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chastisement from the offended gods。 At which Dionysius； reading in his
soldiers' looks； that instead of being incensed at the haughty language
of this conquered enemy； to the contempt of their captain and his
triumph； they were not only struck with admiration of so rare a virtue；
but moreover inclined to mutiny； and were even ready to rescue the
prisoner out of the hangman's hands； he caused the torturing to cease；
and afterwards privately caused him to be thrown into the sea。 ＇Diod。
Sic。； xiv。 29。＇
Man （in good earnest） is a marvellous vain； fickle； and unstable subject；
and on whom it is very hard to form any certain and uniform judgment。
For Pompey could pardon the whole city of the Mamertines； though
furiously incensed against it； upon the single account of the virtue and
magnanimity of one citizen； Zeno；＇Plutarch calls him Stheno； and also
Sthemnus and Sthenis＇ who took the fault of the public wholly upon
himself； neither entreated other favour； but alone to undergo the
punishment for all： and yet Sylla's host； having in the city of Perugia
＇Plutarch says Preneste； a town of Latium。＇ manifested the same
virtue； obtained nothing by it； either for himself or his fellow…
citizens。
And； directly contrary to my first examples； the bravest of all men； and
who was reputed so gracious to all those he overcame； Alexander； having；
after many great difficulties； forced the city of Gaza； and； entering；
found Betis； who commanded there； and of whose valour in the time of this
siege he had most marvellous manifest proof； alone； forsaken by all his
soldiers； his armour hacked and hewed to pieces； covered all over with
blood and wounds； and yet still fighting in the crowd of a number of
Macedonians； who were laying on him on all sides； he said to him； nettled
at so dear…bought a victory （for； in addition to the other damage； he had
two wounds newly received in his own person）； 〃Thou shalt not die； Betis；
as thou dost intend； be sure thou shall suffer all the torments that can
be inflicted on a captive。〃 To which menace the other returning no other
answer； but only a fierce and disdainful look； 〃What；〃 says Alexander；
observing his haughty and obstinate silence； 〃is he too stiff to bend a
knee！ Is he too proud to utter one suppliant word！ Truly； I will
conquer this silence； and if I cannot force a word from his mouth； I
will； at least； extract a groan from his heart。〃 And thereupon
converting his anger into fury； presently commanded his heels to be bored
through； causing him； alive； to be dragged； mangled； and dismembered at a
cart's tail。＇Quintus Curtius； iv。 6。 This act of cruelty has been
doubted； notwithstanding the statement of Curtius。＇ Was it that the
height of courage was so natural and familiar to this conqueror； that
because he could not admire； he respected it the less？ Or was it that he
conceived valour to be a virtue so peculiar to himself； that his pride
could not； without envy； endure it in another？ Or was it that the
natural impetuosity of his fury was incapable of opposition？ Certainly；
had it been capable of moderation； it is to be believed that in the sack
and desolation of Thebes； to see so many valiant men； lost and totally
destitute of any further defence； cruelly massacred before his eyes；
would have appeased it： where there were above six thousand put to the
sword； of whom not one was seen to fly； or heard to cry out for quarter；
but； on the contrary； every one running here and there to seek out and to
provoke the victorious enemy to help them to an honourable end。 Not one
was seen who； however weakened with wounds； did not in his last gasp yet
endeavour to revenge himself； and with all the arms of a brave despair；
to sweeten his own death in the death of an enemy。 Yet did their valour
create no pity； and the length of one day was not enough to satiate the
thirst of the conqueror's revenge； but the slaughter continued to the
last drop of blood that was capable of being shed； and stopped not till
it met with none but unarmed persons； old men； women； and children； of
them to carry away to the number of thirty thousand slaves。
CHAPTER II
OF SORROW
No man living is more free from this passion than I； who yet neither like
it in myself nor admire it in others； and yet generally the world； as a
settled thing； is pleased to grace it with a particular esteem； clothing
therewith wisdom； virtue； and conscience。 Foolish and sordid guise！
＇〃No man is more free from this passion than I； for I neither love nor
regard it： albeit the world hath undertaken； as it were upon covenant； to
grace it with a particular favour。 Therewith they adorne age； vertue；
and conscience。 Oh foolish and base ornament！〃 Florio； 1613； p。 3＇
The Italians have more fitly baptized by this name ＇La tristezza＇
malignity； for 'tis a quality always hurtful； always idle and vain； and
as being cowardly； mean； and base； it is by the Stoics expressly and
particularly forbidden to their sages。
But the story ＇Herodotus； iii。 14。＇ says that Psammenitus； King of
Egypt； being defeated and taken prisoner by Cambyses； King of Persia；
seeing his own daughter pass by him as prisoner； and in a wretched habit；
with a bucket to draw water； though his friends about him were so
concerned as to break out into tears and lamentations； yet he himself
remained unmoved； without uttering a word； his eyes fixed upon the
ground； and seeing； moreover； his son immediately after led to execution；
still maintained the same countenance； till spying at last one of his
domestic and familiar friends dragged away amongst the captives； he fell
to tearing his hair and beating his breast； with all the other
extravagances of extreme sorrow。
A story that may very fitly be coupled with another of the same kind； of
recent date； of a prince of our own nation； who being at Trent； and
having news there brought him of the death of his elder brother； a
brother on whom depended the whole support and honour of his house； and
soon after of that of a younger brother； the second hope of his family；
and having withstood these two assaults with an exemplary resolution； one
of his servants happening a few days after to die； he suffered his
constancy to be overcome by this last accident； and； parting with his
courage； so abandoned himself to sorrow and mourning； that some thence
were forward to conclude that he was only touched to the quick by this
last stroke of fortune； but； in truth； it was； that being before brimful
of grief； the least addition overflowed the bounds of all patience。
Which； I think； might also be said of the former example； did not the
story proceed to tell us that Cambyses asking Psammenitus； 〃Why； not
being moved at the calamity of his son and daughter； he should with so
great impatience bear the misfortune of his friend？〃 〃It is；〃 answered
he； 〃because only this last affliction was to be manifested by tears； the
two first far exceeding all manner of expression。〃
And； peradventure； something like this might be working in the fancy of
the ancient painter；＇Cicero； De Orator。； c。 22 ； Pliny； xxxv。 10。＇
who having； in the sacrifice of Iphigenia； to represent t