Plutarch's essays and miscellanies, Vol. 2 (of 5) : $b Comprising all his works collected under the title of "Morals"Plutarch
Philosophy
Plutarch's essays and miscellanies, Vol. 2 (of 5) : $b Comprising all his works collected under the title of "Morals"
Plutarch
Classical literature; Essays; Ethics; Philosophy
_Solution._ They say that Acca Laurentia, the nurse of Romulus,
was diverse from this, and her they ascribe honor to in the month of
April. But this other Laurentia, they say, was surnamed Fabula, and
she became noted on this occasion. A certain sexton that belonged to
Hercules, as it seems, leading an idle life, used to spend most of his
days at draughts and dice; and on a certain time, when it happened
that none of those that were wont to play with him and partake of his
sport were present, being very uneasy in himself, he challenged the
God to play a game at dice with him for this wager, that if he got the
game he should receive some boon from the God, if he lost it he would
provide a supper for the God and a pretty wench for him to lie with.
Whereupon choosing two dice, one for himself and the other for the
God, and throwing them, he lost the game; upon which, abiding by his
challenge, he prepared a very splendid table for the God, and picking
up Laurentia, a notorious harlot, he set her down to the good cheer;
and when he had made a bed for her in the temple, he departed and shut
the doors after him. The report went that Hercules came, but had not
to do with her after the usual manner of men, and commanded her to go
forth early in the morning into the market-place, and whomsoever she
first happened to meet with, him she should especially set her heart
upon and procure him to be her copemate. Laurentia accordingly arising
and going forth happened to meet with a certain rich man, a stale
bachelor, whose name was Taruntius. He lying with her made her whilst
he lived the governess of his house, and his heiress when he died; some
time after, she died and left her estate to the city, and therefore
they have her in so great a reputation.
_Question 36._ Why do they call one gate at Rome the Window, just
by which is the bed-chamber of Fortune, so called?
_Solution._ Was it because Servius, who became the most successful
king, was believed to have conversed with Fortune, who came in to him
at a window? Or may this be but a fable; and was it that Tarquinius
Priscus the king dying, his wife Tanaquil, being a discreet and royal
woman, putting her head out at a window, propounded Servius to the
citizens, and persuaded them to proclaim him king; and that this place
had the name of it?
_Question 37._ Why is it that, of the things dedicated to the
Gods, the law permits only the spoils taken in war to be neglected and
by time to fall into decay, and permits them not to have any veneration
nor reparation?
_Solution._ Is this the reason, that men may be of opinion that
the renown of ancestors fades away, and may always be seeking after
some fresh monument of fortitude? Or rather because time wears out the
marks of contention with our enemies, and to restore and renew them
were invidious and malicious? Neither among the Greeks are those men
renowned who were the first erectors of stone or brass trophies.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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