Page:Plutarch - Moralia, translator Holland, 1911.djvu/224

202 teacheth us an ill lesson, to learn to be naught ourselves when we would be revenged of naughtiness. But such as repulse those who impudently and with a shameless face do molest and trouble them, not suffering themselves to be overcome with shamefacedness, but rather shame to grant unto shameless beggars those things that be shameful, are wise men and well advised, doing herein that which is right and just.

Now as touching those importunate and shameless persons who otherwise are but obscure, base and of no worth, it is of no great matter to resist them when they be troublesome unto us. And some there be who make no more ado but shift them off with laughter or a scoff: like as Theocritus served twain who would seem to borrow of him his rubber or currying-comb in the very bain; of which two, the one was a mere stranger unto him, the other he knew well enough for a notorious thief: I know not you (quoth he) to the one; and to the other, I know what you are well enough; and so he sent them both away with a mere frump. Lysimache, the priestess of Minerva in Athens, sumamed Polias, that is, the patroness of the city, when certain muleteers who brought sacrifices unto the temple called unto her for to pour them out drink freely: No (quoth she), my good friends, I may not do so, for fear you will make a custom of it.

Antigonus had under him in his retinue a young gentleman, whose father in times past had been a good warrior, and led a band or company of soldiers, but himself was a very coward and of no service, and when he sued unto him (in regard of his birth) to be advanced unto the place of his father, late deceased: Young man (quoth he), my manner is to recompense and honour the prowess and manhood of my soldiers, and not their good parentage. But if the party who assaileth our modesty be a noble man, of might and authority (and such kind of persons of all other will most hardly endure a repulse, and be put off with a denial or excuse, and namely, in the case of giving sentence or award in a matter of judgment, or in a voice at the election of magistrates), peradventure it may be thought neither easy nor necessary to do that which Cato sometimes did, being then but of young years, unto Catulus; now this Catulus was a man of exceeding great authority among the Romans, and for that time bear the censorship, who came unto Cato (then lord high treasurer of Rome that year) as a mediator and intercessor for one who had been condemned before by Cato in a round fine, pressing and importuning him so hard with earnest prayer and