VII. Cleobulus, prince and philosopher of Lyndus:[13] he would say, "That it was man's duty to be always employed upon something that was good." Again, "Be never vain nor ungrateful. Bestow your daughters, virgins in years, but matrons in discretion. Do good to thy friend, to keep him; to thy enemy, to gain him. When any man goeth forth, let him consider what he hath to do; when he returneth, examine what he hath done. Know, that to reverence thy father is thy duty. Hear willingly, but trust not hastily. Obtain by persuasion, not by violence. Being rich, be not exalted: poor, be not dejected. Forego enmity. Instruct thy children. Pray to God, and persevere in godliness." [13] Laert. Plut. Sympos. Sap. Sep. Stob. Ser. VIII. Pittacus being asked what was best, he answered, "to do the present thing well."[14] He would say, what thou dost take ill in thy neighbour, do not thyself. Reproach not the unhappy; for the hand of God is upon them. Be true to thy trust. Bear with thy neighbour: love thy neighbour. Reproach not thy friend, though he recede from thee a little. He would say that commonwealth is best ordered where the wicked have no command, and that family, which hath neither ornament nor necessity. To conclude: he advised to acquire honesty; love discipline; observe temperance; gain prudence; mind diligence; and keep truth, faith, and piety. He had a brother, who, dying without issue, left him his estate; so that when Croesus offered him wealth he answered, "I have more by half than I desire." He also affirmed that family the best who got not unjustly, kept not unfaithfully, spent not with repentance; and that happiness consists in a virtuous and honest life: in being content with a competency of outward things, and in using them temperately. And to conclude, he earnestly enjoined all to flee corporeal pleasure; "for," says he, "it certainly brings sorrow: but observe an honest life more strictly than an oath: meditate on serious things." [14] Plutarch. Stob. xxviii. IX. Hippias, a philosopher: it is recorded of him[15] that he would have every one provide his own necessaries; and, that he might do what he taught, he was his own tradesman. He was singular in all such arts and employments, insomuch as he made the very buskins he wore. A better life than Alexander's. [15] Cic. lib. de Orat. X. The Bambycatii[16] were a certain great people that inhabited about the river Tigris, in Asia, who, observing the great influence gold, silver, and precious jewels had upon their minds, agreed to bury all in the earth to prevent the corruption of their manners.--They used inferior metals, and lived with very ordinary accommodation; wearing mostly but one very grave and plain robe to cover nakedness. It were well if Christians would mortify their insatiable appetites after wealth and vanity any way, for heathens judge their excess. [16] Plin.