56 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. 



against the new ceremony of Ins adoration, feasting one night 

 where the same Callisthenes was at the table, it was moved by 

 some after supper, for entertainment sake, that Callisthenes, 

 who was an eloquent man, might speak of some theme or 

 purpose, at his own choice : which Callisthenes did : choosing 

 the praise of the Macedonian nation for his discourse, and 

 performing the same with so good manner, as the hearers 

 were much ravished : whereupon Alexander, nothing pleased, 

 said, It was easy to be eloquent upon so good a subject. But, 



10 saith he, turn your style, and let us hear what you can say 

 against us : which Callisthenes presently undertook, and did 

 with that sting and life, that Alexander interrupted him, 

 and said, The goodness of the cause made him eloquent before, 

 and despite made him eloquent then again. 



Consider further, for tropes of rhetoric, that excellent 

 use of a metaphor or translation, wherewith he taxed Anti- 

 ]xiter, who was an imperious and tyrannous governor : for 

 when one of Antipatcr's friends commended him to Alexander 

 for his moderation, that he did not degenerate, as his other 



20 lieutenants did, into the Persian pride, in use of purple, but 

 kept the ancient habit of Macedon, of black ; True, saith 

 Alexander, but Antipater is all purple within. Or that other, 

 when Parmenio came to him in the plain of Arbela, and 

 showed him the innumerable multitude of his enemies, 

 especially as they appeared by the infinite number of lights! 

 as it had been a new firmament of stars, and thereupon 

 advised him to assail them by night : whereupon he answered, 

 That he would not steal the victory. 

 For matter of policy, weigh that significant distinction, 



30 so much in all ages embraced, that he made between his two 

 friends, Hephsestion and Craterus, when he said, That the one 

 d Alexander, and the other loved the king: describing the 

 principal difference of princes' best servants, that some 

 in affection love their person, and others in duty love their 

 crown. 



Weigh also that excellent taxation of an error, ordinary 



