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

183

Servius Geminus going one Day to see Lucius Mallius, a very skillful Painter, and seeing his Children who were extreme ugly, he could not forbear telling him that he wondred he did make so fine Pictures and get such ugly Children. To which Mallius pleasantly reply’d, don’t be surpriz’d at it, for I draw the Pictures in the Day, and get the Children in the Night.

183

Servius Geminus allant un jour rendre visite à Lucius Mallius, Peintre très habile, & voyant ses Enfans qui ètoient fort Laids, il ne se peut empêcher de lui dire Qu’il s’ètonnoit de ce qu’il faisoit de si beaux Portraits, & des Enfans si laids. Mallius lui répondit agréablement, n’en soyez point surpris, je fais les Portraits pendant le jour & les Enfans pendant la Nuit.