To some that commended the frugality of Antipater, whose diet was sober
and without luxury; Outwardly, said he, Antipater wears white clothes,
but within he is all purple. In a cold winter day one of his friends
invited him to a banquet, and there being a little fire on a small
hearth, he bid him fetch either wood or frankincense. Antipatridas
brought a beautiful singing woman to supper with him; Alexander, being
taken with her visage, asked Antipatridas whether she was his miss
or not. And when he confessed she was; O villain, said he, turn her
immediately out from the banquet. Again, when Cassander forced a kiss
from Pytho, a boy beloved by Evius the piper, and Alexander perceived
that Evius was concerned at it, he was extremely enraged at Cassander,
and said with a loud voice, It seems nobody must be loved if you can
help it. When he sent such of the Macedonians as were sick and maimed
to the sea, they showed him one that was in health and yet subscribed
his name among the sick; being brought into the presence and examined,
he confessed he used that pretence for the love of Telesippa, who was
going to the sea. Alexander asked, of whom he could make inquiries
about this Telesippa, and hearing she was a free woman, he said.
Therefore, my Antigenes, let us persuade her to stay with us, for to
force her to do so when she is a free woman is not according to my
custom. Of the mercenary Grecians that fought against him he took many
prisoners. He commanded the Athenians should be kept in chains, because
they served for wages when they were allowed a public maintenance; and
the Thessalians, because when they had a fruitful country they did not
till it; but he set the Thebans free, saying, To them only I have left
neither city nor country. He took captive an excellent Indian archer
that said he could shoot an arrow through a ring, and commanded him
to show his skill; and when the man refused to do this, he commanded
him in a rage to be put to death. The man told them that led him to
execution that, not having practised for many days, he was afraid he
should miss. Alexander, hearing this, wondered at him and dismissed
him with rewards, because he chose rather to die than show himself
unworthy of his reputation. Taxiles, one of the Indian kings, met
Alexander, and advised him not to make war nor fight with him, but if
he were a meaner person than himself, to receive kindness from him, or
if he were a better man, to show kindness to him. He answered, that
was the very thing they must fight for, who should exceed the other
in bounty. When he heard the rock called Aornus in India was by its
situation impregnable, but the commander of it was a coward; Then, said
he, the place is easy to be taken. Another, commanding a rock thought
to be invincible, surrendered himself and the rock to Alexander, who
committed the said rock and the adjacent country to his government,
saying: I take this for a wise man, who chose rather to commit himself
to a good man than to a strong place. When the rock was taken, his
friends said that it exceeded the deeds of Hercules. But I, said he, do
not think my actions and all my empire to be compared with one word of
Hercules. He fined some of his friends whom he caught playing at dice
in earnest. Of his chief and most powerful friends, he seemed most to
respect Craterus, and to love Hephaestion. Craterus, said he, is the
friend of the king; but Hephaestion is the friend of Alexander. He sent
fifty talents to Xenocrates the philosopher, who would not receive
them, saying he was not in want. And he asked whether Xenocrates had
no friend either; For as to myself, said he, the treasure of Darius
is hardly sufficient for me to bestow among my friends. He demanded
of Porus, after the fight, how he should treat him. Royally, said he,
like a king. And being again asked, what farther he had to request;
All things, said he, are in that word _royally_. Admiring his wisdom
and valor, he gave him a greater government than he had before. Being
told a certain person reviled him, To do good, said he, and to be evil
spoken of is kingly. As he was dying, looking upon his friends, I
see, said he, my funeral tournament will be great. When he was dead,
Demades the rhetorician likened the Macedonian army without a general
to Polyphemus the Cyclops when his eye was put out.
PTOLEMY. Ptolemy, the son of Lagus, frequently supped with his friends
and lay at their houses; and if at any time he invited them to supper,
he made use of their furniture, sending for vessels, carpets, and
tables; for he himself had only things that were of constant use about
him, saying it was more becoming a king to make others rich than to be
rich himself.
ANTIGONUS. Antigonus exacted money severely. When one told him that
Alexander did not do so, It may be so, said he; Alexander reaped Asia,
and I but glean after him. Seeing some soldiers playing at ball in
head-pieces and breast-plates, he was pleased, and sent for their
officers, intending to commend them; but when he heard the officers
were drinking, he bestowed their commands on the soldiers. When all
men wondered that in his old age his government was mild and easy;
Formerly, said he, I sought for power, but now for glory and good-will.
To Philip his son, who asked him in the presence of many when the
army would march, What, said he, are you afraid that you only should
not hear the trumpet? The same young man being desirous to quarter at
a widow’s house that had three handsome daughters, Antigonus called
the quartermaster to him: Prithee, said he, help my son out of these
straits. Recovering from a slight disease, he said: No harm; this
distemper puts me in mind not to aim at great things, since we are
mortal. Hermodotus in his poems called him Son of the Sun. He that
attends my close-stool, said he, sings me no such song. When one said,
All things in kings are just and honorable,—Indeed, said he, for
barbarian kings; but for us only honorable things are honorable, and
only just things are just. Marsyas his brother had a cause depending,
and requested him it might be examined at his house. Nay, said he, it
shall be heard in the judgment-hall, that all may hear whether we do
exact justice or not. In the winter being forced to pitch his camp
where necessaries were scarce, some of his soldiers reproached him, not
knowing he was near. He opened the tent with his cane, saying: Woe be
to you, unless you get you farther off when you revile me. Aristodemus,
one of his friends, supposed to be a cook’s son, advised him to
moderate his gifts and expenses. Thy words, said he, Aristodemus, smell
of the apron. The Athenians, out of a respect to him, gave one of his
servants the freedom of their city. And I would not, said he, have any
Athenian whipped by my command. A youth, scholar to Anaximenes the
rhetorician, spoke in his presence a prepared and studied speech; and
he asking something which he desired to learn, the youth was silent.
What do you say, said he, is all that you have said written in your
table-book? When he heard another rhetorician say, The snow-spread
season makes the country fodder spent; Will you not stop, said he,
prating to me as you do to the rabble? Thrasyllus the Cynic begged a
drachm of him. That, said he, is too little for a king to give. Why
then, said the other, give me a talent. And that, said he, is too much
for a Cynic (or for a _dog_) to receive. Sending his son Demetrius with
ships and land-forces to make Greece free; Glory, said he, from Greece,
as from a watch-tower, will shine throughout the world. Antagoras the
poet was boiling a conger, and Antigonus, coming behind him as he was
stirring his skillet, said: Do you think, Antagoras, that Homer boiled
congers, when he wrote the deeds of Agamemnon? Antagoras replied: Do
you think, O King, that Agamemnon, when he did such exploits, was a
peeping in his army to see who boiled congers? After he had seen in a
dream Mithridates mowing a golden harvest, he designed to kill him,
and acquainted Demetrius his son with his design, making him swear to
conceal it. But Demetrius, taking Mithridates aside and walking with
him by the seaside, with the pick of his spear wrote on the shore,
“Fly, Mithridates;” which he understanding, fled into Pontus, and there
reigned until his death.
DEMETRIUS. Demetrius, while he was besieging Rhodes, found in one of
the suburbs the picture of Ialysus made by Protogenes the painter.
The Rhodians sent a herald to him, beseeching him not to deface the
picture. I will sooner, said he, deface my father’s statues, than such
a picture. When he made a league with the Rhodians, he left behind him
an engine, called the City Taker, that it might be a memorial of his
magnificence and of their courage. When the Athenians rebelled, and
he took the city, which had been distressed for want of provision, he
called an assembly and gave them corn. And while he made a speech to
them concerning that affair, he spoke improperly; and when one that
sat by told him how the word ought to be spoken, he said: For this
correction I bestow upon you five thousand bushels more.
ANTIGONUS THE SECOND. Antigonus the Second—when his father was a
prisoner, and sent one of his friends to admonish him to pay no regard
to any thing that he might write at the constraint of Seleucus, and to
enter into no obligation to surrender up the cities—wrote to Seleucus
that he would give up his whole kingdom, and himself for an hostage,
that his father might be set free. Being about to fight by sea with the
lieutenants of Ptolemy, and the pilot telling him the enemy outnumbered
him in ships, he said: But how many ships do you reckon my presence to
be worth? Once when he gave ground, his enemies pressing upon him, he
denied that he fled; but he betook himself (as he said) to an advantage
that lay behind him. To a youth, son of a valiant father, but himself
no very great soldier, petitioning he might receive his father’s
pay; Young man, said he, I pay and reward men for their own, not for
their fathers’ valor. When Zeno of Citium, whom he admired beyond all
philosophers, died, he said, The theatre of my actions is fallen.
LYSIMACHUS. Lysimachus, when he was overcome by Dromichaetas in Thrace
and constrained by thirst, surrendered himself and his army. When
he was a prisoner, and had drunk; O Gods, said he, for how small a
satisfaction have I made myself a slave from a king! To Philippides the
comedian, his friend and companion, he said. What have I that I may
impart to you? He answered, What you please, except your secrets.
ANTIPATER. Antipater, hearing that Parmenio was slain by Alexander,
said: If Parmenio conspired against Alexander, whom may we trust? but
if he did not, what is to be done? Of Demades the rhetorician, now
grown old, he said: As of sacrifices when finished, so there is nothing
left of him but his belly and tongue.
ANTIOCHUS THE THIRD. Antiochus the Third wrote to the cities, that if
he should at any time write for any thing to be done contrary to the
law, they should not obey, but suppose it to be done out of ignorance.
When he saw the Priestess of Diana, that she was exceeding beautiful,
he presently removed from Ephesus, lest he should be swayed, contrary
to his judgment, to commit some unholy act.
ANTIOCHUS HIERAX. Antiochus, surnamed the Hawk, warred with his brother
Seleucus for the kingdom. After Seleucus was overcome by the Galatians,
and was not to be heard of, but supposed to be slain in the fight, he
laid aside his purple and went into mourning. A while after, hearing
his brother was safe, he sacrificed to the Gods for the good news, and
caused the cities under his dominion to put on garlands.
EUMENES. Eumenes was thought to be slain by a conspiracy of Perseus.
That report being brought to Pergamus, Attalus his brother put on
the crown, married his wife, and took upon him the kingdom. Hearing
afterwards his brother was alive and upon the way, he met him, as he
used to do, with his life-guard, and a spear in his hand. Eumenes
embraced him kindly, and whispered in his ear:—
If a widow you will wed,
Wait till you’re sure her husband’s dead.[111]
But he never afterwards did or spake any thing that showed any
suspicion all his lifetime; but when he died, he bequeathed to him his
queen and kingdom. In requital of which, his brother bred up none of
his own children, although he had many; but when the son of Eumenes was
grown up, he bestowed the kingdom on him in his own lifetime.
PYRRHUS THE EPIROT. Pyrrhus was asked by his sons, when they were boys,
to whom he would leave the kingdom. To him of you, saith he, that hath
the sharpest sword. Being asked whether Pytho or Caphisius was the
better piper, Polysperchon, said he, is the best general. He joined in
battle with the Romans, and twice overcame them, but with the loss of
many friends and captains. If I should overcome the Romans, said he,
in another fight, I were undone. Not being able to keep Sicily (as he
said) from them, turning to his friends he said: What a fine wrestling
ring do we leave to the Romans and Carthaginians! His soldiers called
him Eagle; And I may deserve the title, said he, while I am borne
upon the wings of your arms. Hearing some young men had spoken many
reproachful words of him in their drink, he summoned them all to appear
before him next day; when they appeared, he asked the foremost whether
they spake such things of him or not. The young man answered: Such
words were spoken, O King, and more we had spoken, if we had had more
wine.
ANTIOCHUS. Antiochus, who twice made an inroad into Parthia, as he
was once a hunting, lost his friends and servants in the pursuit, and
went into a cottage of poor people who did not know him. As they were
at supper, he threw out discourse concerning the king; they said for
the most part he was a good prince, but overlooked many things he left
to the management of debauched courtiers, and out of love of hunting
often neglected his necessary affairs; and there they stopped. At break
of day the guard arrived at the cottage, and the king was recognized
when the crown and purple robes were brought. From the day, said he,
on which I first received these, I never heard truth concerning myself
till yesterday. When he besieged Jerusalem, the Jews, in respect of
their great festival, begged of him seven days’ truce; which he not
only granted, but preparing oxen with gilded horns, with a great
quantity of incense and perfumes, he went before them to the very
gates, and having delivered them as a sacrifice to their priests, he
returned back to his army. The Jews wondered at him, and as soon as
their festival was finished, surrendered themselves to him.
THEMISTOCLES. Themistocles in his youth was much given to wine and
women. But after Miltiades the general overcame the Persian at
Marathon, Themistocles utterly forsook his former disorders; and to
such as wondered at the change, he said, The trophy of Miltiades will
neither suffer me to sleep nor to be idle. Being asked whether he would
rather be Achilles or Homer,—And pray, said he, which would you rather
be, a conqueror in the Olympic games, or the crier that proclaims who
are conquerors? When Xerxes with that great navy made a descent upon
Greece, he fearing, if Epicydes (a popular, but a covetous, corrupt,
and cowardly person) were made general, the city might be lost, bribed
him with a sum of money to desist from that pretence. Adimantus was
afraid to hazard a sea-fight, whereunto Themistocles persuaded and
encouraged the Grecians. O Themistocles, said he, those that start
before their time in the Olympic games are always scourged. Aye; but,
Adimantus, said the other, they that are left behind are not crowned.
Eurybiades lifted up his cane at him, as if he would strike him.
Strike, said he, but hear me. When he could not persuade Eurybiades to
fight in the straits of the sea, he sent privately to Xerxes, advising
him that he need not fear the Grecians, for they were running away.
Xerxes upon this persuasion, fighting in a place advantageous for the
Grecians, was worsted; and then he sent him another message, and bade
him fly with all speed over the Hellespont, for the Grecians designed
to break down his bridge; that under pretence of saving him he might
secure the Grecians. A man from the little island Seriphus told him,
he was famous not upon his own account but through the city where he
lived. You say true, said he, for if I had been a Seriphian, I had not
been famous; nor would you, if you had been an Athenian. To Antiphatus,
a beautiful person that avoided and despised Themistocles when he
formerly loved him, but came to him and flattered him when he was in
great power and esteem; Hark you, lad, said he, though late, yet both
of us are wise at last. To Simonides desiring him to give an unjust
sentence, You would not be a good poet, said he, if you should sing
out of tune; nor I a good governor, if I should give judgment contrary
to law. When his son was a little saucy towards his mother, he said
that this boy had more power than all the Grecians, for the Athenians
governed Greece, he the Athenians, his wife him, and his son his wife.
He preferred an honest man that wooed his daughter, before a rich man.
I would rather, said he, have a man that wants money, than money that
wants a man. Having a farm to sell, he bid the crier proclaim also
that it had a good neighbor. When the Athenians reviled him; Why do
you complain, said he, that the same persons so often befriend you?
And he compared himself to a row of plane-trees, under which in a
storm passengers run for shelter, but in fair weather they pluck the
leaves off and abuse them. Scoffing at the Eretrians, he said, Like
the sword-fish, they have a sword indeed, but no heart. Being banished
first out of Athens and afterwards out of Greece, he betook himself
to the king of Persia, who bade him speak his mind. Speech, he said,
was like to tapestry; and like it, when it was spread, it showed
its figures, but when it was folded up, hid and spoiled them. And
therefore he requested time until he might learn the Persian tongue,
and could explain himself without an interpreter. Having there received
great presents, and being enriched of a sudden; O lads, said he to his
sons, we had been undone if we had not been undone.
MYRONIDES. Myronides summoned the Athenians to fight against the
Boeotians. When the time was almost come, and the captains told him
they were not near all come out; They are come, said he, all that
intend to fight. And marching while their spirits were up, he overcame
his enemies.
ARISTIDES. Aristides the Just always managed his offices himself, and
avoided all political clubs, because power gotten by the assistance of
friends was an encouragement to the unjust. When the Athenians were
fully bent to banish him by an ostracism, an illiterate country fellow
came to him with his shell, and asked him to write in it the name of
Aristides. Friend, said he, do you know Aristides? Not I, said the
fellow, but I do not like his surname of Just. He said no more, but
wrote his name in the shell and gave it him. He was at variance with
Themistocles, who was sent on an embassy with him. Are you content,
said he, Themistocles, to leave our enmity at the borders? and if you
please, we will take it up again at our return. When he levied an
assessment upon the Greeks, he returned poorer by so much as he spent
in the journey.