ave been many great philosophers, as
[4547]Gregory Nazianzen observes, "deformed most part in that which is to
be seen with the eyes, but most elegant in that which is not to be seen."
_Saepe sub attrita latitat sapientia veste_. Aesop, Democritus, Aristotle,
Politianus, Melancthon, Gesner, &c. withered old men, _Sileni Alcibiadis_,
very harsh and impolite to the eye; but who were so terse, polite,
eloquent, generally learned, temperate and modest? No man then living was
so fair as Alcibiades, so lovely _quo ad superficiem_, to the eye, as
[4548]Boethius observes, but he had _Corpus turpissimum interne_, a most
deformed soul; honesty, virtue, fair conditions, are great enticers to such
as are well given, and much avail to get the favour and goodwill of men.
Abdolominus in Curtius, a poor man, (but which mine author notes,
[4549]"the cause of this poverty was his honesty") for his modesty and
continency from a private person (for they found him digging in his garden)
was saluted king, and preferred before all the magnificoes of his time,
_injecta ei vestis purpura auroque distincta_, "a purple embroidered
garment was put upon him, [4550]and they bade him wash himself, and, as he
was worthy, take upon him the style and spirit of a king," continue his
continency and the rest of his good parts. Titus Pomponius Atticus, that
noble citizen of Rome, was so fair conditioned, of so sweet a carriage,
that he was generally beloved of all good men, of Caesar, Pompey, Antony,
Tully, of divers sects, &c. _multas haereditates_ ([4551]Cornelius Nepos
writes) _sola bonitate consequutus. Operae, pretium audire_, &c. It is
worthy of your attention, Livy cries, [4552]"you that scorn all but riches,
and give no esteem to virtue, except they be wealthy withal, Q. Cincinnatus
had but four acres, and by the consent of the senate was chosen dictator of
Rome." Of such account were Cato, Fabricius, Aristides, Antonius, Probus,
for their eminent worth: so Caesar, Trajan, Alexander, admired for valour,
[4553] Haephestion loved Alexander, but Parmenio the king: _Titus deliciae
humani generis_, and which Aurelius Victor hath of Vespasian, the darling
of his time, as [4554]Edgar Etheling was in England, for his
[4555]excellent virtues: their memory is yet fresh, sweet, and we love them
many ages after, though they be dead: _Suavem memoriam sui reliquit_, saith
Lipsius of his friend, living and dead they are all one. [4556]"I have ever
loved as thou knowe