THE FIRST BOOK 25 



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 proper 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 

 philosophers 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 Dionysius, and no ear given to 

 him, he fell down at his feet ; whereupon Dionysius 

 stayed and gave him the hearing, and granted it ; and 

 afterward some person, tender on the behalf of philo 

 sophy, reproved Aristippus that he would offer the 

 profession of philosophy such an indignity as for a 

 private suit to fall at a tyrant s feet : but he answered, 

 * It was not his fault, but it was the fault of Dionysius, 

 that had his ears in his feet. Neither was it accounted 

 weakness but discretion in him that would not dispute 



