Nor is that worthy speech of Zeno the philosopher to be passed over with
the note of ignorance; who being invited to a feast in Athens, where a
great prince's
ambassadors
were entertained, and was the only person that
said nothing at the table; one of them with courtesy asked him, "What
shall we return from thee, Zeno, to the prince our master, if he asks us
of thee?
Ben Jonson - Discoveries Made Upon Men, and Some Poems
? ??????. {31b}
Optimus est homini linguae thesaurus, et ingens
Gratia, quae parcis mensurat singula verbis."
_Homeri Ulysses_.--_Demacatus Plutarchi_.--Ulysses, in Homer, is made a
long-thinking man before he speaks; and Epaminondas is celebrated by
Pindar to be a man that, though he knew much, yet he spoke but little.
Demacatus, when on the bench he was long silent and said nothing, one
asking him if it were folly in him, or want of language, he answered, "A
fool could never hold his peace." {31c} For too much talking is ever the
index of a fool.
Nor is that worthy speech of Zeno the philosopher to be passed over with
the note of ignorance; who being invited to a feast in Athens, where a
great prince's
ambassadors
were entertained, and was the only person that
said nothing at the table; one of them with courtesy asked him, "What
shall we return from thee, Zeno, to the prince our master, if he asks us
of thee?
" "Nothing," he replied, "more but that you found an old man in
Athens that knew to be silent amongst his cups." It was near a miracle
to see an old man silent, since talking is the disease of age; but
amongst cups makes it fully a wonder.
_Argute dictum_.--It was wittily said upon one that was taken for a great
and grave man so long as he held his peace, "This man might have been a
counsellor of state, till he spoke; but having spoken, not the beadle of
the ward." ????????. {32b} Pytag. quam laudabilis!
