The History of Monsters. 182

from an apophthegm mentioned by Plutarch: namely, that in certain fields wheat degenerates into tares due to a defect in the sun. Similarly, the characters of men vary according to the quality of their region; for in a "soft" land, soft and effeminate men are born. Sardanapalus became a proverb for notable weakness; thus Aristophanes said of a particularly effeminate man, *tís ho sardanápalos outosí*, or "Who is this Sardanapalus?" This man was so effeminate that he used to pass his time among eunuchs and girls. This is related to the saying, "A man more pliable than wax." Although this might seem to refer to a weak man, it can nevertheless apply to one who is teachable and docile. "A Scythian man" refers to someone monstrous and cruel, due to the barbarity of the Scythian people—just as the common folk today might call such a man a "Turk." Very similar to this is "A man of Tenedos." This is recorded by Plutarch and refers to a man of a harsh and formidable appearance. Suidas traces the origin of the adage to a certain King of Tenedos who passed a law that someone should stand behind a judge holding an axe, so that anyone who spoke a lie before the judge would be struck down immediately; from this also came the proverb "the Tenedian axe."

Other adages spring up regarding movement. For instance, we say "To spur a running man" when someone labors in vain, according to the verse: "It is pointless to apply the spur to a running horse." Alternatively, this adage can be used when we urge someone toward something they are already doing of their own accord. "The sound of a lyre does not slow a fleeing man" signifies that in dangerous situations, trivialities are ignored; for it is unlikely that a singer could delay a man fleeing from battle. "A man who flees will fight again" warns that one should not cast away their spirit out of fear, since those who are defeated can win anew. They say the adage originated with Demosthenes, who, having thrown away his shield, fled from the battle where Philip, King of the Macedonians, defeated the Athenians at Chaeronea. For this reason, he was nicknamed *rhipsaspis*, meaning "one who throws away his shield," and when criticized by his enemies, he is said to have brushed them off with this verse: *anēr ho pheugōn kai pálin machēsetai*, that is, "A man who flees will also fight again."

"A man present is absent" is said of one who does not notice what is being said in a conversation because his mind is occupied with other things. "One thing standing, another sitting"—referring to a man speaking—is a proverb we can use to criticize a person's inconsistency when they change their opinion in a short interval of time.

Various human activities have given rise to various adages. First, it is said: "A man now in a cloak, now in a toga," which is used for an inconsistent person; for the cloak (*pallium*) was the garment of the Greeks, and the toga that of the Romans. "As the man is, so is his speech" is a saying used when we judge someone's character by their style of speaking. "The conquered man weeps, and the victor is ruined" is spread when both sides of an army depart with great loss. This adage can also be twisted to apply to the defendant and the plaintiff in lawsuits. We read in Aristophanes *Bios nymphios*, that is, "the life of a bridegroom." This proverb is used for a soft and delicate life, as bridegrooms used to come to their weddings crowned with garlands. "Do not trust a man unless you have first consumed a bushel of salt with him" indicates that a person's character can only be known through long-standing companionship and extended familiarity. "Agon-men" refers to those who deliberate hesitantly and never actually begin a task. The adage drew its origin from those who once struck the sacrificial victims in Rome. They were called *Agones* because, according to custom, before they struck the victim, they would turn to the people and utter the word "*Agon?*"—meaning "Shall I act?" They were asking the people whether they should proceed to kill the victim. Ovid, in his *Fasti*, recalls this custom thus: "He always asks 'Shall I act?', and does not act unless ordered."

"The striker is struck" refers to one who brings evil upon himself. The origin of the adage is traced to Hercules, who, seeing a statue at Olympia by the light of the moon and thinking it was a thief, hurled a stone at it; the stone rebounded from the statue with great force and wounded Hercules. "A sleeping man's net draws in" seems to apply to those for whom desired things happen without any effort; the proverb perhaps originated from fishermen