The Wise and Ingenious Companion, French and English; / or, A Collection of the Wit of the Illustrious Persons, Both Ancient and Modern

by Abel Boyer

164

An Athenian telling a Lacedemonian by way of Reproach, that the Athenians had often repulsed them from before their Walls: We cannot reproach you with any such thing, answer’d the Lacedemonian; which was a fine way of telling him, that those of Athens durst never appear before Lacedemon.

164

Un Athenien reprochant à un Lacedemonien, que ceux d’Athenes les avoient souvent repoussez de devant leurs murailles: Nous ne saurions vous faire un pareil reproche, lui dit le Lacedemonien. C’ètoit une maniere delicate de lui dire, que jamais les Atheniens n’avoient osé se presenter devant Lacedemone.