No cross, no crown

by William Penn

XIX. Alexandrides hearing an exile complain of his banishment, saith he, "Complain of the cause of it, to wit, his deserts, for there is nothing hurtful but vice." Being asked why they were so long in making the process of criminals in Lacedæmon, "Because," saith he, "when they are once dead they are past repentance." This shows their belief of immortality and eternal blessedness; and that even poor criminals, through repentance, may obtain it.

XX. Anaxilas would say that the greatest advantage kings had upon other men was their power of excelling them in good deeds.

XXI. Ariston hearing one admire this expression, "We ought to do good to our friends and evil to our enemies;" answered, "By no means; we ought to do good to all; to keep our friends and to gain our enemies." A doctrine the most difficult to flesh and blood in all the precepts of Christ's sermon upon the mount: nay, not allowed to be his doctrine, but both an eye for an eye, defended against his express command, and oftentimes an eye put out, an estate sequestered, and life taken away under a specious zeal for religion too; as if sin could be christened, and impiety entitled to the doctrine of Christ: O, will not such heathens rise up in judgment against our worldly Christians in the great day of God!

XXII. Archidamus also, king of Sparta, being asked who was master of Lacedæmonia; "The laws," saith he, "and after them the magistrates." One praising a musician in his presence, "Ah!" saith he, "but when wilt thou praise a good man?"—Another saying, that man is an excellent musician: "That is all one," saith he, "as if thou wouldst say, there is a good cook:" counting both trades of voluptuousness.—Another promising him some excellent wine; "I care not," saith he, "for it will only put my mouth out of taste to my ordinary liquor;" which it seems was water.—Two men chose him an arbitrator; to accept it, he made them promise to do what he would have them: "Then," said he, "stir not from this place till you have agreed the matter between yourselves," which was done.—Dionysius, king of Sicily, sending his daughters rich apparel, he forbad them to wear it, saying, "You will seem to me but the more homely." This great man certainly was not of the mind to breed up his children at the exchanges, dancing-schools, and play-houses.

XXIII. Cleomenes, king of the same people, would say, "That kings ought to be pleasant; but not to cheapness and contempt." He was so just a man in power, that he drove away Demaratus his fellow-king, (for they always had two,) for offering to corrupt him in a cause before them, "Lest," saith he, "he should attempt others less able to resist him, and so ruin the state."

XXIV. Dersyllidas perceiving that Pyrrhus would force a prince upon his countrymen, the Lacedæmonians, whom they lately rejected, stoutly opposed him, saying, "If thou art God, we fear thee not, because we have done no evil; and if thou art but a man we are men too."

XXV. Hippodamus seeing a young man ashamed, that was caught in bad company, he reproved him sharply, saying, "For time to come, keep such company as thou needest not blush at."

XXVI. Leonidas, brother to Cleomenes, being offered by Xerxes to be made an emperor of Greece, answered, "I had rather die for my own country, than have an unjust command over other men's;" adding, "Xerxes deceived himself, to think it a virtue to invade the right of other men."

XXVII. Lysander being asked by a person, what was the best frame of government; "That," says he, "where every man hath according to his deserts." Though one of the greatest captains that Sparta bred, he had learned by his wisdom to bear personal affronts: "Say what thou wilt," says he to one that spoke abusively to him, "empty thyself, I shall bear it." His daughters were contracted in marriage to some persons of quality, but he dying poor, they refused to marry them; upon which the ephori condemned each of them in a great sum of money, because they preferred money before faith and engagement.

XXVIII. Pausanias, son of Cleombrotus, and colleague of Lysander, beholding, among the Persian spoils they took, the costliness of their furniture, said, "It had been much better if they had been worth less, and their masters more." And after the victory of Platæa, having a dinner dressed according to the Persian manner, and beholding the magnificence and furniture of the treat; "What," saith he, "do these people mean, that live in such wealth and luxury, to attack our meanness and poverty?"