constitution, he returned, saying, "It is not less the duty of a prince to obey laws than to command men." He conferred places of trust and honour upon his enemies, that he might constrain their hatred into love. A lawyer asking him for a letter to make a person judge that was of his own friends; "My friends," says he, "have no need of recommendation to do justice."--A comedian of note, wondering that Agesilaus said nothing to him, asked if he knew him; "Yes," said he, "art not thou the buffoon Callipedes?" One calling the king of Persia the Great king, he answered, "He is not greater than I unless he hath more virtue than I."--One of his friends catching him playing with his children, he prevented him thus: "Say nothing till thou art a father too."--He had great care of the education of youth, often saying, "We must teach children what they should do when they are men." The Egyptians despising him because he had but a small train and a mean equipage; "Oh," said he, "I will have them to know royalty consists not in vain pomp but in virtue." XVII. Agis, another king of Lacedæmon, imprisoned for endeavouring to restore their declining discipline, being asked whether he repented not of his design; answered, "No; for," saith he, "good actions never need repentance." His father and mother desiring of him to grant something he thought unjust, he answered, "I obeyed you when I was young; I must now obey the laws, and do that which is reasonable."--As he was leading to the place of execution one of his people wept, to whom he said, "Weep not for me; for the authors of this unjust death are more in fault than I." XVIII. Alcamenes, king of the same people, being asked which was the way to get and preserve honour; answered, "To despise wealth." Another wondering why he refused the presents of the Messenians, he answered, "I make conscience to keep the laws that forbid it." To a miser, accusing him of being so reserved in his discourse, he said, "I had rather conform to reason than thy covetousness; or, I had rather be covetous of my words than money." XIX. Alexandrides hearing an exile complain of his banishment, saith he, "Complain of the cause of it, to wit, his deserts, for there is nothing hurtful but vice." Being asked why they were so long in making the process of criminals in Lacedæmon, "Because," saith he, "when they are once dead they are past repentance." This shows their belief of immortality and eternal blessedness; and that even poor criminals, through repentance, may obtain it. XX. Anaxilas would say that the greatest advantage kings had upon other men was their power of excelling them in good deeds.