75
Alcibiades cut off the Tail of his Dog, which was extraordinary fine, and of great value; and as the People who saw that Dog go about the Streets without a Tail, wondered at the oddness of the thing, he said: I have done it with design that the People talking about this Trifle, may not censure my more important Actions.
75
Alcibiade coupa la queuë à son Chien, qui ètoit d’une beauté & d’un prix extraordinaire, & comme le Peuple qui voyoit ce Chien marcher en cét état dans les Ruës, s’ètonnoit de cette Bizarrerie, il dit, je l’ai fait afin que le Peuple s’entretenant de cette Bagatelle, ne s’arrête point à controller mes autres Actions plus importantes.
76
Smicythus accused Nicanor of speaking ill of Philip. This Prince who had an esteem for Nicanor, sent for him, and understanding that he was provoked by the Kings not relieving his extream Indigence, he ordered him a Sum of Money. Some time after Smicythus relating to Philip how Nicanor proclaimed his Bounty every where: Well, said he to him, you see we are Masters of our own Reputation, and that we may turn Calumnies into Commendations.
76
Smicythus accusa Nicanor de parler mal de Philippe. Ce Prince, qui avoit quelque estime pour Nicanor le fit venir, & ayant appris qu’il ètoit indigné de ce que le Roy ne songeoit point à soulager son extreme indigence, il lui fit distribüer quelque somme. Peu de tems aprés Smicythus rapportant à Philippe que Nicanor publioit par tout ses bontez: Hé bien, lui dit-il, vous voyez que nous sommes Maîtres de nôtre Reputation, & que nous pouvons changer toutes les Calomnies en Loüanges.
77
As one asked Zeno whether wise men ought not to love: If wise men did not love, answered he, nothing in the World could be so wretched as the Fair, since none but Fools should be in Love with them.