160
Philoxenes the Poet, being condemn’d by Dionysius to work at the Quarries, for disliking some Verses of that Tyrants making, Dionysius sent for him, to shew him other Verses of his own Composing, in hopes to get his Approbation, being passionately desirous to be esteem’d a good Poet. But Philoxenes unwilling to commend his new Verses, because they were bad ones, Let me go back to the Quarries, said he. The Tyrant however was this time so good-humour’d as not to be angry at it.
160
Le Poëte Philoxene ayant été condamné par Denys à travailler aux Carrieres, pour avoir blamé des Vers que ce Tyran avoit faits, Denys l’en rappella, pour lui montrer de nouveaux Vers de sa façon, dans l’esperance de les lui faire approuver, souhaitant avec Passion d’être estimé bon Poëte. Mais Philoxene, ne voulant point loüer ses nouveaux Vers qui ètoient méchans, Qu’on me remene aux Carrieres, dit-il. Le Tyran neantmoins fut pour cette fois d’assez bonne humeur pour ne pas s’en fâcher.
161
Diogenes seeing young Dionysius reduc’d to the Profession of a School-master, fell a sighing before him: Do not be concern’d, says Dionysius to Diogenes, for my bad Fortune; ’tis the effect of the inconstancy of humane Things. I am not troubled for what thou imaginest, answers Diogenes, but rather to see thee happier than either thou wast or doest deserve to be.
161
Diogene, voyant le jeune Denys réduit à faire la fonction de maître d’Ecole, se mit à soupirer devant lui. Ne t’afflige point, dit Denys à Diogene, de ma mauvaise Fortune, c’est un effet de l’inconstance des choses humaines. Je ne suis pas affligé de ce que tu penses, lui répondit Diogene, mais de te voir plus heureux que tu n’ètois & que tu ne merites.
162
King Philip contending with an able Musician about the fineness of an Air: ’Twere great pitty, Sir, said the Musician to him, you should be so unfortunate as to know these Things better than I. Which Jest teaches the great ones not to affect excelling in Arts of this Nature, because they are only proper to such as make a Trade of them.