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Now there are several other accidental occasions
administered by our friends themselves, which a person
heartily solicitous for their interest will lay hold of. Thus
some have taken an opportunity of censuring them freely
from a question they have asked, from the relation of a
story, or the praise or dispraise of the same actions in
other men which they themselves have committed.
Thus, they tell us, Demaratus coming from Corinth into
Macedonia when Philip and his queen and son were at
odds, and being after a gracious reception asked by the
king what good understanding there was among the Grecians, replied, as being an old friend and acquaintance of
his, Aye, by all means, sir, it highly becomes your majesty
[p. 147]
to enquire about the concord betwixt the Athenians and
Peloponnesians, when you suffer your own family to be the
scene of so much discord and contention. And as pert
was that of Diogenes, who, entering Philip's camp as he
was going to make war upon the Grecians, was seized upon
and brought before the king, who not knowing him asked
him if he was a spy. Why, yes truly, said he, I am a spy
upon your folly and imprudence, who without any necessity
upon you are come hither to expose your kingdoms and
your life to the uncertain decision of the cast of a die.
This may perhaps seem a little too biting and satirical.
Plutarch. Plutarch's Morals. Translated from the Greek by several hands. Corrected and revised by. William W. Goodwin, PH. D. Boston. Little, Brown, and Company. Cambridge. Press Of John Wilson and son. 1874. 2.
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