57
De deux hommes qui recherchoient la Fille de Themistocles, l’un sot, mais riche: l’autre pauvre, mais sage & honnête homme, il prit ce dernier pour son gendre, & répondit à ceux qui s’en ètonnoient: J’aime mieux un Homme sans richesses, que des richesses sans Homme.
58
Alexander the Great, took in the Wars a certain Indian, who had such a skill in Shooting, that he could pass his Arrows through a Ring placed at a certain distance. He commanded him to make a trial of it before him; and because the Indian refused, he ordered he should be slain. Those that led him to his Punishment enquiring into the Reason of his refusal, the Indian answered, Having for a long time left off the Exercise of my Art, I chuse to suffer Death rather than to venture the loss of my Reputation, if I should miss before Alexander: Which being told again to that Emperour, he not only commanded he should be set at Liberty, but also gave him many Gifts, admiring his great Spirit and Resolution.
58
Alexandre le grand prit en Guerre un Indien, si adroit à tirer de l’Arc, qu’il faisoit passer ses Flêches par un anneau placé à une certaine distance, il lui commanda d’en faire l’essai devant lui, & sur le refus qu’en fit l’Indien, il ordonna qu’on le fit mourir. Ceux qui le conduisoient au supplice, s’informant du sujet de son refus, l’Indien repondit: Comme j’ai été long tems sans exercer mon art, j’ai mieux aimé souffrir la Mort, que de m’exposer à perdre ma Reputation, en manquant devant Alexandre. Ce qui ètant rapporté à cet Empereur, non seulement il le fit mettre en liberté, mais même il lui fit de grands Presents, admirant son courage & sa fermeté.
59
The Favourites of the Emperour Trajan, taking notice that he received every Body with great Familiarity, told him he forgot the grandeur of his Majesty: I will take care, answered he, That my People shall find in me such an Emperour as I could wish to have one my self, if I was a private Man.
59
Les Favoris de l’Empereur Trajan le voyant recevoir tout le monde fort familierement, lui remontroient qu’il oublioit la grandeur de sa Majesté: je veux, répondit-il, que mon Peuple trouve en moy un Empereur, tel que je souhaiterois en avoir un si j’étois Homme privé.