64 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. [VII. 23. 



great a glory to himself to observe and know the law of 

 the heavens, as to give law to men upon the earth. 



24. So likewise in that book of his, AnJi-Cato, it may 

 easily appear that he did aspire as well to victory of wit 

 as victory of war : undertaking therein a conflict against 

 the greatest champion with the pen that then lived, Cicero 

 the orator. 



25. So again in his book of Apophthegms which he 

 collected, we see that he esteemed it more honour to 

 make himself but a pair of tables, to take the wise and 

 pithy words of others, than to have every word of his 

 own to be made an apophthegm or an oracle ; as vain 

 princes, by custom of flattery, pretend to do. And yet if 

 I should enumerate divers of his speeches, as I did those 

 of Alexander, they are truly such as Salomon noteth, when 

 he saith, Verba sapienlum tanquam aculei, et tanquam clavi 

 in altum defixi: whereof I will only recite three, not so de 

 lectable for elegancy, but admirable for vigour and efficacy. 



26. As first, it is reason he be thought a master of 

 words, that could with one word appease a mutiny in his 

 army, which was thus. The Romans, when their generals 

 did speak to their army, did use the word Milites, but 

 when the magistrates spake to the people, they did use 

 the word Quirites. The soldiers were in tumult, and 

 seditiously prayed to be cashiered; not that they so 

 meant, but by expostulation thereof to draw Caesar to 

 other conditions; wherein he being resolute not to give 

 way, after some silence, he began his speech, Ego Quirites, 

 which did admit them already cashiered ; wherewith they 

 were so surprised, crossed, and confused, as they would 

 not suffer him to go on in his speech, but relinquished 

 their demands, and made it their suit to be again called 

 by the name of Millies. 



