XIII. Epaminondas being invited to a sacrificial feast, so soon as he entered he withdrew, because of the sumptuous furniture and attire of the place and people; saying, "I was called at Leurtra to a sacrifice, but I find it is a debauch." The day after the great battle he obtained upon his enemies, he seemed sad and solitary, which was not his ordinary temper; and being asked why, answered, "I would moderate the joy of yesterday's triumphs." A Thessalian general, and his colleague in a certain enterprise, knowing his poverty, sent him two thousand crowns to defray his part of the charges; but he seemed angry, and answered, "This looks like corrupting me;" contenting himself with less than five pounds, which he borrowed of one of his friends for that service. The same moderation made him refuse the presents of the Persian emperor, saying, "They were needless if he only desired of him what was just; if more, he was not rich enough to corrupt him." Seeing a rich man refuse to lend one of his friends money that was in affliction, he said, "Art not thou ashamed to refuse to help a good man in necessity?" After he had freed Greece from trouble, and made the Thebans, his countrymen, triumph over the Lacedæmonians, till then invincible, that ungrateful people arraigned him and his friends, under pretence of acting something without authority: he, as general, took the blame upon himself, justified the action both from necessity and success, arraigning his judges for ingratitude whilst himself was at the bar, which caused them to withdraw with fallen countenances, and hearts smitten with guilt and fear. To conclude, he was a man of great truth and patience, as well as wisdom and courage; for he was never observed to lie in earnest or in jest. And notwithstanding the ill and cross humours of the Thebans, aggravated by his incomparable hazards and services for their freedom and renown, it is reported of him that he ever bore them patiently, often saying that he ought no more to be revenged of his country than of his father.