as
not enough to satiate his ambition; to-day, three or four ells of cloth
are more than sufficient." A third said: "Yesterday, Alexander commanded
the people; to-day, the people command him." Another said: "Yesterday,
Alexander could enfranchise thousands; to-day, he cannot free himself
from the bonds of death." Another remarked: "Yesterday, he pressed the
earth; to-day, it oppresses him." "Yesterday," continued another, "all
men feared Alexander; to-day, men repute him nothing." Another said:
"Yesterday, Alexander had a multitude of friends; to-day, not one."
Another said: "Yesterday, Alexander led on an army; to-day that army
bears him to the grave."

X.--THE TREE OF PALETINUS.

Valerius tells us, that a man named Paletinus one day burst into tears;
and calling his son and his neighbours around him, said, "Alas! alas! I
have now growing in my garden a fatal tree, on which my first poor wife
hung herself, then my second, and after that my third. Have I not
therefore cause for wretchedness?" "Truly," said one who was called
Arrius, "I marvel that you should weep at such unusual good fortune!
Give me, I pray you, two or three sprigs of that gentle tree, which I
will divide with my neighbours, and thereby enable every man to indulge
his spouse." Paletinus complied with his friend's request; and ever
after found this tree the most productive part of his estate.

XI.--HUNGRY FLIES.

Josephus mentions that Tiberius Caesar, inquiring why the governors of
provinces remain so long in office, was answered by an example. "I have
seen," said the respondent, "an infirm man covered with ulcers,
grievously tormented by a swarm of flies. When asked why he did not use
a flap and drive off his tormentors, he answered, 'The very circumstance
which you think would relieve me would, in effect, cause tenfold
suffering. For by driving away the flies now saturated with my blood, I
should afford an opportunity to those that were empty and hungry to
supply their place. And who doubts that the biting of a hungry insect is
ten thousand times more painful than that of one completely gorged,
unless the person attacked be stone, and not flesh.'"

XII.--THE HUMBLING OF JOVINIAN.

When Jovinian was emperor, he had very great power, and as he lay in bed
reflecting upon the extent of his dominions, his heart was elated.

"Is there," he impiously asked, "is there any other god than me?" Amid
such thoughts he fell asleep.