I 3 4 ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. [Book 



So likewise in that book of his, &quot; Anti-Cato,&quot; it may easily appear 

 that he did aspire as well to victory of wit as victory of war ; under 

 taking therein a conflict against the greatest champion with the pen 

 that then lived, Cicero the orator. 



So again in his book of &quot; Apophthegms,&quot; which he collected, we 

 see that he esteemed it more honour to make himself but a pair of 

 tables, to take the wise and pithy words of others, than to have every 

 word of his own to be made an apophthegm, or an oracle ; as vain 

 princes, by custom of flattery, pretend to do. And yet if I should 

 enumerate divers of his speeches, as I did those of Alexander, they are 

 truly such as Solomon noted, when he saith, &quot; Verba sapientum tan- 

 quam aculci, ct tanguam clavi in altum defixi :&quot; whereof I will only 

 recite three, not so delectable for elegancy, but admirable for vigour 

 and efficacy. 



As first, it is reason he be thought a master of words, that could 

 with one word appease a mutiny in his army, which was thus : The 

 Romans, when their generals did speak to their army, did use the word 

 Militcs, but when the magistrates spake to the people, they did use the 

 word Quirites. The soldiers were in tumult, and seditiously prayed to 

 be cashiered ; not that they so meant, but by expostulation thereof to 

 draw Caisar to other conditions ; wherein he being resolute not to give 

 way, after some silence, he began his speech, &quot; Ego, Quirites :&quot; which 

 did admit them already cashiered : wherewith they were so surprised, 

 crossed, and confused, as they would not suffer him to go on in his 

 speech, but relinquished their demands, and made it their suit, to be 

 again called by the name of&quot; Milites.&quot; 



The second speech was thus : Caesar did extremely affect the name 

 of king ; and some were set on, as he passed by, in popular acclamation 

 to salute him king ; whereupon, finding the cry weak and poor, he put 

 it oif thus, in a kind of jest, as if they had mistaken his surname ; 

 &quot; Non rex sum, scd Caesar ;&quot; a speech, that if it be searched, the life 

 and fulness of it can scarce be expressed : for first, it was a refusal of 

 the name, but yet not serious : again, it did signify an infinite confi 

 dence and magnanimity, as if he presumed Caesar was the greater 

 title, as by his worthiness it is come to pass till this day : but chiefly, 

 it was a speech of great allurement towards his own purpose ; as if the 

 state did strive with him but for a name, whereof mean families were 

 vested ; for Rex was a surname with the Romans, as well as King is 

 with us. 



The last speech which I will mention, was used to Mctellus ; when 

 Caesar, after war declared, did possess himself of the city of Rome, at 

 which time entering into the inner treasuiy to take the money there 

 accumulated, Mctellus, being tribune, forbad him : whereto Caesar said, 

 &quot; That if he did not desist, he would lay him dead in the place.&quot; And 

 presently taking himself up, he added, &quot; Young man, it is harder for 

 me to speak it, than to do it ;&quot; &quot; Adolescens, durius est mihi hoc 

 diccrc, quam facere.&quot; A speech compounded of the greatest terror 

 and greatest clemency that could proceed out of the mouth of man. 



but to return, and conclude with him : it is evident, himself knew 



