ngth too tedious. Which made
_Cleomenes_ king of the Lacedemonians geue this vnpleasant answere to the
Ambassadors or the Samiens, who had tolde him a long message from their
Citie, and desired to know his pleasure in it. My masters (saith he) the
first part of your tale was so long, that I remember it not, which made
that the second I vnderstoode not, and as for the third part I doe nothing
well allow of. Great princes and graue counsellors who haue little spare
leisure to hearken, would haue speeches vsed to them such as be short and
sweete.

And if they be spoken by a man of account, or one who for his yeares,
profession or dignitie should be thought wise & reuerend, his speeches &
words should also be graue, pithie & sententious, which was well noted by
king _Antiochus_, who likened _Hermogenes_ the famous Orator of Greece,
vnto these fowles in their moulting time, when their feathers be sick, and
be so loase in the flesh that at any little rowse they can easilie shake
them off: so saith he, can _Hermogenes_ of all the men that euer I knew,
as easilie deliuer from him his vaine and impertinent speeches and words.

And there is a decencie, that euery speech should be to the appetite and
delight, or dignitie of the hearer & not for any respect arrogant or
vndutifull, as was that of _Alexander_ sent Embassadour from the
_Athenians_ to th'Emperour _Marcus_, this man seing th'emperour not so
attentiue to his tale, as he would haue had him, said by way of
interruption, _Ceasar_ I pray thee giue me better eare, it seemest thou
knowest me not, nor from whom I came: the Emperour nothing well liking his
bold malapert speech, said: thou art deceyued, for I heare thee and know
well inough, that thou art that fine, foolish, curious, sawcie _Alexander_
that tendest to nothing but to combe & cury thy haire, to pare thy nailes,
to pick thy teeth, and to perfume thy selfe with sweet oyles, that no man
may abide the sent of thee. Prowde speeches, and too much finesse and
curiositie is not commendable in an Embassadour. And I haue knowen in my
time such of them, as studied more vpon what apparel they should weare,
and what countenaunces they should keepe at the times of their audience,
then they did vpon th'effect of their errant or commission.

And there is decency in that euery man should talke of the things they
haue best skill of, and not in that, their knowledge and learning serueth
them not to do, as we are wont to say, he spea