60 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. 



himself knew well his own perfection in learning, and took 

 it upon him ; as appeared when, upon occasion that some 

 spake what a strange resolution it was in Lucius Sylla to 

 resign his dictature ; he scoffing at him, to his own advan 

 tage, answered, That Sylla could not skill of letters, and there 

 fore knew not how to dictate. 



And here it were fit to leave this point, touching the 

 concurrence of military virtue and learning, for what 

 example would come with any grace after those two of 



10 Alexander and Csesar ? 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 



20 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 now but 



30 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 



