Page:Plutarch - Moralia, translator Holland, 1911.djvu/288

266 Wherefore, it were very expedient to set ever before the eyes of these great praters those short and witty speeches, that they may see what grace and gravity both they have: as for example; The Lacedaemonians unto Philip, greeting: Dionysius in Corinth. Also another time, when Philip had written unto them to this effect: If I enter once into the confines of Laconia, I will destroy you utterly that you shall never rise again; they returned this answer again in writing: Αίκα; that is, If. Likewise when King Demetrius in great displeasure and indignation cried out aloud in these words: The Lacedcemonians have sent unto me an ambassador alone, and who hath no fellow; meaning that there came but one: the said ambassador, nothing daunted at his words, answered readily: One for one. Certes, they that used to speak short and sententiously, were highly esteemed long ago with our ancients and forefathers. And hereupon it was that the Amphictyons, that is to say, the deputies or states for the general counsel of all Greece, gave order that there should be written over the door of the Temple of Apollo Pythius, not the Odyssey or Ilias of Homer, nor yet the canticles or pæans of Pindarus; but these brief sentences: Γνώθι σαυτόν, that is, Know thyself; Μηδέν άγαν, that is, Too much of nothing; also Έγγύα, πάρα, δάτα, that is. Be surety and make account to pay: so highly esteemed they a plain, simple, and round manner of speaking, which comprised in few words much matter, and a sentence massy and sound: and no marvel, for Apollo himself loveth brevity, and is in his oracles very succinct and pithy; wherefore else is he surnamed Loxias? but because he chooseth rather to avoid plurality than obscurity of words. They also who without word uttered at all, signify the conceptions of their mind by certain symbolical devices, and after that manner deliver good lessons unto us; are they not sundry ways commended and admired exceedingly? Thus Heraclitus in times past, being requested by his neighbours and fellow-citizens to make a sententious speech unto them, and deliver his opinion as touching civil unity and concord, mounted up into the pulpit, and taking a cup of cold water in his hand, bespiced it (as it were) with some meal, and with a sprig or two of the herb pennyroyal, shook all together: which done, he drank it off, and so came down and went his way: giving them by this demonstration thus much to understand; that if men would take up with a little and be content with things at hand, without desiring costly superfluities, it were the next way to keep and preserve cities in peace and concord.