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He used Greek verses very wittily; speaking of a tall man: μακρὰ βίβας κραδάων δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος; And of Cerylus, a freedman, who being very rich had begun to pass himself off as free-born, to elude the exchequer at his decease, and assumed the name of Laches, he said: ὦ Λάχης, Λάχης ἔπαν ἀποθάνῃς, αὐθίς ἐξ ἀρχῆς ἔσῃ Κήρυλος Ah, Laches, Laches ! when thou art no more, Thou'lt Cerylus be called, just as before. He chiefly affected wit upon his own shameful means of raising money, in order to wipe off the odium by some joke, and turn it into ridicule. One of his ministers, who was much in his favour, requesting of him a stewardship for some person, under pretence of his being his brother, he deferred granting him his petition, and in the meantime sent for the candidate, and having squeezed out of him as much money as he had agreed to give to his friend at court, he appointed him immediately to the office. The minister soon after renewing his application, "You must," said he, "find another brother; for the one you adopted is in truth mine."
