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The following was the general habit of his life: from early dawn to
the time when the forum is wont to fill, he sedulously transacted all
the business that was brought before him; during the remainder of the
day he drank and joked with his guests, passing the time in witty and,
sometimes, scarce seemly conversation. It grieved his friends that he
should thus demean himself, and accordingly some of them chid him on
the subject, saying to him - "Oh! king, thou dost but ill guard
thy royal dignity whilst thou allowest thyself in such levities. Thou
shouldest sit in state upon a stately throne, and busy thyself with
affairs the whole day long. So would the Egyptians feel that a great
man rules them, and thou wouldst be better spoken of. But now thou
conductest thyself in no kingly fashion." Amasis answered them thus:
"Bowmen bend their bows when they wish to shoot; unbrace them when
the shooting is over. Were they kept always strung they would break,
and fail the archer in time of need. So it is with men. If they give
themselves constantly to serious work, and never indulge awhile in
pastime or sport, they lose their senses, and become mad or moody.
Knowing this, I divide my life between pastime and business." Thus
he answered his friends.
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