a most deformed soul; honesty, virtue, fair conditions,
are great enticers to such as are well given, and
much avail to get the favour and goodwill of men.
Abdolominus in Curtius, a poor man, (but which mine
author notes, [4549]"the cause of this poverty was
his honesty”) for his modesty and continency
from a private person (for they found him digging in
his garden) was saluted king, and preferred before
all the magnificoes of his time, injecta ei vestis
purpura auroque distincta, “a purple embroidered
garment was put upon him, [4550]and they bade him wash
himself, and, as he was worthy, take upon him the
style and spirit of a king,” continue his continency
and the rest of his good parts. Titus Pomponius
Atticus, that noble citizen of Rome, was so fair conditioned,
of so sweet a carriage, that he was generally beloved
of all good men, of Caesar, Pompey, Antony, Tully,
of divers sects, &c. multas haereditates ([4551]Cornelius
Nepos writes) sola bonitate consequutus. Operae,
pretium audire, &c. It is worthy of your
attention, Livy cries, [4552]"you that scorn all but
riches, and give no esteem to virtue, except they
be wealthy withal, Q. Cincinnatus had but four acres,
and by the consent of the senate was chosen dictator
of Rome.” Of such account were Cato, Fabricius,
Aristides, Antonius, Probus, for their eminent worth:
so Caesar, Trajan, Alexander, admired for valour,
[4553] Haephestion loved Alexander, but Parmenio the
king: Titus deliciae humani generis, and
which Aurelius Victor hath of Vespasian, the darling
of his time, as [4554]Edgar Etheling was in England,
for his [4555]excellent virtues: their memory
is yet fresh, sweet, and we love them many ages after,
though they be dead: Suavem memoriam sui reliquit,
saith Lipsius of his friend, living and dead they
are all one. [4556]"I have ever loved as thou knowest”
(so Tully wrote to Dolabella) “Marcus Brutus
for his great wit, singular honesty, constancy, sweet
conditions; and believe it” [4557] “there
is nothing so amiable and fair as virtue.”
“I [4558]do mightily love Calvisinus,”
(so Pliny writes to Sossius) “a most industrious,
eloquent, upright man, which is all in all with me:”
the affection came from his good parts. And as
St. Austin comments on the 84th Psalm, [4559]"there
is a peculiar beauty of justice, and inward beauty,
which we see with the eyes of our hearts, love, and
are enamoured with, as in martyrs, though their bodies
be torn in pieces with wild beasts, yet this beauty
shines, and we love their virtues.” The
[4560]stoics are of opinion that a wise man is only
fair; and Cato in Tully 3 de Finibus contends
the same, that the lineaments of the mind are far fairer
than those of the body, incomparably beyond them:
wisdom and valour according to [4561]Xenophon, especially
deserve the name of beauty, and denominate one fair,
et incomparabiliter pulchrior est (as Austin
holds) veritas Christianorum quam Helena Graecorum.