_Metellus_, who was born of a Woman of great Liberties, pretending to joke upon _Cicero_ about the meanness of his Birth, ask’d him, _Who his Father was_? _Cicero_ instead of giving a direct Answer to the Question, waved it cuningly, by telling him: _Thy Mother has made that Question harder for thee to answer_. 169 _Metellus_, Fils d’une Mere qui avoit été fort galante, voulant railler _Ciceron_ sur la bassesse de sa naissance, lui demanda _qui ètoit son Pere_? _Ciceron_, au lieu de de répondre juste à la Question l’éluda adroitement, en lui disant: _Ta Mere a fait en sorte qu’il te seroit bien plus difficile de dire qui ètoit le tien_. 170 A Leader of revolted Slaves was taken in Fight with many of his Party, by the General of a _Roman_ Army; this General ask’d him what treatment he thought he and his Companions deserv’d: _The same_, said he, _which brave Men deserve, who think themselves worthy of being Free_; which answer so pleased the General, that he Pardon’d them, and employ’d them in his Troops. 170 Un chef d’Esclaves revoltez fut pris les Armes à la Main, avec plusieurs de son Parti, par le Général d’une Armée _Romaine_; Ce Général lui demanda quel traitement il croyoit que lui & ses Compagnons avoient merité: _Celui que meritent de braves Gens qui s’estiment dignes de la liberté_, lui répondit-il. Cette reponse plut si fort à ce Général, qu’il leur pardonna & les employa dans ses Troupes. 171 Some _Roman_ Judges being to try _Clodius_, demanded a Guard, that they might, as they pretended, pass their Verdict upon his Crime with freedom; however they acquitted him, tho’ he deserv’d to be condemn’d; which made _Catulus_, speaking to those Judges, say: _Were you afraid the Bribe_ Clodius _had given you, should be taken away from you_? 171 Des Juges _Romains_, devant juger _Clodius_, demanderent des Gardes pour opiner librement, disoient-ils, touchant son Crime: Cependant ils le renvoyerent absous, quoiqu’il eut merité d’être condamné. Ce qui fit dire à _Catulus_, parlant à ces mêmes Juges: _Est-ce que vous aviez peur qu’on ne vous ôtat l’Argent que_ Clodius _vous avoit donné_? 172 _Pyrrhus_ King of _Epirus_, being inform’d that some of his Soldiers had spoke ill of him at a Feast, he sent for them, and asked them whether that report was true; whereupon the boldest of them, seeing all was discover’d, made him this subtile Answer; _Sir, had not our Wine failed us, we would have said a great deal more_. This comical Excuse, and plain Confession, made the King laugh, and pacified his Anger. 172