26 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING, [ill. 9. 



those trencher philosophers which in the later age of 

 the Roman state were usually in the houses of great 

 persons, being little better than solemn parasites ; of 

 which kind, Lucian maketh a merry description of the 

 philosopher that the great lady took to ride with her in 

 her coach, and would needs have him carry her little 

 dog, which he doing officiously and yet uncomely, the 

 page scoffed and said, That he doubted the philosopher 

 of a Stoic would turn to be a Cynic. But above all the 

 rest, the gross and palpable flattery, whereunto many 

 not unlearned have abased and abused their wits and 

 pens, turning (as Du Bartas saith) Hecuba into Helena, 

 and Faustina into Lucretia, hath most diminished the 

 price and estimation of learning. Neither is the modern 

 dedication of books and writings, as to patrons, to be 

 commended : for that books (such as are worthy the name 

 of books) ought to have no patrons but truth and reason. 

 And the ancient custom was to dedicate them only to 

 private and equal friends, or to entitle the books with 

 their names : or if to kings and great persons, it was to 

 some such as the argument of the book was fit and pro 

 per for : but these and the like courses may deserve 

 rather reprehension than defence. 



10. Not that I can tax or condemn the morigeration 

 or application of learned men to men in fortune. For 

 the answer was good that Diogenes made to one that 

 asked him in mockery, How it came to pass that philo 

 sophers were the followers of rich men, and not rich men 

 of philosophers ? He answered soberly, and yet sharply, 

 Because the one sort knew what they had need of, and the 

 other did not. And of the like nature was the answer 

 which Aristippus made, when having a petition to Dio- 

 nysius, and no ear given to him, he fell down at his feet ; 



