Page:History of the seven wise masters, of Rome (1).pdf/15



! may I beg your attention to the following example?Hippocrates, a famous physician, took to assist him his cousin Galenious, who soon became more expert than he, whereat he endeavoured to hide his art, though in vain, for his prompt wit supplied other defects; So that sending him to visit great persons in their sickness, he always cured them; which created such jealousies in Hippocrates, that he killed and buried him. But he falling sick, ordered his scholars to fill a cask of water, which they did, and, though an hundred holes were bored in it, yet none would issue hence; whereupon, he said he was a dead man, for, as no water came out of the cask, so no virtues came out of the herbs to heal his disease; but if his cousin had been alive he would have cured him; thus complaining, he died. For this example, said the Emperor, my Son shall not die.

The Empress hearing of this reprieve, came and said; Great Sir, when the King of the Goths invaded Rome, he had a steward named Goadus, when one evening, being merry with wine, he ordered him to bring him a beautiful