180
The Tyrant Hiero having asked Simonides what God was? the Philosopher desir’d a Days Consideration for his Answer; then two, and then four, and so put it off from Day to Day: At last Hiero ask’d him why he did not answer his Question, but always defer’d it to another time? because said Simonides the more I think, the more I’m at a loss to find out this dark and obscure Thing.
180
Le Tyran Hieron ayant demandé à Simonide ce que c’ètoit que Dieu, ce Philosophe prit un jour de delay pour y répondre; puis deux, ensuite il en demanda quatre, & ainsi differoit toûjours. Hieron à la fin luy demanda pourquoy il ne répondoit pas, & qu’il le remettoit toûjours à un autre temps? parce que, répondit Simonides, plus j’y pense, plus je m’y perds, & trouve la chose obscure.
181
Socrates advised young Men to look themselves in a Glass, that if they were fine and handsom they might take care not to do any thing unworthy of their Beauty, and if on the contrary they were ugly and deformed, they should endeavour to drown the defects of the Body by the Virtues of the Mind.
181
Socrate conseilloit aux jeunes gens de se regarder dans un miroir, afin que s’ils ètoient beaux & bien-faits, ils prissent garde de ne rien faire qui fut indigne de leur beauté; & qu’au contraire, s’ils étoient laids & difformes ils tâchassent d’effacer les defauts du Corps, par les vertus de l’Esprit.
182
A Man who was never married would persuade Epictetus the Philosopher to take a Wife, shewing him by many Arguments that Marriage was a State both becoming and necessary for a Philosopher: If it be so, give me then one of your Daughters, answered Epictetus.