58 THE WISDOM OF THE ANCIENTS. 



&quot; Qui fuit ex Teucris, et servantissimus aequi. 

 &quot; Diis aliter visum -&quot; 



That day, by Greekish force, was Ripheus slain, 

 So just and strict observer of the law, 

 As Troy, within her walls, did not contain 

 A better man : Yet God then good it saw. 



She is described with wings, because the changes 

 of things are so sudden, as that they are seen, before 

 foreseen : for in the records of all ages., we find it 

 for the most part true, that great potentates, and 

 wise men, have perished by those misfortunes which 

 they most contemned ; as may be observed in 

 Marcus Cicero, who being admonished by Decius 

 Brutus of Octavius Csesar s hypocritical friendship 

 and hollow-heartedness towards him, returns this 

 answer, &quot; Te autem, mi Brute, sicut debeo, amo, quod 

 &quot; istud quicquid est nugarum me scire voluisti.&quot; I must 

 ever acknowledge myself, dear Brutus, beholden to 

 thee, in love, for that thou hast been so careful to ac 

 quaint me with that which I esteem but as a needless 

 trifle to be doubted. 



Nemesis is also adorned with a coronet, to shew 

 the envious and malignant disposition of the vulgar, 

 for when fortune s favourites and great potentates 

 come to ruin, then do the common people rejoice, 

 setting, as it were, a crown upon the head of re 

 venge. 



The javelin in her right hand points at those 

 whom she actually strikes and pierceth thorough. 



And before those whom she destroys not in their 

 calamity and misfortune, she ever presents that black 



