Page 309 of 310

He was once asked when should a man eat to preserve his health,

and replied: "If the man be rich let him eat when he is hungry;

if he be poor, then when he can." Seeing one of his gentlemen

make a member of his family lace him up, he said to him: "I pray

God that you will let him feed you also." Seeing that someone had

written upon his house in Latin the words: "May God preserve this

house from the wicked," he said, "The owner must never go in."

Passing through one of the streets he saw a small house with a

very large door, and remarked: "That house will fly through the

door." He was having a discussion with the ambassador of the King

of Naples concerning the property of some banished nobles, when a

dispute arose between them, and the ambassador asked him if he

had no fear of the king. "Is this king of yours a bad man or a

good one?" asked Castruccio, and was told that he was a good one,

whereupon he said, "Why should you suggest that I should be

afraid of a good man?"