MEMOIR OF PLINY. 
73 
fewer there than should be. Appelles acknowledged 
the fault, mended it by next morning, and set forth 
his table as his manner was. The same shoomaker 
coming by againe, took some pride vnto himselfe that 
his admonition had sped so well, and was so bold as 
to cauil at something about the leg. Appelles could 
not endure that, but putting forth his head from be- 
hind, ‘ Sirrah,’ quoth he ‘ remember you are but a 
shoomaker, and therefore meddle no higher, I aduise 
you which words afterwards came to be a common 
prouerb, Ne sutor ultra crepidam. King Alexander 
the Great much frequented his shop in his owne per- 
son ; and, besides, gave commandement that uo paint- 
er should be so hardie as to draw his pictures, but 
only Appelles. Now, when the King, being in his 
shop, would seem to talk much, and reason about 
his art, and many times let fal some words to little 
purpose, bewraying his ignorance, Appelles, after his 
mild manner, would desire his grace to hold his 
peace; and said, ‘ Sir, no more words, for feare the 
prentise boies there, that are grinding of colours, do 
laugh you to scorn.’ So reverently thought the king 
of him that, being otherwise a cholericke prince, he 
would take any words at his hand in that familiar 
sort, and be neuer offended.” 
The preceding short analysis will suffice to give 
an idea of the general nature of this great magazine 
of natural knowledge, such as it existed among the 
Romans. It affords a store of rare and curious in- 
formation on most subjects connected with the arts 
