchstone, and men with gold."

226. Zelim was the first of the Ottomans that did shave his beard, whereas his predecessors wore it long. One of his bashaws asked him, Why he altered the custom of his predecessors ? He answered, "Because you bashaws may not lead me by the beard, as you did them."

227. Diogenes was one day in the marketplace with a candle in his hand; and being asked, "What he sought?" he said, " He sought

a man."

228. Bias being asked, how a man should order his life, answered, "As if a man should live long, or die quickly."

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233. Socrates was pronounced by the oracle of Delphos to be the wisest man of Greece, which he would put from himself ironically, saying, there would be nothing in him to verify the oracle, except this; that he was not wise and knew it; and others were not wise, and knew it not."

234. Cato the elder, what time many of the Romans had statues erected in their honour, was asked by one in a kind of wonder, "Why he had none ?" He answered, "He had much rather men should ask and wonder why he had no statue, than why he had a statue."

235. Sir Fulke Grevil had much private access to Queen Elizabeth, which he used honourably, and did many men good; yet he would say merrily of himself, "That he was like Robin Goodfellow; for when the maids spilt the milkpans, or kept any racket, they would lay it upon Robin; so what tales the ladies about the queen told her, or other bad offices that they did, they would put it upon him."

236. Socrates, when there was showed him the book of Heraclitus the Obscure, and was asked his opinion of it, answered, “Those things that I understood were excellent, I imagine so were those that I understood not; but they require a diver of Delos."

237. Bion asked an envious man that was very sad, "What harm had befallen unto him, or what good had befallen unto another man?"

229. Queen Elizabeth was entertained by my Lord Burleigh at Theobald's: and at her going away, my lord obtained of the queen to make seven knights. They were gentlemen of the country, of my lord's friends and neighbours. They were placed in a rank, as the queen should pass by the hall, and to win antiquity of knighthood, in order, 238. Stilpo the philosopher, when the people as my lord favoured; though indeed the more flocked about him, and that one said to him, principal gentlemen were placed lowest. The "The people come wondering about you as if it queen was told of it, and said nothing: but when were to see some strange beast!" "No," saith she went along, she passed them all by, as far as he, "it is to see a man which Diogenes sought the screen, as if she had forgot it; and when she | with his lantern."

swered; "To unlearn that which is naught."

came to the screen, she seemed to take herself 239. Antisthenes being asked of one what with the manner, and said, “I had almost forgot | learning was most necessary for man's life ? anwhat I promised." With that she turned back, and knighted the lowest first, and so upward. Whereupon Mr. Stanhope, of the privy-chamber, a while after told her; "Your majesty was too fine for my Lord Burleigh." She answered; "I have

240. There was a politic sermon, that had no divinity in it, was preached before the king. The king, as he came forth, said to Bishop Andrews; "Call you this a sermon?" The bishop an

swered, "And it please your majesty, by a cha- | of what condition he was? Pythagoras answered, ritable construction, it may be a sermon.' 241. Bishop Andrews was asked at the first coming over of the Archbishop of Spalato, whether he were a protestant or no? He answered, Truly I know not: but he is a detestant of divers opinions of Rome."

242. Caius Marius was general of the Romans against the Cimbers, who came with such a sea of multitude upon Italy. In the fight there was a band of the Cadurcians of a thousand, that did notable service; whereupon, after the fight, Marius did denison them all for citizens of Rome, though there was no law to warrant it. One of his friends did represent it unto him, that he had transgressed the law, because that privilege was not to be granted but by the people. Whereto Marius answered, "That for the noise of arms he could not hear the laws."

243. Æneas Sylvius would say, that the Christian faith and law, though it had not been confirmed by miracles, yet was worthy to be received for the honesty thereof.

"Sir, I know you have been at the Olympian games." "Yes," saith Hiero. "Thither," saith Pythagoras, "come some to win the prizes. Some come to sell their merchandise, because it is a kind of mart of all Greece. Some come to meet their friends, and to make merry; because of the great confluence of all sorts. Others come only to look on. I am one of them that come to look on." Meaning it, of philosophy, and the contemplative life.

252. Mr. Bettenham used to say, that riches were like muck; when it lay in a heap it gave but a stench and ill odour, but when it was spread upon the ground, then it was cause of much fruit.

253. The same Mr. Bettenham said that virtuous men were like some herbs and spices, that give not their sweet smell, till they be broken and crushed.

254. There was a painter became a physician; whereupon one said to him, "You have done well; for before the faults of your work were seen; but now they are unseen.

244. Henry Noel would say, "That courtiers 255. One of the philosophers was asked, were like fasting-days; they were next the holy-"what a wise man differed from a fool?" He days, but in themselves they were the most meager days of the week."

245. Mr. Bacon would say, that it was in business, as it is frequently in ways: that the next way is commonly the foulest; and that if a man will go the fairest way, he must go somewhat about.

answered, "Send them both naked to those that know them not, and you shall perceive."

256. Cæsar, in his book that he made against Cato, which is lost, did write, to show the force of opinion and reverence of a man that had once obtained a popular reputation: "That there were some that found Cato drunk, and they were ashamed instead of Cato."

257. Aristippus, sailing in a tempest, showed signs of fear. One of the seamen said to him, in an insulting manner, "We that are plebeians are not troubled; you that are a philosopher are afraid." Aristippus answered, "that there is not the like wager upon it, for me to perish and you."

258. There was an orator that defended a cause of Aristippus, and prevailed. Afterwards he asked Aristippus, "Now, in your distress, what did Socrates do swered, "Thus, in making true that good which you good?" Aristippus anyou said of me.'

246. Augustus Cæsar, out of great indignation against his two daughters, and Posthumus Agrippa, his grandchild; whereof the first two were infamous, and the last otherwise unworthy, would say, "That they were not his seed, but some imposthumes that had broken from him." 247. Cato said, "The best way to keep good acts in memory, was to refresh them with new." 248. Pompey did consummate the war against Sertorius, when Metellus had brought the enemy somewhat low. He did also consummate the war against the fugitives, whom Crassus had before defeated in a great battle. So when Lucullus had had great and glorious victories against Mithridates and Tigranes; yet Pompey, by means his 259. Aristippus said, "He took money of his friends made, was sent to put an end to that war. friends, not so much to use it himself, as to teach Whereupon Lucullus taking indignation, as a dis-them how to bestow their money.' grace offered to himself, said, " that Pompey was a carrion crow: when others had strucken down bodies, then he came to prey upon them." 249. Diogenes when mice came about him as he was eating, said, "I see, that even Diogenes nourisheth parasites."

250. Epictetus used to say, "That one of the vulgar, in any ill that happens to him, blames others; a novice in philosophy blames himself; and a philosopher blames neither the one nor the other."

251. Hiero visited by Pythagoras, asked him, VOL. I.-16

260. A strumpet said to Aristippus, "That she was with child by him :" he answered, “You know that no more than if you went through a hedge of thorns, you could say, This thorn pricked me."

261. The Lady Paget, that was very private with Queen Elizabeth, declared herself much against her match with Monsieur. After Monsieur's death, the queen took extreme grief, at least as she made show, and kept within her bedchamber and one ante-chamber for three weeks' space, in token of mourning; at last she came

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sician and the disease join, then down goes the patient, that is where the physician mistakes the case: if the patient and the disease join, then down goes the physician, for he is discredited.

265. Alexander visited Diogenes in his tub, and when he asked him what he would desire of him? Diogenes answered, "That you would stand a little aside, that the sun may come to me."

forth into her privy-chamber, and admitted her | the disease, for the patient recovers: if the phyladies to have access unto her, and amongst the rest my Lady Paget presented herself, and came to her with a smiling countenance. The queen bent her brows, and seemed to be highly displeased, and said to her, "Madam, you are not ignorant of my extreme grief, and do you come to me with a countenance of joy ?" My Lady Paget answered, "Alas, and it please your majesty, it is impossible for me to be absent from you three weeks, but that when I see you, I must look cheerfully." "No, no," said the queen, not forgetting her former averseness to the match, "you have some other conceit in it, tell me 267. Diogenes called an ill musician, Cock. plainly." My lady answered, "I must obey"Why?" saith he. Diogenes answered; "Beyou it is this, I was thinking how happy your cause when you crow, men use to rise." majesty was, in that you married not Monsieur; 268. Heraclitus the Obscure said; "The dry for seeing you take such thought for his death, light was the best soul :" meaning, when the fabeing but your friend; if he had been your hus-culties intellectual are in vigour, not wet, nor, as

band, sure it would have cost you your life."

266. Diogenes said of a young man that danced daintily, and was much commended, "The better, the worse.'

it were, blooded by the affections.

lenge him at a match of shooting."

270. Whitehead, a grave divine, was much esteemed by Queen Elizabeth, but not preferred, because he was against the government of bishops. He was of a blunt stoical nature: he came one day to the queen, and the queen happened to say to him, "I like thee the better, Whitehead, because thou livest unmarried." He answered again, "In troth, madam, I like you the worse for the same cause."

262. Sir Edward Dyer, a grave and wise gen- 269. There was in Oxford a cowardly fellow tleman, did much believe in Kelly the alchemist, that was a very good archer; he was abused that he did indeed the work, and made gold: inso- grossly by another, and moaned himself to Walmuch that he went into Germany, where Kelly ter Raleigh, then a scholar, and asked his advice then was, to inform himself fully thereof. After what he should do to repair the wrong had been his return, he dined with my lord of Canter-offered him; Raleigh answered, " Why, chalbury, where at that time was at the table Dr. Brown the physician. They fell in talk of Kelly. Sir Edward Dyer, turning to the archbishop said, "I do assure your grace, that that I shall tell you is truth, I am an eyewitness thereof; and if I had not seen it, I should not have believed it. I saw Master Kelly put of the base metal into the crucible; and after it was set a little upon the fire, and a very small quantity of the medicine put in, and stirred with a stick of wood, it came forth in great proportion, perfect gold; to the touch, to the hammer, to the test." My lord archbishop said, "You had need take heed what you say, Sir Edward Dyer, for here is an infidel at the board." Sir Edward Dyer said again pleasantly, "I would have looked for an infidel sooner in any place than at your grace's table." "What say you, Dr. Brown?" saith the bishop. Dr. Brown answered, after his blunt and huddling manner, "The gentleman hath spoken enough for me." "Why," saith the bishop," what hath he said?" "Marry," saith Dr. Brown," he said, he would not have believed it, except he had seen it, and no more will I."

263. Democritus said, "That truth did lie in profound pits, and when it was got, it needed much refining."

264. Doctor Johnson said that in sickness there were three things that were material; the physician, the disease, and the patient: and if any two of these joined, then they have the victory; for, Ne Hercules quidem contra duos." If the physician and the patient join, then down goes

271. There was a nobleman that was lean of visage, but immediately after his marriage he grew pretty plump and fat. One said to him, "Your lordship doth contrary to other married men; for they at the first wax lean, and you wax fat." Sir Walter Raleigh stood by, and said, "Why, there is no beast, that if you take him from the common, and put him into the several, but he will wax fat."

272. Diogenes seeing one, that was a bastard, casting stones among the people, bade him take heed he hit not his father.

273. Dr. Laud said, "that some hypocrites and seeming mortified men, that held down their heads like bulrushes, were like the little images that they place in the very bowing of the vaults of churches, that look as if they held up the church, but are but puppets."

274. It was said among some of the grave prelates of the council of Trent, in which the schooldivines bore the sway; that the schoolmen were like the astronomers, who, to save the phænomena, framed to their conceit eccentrics and epicycles, and a wonderful engine of orbs, though no

CERTAIN APOPHTHEGMS

OF THE

LORD BACON'S.

FIRST PUBLISHED IN THE "BACONIANA."

who had not had the effect of some of the queen's | Lord St. Albans, wishing him a good Easter. My grants so soon as he had hoped and desired, lord thanked the messenger, and said, “He could paused a little; and then made answer, "Madam, not at present requite the count better than in rehe thinks of a woman's promise." The queen turning him the like; that he wished his lordship shrunk in her head; but was heard to say, "Well, a good passover." Sir Edward, I must not confute you." Anger makes dull men witty, but it keeps them poor.

16. He was wont also to say, "That power in 8. King James was wont to be very earnest an ill man was like the power of a black witch; with the country gentlemen to go from London he could do hurt but no good with it." And he to their country houses. And sometimes he would add, "That the magicians could turn water would say thus to them, "Gentlemen, at London | into blood, but could not turn the blood again to you are like ships in a sea, which show like no-water." thing; but in your country villages you are like ships in a river, which look like great things."