175
Zeno the Humorist being a Trader, was told upon a Day, that the Ship on whose bottom he had ventur’d his whole Estate, after having been beaten by a great Storm, perished at last at the entrance of the Haven: But he was so far from being concern’d at this sad News, that he said with a serene Countenance, I thank you Destiny for taking me from Merchandise, which is a mean and painful Employment, and carrying me back to Philosophy, which is a noble and salutary Exercise; adding, that he had rather met with a Port in the Wrack, than with a Wrack in the Port.
175
Zenon le fantasque faisant commerce de Marchandises, apprit un jour que son Vaisseau sur lequel il avoit chargé tout son bien, aprés avoir été battu d’une grande tempête ètoit enfin peri à l’entrée du Port, mais bien loin de se chagriner à cette triste nouvelle, il-dit, avec un visage serain, je te remercie Destin de ce que tu me retires du Commerce, qui est un Art bas & penible & que tu me ramenes à la Philosophie qui est un exercice noble & salutaire, ajoutant, qu’il avoit plûtot trouvé le Port dans le naufrage, que le naufrage dans le Port.
176
Hermon was so Covetous, according to Lucilius’s Testimony, that dreaming one Night he had spent some Money, he was so troubled at it that he hang’d himself. Dinarches Philo was also such another Miser that he quitted the design he had of hanging himself because he would not be at a Half-peny charge for a Rope, seeking Death at a much cheaper rate. And Hemocrates grew such a Fool by his extreme Avarice, that when he died, he made himself his own Heir to all his Estate: From whence the Philosopher Bias took occasion to say, That Covetousness is the Mother of the Madness and Malice of Men.
176
Hermon fut si avare, selon le temoignage de Lucile, que revant la nuit qu’il avoit depensé quelque Argent, il en eut tant de douleur, qu’il s’étrangla. Dinarques Philon fut aussi tellement avare, qu’il quitta le dessein de se pendre pour ne pas depenser deux liards à acheter une corde, cherchant la Mort à meilleur marché; & Hemocrate devint si fou par son extreme Avarice, qu’en mourant, il se constitua luy même heritier de tous ses biens. d’où le Philosophe Bias prit sujét de dire, Que l’Avarice et la Mere de la folie, & de la Malice des Hommes.
177
Those of Numantia, a very warlike People, having been defeated and put to flight by Scipio, the old Men reproached them severely with Cowardise, saying, Are not these the same Roman Sheep which we have so often beaten and drove before us? Yes, answered a young Man, these are the same Sheep, but they have changed their Shepherd.