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You may observe further, that not to be in a confusion, not to blush, not to hide or correct your clothes or
any tiling about you, at the unexpected appearance of an
honorable and wise person, but to have an assurance as if
you were often conversant with such, is almost a perfect
demonstration of a very intelligent person.
It is reported of Alexander, that one night seeing a
messenger joyfully running towards him and stretching
out his hand, as if he had something to deliver to him,
he said to the apparition, Friend, what news do you bring
me? Is Homer risen from the dead? That admirable
monarch thought that nothing was wanting to his great
exploits but such a herald as Homer.
Consider this, if a young man thrive in the world, it is
customary for him to desire nothing more than to be seen
in the company of virtuous and good men, to show them
his whole furniture, his table, his wife and children, his
study, his diary or collections; and he is so pleased
with himself, that he wishes his father or tutor were alive,
that they might see him in so good a way of living; and
he could heartily pray that they were alive, to be spectators of his life and actions. But, on the contrary, those
that have neglected their business, or lost themselves in
the world, cannot endure the sight or company of their
relations without a great deal of fear and confusion.
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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