XXV. Mandanis, a great and famous philosopher of the Gymnosophists, whom Alexander the Great required to come to the feast of Jupiter's son, (meaning himself,) declaring, that if he came he should be rewarded, if not, he should be put to death; the philosopher contemned his message as vain and sordid: he first told them, that he denied him to be Jupiter's son; a mere fiction. Next, that as for his gifts, he esteemed them nothing worth; his own country could furnish him with necessaries; beyond which he coveted nothing. And lastly, as for the death he threatened, he did not fear it; but of the two, he wished it rather, "In that," saith he, "I am sure it is a change to a more blessed and happy state." XXVI. Zeno, the great Stoic,[45] and author of that philosophy, had many things admirable in him; who not only said, but practised. He was a man of that integrity, and so reverenced for it by the Athenians, that they deposited the keys of the city in his hands, as the only person fit to be entrusted with their liberties; yet by birth a stranger, being of Citium in Cyprus. Antigonus, king of Macedonia, had a great respect for him, and desired his company, as the following letter expresseth: "King Antigonus to Zeno the philosopher, health: I think that I exceed thee in fortune and glory; but in learning and discipline, and that perfect felicity which thou hast attained, I am exceeded by thee; wherefore I thought it expedient to write to thee, that thou wilt come to me, assuring myself thou wilt not deny it. Use all means therefore to come to us, and know, thou art not to instruct me only, but all the Macedonians; for he who teacheth the king of Macedonia, and guideth him to virtue, it is evident that he doth likewise instruct all his subjects in virtue; for such as is the prince, such for the most part are those who live under his government." [45] Stob. Laert. Zeno answered thus: "To king Antigonus, Zeno wisheth health: I much esteem thy earnest desire of learning, in that thou aimest at philosophy; not popular, which perverteth manners, but that true discipline which conferreth profit; avoiding that generally commended pleasure, which effeminates the souls of men. It is manifest that thou art inclined to generous things, not only by nature but by choice; with indifferent exercise and assistance, thou mayest easily attain to virtue. But I am very infirm of body, being fourscore years of age, and so not well able to come; yet I will send thee some of my chief disciples, who in those things concerning the soul, are nothing inferior to me; and whose instructions, if thou wilt follow them, will conduct thee to perfect blessedness."