66 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. [VII. 29. 



own advantage, answered, That Sylla could not skill of 

 letters, and therefore kneiv not how to dictate. 



30. And here it were fit to leave this point, touching 

 the concurrence of military virtue and learning (for what 

 example should come with any grace after those two of 

 Alexander and Caesar?), were it not in regard of the rare 

 ness of circumstance, that I find in one other particular, 

 as that which did so suddenly pass from extreme scorn to 

 extreme wonder : and it is of Xenophon the philosopher, 

 who went from Socrates school into Asia, in the expedition 

 of Cyrus the younger against King Artaxerxes. This 

 Xenophon at that time was very young, and never had 

 seen the wars before ; neither had any command in the 

 army, but only followed the war as a voluntary, for the 

 love and conversation of Proxenus his friend. He was 

 present when Falinus came in message from the great 

 king to the Grecians, after that Cyrus was slain in the 

 field, and they a handful of men left to themselves in the 

 midst of the king s territories, cut off from their country 

 by many navigable rivers, and many hundred miles. The 

 message imported that they should deliver up their arms 

 and submit themselves to the king s mercy. To which 

 message before answer was made, divers of the army 

 conferred familiarly with Falinus ; and amongst the rest 

 Xenophon happened to say, Why, Falinus, we have noiv 

 but these two things left, our arms and our virtue ; and if 

 we yield up our arms, how shall we make use of our virtue ? 

 Whereto Falinus smiling on him said, If I be not deceived, 

 young gentleman, you are an Athenian : and I believe you 

 study philosophy, and it is pretty that you say : but you are 

 much abused, if you think your virtue can withstand the 

 king s power. Here was the scorn ; the wonder followed : 

 which was, that this young scholar, or philosopher, after 



