Live in such a manner, that, after reading the lives of your illustrious predecessors, you may feel assured that your own life shall deserve to be read by posterity.' "The Emperor showed by a smile that my liberty had not displeased him, I seized this opportunity of presenting him with some imperial medals, in gold and in silver, and gave him a short sketch of the lives of those worthies whose images they bore.

He seemed to listen to me with pleasure, and, graciously accepting the medals, declared that he never had received a more agreeable present.
"I should never end if I were to relate to you all the conversations which I held with this prince.

He desired me one day to relate the history of my life to him.

I declined to do so at first; but he would take no refusal, and I obeyed him.

He heard me with attention, and, if I omitted any circumstances from forgetfulness or the fear of being wearisome, he brought them back to my memory.