50 The Advancement of Learning 



15. See likewise his readiness in reprehension of logic, in the 

 speech he used to Cassander, upon a complaint that was 

 made against his father Antipater: for when Alexander 

 happened to say, Do you think these men would have come 

 from so far to complain, except they had just cause of grief ? 

 And Cassander answered. Yea, that was the matter, because 

 they thought they should not he disproved. Said Alexander 

 laughing: See the subtilties of Aristotle, to take a matter both 

 ways, pro et contra, etc. 



16. But note again how well he could use the same art, which 

 he reprehended, to serve his own humour : when bearing a 

 secret grudge to Callisthenes, because he was against the 

 new ceremony of his adoration, feasting one night where the 

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

 after supper, for entertainment sake, that CaUisthenes, 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 per- 

 forming the same with so good manner, as the hearers were 

 much ravished: whereupon Alexander, nothing pleased,* 

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

 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. 



17. Consider further, for tropes of rhetoric, that excellent use 

 of a metaphor or translation, wherewith he taxed Antipater, 

 who was an imperious and tyrannous governor: for when 

 one of Antipater's friends commended him to Alexander 

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

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

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

 Alexander, hut 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 an- 

 swered. That he would not steal the victory. 



* The Greek is \evKoir6.pv<f>o$. 



• 6\oir6p<pvpot. Apophth. Reg. et Imp. 



