ÆäÀÌÁö À̹ÌÁö
PDF
ePub
[blocks in formation]

THE GOOD AND THE BAD.

To all eternity the bad can never be but bad, the good but good; nor in misfortune does man degenerate from his nature, but he is always good. Is this difference from parents or from education? To be brought up well instils, indeed,

So Psalms (cxlv. 17)—“The Lord is righteous in all his ways, the principles of honor; and he that is thus and holy in all His works."

LAMENT OF HECUBA OVER ASTYANAX.

taught knows, by the law of honor, what is base.

THE SAILOR.

In a large army the rabble are riotous, and the sailors' insolence runs like wildfire; not to join in

wickedness is a crime.

THE GODS.

The gods are strong, and powerful is their law; for by the law we judge that there are gods, and form our lives, having right and wrong strictly

defined.

PERSUASION.

O wretched one! how miserably have thy ancestral walls, the towers by Phoebus raised, rent the crisped ringlets from thy head, which thy mother fondly cherished with kisses, whence, amidst the crushed bones, murder grins out, to abstain from words more shocking! O hands! which once bore the dear image of thy father's, but now lie with loosened joints. O thou dear mouth! which utteredst many a pleasantry, thou hast perished; thou hast deceived me, when, flinging thyself on my couch, thou wouldst exclaim, "O mother! I shall cut off these clustering locks for thee, and to thy tomb shall lead bands of compeers, hailing thee with dear address." Thou dost not bury me, but I, old, reft of my children, of my country, bury thee, dead in thy early bloom, a wretched corse. Alas! those fond embraces, those nursing cares, those lullabies, have all vanished. And on thy tomb what verse shall the bard inscribe ?— How strange the events of human life! laws con"This boy who lies here the Greeks once slew, trol even the Fates, changing the sternest foe to a for they feared him,"- -a verse recording the dis-kind friend, and making enemies of those who begrace of Greece.

FORTUNE.

Foolish I deem him who, thinking that his state is blest, rejoices in security; for fortune, like a man distempered in his senses, leaps now this way, now that, and no man is always fortunate.

THE DEAD.

I deem that it is of little importance to the dead whether he obtain costly obsequies; this is the vain affectation of the living.

Wretch that I am, why should we poor mortals strive after sciences of all kinds as matter of duty, diving into them, while we slight, as nothing worth, Persuasion, the sole mistress o'er the minds of men, refusing to pay money for that by which we might persuade and gain what we wish?

THE EVENTS OF LIFE.

fore were on good terms.

THE BOASTED LIBERTY OF MAN. There is no man free; for he is a slave either to wealth or fortune, or else the populace of the city or the laws prevent him from acting according to

the dictates of his will.

THE WICKED.

For this is for the general good of all-individuals and states, that punishment should overtake the wicked, and that the virtuous should enjoy happiness.

knows them best.

WOMEN.

FRIENDSHIP.

In adversity the friendship of the good shines most clearly; prosperity never fails in friends.

dren arise from vile parents, meanness grovelling

To be brief, if any one in past times has reviled in the rich man's mind and generous feelings in women, if any one now does, or hereafter shall re- the poor. How, then, shall we discern and judge vile them, in one brief sentence I shall comprise aright? By wealth? we shall make use of a bad the whole: it is a breed which neither sea nor earth criterion. By poverty ? poverty has this disadvanproduces the like; he who is always with them tage: it prompts a man to evil deeds. Shall it be by arms? But who, by looking to the spear, could thereby discern the dauntless heart? It is best to leave these things to be decided as they may. For this man, neither great among the Argives nor puffed up by the honors of his house, being plebeian, has proved his nobility by nature. Will ye not, then, learn wisdom, ye who wander in the noble by manners and by deeds? For such men paths of vanity? Will ye not learn to judge the as these discharge their duties with honor to the state and to their house. Mere flesh without a spirit is nothing more than statues in the Forum. For the strong arm does not abide the shock of battle better than the weak: this depends on nature and an intrepid mind.

MAN'S EVIL MANNERS.

Would that the Greeks had forgotten the evil fortune which I now endure, but preserved the good in memory as they preserve my bad. Shakespeare ("Henry VIII.," act iv. sc. 4) says—

"Men's evil manners live in brass; their virtues We write in water."

A RUDE HUSBAND.

[blocks in formation]

There is no outward mark to note the noble, for Whoever, allured by riches or high rank, marries the inward qualities of man are never clearly to be a vicious woman is a fool; for an humble yet moddistinguished. I have often seen a man of no est partner is better in our house than a noble worth spring from a noble sire, and worthy chil-one.

[blocks in formation]

O nature, how great an ill thou art among the class of men alone preserve the country, prudent, bad, but in the virtuous a safeguard.

SLEEP.

O precious balm of sleep, thou that soothest disease, how pleasant thou camest to me in the time of need! O divine oblivion of my sufferings, how

wishing his conduct to be in harmony with bis words, passing a pure and blameless life.

THE WISE FRIEND.

There is no blessing like a prudent fiend, neither riches nor the power of monarchs: popular

wise thou art, and a goddess to be invited by all applause is of little value in exchange for a gener

in distress!

Shakespeare (" Henry IV.," part ii. act iii. sc. 1)-
"O sleep, O gentle sleep!
Nature's soft nurse, how have I frighted thee,
That thou no more wilt weigh my eyelids down,
And steep my senses in forgetfulness."

MAN THAT IS FORTUNATE IN HIS CHILDREN.

Happy the man who is blest in his children, and hath not in them experienced grievous calamities.

A HAPPY MARRIAGE.

Life is blest to those whose connubial state is well arranged; but to those to whom it falls not out well, their affairs are unfortunate at home and abroad.

A FRIEND IN NEED.

Friends should assist friends in misfortunes; when fortune smiles, what need of friends? For God himself sufficeth, being willing to assist.

AN EXCITED MOB.

When the excited populace is in full fury, it is as difficult to control them as it is to extinguish a rolling flame; but if we yield to their violence as it is spreading, watching our opportunity, they may perhaps exhaust their rage, and, as their fury abates, thou may then turn them as thou pleasest. Their passions vary, now melting to pity, now rough with rage, affording an excellent advantage to one who watches carefully his opportunity.

A FRIEND IN NEED.

ous friend.

LIFE IS SWEET.

To every man, even though he be a slave, the light of heaven is sweet.

WOMEN.

For women are formed by nature to feel some consolation in present troubles, by having them always in their mouth and on their tongue.

WOMAN BROOKS NOT A RIVAL.

Woman is prone by nature to jealousy, and brooks not a rival in the nuptial bed.

THE HIGH-BORN.

For those who are puffed up with pride i1l brook the speech of their inferiors though urged with reason.

A BAD WOMAN.

Strange that one of the gods should have given healing medicines against the venom of savage serpents, yet none have found a cure against a bad woman, more noxious than the viper or fire itself; so pestilent an ill are we to men.

GLORY.

Glory, O glory! thou hast uplifted high in life countless mortals who were naught: those I deem to be happy who have acquired glory truthfully; but those who have it falsely I consider to have it not; it is the mere wantonness of fortune that has

In distress a friend comes like a calm to the tem- given it to them. pest-tossed mariner.

SYMPATHY.

Since the man who melts with social sympathy, though not allied in blood, is more valuable as a friend than ten thousand kinsmen.

THE SMOOTH TONGUE.

After him rises up a man of licentious tongue, intemperate, an Argive, yet not an Argive, forced

THE SEMBLANCE OF POWER.

Those who only wear the semblance of worth have splendid outsides, but within are found like other men, unless they gain some eminenc for wealth; this, indeed, hath mighty power.

THE DAUGHTER OF A BAD MOTHER. Before his nuptials, I warned my son not to form alliance with thee, nor receive within his

[ocr errors]

house the foal of a bad mother, for such bring with them their mother's faults; wherefore remember this, ye wooers, make your brides daugh

ters of a virtuous mother.

THE TONGUE.

From a small beginning the tongue excites mighty strife among men; but the prudent guard against contention with their friends.

SOCIAL INTERCOURSE.

VIRTUOUS LIFE.

Virtuous and noble deeds are better than high descent.

THE TONGUE.

If thou wilt not restrain thy tongue, it will bring evil upon thee.

RICH AND POOR.

Do you think that a land can prosper where the whole government is in the hand of the poor,

Social intercourse is the teacher of all things to without any admixture of the rich? The rich

mortals.

OLD AGE.

and poor should not be separate; but there should be a mixture, that the country may prosper. For

The race of old men is by nature hasty and im- the rich supply what the poor have not; and what patient of control, through choler. we rich men do not possess, we can obtain by employing the poor.

THE PASSIONATE.

If he be passionate, he will meet with passion, and shall receive deeds in return for deeds.

So Matt. (v. 21)-"Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: but I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment."

A VOICE AND NOTHING MORE.

WICKED ACTIONS OF MEN.

Do think that the evil deeds of men fly on you wings to heaven, and are there registered in the books of Jove, and that he, examining each, inflicts punishment on men? If it were so, the whole expanse of heaven would not be sufficient to contain the sins of mankind, nor could Jove have time to read and punish each. Yet Vengeance, if we only carefully watch, dwells always near us. thouwoman, the gods send this to take vengeance on those men whom they hate, for no bad man is beloved by them.

What thou sayest I bear unmoved; for hast a voice void of power, like a shadow: thou canst do naught but talk.

CALAMITIES SOONER OR LATER.

Calamities sent by the gods come to all mortals sooner or later.

So Proverbs (xvi. 33)—"The lot is cast into the lap; but

the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord."

FEMALE BUSYBODIES.

But never, never (for I shall repeat it more than once), should the wise allow females to frequent their house; they are instructors to evil deeds. One corrupts the wife to make gain by it; another, who has fallen from virtue, wishes to make her vile like herself; and many do this from mere wantonness; hence the homes of men are ruined. Against such let him guard well his gates with bolts and bars; for these visits of women from without do no good, but abundant ill.

[blocks in formation]

VENGEANCE OVERTAKES THE WICKED.

Whoever thinks that he can go on committing sin without the knowledge of the gods, acts foolishly; he will be overtaken, when Vengeance finds leisure, and will suffer for all his former misdeeds.

VENGEANCE SLOW OF FOOT.

Vengeance comes not openly, either upon you or any wicked man, but steals silently and imperceptibly, placing his foot on the bad.

FORTUNE ATTENDS ON THE WISE.

Experience has shown that whoever first uttered the proverb was right when he said "that Fortune is the constant attendant on the wise and prudent."

VARIOUS INCLINATIONS OF MEN. to be considered noble; another cares nothing for Various are the inclinations of man: one desires high birth, but wishes to be possessed of much wealth. Others, long for eloquence to persuade their audience to anything, however audacious. Others, again, prefer gain to honor; so dissimilar are men. For my own part, I care for none of these, but pray for a good name and reputation.

A BAD BEGINNING BRINGS A BAD ENDING.

A bad ending follows a bad beginning.

DEATH THE FATE OF ALL.

All must die; it is wisdom to submit with patience to the common lot.

CHILDREN LIKE THEIR FATHER.

Son of Creon, how true is the observation, that noble children spring from noble fathers; and that the children of the bad are like in nature to their parents.

NEVER DESPAIR.

The wise should possess their lives in hope.

GOD DEPRIVES OF REASON HIM WHOM HE WISHES
TO DESTROY.

Of his private history very little information, on which reliance can be put, has come down to us. He was the son of Lyxes and Dryo, being descended from a family not less distinguished for its wealth and political influence than for its love of literature. His uncle, Panyasis, was highly esteemed as an epic poet. The tyranny of Lygdamis drove him from his native town, and though he assisted in delivering his country, the disputes among the cit izens after their liberation were so little to his taste that he withdrew again, and settled at Thurii,

When God is contriving misfortunes for man, in the south of Italy, where he spent the remainder He first deprives him of his reason.

PLEASANT TO REMEMBER PAST LABORS.

of his life, and wrote, according to Pliny, his work in his old age. According to Lucian, Herodotus read his work to the assembled Greeks at Olympia,

How pleasant it is for him who is saved to re- B.C. 456, with the great applause of the audience, member his danger.

A FATHER'S ADVICE TO HIS SON.

In the first place, thou must have a gentle disposition: pay respect to all, giving the rich not more than an equal portion: be not opinionative when one of two things must be determined: get not riches by unjust means, if thou wishest them to continue in thy family, for riches unjustly acquired quickly vanish; yet try to get them, for riches and high descent enable a man to marry well: in poverty there is dishonor, even though a man be wise, and also disgrace: get friends who are not willing to yield to thy wishes, and shut the bars of thy doors against the wicked, who are anxious to gratify thy desires: love the conversation of those who are older than thyself, and hate those of intemperate habits, only pleasant to joke with; the enjoyment of unholy pleasure is of short duration.

ENVY.

in consequence of which the nine books of the work have been honored with the name of the Nine Muses. He also states that Thucydides, then about fifteen or sixteen years of age, was present at this recitation, and was moved to tears. To this work we are indebted for our knowledge of the origin and progress of the Persian monarchy; of that of the Medes and Assyrians.

[blocks in formation]

LIFE IS NOTHING BUT MISERY.

Thus, Croesus, does our nature appear an uninterrupted series of misfortunes.

Who was the mother or father that produced illomened envy, such a great ill to mortals? Where does she dwell, and in what part of the body? Is So Ecclesiastes (1. 14)—" I have seen all the works that are she in our hands, or heart, or eyes? What a dread-done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of ful labor for physicians to remove this greatest of all diseases in men, whether by the knife, by potions, or drugs!

PEACE.

Peace, thou richest and most beautiful of the happy gods, the envy of all, why dost thou loiter? I fear lest old age overtake me with its ailments before I behold thy delightful produce, songs with the dance and garland-crowned revellings. Thou benignant goddess, visit my city, and drive off from my house bloody sedition and frantic contention, delighting in the sharp-pointed sword.

GOD HELPS THEM THAT HELP THEMSELVES.

Call in self-help, then ask the gods to aid,
For the gods aid the man who helps himself.

HERODOTUS.

BORN B.C. 484-WAS ALIVE B.C. 408. HERODOTUS, the father of history, was a native of Halicarnassus, a town of Caria, in Asia Minor.

spirit."

THE RICH MAN AND THE POOR CONTRASTED.

The man of affluence is not, in fact, more happy than the possessor of a bare competency; unless, in addition to his wealth, the end of his life be fortunate. We often see misery dwelling in the midst of splendor, whilst real happiness is found in humbler stations.

THE HAPPY MA

The rich man, indeed, is better able to indulge his passions, and to bear up against any harm that may befall him. The poor man's condition prevents him from enjoying such advantages; but then, as a set-off, he may possess strength of body, freedom from disease, a mind relieved from many of the ills of life, is blessed in his children, and active in his limbs. If he shall, besides, end his life well, then, O Cræsus, this is the happy man, about whom thou art curiously inquiring. Call no man happy till thou knowest the end of his life; up till that moment he can only be called fortunate.

« ÀÌÀü°è¼Ó »