IV. Philip, king of Macedon, upon three sorts of good news, arrived in one day, feared too much success might transport him immoderately; and therefore prayed for some disappointments to season his prosperity, and caution his mind under the enjoyment of it. He refused to oppress the Greeks with his garrisons, saying, "I had rather retain them by kindness than fear, and to be always beloved, than for a while terrible." One of his minions persuading him to decline hearing a cause, wherein a particular friend was interested, "I had much rather," says he, "thy friend shall lose his cause, than I my reputation." Seeing his son, Alexander, endeavouring to gain the hearts of the Macedonians, by gifts and rewards, "Canst thou believe," says he, "that a man that thou hast corrupted to thy interests, will ever be true to them?" When his court would have had him quarrel with and correct the Peloponnenses for their ingratitude to him, he said, "By no means; for if they despise and abuse me after being kind to them, what will they do if I do them harm?"--a great example of patience in a king, and wittily said. Like to this was his reply to the ambassadors of Athens, whom asking after audience, if he could do them any service, and one of them surlily answering, The best thou canst do us is to hang thyself, he was nothing disturbed, though his court murmured; but calmly said to the ambassador, "Those who suffer injuries are better people than those that do them." To conclude with him: being one day fallen along the ground, and seeing himself in that posture he cried out, "What a small spot of earth do we take up, and yet the whole world cannot content us!" V. Ptolemy, son of Lagus, being reproached for his mean original, and his friends angry that he did not resent it; "We ought," says he, "to bear reproaches patiently." VI. Xenophanes being jeered for refusing to play at a forbidden game, answered: "I do not fear my money, but my reputation: they that make laws, must keep them." A commendable saying. VII. Antigonus being taken sick, he said, it was a warning from God to instruct him of his mortality. A poet flattered him with the title of the Son of God, he answered, "My servant knows the contrary." Another sycophant telling him, that the will of kings is the rule of justice: "No," saith he, "rather justice is the rule of the will of kings;" and being pressed by his minions to put a garrison into Athens, to hold the Greeks in subjection, he answered, "he had not a stronger garrison than the affections of his people."