Regum et imperatorum apophthegmata

Antiochus, who made his next [*](The first campaign was against Jerusalem in 133 B.C.) campaign against the Parthians, in a hunt and chase wandered away from his friends and servants, and unrecognized entered the hut of some poor people. At dinner he brought in the subject of the king, and heard that, in general, he was a decent man, but that he entrusted most matters to friends who were scurvy fellows, and overlooked and often disregarded matters that were imperative through being too fond of hunting. At the time he said nothing; but at daybreak some of his bodyguards arrived at the hut, and his identity was disclosed when the purple and the crown were brought to him. Howbeit, said he, since the day when I donned you, yesterday was the first time that I heard true words about myself.

The Jews, when he was besieging Jerusalem, asked for an armistice of seven days for their most important festival, and he not only granted this, but he also made ready bulls with gilded horns, and a great quantity of incense and spices, and brought all these in solemn procession as far as the gates. Then, having transferred the offering to the hands of their priests, he returned to his camp. The Jews were amazed, and immediately after the festival placed themselves in his hands.[*](The same facts are narrated by Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, xiii. 8. 2.)

Themistocles while yet in his youth abandoned himself to wine and women.[*](Cf. Moralia, 552 B; Athenaeus, pp. 533 D and 576 C.) But after Miltiades,

Being asked whether he would rather have been Achilles or Homer, he said, How about you yourself ? Would you rather be the victor at the Olympic games or the announcer of the victor ? [*](The remark is attributed to Alexander by Dio Chrysostom, Oration, ii. (22 M., 79 R.).)

When Xerxes was descending upon Greece with his mighty armament, Themistocles was afraid of Epicydes the popular leader, unscrupulous and cowardly, lest possibly he might, by being elected general, bring about the ruin of the State; and so he bribed Epicydes to withdraw from his attempt to gain the command. [*](The story is told more fully in Plutarch’s Life of Themistocles, chap. vi. (114 D).)

When Adeimantus lacked the courage to risk a naval battle, and said to Themistocles, who was exhorting and urging on the Greeks, Themistocles, in the games they always scourge the runners who start before the signal is given, Themistocles replied, Yes, Adeimantus, but they do not crown those who are left behind in the race. [*](Adeimantus is the speaker here, as in Herodotus, viii. 59; but in Plutarch’s Life of Themistocles, chap. xi. (117 D), the remark is attributed not to the Corinthian Adeimantus, but to Eurybiades the Spartan, who was in command of the fleet.)