Archelaus, to a prating barber, who asked how he would please to be shaved? answered, In silence.
One asking Demosthenes what is the first point in eloquence, he answered, Acting. And the second? Acting. And the third? Acting still.
An Athenian who wanted eloquence, but was very brave, when another had, in a long and brilliant speech, promised great affairs, got up and said, Men of Athens, all that he has said, I will do.
Zeuxis entered into a contest of art with Parrhasius. The former painted grapes so truly that birds came and pecked at them. The latter delineated a cloth so exactly, that Zeuxis coming in, said, “Take away the cloth that we may see this piece.” And finding his error, said, Parrhasius, thou hast conquered. I deceived but birds, thou an artist.
Zeuxis painted a boy carrying grapes: the birds came again and pecked. Some applauding, Zeuxis flew to the picture in a passion, saying, My boy must be very ill painted.
Gnathena the courtesan, when a very small bottle of wine was brought in, with the praise that it was very old, answered, It is very little for its age.
Philip of Macedon, sitting in judgment after dinner, an old woman receiving an unjust sentence, exclaimed, “I appeal.” “To whom!” said Philip. To Philip, when sober, answered the matron. The king took the lesson.
ROMAN
A soldier boasting of a scar in his face, from a wound in battle, Augustus said, Yes, you will look back when you run away.
Fabia Dollabella saying, she was thirty years of age; Cicero answered, It must be true, for I have heard it these twenty years.