Advancement of Learning 49 



and he gave his opinion for Homer s works : thirdly, in his 

 letter to Aristotle, after he had set forth his books of nature, 

 wherein he expostulated with him for publishing the secrets 

 or mysteries of philosophy; and gave him to understand 

 that himself esteemed it more to excel other men in learning 

 and knowledge than in power and empire. And what use 

 he had of learning doth appear, or rather shine, in all his 

 speeches and answers, being full of science, and use of science, 

 and that in all variety. 



And herein again it may seem a thing scholastical, and 

 somewhat idle, to recite things that every man knoweth; 

 but yet, since the argument I handle leadeth me thereunto, 

 I am glad that men shall perceive I am as willing to flatter, 

 if they will so call it, an Alexander, or a Caesar, or an Anto 

 ninus, that are dead many hundred years since, as any that 

 now liveth : for it is the displaying of the glory of learning 

 in sovereignty that I propound to myself, and not an 

 humour of declaiming in any man s praises. Observe then 

 the speech he used of Diogenes, and see if it tend not to the 

 true state of one of the greatest questions of moral philo 

 sophy; whether the enjoying of outward things, or che 

 contemning of them, be the greatest happiness: for when 

 he saw Diogenes so perfectly contented with so little, he said 

 to those that mocked at his condition, Were I not Alexander, 

 I would wish to be Diogenes. But Seneca inverteth it, and 

 saith ; Plus erat, quod hie nollet accipere, qudm quod ille posset 

 dare. 1 There were more things which Diogenes would have 

 refused, than there were which Alexander could have given. 



Observe again that speech which was usual with him, 

 That he felt his mortality chiefly in two things, sleep and lust ; 2 

 and see if it were not a speech extracted out of the depth of 

 natural philosophy, and liker to have come out of the mouth 

 of Aristotle or Democritus, than from Alexander. 



See again that speech of humanity and poesy ; when upon 

 the bleeding of his wounds, he called unto him one of his 

 flatterers, that was wont to ascribe to him divine honour, 

 and said, Look, this is very blood ; this is not such a liquor as 

 Homer speaketh of, which ran from Venus hand, when it was 

 pierced by Diomedes. 3 



1 Sen. De Benef. v. 4. 2 Sen. Ep. Mor. vi. 7. 



* IX^P, oUs irtp re pttL fj,a.Kdpe&amp;lt;r&amp;lt;n 6eoZ&amp;lt;ri. II. e. 340. Cf. Seneca, 

 ad Lucil. 59. 



