[296] Orig. reads unnecessarily, _and to be such one styll_.
+ _Of Denyse the tyranne and his sonne._ cix.
+ What tyme Denyse the tyranne vnderstode that his sonne, that shulde
reigne after hym, had commytted aduoutry with a worshypfull mans wyfe,
angerly he sayde to hym: dyd I, thy father, euer suche a dede? The yonge
man answered: no, ye had not a kynge to your father. Nor thou, sayde
Denyse, art not lyke to haue a sonne a kynge, excepte thou leaue
commyttynge of suche wyckedde dedes.
+ _Of Pomponius the Romayne, that was brought before Mithridates._ cx.
+ Pomponius, a noble man of Rome sore hurte and wounded, was taken and
brought before Mithridates, whiche asked hym this questyon: if I cure
and heale thy woundes, wylte thou than be my frende? He answered hym
agayne thus: if thou wylte be a frende to the Romaynes, thou shalt than
haue me thy frende.
This was a noble stomacke, that preferred the welth of his countrey
before his owne helth.
+ _Of Titus and the iester._ cxi.
+ Suetonius sheweth that Titus the father prouoked a scoffer, that stode
iesting with euery body, that he shulde lyke wyse saye somewhat to hym.
I woll, sayde the scoffer, after ye haue done youre easement. He iested
at the emperours countinance; he loked alway as one that streyned hym
selfe.
On suche a visaged man writeth Martiall:
_Utere lactucis, ac mollibus utere maluis._
_Nam faciem durum Phebe cacantis habes._
+ _Of Scipio Nasica and Ennius the poete._[297] cxii.
+ Whan Scipio Nasica came on a tyme to speake with Ennius the Poete, he
asked his mayde at the dore, if he were within; and she sayde, he was
not at home. But Nasica perceyued, that her mayster badde her say so,
and that he was within; but, for that tyme dissemblynge the matter, he
wente his waye. Within a fewe dayes after, Ennius came to Nasica, and
knockynge at the dore, asked if he were within. Nasica hym selfe spake
oute a loude and sayd, he was not at home. Than sayde Ennius: what,
manne, thynke you that I knowe not your voyce? Wherevnto Nasica
aunsweredde and sayde: what a dishoneste man be you? Whan I sought you,
I beleued your mayde, that sayde ye were not at home, and ye wyll not
beleue me myn owne selfe.