VIII. Themistocles, after all the honour of his life, sits down with this conclusion, "That the way to the grave is more desirable than the way to worldly honours." His daughter being courted by one of little wit and great wealth, and another of little wealth and great goodness; he chose the poor man for his son-in-law: "For," saith he, "I will rather have a man without money, than money without a man;" reckoning, that not money, but worth, makes the man. Being told by Symmachus, that he would teach him the art of memory; he gravely answered, he had rather learn the art of forgetfulness: adding, he could remember enough, but many things he could not forget, which were necessary to be forgotten: as the honours, glories, pleasures, and conquests he had spent his days in: too apt to transport to vain glory. IX. Aristides, a wise and just Greek, of greatest honour and trust with the Athenians;--he was a great enemy to cabals in government: the reason he renders is, "Because," saith he, "I would not be obliged to authorize injustice." He so much hated covetousness, though he was thrice chosen treasurer of Athens, that he lived and died poor, and that of choice: for being therefore reproached by a rich usurer, he answered, "Thy riches hurt thee more than my poverty hurts me." Being once banished by a contrary faction in the state, he prayed to God, that the affairs of his country might go so well, as never to need his return: which however caused him presently to be recalled: whereupon he told them, that he was not troubled for his exile with respect to himself, but the honour of his country. Themistocles, their general, had a project to propose, to render Athens mistress of Greece, but it required secrecy: the people obliged him to communicate it to Aristides, whose judgment they would follow. Aristides having privately heard it from Themistocles, publicly answered the people, "True there was nothing more advantageous, nothing more unjust:" which quashed the project. X. Pericles, as he mounted the tribunal, prayed to God that not a word might fall from him, that might scandalize the people, wrong the public affairs, or hurt his own. One of his friends praying him to speak falsely in his favour; "We are friends," saith he, "but not beyond the altar;" meaning not against religion and truth. Sophocles being his companion, upon sight of a beautiful woman, said to Pericles, "Ah, what a lovely creature is that!" To whom Pericles replied, "It becometh a magistrate not only to have his hands clean, but his tongue and eyes also."