MELIPPUS

I had never such ado to warn scholars to come before a king: First, I came to Crisippus a tall lean old mad man, willing him presently to appear before Alexander, he stood staring on my face, neither moving his eyes nor his body, I urging him to give some answer, he took up a book, sat down and said nothing: Melissa his maid told me it was his manner, and that of to ̄ times she was fain to thrust meat in to his mouth: for that he would rather starve the ̄ cease study. Well thought I, seeing bookish men are so blockish, & so great clerks such simple courtiers, I will neither be partaker of their continued ̄ mons nor their comme ̄ delations. From ̄ thence I came to Plato and to Aristotle, and to diverse other none refusing to come, saving and old obscure fellow, who sitting in a tub turned towards the son, read Greek to a young boy, him when I willed to appear before Alexander, he answered, if Alexander would feign see me, let him come to me, if learn of me, let him come to me, whatsoe ver it be, let him come to me: why, said I, he is a king, he answered, why I am a Philosopher, why, but he is Alex ander, I but I am Diogenes. I was half angry to see one so crooked in his shape, to be so crabbed in his sayings. So going my way, I said thou shalt repent it, if thou continued ̄ mest not to Alexander : nay, smiling answered he, Alexander may repent it, if he come not to Diogenes: virtue must be sought, not offered: and so turning himself to his cell, he grunted I know not what, Like a big under a tub. But I must be gone, the Philosophers are coming.