Page:Plutarch - Moralia, translator Holland, 1911.djvu/289

Scylurus, a king of the Scythians, left behind him fourscore sons; and when the hour of his death drew near, he called for a bundle of darts or a sheaf of arrows to be brought unto him, which he put into his children's hands one after another, and willed each one to break and burst the same in pieces, bound as it was entire and whole together: which when they had assayed to do, and putting all their strength unto it, could not, but gave over, himself took out of the sheaf or knitch the darts aforesaid one by one, and knapt them in twain single as they were with facility, declaring by this device, that so long as they held together their union and agreement would be strong and invincible; but their discord and disunion would make them feeble, and be an occasion that they should not long continue. He, then, that continually shall have these and such-like precedents in his mouth, and ordinarily repeat and remember the same, will peradventure take no great pleasure and delight in idle and superfluous words. For mine own part, surely I am abashed mightily at the example of that domestical servant at Rome, when I consider with myself what a great matter it is to be well advised before a man speaketh, and constantly to hold and maintain the resolution of any purpose. Publius Piso, the great orator and rhetorician, because he would provide that his people and servitors about him should not trouble his head with much prattle, gave order and commandment unto them, that they should make answer unto his demands only, and no more: now being minded one day to entertain Clodius, the chief ruler of the city, at his house, he bade him to supper, and caused him to be sent for and called at the time accordingly: for a stately and royal feast he had provided, by all likelihood, and as any man would think, no less: now when supper time was come, the rest of the invited guests were present, Clodius only they stayed and looked for; meanwhile, Piso had sent out oftentimes unto him one of his servitors who was wont ordinarily to bid his guests for to see whether he were coming, or would come to supper or no? but when it grew late in the evening, so that there was no hope now that he would be there: Now, sirrah (quoth Piso to his man aforesaid), didst thou not invite and bid him? Yes iwis, sir: Why then comes he not? said the master again: Forsooth (quoth he), because he denied to come: And why toldest thou not me this immediately? Because, sir, you never asked me the question. Well, this was a Roman servitor; but an Athenian servant I trow, whiles he is digging and delving, will tell his master news, and namely, what be the articles and