Men are gods, or, The dignity of magistracy, and the duty of the magistrate…

It is storied of Alexander, ¹that having heard of Paradise, he was very eager of seeking it out, and for that end came into the East part of the Earth; where an old man meeting some of his Soldiers, bad them tell Alexander that he sought Paradise in vain; For the way to Paradise was the way of Humility which he did not take: but saith he, Take this stone and carry it to Alexander, and tell him that from this stone he shall know what he is. Now the stone was a precious stone, and of such a quality, that whatsoever thing was weighed with it, that was still the heavier; only if it were covered with dust, then it was as light as straw; thereby signifying that though Alexander, and men in Authority out-weigh others in life, yet when they are covered with dust, when death cometh, they are as light as others; all their greatness cometh to nothing. O how little Earth containeth Great Men when they die, who will not be contented with much while they live!

It is storied of Alexander, ¹that having heard of Paradise, he was very eager of seeking it out, and for that end came into the East part of the Earth; where an old man meeting some of his Souldiers, bad them tell Alexander that he sought Paradise in vain; For the way to Paradise was the way of Humility which he did not take: but saith he, Take this stone and carry it to Alexander, and tell him that from this stone he shall know what he is. Now the stone was a precious stone, and of such a quality, that whatsoever thing was weighed with it, that was still the heavier; only if it were covered with dust, then it was as light as straw; thereby signifying that though Alexander, and men in Authority out-weigh others in life, yet when they are covered with dust, when death cometh, they are as light as others; all their greatness cometh to nothing. O how little Earth containeth Great Men when they die, who will not be contented with much while they live!

1. 1Quint. Curt.