An astrologer discoursing to the people of the wandering stars; "No," saith he, "it is not the stars, but these," pointing to the people that heard him. Being asked what men are most noble; "They," saith he, "who contemn wealth, honour, and pleasure, and endure the contraries, to wit, poverty, scorn, pain, and death." To a wicked man, reproaching him for his poverty; "I never knew," saith he, "a man punished for his poverty, but many for their wickedness." To one bewailing himself that he should not die in his own country; "Be of comfort," saith he, "for the way to heaven is alike in every place." One day he went backwards; whereat the people laughing, "Are you not ashamed," saith he, "to do that all your lifetime, which you deride in me?" XXIII. Crates, a Theban, famous for his self-denial and virtue, descended from the house of Alexander, of great estate, at least two hundred talents, which having mostly distributed amongst the poor citizens, he became a constant professor of the Cynic philosophy. He exceedingly inveighed against common women. Seeing at Delphos a golden image, that Phryne, the courtezan, had set up by the gains of her trade, he cried out, "This is a trophy of the Greeks' intemperance." Seeing a young man highly fed and fat: "Unhappy youth," said he, "do not fortify thy prison." To another, followed by a great many parasites; "Young man," saith he, "I am sorry to see thee so much alone." Walking one day upon the Exchange, where he beheld people mighty busy after their divers callings; "These people," saith he, "think themselves happy; but I am happy that have nothing to do with them; for I place my happiness in poverty, not in riches. Oh! men do not know how much a wallet, a measure of lupins, with security, is worth." Of his wife, Hipparchia, a woman of wealth and extraction, but nobler for her love to true philosophy, and how they came together, there will be occasion to make mention in its place. XXIV. Aristotle, a scholar to Plato,[42] and the oracle of philosophy to these very times, though not so divinely contemplative as his master, nevertheless follows him in this, "That luxury should by good discipline be exiled human societies."[43] Aristotle seeing a youth finely dressed, said, "Art thou not ashamed, when nature hath made thee a man, to make thyself a woman?"[44] And to another, gazing on his fine cloak; "Why dost thou boast thyself of a sheep's fleece?" He said it was the duty of a good man to live so under laws as he should do if there were none. [42] Stob. Strom. 45. [43] Stob. 161. [44] Ibid. 46.