Plutarch's Lives, tr. by J. and W. Langhorne

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PLUTARCH'S LIVES,

VROBI THB

ORIGINAL GREEK,

WITH VOTES}

CRITICAL, HISTORICAL, AND CHRONOLOGICAL.

AND A

NEW LIFE OF PI-UTAIICH.

TBAMtLATID BY

TOIIN LANGHORNE, D.D. AND WILUAM LANGHORNE, W-A.

tVITB

Explanatory Tables tf Chronology, Bistory^ and comparative

Geography.

COMPLETE IN THREE VOLUMES.

VOL. L

LONDON':

nintcd by W. Mltewil?, Ttahtrtm ftewf CoDgh tqptx9, TlHt lntct»

yOB Jt BAVJS; MILITAAT CHRONICLE OFFICB, ESSEX STREET, STRAND; AV9

TO BE HAD or THE BOOKSELLERS.

181S.

D

, : MAR1954

RA^

4.

TO

1f*

THE RIGHT HON. LORD FOLKESTONE.

MY LORD. ^Th£ style and genius of Dedications^ in

general, have neither done honour to the Patron nor to the
Author. Sensible of this, we intended to have published a
work, which has been the labour of years without the usual
mode of soliciting protection. An accident has brought
us into the number of Dedicators. Had not you accom-
panied your noble father to our humble retreat, we should
still have been unacquainted with your growing virtues^
your extraordinary erudition, and peiiect knowledge of the
Greek language and learning ; and Plutarch would have
remained as he did in his retirement at Chseronea, where
he sought no patronage but in the bosom of philosophy.

A<:c£PT, my Lord, this honest token of respect from

men, who, equally independent and unambitious, wish
only for the countenance of genius and friendship. Praise,

t

iv DEDICATION,

#

my Lord, is the usual language of Dedication : But will
our praise be of value to you ? Will any praise be of value
to you, but that of your own heart ? Follow the example of
the Earl of Radnor, your illustrious father. Like him,
m^tain that temperate spirit of policy which consults the
dimity of Government, while it supports the Liberty of
the Subject. But we put into your hands the beit of Po-
litical Preceptors, a Preceptor who trained to virtue the ^
greatest monarch upon earth ; and, by giving happiness
to the world, enjoyed a pleasure something like that of the
benevolent Being who created it We are

My Lord,

Yeup LcNrdsbip^s

Most obedient, and

Very hurable Servants,

J. & W. LANGHORNE.

tr

THE PREFACE.

IF the merit oi a work may be estimated from the universality of its
reception^ Plutarch's lives have a claim to the first honours of lite-
rature. No book has been more generally sought aftcr^ or read with
greater avidity. It was one of the first that were brought out of the
retreats of the learned, and translated into the modem languages.
Amiot, Abbe of Belkoane^ published a French translation of it m
the reign of Henry the Second ; and from that work it was trans-*
lated into English, in the time of Queen Elizabeth.

It Is said by those who are not willing to allow Shakespeare much
learning, that he availed himself of the last-mentioned translation;
but they seem to forget, that, in order to support their arguments, k
is necessary for them to prove that Pkto, too, was translated into
English at the same time; for the celebrated soliloquy, *^ To b^
or not to be," is taken, almost verbatim, from that philosopher 3 yet
we have never found that Plato waa translated in those days. ^

Amiot was a man of great industry and considerable learning. He
sought diligently in the libraries of Rome and Venice for thflse Livea
of Plutarch which are lost; and though his search was unsuccesi-
fol^ it had this good effect, that^ by meeting with a variety of manu-
scripts, and comparing them with the printed copies, he was enabled
in many places to rectify the text. This was a very essential cir-
cumstance ; for few ancient writers had suffered more than Plu-
tarch from the carelessness of printers and transcribers ; and, with
all his merit, it was his (ate, for a long time, to find no able restoresi
The Schoolmen despised his Greek, because it had not the purity of
Xenophon> nor the Attic terseaesaof Ariatophaoes ; and^ on that

'<■

A jr.. .■■» ■ ■

account, very unreasonably bestowed their labours on ihosc that
framed tlicm less. Amioi's Irniislation wiis published in the year
J558; but no reputable edition of the Greek text of Plutarch ap-
peared lilt timt of Paris in 1(>1.'1. The ahow-mculioned iranalation,
boircrcr, thou^tidrami from an imperfect text, passed through many
editions, and was still read, till Dacicr, under belter auspices, and iu
bcWr times, attempted sneirODc; which lie executed with great
elegance, nnd tolerable accuracy. Tlie text he followed was not so
correct ai niiijhl have been ivisheit ; for the London edition of Plu-
twrch was not then publislinl. However, the French langua^ be
ing at that time in gtent i>erfecTioii, and the fashionable language of
ainast evtry cmirt in Europe, Dacier's translation came not only in-
to (he libraries, bnt into the hands of men. Plutarch was univeiv
sally read, and no book in iliose limes had a more exicusirc sate, or
went throa},'li a greater number of impressions. Tlie translator had, irt-
deed, acquitted himself in one respect with great happiness. His book
was not found to be French Greek. He had carefully followed that
rule, v^ch no translator ought ever to lose sight of, the great rule of
himionTingthe gHiins, and maintaining the sinicturo of his own laI^•*
fuage. For this purpose, he frcquenlly broke llie long and embar'
nifrd periods of the Greek; and, by dividing and shortening them tal
liii translalioo, he gHve them greater perspicuity, and a more
iDOvemenl. Yet Btill he wus faithful to his original ; am* where he
did not mistake him, which indeed he seldom did, conveyed lib
ideas with clearness, tliough not without verbosity. Mis translaiioD
had another distinguished advantage. He enriched it with a variety
of explanatory note*. There are so many readers who ha\-e no com-
petcni acquaintance with Ihe customs of antiquity, the laws of the
ancient stales, the ceremonies of their religion, and tlie remoter anA
mimtier {larts of thcirhistory mid genealogy, that to hai-e an account
of (best Rialtcrv ever before the eye, and to travel with a guide who
H rendy (o describe to us every object we are unacquainted with, h
a privilege equally conivnierii and agree:ihle. But here the annota-
tor ought to have xtopped. Satisfied with removing the difficulties
lunlly irislng in the cireumttauccs above mentioned, he tbouM not
tuve Rwdkd hi« {wgc* whfa idle dccfutiatioiis mi trite monb am) ob-

PREFACE. Va

^us sentinientB. Amiot's margiDS^ indeed, are every where crowded
with such. In those times they followed the method of the oM divines,
which was to make practical improvements of every matter ; but it is
somewhat strange that Dacier^who wrote in a more enlightened age,
should fall into that beaten track of insipid moralizing, and be at
pains to say wliat every one must know. J^erliaps, as the conuaen*
tator of Plutarch, he considered himself as a kind of travelling ^Hih
panion to the reader ; and agreeably to the manners of his cmataUj^
he meant to show his politeness by never holding his peace. The
apology he makes for deducing and detailing these flat precepts is
with the view of instructing younger minds. He had not philosophy
enough to consider, that to anticipate the conclusions of such minds^
in their pursuit of history and characters, is to prevent their proper
eSfect. When examples are placed before them, they will not fail to
make right inferences ; but if those are made for them, the didactie
air of information destroys their influence.

AfTSR the old English translation of Plutarch, which was pro-
fessedly taken from Amiot's French, no other appeared till the time'
of Dryden. That great man, who is never to be menti()Ded withooi
pity and admiration, was prevailed upon by his necessities to head a
company of translators, and to lend the sanction of his glorious name
to a translation of Plutarch, written, as he himself acknowledges, by
almost as many hands as there were lives. That this raotely wcMrk was *
fiill of errors, inequalities, and inconsistencies, is not in the least to
be wondered at. Of such a variety of translators, it would have been
very singular if some had not fedlcd in learning, and some in laa*
guage. The truth b, that the greatest part of Aem were deficient in
both. IndWidieir task was not easy. To translate Plutarch, uii«
der any circumstances, would require no ordinary skill in the ian«
guage and antiquities of Greece : but to attempt it whilst the text
was in a depraved state ; unsettled and unrectified ; abounding ^th
errors, misnomen, and transpositions ; this required much greater
abilities than fell to the lot of that body of translators in general. Ic
uppeazsy however, from the execution of their undertakings that tfaej

_ •

#.

^1 nUEFACK.

gi¥e thtmBtlwes no great ccmcem about the difficulties that attended
b. Some fiew blundered at the Greek; some drew from the
Scholiast's Latin ; and others, more humble, trod scrupulously in
the paces of Amiot. Thus copying the idioms of different lan-
guages, they proceeded like the workmen at Babel, and fell into a
confusion of toognes,~ii|iile they attempted to speak the same*
BwBie diversities of style were not the greatest fault of this strange
translation : it was full of the grossest errors. Ignorance on the
ose handy and hastiness or negligence on the other, had filled it
with absurdities in every life, and inaccuracies in almost every page.
The language, in general, was insv^iportably tame, tedious, and
embarrassed. The periods had no harmony; the jduaseology had
■o el^ance, no spirit, no precision. Yet this is the last transla-^
tioD of Plutarch's Lives that has iqipeared in the En^ish .language,
and the only one thatis now read.

It must be owned^ that when Dacier's translation came abroad^
the proprietor of Sryden's copy endeavoured to repair it. But how
was this done 2 Not by the i^lication of learned men, who might
havcrectified the errors by consultiog the original, but by a mean
recourse to the labours of Daeier. Where the French translator
had differed from the English, the opinions of the latter were reli«
giously given up ; and sometimes a period, and sometimes a page,
were translated anew from Dader; while, in doe compliment to
him, the idiom of his language, and every tomt d* expression were
most scrupuknialy preserved. Nay, tibe editors of that edition, which
was published ia I7^y did more : diey not only paid Daeier the
compliment of mixing his French with their English, but, while
they borrowed his notes, they, adopted even the oKNSt vivolous and
auperfluous eomments tfiat escaped his pen..

Tbus the English Plutarch^s lives,, at first so hetsvogeneous
tndabinrd^ received but little benefit from this whimsicai repara^
lion. Docier's best notes were, indeed, of some valiie> but the
laCdihvmik altenEtionB tlic editois had dnuvo* fiom his* isaiisladoa

*

PREFACE. ix

l^

thdr hock appear still more like Otway's Old Wbmaii> whose
jpnim bf many colours spoke

•'. •• Variety of wrelchedbeM.

This translation continued in the same foim upWards of thirty •
Jrears. But, in the year 17^8, the piaprill(Nr engaged a getitleiban
of abilities, very different from those who had formerly beeh em-
ployed, to give it a second purgation/ He succeeded as well as it
tms pombte for any nian of the best jtidginent and learning to imc-
teed in an Attempt of thatnatiire: that id to say, he Rectified a
multitude of errors; and in many pbcbs endeiiVoiired to mend the
miserable language; Titro of the Lives he Iranshted anew ; and this
he executed in iStich a manner, that; had he done the wh^le^ the
{nresent transhtors would nevet haVe thought of the undetta&ingk
But two Lives out of fifty nttide a tery small part of this great work}
and though he rectified ihany errors in the old translatioti, yet,^
where almost ereiy thing was error, it is no bonder if many escaped
him. This was indeed the case. In the cfourse of out Notes we
had remarked a great number; but) apprehensive that i^uch a con-
tinual attention to the fiiults of a former translation might appear
invidious^ we expunged the greatest part of the remarks, and suf-
fered such Only to remain ns might testify the propriety of our pre-
sent undertaking. Besides, though the ingenious reviser of the
^ition of 1 75d might repair the language where it was most pal-
pably deficient, it tras impossible for him to altei* the cast and com-
plexi<m of the whole; It Would still retain its inequalities, its
taroeness, and heaty mah:h; its mixture of idioms, and the irksome
train of far^coniiected periods. These it still retains; and, after all
the operations it has gone through, remains

Like some patcb'd dog-bole eked with ends of wall !

. . • . . .■ •

IN this View tit things, the necessity bf H new translation is ob-
vious; and the hatod ddes not a|>pear to be great. With such
competitors for the pul)lic favour, the contest has neither glory nor
danger attendii^ it. But the labour and attention necessary, as well

Vol. 1. No. 11. m

>^'-^

m

to secure as to obtain tlmt favour, neither fire uor ouglii to be leas< M
Anil witb whatever success the present translutors may be thought I
to have executed their undertaking, they will always at least hav«l
the merit of a diligent desire to discharge this public duty faithfully, ]

Where the text of PIfttarcIi appewred to them erroneous, tliey hare I
spared nopairis, and neglected nomeans in their power, to rectify It.

SexsiBtB that the great art of a translator is to prevent the pectf |
liuritiesof hw Author's language fronn stealing into his own, thejr I
have been particularly attentive to tlvisjtoint, and have gencraliy va- ]
ileavoiired to keep their English unmixed with Greek. At the same 1
time, ii must be observed, that there is frcquenily a great similarity
in the structure of tiic two languages ; yet that rescuiblance, in some
inKtancfs, makesit themoreneeessary loguardngaint It on the whole.
Tliis care is of the grtatcr consequence, because PhitRTch's Lives ge- i
ntrnlly pasx through the hands of youug people, wlio ought to read 1
Iheir owit language in its native puiity, unmixed and untainted with i
the idjoms of different tongues. For llielr stikes, too, as well i
for the sake of readers of a dlHerent class, we liave omitted some ]
pH<t»agcs in ilic text, and have uuly signified the omissioa by i
terisins. Somr, perhaps, may censure us for taking too great a li- I
bony with mtr Author in this circuinslancc : howc\-cr, we n
beg lcav<- in that instance to «hidc hy our own opinion; and sure I
we are, that we xhould have censured no translnlor for the same.
Could every thing of that bind have been omitted, we should tin ve |
been still less disutisfied; but .sometimes the diain of naiurire would
not admit of it, and the itisegrceable |iarts were to be got over wttk i
as much decency on posutible.

I> the dcsttipiiiitis of hulili<>, camps, and sieges, it is more than i
|in>hublfi that «e niny wtneiimes be mistaken in the military terms,
Vic fuive endeavoured, liuwever, to be as accurate in thi» re5j>cct ns
pusiible, awl to acquaint i)um:Iv*'S wi'Ji this kind of knowcdgc k
well as our sitoktiuns would pcmui ; but we will nut promise tlio
ii-ader llial «c have always succeeded. Where sQiuetiuDg seemed t

PREFACB. ad

have fallen oat of the text, or where the ellipsis was too violent for the
forms of our language^ we have not scrupled to maintain the tenor
of the narrative^ or the ehain of reason, by such little insertions as
appear to be necessary for th^ purpose. These short insertions we
at first put between hooks; but as that defonned the page^ without
answering any material purpose, we soon rqected it.

Seen are tlie liberties we have taten with Plutarch; and the
learned, we flatter ourselves, will not think them too great. Yet
there is one more, which; if we could have presumed upon it^'
would have made his book infinitely more uniform and agreeable.
We oftett wished to throw out of the text into die notes those te-
dious and digressive comments tliat spoil the beauty and order of his
narrative, mortify the expectation, frequently, when it is most es-
sentially interested, and destroy the natural influence of his story, by
turning the attentkm into a difierent cha^^. What, fbr instance,
can be more irksome and impertinent than a long dissertation on a
point of natoHd philosophy starting up at the very crisis of some
important action ? Every reader of Plutarch must have felt the pain
of these unseasonable digressions ; but we could <iot, upon, our own
pleasure or authority, remove them«

In the Notes we have prosecuted these several intentions. We
have endeavoured to bring the English reader acquainted with the
Greek and Roman antiquities^; where Plutarch had omitted any
thing remarkable in the Lives, to supply it from othor authors ; and
to make his book, in some measure, a general history of the periods
under his pen. In the Notes, too, we have assigned reasons for it,
where we liave differed from the former translators.

This part of our work is neither wholly borrowed, nor altoge-
thcr original. Where Dacier or other annotators offered us any
thing to the purpose, we liave not scrupled to make use of it ; and,
to avoid the endless trouble of citations, we make this acknow-
ledgment once for all. The number of original Notes the learned
reader will find to be very considerable : but tliere are not so many

xu

•^

S|»«!

i««

of uny kind in the latter part of the work; because the man-
iiecs and customs, the reli^^ous ceremonies, laws, state-offices^^
and forms of government, among the ancients, being explained
in the first Lives, much did i;iot rein^p for the bosii^es^ of in-r
formation in the latter.

Four of Plutarch'^ Parallels are supposed to be lost: Those of
Themistocjies and Camillusf Pyrrhus and Marius; Phocion and
()ato ; Alesuinder and C»sar. These Dacier supplies by others of
liis own composition y but sp different fr<^ those of Plutarch, that
they have little right tc^ b^ incorporate with his works*

The^ necessary Chronok>pcJ[d Tabjbes, together with Tables of
Money, Weights, and Measures, and a copious Index, liave been
provided for this translation ; of which we may truly say, that it
yffUfffs no otjier advan^ge| tlum such as the translators had np^
powei[ to give* *

THB

LIFE OF PLUTARCH.

AS^ in th« the progress of life^ we first pass through scenes of In-
pocence^ peace, and fancy, and afterwards encounter the vices and
5lisorder8 of society, so we shall here amuse ourselves awhile in the
peaceful solitude of the philosopher, before we proceed to those
more animated, but less pleasing objects he describes.

Nor will the view of a philosopher's life be less instructive than his
labours. If the latter teach us how great vices, accompanied with

great abilities, may tend to the ruin of a state; if they inform us

how Ambition attended with magnanimity, how Avarice directed by
political sagacity, how Envy and Revenge armed witli personal va-
lour and pppular support, will destroy the most sacred establish
ments, and bre^ through every barrier of huxnan repose and safety ;
the former will .convince us that equanimity is mor^ desirable than
the highest privileges of mind, and that the most distinguished situar^
tions in life are less to be envied than those quiet allotments w]|^re
Science is t]ie support of Virtue,

Pindar and Epaminondas had, long before Plutarch's time, rcr
deemed^ in sqme ineas^re, the credit of Boeotia, and rescued the ii|r
habitant^ pf that cqui^try from the proverbial imputation of stupidity*
When Plutarch appeared, he confirmed the reputation it had reco*
vered. He showed that genius i^ not the growth of any particular soD,
and that its cultivation require^ A peculiar qualities of climate.

Chsronea, a town ip Bceopa, between Phocis and Attica, had the
hocpur to give hiin birth. This place v[zs remarkable for nothing
but the tameness and servility of it^ inhabitants, whom Anthony's
^Idler's made heasts of burden^ and oblig^ to oirry their corn upas
(heir shoulder^ to the coast. As it lay between two seas, and was
partly shut up by mountains^, the air of course was heavy, and tmfy
^PcBodan. But situation^ as little fiivoured by nature as ChsBronqi
|iave given birth to the greatest men; of which .the celebrate4
Liocke and many otbcss are instances*

XIV J.IFE or PLUTARCH.

Plutnrcli himsvlf ucknowlcdgb's the stupidity of the Bot-itians in
general ; l»ut he inijiutes it rather to tlieli diet than to their air ; for,
ill his Treatise on AuiniarFood, he intimates, tliat a gross indul-
gt'nce, in lh.it aiticic, which was usual with hta cauiitiymeD, con-
trihules greatly to obscure the intellectual faculties.

It is not easy to asccrtaiu in what year he was born. RuauM
places it aboiii ihe middle of i)r- rci^'u of Claudius ; others towards
the end of rt. The following circumstance is the only foundatioa
ihcy liave for their conjectures.

Plularcli say.--, that- he studied philosophy under Ammonius at
Delphi, when Nero made his proj^ess into Greece. This, we know,
was in tlin twelfth year of that emperor's reign, in the consulship of
Pauliwus Sucioniiu and Poutins Tclesinus, the second year ofiho
Olympiad :.*11, and the »isty->sixl1i of the Christian era. Dacierob-
s<.YVcs, that Plutarch must have been sevenlceu or eighteen at least
when he was engaged ip the abstruse studies of pliilusopliy; and he,
therefore, fixen hi« birth about 6ve or six years before the death of
Claudius. This, however, is bare sujiposition, and that, in our opi-
uion, not of the most probable kind. The youth of Greece studied
under the pbiloso]>hers very early ; for their works, with those of the
poets and rhetoricians, fitnned their chief ootirse of disi'ipHne.

But to detcnnmc whether he wav born under the reign of Claudius,
or in the early ptirt of Nero's reigu, (which we the rather believe, as
he says himself thai he was very young when Nero entered Greece) ,
to malic it clearly understood, whether he studied at Delphi at ten or
aat eighteen years of age, is of much less consequence than it is to
know by what means, and under what auspices, he acquired that
humane aiul rational philosophy which is diatiiiguished in liis works.
Ammoiiius was hU preceptor ; but of him we know little more tlian
what bin scholar bus accidrnlnlly let full concerning him. He men-
tions a singular instance of his manner of correcting his pupils.
*' Our master," says he, " having one day observed that we had in..
" dulgcdnursclvrstooluxuriousl^&tdinncr, at his afternoon lecture,
" ordered his freedman to give his own son the discipline of tliu
" whip in rjur presence ; .lignifying, at the same time, that he suf-
" frred tht« punishment because he could not cat his vielunls vvMi^
" out sauee. 1'he philosopher all the while had his rye upon us,
*" and we knew well for whom itu's example of punishment was iq.*
■* tentk'tl." This eireumsiancc shows, at IcaM, that Amnmnius was
not oF ibe school of Hpicums. The severity of his discipline, in-
dred, seems raiiier of the Stoic east ; but it is most probable that be »
belonTci) to the .\cadcmicians ; fur thtsir schools, aX that UiQC, bad
the (^caiesi n^pubttiun in Crccoe. ^

1

LtFE OF f^LUTARCrt. tX

It was a happy circamstance in the discipline of those schools that
the parent only had the power of corporal punishment ; the rod and
the ferula were snatched from the hand of the petty tyrant ; his oflicc
alone was to inform the mind : he had no authority to dastardize the
spirit: he had no power to extinguish the generous flame of freedolOy
or to break down the noble independency of soul, by the slaTishy
debasing, and degrading application of the rod. This mode of
punishment in our public schools is one of the worst remains of iMu*->
barism that prevails amongst us^ Sensible minds, however volatile
' and inattentive in early years, may be drawn to their duty by manj
means, which shame, and fears of a more liberal nature than those of
corporal punishment, will supply. Where there is but little sensi-
bility, the efiect which that mode of punishment produces is not
more happy; it destroys that little, which should be the iSrst
care and labour of the preceptor to increase. To beat the body is
to debase the mind. Nothing so soon or so totally abolishes the
sense of shame ; and yet that sense is at once the best preservative
of virtue, and the greatest incentive to every species of excellence.

Another principal advantage, which the ancient mode of Hnt
Greek educa^n gave its pupib, was tlieir early access to every
branch of philosophical learning* They did not, like us, employ
their youth in the acquisition of words : they were engaged in pur-
suits of a higher nature ; in acquiring the knowledge of things. They
did not, like us, spend seven or ten years of scholastic labour in mak-
ing a general acquaintance with two dead languages. Those years
were employed in thestudy of nature, and in gaining the elements of
philosophical knowledge from her original economy and laws.
Hence all that Dacier has observed concerning the probability of
Plutarch's being seventeen or eighteen years of age, when he studied
under Ammonius, is without the least weight.

The way to mathematical and philosophical knowledge, was, in*
deed, much more easy among the ancient Greeks than it can ever be
with us. Those and every other Mience, are bound up in tenns
which we can neVer understand precisely till we become acquainted
with the languages from which they are derived. Plutarch, wheft
he lerfirnt the Rooiu language, which was not till he was somewhat
advanced in life, observed, that he got the knowledge of words from
his knowledge of things. But we lie under the necessity of revers-
ing his method, and before we can arrive at the knowledge of things,
we must first labour to obtain the knowledge of words.
# However, though the Greeks had access to science without
the acquisition of other languages, they were^ nevertheless, suf-

ficiently utlentive lo tlic culiivation of tbeir own. Philolo^-, after
the mm hematics and philosophy, was one of their principitl studies ;
and they applied themselves considerably to critical investigation.

A proof of this we find in that Dissertation which Plutarch hath
given us on the word », engraved on the temple of Apollo at
Delphi. In this tract he introduct'S the scholastic disputes, where-
in he makes a principal figure. After giving us tlic viirious signifi-
cations which others assigned to this word^ he adds lus own idea of
it ; and that b of some consequence to us, because it shows us that
he was not a polythcist. " J., says he. Thou art ; as if it were •' h^
" Thou art one. I mean not in the aggregate sense, as we say, one
" army, or one body of men composed of many individuaU ; but that
" which exists distinctly, must necessarily be one ; and the tcry idea
*' nf being implies individuality. One is that which is a simple be-
" ing, free from mixture and composition. To be one, therefore, in
*' this sense, is consistent only with a nature entire in its first prin-
" ciple, and incapable of alteration or decay."

So far we arc perfectly satisfied with Plutarch's creed, but not with
hb criticism. To suppose timt the word i. should signify the ex-
isteiice of one God only, is to hazard too much upon conjeclm'e ;
and the whole tenor of the Heathen theology makes against it;

Kor can wc be better pleased with tlic other irrterpTetations of ihii
celebrated word. We can never suppose that it barely signified if}
intimating thereby, that the business of those wlio risited the tem-
ple was inquiryi and llul they came to ask the Deity (/"such events
should come to pais. This consiniciion is loo much forced; and tt
would do as well, or even beltcri were the »J interpreted/ //"yoa make
large presents to the god, if you. pay the priests

Were not this inscription an object of attention among tlm
learned, we should not, at this distant period of thne, have thought ft
worth mentioning, otherwise than as it gives us an idea of one branch
of Plutarch '» education. But as a single word, inscribed on the
temple of Apollo at Delphi, caanol but be matter of curiosity with
those who carry their inquiries into remote antiqnity, we shall not
•cruplc to add one more to the other cmijectnres concerning it.

We will kuppose, then, that the word J. waherc used, In the
Ionic dialect, for ■'*«, / muh. This perfectly expressed the sinte of
mind of all Iliat entered the temple on the business of consultation ;
and it might be no \km emphatkal in the Greek than Virgil's
Qiianqiiam O .' was in the Uiiin. If we rnrry this conjecture far-
ther, and think it probable tliat this word might, as the initial word of>
a celebrated Udc in die third book of the Odyssey, «tand there tasig-

LIFk OF PLUTARCH. XVli

nify the whole line, we shall reach a degree of probability almost
bordering on certainty. The verse we allude to is this :

^^ t) that the gods would empower me^to obtain my wishes !*' Whilt
prayer more proper on entering the temples of the gods, particularly
with dij^^w of consulting them on the events of life !

If ^should be thought that the initial word is iilsufficieht to
represent a whole verse, we have to answer, that it was agreeable
to the custom of the ancients. They not only conveyed the sense
of particular verses by their initial wordsj but frequently of large
passages, by the quotation of a single line, or even of half a line )
some instances of which occur in the following Lives. The reason
of this is obvibus: the works of their best poets were almost uni-
versally committed to memory^ and the smallest quotation was suf-
ficient to convey the sense of a whole passage.

These observations are matters of mere curiosity indeed^ but they
have had their use ; for they have naturally pointed out to us ano-
ther instance of the excellence of that education which formed out
young philosopher.

This was the improvement of the ihemory by means bf exercise;

Mr. Lockef^tias justly though obviously enough observed, thai
nothing so much strengthens this faculty as the employment of it.

The Greek mode of education must have had a wonderfiil effect
in this case. Tlie continual exercise of the memory, in laying up
the treasures of their poets, the precepts of their philosophers, and
the problems of their mathematicians^ must have given it that me-
chanical power of retention which nothing could easily escape. Thus
Pliny^ tells us of a Greek called Charmidas, who could repeat from
memory, the contents of the largest library.

The advantages Plutarch derived from this exercise appear ill
every part of his works; As the writings of poets lived in his me-
mory, they were ready for use and application on every apposite
occasion. They were always at hand> either to confirm the senti-
ments and justify the principles of his heroes> to support his ownj
or to illustrate both.

By the aid of a cultivated memory, t6o> he Was enabled to write
a number of contemporary lives, and to assign to each ^uch a por-
tion of business in the general transactions of the times as might h6
sufiicknt to delineate the character, without repeated details of th^
same actions and negotiations) This made a very difiicult part of
his work, and he acquitted himself here with great management
adfi address; Sometimes, indeed, he has repeated the same W^

VoL.1. No. IL

* BJAVt. lib. Til. cap. 94.

1

• ••

XVlll LIFE OF PLUTARCH.

cumstances in contemporary lives; but it was hardly avt>idable. The

great wonder is, tliat he has done it so seldom.

But though an improved memory, might, in this respect, be of

service to him, as undoubtedly it was, there were others in wflich
it was rather a disadvantage!^ By trusting too much- to it, he has
fallen into inaccuracies and inconsistencies, where he Jftto pro-
fessedly drawing from preceding writers ; and we have amm been
obliged to rectify his mistakes by consulting those authors, because
he would not be at the pains to consult them himself.

If Plutarch miglit properly be said to belong to any sect of philo-
sophers, his education, the rationality of his principles, and the
modesty of his doctrines, would incline us to place him with the
latter Academy: At least, when he left his master Ammonius, and
came into society, it is more than probable that he ranked particu-
larly with that sect.

His writings, however, furnish us with many reasons for thinking
that he afterwards became a citizen of the philosopliical world. He
appears to have examined every sect with a calm and unprejudiced
attention ; to have selected what he found of use for the purposes
of virtue and happiness ; and to have left tlie rest for the portion of
those whose narrowness of mind could tliink eitherAience or feli-
city confined to any denomination of men.

From the Academicians he took their modesty of opinion^ and
kft them their original scepticism : he borrowed their rational
theology, and gave up to them, in a great measure, their meta-
physical refinements, together with their vain though seductive en-
thusiasm.

With the Peripatetics, he walked in search of natural science and
of logic ; but, satisfied with whatever practical knowledge might be
acquired, he left them to dream over the hypothetical part of the
former, and to chase tlie shadows of reason through the mazes of
the latter.

To the Stoics he was indebted for the belief of a particular Provi-
dence ; but he could not enter into their idea of future rewards and
punishments. He knew not how to reconcile the present agency
of the Supreme Being with his judicial character hereafter; though
Thcodoret tells us, that he had heard of the Clu-istian religion, and
inserted several of its mysteries in his works*. From the Stoics,
fob, he borrowed the doctrine of fortitude ; but he rejected the un-
natural foundation on which they erected that virtue. He went
hack to Socrates for principles whereon to rest it.

* Ilolliia| of PUttrch't b now txtant from which we can iafer tint he wm

acqatlaitA with the Choite xdifiMi«

#

LIFE OF PLUTARCH. XIX

With the Epicureans he does not seem to have had much inter-
course, though the accommodating philosophy of Aristippus entered
frequently into his politics, and sometimes into the general econo-
my of his life. In the little states of *^reece that philosophy had
not mu«h to do; but had it been adopted in the more violent mea-
sures of the Roman administration, our celebrated biographer would
not have had such scenes of blood and ruin to describe ; for emula-
tion, prejudice, and opposition, upon whatever principles they
might plead their apology, first kindled the fire that laid the Com-
manwealth in ashes. If Plutarch borrowed any thing more from
Epicurus, it was his rational idea of enjoyment. That such was
bis idea, it is more than probable ; for it is impossible to believe the
tales that the heathen bigots have told of him, or to suppose that
tlie cultivated mind of a philosopher should piirsue its happiness
out of the temperate order of nature. His irreligious opinions he
left to him, as he bad left to the other sects their vanities and ab-
surdities.

But when we bring him to the school of Pythagoras, what idea
sliall we entertain of him ? Shall we consider him any longer as an
Academicianlibr as a citizen of the philosophical world ? Naturally
benevolent and humane, he finds a system of divinity and philoso-
phy perfectly adapted to his natural sentiments. The whole animal
creation he had originally looked upon with an instinctive tender-
ness; but when the amiable Pythagoras, the priest of Nature,
in defence of the common privileges of her creatures, had called
reli^on in to their cause, when he sought to soften the cruelty that
man had exercised against them by the honest art of insinuating
the doctrine of transmigration, how could the humane and benevo-
lent Plutarch refuse to serve vnder this priest of Nature ? It was
impossible. He adopted the doctrine of the Metempsychosis. He
entered into the merciful scheme of Pythagoras, and, like him, di-
verted the cruelty of the human species, by appealing to the selfish
qualities of their nature, by subduing their pride, and exciting their
sympathy, while he showed them that their future existence might
be the condition of a reptile.

This spirit and disposition break strongly from him in his obser-
vations on the elder Cato. And as nothing can exhibit a more
lively picture of him than these paintings of his own, we shall not
scruple to introduce them here : ^' For my part, I cannot but
^^ charge his using his servants like so many beasts of burden, and
^' taming them oft' or seUing them when they grew olcL to the ac^
^' count of a mean and .Jingenerous spirit, which thims that the
!' sole tie between aum wd num is interest or necessity. But

#

m

XX LUE OF PLUTARCH.

" gocwlncss moves in a larger sphere than justice. Tlic obligatioi
•' of law and equity reach only lo mankind, but kindness and h
" neficenee should be extended to creatures of every species ;
*' these still flow from tne breast of a well-naiured man,
" streams that is.suc from the living fountain. A good mun i
" take care of his horses and dogs, nol only while they arc yoiii
" but when old and past service. TIius liie people of J
*' when tboy had finished the temple called Hecatonipedon
" liberty the beasts of burden tliat had been cliicfly employed in
" the work, suffering them to pasture at large, free from any other
" service. It is said, that one of these afterwards came of its own
*' accord to work, and putting itself at the head of the labouring
" cattle, marched before them to the citadel. This pleased the
" people, and they made a decree, that it should be kept at the
" public charge so long as it lived. The graves of Cimon's mares,
" with which he thrice conquered at the Olympic games, are still to
" be seen near his own tomb. Many have shown juinicular marks
}' of regard, in burying the dogs which they had cherished and been
" fond of; and, amongst the rest Xanlippns of old, whose dog
** swam by the side of his galley to Salamis, when 4he Athenians
" were forced to abandon their city, was afterwards buried by
" him upon a promontory, which, to this day, is called the Dog's
*' Grave. We certainly ought not to treat living creatures like
" shoes or household goods, which, when worn out with use, we
" throw away ; nnd were it only to learn benevolence to human
" kind, we should l>c merciful to other creatures. For my own
" part, I would not sell even au "Id ox that liad laboured for me ;
" much leHM would 1 remove, for the sake of a little money, a man
" grown old in my service, from hif usual lodgings and diet : for
" to him, poor man ! it would be as bad as banishment, since ho
" could be of no more use to the buyer than he was to the seller.
" But Calo, Bs if he took a pride in these things, tells us, that, when
" consul, be Icfi his war-horse in Spain to save the public the chaige
1* of his coDveyancc. Whether such things as these are instances of
" greatness or littleness of soul, let the reader judge for himself."

What an amiable idea of our benevolent philosopher ! How wor-
thy the instructions of the pricitof Nature! How lionourable to that
j(rrat master of truth and universal itcience, whose sentiments were
decisive In every doubtful matter, and whose maxims weie received
with ailini couviclion" I

Wherefore should we wonder lo find Plutarch more partictir

Itily allacftcd lo tlte opinions of iliis great man ? Whether we con-

« V»l-Mw.li<i. tui. cap. J:L

LIVE OF PLUTARCH. Xxl

8ider the immensity of his erudition^ or the benevolence of his
system, the motives for that attachment were equally powerfuL
Pythagoras had collected all the stores of Imman learning, ai|d had
reduced them into one rational and useful body of science. Like
our glorious Bacon, he led philosophy forth from the jargon of
schools, and the fopperies of sects. He made her what she was
x)riginally designed to be, the handmaid of Nature, friendly to her
creatures, and faithful to her laws. Whatever knowledge could be
gained by human industry, by the most extensive inquiry and ob-
servation, he had every means and opportunity to obtain. The
priests of £gypt unfolded to him their mysteries and their learning :
they led him through the records of the remotest antiquity, and
opened all those stores of science that had been amassing through a
multitude of ages. The Magi of Persia co-operated with the priests
of Egjrpt in the instruction of this wonderful philosopher* They
taught him those higher parts of science by which they were them-
selves so much distinguished, astronomy and the system of the uni-
verse. The laws of moral life, and the institutions of civil societies,
with their several excellencies and defects, he learned from the va-
rious state# and establishments of Greece. Tims accomplished,
when he came to dispute in the Olympic contests, ^e was consi-
dered as a pro^gy of wisdom and learning ; but when the choice of
his title was left to him, he modestly declined the appellation of a
fcise marly and was contented only to be called a lover of wisdom^.
Shail not Plutarch then meet with all imaginable indulgence, if^
in his veneration for this great man, he not only adopted the nobler
parts of his philosophy, but (what he had avoided with regard to the
other sects) followed him too in his errors ? Such, in particular,
was hb doctrine of dreams, to which our biographer, we must con-
fess, has paid too much attention. Yet absolutely to condemn him
for this would perhaps be hazarding as much as totally to defend
him. We must acknowledge, with the elder Pliny, Si exemplis
agatur, prof ecto porta Jiantf ; or in the language of honest Sir
Roger de Coverley, '< Much may be said on both sides." How-
ever, if Pliny, whose complaisance for the credit of the marvellous
in particular was very great, could be doubtful about thb matter,
we of little faith may be allowed to be more so. Yet Plutarch, in
his Treatise on Oracles, has maintained his doctrine by such powerful
testimomes, that if any regard is to be paid to his veracity, some
attention should be given to his opinion. We shall therefore leave
the point, where Mr. Addison thought proper to leave a more im*
probable doetrine, in suspense.

; VaL Jtfn. Uk rill. cap. 7. f Biit VluUk, x. cap. 75.

XIII

LIFE OF PLUTARCH.

When Zcno consulted the oracle in what manner lie slmuld lire,
the answer was, that he should inqaire of the dead. Assidnous and
bidef^tigHMe npplication to reading made a considemic pan of the
Greek education j and in this our biographer seems to hart rxcned
the greatest industry. The nomber of books he hiis quoted, to
which he has referred, and from which he iias written, seems almost
tncretlible, when it is conMdercd that the ait of printing was not
known in his time, and that the purchase of manuscripts ww diffi-
cult and expensive.

His family, indeed, wib not without wealth. In his Symposiacs,
be tdls us that it was ancient in Chreronea, and that his ancestoi^
had been invested with the most eonsidcruhlc ofhces in tlie magis-
tracy. He luentions, in particular, his great-grandfather Niear-
cbus, wliom he had the happiness of knowing; and relates, from his
authority, (he misfortunes of his fellow-citizecis under the scTere dis-
cipline of Anthony's soldiers.

His graiidiailier Lainprias, be tells us, was a man of great elo-
<iaenee, and of a brilliant imagination. He was distinguished by
his merit as a convivial companion ; and was one of tho.te happy
mortals, wlio, when they sacri&ce to Bacchus, arc favoured by
Mercury. Htt good-humour and pleasantry increased with his
cups ; and he used to say that wine liad the same effect upon him
tlut Brc has on incense, which causes the finest and richest essences
to evaporate.

Plutarch bas mentioned his father likewise, but has Bot given us
tis name in any of those writings that arc comedown to us. How-
erer, he has borne honourable ti'5iimoiiy to his memory ; for he
tells us thai he was a learned and a virtuous man, well aequaintcil
with the philoso[]hy and theology of his time, and conversant with
the works of the Poets. Plutarch, in his Political Precepts, mentions
an inslBUce of his father's discretion, which does him great honour.
" I remember," says he, " that I was sent, when a very young
" man, along with another citizen of Charonca, on au embassy
" to tlie proconsul. My colleague being, by some accident, obligctl
" lostop on (lie way, I proceeded without him, and executed our
•' commission. I'pon my rriurn m Chreronea, where 1 was to
" givr an account in public of my uef;ottnlioii, my father took

*' mr aside, and said My son, uke eare thai, in the acTOunt yaa

" are about to give, you do not mention yourself distinctly, but
" jointly with your colleague, bay not, / wmt, t spoke, I rxe-
" cuttd; but «/t went, we tjioke, wtr ejfMtled. Ilius, thougb
** your colleague was Incapable of attending }-on, he will alnre in
" tlic hoooiu of your success, as well as la (Hat of your ap[)oiDt-<

LIFE OF PLUTARCH. SXIU

nd you will avoid that envy which necessarily follows

II antigated merit."

Lttarch Iiad two brotters, whose onmes nrcrcTiinon and Lam-

f nos, Tliese were his associates in study and amusement ; and

lie nhvaysspcnks of (hem witli pleasure aud aflcetion. Ot'TImon,

I m particular, i»c says, *' Tltou^U Fortune lias, on many occasions,

' been furouniblc to me, yet I bave no obligations to hex so great

' xs the enjoyment of iny brotbcr Titnon's iuvaHable friendship wtiil

' kindness." I^ampnas, too, he mentions ns inhcritinj; th« lively

I disposition and good-huuiour of bis graiidfalber, who buic the

I same name.

Some writers have asserted that Plutarch passed into Egypt.
' Others allege that there is nouuiliority for that assertion; and It
1 Is true tlHit we have no wTitten record coiueriiing it. Nevertlielesa,
I we incline to believe that be did travel into that country; and we
[ found our opinion on the following reasons : In ilie fint place,
this tour was a part of liberal education among the Greeks, and
Plutarch, Itcing descended from aftiinllyof distincliou, was there-
fore likely to enjoy such a privilege. In (he next place, bis treatise
of Isis and Osiris shows tbat be liatl a more than common knotv-
> ledge of tlte religious mysteries of the Egyptians ; and it is tlierc-
I fore Kigbly probaiilc that be obtained ibis knowledge by being
conversant amongst then). To have written a treatireon so abstruse
a subject, witltoiit some more eminent advantages than other
writeit might aRbrd bim, could not have been agreeable to llic
genius, or consistent with the modesty of Plutarch.

Uowerer, supposing it doubtful whether be passed into Egypt,
(here is no doubt at all tbat he travi-lled into Italy, Upon what oc-
cftslun he visiicMltbat cuunlry, is itot quite so certain; but he pro-
liahly went to Rome in a public capacity, on the business of the
Ciiieroneans : For, in the life of Demosthenes, be tells us, that he
I had no leisure in hts journey to Italy to learn the Latin langiinge, on
account of public business.

As the passage here referred to affords us farther matter of specu-
l lalion for tlic life of Plutarch, we shall give it as we find it. " An
' author who would write a history of events which happened iu a
' foreign country, and cannot be corns at in his own, as he has hii
" materials to collect from a variety of books, dispersed in difTcrcnt
" libraries, bis first care should be to take up his residence In some
" populous town wliich has an ambition for literature. There he
" will meet with many curious and valuable books, and the parti-
" culars (hat are wanting in writers he may, upon inquiry, be sup-
" plied with by ibuse who bav« laid Ibem up in the faithful reposi-

*' Jory of tnemof^'. Tliis will prevent his work from being defod-'
" live in any material point. As to myself, 1 live in a little iowH,
" and I clioose to live there, lest it should become sfill less. When
*' I was in Rome, and other parts of Italy, I had not leisure lo study
" (he Latin tohguc, oh account of the public commissions with
*' wl Jch I was charged, and the number of people who came to be
" instructed by mc in philosophy. It was not, therefore, till a late
" period in life that I began to read the Roman autliors."

From this short account we may collect, with tolerable certaintv
the following circumstances :

In the first place, Plutarch tells us, that while he was resident 1
Rome, public business and lectures in philosophy left him no ti
for learning (he I^tin language; andyctja little before, he had ob-
served, that those who write a history of foreign eharactors and
events ought to be conversant with the historians of that counti;
where (he character existed, and where the scene lay; but he acbnoi
ledges (hat hedtd not learn the Latin language till lie was late in lifl
because, when at Rome, he had not time for that purpose.

We may therefore conclude thai he wrote his Morals at Rom
and his Lives at Cheeronea. For the composition of the
mer, llic knowledge of the Rotniui language was not necessary;'
tlie Greek tongue was then generally understood in Rome, and
he had no nefllssity for making use of any other when he de-
livered his lectures of jihilosophy to the people. Those lectures^
it is more thati probable, made up that collection^ of Morals
which is come down to us.

Though he could not avail himself of the Roman historians in the
great purpose of writing his Lives, for want of a competent acquaint*
ancc with the language in which they wrote, yet, by conversing with
the principal citizens in the Creek tongue, he must have collected
many essential circumstances, and anecdotes of characters and
cvent<i, (hat promoted his design, and enriched the plan of his work.
The treasures he actjuired of thi^ kind he secured by means of b
common-place boob, which he constantly carried about with him;
and as it appears that he was at Rome, and in other parts of Italy,
fn)m the beginning of Vesjwisian'a reign to the end of Trajan's, ho
niuwt have had nuflncient time and opfHirt unity lu procure tuatciials of
every kind ; for this was a period of almost forty years.

We shaU the more readily enter into the belief that Plutarch col-
lected his materials chiefly from couversalion, when w« consider in
what manner, and ou what subjects, the ancients used to converse.
The discourse of people of education and distinction in those days
was MtnewUat diffirreitt from that Of ours. It wu uot ea the powcra

Un QF PtUTAECfl. :fX9

or pedigree of a*borse ; it was pot on a match of tr^vell^n^ hetweea
gefsse i^n4 turkeys; it w^ not on a race of maggots^ sttprted pgninst
each otlier on the table, w)ien tjiey first c^mc to day-light firpin thi
shell of a filbert ; it was not by what part you may suspend a spaniel
the longest withoii^t makiog him whine; it v(hs not on exquisitf
finesse, and the highest manoeuvres of play: the pld Ropaans had no
ambition for attainments of this natqre- Tbcy had no such mas- .
ters in science as Heb^r and Hoyle, The t^te of their day did not
run so high. The powers of poetry apd plulpsophj^, the economy 'o|
human life and manners, the cultivation of the intellectual faculties^
the enlargement of the mind, historical and po)iticiil discussions on
the evenU of their country; these, and such subjects as ihe^e,
made the principal part of their cpuversatipn. Of this Plutarch hat
given us at once a proof and a specimen, in what he calls his Sym-
ppsiacs, or, as our Selden calls it, his T^ble-Talk. From such con-
versations as these, then, we cannot wonder that be was ^ble to col-
lect such treasures as were necessary for the maintenance of his
biographical undertaking. .

In the sequel of the last-quoted passage, we find another argu-
ment which confirms us in the opinion that Plutarch's knowledge o[
the Roman history was chiefly of colloquial acquisition. '^ My
^ ip^thod of learning the Roman language," says he,/^ may aeem
^^ strange, and yet i^ very true. I did not so much gain the ki;iQW<v
ledge of things ]>y the words, as words by the knowledge ] bad of
things." Tliis plajnly implies, that he was previously acquainted
with events described in t)ie language he was learning.

It must be owned that the Roman history ha(i been fdready
written in Greek by Polybius; and t^t, indeed, ^mewhat invali-
dates the last-mentioned argument. Nevertheless, it has still siifn
ficient evi^nce for its suj^rt. There are ft thousand circumstance&
in Plutarch's Lives which covild not be coUected from Polybius ; and.
it is elear to us that be did not make much use of his Ijatin reading.

He acknowledges that he did not apply himself to the acquisitioij^
of that language till he was far advanced in life : possibly it n^glit
be about the latter part of the reign of Trajan, whose kind ^ispo^« ^
tion towards his country rendered the weight of public and political
business easy to him.

But whenever he might begin to learn the language of Rome^ it 2s
certain that he made no great progress in it. Tliis app^u^ as well
firom the little comipent^ he has occasionally given us on certain
liatin WQrds, as from spme passages in his' Live^ where he has pror
^icuedly fcjlowed the latiu histoiSans^ iq^d yet foUow^ ^em in a^

youl. V0.IU a^

X*Tl LIFE OP PLUTAKCH.

Thui lie wroie the Lives of Demosthenes and Cicero at Ch«ronca,
4s clear from his own account ; and it is more than probable, too,
that the rest of his Lives were written in that retirement ; for i£,
while he was at Rome, he could scarcely find time to learn the Ian-

• guage, it is hardly to be supposed that he could do more than lay op
materials for composition.

A circumstance arises here, which confirms to us an opmion we
Jiave long entertained, that the Book of Apophthegms, which is said
to have been written hy Plutarch, is really not hb work, Tliis book
fe dedicated to Trajan ; and the dedicator, assuming the name and
cliaracler of Plutarch, says he had, before this, writicn the Lives of
illustrious men ; but Plutarch wrote those Uves at Cliieronen, and he
■ -'^A not retiretoChseronea till after the death of Trajan.

There are other proofs, if others were ncccssan', to show that this
I -work was suppositious : for in tltis dedication to Trajan, not the
J least mention is made of Plutarcli's Imving been his preceptor, of
P<liLs bciii^ raised by him to the consular dignity, or of his being ap-
pointed governor of Illyria. Dacicr, observing this, has drawn a
I .wrong conclusion from it, and, contrary to the assertion of Suidas„
I ViU have it, that Plutarch was neither preceptor to Trajan, nor
J Itonoured with any appointments under him. Had it occurred to
[ lim that the Book of Apophthegms could not be Plutarch's book,
I itil that it WHS merely an cslraet made from his real works by some
t jaduslfious grammarian, lie woufd not have been under the neces-
r vty of hiizarding so much against the received opinion of his con-
r sections with Trajan ; nor would be have found It necessary to allow
1 $0 little credit to his letter addrcuscd to that emperor, which we
ESllirc upon record. The letter is as fbltows :

_ CLOTAtirll TO TRAJAN. «

' " I im sensible that you sought not the empire. Your oatunil
l ** modeaiy would not sulfer you to apply for a diMtinclion to whieli
IPlyou were always entitled by the excellency ofyonr manners. Tlial
Jk* modesty, however, malces you still more n'orthy of titosc honours
■■ryou had nu ambition to solicit. Should your future gotrrnmeut
w** prnve in any degree answcrublo to your former merit, I shnn have
<* reason to ctrngratulate both your virtue and my own good fortune

* on tliis grrrti event : but, if otherwise, you hiivc exposed yourself
'lo danger, and mc to obloquy; for Home will never endure an

l» emperor unworthy of her, and the faults of the scholar will be im-
** putrd u> 'he master. Seneca U reproached, and his fame still
f ftuITcr*, for the vico of Nero : the reputation of (Juintilian Is hurt
*> by the ill cooduct of hid actwlanj and tytu Suciatcs U accitscil

f'*'

IIFE O"? I^LCTARCK. XXVU

: . . . •

** of negligence in the education of Aicibiaies. Of you, however, I
*' have better hopes, and flatter myself that your administration will
" do honour to your virtues. Only continue to be what you are.
*^ Let your government commence in your breast, and lay the foun-
^* dation of it in the command of your passions. If you make virtue
*^ the rule of .your conduct, and the end of your actions, every thin J
*' will proceed in harmony and order. I have €iq>lained to you the
'< spuit of those \xw and constitutions that were established by your
'* predecessors, and you have nothing to do but to carry them into
*' execution. If this should be the case, I shall have the glory of
*' having formed an emperor to virtue { but, if otherwise, let this
^* letter remain a testimony with succeeding ages, that you did i ot
^^ ruin the Roman empire under pretence of the counsels or the au-
^* thority of Plutarch.*^

* Why Dacier should think that this letter is neither worthy of the
pen, nor written in the manner of Plutarch, is not easy to con-
ceive ; JPor it has all the spirit, the manly freedom, and the senti«
mental turn of that philosopher.

We shall find it n6 very difficult matter to account for his con-
nections with TVajaii, if we attend to the manner in which he lived,
and to the reception he met witii in Rome. During his residence
in that city, Us house was the resort of the principd citizens. AU
that were dbtinguished by their rank, taste, learning, or politeness,
sought his conversation, and attended his lectures. The study of
the Greek language and philosophy was at that time the greatest
pursuit of the Roman nobility, and even the emperors honoured the
most celebrated professors with their presence and support. Plu-
tarch, in his Treatise on Curiosity, has introduced a circumstance,
which places the attention that was paid to his lectures in a very
strong l^gnt. *' It once happened,'' says he, *' that when I was
'^ speaking in public at Rome, Arulenus Rusticus, the same whom
^' Domitian, through envy of his growing reputation,* afterwards put
^' to death, was one of my hearers. When I was in the middle of
*^ my diseoutse, a soldier came in, and brought him a letter from
*^ the emperon Upon this there was a general silence through th#
^^ audience, and I stopped to give him time to peruse this letter^
^* but he would not suffer it; nor did he open the letter till I had
'^ finished my lecture, and the audience was dispersed."

To understand the ibiportance of this compliment, it will be ne?
•essary to consid^ the quality and character of the person who paid
k Arulenus was one of the greatest men in Rome, distinguished a»
W^ by the lustre of his fiuDiiy> as by an honourable ambitioa ai^

^dcvlii LIFE OF PLUTARCH.

""--■■ " — 1 ■ I

thirst of glory. He was tribune of the people wh«a Nsro ceiued
Pffitus and Soranus to be capitally condemned by a decree of the
eenate. When Soranus was dsliberating wtih his friends whether be
should attempt or give up his defence, Arulcnus liad the spirit to
propose an opposition to the decree of the senate in his cqaci^ of
tribune; and he would have carried it into exccation, had he not
been overruled by Ptetus, who remonstrated, that by such a raea-
sure he would destroy himself, without the satisfaction of serving his
friend. He was afterwards praetor under Vitellius, whose interests he
followed with the greateat fidelity. But his spirit and magnanimity
do him the greatest honour in that eulogy which he wrote on Psttu
and Helvidius Priscus. His whole conduct was regulated by Ibe
precepts of philosophy ; and the respect he showed to Plutarch on
this occasion was a proof of his atlaohuicnt to it. Such was the lAui
who postponed the letter of a prince to the lecture of a philosopher.
But Plutarch was not Aniy treated with general marks of distinc-
tion by the superior people in Rome ; he had particular and very re-
spectable friendships. Sossius Scnecio, who was four tiracB consul,
once under Netva, and ilirice under Trujan, was his most intimafb
friend. To him he addresses his Lives, except that of Aratus, which
is inscribed to Polycratcs of Sicyon, the grandson of Aratus. With
Senecio he not only li»ed in the strictest friendship whilst he was in
Rome, but porrcsponded with him after he retired to Greece. And
fs it not CKsy (o believe, that through the interest of this zealous and
powerful friend, Pluiarcb might not only be appointed tutor to Tra-
jan, but be advanced litewlse to the consular dignity ! When we
consider Plutarch's eminence in Uome as a teacher of philosophy,
nothing can be more probable than the former ; when we remenibef
the consular interest of Scuecio under Trajan, and his distinguished
Kgard for PlulRfch* riothingean be more liltcly than the laker.

The honour of being preceptor to such n viituous prince u Tra-
jan is so important r \v>int in the life of Plutarch, that it must not
hastily he given up. Suidas hn-% asserted it. Tlic tetter ab6i-e
quoted, if it b«, a« we have no doubt of its being, the genuine com-
eosiiion of Plufarch, has conflrniod it. Petrnrth has maintained it.
pBcler only has doubled, or raih<jr denied It. But upon what evi-
dence has he grounded his opinion? Iluiarch, he says, w«s but
three or foar yenn older ihnn Trajan, and therefore was unfit to be
his preceptor in plulosophy. Now let us inquire into the force of
ihiii argument. Trajan spent the eariy pan of hi« life In amis, Ilu-
<Mch in the study of the sciences. When that prince applied him-
»clf to litemry pursuits, he wits iomewhat advanced in Ufej Plu-
%icb must have been more «. And why » man of science should

Utft OF ttVfAHtU. lodt

ht an Tiitflt fte^df^or in pliilosophy td a mlUtary inan^ tbosgh n^
itRM tfikft foar yeiars 6lder^ tbt itaaom, we apptdiendj will be somi!^
Wtnt diffienh t6 fiscbver.

Dacier^ nior^OtH'^ is redaced to a peiitte frine^y when he mfi
ihat Piutarch Wa^ 6nl)r fimr years older than Trajan; far we hav^
ieen fbat it is iin|N)$^ible to ascertain the time df Ptntarch^s Urth ;
and the date which Dacier assigns it is purely conjectural : We will
ihMitdrt conelMe^ wHh those learned men who have ferfnerly
iffloWed Pliitareh the IknMfnr of being pfcfeeptcnr to Th^n ^ that Be
tdttmij wttr so. There i^ little doubt that they grdunded their
ateertions tifion pro^ anfthority^ and, indeed, the internal e?i-
deince aristol; Mm the natnre and efibcts of that education^
which dAi e^nsA honour to the scholar and to the master, comei
ifi ai^ of the tt^niiient.

Some chronologers have taken upon them to ascertain the tim^
mbstn Phitarch's reputation was established in Rotti^. Peter of
Aldctodria Sdts^ it in the tMrteenth year of the reign of Nero, in the
coiisfdftfe of Capite and Rvfns ? ^< Lucian," says he, '^ was at this
^^ time in great reputatfon amongst the Romans ; and Mnsonina
^ and Pintareh #6re well known." Eusebius brings it one year
lower, and tells us that, in the fourteenth year of Nero's reign>
Mnusontal^ and Plutarch were in great reputation. Both these writers
are palpably mistaken. We have seen that, in the twelfth year of
Nero, Ptetarch wbs yet at school under Ammonius ; and it is not
very ptMHible iMk a school-boy should be celebrated as a philoso-
pher lA Borne within a year or two after. InAsed Eusebius contra*
didt hmiself ; fbr, on another occasion^ he places him in the reign
Y)f Adrian, the third year of the Olympiad 224, of the Christian em
120: ^' In tins year," says he, <' the philosophers, Plutarch of
^' Ghsftronea, Sejttt», and Agathobulus, flourished." Thus he car-«
rites him as much too low as he had befoite placed him to high. It b
certain that he first grew into reputation ander the reign of Vespasian^
and that his philosophical fame was established in the time of Trajan.

It seems that the Greek and Latin writers of those times were
either little acquainted with each other's works, or that there were
some literary jealousies and animosities between them. When Plu-
tarch flourished, there were several contemporary writers of distin*
guisbed sbilities ; Perseus, Lucan, Silius Italicus, Valerius Flaccus^
dK ydunger Haay, Solinus, Martial, Quintilian, and many more.
Yet none of those have made the least mention of him. Was this
envy, or was it Roman pride ? Possibly they could not bear that a
Greek sophist, a native of such a contemptible town as Chsronea^
Avutd enjoy the pahn of literary praise in Rome. It must be

XXX UFB OF PLUTAHCH.

served, at the same time> that the principal Roman writers had con-
ceived a jealousy of the Greek philosoptiersy which was very preva-
lent in that age. Of this we findf a strong testimony in the elder
PUny, where, speaking of Cato the censor's disapproving and dis-
missing the Grecian orators, and of the younger Cato's bringing in
triumph a sophist from Greece, he exclaims, in terms that signified
contempt, quanta morumcommuiatio!

« However, to be undistinguished by the encomiums of contempo^
lary writers, was by no means a thing peculiar to Plutarch. It has
been, and still is, the fate of superior genius to be beheld either with
silent or abusive envy. It makes its way like the sun, which we
look upon with pain, unless something passes over him that obscures
his glory. We then view with eagerness the shadow, the cloud,
or the spot, and are pleased with what eclipses the brightness
we otherwise cannot bear.

Yet if Plutarch, like other great men, found ^^ envy never con*
q[uered but by death," his manes have been appeased by the amplest
attonements. Amongst the many that have done honour to his me-
mory, the following eulogiums deserve to be recorded.

AuLUs Gkllius compliments him with the bi|^est distinction in
science*.

Taurus, quoted by Gellius, calls him a man of the most coq«
summate learning and wisdom f*

EusBBius places him at the head of the Greek philosophers {•

Sardianus, in his preface to the Lives of the Philosophers, calls
him the most divine Plutarch, the beauty and harmony of philosophy.

Pjctrarch, in his moral writings, frequently distinguishes him by
the title of the great Plutarch.

Honour has been done to him likewise by Origen, Himerius the
sophist, Cyrillus, Theodoret, Suidas, Photius, Xiphiiinus, Joannes,
Salisberiensis, Victorius, lipsiuf, and Agathias, in the epigram
which is thus translated by Dryden :

Charoacan Plutarch, to tbj deathless praise
Does martial Rome this grattfol statue raise ;
Because both Greece and she thy fame have shar'd ;
Their heroes written, and their lives compar'd.
But thou thyself could*»t never write thy own:
Their lives have parallels, but thine has none.

But this is perfectly extravagant. We are much better pleased with
the Greek verses of the honest metropolitan under Constantine
Monomachus. They deserve to be translated :

Lord of that light, that living power to save
Which her lost sons no Heathen Sciskgb gave:

• Mb GcUioi, lib. if. ctp. 7. t Cell. lib. i. €»p. .1^6. t ^Wih, Ttmp. lib, iii. wit

tm OF PLUTAnClf. xxxt

If aoght of these thy mercy mcAiit to tp«re»

Yield Flato, Lord»— yield Plutakca to ny prayer.

Led by nogrMe^ uo new coiiTeriioa wronght.

They felt thy own dinnity of thought.

Thet grace exerted, !tpare the partial rod:

Tlie last, best witness, that thoa art their God I

Theodore Gaza, who was a man of considerable learning, and a
l^eat reviver of letters, had a particular attachment to our biogra*
pher. When he was asked, in case of a general destruction of books^
what author he would wish to save from the ruin, he answered
Plutarch. He considered his historical and philosophical writings
as the most beneficial to society^ and of course the best substitute
for all other books.

Were it necessary to produce funher suffrages for the merit of
Plutarch, it would be sufficient to say, that he has been praised by
Montaigne, St. Evremontj and Montesquieu, the best critics^ and
the ablest writers of their time.

After receiving the most distinguished honours that a philosopher
could enjoy; after the godlike office of teaching wisdom and good*
ness to the metropolis of the world; after having formed an emperor
to virtue; and after beholding the effects of his precepts in the hap-
piness of human kind; Plutarch retired to his native country. The
death of his illustrious prince and pupil, to a man of his sensibility^
must liave rendered Rome even painful: for whatever influence
philosophy may have on the cultivation of the mind^ we find that it
lias very little power over the interests of the heart.

It must have been in the decline of life that Plutarch retired to
Chasronea. But though he withdrew from the busier scenes of tlic
worlds he fled not to an unprofitable or inactive solitude. In that
retirement he formed the great work for which he had so long been
preparing materials^ his Lives of Illustrious Men; a work which^
as Scaliger says, turn solum fuit in manibus homhium, at &iam
bumani generis memoriam occupavii.

To recommend by enconiums what has been received with uni-
versal approbation^ would be superfluous. But to observe where
the biographer has excelled, and in what he has failed; to make a
due estimate, as well of the defects as of the merits of his work,
may have its use.

Liipsius has observed, that he does not write history, but scraps of
history; non kisioriam, sed particulas historian. This is said of his
Lives, and in one sense it is true. No single life that he has written
will afibrd a sufficient history of its proper period ; neither was it
possible that it should do so. As his plan comprised a number of
^(OQtemporary lives^ most of which were in public characters^ the

ffin u>a Of nxTAXcu-

hMTTin- of tW poiod «w to W AnU iMitir Am. Tike
gnienl fatstav; of dM unr «9s » he tfaw iM> a^ii*» ponioas;
aod tbotc portioBS vac u be iBooed id ncfa dancKxi » bad ihe
ytiiiciyl iBHutM » the igreral <*gia.

Tim wM lo aoBC aienw iaot br rliiluu; bat it w Bot aows
mh po* ■^ ^ tanner. At the wBe tine, » «v baw «bca^
'tbatttti, it is ixx to be woodered if ibac wm same repetitioas,
wfm the ptit which tbe seveni cbanclm bore id the titiiici|i«l
cvcDU was aecaaarj lo be fomved out.

Tct dicsc scraps of tuuonr, thus drrided and £spened, wli^
MCD ID a collccrive fonn, uakc no very imperfecl nanaDTe of the
tiiDcs wiUuD tbeir xicw. llicir biognphcr's ancmioo to the otnitf^
.circuinttapces of chaiacter, bis dtiquhrtiolu of principfes and ^n-
nen, and hb politk-al and phDosophiL-al dt«nu»toas, lead u, id |^
easy and intelligent manner, to ibe erents be describes.

It is not to be denied that his narratives ate sometiioes disoiderljr,
and too often iacambered wttb impcrtinect dtgnessioos. Bj- pursa-
Ip^ n-itb too much indulgence ibe train of ideas, he has {Tetjueatlj
dcstroj-ed die order of facts, brought together events that lay at m
distano; from each other, called iaiwvA those rinnunstances to
which he should have made a regular progress, and made no other
^mlogy for these idle excursions, but by telling us that be is out
of the order of time.

Notes, in the time of Plutarch, were not In use. Had he knoirn
the convenience of marginal writing, he would most certainly have
thrown the greatest pan of his digressions into that fonn. They are
undoubieilly tedious and disgustful ; and alt we can do lo reconcile
ourselves to them, is to remember that, in the first place, marginal
writing was a tiling unknown; and that the bcDevolem desire of
conveying instruction was the greatest motive with the biographer
for introducing them. Thisappearsatleastfrom the nature of them;
for fbcy are chiefly disquisitions in natural history and philosophy.

In painting the manners of men, Plutarch is truly excellent.
Nothing c-in be more clear than his moral distinctions; nothing
finer than his delineations of the mind.

Tlie spirit of philosophical ulj.-icrvation and inquiry, which, when
properly directed, is the great oriianiciil and excellence of historical
composition, I'luiarch possessed in an eminent degree. His bio-
graphical writings teach philusnphy at once by precept and by
example. HI* moral* and hia cluunctcrs mutually explain and
give force to each other.

His sentiments of the duly of a biographer were peculiarly just
ud delicate. This will appear from bis sliicturcs on those histo-

LIFE OF PLUTARCH* XXXiu

rians who wrote of Phillstus. " It is plain," says he, " that Tim^us
takes every occasion, from Philistus's known adherence to arbitrary
power^ to load him with the heaviest reproaches. Those whom
he injured are in some degree excusable, if, in their resentment,
they treated him with iodignities after death. But wherefore shouh
his biographers, whom he never injured, and* wIh) have had tli i
benefit of his works; wherefore should they exhibit him with a 1
the exaggerations of scurrility, in those scenes of distress to which
Fortune sometimes reduces the best of men ? On the other hand^
Ephorus is no less extravagant in his encomiums on Philistus. He
knows well how to throw into shades the foibles of the human cha-
racter, and to give an air of plausibility to the most indefensible
conduct: but with all his elegance, with all his art, he cannot
rescue Philistus from the imputation of being the most strenuous
supporter of ^irbitrary power, of being the fondest follower and ad-
mirer of the luxury, the magnificence, the alliance of tyrants. On the
whole, he who neither defends the principles of Philistus, nor exults
over his misfortunes, will best discharge the duty of a historian."

There is such a thing as constitutional religion. There is a cer-
tain temper and frame of mind naturally productive of devotion.
There are men who arc born with the original principles of piety ;
and in this class we need not hesitate to place Plutarch.

If this disposition has sometimes made him too indulgent to su-
perstition, and too attentive to the less rational circumstances of the
lieathen theology, it is not to be wondered at. But, upon the whole^
he had consistent and honourable notions of the Supreme Being.

That he believed the unity of the Divine Nature, we have already
seen in his observations on the Word «, engraved on Apollo's temple.
Tlie same opinion^ too, is found in his Treatise on the Cessation of
Oracles; where, in the cliaracter of a Platonist, he argues against
the Stoics, who denied the plurality of worlds, " If there are many
worlds," said the Stoics, ^* why then is there only one Fate, and one
Providence to guide them ? for the PlatO];)ists allow that there is but
•ne. — ^\Vhy should not many Jupiters, or gods, be necessary for the
government of many worlds?" To this Plutarch answers, "Where
16 the necessity of supposing many Jupiters for this plurality of
worlds f Is not one excellent Being, endued with reason and in->
telligenee, such as He is whom we acknowledge to be the Father
and Lord of all things, sufficient to direct and rule these worlds ? If
there were morb supreme agents, their deorees would be vain, and
contmdictory to. each other,"

But though Plutarch acknowledged the individuality of the Sti-
preme Being, he believed, nevertheless, in the existence of inter-
mediate, beings qf an inferior order, between the divine and thq •

Voh. 1, No, U. B

I

SXXIV LIFE OF PLUTARCH.

- ' ■ - " ^=^^=Baa9

human nature. These beuifrs lit calls pcnli, or demons. It is im-
possible, he thinks, from the general order and principles of crea-
tion, tliat tlicre should he no mean betwixt the two extremes of a
mortal and immortal being; that there cannot be in nature so great
a TReuum witlioul some intcrmedJatespeciesof life, which might in
some meas'ire partake of both. And as we find the conncetion be-
tween soul and body to be made by means of the animal spirits, so
these demons arc iuteltigcncies between divinity and humanity,
Tbeir nature, however, is believed to be progressive. At first they
are supposed to have been virtuous men, whose souls being refined
from the gross parts of tlitir former existence are admitted into tlie
higher order of genii, and arc from thence either raised to a more
exalted mode of ethereal beings, or degraded to mortnt forms, ac^
cording to their merit or their degeneracy. Oneorder of these genii,
he supposes, presided over oracles ; others administered, under the
Supreme Being, the aflairs and the fortune of men, supporting the
virtuous, punishing the bad, .ii)d sometimes even communicating;
with the best and purest natures. Thus the genius of Socrates stjll .
warned him of approaching danger, and taught him to avoid it.

it is tliis order of beings which the late Mr. Thomson, who in en-
thusiasm was a Plaionisi, and in Ijcuevolence a Pythagorean, has so
hcnuiifully described in his Seasons: and, as if the good bard had
believed the doctrine, he pathetically invokes a favourite spirit
which liad lately forsaken its former mansion :

And irt ihim, Sunley, nf ihnl ncre<l bind'
At»' for III too uonl

Such were PluiHrch's religious principles j and ns a proof that he
thought tliera of consequence, he entered, after his retirement, into
a sncred diameter, and was consecrated priest of Apollo.

Thta was not his sole appointment, when he returned to Clieronea.
He united the sacerdouil with the magisterial charactci, and de-
nted himself at once to the service of the gods, and to the duties of
society. He did not think tluil philosophy, or the pursuit of letters,
ought to exempt any man from personal sen-ice in the community la
which he belonged ; and though his literary labours were of the
greatest importance to tlic world, he sought no excuse in those from
discliarging offices of public trust in his little city of Cheeroncu.

It appears that lie passed through several of these offices, and (hat
he was at lost appointed archon, or chief mngiBtraic of the city.
Whether he rcmined his sujierinlendcncy of Illyrin after the death ol
Trajan, wc do not certainly know : hut, in this humble sphere, it
will be worth our while to inquire in what manner a philosopher
would administer justice.

With regard W the mfeiiui offices that he bore, he looked npoa

LIFE OF PLUTARCR. XXXV

^^B

them in the same Ught as the great Epaminondas had done, who,
when he was appointed to a commission beneath his rank, observed,
^^ that no office could give dignity to him that held it ; but that he
who held it miglit give dignity to any office." It is not unentertaining
to hear our pliilosopher apologize* for his employment when he dis-
charges the office of commissioner of sewers and public buildings.
" I make no doubt," says he, " that the citizens of Chseronea often
smile, when they see me employed in such offices as these. On such
occasions, I generally call to mind what is said of Antisthenes.
When he was bringing home, in his own hands, a dirty fish frqm the
marked some, who observed it, expressed tlicir surprise. It is for
myself, said Antisthenes, that I carry tliis iish. On the contrary, for
my own part, when I am rtdlied for measuring tiles, or for calcu-
lating a quantity of stones or mortar, I answer, that it is not for myr
self I do these things, but lor my country. For, in all things of this
nature, the public utility takes off the disgrace ; and the meaner the
office you sustain may be, the greater is the compliment that you
pay to the public^"

Plutarch, in the capacity of a public magistrate, was indefatigable
in recommending unanimity to the citizens. To carry this point
more effisctually, he lays it down as a first principle, that a magis*
trate should be affiible and easy of access *, tliat his house should
always be open as a place of refuge for those who sought for justice }
and tha^ he should not satisfy himself merely with allotting certain
hours of the day to sit for the dispatch of business, but that he should
employ a paut of his time in private negotiations, in making up do«f
mestic quarrels, and reconciling divided friends. This employment
bt regarded as one of the principal parts of his office ; and, indeed, he
might properly consider it in a political light ; for it too frequently
happens, that the most dangerous public factions are at first kindled
hy private misunderstandings. Thus, in one part of Ids works, he
falls into the same sentiment : ^^ as publio conflagrations," says he,
^^ do not always begin in public edifices, but are caused more fre-
ipiently by some lamp neglected in a private house ; so, in the ad-
ministration of states, it does not always happen that the flame of
sedition arises from political difiereqces, but from private dissentions,
which running through a long chain of connections, at length affi^ct
the whole body of the people. For this reason, it is one of the prin-
cipal duties of a minister of state, of magistrate, to heal these private
animosities, and to furevent them from growing into public divisibns.^*
Ikfter these observations, he mentions several states and cities
which had owed their ruin to the same little causes ; and then adds^
tJiat we ouglit iiot b^ an^ m^ms tp he tnatte^tiFe to the misund^-

l.lfE OF PLLTARCn.

r

r

[ stundiDgs of private mea, but nj-jily to them the most timely
I dies J for, by proper care, as Cato oltserves, wliac is great beconiM
, and what is little h reduced to notliiDg. Of the truth of
Ese otj^cn-atioDS, tlic annuls of our own country, we wish we had
3 reason to say our own times, have presented us with many melim-
Fdioly iDstanccs.

As Plutarch observed that it was a fashionable fault amongst men
■ ^ fortune to refuse a proper respect to magistrates of iuferior mtik,
fltt endeavoured to remove this impolitic evil as well by precept as by
mple. " To learn obcdicoce and deference to the magistrate,"
* Bays he, " is one of the first and best principles of discipline ; nor
ought these by any means to be dispensed with, though that magb-
trate should be inferior to us in figure or in fortune. For how ab-
surd is it, if, in theatrical exhibitions, the meanest actor, tliat wears a
IDomentaty diadem, shall receive his due respect from superior
players; and yet, in civil life, men of greater power or we»llh shall
with-hold the deference that is due to the magistrate ! In this case,
however, they should remember, that while tliey consult their own
impcrtance, they detract from the honour of the state. Private
dignity ought always to give place to public authority ; as, in Sparta,
it was usual for the kings to rise in compliment to the ephort."

With regsnl to Plutarch's political principles, it is clear timt he
was, even whilst at Rome, a republican in heart, and a friend to li-
berty: but this does him no peculiar honour. Such privileges are
the birthright of mankind; and they are never parted with but
through fear or favour. At Koine he acted like a philosopher of the
world. Qnandn not siam't in Jt»may not J'aciamo come Egthio
fanno in Rwna. He found a constitution which he had not pow«r
to alter ; yet, though he could not make mankind free, he made them
comparatively happy, by teaching clemency to (heir temporary ruler.

At Cheroiiea we find him more openly avowing the principles of
liberty. During Ids residence at Rome, he had remarked an cssen<
tial error in the police. In all complaints and processes, howe%'er
trifling, the people had recourse to the first officers of slate. By ihia
means they supposed tliat their interest would be promoted; but it
had a eerlniu tendency to eiishive them still more, and (o render
them the tools and dependents of court power. Of theiie measures
the arehon of Chieronea thus expressed Ids disapprobation: " At
ihc same lime," suys he, " that we endeavour to render a city obc-
£ent to its magistrates, ive must beware of reducing it to a servile
or too humiliating a condition. Those who carry every trifle to the
cognizance of the supreme magistrate, are contributing all they caa
to the servitude of llieir counuy." Aud it is undoubt<»ll]r tru^ tfakt

1

XIFE OF PLUTAKCn. XXXvU

^^B

the habitaal and universal exertion of authority has a natural tenden-
cy to arbitrary dominion.

We have now considered Plutarch in the light of a philosopher^ a
biographer, and a magistrate ; we have entered into his moral, reli-
gious, and political character, as well as the information we could
obtain would enable us. It only remains that we view him in the

domestic s[Aere of life that little but trying sphere we act wholly

from ourselves, and assume no character but that which nature and
education have given us.

Dacier, on l&lling into this part of Plutarch's history, has made it
whimsical observation. " There are two cardinal points," says he,
.'^ in a man's life^ which determine his happiness or his misery.
These are his birth and his marriage. It is in vain for a tnan to be
bom fortunate, if he be unfortunate in his marriage." How Dacier
>could reconcile the astrologers to this new doctrine, it is not easy to
say: for, upon this principle, a man must at least have two good stars^
one for his birth-day, the other fQ§ his wedding-d&y ; as it seems
that the influence of the natal star could not extend beyond the bri-
dal mom, but that a man then &lls under a different dominion.

At what time Plutarch entered into this «tate, we are not quite cer-
tain ; but as it is not probable that a man of his wisdom would marry
at an advanced time of life, and as his wife was a native of Chaeronea,
we may conclude that he married before he went to Rome. How-
ever that might be, it appears that he was fortunate in his choice;
for his wife was not only well-bom and well-bred, but a woman of
distinguished sen^ and virtue. Her name was Timoxena.

Plutarch appears to have had at least five children by her, four
sons, and a daughter, whom, out of regard for her mother, he callei
Timoxena. He has given us a proof that he had all the tenderness
of an affectionate father for these children, by recording a little in^
stance of his daughter's natural benevolence. << When she was
very young," says he, ^*she would frequently beg of her nurse to
give the breast not only to tlie ofher children, but to her babies and
dolls, which she considered as her dependents, and under her protec-
tion." Who does not see in this simple circumstance at once the fond-
ness of the parent, and the benevolent disposition of the man?

But the philosopher soon lost his little blossou)^ of humanity. His
Timoxena died in her infancy ; and if we may judge from the con-
solatory letter he wrote to her mother on the occassion, he bore the
loss as became a philosopher. '^ Consider," said he, ^'that death
has deprived your Timoxena only of small enjoyments. The things
she knew were but of little consequence, and she could be delighted
pnly with trifles," In this letter w^ find a portrait of his wlfe^ which

kjcxvui

LIFE OF VLUTARCH.

«kies her great )ionour. From die testimony giren by her husband,
> it appears that she was far above the general weakness and aftectS'
r <tion of her sex. She had no passion for the c:(pensiveRess of dress,
r the parade of public appearances. She thought every kind of
[ ^C]:trava|^^cc blameable; and her ambition went not beyond the
I decencies and properties of life.

Plutarcb had before this buried (wo of bis sons, his eldest son,
; mad a younger one named Charon ; and it appears from the above-
mentioned letter, that the conduct of Timozena, on these events,
was worth]' the wife of a philosopher. She did not dis6gun: herself
hy change of apparel, or give way to the CKtravagance of grief, as
women in general do on such occasions, but supported the dispensa-
I iSons of Providence with a solemn and rational submission, even
I when tliey seemed to be most severe. She bad taken unweaiicd
I ^ins, and undergone the greatest sufferings, to nurse her son Charon
I H her own breast, at a time when an abscess formed near the part
[ Jtad obliged her to undergo an incision. Vet, when the child reared
' with so much tender pain and difficulty, died, those who went to visit
' ber on the melancholy occasion found her house in no more disorder
than if nothing distressful had happened. She received her friends
as Admetus entertained Hercules, who, the same day that he buried
Alceste, betrayed not the least confusion before his heroic guest.
With a woman of so much dignity of mind and excellence of dis-
1 position, a man of Plutarch's wisdom and humanity must have been
[ Infinitely happy; and, indeed, it appeal's from those precepts of con-
I i^^ happiness and affection which he has left us, that he has drawn
I fus observations from experience, and that the rules he recommended
L Jud been previously exemplified in his own family.

It is said that Plutarch had some misunderstanding with his wife's
rnlations; upon which Timoxcna, fearing that it might affect their
I union, had duty and religion enough to go as far as Mount Helicon,
[ and sacri6ce to Love, who had a celebrated temple there.

He left two sons, Plutarch and Lomprias. The latter a[^ears to

have been a philosopher, and it is to him wc arc indebted for a cata*

' logucofhisfather's writings; which, howo'cr, one cannot look upon,

I MS Mr. Drydcn sayi, without the same emotions that a merchant must

on perusing u bill of freight after he has lost his vessel. The

f fnitings no longer extant are these:

ThiLitc ol IlcicultJ.

Pindar,

■ •■•• Ct«(n md DisplMntiu, with » Pinllcl,

IcooidM,

lATZ OF PLUTARCH. XXXIX

'The Life of Ariatomenes,

• • • • • Sctpio Africaniu janior, and Met«rlliit»

• » • Aagttstus, •

• Tiberias^

ClaudJof, ^

Nero,

Caligula,

VitelliiM,

Eparoioondaty and the Elder Scipio, with a ParalleL

Foar Books of Commentaries on Homer.
Four Books of Commentaries on Hesiod.
Five Books to Empedocles, on the Quintessence.
Five Books of Essays.
Three Books of Fahles.
Three Bookt of Rhetoric.
7*hree Books on the Introduction of the SouL
Two Books of Extracts from the Philosopheri.
Three Books *on Sense.
Three Books on (he great Actions of Cities.
Two Books on Politics.
An Essay on Opportonity, Co Theophrastus.
Four Books on the Otiaolete Parts of Hiitorj.
Two Books of Proverbs.
Eight Books on the Topics of Aristotle.
Three Books on Justice, to Chrjsippus.
An Essay on Poetry.

A Dissertation on the Difference between the Pyrrhonians and tlie Academicians.
A Treatise to prove that there was but one Academy of Plato.

Aulas GelUus has taken a long story from Taurus about Plutarch's
xiiethod of correcting a slave, in which there is nothing more than
this, that he punished him like a philosopher, and gave him his dis-
cipline without being out of temper.

Plutarch had a nephew named Sextus, who bore a considerable
reputation in the world of letters, and taught the Greek language and
learning to Marcus Antoninus. The character which that philosopher
has given him, in his First Book of Reflections, may, with great pro-
priety, be applied to his uncle : " Sextus, by his example, taught
me mildness and humanity; to govern my house like a good father
of a family; to fall into an easy and unaffected gravity of manners;
to live agreeably to nature ; to find out the art of discovering and
jireventing the wants of my friends; to connive at the noisy follies
of the ignorant and impertinent; and to comply with the under-
standings and humours of men."

One of the rewards of philosophy is long life; and it is clear that
Plutarch enjoyed this ; but of the time or the circumftances of his
death we have no satisfactory accoun^.

f .

f

tl

%

V t : ji ■ 1, ■ . f ■ ' Tf gss&ggaattee

PLUTARCH'S LIVES.

i«*i

THESEUS.

As geogjraphers thrust into the extremities of thetr mdps those
tountries that are unknown to them, remarking at the same time^
that all beyond is hiils of sand and haunts of wild beasts^ frozen seas^
marslies, and mountains that are inaccessible to human courage or
industry; so, in comparing the lives of illustrious men^ when I have
past through those periods of time which maybe described with pro-
bability^ and where history may find firm footing in facts^ I may say^
my Senecio*, of the remoter ages^ that all beyond b full of prodigy
and fiction, the regions of poets and fabulists, wrapt in clouds^ and
unworthy of belief. Yet since i had given an account of Lycurgus
«nd Numa, I thought I might without impropriety ascend to Romu-*
lus, as I liad approached his times. But considering

Wbo> for the palm, io contest high shall join?
Or wlio in equal ranks shall stand ?

^as i£schylus expresses it) it appeared to me^that he who peopled
the beautiful and famed city of Athens might be best contrasted and
compared with the father of the magnificent and invincible Rome.
Permit us then to take from Fable her extravagance, and make her
jrield to and accept the form of History : but where she obstinately-
despises probability^ and refuses to mix with what is credible, we
must implore the candour of our readers^ and their kind allowance
for the tales of Anriquity^

Theseus, then> appeared to answer to Romulus in many partica*
lars* Both were of uncertain parentage, bom out of wedlock ; and
both had the repute of being sprung from the gods^ Both stood in
the first rank of warriors ; for both had great powers of mind> with
great strength of body. One Was the founder of Rome, and one
pec^led Athens^ the most illustrious cities in the world. Both car-

* Sotuns Seoeeio, a man of consular dignity, who floarisbed under Nerrm and Trajan,
■ad to whoii Pliaj iiiddrcaied toiM of hii Epiitlat ; mA the Seowio pst to death b/

Vol. 1. No. U.

rini off women by Ttolencc. Buth

rin, sim] npowd tc CtmiW racntraoit ; and bo(l^

of Ilieir liT«, »re ntd to bsre oSended tbdr

if wc mty bcHnc wfaat senn Id br ddJTaed'whh ibe^w

mixtu/e of poeiit-al fiction.

The linear of Tbneut, by hit faiher's side, stretches tn Eivctbw
and the fint iohabhuits of his couDUy; br his moiber'ft ride to
Pelopa, who was the most powerful of all tbe PelopoanesBti kiofis
pot ouljr on Becotint of his gnxt opnleaee, bat the number of his
rbild/en ; for he manied his daagfaten to penons of the fint £g-
niiy, Kod found means to pbce hb sons ai the head of the cUef
itatM. One of them, named Pittheus, grandlaihtr to Thttcnt,
founded the small fatailj of Troezene, and was esteemed tbr most
learned and the wbeat man of his age. The essence of the n-ialma
of thow; days consisted in snch moral sentences as Hesiod is refc-
btatedfor irihisBo<^of IV'orks. Oneof these is ascribed to Piiihcwi

BUn D*l (be hope ulikh (liccililiip hu ccaccirrd,
Bal Gil III EKi>urc h.gb.

This in confirmed by Aristotle ; and Enripides, in saying tluit Hb-
politua was UUfchi by " the sage and veneiable Pittheus," gives hbi
a vrry liuuourablc testimony,

Mf^aa, wantinjt (o have children, is said to have received
the Oracle at r>elphi tliat celebrated answer which commanded
rfit to approach any woman before he returned to Athens. But'
llie Oraele seemed not to give liim clear instructions, he came
TrceiECiie, and coiuniunicatcd it In Pittheus ia the following tei
Tlie Bjillc •cixl iImII inRoucli'il rciniia,

ll is uncertain what Pittheus saw in lliis Oracle. However, ei
by prmiiBulon or deceit, he drew yEgcus into conversation with his
daughter 4tthra. jV.geus afterwards coming to kntw that she tvhom
he had lain with was Pitiiicus's daughter, and suspecting her to
with child, hill n sword and npnir of sundub under ii large stone wl
hnil a ciivity for the purjio'ti'. Before his departure, he told the
errt tn the prinecsi only, and left orders, thni if she brought forth
•on, who, when he come to b man's estate, should he able tu remove
the stone, and take away tiic things left under it, she should s«-nd
hlro with tliiwo tokans to him with utl imiiginsble privacy; for he
wu very much afmid that some plot would be furmad a^nst him by
ihe WllaiitidiP, who despised him for his want of childrea. 'Vhtis
wen Hfty lirothcn, the sum of Pallas.

jGUtn was delivered of a son ; and some say he was immediai
UomkI HtUfluif became uf tlic layiui up of the ickcui ; (nbcn.

nom
rtk^

THEStUfl. 45

imsassaesassaesssBssss ii i i ■ ■ sssa

he* received his name afterwards at Athens^ when ^geus acknow*
ledgeAliim for his son. He was brought up by Pittheus^ and had a
tutqr named Conntdas^ to whom the Athenians^ even in our tlmeaf
sacrifice a ram on the day preceding the Thesean Feasts^ giving this
honour to his memory upon a much juster account than that which
they pay to Silanion and Parrhasius^ who only made statues and
pictures of Theseus.

As it was then the custom for such as had arrived at man*8 estata
to go to Delphi to ofier the first-fruits of their hair to Apollo^ The*
sfeus went thither^ and the place where this ceremony is performed^'
from him, is said to be yet called Thesea. He shaved, however, only
the fore part of his head, as Homer tells us the Abantes did ; and'
this kind of tonsure, on his account, was called Theseus. Tbe
Abantes first cut their hair in this manner, not in imitatioB of the^
Arabians; as some imagine, nor yet of tfie Mysians, but because they^
were a warlikepeople who loved close fighting, and were more expert
in it than any other nation. Thus Archilochua :

These twang nol bows« dot \liog the hining itone.
When Macs eiultt, and fields with armies groin:
Far nobler skill fiubcea's suns display.
And with the thundering sword decide the fray.

That they might not, therefore, give advantage to their enemies
by their hmr, they took cfure to cut it off. And we are informed that
AleiLander of Macedon, having made the same observation, or«
dered his Macedonian troops to cut off their beards, these being
a ready handle in battle.

For some time iEthra declared not tbe real father of Theseus ; but
the report propagated by Pittheus was, that he was the son of Nep*
tune: for the Trcezenians principally worship that god.; he is the
patnm of their city ; to him they offer their first-fruits ; and theic
money bears the impression of a trident. Theseus, in his youth, dis-
covering not only great strength of body, but firmness and solidity of
mind, together with a large share of understanding and prudence,
^thra led liim to the stone, and having told him the truth concern^
ing his origin, ordered him to take up his father's tokens, and sai} to
Athens. He easily removed the stone, but refused to go by s^
though he might have done it wit]^ great safety, and though he W9a
pressed to it by the entreaties of \ds grandfather and hia mother;
while it was hazardous, at that time, to go by land to Athensi be*
^cause no part was free ffpm the danger of ruffians and robbers.
Those times, indeed, produced men of strong and inde&tigable
fKiw^rs of body, of extraordinary swiftness and agility i but they ap>

^Usd tbo^e poww to QotbiDg j|«9t 91 iii^t Qu tb^ coK^tmyj^ibdr

M

PLUTARCH 9 Ltt'ES.

■31

I genius, their dispositiou, thtir pleasures, tended ooly to iiisolcucc,
to violence, and lo rapine. As for modesty, justice, etjuity, and liu-
I roaoity, they looked upon (h€in as qualities in which ibooc vittu Iwd
n their power to add to their possessions had no manner of con-
! cern ; virtues praised only by sucii as were afraid of being injured,
and who abstained from iiijuriag others out of tlic same piinciple of
fear. Some of these ruflians «'crc cut off, by Hercules in his pere-
grioatioDs, while others escaped to tlieir lurking holes, and were
Spared by tlie hero iu contempt of their cowardice. But wlien Her*
\ cules had unfortunately killed Iphilus, he retired to Lydia, where,
* for a long time, he was a slave to OniphHle, a puniiihment which he
. imposed upon himself for the murder. The L^'dians then en-
joyed great quiet and security ; but in Greece the same kind of «Uor-
mities btoke out anew, there being no one to restrain nr quell them.
It was therefore extreraly dangerous to travel by land from Pelopoa-
nesus to Athens ; and Pitiheus, acquainting Theseus with the num*
bcr of these ruffians, and with their cruel treatment of strangers, ad-
vised him to go by sea. But he had long secretly been fired with
the glory of Hercules, whom he held in the highest esteem, listening
with great attention to such as related his Hchievements, particularly
to those that had seen him, conversed with him, and had been wit-
nesses to his prowess. He was affected in the same manner as
Themistoclcs afterwards was, when lie declared that the trophies of
Miltiades would not suffer him to sleep. The virtues of Hercules
Were his dream by nighr, and by day emulation led him out, and
epurred him on lo perform some exploits like his. Besides, they
were nearly related, being bom of cousin-germans ; for .'Eihra was
the daughter of Pittheus and Alcmena of Lysidice, and Pitthcus and
Lysidice were brother and sister by Pelops and H )p]x>dainia. He
considered it, therefore, as an insupportable dishonour, that Heren-
Jes should traverse both sea and land lo clear tlicm of these villwns,
while he himself declined such adventures as occurred to him ; dis-
gracing bis reputed father, if he took his voyage, or rather flight, by
Bet ; and carrying to his real father a pair of sandals and a sword un-
stained with blood, instead of the ornament of great and good actions,
to assert and add lustre to his noble birth. With such thoughts and
Tcsolutious as these he set forward, determining to injure no one, bat
to take vengennoe of such as should ofller him miy violence.

He was first attacked by Peripheies, in Epidruria, whose weapon
ms B club, and who, on that account, was called Corynetes, or the
Clnb-bcarcr. He engngcd with him, and slew him. Delighted with
the club, he took it fur his weapon, and used it as Hercules did the
Koa'sakiu. The sliia wu k ptovf at the visi aisc of tlic wild bout

THESEUS. 45

which that hero had slain ; and Theseus carried about with him this
dub, whose stroke he had been able to parry, but which in his hand
was irresistible. In the isthmus he slew Sinnis the Pine-bender in
the same manner as he had destroyed many others: and this he did^
not as having learned or practised the bending of those trees, but to
show that natural strength is above all art. Sinnis had a daughter
remarkable for her beauty and stature, named Pcreguine, who had
concealed herself when her Father was killed. Theseus made dili-
gent search for her, and found at last thatshe had retired into a place
overgrown with shrubs, and rushes, and wild asparagus* In her child-
ish simplicity she addressed her prayers and vows to these plants and
bushes, as if they could have a sense of her misfortune, promisiiM^
if they would save and hide her, she would never burn or destroy thenu
But when Theseus pledged his honour for treating her politely, she
came to him, and in due time brought him a son named Melanippus.
Afterwards, by Theseus's permission, she married Deioneus, the son
of Eorytus the (Echalian. Melanippus had a son named loxus, who
joined with Omytas in planting a colony in Caria: whence the
loxides ;^th whom it is an inviolable rule, not to bum either rushes
or wild aspiiragus, but to honour and worship them.

About this time Crommyon was infested by a wild sow named
Phad, a fierce and formidable creature. Tliis savage he attacked
and killed, going out of his way to engage her, and thereby showing
an act of voluntary valour : for he believed it equally became a
brave man to stand upon his defence against abaniloned rufiiansU|
^nd to seek out, and begin the combat with strong and savage anflf
mats. But some say that Phsea was an abandoned female robber
JWho dwelt in Crommyon ; that she had the name of Sow from hef
life and manners; and was afterwards slain, by Theseus.
, * In the borders of Megara he destroyed Sciron, a robber, by cast*
ing him bc^adlong from a precipice, as the story generally goes : and^
j/L is added, that, in wanton villany, this Sciron used to make strangers
wash his feet^ and to take those opportunities to push them into tlie
sea. Bat the writers of Megara, in contradiction to this report, and^
as Simoi^des expresses it, fighting with all antiquity, assert, that
Sciron was neither a robber nor a ruffian, but, on the contrary, a de-
stroyer of jobbers, and a man whose heart and house was ever open
to the goQd and the honest. For i£acus, say they, was looked upon
«8 the jusfe^ man in Greece; Cychreus of Salamis had divine
honours paid him at Ath6ns> and the virtue of Peleus and Telamon
fcp was universally knowq. Ncyw, Sciron was son-in-law to Cy-
phreus^ &ther-in-law to Macu^^ and grandfather to Peleus and Tela-
loon^ who were both of tUem soi|s ot Eadeis^ the daughter of Sciron

r

t6

PLITARCH S tn-ES.

■fill Charklo: therefore it was not probable that the best of
ihould make such aUianccs wnh one of so rile a character, givii
and reteiving the preatcst and dearest pledges. Besides, tlicy tell
us, tlwt Theseus did not sluy Sciroti in his first journey to Athens,
but afterwards, when he took Eleasls from the Megareiisians, having
expelled Diodes, its chief magistrate, by a stratngem. In such con-
tradictiotis are these ihin^ involved.

At Eleusis he engaged in wrestling with Ccrcyon the Arcndiao,
and killed him on the spot. Proceeding to Hermionc*, he pat a
period to tiie cruelties of Damastcs, surnumed Proerustes, malting
his body fit (he size of his own beds, ns he had served strangers.
Wiese things he did in imitation of Hercules, who always returned
upon the aggressors the sanie sort of treatment which they intended
for him ; for that hero sacrificed Busiris, killed Antieus in wrestling,
Cygnus in single combat, and broke the sknll of Termerns; whence
this i« called the Termerian, mischief; for Term erus, it seems, de-
stroyed the passengers he met by dashing his head against ihdn;
Thuj Thcsciis pursued his trnvels to puitish abandoned wrclchi
who sufTrred the same kind of death from liim that they infiicted
others, Bod were requited with vengeance suitable to ibeir crimes.

In his progress he came to the Cephisiis, where he was first >n1ut<
by some of the Phyialidft-. Upon his desire to have the cusiomai
purlficHlions, they gave hlni them in due form, and having ofie
prn[Hiintory saeiifiecs, invited liim 'o their houses. This was
fint hospitable 'treatment he met with on the road. He is siiid
vavr arrived at Athens on the eighth day of the month Cronii
which they now call Hacatomhceon, (July), llicrc he found tl
•lite full of troubles and distraction, and the family of ^geus
i;rcat disorder: fur Medcii, who had fled from Corinth, promised
tier art 10 enable j^getis to have children, and was admitted to his bed.
She firit iliscoveriiig Theseus, whom as yet Mgi'ia did wol know,
IwnnAded him, now in years, and full of jealousies and •mpietoii
on noonunt of tlie fncfion thai prevailed in the city, to prepare
enHTtainnieiit for him ns a stranger, and take him off by poi
Tht»rn«, coming to the biinfiiiet, did not intend to declare himsel
fltst, but, willing to give his father occasion to find him out, when
Ihfl meat wa« served up, he drew his swonl, as if he designed to
PBfve with it, and took care it should attract his notice. .t-.geai,
Hulckly ppreolving it, tlnsheil down the cup of (xiison, and, al
iiunilnns, emhracrd Him as his son : tlien assembling

b* ■ aaUlt i fat ••( ko** «t no fUrt ctllcil noriawnc, oc ttn*
wLriK. k<a«m Vtvtii uhI Aih<iu. I**uu>ai nlh tl ttl/tat; ud ll>e avtbon o( lb*.
VMttfMl UMMry, altM riiUMbarwi «U titMnM*.

1

tHESEUS. 4f

lU,

^ople^ he acknowledged him also before them^ w ho received b\m
with great satkfactioa oa account of his valour* The cup is said to
have falleo, and the pobon to have been spilt, .where the incloauM
now is, in the place called Delphinium ; for there it was that JEge^B
dwelt ; and the Mercury which stands on the east aide of tlie temple
is yet called the Mercury of iEgeus's gate*

The Pailantide, who hoped to recover the kingdoiq}, if jEgeus died
childless, lost all patience when Theseus was declared his successor.
Exasperated at the thought that i£geus, who was not in the least
allied to the Erecttiidse, but only adopted by Pandion, shouU Sist
gain the crown, and afterwards Theseus, who was an emigrant and
a stranger, they prepared for war, and dividing their forces, one par^
marched openly, with their father, from Sphettas to the city; and
the other concealing themselves in Crargettus, lay in ambush, witJi a
design to attack the enemy from two several quarters* They had witk
them a herald named Leos, of the tribe of Agnus. This nuin carried
to Theseus an account of all tlie designs of the Pallantidse ; and' he
immediately fell upon tliose that lay in ambush, and destroyed theou
Pallas, and his company being informed of this, thought fit to dis-»
perse. Hence it is said to be that the tribe of Pallene never mter-^
marry with the Agnusians, nor suffer any proclamation to begin witk
these words, Akoete Z,eoi (Hear, O ye people) ; for they hate the
very name of Leos, on account df the treachery of that herald.

Theseus, desirous to keep himself in action, and at the same time
courting the favour of the people, went against the Marathoniasc^
bull, which did no small mischief to tlie inhabitants of Tetrapo-
lis. When he had taken him, he brought Iiim alive in triumph
through the city, and aftefWards sacrificed him to the Delphiuiaa
Apollo. Heode also, and the story of her receiving and'entertain*
sngHieseus, does not appear destitute of all foundation; for the
people in that neighbourhood assemble to perform the Hecalesiaa
rites to /upiter Hecalus ; they honour Hecale too, caUir\g her by
the diminutive, Hecalene ; because, when she entertained Theseus,
while he was but a youth, she caressed him as persons in years usu-
^ly do children, and called liim by such tender diminutive names.
She vowed, moreover, when he went to battle, to offer sacrifices to
Jupiter if he returned safe, but, as she died before the end of the
expedition, Theseus performed those holy rites in testimony of
Ae grateful sense he had of her hospitsdity. So Philocborus re-
Aites the story.

Not long a^er, there came tibe third time from Crete the collectors
^f fhq tribute, aucted on the following occasion. Androgens be-
ing very treaeberouily slai& in Attioa, a vciji&iaX war was casried 09

48

rHITARCHS LIVES.

F Rgninst that oxintry by Minos, ami divine vengeance laid it wa^tc)
■for it xni<i visitutl by faniiiie and pestilence, and want of water
increased their misrry. Tlie remedy tliat Apollo proposed waSt
thfil tliey should appease Minos and be reconciled to him, where-
upon the wratli of heaven would cease, and their calamilies come to
a period. In consequence of this, they sent ambassadors with their
submission, and, as mosf writers agree, engaged themselves by
treaty to send every ninth year a tribute of seven young men, aitd as
many virgins. When these were brought into Crete, the fubalous
account informs us, that they were destroyed by tlie Minotuur in the
Labyrinth, or thiit, lait in its mazes, and unable to find the way
Alt, they perishi-d there. The Minotaur n-as, as Kuripidcs telU us,
A mingled rurm prodigious to bchnl-l.
Half bull, 1i>lf man!

But PbiloclioriLs says the Cretans deny this, and will not allow tlie
bhyrinih to have been any thing but a prison, which had no other
inconvenience than this, that those who were confined there could
not escape: and Minos having instituted games in honour of An-
drogcus, the prize fur the victors was those youllis who had been
kept till that time in the labyrinth. He that first won the prizes ia
those gamex was a person of great authority in the court of Minos,
And gnierul Iff his army, named Taurus, who, being unmerciful aud
savage in his nature, had treated the Athenian youths with great
insolence and cruelty. And it is plain that Aristotle himself, in his
accuuni of the Botlioean Government, does not suppose that (iie
young men were put to death by Minos, but that they lived, some
of lliein tu old age, in servile employments in Crete. He adds, that
the Cretans, in pursuance of an ancient vow, once sent a numher
of their tinil-born to Delphi, among whom were some of the de*
ceendants of these Athenian slaves, who, when not being able
support themselves there, 6rst passed from (hence into Italy, where
they settled about Japygia ; and from thence they removed again
into Thmce, and were called Bottiopans. Wherefore the BottitEaa
riigius, in lonie solemnities of religion, sing, "To Athens let us
go." And, indeed, it seems dangerous (o be at enmity with a city
which is the scat of eloquence and learning ; for Minos always was
ffiitirized on the Athenian stage; nor was his fame sufficiently res-
coed by Hesiod's culling him " Suprctne of King," or Homer's
saying thai he " conversed with Jove;" for the writers of tragedy
prevailing, represented him as a man of vicious character, violent
and implacable; yet, inconsistently enough, they say t)iat Minos
WOK a king and 11 lawgiver, and that Khadamanthus tvas so apright
judge, aud guanlian of the laws which Minos bad made.

TtaamjMm 49

When the time of the third trihate cuiie, and those parents who
haA sons not arrived at fall matority were obliged to lesigii them to
the lot, complaints agunst iEgens sproog ap again among the peo-
pie, who expressed their grief and resentment, that he who wiv
the ttiuae of all their misfortunes bore no part of the punishment^
)ind while he was adoptfaig, and rusin; to die succession, a stranger
of spurious birth^ tnoic no thought for them who lost their legiti«
mate children. Tiiose things were matter of great eonecin to Hie-
sens, «riio^ to express his regard for justice, and take fab share in
the common fortune^ volnntarilj offered himself as one of the
seven, without lot. The ciiisens were charmed with this proof of
his magnanimity and public spirit; and JEgeus himself, when he
saw that no entreaties or persuasions arailed to tnm him from if,
gaTc out the lots for die rest of the young men. But Helfamicus says^
diat the youths and virgins whom die city furnished were not chosen
by lot, but that Minos came in person and selected them, and
Theseus before the rest, upon these conditions ; that the Athemans
should fumirii a vessel, and theyoni^ men embark and sail along
with him, but carry no arms; and tfaat^ if they could kill the Mino«
taur, there should be an end of the tribute. There appearing no
hopes cSs9£etj for the youths in the two former tributes, they sent
6ut a ship with the Mack sale, as carryingthem to certain ruin. But
when Theseus enoounged his hthtt by his confidence of success
against the Ifinotaur, he gave another sail, a white one, to the
pilot, ordeting Um, if he brought Theseus safe back, to hoist the
White ; but if not, to sail irith the bladk one in token of his misfor-
tune. Simonides, however, tells us, that it was not a white sal
whieh .£gctts gave, but a sca^Pt one djtd with the juice of the
flower of a very flourishing holm oak, ind that this was to be the
signal that aB was welL He adds, that Pheredus, the son of Amar«
syas, was pilot of the ship : but Philocfaoms says, that Theseus had
a pilot asm him by Sebas firom Salamis, named Nansitheus, and one
Fhssaz to be at the prow, because as yet the Athenians had not sp-
plied diemselves to navigation ; and diat Sdras £d this, beeanse
one of the fDung men, named Menesthes, was his dani^der's son.
This is confirmed by the monuments of Nausttheus and Phcaz,
buBt by Theseus, at Fhalerum, near the Temple of Sdron; and
the least cded Cybemesia, or the Pilot's Feas^ 11 said to be kept
u hinour of them*

llle lots were cast, Theseus taking with him out of the
I, those upon whom they feU^ went to the Delpimuan
temple^ and made an ofiering to ApoUo for diem. TUs otffaring
abrandbcrf cnnsinwied oive boniid about with white wooL
Vol. I. No. 11. q

bnhc Y ifae bck c£ tW Grtsu sU^m, u>

, wW ^^iged ksi ■■ dK fcihoui jot u
WwasRiiy iDiailaBS. A(m, wonAqg to lUockocBi, whs
BGMBcdetaMd^ ^mo m know ^ Us an, k «w bcfincd
AmIWwmUWw cvajtlK fOKi ia don s$ibraicrl]r, ant
nay oac graftal hw Am haBOH^; fas his ckcc«w< power aai
^ttfjmj bebmowvac iMoknUe; ud, Usidea, W wssaccated
of too jmt a AnbriKf «i^ ns^Aac : xharfiKc, «bcii Hk-
anw JtSMgd ^ eom^a^ !!■« jMJMiili d it. la Cnte it ms the
qnumfacd* •tmtm as wcH a» iW an to see the ^ums; and
AiUoc, hdi^pnxBl, TOstrackvidi tkepaaoaafTheaeiB, aid
vttli Us aiqwtiur vipait aad addma ia dx wTcstUiig-hiig. ACoa*
too inx frmilr ddightcd, epecallj wbeo be saw TunH TaoquUi-
tA and dii^raccd ; and tbb ioditccd faiio lo gnc ap Ae foong nea
ti> Theseus, atid to renit the trifauie^ Didcms*, b^iiioing hjgbcr,
p.m a piullx accuual of Aesc raaOcn, acconUng to bis maoDcr.
Then w%<, it scvms, a deccvc thnMi^boiu all Greece, that no vcsael
ffjt^ml^ jjul with more ihui five hands, exi:epl the Aigo, coainaadcd
by Jawot who was appointed to dear the sea of pintcs. But whca
Dndalus ocapcd bjr sea tu Athens, XCaos ponuiug hiio with his
men of trar, coaliaiy to ihc decree, was diireo tiy « storm to Sicily,
nud lltdiT coded bis life. And whea Deucalioo his simestar, piii>
KuiuK lti» father's quarrels wiih tlie AtbcQuiu, deuuadcd thai they
ithould delivrr up P«d4lir<. aixl thiraicncd, if ihcy did not, to make
nnay wilb llic hosUige* that Klioos hail ri-crived, Theseus gnvc hiai
a mild nniwer, ■Urging thai Dedalus was his relstioir, nearly al-
lied in blood, being son to Mcropc, the daughter of Etcetlmi.
Bui pri»atety he prepared n fleet, part of it among the Thymjetsdja,
at a distance from a»y public road, and part under the dlrccciua of

THESEUS. 5 1

Daedalus and the rest of the fugitives from Crete^ for his guide. The
Cretans, receiving no information of the matter, and, when thejr saw
his fleet, taking them for friends, he easily gained the harbour, and
makinga descent, proceeded immediately to Gnossus* There he en-
gaged with Deucalion and his guards, before the gates of the labyrinth^
and slew them. The government by tMs means fidling to Ariadne,
he entered into an agreement with her, by ' which he received the
young captives, and made a perpetual league between the Athenians
and the Cretans, both sides swearing to proceed to hostilities no more.
There are many other reports about these things, and as many
concerning Ariadne, but none of an^ certainty. For some say, that
being dkserted by Theseus, she hanged herself; others, that she
was carried by the mariners to Naxos, and there married Onarus
the priest of Bacchus, Theseus Having left her for another mistress :

For Agio's fkarms htd piere'd the baro't beArt.

Whereas the M^arensian tells us, that Pbistratus struck the line out
of H)esiod ; as, on the contraiy^ to gratify the Athenians, he added
this other to Homer's description of the state of the dead :

The godlike Tbeteos and ^ great Pirithoiis.

Some say Ariadne had two sons by Theseus, (Enopion and Staphylus.
With these agrees Ion of Chios, who says of hb native city^ that it
was boik by (Enopion the son of Theseus.

But the most striking passages of the poets, relative to these
things, are in every body's mouth. Something more particular b
delivered by P&Bon the Amathusian. He rehtes, that Theseus be-
ing driven by a storm to Cyprus, and having with him Ariadne, who
was big with child, and extremely discomposed with the agitation
of the sea, he set her on shore, and left her alone, while he returned
to take care of the ship ; but by a violent wind was forced out again
to seat that the women of the country received Ariadne kindly,
eonsoled her under her loss, and brought her feigned letters as from
llieseus : that they attended and assisted hier when she fell in la-
bour, and, as she died in child-bed, paid her the funeral honours :
that Theseus, on his return, greatly afflicted at the news, left mo-
ney with the inhabitant?, ordering them to pay divine honours to
Ariadne ; and that he caused two little statues of her to be made,
one of silver, and the other of brass : tliat they celebrated her festi-
val on the second of September, when a young man lies down, and
imitates the cries and gesture of a woman in travail: and that the
AlilsthQsians call the grpve, in which they show her tomb, the Giove
of Venus Ariadne.

Some of the Naxian writers relate, that there were two Minoses,
ud two Ariadnes, one of whom was married to Bacchus in Naxos,

33- 7^jr7.}kM£S i Zrri

mad had a fca mamest
carz5ed 4f 3v Tiescns.

cc one
cr :::£

in ais r^Tszn acm. Less, poc io.
tamfic«d to A^cwo, aoii ^mrgi*^ a fivae as Tt
ceiled froflii AiOidAe,

whkb tfceDeUaiwarc saJ£i&fcacdiCKUA&a^.r Is
tmWarinri of tbc fBazcs aod osuecs Off sfac Umnifcy
lioos iMkrrAanaoi acd evGiasuos^

Thii Idod of dance, » Dicsvckv kionBa BS, is cmikd hj the Ito*
liam the Cnme. He duced it roMd the abr
built entirely of tiie kit-side lunis of beasts. Ha is also
have inititoted games in Deks, viiere he b^gan ^ castaaof
a palm to the victon.

When thejr drew near to Attica, both Tbeseos and die ]
u^ transported with joy, that they forgot to hoist the sail i
to be the signal to i£geiis of their safety, who^ dierefaie, i
threw himself from the rock, and was dashed to pieces.,
disembarked, and performed those sacrifices to the gods whkh hi
had vowed at Phalerum when he set sail, and sent a heiald to tha
city with an account of his safe return. The messenger met wiA
numbers lamenting the fate of the kiogy and others rejoicinif , as il
was natural to expect, at the return of Theseus, welcoasing him
with the greatest kindness, and ready to crown him with flowsn
for his gornl news. He received the chaplets, and twined them round
his licrAld*« stafT. Returning to the sea*shore, and finding that

I TI&escniM had luit yet finished his libations, he stopped withoat^ not

I ohousiiiff to disturb the sacrifice. When the libations were over, ha

announcrd the death of iKgeus. Upon this, they hastened, with

i sorrow and tuniultuuus lamentations, to the city. Hence, they tall

us, il isi tliati in tin* Uschophoria, or Feast of Boughs, to this di^ tha
herald is not crownrd, but his staff; and those that are present at the

I lilitttloiui iiy out. KMtu! Jouyjou! the former is the ezdamadni

of hoNti* and triuniphp and the latter of trouble and confusion. The-
srufe, having burird his father, |Hiid his vows to Apollo on the sevcaA
III tK'tnlin : Tor ou that day tlioy arrived safe at Athens. The boil-
ing of ull sxwu uf pulse at tluu time is said to take its rise from diair
inlying till* ii-inain^ of thrir pnwisions, when they found tbemsdvcs
safe asU%uv, iKiiliiig them in one |K>t, and feasting upon theaa all
ti'g^vlhri. lu thai Isast ihty also carry a Iwaneh bound abont widi

THEWU8. 53

III.. , . I ■„ I ■ ,

wool, such as tliey then made use of in their supplications, whicb
they call Eiresione, laden with all sorts of fruits ; and to signify tb^
f^^sing pf scuircity at thai timej they sing this strain :

The golden ear, th'aaibr«sUl kkf^»
la fair Eiresiose thrive.
See the juicjr figs appear!
Olires crown tUe wealthy year I
See tbe clatter- bending ?iue !
See, tad drink, and drop supine!

Some pretend that this ceremony is retained in memory of the
Heraclidfe, who were entertained in that manner hy the Athenians;
bnt the greater part relate it as above delivered.

The vessel in which Theseus sailed and returned safe with those
yoong men, went with thirty oars. It was preserved by the Athenians
to the times of Demetrius Flialereus; being so pieced and new*
framed wiA strong plank^ that it afibrded an example to the philo-
sophers, in their disputations concerning the identity of things that
are changed by growth ; some contending that it was the same, and
odiers that it was not.

The feast called Osdiophoiia*, which the Athenians still celebrate^
wasdien first instituted by Theseus, For he did not take with him
an the virgins upon whom the lot had fallen, but selected two young
ifiea of htf acquaintance, who had feminine and ibrid aspects, but
were not wanting in spirit and presence of mind. These, by warm
bathing and keeping them out of the sun, by providing unguents for
tiidr hair and complexions, and every thing neeessary for their
(dress, by forming Arir voice, their manner, and their step, he so
cflectnally altered, that they passed among the virgins designed for
Crete, and no one could discern the difference.

At his return, he walked in procession vfith the same young men,
diesssed in die manner of those who now carry the branches. These
pre carried in honour of Bacchus and Ariadne, on account of the
stXMy before related ; or rather because they returned at the time <rf
gathering ripe fruits. The Deipnophorse, women who carry the
provisions, bear a part in the solemnity, and have a share in the sacri**

* Thif ceremmij was performed in the following manner : Tliej made choice of a
aCffCaio nnmber of jentfai of the most noble families in each tribe, whose fathers and
boA were fiving. Tbej bore Yine-brancbet in their hands, with grapes apoD
nad rm IrcMi tbe temple of Bacchus to that of Minenra Sciradia, which was near
tW Phalerean gate. He that arrived there first drank off a cup of wine, mingled with
boaajf cheese, meal* and oil. Thej were followed by n chores conducted bj two
jemg Mcn dresaed ia women's apparel, the chorus singing a song in praise of those
■en. Certain women, with baskets on their heads, attended them, and were
ftr tbet efiee from amongst tiie most weahby of the citieeui; The wbole fm^
I WIS headed by a bttaU« beviag a staff cBckcM wUh bongbi.

54 PLITARCH S LIVES.

6ce, to represent the mothers of those upon whom the lots fell, who
brought their children provisions for the vojage. Fables and ute
arc the chief discourse, because the women then told their chiMKO
atoriesto coniforl them and keep up their spirits. These panicuUr*
are taken from the History of Demon. There was a place conse-
crated, and a temple erected to Theseus ; and those families nhtcli
would have been liable to the tribute, in case it had continued, were
I obliged to pay a tax to the temple for sacrifices. These were com-
mitted to ti)e cate of the Fhytahdee. Theseus doing them that
honour in recompense of tl^eir hospitality.

After the death of jEgeus, he undertook and effected a prodigMnu
work. He settled nil the inhabitants of Attica in Athens, and nude
them one people in one city, who before were scattered up and down,
and could with difhculty be assembled on any pressing occasioD for
the public good. Nay, often such differences had happened between
tiiem as ended in bloodshed. The method he took was to apply to
them in particular by their tribes and families. Private pcisoiu and
the poor easily listened to his summons. To the rich and great he
represented the advantage of agovvrnmeut without a king, where llie
chief power should be in the people, while he himself only desired to
command in war, and lo be the guardian of the laws; in all the rest,
pvery oue would be upon an equal footini^. Part of them hearkened
to his persunsions; and others, fearing his power, which was already
Tcry great, as well as his enterprising spirit, chose rather to be per-
ftuaded tlinn to he forced to buhmit. Dissolving, therefore, the cor-
poratjana, the councils, and courts in each panicular town, he built
one common PtytaDcuin, and court-hall, where it stands to this dajr.
The citadel, with its dependencies, and the eily, or the old and new
town, he united under the common name of Athens, and instituted
the Panatitcnun as a common sacrifice". He uppoinicd al&o the
Mctoccia, or Keaat of Migration t, and fixed it to the sixteenth of
July, and so it still coullnucs. giving up the kingly power, as he

" The AU>fn*» „rn fclibnlcd ht(„tt m liDtiDiir of llie E<»J<lc
Ihit ■« ■ ttatt pecurwi ta tin cil; of Ailmo. Tliewaa mlargad ir, and Biidc 1
man lo kll tb« inbtbiltuli uf Altie»-, and ihcrcfarn il wu nllril r«iMli«n*K. TMte
mtit ll^o crtalirt aw) lh« leu Pauillirnic*. Tbc leu ■«« lirpl annuallj, avd Dm
pcatrr i*<tj Hfili ytat. U Ibi Ulltr ihc; citiird in ptoc«>ig|i itic n>>;lctii>u> yiv^a,
■lilcli w(i« inbrvidcttd (li« liflQr; ni llw godi oici tb* g^wt.

la; bol M

■fO«.

■ad On UMl rrnarkable ubic<

I In ntimrj cf ibrii iiuilliii| rtw bonuKhi, inrl un.ling in oiw tiiT. Oii iTuio
aH>o, U l.kc*iw t»i,!>itod. «< .1 1mm t«,u«J, II., faBoK. |.il.n,i.n r.r.ci .i. htuiM
Kaptuoc. All II.Ma «it MtSy d„ip,r<l U> d.ai. . tnnruu.w «t.iran6^r.i «n4 i
fwnct «KBBNc«n(iU im the* U mmc and Mltlf U Alh«si. h> |n« (ben |fcc ■
I'M! ot naf -^

THESKUS.

55

i pioml.sed, ht^ ^t-iled "'
e gods ; for h' 'oi ulto
weramenl, aa4>. 'iv Wed m

■e commonwealth under the auspices of
llif Oracle at Dt;lpl)i concemiug his new
answer:

The tens ipringi;

hf Jane belavcd, tlij sire topieme ul kingt.
Sm titiug taotii, ICC i>ide-4iieiided itotti,

f)n (hee ilcpenflMit, itk thi^it future fiitei!

ncDGC, Ltncu Rith rcai* Tli; futoiiicil birk limit tide

S«fe o'er llie >ur|;e» of tlie fiMmj irile.

'"With this Bgrecs the Sibyl's pro]il»;cy, which we are told, she
plivertd long after concerning Atheaj :

Tlie Uidder m*; be dlppM, biM never dronn'd.
t Desirinj; yet fanJier 1o enlarge the clly, he invited all strangers to
nna) privrlt'pes In ii ; and the words still in use, " Come hither, all
B people," arc said to be tlie beginning of a proclamation which
Fhcseus ordered to be made when he composed a commonwealth, as
K were, of all nations. Yet he Uf^ it not in the confusion and dis-
rder likely to ensue from the confluence and strange mi:tture of peo-
le, but distinguished (hem into noblemen, husbandmen, and me-
l^e nobility were to have the care of religion, to supply
e city witli magistrates, to e^tplain the laws, and to inteq>ret what-
wr related to the worship of the gods. As to the rest, he balanced
e citizens against each other as nearly as possible; the nobles ex-
felling in dignity, the husbandmen in usefulness, and the artificers in
mbcr. it appears from Aristotle, tluii Theseus was the first who
iclined to x demoenicy, and gave up the regal power; and Homer
I)eo aecmt to bear witness to the same in hit catalogue of ships,
jt^erc he gives the name of People to the Athenians only. To his
loney he gnve the impression of an ox, either on account of the
tifflthonian boll, or because of Mine's general, Taurus, or because
Itroald encourage the citizens in agriculture. Hence came the
ision of a thing being worth ten or an hundred oxen. Having
D mfldr a secure acquisition of the country about Megara to the
y of Athem, he set up the famed pillar in the Isthmus", and
Kfibetl it with two verses, to distinguish the boundaries. That oa
e east side ran thus :

Th» ti Mt Petoponaciui, but laniat

i that on th« west was,
"^ Tbli u PeloponaciBi, not loci*.

9fUl |illw aueKcMd bj llic cmumon eonseni of tlie laniani wid PelopornB-
liHh lo pot Ml md to tli« diipulei abniit iLeir biiiuduiei ; lad jt coaliaucd tg the nifn
ig uliiiJi it n%i deiuolulied b; tbe Heiaclide, who btd oiade liiesi'
itiir leiTilgry of Megara. nliich theielij ptiiedfraiB llie loiuaai te tbe

4i PLVTARCH'si LtVES.

M« tihr«v)'««- initituted games in imitation of Hercules, being ambi-*
ti»,u4 ili'i» H% thtf* Greeks, in pursuance of that hero's appointincnt^
. t \»f.\\ii\ \\ifr Olympic games in honour of Jupiter, so they shouM
I ii i.irtfr-- rlif*. Iirhritlan in honour of Neptune: for th^ rights pet'^
l<..ii.r,) iMn- hr^fnre in memory of Melicertes were observed in the
ii.»',hr. ;iii(l k;ifl more the air of ^nysteries than of a public spectacle
.i..'l .1 . i'f^ii*ly. But some say the Isthmian games were dedicated to
«». ii 'ii, 'I Uv,H*'.n^ inclining to expiate his untimely fate, by reason of
ii.Hr Kfiri|/ %*> rii^arly related; for Sciron was the son of Canetlras
.... I Hi'.it'<(.h#r, the daughter of Pittheus. Others will hate it^ that

*, i.. ^<f « ftr-ir Vin, and that to him, and not to Sciron^ the games

.V i ' t\i iUtHirti. He made an agreement, too, n-ith the CorinthiaDS^
1 1. «i ilir/ 4ti/«iild ^ive the place of honour to (he Athenians who came
I.. III/. I *iUtuUh giifnes, as far as the ground could be covered with tlie
.'lit r«r ll»«: (H«t«li/- fthip that brought them, when stretched to its full
• sU'itt 'tuU |/ii/tieuUir we Icam from Hellanicus and Andion of

r)ill(i(.|i/#ru« and some others relate, that he sailed, in company
MJIh ll< n u\i'*9 i'*'^' ^*^ Euxine sea, to carry on war with the Ama^

1MI ♦ . himI lli«r U received Antiopef as the reward of his valonri
<Mii \U\' ^ifiittir num*jer, among whom are Pherecydes, Hellanicas^

M I III liiilofus, tcli us, that Theseus made that voyage, with hisown

M • I itiily, ft<'n<« time after Hercules, and to^ik that Amazon ci^ytife^

, lii|i|i U lii'i'-'id the more proliable account; for we do not read that

tii< mil' 9 Iff hl» fellow- warriors made any Ama2on prisoner. But

Ml 111 iiHr*! Ur Utfik and carried her off by a stratagem. The Aroa*<

Ml - »!• ifiC H0inrMy lovers r>f men, were so far from avoiding The-

,1 ., .vIrMi Ii/' utut\n:4 upou their coasts, that they sent him presents^
I III iMif Ui^ih^'t AtiUnpttf who brought them into his ship, and^ w

Ml Nit lUf- ws« sli^^rd, set sail. But the account of one McneemteSj
n tiii |iiih))'l*^rf M liisi'iry of Nice, in Bithynia, is, that Theseus having
Itint i|i^ nlttm9A lit* vif^tel, remained in those parts some time; and
i|i<ii lir< ^9H9 *Mj'iidrd in that expedition by three young men of
1 1 h' UN, «vlf' • ^"f*^ brothers, Euneos, Thoas, and Soloon. The httt of
ill .r iiiilMi'fWfi to fhe rest, fell in love with Antiope, and commoni^
, Ml. t til • (Ml f •«)"'» i" "ne of his companions, who applied to Antiope

nI I i|,( ifMiif h\it' firmly rejected his pretensions, but treated Mm

I. till I It ilHr< 'Hi'i prudrntly concealed the matter from Theseus. But

• N'liliiiiti i'4ii Uf IN 111 f*htt\0M than the whole hiitorj or the Amuoni. Sinte slh
i . 1 1 , Ihiii ill* fH«<ti ' if'ilil'tii uf Al»»dcr*i hittorUin have not •• mach M awiillumd

il I lu •im4 ii"I*«4. If ihffjr •<'• • AcylfaiMPafttion, bow caiBc tbcj all fo lMVt6ntk

II .I'li'i'

I I 4..M l|*t«HU«««ve lllppolyte to TkMi% «d4 kept Aaiiope lor UaMtIt

THESEUS. 57

9aa9BS=S9SSXBES9BBSBBBBee9B9BBBBBEB=59

Solooo, in despair, having leaped into a river, and drowned himself^
Theseus, then seusible of the cause, and the young man's passion,
lamented his f^te, and, in hi^ sorrow, recoUected an oracle which he
had formerly received at DelpluL The priestess had ordered, that
when, in some foreign country, he should labour und^r the greatest
affliction, he should build a city there, and leave some of his followers
to govern it. Hence he called the city which he built PythopoUs,
af^er the Pythian god, and the neighbouring river SoloOn, in honour
of the youpg man. He left the two surviving biothers to govern it^
and give it laws ; and along with them Hermes, who was of one of the
l>e$t families in Athens. . From him tlie inhabitants of PythopoUs
call a certain place in their city Hermes's House, Hermou oikia,
and, by misplacing an accent, transfer the honour from the hero to.
the god Mercury.

Hence the war with the Amazons took Its rise. . And it appears
to have been no slight or womanish enterprise; for they could not
hav£ encamped in the town, or joined battle on the ground about, the
Pyos^ and the Museum f, or &llen in so intrepid a manner upon
the city of Athens, unless they had first redueed the country abou^
it. It is difficult, indeed, to believe (though Hellanicus has related
it) that they cro(»ed the Cimmerian Bosphorus;upon the ice: but
that they encamped almost in the heart of the city, is confirmed by
tiie;ii|U9ea of places, and by the tombs, of those that felU

Tber^ was a kipg pause and delay before either army would begii?
the -.9ltaclu At last Theseus, by the direction of some oracle, offered
a sacaifiee to Fear, and after that immediately engaged* The battle
wa^ fpnglit io the month Boedromion, September, the day oa
wbicif tha Athenians still celebrate the feast called Boedromia. Cli-:
dei9US, whois willing to be very particular, writes, that the left wing
^ the Ainazon9 moved towards, what is now called the Amazonium;
aa4 that the right extended as far as the I^nxy near Clirysa: that the
Atfcepiaas £rst.eDgaged with the Left wijag of the Amazons, falling
upon jtbem from the Museum; and that the tombs of those that fell
in ibf battle are in the street which leads to the gate called Piraica^
whiekis by the monument erected in honour of Cludcodon, where
th^>*Athenians were routed by the Amazons, and. fled as far as tha
tnwyte of tiia Furies; but that the left wing of the Athenians^
whk^ ahaiged from the Palladium, Ardettus, and Lyceum, drova
tbf ligbt wiag pf the enemy to their camp#*and slew many of them:

* n^ PjDX wM ft place (near the citadel) where the people of Atbeni used to ataem-
hU^ ma wiMre Hie oratora ipoke to them aboot^ public aiFairs.

t ISia Miucvm wtt apra a little hill otsk against-tbccitadel, and piobaUjF sociaM
/roaa a temple of the Moiea there.

Vol. U No. 11, h

58 Plutarch's lives.

u^^

that nUvj four months, a peace was roncluded by means of Hippoihe;
for so this author calls the Amazon that attended with Theseus, not
Aotiope. But some say this heroine fell fighting hy Theseus's sidc^
being pierced with a dart by Molpadia, and that a pillar, by the
Temple of the Olympian earth, was set up over her grave. Nor if
it to be wondered, that, in the account of things so very ancicatf
history should be thus uncertain, since they tell us that some Ana-
zons, wounded by Antiope, were privately sent to Chalcis to be
cured, and that some were buried there, at a place now called All
zonium. But that the war was ended by a league, we may assuied^
gather from a place called Horcomosium, near the temple of Tlie-
seus, where it was sworn to, as well as from an ancient sacrifice, wfaicii
is oflTcred to the Amazons the day before the feast of Tlieseus. The
people of Megara, too, show a place, in the figure Of a losMsnge,
where some Amazons were buried, as you go from the market-plaoeto
the place called Rhus. Others also are said to have died by ChKio-
nea, and to have been buried by the rivulet, which, it seems, was
formerly called Thermodon, but now Haemon; of which I hate
given a farther account in the life of Demosthenes. It appears like-
wise, that the Amazons traversed Thessaly, not without opposition;^
for their sepulchres are shown to this day, between Scotusscea and
Cynoscephalie.

This is all that is memorable in the story of the Amazons; for as
to what the author of the Theseid relates of the Amazons rising to
take vengeance for Antiope, when Theseus quitted her, and married
Plifledra, and of their being slain by Hercules, it has plainly the air
of fable. Indeed, he married Phaedra after the death of Antiope,
having by the Amazon a son named Hippolytus, or, according to
Pindar, Demophon. As to the calamities which befel Phaedra and
Hippolytus, since the historians do not differ from what the writers of
tragedy liavc said of them, we may look upon them as matters of fiict.

Some other marriages of Theseus are spoken of, but have not
been represented on the stage, which liad neither an honourable be-
ginning, nor a happy conclusion. He is said also to have forcibly
carried off Anaxo of Troezene, and having slain Sinnis and Cereyon,
to have committed rapes upon their daughters ; to have married Pe-
riboea, the mother of Ajax, too, and Pheroboea, and lope, the daughter
of Iphicles. Besides, they charge him with being enamoured of
iKgle, the daugliter of Panopeus, (as above related), and, for her,
leaving Ariadne, contrary to the rules both of justice and honour;
but, above all, with the rape of Helen, which involved Attica in war,
and ended in his banishment and death, of which we shall speak more
at large by and by.

THSSEU9* 69

TliQugh there were many expeditions undertaken by the heroes of
those times, Herodotus thinks that Theseus was not coacernttd in any
of them, except iu assisting the JUipith» against the Centaurs.
Others write, that he attended Jason to Colchis, and Meleager in
killing the boar ; and that hence came the proverb, ^^ Nothing without
Theseus." It is allowedi however, that Theseus, without apy assist-
ance, did hiinself perform many great exploits; and that the extra-
ordinary instances of his valour gave occasion to the saying, '^ This
man is.^nother Hercules." Theseus was likewise assisting to Adrastus
in recovering the bodies of those that fell before Thebes, not by de-
feating the Tkebans in battle, as Euripides has it in his tragedy, but
by persuading them to a truce; for so most writers agree: and Phi-
lochorus is of opinion, that this was the first truce ever known for
burying the dead^ But Hercules was^ faideed, the first who gave up
their dead to the enemy, as we have shown in his life. The biirying->
place of the pommon soldiers is to be 9een at Eleuthene, and of the
officers at Eleusis; io which particular Theseus grati^ed Adrastus.
iEschylus, in whose tiagedy of the £l^nsi|:iians Theseus is introduced^
iselatiog the matter as above^ contradicts what Etiripides has deli^
vered ill his Suppli^nts^

Th^ friendship between The$eus and Pirithous is said to have com^
menced upon tlus pcpasioo* Theseus being much celebrated for his
strength md valour, Pijrithous was desirous to prove it, and th^efqre
drove away his oxen from Maratlion^. When he h«ird that Theseus
purs^ him in arms, h^ did not fly, but turned back to meet him.-
But, as soon as they beheld one another, each was so struck with,
admiratioo of the otlier's person and courage, that they laid aside all
thoughts ^ %hting; and Pirithous first giving Theseus his (tand^
bade biiii be judge in this cause himself, and he would willingly abide,
by his sentence. Theseus, in his turn, left the cause to him, and
desired Iiim to be hb friend and fellow-witrripr. Then they con-
$rmed their friendship with an oi|th. Pirithous, afterwards marrying
Deidamia*, entreated Theseus to visit his country, and to be ac-
quainted with the Lapithse. He bad also invited the Centaurs to.
the entertainment* ^ These, in their cups, behaving with insolence-
and indecency, and pot even reffaiuipg frofn the womqa, the I^pith^
rose up in their defence, killed some pf the Centaurs upQn the spot,
and soon after beating thein in a set battle, drove t)iem out of the
country with the assistance of Theseus* He^o^ot^s relates the
matter differently. He s^ys, that hostilitipi being i|lready begun,
Tbese|i$ came in aid to tl^e ]L<apithfle, and then (lad the $rst sight of:

* An other writers call her Hlppodania, except Propertius, who calft her Ischvqiacb^,

S|it waa the daogbttr of Adrastyi.

IliirrulrVs luiving nittde it his busiuesK ':o init aun ovt
wlitri^ he rr|H)eMfcl huuself af^ jH liis wwdBrms* i
fhiit tliU interview passed in marks ^ir ^
fnulunl <HMn|>liments. But we are niriwr to fbikiw -fune
whn write tlmt ihcv hut very traQinsit Jictaviews: and dncL 1«
l>f 'llimoiiMt Hrrculei wos inicmted bma rite tnmsuLiM^ of
hnvitig flrKt obtained lu:Kr«ciQii% j» lit: iesred* on
Intoliiiitiiry (JoUutiotis.

'l^iH^uii WM now tiftv vmis «iid. Jirgoiiiliig tit
h0 WM (HUivertHfd iu the n^pe «7f Heiist. woo iuri mc m
th0 ymm iif imitunty^ Smk wrdopv ambiine Hib ohk of
vlcsnt vluir(|t*« ii((ift«i»t hutt% <fide««<Jlu^ m cunest ii;» a«
WiM iH%t 'lVeieu» that cvriied «i# Heksn. tmr fahs
MiiiiinitttHi her to hi» if«re>«. and tbat diereftire he
ll|i wheu dein«iiidrd by CaEmM- :Md FMns: cr
llv«»rtHl to him bv 'INiMknB hififes«!if« t» ke^f? iier
Ihn aon of HippocokWi^ w^ ende&riiiinsd a; p**5!se9v
lance of llehrii> who w» yet but x cnaii. But
rally «|(ret^ ui% as vwist peobabfe. is » i^diiw;^: Pje tw»
tikgether u^ :>parta« and baring sees cie rn janciK' oft
IMaua Orthia^ carried iwr o#. utd ied^ T!ie toijbuj^
atler ihtaoi Mkmi^ na ordier dkaa Te-^M» mey rhmmAti
icem^} aad havinir tnvened P^siairannesiBs. tiwy
i^prtemeM^ that kr who ahoiiid aaua Ekk.iL ^ fin
wife, hut be eldfaped «> mmac in prceorinc x wine iir
contequeace of Ap» tcnsff^ die Sec* J^jic ^t
who ivceivefl the virjni* aad e».TiTTfy^! her. » «he
ria|ri>ah)et to Af4iidiiie. Here Be ^SshX'i ob
oianmitied the la to the care %* Its? f^s
keep thoiu in the atmcwt seere^.r xad
«if verviiH' u\ ISritk^us hunseif, tizveSed wv&
a view to the daufrhter of ArA^oecs.
prinre iiMintd his wife Pl\>seT] *rc. ti ^Kc^ter C«e,
iViheru*! with this dof he cowmwhd aS his danariKcr^s
Mf ht, prniniiiinit her to him that sAwwU
^tanillng ihrtt ISrithinis eame not with an ictemiDo to ra«t fcis
daiighiai'i hut to earry her off by forte^ he seited bodt hni atti lb
Irieiiil, ili*btitiyetl IMrithiHia inunediatelT by meiBt of Us do^ and
libiil U|i 'l*hr«f un 111 close prison.

Mseiilimai Mene^theast the son of IVtens^ grandwo of
and gresi ifiNiidstm i>f Kivetheus, b said to be the first of
ihal M»iilft)i ItHik til be n flenisgogoe, and by his ekM)uence to ii
MmMlf with the |aH»)ile. lie cndcavouied also to csaspcnie and

THESEUS. 61

inspire the nobility with sedition, who had but ill borne with Theseus
for some tifoe^ reflecting, that he had deprived every person of family
of hb government and command^ and shut them up together in one
ctty, where he used them as his subjects and slaves. Anumg the
common peo]^ he sowed disturbance^ by telling them, that though
.they pleased themselves with th^ dream of liberty, in fiict, they
were robbed of their country and religion ; and, instead of many good
and native kings, were lorded over by one man, who was a new-
comer and a stranger. Whilst he was thus busily employed, the war
declared by the lyodaridflB greatly helped forward the sedition. Some
say plainly they were invited by Menestheus to invade the country.
At first they proceeded not in a hostile manner, only demanding their
sister: but the Athenians answering that they neither had her among
them^ nor knew where she was left, they began their warlike opera*
tions. Academus, however, finding it out by some means or other,
told them she was concealed at Aphidns. Hence, not only the lyn-
daridffi treated him honourably in liis life-time, but the Lacedemo-
nians, who, in after times, often made inroads into Attica, and laid
waste an the country besides, spared the Academy for his sake. But
XKcaarekns says, diat Echedemus and Marathus, two Arcadians,
iRingmliies to die Tjn^daridft in that war, the place which now goes
by tbt name of die Academy, was first called Echedemy, from one
of tlM»; and that firom the other the district of Maradion had its
Hte, bt<5Mie he fireely ofiened himself, in pursuance of some oracle,
ID fae aacrificed at the bead of the army. To Aphidnss then they
eiaie, wkete they beat the enemy in a set battle, and then took the
cky, and naed it to the ground. There, they tell us, Alycus, the
>aon of Sciron, was slain, fighting for Castor and Pollux; and that a
fertaiB ptause widiin the territories of Megani is called Alycus, from
Imlmog buried tiiere : and Hereas writes, that Alycus received hia
4eath £rom Tbcaeus's own band.

neaa vcnea also are alleged as a proof in point:

For bright'^iair'd Helen he was flam
Bj Tbeaevs, od Aphidoa'a plaiii.

Aid it is not probable that Aphidnee would have been taken, and tiia
IDOdKr made prisoner, had Theseus been present.
- Aphidnse,' however, was taken, and Athens in danger. Menestheua
took this oppwtunity to persuade the people to admit the lyndaridss
into the city/ and to treat them hospitably, since they only levied
war against Theseus, who b^an with violence first ; but they were
bcacfcctors and deliverers to the rest of the Athenians. Their beha-
Vioiira)so confirmed what was said; for, though conquerors, they. 4e*>
rifai Mflli&g but to be admitted to tiie mysteries, to which they had

I

6*2 Plutarch's lives.

no less claim than Hercules^ since they were equally allied to thi^
city. This request was easily granted tbem3 and they were adopted
by Aphidnusy as Hercules was by Pylius. They had also divtoe ho-
nours paid them, with the title of Anakes^ which was given them,
either on account of the truce, anochej which they made, or becaiuc
of their great ciure that no one should be injured, though there were
so many troops in the city ; fur the phnise anakos echein siguifies, to
keep or take care of any thing; and for this reason, perliaps, kings
are called Anaktes. Soine again say they were called Anake?) bc^
cause of the appearance of their stars ; for the Athenians use the
words atiekas and anekatl^ny instead of coio and anothen, thmt is^
above or on high.

Wc are told that iEthra, the mother of Tlieseus, who waa now' a
prisoner, was carried to Lacedsemon, and from thence with Helen to
Troy ; and that Homer confirms it when speaking of those tbut waited
upon Heleuj he mentions

The bcButeoos Cljmeoe

Aud /Lihra boni of Pittheus.

Others reject this verse as none of Homer's, as they do also the stoffjp
of M unychus, who is said to have been the fruit of a secret com«
merce between Demophoon and Laodice, and brought up byiEthm
at Troy. But Ister^ in the thirteenth book of hia History oif Attica^
gives an account of iEthra different from all the rest. He wat io^
formed, it seeuds, that after the battle in which Alexander or Paifak
was routed by Achilles and Patroclus, in Thessaly, near the riven
Sperchius, Hector took and plundered the city of Trorzene^ meA
carried oO* iEthra, who had been left there. But this is highly im^-
probable.

It happened that Hercules, in passing through the country of tliftf
Molossians, was entertained by Aidoneus the king, who accidentally
made mention of the bold attempts of Tlieseus and Pirithous^ and cHF
the manner in which he had punished them when discovered. Her*
cules was much disturbed to hear of the inglorious death of the one»
and the danger of the other. As to Pirithous, he thought it in vain
to expostulate about him; but he begged to have Theseus release^*
and Aidoneus granted it. Tlieseus, thus set at liberty, returned tOt
Athens, where his party was not yet entirely suppressed : and what-
ever temples and groves the city had assigned him, he consecrated
them all but four to Hercules, and called them (as Philochorus re->
latcs), instead of Theses, Heraclea. BMt, desiring to preside in the
commonwealth, and direct it as })efore, he found himself encompassed
with faction and sedition \ for those that were his enemies before his
departure, had now added to their hatred a contempt of his autfaon--

^THESEUS. 63

rity; and he beheld the people so generally corrupted, that they
wanted to be flattered into their duty, instead of silently executing
his commands. When he attempted to reduce them by force, he
was overpowered by the preralenee of faction; and, in the end, find-
ing his affairs desperate, he privately sent his children into Euboea,
to Elephenor, the son of Chalcodon; and himself having uttered so-
lemn execrations against the Athenians at Gargettus, where there is
still a place thence called Araterion, sailed to Scyros. He imagined
that there he should find hospitable treatment, as he had a paternal
estate in that island. Lycomedes was then king of the Scyrians.
To him therefore he applied, and desired to be put in possession of
the lands, as intending to settle there. Some say he asked assistance
of him against the Athenians. But Lycomedes, either jealous of the
glory of Theseus, or willing to oblige Menestheus, having led him
to the highest cliffs of the country, on pretence of shewing him from
thence hb lands, threw him down headlong from the rocks, and killed
Iiira. Others say he fell of himself, missing his step, when he took
a walk, according to his custom, after supper. At that time his death
was disregarded, and Menestheus quietly possessed the kingdom of
Athens, while the sons of Tlieseus attended Elephenor, as private
persons, to the Trojan war. But Menestheus dying in the same ex-
pedition, they returned and recovered the kingdom. In succeeding
ages die Adienians honoured Theseus as a demigod, induced to it as
well by other reasons as because, when they were fighting the Medes
at Blarathoo, a considerable part of the army thought they saw the
apparitioii of Theseus, completly armed, and bearing down before
them opon the barbarians.

After the Median war, when Phsedon was archon, the Athenians
consulting the oracle of Apollo, were ordered by the priestess to take
up die bones of Theseus^ and lay them in an honourable place at
Adiens, where they were to be kept with the greatest care. But it
Was difiicult to take tliem up, or even to find out the grave, on ac-
count of the savage and inhospitable disposition of the barbarian s^
who dwelt in Scyros. Nevertheless, Cimon having taken the island
(as is related in his Life), and being very desirous to find out the
place where ITieseus was buried, by chance saw an eagle, on a cer-
tain eminence, breaking the ground, (as they tell us), and scratchr
ing it up with her talons. This, he considered as a divine direction,
an^ digging there^ found the coffin of a man of extraordinary size,
widi a lance of brass, and a sword lying by it. When tliese remains
were brought to Athens in Cimon 's galley, the Athenians received
tbem with splendid processions and sacrifices, and were as much
^IMiii^x>rted as if Theseus himself had returned to the city. He lies

I

^

f)4 flitarck's live?.

iiitrriv<l ill the iiiuUllo ot tlie town, aesur rii« Gymnasioni ; and Uft
«Miitury is a placv of rct\:^* tcr •^irnuncs iiad all persons of
tlltiim, who lly t'nuu ir.cii iii power, j> Pieseus, while he liTcd,
II liiiiiianc Huil ocnrvrlent patron* who jraciously received the
iloiiK iit'thv |HH)r. The chi^t'sacrioceis c&red to him oo theeightk
of (>(*tolK'r« \\w day on which be returaed with the jcnag men bom
(irlo. ThiV sariiticc to him likewise oo each eighth daj of fim
oihrr inoiuiis, either Inrcaase he first arrived from Troesenc on ikm
t\nM\ of July, a5 DiiHkKuy ilie ^ireograpaer relates; or else thhthim
lliU iiiiinh«*r» al)ovc all other?* to be most proper to him, hecanse h*.
%» iM HiM to W the Hon of Nepiuue : the solemn finsts of NeplvBe be-
ing ohMfiYed Oh the eighth day of every mot:th. For the nmibcr
riffht. u^t tlio liiM cuIk^ of an oeu nitniber* and the double of thefiffSt
M|iiiiir, |«ro|>erly lepresencs the firmness aud immovible power of
IKiN |;oil. ^\ ho tikcucc luts tlie names of Aspfaaiiiis and

ROMILIS*

l\i\ )M w honi. :\n J foi u ^.tt cause* the citr of Rome obtained that
iiiiMH', wlioM* ^;hMY has dithised itself over the world, histioriana ale
imi iviiri'il. S«Mno Na\ titc lVU>,cU after ti;ey had overrun great part
III ihr Kluhi'. au\l ouupuuM iiuny tiatious^ settled there, and
ihf'ii \'\\\ llir iiaiiio ol' Koinc% ou iicev>unt of their strength in
I Mhni h'll UN, that wlu'u Troy w;i< taken, some of tho Trojans h«r«
ln|( i'iii'ii|M (I and ittiiurd \ht'ir »hi|v<, put to sea, and KMOg driven by
Ihr wiinli upon ihi* roaNis ot*Tu>oany«oame toau anchor in the riv^
Ti^Mi : ihiit lirr«\ thoir wives In^in^ much tuii^ued, and no loifcr
aidr t(i h«-!n- \W hai J.Nhip'i of the sea, one ot tliem superior to the real
111 hiiih and ptudcncc, named Koma, pr\^|KVscd that they should bom
thr Hcrl : that tliis l)ein^ iDci ted, the men at Hist wvre much ezas^.
|MTiilrd, hut nfterwards, thri>ugh neces>i(y, fixed clieir seat on tl|^
I'ldatini* hill, and in a short time things succeeded heyoud their es«
prriatinn; for the country \v:u»pHxl, and the people hospitable: tbtt
llirrrroic, hc.sidcs othei honours paid to Roma, they called their citf^
lis she was the cause of its being built, after her name. Hence, too^
ue are informcdy the cUNt«)m arose for the women to salute their ida*
ti'»ns and imsl)ands with a kiss, because those worn i-n,w lieu they ha^
binnt tlit-ir hliips, usrd such kind of endearments to appease the rc<^
Bcntmcnl of their husbands.

Amuig the various accounts of historians, it is said thai

ir

ROMULUS. 65

vfBS the daughter of Italus and Leucaria ; or else the daughter of
Telephus the son of Hcrcuies, and married to iEneas; or that she
vras the daughter of Ascanius, the son of iEneas, and gave name to
the city; or that Romanus, the son of Ulysses and Circe, built it; or
Romus, the son of ^mathion, whom Diomedcs sent from Troy; or
else Romns, king of the Latins, after he had expelled the Tuscans,
who passed originally from Thessaly into Lydia, and from Lydia into
Italy. Even they who, with the greatest probability, declare that the
city had its name from Romulus, do not agtel; about his esitraction :
for some say he was son of JEneas and DexLtbea,'the daughter of
Phorbus, and was brought an infant into Italy with his brother Remus :
that all the other vessels were lost by the violence of the flood,
except that in which the children were, which, driving gently ashore
where the bank was level, they were saved beyond expectation^ and
the place, from them, was called Rome. Some will ha\'e it, that
Roma, daughter of that Trojan woman who was married to Latinus,
the son of Telemachus, was mother to Romulus. Others say that
Emilia, the daughter of ^neas and Lavinia, had him by MarS;
and others again give an account of his birth, which is entirely fabu-
lous. There appeared, it seems^ to Tarchetius, king of the Albans^
who was the most wicked and most cruel of men, a supernatural
vision in his own house, the figure of Priapus rising out of the chim-^
ney hearth, and staying there many days. Tlie goddess Tethys had
an Oracle in Tuscany*, which being consulted, gave this answer to
Tarchetius: That it was necessary some virgin should accept of the
embraces of the phantom, the fruit whereof would be a son, etninent
for Taloor, good fortune, and strength of body. Hereupon Tarche-
tius acquainted one of his daughters with the prediction, and ordered
her to entertain the apparition ; but she declining it, sent W ftiaid.
When Tarchetius came to know it, he was highly offended^ and con-
fined them both^ intending to put them to death. But Vesta ap-
peared to him in a dream, and forbude him to kill thein; but or-
dered that the young women should weave a certain web in theif
fetters, and, when that was done, be given in mafrlage. They
weaved, therefore, in the day-time; but othefS, by Tarchetlus's or-
ders, unrarelled it in the night. The Wotnan having twins by this
eommerce, Tarchetius delivered them to one T^ratius, with orders
td destroy them. But, instead of that, he exposed them by ft rivef
side, wliere a she-wolf came and gtive them suck^ and variotts sorts
^r birds hnmght food And fed the infants, till at last a herdsman^

^ Tber* was a« oncle of Tctbyt, bat' of lliemis tbore was. Thenii was the sano
with Cmrpienta» the mothtf of £Tandc^ which last oamt aho had, because •ht ^clJTtred
ActonnKs lA esmtM* ni vefSst.

Vol. 1. No. 11. i

LIFE OF PLUTARCH.

Pluliircli Iiimstlf acliiiowlt'dgis i!ii- stupidity of t!ie Bo-iiians in
general ; but lie iiujiulcs it mlitr to theii diet tlinn to their air ; for,
L ID his Treatise uii AnimJrFood, he intunates, that a gross indul-
I geiice, in that article, wliich was usual with his eouutTj-meii, cou-
' Iribiiles greatly to obscure the intellectual faculties. "

It is not easy to ascertain in what year he wiis born. Ruauld
places it about the middle of the reij,'u of Claudius ; others ton-ards |'
the end of it. 'i*hc fallowing circuuisilaiice is the only foundatioa |
they have for tiicir conjectures.

Plutarch says, that- he aiudicd philosophy under Ammonius at
Delphi, when Nero made his prepress into Greece. This, we kuow^
was in the twelfth year of that emperor's reign, in the consulship oC
Paulinus Sueioniu-s and Pontius Tclesinus, the second year of jK«
Olympiad I'tl, and the »ixty-sixl1i of the Christian era. I>aciero1>'-
I gerves, that I'lutarch must have been seventeen or eighteen at lea^
wlten lie was engaged ip the abstruse studies of philosophy; and W^
Ihcrcfore, fixes his birth about five or six years before the deaiH «
' Claudius. This, however, is bare supposition, and that, in our '^'p
tiion, not of the most probable kind. The youth of Greece stu^%
under the philosophers very early ; for their works, with those of I
poets aud rhetoricians, formed theirehiefeourse of discipline.

But to determine whether he was bom under the reign of Cltxx*.^
or in the early part of Nero's reign, (which we the ntther bcW^s.-^*-
be says himself tlint he was very young when Nero entered Oi'«'«!
to nialtc it clearly understood, whether he studied at Delphi ^^:%.
t eighteen years of age, is of much loss consequence tht*.»-». '^
' by what means, and under wbnt auspices, he ac(\'u^^ic-'
humane and rational philosophy which is distinguished In '^."^iJ^
Ammonius was his preceptor ; but of him we know little -m:-»c»i
what his !icliolnr has accidentally let fall concerning him- ~1

tions a siiTgular instance of his manner of corrcetini^ "^:i

I *' Our master," says he, ** having one day ohscrved tKn."^- """^m

f** dulgcd ourselves too luxuriously at dinner, at hisafici'^r'^- ■ ■
*' ordered liis frecdman lo give Iiia own ton the di»<=*-1t^^
" whip in our presence ; signifying, at the same tiin.^^ ^ "^^
" fcrcd this pnntshinent because he could not eat h»» ""^^'^ ^
' out sauce. The philosopher all the while had hl^ ^="2>M
md wc knew well for whom this example of pun**^"^"**'^^
• tended." Tills circumstance shows, at leaxt, tliat — ^^^"^
hot of the «cho»l of Epicurus. The severity of ki "■ ^^ ^
deed, seemt rather nf the Stoic cast; bgi it is most l
belonged to the Academicians ; for their si'hooU, a.'C
the gTeate»t repututiwn iu Greece.

»-rcbKrJ

6'2

PLUTABCH S LIVES.

no less i-liiim than Hficulcs, since tUey were equally allic.l to ttie
city. Thli requtst wiis easily granted them, and ihsy were adopted
by Aphidnus, as IJercules was by Pylius. Tlicy iiad also divine ho-
nours paid (hcin.wilh the title of Anakes, whicli was given ihem,
cither on account of the truce, anov/ie, whidi ihey made, or because
of tlicir great care that iio one should be injured, though ihcre vxie
so many troops in tlie city; lor the phra^ic avahis echdii si{;iiilW8, to
keep or lake care of any thing; and for this reason, perltaps. kinp
are called Aiiaktes. Some ajrain say they were ealied Auakes, be-
cause of the appearance of their stars ; for the Athenians use the
words uiiefiiu and aitekuihen, iustead of mio and aiio/heti, tlint isi,
ubt/ve or on high.

We ure told that vEthra, the mother of Theseus, who was now t
prisoner, was carried to Lacedieuion, and from thence with Helen
Troy; and that Homer confirms it when speaking of those tlwt
upon Helen, he mentions

.. Cljin.

I

And Aihca bi>m ul I'illUuiu.

Others reject tliis verse as noneof Homer's, as they do also the M
of Munychiis, who is said to have been tlie fruit of a secret <
merce between Demophoon and Lttoilice, and brought up by £tb»'
At'lVoy. But Ister, in the thirteenth book uf hia History of Attica,
girei. an account of jEihra difterent from all the rest. He was in-
formed, it seems, that after the battle in wiitch Alexander or I'lris
was routed by Achilles and I'atroclus, in Thessaly, near the rivet
Spcrcliius, Hector took and plundered the city of Trcrxenc, and
carried oil' ^thra, who hud been left there. But this is liigbly im^
probable.

It happened that Hercules, in passing through the country of the

MolossiHlis, was entertaint^d by Aidoneus the king, ^vllo accideatallj*

made mention of tlie bold attempts of 'llieseus and Firilhotis, and of

tlie manner tn which he hnd punished them when diKcovercd. Uer-

culcB was much disturbed to hear of the inglorious death of the one,

ami the danger of the other. As to Firiihous, he thought it in vain

tp expostiilale about him ; but he begged to h:ivc Theseus release^

PftOd Aidoneus granted it. Theseus, thus set at liberty, reluniedio

ftj^bcost whcic his party was not yet entirely suppressed : and what-

^'ncr temples and groves the city hod assigned liim, he consecrated'

I'^cut alt but four lo Hercules, and called them (as Philoehoras n^

1 blcs), instead of Tbesca, Hcraclea, Bui, desiring to preside in iha

I aominonwealih, and direct it as Iwfore, he found himself cnctMnpassed

^Urtth faction and sedition; fur tliotc thai were his enemies U'forc bm

:, lud oow added to ihcv iiatied a eoiiieuipt of lua aothiH'

$4

PUTARCH S UVE!.

tntcTrerl ill tlie middle of tlie town, near (he Gymnasium ; and hi
oratury is a |»liice of refugi' for servants and all persons of mean coi
ditioQ, who fly from men in power, as Theseus, while he livcd> w
I humane aud benevolent patron, who graciously received the pel
lions of the pour. The chief sacrifice is offered lo him on thecij;h
of October, the day on which he returned with the young men fro
Crete. 'ITwy siurifice to him likewise on each eighth day of tl
mher months, either because he first arrived from Troezeoe on tl
righih of July, as Diodorus tlie geographer relates ; or else thtniiii
tliU number, above all others, lo lie most proper to him, becaose 1
wa» said to b« the son of Ncpiune; the solemn feasts of Xeptuncbi
in)[ observed on the eighth day of every month. For the nuab
eight, as the firat cube of an even number, and the double of the fir
%<iuarr, properly represents the firmness and immovable power i
this god, who thence has the names of Asplialius and Uiiieochus.

ROMULUS.

PROM wliom, and for what cause, tlic city of Uomc obtained tb
name, whose glory has diffused itacif over the world, historians «i
not agreed. Some say the Pclasgi, after they had overrun great ft
of the globe, aud conquered niuny nations, settled there, and gn
their city the name of Konie, on account of their suength in wi
Others tell us, that when Troy was taken, some of the 'I'rujan« bu
ing escHjHd aud guiied ihcir ships, put to sea, and being driven I
the winds upon tlic coasts of Tuscany, came toau anchor in Uutrin
Tiber: that here, their wives l>eing much fatigued, aud no kingi
•bic to hear the hardships of the sea, one of tliem superior to the rC)
in birtli and piudcncc, OBincd Roma, proposed that they should hat
the Oi-ct : that this being efli'ctcd, the oien at first wcrv mucb cm
pcratcd, but afterwards, through necessity, fixed their scat oa t^
J'aUlJnc hill, and iu a short time things succeeded beyond their «
pcctntion; forihe country wasgwd, and thepcoplc liospitabie: tlH
ihcrefore, besides othci honours paid to Roma, they called their oig
M« ihc wax the cause of its being hnilt, after her name. Heooe, tqi
wctreiiilVwmcd, the custom anwcforthe women tosalute tbcicn^
tioiii and bu^liaiids with a kiss, because those women, wheu tlwf Iq
buitil ihcit iililps, \u.ci\ yuch kind of ciidearmcuu lo appcast t|K a
■rntitirui of ihi-ir husbauils.

AwMUg iIm vuiuuB Mcounts id hutociansj it ii said tbu

ROMULUS. 6S

was the daughter of Italus andLeucaria; or else the daughter of
Telephus the son of Hercules, and married to iEneas; or that she
vras the daughter of Ascanius, the son of iEneas, and gave name to
the city; or that Romanus, the son of Ulysses and Circe, built it; or
Romus, the son of ^mathion, whom Diomedcs sent from Troy; or
else Romus, king of the Latins, after he hhd expelled the Tuscans,
who passed origitially from Thessaly into Lydia, and from Lydia into
Italy. Even they who, with the greatest probability, declare that the
city had its name from Romulus, do not agrefe about his extraction :
for some say he was son of Mnet^ and Dexlthea,*the daughter of
Phorbus, and viras brought an infant into Italy with his brother Remus :
that all the other vessels were lost by the violence of the flood,
except that in which the children were, which, driving gently ashore
where tiie bank was level, they were saved beyond expectation^ and
the place, from them, was ealled Rome. Some will hbve it, that
Roma, daughter of that Trojan woman who was mattied to Latintis^
the son of Telemachus, was mother to Romulus. Others say that
iEmilia, the daughter of ^neas and Lavinia, had him by Mars;
and otiicrs again give an account of his birth, which is entirely fabu-
lous. There appeared, it seems^ to Tarchetius, king of the Albans^
who was the most wicked and most cruel of men, a supernatural
vision in his own house, the figure of Priapus rising out of the chim-
ney hearth, and stajring there many days. The goddess Tethys had
an oracle in Tuscany*, which being consulted, gave this answer to
Tarchetius: That it was necessary some virgin should accept of the
embraced of the phantom, the fruit whereof would be a son, eminent
for Talour^ good fortune, and strength of body. Hereupon Tatche-
tins acquainted one of his daughters with the prediction, and ordered .
her to entertain the apparition ; but she declining it, sent h«r maid.
When-Tarehetius came tc^ know it, he was highly offended^ and con-
fined them both^ intending to put them to death. But Vesta ap-
peared to him in a dream, and forbade him to kill thebi ; but or-
dered thut the young women should weave a certain web in theif
fetters, and, when that was done, be given in marriage. They
weaved, therefore, in the day-tiffle ; but others, by Tarchetlus's or-
ders, unmrelied it in the night. The woman having twins by this
commerce, Tarchetius delivered them to one Teratius, with orders
to destroy them. But, instead of that, he exposed them by fl rivet
Mb, wh^re a she-wolf came and gave them suck, and various sorts
of birds hnmght fbod tod fed the infknts, till at last a herdstoad,

* Tbcr» w»9 n« oracle of Tctbyi, bat of Themis tli«re was. Themis wu the nm%
«itb Cer<Dent«, the motli« of fi^andei;, which Uit name she had, because she dcliTtre4
hct ondcs in imimdme. In v€raes.

Vot.1. No. 11- »

,*-

66 FLtTAKCaV LIVE*.

who beheld these wonderfol ihir^. tciiictciJ to approach and t
up the children. Thus secured frx's: duiker, they pvir up, and tl
attacked Tarchetius, ai>d overcame iiiai. Tbia is the account F
matbion gives in his Hlstorrofltalv.

But the principal pans of that account, which deserve the in
credit, and ba^'e the most i:'oacbrrs, «-ere first published among
Greeks by Diodes the Pepaicthian, Kiwro Fabius lector comioo
follows; and though thue are diSWicnt relatiaas of the matter, j
to dispatch it in a few words, the stwy b this : The Idngs of A
descending lineally from JEotts, the tuccessioo fell to two brothi
Nutnitor and Amulius. The latter divided the whole inhcritai
into two parts, setting the trcasuirs brought from Troy against
kingdom; and Numicor made choice of the kingdom. Amuliuitl
having the treasures, and consequently being more powerfiil d
Numitor, easily possessed himself of the kiogdum too, and fear,
the daughter of Numitor might hare children, he appointed i
priestess of Vesta, in which capacity she was always to lire unm
ricd, and a virgin. Some say her name was Ilia, some Rhea, i
others Sylvia. But she was soon discovered to be with child, o
trary to the law of the vestals. Autho, the king's daughter, by mi
entreaty, prevailed with her father that she should not he ci4»b
punished. She was confined, however, and excluded from socii
lest she should be delivered without Amulius's knowledge. Wl
her time was vompleled, she v^-as delivered of two sons of uncoms
size and beauty; whereupon AmuUus, still more alarmed, orde
one of his servants to dcitroy them. Some say the name of t
servant vns Fuustulus; others, that that was the name of a per
tliat took them up. Pursuant to his orders, he put the cliildreo i:
a small trough or cradle, and went down towards the river, wit
design to cast them in; but seeing it very rough, and ruHning,wh
strong current, he was afraid to.ipproach it. lie therefore taidth
down near the bank and departed. The fluud increasing contiDual
set the trough afloat, and carried it gently down to a pleasant pL
now called Ccrmanum, but formerly (;is it sltould seem) Genaanu
denoting that the brothers arrived there.

Niw this place was a wild fig-tree, which llicy called Rumina
either on account of Romulus, as is generally supposed, or hceai
the rattle there niminatcd, or elicwcd the cud, during the noontt
in the shade ; or rather because of the xuckling of the children the
for the ancient tatiiis called the breast ruina, and the goddess «
presided ovfr tin- nursery Kurailia *, wIk»c rites they celebrate wii
out wine, and only uiih libations of milk. Tlie infants, as the ati
* llir Rvnasi callai] ihii guddcit not A4twlia, but Jtumiiw.

ROMULUS. 67

goes, lying there, were suckled by a she-wolf, and fed and taken care
of by a wood-pecker. These animab are sacred to Mars, and the
wood-pecker is held in great honour and veneration by the Latins.
Such wonderful events contribuied not a little to gain credit to the
mother's report, that she had the cliildren by Mars; though in this
they tell us she was herself deceived, ha^ng suffered violence from
Amulins, who came to her, and lay with her in armour. Some say^
the ambiguity of the nurse's name gave occasion to the fable; for the
Latins call not only she-wolves but prostitutes lup^j and such Was
.Acca Larentia, the wife of Faustulus, the foster-father of the
children. To her also the Romans offer sacrifice, and the priest of
Mars honours her with libations in the month of Aprils when th^y
celebrate her feast, Larentialia.

They worship also another Larentia, on the following account.
The keeper of the temple of Hercules having, it seems, little else to
do, proposed to play a game at dice with the god, on condition that^
if he won, he should have something valuable of that deity; but^ if
he lost^ he should provide a noble entertainment for him, and a beau-
tiful woman to lie with him. Then throwing the dice, first for the
god^ and next for himself, it appeared that he had lost. Willing,
however, to stand to his bargain^ and to perform the conditions
agreed upon^ he prepare^ a supper, and engaging for the purpose
one Larentia, wlio was very liandsome, but as yet little known, he
treated her in the temple, where he had provided a bed, and, after
supper, left her for the enjoyment of the god. It is said, that the
deity had some conversation with her, and or^pred her to go early in
the morning to the market-place, salute the first man she should
meet, and make him her friend. The man that met her was one far
advanced in years, and in opulent circumstances, Tarrutiusby name,
who had no children, and never liad been married. This man took
Larentia to his bed, and loved her so well, that, at his death, he left
her heir to his whole estate, which was very considerable; and she
afterwards bequeathed the greatest part of it by will to the people.
It it said, that at the time when sh|e was in high reputation, and con-
sidered as the favourite of a god, she suddenly disappeared about the
place where the former Larentia was laid. It is now called Ve-
labrum, because the river often overflowing, they passed it at this
place, in ferry-boats, to go to the Forum. This kind of passage
they call velatura. Others derive the name from velum, a saO,
beeuise they who have the exhibiting of the public shows, beginning
at Velabrum, overshade all the way that leads from the Forum to the
Hippodrome with canvas ; for a sail in Latin is velum. On these ac-
tooits is the second Larentia so much honoured among the Romans.

I

rhii'lf' n ^sr.-.v-.i; r.rn:':.^.: v!;^:: ■ ;r -u-iirr. is ;r:«tir5 tici iiisjiuei pro-

bahiii'y asscr, N'iT.. '.* ■t/ii'v "t ■':• »ii -^tf ir»r. laii privately >ap-

plied thft n*ce*..ijit^i :'.r •.-.cir xal::- i-.:ni:;i. I*, -a i*js^3 juid GMtf liey

were sent to G':;/.!- u-*.i -^er* Irjr^-i:-^:: ■.: Icrivirs- isd :r'ier b

ftf education ft^!u.'.> :> v.tir ii:".i : uiu . l«:r* iiizzczr.s as. that

had the na<Ti«:^ of Rcci^l^ a::il R^-nu:-, :' :ci r.ie :^..: or ciic

animal which they were i^en :2 ?.-..i. Tl:< Icau j jjlli ii^caxtf of

their (ierv>Mj ev^r* ia th<*L- ciil il.o.*:- ;r:c:i5cc i ^^emus m

tion; and, as tvj; grew lj.. tl.ey i»-ci. i^o.verri grsar ct3CLra|

bravcryj with an ::icllria:;i-.a to t-Xr'^.-i*: i* ir.isijci.ii«I a spirit

nothing could su'ry!>ie. B-it K :«%::. ^«^5 5«iTfx^ sicne ro culizivie the

priw^rs of rea^.on. and to es'reL i:; ^cliilcal kzovLcd^: wkilsty b?

his dep^irtmert among hi? r.ei^h:^:.ur>, Ln ^le cxpiovicents of pas-

I turagc and huntiri;;^ be convinced '\.tm lu: he wdj bom to oooi-

' mand rather t^ian to obey. To ihcLT eqaals aiid isixcrion tlkfj be*

I I havcd very c^firteously; but tbt-y duplscd :h.e kiag's >>aniff^ ^^

V| rhjef herdsmen, as n';t superior to ihcniiclres in courage, though

tbey were in authority, disre^dlrg at occe their threats and thdf
anger. They applied themscives to generous e:&erciscs and pomikay
Uiitkiug upon ifthnt-ss ai.i ina. :ivity as illiberal things, bat on bant-
ing, running, hani.shing or apprehending robbers, and delivering sodl
Hb wrrc op|ircsM:d by violence, as the employments of honour ui.
. virtue. Bf these things they gained great renown.

A dispute arising between the herdsmen of Xumitor and Amolioip

nnd the forinrr having driven away sonic cattle belonging to the Ut«

trr, FCuniuIus and Kcmas fell upon them, put them to flight, and Te«

rovrrrd the greatest part of the booty. At this conduct NuBiitOC

I WHS highly offended; but they littl:.* regarded his resentment. The

lirM sU'pji iliey took on this occasion were to collect, and receive Into

their coni|Niny, persons of desperate fortunes^ ond a great number of

d RlnvrH; n mciiNure wliich gave ularniing proofs of their bold and aedi*

tiouM inrliiiiitidiiN. It liuppcMied, that when Romulus waa employed

ill Miniliciiig, for to that and divination he was much inclined,

I Nmnilnr's lierdsuu-n met witii Kenius, as he was walking with a

f hhihH retinur, and ti'll upon him. After some blows exchanged, and

' Wi>uiuN ((ivrti uuil received, Numitor's people prevailed, and look

J ReuiU!« puMoner. lie was carried before Numitor, and had aereral

Ihiiig"* hiiil to hi^ elmrge; hut Numitor did not choose to punish hiui

hiiiiM'll, for fvar of his brother's resentment. To him, therefore, ho

applied ft»r ju«^iiee, which he had all tlie reason in the world to es*

f }^w\% siuee, thtMi)tli biudicr to thi' reii^ning prince, he had been in*

3 luie J hy hi^ i^crvanisi, who presumed upon his authority. The peo*

I

ROMULUS. 69

pte of Aiba, moreover, expressing tlicir uneiisiiiess, nnd ililuking tlint
NuDiiiur HuUVred grreal inttigiiiucs, Amtilius, luovi-cl wiili ilieir com-
plaints, delivered Kemus to hliii, (o be treated as he xliuuld iliink
jJToper. Wlien thff youth was conducted to iiis house, NuniUor was
gtentiy »(riiek with his appeiirHiicc, as lie whs very nniarkiihli- for
^Ke mid strength ; he observed, too, his presence of mind, Kiid tiie
ttMtdiness of his looks, which twd nothing servile in them, nor were
altered with the sense of his present dun^r; and he was informed
tluit his aetions and whole behaviour were suiUible to what he saw.
But, uhin'i.' all, some divine influence, Rs It seems, directing the be*
giiiuingj of the great events that were to follow, Kumilor, by his
sagacity, or by a fortunate conjecture, suspecting tlie iruth, ques-
tioned him concerning the circunistiinc-es of his birlh; speaking
mildly at the saiue time, and regarding him with a gracious eye. He
lioldly answered, " I will hide nothing from you, for you behave in u
more princely manner than Amulius, since you hear and examine
before you punish; but he has delivered us up without inquiring into
tlic mailer. 1 have a iwin-brotlier, and herelotore we bt-licved our-
selves the sons of Faustulus and Lareutia, servants to the king; but
since we were accused before you, and so pursued by slander ns to
be in danger of our lives, we hear nobler things concerning our
birth. Whether they are true, the present crisis will show. Om
birth is said to have been secret, our suppon in our infitncy miracn-
lou». We were exposed to Jiirds and wild beasts, nn9 by them
uourislieit; suckled by a she-wolf, and fed by the atlcniion of «
wood-pecker, as we ky in a trough by the grgat river. The trough
is still preserved, bound about with bras^ hands, and inscribed utth
letten partly ^cd ; wbicb may prove, perhaps, hereafter, very useful
tokens to our parents, when we arc destroyed. Numitor heariim-
this, and comparing the time with the young miin's looks, was con-
firmed iu the pleasing hope he had conceived, and considered how he
luigbt consult his daughter about this aflair; for she was still kept in
close cnsttKly.

Ht&nwhile Fausttilus, having heard Ihnt Remus was ftiken and
delivered up to punisiimcni, desired Komulus to nssist his brother,
iofotming liim then clearly of the piirticulsrs of his birth ; for before
he had only givin durk hintv about it, and signiBed just so much as
night take oET the attention of his waids from eviry thing that was
IDCUI. lie liimseirtook the trough, and in all the luniult of eon-
ouuMid fear, carried it to Numitor. H'ls disorder raised some sus-
picioD in the king's guards ui the guie, and that disorder increasing
while iboy looked earnestly upon him, and perplexed him with their
, be wu discovered to have a trough finder his cloak.

PLITARCH S LT\'E«.

There happened to be amonir them ooe of those who had it io
charge to throw the children into the riTcr, and w1k> was coaceroed
in the exposinp: of them. This man seeior the trough, and know-
ing it by its make and inscription, riehtiv guessed the business, and
thinking it an afiFair not to be ue^rlected, immediately aequunfed
the king with-it, and put him upon ir.quiring into it. I» these
pjeat and pressing difBeuhics. Fa;i>Tulus did not preserve eatirely
his presence of mind, nor yet fuHy ilisoover the matter. He ac-
knowledged that the children were sAvcd intleed, but said that tlicj
kept cattle at a great distance frotn Albu ; arid that he was carrying
the trough to Ilia, who had often desired to see it« that she might ea*
tcrtain the better hopes that her chilJren were alive. Mliattrer
persons peqilexed and aetuated with fear or anger use tosoAry
Amulius then suffered ; for in hi& hu*Ty he sent an honest maa^ a
friend of Numitor*s, to inquire of him whether he had any accoairt
that the children were &live. When the man was come, and saw
Remus almost in the embraces of Xumitor, he endeavoured to ooo-
firm him in the persuasion that the youth was really his giandsoaf
begging him, at the same time, immediately to take the best mea-
sures that could be thought of, and offering his best asristmncc to
support their party, llie occasion adiMtted of no delay, if diej kad
been inclined to it ; for Romulus was now at hand, and a gao#
number of the citizens were gathered about him, eitber out of ta*
tred or feaf of Amulius. He brought also a considerable force wA
him, dt%'ided into companies of a hundred men each, headed b^ aa
officer who bore a handfal of grass and shrubs upon a pole. These
the Latins call AioHipwIi; and heace it is, that to this day, soUSeia
of the same company are called &fanipiilares. Remus then, haTiog
gained those within, and Romulus asNauliing the palace withant,
the tyrant knew not what to do, or wliom he should consult, bat
amidst his doubts and perplexity was taken and slain. These parti-
culars, though mostly related by Fahius, and Diodes the Pepare-
thian, who seems to have been the first that wrote about the foond«
in|» of Rome, are yet sus|)cctcd by some as fabulous and groandlcss.
Perhaps, however, we sliould not be so incredulous, when we wte
what extraordinary events Fortune produces ; nor when we consider
what height of greatness Home attained to, can we think it coaM
ever ha\T lK*en effected without some supernatural assistance at fits!,
&nd an origin more than human.

Amulius hclng dead, and the troubles com|>oscd, the two bro-
thers were not willing to live in Alba without govciuing there, nor
yet to t.'tke the government upon them during their grandfiithcr'a
life. Having, tlierefore, iuvestrd him with it, and paid due ho-

ftOMULUS. 71

nours to their mother, thqr determiQed to dwell in a city of tlieir
own, and, for that purpose, to build one in the place where they
had their first nourishment. This seems, at least, to be the most
plausible reason of their quitting Alba; and perhaps, too, it was ne ;
cessary, as a great number of slaves and fugitives was collected
about them, either to see their afllairs entirely ruined, if these should
disperse, or with them to seek another Iiabitation ; for that the peo-
ple of Alba refused to pennit the fugitives to mix with them, or to
receive them as citizens, sufficiently appears from the rape o£ the
women, which was not undertaken out of a licentious humour, but
deliberately, ond through necessity, from the want of wives, since,
after they seized them, they treated them very honourably.

As soon as the foundation of the city was laid, they opened a
place of refuge for fu^tives, which they called the Temple of the
Asybean God. Here they received all that came, and would nei-
thtx deliver up the slave to bis master, the debtor to his creditor,
nor the murderer to the magistrate; declaring, that they were di-
rected by the oracle of Apollo to preserve the asylum from all viola*
tion. Thus the city was soon peopled; for it is said that the houses
at first did not exceed a thousand. But of that hereafter.

While they were intent upon building, a dispute soon arose about
the place. Romulus having built a square, which he called Rome,
would have the city there; but Remus marked out a more secure si-
tuation on Mount Aventine, which, from him, was caHed Remo-
nium, but now has tlie name of Rignarium*. The dispute was re-
ferred to the decision of augury ; and for this purpose they sat down
in the open air^ when Remus, as they tell us, saw six vultures, and
Romulus twice as many. Some say Remus*s account of the num-
ber he had seen was true, and that of Romulus not so ; but when
Remut came up to him, he did really see twelve. Hence the Ro-
mans, in their divination by the flight of birds, chiefly regarded the
vulture; though Herodorus of Pontus relates, tliat Hercules used
to rqoice when a vulture appeared to him as he was going upon any
great action. This was probably because it is a creature the least
mischievous of any, |iernicious neither to corn, plants, nor cattle.
It only feeds upon dead carcases, but neither kills nor preys upon
any thing that has life. As for birds, it does not touch them even

* We fiii4 no mentioB eitlier of Remoniam or Rignarivm ia any other writer. An

cnooymoiu M6. reads Remoria ; and Festns tells qs (De Ling. Latin, lib. ii.) the
siuBiniC of Mooat AventtBe was called Remaria, firom the time Remus resolved to

tho citj there. Bot Dionj^sios of Halicamassus speaks of Mount Aventine and

. M two diiflfbrent placet; and Stephanos wiU have Remoria to have been a city

s^ tktaaghboorbood of Rome.

fy Pl.l TARCH 3 LIVES.

when deHiI, h^-fausi: t)icy arc of its own nature ; while «aglcs, owls,
and liawks, tear and kill tlieir own kind ; and, us ^t;seliyliis has h,

WliDlbltd iickaiillmi lu11ui>-liir<J>i](*DUt*

Besides, oilier liirds arc frequently seen and may be fuund at nny
time; hut a vullure is an uneommou sight, and wc have sifldom
met with any of their young; so that the rarity of them has occa-
sioned an absurd opinion in some, that tliey come to us from otliw
countries; and sootlissyers judge every unusual appearance to U
preternatural, and the effeet of a divine pow-er.

Wlicn Remus knew that he was imiK>sed upon, he was highly

incensed, and as Komiilus was opening a ditch round the place where

the walls v.-ere to be built, he ridiculed some parts of the work, and

fll)«truetcd others-, at last, as he presumed to leap over it, some say

1^ fell by the hand of Romulus ; others, by (hat of Celer, one of liis

I tfonipanioDs. Faustulus also fell in the souffle; and Plisttnus, who,

ring brother to Faustulus. is said to have assisted in bringing Ro-

f tBQluB up. Celer fled into Tusi-any; and from him, sueh as are swifk

of foot, or expeditious in business, are by the Romans called eeteres.

Thus when Quinlus Metejlus, within a few days after liis father's

ilcath, pruvidril a show of gladiators, the people admiring his quick

tUspateli, gave him the name of Celer.

Romulus buried his brother Remus, toother with his foster-
fathers, in Rcmonla, and then built his city, having sent forpersoiu
ftoia Hetruria, who (as is usual in sacred mysteries), according lo
ftatcd ecrt-monics and written rules, were to order and direct how
I ercry thing was to be done. First, a circular ditch was dug about
r what is now called the Comitium, or Hall of Justice, and the fint
I firults of every thing that is reckoned either good by use, or nece«-
117 hy nature, were cast into it; and lh«n each bringing a smsU
quantity of the earth of the country from whence he came, threw it
j In pramiseuouly*. This ditch had the name of Mundus, the same
I with that of the untverae. In the next place, they innrkcd oat the
olty, like a circle, nniiul this ccnirc; and the founder having fitted t»
ft plough a braacii plough-share, and yoked a bull and cow himself,
drew a deep furrow round the boundaries. The business of thoM

• 0.id d«a MM my u **. ■ hudfil ot lh> tulh «iEh had broagbl Ml of ha mm \

la til pinion, UhI hj 1]

T ■daanuk<a lh< Iwuti •{ rha «
Mn far ll<*ii riUa«.<iii>ra* M Ab

tk*«*«Itn bilB • ^i4f n>

in( llw £nl liudt mat ■ haadfyJ of Mriti nto It

i>«i«Fi«Mp«naa<th« MtM.udk

ROMULUS. 73

thai followed was to turn all tlie clods raised by the plough mwards
to the city, and not to suffer any to remain outwards. Tills line de-
scribed tlic compass of the city; and between it and tlie walb is a
space called, by contraction, Pomerium, as lying behind or beyond
the wall. Where they designed to have a gate, they took the plough-
share out of the ground, and lifted up the plough, making a break
for it. Hence they loot upon the wall as sacred, except the gateways.
If they considered the gates in the same Uglit as the rest, it would be
deemed unlawful either to receive the necessaries of life by them, or
to carry out what is unclean.

The day on which they began to build the city is universally al-
lowed to be the twenty-first of April, and la celebrated annually by
the Romans as the birt)i-day of Rome. At first, we are told, ihey
(sacrificed nothing that had life, persuaded that they ought to keep
the snlcmnity sacred to the birlh of theif country pure, and without
bloodshed. Nevertheless, before the city was built, on that same
day, they had kept a pastoral feast called Palilia'. At present, in-
deed, there is very Utile analogy between the Roman and the Gre-
cian months; yet the day on which Romulus fouudcd the city is
strongly affirmed to be the thirtieth of tlie aionth. On tltat day,
too, wc are informed there ^vas a conjunction of the sun and moon,
attended with an eclipse, the same that was obsencd by Antimachus,
the Tcian \yxt, in ihe third year of the sl^th Olympiad.

Vurro, the philosopher, who of all the Ronmns was most skilled
in history, had an acquaintai.cc named Tarulius, who, besides bis
knowledge iii philosophy and the mathematics, to indulge his specu-
lative turn, hud applied himself to ustrolugy, and was thought to bo
a perfccl master of it. To Iiiin Varro proposed to find out the day
and hour of Romulus 's birth, making his cidculution from the known
events of his life, as prolih'ms in geometry are solved by the analytic
method; for it belongs to the same science, when a man's nativity
is given, to predict his life, and, when his life is given, to find out
his nativity. Tarutius complied with the request; and when he had
eoaiidered the dispositions and actions of Romuhis, how long he
lived, and in i^hnt manner he died, and had put all these things toge-
ther, he affirmed, without doubt or he^iitation, that his conception
was in the fir« year of the second Olympkid, on tlie twenty-third
diy of die month which the Egyptians call Choeac, Dccemher, at

e P.n!iB. Of Feast of Pntc), is HiuFinn mJIcd Prnilin. from rhc Ijiio naril
t, (• Mug fr'di, bccmiic pnytii vi-tt lUta mnde fur Ibe frwil fill new of llic sheep.
M Olid (,FiuI. lib. ii.> Ihe ilKphrrdi tben nmitc a greal feiit ot night. unJ
ciDdnikd lb« wbolo irith diacing vter iLe 6nt tliey Litd made ia Ilie li«ldi niib heapt

1

Vol. 1. No. II.

J

74 PLUTARCH S LIVES,

t ■

the third hour, when the suu was toially eclipsed* j and that
birth was on the twenty-third day of the month Tbothj September,
about sunrise; and that he founded Rome ou the ninth of the mondi
Pliarinuthi, April, between the second and third hourf; for it is
supposed that the fonunes of cities, as well as men, haTe their proper
periods determined by the positions of the stars at the time erf thctf
nativity. These and tlie like relations may, perhaps^ rather please
the reader, because they are carious, than disgust him^ because tbcy
arc fabulous.

When the city was built, Rcmulus divided tlie younger part of the
inhabitants into battalions. Each corps consisted of three thouud
foot and three hundred horse, and was called a legicMiy because the
most warlike persons were selected t- The rest of the multitude he
called The People. An hundred of the most consideiable dtSKBS
he took for his council, with the tide of Patricians B, and the whole
body was called the Senate, which signifies an Assembly of Old lien.
Its ineaihers were styled Pauicions, because, as some say, they
fathers of free-born children; or rather, according to others,
cause they themselves had fathers to show, which was not the
with many of the rabble that first flocked to the city. Otheia
the. title from Potroviniumy or Patronage, attributing the oifgin of
the term to one Patron, who came over with Evander, and was n*

* Thrrr wii« mi tottil rcTip»r of t'.o «vn iu '.he fir?t ycir cf tLc scond OljBpudt bit
In III* urcoiiil vtixr ttt' Hm OiMnpijii ll;cre wa«. It Ronaliu was conceived m tht
^rar l««t iitiiir«l. it will agrre wiili tlie cohidud vincioo, that he was 18 jtmn old whoi
hr fniinilril Home, and that Rome w.is founAd in the a»t Tcai of IM s«^enili €Hym^iaL
\ 'llirre m grrtit di^.i^rcemont Among lli^lol:;ln» aud cbruoa I osiers as to tbo ycv of
llir luuiiiUiion ot' Uoiiio. Ynrro pl.icc« it lu :hc tlurd \tfar ci the aiatb OljBpiidi
7\i \caik lirtoif (hr CliriNtiHii * r.i ; aiul V..biu« rii::i-ry \v!.u 15 the moat snaent of all
llir liniiiun wrilin. uiul tollowod bv tlir Icariird IM.rr, ^bcc* it In the md of tW
•rvriiOi OlMitpiatl, wluih. aiv't^rthn^; Im ihal prelate, yt^i In the year of lite woild.
•nil 749 hrfnre (^)iri^t. Uut Pit>iiy»iu« of Hahcarna553s, Svlioai^ and Euebias^
It in tkr firM ^car of the ■evciith Olynipiail.

t Initratl of this, Dihiixmu* uf llulK-urna««u» tdlf u« ('.h. ii. p. 76.) tbe whole
Imiy ruiitiMrd of but :»;UH) lurii. 'riu>o Uoniulu» <i:v:i!c«i into three equal parts, which
ha called tiihes or thirds eiuhof which w«* to he ccromjr.Hed by its prefect or tr&boM.
The trdies were divided into ten ciiria«. and the«e subdivided into ten decnriB. The
liumlH*r of houM », or ralhrr hiit». whuh wa> hut a thousand, biars witness to the tnlh
Of DiiinTiiua'i auerliou. llut it it probable the mean rahble «ho io«ik tke protectioa of
I ha atyluiO. and who might hr vcr^ nuinf rous» were not reckoned among the S5O0 ilH
col«iiu«t«, thiiii|(h they were allerwHid» admitted to the priTiJrgcs of cilizrns.

I Tha clioica of these hundred per«ons was not made by the king himself: Mch
IrilM- ehoie ihiar •rnatora, and earh oi the thirty curi» the like nunit*er. which «adc ia
•M the nuiaher of ninety-nine ^ so that Ronnlu* named only the hundredth, who «M
the head, or prince ol the Kuatc» and the chief (uvcriMr of the Qiy, when Ihc Ui^
was ia Uic field.

ROSIULUS. 77

S SylUl, the CartUaglniaii, a man beloved both hy llie Muses ami
ices, told me that tbis (vas the wwd which Rumulus gare as a
ml for the rape. All of them, thcrerorc, as they were carrying
f llie virgins, cried out Talasiiis ; and thence it slill continurs the
Btom at unarriagcs. Most writers, however, and Juba in particu-
; of opinion, that it is only an incitement to good housc-
Kfcry uiiil spinning, w)]t(.-h tite pord Tatasia stgniiics ; Italian
Wnw being at that time thus mixed with Greek. If this lie right,
pd tli<; Romans did then use the word Talasia in the same s«nse
B tiic Greeks, anotlier and more probable reason of the custom
by be assigned. For when tiie Sabines, after the war with the
, were reconciled, conditions were obtained for the women,
t they should not be obliged by their husbands to do any other
Brk besides spinning. !t was customary, therefore, ever after,
t Uioy who gave the bride, or conducted lier home, or were pre-
tht on (he occasion, should cry out, amidst tlie niirth of the ived-
, Ttttasiua; intimating that she was not to he employed in any
nbour but that of spinning. And it is a custom still observed for the
bride not to go o\'cr ilie ilire&hold of her husband's house herself,
but to be carried over, because the Sabine virglus did not go in vo-
mtarily, but were carried in by violence. Some add that iFie
s hair is parted with the point of a spear, in memory of the
ht marriages being brought about in a warlike manner, of which
|! have spokcu more fully In the Book of Questions. TTiis rape
B committed on the eighteenth diiy of the month then called Sex-
En, now August, at which tttne the feast of the Consualia Is kept,
i The Sabines were a numerous and warlike |H.'ople, bul they dwelt
■.unmilled townii, thinking it became them, wlio were u colony of
: Ldcediemonians, to be bold and fearless, But as they saw
ielves bound by such pledges, nitd were very solicitous for
Ir daughters, they sent ambassadors to Itumulus with modcrale
3 citable demands : That he slK>uld return theiu the young wo-
, aitd diaat'ow the violence, and tJicii the tno nations should
wd to esUtbli.^h a corrcspomienec, and contract aUiancei ia a,

Sendly and legal way, Romolus, however, refused to pari with

the yoting women, and entreated the Sabines to give ikeir sanction

to what had been done; whereupon some of theoi lust time in con-'

foiling and making preparations. But Acron, king of the Cenl-

^■Bsians, a man of spirit, and an abk general, suspected the tcn-

^■icy of Romalus's first enterprises ; and, when he had behaved

HSlwIdly in the rape, looked upon him as one that would grow for-

nidabje, and, Indeed, insufferable to his neighbours, extent he

ncre clwstlsed'. Acrio, therefore, weat to seek the encmi^ and

ys Plutarch's i,xvt9.

Romulus prepared to tcccire him. When (iwy csme id sight, and
had well viewed each other, a challenge for single combsl was mu-
tually given, their forces staoding nodet arms in silence. Romaloi,
on this occasion, made a rem, that if he cooqoered his cncmj-, he
would himself dedicate his adverMjy's arms to Jupiter ; in conse-
quence of which, he both overcame Acron, and, after ihe hattle
was joined, routed his army, and took his city ; but he did no injury
to its inhabitants, unless it w^re such to order them to demolish
their houses, and follow him to Rome, as citizens entitled to ^u>l
privileges with the rest. Indeed, there was nothing that contributed
more to the greatness of Rome, than that she was always uniting
and incorporating with herself those whom she conqnercd. Romu-
lus having considered bow he shoald perfonn lits row in the most
acceptable manner to Jupiter, and withal m.ilic the procession most
agreeable to his people, cut down a great oak that grew in the camp,
and hewed it into the figure of a troiihy ; to this lie fastened Acron's
whole suit of armour, disposed in its proper form ; then he put OD
his own robes, and wearing a crown of laurel on his head, his hair
gracefully flowing, he took the trophy erect upon his right shoulder^
and so mniched on singing the song of victory before his troops, which
followed completely armed, while the citizens receired him with
joy and iKlminttJon. This procession wns the origin and model of
future triumphs. The trophy was dedicated to Jupiter Feretrios,
to called from the I^iin word _/wfr*r* to smite ; for Romulus had
prayed that he might hare power to smile liis adversary, and kill
him. Varro says this sort of spoilt ia termed opiotaf, from opts,
which siguififs Mrhes; hut, more probably, they are so styled ftom
t^/tts, the meat.ing of whicii ia action ; for when llie general of an
«rmy kills the enemy's general with his own hand, then only ii he
allowed to consecrate the spoils called opima, as the sole performer
of that action. This honour has been conferred only on three Ro-
niiiu chiefs ; first on Romulus, when he slew Acron the Centnen-
wina i mxt, on Cornelius Cossus, for killing Tolumnius the Tuscan j
■od lastly, on Claudius Msrcellus, when Viriciomatu^, king of the
Gauls, fell by his hand. Cossus and Mnrcellus bore, indeed, th«
trophies themselves, but drove into Rome iff tritimphal chariots.
But Dioiiysius is mistaken In saying that Uonuilus made use of •

• Of (mm Iho word frm, I

, btc*PM Romului had l>iiu*tf carried tg

Orwt i>aid fhintm, vfaUh Lirj nllt ia Lailn /fml-n

t FdiHi •IcniMtke word »f
yn4BM^ N Ural <^aa fBi,

m rp, vti'icb (igniflci th< t»rth, and Iht A
•ceoidloi u (Iwt wriwr. iifiiif> tUb ipoih.

ROMULUS* 79

chariot; for some historians assert that Tarqainius^ the sonofDe-
maratusj was the first of the kings that advanced triumphs to this
pomp and grandeur. Others say, Publicola was the first that led up
his triumph in a chariot. However, there are statues of Romulus bear*
ing these trophies yet to be seen in Rome, which are all on foot.

After the defeat of th^ Ccninenses , while the rest of the Sa«
bines were busied in preparations, the people of Fidenffi, Crustume-
nium, and Antemnse, united against the Romans. A battle ensued^
in which they were likewise defeated, and surrendered to Romulus
their cities to be spoiled, their lands to be divided, and themselves
to be transplanted to Rome. All the lands thus acquired he distri-
buted among the citizens, except what belonged to the parents of the
stolelP^ virgins ; for those he left in the possession of their former
owners. The rest of the Sabines enraged at this, appointed Tatius
their general, and carried war to the gates of Rome. The city was
difficult of access, having a strong garrison on the hill where the
Capitol now stands, commanded by Tarpeius, not by the virpn
Tarpeia, as some say, who in this represent Romulus as a very weak
man. However, this Tarpeia, the governor's daughter, charmed
with the golden bracelets of the Sabines, betrayed the fort into their
hands, and asked, in return for her treason, what they wore on their
left arms. Tatius agreeing to the condition, she Opened one of the
gates by night, and let in the Sabines. It seems it was not the sen-
timent of. Antigonus alone, who said, '^ He loved men while they
'* were betraying, but liated them when they had betrayed j" nor
of Caesar, who said, in the case of Rhymitalces the Thracian, ^< He
*^ loved the treason, but hated the traitor;" but men are com-
monly aflected towards villains, whom they have occasion for, just
as they are towards venomous creatures, which they have need of
for their poison and their gall. While they are of use they love
them« but abhor them when their purpose is effected. Such were
the sentiments of Tatius with regard to Tarpeia, when he ordered
the Sabin^ to remember their promise, and to grudge her nothing
which they had on tlicir left arms. He was the first to take off his
bracelet and throw it to her, and with that his shield. As eveiy one
did the same, she was overpowered by the gold and shields tlirown
upon her, and, sinking under the weight, expired. Tarpeius, too^
was][taken, and condemned by Romulus for treason, as Juba writes
after Sulpitius Galba. As for the account given of Tarpeia by other
writera, anoong whom Antigonus is one, it is absurd and incredible.
They say that Ate was daughter to Tatius the Sabine general, and,
being compelled to live with Romulus, she acted and suffered thus
by her father's coiitrivance. But the poet Similus makes • most

TAic^5 irrn.

Fran tfer piice ->^:t Tirwa «15 i^ifd. i^ ka kai

time few S>c«* ««« Tn-xrrei. ir£ ?.- h i.-« zur bb,_ : . ^ntvp* i

is snil ^-aV.ci theTiTTwws !\>:i- TV< Si:ra»Tr^ p-.-.i>-v:rtJ rf
foet. RoRi'alas. i** cnrsT fz*j. :*i'^i "•;— tar:*- *r-^ -^ T>t)«t

osf hews* wvTMe-J; iT>i. •?nfe^5. :^ *7»r» ire w^'i '-_ «-% toi
pi^ Kir; *cm.---.-.*;i »n>. 1--1!'.* wm.-i r.- rrctcis* . ..'>. »i«ie» •

let* wf:* jp txTTCw. :Sat ;; w»* >,-: os» trAer xoix a
It 1uii>pf itAl «*.», -.K.-.t 1 fr« i.y^ ^e?rtr;. ->w rtnr bud
»nA left X iSewp i=»:4 en iV^^ rlii:; ■Senc the FonLn nov
wltioht as it *r:t cxirem! ■:iV 1 >.t3«:, «r» bm ntifr
by the eye. hwiat tl«esa3jet^~f ^-u «(i -^zier^fCxA, tat
We to pa*'. "Hie SaVires. ictvnrt oe'tSis. »ir« pastiof
if. hut by }r>xJ toiiure wienf prvretreJ : tVt Currias. * n
distinction aiij spirit, be::-;: irv-a-:eij ca x px^ twr-v,
ci>ttsUer;il>Ie way before she uj;. IVwe-t'i >':* KirN< [Jansv^
theOoiieli, nml tW ■ «rli:le ht ey.ieaT.urfJ wJiwiL.r-^-r Him,
rourafrin^ liiiu with h;s Tcice. ard i-'jnri hia « •'. I'.-'wi.
fiiiilii));an Iih-fK-etual, lie .;.;'::t»i hin-. .-.r.J sivid ; :. ,(;f. Fima
lilin the p!«ce to t)ii» vefj- time U esiUi ihe Cjn'.i;-. LiVo. Tbe
2inl>itie«, liavinjresoaped:];;s i?jn^r. ixjraa the£i:L: -. :l. trreat hf»-
*TIT. 'ilic \ii-tw inrllneJ ui iK:t!-,er »i<fe, ti..::ucit n-._; v n-rrc shSOf'
ami. aimnii; ilie rr>t, llt'»tiliii*. uh», they say. t<>^- biufc^nd te'
lleisilia, auJ i;nitulfjther ti> tl:.-.: ilivtii-us whoTetgT:^^; cfu-r Xuma.
It is priilviMe there were many n;hci Uinlo in a ihon time ; hnt,
(he iiiml niemoialiltf va* the Ust, in which Ronulai hniag nJ
eeiveJ a liKw \i)H>n the heatl with a stone, «-as almcAt beatea dnm
to the (pxmnd, anj no longer able to iippose the enemy ; then Aa
Romifis givc viv, and irere driven b«m tbe plain u te ts the H^

80 Plutarch's lives.

¥

t^gregious blunder, when he says Tarpeia betrayed the Capitol, not
to the Snbincs, but to the Gauls, having fallen in love with their
king. Thus he writes.

From her high dome* Tarpeia, wretched msid^
To t)ie fell Gauli, the Capitol bciray'd;
Tiie hip!tfM viciiiD of uDchasle desire«ff
She lust the fortress of her scepter'd sires.

Aud a little after, concerning her deaths

No amorous Celt, no fierce BaTariaD bore

The fair Tarpeia to his slorrny shore;

Vress'd by thofe shields whose splendoar she odarir*d.

She sunk, and in the shming death eapir'd.

From the place where Tarpeia was buried, tlie hill had themiM
orTarpcinn, till Tarquin consecrated the place to Jupiter, aAKiA
time luT lK>ncs were removed, and so it lost her name, esccpt dM
^mrt of the Capitol fn)m which malefactors are thrown dowDj wUd
is still called the Tarpotan rock. The Sabines thus possessed <tf As
fort« Rtmiulus, in great fury, offered them battle, which TadoiAl'
Ui^t decUne, a9 he saw he had a place of strength to retreat toll
cnse ho was wi>rstcil ; and. indeed, the spot on which he waa tott*
gn^co Wing surrounded with hills seemed to promise on both sida t
idiAip and MiKxly ixMitt^t, because it was so confined, and the (MP
lots woix^ so narr(ni\ that it ^-as not easy either to fly or to ptfrMr
It hap)HMUHl tixK th:it a few da^-s before, the river had d^rerlkMiC
and loft a dot^p mud on the plain where the Forum now afttK^
whioh« as it w.^s otnorod with a crust, was not easily diaeofOllF
by tho oyw but at the same time was soft underneath, and impTMliUi^
Mo to jvisx. •I'ho Sabinos« ignorant of this, were pushing forwardttloi
if. but by gtxxl fortune were prevented; for Curtins, a man of li^'^
diNiinotion .uul sinrii, boinjr mounted on a good horse, advanecdi'
*NM<NiJoi:\Mo way Ivfvw tho vc>t. Presently his hoisc plongcd laltf'
\\w ^Un^^:^. aitd fv^r a while ho onJeavoured to disengage him, dlH^
*N*«^;^itV.: Iiini uith his wloo. and urging him with blows, htl^\
«ndit>j5 M incrtWtUAK ho »;.;i:tod him. and saved himself. FWldl
him tho pU.v to this wry v.iwo U called the Cunian Uke. Tta*
Nrtbinox. hax ii^g o»eaiHsl :l;:s oAnjx r, began the fight with grcst h*^
\vn Hio \ JetxM> inoMrox! tx- tu::her side, though many wm sUh^
And. nmotu: tlu- ivxt. lKy.:iau<. %^h.\ they sav, was husband «^
UotxilM. u>a ^<i^u.!f,it5ui totl .;; H.y^-ilxs who Kigned after NadS^
li txpoKiMo tlwMvxx.ir nwi^y e.hoi Ivittle* in a short time; ME
tho nu^xt luouuMnlOe ^,;* the Ux:. in which Romulus having wS
o M.sl * hUx u,sM, r;,o ,,,.^a ^:.y^ ^ ^^^ ^^ ^j^^^^ ^^^ ^rJt

lo Oi,' ^iN^uuJ. ,v.^l «o lorcvi aMo to K^pixxse the enemv; then A^
K.>iu,*n. »;.^x V u AX . Aiul xt,';v ^i^tu Uv^cj Ae plain as te as the h^ *

H0KIUUJ9.

■m

miBUj-'^'

L- I'ill. Ily this time Romulus recovering from tha^i'>cii> rw

Kiured by force to stup liis men in thvir flight, and UntdL; -called

Upon tbem lo staad ntid renew tlic ^ngagctpeiit } but wli«n lie saw

the rout was ^neraly ainl ibul no one liud courage to fiitc (ibotit, iie

lifted up his Itaitds town itla heaven, and prayed ID Jupiier tu stop

tlie aimy, bimI to re-e«tablish nnd auiiiitutn the Htiman eaosa, n'hicll

was tiow ill e«ir«iiie dan^r. When ihe pmyer.was eud^ many of

the fugitives Were stroclt ivUh revenutce fur tlick kiu^^ and (heir fear

wiw cliao^ed into cotiTaM'. Tbvy first, smiipedwlwre now awnds

Uiu teniplft «>f Jupi^:^ Sutfoij sa culWd (torn his putting a stup to

^^1^ flighh There lltey cuijixgisd AK;iuif e^d tfpolqtMt liie Sabines tw

^Hmi^ the palace itow «Hlled Rq(w, and tbe temple of Vviibu

^^HVlitt'thvy viKXt piepaiiug iiore to reaew tlie ooBibat, with ih«

^mn^ uuiinofity ns at Urstj ilkfir aidvur w«.s rrprcss£4 by an aitltiiiUli-'

inu spectacle): whieli the powers of luoguage arc uoablfi 10 d^cfili^i

The d«U£hmfi of ihe Subincs, that had beep foicibLy «afti«d«if) ap*

UKarui^qmluii); thU WHy and that, wi|)i lou()cu(W aod laq^iitfnionsj

like jMrrsoiU' di^ttractcd, amldyt liic drawn svior^, aai ovei' -tfif dood

lwdii's> to vomc at ihi^ir husbands -aridfiitberfvV>i1«.c^i7if>9i'>'^^

^^^uits in their arms, sotiie i!:irting forwiirds witli dishevelled' LaUj

^^fa^ c&Uiiig-by turusi.both upon UiaSHtMoesHitdt^JlgnwrB byriie

^^^Uer^f Dames. Bofli ^ties lU^re <9itr£iuWyi)i>ttV«t^ ^MlrotHn

^^naude-foPtlKin betwucn tbe tw<^.«H»i^.' Tbtitr>,laiHCiVi^tiDiiff

(MeGCed to I he uUnost-rui)(ifi,.«Hd ul), v^£ deeply ^%KiteJff)HVtim-

L^ly wlirii ilwir upbraiding. and. cou4pfi4ut^. e<V)ed wuip^liiatioil

f^lrpaty. " What i^ieul iuj^r)' h^^^". >^^'e (^Wt^.ypUi" ^(1 '')'?>.

u have sulVered, and du still sulTt^f »q -OiiXo^ iui«cric&^. \y^

t oairicd ofT by ihosa who now Itavq us yiolciiitj' ^wl illegally:

r riiisrvitflunrir WG were oolong iiq;lccied-hy out'bnjihcM, out

^r», «id relutjuo;, tiiut wc n-ere mccsutAUid to unite ia,th«

tgiTKt ties- with ttiu»t^ tlist wer« ilic object'' -of our hBtrcd}-Hiid we

tow bivught to tremble far ihe uien tliat lia^iiuured us£Q-inu(fb>

■c them in danger, nnd lo Iiuiieiit ihem when they full:

Fyoa came not to dellrcT in frbm flolcnce *hifc virgins, or to

I* our cause, but now you tear (lii; wives from their husbands,

[ilie mothers from their cluldieiij an ossi^unce more grievious to

n all your neglect and disregard. Such love we cxperieDccd

01, and sueli compassion from you. Were the war under-

I in some other cause, yet surely you would stop its ra%'ages for

Ubo have made you fiit hers- in-law and grand fathers, or othciwisff

d you in some aeiu" alfinity to those whom you seek m destroy :

r the war be for us, take us, with your sons-in-law and llieU

trcn, and restore us to our patciiu and kiudrodj hue do ao^ w«

T0L,1. No. II. JL

fl |,«|<<I»— ).fTi<». ■!»«<< hull I miilMlMj
»ll>«i»^H— M««le laflte lllij*lJtt»«t^

MMiV WflMCS Vtfflip ^nw ^MC VfKn flMl# l^ttCl0 ^MiCI^MIflbl

him^mtitmtttm, fiNiiteUtiaMfi mfi i, nHiifc irgnlhi
TWAfli iniiiHii*«ttB»hCTrfifaiBlMfcibMai,— ■■■>Bl

tMdsMl ■nalBtf ««* iIkM fton tBoag the SiAiMa, aa*i^

n«tdw7 mn pnetidf tbire, •ppcan
Ami a* wry mib* of TAOf utd thtt of their chief ofliev*, «W
'UtrccklMTrfbmet. SmIi tribe eontalan] ten Orrto «r W«*,
*U«ft WfMHy were ctDedafter the SftbiaewoBwa. BotddiMeaa*
'to he fitlne; for manj of (hen have their umcs FrMn th« •nml
[ 'fBKTten of ihceitjr which were aatlgDcd to tfffo. Maajr booeanble

■ .■rim Ml tnry toftoBi oltiMM llMt*

li»tniAiMFUw«k>Atatttarc»cr( 600 )«»• pw bj 1U<
t»er HUf, H tiiy tlw, » Bunj b i^ •flba
w AnibktUni irVvr that Ikfjr fMV luM^
1^ tnl r.mr ekni ap !• 100. lit ih* uceiid place, ba Mlb w^ MM
natwi iMd> tb( lifiiin toconrirt of WOO foot; abcrcu, ia b» iimc. il wm Hnv
■ il.*n apM. Ir it (lid b? (M". tlt*( Multi •■■ lb* tm vho ruMd tlw t^iMta
U( bal L<</tnfu>a< u, llM ihat >ii(m<DMti*n «u iMdibjSnplD AyricMu,li^
irl Mailut. AFtn (ha capvltlon odlit liiofi. it *m iBtoenlrd ffun tbrM ■• fiw

anti Id

■. uid U

il if Scipla (u

I) ilm« but ujiw Ii>*Mlnt KCUloDi. nc >Ut«d lblc« of ■

! I.*M mIOm^

ethew: Thatti
tttbcni

lildfcns

»h«l«f which «

f which
ri'vboTireriltcjf
a I tJut they ^MMild not BKatlan an otMceoc word, or appear
1 bcfaR^thein; dui, ia oat of tbcir ktlUof any penon, Umjt
I oot ha tried b^ore the nrdiouy judges; wd thai tbcir
a should WMt aa onumeot abo«t their iKcka, nllcd BuUa*,
3 its UImdcss to A bubble, aod a garatcot bonkred with purple.
D luogc did oot prenatly tmhr ihcir couocik, each ramiogi
e lime, their hwidred Kiiotors apan; but afterwardt they all
nbled logetbet. Tstios dwelt when the umple of MooeU dow
I, aod Rooittltu by lUc steps from the Fair Shore, as they arc
l,ai fhe descent of the Palaunc Hill to the Great Citcos. There,
• MUtpew the sucred ooniel-trec, Uw bbulous acoount vf
1 i>a that Ronulus ooce, to tiy his itreof tfa, threw a spear,
etlMftwasaf oo(Del>wood, fromMauDtAventtuc Ut thai placet
k stack so deep in the grauad, that do qna caaJd
hnHuijt tried; and the soil being rich, so nouriahMl
1^ that k-afaot Ibrth bnmchea, and became a trunk uf cornrl
ibla bigoeas. This postnily pcescvTed wich « rdigiuu
ISA djingemiorDtly tarred, aitd therefore built a wall about it;
D Mijooe that approached it uw it not very flooriahiog and
I, but iiWi"'"g to fade and wither, he prescolly proclaimd It to
a ma^ who, as if they were to assist in case of fire, cried out tot
i faa from all quartan with full vesseLs to the placv. But
■ Caius C«sai oidcred the steps to be repaired, and the workmen
g near it, it is said they loadvcrteotlj iiyturd the roots in
uer, tiai the Uccwithcred away.
a fiabinea received tlie Roman iBooihs, Ali that is of Jmpor-
e on this subject is aicutioned is ibe life of Nuiiia> KomuluK,
c other ttandj came into the use of ihcir shields, niulcing an
laiiMi ia his own anaour, and that ef ilw RoouuDi, wio before
mas ^Htfkkfi, in the manner of the Greeks. Iliey mutually cele-
bfaiad caeii otbet s feasts and sacrifices, oot aboli^^hiiig those of
chbcr oatioa, but om and above appointing oioc new encs; one of
which is the MatroDaltaf, instituted is honour of the women, for

■ Till j<uui| SM, wlitn tbfjtoak apon lbc« t^T<iri ifriHi, cl nwb'i wb*. quitird
dw Btlla, vliicl) >* (iipptwd lo b^t Ikco • lillU IRm,i> k«II a( f«M, and ur.de nn
vttniut of it to tlK Dii Lttit a[ iMuwhoU (ud«. Aw lu ih* tmat», t nib< tdgFil
**dh purjJi, ii >M >orn b; gu\t iiU U*u tavat^e, uiS bj bo^ till ibcj irttr ae'rii-
•••D, B« «hM lu t>u tiiM «t Bemului ««• ( mnt of diMlnrttan foi the cB>ildiFii m!
B.k:_ _«_«. bccaine ifteti«*idi ttr} tamniBi fot •**« ib* dilldrca uf tb«

lbE8«bW

t Dwing tbii feui, tucb of ihe Rsnin

t^ wcsJTKd pionrti fiwa ib«f> linAiiad^ utb« bmlMmdi 414 ttA ilrii

PMiTAiirii'iilf\i:».

^mxy'^*j:v.fMf. «tn4t9tlii! wnr ; aiul iif)CNher» tiie Carmentftlii^* -iht^
ts b ^ c«itfO»'%opiHiiNKi 1(1 b« oiM oF the Destinies wto pvesito
ir.mwi fi««lviil«Cf fhfrHfird slie is panieularly- wArdliipped by
jD«^f i«r». Ijthcn Mfi ului was wifl* to Evander the AraMiwB»«iHl4
«MB^a MickiC'i In di^uUcHi, whorreciV>fd insplhitioAs frosi Apollo^
atb4 4clW«Mfl ertolffi In vrni<>) then^ ettlMCsrinenta, fer^SiMiMM
M^fifiiU «0f •»#/ but hi*r pfop^r lume, us is tgreed on all haadi, ^Mt
KioMtnatJi. ' l)«hif»i VKtttn, with ftrtater probability, iiS8eit,*that4ia
fof jQcriiaiifeiiivff f;l?aii 4d hcr« WcaiM she was distracted ^H c»S
tbmiaAiie f^rfi Iter f^ffKcr Nir»if i* sifnuifies A> be ibsmte^- 0f tlM
tebf'^r raliiifl'Wi^lii^ttlrflidy gU^eii an account. Asiilr A* Imptf^
ixlia^, by. Ilia tiinci' It shcHild seiHn tt^ be m (cast of laatriidoli';. JMl
nas et1ebnit«d on mie of iho iuaiii^pioivms days of the inoath-'^WflN
HMTf, vHilffh naiaa denotes it lo be tlic monih of Pyrifyiagv
daf««riia Ibrnrtcrly caNtfd bVbroiita« Hut the tnie-iMamii|
dUiaiia tlitf VvMt.of WilvcR; and it sccfus, for that fiMdmftfiaii^
tiory auoif nt', as n^celvcd from the Aicadisns^ who ca«a£%0Mri
KaandcTi This 4S the general opinion. But the term m^Jbm
rived trbtfi J^^phi a Mke^vnlf; for \fe see Uie LopcMi^
coiiMe from flu* piaoo where they sav H(HMii1us was e%poa<d> .«Hov«
evisr, if we eousider the uinemoiuo^, the reason of the^i
haiU io ftvte&s^ for, first, gouis are ki)M ; tht*n twoi
arl Inttochicedi andsdme areto stain their ^Hvhcads witlk«»'^
knito, others so \i'ipr uM the stain direeil>% with wool st
wMefrthcy bring IbrHhat purp«)se. When it is wiped oflTy
rhcff art* to Asajjfi^, AFt^r this they cut the goats^ skios i9t\]
aiiJ iim abitut all paktd, except thi'ir initi die. and iaah wklr^ttoio
ttioiijj» aH dicy 'Aieet. Hie y^'un« H-oinen avoid^noi the Briiilti.t'ar
they thiiik it-aNisrs cmiceptinn atid diild-birih. Another tMrigyiwf
per td'fhis- least iaj^iHr the lAip^rci to sarrittce a <li^. Buiaa^
his e4e;;tes1)M given a fabiilbus nceonut cvf tlie origin of «ho4l4
rnstftutioh^.-'Writes, (hht wlien KomuhiH had o%*ercomt«
Ihe tiiM^<i|)ai^i of^etory^ he'rsn-witli great ^pced-to the placie

the HifeU' ^Mtlcd Iflm^hni his bibtherwiien infants; aAd ^HiutnUi

• 'ii 1 • • ' « . • • •

# ■•

in tliciinir ttf \hr Sa'urnj1i«. Ai.ihe fc«iivAl vf the Maiional.* wji not only obirnrcd
in lionour ni ii^t? S«liinr'»uinrn/li^f c«u»«'rriUrc!*io TT^n, ind] A some %U! hive It, to
Juno Luciii 1. ««rr;ki i*« wrrrc otfrrci^ to lioih tfivc dvitiei. Tlut frasf waa tfic tnVrcttf
ni^racc't oae« ^/I'liu tfjr.'ek ouiJi^aM ra/rn^ij, Jcc.'and 0%i(f dMcrtbca it at fSraaHf
Ihr Sd bii.ik of F^iil.^^ I)Mi,er,Mji.*bv niUul*, ih«t |hU fvut wm kept oa the ant «i
Aptil iiiitasd'or ilie first of March^ and the former EnKliik aiinotater lua Tollowcd HSiaJ*

* Thii U a Tcr y tnlsmn fra»t, kr)it en llie 1 lili of January, under tbc Cd|aio1, Bosr die
Carniraul ^au. 1 licy ^' W^ ^^ *^ goUdeu to r«ndct tbeii woaen IhiitAiL ■«< t^
giro ihcm kai^py ib^livf ric^ ...

t tsU fc*tival wai le'tlcbrate^ on'tXie iltfi orFcbrvarjr. ia honoar of tbe |o4 Tui^' '

HOMULUS. n

fowt U celehrattd, and tiic TOQn^ noblemen run ia imitaidoa of tint
aetioBy stfikin; all that are ia their way:

&i atrd ail i^y nel.

And the foacfiirr of the forehead with a blood v knife is a svinbol oF
that sbiairiiter a:id dancer. » the wiping olTthe blood whh Wflk is ia
memorV of their first nourishment. But Caios Acitius rehites, that
before ^c taiMrmr of Ronnei Roraulns and Remus havine lost their
cattle, tf^t mved to Fliaflo^ for success in the search of them, and
they ran out na^ed to leek them, that th^ might not be incommoded
wMi sweit;' tlien^fcre the liupeTri mil ahoat naked. As to the dog^
if ^thiir^eafca^ of lustration^ we mnv supipose it is sacrificed ia ordcf
to lie used in [mrifri or : fcrtlve Greeks intlieir purifications make nsi!
of dogs, and perfmm the cercmoDies which thevcgJl
But if these ritea are observed in jrniticude to the wolf that
and presemd KoPHiitts, it is withpropriety they kill a dog, because it h
an enemyfo#olves: yet, perhaps, nothing more was meant by it than
tapomsh that cveatorefbrdisturhing the Luperci in their ranmag.

Romohis fs'liftewise said to hare introduced the Sacred Fire, and
to have appdinttd the holy virgins called Vestals*: Others attribute
this tolfmii, hut illow that Romulos was remarkably strict in ob*
aervltig' oilier IfeKgioiisTftes, and skilled' lu divination, for which
pmpnae be*1Mc the LHhus. This U a crooked staff, with which
thMe fSM sit 1o ^ibsenre the flight of binlst describe the several
quarters df the tfeatena. It was kepi in Ihe Capitol : burlost whea
Rotfl^ adfr t^hdn by the Gauds ; afterwards, when the barbarians had
4itMM4f;4f'was KMhid burled deep in aAes, uptoueiied by the fire,
wliir&tt»ti>'ditng flftotit it was destroyed' and consumed. Romnlotf
alM) enactfS ^ome Ihws ; amoncst the rest' that" severe" one, which
fiMMs thtf'wift in any case to leave her htfsband, but gives the bus-
hiwrpdWifr <t> dAroree his wife, in case of her poisoning his cUldren^
ar jOJUtgifcitmg his keys, or being guilty ' rf adultery. But, If on
ady dlfierk>ceftSion, lie put her away;>hc wiks to ha« one inoiety of
Us goodir; -and the other was to he Kinsecvatcd to Ceres ; and wh^J
e^er imt away W*^ trilie was ta make an atoneaaent to the gods trf the
cirfh. ft » somMiing parfienkr that Romiikia appoirtted no pn^
drioBCiit for ae««aF|9anieides> Kut caltedM Aitf^der parricide, look-

• Pluarrh oeaot that Romulas wm ihc firU who introduced the S««ed .fire at Roiae^
That Ui«rc -crc Vestal Virgiai. boweTcr. belorr thU «i Aib.. wc are certain, becau5«
Aemo*er*nttoi«far^M •«%?*#«. ■■#fce*M*#' •*«>'(«»»«•» fi'«~«^«»*«J/
fcq* .p » IWy, Wt ia%J^ i«»t»il.««mfii.iaBU il«w ^1 «^^

*' ^•^ V\xv vXv»% *>%

ill U<«^l 1 »l t!|« f«l|N% «IM 4l
I till • \|i4l U \S^ IV ll^

Ml* I. Ill iiv ai%i

• 'I *i| Hill «il|| IIIMI l^ IliV

llMi«> < luM III .||iiii

• • 1 1

I I 'I

- IW- U.li ^ ^Mv^

nouvtm. ^ - 17

Aftu tbis a pUgue brake out, bo fatal, ti»t people died of k with'
_ fat aay previous sjckocss ; while the sewcitjr of fruiu, and barrcn-
« of the caule, added to the calajuiijr. It rained Mood too in tli«
; H> thai iheij- uoaTOidablc suSerings wvne ioeRascd wMi At
frora of sopastitMo : and when the dcstmctioa spread itxlf («
, dMca «U agreed it was Ibc m^lectiDg to do justice to the
« of dw MBbausdon and of Tatius, that the djvrite veii-
> cities. Indeed, when thoie munleren were
I by both portica, their csUmitici visifaljF
ted; and R— olui poiifiol the city with loatTKlioos, which, tbejr
B IK, are TCt oekfaaatcd at the Ferentiue gale. Beioie tlie poati-
e ceased, the people of Cajaeiia Btladted the Uumans, and over*
n At country, tkinking iheto incapnble of rcsMtunce by rctwMi of
BML Bm Romulus Man net tbei»in ihe field, ^ve them
a whicli be iuUed lii tbousaod of theair took tbeit city, and
i half its reisaiiuDg iuliabuants to Komc i adding, oii the
t «l AagMt, to thoae tte left in Cameria, double tbcir number
) nany peopk had He to apnre in about suicen years
• fitMi the building of the city. Among other spoils, be currietl
M «f brass, which he consecrated la the tciu|ile
lffT«lqiaflidqg«panit his own stntue crowned by Victory.
^KciJUntlHu4lw>*hillg, the weaker part of iiisDc^ibuurs sub-
d if ibey eouU but live in \t^^cc : but tlie uiore pouxi-
[ UomahM, thought they sboulil not by any
, but oppose and put a stop to hia grow-
gpcMMM. 1W TdcMea, who ItaU a strong ciiy uid extcnsiro
^(«HClheAM«ftheTiueaiisvfap began the unr, dctsand^
I M tbib pnperty. But it was not only unjust, but rldi-
t thqi who bad given the people of Fideivc no assistance
•fM ottcaUliet, but bad su&Wvd them to perish, should
B tbik boMcs and tands, now in the possession of odiev
I, thcrebre, gave fhea a contemptuous answer ;
■ vbM ftey dlfided their font* toiu two bodies ; ope attacked
t, and the other went to mevt Romuluf . That
t Fidene debated the Romans, and killed two
iflf^l^} bstdicodier wasbeatvt by Romuius, u-iih the
B of aon than eight tbounnd men. They gave battle, however,
e all allow the vietury w»s chu.'fly owing
a Umnlf, wbcst skili and courage were then reinoikably
, and who4e strer^tb and iwiftneu appearad mote ihaa

*VWbdw capital «fTbM>nr. *« t'lvOnloa ■ cnggj totk, abool OM bsodird
dMpft^n««fi »ad»t»mfvtibt OiMjiiM«(U«iiG>ii>uni>taAtUts»fnif

I

I

I
J

M PLUTASCB S LHE?.

Bui what some report im entirely fahuhwBy
incredible, thtt tbere feil tbic dnr funncea mwiiimiI
Uf of wbom BmmiliM AwwkkhisawiihsaiL Fm
Wfviwiiw ieem to here been cxsiMv^pBit ul tncs bowiiti^
«s Anstooieiics offRtdsheeiiBnib tiirt:e acTtanit tuneaw far
often killed a boodrcd LKcdKBOOMSL Aftw the Vci
mined, Ramaim jnlfcieJ die aoatitied muis to
directly to their ettv. The inhahila
ofttr so drcadfid a bkmv bot-hnaibiT smDg
Vmtt tar « hnndwd yeora» by gi^iny up » I'w idywhh? port^ of
tenimry called SrpteoipBfiBm, whick sl«:iulies n diainct of
towm, together with the salt-pits hj tbcnier; heMdea
dalireicd into his hand fifty of their *neb8itjj aa bostf^ges
vmphed for thb on the fiftccntli uf October^ Inning.
many other eaptires, die geaerai of the-Veientea,^ a
vho aeemed on this occasion ooc to hare hehatvcd j^ilk
donee which .mi|^t ha^e been expected from hot fg^
Is that, to this day, when tfacY officra sacrifice for wieaocy^
an old man through the Forum, to the OipitaL;
edged with porpic, with a bulhi aboni his aoKk
cries, " Sardiana to be sold ;" for the Tuscimt ar^
lony of the Sardians^ and Veii is a city oi Tnacai^iL • ^: * 24 «

This was the bst of the warn of Aqmulus. . Allrfc
an^lmost all men do who rise bv^some gK'Jt and mi
fuaiwue to dignitv and power; for,.eaK4>>sd.wi(h-hj|
loftier in his senuments, he- dropped%haa pDpnBr
nasnmed the monarch to an odioos de|:ree* . Ungiaethmiii^f
by Us dress; hit habit beiag a puxplt: vcst» ,oecra
vobe bordered with purpie. He ^ve audience iw^^dnwMpi^
He had always aboot him a nmuber of yonng men
firaiD their dispatch in doing business; aud bcfme 1
withsures toiceep offiha popnlacCt whoaiao wiye tba^l
at their girdhrsirffcadj to bind djrectlr any person he
be bound. . Thb binding the Latiua furmciiy calkd)
^gare ; wheuoe thriac seijeaau are c jIM ZMclara,. aiidWi»
/borei; for tiie 9tick:i thcytkMd on-tlmt occasion wcyc amaUi

peruaps, ar nm^ncy «-ere called i-irorat^ andafterwarAi^by^inatai^
In a c, Xftcforet; for they are the sane th^Ai the liiceka

wmrgm. (officers for the people) ; and JMeo in Oxe^-eiUajgbnf
the fWD/lle, but faot the fapmiarc.
^ hen his grandfather Kliiuiior died in Alba, though tlie

• ♦ lliMlM ofdcvtd ih« C«rhi to rttaoie hiaa g«ai« of i%r#e haadred md. t«r
«f tKhCaria; «i4 theic be ctUcd Celere^ for lie rc»uii m\,.y.\x Pictirdl

fto>njLvs. 89

undoubtedly belonged to him, yet, to plenSL' tlie people, lie left ihc
ndiiiinistrationin their own lianJs; anJ over the Sahlnes* (In Rome)
he ippoiMctl yearly a particular magistrate; thu» teaching the
great men of Rome to-seek a free common wealth without a king,
and by turns to rule and to nbt-y; for now the ii;ttr'|L:ians hnd no
share in the government, but only an honourable title and appeirance,
asseinbUng in the senate-house more for form than business, Thrre,
witli silent attention, ibey henrd the king give his orders, and dif-
fered only from the rest of the people in ilils, that they wtut home
with the first Ittvowledge of what was determined. This treatment
they digested as well as they could; but when, of his own authority,
he divided ilie conquered lands among the soldiers, and restored the
Vcicntcs tlwir hostages, without the consent or approbation of il)«
Kpoalc, they considered it as an intolerable insult. Hence arose
strong suspicions against them, and Romulus soon after unaccount-
ably disappeared. Tins happened on the "/ih of July (as it is now
called), then Quiiitilis; and we have no certainly of any thing about
it but the time; various ceremonies being Still priformed on that
Aty, with reference to the event, \or need we wonder at this uncer-
tainty, tince, when ScJpio Africanus was found dead in his house
after Slipper, there was no clear proof of the manner of his death:
for some aay, that, being naturally infirm, he died suddenly; some,
that be took poison; and others, that his enemies broke into his
liouse hy ttigtit, and strangled him- Besides, all were admitted to
soe Sclpio's dead body, and every one, from the sight of it, hud his
own sanpTclon or opinion of tite cause. But as Romulus disajipearcd
on a sadden, and no part of bis body or even his garments could be
found, some Mnjcclured that lUc senators, who were convened in
the l«tDpIe of Vulcan, fell upon him and killed htm, after which
each carrteda part away under his gown. Others say, that his exit
did »ot happen in the temple of Vulcan, nor in the presence uf tli«
senators only^ but while he was holdings an assembly of the people
iritliout the city, at a place called the Coat's Marsh. The air on that
occasion was suddenly convulsed and altered in a wonderful mannerj
for the light of the sun failed, and they were involved In an astoui.ili-
ing darkness, attended on every side with drendful [hund^iings and
lempestUoUA winds. The niultilude then dispersed and fled, but the
Ddbtlity gflthcrcd into one body. When the tempest was oi-er, and
thr light appeared again, the people returned to the same place, anJ
I very anxious inquiry was made for the king; but the patricians
would Dot suffer them to look closely into the matter. They com-
^ Xjltndtr «iid H. Stepfainiu mie lUibitall; eni>D|h «f epinioti, liM tuHid •! S*^

Ft iluuld icid Albni

U 1. No. 1 1.

1

PLUTARCH S UVES.

'!u'«i "o honour and worship Romulus, who was caught up

r.,'*l wlio, as he had been a gracious Liag, would be to the

^\H>ltlous deity. Upon this tlie multitude weut afi-ay

^. Na;.>6iction, and worshipped liim, in ]io^)es of his faiour

..'w.^w* Some, however, searL-Iiing more minutely into tlic

1 * .Iw iMtricians no small uneasiness; they even accused

-^ K^ng upon the people a ridiculous tale, wiicn tliey had

^ .V :.x king with their own hands,

A ^ ^ .^i*.:s x^orc in tliis disorder, a senator, we arc told, of great

V xN ^ \nd tamed for sanctit}- of manners, Julius Proculus by

,X* v.uttC from Alba with Romulus, and had Ixren his faithful

*c%;C :»»to the Forum, and declared, u|>ou t lie most solemn

js, xaw M the people, flxai as he ^iis travelling on the road,

^„.;i> liN^ UiiMf ill a form more noble and august than ever, and

^^ I vv^hi wid dazzling armour. Astonished at the siglit, he said

^jk^ * t\^* wliat misbehaviour of ours, O king, or by wliat acci-

V . V*c ^*w so untimely left us to labour under the heaviest ct-

.v^«« wJ ***** whole city to ^nk under inexpressible sorrow ?" To

»^ * K vk?iwered, " It pleased the gods, my good Proculus, that

vvi) AwAl with men for a time; aud after having founded a

. » YxA ^511 be the most powerful aud glorious :n the world, re-

V ^vvomi, from whence we came. Farewell tljen, and gojtell

^ ^ .wwui*. that, by the exercise of temperance and fortitude, thcj

X >^ , ahe highest pitch of human j;rtiiiness, and I, the god Quiri-

^ * '\ v\f*r be propitious to yon.'* Th'is, by ilie character and cath

.V \^«*'fi gHined creillt with the Romans, wlio were ciught with

V . .V^.xl4<m, as if they had U*en actually inspired; and, far fnmi

V, ^U>^nv< hIw** ^^^^y l"*H>«-*arJt ^^de adieu to all tlicir suspicious

,^ V «*^>^ll»«y, united in the deifying of Quirinuis, and addressed

x^' ,V\oUOiif to liim. Till* is ver\- like the Grecian fables ooo-

X. .. ;yc Vii^tras the Proeonnesian, and Cici^medes the Astypalcsiao.

^\^ \uxtertt, u« they tell us, expired in a fuller's shop; and when

kix l\ kmhN 4*anie to take away the body, it could not be found. Soon

kHN>*. Muwr i>«?rsons coming in from a journey, said they met Aristcv

nM^lUnR itwards Croton- As for Cleomedes, tlieir account of him

!v iK*« *»<• ^^* • ™" of gigantic size and strength; but behaving m

l\>i*1i%h ml fmntic manner, lie i\-as guilty of many at ts of violence.

\i Uxi hr went into a school, where he struck the pillar that sup-

^^,^^, tlu' roof witb b'« fis^ ^d ^^"^^'^ " asunder, so that the roof

I „ \^^ ^nd destroyed the cliildrcn. Pursued for this, he took refuge

. ^j^x chest, and liaving shut the lid upon him, he held it down

** aJ, that many men together could not force it open: when tlicy

111 fttC Cbe chest in piccc«, ihcy could not find him cither dead oc

ROMULUS. gi

» • * —

alive. Struck witli this strange afikhr^ thej sent to consult the ora-
cle at Delphi, and had from the priestess this answer^

Tlie race of heroes ends in CleooMiies.

It is likewise said that the body of Alcmena was lost as they were
carrying it to the grave, and a stone was seen lying on the bier in its
stead. Many such improbable tales are told by writers who wanted
to deify beings naturally mortal. It is indeed impkyos and illiberal to
leave nothing of divinity to virtue; but, at the same time, to nute
heaven and earth in the same subject is absurd. We should there-
fore reject &bles, when we are possessed of undeniable troths; for^
according to Pindar,

The body jields to death's an-poirerfol ninraioii^

While the bright image of eternity

Survives.

His alone is from the gods i from heaven it comes, and to heaven it
returns; not indeed with the body; but when it is entirely set free
and separate from the body, when it becomes disengaged from every
thing sensual and unholy. For, in the language of Heraclitus, the
pure soul is of superior excellence, darting from the body like a flash
of lightning from a cloud ; but the soul that is carnal and immersed
in sense *, like a heavy and dank vapour, with difficulty is kindled
and aspires. There is therefore no occasion, against nature, to send
the bodies of good men to heaven ; but we are to conclude, that vir-
tuous souls, by nature and the divine justice, rise from men to he-
roes, from heroes to genii; and at last, if, as in the mysteries, they
^be perfectly cleansed and purified, shaking of all remains of morta-
lity, and all the power of the passions, then they finally attain the
inoat glorious and perfect happiness, and ascend from genii to gods^
not by the vote of th^ people, but by the just and establbhed order of
naturef*

^ Blilion in his Comas* uses the same cemparison; for which« boweTer, he is indebted
rather to Plato than to 1 latarch. •■

• • • t • • The lavbli act pf sin
l^ets in defilement to the inward parti.
The soul grows plotted bj contagion^
Irobodiest and imbrutes« till she quite los^
The divine property of her first being.

Stfch are those ihicfc and gloomy shadows damp *

Oft seen in chamel vaqlts and sepnlchrety
Ling*ring and sitting by ^ new-a»de grav^t
As loath to leave the body that it loVdt
Aud links itself by carnal sensaality
To' a degenerate and degraded state.

f llesiod was the first who distingnished those four natures, men, heroes, genU, and
^odt.' He saw toom, it seems, for perpetual progression and improvement in a state of

98 PLUTARClfs UVES.

The surname that Romulus bad of Quirious^ some tbiuk, wa»
given him as (another) Mars j others because they call the Ruoiaa
citizens Quirites ; others, again, because the aucients gave the name
of Quiris to the point of a spear, or to the spear itself; and that of
Juno Quiritis to the statues of Juno, when she wa» reprc^seotcd
leaning on a spear. Moreover, thej styled a certain spear, fvhidi
was consecrated in the palace, Mars; and those ttiat distinguished
theBiselves in war were rewarded wiih a spear. Romiilus, thcn^ as
a martial or warrior god, was named Quirinus; and the hill cmi which
his temple stands has the name of Quirinalis on his aocoant. Tba
day on which he disappeared is called the flight of the peoflti^ and
Nona: Caprotinat, because then they go out of the citj to oter
sacrifice at the Goat's Marsh. On this occasion they pronounce
aloud some of their proper names, Marcus and Cains for instance,
representing the flight that then happened, and their calling WBgnm
one another amidst the terror and confusion. OtherSf however, are
of opinion that thia is not a representation of flight, bat of haste andl
eagerness, deriving the ceremony from this source : when the Gaab»
after the taking of Rome, were driven out by CamiUns, and the city,
thus weakened, did not easily recover itself, many of the Ijrtins,
under tiie conduct of Livius Postbuaioa, marched ag»nat it. Has
army, sitting down before Rome, a herald i»iis sent to signify, dmi
the Latins were desirous to renew their old aUtanee and ^fahy,
wbioh was now declining, by new intermarriages. If, ^
they would send them a good number of their \ifgin8 and
peace and friendship should be established bet«wn them, as It
before with the Sabines on the like occasion. When the Iti^
heard this, though they were afraid of war, yet they looked inm the
giving up of their women as not al aU more eligible than captMly.
While they were in this suspense, a servant-maid, named PfailBdi,
or, according to others, Tutola, advised them to do neither, hst, by
a stratagem which she had thought of, to avoid both the war and the
giving of hostages. The stratagem was to dress Philotis herself,
and other handsome female slaves, in good attire, and send them,
instead of free-born virgins, to the enemy. Then, in the night,
Philotis was to light up a torch (as a signal) for the Romans to
attack the enemy, and dispatch them in their sleep. The Latins
were satisfied, and the aeheme pot in practice. Per, accordingly,
Philotis did set up a torch on a wild fig-tree, screening it hehhid
with curtains and coverlets from the sight of the enemy, whilst It

unmoruhtj Aad when ihe h«,hcD, ttU «^ ik«t hefoit U. Ul ^gre.'. lUt of dm-
«..y. .. reached th<*e beings „e liahle ,o be replanted iato U.eir pri«.iu.e ««» of
iie». m wenid Imagmc tbej had heard someUmig o£ lUe ftUco wceii.

t^ I

ROMULUB. 93

was visible to the Romans. As soon as they beheld it, they set out
in great haste, often calling upon each other at the gates to be ex*
peditions. Then they fell upon the Latins, who expected nothing
less, and cut them in pieces. Hence tliis feast in memory of the
victory. Hie day was called A^<e Cajirotiate^ on account of the
wild fig-tree, in the Roman tongue rajni fiats. The women are
entertained in the fields in booths made of the branches of the fig-*
tree; and the servant maids in companies run about and play; after*
wards they come to blows, and throw stones at one another, in remcB-
brance of their then assisting and standing by tlie Romans in battle.
Tliese particulars are admitted but by few historians. Indeed, their
cfUliug upon each othcr*8 names in the day-time, and their walking
in procession to the Goal's Marshy like persons tliat were going to
a sacrifice, seems rather to be placed to the former account : though
poaubly bodi those events might happen, in distant periods, on the
same day. Rooiulaa is said to have been fifty-four years of age, and
in the thirty-eighth of bis reign, when he was taken from the world*

ROMULUS AND THESEUS COMPARED.

' THIS is all I have met with that deserves to be related concerning
Rooiulus and Theseus. And to come to the comparison*, first it
a|>pears, that Theseus wsis inclined to great enterprises by his own
proper choice, and compelled by no necessity, since he might have
reigned in peace ^t Troezene, over a kingdom by no means con-^
temptiUe, which would have fallen to him by succession : whereas
Romulus, ux order to avoid present slavery and impending punish-
ment, became valiant (as Plato expresses it) through fear, and wais
driven, by the terror of extreme sufferings, to arduous attempts.
Besides, the greatest action of Romulus was the killing of ope tyrant
ia Alba: but the first exploits of Theseus, performed occasionally,
and by way of prelude only, .were those of destroying Sciron, Sinnis,
Procrustes, and the club-bearer; by whose punishment and death
he delivered Greece from several cruel tyrants, before they, for whose
preservation he was labouring, knew him. Moreover, he might have
gone safely to Athens by sea, without any danger from robbers.
But Romulus could liave no security while Amulius lived. This
difference is evident. Theseus, when unmolested himsclfj went

• NoHMDg c«ii be laoM •MeUnt «lMn tk«e pmlltk *f Plettrch- He^wigtetka
iiftws«ii4 filw»i»r.aMinM j«itsWaaBCflw «id puti « tree an cumaie on U«itg*o4
^ \md qo«Utia% tM Um xfjUkr caanot Attcad t« them iwihout infiniw idrtnUKo.

))4 , PLtTARCH^S LIVES.

forth to rescue others from their oppressors. On the mlier hand,
Komulas and hb brother, while they were uninjored by tke tyrant
tlteinselves, quietly suffered htm to exercise his eniclties. And, if
it was a gn?srt thing for Romulus to be wounded in the battTe Tfith flie
Sabincs, to kill Acron, and to conquer many other enemies, we nay
set agiiinst these distinctions the battle with the Centaurs, and tbp
war with the Amazons.

Aut as to Tlicscus'i^ enterprise with respect to the Cretan tribate,
wImi he voluntarily offered to go among the young men and Tirgina,
whether he was to expect to be food for some wild beaat, or to be
sacrificed at Androgeus^s tonib, or, which is the lightest of all the
evils said to ))c prcpred for him, to submit to a vile and dishonoiir-
able slavery, it is not easy to express Tiis courage and magnaninafty,
bis regard for justice and the pubh'c good, and his love of gtory and
of virtue. On this occasion, it appears to me, that the pbilosc^ihers
iMve not ill defined iove to Ik* n remedy protided hy the godff&r M#
fifff'iy (ffid preservfitiofi of youths For Ariadne's love seems to havfe
b(?cn the work of some god, who designed by that means to preserve
tills great man. Nor should we blame her for her passion, but rather
wonder that all were not alike affected to\«^rds him. And if she alone
wns scnsil)le of that tenderness, I may justly pronounce Iter worthf
the love of a god, as she showed so great a regard for virtue and
excellence in her attachment to so worthy a man,

I^oth Theseus and Romulus were born with political talents; yet
neither of them preserved the proi>cr character of a king, but deviated '
from the due medium; the one erring on the side of democracy, the
other on that of al>soIute power, according to their different tempersJ
For a prince's first concern is to preserve the government itself; and'
this is effected no less by avoiding whatever is improper, than by cul-
tivating what is suitable to his dignity. He tcho gives up or extendi
Ms anthorUt/y continues not a prince or a kingy but degenerates intik
a repuhlican or a ti/rant^ and thus incurs either the hatred or con-'
tempt of his subjects. Tiie former seems to be the error of a mild'
and humane disposition, tlie latter of self-love and severity.

If, then, the calamities of mankind are not to be entirely attributed
to fortune, but we are to seek the cause in their different manners
and passions, here we shall find, that unreasonable anger, with qtficlr
' and unadvised resentment, is to be imputed both to Romulus in tbo*
case of his brother, and to Theseus in that of his son. But, if we
consider whence their anger took its rise, the latter seems the more'
excusable, from the greater cause he had for resentment, as yielding
to the heavier blow. For, as the dispute began wlien Remuhis wao
ill cool consultation for the common good, one would think be could

ROMULUS AND THESEO^ COMPAftED. J)8

I I'll nil

not presently have given way to such a passion: whereas Theseus
was urged agaiast his son by emotions which few men have l>ecn abie
to withstand) proceeding from love, jealousy^ and the false suggestions
of his wife» What is more, the anger of Komulus discharged itself
iu an action of most uaibrtunate consequence; but tiiat of llicseu&
proceeded no &rthcr tlian words, reproaches, and imprecations, the
usual revenge of old men. 7'he rest of the young man's nusery
seeuis to have been owing to fortune. Thus fan Theseus seeniig^
dcseire die preference. W

But Romulus has, iu tlie first place, this great advantage, tliat lie
ruse to distinctiou from very small begiiuiings. For the two brotihcEi
were reputed slaves and sons of herdsmen; and yet before tbey al;*
tained to liberty themselves, they bestowed it ou almost all the La*
tins; gaining at once the most glorious titles, as destioyers of their
cocoiies, deliverers of their Icindred, kings of nations, and foundecs
of Cities, not transplanters, as Tlieseus was, who filled indeed one
city With people, but it was by j-uining many others which bore tlie
names of ancient kings and heroes. And Romulus aftenvanh ef-
fected the same, when he compelled his enemies to demolish thek
habitations, and incorporate witii their conquerors. He had uot^
b<M%'e\'er» a city ready built, to enLorge, or to transplant inhabitants to
from other towns, but he created one, gaining to himself lands, m
country, a kingdom, children, wives, alliances; and tliis witlioul;
destroying or ruining any one. On the contrar}', he was a great be*
neiactor to persons who, having neitiicr house not liabitation, wil^
liii)gly became hb citizens and people. He did not, indeed, like
TTIieseus, destroy robbers and ruffians, but he subdued nations, took
cities^ and tdiimphed over kings and geuexals.

As lor the fate of Remus, it is doubtful by what hand he fell;
aiost writers ascribing it to others, and not to Romulus. But, in the
face of all the world, he saved his mother from destruction, aad
placed his grandfather, who Hved in mean and dishonourable suhyor-^
tion, upon tlie ilirone of JEnczs : moreover, he voluntarily did him
ipaiiy kind offices, imt never injured him, not even iiiadvert£fltly«
On the other hand, I think, Theseus, in forgetting or neglecting the
command about the sail, can scarcely, by any excuses, or before tht
ioildest judges, avoid the imputation of parricide. Sensible how dif-
ficult the defence of this affair would be to tltose who should attempi
it, a certain Athenian writer feigns, tliat when tlie sliip approaclied,
JBgeus ran in great haste to the citadel fur the better view of it, aod
missing his step, fell do\vn; as if he were destitute of servants, or
went, in whatever hurry, unattended to the sea.

Moreoveri Theseus's rapes and offences, with respect to women.

fj6 rLLTARCH*5 LIVX5.

admit of no plausible rxcvse, becairse. in the first place, they were
committed often ; fiir he carried oflF Aradne, Antnpe, and Anazo
the Tropzenian ; after the rest, Heltn : though she was a girl not
yet come to mataritr, and he so fo- adiaaccd in jrears, that it iras
time for him to think no more eren of lawfdl marriace. The next
aggravation is the cause ; for the daughters of the IVaaenians, the
Lacedaemonians, and the Amazons, were not aEiore fit to bring-ehil-
dMi than tho5e of the Athenians sprung from Erectheas aud Ce-
cMps. TiiCdC thiugSy therefore, are liable to the suspicioo of m wan-
ton and licentious appetite. On the other hand, Komnlos having
carried off at once almost eight hundred women, did not take them
all, hot only Hersilia, as it is said, for himself, and distiibuted the
rest among the niost respectable citizens. And afterwards, by the
honourable and affectionate tmtment he procnred then, he toned
that injury and riolence into a glorioqs exploit, performed wiA a
political riew to the good of soeiety. Thws he nnited and eemcntal
the two nations together, and opened a source of Imnre lindnin^
and of additional power. Time hears witness to the conjugal mo-
desty, tenderness, and fidelity, which he established ; fer, during
two hundred and thiny years, no man attempted to leare his wM^
nor any woman her husband. And as the very cmrions among iht
Greeks can tell you who was the first person that lulled hn fiidicrand
mother, so all the Romans know that Spurhis Canrilius was Aa list
tliat divorced his wife, ailing her barreimcss. The immediate ef-
fects, as well as length of time, attest what I have said. Ffar fim two
kings shared the kingdom, and the two nations came under the amm
government, by means of these alliances. But the marri^cf cf
Thesetis procured the Athenians no friendship with any other stale;
on the eontnry, comity, war^, the destruction of their eitizensy and
at last the loss of Aphidme ; which, only through the compmaion cf
Ae enemy, whom the indabitants supplicated and honoured Die
gods, escaped the firte that befel Troy by means of Puis. Howeicfi
the mother ofTheseus, deserted and given up by her son, was nolonlf
in danger of, but really did sufler, the misfortunes of Hecuba, if kr
captivity be not a fiction, as a great deal besides may very wdl be*
As to the stories we have concerning both, of a supernatural Mi»«l,
the dillerence is great. For Romulus was preserved by die smd
favour of heaven ; but as the oracle, which commanded JEgeua nrt
to approach any woman in a foreign country, was not observed, tkt
birth of Tbeseus appears to hare been unacceptable to the gods.

iVcbkofifs. * ' 97

LYCURGUS.

OF Lycurgus ^he laW^ver we have nothiDg to relate tha^ is cer*
iain apd uhcoBtroteited. Por there dre dtfTerent accounts of his birth,
Ills travels^ his deaths and especiijly Qf the laws and form of govern^
tneut which he establishedi Biit least of all are the times agreed
lipoQ in which this great nian lived. For %oveL^ say he flourished at
the stole tinle with Iphitus*, and joined with him in settling (Re
tessatibn oJT arms during the Olympic games. Among these is Aris-
totle the philosopher, who alleges for proof an Olympic quoit, on
whiph wasi preserved the inscription of Lycurgus's name. But
others, who, with Eratosthenes and ApoUodorus, compute the time
by the successioiis of the Spartan kings> place him much earlier than
the first Olynipiad. Tima^us, however, supposes that, as there ifrere
two Lycurguses iu Sparta at different times, the actions of both are
ascribed to one, on account of his particular rendwii ; and tliat the
more ancient of them lived not long after Homer : nay, some say
he had seiih hini. Xenophdn, too, confirms the opinion of his an<^
tiquity, wh^n he makes him cdtempotary with the Heraclidte. It
|a tru^ the latest of the Lacedsemonian kings were of the liiieagc of
fhe HenuSlid»; but Xenophon there t^ems to speak o^ the first and
more immediate descendants of Hercules; As the history of those
times is thus involved, in relating the circumstances of Lycurgus's
life, we shaA endeavour to select such as are least conbx)Verted, and
follow aUthotB of tb^.^fteatest credit.

Slmonides, the poe^ tells us, that Prjrtanis^ not Eunomtis, was
father to Iiycurgus. But most writers ^ve uS the genealogy of Ly-
ciugils and Eiinomus id a difierent mamner ; for, according to them^
Sous was the soii of Pattocles, aild grandson of Aristodemiis \ Eury-
tion the soil of Sous, Prytanis of Eurytion, and EUnomus of Pry-

* IpUtas, fciiig of Eli«, b itiil td Bave iiifdhited« or rithcr restored* the Olympic
lOi yoftn before what U eommonlj rechoned the Snt Olympiad, which com-
in the jcar before Clirift 776« or, as sodie will hare It* 774, aod bore the name
•f Cbnikbw, as the followtog Olympiads did those of other TictOrs.

Ipldtat begin nHib offering a sacrifice to Herenl^ whom the Ekantf befieted to
Itoeii vpon some aoeouot exasperated against them. He nest ordered the Olympic
(the discontimiiace of which was saidto haTc caoitd a pestilence), to be proclaim-
ed aB oT€r Creece, with a promise of free admission to all cbmert ; and fixed the time
Jbrtbe eelebfatioil of them. He Uhewiie took upon himself to be sole president and
J«4g^ of those games, a priTUege which the Piseaus had often dispoted with his predo*
cfeamn, and which continaed to his descendants, as long as the regal dignity subsisted,
Aftv this, the people iqppoiotad two prefidflm whl^ hi tarn iacfcased to Iga^ and rt
MBgilh to twerfe»

Vol. 1. No. 12. tt

1

tawis ; to lliis Eunomus was boni Poljdectes, by a former wife, will
by a second, named Dianassa, Lycurgus. Kutycliidas, however,
says Lycurgus, was the sixth from Patnx-les, and the clcvenih from
Hercules. The most disthiguishcd of his ancestors was Soiis, undd
whom Ihc Lacedtemoniaiis made the Helotes tlieir slaves*, atid gained
an extensive track of land from the Areadians. Of this Sous it i<
rckted, that, being besieged by the Clitorians in a difficult po«t
idicre tlicre was no water, he agreed to gi\-e up all his conqtiesK,
provided that himself and all his army should drink of the neighbour-
ing spring. \Vlicu these conditions were swoni to, he assembled hi*
forces, and offered his kingdom to the man that would for(»car drink-
; ni>t one of them, however, could deny himself, but they all
Kdrauk. Then Sous went down to the spring himself, and liaving
«nly sprinkled his face in sight of the enemy, he niarched ofT, and still
licld (he country, because ail had not drank. Vet, thougli lie vm
highly honoured for this, the family had not ilicir name from him,
but, from his son, were called jEwry/ioju'dfCt: and this, because Eu-
lytion Hccms to be the first who relaxed the strictuess of kingly go-
vernment, incllnuig 1u the interest of the people, and ingreliating
I bimtelf with them. Upon ibis relaxation, their encroachments in-
' ereaseil, and the succeeding kings either becoming odius, treating
tliem wiiK greater rigour, or else giving way through weakness, or ia
hope* of favour, fur a longtime anarchy and eoi>fustun prevailed in
Spanui by which one of its kings, the father of Lycurgus, lost his life.
Pot, while he was endeavouring to part some persons » ho werx^ cod-
OCfMcd in a fray, be received a wound by a kitchen -knife, of which
lie died, leaving the kingdom to his eldest son, Polydeacs.

* Tbn Uelulfi, or UoH*. wcrg iuliahit
Ilia LueilBntiuiuiii likriog cuiiuiitrej i

I lUin lh»y )uip|>catd to h«r«, bj ilw anc
M deictiidiDii ortfac vrlgtnd i?((vtn, tho
>■ of Ibea *u»uiii«itd, libiulci] muj ■gti

• It MBjr lir pioptt hen to t>Tc Ibr reader ■ iharl . »
•r Lwtd»iu«

of Hc!tH, ■ muitiBie

uf 111

cai:«d not odI; them.

of IliUta. It ra o

IltrMcly ill-

man nndst ibo Hcrcglcan line. The ITrticiid
MUM. Ui» MO of Onitti. £ui]itbcD» «Dd Pruclei. Ihe «
IB ilul liin«a*B. Und„ il,ei» lU p>«ran.eut Kwk ■ i».
».«t.ljn. t>««»* tabjrd ig t-o. The« l-« brothm did
"■ '">" ^"1 »WJ '("^ 'o rri][u .liernatclj.

jaiMlji. lad urilh e<]i»
log ihni nuhiil JFiloutj, tliii dlwuhj did
""ftlufV pnnte»o( U

. Wli.1

iihcie

bI the rtpi goteniBMl

i» at AriitDdeitiDi, tvI{Mj
Iota. and. uuiesd b( mm
lit dxtdc the kingdMB U-
ul (li*y rcMlTtil to gattn
•in( II, th.i, Bi>t..tlHnn4.

LYCUECl'S. n,0

But he, loo, (lying soon after, the {general voice gave it fur Lyrargus
to nscend llie throne ; nuil tie actually did so, till it appeared tliat his
brother's widow was pregnant. As soon as he perceived this, he de-
Hared that t!ie kingdom belonged to her issue, provided it were
jnnle, and he kept the administration in his hands only as his guar-
dian. This he did with the title of Prodivos, which the Lacedwmo-
nians give to the guurdians of infant kings. Soon after the queen
mads him a private overture, that she vrould destroy her child upon
condition that he would marry her when king of Sparta. Though
he detested iicr wickedness, he said nothing against her proposal,
but, pretending to approve it, charged her not to take any drugs to
procure an abortion, lest she should endanger her own health or life ;
for he would take care that the cliild, as soon as burn, should he
destroyed. Tlius he artfully drew on the woman to her full time, and,
when he heard she was in labour, he sent persons to attend aitd
watch her delivery, with orders, if it were a girl, to give it to the wo-
men, but if a boy, to bring it to him, in wlialever business he might
be engaged. It happened that he was at supper with the magistrates
when she was delivered of a boy, and his servants, who were pre-
sent, carried the child to him. When he received it, he is reported
to have said to the eompaiiy, Spartans, see here your neio-born
king. He then laid him down upon the chair of state, and named
him Charilitiis, because of the joy and admiration of his magna-
nimtiy and justice testified by all present. Thus the reign of Ly-
curgus lasted only eight months. But the citizens had a great
veneration for him on other accounts, and there were more that
paid him their attentions, and were ready to executu his commands,
out of regard to his virtues, than those lliat obeyed him as a guar-
dian to the king, and director of the administration. There were
not, however, tvauting thoKe that envied him, and opposed his ad-
vancement, as too high for so young a man; particularly the rela-
tions and friends of the queen-mother, who seemed to have been
treated with contempt. Her brother Lconidiis one day boldly at-
tacked him with virulent language, and scrupled not to tell him, that
be was well assured he would soon be king; thus preparing suspi-
cions and matter of accusation against Lycurgus, in cose any acei-
tlcnt should befal the king. Insinuations of the same kind were
Ukcwi^e spread by the queen-mother. Moved with this ill treat-
ment, and fearing ioine dark design, he determined to get clear of
all suspicion by travelling into other countries, till his nepliew should
))e grown up, and have a son to succeed him in the kingdom.
f • He set sail, therefore, and landed in Crete. There, having ob-
ryed the forms of government, and conversed with the most il-

100

PLITARCHS LIVES.

lustrious persooages, he was strui'k with admiration of some of thcit
laws, and resolved, at his return, to make use of ihcm in Sparta.
Some others he rejected. Among the friends he -gaioed in Crete
vas Thales, with whom he had interest enough to persuwk^ him to
go and settle at Sparta. Thales vras famed for his wisdoin und po-
litical abilities : he was withal a LjTie poet, who, under colour of
exercislrig his art, performed as great things as the mo«t excellent
lawgivers. For his odes were so many persuasives to obedience and
ttnanimiiy; as, by means of melody and numbers, thef had great
grace aid power, they softened insensibly the manners of the audi-
ence, drew them off from the animosities which then prei-ailed, and
united them in zeal for excellence and virtue. So that, in sotne
measure, he prepared the way for Lycurgus towards the iDsiructku
of the Spartans. From Crete, Ljcurgus passed to Asia, desirous,
as it is said, to compare the Ionian expense and luxury wiiU tlie
Cretan frugality and hard diet, so as to judge what eflect each had
on their several tnanners and governments ; just as physicians com-
pare bodies that are weak and sickly with tiie henllhy and robust.
There also, probably, he mft with Homer's poems, which were pre-
served by the posterity of Cleopiiylus. Observing iliat many moral
sentences and much political knowledge were intermixed with hts
stories, which had an irresistible charm, he collected tbera into
one body, and transcribed them with pleasure, in order to take them
home with him. For his glorious poetry was not yet fully known ia
Greece ; only some particular pieces were in a few hands, as they
happened to be dispersed. Lycurgus was the first that made them
generally known. The Egyptians likewise suppose that he visited
t/iem ; and as of all their institutions he was most pleased with thet|
distinguishing the military men from the rest of the people*, bd
took the same method at Sparta, and, by separating from these the
mechanics and artificers, be rendered the constitution more noble
and more of a piece. This assertion of the Egyptiam is confirmed
by sonic of the Greek writers. But we know of ito one, except
Aristocrates, son of Hipparchus, and a Spartan, who has affirmed thai
he went to Lybia and Spain, and in his Indian excursion conTcrsed
with the Gynmoi'ppluiU.

Tlic IrfctdiBinontans found the want of Lycurgus when absent,
and sent many embuxies to entreat him to return. For they per-
ceived that their kings lud barely the title and outward appendages o(

• The .Bfw-nl EuptiiMii k(pt rot

.1, .1

ef Ihf pcnplr, but Ihi
iitnpm*r>, iihI h

n. ir*t*nitt ic

LTCVUQUS. )Ol

i^BatBgssssssssasxssssassssaeasaBmm

rpyalty, but ia nothing else di0ered from the multitude : whereas Ly<r
curgus b«d abilities from nature to guide the measures of governor
ment, and powers of persuasion^ that drew the hearts of men to hinu
The kings, however^ were consulted about his retunii and they hoped
that in his presence they should experience less insolence lonongst
the people. Returning then to a city tlins dbposedj he immediately
applied himself to alter the vdiole frame of the constitution ; sensible
that a partial change^ and the introducing of some new laws, would
be of no sort of advantage; but, «s in the case of abody diseased and
full of b^d humours, whose temperament is to be corrected and new«
formed by medicines, it was necessary to begin a new regimen. With
these sentiments he went to Delphi, and when he had offered sacri^
fice and consulted the god, he returned with that celebrated oracle, in
which the priestess caUed him. Beloved of the gods, qnd rather a
god than a man. As to bis request that he might enact good laws,
she told hio^ jfyoUo had heard his request ^ and promised that the
constitutian he should estaiUsh, would be the most etfcellent in the
fWfrkk Tbiia encouraged, he applied to the nobility, and desired
ihem to put their hands to the work; addressing himself privately at
first to bis friends, and afterwards, by degrees, trying the disposition
of others, and preparing them to concur in the business. When
naattwi wevs ripe, he ordered thirty of the principal citizens to ap-
pear armed in Uie market-place by break of day, to strike terror into
siidi as might desire to oppose him. Hermippus has given us the
pames of twenty of the most eminent of them; but he that had the
greateat share in the whole enterprise, and gave Lycurgus the best
assistance in the establishing of his laws, was called Arithmiades.
Upon the first alarm, king Charilaus, apprehending it to be a design
against his person, took refuge in the Chakioicos ^. But he was so(m
satisfied, and accepted of their oath. Nay, so far from being obsti-
nate, he joined in the undertaking. Indeed, he was so remarkable
lor the gentleness of his ^position, that Archelaus, his partner in
the throne, is reported to have said to some that were praising the
joung king. Yes, Charilaus is a good man, to be sure, who cannot
^nd in Ais h^atrt to punish the bad. Among the many new institu-
tions of Lycurgus, the first and most important was that of a senate;
irhich sharing^ as Plato says, in the power of the kings, too imperi-
poa and unrestrained before, and having equal authority with them,
was the means of keeping them within the bounds of moderation,
and lijghly contributed to the preservation of the state; for, before,
ft bad been veering and unsettled, sometimes inclinkig to arbitrary

* Th«t it, the krtmm tmpi^* It wM standing ia tlie time of Paoianiaf^ who lived ia
fbe reign of Marcaa Antoninofr

|'(>wi-r,Qn(l hOiiK-limfH i»uarxkxpu» «]nDOmc>'; but this establish-
mmit "f II sciiutf Hud iiitirnnediatc boJ_T, Uke balU»t, kept it in a Just
rtjuilihriiim, nnd put it in « saifr poe*m; the twtnttf- eight sennfori
mftheritifi to f/te in»t;.i, trhtm<r€r tkty ammf Ike people too etieroacA-
iitg, and, on the othrr hemJ, tt^tfmrti^g tie people, frhen the khtgit
mtteinpit^t to make thtmseit-es mhnitte. TUs, arconKng to An.i-
ttille, wBs the number of senM«n faed upon, be<.'au»e two of tlic
ihhty nssociutcs of Lj-ciKgws dcsCTted lUc b«AiiK*s tliroD;;)i fear.
Bin Sjibffiins tells us, there were only twfBty-ei^ht M first intru!>ted
wiih thf design. Something, petlMp^. there is m its beiBg a perfect
NUinbcr, fonircd of screu multiplied br four, and «Htba[ the first
mimber after six, thai is r<)ual lo all it> patfs. B«i I rather thiuk
just BO many senators were created, thM, lopetKer with ihe two kin^,
»>ic whole body migbt eonsbt of thirty members.

Kv had tbis iastitulton so much at heart, thai be obtained from
TK'lpbi an oracle in its behalf, called Skrtrm, at the derree. This
was couched in very ancient and nocoinmon tenns, whkh, inter-
preted, ran thus; ff'ken t/rm hare ImM m tem/Je^ to tie ^llamm
Jupiter, ami the S^lluitian H/merra • ; Jh-kint rtr peopt&mto triba
md ckuses ; ami ntahlhhed a senate of ihirtif perttmt, metttdntg
tie tieo kmgs, t/ou skull otrationat/y summfm lAe pttfpte to am
OMemitlti bctinm Babf/ce and Cnaerion, and fkey tAatI haV9 the
Meterminhig voice. Sabvire and Cnacion arc now called Oenus : but^
Arisisdc thinks, by Cnacion is meant tlie river, and by Bnbrce the
bridge. Between these they held their assemblies, haring neither
htiUs, nor any kind of building for that puq>nse. These things he
tUrtigiit of no ad^'antage to their council-:, but rather a disservice, bs
iliey distracted tlie attention, and turned it upiin trifles, on observing
die statues and pictures, the i^plendid roofs, and ever)' other theatri-
nA ornanH'nt. Tlic people thus- av'emblcd had no right to propose
any subject of debate, and were only authorized to ratily or reject
what might be pn>)}osed to thcjn by the senate and the kings. But
because, in process of time, the people, by additions or retrcnch-
WGtits, changed the tenns, >nd pen~eTted the sense of the decrees,
the king-t Pinlydorus and Tln'opompus inserted in the rketra this
eluuse : ^ tKt fteopte attempt lo rorruft atip late, the srttatr ofni
thiefs shttU retire; (hat is, they :>1iji1I ilit<solve the assemblv, and
annul the aliciations. And they found means to persuade the Spar-
laiis that this, loo, was ordered by Apollo, as we learu ffom these
vCfaCM of TyrlKus ;

* At no ICCODDI CH b« gifrnorih* mining of the aord Syllaitiaii.n'a jnppueO il
dwntd be eilhtt t«>d .■vtlanm, from ScUiiia, ■ lawn of Licoiua up«& Uic Euutu, n

■W i/iUatu, w MMb ■> lo M}, lUc Gkciu JuptlEi, &c.

^

Ye sons of Sparta, who at PhccbiM' shrine
Your humble vows prefer, attentive hear
'l*be god*s decision. O'er your beauteous lands,
Twro guardian kjngs, a senate and the voice •
Of the concurring people, lasting laws
Shall with joint power establish.

Though the government was thus tempered by Lycurgus, ^et soon
^fter it degenerated into an oligarchy, whose power was exercised
with such wantonness and violence^ that it wanted indeed a bridle,
as Plato expresses it. This curb they found in the authority of tht
JE^kon% about a hundred and thirty years after Lycurgus. Elatus
was the first invested with this dignity, in the reign of Theopompus,
who, when his wife upbraided him that he would leave the regal
power to his children less than he received it, replied, iVhy, but
greater^ because more lasting. And, in fiict, the prerogative, so
stripped of all extravagant pretensions, no longer occasioned either
envy4>r danger to its possessors. By these means they escaped tlie
miseries which befel the Messcnkn and Ai^ve kings, who would
not in the least relax the severity of their power in favour of the peo-
ple. Indeed, from nothing more does the wisdom and foresight of
Lycurgus ap{iear, Aan from the disorderly governments, and the bad
understanding that •subsisted between the kings and people of
Messene and Argos^ neighbouring states, and related in blood to
Sparta; fior^ as at first they were in all respects equal to her, and

* fferodot«s(l;i. c. 63.) and Xenophon (de Repuh. Lac,) tell ns, the £pWi were ap-
pokited lij LycorgQS himaelf. But the account which Plutarch gives us from Aristok^
(HM. I. V.) anil othen, of their being instituted long after, seems more agreeable to rea-
son; for it if not iiieljf that Lycurgus, who ia ai) things endeavoured to support thm
■rijtoctacj, aiid ieft the people onl^ the right of assenting or dissenting to what was pro-
posed to tbem» wonld appoint a kind of tribunes of the people to be masters, as it were*
both of the kings f nd the senate. Some, indeed, suppose the Ephcri to have been at
€rtt the king's friends, to whom they delegated their authority, when they were obliged
to be ID the field. But it is very clear that they were elected by the people out of their
•wn body, and sometimes out of the Tery dregs of it; for the boldest citisen, whoever
bo was, was most likely to be chosen to this office, which was intended as a check on the
■enate and the kings. Tliey were five in number, like the Quinqueviri in the republic of
Carthage. They were annually elected ; and, in order to effect any thing, the unani-
nous voiee of the college was requisite. Their authority, though well designed at first*
CSBN at length to be in a manner boundless. They presided in popular assemblies, col«
lagted their fuffrages, declared war, made peace, treated with foreign princes, deter-
mine the number of forces to be raised, appointed the funds to maintain them, and dis*
tribated rewards and punishments in the name of the state. They likewise held a court
of justice, inquired into the conduct of all magistrates, inspected into the behariour and
cdocs6on of youth, had a particular Jurisdiction over the Hebtet, and, in short, by de«
grcef,-drew tbe whole administration into their hands. * They even went so far as to put
fog Agis to death under a fiBrm of joitice, aad wera themselves at last killed by
deomeats.

t04 PLUtAllCH^S LIVTES.

possessed of a better country, and yet preserved no lasting happuM
but^ through the insolence of the Icidgs, and disobedience of the peo*
|)1e, wei'e harassed with perpetual troubles, they made it vetj evi-
dent thdt it was really a felicity more than human, a blessing frool
heaven to the Spartans, to have a legislator whd Itnew so well
bow to frame and temper their govemiiienti But this was ain event
of a later date.

A aeCfhii and bolder political eiiteiprise x>{ Lycurgtis, was a deii^
division of the lands; for he found a prodi^us inequality; tH^ tUj
over charged with many indigent persons who had no htiid^ and Ae
wealth centered id the hands of a few. Determined, dierefiMre, to
root out the etils of insolence, envy^ avarice, and luxury^ and those
distempers ctf a state still more inveterate and £EitaI, I mean poKrerty
and riches, he persuaded them to cancel all former divisions of hn^
and to make nc^ ones, in such a manner that they might Ibe par-»
fectly equal in their possessions and way of living. Hence^ if they
were ambitious of distinction^ they might seek it in virtue, as se
otlicr difference Was left between them, but thitt which arises bom
the dishonour of base actions and the praise of good ones. IBs pfo*
posal was put in practice. He made nine thousand loti fci' die ter*
ritory of Sparta, which he distributed amcmg so many dtizenis, and
thirty thousand for the inhabitants of the rest of Laconia^ BotsMMf
say he made only nix tiiousand shares for the city, and that PolyAmi
added three thousand afterwards : others, that Polydorus doubled the
number appointed by Lycurgus, which were only four thousand fivia
hundred« Each lot was capable of producing (one year with anotlJtf}
seventy bushels of grain for each man*, and twelve for each Wtoman^
besides a quantity of wine and oil in proportion. Such a fftovisloil
they thought suflScient for health, and a good habit of body^ and Aqf
wanted nothing more. A story goes of our legblator, that sooM
tune after, returning fiY>m a journey through the fields just TeapeJ|^
and seeing the shocks standing parallel and equal, he smiled, and
said to some that were by, Hou^ like is Laconia to an estate ne9i^
divided among nuanf brothers !

After this, he attempted to divide also the moveables, in carder (or
take away all appearance of inequality; but he soon perceived AM
they could not bear to have their goods directly taken from tbeni^
and therefore took another method, counter-working dietr avarici^
by a stratagem^ Firsts he stopped the currency of the gold andt
silver coin, and ordered that they should make use of iron mon^
only : then^ to a grefit quantity and weight of this he assigned bal a

* Bj a mMi it metut s ouMler of a Hm^j, whoso bouiehold wil t* aAtatajpia tMV
ttf cotj bosbcls*

. HP Jl

106

I'LITARCH S Llvr^.

baths, and ilie sniiie indulgence as in perpetual sickness. To effect
this was certainly very great ; but it was greater still 10 secure riches
from rapine and from envy, as Tiieophraituii expresses it ; or rather
bj their eating in coounon, and by the fmgallly of tl.tir table, to
take from riches tlieir very being : For what use or enjoymeDt of
them,, what peculiiir display of magnificence could there )>e, wheif
die poor man went to the same refre.sbment with the rich ? Hence ibc
observniion, that it was oaly at Spaiia where Ptutus (according to
the proverb) was kept blind, and, like an image, destitute of life or
notion. It must further be obticrvcd, that they had unt the privilr^
to eat at home, and so to come without appetite to the public repnt.
'Jliey made a point of it to observe any one that did not eat and drink
with them, and to reproach him as an intemperate and effemioalv
person that was sick of the common diet.

The rich, therefore, (we are told) were more offended with this
regulation thim wiih any other, and, rising in a body, they loudly
rxpresse<Khcir indignation 1 nay, they proceeded so far as to as»iutt
(lycurgus with stones, so that be was forced to fly from the assein-
Itlyt and take refuge in a temple. Unliappily, however, before be
retohed it, a young tnan named Alcandcr, hasty id his rescnlmeati,
though uot otherwise ill-tempered, came up with hiiut and. upon
his turning round, struck out one of his eyes with a stick. Lycuci
gu> then stopped short, sud, without giving way to passion, slutwed
the pcoplti his ey« beat out. and hi:> face streaming with blood.
They were so struck with shame and horror at the sight, that they
furrend«r«d Alcitiider to him, and conducted him bonie with the
utu)osi eKprcssions of regret. Lycurgus thanked them for the cue
of hU person, aod dismissed them all, except Alcander. He took
him into his house, but showed him no ill ireatmcnt, ctlbcT by
word or action, only ordering him to wait upoo hiiu instead of hi*
usual aervwuu and attcndauu. 'Hie youth, who was of an infreiui*
oui ditpostfloii, without munnuring, did as he was commandrd.
Living in tbia manner with Lycui^u^, and hanog on opportuniij to
obarnrc the mildnesa aitd goodness of his faean, bis strict irnpc*
nu}e« and indefinigablc indu$i[>-, he told his friends liuu I^-cqku
wai nut that pr\)ud and severe man be mi^t have brco taken fw,
but, nborc all others, gentle and engajpng iu lus bchavioue. Tli»»
then, w«a his cbastisewebt, and ibb puDi!.hment be suffered, of a
wild iind htwtstroog youDft nu 10 bccooM a very modest and pru-
dent cltiseu. lu meoMry of bis laisWtune, l^curgvs built « tcn-
uht to ^U>mv QphirtK, so railed by bia frno a term Kbkb tbc
borikM IM Ant the e^e. Yet Diw^ondcs, wbo wrote a tratiat
e«nccntn( ibe Ucwl»iaaoiaa govcnmeut, and othess, id^^ ibl 1

tYCUltCti* \of

his eye was hurt^ but not put out, and tliat he biiilt th^ temple in
Ipratitude to the godfdess for his cure. HoweTer, the Spartans netef
tarried staves to their assemblies dftert^rdtf.

The public repasts were dalled by the Cretans AndAa'; bUt tb<
Lacedflftmonians styled them Phiditia, either from their tendency to
friendship and mutual benevolence^ phidiiio beinjf used ihstead ot
phxlitia; or else from theiif teaching frtigality VinAparsivfionify which
the word pheido signifies. But it is not at all impossible that th^
first letter might by sdme means or other be added, and so pAiditid
Cake plftde of editia, which barely signifies eating. Tliere w^r^
ftfteen persons to a table, or a few more of less. Each df them Wad
bbliged to bring in monthly a hushel of meal, eight gallons of wihe>
five pounds of cheese, two pounds' sind a half of figs, aild a littld
money to buy flesh and fish. If any of them happened to offer if
s)icrifice of first-fruits, or to kill venison, be sent il part of it to the
publle table ; for, after a sacrifice or hunting, he was at liberty ta
^up at home, but the rest were io appear at the Usual place. Fot
a long tinie this eathdgin common was observed with great etact-
hess ; so that When king Agis rettbrned from a suc<iessful etpedl^^
tion against tlie Athenians, and, from a desire to sup iHth his wife^
requested to have his portidn at home*, the Polemarehs refused td
send itf! Hay, when, through i^esentment^ he neglected the day
following to oflfer the sacrifice usual on oceasioii of victory, they sel
ia fine upon him. Children also were Introduced at these public
tables, as so many schools of sobriety. There th^y heard discourses
idoncerning government j and ¥^ere instructed in the niost liberal
breeding. There they were allowed to jest without scurrility, and
Were not to take it ill \)dien the raillery was returned : If ox U tbOM
reckoned werthg of a Lfteedaitionian to bear a jest : but if waf
one's patience failed, he had only to desire them to be quiet> ihadF
they left o9 immediately. When they first entered^ Ae oldest mail' '
present pointed to the door, and said. Not a word spoken in this
tompAny goes out there. The admitting of any man to k particular
table was^ under the following regulation \ Each niember o( tiiafr
small society took a litte ball of soft bread in his hand; This to
lirts t6 drop, without saying a word> into a vessel called Caddos^
which the Waiter carried npon his head« III case he approved of the

* TIm kiofi of Sparta had always double commods allowed them ; not that thejr "
were permitted to indalge their appetites more thaii others, bat that tbej might hare
ia opportunity of sharing their portion with some braTe man whom thij choili to dhr
tioguish with that honour.

t The Pkim^c^t w«re thoii wh« bad eomoiandied m^mmf ated«dit hfaifi. Ito
Jrfarii^il'tti ia tfMjtats sl«»|edind«d4kri

108

PLfTA'Rcn S LIVES.

caixlidatc, he did it nitliout altering llic figure ; if not, he first presse<T
it (lat in Ills hand ; for a flatted ball nns considered us a negative. And
if but one such was found, the person was not admitted, as thej
thouf^ht it proper tliat the whole company should be satisfied with
each ottier. He who was lluis rcjecKd, was raid to h:ivc no luck- in
(he e&ditos. Tkc dish that was in the highest esteem amongst then*
was the black breth. The old men were sn fi>nd of it^ that they
ranged themselves on one aide and ate it, leaving the meat to the
young people. It is related of a king of I'ontUK, that he purcliuied
a Idceda^moninn eoek for the t^nke of \\\\s brorh.' But when 1>»
came to taste it, he ^.troiigly expressed his dislike ; uiid the cook
made aaswer, Sir, In inulce tids broth rellnh, it is tieCfSsH-rtf^firttto
bathr: in the Ettrntas. After they hud dniiik moderaicW, llt«y went
home without lights. Indeed, they were forbidden to vmXk with »
light eitlicr on tliis or any other occasiort, that they might aooustotn-
themselves to nukrch in the darkest night W'>ldlyajidr<-sulutt.-ly. Suchf
was the ordec of their public repasts.

LycurgiM left none of \\k laws in writing: it was ordered In one
of the rhetfff: tliat none should be written. For nliat he tiKMight.
most condueive to the virtue nnd Irjppiurss ef a city was, principles
LDterwovcn with tlie manners and breeding of the people. These
would remain immoveable, as founded in inclination, and be the
Mrongest and most lasting tie: and the habits which education pro-
dueiiii in the youth, would answer in each the purpose of a lawgiver.
Ax for sumller matters, contracts about property, and whatever ocen-
swnally ^-aTicd, it was better not to reduce tJiese to a written fonu and
itnnherable method, hut to sufler them to change with the times,
and 10 .idmit of additions or retrcnclmienis at the pleasure ui perMKii
so well ediieated. For he resolved the whole business of legislation
into tlic bringing up of youth. And this, a$ we have observed, wu
the reason why oue of his ordinances forbade them to bare any
writlCD laws.

Another ordinance, levelled ngninst magnificence and cxpencer di-
rected tint tlie ceilings of houses should be wrought with no tool
bat the axe, and the doort with nothing hut the saw. For, as ^a-
minondas is reported to have Eaid afterwards, of his table, Tttfum
birki not under atck a dinner, so Lycurgus perceived before him*
ihat such n house admiu not of luxurj- and needless splendour.
Indeed, no man could I>e so alisurd na to bring into n dwelling, w
homely and eijnple, bedsteads with silver feet, purple coverlets, golden
cup«, aitd a train of expense that follows these; hut all would nccen-
nrily liave the bed suitable to the room, the coverlet to the bed, and
tbv icat of (heir uleuciLs attd furniture to tlial. From tliis pUiik

tP^

LYcimcus. ' 10J>

*— ^— ■— — ^— — — — — »i

sort of dwellings, proceeded the question of Leotychidas the eldet

to h& host, when he supped at Corinth, and saw the ceiling of the

room Teiy splendid and curiously wrought, fFheiher trees gren^

MquareiM his country?

A third <irdhfance of Lycurgus was, that they shoald m/t ofteif

make war against the same enemy, lest, by beitlg frequently put upott

defending themselves, they, too, should become abic warriors in their

turn. And this they most blamed king Agestlatts for afterwards,

that^ by frequent and continued incursions into JBcftoda, he taught

the Thebans to make head against the Jiaccdeomonhins^ This made

At&lcidas say, when he saw him wounded, Tfie neJxmn pay ytm
tceil for making them good soldiers^ who neither were wUling nor

able to ^ght you tkfore. These ordinances he called Jlhetra, m
if they had beea oracles and decrees of the Deity hi#B9e)f.

As for thecducalion of youfth, wliich he looked upon as the greatest

and most ^mons work of a lawgiver, he began with it at tite very

source, takiiig into consideration tlieir conception and birth, by fe«

gulatiog the marriages. For he did not, as (Aristotle says) 4lcsia4

foMB his attempt to bring tlie women under sober rules* Tbey

bad, indeed, asaomed great liberty and power on account of tlie fye^

^ueot cxpeditioiis of their husbands, during which they were left

aole mistresses at home, and so gained an undue deference and ira*-

proper titics; but, notwithstanding tbb, he took all posaible care^rf

thesi. He oidered tlie virg^s to exercise tliemsclvcs in runniag^

Wiestfiog^ aoad throwing quoits and darts^ that their bodies beia^

strong and mgarous, the children afterwards produced fram them

migfu he the same; and that, thus fortified by exercise, tbey mighi

tlie better sappuii the pangs of child-birth, and be delivered wilb

aafisly. In order to take away the excessive tenderness and delicacy

of die sex, d^ eooseqoence of a recluse life, he accustomed the

wgius oocaskmaUy to be seen naked as well as the young men, and

to dbuMse mid mag in tbrir presence on certain f estirals. There tbqr

iiiani limi I indolged in a littk jraDlery upon those that had misbe-

bamed themsdYes and •nmefiaM^ diey sang encomioms on such aa.

descried tfaem; tbns csotiag in tbe yonog men an nsefml emalatioOi

lore of ^^orr. Fes he who was pfaised kx his biarcfy, and ce*

Tirgitts, went away peifecdy happy; while their
tkaown out in spoft, were no leas outing than se-

cspecaaDf as the kia^p an£ femae went with the

aU dkat paastdL As lor the riigias j^peanng

' ' mk^ becatf ereiy thine

mdefCBl word or

Jiafki^ ^mmpr^ » "^ I ' J**" ^--••••'■■■■■■■"■•■^uietieat

1 16 PLtTABCB's LJt-ES.

b&bit of body : their ideas, too, vcre natimlly calargnl, wbile ihef
Kere DOt rtcludcd from tiicir share of brarcTT snd honour. Heti<rc
they were furnished niih sentiments and lao^iage snch as Gorge tbt
W-iff of Leoiiidas is said to ha\-e made Us* of. \Mieii a womaa of
knolher country snid to her. You of LatxiLruum ore the omfy wo-
nen in fke trorhl ihnt rule the nun, she answered, ffe are the on/jf
icotnni that bring forth men,

'JTiese public dunces and other exercises of the roung maidens
Raked, iu siglit of the vouug meu, were, moreover, inccotives to
marriage; tinJ, to use Plato's expr<.-ssion, drew them almost as ne-
eessarily by the attractions of love, as a peomcirical conclusion fot*
hm-s from the premises. To encourage it still more, som« marks of
infamy n-ere set a)>on tliose tliat continued bachelors. For they were
not permitted to see these exercises of the naked vir^ns : and tlie
Inaglstratcs colnInandl^d them to march naked round the market-
place in the winter, and to sing a song composed against thcmselres,
wliich expressed how justly they were punished for their disobedience
t» the lan-s. Tliey were also deprived of that honour and respect
which the younger people paid to the old ; so that nodody found liiult
with what was said to Dercyllidas, though an eminetit commander.
b seems, when he cnme one day into company* a young man, instead
of rising up, and giving bim ploce, told tuin, You have no ehild to
give place to me, u-ken I am old.

In their marriages, the bridegroom eanicd off the bride by ti(h
lence; and ihc was never chosen in a lender age, but when she had
irrived at full maturity. Tlien the woman ilint liad the Arectraa
of the wedding, cut the bride's hair close to the skin, dressed her in
man's clothes, laid her upon a mattress, and lef^ her in the d«i%.
TTie bridegroom, neither oppressed with wine, nor enervated with
hxury, but perfectly sober, as having always supped at the eommoir
tabic, went in privately, untied ber girdle, and carried Iter to another
ted. Having staid there a short time, he modestly retired to hi*
usual apsrlment, to sleep with the other young men: and he ob-
terrcd the same conduct aft em'ard^, spending the day with his com-'
panions. and reposing himself with them in the niglit, iwr even vi'
■iting his bride but with great caution, and apprehensions of bcin^
discovered by the rest of the family; the bride at ihe same tintf
exerted all her art to contrive convenient opportunities for their pri-
Tatc meetings. And this ihey did not for a short time only, but sonM
of them even had children before ihcy had an inteniew wilh fheif
wives in the day-time. This kind of commerce not only exorcised
their temperance and chastily, but kept their bodies fruitful, and lh«
I §nt udonr of their lote ficsh stid naabftted} ibr a* thty wcM mtt

LYCUROUS. 1 1 1

s=====ssss&=3B===EaBBSBssBevsBasaesssssssrr=s

satiated like those that are always with their wives, there still wa^
place for unextinguished desire. When he had thus established a
proper regard to modesty and decorum with respect to marriage, he
was equally studious to drive ^om tliat .state the vain and womanish
passion of jealousy,, by making it quite as reputable jk);h9.Ye chiMren
in common with persons of merit, as to avpid all .offensive fr^on^
tn their own behaviour to their wives, Qe laughed cat- those whp
revenge with wars and boodshed the commuxiieatipu of a married wo^
man's favours; and allowed, that if a man In years should hare a
young wife, )ie mighjt introduce to her some hundsome «ii4 honest,
young ip%n, whom he n^o^t approved of, amd when^he beid a child of
this generous race, bring it up as his;0)yn. On the other hand, he
allowed, that if a man of character should entertaiuvA passion for a
married won^an, on account of her modiesty and the. beauty of h^
chi^en, he migh^^eat with her husband for admission to hereon-^
pa^y^, tb&t so planting in a beauty-bearing soil| he might produce
excellent cbil4.reny the congenial offspring of excellent parents*.
For;, if) the fiijst place, Lycurgus considered children notsomueb^
the property of ^heir parents as of the state; and therefore he would
not have them begot by ordinary persons, but by the best men in it«
In the next place^ he observed the vanity and absurdity of other
nations^ where pepple study to have their horses and dogs of the finest
.breed they can prpcure, either by interest or money, and yet keep
their wives shut up, that they may have children by none but tliem«
selves, though thejf.may happen to be <^oating, decrepid, or infirm;
^ if children, when sprung from a bad stock, and consequently good
for nothing,, were no detriment to those whom they belong to, and
who have the trouble of bringing them up, nor any advantage, when
well descended and of a generous disposition. Tiiese regulations,
tendii^ to secure a healthy offspring, and consequently beneficial to -
the state, were so far from encouraging that licentiousness of the
women which prevailed afterwards, that adultery was not known
jimongst them* A. saying, upon this subject, of Geradas, an ancioit
Spartan, is thus related: A stranger had asked him, ff'hat^punuh^
ment their law appointed fw adulterers ? He answered, My friend^
there are no adulterers in our country. The other replied, But what
if there should be one? Why then, says Geradas, he must forfeit m
kuUso large, tluU he might drink of the Eurotas fron^the top of
Mount Taygetus» WhcA the stranger ^expressed hitf surprise at ihiff,
an4 said, Ifow can suf:h a bull be found?, Geiadas answered with
a«mile, 2fiw cas^OH adulterer b^ found in ^S^por^tf ? This is the
#cco|mit w^ haye of their marriages^
, .|t was not left to ^ £ather to rear what children he pleased, bat

' * lathiicsaethekiogtwiflreexceiited^fqrtl^jweteiiotatlibertjtoleiMltlieirw^et.

■ ■■ i*r»ilfc«»iT^«M<^«fiMt<^»<X*«gilr.«>bca-

«5«r

: Wtifit«»Mi*lj^iifwJjifcii«iiiiJii— Wdwwro

netforwifae p^fc, jiocr iMhc had bbI ^ns k S Gnt nf
L Wmgih <r gaaimtia rf i«» !<■■». Ranhrs^ne mssoci, dK«»-
■ 4U am MaA Anr acw-bni imSmtt «kk vaacr. Wc widi •rnme,
KOMki^MarlridafiknrhakilarMr; nBgiaiB^ ii« mcM^
Md epil^dc diDlmi uak Md fie Wider ife cxponot, »U)e dte
koUkf hctouit MOR npofiMi aiid hsudr. Greu evr and art ■wm
*lff> cscncd bfibe dbtkx; fcr »■ tfar^ Beta swaikrd the iafMiti.
tbeir limbs had a. freer nta, shI ibcir i wiliaiiii 1 1 m >iovc E^ml
■If} bcsidn, the* UM-d them to say sort of Bear, tokare no tctiaa
in ibc Auk, oor tft be afnid of bciof; akmr, and u» feebear all iB-
huBioar aixl munaulf ctjMg, Ilrace p«uple ol Mhrr eoan<rie» por-
chaacd lacedKiaonian nancs for their diildivn ; aod Alcibkidei d«
Atbeniui is ttii to have bcea acned by Amyrb a Spanaa. But if
hcwa»foniiiMleiD3nia^r,hemsiMKsoinapr«:eptor; (brZopwns,
apfiotntrd to thiit olBce by Pericles, «at, ss Pblo (clU a*, tw better
qualifu-dthanacoiumoa sbxrc. The Sputan children kytc not ia that
manner under tuion purchased or hired with moaey, iMr were ttirir
pnfGitO U liherly to educate them as they pleucd ; but as socn aa
Ihe7 were seven years olJ, lA'curgits ordered thetn to be enrolled in
cmnptiuiiii, where they were all kept under tltr same order and dts-
cipline, and had ihcir cxercUt^s and recrfatiuiia in eomtnon. He
aho shuwril llic inotn conduct and courage anninp-^t them was made
«iptain of iIh: company. Tlie rest kepi ihtir ryes upon him, obrtcd
hit ordvik, mid bore with puiieocc the punislnnenlk he inflicted: so
tlwl their whole education was nu esercihc of okedienee, 'ITic oM
■irn were present at Ihcir divenuons, and often suggested soine oc-
C«»ii>D of diifiute or quarrel, that they might ol»ser\« with exa>viai»
Ihe spirit nf eneh, and their tinnncsa in battle.

As for leaniing, they had just what was ab^liitdy neeessnrr. AH
the rent of tWir education was calculated to inuk« iliem subject to
coinmaiid, to endure labour, to fight, and conquer. Thev added,
tliercfore, to their diwipiinc, as. they advanced in age; cutting their
hair very close, malcing them go barefoot, and play, for the noat
part, quite naked. At twelve years of age, their under garmeot was
taken nwny. and but one upper one a-year allowed them: hence
they were necessarily dirty in their persons, being denied ^

great foToar of bi^it miU aU» ttoept •& acHM} |Nurtic«^
jmt. Tbey slept ki mmftmkaf k biAi made of tlietojpB of recrii^
wUch diey gad^rod with thdr own hnA8$ withoot kntvet, asyk
tuottfbt firom the badoi of the Eivotaa* In wialer tllej were per«»
mitted to add a littk dustle-down, as that seemed to have MHi
warmth id it.

Atthissge, the most dasthigoished amoi^t Aem beeamefk*
vottrite eompaiiirme of the elder; and the old men attwded more
oonstautlj thdr plMSs of exerctse^ observing the tr&ila of strength
and wky not sHgfatlif end in a enrsory manner, but as their ta&en^
gtwrdiansi and govenMMS : so that there was neither time nor phiec^
where penons were wanting to instmet and ehastise them* Qnfi
of die best and iddest men in the citjr was, moreover, appointed
inspeelor of the youth ; and he gave the command of each eompeny
to th% most dtserret and spirited of those, called Irmu. AiKlrfH
was one that had been two years oat of the class of hoys :^ a MH^
tiren one of the oldest hub. This/re/i, then, a youth twenty yeati
old, gives ofdem to those nnder his command, in their Uttle^batt]^
and has them to serve him at his boose. He sends the oldest of them
to fieteh wood» jmd the younger to gather pot-herbs ; these .thfif
Steal where they ean find them^ either slyly getting into, gardensy
orebe eraCdlyand warily creeping to the^common.tables;. but if
any 6at be eaogbt, he i* severely flogged for ncgl^nce or want o£
dexterity. Theystnl,loo^ whatever vietisds thc^ pbssU>l^,.can, in^
gemonsly eontriving to do it when persons are asleep,, .-or beep but
indiflbrent watch. If they are discovered, they ^are punishedf nqf
only wkh whippings but with hunger. Indeed, their sppper is boS
slender at M ttoMS^ tiiat, to fence against wsi^^ they may bo
fhroed to'easreise their coumge and addrdis. This is the first in^
tentsm of thdr spate diet t a subordinate one isjtp malf e them gn>w
tdl : for when the animal spirits «re not tod much oppressed by a great
quantity of food, which stretches itself out in breadth and thickness,
i1m7 monat upwards by their naturallightness, andthe body easily
add fireriy shMs up in height. This also oontribMites to make them
haadsoms ; for thin and dender habhs yield more freely to nature^
iriddi tbm giveiaioe pibportion to the limbs; whilst the heavy
aftd gross resist her by thetr weight. So, women that take physic
dwing tfafibr pregmtncy have-slighter chiUbeqi indeed, but of a finer
and anne locate turn, beeiuse tiiie suppleness of the matter more
readiiy obeys tki^ plastic powen Hs^wrrer, these ace qncidations
whiek we shidl Iswre to others.

The boyi-steri whh so mileh ctatisa, thftt one of tfaem^ havi%
cqttseyida youog fan udder bia giirment^ suisiad tl^^ fswKum jo

Voul. No. 12. T /

tear out his bowels with his teeth and claws, choosing rather lo die
than to be detected. Nor docs this appear incredible, if we con-
sider what their young men can endure ta this day ; for we have
aeen many of them empire under the lash at the aJtar of DkBia
Orthia.

The Iren, reposing hitfiself after supper, used to ordor one of the
boys to sing a song; fo another he put some question which rt.
qnired a jadicious answer: for cxfunple, Who was the best man in
tfiecifff? or, W/iat he thought of svch an action? This accus-
tomed them from their crhildhood to judge of ilie virtues, to enter
into the affairs o( tiieir countrymen. For if one of them was asked.
Who is a good ciriaen, or who an infamous one, and hesitated la
his answer, he_waS considered as a boy of »low parts, and of a soul
that would not aspire to honour. Tiie answer wai^ likewise to have
a reason assigned for it, and proof conceived in few words. He
whose account of the maWcr was wrong, by way of punishment, h»i
Vis thumb bit by the Iren, The old men and magistrates ofteivat-
tended these liitlc trials, to see whether the frea exercised his au>
Ihority in a rational and proper maancr. He was permitted^ iu-
deed, to inflict the penalties ; hut when ilic boys were gone, be ms
tobechastiwd himself, if he had punislied them either with tt»
much severity or rcmiasnes'i.

The adopter.t of favourites also shared both in tlie honour and dis-
ftnce of their boys ; and one of them is said lo have been millefcd
fty the ma^iitnUes, because ths boy whom he had taken into his af-
feetton^ let some ungrncrwit word or cry escape him as IkC was fight-
ing. This love was so honourable, and in so much esteem, tint
the virginn, too, Ixid tlicir losers .inxnigst ilie most nituous na-
trons. A tHjmpetitioii of atiection caused no in i sunders landing, but
rather a mutual tViendsbip between those rliat had tixed their tvgatii
upon the <:imi' youth, and an united endeavour to make him as-ae-
complish<<(l as pisslbli*.

" The boys wltc also tauglit fo use sliarp repartee, seasoned «ilh
humour-, and whatever they .said was to he concise and pithv. For
Lyeurgus, as we have observed, tixed but a small value on a cm-
siderublc quantify of his irOn money; but, on the coiitralT, the
ivorlh of apeeeK'Wa'i to eonsLst in its being compiised in a few pbin
^ordf, pregnant with a great deal of sense : and he contrived thit,
bTlong silence, they might lenrn to be sciitenlious and arute ia
their replies. As debauchery often enuscs weakness and sterility
in the body, so the intemperance of the tongue makes couversalioa
empty and insipid. King Agis therefore, when a ccrtaitt Atheniut
-haghed at the Laeeda-nionian short swords, and said, TheJMggtm

ummcMird.^ - 1 r

would imaUomthem taiih ease upon the stage, answered ui his la-
ct^icumtjf,^ jindyei we tmn^reaekoHrePiet^^ hemte wUk ihem^
Indeed, t^ me , there seens to be someUung . bk' this coneise man*
ner of speakiHg^r which imniidately reaekestheobjecC iiimed af^
and forciUy. strikes the mind of the bearer. Lycurgus himself,
was short andsent^ntknis in his discourse, if jwe.may j«|dge by some
cdf his answers iriMi are recorded: that, for instance, concerning
the constitution; when one adrised him to establish a popular go- .
verftment in LaovdnnoDi '60, siudhe, andjbrsirmake m trial of ii
in t^ 4HOitfamifyiixTbaJt,mgMin^ concerning saerifices to the Deity^
when be was asked why he appointed them so trifling and of so little
"wlue, Tkaime^>may,netf^ie in wantj says he, of something, to
o0itjldmi^ Oa^e^flSfsre; when they inquired of btrn^ what sort of
martial exercises he allowed of, he answered^ AU eMC^ those in
which yoH stretch* out your hands* Several such like replies of
lus are said to be taken from the letters which he wrote to his coun*
tfynuBH: as to«*^tbifo ^question, '^ How shall we best guard against ^
the iavasioa .of M^enemy ? '^ By continuifig poor, and not desiring
in jfefur poesMmoms in he one above another. And to the queslioi^
whether th^Mmild enclose jSparta. with walls. That city is well
fortyied which ims^M watt of. men instead cf brick. Whether these
and some other letters ascribed' to him are genuine or not, is no
eaiy aiatter vSo determine. However, that th^y hated long speeches,
the Colblwwg apophthegms are a farther pjrooC King Irfonidas said.
to one who ^hscoiosed at an improper time about, adirs of some
coneetn,. My friend,, you sbouUnot talk so nmch to the purpose
oftohmtUienaltoihepurposetotaikof Charikuis, the nephew
of Xrycurgos,. baiog asked why his uude had made so few laws, aa*
s^vvredy Tameueffew wards few laws are fuficieni. Some peo-
ple finding fiudt with Hecatsnis the sophist, bccspose, when ad-
niitted to OHIO of die. public repasts, be said notbiog^ali the time,
Afchidfmidaa iiq;>licd. Be who knows how to speak, knqws also
wimfofpoak^'

The^oaApi^erof ibe^iirpartees, whidi, a%I said, wlKse seasoned
fKitb^baiDQiir, may. be atbcsed/Km thcsr un^aaces/ .Wbea a tsioo*
h\e^m4 fe^ow jrai jfcstma^ Deaaiatas witk^ impetunewd qneaitiona,
and this in particular, aevfiai times srpcalisd, ^ Who i^ the best maa
JO Sparta ?" He answered. He that is leofi. She pom. Ta soase
who were commendiDg the £kaosii9Maans|pM|g the Olympie punes
with so much justice aod propriety, Agissfidd^ fH^ great maitp^
is it, iftheBleoMsdojswtieeosseeitsJimi^eaesT UlM»a

-ftff plutahch'b WVES.

couDirymen called him PhUoiacon (a lorer of the LAcedAmonians),
ihe Uinfc answered htm, My good friend, it were ntitch better if
they called ynu Philopolite$ (a lover of your own country men).
FtifiiOR&ii, the ton of Pauuriks, replied to an orator of Athens, <rbo
•aid the Lacedcetnonians liad no learning, True, for we are the vnb/
people of Greece that have learnt tu> ill of you. To one who asked
what number of men ihere wa:i in Sparta, Arcliidamidai said. Enough
to keep bad men at a distance.

Kvea when they indulged a vein of pleasantry, one might perceive
that they would not use one unnecessary word, nor let an expression
escape them that had not some sense worth atiendlug to. For one-
beitJ^f asked to go and hear a person who imitated the nightingale to
perfection, answered, / have heard the nightingale hersej(f. Abo*
tlier said, npon reading this epitaph,

rictimi of M>r<, ■■ Scl.iiut the? M\,
WliQ quciicli'il tlie iigc ol' lyniuiy.

"And they deserved to fall, for.iiistead of ^ueneAiMg il, they should
have let it bum out." A young man answered one that prontiwd
him some game eockj that would stand th<;ir death. Give me IAom
that tiill be Iko death of others. Another seeing some people Cii-
ried into the country in litters, said May I never ait in OMf plan
v;here J cannot rise before the aged! This was the manner of their -
apophthegms : so that it has been justly enough observed thkt the
term lakoaizein (to act the Lacedsemonian) is to be rehired ntbtf
to the exercises of the mind, than those of the body.

Nor were poetry and music less cultivated among tb«m, than a
concise dignity of expression. Their songs had a spirit, which
could rouse the soul, and impel it in an enthusiastic manner toac< .
tion. The language was plain and manly, the subject serious and
moral. For they consisted chiefly of the praises of heroes that ha4
di>.d fur Sparta or else of expressions of detestation for such wr«tche»
at had dehilioed the glorious opportunity, and rather chose to drag oa
life lu miMTy iind contempt. Nor did tbty forget to expreu aa aiH
hitiou for ^lory suitable to their re.cpectirc ages. Of this it may Ml
be uniss to give an instance. There were three choirs iu their fts-
tivals, corresponding witli the three ages of man. The old men b»afl.

One* iQ battle h<iJ<l <■* tJiaati
the young men answered,

lij w. ouiTi|«aiuuM|Ba*;
and the boy% eoncludedt

Tti* pal* rcoujiu far u ahnt.

Indeed, if we consider with attention «uch of ^ 1_
u Kt atiU ezuot, ud get into tboM lin whM i

Z,TCVKCUt. 1 17

upon tbe Hate whea they tnirchcd to battle, wc must agree thxt
Terpander and Pindar have very fitljr joined ntour and niuic togc*
ther. Tlie former thtu speaks of LocedamoR^

There ilomi Ihe jouiti') bnght talcliion ;. Ih«r« tlw ainm ■ •

Lirti bcr iwetl voice i Ibttc aofuJ jMWt Bp«*
H«r oide paiilmn.
And Pindar sinf^,

Thsra m gnvs connci) >ili tbc ug* ;
TIh'b bunii Ihe joiiiti'i lesiallcn lagf

To liur] Ibe quiv'ring Iuicb ;
The Ma>e with glai; croi*a> iheir uDUi
And iSieiodj Eicrti her chnrnu.
And PIcuure lead* llie duice.
Thiu WC are informed, not only of their wariilce turn, but their skill
in music. For, as the Spartan poet says.

To iwcl) 1h> bold notti of Ibc Ijre
Bccoiuuibc wanior'j lofl^ fire.

And the king always offered sacrifice to the muses before a battle,
putting his troops in mind, I suppose, of their early education, and
of tlie judgment that would be past upon them, as well as that those
divinities might teach them to despise danger, while they pcrf6rmed
some exploit fit for them to eelebmte.

Od those occasions they relaxed the severity of their discipline,
emitting their men to be curious iu dressing their hair, and elc-
gKot in their arms and apparel, while they expressed their alacrity,
like horses full of fire, and neighing fbr the race. They let their hair,
therefore, grow from iheir youth, but took more particular care, when
tbey expected an action, to have it well combed and shining, remem-
bering n saying of l^curgus, that a large head of hair made the
handsome more graeeful, and the ugty more terrible. The exer-
cises, too, of the yoang men, during the campaigns, were more mo-
^rate, their diet not so hard, and their whole treatment more in-
dulgent ; so thai Ihey w«e (he only people in the world with whom
raititary discipline wore, in time of war, a gemlcr face than usual.
When the army was drawn up, and the enemy near, the king sacri-
Secd a goat, and commanded them all to set garlands upon their
bids, and the musicians to play Castor's march, while himself be-
gui the p<xan, which waj the signal to advance. It was at once a
solemn and dreadful sight to see them meosuiing their steps to the
sound of music, and, without the least disorder in their ranks, or
tumult of spirits, moving forward cheerfully and composedly, with
liannooy, 10 bsttk. Neither feu n« rkshness was likely to operate on
•en M disp09«d, possessed as they were of a firm presence of mind,
,_arift cauMgc and MltMeiK« of sacnss, aa under the condact of

ra Pn.-niTcir*8-tii'E«.

beaven. When tiie king advanced against tlte enemy, he had always
wckh-iiim some one that liad been crowaed in the f>ubUc games nC
Greece. And tliey tetl us, that a Lacctbrmoiiian, when large sums
were offered bim on condition lliat he would tint enter the Olympic
Ibis, refused them; having wkh much difficulty thrown his antap)-
nist, one put this question to him, " Spiirian, what win you get by
this victory;" Heanswered with a smile, /shall ^eve the honour
to fight foremost in the ranks before my prince. When they had
Touted the enemy, they coutinned the pursuit till they wefc assured
of the victory; after that, they immediately desisted; deeming il
neither generous uor worthy of a Grecian to destroy those who made
no farther resistance. This was not only a proof of magnanimity,
hfit of great service to their catiGC. For when iheir adversaries
found that they killed such as stood it out, but sjtarcd the fugi-
tives, they concluded it was better to fly than to meet their fate
upon the spot.

Hipi>ius the sophist tells us, tliat Lycurgus himself was a man: of
peat personal valour, aud an experienced commander. Philostepha-
stis also ascribes to him the first division of the cavalry into troc^s of
fifty, wlio were drawn up in a square body. But Demetrius the
Phalerian says, that he never had any military employment, and that
there was the profoundcst peace imaginable wiien he established the
constitution of Sparta. His providing for a cessation of arms during
the Olympic games is lilicwise a mark of the humane and pcaecaWe
man. Some, however, acquaint ns, and among the ret>t Hcrmippus,
tlat Lycurgus had nt first no communication with Ipbitus; but
coming that way, and happening to he a spectator, lie heard bebinil
hitu a human voice (as he thought) which expressed some wondcTi
aud displeasure that he did not put his countryineti upon rcsertiog to
so great an assembly. He turned round immediately to discurer
whence tlie voice came, and as there n'as no mitn to be Kcea, etUl^i
eluded it was from heaven. He joined Ipjiitus therefore; aud^ or<i
tiering along with him the ceremoDJes of the fcstivuli reodcictt it-
more magnificent and lasting.

The discipline of tlic L-icedcmonians comtoued after thcy wcaw
arrived at years of maturity. For no-man was at liberty to Uv« u h^
pleased, the city being like one great camp, where nil hatf their 5t»t«4r
allowance, and knew their public charge, racA man-courlatUng thtU
Ac tras born, not for himself, but for his coifntrtf. Hence, if they,
had no particular orders, they employed ihcmsclves iu iospcctiof ■
the boys, ai>d teaching ihcm something useful, or in leartung of those'
that wereolder than themselves. One of tlu; greatest privil^i:s thai,.
lycurgus procured hiU couotrymea vfls, thecBJti^'iuutt. <4 Uin^^t^

♦ 'r •

the consequence of hift foFbiddtng them -to exercise uny mecbanit
tnide« it was not worth their while to ^e great paina^ tamixe m
forliiDejsmctf rlebes theve wereof itoaecoiHit ; •and iktHeloiety who
tilled the ground^ were aniwtrable for the, produce above meiitioBed.
To this purposewehavethe^tory of a Li^cedemotiian) who, hap*
pening to be at'Allieiis while the court sat^ Was infontyed of a dian
w)io was fined^^idlepes^ ; ' and when the poor fellow was returning
V»me in gid^dtjeetio% attended.by Ma ooodoUng ftiead^^ be^de^
sired the eoiflpafiy tO'«iiow him diepeisoii thst m^ efmdemued fo^
keeping 9q^ U$ digmfyi* So much beneath Ihetd they reckoned all
attention to mechanic artsj and uitdesure: of iidiesi *

^ Lawsaita were banished' Urom-'Lacedsniioti with money. ' Th<!
Spartans knew peitheMiches^ nor povertyy bat possessed an equal
competency^ and .had. « ; cheap and etasy way of supplying thek few
wants. Henee^ when they were not ei^ged in war, their tin^e Was
taken up with da^icinig, feasting, hunting, or meeting to exercise, t>f
converse. Thiiy ^ went not' to market under thirty years of age^all
their aeCSess^. ebnoeros. being managed by their relations aSnd
adopteffs. Nor was it reckoned a credit to the old to be seen saunter-
ing in the maiioet-pbce; it was decmedmore suitable for them to pa^
great pfurt of the day in the schools of exercise, or places of conver-
sation* ^^Thmr disburse ^dom turned upon money, or business, or
^de^ but: upon the prais^ of the excellent^ or the contempt of thi^
worthless; ! and the last was expressed with that pleasantry^ lintf
humour, which conveyed instruction and correction without seemlAf
to intend it». /Nor was Lycurgns himself immoderately Severe in *&^
jpasauBsr; but^ as Sosibius tells us, he dedicated a little sttftae to thd
god of: laugfatfer in each hall. He considered AicetioosneM as a seiSt
soni^g of their hard exercise and diet, and therefore ordenfd If f«(
take pbtee on all proper occasions, in. their common entertaknsf^ti
andpartietofrpleasure. * ' >

71. Upon the whole, he taught his citizens to think nothfoj^ iiore dii^
i^greeable than to live by (or for) themselves. Like b^, they ^kctefl
with one impulse for the public good, and always iftsembiei a^ut
^eir prince. Hiey were possessed with a thirst for4!londtti^' ian eu-^
t)iasiasm bordering upon insanity, and had not a wish but f^thefir
fliuntry. These sentiments are confirmed by some of their aplUNrisms,
When Ps^daretus lost his election for one of the three 'hmdteit:, he
went away, rejoicing that tbsre were three hundred later men than
hhnseif found in the city*. 'Pisistratidas goin^, with soBie others,

^'Xed'opbon'sa^s, it Was the custom for the ^pA(tn to appoint three o^cen^ eiych of
ivliom #«• to select * liimdrctl men, t^e best he'ct^uld'fintf ^ ftod it wu ft^i&K of gr«t|
eBtaUtioiLtu bs ons^tboM IbMebimdved. ' . • • >^^

I to PLUTARCH S LIVES.

unbossador to the kinj; of Persia's lieutenants, was ssked whether
they came wiib a public commi&sion, or on their own Kccouni! to
which he answered, If succe^ful, for the public j if uTuucceasful,
for ottntkies. Agrileoiiis, the mother of Brasidas, asking some Am-
pjiipolitans that watted upon her at her house, whether Brasidas died
boQourahly, and i» becamea Spartan ? tbej greatly extolled his merit,
U)d ^id. Tb^re was not such a man left tn Sparta i whereupon she
replied, St^nat so, mjf friends; for Srasidas wat irtdetd a man of
konoHT, bat JJacmitEiHOK can boast of nuanf better tiun tkeat he.

The seoale, as ! said before, cousiblcd at first of those that were
assistants to Lycurgus in bis great entorprise. Afterwards, to fill up
ma% 1-anacy that might h^>pen, he ordered the most worthy bud to
be Miected of those that were full threescore years old. This was
the mo(t respectable dispute In the world, and the contest was truly
glorious ; for it was not who should be swiftest among the swift, or
strongest of the strong, but who was the wisest and best amoi^ the
good and wise. He who had the preference was to bear this mark of
superior excellence through life, this great authority, which put into
bis hands the lives and honour of the citizens, and every other im-
portant affair. The manner of the election was this: when the
people were assL-mbled, some persons appointed for the purpose
were »liut up in a room near the place, where tliey could neither sec
nor be seen, and only bear the shouts of the constituents ; for I7
them diey decided this and most other aflairs. Each candidaK
Hulked silently through the assembly, one after another according to
tot. Those that were shut up had writing tables, in which they set
down in different columns the number and loudness of the shouts,
without knowing who they were for; only they marked them as first;
ncond, third, and so on, according to the number of competitoR.
He that had the most and loudest acclauiationi, was declared duly
elected. Then he was crowned with a garland, and went muDd ts
f ivi- thanks lo the gods ; a number of young men fallowed, «
wftkb should exiul him must, and the xvomeu celebrated his t
ill their souf^s, and blessed \\H worthy life and conduct. Endiof luf
leluiions offtred him a repast, and their address on the occaoiou wa^
S^forta /itmonrs you tcith lAis coilMion. When he had finished tlK
procession, he wi-nt to the common table, and Uvedas before. Ootj
two portions were set before him, one of which be carried away; aai
•s all the women related to him ancnded at the gates of the piiMk
hall, he called for her fur whom he had the greatest esieeai, and fs*>
acntod her with the portion, saying, at the same time, That mUeAjf
rrcrived as a tnark of hmiottr, I give to t/OH. Then she was oo»»
ducted home with gn-ai applause by the rest of the women.

Lycurgiu likewise nude good reflations with respect to bwials.
to the first placCf to take away all superstition^ lie ordered the dead
to t>e buried in the city, and even permitted their monumenta to b&
erected near the temples ; accustoming the youth to such sights from
their infancy, that. -they might have no uneasiness from tliem^ noc
any horror for death, u If people were polluted with the touch of a
dead body, or with treading upon a grave. In the next place, ^e suf-,
feied nothing to be btuied with the corpse, except tlie reddotb and
the olive .leaves In which i' ^^ wrapped *. Nnr would he puffer the
relatioos to . inscribe ony names upon the tombs, except of those mea
thaf fell in battle, or those women who died in. some sacred office.
He £xed eleveo days fw the time of mourning: on the twelfth they
were toputaoendtoltafter offering sacrifices to Ceres. ^ No part of
life was left vjtcaot and unimproved, but even with tbelr necessary
actiona he intei^ ove the praise of vinue and the contempt of vice ;
Mid he so filled the city with living examples, thatit was nqxt to, im-
possible for persons, who had these from their in&ncy hcfore. their
eyes, not to, b^ dcawti tnd formed to honour.

For the same reason, he wouU not permit all that desired it to go
abroad Bod see other countries, lest ihey^should contract foreignman-
ners, gain traces of a, life of little discipline, and of a different fonm of
government. ., He forbade strangers, too, to resort to Sparta, who
cpuldgOOt assign pgood reason fur their doming; not, as Thucydidei
says, out of fear they should imitate the constitution of that city, and
makejpipiovements in viitue, but lest they should teaih. his-owa
peopU some evil. For aloo^ with foreigners came new.suljeds (Mf
discourse; , new discourse produces new opinions; and from these
there nc^essar^ spring new passions atid desires, which, like dis-
cords in music, would disturb the established gorernmcut. He
'thenefttrc thought it more expediirnt for ihe city to keepout of it cor-
rupt, fTHstoms and manners, t^^i) '^d '° prevent the introduction
of a pestilence.

Tlius far, then, we can perceive no vestiges of a disregard to right
and wron^, which is the ThuU some people find with the laws of
l^curgus, alUiwiug tlicm well cn-ou^h calculated to produce valour,
liut nut to pi'omote justice. Perhaps it ivhs the Ciyptlu, as they
called it, or ambusfiofle, if that was rtaliy one of tliis lawgivtr's in-
stitutions, as .-^ristolle says it was, which gave Plalo so bad an Im-
pression both of Lycitrgus and !iis laws. The governors of the youth
ordered the sjirewdest of them fiom time to time to disperse ibem-

_ ■ * ^Un ifll. ui (I. Ti. c. &), Ihiit nnl niJ Ihe ciiiiens indclTerfntly wore buritd in lh«

f^clocb Mid. olive Utittt, but vnitf web h Iwd diMiofuiilMd UMnt^iei pwtif oltttj
io the Geld.

'' "Vol:i; Icc'ii; '■' ' a

142 rLlTAHCH's LIVE5.

selves in the country, providtd makj ^riA ^tggm and some neces-
mrj proTutons. In the iKj-tiate Atj hid dwnsdves, aod rested in
the most pmaie pUces they ctnld findf bat at niglit dtey sallied out
into tbe roads and lulled all tbe HHotet thcj coald meet vidi. Nar,
soroetimes by day, diey fell upon tfacin is tbe fields, and murdered
Ae ablest and strongest of tbem. TliDryifides relates ia fab blstory
of the Peloponnesian war, that the Spuuns selected soch of them as
were distingubhed for their coan^, to the QBrnber of tno thousand
or more, declared them free, crowDcd tbcm with gaiLands, and con-
ducted them to the temples of the gods ; but soon after they all £s-
appeared : iind do one could, either then or since, give aecoant b
what manner they were destroyed, Aristotle panicularly says, thai
the Ephori, as soon as they were inrested in their office, declared
war against tlie Helatet, that they might be massacred under pre-
tence of law. In other respect* they treated them with great ioliu-
tnanity; sometimes they made them drink till they were iotoxlcated,
and in that condition led them into the public halls to show the younf
men what drunkenness was. They ordered them too to sing mean
songs, and to dance ridiculous dances, but not to meddle with any
that were genteel and graeefnl. Thus, they tell us, that when the
Thebans afterwards inraded Laconia, and took a great number of the
Heloies prisoners, they ordered them to sing the odes of Tcipander,
Alcman, or Spendon the Lacedemonian, bat they excused them-
selves, alleging that it was forbidden by their masters. TTiose who
say that a freeman in Sparta was most a freeman, and a slave most a
Blavc, seem well to have considered the diflerence of slates. But, in
my opinion, it n-ns in after times that these cruelties took place
among the Laeediemonians ; thicfij- after the jjreat eanhquake, wbeO,
as history informs us, the Hehtes joining the Messenians, attacked
lliem, did infiiutc damage to the coimtry, and brought the city to the
greatest cstremity. I can never ascribe to Lycyr^s so ahomiDrtfe
an act as that of the ambitxcadc~ 1 would judge in this case b/the
mildness and justice which appeared in the rest of his condcet, (d
which also the gods gave their sanction.

When his principiil instiiulions had taken root in the mannen of
the people, and the government was come to such maturity as to be
able to support and preser\-e itself, then, ns Plato says of tfae Dtttj,
that he rejoiced when he liad created the world, aud given it its Gnt
motion ; so Lycurgus was charmed with ilie beauty and greatness of
\m political establishment, when he Faw it excmplifled in fact, ttti
■nove on in due order. He was next desirous to make it tounon^
to for as human wisdom could eflect it, and to deliver it down no-
vbiuiged (o the latest times. For this purpose he assembled all the

M assembled all the |

people, and toU theip^ the prorWons he had alreadjr oiade for the
state were indeed safficient for virtue and htf^piiiesa, but the gieatesl
and moat important matter was still behind^ which he could- not diSi*
close to them till he had consulted the oracle ; that they must there^
fore ioFiolably observe his laws, wiAout allering any thing in then^
till he returned firom Delphi $ and then he would acquaint them wi^
the pleasure of ApolkK When they had all promised to dsi tOj and
desicedhim to setfinrward^ betook an oath of the kmgs andsen^orSp
and afterwards of all the citizens^ that they would abide by the pre-
sent estahlisluuent till JLycuigus came back.^ He then took hii
journey ^ Odphi.

When he aivived there» he offered sacrifice to the gods, and con^
suited the oiacle, whether his laws were sufficient to promote virtue^
and secure the happiaess of the state. ApoUo answered that th^
lasks were csceUent, and 4hat the city which kept to the constitutioa
he bad estaUisbad would be the most glorious in the worid, Thia
oracle l^rcurgus took down in writing, and sent it to Sparta. Ho
then offered anothor sacr^e^ and embracipd his friends and hw son^
deterauned never to release his citizens from their oath, but volun^
tarily there to pat a period to his life ; when he was yet of an age
ndieii life was not a burden, when death was not desirable, and while
he was not unhappy in any one drcumstance. He therefore de*
stroyed himaelf, by abstaining from food, persuaded, that the very
death of lawgivers should have its use, and their exit, so (ax from being
insigmftcant, have its share of virtue to be considered as a great action.
To him, indeed^ whose performances were so illustrious, the conclu^p*
sion of life was tiie crown of happiness, and his death was left guardiiia
of those invaluable blessings he had procured his countrymen through
life, as they had taken an oath not to depart from his establishment
till his return. Nor was he deceived in liis expectations. Sparta
continued superior to the rest of Greece both in its government at
home mid reputation abroad, so long as it retained the institution of
Lycurgus ; and this it did during the space of five hundred years, and
the reign of fourteen successive kings, down to Agis the son of Arclu*
damns. As for the appointment of the Ejthorij it was so far from
weakening the constitution, that it gave it additional vigour; and
though it scented to be established in favour of the people, it
stre^gdiened the aristocracy.

But in the reign of Agis money found its way into Sparta, and vrith
money came its inseparable attendant, avarice. This was by means
of Lysander j who, though himself incapable of being corrupted by
naoney, filled his country with the love of it, and with luxury too.
He brought both gold and silver from the waniy and thereby broke

ISi PI,UTARCh*a l,fvE9.

tluough the laws or Lj'curgus. ^^''hiIc Ihese were in force. Spam
was notsnmnch under the political regulations of a commonwealth.
as the strict rules of a philosophie life; and as the poets fci^ of
Hereules, that only with a club and lion's skin he travelled over the
world, clearing: it of lawless ruffians and cruel tyrants ; so the Loce-
dffiinnnians with a piece of parcUment* and coarse coat kept Grew*
in » voluntary obedience, destroyed usurpation and tyranny in the
states, put an end to wiirs, and laid seditions asleep, very often with-
out either shield or lance, and only hy sending one ambassador; to
whose directions all parties coDccrned immediately submitted, Thu!
bees, when ibeir prince appears, compose their qtiarrels, and unite
in one swarm. So much did iustire and good government prerail in
that stale, that t am surprised at those who say, the Laredsemoniant
line* indeed how to obey, but not how to govern ; and oti this occa-
sion quote the saying of king Theopoinpiis, who, when one told hin),
that Sparta was preserved by the goad admimstration of its /eingt,
replied, Nat/, rather hy the ohedtfnce of their subjects. It js «t-
tain that people will not continue pliant to those who know not bow
to command : but it is the part of a good govcmor to teach ohedienw.
He wlio kuows how to lead we!!, is sure to be we!! f'jllowed : ntid «i
it is by the art of horsemanship that a horse is made gentle and tt*e-
table, soit is by the abilities of him that fills the throne tliat the peo-
ple become ductile and =!u!imissive. Such was the conduct of ihe
Laced mm ouians, that otiierpcopic did not only endure, but eren de-
sired to become their suhjecls. Tliey asked not of them cither ships,
money, or troops, but only a Spartan general. ^V lien they had re-
ceived him, they treated him with the greatest honour and respeet;
so Gylippus was revered by the Sicilians, Brasidas by the Choteidisiu,
IvVsandcr, Callieratidas, and Agesilaus by all the pci'ple of Asia.
These, and such as these, wlic-revcr they came, were culled modera-
tors and reformers, both of the magistrates and people ; and Sparta
itself was considered as a school of discipline, where the beauty of
lifeand political onlcrwere taught in the utmost perfection. Hence
StratoQicus seems facetiously enough to have said, tliat he would

• ITiii wm ihe tciiluit, Ihe nature Hnd me of wliieli PlutArdi tiplniii) iu Iho Uhnt
Xponder. lie (Hit w, tint whrn ilie mnglstralej gute their cuniniiiiiun to myud^tl
orgvneni, Ih*; touk two round giiecrt ofwuut), bulheiaclljequdlin breadth tint tkU-
ncm (Til ucjd ides adds, Ihsl Ihev veir iniuolli and long) ; one tliey kcpi Ihrmwlrw, tb»
«th(.-r OBI dcUvBrcd Id Iheir uUiuec. When llicj hud in; ttiuig uf moniciit wbicli the;
would Mcrellj canie; to him, lliiiv cut u loug inrtow KtoH ol p»rcliiucnl, ami tollinj 4.
■buul iheir owa ^UlT, one fold cloic upon nnollier, Ihej wrote ihrir buiiiirsi on il : when
Ih.y had wtitrcn what tliej lind lo jb_y, tlipj took ulf the p»tchiii™t, and sciil it the gmet
III 1 and lie appljlag il to liii own iiaS*, the cLniBClers wbicli before were ronfoMd and
tuiiniallieil'Iei appaucd tlien ver; plain. . ,

IT

LYCURCUfc ■'-'* 125

order tfie .■ithfiiSans to linve the fondttrt of mf/steriex and proces-
sions; the Rleinif tti jtreside in flumes, as their part inilar province ;
and the hacedarmtmians to be heate^i, if the others did amiss. This
w»s spoken in jest: bur Anlisihtnes, one of the scholars of Socrates,
said (more seriously) of the Thebans, when he saw them pluming
themselves upon tlieir success at Leuttra, T/ify were just like so
many school-bt^s rejoicing that they had henlen their master.

It was not, however, the principal design of Lycurgus, that his
city should govern many others, but he considered its hapjiinesSf
like that of a private man, t»<iftmfiiigfrom virtue and seff -sit ffldettcy ;
he therefore so ordered and disposed it, that, by the freedom and
sobriety of its iiihabiianis, and their having: a sufficiency within
themselves, its continuance mipht be the more secure. Plaio,
Diogt'nes, Zcno, and other writers upon governmeni, have taken
Lycurgus for their model : and these have attained great praise,
though they left only an idea of something excellent Yet he, who
not in idea and in words, btit in fact produced a most inimitable
form of government, and by showing a whole city of philosophers,
confounded those who imagine, that the so much talked of strictness
of a phrlosoplitc life is impracticable; lie, I say, stands in the rantc
of glory fiir before the founders of all the other Grecian states.
Thcrrfbre Aristotle is of opinion, that the honours paid liim at Lace-
d«mon were far beneath his merit. Yet those honours were very
great; fir he has a temple there, and they offer him a yearly sccri-
fice, as n go<l. It is aUo said, that when his remains were brought
home, his tomb wits siriick with lightning; a seal of divinity which
no other man, however eminent, has had, ei^cept Euripides, who died
and iras buried at Arcihusa in Macedonia. This was matter of great
naiisfaciion and triumph lo the friends of Euripides, that the same
thing should befal him after death, which had formerly happened to
the most venerable of men, and the most favoured of heaven. Some
say Lycurgus died at Cirrha; but, Apolloiliemis will have it that he
was brought to Elis and died there ; imd Tiinatus and Aristoxenus
write, tliat he ended his days in Crete; nay, Aristoxenus adds, that
the Cretans show his tomb ut Pergamia, near the high road. We
nreiolij he left an only son, named Antiorus : and as he died without
Wisuv, the fumily was extinct. His friends and relations observed
kit ftfintvcraary, wiiich subsisted for many ages, and the days un
whidi they met for that purpose tlicy caUcd Ltfcurgidfc. Aristo-
crates, the son of Hipparehus, relates, that the friends of Ivycurgus,
witli whom he sojourned, and at lust died in Crete, burned his liody,
and, at liis icquest, threw his ashes into tije sea. Tlius he guarded
wH)ility of his remains bein^ brought back to Spana by

186 PLUTARCH^S hlVES.

ggsssggaagBBg— s— BBggB gaggggasa

tbc iMceAmmomsuoB, lest tbejr should then thiok
fipom their oathf on the jMretcDce tliat he was retnrnedy
QOfitiaQsiothegovenuneBt, This is what w« bad to

5S

NUMA.

THERE 18 likewise a great diversity apiongst hislonmilAoiit l||
time in which Numa lived, though some families seen to
genealogy, up to him with sufficient accuracy. Howevaerj n
writer, called Clodius, in his emeadadons of chranolog^
that the ancient archives were destroyed when Rom^
the Gauls: and that those which are now shown aa
forged in favour of some persons who wanted to stretch dl|cjr UqH||
far back, and to deduce it from the most iUastrioos how^ SmV
say, that Numa was the scholar of Pythagoras ; but iitfaei^ mntfpJL
tliat he was unacquainted with the Grecian literature^Kilh^^icgJm^
that his own genius was sufficient to conduct him to
that he was instructed by some barbarian philosopher
Pythagoras. Some, again, affirm, that Pythagoras
about five generations below the times of Numa : hot that
the Spartan, who won the price at the Olympic race in ^ siaMpplI
Olympiad (about the third year of which it was that Numa CMHf li
the throne), travelling into Italy, became acquainted with thai fviMb
and assisted him in regulating the government. Hence siaof %iK^
tan customs, taught by Pythagoras, were intermixed with the RoiWif
But this mixture might have another cause, as Nuoftt was ^iSfUmk
extraction, and the Sabines declare themselves to have beiNsa
dsBmonian colony. It is difficult, however, to adjust the
actly, particularly those that are only distinguished with the
of the Olympic conquerors; of which, we are told, Hippiai^,th#
Elean, made a collection at a late period, without sufficient
We shall now ralate what we have met with most remarkabte
cerning Numa, beginning from that point of time which is
suitable to our purpose.

It was in the thirty-seventh year from the building of Rome^ aaJi
of the reign of Romulus, on the seventh of the month of July (whMh
day is now called Norue Caprotituejj when that prince went out eC
the city to offisr a solemn sacrifice at a place called the Qoat*s3imnJ^
in the presence of the senate and great part of the pecqple. SiMlleii||ft
there happened a great alteration in the air, and the clouds baxBt jft:

a storm of windand baiL The rest of the assembly were steads

"mjMA. ]f7

i^g^uB^jsmmmtam

terror, dnd flei, btst Romulus dbappetrecl, and eould not be fownd
either alive cr dead. Upon Aas, the itonatofs SeH under a Tiolent
suspicion y and a report was propagated against them amon^ the peo*
jf^Ie, that having long been weary of the yoke of kingly government,
and desirous to get Ihe power into their own hands, they had mur-
dered the king; particularly as he had treated them for some time
in an arbitrary and imperious manner. But they found means to
obviate diis suspicion^ by paying divine honours to Romulus, as a
person diat had been privileged from the fiite of other mortals, and
was only removed to ar happier scene. Moreover, Proculus, a man
of high rank, inade oath that he saw Romulus carried up to heavett
in complete armour, and heard a voice commanding that he should
h€ eaHed Q&irinus.

Y*resli di^urbances and tumults arose in the city about the electicn
cf a new Ung^ (he later inhabitants being not yet thoroughly incor-
Isolated vd(h llie first, the commonalty fluctuating and nnsettled ia
Ita^lf, tod the patricians full of animosity and jealousies of each
other. All, indeed, agreed that a king should be appointed, but they
differed and debated, not only about the person to be fixed upon, but
from which of the two nations he should be elected. For neithef
totdd they who with Romulus built the city, endore, that theSabtnes^
wlio had been admitted citizens, and obtained a share of the lands,
should attempt to command those from whom they had received
stich privilcjges ; nor yet could the Sabines depart from their claim of
giving a king in their tarn to Rome, having this good argument in
their fiivour, that, upon the death of Tatius, they had sufleird Ro«
mulus peaceably to enjoy the throne, without a colleague. It was
also to be considered, that they did not come as inferiors to join a
superior people, but by their rank and number added strength and
dignity to the city' that received them. These were the arguments
on which they founded their claims. Lest this dispute should pro-
duce an utter confusion, whilst there was no king, nor any steersman
at the bdm, the senators made an order that the hundred and fifty
members ykho composed their body *, should each, in their turns, be,
attired in the robes of state, in the room of Quirinus; ofiar the

* According to oar author^ in the Life of Romulu^ the nnmber of the senators »«s
100. Indeed, Dionjiius lays, that writers difiered in this particular, tome affirming,
that 100 senators were added to the original nomber, upon the union of the Sahinct
with the Romans; and others, that only 50 were added. Livjr gives the most prubable
aceooBl of the manner of the Interregnum. The senators, be says, diYtded themselves
into deeories or tens. These decories drew lots which sboold govern first; and the
deeofj to whose lot it fell, enjoyed the supreme authority (or fire days; yet, hi sodi e
maimer, that'ouie pertoa only of the governing decury had the enai^nf of soiHrtignty
ate time*

138 PLUTAECH B UVBS.

Stated sucrilices to tlie gods, nnd dispatch itie whole public bmlnesSf
six hours in the duy, and six hours at niglit. This distribution of
time seemed well cooirived, in point of equality amongst the rcf^eots,
and the ehange of power from hand to hand, prevented its bein^ ob-
noxious to the people, who saw the same person, in one day and oofl
&ti;lit, reduced from a king to a private man. This occasiooai ad-
ministration the Romans call an Inttrregnttm.

But though the matter was managed iu this moderate and popular
way, the senators eould not escape the suspicions and compluints of
the people, that they were changing the government into an oligar-
chy, and, as they had the direction of all affairs tn their hands, were
unwilling to Imve a king. At last it was agreed between the two par-
ties, that one nation should choose a king out of the whule body of
the otiicr. This was eonsidered as the best means of putting a atop
10 the present contention, and of inspiring the king with aa aflectioa
fur both parties, since he would be gracious to these, because thej
had elected him, and to those as his kindred and countrymen. The
Sahines leaving the Romans to their option, iliey preferred a Sabine
king of ibcir own electing, to a Roman chosen by the Sabines. Coo-
suhing, therefore, among themselves *, tbcy fiscd upon Numa Pom-
pilius, a Sabine, who was not of the number of those that bid
migrated to Rome, but so celebrated for virtue, that the Sabines re-
ceived the nomination even with greater applause than the Rumaof
themselves. When they had acquainted the people with their reso-
lution, they sent the most eminent personages of both nations am*
liassadors, to entreat him to come and take upon him the goverDraeot.

Numa was of Cures, a considerable city of the Sabines^ from
-which the Romans, together with the incorporated Sabines, took the
flame of Qiiiriles. He was tiic son of a person of distinction,
named Pomponius, and the youngest of four brothers. It seemed
to be by the direction of the gods, that he was born the twenty-first
of April, the same day that Rome was founded by Romulus. His
.mind was naturally disposed to virtue ; and he still farther subdued
it by discipline, piiiicnce, and philosophy j not only purgmg it of
the grc»33cr and more infamous passions, but even of that ambitloD
And rapaeiousness which was reckoned honourable amongst the bar-
barians; persuaded, that true for^tude consists in the conquest of
appetites by reason. On this account, he banished all luxury and

• The inUrra, for the tiint bfiog, hsiing lummoiwd the people, addmitd tb*a
Ibui: " RomaiUj elect VDnrsclvci a kingj Ilie senate giie ihrli ciiiuent; uiil, i[ joa
chCHiie a piince wonhy 10 lucceed Rucuului, llie senate will csniirin jour cbuict."
,Tbp people were lo welt plemed villi tbii cundeicennoa of tbe imatci ibal Itw} t^
nitted tb« cbuiM l» ihcnu

splendour from his house ; and both the citizens and strangers found
in him a faithful counsellor^ and an upright judge; As for his hours
of leisure, he spent them not in the pursuits of pleaisure, 6r schemes
of profit, but in the worship of the gbds, and ib liational inquhies in-
to their nature, and their power. His name became i^t length so
illustrious, that Tatius, who was the associate of Romulus in the
kingdom, having an only daughter, tiamed Tatia, bestowed her tipoii
him. He was not, however> so much elated with this matdl as td
remove to the court of his father-in-law, but continued in the country
of the Sabines, paying his attentions to his oWn father> who w^ now
gfown old. Tatia was piartaker of his retirement, and {nrefeiDred the
calm enjoyment of life with hot husband in privacy^ to the honoUri
tad distinction in which she might have lived with her fatbet at
Rome. Thirteen years after their marriage she dled«

Nutnathen left the society of the city, aiid passed his time in iVz^ti^
Bering about alone in the secret groves and lawns, in the most te^
tired and solitary places, tience the report concerning the goddess
Egeria ehiefly took its rise ; and it was belieVed that it Was not fi^om
any inwa)rd sorrow or melancholy turn that he avoided human con-
versation, but from his being admitted to that whidi wais more Venera-
ble and exeellent, from the honour he had of a familiar intercourse with
», divinity that loved hiii)^ which led liim to happineiss and knowledge
more than mortal. It is obvious enough, how much this resembles
Inany of the ancient stories received and delivered down by the
Phrygians of Atys, tlie Bythdniatis of Herodotus, atid the Arcadians
6F Endymion ; to Whom might be added many others^ Who wer«
thought to haVc attained to superior felicity, and to be beloved in an
tetraordihary manner by the gods^ And, indeed> it is rational,
enough to suppose, that the deity would not place his affection upoa
horses 6t birds, but rather upon hutnah beings, eihinently (fistin-
guished by virtue ; and that he neither dislikes nbr disdains to hold
tonversation with a man of wiidpm and piety^ But that a diviniiy
lihould he captivated with the e^^ternal beauty of any human body, is
irrational tb believe. The £gyptian3> indeed, majce a distinction i^
this ca^. Which they think not im absufd onei that it is not impossi*
Ue for a w6m^ to be impregnJited by the approach 6f some divine
qpirit ; but that a inan can have no porporeal intercourse with a god*
Aest. But they do not, however, consider that a mixture^ be it of
%vbat soirt it mliy,'e^ally. communicates iti$ bemg. In short, the re>-
jpurd Whidh the gOds \kirt foir men, though, like a human passion, it
llie called love, ^l^st be ihnployed in forming their manners, and rais-
iog them to higher degrees of viitue. In this sense we may adi6it
llie MseitiOQ bt the poets^ that Pborbas^ HyacinUras, and Admetus,

130

rtlTARCH S UVC5.

e beloved by Apollo; ai)<l ihat Hippolyros, (lie Sicyonian, was
fin his farour; so that wiieDcver lie sailed from Cirrha to
Sicyon, ibe priestess, in order to signUV the satisbction of Apollo,
repealed this hennc wrs^

He RNBCl, ■(■■& At MXh 111 I'll hCTD CDBtl.

It is also fabled, tliat Fao was In lore with Piadai, oa account of
bis poetry; aad that Archilochus snd Hesiod, after their death,
were hoDoured by tlie heai-ciily powers for the same reason. So-
phocles, too, (as the story goes) was blessed id his life-time wJiL
die cooversatioD of the god -Esculapius, of which many proofs Still
remain; and another deity procured him buiiaL \ow, if we admit
tliat these were so highly fa\~oured, sliall we deny that Zaieucus,
Klinos, Zuroa.'^tia', Numa, and Lycurgus, kio^ and lawgivers,
were liappy in the same re.^pect? Nay, rather, we shall think, tliat
the gods might seriously converse with such excellent petsoos as
these, to instruct and cncourai^ them in ihelr great attempts;
whereas, if ihcy indulge poets and musicians in the same grace, it
roust be by way of diversion. To such as are iif another opinion, 1
shall say, however, with Baccliylides, Tfte u-ay is broad. For it
is no unplausitile account of the matter which oihers give, when
they tcil us, thut Lycurg^i.', Xunia, .iiid oth>.'r great men, finding
their people diOiculi 10 manage, and alterations to be made in their
several governments, pretended commissions from heaven, which
were salutary, at least to tliose for whom ilicy were invented.

Numa was now in his forticih year, when ambassadors came boa
Kome lo make him anofitrof tlic kingdom. The speakers were
Proculoa imti Vclcsus, whom ihe people before liad cast their ey»
upon fur the ruyal digniiy, the Konians being attached to Proculus,
aod tlie Sabiucs lo Velcsus. As they imagined that \uma would
gladly ctnb ace hia good fortune, ihcy made but a short speech.
They found it, Itowevcr, no easy matter, to persuade }iim, but
were oblipicd to make use of much entreaty to draw hitii from that
peaceful rcircJit he was no fund of, to tlic government uf a ci^,
born, as it were, and brouglit up iu war. , In the presence, iherc-
fore, of his father, and une of his kinsmen, named Marcius, he
eave them this answer : " Every change of human life has its dan-
gers; but when a man has a suthcli-ncy for evcty thing, attd iheit
is notlting iu his present situation lobe complained of, what hut '
madness can lead him from his usual track of life, which, if it h«*
CO (itlicr advantage, Ivis that of certainly, to ejcperieiu-e anotlier at
yet doubtful and unknown? But the dangers that aitetjd this go-
veramcnt arc beyond an uncertainty, if we may form a judgment
from the fortunes of Romulus, who laboured uuiler th« suspicioo

I

NUMA. 131

of taking off Tatius^ his colleague, and was suppoMfd' to have lost
his own life with equal injustice. Yet Romillus is-<ielebrated as a
person of divine origin, as supematundly nourished, when an in^
fant, and most wonderfully preserved. For my part I am only of
mortal race, and you are sensible my nursing and educati6n boast
of nothing extraordinary. As for kny chara(*te1r, if it has any dis-
tinction, it has b^bn gained in. a way not likely to qualify ine for a
king, in scenes of repose and employments by no means arduousi
My genius is inclined to. peace, my love has long been fixed upon
, it, and I have studlousjy avoided the confusion of war : I have also
drawn others, so f|ir as my iniluence extended, to the worship of the
gods, to mutual offices of friendship, and to spend the rest of their
time in tilling the ground, and feeing cattle. The Romans nmy
have unavoidable wars left upon their hands by their late king, for
the maintaining of which you have need of another more active and
. more enteiprising. Besides, the people ar^ of a warlike disposi^^
tion, spirited tf(ith success, and plainly enough discover their incli-
nation to extend their conquests. Of course, therefore, a person
who has set his heart upon the promoting of religion and justice^
and drawing men off from the love of violence and war, would soon
become ridiculous and contemptible to a city that has more occasion
for a general than a king."

Numa in this manner declining the crown, the Romans, on the
other hand, exerted all their endeavours to obviate his objections,
and begged of him not to throw them into confusion and civil war
again, as there was no other vyhom both parties ^ould unanimously
elect. When the ambassadors had retired, his father and his
ficiend Marcius privately urged him, by all the arguments in their
power, to receive this great and valuable gift of heaven. *f If con-
tented," said they, " with a competence, you desire not riches,
i^or aspire after the honour of sovereignty, having a higher and
better distinction in virtue; yet consider that a kinij is the minister
of God, who now awakens, and puts inaction your native wisdom
and justice. Decline not, therefore, an authority winch to a wise
roan is a field for great and good actions ; where dignity may be
added to religion, and men ifiay be brought over to piety in the
easiest and readiest way, by the influence of the prince. Tatius,
though a stranger, was beloved by this people; and they pay di-
vine honours to the memory of Romulus. Besides, who knows, as
they are victorious, but they may be satiated with war ; and having
no farther wish for triumplis and spoils, may be desirous of a mild
and just governor for the establishing of good laws, and the settling
of peace ? But, should they be ever so ardently inclined to war, yet is

PLUTARCH S LIVES.

it not bcticr to turn thtii' violence anotiier way, and to be the centre
of uoiou and frlendsbip between the country of the Sabines and »o
greut ami flourishing a state as tliat of Rome?" These iuducements,
we are told, were streng'hened by auspicious omens, and by the
zeal and ardour of hia fellow-citiaeus, who, as soon as tlicy had
learned the subject of the embassy, went In a body to entreat hiin
to take the government upon him, as tbe only means to appcaae all
disseutions, and effkictually incorporate the two nations into on*.

When be had determined to go, he offered sacrifice to the gods,
and then set forward to Rome. Struck with love and admiration
of the man, ilic senate and people met him on the way; the wo-
men welcomed hi n> with blessings and shouta of joy; the temples
were crowded witli sacriiices ; and so universal was tbe satisfiictton,
that the city mit;bt seem to have received a kingdom instead of a
liing. When they were come into tlie Forum, Spuriiis Vettius,
whose turn it then was to be Inlerrex, put it to tlie vote whether
Numa should he king, and all the citizens agreed to it with one
voice. Tbe robes and other distinctions of royalty then were offered
hint, but he commanded them to stop, as bis authority yet waated
the sanction of heaven. Taking, therefore, with him tbe priests
and augurs, be went up to the Capitol, which the Romans at that
time called the Tarpcian rock. There the chief of the augur* co-
vered the head of Numa", and turned his face towards the south;
then standing behind him and laying bis right hand upon his head,
be offered up his devotions, and looked around bim, in hopes of »ee-
ing birds, or some other signal from the gods. An incredible si-
lence reigned among the people, anxious for the event, aitd lost ia ,
suspense, till the auspicious birds appeared and jiassed on the r^hl
hand. Then Numa took the royal rube, and went down from tbe
mount to tbe people, who received him with loud acclamations, ■*
tlie most pious of men, and most beloved of the gods.

His first act of jziovernment was to diseharge the body of three
hundred men called CeUres, whom Romulus always kept about hit
person as guards; for he neither chose to distrust those who put
confidence in turn, nor to reign over a people that could distnut
him. In the next place, to the priests of Jupiier and Mars he
added one for Romulus, whom he styled Fla/nen Qitiritiatis. FJa-
eommoii name for priests before that lime j and it n
said to liavc bceti corrupted from Filamiitcs, a term derived from

Pldtucb, I

M'f'n t<fii, &c- Aad, indtcil,

|i) bit office, called t-tna, vben hp Bade hi* abxivaliaiu.

11 tWrids; but it (ppurs fiom Ijfj, Uul
■t-ur al«i}> coTcnd hii liead tu ■ gona pcc»lu|

KUMA. 133

MM

f, which in Greek signifies €ap$y (for tiiey wore, it seems, a
of caps or hoods) ; and the Latin hngnage had many more
Groelc words mixed with it then, than it has at this time. Tfaos^
yoyiU mantles were by the Romans called Kmub, which Juba as-
sures us was firom the Greek Chkenas; and the name of CandUuM*
giFen to the youth who served in the temple of Jupiter, and who
was to have both liis parents alive, was the same which some of tiie
Greeks give to Merctuy^ on account of his being an attendant of
that god.

Numa having settled these matters mth a view to establish him-
self in the people's good graces^ immediately after attempted to
soften them, as iron is softened by fire, and to bring them from a
^riolent and warlike disposition, to a juster and more gentle temper.
For^ if any city ever was in a state qf mflammationy as Plato ex-
pfesses it, Rome certainly was, being composed at first of the most
hardy and resolute men whom boldness and despair had driven
thither from all quarters, nourished and grown up to power by a
series of wars^ and strengthened even by blows and conflicts, as
piles fixed in the ground become firmer under the strokes of the
rammer. Persuaded that no ordinary means were sufficient to
form and reduce so high-spirited and untractable people to mlld-
luess and peace, be called in the assistance of religion. By sacri-
fices, religions dances, and processions, which he appointed, and
wherdn himself officiated, he contrived to mix the charms of festi-
inty and social pleasure with the solemnity of the ceremonies.
Thus, he soothed their minds, and calmed their fierceness and mar-
tial fire. Sometimes, also, by acquainting them with prodigies
firoqi heaven, by reports of dreadful apparitions and menacing voices,
lie inspired them with terror, and humbled them with superstition.
Tliis was the principal cause of the report that he drew his wisdom
from the sources of Pythagoras; for a great part of the philosophy
of the later, as well as the government of the former, consisted in
leligious attentions and the worship of the gods. It is likewise
said that his solemn appearance and air of sanctity was copied from
Pythagoras. That philosopher had so hx tamed an eagle, that, by
pronouncing certain words, he could stop it in his ffight, or bring it
down; and, passing through the multitudes assembled at the Olym
pic games^ he showed them hb golden thigh, besides other arts and

* Camillas is derived from tbe Bosotic kadmHn, which properly signifies a servitcM*.
la vftty temple Uicre was a youth of quality, whose bosioeu it was to minister to the
priest. It was oecesury that the father and mother of the youth should be both
a&ve; for which reason Plutarch makes use of the wvrd amfhithtJe, which the Latiiia.
jcall jMtrmiMi et mftrisiKiR,

PLITAKCBS LTVES.

xctioDs by u-hicb he pretended to something supernatural. This led
Timou the Phliasian to n-rite,

T« caufa apfJtBM, Ptthagoni aftcli
A nUii tkiad jnadesr D(«>;iie>uon.

But Nnma feigned that some goddess or mountaia nyinph &-
»oured him with her prirale regards, (as we have already obserrcd),
and that he had, morcoi-er, frrqoent conversations with the muses. To
the latter he ascribed niosl or bis ret-clatious ; acd there was one in
partieular that he called Tariln, as much as to say, the intue of si-
latce, whom be taught the Romans to distinguish with their veuera-
tioD. By this, too, he seemed to show bis knowledge and appro-
bation of the Pyihagorean precept of silence.

Mis regulations couceming images seeni likewise to have some
relation to the doctrine of Pyiliagoras, who was of opinion, that the
Fin>t Cause was not an object of sense, nor liable to passion, bat
inrisilile, incorruptible, and discernible only by the mind. Thus,
Numa forlmde the Romans to represent the Deity in the form either
of man or beast. Nor was there among them formerly any image
or sttitue of the Pivinc Beiug. During (be first hundred and se*
Tcniy years tliey built temples, indeed, and other sacred domes,
hm placed in tUem no figure of any kind, persuaded that it is im-
pious to represent ibiugs dirine by what is perishable, and that wc
can h4vc no conception of God but by the understanding. His
Btcritices, too, reseni bled the Pjtbagorean worship; for they were
without any efi'ui^iun of blood, consisting chieilyof fiour, libations
of wiuc, and other very simple and unespensive things.

To these arguments other circunictances are added, to prorc
that these two great men were acquainted with each other; one
of which is, tlwt Pylliagoras »-as enroUed a citizen of Rome. Tbii
atvoiiiit we have in an uJdress to Antcnor from Eptchannus, a
writer of comedy, and a very ancient author, who n-os himself of the
scbo'il of Pythagoras. Another, is, tliat Numa having four sods,
called one of tliem Mamercus, after the name of a son of E^-tliago-
ns. From bim, too, they tell us, the jEmillan family is deseeaded>
which is one of the noblest in Home ; the king having ginia him
the sucnutne of .^milius, on account of his graceful and engaging
ii>anncr of speaking. And I have myself been informed by seretd
persons in Home, tliat the Romans being commanded by tltc oncle |
to erect two sturucs, one to the wisest, and tlie other to the bravest
of the Grecians, set tip in brass the figures of Pylbagorss and
Alcibindef. But, as these matters arc very dubious, to suppoM
or rvfuie theio further would look Ukc the juvenile afii!ctiiliaa if
dispute.

KUHtA. 135

itttmmm

To Numa is attribtited the instituticm oT tbat high order of [mests
called Pontijtc^, over which he is said to have ^^esided himself.
Some say they Wbtt ddled P&MiJtceSf as employed in the ^eiVice
of those powerfvi gods that govetD the world: for poiens in the
Roman languid sighifies pawttfkd. , Others^ from their being or-
dered by the lawgiver to perform such secret offices as were in their
power ^ and stand&tig ittcu^ed when there was some great impecU*
ment. Bat tMbX Wiriters assign a ridiculous reason for the terib, as
if they were caUed'JPonlt/fce^ from' their offering sacrifices upon
the bridge^ which the Latins call Ponfem; such kind 6t cerfemonief
it seems bdog looked upoh as the most sacred, and of greatest an-
tiquity. Hiese priests, too, ate said to have been commissioifed to
feeep the bridges in repair, as one of the most indispensable parts
of their holy oiBce. For the Romans considered it as an execrable
hUpie^ to demolish the Wooden bridgfe^ which, we are^ told, Wa^
built without iron, and put together by pins of wood only, hfMdi
direction of smms oracle. Hie sMie bridge was btiitt manyitg^
after, when ^milios was qusstor. Some, however, infonii'uli,
tbat the wooden bridge was not constructed in the time of NiTma,
having the last hand put to it by Ancos Marcius, whoims ^ndsoq
ao Kotfia by his dati^ter.

The Poiiiiffit nuaimus, chief of these priests, is interpreter
df dl ilicred titer, w rather a superimendant of retigion, having
the ctre^ not only of {Public sacrifices, but even of private rites knd
ctfbrings, fbrbiddhig the.people to depart from the imited'ceremo^
tiies, and teaddtig them how to honour and propitiite the gods.
fie had also the faispection of the holy virgins callied Pestuli. For,
Id HwatL k tteribed the sacred establishmetit of the vestal ^ir-
gina, and iStt wlidle serrice with respect to the perpetual fir6 whicl^
tfiey watch oonthitiaUy. This office seems a]:^rt)priated to them,
(either because fire, which is of a pure and incorrhptible nature,
should be looked after by persons untouched fttid undeflled, of else,
Veeanse vkigUiity, like fire, is barren and unfruitftiL Agreeably to
Ibis laaC dbisoii, at the places in Greece wliere the sacred 4re is
ftciftived uneStlnjjjuiAed, us at Delphi and Athens, not virgins,
but widows post child-bearing, have the chstrge Of it. If it happens

* IfnlDa citited taaf, who were all patriciani. Bf it, ia the jcas of Home 45d or
4S^ lev pMtans were added to the Dumber. Tbe king bimieU U bete •stcned t^
hMJie been tbe chief of tbem, ,or Pontiftx maximui, tl/iugb lAfy attribotcs that bonoaf
i» inotber pcraoo of tbe tame.iMiDe, vtz Nama Hareios, fbe ion of Marciti«» one of tba
ieoatort. It teeon bowever, not improbable, tbat ffoma, who was of lo religions a
Wn, reserved fbe ehief dignitj iri tbe prieichood to bimself, as kiogii Had dona in Uie

by any accident to be put out, sis the sacred lamp is said to have
been at Athens under die tyranny of Aristion*; at Delphi, when
the temple was burnt by the Medes; and at Rome, in tlie Mithti-
datig wnr ; as also in the civil war+, when not only the fire was ex-
tinguished, but the altar overturned : it is not to be lighted again
from another fire, but new fire is tn be gained by drawing a pure
and unpolluted flame from the sun-beama. They kindle it generally
with concave vessels of brass, formed by the conic section of a rect-
augled triangle, whose lines from the circumference meet in one
central point. This being placed against the sun, causes its rays to
converge in the centre, which, by reflection, acquiring the force
and activity of fire, rarefy the air, and immediately kindle such
light and dry matter as they think fit to apply]. Some areof opinioa
thiit the sncred virgins have the care of nothing but the perpetual
fire, Bui, others say, they have some private rites besides, kept
from the sight of all but their ou-n body, concerning which, I haro
delivered in tiic life of Cumillus as much as it was proper to luquiie
into or declare.

It is Tcpoiled that at first only two vii^Ins were consecrated fay
Numa, whose names were Gegania and Veranta; afterwards two
others, Canuleia and Tarpeia; to whom Sernus added two more;
and that number lias continued to this time. The vestaU were
obliged by the king to preserve their virginity for tliirty j-ears. The
first ten years they spent in learning their oflice; the next ten in
putting in pracuce what they had learned; and the third period
in the instructing of others. At the conclusion of this time, such u
rhosc it had liberty to marry, and, quitting their sacred employment,
to take up some other. HuwcTcr, we have accounts of but very few
that accepted this iudulgeuce, and those did not prosper. Tley
generally bccime a prvy to repentance and regret, from whence the
icM, inspired with a religious fear, were willing to end their lim
under the same institution.

* Tbii Aridian brid out a long lime mgiliuiSflla, whobnicftd and took AlkcM ■
lh« lim« of tbc Milhridalic oat. Amitou hiioieif coaioiiitcd icnuncralil* oatnfCt ■
tlwdtj, and KM It lut iIitciBKal'iti bein^HCicd aad plimdend. A) foe ■W»'
Ctod St«, Itvu tfptio ihc (rtiplcuf Hinina.

t Livj ictli ut (t. M.) ihat looantt ihe cuDclntion of (be ci(il *ir beiocco Stik
and Hahu^ Muliki ScKtcla. tti* peniiff, ••« kilinl ■! Ibe (iitnace <tl ib« Moipl* at
Vun ; but va ds iioi liud tli*t ibc lacrcd tn oai «iuiiguiibcd. Asd CT«tt vbcm Am
Icnpla •■• burnt, i«*ardt Ihc tnd of the fini Phdk oar. L. Ccwtius Htl«llas ihM
poolif, tuibtd tliioush Ibe Bamei. and bioufbi off ibe Faiiaiiiiat, and olbet tuenA
Uiiuii. (hoDgh viih iIm Ion «r h» u^kl.

t nutnliinlaiMt ii«n iBvcDlal bj Arebiatdca, vbo Booiiibcd SOO jtan tAn

VI". '" i*»^— — ■ i"i ■ III! II ii III! I, ,— -rg

The king honoured them with great privileges, such as power to
make a will diu-ing their father's life, and to transact their 'other
af&irs without a guardian, like the mothers of three children now*
When they went abroad they had the fasces carried before them*|
and if, by accident, they met a person led to execution, his life was
granted him. But the vestal was to make oathf dmt it was by
chance she met him, and not by design. It was death to go uuder
the chair in which they were carried.

For smaller oiiences these virgins were punished with stripes;
and sometimes the pontif ex ma^mus gave them the discipline naked,
in some dark place, and under the cover of a veil: but she that
broke her vow of chastity was buried alive by the Cottine gate.
Tliere, within the walls, is raised a little mount of earth, called in
Latin ^gger; under which is prepared a small cell, with steps to
descend to it. In this are placed a bed, a lighted lamp, and some
slight provisions, such as bread, water, milk, and oil, as they
thought it impious to take off a person consecrated with the
awfiil ceremonies, by such a death as that of famine. The crin&j
is carried to punishment through the Forum in a litter well covered
without, and bound up in such a manner that her cries cannot be
heard. The pec^le silently make way for the litter, and follow it
with marks of extreme sorrow and dejection. There is no spectacle
more dreadful than this, nor any day which the city passes, in a more
melancholy manner. When the litter comes to the place appointed^
the officers loose the cords, the high-priest, with hands lifted up to-
wards heaven, offers up sdme private prayers just before the fatal
minute, then takes out the prisoner, who i^ covered with a'veil, and
places her upon the steps which lead down to the cell t after this he
retires widi the rest of the priests, and when ^he is gone down, the
^teps are taken away, and the cell is covered with earth ; so tliat the
place is made level mth the rest of the mount* Thus were the vestdh
punished tliat preserved not their chastity.

It is also said tliat Noma built the temple of Festa^ where the
perpetual fire was to be kept {, in an orbicular form^ not intending
to represent the figure of the earth, as if tluit was meant by Pesta^ but
the frame of the universe, in the center of which the Pythagoreans

honour wu not conferred npoo tbem by Numa, bnt by the triamvirate in the
year of Home 7 IS.

t Neither • vestaJ nor a finest of Joplter wu obliged to take an oath. They wtre
bcJiered without that Nleauutj •

X Diooyiias of Halicarnasfeas (1. ii.) is of opinion, and probably be is rigtit, that
Noma did build the the temple of VtHa in a round iotm, to reprt sent the figure of the
earth; for, by Vttta, they meant the earth.

Vou 1. No. 12« s

.. *

r^^

I'LUTATiCH S LIVES.

place the element of fire*, and give It tlie name of fiesta and Vnili/.
The earth they suppose not to be without motion, nor situated in the
centre of the world, but to make its resolution round the sphere of
fire, being neither one of the most valuable nor principal parts of the
great machine. Plato, too, in liis old age, is reported to have been
of the same opinion, assigning theearthadiBerent situation from the
centre, and leaving that, as the place of honour, to a nobler elemeni.
The Ponti/ires were, moreover, to prescribe the form of funeral
lites to such as consulted ilieiii. Xuma himself taught them to look
upon the last offices to the dead as no pollution. He instructed
them to pay all due honour to the infernal gods, as receiving the
most excellent part of us, and move particularly to venerate the god-
dess Lthithia, as he calkd her, who presides over funeral solemni-
ties; whether he meant by her Proserpine, or rather Venus t, as
some of the most learned Romans suppose; not improperly ascrib-
ing to the same divine power iKe care of our birth and of our deaili.

' He himself likewise fixed the time of mourning, according to the
different ages of the deceased. He allowed none for a child thst
died under three years of age; and for one older, the mourning uw
only to last as many months as he lived years, provided ihcse were
rot more than leu. The longest mourning was not to continue
above ten iiionllis, after which space widows were permitted to many
again : hut she that took ani:tIiiT husband before that term was out,
was obliged by his decree to sacrifice a cow with calf t.

Numa instituted several other sacred orders ; two of which I shall
mention, the Salil^ and /V<iWe*§, wUieh afford particular proofs
• Thai tbU w« lilt opinioa of Pbiluliui and other Pjllogoreuii ii wr» Imum: bnl
biDgcnc* Lacrtius utii u>, itiut Pjiliii^oiu liimself held the cirlli lo be iht cenire.

t Tl.u Vemw /.iiiCiiB WM the Mine nitli Pioserpioe. $)ie nocallcd al Delpl'i.Pemi
£pjnMtta.Plutowi>ibeJu|iilcrartlieihiide9brto>T;iud[hcreilie7liadtli«irUorcui7tM.
t Such sn uunitnnl Mciificc wu inttudcd m dclcr thr widows froiu minting tfHa
\rlott lh« oipiialion of Ibcii (nouniing. Itomulas'i jrcir cumiiling tjut of leu mHl|b^
wliGu NunMBflcntaidi added Ewo muBltii ridcc, ho did not aJler iLb lilac be hid bcfeN
Kilted rof mouniin);; and ihcitfore, itiousli stler tl'il time we ol^«ii nccl wiib £aa—
onmu, oi m jreit'i ai'iUrning, wc mnil tatie it ont^ foi ll,« oJd year of Romotua.

Tlie onUuirv coluu to exp»i< tlieir grief, n.'cd aJilir l>y bmh leiei, wai black, viiliAoi
tiimRiiiip. But iftii tiie ewifoluhniriil of the i<nipitc. when abundance of coloim niat
in faahioii, the old ptioiitige while grew «o mucli into contempi, that it became pMvUar
ID die womcu (or ibeir inouming. Cirie PUl, Quat. R<m.

There Kcie aeieiat aecidcnla which otten occuioned (he concluding of • Mlltf
•lupemiun of 1 private <m«, before tlie Gird time; juch at Ihr dcdtcMica
of* temp'e, Ihe aukninil^ orpatilic gamei or fciti rail, lite •olemn lutlration perfxrawl
by the eentor, and. die diuliarSiiiK of ■ tow made by a Diagiitraie or several. IWj
likewiao pat off Ibtii inoiinimg habit whan ■ father, brother, ar >on, reiunied froa ca^
litily, or when aome of llic family were advanced to a conitderable eaiplujoieol.

P The Salii ten the gflBrdiaui of tlie Aieilia, or twelve sliietd*. hung up >b Ifac tcn-
pUofMan. they uwk their name from their dauniig iu tlie cclebiatioQ «faa ua^

KUMA. 139

of his piety. Hie FecialeSy who were like the IrenophyWces^ or
guardians of the peace, among the Greeks, had, I believe, a naim
expressive of their office; for they were to ar/ and mediate between
the two parties, to decide their differences by reason, and not suffer
tliem to go to war till all hdpes of justice were lost. The Greeks call
such a peace Irene, as puts an end to strife, not by mutual violence^
but in a rational way. 1u like manr.er, thefeciales, or heraUSfWere
often dispatched to such nations as had injured thd Romans, to per-
suade them to entertain more equitable sentiments : if they rejected
their application, they called the gods to witness, with imprecations
against themselves and their country, if their cause was not just ; aQ4
so they declared war. But if the feciales^ refused their sanction, it
was not lawful for any Roman soldier, nor even for the king himself^
to begin hostilities. War was to commence with their approbation^
as the proper judges whctlier it was just, and then the supreme ma-
gistrate was to deliberate concerning the proper means of carrying it
on. The great misfortunes which befel the city from the Gauls^^ are
said to have proceeded from the violation of these sacred rites l^or
when those barbarians were besieging Clusium, Fabius Ambustus
was sent ambassador to their camp with proposals of peace in favour
of the besieged* But receiving a harsh answer, he thought himself
^released from his character of ambassador, and, rashly taking up
arms for the Clusians, challenged the bravcfst man in the Gaulish
army. He proved victorious indeed in the combat, for he killed his
adversary, and carried off* his spoils : but the Gauls having discovered
who he was, sent a herald to Rome, to accuse Fabius of bearing
arms against them^ contrary to treaties and good faith, and without
a declaration of war. Upon this the feciales exhorted the senate t(^
deliver him up to the Gauls ; but he applied to the people, and, be-
.sng a favourite with them, was screened from the sentence. Soon
after this the Gauls marched to Rome and sacked the whole city,
except the Capitol ; as is related at large in the life of Camillus.

The order of priests called Salii is said to have been instituted on
this occasion. In the eighth year of Numa's reign, a pestilence pre-
vailed in Italy ; Rome also felt its ravages. While the people were .
greatly dejected, we are told that a brazen buckler fell from heaven
into the hands of Numa. Of this he gave a very wonderful account^

festival instituted in memory of a miraculous shield, which ICuma pretended fell down
from -heaven.

§ Dionysiusof Halidamassos finds them among the Aborigines; and Numa is Mid to
bare borrowed the institution* from the people of Latium. He appointed twenty fceiaUi
chosen ont of the most eminent families in Home, and settled them in a college. The
fatpr patrttm, who made peace, or denounced war, was probably one of their body
f elected for that purpose, because he had both aiiitber iB<ij* mq Aiive.«-l49. i. i. c« %!.

140 PLUTARCH S LIVES.

received from E^'evia ami the muses r tliat the buckler was senr
down for the preservation of the city, and should be kept with great
care: that eleven otiiers should be made ns like it i^ possible in
size nnd fashion, in order, that if any person were disposed to steal
it, he might not he able to distinguish that which fell from heaven
from the rest. He fjirthtr declared, that the place, and the mea-
dows about it, where he frequently conversed with the muses, should
be consecrated to those divinities; and iliat the spring which ivalcred
the ground should be sucreJ to the use of the vestal virgins, daily to
sprinkle and purify their temple. The injmediatc cessation of the
pestilence is said to have confirmed the truth of this account. Numa
then showed the buckler to the artists, and commanded (hero to ex-
ert all their skill for an exact resemblance. They all declined the
attempt, except Veturius Mamuriiis, who was so successful in the
imitation, and made the other eleven so like it, that not even Numa
himself could distinguish them. He {rave these bucklers in charge
to the Salli ; who did not receive their name, as some pretend, from
Saltus of Saniotlirace or Mantinea, that taught the way of danciae
in arms, but rather from the subsultive dance itself, which tbeylrsd
■up along the streets, when in the montli of March they cany tlie
sacred bucklers through the city. On that occasion they are habited
Jn purple vests, girt with bi-oad belts of brass ; they wearalso brazen
helmets, and carry short snords, witliwjiich ihey suike upon the
bucklers, and to those sounds they keep time wiili their feet. Tliev
jnove in an agrecHblc manner, performing certain involotions and
evolutions in n quick measure, with vigour, agility, and ease.

These bucklers are called jJucilia, from llie form of them. For

■ they arc neither circular, nor yet like the pel/a, semicirculnr, but
fashioned in two crofrltcd indented lines, tiie extremities of which
meeting close, form a curve, in deck, Aiiiyhn^ Or else they n»y
be so named from the aitcmi, or hend uf the unn, on which ihey tit
carried. This account of the matter we have from Juba, who U
\CT^ desirous to derive the term from the Greek. But if we toutt
Iiavc an etymology from that language, it may be taken from their
descending, arieUathen, from on high ; or from afccsis, their heading
of the sick; or from auchiHon Imis, tlieir putting an end to the
drouglit ; or, lastly, from n/KMcAeri*, deliverance from cnlamatiei;
for which reason also Castor and Pollux were by the .Athenians called
onakex. The reward Mamurius had for his art, was, we are told, an
ode, which the Sulians sung in memory of him, along wiib the
Pyrrhic dance. Some, huwever, say, it was not returiiis JUanairitu

\t\io was celehnited in that compusitioti> but vetus mcTnoiia, (Ik

tnciatl remembrance of the tiiiny.

WUA. 141

II . Ill I ■ I • ^ I III

After -Nattia had iovtituted these several orders of priests^ he
erected a royal palace called Regia^ near the temple of Vesta ; and
there he passed most of his time, either in performing some sacred
function, or instracting the priestsi or, at least, in conversing with
them on some divine subject. He had also another house upon the
Quirinal mount, the situation of which they still show us. In all
public ceremonies and processions of the priest^, a herald went be-
fore, who gave notice to the people to keep holiday : for, as tliey
tell us, the Pythagoreans would not sufier their disciples to pay any
homage or worship to the gods in a cursory manner, but required
them to come prepared for it by meditation at home: so Numa wiksi
of opinion that his citizens should neither see nor hear any religious
service in a slight or careless way, but, disengaged from other afTairs,
bring with them that attention which an object of such importance
required. The streets and ways, on such occasions, were cleared of
clamour, and all manner of noise which attends manual labour, that
the solemnities might not be disturbed. Some vestiges of this still
jremain ; for when the consul is employed either in augury or sacri-
ficing, they call out to the people, Hoc age, Mind this; and thus
admonish them to be orderly and attentive.

Many other of his institutions resemble those of the Pythagoreans.
For, as these had precepts which enjoined them DO^to sit upon a
bushel*, nor to stir the fire with a sword f ; not ^ turn back upon
a journey t; to offer an odd number to tlie celea^lgods, and an
even one to the terrestrial || ; the sense of which predepts is hid from
the vulgar : so some of Nuraa's have a concealed meaning ; as, not
to offer to the gods wine proceeding from a vine unpruned ; nor to
offer sacrifice without meal § ; to turn round when you worship ^;
and to sit down when you have worshipped. The two first precepts
seem to recommend agriculture as a part of religion. And the turn-
ing round in adoration is said to represent the circular motion of the

* That 'n, not to gWe oanelves up to idleness.

t Not to irritate him who is already angry.

% In another place Plutarch gives this precept thu5, Vevtr return from the borderis
Bui the sense is the same — Die like a man ; do not long after life, when it is departing,
or wish to be young again.

I The Pagans looked on an odd number as the more perfect, and the symbol of con-
cord, because it cannot be divided in^two eqaal parts as the even number may, which is
tberefore the symbol of division. This prejudice was not ooly the reason why the first
jDOOth was consecrated to the celestial, and the second to the terrestrial deities ; but ^ave
birth to a thousand superstitious practices, which in some countries are still kept up by
those whom reason and religion ought to have undeceived.

§ The principal intention of this precept might be to wean them from sacrifices of
Uood, and to bring tbem to offer only cakes and figures of animals made of paste.

f Probably to represent the immensity of the Godhead.

143

PLUTARCH S LIVES.

world. But, I ralher think, that as the temples opened lowurds the
east, such as entered them necessarily turned their liacks upon the
jising sun, made a half turn to tliat ()narter in honour of tlic god of
day, and then completed the circle, as well as their devotions, with
their faces towards tlic god of the temple ; unless, perhaps, this
change of posture may liave an enigmatical meiiniDg, like the K^ryp-
Uan wheels, admotilshlng u!> of the iosiability of every thing human,
and preparing us to acquiesce and rest satisfied with wlmtever turns
and changes the Divine Being allots us. As for sitting down aftti
an act of religion, they tell us it was intended as an omen of success
ia prayer, and of lasting happiness afterwards. They add, that as
actions are divided by intervals of rest, so when one business v»s
over, they sat down in presence of the gods, tliat under their auspi-
cious conduct they might begin another. Nor is this repugnant to
what has already been advanced ; since the lawgiver wanted to ac-
custom us til address the Uclty, not In the midst of business or hlury,
but when we have time und leisure to do it as we ought.

By this sort of religious discipline the people became so tractable,
and were impressed with such a veneration of Kunia's power, that
ihey udmitled many improbable, and even fabulous tales, and thought
nothing incredible or impossible which he undertook. Thus, he is
said to have Invited many of the citizens to his table *, where he
took care the vessels should be mean, and the provisions plain and
elegant; but, after they were seated, lie told them the goddess with
whom he used to converse was coming to visit him, when, en a sud-
den, the room wiis supplied with the most costly vessels, and the
table with a most magnificent entertainment. But nothing can be
invagined more ahsurd than what is related of his conversation witlt
Jupiter. The story goes, that when Mount Aventiiie was not in-
closed within the wulis, nor yet inhabited, but abounded with fiowiog
^rings and shady gmvcs, it was frequented by two demigods. Picas
and Ftmnus. These, in otiier respects, were like the Satyrs, or the
race of Tifatisf; but in the wonderful feats they performed by
their skill in pharmacy and magic, more resembled the Idtri Dac-
tylil (as the Greeks call them}, and thus provided, ihey roamed

* DiuQ^tiul lelli ui, th«t Niinii ihuwcd (licic Roniuii all Ilic iDOmi o( ha {wImc ia
tlw iDtfiiiiiig ucaiily laniitlicd. md wilhout inj' ligni of a great f iilEitainoifiit ; thai ha
kcjil Ibciu oiUi hioi grew patlol llie daj; and wben tlity rclurued >o JUp oiifabiaibr
bdtatuiu lu the cteniu", (he; foand eierj ibiog lurprmujjlj migiiificeut. Il ittikclf
Kun* KUpul'd lilt cliane'lohiiinriiiblcfiicnd.

1 Situc itt'Liia-cniiu (jire b* Waan intlead olTiTMUt, which ia abelMi rvadio^ h»-
«■!.■- iVui u ' hauuiii were h'-ciirit ^jlvan dcitiei IiLc Pan.

I -,t,.Hl-i<it lelii u> Iron F.|'liuru9, Ihr Maii Dai:ijli hccc otiginillj froB UoaM U»
Id I'iirjgia, ftMB wheuco llicj (lUKd inn Europe wiita kuig Uiuu.

luu. Tbej aetitod fnt D

KUMA.

143

«i

about Italy. They tell us, that Numa, having mixed the fountain of
which they used to drink with wine and honey, surprised and caught
them. Upon this they turned themselves into many forms, and,
quitting their natural figure, assumed strange and horrible appear-*
ances. But when they found they could not break or escape from
the bond that held them, they acquainted him with many secrets
of futurity, and taught him a charm for thunder and lightning,
composed of onions, hair, and pilchards, which is usedjto this day.
Otliers say, these demigods did not communicate the charm, but
that by the force of magic they brought down Jupiter from heaven.
The god, resenting this at Numa's hand, ordered the charm to con^

cotisist of heads. Of onions^ replied Numa. iVb, human. Hairs,

said Numa, desirous to fence against the dreadful injunction, and
interrupting the god. Living, said Jupiter : Pilchards, said Nu-
ma. He was instructed, it seems by Egeria, how to manage the
matter. Jupiter went away propitious, in Greek ileos, whence the
place was called Hicium* ; and so the charm was effected. These
things, fabulous and ridiculous as they are, show how superstition,
confirmed by custom, operated upon the minds of the people. A^
foe Numa himself, he placed his confidence so entirely in God, that
when one brought hiih word the enemy was coming, he only smiled^
saying. And I am sacrijicing.

He is recorded to have been the first that built temples to Fidesf,
Qx Faith, and to TerminusX; and he taught the Romans to sweat

in Samothraee* where they t«aght the inhfihitants religioat ritei. Orpheat it thought
Co have been their disciple ; and the fit st that carried a form of worship ^er iuta
Greece. The Dactyli are likewise said to have found out the use of fire» and tO have
discovered the nature of irAn and brass to the inhabitants of Mount Berecynthus, and
to have taught them the way of working them. For this, and many other useful disco*
veiies, they were after their death worshipped as gods.

^ This is Plutarch's mistake. Ovid informs us (Fast. L iii.) that Jupiter was called
Eliciui from tiieere, to draw out, because Jupiter was drawn out of heaven on this
•ccasioo.

t This was intended to make the Romans pay as much regard to their word as tea
contract in writing. And so excellent, in fact, were their principles, that Polybius gives
the Komans of his time this honourable testimony: " They most inviolably keep theif
irord, without being obliged to it by bail, witness, or promise; whereas ten securities,
twenty promises, and as many witnesses* cannot hinder the faithless Greeks from at«
tempting to deceive and disappoint you." No wonder, then, that so virtuous o peoplt
were victorious over those that were become thus degenerate and dishonest.

t The Dii Teraimi were represented by stones, wbieh Numa caused to be placed on
the borders of the Roman state, and of each man's private lands. In honour of these
deities, be instituted a festival called Terminalia, which was annually celebrated on the
ftd or tSd of Februury. To remove the Dii Termini was deemed a sacrilege of so
a nature, that any man might kill^ with impunity, the transgressor. ,

■?^

14-i PLUTARCH S LIVES.

by ftath, as the greatest of oaths; which they still continue to
make use of. In our times they sacrifice animals in the fields, both
on public and private occasions, to T^rmhms, as the god of boun-
daries; but formerly the offering was an inanimate one ; (or Numa
^rgued thai there should be no efTusion of blood in the rites of a god,
who is the witness of justice, and guardian of peace. It is indeed
certain, that Numa was the first that marked out the bounds of the
Roman territory ; Romulus being unwilling, by measuring out his
own, to shew how miich he had encroached upon the neighbouring
countries: For bounds, if preserved, are barriers against lawless
power : if violated, they are evidences of injustice. The territory
of the city was by no means extensive at first, but Romulus added to
it a considerable district gained by tlic sword. All lliis Numa di-
vided among the indigent citizens, that poverty might not drive
them to rapine ; and, as he turned the application of the people to
agriculture, their temper was subdued together with the ground.
For no occupation implants so speedy and so effectual a love of
peace as a country life, where there remains indeed courage and
brav^ sufficient to defend their property, but the temptations to
injustice and avarice are removed. Numa, therefore, introduced
among his subjects an attachment to husbandry, as a charm of peace,
and, contriving a business for tlicm which would rather form tlielr
manners to simplicity, than raise them to opulence, he divided the
country into several portions, which he called pogi or boroughs, and
appointed over each of them a governor or overseer. Sometimes
also he inspected tbem himself, andjudging of the disposition of the
people by the condition of their farms, some he advanced to posts
of honour and trust; and, on the otiier hand, he reprimanded, and
endeavoured to reform the negligent and the idle*.

But the most admired of all his institutions, is his distribution
of the citizens into companies, according to their arts and trades.
For the city consisting, as we have before ohscrvcd, of two nations,
or rather factions, who were by no means willing to unite, or i»
blot out tlic remembrance of their original difTerence, but main-
tained perpetual contests and party quarrels ; he took the same me-
thod with ilicm as is used to incorporate hard and solid liodies,
which, while entire, will not mix at all, but, when reduced lopow-
der, unite with e.Tte. To attahi his purpose, he divided, as I sud,
the whole multitude into small bodies, who, gaining new distinc-
tions, lost, by dcgreus, tlic great and original one, in conscqucnc*
of their being thus broken into \o many purts. Tliis dislribulioa

It llip ciiUimian of ■ Tlrni, va% ooni'rdvrcd, nnion|;<C tlic Itomlnt. U • ti*-
ni pmbrmii ■ bull Itut nnilcd Iba sluuliNiiJciit of tlie ceii>ui.

KVMA» - 146

•was made aocordiiig to the aaveral arts or tradess, of musicians,, gold**
4smiths; masonsi dyers^ shoemakers^ tannery, krasiers^ and potters. H^
jioUected the other artificers aJso.ioto oompanies> who h^d their re^
spective halls, courts, and religious ceremonies^ peculiar to eac|i
.society. By these means he, first took away the distinction of Sa^
bines and Romans, sul^ects of Tatius, and si^bjocts of Romulus, both
name and thing, tbcrery separation lato parts n^ixuig and incorpo-
j!ating the wbol^ together.

He is celebrated also in his political capacity, lor correcting the
.law which empowered fathers to sell their childrsin*, excepting sudi
as married by their father's command or consent; for he reckoned it
•a great hardship tliat a woman should marry ^a man as free, and then
.live witHaf lave.

He attempted the reformation of fh^ kaleddfur, too, which i^^ ex-
ecuted with some degree of skill, though not jvith absolute exact-
jiess. In the reiign of Romulus, itliad neither measure* nor ^rder,
some months consisting of fe^er than twenty daysf,. while some
were stpetcfaed out to tiurty-fi ve, and others even to more. They had
jQO idea of the difference between the annual course ^f the sun and

* Romalas had aUowed fathers grcatar powdrorar ihtit aliildna^ ihaA misttri bad
over tMr skves, for a «»ft«r ci»iid lell bis i iave but once ; wbarjB^ a Mier could
.aell his soa tbi?e tioest let bis b« of «hat age or cooditipn soever.

t But Blacrobias tells us,(Satumal 1. i. c. 12.) that Romulus settled the number of
da^s with more equality, allotting to March, May, Quintilis, and October, one-and-
tlitrty days each; to April, June, Sextilis, No?6ff)ber, and December, thirty^; making
-up in all three bimdred and four days. Nana waa better acquaisted with the celestial
I motions; and tbarelbre, i& ilie first placte, added die two laotitki of Jwiury abd Ab«
broary. fiy the way, it is protwbie, the readftr will ^bink, tl^ neitlier ^pialas, nor
9nj other mai^ could be so ignorant as to make the lunar year consist of three hundred
and four days; and that the Romans reckoned by lunar mouths, and conieqnently hj
the lunar year, originally, is plain from their calends, nones, and idesl To compose
th«sc two months, he added fifty days to the three hundred and four, in'Ord^r to make
• thtm answer ta the soaiav of the mooii. Besidea this, ht obeefved tb^ dtftrcnce be*
twee* the aolar aad the lonar oonrat tpbe elercn days; and, to remedy th^ isequality*
. be doubljed those dsys afler every two years, adding an interstitial moqtb after Febru-
ary^ which Plutarch here calls Afcrc#d<n«* > &nd« in the lifepf Juliys C«sar, Afercedd-
nius, Festus speaks of c<rrtain days, which he calls Dies Mercedonii, because they
were appointed for the payment of workmen and domestics, which is all we know of the
word. As iifUBm waa sensible that tlic solar year co^sifted of ehree buiidf ed and sixty-
fife days md six bourse 8n4 that tbe six hours made a whole day in four years, be
, comman^d that tbe mpntli Mercedinus, after every four years, shoold ceiui^ of twenty-
, three days; but tbe csre.of these liitercalationi(Jb«tiig le(t to the priests, they put in or left
oat tbe intercelery day or montb, as they ianeied it litoky or lAlvckf^ and, by that
jaeaos, ereated aneh a confuston, thatlbe feiMiirikls pani^in process of tiine« to he kept
«t a aeaaon quite contrary to what they bad been formerly. The RooKtn kaleadar Itad
gained oaar three noatbf ia the days of Julmf C«aar, ^ad tbeiefoie vfauted « §f9tkX
rcforniAtkm again.

Vox,. 1. No. t2» T

146 plctabcb's uves.

that of the moon, and 0017 liid down this posiaoD, that Ae year
cxmsistcd M tliRc DBinrcd ana sixty days. NimWt tonij ooMm^
dnt there «u ■ diflorace of eleven ^rs, three himdnd and iftj-
fonr dajs mdm^ up the ianar jtar, and three bondred asd uxfy-fiie
die sohr, doaUed those rieven days, andinacftcd diem m an iUcr-
calary moodi, after that of FdirvaiT, rrerj other year. Iliii ad£-
tional month wai caUcd bj the B™— n« - Jftnerfiavs. But Ati
amrndmcQt of the imgnluity aftemrds reqnircd a brths amrnd
meot. He likrwise altered the order of the months, maldog MmcL
the third, which was the fiist; Janoary the bst, whidi waa the
deTCQtb of Koomlas ; and F«faniaiT the second, which was die twettk
and last. Manr, IiOwctct, assert, that the two months of Jnravy
and February were addi-d by Niima, wbeieas, before they hid nt-
kooed bot tea months in the ynr, as some faarbaroas iiaihiiii had
but duce; and, among the Greeks, the Arcadians faar, and Ae
Arcaoanians six. The Egyptian year, they tall us, at fit«^ -con-
RStedonly €if one month, afterwards of four. Awd iht-rcfore, thoae^i
they iuh^it a new eoaotry, they seem to be a very ancient people,
and reelun in their chronolagy ao incredible number of yean, be-
cause they accoout mooths for years*.

That the Roman year contained at fint ten months only, and not
twelve, we have proof in the name of die last ; for they still call it
DecesUwr, or the tcath month ; and that March n-as the first, if
ilso evident, because the fifth from it was culk-d Quintilis, dtt
sixth SejrtiiU, and !>o the rest in their order. I f J;tDuarr %ad Fe-
bruary had then been placed before March, tiie month Quialitk
woald have been the fifth in name, hot the seventh in revkoninr.
Besides, it is reasonable to conclude, that ilic uoiitli of March,
iciliuatcd by Romulus to the god Mars, shoulil stand fir>t ; and
April second, which has its name from j1pltro<tifc, or f'l-tius, fur
in thii month the womeu sacrifice to thsi goddess, and badie on ths
.first of it, with crowns of myrtle on their beads. Some bowevflr
say. April deprives not ii^ name from jiphrodile; but, as the voy
sound of the term sceius to dictate, from aperire, to opem^ becsHe
tlur sprinj; hat iiig then attained its vigour, it apent and unfolds dv

* In luppaw (he Kiv^iiiDS rrckooed naaiht fur Y«sn, dm, iadceri. bt^ AA
raiqpuiiifii iiKilyiwu the truili. >itb m)MCt is Ilie Iboi Bgaoritraaorid; follif
ci'<.kDii'd 1 luvti'i'iuu of liin;< fur Ihc ^wce of 36,000 jnn. BM tkri inplHwiliw
nuutd initr ihr rr.gni of Ibeir kiop nnmHioabl.T ihoif. Bntdc^ HeradoMs nji;
the Lg;i[>>'ant ven Ihc Gn( l>Mt lir|!iD lo coapnTc hj <rcin; aod ibM tbcj ■■«! fc
.^.r 1,1 i:nn.i.t »f twdre Budlla. Thtif boMril utlqgil; mA tbenfoc, b* i»
piitPil 1»<h<ii Un-idjiae t>>r labulout pan aflhrirbiiioty (an I'lr bwk. Ai lo PItMrM
Hivin)! Iliai £ft,vp* "■* > ■"* cuuairy, il ii unDge tiiU inch « aMioa coaU «i«v h* M-
lril«iDctl \>i ■ mjia al' hit kDaolcdjjc.

KUMA. 147

I ■ ' ■

blossoms of plants. The next months which is thj|t of May, is so
called from^ MiUaj the mother of Mercury; for to him it is sacred.
June is so styled . from the youthful season of year. Some again
inform us^ that these two months borrow their names from the two
ages; old 8.ud young J for the older men are called Mq/ores, and,
and the younger Jwnortn. The succeeding months were denomi-
nated according tO' their order^ of fifths sixths seventh, eighth,
ninth, tenth. Afterwards QuitUilis was called July, in honour of
Julius Cesar, who overcame I^ompey ; and SextUU August, from
Augustus the second emperor of Kome. To the two following
months JDomitian gave his two names of Gemumimu and Ilomiha-
mtSf which lasted but a little while ; for when he wasL skin, they resu-
med their old names, September and October. The two last were the
only ones that all along retained the original appellatiim which they
had from their order. February, which was either added or trans-
posed by Nmna, is the month of purification; for so the term sig-
nifies; and then rites are celebrated for the purifying of trees, and
procuring a blessing on their fruits; then also the feast of the Lu^
percalia is held, whose ceremonies greatly resemble those of a
lustration. January, the first month, is so called from Janus. And
Numa seems to me to have-^en away the precedency from March,
which is denominated from the god of war, with a design to show his
preference of the political virtues to the martial. For this Janus,
in the most remote antiquity, whether a demigod or a king, being
femar1(able for his political abilities, and' his cultivation of society,
jieclaimed men from their rude and savage manners; he is there-
fore represented with two faces, as liaving altered the former state
of the world, and given quite a new turn to life. He has also a tem-
ple at Rome with two gates, which they call the gates of war. It
is the custom for this temple to stand open in the time of war, and
to be shut in time of peace. The latter was seldom the case, as
the empire has been generally engaged in war, on account of its
great extent, and its having to contend with so many surrounding
barbarous nations. It has therefo]:e been shut only in tlie reign of
Augustus Csssar^, when he had conquered Antony: and before, in
the consulate of Marcus Attiliusf and Titus Manlius, a little while;
for a new war breaking out, it was soon opened ag;un. In Nu*

* Augustus shuttke temple of Janua three scTcnl times; one of which was in the
vc*'- of Uunic 730 before i!>e birth of our Saviour, accont^ng to Isaiah's prophecj,
that all the world should be blessed with peace, When the Prince of Peace was born.
This temple was also shut b^ Vespasian after his triumph over the Jews.

t Instead of Marcns, we shun Id read Caius Attjlius. Titus Hanjius, his colleague,
f bat the temple of Jaons at the cooclusioD of the first Punic war.

rLUTARCMS LIVES.

ftia's reign, however, it was not (ipcned for one day, but stood con-
stantly shut during the space of forty-three yearc, while uninter-
rupted penee reigned In every quart«r. Notonlythe people of Home
were sofiened and humanized by the justice and mildneu of the
king, but even the circumjacent cities, brtatlting, as it were, the
same salutary and dcli;ihtfut air, began to change their behaviour.
Like the Romans, they became desirous of peace and good laws, of
cultivating the ground, educating their children in tranquillity, and
paying their homage to the gods. Italy then was taken up with
festivals and sacrifices, games, and entertainments; the people
without any apprehension of danger, mixed in a friendly manner,
and treated each other with mutual hospitality; the lore of virtue and
justice, as from the source of Ntima's wisdom, gently flowing upon
all, and moving with the composure of Ms heart. Even the hyper-
bolical expressions of the poets fall short of describing the happiness
of those days :

Serim Artdini iprtid hrr itf ndci IihIi
Or tliB bniiul bnuklvr-, fiatmg rutt cuoaumM
Thu vengeful iwocdi mid otio rar-glB*iDiiig ip«M:
I<lu nu't tk* liuwp af f»t (wvllf it htitEM iIkdiI.
{v'ur rub* \bc e]'e-lii)i of tiicir genial ilumbf i*.

Wc hivs BO account of either war or insurrection in the stale duriajf
Numa's reign. Nay, he experienced neither enmity nor erv\-; nor
did ambition dictate either open or private attempts against lib
crown. Whether it were the fvnr of the gods, who took so pious s
man under their protection, or reverence fur his virlur, or the sin-
gular good fortune of his times, that kept the manners of men pure
and unsuUiid, be was an illustrious instance of that truth which
Pluto, several ages after, ventured to deliver concerning goveni-
mcnts: That the oubf sure prospttf vf deliieranre fnm tht tviU
of l{fe will be, when the divine Provitienee shall so anUr it, thai
tha refiiit poivtr, invealed in a prince whi> has the tnUitmcPtt «f a
philosopher, shall rtmlee virtue triumphant over rice. A man of
such wisdom is not only happy in himself^ but contributes by his
instructions v.i the happiness of others. There is, in truth, no n«4
either of force or menaces to direct the multitude; for vhco the*
sec virtue exemplified in so glorious a pattern as the life d ibetr
prince, they become wise of themselves, and endeavour, by fiicnd-
ship and unanimity, by a strict regard to justice and tempcnince, to
form themselves to an innocent and happy life. This is the nublcft
end of government; and he is most worthy of the royml tCSt «)ft
■ E'luiitrh Tool ihl> pouge fcuia wine iiccllciit itnes or BMdijIidM il |iAa
ot p««ce il^tD u> uj Stobcui.

kR regulate the IJvt^s nnd dispgsidons of his subjects in iiuch u man-
ler. No man was more sensible of this than Numa.

As to his wivn anti children, there ure great contradictions among

Irtstotiins. For some say he had no wife but Tatia, nor any child

I hut one daughter named Poinpilia. Others, besides that dauj^htcr,

give au account of four sons, Pompon, Pious, Calpns, and Ma-

tefcu&-, every one of wliieh left an honourable posterity, the Pom-

fonii being descended from Pompon, the Piuarii from Pinus, the

Cnlpurnii from Calpus, and the Mamercii from Mamercus. These

I Were sumBmed Jteg^s or kinga*>. But a third set of writers accuse

ribe former of forging these genealogies from Numa, in iiriicr loin-

ratiate theiBMlvM with pnniculur families. And they tell us, ihat

rVorapilia was not the daughter of Tuiia, hut of Liicretin, atioiher

r irtfe, whom he married after he asceiiJed Uie tiiroiic. All, however,

l^ee, that Pompilia was married to Marcius, son of that Mar-

«us who persuaded Numa to accept the crown; fur he follDwed

him 10 Rome, where he was enrolled a senator, and alter Niima's

Irath, was compi'iitor wiili 'fulhis Mostilius for the ilirune; but

Lfctling ia the mterprise, he starved himself to death. His son

' Marcius, hushaiKl to Pomptlin, remained in Home, and had a son

limed Ancus Marcius, who reigned after Tullus Hustilius. This

E^en tB naid to hai-c been but five years old at the death of Numa,

Numa was carried off by no sudden or acute distemper ; but, as
I '^so relates, wasted away insensibly with old u^e and a gentle decline.
1 He was some few years above eighty when lie died.

The neighbouring nations, that were in friendship and nllhnce

r'^th Rome, strove to make the honours of his liurinl equiik to

■Ihe h.ippines* of his life, attending with crowns and oiiier public

Herin^. The senators carried tlie bier, atid tlie ministers of the

Bj|tds walkH in procession. The rest of the people, with the wo~

len and ehtldren, crowded to the funeral, not as if they were at-

(nding the interment of an aged king, but aa if they had Vni one

f their beloved relations in the bloom of lil'q ; for they foUoncd it

kith tears and loud lamentations. They did not burn the bodyf,

' • Rw w ih« lurn^B wT the .£ia>lluu idiI Miirtiniu-, lint not ^rihu P<.iu|>uniaii<, l)ie

•taa*. «r JJaowniaru. Thi rinuii wttc UfweniUd fronia Iknuly wbu ocfc ^rictu

H Bht«I«, aiid man ucimi ibia tha Iiiki qI Numa.

• la iha MOM Mweot tinai llwj coniiiulE«d Ui« budist of the dtud Id the groimJ,

^>ptan l(«ai (hv liWarf af the palrinitlu. Unt llii: I.gJiiliwii. iVmn ■ vuiii dfsiic

i| lh»it builio rron cuirnpIioB atlrr ilealll, hwl llifiu cinlialoit'cl ^ pcrsutis

liili rich (picn, WHJ cnu Ike puor baii Uwm pic H-rvvil hilIi mIi. 1'he

iiriiiit Hie incaatctuenccs ihil aiigbt pwiibljr liappcu lr<ini curi>ipli»ii,

■I tha b«4M* af ihc dead ; bat f ttO} lcll> w, tliat SjlJa <•>.>■ Ibe bi.l lUiiu.u »tiuM

Wlien I'agauiim <•» ibolitbcd, ibc bumiuu uf dtud budicj CL-oied

I
I

because, as we arc told, he himself forhadcit; but tliey made two
stone coffins, and buried them under the Janiculuin ; the one con-
taining his hody, and the other the sacred books which lie had written
in the same manner as the Grecian legislators wrote their tables of laws.
Kmna hud taken care, liowe^'cr, in his life-time, to instruct the
priests in all that tliose hooks contained, and to impress both the
sense and practice on tlieir memories. He then ordered them to be
buried with him, persuaded that such mysteries could not safely exist
in lifeless writing. Influenced by the same reasoning, it is Mtid, the
PytliBgoreans did not committheir precepts to writing, but intrusted
(hem to the memories of such as they thought worthy of so great a
deposit. And when they happened to communicate to an unworthy
person their abstruse problems in geometry, titey gave out that the
gods threatened to avenge his profaitencss and impiety with some
great and signal calamity. Ttiose, therefore, may be well excused
v\uy endeavour to prove by so many resemblances, that Niinia wis
scqpainled with Pythagonts. Valerius Anfiasrelates, that there were
twelve books written in Latin, concerning religion, and twelve more
e$ philosophy, in Greek, buried in that coffin. But four hundfed
yesrs after*, when Publius Cornelius and Marcus Biebius were con-
suls, a prodigious fall of rain having washed away the earth that
covered the coffins, and the lids falling off, one of thenn appeared
entirely empty, without the least remains of the body ; in the other.
tfe* books were found. Petilics, then prartor, huving examined
them, made his report upon oath to the senate, that it appeared to
dim incflnsistent, both with justice and religion, to make them pub-
lic J in eoiwcquence of whicli all the volumes were curried into the
Comitium, and burnt.

Glory follows in the train of great men, and increases after thcii
death ; for eirvy does not long survive them : nay, it sometimes dies
with It. ini), in llie Ix'Ucrof Itie tPiiirt«ciion, Cbtiitiint cominUtrd their drail 'tA
dar ure tad boaont in Ihe culh, la rrpOK lliCrc lill Ihal gie*t itcuL

* PJutuch probablj wrote in Tivc hundrrd ; for lliii bippcDcd in ihr jeat 0I Roim
S71 " One Tcienliul," »bj» V»rro (Ap. S. A'^fasi. it Cii. DtiJ, " hirt a pirec of
gfoum), nenrlhe Jioicolnm; and ui liuibindmna of hii OM ii\j ■(Ti.lriilBllj lunaing
Nnnifi'i lotnb, tunicd up wme of the IcgiiJnIoi'i biwlii, nhctcin be gaie hit mnu
Hsbttiihing tbr religion of the Romant m ha left it. Tlwhiiibindman Oni«d (bcM
> to the piatOT, uid the prwor lu ihe tcr.air, «ha, after bttini read liw fiivolvu
'' rtawni Tor bii tfligioiu ntabUibmenl*, i^etd tbot Ihe bunk) ihould be desltajad, U
piimaani^e of Xama'i intmlioni. Il wiu accuriliDgly decreed, llml lltr prctor •haald
Ihrow lliem into (I* fire." Bol though Nunia't motltei for the religioa tie atablitbed
nii);ht b* liiTial cnouftd. ibal wa< not ibc tbicf reuon for lUpiitraiiig thiio. 1'Im tnl
•I leail the pHncipal reMon, «ai Ibe iiiiu<r oeur iuper«titiani,e<|na>l]r liiviai, ahicktbi
Rooiaiu bad introduced, aod the wmhlp whicli Ibey paid te imaco, ooAUar; la Nu»a'i
■ppointoieat,

KUBftA AinO LtCCftGUS COMPARED. 151

amm^mBKBrnmamBBaasaBaBEaammmmmmmmm

before them* Tbe misfoitunesy indeed^ of the succeeding kings
added lustre to the character of Numa. Of the five that came after
him, the last was driven from the tkroney and lived long in exile;
and of the other fow not one died a natural deadi. Three were
traiterously slain. As for Tullus Hostilius^ who reigned next after
Niuna, he ridicaled and despised many of his best in3titati(MiSy
particularly hb rel^ious ones, as effeminate and tending to inaction ;
for his view was to dispose the people to war. He did not, however,
abide by his irreligious opinions, but fisilling into a severe and com*
plicated sickness,' he changed them for a superstition * very different
firom Numa's - piety : others, too, were infected with the same fidse
principles, when they saw the manner of his death, which is said to
have happened by lightning f.

NUMA AND LYCURGUS COMPARED.

HAVING gone through the- lives of Numa and Lycurgus, we
must now endeavour (though it is no easy matter) to contrast their
actions. The resemblances between them, however, are obvious
enough ; their ^ wisdom, for instance, their piety, their talents for
government, t|ie instruction of their people, and their deriving tlieiir
laws from a divioe source. But the chief of their peculiar distinc-
tions was Numa's accepting a crown, and Lycurgus's relinquinshing
one. The former received a kingdom without seeking it, the latter
resigned one when he had it in possession. Numa was advanced to
sovereign power, when a private person and a stranger ; I^curgtis
reduced himsdf from a king to a private person. It was an honour
to the one to attain to royal dignity by liis justice ; and It was an
honour to tlie other to prefer justice to that dignity. Virtue rendered
the one so respectable as to deserve a tlurone, and the other so great
as to be above it.

The second observation is, that both managed their respective
governments as musicians do the lyre, each in a different m'anner.
Lycurgus wound up the strings of Sparta, which he found relaxed
with luxury, to a stronger tone : Numa softened the high and harsh

* None are to tvperftitiont in their dittreat as those who* in their protperitj, have
IsQghed at religion. Th^ fanieut Canoo Vossias was no ieu remarkable for the great-
ness of his fears, than be was for the littleness of his faith.

t The palace of Tollnt Hostilius was burnt down by lightning; and he, with his wife
and ciuldren, perished in the flames. Though some historians saj, that Ancus Marcius,
who, as tbe grandson of Noma, expected to succeed to the crown, took the opportonitj
of tbe storm to assassinate the king.

162 PLUTARCH** LIVES.

tone oi Rome. The former had the more difficult task : for it was
not their »words and hreast-platea which he persuaded liis citizens te
lay aside, but their gold and silver, their sumptuous beds and tables :
what lie taught them wa% not to devote their time to feasts and sacri-
fices, after quitting the nigged paths of war, but to leave entertain-
ments and tlie pleasures of wine for the laborious exercises of arms
and the \yrestling ring. Numa effected bis purposes in a friendly
way, by the regard and veneration tlie people had for bis person ;
X^curgus had to struggle with conflicts and dangers, before he could
establish liis laws. The genius of Numa was more mild and gently
softening and attempering the fiery dispositions of his people to jus-
.tice and peace. If we be obliged to admit the sanguinary and unjust
treatment of the Helotes, as a part of the politics of Lycuirgus^ we
must allow Numa to hayc been far the more humane and equitable
lawgiver, who permitted absolute slaves to taste of the honour of free
men, and in the Saturnalia to be entertained along with their mas-
ters *. For this also, they tell us, was one of Numa's institutions,
that persons in a state of servitude should be admitted, at least ojice
a-year, to the liberal enjoyment of those fruits Whicb th^ had helped
to raise. Some> however, pretend to find in tiiis custom theicst^as
of the equality which subsisted in the times of Satum^ Vrhw tbaro
was neither servant nor master, but all weire upon the same f^nting^
and, as it were, of one fiimily.

. Both appear to hav^ been equally studious to lead their people tp

temperance and sobriety. As to the other virtues, the oAe waaaMro

^altached to fortitude, and the other to justice ; though pMiibly the

different nature ajad quality of their respectii^ govertmitnig leyuied

a difierent ]»rocess. For it was not through want of tomngt^ but to

•fuardagainst injustice, that Numa restrained his subjects firom war :

.nor did Lycurgus endeavour to infuse a martral spirit into hts psopk

witha view to encourage them to iojure others, but to guard tWiH

..ligainst being iojured by invasions. As each had the luBEnrianoea ef

his citizens to prune^ and their deficiencies to fiQ up^ tbey muat

Aeeessarily make very considerable alterations.

Numa's distribution of the people was indulgent and tgifirikILt tp
: the commonalty, as with him a various and mixed mass ofgsHsmithiy

* TIm Salumnlia was the feast cekfaratcd on the T4rii of the Idemfk &f Jiautf.
.j^sidrs the sacrifices m honomr oi' SafCura, who, upon fab- rctiiHig into Italy* iaacJactJ
. ||)^e the happjnesa of Uk irolden age, icrvafilt were m thia time inMsoi^ iaaiflk «•!

freedom, in memory of the eqaal»tj wfaieli previiiieil ill tlwt age; pwieati vteeMSl

from one friend t« uoctber; and no war was ta be proclaimed, or uffaeder eacfoled.

It u uncertain when this festival was iostitated. Macrobios saja, k was cdabvatad io
,Ital,. ii>t)i$ before the baildmg of Rome; and probaUy be is right, iec Um 6cetki bcft

the same feusi;, under the name o(Chrcnea, Mocro^. Smtw. U i. c 7«

164 Plutarch's uves.

a

contract, and seemed to declare that a community in wedlock b
intolerable.

Yet, farther, Numa's strictness as to rirgins tended to form them
to that modesty which is the ornament of their sex : but the great
liberty which Lycurgus gave them, brought upon them the censure
of the poets, particularly Ibycus : for they call them Phanomerides,
and jindromancis. Euripides describes them in this manner :

Thete quit tbcir lioroct, ambitious to display.
Amidst the youths, their vigour in the race.
Or feat^of wrestling, whibt their airj robe
Flics back, and leaves their limbs uncovered.

The skirts of the habit which the virgins wore were not sewed to the
bottom, but opened at the sides as they walked^ and discovered the
thigh ; as Sophocles very plainly writes :

Still in the light dress struts the vaiq Ilernioiie,
Whose opening folds display the naked thigh .

Consequently their behaviour is said to liave been too bold and too
masculine, in particular to their husbands : for they considered
themselves as absolute mistresses in their houses ; nay, they wanted
a share in aflPdirs of state, and delivered their sentiments with great
freedom concerning the most weighty matters. B|iat Numa^ tfiough
)ic preserved entire to the matrons all the honour and respect that
were {>aid them by their husbands in the time of Romulus, when they
endeavoured by kindness to compensate for the rape, yet he obliged
them to beliave with great reserve, and to lay aside all impertinent
curiosity. He taught them to be sober, and accustomed them to
silence, entirely to abstain from wine *, and not to speak even of the
most necessary afiairs, except in the presence of their hnsbands.
When a woman once appeared in the/bn<m to plead her own cause^
it is reported that the senate ordered the oracle to be conralted,
what this strange event protended to the city f. Nay, what is re*
corded of a few infamous women b a proof of the obedience and
meekness of the Roman matrons in general : for .as our historiana
give us accounts of those who first carried war into the bowels of
their country, or against their brothers, or were first guilty of pairi-

* Romulus made the drinking of wine, ai well as adultery, m capital criMt in voomii.
For, be said, adultery opens the door to all sorts of crimes, and wine opent tlie door l»
mcfultery. The severity of this law was softened vx the aooceediog agct > tli« wi
who were overtaken in liquor were not condemned to die, but to Iqie tbtir d«««ii.

t What tbeii appeared so strange became afterwards common enough; ii
that every troublesome woman of that kind was called Afrania, fro» m scnator't wife tf
that name, who busied herself much in courts of justice. The eloquent Hortentia,.
daughter to to the orator Hortenatus, pleaded with such success for the
triumvirs had laid a fine upon them, that she got a considenhto pait ol it

* .

i

NUMA AHP LYCORGrs COMPARED. 155

cide; so the Romans refaite, that Spnrius Carvilius was the first
among them that divorced his wife, when no such thing had happened
bef<»'e for two hundred and thirty years from tlic building of Rome* :
and that Thalaea, the wife of Pinarius, was the first that quarrelled,
having a dispute with her mother-in-law Gegaoia, in the reign of
Tarquin the Proud. ,So well framed for the preserving of decency
and a propriety <rf behaviour were this lawgiver's regulations with
respect to marriage.

Agreeable to the education of virgins in Sparta were tlie directions
of Lycurgus as to the time of their being married. For he ordered
them to be married when both their age and wishes led them to it ; that
the company of a husband^ which nature now required, might be the
foundation of kindness and love, and not of fear and hatred, which
would be the consequence when nature was forced ; aad that their
bodies might have the strength to bear the troubled of breeding and
tlie pangs of child-birth ; the propagation of children being looked
*upon as the only end of marriage. But the Romans married their
daughters at the age of twelve years, or under, that both their bodies
and manners might come pure and untainted into the management of
their husbands. It appears, then, that the former institution more
naturally tended to the procreation of cliildren, and the latter to the
forming of the manners for the matrimonial union.

However, in the education of the boys, in regolatiog their classes^
and laying down the whole method of their exercises, their diversions,
and their eating at a common table, Lycurgus stands distinguished,
and leaves Numa only upon a level with ordinary lawgivers. For
Numa left it to the option or convenience of parents to bring up their
sons to agriculture, to ship-building, to the business of a brasier, «t
the art of a musician; as if it were not necessary for one design
to run through the education of them all, and for each individual to
have the same bias given him ; but as if they were all like pfu»engers
in a ship, who, coming each from a difierent employment, and with
a different intent, stand upon their common defence in time of dan-
ger, merely out of fear for themselves or their property, and on other
occasions are attentive only to their private ends. In such ^ case
common legblators would luive been excusable, who inight have
Ikiled through ignorance or want of power. But should not $o wise a
man as Noma, who took tt|K>tt him the government of a state so lately
formed, and not likely to make the least oppoattioa to any thing be
proposed, have considered it as his first care to give the children
auch a bent of education, and the youth such a mode of exercise, as
would prevent any great difference or eonfusiop in their manners^

* It wts 'm iIm 5t0tby««c oCRoae tlMt this Imppcaed.

156 I'LUTARCH's LIVBS.

that so they might be formed from their iiifuiicy, and peTsuBdi't to
walk togi'ihcr in the same paths of virtue ? Lycurgus foiird die uti-
lity of this in several respects, and particularly in securing the con-
tinuance of his laws. For the oath the Spartans had taken would
have a\'Biled but liille, if the youth had not been already lineiurcd
with his discipline, and trained to a zeal for his establiAhinent. Nay,
so strong and deep was the tincture, that the prinoipitl laws which he
enacted conthiued in force for more than five hundred years. But
the primary view of Niima's government, which was to settle the
Romans in lasting peace and tninquillity, immediately vanished with
him ; and, after his death, the temple of Janus, which he had kepi
shut (as if he had really held war in prison and snhjeetion), was set
wide open, aud Italy wus filled with blood *. The beautiful pile of
justice which he had reared prcscuijy fell to the ground, being with-
out the cement of education.

You will say then, was not Rome bettered by her wars ? A ques-
tion this which wantsa long answer, to satisfy such as place the liap-
piness of a state in riches, luxury, and an extent of dominion, lathiT
than in security, equity, temperance, and content. It may seem,
however, to afford an argument in f ivour of Lycurgus, that the Ro-
mans, upon quitting the discipline of Numa, soon arrived at a much
higher degree of power ; whereas tJie Lacedemonians, as soon as
they departed from the institutions of Lycurgiis, from bein^tbe most
respectable people of Greece, became tlie meanest, and were in dan-
ger of being absolutely destroyed. On the other hand, it must ht
acknowledged something truly great and divine in Numa (o be JB-
vited from another country to the throne ; to make so many altera-
tions by means of persuasions; to reign undisturbed over a city not
ycl united in itself, without tiic use of an armed force (which lycur-
gus was obliged to have recourse to, when he availed himself of the
aid of the nobility against the commons), and, by his wisdom aoi
justice alone, to conciliate and combine all his subjects in pcur.

SOLON t.

DIDYMUS the grammarian, in his answer to Aselcpiadcs, ran.
ceming the laws of Solon, cites the testimony of one Philocln, bf
which he would prove Solon the son of Enphorion, contrary to the
opinion of others that have wrote of him. For they all with one mee

• In the w»rj with Ih« Fi<lcn>(e). (hf Albaai. ind tin LitiDs.
t Solon Souriibcd abaul Ihc ^t»t bttate Christ S9t,

SOLON. 157

declare that Execestides was his father; a man of moderate fortune'
and power, but of the noblest family in Athens, being descemled
from Codrus. His mother, according to Heraclides of Pontus, wast
icousiD-german to the mother of Pisistratus. Tiiis tie of friendship
at first united Solon and P|»istratus in a very intimate friendship,
which was drawn closer, if we may believe some writers, by the re-
gard which the former had for the beauty and excellent qualities of
the latter*. Hence we may believe it was, tliat when they differed
afterwards about matters of state, this dissension broke not out into
any liarsh or ungenerous treatment of each other ; but their first
union kept some hold of their hearts, some sparks of the ^ame still
remained^ and tlie tenderness of former friendship was not quite
forgotten* • • • « • •

Solon's father having hurt bis fortune f, as Hermippas telb ns^
by hidulging 1^ great and munificent spirit, though the soo nu|^
have been supported )^y his friends, yet^ as he was of a CudOt thai
bad long been assisting to others^ he was ashamed io Mccepi at
assistance himself; and therefore, in his joungrr years, mpftiei
himself to merchandise. Some, however, say that be travclkd, f»»
ther to gratify his curiosity and extend his knowledge, tluui to uiae
an estate. For he professed his love of wisdom, and, wWo fur ad^
vanced in years, made this declaratioo, I grow old im thepsanudi if
learning. He was not too much attached io wealtli m we mqr
gather from the foDoving verses :

* Pisijtnro^ ra« ttmaAakiy coorteoM^ HfMr, amd VketMe^ Be 1hi4 dmsfB tmim
or three tlsTet near him wjib bags of alvcr cm ; v1m« he •»« mtj mm hm/k liMj, «r
beard that any died insolvf nt, he reliered the «ae» mm4 tmmd Ike oiWruth^ •«« «k^
pence. 1/ be prrceiTed peopie meiapchcljr^ he hiyiiii J the tumte, wm4 Uks jytmA U mm
poverty, he furnished them with what aifht cviMo theio Io ^ toi wS, lag »i< 4o %im€
i41jr. Nay, he left even bis gardens aad ntribaiids opCT» oM fkr kmslmut 10 fhc etumm.
His looks were easy and sedate, his tangii<ge toft oad widnt^ Imikmti^dhmintlmt^h^
been genoine, and not dissembled^ with a view f« ghc tjrmmjf §i irtusay he w^t44, m
Solon told him, have been the best dtixB m jt«

t Aristotle reckons Solon himself among the miknm ^tlitnmt wmi ^Mlrt 1ms 0mm
works to prove it. The truth is, that Soloa waa ncv«rr rkk, k, amj hr^ hetmm hr waa
al*ays honest. In his youth he was magfaliJy addirtrd to fmiry, hm4 Halo^ m
Tim^, says, that if he bad finished all has poems, ami pofiirobrly iW Hialor|r of tie
Atlantic Island, which he had brooght otu of Egypt, amd had iaktm time Io fwii
correct them as others did, neither Homer, Bamad, m amy alWr amAmi faett '
have been more famous. It is tindam, both ftom the Steamdwrkmpailkm peas amt^
that be was a person not only of exakcd vtitoc, h«t of a pIcaaaMl ami
He considered men as men, and beeping both their csapaoty tm nttme^ amd
to evil, in bis view, be adapted hia lawi so aa •• nwglhia amd mffart the erne, amd to
check and keep under the other. Hit jastiftioas ata aa ff arhahis lor their awi
and practicability^ at thoao af Ij cargnt an fsr kankmua amd iessmgUmmi^ ^

PLUTARCH S LIVES.

The man ibni Iraaiii of gclilcn ituro,
or grain Ihal Inadi hii bending floDTi,
Of field) "llh rreib'uing herbage giecn.
Wbcre bounding steeds and hcfdiaic Kcn,.

Whou-llnbiateiouBd, xbinerDud ii plaiD;
Whose jovi abluDining wife endears,
WlioK hours a imiluig olTspnDg chuen *.

Yet in another place lie Kays :

Th« Row o( lichas, thuug)> dcnc'd;

Ijfe'i real goodi, if veil acijuir'd,

VnJDMlj let me neier gain.

Lot reiigeance fulluvr in iheir train.
Indeed, a good man, a valuable member of societi', should neither
set his heart upon superfluities, nor reject ihc use of what is neccs-
sarp and convenient. And in those times, as Hesiodf informs us,
no business was looked upon as a disparagement, nor did any trade
cause a disadvantageous distinction. The profession of merchan-
dise was honourable, as it brought home the produce of barbarous
countries, engaged the frienshipof kings, and opened a wide Rcld of
knowledge and experience. Nay, some merchants have been founders
of great cities ; Pro (us, for instance, that built Marseilles, for whom
the Gauls about tlie Rhone had the highest esteem- Thales also,
knd Hippocrates the mathematician, are said to have had their sbuc
in commerce ; and the oil that Plato disposed of Egypt % defrayed the
expence of his travels.

If Solon was too expensive and luxurious in his way of living, and
indulged his poetical vein in his description of pleasure too freely for
a philosopher, tt is imputed to his mercantile life ; fur as he passed
through many and great dangers, he might surely compensate them
with a little relaxation and enjoyment. But that he placed himself
nther in the class of the poor than the rich, is evident from these lines :

FoT Tice, thougb pJenty GDs beihoni.

His Itulh tnt wcallh'i

While woltli eludes Ihegraipiiig b.nil.

He seems to have made use of his poetical talent at first not lor aoy
serious purpose, but only for amusement, and to fill up his fa

* Tliii pusage of Soloa'i. and anatber bctow,
Tbeognii.

( Lib. Ob. el Di. 1

into Egypt oilb (he oi
I. Ephraim earrittK oil i

■r fduud anoQg ibe h

ef Greece and Judea,

SOLOK. 1 5$

leisure ; but afterwards he inserted moral sentences, and interwove
many political transactions in his poems, not for the sake of record-
ing or remembering tliem, but sometimes by way of apology for his
own administration, and sometimes to exhort, to advise, or to censure
the citizens of Athens, Som^ are of opinion, that he attempted to
put his laws, too, in verse ; and they give us this beginning :

Supreme of gods, whose power we first address
This plan to honour, and these laws to bless.

Like most of the sages of his time, he cultivated thtft part of moral
philosophy which treats of civil obligations. His physics were of a
simple and ancient cast, as appears from the following lines :

From cloudy Taponrs falls the treasur'd snow, ^ ,

And the fierce hail: from Ughtniag's rapid blaze
Sprimgs the loud thunder — winds disturb the de«p^
Thau whose unruffled breast, do gmoother scene
In all the works of nature !

Upon the whole, Tfaales seems to have been the only philosc^lier
who then carried his speculations beyond things in common use,
while the rest of the wise men maintained their character by rulea
for social life.

Thfy are reported to have met at Delphi, and afterwards at Corinth,
upon the invitation of Periander, who made provision for their enter-
tainment. But what contributed most to their honour was their
sending the tripod from one to another, with an ambition to outvie
each other in modesty. The story is this : when some Coans w€i«
drawing a net, certain strangers from Miletus bought the draught
unseen. It proved to be a golden tripod, which Helen, as she sailed
from Troy, is said to have thrown in there, in compliance with aa
ancient oracle. A dispute arising at first between the strangers and
the fishermen about the tripod, and afterwards extending itself to the
states to which they belonged, so as almost to engage them in hostili-
ties, the priestess of Apollo took up the matter, by ordering diat the
wisest man they could find should have the tripod. And first it was
sent to Thales at Miletus, the Coans voluntarily presenting that to
one of the Milesians, for which they would have gone to war with
them all. Tliales declared that Bias was a wiser man than he, so it
was brought to him. He sent it to another as wiser still. After
making a fiurther circuit, it came to Thales the second time. And at
last it was carried from Miletus to Thebes, and dedicated to the Isme-
nian Apollo. Theophrastus relates, that the tripod was first sent to
Bias at Prienne; that Bias s6nt it back again to Thales at Miletus •
that so hanng passed through the hands of the seven, it came round
to Bias agwn, and at last was sent to the temple of Apollo at Delphi.

Pl.UTAltClia LIV£S.

This is the most current account ; yet some say the present was not a
Iripod, but a bowl sent hy Cravsus ; anil otliiTs, llml it v,-as u cup
wliicli i>no BatliycK's liud left for iliat purpose.

We Unvf a particular QLCouat of a conversation which Solon had
with Anacharsia **, and of another he had withTliitles. Aoaclianis
went to Solon's hoUHc nt Athens, knocked at the door, and said, he
was a stranger, who (Irsirrd to enter info engagemmts of frievd-
ah'ip ami mutual /wspitafiti/ with /litn. Solon answered, Friend-
Jthips are best formed at home. Then do yon, said Anachursis^ tchu
are at ho»ie, make me your friend, and receive me into t/oH hotise.
Struck with ilic quickness of his repartee, Solon gare him a kind wel'
come, and kept him some time with him, being tlien employed in
public aflfairs, and in modelling his laws. When Anachursia knov
what Sulon was about, he laughed »t hjs undertaking, and at the ati-
surdity of imagining he could restrain the avarice and Injustice c^hi^
citizens by written laws, which in all rexjieefs resetnbled spidem'
webs, and would, like them, only entangle, and hold the ponr and
weak, while the rieh and powerful easily broke through I hem. To
this Solon replied. Men keep their agreements, when it is an ad-
vantage to both parlies not to break them; and he would so frame
its laws, as to make it evident to the Athenians, that H tcou/rf be
niore for their interest to oliKerve them than to transgress them.
Tlie event, however, shotved that Anaeharsis was nearer the irutli in
bis conjectun; tlmn Solon was in his hope. Auaeharsis having seen
an nssembiy of the people at Athens, said, he was surprised at thh,
that in Greece wise men pleaded causes, andfriols determined them.

When Solon was entertained hy 'Iliales at Miletus, he espres-wl
some wonder that he did not marry, and raise afamilff. To thi»
Tliales gave no immediate answer ; but some days after, he instructed
> stranger to say, that he came from Athens ten days before. Solon
inquiring, ffhat news there was at Athens " Tlic man, according w
liis iustruetions, said. None, e.reept the funeral of a young matt,
tfhich was attended by the wfiole city, for he was the. ion, as they
told me, of a person of great honour, and of the highest reputatim

* The Scjihiini, long bcfiin; the dnji of Suton. kiul been celebiatrd for lh«ir ftvg*-
liry. tlicir Itmpcnuce, uid jmlk-e. Aiuicli>r!i^ 'ib^ une of iheie St7lhi«n«,Mid • prion
oflhe blood. Ur *tnl la Alhcni »ho\\y The rutcj-seventh Oijmpiad, [hat ii, 590 jtin
berortChriil. llii gcndielue, fail ktionkdge. and giot ciperienee, made binpanfer
mieaf tbeKienwiw nen. But thegrealeHutd wneit men haTaikeirineuiuutcDciai
tot iucb it cerOunlj vai, for Anachariii la ciny the Grecian wonhip, the riflila Cjbck^
intu Srjtbia. canlt>ri« to the lawa of LI) country. Tlicugh be petlonoed tboM iitn
privately iu a woody pari of lliccountr^f, aScylhiati bappcBcd to Kt him, and acqiilUlrd
ihe king •itii it, who caow unoedinlely, ni ?bot biiu wall in a«ow vpsa Ibe ipoi-

f&t HmcBy 1Mb tPCEt tlim aStwat i^fim AU t^MOtt^ fFhata' iHiv^f-

it was not Solon' 9^' HUa nfm d^nSOf The sbtt^ a^^^bjf iii'
thtf aAltaiatiiw^ He togHAf tcTbcbrhir Iveatf; a'nd tcf dd ^d s&y stfch
tMiigH'as dt^ iMrf to itfen ib^ a thitlspldii' of gtfef^. th^ TaleSfy
ndtiairMlb b^ tUt hMd^ Mdj- i^th^ a^ tsiAAUi- Thi^ Aihjfi whklk'

siHk^ doling 9* Jlif)dn:nim'ditS^ mmiiag^j cmf

Jhimtktt^ OlUJBhAiU Bui ikO^ eiMMtge; f*^ ^^
dfMNi df isiilMfhMlkiM'Wid^ HeH6i{!i[MiS s^; hV t6blf

ikii sHoff ft«l#l^Mua,' whd' ittiti to bM^f li^ lilatt ttitf sc^l of iBsopr;
Btif ak^a^ to^iiiftgMetih^ I^O«!tiri(^^ ^eitms^ or' ofm--

V^lMlent in liJG^ forftlar 0l4dstli^-it; \^ be*^actfi>g^\«iy meaft Utt^
diBttM pMtftl Bf tM mxiwrYtile afmihrfisilgkt rdTufte th^^joytA^t o^

pnM^^^INbtm Bvw the ei(tem«fc^4iH^I(teir oTthe^iiffni^,; tli« t»m

Valuable and pleasing )x«»iMri(Wib^tli^

poisonoBS drags^ or bjr tbfr^ViOlence.of some diseate. Nay^ Thales

himself could not be seqnre from feai9"byDvMg^ingle^ unless he

fwmUf'rghomtciBWittfenast inliisMcJnfi^ birrdationBjiaad bis eoun**

tip Iii0Ma#of 41m; liAi^eri hiMlr s^d to have 'aSbpted \Ai sfster^a^

sonyTniMl>Cy&Mmr IMMdnhe-sMlr'bw Jabioalf»priiidple^^

smsi^yOivmiiAftMa^ itliaa^

nodUi^JM^hoiiie totirta atf^etioffti^yirunitef itgidf; and 'cleaves'

tosotaptfchiyabtiiit/ SllMgan^ or^pencmrorspuKoiis bhth^ offeh'

tMiii«ietfifedlsei#es'iD«)r)iii(i1i'*a nsaii'slieAit^asiato'AHobsefoi' land^

thst bar op^biMlul* heifs} and; together with \iahe^ brin^a train o^

ciMPef ' aad^nn»tlwmioiMr^fec theaNr IrUr not Uii60mmior to hearp;^*- -

sdoaof^a'aloraib^ttfiqpa*, wbo tAfcagai^ « familf^^

ntteri^f rtbtrnsnBf alijeet eompiafaita Allien a 'child! which they have -

liUlby>«lawt)raicoMabide:ha(ppanBnosiekta'<^ Nay^Mine^

U»KWpieaae4k^^¥arf gpMf • regtiet npoii the deifth ct dogfmiid faorscs ; ^

wWbrocUaiti haM bblTM tii«1oia of vUittiibte'chtldr^iloprfthoiit mttf

affictiouj or at least without any indecent sorrow, and have passed

tfafe-M^ of ilidr dilys with dttmne^s aud'coiti|)09iire; Itis certki%ly.

wiealQiew^ not aAsctton, whiclr brings intfniti^ trouble^ and feiiri' up'-"

OD meo who arenot fortified by reason agnioft the power of iortune;

* WkMliei'iMi tidt occtttoo^ or on tb^'r^ loii of m tcii, ii iiiiMitii^; SdM' 'beStig*'*
desired oot lo weep« nnce weeping woind'ivsiloodiyg/k^liibwIfM^^i^i]
mktf nnd good lente. And fir tidi ^tme I •cep.

Vol. I. No. 12. x

'..j±j

163 PLUTARCil'S' LIVES.

»vlio have no enjoytncnt.of a present good, because of their apprehen-
sions, and the real anguishthey find In conskkniig tliat in time they
may be dtpnvGd of it. No man, surely, should take refuge in po-
verty, M guard against the lo^s of an estate ; nor remain in the un-
social state of eelibacy, that he may have neither friunds nor ctuldreu
to lose ; he should be armed by reason against all evcntfi. But pcr-
h.ips we have been too diffuse in these sentiments.

When the Athenians, tired out with a long and troublesome war
aguinst the Megnrensians for the isle of Salainis, made a law, that no
one for the future, under pain of death, should eiilier by speech 01
writing propose that the city should assert its claim to titat bland;
Solon was veiy uneasy at so dishonourable a decree, and seeing great
pan of the y-:iutli desirous to begin the war again, being restrained
from it only by fear of the law, he feigned himself insane * ; and a
report lipread from his lioase into the city that he was out of his seusc!i.
Privately, however, he had composed an elc^y, and got it by liean,
in order to repeat it in public; thus prepared, he sallied out unex-
pectedly into the market-place with a cap upon his headf- A great
number of people flocking about him there, he got upon the licrald'i
stone, and sung the elegy, which begins thus :

This composition is entitled Salamh, and consists of a hundred very
beautiful lines. When Solon bad done, his friends began to express
their admiration, and Pisistratus in particular exerted himself in {>et-
suading the people to comply with his directions; whereupon ihey
repealed the law, once more undertook the war, and invested Solon
with tlie command, Tlie common account of hi)s proceedings is tliis;
he sailed with Pisbtratus to Colios, and having seized the women
who, according to the custom of the country, were offering sacrifice
to Ceres there, he sent a trusty person to Salnmis, who was to pretend
he was a deserter, and to advise the Megarensiaus, if they had a mind
to seize the principal Athenian matrons, to set sail immediately for
Colias. 'Pile Megarensians readily embracing the proposal, and
sending out a body of men, Solon discovered the ship as it put off
from the island ; and causing the women directly to withdraw, 01-

* When Ibe Alhcniini wrre ditlvcrcd fram liieir fun bjr the dctlh of Epftmiaoodi^
(hey bt(>a la Mjuaudfr »•■}, u|x>ii tbows aiiit pU}ri, the montj 1I14I had been utigMd
for Ibe fj ul' ibc irmy uid navy, lud at (lie lame tinK the}' nida ii deaili (at any «M
to (iropiHi a rtrotBalioD. lo (hat c>», DemoMbaiMi did nal. like SvloD^ attack ibtit
*noi undtr a preienc* of intaaitj, tai boldlj and reiolulrly ipuke agauut ii ; and, b*
Ab tott* of hi) clotguCDce, bioughl Ihsoi 10 curtccl it.

t Kdu iroTc capi but th« iick.

SOLON. ' ' 163

dered a number of young men, whose faces were yet smooth, to dress
themselves in their habits, caps, and shoes.* ThuS| with weapons
concealed under their clothes, they were to dance and play by the
sea-side till the enemy was landed, and the vessel near enough to be
seized. Matters being thus di^red, the Megai^nsians were deceived
with the appearance, Hhd rdn confusedly on shore, striving which
should first lay hold lipon the women. But they met with so warm
areception, that they were cut off to a man; and the Athenians em-
barking immediatdy for Salamis, took possession of the island.

Others deny that it was recovered in this manner, and tell us that
Apollo, being first consulted at Delphi, gave this answei: :

Go, firit propitiote thetountry's chieft ^;\ :' -
".■ Hid in iEsop's lap ; who, mhen iatecr'd,-
^ • Fac'd the fieclinJog sun. .

ttpon this Solon crossed tlie sea bf :nigiit, and offered sacrifices in
Salamis to the heroes PeriphemtiS''4ldjS' Cllchreus. Th^n taking- five
kindred Athenian^luAtee|[S>w1i6li^ obtained a deeree^ that if they
conquered the bhn^ tbe.^$ylinibient of it should be tested in them,
he failed with a jaumbtr of -fishing-ve^els and ote galley of thirty
oars for SalaoMs, where he cast anchor at a point which looks to-
ward/Euboea. •

TheM^garensrans that were iti the place having heard a confused
report of what had happened, betook themselves in a disorderly man-
ner to artt^s, and sent a ship to discover the enemy. As the lihip ap-
proached too near, Solon took it, and securing the crew, put in their
plaee some of the bcavestof the Athenians, with orders to make the
best of their way to tlie city as privately as possible. In the mean
time, with the rest of his men, he attacked the Megarensians by land»
and while these were engaged, those from the ship took the city., A
custom which prevailed f^fterwards, seems to beiMr witness to the truth
of this account; for an Athenian ship onoe a-year passed silently to
Salamis, and the inhabitants coming down upon it with noise and
tumult, one man in armour leaped ashore, and ran shouting towards
fhe promoptory of Schradlum, to meet those that were advancing by
land. Near that place is a temple o^ Mars erected by Solon; for
there it was that he defeated the Megarensians, and dismissed, ypoa
certain conditions, such as were not slain in battle.

However, the people of Megara persisted in their chim till both
sides had severely felt the calamities pf wfur, aqd then they referred
the aflSur to the decision of th^ LacedcempQiiins. ' Many authors re-
late that Solon availed himself pf a passage in {louver's catalogue of
shipSf whipb he produced as an argument before the arbitrators^*
dexterously iqserting a line of his own ; for to this vers0^

Ib-i

PLUTARCa^ J-IVES.

he is said to have added,

Aod [«iii>lui foicetwitb th' Ath^niMi powpt'.
But tlie Atheniiins took upon this as an idle story, and UU us, i^at
Suiou made it a|>pcar to tbe judges that Fhilstis and Eoivmccs, sooc
of Ajax, beiug admitted by tlieAtheiibiiis to tbefn-i-duin ufibdrdii-,
gave up tlie liiland to tliein, and removed the ciic to Brauroo, and tbc
other to Milete in Attica j likewise, that the iribc of the Pbilaidr,
of whieli Pisisirntus was, liad its name fiom that Philvus- He brau^ in
another arguiuent againsl the McgurenMaiis from ilte maixiei i>f
burying in Siilaniis, which was aj^rct^able to ibe custom of Athcas,
and not that of Megura; for the Migiirensians inter the dead with
their faces to the east, and theAlhenians turn theirs to the west. Or
the other haiid, Hcreas of Megava insists that the MegureD:iians like-
wise turn the facc;s of the dead to th^ west ; and wbat is oion:* that,
liketbepeo^ilcof Sidami$,they put three or four eorpse>in one tomb,
>yhcreas the Atbenians have a separate tomb (bi: caeh But Solon's
cause was farther assisted fay certain urqeles of Apullo, iit which (Uc
island was called Ionian Salainis. Thi--< umiter was determined by
five Spartans, Ci'itoluides> Amomphitretus, Hypsechtdas, Anaula*.
and Cleomenes.

Solon ^equi^ed cp,i]sid<^fBble honour and authority to Adtcas by
this aflutir ; but he w^ much morg celehr«lcd aniuii^i the (irrdt» ia
general for nejroiiating succours for the tuuple at l>elphi apiiusi tine
insolent and injurious behavioiu-of the Cirrhffiaust. and pecuadijif
th^ Greeks to anit for tbe honour of the god. At hJs motion it ww
tligt the yimp/iiplt/Qiin declared war, as Aristotle, among otkcrs, tn-
tiSps in his book eouccruiog the Pythian gaiiwg, where he attrihatet

• Thi. Im.

oM h

. (oi there ■:

many piMv^cj

iUm

■I Ihe »hi|u of AJ4« irn lUlicncd nc»r the Tbeuiliii
t The inhnhtunti of CiFrlm, a uin-n Mixd in iht bay of Coriiitb, iftcr Iwna^ lij

nputcd incurHunh wuiti) ilie terilP'j »( Oclpl-i, hetic^K^ At ciij iiMlA bsn • dtwR
of miking ibcntclvet iuiut|;r> of Ih^ ivbiji coutained ia thfl 't'^i' of AfwIJo. Adrm
of ihu being >*iil lo Ihe jl«pAiL-(j|im), who were Ihe srtWvgf mul of Cfccct, Scloa a^
*iKd ihat [liii mailer ibuuld be UDiieiiall)' reitnlcd. Accorjingrj CI>->t)>CQC), tjnU
ot Sicjun, wai stui comoiander in chief ■gaiiiM tlxi CtrchKUt)} Akaivnn <•» §*■'*■'■(
the Alhenian quol* ; and Sulon wr nt a) toonicllor er aMUtaDl U CiTttbcfin. WIm
the Cttei aiiuj had bcticgcd Cirihiwnciiucwiiboat uij nfni ijifiMimin iifww^
J^potlo wat conialif 4i *V ■■■•<^('<!*'i ')>*t iluj itwuM DOi be Mt^ to ntfact 4m file*
tiJI ib« wiTci of ihe Ctrrbaan Ka *'ithi:d the irr(iroric) oi' Delphi. Tbi) HUBct •Kwk
the um; <*i>h luipiiK, fism Bhich Soloa (itticucd ihciD, b; ad'i»ti£ CljitlwMaM
conucrnle (he obcle lertitoriri of Cirtha to i)k Delphic Apollo, mhcnee it sv*Id loUoo
that th« »» mud waih the iiucd coait. Panianias. jn fluei; nenttoat lairtii
untageiB. >ibich wai no! woilhj of tlu jsilic* of Sdo*. Cuiha, bMRvw, ■» laVst
ud became bcnixfiinb Uv ft^aii of Pcl^

IBs

llu^ fieamt i» Soltmu He was iuxt, hyomnar, cppointed ^cneml ja
tinrt will:, as fibenuppua i«latea fiooBi Emlmdies tke Saaufai, Par
JEscUotf like iMAtorsafsnoawAi thia^; and we fiiui in tka nvbnlB
wf IXripbiy that AfeBuroDj not Solon^ tommaiickdl the Athieniaiia mm
this QOcaaiaD.

Tbe eKec/aaadt fflCMae^faigs against the ftcaonai^ieea of Cfloii* had
bttf acoasBanad great tfOttUes in the Atfaetiiaa atate« . The oaa^
apiralonhal talreii ttnctoarj in Minerva'a tein{de; but Megaeles^
thea mtlkon, jwaiuaded dieai to qait it, and stand tiM, aader die
BOlioDilhattfthey <aod adireadtD the rivine of the goddess, and kc^
hM of it^ tfiagr nvoiild atiU be ander her protectioi). But when they
eaine over against tha temple of the FViries, the threml broke of itself;
iqpop whu^h Megacles and his eoliaagaes rushed upon them and
aaiaed thaai^ aaif they iiad k>st their privilege. Sach as were out of
dtt ttasple wave atontd; those that fled to &e altars were cat in
piacea Aere $ aad tbqr oofy were spared who made application to tha
arsrfa of the aKigistnaes. Froaf that time these magistrates w^ie
c^bd aaacfiaMs, aad became dbjeots of the public hatred. Hie ra^
mains of Cylon's faction afterwards recovered strength, and kept up
ii» qiiacMl wilh the deseeodants of Megades, The dispute was
greater than aver, aad the two parties nKure exaqwated, when Sokm,
wfceaa aariAaritjf was now ¥ery great, and odiers of the principal
Alheniaaa, iataiyDaed, and by entreaties aad arguments peisaaded
the pecaoaa called txm^ahU to submit to justice and a fiur trial, ho^
fore three hsmelffd judges selected from the aobiKty. M ffun, af
the PA|idfaaJ0a ward, carried on the impeachment, aad they ware
oandeauaad: m mmoy as were alive were driven into exile ; and tha
bodies of the dead dug up and cast out beyond the borders of Attica,
An^idst thes^ disturbances, the Megarensians renewed the War, took
Ni^ffi.firojnthe Athenians, and recovered Salamis once more.

jj^lwijt 4w tim^ the cUy was Ukewise afflicted with superstitioaa

^ TlMPt «r»ib te» loog tee titwt fkit dtwocmcy took pltce^ n •trcnif ptHj ogaioit ft,
ymkm Kift «• ipwiww wMriod te opder, if jnoitHMe, to reaore ihc^ aneiem fbim «f govern*
flMAii CjfIoo, III9MI of <|iiaIUy, vmk lOD-iii-law to^ Thaageiiet, tyrant df fifegtn, ft«
ptnod at the tnd^oa elMMige e< tlw magitlfatei, and IhmI tlMaghfi of aakhis ^*t ai a'
favov iilMcii li» apfrekaiMMtto be Aie to hit airtliri|lni ii» foiwed, tlierefole, » da^
a^ to aciae tha oiiadei, ithtch he pat Uk practioa !■• tha (hrrsr-Sfth Otjrakpiad» i»tai
aaoy of the citisem were gone te the Oljmpic gamei . Megaclet, «»ho iMa at ftoM
tMaa^ahiaf'aaehoa^ wih iIm- otiMa aagiitrataa awt cha*wBoth power of AtliM% iaaaedt*
ataly basiayd; tiw cooipwaiei »diar^ andttaduaad thaai ta tadk dfaieiiithaiGylairiaa
his hratlier.lled» and laftrtha Biaanar loi^ta fldft' ftr thaaMSi»«K flaahsi^aiaapad aia
taoll aafiagei aa Ftataaab^aiaaaij la Miaawrafi taaipl^ aad<aiMi||a Aey damvaQ
far aapapiring^agaiMt thay n— iqt» yM» aHNeiM^giarate^pettasis to*dVachla:
bflHeh of tlM pmy^ of aawitaaiy^ fli^ tvaagllr ayaiBUlwaaliaa tie tadigMtkia of
Ibe sopentitioas Atheaiaaai whaiaiaiart awau VaNaHagaasaraiaHMl

1 66 Plutarch's lives.

fears and stmnge appearances : and tlif sooilisaycrs declared, that
there wcreccriain abominabk- crimes wliicli wanted cxpiaiiou pointed
out by the entrails of the victims. Tpon tliis they sent to Crete for
Epiinenides the Pkccstian*, who is reckoned the licvenih amongtite
wise men, by those tliat do not admit Periander into the number.
He was reputed a man of great piety, beloved by the gods, nndsliilled
in matters of religion, particularly in « hat related to inspiration and
the sacred mysteries : therefore the men of tliose days called liim the
»on of the nymph Balte, and one of the Curetes revived. When he
arrived at Athens, he contracted n friendship with Solon, and pri-
vately pave him considerable assistance, preparing the w^- for the
reception uf )us laws : for he taught the Athenians to be more frugal
in their religious worship, and more moderate in their mourning, by
intennixingcertainsucrificc&withthc funeral solemnities, andabolish-
ing the cruel and barbarous customs that liad generally prevailed
tmoug the women before. What is of still greater consequence, by
expiations, lustrations, and the erecting of temples and tihrincs, he
Iialtowcd and purified the citj, and mjide the peojile more obscrrant
of justice, and more inclined to union.

When he had seen Munychia, and considered it some time, he U
reported to have said to those about him t, Hotv blind is man to
fularilj/ ! If the Athenians cauldforcsee what trouble that place wUt
give them, they would tear it in pieces it-iih their teeth rather thai
it should stand. Something simihir to this is related of Thalcs; for
he ordered the Milesians to bury him in a certain recluse and neg-
lected place, and foretold, at the same time, that their markei-placc
would one day stand there. As for Epimenides, he was held in ad-

• Thi» Ejiiincni'lr) wm ■ yrrj extraordinary person. Diogenel Laerliui Ittli w, llni
be WEI tlie invcntur of Ihe art of JuHrating nc purifying houivi, fielilt. and pawn.
vhich, if spoken of Greece, n»<r he true^ but lUiuo htil long berore tsui;ht ihe Ht-
ki*<nMnieltiii>g of lliiinslurt. (Tide Leril. ivi.) Epitoeniilci took tome
wen (ll bUciL, and Dlhcri llml were all white; these be led into tbe AttMpagm.iod,
turning tbem loote, dinicled cerliin pcrioDi to rullaw them, who ibonld marl «|i
ibty Goucbed.aad lliere tictilice Ihern to iIif IdciJ diet;, Thii lieiiif; donr, alltn w
erected in all Ihew plicei (o perpeluale ihe nHinory of tfaii »leiua cipialiou. Vam-
were, bowrircr, oltier cerenioiUH pracliKd for Ibe purpow of lulralion. of *
TMItei, b hit poetical chronicle, giici > pattkuUi accuuat, bal which acB Iim bl
10 be Btaboncd here.

t Thii prediclMD wu rulfilled 970 ;otn ifler, when Anlipater caiMiiinrd lh« i
oiiiu to admit hii gairiwn into thai ptacc. Beiidei Ibii prophecy, Epimeoide* OH
tnotbei duiiDg hiiitay at Atheni', far hearing that the citiiemwerc alatnicd at the
ftew of the Penian powor at lea, hs adri»cd them to make iheiBiclm my, telMi
the Pcniani would not fur loanj jreari attempt mj Ihiog ai||am>t the Greek), and •!
■he; did, the; would receite greater Iota ihcniKlvM than Iht; would bo ^blc la k
tipoa the ilala thej iLsughl tu dcilioj. La^ri. in Cita M UincK.

i

miratioii ai Athens, great honours wert paid liim, aii(J many valua-
ble pn^scnU made ; yet he would neccpt of aoihliig but a branch of
, tte sacred olive, which they gave him at his request ; and with that
^he departed.

' \Vhen the troubles about Cylon's afiiiir were over, and the sacrile-
gious persons removed in the manner we have mentioned, the Atheni-
ans relapsed iuto their old disputes concerning the government ; for
there were as many parties amon^ them as there were dilferent tracks
of land iu tlieir country. The inhabitants of the mountainous part
■ Were, it seems, for a democracy; those of the plains for an oligarchy;
inil iJiosc of the sea-coasts contending for a mixed kindof govcrn-
KHt, hindered the other two from gaining their point. At the same
mc, the inequality between the poor and the rich occasioned the
rcatest discord ; and the state was in so dangerous a situation, that
lerc seemed to be no nay to qiwll the seditious, or to save it from
in, hut changing it to a monarchy. So greatly were the poor in
Fdebt to the rich, that they were obliged cither to pay them a sixth
X of the produce of the land, whence they were called lieeUmorii
I Theies, or else to engage their persons to their creditors, who
;ht seize them on failure of payment. Accordingly, some made
i of them, and otiiers sold them to foreigners. Nay, some
ire uts were forced to sell their owu children, (for no law forbade it),
I to quit the city, to avoid the sevc re treatment of those usurers.
Kfiut the greater number, and men of the most spirit, agreed to stand
Iby each other, and to bear such impositions no longer. They deter-
lincd to choose a trusty person for their leader, to deliver those who
i failed in their time of payment, to divide the land, and to give
B entire new face to the commonwealth.

Tlien the most prudent of the .\thenians cast their eyes upon Solon,
I a man least obnoxious to cither party, having neither been en- ■
d in oppressions with the rich, nor entangled In necessities with '
E poor. Him, therefore, they entreated to assist the public in this
xigency, and to compose these dlfFerences. Phanias the Lesbian
iscrtii, indeed, that Solon, to save Uie state, di^alt artfully with both
ind privately promised tlie poor a division of the lands, and
c rich a confirmation of their securities. At first he w;i5 loath to
e the administration upon him, by reason of the avarice of some,
1 the insolence of others; but was, however, chosen archnn next
r Philoiubrotus, and, at the same time, arbitmtor and lawgiver ;
t rich accepting of him readily a> one of them, and the poor as a
J und worthy man. They tell us, too, that a saying of his, which
e bad let fall some time before, that equalih/ causet no war, was
\ amch repeated, and pleased both the rich and tlie poor; the

A

tneasui

Iptut ll

I'iattahcu s

latlCT expecttiig^ to come 1o a bulnnce by tlioir iiuDibers atid by the
measure ol" dividod lands, and the ft>riner to preiserve an equality at
Ipoat by thuin dignity aiid powciL Tiius Iwith pirti« bein^' in great
liopes, the licada of tlicin were urgent with Solon to make Itiinsclf*
biiig> and^enileavoured toporsTiade him, that he might with l><.ttt;r
acsurnncu take upon him the direction. ofm city vihere h« hnd the $u-
pnrcme authority. Nay, tnuny of the citizens iliat leaned to neitliPT
purty, seeing the intended ehange diflicuU to be effected by reaiwn
and law, were not a^iii^t the intrusting- of tlie gorernment to the
hands of one- wise and just man. Some, moreover, acqusint' us that
lie rceetrcd this oracle from Apollo,

Sciar. kIic llie he-lnii tlir leelJagTEuH t^nlr,
With aHlmg pBtiiotialcmtli* t'^i'f ndi:.
His friends in- particular told liim it wouldappeftr' that he wftW Ji
courngB if lie rejeeied the monarchy for fear of th* name of tjn'iHi
as if tlie soile -and supreme poVer would not soow becoAe a UwfU
sovereignty-through the virtues of him thatrcceived it; Thus, for-
merly, said ihey, the Euboeons set up Tynnondos, and UtetyAe
MityleoteaBs PhtacQS fortheir prince*. None of these tbtngsnlovM^
Solon fremr his purpose ; and the answer he- is said tohavegiven t«
his friends is tliis, Ahtolutt irwHMrch^is a-fuir Jttd, but it hat no
outlet. And in one of his poems Itcthus attdrfsse* hlmbolf lobi»
fcieadf hocus:

If I ipsi'd oiy coontrj>

If gilded vIdImico and Ijivuiic iwnj
CmU never cbitm mt, iLeiic* na ihinr ■{(?»« j
Still (lie mild lioowui ^f mj oeiuc 1 !»■»,
And Gad my i^iujiiie Ilirtc.

Whence it is evident that his reputation was very great before he ap-
peared ia the character of a legislator. As for the ridicule he ivat
•qifwed to for rejecting kingly power, he describes as follows :

Sot wJsilom'i pulia not dacp-lud policy

Can. Solon boast ^ for hIicd ilinobleil blciirogi

KoTcn pour'd into bis lap, lie iparn'd Ihen from him.

When OH hii sense and tpiril, wlien cnclui'd

He found tbccboiocit pr«y, B«rdeitn'dloiJr>«[l!

Wb(i,.ta canuaand fail Alben* bat oaeda^t

Wauldaol himKiT. wiili alt hi* nee, hiic fiUca

Conlcnitd an ihomoitow?
* FinacM,ione.orthc*e*ea>riM men of Grcecoi iMJahiMelf n
for which AlcniUi nbo wu of ihc lame towu, cotemporaij wilh PiUacui. asd. ■> a poac
m ftjegd. wciriied iiim, as he did the oiher lyraiiu. Pidacui d-irvguarded hii mdsohs.
and baring bjr hit authority quilled Ihc Mdilioni of bii citiient, and eiabl'vlied poet
aad haraMMijr amone tbrm, h« ToJnotaril; qoiRcd hia power, aod mtand tia twaoj
(uKatibeitf,

m

"1'^' I

Tbus he has introduced the multitade and men of low minds as dis-
coursing about him. But, though he rejected ahisdlute power, he
proceeded with spirit enough in the administration ; hddid not make
any concessions in behalf of the powerful, nt>r, !n the iTraming of his
laws, did he ihdulgethe hUmour of his con^ituehts. Where the
former establbhment was tolerable, he neitlier appliied remedies, not
tised the inciston-kbife, lest he should put the whole in disorder, and
not have power to settle or compost it aftierwards in the teinpei^tuti^
he could wish. He only made such alterations as h^ might bring
the people tt> acquiesce in by persuasion^ or compel them to by hU
authority, making, as he sAys, farce and right conspire. Hence it
was, that having the question afterwards put to Kim> Whethet he had
provided the hegtoflaiosfoT the Athenians f he answered. The best
they wiretapdble f^ receivings Atid as the moderns observe that
the Athenians used to qualify the harshness of things by giving them
softer and politer tiames, calling whores 'mt^rme^, tributes contri^>
buttons^ garrisons guards, atid prisons castles; so Solon seems to
be the first tliaf distinguished the cancelling of debts by the name of
a discharge. J?ot tbb was the first bf his public acts, that de6ta ,
should be forgil^en, and thkt no man in future should take the btx^
of his di^btor tot security^ Though Androtion and some others say^
that it was not by the cancelling of debts, bbt, by moderating the in«
terest, that the poor were relieved, they thought themselves so happy
in it, that th^ gave the name of discharge to this act of humatiity^
as well as to the enlarging of measures, and the value of money^
which went along with \u For he ordered the minee, which before
went but for seventy-three drachmas, to go for a hundred ; so that>
as they paid the same in value, but much less in weighty those that
had great siitus to pay> were irelieved^ while such as received them
were no losers* •

The greater part of writers^ however, affirm, that it Was the aboli^
tion of past securities that was called a discharge; and with these
the poems of Solon agree t for in them he values himself on having
taken away the marks cf mortgaged land*, which before were
almost every where set t^> and madejree those JUdds which before
were bound; and not only so, but of such citizens as were seizable
by their creditors for debt, some, he tells us, he had brought back
from other countries, where they had wandered so long, that they
had forgot the Attic dialect; and others he had set at liberty, who
had experienced a cruel slavery at home.

This afikir, indeed, brought upon him the greatest trouble he

•The Atbcnians Ind A euitra of Siiof i|p hiUeti^ to ilrair tb«| ^oMt or Uo4« w<»#

Vol.!. X?o. 12.

iro

ruiTARcns i,r\'E».

met wiih: for when he undertook the annulling ol' debts, and was
considering of a suitable speech, and a proper method of introducing
the business, he told some of his most intimate friends, namely.
Canon, Clintas, and Hipponicus, that he intended only to abolish
the debts, and not to meddle with the lands. These friends of his,
hastenin^r to make their advantage of the secret before the decree
took place, borrowed large sums of the rich, and purchased estate!
with them. Afterwards, when the decree was published, they kept
their possessions, without [mying the money they hud taken up;
which brought great reflections upon Solon, as if he had not been
itnjHiscd upon with the rest, hut were rather an accomplice in the
fraud. This charge, however, was soon removed, by his being tJie
first to comply with the law, and remitting a debt of five taleuK,
which he had out at interest. Others, amongwhom is Polyzclus the
Rhodian, say it was fifteen talents. Bin his friends went by the name
of Chreocopi(l<v, or debl'cutlers, ever after.

The method he took satisfied neither the poor nor the rich. The
latter were displeased by the cancelling of their bonds, and the for-
mer at not finding a division of lands. Upon this they liad fixed their
hopes; and they complained that they had not, like Lycurgus, mado
all the citizens equal in estate. Lycurgus, however, being the ele-
venth from Hercules, and having reigned many years in L^redieDioii,
had acquired great authority, interest, and friends, of which he knew
very well how to avail himself in setting up a new form of govern-
ment ; yet he was obliged to liave recourse to force, rather than per-
lua-iion, and had an eye struck out in the dispute, before he could
bring'it to a lasting settlement, and establish such a union and
equality as left neither rich nor poor in the city. On the otlier band,
Solon's estate was but moderate, not superior to thai of some com-
moners, and therefore he attempted not (o erect such a common'
wealth as that of Lycurgus, considering it as out of his power; lie
proceeded as far as lie thought he could be supported by the coofi-
dcnce the people liad in his probity and wisdom.

That he answered not the expectations of the generality, but
otFciided tliem by falling short, appears from these verses of liis_
lliaic f.v« with JHj" once tpnrkling nhen tliej liew'd mr,
Vi'ilh cultli ublii]u« rcgird, bcbold me tio«.
And a little after

■ YciwhobuiSuIon

tumuUuoui <

" wimf ib^y*'* U * praiertMl tipreutvD, >likb oilt Mt bear • Glml

ptOM triuliliuu, nucJi leu a potlicd one ; it wu ncouftj, Ibtttlurr, l» (1*« • ■•■
(MM to iIm uul«acc, uulf Lr«p>ug tk* teaic ia vwir.

SOLON*. 171

5S=C

But bein^ soon sensible of the utility of the decree, they laid a.^ide
their complaints, offered a public sacrifice, which they called seisac-
thia^ or the sacrifice of the discharge^ and constituted 3olou lawgiver
and superintendent of the commonwealth ; committing to him the
regulation, not of a part only, but the whole, magistracies, assemblies,
eourts of judicature, and senate ; and leaving him to determine the
qualification, number, and time of meeting for them all, as well as to.
abrogate or continue the former constitutions at his pleasure.

First, then, he repealed the laws of Draco*, except those con-
cerning murder, because of the severity of the punishments they ap-
pointed, which for almost all offences were capital; even those that
were convicted of idleness were to suffer death, and such as stole
only a few apples or pot-herbs were to be punished in the same man-
ner as sacrilegious persons and murderers. Heqc^ a saying of
Demades, who lived long after, was much admired, tbfit Draco tvrote
his lawM fu4 foUh ink^ hut with blood. And he himself being asked,
ffJ^ he made death the punishmetU for most offences? answered,
SmaUcneB deserve it, and I canjindno greater for the most heinous*

In the ne%X place, Solon took an estimate of the estates pf the
citizens ; Intending (o leave the great offices in the hands of the
rich, but to give the rest of the people a share in other depart-
Bienti which they had not before. Such a$ liad a yearly income of
five hundred measures in wet and dry goods, he placed in the first
laak, and called diem Fentacosiomedinmi t ^ The second consisted

* Draco was arclioo bi the second, though some say in the kst year of the thirty-
•iiith Olynpiad, about the jear before Christ 6t3. Thoagh the name of this great man
occort lireqoealljr in history^ ^^t we nowhere ||nd so mu<;h m ten lines together con-
cerning him and bis institutions. He (pay be considered as the ^n% legislator of the
Atlienians; for thel^ws, or rather pnecepts, of Triptolemus were very few« tic Honour
ffeur parents; watfkip the god* ; hurt not mmalt, Draco was the first of the Greeks that
panishedndirilsiy with death; «nd he esteemed nhirder so high a crime, that, to imprint
a deep abbatttaee ol it on the minda of men, be ordained that process should be carried
OB ercB agaaait inanimate things, if they accidentally caused the death of any person.
Bnt» besides murder and adultery, which deserred death, he made a number of smaller
offences capital ; and that brought almost all his laws into disuse.* The extravagant severity
•f them, like an edge too finely ground, hindered bis thetmoi, as he called them, from
fltriking deep. Porphyry (de abttinent.) has preserved one of them concerning divine
worship; " It is an everlasting law ii^ Attica, thi^t the gods are to be worshipped, and
" the heroes also, according to the ^w{ot%» (»f Qur ancestors, and in private only, with a
^ proper address, first frui^ and ai^ufl libations."

t The Pent«po^»<9ae^Miiii p^^d a talent to the public treasury ; the Hippodatehunta, as
the word signifies, were obliged to find a horse, and to serve as cavalry in the wars; the
ZeugUe were sq cpl|ed, as being a middle rank between the kinghts and those of
the lowest order, (for rowers who have the middle bench between the Thalaraites and the
Tbranites» are called Zptg^ii f nd though the Tkete* had barely each a vote in the gene-
iml assemblies, yet that, as Pli^tarcb observes, appeared in time to be a great privilege,
tooal crates beiog ^tougfit b^ appcid before the pe6ple.

17Si FLUTAReH*8 XIVBS,

of those that could keep a horse, or wliose lands produced three hun-
dred measures ; these were of the equestrian order, and called Hip^
podatehmntes. And those of the third class, who had but two huu*
dred measures, were called ZeugikB. The rest were named 2^es^
and not i^mitted to any office; they had only a right t» appear and
^ give their vote in the general assembly of the people. This seemed

at first but a slight privilege, but afterwards showed itself a matter of
great importance : for most causes cai^e at last lo be decided by
th^m ; and in such matters as were under the cognizance of the
niagistrates, there lay an appeal to the people. Besides, he is said
to have drawn up his laws in ap obscure and ambigious nnuinef, on
purpose to enlarge the authority of the popidar tribuQal ; f6r« as they
could not adjust their diffi*rence by the letter of the law, they were
obliged to have recourse- to living judges; I Qiean the whole body of
citizens, wl^o therefore had all controversies brought before them,
and were in a manner superior to the kiws. Of fh^ ^ualitr h^ 1miki%
self t?ikea notice in these words ;

Bj iii« tbe people held their native riglitt •# >-

Vniojur'd, uhoppreM'd— The great restraiu'd ^ - •

From lawless violeoce, and ibe poor from mpine^ ^ -
By me tbeir matual sbi^d.

0es]roiifli yet farther to strengdiea the common peqilfy he enqpoiwtoed
any man whatever to enter an action for one that wa»i^ilnNL; If a
person was assaulted^ or sufiered damage or .violence^ another Aet
was able and willing to do it might prosecute the offc^ider. Thus
the lawgiver wbely accustomed the citizens»aaBieiibeiiof ooeboify^
to feel and to resent one another^s injuries. And we ere teid of a
saying of his agreeable to this law : being asked, Whuidijf: wa§ best
modelled f he answered, TYiat where those who are not Mured are
no less ready to prosecute oiuPpunish offemfers thm those wto are.
When these points were adjusted, he established th<»OQimsiL of the
areopagus *, which was to consist of auch as had borne tlie offiee of
archon f, and hiniself was one of the number. Bat obserrinig that

* The court of Arenpagut, thoHgb settled long before, bad lost nvel^ of its poorer Vy
Draco's preferring the £phet«. In ancient times> and till Solon became i«gidflimr> fi
consisted of such persons as were roust couspicoous in tbe state for tbeir weakk, power,
and probity : bat Solon made it a mle^ that snch only sboold have a ieat ia ft it Md
borne the office of archon. This had the effect he designed ; it nSHd tbe tepaialbNi of
tbe areopagites ve^y high, and rendered tbeir decrees so veaeMle, that none cpiiMUfcd
or repined at them through a long course of ages.

t After the eitinction of tbe race of ihe Medoiilid% the Afbeniam made tbe oibie'ttf
mrehon annual, and, instead of one, they created nine arek&m. By tbe latter exp^dicv^
they provided against the too great poffer-lf a single person, as by tbe fytmHtHarf
took away all apprehension of the ctcAmm salting op for soteraigns. In nee mm4, ^Ibef
•ttaioed now what tbey bad long sought, the msking tbeir sufstam MSf^sUatiide^eadfetf '* «

,j-^lm^ jH±m^ « '

■^■r

t Ihe people, now iliscliarfred from ilicir debts, grew insolent and im-
f perious, he pioceeiied to eonstltute anotlier council or senate, of
f four Imndrerd*, a hundred out of each tribe, by wliotn all af&irs
b were to be previously considered ; and ordered that no matter, wilh-
k out their approbation, should be laid before the general assembly. la
■ tiie mean time, the high court of the areopagus were to be the in-
f •pectiirsandguardiBiisof the laws. Thus he supposed the eommon-
■ -wealth, secured by two councils, as by two anchors, would be less
\ liable to be shaken by tumults, and tlie people would become more
J prderly and peaceable. Most writers, as we have observed, affirm
^"tbat the council of the area/)»^fu was of Solon's appoiniiDg: and It

1 greatly to confirm their asseriioo, thai Drnco has made no
liinentioti of the areopagUes, but, in capital causes, constantly ad-
fti^resses himself to the epiieta; yet the eighteenth law of Solon's
w thirteenth table is set down in these very words: fVhoever were de-
Vtlared utfamoua before Hvloa's archonskip, let thetn be restored in
1 ktmnnr, except sttch as, having been condemned in the areopagus,
w ttr by the ephetXy or bif the kings in tiie Pn/taneum, for murder or
I robberjf, or attempting to usurp the government, had Jled their
I tountrt/ before this law was made. This, on the contrary, shows,

before Solon was chief magistrate, and delivered bis laws, the
^council of the areopagus was in being: for who could have been
u CondeaiDed in the areopagus before Solon's time, if he was the first
w that erected it into a court of judicature i Unless, perliaps, there be
i aomc obscurity or deficiency in the text, and the meaning be, that
t Such as have been convicted of crimes that are now cognizable before
vtiie areopagit*s,ihe ephelrr-]-, and prj/tanes, shall continue infa-

K«llhr people. Thit tenui table eranniic complenon oflhe Atbtmnn democrBCy »ii,

Vaecatdingio Ifae Uamura, in ilir Gcii jem o( Ibe iiivih OtjrnipiBil, before Chitti 6B4.

rn«t ttlCM •kgutnin nij-hi, liuirorr, relaia Kifficicnl Bulhorii; iinil dignity, tlicy hid

■lightitlmandpni honuun luneied 10 IhciteSicci. 'Thr Trn HUaiylFd, bj wajuf cmi-

IX, Tke IrthgK, ta<i (be ;eiir«Mdiilinei)iibed bj bistianie. TlieKCondwuicilIrd

■lidU. ifaat M tin;: for thtj cbote 10 bare Ibat tide conuilcrcd u ■ sccoudatj one.

il oficM had (be care of religion. The lliird liad (he nuine ol' Pelcvutnh, for war wu

■ particalar pro'ince. Theaibenii had tUexMeolThHmHhcbt.tad werecaD>ii<eied

^■heKaanlia(»«(ttieJa'i.ThcKBrtfciiucauiiDued(illiheliiutariheciu|i«rurCallienui.

* Th* number of tribrt wife incrraied by CalNbllienei lo icn. alier be had dciven out

■• Pwitratklc; aud iliea thii <ens(e coniigled of five hundred, Sdy being cIiokii out

If cachlnbc. Towards [heeJuKOflhe year, Ihepmidoniof each tribr gare in a lulof

il of whom (be lenxeri were ele(:(ed b; lur. 1'he icnataii (hen ap-

Eccn called Pryl»nt4. The prylonri. wliile Ihe hutMe coiiiiirrd of 500.

• jO io number; and, Tor (he avoiilin^ of coniuiion, icn ofiliete pretiiled a wecl.

If wbich ipace thrj were sailed ;iriKtlrt,* aud au( ol' them an c/>i(lul(i. or prctt'leiK,

en, whoae ofGcr laried bu( uue dq^

titit tphtt* *ete Gttt appoinlcd in iha (eigD of Deniophon, tbr loa of IhetciM, Cot

^ be imcDsible to the distempers
BevooM lure OS espouse the l>ettcT sod
■V «■! hand ckvt (king in defence of it, rather than
f Mwc ^Mside the ricmy will incline to. That Itw,
■firdiBi u>d absurd, which permits s rich bcwts*,
wi kypess to be impotent, to console herself with his
Yrt some say this Uw was very properly levelled
D, coDseious of their own inability, match with
I fer the s&ke of the portion, and, under colotir of Inw, do
; to nature. For whca thej kuow that sucb beinsses majp
Mftkr cbotce of olhen to grant their faronrs to, iliej' witl either let
linxt uatcbcs alone, or, if they do marry in that nianiKT, they mun
•■Arr tbe shame of their avarice and dishonesty. It is right that the
Win» (hould oot have liberty to choose at large, but only amnagn
Im knband'^ relations, that ihe child which is born mar, at least,
Wtnng to his kindred and family. Agreeable to this is the din^cui
ifeH the bride and the bridegroom should be shut up tt^^etbcr, and
Mtof the same quince t; and that the husband of an heire» should
•pfroach her at least three times in a month. For, though thej- ma?
kaH*^n not to have children, yet it is a mark of honour and re^d
thic fr»m a man to the chasiity of his wife: it removes many nacadi-
tieun, and prevents differencesfnim proceeding to an absolute bnach.
lu aU other marriages, he ordered that no dowries should be ghtin:

Itw tt^iitiarvilfiit murdtra aad nits of niMitl* ughlrr. Tbr; coatntcd al ttltattltf
Alb*i>Unt, lull H iDdij Argiiei ; but Dioco «icliK)e(l ibe Argiin, Biid otdctfd ikM ll
•iMalil b* conipoMd of HHy-oae Allieniaos, i>ho wen all (e be lurnrd of fiAjp jun d
t^. lU tlu liipd thfrr aalhiirilj itwH ihit ol Ihc ireo^aeiti'*; bul Solon bnagb)
tk*m 'mitt «h«l coiiti, and limited it.eirjiiritdietkHi.

* Aului Gdliiii, olio hM pmetTrd ihc Tirj x-ofdi of tli» law, addi, thai oi>r wha M
MmhI iKHlCTi ihould la»t till honici, hii couDln;, tad ciuli, and be >«al eut au ciil*.
K«rt. AU''- I. ii. c 11.

riwtarcb in anathcr place cmdcmni thii law ; bat Grliiu highlj miBnKndi i). >*4
Mtlatlt ibU reaKD — The wot and jail, as mcII •• tbe totioaa aod wicked, lieiiiK oUi|r4
la chaow M>mc licte, mat Wn were caiilj acconiDodainf ^ «hercai, if tbelaUtcoaij:, na
(•Miall; Ilia caia wilh otliei citiri, bad the luaDafcacDi of faclioni, ihcy vaaid, K>
|«i>aM raaiotu, be ceolinnatlj kept ap lo tbc gnal bstt, it nal Ihr utter rum. otUw Mat*.

t Tb« talknf of the qaincr, vbicfa «a> net pecnliai lo an beirtu Mid hat baabaa^
^kl all ntw-mattied people ate it, inplied fta tbeir ducoarm ihoold baiplcauat i»
*acb uih«i, ihtt fruit uialiing Uic btcaili ivatt.

SOLON. 17$

tbe bride was to bring with her only three suits of clothes^ and som«
hmsehold stuff of small value *. For he did not choose that mar-
riages should be made with mercenary or venial views, but would
have chat union cemented by the endearment of children, and every
other instance of love and friendship. Nay, Dionysius himself, when
his mother desired to be manried to a young Syracusan, told her, Ht
Aadj indeed, by his tyramnyy broke tkroHgh the laws of his couniry^
but he could not break those ofnature^ by countenancing so disf^ro^
portioned a match. And surely such disorders should not be tirie-
i:ated in any state, nor such matches where there is no equality of
years, or ioducements of love, or probability that the end of marriage
will be answered. So that, to an old man who marries a young
woman, some prudent magistrate or lawgiver might express himself
in the words addressed to Philoctetes, *

Po«r tool! bow fit tbo« art to nmry!

And if he fo^iid a young man in the house of a rich old woman, like
a partridge, growing fat in his private services, he would remove him
to some young vir^ who wanted a husband. But enough of this.

That law of Solon's is also justly commended, which forbids then
to speak ill of Ae dead. For piety requires us to consider the deceased
as sacred: justice calls upon us to spare those that are not in being;
and good policy, to prevent the perpetuating of hatred. He forbade
his people also to revile the living in a temple, in a court of justice,
in the great assembly of the people, or at the public games. He that
ofiended in this respect was to pay three drachmas to the person in-
jured, and two to the public. Never to restrain anger is, indeed, a
proofofwealmessor want of breeding; and always to guard against
it is very difficult, and to some persons impossible. Now, what is
€iijoined by law should be practicable, if the legislator desires to
punisha few lo some good purpose, and not many to no puqx)8e«

His law concerning •wills has likewise its merit. For before his
^me tbe Athenians were not allowed to dispose of their estates by
will; the houses and other substance of the deceased were to remain
among his relations. But he permitted any one that had not children
to leave his possessions to whom he pleased ; thus preferring the tie
of firiendship to that of kindred, and choice to necessity, he gave
every man the full and fiee disposal of his own. Yet he allowed not
aU sorts of legacies, but those only that were not extorted by frenzy,
the consequence of disease or poisons, by imprisonment or violence,
or the persuasions of a wife. For he considered inducements that

* The bride brought wi^ her pi earUien pen celled pkrageteon, wherein berley wee
p«xcfaied; to signify thet the nndertook i|p boiiaeM of the houses end weeld do het
part towerds providing for tbe tiaaSij,

operated against reawn as no better than force : to be deceived was
with kiin the same tiling as to be compelled ; and he looked upon
pleasure to be as great apcrvertor as pain*.

He rejnilated, moreover, the journies of women, their monriiing^
and sacrifices, and endeaVdured to keep them clear of all disorder
and excess. They were not to go out of town with more than three
buhiis ; the provisions they carried with them were not to exceed the
value of an obolua ; tlicir basket was Hot to be above a cubit higlif
and in the night the)' were not to travel but in a carriage, with a
torch before them. At funerals tliey were forbid to tear ihcmselves t»
and DO hired mourner was to utter lamentable notes, or to act any thin^
else that tended to excite sorrow. They were not permitted to sacri*-
fice an ox, on those occasions, or to bury more ilian three garments
with the body ; or to visit any tombs besides tliose of their own fa-
mily, except at the time of interment. Most of these things are
likewise forbidden by our laws, with the addition of this circumstance,
that those who offend in such a manner are fined by the censors of
the women, as giving way to weak passions and childish sorrow.

As the city was filled with persons who assembled from all parts,
on account of the great security in wliich people lived in Attica, Solon
observing this, and that the country withal was poor and barren, and
that merchants who traffic by sea do not choose to import their gnodf
where they can have nothing in exchange, turned the attention of the
citizens to manufactures. For this purpose he made a law, that no
son should be obliged to maintain his father, if he had not taught
him a trndej. As for Lycurgus, whose city was clear of strangers,
tnd whose country, according to Euripides, was sHfBeieiit for twice
the number of inhabitants; where there was, moreover, a mullitade
of He/otes, who were not only to be kept constantly employed, but
to be humbled and worn out by servitude, it was right for him to set
the citizens free from laborious and mechanic arts, and to einplo;

*Be niiewUe ordBined ihal adopted perwn) ibuuld iulenaiiill| bal. aiKionulkr/
Inil children ImwruU; brgonen, the; were ■■ liberij U retuin inlo Ihc fcmil; irhean
Ibej veTOdppled; or, iCllie; contiuucdin illill tlwir death, the eUale* rtniMdMlba
teUlioot «f the personi who idepted them. Demaik. ■■ (hat. LefliH.

t DcBDithenes fn Timocr. J tccilei Solon'i dircctinci] ei tu fuueniiu loUooil " Let
'■ the deed buditi be Uid eat in the home, according ai ibe deccaicd gat* vrder, asd
>* Ibe dajr fnllDnDf, before tuiiiise, earned failh. Wbibl the bod; ii carrjing la the
■■ gran, let the men gn bci'ure, the sonica follaw. It tball not b« lawfal (at aaj
•• wuiBin to enter spun the gODdi at the dead, and (a frllam the b»dj ta the (n*f^ «•■
*' d'r ihteocare jtmn of agr, eieept mcb ** are aitliin ih« degree* «f eaiuua.'

t He thai wai rhrice coDricird of idleoeu •» lo be drrlared ih/mmu. H«t«dMM
(L vU ) and Uivdorui Sicalus tl. i ) agiee thai a )■• ui Ihu kind »■* IB «e in BfJt*.
IliipnibBhre.lhrrt'tare, tbilSiUi, oba IWlbeiDagbl; atcioaiiiled Willi tba lM»iH *'
Ibut natwMi bwiovcd il boat t£>eia.

^

SOLON. ijf

them in arms, as the only art fit for them to learn and exercise. But
Solon, rather adapting his laws to the state of his country than his
country to his laws^ and perceiving that the soil of Attica, wiiich
hardly rewarded the husbandman's labour, was far from being capa-
ble of maintaing a lazy multitude, ordered that trades should be ac-
counted honourable ; that the council of the areopagus should exa-
mine into every man*s means of subsisting, and chastise the idle.

But that law was more rigid whicli, as Heraclides of Pontus in-
forms us, excused bastards from relieving their fathers. Neverthe-
less^ the man that disregards so honourable a state as marriage does
not take a woman for the sake of children^ but merely to indulge his
appetite. He has therefore his reward ; and there remains no pre-
tence for him to upbraid those children, whose very birth he has made
a reproach to them.

In truth, his laws concerning women, in general, appear very ab-
surd : for he permitted any one to kill an adulterer taken in the fact*;
but if a man committed a rape upon a free woman, he was only to be
fined a hundred drachmas ; if he gained his purpose by persuasion^
twenty:, but prostitutes were excepted, because they have their
price. And he would not allow them to sell a daughter or sister, un-
less she were taken in an act of dishonour before marriage. But to
punish the same fault sometimes in a severe and rigorous manner^
and sometimes lightly, and as it were in sport, with a trivial fine, is
not agreeable to reason ; unless the scarcity of money in Athens at
that time made a pecuniary mulct a heavy one. And indeed, in the
valuation of things for the sacrifice, a sheep and a medimnus of corn
were reckoned each at a drachma only. To the victor in the Isth-
mean games, he appointed a reward of a hundred drachmas; and tc^
the victor in the Olympian, five hundredf . He that caught a he-
Vfo\i was to have five drachmas; he that took a she- wolf, one : and
the former sum, as Demetrius Phalereus asserts, was the value of aii
ox, the latter of a sheep. Though the prices which he fixes ia
l^ sixteenth table for select victims were probably much higher
than tiie common, yet they are small in comparison of the present.
The Athenians of old were great enemies to wolves, because their
country was better for pasture than tillage; and some say their tribes

* No mdalteress was to adorn herselfi or to assist at the public sacrifices ; and, incase
the did, be gave liberty to any one to tear ber clotbes •fifber back, and beat ber into'
the bargain.

t At tbe tarae time be contracted the rewards bestowed dpon wrestlers, esteeming
tucb grmtnities useless and even dangerous, as they tended to encourage idleness, by
putting men upon wasting that tine lu fzerciKi wbicb ought to be spt ut ia providing ftr
their faifiiliei.

Vol. I. No. 12. 4

t theiz names from the sods of ion, but from ilie different oc-
s they fulktwed: the sohhen bdog called hoplit(e, the ar-
iSioai ergada ; and of the otber two, the hu^bandmcu tcleontes,
and the paziera trgicvrer.

As Attica was not sopptied wilh H-ater from perennial rivers, lakes,
or springs*, bat chieBy by wells dog forthat purpose, he made a
law, that where there was a public well, all within the distance of
four furlongs should make use of it; but, where the distance was
greater, they were to provide a well of their on-n. And if they dug
tea fathoms deep in their own ground, and could find no water,
they Iiad liberty to fill a vessel of six gallons twice a-day at their
neighbour's. Thus he thought it proper to assist persons in real
necessity, but not to encourage idleness. His regulations with re-
spect to the planting of trees were also very judicious. He that
planted any tree in his field was to place it at least five feel from liis
neighbour's ground; and if it was a fig-tree or an olive, nine ; for
these extend their roots farther than others, and tlieir neighbour-
hood is prejudicial to some trees, not only as they take away the
nourishment, but as their eSuvia is noxious. He that would dig
a pit or a ditch was to dig ii as far from another man's ground as it
was deep ; and if any one would raise stocks of bees, lie was to
place them three hundred feet from tliose already raised by another.

Of all the products of the earth, he allowed none to be sold to
strangers but oil; and whoever presumed to export any tiling cUe,
the arc/um was solemnly to declare him accursed, or to pay him-
self a hundred ilrachmas into the public treasury. This law is in
the first table. And therefore it is not absolutely improbable, whit
some affirm, that the exponation of figs was formerly forbidden,
and that the informer agaiust the delinquents was called a stfco-
phant.

He likewise enacted a law for reparation of damage received from
beasts. A dog that had bit a man was to be delivered up bound to
a log of four cubits longt; an agreeable contrivance for security
against such an animal.

But the wisdom of the law concerning the naturalizing of fo-
reigners is a little dubious, because it forbids the freedom of the
city to be granted to any but such as are for ever exiled frtnn thcit

* SiRboicIlf ui there wu aiprmg orftcih wiier near the Lyceum; but tktioStt
Attic* in jp^nenl wu dcj, md the ti'eri Hiuui inij Eridimiai did not ran cotutmtlj.

t Thii law, and levcrel otliert of Solop't, were taken iuto the tvelTc tables. Is
Ik Mtunlatc of T. Romiliui and C. Vcluriiu, in the yrmr at Rome tOS, (he RsMM
MAI Jcputie* lu Atheni to KaoKribe hl> Uvj, and thotc »f Uie otbu U«|iKH olQntt%
te otdci la fMiB IbercLj a code of Un Ivs Rome.

SOLON. 179

own country, or transplant themselves to Athens with their whole
lunily^ for the sake of exercising some manual trade. This, we
jupe told, he did, not with a view to keep strangers at a distance,
Imt father to invite them to Athens, upon the sure hope of being
admitted to the privilege of citizens : and he imagined the settlement
of those might be entirely depended upon, who had been driven from
their native country, or had quitted it by choice.

That law is peculiar to Solon which regulates the going to enter-
tainments made at the public charge, by him called parasitieri*.
For he does not allow the same person to repair to them often, and
he lays a penalty upon such as refuse to go when invited; looking
upon the former as a mark of epicurism, and the latter of contempt
of the public.

All his laws were to continue in force for a hundred years, and
were written upon wooden tables, which might be turned round in
the oblong cases that contained them. Some small remains of
them are preserved in the Prytaneum to this day. They were
called qprbes, as Aristotle tells us ; and Cratinus, the comic poet,
thus spoke of them :

Bjf tbe gremt namet of Solon and of Draco,
Wbote cjrbes now but serve to boil oor poke.

Some say those tables were properly called cyrbe$y on which were
written the mks for religious rites and sacrifices, and the other
ojrones. The senate, in a body, bound themselves by oath to esta*
blish the laws of Solon : and the thermothetasj or guardiam of the
laws, severally took an oath in a particular form, by 6ie stone in
the market plice^ that, for every law they brdce, each would dedi-
cate a golden ttatakt at Delphi of the same weight with himself f.
Observing the irregulnity of die months^^ and diat the moon

In the int a^ the wMmt of fmrmiu was veoeraUe and facred* for it properljf

Lte at tbe table of taciiSeef. There were in Greece te-

vitb tbit tJtSe, sMicb like tbote vbon tbe BtaiiBt

ivtitetcd by Haan, SoUm mSakktd thai e^erj

a-aKwtb, aud wx tbe cad of tbe tacrifice anke a

ail vLo «cfe id tbat tiibe iliaaJd be obtieed ta

&at wbca tbe SfMfftaaf

ta pkk Il«e imot of ApoSW't «atae» tbej iuqaared m vaia fm |old

direcsed bj tU Vyrkmuem to \mj leaK et Cmbm* Img et

180 Plutarch's lives.

neither rose nor set at the same time with the sun, as it often hap-
pened that in the same day she overtook and passed by him, he ordered
that day to be called hene kai nea (the old and the new;) assigning
the part of it before the conjunction to the old month, and the rest
to the beginning of the new. He seems, therefore, to have been
the first that understood that verse in Homer, which makes mention
pf a day wherein the old month ended, and the new began*.

The day following he called the new rnoon. After the twentieth
he counted not by adding, but subtracting, to the thirtieth, accord-
ing to the decreasing phases of the moon.

When his laws took placets Solon had his visitors every day^

finding fault with some of them, and commending others, or ad-
vising him to make certain additions or retrenchments. But the
greater part came to desire a reason for this or that article, or a clear
and precise explication of the meaning and design. Sensible that
he could not well excuse himself from complying with their de-
sires, and that, if he indulged their importunity, the doing it
miglit give offence, he determined to withdraw from the difficulty,

intercalated every two jear^, and at the end of the second two years, he directed that m
month of twentythree days ihoold he interralated. He likewise engaged the Athe-
nians to divide their months into three parts, styled the beginning, middlings and endimgi
fBach of these consisted often days, when the month was thirty days long, and the last
of nine, when it was nine-andrtwenty days long. In speaking of the two first parts*
thf>y reckoned according to the usual order of numbers, fit. the first, ^c, d^ of the
ipoot^ beginning ; the first, second, &c. of the moon middling ; but with respect tp the
last part of the month, they reckoned backwards, that is, instead of saying the first,
•econd, &c. day of the moon ending, they said the tenth, ninth, &c. of the moon ending.
This is a circumstance which should be carefully attended to.

* Odyss. xiv. 162.

t Plutarch has only mentiqncd such of Splon's law^ at he thought the most singular

end remarkable; Dioeenes Laertiusand Demosthenes have given us an account of some

others that ought not to be forgotten. — " Let not the guardian live in the same house

ivith the mother of his war()s. Let net the tuition of minors be committed to him who »

next after them in the inheritance. Let not an engraver keep the impression of a seal

which he has engraved. Let him that puts out the eye of a man who has but cme, lose

both lus pwn. If an archon is taken in liquor, let him be put to death. Let him who

refuses to maintain his father and mother be reckoned infamous; and so let him that

has consumed hit patrimony. Let him who refuses to go to war, flies^ or behaves coww

erdiy, be debarred the precincts of the forum, and places of public worship. If a

nan surprise hi^ wife in adultery, and lives with her afterwards, let him be deemed

infamous. Let him who frequents the houses of lewd women be debarred from speak*

ing in the assemblies of the people. Let a pander be parsued, and put to death if

taken. If any man steal in the day*time, let him be carried to the eleven ofiicers; if in

the flight, it shall be lawful to kill him in the act, .or to wound him in the pursuit, and

carry him to the aforesaid o£5cers: if he steal common things, let him pay dooble;

and, if the convictor thinks fit, be exposed in chains five days: if he is gnilty of sacm

)ege| let h^m b^ put to death.

ISB Plutarch's lives.

As for hb interview with Crcesus, some pretend to prove from
chronology tlmi it is fictitious. But since the slnry is so famouN,
and so well attested, nay (what is more), so agreeable to Solon's
character, so worthy of his wisdom and magnanimity, 1 cannot prc-
Tail with myself fjp reject it for the sake of certain chronolo^col ta-
bles, which thousands are correcting to tins day, without being able
to bring tiiem to any certainty. Solon, then, is said to have gone
to Sardis, at the request of Crcesus ; and when lie c.ime there, he
was aUectcd much in the same manner as a person born in an in-
land country, when he first goes to see the ocean: for as he tabes
every great river he comes to for the sea, so Solon, as he passed
through the court, and saw many of the nobility richly dressed, and
walking in great pomp amidst a crowd of attendunts and guards,
took each of them for Crcesus. At last, when he was conducted
into the presence, he found the king set oft' with whatever can be
imagined curious or valuable, cither in beauty of colours, elegance
of golden ornaments, or splendour of jewels, in order that the gran-
deur and variety of the scene might be as striking as possible. So-
lon, standing over against the throne, was not at all surprised, nor
did he pay those compliments that were expected; on the contrary,
it was plain to all persons of discernment that he despised such vain
ostentation and littleness of pride. Crcesus then ordered his trex-
surcs to be opened, and his magnificent apartments and furniture
to be shown himj but this was quite a needless trouble; for Solon,
ID one \icw of the king, was able to read his character. When he
had seen all, and was conducted bnck, Crcesus asked him, If he
had ever beheld a happier man than he ? Solon answered, He hiuf,
iUid that the person was one Telliu, a plain but worthy cithen of'
Athens, who (eft valuable children behind him; and tcho, hafhig
been above the want of necessarien all his life, died gloriously
fighting for his country. By tins time he appeared to Croesus to
be a strange, uncouth kind of rustic, who did not measure happi-
ness by the quantity of gold and silver, but could prefer the life and
death of a private and mean person to his high dignity and power.
However, he asked bim again, Uliether, after Tclliis, he knew
another happier man in t/ie world ? Solon answered. Yes, CleoLis
and Biton, famed for their brotherly flection, and dutiful be-
haviour to their vwther ; for the oxen not being ready, they put
themselves in the harness, and dretc their mother to J^uno's temple,
who was extremelif haj>py in having such sons, and moved for'
ward amidst the blessings of t/ie people. After the sacrifce, they
drank a clieerful cup with their friends, and then laid doivn to
rest, but rose no more; for they died in the night without sorrow

«rpain, in i fie midst of so much glory. ff^cU! said Crcesua, now
higlilf displeased, and do ymi not then rank us in the mtmber of
fiapjnf men? Soton unwilling either to flutter liim, or to exasperate
him more, replied, King of Lydia, as God has given the Greeks
a moderate proportion ofothei- things, so UAeieise fie has favoured
them with a democratic spirit, and a liberal Mind of wisdom,
ifhirkkasno taste for the splendours of roi/allt/. Moreover, the
vicissitudes of life suffer us not to be elated litf any present good
fortune, or to admire that felicity which is liable to change. Fu-
turity carries for every man many various and uncertain events in
its bosom. He, therefure, whom heaveni blesses with success to
the last, is in our entimation the happy man. But the happiness
of him who still lives, and hats the dangers of life to encounter,
appears to us no Letter than that of a champion, before the combat
is determined, and while the crown is uncertain. With these words
Solon departed, leaving CriKsus chagrined, but not Jtislructed.

At that time i^sop the fabulist was at the court of Crcesus, who
had sent for him and carrcssed him not a little. He was concerned
at the unkind reception Soloa met wiih, and thcrcu|>on gave hiin

this advice A man should either not cmiverse with kings at alt, or

say what is agreeable to them; To which Solon replied, A'ny, but.^
he should either not do it all, or say w/uit is useful to them. ^m

Though Crcesus at that time held our lawgiver in contempt, yet, "
when he was defeated in his wars with Cyrus, when his city was
tuken, himself made prisoner, and laid bound upon the pile, in or-
der to be burnt, in the presence of C)tus and all the Persians he
cried out as loud as he possibly could, "Solon! Solon! Solon!"
Cjrrus surprised at this, sent to inquire of him, " Wliat god or man
it was whom alone he thus invoked under so great a CBlamity?"
CrtBsus answered, without the least disguise, " He is one of the
wise men of Greece, whom I sent for, not with a design to hear his
wisdom, or to learu what might be of senicc to me, but that he
might see and exteud the reputation of that glory, the loss of which
I find a much greater misfortune than the possession of it was a
blessing. My exalted state wa^ only an exterior advantage, the
bappiaesi of opinion; but the reverse plunges me into real suHer-
ings, and ends in misery irremediable. This was foreseen by that
^eat man, who, forming a conjecture of the future frgm what he
then saw, advised me to consider the cud of life, and not to rely or
grow insolent upon uncertainties." When this was told Cyrus,
who was a much wiser man than Croesus, finding Solon's maxim
oonlirmed by an example before him, he not only set Croesus at li-
bertj, bi)t honoured him with his protection as long as he lived.

ld4 rLtT4KCB*3 LIVES. ^^H

11n»Salaa bod the gtofj of Mviog tbe life of ooe of tbcse \.iagi^^^

\

ThmSakn bod the gtofj of Mviog tbe life of ooe of tbcse \iae*f
Mai of hmtnetiog the odicr-

Iknii^ hs ahaeiicr, tlire AtbnfaiM «CR much iltVided unoitg
dMsneWcs, I^cufgu* boag a.t ibe hewl itf Ac low coudu;* ; Mc-
pdcSf Ac SOD of AloHHia, of the people tint lived tmu the seat
coast ; and F^ststMAB, of the ■wvntxuieen; aoioDg which Usi was
a malthnde of laboorii^ people, vfaoae ramhr was cbiefly levelled
at the rtdi. Heoce it was, that Aoogh the ciiy did observe Solon's
laws, jet a]l expeeted some dMnge, and were desirous of anothtrr
estaUishraeot ; not in hopes of an equality, but wiih a view to be
gaioers by the ahcra&Hij and eottrety to subdue those that differed
&om them.

^VMIe matters stood ihos, Soloa amvcd at Athens, whero he
was received with great respect, and still held iu veneration by all;
bnt, by rea»>D of his great age, he had Dcither the strength nor spirit
to act or apeak in public as lie had done, tie therefore applied in
private to the heads of the factkiiis, and endeavoured to appease
and reconcile them. Pisistralus sectned to give lum greater at-
tention than tlie rest; for Pijistratus had an afiable and engagirif
manner. He was a liberal benefactor to the poorf; and events
tiis enemies he behaved with great candour. He counterfeited so
dexterously the good qualities which nature had denied him, that he
gmned more credit than the real possessors of them, and stood fore-
most in the public esteem in point of moderation and equity, in
zeal for the present government, and aversion to all that eudea\-our'
ed at a change. With tliese arts he imposed upon the people: but
Solon soon discoxercd his real character, and was the first to discern
his insidious designs. Yet he did not absolutely break wiih him,
hut endeavoured to soften him, and advise him better; declaring
both to him and others, tiiat if ambilion could but be banished from
his soul, and he could be cured of )iis desire of absolute power,
there would not be a man better disposed, or a more worthy citizen
iu Athens.

About this time Thespis began to change the form of tragedy, and
the novelty of the thing attracted many spectators; for this was be-
fore any prize was proposed for those that excelled in this respect.

■ TbcK ihrce paniei iuto nliich (be Albeaiuu were diiidcd, (ii. (he P*di*>. &»
tutVi, tnd Diacrii, hare been njCDtiDBtd ia ibii life btfoie.

f Bj the poor we irc doI la anderMind inch u ukcd aliui, fur Itierc wcra oeoc rat&
■t Atbc». " la Ihote diji." h;i iMcniei, •■ iheie wu do ciciien tbic died o( sial,
ai begged in the itref (^ to the diibonoui uf the commuDil;." Tbii wtt owing ta tW
lawi ugainU idtcpeii and pr[>dlgalit7, and ibe ci
nu (Leuld lu>e a liublc liTtUuiKk

Ucb the artrftfia (o»k <hal V*^^^^!

SOLON. ^ 165

Solon, who was always willing to hear and to learn^ and in his old
age more inclined to any thing that migl^t divert and entertain, par-
ticularly to music and good fellowship, went to see Thespis himself
exhibit, as the custom of the ancient poets was. When the play was
done, he cnled to Thespis, and asked him. If he was not ashamed
to tell so many lies before so great an assembfy ? Thespis an-
swerered. It was no great mattery if he spoke or acted so in Jest.
To which Solon replied, striking the ground violently with his staff,
][fwe encourage such jesting as this, we shall quickly Jlnd it in
our contracts and agreements.

Soon after this, Pisistratus having wounded himself for the pur-
pose, drove in that condition into the market-place^ and endea-
voured to inflame the minds of the people, by telling them his enc^
mles had laid in wait foi* him, and treated him in that manner on
account of his patriotism* Upon* this the multitude loudly expressed
their indignation 5 but Solon came up, and thus accosted him, Son
tff Htjpjfocrates, you act Homer* s Ulysses but very indifferently;
for he taounded himself to deceive his enemiesy hut you have done
it to impose upon your countrymen. Notwithstanding this, the
rabble were ready to take up arms for him : add a general assembly
of the people being summoned, Ariston made a motion, that a
body guard of fifty clubmen should be assigned him. Solon stood
up and opposed it with many arguments of the same kind with those
he has left us in his poems :

Vou hang with rapture oa bis hoile^M tongot*

And again.

Your art, to public ititerett eter blind,
Your fux like art, still c«uters in jroursdr.

fiut wheu he saw the poor behave in a riotous manner, and deter-
mined to gratify Pisistratus at any rate, while the rich, out of fear,
declined the oppositioui he retired with this declaration, that he
had showli more wisdom than the former, in discerning wliat me-
tliod should have beeii taken ; and more courage than the latter,
who did not w^nt understanding, but spirit to oppose the establish^
ment of a tyrant. The people, having made the decree, did not
curiously Jnquire into the number of giiards which Pisistratus em*
ployed, but visibly connived at his keeping as many as he pleased,
till he seized the citadel. When this was done, and the city in
great confusion, Megacles, with the rest of the A Icmfieonidse, im«
mediately took to flight« But Solon, tliough he t^ras now very aid,
and had none to second him, appeared in public, and addressed
himself to the citizens, sometimes upbraiding them with their past
Vol. 1. No. IS. aa

^m

rvkJTAMrmt lives.

exhorting sod encouraging

^ br An- lifcuij. Thea it was that he spuke those

■^ B «mmM hct€ frcvR nut«r ^br f Ann to repvu

pnreiiiils eftahUshment ; but now

id grtHtit to some heigltt, it vxniU be more

it However, finding tliat their fears pre-

to what be said, lie returned to his own house,

« the street-door, with these words, I have

t» drfend t¥^ (VHittry and Us Jawt. 'Hits was

TlK«gh some exhorted him to fly, he took

advic^f but was composed enough to make rerses,

repraicfaci the Athenians,

hghutHHrnj'.'.

Let ■■( tW Tiull on tjgtile.
T*« pnc tW>B guard), yc
r imftat tbr faca>v jakc

d jour Ijrai

high.

ShB7 of his friends alarmed at this, told )itm the tyrant would
WMMftlf put him to death for it, and asked him wliat he trusted tO|
l^itlMwrnt surh impmdent lengths? He answered, Tb old age.
m«ever, whtn Pbisitratus had fully established himself, he made
kSacDurt to Solon, and treated hloi with so much kindness and re-
•MCt. that Solon became, as it were, his counsellor, and gave sane-
f limm to many of his proceedings. He observed the greatest part
•f Su)oo*s lan-s, shuuing hiiusclf the example, aud obliging ha
ftv-nds to follow it. Thus, when he u-as accused of murder before
^i« court of ereojttigus, he appeared iu a modest manner to make
WtWencc; but the acouser dropticd tlic impeachment. He 1-ke-
»u* added utlter taws, one of which iv^, that j/ersons maimeii fa
Mr m*n sAcmW be maiiitaiwd ut tie puhik charge. Yet this,
klrnclides tells us, was in pursuance uf Solon's plan, who hud de-
(t«<d the same lo the ease of Thersippus. But, according to Tlic-
wltiwtus. Fiitstratus, not Sokm, s>adc the law against Idleness,
«ik1i i^rodueed at odl-c greater iiidustrj- in the country, and traoiiui]-
Kiy iB the city.

(jglini, moreover, atieinpted in verse a large ilesctipiiun, orra-
' K^ MiahMu account, of the Atlantic Island, which he had learned
' vf the wisv meti of i^ais, and nhich particularly cuncemcd the
Attienians} but by reasun of his age, not want of leisure (as Plato
irvuld luire it), he was apprehensive the wotk would Ik. too mudi
|w him, and therefore did not go tlirougli with it. These verses are
% ivoof tlmt business was not the hiiidcrancc;

I (cvw Jii InmiBi ■> I jrow in ; txi.

PUBUCOLA* 187

^>'w^wn*^i^

And agaiot

Wia^ wUt and Umutj, iti]l tbck cksfot beiiair,
Ligbt ftil the »b«dc» of life/ and cheer m m we §».

PlatOy ambi^iis to cultivate and adorn the sobjeet of tlie Atkntid
Island, as a^^fl^ll^tfiil spot in some fair field unoccafHedy to which
also he had some cfadm-by his heinf related toSofam*^ kid out asag-
nificent courts and enclosures^ and erected a grand entrance toit^
such as no other sloiy, faUe^ or poem, ever had. But^ as he be-*
gan it late, he ended his life before the work; sathat the more die
reader is deUghted with the part that is written, the more rqpret he
has to find it unfinished— ..As the temple of Jupiter Olympius ia
Athens is the only one that has not the last hand pat to it, so the
wisdom of Plato, amongst his many excellent works» has left nothing
imperfect but the Atlantic Island.

Heraclides Pooticus relates that Solon lived a considerable time
after Piaistratus usurped the government^ but^ acoofding to Pbaniaa
the Ephesian, not quite two years: For Rsistratus began his ty*
ranny in the archonsUp of Comias^ and Phanias teUs us Sokm died
in the archonship of ^^^stnitus, the immediate successor to Coaaias^
The story of his ashes being scattered about the isle of iSalamis ap«
pears ahsurd and fabulous; and yet it is related by several authoia
ofcreditj and by Aristotle in particular^

PUBLICOflLA.

SUCH b the chancterof Solon ; and, therefore with him we will
compare Publicola, so called by the Roman people, iu acknoivlcdg-
ment of his merit; for liis paternal name was Valerius. He was de*
scended from that ancient Valerias who was the principal author
of the union between the Romans and the Sahines ; fox he it was
that most eflfectually pecsuaded the two kings to come to a eon*
fcrence, aoyd to settle their differences* From this man our Valerius
deriving hisja^raction^ distinguislied himself by his eloqueuce and
riches, even while Rome was yet under kingly government* His
eloquence he employed with great propriety and spirit in defence of
justice, and his riclies iu relieving the necessitous* Uenoe it was
natural to conclude, that if the government should become repubK-*
can^ his stadon in it would soon be one of the most emlneiit.

When Tarquin this Ptoud, who made hii Wiy to the thtone by the

V,

igO PLl'TARCII S LIVES.

^^H tike tjrrants, rather ihnn for the tyrants vgaiDst t6em. The Rsnuuis,

^^M kowGver, were of opinion, that while Ihey obtained that liberty foi

^^M which they be^n the war, they should not reject the offered peace

^H for the sake of il>e treasures, but cast them oat, together with the

^H tyrants.

^^1 In (lie mean time Tarquinius n:iade but small account of bis ef-

^^1 fects; but the demand of them furaished s pretence for soimding

^H the people, and for preparing a scene of ireBchery. This was car-

^^1 lied on by the ambassadors, under pretence of taking care of the

^^1 effects, part of which they said they were to sell, part to ctrileet,

^^M and lite rest to send away. Tlius they gained lime to corrupt two

^^M of the best families in Rome, that of the AqutUi, in which were

^^P three senators, and the VitelUi, among nhom are two. tWl these,

^H by the mother's side, were nephens to Cotlatinus the consul. The

■ Vitellii were likewise allied to Brutus ; for their sister was hia wife,

and he had sireial children brher*; two of whom, just arrived at
years of maturity, and being of their kindred and aequaintance, th«

I Vitellii drew ID, and pereuaded to engage in the consphacy; in-

Mimating, that by tins means tbey miglit marry into the family of
the Tarquins, share in their royal prospects, and, at the same Time
be set free from the yoke of a stupid and cruel father : for his !b-
fiexjbility in punishing crimiaals they cailcd cruelly; and the stn-
pi£tj which he had used a long time as a cloak to belter him from
tlie bloody desigiks of the tyrants had procured bim the name of Sru-
tusf, which be did not refuse to be kaowo by afterwards.

The youths, thus engaged, were brought to confer with tbe
Aqmlii ; and alt agreed to take a great ai>d horrible oaih, by drinking
together of the hluodf, and tn&ting § the entrails of a man sacri^ccd
for that purpose. This ceremony was performed in the house of the
Aquilii; ami the room chosen for it (as it was natural to suppose^
was dark and retired. But a slave, named Vindicius Inrled there
UB^scovered; not that be had placed himself in iliat room by d«.
sign, nnr had tie any suspicion of what was going to be transacted;
but hajnicning to he there, and percci*ing with what haste and
concern they entered, he stopt short for fear of being seen, and hid

* DIanjrwiu and hnj aiit inmtian nf m vbk tliaa taa; but floMMb »jK«» villi
thoie who H<[ thi) Bnilui bad morp, tai tbM Uacciu Utatu, hIw killed Cnar. •••(
dHCTDdnl ffiii I1IC of itirtn. Cicero U ■numg (ho)a ibai hold iht Ultrr opinian; ut
«l» he preIrrii<t<J lo br so, la nilir il>e cauic uid ptrMa uC Bculu note papular.

I TirquMi hiui pitl the feihri and brodict uf DjiiIdi te deaib.

: Ihcjr UwusUt imh « hoitid Mcrificc wotJd abligeeitij meiabpr of A* coii'fuu;
M iiinoltMc Mccnrjr- tUiaiinc pat ihc nrae in pnctici aftetvardi.

{ Tb* void (Ai^nn ligaiGu It lau, u ttU u u uhcS,

PUBLICOLA. (91

lumself behind « cliest; yet so that he eoidd see what was done, and
hear what was respited iqMiu They came to a lesolntion to kill the
consab; *nd liavii% wiwte letters to signify as milch toTarq^^
diey gave diem to the mmhassadors, who then were guests to di^
Aqoili^ mid pfcsent at the conspiracy.

When the affiJr was over, they withdrew, and VMIcius stealing
from his lurking-hole, was not determined what to do, hot dis*-
turbed with doubts. He thought it shoddoig, as indeed it waSg
to accuse the sons of the most horrid crimes to their dsther Brutus,
or the nephews to their uncle Collatinus; and it did not presently oc«
cur to him that any private Roman was fit to be trusted irith so ink-
poctant a secret On die odier hand, he Wms so oMch tormented
widi die knowledge of such an abominable treason, that he could
do any thing tadier than conceal it. At lengdi, induced by the
pa^lie spirit and humanity of Valerius, he bedioc^t himself of ap-
plying to him, a man of easy access, and willing to be consulted by
the necessitous, whose house was always open, and who never wt^
fused to hear the peddons even of the meanest of the people.

Accordingly Vindicitts coming, and discovering to him the whole,
in the presence of his brother Marcus and his wife, Valerius, asto-
nished and terrified at the plot, would not let the man go, hut shut
him up in the room, and left his wife to watch the door. Then he
ordered his brother to surround the late king's palace, to seize tht^
letters, if possible, and to secure the servants; while himself, with
many clients and friends, whom he always had about htm, and a
numerous rednne of servants, went to the house of die Aquilii.
As they were gone out, and no one expected him, he forced open the
doors, and found the letters in the ambassador's room. V^illst he was
thus employed, the Aquilii ran home in great haste, and engaged
with him at the door, endeavouring to force the letters from him.
But Valerius^ and his party repelled their attack, and twisring their
gowns about their necks, after much struggling on both sides,
dragged them with great difficulty through the streets into the
forum. Marcus Valerius had the same success at the royal palace,
where he seiied other letters ready to be conveyed away among the
goods, lati%inds on w!uit servants of the king he could find, and had
diem also fu to the ybrtcui. «

When the consuls had put a stop to the tumult, Vindicius was
produced by order of Valerius; and the accusation being lodged, the
Utters were read, whioh the traitors had not the astiwmice to eon-
tradict A melancholy sdllness reigned among the rest; but a
few, willing to favour BrUtus, mendoned banishment. The tears
of Colladnus, and the silence of Valerius, gave some hopes of mer*

cy. But Brutus called upon each of his sons by name, and said,
Yoitl'ifus, anil you Valerius* , why do not you make your defence
against the charge? After they liad been tlius questioned three se-
Tcrat times, and made no answer, he turned to the Uctors, and
tuid, Your's is the part that remains. The lictars immediately laid
hold on the youths, stripped them of their garments, and, having
tied their hands behind them, flogged them severely with their rods.
And though others turned their eyes aside, unable to endure the
spectacle, yet it is .said, that Brutus neither looked another way,
001 sutfered pity in the least to simooth his stem and angry eounte-
nancet : regnidiiig his sous, as they suDlred, with a threatening
aspect, till they were extended oit tlic ground, and their heads cut
off with the axe. Tlieu he departed, leaviug the rest to his colleague.
This was an action which it is not easy to praise or condemn with
propriety; for either the excess of virtue raised his soul above the
influence of the passions, or else the excess of resentment depressed
it into iiiiiensibiiiiy. Neither the one nor the other was natural ox
siiituhle to the hunuui faculties, hut was either divine or brutal. It
is more equitable, however, that our judgment should give its sanc-
tion to the glory of this great man, than tliat our weakness should
incline us to doubt of his virtue : for the Romans do not look upon
It as so glorious a work for Komulus to have built the city, as for
Brutus to have founded and estiihlislied the commonwealth.

After Brutus had left the tribuDal, the thought of what was done
involved the rest in astonishment, horror, aud silence. But the
easiness and forbearance of Collatlnus gave fresh spirits to the
Aquiliii they begged time to make their defence, and desired that
their slave Vindieius might be rcstoied to them, and not remain
with their accusers. The consul was inclined to grant iheirrequcst,
and thereupon to dismiss the assembly; but Valerius would neither
suffer the slave to be taken from among the crowd, nor the people
to dismiss tlic truitors and withdraw. At last he seized the cnminaU
himself, and called for Brutus, exclaiming that Collatinus octed
most unworthily in laying his colleague under the hard necessity oi
putting his own ^ons to death, and then inclining to gratify the wi>-
nien, by releasing the betrayeis and cueniics of their eouatfy. Col-
latinus, upon this, losing all patience, commanded Vindlcius to be

■ Tlienime of DtuHD't ipcond ton ossnnt Vilenoi, bul Tibctlui.

^1 paler, vuilHifHc M 0t tjui, tpcctaculv tucl; emntnu oabw palria inltr jmkUta pc">
ninuleriuin. Tlicre cuuld not be ■ man ilriking ipeelKle tli*D llie couDtrnutce oiBto-
tiu. Cur ancnitli i>l uiitd vitii dlgnitj, uid tic couiil uol codchI (he faibtt, lb«a|fe
kt iHppoltail tilt DHKUltmli. Liu. lib. li, cap. ^

PUBLICOLA* 193

taken away; the lictors made way through the crowds seized th^
man, and came to blows with such as endeavoured to rescue hitn*
The friends of Vulerius stood upon their defence^ and the people
cried out for Brutus« Brutus returned^ and silence being made^
he said^ It wcu enough for him to give Judgment upon hisoumsons;
as for the rest, he left them to the sentence of the people^ who
were now free; and amf one that chose it might plead before them^
They did not, however, wait for pleadings, but immediately put it
to the vote, and with one voice condemned them to die; and the trai*
tors were beheaded. Coliatinus, it seems, was somewhat suspected be«
fore, on account of his near relationship to the royal family*; and
one of his names was obnoxious to the people, for they abhorred the
very name of Tarquin. But, on this occasion, he had provoked them
beyond expression ; and therefore he voluntarily resigned the cob*
sulship, and retired from the city. A new election consequently
was held, and Valerius declared consul with great honour, as a pro^
per mark of gratitude for his patriotic zeal. As he was of opinion
that Vindicius should have his share of the reward, he procured a de-
cree of the people, that the freedom of the city should be given hiro^
which was never conferred on a slave before, and that he should be
enrolled in what tribe he pleased, and give his suffrage with it.
As for other freedmen, Appius, wanting to make himself popular^
afterwards procured them a right of voting. The act of enfran*
chising a slave b to this day called Vindicta (we are told) froio
this Vindicius.

The next step that was taken was to give up the goods of the Tar*
quins to be plundered ; and their palace and other houses were le-
velled with the ground. The pleasantest part of the Ca^npus Mar*-
iius had been in their possession, and this was now consecrated to
the god Marsf. It happened to be the time of harvest, and the
slieaves th^n lay upon the ground; but as it was consecrated, they
thought it not lawful to thrash the corn, or to make use of it; a
great number of hands, therefore, took it up in baskets, and threw
it Into the riven The trees were also cut down and thrown in after
it, and the ground left entirely without fruit or product, for the ser-

* Liiciat Tarquinius, the son of Egeriusj and nephew of Tarqoinius Priscasi wai
called CoUatinQfl, from Collatia, of which he was governor. Tarquinins Superbus* and
£eeri«s» the father of Collatinnti were first coosios.

t Plotarch should have said re-consecrated; for it was devoted to that god in the time
•f RomiiliiSf as Appears from his laws. But the Tarquw^ hifA sacrilegioiifl^ couvfrttd
it to their own ase. ■••

Yoi-l. No. 15. ifta /

'* *

r

194 rLUTARCH'l LIVES.

viceof the god*. A great quaniity of tilings being thus thrown in
tpgellier, tliey were not ciirritd far by tlie current, but only to the
shallows where the first heaps bad stopped. Finding iko farther
passaj^e, every thing settled there, and the whole was bound atill
faster by the river; for that washed down to it a deal of inud, whicli
not only added to the mass, but served as a cement to it; and the
current, far from dissolving ii, by its gentle pressure gave it the
greater firmness. The bulk and solidity of this mass received con-
tinual additions, most of what was brought down by the Tiber set-
tling there. It is now an bland sacred to religious usesf; several

temples and porticoes have been built upon it, and it is called in La-
tin, Inter duos pontes^, the island between the two bridges. Some
say, however, that this did not happen at the dedication of Tarquio's
field, but some ages after, when Tarquinia, a vestal, gave another
adjacent field to the public; for whieh she was honoured with great
piivileges, particularly that of giving her testimony in court, which
was refused to other women. Tliey likewise voted her liberty to morr)*,
but she did not except it. This is the account, though seemingly
bbulous, which some give of the matter.

Tarquin, despairing to reaseend the throne by stratagem, applied
to the Tuscans, who gave him a kind reception, and prepared to
conduct him back with a great .'U'mamenL The consuls led llic
Roman forces against tliem; and the two armies were drawn Up in
certain consecrated parcels of ground, the one called the Arsian
grove, the other the .^uviau meadow. Wlion they came to charge,
Aruus, the son of Tarquin, and Brutus tlie Koman consul^, m<:t
each other, not by accident, but design; anunaled by hatred and
resentment, tlie one against a tyrant and enemy of his coumty, the
other to revenge his banishment, they spurred tlielr horses to the
encounter. As they engaged rather with fury than conduct, ihejr
laid themselves open, and fell by ciicli other's hand. The battle,
whose onset was so dreadful, had not a milder conclusion ; the car-
nage was prodigious, and equal on both sides, till at length the ar-
mies were separated by a storm.

■ k Mi 111 krpC WD> rcij- properJ v idapled (a the service of tlie (Od of wit, bIm
ii^'i wule ill bclnre liin.

t lj*y Mjrt il •«> (ecuKcl ^aiiul llie force of the curreul bj jettMi.

t The Fkbrician bridge jniuid it ta the cii; ou ilie tide iii ilie eii|HMl, and ttw Cat-
lian bridge on tba aide ufilie Janiculino giie.

( llrulutia deaertedlj reckaiKduanngihe noililliittriouheioei. Us f«M«r*4 It ,
brriy lo liii cuunlrjr, tectired il wilh the blood ol hii uwti loiii, luil died in ^eltBdu^
il agaiwt a Ijiiaul. llie Romani anerHaidi rrecled liii itilae in iba oipilol. *haM ka
wu ]>laM4 iu tha aidit of tbe kingi of Home, witb a iwkeil toord ia bi* baud.

A

FUBLICOLA. tgS

Valerius was \h great perplexity^ as he knew not which side had
the victory, and found his men as much dismayad at the sight of
tiieir own dead, as animated hy the loss of the enemy. So gpreat, in-
deed, was the slaughter, that it could uot be distinguished who had
the advantage ; and each army having a near view of their own loss^^
ihid only guessing at that of the enemy, were inclined to think tliem'^
selves vanquished, rather than victorious. When night came otf
(such a night as one might imagine after so bloody a day), and both
camps were hushed in srtence and repose, it is said that the grove,
shook, and a loud voice proceeding from it declared, that the Ttis^
ccLM had lost one man mare than the Bommts, The voice watf
undoubtedly divine'*; for immediately upon that tBe Romans reco-
vered their spirits, and the field rung with acclamations; while the'
Tuscans struck with fear and confusion, deserted their camp, and
most of them dispersed. As for those that remained, who were not
quite five thousand, the Romans took them prisoners, and plunder-
ed the camp..— When the dead were numbered, there were found
on the Side of the Tuscans eleven thousand three hundred, and on
that of the Romans as many, excepting one. This battle is said tor
have been fought on the last of February. Valerius was honoured
with a triumph, and was the first consul that made his entry in m
chariot and four. The occasion rendered the spectacle glorious and
venerable, not in\ddious, and (as some would have it) grievous to'
the Romans; for, if that had been the case, the custom would not
have been so zealously kept up, nor would the ambition to obtain a^
triumph have lasted so many ages. The people were pleased too
with the honours paid by Valerius to the remains of his colleague^
his burying him witlT so much pomp, and pronouncing his funerat
oration; which last the Romans so generally approved, *or rather
were so much charmed with, that afterwards all the great and illus-
trious men among them, upon their decease, had their encomium'
from persons of distinction. This funeral oration was more an-
cient than any among the Greeks, unless we allow what Anaximedef
' the orator relates, that Solon was the author of this custom.

But that which oflended and exasperated the pec^te was this:'
Brutus, whom they considered as the father of liberty, wotild not
rule alone, but took to himself a first and second colleague; yet this •
man (said they) grasps the whole authority ^ and is not the succes*
sar to the citJtsulate of Brut us, to tvhich he has no right y but ta •
the tyramty of Tarqnin. To what purpose is it in words to extol
Srtitus, and in deeds to imitate Tarquin^ while he has all the
rods and axes carried before him alone^ and setlsautjriffn d hotuc

** Xt wai sard'ta Wtbe'^Toice of lb* go^Pao.

Tnore stateh/ than the royal palace which Ite demolished? It is true,
Valerius did live in a liouse too lofty and superb, on the Velian emi-
nence, whicii comniandtd the forum, and every thing that passed;
and as the avenues were difficult, and the a'^cent steep, when he came
down from l(, his appearance was very pompous, and resembled the
State of a kin^ rather than thiit of a consul. Uul he soon showed of
what coiiAettuence it is for persons iti high stations and authority to
have ihtir ears open to truth and good advice rather than flatterj-:
for, when his friends informed him that most people thought he was
taking wrong steps, he made no dispute, nor expressed any resent-
ment, but hastily assembled a number of workmen, whibt it was yet
night, nlio demolished his house entirely; so that when the Romans
in the morning assembled to look upon it, they admired and adored
his mugnanimity, hut at the same time were troubled lo see so grand
and magnificent an edifice ruined by the envy of the citizens, as they
would have lumented the death of a great man who had follen as
suddenly, and by the same cause. It gave them pain, too, to sec the
consul, who had now no home, obliged lu take shelter in anotliei
man's housei for Valerius was entertained by his friends till the peo-
ple provided a piece of ground for him, where a less sutely house was
Tjuilt, in the place where the temple of f'ictaiy now stands*.

Desirous to make his high office, as well as himself, rather agree-
able than formidable to the people, he ordered the axes to be taken
away from the rods, and that, wlienevcr he went to the great assem-
bly, the rods sitould be avatcd in respect to the citizens, as tf the su-
preme power was Wged in them; a custom which the consuls ob-
serve to tltis dayf. The people were not aware, that by tkis lie did
Qui lessen hi< own power, (iis they imagined), but only, by such ai>
instiincc of mudtratiou, obviated and cut oil' all occasion of envy, and
gained as much anihority to his person as he seemed to take froin
]iis office; for ilicy all submitted to him with pleasure, and were so
much ciiarmcd with his behaviour, that they gn\x him the name of
Publicfjla, that is, the peop/e's resjiertf tit friend. In this both hK
former names were lost; and this we shall make use of in ibc se-.
quel of his life.

Indeed it was no more than his due ; for he permitted all to sue For
the consulshipt. Vet, befuiv a colleague was appointed him, as l)c

• PluHrcli hM it af'trt t*e temflt cuUed Vxcvi PiitjIicM «*■ Umdi. lie tuid fuimd
In llic hiilurmai girt ftlr, «l)ic)i In i>ld L«lin lignlfiei cJclory; bul u hr diil bdi ui-
ddiliDtl il, !>■ <u bull Died Vieui fiitlicut, xhicli heie nanld hue no fCiiirv ai all.
t The aiei, too, vtic ilill b*tne berore ihr consuli, whea the; wrn in iha AcM.
t If rubllcol* give llic plebciim. u well ■> ihr piiriciui, ■ righl It
Au TiKht did not llien tike place : for Lusia* S«xliai iru llie Gnl pIclKiwi wbo

PUBLICOLA. 197

knew not what might happen, and was appcfi^jiKMtre of some oppqsi-^
lion from ignorance or envy^ while he had the sole power^ he made
use of it to establish some of the most useful and excellent regula-
tions. In the first place, he filled up the senate, vAjiich then was
very thin: several of that august body having been put to death by
Tarquin before, and others fallen in the late battle. He is said to
have made up the number to one hundred and sixty-four. In the
next place, he caused certain laws to be enacted, which greatly aug-
mented the power of the f)eople. The first gave liberty of appeal
from the consuls to the people; the second made it death to enter
upon the magistracy without the people's consent; the third was
greatly in favour of the poor, as, by exempting them from taxes%
it promoted their attention to manufactures. Even his law against
disobedience to the consuls was not less popular than the rest; and^
in effect, it favoured the commonalty rather than the great; for the
fine was only the value of five oxen and two sheep. The value of a
sheep was tenoio/t, of an ox a hundredf; the Romans as yet noc
making much use of money, because their wealth consisted in abun-
dance of cattle. To this day they call their substance /^ect^/ia^ from
pecuSf cattle, their most ancient coins having the impression of an
OK, a sheep, or a hog; and their sons being distinguished with the
names of SuUli, Bttbulci, Caprarii, and Pardi, derived from the
names of such animals.

Though these laws of Publicola were popular and equitablcj yet
amidst this moderation, the punishment he appointed in one case was
severe ; for he made it lawful, without a form of trial, to kill any man
that sliould attempt to set himself up for a king; and the person that
took away his life was to stand excused, if he could make proof of
the intended crime. His reason for such a law, we presume, was
this: though it is not possible that he who undertakes so great an
enterprise should escape all notice, yet it is very probable that, though
suspected, he may accomplish his designs before he can be brought
to answer for it in a judicial way; and as the crime, if committed,
would prevent his being called to account for it, this law empowered
any one to punish him before such cognizance was taken.

His law concerning the treasury did him honour. It was neces-
sary that money should be raised for the war from the estates of the

mt that hononr, many ages aAer the tioie of which Platarch tpeakt; and th'is cootinned
bat elcTen jean; for in the twelfth, which was the four hundredth year of Rome« hotk
the CDiifiili were again patriciani. Iav. lib, rii, cap, 18.

^ He exempted artificers, widows, and old men, who bad do children to relieve tliaa,
^m paying tribute.

t Bufo^t, Um fioe was socb at the ooquwnulty oould not pay witboat a^solote rm.

citizens, but he determined timt neiiber iilmstlf imranyof bis fritiDds
should have the disposal of it; nor would he suflcr it to be lodged
jn any private house. He therefore appointed the Icmpie of Sutorn
to l>e the trcHSury, whlt'h tlicy still made use of for thai purp(ise,aQd
empowered (he peopli; to choose two youn^meD as guai^lorSfOr trea-

surers'' The first were Puhlius V'clurias dod Marcus Minn tins; and

A Inrj^e sum Was collected ; for a hundred and thirty thousaod persuos
were taxed, though the orphans atid widows stood e:(cused.

These matters thus regulated, he procured Lucretius, the father of
the injured Lucrelia, to be appointed his colleague. Tu him he gare
the/iisces, (as ihey are callwl), together with (he prccedi-ncy, as the
older man; and this mark of respect to age has ever sirK-e conttnaed.
As Lucretius died a few days after, another election wrns held,
and Marcus Horatiusf a[^}oiiitcd iu his rooio for the remaiuiiig
part of the year.

Aliniit that time, Tai^uln making preparations for a second war
against tlie Uumans, a great prodigy is said to have bapjirncd. This
prince, wliilc yet upon the throne, had almost fiiiLihed the temple of
Jupiter C'jipitolinus, when, either by the direction of an oraclef, or
upon some fancy of his own, he ordered the artists of Veil to inake
S11 earthen chariot, which was to be placed on the top of it. Sooo
after this he forfeited the crown. The Tuscans, however, moulded
the cliariot, and set it in the furnace ; but the case was very diB'erent
with it from that of other clay in the fire, which coiideiists and con-
tracts upon the e:ihalation of the moisture, whereas it enlarged toelf
and swelled, till it grew to iuch a size and hardness, that it was with
difficulty they got it out, even after the furnace was dismuntled. The
sootiisayers being of opinion that this chariot betokened power and
success to the pvraons with whom it should remain, the people of
Veil determined not to give it up to the Komans; hut, upon their
demanding it, returned this answer, that it belonged toTarrjiiin, not
to those that had driven him fiom his kingdom. It happened that,
a few days after, there was a chariot -race at Veil, which was observed
as usual, except that as the charioteer, who had wou the prue and

* The uKtce at llie qunilDt* >riu lo late cure of iIif public trcuurr, f-ii wKicli ihc;
orre «ccuuatable when their Jtu mi uul; lii Cuinuli tlic iiccciHr; fum ior llw •«[-
*iu ul Uie public, and lo ruccix ■mbsuidan, «llcu<l ikciii, and pioridt llwui with
lodiinei nnd other necciMriri. A gcutrii] tould nol abliiii Ihe iHinauri nf ■ iFiuBph
Ij!1 lie haii s>*rn ihcia > fiilh'nl uLCauai uf llic ipuili he bail ukcti, luil (wgrn ts iL
Tlicn were It fiiil ivo qumon onfj. bur. when the Ronao rmpire w» cuntiilftablj
(iiltfgtd, their panih'r <■■• increaicd. 'I'hc ulBce of qu*iiar. iliougb often <liM:liiitK>4
b; (lenoni who had bcca cauali, nai the Gnl Mrp to great eiuplnjpBfDU.
t Ilutiliut rulrillm.
1 It w» m usual ihiug to place cbuiotl en lb topi of tenpkt.

H}BLtcdtA. *^ fg^

veeeiTed the crowD^ was gently driviog out of the itng, the horses
took fright from no visible cause, but, either by some direction df %
Ae gods, or turn of fortune, ran away with their driver at full speed *
towards Rome, It was in vain that he pulled the r^fi^ or soothed
then^ with words; he was obliged to give way to the career, and was
whirled along till they came to the capitol, where they flung him at
^e gate now called JRatumena. The Veientes^ surprised and terri*
fied at this incident, ordered the artists to deliver up the chariot*.

Tarquin, the son of Demaratus, in his wars with the Sabines, made

a vow to build a temple to Jupiter Capitolinus, which was performed

by Tarquin ihe Proudj son or grandson to the former. He did not^

however, consecrate it, for it was not quite finished when he was ex«

pelled from Romef, When the last hand was put to it, and it had

received every suitable ornament, Publicola was ambitious of the

honour of dedicating it...^This excited the envy of some of the no^

bility, who could better brook his other honours, to which, indeed^

in his l^blative and military capacities, he had a better claim; but^

as he had no cooceni in this, they did not think proper to grant it

him, but encouraged and importuned Horatius to apply for it. In

the mean time, PubHlola*s command of the army necessarily re«

quired his absence, and his adversaries taking the opportunity to

procure an order from the people that Horatius should dedicate the

temple, conducted him to the capitol, a point which they could not

have gained, had Publicola been present. Yet some say, the consuls

having cast lots for it |, the dedication fell to Horatius, and the ex*

pedition, agMust his inclination, to Publicola. But we may easily

conjecture how they stood disposed, by the proceedings on the day

of dedication. This was the thirteenth of September, which is about

the full moon of the month Melagitniaiij when prodigious numbers

of all ranks being assembled, and silence enjoined, Horatius, after

the other cere^lonies, took hold of one of the gate-posts, (as the

custom is), and was going to pronounce the prayer of consecration;

but Marcus, the brother of Publicola, who had stood for some time

by the gates watching his opportunity, cried out. Consul^ ytmr son

lies dead in the camp. This gave great pain to ail that heard it; but

^ A niraclc of thU kind, and not leas extraordinary, is said to have happened in mo-
dem Rome. W!ien poor St. Michael's church was in a ruinous condition, the horsea
that were employed in drawing stones through the city unanimoasly agreed to carrj
their loads to St. Michael's.

t This temple was iKK) feet long, and 185 and upwards broad. The front was adorned
with three rows of columns, and the tides with two. In the nave were Uircc shrines^
one ^f Jupiter, another of Judo, and the third of Minerva.

% Livy »ays positively, tkey cut lot^for k. Piutardi seems to have taicen the scijuei
of the story fron bia.— Ltv. lib, ii« cap, S.

tLe consul, uot la tlic least distoiiccrted, made answer, Then cast
out the dead where you /"ease, I admit of wo mourning on titit
occasion; and so proceeded to fiaitih the dedication. The news was
not true, but an iuvcntion of Marcus, who hoped by that means to
hinder HoratJus from completing what he was about. But his pre-
sence or mind is c(]ually adminible,whether he immediately perceived
the falsity, or believed the account to be true, without shewing uiy
emotion.

The same fortune attended the dedication of the second temple.
The first, built by Tarquin, and dedicated by Horatius, as we have
related, was afterwards destroyed by fire in the civil wars*. Sylla
rebuilt it, but did not live to consecrate it; so the dedication of tliis
secoud temple fell to Catullus. It was again destroyed in the trou-
bles which happened in the time of VitcUius ; and a third was built
by Vespasian, who, with his usual good fortune, put the last hand to
it, but did not see it demolished, as it was soon after i happier in this
respect than Sylla, who died before his was dedicated, Vespa.<>ian
died before hh «'«s dcsiroyedj for inimcdialt-ly after hts decease (he
capitol was burnt. The fourth, which now stands, was built and
dedicated by Domitiat). Tarquin is said to .have expended ihinr
thousand pound weight of silver upon the foundations only; but the
greatest wealth any private man is supposed to be now possessed of
in Itomc, would not ausiver tlie expense of the gilding of tlic present
temple, which amounted to more than twelve thousand talentsf.
The pillars arc of Pcntelic marble, and the thickness was in excel-
lent proportion to their lengtli, when we saw them at Athens; but,
when they were cut and polished anew at Rome, tliey gained not to
oiudi in the polish as they lost in the proportion; for their beauty
is injured by their appearing too slender for their height. But after
nduiiriiig the magnificence of the cnpitol, if any one was to go and

* After the Gnl UwpW nni drtlrDjed in Ihc wan briwccn &yUt iiid MBriui, %!■•
Kluilt it witfi colHiani uf mmhle, wlkh l.c Imd Iikcii out of Ilia temple ol Jipittt
Uljrapim W Alhcm, and Inmiported to Runjr. Bnl(<i) Pluticcli obtervti) bs did IM
lite tttcoiiiccciiteili indlit w« heard to »sj, ■> ha wu djriMg, Ifam hii kioing that
(amjile to be drdiciled bj »iKilhct was the only unfortiuiiile ti™ui»il»nce of bi> life,

t 194,SML Mcrling. In ihU it ra.y tee die grem diflcicnL-e Lil-ceii Ihc wcallli of
pcinte ciliKCt IP ■ free cauulT^, and (hat of Ihe luhjecti of an atlulrar; n

T»J.n

HOith .flOO.OOO ; ulicmi. under

h. Almiliua Scagrin, ill hii wliiethip, eretlcd a Icmpomr; ihcatre.
which eoH above .TSOO.OOO ; Marcm Cfatiui had ill ewale in laud of sUiie a mjlna
o-jctr; L. ConiFliiii Batbui left bj will, to everj Itonian ciliieu. (oenljIlTe denarii,
tthicli ■mciBa lo about tiiteen ihitlingiuf our reonej ; and nianj printe men aaiong Iba
Ruoiani maintaiued from ten to Iwentj thouupd ilmra, not lo much Tot letnce
ution. No wonder, then, thai Uie iliive* uncc leek up aiou, aud "cm lo war
Human couusoDwcallli. ,

see a galleiy, a haU, or bath, or the apartmenti of the women^io Do* •
mitian's palace^ what is said by Epicharroas of a prodigal^ ijtk.

'Ycmt laTiili'd stores speak not tbt liberal alnd.
But the disease of gtTing;

he might apply to Domitian in some sacb manner as this: Neither
piety nor magnificence appears in your expence; you have the dis^
ease of buildings like Midas of old^ you would turn every thing '
to gold and marble. So much for this subject.

Let us now return to Tarquin. After that great battle in which
he lost his son, who was killed in single combat by Brutus, he fled 10 *
Clusium, and begged assistance of Laras Porsena, then the most"
powerful prince in Italy, and a man of great worth and honour*
Porsena promised him succours*; and, in the first place, sent to the
Romans, commanding them to receive Tarquin. Upon thel)* refii* ^
sal, he declared war against them; and having informed them of the
time when, and place where, he would make his assault^ be marched *
tfiither accordingly with a great army. Publicola, who was then ab-
sent, was chosen consul the second timef, and with him THus La«^
eretius. Returning to Rome, and desirous to outdo Porsena in spt«
rit^, he built the town oABigliuria, notwithstanding the enemy's ap« '
proach; and when he had finished the walls at a great eiqpence, he'
placed in it a colony of seven hundred men, as if he held his adver«;
sary very cheap. Porsena, however, assaulted k in a spirited man*^
ner, drove out the garrison, and pursued the fugitives so close> that
he was near entering Rome along with them. But Pttblicela met'
him without the gates, and joining battle by the river„ sustained thi|'
enemy's attack, wlio pressed on with numbers, till atlast stokii)^'
under the wounds he had gallantly received, he was carried out «^ '
the battle* Lucretius, his colleague, having the same fate, Hit con* '
rage of the Romans drooped, and they retreated into the city ffar se-
curity. The enemy making good the pursuit to the wooden bridge^
Rome was in gn^t danger of being taken, wlien Horatlus Cocles§»
and with him two others of tfa^ fir^it Xank^ Herminius and Spurius

* Be&ides that Porsena 'was wilHog to assist a diUrcssed king* be consideied the T«r*
quins as his conntrjroien, for (hey were of Toscan extradite

t It was when Publicola was cunsar t\tt third time, and had for his eollen^iie Horatint
PalYillns, that Peftena narched against Kufoe«

t Sigliuria wai not ViiUt at tb^Ufae. nor out oC pstentatipn, at Plutarch sa^s; for it •
was built as a barrier against the Latins and tbtf HbmiciA amd dot iti the third; but in tb*
aecond consulship of Publicola.

{ He was son to a brother of Horatius the consoU-and a descendant of thMjbratiot
who remnined Yictorioiu m the great oonbat between tbff Hbratii' ail^ Cutlw^ti tkt
reign of Tnllos Hostilios.

Vol. I. No. 13, cc

rUTTAmCHS LDTES.

■ M the iMidgc. HotUius had the suruamc of
I im havisf lost an tjv in the wars ; or, as some will
■ tte bm of kis nose, which was so reiy fiat, that both
:, seemed to be joiiied together; so that,
i to call him Cyclops, by a mboomer, Ihey
I kiiB CkJ^s, which nanie remained with iiim. Thia man,
ViAi(«tthebMdof the bridge, defeudcd it against ihe enemy, till
ttkAMMas brake it down behind him. He then plunged into the
Tftn. ttmti as he was, and &waiii to tlie otiier side, hut n as wounded
^ribr hip with a Tu&can spear. Publicola, struck with admiratioa
4f kiB wlour, immediately procured a decree, that erery Roniaa
ahaaU five him one day's provisionsf; and tliat he should have as
^■dk laod a^ be him.stlf could encircle with a plough ia one day.
SnMn, they erected hJs statue in brass in the temple of Vulcan,
mith a view to console him by this honour fur his wound, and lame-
^e^oonsequent ujmn it^.

WTiile Porsena laid close siege to the city, the Romans were at-
todicd with famine, and another body of Tuscans laid waste the
country. Publicola, who was now consul the third time, was of opt-
uiun, that no operations could be carried on against Torsena but de-
fensive ones. He marched oui§, hmvever, privately against those
Tuscans who bad committed such ravages, defeated them, and killed
fire thousand.

Tlie story of Mueius|l has been the subject of many pens, and is
nriuusly n-lated: 1 shall give that accuunt of it which seems most
credible, Mucluswasin all respects a man of merit, but particu-
larly distinguished by his valour. Having secrctety formed a sehcme
to take ofTForiicna, he mude his way into his camp in a Tuscan
dress, where he likewise took cue to speak the Tuscan language, la
tltlh disguise he approached the seat where tlie king sat with his no-
bles; and as he did not certainly know Porsena, and thought it in-
proper to usk, he drew his sivord, and killed the person that seemed
most likely to be the king. Upon this he was seized and examined.
Meantime, as there happened to be a portable altar there, with fire

* In >h* Greek te>l it u LucrcliHi. wlucb, ne luppoic, ii ■ corruption uT I.*mBi,lb*

rrnbcblj ba hod Uine liundicd lliouiinil conlribulnti, foi crcn 0» w

n naiilj

t 1'liia diCci;!, ud hi* baTing but on* tjr, pt«t«atcd hit tmr bdog eoiual.

1 VIm coniok ipiud • rejton, which ■■• toon cirrifid iota tht Tnioui oaaip hj Ih*
lll*n xIm drw ritd, lh*i ilie neii day *]| ih( ciiiJc brongbi ihitbar from cbt conili^
•»»lil b« trnl lu urMC in Ih* &c!di wdci a giwrd, Thii bait dmt the rotmj uil*
W •■fcmh.

IHvHwCwdu).

tpoQ it) where the king Was about to' oflfer tocriSce, Mucins thrust
his right hand into it*$ and m the flesh W^ bmning, he kept look*
kkg upon Ptn^M #ith a firm and menacing a&pect^ till the king, as^
tonished at fab fartitsde. returned him hift smtirA wfth hii 6wn hand*
He leeeired it #ith his left hand, from n^henee we are told he had th#
furiaaade of SMfftfotd^ wMelk signifies kft^handed^ and thus ad«
dressed himself to Pdrsensi: '' Your thrrtrteilinfgs I regarded not,
but am con^ered hy your generosity, and out of gratitude, will de«
eiare to you what M force should have wrested Arora me* There are
three hmMired HJomans that have titken the same resolution with
mine, who now walk about your cmhp, watching their opportunity*
It was my lot to make the first attempt^ and I am sorry that my
aword was directed by fortune against anoihef, instead of a man ojf
io mcieh honour, who, as such, should rath^ be a fKend than a&
enemy to the Romans/^ Porseba believed this account, and was
more incKned to hearken to terms, not so much, in my opinion,
through fear of tfie three hundred assassins^ as admiral k)n of the dig*
nity of the Roman valour* Alt authors call this man Mucins Scse-
^Maf^ except Athenodorus Sandon, who, in a work addressed taOc-
.il^iivia, sister to Augustus, says he w^ named PosthUmius.

PnbSooEa, who did not look upon Porsena as so bitter an enemy
to Rome, but that he deserved to be taken into its friendship and al«
Kance^ was so fkr from refusing to refer the Aspute with Tarquin to
his decision, that he was really desirous of it, and several times of-
fered to prove thatTarqufn was the worst of men, and justly deprived
of the crown. When Tarquin roughly answered, that he would ad-
mit of no arbitrator, much less of Porsena, if he changed his mind,
and fbrsodt hb aRiance; Porsena vrts offended, and began to enter-
tain an iH opinioii of him; being likewise solicited' to it by his son
Amos, who used all his interest for the Romans, he was previdled
upon to put an end to the war, on condition that they gave up that
part of Tuscany w^ch they had conquered!, together with the priso-
ners, and received their deserters. For the performance of these
conditions, they gave as hostages ten young mte, and as many vir-
gins, of the best families in Rome; among vrhom was Yalerii^ the
daughter of Publicobu
Upon the fiutk of this treaty, Porsena had ceased firom all acts of

* livj saj% tet Pouhm tkmleiiad Muciiift wtik tha tartwc bj ifa, la Mikakiai
dHOOTcr Ihs aecoBplicefl; wheienpoo Mocins tbrvft hit hold inia tha %mm»» ta kl kiai
M« dMt Iw «M BoC to be intiBidacs^ .^

t UwaaM w WM^ed witb » iiy piece of ywmd bdnaaiag » tJis^pabBi^ W^
X ThcBiw— i w€fe leqeired to rcteitrtc the ▼eieaiw ia tba pmmmm of mmm va*
Ufn, which tbej bed takea fnm lbc« ia'

PLCTARCM 8 UVE3.

when the Roman mgim sent down to bathe, at a place
t Ac btaikf fanaing itself into a crescent, embraces the river in
X Banner, that there it n quite calm aod undisturbed wiiH
Aa oogoaxi ms near, and they saw none passing or repas-
>iag, they kftd a riolcnt inclination to swim over, notwitbstundinj;
Ae depth and stren^h of if ic stream. Some i»ay, one of them, named
Qoetia, passed it oo horseback, and encouraged the other virgins ait
they swam. Wlien they came safe to Fublicola, he neither cori-
neBdednor^>provedtheirexpIoit,bmwa£grieved to think he should
appear nnetjua] to Porsena in point of honour, and tliat this daring
cnteqwi^ of the virgins should make the Komans supected of unfair
proceeding, ho look ihcm, llicrcfore, and sent them bark to Porsena,
Tarquin, having timely inielligvnce of this, laid an ambuscade for
them, and attacked their convoy. T)iey defended themselves, though
greatly infi^rior in number; and Valeria, the daughter of Publioola,
broke through them, as they were engogi^d, with three servants, « ho
conducted her safe to PursL-na's camp. As tlie skirmish was not yet
di:cidcd, nor the danger over, Aruns, the son of Porsena, being in-
formed of it, niaiehcd up vrlih all speed, put llie enemy to flight, and
rescued ihc Romans. Wticn Poisena saw the virgins returned, he
demanded whicii of them was she that pro|Mscd the design, end set
the example. When he understood that Cltelia was the person, he
treated her with greut ix'Iiteuess, and conmiandiiig one of his own
horses to be brought, with very elegant truppiiiga, lie tiiadc her «
pre^ut of it. lliose tlu-it say Ckella was ijie oidy one that passnl
the river on horsebrck, allege tlils as a proof. Otliers say, no sucli
consequence can he drawn fiom it, and that it was nothing mure
titan a mark of honour to her from the Tuscan king for her braver}'.
An equestrian statue of her stuuds in the Cia sacra'^, where it Icatk
to Mount Paialittei yet some will Iiave even this to be Valeria's
statue, not Ckslia's.

Porsena, thus reconciled to llie Romans, gave many proofs of bit
grattness of mind. Among tlie rest, he ordered the Tuscaus to entry
offnotiiing but their anus, and to leave their camp full of provUiuiis,
and many otli^i things of vnluc, for the Komans. Hence it ti, thit
even in iMir times, whenever there is a sale of goods belonging lo the
public, they iire cried first as the goods of Porsena, to eternize the
memory of his generosity. A brazen sliitue, of rude and antique
workmanship, was also erecred to his honour, near the senatc-liouscf.

* DtOBfiint oi HilicDrna»u( (rlJi ui in eiprcii (enni, thil in lili lliop, (hit it, in ihi
ttipl Si AaguMuirUMtc vcK OD temaiiii oClhiil ilaluc.

t Tka leiuiw likaouB «at ma cabiB; la him, ai
with iroTf , ■ ueptrfl, ■ craini of gold, and ■ liiumpbil

After this, the Sabuies laTading the Roman territoffy, Marcus Va««
lerius, brother to PoUicola^ and Posthumios TubertuSy were elected
consuls. As eyery iinportant action was still conducted by the ad-
vice and assistance of PdbUcola, Marcus gained two gceat battlesi
ia the second of which be killed thiiteen thousand of the enemyj
without the loss of one Roman: for this he was not only rewarded
with a triumph, bat a house was built for him at the public expenoey
on Mount Bahdne. And whereas the doors of other houses at that
time opened inwards, the street-door of that house was made to opea
outwards, to show, by such an honourable distinction, that he WM
always ready to receive any proposal for the public service*. All Ac
doors in Greece, they tell us, were formerly made to open so, which
they prove from those passages in the comedies, where it is men-
tioned, that diose that went out, knocked loud on the inside of the
doors fint, to give warning to such as passed by, or stood before them«
lest the doors in opening should dash against them.

The year following, Puhlicola was appointed consul the iburtk
time, because « confederacy between the Sabiues and Latins threa-
tened a war; and> at the same time, the city was oppressed with su-
perstitious terrors, on account of the imperfect births and general
abortions among the women. Publicola, having consulted the Sibyl's
books upon itf^ offered sacrifices to Pluto, and renewed certain games .
that had formerly been instituted by the direction of the Delphic
oracle. When he had revived the city with the pleasing hope that
the gods were appeased, he prepared to arm against the menaces of
men; for there appeared to be a formidable league and strong arma-
ment against him. Among the Sabines, Appius Clausus was a man
of an opulent fortune, and of remarkable personal strength; famed,
moicover, for lus virtues, and the force of his eloquence. What is

^ FofCbiuuiM had kU ihmK ia the trismph, as well «s in the ■chievemeats.

t An ttnkuown woniaa is said to have come to Tarquin with nine volames of orac1eS|
written by the Sibyl of Cuma, for which she demanded a Tery considerable price. Tar*
quin refusing to parchase them at her rate, she burnt three of tbcm, and then asked th«-
aama price for the remaining six. Her proposal being rejected with scora» she bivnt
three more, tad, DOtwithitanding» still insiated on her first price. Tarquin, surprised al
tbe BoveHj of the thing* pat the books in the hands of the augurs to be examined, wb«
a4viaed him to purchase tham at any rate : accordingly he did, and appointed two per-
sons of distinction, styled Duumviri, to be guardians of them, who locked them up in a
vault under the temple of Jupiter Capitotiniil||^ and there they were kept till ihey wert
burnt with the temple itself. These oficers, whose number was afterwards increased,
consulted the Sibylline books by direction of the senate, when some dangerous sedition
was likely to break out, when the Roman armies has been defeated, or when any of
tbpse prodigies appeared which were thought fatal. They also presided o^er the sacri^
iicas and sbewt, whkh they appointed lo appease the wrath of hca^ea. i

MS PLVTARCn'3 LIVES.

«t till; ]mb!ic char^ ; and, to make it the more honourable, every one
contributeiL a piece of money called Quadrans, Besides, the wo-
men, out of particular retrard to his memory, cnntinued the moum-
ID^^ for a whole year. By nn order of tlie citizens, his body was like-
wise interred within the city, near tlie place called fdia, and all (iib
&tni]y were to have a burying-place there. At pvesent, indeed, none
ef his descerdanls are interred in that pround: they only cany the
eorpse, and set it down thei-c, when one cf the attendants puis a
Kghted torcli under it, whicli iie immediately tukes hack again. Thas
they claim by that act the right, but wave the privilege ; for tlie bodjr
is taken away, and interred without the walls.

SOLOX AN'D PUEUCOLA COMPARED.

THERE is something singular in this pamilel, and what has not
occurred to us in any other of the lives we have written, that Publi-
cola should exemplify ttie mnxims of Solon, and thnt Solon should
proclaim beforehand the happiness of Publicola: for the de6niiion
of happiness wlilch Solon gave Crte^us is more applicable to Pobli-
CoU tlmn to Tellus. It !s true, he pronounces Tullus happy on DC-
count of his virtue, his valuable children, and glorious death; yet he
mentions him not in his poems as eminently distiugnishcd by his
Tirtue, his children, or his employments. For Publicola, ia hU life^
time, attained the highest reputation and authority among the Ro-
mans by means of his virtues, and, after his death, his family vas
Teckoned among the most honourable; the houses of the Publicolic,
the IMessal;e, and Valerii*, illustrious for the space of six hundred
yearsf, still acknowledging him as the founlaiu of their tiorioor.
Tellus, like a brave man, keeping his post, and fi.;;hting to the last,
fell by the enemy's hand; whereas Publicola, affor having slun his
enemies, (a much happier circumstance than to be staiii by them) ;
after seeing his country victorious, through his conduct as oonsol
and OS general; after Liumphs, and all other marks of honour, died
tliat death wlijch Solon had so passionately wished for, and declared
■o happy. Solon, again, in his answer to Miuinermus concerning
(be period of human life, thus exclaims:

Ltt fcieodiliip's fulhful hurt illend m; bici,
IlciTC ibe ud ii)|li, auil diop the piijtiug tear.

■ Thkt ii. t\t flher Vslciii, *Li. ilie Uatfmi, tbc Cnvinf, the Ftiiti, iba i«*W.
tnd ibe Flacct.

t II ippcan rioin Uiii p'liig*, thul PluUtth wnu tU) lift ab«al Um
Tt»j«B'l Mipi.

I

SOLON AKD PUfUCOIA COMPARED. W9

And Publicola had this felicity: for he was lamented not only by
his friends and relations, but by the whole city; thousands attended
his funeral with tears, with regret, with the deepest sorrow; and the
Roman matrons mourned for him as for the loss of a soa> a brother^
or a common parent.
Another wish of Solon's is tlius expressed:

The flow of riches, though desir'd,
Life*s real goods^ if well acquired,
Uajustlj let me never gaio.
Lest Teogeance follow in their train.

And Publicola not only acquired but employed his riches honour*
ably, for he was a generous benefactor to the poor; 'so that, if Solon
was the wisest, Publicola was the happiest of human kind. What
the former had wished for as the greatest and most desirable of bles-^
sings, the latter aotuallv possessed, and continued to enjoy.

Thus Solon did honour to Publieola, and he to Solon in his turn :
for he considered him as the most excellent pattern that could be
proposed, in regulating a democracy: and, like him, laying aside the
pride of power, he rendered it gentle and acceptable to all. He also
made use of several of Solon's laws ; for he empowered the people to
elect their own magistrates, and left aa appeal to them from the sen-
tence of other courts, as the Athenian lawgiver had done. He did
not, indeed, with Solon, create a new senate^ but he almost doubled
the number of that which he found in being.

His reason for appointing qucpstors or treasurers was^ that if tht
consul was a worthy man, he might have leisure to attend to greater
afiairs; if unworthy, that he might not have greater opportunities of
injustice^ when both the governmeat and the treasury were under
hb direction.

Publicola's aversion to tyrants was stronger than that of Solon: for
the latter made every attempt to set up arbitrary power punishable by
law; but the former made it death without the fonnality of trial.
Solon, indeed, justly apd reasonably plumes himself upon refusing
absolute powef, when both the state of affairs, and inclinations of the
people would have readily admitted it; ^ud yet it was no less glorious
for Publicola, when, finding the consular authority too despotic, he
rendered it milder and more popular, and did not stretch it so far as
he might. Xl^t tlils was the best method of governing, Solon seems
tQ have b^eu sensible before him,, wlien b(^ $ays of a republic

Xhe reins not strictly nor too loosn^ly bold.
And safe tbe car of slippery power jfou guide.

But the annulling of debts was peculiar to-Solon, and was indeed the
most effectual w^y tp support the liberty of the peoj^le ; Fpr Jaw(
Vot.l. Noaa- x>D

PLITARCH S LIVES.

I equality would be of do avail, while the
d of the benefit of tliat equality by their (lebts.„
VAbv Aqr aermed mosl lo exercise tbeir liberty in offices, in dc-
tMl^^idi* deciding causes, there they were most enslaved to the
M^iarionirelyaDder their control. What is more coDsid era hie
ftiliii tax b, that though the caocelling of debts generally pro-
^RB teSuaas, Solcn seasoaably appUed it, as a strong though
; aiedicine, to remove the sedition then existing. The
■j too, lost its infamous uud obnoxious uature, when made use
«f ky ft tnu) of Solon's probity and character.

If we consider the whole adini lustration of each, Solon's was
e illustrious at first. He was an original, and followed no ex-
ample; beside^, by himself, without a colleague, he etiected many
pvAt things for the public advantage. But Publicola'a fortune was
mure lo be admired at last ; fur Solon lived to see his own cstablish-
aient overturiiedj whereas that of Publicola preserved the state in
^ood order to the lime of the civil wars. And no wonder; since tlie
former, as soon as he had enacted his laws, left them ins4.'ribcd on
tables of wood, without any one to support their authority, and de-
parted from Athens ; whilst the latter, remaining at Rome, and con-
tinuing in the magistracy, thoroughly established and secured the
commonwealth.

Solon was sensible of (he ambitious desi);ns of Pisistralus, and
desirous to prevent their being put in execution ; but he miscarried
in the attempt, and saw a tyrant set up. On the other hand, Pub-
licohi demolished liint;ly jwwcr, when it had been established ftw
some ages, and was at a formidable height. He was equalled by
Solon In rirtue and patroiiism, hut he had power and good fortuoe to
•econd his virtue, which the other wanted.

As to warlike exploits, there is a considerable ditlercnee; for
Daliiiachus P/attcensis does not even attribute that enterprise against
the Megarensians to Solon, as wc have done; whereas Publicola,ia
many gieat battles, peifo:med the duty both of a general and a pri-
vate soldier.

Again, if we compare their conduct in civil afRiirs, we shall find
Ihat Solon, only acting a part, as it were, and under the form ofa
maniac, went out to speak concerning the recovery of S.-ilamls. Bat
I*ubUe"la, in the fucc of ilie greatest danger, rose up against Tar-
t|uin, detected the plot, prevented the escape of (he vile conspln tors,
had them punished, and not only excluded the tyrants from the city,
but cut up their hopes by the roots. If lie was thus vigorous in pro-
Hcuiing affairs that required spirit, resolution, and open force, he
Wu itill iDorc successful to negotiation, and the gcutic arts of per*

d

THEMtsrrocuEft. ini

■ ■■ I . I I ^ 1 IIHI I ■INI ■ ■ M_ _„

suasion ; for, by his address, be gatDed Perflenn, whose power was 80
formidable, that he could not be quelled by diiit of armis, and made
him a friend to Rome.

But here, perhaps, some will object that SoUm recovered Salamis,
when the Athenians had given it up ; whereas Pubiicola surrendered
lands that the Romans were in possession of. Our judgment of
actions, however, shbuld be formed according to the respective times
and posture of affiiirs. An able politician, to manage all for the
best, varies his conduct as the present occasion requires ; often quits
a part to save the whole ; and, by yielding in small mattei^, secures
considerable advantages. Thus Pubiicola, by giving up what the
Romans had lately usurped, saved all that was really their own ;
and, at a time when they found it difficult to defend their city; gain-
ed for them the possession of the besieger's camp. In eflTect, by
referring liis cause to the arbitration of the enemy, he gained his
point, and, widi that, all the advantages he could have proposed to
himself by a victory ; for Porscna put an end to the war, and left
the Romans all the provision he had made for carrying it on, in-
duced by that impression of their virtue and honour which he had
ireceived from Pubiicola.

THEMISTOCLES.

THE family of Themistocles was too obscure to raise him te
distinction. He was the son of Neocles, an inferior citizen of
Athens, of the ward of Phrear, and the tribe of Leontis. By hiif
mother's side, he is said to liave been illegitimate*, according le
the following verses :

Though born in Thrace, Abrotonon mj name,
Mj son enrols ne in the lUti of f^me;
The great Themistocles.

Yet Phanias writes, tliat the mother of Themistocles was of Carla^
not of Thrace, and that her name was not Abrotonon, bur Euteipe.
Neanthes mentions Halicamassus as the city to which she be*
loDged. But be that as it may, when all the illegitimate yondi as«
jenMcd at Cynosar^pes, in die wresdingnring dedicated to Herculei,

* It wet ft li^w at Afbwiib that CYcry dtisen who bad a foreigpier to hit mother ahoold
bcdccflMdabaitanipthogghbomiawediociiyaaiaboaUl •oataytatjy bjs nirapabto#f
kikciitiBc bk Athn's cMatit.-

ai» PIXTASCH S LlVtS.

t $«tts, which was appointed for thai purpose, because
MBself was not altogether of (iivine extraction, but had »
tMml far his mother, Thcmi^'toclcs found means to persuade some
u the ;oQt^ noblemen to p> to Cynosargcs, and tukc their exercise
with biin. This was an ingenious contrivance to take away the dis-
tiiKtiou between the illegitimate, or aliens, and the legitimate, whose
paicnis were both Athenians. It is plain, however, that lie was
nialed to the house of the Lycomedaa * ; for Simonidcs informs
us, that when a uhiipyl of that family in the ward of Phyle,
where the mysteries of Ceres used to be celebrated, was burnt
ilown hy the barbarians, Thcinistocles rebuilt it, and adorned it
wiih pictures.

It appoars, that when a boy, he was full of s])irit and fire, quick of
apprelicnston, naturally ircthied to hold attempts, snd likely to
make a great statesman. His hours of leisure and vacation he spent
not, like other boys, in idleness and play; but he was always in-
venting and comjtosing declamations ; the .subjects of which were
either the iinpeaciimcnt or defence of some of ids schooi-fellors;
so that his niasttM- would ofien say, " Boy, you will be nothing com-
mon or indifiercut : Yuu will either be a blessing or a curse to tlie
community." As for moral philoiophy and tlie polite arts, he
learned ihrm but slowly, and with little satisfaction ; but Instruc-
tions in political knowledge, and The administration of public affairs,
he received with an attention above liLs years, because tliey suited
Ills genius. Wiicn, therefore, h"; was lauglied at, long after, in
company where free scope was gix'cn to raillcrj-, by i>cr3on3 who
passed as more accomplished in wliat was called genteel breeding,
he wiis oUigcd to answer thera with some asperity: " "lu true,
1 never learned how to tune a harp, or piny upon a late, but 1
knoW how to raise a smatl and inconsiderable city to glory aod
greatness."

Stcsimbrotus indeed informs us, tliat Tlicmistoctcs studied natunil
philosophy, both tinder Anaxagoras and Melissus. But in this he
crn agitin^t chronology t: for when Pericles, who was much
younger titan The mis to do', besieged Samos, Mclissus defended it,

* Till Vyeamriw were ■ UuWy in Alheni who (Kcording to Piuianiu) had tW
can- ottl't tKiibctt. uOtitd la Cvrei; and in tlial Uiipet wlitch Thctrui rebwlt, nilia-
tlBBionduthcr ajMdiri «CK cclcbfalcd.

t AiMttput wit born in Itit lint jnr of the ?<Hh Olympiad ; ThcBiNscIca wOB Ibt
battU of Sal»Bi> Ibr ernjnr of lh«73lhOJjnpiad; and KUtiiiui dcfnileil S«>M
B|«mM Fcciciei the lutjcarofthB 84ib Oljrroplid. TfiVmiit.iclri. ihiiefon, coaU
■atthcr'MiMl; oodw Anaiasorat, wfio wa* onl* l-enty j^nti aid whrn Ihat gtMnJ
eaanid th« >anl« •! Salamu, not jtt nodcr Melimit. tba d.d uui brpn iDlsaiiahitl
9^ joiuikficr ihat b>ntr.

TREMtSTOCLBS. Sit

and Anaxagoras lived with Pericles. Those ^eem to deserve more
attention who say that Themistocles was a follower of Mnesiphilut
the Phrearian, who was neither orator nor natural philosopher^ but
a professor of what was then called wisdom*^ which consisted in a
knowledge of the arts of governments^ and the practical part of poli-
tical. prudence. This was a sect formed upon the piinciples pf
Soloof^ and descending in succession from him ; but when tb«
science of government came to be mixed with forensic arts, and
passed from action to mere words, its professors, instead of sages^
were called Sc^hists^. Themistocles, however, was conversant in
public business, when he attended the lectures of Mnesiphilus.

In the first sallies of youth, he was iaegular and unsteady, as he
followed his own disposition without any moral restraints. He lived
in extremes, and those extremes were often of tlie worst kind§. But
he seemed to apoligize for this afterwards, when he observed, that
the wildest coUs make the best horses, when they come to bepro^
perUf broke and managed. The stories, however, which some tell
us, of his father's disinheriting him, and his mother's laying violent
hands upon herself, because she could not bear the thoughts of her
son's infamy, seem to be quite fictitious. Others, on the contrary,
say, that his fatlier, to dissuade him from accq)ting any public em-
ployment^ showed him some old galleys that lay worn out and ne-
|[iected on the sGa-shore, just as the populace neglect their leader%
when they have no farther service for them.

Themistocles had an early and violent inclination for public busi-
ness, and was so strongly smitten with the love of glory, with an
ambition of the highest station, that he involved himself in trouble-
some quarrels with persons of the first rank and influence in the states

* The first sages were in reality great polidciansi who gare rules and precepts for the
gOTcmraeot of eoomanities. Thales was the first who carriod bis ipecuIatioDS iatf
pbjsics.

t Daring the ipaee of about a hoodred or a hundred and twenty years.

t The Sophists were rather rhetoricians than philpsophers, sitilled in words, but supers
ficial in knowJedge, a« Diogenes Laertius informs us. Protagoras, who flourished aboot
the a4ih Olympiad, a little before the birth of Plato, was the first who had the appella*
tion of Saph'ut, Bot .Socrates, who was more conversaat in morality than in politics,
physict* or rhetoric* and who vras desirous to improve the world rather in practice than la
theory, modestly took the name of P^iias0p&ai(, i. c. a ^ver 0^'wtf ciom, and not that of
Sapkot, i. e. • tage or wise man.

§ Idomeoitts says, that one morning Themistocles harnessed four naked courtesans in
a chariotf and made them draw him across the Ceramicus in the sight of all the people^
^ho were there assembled; and that at a time when the Athenians were perfect strangert
to dcbaacbery, cither in wiue or women. But if that vice was then so little known im
Atliens„.how could there be found four prosUtutes impudent enough to be exposod in
that manncrf

u

tl4 Plutarch's uves.

particularly wiih AristJdes iho son of Lyslmachus, who always op-
posed him Their euiniiv began early, but the cause, as Arisioa the
philosopher relates, was iiotliiiig more than their regard for Ptesileus
of Teos. After this, their disputes continued about public affairs;
tnd the dissimilarity of their lives and manuers uaturally addet] to
it. Aristides was of a mild temper, and of great probity. He
managed the coneerns of government with indexible justice, not with
a view to ingratiate himself with the people, or to promote his own
glory, but solely fur the advantage and safety of the state. He was
therefore necessarily obliged to oppose Tliemislocles, and to prevent
his promotion, because he frequently put (he people upon anwai-
rsntable enterprises, and was ambitious of introducing great innova-
tions. Indeed, Themistocles was so carried away with the love of
glory, so immoderately desirous of distinguisliing himself by some
great action, that though he was very young when the battle of
Marathon was fought, and when tlie generalship of Miltiadcs was
every where extolled, yet even then he was observed to keep much
alone, to be very pensive, to watch whole nights, and not to attend

the usual entertainments : When he was asked the reason l>y his

friends, who wondered at the change, he said, 77ie trophies of
MiU'iades woitld not suffer him to sleep. While others imagined
the defeat of the Persians at Marathon had put an end to ilic war,
he considered it as the beginning of greater conflicts ; and, for
the benefit of Greece, he was alivays preparing himself and the
Athenians against those conflicts^ because he foresaw ihom at x
distance.

And in the first place, therefore, as the Athenians had used to share
the revenue of the silver mines of Laurium among themselves, he
alone had the courage to make a motion to tlie people, that thej
should divide them in that manner no longer, but build with them
a number of galleys to be employed In the war against the £gi-
netffi, who then made a considerable figure in Greece, and, by means
of their numerous navy, were masters of the sea. By seasonably
stirring up the resentment and emulation of his countrymen against
these islanders, he the more easily prevailed with them to provide
themselves with ships, than if he had displayed the terrors of Darius
and the Persians, who were at a greater distance, and of whose com-
ing tliey had no great apprehensions. With this money a hundred
galleys with three banks of oars were built, whicii afterwards fought
against Xerxes. From this step he proceeded to others, in order to
draw the attention of the Athenians to maritime affairs, and to con-
vince them, that though by land they were not able to cope with
their neighbours, yet with a nckval force ihey might oot only repel

J

THEM1ST0CLES. 9lSh

the barbarians^ but hold all Greece in subjection. Thus, of good,
land-forces, as Plato says, he made them mariners and seamen, and
brought upon himself tlie aspersion of taking from his countrymen,
the spear and the shield, and sending them to the bench and the
oar. Stesimbrotus writes, that Themistocles effected this in spite
of the opposition of Miltiades. Whether, by this proceeding, he
corrupted the simplicity of the Athenian constitution, is a specula-
tion not proper to be indulged here : but that the Greeks owed their
safety to these naval applications, and that those ships re-established
the city of Atliens after it had been destroyed, (to omit other proofs) j
Xerxes himself is a sufficient witness ; for, after his defeat at sea^
he was no longer able to make head against the Athenians, though
his land-forces remained entire ; and it seems to me, that he left
Mardonius rather to prevent a pursuit, than with any hope ofbis
bringing Greece into subjection.

Some authors write that Themistocleswas intent upon the acqui<*
sition of money, with a view to spend it profusely; and indeed, for
his frequent sacrifices, and the spkndid naanner in which he enter-
tained strangers, he had need of a large supply. Yet others, ou,
the contrary, accuse him of meanness and attention to trifles, and
say he even sold presents that were made him for his table. Nay,
when be begged a colt of Philides, who was a breeder of horses, and
was refused, he threatened he would soon make a Trojan horse of
his house; enigmatically hinting, that he would raise up troubles and
impeachments against him from some of his own family«

In ambition, however, he had no equal; for when he was yet
young, and but little known, he prevailed upon Epicles of Her-
mione, a performer upon the lyre, mucli valued by the Athenians^,
to practise at his house, hoping by this means to draw a great num-
ber of people thither. And, when he went to the Olympic games,:
he endeavoured to equal or exceed Cimon in the elegance of his
table, the splendour of his pavilions, and other expenses of his.train«
These tilings, however, were not Rgreeable to the Greeks : they
looked upon them as suitable to a young man of a noble family ;.
but when an obscure person set himself up so much above his for-
tune, he gained nothing by it but the imputation of vanity. He ex-
hibited a tragedy, too, at is own expense, and gained the. prize with,
his tragedians, at a time when those entertainments were pursued
with great avidity and emulation. In memory of his success, he.
put up this inscription, Themistocles the Phrearian exhibited the
tragedy^ Phrynickus conywsed it, yidimantus persided. This
gained bim popularity; and what added to it was bis.chargtng his
Bieoaory with the Mines <of the citizens j eo that he xteadily called

Sl6 Plutarch's lives.

each hy his own. He was an impartiul judge, too, in the causes tliat
were brought before him; and Simonidt-s of Ceos making an tinrea-
TCtiable request to him when archan, lie answered. Neither uroHld
you be a good poet, if you transgressed the rules of harmony; nor
J a good magistrate, if I granted your petitimi contrary to law.
Another time he rallied Simonidcs for his absurdity in abusing th»
Corinthians, who inhabited so elegant a cify; and having his own
fieture drawn, when he had so ill-favoured an aspect.

At length, Imviug attained to a great height of power and popu-
larity, his faction prevailed, and he procured the banishment of Aii>—
tides by what is called the Ostracism.

The Medes now preparing to invade Greece aguln, the Alhcoians
considered who should be their general; and many, (we are told),
thinking the commission diinjjerous, declined it. But Epicydes> the
son of Euphcmidi's, a man of more eloquence tlian courage, and ca-
pable withal of being bribed, solicited it, and was likely to be chosen.
Themistocfes, fearing the consequence would be fatal to the public,
if the choice fell upon Epicydes, prevailed upon him, by pecuniaiy
eonsideratiuns,to drop his pretensions.

His behaviour is also commended with respect to the interpreter
who came with the king of Persia's ambassadors thai were sent
to demand earth and water. By a decree of the people he put him to
death for presuming to make use of the Greek language to express
the demands of the barburians. To this we may add his proceedings
in the affair of Arthmios the Zelite, who, at his motion, was declared,
infamous, with his children and all his posterity, for bringing Persian
gold into Greece. But that which redounded most of all to his bo*
nour, was his putting an end to the Grecian wars, reconciling Ihc
several states to each other, and persuading them to lay aside their
animosities duiing the war with Persia. In this he is said to ba^'e
been much assisted by Chik'us the Arcadian.

As soon as he had taken the command upon him, he endeavntired
to persuade the people to quit the city, to embark on board ilicir Mftt,
and to meet the barbarians at as great a distance from Greece a« pos-
sible. But many opposing it, he marched at the head of a great
army, toj^etber with the Lacedismonians, to Tempc, intending to
covet Thcssaly, whiih had not as yet declared for the Persians.
When he relumed without effecting any thing, the Thessalians lia»-
ing embraced the king's party, and all the country, as far as Bopoiia,
following their example, the Athenians were more willing to hearken
to his proposal to fight the enemy at sea, and sent him with a ficet tu
guard the straits of Artcmisium.
When tte fleets of the several states were joined, and llic Buyo-

THEMI8TOCLfi9. 21 7

rity were of opinion that Eurybiades should have the chief command^
and, with hb Lacedaemonians, begin the engagement, the Athenians^
tvho had a greater number of ships than all the rest united, thought
it an indignity to part with the place of honour. But ThemistocleSj^
perceiving the danger of any disagreement at that time, gave up the
command to Eurybiades, and satisfied the Athenians, by representing
to them, that if they behaved like men in that war, the Grecians
would voluntarily yield them the superiority for the future. To him,
therefore, Greece seems to owe her preservation, and the Athenians,
in particular, the distinguished glory of surpassing their enemies in
valour, and their allies in moderation.

The Persian fleet coming up to Aphets, Eurybiades was astonished
at such an appearance of ships, particularly when he was informed
that there were two hundred more sailing round Sciathus. He there*
fore was desirous, without loss of time, to draw nearer to Greece^
and to keep close to the Peloponneslan coast, where he might have
an army occasionally to assist the fleet; for he considered the naval
force of the Persians as invincible. Upon this the Euboeans, appre-
hensive that the Greeks would forsake them, sent Pelagon to nego*
tiate privately with Themistocles, and to offer him a large sum of •
money. He took the money, and gave it (as Herodotus writes) to
Eurybiades. Finding himself most opposed in his designs by Archi-
teles, captain of the sacred galley*, who had not money to pay his
men, and therefore intended immedif^tely to withdraw, he so incensed
his countrymen against him, that they went in a tumultuous manner
on board his ship, and took from him what he had provided for his
supper. Architeles being much provoked at this insult, Themisto*
cles sent him, in a chest, a quantity of provisions, and at the bottom
of it a talent of silver, and desired him to refresh himself that eve-
ning, and to satisfy his crew in the morning, otherwise he would ac-
cuse him to the Athenians of having received a bribe from the ene-
my. This particular is mentioned by Phanias the Lesbian,

Though the several engagements with ihe Persian fl,eet in the
straits of Euboea were not decisive, yet they were of great advantage
to the Greeks, who learned by experience, that neither the number of
^hips, nor the beauty and^plendour of their ornaments, nor the
vaunting shouts and songs of the barbarians, have any thing dreadful
in them to men that know how to fight hand ta hajud, and are deter<«
mined to behave gallantly.

These things they were taught to despise when they came to close

* The tacretl gaUcg was that which the Athenian wn^ every year to Deloa with iv
crificet for AppUo; aii4 Ui«y pretend it wat the tane in whieb Theseus carried thft Kd-
butc to Crete.

\ou 1, No. IS. B«

action, and grappled with the foe. In this case Pindar's seutinienis
appear just, when he says of the fight at Artemisium..—

Twill Ihcn ihat AlhcBs ihc foundBliom kid
OrLiberl;'! fur ttruclure.

Indeed) intrepid coumgc is the commencement of victory.

Artemisium is a maritime place of Kuhoea, to the north of Hestina.
Over against it lies Olizon, in the territory that formerly was subject
to Pi lilucletes, where there is a small temple of Diana of the£<u/, in
the midst of a grove. The temple is encircled with pillars of white
stone, which, when rubbed with the hand, has both the colour and
smell of saffron. Inscribed on one of them are the following verses:

When on Ihric irii Ihc tuiu of Alhrnt conqgcr'd
The vniioDS poHtti ofAtii, grateful hete
Thej reir'd (liii (cm|ilc Ii> Diani.

There is a place still to be seen u|>on this shore, where ttiere is «
large heap of sand, whicli, if dug into, shnws towards the bottom a
black dust like ashes, as if some fire had been there; and this is sap-
posed to have been that in which the wrecks of tiie shijis and the
bodies of the dead were burnt.

The news of what had liuppened at Thermopyle being brought to
Artemisium, when the confederates were informed that Lcnnidas was
slain there, and Xerxes muster of the passes by land, they sailed back
to Greece; and the Athenians, elated with their late distinguished
valour, brought up the rear. As Thcmistoclcs sailed along the coasts,
wherever he saw any harbours or places proper for the enemy's ships
to put in at, he took such stones as he happened to find, or caused lo
be brought thither for that purpose, and set them up in the porti
and watering places, with the following inscription engraved in large
characters, and addressed to the lonians ; " Ijet the lonlans, if it be
possible, come over to the Creeks, from whom they are descended,
and who now risk their lives for their liberty. If this be impracti-
cable, let them at least perplex the batbiirians, and put them in dis-
order in time of action." By this he hoiked either to bring the loni-
ans over to his side, or to sow discord among them, by causing iheni
to be suspected by the Persians. ^

Thou^'li Xcixes had passed through Doris down to Phoeis, and
was burning and destroying the Phocian cities, yet the Greeks sent
them DO succours. And, notwithstanding all the entreaties the
Atheniiins could use to prevail with the cunfcdenitcs to repair with
them into Bti-otia, and cover the frontiers of Attica, as thetf had sent
a fleet to Artemisium to serve the common cause, no one gave ear to
their request. All eyes were turned ujHin Peloponnesus, and all
were determined to collect their forces within the Itthouu, aud to

THfiMISTOCL£S. tl^

build a wall across it from sea to sea. The Athenians were greatly
incensed to see themselves thus betrayed^ and^ at the same time>
dejected and discouraged at so general a defection. They alone could
not think of giving battle to so prodigious an army. To quit thq
city, and embark on board their ships, was the only expedient at pre--
sent; and this tbe generality were very unwilling to hearken to, as,
they could neither have any great ambition for victory, nor idea of
safety, when they bad left tlie temples of their godsj and the monu-
ments of their ancestors.

Themistocles perceiving that he could not, by the force of human^
reason, prevail with the multitude, set Iiis machinery to work, as «
poet would do in a tragedy, and had recourse to prodigies and 'ora-
cles. The prodigy he availed himself of was the disaj^earing of the
dragon (rf Minerva, wlxich at that time quitted the boly place; and
the priests finding the daily offerings set before it untouched, gave it
out among the people, at the suggestion of Themistocles, that the
goddess had forsaken the city, and that she offered to copduct them
to sea. Moreover, by way of explaining to the people an oracle thea
received*, he told them that, by wooden waUs, there could not pos-
sibly be any thing meant but ships; and that Apollo, now calling
Salamis divine, not wretched and unfortunate, as formerly, signifie^^
by such an epithet, that it would be productive of some great advan-*
tage to Greece. His counsels prevailed, and he proposed a decree^
that the city should be left to the protection of Minerva, the tutelary
goddess of the Athenians; that the young men should go on board
the ships ; and that every one should provide as well as he possibly
eould for the safety of the children, the women, and the slaves.

When this decree was made, most of the Athenians removed their
parents and wives to Trcezene, where they were received with a ge-
nerous hospitality. The Trcezenians came to a resolution to main*
t^in them at the public expense, for which purpose they allowed each
^f tliem twooio/ia-day; they permitted the children to gather fruit

* This was the lecond oracle which the Athenian deputies receired firoin Aristonice,
priestess of ApoUo. Mtny were of opinion, that, by the walls of wood which she ad*
vised tlicn to have recoarse to* was meant the citadel, because it was palUiaded ; but
others thought it could intend nothing but ships. The maintainers of the former opinio^
orged against such as supported the latter, that the last line but one of the oracle, 0 thei§
StUmit, apoUU dt lu (cMia gtuiatXum, was directly against him, and that, without ques-
tion, it portended the destrnction of the Athenian fleet near Salamis. Themistocles at*
kged in answer, that if the oracle had intended to foretel the destruction of the Athe-
BIMM, it wonld not have caUed it the dirine SaUmis, but the unhappy; and that, where*
aa the ttofortoiimte in the prada were styled the sons of women, it could mean no other
llwiUif Pmanit, wbv were acapdalootly cfomioatt. Mfrodat lit. vii. caf, 149, 144.

»so

PLUTARCH S UVE3.

wherever they pleasei], and provided for their education by paying
their tutors. This order was procured by Nicngoras.

As the treasury of Athens was tlien but low, ArJstoile informs us,
that the court o( Areopagus distributed to every man who took part
in the expedition eight drachmas; which was the princJiwl im-aiis
of manning the fleet. But Clidemus ascribes this to a stratagem of
Tliemistocles; for he tells us, that wlien the Athenians went down
to the harbour of Pirasus, tlie JEfrU was lost from the statue of Mi-
nerva; andThemistocIcs.as he ransacked every tiling under pretence
of searching for it, found large sums of money hid among the bog-
gagCjwhicb he applied to the public use; and out of it all necessaricB
were provided for the fleet.

The embarkation of the people of Athens was a very aflfecting
scene. What pity ! what admiration of the firmness of tliose men,
who, sending their parents and families to a distant place, unmoved
with their cries, their tears, or embraces, Imd the fortitude to leave
the city, and embark for Salamisl What greatly Iieightened the dis-
tress, was the number of citizens whom they were forced to leave
behind, because of their extreme old age. And some emotions of
tenderness were due even to the lame domestic animals, wliieh, nin-
BJng to the shore with lamentable bowlings, expressed their affection
and regret for the persons that had fed them. One of these, a dog
that belonged to Xanthippus, the father of Pericles, unwilling to be
left behind, is said to have leapt into the sea, and to have swam by
the side of the ship till it reached Salamis, where, quite spent with
toil, it died immediately. And they show us to this day a place called
Sj/noM Sema, where, they tell us, that dog was buried.

To these great actions of Themistoclos may be added the follow-
ing: he perceived that Arislides was mueb regretted by the people,
who were apprehensive that out of revenge he might join the Per-
sians, and do great prejudice to ilie cause of Greece; he thercibre
caused a decree to be made, that all who had been banished only for
a time should have leave to return, and by their coimsel and valour
assist tbetr fellow-ciiizcnii in the preservation of their country.

Lurybiades, by reason of the dignity of Sparta, had the command
©f the fleet; but, as he was apprehensive of the danger, he proposed
to set sail for the fsthmta, and fix his station near the Peloponncstan
annr. Tliemisiocless however, opposed it; and the account wc
have of the contercnce on that occasion deserves to be mentioned.
When Eurybiadeij waid, " Do not you Know, Themistueles, tliat, in tlia
public games, such as rise up before their turn are chastised for it ?**
" Yes," answered Themisiocles; •' yet such as arc left behind never
gain the crown." Eurybiadcs, upon this, lifiing up bis staff, u if

THEMISTOCLES. Sil

he intended to strike him, Themistocles said, *' Strike, if you pkas^
but hear me." The Lacedaemonian, admiring his command of tern*
per, bade him speak what he had to say; and Themistocles was
leading him back to the subject, when one of the officers thus inter-
rupted him, ^' It ill becomes you, who have no. city, to advise us to
quit our habitations, and abandon our country/' Themistocles re-
torted upon him thus: ^' Wretch that thou art, we have indeed left
our walls and houses, not choosing, for the sake of diose inaiumatc
diings, to become slaves; yet we have still the most respectable city
of Greece in these two hundred ships, which are here ready to defend
you, i£ yon will give them leave. But if you forsake and betray v»
a second time, Greece shall soon find the Athenians possessed of at
free a city, and as valuable a country as that which they have
quitted*" These words struck Eurybiad^ with the apprehension
that the Athenians might fall off from him. We are told also, that
as a certain Eretrian was attempting to speak, Themistocles said^
'^ What ! have you too something to say about war, who are like the
fish that has a sword, but no heart ?*'

While Themistocles was thus maintaining his argument upon
deck, some tell us an owl was seen flpng to the right of the fleets
which came and perched upon the slirowds. This omen determined
the confederates to accede to his opinion, and to prepare for a sea-
fight. But no sooner did the enemy's fleet ajqpear advancing to-
wards the harbour of Phaierus in Attica, and covering all the neigii-
bouring coasts, while Xerxes himself was seen marching his laad-
forces to the shore, than the Greeks, struck with the sight of suck
prodigious armaments, began to forget the counsel of Themistocles;
and the Peloponnesians once more looked towards the IsiAmus^
Nay, they resolved to set sail that very night, and such orders were
given to all the pilots. Themistocles, greatly concerned that the
Greeks were going to give up the advantage of theur station in the
straits, and to retire to their respective countries, contrived that stra-
tagem which was put in execution by Sicinus. Tlus Sicinus was of
Persian extraction, and a captive^ but much attached to Themisto-
cles, and the tutor of his children* On this occasion Thembtocles
sent him privately to tlie king of Persia, with orders to tell him, that
the commander of the Athenians, having espoused his interest, was
the first to inform him of the intended flight of the Greeks ; and tliat
be exhorted him not to suffer them to escape, but, while they were in
this confusion, and at a distance from their land-forces, to attack and.
destroy their whole navy.

Xcpbes took this information kindly, supposbg it to proceed from
Xrienddup^ and inunedialely gave orders to his officers, with two hun-

9S«

PLUTARCH S L1V£3.

dred ships, to surround ali the passages, and to enclose the islands^
that none of the Greeks might escape, and then to follow with the
lest of the ships at their leisure. Aristides, the sori of Lysimachus,
was the first that perceived this motion of the enemy; and though
he was not in friendsliip withThemistocIes, but had heen banished
by his means (as has been related), he went to him, and told In m
they were surrounded by the enemy. Themisiocles, knowing hU
probity, and charmed with his coming to give tliis intelligence, ac-
quainted him with the aflair of Sicinus, and entreated him to lend his
assistance to keep the Greeks in their station, and, as they had a
confidence in his honour, to persuade them to eome to an engage-
ment in the straits. Aristides approved the proceedings ofTbemis-
tocles, and going to the other admirals and captains, encouraged them
to engage. While they hardly gave credit to his report, a Tenian
galley, commanded by Parsetius, came over from the enemy to bring
the same account; so that indtgnmion, added to necessity, excited
the Greeks to their combat*.

As soon as it was day, Xerxes sat down on an eminence to viev
the fleet, and its order of battle. He placed himself, as Phauo-
demus writes, above the temple of Hercules, where the isle of Sala-
niis is separated from Attica by a narrow frith ; but, according to
Acestodorus, on the cnnfiues of Megara, upon a spot called Kerata,
" the horns," He was seated on a throne of goldf, and liad many
secretaries about him, whose business it was to write down the par"
ticulurs of the action.

In the mean time, as Thcmistocles was sacrificing on the deck of
tlie admiral-galley, three captives were brought to him of unconkmou
beauty, elegantly attired, and set of with golden ornaments. Tliey
were said to be the sons of Autarctus and Saudace, sister to Xerxes.
Euphrantide, the soothsayer, casting \ua eye upon them, and at lbs
same time observing tliat a bright flame blazed out from the victimS}
while a sneezing was heard from the right, took Themistoclcs by the

■ The dilTcretil conduct of Ibe Spii'ant auJ tlic Alhpniani on thii otrcaiiaii IMW M
•bow how much iu|H:rior Ihc •ecommoiliiliug tawi of Saluii were to (he auiletc dbcipliM
tit Ljcurfui. IniJcH, while the inKitutioiu of the lultcr rcBiined in farce, the Lac*.
ilMK>lii>n> wrre ihe gteileit if nil people, bal ihil not impoatihte, 1*lte toeritjr ■(
Ljcurgai'i Icgltlilion Dtluralljr (ended lo Jcttroj i[. Nor w» lliii dt. — Frun ibe ti>
trtinoi of ibilcmiDui 'hardiltipt, the ncil txt[i <•■■ nol to a moili'iite eujuymcni of kfc,
tiut 10 all the Itcenijoasnc)* of the noM rScmiNalr lainr;. The lawi of L^icuigiu nadt
tBcn of tbe Sp^rtiu wamen ; wlien ilw; were bmleiii Xbej niiide wanta of ih« •■«■.

t Tllil thranr ui leat, whelhrr of gold OTiilTer, or bolli, w*i laken and (arried M
Alhciu, wbere il was coniecnted in llie lemptu of M'ucrva, wiih Ihc golden labn o(
Slaiduniui, wliich w(> taken aftrrnaidi iu llx batlle ol I'talaM, OciBMtbeHM Mill it
Difhen utfuripada, " • cbaii with iit>ct Eeet,"

A

THEMISTOCLES. l^SS

hand, and ordered that the three youths should be consecrated and
sacrificed to Bacchus Omesie^; for by thb means the Greeks might
be assured not only of safety, but victory.

Themistocles was astonished at the strangeness and cruelty of the
6rder; but the multitude, who, in great and pressing difficulties,
^trust rather to absurd than rational methods, invoked the god with
dne voice, and leading the captives to the altar, insisted upon their
being offered up, as the soothsayer had directed. This particular we
have from Phanias the Lesbian, a man not unversed in letters and
philosophy.

As to the number of the Persian ships, the poet Eschylus speaks
of it, in his tragedy entitled Perscs, as a matter he was well as«
sured of:

A tlionsand ships (for well I know the nomber)
The Persian flag obeyed ; two hundred more
And teren o'erspread the seas.

The Athenians had only one hundred and eighty galleys ; each carried
eighteen men that fought upon deck, four of whom were archers,
and the rest heavy-armed.

If Themistocles was happy in choosing a place for action, he was
no less so in taking advantage of a proper time for it; for he would
not engage the enemy till that time of the day when a brisk wind
usually arises from the sea, which occasions a high surf in the chan-
nel. This was no inconvenience to the Grecian vessels, which were
low built and well compacted; but a very great one to the Persian
ships, which had high sterns and lofty decks, and were heavy and
unwieldy; for it caused them to veer in such a manner, that their
sides were exposed to the Greeks, who attacked them furiously.
During the whole dispute, great attention wiis given to the motions
of Themistocles, as it was believed he knew best how to proceed*
Ariamenes, the Persian admiral, a man of distinguished honour, and
by far the bravest of the king's brothers, directed his manoeuvres
chiefly against him. His ship was very tall, and from thence he
threw darts, and shot forth arrows, as from the walls of a castle*
But Aminias the Decelean, and Sosicles the Pedian, who sailed in
one bottom, bore down upon him with their prow, and both ships
meeting, they were fastened together by means of their brazen beaks;
when Ariamenes boarding their galley, they received him with their
pikesj and pushed him into the sea. Atemisiaf knew the body

* In the same manner Chios, Tenedos, and Lesbos, offered human sacrifices to Bac-
Cbos somamed Omodins. But this ii the sole instance we know of among the
Atbenbnu.

t AneauiBy qoecii ofBttowMwiii distiiigaiibcd bcrtelf «boT« all the re«t of the

-i

L

*S4 Plutarch's mi-eh.

amongst others tlisit were floating wltli the wreck, and carried it to
Xerxes.

While the fight was thus raging, wc are lold, a great light appeared
K from Eleusis; and loud sounds and voices were heard through all
the plain oS Thrlasia to the sea, as of a great Dumber of people car-
lyioglhe mystic symhols of Bacchus in procession. A cloud, too,
Kcmcd to rise from among the crowd that made this noise, and to
ast-end by degrees, till it fell upon the galleys. Other phantoms also,
and apparitions of armed men, tliey thought ihi^y saw stretchitig out
their hands from /Egina before the Grecian flett. These they con-
jectured to be the JEacUUc, to whom, before the battle, tliey had ad-
dressed their prayers for succour.

The first man that took a ship was an Athenian named Lycomedcs,
captain of a galley, who cut down the ensigns from the enemy's ship,
and consecrated them to the laurelled Apollo. As the Persians could
come up in the straits hut few at a time, and often put e.ich other in
confuMon, the Greeks, equalling thciii in the line, fought them till
the evening, when they broke them entirely, and gained tliat signal
and complete viciory, than which (as Stmunidcs says) no other naviil
achievement, either of the Greeks or barbarians, ever was more glo-
rious. Tiiis success was owing to the valour, indeed, of all the cou-
federates, but chiefly to the sagacity and conduct of The mis toe Ics.

After the battle, Xerxes, full of indigoatinn at his disappointment,
attempted to join SuJamis to the continent by a mole so well secured,
that ):is lund-forces might pass over it into the island, and that he
night &hut up the pass entirely against the Greeks. At the samcr
time, The mist oe I es, to sound Aristides, pretended it was his own
opinion, that they should sail to the Ilellesponi, and break down the
bridge of ships ; " For so," says he, "we may take Asia without
stirring out of Europe." Aristides did not in the least relish his
proposal, but answered him to this purpose : " Till now we have had
to do with an enemy immersed in luxury; but if we shut him up in
Greece, and drive him to necessity, he, who is master of such prodi-
gious fiwccs, will no longer sit under a golden canopy, and be a quiet
spectator of the procecditigs of the war, but, awaked by diuiger, al-
, tempting every thing, and present every where, he will correct hi>
past errors, and follow counsels better calculated for success. In-
stead, therefore, of breaking that bridge, we should, if possible, pro-

Fertian forcii, ^e^ ihipi being llic liil ihol fleit; uhich Xcnri obttiving, ctifd <M.
that thi men bchivrd like womca, ajiil the wumeu wilh the counge and iDirepMHj
ofdcn. Tb« Alhcni»nn»cie»iiicen»cd»g«i[ulli«r, Ihiltlnj offered •rewiiri«fi*»
tboDiind drachmni la an* one that ifaould lake bcr alive. Tliii ptiDceu aoit nM b«
eonfflundad nitb that Atumiiia, wLd wai Ibe wife oi UtMnAm, king of Cans.

TH£MISTOCJLES. S29

e^

vide another, that he may retire the sooner out of Europe*"..^'^ If
that be the case," said Themistocles, *^ we must all consider and con«>
trive how to put him upon the most speedy retreat out of Greece."

This being resolved upon, he sent one of the king's eunuchs, whom
he found among the prisoners, Arnaces by name, to acquaint him,
^' That the Greeks, since their victory at sea, were determined to
sail to the Hellespont, and destroy the bridge; but that Tliemisto-
cles, in care for the king's safety, advised him to hasten towards his
own seas, and pass over into Asia, while his friend endeavoured tc^
find out pretences of delay, to prevent the confederates from pursu-*
ing him/' Xerxes, teriAfied at the news, retired with the greatest
precipitation. How prudent the management of Themistocles and
Aristides was, Mardonlus afforded a proof, when, with a small part
of the king's forces, he put the Greeks in extreme danger of losing
all in the battle of Platfea.

Herodotus tells us, that, among the cities, ^gina bore away the
palm ; but, among the commanders, Ttiemistocles, in spite of envy,
was universally allowed to have distinguished himself most; for
when they came to the Isthmus, and every oflScer took a billet from
the altar^, to inscribe upon it the names of those that had done the
best service, every one put himself in the first place,* and Themisto*
cles in the second. The Lacedffimonians, having conducted him to
Sparta, adjudged Eurybiades the prize of valour, and Themistocles
that of wisdom, honouring each with a crown of olive, lliey like-
wise presented the latter with the handsomest chariot in the city, and
ordered three hundred of their youth to attend him to the borders.
At the next Olympic games, too, we are told, that as soon as Tlie-?
mistocles appeared in the ring, the champions were overlooked by the
spectators,who kept their eyes upon him all the day, and pointed him
out to strangers with the utmost admiration and applause. This
incense was extremely grateful to him; and he acknowledged to his
friends that he then reaped the fruit of his labours for Greece,

Indeed^ he was naturally very ambitious, if we may form a eon*
elusion from his memorable acts and sayings. For, when elected
admiral by the Athenians, he would not dispatch any business,, whe*
ther public or private, singly, but put off all affaii^ to the day he wa$
to embark, that, liaving a great deal to do, he might appear with the
greater dignity and importance.

One day, as he was looking upon the dead bodies cast up by the
%BLf and saw a number of chains of gold and bracelets upon them, he
passed by them, and turning to his friend, said^ Take these things
for yourself, for you are not Themistocles.

* Hie altar of Neptune. Iffk loleinxutj wai dcti^ed to make them give Uieir jud^
vent impartial 1 J, at in the pfci«ace •!' |be godi.
Vot. 1. No, 13. FF

W5

826 Plutarch's lives.

To Aniipliates, who had formtrly treated him with disdnin, but
in his 1,'Iory made his court to him, he said, Young v>an,wearebotk
eomir to our senses al the same time, though a little too late.

He used to stiy, " The Athenians paid !iim no honour or sincere
respect; but when a storm arose, or dangcf appeared, they sheltered
themselves under him, as uiidtr a plane-tree, which, when tlie wea-
ther was fair again, they would rob of its leaves and branihes."

When one of Scriphus told him, " He was not so much honoured

for his own sake, hut for his country's;" " True," answered The-

tnistocles; " for neither slioiild I have been greatly distinguished
if I had been of Scriphus, nor you if you had been an Athenian."
- Another officer, who thought he had done ihe state some serTJce,
setthig himself up against Thcmistoclcs, and venturing to compare
his own exploits with his, he answered him with this fable : " There
once happened a dispute between the feast-da}j and the ilay after
the feast I Says the day aft^r the feast, I am full of bustle and
trouble, whereas, with you, folks enjoy at their ease every thing rrsdy
provided, you say right, snys \\k feast -dai/, but, if I had not been
before you, you would not have been at nil. So, had it not been far
mc, then, where would you have been ttow?"

His son being master of his mother, and by her means of him,
he said, laughing, " This child is greater than any man in Greece;
for the Athenians command the Greeks, I command the AthcnitiDS,
his mother commands mo, and he commands his mother."

As he loved to be particular ia every thing, when he happened
to sell a farm, he ordered tlic crier to add, that it had a good
neiglibour.

Two citizens courting his daughter, he preferred the worthy nan
to the rich one, awd assigned tliis reason. He had rather she should
have a man without money, than money without a man. Such
was the pointed manner in which he often expressed himself*.

After the greatest actions we have related, his next enterprise wm
to rebuild and fortify the city of Athens — Tbeoponipus tells, he
bribed the Laecdaspionian E^jAor/, that they might not oppose ilj
but most historians say be overreached them. He was sent, il
seems, on pretence of an embassy to Sparta. The Spnrtnns com-
plained that the Athenians were fonifying their city, and the gover-
nor of .^gina, who was come for that purpose, supported the nccasa^
tion. But Thcmistoclcs absolutely denied it, and challenged thca
to send proper persons to Athens to inspect the walls; at oact f^im
ing time for finishing them, and contriving to have hostages it

* Cicrm ha> preHrFC<1 anOihiT o( hit siyingi. When Situoaidci ofTercd to mtll
Thrmiilocli;) ihe nil o( m»morj, be •Hswtttd, Ah ,' roltfr tcacK mi (*f art ifffplti^

Jet 1 i^icn rcfncfitc nAal I iceuld net, and taniml fo'stt icAal I mujrf.

J

n

TIIEMISTOCLES. 23/

Alliens for liis return. Tlic event answered liis expectation ; for the
I>aced(enioniiins, wlien assured how tlie fact stood, dissembled their
leseiitment, .iiid let him go with impunity,

Aiier this, he built and furtified the Plrieus, (having observed the
convenieney of that htiibour) ; by which means he gave the city
every maritime acconimodatiou. In this respect his politics were
very difl'urent from those of the ancient kings of Athens. They, we
are told, used their endeavours to draw tlie attention of their sulijects
from the business of navigation, that they might turn it entirely to
the culture of the ground ; and, to this purpose, they published the
fable of the contention helwecn Minerva and Neptune, for thepa-
tronage of Attica, when the former, by producing an olive-tree be-
fore the judges, gained her cause. Themistocles did not bring the
Pira.us into the city, a3 Aristophanes the comic poet would have it ;
but he joined the city by a line of communication to the Pirneus, and
the land to the sea. This measure strengthened the people against
the nobility, and made them holder and more untractablu, as power
came with wealth into the hands of masters of ships, mariners, and
pilots. tJence it was that the oratory in Pays:, which vna built to
front the sea, was afterwards turned by the thirty tyrants towards the
land; fur they believed a maritime power inclinable to a democracy,
whereas persons employed in agriculture would be less uneasy under
a a oligarchy.

Themistocles liad something still greater in view for strengthening
the Athenians by sea. After the rt;treat of Xerxes, when the Gre-
cian fleet was gone into the hiirhour of Pagaiie to winter, he ac-
quainted the eiti/cns in full assi'uibly, " That he had hit upon a
design which migiit greatly contribute to their advantage, but it was
not tit to be communicated to their whole body." The Athenian*
ordered him to communicate it to Aristidos only, and, if he approved
of it, to put it in execution. Themistocles then informed liiin,
" That he hud thoughts of bprning the confederate fleet at Fagasie."
Vjion which, Aristidcs went and declared to the people, " That the
enterprise which Tlicmistocles proposed was indeed the most advan-
tageous ill the world, but, at the same time, the most unjust." The
Athenians, therefore, commanded him lo lay aside all thoughts of it.

About this time the Iiacediemoniaiis made a motion in the assem-
bly of the yiiitfihitttfiuis to exclude from that council all those states
_ that bad not joined in the confederacy against the king of Persia.
r^But Themistocles was apprehensive, that if the Tiicssalians, the
Argives, and Thcbans were expelled fiom the council, the l^cedic-
tQonians would have a great majority of voices, and consequently
prociue what decrees t^y pleased. He spoke, therefore, in dtfence

■^

«p

SS8

PLUTARCH S LIVES.

r

of those states, and brouj^lit the deputies off from that design, by re-
presentin)* thai thirly-one cities only had their share of the burden
of that war, and (hat the greatest part of those were but of small con-
sideration; tiiat consequently it would be both unreasonable iind
dangerous to exclude the rest of Greece from the league, and leave
the council to be dictated to by two or three great cities. By tliis
he became verj' obnoxious to the Laced temonians, who, for this rea-
son, set up Ciinon against him as a rival in all aftiurs of state, and
used ali ihcir interest for his advancement.

He disobliged the allies also by sailing round the islands, and ex-
torting money from them; as wc may conclude from the answer
which Herodotus tells us the Andrtans gave hiin to a demand of that
sort. He told them, " He brouglit two gods along with him, Per-
suasion and Force." They replied, " They had also two great gods
ou their side, Poverty and Despair, who forbade them to satisfy
him." Timocreon, the Rhoilian poet, writes with great bitterness
against Thcmistocles, and charges him with betraying him, thougb
his friend and host, for money, while, for the like paltry considera-
tion, he procured the return of other exiles. So in these verses;

Pauuniaa yoii nmj prniti;, »nd jnii Xuilhip/.u),
And JOB Lculj-chlda>: Bui sun: the bcro,
n'ho bcin iti'A'hinikii paliD. i> AiiMiilvi;
Whal if the falK. the nin Tlicmiiloclci?
The ver; llchi ii grudg'd bim b; Lilona,
Who. for vile pcif, btwiijcd Tiinoeieon,
Hi) rtleod and hnl; nor gdc liin lo bcl.old
Hit dear Jiljiui. For llirvc lutciili more
ir.- lail'd, anil IcA him on a roieign coa.t.
What liiul ['lid aitails Ihe aim that kiJIi,

To fill liii gtitt'ring uatn? wbilc i.ileuutiun,
With vain nil), fain would boail llic grn'rous hnnd.
And, si Llic Iiiliniut, iprvadi a public board
For crowdi lliat ttX, ind curte bin at Iha faaiiqucL

But Tiintn-reon gave n still looser rein to his abuse of Themtsto-
clcs, after the condemnation and Ikanishmcnt of that great man, in a
poem which begins thus:

Mn>c. crowii'J oilli glorj, bear ll.ii ralHiful >l»in.

Timocreon is said to have been banished by Themistoclcs for faronr-
ing (he Pervious. When, therefore, Tlumisloclcs was accused o(
the same traiteruus inclinations, he wrote against him as follo«ti:

Timoitvuii'i honour to the Medo ii (uld.

As the Athenians, through envy, reailily gave ear to calumnies
against him, he was often forced to recount hb own services, which
rendered him still more insupportable; and, when they explressed
their displeasure, he said> Ate you weary of receiving beneJUiofteH
from the same hand?

Another offence he gave the people was, his building a temple to
Diana, under the name oiAristobule^ or, Diana of the besi counsd;
intimatiDg that he had given the best counsd not only to Athens,
but to all Greece. He built this temple near his own house, in the
quarter of Melita^ where now the executioners cast out the bodies of
those tliat have suffered death, and where they throw the halters and
clothes of such as have been strangled, or otherwise piit to death*
There was, even in our times, a statue ofThemistocles in the temple
of Diana Arietobule, from which it ajqpeared that his aspect was as
heroic as his soul.

At last the Athenians, unable any longer to bear diat high distincii
tion in which he stood, banished him by the ostracism; and this was
nothing more than they had done to others whose power was becon^
a burden to them, and who had risen above the equality which a
commonwealth requires ; for the ostracism, or ten years banishment,
was not so much intended to pimish this or that great man, as to
pacify and mitigate the fury of envy, who delights in the disgrace of
superior characters, and loses a part of her rancour by their fidl.

In the time of his exile, while he took up his abode at Argos*, the
affair of Pftusanias gave great advantage to the enemies ofThemis-
tocles. The person that accused him of treason was Leobotes the
son of AlemsBon, of Agraule, and the Spartans joined in the im«
peachment. Pausanias at first concealed his plot from Themisto-
cles, though he was his friend; but, when he saw him an exile, and
full of indignation against the Athenians, he ventured to communi-
cate his designs to him, showing him the king of Persia's letters,
and exciting him to vengeance against die Greeks, jas an unjust and
ungrateful people. Themistocles rqected the solicitations of Pau-

* The great Paasaiiiaij who had beaten the Persian* in the battle of Plat«a, and
who, on many occasions, had behared with great generosity as well as moderation, at
last degenerated, and fell into a icandaloos treaty with tfie Persians, in hopes, through
their interetty to make himself sovereign of Greece. As soon as he had conceived these
strange noCaomb he tell into the nunoers of the Benians,' affected all their laxary, and
dciifcd the plain cestoms of his poontry, of which he had formerly been so fond. The
Efkfti waited some time for clear proof of his treacherous designs, and, when thry liad
obtained it, determined to imprison him. Bat he fled into the temple of Miuerva Chal* .
cioicosy and they besieged him there. They waUed np all the gates, and his own mother
laid the first stone. When they had almost starred him to death, they laid hands on
aad, by the time thMpjl got him out of the temple, he expired.

•

r

830 PI.UTARCIl'9 LIVE3.

sanias, and refused to hnve the least share in Ids designs ; but lie gave
no iiirormation of what had passed between them, nor let the secret
transpire ; whether he thought he would desist of himself, or that he
would be discovered some other way, as he had embarked in an absurd
and extravagant enterprise, without any rntional hopes of sueeeas.

However, when Pausanias was put lo death, there were found let-
ters and other writings relative to tlie business, whith caused no
small suspicion aeainst Thcniistocles. The Lacedaemonians raiaed
aelamour against him, and those of his fellow-citizens that envied
bim, insisted on the charge. He could not defend himself in person,
but he answered by letter the ]irinci[>al parts of the accusation. For,
to obviate the calumnies of his enemies, he observed to the Atheni-
ans, "That he who was born to command, and incapable of servi-
tude, could never sell himself, and Greece along uith him, to ene-
mies and barbarians." The people, however, listened lu his ac-
cusers, and sent persons with orders to bring hint to answer before
the states of Greece. Of this lie had timely notice, and passed over
to the isle of Corcyra, the inhabitants of which had great obligation*
to him; for a dirt'crencc between them and the people of Corinth
Lad been referred to his arbitral iun, and he had decided It by award-
ing- the Corinthians to pay down twenty talents, and the isle of
Ix'ueas to be in common between the two parties, as a colony from
both. From thence he fled to Epirus; and, finding himself still
pui'sucd by the Athenians and Laced temonians, he tried a very ha-
zardous and uncertain resource, in imploiing the proteclluu of Ad-
mctus, king of the Molossians. Admetus had made a request to the
Athenians, whieh being rejected with scorn by Themistoclcs, in
the time of his prosperity and influence In the state, the king enter-
tained a deep resentment against him, and made no secret of his
hitention to revenge himself, if ever the Athenian should fall iota
liis power. However, while he »vas thus flying from place to place,
he was more afraid of the recent envy of his countrymen, than uf
ibe consequences of an old quarrel with the king ; and therefoic lie
went and put himself in his hand<^, appearing before him as a sup-
pliant, in a particular and extraordinary manner. He took the king's
^an, who was yet a child, in his arms, and kneeled down before the
liousdiold gilds. This maimer of otiering a petition the Molossians
look upon ns the most elTectital, and the only one that can hardly be
rejected. Some say, the queen, whose name was Phtlua, suggested
to him this method of supplication. Others, that Admetus bimsrlf
taught him to act the part, that he might have a sacred obligation to
allege against giving him up to those that might demand him.
At that time Epicratcs the AcaroaaUa fouDdtmeatis lo courcy the

THEMISTOCLES. 23f

■t -^

wife and children of Themistocles out of Athens^ and sent them to
him ; for which Cimon afterwards condemned him^ and put him
to death. This account is given by Stesimbrotus ; yet, I know not
how, forgetting what he had asserted, or making Themistocles for-
get it, he tells us be sailed from thence to Sicily, and demanded king
Hiero's daughter in marriage, promising to bring the Greeks under
his subjection ; and that, upon Hiero's refusal, he passed over into

Asia. But this is not probable ; for Theophrastus, in his treatise on

monarchy, relates, that when Hiero sent his race-horses to the
Olympic games, and set up a superb pavilion there, Themistocles
harangued the Greeks, to persuade them to pull it down, and not to
suffer the tyrant's horses to run. Tliucydides writes, that he went
by land to the iEgean sea, and embarked at Pydna ; that none in thee
ship knew him, till he was driven by a storm to Naxos, which wai
at that time besieged by the Athenians ; that, through fear of being
taken, he then informed the master of the ship and the pilot who he
was ; and that, partly by entreaties, partly by threatening, he would
declare to the Athenians, however falsely, that they knew him from the
first, and were bribed to take him into their vessel^ he obliged them
to weigh anchor, and sail for Asia.

The greatest part of his treasures were privately sent after him to
Asia by his friends. What was discovered and seized for the public
use, Theopompus says, amounted to a hundred talents; Theo-
phrastus fourscore ; though he was not worth three talents before
his employment in the government.

When he was landed at Cuma, he understood that a number of
people, particularly Ergoteles and Pythodorus, were watching to
take him. ^He was^ indeed, a rich booty to those that were deter-
mined to get money by any means whatever ; for the king of Persia
had offered, by proclamation, two hundred talents for apprehending
him. He therefore retired to -^gro, a little town of the iEoIians,
where he was known to nobody but Nicogencs, his. host, who was a
man of great wealth, and had some influence at the Persian court.*
In his house he was concealed a few days ; and, one evening after
sapper, when the sacrifice was offered, Olbius, tutor to Nicogenes's
children, cried out, as in a rapture of inspiration^

Counsel, O Nigbt, and victory are thine.

After this, Themistocles went to bed, and dreamed he saw a dragon
coiled round his body, and creeping up to his neck ; which, as soon
as it touched his face, was turned into an eagle, and, covering him
with its wings, took him up, and carried him to a distant place, where
a golden sceptre appeared to him, upon which he rested securely, and
was delivered from aUihis fear and trouble. .

In conaeqnetice of this warning, he was sent away by Nicogenes^
who contrived ibis metM for it. The barbarians in general^ es«

pccially ihe Persians, are jealous of the women, even to madness ;
not only of their wives, but their slavts apid concubines ; for, beside
the earc they taice that they sliall be seen by none but liieir own
family, they keep them like prisoners in their houses; and, when
when they takt: a journey, they are put in u carriage, close covered
on all sides. In such a carriage as tliis Themistoclcs was conveyed,
the attendants being instructed to tell tliosc they met, if they hap-
pened to be questioned, that they were carrying a Grecian lady froto
lona to a nobleman at court.

Thiicydldcs, and Charon of Lampsacus, relate, thttt Xerxes was
then dead, and that it Wits to his son Artaxerxcs that ThcraistocIc»
addressed himself. But Ephorus, Dinon, Clitarchiis, Heraclides,
and several others, write, that Xerxes himself was then upon the
throne. The opinion of Thucydides seems most agreeable to chro-
nology, though it is not perfectly well settled. Themistoclcs, now
ready for the dangerous experiment, applied first to Artabanus, a
military oflficcr, and told him, " He was a Greek, who desired to
have audience of the king about matters of great importance, which
the king himself hud much at heart." Artabanus answered, "The
laws of men are different ; some esteem one thing honourable, and
some another; but it becomes all men to honour and observe the cus-
toms of their own country. With you, the thing most admired ts
said to be liberty and equality. We have many excellent laws ;
and we regard it as one of the most Indispensable, to honour the kinir,
and to adore him as the image of that deity who preserves and sop-
ports the universe. If, therefore, you arc willing lu conform to our
customs, and to prostrate yourself before the king, you may be
permilted to sec himand speak to him. But, if you cannot brin^
yourself to this, you must acquaint him with your business by aihird
person. It would be an lafringement of the custom of his cotthtry
for the king to admit any one to audience that does not worship
iiim," To this Themistodcs replied: <* My business, Arlabuius,
is to add to the king's honour and power ; therefore 1 will comply
with your customs, since the god that has cxrtltcd the Persians will
have it so, and by my means the number of the king's worshippen
shall be increased. So let this be no htnderanee to my conimuntca-
ting to the king what I have to say." " But who," said Artabanus,
shall we say you are ? for, by your discourse, you appear to be mi
ordinary person." Themislocles answered, " Nobody must know
that before the king himself." So Phitnias writes ; and Eratosthe-
nes, in his treatise on riehcs, adds, that Themistoclcs was brougbl
acquainted with Artabanus, and recommended to him by an Eretriu
woman, who belonged to that officer.

When he was Introduced lu the king, and, after his prostration,
»tood silentj the king commanded the iaterprctet to ask him nho be

THEMIST0CLI9. 333:

— — — .■ - ' ' "" ' ^

t«ras. The inteqireter accordingly put the question, and he answer^
ed, ^' The man that is now come to address himself to you, O king^
is Themistocles the Athenian, an exile persecuted by the Greeks.
The Persians have suffered much by me, but it has been more than
compensated by my preventing your being pursued; when, after I
had delivered Greece, and saved my own country, I had it in my
power to do you also a service. My sentiments are suitable to my
present mbfortunes, and I come prepared either to receive your fa-
vour, if you are reconciled to me, or, if you retain any resentment^
to disarm it by my submission. Reject not the testimony my ene-
mies have given to the services I have done the Persians, and make
use of the opportunity my misfortunes afford you, rather to show
your generosity, than to satisfy your revenge. If you save me, yon
save your suppliant; if you destroy me, you destroy the enemy of
Greece." In hopes of influencing the king by an argument drawn
from religion, Themistocles added to this speech an account of the
vision he had in Nicogcnes's house, and an oracle of Jupiter of Do-^
dona^ which ordered liim to go to one who bore the same name with
the god; from which he concluded he was sent to him, since both
were called, and really were grea^ kings.

The king gave him no answer, though he admired his courage and
magnanii^ity ; but, with his friends, he felicitated himself upon this,
as the most fortunate event imaginable. We are told also, that he
prayed to jirimanius that his enemies might ever be so infatuated^
as to drive from amongst them their ablest men; that he offered sa-
crifice to the gods, and immediately after made a great entertain-
ment; nay, that he was so effected with joy, that when he retired to
rest, in the midst of his sleep, he called out three times, I have 2%e-
mistocles the jithenian.

As soon as it was day, he called together his friends, and ordered
Themistocles to be brought before him. The exile expected no fa-
vour, when he found that the guards, at the first hearing of liis name,
treated him with rancour, and loaded him with reproaches. Nay,
when the king had taken his seat, and a respectful silence ensued^
Roxanes, one of his officers, as Themistocles passed him, whispered
him with a sigh. Ah! tlum subtle serpent of Greece^ the king* 9
good genius has brought thee hither. However, when he had pros-
trated himself twice in the presence, the king saluted him, and spoke
to him graciously, telling him, ^^ He owed him two hundred talents;
for, as he had delivered himself up, it was but just that he should
receive the reward offered to any one that should bring him." He
promised him much more, assured him of his protection, and ordered
him to declare freely whatever he bad tp propose concerning Greece,

Vot. 1. No. IS. GG

"■^^i

PLUTAIICIIS LIVES.

Themis toclcs replied, " Thai a man's discourse was like a piece of
tapestry, which, when spread open, disphyi its figures; biK, when it
ii folded up, they are hidden and lost; therefore he begged lime.'*
The king, delighted with the comparison, bade him take what time
lie please I, and he desired a year; in which space he learned the'
Persian language, so as to be able to converse with the king without
an interpreter.

Such as did not belong lo the court believed that he entenainrd
tlieir priaee on the subject of the Grecian affairs; but, as there were
then many changes in the ministry, he incurred the envy of the uo-
biliiy, who suspected that he had presumed to speak too freely of
them to the king, The honours that were paid him were far supe-
rior to those that other strangers )iad experienced : the'king took him
with him a-hunting, conversed familiarly wiih him in his palace, and
introduced him to the queen-mother, who honoured him with her
confidence. He likewise gave orders for his being instructed in the
learning of ihe Magi,

Demaratus, the Laccd^moninn, who was then at court, being or-
dered to ask a favour, desired that he might be carried through Sardls
in royal state, with a diadem ujion his head. But Mithrnpaustes,ihc
Icing's cousin-gcrman, took him by the hand, and said, Deinaratnt,
this diadem does iwt carry brains tilvtig with it to cover; nor would
you be Jupiter, though you should take hold of his thunder. The
king was highly displeased at Demaratus for making this request,
and seemed determined never to forgive him ; yet, at the <)e!>ire of
Tlicmistocles, he was persuaded to be reconciled to him. And, in
the following reigns, when the affairs of Peritla and Greece were more
closely connected, as oft as the kings requested a favour of any Gre-
cian captain, they arc said to have promised him, in expres.s terms.
That he shoultl be a greater mau at their mtirt than Theinisforles
had been. Nay, we are told, that The mi stocks himself, in the midst
of his greatness, and the extraordinary respect ilwt was paid him,
seeing his table most elegantly spread, turned lo his children sod
taid, ChildrcH, we should have been uiidotie, had it not been for
our undoing. Most uuthors agree, ihat he had three cities ^rrn
him for bread, wine, and meat. Magnesia, Lampsacus, nnd Mvus,
Neanthes of Cyzicus, and Phanins, add two more, Percote and Pb-
lescepsis, for his chamber and his wardrobe.

Some business relative to Greece having brought him to the s«-
ooast, a Persian named Gplxyes, gov-crnor of Upper Phrygia, who had
a design upon his life, and had long prepared certain Piaidians to kill
him, when he should lodge in a city called Leontocephalus, or JJon't
Jlead, nptv determined to put it in c\ecutioii..^Bui, lu it« lay

CL

sleeping one day at noon, the mother of tlie gods is said to liave ap-
peared tu him in a dream, and thus to liave addressed li!in: " Be-
ware, Tiiein is tocles, of the Lion's Head, lest the Lion crush you.
For this warning I require of you Mnesiptolemu for my servant."
Themistoeles awoke io great disorder, and, when he had devoutly re-
turned thanks to the goddess, left the high road, and toiik aoother
way, to avoid the place of danger. At night he took up liis lodging
beyond it; but as one of the horses that carried his tent had fullen
into a river, and his servants were busied in spreading the wet hang-
ings to dry, the Pitidians, who were advancing with their swords
drawn, saw these hangings indistinctly by moon-light, and taking
them for the tent of Themistocles, expected to find hiin reposing
himself within. They approached, therefore, and lifted up the hang-
ings; but the servants that had the care of them, fell upon ihcm,
and took thcB). The danger thus avoided, Themistocles, admiring
the goodness of the goddess that appeared to him, built a temple in
Magnesia, which he dedicated to Cybele Dimlymenc, and nppouited
his daughter Mncsiptolcma priestess of it.

When the king was come to Sardis, he diverted himself with look-
iug upon the ornaments of the temples ; and, among the great num-
ber of offerings, he found in the temple of Cybele a female figure
of brass, two cubits high, called Hydropkoras, or the water-bearer,
which he himself, when sun-eyor of the aqueducts at Athena,
had caused to be made and dedicated out of the fines of such as
bnd stolen the water, or diverted the stream. Whether it was that
he was moved at seeing this statue in n sirnnge country, or that he
w-as desirous to show the Athenians how much he was honoured,
and what power he had all over the king's dominions, he addressed
himself to the governor of Lydia, and begged leave to send back the
atatue to Athens. The barbarian immediately took fire, and said,
he would certainly acquaint the king what sort of a request he had
madehitn. Themistocles, alarmed at this menace, applied to the
governor's women, and, by money, prevailed upon them to pacify
him. After this, he behaved with more prudence, sensible how
much he had to fear from the envy of the Persians. Hence, he did
Hot travel about jVsia, as Tlicopompus says, but took up liis abode
at Magnesia, where, loaded with valuable presents, and equally ho-
Qourcd witJi the Per:>ian nobles, he long lived in great security; for
the king, who was engaged in the aflairs of the upper provincet, gave
but tittle Bticntioa to the concerns of Greece.

But when Eygpt revolted, and was supported in tliat revolt by the
AthcDians, when the Grecian fl^et sailed as far as Cyprus and Cilicla,
and Cunon rode Uiumphuit muter of the seas, thea the king of

TB^C

836 klutarch's lives.

Persia applied himself to oppose the Greeks, and to prevent the
growth of tlicir power. He put his forces in motion, sent out his
generals, mid dispatched messen^rs to Themistock'S at Magnesia,
to command him to perform his promises, and exert himself against
Greece, Did he not obey the summons then > No; neither re-
sentment against the Atheniims, nor the honours and authority la
which he now flourished, could prevail upon him to take the direc-
tion of the expedition. Possibly he might doubt the event of the
war, as Greece had then several great generals ; and Cimon, in par-
ticular, was distinguished with extraordinary success. Above all,
regard for his own achievements, and the trophies he had gained,
whose glory be ^-as unwilling to tarnish, determined liim (as the best
method he could take) to put such an end to his life as became hit
dignity. Having, therefore, sacrificed to the gods, assembled bis
friends, and taken his last leave, he drank bull's blood, as is generally
reported ; or, as some relate it, he took a quick poison, and ended
his days at Magnesia, having lived sixty -five years, most of which he
had spent in civil or military employments. When the king was
acquainted with the cause and manner of his death, he admired
htm more than ever, and continued his favour and bounty to his
friends and relations*.

Themlstocles had by Archippe, the daughter of Lysander of Alo-
pece, five sons, Neocles, Diodes, Archeptolis, Polyeuctes, and
Cieophantus, The three last survived him. Plato takes notice of
Cleoplianlus as an excellent horseman, but a man of no merit ia
other respects. Neocles, his eldest son, died when a child, br the
bite of a horse ; and Diodes was adopted by his grandfather Lv-
aander. He had several daughters; namely, Mnesiptolema, bva
second wife, who was married to Archeptolis, her half-brtiihef ;
Italia, whose husband was Panthldes of Chios ; Siburis, married to
Nicomedes the Attienluu ; and N'icomache, at Magnesia, to Hitisi-
cles, the ncpliew of Thcmistocles, who, after her father's dcAtb,
took u voyage for that purpose, received her at the hands of her bro-
thers, and brought up her sister Asia, the youngest of the children.
_ The Magnesians erected a very handsome monument to him,
which sti)] remains in the market-place. No credit is to be girea
to Andocides, who (vrites to his friends, that the Athenians stole bic
aslics out of the tomb, and scattered them In the air ; for it is ad
ardticc of bis to exasperate the nobility against the pfopli* Phylar-'
chus, too, more like a writer of tragedy than an historian, arailtoj

* There ii, in our apinion, mote irur lieroiim in (tie deilb of Themislodu firm n
deilli of C*ta, II it iomr tiling cnlhuiiutjcilly grcii, ■Ticii a man dcKmiinanMMi
■in hu liberifi bui, il i) MBiclliin(Uill gr««ter, obeo henfton lo tnirirt hi) kMn

CAMILXUS. 237

fa^

himself of what may be called a piece of machineiy, introduces-
Neocles and Demopolis as the sons of Themistocles, to make hi»
story more iDteresting and pathetic. But a very moderate degrea
of sagacity may discover it to be a fiction. Yet Diodorus the gto*
grapher writes, in his treatise of sepulchres, but rather by conjecture
than certain knowledge, that near tlie harbour of Pir»us, from the'
promontory of Alcimus*, the land makes an elbow, and whenyoa
have doubled it inwards, by the still water, there is a vast foun^
dation, upon which stands the tomb of Themistoeles, in the form of
.ao altar. With him, Plato, the comic writer, agrees, thus :

Oft as the merchant speeds the passing sail«
Thy tomb, Themistoeles, he stops to hail:
When hostile ships in martial combat meet^
Thy sliade attending hovers o'er the leeC

Various honours and privileges were granted by the Magnesians-
to the descendants of Themistoeles, which continued down to ocv
times; for they were enjoyed by one of his name, aa Athenian^-
with whom I had a particular acquaintance and friendship in die
house of Ammonius the philosc^her.

CAMILLUS.

AMONG the many remarkable tilings related of Furius CamUliis^
the most extraordinary seems to be this, that though he was oftea
in the highest commands, and performed the greatest actionsn
thou^ he was five times chosen dictator^ though he triumphed
four times, and was styled th^ liecond founder ofRome^ yet he was.
never once consul. Perhaps we may discover the reason in tibe.
state of the commonwealth at that time : the people, then at vari-
ance with the senate, refused to elect consuls, and, instead of them^
put the government in the hands of military tribunes. Though
these acted, indeed, with consular power and authority, yet their
administration was less grievous to the people, because they were
ipore in number. To have the direction of afiairs intrusted to six
persons instead of two, was some ease and satisfaction to a people^
t^at could not bear to be dictated to by the nobility. Camillus, then
$sdiiguished by his achievements, and at the height of glory, did
not choose to be consul against the inclinationsof the people, though
the comitia or assemblies, in which they might have elected con-

* Mennintrii^yooirectsitilitmMs. We find no place in Attidi tailed Akimu$,'
1^ abgtough named AUarat there wesy on the emit of the Pirses.

suU, were several limes held id t)iut period. In all his otlier com-
inbsions, whicli were many and variuus, he so conducted himself,
thai if lie was luirusled with tlie sole pow er, he shared il with others.
Mid, if he bad a colleague, the glory was his own. The authority
seemed to be shared by reason of his great modesty in commaod,
which gave no occasion to cn\y; and the glory was secured to
him by his genius and capacity, in which he was universally allowed
to have no equal.

The ^tnily of the Furit was not very illustrious before his time ;
be was the first that raised il to distinction, when be sened under
Posthumius Tabertus in the great battle with the E«|ui and Volsci.
In that action, spurring his horse before the ranks, he received a
wound in the thigh, when, instead of retiring, he plucked the javclia
out of the wound, engaged with the bravest of the enemy, and put
them to iliglit. For this, among other honours, he was appointed
■elisor, an ofCce, at that time, of great dignity. There is upon record
a very laudahk- act of his that took place duruig liis ofEcc. As the
wars hud ma<le many widows, he obliged such of the men as lived
tingle, partly by persuasion, and partly by threatening them with
fines, to marry those widows. Another act of his, which indeed was
absolutely necessary, was the causing orphans, who before were ex-
empt from taxes, to contribute to the supplies ; for these were very
large, by reason of ihe continual wars. What was then most urgent
was the siege of Veil, wliose inhabitants some call Venctaiii. This
city was the barrier of Tuscany, and in the quantity of her arms, and
number of her military, not hiferior to Rome. Proud of her wealth,
her elegance, and luxury, she had maintained with the Romans many
long and gallant disputes for glory and for power. But, humbled
by many signal defeats, the Veientes had then bid adieu to that am-
biiiiin ; they satisfied themselves with building strong and high
walls, and filling the city with provisions, arms, and all kinds of
warlike stores ; and so they waited for the enemy without fear. The
siege was long, but no less laborious and troublesome to the be-
siegers than to them. For the Ronuins had long been accustomed
to summer campaigns only, and to winter at home ; and then, for
the first time, their olUcers ordered them to construct forts, to raise
strong works about their camp, and to pass the winter as well as
summer in the enemy's country.

The seventh year of the war wis now almost past, when the
generals began to be blamed ; and as it was thought they showed
not sufficient vigour in the siege, they were superseded, and othera
put in their room; among whom was Cauiillus, then appointed
/n'iwTK the second time. He was not, however, at present con-
cerned in the siege, for It fell to his lot to head the expedition against

CAMILLU9. S|0

the Falisci and Capenates, who^ while the Romans were otherwbe
employed, committed great depredations in their country, and haras-
sed them during the whole Tuscan war. But Camillus, falling upon
them, killed great numbers, and shut up the rest within their walls.

During the heat of the war, a phenomenon appeared in the Alban
lake, which might be reckoned amongst the strangest prodigies; and^
as no common or natural cause could be assigned for it, it occasion-
ed great consternation. The summer was now declining, and the
season by no means rainy, nor remarkable for south winds. Of tlie
many springs, brooks, and lakes, wliich Italy abounds with, some
were dried up, and others but feebly resisted the drought ; the ri-
vers, always low in the summer, then ran with a very slender stream.
But the Alban lake, which has its source within itself, and dis-
charges no part of its water, being quite surrounded with mountains^
without any cause, unless it was a supernatural one, began to rise
and swell in a most remarkable manner, increasing till it reached
the sides, and at last the very tops of the hills; all which happened
without any agitation of its waters. For a while it was the wonder
of the shepherds and herdsmen : but when the earth, which, like a
mole, kept it from overflowing the country below, was broken down
with the quantity and weight of water, then descending like a tor-
rent through the ploughed fields, and other cultivated grounds to
the sea, it not only astonished the Romans, but was thought by al|
Italy to portend some extraordinary event. It was the great sub-
ject of conversation in the camp before Veii^ so that it came at last
to be known to the besieged.

As, in the course of long sieges, there is usually some conversation
with the enemy, it happened that a Roman soldier formed an ac-
quaintance with one of the townsmen, a man versed in ancient tra-
ditions, and supposed to be more than ordinarily skilled in divina-
tion. The Roman, perceiving that he expressed great satisfaction
at the story of the lake, and thereupon laughed at the siege, told
him, ^' This was not the only wonder the times had produced, but
other prodigies, still stranger than this, had happened to the Ro-
mans, which he should be glad to communicate to him, if, by that
means, he could provide for his own safety in the midst of the pub-
lic ruin.*' The man, readily hearkening to the proposal, came out
to him, expecting to hear some secret, and the Roman continued
the discourse, drawing him forward by degrees, till they were at
some distance from the gates. Then he snatched him up in his
arms, and by his superior strength held him, till, with the assistance
of several soldiers from the camp, he was secured and carried be-
fore the generals. The man, reduced to this necessity, and know
IP^ thftt d^ny canuot be avoided, declared the secret ofaclcs coo*

' cemiDg his own country, " That ihe city could never be tahen till
the Kilters of the Alban lake, which had now forsook their bed,
aod found new passages, were turned back, and so diverted as to
prevent their mixing with the sea*."

The KDate, informed of this prediction, and deliberating aboat it,
were of opinion it would be best to send to Delphi to consult the
oracle. They chose for this purpose three persons of honour and
distinction, Licinius Cossus, Valerius Potitus, andFabius Ambustus}
who, having had a prosperous voyage, and consulted Apollo, re-
turned with this among other answers, " That they had neglected
some ceremonies in the l^atin feasts." As to the water of the Albaa
lake, they were ordered, if possible, to shut it up in its ancient bed ;
or, if that could not be effected, to dig canah and trenches for it,
till it lost itself on ihc land. Agreeably to this direction, the
priests were employed in offering sacrifices, and the people in labour,
to turn the course of the water.

In the tenth year of the siege, the senate removed the other nrtagls-
trates, and appointed Camillus dictator, who made choice of Cor-
nelius Scipio for his general of horse. In the first place lie made
TOWS to the gods, if tlicy favoured him with putting a glorious period
to the war, to celebrate the great Circensian games to their honour,
and to consecrate the temple of the goddess, whom the Romans call
the Mother matuCa. By her secret rites we may suppose this last
to be the goddess Leucothea : for they take a female slave into the
inner part of the temple, where they beat her, and then dii^-e her
out; they carry their brother's children in their arms instead of their
own; and they represent in the ceremonies of the sacrifice ail that
happened to the nurses of Bacchus, and what Ino sufr(;red for hav-
ing saved the son of Juno's rival.

After these vows, CamilliLs penetrated into the country of the
Falisci, and in a great battle overthrew them and their auxiliaries
the Capenates. Then he turned to the siege of Veii ; and perceiv-
ing it would he both difllcult and dangerous to endeavour to take il
by assault, he ordered mines to be dug, the soil about the cit;
being easy to work, and admitting of depth enough for the worka
to be carried on unseen by the enemy. As this succeeded to his
wish, he made an assault without, to cull the enemy to the walU;
and, in the mean time, others of his soldiers made their way through
the mines, and secretly penetrated to Jnno's temple intheciu-
del. This was the most considerable temple in the city ; and we
are told, that at that instant the Tuscan general happened to be
sacrificing, when the soothsayer, upon inspectioa of tlie enttailt,
•T!.e prnpbety. iccordiiig loLi-ryd. ». c. I5>, wiilliu, Ten iWI Mncr b< Mia I.H
(II Ihc vattT iinui Uuln/lAt Ukf/Alb*.

^t^mmt

J

CAMILLyS. S4|

cried out, ^' The gods promise rictory to hiia that. shall finish this
sacrifice'*;" the Romans, who were under ground, hearing what he
said, immediately removed the pavement, and came out with lou4
shouts, and clashing their arms, which struck the enemy with such
terror that they fled, and left the entrails, which were carried to Ca-
millus. But perhaps this has more of the air of fahle than of history.
The city thus taken by the Romans, sword in hand, while they were
busy in plundering it, and carrying off its immense riches, CamilluSj
beholding from the citadel what was done, at first burst into tears;
and when those about him began to magnify his happiness, he lifted
up his hands towards heaven, and uttered this prayer : ^' Great Ju-
piter, and ye gods, that have the inspection of our good and evil ac-
tions) ye know that the Romans, not without just cause, but Ir their
own defence, and constrained by necessity, have made war a^nst
this city, and their enemies, its unjust inhabitants. If we must havQ
some misfortune in Ueu of this success, I entreat that it may fall, not
upon Rome, or the Roman army, but upon myself: yet lay not, y«
gods, a heavy hand upon mef." Having pronounced these words,
he turned to the right, as the manner of the Romans is, after prayer
and supplication, but fell in turning. His friends that were by ex-
pressed great uneasiness at the accident, but he soon recovered him"*
self from the fall, and told them, ** It was only a small inconveni-
coce after great success, agreeable to his prayer.'*

After the city was pillaged, he determined3 pursuant to his vow,
to remove the statue of Juno to Rome. The workmen were assem-
bled for the purpose, and he offered sacrifice to the godde^, ^^ Be-
seeching her to accept of their homage, and graciously to take up her
abode among the gods of Rome." To which, it is said, the status
softly answered, ^* She was willing and ready to do it." But Livy
says, CamiUus, in offering up his petition, touched the image of the
goddess^ and entreated her to go with them, and that some of the
standers-by answered, ^^ She consented, and would willingly follow

* Words spok«n by persons unconcerned in their affairs, and upon a quite difierent
subject, were interpreted by the heathens as good or bad omens, if they happened to b«
any way applicable to their case. And they took great pains to fulfil the omen, if they
tboQght it fortunate; as well as to evade it, if it appeared unluclty.

t Livy, who has given us this prayer, has not qualified it with that modification so
no worthy of Camillus, cU enuxutan elach'uto kako teleutesai, may it be with as little dttri*
went a$ pouibU to myulf! On the contrary, he says, ut earn invidiam lenire fiM> fiivato
incemmad* quam minimo publico populi Romani Ucerit, Camillus prayed, that if thit
tueceu must have an efuivaleitt in some entnivg miMfortunc, that misfortune might fall upon
Usmelf, and ike Baman people escape vttfc as UttU detriment as possible. This was great
and Keioie. PItttarch, having but an imperfect kaowledgt of tb« Roman langaafe.
probably mistook the sense.

Xoul. No, IS* HH

them." Tliose that support and defend the miracle have the fortune
of Rome on their side, which could never have risen from such small
and contemptible bcgiuninfrs to tliat hei^^ht of glory and empire,
without the constant assistance of some god, who favoured ihetn with
many consideriibie tokens of his presence. Several miracles of a
similar nature are also alleged; as, that images have ofiti^n sweated;
that they have been heard to groan; and that sometimes ihey have
turned from their votaries, and shut their eyes. Many such accounts
we have from our ancients; and not a few persons of our own limes
have given us wonderful relations, not unworthy of notice. But to
give entire credit to (hem, or altogether to disbelieve iliem. Is equally
dangerous, on account of human weakness. We keep not alwiyi
within the bounds of reascn, nor are masters of our minds ! Some-
times we fall into vain superstition, and sometimes into a ueglecl
of all religion. It is best to be cautious, and avoid extremes.

Whether it was that CamiUus was elated with his great exploit, in
taking a city that was the rival of Rome, after it had been besieged
ten years, or that he was misled by his flatterers, he took upon him
too much state for a magistrate suhject to the laws and usages of his
country: for his triumph was conducted with excessive pomp, and
he rode through Rome in a chariot drawn hy four white horses,which
no general ever did before or after him. Indeed, this sort of carriage
is esteemed sacred, and Is appropriated to the king and father of the
gods. The citizens, therefore, considered this unusual appearance
©f grandeur as an insult upon them. Besides, they were oftcnded at
his opposing the taw by which tiic city was to be divided; for their
tribunes had proposed that the senate and people should be divided
into two equal parts; one part to remain at Home, and the other, as
the lot happened to fall, to remove to the conquered city, by which
means they would not only have more room, but, by being in posses-
sion of two considerable cities, be better able to defend their territo-
ries, and to watch over their prosperity. The people, who were very
numerous, and enriched by the late plunder, constantly assembled in
the/orum, and in a tumultuous manner demanded to have it pm to
the vote — But the senate and other principal ciiizenx considetcd
this proposal of the tribunes not so much the dividing as the dc^trt^'*
ing of Home, and iu their uneasiness applied to Caniillus. Camillus
was afraid to put it to the trial, and therefore invented demurs and
piytenccs of delay, to prevent the bills being offered to the people;
by which he incurred their displeasure.

But the greatest and most manifest cauic of their hatred wms his
behaviour with respect to the tenths of the spoils : and if the resent-
ment of llie people was not in this cose altogether jtui, yet it b«4

CAMILLUS« * S43

' n ■' " ' . .. I.

€oine show of reason. It seems he had made a vow, as he marched
to Veii, tliat^ if he todc the city, he would consecrate the tenths to
Apollo. But when the city was taken, and came to be pillaged, he
was either unwilling to interrupt his men> or in the hurry he had for*
got his yow, and so gave up the whole plunder to them. After he
had resigned his dictatorship, he laid the case before the senate : and
the soothsayers declared that the sacrifices announced the anger of
the gods, which ought to be appeased by ofierings expressive of their
gratitude for the favoura they had received. The senate then made
a decree, that the plunder should remain with the soldiers (for they
knew not how to manage it otherwise) ; but that each should pro«
duce, upon oath, the tenth of the value of what he had got. This
was a great hardship upon the soldiers; and those poor fellows could
not without force be brought to refund so large a portion of the fruit
of their labours^ and to make good not only what they had hardly
earned, but now actually spent. Camillus, distressed with their
complaints, for want of a better excuse, made use of a very absurd
apology, by acknowledging he had forgotten his vow. This they
greatly resented, that having tlien vowed the tenths of the enemy's
goods, he should now exact the tenths of the citizens. However,
they all produced their proportion ; and it was resolved that a vase
of massy gold should be made and sent to Delphi. But as there was
a scarcity of gold in the city, while the magistrates were considering
bow to procure it, the Roman matrons met, and, having consulted
among themselves, gave up their golden ornaments, which weighed
eight talents, as an oiiering to the god. And the senate, in honour
of their piety, decreed that they should have funeral orations as well
as the men, which had not been the custom before. They then sent
three of the chief of the nobility, ambassadors, in a large ship well
manned, and fitted out in a manner becoming so solemn an occasion.

In this voyage they were equally endangered by a storm and a
calm, but escaped beyond all expectation, when on the brink of de-
struction. For the wind slackening near the .£olian islands, the
galleys of the Lipareans gave them chace as pirates. Upon their
stretching out their hands for mercy, the Lipareans used no violence
to their persons, but towed the ship into harbour, and there exposed
both them and tbeir goods to sple, having first adjudged them to be
lawfiil prizes. With much difficulty, however, they were prevailed
upon to release them, out of regard to the merit and authority o£
Timesitheus, the chief magistrate of the place, «vho, moreover, con«
veyed tbem with his own vessels, and assisted in deditating the gift.
For thit suitable honours were paid him at Rome.

And now the tribunn of th§ people attempted to bring tbt law

for removing part of the citizoDS to Veil odcc more upon the carpM;
but the war with tlic Falisci very seasonably intervening, put the
tnunagement of tlic elections in tlie hands of the patricians, and they
nominated Cnmilliis a mlllfari/ trihime, together with five others, «
afliiirs then required a general of considerable dignity, reputatioa,
and experience. When the people had confirmed this iiomioatioo,
Cainillus marched his forces into the eoimtry of the Falisct, and had.
siege to Falerii, a city well fortified, and provided in all respecU te
ihc war. lie was sensible it was like to be no easy affair, nor aooa
to He dispatched, and this was one reason for his engaging in h; te
he was desirous to keep the citizens employed abroad, that the;
might not have leisure to sit down at home, and raise tumuhs ml
seditions. Tliis was indeed a remedy which the Romans had M-
wnys recourse tu, like good physicians, to expel dangerous bumoan
from the body politic.

The Falerians, trusting to the fortifications with which they were
surrounded, made so little account of the siege, that the Inhabitants,
except those who guarded the walls, n-alked the streets in their coai-
mon habits. The boys too went to school, and the master took ibm
out to walk and exercise about the walls; for the Falerians, like the
Greeks, chose to liare their children bred at one public school, that
they might betimes be accustomed to the same discipline, and fans
themselves to friendship and society.

This schoolmaster, then, designing to betray the Falerians by
means of their children, took them ever)- day out of the city to exCT-
cisc, keeping pretty close to the walls at Rrst, and, when their ex-
ercise was over, led them in again. By degrees he took them out
farther, accustoming them to divert themselves freely, as if they bad
nothing to fear. Ki last, liavlng got them all together, he btoogbt
them to the Roman advanced guard, and delivered them up to be
carried to Camtllus. VMien he mme Into his presence, he said,
" He was the schoolmaster of Falerii, hut preferring his favour to
the obligations of duty, he came to deliver up those children to hiiBi
and in them the whole city." Tiiis action appeared very shocking
to Camiltus, and he said to those that were by, *' War, »t best, b a
lavage thing, aud wades through a sea of violence and injustice ; yet
evcu war itself has its laws, which men of honour will not depart
from ; nor do they so pursue victory as to avail themselves of acts of
vilfany and bHseness; for a great general should rely only on hisovn
virtue, and not upon the treachery of others.'* Then he ordered the
tittors to tear off the wretch's clothes, to tie his hands behmd hiiOt
and to furnish the boys with rods and scourges lo punish thrtrutor,
tnd whip him into the city. By this means the Faleriaos had <lu>

CAMILLU8. S4S

covered the schoolmaster's treason, the city, as might be expected^
was full of lamentations for so great a loss, and the principal inhafai*
tants, bodi men and women, crowded about the walls and the gate^
like persons distracted. In the midst of this disorder, they esfned tbc
boys whipping on their master naked and bound, and calling Ca*
millus ^' their god, their deliverer, their &ther.'' Not only the pa*
rents of those children, bat all the citizens in general, were struck
with admiration at the spectacle, and conceived such an affection C&t
the justice of Camillus, that they immediately assembled, and seat
deputies to surrender to him both themselves and their eity«

Camillus sent them to Rome; and when they were introduced t»
the senate, they said, ^ The Romans, in preferring justice to con*
quest, have taught us to be satisfied with submission instead <9fli«
berty. At the same time we declare we dp not think ourselves sa
inuch beneatli you in strength, as inferior in virtue*^' The senate
referred the disquisition and settling of the articles of pedce to Ca«
millus, whowcoatented himself with taking a sum of money of the
Falerians; and, having entered into alliance with the whole natioa
of the Falisci, returned to Rome*

But the. soldiers, who expected to have had the plundering of Fa*
lerii, when they came back empty-handed, accused Camillus to their
fellow citizens as an enemy to the commons, and one that maliciously
opposed the interest of the poor. And when the tribunes again pio>»
posed die law for transplanting part of the citizens toVeii, and sum*
moned the people to give their votes, Camillus spoke very freely, or
rather with much asperity agajnst it, appearing remarkably violent
in his ojqposition to the people, who, therefore, lost tlieir bill, but
harboured a strong resentment against Camillus. Even the misfor-
tune he had in his family, of losing one of his sons, did not in the
least mit^te their rage, though, as a man of great goodness and
tenderness of heart, he was inconsolable for his loss, and shut him-
self up at home, a close mourner with the women, at the same time
that they were lodging an impeachment against him«

His acenser was Lucius Apuleius, who brought against him a
charge of fraud with respect to the Tuscan spoils; and it was al*
legtd that certain brass gates, a part of those spoils, were found with
him. The people were so much exasperated, that it was plain they
would liqr hold on any pretext to condemn him. He therefore as«
•embled his friends, his colleagues, and fellow-soldiers, a great num*
her in all, and Jl>egged of them not to suflTer him to be crushed by
^MiO^nd unjust accusations, and exposed to the scorn of his ene-
mifift'Whrn they had consulted together, and fully considered the
nffiiir^ tho answer they gava was, that they did not believe it in their

pmver to prevent tlie sentence, but ilicy would willingly assist idat
to pny the fine thut miglit b<; laid upon him. Me could not, how-
e^-er, bear the thoughts of so great an indignity, and, giving way to
his resentment, determined to quit the city as a voluntary exile.
Having taken leave of his wife and children, he went in silence from
his house to the gate of the city. There he made a stand, and turn-
ing about, stretched out his hands towards the capitol, and prayed to
the gOfls, " That if he was driven out without any fault of his owiif
and merely by the violence or unvy of the people, the Romans might
quickly repent it, and express to all the world their want of Camillus,
and their regret for his absence."

When he had thus, like Achilles, uttered his imprecations agatnst
bis conntrymen, he departed; and, leaving his cause undefended, he
was ccndcmned to pay a fine of fifteen thousand asex, which, reduced
to Grecian money, is one thousand live hundred drachma; for th«
OS is a small coin that is the tenth part of a piece of silver, u-fiich
for that reason is called denarius, and answers to our drachma.
There is not a man in Rome wlio does not believe ttial these Impre-
CBtions of Camillus had their effects though the punishment of his
countrymen for their injustice proved no ways agreeable to him, but,
on tlic com raiy, matter of grief. Vet how great, liow memorable
was that punishment ! How remarkably did vengeance pursue tbft
Romans! What danger, destruction, and disgrace, did those timM
bring upon the cityl whether it was the work of fortune, or whether
it is the office of some deity to i>ee that virtue shall not be oppressed
fcy the ungrateful with impunity*.

The first token of the approaching calamities was the death of
Julius the CeJimir. For the Romans have a particular veneration for
the censor, and look upon Ins office as sacred. A second tokeo
happened a little before the exile of Camillus. Marcus Cediiius, a
man of no illustrious family indeed, nor of senatorial rank, but ■
person of great probity and virtue, informed the military tribunes of
a matter which deserved great attention. As he was going the night
before nloiig what is called the New Road, he said he was addressed
in a loud voice. Upon turning about, he saw nobody, but heard
these words in an accent more than human: " Go, Marcus Ceditius,
and early in the morning acquaint the magistrates that they m«j
shortly expect the Gauls." But the tribunes made a jest of ihc in-
formation; and soon after followed the disgrace of Camillus.

The Gauls arc <if Celtic origin, and arc said to liave left tlteir
country, which was too small to maintain their vast number*, to g»

• li .» the ;">li<i'<> NeiDoii ohom Ihc Ilcnl1>i:ii4 bpli«*ccl lo Ii»« ibi bSMofpo-

oiiluns t*tl utiwui in till* woiUi pituculail} pnd« aBd mgratiisd*.

CAMILLUt. ' £47

in search of another. These emigrants consisted of many thousands
of young and able warriors^ witii a still greater number of women and
children. Part of them took their route towards the northern ocean^
crossed the Rhiphsan mountains^ and settled in the extreme parts off
Europe; and part established themselves for a long time betweea
the Pyrenees and the Alps^ near the Senones and Celtorians. But
happening to taste of wine, which was then for the first time brought
out of Italy, they so much admired the liquor, and were so enchanted
with this new pleasure, that they snatched up their arms, and, tak<*
Ing their parents along with them, marched to the Alps, to seek that
country which produced such excellent fruit, and in comparison of
which, they considered all others as barren and ungeniaL

The man that first carried wine amongst them, and excited theni
to iuTade Italy, is said to have been Aruns, a Tuscan, a man of somcr
distinction, and not naturally disposed to mischief, but led to it bf
his mbfortun€!l« He was guardian to an orphan named Lucnmo*^
of the greatest fortune in the country, and most celebrated for beau*
ty. Aruns brought him up from a boy, and, when grown up he stiK
continued at his hbuse, upon a pretence of enjoying his convereatioii.
Meanwhile he had corrupted his guardian's wife, or she had corrupted
him, and for a long time the criminal commerce was carried on ua-»
discovered. At length their passion becoming so violent that thej
could neither restrain nor conceal it, the young man carried her ofl^
and attempted to keep her openly. The husband endeavoured ta
find his redress at law, but was disappmnted by the superior interest
and wealth of Lucumo. He therefore quitted his own country^ and
having heard of the enterprising spirit of the Gauls, went to themj
and conducted their armies into Italy.

In the first expedition they soon possessed themselves of that coua*
try wluch stretches out from the Alps to both seas. That this of old
belonged to the Tuscans, the names themselves are a proof; for the
sea which lies to the north is called the Adriatic, from a Tuscan citjf
named Adria, and that on the other side to the south is called the
Tuscan sea. All that country is well planted with trees, has excel-
lent pastures, and b well watered with rivers. It contained dgfateea
considerable cities, whose manufactures and trade procured them tlui
gratifications of luxury. The Gauls expelled the Tuscans, and made
tbemsdves masters of these cities; but this was done long before.

The Gauls were now besieging Clusium, a city of Tuscany. The
Clusians applied to the Romans, entreating them to send ambasaa*
dors and letters to tlie barbarians. Accordingly they sent ttuee tiles*

* fwdiMf wai not the name bat the title of the jOBOg Hum. He wm kml of t hum
f iMfM^ Bscrona ww ditidid iato pcfajciftlititt cnlM LmtmmmXtu

M4S Plutarch's lives.

tiiovs persons of the Fabian fiuniljy who had borne iht hi^iest cm*
ployments in ifae state. The Gaols reoeifed them eoorteoiisly oo
account of the name of Rome, and, potting a stop to thdr opentioiis
against the town, came to a conference. But when di^ woe asked,
what injoTf Aej had leceifed from the Qnsians, diat thej ^«i^
wgmst their city, Brennos, Idi^ of the Gaols, smiled and said^

^ The Hijorjr the Closians do OS is their keeping to themsebres a large
trade of gioond, when they can only coldvate a saudl one;, and le*
fianing to give op a part of it to os, who are strangers, nomeroas and
poor. In die same manner yoo Romans were injored fonnerty bf
die Albans, the Fideoates, and the Ardeates, and lately by the peo-
ple of Veil and Capenie, and the greatest part of the Falisd and the
Vbbci. Upon these yoo make war; if they refose to share with yoa
didr goods, yoo enslave their persons, lay waste their coontry^ and
demoUsh their cities. Nor are your proceedings dishonourable or
wijost; for you follow the aftost ancient of laws, which directs the
weak to obey the strong, from the Creator eren to the inatioaai part
of the creation, that are tau^t by natore to make use of the admi«
Ugt their strength afiords them against the feeble. Cease then to
caqaess your compassion for the Closians, lest you teaidi us in our
turn to commisserate those that haTc been oppressed by theRonuiisJ'
By this answer the Romans clearly perceiYcd that Brennus woudd
eoBie to no terms; and, therefore, they went into Closiomy wfaeia
diey encooraged and animated the inhabitants to the sally against d»a
barbarians, either to make trial of the strength of the Closians, or
to show their own. The Clnsians made a sally, and a sharp conflict
enaued near the walls, when Qointius Ambustus, one of the Fabi^
qmrred his horse against a Gaul of extraordinary size and figure,who
had advanced a great way before the ranks. At first he was not
known, because the encounter was hot, and his armour daiaded the
eyes of the beholders: but when he had OTercome and killed the
Gaul, and came to despoil him of his arms, Brennus knew him^ and
called the gods to witness, ^^ That against all the laws and usagea
of mankind which were esteemed the most sacred and innolable^
Ambustus came as an ambassador, but acted as an eaemy." He drew
off his men direcdy, and bidding the Clusians farewell, led his army
towards Rome. But, that he might not seem to rejoice that such
an afiront was offered, or to have wanted a pretext for hostilities, bet -
aent to demand the offender, in order to punish him^ and, in the
mean time, advanced but slowly.

The herald being arrived, the senate was assembled, and manjr
^oke against the Fabii; particularly the priests calledyeciai(» re^
jMres^ted the aetion as au <rffence against religioii^ and a^jii^ tho

CAMILLAS. ;- M9

■1 ii.'ir , I .ssBssasesBSsaaassssBsaesBsssss,

senate to lay the whole ^ilt^ and the expiation of it^ upon the per*
son who alone was to blame> and, so to nvert the wratli of heaven
from the rest of the Romans* These ftciales were appointed by
Numa, tlie mildest and justest of kings, conseryiitors of peace, a^
well as judges to give sanction to tlie just causes of war. The senate
referred the matter-to the people, and the priests accused Fabiut
with some ardour before them ; but such was the disregard they ex-
pressed for their persons, and such their contempt of religion, tliat tUey
constituted that very Fabius and his brethren military tribunes.

As soon as the Gauls were informed of this, they were greatly,
enraged, and would no longer delay tlieir march, but hastened for-
ward with the utmost celerity. Their prodigious numbers, tlielp
glittering arms, their fury and impetuosity, struck terror wherever
they came; people gave np their lands for lost, not doubting but the
cities would soon follow : however, what was beyond all expectation^
they injured no man's property ; they neither pillaged the fields,
nor insulted the cities ; and, as they passed by, they cried out,
'' They were going to Rome, they were at war with the Romans only,
and considered all others as their friends."

While the barbarians were going for^'ard in this impetuous man-
ner, the tribunes led out their forces to battle, in number not inferior
(for they consisted of forty thousand foot), but the greatest part
undisciplined, and such as had never handle^a weapon before. Be-
sides, they paid no attention to religion, having oeither propitiated
tlie gods by sacrifice, nor consulted the soothsayers, as was their
duty in time of danger, and before ao engagemeDL Aooibrr thing
which occasioned no small confusioo was the miniber of persoas
jcnned in the command ; whereas, bcCore, they Ind ofteo appoioted^ ^
for wars of less coosidefatioo, a single leader, whom they cali
dietaiar, sensible of how great ouoscqiieoce it b to |;ood order Mid
success, at a daogeiuos crisis, to be arfaatcd as it were widb one
soul, and to have the absolute commaiid inrcsied in one pmon#
Hieir ungratefial treatment of Canullos, too, was nsa dbe least ms*
happy circnmstauce ; as it now appeared dinynw ft^r dbe p»»
uetab to use their authority without soose Imrring
to the people.

In this condition they marched out of the eiif, and
about eleren miles from it, ou the hanks of the fii«r JUSut^mA^ tm
from its eonfnence with the Tiber. ThrfeibelniterikanscMMrii|^M^
them, and as ibe Bomans engaged in a fc wdi ilj namng^ tWy n*uf^
shamef n% bcnten, and put to Cglbt* Thar hti wimg mm ^Am
pushed into tke river, and these dcstiaydL llHar i%^ m^*^ Wt^ms^
quitted the fidd to amid Hie dbaqp^ mi ymwk ik^ \iUk^ S^ IMC
Vox. 1. No. 15. II

■ufTer so much, many of them escaping (o Home. The rest tliat
[ lurvived the carnage, when the enemy were sutiated witli blood.
Stole by iijglit tu Vcii, concluding that Rome was lost, and its in-
hahitants put to the sword.

Tiiis buttle wiis fought when the moon was at full, about the sum-
mer solstice, the very same day that the slaughter of the Fab!!
happened long before*, when three hundred of them were cut off by

the Tuscans The second misfortune, however, so much cfllsieei!

the memory of the first, that the day is still called the da^ o/' Allia,
from the river of that name.

\s to the point, whether there be any lucky or unlucky days, and
whether Heraclilus was right in blaming Hesiod for distinguishing
them into fortunate nnd unfortunate, as not knowing that the na-
ture of all days is the same, we h[tve considered it in another
place. But, on this occasion, perhaps it may not be amiss to nico-
tion a few examples. The Boeotians, on tlie fifth of the month
which they call Hipjtoilromiits, and the Athenians Hevatombteoa
(July), gained two signal victories, both of which restored liberty to
Greece i ihe one at Leuctra, the other at Gersstus, above two tian-
dred years before, when they defeated Latamyas and the Thcssa-
liaiis. On the other hand, the Persians were beaten by the Greeks
on the sixth of Boedromion (September) at Mamthon, on the third
at Platffia, as also Mycale, and on the twenty-sixth at Arbcli.
About the full moon of the same month, the Athenians, under the
conduct of Chabrias, were victorious in the sea-fig)it near Naxos,
and on the twentieth they gained the victory of Salamis, as we have
mentioned In the treatise concerning days. The month Thargdhn
(May) was also remarkably unfortunate to the barbarians: for, in
that month, Alexander defeated the king of Persia's generals near
the Granicus ; and the Carthaginians were beaten by Timoleon in
Sicily on t)ie twenty-fourth of the same ; a day still more remarkable
(according to Ephorus, Callisthenes, Demasier, and Phylarchus)
for the taking of Troy. On the contrary, the m,ont\i Matngittthn
(August), which the Btpolinns called Ponenuw, was very unlucky
to the Greeks; for, on the seventh, they were beaten by Amipater
iu the battle of Cranon, and utterly ruined, and, before that, thrjr
were dcfc-ited by Philip at Chteronea. And on that same day, and
month, and year, the troops which under Arehidamus made a desccnl
upon Italy, were cut to pieces by the barbarians. The Carthaginiaiu
have set a mark upon the twenty-second of that month, as a iaj

that has always brought upon them the greatest of calamities. hx

tlie anme time, I am not ignorant, that, about the time of the ccle-
* The liitceuh or JdIj.

CAM1LLU8. S51

I -'if 'IB! i' P ' ' .UU

Oration of the nufsieries, Thebes was demolished by Alexander ;
and after that, on the same twentieth o{ Boedromion (September}^
a day sacred to the solemnities of Bacchus, the Athenians were
obliged to receive a Macedonian garrison. On one and the same
day, the Romans, under the command of Csepio, were stripped of
their camp by the Cimbri, and, afterwards, under Lucuilus, con-
quered Tigranes and the Armenians. King Attalus and Pompey the
Great both died on their birth-days. And I could give an account
of many others who, on the same day, at different periods, have ex-
perienced both good and bad fortune. Be that as it may, the Ro-
mans marked the day of their defeat at Allia as unfortunate ; and as
superstitious fears generally increase upon a. misfortune, they no|
only distinguish that as such, but the two next that follow in every
month throughout the year.

If, after so decisive a battle, the Gauls had immediately pursued
the fugitives, there would have been nothing to hinder the entire
destruction of Rome, and all that remained in it ; with such terror
' was the city struck at the return of those that escaped from the bat«
tie, and so filled with confusion and distraction ! But the Gauls, not
imagining the victory to be so great as it was, in the excess of their
joy indulged themselves in good cheer, and shared the plunder of
the camp ; by which means, numbers that were for leaving the city
had leisure to escape, and those that remained had time to recollect
themselves, and prepare for tlieir defence ; for, quitting the rest of
the city, they retired to the capitol, wliich they fortified with strong
ramparts, and provided well with arms. But their first care was of
their holy things, most of which they conveyed into the capitoL As
for the sacred fire, the vestal virgins took it up, together with other
holy relics, and fled away with it : though some will have it, that they
have not the charge of any thing but that living fire which Noma
appointed to be worshipped as the principle of all things. It is, \n^
deed, the most active thing in nature ; and all generation either is
motion, pr, at least, with motion. Otiier parts of matter, when the
heat fails, lie sluggish and dead, and crave the force of fire aa
an informing soul$ and, when that comes, they.acquire some active
or passive quality. Hence it was that Numa, a man curious in his
researches into nature, and, on account of his wisdom, supposed to the
have conversed with the muses^ consecrated this fire, and ordered it
to be perpetually kept up, as an image of that eternal power which
preserves and actuates the universe..-.Others say, diat, according to
the usage of the Greeks, the fire is kept ever burning before the holy
places, as an emblem of purity ; but that there are other things in
the moet secret part of the temple kept from the sight of all

but, if an opportunity should offer, to allack and conquer them.
Perceiving that the Ardeans were not duficieiit in numbers, but
courage and discipline, which was owiii)^ to the inexperience and in-
activity of their officers, he applied first to the youn|^ men, and told
theiD, " They ought not to ascribe the defeat of the Romans to the
valour of the Gauls, or to consider the calamities they had sutTercd
inthemidstof their infatuation as brought upon them by men who, in
fact, could not claim the merit of the victory, but as the work of
fortune: that it would be glorious, though they risked ioinething
by it, to repel a foreign and barbarous enemy, whose end in con-
quering was, like fire, to destroy what they subdued; but that, if
they would aasiime a proper spirit, lie would give them an oppor-
tunity to conquer without any hazard at all." When he found the
young men were pleased with his discourse, he went next to the
magistrates and senate of Ardea, and having persuaded them also
to adopt his scheme, he armed all that were of a proper age for it,
and diew them up within the walls, that llic enemy, who were but ai
a small distance, might not know what he was about.

The Gauls having scoured the country, and loaded themselves
with plunder, encamped upon the plains in a careless and disorderly
manner. Night found them intoxicated with wine, and silence
reigned in the camp. As soon as Camlllus was informed of this by
his spies, he led the Ardeans out, and, having passed the interme-
diate space without noise, he reached their camp about mlduight.
Then he ordered a loud shout tobeset up, and the trumpets to souud
on all sides, to cause the greater confusion ; but it was with dif-
ficulty they recovered themselves from their sleep and intoxication.
A few, whom fear had made sober, snatched up their arms to oppose
Camillus, and fell with their weapons in their hands; but the
greatest part of them, burled in sleep and wine, were surprised un-
armed, and easily dispatched. A small number that in the night
escaped out of the camp, and wandered in the fields, were picked up
next day by the cavalry, and put lo the sword.

The fame of this action soon reaching the neighbouring cities>
drew out many of their ablest warriors. Particularly, such of the
Romans as had escaped from the battle of Allia to Veii lamented
within themselves in some such manner as this : " What a general
has heaven taken from Home in Camillus to adorn the Ardeans with
his exploits! while the city which produced and brought up so
great a man is absolutely ruined ; and we, for want of a leadur, sit
idle within the walls of a strange city, and betray the liberties of
Italy — Come, then, let us send to tlie Ardeans lo demand our
geaeial, oi else take our weapons and go to bioij for he is uo

CAMILLUS. S55

longer an exile, nor we citizens, having no couotiy but what ii
in possession of an enemy/'

This motion was agreed to, and they sent to CamiUus to iotreat
him to accept of the command. But he answered, he could not do
it, before he was legally appointed to it by the Romans in the capi-*
tol^; for he looked upon them, while tliey were in being, as the
commonwealth, and would readily obey their orders, but, without
them, would not be so offi^flp ^ to Interpose*

Hiey admired the modesty and honour of CamiUus, but knew not
how to send the proposal to the capitol. It seemed indeed impos-
sible for a messenger to pasfl into the citadel, while the enemy wem
in possesskm of the city. However, a young man, named Pootiiii
Cominitts, not distingubhed by his birth, but fond of glory, readilf
took upon him the commission. He carried no letters to die citizens
in the cafpitol, lest, if he should happen to be taken, the eneaoy
should discover by them the intentions of CamiUus. Having diesaed
himself in mean attire, under which he concealed some pieces of
cork, he travelled all day without fear, and approaehed the city as it
grew dark. He could not pass the river by the bridge, because it was
guarded by the Gauls; and therefore took his clothes, wkidi wese
neither numy nor heavy, and bound them about his head, and, ha-
ving laid himself upon the pieces of cork, easily swam over utd,
reached the city. Then, avoiding those quarters where, by the i^bt*
aud noise he concluded they kept watch, he went to the Carmi£nUJ
gate, where there was the greatest silence, and where the hiU of the
capitol is the steepest and most craggy. Up this he got unperedred^
by a way the most difSeult and dreadful, and approached the guards
upon the walls. After he had hailed them, and told them his name^
they received him with joy, and conducted him to the magbtrates.

Tlie senate was presently assembled, and he acquainted them with
the victory of CamUlus, which they had not heard of before, as well
ns with the proceedings of the soldiers at Veii, and exhorted diem
to confirm CamiUus in the command, as the citizens of Rome would
obey none but him. Having heard his report, and consulted to-
gether, they declared CamiUus dictator, and sent Pontius back the
same way he came, who was equally fortunate in his return ; for he
passed the enemy undiscovered, and delivered to the Romans at Veii
the decree of the senate, which they received with pleasure.

CamiUus^ at his arrival, found twenty thousand of them in arms«

* LivT laTip lh« Romaii soldiers at Veii applied to the remains of the senate in th«
capitol for leave, before they offered the command to Camillas. So much regard had
tboee brarc men for the constitution of their countrj, though Rome then lay in «»h«fc
Ereij private man was indeed a patriot.

ri-UTARCIIS LIVES,

to whom he adtli'd a grentcr number of ullK-s, and prepared to atta^-k
the enemy. Thus was he appointed dictntur the setond tliuc, and,
having put himself at the head of the Romans aud confederates, h»
liiurclied out against the Gauts.

Meantime, some of the harbarians employed in the siege, happen-
ing to pass by the place where Pontius had made his way by nii^ht
up to the Capitol, obsencd many Intces of his feet and hands, as he
bad ^vo^kcd himself up the rock, torn jtt what grew there, and tum-
bled down the mould. Of this t)icy informed the king, who coming
Bud viewing it, for the present said nothing ; but, in the evening, he
assembled the lightest and most active of his men, who were the

likeliest to climb any diflicult heii^ht, and thus addressed them :

" The enemy have themselves shown us a way to reach them, wliicb
we were ignorant of, aud liavc proved that this rock is neither inac-
cessable, nor untrod by human feet. What a shame would it be then,
after iiaving made a beginning, not to finish ; and to quit the place
as impregnable, nhcn the Romans tliemseUes have taught us hot*
to take it ? Where it was easy for one man to ascend, it cannot be
difficult for many, one by one ; nay, should many attcmjit it together,
tliey nill find greni advnntngc in assisting eacti other. In the tneaa
time, I lulend great rewards and honours for such as shall dUtinguuh ,
themselves on this occasion."

The Gauls readily embraced the king's proposal, and about mid-
night a number of ihcm together bogiiu to climb the rock in silence,
which, though steep and cragg)', proved more practicable tbao they
expected. The foremost liaving gained the top, put themselves in
Older, aud were ready to take possession of the uoll, and to full upou
tlic guards, who were fast asleep, for neither man nor dog perceived
their coming. Ilotvevcr, there were certain sacred geese kept ncai
Juno's temple", and, at other times, plentifully fed ; but, atthi«
time, as corn and other ptovisiona that remained were scarcely suffi-
cient for the men, they were ne^eeted, and in \moi condition. T\ui
animal is ualurally quick of hearing, and soon alarmed at any noise;
and, w hunger kept them U'uking aud uneasy, they immediately per-
ceived the coming of the Gauls, and, running at them with all the
uuise they could make, they awoke all the guards. I'he barbariaiu
now perceiving they weft- discovered, ftdi^anced With loud shouts
and greol fury. Tlie Humans in haste uiatched up such weapons as

* Cr-v wfr- cirr al>rr liiit in ):.i!iuiir nl RsB«, ■u>l k Sink at Tlmn sIvBii krpi
u IliP ciitrnar ar ihr public. A giiiileii laupe of • {»«>« hiii crrcicd m memirj
ul i)iciB. anJ * i^uuir rrerj^m oiritd in Itiumpb ii|mii ■ lonlillct Siit4j[ adonird.
•hil* <l«gi wrrc lidi] in iililKitrviKc bj ihg Koauu, oha e*cr; jtit >ib|wM «•• J
tbcB apuB ■ bnncfa «t ddtt. — HU. m Phk M t'trtmt lt«*.

^

CAMILLUS. S57

came to band, uud acttuitted themselves like men oo this sudiicn
emergency. Firsi of all, Mnnlius, a niuri of ronsular diirnity, re-
markable for his sirenj^h and extraordinary courage, cn^nged (wo
Gauls at once, and ai> one of tliem was lilting up his haitle-axe, with
his sivord cut off liis rigtit hand ; at the same time he thrust the Iwss
of his sliicld ia the face of tlie other, and da>ht'd liiiii down tlie pre-
cipice. Thus, standing on the rampart, with those thai hud cume
to his assistance and fought by his side, he tlnivc baik the rest of
■he Gauls that had got up, Who were no great number, and who
performed nothing worthy of such an atteni}it. The Romans having
thus escaped the danger that threatened them, as soon as it was light*
threw the officer that commanded the watch down the rock amongst
the enemy, and decreed Maiilius a reward fur bis victory, which had
more of honour in it tlian profit -, for every man gave him what ho
had for one day's allowance, which was half a pound of bread, and a
quartern of the Greek cotyle. ,

After this the Gauls began to lose courage j for provisions were
scarce, and they could not forage for fear of Camilluii*. Sickness,
too, prevailed among them, which took its rise from the heaps of
dead bodies, and from their encamping amidst the rubbish of tha
bouses they had burnt ; where there was such a quantity of ashes,
as, when raised by the winds, or healed by the sun, hy tlieir dry and
acrid quality so corrupted the air, that every breath ofitwasper*
nicious. Bu: what affected them most was the change of climate ;
for they bad lived in countries that abounded with shades and ni^iec-
able shelters from the heat, and were now got into grounds that
were low, atid unhealthy in autumn. AH this, tu^ether with the
length and tedlnusncss of the siege, wliicli had now lasted more than
sis luonibs, caused such desolation among them, uml carried olF such
numbers, that tbe carcases lay unburied.

The besieged, however, were not in a much better condition.
Famine, which now prc»sed tbcm liard, und their ignorance of what
Camillus was doing, caused no small dejcctiuii: for the barbarians
guarded the city with so much care, that it was impossible to sei d
any messenger to him. Butb sides being [bus et|ually disconrngt-d,
the advanced guunb, who were near enough to converse, first iiegaa
to talk of treating. As the motion was iippnn'cd by tliose that had
the cliief direction ofatiairs, Sulpitius, one of the military tiibunes,
went and conferred with Brennns, when ii was agreed that the Ro-
mans should pay a thousand pounds weight of gold, and thai the
GuiUs, upon receiptof it, sliuuld immediately quit the city and its ler*

* Caniillui, faciii|| lamalcrof llic cotfixryi [HjticU HroOK guaidtoa all lilt raulta and
■KcScci iKiii'Cdl ilie beiifgcri,
"TTOL. 1. No. 13. KK

2S5

PLUTARCH S LIVES.

riiories. When the conditions were sworn to, and the gold WM
\ * bmught, the Gauls, endeavouringtuavail themselves of false weight*,
privrtltly at first, and afterwards openly, drew down their own side
of the balunce. The Romans expressing their resentment, Brcnntu,
in a. contemptuous and insulting manner, took olT his sword, and
tliiew it, lielt and all, into thesente: and, when Sulpitius asked
what that meant, he answered, " What should it mean but woe
to the conquered?" which became a proverbial saying. Some of
the Romans wire highly incensed at this, and talked of rdurning
with their gold, and enduring the utmost cstrcmilies of the siege; but
others were of opinion thai it was better to pass by a small injury,
since the indignity lay not in paying more than was due, but in
paying any thing at all; a disgrace only consequent upon' the
necessity of the limes.

While they were thus disputing with the Gauls, Camillus arrlTt*!
«t the gates, and, being informed of what had passed, ordered tbe
main body of his army to advance slowly and in good order, while
he, with a select hand, marched hastily up to the Romans, who all
gave place, and received the dictator with respect and silenre. Then
he took the gold out of the scales, and gjive it to the tirtors, and t>r-
dered the Gauls to take away the balance and the weights, and to be
gone, telling them, J^ u'as the custom of the Romans to tUUvtr
their country with steel, not with gold. And when Brcnnus ex-
pressedhis indignation, and complained he had great injustice done
him by this infraction of ihc treaty, Camillus answered, "Tliatit
was never lawfully made ; nor could it be valid without his eonsent,
who was dictator and sole magistrate ; they had, therefore, acted
without proper authority : but they might make iheir proposals now
he was come, whom the laws had invested with power either ta
pardon the suppliant, or to punish the guilty, if proper ntii*
faction was not made."

At this Brennus was still more highly Incensed, and a sliinniili
ensued; swords were drawn on both sides, and thrusts cxc)tanj;ed
in a confused manner, which, it is easy to concei\-e, must be thecxxr,
amidst the ruins of houses, and in narrow streets, where there «m
not room to draw up regularly. Brennus, however, soon recoUedctf
himself, and drew off his forces into the camp, with the loss ofi
small number. In the night he ordered them to mart^i, and quit
the city ; and having retreated about eight mites from it, he caanf
ed uiK>D the Gabinian road. Early in the morning Camillas ccme
up with them, his arms dazzling the sight, iind his men full ufsptnti
and Src. A sharp engagement ensued, which bisted alongtHor;
«i length the Oaub were routed with great slaughter, and their e

\

CAi^iLLtrs. ' 259

taken. Some of those that fled were killed in the pursuit ; but the
greater part were cut in pieces by the people in the neighbouring^' *
towns and villages, who fell upon them as they were dispersed.

Thus was Rome strangeljs taken, and more strangely recovered^
after It had been seven months in the possession of the barbarians^
for they entered it a little after the Idea^ the fifteenth of July, and
were driven out about the Ides^ the thirteenth of February following.
Camillus returned in triumph, as became the deliverer of his lost
country, and the restorer of Rome. Those that had quitted the place
before the siege, with their wives and children, now followed his
chariot; and they that had been besieged in the capitol, and were
almost perished with hunger, met the other, and embraced them^
weeping for joy at this unexpected pleasure, which they almost con-
sidered as a dream. The priests and ministers of the gods, bringing
back with them wliat holy things they had hid or conveyed away whea
they fled, afibrded a most desirable spectacle to the people; and they
gave them the kindest welcome, as if the gods themselves had re-
turned with them to Rome. Next, Camillus sacrificed to the gods^
and purified the city, in a form dictated by the pontifls. He rebuilt
the former temples, and erected a new one to ^ius Loquutitis^ the
speaker or waniery upon the very spot where the voice from heaven
announced in the night to Marcus Ceditius the coming of the bar*
barlans. There was, indeed, no small difliculty in discovering the
places where the temples had stood, but it was efiected by the zeal of
Camillus, and the industry of the priests.

As it was necessary to rebuild the city, which was entirely demo^
Ushed, a heartless despondency seized the multitude, and they in-
vented pretexts of delay. They were in want of all necessary rnate^
rials, and had more occasion for repose and refreshment after theit
sufierings, than to labour an<^^'^«r themselves out, when their bodies
were weak, and their substauc ^li/as gone. They had, therefore, a
secret attachment to Veii, a cit^^hich remained entire, and was pro-
vided with every thing. Tiiis gave a handle to tlieir demagogues tp
harangue them^ as usual, in a way agreeable to their inclinations^
and made them listen to seditious speeches against Camillas, *' As
if, to gratify his ambition and thirst of glory, he would deprive them
of a city fit to receive them, force them to pitch their tents amon|(.
rubbbh, and rebuild a ruin that was like one great funeral pile, ia
order that he might not only be called the general and dictator of
Some, but the founder too, instead of Romuhis, whose rigb||fae in-
vaded.''-^On tliis account, the senate, afraid of an insurrection,would
DOt let Camillus lay down the dictatorship within the year, as he de^
aired^ though no atbtr penaa had ever borne that high .office mote .

tlian BJK months. In the iiii:au lime they went about to oousole the
people, to gam tham liy caresses and kind persuasions. One while
they showed ihein the monuments xnd tombs of their ancestors;
then they put them in mind of their temples and holy places, which
Romulus and Numa, and the other Ifings, had consecrated and left
in charge with them. Alwve all, amidst the saci'ed and awful sym-
bols, they tottk care to make them recollect the fresh human head,
which was found when the foundations of the capitol were dug, and
which prciignified that tlie same )>Iacc was destined to be the bead of
Italy. 'I'hey ur^d the disgrace it would be to extinguish again the
g<-icred fire, which the vestuls had lighted since the war, and to quit
the city ; whether they were to see it Inhabited by strangers, or a de-
solate wild for flocks to feed in. In this moving manner the patri'
dam remonstrated to the people, boih In public and private; anJ
were in their turu much afieeted by the distress of the multitude,
who lamented their present indigence, and begged of them, now they
were collected like the remains of a shipwreck, not to oblige them to
patch up the ruins of a desolated city, when there was one entire,
arid ready lu receive them.

Camlllus, therefore, thought proper to take the judgmeitt of tlie
senate iu a body; and when he had exerted his eloquence in (avoiir
of his native country, and oilicrs had done the same, he put it to tlie
Tute, beginning with Lucius Lucretius, whose right it was to rot*
first, and who was to bo followed by the rest in their order. Silence
was made, and as Lucretius was about to declare himself, it hfippcncd
that a centurion, who then cominandcd the day-guard, ns he passed
tlie house, culled with a loud voice to the ensign, to sto^t mid tri uf
kii ttandard there, for thai vas the best place to stay in. llicse
words being so seasonably uttered, at a time when they werv doubi*
ful and anxious about the event, L^ ' lus gave thanks to the fuds
and embraced the omen, while ilie i gladly assented. A wonder-
ful cliange, at the same time, took pf^ce in the minds of the people,
who exhorted and encouraged eairli other to the work, and tliey bc-
gait to btiilil immediately, not in any order, or upon a regular plan,
but as inclination or convenience directed. By reason of this liun?
the afreets were narrow snd intricile, and (he houses badly laid out;
for they tell us both the walls of the city and the eireets were built
within the compass of a year.

The person* appointed by Camlllus to search for and mark out tlie
holy places, found all in confusion. As they were looking roaod tlte
Pelatium, they came to the court of ^ar*, where the butldiugs, like
the rest, wire hunii and demolished by the bnibariaiu; but, in re
moving the rubljishr and cleaning iLe place, they ditcovcTMl, under

"^

J

a great heap of asbes, the augural staff of Romulus* This staflf U
crooked at one end^ and called Ikutis. It is used in markiag out tbt
aereral quarters of the heavens, in any process of divination by th«
flight of birds, which Roaulus was much skilled in, and made graat
use of. Wbea he was taken out of the world, the priests oarefuUy
preseived the staff from defilement^ like other holy relics; and
this having escaped the fire, when the rest were consumed, they in-*
dulged a pleasing hope, and considered it as a presage, that Romt
would last forever.

Before they had finished the laborious task of buik&fig, a new war
broke out. The iEqui, the Vokci, and the Latins, all at once in-
vaded their territories, and the Tuscans laid siege to Sutrium, a citf
in alliance with Rome. The military tribunes too, who commatidal
the army, being surrounded by the Latins near Mount Marcius, and
their camp in great danger, sent to Rome to desire succours ^ on which
occasion Camiilus was appointed dictator the third time.

Of this war there are two different accounts : I begin with tlie ht^
bulous one. It is said, the Latins, either seeking a pretence for war^
or really inclined to renew their ancient affinity with the Romaos^
jent to demand of them a number of free-born virgins m marriage.
Tlie Romans were in no small perplexity as to the course they should
take: for, on the one hand, they were afraid of war, as they were not
yet re-established, nor had recovered their losses; and, on tlie other^
they suspected that the Latins only wanted their daughters for hos-
tages, though they coloured their design with the specious name of
marriage. While they were tlius embarrassed, a female slave named
Ttttola*, or, as some call her, Philotis, advised the magistrates to
send with her some of the handsomest and most genteel of the maid-
aervants, dressed like virgins of good fiimilies, and leave the teat to
her. The magistrates approving the expedient, chose a number
of female slaves proper for her purpose, and sent them, richly ad-
tired, to the Latin camp, which was not far from the city. At nighty
while the other slaves conveyed away the enemies* swords, Tutula^
or Philotis, got up into a wild fig-'tree of considerable height, and
having spread a thick garment behind, ta conceal her design from
the Latins, held up a torch towards Rome, which was the signal
agreed upon between her and the magistrates, wlio alone were in the
secret. For this reason the soldiers sallied out in a tumultuous man-
ner, calling upon each other, and hastened by their officers, who
Immd it difficult to bring them into any order. They spade them«
•lelireB masters, however, of the intrenchments, and as the enemy,
ttpeeting no such attempt^ were asleepf they took the camp, and puc

* ^tlialUs Of BomoltttilM If catted Tstfiii. Mitrobiafxalls btr Tulek.

I thegreatestpartof them to the sword. This happened on (he A'bnf^,
f Ibe svveath of July, then caWeii Qiihitilin: and on thuiday they cele-
traicd a feast in memory of this action. In the first place, they sally
in a crowding and disorderly manner out of the city, pronouncing
sloud the most familiar and eomaion names, as Cuius, Marcus, Lu-
cius, and the like; by which they imitate the soldiers then calling
npon each other in their hurry. Next, the maid-servants walk about,
elegantly dressed, and jesting on all they meet. They have also a
kind of fight among themselves, to express the assistance ihcy gav«
in the engagemfint with the Latins. They then sit down to an en-
tertainment, shaded with brandies of the fig-tree. And that day i«
called Nona: Capratinne, as some suppose, on account of the wild
fig-tree, from which the matd-servant lield out the torch ; for the
Romans cull that tree capri/icus. Others refer the greatest part
of what is said and done on that occasion to that part of the story of
Komulus when he disappeared, and the darkness and tempest, or, as
some imagine, an eclipse happened. It was on the same day, at least,
and the duy might be called Nona: Capratinae; for the Romans
coll a goat capra; and Romulus vanished out of sight while he was
holding an assembly of the people at the Goat's Marsh, as wc haTc
related in his life.

Tiie otiier account that is given of this war, and approved by most
liistorians, is as follows ; Camilius, being appointed dictator the third
time, and knmving that the army under the mllltury tribunes was
surrounded by the Latins and Volscians, was constrained to make
levies among such as age had exempted from service. — With these
he fetched a large compURS about Mount Marcius, and, unpcrceived
by the enemy, posted his army behind them; and by lighting nuo}
fires, signified his arriral. The Romans that were besieged in their
camp, being encouraged by this, resolved to sully out and join battle.
But the Latins and Volscians kept close within their works, drawing
2 line of eircumvallution with pallisadcs, because they had the enemy
on bull) sides, and resolving to wait fur reiu force men is from homc^u
well as for the Tuscan succours.

CamlUus perceiving this, and fearing that the enemy might sur-
round him, as he liud surrounded them, hastened to make use of the
present opportunity. As the works of the confederates consisted of
wood, and the wind used to blow hard from the mountains at sun-
rising, he provided a great quantity of eombusiible matter, and drew
out his forces at day-break. Fart of them he ordered with loud
shouts and oussivc weapons to begin the attack on the opposite side;
while be himself, at the hea* of those that were charged with th«
gfc, watched the proper miautCj on tliat side of the works wUbic tiia

•K

* -

CAMILLU9. iSS

wind used to blow directly. When the sun was risen^ the wind blew
Tiolently; and the attack being begun on the other side, he gave the
signal to his own party, who poured a vast quantity of fiery darts and
other burning matter into the enemy's fortifications. As the flame
soon caught hold, and was fed by the pallisades and other timber, it
spread itself into all quarters; and the Latins not being provided with
any means of extinguishing it, the camp was almost full of fire^ and
they were reduced to a small spot of ground. At last they were
forced to bear down upon that body who were posted before the
camp, and ready to receive them sword in hand. Consequently
very few of them escaped; and those that remained in the camp
were destroyed by the flames, till the Romans extinguished them for
the sake of the plunder.

After this exploit, he left his son Lucius in the camp to guard the
prisoners and the booty, while he himself penetrated into the enemy's
country. There he took the city of the j£qui, and reduced the
Volsci, and then led his army to Sutrium, whose fate he was not yet
apprised of^ and which he hoped to relieve by fighting the Tuscans
who had sat down before it. But the Sutrians had already surren-
dered their town, with the loss of every thing but the clothes thej
had 06 ; and in this condition he met them by the way, with their
wives and children, bewailing their misfortunes. Camillus was ex-
tremely moved at so sad a spectacle ; and perceivfng that the Romans
wept with pity at the affecting entreaties of the Sutrians, he deter-
mined not to defer his revenge, but to march to Sutrium that veiy
day; concluding that men who had just taken an opulent city, where
they had not left one enemy, and who expected none from any other
quarter, would be found in disorder, and off their guard. Nor was
he mistaken in his judgment. He not only passed through the
country undiscovered, but approached the gates, and got possession
of the walls before they were aware. Indeed, there was none to
guard them; for all were engaged in festivity and dissipation. Nay,
even when they perceived that the enemy were masters of the town,
they were so overcome by their indulgences, that few endeavoured to
escape; they were either slain in their houses, or surrendered them-
selves to the conquerors. Thus the city of Sutrium being twice
taken in one day, the new possessors were expelled, and the old
ones restored, by Camillus.

By the triumph decreed him on tliis occasion, he gained no less
credit and honour than by the two former. For those of the citizens
that envied him, and were desirous to attribute his successes rather
to fortune than to his valour and conduct, were compelled, by these
)ast actionsi to allow his great abilities and application. Among those

t&4 FI^UTARCH^a uyEs.

that opposed bim, and detracted from bis merits tbe tsost consider*
ible was Marcus ManUas^ who was the first that repulsed tbe GmIs^
when they attempted the caphol by nighty and on that acoomnt wm
furuamed QapitoUmu. He was ambitious to be the greatest niwi
JB Rome, and as be could not by fair meaas outstrip Camillus in tbe
net of hoQourj^ he took the common road to absolute powcr» bf
fourtii^ the populace, particularly those that were in debt* Sonifi
of the latter he defended^ by pleading their causes against their ere*
difors^ and others he rescued, forcibly preventing their being dealt,
irith according to law ; so that he soon got a number of indigent per*
foos about him, who became formidable to the patricians by tbeic ia*^
loknt and riotous behaviour in the ^orifm.

In this exigency they appointed Cornelius Cbssos dictatOTj wbi|
Mmed Titus Quintius Capitolinus his general of bcMTse ; and by this
mtpreioe magistrate Manlius was committed to prison ; on which
#cqasioQ the people went into mourning; a thing never used but in
time of great and public calamities. The senate, therefore^ afraid
«f an insurrection^ ordered him to be released* But when set at
lihcK^, instead of altering his conduct, he grew more insolent «nd
tfoublesome, and filled the whole city with £u!tion and sedition. At
Aattime Camillus was again created a military tribune^ and Manliua
taken and brought to his trial. But the sight of the <»pitol was %
gieal disadvantage to those that carried on tbe impeachment. The
place where Manlius by night maintained the fight against tbe Gauls
was seen from i}s^fovum; and all that attended were moved with
tompassion at his stretching out his hands towards that place, and
Hogging them with tears to remember his achievements. The judges
of Qourse wcure greatly embarrassed, and often adjourned, tbe court,,
not choosing to acquit him after such clear proofisi ef his crime, nor
jiet able to carry the laws into execution in a place which continually
xeminded tbe people of bis services. Camillus^ sensible of thi$> rar
ipoved tbe tribunal without the gate into the Peteline Grove^ ^rtiere
there was no prospect of the capitol^ There tlie prosecutor brought
b^ charge, and the remembrance of his former bravery gave way ts
tba sense which his judges had of his present crimtes. Manlius^.
therefore, was condemned^ carried to the ctqpitol^ and thrown head*
long from the rock. Thus the same place was tbe monument botb
of hb glory and bis unfortunate end. The Romans, moreover^
m^ed his house> and built there a temple to the goddess iUb*
i^flu They decreed, likewise^ that for the fu^tujoe no patriciaa
should ever dwell m the capitol.

CamHlus, who was now nominated military tribune the sixth tioM^
dadin^thitbQMitt: fi»r j batttai that b« was oimk^dsims^m^m

CAMlLtlJS.

he was apprehensive of the effects of envy and of some change of
fhrtunej alter so much glory and success. „ But the excuse he most
insisted on in public was the state of his health, which at that time
was infirm. The people, however, refusing to accept of that excuse^
cried out, " They did not desire him to fight either on horseback or
on foot ; they only wanted his counsel and his orders.** Tlius they"
forced him to take that office upon him, and, together with Lucius
Furius Medullinus, one of his colleagues, to march immediately
tgainst the enemy.

These were the people of Prasneste and the Volsci, who with a
considerable army were laying waste the country in alliance with
Rome. Camillus, therefore, went and encamped over against them,
intending to prolong the war, that, if there should be any necessity
fer a battle, he might be sufficiently recovered to do his part. But
as his colleague Lucius, too ambitious of glory, was violently a'nd
indiscreetly bent upon fighting, and inspired the othdj* officers' with
the same ardour, he was afr^d it might be thought that through
envy he withheld from the young .officers the opportunity to dis-
tinguish themselves. For this reason he agreed'^ though with great*
reluctance, that Lucius should draw out the forces, whilst he, oii ac-
count of his sickness, remained with a handful of men in the camp.
But when he perceived that Lucius, who engaged in a rash and
precipitate manner, was defeated, and the Romans put to flight, he
could not contain himself, but leaped from liis bed, and went with
his retinue to the gates of-ihe camp.^ >There*iie forced bfs way'
through the fugitives up to the pursuers/ and mad^ so good a stand,
that those who had fled tothecamp soon^retunK^dtoibe charge, tOkd
others that were retreating rallied and phiecd themselves about him,
exhorting each other not to .forsake their generaL Thus the enemy
was stopped in the purrait. - Next day be marehed ^ont at the head
of his army, entirely rooted the confederates in a pitched battle, wad,
entering their camp aknig with them, cot aigst of tliem to prces.

After this, bring ioformcd that Satficam, a Booiao eoboy, iraf
taken by the Tuacans, and the iab^MtaBta pvl lathe swofd, he eent
home the lyiain body of hie foreee, which cofisted of' the hfavjr*
armed, and with a eelect bead of Gght^rtd fpirfted yoaof men fM
upon the Tuscana that were is poaaceMNi of theei^, aoaieef whoM
he put to thesword, mud the icet wnm ^riara oac

Returning to Borne mth greet epoO^ ^ fMv a tigprf ei4deiiM
of the good senee of the Beaw r^^ft^f ^ha raiinaiaul m Um$ im
account of the ill health or ayr of a geaenl Ael wm oet dtieteM W
courage or experience, bvt aade oetoe cimmf wmiff$ aeid ^elMlM^
as he was, lather than of thoee jwaag aMn wkatpeeeid eiNid iilMM#
VouL- No. W. 1^^

r

■^^

266

PLUTARCH S LIVES.

the command. Henccit was, that upon the news of the revolt of
the Tusculans, Cnmillus was ordered to miircli against thcm> aiid to
take with him only one of liis five coUea^es. Though they all de-
sired and made interest for the commission, yet, passing tlic rest by,
he pitched upon Lucius Furius, contrary to the general expectation :
for this was the man who but just before, agaiust the opinion of Camil-
lus, was so eager to engage, and lost the battle. Yet williog, it seems,
to draw a veil over his misfortune, and to wipe off iiis disgrace, he was
generous enough to give him the preference.

When the Tusculans perceived that Camillus was coming ngainst
them, they altemptcd to correct their error by artful management.
They filled the fields with husbandmen and shepherds, as iu time of
profound peace ; they left their ;;ntcs open, and seut their children
to school ^ before. The tradesmen were found in their shops em-
ployed in their respegtive callings, and the better sort of citizens
walking in the public places in their usual dress. Meanwhile, the
magistrates were busily passing to and fro to order quarters for ihc
Romans, as if they expected no danger, and were conscious of no
fault. Though these arts could not altar the opinion Cjirajllus had
of their revolt, yet llieir rcpcutanec disposed him to comjiasMon.
He ordered them, therefore, to go to the senate of Ronie, aodbeg
pardon ; and, when they appeared there as supplJciuits, he used his
interest to procure their forgiveness, and a grant of the privileges
of Roman citizens besides. These were the principal actions of
his sixth tribuneship.

' After this, Licinius Stolo raised a great sedition in the state, pnl-
ting himself at the head of the people, who insisted, that of the two
consuls one should be a plebeian. Tribunes of the people were ap-
pointed, but the multitude would sulTer no election of consuls to be
held. As this want of chief magistrates was likely to bring on Still
greater tfoubtes, the senate created Camillus dictator ilic fourth
time, against the consent of the people, and not even iigrccable to
his Own inclination ; for he was unwilling to set himself tguDst
those persons, who, Iiaving been often led on by him to contjucst,
could with great truth affirm, titat he bad more concern with them
in the military way, than with tlie patricians in the civil; and at the
sanKftime was sensible that the eniy of those very patricians io-
duced them now to promote him to that high station, that he might
oppress the people, if he succeeded, or be ruined fay them, if he fail-
ed in bis aiicn^t. He attempted, however, to obviate the prescat
danger, and as he ktiew the day on which the tribunes tmcnilcd to
propose their law, he published a general muster, and summoned
" (^ people froni tbe/of-um io,to lite tield, threatening (o set be«<7

CAMILLUS.

fines upon those that should not obey. On the other hand^ the tri«
bunes of the people opposed him with m^piees, solemnly protest- .
ing that they would fine him fifty thousanoarizcAmas^ if he did not
permit the people to put their bill to the *te. Whether it was tliat
he was afraid of a second condemnation and banishment, which
would but ill suit him now he was grown old and covered with glory^
or whether he thought he could not get the better of the people, whose
violence was equal to their power, for the present he retired to lib own
house, and soon after, under pretence of sickness, resigne^^e dicta-
torship. The senate appointed another dictator, who, having named folr
his general of horse that very Stolo who was leader of the seditibn, suf-
fered a law to be made that was obnoxious to the patricians. It provided
that no one should possess more than five hundred acres of land. Stolo
having canied his point with the people, flourished greatly for a time;
but not long after, being convicted of possessing more than the limited
number of acres, he suffered the penalties pf his own law.

The most difficult part of tlie dispute, and that which they begaa
'With, namely, concerning the election of consuls, remained still un-
settled, and continued to give the senate great uneasiness, whea
certain information was brought that the Gauls were niarching again
from the coasts of the Adriatic with an immense army toward!
Rome. With this news came an account of the usual effects of
war, the country laid waste, and such of the inhabitants as could not
take refiige in Rome dispersed about the mountains. The terror of
this put a stop to the sedition ; and the most popular of the senators^
uniting with the people, with one voice created Camillus dictator the
fifth time. He was now very old, wanting little of four-score ; yet,
seeing th^ necessity and danger of thie times, he was willing to risk
all inconveniences, and, without alleging any excuse, immediately
took upon him the command, and made the levies. As he knew
the chief force of the barbarians lay in their swords, which tliey ma-
naged without art or skill, furiously rushing in, and aiming cliiefly
at the head and shoulders, he furnisliedmoscof his men with helmets
of well-polbhed iron, that their swords might either break or glance
aside ; and round the borders of their shields he drew a plate of brass,
because die wood of itself could not resist the strokes. Besides this, he
taught them to avail themselves of long pikes, by pushing with which
they might prevent the effect of the enemy's swords.

When the Gauls were arrived at the river Anio with their army,
incumbered with the vast booty they hajl made, Camillus drew out
liis forces, and posted them upou a hill of easy ascent, in which were
many hollows, sufficient to conceal the greatest part of his men^
while thos^ that were in si^ht should teem tbrongh fear to have ta«

ken aAnntagc of ihe higher grounds. And the more to fix this opi-
nion in the Gauls, he opposed not the depredations commitied in Uia
eight, hut remained quietly in the camp he had fortified, while he
had beheld part of them dispersed in order to plunder, and part in-
dulging themselves, day aud ntght, in drinking and revelling. At
last he sent out the light-armed infantry before day to prevent the
enemy's dran-ing up in a regular manner, aud to harass them by sud-
den skirmishing, as they issued out of their trenches; aiid, as snnu
as it was light, he led down the hean-armed, and put ihero in battle'
■tray upon the plain, neither few in number nor disheartened, as the
Gauls expected, hut numerous and full of spirits.

This was the first thing that shook their resolution, fur they con-
sidered it as a disgrace to have the Itomans the aggressors. Tliea
the light-armed falling upon them before they could get into order,
and rank themselves by companies, pressed them so warmly, that they
were obliged to come in great confusion to the engagement. L«si
of all, Camillus leading on the heavy-armed, the Gauls, with bran-
dished swords, hastened to fight hand to hand; but the Komani
meeting the strokes witli tlicir pikes, and receiving them on that part
that was guarded with iron, so turned their swords, which were thio
and soft tempered.that they were soon bent almost double; and their
shields were pierced and weighed down with the pikes that stuck ia
them. They therefore quitted their own arms, aud endeavoured id
seize those of tlie enemy, and to wrest their pikes from them. The
Romans, seeing them naked, now began to make use of their swordi,
and made great carnage among the foremost ranks. MeHniime ihe
rest took to flight, and were scattered along the pUiin; for Cnmilliis
had beforehand secured the heights', and as, in cotifidentc «f
victory, they had left their camp unfortified, they knew it nouhl
be taken with ease.

This battle is said to have been fought tliirteen years after tbe
taking of Home; and, in consequence of this success, the Romaos
laid aside, for the future, the dlsmul apprehensions ihey had enter-
tained of the barbarians. They had iiimgincd, it seems, tli«i the for-
mer victory they had gained over the Gauls wus owing to tbe titli-
ness thai prevailed in iheir army, and to other unforeseen nccideniti
rather than to their own valour; and so great had their terrw btea
formerly, that they had made a law, f/tat the priesU should U tx-
emptett from iwlilary service, exreja in case of an tuvoMM
from the Gauh.

This was the last of Caniillus's martial exploits: for the taklogol
Velittffi was a direct eonseqi)ence of this victory, aud it GurrcudcnJ
without the lcu£t rcsistaace. But the greatest couflict be evci a-

. CAHILLUS. 9^

-LJ_L-n"..-, ',', i„, ■. .T - . -J , r I .ja

perieBced in the statt; still remaioed: for the people were harder to
deal with since they returned victorious, and they iosisted that oot
of the consuls should be chosen out of thdr body, contrary to ths
present constitution. The senate opposed them, and would not suf-
fer Camillus to resign the dictators I tip, thinking they could better
defend the rights of the nobility under the sanction of his supreme
authority. But one day, as Camillus was sitting in the /brum, and
employed in the distribution of justice, an officer, sent by the tribunes
of the people, ordered him to follow him, and laid fajlhbands ufton
him, as if he would seize and carry him away. Upon this, such a
noise and tumult was raised in the assembly as never had been
known; those that were about Camillus thrusting the plebeian offi-
cer down from the tribunal,- and the populace calling out to dra^the
dictator from his seat. In this case Camillus was much embarrassed}
he did not, however, resign the dictatorship, but led off the patriciana
to the senate-house. Before he entered it, he turned towards tlie
Capitol, and prayed to the gods to put a happy end to the present
disturbances, solemnly vowing to build a temple to Concord, whea
the tumult should be over.

In the senate there was a diversity of opinions and great debates.
Mild and popular counsels, however, prevailed, which allowed one
of the consuls to be a plebeian*. When the dictator announced thii
decree to the people, they received it with great satisfaction, as it WM
oaturat they should; they were immediately reconciled to the se-
nate, and conducted Camillus home with great applause. Next d^
the people assembled, and voted that the temple which Camillas had
vowed to Concord, should, on account of this great event, be bii3c
on a spot that fronted the /orum and place of assemUy. To thoM
feasts which are called Latin they added ooe day more, so Aat the
whtde was to consist of four days; and for the preaeot tfiey ordained
that the whole people of Rome should sacrifice with garlands on
tbetr heads. Camillus then held an assembly for the electi(m <^
consuls, when Mareus j£milius was chosen out of the nobility, and
Jjucios Sextius from the commonalty, the fint plcboan that ever
attained that honour.

* The pfiipre hsiing %a\Mi ihit puint, ihe eooiDlate wu retired, nd the miUMf
triburieabip 'aid uids lur eftr; Lul ul Ihe time lime ibe patiiciau pranied fkmjit^
pri>ilc£e> IhBt a uev ufficer, tsileil imturr, iliould b* ippoiDlcd, wbo «n to h* mnj» ,
one of Iheir boij. Tbe coDiaii liiU b«ea genenli of Ibc Boaum tiwta, ud at ik*
•ame time ju<*se3 of eiwW tii*\t%; but at Ihc j •rere ohni ulW bald, it n> UimcIu pm> .
p«r to aep-'ale the laiier b'-'i'-li ■'"'" Hie" "Uwr. •nil »ppri,p.,»(c j ij ■ j^(«, •!*
ll)C litle of PrttBT, "ho wb» lo be m<t i» dipWj to iht eon.^li. A,, a IM J*M W
Borne 301. anothoT prrlor -as apjiumifd lo decidr il.e d.fertntn =..o( funtp-m,
UpoD th* taking of Sicil/ aim iMtdinii two Bor*pwMn«aea.M*«. avd M mmf

PLUTARCH S LIVES.

This Wiis the la^it uf Camillas'^ transactions. The year roIloH-irtg
« pcstil en CKb visited Rome, which carried oft'a prodigious Dumbci of
the people, must of the magistrates, mid CamiUus himself. His
death could not be deemed premaiurc, on account of his great age
and the offices he had borne, yet he was more lamented than all the-
rest of the citizens wlio died of that distemper.

PERICLES.

WHEN Caesar happened to see some strangers at Rome carr^Ioi;
young dogs and monkeys in their arms, and fondly cnressitij^ tliem^
he asked, " Whether the women In their country never bore aoiy
children ;" thus reproving with a proper severity tliosc who lavish
upuD brutes that natural tenderness which is due only to mankind,
lu the same manner we must condemn those who employ that curi-
osity and love of knowledge, which nature has implanted in the hu-
man soul, upon low and worthless objects, while tliey neglect such
as arc excellent and useful. Our senses, indeed, by an cftiect almost
mechanical, arc passive to the impression of outward objects, whether
agreeable or ofiensivcj but the mind, possessed of a sclf-di recti ug
power, may turn its attention to wtiatever It thinks proper. It should,
therefore, be employed in the most useful pursuits, not barely in con-
templation, but in such contemplation as may nourish its faculties.
For, as that colour is best suited to the eye, which fay Its beauty and
agreeableness, at the same time both refreshes and strengthens the
sight, so the application of the mind should be directed to those sub-
jects which, through the channel of pleasure, may lead us to our pro-
per happiness. Such are the works of virtue. The very description
of these inspires us with emulation, and a strong desire to imiuic
them; whereas, in other things, admiration docs not always lead us
to imitate what we admire, but, on the contrary, while we are
charmed with the work, we often despise the workman. Thus wc
are pleased with perfumes and purple, while dyers and perfumers ap-
pear to us in the light of mean mechanics.

Aotisthenes*, therefore, when he was told that Ismenias played
excellently upon the flute, answered properly enough, " Then lie is
good for nothing else, otherwise he would not have played so well."
Such also was I'liillp's saying to hi:> sou, when at a ccrtuu cuiertaia*
ment he sang in a very agreeable and skilful manner^ " Are you not

* AotiiibtBu wu >

icipIcotSuc

:ei, wd fiiuudtr of the kci a( tJic Cjnici,

PEHICLES. 97*

■■■'■' • u

ashamed to sing so well?" It is enough for a prince to liestow a va-
cant hour upon hearing others sing, and he does the muses suffi-
cient honour^ if he attends the performances of those who excel in
tlieir arts.

If a man applies himself to servile or mechanic employments, hb
industry in those things Is a proof of his inattention to nobler studies.
No young man of noble birth or liberal sentiments, from seeing the
Jupiter at Pisa, would desire to be Phidias, or, from the sight of the
Juno at Argos, to be Polycletus; or Anacreon, or Philcsion, or Ar •
chilocus, though delighted with their poems: for though a work may
be agreeable, yet esteem of the author is not the necessary conse-
quence. We may therefore conclude, that things of this kind, which
excite not a spirit of emulation, nor produce any strong impulse or
desire to imitate them, are of little use to the beholders* But virtue
has this peculiar property, that, at the same time that we adjnire her
Conduct, we long to copy the example. Tlie goods of fortune we
wish to cDJor, virtue we desire to practise ; the former we are glad to
receive from others, the latter we are ambitious that others should
receive from us. The beauty of goodness has an attractive power;
it kindles in us at once an attractive principle ; it forms our man-
ners^ and influences our desires, not only when represented in a liv-
ing example, but even in a historical description.

For thb reason we chose to proceed in writing the lives of fgmd^
men, and have composed this tenth Ixxjk, wMcfa contains the Hie of
Pericles, and that of Fabius Maximus<»hc> carried on the war againat
HanniBial; men who resembled each cdicr in many vlrtoea, paftim-
larly in justice and moderation, zsA ig^jr, eSbxtxiadlj ttrreA their re-
cpeccive commonwealths, by psaitrahr ^tibiicstinq the injorioiM and e»-
pricioos treatment they received froa tE^ir coilesifru€% and their
countrrmen. Whether we are rigbt a fjcrr IxuigpOfOXt or r./;t, yUI b#
rasv to see in the work itself.

Pericles was of the tribe of Acaaacr^., ar^! cf H^ xar/J of Cho-
largia. His £unily was one of the SMMt cfMi^enrAe va AfhetA, hoik
by the father's and mother^s tide. Hb (zsher Xsgaki^j%, »Jx> de«
featcd the king of Persia's generafa at Mjcafe^ mmnei Agstntrit, ihe
sjece at C&thenes, who exfdkd the famthr cf Vjusxrsatitf aW^iheA
the tyraBOT^ enacted kvsy and cstab^tEed a farm ^ jpwerniMa^
tesnpcscd in such a maoDer as tended to Maaimi^ uaf4^ tc^ ^Hi^
pie, and the safety of cfae tease: She iten^ed ri^tt the 7$m *Ur,i7^^
of a lioB, and a few davs afcex hma^ Sugtk Perictes. K'jt y^rvja la
other mpecti w» well turned^ but Us iwad was daspr^^fc^r^^oamy
iong: Cor this lowNi aisKst iJH His tcaoes have the iw^ut tofesel
witb a bdflM^ dbt'iMHMS siwfli&iS,IsipM^

272

PLUTARCn 3 LIVES.

But the AlUcniiin poets tailed liim Scliinocephalus, or omon-hend,
for (he vioxA schinos is sonn'tinua used hiatead ofsciHa, atea-onioit.
Cratinus, in his play Ciilled C/iirones, has this passage:

forti»ii

old Tim,

Milb called Feridii,

Hence Cd<nE a tjranMpkHD, c
Id bckven tlie head-cinnivlltr.

And.^in, in his Nemesia, he thus addresses him:
Come, bleiied Joie, llir Itigh ind mighly hat.

The friejirl of huspitnlil j !
And TekclMes says,

Naur, iu a man of thotighf, lie rnrainatei
On rtr.-ingc eipedienit, white hit 'icod. depifnci
^Vifll lit uwii weighl, tinlit on hii kncei: and iloir'
From Ihc visl cavenu ot hit biaia burst fuilb
Slormi and firtce thiiniliri.

And Eupolis, in his Demi, asking news of all the great orators,
whom he represented as accndiiig from the shades beIow,wlien Peri-
cles comes up last, cries out,

Hi«d ur Ilie tribci tbal iiauat llioie spacioai lealmj.

Most writers agree, that the master who taught him music was
called Damon, the first syllable of whose name, they tell us, is to be
pronounced short; but Aristotle inTorms us, he learned that art of
Pythoclides. As for Damon, he seems to have been a politician,
who, under the pretence of teaching music, concealed his great abilt<
ties from tlie vulgar: and he attended Pericles as his tutor and assis-
tant in politics, in the same manner as a master of the gymnastic ut
attends a young man to fit him for the rlngi However, Damoir's
giving lessons upon the harp was discoveretl to be a mere prciexi,
and, fl9 a littsy poliiician and friend to tjrjnny,"lic was baitished bj
the ostracism^ Nor was he spared by the comic poets. Oiie of xhetlt
. pam^d Plato, introduces a person addressing him-thus;

- . , Inform me, DmifD, Srit, iloea fame aaj Mm!
AndiFHtJItou tiallj Vtriclii'j Cltiretif

Pericles AlsDJrt tended the lectures of Zetio ofEIea'^, who, in nMnral
philosopVj't'was a Iblkitvct of Parmcnides, and who, by much prac-

*.TIiit7^no«)it of EIrn, a lo*D sf Ilal J, ami a ?b<'ei«n cnlony, anil munbf m*-
fa!4liri">ngu'>bpd t'om Zrno ihe founder «C llie »ct of (he Stoica. The Eeao bm
■polirn ofwii fMprclahle for atteoiptiug to rid hu counlrj of a Ijruit, Th» Ijnat
took bin), aad cBuKil liiinlo be p''^"''<l I" <'">ib in a nioilar. But bu dtath ■.i.iiln
ptidicd Hliat he «Hild not rtTccl in bii life-tiioe ; far hia rrllOw-citinni oerc w Mack i»
ceiiiedal ih<r dicndful mitiitTi of it,thU ll<e]> fell upun Ibe IjraiU aud tivnm h>a. A*
to bis arguiDciila, and ihoie of bia maaler PaTmciiirin, prclendrd to be » intinctbl*, oai
be ne lucb tluug ai MoiiuBfiiMt a thiof ttmmtHat

PERICLES. • ' 27^

tlce ia the art of disputing, had learned to confouod aod silence ail
his opponents^ as Timon the Phlasian declares in these verses :

Hare not joa heard of Zeno's mightj pow«rS| *

Who could change >iJes, ^et changing, triampli'd utill
In the tongue's wars?

But the philosopher with whom he was most intimately acquainted;
who gave him that force and sublimity of sentiment superior. to ait
the denmgogues ; who, in short, formed him to that admirable dignity
of manners, was Anaxagoras the Clazomeniari. This was he whom
the people of those times called Aausj or intelligence^ either in ad-
miration of his great understanding and knowledge of the works of
nature, or because he was the first who clearly proved that the unic
verse owed its formation neither to chance nor necessity, but to a
pure and unmixed mi/idy who separated the homogeneous parts from
the other, with which they were confounded.

Charmed with the company of this philosopher, and Instructed by
him in the sublimest sciences, Pericles acquired not only an elevation
of sentiment, and a loftiness and purity of style, far removed from
the low expression of the vulgar, but likewise a gravity of counte-
nance which relaxed not into laughter, a firm and even tone of voice^
an easy deportment, and a decency of dress, which no vehemence of
speaking ever put into disorder. These things, and others of the like
nature, excited admiration in all that saw him.

Such was his conduct^ when a vile and abandoned fellow loaded
him a whole day with reproaches and abuse, he bore it with patience
and silence, and continued in public for the dispatch of some urgent
affairs. In the evening he walked softly home, this impudent wretch
following, and insulting him all the way with the most scurrilous
hingtiage; and^ as it was dark when he came to his own xloor, he
ordered one of his servants to take a torch, and light the man home.
Tlie poet Ion, however, says he was proud and supercilious in con-
versation, and that there was a great deal of vanity and contempt of
otliers mixed with his dignity of manner: on the other band^ he
highly extols the civility, complaisance, and politeness of Cimon.
But, to take no further notice of Ion, who perliaps would not have
any great excellence appear without a mixture of sometliing satirical,
as it was in the ancient tragedy^, Zeno desired those that called the

biore ID tbe place where it is, nor in the place where it is not. But this sophisui if easily
fcfoicd; for motion is (he passing of a thing or perton iuto a neir part vf fp4/«.

* Tragedy at fint was only a cboros in bonoor of B«ccb«s, P^^iMMit dr^Mcd lika
isSyn were the performers, and they oiten broke oat lano tbe m*M lic4rutM/us relief y.
Afterwards, when tragedy to<A s graver tarn, soBttkiflg oi tl€ k/fiMri drt>ii«r/ was sliU

Vol.1. No. 14. mm

274

I'Ll'TARCH S LIVE!!.

graviij of Pericfes pride and arrogance, to be proud the siune way ;
telling them, the very acting of nn excellent part might tns«Qsiblj
produce a love and real imitation of it.

These were not the only adrantages which Pericles gained by con-
versing with Anaxagoras. From him he teamed to overcome those
terrors which the various phenomena of the heavens raise in those
who know not their causes, and who entertain a tormenting fear of
the gods by reason of that ignorance. Nor is there any cure for it but
the stndy of nature, which, instead of the frightful extnivagrai-cs of su-
perstition, implants in as a sober piety, sup|M>rted hy a rational liope.

We arc told, there was brought to Pericles, from one of his isrn»,
a nun's head, with only one horn ; and Lainpo the soothsayer ob-
serving, that the horn grew strong and firm out of tlie middle of lite
lorehentt, declared tlint the two purtles in the state, namely, those uf
Tliucydides and Pericles, would unite, and luvcst the whole jioiver
iu him witli whom the prodigy was found; but Annxagorss baviiig
dissected the head, showed that llie brain did not fill the whole
cavity, hut had contracted itself into an oval form, and pointed di-
rectly to that part of the skull whence the horn took its rise, Thii
(irocurcd Anaxagoras grent honour with the spectators ; and liimp»
was DO less honoured for his prediction, when, soon after, upoa
the fall of ITiucydides, the administration was put entirely into tlic
hands of Pericles.

But, in my opinion, the philosopher and the diviner may well
enough be reconciled, and both Ix.- right ; the one discovering the
eauiteand the other the end. It was the business of the former to
account for the appearance, and to consider how it came ubuut; and
of the latter to show why it was so fonned, and what it portended.
Those who say, that, when the cause is found out, the prudigv cease*,
do not consider tliat if they reject such signs as are preiematunl,
they must also deny that artificial vgos are of any use : the clattef
ing of brass quoits*, tiie light of beacons, and the shadow of a su-
dtal, have all of them their proper natural causes, and yet each hM
another sign ili cation. But, perhaps, this question might be mor»
properly discussed in aiioihcr place.

Pericles iu liis youth stood in great fear of the people : for, in U*

Ihree

•Thaelflirring ofbr»*

I th«l uliirhwecilltiogi-comrdj. Iii time, trriuii) chini
ihjrcloftngijdy. •illi.iiii IhU miinire; bnl even iVn,
MriciHi tnfrdii-i, ibe porn uicil lo cmidiMle then cantfiill
orikiif rtii 'he Cj^dopiarKntiplilM, andtWuulj V

•Thaelflirring ofbr»"1""i<i of piMM wot wmetiian « nililBfjr ngnal asM^
Oreciui. Amns (he Runnn St <»u a li^taJ (u call U»e trmilcn to the ring.

PERICLES. 9^9

[ countenance, hi' was tike I'isi^iratus tli<: tyraot : Sh J lie perceived
f the old men were much strutk willi a farther rcsewblonce in the

sweetness of his voice, the volubility of liis tongue, and the round-

Dcss of his periods. As he was, moreover, of a noble fumlly and
I cpulent fortune, and his friends were the most considerable men in
I At state, he dreaded the hnn of ostracism, and therefore inter-
I meddled not with state :iffiiir!<, but behaved with great courage and
f inirepidity in the field. However, when ArisI ides was dead, The -
I nlstocles banished, and Cimun much employed in expeditions at a
[ Stance from Greece, Perielcs cngntjed in the udminist ration. He
I chose rather to solicit the fnvour of the multitude and the poor than
I «f the rich and the feiv, contrar}- to 1iis natural disposition, which

ras far from inclinintr him to court ]>opularity.
It seems he w;is ajiprehcnsivc of falling under the suspicion of
[ aiming at the supreme power, and was sensilile, besides, that Cimon
M attached to the nobility, and extremely beloved by persons of
\ the highest eminence; and, therefore, In order to secure himself.
L and to find resources against the jwMer of Cimon, he studied to in-
I pstiate himself with the common people. At the smne lime he
Bttitirely changed his manner of living — He appeared not in the
Rktreels, except when he went to the forum or the seimic-liouse. He
Kjleclined the invitations of his friends, mid all sikIuI entertuinmcnts
KJmd recreations ; itisomuch, that in the whole time of his admiuis-
I'lniion, which was a considerable length, he never weal lo sup with
l.sny of his friends but once, which was at tiie marriage of his nephew
l£uryptoleinu«, and he staid there only until the ceremony of lib.i-
{tion was ended. He considered that the freedom of entertainments
s away all distinction uf ollice, and tliHt dignity Is but liitlo con-
|;a4stcni with familiarity. Keut and solid virtue, indeed, the more It

f seen, the more glorious It uppciirs ; and there Is nothing in agood
s conduct, as a magistiate, so great In the eye of ihc public, aJ

ll the general course of his behaviour In private lo his must intimate
»ids. Pericles, however, loiik care not lo make his person cheap

niong the people, and appeared among t lie in only nt proper hi-
rvals ; nor did lie speak to all points that were debated before him.

Hit reserved himself, like the Saluminlan galley* [asCrlloIuus saysj,
r greater occasions, dis|tatehing business of less consequence by

thcr orators with whom he had an iuiimncy. One of these. We are
litld, was Epliialles, who, ueeordlng to Plato, overthrew the po»er

f the council of Areopagus, by giving ihe citizens a large and in*

<Brtlill4ltT I

4 |a call ■• ■L'CDii

t\, whkli tli< Ailuniin
ccmioiii. The; MUit it, for inilaucv, foe ■ j
II, HI nrlili M«rifc«t la AjwJlu, ur ibm uiLti i

276 pll'Tarch's lives.

ttmperaic draught uf liberiy. On which account, ihc comic writers
spoak of ihe people of Aihcns as ofa horse wilt) undunmanaged,

Wliich liilcni 10 Ihc rrHi> n.' mnrc.

But, III hii laidd'ning couiM, lietn Uoilluug doirn
TKr <ery Irnndt |)..| fred luip.

Pi'i'ides, desirous to maki: his language u proper vehicle for his
sulilimc seiLiImcnis, and to spe^ik in a, manner that became ihc
diguiiy of liis lift, Hv.tik-d himaflf git-atly of what be had learned of
Anaxiigoias, adorning his eloijuence with the rich colours of philo-
sophy : fir, adding (as the divini* PUito expresses it) the loftiness of
ini,igtnationj and ali-eomiiiauding cntrgy, with wliicli phiioiiophy
supplied liim,io his native powers ofgciiius,andmakin!;useafwhii-
cver he found to his purpose, in the study of nature, to dignify the
art ofspiakin^, befar exccllediill othcrorators. Iltmce he ts said
to have guined liie surname of Oli/inpius; though some will have it
to have been from the edifices with which he adorned ibc cilj' ; and
otlicrs, from his bigli authority both in peat-e aud war. There ap-
pears, indeed, no absurdity in supposing tlmt all these things might
contribute to that glorious di^tinciion. Yet the strokes of satire,
both serious nnd ludicrous, in the comedies of tliose times, indicate
that this title was given him chiefly oti acLount of his eluqueun :
for they tell us, that in his harangues he thundered and ligbtenctl,
and that his tongue was armed witli thunder. Thiicydidcs, ihcsooot
Milcsius, iasaid to have given aplcusimtaceount of ihc force of liiaclu'
qucnce. Tliucydldcs was a great and respcetiibic man, who, for a ItWg
time, opposed the measures of Perieles : and when Archidnmus, one uf
thekipgsofLacediBmon, asked him, " Which was the best wresllcr,Pe-
riclcs orhe ;" he answered, " When I throw him, he says he was ncTO
down, and he persuades the very spectators lo believe so."

Yet such was the solicitude of IV-ricle-s, when he had to spcal in
public, that he always first addressed a prayer to the gods, " TUt
not a word might unawares escape him utisuiiable to the oeci^iou-"
He left nothing in writing, but some public decrees ; and only afa:«
of his sayings urc recorded. He used lo say, (for instance) tluil, "tlw
isle of .^gina should not be suffered to remain uu eye-sore iti tbc
Pir«us;" and thai, "he saw a war approaching from IMopou-
ncsus." And when Sophocles, who went in joint command »iih
him upon an expedition at sea, happened to pruise ihc beauty of a
certain boy, he saJd, " .\ general, my friend, should not ouly have
pure hands, buj pure eyes." Slesimbrotiis produces thb fxawK
from the oration which Pericles pronounced in memory of tbme
Athenians who fell in the Samian war : " Tliey are brcotac im-
mortal like the gods : for the gods tliemsclvcs are not visil>lc to <ai ;
but, from the honours they receive, mid the happiness tlw-y cnjny.

PERICLES, 277

we conclude they are immortal; and^ucU should those brave men
be who die for their country."

Thucydides represents the administration of Pericles as favouring
aristocracy, and tells us, that tliough the government was called
democratical, it was really in the hands of one who had engross-
ed the whole authority. Many other writers likewise inform us,
that by him the people were first indulged with a division of lands,
were treated at the public expense with theatrical diversions, and
were paid for the most <:ommon services to the state. As this new
indulgence from the government was an impolitic custom, wliicb
rendered the people expensive and luxurious, and destroyed that
frugality and love of labour which supported them before, it is proper
that we should trace the effect to its cause, by a retrospect into the
circuDQStances of the republic.

At first, as we have observed, to raise himself to some sort of
equality with Cimon, who was then at the height of glory, Pericles
made his court to the people. And, as Cimon was his superior in
point of fortune, which he employed in relieving the poor Athenians,
in providing victuals every day for the necessitous, and clothing
the aged ; and, besides this, levelled his fences with the ground, that
all might be at liberty to gather his fruit, Pericles had recourse to
the expedient of dividing the public treasure ; which scheme, at
Aristotle informs us, was proposed to him by Demonides of Jos*«
Aceor£ng]y, by supplying the people with money for the public
diversions, and for their attendance in courts of judicature, and by
other pensions and gratuities, he so inveigled them as to avail him*
self of thur interest against the council of the Areopagus, of whicli
he had no right to be a member, having never had the fortaoe to be
chosen Archoriy ThesinotheteSy King of the Sacted Rites j or Pofa-
march. For persons were of old appointed to these offices by lot ; and
such as had discharged them well, and such only, were admitted as
judges in the Areopagus. Pericles, therefore, by his fopuhuity^
raised a party against that council, and, by means of Ephialtr<,
took from them the cognizance of many causes that bad been under
their jurisdiction. He likewise caused Cimon to be hanishrd by the
astracisniy as an enemy to the people, and a friend to the l^^^^^^
monians ; a man who in birth and fortune had no superior, who kmA
gained very glorious victories over the barbarians, and fiiled tlie ^nm
with money and other spoils, as we have rehocd in his lile« ixidti mh^
the authority of Pericles with the common peopk*.

* JoSg or iu%, WHS one of tlie »le« calied bpontdd ia« tLc Jt^^tma h*^, «4i< **W*mwK^^
for the tomb of Homer. But sowc learned aim ate vf o^jamm, Una. ui^tv*;^ v' t^i^*'^ ««^
sbotrid read Oiethcm, and that Deoioiudef waf ■«< of tbc jdaatC W iv, ^\f- s4 <J^
which wos a boroo^h in

278 pi-L'tarch's l»'E?.

The term of Cimon's banishment, u it was by ottradsmy wa»
limited by law to ten years. Meantime the Lacedsenioaiuw, with
* ^esl army, entered the territory of Taimgra, and the AibeniaM im-
mediately marching out against tbein, Cimon returned, and placed
himself in the ranks with those of his trlt>e, intending by bis deeds
to wipe ofT the axperMon of favouring the Laced xmoDians, sod lo
venture his life with his countrymen ; but, by a corobinatioQ of the
friends of Pericles, he was repulsed as an exile. This seems to have
been tlie cause that Pericles e^tcrted liim^elf In a particular maaaei
in that battle, and exposed liis person tu the greatest dangers. All
Cimon's friends, whom Perides had accused as accomplices in hv
preteiKled crime, fell hcinourably that day together; and the Athe-
nians, who were defeated upon their own borders, and exf>ected •
still sharper conflict in the summer, grievously repented of ihrir
treatment of Cimon, and longed for his return. Pericles, M^uaiblc of
the people's inclinations, did not hesitate to gratify thcin, but Um-
self proposed a decree fiir recalling Cimon ; and, at his return, a
peace was agreed upon through his mediation ; for the Lttccd«-
monians had a pariicular regard for him, as well as arersion for
Pericles and the other demagi^es. But some authors write, that
Pericles did not procure an order for Cimon's return till ibey had
entered into a private compact, by means of Cimon's sister Clpinioet
that Cimon should have the command abroad, and, with two hua*
dred galleys, lay waste the king of Persia's dominions, and Prrieln
have the direction of affairs at home. A story goes, that £lpiniee,
before thib', had softened the resentment of Pericles agHinst Cinon,
and procured her brother a milder sentence than that of death. Pe-
ricles was ouc of those appointed hy the people to manage (he im-
peaehincnt; and, when Elpinice addressed him as s suppliiuit,hc
smiled and said, '* \*ou are otd, Elpinice; much too old I o solicit
in so weighty an itllair." However, he rose up but ouce to spcdi,
barely lo acquit himself of his trust, and did not bear so hard vpon
Cimon as the rest of his accusers'^. Who then can give credit to
Idomineiis, when he says, that Pericles caused the orator I^hialtos,
his friend and a^istant in the administration, to be assosiunaKd,
through jealousy and cn\y of his great character ■ I kuon* iioi Mbcre
he met wiih this calumny, which he vents with great bitierncsi
against a man, not indeed in all respects irreproachable, but who
certainly had such a greatness of mind, and high sense of hoDOiit,as
was incompatible with an action so savage and inhuman. Thetniih
of the matter, according to .\ristolle, is, that Ephioltes being grava

■Y<l Cinon WH 6ati\ fiftt (nirnii, ur 9SS7I. 10*. ittrlios. ■ml namalj nt»pt4a
tipilll KBiencc, b»ving onlj a m^oiiij of ihict^ >Mc> lo p[«Tcai ii.

nRicL». S79

formidable to the nobles, oti account of his inflexible severity in pro-
seetiCing all that invaded the rights of the people, his enemted
caused farm t^ be taken off, in a private and treacherous manner, by
Aristodicns of Tanagra*

About the sttne time died Gmon, in the expedition to Cyprus*
And the nobility perceiving that Pericles was now arrived at a height
of authority which set htm for above tlie other citizens, were deslroui^
Shaving forme pereon Co oppose him, who might be capable of giv-
ing a check to his power, and of preventing his making himself ab-
solute. For this purpose they set up Thucydides, of the ward c(
Afopece, a man of great prudence, and btother-in-taw to Cimon.
He htd not, indeed, Cimon's talents for war, but was superior to
hun in Ibrenfic and poKtical abilities ; and, by residing constantly
in Athetfty and opposing Pericles in the general assembly, he soon
brought fte government to an e^ici/ri^ttm. For he did not suffisr
personf of superior rank to be dispersed and confounded with ikt
rest of the people, because, in that case, their dignity was obscured
and loft^ but ooHeeted them into a separate body, by which means
fheir authority was enhanced, and sufficient weight thrown imo their
iieale. Hiere was indeed, from the beginning, a kind of doubtfuf
seporalkm, whiel^ like the flaws in a ^ce of iron, indicated that the
litistocrsfieid ^arty, and that of the commonalty, were not perfectly
one, t&ough liiey were not actually divided : but the ambition of Pe-
ricles and Thucydides, and the . contest between them, had SO et-
crttordioary an efl^ect upon the city, that it was quite broken in two,
and one of the parts was called the peopie^ and the other the nMttty.
t^ this reason, Pericles, more than ever, gave the people the reins,
add endeavoured to ingratkite himself with them, contrinng to have
alwajrs some show, or play, or procession In the city, and to amuse
it with tlie politest pleasures.

As another means of employing their attention, he sent out six
galleys every year, manned for dglit months, with a considerable
number of the citkens, whd were both paid for their service, and im-
proved themselves as mariners. He likewise sent a colony of a
thousand men to the Chersoncsus, five hundred to Naxos, two hun-
dred and fifty to Andros, a thousand into the country of the fiisaltm
in Thrace, and others into Italy, who settled in Sybaris, and changed

its name to tliuril. These things he did to clear the city of a

useless mnttitude, who were very troublesome when they liad no*
thing to do; to nudte provision for the most necessitous; and to
keep the allies of Athens in awe, by pUicing colonies like so many
garrisons in their neighbonrhood.

That trtdcb wasi tfie diief delight of the Atfienians, and the won-

2B0 Plutarch's lives.

der of strangers^ and which alone serves for a proof that the boasted
power and opulence of ancient Greece is not an idle talc, was the
magnificence of the temples and publii; edifices. Yet no part of
the conduct of Pericles moved the spleen of his enemies more than
this. In their accusations of him to the people^ they insisted, ^' That
he had brought the greatest disgrace upon the Athenians, by remov*
ing the public treasures of Greece from Delos, and taking them into
his own custody : that he had not left himself even the specious
apology of having caused the money to be brought to Athens for its
greater security, and to keep it from being seized by the barbarians:
that Greece must needs consider it as the highest insult^ and an act
of open tyranny, when she saw the money she had been obliged to
contribute towards the war lavished by the Athenians in gilding their
city, and ornamenting it with statues and temples that cost a thou-
sand talents^ as a proud and vain woman decks herself out with
jewels." .Pericles answered this charge, by observing, ** That they
were not obliged to give the allies any account of the sums they had
received, since they had kept the barbarians at a distance, and ef-
fectually defended the allies, who had not furnished either horses,
iliips, or men, but only contributed money, which is no longer the
property of the giver, but of the rcociver, if he performs the con-
ditions on which it is received: that as the state was provided with
all the necessaries of war, its superfluous wealth should be laid out
on such works as, when executed, would be eternal monuments of
its glory, and which, during their execution, would diffuse a universal
plenty ; for as so many kinds of labour, and such a variety of instru-.
ments and materials, were requisite to these undertakings, every art
would be exerted, every hand employed, almost the whole city would
be in pay, and be at the same time both adorned and supported by
itself." Indeed, such as were of a proper age and strength were
wanted for the wars, and well rewarded for their services ; and as for
the mechanics and meaner sort of people, they went not witliout
their share of the public money, nor yet had they it to support them
in idleness. By the constructing of great edifices, which required
many arts and a long time to finish them, they had equal pretensions
to be considered out of the treasury (though they stirred not out of
the city) with the mariners and soldiers, guards and garrisons. For
the different materials, such as stone, brass, ivory, gold, ebony, and
cypress^ furnished employment to carpenters, masons, brasiers, gold*
smiths, painters, turners, and other artificers ; the conveyance of
them by sea employed merchants and sailors, and by land wheel-*
Wrights, waggoners, carriers, rope-makers, leather-cutters, pfiviors,

* The PartbenoDy or temple of Minerva, is said to have cost a tbonsaad takats*

■4

PERICLES. 281

and iron-founders : and every art bad a number of the lower people
ranged in proper subordination to execute it, like soldiers under the
command of a general. Thus, by the exercise of these different
trades, plenty was diffused among persons of every rank and con-
dition. Thus, works were raised of an astonishing magnitude, and
inimitable beauty and perfection, every architect striving to surpass
the magnificence of the design with the elegance of the execution;
yet still the most wonderful circumstance was the expedition with
wliich they were completed. Many edifices, each of which seems
to have required the labour of several successive ages, were finished
during the administration of one prosperous man.

It is said, that when Agatharcus, the painter, valued himself upon
the celerity and ease with which he dispatched his pieces, Zeuxis
replied, ^^ If I boast, it shall be of the slowness with which I finish
mine." For easie and speed in the execution seldom give a work
any lasting importance, or exquisite beauty ; «,while, on the other
hand, the time which is expended in labour, is recovered and repaid
in the duration of the performance. Hence we have the more rea-
son to wonder that the structures raised by Pericles should be built
in so short a time, and yet built for ages; for as each of them, as
soon as finished^ had the venerable air of antiquity, so, now they arc
old, they have the freshness of a modern building. A bloom is
diffused over them, which preserves their aspect untarnished by
time, as if they were animated with a spirit of perpetual youth and
unfading elegance.

Phidias was appointed by Pericles superintendant of all the public
edifices, though the Athenians kati then other eminent architects
and excellent workmen. The Part/ienon, or temple of Pallas,
whose dimensions had been a hundred feet square*, was rebuilt by
Callicrates and Ictinus. Coroebus began the temple of initiation at '
Eleusis, but only lived lo finish the lower rank of columns with their
architraves. Metagenes, of the ward of Xypete, added the rest of
the entablature, and the upper row of columns; and Xenocles of
Cholargus built the dome on the top. Tlie long wall, the building
of which Socrates says he heard Pericles propose to the people,
was undertaken by Calllcrates. Cratinus ridicules this work as
proceeding very slowly :

Stones upon stones the orotor has pil'd
• With swclhng words, but words will build no walls.

* It was called Hccatompcdon, because U had been originally a hundred feet square;
Hud having been burnt by the Persians, it was rebuilt by Pericles, and retained that
aajne after it was greatly enlarged.

Vol, 1. No. 14. 2fN

^

362

PLUTARCH S LIVES.

Tlie odeum, or music-thcMtie, which was likewise built by xbe
direction of Pericles, had wiibii] it many rows of seats nod of pil-
lars; the roof whs of a conic figure, after the model (we are told)
of the king of Persia's pavilion. Cratinus, therefore, rallies him
agaia in his jilay called Thrattee :

Ai Jove, in union on Ins lirad be weaci;
As Fericlei, ■ whoJe otdiciTre heat]:
Afraid of biuili uid banuhii^rnl do more,
He tunes tlie thel) lie tiemhled at belurr !

Ferii'tes at this time excrlt-d all his interest to have a decree mailc,
appointing a priie for the best performer in musii.- during tJie
Panathenaa ; and he n-as himself appointed judge and distributor
of the prizes. He gave the couiending artists directions in what
manner to proceed, whether their performance was vocal, or on the
flute or lyre. From that time the prizes in music were always con-
tended for in the odeuin.

The vestibule of the citadel was finished in five years by Mnestcles
the architect. A wonderful event, that happened while the WOili
was in liaiid, showed that the goddess was not averse to the woii,
but rather took it into her protection, and encouraged them to com-
plete it. One of the best and most active of the workmen missing
his step, fell Irom the top to the bottom, and was bruised in such i
manner that his life was despaired of by the physicians. PericW
was greatly concerned at this accident ; but, in the midst of his
affliction, the goddess appeared to him in a dream, and informnl
him of a remedy, which he applied, and thereby soon recovered the
patient. In memory of this cure, Jie placed in the citadel, near the
altar, (which is said to have been there before), a brazen statue of
t\ie Slitiena of health. The golden statue of the same goddess'
was the workmanship of Phidias, and his name is inscribed upon tkt
pedestal (us we have alrt:ady observed). I'hrough the friendshipof
Pericles, he had the direction of every thing, and all the artisu Fc> i
ceivcd his orders. For this the one was tnvJed, and the other slan-
dered; and it was intimated that Phidias received into his boiue
ladies for Pericles, who came thither under pretence of seeing hii
works. The comic poets getting hold of this story, represented him
as a perfect libertine. They accused him of an intrigue with the wife

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of Meuippus, his friend and lieutenant in the army; and because
Pyrilampes, anotiier intimate acquaintauce of iiJs, had a eollecliun
of curious birds, and pitrticulary of peacocks, it was supposed that be
kept tliem only as presents f"r tliose wnincn wlio granted favours to
Pericles. But wliat wonder is it if men of a satirical turn duily sacri-
fice the characters of the great to that malevolent demon, the pnvy
of the multitude, when Stesimbrotus of Thasos, has dared to lodge
against Pericles tliat horrid and groundless accusation of corrupting
his son's wife ? So difficult is it to come at truth in the walk of
history, since, if the writers live after the events tliey relate, they can
be but imperfectly informed of facts, and if they describe the
persons and transactions of their own times, they are tempted
by envy and hatred, or by interest and friendship, to vitiate and
pervert the truth,

Tiie orators of Thucydides's party raised a clamour against Pe-
licles, asserting that he wasted the public treasure, and brought the
revenue to nothing. Pericles, in his difeiice, asked the people, in
full assembly, " Whether they thought he liad expended too much }"
Upon tlicir answering in the affirmative, "Then be ii," said he,
"charged to my account, not yours; only let the new edifices be
inscribed with my name, not that of the people of Athens." Whether
it was ttiat they admired the greatness of his spirit, or were ambi-
tious to sliare the glory of such magnificent works, they cried out,
" Thnt he might spend as much as he pleased of tlie public treasure,
without sparing it in the least."

At last the contest came on between him and Thucydides, which
of them should be banished by t\ic ostracism : Pericles gained the
victory, banished his adversary, and entirely defeated his party. The
opposition now being at an end, and unaDimily taking place among
all ranks of people, Pericles became sole master of Athens and its
dependencies. The revenues, the aimy and navy, the islands and the
lea, a most extensive territory, peopled by barbarians as well as Greeks,
fortified with ihe obedience of subject nations, the friendship ofkings,
and alliances of princes, were all at his command.

From this lime he became a different man; he was no longer so

I obsequious to the humour of the populace, which is as wild :iad as

I changeable as the winds. The mullitude were not ii.dulged or

eourted; the government in fact was not popular; its loose and

1 luxuriant harmony was confined to stricter measures, and it assumed

an aiistocraticat, or rather monarchical form. He kept the public

. good in his eye, and pursued the stiaiglii path of hcrour; for the

I most part gently leading them by ar^^ument toascnse of what was

light, and sotnetimes forcing tbeoi to comply with what was foz

^

484

i-lutabch's lives.

their owu advantage ; in this respect imiiatiiig a good plijsicLui,
who, io the various syniploms of a long disease, somettmea adminis-
ters medicines tolerably agreeable, and at other times sharp aad stroDg
ones, when such alone arc capable of restoring the patient. He nu
the mail that liad the heart of controlling those many disorderly pas-
sions which necessarily spring up amongst a people possessed of so
extensive a dominion. The two engines he worked with were hope
and fear: with these, repressing their violence when they were to*
imjteluous, and supporting their spirits when inclined to languor, ht
made it appear that r/te/arlc is (as Plato defined it) tlieart of ruling
the miiids of men, and that its principal province consists in mor-
iug the passions and affections of llie soul, which, Uke so coanf
strings in a musical instrument, require the touch of a masterly aul
delicHte liand. Nor were the powers oF eloquence alone sufficient,
bnt (as Tlmcydides obser^'es) the orator was a man of probilj' aiiJ
unbleuiished reputation. Money could not brilic lum ; he wm w
much above the desire of It, that though he added greatly to iIk
opulence of the state, which he found not inconsiderable, and thou^
Ills power exceeded that of many kings and tyrants, some of whoa
have bequeathed to their posterity the sovereignty iliey had obtained,
yet he added not one lirackiua to his paternal estate.

ThucydtOcs, indeed, gives this candid account of the power uul
authority of Pericles ; but the comic writers abuse bun in a owrt
malignuiii manner, giving his friends the name of the new Piat'
tratida; and (.utltng upon liim to swear that he would never ■>-
tempt to make himself absolute, since hb authority was alrr*^
Uiuch too great and overbearing in a free slate. Tclrclidcssayf,tbe
Atfaenians hudgiveu up to him _

1 t>c Ibbute oflhe itHEi, tlie (Utci ihamcl re^

lubindi ubme.tobuiM, udtodnirojt

In p«KV, in ■"* <•> eo«e«; n»j. ro nil

Tlieir irrj iitlr. like wrac lupcriuc iKiug.

And thi^ not only for a time, or during the prime and 1
shon sdiiiiuistrniion, but for forty years together be beU j^
eminence amidst such men as Epbialtes, Leocntei,
CimoQ, Ttilmidcs, aud Thuc-ydides, and contiuoed iinofessltai
fifteevn years after the fali aad banishinenl of the Utter. The pom
of Uic mngi«tnites, which to ihem Kasbni anniwl, all mtcndia
him, yet ititl he kept himself uinaiuted by avmrivr. Not that be mi
ioattciitirc u> his finances, but, on th« eotitniy, neither negtipni
of his potcnutl estate, nor yet wiiiing to bare much trouble will) tt]"
bebadnot much time toEpaTe,bebroui:ht thcmaiu^mcniofitiXii
such a metluxl aa was very ea>,y-, at the eune tioie that U vn qtfi

PERICt.ES. 885

for lie used to turn a wliole year's prculiice into money altogether,
nnd nith this he hoaglit from day to d:iy all manner of necessaries st
the market. This way of livinj^ was not agreeable to his sons when
gron-u up ; and the allowaace he made the women did not appear to
them a generous one : they complained of a pittance daily measurcil
«ut with scrupulous economy, whicJi admitted of none of those
superfluities so common m great houses and wcahliy femities,
und could not bear to tlitnk of the expenses being so nicely ad-
justed to the income.

The person who managed these eoncerns with so much exaclncsa
was a servant of his, named Evangclus, either remarkably fitted (oi
the purpose by nature, or formed to it by Pericles. A naxagoras, indeed,
considered these lower attentions as inconsistent with his wisdom;
following the dictates of enthusiasm, nnd wrapt up in sublime in-
quiries, he quitted his house, and left liis lands unfilled and desolate.
But, in my opinion, there is an essential diH'erence between a
fpeculative and a practical philosopher. The former advances hia
ide.is into the regions of seioiiec witliout the assistance of any thing
corporeal or external; tiie latter endeai-ours to apply his great quali-
ties to the use of mankind, and riches atford hira not only necessary
but excellent assistance. Thus it was with Pericles, who, by his
wealth, was enabled to relieve numbers of the poor citizens. Nay,
for want of such prudential regards, this very Anaxagoras, we are
told, lay neglected and unprovided for, insomuch that the poor old
man had covered up his head, and wa? going to starve himself".
But on account of it being brought to Pericles, he was extremely
moved at it, ran immediately to him, expostulated, entreated, bewail-
ing not so much the l&te of his friend aa bis own, if his Hdnilnisiratiuii
should lose so valuable a eounselior. Anaxagoras, uncovering his
face, replied, " Ah, Pericles ! tliose that have need of a lamp take
care to supply it with oil,"

By tliis time the Lacedaimonians began to express some jealousy
ef the Athenian greatness, and Pericles, willing; to advance it still
higher, and make the people more scusible of their importance, and
Biore inclinable to great ultempls, procured an order, that all the
Greeks, wheresoex'er they resided, whether tu Europe or id Asia,
whether their cities were small or great, should send deputies to
Athens to consult about rebuilding the Grecian temples which the
I barbarians had burnt, and about providing those sacriliccs which had
• been vowed during the Persian war, for the preservation of Greece;

* It «ru cuitamirj ■imiiig Ihe Bncicnli fqr > pcnan who w» dcKriuliied t» put in
md to bii life [0 cover op hi* li«Ji whrlLet he detolrd himiilf lod«lU fw lb* Ittrice
af bl> Muatrj, or, btieg ociirv oriiit btmg, bide tl>e n-ctld adlcn.

2S6 Plutarch's lives.

and likewise to enter into such mrasures as might secure navlgi
tion, and maintain the peace.

Accordingly twenty persons, each upwards of fifty years of age,-'
were sent with this proposal to the different states of Greece, nve
went to the lonians and Dorians in Asia, and the islanders as far as
Lesbos and Rhodes ; five to the cities about the Hellespont and ia
Tlirace, as far as Byzantium; five to the inlmbitanls of Boeotia,
Phocis, and Peloponnesus, and from thence, by Locri along the ad-
joining continent, to Acamania and Ainhracia. Tlie rest were dis-
patched through EubcEa to the Greeks that dwelt upon Mount Oelra
and near the Maliac Bay, to the Phthiots, the Achasans*, and Thes-
salians, inviting ihem to join in the council and new confederacy for
the preservation of the peace of Greece, It took not effect, how-
ever, nor did tlic cities send their deputies ; the reason of which Is
said to be the opposition of the Lflcedeemoniaiisf, for the proposal was
first rejected in Peloponnesus. But 1 was wilhng to give accountof
it as a specimen of the greatness of the orator's spirit, aod of his dis-
position to form magnificent designs.

His chief merit in war was the safety of his measures. He nerei
willingly engaged in any uncertain or very dangerous expedititni,
nor had any ambition to imituie those generals who are admired ai
great men, because their rash enterprises have been attended with
success -, he always told the Athenians, " That, as far as their fate
depended upon him* they should be immortal." Perceiving that
Tolmides, the son of Tolmieus, in confidence of his former success
and militai-y reputation, was preparing to invade Boeotia at an un-
seasonable time, and that, over and above the regular troops, he had
persuaded the bravest and most spirited of the Athenian youth, to
the number of a thousand, to go volunteers in that expedition, be
addressed him in public, and tried to divert him from it, making usC)
among the rest, of those well-known words : " If you regard uot the
opinion of Pericles, yet wait at least for tlie advice of time, who is
the best of all counsellors." This saying, for the present, gained no
great applause : but when, a few days after, news was brought, that
Tolmides was defeated and killed at Coronca^, together with muy

* By Achtani we aie lanKiimei lo undcntand tbe Gmki ra gcnrcil, opKiill; in
th« wrilin§;iaf lh( port), midionirliinri ihe iahabitinli a(« patticulai dutncl ia Mb*
ponni'iui; but ncithfr oflhete can be ihe inuning iBIhii place. We muil bcr« sadtt*
Mimil * people of I'lietulj. ualkd Acktain. Vide Slepli. Byt, ia ueet Fharhat.

t II i> nu itondcr tliul Uie LacedtEiuuiiiaal oppoied ttiii underuking, hb<« iIm (i*^
waj to it would liaie been ack now [edging die AlbcDlaai u maaleri of all Gn«cc. !••
deed, the Alheniaui iliould not liave uttemplcd il vitAuut u> otdei or 4«ciM tt M
Amphictjoru.

t Tliii defeM happened in tbe lecsndjeu of tbttighlj -third Oljuptad, (mu l«BdnA

of the liraveit citizens, it procured Fcrielcs jrreai respect and love
from tlie people, who considered it as & proof not only of his sagncity,
but of his aficetion for his countrymen.

Of his military expeditions, that t'l the Chersonesus procured him
most honour, because it proved very salutary to the Greeks wliodwelt
there: for he not only strengthened their eiiies with ttie addition of
a tliousand able-bodied Athenkiis, Ijut raised fortifications across
the hthmus from sea to sea ; thus gardlng against tlie incursions of
of the Tbracians, who were spread about the Chersonesus, and put-
ting an end to those long and grievous wars tmder which that dis-
trict had smarted by reason of the neighbourhood of the l^arbarians,
as well as to the robberies with wliich it had been infested by persons
who lived upon the borders, or were iithabitunts of the countiy. But
the ex[>editioD most celebrated amnng strangers was tliatbysea
around Peloponnesus. He set sail from Pcgjc, in tlie territoiics of
Megara, with an hundred ships of war, and not only ravaged the
maraiime cities, as Tolmides bad done before him, but landed his
forces, and penetrated a good way up the country. The terror of
Itis arms drove the inhabitants into their walled towns, all but the
Sicyonians, who made head against him at Nimea, and were defeated
in a pitched battle ; In memory of wliich victory he erected a trophy.
From Acbaia, a confederate state, he took a number of men into hti
galleys, and sailed to the opposite side of the continent ; then pass-
ing by the mouth of the Aclielous, he made a descent in Acitrnania,
shut up the Oencadffi wiilan their walls ; and, having laid waste the
country, reiunied home. In the whole course of this aHiiir, he ap-
peared terrible to his enemies, and to his countrymen an active and
prudent commander ; for no miscarriage was committed, nor did even
any unfortunate accident happen during the whole limc.

Having sailed to Pontus with a large and well etiuipped flet-f, he
procured the Grecian cities there all the advantages they deaired,
and treated them with great regard. To the barbarous nations tliat
surrounded them, and to their kings and princes, he made the power
of Athens very respectable, by showing with what security her fleets
could sail, and that >>lie was In elTect mistress of the icas. He left
' ihe people of Sinupe tliirtccn ships uuderthe command of Lamachus,
, and a bo<ly uf men to act against Timcsileos their tyrant. And,
when the tyrant and liis party wetc driven out, he causeu a decree
to be made, that a colony of six hundred Athenian volunieirs should
l>c placed in Siuope, and put in possession uf those houses and lauds
which had belonged to them.

c ytan bcfsie Ibe Ctiiiitiui tia, nad taoie tliui iKeolj' jcin bcfofs tli*

■, gire wvj to llie wild desires of the c

>; wlicn, elated hy their strength ikd pnA

edeiiTCi>vtfiagE^ypi*, and of sttemptiiig tbeTsoK

e likewise at this time possessed with the unftr-

■■■'■111 Kt Sicilr, which the oraior» of Alcibiades's putj a£-

ii'BiWiii 'inll Dore. \ay, some ercn dreamed of Hetnimf

nttrnget aad oa vhhout some ground of hope, as they imitgitwd,

Km'Jit ^rat exicat of their douuaious, and tlic s«cc«skM

t aiAataAin.

stnioed this inipetuositir ofthe citizens, and enib-
ict desire of conqitesi; cmplojing the greatc>i part
s m sirengihening and Kcuriof their present acquin-
nsidcmig: it a matter of coii5e<)ucDce to kcq> the L^ee-
s withtn bounds, whom he therefore opposed, as oa other
(j 90 pafticularly in the ucred war. For when the l^ced*-
i, by dint of arms, had restored the temple to the cjiizcus «f
iy which had been seized by the Phocians, Pericles, imacdamly
^ depariure of the Lacedienionians, marched thither, and |MI
kinaibe hands of the Phocians agiuo. Aodas (hcLacedfeinoiiuas
lai carved on the forehead of the brazen wolf the privilege wliid
ife people of Delphi had {.'ranted them of consulting the onclc finllt
Ttiictes caused the same privilege for the Athenians to be inaeriheit
^ tfe wolf's right side.

tho event shewed iliat he was right in confining the Athenian (br-
cn CD ici within the bounds of firecce ; for, in the first plftc«, ibe
Bdbcnns revolted, and he led an army af Hinst them. SoontftcTt
M«s was brought that Megara had couinicnccd hastil!tie.s, and thai
1^ Uictdieiuonian forces, under the cuuimand of king I'listonax,
T«fe upon the borders (tfAttien. The enemy oflered him battle; iw
dU OM chuse, however, to rii.k an engagement with so nuuieruiu aad
e nn army. But as Plistonsx was very young, and chiefly dt-

iKattniBI, u itrt

I (Inul I'FlopDDaoDl

ptoipenl;, talked o(k

• IWlM AlhtnUiii h»d b«cn niB.trn of Ejjpl, ■• ■
■fW* I 'I'Jri The; were drjvm on< of it by >f<^il>viu(, Ai
IhI]«*> of tli« •ighKcDIh Oljtnpiail, Bnd it wu <ii>r_r in lU
(Hji^ilijl thai rcrklct niiile IhiL iuc«»rut riprdilian •!><
^l^sM (tt4Dca (h«i iho Alli'nctru, now in ih
Am l«oliuj| in ■ coufilry wh.eh llitj hid w Ulrly losl.

t HMntia •**!"> °<l("?i'*'')t'' "'''' Catitaacd but wc imj consider thai Ilrliailafl
M iw *i^ of Sicilj, uul Ctnhs|a on ihr olhrr. Tha ALhrniini, llirr*J«t*,
^gj ^witd Sicily is their Ihuufhti, aiffil Ikiuk bTciIcdiIiiis thru- co(ii|aeM 1*4
i]>^l>ri «• the r<el» ■■>'' '*'^ '• ■" *^ *""' ninafr at lung Pjnhni indulged kn d
^Mm M tubdui Srcilj, Iialy, and Africa,

I tM*««If ■•••><ll'' *">** ^'" t<"»'tf'f<i and placed by lUc tiilpnf tbp ~nat iImt.
M«MMMafa*o"'*^i"'''S*<'"'''''">''*^">b^d>l>* lciB[>lti and Inding iba 0*^
kk)^ M lit pl*c« «hne llic tceiturt l*j.

PEHICLSS. S8§

rccted by Cleandrides^ a counsellor whom the Bphcri had appointed
him on account of his tender age^ he attempted to bribe that counsel-
lor; and, succeeding in it to his wisli, persuaded him to draw off the
Peloponnesians from Attica. The soldiers dispersing and retiring to
their respective homes, the Lacedaemonians were so highly incensed^
tliat they laid a heavy fine upon thrking; and, as he was not able to
pay It, he «irithdrew from Lacedseraon. As for Cleandrides, who fled
from justice, they condemned him to death. He was the father of
Gylippus, who defeated the Athenians in Sicily, and who seemed to
have derived the vice of avarice from him as an hereditary distemper.
He was led by it into bad practices, for which lie was banished with
ignomiDy from Sparta, as related in the life of Lysander.

is the accounts for thb campaign, Pericles put down ten talenti^
Ud oat for a nectt»mry uMe, and the people allowed it, without ex«»
anuDing the matter closely, or prying into the secret* According
to some writeiSy and, among the rest, Tbeopbrastus the philoiophcrf
Pepcles sent ten talents every year to Sparta, with whidi be gained
all the magistiBcyy and kept them from acts of hostility; doc thai
he porcliased peace with the money, but only gained time, tisat he
m^it hare leisure to make prepantions to carry oo the war aftcr^

alter die retreat of the LacedaMiooiam, be tomed

die levoheis, aad pamog over into Eobaea widb

dtfNBand aaen, he ledseed the eitks* He es*

IEppob0iim, ycrvjta efigiaguiufced by dieir opmkmct and

dKChakK^aoH; asd knw^ extrnmaitcd $tl dhr

soaadonyofAdMKMM. The

aa par aa ead s» tfce war widi dbe

W atrrft a IQewm^^ fltfif die

Yai^ V

have reserved lier Intimacies for the great. Ti'isThargelia, who, to j
the charms of her person, added & peculiar polinness and poi^ant J
wit, had mnny lovers am^ing the Greeks, and drew over to the king
of Persia's interest all thai approached her; by whose means, « th«y I
were pcri<ons ol eminence, and auiliurity, she sowed the seeds of the
Median fkction among the Grecian states. 1

Some indeed say, that Ptricles made his court to Aspasia only on
account of her wisdom and political abilities. Nay, even Socrates
himself sometimes visited her, along with her friends ; .-tad hvr ac-
quaintances took their wives with them to hear her discourse, thuujjh I
the business ttiat supjiorled her was iieitlier honourable nor deceut,
for she IcL'pI a number of courtesans in her house, i^ehinesinfotms
tia, that Lysiclcs, who was a grazier, and of a mean antl utigeiieroui '
disposition, by his intercourse with Aspasia after the dtatli of Pc- j
rieles, became the most considerable man in Alh^ us. And, iliougb I
Plato's Menesenus in the beginning is rather humorous than serious, I
yet thus much of history we may gather from it, thai many Atheniani i
resorted to her on account of her skill in tlie art of speaking*. '

I should not, however, think that ihe attachment of Pericles w
of so very delicate a kind: for though his wife, who was liis retatioo, '
and had been first married to Hipponicus, by whom she had Cailia ]
the rich, brought him two sons, Xaulhippus and Paralus, ya they i
lived 90 ill together, that they parted by conscni. She was married
to another, and he took Aspasia, for whom he had the icnderestrC'
gard; insomuch that he never went out upon business, or returned
without saluting her. In the comedies she is called the Xetv Otnpk^^ •
Deianirii, and Juno. Cratinus plainly calls hec a prostitute :

He seems also to have had a natural son by her; for he Is intro-
duced by Eupolis inquiring after him thus:

Still Jivc9 llie olTipTing ornij duliiuice?

Pyronidcs answers.

He liici, and might b**e bstiie (he aantc orhaibuid.
Hid he liDl driBm thM crerj' tia»a I'lir

JlUOt ■ cbulC ODC.

Such was the fame of Aspasia, that Cyrus, who conteoded wi4
Artaxerxes for the Persian crown, gave the name ol Aspuia to te

* II ii not to bv imngiiif >l tliat Aipum cicrllrd in light and imaroHa diKOWMl. Ha
diMoanct, on the coiiltar;', oere not more brilliiatiliui Hlid. It im r ii ii >iH>h< ^T
Ibr «Mil iniclliieui .\tlt«aiuis, lad inoagit iben, b; Socralei tiiisicU^ tliU ike tdmarf

I^ERICLBS. 991'

favourite concubine, who before was called Milto. This woman
was born in Phocis, and was the daughter of Hermotiinus. When
Cyrus was slain in the battle, she was carried to the king, and had
afterwards great influence oVer him. These particulars occuring to
jny memory as I wrote this life, I thought it would be a needless
afiectation of gravity^ if not an offence against politeness, to pass
them over in silence*

I now return to the Samiah war, which Pericles is mtich blamed
for having promoted, in favour»of the Milesians, at the instigation of
Aspasia. The Milesians and Saniians had been at war for the city
of Priene, and the Samians had the advantage/ when the Athenians
interposed, and ordered them to lay down their arms, and refer the
decision of the dispute to them ; but the Samians refused to comply
i¥tth this demand. Pericles, therefore, sailed with a fleet to Samos,
and abolished the oligarchical form of government. He then took
fifty of die principal men, and the same number of children, as hos-*
tages, and sent them to Lemnos. Each of these hostages, we are
told, ofiertd him a talent for his ransom ; and those that were desH
roos to prevent the settling of a democracy among them would have
given him much more. Pissuthnes the Persian, who had the in*
terest of die Samians at heart, likewise sent him ten thousand pieces
of gold, to prevail upon him to grant them more favourable temis«
Pericles, however, would receive none of their presents, but treated
the SamSaim in the manner be had resolved <m; and, baviogesta^
blished a popular government in the island, be returned to Atbens*

But they soon revolted again, having leoovered their hostages hf
some private measure oi Pissuthnes, and made neir preporatioas Cot
war. Pmdes coming frith a iect to rtdace them ooce moie, jfoond
them not in a posture of n^;lifeBoe or despak^ but drtennined to eoc**
tend With him for the dominioD eiiSx sea. A dmp cngagemmt
ensued near die isle of Tragia, and Pericles gaioedaglcirions inctofj^
having, with forty-four skips, defeairJ aeveo^ytvesqr <^ which had
soldiers on board.

Pursuing his victory, he pogseaedhiiaclfof dtehwlwief&nposy
and laid si^^ to the city. They still retjraed tmmigL tmm^ to
sally out and give him battle beiinre the wsHs. torn aiier, a gieat
fleet came from Adiens, and the SamiaM wot tmmdf i^Mi wps
whereupon Pericles took sixty gaUeys, and slconi fsr the Meoher-

the celebrated fmiMnl oration praooonced kj
m the Somiui war. It it |wobabIe ciMMigb &at
the qnarrel of the Milesians, st tbe
•aid to have aecompaBied bias in tkai
Cnnte dio mtmorj of hb Tictory*

y-TTMCa « UVE9.

0 mett i)ie Phifni-
■^ *• Ae rcfief of Samos^ aod to engage

wS lie intended to sul for Cjrpnis, which
s design was, he seems tolutvv
tm onr: far, as soon as he was gone, Mellssus, the sod
Og s ^BS dkunguislied as a philosopher, and at ihai
ladsof Ae SamJaiis, dciipUJng eitlier the small numbef
■ was left, or ebc i))C inexpericuce of their officers, pei-
D toattack the Aibroiaus. Accordingly a battle
, aad ihoSamiaiis obtained the victory; for they made
, destroyed the greatest part of the enemy's fleet,
; seas, and imported nbaiever warlike stores and provi-
ijg— Atj wanted. Aristotle UTilcs, that Pericles himself had been
hocen by the same Melissus in a former sea-6ght.

The Samlans returned upon the Athenian prisoners tlie insult the;
had received, marked their foreheads with the figure of an owl, as
the Athenians luid branded tliein with a Samtrtta, which is a kiuil
of ship built low in the fore-part, aud wide and hoUow in the sides,
Tliis form makes it light aud exi^ediiious in sailing ; and it wiis called
Samaaa, from its being invented iu Samos by Folyeratcs tlie tyrant.
Aristophanes is supposed to have hintedai tlicsc marks, when he ssys,

The Samiani arc ■ Idlrr'd nee.

As soon as Pericles was iufonned of the nusfiirtunc that liad be-
fallen his army, he immediately returned with succours, gave Me-
lissus battle, routed the enemy, and blocked up the town by building i
wall atwut it ; choosing to owe the conquest of it rather to lime and ex-
pense, than to purebu^c it with the blood of his fellow- citizens. Bui
nhen be found the Athenians murmured at the time spent in tW
blockade, and that it was difficult to restrain them from the assault,
he divided the army into eight parts, and ordered them to draw loi^
That division which drew a while bean were to enjoy ihemselvet in
ease and pli'asure, while the others fought. Hence it is said, lliai
thusc who spend the day in feasting and mrrrimcnt call tliat a iriilt
daVf from the ivhilr hctm.

Kphtirus adds, that Pericles in this siege made use of butcrioj

cn^ins, the invention of wbich he much admired, it being then ■ new

; and that he had j^rletnon the cngiueer along with him, wlw.

tm account of bis himem'^s, was carried about in a litter, when his

s required to direct the machines, and thence liad the

e oi Pei-iphorelua. But Ilemclides of Ponius confutes diH

n by some verses of Aiiaereon, in which mention is muk «f

a I'eitphuretus several ab,'cs before the Samiao mr aadtluM

PERICLES. 29s

transactions of Pericles. And he tells us, this Artemon was a per^
sou who gave himself up to luxury, and was withal of a timid and
effeminate spirit; tliat he spent most of his time within doors, and
liad a shield of brass lijeld over his head by a couple of slaves, lest
something should fall upon him. Moreover, that if he happened
to be necessarily obliged to go abroad, he was carried in a litter,
which hung so low as almost to touch the ground, and therefore
was called Periphoretus.

Aft^nine months, the Samians surrendered. Pericles razed their
walls, seized their ships, and laid a lieavy fine upon them ; part of
which they paid down directly, the rest they promised at a set time,
and gave liostages for the payment. Duris the Samian nudces a
melancholy tale of it, accusing Pericles and tlie Athenians of great
cruelty, of which no mention is made by Tiiucydides, Ephorus, or
Aristotle. What he relates concerning the Samian officers and sea*
men seems quite fictitious ; be tells us, that Pericles eaused them ta
be brought into the market-place at Miletus, and to be bound to
liosts tliere for ten days together, at the end of which he ordered them,
hy that time in the most wretched condition, to be dispatelied with
clubs; and refused their bodies the honour of burial. Duris, in-
deed, in his histories, often goes beyond the limits of truth, even
when not misled by any interest or passion, and therefore is more
likely to have exaggerated the sufferings of his country, to make the
Athenians appear in an odious light.

Pericles, at his return to Athens, after the reduction of Samos,
celebrated, in a splendid manner, the obsequies of his countrymen
who fell in that war, and pronounced himself the funeral oration
tised on such occasions. Tiiis gained him great applause; and^
when he came down from the rostrum, the women paid their re*
^pects to him, and presented him with crowns and chaplets, like a
champion just returned victorious from the lists. Only Elpinice
addressed him in terms quite different: ^^ Arc tliese actions, then^
Pericles, worthy of crowns and garlands, which have deprived us of
many brave citizens; not in a war with the Phceniciaus and Medes,
5uch as my brother Cimon waged, but in destroying a city united to
V3 both in blood and friendship ?" Pericles only smiled, and an-
swered softly with this line of Archilochus,

Why lavish ointments on a head that's gray ?

Ion informs us, that he was highly elated with this conquest, and
scrupled not to say, ^* That Agamemnon spent ten years in reducing
one of the cities of the barbarians, whereas he had taken the richest and
mostpowerfulcityaroongtheloniansin nine months." — And indeed
ke bad reason to be proud of thii achievement ; for the war was really

a dangerous one, and tlie event uncertain, since, according toThucy-
didcs, such w:is the power of the Samians, that the Atlicniuns were Id
imminent danger of losing the dominion of the sea.

Some time after this, when the Peloponncsian war was ready to
break out, Pericles persuaded the people to send succours to the in-
habitants of Corcyra, who were at war with the Corinthians * ; which
would be a means to fix in their Interest an Island whose naval forces
were considerable, and might be of great service in case of a rupture
with the Peloponnesians, which they had all the reason in the world
to expect would be soon. The succours were decreed accordingly,
and Pericles sent Lacedffimonius to the son of Cimon with ten ships
only, as if he designed nothing more than to disgrace liim. A mu-
tual regard and friendship subsisted between Clmon's family and the
Spurtans, and he now furnished iiis son with but a few ships, and
gave him the charge of this affair against his inclination, in or-
der that, if nothing great or striking were effected, Lacedfemonius
might be still the more suspected of favouring the Spartans. Nav,
by all imaginable methods, he endeavoured to hinder the adraDce-
ment of that family, representing the sons of Cimon, as by their very
names, not genuine Athenians, but strangers and aliens, on« of them
being called Lacedaemonius, another Thessalus, and a third Klcus.
They seem to have been all the sons of an Arcadian woman. Pe-
ricles, however, finding himself greatly blamed about these ten g*l-
leys, anaid byno means sulhclent to answer the purpose of those
tliat requested it, but likely enough to afford his enemies a pretence
to accuse him, sent another squadron to Corcyra f; which did not
arrive till the action was over.

The Corinlhiansj oflcndi^d at this treatment, complained of it at
Lacediemon, and the Megarensians at the same time alleged that the
Athenians would not sulTcr them to come to any mart or port of
theirs, but drove them out, thereby infringing the common privi-
leges, and breaking the oath they had taken before the general M-
scmbly of Greece. The people of ^glna, too, privately ncquaioted
the Lscedtemonians with many encroachments and injuries done
them by the Alheiiiuns, whom they dared not to accuse opealy.—
Ant), at this very juncture, Polldeea, a Corinthian colony, but aub-
ject to the Athenians, being besieged in consequence of its rcvohj
hasteHed on the war.

However, as ambassadors were sent to Alliens, and as Ardudf

ubuul tlie lil(t« (CTtilurj uf I'pidiiuaan, a chj in Hat*-
iilcij of Minty ibips, )itL'>eiilTil > Kcoiid cn|ig(iaeal, Fu

PERICLES. 29s

mus, king of the Lacedfiemonians, eDdeavoared to give a healing
turn to most df the articles in question, and to pacify the allies, pro-
bably no other point would have involved the Athenians in war, if
they could have been persuaded to rescind the decree a^nat the
Megarensians, and to be reconciled to them. Pericles, therefore, iu
exerting all his interest to oppose this measure, in retaining his en-
mity to the Megarensians, and working up the people to the same
rancour, was the sole author of the war*

It is said, that when the ambassadors from Lacedsemon came upoa
this occasion to Athens, Pericles pretended there was a law whicli
forbade the taking down any tablet on which a decree of the people
was written. " Then,'* said Polyarces, one of the ambassadors,
'^ do not take it down, but turn the other side outwards; there is no
law against that." Notwithstanding the pleasantry of this answer^
Pericles relented not in the least. He seems, indeed, to have had
some private pique against the Megarensians, though the pretext he
availed himself of in public was, that they had applied to profane
uses certain parcels of sacred ground; and thereupon he procured
a decree for a herald to be sent to Megara and Lacedsmon, to laj
this charge against the Megarensians. Tliis decree was drawn up
in a candid and conciliating manner. But Anthemocritus, the he*
raid sent with that commission, losing his life by the way, through
some treachery (as was supposed) of the Megarensians, Charinut
procured a decree, that an implacable and eternal enmity should
subsist between the Athenians and them; that if any Megarenslan
should set foot on Attic ground, he should be put to death; that to
the oath which their generals used to take, this particular should be
added, that they would twice a-year make an inroad into the terri-
tories of Megara ; and that Anthemocritus should be buried at the
Thriasian gate, now called Dipylus.

The Megarensians, however, deny their being concerned in the
murder of Anthemocritus, and lay the war entirely at the door of As-
pasia and Pericles ; alleging in proof those well known verses from
the Achamensis of Aristophanes,

The god of wine had with hit Thyrsut smote

Some yoaths, who, in their madness, stole from Megara

The prostitute Sinuttha ; in revenge.

Two females, liberal of their smiles, were stolen

Prom our Atpatia't train.

It is not, indeed, easy to discover what was the ireal origin of the
war; but at the same time all agree, it was the fault ot Pericles that
the decree against Megara was not annulled. Some say, Us firm*
oess in that case was the e£fect of his prudence and magnanimity^

as he considered tliat demand only as a trial, and tlioiight the least
concession woulJ be understood as an acknowledgment of n-exkness;
km olhers will have it, that his treating the LacedirmonJans with
so liltlc ceiemony was owing to his obstinacy, and an ambition t«
display his power.

Bet the worst cause of all, asaie;ned for the war, anti which, not-
withstanding, is confirmed by most historians, is as follows : Phidias,
the staiUHry, had undcrtaiien (as we have said) the statue of Mi-
nerva. The friendship and influenoe he had with Paricles exposed
liim to envy, snd procured him many enemies, who, willing to make
an experiment upon him, what judgment the people might pass on
Pericles himself, persuaded Menon, one of Phidias 's workmen, to
place himsclfas a suppliant in ihefirum, and to entreat the protection
of ihe republic, while he lodged au information against Phidias.

The people granting his rcqaest, and the .ifTair coming to a public
trial, the allegation of thcfi, which Menon brought against him, wai
shown to be groundless : for Phidias, by liie advice of Pericles, had
managed the matter from the first with so much art, that the gold
with which the statue was overlaid, could easily be taken off and
weighed; and Pericles ordered ibis to be done by the accusers. But
the excellence of his work, and the envy arising thence, was the
thing that ruined Phidias ; and it was particularly insisted upon, thai
in his representation of the battle with the Amazuns upon Minerva's
shield, he had introduced his own effigies as a bald old man taking
up a stone with both hands, and a iiik'h finished picture of Periclei
fightinj; with an Amazon. The last was contrived with so much
art, that the hand, which, in lifting up Ihe spear, partly covered th<
face, seemed to be intended to conceal tlte likeness, which jet was
very striking on botJi sides, Phidias, therefore, was thrown into
prison, where he died a natural death; though some say poison wai
(pvcn him by his enemies, who were desirous of causing Pctides lo
be suspected. As for the accuser Menon, he liad an immunity from
taxes granted him at the motion of Glycon, and the generals woe
ordered to provide for Itis sccuiity.

About Ibis liuie Aspasia was prosecuted for impiety by Hcnnip-
pus a comie poet, who likewise accused her of receiving into ker
house women above the condition of slaves, for the pleasure of Pe-
ricles. And niopithcs procured a decree, tlrnt those who disputed
the existence of the gods, or introduced new opinions about celestial
appearances, should be tried before an assembly of the people.
This charge was first levelled at Anasagoras, and through him it
Pericles. And as die people admitted it, another decree was pro-
posed by Draconiidcs, tlrnt Pericles should give aa account of tbo

naicLis.

public money before the Prytanesj and that the judges should take
the ballots from the altar*, and try the cause in the city. But
Agnon caused the last article to be dropt, and^ mstead thereof^ it
was voted that the action should be laid before ibt fifteen hun«
dred judges^ either for peculation and taking ofbr%be$y or simply
for corrtqit fracHc€9.

Aspasia was acquitted^ though much against the tenor of the law^
by means of Pericles^ who (according toiEschines) shed many tears
in his application for mercy for her. He did not expect the same
indulgence for Anazagorasf, and therefore caused him to quit the
city, and conducted him part of the way. And as himself was be*
become obnoxious to the people upon Phidias's account, and was
afraid of being called in question for it^ he urged on the war, which
as yet was uncertain, and blew up that jBame which tiU then was
stifled and suppressed. By this means he hoped to obviate the ac<^
cusations that threatened him, and to mitigate the rage of envy, be-*
cause such was his dignity and power, that in all important afiairs^
and in every great danger, the republic could place its confidence in
him alone, lliese are said to be the reasons which induced Iiira to
persuade the people not to grant the demands of the Laoedssmonians >
but what was the real cause is quite uncertain.

The Lacedemonians, persuaded that if they could remove Pericles
out of the way, they should be better able to manage the Athenians,
required them to banish all execrable persons from among them ; and
Pericles (as Thucydides informs us; was by his mother's side related
to those that were pronounced execrable in the aflhir of Cylon. The
success, however, of thb application proved the reverse of what was
expected by those that ordered it Instead of rendering Pericles
suspected, or involving him in trouble, it procured him the more
confidence and respect from the people, whep they perceived that
their enemies both hated and dreaded him above all others. For the
same reason he forwarned the Athenians, that if Archidamus, when

^ Id lome eztraordioarj cases, where the judges ircre to proceed with the s^eatett
czactness and solemnitj, tbej were ta take ballots or billets from the altar, and to in-
scribe their jodgmeot upon then; or rather to take the black and the white beau pse/iJkefi.
What Plutarch means by trying iht eautc jn the city is not easj to determine, nuless by
the eily we are to understand the full autmhly of the people. By the fifteen hundred

judges mentioned in the next sentence, is probably meant the court of Heliattm, m> call*
cd because the judges sat in the open air exposed to the sun; for this court, on extra*

ordinary occasions, consisted of that number.

t Anaxagoras held the unity of God; that it was one alUwisa tntelligence which raited

the beautiful structure of the world out of the chaos. And if such was the opinion of th«

master, it was natural for the people to conclude that bis icholar Pericles was against

tbe polytbeiun of th« timet*

Vol, 1. No. 14. fp

294 pj-utarch's lives.

a dangerous one, and ihe event uncertain, since, i
dides, siicli was the power uf the Sam i an s, that t1
imminent danger of losing the dominion of the i

Some time after this, when the Pcloponncsiai
break out, Fcrides persuaded the people to send s
habitants of Corcyra, wlio were at war with the C
would be a means to fix in their interest an islanc
were considerable, and might be of great service ii
vith the Peluponnesians, whicli they had all tlie t
to expect would be soon. The succours were d
and Pericles sent Lacedsemonius to the son of C
only, as if he designed nothing more than to disi
tual regard and friendship subsisted between Cin
Spartans, and lie now furnished his son with b
gave him the chaise of this affair against his i
der that, if nothing great or striking were eifccte
might be still the more suspected of favouring tl
by all imaginable methods, he endeavoured to 1
mcQt of that family, representing the sons of Ctm
Dames, not genuine Athenians, but strangers a
being called Lacedipnionius, another Tliessalus, and a *
They seem to have been nil the sons of an Arcadia
riclcs, however, finding himself greatly blamed about t
leys, an aid by no means sufficient to answer the pD~
that requested it, but likely enough to aflbrd his encir
to accuse him, sent another squadron to Corcyiaf;
arrive till the action was over.

The Corinthians, offended at this treatment, con
Lflced.'emoo, and the Megarensians at the same tim
Athenians would not suffer them to come to at
theirs, but drove them out, thereby infringing i
leges, and breaking the oath they had taken bef<
scmhiy of Greece. The people of .£gina, too.
the Lacedfemonians with many encroachinet<
them by the Athenians, whom (hey dared n-
And, at this very juncture, Potidiea, a €or"
ject to the Athenians, being besieged to
iiastcHcd on the war.

However, as ambassadors were seP" -_.

■ Thii mai wRi commrucri] atwut Ihs Uula
dunia. runiiiliHl bj> ll>e Cufcj'tiaiu.

I Bbi iliii flitt, which comuted of tVCBt;
wblcb Uic/ neie pie)iui«(.

*y*/"

— ■ — ■ I ,=ai

\u\X llir indices slioiilfl tnkc

• cause in the citv. \Uii

and, instead tluit-or, it

Ijffore tlie iifiecn luin-

"i^ of bribes y oi •>ini[)Iy

• the tenor of tljc hiw,

!H'v) .shed many tears

nor exj/cct il * ^anlc

w(\ iiini to f.nit th(*

ii> i.inis<ir .'/:. > I #!*

a^emii t, and was

:i tie V, !?, \\hi< h

h till then v.a>

') ohviaie the ae-

iiTi- of f i.\ V, h<'-

.[/ortant ;itt;jiiv,

*> tiyi.ii'icr.' •? in

■ndu'-'f! i.Im to

.;eda:n;'.iii.tfj.. ;

•r" . .!'.' , •..:•'!
* f . 'I .

* • a <

• «

l»

» *.

SB:
I c

he entered Atttca al the head of the Pcluponnesians, and ravaged the
Test of the country, should spare his estate, it must be owiug cither to
hu rights of hospitality tliat subsisted between them, or to a drsign
to furnish his enemies with mutter of slander, and therefore from
that hour he gave his lands and houses to the city of Athens. The
Lacedienionian.s and confederates aceordiitgly invaded Atttca with a
grcul army under the conduct of Archidamus ; and, laying waste all
before them, proceeded as far as Aehurnse'*, where tliey encamped,
expecting that the Athenians would not be able to endure them sa
near, but meet them iii the field for the lionour and safety of their
country. But it appeared to Pericles too liazardons to give bstule t»
an army of sixty thousand men (for sueli was tlie number of the
Peloponncsians and Boeotians employed in the first expedition), aud
by that step to risk no less than the preservation of the city itself.
As to those that were eager for an engagement, and uneasy at liis slow
proceedings, be endeavoured to bring them to reason, by observing,
" That trees, when lopped, will soon grow aguin; but when men arc
cut olT, the loss is not easily repairvd."

In the mean time he took eare to hold no assembly of the people,
lest he should be forced to act against his own opinion: but as a
good pilot, when a storm arises at .nea, gives his directions, gett hi*
tackle in order, aud then uses his art, regardless of the tears aod en-
treaties of the sick aud fearful passengers; so Pericles, wheu he h«d
■ecured the gates, and placed the guards in every quarter to ilie bnt
advantage, followed the dictates of bis own understanding, uuniored
by the clamours and euntplaiuis that resounded in his ears. Thui
tirm he remained, notwithstanding the importunity of his friends,
and tiie threats and accusations of his enemies, iiotwi lb standing tbe
many scuffs and songs sung to vilify his character as a general, and
to represent him as one who in the must dastardly manner betrayed bit
country to the enemy. Cleon, too, attacked him witli great acri-
mony, making use of the general resentment against Pericles ■» ■
means to iucn-asc his owu popularity, as Hernnppus icsiifiL-s in
these verses:

SIccpi llii^n, ihuu kingnftilyn, ilccpi Ibi i|h-iu'.

While ihund'nni; wirili mate war! hIi^ bi)*>l ihj jiruBnt.

Yi't iliuddcr at tlir Mond ol ibirpca'd iHOnl^

£pilc uf tl>e Swning Cfcon f

Pericles, however, regarded nothing of this kind, but calmly uul
ailenily bore nil this disgrace and virulence. And tliuugb he fitted
out a hundred ships, and sent ihcm against Pelo|>onncsu«, yci
he did not sail with tliem, but chose to siny and watch over dit
■ Tlic baisisb of Aeharna wu onlj Klnn Imadfcd pac«* fraa ib* cltj.

KRICCSS* ' 99$

itmmmm

dty> and keep the reins of government in his own hands^ until
die Peloponnesians were gone. In order to satisfy the common
people, nho were very uneasy on account of the war, he made
a distribution of money and lands: for, having expelled the inhabit-
tants of iEgina, he divided the island^ by lot among the Athenians.
Besides, tlie sufierings of the enemy afforded them some conso-
lation. The fleet sent against Peloponnesus ravaged a large tract of
country, and sacked the small towns and villages; and Pericles Him-
self made a descent upon the territories of Megara*, which he laid
waste. ^Vhence it appears, that though the Peloponnesians greatljf
distressed the Athenians by land, yet, as they were equally distre^ed
by sea, they could not have drawn out the war to so great a lengthy
but must soon have given it up (as Pericles foretold from the begin-
ning), had not some divine power prevented the effect of human
counsels. A pestilence at that time broke out, which destroyed the
flower of the youth and the strength of Athens. And not only their
bodies, but their very minds were effected; for as persons delirious
with a fever set themselves against a physician or a father, so they
raved against Pericles, and attempted his ruin; being persuaded by
his enemies tliat the sickness was occasioned by the multitude of out^
dwellers flocking into the city, and a number of people stuffed to-
gether in the height of summer, in small huts and close cabins^
where they were forced to live a lazy inactive life, instead of breathing
the pure and open air to which they had been accustomed. They
Would needs have it, that he was the cause of all thi^, who, when the
war began, admitted within the walls such crowds of people from the
country, and yet found no employment for them, but let them con-
tinue pent up like cattle, to infect and destroy each other, without
aflbrding them the least relief or refreshment.

Desirous to remedy this calamity, and withal, in some degree to
annoy the enemy, he manned a hundred and fifty ships, in which
he embarked great numbers of select horse and foot, and was pre-
paring to set sail. The Athenians conceived good hopes of success,
and the enemy no less dreaded so great an armament. The whole
fleet was in readiness, and Pericles on board his own galley, when
there happened an eclipse of the sun. This sudden darkness was
looked upon as an unfavourable omen, and threw them into the
greatest consternation. Pericles, observing that the pilot was much
astonished and perplexed, took his cloke, and having covered his eyes

* He did not undertake this expedition until autanin» when the Laced ainonians wer«
retired. In the winter of this jear, the Athenians sol^niniacd in an extraordinary uMn*
oer the funerals of such as fir»t died in the war. Ptriplcf praaoimced the oration on that
tfccasloni which Tbacydidci has preserred.

MO

PLI:TARCH S lives.

k it, asked him, •• If he found any thing terrible in that, or t-on-
s a lad presage:" Upon his answering in the negative,
W Midi, " Where b the diffcrtncc then between this and ihe other,
eBCvptth«tBomethingbiggerthan my eloke causes the eclipse?" But
dw tsK questjon which is discussed in the schools of philosophy.

la thb expedition Pericles performed nothing wonhy of so gmt
an equipment. He laid siege to the sacred city of Epidauras*, and
at first with some rational hopes of succes: but the distemper which
prevailed in his army broke all his measures; for it not only carried
ofThis own men> but all that had intercourse with them. As this
ill success set the Athenians against him, he endeavoured to console
them under their losses, and to animate them to new attempts. But
it was not in his power to mitigate their resentment, nor could they
be satisfied until they had showed themselves masters, by votingthat
he should be deprived of the command, and pay a tine, which, fay
Ihe lowest account, was fifteen talents; some make it fifty. The
person that carried on the prosecution against him was Cieoo, as
Idomeneus tells us; or, according to Theophrasus, Stmmtas; or,
LocTBtides, if we bclicix Henclides of Pontus.

The public ferment indeed soon subsided, the people qinttin^
their resentment - with that blow, as a bee leaves its sting in the
wound; but Ins pritmtc aifiiirs were in a miserable condition, for lie
had tost a iuiinl>er of his relations in the plague, and a misunder-
Btanding had prevailed for some time in his family. Xanthippus, the
eldest of his legitimate sons, was naturally profuse, and besides had
married a young and expensive wife, daughter to Isaodcr, and grand-
daughter to £pylicus. He knew not how to brook his father's fruga-
lity, who supplied him hut sparingly, and with little ut a time, and
therefore sent lo one of his friends, and took up money in the name
of Pericles, When the man came to demand his money, Pcriclfi
not only refused to pay him, but even prosecuted him for the demand.
Xantliippus was so highly enraged ut this, that he began openly to
abuse his father. First, he exposed and ridiculed the company he
kepi in his house, and the conversations he held with ihe phikeo-
phers. He said, thai Cpitimius the Pharsalian having undesignedly
killed a horse with a javelin which he threw at tlie public games, h^
father spent a whole day in disputing with Protagoras, which miplil
be properly deemed the cause of his death, the javelin, or the mitt
that threw it, or the presidents of the games. Sleiimbrotus add*,
(hat it was Xanthippus who spread the vile report concerning hiton
wife and Pericles, and that the young man retained tltis impl
ia \tp\t, U wu coDKcritcd lo ^culapiui^ aail
diitinguiih it fiom aaolhcr town of (be laiae i>ib«

3

riMcva. 301

batred against his father to life latest breath* He vna carried off bf
the plague. Pericles lost his sister^ too^ at that time^ andihe greatest
part of Ui relations and friends, who were most capable of assisting
him in the bosiness of the state. Notwithstanding these misfortmsei^
he lost not his dignity of sentiment and greatness of soul; He ndlber
vrefty nor performed any funeral rites, nor was he seen at the grave
of any of his nearest relations, until the death of Paralns, his Itst
surviving legitimate son. This at last subdued him. He Attempled»
indeed, then to keep up his usual calm behsviour and' seneritjr of
mind; but, in putting the garland upon the head of the deceased^
his firmness forsook him; he could not bear the sad spectacle; he
broke out into loud lamentation, and shed a torrent of tdars; a pas^
slon which he had never before given way to.

Athens made a trial, in the course of a year, of the rest of lier
genends and orators, and finding none of sufficient weight and au-
thority for so important a charge, she once more tdmed her eyes oik
Pericles, and invited him to take upon him the direction of affiiiii
both military and civil. He had for some time shut himself up at
home to indulge hb sorrow, when Alcibiades, and his other Melids^
persuaded him (o make hb appearance. The people makii^ an apo-*
logy for their ungenerous treatment of him, he reassum^ the reins of
government, and, being appointed general, his first step was to pro*
cure the repeal of the law concerning bastards, #f which he himadf
had been the author; for he was afraid that his name and hAuSif
would be extintrt for want of a successor. The history of that hiir
is as follows: many years before, Pericles, in the height of his power,
and having several legitimate sons, (as we havealready related)
caused a law to be made, that none should be accounted citizens of
Athens, but those whose parents were both Athenians. After tint
the king of Egypt made the Atlienians a present of forty tboosandl
medimni of wheat; and as this was to be divided among the citizens,
many persons were proceeded against as ill^timate upon that law,
whose birth had never before been called in question, and many were
disgraced upon false accusations. Near five thousand were cast
and sold for slaves ; and fourteen thousand and forty appeared to be
entitled to the privilege of citizens. Though it was unequitable and
strange that a law, which had been put in execution with so modfr
severity, should be repealed by the man who first proposed it, yet
the Athenians, moved at the late misfortunes in his fiennily, by which
he seemed to have sufiered the punishment of his arrogance and
pride, and thinking he should be treated with humanity, after be bad
felt the wrath of heaven, permitted him to enrol a natural son i» hie
own tribe, and to give him bis own Bame» This ii be whi» after*

8^Xt VLXTTAnCH's LIVES.

vir<b defeated the Peloponnesians in a sea-fight at ArgijooMt, and
WM put to death by the people^ together with bis eolleagttes*«.
' About this time Pfcrieles was seized with thephgoe^ bntiiot with
flick acute and continued symptoms as it generally shows. It was
iaiKer a lingering distemper, which, with frequent intermissions,
«Rd by slow degrees, consumed his body, and impaired thcTigonr of
iia mind. TheopliFastus has a disquisition in his Ethics, whether
BMi's characters may be changed with their fortune, and the soul so
affected with the disorders of the body as to lose her virtue ; ^d there
ht relates, that Pericles showed to a friend, who came to visit him
in his sickness, an amulet which the women bad hung about his neck,
intimating that Ik must be sick indeed, since he submitted to so ri^
diculous a piece of superstition.

V When he was at the point of death, his snrviviiig friends and the
piiDcipal citizens sitting about his bed, discoursed together concern-
lag Uis extraordinary virtue, and the great authority he had enjoyed,
9B(t enumerated his various exploits and the number of his vietcmes;
far, while he was commander-in-chief, he had erected no less than
fUBe trophies to the honour of Athens. These things they talked o^
supposing that he attended not to what they said, but that his senses
were gone. He took notice, however, of every word they had spoken,
and thereupon delivered himself audibly as follows: *' I am surpri*
sed, that while you dwell upon and- extol these acts of mine, thou^
fortune had her share in them, and many other generals have perform*
cd the like, you take no notice of the greatest and most honourable
part of my character, that no Athenian, through my meansy ever
put on moumingJ'

Pericles undoubtedly deserved admiration, not only for the can*
4om and moderation which he ever retained amidst the distractions
of business and the rage of his enemies, but for that noble sentiment
which led him to think it his most excellent attainment never to have
given way to envy or anger, notwithstanding the greatness of his
power, nor to have nourished an implacable hatred against his greatest
foe* In my opinion, this one thing, I mean his mild and dispassion*
%te behaviour, his unblemished integrity and iueproachable conduct

• * The Athenians had appointed ten commanders on that occasion. After thej had
•Mamed the ▼ictory, they wcrfe tried, and tight of them were capitally condemned^ of
whom six lliat were on the spot were executed, and this natural son of rcricles was one
of them. The only crime laid to their charge was, that they had not buried the dead.
J[enophon, in his Grecian history, has given a large account of this affair. It happened
^nder the archonship of Callias, the second year of the ninety-third Olyopiad, twenty-
ifbur yean after the death of Pericles. Socrates the Philosopher was at that time one of
te-Prytanes, and resolutely refojed to do his office. And, % little while after^ tboiBed«
aeaa of th» people tamed the other way.

0

FABtUS MAXtMUSk MS

during his wholef^ministration, makes his appellation of Olympius^
which ipvx>uld be otherwise vain and absurd, no longer exceptionable^
nay, gives it a propriety. Tluis we think the divine .powien, as the
authors of all good^ and naturally incapable of producingevil, worthy
to rule and preside over the universe; not in the nranner which tha
poets relate, who, while they endeavoured to bewilder us by^thfiir ir^
rational opinions, stand convicted of inconsistency by their ovm
writings; for they represent the place which the gods inhabit as thc^
region of security and the most perfect tranquillity, unapproached
by storms, and unsullied with elands; where a sweet serenity. for
ever reigns, and a pure e^A^ displays itself without intemiption; and
these they think mansions suitable to a blessed and immortal natuve;»
Yet, at the same time, they represent the gods themselves as full c(
anger, malevolence, hatred, and other passions,- unworthy even of a
reasonable man. But diis by the by.

The state of public affiurs soon sliowed the want of Pericles*, mad
tlie Athenians openly expressed tbefar r^ret for his loss. Even those-
who in his lifetime could but ill brook his superior power, as thinks
ing themselves eclipsed by it, yet, upon a trial of other orators and
demagogues, after be was gone, soon acknowledged, that wher«e
severity was required, no man was ever more moderate; or, if mild-*
ness was necessary, no man better kept up his dignity than Pericles^
And his so much envied authority, to which they had given die
name of monarchy and tyranny, then appeared to have been the bul-
wark of the state: so much corruption and such a rage of wicked-.-
ness broke out upon the commonwealth after his death, which he.
by proper restraints had palliated, and kept from dangerous and
destructive extremities.

FABIUS MAXIMUS.

iSUCH were the memorable actions of Pericles, as far as we have^
been able to collect them; and now we proceed to the life of Fabius.
JMaximus.

The first Fabius was the son of Hercules, by one of the nymphs,
according to some authors; or, as others say, by a woman of the
country, near the river Tyben From him came the family of the Fabii^

* Periclei died in the third year of Uie Peloponnesian war, that is» the laitveaceCtiit
tfi^htj-ieT^ath Olympiad, and 4S8 yean before the Christian era*

S02 ^^^^^^^^H^

wards defeateil il.

"^^^^^SSSbA Yet some- uu-

wasputtoilcatli :

About tiiij lit

.^aa.^ aams ofpitt; §tn afA

sucli acute at>cl

.-.J /orffrtsigDifiesio tffg-/

isthci « linf^i:'

.-u, ihcy luid the uame of

twlhyslow.

juioent mcQ, the iDOst coo-

Us mind. '

. Komans summiDed Mtui-

mcn'a cbsr:'

.jius Maximus, of wbma w« I

affcc»dwi

he rdM,

MOSMj, from a snmll wait oa

in his M.

1. vJ 0((CT(teJ, from themiHnn* i

iDtimui

■: I boy. N«y, his composed de- '

dicub,

^iiua in engaging in die diversiona ct

, Wi

- ■j'l difficulty with which he took vf

pn*n

.jith tlie submissive maimer in wbtdi

»«'

,!..< oi\\\s comrades, brought him tuids

»n<i

: fuatis]irte», with those that did doI

fur

B'

'.ia- solidity of Ilia parts, and who db-

:ind lion-Vike courage in hia mture.

:n>)ti to business drew him out, it was

;:lii_^si;cioing inactivity wasacomaund

. :, ii Ills cautiousness was prudence, and

:.-. Iitaviness and insensibility, was really m

»oul. He saw wliat an important cooMn

11(1 ill what wars the republic was freqiKRtll

by exercise prepared his body, euusiciaii^

^^^V^^V

(he engines by which the people arc to be

^^^r

L. tlie manner sf his life For, in bis elo-

^^H

!^' of aftectation, no empty plausible ck-

^H

liat good sense wliich was peculiar to him,

t fiiuilj alone undertook ihe w>r igiimt ibe VeiMn,

^^H

ju pinoM uf Iheir u.u na»ie, -bo were all tlaiautbu

^^^1

wo u[ iheni hud Iwen icveo linn rnwili.

^^^H

^^H

I,L' ;.opul«c of Rome inu foui tt.bct. .!» b«(«., m.

^^^H

gciitr,.!. und.bytliM rotini. twd .(ry p«M pvvttia

^^^^H ' _ i^iw *Bn

cd iVifeM IVtnM. IJ>.lib.U.cip.W.

^H "^^„^. .«..•..,.

^ - FABIUS MAXIBfUS. 305

■ind had a sententious force aad depths said to have resembled that
V of Thucydides, There is an oration of his still extant^ which he de-
^ livered before the people on occasion of his son's funeral^ who died
after he had been consul.

Fabius Maximus was five times consul "*; and, in liis first consul- /
ship, was honoured with a triumph for the victory he gained over
the Ligurians; who, being defeated by him in a set battle, with the
loss of a great number of men, were driven behind the Alps, and
]<ept from such inroads and ravages as they had used to make in the
neighbouring provinces.

Some yeacs after, Hannibal having invaded Italyf, and gained the
battle of Trebia, advanced through Tuscany, laying waste the coun-
try, and striking Rome itself with terror and astonishment. Tliis
desolation was auounced by signs and prodigies, some familiar to the
Romans, as that of thunder for instance, and others quite strange and
unaccountable. For it was said, that certain shields sweated blood,
that bloody corn was cut at Antium, that red-hot stones fell from
tiie air, that the Falerians saw the heavens open, and many billets
fallj, upon one of which these words were very legible, Mars bran-
disheth his arms. But Caius Flaminius, then consul, was not dis-
couraged by any of these things. He was indeed naturally a man
of much fire and ambition, and, besides, was elated by former suc-
cesses which he had met with contrary to all probability ; fqr, against
the sense of the senate and his colleague, he had engaged with the
Gauls and beaten them. Fabius likewise paid but little regard to
prodigies§, as too absurd to be believed, notwithstanding the great
effect they had upon the multitude. But being informed how small

* Fabius wns consnl the first time in the year of Rome 521 ; and the fifth time, in tho
tenth year of the sf;cond Punic war, in the year of Rome 645.

t Here Plutarch leaves a void of fifteen years. It was not, indeed, a reroarkahle
period of the life of Fabius. Hannibal entered Italy in the year of Rome 535. He
defeated Scipio in the battle of Ticinus, before he beat Sempronius in that of Trebia.

X Plutarch misunderstood Livy, and, of the tvro prodigies which he mentions, made
but one. Livy soys, " At Falerium the sky was seen to open, and in the void space a
great light appeared. The lota at Praeneste shrunk of their own accord, and one of them
dropped down, whereon was written. Mart brandishethhit tword," — Liv. lib. xxii. These
lots were bits of oak liandsomely wrought, with some ancient characters inscribed opon
them. When any came to consult thein, the coffer in which they were kept was open*
cd, and a child having first shaken them together, drew out one from the rest, which con-
tained the answer to tbe querist's demand. As to the lots being shrunk, which Livj
aentions, and itbicb was considered as a bad omen. Ho doobt the priest had two sets,
a smaller and a greater, which they played upon the people's superstition as they ple»»
•ed. Cicero says they were yery little regarded in his time. Ctc. de JHvinat, lib. ii.

§ If Fabius was not moved by those prodigies, it was not because he despised them
(at his colleague did, who, according to Livy, neither feared the gods, nor took advice

\quI. No. 14. QQ

TLUTARCH 8 LIVES.

the numbers of the enemy were, and of the want of money, he ad-
'd the Romans to have pHiiencf; not to give battle to a man who
led on an army hardened by many conflifts for this very purpnee,
but to send sui.i;ours to tbeii allies, and to secure the towns that
were in their possession, until the vigour of the enemy expired of it-
self, like a flame for want of fuel.

He could not, however, prevail upon Flaminius. That general

declared he would never suffi;r the war to approach Home, nor, like
Caniillus of old, dispute within the walls who should be the master
of the city. He therefore ordered the tribune.', to draw out the
forces, and mounted his horse, but was thrown headlong ofl'*, the
horse, without any visjlile cause, being seized with a fright and trem-
bling. Yet he persisted in his resolution of marching out to meat
Hannibfil, and drew up his army near the lake called Thrasymenusf,
in Tuscany.

While the armies were cngagcdj there happaned an earthquake,
which overturned whole cities, changed the course of rivers, and tore
off the tops of mountains, yet not one of the combatants vras in the
least sensible of that violent motion. Flaminius himself, Iiaviug
greatly signalized his strensih and valour, fell, and, with him, the
bravest of his troops; the rest being routed, a great carnage ensued;
full fifteen thousand were slain, and as many taken prisonen*.
Hannibal was very desirous of discovering the body of Flami-
nius, that he might bury it with due lionour, as a tribute to hit
bravery, but he could not find it, nor could any account be gimi
what became of it.

When the Romans lost the battle of Trebia, neither the generali

of men)

but brcmi'i
ffectusl. 1
Flamiiiiui.

mhu

at F.b.

p|W».it.g(l

1, boweier,

Bnge
butCu

nf
Sti

h. pod., t
iliuiCeipl

rroJrT tbepn-

•Th

f.ll from hi

horM.. ohich

(•■a cnQiiJered u

ID

II owen.

w MIOMI kf

UMlhtr

ub>d. Wh

ntht

enu^i.

ucmpted lo

pull

» •tsiidord QUI

-rihepMrfia

Older lo msrch, lie l.»l nul iiicDglli cnoui;b to do iL But where ii tlie *on4«r, mjt
Cicero, to hnve ■ hone ttke flight, or lo find * tUndard.beirar feeblj rndea>eanH| n
dnw up the ilundird whicb he had |i«rlB|» [lurpciielj ilruck itmp into thi' grovadl
t Now the like o! rerugta.

. tNolwilhitundlng ihit canplcte Ticlorjr, lUambilil W onl; lineeu humlrn) an;
forhs foaghl the Roman* ai grrai adiiinlaee, hiting drrnvn ihfin into »a maAmf4rit-
l*een tbe billi uf Conona and lh« lake Thratjiocniu. Livj and Valariui MuiB>
make the uuniber ofpriiDnen aul,T lii ihouundi but roljbiiu aaji. thry wnt wkI
more noroeroDs. — Alioul len ihouiand Romani, moM of then uuaadcd, nada *■■
aicapF, and look Ihcii route to Runi«, where few of thtm anired. the r«al diinc of ikir
wuaniii btfore thff reacliid the capital. Two molhen mtrr to tianapottr^ Bilk >ij.
one at Ihe gale of the cii.v, when sbr tuw her son uoexpectrdly apprar. and tb* MknM
iMmC] wtiert >be found her ton, thai Ibe; bolb upitcd on ihe 'pot.

lFA9tVB MtASIttJ^. BOf

■BBSCfe

•ent a true account of it^ nor did the messenger represent it as it was t
both pretended the victory was doubtful. But as to the last, as soon
as the priiptor Pomponius was apprised of it, he assembled the people^
and without di^g^sing the matter in the leasts made this declara-* -
tion ; " Romans, we have lost a great battle, our army is cut to
pieces, and Flaminius the consul is slain; think, therefore, what is
to be done for your safety /'-^The same commotion which a furious
wind causes in the ocean did these words of the prastor produce in
so vast a multitude. In the first consternation, they could not fix
upon any thing: but at length all agreed that affairs required tlu^
direction of an absolute power, which they called the dictatorships
and that a man should be pitched upon for it, tipho would exercise it
with steadiness and intrepidity: that such a man was Fabius Maxi-
mus, who had a spirit and dignity of manners equal to so great a
command, and, besides, was of an age in. which the vigour of tha
body is sufficient to execute the purposes of the mind, and courage is
tempered with prudence.

Pursuant to these resolutions, Fabius was chosen dictator*, and
he appointed Lucius Minucius his general of the horsef. But first '
he desired permission of the senate to make use of a horse when in
the field. This was forbidden by an ancient law, either because
they placed their greatest strength in the infantry, and therefore
chose that the commander-in-chief should be always posted among
them ; or else^ because they would have the dictator, whose power
in all other respects was very great, and indeed arbitrary, in this
t»se at least appear to be dependent upon the people. In the
next phce, Fabius, willing to show the high authority and gran-
deur of his office, in order to make the people more tractable
and submissive, appeared in public with twenty-four /tc/ors carrying
the fasces before him; and^ when the surviving consul met him, be
sent one of his*officers to order him to dismiss his lictors and the other
ensigns of bis employment, and to join himas a private man.

Then beginning with an act of religion, which is the best of all
beginnings, and assuring the people that their defeats were not owing
to the cowardice of the soldiers, but to the general's neglect of the
sacred rites and auspices, he exhorted them to entertain no dread of
AMt enemy, but, by extraordinary honours; to propritiate the gods;

* A dictator coold not be regolarly naaied bot bj the mrriviiig coiual« and SerYiliut
beiDg with the vmy, the people appointed Fabios by Uieir own anthoritjr. with the title
of prodicutor. HoweYor, the gratitode of Rome allowed hie detccndanu to pot die-
later, initead of prodictator, in thf list of bis titles.

t Aeeofiing to Poljbies lad Livj, hb name was not Lttdoib b«t Mama M^^iochmj
■or was be pitched opea bj Tibiae but bj the peiiple.

308 PIXTARCH S LIVES.

not that he wanted to infuse into tliem a spirit of superstitioD, but n>
confirm their valour by piety, and to deliver them from every otlirr
fear by a sense of the divine protection. On that occasion be cott-
sulted several of those mysterious bool<s of the Sybils, which con-
tained niHtters of great use to the state; and it is said, that some oi
the pro|iliecies found there perfectly agreed with the circuoistaneK
of those times: but it wns not lawful forbim to divulge them- How-
ever, in full assembly, he vowed to the gods a ver sacrum, that is,
all the young which the next spring shoald produce> on the moun-
tains, the fields, the rivers, and meadows of Italy, from the goats,
the swine, tiie sheep, and the cows. He likewise vowed to exhitut
the great games in honour of the gods, and to expend upon ihoK
games three hundred and thirty-three thousand sesterces, three hun-
dred and thirty-three denarii, and one third of a ilenariua; whicb
sum, in our Greek money, is eighty-three thousand five hundred and
eighty-three drachmas and two oboli*. What his reason might be
fur fixing upon that precise iiuiubcr is not easy to determine, unlot
it were on account of the perfection of the number three, as being
the first of odd numbers, the first of plurals, and containing in itself
the first dilfereneei, and the first elements of all numbers.

Fabius liaviiig taught the people to repose themselves on acts of
religion, made them more easy as to future events. For liis own
part, he placed all his hopes of victory in himself, believing that
heaven blesses men with success on account of their virtue and pta*
denec; and (hcnforc he watched the motions of Hiumittal, not iritb
n design to give him battle, but, by length of time, to waste bis spirit
and vigour, and gradually to destroy him fay means of his superiority
in men and money. — To secure Inmseif against the enemy's hone,
he took care to encamp above them on high and mountainous plac<s>
When they sat still, he did the same; when they were in motion, Ik
showed himself upon the heights, at suHi a distance as not to be
obliged to fight against his inclination, and yet near enough to keep
them in perpetual alarm, as if, amidst his arts to guia time, he inten-
ded every moment to give tlicm battle.

These dilf'tcrypron-edings exposed him to contempt among the
Romans in gcneinl, and even in his own army. The enemy, tooy
excepting Hannibal, thought him a man of no spirit. He ttloitc ma
Etnsible of ilie keenness of Fahius, and of the manner in wtiicti he
iiitcnclvJ to carry on the war, and therefore was dctcriuined, if pot-
fciblc i:ither by stratagem or force, to bring him toabaitle, cdimIv-
din^ tluxtt^iherwise the Carthaginians must be luidonc; siuee fhej
could nut decide the matter in the field, where they Iwd titc advia-
■ 1 till w* liud Turoicit} beta amde to Mut bj Autiu Curocliui, aai ocgtccted.

tmA

TAB1US MAXIMUS. 309

tage, but must gradually wear away, and be reduced to nothing;
when the dispute was only who should be superior in men and
money. Hence it was that he exhausted the whole art of war^ like a
skilful wrestler, who watches every opportunity to lay hold of his ad-
vefsary. Sometimes he advanced and alarmed him with the appre-
hensions of an attack; sometimes^ by marching and countermarch-
ing, he led him from place to place, hoping to draw him froni his
plan of caution. But, as he was fully persuaded of its utility, he kept
immoveably to his resolution. Minucius, his general of horse, gave
him, however, no small trouble by hb unseasonable courage and heat»
haranguing the army, and filling them with a furious desire to come
to action, and a vain confidence of success. Thus the soldiers were
brought to despise Fabius, and, by way of derision, to call him the
pedagogue of Hannibal^, while they extolled Minucius as a great
man, and one that acted up to the dignity of Rome—This led Mi-
nucius to give a freer scope to his arrogance and pride, and to ridi-
cule the dictator for encamping constantly^ upon the mountains,
^^ As if lie did it on purpose that his men might more clearly behold
Italy laid waste with fire and sword.'' And he asked the friends of
Fabius, ^^ Whether he intended to take his army up into heaven, as
he had bid adieu to the world below, or- whether he would screen
liimself from the enemy with clouds and fc^s. When the dictator's
friends brought him an account of these aspersions, and exhorted
him to wipe them off by risking a battle, ^^ In that case," said he^
^' I should be of a more dastardly spirit than they represent me, if,
through fear of insults and reproaches, I should depart from my own
resolution. But to fear for my country is not a disagreeable fear.
That man is unworthy of such a command as this, who shrinks
under calumnies and slanders, and complies with the humour of
those whom he ought to govern, and whose folly and rasluiess it is.
his duty to restrain."

After this, Hannibal made a disagreeable mbtake: for, intending
to lead his army fianher firom Fabius, and to move into a part of the
country that would aiibrd him forage, he ordered the guides, imme-
diately after supper, to conduct him to the plains of Casinumf.

* For the office of a pedagogue of old was (as the name implies) t6 attend the Mf'
drtn, to carry them up and down, and to conduct them horoe^gain.

\ Hanniiwl had ramged Samninm, plundered the territory of BeneTentaro, a Romas'
colonj, and laid siege to Tilesia, a city at the foot of the Appenines. But finding that
■either the niTaging of the cosntry, nor even the taking of some cttie^ could make F»-
bios quit his eminences, he resolved to make use of a stronger bait, which was, to enter
Canpaoia, the finest. country in Italy, and lay it waste under the dictator's eyes, hoping
hj that means to hriog hin to action. Bat> by the mistake which Plutarch mtntioai^

310 PLUTAItCH's UVES.

^^^^^^H They, tHking the word urong, by reason of his barbarmta pronuu-
^^^^^^H ciHtion of it, led his furces to the borders of Campania, near tbe town
^^^^^^f T)f Cusiliiium, through which runs the rii'er Lothroiius, which the
^^r-' Romans call Vulturous. The adjacent country is surrounded with

^^ mountains, except only a valley that stretches out to the sen. New

^^^^^^ the sea the ground is very marshy, and full ot Urge banks of sandj by
^^^^^^L reason of the overffowini; or the river. The sea is there e&tremejf
^^^^P^^^ f<>Qgh, and the coust almost inipracticablfr,

^ m As soon as Hannibal nas entered into this valley, Fabius, aviulinp

^H himself of his knowledge of the country, seized the narrow outlet,

^1 and placed in it a guard of four thousand men. The main body of

^K his amiy he posted to advantage on the surrounding hills, and, with

^H the lightest and most active troops, fell upon the enemy's rear, pal their

^H whole army in disorder, and Ifilled about eight hundred of them.

^^* Hannibal then wanted to get clear of so disadvantageous a sitiu-

lion, and, in revenge of the mistake the guides had made, and the
danger they had brought him iuto, he crucified them all. But not
knowing how to drive the enemy from the heights they were mas-
ters of, and sensible, besides, of the terror and confusion that reigned
amongst his men, who concluded themselves fallen into a snare from
which there was no escaping, he had recourse to stratagem.

The contrivance was this: he caused two thousand oxen, which
he had in his camp, to have torclics and dry bavius well fastened to
their horns. Tliese, in the night, upon a signal given, were to be
lighted, and the oxen to be driven to the mountains, near the nar-
row pass that was guarded by the enemy. Wiiile those that had it
in charge were thus employed, he decamped, and marched slowly for-
wnrd. So long as the fire was moderate, and burnt only the torches
Rt^ bavins, the oxen moved softly on, as thoy were driven up the
bllh; and the shepherds and herdsmen on the adjacent heights took
them for an army that marched in order with lighted sorches. Bat,
when their horns were burnt to the roots, and the fire pierced to the
quick, terrified, and nwd with pain, they no longer kept any certaia
route, but ran up the hills, with their foreheads and tails Saming,
mid setting every thing on fire that came in their way. The Ro-
mans who guarded the pass were astonished ; for they appeared to
them like a great iMimber of men running up and down with torches,
which sCTittcivd fire on every side. In their fears, of course, they
tOncluded that they should be attacked and surrounded by the ene-
my! for which reason they quitted the pass, and fled to the D

Ilia (B^ct, iotlvBd of conilucling hln la ibe |il>ini af Cuinun, ltd Uai iMu itsw
Wnci bI CuilioHDii which ilividct Stmoiiiia fraiu C>in|Miua.

lAlIUS liAXIMUt* 311

body in the camp. Immediately Hannibal's light-armed troops took
poBsession of the outlet, and the rest of his forces marched safely
through, loaded with a rich booty.

Fabius discovered the stratagem that same night; for some of the
oxen, as they were scattered about, fell into his hands; but, for fear
of an ambush in the dark, he kept his men all night under arms in
the camp. At break of day he pursued the enemy, came up with
their rear, and attacked them; several skirmishes ensued in the dif*
ficult passes of the mountains, and Hannibal's army was put in sosie
disorder, until he detached from his van a body of Spaniards, light
and nimble men, who were accustomed to climb such heighlsu
These falling upon the heavy-armed Romans, cut off a consideraUe
number of them, and obliged Fabius to retire. Tliis brought opoft
faim more contempt and calumny tlian ever: for, having renounced
open force, as if he could subdue Hannibal by conduct and foresight,
he appeared now to be worsted at bis own weapons...»Hannibal, tQ
incense the Romans still more against him,, when he came to his
lands, ordered them to be spared, and set a g^uard upon them to pre-
vent the committing of the least injury there, while he was ravaging
all the country around them, and laying it waste with -fire* An ac-
count of these things being brought to Rome, heavy complaints were
laade thereupon. The tribunes alleged many articles of accusation
against him before the peq)le, chiefly at the instigation of Metilius,
who had no particular enmity to Fabius, but being strongly in the
interest of Minucius the general of the horse, whose relation he was^
lie thought, by depressing Fabius, to raise his friend. Tiie senate,
too, was offended, particularly with the terms he had settled with
Hannibal for the ransom of prisoners. For it was agreed betweea
them, that the prisoners should be exchanged man for man, and that
if either of them had more than the other, he should release them for
two hundred and fifty drachmas each man*; and, upon the whole
account, there remained two hundred and forty Romans unexchanged.
The senate determined not to pay this ransom, and blamed Fabius
as taking a step that was against the honour and interest of the state,
in endeavouring to recover men whom cowardice had betrayed into
the hands of the enemy.

When Fabius was informed of the resentment of his fellow-citizens,
he bore it with invincible patience; but being in want of money, and
not choosing to deceive Hannibal, or to abandon his countrymen in
their distress, he sent his son to Rome, with orders to sell part of his

* Jaw J csllt this argmU jmmU Hna el seUbrat in milkem ; whence w« learn that the
Soawn pmido, or pmiad weight pT iU? cr, wm equlTaleat to one Irandwd Oreciaa drodU

4

312 Plutarch's lives.

estate^ and bring him the money immediately. ..This was punctually
performed by his son^ and Fabius redeemed the prisoners; several
oi whom afterward^ oflered to repay him, but Iiis generosity would
not permit him to accept it.

After this he was called to Rome by the priests to assist at some
of the solemn sacrifices, and therefore was obliged to leave the army
to Minucius; but he both charged him as dictator, and used many
arguments and entreaties with him as a friend, not to come to any
kind of action. The pains he took were lost upon Minucius; for he
immediately sought occasions to fight the enemy. And observing
one day that Hannibal had sent out great part of his army to forage,
lie attacked those that were left behind, and drove them within their
intrenchments, killing great numbers of them, so that they even
feared he would storm their camp; and, wlieu the rest of the Cartha-
ginian forces were returned, he retreated without loss*. This sue-
cess added to his temerity, and increased the ardour of the soldiers.
The report of it soon reached Rome, and the advantage was repre-
sented as much greater than it really was. When Fabius u^as in-
formed of it, he said, he dreaded nothing more than the success of
JUinucius^ But the people, mightily elated with the news, ran to
the forum; and their tribune Metilius harangued them from tbc
rattrumj highly extolling Minucius, and accusing Fabius now, net
of cowardice and want ot spirit, but of treachery. He endeavoured
also to involve the principal men in Rome in the same crime, alleg*^
ing, '^ That they bad originally brought the war upon Italy for tke
destruction of the common people, and had put the commonwealth
under the absolute direction of one man, who, by his slow proceed-
ings, gave Hannibal opportunity to establish himself in the country,
and to draw fresh forces from Carthage, in order to efiect a total
conquest of Italy.*'

Fabius disdained to make any defence against these allegations c£
the tribune; he only declared, that ^^ He would finish the sacrifice^
and other religious rites, as soon as possible, that he might return to
the army, and punish Minucius for fighting contrary to his orders/*
This occasioned a great tumult among the people, who were alarmed
at the danger of Minucius. For it is in the dictator *s power to im**
prison and inflict capital punishment without form of trial: and they
thought that the wrath of Fabius now provoked, though he was na«
turally very niild and patient, would prove heavy and implacable^
But fear kept them all silent, except Metilius, whose person, as tri-^
bune of the people, could not be touched, (for the tribunes are the

* Others say, that be lost five thousand of hii vaen, and that the enemy's loss did HAt
fxcced his by tpoit; than a thousand*

r

rxBtUS MAXtMtTS; 3 id

only officers of state that retain their authority after the appointing
of a dictator). Metiiius entreated, insisted^ that the people should
not give up Minucius to suffer, perhaps, what Manlius Torquatus
caused his own son to suffer, whom he beheaded when crowned with
Taurel for his victory; hut that they should take from Fabius hispower
to pUy the tyrant, and Teave the direction of affairs to one who was
both able and willing to save his country. The people, though much
affbcted with this speech, did not venture to divest Fabius of the
dictatorship, notwithstanding the odium he had incurred, but decreed
that Minucius should share the command with him, and liave. equai
authority in conducting the war : a thing never before practised in
Bpme. There was, however, another instance of it soon after upon
tiie unfortunate action of Canns; for Marcus Junius, the dictator^
being then in the fietd^ they created another dictator, Fabius Buteo^
to fill up the senate, many of whose members were slain in that
battle. There was this difference, indeed, that Buteo had no sooner
enrolled the new senators, than he dismissed his lictors and the rest
of his retinue^i and mixed with the crowd, stopping some time in the
fmum about his own affairs as a private man.

When the people had thus invested Minucius with a power equal
to that of the dictator, they thought they should find Fabius ex-*
tremely bumbled and dejected; but it soon appeared that they knew
not the man. For he did not reckon their mistake any unhappiness
to him ; but as Diogenes, the philosopher^^ when one said, ^^ They
deride you,*' answered, ** Well, but I am not derided;" accounting
tbose only to be ridiculed, who feel the ridicule, and are discomposed
at it; so Fabius bore without emotion all that happened to himself^
berein confirming that position in philosophy, which affirms that Ck
taise and good man can suj^er no disgrace. But he was under np
small concern for the public on account of the unadvised proceedings
of the people^ who had put it in the power of a rash man to indulge
bis indiscreet ambition for military distinction. And apprehensive
tbat Minucius, infatuated with ambition, might take some fatal step^
be left Rome very privately.

Upon his arrival at tlie camp, he found the arrqgance of Minucius
grown to such a height^ that it was no longer to be endured. Fa-»
biiis^ therefore^ refused to comply with his demand of having the
army under his orders every other day, and, instead of that|^ divided
die forces with him^ choosing rather to have the full command of a
part| than the direction of the whole by turns. He therefore took the
first and fourth legions himself^ leaviBg the second and third to Minu-
cine ; and the confederate forces were likewise equally divided*

Yqu 1. No. 14« Kit

314 flIjtarch's lives.

Minucius valued himself highly upon this, that the power of the
greatest and most arhitrary office in the state was controlled and re*
duced for his sake. But Fabius put him in mind, ^' Tliat it wa^
not Fabius whom he had to contend with, but Hannibal; tliat if he
would, notwithstanding, consider his colleague as his rival^ he must
take care lest he who had so successfully carried his point with the
people should one day appear to have their safety and interest less at
heart than the man who had been so ill treated by them.*' Minudus^
considering this as the effect of an old man's pique, and taking tbe
troops that fell to his lot, marked out a separate camp for* them*.
Hannibal was well informed of all that passed, and watched his op"
portunity to take advantage of it.

There was a hill betwixt him and the enemy, not difficult to take
possession of, which yet would afford an army a very safe and com-
modious post. The ground about it, at a distance, seemed quite
level and plain, though there were in it several ditches and hollows ;-
and therefore, though he might privately have seized that post with
ease, yet he left it as a bait to draw the enemy to an engagement.
But as soon as he saw Minucius parted from Fabius, he took an op-
portunity in the night to place a numberf of men in those ditches and
hollows; and, early in the morning, he' openly sent out a small
party, as if designed to make themselves masters of the hill, Imt
really to draw Minucius to dispute it with them. The event answer-
ed his expectation. For Minucius sent out his light-armed troops
first, then the cavalry, and at last, when he saw Hannibal send re-
inforcements to his men upon the hill, he marched out with all bis
forces in order of battle, and attacked with great vigour the Cartha-
ginians, who were marking out a camp upon the hilL The forlone
of the day was doubtful, until Hannibal, perceiving that the enemy
had fallen into the snare, and that their rear was open to the ambm-
cade, instantly gave the signal. Hereupon his men rushed out on
all sides, and advancing with loud shouts, and cutting in pieces the
liindmost ranks, they put the Romans in disorder and terror inex-
pressible. Even the spirit of Minucius began to shrink; and he
looked fir^ upon one officer, and then upon another, but not one of
fhem durst stand his ground : they all betook themselves to flight,
and the flight itself proved fatal. For the Numidians, now vic-
toriousy gitlopped round the plain, and killed those whom they
/found dispersed.

Fabius was not ignorant of the danger of his countrymen. Fore-

* Aboat fifteen hundred paces from Fftbios.

t fkrt bond red hon^ and fire tboiuand foot. PdtyK

/

FABIUS MAX1MU9. 3 1 5

seeing what would happen, he kept his forces under arms, and took
care to be informed how the action went on : nor did he trust to the
reports of others^ but he himself looked out from an eminence not
far from his camp. When he saw the army of his colleague sur-
rounded and broken, and the cry reached him, not like that of men
standing the charge, but of persons flying in great dismay*, he smote
upon his thigh, and with a deep sigh said to his friends about him^
** Ye gods ! how much sooner than I expected, and yet later than
his indiscreet proceedings required, has Minucius ruined himself!"
Then, having commanded the standard-bearers to advance, and the
whole aimy to follow, he addressed them in these words : ** Now,
my brave soldiers, if any one has a regard for Marcus Minucius, let
him exert himself; for he deserves assistance for his valour, and the
love he bears his country. If, in his haste to drive out the enemy, he
has committed an error, this is not a time to find fault with him"

The first sight of Fabius frightened away the Numidians, who
were picking up stragglers in the field. Then he attacked those
who were charging the Romans in the rear. Such as made resistance
he slew; but the greatest part retreated to their own army, before
the communication was cut off, lest they should themselves be sur-
rounded in their turn. Hannibal seeing this change of fortune, and
finding that Fabius pushed on through the hottest of the battle with
a vigour above his years, to come up to Minucius upon the hill, put
an end to the dispute, and having sounded a retreat, retired into his
camp. The Romans, on their part, were not sorry when the action
was over. Hannibal, as he was drawing off, is reported to have said
smartly to those that were by, ^' Did not I often tell you, that this
cloud would one day burst upon us from the mountains with all the
fury of a storm?"

After the battle, Fabius having collected the spoils of such Car-
thaginians as were left dead upon the field, returned to his post; nor
did' he let fall one h.^ughty or angry word against his colleague. As
for Minucius, having called his men together, he thus expressed
himself: " Friends and fellow soldiers, not to err at all in the ma-
nagement of great afiairs is above the wisdom of men : but it is the
part of a prudent and good man to learn, from his errors and mis-
carriages, to correct himself for the future. For my part, I confess,
tliat though fortune has frowned u(K}n me a little, 1 have much' to
tliank her for. For what I could not be brought to be sensible of in

^ Homer mentions the custom of smiting upon the thigh in time of'trouble.--''— K«i
# pepUgeto wufv; and we learn from Scripture, that it was practised in the East.

Compare Horn. U. XII. t. 162. and this passage of Flutarch, with Jer. xxxi. 19. aad
E9tk. xxi. IS.

fXLTAECB S UTE5.

i ia the tnsU compass of one 6a]', that

leed to be under the lUrection

1 1 lad ■dim to ihe ambition of

■I It n ui hoooar to be foiled by

r sIbU be jour commaader ; but va
i|wi iiiiiwi irfj,iiiitiii III liiiii, I Mill be your leader Aiill,bj
%amf tbe Cm to skew ■■ -■— "p** of obedience and lubmUskui."
Be then onkied ifae engas to advsnoe with the eagles, and the
g at their bead, to the ca mp of Faliim.
\, be weMdndhr to hb tern. Tlie whot«- army waited
t fiv tjke ckM. ^^lien Fabius came out, Miiiucios
il wid) a loud voice saluttrd him bf
t€t FUktr; wX ^t atxae time hb soldiers called thoK of
Fifcit tbcir Prntrmuj m appeUuioQ wltidi freedmen give to thoK
These respects beiojt paid, aod silence taking
pbcK, Mi— CMS tbas addtessed Umself to the dictator : " You bave
tiias ^7, ^Uas, ohnJaeJ two ncuncs, oae over the <:nemy by youi
mloar^ibcoika over fQarcuIkaf^Qebryoui prudence aDd humanily.
By tbc IbmKr j«v saved us, by the latter you have iiistructed lu;
f over us is Dot more disgrai-cful than youis il
r to us. I call you Fadier, uiA buoninf a
Mon hawmbig nam, and am iDore indebted to you than to myital
6lba. To bin I owe inr being, but tu you itie preservation of my
life, and the lives of all these brave men.'* After this, lie threw himMif
iuiu the arms of Fabius, and the soldiers of each army embraced not
amtber with everr expression of tenderness, and with tears of joy._
Not long after this, Fabius laid down the dictatorship, and consult
<acrc created*. The first of these kept to the plan which Fabiui bad
laid down; betook care not to come to a pitched battle with Hanni-
bal, but sent succours to the allies of Home, and prevented any rwult
in their cities. But whenTerentius Varrot, a man of obscure bitti^
and remarkable only for his temerity and servile complaisance to the
people, rose to the consulship, it soon appeared that liis boUnc«
and inexperience tvould bring him to risk the very being of the coib*
monwealth: for he loudly insisted, in the assemblies of tlte pc«pl(t

* AcTDtditig lo Livj. Fibiui, (Ocr tht lii n nihi at h'u diciitonhip *
TMpwd ihe 4IIB} lo ibr coDuilt of Ihu _v*iir, Sariiliiu and AiMlia*; lb« I
bceu •|>p<i>iited ui llic twm of naniniM, obo «u kilird ui batlle. Bol
k«i F<>l}biiu, oho nj>, thil » the Hide fui Ihc «lrcl<<-B of an combI*
tbe Romuu nanird 1_ P.utot Jjailiuj, lud Terraliui Vwio. cotuali^ ■ftcv *hch ••
dielalun reiigaed Ilirir diarge.

t V«ro will ihr ma of ■ butchrr, and bad folloord hu falbcr'a prafcwM ia UayaMt;
but g'owing ric!., he had tontken Dial dcui calling, aod. by the favoar of ih* fa^
pnxuiad by lapporunglbe moiUuibulcDlaf their Uibimta, ht nl^,inH IImumlIM^

j

TAMILS MASOXUS. 317

that the war stood still whilst it was snider the conduct of the FabH; ,
but for his part he would take hut oiie day jto^ sight of the enemy^
and to beat him. With these promises he so prevailed oil tiienmlti-*
tude, that he raised greater forces than Rome liad ever Imd on fool' ^
before in her most dangerous wars ; for he mustered* no fewer than
eiglity-eight thousand men. Hereupon Fahius and other wise mem
and experienced persons among the Romans^ were greatly alannedi
because they saw no resource for the state, if such a number of thciv
youths should be cutoff. They addressed themselves, therefore, tm
the other consul, Paulos iEmilius, a onan of great experiencein wu^
but disagreeable to the people, and at the same time afmid of them^
for they had formerly set a considerable fine upon htm. Fafata^
however, encouraged him to withstand the temerity of his colleague;,
telling him, ^^ That the dispute he had to support for iris countr|r
was not so much with Hannibal as with Varro. The latter,*' said h^
*^ will hasten to an engagementf, because he knows not his own
strength; and the former, because he knows his own weakness. But
believe me, ^milius, I deserve more attention than Varro with res-
pect to the aflairs of Hannibal ; and I do assure you, that if the Ro*
mans come to no battle with him this year, he will eitiier be undone
by his stay in Italy, or else be obliged to quit it. Even now, when
be seems to be victorious, and to carry all before him, not one of his
eneoiies has quitted the Roman interest, and not a third part of hit
forces remains, which he brought from home with him." To this
JEmilius Js said to have answered, ^^ My friend, when I consider
myself only, I conclude it better forme to &11 upon the weapons of
tbe enemy, than by the sentence of my own countrymen. * However,
aince the state of public affairs is so critical, I will endeavour to ap^
prove myself a good general, and had rather appear such to you, than
to bXI who oppose you, and who would draw me, willing or unwilling^
to their party*" With these sentiments ^milius began his operaticms.
But Varro having brought his colleague to agreed that they should
command idternately, each his day, when his turn came, took post
ever against Hannibal, on the banks of the Aufidus, near the village
of Cannie§» As soon as it was light, he gave tlie signal for battle,

* It was Qspal with the Romas to mnster eyery jear four legions^ which cnnsiftnig^
in diiBcali times, each of fife thousand Rom«n fiiot, and three hundred horse, apd ^
battalion of Latins equal to that number, amounted in the whole to 42,400. Put thit
year, instead of four legioi^, thej raised eight.

t The best depeqdiBnce of Varro was nndonbtedlj to prplong the war, that HannibaU
#ho was already weakened, might wear himself out by degrees; and, for the same re«>
900, it was Hannibars business to fight.

I It was a fixed rule with the Romans, that the consuls, when they went upon tb«
fame service, should have the command of the army by tums«

$ (^aaoi^ ailordiagta I^fj, Appiai^ •adllorv^wptoiUy • poor Tilltftf which aftfr*

318 Plutarch's uve§.

iirbicb is a red mantle set up over the general's tent. The Carthagi-
imns were a little disheartened at firsts when they saw how daring
tbe consul was^ and that his army was more than twice their number.
But Hannibal having ordered them to arm^ himself^ with a few
<tt1iers, rode up to an eminence, to take a view of the enemy now
drawn up for battle. One Cisco, that accompanied him, a man of
liift bwn rank, happening to say, ^^ The numbers of the enemy ap-
peared to him surprising, ^' Hannibal replied, with a serious coon-
* teoance^ '^ There is another thing which has escaped your observation,
much more surprising than that.'* Upon his asking what it was,
^ It is," said he, ^^ that among such numbers not one of them is
named Gisoo." The whole company were diverted with the humour
of his observation, and as they returned to the camp, they told the
jest to those they met, so that the laugii became universal. At sight
of this the Carthaginians took courage, thinking it must proceed
from the great contempt in which their general held the Romans,
Aat he could jest and laugh in the face of danger.

In this battle Hannibal gave great proofs of generalship. In the
first place, he took advantage of the ground, to post hi:i men with
their backs to the wind, which was then very violent and scorching,,
and drove from the dry plains, over the heads of the CarthagiDians,
clouds of sand and dust into the eyes and nostrils of the Romans, so
that they were obliged to turn away their faces, and break their ranks.
In the next place, his troops were drawn up with superior art. He
placed the fbwer of them in the wings, and those upon whom he had
less dependence in the main corps, which was considerably more
advanced than the wings. Then he commanded those in the wings,
that when the enemy had charged, and vigorously pushed that ad-
Tanced body, which he knew would give way, and open a passage for
them to the very centre, and when the Romans, by this means,
should be far enough engaged within the two wings, they should both
on the right and left take them in flank, and endeavour to surround
them*. This was the principal cause of the great carnage that fol-
lowed. For the enemy pressing upon Hannibal's front, which gave
ground, the form of his army was changed into a half-moon; and
the officers of the select troops caused the two points of the wings to
join behind the Romans. Thus they were exposed to the attacks of

wirds becmme famous on accoaut of the battle fought near it ; but Poljbios, who lived
near the time of the second PUiiic war, stjlct CauDC a city; and adds, that it had been
taaed a year before the defeat of the Roman army. Silios Italicus agrees with Polybios,
It was afterwards rebuilt; for Phny>ranks it among the cities of Apulia. The ruins of
Canna are still to be seen in the territory of Bari.

* Five hundred Numidians pretended to deaert to the Romans^ but in Uie heat of th«
battle turned against them, and attacked then ia the rear.

FABflJS MAXIlfUS. 310

the Carthaginians on all sides; an incredible slaughter followed; nor
did any escape but the few that retreated before the main body wai
enclosed.

It b also s^d^ that a strange and fatal accident happened to th«
Roman cavalry. For the horse which i£milius rode, having received
•ome hurt, threw him; and those around hiin alighting to assist and
defend the consul on foot, the rest of the cavalry seeing this, and
taking it for a signal for them to do the same, all quitted their horses
and charged on foot. At sight of this, Hannibal said, ^^ This pleascf
me better than if they had been delivered to me bound hand and foot/'
But the particulars may be found at large in the historians wholiave
described this battle.

As to the consuls, Varro escaped with a few horse to Venutia; and
iBmilius, covered with darts which stuck in his wounds, sat down in
anguish and despair, and waited for the enemy to dispatch him« Hii
head and face were so disfigured and stained with blood, that it was
not easy to know him; even his friends and servants passed by hia
without stopping. At last, Cornelius Lentulus, a young man of a
patrician £unily, perceiving who he was, dismounted, and entreated
him to take bis horse, and save himself for the commonwealth, whick
bad then more occasion than ever for so good a consul. But nothing
could prevail upon him to accept of the offer; and, notwithstanding
the young man's tears, he obliged him to mount his horse again.....
Then rising up, and taking him by the hand, *^ Tell Fabius Maximus,"
said he, '^ and, Lentulus, do you yourself bear witness, that Paulus
^Emilius followed his directions to the last, and did not deviate in the
least from the plan agreed upon between them, but was first overcome
hy Varro, and then by Hannibal." Having dispatched Lentulus with
this commission, he rushed among the enemy's swords, and was slain«
Fifty thousand Romans are said to have fallen in this battle*, and
four tlunisand to have been taken prisoners, besides ten thousand that,
were taken after the battle in both the camps.

After this great success, Hannibal's friends* advised him to pursae
his fortune, and to enter Rome along with the fugitives, assuring hini^
that in five days he might sup in the capitol. It is not easy to conjee-
tture what his reason was for not taking this step. Most probably some

* According to Lkj, tb«re wert killed of the Romans oolj fbrty UMMisand foot, and
two tbootaod leven bimdrcd hurte. Poljrbius tmys, that sevent j tboiuand wero killed.
Tbc km of the Cartbagtniant did not aniooni to six tbouand. When the Carthagiaiaflia
m^n ftripping the dead, among other moving objccu thej fonad, to their great 9wptwe,
A NomidiaD jet aliTC, Ijing under the dead bodj of a Roaum, who had thrown hinaelf
ItfadlflPg npoB hit enemy, and beat him down^ bat being no longer able to' make oieof
hie weapoas, beeaiue he had lost hit bands, had torn off the nose and ears of the Momi*
jlisa with his teeth, and in that fit of rage expired.

*■«.•

•

deity opposed it, and therefore Inspired him with this liesiiat'wn and
timidity. On this account it whs, that a Carthn^iiiiian, named Batrca,
■aid to him with some heat, " Hannibal, yuu know how to gaia »
« victory, but not how to use it*."

The battle of Cunnse, howtver, made such an alteration on lib af-
fairs, that, though before it he hud neither lown, nur ma^'aztne, nor
port in Italy, but, without any regular supplies for the war, subsisted
his army by rapin, and for ilmt purpose moved them, tike a great
baud of robbers, from place to place, yet llien he became master of
the greatest part of Italy. Its best provinces and towns voluntaril*
- submitted to him; and Capua itself, the most respectable city afiei
Rome, threw its weight into his scale.

In this case, it appeared that great misfortunes are not only, iriiat
Euripides calls them, a trial of the fidelity of a friend, but of the
capacity and conduct of a general. For the proceedings of Fabius,
which [>efore this battle were deemed cold and timid, then appeareil
to be directed by counsels more than human, to be Indeed the dictatn
of a divine wisdom, which penetrated into futurity at such a dis-
tance; and foresaw what seemed incredible to the very persons who
experienced it. in him, therefore, Rome places her last hope; his
judgment is the temple, the altar, to which she flies for refuge, be-
lieving that to his pnidenrc it was chiefly owing that she still held
up her head, and that her children were nut dispersed, as whea she
was taken by the Gauls. For he who, in times of apparent security,
seemed to be deficient in confidence and resolution, now, when all
abandoned themselves to inespressible sorrow and helpless despair,
alone walked about the city with a calm and easy pace, with a firm
countenance, a mild and gracious address, checking their efferaioate
tameatations, and preventing them from assembling in public lo be-
wail their common distress. He caused the senate to meet ; he en-
CDuraged the magistrates, himself being the soul of thctr body, fcr
dll waited his motion, and were ready to obey his orders. HepUce^
I guard at the gates, to binder such of the people as were inclined TO

* Xoaamt teWi us, Ilut HnDDibal bim^i'iriilteimird) ickiiuolidgeil ha luuutliaa^
purauillB thatdny'iDUUcew, and ui(d i.ftrii lo cr; oul, O Ciiiiia. Caiiua!

But, un the uihei lumil, ii tmj bi plrnrliJ in dtfencc o( HMinitfil. IhM Ibe •dto-
ngci ii« bad g*iued wtt* cliicQ; owing lu hi> caialij, whu couJd nM act in ■ riiff i
that (he lohibiLaula uf Hume wccc all bred up la atBi frais thrir infaacj ; aovld «(
Ueir uliuoit eSiiiu ia dcf^oce ol' iheic witet, their childRn, wid Ihrir daotsMK ptli
■nil, when tlxltciod li)' walli and ranpatli, would proliablj bn laiuicible; Ikallln) M
uman^lK')*"''' "**'"'''■*- 'IMIUI ODC dkLhui of lialj badjeldctlatol ferkin,u>dt»
might judge it neceuary to giiu anoi ol Ihcm heroic he allrinptad Itit capiul: m4
laitif , llial if lie liad a(lem|iicd the enpilal GiU, UmI »ilh«ul luccca^ h« laoalil Ml hM*
been able to gain an; one nation oi cil;.

FABIUS MAXnCUS^ 331

^ggaes=gggaaggggaaggg, i i g=aBggggss5a=BaaggBgBsss5==^^

fly, from quitting the city. He fixed both the place and time for
mourning, allowed thirty days for that purpose in a man's own house,
and no more for the city in general. And as the feast of Ceres fell
within that time, it was thought better entirely to omit the solemnity,
than, by the small numbers and the melancholy looks of those that
should attend it, to discover the greatness of their loss*; for the.
worship most acceptable to the gods is that which comes from cheer-
ful hearts. Indeed, whatever the augers ordered for propitiating the
divine powers, and averting inauspicious omens, were carefully per-
formed. For Fabius Pictor, the near relation of Fabius Maximus,
was sent to consult the oracle at Delphi; and of the two vestals who
were then found guilty of a breach of their vow of chastity, one was
buried alive, according to custom, the other died by her own hand.

But what most deserves to be admired, is the magnanimity and tem-
per of the Romans, when the consul Varro returned, after his defeatf,
much humbled and very melancholy, as one who had occasioned] the-
greatest calamity and disgrace imaginable to the republic. The>
whole senate and people went to welcome him at the gates; and,
when silence was commanded, the magistrates and principal senators,
.amongst whom was Fabius, commended him for not giving up the
circumstances of the state as desperate after so great a misfortune,
but returning to take upon him the administration, and to make what
advantage he could for liis country of the laws and citizens, as not .t

being utterly lost and ruined. . »*

When they found that Hannibal, after the battle, instead of march-
ing to Rome, turned to another part of Italy, they took courage, and
sent their armies and generals into the field. The most eminent of
tliese were Fabius Maximus and Claudius Marcellus, men distin-
guished by characters almost entirely opposite. Marcellus, as
related in his life, was a man of a buojrant and animated valour;
remarkably well skilled in the use of weapons, and naturally en-,
terpri^ing; such a one, in short, as Homer calls lofty in heart,
in courage fierce, in war deli^ing. So intrepid a general was
very fit to be opposed to an enemy as daring as himself, to restore the

^ This wfts not the real cause of deferring the ftsti^al, but that which Plutarch hints at >.
jast after, vis. because it wai unlawful for persons in mourning to celebrate it; »nd at
that time there was not one matron in Rome who was not in mourning. lu fact, the feast
was not eutiielj omitted, but kept as soon as the mourning was expired.

t Valerius Maximus tells us (lib. iii. c. 6), that the senate $ud people offered Varro
the dictatorship, which he refused, and by his modest rifnsal wiped off, in some measure^
the shame of his former behaviour. Thus the Romapa, by tk-eating their unfortunate
commanders with humanity, lessened the disgrace of their being vmnqui^ihed or di«clmrg*
«d ; while the Carthaginians condemned tiieir generals to cruel deaths upon tJieir beiii^
overcome, though jt was oAcn without their own fault.

Vot. 1. No. 14. 98

c

322 Plutarch's lives.

courage and spirits of the Romans by some vigorous stroke in ihe
first engagements. As for Fabius, he kept lo his first sentimenls,
and hrtiH'd that if he only followed Hannibal close, without fighting
him, he and his army would wejir themselves out, and lose their war-
like vigour, just as a wrestler does who keeps conliDually in the
ring, and allows himself no repose to recruit his strenf^h after ei-
cessivc fatigues. Hence it was that the Riimatis (as PosiJoniui tclii
us) called Fubius their shield, and Marcelliis tkeir sword, and ascd
to say, that the steadiness and caution of the one, mixed with ilie
vivacity and boldness of the other, made a compound very saiaarf
to Rome. Hannibal, therefore, often meeting Marcellus, whose
motions were like lliose of a torrent, found his forces broken nnd dt-
jninisiied; and by Fabius, wJio moved with a silent butcomtatil
Stream, he was undermiued and insensibly weakened. Such, K
length, was the extremity he was reduced to, that he was tired uf
fighting Marcellus, and afiaid of Fabius. And these were the |ier<
sons he had generally to do nith during the remainder of (he Wiir,u
prtetors, consuls, and proconsuls; f<jr each of them was five limrt
consul. It is true, Mnrcellus, in his fifth consulate, w;is drawn into
his snares, and killed by means uf an amlmscade. Hannibal nfiea
made the like attempts upon Fahius, cserting all his art and sirali-
gems, but without effect. Once only he deceived him, and had nearly
led him into a fatal error. He forged letters to him, as fioin the
principal iiiJiabitunts of Mctapontum, ofiering to deliver up the eii*
to him, and assuring him that those who had taken this rcsoliniua
only waited till he appeared before it. Fabius, giving credit to tbcsc
letters, ordered a parly to be ready, intending tu march thither lulbe
night; but finding the auspices unpromising, he altered his desipi,
and soon after discovered that the letters were forged by an attifiee
of Hannibal's, and that he was lyiug tn ambush fur him ttctf
the town. But this, perhaps, may be ascribed to the favour and pro-
tection of the gods.

Fabius was persuaded lliat it was better lo keep the cities from re-
volting, and to prevent any conimotionsamong the allies, by utlabilitf
and mildness, than to entertain any suspicion, or to use severity
against those whom he did suspect. It is reportedof him, thai beit^
informed that a certain Marcian in his army", who was a man not
inferior in courage or family to any among the allies, soUeitrd fame
of his men to dcscit, he did not treat him harshly, but aekuowlcdgrd
that he had been too much neglected; declaring, at the snnie time,
that he was now perfectly sensible how much his officers had been
to blame lu distributing honours more out of bvotu' than n^iri
' Lif J Icllt ihii ilorj dI Mucellw, •hicli Flutircb here appIJet ts fftbiMk

FA^IUS M AXIMU8.' 3 33

riMi

to merit; and that^ for the future, he should Uke it ill if he did not
apply to him when he had any request to make. This waa followed
with a present of a war-horse, and with other marks of honour; and
from that time the man behaved with great fidelity and zeal for the
service. Fabius thought it hard that, while those who breed dogs
and horses soften their stubborn tempers, and bring down their fierce
spirits by care and kindness, rather than with whips and chains, he
who has the command of men should not endeavour to correct their
errors by gentleness and goodness, but treat them even in a harsher
and more violent manner than gardeners do the wild fig*trees, wild
pears and olives, whose nature they subdue by cultivation, and which
by that means they iM-ing to produce very agreeable fruit.

Another time, some of his officers informed him^ tliat one of ilic
soldiers, a native of Lucania, often quitted his post, and rambled out
of the camp. Upon this report, he asked what kind of manhe was in
other respects; and they all declared it was not easy to find so good
a soldier, doing him the justice to mention several extraordinary in«
stances of his valour. On inquiring into the cause of this irrega*
larity, he found that the man was passionately in love, and that, for
the sake of seeing a young woman, he ventured out of ihe camp, and
took a long and dangerous journey every night. Hereupon Fabius
^ve orders to some of his men to find out the woman, and convey
ber into his own tent, but took care that the Lucanian should not
icnow it. Then he sent for him, and taking him aside, spoke to him
as follows: *' I very well know that you have lain many nights out
of the camp, in breach of the Roman discipline and laws; at the
same time I am not ignorant of your past services. In consideration
of them, I forgive your present crime : but for the future J will give
jou in charge to a person who shall be answerable for you." While
the soldier st)ood much amazed, Fabius produced the woman, and^
putting ^r in his hands, thus expressed himself: *^ Thb is the per-
son who engages for you that you will remain in camp;. and now we
shall see whether there was not some traitorous design which drew
you out, and which you made the love of this woman a cloke for*''
Such is the account we haveof this afiair.

By means of another love afiair, Fabius recovered the city of Ta*
rentum, which had been treacherously delivered up to Hannibal. A.
young man, a native of that place, who served under Fabius, had a
sister there who loved hiiii with great tenderness. This youth beitij^
informed that a certain Brutian, one of the officers of the garrisos
which Hannibal had put in Tarentum, entertained a violent passioni
for his sister, hoped to avail himself of this circumstance to the ad*
▼antaj^e <^ the Romans. Therefore^ with the permission of Fahiusj

3i4

PLUTARCH S LIVES.

he rctiirued to his sister at Tarenlum, undiT colour of haviog de-
serted. Some days p.-used, duriog wliich the Bruiiaa forcborc liis
visits, for she supposed ihat her brother knew nothing of ilie amour.
This obliged the young man to come lo an explanation. " It has
been currently reported," said he, " that you receive addresses frwn
K man of some distinctiou. I^ay, whois he? Ifheisaman ofho-
nourand character, as they say he is, Mars, who confounds all things,
takes but little thought of what country he may be. What necessity
imposes is no disgrace ; but we may rather thinlc ourselves fortunate,
at a time when justice yields to force, if that which force might com-
pel us to happens not to be disagreeable to our own incliQalioDs."
Thus encouraged, the young woman sent for the Bruiian, and prc-
Bented him to her brother. And as she behaved to him in a kinder
and more compliant manner through her brother's means, wlio wu
very indulgent to his passion, it was not very difficult to prewul
with the lirutian, who was deeply in love, and was witluil a
mercenary, to deliver up the town upon promises of great rewardi
from Fabius.

This is the account which most historians give us: yet somen*,
that the woman by whom the Brutian was gained was not a Taren-
tine, but a Bruiinn ; that she had been concubine to Fnbius, and ihit
when she found the governor of Tarentuni was her countryman ind
acquaintance, she told Fabius of it, and finding means, by approacli-
ing the walls, lo make him a proposal, she drew him over to the
Roman interest.

During these transactions, Fabius, in order to make a diveraoti,
gave directions to the garrison of Hhcgium to lay waste the Bnitiu
territories, and, if possible, to make themselves masters of Caulunis.
Tliese wire a body of eight thousand men, composed partly of de-
serters, and partly of the most worthless of that iufiimous baad
brought by Marcellus out of Sicily*, and therefore the loss of then
would not be great, nor much lamented by the Romans. These men
he threw out as a bait for Hannibal, and, by sacrificiDg them, hopti
todrawhimtoadistiiiicefromTarentum. Tlie design succeeded ac-
cordingly: for Hannibal marched with his forces to Cauluiiia, ibJ
Fabius, in the mean time, laid siege to Tarcmum. Thcsi\tbdty
of the siecc, the young man having settled the matter with the Bni-
li-ii) officer bymeansof his sister, and having well observed the pl«c(
where he kept guard, and promised to let in the Romans, went »
Fabius by night, and gave him an account of it. The consul mcmi
to the appointed quarter, though not entirely depending upon (be

• TTieK men wtre bto.ielit fwin Sitil/, ost bj Mmcdtat, but bj Ui nllM|M

promise that the town would be betrayed. There he himseirsat still,
but, lit the same time, ortlerfd an assault on evny other jmrt, both
by sea and land. This was |tut in execution with great noiue and
tumult, which drew most of tlie Tarentines that waytoassist the gar-
rison, and repel the besiegers. Then the Brutian giving Fabius the
signal, he scaled the walls, and got possession of the town.

On this occasion Fabius seems to have indulged a criminal am-
Vitjon. For, that it might not appear that the place was betrayed
to him, he ordered the Brutians to be put to the sword*. But he
failed in his design ; for the former suspicion still remained, and

he incurred, besides, the reproach of perfidy and inhumanity. Many

of the Tarentines also were killed; thirty tliousand of them were
■old for slaves ; the army had the plunder of the town, and three
thousand talents were brought into the public treasury. Whilst
every thing was ransacked, xnd the spoils were heaped before Fa-
bius, it is reported that the officer who took the inventory asked,
" What he would have tliem do with the gods?" meaning the sta-
tues and pictures : Fabius answered, " Ivci us leave the Tarentines
their angry gwlsf." However, he carried away a colossiu of Her-
cules, which he afterwards set up in the capitot, and near it an eques-
trian statue of himself in hrass^. Thus he showed himself inferior
to Mareellus iu his taste for the fine iirts, and siill more so in mercy
aud humanity. Mareellus in this respect had greatly the advantage,
as will be seen iu his life.

Hanniital had hastened to therclicf of Tarentum, and being within
five miles of it when it was taken, he scrupled not to say publicly,
" The Ramaus, too, haveihcir Hannibal; for we have lost Tarcn-
tum in the same manner that we gained it." And, in private, he
then first acknowledged to his friends, '* That he had always thought
it difficult, but now saw it was impossible, wiih tlie forces he had, to
conquer Italy."

FnbiuE, for this, was honoured with a triumph more iplendid than
the former, having gloriously maintained the Held against Hannibnl,
and baffled all his schemes with ease, just as an able wrestler disen-
gages himself from the arms of his antagonist, whose grasp no longer
retains the same vigour: for Hannibal's army was now partly ener-

' lity doci not »y Ihii Fabiui gare luch

INII5 Bnltiuu ilun, cith<r through ignacunce, si

I ^OMDilKXt IhciD, or becuuM the Romaiii vers

III iword In liind, imher iliin brliajcd to Ihtni

t The god) oere in ilii itliiade ufcuubaliui

asainit Ihe Tucntinci,

t Tba wmi at Ljuppm.

i-rderi. He oaiy «yi, " Thcr.
di'iiruu) tii.[ Tiucatuiu ihuuld
i; lud llicj •ppcxed 10 tiBii

PLtlTARCH 3 LIVES.

vated with opuleace and luxury, tind partly impaired and worn out
with continual action.

Marcus f'ivius, who commanded inTarentum when it was betrayed
to Hannibal, retired into the cJtadL-1, and iield it til] the town wns

retnken by the Romans This officer beheld with pain the honours

conferred upon Fabius, and oue day his envy and vanity drew frono
him this expression in the senate : " I, not Fabius, was the cause of
recovering Tarentum." " True," said Falnus, Inughing, " for if
you had not lost the town, I had never recovered it."

Among other lionours whicli the Romans paid to Fabius, thcj
elected his son consul*. When he had entered upon his office, and
was settling some point relating to the war, the father, either on ac-
count of his uge and infirmities, or else to try his son, mounted hit
horse to ride up to him. The young consul, seeing him at a dutance,
would not Sutter it, but sent one of ihe lictors to his father, with or-
ders for him to dismount, and to come on foot to the consul, if he kail
any occasion to apply to him. The whole assembly were moved «
this, and cast their eyes ujwu F;ibius, by their silence and their lookt
expressing their resentment of the indignity offered to a person of liis
character. But he instantly alighted, atid ran to his son, and emfan-
ced liim with great tenderness. " My son," said he, " ] ^|)Iaud
your sentiments and your behaviour. You know wiiat a people you
command, and have a just sense of the dignity of your office. Thi»
was the way that we and our forefnihers took to .idvancc Rome to het
present height of glory, always considering the honour and interest ot
our country before that of our own fathers and ciiildren."

And, indeed, it is reported that the great-grandfuther of our Fi-
biusf, though he was one of the greatest men in Rome, wlietfaer we
consider his rqjutatlon or authority, though he had been five tine*
consul, and had been iionoured with several glorious triumphs oa ac-
count of his successes in war of the last importance, yet condrscendtd
to serve as lieutenant to his son, then consult, in an expcditioa
against the Saxnnites: and. while his son, in the triumph which ws
decreed him, drove into Rome in a iliariot and fuur, he, with olhen,
followed him on horsebaclf. Thus, while he had authority over hii
»on, considered as a private man, and while he was, both especially '
and reputedly, the most considerable member of the com n ion wealth,
yet he gloried in showing his subjection to the kws aud to the m
gistrate. Nor was this the only part of his character that
to be admired.

• FoBf j«ri belore tfie firiirr took Tircacum.
t Fpbiui Guigct. who hid bci'ii ddrmed by the St
grided, htd aal hu itlbet (itomiKd lo allead him inliu.

i> RmIUi.

mnilrl, aud would h»i ben Jt-

ircmiri jmpf .liimr) ^, fii, Ijnittllfl"

FABlUB MAXIMUM. Stf

When Fabius Maximus had the misfortune to Idse his sod, he boni '
that loss with great moderation, as becamea wise man and a good la-
ther: and the funeral oration*, which, on occasion of the deaths of
illustrious men, is usually pronounced by some near kinsman, he de-
livered himself, and having committed it to writing, made it public.

When Publius Cornelius Scipioy who was sent proconsul into
Spain, had defeated the Carthaginians in many battles, and driven
them out of that province, and when he had, moreover, reduced se-
veral towns and nations under the obedience of Rome, on returning
loaded with spoil, he was received with great acclamations and ge-
neral joy. Bemg appointed consul, and finding that tlve people
expected something great and striking at his hands, he considered it
as an antiquated method, and worthy only of the inactivity of an old
man, to watch the motions of Hannibal in Italy, and therefore de-
termined to remove the seat of war from thence into Africa, to fill
the enemy's country with his legions, to extend his ravages far and
wide, and to attempt Carthage itself. With this view he exerted
all his talents to bring the people into his design. But Fabius, on
this occasion, filled the city with alarms, as if the commonwealth was
going to be brought into the most extreme danger, by a rash and in-
discreet young man ; in short, he scrupled not to do or say any thing
he ^hon^it likely to dissuade his countrymen from embracing the
proposal. With the senate he carried bis pointf. - But the people
believed that his opposition to Scipio proceeded either from envy of
his success, or from a secret fear, tliat if this young hero should per-
form some signal exploit, put an end to the war, or even remove it
out of Italy, his own slow proceedings, tfaroogh the eoone of so manjr
yean, might be imputed to indolence or timidiif .

To me, Fabius seems at first to fasve opposed die toemur€% of Sei*
pio from an excess of eantioa and prndence, and to k«ve leallf
thought the danger attending ^hb prefect great; but m the progresa
of the opposition, I think he went too great leiigtltf , misfed by ambi*
tion and a jealousy of Scipio*s mmg^iorj* For he iqipfied to Cnw-
sus, the eoHeagne of Scipio, and endeafoofed to punarfi km sot t#
jield that pfovince to Scipiot, bvc, if he Ao^ght jt poper 10 eoMlacf
the war in that manner^ to go bioiself agMtist OafUmgtt^ Ka^, be

* Cteao, ui bit treatiie oo old age, speaks m higfc tcnas ViA tf f iMas tmd thm
tkm of Us : *« Manjr extnordinarjr ifcmgi kmwt I >■>■■ m 1km mam, hm m^tmmg mmm
•dminble tbau ibe maoncr in whadb be bose tbc 4cadb eiCiistMi • fswiiB ¥lptm ae^
rtt« and of oousnlv dignitj. His ealog^aa is m ear hmii^'^ mA, vbile wm ttad $L^ 4»
we not look dowa oo tbe beet of Cbe fMosefbets!^

t Sec die debates UI tbe senate <MithaK<

% This Crastns coald nee do; tm,
riiould renaio in Italy.

even hindered the raising of money for iliat expedition, so tliai Scipio
was oijliped to find the supplies as he could: and lie effected il
through his interest with ihe cities of Hetruria, which were wholly
devoted to him*. As for Crassus, he stayed at home, partly Induced
to it by his disposition, which was mild and peaceful, and partly hf
the care of religion, which was intrusted to him as high-priest.

Pabius, therefore, took another method to traverse the design. He
endeavoured to prevent the young men who offered to go voluntcen
from giving in their names, and loudly declared, both in the senate
andjonim, " Tliat Scipio did not only himself avoid Hannibal, but
intended to carry away with him the remaining sirengih of Italr,
persuading the young men to abandon their parents, their wives, and
native city, whilst an unsubdued and potent enemy was still at their
doors." With these assertions he so terrified tlie people, that ibtjr
allowed Scipio to take with tiim only the legions that were in Siiilr,
and three hundred of those men who had served him with bo oiucb
fidelity in Spain. In this particular Fabius seems to have followtd
the dictates of his own cautious temper.

After Scipiu was gone over into Africa, an account was sooa
brought to Rome of his glorious and wonderful achievements. This
account was followed by rich spoils, which confirmed it. A Numi-
dian king wiis taken prisoner; two camps were burnt and destroyed)
and in them a vast number of men, arms, and horses ; and the Cir-
thaglnia lis sent orders to Hannibal to quit his fruitless hopes iultilj,
and return home to dvfend his own country. Whilst every tongae
was applauding ihcse exploits of Scipio, Fabius proposed that his
successor should be appointed, without auy shadow of reason lot
it, except what this well known maxjm implies, viz. " That it b
dimgerous to trust affairs of such importance to the fortune of oat
man, because It is not likely that he will always be successful."

By this he offended the people, who now considered him at ■
captious and envious man, or as one whose courage and hopes were
lost in the dregs of years, and who, therefore, looked upon HaanM
AS much more formidable than he really was. Nay, even «bco
Hannibal embarked his army and quitted Italy, Fubius ceased do)
lo disturb the general joy, and to damp the spirits of Itouie. For be
took the lil>erty to affirm, " That the commonwealth was now com*

■ Scipin wag eRi|JnwcTei) to uk o[ llie Met ill Ih'ing) nccour; lei baiMint W
(i|nl|iping ■ nrw flcel. And miny of tliis pnninceund titiei »oliinl«ti1j WifHtk*
iclrci (0 fumuli liliu irilb cum, iron, Ilniber, clolh for uiti, ice. *o thai in fori; ^T '^
tei the cuuingoftheliniber, he wMincDDdilioD to Mt nil niTh a ti*tt al li""} "^
(■llcji, beudei tlA) Iliirt; he had before. Ther* went oilh him mbMt tend iImm*4.
voloDtecn,

PERICLES AND FABIUS MAXIMUS COMPARED. 37.9

to her lost nnil worst trial ; ttmt she liad llie most reason to dre.-td
the i-ITarti of Hannibnl when he should arrive iit Africa, and atlatk
her sons under the walls of Carthajje; that Selpio would have to do
with an anny yet warm with the blooil of so many Roman generals,
dictators, and consuls." The city was alarmed with these declama-
tions, and though tlic war was removed into Africa, the danger seem-
ed to approacli nearer Home than ever.

However, soon after, Seipio defeated Hannibal in a pitched buttle,
pulled down the pride of Carthage, and trod it under foot. This af-
forded the Romans a pleasure beyond all their hopes, and restored a
firmness to their empire, which had beitn sliaken with so many tem-
pests. But Fubius Masimus did not live to the end of the war, lo
hear of the overthrow of Hannibal, or to see the prosperity of his
country re-established} for, about the time that Hannibal left Italy,
lie fell sieh and died. We are assured that Epamiiiondas died so
poor, tliat tb« Thebaus buried him at the public eliar^e; for, at bis
death, nothing was found in his house but an iron spit*. The ex-
pense of Fabius*s funeral was not indeed defrayed out of the Roman
treasury, but every citizen contriliuted a small piece of money to-
wards it; not that lie died without elfects, but that they might bury
him as the father of the people, and that the honours paid him at his
death miifht be suitable to the dignity of his life.

PERICLES AND FABIUS AUXIxMUS COMPARED.

SUCH were tlie lives of those two persons, so illustrious and
wortliy of imitation both in their civil and military capacity. We
sliall first compare their talents for war. And here it strikes us at
unce that Pericles came into power at a time when the Aihenians
were at the height of prosperity, great in themselves, and respectable
to their neighbours; so thai, in the very strength of the republic,
w ith only common success, he was secure from taking any disgrace-
ful step. But as Fabius came to the helm when Rome experienced
the worst and most mortifying turn of fartune, he had not to pre-
serve the well-esiablished prospirity of a flouiisbing state, but to
draw his country from an abyss of misery, and raise it to happiness.

■ X;Undtr ii of opinion, Ihat (Ijd wonl Obiluhn in Ibia plin doci not ngnify ■ fpil,
but ■ fittt af' mniry : and lie iliowi, tiooi ■ (lUiuge in Ihe life of Ljiinder, UmnBoacy
■ntianiljr ■■* iiidc in ■ pjniuiidic'l Iokii. But he did noi csoiider ibu itoa amatj
■rai noi ill nic >l fbeliei ; lod Plulucb uji lliul ihii ubclitcui ku of tlOD^
VOU 1. No. \i. TT

330 Plutarch's lives.

Besides, the successes of Cimon, the I'ictories of Myroiiides and Leo-
crates, and t\ni miiny great achievements of TolmideSj rather fui-
nished occasion to Pericles, during his administration, to eutertaii)
the city with feasts and games, titan to make new acquisrtiims, ur to
defend the old ones liy arms. On t!ie other Hand, KaWus had ibe
frightful objects of defeats and disgraces before his eyes, of Romaa
consuls and generals slain, of lal<es, fields, and forests fall of the
dead carcases of wliole armies, and of rivers flowing with blood dowu
to the very sea. In this tottering and decayed condition of the com-
momvealth, he was to support It by his counsels and bis vigour, and
to keep it from falling into absolute ruin, to whidi it was broughiM
near by the errors of former commanders.

It may seem, indeed, a less arduous performance to manage the
tempers of a people humbled by calamities, and compelled by neces-
sity to listen to reason, than to restrain the wildness and insolrpte
of a city ebited with success, and wanton with power, such as Atbem
was when Pericles hold the reins of government. But ihcn,
undauntedly to keep to his first resolutions, and iwl to be £f-
composed by the vast wcij^lit of misfortunes with wluch Rome
was then oppressed, discovers in Fabius an admirable firmness ud
dignity of mind.

Agallist the taking of Samos by Pericles, we may set tl« reiJui^
of Tarcntum by Fabius; and with Eubosa we may put in balance Ha
towns of Campania. As for Capua, it was recovered afterwards bj
the consuls Furius and Appins. Fabius indeed gained but one set b«-
tle, for which he had his first triumph ; whereas Pericles erected niu
trophies for as many victories won by land and sea. But iiutie uf
the victories of Pericles can be compared with that memomble res-
cue of Minucius, by which Fabius redeemed him and his whole msf
from utter destruction : an action truly great, and in wliich you lioi'
at once the bright assemblage of valour, of prudence, and bununitT.
Nor can Pericles, on the other hand, be said ever to have committal
Buch an error as that of Fabius, when he suffered himself to be im-
posed on by Harmibal's stratagem of the oseu ; let his enemy slip '"
the night through those straits in which he had been cntanglai^r
accident, and where he could not possibly have forced his wsyon;
and, as soon as it was day, saw himself repulsed by theniaai^*
lately was at his mercy.

If it is the part of a good general not only to make a proper ii«Qt
the present, but also to form the best judgment of things ioci«it> i^
must be allowed tliat Pericles both foresiiw and foretold wh»t
rhe Athenians would have in the war, namely, that ihcy woalA
Uicmselvcs by grasping at too mucb. But il was cutiie';

PERICLES AND FABIUB MAXIMUM COMI'AKED. 331*

tliu opiuioa of Fubius that the Ramans scat ScJpio iatu Africa, and
yet tlicy were victorious there, not by tlie favour of fortune, but by
the courage aad conduct of their general. So that the niisfurlunes of
his country bore witness to the sagacity of Pericles ; and from the
glorious success of the Romans, it appeared that Fubius was utterly
mistaken. — And, indeed, it is an equal fault in a commander-iii-chitf
to lose an advantage through diflideuce, arid to fall into danger f(»'
want of foresight. For it is the same want of judgment and skill
that sometimes produces too much confidence, and sometimes leaves
too liitle. Thus far concerning their abilities in war.

And, if we consider them in their political capacity, we shall find
that the greatest fault laid to the chaise of Pericles was, that he
caused the Peloponnesian war through opposition to the IjacediE-
monians, which made him unwilling to give up the least point td
them, I do not suppose that Fabius Maximus would have given up
any point to the Carthaginians, but that he *ould generously have
run the last risk to maintain the dignity of Rome.

The mild and moderate behaviour of Fabiuj to Minucius sets in 8
Very disadvantageous light the conduct of Pericles, in his implacable
persecution of Cimon and Thucydides, valuable men, and friends to
the aristocracj", and yet banished by his practices and intrigues.

Besides, the power of Pericles Was much greater than that of Fa-
bius; and therefore he did not suffer any misfortune to be brought
upon Athens by the wrong measures of other generals. Tolmides
only carried it against blm for attacking the fioeotians, and in doing
it he was defeated and slain. All the rest adhered to his party, and
submitted to his opinion, on account of his Superior authority;
whereas Fabius, whose measures were salutary and safe, as far as
they depended upon himself, appears only to have fallen short by
■ his inability to prevent the miscarriages of others. For the Romans
would not have had so many misfortunes to deplore if the power of
Fabius had been as great in Rome as that of Pericles in Athens.

As to their Uherality and public spirit, Pericles showed it is re-
fusing the sums that were offered him, and Fabius in ransomii^ iat
Soldiers with hJa own money, Tim, indeed, was no great expciMc,
oekig only about six talents*. But it ii not easy to say ^Am a trea-
sure Pericles might have iunassed from the allies, and from ki»p «mf

■ Pmbabry ihii ii an ptrai of Ilia IcnuKrilHn. Foe Fiblm «■ i* ^ M* *■
U>d tflj dtachmu for eacli prliooFr. and he luiMoiFd
obkh Houtd co«( him liitv-one thouiinct aeien huiidn

FLITARCII S LIVE*.

made their oourt to Ilim, on account of his great authority; yet w
man ever kept himself more free from corruption.

As for the temples, the public eillfices, and other works with which
Pendes adorned Athens, all the structures of that kind in Itome pur
tc^ether, until tiie times of the Cs^sars, deserved not to be compared
with them, either in the greatuess of the designj or the cxcelleotf
of tlie execution.

ALCIBIADES.

THOSE that liave searched into the pedigree of Alcibiadcs mt,
that Eury^accs, the son of Ajax, was founder of the family, and tliit
by his mother's side he was descended from Alcinieou : for Viao-
machc, his mother, was l!ie daughter of Mcgacles, who wfts of llat
line. His father Clioias gained great honour in the sea-figlit of
Artcmisium, where he fought in a galley fitted out at his own ex-
pense, and afteraartb was slain in the battle of Corona, whcte the

Boeollaus won the day. Pericles and Aripliron, the sons of Xauililp-

pus, and near relations to Alcibiades, were his guaidiaus. li is Mid
(and nut without reason) that the affeeiioD and attachment d
. Socrates contiibuted much to his fame. For \icias, DemusihcDcs,
Lamaclius, Phormio, Thrasybulus, Tlierainencs, were illustrious pa-
SODS, and his cotcmporaries, yet we do not so much as kiionriht
name of the mother of either of them; whereas we know even iH«
nurse of Akibiades, that she was of Lacedeemon, and that her omt
v/as Amycla; as well as that Zopyrus was his schoolmaster; the oao
being recorded by Antisthenes, and the other by Plato.

As to the beauty of Akibiades, it may he suflicient to say, tbt
it retained its charm through the several stages of childhood, ytntlii
udmanhoud. Fur it is not universally true what Euripides says,
TJie verjt aulunia of ■ forio oufe fine
BclBUii lis bcButiei.

Vet tt)is nits t1)e.ease of AlcibiudcS, amongst a few otlicn> by ran
of his natural vigour and happ^ constitution.

He had a lispiij^ in his speech, which became him, and gne >

gnce and persuasive turn to his discourse. Aristophanes, in tbow

verfies wherein he ridicules Tlteorus, takes notice tliat Alcibiadcs li^
ed ; for, instead of calling kim Corax, Itavaif he culled him Cdo.
Flatterer i from whence the poet lakes occaaioa lo ubserTCi d'l'

mf

AI.C1BIADES. S3S

»^^^" ■■■"'■ --^ — -- . - — ■..,--■, ^

the torm m that lisping pronunctiUion, too, was very applicable l»
him. Witli this agrees tlie satirical (li;scr!plioQ which Archippui
^K-M of the son of Alcibiadcs ;

'^A Ltli uuiit'iing sicp, lo inllDl* his falbrr,

llw mm youib Ritvrs-, liii lus^e rabe wildlj floab;

lie btadf llic nitli ; he IJipi,

His manners were fiir from licini^uiiironn; nor is it strange lliat
they vuricd accoi'dlDg to the many vicissitudes and wonderful tumt
of his furiune. ffc was naturally a man of strong passions; hut liis
ruling passion was an ambition to contend and overcome. This np-

})rRrs from what is related uf his sayings when a boy. When hard

pressed in wrestling, to prevent his being thrown, he bit the linnda
of liis antagonist, who let go liis hold, and said, " Von bite, Alcl-
liiades, like a woman." " No," says he, " IJlic a Hon."

One day he was playing at dice with other boys in the street; and,
when it came 1o his turn to throw, u londud waggon cnme up. At
first he called to the driver to stop, because he was to throw in the
way over wtiicli the waggon was to pass. TheTustic disregarding
Innj, and driving on, the other boys brolte away; but AJciblades
threw himself upon hi* face directly before the waggon, and, stretch-
ing himself out, bade the fellow drive on if he pleased. Upon this
lie was so startled, that he stopped lib horses, while titosc that saw it
ran up to him with terror.

In tlie course of his education, he willingly tool; the lessons of his
other masters, but refused learning to play upon titc flule, which he
looked upon as a mean art, and unbecomiuiog a gentleman. " The
Aiscof the /(/rt(rt(jn upon the lyre, he would say, has nothing In it
lliat disorders the features or form, but a man is hardly to be known
by his most intimate friends when he plays upon the flute. Besides,
the lyre doet not hinder the performer from speaking or accompany-
ing i( with a song, whereas the flute so engages the mouth and the
breath, that it leaves no pitssibility of speaking. Therefore let the
Thebau youth pipe, who know not bow to discourse : but we Atlie
iiians, according to tlie account of our ancestors, Iiave Minerva for
our {lalroness, and Apollo fur our pmteclur, one of whom threw
away the flute, and the other stripped otTllie man's skin who played
upon it*." TTius, partly by raillery, and partly by argument, Alci-
htadcs kepi both himself and others from learning to play uiH>n the
flute; for it soon became the talk among the young men of condi-
tion, that Alcibbdes was right in holding that art in abomination,
and ridiculing those that practised it. Thus it lost its place in the
mumber of liberal aeeooiplislimcnts, and was universully exploded.

334 rflTiRCH's LIVES.

In the invecilve wliich Auiiplia wrote against Alcibiades, one
Stoiy is, that, wlieu a boy, he ran anay from his giuwilians to onr
of his friends named Bemucrdies j and thni Ai'iplirou nvuld have
had proclamation made for Itim, had not Perieles diverted )iim front
it, by saying, " If lie is dead, we aliuU only Hnd him one day the
sooner for it; if he is safe, il will be a reproach to him is long as lie
lives." Another story is, that he killed one of his servants with a
stroke of his stick in Sibyriius's place of exercise. But, perhap£,ire
should not give entire eredit to these tilings, which were professedly
written by an enemy to defame him.

Many persons of rank made their court tu Alcibiades, but II is eri-
flent that they were charmed and attracted by the beauty of his per-
■on. Socrates was the only one wliose regards were fixed upon ths
mind, and bore wliness to the young man's virtue and itigcnuity, the
rays of which he could distinguish through his fine forra.— And
fearing lest the pride of riches and high rank, and the crowd of flat-
terers, both Athenians and strangers, should corrupt hlni, he used
his best eudearoursto prevent ii, and took care that so hopeful a plant
should not lose its fruit, and perish in the very flower. If ever for-
tune so enclosed and fortified a man with what are called her goods,
as to render him ioaecessihle to the incision-knife of philosophy, and
the search ing-prohe of free advice, surely It was .^iclbiadcs. From
the first he was surrounded with pleasure, and a multitude of admi-
rers, determined to say nothing but what they thought would please,
and to keep him from all admonition and reproof: yet, by his natirc
penetration, he distinguished the value of Socrates, and attached him'
self to hlin, rejecting the rich and the great who sued for his regard.

With Socrates he soon entered into the closest intimacy; and
finding that he did not, like the rest of the unmanly crew, waiK im'
proper favours, but that he studied to correct the errors of his heatlf
and to cure him of his empty and foolish arrogance^

Tlien 111! crcit Ml, and a)l Ua jitidi wu guiic,

lie dtauji'd lilt couiiQCt'd "in;.
In fact, he considered tlie discipline of Socrates as a provision froB
heaven for the preservation and benefit of youth. Thus despbing
himself, admiring bis friend, adoring bis wisdom, and revering hi'
Tiriue, he Insensibly formt^d in his heart the image of love, or rather
came under the InHuence of that power, who, as Plato says, sccutc
his votaries from vicious love. It suqirised all the world to sec hla
constantly snp with Socrates, take with him the exercise of wiei-tliiiji
lodge in the same ttnt with him, while to his other adinirrn he wtf
icserved and rough. Nay, to some he behaved with greni insoleoce;
to Anytus, for instance, the son of Anthemion. Anytus w« ray

J

fond of liim, and hap pr nil it; to make an eiiicrtainniciit for some
Strangers, he desired Akiljiades to givt him liis comiMiny. Aicibiades
would ui)t accept of the invitation, but having drank deep with some
of liis acquaintance at his own house, he went thither to play some
frolic. The frolic was tiiis i he stood at the door of the room where
the guests were entertained, and seeing a great nu)»hcr of gold and
silver cups upon the table, he ordered hisi servants to tnkc half of
them, and carry them to his own house^: and then, not vouchsafing
ao much as to enter into the room himiielF, as soon as lie had done
tliis, he went away, — ^"I'lic company resented the affront, and said he
had behaved very rudely and insolently to Anj-tus. " Not at all,"
eaid Anytus, " but rather kindly, since he has left us half, ffhcn he
knew it was in his power to take the whole."

He behaved in the same manner to his other admirers, except only
pne stranger. This man, they tell us, was in but inditt'erent circum-
stances; for, when he had sold all, he could make up no more than
the sum of one hundred staters*; which he carried to Alcibiades,
and begged of him to accept it. Alcihiades was pleased at the
thing, and, smiling, invited him to supper. — After a kind reception
and entertainment, he gave him the gold again, but required him to
be present the next day, when the public revenues were to be offered
to farm, and to be sure to be the liighest bidder. The man cndra-
vouringto excuse himself, hecnnse the rent would be many talents,
Alcihiades, who had a private pique agMinst the oh! fjirniers, ihrtratcued
to have him beaten if he refused. Next morning, tlitrrfore, the
stranger appeared in the market-place, and offered a talent m<>r<- than
the former rent. The farmers, uneasy and angry at this, called upon
him to name liis security, supposing that he couh' not find any. The
poor man was indeed much startled, and going fo retire with shame,
when Alcibiadei, who stood at some distance, cried out to the magis-
trates, " Set down my name; he is my friend, and I will be his se-
curity," When the old fiirmers of the revenue hturd this, they were
much peiTjlcKcd : for their way was, with the profits of the present
year to pay the rent of the preceding; so that, seeing no other way
toextricatethemsclvesout of the diflicul ty, they applied to the stran-

* Aibcnaiu jayi, he did noi k»p ili*in Uiiuwlf, bul baviitg talcn iJicm (roni th'it
IRUi who wu lich, jfite Iliem lu Tliimjlui. wlio uu puor.

I Ttie italer wu ■ coia which wrighfd four Aliic dracbnai, iiid irai eillicr of gold
Mntvcr, Tie (ilier w» woith ■boul luiii •hiDingi and liiprncc itrrlmg. Tbc Ituwr
ittricui, ■ gold com, wu woilh (welic ihiJliiigi atid Uiite peace balriiriiaj : bul Ifae AU

tIalcT of gold mult be woilli niucb oinre, if wr icgIiod ibe piojiuitioD of gold to liliet
ml; ■! ten to one, u it wai then : nhereai naw it it ilwul tiileen to one. — Dicier,
Iben, ii fnialj niiliLea, nbea be ujri the itaier here BieotiDned b; Plutarch wu worth
•dIj fertji Fceocb k\i; for FlulucU uji ripttstly llitil ttinc italtri were of gold.

baaUe wtrmm. Mid oKfcvd him monrv. But AIcSMsdrs

t ■aSn- hn to nke k» duui « nlnit, which accordinelr

Ebvii^ dooe Ub iUc senicej he wld him be might re-

Thm^ SoKMkj had nznj nnb, nt !ie Irept powession of AN
dhndo's bevt b^ ifae excelleocr of his gCDtss and the patlietic turn
•f his annrsstMO, wtiich oftea d»w tears irom Ids Tcun^ compa-
woa. Aod dian^ soneteiia be gvre Socratn the slip^ and was
Jnnnimf bf hi* AutcTcn, wborxhamted all (heart vFpleaMtrc for
Aot porpoac, jet tbe phikMopbcr took care to hunt out hts fugitire,
Yfaa feared and nspcdti oone but fatn; the rest he held in frrcat

cODteiDpt Hence that saving of Ckandtes: Soirates gains Alcibi-

ades by the ear, aod leares to his ritaJs olUer pans of his bodv,wid)
aibkh be scorns 1o meddle. In fact, Alcihiudes wns rery capable of
king led hj the allurenieDts of pleasure; and what Thujcydwles say*
eocemiDg Uis excesses in his way of living, gives ocrasion to beUrwe
so. Those who endeavoured to corrupt him, attacked Itim o»« ntlt
weaker side, his vanity and love of distiuclion, and kd him into nH
deigns and unseasonable projects, persuadiug him, that as soon u
be should apply himself to the management of public al&iis-, be
should not only eclipse the otiier gi-ncrals and orators, but suipisK
even Pericles himself in point of reputation, as well as interest wiA
the powers orGreece. But a.s iron, when softened by the fire, is
soon hardened again and brouglit to a proper temper by cold wabCTt
so when Alcihlades was enervated by lui^ury, or swoln with pnde,
Socrates corrected and brought him to himself by his discourses; foe
from them he learned ihc number of liLs defects, and the tJmpcrfec-^
lion of his viitue.

When he was past lils childhood, happening to go into a grammar-
school, he asked iho master for a volume of Homer; and, upoa lui
maid 11^' answer that be had noiliing of Homer's, he gave him a bar
on the car, and so left lilnt. Another schoolmaster tclliog hiiu he
had Homer corrected by himself, "'IIow!" said Alcibiades, **and
do you employ your time in leaching children to read? You who tK
able to corrifct Humer might seem to be fit to instruct men."

One day waullug to speak to I'cricles, he went to his house, and
being told there that he was busied in considering Iiow tn give in hi)
accounts to the people, tmd therefore not at leisure, he sud as be
went away, " He had better consider how to avoid giving in any ac^
count at all."

"While he was yet a youth, he made the campaign at PotidM,
where Socrates lodged in the same tent with him, and wss hii con*
panioii in every eugagcmcat. In the principal battle tbey both bf'

^— ^

ALCIBIADES. . 33 7

haved with great gallantry ; but Alcibiades at last falling down wound-
ed, Socrates advanced to defend him, which he did effectually in the
sight of the whole army, saving both him and his arms. For this the
prize of valour was certainly due to Socrates, yet the generals inclined
to give it to Alcibiades, on account of his quality ; and Socrates,wil-
ling to encourage his thirst after true glory, was the first who gave
his suffrage for him, and pressed them to adjudge him the crown and
the complete suit of armour. On the other hand, at the battle of
Delium, where the Athenians were routed*, and Socrates, with a few
others, was retreating on foot, Alcibiades observing it, did not pass
him, but covered his retreat, and brought him safe off, though the
enemy pressed furiously forward, and killed great numbers of the
Athenians. But this happened a considerable time after.

To Hipponicus, the father of Callias, a man respectable both for
his birth and fortune, Alcibiades one day gave a box on the ear ;. not
that he had any quarrel with him, or was heated by passion, but purely
because in a wanton frolic he had agreed with his companions to do
so. The whole city being full of the story of his insolence, and every
body (as it was natural to expect) expressing some resentment, early
next morning Alcibiades went to wait on Hipponicus, knocked at the
door, and was admitted. As soon as he came into his presence, he
stripped off his garment, and, presenting his naked body, desired him
to beat and chastise him as he pleased. But, instead of that. Hip*
ponicus pardoned him, and forgot all his resentment: nay, some
time after, he even gave him his daughter Hipparete in marriage.
Some say it was not Hipponicus, but his son Callias, who gave Hip-
parete to Alcibiades, with ten talents to her portion; and that when
she brought him a child, he demanded ten talents more, as if he had
taken her on that condition. Though this was but a groundless
pretence, yet Callias, apprehensive of some bad consequence from
his artful contrivances, in a full assembly of the people declared^
that if he should happen to die without children, Alcibiades should
be his heir.

Hipparete made a prudent and affectionate wife ; but at last grow^
ing very uneasy at her husband's associating with such a numbet of
courtezans, both strangers and Athenians, she quitted his house and
went to her brother's. Alcibiades went on with his debaucheries^
and gave himself no pain about his wife ; but it was necessary for
her, in order to a legal separation, to give in a bill of divorce to tlie

* Laches, as introduced by Plato, tells us, that if others bad done their duty as So«
«r»tct did hU« the Athenians would not have been defeated in the battle of Deliam.
That battle was fought the fiist year of the cighty-niotb Olympiad, eight years after tht
^ttle of Potidaa.

Voul. No. 14. WW

r.UlUi d UV£5.

gf«ua»i4itu*>' ttuii i:: 5.x liii 5dnuiiiir ^f it hx
. ^. V .ufiii Aue Ciuutt CO lio culb, ac^irriiuif lo lav.
', ^, -^Ujuit acr in iiis arms^ and carrrefi icr ihrouoi
. ^ ^wu uuU5«S9 iio one presuniintr tc >:ccose Iiic,
l^cam that time she remaijut'ii with hici
.Mkfiiciibil not long after, whea .Viol ^iades w»
jicftUfe. Nor does the violeDce ii&.fd io tk^
t,k io tiitf laws either of society in general, cc
-. ...uULUuur. For the law of Athens, Ln requirirr
^^ -•> u^vMceil to appear publicly In person, probablv
^.^M-aoaiiiiaa opportunity to meet with her, and

<of aa OBCOQunon size and beauty, which cost
^.uMAyvcixaou], which was his jirinclpal orna-
:k> be cue <aff — Some of his acquaintance found
«M^ j*accujc M ssrar^ly, and told him that all Athens
Mfc.sMy tit htt i0ii:«l2$ii traiment of the dog : at which he
•• C&i» » tlie reiy thing I wanted; for I would
s. ;aik t^ this, lest they should find somethiog

TBttc 3B&Je him popular, and introduced him into

Lk distributing of money, not by design, but

An- a great crowd of people as he was walking

it aeant; and being informed there was a do-

IM ocofiSe, he distributed money too as he went io

thi* SK^ing with great applause, he was so much

j^ K "vwc a quail which he had under his robe* and

^'^^ 9fc^ii«fM^ with the noise, flew away. Upon this the peo-

^^s». .|»^->^ta tutJer acclamations, and many of them assisted him

^^ ^,,^. tie 4««i^ The man who did catch it, and bring it to him,

.,^.-% Uso^naiius^ a pilot, for whom he had ever after a particu-

« :^^M5»tc **nntages for introducing himself into the manage-
.^iKi«: jdSirP, from his birth, his estate, his personal valour,
.^,ja, wmMT^^ ^"^ friends and relations : but what he chose above
^;«i -•>* sw' Kvvquncnd himself by to the people, was the charms

* > ^^.^w ^*^ «• ^**^ ^'^y* ^^ ^^^^^ ^"*'^"* ^'*^^ reporis. that Socratet. iif
,^^^^ ^tpa»«a*J» to acknowledge that the wav to me to distinction aniu?;tha
^^.^»iMi« tofxcel the genoraU of their eociuio, replie*! with this »c»eT»
^ 'W ii^,U^^<J*»; your onlj iiudy is how to iurpaw Midias in il.c4r(o5

I in 1 Mcib,

^ -^^-^ — ,ita»««u «»ho caught the quail would hardly have hten mentioned, had
^^a^^gi^^Mwd* intrusted him with the commaad of the fleet iu ius atueocv,
^ ^ f tfpNtvmty to igbt, aod was beatea.

ALCIBIADES. 339

of his eloquence. That he was a fine speaker the comic writers bear
witness'; and so does the prince of orators^ in his oration against
Midias^, where he says that Alcibiades was the mdst eloquent man
of his time. And if we believe Theophrastus^ a curious searcher
into antiquity, and more versed in history than the other philoso-
phers, Alcibiades had a peculiar happines of invention, and readiness
of ideas, which eminently distinguished him. But as his care was
employed not only upon the matter, but the expression, and he had
not the greatest facility in the latter, he often hesitated in the midst
of a speech, not hitting upon the word he wanted, and stopping until
it occurred to him. ^

He was famed for his breed of horses and number of his chariots.
For no one besides himself, whether private person or king, ever sent
seven chariots at one time to the Olympic games. The firsts the se-
cond, and the fourth prizes, according to Thucydides, or the third,
as Euripides relates it, he bore away at once, which exceeds every
thing performed by the most ambitious in that way. Euripides thus
celebrates his success :

Great son of Clinias, I record tbj glory.
First on the dusty plain
The threefold prize to gain;
What hero boa»ts thy praise in Grecian story !
Twicet does the trumpet's voice proclaim
Around the plausive cirqut thy honour'd name;
Twice on thy brow was seen
The peaceful olive's green»
The glorious palm of easy purchased famtt*

The emulation which several Grecian cities expressed, in the presents

* It appears from that passage of Demosthenes, that he spoke only from common
fame, and coasequently there was little of Alcibiades's thep extant. We find some re-
mains of his oratory in Thocydides.

t Alcibiades won the firsts second, and third priies in person, besides which bis cba-
tiots won twice in his absence. The latter is what Euripides refers fo in the words
aponeti and dit stephihcuta,

X Antisthenes, a disciple of Socrates, writes, that Chios fed bis horses, and Cyxicus
provided his victims. The passage is remarkable, for we learn from it that this was done
not only when Alcibiades went to the Olympic games, bat in his warlike espedltions, and
ureh in bis travels. " Whenever," says he, " Alcibiades travelledi four cities of the
•Hies ministered to him as his handmaids. Ephesos fnmished biro with tents as sump*
toons as those of the Persians; Chios found pfovender for bis horses; Cyaicus supplied
him with victims and provisions for his table ; and Lesbos with wine and all other necet*
•aries for his household." None but opulent cities were able to answer such an expense:
lor at the time when Alcibiades won the three prises* in person at the Olympic games,
•Iter he bad offered a very costly sacrifice to Jupiter, he entertained at n magnificent
f epast that innumerable company which hi^d assisted at the gamct^

CLUTARCHS LIVES.

tliey made liim, gave a still greater ]antc lo his success. E[>huu8
provided a magnificent pavilion for him; Chios wa^ at the expence
of keeping his horses and beasts for sacriiiee; and Ia^Ihis found him
in wine and every thing neecssary for the most elegant public table.
Yet, amidst this success, he esuijied not without censure, occasioned
either by the nialice of his enemies, or by his own misconduct It
seems there «as at Athens one Diomedcs, a man of good character,
and a friend of AlcibiadeS, wlio was very desirous of winning a prize
at the Olympic gajncs ; and being informed that there was a chariot
to be sold which belonged to the city of Argos, where Alcibiades had
a strong interest, he persnaded him lo buy it for him. Accordinglj
he did buy it, but kept it fur himself, leaving Diomedes to vent hii
rage, and lo ealTgods and men to bear witness of the injustice. For
tliis there seems to have been an action brought against him ; aod
there is extant an oration concerning a chariot, written by Isocratn,
indefenceolAleihiades, thenayouth; but there the plaintiff is Darned
Tisius, not Dioiuedes.

Aleibiades was very young when he first applied himself to the
business of the republic, and yet lie soon showed himself supenorU
the other orators. The persons capable of standing in some degree
of competition with him were Plieeax the son of Erasistnitus, tni
Nieius the son of Nicenitus. The latter was advanced !u years, >tid
one of the best generals of his time. The former was but a youth,
like himself, just beginning to make his way, for whicli he had tlic
advantage of high hirth ; but in other respects, as well as in the art
of speaking, was inferior to Alcibiades. He seemed fitter for soUdt-
ing and persuading in private, than for stemming the lorrenl oft
public debate; in shon, he was one of those of whom Kupottx s«n,
" True, lie can talk, and yet he is no speaker." There is extiintu
oration iigainst Alcibiades and Phx;uL,in which, amongst Other thiu^
it is alleged against Alcibiades, that he used at his tabic maDy of tbe
gold and silver vessels provided fur the sacred processions, as if tbrf
lind been his own.

There was at Athens one Hj-perbolus, of the ward Perithois, whom
Thucydides makes mention of as a very bad man, and who nt ■
constant subject of ridicule for the comic writers. Bui be wu iMi-
concerned at the worst things they could say of him, Mid being R-

gardtcss of honoui, he was also insensible of shame ^This, tbongh

really impudence and fully, is by some people eatlei] foniiude Mtti
noble daring. But, tliough no one-lihed him, the people nevcrthc'
less made use of him, when they wanted to strike at pcnuns in Au-
thority. At his instigation, the .\thenians were ready to proceed N
tlic ban of ostracism, by whieh they pull itmu aaii rxjicl such uf tbt

ALCIBIADES. 341

citizens as are distinguished by their dignity and power, therein con«
siil ting their envy rather than their fear.

As it was evident that this sentence was levelled against one of the
three, Phteax, Nicias, or Alcibiades, the latter took care to unite the
contending parties^ and, leaguing with Nicias, caused the ostracism
to fall upon Hyperbolus hinnself. Some say it was not Nicias, but
rii^eax, with whom Alcibiades joined interest, and by whose assist-
ance he expelled their common enemy, when he expected nothing
less. For no vile or infamous person had ever undergone that pu-
nishment. So Plato, the comic poet, assures us, thus speaking of
Hyperboliu :

Well had the caitiff earued his banishment*
' But not by ottracisra; that sentence sacred

To duugerous eminence.

But we have elsewhere given a more full account of what history has
delivered down to us concerning this matter*.

Alcibiades was not less disturbed at the great esteem in which Ni-
cias was held by the enemies of Athens, than at the respect which
the Athenians themselves paid him. The rights of hospitality had
long subsisted between the family of Alcibiades and the Lacedemo-
nians, and he had taken particular care of such of them as were made
prisoners at Pylos; yet when they found that it was chiefly by the
means of Nicias that they obtained a peace, and recovered the cap-
tives, their regards centered in him. It was a common observatioa
among the Greeks, that Pericles had engaged them in a war, and
Nicias had set them free from it ; nay, tlie peace was even called the
Nician peace. Alcibiades was very uneasy at this, and^ out of envy
to Nicias, determined to break the league.

As soon, then, as lie perceived that the people of Argos both feared
and hated the Spartans, and consequently wanted to get clear of all
connexion with them, he privately gave them hopes of assistance
from Athens; and, both by his agents and in person, he encouraged
the principal citizens not to entertain any fear, or to give up any
point, but to apply to the Athenians, who were almost ready to repent
of the peace they had made, and would soon seek occasion to break it.

fiut, after the LAcedtemonians had entered into alliance with the
Boeotians, and had delivered Panactus to the Atlienians, not with its
fortifications, as they ought to have done, but quite dismantled, he
took the opportunity, while the Athenians were incensed at this pro-
ceeding, to inflame tliem still., more. At the same time he raised a
clamour against Nicias, alleging things which had a face of proba-
bility; for be reproached him with having ueglcctedj when com*

* In the ll?ei of Ari»tides and Nicias.

34^ Plutarch's lives.

mander-iD- chiefs to make that party* prisoners who were left by the
enemy ip Sphacteria, and with releasing them> wlien taken by others,
to ingratiate himself with the Laced«monians. He ikrtheF asserted ,
Ihat though Nicias had an interest with the Lacedsemcmians, he
would not make use of it to prevent their entering into the con-
federacy with the Boeotians and Corinthians; but that when an al-
liance was offered to the Athenians by any of the Grecian states, he
took care to prevent their accepting it, if it were likely to gi^e uii»-
brage to the Lacedsemonians.

Nicias^ was greatly disconcerted j but, at that very ymctare, it
happened that ambassadors from LacedsBmoii arrived with moderate
proposals, and declared tl^t they bad full powers to treiit and decide
all differences in an equitable way* The Sicnate was. satisfied, and
next day the people we^e to be convened :; but Alcibiades, dieading*
the success of that audieace, found means to speak with the asibts-
sadors in the mean time; and thus he addressed them : ^ Men of
Lacedsemon^ what is it you are going to do ? Are you not apprised
that the behaviour of the senate is always candid aad humane to those
who apply to it, whereas the people are haughty^ and expect great
concessions? If you say that you are come with fiill powers, you will
find them untractable and extravi^Dt in their demands. Come
theiv, retract that imprudent declaration, and if you desire tp keep
the Athenians within the bounds of reason, and not to have tems
extorted from you, which you cannot approve, treat wi^b them as if
you had not a discretionary commission. I will use my best ^iidea-
yours in fayour of the Lacedsemonians/' He confirmed hk promise
with an oath, and thus drew them over from Nicias to himself. Id
Alcibiades they now placed an entire confidence, admiring both his
'finderstanding and address in business, and regarding him as a very
extraordinary num.

Next day the people assembled, and the ambassadors were intro-.

f After the Lacedsemonians had lost tb« fort of P^los in Messenia, tbej left the isle
^ Sphacteria, which was opposite that fort, a garriseu of three hundred aikd twentj iDe&»
)»esides Helots, under the command of Epitades the son of Molobrua. . The AtbenUns
would have sent Nicias, while comniander-in-chicf, with a fleet against that islandf bat
lie excused himself. Afterwai;ds Cleou> in conjunction with Demosthenes, got
fion of it after a long dispute, wherein several of the garrison were slaio, and tb«
made prisoners/ and sent to Athens. Among those prisoners were a hundred
fwentj Spartans, who, bj the assistance pf Nicias, got released. Tlic Lacedsmoniaiift
afterwards recovered the fort of P^los : for Anjtus, who was sent ^ith a sqoadroD ta
fnpport it, finding the wind directly against him, returned to Athens; upon which tiia
people, according to their usual custom, condemned him to die ; which aenteaoey bow*
ever, be commuted, by paying a vast sum of money^ being the fiift who reserted » jtdg*
ment in that manner.

\ - ^ AT

ALCIBIADES. 343

duced. Alcibiades asked them, in an obliging manner, what their
commission was, and they answered, that they did not come as
plenipotentiaries. Then he began to rave and storm as if he had
received an injury, not done one; calling them faithless, prevarica-
ting men, who were come neither to do nor to say any thing honour-
able. The senate was incensed; the people were enraged; and
Nicias, who was ignorant of the deceitful contrivance of Alcibiades,
^^;as filled with astonishment and confusion at this change.

The proposals of the ambassadors thus rejected, Alcibiades was
declared general, and soon engaged the Argives*, the Mantineans,
and Eleans, as allies to the Athenians. Nobody commended the
manner of this transaction ; but the effect was very great, since it
^vided and embroiled almost all Peloponnesus, in one day lifted so
many arms against the Lacedaemonians at Mantinea, and removed
to so great a distance from Athens the scene of war; by which the
Lacedaemonians, if victorious, could gain no great advantage, whereas
a miscarrii^ would have risked the very being of their state.

Soon after this battle at Mantineaf, the principal officers^ of the
Argive army attempted to abolish the popular government of Argos,
and to taka the administration into their own hands. The Lacedse*
monians espoused the design, and assisted them to carry it into exc- -
cutioH. But the people took up arms again, and defeated their new
masters; and Alcibiades, coming to their aid, made the victory more
complete. At the same time he persuaded them to extend their
walls down to the sea, that they might always be in a condition to re-
ceive succours from the Athenians. From Athens he sent them
carpenters and masons, exerting himself greatly on this occasion,
which tended to increase his personal interest and power, as well as
that of his country. He advised the people of Patrse, too, to join
their city to the sea by long walls. And somebody observing to the
Patrensians, " That the Athenians would one day swallow them
up;" " Possibly it may be so," said Alcibiades, "but they will
begin with the feet, and do it by little and little, whereas the Lace-
dasmonians will begin with the head, and do it all at once." He

* He concloded a leagoe with these states for m hundred years* which Tliocj^dides
li»s inserted at full length in his fifth b«>ok ; and by which we learn that the treaiies of
the ancient Greeks were uo less perfect and explicit than ours. Their treaties were of
••little consequence too; for how soon was that broken which the Athenians had mada
with the Lacedaemonians!

t That battle was fought near three jears after the conclntion of the treaty with Argos.

t Those officers availed themselves of the consternation the people of Argos were ia
after the loss of the battle j and the Lacedsemonians gladly supported them, from a per>
maiaaon'that if the popular government were abolished, and an aristocracy (like that of
Sps^) let up in Argot« they should soon bt masteta there.

344 Plutarch's lives.

exhorted the Atlienians to assert the empire of the land as well as of
the sea; and was ever puttint^ the young warriors in mind to show
by their deeds that they remembered the oath they had taken in the
temple of Agraulos*. Tlie oath is, that they will consider wheat,
barley, vine, and olives, as the bounds of Attica; by which it is in-
sinuated, that they should endeavour to possess themselves of all lands
that are cultivated and fruitful.

But tliese his great abilities in politics, his eloquence^ his reach of
genius, and keenness of apprehension, were tarnished by his luxu-
rious living, his drinking, and debauches; his effeminacy of dress,
and his insolent profusion. He wore a puq)le robe with a long train
when he appeared in public. He caused the planks of his galley ta
be cut away, that he might lie the softer, his bed not being placed
upon the boards, but hanging upon girths. And in the wars he bore
a shield of gold, which had none of the usualf ensigns of his coun-
try, but, in their stead, a Cupid bearing a thunderbolt. The gieat
men of Athens saw his behaviour with uneasiness and indignatioa,
and even dreaded the consequence. They regarded his foreign
manners, his profusion, and contempt of the laws, as 90 many
means to make himself absolute. And Aristoplianes well expresses
how the bulk of the people were disposed towards him :

They love, they hate, but cannot live without him.

And he satirizes him still more severely by the following allusion :

Nurse not a lion's whelp within your walls.
But, if he is brought up there, sooth the brute.

Tl)e truth is, his prodigious liberality, the games he exhibited, and
the other extraordinary instances of his munificence to the people,
the glory of his ancestors, the beauty of his, person, and the force of
his eloquence, together with his heroic strength, his valour, and ex-
perience in war, so gained upon the Athenians, that they connived
at his errors, and spoke of them with all imaginable tenderness, caH-

* Agraulos, one of the daughters of Cccrops, had devoted herself to demth fortht
benefit of her country; it has been supposed, therefore, that the oath which the joang
Athenians took bound them to do something of that nature, if need sboald require;
though, as given by Plutarch, it implies only an unjust resolution to extend the Athcnito
dominions to all lands that were worth seizing, Demosthenes nentions th« oaUi in hit
•ration De Fals. Legal, but does not explain it.

t Both cities and private persons had of old their ensigns, devices of armi. TboM
•f the Athenians were commonly iMincrva, the owl, or the olive. Noiie but people of
figure were allowed to bear any devices; nor even they, until they had performed toa^
action to deserve them ) in the mean time their shields were plain white. Aleibiedei^
in his device, referred to the beauty of his person and his martial prowess. Mottos,toow
were used. Capaneus, for instance, bore a naked roan with a torch in his baad ; th^
Motto this, I teili bum the city. See more iu iiilschylus's tragedy of the ScvmCki^

ALCIBIADfi^ 345

'" ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ , J IIM^ !!■■ Ml 1^

tng them sallies of youth, and good-humoured frolics. Such wer#
his confining Agatharcus the painter^ until he had painted his house,
and then dismissing him with a handsome present; his giving a box
on the car to Taureus, who exhibited games in opposition to him^
and vied with him for the preference ; and his taking one of th^
captive Melian women for his mistress, and bringing up a child he
had by her. These were what they called his good-humoured fro-
lics. But surely we cannot bestow that appellation upon the slaugh-
tering of all the males in the isle of Melosf who had arrived at years
of puberty, which was in consequence of a decree that he pror

tnoted Again, when Aristophon had painted the courtezan Nemen

with Alcibiadcs in her arms, many of the people eagerly crowded to
see it; but such of the Athenians as were more advanced in yean
were much displeased, and considered these as sights only fit for a
tyrant*s court, and as insults on the laws of Athens* Nor was it iU
observed by Arclicstratus, ^* That Greece could not bear another
Alcibiades." When Timon, famed for his misanthropy, saw Alci*
blades, after having gained his point, conducted home with great
honour from the place of assembly, he did not shun him, as he did
other men> hut went up to him, and shaking him by the hand^ thuf
addressed him : ^^ Go on, my brave boy, and prosper; for your pros-
perity will bring on the ruin of all this crowd." This occasioned
Various reflections ; some laughed, some railed, and others wert ex-
tremely moved at the saying. So various were the judgments fcnne^
f>f Alcibiades, by reason of the inconsistency of his character.

In the time of Pericles^, the Athenians had a desire after Sicily,

* Tbh pointer had been familiar with AIcibiade$*8 mistress.

i The isle of Melos» one of the Cyclades, and a colony of Lacf dsmoo, was tV
tempted by Alcibiadcs, the last year of the ninetieth Olympiad, and taken the year fo|*
lowing. Thocydides, who has given ns an account of this slaughter of the Melians, make^
BO mention of the decree. Probably he was willing to have the carnage thooght the
effect of a sodden transport in the tQldiery, and not of a crnel and cool resolutioo of tfa#
people of Athens.

X Pericles, by his prudence and authority, had restrained this extravagant ambition
of the Athenians. He died the last year of the eighty*seventb Olympiad, in the third
year of the Peloponnesian war. Two years after this the Athenians sent some ships t9
Bhegium, which were to go from thence to the succour of the Leoutines, who were a^
tacked by the Syracusaus. The year following, they sent a still greater number; and*
t«o years after that, they fitted out another fleet of a greater force than die former; but
the Sicilians having put an end to their divisions, and by the advice of Hermocratei
(whose speech Thucydides, in hu fourth book, gires us at large), having sent back th#
fleet, the Athenians were so enraged at their generals for not having conquered Sicily*
that they banished two of them, Pythodoms and Sophocles, and laid a heavy fine upon
Eofjaedon. So infatuated were they by their prosperity, that they iniaftned theaielvef
irresistible.

Voul. No. 14. XX

34b

PLUTARCH 3 LIVES.

niid wlicu lie had paid the last dept to uature, they attempted it;
frc(|Uontly under pretence of succouriof; tlietr allies, sending aids of
men aud nioaei^ to such of the Sicilians as Here attacked by the S}*™-
CUS8IIS. This was a step to greater armaments. But Alcibitdes io-
Ramcd this desire to an irresistible degree, and persuaded theu) not to
attempt the island in part, and by Italves, but to send a powerful Beet
to subdue it entirely. He insiiired the people with hopc.>s of greal
things, and iudulged himself in expectations still more lofty: foF he
did not, like the rcst^ consider Sicily as the end of his wishes, btii
rather us an introduction to the mighty expeditions he had coDcm-
ed — Aud wliiJe Nicias was dissuading the people from the sic^
of Syracuse, as a business too difficult to succeed in, Alcibiades tm
dreaming of Carthage andofLybia; and, after these were gained,
he designed to grasp Italy aDdPe!o|K>nnesus,regardingSicily as little
more than a magazine for provisions and warlike stores.

The young men immediately entered into his schemes, and lictn*
cd with great attention to those who, under the sanction of age, re-
lated wonders concerning the intended expeditions; so thai nuDyef
them sat whole days in the placesof exercise, drawing in the diBtAc
figure of the island, and plans of byhia and Carthage. Howerer,
we are informed, tliat Socrates the philosopher, and Kletoo the i^
trologer, were far from expecting that these wars would turn to die
advantage of Athens : the former, it should seem, influenced by sone
jiropjictic notices with which he was favoured hy the genius whoat-
1 ended him; and the latter, either by reasonings which led hioi M
Icar what was to conie, or else by knowledge with which hii irt
supplied htm. Be that as it mny, Meton feigned hiiusclf mad, and,

taking a lighted torch, attempted to set his house on fire. Others s»j,

that he made use of no such pretence, but burnt down his Iiouse ia
the night, and in the morning u-ent and begged of the people to ex-
cuse his sou from that eanipnign, that he might be a comfort lo hin
under hts misfortune. By this artifice he imposed upon them, Hxl
jfiiined his point.

Nicias WHS appointed one of the generals much against his incli-
nation; for he would have declined the command, if it Itad bmi
only ou account of his having such a colleague. Tlie Atbcuititf,
however, thought the war would Iw better conducted, if they did art
give free sco[)e to the impetuosity of Alcibiades, but tcmprrrd !«•
boldness with the prudence of Nuins. For us to the third ifeDcnlt
Ijumachu^, though well advanced In years, he did nut seem to ccsM
at all short of Alcibiades in heat and rashness.

When they come to deliberate about the numhcr of the tiocfS
and the necessary prcpurutions for the armameot, Nicias agiia of'

ALCIBIAD6S.

IK)scd tlieir measures^ and endeavoured to prevent the war. But
Alcibiadifs replying to his arguments^ and carrying all before himj
the orator Demostratus proposed a decree^ that the generals should
have the absolute direction of the war^ and of all the preparations for
It, When the people had given their assent, and every thing was
got ready for setting sail, unlucky omens occvured, even on a festi\'al
which was celebrated at that time. It was the feast of Adonis^;
the women walked in procession with images, which represented the
dead carried out to burial, acting the lamentations, and singing the
mournful dirges usual on such occasions.

Add to this the mutilating and disfiguring of almost all the statues
of Mercuryt, which happened in one night; a circumstance which
fdaimed even those who had long despised things of that nature. It
was imputed to the Corinthians, of whom the Syracusans were a
colony; and they were supposed to have done it in hopes that such
a prodigy might induce the Athenians to desist from the war. But

I

the people paid little regard to this insinuation, or to the discourses
of those who said that there was no manner of ill presage in what
had happened, and that it was nothing but the wild frolic of a parcel
of young fellows flushed with wine, and bent on some extravagance.
Indignation and fear made tliem take this event not only for a bad
omen, but for the consequence of a plot which aimed at greater
matters; and therefore both senate and people assembled several
times within a few days, and very strictly examined every suspicious
circumstance.

In the mean time, the demagogue Androcles produced some Athe-
nian slaves and certain sojourners, who accused Alcibiades and his
friends of defacing some other statues, and of mimicking the sacred
mysteries in oneof their drunken revels; on which occasion, they
said, one Theodorus represented the herald, Polytion the torch-bearer,
and Alcibiades the high-priest; his other companions attending as
persons initiated, and therefore called Mystie. Such \ms the import
of the deposition of Thessalus the son of Cimon, who accused Alci-
biades of impiety towards the goddf^es Ceres and Proserpine, The

* On the ftast of Adonh all the cities pot tlicmselvea in noumiog; coffins were ex-
ipoted mt every door; the ttmtues of Venus and Adoqis w^re boroe in procession, with
certain vessels filled with earth, in which they bud raised corn« herbs, and lettuce, and
these vessels were called the gardem of Adonis. After the ceremony was over, the
gardem were thrown into the se« or some river. This fesdval was celebrated throughout
Greece and Egypt, and among the Jews too, when they degenerated Into idolatry, see
Eiefciel, x. 14.^ And behold there tat women weeping far TammmM, that 14, Adonis.

t The Athenians had statues of Mercury at the doon of their houses^ made of stonn
•f % f obical form.

v

348 PLUTAltCH^S LIVES.

people being much provoked at Alcibiades, and Aodroclesy his bit*
terest enemy, exasperating them still more, at first he was somewhat
disconcerted. Bat when he perceived that the seamen and soldien
too, intended for the Sicilian expedition, were on his side, and heard
a body of Argives and Mantineans, consisting of a thousaiMi men»
declare that they were willing to cross the seas, and to ran die riik
of a foreign war for the sake of Alcibiades, but that, if any iojuiy
were done to him, they would immediately march home again, then
he recovered hb spirits, and appeared to defend himself. It was now
his enemy's turn to be discouraged, and to fear that the people, oq
account of the need they had of him, would be favourable in their
sentence. To obviate this inconvenience, they persuaded certain
orators who were not reputed to be his enemies, but liated him aff
heartily as the most professed ones, to move it to the people, <^ That
it was extremely absurd that a general who was invested with a dis-
eretionaiy power and a very important conunand, when the troops
were collected^ and the allies all ready to sail, should lose time, while
they were casting lots for judges, and filling the glasses with water,
to measure out the time of his defence. In the name of the gods kt
him sail, and, when the war b concluded, be accountable to the kwa^
which will still be the same."

Alcibiades easily saw their malicious drift in wanting to put off the
trial, and observed, " That it would be an intolerable hardshqi to
leave such accusations and calumnies behind him, and be sent o«t
with so important a commission, while he was in suspense as to hb
own fete. That he ought to suffer death, if he could not clear him-
self of the charge; but if he could prove hb innocence, justiee le-
quired that he should be set free from all fear of fabe accusers, be-
fore they sent him agiunst their enemies.'* But he could not obtain
that favour. He was indeed ordered to set sail*;, which he accocd-
ingly did, together with hb colleagues, having near a hundred and
forty galleys in hb company, five thousand one hundred heavy-armed
soldiers, and about one thousand tliree hundred archers, slingera, and
others light-armed, with suitable provbions and stores.

Arriving on the coast of Italy, he landed at Rhegium. There he
gave hb opinion as to the manner in which the war should be con-
ducted, and was opposed by Nicias: but as Lamachus agreed vdth
bim, he sailed to Sicily, and made himself master of Cataqat* TUs
was all he performed, being soon sent for by the Adienians to take
hb trial. At first, as we have observed, there was nothing against
him but slight suspicions, and the depositions of slaves and persona

^
* The second year of tb« eightj-fint Olympiad, and seventeenth of the Polo^oap

acsian war. t By tarpriie. Thucjf4, lib. ▼£»

who ^iojourned in Athens. But his (.'neniie^ louk aUvantagt! of his
abser.ce to brin^ ni;w matter of impeachment, adding ta the mutilat-
ing of the stRtues his sacrilegious beliaviour with respect to the mys-
teries, nnd alleging that both these crimes flowed from the same
source", a conspiracy to change the govtrnmeut. All that were ac-
cused of bfing anyways concerned in it, they committed to prison
unheard; and they repented exceedingly that they had not immedi-
ately brought Alcibiades to his trial, and got him condemned upon
so heavy a charge. While this fury lasted, every relation, every
friend and acquaintance of his was very severely dealt with hy
the people.

Thucydides has omitted the names of the accusers, but others men*
lion Dioclides and Teucer. So Fhryuichus, the comic poet,

Cuod Hrniui, prny, be»are a fall ; nor bccnk
thj Baibie nuic. letl iuim TiIm Dioclidc*
Once muie Iii> ifaKfu in (*l»[ pobou alroacti.

iltrc, I will. Nor e'er agaiu iliall thai infarmer, Ul bj V
1'cuier, that fuilMeii ittmnjcr, boait ftom me - "^-'

Hewardb fur perjurj.

Indeed no clear or strong evidence wns given hy the informerfc
One of them being asked how he could dlstlngui^li the faces of those
who disfigured the statues, answered, that he discerned llicm by the
light of the moon; wliich was a piuin falsity, for it was done at the
time of the moon's change. All persons of understanding exclaimed
against such baseness; but this detection did not in the least pacifj
the people ; they went on with the same rage and violence with whicii
they had begun, taking itiformations, and comuiitling all to prlsoa
whose names were given In.

Among those that were then imprisoned, in order to their trial,
was the orator Andocides, whom Hellaulcus the historian reckons
among the descendants of Ulysses. He was thought to be no friend
to a ]>upular government, but a favourer of oligarchy. What contri-
buted not a little to his being suspected of having some concern in
defacing the JJcrmte, was, that the great statue of Mercury, which
was placed near his house, being consecrated to that god by the tribe
called the .tgels, was almost the only one, among the more remark-
aJJe, wliich was left entire. Therefore to diis day it is called the
Hermes of Andocides, and that title universally prevails, tliougli the
inscription does not agree with it.

It happened, that among those who were imprisoned on the same

* Tlic; gave out, Ibat be had entncd ini
fecdanioniaiu, uid lliat tie liad ptnsadtd U

a cojopincj to betray rbe ciiy id tbe L*.
.IrEirea I* undcnakc MmcUuui lotbrir

35ft

I'l.t'TARClIS LIVES.

»Cfount, Andocidts coniratttd an acquaintance and friendship wiifc
one TiniEeus; a man not equal in rank ro himself, but of uncontDioa
parts, and a daring sptiit. He udvised Aiidocides to acL-use biinscir
find a fow more, because the decree promised impunity (o wiy one
tluit would confess and inform, whereas the eveut of the tml WM
uncertain to all, and much to be dreaded by such of them u were
peisoDs of distinction. He represented, that it was belter to save
his life by a falsity, time to sufFur an infatnous deaili as one realljr
iniilty of the crime; and that, with respect to the public, it would be
an advantage to give up a few persons of dubious chaiacier, in oirfei
to rescue many good men from an enraged popolacc.

Andocides was prevailed u])on by these arguments of Timeetu ; and,
informing against himself and some others, enjoyed the inipuuitj
promised by the decree; but all the rest whom he named were capi-
tally punished, except a few that fled. Nay, to procure tlie greater
credit to his deposition, he accused even his own servants.

However, the fury of the people was not satisfied; but, turning
from the persons who had disfigured the HermJE, as if it had reposed

a while only to recover its strength, it fell totally upon Alcibiades

At last they sent the Salaininlan galley to fetch him, artfully enough
ordering their officer not to use violence, or to lay hold on his per-
son, but to behave to him whh civility, and to acquaini him with the
erder of the people, that he should go and take his trial, am! clear luin-
self before thein ; for they were apprehensive of some iitmuit and
mutiny in the army, now it was in an enemy's country, winch Alei-
biades, had he been so disposed, might have raised with all the ea%e
in the world. Indeed, the soldiers expressed great unea&ini-ss at hi»
leaving them, and expected tliat the war would be spun out to a gre«t
K'ngth hy the dilatory counsels of N'lcias, when the spur was taken
away. Lamaclms, indeed, was bold and brave, but he was wantia^
both in dignity and weight, by reason of his poverty.

Alcibiadcs immediately embarked*; the consequence of which
was, that the Athenians could not take Massena. There were pet-
sons iu the town ready to betray it, whom Alcibiudes perfectly knew,
and as he apprised some that were friends to the Syraeusans of their
intention, the affair niisearried.

As soon as he arrived at Thurii, he went on shore, and, concealing
himself there, eluded the search which was made after him. But
some person knowing him, and saying, " Will not yon, then, trust
your country ■ " he answered, "As to any thing else, I wUI trnsl
lier; but with my life 1 would not trust even my mother, lest ihe
should mistake a black bean for a while one." Afterwvdi, beiag
■■ liv ipruOfntljcmbncLriliniTCiiclDrhiaoHnrnnd ooiiathe Silualsiaiiplt^

ALCIBIADBS. 351

told that the republic had condemned him to die, he said, ^' But I
will make them find that I am alive."

The information against him ran thus: ^^ Thessahis, the son of
Cimon, of the ward of Lacias, accuseth Alcibiades, the son of Cliniasp
of the ward of Scambonis, of sacrilegiously offending tlie goddesses
Ceres and Proserpine, by counterfeiting their mysteries, and showing
them to his companions in his own house. Wearing such a robe at
the high-priest does while he shows the holy things, he called him*
self high priest, as he did Polytion torch-bearer, and Theodorus, of
the ward of Phygea, herald : and the rest of his companions he called
persons iniiiaiect^f and brethren of the secret; herein acting oon«>
trary to the rules and ceremonies established by the Eumolpidief,
the heralds and priests at Eleusis*" As he did not appear, tliey con-
demned him, confiscated his goods, and ordered all the priests and
priestesses to denounce an execration against him; which was de-
nounced accordingly by all but Theano, the daughter of Menon^
priestess of the temple of Agraulos, who excused herself, alleging
that she was a priestess for prayer, not for execration.

While these decrees and sentences were passing against Alcibi-
Aides, he was at Argos, having quitted Thurii, which no longer af-
forded him a safe asylum, to come into Peloponnesus* Still dread-
ing his enemies, and giving up all hopes of being restored to his
country, he sent to Sparta to desire permission to live there under
the protection of the public faith, promising to serve that state more
effectually, now he was their firieud^ than he had annoyed them whilst
their enemy. The Spartans granting him a safe conduct, and ex-
pressing their readiness to receive him, he went thither with plea-
mure* One tiling he soon effected, which was, to procure succours
for Syracuse without further hesitation or delay, liaving persuaded
tbem to send Galyppus thither, to take upon him the direction uf the
war, and to crush the Athenian power in Sicily. Another thing
wiiich he persuaded them to was to declare war against the Atheni-
ans, and to begin its operations on the continent: and the third,
which was the most important of all, was to get Decelea fortified ; for
this being in the neighbourhood of Athens, was productive of great
mischief to that commonwealth^.

* Tlie hlysUt, or prrjons ioitiated, were Co remtin a year under probation, during
vbicb time tliej were to go no fartber tban tbe Yeitibole of tbc temple ; after that term
vaa eipired, tbej were called EpopUt, and admitted to all tbe myiteries, except such at
were reserved for tbe priests only.

t Eaiuolpus was tbe first wbo settled tbe mysteries of Ceres, for wbich reason bis de-
yeendants liad ibe care of tbem after biiu ; and wben bis line failed, tbose who sarceeded
'in tbe function were, notwitbstaading, called Eumolpidse.

I Agis, king of Sparta^ at tbe bead of a rery namerons army of Laced araonians, Co-

S5S rurTARCH's LIVES,

I v, ■ .■..■_■■.■ . ■ ^

These measures procured Alribiades the public npprobniion aft
Sparta, and he was no less admired for his manner of living in pri-
rate. By conforming to tlieir diet and other austerilics, he cliarmcj
nnd captivated the people. When they snw him close shared, bath'
ing in cold water, feeding on their coarse bread, or eating their black
liroth, they could hardly believe that such a man had ever kept a
cook in his house, seen a perfumer, or worn a robe of Milesian pur-
ple. It seems, that amongst his other (lUalificntions, he had the very
extraordinary art of engaging the affections of those wiih whom he
conversed, by imitating and adopting tlicIr customs and way of liriny.
Nay, he turned htmscif into all manner of forms with more ca.*e ttiaii
the caraelcon changes his colour. It is not, we are told, in tlut
animal's power to assume a white, but Alcihiades could adapt himteif
.either to good or bud, nnd did not find any thing which he attemptrJ
irapracticahlc. Thus at Sparta he was alt for exercise, frugal in hi)
diet, and severe in his manners. In Asia he was as much for mini
and pleasure, luxury and ease. In Thrace, again, riding and drinl;-
jng were his favourite amusements; and in the palace of Tissaphcn(*,
the Persian grandee, he outvied the Persians themselves in pomp id
splendour. Not that he could with so much ease change his rol
manners, or approve in his heart the form which he assumed; birt
because he knew that his native manners would he iinacccptabk'M
those whom he happened to be with, he immediately conformed W
the ways and fashions of whatever place he came to. When he m
at Lacediemon, If you regarded only his outside, you would say, »
the proverb does, IViis Is not the son q/" Achilles, 6m/ Achilles Aiw
si^^fj this man has surely been brought up under the eye of I^etit-
gas: but then, if you looked more nearly into his dispositioo and hi)
actions, you would exclaim with Eleetra in the play, T%e same mi
woman stlW! For while king Agis was employed in s distant opt-
dition, he corrupted his wife Timwa so effectually, that she wai w'A
child by him, and did not pretend to deny it; and when she *■» de-
livered of a son, though in public she called him Leotychidas, yei ia

rintbimts, anil oilier nationi or Pet<i|>onDC9ai, invadad AUlca> anil, Mccarding ta tkc i'-
-rice Khich AJcibiadci Iiad giTea, iriied and forlllied Dscclei. wliich Hood al IB i^
liiilance Trom Alhcnt and th« rmnlien orB<tolii, b; tuetni of which thr .ViLciUaM awi
DOW dcpriiid of (he protiti of iho (ilvcr minu, of the renti of their landi, and of ^
inccoDrs o( their neighbour). Bui Ihe greatPit mitTntluue which liappcnnl IsilwiHU-
niani, fnm Ihc beginning o( the «« lo thii lime, wu (hat ahich bcftl thta Ikii Jf^ ■
Sicilv, where thej not only !u'l ilie conquest Ihcj simed at. together witfc tht upWiW
Ibe; liad to long msinliincd, bul iheir Decl, (heir arm;, and their (enanli

• Thit iiipokenofHermlone, ia ihe Oreitei orEBripidej, upon her dino*«nB(^
tame iraaitj and tolicitidc abuul her bemtj, *LeB adTanrad ia jctn, thai At W
ilten iha wai jooag.

ALCIBIADES. 353

her own house she wispered to her female friends and to her servants^
that his true name was Alcibiades : to such a degree was the wo-
man transported by her passion. And Alcibiades himself, indulging
his vein of mirth, used to say, " His motive was not to injure the
king, or to satisfy his appetite, but that his offspring might one day
sit on the throne of Lacedsemon." Agis had information of these
matters from several hands, and he was the more ready to give credit
to them, because they agreed with the time. Terrified with an
earthquake, lie had quitted his wife's chamber, to which he returned
not for the next ten months ; at the end of which Leotychidas being
born, he declared the child was not his, and for this reason he was
never suffered to inherit the crown of Sparta*

After the miscarriage of the Athenians in Sicily, the people of
Chios, of Lesbos, and Cyzicum, sent to treat with the Spartans about
quitting the interests of Athens, and putting themselves under the
protection of Sparta. The Boeotians, on this occasion, solicited for
the Lesbians, and Pharnabazus for the people of Cyzicum, but, at the
persuasion of Alcibiades, succours, were sent to those of Chios before
all others. He likewise passed over into Ionia, and prevailed with
almost all that country to revolt, and attending the Lacedaemonian
generals in the execution of most of their commissions, he did great
prejudice to the Athenians.

But Agis, who was already his enemy on acount of the injury done
to his bed, could not endure his glory and prosperity, for most of the
present successes were ascribed to Alcibiades. The great and the
ambitious among the Spaitans were indeed, in general, touched with
envy, and had influence enough with the civil magistrates to procure
orders to be sent to their friends in Ionia to kill him. But timely
foreseeing his danger, and cautioned by his fears, in every step he
took he still served the Lacedaemonians, taking care all the while not
to put himself in their power. Instead of that, he sought the pro-
tection of Tissaphernes, one of the grandees of Persia, or lieutenants
of the king. With this Persian he soon attained the highest credit
and authority; for himself, a very subtle and insincere man, he ad-
mired the art and keenness of Alcibiades. Indeed, by the elegance
of bis conversation, and the charms of his politeness, every man was
gained, all hearts were touched. Even those that feared and envied
him were not insensible to pleasure in his company; and, while they
enjoyed it, their resentment was disarmed. Tissaphernes, in all other
cases savage in his temper, and the bitterest enemy that Greece ex-
perienced among the Persians, gave himself up, notwithstanding, to
the flatteries of Alcibiades, insomuch that he even vied with and ex-
ceeded him in address. For of all his gardens, that which excelled

Vou 1. No. 14. YY

PLUTARCH S LIVES.

ID beauty, ivliit;li was remarkable for the salubrity of Us streams and
thefrcsjiites^iof Us meadows, wlilcli wassct oif n-ith pavilioas uysllf
a,doriicd, and rctireiuents tJiiislied in tlie most elegant taste, Ik di»-
tia,gui$hei] by tke iiaiiie oS Aldltiadcs ; and every ooe conliiiucd w
give it tliat appullalion.

Rtijectiug, tlieri'fure, tlie interests of Lacedtemon, a«df«wriag thtt
people as trcachttrous to him, he represented tbein, and tlieir kii^
Agis, in a disadvantageous light to Tissapbcrnes. He advist'd him
not to assist tbeai oifoetuallyi uor absolutely tu ruin the Atbeaiaiu,
but to send his subsidies to Sparta witli a sparing liaitd; that so the
two pcwvers might insensibly weakeii and consume each other, aod
botli at last be easily subjected to the kiug. Tissapbcrnes rcadilf
blloned his counsels, aud it was evident to all the world that he held
iiim in die greatest adnjjratioii and esteem i wliieh tnade him equaltf
considerable with the Greeks of both parties. The Acbenians re-
pented of the sentence tliey had p:issed u]K>n bin}, because they hal
suffered for it siuee; and Alciliiades, on his side, was under ivmt
fear and concern, lest, tf tlieir republic was destroyed, he should Wl
into ihe hands of the I^cedjemooJans, who hated hita.

At that time the whole strength of tlie Athenians layaLSania.
With their ships sent out from thence, tlicy recovered some of tiir
towns which liad fevolted, and others they kept to their duty; ind
at sea they were in some tneasuie able to make head agaioat dtir
enemies. lluttUey were afraid of Tissaptierues, and the PlioeDidu
fleet of a hundred and fifty shijis, which were said to be cumio;
against them ; for against such a force they could Dot hope to deliEDd
themselves. Aleibiades, apprised of this, privately sent a tnenei^
tothe princijml Athenians at Samos, to give tiiein hojws tiiat be wmU
procure tbein the friendship of Tissaphernes; not to recomBCsd
iiitnself to (he people, whom he eould not trust, but to oblige At
Dfibility, if they would but exert their superiority, repress the ioto-
leiice of the cummoualty, and, taklug the govenuaent into llieirom
handv, by ihut meuns save ihetr eouulcy.

All the oiScers readily embraced his proposal, except Phrynicas,
who was of the ward of Dirades. He alone suspected what <nt
really thf case, that it was a matter of very little consctjueoce toAl-
cibiades whethcranoligarehy ordeniocraey prevailed in Athens; tbii
it was bis business to get himself recalled by any means wbaiertT;
and that tlieiefore, by (lis invectives against the people, he wanted
only to iusiiMiate himself into the good graces of llic DobilUy. Upon
these reasons proceeded the opposition of t'hrjnicUuB; but uring
bis opinion disregarded, and (hat Al<:ibiad(.^s must i i lUiiiilji liililiM
bib eiieiuy, he gave liei'iei intelligcDoe to Aflyucbus, tfae amsKfi

Ai-funiDDfi. 3Sfi

admiral, uf the doable pnrt wliicli Alcibimles atrted, iidvNing tiim to
beware of liis designs, and to s;-curc liis person, Bwii*; kii*w noC
ihai, while he was betraying, be was liimselt betraytd! for Anityu-
chin, wanting to make his court to Ussuplieruts, inroriited Alcibiadt^s
of the afRiir, who, Up koew, bad tlie ear uf tbnt griimicp.

Alclbindes intmediately sent iiroper jiersons to Samos, \v1lli an nc-
cusatioR against Phrynichus ; who, seeing no other resouree, iw ercry
body was ne;ainst liim, and eKprcsscd great indignation at his bfhtt^
viour, attempted to cure one evil with another Mid a grenlcr ! for he
jient to Astyochus to compbin of his revealing- his sceu't, and to offer
to deliver up to him the whole Atlieniaii fket mtA nrmy: Thi:t trea-^
son of Phrynichus, however, did no injury to the Atlrctiixns, bccnu.te
it was again betrayed by Astyocbus; for lie Uyvtl tlie whole niatter
before Alcibiades. Phrynichus bud the sagacity to foresci; anJ ex-
pect another accusation from Alcibiudes, niid, to he heforchuiid witli
him, he liimself forewarned the Athenians, thor the enemy would en-
deavour to surprise tbem, and liierefore desired tbcrn lO be upon
tiieir guaril, to keep on brard their ships, and to fortify ilieir camp.

While the Athenians were doing this, letters came from Alcibi-
ades again, advising them to beware of Pbr)-nicbus, who had under-
taken to betray their fleet to the enemy; but tlwy gave no credit to
tlicsc dispatches, supposing that Alcibiudea, who perfectly knew the
preittt rat ions and intentions of thc.enemy, ahnseil thut' knowledge tt»
ilic raising of such a calumny against I'lirynielius Yet afterwards,
when Phrynichus was stabbed in full a-i^embly by one of Herman's
soldiers who kept guard iliai dxy, the Athenians, titkiiig i-o^nizance
(if the matter after bis death, eundenined Phryniehtis »s guiliy of
treason, and ordered Hermon and his purty to be crouiied for (lis
}iatcliin^ a traitor.

The frieuds of Ak-^biailes, who now had a sunfcrior interest at Sa-
mos, sent Plsander to Athens to change the form of govcrnniciit, by
eitcouraging the nobiUty to assume it, and to dc[>rive the people of
their ])Owcrand privileges, as' ihe condiiiun upon which AlciUndes
would procure tbem the friendship anJ alliaiite of Tissapherncs.
'I'bis was tiie colour of the pretence made use of by those who wiimed
to introduce a u oligarchy. But w ben that body wbii-Ii were called
the Jive Ihouttmil, but in fact were only_^o«r himtlrcd^, had got the

* It Km at fi»l iiruiioicil ihil aiil;> lire ilrugt of tlic peojJe tl.outd luia tlieir 1111110-
r\\}, whicli itiuli> he veitcj in tut IIiouhhiI ofllie nioil weBltlij, who were lur llii: fu-
tnri' 10 be itpntrd Ike pt'0|iIo. Hut wlicii I'luuitn nurl tin jiuRinici fouiiil ilic iircU|[iti
of tbeit pailjj Ibrjr cimtil il ll»t Iht; a!d furm dI* gmciiiinmi (lionltl be diluijied, u»t

vl' Uw bUBilied abauld cUawc thicej iLnl Uie tuui liuudicd tbui elected ttiuuld bucuui*

I

356 PLtTARCH's LIVES.

power into ihcir liands, they paid but little attention to AlcibUdes,
and carried on tlic war but slowly; partly distrusting the citizens,
who did not yet relish the new form of government, and partly hop-
ing that the Lucediemouians, who were always inclined to favour aa
oligarcliy, would not press lliera with their usual vigour.

Such of the commonalty as were at home were silent through fwr,
though much against their will ; for a number of those who bail
openly opposed the four hundred were put to death. But when they
that were at Samos were informed of the affair, they were highly in-
censed at it, and inclined Immediately to set sail for the Pircus. hi
the first place, however, they sent for Alcibiades, and having ip-
pointed him their general, ordered him to lead them against the ty-
rants, and demolish both them and their power. On such an oca-
sion, almost any other man, suddenly exalted by the favour of the
multitude, would have thought he must have complied with all the"
humours, and not have contradicted those in any thing, who, frtMni
fugitive and a banished man, had raised htm to be cotamandct-iB-
chief of such a fleet and army. But he heliavcd as became a |t*
general, and prevented their plunging into error through the «oIct«
of their rage. This care of his evidently was the saving of the
commonwealth: for if they had sailed home, as they promised, iIk
enemy would have seized on lonia Immediately, and have gained tk
Hellespont and the islands without striking a stroke ; while theAdv
nians would have been engaged in acIvilVar, of which Athens klrf
must have been the seat. All this was prevented chiefly byAkA^
ades, who not only tried what arguments would do with the afiif ■
general, and Informed them of their dunger, but applied to tbesf
by one, using entreaties to some, and force to others; in triiich W
was assisted by the loud harangues of Tbmsybulits, of the witdc'
Stira, who attended liim through the whole, and had the itrM^
voice of any man among the Athenians.

Another great ser^-ice performed by Alcibiades was his UDdendsi^
that the Phoenician fleet, which the Lace ds mo n ions expected ftn
the king of Persia, should cither join the Athenians, or at kad M
act on the enemy's side. In consequence of this promise lieiet<«'
as expeditiously as possible, and pre^'ailed upon 'Ussaplienies not *
forward the ships, wlilcli were already cottie as far as Aspcndos, bC
to disappoint and deceive the Lacedwmonlaiis, Nevertheless, bo(k
sides, and particularly the Lacediemonians, accused Alcibiade 'i
hiudering that fleet from coming to their aid; for they suppose*) ^
had instructed the Persians to leave the Greeks to destroy eftch utbrt-

■ tenite with lupreme |Kiwtr, and itiuulil cgusult ihc itt tbouMaJ oaJ; abM mk •
■ucti miltcti u tlie; thougbl Gl.

ALCIBIAD£S. 35/

And, indeed, it was obviovis enough that such a force added to
either side would entirely liave deprived the other of the dominion
of the sea*

After this, the four hundred were soon quashed*, the friends of
Alcibiades very readily assisting those who were for a democracy.
And now the people in the city not only wished for him, but com-
manded hira to return ; yet he thought it not best to return with
empty hands, or without having effected something worthy of note;
but, instead of being indebted to the compassion and favour of the
multitude, to distinguish his appearance by his merit. Parting,
therefore, from Samos with a few ships, he cruised on the sea of
Cnidus and about the isle of Coos, where he got intelligence that
Mind^rus, the Spartan admiral, was sailed with his whole fleet to-
wards the Hellespont to find out the Athenians. This made him
hasten to the assistance of the latter, and fortunately enough he ar-
rived with his eighteen ships at the very juncture of time when the
two fleets, having engaged near Abydos, continued the fight from
morning until night, one side l\aving advantage in the right wing, and
the other on the leftf.

On the apperance of his squadron, both sides entertained a false
opioioD of the end of his coming; for the Spartans were encouraged,
and the Athenians struck with terror. But he soon hoisted the
Athenian flag on the admiral galley, and bore down directly upon
the Peloponnesians, who now had the advantage, and were urging
the pursuit. His vigorous impression put them to flighty and, fol-
lowing them close, he drove them ashore, destroying their ships, and
killed such of their men as endeavoured to save themselves by swim-
ming; though Pharnabazus succoured them all he could from the
shore, and with an armed force attempted to save their vessels. The
cronclusion was, that the Athenians, having taken thirty of the ene-
my's ships, and recovered their own, erected a trophy.

Afiter this glorious success, Alcibiades, ambitious to show himself
as soon as possible to Tissaphemes, prepared presents and other pro-
per acknowledgments for his friendship and hospitality, and tbea
went to wait upon him with ajirincely train. But he was not wel-
comed in the manner he expected ; for Tissaphemes, who, for some
time, had been accused by the Lacedaemonians, and was appreben-

* Tbe MBe jear that that tliej were set op, wbicb was the •ccood of the niiietjr««eeMi4
Oija^MMi. The reader niist carefolij dittioguj»b that laction of Umi hondrcd froMi tU
■eoate of foor haodrcd rttiMith^ bjr Solon, whkb Ihcac tamed o«a lUlcw aMPOthsthc/

were in power.

t Tbucjdidca does not ipeah ofthk amval of Alcibiadct; hat prohahljr he did Mi
liv« to bnve n €i€mr aocovnt of tfab action, ibr he died this yatir. Xtmuphtm, who
tinucd bia hiatorf^

.1!iS

I'l.UTARCII S I,ITE?.

•fve ihm llic tharire miglit reach the king's ear, thouglit the coming
of Alcibindes a very scu.soiinbic iiK'i(li:nt,Rnd iliercfore put bim undw
■rrest, and confined him at Sarrlis, imagining tiiat iiijarious proceed-
iDg would be a means to clear hirnielf.

Thirty days after, Alribiadcs, having by same meaiis or olkei ob-
fsincd a horse, escaped from his keepers, and fled to Clazomeme;
and, by way of revenge, he pretended tliat Tissaphf mcs privately set
tiim at liberty. From llicnce he passed to the place wherethc Athc-
ntiins were stationed; and being informed that Mindarus Knd Ptai-
nabazus were together at Cyzicnm, he showed the troops that it «-»
necessary for them to figlii both by sea and land, nay, even to fight
with stone walls, if iliat should be rec]uircd, in order to come at ifaeir
enemies; for, if the victory were not complete and yniveraal, th«j
coitld come at no money. Tlien he embarked the forces, and KulH
to Proconesn?', where lie ordered them to take the lighter vessels inn
the middle of the fleet, and to have a particular care that the cncmv
might not discos-er that lie was coining against them. A great inl
sudden rain which hiippcned to iidi at that time, together with dremf-
All thunder and darkness, was of great service in covering liis Dpen-
tions ; for nni only the iiiemy were ignorant of his design, but llie
Tcry Aihcntans, whom lie had ordered in great halite o« board, iM
not presently perceive that liewasundcrsail. Soon after thcwcalkci
cleared up, and the Pcloponneslun ships were seen riding at aacbor
in the road of Cjieicuni. Lest, thcrtlore, the enemy should bt
alarmed ai the Inrs^i nets of his fleet, and save themselves by gettog
oiv shore, he directed many of the oHiccrs to slacken sail, am) ketp
eat of sight, whilv he showed himself with forty ships only, anJ
ehallangt.'d the LficedfemoniaLs to the comluit. The stratagem bid
tiseffeirl} for, despising the smalt number of galleys which ihcy sw,
llvey immediately weighed anchor, and t;ngaged; Wt the rest of the
Athenian ships coming up during tiie engagement, the Lwedwui^

nians were struck with terror, and fled l'>pon that, Aleibiades,<ni!i

twenty of his best ships, breaking through the midst of them, tnutnf
ed to the shore, and, having ntade a descent, pursued those ibat M
front their ships, and killed great numbers of them. He likeirat
defeated Klindarus and I'hamabazus, who cnme to their suecuur.
Mindarus made a brave resistance, and was slain; but Pliaraabam
saved himself by flight.

The .\thenians remained - masters of the field, and of the sp(»l«>
and took uU the enemy's ships. Having also possessed thcmselv«<:<
Cyzicum, which was abandoned by IMiarnaha/iis, and dcptivcdufih'
assistance of the Peloponncsians, who were almost uU cut off, titry
sot only secured ilie Hellespont, but entirely cleared the sea of dM

I iHtcrfepted, whidi, in tlic I«-

II account (if tlioir uiisfwHiHc
aiu; uur ^luldii'l's are stnmi>g;

Laccdcemonians. The letter was ulsi
conic style, was to give the Ep/iori hi
*' Our glory is faded; Mindarus is si:
ami we know not what sttp to take"

On the other ItanO, Alcibiadcs's men were so elated, and took mt
niueh upon them, because they luid always been victoi ious, that they
would not even \-ouchsafe to mix wiili other troops thut had beta
sometimes beaten. Il happened not long ■ before, that Thrasyllus
having miscarried in his attempt uiMin Ephesus, the Ephesians erect-
ed N trophy of brass in reproach of the Athenians*. The soldiers of
Alcibimles, therefn'e, upbraided those o( Thrasyllus tvith this itfKiir,
magnifying thunseUes and their general, and disdaining to join the
the others, either iu the placu of cxerciso or in the euinp. Hut soou
after, when Pbatnabazus,. with a irtron^ body of horse and foot, ut-
taeked theforees of Tiirasyllus, who were ravaging tlte country round
Abydos, Akibiiides lunrched to their assistance, routed the enemy,
and, togetlier with Tlirasylhis, pnrsued them until night, llien ad-
mitting Thrasyllus into lijs company, and w;th mutual eivilities and
Sittisfaction, tliey returned to the camp. Next day he civctcd a tro-
phy, and plundered the province which was under I'hamabar.ns,
without the least opposition. The priests and priestesses he made
prisoners' amon;^ the rest, but soon dismissed them without ransom.
From thence he intended to proceed and lay siege to Ciinlcedon,
which had withdrawn its itllegiuucc from the Atheniaifs, and received
a Laccduimonian garrison niid governor; hut being informed that
the Cli»let:doniBns had collcetcU their eultle and corn, and sent it all
to the Bithynians, their fnetids, he led his army to the frontier oTHk
Krthyniuns, and sent a herald before him to summon them to surren-
der it. They, dreading hJs resentment, gave up the booty, and en-
tered into an aUiance with him.

Afterwards he returned to the siege of Chiileedon, and enclosed it
with a wall which reiiched from sea to sea. I'Imrnfibazus advanced
to ruise the stegc, and tli[)pocrates, the governor, rallied out with his
whole furce to attack the Athenians, liut Ateibiudes diew up hia
army so as to engage them both at nine, and he defeated ihcm
Loth: Pharuabnzus betaking himself to flight, uud Hippocrates being
kilfed* together with the greatest I art of his troops 'Iliis done, he
sailed into the Hellespont to raine contributions in the towns upoM
llie coast.

'In lhi9\-o}-age he took Selybriu; but in the action uuneccssaril/

■ Tiophici licfoi

pcluatg tlic inUiu; of The Allii

_ ,«llh obuJi AlcitM»dei'iMld>«r

urouu'l, b

I ilio £p1iciiiiU) arcMi'd Ihii of htat, ru per*
il wm lint new tnd monirjiui ciicuiDiliuic*
1 ttinte of Thri'jriltii. D:»4er. lib. liii.

s6o

PLCTARCH 9 LIVXS.

1

m

^^^^^^M exposed himself lo ^rc at danger. The persons who prooiised tosur-
^^^^^^^B^ render the town to him, agreed to give him a signal at midiiiglit with
^^^^^^K^ a liglited toreh ; hut ihcy were obliged to do it before the tiine, for
^^^^^H fear of somt; one that was in ilie secret, who suddenly altered lui
^^^^^^H mind. The torch, therefore, being held up before the araiT wai
^^^^^^ ready, Alcibiades took al»out thirty men with him, and ran lo ibe
^V . ivalls, having ordered the rest to follow as fast as possible. ThegaW

^K was opened lo him, and tweuiy of the eon&pirntors, lightly anncd,

^^b joining his small company, he advanced with great spirit, but soon ptf-

^^M ceived the Selybrians, with their weapons in their hands, coming for-

^^L ward to attack him. As to stand and fight promised no sort of soc-

^^^^^^H cess, and he who to that hour had never been defeated did notcbooK
^^^^^^^B^ to fly, he ordered a trumpet to command silence, and proclamatkn
^^^^^^^r to be made, that the Selybrians should not, under the pain of the re-
public's high displeasure, /fiA? Mp ar/ns n^'flinj? the Athenians. Their
inclination to the combat tvas then immediately damped, partly froo
a supposition that tlic whole Athenian army was u-itliin the walls,
and partly from the hopes they conceived of coming to tolerable tentu.
Whilst they were talking together of this order, the Athenba army
came up, and Alcibiades, rightly conjecturing that the inclinatinil
of the Selybnaiis were for peace, was afraid of giving the TlinciiM
^D opportunity to plunder the town. These last came down iofnit
numbers to serve under him as volunteers, from a particular attad-
ment to his person; but, on this occasion, he sent them all out of
the town ; and, upon the submission of the Selybrians, be und
them from being pillaged, demanding only a sum of money, lui
leaving a garrison in the place. •

Mean time, the other generals, who canied on the siege of Ctal-
ee(|on, came to an agreement with Pharoabazus on these condiiko;
namely, tliat a sum of money should be paid them by Phamabass;
that the Chidcedonians should return to their allegiance to the Tt-
public of Athens; and that no injury should be done the province of
which Pharnaba^cus was governor, who undertook that the Atheoiu
ambassadors should be conducted safe to the king. Upon the rcmra
of Alcibiudes, Pharnabazus desired that he too would swear tn tht
performance of the articles; but Alcibiades insisted that PbatoalM*
zus should swear first. When this treaty was reciprocally confiniKd
with an oath, Alcibiades went against Byzantium, which had rercli-
ed, and drew a line of circumvallation about the citv. Wliile he M
thus employed, Anaxilaus, Lyeurgus, and some others, secretly |M»-
mised to deliver up the place, on condition that he would keephfttB
being plundered. Hereupon he caused it to be reported, tbUCO^
tain weighty and unexpected aSkirs called him back ta lonta, udil

ALCIBIADES. SSl

the day-time he set sail with hb whole fleet: but returniDg at uigjit^
he himself disembarked with the land-forces, and posting them under
the walls, he commanded them not to ipake the le^st noise. At the
same time the ships made for the harbour, and the crews pressing ifi
with loud shouts and great tumult, astonished the Py^antines, who
expected no such matter. Thus an opportunity was given to those
within the walls, who favoured the Athenians, to receive them ip
great security, while every body's attention was engaged upon th^e
harbour and ships.

The affair passed not, however, without blows. For the Pelopon-
ncsians, Boeotians, and Megarensians, who were at Byzantium, hav-
ing driven the ships' crews back to their vessels, and perceiving that
the Athenian land-forces were got into the town, charged them too
with vigour. The dispute was sharp, and tlie shock great, but victo-
ry declared for Alcibiades and Theramenes. The former of these
generals commanded the right wing, and the latter the left. Aboujt
three hundred of the enemy, who survived, were taken prisoners.^
Not one of the Byzantines, after the battle, was either put to death
or banished; for such were the terms on which the town was given
Mp, that the citizens should be safe in their persons and their goods.

Hence it was, that when Anaxilaus was tried at Lacedoemon for
treason, he made a defence which reflected no disgrace upon his past
behaviour; for lie told them, " That not being a Lacedaemonian, bur
a Byzantine, and seeing not Lacedfiemon but Byzantium in danger^
its communication with those that might have relieved it stopped,
^nd the Peloponnesians and Boeotians eating up the pro\isions
that were left, while the Byzantines, with their wives and children,
were starving, he had not betrayed the town to an enemy, but deK-
vered it from calamity and war; lierein imitating the woithicst men
among the Lacedaemonians, who had no other rule of justice and ho-
nour, but by all possible means to serve their country." The Lace-
demonians were so much pleased with this speech, that they acquit-
ted him, and all that were concerned with him.

Alcibiades, by this time desirous to see his native country, and still
more desirous to be seen by his countiymen, after so many glorious
victories, set sail with the Athenian fleet, adorned with many shieldf
and other spoils of the enemy; a great many ships that he had takeu
making up the rear, and the flags of many more which he Imd dt^-
stroyed being carried in triumph; for all of them together were i*ot
fewer than two hundred. Bui as to what is added by Duris tlw» h|^-
mian, who boasts of his being descended from Alcibiadeu, th^i ili^
oars kept time to the flute of Chrysogonus, who liad been vi« iv»>/^
in the Pythian games; that Callipides the tragedian, mk^ ^ ^

VOJL. \. No. U. 221

S62 Plutarch's lives.

buskins, magnificent robes, and other theatrical ornaments, gave or-
ders to those who laboured at the oars; and that the admiral galley
entered the harbour with a purple sail ; as if the whole had been a
company who had proceeded from a debauch to such a frolic ; these
are particulars not mentioned either by Theopompos, Ephorous, or
Xenophon. Nor is it probable that, at his return from exile, and af-
ter such misfortunes as lie had suffered, he would insult the Atheni-
ans in that manner. So far from it, that he approached the shore
with some fear and caution ; nor did he venture to disembark until,
as he stood upon the deck, he saw his cousin Eurytolemus, with ma-
ny others of his friends and relations, coming to receive and invite
him to land.

When he was landed, the multitude that came out to meet him
did not vouchsafe so much as to look upon the other generals, but,
crowding up to him, hailed him with shouts of joy, conducted him
on the way, and such as could approach him crowned him with gar-
lands; while those who could not come up so close viewed him at a
distance, and the old men pointed him out to the young.....MaDy
tears were mixed with public joy, and the memory of past misfor*
tunes with the sense of their present success. For they concluded|p
that they should not have miscarried in Sicilly, or indeed have fiul-
ed in any of their expectations, if they had left the direction of aflairs,
and the command of the forces, to Alcibiades; since now, having ex-
erted himself in behalf of Athens, when it had almost lost its domi-
nion of the sea, was hardly able to defend its own suburbs, and was
moreover harassed with intestine broils, he had raised it from that
low and ruinous condition, so as not only to restore its maritime
power, but to render it victorious every where by land.

The act for recalling him from banishment had been fmssed at the
motion of Critias, the son of Calheschrus^, as appears from his ele-
gies, in which he puts Alcibiades in mind of his service :

If you no more in hapless exUe mourn«
The praiae is mine

The people presently meeting in full assembly, Alcibiades came
in among them, and having in a pathetic manner bewailed his mb-
fortuncs, he very modcjitly complained of their treatment, ascribing
all to his hard fortune, and the influence of some envious demon.—,

* Thit Critias was uncle to Plato's mother^ and the same that he introduceA in his di-
iUogui't. Tliuugh now the Iriend of Alcibiades, jet, as the lust of pow«r destrovs al
tics, wfica one of the tliiriy tjrauta, he became his hitler enemy ; and sendiug to Ly.
der, assured him that Athens would never be quiet, or Sparta safe, until Alcibiades
di;»trojcd. Critias was afterwards slain by Tliryaabulus^ when be delivered A^bau (nm
tiiAtiyrannj.

ALCIBIADBS. 3^3

mmi*m

He then proceeded to discourse of the hopes and designs of their ene^*
mies, against whom he used his utmost endeavours to animate them.
And they were so much pleased with his harangue, that they crown-
ed him with crowns of gold, and gave him the absolute command of
their forces both by sea and land. They likewise made a decree, tiiat
his estate should be restored to him, and that the Eumolpidse and he
heralds should take off the execrations which they had pronounced
lagainst him by order of the people. Whilst the rest were employed
in expiations for this purpose, Theodorus the high-priest said, '^ For
his part, he had never denounced any curse against him, if he had
done no injury to the commonwealth.^'

Amidst this glory and prosperity of Alcibiades, some people were
still uneasy, looking upon the time of his arrival as ominous. For
on that very day was kept the plynteria* ^ or purifying of the goddess
Minerva. It was the twenty-fifth of May, when the praxiergidai
perform those ceremonies which are not to be revealed, disrobing
the image, and covering it up. Hence it is, that the Athenians of
all days, reckon this the most unlucky, and take the greatest care not
to business upon it. And it seemed that the goddess did not receive
him graciously, but rather with aversion, since she hid her face from
from him. Notwithstanding all this, every thing succeeded to his
wish ; three hundred galleys were manned, and ready to put to sea
again; but a laudable zeal detained him till the celebration of the
mysteries f. For, after the Lacedemonians had fortified Decelea,
which commaded tlie roads to Eleusis, the feast was not kept with
its usual pomp, because they were obliged to conduct the procession
by sea; the sacrifices, the sacred dances, and other ceremonies which
had been performed on the way, called holy, while the image of Bac-
chus was carried in procession, being on that account necessalily o-
mitted. Alcibiades judged, therefore, that it would be an act condu-
cive to the honour of the gods, and to his reputation with men, to
restore those rites to their due solemnity, b/ conducting the proces-
sion with his army, and guarding it against the enemy. By that
means, either king Agis would be humbled if he suffered it to pass
unmolested; or, if he attacked the convoy, Alcibiades would have a
fight to maintain in the cause of piety and religion, for the most ve-

* On that day when the statue of Minerva was washcdj the templci were encompas*
•ed with a cord, tu denote that tliey were shut up, as was customary on aJi inauspicious
days. They carried dried figs in procession, because that was (he first fruit which wai
eaten after acorns.

t The festival of Ceres and Proserpine continued nine days. On the sisth day they
carried in procession to Eleusii the sutue of Bacchus^ whom tliey sopposed to be th«
#oi) of Jupiter and Ccces.

•t

364 PLUTAKCH's UtES.

■ • - - - •• ::^^ig!±r^r^S^^' — ■

nerabic of its mysteries, in the sight of his country; and all his fel-
low-citizens would be witnesses of his valour.

When he had determined upon this, and communicated his design
to the Eumolpida; and the heralds, he placed sentinels upon the
eminences, and set out his advanced guard as soon as it was light.
Next he took the priests, the persons initiated, and those who bad
the charge of initiating others, and, covering them with his forces,
led them on in great order and profound silence; exhibiting id that
inarch a spectacle so august and venerable, that those who did not
envy him declared he had performed not only the office of a general,
but of a high-priest : not a man of the enemy dared to attack him^
and he conducted the procession back in great safety; which both
exalted him in his own thoughts, and gave the soldiery such mk
opinion of him, that they considered themsielves as invincible while
under his command. And he gained such an influence over the
mean and indigent part of the people, that they were passionatdj
desirous to see him invested with absolute power; insomuch that
some of them applied to liim in person, and ejihorted him, in ordir
to quash the malignity of envy at once, to abolish the privileges of
the people and the laws, and to quell those busy spirits who w<told
otherwise be the r»iin of the state ; for then he might direct aflairs^
and proceed to action, without fear of groundless impeachments.

What opinion he himself had of this proposal we know not ; but
this is certain, that the principal citizens were so apprehensive of hit
aiming at arbitrary power, tliat they got him to embark as soon ai
possible; and the more to expedite the matter, they Ordered, amottj^
other things, that he should have the choice of his colleagues. Put-
ting to sea, therefore, with a fleet of a hundred ships, he sailed to
the isle of Andros, where he fought and defeated the Andriahs, and
such of the Lacedaemonians as assisted them. But yet he did not
take the city, which gave his enemies the first occasion for the charge
which they are afterwards brought against him. Indeed, if ever man
was ruined by a high distinction of character, it was Alcibiades*.
For his continual successes had procured sach an opinion of his
courage and capacity, that when afterwards he happened to fail in
what he undertook, it was suspected to be from want of inclinatioB,
and no one would believe it was from want of ability; they thought
nothing too bard for him, when he pleased to exert himself. They

* It was not altogether the universality of his saccess that rendered Alcibiades su^
pected, when he came short of public expectation. The daplicitj of bis character b
obvious from the whole account of his life. He paid not the least regard to Tcracitjin
political matters; and it is not to be wondered if such principles made Lim conUDnaUj
obaoxioos to the suspicion of the people.

ALCIBIADE9. 3^9

hoped also to hear that Chios was taken, and all Ionia reduced, and
grew impatient ^hen every thing was not dispatched as suddenly as
they desired. They never considered the smallness of his supplies,
and that, having to carry on the war against people who were fur-
nished out of the treasury of a great king, he was often laid under
the necessity of leaving his camp to go in search of money and pro-
visions for his men.

This it was tliat gave rise to the last accusation against him.
Lysander, the Lacedemonian admiral, out of. the money he received
from Cyrus, raised the wages of each marin^JFrom three oboli a-day
to four, whereas it was with difficulty that Alcibiades paid his men
three. The latter, therefore, went into Caria to raise money, leav-
ing the fleet in charge with Antiochus*, who was an experienced

%eattian, but rash and inconsiderate. ^Though he had express orders

from Alcibiades to let no provocation from the enemy bring him
to hatatd an engagement, yet, in his contempt of those orders, hav-
ing taken some troops on board his own galley and one more, b^
stood fot Ephesus, where the enemy lay, and as he sailed by the
fiieads of their ships, insulted them in the most insufferable manner
both by words and actions. Lysander sent out a few ships to pursue
)iim; but as the whole Athenian fleet came up to assist Antiochus,
lie drew out the rest of his, and gave battle, and gained a complete
Victory. He slew Antiochus himself, took many ships and m^n,
Hnd erected a trophy. Upon this disagreeable news, Alcibiades re-
tamed to Samos, from whence he moved with the whole fleet to offer
Lysander battle. But Lysander, content with the advantage he had
jgained, did not think proper to accept it.

Among the enemies which Alcibiades had in the army, Thrasy-
^tilUs, the son of Thrason, being the most determined, quitted the
eamp, and went to Athens to impeach him. To incense the people
iftgainst him, he declared, in full assembly, that Alcibiades had been
the ruin of their, affairs, and the means of losing their ships, by hi%
insolent and imprudent behaviour in command, and by leaving the
Erection of every thing to persons who had got into credit with him
through the great merit of drinking deep, and cracking seamen')
jokes; whilst he was securely traversing the provinces to raise mo-
Bcy, indulging his love of liquor, or abandoning himself to his plea-
sures with the courtezans Of Ionia and Abydos: and this at a timift
when the enemy were stationed at a small distance from his fleet.
It was also objected to him, that he bad built a castle in Thrace^
near the city of Bisanthe, to be made use of as a retreat for himself^
as if -he either could not or would not live any longer in his owa

* Tbif WM he who Cftught the quail for him.

»€G

PLLTABCMS UVES.

cmmuy. The Athenians giving »r to these accusations, to shov
their resentment aiid dislike to bim, appointed new cocBiDaiidas of
their forces".

Alcibiodes was no sooner infonned of it than, cogsultiag hit own
nfety, be entirely quitted tbe Athenian annj. And haviDg coltei-lcd
a band of strangers, he made war on bi5 own account against tknw
Thracinns vho acknowledged no king. The booty he made ikB(4
liiio great sums; and, at the same time, be defended tbe Gnctin
bontier ^niost the bafbarians.

Tjdeuf , Meoaiiderj nod Adimanthus, the new-made geoenb, be-
ing DOW at £g(>s Potamost with all ibe »hips which the AlbeiwB
lad left, usvd (o stand out eail^ every morning aod offer banku
Lfsander, whose station was at Lani|eacus, and tbeo to reiun ani
yaas the day In a disorderly aud careless sMnner, as if (hey despbcd
their adTcrsaiy. This seemed to Alcibiadcs, who was in the oaA'
loarhood, a matter not to he passed over witboot nodcc. HetlK»> 1
fbre went and told the gtneralsl, *' He thought their stalioo br m '
means safe in a place where there was neither ton-a nor harWr;
that it was very incnnreaient lo have their provisions and stores fna
so disunt a place as Sestos; and extremely dangerous to Id dm
seamen go ashore, and wander about at their pleasure, wlubt a Int |
was observing them, which was under the orders of one man, andtk I
Btrictesi discipline imaginable. He therefore advised them to tt-
move their station to Sestos."

The generals, however, gave no uttcnlion to what he mi, ■
Tydeus was so insolent as even to bid him begone, for that ibcyi ■
he, were now to give orders. Alcibiades, suspecting that there «» |
some treachery in the ease, retired, telling his acquaintance, «k> I
conducted him out of ihe cantp, that if be had not been itualttda
such an insupiKiriahlu munner by the generals, he woold io a Jnr I
days have obliged the Laccdsnioniaus, however unwilling, dllM
come to an action at sea, or else to quit their shi|«. This Ism
appearctl a vain bunsi; to others it seemed not at all iniprokiblr,
aincc he might have brought down a number of Traciau oichcn «
cavalry to attack and harass the Lacedaemonian camji$.

i Pluivcli piM" O'tr •linoM iht^ Jttn\ imimIit, the 1«taty-fiflfa M IW Mfa

ilie TntDtj-fiiih, in itliich il» Ailmuuu obtiinrd the Tictarr m Ai^if^

ui<lfiBl>l>oril» tcngmeioliloilcmth, Dpno a il>|ht Mcoiaiinn of their oUlr^M Ilr

fiiMDCii ■□(! alniaM the ohelr EnBlj-WTtnth, iDonrdtlbceud nt aliirh tb* AtM^rt

lulcd ID JiL.pl* PucinKH, iibcic ll:r J naitti t)w btvo ilut l> (pskai uf n ib fta*

• The nificcn ■! Ili< hrad of thr Gncian ■rain uid nivj *■ auMiuao c^dl (twA

» nlnmJi, btciutc ihc; csmnonl; conimandrd both bj tr* and ha4.
f \Vh<n « flcrt rcmuticd totuc lioe •) oat puticnlii ttstioa, then >■■ foaaOl*
Vidjr of Und-foicCT, aiiil [Mtl eflh* tuuincn tpo, CDbaiapad vfn tb< tktn.

\

The event soon showed that lie judged riglit of the errors wlilch
tlie Atlieniaos had cominiHed. For Lysiimlcr faUrng upon them
when they least expected it, eight galleys only csc-apeil", along with
Conon; il>c rest, not nitich short uf two hondred, were taltcn and
carried away, together with three thousand prisoners, who were af-
terwards put to death. And within a short time after Lysandcr look
Athens itself, burnt the shipping, and demolished the lung walls.

Alcibiades, ' olarnied at this successor the Laeedtemoiiians, wlio
were now masters both at sea and land, retiicd into Bithynis. Thi-
ther he ordered much treasure to be sent, aihl took large sums with
him, but slill left more behind in the caslle where lie had resided.
In Biihynia he once more lost great part of his substance, being
Btript by theThracians there, which determined him to go to Artax-
erxes, and etitrcal his proteetinn He imagined that the king, up-
on trial, would lind him no less serviceable than Themistocles had
been, and he had a better pretence to his jwtronagc ; for he was not
going to solicit the king's aid against his countrymen, as Themisto-
cles had done, but for his country ngainst its worst enemies. He
concluded that Pharnabazus was most likely to procure him a safe
conduct, and therefore went to him in Phrygia, where he stayed some
time making his court, and reeeiving marks of respect.

It was a grief to the Athenians to he depi ived of their power atid
doDiinion; but when Lysandcr robbed tliem also of their liberty, and
put their city under the authority of thirty chiefs, tiicy wert still
more miserably afflicted. Now their afBtirs were ruined, ihey per-
ceived with regret the measures ivhich ^vould have saved them, and
which they had neglected lo make use of; now they iitkn owl edged
their blindness and errors, and looked upon their seiond quarrel with
Aleibiadcs as the greatest of those errors. They hud cast him off
without anyufience t^his: their anger had heen grounded ujKtn the
ill conduct of his lieutenitnt in losing a few of his ships, and their
own conduct had been stilt worse in depriving the connnonwealih o(
(he most excellent and valiant of all its generals. Vet, amidst llieir
present misery, ilkcrc was one slight glimpse of hope, that, while Al-
eibiadcs survived, Athens could not he utterly undone. For he, who
before was not content to lead an inactive though peaceable life ia
exile, would not now, if his own affairs were upon any lolemble fool-
ing, sit still and sec the insolence of the Lacediemoniuns, and die
madness of me thirty tyrants, without endeavouring at some remedy.
Nor was it at all unnatural for the inultiludc to dream of sucli relief,
aiace those thirty chiefs themselves were so solicitous lo inquire af-

hFiicIi ocgpcd and Cftnitd tic bcmi uT (but
* Cjpru..

I

368

ri.LlTARCH S LrVE9. '

ter Alcibiades, and gave so much attention to what he hu ^"ing
and contriving.

At last Critias represented to Lysander, that the IjacedjetDoniini

could never securely enjoy the empire of Greece uJl ibe Athoii**

I democracy was absolutely destroyed. And though the AtbciuuM

memed at present to bear an oligarchy with some patience, y« Al-

cibiadcs, if he lived, would not sutfer them long tu submit to wi

$. kind of goveramciit. Lysaiider, however, could not be prraiU

Upon by these aiguments, until be received private order? ftom ik

magistrates of Spart^ to get Alcibiades dispatched; whether it Mf

I that they dreaded his great capacity and enterprising' spirit, or w^

ther it was done in complaisance to king Agis. Lysander then tori

I to Pharnabazus to desire him to put this order in execution; ud^

[ appointed his brother Magacus, and his uuclu SusamiUiret, toBk-

I page the aflair.

Alcibiadcs at that time resided in a small village in Phrygii, Im-
I ing Ins mistress Timandra with him. One night be dreamt iM
I lie was attired in his mistress's habitt, and tliut, as she Itfld bia
io her arms, she dressed his head, and painted his face iiiem-
I man's. Others say, he dreamt that Magacus cut off hh ho^ u4
"burnt his body; and we are told, that it was but a little befocvlui
' dc^th tliat he had this vision. Be that as it niay, those thtt wti
sent to assassinate him, not daring to enter his house, suncnu)^

' it, and set it on fire. As sooi as he perceived it, he got xop^

t large qusiiiliies of clothes and hangings, and threw them npoo ik
: to choke it; then, having wrapt his robe about his left h^
I sod taking his sword !n his right, he sallied through tlie fit«,>i^pl
I lase out before the stuff which he had thrown upon it could nfi
' the flume. At sight of him tlie barbarians dispersed, not tatd
i oi them daring to wait for him, or to encounter him hand to bWi
I but, standing at a distance, they pierced him with their dsrtstf'
\ arrows. Thus fell Alcibi;tc!es. The barliariaos retiring after be •■
L llaln, Timandra wrapt the body in her own robes|, and bnrkJ ka
I decently and honourably as her eircumstaoces would allow.

Timandra is said to have been mother to the liimoua Lai»,caB>
I monly called the Corinthian, though Lais was brvuidu i ayM
I nom Hyccarie, a little town in Sicjly.

maiidra attired liin in b«t owahtfcit
cdMcIiiji: »od*e le.ro from Alb«i»wf«ft^
eil 10 hii lime, for lie himMlf w* it. n> M^*
IBP, uuKd fail iiitue of fcniaa saiMMta*''
b« Mciificed Io bia ■noBdlf ,

I Vp lljerean, uid otdered

CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLAN'US. 369

Sonic writers, though they agree ns 10 tiie mnnncr of Alcibiades'.-i
death, yet d\ffi:T about the cause. They tull us, that eatasirophe is
Dot to he imputed to Phnroiihiizus, or Lysmidcr, or the Lacedie-
uionians; but that Alcibtades haviog corrupted a young woman uf
a noble family in that country, and keeping her in his house, her
brothers, incensed at the injury, set fire, in the niglit, to ilm
house in which he lived, and, ujwn his breaking through the flames,
killed him in the manner we have related*.

CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS.

The family of the Marcii afforded Rome many illustrious palri-
ciatis. Of this house wns Ancus Mnteius, who was grandson to
Numa by his daughter; as were also Puldius and Qitintus Marcius,
who supplied Rome with plenty of the best water. Censorinus, too,
who was twice appointed Censor by the people of Rome, and who
procuied a law that no man should ever beat' that office twice after-
wards, had the same pedigree.

Caius Marcius, of whom I now write, was brought up by his mo-
ther in her widowhood ; and from him it appeared, that the loss of a
father, though attended with other disadvantages, is no bindtrance
to a man's improving in virtue, and attaining to a distinguished ex-
cellence ; though bad men sometimes allege it as an excuse for their
corrupt lives. On the other hand, the same Marcius became wit-
ness to the truth of that maxim, that If a generous and noble na-
ture be not thoroughly formed by discipline, it will shoot forth many
bad qualitiev along with the good, as the richest soil, if not culti-
vated, produces the rankest weeds. His undaunted courage and
firmness of mind, excited him to many great actions, and carried
him through them with honour. But, at the same time, the vio-
lence of his passions, his spirit of contention and e:tcessive obsti-
nacy, rendered him unlraetable and disagreeable in cotiversalion :

* Ephoru, Ihe liUtoriDa, lu he ii cilcd hy DioHaru' Slculus, (lib. x,r.) gi.u .q
■ccounLor hii dtaili quite diireiciil fmni thou.' ruciied b; Plutanb. tic sairi, Ibat
Alcihiidu baviug diKDvcted the delicti of Cyrus Ibe jouogaT to lake up ■riui, in-
fanwil Pliamibaiiit of it, and degired (hat be mighl carii Iho erirt lu the king ; bul
fharnibans, enTylughiiu that honoar, iciu acanGdcni of hu own, aud l«jli all the
mrril tu hlnueir. Alcibindes, inipecliDg the maitei, weul ts rapMagouia, aud loughl
tu piuc lire f rum the goremar letten of credence fu the king, which Pliniiiiihiijin un-
denundini, hired people ta mucdtr Lin, tie wai ilain in iIie ru.-tietli jeai o( bw
•gc.

Vol. 1. Ko. 15. aaa

370 FLUTAHCH'S LIVES.

SO that those very persons who saw with admiration his soal on-
shakcn with pleasures, toils, and riches, and allowed him to be
possessed of the virtues of tcmporance, justice, and fortitude, jet,
in the councils and aflfairs of state, could not endure his imperion
temper, and that savage manner which was too haughty for a repsUir.
Indted, there is no other advantage to be had from a liberal edacatioi
equal to that of |x>Iishingand softening our nature by reason and A-
cipUne ; for that produces an evenness of behaviour, and banitha
from our manners all extremes. There is tliis, however, to be s4
that in those times, military abilities were deemed by the Robub
the highest excellence, insomuch that the term which they me for
^rtue in general, was applied by them to valour in particular.

Marcias, for his })art, had a more than ordinary inclination iar
war, and tiicrefore from a child began to handle his weapous. Ai
he tliought that artificial arms avail but litde, unless those misk
which nature has supplied us be well improved and kept ready is
use, he so prepared himself by exercise for every kind of coials^
that while his limbs were active and nimble enough for pnzsnii^
sudi was his force and weight in wrestling and in grappling wUk
the enemy, that none could get easily clear of him. Those^ diei»
fore, that had any contest with him for the prize of courage and fi-
k>ur, though they failed of success, flattered themselves with im»
puting it to his invincible strength, which nothing could resist m
fatigue.

Ht* made his first campaign when he was very young*, wlies
TflTijuin, who had reigned in Rome, was driven from the throac^
aud ;d'ter many battles fought witli bad success, was now venturiif
all u\yoi\ tlie htst throw. Most of the people of Latium, and maof
ether states of Italy, were now assisting, and marching towanb
Rome, to re-establish him, not through any regard they had fa
7\jr(|uiii, but for fear and envy of the Romans, whose growiBg
grc.itness they were desirous to check. A battle ensued, widi va-
rious turns of fortune. Marcius distinguished himself that day ia
fciglit of the dictator ; for, seeing a Roman pushed down at a small
diitanco from him, he hastened to his help, and standing before hisiy
hfc engaged liis adversary, and slew him. When the dispute wasde-
cide.'lin favour of the Romans, tlie general presented Marcius, amoii;
the lirst^ %viil) an oaken crown f. This is the reward which their custom

^ V.i tlr* fivi ycur of the sevrntj-firijt Olympiad, the two hundred and Sftj-eiflll^
of UoJiif, lour hum) reel and uiaely-third hcfore the Cbrislimi era.

t Tbt> civic cruwii was the fuuiidatiuii of raaiiy privileges. He who had once 9^
tnincd ii had a right to wear ii alwayt. When he appeared at tlie puhlic apectadf^
tke 0enitur» ruie up to da bim honour^ He was placed near their bench ; and hiilr

CAIUS MARCIU9 CORIOI«AKUS. 3/1

g ■' II ; 'i ■ I I »

assigns to the man who saves the life of a citizen ; either because they
honoured the oak for the sake of the Arcadians^ whom the oracle
cMed acortif-eaiers ; or because an oaken branch is most easy to be
had, be the scene of action were it will ; or be(gLU5e they think it
most suitable to take a crown for him who is the means of saving
a citizen^ from the tree which is sacred to Jupiter, the protector of
cities. Besides,. t))€^ oak bears more and fairer fruit than any tree
that grows wild, and is the strongest of those that are cultivated in
plantations. It afforded the first ages both f^d and drink, by its
acorns and honey ; and supplied men with birds and other creatures
for dainties, aj^ it produced the misletoe, of which birdlime is made*.

Castor and Pollux are said to have appeared in that battle, andji
with their horses dropping sweat, to have been seen soon after in the
forunif announcing the victory near the fountain, where the temple
now stands...^ Hence also it is said, that the fifteenth of Julyf^
being the day on which tliat victory was gained, is consecrated to
those sons of Jupiter.

It generally happens, that when men of small ambition are very
early distinguished by the voice of fame, their thirst of honour is
soon quenched, and their desires satiated ; whereas deep and solid
minds are improved and brigliteued by marks of distinction, which
serve as a brisk gale to drive them forward in the pursuit of glory.
They do not so much think that they have received a reward as that
they have given a pledge, which would make them blush to fall short
of the expectations of the public, and therefore they endeavour by
their actions to exceed them. Marcius had a soul of this frame. He
was always endeavouring to excel lumself, and meditating some ex*
ploit which might set him in a new light, adding achievement to
achievement, and spoils to spoils ; therefore the latter generals under
whom he served were always striving to outdo the former in the ho«
nours they paid him, and in the tokens of their esteem. The Ro-
mans at that time were engaged in several wars, and fought many
battles, and there was not one that Marcius returned from without
some honorary crown, some ennobling distinction. The end which
otiiers proposed in their acts of valour was glory ; but he pursued

ther, and grandfather bj the father's side, were entitled to the same privileges. Hert
was (in encuuragement tu merit, which cost the public nothing, and ^et wa.N productive
ot man^ great effects.

* It dues not any wiicrc appear that the ancients made use of the oak in ship build-
ing. How much nobler an encomium might an English historian afford that tree tliaii
Plutarch has been able tu give it !

t Hy the great disorder of the Roman kalexular^ tlie fii teeoth of July theq fell upon
the twcntjr-founh of our October.

372 Plutarch's lives.

-^ -- - - — • — -

glory because the acquisition of it deliglited his mother. For irim
she was witness to the applauses he received, when she saw Uni
crowued, when she embraced him with tears of joy, then it .was dnt
he reckoned himself at the height of honour and felicity. Epani-
noudas (they tell us) had the same sentiments, and declared it tk
chief happiness of his life that his father and mother lived to fee Ai
generalship he exerted, and the victory he won at Leuctra. He U
the satisfaction, indeed, to see both his parents rejoice in his siioeeiii
and partake of his good fortune; but only the mother of Marci«i
Volumnia, was living, and therefore, holding himself obliged to pif
her all that duty which would have belonged to his father, over and
above what was due to herself, he thought he could neyer sufBcieBti?
express his tenderness and respect. He even married in compliaBce
with her desire and request, and, after his wife had borne hini chil-
dren, still lived in the same house with his mother.

At the time when the reputation and interest which his virtue W
procured him in Home was very great, the senate, taking^ the part of
the richer sort of citizens, were at variance with tbe common peopki
who were used by their creditors with intolerable cruelty. ThoK
that had something considerable were stripped of their goods, wUd
were either detained for security, or sold; and those that had notiiiig
were dragj^ed into prison, and there bound with fetters, though thai
bodies were tuU of wounds, and worn out with fighting for their
country. The last expedition they were engaged in was against the
Sabines, on wliich occasion their rich creditors promised to treat thai
with more lenity, and, in pursuance of a decree of the senate, M.
Valerius, the consul, was guarantee of that promise. But wlien thej
had cheerfully undergone the fatigues of that war, and were returned
victorious, and yet found that the usurers made them no abatement,
and that the senate pretended to remember nothing of that agree-
ment, but, without any sort of concern, saw them dragged to prison,
and their goods seized upon as formerly, then they filled the city with
tumult and sedition.

The enemy, apprised of these intestine broils, invaded the Roman
territories, and laid them waste with fire and sword. And when the
consuls called upon such as were able to bear arms to give in their
names, not a man took any notice of it. Something was then to be
done, but the magistrates differed in their opinions. Some thought
the poor should have a little indulgence, and that the extreme rigour
of the law ought to be softened. Others declared absolutely against
that proposal, and particularly Marcius. Not that he thought tbe
money a matter of great consequence, but he considered this sped-
men of the people's insolence as an attempt to subvert the lawsj and

CAIUS MARCIU8 CORIOLANUS. SjTS

■ ■ ■'

the forerunner of farther disorders, which it became a wise govern*
tnent timely to restrain and suppress.

The senate assembled several times within the space of a few days,
and debated this point; but^ as they came to no conclusion, on a
sudden, the commonalty rose one and all, and, encouraging each
other, they left the city, and withdrew to the hill now called Sacredt
near the river Anio, but without committing any violence or otlier
act of sedition. Only, as they went along, they loudly complained,
*^ That it was now a great while since the rich had driven them from
their habitations ; that Italy would anywhere supply them with air
and water, and a place of burial ; and that Rome, if they stayed in
itj would afford them no other privilege, unless it were such, to bleed
and die in fighting for their wealthy oppressors."

The senate were then alarmed, and from the oldest men of their
body selected the most moderate and popular to treat with the peo-
ple. At the head of them was Menenius Agrippa, who, after much
entreaty addressed to them, and many arguments in defence of the
senate, concluded his discourse with this celebrated fable: ''The
members of the human body once mutinied against the belly, and
accused it of lying idle and useless, while they were all labouring
and toiling to satisfy its appetites : but the belly only laughed at their
simplicity, who knew not that though it received all the nourish-
ment into itself, it prepared and distributed it again to all parts of
the body. Just so my fellow-citizens," said he, '' stands the case
between the senate and you : for their necessary counsels and acts
irf government arc productive of advantage to you all, and distribute
their salutary influence amongst the whole people."

After this they were reconciled to the senate, having demanded
and obtained the privilege of appointing five men* to defend their
right on all occasions. These arc called tribunes of the people.
The first that were elected were Junius Brutusf, and Sicinius Vel-
lutus, the leaders of the secession. When the breach was thus
made up, the plebeians soon came to be enrolled as soldiers, and

* The tribunes were at first five in number ; but, a few years af^cr, five niore were added.
Before the people left tlie yioni Sacer, they pushed a law, by which the persons of the
tribunes were made sacred. Their sole function was to interpose in all grievances of-
fered the plebeians by their superiors. Thi^ interposing was called interceuio, and was
performed by standing up and pronouncing the single word veto, I forbid it. They had
Uieir seats placed at ihe door uf the senate, and were never admitted into it but when
the consuls called them to ask their opinion upon some affair tliat cunctrned the in-
terests of the people.

t The name of this tribune was Lucius Junius, and because Lucius Junius Brutus was
famed for delivering his country from the tyrannic yoke of the kings, he also ■stumed
Ihe surname of Brutus, which exposed him tQ a great deal of ridicule.

SJ4 FLUTARCH** LIVXS.

readily obeyed thu orders of tl^ consuls relative to
Marcius, though he was far from being pleased at the admmr
which the people had gained, as it was a lessening of thesBUa
of the patricians, and though he found a conaideiaUe pat rf Ar
nobility of his opinion^ yet he exhorted them not to be
wherever the interest of their country was concerned, bat Vi
thcoisel ves superior to the commonalty rather io Tirtue

Corioli was the capital of the country of the Vi
the Ilcimans were at war. And as it was besieged by ibe
Comiuius, the rest of the Volscians were much abirnied9.aDi
bled to succour it, intending to give the Romans battle
walls, and to attack them on both sides. But after CiMiiiBisi U
divided his forces, and with part went to meet the VolsciaB
who were murchhig against him, leaving Titus Lardas, an
Roman, with the otiier part, to carry on the siege^ the inhabiaBtt'
Corioli despised the body that were left, and sallied out toighttbcn
The Romans at first were obliged to give ground, aud weiedihcsa
their intreuchments. But Marcius, with a small |>arty, flew M Adr
assistance, killod the foremost of the enemy, and^ stopping the itaa
their career, with a loud voice called the Romans back. For kni
(what Cato wanted a soldier to be) not only dreadful for the thuafatf
bis arm, hut of voice too, and had an aspect which struck his ad%'eiaDB
with terror and dismay. Many Romans then crowding about hjas^
being ready to second him, tlie enemy retired in confusioiu N<
was he satisfied with making them retire; he pressed hard upootbcf

rear, and pursued them quite up to the gates. ^^riierc he percejrdd

that his men discontinued the pursuit, by reason of the shuwtri
arrows which IcU from the walls, and tluit none of them bid a^
thoughts of rushing along with the fugitives into the city, which oi
filled with warlike people, who were all under aruis; nevenheltiii
he exhorted and encouraged them to press forv«*ard^ cr)'iiigia^
'' That fortune had opened the gates rather to the victors tlian w
the vanquished/* But as few were willing to follow him, be briAc
through the enemy, and pu>hi d into the town with the crowd, M
one at first darin^^ to oppose him, or even to look him in the fac*-
But when l.e east his eyes around, and saw so small a number nidiift
the walls, whose services he could make use of in that dangerous
enterprise, and that friends and foes were mbeed together, he suoi-
nioni'd all his force, and performed the most incredible exploits,
whether you eonjjider his heroic strength, his amazing ability, or hii
hold and daring spirit; for he over]K)wered all that were in his iikv,
foicing some to seek refuge in the farthest corners of the town, aiid

CAIUS MAKCTUS CORIOLANUS. 375

f " i" ■ ■ ■ . ■ ■ II

ethers to give tNtt and throw down their arms ; whidi aflbrded Lartkui
an o{)portunity to bring in the rest of the Romans unmolested.

The city thus taken^ most of the soldiers fell to plundering, n^'hlch
Marcius highly resented ; crying out, << That it was a shame lor them
to run alxmt after phinder, or, under pretence of collecting th*
spoils, to get out of the way of danger, while the consul and the Ko«
mans under his command were, perhaps, engaged with the enemy.**
As there were not many that listened to what he said, he put himself
at the head of such as offered to follow him, and took the route which
he knew would lead him to the consults army; sometimes pressing
his small party to hasten their march, and conjuring them not to
suffer their ardour to'cool, and sometimes begging of the gods that
the battle might not be over before be arrived, but that he might have
his share in the glorious toils and dangers of his countrymen.

It was customary with the Romans of that age, when they were
drawn up in order of battle, and ready to take up their shields, and
gird their garments about them, to make a nuncui)ative will, naming
each his heir in the presence of three or four witnesses. While the
soldiers were thus employed, and the enemy in sight, Marcius casie
up. Some were startled at his first appearnnce, covered as he was
with blood and sweat. But when he ran clieerfully up to the consul,
took him by the hand, and told him that Corioli was taken, the con*
•al clasped him to his heart; and those who heard the news of that
fluccess, and those who did but guess at it, were greatly animated,
and with shouts demanded to be led on to the combat. Marcius in-
quired of Corminius in what manner the enemy's army was drawn up,
and where their best troops were posted. Being answered that tJie
Antiates, who were placed in the centre, were supposed to be the brav-
est and most warlike — ^* I beg it of you, then,*' said Marcius, ** at
a favour, that you will place me directly opjwsite to them." And
the consul, admiring his spirit, readily granted his request.

When the battle was begun, with the throwing of spears, Marcius
advanced before the rest, and charged the centreof the Volscians with
so much fury, that it was soon broken. Nevertheless, the wings at*
tempted to surround him ; and the consul, alarmed for him, sent to
his assistance a select band which he had near his own person. A
sharp conflict then ensued about Marcius, and a great carnage .was
quickly made; but the Romans pressed the enemy with so much vi«
gour, that they put them to flight. And when they were going upon
the pursuit, they begged of Marcius, now almost weighed down with
wounds and fatigue, to retire to the camp. But he answered, ^' That
k was not for conquerors to be tired," and so joined them in prose-

CAIII3 MARCtUS CORIOLANU9. 377

wasg=ss=^=^^ ■ ■ ■ ■ =ass^rT ■ ■■— — ■ '-

pass a vote that he be called Cokiolan us, if \us gallant behaviour at
Corioli has not already hestuwed that name upoD him." tlcDce
came hb third name of Corlolanus. By wliicli it appears, tliat Cuius
was tlic pruper name; that the second name, Marcius, was that of
the family; and tliat the third Roman appelative was a peculiar note
ot distinction, given aftewards on account of some particular act of
fortune, or Nignatute, or virtue of him that Iwre it. Thus, among the
Greeks, adilitioiial names were given to some on account of their a-
chievemeiits, as Soter, the presm'ver, and CaHmiatt, the victorious;
to others, for somethin;^ remarkable in their persons, as PAjF.«con,
the giiTe -bellied, and Grypns, the eagU-uosed; or for their good
qualiiit s, a? Euergetes, the benefactor, and Phitadelphus, the kind
brother; or ihcir good fortune, as Eudamon, the prosperous, k
name given to the second prince of the family of the Batii. Several
princes also have had satirical names bestowed upon them; Antigo-
nus (for inst:ince^ was called Boson, the man that will give to-
morrow, and Ptolemy was styled Lamyrtts, t/te buffoon. But ap-
pellaiions of this last sort were used with greater latitude among the
Romans. One of the Metelli was dititingulshed by the name of
Deadeniatits, because he went a long time with a bandage, which
covered an ulcer he h<id in his forehead; and another they called
Celer, because, with surprising celerity, he entertained them with n
funeral show of gladiaiois a few days after his father's deatl). In our
times, too, some of ilit Romans receive their names from the cir-
cumstances of their biiih; as that of Prociitus, if horn when their
fathers are in a distant country ; and tliat o( Posthumus, if born after
their father's death: and when twins come into the world, and one
of them dies at the birth, the survivor Is called f'ojnscus. Namea
are also appropriated on account of bodily imperfections ; for, amongst
them we find not only Sylla, the red, and Niger, the bltic/c; but
even Ctcms, the blind, and Claudius, the lame; such persons by
this custom being wisely taught not to consider blindness or any
other bodily misfortune as a reproach or disgrace, but to answer to
appellations of tliat kind as their proper names. But this point might
have been insisted upon with greater pioprieiy in another place.

When the war was over, the demagogues Mined up another sedi-
tion. And as there ivas no new cause of disquiet or injury done the
people, they made use of the mischiefs whicli were ihe necessary
consequence of the former troubles and dissensions, as a handle
against the pa/riWam. For the greatest part of the ground being
left uncultivated and unsown, and the war not permitting them to
brhig in bread-corn from other countiies, there was an extreme

VoL.1. No. 14. BBB

7^ FLUTAMCX* 33

citrcity io Home'*^, The bctkMs

loi bruu^cht to market^ and that if
otNuiTioiHihy hud but little moorr id
(iuc the rich had caused the

At this juncture there mmTti
Uti<», who oRcred to surrender &tar iscr
t!U have a number of new ii
(UbKuii^er liaving committed fbc^
l>art of the inhabitants remaiaed. TW
tluHij^ht this pressing neccssin- <^
|C\xHi9 thing for Rome, as h wcnui

Thev hoficd, moreover, that xbe
wer^' piir^ul of the troubiesamr jmn fiF
took iirc nt the harangues of their
to tho state as so many snperfiunos amL mtcnii ka^tatsa aie folk
body. Such as these, tLerciaru «ir J*e»*™^ TfagkJ oat for the »
lony, niul pitched upon ccben to scnv a sax «ar igiMTT xbe Tobd-
nnsy contriving it bo, Hiia caapJcn-nicDx ilwbh: s^gba sdQ the intcrtiK
tiinuilts, and bclievbg. thai whezi the rkk aad piMr» p^efaciaos aid
]mtriciuiiSy came to bear trim to^cutti aeaia^ ao tx ui tk mumt tmft
luul to meet the same dangcis. ihfT «C4^ be cispottcd to treat ad
other with more gentleness and csDooiir.

Itut the restless tribonesy Siciiiius and Bnsr^iSy crposcd faoch tks
designs, crying out, that the consiJs dilpiisrd a cost in>>yman ta
under the plausible term of a cc>k>nT : ibr iiiLuiaai: h c^rtasily ws»
to throw the poor citizens irto a cerounn^ P-^r? '':y sen.*icc tbea*
a place where tlie air was infected, and * here Ox^'kociM c'arcnM;* -J
aI»ove [(round, wher^ also ibey would be ax the ci>[>.^Al of a string
and niu'l deitv. And, as if :: v-cre not scSBcient to deMror sonxbf
I'aiuiue, and to cr!:-^e CLtry to the j»la^ue, :hey inT>.>ed them i>J
in a needless wj", :ht: ii:- Lir^d of c&ismirv mvTht be waoiinc ::
eonipletc the ruin of :be c'ry. betcuse it refused tj continue it >^'
yew to the ricli.

The pe<»ple, irritate! by ih-.se .^peec];f^. nc-'ther obevcd theyja-
nions lt» l)e enlisted tur li.e «ai, nor caLlii oe brou^Li to apprui^tlie
oidii to ;^o and people ^Vi It r*?', \> hile the senate were in dtoot
\\\\i\\ step tltey should take, Marcius, now uut a little elated wiiii ri«
I^MuMhs Ih- had received, by ti.o sense of Lis own great abilities i^i
h\ ihe lU'lrrence that was jwia him by the principal persons iu tii<

• I V |s opir williilrrt* to the «>acred mobni »ea tftrt ibe AkluRHi^i rmuoct M*^ ^
,v. .. . .4'.ou uiili «lir p.ilricMun did i»wi t«kf ?*•« '^i^ tfce «.^r.-r soi-^icr, v !'«' (^
». , ,M »s '* »* ••'•«. AnH tl»« IUiJ*an fAClor*, wfco vert mqi u t«^t cvni la •*» c-*

...«• «.•.%> ii'iV llllMlt'CCAluL

"'?*' "i"?"^ '*^" 'T''^^- ' •*ir' ■-' ■ Y- •■"•«; -V' *|r

\

CAIUS MARCtUS CORIOLANUS. 3^9

State, stood foremost in opposition to the tribunes. The eolony,
therefore, was sent out, heavy fines being set upon such as refused
to go. But as they declared absolutely against serving in the war^
Marcius mustered up his own clients, and as many volunteers as he
could procure, and with these made an inroad into the territories of
the Antiates. Tliere he found plenty of com, and a great number
of cattle and slaves, no part of which he reserved to himself^ but led
\as troops back to Rome, loaded with the rich booty. The r«tt of
the citizens then repenting of their obstinacy, and envying those who
had got such a quantity of provisions, looked upon Marcioi with an
evil eye, not being able to endure the increase of his power and ho-
noor, which they considered as rising on the ruins of the people.

Soon after*, Marcius stood for the consulship; on which occasion
the commonalty began to relent, being sensible what a shame it
would be to reject and af&ont a man of his family and virtue, and
that, too, after he had done so many signal services to the public. It
was the custom for those who were candidates for such a high office
to solicit and caress the people in the forumy and, at those times,
to be clad in a loose gown without the tunic; whether that humble
dress was thouglit more suitable for suppliants, or whether it was for
the convenience of showing their woui^, as so many tokens of va-
lour. For it was not from any suspicion the citizens then had of
bribery tluit they required the candidates to appear before them un-
girt, and without any close garment, when they came to beg their
votes; since it was much later than this, and indeed many ages after,
that buying and selling stole in, and money came to be a means
of gaining an election. Then, corruption reaching also the tribunals
and the camps, arms were subdued by money, and the common-
wealth was changed into a monarchy. It was a slirewd saying, who-
ever said it, " That the man who first ruined the Roman people was
lie who first gave them treats and gratuities." But this mischief
crept secretly and gradually in, and did not show its face in Rome
for a considerable time; for we know not who it was that first bribed
its citizens or its judges; but it is said, that in Athens the first man
who corrupted a tribunal was Anytas, the son of Anthymion, when
he was tried for treason in delivering up the fort of Pylos, at the lat-
ter end of the Peloponnesian war; a time when the Golden Age
reigned in the Roman courts in all its simplicity.

When, therefore, Marcius showed the wounds and scars he had
received in the many glorious battles he had fought for seventeen

* It wai the next year, bebg the third of the seventj-tccond Oljrmpitd, four hua*
4rtd and eighlj-cight yean before the Cbriitiui era.

3S0 plitarch's u^-es.

years successively, the people were struck wrirh great rercftnoe for
his virtue, and agreed to choose hioi consul. But when die dav rf
elecfHHi came, aLd he was couducted wiih great pomp iDto die
C<impit$ J/arliu^ by the senate in a body, all the pardciaiu acda;
wi:a more zcA aud v^our thun ever had been known ou the iike<K-
casioQ, the C'jiTLiioDs then Litcred their minds, and their kntdnoi
was turned in:o euvy and indi^naiiou. The malignity of these pa-
sions nns farther assisted hy tlie fear they entertained, that if ana j
so strongly attached to the interest of the senate, and so much r^
spectcd by the nobility, should attain the (x>nsulship, he migb i^
terly deprive the people of their liberty. Influenced by these cm*
sidorations, chey rejected Murcius, and appointed otheis todiatois.
Tlie senate took this extremely ill, considering it as an affiontnAff-;
intended aceinst them than against Marcius. AsforMareiayk
resentr d that treatment highly, indulging his irascible passions, opa
a sup(>ositi JO that they have something great and exalted in tka;
and wanting a due mixture of graWty and mildiu!ss, which srAi
chief political virtues, and the fruits of reason and edacatioB. ft
did not consider, tliat the man who applies himself to public W*
ness, and undertakes to converse with men, should, above ail tfaiM
avoid that everbearing mtsieriiy which (as Plato says) i ii ufawi A
rortijiCinon of solitufle, and cultivate in his heart the patience viad
&ome people so much deride. Marcius, then, being plain and ai*
less, but ri[^id a<id inflexible withal, was persuaded that to lauu^
oppi/<»]iiou was the hi irhest attainment of a gallant spirit. Henm
dreiiH.rd tluit such obstinacy is rather the elfect of the w^eaknesiaii
eiK-n?! I -liucy of a disteiupeicd mind, >shich breaks out in violent ta}"
MO!i>. like so many tuiiiuurs; and therefore lie went awav io gitS
di^orc!cr, und full of rancour against the people. Such of the voHii<
1. .'liliiy .-Ls were most disiin^i^uished by the pride of birth, and cwtf-
iii'ss uf si)irit, who had always b^en wonderiuily taken with Mard«»
and tlieii unluckily happened to attend liini, inflamed his reseotnKtf
\ri c\\ycy^\\\^ their own irritf and indignation; for he was their lea-
der \\\ every t^xpodition. aii«! tiieir instructor in the art of war; bfii
WAS who inspired them \\\u\ a truly virtuous emulation, and tau^
tliein to i\*jjlcciji th.'ir own success, without envyine the cxpknii
oi" otliers.

In rhe inean time, a great quantity of bread-corn was broudittt
K.jme, bein^ panly bouij:ht up in Italy, and partly a present frtMO
Geiou, klni^ ot Syracriisc. Tlie aspect of afhiirs appeared now to be
eTji>>nrai:iiiir, and it w;is Irjpcd that tlie intestine broils would ccssc
\\a\\ tlie scarcity. The seriate, therefore, being immediately assem-
bled, the people stood in crowds without, waiting for the issoe rf

. ■ • ■ . ■ • ^

CAIU8 MARCIUS CORIOLANUS. 381

Ji< ■ ""i"" ' ' ■ ■ -at

their deliberations. They expected that the market-crates for the
com that was bought wr)uld be moderate, and that a distribution of
that which was a gift would be made gratis; for there were some
who proposed that the senate should dispose of it in that manner.
But Marcius stood op, and severely censured those who spoke in
favour of the commonalty, calling them demagogues and traitora
to the nobility. He said, ** They nourished, to their own great pre-
judice, the pernicious seeds of boldness and petulance which had
been sown among the populace, when tliey should rather have nip-
ped them in the bud, and not have suffered tlie plebeians to strengtbea
themselves with the tribunitial power : that the people were now be-
come formidable, gaining whatever point they pleased, and not doing
any one thing against their inclination; so that, living in a sort of
«narchy, they would no longer obey the consuls, nor acknowledge
any superiors but those whom they called their own magistrates^
that the senators who advised that distributions should be made in
the manner of the Greeks, whose government was entirely demo-
cratical, were effecting the ruin of the constitution, by encouraging
-the insolence of the rabble. For that tljey would not suppose they
Rceived such favours for the campaign which they had refused to
make, or for the secessions by which they had deserted their coun-
tiy, for tlie calumnies which they had countenanced against the
senate: but," continued he, *' they will think that we yield to them
through fear, and grant them such indulgences by way of flattery;
and, as they will exj)ect to find us always so complaisant, tlicre will
be no end to their disobedience, no period to their turbulent and
•editious practices. It would, therefore, l>e perfect madness to take
such a step. Nay, if we jwe wise, we shall entirely abolish the tri-
bune's office*, which has made cyphers of the consuls, and divided
the city in such a manner that it is no longer one as formerly, but
broken into two parts, which will never J<nit again, nor cease to vex
and harass each other with all the evils of discordf."

Marcius, haranguing to this purpose, inspired the young senators^
and almost all the men of fortune, with his own enthusiasm; and
they cried out tliat he was the only man in Rome who had a spirit
above the meanness of flattery and submission ; yet some of the aged
senators foresaw the consequence, and opposed his measures. In
fact, the issue was unfortunate; for the tribunes, who were present,

* The tribQDes bad lately procured a law, which made ic penal to iaterrupt tbeoi
when tbej were speaking to the people.

t Platarcb ba* omitted the most aggravating part of Coriolanos's speech, wherein bm
proposed the holding up the price of bread-corn as high as ever, to keep the people im
4lc|Modeace and tabjection.

389

rLHTARCH S LIVES.

when tbej saw tliat Marcius would have a majority of voic^, ran nt
to llic people, loudly calling upon tlieiii to stand bjr ibetr own aa^
tfstcsjBDd give I heir best assbtance. An assembly then msheUsi
tnmtUiuary manner, in which the speeches of ftlarciuji were rtoA
and the plebeians in their fury had thou^is of breaking in spootk
senate. The tribunes pointed their rage against Marcius iu pttiKf
lar, by impeaching him in furm, and sent fur liim to make hii^c-
fence. But as he spumed the messengers, they wrni theoudtek
attended by the ledileK, to bring him by force, and bc^antolif
hat)^s on him. I'poo tliis the patiicians stood op fm him, d»n
otTthe tribune's, and beat the axliles; till night cotning oo brabrf
the quarrel. Early next tuorning the eunsuls observing tbt At
)>eople, now extremely incensed, flocked from all qu»rten intP ikt
forum, and dreading what might bt the consequence to the cin>
hastily convcHL-d the senate, and movuil, " That they shtwld (»
Elder how with kind words .ind favourable resolutions they m^
bring the commons to temper; for that this was nnta limetui&i^
their ambition, nor would it be prudent to pursue disputes alwal tk(
point of honour at a critical and dangemus juncture, whicb it^irin^
the greatest moderation and delicacy uf cuiiduct." A« the nqonq
agreed to the motion, they went out lo confer with the pnpl^Ml
used their best endeavours to pacify them, coolly refuting aduMUOi
and modestly, though not without some degree of sharpiKss, MB-
plaining of their behaviour. As to the price of bread-corn wt
other provisions, they declared there should be no diflcrcncc t*-
tweea them.

Great part of the people were moved with this application, lalii
clearly appeared, by their candid attention, that they were icadf*
close with it. Then the tribunes stood up aud said, "ThatiiMi
the senate acted with such moderation, the peu|)l« weiv not m*''
ing to mahe concessions in their turn ; but they insisted tlut Mania
should come and answer to these uniclcs, fi'lufthrr ht; had mt Mif
red up the senate In the confouuding Cff all giwernmaa, amlttdf
deatreii/ing of the f>e<^ile'x jiritnleges ? JTAet/ier he had not rrpad
to obey their summims? Ifkether he had Hot b^ateft and otittrwim
maltreated the atliles In theftimm ; mtd bif these inemit {sofv»
in him I'll/} Ict'ied war, and broti^lU t/te cilizeiix tu ahentk titif
sivortl* in each other's bosom?" These things they said witbadh
sign, cither to humble Marcius, by making him submit ta entMtf
the people's clemency, which was much against his haughty no-
per; or, if he followed his niitivc bent, lo draw him to mjtrtbt
breach incurable. The latter they were in hopes of, and the ndfctf
because ibcy knew the man well. He stood as if be would bnt

w: ' -"^''x

4>

CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANU8. 383

made his defence, and the people waited in rilence for what he had
to say. But when, instead of the submissive language that was ex*
pected, he began with an aggravating boldness, and rather accused
the commons than defended himself ^ when, with the tone of Iiis
voice and the fierceness of his looks, he expressed an intrepidity bor-
dering upon insolence and contempt, they lost all patience; and
Sicinius, the boldest of the tribunes, after a short consultation with
his colleagues, pronounced openly that the tribunes condemned
Marcius to die. He then ordered the aediles to take him immediately
up to the top of the Tarpeian rock, and throw him down tlie pre- '
cipice. However, when they came to lay hands on hiai, the action
appeared horrible even to many of the plebeians. The patricians,
shocked and astonished, ran with great outcries to his assistance,
and got Marcius in the midst of them, some interposing to keep off
the arrest, and others stretching out their hands in supplication to
the multitude ; but no regard was paid to words and entreaties amidst
Mich disorder and confusion, until the friends and relations of the
tribunes, perceiving it would be impossible to carry off Marcius,
and punish him capitally, without first spilling much partician
blood, persuaded them to alter the cruel and unpreced<*nted part of
tiie sentence; not to use violence in the affair, or put him to dcach
without form of trial, but to refer all to the people's determination
in full assembly.

Sicinius, then a little mollified, asked the [>atricians, "Wliat they
meant by taking Marcius out of the \m\uU of ihe people, who were
resolved to punish Lim ?*' To whic!i iL. y uMli; d liv another ques-
tion, "What do you mean by thus dragging ouc o' rl.t* worthiest
men in Rome, without trial, to a barbarous and iiL-^ *i execu-
tion?'* ^^ If that be all," said Sicinius, " you shall no longer iiave
a pretence for your quarrels and factious behaviour to the people ;
for they grant you what you desire; the man shall have his trial.
And as for youy Marcius^ we cite yon to appear the third market-
day, and satisfy the citizens of your innocence, if yoii can; for then
by their suffrages your afikir will be decided." The patricians were
content with this compromise; and thinking themselves happy in
carrying Marcius off, they retired.

Meanwhile, before the third market-day, which was a consider-
able space, for the Romans held their markets every ninth day,
fuid thence call them Nundirue, war broke out with the Antiates*,

* Advice was taddenly brooght to Rome, that the people of Antium hud seized and
confiscated the ships helonginc to Gelon's arobfi*i9ador$ in their return to Sicily, and had
#Teii imprisoned the ambassadors. Hereupon they took up anus to cbasti^: the Anti-
Mte9, bat tbcj mbfluttedf and made satisfaction.

f

AM plitarch's I-IVES.

which, because il was like to be of some continuance, gave tfcoi
bopcs of <--va(lii}g the juttgrneot, since th^rc w^oultl be t'tiae lot ^
fwople to become irure tnictable, to moderate their anger, or pn-
hapn let it entirely evajjorate in the busiDfss of that expedition. Bm
they soon mude peace witli the Antialc^, unci returned!; whrKOp*
Ibe fears of the senate were renewed, and they often met to fnnsidB
bow things might be so mnna^d, that they shuuld ncithrr pte f
Mftrcius, nor leave room for the tribunes to throw the people icw
new disorders. On this occasion, Appius Ctuudius, who «w m
most violent adversary tlie commons Jiad, declared, " TIuitilicuaiK
would betray and ruin themselves, and ubsolutely destroy ibe«wi>-
tutkni, if they should once suffer the plebeians to assume a puvoW
salfrage agnlnst the patriciaus." But the oldest and most poH"
€»f the senators* were of opinion, " That the people, instead cftt-
Iiaring with more harshness and severity, would become mM ai
gentle, if that power were indulged them; since they did not d»
pise the senate, but rather thought themselves despised b*i(; mJ
the preroii^tive of judging would be sucli an honour to then llM
they would be perfectly satisfied, and immediately lay ujdc «U n-
Kntment/'

Marcius, then, seeing the senate perplexed beiivcen their nfud
for hitn and fear of ilie people, asked ihc tribunes, " What thej *e*
eused him of, and upon wlint churgi.' he was. to be tried before tit
people?" Being told, " Tliat he would be tried for treasoa affiat
the commonwealth, in designing to set bimstlf up at a fyramt:"-!
" Let me go tlieii," said he, *' to the people, aiwl make niy defrtSJ;
1 refuse no form of trial, nor any kind of punishment, U I lie kmi
guilty. Only allege no other crime against me, and do not impat
upon the senate." The tribunes agreed 1o these condJtioiUk, and j*
mised that the cause should turn upon this one poiui.

But the first thing they did after the people ivcre aicseniMeii, •>■
to compel them to give their voices by tribesj, and tiot by cenwis't

* Valerius MM Bi (lie lienil uf thtH, He ifiiuted dIhi u large on llie bonikico^

t II vu never known llial any t^orsnn, nhn alleelpd to wc hiiaftt ap trnaL^*'
with llie nobility lyaiiul the proplc, but oa Ilia Cdninij, cunipDed vnk Ibt |r^
•gainil the nobililj. " IWiidci," laid lie. in hii d«rciica, '■ ii irii to utra ib(H MM
Ihut I hiir rffccivrd the nouudi^ou tec: let lli* tribnnn thaw, Lf ihoj csii,M(irt
■CtinDi ire oomiilcnl with the trucbriuuM ilcit)ini Ihry Ity Is mj charga."

t pTamthe rtign orSer>iu)Tulliu9 Ibe voices had bean ■(•nyi gai],e„j|,jf,^M^
Tbe coTBnlt len F>ir kveping up tlie ancient cuitom. being welt ■pjiriKd ihii tW> •■M
HTa Coriuliniii it ifia Toices wura reclioncd bj ccntuiieii of which tbe tmEbta at <ti
wolthicii of the chitcnt nida ihe n.^joriiy, being pretiy >ut* i.f ninrtj -aifbt cut d t
bondred •ad uvenly-thfee. But the viful tribuan tUegiuj lh»t, in aa tStii ulii 1

CAIUS MARCIUS CORIQLANUS. 385

thus contriving that the meanest and most seditious part of the po-
pulace, and those who had no regard to justice or honour, might out-
vote such as had borne arms, or were of some fortune and charac-
ter. In the next place, they passed by tlie charge of his affecting
the sovereignty, because they could not prove it, and, instead of it,
repeated what Marcius some time before had said in the senate,
against lowering the price of corn, and for abolishing the tribunitial
power. And they added to the impeachment a new article, namely,
his not bringing into the public treasury the spoils he had taken in
the country of the Antiates, but dividing them among the soldiers*.
This last accusation is said to have discomposed Marcius more
than all the rest ; for it was what he did not expect, and he could
not immediately think of an answer that would satisfy the common-
alty; the praises he bestowed upon those who made that campaign
with him serving only to raise ati outcry against him from the majo-
rity, who were not concerned in it. At last, when they came to
vote, he was condemned by a majority of three tribes, and the penalty
to be inflicted upon him was perpetual banishment.

After the sentence was pronounced, the people were more elated,
and went off in greater transports than Uiey ever did on account of
a victory in the field; the senate, on the other hand, were in the
greatest distress, and repented that they had not run the last risk,
rather tlian suffer the p^plc to possess themselves of so much power,
and use it in so insolent a manner. There was no need then to look
upon their dress, or any other mark of distinction, to know wliich
was a plebeian, and which a patrician; the man that exulted was a
plebeian, and the man that was dejected a patrician.*

Marcius alone was unmoved and unhumbled. Still lofty inr his
port, and firm in his countenance, he appeared not to be sorry for
himself, and to be tlie only one of the nol)ility that was not. This
air of fortitude was not, however, the effect of reason or moderation,
but the man was buoyed up by anger and indignation. And this,
though the vulgar know it not, has its rise from grief, which, when
it catches flame, is turned to anger, and then bids adieu to all feeble-
ness and dejection. Hence the angry man is courageous, just as he
who has a fever is hot, the mind being upon ^he stretch, and in a

to the rights of the people, every citizen's vote ought to have its due weight would not
b^ any means consent to let the voices be collected otherwiie than by tribes.

* " This/' said the tribune Dccius, *' is a plain proof of his evil designs: with the
public money he secured to himself creatures and guards, and supporters of his intended
usurpation. Let him make it appear that be bad power to dispose of this booty without'
violating the laws. Let him answer directly to tliis one article, without dauling us with
the splendid show of his crowns And scars, or using any other arts to blind the assembly .'^

Vol.1. No. 15. ccc

S8ff Plutarch's lives.

violent agitation. His subsequent behaviour soon showed that he
was thus aft'ected; for having returned to his own house, aud en-
braced his mother and his wife, who lamented tlieir fate with tlie
weakness of women, he exhorted them to bear It with patieaoe, in)
then hastened to one of the city gates, being conducted by the patii-
clans in a body. Thus he quitted Rome without asking or recdnif
aught at any man's hand, and took with him only three or four d-
ents. He spent a few days in a solitary manner at some of his farms
near tlic city, airitatcd with a thousand diiferciit tlioughts, such as Ui
anger suggest'id ; in which he did not propose any advantage to him-
self, but considi'ied only how he might satisfy his revenge against
the Romans. At last he determined to spirit up a cruel war agaiiut
them from some neighbouring nation; and for this purpose toapph
first to the V^olscians, whom lie knew to be yet strong both in mci
and money, and whom he supposed to be rather cxasj>eratcd and pro-
voked to farther conflicts, than absolutely subdued.

There was then a person at Antium, Tullus Aufidius by name,
highly distinguished among the Volscians by his wealtli, his valour,
and noble birth. Marcius was very sensible that of all the RomB
himself was the man whom Tullus most hated. For, excited byaoi-
bition and emulation, as young warriors usually are, they had, iIls^
veral engagements, encountered each other with menaces and boU
defiances, and thus had added personal cruuity to the hatred which
reigned between the two nations. But notwithstanding all this,
considering the great generosity of Tullus, and knowing that hew*
more desirous than any of the Volscians of an opjK)rtunity to retuia
upon the Ronians part of the evils nis country had suffered, he took
a method which strongly confirms that saying of the poet,

Sttrn wrath, how strong thy swa^ ! though life's the i'orfcit
Tliy purpose must be j;ainM.

For, putting himself in such clothes and habiliments as were most
likely to prevent his being known, like Ulysses,

JIu »toic into the h(>3tilc town.

It was evening when he entered, and though many people met hin
in the streets, not one of them knew him. He passed, therefoit,
on to the house of TuHus, where he got in undiscovered* • he seated
himself without saying a word, covering his face, and remaining io
a composed posture. Tlie people of the house were very much sur-
prised; yet they did not venture to disturb him, for there was some'
thing of dignity both in his person and his silence; but they wcnl
and related the strange adventure to Tullus, who was then at supper.

* The fire-place, having the domestic gods in it, was esteemed sacred ^ and Uierefbn
the suppliants resorted to it as to an ab^luiu.

CAIUSr MARCIUS CORIOLANUS. SSf

^ - -^ ._■■■■■ ■■, iiirn ' -

Tullus, upon this, rose from tabic, and coming to Coriolanus, asked
him, fFho he tvas^ and upon what business he was come? Corio-
lanus, uncovering his face, paused awhile, and then thus addressed
him : " If thou dost not yet know me, Tullus, but distrustest thy
own eyes, I must of necessity be my own accuser. I am Cuius Mar-
cius, who have brought so many calamities upon the Volscians, and
bear the additional name of Coriolanus, which will not suffer me to
deny that imputation, were I disposed to it. For all the labours and
dangers { have undergone, I have no other reward left but that ap-
pellation which distinguishes my enmity to your nation, and which
cannot indeed be taken from me. Of every thing else I am deprived
by the envy and outrage of the people, on the one hand, and the
cowardice and treacheiy of the magistrates, and those of my own
order, on the other. Thus driven oui an exile, I am come a suppli-
ant to thy household gods; not for shelter and protection, for why
should I come hither if I were afraid of death? but tor vengeance
against those who have expelled me, which, methinks, I begin to
take, by putting myself into thy hands. If, therefore, thou art dis-
posed to attack the enemy, come on, brave Tullus, avail thyself of
my misfortunes; let my personal distress be the common happiijess
of the Volscians. You may be assured I shall fight much better for
you than I have fought against you, because they who know p».Tfectly
the state of the enemy's affairs are much more capable of annoying
diem than such as do not know them. But if thou hast given up all
thoughts of war, I neither desire to live, nor is it fit for thee to pre-
serve a person who of old has been thine enemy, and now is not able
to do thee any sort of service."

Tullus, delighted with tliis address, gave him his hand: " Rise,"
said he, " Marcius, and take courage. The present you thus make
of yourself is inestimable ; and you may assure yourself that the Vol-
scians will not be ungrateful." Then he entertained him at his ta-
ble with great kindness; and the next and the following days they
consulted together about the war.

Rome was then in great confusion, by reason of the animosity of
the nobility against the commons, which was considerably heightened
by the late condemnation of Marcius. Many prodigies were also an-
nounced by private persons, as w(^ll as by the priests and diviners;
one of which was as follows: Titus Latinus, a man of no iiigh rank,
but of great modesty and candour, not addicted to su. cr^tiiion, much
less to vain pretences to what is extraordinary, had tiiis dream: Ju-
piter, he thought, appeared to bun, and ordered him to tell the
senate, T/uit they had provided him a very bad and ill-favoured
leader of the dance in the sacred procession. When he had seea

.*. t JlS.i_

* m

1^ 2 9iS^r[Ci£ mi X *^iTT* "'*7y^ 21^^ ^^^ ^MKf^CKSBH It*

1&U fhr persTTcfi. u t^y ^dL b$^ hs si
and valk^d hfiKot witbxn help.

Tliie ^ecnre irm cwea ^orprifcil, and
tfe amir: the nt»Ic of wkkh wa», that a
it\hrtxtri cp otie of Lis sia:f«&. vho had httsk ^mhjr of
to ba other srrrMXts, viih an order to vhip Ubb rhroMg^h dv
place, aikd dmi pm him to <icath. WhDe tliey were ^^^*^a^ tkii
oider. and seourginc the wxetco, who writlicd huKseUy thioogh nh
leisce of pain, into Tarioos postures^y the pg^^^^'wiffn happf^ *
come ap. Many of the people that composed it wctc fired nk ■-
di^natsDOy for the s^t vas cxcessiTel j disagreeable and shodif
to hmnanitj; yet nobody eare him the least asststance; only eman
and esecntioQs were rented against the man who punisbed wUn
ranch cruelty; for in those dmes they treated their slaves widi gmC
moderation ; and this was natural, because thej worked and enmM
with them. It was deemed a great panishroent for n stave wboU
committed a fault to take up that piece of wood widi irluch diey flp*
ported the thill of a waggon, and carry it round the neighbouihooi;
for he tliat was thus exposed to the derision of the family^ and ocber
iahal/it^ints of the place, entirely h>st his credit, and was stvWd Ftr-
crfer; tlie Romans calling that piece of timber furca, wliichtk
Greeks call ht/postates^ that is, a st/pporter.

When Liitinus had given the senate an account of his dream, md
they dtHi filed iv/to //ezV Unfavoured and had leoAlcr of the damce migbt
I e, the excessive severity of the punishment put some of then
in mind of the slave who was whipped tlirough the market^pbc^f
and afterwards put to death. All the priests agreeing tliat he uma
be the person meant, hi^ master had a heavy fine laid upon him, aaJ
the procession and grunes were exhibited anew in honour of Jupi*
ter. Hence it appears that Nunia's religious institutions in gt^nend
are wcry wise, and that this in particular is highly conducive to liie
puq>oses of piety, namely, that wlien the magistrates or priest^* are
employed in any sacred ceremony, a lieraldgoes before, and pruclaiios

* According to Dion^<iu5 of Ii:Jicarna!>sus, ihc master hati ^iven orders thai ll*^ *i
«IiO»iIri be pmiislit'd at the hea<l oi the proces'iun, to make ihe ij;nouinv tlie worr »>-
tnriouv; whicli was a still grraler utfroiit to the ueii^- iu whu:»c liououff Ut0 processi**
WHS icrd up.

CAIUS MARCIUS CORlOLANUS. 389

■1 ■ . ■ ■'■■'' a

aloud. Hoc age, i. e. be attetitive to thus; hereby commanding everj
body to regard the solemn acts of religion, and not to suffer any
business or avocation to intervene and disturb them ; as well know-
ing that men's attention, especially in v^hat concerns the worship
of the gods, is seldom fixed, but by a sort of violence and constraint.

But it is not only in so important a case that the Romans begia
anew their sacrifices, their processions, and games ; they do it for
Tcry small matters. If one of the horses that draw the chariots
called l^ensa;, in which are placed the images of the gods, happened
to stumble, or if the charioteer took the reins in his left hand, tlie
whole procession was to be repeated. And in latter ages they have
set about one sacrifice thirty several times, on account of some defect
or inauspicious appearcnce in it Such reverence have the Romans
paid to the Supreme Being.

Mean time M arcius and Tullus held secret conferences with the
principal Volscians, in which they exhorted them to begin the war,
white Rome was torn in pieces with factious disputes ; but a sense of
honour restrained some of them from breaking the truce, which was
concluded for two years. The Romans, however, furnished them
with a pretence for it, having, through some suspicion or false sug-
gestion, caused proclamation to be made at oue of the public sliows
er games, that all the Volscians should quit the town before sun-
set Some say it was a stratagem contrived by Marcius, who suborn-
ed a person to go to the consuls,^ and accuse the Volscians of a design
to attack the Romans during the games, and to set fire to the city.
This proclamation exasperated the whole Volscian nation against the
Romans; and Tullus greatly aggravating the affront*, at last per-
suaded them to send to Rome to demand that the lands and cities
which had been taken from tliem in the war should be restored.
The senate, having heard what the ambassadors had to say, answered
with indignation, *^ Tliat the Volscians might be the first to take up
arms, but the Romans would I>e the last to lay them down." Here-
upon Tullus summoned a general assembly of his countrymen, whom
he advised to send for Marcius, and, forgetting all past injuries, to
rest satisfied that the service he would do them, now their ally,
would greatly exceed all the damage they had received from him
while their enemy.

Marcius accordingly was called in, and made an oration to the
people, who found that he knew how to speak as well as to fight, and

* " We alene/' said he, '' of all the different nationi now in Rome, are not thoaghl
worthy to see the games. We alone, like the prefanest wretches and outlaws, are drives
from a public festiral. Go, and tell in all juur cities and Tillages the distinguithiog
nark :hr Eomans have put upon us."

pvdes iHdcfcdk

; thepiln-
pSrfifHW of mi|«alTdriyingot ouecf thekMCtf
lad the pMbdus reproftcbiii^ iAem vidi Ui^
poo tkem to indzilfe dieir irfvncr, and widi shdi^sccae
of wikxt odms sulfa rd br the w, while the wv Ml
pmd lodieirlaEdsuidsiihsIsuiice. Marchufaaviwdivef*
iectcd hk parposr, and in^iicdtiie Vokcians with coai^e,iioCid|f
to meet, but trtn to despise the eneoiT, drew off his putt widvrt
bcinsr molested^

The Vokcian forces assembled with great expedition and ahcntr;
and thev appeared so considerable, that it wiis thought proper toknc
pan to garrisou their towns, while the rest marched artist the Bo*

mans ^Coriobnus leaving it in the option of Tullus which coipsk

would comnia:id, Tullus obsen'ed, that as his collca^e was oottf
all inferior to himself in valour, and had hitherto fought with bctlff
success, he thought it most advisable for him to lead the anny into
the field, while himself stayed behind to provide for the defence
of the towns, and to supply the troops that made the campaigii widi
every thing necessary*.

Marcius, strenj^tliencd still more by this division of the commiDdy
inarched first against Circeii, a Roman colony ; and^ as it sunen*
dered without resistance, he would not suffer it to be plundend.
After this he laid waste the territories of the Latins, expecting tlMl

* It would have been very jmpradent in Tollus to hare left CoiManvB, wfa* ted
beenau eiicmy, and now might possibly be only « pretended friend^ at the beadtftf
ftrniy io the boirclf of his country, while he wm marcbins at the head of

ROlDC.

CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS. 391

the Romans would hazard a battle for the Latins, who were their
Hllies, and, by frequent messengers, called upon them for assists
ance. But the commons of Rome showed no alarcity in the affair,
and the consuls, whose office was almost expired^ were not willing
to run such a risk, and therefore rejected the request of the Latins.
Marcius then turned his arms against Tolerium, Labici, Pedum, and
Bola, cities of Latium, which he took by assault, and, because they
made resistance, sold the inhabitants as slaves, and plundered their
houses. At the same time he took particular care of such as volun-
tarily came over to him; and that they might not sustain any
damage against his will, he always encamped at the greatest dis-
tance he could, and would not even touch upon their lands, if he
could avoid it.

Afterwards he took Bollae, which is little more than twelve miles
from Rome, where he put to the sword almost all that were of age tol
bear arms, and got much plunder. The rest of the Volscians, who
were left as a safeguard to the towns, had not patience to remain at
home any longer, but ran with their weapons in their hands to Mar-
cius, declaring that they knew no other leader or general but hira.
His name and his valour were renowned through Italy. All were
astonished that one man's changing sides could make so prodigious an
alteration in affairs.

Nevertheless, there was nothing bu^ disorder at Rome. The Ro-
mans refused to fight, • and passed their time in cabals, seditious
speeches, and mutual complaints, until news w^as brought that Corio*
lanus had laid siege to Lavinium, where the holy symbols of the
gods of their fathers were placed, and from whence they derived their
original, that being the first city which iEneas built. A wonderful
and universal change of opinion then appeared among the people,
and a very strange and absurd one among the patricians. The people
were desirous to annul the sentence against Marcius, and to recal
him to Rome ; but the senate, being assembled to deliberate on
that point, finally rejected the proposition, either out of a per-
verse humour of opposing whatever measure the people espoused, or

m

perhaps unwilling that Coriolanus should owe his return to the favour
of the people ; or ylse having conceived some resentment against him
for harassing and distressing all the Romans, when he had been in-*
jured only by a part, and for showing himself an enemy to his coun-
try, in which he knew the most respectable body had both sympa-
thized with him, and shared in his ill-treatment. This resolution
being anounced to the commons^, it was not in their power to

* Perhaps the senate now refused to comply with the demands of the people^ either
$Q clear tbemst^lvft from the suspicioa of maiotainiog a corrcspomieDce with Corioianua^

S'J2 PLtTARCB S LIVES.

procenl lo vote or to pass a biU; for a previous decree uf ilie senile
»-as Decessary.

At this news Coriolaniis iras still more exasperated, so that, quil-
ting the siege uf liariniuni^, he tuarched in ^rcat iiiry tonanit
Rome, and encamped only five rnile^* from it, at the »>(s<r Cluili^
The sight of him caused great terror and coDfusion, but, fvr liie pre-
sent, it aliased the sedition ; for ueilbcr mafpstmte nor srianai

duRtt any longer oppose the people's desire to recal him. ^Vbcs

they saw the women ruiiaing up and down tlie streets, and the sa^
plications and tears of the aged men at ihe altars of the gods; whn
all eouTBge and spirit Mere gone, and salutary counsels were m
more; then lliey ackoowledged tlint the people wcie right in cndo-
Toaringtobe reconciled loCorioIanns, and tliat the senate wereufida
*grciU mistake in lieginning to indulge the passions of nngrr andre*
vcuge at a time when they should liave renounced them. All, ihofr
ffoie, agreed to seud ambassadors to Corioliinus to offer him iilwif
to leturu, and to entreat him to put an em! to the war. Thnsc Ari
«ent on the pail of (he senate, being att either relations or fricixb «/
Coriolanus, espceied at the first interview much kiiHlness fromaooD
who was thus connected with them. But ti happened quite oii«3-
wise; for, being conducted through the Volscian ranks, they fouJ
him seated in council, with a number of great officers, and with IB
insufferable appearance of pomp and severity. IK- bade tlinn iIm
declare their business, which they did in a very modest and hualfc
manner, as became the slate of their a^irs.

When they had made an end of speaking, he answered then «tt
macfa bitterness and high resentment of the injuries dune liimtai
ts general of the Volscians, he insisrcd, " Thai the Kooianssbndl
restore all the cities nnd lands which they had taken in ifae ftOtl
wars i and that they should grant by decree the freedom of ibr d^
to the Volscians, as they had done to the Latins : for thni no ladHff
peace could be made bctweeo the two nations, hut up<m these JM
and equal conditions." He gave them thirty days to ronsirfcr tt
them; and having dismissed the ambassadors, he immediately rctiNJ
from the Roman territories.

Several among the Volstlans, who for a long time liad envied !•
reputation, and been uneasy at the interest be had with tbe peopk^
availed themselves of this eircumslancc to calumniate and repnwrfc
him. Tullus himself was of the number. Not iliat he had ntwtJ
any particular injury from Coriolanus, but he was led away by ■ pt-

ponihl; out of that nixgnBiiimilj whieh mide the Roi

re ■Iirndcd wiih bait (ucccu in wd>.

* lie kfl k bvdjr of Hoop) to cuutinu« llie t>l«cka(l*>

o pnc*, wkatt^

CAH'S MARClirS COR10LANI.-3. 3()3

sion lou natural to man. It gave liim pain tg find his own glory ob-
scured, and himself entirely ncj^lcttcd by the Volsclans. wlio looked
upon Coriolanus as their supreme head, and thought that others
mi^ht well be satisfied w!cli that porlioii of power and uuthutity

wliieli he thought proper to allow them. Hence secret hints were

first piven, and in their private ciibiils his enemies expressed their
dissatisfaction, giving the name of treason to his retreat. For
though he liad not betrayed their cities or armies, yet tliey said h*
b:id traitorously given up time, by whieli these and all other things
are both won and lost. He had allowed tliem a respite of no less
than thirty diiys, knowing their affairs to he so embarrassed tli:it they
wanted such a space to re-estulili^h them.

Coricilaiius, however, did not spend those thirty days idly. He
harassed the enemy's allies', laid waste their lands, and took seven
great and populous cities in that intervul. The Romans did nut
venture to send them any succours. They were ns spiritless, and as
little disposed to the war, as if their iHwiies had been relaxed and he-
iiumhed with the palsy.

When the term was expired, and Coriolanus returned with .ill bis
forces, they sent a second embassy, " To entreat liiin to lay aside
his resentment, to draw offihc Volsciqns from their territories, and
then to proceed as should seem most conducive to the advantage of
both nations. For that the Romans would not give up any thing
tlirough fear; but if lie thought It reasonable that the Vulscians
should he indulged in sonic partieularpointsjthcy would be duly con-
sidered, if they laid down their arms." Coriolanus replied, " That,
as a geucral of the Volsclans, he would give them no answer; but,
ns one who was yet a citizen of 'Home, lie would advise and exhoit
them to entertain humble thoughts, and come within tlu'ce days with
a ratification of the just conditions he had pmpnsed. At the same
time, he assured them, that if their resoluiiuns should be of a dif-
ferent nature, it would uot be safe for them to come any more into
his camp with empty words."

The senate, having heard the report of the ambassadors, conaitlcr-
cd the commonwealth as ready to sink In the waves »fn dreadful
tempest, and therefore cast the last, the sacreil am/tor, as it is
called. They ordered all the priests of the gods, the ministers and
guardians of the mysteries, and all that, hy the nneient nsuagc of
their country, practised divination by the flight of birds, to go to,
Coriolanus iu their robes, witli the ensigns wliich they bear iu the

* B^ Ihiilx pmsuieil the illiciof the RonDiDtfraii) •uHiiii|> ihcm, and guardvil
Bgaiiid III* clnt|;( ufueicbery wliich tonic ef llic Valuiuu ncre ivud; to Innc

Vol. 1. No. 15. Ddd

3 94 PLUTARCH*S LIVE8.

iMMMIMM

duties of their office^ and exert their utmost endeavours to persude
him to desist from the war^ and then to treat with his countrymen of
articles of peace for the Volscians. When they came, he did in-
deed vouchsafe to admit them into the camp, but showed them no
other favour, nor gave them a milder answer than the others Inl
received; '' He bade them,*' in short, *' either accept the fonncr
proposals, or prepare for war.''

When the priests returned, the Romans resolved to keep dm
within the city, and to defend the walls; intending only to repulse
the enemy, should he attack them, and placing their chief hopes ob
the accidents of time and fortune: for they knew of noresoarce
within themselves: the city was full of trouble and confnsioOj tenor
and unhappy presages. At last something happened simiburtowhit
is often mentioned by Homer, but which men in general are litde
inclined to believe. For when, on occasion of any great and an*
common event, he says,

Pallas iuspir'd that counsel;

And again.

But some imroortal power who rules the mindj
Chang*d tbeir resolves;

And elsewhere.

The thoughts spontaneous risings
Or by the same god inspir*d • • • •

They despise the poet, as if, for the sake of absurd notions andii-
credible fables, he endeavoured to take away our liberty of will, a
thing which Homer never dreamed of: for whatever happens in tk
ordinary course of things, and is the efiect of reason and consideis-
tion, he often ascribes to our own powers; as,

• • • • M J own great mind
I then consulted ;

And in another place,

Achilles heard with grief; and various Uioughtt
Perplex'd bis mighty mind ;

Once more,

But she in vain

Tempted Bellerophon. The noble youth
With wisdom's shield was arm*d.

And in extraordinary and wonderful actions, which require fone
supernatural impulse and enthusiastic movement, he never intio-
duces the deity as depriving man of freedom of will^ but as momg
the will. He docs not represent the heavenly power as prodnciiS
the resolution, but ideas which lead to the resolution. The acty there-
fore, is by no means involuntary, since occasion only is pventofi*
operations, and confidence and good hope are sapciadded. For

CAIL'S MARCIU3 CORrOLANUS.

either the Supreme Being must be excluded from all casually and
influence upon our actions, or it must be confessed that lliis is the
only way in which he ossisls men, and co-operates with lliem; since
it is not to be supposed that lie fashions our coporca! organs, or di-
rects tlie motions of our hands and feet to the purposes he designs,
but thai, by eertain motives and ideas which he suggests, he either ,
excites the active powers of the will, or else restrains them.

The Roman women were then dispersed in the several temples,
but the greatest part, aod most illustrious of the matrons, made their
supplications at the altar of Jupiter Capitulinus. Among the last
was V^aleria, the sister of the great Publicola, a person who hud done
the Romans the most considerable services both in peaee and war.
Puhlicola died some time before, as we liave related in his life; but
Valeria still lived in the greatest esteem; for her life did lionour to
Her high birth. This woman, discerning by some divine impube
what would be the best expedient, rose and called upon the othei;
matrons to attend her to the house of Voluninia, the mother of Co-
riolanus. When she entered and found her sitting with her daugh-
ter-in-laW) and with the children of Coriolanus on her lap, she ap-
proached he." with her female companions, and spoke to this efl'ect:
" We address ourselves to you, V'olumnia and Vergilia, as women
to women, without any decree of the senate, or order of the con-
suls. But our god, we believe, lending a merciful ear to our pr.iyers,
put it In our niicids to apply to you, and to entreat you to do a thing
that will not only be salutary to us and the other citizens, but more
glorious for you, if you hearken to us, than the reducing their fathers
and husbands from mortal enmity to peaee and friendship was to the
daughters of the Subines. Come then, go along with us to Corio-
lanus; juiu your instances to ours; and give a true and honourable
testimony to your country, that though she has received the greatest
injuries from him, yet she has neither done nor resolved upon any
thing against you in her anger, but restores you safe into his hands,
though perhaps she may uot obtain any better terms to herself oa
tltat account."

When Valeria had thus spoken, tJie rest of the women joined her
request. Volumnia gave them this answer: " Besides the share
whieh we have in the general calamity, we are, my friends, in parti-
cular very unhappy; since Marcius is lost to us, his glory obscured,
and his virtue gone; since we behold him surrounded by the arms
of the enemies of his country, not as their prisoner, but their com-
mander. But it is still a greater misfortune to us, if our country is
become so weak as to have need lo re|M)se her hopes upon us. For
1 know not whether he will have anv regard for us, since he has had

d

■-i9^

Plutarch's lives'.

none for his couiiiry, wliich he used to prefer to his raotlirr, to Uis
wife Bud children. Take us, however, aod nuiko wliat use of us ;-ou
please. Lead us to him. If ive call do notliiDg else, we cu cx|)ire
at liis feet in supplicating for Rome."

She then took the diildren and Vtrgllia with licr*, and went »iA
• the other matrons to the VuUcian camp. The sight of them [iro-
duced, even in the enemy, caaipiusiuu and a rercrcntia] sileiKr.
Coriolanns, who then happened to be seated u|>on the tribunal «iHi
liis principal officers, seeing the women approach, was grcatlir ofi-
tated and surprised. Nevertheless, he endeavoured to retab kit
wonted sierinicss and inexorable temper, though he perceived tin
his wife was at the head of thcui. But, UJiablc to resist the timt-
t'ons of affection, he eouM not suffer them to address himuheoL

He descended from the tribunal, and ran to meet tltcni First Vi

embraced bis mother for a considerable time, and afterwards hi>«^
and children, neither refraining from tears, nor any other instum^
iiatural tenderness.

When he liad sufficiently indulged his pasMon^ and perceired ^
his mother wanted to spcuk, he called the Votscian counsellon t"
him, and Volumiiia expressed herself to this purpose: " ¥oai«,a«
son, by our attire and miserable hxiks, and therefore I mijr spm
myself the trouble of deelaring, io what eondilion your batiUtiA'S
lias rcdueed ns. Tliink Wtli yom-aelf whtther we are not llie m»
unhappy of woniCn, when fortune has ciianged the spectaclr, n*
should have been the most pleasing in the world, into the most dn**-
ful; when Vulumnla beholds her son, and Vcrgitia bcr hu^haiMl, O*
camped !n a hostile manner before tlie walb of h!& native chjr. .^
what to others is the greatest eonsubtion under mUfortuDe kimIi^
versiiy^ I mean prayer to the gods, to us Is reudered iiupmetiaUr;
for we cannot at the same time beg vietury for our toaoj
and your preservution; but what our woim enemies would inpi*'
rate on tu as a curse, must of necessity be iuterworeu with*
pmycTs. Your wife and children must either see their coV?
|>erish, or you. As to my own part, 1 will not live (o see ihiit*
decided by foitunc. If I cannot persuade you to prefer fr»ei>J*f
and union to enmity and its ruinous consequences, and so to beMK,
a hencfaetor to both sides, rather than the <lestractiou of one, y»
must lake tliis along with you, and prepare to exjwct it, tliat yovtt*!
not advance against your country, without trampling upon the ita*

wbeie. aTwt bag debatu, il *m approTcd of b; the latbcta. T1i«ii Val«— r^, Md 0*
niDUillnKciuiitalifac Raniin oiairunt, ill cli"ioH wbicb lU comilU bad otdvH » ^i

tol Kjilv lut IbciB, tuuk ibo^r «»j te llie eoeinj'i ciuip.

CAtUS kARClUS CORIOLANUS. 397

body of her that bore you. For it does not become me to wait for
that day when my son shall either be led captive by his fellow-citi-
2ens, or triumph over Rome. If, indeed, I desire you to save your
country by ruining the Volscians, I confess the case would be Iiard,
and the choice diificult: for it would neither be honourable to de-
stroy your countrymen, nor just to betray those who have placed
their confidence in you. But what do we desire of you, more thaa
fleliverance from our own calamities ? A deliverance which will be
equally salutary to both parties*, but most to the honour of tlie Vol-
sciaos, since it will appear that their superiority empowered them to
^ant us the greatest of blessings, peace and friendship, while they
themselves receive the same. If these take place, you will be ac-
knowledged to be the principal cause of them ; if they do not, you
alone must expect to bear the blame from both nations. And though
the chance of war is uncertain, yet it will be the certain event of
Ais, that if you conquer, you will be a destroying dcmoir to your
country; if you are beiaten, it will be clear tliat, by indulging your
resentment, you have plunged your friends and benefactors in the
gresitest of misfortunes. '*

Coriolanus listened to his motlier, while she went on with her
speech, without saying the least word to her; and Volumnia, seeing
liim stand a long time mute after she had left of^' speaking, proceeded
again in this manner : *^ Why arc you silent, my son ? Is it an honour
to yield every thing to anger and resentment, and would it be a dis-
l^ce to yield to your mother in so im[K)rtant a petition? Or does it
become a great man to remember the injuries done him, and would
it not equally become a great and good man with the highest regard
and reverence to keep In mind the benefits he has received from his
parents? Surely you, of all men, should take care to be grateful,
who haveisuffered so extremely by ingmtitude. And yet, though you
liave already severely punished your country, you have not made your
mother the least return for her kindness. The most sacred ties^both
of nature and religion, without any other constraint, require that
j^u should indulge me in this just and reasonable request; but, if
words cannot prevail, this only resource is left." When she had
said tliis, she threw herself at his feet, together with his wife and
children ; upon which Coriolanus crying out, " O mother ! What it
it yoii have done?** raised her from the ground, and tenderly press*-
faig her hand, continued, ^^ You have gained a victory fortunate for
TOur country, but ruinous to mef. I go, vanquished by you alone."

* She begged a truce fur a ye9j, that iir that tiimt me aiures might be tak«u for letr
likig a solid aud lasting peace.

t He well foresaw that the Voliciaui would uever furgive him the favvur he did their
•aeaies.

3^8 PLUTAmCH*t UTSS.

Theo, after a short confcmice with his iiiodier and wife in priiatt^
he sent them back to Rome, agreeably to their desire. BEcxt
ning he drew off the Volseians, who had not all the
of what had passed. Some blamed him; others,
were for peace, foood no fault; others again, tfaongh th^ Ai^z^mf
what was done, did not look upon Coriolanos as a bad —■fm^ h^
thought he was excusable in yielding to such powerfol *^JM4ta-
tions. Howerer, none persumed to contradict his orders,
they followed him rather out of veneiation for his virtae, tKan
to his authoritv.

Tlie sense of the dreadful and dangerous circumstances wiiicli the
Roman people had been in by reason of the war, never appeared m
strong as when they were delivered from it. For no sooner did tfacv
perceive from the walls that the Volscians were drawing off, thandl
the temples were opened and filled with persons crowned with gw-
lands, and offering sacrifice, as for some great victory. But in no-
thing was the public joy more evident than in the afiectionate ruaid
and honour which both the senate and people paid the
they both considered and declared tlie means of their
Nevertheless, when the senate decreed* that whatever they *h£u»^
would contribute most to their glory aiid satislaction, the conanls
should take care to see it done, they only desired that a temple ni^kt
be built to the fortons of womsn, the expense of which they of-
fered to defray themselves, requiring tlie commonwealth to be at no
other charge than that of sacrifices, and such a solemn service as was
suitable to the majesty of the gods. The senate, though they com-
mended their generosity, ordered the temple and shrine to be erected
at the public chargef ; but the women contributed their money not-
withstanding, and with it provided another image of the goddesiy
which the Romans report, when it was set up in the temple^ to hate
uttered these words: O women ! host acckptablb to thb gods

IS THIS your pious GIFT.

They fabulously report that this voice was repeated twice, thus of-
fering to our faith tilings that appear impossible. Indeed, we irill
not deny that images may have sweated, may have been covered with
tears, and emitted drops like blood. For wood and stone often coo-
tract a scurf and mouldiness that produces mobture ; and they not
only exhibit many different colours themselves, but even receive

* It was decreed that an encomiam of those matrons should b« engrftTca on a f«h-
lie monument,

t It was erected in the Latin way, about four miles from Rom«, on the plaee
Volumnia liad overcome the obstinacy of her son. Valeria, who bad proposed ao
fttl a deputation, was the first priestess of this temple, which was mnch freqnealsd by
tht Roman women. Dion, H^icor. p. 479« jfiO. Liv. lib. U. c 40.

CAIUS MARCIITS fORIOXANL'S. 399

vnriely of Imctures from the ambient air; at the same time there is
HO rcasoa why the Deity may not make use of these signs tuaoounce
things to coine. It is also very possible that a sound like tiiat of a
sigh or groati may proceed from a statue, by the rupture or voilent
separation of some of the interior parts; but that an articulate voice
and expressioQ so clear, so full and perfect, should fall from a tiling
inanimate] is out of all bounds of possibility. For neither the soul
of man, nor even God himself, can utter vocal sounds, and pronounee
Mords, without an organized body, and parts fitted for utteratiee.
Wherever, then, htstory asserts such tilings, and bears us down witli
the testimony of many credible witnesses, we must conclude that
some impression, not unlike thai of sense, influenced tlie imugiiia-
tion, and produced thebelief of areal sensation; as in sleep we seem
to hear what we hear not, and to see what we do not see. As for
those persons who are possessed with such a strong sense of religion
that they cannot reject any thing of this kind, they found their faith
on the wonderful and ineompreliensiljle power of God: for there
b no manner of resemblance between him and a human being, either
in his nature, his wisdom, his power, or his operations. If, there-
fore, he performs something which we cannot effect, and executes
what with us is impossible, there ts nothing in this contradictory to
reason ; since, though he far excels us in every thing, yet the dissi-
militude and distance between him and us appears most of all in
the works which he halh wrought. But much knowledge of Ihingt
difiue, as Heraclitiis iiflirms, escapes us through tvunt of faith.

When Coriolanus returned, after tliis expedition, to Atitium, Tul-
lus, who boili hated and feared him, resolved to assassinate him im-
mediately; being persuaded that if he missed this he should not have
such another opportunity. First, therefore, he collected and pre-
pared a number of accomplices, and then called upon Coriolanus to
divest himself of his authoiity, and give an account of his conduct to
the Volucians. Dreading the cousetpience uf being reduced Ui a pri-
vate station, while Tullus, who had so great an interest with hU
countrymen, was in power, he made answer, that if the Volsciiiiis
required it, he would give up his commission, and not otl'crwise,
since he liad taken it at their common request; but that he was
ready to give an account of his behaviour even then, if the citizens
of Antium would have it so. Hereupon they met in full assembly,
and some of the orators that were prepared for it, endeavoured to
exasperate the populace against him. But when Coriolanus stood
up, the violence of the tumult abated, and he had liberty to sjKak ;
the best part of the people of Antium, and those tliat were must in-
clined to peace, appearing ready to hear bim with candour, and to
pass sentence witli ccjuity : Tullus was then afraid that he would

■400 Plutarch's lives.

make but too good a rlefcncL*; Tor he was an floqucm man, and (Ik
former advantages which he had procured the naticHi outuvi^iicd
his present offence. \ay, the very impeachmeDt was n cleat ^tau(
of the greatness of the Ijencfits he had conferred upoo tlictn; fot tJiCf
would never have thought themselTcs injured id not u6Bquctiii^
Rome, if they had not been near taking it throagh his niciuis. Tint
conspirators, tlierefbre, judged it prudent out to wait any ioogcr, «
to tiy (lie muhitude ; and the boldest of their faction crying out ifart
a tntitor ought not to be heard, or suffered by the VotscUns to an like
tyrant, and refuse to lay down his autliority, rushed upon liiin in ■
body, and kilk-d him on the spot' ; not one thnt was pre«e« Miiiaf
a hand to defend him. It was soon evident that thU wt» mit iaat
with the general approbation; for they assembled from severel cttkt
to give his body an honourable hurlalt, and adorned his nKWumcM
with arms and spoils, as became a distinguished warrior snd fcoaA

"When the Romans were informed of his death, they ibcwcd a*
sign either of favour or resentment. Only ihey permitted the wgme^
at their rcfjuest, to go into mouniing for ten months, as they uicd**
do for a father, a son, or a brother ; this being the lunircst Icim far
mourning allowed by Numa Pompilius a* noticed in his life.

The Volscian atiairs soon wanted the abilities of Marcius. fa,
first of nil, in a dispute which tliey had with die ^Squi, tlmr took
and allies, which of the two nations sliould giv« a ^iierni to tbcirK-
mies, they proceeded to blows, and a number were killed and irwu^
ed; and aflerwtiids coming to a battle with the llonians, in «i«C^
they were defeated, and Tullus, together whh the flower of tbcir wi^
slain, they were forced to accept of vecy dikgmceful cotuUim^ «C
peace, by which they were reduced tu the obedience of Uuinc, «J
obliged to accept of such terms as the conquerors would allow ikcik

* I)ionj>iunJofHiiric«ma»u. snji, lli«i Ihey Wnned liim to de«ih.

t Thej drouil him in lii* gnierHl'i tubn, ind liid hii corps on ■ M^aHt^ ^m,
which wBs earned b; tncli yuunij officert » were itiMt diuiDguubed f«t tlwir aMihri i»
ploili. Uclutc him wfk b<>mc ihr >j>ui1) be li*d ULeo ftom Ibe oncny, ifaaoBavte
bid (niiied, and |>]niis al' llii: citici he Imd l.iLrn. lu tint enter liis kulj •*( lai^ia
the |)ilc, while levijsl vkiims wcte sliin in honour lo liis moniir^. \V|,rn tbe |ak ra
coiuuniuit, the} gKllicrcl up hli ulici, which Uiey iaterccd on tlit spot, bikI riinri •
pugni6ceiil nianuncnl theic. CorioUiina wu aliin ia the ttaaai ynr of the ^ilmt
third Ul7iu|ii»d, ind In the two hundred and Mxty-Mxih ytn o( Ktmn, kod «uki (^
•Rer hit lir<i ciiinpai|n. Accoiding to thi> account, Ue died in il>e llwvi at hi* ^t; M
Liny inr«rnu U) Ctuni Faliiui, a rcrjr aocicul buIIidc, that be lived tiJl he ««■ -rrj^j
■iid thai in the decline of life he was wool tuuy, that <• aiiatc of eiilc wm klwait^
cumfoilable, but more <n to an old man titan lo another." We cannot ifant, h^a^in,
thai Coriolanut grew old among the VulJtciLins; had lie done tn, hU T*1ininli wumM t>W
piEMrfcd lUeai horn ruin ; and, anet 'I'ullui wa> ilain, he w«uM have liiwmd tkfr^
fairs, anil liavc got iheio adniited to tli« right* and iititil«|ei o/
tatDC luminor ai the Lulmi,

ALCIBIADES AND CORIOLAKUS COMPARED. 40l

ALCIBIADES AND CORIOLANUS

COMPARED.

HAVING now given a detail of all the actions of these two great
men, that we thought worthy to be known and remembered, we may
perceive at one glance, that, as to their military exploits, the balance
is nearly even. For both gave extraordinary proofs of courage as
soldiers, and of prudence and capacity as commanders-in-chief;
though perhaps some may think Alcibiades the more complete gene-
ral, on account of his many successful expeditions at sea as well as
land. But this is common to both, that when they had the com-
mand, and fought in person, the aflfairs of their country infallibly
prospered, and as infallibly declined when they went over to the
enemy.

As to their behaviour in point of government, if the licentiousness
of Alcibiades, and his compliances with the humour of the populace,
were abhorred by the wise and sober part of the Athenians, the proud
and forbidding manner of Coriolanus, and his excessive attachment
to the. patricians, were equally detested by the Roman people. In
this respect, therefore, neither of them is to be commended; though
he that avails himself of popular arts, and shows too much indul-
gence, is less blamable than he who, to avoid the imputation of
obseqiousness, treats his people with severity. It is, indeed, a dis-
grace to attain to power by flattering them; but, on the other hand,
to pursue it by acts of insolence and oppression, is not only shame-
ful, but unjust.

That Coriolanus had an openness and simplicity of manners, is ia
point beyond dispute, whilst Alcibiades was crafty and dark in the
proceedings of his administration, ^i'he latter has been most blamed
for the trick which he put upon the LiicedsBmonian ambassadors, as
Thucydides tells us, and by which he renewed the war. Yet this
stroke of policy, tliough it plunged Athens again in war, rendered
the alliance with the Mantineans and Argives, which was brought
about by Alcibiades, much stronger, and more respectable. But
was not Coriolanus chargeable with a falsity too, when, as Dionysius
informs us, he stirred up the Romans against the Volscians-, by load-
ing the latter with an infamous calumny, when they went to see the
public games? The cause, too, makes this action the more criminal;
for it was not by ambition or a rival spirit in politics, that he was in-
fluenced, as Alcibiades was; but he did it to gratify his anger, a pas
sion whichy as Dion says, is ever ungrateful to its votaries. By
this means they distuibed all Italy ; and^ in his quarrel with his coun^
Vol. 1. No. 15. eke

only it) compHssioii to a woniini. For the fnt'oiir was
and so far from being engaging, lliat, in fact, it stMritt-tf,
cruelly, und consi^uently was unacccptalilc to both panks. Ht
retired witliout being won by llif supplications of ihostf lie nf H
viclt, and without consent of those for uliotn he uixfenoai
it. The cause of all wliich was, the austerity of lib naanKts
Ills arrogance and inflexibiltiy of tnia<l, things hateful niMfb w
the people at all times; but, when united with ambition, »mp
and intolerable. Persons of his temper, as if they hiui no need rf
honours, neglect to ingratiate themselves with t)ie niuliitudc, u'
yet are excessively chagrined when tlmse are denied tbeiu. fi»
true, tteitlier Mctellus, nor Aristides, nor B|>aniiDODtIas, wen pliut
to the people's humour, or eould submit to Hatter tliem; bHiiha
they had a thorough contempt of every thing that the people ctwU
either give or take away ; and when iliey were banished, or, on Of
Other occasion, miscarried in the suffhiges, or were cMmdemntd*
large fines, they nourished no anger against their ungrateful cotf
trymen, but wire satisfied wiih their repentance, and rcconciU*
them at their reijuesl. Aud, auvely, he who is sparing in !»«••
duities to the piople cim but with an ill grace think of rrioiiit
auy slight he muy sufi'er; for extreme resentment in case of •-
appointment iu a pursuit of honotir must be tlie effect of an amm
desire of it.

Aleibiailes, for his part, readily acknowledged (hat he was ctea-
ed with honiiurs, and that he w;is very uncnsy at l>eing ueglrc^i
and therefore he endeavoured to recuiuracnd himself tu those brbil
to do with by every engaging art. But the pride of CoriolaiuB -wJ
not jictmit him to make his court to those who were capable o(tm-
ferring honours upon him; and at the same time his ainbitioo SIki
him whh legrct and indigiutiun, when they passed him by. IT*
then, \s tlu: blameubie purt of his character; all the rest is grt^u'
gluriiMis. In iHtint of tempeniuce aud disregard of riches, be is ft
to be compared with the most iHustiious examples of intcentrii
Greece, aud not with Alcibiades, who, in this respect, was the i
profligate of men, and had the least regard for decency and honoaf-

TIMOLEON.

THE alTairs of the Syrucusaus, before Tiaiolcon mu fcnt ha
Sicily, were in this posture : Dion, having driven out I>Mnn>ai tte
tyraat, was soon assassinated; those that ivith hini hod bceo ik

TIMOLEOV. 40fi

'■■ "1 , i"j ■'■■J ■ ■ . ■ ■ =t

means of delivering Syracuse were divided among themselves; and
tlie city, which only changed one tyrant, for another, was oppressed
%vith so many miseries that it was ahnost desolate^. As for the rest
of Sicily, the wars* had made part of it quite a desert, and most of
tlie towns that remained were held by a confused mixture of bar-
barians and soldiers, who, having no regular pay, were ready forivery
change of government.

Such being the state of things, Dionysius, in the tenth year after
his expulsion, having got together a body of foreigners, drove out
Nysseus, then master of Syracuse, restored his own affairs, and re-
established himself in his dominions. Tims he wIk) had been unac-
countably stripped by a small body of men of the greatest power that
any tyrant ever possessed, still more unaccountably, of a beggarly
fugitive, became the master of those who had expelled him. All,
therefore, who remained in Syracuse, became slaves to a tyrant who
at the best was of an ungentle nature, and at that time exasperated
by his misfortunes to a degree of savage ferocity. But the best and
most considerable of the citizens having retired to Icetes, prince of
the Leontines, put themselves under his protection, and chose him
£6r their general. Not that he was better than the most avowed
tyrants, but they had no other resource ; and they were willing to
repose some confidence in him, as being of a Syracusan family, and
faaving an army able to encounter that of Dionysius.

In the mean time, the Carthaginians appearing before Sicily with
a great fleet, and being likely to avail themselves of the disordered
atate of the island, the Sicilians, struck with terror, determined to
send an embassy into Greece, to beg assistance of the Corinthians;
not only on account of their kindercd to that peoplef, and the many
services they had received from them on former occasions, but be-
cause they knew that Corinth was always a patroness of liberty, and
an enemy to tyrants ; and that she liad engsiged in many considerable
wars, not from a motive of ambition or avarice, but to maintain the

* UpoD Dion's deaths hU murderer Caiippus usurped the supreme power; but ader
ten muntiis he was driven out, and sluin Miih tlie same dagger it^hich he h»d planted in
the breast of iiis friend. Hipparinus, the brother of Dioti^sius, arriving with anunieroui
Sect, possessed himself of the city of Syracuse, and >ield it for the space of two 3*ears,
Syracuse and all Sicily being thus divided into parties and factions, Dionysius the
2^ouDger, wlio had been driven from the throne, taknig advantage of these troubles, a|«
scnibled some foreign troops; and having deieuted Ny!»3:u^, v^iio was thru governor of
Syracuse, reinstated himself in his dominions.

t The Syracusans were a colony from Corinth, founded by Archias the Corinthian iu
tlie second year of the eleventh Olympiad, seven hundred and thirty-three years before
the Christian era. Sicily had been planted with Phtrnicians end other barbarous peo-
ple, at the Grecians called them, above three huudied years before.

400 Plutarch's lives.

ftecdom Hod i(ide|)endency of Gr'i-cc- Hercopon Icctrt. wfasf in-
tention in acccplingllie cnnnnHnd was not so much to iJcItTrrSm-
eiue JVom lis tyrants, as to set up himself ilicre in the sameofHcilT,
trmtcd privately with the Carthaginians, while in [itiblichecannMs-
ieA the design of the Syrncusans, and dispatclied Hmhn^adan Amf
with tfteirs into Pctoponneaua. Not that he was desiixxH of M«-
cours from thence, hut he hopi'd that if the Corinihisns, on accottnt
uTthe troubles of Greece and their engagements at home, shooMfM
it was likeiy enougli, tkelinc sending any, he might the morensSr
incline the balm-.ee to the side of the Oirthn^i iii nns, nnd then Bnlv
tne of their alliance and their foi'ce<!, cither ngainsi die Sj-ransn
or their present tyrant. Timt such were his views^ n little tiaie db-
covered.

When the ambassadors arrived, and their business was fcijmni, Ae
Corinthians, always ace u Slam cd to give )uirttculnr ttltention loilv
coneerDs of the colonies, and especially those of Syrucuse, sma hf
good fortune they hud nothing lo molest them in their uwn comtn,
readily passed a vote that the succours should be granted. The aat
thing to be considered was, vi ho slmuld he general ; when the iM^
Irates put in noniiiiaiinn such as had endeavoured to distin^ub
themselves in ilie state ; but one of the ^lebeiatis stood up and pM-
posedTimoIeon, the son of Ti mod emu*!, who as )*ct had no shsreii
the business of the commonwealth, and was ^o far from hopiif tt
wishing for such an appoimmcnt, that it seemed some god inspiitj
Lim with the thought; with such indulgence did fortune immediaffctf
promote his election, and so much did her favotir afterwards sigtnlar
his actions, and add lustre toJiis vidour!

His parentage was noble on both sides, for both his failter Ttaw
demus and hb mother Demariste wereof thchesi fninilies in Conn*.
His love of his country was remarkable, and su was the mildoevif
his disposition, saving ihat he bore an extreme hatred to tyraot* tat
wicked men. His n:tiural abilities for war went so happily- teoiper-
ed, that as an extraoi-dinary prudence was seen in the enterprises irf
his younger years, so an uiidnunted courage distinguished hb ^
eliningage. He had an elder brother, named Timophanes, wteK-
sembled him in nothing; being rash and indiscreet of himself m'
utterly corrupted besidc!^ by the pavsion for sovereignty infused am
him by some of his profligate acquaintanee, and certain fomgn «)'*
diers whom he had always about him. He appeared to be impctwW
in war, and lo court danger, which gave his countrymen sorh id
opinioa of his courage and activity, that they frequently Jottwi*
ed hiiii witli tlic command of the army. And in these aMtt«rt
Tinii>Ieun much afsisled bim, by entirely cooccaliitg, or at lewt n-

TIMOLEON. 4Qf

tctmating his faulu, and magnifying the good qualties which nature
had givcu him.

In a battle between the Corinthians and the troops of Argos aoA
Cleone, Timoleon happened to serve among the infantry, when Ti-
mophapes, who was at the head of the cavalry, was brought into ei:*
treme danger; for his horse being wounded threw him amidst tlic
enemy. Hereupon part of his comjianions were frightened, and
presently dispersed; and the few that remained, having to fight widi
numbers, with difficulty stood their ground. Timoleon, seeing hit
brother in these circumstances, ran to his assistance, and covered hiui
as he lay with his shield, and after having received abundance <^
darts and many strokes of the sword upon his body and his armour, bj
great efforts repulsed the enemy, and saved him.

Some time after this, the Corinthians, apprehensive that their city
might be surprised through some treachery of their allies, as it had
b^n before resolved to keep on foot four hundred mercenaries, gave
the command of them to Timophanes. But he, having no regard
to justice or honour, soon entered into measures to subject the city
to himself, and having put to death a number of the principal inha;^
bitants without form of trial^ declared himself absolute prince of it,
Timoleon, greatly concerned at this, and accounting the treacherouf
proceedings of his brother his own misfortune, went to ex))ostulate
with him, and endeavoured to persuade him to renounce this niad-»
ness and unfortunate ambition, and to bethink himself how to mak«
his fellow-citizens some amends for the crimes he had committed*
Sut as he rejected his single admonition with disdain, he returned
a few days after, taking with him a kinsman, named iEschylus, bro-
ther to the wife of Timophanes, and a certain soothsayer, a friend of
his, whom Theopompus calls Satyrus, but Ephorus and Timaeus
mention by the name of Orthagoras. These three, standing round
bim, earnestly entreated him yet to listen to reason, and change hi^
mind. Timophanes at first laughed at them, and afterwards gave
way to a violent passion ; upon which Timoleon stepped aside, and
stood weeping, with his face covered, while the other two drew their
swords, and dispatched him in a moment*.

The matter being soon generally known^ the principal and most

* Diodoruty in the ckcumstanccs of this facf» differs from Plataich. Hetclis us, that
Timoleoo having killed bis brutbcr in the market-place with his own baud, a great ttimul(
Aroae among the citizens. To appeasa this tnmult, an assembly' was convened ; and ia
fbe height of their debates the S^racusao ambassadors arrived, demnnding a general:
Whereopon they unanimously agreed to send Timoleon; but first let him know that if
he discharged his duty there well, he should be considered as one who bad killed a cyraut;
if Bof^ w the murderer of his brother. Dwd§r, Skul, 1. ^ti. c 10.

408 PLUTARCH 9 UVES.

valuable pnrt of the CorinthluDS extolled Timoleon's detc^UliM of
wU'kedne^^s, anJ that greatness of sou! wliicli, notwiihstandin^ tbe
^ntlenrss trf his licart and his afl'ectlon to his relations, Icil htm to
prefer his cmintry to hi» family, and justice and honour to inirxctt
and advantage. While his brother futight valiantly for hts coubitt,
he had saved Inm ; and slain hint wlicn he had treachcnnisly ensiumf
it. TIhisc who knew not how to live in a dtmocracy, and liail Wn
used to maki; their court to men in power, pretended iodved toir-
joice at the tyrant's death ; but, at the same time, reviling Tlmolna
as ptilty of a horrible and ttn|iious deed, they created him grot oa-
easiness. Hlien he heard how heavily his mother bore it, and thu
she uttered the most dreadful wishes and imprecatious against Um,
he went lo excuse it, and console her; but she could not endure lit
thought of seeing; hJm, and ordered the doors to he shut a^ifist turn.
He then became enlively a prey to sorrow, and nttempted to put U
end lu his life by abstaining from all manner of food, lo theie oa-
hiippy circumstances, his friends did not abandon him. They eia
added force to their entreaties, till they prevailed un him to live. He
determined, however, to live in solitude; and acoordingly bevidb-
drew from all public aflairs, and fur soipe year^ did not so math v
approach tin- city, but wandcri'd about the most glootny |iiui« of kii
grounds, and gave himself up to melancholy. Thus the jud^nwnt,
if it borrows not from reason and piiilo!so))hy sufTieient Mrengtb ui
steadiness for action, is easily unsettled and depraved by any nmal
commendation or dispraise, and departs from its own purposes. R>
an action should not only be ju^t and laudable in itself, tnuiht
principle from which it proceeds firm and iniRiovcnblc, iu ordmlMl
our conduct may have the sanction of our own apprubatiun; otlo*
wise, upon the completion of any undertaking, we shall, ihrouf^cw
own weakness, be tilled with sorrow and remorse, and the Npleodid
ideiLs of honour and virtue that led us to perform it wilt vantah, JM
as the gluiloii is soon cloyed and disgusted with the luscious liuUt
which lie had devoured with too keen an appetite. Refct-
tanee tarnishes the best actions; whereas the pkii|Misi>s thai m
grounded upon knowledge and reason never chaii^, though ibtf
may happen to be disH|)puintcd of success. Hence it w-»n that Flo-
cion of Athens, havitig vigorously opjKJscd the procccdiiijes of Ue«»-
thenes*, which, notwidistaiiding, turned out niucb luore \fap\Jij
than he expected; when he saw the Athenians ofTerinf* sacritii.'e, uJ
elated with their victory, told them, he tva* glad t{f their mereUt
Imt, ifitu'iis lo do over again, he should give the samr tmaatL
gtiil stronger was the answer which Aristidca the Luctiao, cae tt
* Sue Ihv liiroff buciea.

TIMOLEON. 409

Plato's intimate friends, gave to Dionysius the elder, when he de-
manded one of his daughters in marriage, I had rather see the virgin
in her grave than in the palace of a tyrant. And when Dionysius
soon after put his son to death, and then insolently asked him,
JFhat he iww thought as to the disposal of his daughter? lam
sorry, said he, fpr what you have done, hut lam not sorry for
what I said. However, it is only a superior and highly accomplished
virtue that can attain such heights as these.

As for^Timoleon's extreme dejection in consequence of the late
fact, whether it proceeded from regret of his brother's fate, or the
reverence he bore his mother, it so shattered and impaired his spirit3,
tliat for almost twenty years he was concerned in no important or
public afiair.

When, therefore, he was pitched upon for general, and accepted
as such by the suffrages of the people, Teleclides, a man of the
greatest power and reputation in Corinth, exhorted him to behave
well, and to exert a generous valour in the execution of his com-
mission : For^ said he, if your conduct be good, we shall consider
you as the destroyer of a tyrant; if had, as the murderer of your
brother.

While Timoleon was assembling his forces, and preparing to set
sail,, the Corinthians received letters from Icetes, which plainly dis-
covered his revolt and treachery. For his ambassadors were no
sooner set out for Corinth than he openly joined the Carthaginians,
and acted in concert with them, in order to expel Dionysius from
Syracuse, and usurp the tyranny himself. Fearing, moreover, lest
he should lose his opportunity by the speedy arrival of the army from
Corinth, he wrote to the Corinthians to acquaint them, " That
there was no occasion for them to put themselves to trouble and ex-
pense, or to expose themselves to the dangers of a voyage to Sicily;
particularly as the Carthaginians would oppose them, and were
watching for their ships with a numerous fleet; and that indeed, on
account of the slowness of their motions, he had l>een forced to engage
those very Carthaginians to assist him against the tyrant."

If any of the Corinthians before were cold anjl indifferent as to the
expedition, upon the reading of these letters they were one and
all so incensed against Icetes, that they readily supplied Timoleon
with whatever he wanted, and united their endeavours to expedite
his sailing.

When the fleet was equipped, and the soldiers provided with all
that was neo^ssary, the priestesses of Proserpine had a dream, where-
in that goddess and her mother Ceres appeared to them in a travel-
ling garb, and told them^ " That they intended to accompany Timo-

VOL.I. No. 15. FFF

,\

410

PLUTARCH S LIVES.

A

leon into Sicily." Herfupoii the Corinthians equipped « Mcrcd
galley, which they called the galleif iif the gtiddemes. Tiffit'Iroo
himself went to Delphi, where he utfcrcd sacrifice to Apollo; ao^
upon his descending ioto the place where the oracles ui-iericllm^
was surprised with this wonderful occurence : A UTeath, cmbnAkr-
ed with crowns and images of victory, slipped duwD from anw;
the offerings that were hung up there, and fell upon TimoI«n'f
head, so that Apollo seemed to send him out crowned u[ioa thi
enterprise.

He had seven-ships of Corinth, two of Corcyra, and a tenth fiad
out by the Leucadians, with'which He put to sea. Itwasindt
night that he set sail, and with a prosperous gnic lie was makiog^
way, wlien, on a sudden, the heavens seemed to be rent tsavAa.
and to pour upon his ship a bright and spreading flame, which
formed itself into a torch; suili as is used in the sacred mysttri*
and, having conducted them through their whole course, b
them to tliat quarter of Italy for which ihey desij^ned to steer. T*
soothsayer declared tliat this appearance perfectly aj^rcedwtdi*
dream of the priestesses, and tint by this light from heaven tbf pi"
esses showed themselves interested in the success of the cxpeiriBi
particularly as Sicily was sacred to Proserpine; it being &Ueito
her rape happened there, and that the island was bestowed oo 1b»
a nuptial gift.

The fleet, thus encouraged w^th tokens of the divine ftvoBT,""?
soon crossed the sea, and made the coast of Italy. Bui the ■*
brought thither from Sicily mueti perplexed Timolcon, and&fcoA'
encd his forces. For Icetes having beaten Dionysius in asethrt**!
and taken great part of Syracuse, had, by a line of circumv^l*^
shut up the tyrant in the citadel, and that part of the city whid*
called the jsland, and besieged hJm there. At the same diw '
ordered the Carthaginians to take care that Timoleon shooW
land in Sicily; hoping, when the Corinthians were driven of, «
out further opposition, to share the' island with his new allie*. IV
Carthaginians accordingly sent away nventy of their gHlIejs (o ~
gium, in which were ambassadors from Icctcs to Timolcon, ttiBfi
with proposals quite as captious as his proeeediugs them!irhct:((
they were nothing but specious and artful words, invented Wg
colour to his treaeheruus designs. — ^Thcy were to make an ufier,"'

• Uitrt, finding himscTf in •rini protiiioDi, mihilrew friMi th» tiegt ^ Sji^
lawtidt hit awn country j wfaeteupon Dionjiiui mirchcil out asd MtwL><kii^
Bui Icctci facing aboul. dcr««Kd hini, killed Ihiee itinBUad of hii B<a, laJ. f^^
bim m(o ttt dlj, got po»e!iion of part of il. Otir nulliut ubicrfcd, aWdrWt*^*
SjrKuie being divided b; Rranj walli, wu, aiil ittt*,«D mcmhUgt ot dUia.

> k

TIMOLEON. 411

Timoleon might, if he thought proper, go and assist Icetes with his
couDsel, and share in his successes : but that he must send back his
ships and troops to Corinth, since the war was almost finished, and the
Carthaginians were determined to prevent their passage, and ready
to repel force with force."

The Corinthians, then, as soon as they arrived at Rhegium, meet-
ing with this embassy, and seeing the Carthaginians riding at anchor
near them, were vexed at the insult: a general indignation was ex-
pressed against Icetes, and fear for the Sicilians, whom they plainly
saw left as a prize to reward Icetes for his treachery, and the Cartha-
ginians for assisting in setting him up tyrant. And it seemed im-
possible for them to get the better either of the Barbarians, who were
watching them with double the number of ships^ or of the forces of
Icetes, which they had expected would have joined them, and put
themselves under their command.

Timoleon, on this occasion, coming to an interview with the am-
bassadors and the Carthagian commanders, mildly said, *^ He would
submit to their proposals," for what could he gain by opposing
tliem? ^^ but he was desirous that they would give them in publicly
before the people of Rhegium ere he quitted that place, since it was
a Grecian city, and common friend to both parties. For that this
tended to his security, and they themselves would stand more firm-
ly to their engagements, if they took that people for witnesses to
them."

This overture he made only to amuse them, intending all the while
to steal a passage ; and the magistrates of Rhegium entered heartily
into bis scheme: for they wished to see the ailairs of Sicily in Co-
rinthian bauds, and dreaded the neighbourhood of the barbarians.

.They summoned, therefore, an assembly, and shut the gates, lest
the citizens should go about any other business. Being convened,
they made long speeches, one of them taking up the argument where
another laid it down, with no other view than to gain time for the
Corinthian galleys to get under sail ; and the Carthaginians were
easily detained in the assembly, as having no suspicion, because Timo-
leon was present; and it was expected every moment that he would
stand up and make his speech. But, upon secret notice that the
other galleys had put to sea*, and his alone were left behind, by the
help of the Rhegians, who pressed close to the rostrum^ and concealed
him amongst them, he slipped through the crowd, got down to the
Mhort, and hoisted sail with all speed.

* The Carthaginians belicTed that the departure of thosa nine galleys fot Corinth
hmd been agreed on between the officers of both parties, and that Uie tenth was U{i be-
hind to «artj Timoleon to Icetes,

4\4

I'LLTARCH S LIVE5.

fortunate prelude ; for several cities, by their ain1>a5sadofs, im-
mediately joined in altiancc with Timoleon ; and Maiuercui, so-
Tercign of Catana, a warUlfe and wealthy prince, entered into the
confederacy. But, what was still more miitcrial, Dionysius himself
having bid adieu to hope, and lutalilc to hold out much longer, in-
pising leetcs, who was so .shamefully beaten, and admiring ttie
bravery of Timoleon, oHered to deliver up to liun and the Coiiu-
thians both himself and the citadel.

Timoleon accepted of this good fortune, so superior to his hc/ffs,
and sent £uelides and Telemachus, two Corinthian oi^cers, into die
ritadel, as he did four hundred men besides, not altogether Dor
openly, for that was impossible, because, the enemy tvcre apoD tbeir
guard, but by stealth, and few at a time. This corps, then, took
possession of the citadel aud the tyrant's moveables, with all that be
had provided for carrying on the war, namely, a gi>od number of
horses, all manner of engines, and a vast quantity of daris. They
found also arms for seventy thousand men, which had been [aid up
of old, and two thousand soldiers with Dionysius, whom he dclirerd
up, along with the stores, to Timoleon. But the tyrant reserreil lu»
money to himself, and having got on board a ship, he sailed witlii
few of his friends, without being perceived by Icetes, aud rmcW
the camp of Timoleon.

Then it was that he first appeared in the humble figore of a pb-
vatc ruan*^, and, as such, he was sent with one ship, and a very Bi*>
derate sum of money, to Corinth ; he that was bom iu a splei^
court, and educated as heir to the most absolute mouarchy that cm
existed. He licid it for ten yearsf i and for twelve more, from tbe
time that Dion took up arms against him, he was e.ven;is«d rao-
tinually in wars and troubles ; insomuch that the mischiefs cxaMi
by his tyranny were abundantly recompensed upon bis own bead m
what he suffered. He )>aw his sons die in their youth, his daagbu
de6owered, and his sister, who was also Ids wife, exposed to the
brutal lusts of his enemies, and then slaughtered with her childfca,
and thrown into the sea, as we have reloted more pniticuUrly in tk
life of Dion,

When Dionysius arrived at Corinth, there was hardly a ii»aii
Greece who was not desirous to see bim and discourse with bin.

• Dii.li

t for I.

^hud

tbii>Iute power, wlicrcu moil olber t^uiti, DiaajM^
id llieiiuelvei tD it, and tomt froiu > iticu coaditiwk
rrign in llti. Titil ytu o( Itie bundted aud third OtjmpM, ^w

hnsdrod ind •ixj-tin yean briore ibc Chriitina tt%, Dion iMh

the fuurlli jru of Uie liuiidiEd mid nilli Oljrmpiid ; uid lie deliTottd ap thm

TimoIwB, lad nuunl toCuriuth, ia tba fimjcarpftbt bu&dtrd udaiMk

^^

TIMOLEOT^. 415

Some hating the man, and rejoicing at his misfortunes, came for
the pleasure of insulting him in his present distress : others, whose
sentiments with respect to him were somewhat changed, and who
were touched with compassion for his fate, plainly saw tlie influence
of an invisible and divine power displayed in the affairs of feeble
mortals; for neither nature nor art produced in those times any
thing so remarkable as that work of fortune * which showed the man^
who was lately sovereign of Sicily, now holding 'conversation inu
butcher's shop at Corinth ; or sitting whole days in a perfumer's ;
or drinking the diluted wine of taverns ; or squabbling in the streets*
with lewd women; or directing female musicians in their singing,
and disputing with them seriously about the harmony of certain airs
that were sung in the theatre f*

Some were of opinion that he fell into these unworthy amuse-
ments as being naturally idle, effeminate, and dissolute : but othere
thought it was a stroke of policy, and that he rendered himself des-
picable to prevent his being feared by the Corinthians, contrary to
his nature, affecting that meanness and stupidity, lest they should
imagine the change of his circumstances ^at heavy upon him, and
that he aimed at establishing himself again.

Nevertheless, some sayings of his are recorded, by which it
should seem that he did not bear his present misfortunes in an ab-
ject manner. Wlien he arrived at Leucas, which was a Corinthiaft
colony as well as Syracuse, he said^ *^ He found himself in a sitvat^
tion like tliat of young Aien who had been guilty of some misde-
meanors : for, as they converse cheerfully, notwithstanding, with
their brothers, but are abashed at the thought of coming before their
fathers ; so he was ashamed of going to live in the mother city^ and
could pass his days much more to his satisfaction with them/*
Another time, when a certain stranger derided him at Corinth, in a
very rude and scornful manner, for having, in the meridian of his
power, taken pleasure in the discourse of philosophers^ and at last
asked him, " What he had got by the wisdom of Plato ?" ** Do you
think," said he, " that we have reaped no ad\^ntage from Plato,
when we bear in this manner such a change of fortune ?" Aristox-
cnus the musician, and some others, having inquired *' What was
the ground of his dbpleasure against Plato?** he answered, "That
absolute power abounded with evils ; but had this great infelicitj

* PIntarch adds, nor art, to give us to uuderstand that the tragic poets bad not re-
presented so signal a catastrophe even in fable.

t Some writers tell os» tbat the extreme poverty to which he was reduced obliged
him to open a school at Corinth, where be exercised that tyranny over children whicb
be could no longer practice over men. Sic, Tuk* Qucft. 1. iii.

4l6

PLUT.ARCHS LIVES,

above all tlie rest, th»t among the oRniber oi those wlio call ibcm-
selTCR the friend of an arbitrary prince, there U not one wlio *ill
speak his mind to biiii freely ; and that hj such &l»e frtends bt bad
been deprived of the friendship of Plato."

Some one who had a mind to be arch, to male meny witb Dio-
cysius, shook his robe when Ite entered his apartment, as is nsol
when persons approach a tyrant; and he, returning the jest ray
well, bade him " Do the same when he weut out, thai he migbt
not earry off some of the moveables."

One day, over their eups, Philip of Macedon, witb a IuimI of amer,
introduced some discourse about the odes*" aud tntgedies "mtidk
JKonysius the elder left behind him, and pretended to doubt knr
be could find leisure for such works. Dionj'sius answered smndf
CDOUgb, " They were written in the time which you and I, t^
other haijpy fellows, spend over the bowl."

Plato did not see Dionysius in Corinth, for he had now be«n M
some time. But Diogenes of Sinope, when he first met hJBi,ri-
dressed him ns follows : — " How little dost th<*u di^erve to lire '.'
Thus Dionysius answered: " It is kind in you to sympathiu w<i
me ill my misfortunes." " Dost thou think ibcn," said Diogea&
" that 1 have any pity for thee, and that I am not rather vexwl ^
sudi a slave as thou art, and so fit to grow old and die like itj k-
ther oi\ a tyrant's uneasy tlirone, should, instead of that, live witliv
here in mirth and pleasure f" So timt when I compare with dot
words of the philosopher the doleful expressions oi" Philistw, ii
which he bewails the fate of the dauj^hiers of Leptiiies t, " TH
from the great and splendid enjoyments of absolute power, A?
were reduced to a private and humble station," they appeiu lo*
the lamentations of a woman who regrets her perfumes, hrr
robes, and golden trinkets. 'I'bis account of the sayings of DiiwH*
scetns to mc neither foreign from biography, nor without itt laij

* Dioiijiiui the cl<lcr Ttliicd himKlf opim liii poclry, but has b«cn

II punt in the Hudd. Phil»
nndeceive him in llie l'iiiourab)ii opii
tlic fuuiin for Iho libtriy lir iMk.
vaui, and DiuD^iiut repi-alcd la liin
vilfaj cxpccliiiK hii gppmhalion. Bi

»1>o

iniwlfai

the guild 1. nnd i

NotwitbDinding this
but Ihrre he was Win

Ihom irry liiimoroiulj:
Dionjiioi diiputcd Ihr pri
d, and the rich paTilion be

on he had of his own abiliiiu.
However, the ncxi d>» be ■«

aomc vcties he had uLeo e>
the poet, iiutead of giTtag it.

tnil his phyiiciani gure him one th.
t Lepiines, MmcnlLOBtd below,

' Take me bMi tw
o( poeir; at Iha
d tent torn in piecea.

K he giiiied [he priie of poetrj t *
e wai in sucli laptorei (hat be dnok le
I pains ; to ullay which, ht asLn) fa
laid him asleep, out of which bt
•n tjaai. at ApoUwDia.

J

1

TIMOLEON. 417

to such readers as are not in s liurry, or taken up with other con-
cerns.

If the ill fortune of Dionysius appeared surprising, the success of
Timolcon was no less wonderful ; for within fifty days after iiis
landins; in Sicily he was master of tlie citadel of Syracuse, and sent
off Dinnysius into Peloponnesus. The Corinthians, encouraged
with these advantages, sent liim a reinforcement oi two thousand
foot and two hundred horse. These got on tlieir way as far as Thu-
riuin; but finding it impracticable to gain a passage from thence,
hceause the sea was beset with a numerous fleet of Carthaginians,
they were farced to stop there, and watch their opportunity. How-
ever, tliey employed their time in a very noble undertaking ; for the
Thurians, marching out of ihcir city to war against the Brutians,
left it in charge with these Corinthian strnngerR, who defended it
with as much honour and integrity as if it liad been their own.

Mean time, Icetes carried on the siege of the citadel with great
vigour, and blocked it up so close that no provisions could be got
in for the Corinthian garrison. He provided also two strangers to
assassinate Timoleon, and sent them privately to Adranum. That
general, who never kept any regular guards about bim, lived then
with the Adrauilcs without any sort of precaution or suspicion, by
reason of his confidence in (heir tutelary god. The assassins, being
informed that he was going to ofter sacrifice, went into the temple
with their poniards under their clothes, and, mixing with those that
stood round the altar, got nearer to him by little and little. They
were just going to give each other llic signal to begiu, when some-
body struck one of (hem on the bead u ith his sword, and laid bim at
bis feet. .—Neither lie that struck the blow kept bis station, nor the
companion of the dead man ; the former, with bis sword in his Iiand,
fled to the top of a high rock, and the latter laid bold on the altar,
entreating Timoleon to spare his life, on condition that he diseo-
vi-ri'd tlic whole matter. Accordingly ]}ardun was promised him,
and be confessed tliat be and the person who lay dead w<;re sent on
purpose to kill him.

Whilst he was making this confession, the other man was brought
down from the rock, and loudly protested that he was guilty of no
injustice, for be only took righteous vengeance on the wTetcb who
had murdered his father in the city of Lcontium'^. And for the
truth of this lie appealed to several that were there present, who all
attested liic same, and could not but admire the wonderful manage-
ment of fortune, which, moving one thing by another, brioging to-

* Hillary can hirdlj klTiMd • tltttsgai laitance D(>a iulcifiring Pbdvipliici.

Vol. 1. No. 13. e««

418 PLtlTARCIl's LIVES.

gclher llic most distant incidents, and combining tliose tliat ha^c no
inanufrof icktiun, bat ruther llie greatest dissiniilariiy, makes sucli
use of them tliat thu close of one process is alwayN [li« beginning of
aDDitier. The Corinthians rewarded ilie man with a present of Wo
vaiur, because his hand )iad eo-operaicd with the guardian genius of
Timolcon, and he liad reserved the satisfaction for his prime ^rtinjs
tu the time wiien fortune availed Uirselfof it to save the geneiaL
This happy escape had effects beyond the present, for it inspired ihe
Corinthians with high expectations of Timoleon, when they sn
the Sicilians now reverence and guard him as a man wliosc penon
was sacred, and who was come, as minister of the gods, to avenge
and deliver them.

VVlien Icctes had feiled in this attempt, and saw many of the St-
cilians going over to Timoleon, he blamed himself for making tuettf
the Carthaginians in small numbers only, and availing IuomO
of their assistance as it were by stealth, and as if he were ashanwdt/
it, when they liad such immense forces at hand. He sent, thetefcw,
for Mago their commander-in-chief, and his whole 6cct; wl)o,wiik
terrible pomp, took possession of the harbour with a hundred uJ
fifty ships, and landed an army of sixty thousand men, wkidi «-
camped in the city of Syracuse ; insomuch that every one ioaagiK'
the inundation of barbaiian.<:, which liatl been announced and a-
pected of old, was now come upon Sicily. For in tlie many ■»
which tliey had waged in that island, the Carthaginians had ana
before been able to take Syracuse ; but Iceles then receivitig ika^
and delivering up the city to them, the whole became a camp of bv
bariaos.

The Corinthians, who still held the citadel, found ihenuelaak
very dangeriKia and dlfEcult circumstances ; for, besides thai ikf
were in want of provisions, because the port was guaixM aJ
bloeked up, they were employed in sharp aiid conlinua) dctpMi
about the walls, which were attacked with all manner of machiaM
and batteries, and for the defence of which ihey were obl^ •
divide themselves. Tlmoieon, however, found means to relieve tho^
by sending a supply of corn from Cntaita in small 6»hing-bo«tK at
little skifls, which watclicd the opi«>rtuniiy to make thair "if
through the enemy's fleet, when it happened to be srparaieJ If i
Btonn. Mago and Icetes no sootier saw this, (ban ther molt«iJ •
make themselves masters of Catana, from which prmrnion* wm
eeitt to the besieged; and, taking with them the bi-st of their tnif%
they sillied from Syracuse. Leo the Curinthixn, who cOMMnnMl*
tbc citadel, having ohaerrcd from the lop of it, ihat tfagae d 4i

TIMOLBOK. 419

enemy who staid behind abated their vigilance, and kept but an iu-»

different guard, suddenly fell upon them as they were dispersed ;

and killing some, and putting the rest to flighty gained the quarter

called Achradinaj which was much the strongest, and had suffered

the least from the enemy ; for Syracuse is an assemblage, as it were^

of towns *. Finding plenty of provisions and money there, he did

not give up the acquisition, nor return into the citadel, but stood

upon his defence in the Achradinaj having fortified it quite rounds

and joined it by new works to the citadel. . Mago and Icetes were

DOW near Catana, when a horseman, dispatched from Syracuse^

brought them tidings that the Ackradina was taken ; which struck

them with such surprise, that they returned in great hurry, having

neither taken the place which they went against, nor kept that which

they liad before.

Perhaps prudence and valour have as much right as fortune to lay
claim to these successes ; but the eveut that next ensued is wlioUy
to be ascribed to the favour of fortune. The corps of Corinthians
that were at Thuriura, dreading the Carthaginian fleet, which, under
the command of Haimo, observed their motions, and finding, at tho'
same time, that the sea for many days was stormy and tempesta-^
ous, determined to march through the country of the Brutians ; and^
partly by persuasion, partly by force, they made good their passage
through the territories of ttie barbarians, and came down to Rhe-
gium, the sea still continuing rough as before.

The Carthaginian admiral, not expecting the Corinthians would
venture out, tliought it was in vain to sit still ; and having pei^
suaded himself that he had invented one of the finest stratagems in
the worhl, ordered the mariners to crown themselves with garlands^
and to dress up the galleys with Grecian and Phoenician bucklers^
and, thus equipped, he sailed to Syracuse. When he came near
tlie citadel, he hailed it with loud huzzas and expressions of triumph,
declaring that he was just come from beating the Coriistl|^u sue*
cours, whom he had met with at sea, as they were endeavouring at a
passage. By this means he hoped to strike terror into the besieged*
While he was acting this part, the Corinthians got down to Rhe-
gium, and as the coast was clear, and the wind falling as it were
miraculously, promised smooth water and a safe voyage, they imme-
diately went aboard such barks and fishiiig-bot^ts as they could find,

* There were four; the hie, or the citadel, which was between the two porti; Achrct'
\, at a little distance from the citadul; Tyche, so called from the temple of fortune;
Keapolit, or the new city. To tiiese s^me eminent aathort (aad Plutarch ia of (ho
number) add a fifths which they calUd EpipoUe,

4S0

PLUTARCH S LrvES,

and posscd over inio Sicily wiih so much safely, and id such ■ dead
calm, that they even drew tbc liorses by the reins, swimming bj tbc
side of the vessels.

When they were all landed, and liad joined llmoleon, he
took Messana * ; and Irom thence he marched in good oHer w
Syracuse, depending more upon his good fortune than fail forces,
for he had not above four thousand men with him. Oa the SaA
news of his approach, Mago was greatly perplexed and atanned,
his suspicions were increased on the folluwing occasions : 7W
marshes about Syracuse t, which receive a great deal of fresh
from the springs, and from the lakes and rivers that discha^ ttiCK-
selves there into the sea, have such abundance of eels, that then *
always plenty for those that choose to fish for them. The camao
soldiers of both sides amused themselves promiscuously wkh (te
sport at their vacant hours, and upon any cessation of armt. A<
tliey were all Greeks, and had no pretence for any private aninKsi^
against each other, they fought boldly when tlicy met in hatile, iri
in time of truce they mixed together, and conversed famitiirit.
Busied at one of these times in their common di\-ersioQ of fitbiifi
Ihey fell into discourse, and expressed their admiraiiun of the cco-
venience of the sea, and the situation of the adjacent places. WhfK-
upon one of the Corinthian soldiers thus addrcssetl tho&c that ttnA
under Icefes: "And can you, who ate Greeks, readily count ■
reduce this ciiy, so spacious in itself, and blent with so iiunrW>
vantages, into the power of the barhnrians, and to bring tbc Ctf-
thaginians, the most deceitful and bloody of them nil, inta a*
neighbourhood ; when you ought to wish that between them wi
Greece there were many Sicilies ? Or can you think that iheybt
brought an armed force from the pillars of Mercules and ibe Adv
tic Ocean, and bnived the liazards of war, purely to rrvct a pwi-
pality for Icetes, who, if he had had the prudence which brcaaci
general, would never have driven out his founders to call iovki
country the worst of i!s enemies, when he might hiivr obtaiocJi'
the Corinthians and Timoleon any proper degree of hixwitf o'
power?"

The soldiers that were in pay with Icetes, repealing tbeif ^
courses often in their camp, gave Mago, who had kni;; wuurf*
pretence to he gone, room to suspect that he was bcnayed. .W

Mrw-i

a in Ilie a

neien

SLci

>t> pronnncml

Tber«

one nior

lUtl

at Lie

liJcd LyiimrtU

he e)t]t

nxAiUD

UK.

The

e rawuw. •>.>

ft«**

.te tliD air or SjncaM Mrji ■

TIMOIJSOK. 491

though Icetes entreated him to stay^ and remonstrated upon their
great superiority to the enemy^ yet he weighed anchor, and sailed
back to Africa, shamefully and uuaccountably suffering Sicily to slip
out of his bands.

Next day Timoleon drew up his men in order of battle before
the place ; but when he and his Corinthians were told that Mago
was fled, and saw the harbour empty, they could not forbear laugh-
ing at his cowardice ; and J>y way of mockery, they caused procla-
mation to be made about the city, pinmising a reward to any one
who could give information where the Carthaginian fleet had gone
to hide itself. Icetes, however, had still the spirit to stand a further
shock, and would not let go his hold, but rigorously defended those
quarters of the city which he occupied, and which appeared almost
impregnable. Timoleon, therefore, divided his forces into three
parts; and himself with one of them made his attack by the river
Auapus, where he was likely to meet with the warmest reception ;
commanding the second, which was under Isias the Corinthian, to
begin their operations from the jichroMnaj while Dinarchus and
Demaretus, who brought the last reinforcement from Corinth,
should attempt the EptpoUe : so that several impressions being
made at the same time, and on every side, the soldiers of Icetes were
overpowered, and put to flight. Now, that the city was taken by
assault, and suddenly reduced, upon the flight of the enemy, we may
jiistly impute to the bravery of the troops, and the ability of their
general ; but tliat not one Corinthian was either killed or woanded,
the fortune of Timoleon claims entirely to herself, willii^, as she
jeems, to maintain a dispute with his valour, and that those who
lead his story may rather admire his happy success than tiie inerit
of his actions. The fame of this great achievement sooo orcrfprcad
not only Sicily and Italy, but in a few days it resouded UmTooA
Greece ; so that the city of Corinth, which wa» io
ther its fleet was arrived in Sicily, was iofomcd fagr
aengers that its forces had made good their partagr
torious. So well did their aflairs prosper, aw! «» lanea u^r.-e &i
fortune add to the gallantry of dsdr cxp&MS*, z.f tiie ^peeisukean ^
Aelr execution.

Timoleon, thus master of the thaiA, &i anc pneaeii Ske Dfavav
or spare the place for its htmrnw wm4 — giiliii mir ; mc rkarHEnf
against the suspicions wiuA £nc ifiimfc iisif aad thmi •teusro'it rhat
jpneat man, he ordered thepaftSeeriorta cepc mancBj, ^Tmt «t) fh^
SyneoMans who warn wSBmg^ a» uwe a haoii la dia -wwfc aK/i*^
come with proper instnaBcaai ta 4atmff ibt hohndu n4 fjfnh^J-
gcreppontbcycamaaMeaBiall, i iiJiiiiinthacygv^imtffl^***^

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4 • '

TIMOLEOK. 423

iivercd a Grecian city from tyrants, saved it from the barbarians,
and restored the citizens to llieir country. But thf persons wlio met
on ttiis occasion at Corinth, not being a sufficient number, desired
that they might take others along with them from Corinth and the
rest of Greece, as new colonists; by which means having made up
their number full ten thousand, they sailed to Syracuse, By this
time great multitudes from Italy and Sii-ily had flocked in to Tirao-
!con ; who finding their number, as Atlmnis rci»orfs, amount to sixty
thousand, freely divided the lands among them, but sold the houses
for a thousand talents. By this contrivance he both left it in the
power of the aneient inabilanis to redeem their own, and took oc-
casion also to raise a stock for the community, who had beCn so poor
in All respects, and so tittle able to furnish (he supplies for the war,
that they had sold the very statues, after having formed a judicial
process against each, and passed sentence upon them, as if they liaJ
been so many criminals. On this occasion, wc are told, they spared
one statue, when all the rest were condemned, namely, that of
GeloD, one of their aneient kings, in honour of the man, and for the
sake of the victory * which he gained over the Cartlia^niaos at
Himera.

Syracuse being thus revived, and replenished with sueh a number
of inhabitants who Hocked to it from all quarters, Timoleon was de-
sirous to bestow the blessing of liberty on the other cities also, and
once for all to extirpate arbitrary government out of Sicily. For this
purpose, marching into the territories of the petty tynmts, he com-
pelled Icetes to quit the interests of Carthage, to agree to demolish
his castles, and to live among the Leontines as a private person.
Lepiines also, prince of Apollouia and several ulher Htlle town^,
finding himself in danger of being taken, surrendered, and had his
life granted him, hut was sent to Corinth; for Timoleon looked
upon it as a glorious thing that the tyrants of Sicily should be forced
to live as exiles in the city which had colonized that island, and
should be seen by the Greeks in sueh an abject condition,

After this, he returned to Syracuse to settle the civil government,
aad to establish (he most Important sud necessary laws f, along wtlh

^

• H

aefMled lUmikmr. wl

o t.ndcc) in SicJI;, wtlh tl.rf

c>iandr(dtbuij»i>d

luca.

in (l>e ,r

CO-.J je.

of Ibe «venty

liftb UJjnt)ia.l.

1 Among olhef

■, lie mipoiiiled ■ cliicf magii

raw lo !i«

hnwTl Tt

"Ir,

wton the SjruTu

«u» cbIJbiI til

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kiod«r

twndch

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<inc>. Krt

IB >r<>*e

tU

CUkUM

■BDBgtb

Sjiacuuiu 10

cumpule tLCii ye«n Lj rho

rttpccllr. g

utniiar

l>t>f

Uiew mBguUiiIci ; Mliicli cutWin oanlmucd iu tli« that ut Umduiui SiluImi. i<
(be rcigo ol Au^uUut, above iliiri bundled veuii ajut tlic OlEcc u( Aatf/tijioliu
iDtradaced. IHodcr. Skal. lib.xii. c. IS.

424 TLUTARCH S tn-XS.

Cephalus and Diiiarchus, lawgivers sent from Cofintb. h the
neaii wliilfj williti)^ tiiat the niiTcenaries should rvap sooe 14(11-
tagc from the €n*;my's countiy, an<l be krpt from inactkit), be wot
Dinorchus and Demaretus into the Canha^nian prorince- Tbew
dfew several eitics from the Punic iniefesi, and not oolylifcdta
abundance themselves, but also raised oioney from the plobiki fv
carrying on the war. VVIiilc these matters were transacting, tfce
Carthagiaiaiis arrived at Lllybsum with serenty tbuosaitd faa4-
foices, two hundred galleys, and a ihousaod other %-eswIs, wHA
cartied machines of war, chariots, vast quantities of prot-isioot, ai
all other stores; as if they were now determined not to ctirfot^
war by piecemeal, but to drive the Greeks entirely out of Skilf : fct
tlieir force was sufficient to effect this, ereii if the Sidfins W
been united, and much more so, harassed as tliey were
animosities. When the Carthaginians therefore found that
cilian territories were laid waste, they marched, under the
of Asdi'ubal and Hamilcar, in great fury agalust ibc CoriDtloBK^

Infurniation of this being brought directly to Syracuse, the id*-
bitants were struck with such terror by that prodigious annaiMfl^
that scarce three thousand, out of ten times that number, VoA tf
arms, and ventured to follow Timolcon. The mcrcenarica mm a
number four thousand, and of them about u tlmusand ^ve Wf >
their fears when upon their march, and turned back,
" That Timoleon must be mad, or in his dotage, to go
army of seventy thousand men with only live thousand fog^
thousand liorsc, and to draw his handful of men, too, e^ht
march from Syracuse; by which means there could be no ntugikl
those that fled, nor burial for those that fell hi battle."

Timoleou considered it as an advantage that these cowards dbco-
Yered themselves before the engagement; and having encour^t'
the rest, he led tliem hastily to the banks of the Ciimesus, where kc
was told the Carthaginians were drawn t(^tihcr. But as he im«-
cendtng a hill, at the top of which ilie enemy's camp, atwl aU ihdt
vast forces, would be in sight, he met some mules li
parsley, and his men took it into their heads [hat it was a
because we usually crown the sepulchres with |wrsley
the proverb with respect to one that is dangerously ill,
haxneed of nolhing but pnrsley. To deliver them from thllM^
perstiiioD, and to remove the panic, Timoleou ordered the
to halt, and making a speech suitable to the occaaioii
among other things, "Tliat crowns were brouglit them before tbt
lictory, and ofFercd ihemselves of their own accord," For the Cch-
rinthians from all antiquity lianng looked upon a wrcatti gf pankf

TIMOLEON. 425

ts sacred, crowned the victors with it at the Isthiiican games ; in
Timolcon's time it was still in use in those games, as it is now at
the Nem^an, and it is but lately that the pine-branch has taken it^
place. The general having addressed his army, as we have said,
took a chaplet of parsley, and crowned himself with it first, and
then his officers and the common soldiers did the same. At that in-
stant the soothsayers observing two eagles flying towards them, one
of which bore a serpent, which he had pierced through with his ta-
lons, while the other advanced with a loud and animating noise,
pointed them out to the army, who all betook themselves to prayer
and invocation of the gods.

The summer was now begun, and the end of the month T/iarge^
lion brought on the solstice; the river then sending up a thick
mist, the field was covered with it at first, so that nothing in the
enemy's camp was discernible ; only an inarticulate and confused
noise, which reached the summit of the hill, showed that a great
army lay at some distance. But when the Corinthians had reached
the top, and laid down their shields to take breath, the sun had
nised the vapours higher, so that the fog, being collected upon the
summhs, covered them only, while the places below were all visi-
ble The river Crimesus appeared clearly, and the enemy were
seen crossing it, first with chariots drawn by four horses, and for-
midably provided for the combat, behind which there marched ten
thousand men with white bucklers. These they conjectured to be
Carthaginians, by the brightness of their armour, and the slowness
and good order in whicli they moved. They were followed by the
troops of other nations, who advanced in a confused and tumultu*

^ ous manner.

Timolcon, observing that the river put it in his power to engage
with what number of the enemy he pleased, bade his men take no-
tice how the main body was divided by the stream, part having al-
ready got over, and part preparing to pass it, and ordered Demare-
tus with the cavalry to attack the Carthaginians, and put them in
confusion, before they had time to range themselves in order of lit-
tle. Then he himself, descending into the plain with the infant<^,
formed the wings out of other Sicilians, intermingling a few stran-
gers with them ; but the natives of Syracuse, and the most warlike
of the mercenaries, he placed about himself in the centre, and
stopped awhile to see the success of the horse. When he saw that
they could not come up to grapple with the Carthaginians, by reason

. of the chariots that ran to and fro before their army, and that they
were obliged often to wheel about to avoid the danger of having
their ranks broken, and then to rally again and return to the chai^i
Vol. 1. No. 15. lUiH

»

4f6

PLUTARCH 5 Ln'ES.

sometimes here sometimes there, he took his buckler, and called U
the foot to follow him, aiid l>e of good courage, with aa accei
seemed more than humao, so much was it ahovc his ustulpitdij
whether it was esalted by liis ardour and enihu-siasm, or wh^dha,
as many were of opinion, the voice of some god was joined
owu. His troops answering hiui with a loud shout, and pressiiig
him to lead them on without delay, he sent orders to tlic caraltr n
get beyond the line of chariots, and to take the enemy io flwt,
while himself thickening his first ranks, so as to join budder U
buckler, and causing the trumpet to sound, bore down opoo dt
Carthaginians. They sustained ihe first shock with great spirit; b^
being fortified with breast-plates of iron and helmets of bniss, ai
covering themseh'es wiih large shields, ihey could easily repel it
spears and javelins. But when ihc business came to a deciiioD if
the sword, where art is no less requisite than .strength, all on ■sol-
den there broke out dreadful thunders from the mountains, min^
with long trulls of ligliinlDg; after which the black cloud), it-
scending from the tops of the hills, fell upon the two armin in I
storm of niudj rain, and liail. The tempest was on thebacU^
the Greeks, but beat upon the faces of the barbarians, ajidilaK
blinded them with the stormy showers, and the fire tumiUM^T
streaming from the clouds.

These ihiiigs very much distressed the barbarians, parliciAdF
such of them its were not veterans. The greatest incoovciwMt
seems to have been the roaring of the thunder, the cli)1tering atii
rain and hail upon their arms, which hindered ihciii frx>in heatf
the orders of their oflicers. Besides, the Carthagiuiaus mrtbog
light, but heavy-armed, as I said, the dirt was troublesome to thta;
and as the bosoms of their tunics were filled with water, they "W
very unwieldy in the combat, so that Ihe Greeks eould ovtitin
them with ease, tiud when they were down, it was impossible f^
them, incumbered as they were with arms, to get up out oftk
mire; for the river Crimesus, swollen partly with the raiu, ai
partly having its course stopped by the vast numbers that ctoucd i^
hv,' overflowed Its banks. The udjaccDi field, having uuny arifin
end low places in it, was filled wiib water, which settled tbcfv, »J
the Carthaginians falling into them, could not disengage tltcinsrlRi
without extreme dilficulty. In short, the storm coniiuuing la bert
upon thein with great violence, and t<ie Greeks having cut toniKa
four hundred men, who composed their first ranks, their vlMk
body was put to flight; great numbers were overi4keo lu tkefid^
and put to the sword; many Iwik to the tiver, and, josiltng "iA
those that were yet passing it, were carried dowD aod drowanl} tt*

TIMOLEOK. 427

major part, who endeavoured to gain the hills, were stopped by the
light armed soldiers, and slain. Among the ten thousand that were
killed, it is said there were three thousand natives of Carthage; a
heavy loss to that city; for none of its citizens were superior to
these, either in birth, fortune, or character; nor have we any ac-
count that so many Carthaginians ever fell before in one battle; for,
as they mostly made use of Lybians, Spaniards, and Numidians in
their wars, if they lost a victory, it was at the expense of the blood
of strangers.

The Greeks discovered by the spoils the quality of the killed.
Those that stripped the dead set no value upon brass or iron, such
was the abundance of silver and gold; for they passed the river, and
made themselves masters of the camp and baggage. Many of the
prisoners were clandestinely sold by the soldiers, but five thousand
•were delivered in upon the public account, and two hundred cha-
yiots also were taken. The tent of Timoleon afforded the most
beautiful and magnificent spectacle: in it were piled all manner of
spoils, among which a thousand breastplates of exquisite workman-
ship, and ten thousand bucklers, were exposed to view. As there
was but a small number to collect the spoils of such a multitude,
And they found such immense riches, it was the third day after the
battle before they could erect the trophy. With the first news of
•flie victory, Timoleon sent to Corinth the handsomest of the arms
he had taken, desirous that the world might admire and emulate his
native city, when they saw the fairest temples adorned, not with
'Grecian spoils, nor with the unpleasing monuments of kindred
blood and domestic ruin, but with the spoils of barbarians, which
bore this honourable inscription, declaring the justice as well as
valour of the conquerors, " Thjit the people of Corinth, and Ti-
moleon their general, having delivered the Greeks who dwelt in Si-
cily from the Carriiaginian yoke, made this offering as a grateful
>acknowledgment to the gods."

After this, Timoleon left the mercenaries to lay waste the Cartha-
giuian province, and returned to Syracuse. By an edict published
there, he banished from Sicily the thousand hired soldiers who de-
serted him before the battle, and obliged them to quit Syracuse be-
fore the sun set. These wretches passed over into Italy, where they
were treacherously slain by the Brutians. Such was the vengeance
which Heaven took of their perfidiousness.

Nevertheless, Mamercus, prince of Catana, and Icetes, either
moved with envy at the success of Timoleon, or dreading him a^
|m implacable enemy, who thought no faith was to be kept with ty-
rants^ entered into a league with the Carthaginians, aud

428 Plutarch's lives.

them to send a new army and general, if they were not willing to
lose Sicily emircly. Hereupon Gisco came with a fleet of seventy
ships, and a body of Greeks whom he had taken into pay. The
Carthaginians had not employed any Greeks before, but now they
considered them as the bravest and most invincible of men.

On this occasion, the inhabitants of Messana rising with one con*
sent, slew four hundred of the foreign soldiers whom '^Timoleon liad
sent to their assistance ; and, within the dependencies of Carthage,
the mercenaries, commanded by Euthymus the Leucadian, were cut
off* by an ambush, at a place called Hierie*. Hence the good for-
tune of Timokon bcciime still more famous : for these were some of
the men, wIk), with Philodemus of Phocis, and Onomarchus, had
broke into the temple of Apollo at Delphi, and were partakers with
them in (he sacrilege f. \^hunncd as execrable on this accooDt,
tht^y Wandered about Peloponnesus, where Timoleon^ being in great
Fant of men, took them into \ydfi^ When they came into Sicily^
t^ey were victorious in all the battles where he commafided in per-
ifion ; but after the great struggles of the war were over, being sent
'^ upon service where succours were required, they perished by little
' and little. Herein avenging justice seems to have been willing to
make use of the prosperity of Timoleon as an apology for its delays
taking care as it di<l, that no harm might happen to the good from
the punishment of the wicked ; insomuch that the favour of the
gods to that great man was no less discerned and admired in h»
very losses than in his greatest success.

l'[)on any of tiiese little advantages, the tyrants took occasion to
ridicule the Syracusans, at wliich they were highly incensed. Ma*
mcrcus, for instance, who valued himself on his poems and tragedies,
tilked in a poiniK}us manner, of the victory he had gained over the
nicrceriaries, and ordered tiiis insolent inscription to be put upoa
the shields which he dedicated to the gods :

Tliese >hioMst »iili g«»I'i and ivorjr gay
To <»ijr plain buckliTK lost the day.

Afterwards, when Tiinoleon was laying siege to Calauria, Icetes

• Wc do ii'il lind lliirc was any pl.icc in Sicily called 1 1 lent : in all probabilkj*
thcrcloro, it ^hullld be road Il'mta: : tur Sii'plianus de Urbib, ueutiont a ca:btle.ui Sicilj
•f that iiuinc.

t The far rill war conitm need on this oeeasion. The Auiphictyons having cnndvmnrd
the people of Pli »ci^ m a heavy fine, lor plundering the country of Cyrrha, which
dediriited to Apntio, and that people being uiiuhle to pny it, their whole country
Judged rorfeiicd to that god. Hereupon Philonielus, not Philodemus, called the pcoplt
together, and advised ihem to seize the treasures in the temple of Delphi, to enable
fhcQi to hire forces to dclcitd theniiieives. This brought on a war that lasted six yean:
in the course of which mo^t of the SHcrilcgious persons perished miserably.

I Tbey were shields that had btcu taLcu out of the temple at Delphi.

>'

TIMOLEON. 4^

'I '■!!.' I li ■ I" 'I ' ■ =S

took the opportunity to make an inroad into the territories of Syra-*
cuse, where he met with considerable booty ; and having made great
havock, he marched back by Calauria itself^ in contempt of Timo-
leon and the slender force he had with him. Timoleon suffered
him to pass, and then followed him with his cavalry and light-
armed foot. When Icetes saw he was pursued, he crossed the Da-
myrias ^, and stood in a posture to receive the enemy on the otlicr
side. What emboldened him to do this, was the difficulty of the
passage, and the steepness of the banks on both sides. But a strange
dispute of jealousy and honour which arose among the officers of
Timoleon, awhile delayed the combat : for there was not one that
was willing to go after another, but every man wanted to be fore-
most in the attack; so that their fording was likely to be very
tumultuous and disorderly, by their jostling each other, and pressing
to get before. To remedy this, Timoleon ordered them to decide
the matter by lot, and that each for this purpose should give him his
ring. He took the rings, and shook them in the skirt of his robe,
and the first that came up happening to have a trophy for the seal,
the young officers received it with joy, and ci*ying out that they
would not wait for any other lot, made their way as fast as possible
through the river, and fell upon the enemy, who, unable to sustain
the shock, soon took to flight, throwing away their arms, and leaving
a thousand of their men dead upon the spot.

A few days after this, Timoleon marched into the territory of the
I^eontines, where he took Icetes alive ; and his son Eupolemus, and
Kuthymus, his general of horse, were brought to him bound by the
aoldiers. Icetes and his son were capitally punished, as tyrants and
traitors to their country. Nor did Euthymus Gnd mercy, though re«
markably brave and bold in action, because he was accused of a severe
sarcasm against the Corinthians. He had said, it seeihs, in a speech
he made to the Leontines, upon the Corinthians taking the field,
•* Thiit it was no formidable matter if the Corinthian dames were
gone out to take the air." Thus the generality of men are more
apt to resent a contemptuous word tium an UDJust action, and can
bear any other injury better than disgrace. Every hostile deed is
imputed to the necessity of war, but satirical and censorious cxpres-
lions are considered as the effects of hatred or malignity.

When Timoleon was returned, the Syracusans brought the wife
and daughters of Icetes to a public trial, who, being there cou-
demned to die, were executed accordingly. This seems to be th^
most exceptionable part of Timoleon 's conduct; for, if he had in-
terposed, the women would not have suffered. But he appears to

* Or the Lamyriai.

430 flitarch'* LHTS-

iar* coiisiTed at ir. tr.- r'^cn zzt:n so zo zh
people, who wrre w^illrriT :o zr^e «^ -n€

Arere, the wir» of Dion, his «i«ter ArifTocsci&e. arvf hit sob, vIm
«2S )tc a chiM, alive into the sea, as we care leL&icd in the EJetf

lot.*,

Tizr^jUrm then marched to Cataca agaicst 3fafnrrcvLS, wknari
for htm in order of battle. i:i>od the ba::ks of tbe Abolcs -**. liias*
ca« ir-4.s defeated and pot to flight. vi:h the loss of ahcne two Aoi-
saz.d n^fn, no small pan of which consisted of tbe Panic soecoBi
sent bj Gisco. Hereupon the Carrhaginians desired him to cna
them peace, which he did on the followinz coaditioas : " Am tki
Si)0>ild hold onlr t):e lands within the Lrciis 1 : thst ther
permit all wlio de:^ired it to remove out of their prtnioce, vitfc
frmilies a^d goods, and to settle at Syracase ; and that dfter
renounce all friendship and alliance with the tTrants."
reduced Lv this treatv to despair, set sail for Icalv, widi an imeata
bring the Lucanians against Timoleon and the Syracasans. B«t, a-
stead of tLat, the crei^s tacking aliout with the galleTS. and
to Sicily, delivered up Catana to Timoleon ; which obliged
ens to tatce refuge at Messana with Hippo, the prince of dnt cili;
Timoleon coming upon them, and investing tbe place both bj si
and land. Hippo got on board a ship, and attempted to makelii
escape, hut wns taken by the Me^sanians themselves, v-ho
Iiim in the theatre, and calling their children out of the
to tKc finest spectacle in tV;C world, the punishment of a tyrant, dxt
first scourged him, and then put him to death.

Upon this Mamcrcus surrendered himself to Timoleon, ureoig
to take hi> trial at Syracuse, on condition that Timoleon hiinsdf
would not be his accuser. Being conducted to Syracuse, ill
brought before the people, he attempted to pronounce an oratioai
which he had composed long before for such an occasion : but beiaj
received with noise and clamour, he percei\~ed that the assembif
were determiaed to show him no favour. He therefore threw of

* Fro-n this pu^ai"*, and anoihrr brfjre, it seems as If tbe life of I>ion
t^:orr ti..i. Aod vet, iii il.e l.le of Dion, Plutarch speaks at if this w«i
IrtiT tr.' re, he s i\ *, Ai ui- h'zie vritten in the life efTimttiion, In one of thcoip c
if t:fA ^1. b/li, ih'fuc reference* niu»t hare beeu made bj llie librmrians, accofdiBf la thi
dif?rrfi:i ^.flcr .n wlii^h thf** Ii?e» were placed.

t Ftoleojv and others call this river Aiahui, Alabis, or Almhem. iKbacarHjUi;
bctw^eu C^taua and .>\racu»e.

; i':utarrh prubably tcx^k the name of tl*is riTer as he fuvnjl it in Diodons; ktf
other historians call it the Ilal^cus. Indeed, the Carthaguiiana miglit poniblj giac ill
tiit wiauUl aspirate ha, which siguifies bo more than the pjirticlc ci^

TIMOLEON. 431

his upper garmeDt, ran through the theatre, and dashed his head

' violently against one of the steps, with a design to kill himself; but

' did not succeed according to his wish, for he was faken up alive, and

( suffered the punishment of thieves and robbers.

! In this manner did TimoUon extirpate tyranby, and put a period

^ to their wars. He found the whole island turned almost wild and

savage with its misfortunes, so that its very inhabitants could hardly

I endure it, and yet he so civilized it again, and rendered it so desire-

I able, that strangers came to settle in the country, from which its

F own people had lately fled. The great cities of Agrigentum and

r Gelaa, which, after the Athenian war, had been sacked and lefit

desolate by the Carthaginians, were now peopled again ; the former

by Megellus and Pheristus from Elea, and the latter by Gorgus from

" ihe isle of Ceos, who also collected and brought with him some of

the old citizens. Timoleon not only assured them of his protection

sind of peaceful days to settle in, after the tempests of such a war^

Imt cordially entered into their necessities, and supplied them with

Cirery thing, so that he was even beloved by them as if he had been

4]ieir founder. Nay, to that degree did he enjoy the affections of the

Sicilians in general, that no war seemed concluded, no laws enacted^

no lands divided, no political regulation made in a proper manner,

. CKcept it was revised and touched by him : he was the master--

r J^jmlder, who put tiie last hand to the work, and bestowed upon it

If •

^' ^ happy elegance and perfection. Tliough at that time Greece

' iKMisted .a number of great men, whose achievements were highly
.^Ifistinguislied, Timotheus (for instance), Agesilaus, Pelopidas, and
j^lpaminondas, the last of whom Timoleon princi[)ally vied with in
^|ie course of glory, yet we may discern in their actions a certain
i^jbour and straining which diminishes their lustre; and some of them
]|tfnre afforded room for censure, and been followed with repentance ;
^mhereas there is not one action of Timoleon (if we except the ex«
ffcmities he proceeded to in the case of his brother) to which we may
tj with Timsus, apply that passage of Sophocles,

• • • What Ventu, or what Love,

Plac*d tbe fair parts in this harmonious whole.

as the poetry of Antimachus * and the portraits of Dionysiusf,
lioth of them Colophonians, with all the nerves and strength one

^ Aottmachos was an epic poet, wlio flourished in the days of Socrates and Plato.
^§0 ivfoce a poeoi called tbe Theb»d, Quiutilian (z. 1.) sajs be had a force and
aolicUfy* together with an elevation of stjrle« uid bad the lecond place given him bj
file gimmmarians after Homer; but as be failed in tlie passiens, m the disposition of hia
^^ble, mod in the ease and elegance of manoer, though he was secondf he waa lar horn

i I>ioojrttut was a portrait-painter. Plin, szzt. 10.

432 Plutarch's livks.

finds in them, appear to be foo much laboured, and smell too much
of the lamp ; whereas the paintings of Nicomachus * and the verses
of Homer, beside *their other excellencies and graces, seem to have
been struck off with readiness and ease: so, if we compare the ex-
ploits of Epaminondas and Agesilaus, performed with infinite pains
and difficulty, with those of Timoleon, which, glorious as they were,
had a great deal of freedom and ease in them, when we consider the
case well, we shall conclude the latter not to have been the work of
fortune indeed, but the effects of fortunate virtue.

He himself, it is true, ascribed all his successes to fortune. For
when he wrote to his friends at Corinth, or addressed the Syracnsans,
he often said, he was highly indebted to that goddess, when she was
resolved to save Sicily, for doing it under his name. In his house
he built a chapel, and offered sacrifices to Ckaiice f, and dedicated
the house itself to Fortune; for the Syracusans had given him one
of the best houses in the city, as a ro^'ard for his services^ and be-
sides, provided him a very elegant and agreeable retreat in the
country. In the country it was that he spent most of his time mth
his wife and children, whom he had sent for from Corinth ; for lie
never returned home ; he took no part in the troubles of Greece^
nor exposed himself to public envy, the rock which great geoenb
commonly split upon in their insatmble pursuits of honour and
power, but he remained in Sicily, enjoying the blessings he had
establisiied ; and of which the greatest of all was, to see so aBaqr
cities, and so many thousands of people, happy through his means.

But since, according to the comparison of Simonides, every je*
public must have some impudent slanderer, just as every lark most
have a crest on its head, so it was at Syracuse; for Timoleon was
attacked by two demagogues, Laphystius and Demasnetus. Tlie fini
of tliese having demanded of him sureties that he would answer
to an indictment which was to be brought against him, the peopk
began to rise, declaring they would not suffer him to proceed. Bui
Timoleon stilled the tumult, by representing, " That he had volun-
tarily undergone so many labours and dangers on purpose that the

* Piir.Y tells lis, " Nicoraachu* pninted with a hwifi us well as masterly hand* aB4
that his piicts >(*"d I'or as much as a town was worth." Arisiratus^ the tyrant of Simih
having agreed with hitn for a pi» ce of work which »eimfd to require a considerablt
time, Nicoiu:ichus did not appear tiil within a few da^t ol that oa which he had affceA
to flni>b it Hereupon the tyrant talked of punishing him*, but in tho»e few daji lit
compit ted the thing in an admirable raunner, and entirely to his satUtaction.

t When the ancients ascribe any event to fi^rtujie, they did not mean to denj tht
operation of the Deity in it, but only to exclude all human contrivance and power.
And in events ascribed to chance, they might possibly mean to eaclnde the agencj of
all rational beings, whether human or divine*

TIMOLEON. -433

meanest Syracusan xnight have recourse, when he pleased, to the
laws." And when Demaenetes in full assembly, alleged many
articles against his behaviour in command, he did not vouchsafe him
any answer; he only said, " He could not sufficiently express his
gratitude to the gods for granting his request, in permitting him to
see all the S}Tacusans enjoy the liberty of saying what they thought
fit." ^

Having then confessedly performed greater things than any
Grecian of his time, and been the only man that realized those
glorious achievements, to which the orators of Greece were con-
stantly exhorting their countrymen in the general assemblies of the
states, fortune happily placed liim at a distance from the calamities
in which the mother country was involved, and kei)t his hands un-
stained with its blood. He made his courage and conduct appear in
his dealings with the barbarians, and with tyrants, as well as his
justice and moderation, wherever the Greeks or their friends were
concerned. Very few of his trophies cost his fellow-citizens a tear,
or put any of them in mourning ; and yet in less than eight years,
he delivered Sicily from its intestine miseries and distempers, and
restored it to the native inhabitants.

After so much prosperity, when he was well advanced in years,
his eyes began to fail him, and the defect increased so fast, that he
entirely lost his sight. Not that he had done any thing to occasion it,
nor was it to be imputed to the caprice of fortune*, but it seems to
liave'been owing to a family weakness and disorder, which operated
together with the course of time : for several of his relations are
said to liave lost their sight in the same manner, having it graudally
impaired by years. But Athanias tells us, notwithstanding, that
during the war with Hippo and Mamercus, and while he lay before
Millte, a white speck appeared on his eye, which was a plain indica-
tion that blindness was coming on. However, this did not hinder
him from continuing the siege and prosecting the war, until he got
the tyrants in his power. But, when he was returned to Syracuse,
he laid down the command immediately, and excused himself to the
people from any further service, as he had brought their afiairs to a
happy conclusion.

It is not to be wondered that he bore his misfortune without re-
pining ; but it was realy admirable to observe the honour and respect
which the Syracusans paid him when blind. They not only visited

* Plutarch here hints at an opinion which was yerj prevalent among the Pagans^
tliat if any person was signally favoured with success, there woald some mi^iu^tune
happen, to counterbalance it. This ihey imputed to the envy of some mali^v&nt
demon.

Vol. 1. No. U. iii

434 Plutarch's lhtes.

Iiim constantly themselves, but brouglit all strangers who. spent
some time amongst them to his house in the town, or to that in the
country, that they, too, might have the pleasure of seeing the delivefer
of Syracuse. And it was their joy and their pride that he chose to
spend his days with them^ and despised the splendid reception wluch
Greece was prepared to give him, on account of his great success.
Among the many votes that were passed, and things that were done
in honour of him, one of the most striking was that decree of the
people of Syracuse, ^^ Tliat whenever they should be at war with i
foreign nation, they would employ a Corinthian general.'* -.Tlieir
method of proceeding, too, in* thehr assemblies, did honour to Unio-
leon ; for tliey decided smaller matters by themselves, but consulted
him in the more difficult and important cases. Ou these occasioDi
he was conveyed in a litter through the market-place to the theatre;
and when he was caried in, the people saluted him with one voice as
he sat He returned the civility, and having paused a while to giie
time for their acclamations, took cognizance of the affidr, and de-
livered his opinion. The assembly gave their sanction to it, aoi
then hb servants carried the litter back through the theatie; and the
people having conducted him out with loud applauses, dispatdicd
the rest of the public business without him.

With as much respect and kindness was the old age of Timoleoi
cherished, as that of a common father ! and at last he died of a sl^
illness, co-operating with length of years*. Some time bffin
given the Syracusans to prepare for his funeral, and for the neiciH
bouring inliabit;^nts and strangers to assemble, the whole was coo-
ducted with great magnificence. The bier, sumptuously adoned,
was carried by young men, selected by the people, over the groond '
wiiere the palace and castle of the tyrants stood before they were de-
molished. It was followed by many thousands of men and woBe%
in the most pompous solemnity, crowned with garlands, and clothed
in white. The lamentations and tears, mingled with the praises of
the deceased, showed that the honour now paid him was not a matter
of course, or compliance with a duty enjoined, but the testimony of
real sorrow and sincere affection. At last, the bier being placei
upon tlie funeral pile, Demetrius, who had the loudest voice of sQ
their heralds, was directed to make proclamation as follows : " The
peuj)le of Syracuse inter Timoleon the Corinthian, the son of Tiroo*
demus, at the expence of two hundred mirue; they honour hiffl,
moreover, through all time, with annual games, to be celebnted
with pcrfonuunces in music, horse-racing, and wrestling, as themiA

* lie died the last year of the hundred and tenth 01 jrmpuul« three Irandicd i^

tkirty-ilve ^carf bcture the Christian era.

PAULUS .T-MIUltfi. 435

who destroyed tyrants, siilxlui'd ImrbHrians, repcopled i^rcat cities
which lay desolate, and restored to ilie Sicilians their laws and privi-
leges."

Th« body was interred, and a monument erected for him in the
market^ptace, which they afterwards surrounded with porticoes, and
other buildings suitable to the purpose, and then made it a place of
exercise for their youth, under tlic name of Tlnwleont^m. They
coatinucd to make use of the form of government and the laws that
he established, and this easured their happiness for a long course Of
jwirs*.

PAULUS vEMILlUS.

WHEN 1 first applied myself to the writing of these lives, it was
for the sake of others ; but 1 pursue that study for my own sake,
availing myself of history as of a miror, from which I learn to
sdjust and regulate my own conduct : for it is like living and con-
versing with these illustrious men, when I invite, as it were, and re-
ceive them, one after another, under my roof; when 1 consider bow
great ami wonderful thry were, and select from their actions the
most memorable and glorious.

Yt gods! wli»t RtMier pIcMute'

WIWtHArril. ROAD TO VIBILU?

Dernocritus has a position in his philosophyt, utterly false indeed,
and leading to endless superstitions, that there are phantasms, or
images, continually floating in the air, some propitious and some
unlucky, and advises us to pray that such may strike upon our
senses as are agreeable to, and perfective of our nature, and not
such as have a tendency to vice and error. For my pan, instead of
this, I fill my mind with the sublime images of the best and greutcsl
men, hy attention to history and biograpliy; and if I contract any
blentiKh or ill custom from other contpany which 1 am unavoidably

■ Thli pcuipericj wa* iaittiuptcd iboul thinjr jean ■rtet bjr tbe CTiielticicf Agi-

t Dtmocrilui held ihtl tUiMc ohjrcti pioilaced thtir image in (lie ■mbittil air, wltich
image produced ■ fccond, and the tccind ■ ibird ilill teta iJikd il>e funnel, ariil lu oii.
till tkc lilt ptvducml iU umnlo pari in the e;«. I'liii tic mppiited the proc«) ol the
act of (iaioa. But Iw went on la wliai i* infiniEely >nore ahiuid. Ue Bliulained that
ihouglit «u (ornicd, acoirdiiig ai ibutr iinugtri iliuck upoD tlM iiDaginaliciO ; tlial oC
iliew iliete were loiDf g<<ad, and •oma «iil^ ibu th« |mm1 prMloced viituaiu lliousliu
■u (u, uid tbe evil ilic coiiirot;.

436

PLUTARCH S LIVES.

engaged in^ I correct and expel tliem, by calmly aud dispasBfonatelj
turning my thoughts to these excellent examples. For the same
purpose, I now put in your hands the life of Timoleon the Corin*
thian^ aud that of ^Emiiius Paulus^ men famous not only for their
virtues, but their success, insomuch that they have left room tb
doubt whether their great achievements were not more owing to their
good fortune than their prudence.

Most writers agree that the iEmilian family was one of the most
ancient among the Roman nobility; and it is asserted that the
founder of it, who also left it his surname, was Mamercus*^ the son
of Pythagoras the philosopher f, who, for the peculiar charms and
gracefulness of his elocution, was called i£milius ; such^ at least, is
the opinion of those who say that Numa was educated under Pytha-
goras.

Those of this family that distinguished themselves % found their
attachment to virtue generally blessed with success. And notwith*
standing the ill fortune of Lucius Paulus at CannsB, he showed on
that occasion both his prudence and his valour. For when he coaU
not dissuade his colleague from fighting, he joined him in the com-
bat, though much against his will, but did not partake with him in
liis flight; on the contrary, when he who plunged them in the
danger deserted the field, Paulus stood his ground, and fell bravdy
amidst the enemy, with his sword in his hand.

This Paulus had a daughter named ^Emilia, who was married to
Scipio the Great, and a son called Paulus, whose history I am now
writing.

At the time he made his appearance in the world, Rome abponded
in men who were celebrated for their virtues and other excelleotac*
complislimcnts § ; and even among these iErailius made a distin-
guished figure, without pursuing the same studies, or setting out in
tlic same track witli the young nobility of that age : for he did not
exercise himself in pleading causes, nor could he stoop to salutei
to solicit, and caress the people, which was the method that most
men took who aimed at popularity* Not but that he had talenti

• See the life of Numa.

t He is called Pythagoras tlie philosopher, to distinguish him from Pjtbagoras tkf
famed wrestler.

X From Lucius .r.niilius, who was consul in the j-ear of Rome two bandrcd tod
sevcntVi and ovcrcaiuc the VoUcians, to Lucius Paulus, who was father to Paslu
yEniilius, aijd who fell at Canna-, in the ^car of Rome five hundred and thirty seveiv
there wtre many of those ^limilii renowned for their victories and triumphs.

§ In that period we find the Scmpronii, the Albici, the FabVi Maiimi, the MarccII^
t1)e Scipios, the Fulvii, the Sulpitii, Cetbegi, Metelli; and other great and exceU«mi
Men.

I

PAUU'S ^MILIVS. «7 *

fiom natuii: to aequil himseir well in cither of tlicse respects, hut
he reckoned the hunour tliat flows from valour, from justice and
prohity, preferable to both ; and in ilicsc virtues he soon surpassed
all the young men of his time.

The first of llie great offices of stale for which he was a candidate,
was that of adile, and he carried it ayainst twelve competitors, who,
uc arc told, were all afterwards consuls. And when he was ap-
pointed one o( t\\e atigurs, whom t lie Romans employ in the in-
•pection and care of divination by the ^ight of birds, and by prodi-
gies in the air, he studied so attentively the usages of Ins country,
and acquainted himself so perfectly with the ancient ceremonies of
religion, that what before was only coniiidered as an honour, and
■ought for on account of tlie authority annexed to it *, appeared in
liis hands to be one of the priiieijial arts. Thus he conliimed the
definition which is given by some philosophers, That religion is the
tcience of worshif^ng the goda. He did every thing with skill and
applicatiou ; he laid aside all other concerns while he attended to
lliis, and made not the least omission or innovation, but disputed
with his colleagues about (lie smallest article, and insisted, tlitf
though the Deity might be supposed to be merciful, and willing to
overlook some neglect, yet it was daugerous for iha state to con-
uive at and pass by such thjugs. J'or no matt ever began his at-
tetiqils iignlitxt government with an enormous crime ; and the re-
laxitig in the smalleat matierg breaks ilotim the fences of the
greatett.

Nor was he less exact in requiring and observing the Roman mi-
iitary discipline. He did not study to be popular in command, nor
endeavour, like the generality, to make one comniissioTi the fuun-
dalioa for another, by humouring and iikSutging the soldiery f; but
as a priest instructs the initiated with care in the sacred ceremonies,
fio he explained to those that were under him the rulo and customs
of war ; and being inexorable at the same time to those tiiat tmits-
grcssed them, he re-established his country in its former glorj'.
Indeed, with tiim, the beating of sd enemy was a matter of much
Jess account than the bringing of his couutrjmeD to strict disci-
pliuc; the one rfeming to be the necessary consequence of the
other.

Paring the war which the Romans were engaged in wiih Antio-

* Under pielence tliil tfai; luipicci wre rmTiuiubJc oi olhe.-nue, Ihe anj-uri lux) it
in Uieii |)<iircr lo pniiuulc ur pui i ilip to anj public dITut whalercr,

f TI><: Romsii loldieii were, ■( tbe •■me line, eiliMUt, oliO htd valet loi lite grcu
^nplojacBK, bulb cifil tad milituj.

chus the Great * in the cast, and id which ihcir most expefiaad
(rfBccrs were employed t, another broke out in the west. Thcicm
■ j^Dcral revolt in Spain t, and thither j£mitius was sent, aot villi
bIx liclon only, like other preclors, hut with twice the ■naiiba'.
whJcli seemed to raise his dignity to an equality vrith the eonsniv.
He beat the barbarians in two pitched battles ft, and killed iliiiiT
thousand of them; which success appears to have been owio^ta
his gencrabliip in choosing his ground, and attacking the tatwj
while they were passing a river ; for by thcsr means his army faixrf
an easy Wctor}-. He made himself master of two hundred sod 11^
cities, which voluntarily opened their gates ; and ha\in^ rsialiltM
peare throughout the province, and secured its allegiance, he w
tnmed to Rome, nut a drachma richer than he went out. He K-
ver, indeed, was desirous to enricii himself, but lived in a grnens
maimer on his own estate, which was so far liruai faeiit^ hir^, tki,
after bis death, it was hardly sufficient to answer liia n-ife*s dnwir.
His first wife was Pupiria, the daughter of Papirius Maso, ■ on
of consular dignity. Alter be had lived with her a long tine ii
wedlock, he divorced her, though she had brouc^ht him vetj i"
children ; for she was mother to the illustrious Scipio and to FdK«
M.istmus. Hibtury docs not acquaint us with the reason of AisSf
paration; but, wiih rcsppct to divorces in ^nerrkl, the accoaat
which a certain Roman, who pnt away his wife, gave of bitom
case, seems to he a just one. When his friends remonstrated, mJ
asked him, //'«.! she not chaste f ITas she not fair? fftutktmt
fruitful? he held out his shoe, and said, Lt H twt handaoattf b
it nut nete ? Yet none hnou>s whether it nvings him. Ami kt ikf
n-enrs it. C TtaJn it is, that men usually repudiate their wife* M
greul and visible faults ; yet sometimes also a peevishness oT xewifO,
or incompliance of manners, small and fretjiient distastes, tbmfk
not diNcerned hy the world, produce the roost iikeuniblc aTcnioMia
a married life §.

* The imr with Aniiui'huitbe Great, king ur S7rin, bi^n aboat <!■• j*m Wl««
■r« hundred >n<1 lUljoni!, twenly-ivut join after ihc ti*nlc of Caaa*.

t ThrcmiBulCllnhrirh anil ([ter him t)>c IwoScipn; the elflci of wbaa ««#■•■
MRr*c M lieatcDRnt under hi< brollicr. — £ii. lib. ixiiii.

t Spuin had bFi'a tEiluced by Scipio Noiica.

I Livjr. iiiTii. 57. tpcikt ontj of one battle,
intrenchiiieuu or (lie biiaiiiaidi, Lilicd ei(ht«Dtb

i TheTi

■nemiaui Dr. Robrriion mentiDnt tbit irequenvy of diTorcn m m» d
inaoat (or mttoducing the Chri!>tian re(i(ioD at (hat pfriod atf lia* ate
d tu thE naild. " Diiotccj," uj-t hr, " Da Tcrf ili^ht pfcnna% ••"

l^AULUS .£MILIUS. 43^

^milius, thus separated from Papiria, married a second wife, bjr
whom he bad also two sons. These he brought up in his own
house ; the sons of Pap^ria being adopted into the greatest and most
noble families in Rome, the elder by Fabius Maximus, who was
five times consul, and the younger by his cousin-german, the son of
Scipio Africanus, who gave him the name of Scipio. One of his
daughters was married to the son of Cato, and the other to iElius
Tubero, a man of superior integrity, and who, of all the Romans^
knew best how to bear po%'erty. There were no less than sixteen at
the iElian faBEiily and name who had only a small house and one
fium amongst them ; and in this house they all lived, with their
wives and many children. Here dwelt the daughter of iEmilius^
who had been twice consul, and had triumphed twice, not ashamed
of her husband's poverty, but admiring that virtue which kept him
poor. Very different is the behaviour of brotliers and other near
relations in these days ; who, if their possessions be not separated
by extensive countries, or at least rivers and bulwarks, are perpe-
tually at variance about them. So much instruction does history
suggest to the coasideration of those who are willing to profit by it.

When iEmilius was created consul ^, he went upon an expedition
against the Ligurians, whose country lies at the foot of the Alps,
juid who are also called Ligustines, a bold and martial people, that
learned the art of war of the Romans by means of their vicinity :
for they dwelt in the extremities of Italy, bordering upon that part
of the Alps which is washed by the Tuscan sea, just opposite to

pmsitted botii by the Greei an<i Romaa Icgidaton. And tiuittgii tlie pure manaenBof
UMse republics reftrained for some time the operation ef such a pernicious institution^
tboogh the virtue of private persons seldom abused the indulgence that the legislatare
allowed them, yti no sooner had the establishment of arbitrary power and the progress
4j€ Inxury vitiated the taste of men, than the law with regard to divorces was found tm
be one of the worst corruptions that prevailed in that abandoned age. The facility of'
separations rendered married persons careless of practising or obtaining those virtuet
which render domestic life easy and delightful. The education of their children^ aaCh«
parents were not mutually endeared or inseparably connected, was generally disre-
garded, as each parent considered it but a partial care« which might with equal justice
devolve on the other. Marriage, instead of restraining, added to the violence of irre«
gular desire, and under a legal title became the vilest and most shameless prostitution*
from all these causes the marriage state fell into disreputation and contempt, and it
became necessary to force men by penal laws into a society where they expected no se«
core or lasting happiness. Among the Romans domestic cormption grew of a sudden
fo an incredible height. And perhaps in the history of mankind we can find no parai«
lei to the undisguised impurity and licentiousness of that age. It was in good time,
therefore," &c. &c.

* It was the year following that he went against the LigurUns*

uo

J-Ll'TARCH 8 LIVES.

Africa, antl were mixed wiili the Gnuls and Spaniards wbo i»te-
bitcd the coast. At that time they had likewise some strcnpli tt
sea, and their corsairs plundered and destroyed the merchant «V^
as far as the pillars of Hercules, They had an army of forty tbos-
sand men to receive ^miUn?, who came but with eight thutaiaJ
at the most. He engaged them, however, ilious'i five lim» fe
number, routed them entirely, and shut them up within thcii*^
towns. When they were in these eircumstances, he offered ibo
reasonable and moderate terms : for the Romans did not choose ■-
terly to cut off the people of Li^uria, whom they considered a i
bulwark against the Gauls, who were always liovering over loit.
The Ligurians, confidJug in jEmilius, delivered up their shipi ud
their towns. He only razed the fonificutions, and then deliwrf
the cities to them again : but he carried off tiieir shipping, !«">{
them not a vessel hij^cr than those with three banks of cart; ^i
he set at liberty a number of prisoners whom they had made bod K
sea and land, as well Romans as strangers.

Such were the memorable actions of his first consulship, iflf
which he often expressed his desire of being appointed ^ ■»
the same high office, and even stood candidate for it ; bat, wcnif
with a repulse, he solicited it no more. Instead of that, be ipi^
himself to tne discharge of his function as auguTy and to the t^
cation of his sons, not only in such arts as had been taugtit in RoK,
and those iliat he had learned himself, but also in the genicclrtm
of Greece. To this purpose,, he not only entertained iMstm*i«
could teach them grammar, logic, and rhetoric, but sculpture iIh^
and painting, together wiih sueh as were skilled in bt^inr*'
teaching horses and dogs, and were to instruct them in rtdjne >4
hunting. Whtn no public affairs hindered him, lie himselT ilnd
attended their studies and exercises. In short, he was the tnost ii-
dulgent parent in Home.

As to public uiTairs, the Ramans were then engaged in a war «U
Perseus *, king of the Macedonians, and they imputed it either l»
the incapacity or cowardice of their generals t, Uuit the adnid^
was on the enemy's side. For they who had forced Antiocfam tta
Great to quit the rest of Asia J, driven him beyond Mouni Ta»«%

* Thii wccnd Miceiloiiian wh witli Perteut bpgan in ihe yrar «r Raa« l*«fc»
dred atul eigliljr.two, a Imndted nnd uily-nine je»r» b«(are iIk Chrntin (ta.

t Thoie ^ciivnli were P. Uciniui CroHui, tftet him A, UoMtlm ft imiL •*
ihenQ. Mutli«.Ph.lippui. «ho dnja'J «'■="" hMTilj oiidunngthtifcmjrw*

t Scnatccii jrcui bcfgte.

PAOLUS MMlLlXJS. 441

confined liim to Syria, and made him think himself happy if he
could purchase his peace with fifteen tliousand talents * ; they who
had lately vanquished king Philip in Thessaly fj and delivered the
Greeks from the Macedonian yoke ; in short, they who had sub-
dued Hannibal, to whom no king could be compared either for va-
lour or power, thought it an intolerable thing to be obliged to con**
tend with Perseus upon equal terms, as if he could be an adversary
able to cope with them, who only brought into the field the poor
remains of his father's routed forces. In this, however, the Ro-
mans were deceived ; for they knew not that Philip, after his de-'
feat, had raised a much more numerous and better disciplined hrmf
than he had before. It may not be amiss to explain this in a few
words, beginning at the fountain-head. Antigonus J, the most
powerful among the generals and successors of Alexander, having
gained for himself and his descendants the title of king, had a son
named Demetrius, who was father to Antigonus, sumamed Gofintus.
Gonatus had a son named Demetrius, who, after a short reign, left
a young son called Philip. The Macedonian nobility, dreading the
confusion often consequent upon a minority, set up Antigonus, cou-
sin to the deceased king, and gave him his widow, the mother o^
Philip, to wife. At first they made him only regent and genera!,
but afterwards finding that he was a moderate and public-spirited
man, they declared him king. He it was that had the name of
Doson II, because he was always promising, but never performed
what he promised. After him, Philip mounted the throne, and,
though yet but a youth, soon showed himself equal to the greatest
of kings, so that it was believed he would restore the crown of
Macedon to its ancient dignity, and be the only man that could stop
the progress of the Roman power, which was now extending itself
over all the world. But being beaten at Scotusa by Titus Flami-
nius, his courage sunk for the present, and promising to receive
such terms as the Romans should impose, he was glad to come off
with a moderate fine; but, recollecting himself afterwards, he could
not brook the dishonour. To reign by the courtesy of the Romans,

^ Livj says twelve thousand, which were to be paid in twelve jears, hj a thousand
talents a-year.

t Thi* service was perfornird by Quinctius Flpminias, who drfented Philip ihJThcJ-
saly, kil!vd ei^ht thuusaad of his tuen upon tl^c sDot, took five thousand prisoners, and
after his victory caused proclamation to be made by a herald at the Isthmean games,
that Greece was free.

^ This Antigonus killed Euraenes, and took Babylon from Seleucns ; and when his
son Demetrius had overthr*»wn Ptolein^'s fleet at Cyprus, he, the first of all Alexan*
dcr*s successors, presumed ta wear a diadem, and assumed the title of king.

|] Doson signifies wiU-give,

Vol. 1. No»15. I^kk

442 TUrrXKCHS LIVES.

mppe^td to Liai more suitable to a slave who miikcis noching bat im
pleasures, than to a man who has anv dlgDicj of sendmciit, and
therefore be turned his thoughts to war, but made his prcparafloDS
with great priracj and caution ; for su£Eering tlie towns tfau woe
near the great roads and bv the sea to run to decay^ and to become
half desobte, in order that he might be held in cootempc bj the
enemy, he collected a great force in the higher provinoes ; and fiB*
ing tlie ioland pLtccs, the town> and castles, with arms, amiej, and
men fit for service, witliout making aoy show of war, he had hb
troops always in readiness for it, like so many wrestlers trained and
exercised in secret. For he had in his arsenal anus for tfaii^
thousand men, in his garrisons eight millions of measures of
and money in his coffers to defray the charge of maintaining
thousand mercenaries for ten years, to defend his countiy. Bat k
had not the satisfaction of putting these designs in execution; for
he died of grief and a broken hean, on discovering that he had an-
justly put Demetrius, hb more wortliy son, to death *, in com^
quence of an accusation preferred by his other son Perseus.

Perseus, who survived him, inherited, together with the crovii|
his father's enmity to the Romans ; but he was not equal to such i
burthen, on account of the littleness of his capacity, aud the
ness of his manners ; avarice being the principal of the many
sions that reigned in his distempered heart. It is eveu said that be
was not the son of Philip, but that the wife of that prince took him,
as soon a:» he was born, from his mother, who was a sempstress of
Argos, named Gnatha^nia, and passed him upon her husband tt
her own. And the chief reason of his compassing the death of hb
brotlicr seemed to have been his fear that the royal house liavinga
lawful heir, might prove him to be supposititious. But though he
u-as of such an abject and ungenerous disposition, yet^ elated with
the prosperous situation of his affairs, he engaged in war with the
Romans, and maintained tlic conflict a long urhile, repulsing several
of their fleets and armies commanded by men of consular dignity,
and even 1)eatin<j: some of them. Publius Licinius was the lint
that invad( d Macedonia, and him he defeated in an engagement of
the cavalry t, killed two thousand five hundred of his best men, and
took six hundred prisoners. lie surprised the Roman fleet which

* This story i* finely embellished in Dr. Young's tragedy of the Brathert,
t Li«'5 htts given us a description of thi« action at the end of liia forty-tecfHid hv^i
Perseus offered peace to thoie he had beaten upon as cosj conditiuas as if be hi— f|f
bad been overthrown, but the Koman? refused it. They made it a rule^ indeed new
to make pcari: w lieu beaten. The rule proTcd a wise one fur that people, bat
a«ver be uaiversaily adopted.

FAULUS ^MILIUS. 443

lay at anchor at Ormeum^ took twenty of their store-ships, sunk
the rest that were loaded with wheat^ and made himself master, be-
sides, of four galleys which had each five benches of oars. He
fought also another battle, by which he drove back the consul Hos*
tilius, who was attempting to enter his kingdom by Elimia -, and
when the same general was stealing in by the way of Thessaly, he
presented himself l>efore him, but the Roman did not choose to
stand an encounter. And as if this war did not sufficiently employ
him, or the Romans alone were not an enemy respectable enough^
he went upon an expedition against the Dardanians, in which he cut
in pieces ten thousand of them, and brought off much booty. At
the same time, he privately solicited the Gauls, who dwell near the
Danube, and who are called Bastamfie_These were a warlike peo*
pie, and strong in cavalry. He tried the lUyrians too, hoping to
bring them to join him by means of Gentius their king; and it was
reported that the barbarians had taken his money, under promise of
ibaking an inroad into Italy, by t)ie lower Gaul, along the coast of
the Adriatic *.

When this news was brought to Rome, the people thought pro-
per to lay aside all regard to interest and solicitation in the choice of
their generals, and to call to the command a man of understanding,
fit for the direction of great affairs. Such was Paulus iEmilius, a
man advanced in years Indeed (for he was about threescore), but
still in his full strength, and surrounded with young sons and sons-
in-law, and a number of other considerable relations and friends,
who all persuaded him to listen to the people that called him to
the consulship. At first he received the offer of the citizens very
coldly, though they went so far as to co\irt and even to entreat him;
for he was now no longer ambitious of that honour: but as they
daily attended at his gate, and loudly called upon him to make his
appearance in the foruniy he was at length prevailed upon. When
lie put himself among the candidates, he looked not like a man who
sued for the consulship, but as one who brought success along with
hifil ; and when, at the request of the citizens, he went down into
the Campus Marthis^ they all received him with so entire a confi-
dence, and such a cordial regard, that upon their creating him con-
sul the second time, they would not sutler the lots to be cast for the

^ He pructiier) alto with Eumenes king of Bitliynia, and cnnsed representations to
be made to Antiochus king of Syria, tlwt tlie Romans were equally enemies to all
kings: Sat Euraenes demanding fifteen hundred talents, a stop was put to the negutia-
tioD. The ^exy treating, however, with Perseus, occasioned an in?eterate hatred be-
tween the Romans ftod their old friend Eumcues^ but that hatred was of oo service X%
ycrseus.

*■

444

PLUTARCH S LIVES.

provinces*, as usual, but voted him in i mediately tljc (Urtcoic iff
the war in Macedonia. It is said, liiat after tlie |>e(>|)le \ai ip-
pointed him cominaiider-iu-ehief against Pt:rseus, and ci : ' .
him home in a very spleniliil nmiiner, he fount! his daughii.-
who was yet but a child, in tears. Upon this he toult iv:
arms, and asked her, " Wliy she wept?" Tlie girl eiobnanc i-i
kissing him, said, "Know you not then, father, that Pwwwb
deatlr" meaning a little dug of ihat name, which »btf baijbroi^
up. To which ^millus replied, it is a lucky incident, chiU, 1^
cept the omen." This particulnr is related by Cicero iakitTm-
tise on Divination.

It was the custom for those that were appointed to the comlsiif
to make tlieir acknowledgmeni to the people in an agremblc sptni
bom lite rostrum. £milius having assetnbU'd the ciiiziMUtHi <^
occasiou, told them, " lie had applied for Win former euotoU^
because he wuiiled a coiniimud; but in this ihcy had applied inbii
liecause they wanted a eominander; atid therefore, at picMsit, it
did not hold hiinseif obliged lo them. If they could have tlicM
heiter directed by another, lie nould readily quit tiie emphmMK;
but if tliey placed their confidence ill him, he expecitfd their wmH
not interfere with his orders, or propagate idle reports, but pun^
in bileucc what was necessary for the war ; for, if tliry wuid ■•
command their com maud eis, their expeditions would be nwR w-
culous than ever." It is not easy to express how much nmtm
this speech procured him (rom the citizens, and wliai high afU'
taiioiis it produced of the event. They rejoiced Owt the; itk
passed by ihe smooth-tongued candidates, and made cboicc *f •
gcncijl who had so much freedom of spcceli, and such lUgniqf *l
nianiitr. 'i'lius the Romans submitted, like servants, to reawsarf
virtut-, in order tluit lliey might one day rule aod beeounc ouridl
of the wurld.

Tliiit Paulus /'Emilius, when he went upon the Muct-dnoiaii O-
pediiion, had a pros)>erous voyage and journey, and vrired «ifc
gpecdand safety in the camp, I impute to his good fortua»t^
when 1 consider how the war was conducted, and see that thejcia'*
Dess of his courage, the excelleiiee of his courtttels, ihc ntladtOKM
of his tiicnds, his presence of m,nJ and hai^pinrss in c.\|H-dirM» •
times of danger, all contrihutcd to hi> success, I caniuit pbcebil
great and distinguished actions to any account but liis own, IimIn^
the avarice of Perseus may possibly be looked upon ss « foruMK
circumstance for jEmiliu^ since it blisted and ruiucd the goal

* Htj tajt Ibt coDtnr^,

FAri-rs .?:miui"5. 415

prcparatioas aod e«eva:ei l^^pi-s oi t]^ Maccdo;i:anSy by m mean re-
glid to iBOiiey. Fen- the B^.^'raruae ca:se, at his req jest, vdih a bodj
often thousand horse ^^ e£:-h of w]i:t.h liad a foot-solds^r by his side,
and they all fought fur Lire ; i:;«.'o th. y were that kiK*w not how to
till the ground, to fcetl cattle, or to iiari^rate ship<, but wLose sole
profesfiion and empIoymeDi was to uSiki and to conquer. \A'hea
these pitched their tents in Medica, and miogled with the king*s
forces, who beheld them tall in their persons, ready beyond t xpres-
sion at their exercises, lofty and full of menaces against the enemy,
the Macedonians were inspired with fresh courage, and a stroL\i^
opinion that the Romans would not be able to 5t::ud against these
IBercenaries, but be terrifiw-d both at their looks and at their strange
and astonishing motions.

After Perseus had filled his people with such spirits and hopes, the
barbarians demanded of him a thousur.d vieces of gold §oi every
officer; but the thoughts of parting with such a sum almost turned
his brain, aod in the narrowness of It::* heart he refused it, and broke
off the alliance; as if he had nv.t been at war with the Romans, but
a steward for them, who was to vive an ey.act account of his wiiole
expenses to those whom he wa- ^etin? a^^aiiist. At the same time,
the example of the enemy pointed OLt to Lira better things ; for, be-
^des their other preparations, they had a huiulred thousand men
collected and ready for their use ; and yet he, having to oppose a
considerable force, and an armament that was maintained at such an
traordinary expense, counted his gold and sealed his bags, as
uch afraid to ton h them as if they had belonged to another. And
yet he was not descended from any Lydian or Phoenician merchant,
but allied to Alexander and Philip, wiiose maxim it was, to procure
empire with money ^ aiid not money by empire^ and who, by pur-^
suing that maxim, conquered the world : for it was a common say-
ing, ** That it was not Philip, but Philip's gold, that took the cities
of Greece." As for Alexander, when he went upon the Indian expe-
^tion, and saw the Macedonians dragging after them a heavy and
unwieldy load of Persian wealth, he first set fire to the royal
carriages, and then persuaded the rest to do the same to theirs, that

* Livy (rliy. 26.) hat well described this horseman «nd his foot-soldiers. He saji^
^ There came ten thousand horse, and as nianj io^A, who kcpr pace with the horte, aacl
when any of the cavalry were unbotbed, they mounted, and went into ihc ranks." They
were the same people with those described by Cassar in the first book of his Coninieu-
CATies, where he is giving an account of Ariovistus's army. As soon a^ Perseus had in-
telligence of the approach of the Bastamac, be sent Aotigonus to congratulate Cloudictis
their king. Clundicus made answer, that the Gauls could not march a step farther wub?
^Bt money; which Perseus ia his ararico aA4 bad policy refined to advance.

446 Plutarch's lives.

they might move forward to the war light and unincumbered;
whereas Perseus, though he and his children and his kingdom oTcr-
flowed with wealth, would not purchase his preservation at tbe ex-
pense of a small part of it, but was carried a weakhy cafitiTe t»
Rome, and showed that people what immense sums he had saved
and laid up for them.

Nay, he not only deceived and sent away the Gauls, but also im*
posed upon Gentius, king of tlie Illyrians, whom he prevailed apoa
to join him, in consideration of a subsidy of three hundred talents;
He went so far as to order the money to be counted before thit
prince's envoys, and suffered them to put their seal upon it. Gca-
tius, thinking his demands were answered, in violation of all tiie
laws of honour and justice, seized and imprisoned tbe RonuiD an*
bassadors who were at his court. Perseus now concluded that there
was no need of money to draw his ally into the war, since he fail
unavoidably plunged himself into it, by an open instance of vioieaee^
and an act of hostility which would admit of no excuse, and there-
fore he defrauded the unhappy man of the three hundred talents, and
without the least concern beheld him, his wife and children, iat
short time after dragged from their kingdom by the prsetor Luciv
Anicius, who was sent at the head of an army against Gentius.

iEmilius, having to do with such an adversary as Perseus, despiied^
indeed, the man, yet could not but admire his preparations and hs
strength ; for he had four thousand horse, and near forty tbousaBl
foot, who composed the j)halmix; and being encamped by the set-
side, at the foot of Mount Olympus, in a place that was perfectly
inaccessible, and strengthened on every side with fortifications rf
wood, he lay free from all apprehensions, persusded that he shoidl
wear out the consul by protracting the time, and exhausting his
treasures. But ^milius, always vigilant and attentive, weighed
every expedient and method of attack; and perceiving that the
soldiers, through the want of discipline in time past, were impatieat
of delay, and ready to dictate to their general things impossible to be
executed, he reproved them with great severity, ordering them not
to intermeddle with, or give atteiuion to, any thing but their own
persons and their swords, that they might be in readiness to use
them as became Romans, when their commander should ^ve them
an opportunity. He ordered also the centinels to keep watch with-
out their pikes*, that they might guard the better against sUc^

* Livy says, viihf*ut their shields, tlie reason of which was thia, the Roman ahieMi
being long, tliey might rest their heads upon them, and sleep standing. iEmilii^
however, made one order in favour of tlie soldiers opon gumrd; for he ordered Uiem t%
be rciiercd at noon, whereas before they ute4 to be upon duty all day^

«• •

wiicn iWy were sensiljle tliat lliiy had nothing to ticreiid tliemsukcs
wilh against the enemy, who might atiack them in tlie night.

But liis men complained ihe iinisi fur want of wnter; for only a
liltle, and thai but indifferent, flowed, or vaiher came drop by drop,
from some springs ntar tlie sea. In this extremity, .Emilias seeing
Mount Olympus before him, very higli and covered with trees, con-
jectured from their verdure, that there mnst be springs in it which
would discharge themselves at the bottom, and therefore caused se-
veral pits and Wells lo be dug at the foot of it. These were soon
filled with clear water, which ran into them, with the greater force
and rapidity, because it had been confined before.

Some, however, deny that there arc any hidden sources constantly
provided with water in the places from which it flows ; nor will they
allow the discharge to be owing to the opening of a vein ; but they
will liave it, that the water is formed instantaneously from the con-
densation of vapours, and that by the coldness and pressure of ihc
earth a moist vapour is rendered fluid. For as the breasts of women
arc not, like vessels, stored with milk always ready lo flow, but pre-
pare and change the nutriment that is in them into milk, so the cold
and springy places of the ground have not a quantity of water hid
within them, which, as from rcscr^i^irs always full, can be sufficient
to supply large streams and rivers ; but by compressing and cod-
densing the vapours and the air, tlicy convert them into water ; and
such places being opened, afford that element freely, just as the
breasts of women do milk from their being sucked, by compressing
and liquifying the vapour ; whereas the earth that remains idle and
undug cannot produce any water, because it wants that motion which
alone is the Uue cause of it.

But those that teach this doctrine give occasion to the sceptical to
observe, that by parity of reason there is no blood in animals, but
that the wound produces it, by a change in the flesh and spirits,
wliicii that impression renders fluid. Besides, that doctrine is re-
futed by those who, digging deep in (he earth to undermine some
fortification, or to search for metals, meet with deep rivers, not col-
lected by little and little, which would be the ease if they were pro-
duced at the instant the earth was opened, but rushing upon them at
once in great abundance. And it often happens, upon ilie breaking
of a great rock, that a quantity of water i^isues out, which as suddenly
ceaaes. So much for springs.

jtmilius sat still for some days, and it is said that there never
were two great armies so near each other that remained so quiet.
But trying and cousidering every tiling, he got information that there
was one way only left unguarded, which lay throuj^b PcrrhKbIa, hj

448 PLUTARCH*8 LtVfi».

■ ■Ill mmmmmmmtm,^tmmmmtmmmmmmmmm^mmm^mm*mtm»M\^att»tmmm,^,mmii,mmam>^ii0Ummmim^HmiSmJtmabt

Pjrthiuni and Pctra ; and conceiving greater hopes, from the de-
fenceless condition of the place, than feat* from its rugged and dif-
ficult appearance^ he ordered the matter to be considered in CfwnciL

Scipio, surnamed Nasica, son-in-law to Scipio Africanns, vsi»
afterwards was a leading man in the senate, was the first that ofleral
to head the troops in taking this circuit to come at the enemy ; tnd
after Fabius Maximus, the eldest son of iSmilius, though he was yet
but a youth, expressed his readiness to undertake the enterprise*
^milius, delighted with this circumstance, gave them a detachment,
not so large indeed as Polybius gives account of, but the number
that Nasica mentions in a short letter, wherein he describes tins
action to a certain king. They had three thousand Italians, irho
Were not Romans, and five thousand men besides, who composed die
left wing. To these Nasica added a hundred and twenty hoise, aai
two hundred Thracians and Cretans intermixed, who were of it
troops of Herpalus.

With this detachment he hcgan to march towards the sea, oi
encamped at Heraclcum *, as if he intended to sail round, and come
upon the enemy's camp behind ; but when his soldiers had supped^
atid night came on, ho expLnined to the officers his real design, afit
directed them to take a diilbrent route. Pursuing this withorf
loss of time, he arrived nt Pythium, where he ordered his am
to take some rest. At tbi* place Olnnpns is ten furlongs ad
Dinety-six feet in height, as it is signified in the inscription made bf
Xenagora.i the son of Kumelus, the man that nrreasured it. lilt
geometricians, indeed, affirm that tl;ere is no mountain in the worU
more than ten furlotigs high, nor* sea above that depth, yet it appetft
that Xenagoras did not take the height in a careless manner, but re-
gularly and with proper instruments.

Nasica passed the night there. Perseus, for his part, seeing
iEmilius lie quiet in his camp, iiad not the least thought of the din-
ger that threatened him ; but a Cretan deserter, who slipped from
Scipio by the Way, came and informed him of the circuit the Romaiis
were taking in order to surprise him. This news put him in giat
confusion, yet he did not remove his camp ; he only sent ten thoo-
sand foreign mercenaries and two thousand Macedonians under
Milo with orders to possess themselves of the heights with all poi-
sible expeditioi> Polybius relates that the Romans fell upon them
while they were asleep, but Nasica tells us there was a sharp and

* The consul gave ont that they were to go on board the deet wliicb under Ae
cummftDd uf Octatius tiie pr»tur, laj opon the coasts iu ord^ to Watfe
pMti oC MMedoaia^ atid to to draw FccseuA frum hit camp*

RaULUS .CMILIUS. • 449

dangerous conflict fur the heigliis; that he himself killed aThnician
mercenary who cn^cnged him, by (licrcing him tlirough ihe hroast
wiih his spear; nnii that the enemy being routed, and Milo put to a.
■Iiameful flight wiliiout his amis, and in his under garment only, he
pursued tbcm without any sort of hazard, and led iiis party down into
tlie plaiu. Perseus, terrified at this disaster, and disappointed in hia
lia{>es, dcc&mpcd and retired. Yet he was under a necessity of
stopping before Fydna, aud risking a battle, if he did not choose to
divide his army to garrison his towns*, and there expect the enemy,
wlio, when once entered into liis country, could not be drivea out
without great slauglitcr and bloodslied.

His friends represented to him that his army was still superior in
riumbers, and that ihcy would fight with great resolution in defence
of their wives and children, and in sight of their king, who was a
partner in their danger. Encouraged by this representation, he fixed
his cump there; he prepared for buttle, viewed the country, aud as-
iugned each oflicer his post, as intending to meet the Romans wlien
diey came off iheir march. The field whcic he encamped was fit for
the fjAalaitx, which required plain and even ground to act in; near
it was a cliain of little hills, proper for the light-armed to retreat to,
and to wheel about from the attack; and through the middle ran the
rivers £soa and Leueus, which, though not very deep, because It
was tlie latter end of summer, were likely to give die Romans some
trouble.

^inilius, having joined Nasica, marched in good order against the
enemy. But when he saw the dLsposiiion and number of their
forces, he was iistoiiished, and stood still to consider what was pro-
per to be done — Hereupon the young olBctrs, eager for the engage-
ment, and particularly N;isica, flushed with his success at Mount
Olympus, pressed up to him, and begi^cd of him to lead them for-
ward without delay, ^milius only smiled and said, '■ My friend,
if i was of your age, I should certainly do soj but the many victories
r have gained have made tne observe tht; errors of the vanquished,
and foibtd nie tu give battle, imm>;diutely after a inarch, to an army
well drawn up, and every way prepared."

Then he ordered the foreman ranks, who were in sight of the ene-
my, to present a front us if they were ready to engage, and the rear
in tlie mean time lo mark out a camp, and throw up intrenchments;

• Uii bnl tricDdi BdvimJ liim to gurrisdo till ilrongnt cilie» ftilb bU belt tronin, und
M Icni-tlicn out tlie •nr, cipcri«nce havirg •lit»u Ibil ilie Maccdnniant ncrv Wl>' r
able 10 dclnnii ciliFi, tbati tlie Ramsni wm \ir lak? them -, but ihii opimuii Uie Itii); ic-
jacicd, (mill ihii comitOI; ptindplej thai [Mthipi Ibo xi,w,n bt cbuM lui bit Riiddin
Bi|1il be fiiii bciiCjitil.

Vol. 1. No. 16. xx^

n

450 PLUTA&CH*8 LITBS.

after which, he made the battalions wheel off faf degacKBj htgaiaiiig
with those next the scridiers at wock, so diat dieir disposnioB w» ia-
aensibly cbanaed, and bis whole aimj eneamped without aoise.

When they had sopped, and were thinking of notiiiDg b«l gaisf
to rest, on a sodden the moon, which was then at full, mod veij Uj^
b^an to be darkened, and, after changing into various coHoan^ wm
at last totally eclipsed*. The Romans, aoooiding to thm cnsM^
made a great noise by striking upon vessels of brass^ nad kddip
%hted faggots and torches in the air, in order to recnl bcr B^
but the Macedonians did no soch thing, honor mod artnniihiafit
seized their whole camp, and a whisper passed among tlie anokilBii
that this appeaimnce portended the fall of the king. As lor MmSm,
he was not entirely unacquainted with this aaattcr; he hod hosiflf
the ecliptic inequalities which bring the moon, at
der the sliadow of die eartfa, and darken her till
quarter of obscurity, and receives light from the sun sgrniu. Ni
dieless,as he was wont to ascribe most events to the Deity, was a »
Hgious observer of sacrifices and of the art of dtviomtioDy be sSsni
op to the moon eleven heifers, as soon as he saw her rrgmin her fs^
mer lustre* At break of day, he also sacrificed oxea to Het€uiflS|ts
the number of twenty, mthout any auspicious sign; bo^ is Ai
twenty-first, the desired tokens appeared, and he stmouiiced vielay
to h» troops, provided they stood upon the defenaivef. At tiisssBt
time he vowed a hecatomb and solemn games in honour of thaCgsli
and then commanded the -ofiicers to put the anniy ia <inler of baflk;
staying, however, till the sun shoold decline, and get round to ds
west, lest, if they came to action in the morning, it should dacaleds
eyes of his soldiers : he sat down in the mean time io his tent^ wfciih
was open towards the field and the enemy's camp.

Some say, that towards evening he availed himself of an
fiee to make the enemy begin the fight. It seems he turaed a

* Iavj tells us, that Solpitius Galliis, ooe of the BooMn tribmc^ fiiretoM tib
eclipse, first to the comul, and then with his leave to the ermj; whereby thettt
wbidi eclipses were wonT to breed in ignorant roindt was eittireljr taken off« aad
•oldiers more and more disposed to confide ill officen of «o g;fMt wiedoo^ wuS of
general knowledge.

t Here we see JCniUiiu availed biaself of aagorj to brkif bb treops thm
to comply with «%hat lie knew was most prudent. — He was fentibie of their
and iiii}»etu(>5it^, but he was sensible at the same time that coolness and calm
were more necessary to be exerted against tlie Macedonian pbaluis. whadi mmtm
ferior in courage and discipline to the Romaas, and thefc he told ihom ihot the
ei joined them to stand upon the defenaivcb if they desired to bo vict<
reauon why iEmilios deferred the figbt wa^ as Flularcb s^i»
was full in tlie eyes of bis soldiers.

PAVLUS ^MILIUS. 451

Joose witlioui a bridle, and sent out some Runiaus lo cntcli l.ini, who
were attacked wliilc they were pursuing him, mid so the eii^pemcnt
brgati. Oiliers say, that ihc Thracians, coiiimaiided by one Alexan-
der, atratked a Komau convoy; that seven hundred Liiruriiiiis mak-
ing up to iis assistance, a stiarp skirmish ensued, and that Inrgtr re<
inforccments heiiii; sent to Iioih parties, at List ilie main bodi< s were
engaged, j^ioilius, like a wiitc pilot, foreseeing, by the agitation of
both armies, the violence of the impending iiorm, came out of his
tent, passed through the mtiks, and encouraged his men. In the
mean time, Nasica, who mdo up to tlie place wnere the skirmish be*
gan, saw ihe whole uf the enemy's army advancinj; to the charge.

First of all marched the Thr:iciitns, whose very aspect struck the
I>eliolders with terror. They were men of a prodigious size; their
shields were while and glistering; their vests were black, >hcir leg)
armed with greaves; and as they moved, their long pikes, he&vy-
ahotl with iron, shook on their right shoulders. Next came ihe mer-
cenaries, variously armed, according to the manner of their respec-
tive cuumrics: wrih these were mixed the I'lennians. In the third
place moved forward the huiCalions lif Maccdon, the flower of its
youth, and the bravest of its sons : tiieir new purple vests and gilded
arms made a splendid nppearanci:. As these took their post, the
Chalr/tespiitrs moved out of their camp; tile fields gleamed with tho
polished steel and the brazen shields which they bore, and the moun-
tains re-echoed to their c/ierrs. In this order ihcy ndvimced, nnd that
with so much Iwldness and sgieert, that the first uf ihcti slaiu* fell
only two furlongs from the Itoman camp.

As soon an the attack was begun, j£inilius, advancing to the first
ranks, found that the foremost of the Maecdnniuns iiud struck the
heads of their pikes into tlic shields of the Romans, so that it was
impossible for his men to reach their aitvcrsuries with their swords.
And when he saw the rest of the Macedonians take their bucklers
from their shoulders, join them close together, and with one luuiton
present their pikes against his legions, the strength of »uch a ram-
part, and the formidable up[>earunce of siicli a front, struck him with
terror and amazement: he never, indeed, «;iw a more dreadful spcc-
tucle,und he often mentioned afterwards the impression it made upon
him. However, he took cure to shew a pleasant and chueiinl loun-
tenance to hts men, and even rode about wiihout eiilier hchtict or
breusipiute. But the king of Macedon, as Pulyhius tetls uf, us soon
as the engagement was begun, gave way to his fears, and withdrew
into the town, under pretence of sacrificing to Hercules, a god that
accepts act the timid olferjugs of cowards, qui favours any uujuat
■ TIk ]ishi-uiHd.

vows. And surely it is not juu that the man who never riHaBAoBld
bear awuy the prize; that lie who d^-serts his post shouM eau^;
thai he who is despicably indulent should be successliil ; erdutabj
ntaa should be happy. But the god attentled to the praycis trfjEni-
lius; for he beurgid for victory and success M-itb liis sword id !■
band, and fought while he iaiplored the divine aid. Yet oneEW-
dotiius*', who says he lived in those timeii} and was present tl ita
action, in the history of Perseus, which he wrote in sc*m) bail
aHimis that it was not out of cowardice, nor under pretence irfofc-
ing sacrifice, that he quilted the fitld, but because the duy Wfofttk
fij;ht he received ii hurt on his leg from the kick of a horse; dm
when the battle came on, though very much iodis{xi&rd,«3di<
tuuded by his frieuds, he commanded one of bis horses lo Ik- bcuuX
XDouuted him, and cliargcd without a breastplate at the hrail c^<k
phalanx} and that, umid&t the shower of missive wapoosof*^
kinds, he was struck with a javeliti of iron, not indeed witii tlir foK.
but it c;bnc(-d in such a manner upon his left side, that it wx*^
rent [lis clotlics, but gave him a bruise in the flesh, ihemrkcl
which remained a long time. — ^I'liis is what Pusidonius san ia ^•
fence of Perseus.

The Romans who eniragrd tlie/iAa/arij- bein^ nnable nhmkiV
Salius, a Peli};iiidn oHieer, snatched the ensign of his cotnfMin,!**
threw it amoD^ the ent^my. Hereupon Ihc Peli^nians riiiihiif^^
ward to recover it, for the Iinlians look upon it as a great eiiwa'
disgrace to abandon their siamluril, n dn-iidt'ul cunfliet and sIbi^
on both si<les ensued. The Romans attempted to cut the fAa*
the Macedonians asunder wiih their swords, lo beui then biA •i*
their shields <>■' to put tbcm by with their hnntU; bur the Mmi'*
ntans holding them steady with bi>th hands, pierced their.
tlirough tlicir armour, for neither shield nor corslet wn
the pikcf. The Pelignians and Murruciniaiis wi:re thi
down, who, without any sort of (liscreii«m, or rather niihi
fury, hud exposed ihemBelves to wounds, and run upon
Tlic first line thus tut in pieces, those that were Ikehirtd
to give back, and though they did not fly, yet they fcimicd tn^
Mount Olocrus. i£milius, seeing this, rent liis clothes, as Pouda**

• T!.U c<

X Poiiili

bhlory; Inr
drcd «ncj ciglilecn jrrii
lilhnr Car ■ cauateifcil,
bill i>* he (iiTrf t that
t Thii iho*) tlic idi
•nOliMJUbritrr, brci
■Kcuniijrrcd nUh n pikr, and, wliuu tcccwrd

to lUinEilunnalhecoiuulUiiituI MamUa^*<
bUilt. rijt.ri:b, iB.lr»d. WTBB I. IMM Ida
: ol aa KCDUDt, wlicu be caiU lUM «mt T^i^Mk

Ihc pile h><

' <bt bf««d-i>acdi orfi^H

lh(fflasLet,au|rplktlk*plK<Wir>>^ 1

FAUWS ^MILTOS. 453

tells us. He was reduced almost to despair to find that part of hii$
men had retired^ and tliat the rest declined the combat with tLphO'
lanx which, by reason of the pikes that defended it on all sides lik^
a rampart, appeared tnapenetrable and invincible. But as the un^
evenness of the grottDd,aftd the large extent of the front^would not per^
mit the bucklen to be jdued through the whole, he observed several
interstices and openings in the Macedonian line, as it happens in great
armies, according to the diflerent efforts of tlie combatants, who in
one part press forward, and in another are forced to give back. For
this reason, he divided his troops with all possible expedition into
platoons, which he ordered to throw themselves into the void spaces
of the eneray^s front) and so not to engage with the whole at once,
but to make many impressions at the same time iu diflerent parts.
These orders being given by ^milius to the officers, and by the offi*
eers to the soldiers, they immediately made their way between the
pikes wherever there was an opening*, which was no sooner done
Aan some took the enemy in flank, where they were quite exposed^
while others fetched a compass, and attacked them in the rear; thus
was l^ephtUanx soon broken, and its strength, which depended upon
onetinited effort, was no more. When they came to fight man with
miM^, and party with party, the Macedonians had only short swords
to strike the long shields of the Romans, that reached from head to
foot, and slight bucklers to oppose the Roman swords, which, by
reason of their weight, and the force with which they were mana*
ged, pierced through all their armour to the bodies, so that they
maintained their ground with difficulty, and in the end were en-
tirely routed.

It was here, however, that the greatest efforts were made on both
sides; and here Marcus, the son of Cato, and son-in-law to i£milius^
after surprising acts of valour, unfortunately lost his sword, *As he
was a youth who had received all the advantages of education, and
who owed to so illustrious a father extraordinary instances of vir-
tue, he' was persuaded that he had better die than leave such a
spoil in tlie hands of his cnonnes. lie therefore flew through the
ranks, and wherever he happened to see any of his friends or ac^
qiiaiotanc^ he told them his misfortune, and begged their assistance.
/i. number of brave young men was thus collected, who, following
their leader with equal ardour, soon traversed their own army, and
|eU upon the Macedonians. After a sharp conflict and dreadful car-

»

^ Ob the trtt •ppetmnce of this Pertens should liftve charged the Rommnt Tery
Mtklj with Im bone, and hy that moans hove given his iiitaiitrjr time to recoTer
iboascives; bat, iniload of tbii^ tboj ^Kiy proTKM lor their own aofet^ bj a pro-

494

PLUTARCH S LFVES.

nage, tlie enemy was driven back, and the giuuttd bebf kt^m,
the RuiDHDS 50ui;lit for the sword, w)ik-h with muili difin^w
tound under a heap of urrns and dead bodies. Transponed iri&ii
success, they chaif^ed ihuse tliat rciuaiii4.'d utibrokcu wilt stDI^
eagerness and shouts of triumpli. Tlie tlirt:*; thousand MacolMK
who were all select men, kept their statioo, and Di&iatained ibci^
but at last were entirely cut oif. The rest fled, and teniblcwT!
BJaughtet of those. The field and the sides of the hills wertaw
with the dead, and the liver Leucus, which the Romuu ctM^*
day after the battle, was eveit then mixed with blood: fotilitM
that about tnenty-five thousand were killed oa the Maccdonitf <i^i
whereas the Romans, accuiding to Posidonius, lost butoue buMB'
Ka-'iica 9a}s, only fourscore*.

ThisgreHt hatlle was soon decided, for it began at the DiDih h>*i
knd victory declared herself before the tenth. The KmaiDdi) t'''
day was employed in the pursuit, which wus conltDued fur tk^
of a hundred and twenty furlonjis. so iliat it w^s briittkHlii
when ihey returned. The serviints wcat wifU torches tan»^
masters, and conducted them with shouts of joy to their tewi*^
they had illuminated, and adorned with crowns of ivy stid IwE^l-

But the ^neral himself was overwhelmed with gtWi; fut^'l*
two sons tliat served under him, the youtigcst, wiiom hr DKMtM
and who, of all the broihevs, w.is most happily furtned forvinv.'
not to be found. He was naturally brave and ambitious ol W*
and withal very ynun.e || ; he concluded tliut his inexuerienK Mi
gaged him too far in the hottest of the battle, aud thatU*-
tainly was killed. The whole army was st-nsible of his Mm"*'
distress; and, leaving their supper, they went out with turcbn,ill>
to the general's. teni, and some out of the trenches, id
among the first uf the sluin. A profound tDclaneh<^y
camp, while the field resounded widi the cries of those
Upon Scipio. For so admirably had nature tempered him, iWiti
was very early marked out by the world as o person, beyond iWw<
of the youth, likely to excel in the arts bodi of war aud of dvilf^
veiument.

• L'ltttlj imptiMilile' ifih

i 1 hen iu
u A|wlla, Bad

it.f[hi>%hi.,.
c afltraoon.

>I»ldVT(Ml J bMU>I^»

■nd >e raw) aTWc^*

t The litirel <
tinn uipiWHtl lo be tbc »iue « illi tlecculo, «u
lion lUto India. But llic Roman cuttoin ol adirnii
pUiHoiiUechm, might uriMi Tram * more »ib|)Ib uuic: Cshi. in Im thMll bail if M
CiiilWan,M]i, IhitinPnmp'-j'KMnipherauiKllLe lenl oi Lmtalat, BBdwatlH*
•onced villi ■*/■ *° "*" '>'^ ''"7 madg tlicniieUu •( llic ttciotv.

I i(c WW tbta Id liii icvriilMDiti jtu.

?AULUS AMlLtUS. 4S9

It was now very late, and he was almost given up, wiien be returned
from the pursuit with two or three friends, covered with the fresh
blood of the foe, like a generous young hound carried too far by the
charms of tite chace. This is that Scipio who afterwards destroyed
Carthage and Nomantia, and was incomparably the first, both in vir-
tue and power, of the Romans of his time. Thus fortune did not
choose at present to make iGmiiius pay for the favour she did him^
but deferred it to another opportunity; and therefore he enjoyed this
▼ictory with full satisfisctioo*

As for Perseus, he fled from Pydna to Fella with his cavalry, which
had suffered no loss. When the foot overtook them, they reproach*
^ them as cowards and traitors, pulled them off their horses, and
wounded sereral of them ; so that the king, dreading the consequen-
ces of the tdmult, turned his horse out of the common road, and,
lest he should be known, wrapped up his purple robe, and put it be-
fore him; he also took off his diadem and carried it in his hand; and,
thst he ttright converse the more conveniently with his friends, he
alighted from his horse, and led him. But they all slunk away from
fchn by degrees: one under pretence of tying his shoe, another of
wartering his horse, and a third of being thirsty himself: not that they
were so much afraid of the enemy, as of the cruelty of Perseus, who,
exasperated with his misfortunes, sought to lay the blame of his mis-
<!arriage on any body but himself. He entered Pella in the night,
where he killed, with his own poniard, Euctus and EudfiBus, two of
bis treasurers, who, when they waited upon him, had found fault with
some of his proceedings, and provoked him by an unseasonable li-
berty of admonition. Hereupon every body forsook him, except E-
▼ander the Cretan, Archedamus the iEtolian, and Neon the Boeotian ;
nor did any of his soldiers follow him but the Cretans, who were not
attached to his person, but to his money, as bees are to the honey-
comb: for he carried great treasure along with him, and suffered
them to take out of it cups and bowls, and otlier vessels of gold and
ailver*, to the value of fifty talents. But when he came to Amphi-*
polis, and from thence to Alepsusf, his fears a little abating, he sunk
again into his old and inborn distemper of avarice; he lamented to
his friends that he had inadvertantly given up to the Cretans some of
the gold plate of Alexander the Great; and he applied to those that
had it, and even begged of them with tears, to return it him for the
iralue in money. Those who knew him well, easily discovered that

* He wai ftfnid to give it them« lest the Macedonians out of spite should take all
iLe rest.

t A manuKiiptcopy has it Galcpsas, probablj upon the authoritj u( Livj.

45S laUTA&CH^S LIVX&

he wasplf^fing the Cretan with the Cretans^, but such M woe pee-
irailed upon to ^ve up the plate, lost all, for he neirer paid tk no-
Bey. Thus he got thirty talents from bis tnendsy which.iOQii aficr
were to come into the hands of his enemiesy and with these he sailed^
' Samothrace, where he took refuge at the altar of Castor and Bolhocf*
. The Macedonians have always had the character, of bdiig hmn
of their kings^ ; but now, as if the chief bulwark of their conslitutiiNi
was broken down, and all were fallen with it, they sabnuttied to Am-

lius, and in two days he was master of all MaggAiyipa, Xhis m

to give some countenance to those who impute these events to for-
tune. A prodigy which happened at Am[4iipolis tritificid abo tfai
&vour of the gods. The consul was ofierang Sfcri6c:e thetey and th^
sacred ceremonies were begun, when a flas^ of Ughtiiin|( idl UM
the altar, and at once consumed and consecnted the lictiBa. Bit
the share which fome liad id this affiur exoceds both that Jffodigwmd
what they tell us of his good fortune: for^ op the ioiirdi dw
Perseus was beaten at Pydna, as the people were at jdie
games in Rome, a report was suddenly spread in the fint sorts if
the theatre, that i£milius bad g^ned a great battleorer
<yvertumed the kingdom of Macedon. The news was
in a moment, the multitude clapped their bands, and set w.onl
acclamations, and it passed current that day in the city* Aftcp*,
wards, when it appeared that it had no good foundatioo, the atOR
dropped for the present; but when, a few days after, it
beyond dispute§, they could not but admire therepcMt which
harbinger, and the fiction which turned to truth.

In like manner it is said, that an accountof the battle of the ItaliiM
near the river Sagra was carried to Peloponnesus tlie same day it aai
fought ; and of the defeat of tlie Persians at Mycale, wi]th ^^1 ea-

* It WAS an ancient proverb, Tht Cretans are alwoyi Han, St. Pttiil lMn q— ttd If
firom Callimachus. t He carried witk bim two thiMUMid tslents. :

X When Perseus was at Amphipoiis, being afraid tbatthe inbibitMitt woold tidwlia
aad deliver him up to the Romans, he came out with Philip, the ooIy cbild he hal
with bim, and, having mounted the tribunal, began to speak; but his tears flowedsolMit
that, after several triai!i, he found it impracticable to proceed. Descending aMinfttA
the tribunal, lie ^okc to Kvunder, who then went op to supply his p?)aee» and bcMilr
speak : but the people, who hated him. refused to hear btra, crying ottt* «* BtaoM^kt^
gone; wc are resolved not to expose ourselves, our wivea, and our cluJdren* lor
sakrs. Fly, therefore, and leave us to make the best terms wc con with the
Evandcr had been the principal actor in the assassination of £aaienea» and was
wards (iisputched in Samothrace b^' order of Perseus, wbo was afraid that £Tandcr«oaid
accuse him as the author of that murder.

$ It was confirmed by the arrival of Q. Fabius Maximus^the ion of ^iSIm>^ L^Lc^
talus, and Q. Metelluf, who had been sent express by iEmilim^ and readied BaaM tha
tweolietb day after the action.

PAULUS ^MILruS. 457

periition, to Platien; nnd (hat, very soon after the battle which the
Romans gainec) over ihe Tanjiiins and the people of Latium, that
fought under their Itanners, two vounjr tnen of uncommon size and
beauty, who were conjceiured to be Ciistor and Pollux, arrived at
Rome from the army with the news of it. The first man they met
with, by the fountain in the niarkcl-jtlace, as they were refreshing
their horses that foamed with sweat, expressed Ms surprise at tlieir ac-
count of the victory; whereupon tliey are said to have smiled, aud to
liavc stroked his beard, which immediately turned from black to yel-
low. This circumstance ^ined credit to his report, and got him the
■urname vf ^nohwrbua, or peWnv-beant.

All these stories are confirmed by that which happened in our
limes : for, when Lucius Antonius rebelled against Domitian, Rome
was much alarmed, nnd expected a bloody war in Germany, but on a
sudden, and of their own proper motion, the people raised a report,
and spread it over the city, that Aiiinnius was vanquished and slain,
that his army was cut in pieces, and not one man had csea|>ed. ■Such
a run had the news, and such was the credit given to it, that many
of the magistrates offered sacrifice on the occasion. But whkn Ihe
author of it was sought after, they were referred from one to another,
ail their inquiries were eluded, and at last the news was lost in the
immense crowd, as iu a vast ocean. Thus the report, appearing to
have no solid foundation, immediately vanished. But as Domitian
was marcliing his forces to chastise the rebels, messengers and let-
tets met him on the road, which brought an account of the victory.
Then they found that it was won the same day the report was propa-
^ted, thouj^h the field of battle was mure than twenty thousand
furlongs fiom Itomc. This is a fact which none can be unac-
quainted with.

But to return to the story of Fcrscus: Cneius Octavius, who was
joined in eoniinand with. ^niilius, came with his fleet toSamuihrace,
wlicre, out of reverence to the gods*, he permitted Fergus to enjoy

■ The g<Kli uf Simolliiiicc wrrc itrcudtd hjr ill nilToni. Th« Pigaoi ciarricd Uicic
prrjutlicei 10 f*r la (ouur of lhu» piclcntlBil dciliri, tint lliey w«ic muck oilti awa
•pun Ihr hvit DwniKin of Ihcir niKon. Of all llic oIId llmlwcre in um uiong Iba au-
cicnti, Ihfll b; ibtic gudi h>i drfinrd ibe uioit iicred and intiDlablc. Sihh u vers
fuHiid uol 10 litit uliKTrfad thii nitli mae lookrd upou ■> Ihe cuiie at Duiliiad, and
perniu deiated la dcmuciioii. Uiodarui (lib. v.) telli 111, tbal lb«tc gi/dt Here alwaj*
prncnl. and ucret (ailad lo auiii thnw thai wtn iailialcd. and called upvii tlicm iq
•n; luddcn aud uiicipavled duigci ; and that Dune evet dulj pcrtormcd Ihcii ccienv-
nit* Hillioui being ■iu|il; rcwudid foe Ibeir pieijr. JCo wonder, then, '\i the pl>ic<-> aC-
r*lagt m ihit inland were rer; higlilj nmti. Brsidu (be lemptc oC Cuiat and ful-
luii to •hieh Paraciu Sed, Iheie «■> ttlu a wirad. eiteriued lucb, olivic tlrixc aU) "<(•
•dttilied IS ilic hulj ritei of the Ctbiri uwd lu meal.

Vol. 1. No. IG. UMu

ft jr '•iictt

n xis tf^r^s^. xs a jitttii
ir TSK ^.xis*. Bat fto*

^jj* a--. - fi Tr:a.is?^ -i. ii' . ^^^ "nsr JLjuIIic* coolvi not ofc*

T;ff »e

PAULUS MhilUVS. 459

r
I
I

■
■

what might seem her greatest crime, by a behaviour which makes it
appear that thou deservest her frowns, and that thou art, not only
now, but hast been long, unworthy the protection of that goddess?
Why dost thou tarnish my laurels, and detract from my achieve-
tnents, by showing thyself a mean adversary, and unfit to cope with
a Roman ? Courage in the unfortunate is highly revered, even by an
enemy; and cowardice, though it meets with success, is held in great
contempt among the Romans."

Notwithstanding this severe rebuke, he raised him up, gave him
his hand, and delivered him into the custody of Tubero. Then tak*
ing his sons, his sons-in-law, and the principal officers, particularly
the younger sort, back with him into his tent, he sat a long time si-
lent, to the astonishment of the whole company. At last he began
to speak of the vicissitudes of fortune, and of human affiiirs. ^^ Is it
fit then," said he, ^^ that a mortal should be elated by prosperity^
and plume himself upon the overturning a city or a kingdom?—.
Should we not rather attend to the instructions of fortune, who, by
such visible marks of her instability, and of the weakness of human
power, teaches every one that goes to war to expect from her no-
thing solid and permanent? what time for confidence can there be
for man, when, in the very instant of victory, he must necessarily
dread the power of fortune, and the very joy of success must be
mingled with anxiety, from a reflection on the course of unsparing
fate, which humbles one man to-day, and to-morrow another^? When
one shot t hour has been sufficient to overthrow the house of Alexan-
der, who arrived at such a pitch of glory, and extended his empire
over great part of the world; when you see princes, who were lately
at the iiead of inimeuse armies, receive their provisions for the day
from the hands of their enemies; shall you dare to flatter yourselves
that fortune has firmly settled your prosperity, or that it is proof
against the attacks of time ? Sliall you not rather, my young friends,
quit this elation of heart, and the vain raptures of victory, and hum-
ble yourselves in the thought of what may happen hereafter, in tliQ
expectation that the gods will send some misfortune to counterba-
lance the present success ?'* .Emilius, they tell us, having said a great
deal to this purpose, (]i> missed the young men seasonably chastised
with this grave discourse, and restrained in their natural inclination
to arrogance.

When this was done, he put his army in quarters while he went to
take a view of Greece. This progress was attended both with honour
to himself, and advantage to tlie Greeks; for he redressed the peo-
ple's grievances, he reformed their civil government, and gave th^m
ipratuities^ to some wheat, and to others oil^ out of the royal stores j

460 vi.utarch's lives.

in which such vast cjuiitithies art said lo liave been I'ounil, thut ilir
number of those tliat asked and reeeivecl was too small to exlattst the
whole. Finding a great square pedestal of white marble ai Delphi,
desired for a golden statue of Perseus, he ordered his uwn to be pu>
upon it*} alleging, that it was but just that the cooqucnrd (IhkiM
give place lo the conqueror. At Olympia, we are told, he OXati
that celebrated saying, " This Jupiter uf fhidias is Uie vm Jopitcr
of Homer,"

Upon the arrival of ihe ten com miss iotters-t- from Home for senGnr
the afiairs of Macedonia, he decliued the lands and cities of idc Mi-
cedonians free, and ordered that they should he ^verued bv il«r
owa laws, only reserving a tribute to the llomans uf k huntiTnlii-
letits, which was not half what their kings iiripo!>ed.

After this, lie exhibited various games and spectacles, offered ■■
crifices to the gods, and made great entertunmeuts; for all whicik
found an abundant supply in the treasures of the kiug^ And k
showed so just adiseemment inihcordeiing, ^he placing, and *ilat*
iiigof his guests, and in distinguishing what degree of drifiry m
due to every man's rank and quality, that the Greeks vrertiaaiiu
his knowledge of matters of mere politeness, and that, ■snAi
great actions, even trifles did not escape his attention, but wtn
duced with the greatest decorum. ThnI which sfTordnl fain ifcc
highest sntisfnetion was, that, noiwithslandinfr ilie inagiufiecooe ■
variety of his prepanitions, he himself gave the jin'eniest plosvK i»
those he entertained. And to those that expressed their edsii
of hia uianagcmcut on these occasions, he said, •* llwr it m
the same genius to draw up an army, and to order an eniertnionmCl
that the one might be most formidable to the cnemv, and ibeti^
most agreeable to the company."

Among his other good qunlities, his d isi me rested ness and tsap
nimliy stood loremost in the esteem of the world : for he •oaU ■
so much as look upon the immense quantity of ailirer and gM *>
was collected out of the royal palaces, hut dettvcied it »t

* Thii iru cat quite id cciiiiiieiil wiih lii> hunnlisiing dUcuuna oa tha vhM'
of ruiluDc.

t Thrtc icn Ugilti were nil mfa or cdiwi1>i[ ilicniiy. oho eamc la ma^ Jb^'
fCtlllne ■ ucw Foim af goricnniciji. Tlie Muccilauiwu w. n- nut nacfc iJmmt m
Ibe ]in>roi)f of libeily, bcciuK Ihry cuuW iiol well Oiu^irchend iriiat (tM ll«4} ■
Tfacj fiiK eviilfnl coalradictiani in ihe drcree, wbieb, iliongb H tpdt* •TIhMI*
vndei lbcl> uvn ^wm, ioijiaaed muiy uew sues, aiul llireatcncd aura. Wta ^ '
luibcd ihcin «M ■ divisioTi of thvii kiiisdani, wheicby, at a aoMa. ihej »m i^*
■ad dliJDiutcd froiD eacli athrr.

t To thtie two pttiicuUn, of dtawing np m anp}, and oi4etu^ •■ twaa^M
Htnry IV. ofFrenee aJdcd— the making luve.

FAULUS JEMILIUS, '46L

^tuesiorsy to be carried into the pubiic treasury. He reserved only
the books of the king's library for his sons^ who were men of letters;
and ia distribudog rewards to.tliose that had distinguished themselves
in the battle, he gave a silver cup of five pounds weight to his son^
in-law, £lius Tubero. This is that Tubero who, as we have already
mentioned, was one of the sixteen relations tiiat lived together, and
were all supported by one small farm ; and this piece of plate, ac-
quired by virtue and honour, is affirmed to be the first that was in tlic
family of the Allans, neither they nor their wives having, before
this, either used or wantt'd any vessels of silver or gold.

After he had made every proper regulation*, taken his leave of tlic
Greeks, and exhorted the Macedonians to remember the liberty which
the Romans had bestowed on themf) and to preserve it by good laws
and the happiest harmony, he marched into Epirus. The senate had
made a decree that the soldiers who had fought under him against
Perseus should have the spoil of the cities of Epirus. In order,
therefore, that they might fall upon them unexpectedly, he sent for
ten of the principal inhabitants of each city, and fixed a day for them
to bring in whatever gold and silver could be found in their houses
and temples. With each of these he sent a centurian and guard of
soldiers, under pretence of searching for and receiving the precious
Inetal, and as for this purpose only: but when the day came, they
rushed upon all the inhabitants, and began to seize and plunder them.
Thus, in one hour, a hundred and fifty thousand persons were made
slaves, and seventy cities sacked. Yet, from this general ruin and
desolation, each soldier had no more than eleven drachmas to his
share. How shocking was such a destruction for the sake of such
advantage !

iEmilius, having executed this commission so contrary to his mild-
ness and humanity, went down to Oricum, where he embarked his
forces, and passed over into Italy. He sailed up the Tyber in the
king's galley, which had sixteen banks of oars, and was richly adorned

* At the dose of these proceedings, Androiiicus the ^Ctuliani and Neo the Bocotijin^
because they hud always been frieuds to IVr&eus and hud not desettcd him even now,
were condemned, und lot their heads. So unjust amidst all the specious appearance
4>f justice were the conquerors.

t This boasted favour of the Romans to the people ofMacedon wat certainly nothing
exlniordinarjr. T|ieir country beuig now divided into foar districts, it was declared an*
lawful for any person to intermarry, to carry on any trade, to buy or sell any lands to
any one who was not an inhabitant of his own district. They were prohibited to import
aoj salt, or to sell any timber fit for building ships to the barbarian nations. All the
nobility, and their children, exceeding the age of fiftaen, were commanded immediately
to transport themselves into Italy: and the supreme power in Mebedoa was retted m
#ertaui Boman tenators.

rLUTAECU*9 LIVES.

%ith arms takeo from the cnemj, and with cloth of scaiiet
pie; and the banks of the rifcr beinfr coyercd with uudtifiea dal
came to see the ship as it sailed slowly i^ainst the stveMDy dK l(»-
■lans in some measure anticipated his triamph.

But the soldiers, wlio looked with longing eyes oq the wcaU tf
Perseus^ when they found their expectatioiis dis^ipoiotcd^ imiB%id
a secret resentment, and were ill-aflfected to iEmilius. b pdbit
th^ alledged another cause: they said he had behmTcd in
in a severe and imperious manner, and therefore thej did not
his wishes for a triumpiL Servius Galha, who had ocrve
JEmilius as a tribune, and who had a personal enmity to turn,
ing this, pulled off the mask, and declared that no triumph oa^ht ts
be allowed him. Having spread among the soldiery sevenl calo*-
nies against the general, and sharpened the lesentaient wluch they
had already conceived, Galba requested another day of the tribean
of the people; because the remaining four hours^ he said, wpeie sil
sufficient for the intended impeachment. But as the tribwnct er-
dered him to speak then, if he had any thing to say, he begsn a loag
harangue, full of injurious and false allegations, and apon it outta
the end of the day. When it was dark, the tribunes disnusacd the
assembly. The soldiers, now more insolent than ever, throagBA
about Gaiba, and animating each other, before it was light, took
stand again in the capitol^ where the tribunes had ordered the
bly to be held.

As soon as tlie day appeared, it was put to the vote, and the fini
tribe gave It afrainst tlie triumph. When this was understood hjtke
rest of the asseinljly and the senate, the commonalty expressed giciBt
concern at the injury (i<jne to ^Smilius, but their words had no ef-
fect; the principal senators insisted that it was an unsufferable at-
tempt, and encouraged each other to repress the bold and licentioiis
spirit of the soldiers, who would in time stick at no instance of injus-
tice and violence^, if something was not done to prevent their de*»
priving il^milins of the honours of his victory. ITiey pushed, there-*
fore, through the crowd, and coming up in a body, demanded that
the tribunes would put a stop to the suffrages, until they had deli-
vered what they had to say to the people. The poll being stof^ed
accordingly, and silence made, Marcus Servilius, a man of consular
dignity, who had killed three-and-twenty enemies in single comba^
stood up, and spoke as follows :

^^ I am now sensible, more than ever, how great a general Baulnt
£milius is, when, with so mutinous and disorderly an army be has
performed such great and honourable achievements; but I am SW^

* Tbit was sadly verified in the times of the Ronta

PAULUS J£MILIUS. 46S

prised at the inconsistency of the Roman people, if, after rejoicing in
triumphs over the lUyrians and Ligurians, they envy themselves the
pleasure of seeng the king of Macedon brought alive, and all the
^lory of Alexander and Philip led captive by the Roman arms* For
is it not a strange thing for you, wiio, upon a slight rumour of the
victory brought hither some time since, offered sacrifices, and made
your requests to the gods, that you might soon see that account veri-
fied, now the consul is returned with a real victory, to rob the gods
of their due honour, and yourselves of the satisfaction, as if you were
afraid to behold the greatness of the conquest, or were willing to spare
the king? though, indeed, it would be much better to refuse the tri-
umph out of mercy to him, than envy to your general. But to such
excess is your malignity arrived, that a man who never received a
wound, a man shining in delicacy, and fattened in the shade, dares
discourse about the conduct of the war, and the right to a triumph to
you, who, at the expense of so much blood, have learned how to judge
of the valour or misbehaviour of your commanders."

At the same time, baring his breast, he shewed au incredible num*
ber of scars upon it, and then turning his back, he uncovered some
parts which it is reckoned indecent to expose; and addressing him-
self to Galba, he said, ^^ Thou laughest at tliis ; but I glory in these
marks before my fellow citizens; for I got them by being on horse-
back day and night in their service. But go on to collect the votes;
I will atteud the whole business, and mark those cowardly and un-
grateful men, who would rather have their own inclinations indulged
in war, than be properly commanded." This speech, they tell us,
so humbled the soldiery, and effected such an alteration in them, that
the triumph was voted to iEniilius by every trihe.

The triumph is said to have been ordered after this manner: In
every theatre, or, as they call it, Ciracs^ where equestrian games
used to be held, in the foruniy and other parts of the city, which were
convenient for seeing the procession, the people erected scaffolds,
and on the day of the triumph were all dressed in white. The tem-
ples were set open, adorned with garlands, and smoking with incense.
Many lictors and other officers compelled the disorderly crowd to
make way, and opened a clear passage. The triumph took up three
days. On the first, which was scarce sufficient for the show, were
exhibited the images, paintings, and colossal statues, taken from the
enemy, and now carried in two hundred and fifty chariots. Next day,
the richest and most beautiful of the Macedonian arms, were brought
up in a great number of waggons. These glittered with new fur-
bished brass and polished steel; and, though they were piled with
jpreat art and judgment, yet seemed to be thrgwn together promiscu-

464 nVT ARCHES LHTES.

ously ; helmets being placed upon siieilds, brenst-pli

Cretan targets, Thracian bucklers, and quivers of mwrams fciriU

among horses' bits, with the points of naked swosds and UmgjKkn

appearing through on erery side. All these arms were tied togtta

with such a just liberty, that room was left for them to cbtter as A^

were drawn along; and the clank of tliem was so hanh and terrM^

that they were not seen without dread« though among^ the wpA of

die conquered. After the carriages loaded with arms walked dnr

thousand men, who carried the silver money in seven handled md

fifty vessels, each of which contained three talents, and was borne ly

four men. Others brought bowls, horns, goblets, and caps, all rf

silver, disposed in such order as would make tlie best show, andvip

Juable not only for their size, but the depth of the basso Teficvo^

On the third day, early in the morning, first came op die tnunpcl^

not with such airs as are used in a procession of solemn entry, hi

with such as the Romans sound when they animate their ticnpato

the charge. These were followed by a hundred and twcntj fiit OR%

with their horns gilded, and set off with ribbons and garhinds. The

young men that led tliese victims were girded with belts cif tmisii

workmanship; and after them came the boys who carried the gaU

and silver vessels for the sacrifice. Next went the persons who ev*

ried the gold coin*, in vessels which held three talents cachf Kke

those that contained the silver, and which were to the nambcraC

seventy-seven. Then followed those that bore the consecnted boiv)t»

of ten talents weight, which iSmilius had caused to be made of goU^

and adorned with precious stones ; and those that exposed to view

the cups of Antigonus, of Seleucus, and such as were of the -mW

of the famed artist Shericles, together with the gold plate that bsA

been used at Perseus's table. Immediately after was to be seen the

chariot of that prince, with his armour upon it, and his diadem upoil

that; at a little distance his children were led captive, attended by a

great number of governors, masters, and preceptors, all In tears, wbs

stretched out their hands by way of supplication to the spectators^ and

taught the children to do the same. There were two sons and tet

daughter, ail so young, that they were not much aflfeeted with the

greatness of their misfortunes. This insensibility of theirs rendoed

* According to Plutarch's arcount, there were 9250 taleutt ofaUver coio^ sod flSfl
ci gold coin. According to Vulrriiis Aittia*, it auiouiited to sonewhat more ; but Ijvf
4hiDks his computatiou too small; and Ycllriaa Paterculua makes it aloHaat twice aa Machw
The account which Paterculns ^ives of it is probably right^ since the money now brou|hi
from Macedonia set the Kojnanjt free from all taxes for the space of one hundred isA
twenlyfite years,
t This bowl weighed sis haudred pouuds; for the talent weighed tUtj poBodK^ II
coniecrftled to Japiteb

r

PAULUS JFMJUVS. 4G5

■ the chiinge of tliclr condition more pitmlile; insomucli, liiat Perseus
• passed oa almost without notice. So fixed were the eyes of tlic Ko-

i mans ujwn the children, from pity for tlieir fate, that many of them
m shed tears, and none tasted the joy of the triumph without a mixture

■ of pain till they were gone hy. Behind the children and their train,
A mlkeJ PiTseus himself, clad all in black, and wearing sandals of th ;
•t fashion uf his country. He had the appearance of i man lliat was
h overwhelmed with terror, and whose reason was almost staggered
k with the weight of his misfortnnes. He was foliowt.1 by a great num-
I ber of friends and favourites, whose countenances were ■■ppressed
I with sorrow, and who, by Bxing their wivping eyes eontintinlly upon

tlieir prince, testified to the speclatnrs thnt it w.is his lot which they
lamented, and that they were regiirdtess of their own. He had sent,
indeed, to j^milius, to desire that he might be excused from lieitig

led in triumph, and being mitric a public spectacle. But .Cniilius,

despising his cowardice and attachment in life, hy way of derision, tt ■
seems, sent liim word, " That ii had been in his own power to pre-
vent it, and still wns, if he were so disposed;" hinting, that he should
^ prefer death to disgrace. But he had not the couraf^e to strike
the blow ; and the vigour of his mind being destroyed by vain hopes,
he liecaine a part of hi.s own spoils. Next were carried four hundred
coronets of gold, which tiic cities had sent .'Emilius, along with ihcir
embassies, as compliments on his vittory. Then came the consul
himself, riding in a m^ignificeni chariot; a man, exclusive of the pomp
of power, worthy to be seen and admired: but his good nicin was now
set off with a purple robe interwoven wiih gold, and he held a brunch
of laurel in his riglit hand. The whole army also carrit^ boughs of
laurel, and, divided into bands and com|MinlL's, followed tlie gene-
ral's cliariot; some ringing satirical songx usual on Mich occasions,
and some chanting odes uf victory, and thegtoiious exploits of .Emi-
lius, wtio was revered and admired by all, and whom no good mna
could envy.

Bill, perhaps, there is some superior Being whose ollicc it is to cast
a »hade u^ion any great and eminent prosperity, and so lo mingle the
lot of humun life, that it may not he perfectly five fnim calamity; but
(hose, OS Hutner says ^, may think thcmsetvca most happy, to wiiont

■ PiuliTtli brre nttit Id ■ pHn);e io Ibi ijwccliof AchilJ«t lul'iimum llui lut IIij^i
ubitb II lhu> irau*lut«l by Pupc:

'Hie aiat by Jom'i hi|1i throne b»« fici Uoni,
The iDOite of evil one, anil ane nl good.
From thence ihc cu|i of nomi mm he fillt,
Uleuingi lo tbtK, IQ IbuM dottibotri ill*}

Vol. 1. No. U. W.SN

466 PXUTARCH^S LIVES.

fortune gives an equal share of good and evil. For ifSmiliua iaadng
four sons, two of which, namely, Scipio and Fabius^ were adopted
ipto other families, and two others by his second wife, ai yet but
young, whom he brought up in his own house; one of, theae died al
fourteen years of age, five days before his father's triumph, and the
pther at twelve, three days after. There was not a num among the
Romans who did not sympathize with him in this affliction. All were
shocked at the cruelty of fortune*, who scrupled not to introduce
such deep distress into a house thi|t was full of pleasure, of joy, and
festal sacrifices, and to mix the songs of victory and triumph with
the mournful dirges of death.

/Emilius, however, rightly considering that mankind have need of
pourage and fortitude, not only against swoids and spears, but against
every attack of fortune, so tempered and qualified the present emer">
gencies, as to overbalance the evil by the good, and his private mis*
fortunes by the public pro$perity ; that nothing might appear to les-
sen the importance, or tarnish the glory of hb victory. For, soon
after the burial of the first of his sons, he made) his triumphal enciy,
und upon the death of the second, soon after the triumph, he
bled the people of Rome, and made a speech to them, not like a
that wanted consolation himself, but like one who coul4 alleviate the
grief which his fellow-citizens felt for his misfortunes,

^^ Tliough I have never," said he, ^* feared any thing human, yet
among things divine I have always had a dread of fortune, as the most
faithless and variable of beings; and because in the course of this
war she prospered every measure of mine, *the rather did I expect
that some tempest would follow so favourable a gale, for iq oqe

To most be mingles both : (be wretch deereec|
To taste the bad, unmixed, is curs'4 indeec)*
The happiest taste not happiness sincere*
But find the cordial draught is dash*d with ev«.

Plato has censured it as an impietj to soy that God gives evil. God is not ibe nAm
of evil. Moral t\ il is the resoU^f the abuse of free agencj; natanl cvU it Um oewe-
^uence of the iropertectipn of matter: and the Peitj stands jostifiod in hit cretting bo*
ings liable to both, because natural imperfection was necessary to a prqgietiiTe ciittonci^
moral imperfection «fas necessary to virtue, and virtue was necessary to ba|»piiiess. How-
ever, Homer's allegorj seems borrowed iVom the easterh manner of speaking. Him ia
the Psalms : " In the band of the Lord there is a cup, and he poiireth out of the Mae:
as for the ^regs thereof^ all the ungodlj of the earth shall drink them.— Pt. Ijuv. $.

* Or, more properly, the just and visible interposition of ProvideocOj to pvoialu in
some measure, that general havoc of the human species which tlie Roman prido and wr^
rice had so recently made in Greece. For though God is not the antbor of evil« it b ao
impeachment of his goodness to s^ppo8e, that, by particular poniaiiiiiaiitl^ Iw dMH^M

|iarticular crimes*

PAULL'S ^-EMILIUS. 467

■ ■'■ ■ . — — — ^ _^___^

day I passed the loninn sea from Rruiidusium to Corcyra : wliente in
five days I readied Delphi, and sacriliccd to Apollu. In five days
more, I tooli upon me the enmmnnd of ihe army in Muccdonia; and
&s soon as I had offered tlit- usual sacrifices for purifying if, 1 pro-
ceeded to action; and io the space of Hftecn days from (hat itmp,put
s glorious period to the war, Diitlrustmg the fickle goddess on ac-
couM of such a run of success, and now being secure and free from
all danfrir with respect to the tucmy, 1 was most apprehensive of a
change ul fortune in my patiage home; having 5ucli a great and vic-
torious army to conduct, together with the spoils and royal prisoncra.
Nay, when 1 arrived safe among my ctiuntrymenj and beheld ilic city
full of joy, festivity, and gratitude, still 1 suspected fortune, knowing
that slic grants us no great favour wUhout some mixture of uneasi-
ness or tribute of pain. Thus, full of anxious thoughts for what might
happen to the commonwealth, my fears did not quit me till this ca-
lamity visited my house, and I had my two promising suns, the only
heirs I had left myself, to bury one after the oihcr, on the very days
•acred to (riiimpb. Now, tlieret'ore, I am secure as to the greatest
dsngvr, and I trust, and am fully persuaded, thai fortune will conti-
nue kind and constant to us, since she has taken sufficient usury for
her favours of me and mine; for the man who led the triumph is as
great an instance of the weakness of human jmwer as he who was led
captive; there is only this difference, thai the sons of Perseus, who
was vantjuished, are alive, and those of £millus, who conquered, are
no more."

Such was the generous speech which j^milius made to the people,
from a spirit of magnanimity that was perfectly free from artifice.

Though he pitied the fate of PcrseuSj and was well inclined to serve
him, yet all he could do for him was to get him removed from the
common prison loa cleauer apartment, and better diet. In that con-
finement, according to most writers, he starved himself to death

But some say, the manner of his death was very strange and pecu-
liar. The soldiers, they tell us, who were his keepers, being on some
account provoked at him,anddetetmincd to wreak their malice, when
they could find no other means of doing it, kept him from sleep, tak-
ing turns towatchhim, and using such ^-xtrenie diligence to keep him
from rest, that ai last he was quite wearied out and died *. Two of
his sons also died ; and the third, named Alexander, is said to have
been distinguished fur his art iu turning and other small work ; and,

• n» acnunl •« h«*e from Uiodorui Siculu^ up. PIjI. BiklioO. Philip i> H'd to
ban died before bji fallier, but huv or wboa eaniioi be cullecud. bccBiu* (li« beuLi ui
^*7, and of Diodorui Siniliii, which ucnl yt thwH tlnii, Mt Imi.

468 PLUTARCH^S LIVES.

having learned perfectly to apeak and write the Roman hngnagp,k
was employed by the magistrates as a clerk *^ in which ciipicil|k
ahewed liimself very serviceable and ingenious.

Of the acts of ^milius with regard to Mucedouia, the moil acscfl*
able to tlie Romans was, that of his bringing from thence lo mti
money into the public treasury, that the people had no oeoM
to pay any taxes till the times of Hirtius and Pansa^ who were coi*
auls in the first war between Antony and Caesar. iEmiliui hidili
the uncommon and peculiar happiness to be highly hooomdaBJ*
ressed by the people, at the same time that he remained aUaduii
the patrician party, and did nothing to ingsatiate himaelf nidiie
commonalty, but ever acted in concert with mem of Aefintnai^ii
matters of government. This conduct of his wns afterwudsaO^
by way of reproach against Scipio Africanus by. Appins. Than tm^
being then tbe most considerable ipen in Rome^ stood £ot4^»
sorship: the one having tlie senate and nobility on bi»sidey.fvii
Appian family were always in diat interest^ and the |»ther nainlk
great in himself, but ever greatly in iavour with the people. Wfl^
therefore, Appius saw Scipio come into the Jbrum attended by ai
of mean. persons, and many who had been slaves^ but who «m#
to cabal, to influence the multitude, and to cany all befoie dHH^o^
ther by solicitation or clamour, he cried out^ << O Pkolus ffmiir*
groan, gnian from beneath the earth, to think that ^Gmilina tbe49i(
and Liciiiius the rioter, conduct thy son to the oensofrinpl" bk
no wonder if the cause of Scipio was espoused by the peopkySnttk
was contiimaliy heaping favours upon them. But JEmiliui^ dio^^
lie ranged hiu)self on the side of the nobility^ was as much bebmllf
the po[iuIace as the most insinuating of their demagoguea. TMlip*
peared in their bestowing upon him, among other honoiirs» tbild
the censors] >ip, which is the most sacred of all offices^ and whidiha
great authority annexed to it, as in other reapectSjSO partlculai^h
the power of inqiiiring into the morals of tbe citizens. For the
soi's couUl expel from the senate any member that acted in a:
^nworthy of Ins station, and enrol a m?ui of character in that bod|fl
and tliey could disgrace one of the equestrian order who behaved B>
ccutiously,by taking away hishorsc. They also took account of ^
value of each man's estate, and. registered the number of the peoj^
The number of citizens which u£miiius took, was three hundreiol
thirtyrscven thousand four hundicd and fifty-two. He dccltfel

* Here was a remnrkiible instance of the pride of tbe BcMaaa aeaato^ to hkf ikttfi
of a vanquished king for their clerk ; while K tuofflede», tbt toa of PmaMi^ kiag of Bii9*
lia, was educated b^ them with all im»giiuble pomp wad •pkadaarj
liad put him uader tbe care «f tb« republic*

r^ULUS J£MIUU«4 469

Marcus iEmilius Lepldus first senator, who had already four times
arrived at that diguity. He expelled only three senators^ who w^re
men of no note; and with equal ouxleration both lie and his col-
leagut Marcitis Philippus behaved in examining into Uie conduct of
the knights.

Having settled many important affairs while he bore this office, he
fell into a distemper^ which at £i'&t appeared very dangerous, but in
time became less threatening, though it still was troublesome and
difficult to be cured* By the advice, therefore, of his physicians, he
failed to Velia*, where he remained a long time near the sea, iti a
▼ery retired and quiet situation. In tlie mean time^ the Romans
gitatly regvetted his ab^qee, and, by frequent exclamations io the
ttieatres, testified thek extreme ddsire to ^e him again. At last, a
public sacrifice coming on, which necessarily r^uired his attendanoCy
sfimilias, seeming now sufficiently recovered, returned to Rome, and
ofiered that sacrifice, with the assistance of the other priests, amidst
it prodigious multitude of people, who expressed their joy for his re-
ttini. Nest day he sacrificed a^ain to > the gods for his recoveiy«
HaTing finished these rites, he returned home and went tobed; ^faeu
lie suddenljf fell into a delirium, in which he died the third day, har«-
iog attained to every thing that is supposed io contribute to the'hap^
piiiess of man.

His funeral was conducted with wonderful solemnity; the cocdial
regard of tlie public did honour to his virtue, by the best and happir
e9t obsequies. These did not consist in tlie pomp of gold, of ivoiy^
tf other expense and parade, but in esteem, in love, in veneration,
expressed not only by his countrymen, but by his veryienemles. For
M many of tlie Spaniards, Ligurians, and Macedonians it> ss hap-
l^ened to be then at Rome, and were young and robust, assisted ia
ourrying liis bier; while the aged fbllowed it, calling i£milius dieir
lieneiactor, and the preserver of their countries. For he not only.
Sit the time he conquered them, gained the character of humanity,
tmt continued to do them services, and to take care of them, as if
^hey had been his friends and relations.

' The estate he left behind him scarcely amounted to the sum of
three hundred and seventy thousand denarii, of which he appointed

«

* Platarch here writes Elef instead of VtVtaL, and cmUt it a town in Italy» to distio-
^oitb it from one of that name in Greece.

t These were tome of the Macedvtian nobility, who were then at Rome. Valeriai
ISaxJmus tays, it was like a second triumph to ^milius, to have these persons assist in
Supporting his bier, which was adorned with representations of his conqoest of their
^OiUUry. In fact, it was more honourable than the triumph be had led upi because this
^rc witoeai to bit humamtj, and tb« ether only to bii ▼•losr.

473 rLUTARCH's UTSS;

Ae cause of his paleness, and he acknowledged Hbmt he Inid a priiMf
infirmity. He therefdre gave his physicknB a strict duugte, llMlif
any remedy could be fomidy they should apply it with tlievtOKialcBM*
Thus the man was cured; but then he no loBgcf eomrted danger, b«
risked his person as before. Antigomis questioned him aboat it,
could not forbear to express his wonder at die diangc Tha
did not conceal the real cause; ^ You, Sir/' said he, ^ have
ne less bold^ by deliTering me from that misery which made ny Gb
of no account to me." From the same way of argain|^ it was ttat a
certain Sybarite* said of the Spartans^ '^ It was no wonder if th^
Tenturcd their lives freely in battle^ since death 'was a delrvcnacets
them from such a train of labours^ and firom saxh wretclied£ct*
It was natural for the Sybarites, who were dissolTcd in lazaiy aal
pleasure, to think that they who despised death did it netfiooi akn
of virtue and honour^ but because they were weaiy of life. Bat, in fa^
the Lacedftmonians thought it a pleasure either to live or to die^W
rirtue and right reason directed : and so this epitaph teatifica.

Nor life Bor death, tbej deeni'd t!i€ happier stste»
But life that's glorioiu, or • death tbat'a great.

For neither is the avoiding of death to be found fault witb^ if a aaa
is not di.shonourably fond of life; nor is the meeting it with coang^
to be commended, if he is disgusted with life. Hence it is that Ho-
rner leads out the boldest and bravest of his warriors to battle, ahraff
well armed: and the Grecian lawgivers punish him who throws amy
bis shield, not him who loses his sword or spear; thus instructing a^
that the first care of every man, especially of every governor of a cify>
or commander of an army, sliould be to defend himself^ and af^tfat
he is to think of annoying tlie enemy; for if, according to the con-
parison made by Iphicrates, the light-armed resemble the hands, fk
cavalry the feet, the main body of infantry the breast, and the geD6-
ral the head; then that general who sufiers himself to be carrMa-
way by his impetuosity, so as to expose himself to needless tunaid^
not only endangers his own life, but the lives of his whole anay,
whose safety depends upon his. Callicratidas, therefore, thou^
otherwise a great man, did not answer the soothsayer well, who dc-
8U*ed him not to expose himself to danger, because the entrails of Ae
victim threatened his life. " Sparta," said he, *^ is not bound Uf
in one man:" for in battle he was indeed but on«, when acting

* The Sybarites were a colonv of Greeks, who seUled in anpent tiiaea m tiv f«lf iC
Tarentum. The felicity of iheir tituation, their wealth and power* drt
UTj, which was reuarkablc to a proverb. But one cannot credit the
which Athencus relates of them. Their chief city, which at fint w«t called SjlbKi^ fk«i
a river of that Bame^^ai afterwudi named Thuriia^ n llMrii*

PELOPIDAS. 473

tier the orders of anoiliLT, whetlier at scii or land; but whfn he had
the command, he virtually compreiiendcd the wliole fpr«e in him-
self; so that he Wiis no longer a single person, when such nombers
must perish with him. Much better was the saying of old Aaiigoiius
when he was going to tngage in a sea-^lu near the island of Andros,
Somebody oli,M;rved to him, that the enemy's fleet was much larger
than his: " For how many ships then dost thou reckon me?" He
represented the importance of the commander ;;reat, sa in fuct it is,
when he is a man of esperiencc and valour; and the first duty of
such a one is to preserve him who preserves the whole.

On the same account, we must allow that Timotheus expressed
himself happily, when Chares showed the Athenians the wounds he
had received when their general, and his shield pierced with a spear:
" I, for my part," said he, " was much ashamed when, at 'he ^ege
of Samos, a javelin fell near mc, as if I bad behaved too like a young
man, and not as became the commander of bO great an armamt-Dt."
For where the scale of the whole aetiuii turns upon the general's
risking his own person, there he is to stitiid the combat, and ui brave
the greatest danger, without regardli^g tliose who suy thdt a good ge-
neral should die of old age, or, at least, nn old man : but when the
advantage to be reaped from his personal brax'ery is but small, and
all is lust in case of a miscarriage, no one then expects that the gcue-
nl should be endangered by cxertiu^r loo much of the soldier.

Thus ■niieh I thought proper to premise before the lives of Pcio-
fidas and Marccllus, whi> were both great men, and both perished
by their rashness. Butli were excellent soldiers, did honour to their
country by the greatest exploits, and liad the most formidable adver-
saries 10 deal with; for the one defeated Hannibal, until iliat time
invincible, and the other conquered the Laecdiemonians. who were
ruastcrs both by ^ca and laud; and yet, ut last, ihey both threw au-ay
their lives, and apilt their blood without any soi t of discrciion, when
tiie limes most required such men and such generals. From this re*
M-mblance between tliem wo have drawn their parallel.

Pclupidns, the sonof Hippocliis, was of an illustrious family lit
Tliebes, as was also Kpainiuondas, brought up in affluence, and com-
jug in his youth to a great estate, he applied himself to relieve such
necessitous persons as deserved his bounty, to show that he was
really master of bis riches, not tlieir slave; for the greatest part of
men, as Aristotle says, either through covetoasncss, make no usi*
uf their wealth, or cUe abuse it through prodigality; and these live
jKrpctual slaves to their pleasures, as those do to care and toil. The
'J'liehaas, wilh grateful hearts, enjoyed the libendiiy and miunficeiK.*

Vol.1. Xo. IC, oou

474 PLUTAECH*8 UVES.

trsssssacBEEBseBBSsssasaEsssaassssBsssBSsseBBs

of Pelopidas. Epaminondas alone could not be permaded to
In it> Pelopidas, however^ partook in the porerty off his firiei^gb<
Tying in a plainness of dress and slendemeas of diet, iodefintqpbk ii
labour^ and plain and open in his conduct, in the lughest poiliL k
short, he was like Capaneus in Euripides,

Whose opaleDce was grtat^

And ^et his heart was not elated.

He looked upon it as a disgrace to expend more upon his own pern
than the poorest Theban. As for Epaminondas, poverty was \km*
heritance, and consequently familiar to him, but he made it d
more light and easy by 'philosophy, and by the uoifcmii tiapfct^j
of his life.

Pelopidas married into a noble family, and had several cUUn^
but setting no greater value on money than before,^ and devoCn^ d
his time to the concerns of the commonwealth, he impafaied U
stance. And when his friends admonished him that fviamy,
he neglected, was a very necessary thing: It is n^ces^my^
said he, for Nicodemus there, pointing to a man that wia ksdk
}ame and blind.

Epaminondas and he were both equally inclined to evety virltt,
but Pelopidas delighted more in the exercises of the hody^ and Sip
minondasin the improvement of the mind; and the oae diffilJ
liimself in the wrestling-ring or in hunting, while the other wfB^
bis hours of leisure in hearing or reading something in phikaqil)^
Among the many things that reflected glory upon both, theie wi
nothing which men of sense so much admired as tluit strict and it?
violable friendship wliich subsisted between them from first to 1h^
in all the high posts which they held, both militaiy and civil; far If
we consider the administration of Aristides and Themistocles, dfCi-
mon and Pericles, of Nicias and Alcibiades, how m^ch the comooa
concern was injured by their dissension, their envy and jeahiosy d
each other, and then cast our eyes upon the mutual kindness and^fli*
teem which Pelopidas and Epaminondas inviolably preserved, wt
may justly caU these colleagues in civil government and miUtvj
command, and not those whose study it was to get the better efcMl^
other rather than of the enemy. The true cause of the differenfle
was, the virtvie of these Thebans, winch led them not so sedr, io a»
of their measures, their own honour and wealth, the pursuit of wUA
is always attended with envy and strife; but being both inspired fnm
the first with a divine ardour to raise theur country to the sttnUnit of
glory, for tiiis purpose they availed themselves of the achievepieliH
pf each other, as if they had been tlieir Cfwn,

But many are of opinion that their extraordinary friomlship took
its rise from the campaign which they made at Mantinea'*, among
the succours which theTliebans had sent the l^cedKinonians, «hu
as yet were their allies : for, liL'iiig placed together amoni; the heavy-
armed infantry, and fighting with the Arcadians, that wing of the
Ijacedffimonians in which tliey were gave way, and was broken ;
whereupon Felopidas and Epaminondas locked their shields together,
«nd repulsed all tliat attacked (hem, till at last Pclopidas, having re-
ceived seven large wounds, fell upon a heap of friends and enemies
who lay dead together. Epaminondas, though he thought there was
no life left in him, yet stood forward to defend his body and his
amis, and being determined to die ratliei than leave his cumpaniou
in the power of his enemie<;, he engaged with numbers at once.
He was now in eitrenie danger, being wounded in (he hreast with a
spear, and in the arm ^vitll a sword, when Agcsipolis, king of the
ljflced«monians, brought succours from the other wing, and, beyond
all expectation, delivered them both.

After this, the Spartans, in appearance, treated the Thebans as
frtends and allies t, hut, in reality, they were suspicious of iheir spirit
and power; particularly they hated the party of Ismenias and Andro-
clides, in which IMopidas was, as attaclit:d to liberiy end a popular
government. Therefore Arctiias, Leoniidas, and Philip, men in-
clined to an oligarchy, and rich withal, and amMtious, persuaded
PhoFibidas the Laccdtemonian, who was marching hy Tltebes with a
body of troops^, to seize the costte called Cadun-a, to drive the op-
posite party out of the city, and to put the udio i n is tr alien into the
hands of the nobility, subject to the inspection of the I^cedwmo
niaus. Phcebidas listened to the proposal, and coming mioQ the

* We nut talie cact xal la cunfouDd Ihli wilh the TiuaDUi battle at Mulino, in
«bich EpaDinaiidai wai lUia. Fur thai battle ■■• fuuglil agaiuil tlie Laceiliiiiiiuiiiaiu,
and lliu for ibeio. Tlie nciiuu litre tjiokea ol ww piubabJj oIkiui tlie Iliiid jcat of tb«
niurty rigliili OtjiDpiad.

I Duciiiglhe oholcFclopDnnciiiiii wir, Spittn f»uud • vcr; failbful all; in theThe-
bant: and uuiirr l!ic coiinlBnuiiLc of Spartu, llic Tlietiuiii r<«>i*cred Ibe gvTeninicnl of
Birotia. of Hhich thrj Imd hrtn df pritcd un accouut el tlicir drfectiuD W rbc Pcniaiu.
HoH<T«r, at length the; gta* ao powerful and beidattoag, Uiat ahen Ihe p«aee oC Aa-
Ulcidai amc to be >ul>>(:riltcd lo, thej reluwd to cune lata it, and were witti no tmall
diScDllj D*eraind and totved una il bf ibc touleilrraici. Wa leani, iadrid. Irani Pu'
Ijbjut, that ibnueh Uie Laced Kiuouiaiu, at that peace, declaicd all tlie Grecian ciliei
ttte, Iliey did out aillidtaw Ihcic |;iirt»uD> fnim auj uiic of Ihcin.

t PWbidaa wai matGliing ajaiikit Ol^oihui, whea Ltuutidu. or Leonliailf •, vne of Ilia
two polemarcht, betrayed (u biin the tuau and citadel vS llicbet. TLu Iiapjieiicd iii
tlM third year ol Ihe ainely-nialb Ol/iapiad, Ibrce buodred and Mtcnly-fvul fatt
^ifaM the Cbmtiau ca.

476 Plutarch's lives.

Thebaos unexpectedly, during the feast of the Thesmaphoria^f he
made himself master of the citadel, and seized Ismenias, and canM
hhn to LAcedflemon, where he was put to death soon after. Pelopn
das^ Plierenicus, and Androclides, witli many others that fled, were
sentenced to banishment. But Epaminondas remained upon the
spot, beiDg despised for his philosophy, as a man who would not
infermeddle with affiiirs, and for his povorty, as a man of no power.

Though the Laced«mouians took the command of the army fnw
Phodiidas, and fined him in a hundred thousand drachmas^ yet Ihcy
kept a garrison in the Cadmea notwithstanding. All the rest of
Greece w^re surprised at this absurdity of theirs^ in punishing iIm
actor, and yet authorizing the action. As for the Thebsns, who hal
lost their ancient form of government, and were brought into sub-
jection by Archias and Leontidas, there was no room for them to
hope to be dulivered from the tyranny, which was supported in sndi
a manner by the power of the Spartans, that it could not be polled
down, unless those Spartans could be deprived of their dominion bodi
by sea and land.

Nevertheless, Leontidas having got intelligence that the cxiki
were at Athens, and that they were treated there with great icgud
by the people, and no less respected by the nobility, formed scent
designs against their lives. For this purpose he employed oertiii
unknown assassins, who took off Androclides; but all the rest o-
caped. Letters were also sent to the Athenians from Sparta, inait*
ing that they should not harbour or encourage exiles, but drive dm
out as persons declared by the confederates to be cx>mmon enemiei;
but the Athenians, agreeable to their usual and natural humanity, at
well as in gratitude to the city of Thebes, would not sufier the tet
injury to be done the exiles. For the Thebans had greatly asristcd
in restoring the democracy at Athens, having made a decree that if
any Athenian should march armed through Bceotia against the ty-
rants^ lie should not meet with the least hinderance or molestatioa
in that country.

Pelopidas, though he was one of the youngest f, applied to eack
exile in particular, as well as harangued them in a body, ugiDg
'' That it was both dishonourable and impious to leave their nativt
city enslaved and garrisoned by an enemy; and, meanly contented
with their own lives and safety, to wait for the decrees of the Atlie*

* The women were celebrating tbii featt in the C«da««,
t Xenophon/ in tlit accoant which he givci of this tranMctioi^ does not to mmck m
mention Pelopidas. His tllence in this respect was probftblj owing to Lis pactwIHj li
bii hero Agotilaos, whose glory he might think woold be eclipsed by (hat of FelopidM
ami bif wortbjr colleague Epemineadaii for of the letter^ tiK^ 1m

fELOPIDAS. 477

nians^ and to make their court to the popular orators; but that they
ought to run every hazard in so glorious a cause^ imitating the cou-
rage and patriotism of Thrasyhulus; for, as he advanced from Thebes
to crush the tyrants in Athens, so should they march from Atheus to
deliver Thebes."

Thus persuaded to accept bis proposal, they sent privately to their
friends who were left behind in Thebes, to acquaint them with their
resolution, which was highly approved of; and Charon, a person of
tbe first rank, offered his house for their reception. Philidas found
means to be appointed secretary to Archias and Philip, who were*
then polemarchs; and as for Epaminondas, he had taken pains all
along to inspire the youth with sentiments of bravery. For he de-
aired them in the public exercises to try the Lacedaemonians at
wrestling, and when be saw them elated with success, he used to tell
lliem by way of reproof. ^^ That they should rather be ashamed of
their meanness of spirit, in remaining subject to those to whom, in
strength, chey were so much superior."

A day being fixed for putting their design in execution, it was a-
greed among the exiles that Pherenicus, with the rest, should stay at
Thriasium, while a few of the youngest should attempt to get en-
trance first into the city ; and tliat if these happened to be surprised
by the enemy, the others should take care to provide for their children
and tlieir parents. Pelopidas was the first that offered to be of this
party, and then Melon, Democlides, and Thcopompus, all men of
poble blood, who were united to each otiicr by the most falJiful
firiendship, and who never had any contest but which should be fore-
viost in the race of glory and valour.«^These adventurers, who were
twelve in number, having embraced those that staid beiiind, and sent
a messenger before them to Charon, set out in their under-garments
with dogs and hunting poles, that none who met them might have
any suspicion oi what they were about, and that they might seem to
be only hunters beating about for game.

When their messenger came to Charon, and acquainted him that
they were on their way to Thebes, the near approach of danger
changed not his resolution : he behaved like a man of honour, and
made preparations to receive them, Hipposthenidas, who was also
in the secret, was not by any means a bad man, but rather a friend to
his country and to the exiles; yet he wanted that firmness which the
present emergency and the hazardous point of execution required.
He grew giddy as it were at the thought of the great danger they
were about to plunge in, and at last opened his eyes enough to see
that they were attempting to shake the Lacedaemonian government,
and to free tHemselves from that power^ without any otiier depen*

478 Plutarch's lives.

d(rncc tliaa that of a few indti^iil peraoos and TriTryT

went to his own liuuse wiiliout sayitig- a word, aiM)

of his friends to Melon and Fclopidas, Uj desire iba

enterprise for the present, to retura to Atbctu, and font till

more favourable opportunity ofFtred.

Chlidon, for that was the name of the tnaa sent Bpoa AiibK-
nrss, went home in ail iiaste, took his horse out of tbe auMt, wi
called for t)ie bridle. His wife being :it ii loss, and not iUe»U
it, said she had lent it to a iieigitbour. L'pon ilus war
mutual reproaches followed : the woman renting btner:
and wishing that tlie journey might be fatal both to hi
that sent him. So that Chlidun, having spent great pan of dicAf
in ihiG squabble, and looVing upon what had tiappcocd
laid aside all thoughts of the journey, and went etsewrhere. Soatf
was this great and glorious undertaking to being
Tery entrance.

Pclopidiis and his company, now in the dre.xs of
and entered the town at different quaners, wliilst it aaticA/-
And, ns the cold weather was setting in*", there happtacrf*^'
sharp wind and a shower of snow, which concealed tbe» AtbM^
most people retiring into their houses to avoid the iaclencMf dte
weather. But those that were concerned in the affitir reccrR^ An
as they cume, and conducted them immediately to Cluraa'slMtl
llic exiles and others making up tbe number of fortjr-cigbt.

As for the aifuirsofthe tyrants, they stood thus: PhiSJw.d*
secretary, knew {as we said) the whole design of the «i)a»*
omitted nothing that might coiitrilmte to its success. HeW*
Yitcd Archias and Philip some time bcf^a-e to an eoterlainmnitAi*
house on that day, and promised to introduce to them some «■*
in order that those wiio were to attack them might find d****
■olvcd in wine and pleasure. They had not yet drunk vaj W
when a report reached tliem, which, though not false, ietrnti f
certain and obscure, that the exiles were concealed somewlitw''*
city. And though Philidas endeB\-oured to turn the disonant*-
chias sent an officer to Charon to command his imniediaK ri"*
dance. By this time it was grown dark, and Pelopidasandhii"*'
pnmutis were preparing for action, having already put « *"
brenstj dates and girt their swords, when suddenly there was i '"*"
ing at ilic door; whereupon one ran to it, and asked whit tbe f
ton's business was! and ha\'iag leanied from the ofiicci tW^

* The SpuMni MiMd on ihe Ckdmci sbaut tlic uiJille of lumoirr, inTbrtx"'"^
MiatiuDcil, mnd ii W8> ukcu fiDOi ibcB iu tbt Iw^udIoi of ■iMc^ia^''*^
the hundrvtUli Olympiul.

I by the polemarchs to fcicli Clmron, he lirouj-'hl ir, :li
great confusion. They wtro iiimnimous in ihcir opinion timi tlio
■Bfair was discovered, and thu every man o( iIk'tii whs lost, before
they bad performed any thing which became their valour. Never-
theless, tliey thought it proper that Charon should obey the order,
«nd po boldly to the lyr.ints. Charon was a m«n of pTcat intrepidity
and coiirHfie in dangera that ihreaiened only himself, but tlicn he
wos much affected on account of his friends, and afraid that lie should
lie under some suspicion of treachery, if so many brave ritizcDii
should perish, Tlicrefi-re, as he was ready to depart, he took his son,
who was yet a child, hut of a beauty nnd iireiigth beyond those of
his yeiirs, out of the women's apartment, and put him in the hands
ofPclopidas; desiring, " That if he found him a traitor, he would
treat that child as an enemy, and iwt spare its life." Many of them
shed tears when they saw the concent atid mngnanimity of Charon;
and all expressed their uneasiuess at his thinking any of I^em so
dastardly and so much disconcerted with the pn-sent danger, as to be
capable of suspetiinir or blaming him in the least. They bepged of
him, therefore, not to leave his son with them, but to remove him
out of the reach of whiit might [xissibly happen, to some place n licrc,
■afe from the tyrants, he might he brought up to be an nvenger of
his country and his friends. But Charon refused to remove him,
•* For what life," said he, " or what deliverance could ! wish him
that would be more glorious than his falling honourably with his fa-
ther and so many of his friends?" Then he addressed himself in
prayer to the gods, nnd having embraced and encouraged ihtm ail,
he went out; endeavouring by the way to compose himbi-lf, to form
his countenance, and to assume a lone of voice very diScrcnt from
the real state of his mind.

When he was come to the door of the house, .\Tchias and Philidai
went out to him, and sai<?, *' What perstui* are these, Charon, who,
as wc are Informed, are lately come into the town, and are concealed
nnd countenanced by some of the citixcns!" Charon was a little
fluttered at first, hut soon recovering himself, he asked, '" Who
these persons tlwy spoke of were, and by wlii>m harboured }" And,
finding that Archius iiad no clear account of the mutter, conrlnded
from thence tliat his it^formation came not from any person ih;tt wan
privy to the design, and therc^lbrc mii, " Take care that you I'.o not
disturb yourselves with vain rumours, tlowever, I wilt make the
best inquiry I can; for, perhaps, nothing of this kind ought to be
disregarded." Philidaa, who svas by, coinmcnded Lis prudence,
and conducting Archias in again, plied him strongly witti liquor,
and prolonged the carousal by keeping tip their c:fpectBtiou of tlic
women.

480 FLUTARCH*S LIVE9.

Wlicn Charon was returned home, he found his friends pttftnk
to conquer or not to preserve their lives^ but to sell thein dctf^ ol
fall gloriously. He told Pelopidas the truths but concealed it tnm
the rest^ pretending that Arehias had discoursed with him about (Am
matters^.

llie first storm was scarce blown over when fertane raised a
second; for there arrived an express from Athens with a letter fiMi
Arehias^ high-priest there, to Arehias, his namesake and psrticakr
friend, not filled with vain and groundless surmises^ but ^v***^''"^
a clear narrative of the whole ai&ir, as was found afterwards. Ik
messenger being admitted to Arehias now almost intooucated, as k
delivered the letter, said, ^^ The person who sent this desired drit
it might be read immediately, for it contains business of great in-
portancc/' But Arehias receiving it^ said smiling^ JBusmeu U-
Vkorraw, Then he put it under the bolster of his <!oucliy andn-
sumed the conversation with Philidas. This saying, buMmeu Is-
morrow^ passed into a proverb^ and continues so among the Giecb
to this dav.

A good opportunity now ofiertng for the execution <Kf their pv
pose, the friends of liberty divided themselves into two bodies, ad
sallied out. Pelopidas and Damoclidas went against JLeontidas od
Hypatesf, who were neighbours ; and Charon and Melon i^gHBil
Arehias and Philip. Charon and his company put women's ckdHi
over their armour, and wore thick wreaths of pine and poplar i^sa
their heads to shadow their faces. As soon as tliey came to the door
of the room where the guests were, the company shouted and clip*
ped their hands, believing them to be the women whom they had so
long expected. When the pretended women had looked round tk
room, and distinctly surveyed all the guests, they drew their swords;
and making at Archiiis and Philip across the table» they showed who
they were. A small part of the company were persuaded by Phili*
das not to intermeddle: the rest engaged in the combat, and stood
up for the polemarchs, but, being disordered with wine, were easily
dispatched.

Pelopidas and his party had a more difficult affair of it. They hid
to do with Ivcontidas, a sober and valiant man. They found the door
made fast, for he was gone to bed, and they knocked a long time be-

* There appears no neces&U j for tliis artifice ; and indeed Plataicb» in
eonceniing the geuius of Socrates, says, that Charon came back to the little bud af
patriots with a pleusant countenance, and gave them all an accoantor what-lwd puwiL
without the least disguise.

t These were not invited to the entertainment, becaose Arcliiai|» a^pgnjlng ^ ^kcC %
voman of great distinction, did nol choose that Leoottdat thould bo Um^,

r

rELOPIDAS. -481

foTc any body heard. At Iiisi a servuiil ptrcrivi'd it, and came ilowa
and removed llie ijur ; which he had no sooner done than they jjush-
ed ngicn the dour, and rushing in, threw the man down, and ran to

the bed-chamber. Ijcontidasj conjecturing by the noise and tramp

ling what the matter wao, leaped from hb bed and seized his sword;
but be forgot to put out the lamps, which had he done, it would have
left them to fall foul on eneli uihcr in tiie dark. Being, therefore,
fully exposed to view, he met tbem at the door, and with one stroke
laid Cephisodorus, who wus the lirst mun that attempted to enlerj
dead at Ms feet. He encountered Pelopidas next, and the narrow-
ness of the door, together with the dead body of Cephisodorus lying
in the way, made the dispute long imd doubiful. At last Pelopidas
prevailed, aud having slain Lenntidns, he marched immediately with
his little band against Hypates — They got into his house in the
■ame manner as they did into the other; but he quickly perceived
lliem, made his escape tutu a neighbour's house, whither they fol
lowed and dispatched him.

This B&ir being over, they joined Melon, and sent for the exiles
ihey had left in Attica. They proclaimed liberty to all the Thtbans *,
and armed such as came over to them, taking down the spoils that
were suspended upon the porticoes, and the arms out of the shops
of the armourers and sword-cuilers. Epamlnondaaf and Gorgidas
came to their assistance with a considerable body of young men,
&nd a select number of the old, whom they bad collected and
armed.

The whole city was now in great terror and confusion ; the houses
were filled with lights, and the streets with men running to and fro.
The people, however, did not yet assemble; but being .isttnishcd at
tthai had happened, and knowjni^ nothing with certiiinty,they waited
with impatience fur the day. It seems, therefore, to have been k
great error lo the Spartan oflieers that they did not Immediately sally
out and fall upon them ; for their ganisoii consisted of fifteen hun-
dred men, and they were joined besides by many people from the
ciiy. But, tcrrllii:d at (he shouts, the lights, the hurry and con-
fusion tliat were ou every side, they conlcuicd themselves with pre-
serving the citadel.

As soon as it was day, the exiles from Attica came in armed;
the people complied with the summons to assemble; and tljunni-
nondas and Gorgidas presented to them Pelopidas and his party, sur-

* PcJopidii iliD icnl Fliiliit^t tu nil lite giolt in Ute cilt to i«l«ue lliou biatc I'tae*
k4nt wlwR) tbe ijrunaic Siwttiiu ki pt in (cllcr>.

I Epimiuondu did uoi joiu ibeui luuiii'c, bcciue he ■*> aftaid thai tow mucti inov-.
•cat bloud wukild be tWd Willi ibc guilt;. }

Vou 1. No. IC. r?p

4«2 flitarch'* Lnri3-

rounfif-'i b; the pncstSy who canied rir^uMl» zb their Isftds^od
€^\\tA upr.n rhc citv'^rs to exrrt their «*jTes for tLkt coAi ad thfsr
court. 7". Eicit*:-! bv this ai^p-ar^fic-Ty the «i»x<
a:;d received tLcm «i:h great accbmatioo*, ss rbcLsr
deiiTcrers.

Pelopidas, theti elected irorcrror of B^tcka. toggcim' wtA Mda
and O^roD, immcdiatelr Llockcd uo and attacked the citidii
ki«:i.'nin? to drive out t!:e Lac«:^!^Knoiuan<^ and to rreorcr it
C'aHmea btrforc succours c-ould arrire from Sparta. Aod zaieti k
was but a little 1>eforcViand with them; for they had bat jiK sona-
dcred the place, and were returniog home« according' to caphnhoii
when tliey met Cleombrotus at Megara, marchinjr W-wiaidi TWs
with a ^eat army*. Tlie Spartans called to accotznt the three Ir
9V^temy officers who };ad commanded in the CmHw^ftmj and dgadilr
capitulation. Hermippidas and Arcissus were executed for it, ■<
the third, named Dy>aorida>, was so severely fined, that he wasfofcet
to quit Peloponnc«ius+.

This action of PelopidasJ was called, by the Greeks, sister l^tbi
of Tlirasybulus, on account r»f their near resemblance, notonlriiff'
spect of the ;n'eat virtues of the men, and the difficulties therUv
coml>at, but the success with which fortune ctovned them. Fkt
is not easT to find another instance so remarlcable^ of the feviiff-
coming the many, and the weak the strong, merely by dintofeoi-
raire and conduct, and procuring by these means such great advutfa
to their countrv'. But the change of aflbhs which followed if>
this action rendered it still more glorious. For the war wkiA
humbled the pride of tlie Spartans, and deprived them of their cs-
pire b»Mh \»\ *^ca and liiri.l, took its rise from that night, when Pckji'
das, wiiliout takint: t.;vi* or castle, but heinq only one out of tiFehe
who entered a private house; loosened and broke to pieces (if wcBif
ex'/P^s trutii by a njeinphor; the chains of the Spartan govemmalr
until ihcn oittincd indissoluble.

• A* it i? not ..r. \,..\ > i.di :!.e regaini-i- «o ♦?:• rg a place thould be the work rf»
iliv, or ba\r licen • tfc-.itrd w.;!! »o <iiii>:i a i^rce as P«iopidas then bad* we Biat kiit
TCQyn-.xif tu 1)'.odi^rjL> vc .!u9 a:id Xe:io|t::v*::, «Lo teJl as that the Atbesianty earij «
the ue\: nii-nwui: afitrr t't sc.ii:.^ on uic c.'v, »rnl the Tbeban general fire tbouW
lovii, ar.d i^o tl; nijar.d l.i.r*c; ku*i tbai --»«:aI other bodies of troop» cane in froalta
ci..'* «! lij.-.?ia. .V li.e wzw.'^cx ot Ax'jI x^lu tliuuMod laore; that Peloptdas htiftpA
the |»!ace m lorm wi.li iht m, *:j: that ii held oat seTcral dajs, and MurcBderH'
lenj^th lor want «.':" proM*:v.:i«. Di.arf-. ^<ru^. lib. xr. Xtnoph, L t»

t It ^as tt uidiim ^riih lh« Spartans to die *word in biuid io defence of a place comr
milti'd lo iheir care.

; M. Djcicr gi\es a parallel between tb*: condact of thii actiont. and that of t^
priuca of Monaco, in driving a Sp«n*»h garrison out of hit towu^

PELOPIDAS. 4SS

ft

■ fa

f»

The LacedaemonlaDS soon entering Boeotia with a powerful army^
the Athenians were struck with terror; and renouncing their al-
liance with the Tliebans^ they took cognizance in a judicial way of
ell that continued in tlie interest of that people; some they put to
deaths some they banished^ and upon others they laid heavy fines.
The Thebans being thus deserted by their allies, their affairs seemed
to be in a desperate situation : but Pelopidas and Gorgidas, who
then had the command in Boeotia, sought means to embroil the
Athenians again with the Spartans; and they availed themselves of
this stratagem. There was a Spartan named Sphodrias, a man of
great reputation as a soldier, but of no sound judgment, sanguine in
his hopes, and indiscreet in his ambition. This man was left with
some troops at Thespia, to receive and protect such of the Boeotians
as might come over to the Spartans To him Pelopidas privately
sent a merchant in whom he could confide*, well provided with
money, and with proposals that were more likely to prevail than the

money : ** That it became liim to undertake some noble enterprise

to surprise the Piraeus for instance, by falling suddenly upon the
Athenians, who were not provided to receive him : for that no-
Cliing could be so agreeable to the Spartans as to be masters of
Athens; and that the Thebans, now incensed against the Athenians,
mnd considering them as traitors, would lend them no manner of
iBSsistance."

Sphodrias, suffering himself at last to be persuaded, marched into
Attica by night, and advanced as far as Eleusis f- There the hearts
of his soldiers began to fail, and, finding his design discovered, he
returned to Thespia, after he had thus brought upon the Lacedaemo-
sians a long and dangerous war. For upon this the Athenians rea-
dily united with the Thebans ; and having fitted out a large fleet,
they sailed round Greece, engaging and receiving such as were in-
clined to shake off the Spartan yoke.

Meantime the Thebans, by themselves, frequently came to action
^with the Lacedaemonians in BcBolia, not in set battles indeed, but in
such as were of considerable service and improvement to them; for
^their spirits were niised, their bodies inured to labour, and, by being
used to these rencounters, they gained both experience and cou-

4 * Thi« is more probable tliaa what Diodorus Siculus says; namely, that Cleombrotus,
^ iKtboot any order from the Ephori, persuaded Sphodrias to surprise the Piraeus.
_, « t They hoped to have reached the Pirsus in the nigiit, but found, when the day ap#
^' pesredy that they were got no farther than Eleusis. — Sphodrias, perceiving that he was

discovered, in his return plundered the Athenion territories. The Laced aerooniaiis re*
.^ called Sphodrias, and the Ephori proceeded again^st him; but Agesilaus, influenced bj

lot^n, who was a friepd of ibe son of Sphodrias, brou|ht him otf.

486 P/J/T arch's LIV£5.

tan commanders, who attacked Pelopidas, were among the first that
were slain; and all that were near them being either killed or put to
flighty the whole army was so terrified, that they opened a kae for
the Thebans, through which they might have passed safely^ and con-
tinued their route, if they had plesised. But Pelopidas^ diidaiiiiii(:
to make his escape so, charged those who yet stood their groand^aBd
made such havoc among them, that they fied in great confnsioo.
The pursuit wiis not continued very far, for the Theltans were afraid of
the Orchomenians, who were near the place of battle, and of die
forces just arrived from I^cedaemon. They were s:itisiied with beat-
ing them in fair combat, and making their retreat through a dispersed
and defeated army.

Having therefore erected a trophy, and gathered the spoHs of Ae
slain, they returned home not a little elated. For it seems that is
all their former wars, both with the Greeks and barbarians, the Lft-
cedsemoniaus liad never been beaten, the greater number by thelcssi
nor even by equal numbers in a pitched battle. Thus their courage
seemed irresistible, and their renown so much intimidated their ad-
versaries, that they did not care to hazard an engiigement with them oa
equal terms. This battle first taught the Greeks that it is not the
Eurotas, nor the space between Babyce and Cnacion, which akne
produces brave warriors; but wherever the youth are asliamed of
what is base, resolute in a good cause, and more inclined to avoid
disgrace than danger, there are the men who arc terrible to their
enemies.

Gorgidas, as some say, first formed the sarred band, eonsistin;
of three hundred select men, who were quartered in the Ceiilm^a,aiid
maintained and exercised at the public expense. They were called
tlie cUt/'bands, for citadels in those days were called cities*

But Gorgidas, by dispasing those that belonged to this sacred band
here and there in the. first ranks, and covering the front of his in*
fantry with them, gave them but little opportunity to distinguish
themselves, or el]*ectu;illy to serve the common cause; thus divided
as they were, and mixed with other troops more in number, and of
inferior resolution. But wlien their valour a})peared with so much
lustre at Tegyrje, where they fought together, and close to the p«-
son of their general, Pelopidas would never part them afterwards^
but kept them in a body, and constantly charged at the headof tbem
in the most dangerous attacks: for, as horses go faster when harness*
ed together in a chariot than they do when driven single, not because
their united force more easily breaks the air, but because their spirits
are raised higher by emulation; so he thought the ctiunge of

PELOPIDAS. 487

brave men would be more irresistible when they were acting toge-
ther, and contending with each other which should most excel.

But when the Lacedsenioniaiis liad made ficace with the rest of
the Greeks, and continued the war against the Thebans only, and
when king Cleombrotus had entered their country with ten thousand
foot and a thousand horse, they were not only ttireatened with the
common dangers of war, as before, but even with total extirpation^
which spread the utmost terror over all Boeotia. As Pelopidas oa
this occasion was departing for the army, his wife, who followed hin
to the door, besought him with tears to take care of himself, he an-
nwered. My deoTy private persons are to be advised to taJce care cf
themselves f but persons in a public character to take care of others^
When he came to the army, and found the general officers differ-
ing in opinion, he was tlie first to close in with that of £paminon-
das, who proposed that they should give the enemy battle. He was
not indeed then one of those that commanded in chief, but he was
captain of the sacred band; and they had that confidence in him
which was due to a man who had given his country such pledges of
ills regard for liberty.

The resolution thus taken to hazard a battle, and the two armies
in sight at Leuctra, Pelopidas had a dream which gave him no small
trouble. In that field lie the bodies of the daughters of Scedasus,
^¥ho are called LeuctridtSj from the place ; for a rape having bcea
committed upon them by some Spartans whom they had hospitably
received into their house, they had killed themselves, and were bu-
ried there. Upon this their father went toLaccda^mon, and demand-
ed that justice should be done upon the persons who had committed
so detestable and atrocious a crime; and, as he could not obtain it,
be vented bitter imprecations against the Spartans, and then killed
fiimself upon the tomb of his daughters. From tliat time many pro-
phecies and oracles forewarned the Spartans to beware of the vcn-
geaAce of Leuctra: the true intent of which but few understood; for
they were in doubt as to the place that was meant, there being a lit-
tle maritime town called Leuctrum in Laconia, and another of the
mune name near Megalopolis in Arcadia. Besiides, that injury
tivas done to the daughters of Scedasus long before the battle of
Leuctra.

Pelopidas then, as he slept in his tent, thought he saw these young
vomen weeping at their toui1>s, and loading the Spartans with im-
precations, while their father ordered him to sacrifice a red- haired
young virgin to the damsels, if he desired to be victorious in the en-
suing engagement. This order appearing to him cruel and unjust,
he rose and communicated it to the soothsayers and the generals.

4*3 PurrARCBS LTsix-

iy,\i.^ »'-r- A ovir.im ti*: it should IKX Ve
alljr^.i..- ij i:.; ^icrpc^e Ujc a&r-ricmc scenes id.
Lit .::*•>:>! Macu-Ia fl^r c^u^r.er of Hczcalcs;
d^; -; rii^^:: rcr» of Pr^rc :jies the fkSkmtfhtTy

pjr^uarj* vj iLe crecikrfj of sCpclc ooKfe; of
€1 tr«c CfT^lClc LOO, sacTifi^^rd huBScif,

Grctct ; 2::/d I'a.^t>, of t!ie humaa lictntf o&ved fag^
BaC'.'fiUS Oru^rUfr, before the sca*fi^t at Sdbani; to all

efi:L:,'S the eri^uibg socccis gave

ti.j&t Agrsilaus setting sail from the

axid ^Jiasi the saoie eneoiics, and seeing,

s&me yWioTi of the goddessf demandiag his

iLroui^ii an ill-timed tenderness for his child,

^ueiicv: of uhicb was, that Lis expedition

IV^e that were of the coiitn^ opinion
and urjjii^t an ofi. dug couU not pos^Ur be
nor I'trii'g; that oo TjfjJums or giants, bat Ac
m'^iiy ifovenicd the worl'J; titat it was absntd to
god^ delighted in human sacrifices; anddnt^ifany of
they ou^liC tu be disregarded as impotent beings, ail
aiid coiruj>i desires could not exist bat in weak and

W'liile the principal officers were engaged on thia sal
lopi Jas was mere perplexed tlian all the lest, on a
quitted the hcrd^ and ran through the camp; and,
the place where they were assembled, she stood still.
for their part^ only aamired her colour^ which was a shioiiur nd^ tk
statciine^s of her form, the vigour of her motions, and the qid^di*
ness of her neighings; hut Theocritus tlie diyioer, undentandl^
the thing better, cried out to Pelopidas, ^^ Here comes the vicdn^
fortunate man that thou art ! wait for do other virgin, bat iaiiiiif
that which heaveu hath, sent thee." They then took the colt, aal
led her to the tomb of the virgins, where, after the nsoal pnjess^aad
the ceremony of crowning her, they offered her up mth joy^ not for

* Mtrtiaxrii) deroled hi-u^r.'fto death fur the benefit of hit conntrji *»4M
caria fur ttic benefit of the licrHclidx. For an accoynt of the-fornwr see tiM
Aud lur tiic luttcr, tho llcr-icllJu: of Kuripides.

t Xci)o])lion, ill tlic scveiitii l)oi;k uf the Grecian history, acquaiotft ui^tbat
when he went upon an eiiihHs«>y to the king of Persia, represented to biniy tlmt the
i»hich the l^ce(ix':)ioniuns burc the Thebans was owing to their not followins jtuiilm
when he went tu niukc war upon Persia, and to their hindering bia from sacrificing iNi
daught«^r at Aulis, when Diana demanded her; a compliance vith which duMimt
would have ensured his success j tacb, at ieait^ was tht dootrins of the hiallMik
theology. i

r

PELOPIDAS. 489

gelling to publisli the vigiuii of Pel up Idas, and (he sacrilice required,
to I lie whole army.

The day of baltle beinfr come, Epnininondas dicw up the infantry
of his left wing in an oblique form, timt the right wing of the Spar-
tans being obliged to divide frtmi the other Greeks, he nii^'bt fall
with all his force upon Clcombroiiis, who commund<^d them, and
break tiiem with the grc.iter ease. Dut the enemy pereilving his in-
tention, began to change their order of battle, mid to estend their
right wing, and wheel about, with a design to surround Epamiiion-
das, lo the mean time PilopiJas came bii.ikly up with his band of
three hundred; and before Cleombroius could extend hi* wing as he
■ desired, or reduce it to its former disposition, fell upon the Spartans,
disordered as they were wiili the imperfect luovemenl. And though
the Spaitans, who were excellent masters in the art of war, kiboured
no point so much ns to Itecp their men from confusion, and from
dispersing when their ranks happened to be broken; insomuch that
the prirate men were as able as tlie officers lo knit ugnln, and lu make
a uniitd efliirt, wherever any occasion of dnnger required; yet £pa-
minondas then attacking their rigltt wing only, without stopping to
contend witii the other troops, and Pelxpidns rushing upon them
wiih incredible ipecd and bravery, bi"ke their resoluliin, and baf-
fled their art. ^The conseinieiiee was sutli a r>>ut and sUiuf^hter aa

hui! been never known before*. For lliis reuson Pelopldas, who
hiid no share in tlic chief command, but was only captain of a
sniiill band, gained us mueh honour by this day'.t great sucecas, as
I'.paiiiiiiotidas, who was governor of Bo^otla, and eommauder of the
whole army.

But soon after they werenppointcd joint governors of Ba^otia, and
entered I'eloiKjnnesus together, "vliere they caused several cities to
revolt from the Lueedemoulans, and brought over to the Thcban in-
terest Klis, Argos, all Arcadia, and great part of Laeonia ttself. It
was now the winter solstice, aud the latter end of the Iiut month in
the year, so tliat they could hold their oilice but a few days lunger ^

■ TliR Thcbxii triuj camiiied, ii iqihi. but of >ii iliiaiiiid mm. HhFreiii ihii u( iIm
«iea>7 wa >t lent lhri« ili«( niuubcr, rpckuiiiog lltc ■IJi'i. Bnl Eptnitiiimla, ironed
mint III bit ctv»\tj, nlirrciD lie bad mucb llic ndianCKgc, batta in iheir quiliij and gusd
nwoagcmnl) iba t«tt be mdnvouird lo lupptjr It; ti>e diipwiiloD o( liii mfu, wlin
««■ dnau up 6tty Aetf, wUeleu ibo 8|iaTUiii mm but rwrl'c. Wlien llio Tbebin«
l*d (uiicd Uie tictatj, ind Lilled Clcnmbrniui, tin Spiirtaiu rtoewed ihc Aj^ht, lu re-
Mnr Iha kiuK'i body i and m Ihii Ihc Tlipbin general wiiflj cbme lo gmlf; thrm, rt-
Ihet thaa lo liaurd lh£ )ucce» of a «f cand onnt. Ilic alligt of tbe Spcrtam liehsied
ill in ihu buiJe, bcvtuie ibaj caiuc lo it wilh iiii Bipcctation lo conquer willioal tfbt-
in£) u foi the Tliebaoi, Ihcj b«d uo aUiei *l lliit lime. Thit batUe wai foiigblia ilia
ye*r bffote Cliiiil 371. Died. Sit. I, xt, Xtimpli. rltllan. I, »i.

Vol, 1. Xo. Iti. qqq

«Vl

'.-•Tcjrrr - _^- ir^

jwjis'.i. vol :;r Vit vusi ii u^mr m

♦.If* '»-• r* *,**-» »»:^. ?'jr iwt inc sue «fin0=

kr* ■ — v ..r» 1 *- « iiyyv « » 4VXTL

#//-' -^.'..':5 -, .- r.'-„er» r ^* rv!** erf z::r!^JS.
If, •; !s ' -t'/f/l. '//• :/-^.' c;.rtfr*i »!1 Arcaon i

il.'Jr '. .// Jfi ^f.'l 'j'l«ii*"i t'.frir t^^d fortune: but the enrr rf
Hlow-f >»/' rj^, wiiirh j.^rcv/ l;> to;rethcr frith their glorr,
f/.r (li'-ffi » vf-ry iMikifid and unsuitable reception: for at
tl.ry v/'M' l/'t-i r;';'iriilly trifd for not delU'cring op their
i'tntihii; to I;iw in lh*r first rnontii^ whicli they call
liolrliiM? it four nionths lorifrer; duriu*; which time thcj
X\\(»Ht', i^nut actions in Mcsficniit, Arcadia, and LAConiju

r<'lo(/Kli'is wa«i tried first, and therefore was in most danger; hoe-
ever, tiny wrrr both acquitted. Epamiuondas bore the accnsatioH
and aticMiptfi of nialipjnity with great |iatience; for he c^onsidered k
m no small instance of iurtitudeand magnanimity not to resent the

* Thit lin|i|)eii( <1 to llir Atljciiiani througb the error of their general Ipbicratc% «k»^
Ihuii^h oihrrwific iiii «bic luuii, for^fot the pass of Ccuchrci, while be placed liis txw^
in |)oiif IcM coiumudious.

r

pelopidas. 491'

iojurk's done by his fellow-citizfiis; hut Pclopitlus, wlio w»5 naiu-
rally of a wurmer temper, unil iixciti'd by bis fricuds to revenge him-
seir, laid bold on this occasion.

Meiiaclidas, the oraior, was one of those who met upon the great
enterprise in Charon's house. This man finding himself not held in
the same honour with the rest of the deliverers of their country, nnd
being a good sjwaker, though of bud principles, and a midevolent
disposition, indulged his natural turn, in accusing and calumniating
bis superiors J and this he continued to do with respect to li)pami-
oondas nnd Pelopidas, even after judgment was passed in tlieir favour.
He prevailed so far as to deprive Kpaminondas of the government of
Boeolia, and managed a party against him a long time witb success;
but his insinuations against Pelopidas were not listened to by the
people, and therefore be endeavoured to embroil him with Charon.
It is the common eonsolaiion of envy, when a man carinol maintain
the higher ground himself, to represent those he is excelled by as
inferior to some olliers. Hence it was that M( nnclidas was ever cx-
tulling the actions of Charon to the people, and luvisblng encomiums
upon his expeditions nnd victories. Above all, he magnified his suc-
cess in a battle fought by the cavalry under his command at Flatiea,
a lillle before the battle at Leuctra, and endeavoured to perpetuate
the memory of it by some public monument.

'I'he occasion he took was this: Andrueides of Cyzleum had agreed
witli the Thebans for a picturu of some other battle; wliieh piece he
Worked at In the city of Tbehes. But ujHin the revolt, and the war
that ensued, he was obliged to quit that elty, and leave the painting,
which was almost finished, with the Tliebans. Mcnadidas endea-
voured to persuade the people to hang up this piece In one of their
temples, with an inscription, signifying that il was one of Charon's
battles, Id order to cast a shade upon the glory if Pel»pldas and Epa-
nilnundas. Certainly ttie proposal was vain and absurd, to prefer
one single engagement*, in wbieli there fell only (jcrandus, a Spar-
tan of no note, witli forty others, tu so many and such iroport;mt
victories. Pelopidas, therefore, opposed this motion, insisting that
it was contrary to the lows and usiircs of llic Thebans to ascribe tlie
honour of a victory 10 any one man in particular, sod that their
country ought to have the glory of It entire. As for Charon, be was
liberal in his praises of him thmugh bis whole harangue, but he
showed that Menaclidaa was an envious nnd malicious man; and he
oficd asked the Thebans if they had never before done any thing iliit
was great and excclleul. Hereupon a heavy fine was laid upon .Mc~

* XcDOpboO ([icaLi iligliU^ aCChiroa: lie mji. " Tlic ciilct ncut to llic buuta vt

^9* Plutarch's lives.

naclidas ; and, as he was not able to pay h, he endeavourBd aftovanb
to disturb and overturn the government. Such pwticalan as thesi^
though small, serve to give an insight into the lives sod dine*
ters of men.

At that time Alexander^, the tyrant of Phene, nudriog open m
against several cities of Thessaly, and entertaining a design to faiiw
the whole country into subjection, the Theasaliaos sent ambassMkn
to Thebes to beg the favour of a general and some trocyps. Pekni-
das, seeing Epaminondas engaged in settling the affidrs of Peiopoi-
nesus, offered himself to command in Tbessaly, for he was onwdliK
that his military talents and skill should lia useless, and well-sitaU
withal, that wherever Epaminondas was^ there was do need of aw
other general. He therefore marched with his forces into Tboni^
where he soon recovered Larissa; and as Alexander came and mIk
submission, he endeavoured to soften and humanize him, aod| ■•
stead of a tyrant, to render him a just and good prince. Bat finfiv
him incorrigible and brutal, and receiving fresh comphunts of U»
cmelty, his unbridled lust, and insatiable avarice, he thought it !»•
ccssary to treat him with some severity; upon which he madeluici-
cape with the guards.

Having now secured the Tliessalians against the tyrant, and kft
them in a good understanding among themselves, he advanced iiHff
Macedonia f. Ptolemy had commenced hostilities against Alcsai-
dcr king of that country, and they both had sent for Pelopidas tobe
an arbitrator of their ditferences, and an assistant to him who shod!
appear to be injured. Accordingly he went and decided their &-
putcs, recalled such of the Macedonian^ as had been banished, sni
taking Philip the king's brother, and thirty young men of the belt
families <is hostages, he brought them to Thebes, that he might sbov
the Greeks to wiiat height iheTheban commonwealth was risen lif
the reputation of its anns, and the confidence that was^placed ia iis
justice i\in\ probity J.

This was that Philip who afterwards made war upon Greece to
conquer and enslave it. He was now a boy^ and bioucht op St

* He had lately poiaoncd his uncle Polyphron, aud set himself up tyrant ia bb tfniL
Polyphron, indfcd, iiad killed lits own brother Polydore, the fathsr of Alesaader. Al
these, %«iih J-i>t.:u who v«a& vf the same family, were asurpen of Thesaalj, wliich bete
uts a frre •'late.

t Amjiitas II. lelt three legitimate chlldreD, Aleiaoder, Pcfdiecs^ aad PbiliiL^I
one natural $o:i« whose name woa Ptolemy. This laa^ m«de w«f ^■■■*gf At^y^p^ j^
him treacherous!/, :ind reigned three years.

t About this lifTtc the cause of liberty was in a great meaMK ilitiiml b« |||« c|h«
Grecian states. Thebes was now the only commonwealth that rtfailicd ■■▼ icsMi rf
patriotiaoij mad conctio for the injured aud oppressed.

Thebes, in liie liouse of Painmcnes. Hence lie was believed to have
chosen E|>aniinondas for hispiittem; antl perhaps he was aneni'ive
to that ^eat man's activity and happy t-onduct in war, which was \a
tnidi the most inconsiderable part of Ills cbaraetcr; as for hia (em-
perance, lits justice, his mafrnanimity, and mildness, which really
constituted Epaminondastiie great man, Philip had noshareof tlicni,
either natural or acquired.

After tliis, the Thessalians complaining ngain that Alexander of
Phcrse disturbed tlicir peace, and formed dc&igns upon their cities,
Pelopidas and (smeuias were deputed to attend ihem. But liHving
no expectation of a war, Pelopidas had brought no troops witli him,
and therefore the urgency of the occasion obliged him to make use of
the Thessalian forces.

At the same time there were fresh commotions In Macjdonia;
for Ptolemy had killed ihe king, and assumed ihe sovereignty. Pe-
lopidas, who was called in by the frii'nds of the deceased, was de-
sirous to undertake the cause; hut, having no troops of his own, he
hastily raised some mercenaries, and marched with ihem immediately
against Ptolemy. Upon (heir ap|)roueli, Ptolemy bribed the meroe-
naries, and brouglit tlicm over to his side; yet, dreading the very
name and reputation of Pelopidas, he went (o pay his respects to
him as his superior, endeavoured to pacify Wm with entieaiies, and
xok'mnly promised to keep [he kingdom for the brothers of the dead
king, and to regard the enemies and friends of the Titebuns as his
own: for the performance of these cotiditions he delivered to him
liis son Philoxenus and fifty of his companions, us hostages. These
Pelopidas sent to Thebes. BhI being incensed ut the treachery of
the mercenaries, and having iutelligencc that they had lodged the
best part of their effects, together with their wives and children, in
Pharsal us, he thought by taking these he might sutliciently revenge
the affiront. Hereupon he assembled some Thessalian Iioups, and
marched against the town. He was no sooner arrived, than Alexan-
der the tyrant appeared before it with Ills army. Pelopidas conclud-
ing that he was conie to make an apology for his conduct, went to
him with Ismenias. Not that he was ignorant what an abandoned
and sanguinary man he had to deal with, but he Imagined that the
dignity of lliches and his oi,vn charaetcr would protect hlin from
violence. The tyrant, however, wheu he saw them alone and un-
armed, immediately seized their pennons, and possessed himself uf
Hursolus. This struck all his subjects with terror and astonish-
kSient; for they were persuaded thai, after Kuuh n Hiigrmt net of in-

IstkCf lie would spate nobody, but beliavc on nil occasions, and to

4^4 PLUTARCirS LH'ES.

all persons, like a mau that tiad desperately thiwn offall rrpid tskb
own life and safetr.

When the Thehans were inrormed of this ontngc, tfacj woe fiU
with indignation, and gave orders to their army to march dfacctl^
into Thcssaly ; but Epamiiiondas then happeniof to lie nader ddr
dUpleasure^, tticy appointed otlicr generals.

As for Pelopidas, the tyrant took him to Pherap, where st lint he
did not deny any one access to him, imagining thftt he mas giodf
hiunhlcd by liis misfortune. But Pelopidas|y seeing the Pbenmi
overwhelmed with soirou*, bade them be ccmiforted, because miv
vengeance was ready to fall upon the tyrant; and sent to tell lii%
^' that he acted very absurdly in daily torturing and potting to deHk
so many of his innocent subjects, and in the mean time sparioi
who, he might know, was determined to puni&h kim when once
of his hands." The tyrant, surprised at his magnanimity and
concern, made answer, ^^ U'hy is Pelopidas in such haste to &}"
l^'hich being reported to Pelopidas, he replied, ^ It is that thoiy
being more hated by the gods tlian ever, mayest the sooner cometoa
miserable end."

From that time Alexander allowed access to none hat his keepcn.
Thebe, however, the daughter of Jason, who was wife to the tyian^
having an account from those keepers of his noble and intrepid be-
haviour, had a desire to see him, and to have some discomse
with him. Wlien she came into the prison, she could not presentij
distinguish the majestic turn of his person amidst such an appev-
ance of distress; yet supposing from the disorder of his hair, and tiie
meanness of his attire and provisions, that he was treated uowor-
thily, she wept. Pelopidas, who knew not his visitor, was much sur-
prised; but when he understood her quality, addressed her by her
father's name, with whom he had iKcn intimately acquainted. And
upon her saying, " I pity your wife," he replied, " And I pity yoo,
who, wearing no fetters, can endure Alexander." This afiected her
nearly; for she hated the cruelty and insolence of the tyrant^ who to
his other debaucheries added tluit of abusing her youngest brodier..
In consequence of this, and by frequent interviews with Pelopidas, ta
whom slie communicated her sufferings, she conceived a still stronger
resentment and aversion to her husband.

•Tlii-y wrre <li«'i)lrd$ed wiih him, because io ft late battle foBght withtbe Laeedsa^
niaus near (.Oriutli, he di.l not, ai :hey thought, purtoe his advantage to the utao^
and will moif ol liic enemy tu the iword. llereupoD Ihej removed bim from tbego-^
Terniutiii of lJa«itia, and stul him along with their forces as a priTate peraon. Sock
a<.t> ut'ingraliiude towards grcui and cxceilcul mea are common ia popular gOTorOBMBti*

r

The Tlicban general s, who had entered Tlicssaly withom liolng
any thing, and, tither throiij^htlicirincapHeityoriil fortune, reiunied
with disgrace, the city of Thebes fintd each of them ten iljousand
drachmas, and gave Kpaniiiioiidas the command of tlie army that n-aa
to act in Theasaly.

llie reputation of the new general gave the Thcssah'ans fresli
spirits, and occasioned such great Insurrections among them, that
the tyrant's affairs seemed to be in a very desperate fonditionj »n
great was (lie terror that fell upon his itfTicers and friends, so forward
were his iiibjeets to revolt, and so universal was the joy at the [iros-
peet of seeing btm puiiislied.

Epaminondiis, however, preferred the safety of Pelopidas to his
own fame ; and fearing, if he carried matters to -an extremily at lirst,
that the tyrant might grow despera'e, nnd destroy his prisoner; he
protracted the war. By fetching a compas, as if to finish hJs pre-
[larniions, lie kept Alexander in suspense, and managed him so as
neitlier to mudenite his violence and pride, nor yet 10 increase his
fierceness and cruelty. For he knew his savage disposition, and the
little regard he paid to reason or justice; that he buried some persons
alive, and dressed others in the skins of bears and wild )>ours, and
then, by way of diversion, hailed them with dogs, or dispatched iheni
with darts; that having summoned the people of Melibcs-a and Sco-
lusa, towns in friendship and alliance with him, to meet him in full
assembly, he surrounded them with guards, and, with all the wan-
tonness of cruelty, put them to the sword; am\ tluit he coiiiecrated
llie spf^r with which he slew his uncle Polyphrun, and havinj;
crowned it with garlands, offered sucrilice to it as to a god, and gave
it the name of 7\/chou. Yet, upon seeing u tragedian act the
Troados of Euripides, he went hastily out of the theatre, and at
the same lime sent a message to the actor, " Not to be discou-
raged, but to exert all his skill in his part ; for It was not out of any
dislike that he went out, hut he was ashamed that iiis citizens Nhoold
see him, who never piiied those he put to death, weep at the snfler-
ings of Hecub^ and Andromache." This execrable tyram was ter-
rified at the very name and vh.trncter of Ejuiminondas,
And diapp'il Ihe cnren ning.
He sent an embassy in all haste to offer satisfaction, hut that general
did not vouchsafe 10 admit such a man into ulliance with the The-
kans; ho only jprantcd him ainice of thirty days, and having recover-
ed Pelopidas and Isueuias out of his hands, he marched buck iijjaiii
villi his army.

gpou aftei thiS) tlic Thebans Imving dJscovcred tlwt the lAcedn-

496 Plutarch's lives.

monians and AUieiiimix liad sent ambassadors to (!
to draw him into a league wiih tlieiii, sent Pt'Iopidas 011 tbetr put)
whose established reputation amply justified thc-ir clmicc; forbcM
no aoooer entered the kiug's dominiuns than he was
koown and honoured; the fame of his battles with the
nians had spiead itscit' through Asia; and, after his victory at Lenctn,
the report of new successes contimially following' had cxteadrd hir
renown tu the most distant provinces. So thut when he urived
the king's court, niiil appeared before the nobles and great oButn
thatwailed there, he was the object of universal adnttratjon: "Ttii,'
Siiid they, " is the man who deprived ihcLacedieinoiiiaiisoI'liKc*'
pire both of sea and land, aod coniined Spart:i witliiii the boumb of
Taygetus andEurutas; that Sjiarta, which a little hefoie, awtfTlk
conduct of Agesilaus, mnde war against lite great kingy aod iM
the realms of Susa and Ecbaiana." On the same aecoant Attn-
crxes rejoiced to see Pelopidas, and loaded hiut vviili bonoun. Bit
when he heard hitu converse in tentis that were stronget tliM ibOK
of the Athenians, and plainer than those of (he S|MiFtatis, hetitain'
him still more; and, as kin^s seldom conceal their incliMtkO) k
made no secret of his attachment tu him, but let the oibet mkv
sadors see the distinction in wliiih he held him. It is true dul, d
all the Greeks, he seemed tu have dune Aulalcklas the Suftu Ar
greatest honour *, when he took the gatlund trbich he wore ai ^fc
from his head, dipped it in perfumes, and sent it him. But ib*^
he did not treat Pelopidas with (hut familiarity, yet he made Ua fc
Tidiest and most mngnific^nt presents, atul fully granted Imit-
mands; which were, "That all the Greeks should be free aiuIUf
pendent; that Alesscne should be repenpkd ; and that the 'IVtan
should be reckoned the. king's hereditary fncud*.'*

With this answer he returned, but without accepting aoy of Ai
king's presents, except some tokens of his favour and rceard; aflh
cuinstanee that reflected no small dishonour upon the other >mlM»>
dors. The Athenians condemned and executed Ttniagomji,andMllT
too, if it was on account of the many presents he received; in kt
aeceptednot only gold and silver, but a ningnificcm t>ed,nnd(cnua
to make it, as if that was an art which the Greeks were nM lUfaJ
in. He received also fourscore cows, and lierdsmcD to take ate rf
them, as if he wanted their milk for his health; and, at hut,Wi^
fered himself to be carried In a litter as tax as the sea-eoul M it

' IfPiutsTcllni

>■ tlie S)»r

n imljiiniilor, lie dilTett froni Xcnoph^ sto^
liUviTCietbwUkUTiBigoiM *u the f(i!M •k*

PEI.OPIDAS. 4^

king's expeiisc, who paid four talents for his conveyance. Bui his
receiving of presents does not seem to have been the principal thing
that incensed the Athenians: for when Epicrates the armour-hearer
acknowledged in ful) assembly that he had received the king's pre-
sents, and talked of projtosing a decree, that instead of clioosing nine
archons every year, nine of tlie poorest citizens siiould be sent am-
bassadors to the king, that by his gifts they might be raised to afflu-
ence, the people only laughed at the motion. What exasperated
the Athenians most was, thnt the Thebans had obtained of the king
all they asked; they did not cousider how much the character of
Pi:Iopidas outweighed the address of their orators, with a man who
ever paid particular attention to military escellence.

This embassy procured Pelopidas great applause, as welt on ac*
count of tiie rcpcopling of Mcsscne, as of the restoring of liberty to
the rest of Greece.

Alexander tlie Pheriean was now returned to his natural disposi-
tion ; he had destroyed several cities of Tliessaly, and put garrisons
into the towns of the PhthiotK, the Acliseans, and the Magnesians.
As soon as these oppressed people had learned that Pelopidas was
returned, they sent their deputies to Thebes to beg the favour of
some forces, and that he might be their general. The Thcbans wil-
lingly granted their request, and an army was soon got ready ; but as
the general was on ilie point of marching, the sun began to be eclipsed^
and the city was covered with darkness lu the day-time.

Pelopidas, seeing the people in great consternation at this pheno-
menon, did not tliink proper to force the army to move while under
such terror and dismay, nor to risk the lives of seven thousand of his
fellow-citizens. Instead of that, he went himself into Thcssaly, and
taking with him only three hundred horse, consisting of Theban vo-
lunteers and strangers, he set out, conti-ary to the warnings of the
sootlisayers and inclinations of the people: for they considered the
eclipse as a sign from heaven, the object of whicli must be some
illustrious personage. But, besides that Pelopidas was the more ex-
asperated against Alexander, by reason of the bad treatment he had
received, he hoped, from tlie conversation he had with ITiebe, to find
ihc tyrant's family embroiled in great disorder. The greatest in-
ciiement, however, was the honour of the thing. He had a gene-

^ fOUS ambition to show l!ic Greeks, at a time when the Laecdtemo-
uians were sending generals and other officers to Dionyaius the tytant

, of Sicily, and the Athenians were pensioners to Alexander, us their
benefactor, to whom they had erected a statue of brass, that the
Tiiebans were the only people who took the field in behsif of
Vol. 1. No. IC, Riia

k

9vr

PLUTARCH 8 LIVES.

■horn, but caused ihebaulemeiiLs of the walls to be taken down, that
the very cities miglit seem lu mourn, by losing tlicir omanieinj, mid
having the appeumnce of being shorn and chastised will) grief. Thrv
things being the efiects of arbitrary orders, execnted through tstca-
eity, and attended both with envy of those for uhooi lln-y an done,
and hatred of ibose who command tht-ni, are not proofs of tttrcn
and respect, but of burh:iric pomp, of luxury, and vanity, in thw
who lavish their wealth \o sueh vain and drspicalile purposes. Bn
that a man who w:is only one of the sulijet-is of n republic, dyagii)
a strange country, neither his wife, children, or kinsmen presesi,
without the request or command of any one, &lH>utd be MttnM
home, conducted to th« grave, and erowoed hy so many chiM «*
tribes, might Justly pass for an insianuc of tht- most perfect hMf^
ness. For the observation v( JEsop is not true, that Death iiatd
unfortunate in I he lime of jiroaprrilin on the ct/tUraiy, Uittim
most happy, since it secures to good men the glory of their rvfnw
acfimis, and puts them abm-e the]XMi'er of fortune. Tlie ccai|^
ment, therefore, of the Spartan, was much more mtioDsl, ivbena>-
bracing Diagoras, after he and his soit^ and grand^sons hadaUo.-ii-
quered and been crowned at the Olympic gaincs, he said, D^e, tt
ttmv, Diagoras,/«r thou canst not be a gitd. And yet, I ihink,ifi
man should put all the victories tn the Olympian and IMhtaapna
together, he would not pretend to compare them with any one of if
enterprises of Pelopidas, which were many, and all succeuAil: «•
that after he had flourished tlie greatest part of his life iu hofiouru^
renown, and had been appointed the thirteenth time ganno'd
Beeoli;!, he died in a great exploit, the consequence ofwbidim
the destruction of the tyrant, and the restoring of its libtftics %
Thessaly.

His death, as it gave the allies great concern, so it broujEcht tlwfi
stiU greater advantages: for the Thehans were no sooner laUirmti
of it, than, prompted by a desire of revenge, they scut upon that hai-
ness seven thousand foot and seven humlred horse, uihIct die «•■
maud of Malcltesund Diogiton. These finding .Mcxandrr weAtwi
with his lute defeat, and reduced to great difhcultie«, conipellol hia
to restore the cities he had taken from the ThcssHlians, to wiihdtawUi
garrisons from the territories of tlie Magnesians, the I^thiooe, nl
Achfeaiis, and to engage by oath to submit to tlie Tlicbans, aod to kf^
his forces in readiness to execute their orders.

And here it is proper to relate the punishment which the godi in-
flicted upon him soon after for his treatment of Pelopidu. He*ti
we have already mentioned, first Uuglit Thcbc, the tynnt'svifct
not to dread the exterior pom]) and splendour of his ptthce^ tlwn(l(

rELoriDAs. 499

condiuied a long way, and the Gelds were covered with the carcases
of the slain.

Such of the Thcbans as were (ircsunt were greatly afflicted at tli«
death of Pelopidas, calling him their father, their snviuttr, tnul in-
structor in even/ thing that tvas great and hmtMrable. Nor is this
to be wondered at; since ih<; Thessaliftos and aliies, after exceeding,
by their public acts in his fuvour, the grt^alcstfionoura that are usually
)>aid to huBian virtue, tcstitit:J tlieif regard f<:rr liiin still more st;n-
ubly by the deepest sorrow: for it is said that tliose who were in the
action neither put oft' tbeir armour, iior uubridled tlieif horses, nor
bound up their wounds, after they beard that he was dead; but, not-
wiih standi tig their beat and fatigue, repaired to the body, us if it ulill
had life and sense, piled round it the s^tuils of llie enemy, and cut
offtiieir horses' mniK^s ai]d their own hair*. Many «f them, wlieii
they retired to their tents, neither kindled a fire, nor took atiy re-
freshment; Imt a raelancboly silence reif^iied throughout the cKinp,
as if, insttad of (gaining so great and glorious a victory, liiey hud lieea
worsted and enslaved by the (yiaut.

When the news was carried to the towns, ilte Biagistrates, young
men, children, and priests, came out to meet the body, with trnpluea,
crowns, and gulden armour; and when tiie umeuf his interment was
come, some of the Thessnlians, who were ventruble for their age,
went and Itcgged of the Tiiehaus that they might have the honour of
l>urying hiiti. One of them caressed himself in these terms:
*' IVimt we request of you, our good alliei,, will be an honour and
cuBsolatioH to us under tins great misfoitutie. It is not the living
Pelopidas whom tlicTiiesialians dtbite to attend; it is not to Pelo-
pdas, sensible of their gratitude, that lliey would now pay the due
honours; a!l we UiV is the permission to wash, to adorn, and inter
itia dead b'Hiy, and if we ohiiiiii this favour, we shall believe you are
{>efsu.lded tliut we think our share in tlie cuannon caUniity gr^'ater
dwu yonis, V'ou have loxt only a good geutnal, hut we are so un-
buppy as to be deprived both of him and of our liberty: forhnwshaU
we presiwne to ask you for anuihcr general, wh«i w« have not re-
stored to you Pelopidas V

The Thebans granted their request. And surely there never was
a more magnificent fuuorul, at least in the upiitioii of those who da
not place magnificence in ivory, gold, and purple; as Philistus did,
who dwells in admiration upon the funeral of Dionysius, wliiub,
^^roperly speaking, was nothing but the pompous catastroplie of tiiat
blootly tragedy, bis tyranny. Alexander the Great, too, upon the
deittb of HephiEstion, not only had the manes of the horses aud mules
* A tiiMotaat] IuLeo ol uouniiiig uiouji ilm uicivutt.

k

502 PHrTAKCH'fl LIVES.

tliDUgli his cmploynioiits prevented his making that progrt-n mtlxin
• which he desired: fur if Heaven ever dcsigacil that any men

In imi's rude Hat tbould contni, i|

Tram jouih Id tge I

as Homer expresses it, certainly it was the principal Rotnaas of ^or
times. In their youtli they had to contend with the CarthapKiau
for the island of Sicily; in their miudle age wtth the G^tuls fm Itilj
itself; and in their old ^ige again with the Carlhagiiiiaus uid tiuuit-
bal. Thus, even in ap:e, Ihty had not t)ic cominnn relaxAdw luJ
repose, hut were called forth by tbeir birtb and their merit tnacctjrt
of military cunmaiids.

'As for Marcellus, tliere was no kind of (tf^hliug in whirh be ■«
rot admirably well skilled ; but in single combat he excelled . itudt
He, therefoie, never refused a challenge, or fuiled ot Villiw ibi
challenger. In Sicily, sceinj; his Itrolber Otacilius in ^residi^ii^
he covered him with his shield, slew those that aitacki-d him, 4ti
suved his life. For these things he received frnm the gcnenittnmm
and other military honours, while but a youih; and his imibtin
increasing every day, the people appointed him to the utRw otimtlr
adile, and the priests to that of augur. This is a kind of it,aimA
function to which the law assigns the care of that dirioatioi) alviit
taken from the fliglil of birds.

After the first Carthaginian war*, which had lasted iweoty-m
years, Rome was soon engnged in a new war with the Gaul^ Ik
Insubrians, a Celtic nation, who inhabit that part of Italy wiiicfa lu
It the foot of the Alps, though very powerful in themselves, called it
the assistance of the Gesalte, a people of Gaul, wlio fijghi for paj •
such occasions. It was a wonderful and fortunate thinff for the Ro-
man people that the GhIHc war did not break out at the mik W
with the Punic; and that the Guuts, obsening an cjutd aeutratiij ■"

* Fluttrch ii • liule niualicn here in his chronologir. Tli« Gm Panic ■* k^
tncnlj-rour jcmn, for il tw^n in ibi jcar of Roiac four liunilrpd wut «icUT4at.irf
pnci «■> made flilh thi Curthaginiani in the jm fiv* huBdrcit ■nil |i*tl>(. n>
G »ul> colli in Htd quilt ill tint lime, lud did nm brgia lomt til! iaitt jttn mttt. l*"
Ihcj idTUictdloAnminuni; bul ihc Boii, mutinjitigigiinsl IhcM Imtdtcv ite* te kaV
Aim ifid Galalci; ifltr wliicb tlic (Jaali teJI opm each Mlwi, miiI oaabea ■«■( riMi

lb«y Ihal Hiiviied relurned huiae. Five jrari allir ■'■■- •*" '^ iiili liij^ tiiifan "

■ nc« war, nn (ccoual bl the diiiiion whicL Flamiaiiii had iuikIc at Uie I«b4> n »
Pi«nc, lilcn from [he SrDOiict orCnllii Cisalpiua. Ttieic prcpaiatiaoi »«i«aPT"(
on » long lime; and il «ai ciglit j»ri ■tter thai dtiiaiuD before Dm wu b«^^iatM«
ander their chiefi CungiiUluiini and Ancrietin, *hni L. ..Cniliui Pnpw^C Jii*
Ilegulu Here aoiuuli^n the Gte liandred lud ("eolj-eigtilh j«ai orEoKCMdAi^
ynr of tlw OM kaailKd atrf tluriy-eialiik Olj^M. f •iyt. i. ii.

MARCELLUS. S03

that time, as if they had waited to take up the conqueror, did not at-
tack the Romans till they were victorious, and at leisure to recetirQ
them. However^ this war was not a little alarming to the Romans,
as well on account of the vicinity of the Gauls, as their character of
old as warriors. They were, indeed, tlie enemy whom they dreadeti
most; for they had made themselves masters of Rome; and from
that time it had been provided by law that the priests should be ex-
empted from bearing arras, except it were to defend the dty against;
the Gauls.

The vast preparations they made were further proofe of their feart
(for it is said that so many tliousands of Romans were never seen ia
arms either before or since) ; and so were the new and extraordinary
sacrifices which they offifred. On other occasions, they had not
adopted the rites of barbarous and savage nations, but their leli^ous
customs had been agreeable to the mild and merciful ceremonies of
tiie Greeks: yet, on the appearance of this war, they were forced to
eomply with certain oracles found in the books of the Sibyls; and
thereupon they buried tvi'o Greeks^, a maxi and a woman, and like*
wise two Gauls, one of each sex, alive, in the beast-market; a thinj^
that gave rise to certain private and mysterious rites, wbieli stiU con-
tinue to be performed in the month of November*

In the beginning of the war the Romans sometimes gained great
advantages, and sometimes were no less signally defeated; but thera
was no decisive action till the consulate of Fiaminius and Furius^
who led a very powerful army against the Insubrians. Then, we are
told, the river which runs through the Picene was seen flowing widt
blood, and that three moons appeared over the city of Ariminuou
But the priests, who were to observe the Sight of birds at the time
<if choosing consuls, affirmed that the election was faulty and inaus-
^cious. The senate, therefore, immediately sent letters to the camp
to recal the consuls, insisting that they should return without loss of
time, and resign their office, and forbidding them to act at all against
the enemy in consequence of their late appointment.

Fiaminius, having received these letters, deferred opening them
dll he had engaged and routed the barbariansf, and overrun their

^ Tliey offered the same sacrifice at Uie begiuniiig of the second Panic war.

Xiv. 1. xaii. 5. 7.

t Flamioius was not entitled to this success by bis conduct He gare battle with a
river behind bim« where there was sol room for his men to railj or retreat, if they had
htMBi broken. But possibly he might make such a disposition of his forces, to show
diem that they must either conquer or die; for he knew that he was acting against tb«
intentions of the senate, and that nothing but success could bring him off. Indeed, he
was naturally rash and daring. It waa liie ikiV end management of the legionary tn«

S04 PLLTARCH^S IXTES.

ooantij* Tberefote, whco he retarned loguled with spoils, the peoa
pie did nor go oat to meet him ; sod because lie did not ilirectijoh^
the order that recalled him, but treated it wkh osntempC, he wm ii
danger of losing his triumph. As soon as the triooiph was cm,
both he and his colleague were deposed, and reduced ta the laak rf
prirate citizens. So much regard had the Romaiis for religion, »-
fierring all their affidrs to the good pleasure of the gods, and, in Am
greatest prosperity, not sufiSering any neglect of the forms of difin-
tion and other sacred usages; for they were fully persuaded Aitil
was a matter of greater importance to the preservatioB of their sttle
to have their generals obedient to tha gods, than even to have thai
victorious in the field.

To thb purpose the following story is remarkable :._TiberiiisSaH
pronius, who was as much respected for his valour and proUty asaif
man in Rome, while consul, named Scipio Nasica and Cains Muds
bis successors. When they were gone into the provinces aUottd
them, Sempronios liappening to meet with a bode which oontaiaei
the sacred regulations for the conduct of war, found that there wm
one particular which he never knew before* It was this: ''Win
the consul goes to take the auspices in a bouse or tent without the
city, hired for tliat purpose, and is obliged by some necessary busiDai
to return into the city before any sure sign iqppears to him, he bnbI
not make use of that lodge again, but take another, and there begji
his observations anew.'' Sempronius was ignorant of this when k
named those two consuls, for he had twice made use of the wum
place; but when he perceived his error, he made the senate ae-
(juaintcd with it. They, for their part, did not lightly pass over so
small a defect, but wrote to the consuls about it, who left their pnH
vinccs, and returned with all speed to Rome, where they laid dowa
their offices. This did not happen till long after the afl&iir of which
wc were speaking*.

But about that very time, two priests of the best fiunilies in Ron^
Cornelius Cetbcgus and Quintus Sulpicius, were degraded from tbe
priesthood ; the former, because he did not present the entnuh of
the victim according to rule; and the latter, because, as he was sa-
crificing, the tuft of his cap, which was such a one as the Fhunines

bunes which made amends for the consurs imprudence. Tbey dutri bated emmg Ike
•oldiert o( the first line the pii^es of tbe Triarii, to prevent tlie enemj from mkiag «M if
their twords ; and when the first ardour of tbe Gauls was over, tlicj ordered the Be-
muus to iliorten their swords, close with the enemy, to •• to leave tbem no roes •»
m up their arms, and stab U^ero; which they did without roooliig »oj "
•flvrib the iwords of tbe Gauls having no points.

* Siatj jeen tJkvu

MARCELLU8. 505

wear, fell off. And because the squeaking of a rat happened to be
•beard at the moment that Minucius the dictator appointed Caius
Flaminius his general of horse, the people obliged them to quit their
posts, and appointed oti^ers in their stead. But, while they obsen^ed
these small matters with such exactness, they gave not into any
•ort of superstition*, for they neither changed nor went beyond the
•ancient ceremonies.

Flaminius and his colleague being deposed from the consulship,
the magistrates, called Interregesfy nominated Marcellus to that high
office, wiio, when he entered upon it, took Cueius Cornelius Scipio
for his colleague. Though the Gauls are said to have been disposed
-to a reconciliation, and the senate was peaceably inclined, yet the
, people, at the instigation of Marcellus, were for war. However, a
ice was concluded; which seems to have been broke by the Ge-
I, who, having passed the Alps with thirty thousand men, pre-
Tftiled with the Insubrians to join them with much greater numbers.
£lated with their strength, they marched immediately to Acerreet, a
rity on the banks of the Po. There Viridomarus, king of the Gesatae,
took ten thousand men from tlie main body, and with this party laid
WB6te all the country about the river.

When Marcellus was informed of their march, he left his colleague
before Acerrs with all the heavy-armed infantry, and the third part
4lf the horse; and taking with him the rest of the cavalry, and about
irin hundred of the light-armed foot, he set out, and kept forward
dfty and night, till he came up with the ten thousand Gesata near
€faistidium§, a little tovVn of the Gauls, which liad very lately sub-
mitted to the Romans. He had not time to give his troops any rest
or refreshment; for the barbarians immediately perceived his ap«>,
yroach, and despised his attempt, as he had but a handful of infantiTy,
and they made no account of his cavalry. These, as well as all the
either Gauls, being skilled in fighting on horseback, thought they had
the advantage in this respect; and, besides, they greatly exceeded
Marcellus in numbers. They marched, therefore, directly against
bim, their king at their head, with great impetuosity and dreadful
menaces, as if sure of crushing him at once. Marcellus, because his

* This word is here used in the literal seote.
^ t These were officers who, when there wire no legal nmgistrates in being, were ap-
|ioiDted to lioid the comitia for fleeting new vnes. The title of Interrfgts, which was
gtren them while the government was regal, was continued to them under the coin*
■Mowealtb.

^ Th« Romans were besieging Acerrs, and the Gauls went to relieve it; bot finding
tbciDselves unable to do that, they passed the Po with part of their army, and laid siege
M Clastidium, to nake a diversion. Pol^h, I. ii. •

f Livy places this town in Liguria Montaim*

6o6 Plutarch's lives.

party was but small, to prevent its being surrounded, extended
wings of his cavalry, thinning and widening the line, till he prw-
cd a front nearly equal to tliat of the enemy. He was now i\
vancing to the charge, when his horse, terrified with the shoatsi
the Gauls, turned sliort, and forcibly carried him back. Marcel
fearine that tliis, interpreted by superstition^ should cause some
order in his troops, quickly turned Ids horse again towards the
my, and tlien paid his adorations to the sun; as if that roorefflsl
had been made, not t)y accident, but design, for the Romans ahnn|
turn roiTrjrl when they worship tlie gods. Upon the point of
ing, he vov.ed to Jupiirr Feretrius the choicest of the enemy's an |
In the mean time, tlie king of the Gauls spied him, and ju^ngif
the ensigns of authority that he was the consul, he set spurs toki
horse, and ach'anced a considerable way before the rest, brao£sliii{
his spear, and loudly challenging him to the combat. He wisfc-
tinguished from the rest of the Gauls by his stature, as well asbrb
armour, which, being set off with gold and silver, and the mostliitk
colours, shone like lightnitig. As Marecllus was viewing thedisp
sition of the enemy's forces, he cast his eyes upon this richsokd
armour, and concluding that in it his vow to Jupiter would bcl^
compli!;hed, he rushed upon the Gaul, and pierced his breast-plft
with his spear, which stroke, together with the weight and fo«e«
the consul's horse, brought him to the ground, and with twoorthitt
more blows he di.^patched him. He then leaped from his horwai
disarmed him, and lifting up his spoils towards heaven, he said, **0
Jupiter Feretrius^ who observest the deeds of great warriors aodg^
nerals in battle, I now call thee to witness that I am the third Roub*
consul and general who have, with my own hands^ slain a gencnl
and a king! To thee I consecrate the most excellent spoils. Di
thou grant us equal success in the prosecution of this war."

When this prayer was ended, the Roman cavalry encountered botk
the enemy's horse and foot at the same time, and gained a victoiy,
not only great in itself, but peculiar in its kind; for we have note-
count of such a handful of cavalry beating such numbers, both of
horse and foot, either before or since. Marcellus having killed tfcc
greatest part of the enemy, and taken their arms and baggage, nr-
turned to his colleague*, who had not such good success against tbe
Gauls before Milan, which is a great and populous city, and the ine-
tropolis of that country. For this reason the Gauls defended it witk
sucli spirit and resolution, that Scipio, instead of besieging it, seemed
rather besieged himself. But upon the return of Marcellus, the

* JDurin({ the absence of Marcellus, Accnaa had been taken bj his ColMgoc Sdpi^
^ho ffom llienco had marched to invest Mcdiolauuin, or Milan.

MARCELLUS. SO/

II .i

Gesats^ understanding that their king was slain^ and his army de-
feated, drew off their forces; and so Milan was taken*; and the Gaiils
surrendering the Ircst of their cities, and referring every thing to the
equity of the Romans, obtained reasonable conditions of peace.

The senate decreed a triumph to Marcellus only; and whether wc
consider the rich spoils that were displayed in it, the prodigious size
of the captives, or the magnificence with which the whole was con-
ducted, it was one of the most splendid that was ever seen. But
the most agreeable and most uncommon spectacle was Marcellus
himself, cairying tlie armour of Viridomarus, which he vowed to Ju-
piter. He had cut the trunk of an oak in the formr of a trophy^
which he adorned with the spoils of that barbarian, placing every part
of his arms in handsome order. When the procession began to
move, he mounted his chariot, which was drawn by four horses, and
passttd through the city with the trophy on his shoulders, which was
the noblest ornament of the whole triumph. The army followed^
clad in elegant armour, and singing odes composed for that occasion,
and other songs of triumph, in honour of Jupiter and their general.

When he came to the temple of Jupiter Feretrius, he set up and
consecrated the trophy, being the third and last general who as yet
has been so gloriously distinguished. The first was Romulus, after
he had slain Acron, king of the Cfeninenses; Cornelius Cossus, who
$1ew Volumnius the Tuscan, was the second ; and the third and last
was Marcellus, who killed with -his own hand Viridomarus king of
tlie Gauls. The god to whom these spoils were devoted was Jupiter^
surnamed Feretrius (as some say), from the Greek word Pheretrofip
which signifies a car^ for the trophy was borne on such a carriage,
and the Greek language at that time was much mixed with the La-
tin. Others say Jupiter had that appellation, because he siriAes with
lightning y for the Latin word ferire signifies to strike. Others again
will liave it, that it is on account of the strokes which are given in
battle; for even now, when the Romans charge or pursue an enemy,
they encourage each other by calling out, feriy ferif strike, strike
them down. What they take from the enemy in the field, they call
by the general name of s^mls, but those which a Roman general
takes from the general of the enemy, they call opime spoils. It is,
indeed, said that Numa Pompilius, in his Commentaries, makes
mention of opime spcnls of the first, second, and third order; that he
directed the first to be consecrated to Jupiter, the second to Mars,
Hud the third toQuirinus; and that the persons who took the first
should be rewarded with three hundred aseSy the second with two

* Comum also, another city of great importance, furreodcKd. That all Italy, from
||M AIpi to the Ioni#ii ••% became entirely RomtQ,

fiOS

PLUTARCH S

LIVES.

I

kuDdrcd, and tlie third with one huodml. Bm
nion is, that tho^e of the first sort oiUy uliiwl
name of o/ti»ir, which a g'cneral takes in i
he kills the enemy's gtiicral with ¥nr ov
of ibis matter.

The Hoinaus thougitt tliemsclves so hxppf a ^ ^
put to tliis war, that they made an oSierii^ to A
golden eiip, in lesiimony of their ^raotodc; ihift
shared tliij spoils with the cunfedtfraie cms, «rfa
handsome present out of thein to Hiero k^f d* fi
Crienil and ally.

Sumt; time after this, I-lannibal having entocd bi^m
was sent witli a fleet to Sicily. Tlie war comi
unfortunate blow was received at Caiiiue, bv wtiA ■
of Romans fell. The few that escaped Bed to C
expected that H.iniiib;il, nho had thus dvstnivcd ifaefl
Roman forces, would inarch directly to Home. Hrr
first sent fifteen hundred uf his men to euardibenmd
vards, liy order of the senate, he went to C«iiHniW,to4
troops that had retired thither, and marcbed at tbek hud"!
country from being ravaged hy the enemv.

The wars liad by this time earned oBF the chief of ikli
bility, and most of their best officers. Still, indeed, Am
Fabiiis Maximus, a man highly respected for his pnbbl i^
dence; but his extraordinary attention to tlie avoidinr oCIl
for want of spirit imd incapacity for action. The Rmmb^M
oonsiderin^ him as a proper person for the defensive b«lMi
fcQsire part of war, had recourse to Marcellus ; and wjuhn^
bis boldness and activity with ibe slow and caatioos moIH
bius, they stniictimcs appointed ihera consuls tocetkrr, m'
times &cnt out llie One iu the quality of coiuul, andtbeoOV'
of pro-consul. Pofidonius tells us, that Fabius was etlWift
Itr, and Marcellus t/if givord: but Haanibal hiauelf irii
stood in fear nf Pubius as his schoolmaster, and of ifatcdh
adversary; for he received hurt froni the iutter, and the fed
ventcil his doing bun himself."

ilamiibal's soldiers, elated with their nctory, sraw cank
stra^f^ting from the camp, roamed about the cottntr?, wbnv 1
lus fell upon thcni, and out olT great uumben. After this, I
to the relief of Naples and Nula. 'flie Neapolitans be oooA
tlie Roman interest, to which they were ihemselra well k
but when be entered \ula, he fuund gicai diviaioiu there, At
(^ that city beiag lutable to (cstiaia iIk ovauaifi^Jfg^ vhsa

MARCSLtVS. S09'

bMttgsa= ■■■■ , ; , ', Bg-s=aggg,i ■ ■, ssass

hdlD Haunibal. There was a citizen ia this. place oamed Ban«*
^^ well l)orn, and celebrated for hb valour; for be greatly diar
lished himself in the battle of Cann^, where, after killing i^
barx>f Carthaginians, he was found at last upon a heap of dead
esy covered with wounds. Hannibal, admiring his bravery, dis-
ed him not only without ransom, but with handsome presents,
nyriiig him with his friendship and admission to tlie rights of hos*
itji Baodius, in gratitude for tliese £uvDurs, heartily espoused tlie
^lif Hannibal, and by his authority drew the people on to a re-
. Jlarcellus thou^ k wrong to put a- man to death who had
loudy fought the battles of Rome. Besides, the general had sq
giag a manner grafted upon liis native hiunanity, that he co|ild
ly fiil of attracting the regards of a man of a great and geoeroua
I; One day, Bandius happening to salute him, MarccUus asked
who he was; not that he was a stranger to his person, but tliat
i^t have an opportunity to introduce what he had to say. Being
his name was Lucius Bandius, ^' What!'* says Marcellus, in
king admiration, ^< that Bandius wlio has been so much talked
Home for his gallant beliaviour at Cannv;, wiio indeed was thci
sum that did not abandon the consul ^roilius, but received in
mxk body most of tlu: shafts that were aimed at him !" Bandiut.
ig he was the very person, and showing some of his scars, '^ Why
I," replied Marcellus, ^^ when you bore al>out you such markii
our regard for us, did not you come to us one of the first ? Hq
leem to you slow to reward the virtue of a friend, who is honour-*
Ttn by his enemies ?** After this obliging discourse, he embraced
^ and made him a present of a war-horse, and five hundred
broas in silver.

roni this time Bandius was very cordially attached to MarcelluSi^
constantly informed him of the proceedings of the opposite party,
were very numerous, and who had resolved, when the Ronianii
ched out against the enemy^ to plunder tlieir baggage. Here-
1 Marcellus drew up his forces in order of battle within the city^
ed the baggage near the gates, and published an edict, forbid^
; the inhabitants to appear upon the walls. Hoimibal, seeing
lostile appearance, concluded that every thing was in great dis*
T in the city, and tiierofore he approached with little precau*
. At this moment Marcellus commanded the gate that was next
to be opened, and sallying out with the best of his cavalry, he
'ged the enemy in front. Soon after, the infantry rushed out at
:her gate with loud shouts. And while Hannibal was dividing
[orces to oppose these two parties, a thurd gate wa5 opened, and

* Or B^Atiim

PLVTAKCH S LIVES.

hundred, and tike third with one tiundrvd. But t}w mui

1 is, tliat thoxc of tlie £rst sort only sbuuld be
name of ojtime, whitli a general takes tn a pittW
he kilii the enemy's gtrncral wilh bis own bud. ki
of tbis matter.

The Romans thought themselves so haptiy id tbr
put to (his war, that they made an oHering to ApoUltil
golden cup, in lesiimoiiy of Uieir gratitude; tbn *'
shared ihe spoils with the cunfedcrate citws, and
handsome present out of them to Hjero kiug of Sn
ijricud and ally.

Some time after tliis. Hannibal having entered laly,]
was sent with a fleet lo Sicily. The war ooniinved W Mi
unfortunate blow w.is reLeii-ed at Caniue, bv which mwj
of Romans fell. The few that escaped fled to C»Dnsiun:
expected that H.innibiii, wlio had thus destroyed ihertmfU
Uoman forces, would march directly to Home. HerntMi)!
first sent fifteen hundred of his men to guard die eiij! ■
wards, by order of the senate, he went lo Cainisimn/dw
troops that had retired thitiier, and marched at their hod M
country from being ravaged by the enemy.

The wars liad by this time carried ofi" the chiefof dKA
bility, and most of tl>eir best officers. Still, indeed thtHI
Fabius Maxiinus, a man highly respected for his
dence; but his extraordinary attention to the avoiding ef I
for want of spirit dnd incapacity for action. Tlie Roauu^i
considering him as a proper person for the defensire, bol M
fcnsive part of war, liad recourse to Marucllus ; and wurVi
his boldness and activity with the slow and cautioos
hius, they sutnetinies appointed iheni consuls toeelhrr,
times sent out the one in the quality of coiuul and the
of pro-i-o«sui. PoPidonius tells us, that Pabtus was ealM
/w, ajid Marcellus the stoord: but Haanibal himself
stood in fear of F:il>ius as his schoolmaster, and of Ufarcd
adversary; for he received hurt from the latter, and tbo
ventcj his doing hurt himself."

Hannibal's soldiers, elated with their vtcloiy, grm a
Blrag^^lin-r from the camj), roaaied about the eouiitty, whfra^
lus fell upon tliem, aud cut off great numbers. After this, b
to the relief of Naples and Nolo. The Neajjolitans be eooftl
the Roman interest, to which they were ilicmselves well'
but when he entered Noia, he found great divisious thciu,
of that city beiog umble to rettniit ilie '''rminrmaltj, w]

*

MAROtLtVS.

iMitd to HaunibaL There was a citizen ia this. place named Baa«*.
^b*9 well born, and celebrated for his valour; for be greatly dis«-.
ikpiished himself in the battle of Cann®, whete, after killing i^
ilbiberx>f Carthaginians, he was found at last upon a heap of dead
BeSy covered with wounds. Hannibal, admiring his bravery, dis-
alped him not only without ransom, but with handsome presents,
UMNuiiig him with hia friendship and admission to tlie rights of hos*
jHij Baodius, in gratitude for tliese £uvDurs, heartily espoused tlie
g^if «f Hanciibal, and by his authority drew the people on to a re-
y/L Marcellus thou^ k wrong to put a- man to death who had
rinously fought the battles of Rome. Besides, the geneial bad sq
.^(ftging a manner grafted upon liis native hiunanity, that he co|ild
^riiy fiail of attracting the r(^[ards of a man of a great and geoeroua
Jvit. One day, Bandius happening to salute him, Marcellus asked
yJD who he was; not that he was a stranger to his person, but tliat
^tsight have an opportunity to introduce what he had to say. Bebg
|ii his name was Lucius Bandius, << What!*' says Marcellus^ in
aBMDg admiration, ^< that Bandius who has been so much talked
Jin Home for his gallant beliaviour at Cann^p., wiio indeed was th^
tkf man that did not abandon the consul ^roilius, but received in
W^wn body most of the shafts that were aimed at him !" Bandius.
l^Bg he was the very person, and showing some of his scars, *^ Why
km^" replied Marcellus, <^ when you bore about you such markii
#90UF regard for us, did not you come to us one of the first ? Dq
H^aeem to you slow to reward the virtue of a friend, who is honour^*
A^evvn by his enemies ?** After this obliging discourse, he embraced
fam^ and made him a present of a war-horse, and five hundred
hncbroas in silver.

^FVoni this time Bandius was very cordially attached to MarcelluSi^
Bd constantly informed him of the proceedings of the opposite party^
rlM> were very numerous, and who had resolved, when the Ronianii
BWched out against the enemy^ to plunder tlieir baggage. Here-
ipcm Marcellus drew up his forces in order of battle within the city^
lla€«d the baggage near the gates, and published an edict, forbid*
^Dg the inhabitants to appear upon the walls. Hannibal, seeing
|0 hostile appearance, concluded that every thing was in great dis*
Ipri^ in the city, and tiierofore he approached with little precau*
tion. At this moment Marcellus commanded the g^te that was next
Inm to be opened, and sallying out with the best of his cavalry, he
charged the enemy in front. Soon after, the infantry rushed out at
mother gate with loud shouts. And while Hannibal was dividing
U^iioyrces to oppose these two parties^ a thurd gate was opened, and

PLUTARCH » LIVES.

kuDdrcd,andttie thirdwillioneliundrrd. But th« intist recciioiopi
nion is, that those of the lirst sort only should be Itunoiired «itl% ilie
Dame of opime, whkh n t^cnrral takes in a pitched hattlr, mha
he kills the eiioniy's gi^iicral with his on-n band. But tom^
of this matter.

The Uomaiis tliougiit themselves so happy in the gloriovs <pawl
put to this war, tbut they made an oH^cring to Apollo at Delphi of i
golden eiip, in tesiimony of their gratitude ; they alito Ubenllr
sliared the spoils with the confederate cities, and made s vat
handsome present out of them to Hieio king of Syracuse, ihar
&iend and ally.

Some time after this, Hannibal having entered Italy, MHlcella
llh a fleet to Sicily. The w»r continued to rsjffe, lodltnt
unfortunate blow wns received at Cannte, by which many ihmr^
of Romans fell. The few that escaped Bed to Canusium: anilita
expected that Hannibal, tvho had thus dcsiroycd th« Kimigtli <)( V
Roman forces, would march directly to Konie. Hereupon SKaicefln
first sem fifteen hundred of liia men to gunrd tlic rity; anddW-
wards, by order of the senate, he wi.-nt to Canusium^ drew Odt&e
troops that had retired thither, and marclted at their bead u kn^the
country from being ravag'^d by the enemy.

The wars had by tlits time carried off the chief of tbe Roami^
bility, and most of their best officers. Stilt, indeed, there lesaiM'
Fabiiis Maximns, a man highly respected for his probhy aad pR-
dence; hut his extraordinary attention to the avoiding of loMjMHi
for want of spirit and incapacity for iiclinn. The Romans, ilimJwi,
oonsidering him as a proper jwrson for the defensive, Imi iM ibe^
fensivc part of war, had recourse to Marcellus ; and wisely lriB|Mtat
bis boldness and activity with the stow and cauiioaa condoci df A-
biiis, ibcy suinetimes appftinted iheni consuls toc^eihrr, and tamh
times &cDt out the <>ne in the quality 6i consul, aivd the uihcr ii ^
of pru-nont>ul. Posidonius tells us, that Fabius was called /Ar iw<-
lir, and \farci:llus tJte stvord: but Haanibal himself said, "Bt
stood in fear of Fubius as his schoolmiutcr, and ofMaredltttailii
advensary; for he received hurt from the latter, and tbe CDnKrpr
vented \\\^ doing hun himself."

Hannibal's soldiers, elated will) their victory, grew cankt^vit
«Ira^i;lin^ from the camj), roamed about the couutry, where Mmrf
lus fell upon tlieiti, and cut of)' great numbers. After thi>, be nrt
to the relief of Naples and Noia. The Neapolitan* he coaflraidli
t}«e Roman interest, to which they were ihemselves well incEM^)
but when he entered Nola, he fouad great divisioiu there, the acM*
c^ that city being unable u> reetnia the cvuuuoaaltjr, who wen 0

MAROttLVS. S09'

I ' . ' I III III 'I ■ I .lii .ca— p— i|

tached to HaunibaL There was a citizen in thia.place naned Baa•<^
dius^, well born, and celebrated for hb valour; f<Mr be greatly dia<!
tinguished himself in the battle of Cann^, wbeve^ after killing 9k
number of Carthaginians, he was found at last upon a heap of dead
bodies, covered with wounds. Hannibal, admiring his bravery, dis-
missed him not only without ransom, but with handsome pvesents^
honouring him with hisfiriendaliip and admission to tlie rights of Iras*
pitality* Baodius, in gratitude for tliese £uvDurs, heartily espoused tlie
party of Hannibal, and by his authority drew the people on to a re-
volt. Marcellus tfaou^it k wrong to put a- man to death who had
gloriously fought the battles of Rome. Besides, the general had 8C|
engaging a manner grafted upon his native humanity, that he co|ild
hardly fail of attracting the r(^[ards of a man of a great and generom
spirit. One day, Bandius happening to salute him, Marcellus asked
him who he was; not that he was a stranger to his person, but tliat
he might have an opportunity to introduce what he had to say. Beikig
told his name was Lucius Bandius, ^' What!" says Marcellus^ in
oeeming admiration, ^^ that Bandius who has beea so much talked
of in Home for his gallant beliaviour at Cann^p., wiio indeed was thi(
only man that did not abandon the consul ^milius, but received in.
his own body most of the shafts that were aimed at him !" Bandiut;
•aying he was the very person, and showing some of his scars, '^ Why^
then," replied Marcellus, ^^ when you bore about you such markli
•of your regard for us, did not you come to us one of the first ? Dq.
we seem to you slow to reward the virtue of a friend, who is honour<%
cd even by his enemies ? ** After this obliging discourse, he embrac^
bim, and made liim a present of a war-horse, and five hundred
drachmas in silver.

From this time Bandius was very cordially attached to MarcelluSg^
9nd constantly informed him of the proceedings of the opposite party^
who were very numerous, and who had resolved, when the Romania
marched out against the enemy, to plunder tlieir baggsige. Here-
upon Marcellus drew up his forces in order of battle withjn the city^
placed the baggage near the gates, and published an edict, forbid*^
4ing the inhabitants to appear upon the walls. Hannibal, seeing
DO hostile appearance, concluded that every thing was in great dis*
ord^r in the city, and therefore he approached with little precau-
tion. At this moment Marcellus commanded the g^te that was next
him to be opened, and sallying out with the best of his cavalry, he
charged the enemy in front. Soon after, the infantry rushed out at
another gate with loud shouts. And while Hannibal was dividing
lyj|i forces to oppose these two parties^ a thurd ^tc was opened, and

* Qr B^Atlim

608 Plutarch's lives.

hundred, and tlie third with one hundred. But the most received ofi
nion is, that those of the first sort only should be honoured widiM
name of apimcy which a general takes ia a pitched battle, «k
he kills the enemy's general with his own hand. But euoM
of this matter.

The Romans thought themselves so happy in the glorious peniil
put to this war, that tiicy made an offering to Apollo at Delphi of i
golden cup, in testimony of their gratitude; they abui Ubcnh
shared the spoils with the confederate cities, and made a vof'
handsome present out of them to Hiero king of Syracuse, lia
friend and all)';

Some time after this, Hannibal having entered Italy, Abndb
was sent with a fleet to Sicily. The war continued to rage, aodda
unfortunate blow was received at Canne, by which many thoonok
of Romans fell. The few that escaped Bed to Canusium : and it«i
expected that Hannibal, who had thus destroyed the strength of Ae
Roman forces, would march directly to Rome. Hereupon Miredhi
first sent fifteen hundred of his men to guard the city; andaite'
wards, by order of the senate, he went to Canusium, drew outAe
troops that had retired thither, and marched at their head to keq^tk
country from being ravaged by the enemy.

The wars had by this time carried off the chief of the Roman i^
bility, and most of their best ofiicers. Still, indeed, there lemuMl
Fabius Mnximus, a man highly respected for his probity and pn-
dence; but his extraordinary attention to the avoiding of lots pmel
for want of spirit and incapacity for action. Tlie Romans^ therefioit^
considering hini as a proper person for the defensive, but not the of-
fcnsivc part of war, had recourse to Marcellus; and msely temperiig
his holrhiess and activity with the slew and cautions conduct of Fh
bins, they suinctimes appointed them consuls together, and sooie-
times sent out the one in the quality of consul, and the other in thit
of pro-consul. Pofidonius tells us, that Fabius was called the Imdh
Icry and Marcellus the sward: but Hannibal himself said, '^ Ifa
stood in fear of Fabius as his schoolmaster, and of Marcellus as kit
adversary; for he received hurt from the latter, and the former pn*
vented his doing hurt himself.*'

Ilanuibars soldiers, elated with their victory, grew careless, and|
dtra^cclin^ from the camp, roamed about the couutry, where Marcel*
lus fell upon them, and cut ofl* great numbers. Mter this, he west
to the relief of Naples and Nola. The Neapolitans he confirmed in
the Roman interest, to which they were themselves well inclioed)
but when he entered Nola, he found great divisiops therCj the seoati
<^ that city bemg unable to restjraia the cvouBODAltjr^ who irace i^

MAROtLLVS. S09'

I ' . ' I III III 'I ■ I .lii .ca— p— i|

tached to HaunibaL There was a citizen in thia^place naned Bsda^
diu8^9 well born, and celebrated for his valour; f<Mr be greatly disn
tinguished himself in the battle of Cann«, wbeve^ afoot killing 9k
number of Carthaginians, he was found at last upon a heap of dea4
bodies, covered with wounds. Hannibal, admiring his bravery, dis-
missed him not only without ransom, but with handson^ pvesents,
honouring him with hiafini;ndship and admission totlie rights of hoa*
pitality. Baodius, in gratitude for tliese £uvDurs, heartily espoused tlie
party of Hanaibal, and bv his authority drew the people on to a re*-
nolt. Marcellus tbou^it k wrong to put a- man to death who had
gloriously fought the battles of Rome. Besides, the genentl had 8C|
engaging a manner grafted upon liis native humanity, that he co|ild
hardly fail of attracting the regards of a man of a great and generom
^irit. One day, Bandius happening to salute him, Marcellus asked
him who he was; not that he was a stranger to his person, but tliat
he might have an opportunity to introduce what he had to say. Betog
told his name was Lucius Bandius, <' What!" says Marcellus^ in
seeming admiration, ^^ that Bandius wlio has beea so much talked
tfrf in Home for his gallant beliaviour at Cannon, wiio indeed was th«L
only man that did not abandon tlie consul ^milius, but received in
his own body most of tlie shafts that were aimed at him !" Bandiua
saying he was the very person, and showiiig some of his scars, '^ Why
then," replied Marcellus, ^^ when you bore about you such markii
40f your regard for us, did not you come to us one of the first ? Dq.
we seem to you slow to reward the virtue of a friend, who is honour<%
cd even by his enemies ?'* After this obliging discourse, he embrac^
bim, and made him a present of a war-horse, and five hundred
drachmas in silver.

From this time Bandius was very cordially attached to Marcellus,^
0nd constantly informed him of the proceedings of the opposite party^
who were very numerous, and who had resolved, when the Romania
Quurched out against the enemy, to plunder their baggage. Here-
Vpon Marcellus drew up his forces in order of battle withjn the city^
placad the baggage near the gates, and published an edict, forbid**
4ing the inhabitants to appear upon the walls. Hannibal, seeing
QO hostile appearance, concluded that every thing was in great dis*
cicd^r in the city, and thergfore he approached with little precau*
lion. At this moment Marcellus commanded the g^te that was next
bim to be opened, and sallying out with the best of his cavalry, he
charged the enemy in front. Soon after, the infantry rushed out at
another gate with loud shouts. And while Hannibal was dividing
biji forces to oppose these two parties^ a thbrd ^^c was opened, and

1-.-

T5-- -r» "T

• -••■'— «

fc. —-,-.1. - -. - , ■ V --■ - -

*.: TV.' •-' ■ ■ - *'•■ - :!■' T»:- •.*--:.• li»:.j. SiTt pn

H -i- -^■•. L^:r :t ir^ r: 'i ^: Tf- ^-i* •: mil- reprlsakii
u r-i*-^ *•■* •'^*- r- •*. ?: "7 "' -'- =>*^'-> to set hinsdi^

3. ■^•-■c ::.:••:.:'■' Lr..r : . . M.'.-l! j-. T" er:f -c. Laid sier^totl*

f/rr. l:.: •> I : ■' r •_ . • : : i.i zy hijn: to The iriliabrarits: ook

» * • • •

?Tjr'r; d^r^^.-nc'*- L- •': I- -'.i *: .:-• ':^t ^ rdcreti xo be beaten with nA
f "id ??:er. 7 •-• •'' '^^ '" * '-• H'r >'.cTc.-.-5 to:4 care to rive the SvTacaaBf
t}:t £:*: : •' 't^:-- 'r c: L-s^n^iuru, as«nriDc- them, at iW
same t-r;.:. :'• i: V---'!!-> ^ •. ! 7-: t:i The sirord all that were iWe
to rHT'dT i.rn:<: i: '1 vi:.._- ;* ly .^.:e i;r;r?cr great consternation atlhi
news, Jie ca.X'C *>- ".'-^r.ly \i\Ajri v.a. city, arid made himself master of iL
HcTtu':;on Marc-el lus n.-^rcLed with his whole army, and encaunpfd
befure S'.tlcus'.-; but, brfore he attempted any thing against it, k
sent amba^s:idors with a true account of w!iat he had done at Leon-
tium. As T;;is information had no effect with the SyracusanSj wbo
were cuiirelv in the power of Hippocrates*, he made his attacks bodi

• Hieronjiuu* being jisMrtiuattd, imi the communweaUb restored, Hippocratet and
Epicv'lc*, Haimibal** ascMs being ol S^racukan extraction, bad the address to get ibea-
lelTci admitted iBlo tbe oumbt r uf prftion. la coitteqaence of which, tbejr found aeasf

MARCELLUS. 513

HI

by sea and land; Appius Claudius commanding the land-forces, and
himself the fleet, which consisted of sixty galleys of five banks of
oars, full of all sorts of arms and missive weapons. Besides these,
he had a prodigious machine, carried upon eight galleys fastened to-
gether, with which he approached the walls, relying upon the num-
ber of his batteries and other instruments of war, as well as on his
own great character. But Archimedes despised all this, and confided
in the superiority of his engines, though he did not think the invent-
ing of them an object worthy of his serious studies, but only reckoned
them among the amusements of geometry. Nor had he gone so far,
but at the pressing instances of king Hicio, who entreated him to turn
his art from abstracted notions to matters of sense, and to make his
reasonings more intelligible to the generality of mankind, applying
them to the uses of common sense.

The first that turned their thoughts to mechanics^ a branch of
knowledge which came afterwards to be so much admired, were
£udoxus and Archytas, who thus gjive a variety and an agreeable
turn to geometry, and confirmed certain problems by sensible experi-
ments, and the use of instruments, which could not be demonstrated
in the way of theory. That problem, for example, of two mean pro-
portional lines, which cannot be found out geometrically, and yet
are so necessary for the solution of other questions, they solved
mechanically, by the assistance of certain instruments called me^
solabeSy taken from conic sections. But when Plato inveighed
against them with great indignation, as corrupting and debasitig the
excellence of geometry, by making her descend from incorporeal and
intellectual to copoieal and sensible things, and obliging her to make
use of matter which requires much manual labour, and is the object
of servile trades; then mcc/iamcs were separated from geometry, and,
btMug a long time despised by the philosojiher, were considered as
a branch of the military art.

Be that as it may, Archimedes one day asserted to king Hiero,
whose kinsman and friend he was, this proposition, that with a
given power he could move any given weight whatever; nay, it is
said, from the confidence he had in his demonstration, he ventured
to affirm, that if there was another earth besides this we inhabit, by
going into that, he would move this wherever he pleased. Hiero,
fail of wonder, begged of him to evince the truth of his proposition,
by moving some great weight with a small power. In compliance
with which, Archimedes caused one of the king's galleys to be drawn
on shore with many hands and much labour; and having well man-
to embroil the Sjrtcu&ans with Rome, in spite of the opposition of such of the prston «
bad Che interest of their country at heart.

r Vol. 1, No. 16. tit

Bl^ Plutarch's lives.

ncd her, and put on board )ier usuul londing, lie placrd hiBKclfx »
distance, and without any pains, only moving with his hand iw "jH
ofamacliine, wliich consisted of a variety of ropes ami pnlla*. t*
drew her to liiin in as smooth and gentle a in.innvr as if shchiilbni
under sail. Tlic kinp, qiiiie nstonishi'd when lie snwthrftiiwi^ls
art, prevailed wit li Archimedes to make for him all manner of «ip*'
and macliines wliich could be used ciilier for .ittnrh or drfmit im
siege. These, however, he never made use of, the jrrcaiest jwt >i
his reign being blest with traimuillity; but they wctv Mtremftrw-
viceable to the Syracusans on tlie present ofCMsion, who, with mc*'
number of machines, liad the inventor to direct them.

When the Romans nitaekcd ihcm both by sen and land, tlirtw?
struck dumb with terror, iniaginin)^ ihey could not poviilili if
such rjumerous fortes and so furious an nssault. Bui Arcli'w*'
BOon began to play liis cnyines, and they ^hot a^rniiif^i ibr l«nii-frw
ftU sorts of missive weapons, and stones of nn enormous sizr,«iil*
Jncredibte a noii^e and rapidity, that nothing could stand brfi>mk>-
they overturned and crushed whatever came in iheir way, ani •pn'
terrible disorder liironghout the ranks. On the side towarth lb*
were erected vast machines, putting forth on a sudden, over die nfc
huge beams with the necessary tackle, which striking with ■ !>«*■
gious force on the enemy's galleys, sunk them at vncc; whiU«!«'
ships, hoisted up at the prows by irnu gr»pples or hooli»», like *
beaks of eraoeH, and set on end on iheslirn, were plunged to tt«t» fl
torn of the sea ; and others again, by ropes iind gnipplc«, 'nereia*
towards the shore, and after being whirled about, nnd dvbnlafratf
the rocks that projected below the walls, were broken to p>ms,aJ
the crews perished. Very often a ship lifted high »b«)ve ihr w,*'
pended and twiriing in the air, presented u most drendful spctflrt
There it swung till the men were ihrowu out by the viiilrtirf irf*
motion, and then it split against the vndls, or suuk ou ibc np"*
letting go its hold. As for the nincliinc ivbieli Marcellus bro^
forward upon eight galleys, and which was called stmibctea,<»*'
count of its likeness to a musical instrument of thai name, itlnfe>^
was at a considerable disuncc from the walls, Archiraeda iiiKta>H

* Whatmnit liormtdllivlinminiwitxarlDrcraw wilh two uUm, fa«rar4 » i^
oh»in, wMcli *« let da* n li.V a Imd i,( Ifltf r. The wi-ifihi ui ih( ifu« iH<k « M •<
gtBil tuleiiM. mil] dro.e il iiito the |>liiiiiiuribc g<ll(j>. Thru •hr bcM'^tf if^
VcigUt orisid al Ihe Qihcr end of tbrrlricc. wci^lwd ii doiin. aul «B*Hifw^ i^
ujiihe irnaoribe crow in p«)|iuniun, md with it Uir piuw «f tkiegalbj t**te**M
fudtnid, imkitif the pnup nl llie ume MuLUirotlie «iiler. ARit tlii< iW <»■)<■*
aaitiold itllanatudiirn, Ihe pruw of Ihe gvHry fell with ivcb fbtn iBta Oa m,tm
llie wl)cilc TCHcl <ru Uki niUi niter, aad tuok.

MARCELLL'S, »15

aslunc oflcn taleuts wciglii"', and Hl'tor tliat n sucoud and a third,
all which striUn); u|k)ii it with na umazing noise aud force, sh altered
and totally disjointed it,

Marccllus, iD this distress, drew uQ his ^lleys as fast as possible,
and sent orders to the land-forces to retreat likewise. He then
CMlled u council of war, in which it was resolved to come close to the
»hIU, if it was possible, next inoriiiiig liel'ure day; for Archimedcs's
engines ihey thought, being very strong, and intended to act at a
coiisidendile distance, woald then discharge themselves over their
liciids; Bud if they were pointed at them when they were so near^
they would have uo efi'eet. But for ihis Archimedes had loDg been
preiKired, having by bim engines fitted to all distances, with suitable
weagions and shorter Ijeams. Besides, he had caused linles to be
made in the walls, in which he placed scorpions that did not carry
t'.ir, but could be very quickly discharged; and by these the enemy
was galled, without knowing whence the weapon came.

When, therefore, the Romans were got close to the walls undis-
covered, as they thought, they were welcomed with ashower of darts,
and huge piecee of roclis, which fell as it were perpendicularly upon
their heads; Cor the engines played from every quarter of the wslls.
This obliged them tu retire; and wlieii chey were at some distiincc,
other shafts were slioi at them in their retreat from the larger ma-
chines, which made terrible havoett amung them, as well as i;reutly
damaged their shipping, witlkout any possibility of their annoying
the Syracusaiis in their lurn. For Archimedes hud placed most of
his engines under covert of the walls; so that the Ri.>uians being
infinitely distressed by an invisible enemy, seemed to fight against
the gods.

^^a^eellus, however, got ofi", and biu^hed at his own artillery-men
and engineers. " Why do not we leave off contendinir," said be,
*' with this miitliuniatieal Briarcus, who, sitting on the shore, and
acting as it were but in jest, has shamefully baSiedour naval assault;
and, in strilctug us with such ii multitude of bolts ;it once, exceeds
even the hundied-bauded giant in the fable?" Aud, in truth, all
the rest of the Syracusans were no mure than the body ia the bat-

* It it not rtny lu cnnn-rtc bow ibB niicbiiifi formed by Ar«Umr<ti:i could ibcuw
■luaoorm qviiiialt wt tiUaiti, mil u, tweNi baiidr<?<l andllfty pound • ««igl it, M tbe
•Lifn at M ircdlUi wlwn lli<-jr oora nl ■ mniiilfnibre dittioce fmn iht will). The «e<
coHiU wliicb Voltlim* pvei u> u muib miiie prahablr. He i«jt, ihM Ihe »<».> . |h*t .
wen- thmwD bj the iaii$l* madr by Aiehi-\witt ■*'tr uf the *ng)n ot ico jiunudl.
Uoy lerm* lo igttro mih Puljhiut. Indeed, il we ii^i|i|kiw Ihu Plulanli did uol mean
ihc iHJcDt of a liuudfed and turuiv 6*« po.in'li, liut ihe iileai of Sicily, which wiuc
n,y wciglied looaij^-Gve pouudi, Md vlhit) oul} leni luiacvoaoE cann more HiUiiu iJm
booud* ol probability. ''

■^

Sltf

PI.UTARCn S LIVES,

i

tcries ol' Ai^himedts, wliile lie liunsflf w-as the iiiforming soul: .ill
other weapons l;iy iille anti unemployed; In's were the only ofienwrc
and defensive arms of ilie city. At last the Romans were so ter-
rified, that if they saw but a rope or a sliclt put over tlie walls, ibty
cried out that Arehiniedes was Icx'elling some machine at them, and
turned their backs and fled. Marcollus, seeing this, gave up ill
thoughts of proceeding by assault, and leaving the matter to tinK,
turned the siege into a bloeltade.

Yet Archimedes had suchadepih of understanding, such ft dignht
of sentiment, and so copious a Fund of mathematical knowledge, tbi
thoagli in the invention of these mat-bines he gained the reputatioo
of a man endowed with divine rather than human knowledge, yet be
did nor vouchsafe to leave any aceount of tlieni in writing; (uf
he considered all attentiod ti» mecliuiiits, and every art that minister
to common uses, as mean and sordid, and placed his whole d^ti^ii
in those intellectual speculations which, without any relation to tbe
necessities of life, have an intrinsic excellence arising from truth id
demonstration only. Indeed, if mechanical knowledge ia valuible
for tiie curious frame and amazing power of those machines wliicb it
produces, the other infinitely excels on aecount of its iDviDcible
force and conviction. And ceriain it is, that abstruse and profound
questions in geometry are no where solved by a more simple process,
and upon clearer principles, than in the writings of Archknedes.
Some ascribe this to the atutcness of his genius, and others to his
indefatigable industry, by which he made things that cost a greai
deal of pains appear unlaboured and easy. In fact, it is alincGl im-
possiUe for a man of himself to find out the demons tratJon of hit
propositions, hut as soon as he has learned it from him, be will iliink
he could liave done it without assistance; such a ready and easy waj
does lie lead us 10 what he wants to prove — We are not, therefore,
to reject as incredible what is related of him, that, being perpeiuall;
charmed by a domestic syren, that is, his geometry, he neglected his
meat anil drink, and took no care of his person; that he was often car-
ried by force 10 the baths, and, when there, he would make mathema-
tical figures in the ashes, and with his finger draw lines upon his body
when it was anoint^'d; so much was he transported with iuteUectoil
delig1ii| "ucb au enthusiast in science. And though he was the h-
tlioT of many curious and excellent discoveries, yet he ii said lo have
desired hii friends only to place on his tomb-stone a cylinder coa-
taining a sphere*, and to set down the proportion which the coutala-

• riccWi "fcon lie woi qui»lor in Sieiljr, diKnvwed ihii luuoument, and thovcd it
la the SjiimuMii., whu L"** •« Uial it whs ia lii:i.i(j. H« s»ji lUere wcfa >«aci la-

MARCELLl'S. 517

ing sulid bears to the contained. Such was Archimedes, who exerted
all his skill to defend himself and the town against the Romans.

During the siege of Syracuse, Marcetlus went against Mega ra, one
of the most ancieat cities of Sicily, and took it. He also fell upon
Hip]KK;rates, as he was intrenching himself at Aerillee, and killed
above eight thousand of his men*. Nay, he overran the greatest
part of Sicily, brought over several cities from the Carthaginian m-
tcrest, and beat all that attempted to face him in the field.

Some time after, when he retomed to Syracuse, he surprised one
Damippus, a S{>artaii, as he was sailing out of the harbour ; and the
Syriicusans being very desirous to ninsoui him, several conferences
were held about it; in one of which Mar cell us took notice of a tower
but slightly guarded, into which a number of men might be privately
conveyed, the wall titat led to it being easy to be scaled. As ihey
often met to confer ai the foot of this tower, be made a good estimate
of its height, and provided himself with proper scaling-ladders : and
observing that on the festiviil of Diana the Syraeusans drank freely,
and gavea loose to mirth, he not only possessed himselfof the tower
undiscovered, but before day-light filled the walls of that quarter
with soldiers, and forcibly entered the Hexapyium. The Syracu-
sans, as soon as they perceived it, began to move about in great con-
fusion; but Marcellus ordering all the trumpets to sound at once,
they were seized with consternation, and betouk themselves to flight,
believing that the whole city was lost. However, tlie Achradina,
which was the strongest, the most extensive, and fairest part of it,
was not taken, being divided by walls from the rest of the city, one
part of which was called Neapolis, and the other Tychc. The en-
terprise thus prospering, Marcellus at day-break moved down from

tcribod upon it, ei{irei(ing Tbit ■ cjliiidtr and ■ ijihcip lisd Ixvn put upon the tomb ;
■be piupacliDQ between nhich tna lolidi Arcbiiucdei Gnl diicuicnd. Fiuui (lie d«>ih
of tb'a gieal mBiheoiiiiclaii, wliieli fell out io (he year of Kome Bve bundtril siiii furij-
two. 10 the qucilorbhip of Cicero, oliicli ww id Ihc ^ear of Rauie tli liuiidtvd and
•evcnlj-eiglit, i buodted and tbirtj-iit jcara were clapKcl. Tliougb Iliue had out
quite ol>]iteca(ed the cjliuder and the jpheie, il liad put an end Io the tcamiajj of Sj-

* Hiuulco hadenlcrrd Ihc purl ol HrracleaHilh auumeionillcetaeiitrion) Carthage,
and landed IwcoIt Ibsuund foul, lliree thouivid horte, aud Iweiie elrplianti. Hii
forcei mete tw looQer |iui uii iLore, Ifauu he marched againil Ai^iigFotum, Hliiefa he le-
tDok ftwDllie Roniaus, with K«eral oibeicitiet lalelj tcuceii by MaicelJuv Hcreupoa
■he Syiacuiiui gatrisoa, wbich waa jtt enlire, drleiinined to lend out Ilippocratu witli
tta ttiDuiuid foot, aud tifleen huadred hone, to juin Himileo. MarcelJui, after liaviiig
made a Tain allempt upon AgrigeDEum, nas relutniiig Io Sjracuie. As he dicw acai
Acrillx, he uncipedcdW diicoveied Hippocralo hiuj iu luclifyiiig his camp, fell
Kpun liiia befoie be bid lime to draw ap bit aimjr, sud cut tiglil ibuuiand uf ibem m

518 PT.UTAUCH^S LIVES.

the Hexapylum into th( city, wliere .he was congratulated by bb of-
ficers on the great event ^. But it is &ald that he himself^ wheo be
surveyed from an eminence that great and magoificent city^ shed
many tears in pity of its impending fate, reflecting into wliat a scene
of misery and desolation its fair appearance would be changed, whei
it came to be sacked and plundered by the soldiers : for the troops
demanded the plunder, arid not one of the officers durst oppose it.
Many even insisted that the city should be burnt and levelled with
the ground: but to this Marcellus, absolutely refused hb con-
sent. It was with reluctance that he gave up the effects and the
slaves ; and he strictly charged the soldiers not to touch any free
man or woman, nor to kill or abuse or make a slave of any citizen
whatever.

But, though he acted with so much moderation, the city had har-
der measures than he wished, and, amidst the great and general joj,
his soul sympathized with its su fieri ngs, when he considered that in
a few hours the prosperity of such a flourishing state would be no
more. It is even said that the plunder of Syracuse was as rich as
that of Cartilage after it f i for the rest of the city was soon betrayed

* Epipols was entered in the niglit, and Tycbe next morning. Kpipols
pa9»ed with the same wall us Ortygia, Achradlna, Tjche, and Neapolis; had its own
citadel, called Euryalum, on the tup of a steep rock, and was, as we maj mmj, • fiftfc

city.

t The siege of Syracuse lasted in the whole three years; no small part of whieb p«H«i
after Marccliiis entered Tychc. As Plutarch has run so slightly over the suhseqgcat
CYCdts, it may not he amiss to give a siitumary ditail of them from Llvy.

Epicydes, who had his head quarters in ibo fiirlhc!>t part of Ortygia, bearing that the

Komans hud ^<•ized on Epi(K>lie and T\che, wint to driva them from their posts; btiC

ilndinjj much ^jreater numbers than he expt-cted had got into the town, after a siigl/t skirmish'

be retired. Marcellus, unwilling to destroy the city, tried gentle methods with the io-

babit:u)t»; but the Syr.icusans rejected his proposals; and their general appointed the

Koman dfscrtcrs to guard Achradina, whicli they did with extreme care, knowtug that,

if the town wero taken hy conjpoiition, they must die. Blarcellus then turned his amis

agniuHt tlie foiiress of ].ur>aluii), which he hoped to reduce in a short lime by famine.

Phiiotlenius, who cumiuautkd there, kept him in play some lime, in hopes of saccours

from Hippocrates and Ilimiico; but finding himself disappointed, he surrendered the

place on condiiion of being allowed to march out with his men, and join Epicydes. Mar*

cellus, now master of Luryalum, blociied up Achradina so close, that it could not hold

out long without new supplies of men aiid provisions. But Hippocrates and Himiico

soon arrived; and it was rcjolved that Hippocrates should attack the old camp of the

Koiimi:» without the walls, coitlmanded by Crispinus, while Epicydes sallied out apoa

Murcelluf. Hippocrates was vigorously repuUed by Crispinu5, who pursued him up to

his intrenchmenis; and Epicydes wa» forced to return into Achradina with great los^

and narrowly e^caped being taken prisoner by Marcellus. The unfortunate Syracusant

were now in the greatest distress for want of provisions; and, to complete their misery>

a plague broke out amun^ them; of which Uimilco and Hippocrates died, with inanT

t

MAKCELLITS. 519

to the Romans and pillaged; only the royal treasure was preserved,
and carried into the public treasury at Rome,
• But what most of all afflicted Marcel i us was the unhappy fate of
Archimedes, who was at that time in his study, engaged in some ma-
thematical researches; and his mind, as well as his eye, was so intent
upon his diagram, that he neither heard the tumultuous ndise of the
Romans, nor perceived that the city was taken. A soldier suddenly
entered his room, and ordered him to follow him to Marcellus; and
Archimedes refusing to do it till he had finished his problem, and
brought his demonstration to bear, the soldier in a passion drew his
sword and killed him. Others say, the soldier came up to him at
first with a drawn sword to kill him. and Archimedes perceiving him,
begged he would hold his hand a moment, that he might not leave
his theorem imperfect; but the soldier, neither regarding him nor his
theorem, laid him dead at his feet. A third account of the matter
is, that as Archimedes was carrying \n :i box some mathemaiical in-
struments to Marcellus, as sun-dials, spheres, and quadrants, by
which the eye might measure the magnitude of the sun, some soldiers
met him, and imagining that there was gold in the box, took away
his life for it. It is agreed, however, on all hands, that Marcellus
was much concerned at his death, that he turned away his face from
the murderer, as from an impious and execrable person; and that,
having^by inquiry found out his relations, he bestowed upon them
many signal favours.

Hitherto the Romans had shown other nations their abilities to
plan, and their courage to execute, but they had given them no proof

tliousands more. Hereupon Bumilcar sailed to Carthatge aga'ia for fresh supplies; and
returned to Sicily nith a large fleet j but heading of the great preparations of the Ro-
mans at sea, and probably' tearing the event of a budle, he un^x|)ecledly steered away.
Kpicydes, who was gone out to meet him, whs afraid to return uitoacity half taken, and
lliercfore fled for refuge to Atrrigenium. The S3 racusans then assassinated the gorernort
left by Kpicydcs, and proposed to submit to Marcellus: fi*r which purpose they seut
deputies, who were graciously received. But the garrison, which consisted of Koman
deserters and niercenarieSj raising fre>h disturbances, killed the oflicers appoiuted by the
SyraciiHans, ami chose six new ones of their own. Among these was a Spaniard named
Mexicns. a man of great integrity, who, disapproving of the cruelties of his party, de-
termined to pive up the place to Marcellus. In pursuance of which, under pretences of
greater care than ordinary, he desired that each governor might have the sole direction
111 his own quarter; which gave him an opportunity to open the gate of Arethusu to th«
Roman general. And now Marcellus, being at length become roaster of the unfaithful
city, gave signal proofs of hi* clemency and good-nature. He suffered the Roman de-
serters to escape ; for he was unwilling to shed the bl^d even of traitors. No wonder
then if he spared the lives of the Sy racusans and their children : though, as he told iherov
the services which good king Hiero had rendered Rome were exceeded by the insults
^bej had o£fcred her in a few years.

sao

VLVTAKC113 LIVES.'

of their clemency, iheir hunianity, or, in one word, of tlieit poliik
virtue. — Marcellus st-ems to liave been the first who made iiappe
to the Greeks lliat the RoDians had greater rcgjird to cquil}- tb
they; for such was his goodness to those that addressed him, tod
many benefits did he confer ujjon cities as well as private
that if Enna, Megara, and Syracuse, were ireati-d harshly, the
of that severity was rattier to he eliarged on the suQ'ercis tttciii«^in|
tlian on those who chastised ihem.

I shall mcmion one of the many instances of this ^eat m
moderation. There is in Sicily a town called Engiiium, noi L
indeed, but very ancient, and celebrated for the apprarancrs of
goddesses called the Mothers*. The temple is said to have fa
built by the Cretans, and they show some spears aod braxei
inscribed with the names of Merioncs and Ulysses, who eoiuccMif
them to those goddesses. This town was strongly inolinrd
the Carlhaginians; hut Xicias, one of its principal iali8bilu)t>,t|p
deavoured to persuade them to go over to tliv Romans, decliiriiij hiV
eentiinents freely in their public assemblies, and proving ihuhni
posers consulted not their true interests. These men, (cui^f Im
authority and tlie influence of his character, resolved lo cany bin iJ^
and put him in the hands of the Carthaginians. Nicias, spniwd of
it, took measures for his security, without seeming to do ta Uc'^
publicly gave out unbecoming speeches againsi the jI/b/Acr«,«7
he disbelieved and made lipht of the received opinion concdlUif
the presence of ihose goddesses there. Meantime his rncnain l^
joioed that he himself furnished them with suffieient reasons (ird«
worst they could do lo him. On the day which they had fixed fm
seizini; him, there happened to be an assembly of the people,
Nicias was in the midst of them, treating ahuut some pufaUi
But on a sudden he threw himself upon the ground \n the midct d'
his discourse, and, after having hiiu there some lime without smA-
ing, as ifhe had been in a trance, he lifted up his head, and,nirei9
it round, began to spe.ih with a feeble trembling voice, »-hiei fcr
rais^ by degrees; and when he saw the whole assciiihlystnickilimfc
with horror, he threw off his mantle, tore his vest in nieces, aod jm
half-naked to one of the duots of the theatre, eiying out (bat be <M
pursued by the Mothers. From a scruple of religion no ooe tet
touch or stop him: all, therefore, making way, |tc reached omt at
the city-gates, though he no longer used any word or actiou, fc
one that was heaven-struck and distracted. His wife, w)m> «■>!■

• ThcM vc mppoacd lo br Cjbtl*, Jbuo, ud Cettj. Ciceto

CjlKlcitEogDiam.

[>pie,Ma
himnnfc J
midA tfV
nspciA-l

/

MAllCELLUS. 5tl

s

the secret, and assisted in the stratagem, took her children, and
went and prostrated herself as a Supplicant before the altars of the .
goddesses : then pretending that she was going to seek h^r husband,
who was wandering about in the fields, she met with t)0 opposition,
but got safe out of the town ; and so both of them escaped to Mar-
bellus at Syracuse. The people of Enguium adding many other in-
sults and misdemeanors to their past faults, Mdircellus came and had
them loaded with irons, in order to punish them. But NiciaS ap-
proached him with tears in his eyes, and kissing his hands and em-
bracing his kneei^, diked pardon for all the citizens, and for his ene-
mies first. Hereu{x>n Marcellus relenting, set them all at liberty,
and suffered not his troops to commit the lea$t disorder in the city i
at the same time he bestowed on Nicias a large track of land and
inany rich gifts. These particulars we learh from Posidonius the
philosopher.

Marcellus^, after this, being called home to k war in the heart of'
Italy, carried with him the most valuable of the statues and paintings
in Syracuse, that they might embellish his triumph, and be an orna-
inent to Rome : for before thi^ time that city neither had nor knew
any curiosities of this kind, being a stranger to the charms of taste
knd elegance. Full of arnls taken from barbarous nations, and of
bloody spoils, and crowned as she was with trophies and other monu-
ments of her triumphs, she afforded not a cheerful and pleasing spec-
tacle, fit for men brought up in ease and luxury, but her look was
awful and severe. And as Epaminondas calls the plains of Boeotia
the orchestra^ or stag^ of Mars, and Xenophon says Ephesus waa
the arse7ial of war ^ so, in my opinion (to use the expression of Pin-
dar,) one miglit then have styled Rome the tftnple offrouming
MARS.

Thus Marcellus was more acceptable to the people, because he
lidortied the city with curiosities in the Grecian taste, whose variety,
^ well as elegance, was very agreeable to the spectator. But the
graver citizens preferred Fabius Maximus, who, when he took Ta-
tentum, brought nothing of that kind away. The money, indeed,
and other rich moveables, he carried off, but he let the stataes and
{pictures remain, using this memorable expression. Let its leave tht
Tarentines their angry deities. They blamed the proceedings of
Marcellus in the first place as very invidious for Rome, because he
liad led not only men, but the very gods in triumph ; and their next
charge was, that he had spoiled a people inured to agriculture and

* Marcellus, btlbre he left Sicily, gaiaed a coasiderable victory OTcr Epicjdes aad
Hannu; he slew great namberi, aad took mauy prisonen^ bcaidct ei^ht clepbaDti. Iaw.
1. xxT. c. 40.

Mou 1. No. 16. vvn

5S0

of their clemi'
virtue. — M:n
to the Grcv

they: for s'
many bciii
that if En
of that sc^
tlian on :
I shall
modern
indee(f
goddt
built
insc
the:
the
dc:'
Si*:
p(

ai!

ai

ii

P
h

tl

J'

V

s

T
1
1

■

1

J

.^ sloth, and, as Euripida

. - il»»ry led

r idleness and vain discourse;

ir. of the day in disputing about

.. :i:g such censures, this wastfiS

iimself upon, even to the Grccia

.. ^iio taught ihc Romans ioc!>ietm

crformances of Greece, which were

, lis enemies opposed his triumph, aw!
^ TOt quite finished in Sicily, as v.ell tf
'.■xi>e him to the enw of his fellow-
. :-. content himself with leading up the
:'.:3, and entering Rome with the less.
,T^\s efGHy and hy the Romans ovatm,
. ^ -J»: in a triumphal chariot drawn by foai
».:ii laurel, nor has he trumpets sjund-
^»i in sandals, attciulcd with tlie music of
' ..^% jnnvn of myrtle ; his appearance, tliere-
*- ■ . *irliiie, is rather pleasing than formidable.

c -^

♦ "^ ^.vltluit triumphs of old were distinguished

^ ,■ .^ achievement, hut hy the nianner of its
^tf i-rat subdued their enemies, by fighting
! :400il, entered with that warlike and dread-
-c r-laa^phj and, as is customary in the luitia-
. :<v«us of laurel, and adorned their arms widi
A I ^neral, without fiL'hting, gained his point
^ ^ >rrsuasion, the law decreed him tr.is honour,
' * "^ • ijj more the appearance of a festival than ol*
•*-'** ^ instrument used in time of peace ; and the
^ Vifitts, who, of all the deities, is most averse to

___ is not derived (as most authors think) from

" j^ ij uttered in shouts of joy, for they have the

^» *^ > ^,,ji^ 111 the other triumph ; but the Greeks have

J -**•* ^: ^i\ known in their language, believing that this

- * *■* ^-jjfi, in some measure, in honour of Bacchus,

* »>«•* *^ Tiinamhus. The truth of the matter is

^ ^ " ,^.rr for the generals, in the greater triumphs, to

. » *" ^ ^ In the less a sheep, in Latin avis, whence tlm

^ €^ tttt occasion it is worth our while to observe how

/

MARCELLUS. 523

different the institutions of the Spartan legislator were from those of
the Roman^ with respect to sacrifices. In Sparta^ the general who
put a period to a war by policy or persuasion/ sacrificed a bullock ;
but he whose success was owing to force of arms^ offered only a cock :
for though they were a very warlike people^ they thought it more
honourable and more worthy of a human beifig to succeed by elo-
quence and wisdom^ than by courage and force. But this point I
leave to be considere4 by the reader.

When Maxcellus was chosen consul the fourth time^ the Syra-
cusans, at the instigation of his enemies^ came to Rome to accuse
liim, and to complain to the senate that he had treated them in a
cruel manner, and contrary to the faith of treaties*. It happened
that Marcellus was at that time in the Capitol offering 3acrifice.
The Syracusan deputies went immediately to the senate^ who were
yet sitting, and falling on their knees, begged of them to hear their
complaints, and to do them justice : but the other consul repulsed
tliem with indignation, because Marcellus was not there to defend
himself. Marcellus, however, being informed of it, came with all
possible expedition, and having seated himself in his cliair of state,
first dispatched some public business as consul. When that was
over, he came down from his seat, and went as a private persoji to
the place appointed for the accused to make their defence In, giving
the Syracusans opportunity to make good their charge. But they
were greatly confounded to see the dignity and unconcern with
which he behaved ; and he who had been irresistible in arms, was
still more awful and terrible to behold in his robe of purple. Ne-
vertheless, encouraged by his enemies, they opened the accusation
in a speech mingled with lamentations, the sum of which was^
** That, tliough friends and allies of Rome, they had suffered more
damage from Marcellus than some other generals had permitted to
be done to a conquered en^my." To this Marcellus made answerf,
** Tliat, notwithstanding the many instances of their criminal be-
haviour to the Romans, they had suffered nothing but what it is im-
possible to prevent when a city is taken by storm ; and that Syracuse
was so taken, was entirely their own fault, because he had often sum-
moned it to surrender, and they refused to listen to him. That, in

* Tlie Syracusans were scarce arrived at Rome, before the cousuls drew lots for
their proviuces, and Sicily fell to Marcellus. This was a great vtroke to the Syracusua
depatie8» and tliej would not have dared tu prosecute tbcir charge, bad not Marcellus
ToloQtarily offered to change the provinces.

t Wbeu the Syracusans had finished their accusations against Marcellus^ his colleague
liSTinas ordered them to withdraw , but Marcellus desired iLey might stay and hear bix
ilcfeoce.

\

$ti PLUTARCrfs LIVES.

shorty they were not forced by their tyrants to commit hostilities, bat
they had themselves set up tyrants for the sake of going to war."

The reasons on both sides thus heard, the Syracusans, according
to the custom in that case, wit]idrcw, and Marcellus went oat with
them, leaving it to his colleague to collect the vptes. While U
stood at the dopr of the senate- house*, he was neither mored witk
the fear of the issue of the cause, nor with resentnieot against tk
Syracusans, so as to change his usual deportment, but with great
mildness and decorum he waited for the event. Wfien the cause
was decided, and he was declared to have gained itf, the Syractisav
fell at his feet, and besought him with tears to pardon not only those
that were present, but to take compassion on the rest of their citi-
zens, who would ever acknowledge with gratitude the favour. Mv-
cellus, moved w^ith their entreaties, not only pardon^ the deputies,
but continued his protection to the other Syracusans ; and the se*
nate, approving the privileges he had granted, confirmed to thea
their liberty^ their laws, and the possessions that remained to thei^.
For this reason, besides other signal honours with wliich they db« i
tinguished Marcellus, they made a law, that whenever he or any of 1
his descendants entered Sicily, the Syracusans should wear garlandsi
and offer sacrifices to the gods.

After this Marcellus marched against Hannibal. And tboii|jk
almost all the other consuls and generals, after the defeat at CaDOCi
availed themselves of the single art of avoiding an engagement with
the Carthaginian, and not one of them durst meet him fairly in the
field, Marcellus took quite a different course. He was of opiokxi,
that instead of Hannibal's being worn out by length of time, the
strength of Italy would be insensibly wasted by him ; and that the
slow cautious maxims of Fabius were not fit to cure the malady of
his country; since, by pursuing them, the flames of war could not
be extinguished, until Italy was consumed ; just aa| timorous physi-
cians neglect to apply strong, though necessary remedies^ thinking
the distemper will abate with the strength of tiie patient.

In the first pbce, he recovered the best towns of the Samnitet

* While tbe caust wms debating, he went to the Capitol to take the names of the ac«
levies.

t The conduct of Marceliu5, on the taking of Syracuse, was not entirelj approred of
at Rome. Some of tbe senators, remembering the attachment which king Hiero had od
all occasions shown to their republic, conld not help condemning their general for giv-
ing up the city to be plundered by his rapacious soldiers. The Syracusans were not ia
a condition to make gowl their party against an army of mercenaries; and Cherefora
were obliged, against their will, to yield to the times^ and obey the ministers of Hannibal
^bo commanded the army.

WARCELLUS. flSfl

f B '..:■-■ -- . ■ ' — 1 — ■- ■■ . . ■

fv'lilch had revolted. In them he found considerable magazines of
pom and a great quantity of money, besides inakiiig three thou-
sand of Haunilial's men, wlio garrisoned tlieni, prtiioners. In ilie
next place, wlien Cncius Fulvius the pro- consul, witli eleven tri-
bunes, Whs 9lain,and great pari of his araiy cut in pieces by Hanni-
)uil in Apulia, MarcelJus sent letters to Rome to exhort the citizens
fo be of good couragi;, for he himself was on his march to drive
Hannibal out of the cuuntry. The reading of these letters, Livy tells
us, was so far from removing their grief, that it added terror to it, the
Romans reckoning the present danger as mucli greater than ihc past,
as Marccllus was a greatei man than Fulvius.

Marcellus tlieu going in quest of Hannibal, according to his pro-
mise, entered Lucania, and found him encamped on inaccessible
heights near ihc city Numistro. Marcellus himself pitched his tents
OD the plain, and the next day was the first to draw up hb forces in
order of battle. Hannibal declined not the combat, but descended
from the bills, and a battle ensued, which was not decisive indeed,
but great and bloody; for though the action began at the third hour,
it was with difficulty that night put a stop to il. Next morning,
at break of day, Marcellus agaiu drew tip his army, and pasting il
among tlie dead bodies, challenged Hannibal to dispute it with him
for the victory : but Hannibal chose (o draw off, and Marcellus, after
he had gathered the spoils of the enemy, and buried his own dead,
I inarched in pursuit of bim. Though tlie Cartliaglnian laid many
^oares for hiii), he escaped them all ; and having the advantage, too,
' jn all sklrmlshe.", hrs success was looked upon wtili admiration.

■ ^'he re fore, when the time of itie next election came on, the senate
I thought projkcr to call the other consul out of Sicily, rather than

■ ^rawofrMai'cellus,who was grappling with HannibnI. When he was
Il ^ivcd, ihcy ordered him to declare Quiulus Fulvius dictator. For

( a Dictator is not named either by the people ur ibe senate, but one
Cpi the consuls or pr^tors, advancing into the a^^■■nlbiy, names whom
^bc pleases. Hence some tliink ilic lemi DMutirr comes from dicere,
Lwhich in latin signifipi lo name ; but others assert that the dictator
S so called, because be refers nothliig lo plurality of voices Jn the
r ^nate, or to the suffrages of the people, but gives his orders at his
r own pleasure; for ibc orders of inagistraies, wiiich the Greeks call
V^intagmatii, the Romans call cdicta, edicts.

The colleague • of Marcellus was disposed to appoint another

* Latioa), Hha ■*> tlie colJeagua uf Ma>«cllu(, Hinled to atair M. ValFriui Mc>>
lur. Ai lie Itfl Romo ab.upll/, »nd cujoianl the prMoc tiul m iimiue Fulviui,
le ttibiiiiet of tlie peo)>le took upgo ibein lo do II, ud lb* mum ffit lU* (louuwlioB
> |BnfitBicd bj tlie kodiuI Mucellui.

i

person dictRtcr, and cliiit he might not be obliged to i1r|>art frca
own opinion, he left Kumc by night, and sailed back to Sicily. 1
people, therefore, named Quinttis Fulvjus dictator, and Ok ■
wrote to Mucellus to confirm the nominaiioD, which he did qj
ingly.

Marcellus was appointed pro-consul for the year fotIoiriii^|]
having agieed with Fahius Maximus the consul, by lcnci>|l
Fabius should besiege Tarentum, while himself was to WTitdl'
motions of Haunibal, and prevent his relieving the place, he mud
after him with all diligence, and came up with him al CanuM
And as Hannibal shifted his camp continually, to avoid comingl
battle, MarcL'llus watched him dosely, and took care to keep his
sight. At last coming up with him as he was eucampin^r, h
harassed him utth skirmishes, that he drew him to an eaptgaai
but night soon caine on, and parted the cuuibatants. Next nxd
early, he drew his army out of the Intrenchinents, and put tH
order of battle, so that Hannibal, in great vexation, assemUc^
Cartiuiginiuns, and begged of them to exert themselves moreiol
battle, than everthcyhad done before. "For you jyce," said he,"!
we can neither take breath after so many victories already g
enjoy the least leisure if we arc victorious now, unless this i
(h-iveri ofi."

After this a battle ensued, in which Marcellus seems to li
carried by an unseasonable movement": fur, seeing his r^lw
hard pressed, he ordered,onc of the legious to utlvance tn tbe fraM
support them. This movement put the whole army into dtm^
and decided the day in favour of the enemy ; two ihoosand aci
hundred Romans being slain upon the spot. Miueellos reit«
Into his eump, and buving summoned his troops togctber, toU At
" He saw the arms and bodies of Romans in abuufhtncc before U
but not one Roman." On their beeglng pardou, he said, ** I
would not forgive them while vunqul^ed, but when iliey came to
victorious, he would; and that he would lead Iheui inioihc GcUip
the next day. that the news of the victory might reach Rome W
timt of their flight." Bt:fore he dismissed them, he gave onim ll
barley should be measured out, Instead of wheat f, to tboac cdaf
nics iliat had turned their bikcks. His reprimand made aoefa aaii

lid be,'!!
tfai9ifl
toliauM

HI w» not nnicMoaable, but ill fieuuled. tjtj m
hPD iliL'j needed (o hnie done, and Iht ei
ordcrtdlo «(Jv»nci-lro(nttaf tofioni.mofedloo >low!y: tliii

I Tliii "■) ■ coiuiunn piini.hmriit. Ori>d«> which, he urdctcd Ihu lb* <i
(hoK cnmpnnin iliould caaitrue all d>; long Kilh licit >»or4> drawn, wd m
liralei, liv, iwii. c. t3.

MARCELLUS. 52^

i^A-^iMri>ifaM

pression on them, that though many wete dangerously wounded,
there was not a man wlio did not feel more pain from the words of
Marccllus, than he did from his wounds*

Next morning the scarlet robe, which was the ordinary signal o(
battle, was hung out betimes ; and the companies that had come oft
with dishonour before obtained leave, at their earnest request, to be
posted in the foremost line ; after which the tribunes drew up the
rest of the troops in their proper order. When this was reported ta
Hannibal, he said, *' Ye gods, what can one do with a man who is
Dot affected with either good or bad fortune ? This is the only man
who will neither gfve any time to rest when he is victorious, nor take
any when he is beaten. We must even resolve to fight with him for
ever; since, whether prosperous or unsuccessful, a principle di
honour leads him on to new attempts and f mrtber exertions of cou-
rage.''

Both armies then engaged, and Hannibal, seeing no advantage
gained by either, ordered his elephants to be brought forward into
the first line, and to be pushed against the Romans. The shock
caused great confusion at first in the Roman front ; but Flavius, a
tribune, snatching an ensign-staff from one of the companies, ad-
vanced, and with the point of it wounded the foremost elephant.
The beast upon this turned back, and ran upon the second, the
second upon the next that followed, and so on till they were all put
in great disorder. MarccUus, observing this, ordered his horse to
fell furiously upon the enemy, and, taking advantage of the confu-
sion already made, to rout them entirely. Accordingly they charged
•with extraordinary vigour, and drove the Carthaginians to their in-
trenchments. The slaughter was dreadful, and the fall of the killed,
and the plunging of the wounded elepliants, contributed greatly to it.
It is said that more than eight thousand Carthaginians fell inthis battle;
of the Romans not above three tliousand were slain, but almost all the
rest were wounded. This gave Haimibal opportunity to decamp silently
in the night, and remove to a great distance from Marcellus, who,
by reason of the number of his wounded, was not able to pursue
him, but retired, by easy marches, into Campania, and passed the
sammer in the city of Sinuessa*, to recover and refresh his soldiers.

Hannibal, thus disengaged from Marcellus, made use of his troops,
now at liberty, and securely overran the country, burning and de-
stroying all before him. This gave occasion to unfavourable reports
pf Marcellus at Rome; and his enemies incited Publius Bibulus,

* Livy says, in Venusia, whtcb> being ravch nearer GanufiuiDj mm sort convtaieat
fur tbe wounded nica to retire to.

one of the uiitiincs of thi: people, a luaii of violent temper, aud a
whenient speaker, to accuse liim in form. Accordingly Bibuitu
often assembkd tlic people, iind endeavoured to persuade them lo
taketlic coniuinnd from liim, and give it to anotlicr: <' Since Marcel-
lus," said lie, " has only csclianged a few thrusts with H«niiil»il,uui
then left the stage, and is gone to ihc hot baihs to refresh hiin§e!f *."

When Mai'cellus was apprised of these practices against hiin, he
left his army in charge with his lieutenaots, and went to Rome to
make his defence. On his arrival, he found an impeachment framM

out of these calumnies And the day fixed for it being come, and

the people assembled in the Flaminiaa circus, Bibulus ascended the
tribune's scat, and set forth his charge. Marecllus's aiiswcr wu
f Iain and short ; but many persons of disiiuctioo among the citizens
exerted themselves greatly, and spoke with much freedom, e^dioit-
ing ihe people not to judge worse of Marcellus than the enemy Iiini-
■elf had done, by fixing a mark of cowardice upon the only geiteral
whom Hunuibul shunned, and used u^ much art and care to avoid
fighting with, as he did to seek the combiit with others. These
lemons I ranees hud such an eflect, that the accuser was totally disap-
pointed in his expeetaiions, for Marcellus was not only acquittedof
the charge, but a fifth time cltuscn consul.

As soon as he had entered upon bis olBce, he visited the citie* ^
Tuscany, and by his per^iooal influence allayed a dangerous comnKH
tion that tended to a revolt. At his return he was desirous to dedi-
cate to HoKOUR and Vihtce the temple which he had built out of
the Sieilian spoils, but was opposed by the priests, who would not
consent that two deities should be contained in one temple f. Tak-
ing this opposition ill, and considering it as ominous, he began ano-
ther temple.

There were many other prodigies that gave him uneasiness. Some
temples were struck with lightning ;' in that of Jupiter rats gtiawed
the gold ; it was even reported that an ox spoke, and that there was ■
child living which was born with an elephant's head ; and when the
expiation of these prodigies was attempted, there were no tokens of

■ Tliare

were hot balhi
0 lUe latter pis

nor Si

uei», but none a

ar Venuiia. Therefore, if Mm-

oeUii> »«»!

ce, thi

•■tiritnl ilroke i>

« not applioble. AcoordufI;

Ltv; dee* n

ot.pplji,;!..

uljm

kei Bibului lay, 1

« MircelJus puied Ui« tunmer

in qunttcrt

+ Tteyiaid.iflhdienipl

ndri sad lighlniug, 01 id] otber

prodigy ,h<.

«ldl,.pp«i. la,

II1.I V

aiittd diiiBiion, 1

hey .Tioiild DOT kutxr to «hkh uf

ILe deilio

,tj ought lo off

er the opiWory MCrifict!.

M»rccllui, ibercfore, to ulii^

the pritin.

bcgui snolhcr lemple.

lid Ihe work «.«>

carried on with gmt diligcaoc;

bol hi did

01 live to dedical* it.

Bi. kh couMfCrtttd botL ttit temiilei abM *■

yeui iftvr.

^.^H

mplei abMUAari

success. The augurs^ therefore, Vept him in Kome^ notwithstaDding
his impatience and eagerness to be gone; for never was man so pas-
Bionately desirous of any thing as he was of fighting a decisive battle
with Hannibal. It was his dream by night, tlie subject of conversa-
tion all day with his friends and colleagues, and his sole request to
the gods, that he might meet Hannibal fairly in the field. Nay, I
Verily believe he would have been glad to have had both armies sur-
rounded with a wall or intrenchment, and to have fought in that en-
closure. Indeed, had he not already attained to such a height of
^lory, had he not given so many proofs of his equalling the best ge-
nerals in prudence and discretion, I should think he gave way to a
Bangui ne and extravagant ambition, unsuitable to his years j for he
mns above sixty when he entered upon his fifth consulate.

At last the expiatory sacrifices being such as the soothsayers ap-
•proved, he set out with his colleague to prosecute the war, and fixed
%b camp between Bantia and Venusia. There he tried every method
•to provoke Hannibal to a battle, which he constantly declined. But
the Carhaginian perceiving tliat the consuls had ordered some troops
4o go and lay siege to the city of the Epizepht/nans, or Western
liocrians*, he laid an ambuscade on their way, under the hill of
IPetelia, and killed two thousand five hundred of them. This added
«tings to Marcellus's desire of an engagement, and made him draw
Clearer to the enemy.

'Between the two armies was a hill, which afforded a pretty strong
post; it was covered with thickets, and on both sides were hollows,
'from whence issued springs and rivulets. The Romans were sur-
prised that Hannibal, who came first to so advantageous a place, did
♦not take possession of it, but left it for the enemy. He did, indeed^
^hink it a good place for a camp, but a better for an ambuscade, and
to that use he chose to put it. He filled, therefore, the thickets
and hollows with a good number of archers and spearmen, assuring
'liimself that the convenience of the post would draw the Romans to
it. Nor was he mistaken in his conjecture. Presently nothing was
'talked of in the Roman army but the expediency of seizing this hill;
and, as if they had been all generals, they set forth the many advantages
-they should have over the enemy, by encamping, or at least raising a
Unification on it. Thus Marcellus was induced to go with a few
horse to take a view of the hill; but, before he went, he offered sacri-
tfice. In the first victim that was slain, the diviner showed him the
liver without a head; in the second the head was very plump and

* This was not • detachment from the forces of the consuls, which they did not choose
to weaken when in sight of such an enemy as HaQoibal, It consisted of troops drawn
from Sicily, and from the garrison of Tareatooi.

Vou 1. No. 16.

530 PLUTARCH^S LIV£S.

large^ and the other tokens appearing remarkably good^ seemed suf-
ficient to dispel the fears of the first; but the diviners declared they
were the more alarmed on that very account ; for when favourable signs
on a sudden follow threatening and inauspicious ones, the strangenesi
of the alteration should ratlicr be suspected. But, as Pinder says.

Nor fire nor walls of triple brass
Coiitroul the high behests of futc.

He therefore set out to view the place, taking with him his colleague
Crispinus, his sou Marcellus, who was a tribune, and only two hun-
dred and twenty horse, among whom there was not one Roman;
they were all Tuscans, except forty Fregellanians, of whose courage
and fidelity he had suflicient experience. On the summit of the
hill, which, as we said before, was covered with trees and bushes,
the enemy had placed a sentuicl, wlio, without being seen himself,
could sec every movement in the Roman camp. Those that lay in
ambush, having intelligence from him of what was doing, lay close
till Marcellus came very near, and then all at once rushed out, spread
themselves about him, let fly a shower of arrows, and charged him
with their swords and spears. Some pursued the fugitives, and
others attacked those that stood their ground. The latter were the
forty Fregellanians; for the Tuscans taking to flight at the first
charge, the others closed together in a body to defend the consols;
and they continued the fight till Crispinus, wounded with two arrows,
turned his horse to make his escape, and Marcellus, being run through
between the shoulders with a lance, fell down dead. Then the few
Fregellanians that remaiiled, leaving the body of Marcellus, carried off
bis son, who was wounded and fled with him to the camp.

In tliis skirmish there were not many more than forty men killed;
eighteen were taken prisoners, besides five lictors. Crispinus died
of his wounds a few days after*. This was a most unparalleled mis-
fortune ; tlie Romans lost both the consuls in one action.

Hannibal made but little account of the rest, but when he knew
that Marcellus was killed, he hastened td the place, and, standing
over the body a long time, surveyed its size and mein, but without
speaking one insulting word, or showing the least sign of joy, which
might have been expected at the fall of so dangerous and formidable
an enemy. He stood, indeed, awhile astonished at the strange
death of so great a man; and at last taking his signet from his
fingerf, he caused his body to be magnificently attired and burnt,
and the aslies to be put in a silver urn, and then placed a crown of

* He did not die till th« latter end of the year, having named T. Manlius Torqutut
dictator to lioid the comuia. Some say he died at Tarentura ; others in Campania.

t Hannibal imagined be should hare some opportunity or other of making use of tha
«ial to bis adf antage. Bat Crispinus dispatched messengert to all Ibe neighboariog

w

MARCELLirS. 531

^1^!^=^^=^=^^^= , ^s:^==.

gold upon it, and sent it to liis son. But cortaiii Niimtdians meet-
ing those dial carried tlie urn, attempted to take it from (hem, and
as the others stood upon tlieir gu:ird to defend it, tlie ashes were
scattered in the struggle. When Hannibal was informed of it, he
said to those who were aliout him, You see it is impossible to iU> aritf
thing against the icill of God. He punished the Niimidians indeed,
but took no further eare atKiut coileetinf; and sending the remains of
Marcellus, believing tliat some deity h:id ordained that Marcelliu
■houtd die in so strange a manner, and that his ashes should be
denied burial. This aecount of the mntter we have from Corneliu*
Ne[»5 and Valerius Mnximus; butLivy* and Augustus Cssar affirm
that tlie urn was carried to his son, and thai his remains were interred
with great magnificence,

Marcellus's public donations, besides those he dedicated at Rome,
were h Gj/mnasium, which he built at Catana in Sicily, and several
siaiues and paintings brought from Syracuse, which he set up in the
temple of the Cithiri m Samothnice, und in that of Minerva at Lindus.
Ill liic latter of these the following verses, as Pusidonlus tells us, were
iiucribed on the pedestal of his statue:

The lighi or Ituiur, Mimllut here hthM,
For bitlh, for derJi of ■rn», b; friiu* «nioll'<l,
Scien llinH \.i% vaicki ptt'A ihe luwtiil plaia,
And bf hii tliundetinjj arm Here IliDuiaiidi iliin,

TliC author of this inscription adds to his five consulates the Aig-
D*ity of pro-consul, with winch he was twice honoured. His posterity
cniitinucd in great splendour down to Marcellus, the son of Caius
Murcellus and Octi^via the sister of Augustusf- He died very
young, in the office of ictlile, soon after he had married Julia, the
emperor's daughter. To do honour to his memory, Octavia de-
dicated to hiiQ a library J, and Augustus a theatre^ and these public
narks bore his uume.

eiiifi in ilir inletert of KrimF, ul^|UngthenlUi Mircrllni on^Villrd, ond Iliiinibia
MMirr u(lii> [in|. 1 bi) pvcaotiirB preKiFcd Silirpii iii Apalia. Ktj, ilic inbuti-
taun loTiird the irtiSce or the CartlM~iniai npna liimHlf. Fur admilling, upon ■ Iriitr
•ulal oith that rios, lixtiMndnd of Ilanaibnl'i men, niixlafthrni Romiiii dcMiUn,
inia IliB lion, ibcjr ou > luddrn pulled up tl'c drao-UrKlQci, cul in pwRf t Uhim who bud
cufnorf. and, «ilh • ibswcr <>[ ilatit tiou Ihe iiiu|i!im, dcotc lisvL tbe tul. Lie. I.
jii.ii. e. J8.

• Li«7 lell* PI. tfial llanmhal boned ll<c bodjof -Matcrllui dh ihe hill where l>e wat iMn.

t Hia faniljp cunlinocd afu-r bia deKtb ■ bundled anil inf\ttj-6vv jeenj (ui Ik vai
(tain in llie litit jeai of the 1iu»>lri:d aud fuitj ihiiil Oljrini»i>d, iu llic Gvr liutiirred and
(onj-Ulh Jttt III Knar, anil t*<> IiuurlKd and »i jean Iwfora ilie CbiHlian otat and
jvotig MMDuilua died in Ihi- Mcuad ycu ut llie biuidccd and ci|;bij niiiUi Oljmpiad,
■Dd*e*n> hundred and llnilielh dI R.><ne.

t AccDidiug Iu ttuetoniut aiid Oiou, it «» nal OcUrit, bal Aug'iUui, dial dcJicalad
Ihia lAntf.

5Ai PLirrARCH's LIVES.

PELOPIDAS AND MARCELLUS

COMPARED.

THESE are the particulars which we thought worth reciting fron
history concerning Marcellus and Pelopidas; between whom there
was a perfect resemblance in the gifts of nature, and in their Ihrei
and nianners: for they were 'ioth men of heroic stren^h, capable of
enduring the greatest fatigue^ and in courage and magnanimity tWj
were equal. The sole difference is^ that Marcellas« in most of die
cities which he. took by assault, committed great slaughter, wbereu
Epaminondas and Pelopidas never spilt the blood of any man they
had conquered, nor enslaved any city they had taken. And it is af«
firmed that, if they had been present, the Thebans would not hawe
deprived the Orchomcnians of their liberty.

As to their achievements, among those of Marcellus there wis
Bonc greater or more illustrious than his beating such an army of
Gauls, both horse and foot, with a handful of horse onl j^ of which
you will scarce meet with another instance, and his slaying their
prince with his own hand. Pelopidas hoi)ed to have done somethio;
of the like nature, but miscarried, and lost his life in the attempt
However, the great and glorious battles of Leuctra and Tegyne nay
be conipared with these exploits of Marcellns. And, on the other
hand, there is nothing of Marccllus's eft'eetcd by stratagem andsur-
prise, ^vhich can be set against the hnppy management of Pelopidas,
at his return from exile, in taking oflftlie Tbebnn tyrants. Indeed,
of all the enterprises of the secret hand of art, that was the mas-
terpiece.

If it be snid that Hannibal was a formid||>le enemy to the Romans,
the Lace.lwnjonians were certainly the same to the Thebaos. And
yet it is agreeJ. on all hands that they were thoroughly beaten hy
Pelopidas at I^uctra and Tegyrfe, whereas, accordii>g to PolrWos,
Hannibtil was never once defeated by Marcellus, but continued in-
vincible till he had to do with Scipio. However, wc rather believe,
whh Livy, C;esar, and Cornelius Nepos, among the Latin histo-
rians, and with king Juba* among the Greek, that Marcellus did

* Tbis historian was the son of Juba, king of Numtdia, who, in the civil wair, tided
with Ponipej, and was slain bj Petreiusin single combat. The bod mcntioiicd herevM
brought in triumph by Ca:sar to Rome^ where be was educated in the Icunii^ of tht
Oreeki and Romans.

PELOPIDAS AND MAKCELLUS COMPARED. 533

soaietimes beat Hannibal, and even put his troops to flight, thougb
he gained no advantage of htm sufficient to turn the balance coS'-
siderably on his side; so that one might even think that the Cartha-
ginian then acted with the art of a wrestler, who sometimes suffers
himself to be thrown. But what has been very justly admired in
Marcellus is, ttiat after such great armies had been routed, so many
generals slain, and the wliole empire almost totally subverted, he
found means to inspire his troops with courage enough to make head
against tlie enemy. He was the only man that, from a state of ter-
ror and dismay, in which they liad long remained, raised the army
to an eagerness for battle, and infused into them such a spiiit, tluit^
far from tamely giving up the victory, they disputed it with the
greatest obstioancy: for 'iiose veiy men wlio had been accustomed,
by a run of ill success, to think themselves liappy if they could es-
cape Hannibal by flight, were taught by Marcellus to be ashamed of
coming off with disadvantage, to blush ai thv very thought of giving
way, and to be sensibly affected if they gained not the victory.

As Pelopidas never lost a battle in which he commanded in per-
son, and Marcellus won more than any Roman of his time, he who
performed so many exploits, and was so hard to conquer, may, per-
haps, be put on a level with the other, who was never Ijeaten. On
tlie other hand, it may be observed, that Marcellus took Syracuse^
whereas Pelopidas failef\ in his attempt upon SfNiita. Yet, I think,
even to approach 8|)arta, and to be the first that ever passed the
£urotas in a hostile manner, was a greater achievement than the eon-
quest of Sicily; unless it may be said tluit the liooour of this exploit,
as well as that of Leuctrt., belongs rather to Epaminondas than Pe-
lopidas; whereas the glory Marcellus gained was entirely his own :
for he alone tcok Syracuse; he defeated the Gauls v^ithout his col-
league; he made head against Hanmbal, not only without theassis-
tancc, hut against theremonstraeccs of the other generals; and,
changing the face of Vk he first taught the Komaiis to meet the
enemy with a good ce«mtenance«

As for their deaths, I praise neitlier the one nor the cKiier, but it
is with concern and indignation that I think of the strange circum-
stances that attended them. At the same time I admire Hannibal,
who fought such a number of battles as it would be a labour to
reckon, without ever receiving a wound; and I greatly approve the
behaviour of Chrysantes, in the Cyrofiedia^y who, having his sword
lifted up, and ready to strike, upon hearing the trumpet sound a re-
treat, calmly and modestly retired without giving the stroke. Pe-^
lopidas, however, was somewhat excusable, because he was not

♦ Mtntimed at ttt brysmn|<f the fowth book.

534 rurr^RCH's f-ives.

only warmed wiili tlif lieut nf iwttle, but incited by » gtveivaif
sire of leveoge. And, as Kuripides savs,

Tbc firiiorchicfsiihr whoUurfb jniii*.

In such a man, dying b a free and involuntary act, not i pBfire
snbmision to fnie. But, besides Lis resentment, the end feiapim
proposed to himself in eonquering, which was the death <rf aljfaol,
wlib reason animated him tp uncommon ctTorts : for it wss nc* en
to find another cause so great and glorious whcrem to cxm hiawlf.
But Marcellus, without any urgent occasion, without thai cadnaiwi
which often pushes men beyond the bounds of reason in liserf
danger, unudvisedly exposed himself, and di<?d, not like s gttenl,
but like a spy; risking his five consulates, his three triomphi, to
trophies, and spoils of blngs, agulnst n company of .Sfniuaidt tai
Numidians, who had bartered with (he Canhj^niaus for ibrif lin
and services. An accident so stmugc, that those very adrrn
could not forbear grudging themselves such success, when they foati
tliat a man, ihc most distinguished of all the Itonuins fornlova
well us power and fame, had fallen by their hands, amidst a sax«a[

l| party of Frcgellanians.

I Let not this, however, be deemed an aceusattoo a^irut ^umguM

men, but rather a complaint to them of the injury done tbemi^ic^

I by saeiificingall their other virtues to their inirepidity, andaM

expostulation with them for being so prodigal of ihrir blood « »
. shed it for their own sakes, when it ought to have fallen oiilyfcvlktf

I country, their friends, and their allies.

Pelopidas was buried by his friends, in whose cause he was dOW
.and Marcellus hy those enemies that slew him. ThefintvBt
happy and desirable thing, but the other was gn-;iier atid man O-
traordinary; for gratitude in a friend for tMOKtt's recHra) b ■«
equal to an enemy's admiring the vinue b]i|^Bc:)i he suflm. k
the first case there is more regiird to interoniait to merit; la !*•
latter, real worth is the sole object of the honour paid.

ARISTIDES.

ARISTIDKS, the son of Lysimachus, was of the tnoe of .^
tiiKhcs, and the ward of .\Iopccc. Of his estate we h^ve diffot*
accounts. Some say he was always very poor, and that he left fW
d-iughteis behind hiin, wlio icrooiued u long time unmaiTied, oou*

AKtSTIDES. 533

count of their poverty*. But Demetrias the Phalcrcan contradicts
this general opinion in his Socrates^ and says there was a farm at
Pbalera which went by the name of Aristides, and that there he wa«
buried. And to prove that there was a competent estate in his family,
he produces three arguments. The first is taken from the office of
archonf , which made the year bear liis name, and which fell to him
by lot ; and for this none took their chance but such as had an income
of the first degree, consisting of five hundred measures of com, wine,
and oil, who therefore were called Peatacosiomedimni, The second
argument is founded on the ostracism^ by which he was banished, and
which was never inflicted on the meaner sort, but only on persons of
quality, whose grandeur and family-pride made them obnoxious to
the people. The third and last is drawn from the Tripods, which
Aristides dedicated in the temple of Bacchus^ on account of his vic-
tory in the public games, and wiiich are still to be seen with this in-
scription, " The tribe of Antiochus gained the victory, Aristides de-
frayed the cliarges, and Archestratus was the author of the play."

But this last argument, though in appearance the strongest of all,
is really a very weak one. For Epaminondas, who, as every body
knows, lived and died poor, and Plato the philosopher, who was not
lich, exhibited very splendid shows; the one was at the expense of a
concert of flutes at Thebes, and the other of an eotertalnment of
singing and dancing, performed by boys at Athens; Dion having
furnished Plato with the money, and Pelopidas supplied Epaminon-
das. For why should good men be always averse to the presents of
their friends? while they think it mean and ungenerouos to receive
any thing for themselves, to lay up, or to gratify an avaricious tem-
per, they need not refuse such offers as serve the purposes of honour
and magnificence, without any views of profit.

As to the Tripods, inscribed with Aristides, Panaetius shows
plainly that Demetrius., was deceived by the name: for, according
to the registers, from Wt Persian to the end of the Peloponnesian
war, there were only tTO of the name of Aristides who cai«Tied the
prize in the choral exhibitions, and neither of them was the son of
Lysimachus: for the former was son to XenophHus, and the latter
lived longafttT, as appears from the characters, which were not in
use till after Euclid's time, and likewise from the name of the poet
Archestratus, which is not found in any record or author during the

^ And yet, accordmg to a law of Solon's, the bride was to carrjr with her only tlire*
juit» ot clothes, and a iittle household stuff of small value.

f At Aiheu» thej leckoned their years by JrcAot'S, as the Romans did theirs bj
CorauU, One of the nine arcbons, who. all had estates of the first degree, was for ^lit
puxpote chosen by loi out of the Kit; and his aamo intciibtd m tht public regiitcra.

rir.Tcir'S* ir

^:-

fat -t^e* H^'"^ DiJi'ftc. erf'.--'i^'".e' -*

1h^ t^ii^T a^cr ^^u. £r:L: 2
Kile^it jBitiif Wirri r*^ •-crj:-* «

Ati^imIea ii^atla y^r.''-i:tif ffic;.d^L-:i* for
il*e p^iptalif jrAtrriij.-L't art .\il#cr*af:fr
rafrt^ : : vrt he L»d. 21 v>c scice ubk. tlic
hucurzus the l/.c^ ^2r:i..i>' li. v'tx^m be coriidcaod ju the
^eilri^r (if iaw|riveib: aiid tiJ> Ice hijo to lea fasxwner of «!•••*«.■■»,
•fi **ii.j:4i he wis% 4ij»;isys op|xrsed Vjt Ti^DkistocleSy wrho Ikted in At
fniriy (ff the conim^TiS. Sutut, Is^iteiLsvfy that, beiap timafjif ip
U;c;4riher from tL'jir iufaDrv, when bors tbev* mere wAmmws at w^
fU'Uirr, n<n ofily in <»erioui luattcrs, hut in their veiT sports and £*
ver->ioijh; and their tcn)pcTi» uere 'JiMrovered foxa tbe first bjr tkit
opf'<^Jt'iOTK The one was ir.^ in uating', daringr, aod artful; ^adaU^
ai;ri at the san^iC time impt-tuuus in his pmsuits; tbe other w
%tt\u\ and stf-ady, iuHexiiiiy just, incapable of using anj &lse-
luK/d, flattery, fir deceit, even at play. But Aristo of Chios § wnlc^

* Ft wat M'TS ;/'AM';!«; for a p )c-t. jr. i U own hfdfiaK' to bavr bit plari acted in tke
lVlo|Kj:nif.:itfj «»«tr, ai:'l in tlitr Fcrsiau too. And tlkfreforc the inacriptiMi which Ptit-
Utic'u ai*-ritiiiu^ tui^-ht UtriLU^ to our Ari>ti<}rs.

t But ii'Mnctriu*! wil^ misiukcn; lo.- ArutidcA was ocrer archoa aAer tbe battle if
rUijT'H, wl.icii wsi<> loui:i>t in tb«r second ve«tf of the be%eat^-fiith Oljn^iad^ Jn tbcliil
o( Arclions iIh.' name of Artstide^b fuuud ii) ibc fourth vcar of the seveHtj-aacood Oljr»*
piad, u ^i'itr or two alter tl»c hattic ot Msirathou, and iu the Mcundj^ear of the •evcotj-
foiirtb ()\yw\nm\, lour years before tlur battle of Plat<ea.

X Ijut Sociitct binreif declares, in M> u(>oiogjr to his judges, that, coDsidenDg hif
poverty, tliey could not iu reason tine him more than one luina.

II 1 lie»e tyrants were the Fi&istratidz;, wtiu were driven oat about tbe siitj-iiifh
Olympiad.

^ Dacier thinks it was rather Aristo of Ceot» because, as a Peripatatu^ he was aoi*
likely to write treatises of love thw the otberj who was a Stoic.

ARISTIDES. 537

^' ■■ ■ 1 I

9

that their enmity, whicli afterwards came to such a height^ took its rise
from love. *##*♦****#♦*»*

Themistocles, who was an agreeable companion, gained many
friends, and became respectable in the strength of his p^>puliirlty.
Thus, when he was told that " he would govern the Athenians ex-
tremely well, if he would but do it without respect of persons," he
said, " May I never sit on a tribunal where my friends shall not find
more favour from me than strangers,"

Aristides, on the contrary, took a method of his own in conducting
the administration J for he would neither consent to any injustice to
oblige his friends, nor yet disoblige them by denying all they asked:
and as he saW that many, depending on their interest and friends,
were tempted to do unwarrantable things, he never endeavoured after
that support, but declared that a good citizen should place his whole
strength and security in advising and doing what is just and right.
Nevertheless, as Themistocles made many rash and dangerous ino-
ttons, and endeavoured to break his measures in every step of govern-
inent, he was obliged to oppose him as much in his turn, partly by
Way of self-defence, and partly to lessen his power, which daily in-
creased through the favour of the people : for he thought it better
that the commonwealth should miss some advantages, than that The-
mistocles, by gaining his point, should come at last to carry all be-
fore him.

Hence it was, that one day when Themistocles proposed some-
diing advantageous to the public, Aristides opposed it strenu-^
ously, and with success; but as he went out of the assembly, he
could not ft^rbear savintr, " The aflfairs of the Athenians can*
not prosper, except they throw Themistocles and myself into the
barathrum*.*'

Another time, when lie intended to propose a decree to the people,
he found it strongly disputed in the council, but at last he prevailed;
perceiving its inconveniencies, however, by the preceding debates,
he put a stop to it, just as the president was going to put it to the
question, in order to its being confirmed by the people* Very often
he oftered his sentiments by a third person, lest, by the opposition
of Themistocles to him, the public good should be obstructed.

In the changes and fluctuations of the government, his firmness
was wonderful. Neither elated with honours, nor discomposed
with ill success, he went on in a moderate and steady manner, per-
suaded that his country had a claim to his services, without the re-

* • The barathrum was a vcrj deep pit, into which condeumcd persoM were tbrowQ
bemdlong.

Voul. No, 17. TifY

PLITA«CH G UVES.

ward either of hunour or prufii.
of ^Achyhis cODL'crning Ampliii

To b*, aail nm n ■•••
Hit wmd lEpoKf a« I

I was, tlwtt wbe« thoM ti
(.■ rvpuiied oo die stage.

B |HU[>« •ndcoi.

thr eyes of the pet^le ia general were fixed od Ari&tidcs, as the ibw
to whom this great encomium w>s most aj>plical>le. loilced, he m
capable of resisting; the suggestions not only of favour aod affrcuoo,
but of resentment and enmity too, wherever justice was cnDcemrd;
for it is said, titat when ht- was carrying on a prosecutioo agaiiiil lii(
enemy, and, after lie )iad brought his charge, (Ite judges were goiu
to pass sentence without hearing the person accused, he rose up u
his assistance, entreating tliat he might be heard, and have the piin-
lege which the taws allowed. Another time, when he himself sat
judge between two private persons, and one of them observed, " TUi
his adversary had done many injuries to Aristidcs:" *' Tell me out
that," said he, " but what injuiy he lias done to th(>e; foe U is thj
0 ^causc lain Judging, not my own.^'

When appoiitied public treasurer, he made it appear, tliat M
only those of his time, hut the ofhcers that preceded him, had ai^
plied a great deal of the public money to their own use; and pw-
ticulnrly Thcmiatocles ;

Ceuld ue'« cuiuinaiid bi> haiidii.

For this reason, whrn Aristidcs gave in his accounts, Themisloelct
raised a strong party against him, aotrused him of misapplying; tbe
public money, and, aoi.-ording to hlunieneus, got him condemned.
But the principal and most respectable amongst the ciiizcnst, in-
censed at this irealment of Aristides, interposed, and prevailed, not
only thai he might be excused the fine, but chosen again chief tret-
eurer. He now pretended tliat his former proceediu^ were too
strict, and carrying a gender hand over those that acted under htm,
Bullercd them to pilfer the public money, without seeming to find
them out, or reckoning strictly with tlictn ; so that, fattened on the
spoils uf ilicir country, they lavished their praises on Aristides, aad,
heartily espousiug his cause, begged of the people to cootiutu him in
the same department. But when the Aiheniaits were going to cun-
firoi it to him by their sutfragcs, he gave tliem this Mvere rebuke:

• The** itrtPi i
The; are ■ (]«crip<

lu tievclei. Dull

unrl in llie ■• Sirg* of 1'licbri bj ibe Seven C»pI»ioi."
niiHi and tttuper uf Ani|ihiaraui wfaicb Ihe cowict, >W
1 nlucLi, and urihachaiiclenof tbecorsmrnDdtt^fiN*
grd ouc wurd id Lbcm foi aauibei (lial uiled \iit popM

inMead of aritlm, " taLtu[."

\ TLt ii»an of AiAopagui iLierpwcd in liu bciiaii

ARI8TIDES* 630

I *' While I maaaged your finances with all the fidelity of an honest

I man, I was loaded with calumnies; and now, when I 9uffer them to

be a prey to public robbers^ 1 am become a mighty good citizen : but

I assure you I am more ashamed of the present honour than 1 was of

the former disgrace^ and it is with indignation and concern that I see

I you esteem it more meritorious to oblige bad men, than to take proper

i care of the public revenue.'' By thus speaking, and discovering their

frauds, be silenced those that recommended him with so much noise

and bustle, but at the same time received the truest and most valua-*

ble praise from the worthiest of the citizens.

About this time Datis, who was sent by Darius, under pretence of
chastising the Athenians for burning Sardis, but in reality to subdue
all Greece, arrived with his fleet at Marathon, and began to ravage
the neighbouring country. Among the generals to whom the Athe-
nians gave the management of this war, Miltiades was first in dig-
nity, and the next to him in reputation and authority was Aristides«
In a council of war tl^at was tlien held, Miltiades voted for giving the
enemy battle^, and Aristides seconding him, added no little weigh^
to hb scale. The generals commanded by turns, each his day; but .
when it came to Aristides' turn, he gave up his right to Miltiades;
thus showing his colleagues that it was no disgrace to follow the di-
rections of the wise, but that, on the contrary, it answered several
honourable and salutary purposes. By this means he laid the spirit
of contention, and bringing them to agree in and follow the best opi-
nion, he strengthened the hands of Miltiades, who now had the ab-
solute and undivided command ; the other generals no longer insist-
ing on their days, but entirely'submitting to his ordersf.

In this battle the main body of the Athenian army was pressed the
hardest J, because there for a long time the barbarians made their

* Accordlog to Herodotus (I. vi. c. 109.)* the genermls were rery macb divided in
tbeir opinioat: soroe were for fighting, others not. Miltiades, obserring tbis« addressed
tumaelf to Cairimachus of Aphidos, who was pofemarch, and whose power was equal to
that of all the other generals. Calliraacbos, whoM voice was decisive, according to the
Athenian Iaws« joined directly with Miltiades, and declared for giving battle imiDediatelj.
Possibly Ariaides might have some share in bringing Callioiacbus to (hii resolution.

i Yet he would not fight outil his own proper day of comniand came about, for fear
tbat^ tbroogh anj latent sparks of jealoosj and envj, anj of the generals should be led
not to do their dotj.

X The Athenians and Plataeans fought with soch obstinate valour on the right and le(V
that the barbarians were forced to flj on both sides. The Penianj and Saca, however
perceiving that tli« Athenian centre was weak, charged with such force that Chej broke
tbroogh it. This th«se on the right and left perceived, but did not attempt to soccoar
it, till thej bad pot to flight both the wings of the Peruan armj; then bending iba
points of the wings towards tbeir own centre, thej enclosed the hithetto victorioas Pet.
•ians, and cat them in pieces.

greatest cflbrts a^inst the tribes Lcont is aod Antiochis; and Tb:-
tnistocles and Arslidcs, who belonged to lljose tribes, exerting tiwm-
selves at t)ie head of ilicm nith oil the spirit of emulation, bdunj
with so mueh vigour, that ilie enemy were put to flight and drim
baek to their ships. But the Greelts [tcrcciviog that the barbsriiB,
instead of sailing to the isles to return to Asia, were driren in faf At
wind and currents towards Attitu*, and fearing that Athens, onpdK
Tided for Its defence, might become an easy prey to them, mardiri
home with nine tribes, and used such expedition that lliey rrx^
the city in one dayt.

Aristides was left at Klarathon with his own tri1>e to guard the [«-
soners and the spoils; and he did not disappolttt the public Opimni;
for though there was much gold and silver scattered about, atld ikfc
garments and oilier booty in abundance were found in the tentsnJ
ships which they had taken, yet he neither had an inclination to tmKb
any thing himself, nor permiiicd others to do it. But, itutwtthstui^
ing his care, some enriched themseU-es unknou-n to him; nmof
whom was CalHas the torch -bcarer|. One of the barbariatu hapfn-
tng to meet him in a private place, and probably taking himfiira
king, on account of his long hair and the fillet which he wore$, fta^
trated himself before him ; and, taking him by the hand, shewed Ihb
a great quantity of gold that was hid in a well, liut Calllas, not In
cruel than unjust, took away the gold, and then killed the man llitt
had given him information of it, lest he should mention the tiling to
others. Hence, they tell us, It was, that the ajmic writers caU<.-d hit
family Laccopluti, i. e. enTuhed by the well, jesting upon ilie place
from whence their founder drew his weHlth.

Tlie year following, Arisli^les was appointed to the office ofarr/tat,
which gave his name to that year; though, according to Demetrnia
the Phalcrcan, he was not archon till dftcr the buttle of Platrea, a lit-

* II wu [f purlpd in llioie timu, thai llie Alcnconidai encouraged Itic PtnSmu ta
make ■ ircond ullcupt, b; liuJiliiig up, ■> ihty npiirDachrd ilie tboie, ■ stiiclil im tug-
mi. Iloweici, II wu Ihe Fcisian Reel that eiidcuirourcd to double ilw Cape of Ja-
niuni, Hilb a view to turitrue tbe cil; of Alhcna befare llie umj could reiiuo. Htrr-
det. I. Ti, c, lUl, &c.

t From Slarsthon to Alhena Is about foit; oilei.

t Totch bcairn. ilj'led m Crerk ricduchi, were penoiu dedicated to tbc lervm uf Uia
godi, aiid admlUi'd eien lo llic moit lacicd mjjlerics. I'aoiauiai spealu of il a> apcu
happiocti lo a wonian, dial ibi. bad aiea be; brollicr, het faiubaud. aud ber lolI, luCMa
■ivcl; enJD5 Ihii uffice.

$ Both ptieiU and kingawotefllletsotdiadeiDi. It it wcllkaown, ihsliniDcrenlltaei
those two digniliei were ^enecully veiled in the laiue penon; and wch lutiona nabo-
liihed [he kinglj' office, kepi tUs tide of king fur a penoa irbti minittered in Ihc pis-
cipal funcUaiu of the priesthood.

tic before his deaih. Hut in the public registers wc find not any of
tbe name of Aristides in the liiit of urclions after Xanihippides, in
whose arebonship Mardonius was beaten at I'lateeu ; whereas his name
b on record immediately after Pbanippus*, who was arcbon the some
year that tbc battle was gained at Marathon.

Of all tlie iTTtucs of Aristides, the people were most struck with
fais justice, because the public utility was the most promoted by it.
Thus he, though a poor man anda commoner, gained the royal and
divine title of^^e t/itsl, which kings and tyrants have never been fond
of. It has been their ambition to be styled Poliorceti, lakers of
cities; Cerofini, thundrrlxilts ; A'ieauors, conquerors; nay, some
have ehoscn to be called Eagles and f'ultnres, preferring the fame
of power to liiat of virtue: whereas the Deity lumself, to whom the j
want to be compared, is dlslin^isbed by three things, immortality,
power, and virtue; and of ibese, virtue is the most excellent and
divine. For space and the elements are everlasting; eanbquukca,
lightning, storms, and torrents, have an nmiizing power; but as for
Justice, nothing partieipnies of that, without reasoning and thinking
on God. And whereas mea entertain three dilferent sentiments with
respect to the gods, namely, admiration, fear, and esteem, it should
seem that they admire and think them linpjiy by reason of their free-
dom from death and corruption, that tliey feurand dread them because
of their power and sovertigniy,and that they love, honour, and rever-
ence them for their justice. Vet, though aflected these three dif-
ferent ways, tbcy desire only the two first properties of the Deity;
immortality, which our nature will not admit of, and power, which
depends chiefly upon fortune; while they foolishly neglect virtue,
the only divine quality in their power; not considering that it is
justice alone which makes the life of those flourish most in prosperity
and high stations, heavenly and divine, while injustice renders it
grovelling and brutal.

Aristides at first was loved and respected for bis surname of Ihe
Jttxt, and afterwards envied as much; the latter, chiefly by the ma-
nagement of Themis toe les, who gave it out among the people tliat
Aristides had abolished (be courts of judicature, by drawing the arbi-
tration of all causes to himself, and so was insetisibly gaining soxx-reign
power, though without guards and the other ensigns of it. The peo-
ple, elevated with the late victory, thought themselves capable of

* From the icglslen it •ppean Ifa*l Phinippiu iriu iccbou in ibe lliinJ jur of ihc
(rtCDI^'iccond Oljmpiad- ll ■•«• Ihtielurc ui lliit jck Uwl llie buUc of li
TM rpug'''' '""^ liiUJdicd ud DiueiJ jc«r> before tin- liiriL olCluut.

every thing, arid ihe lii^liesl rcHpccl llitle cnougli for fliem. Loof,
therefore, al tiiiding timt any out filizeii rose to sucli exiraortiitur;
honour and distincl'iun, they assembled at Athens froa> all lli« tvnit
in Attica, and ImnUhed Aristldcs by ilie ostracism; dbguUingikdi
envy of his character under the specioas pretence of guarding tguui
tyranny.

For the oslracUm was not a punishment for crioies and matt-
tneanors, but was very decently called a humbling and IeM«aa|
of some excessive influence and power. In reality it wuaniU
^rRtiflcati'in of envy; for, by this means, nrhoererwasofticndedBtdl
growing greatness of another, discharged his spleen, not in aD]rthB(
cruel or inhumtn, but oaly in voting a ten-year's l^antshiucnt. Bit
when it once began (o fall upon wean and profligate |>erswi«, Jt
vas ever after entirely laid aside; Hyperbolus being the lu>t ihatm
exiled by it.

The reason of !ts turning upon such a wretch was tliis: AlciblaJa
and Nicias, who were persons of ihe greatest interest in AtbcD9,hiri
each his party; hut perceiving that tlie people were going to procroj
to the nstraeism, and that one of them was likely to suffer by il, tbtf
consulted together, and, joining interests, caused it to fall aponHf
pcrbolus. Hereupon ilie people, full of indignation «t findiaglhb
kind of punishment dishorKfurcd and turned into ridicule^ aboliiM
it entirely.

The ostracism {to give a summary account of it) was condoetcd
in the follwving manner: every citi/en took a piece of a broken pot
or a shell, on which he wrote the irnine of the person Itc wmicd 1o
have banished, and carried it lo a part of the market-place that «ai
enclosed w ilh wooden rails. The magistrates then counted ihc bwd-
bcr of the shells, and if it amounted not to six thousand, iheflstnKom
stood for nothing; if it did, they sorted Ihe shells, and the pccMM
whose name was found on the greatest numhei was declared an exile
for ten years, but with permission to enjoy his estate.

At the time that Aristides was banished, when tbe people were
inscribing the names on the shells, it is reported that an illitcmc
burgher came to Aristides, whom he took for some ordinary person,
and giving him his shell, desired him to write Aristides upon il._
The good man, surprised at the adventure, asked him, " Wbctbcr
Aristides had ever injured hiin?" " No," said he, " nor do I eiea
know him; hut it vexes me to hear him every where called iiW
Just." Aristides made no answer, but took the shell, and hsving
■written his own name upon it, returned it to the man. Wlien he
fjuittcd Athens, he lifted up his hands toivards heaven, and, agreeably

to his character, made a prayer vt-ry diflin-nt fiom lliat of Aeliilles;
namely, " That the people of Alliens miglit never see the day which
aliould force tliem to remcmlx-r Arlstides."

Tliree years after, witen Xerxes was passing througliThessalyand
Bieotia, by long marclies to Attica, ihe Atiu.'nians reversed tliis de-
cree, and by a pviblic ordinance recalled all the exiles. TJie prin-
cipal inducement was their fear of Aristides; for they were ai>pre-
liensive that he would join the enemy, corrupt great part of the
citizens, and draw them over to the interest of the barbarians. But
tliev little knew the man. Before this ordinance of theirs, he had
been exciting and encouraging the Greeks to defend their liberty;
and after it, when Tliemistocles was appointed to the coinmuiid of
the Athenian turces, he assisted him both with his person and coun-
sel, not disdaining to raise his worst enemy to the highest pilch of
^ory for tlie public good. For when £uTybiades, the commander-
in-chief, had resolved to quit Salamts*, and before he could put his
purpose iuto execution, the enemy's fleet, taking advantage of tlie
uight, liud surrounded the islands, and in a manner blocked up the
ttraits, witliout any one's perceiving that the confederates were so
hemmed tn. Aristides sailed the same night from jCgina, and passed
with the utmost danger through the Pereian fleet. As won as he
reached the tent of Tliemistocles, he desired to speak with him in
private, and then addressed him in these terms : " You and I, Tfie-
tnistocles, if wcare wise, shall now hid adieu to our vain and chilfUtiit
dbputes, and enter uimn a nobler and more salutary conteniian,
striving whicti of us thall contribute most to the preservation of
Greece; you in doing the duty ofageneral, and I in assisting you
witli my service and advice. I find that you alone have hit upon the
best measures, in adnsing to come immediately to an engagement m
Ihe straits. And (hough tiie idlits oppose your design, the enemy
promotes Jt: for (he sea on all sides is co^■cIed with their siiips, so that
the Greeks, whether they will or not, must come to action and acquit
riiemseiies like men, there being no room left fur flight,"

'niemistoclci answered, " 1 could have wiiihcd, Aristides, that
you had not been beforehand with me in this noble emulation ; but
I will endeavour to outdo this happy beginning of yours by my future
actions." At the same time he acquainted him with the stratagcai
lie had contrived to ensnare the barliarians +, and llieu dcsiri^d hini

• Eurybiidci "M for itanding •way for lliE t-ulph of Gjrinlh, llint he might Ih- hcm
(he liud-ariDj. llui 'rbcmislocki deurlj haw, llint iu ihr tirmli ul SdaoiK ilj('> cuuhl
figbtihe Prtiiiui flett, wliicb wai » tiilJj sDperiui iaiiuoibeu, kiIIi niudi (jrcsict ad-
vaDtagc than in ibc guLj>b of Coriatb, where ihere mju an open Ka.

t The Mraligem n>u, la Kiid one t^ acquunl ibe ■nemy lta*t the Grreki wtn guinc

I

M4 PLLT*RCn's Ltt'ES.

■ ■ ^
to go and make it appear to KuryhiaAes, ibat lltere cx>uM l>e no isktf
fortfaem without venturing asea-figlit lijere; for he kocw thai Am-
tides had mucli greater influence over him than he. lo the comdl
of war assembled on tiiis occ-asion, Cleocrilns the ConDthi&D aaitl ta
Tiicmisloclcs, " Vour ad?ice is not agreeable to Aristides, since he
U here present, and says nothing." " Vou are mi.st&ken," nH
Aristides, " for I siiould not hare been silent, had not the couiucl
ofThemlstocles been the most eligible. Ani\ now I bold my peace,
not out of rcgnrd to the man, but beenusc 1 approve his seotimeiiti."
This, tliererurc, was wliat the Grecian officers fixed upon.

Aristides then pcrit-Iviag iliai the httle island uf Psvttatia, which Uct
in the straits over sgainsi Salainis, was full of the enemy's troops, put
on board the small transports a number of the bravest and most resolute
of his countrymen, and made a descent upon the island; wticrcbc
attacked the barbarians with sutb fury that they were all c«t in
pieces, except some of the princi[Kil persotis, who were made pri-
soners. Among ibe latier were three sons of Sanducc the king'i
lister, whom he sent immediately to Themistocles ; »nd it is said,
that by the direction of £u[)hrantides the diviner, in pursuance of
some oracle, they were all sacri6ccd to Bacchos Chnestrs. After
this, Aristides placed a strong guard round the island to take notica
of such as were driven asiiore there, so that none uf his frietuls inigkt
perish, nor any of the enemy escape; for about Fsyttalia i he battle
raged the most*, and the greatest efforts were made, asappcarsftom
the trophy erected there,
^ When the liattle was over, Themistocles, by way of soodding
Aristides, said, "That great things were already done, but greater
«ill remained; for they mi^ht conquer Asia in Kuropc, by making
all the sail they could to the Hellespont, to break down the bridge."—
But Aristides excluimed against the proposal, and hade hioi think
no more of it, but rather consider and inquire what would be iba
speediest method of driving the Persians out of Greece, lest, fiudli-g
himself shut up with such immense forces, and no way left to escape,
necessity might biinghim to fight with the most desperate coura^.
Hereupon Tliemistoclea sent to Xerxes the second time, by the
euuuch Ainaces, one of the prlsonerst, to acquaint him privately
ibat the Greeks were strongly inclined to make the best of their m

to quit Ilie ittniti or Satamia, add tliercroir, if the Piniiuit wen
oiico, thpy muil fnll u|.un ihcin iini«Ji>tf Ij. before tl.ey ili<pe

• The bilUe ofSnlnmii w«i fouBl.l in Xh< jeJC beiore Clirul

t Thii cipediciil «iiiwcred «"o |iiitpoi(si. Bj it he dtuve lUe Ititg of Pcnia act flf
Europe; and in np|>parnnce conrenid an obligMiou upon him, which niigbt be nae»-
bt[«d la tb« ■draDlage dI Tlitmutvclei, nlicD be vame lo tiiie oKaaiMi b

lia OBtef

ARISTIDES. ^45

Uiha

to the Hellespont, to destroy the bridge which he had left there;
but that, in order to save his royal person, Themistocles was using
his best endeavours to dissuade them from it. Xerxes, terrified at
this news, made all possible haste to the Hellespont, leaving Mar-
donius behind him with the land-forces, consisting of three hundred
thousand of his best troops.

In the strength of such an army, Mardonius was very formidable;
and the fears of the Greeks were heightened by his menacing letters^
which were in this style: " At sea^ in your wooden towers, you have
defeated landmen unpractised at the oar; but there are still the wide
plains of Thessaly and the fields of Boeotia, where both horse atid
foot may fight to the best advantage. ' To the Athenians he wrote
in particular, being authorized by the king, to assure them that their
city should be rebuilt, large sums bestowed upon them, and the
sovereignty of Greece put in their hands, if they would take no far-
ther share in the war**

As soon as the Lacedaettionians had intelligence of these proposals,
they were greatly alarmed, and sent ambassadors to Athens to entreat
the people to send their wives and children to Sparta t> and to ac-
' cept from them what was necessary for the support of such as were
in years; for the Athenians, having lost both their city and country^
were certainly in great distress. Yet, when they had heard what the
ambassadors had to say, they gave them such an answer, by the di-
rection of Aristides, as can never be sufficiently admired. They saidj
** They coald easily forgive their enemies for thinking that every
thing was to be purchased with silver and gold, because they had no
idea of any thing more excellent : but they could not help being dis-
pleased that the Lac*edsemonians should regard only their present
poverty and distress, and, forgetful of their virtue and magnanimity^
c^ali upon them to fight for Greece for the paltry consideration of a

supply of provisions." Aristides having drawn up his answer in the

form of a decree, and called all the ambassadors Xb an audience in
full assembly, bade those of Sparta tell the LacedflRmoniauif That the
people of Athens would not take all the gold, either above or under
grottnd^for the liberties of Greece,

As for those of Mardonius, he pointed to the sun, and told them^

^ He made these propo<»aU by Alexander king of Macedpn, who ddivered them in a
get npccch.

t They did not propose to ttic Athenians to send their wives and children to Sparta,
bot only offered to maintain thcra during the war. Tiiey observed, that the original
quarrel was between the Persians and Athenians: that the Athenians were always wont
to be the foremost in the cause of liberty : and that there was ao reason to believe thf
F<:rsians would observe any terms with a people they hated.

Vovl. No. 17. ««

546

PLUTARCH S LIVES.

" As long as this luminary shines, so long will the Athenians cany
on war with the Persians for their country, which has been hii
waste, and for their temples, which have been profaned and bunit.''
He likewise procured an order that the priests should solemnlf f«-
crate all that should dare to propose an embassy to the Medes,orta&
of deserting the alliance of Greece.

When Mardonius had entered Attica the second time, the Aiht-
nians retired again to Salamis. And Aristides, who on that occssin
went ambassador to Sparta, complained to the Lacedsemooiacs cf
their delay and neglect in abandoning Athens once more to the bar-
barians; and pressed them to hasten to the succour of that put cl
Greece which was not yet fallen into the enemy's hands. Tic
Ephori gave him the hearing*, but seemed attentive to nothing bar
mirth and diversion, for it was the festival of Hyacinthusf. At nidit,
however, they selected five thousand Spartans, with orders to take
each seven helots with him, and to march before morning, unkDon
to the Athenians. When Aristides came to make his remonstnnccs
again, they smiled, and told him, «' That he did but trifle or dxtm,
since their army was at that time as far as Orestium, on their mardi
against the foreigners," for so tlie Laeedsemonians called the bar-
barians. Aristides told them, " It was not a time to jest, or tontt
their stratagems in practice upon their friends, but upon their ene-
mies." This is the account Idomeneus gives^ of the matter* but is
Aristides's decree, Cimon, Xanihippus, and Myronides arc said t0
have gone upon the embassy, and not Arlsiides.

Aristides, however, was appointed to command the Athenians ia
the battle that was expected, and marched with eiglxJ thousand foot
to Platiea. There Pausauias, who was commander-in-chief of all the
confederates, joined him with his Spaitans, and the other Greciaa
troops arrived daily in great numbers. The Persian army, which
was encamped along the river Asopus, occupied an immense track ol
ground; and iliey iiad fortified a spot ten furlongs square for dieir
baggage and other tilings of value.

In the Grecian army there was a diviner of Elis, named Tisamc-
nusj, who foretold certain victory to Pausanias and the Grceiis io.

• They put off their answer from lime to lime, until tbe^ bad gamed ten di v.; ia
which lime ihey finished ihc wall across ihe Uthnui*", which secured th .r w'rbe
barbarians. ^

t Among the Sparlans the feast of Hyacinihns lusted three dava • the fir»t and lul
were days of sormw and mourning for Hyacinlliiis'a death, but the accM d A

of rcjoicijjg, celebrated with uIJ manner of diversions.

X The oracle having promised Tisainenus five great victories, tlie Lacedsnoni
desirous of having him for their diviner, but he demuridcd tu be adiiutted acitUeoaf

ARISTIDES. • 54!

general, if they did not attack the enemy, but stood only u[)on the

defensive And Aristides having sent to Delphi to inquire bf the

oracle, received this answer: " Tlie Athenians shall be victorious, if
they address their prayers to Jupiter, to Juno of Cithaeron, to Pan,
and to the nymphs Sphragitides**; if they sacrifice to the heroes
Androaates, Leucon, Pisander, Democrates, Hypsion, Acteeon, and
Polydius; and if they fight onFy in their own country, on the plain
of the Elcusinian Ceres, and of Proserpine." This oracle perpjexed
Aristides not a little : for the heroes to whom he was commanded to
sacrifice were the ancestors of the Plataeans, and the cave of the
nymphs Sphragitides in one of the summits of mount Cith«ron, op-
posite the quarter where the sun sets in the summer; and it is said
in that cave there Avas formerly an oracle, by which many who dwelt
jn those parts were inspired, and therefore called Nymphaleptu On
tlie other hand, to have the promise of victory only on condition of
fighting in their own <?ountry, on the plain of the Elcusinian
Ceres, was calling tlic Athenians back to Attica, and removing the
seat oi war.

In the mean time Arimncstus, general of the Platseans, dreamed
that Jupiter the Presenter asked him, *^ What the Greeks had de-
termined to do?" To which he answered, " To-morrow they will
decamp and march to Eleusis to fight the barbarians there, agreeable
to the oracle." The god replied, */ They quite mistake its mean-
Jng; for the place intended by the oracle is in the environs of Platcea,
and, if they seek for it, they will find it." The matter being so »
clearly revealed to Arijnnestus, as soon as he awoke, he sent for the
oldest and most experienced of his countrymen, and having advised
with them, and made the best inquiry, he found that near Husiae, at
the foot of the mount Citlireron, there was an ancient temple called
the temple of the Cleusinian Ceres, and of Proserpine. He imme-
diately conducted Arisiides to the place, which appeared (o be, very
commodious fur drawing up an army of foot that was deficient in
cavalry, because the bottom of mount Cithaeron, extending as far as
the temple, made the extremities of the field on that side inacces-
sible to the horse. In that place was also the chapel of the hero
Androcrates, quite covered with thick bushes and trees. And^ that

Sparta, which was rofused ai first. Iluwever, upon the approach uf the Persians, be oh*
taiiiod tiiat privilege hcith lor liimseii' and his brother Hegfes. This would scurce hai'c
been worth m -ntiuniiig, had not ibudC two bcca the onl^ iCtangers that were ever made
Citizens of Sparta.

• The nymphs of mount Cithaeron were called Sphragitides from the cave Sphragidion,
iv^iich probably had its name I'lotn the silence observed in it by the persons, who went
tliilher to be hispired; silence being described by Holing the lips.

.« <

.. .t.. . • ..r, ii!.-v;t!.:? *: 'itt :ru:i«i- The-? axf^rhr
;r*'*. »-i. • /iT ~.i-- '-^ri i/'«;r. -^-^en

a j{ -?--=?<

Jl 3d

.v-i.-'T " 1 .-.■t'lM 2* TT.i; OtT-iioi*: Amines, ^

ana;

r .
A .

» -•

fcS-//'i i.

- — *

t:r: TTii* a j-:a: CispQris btr'are-n the T^^s'szat ind w

"J. *.r.r, :.".« .c?* r>ciccz-*i t.j ihetn, «nd. in siippar<i:
/ :' .•':: rhe eal'i't acrio&s of iLeir ancesroR^ Asil
jp^^e*: zT-r.r ::x: TTi.;-; -.Q at th-*, Aristldes sreijcd*
'. . i, •'• T * r'rr.* wi:. not permit ixs ro coorcst rati
- r. .-sr r.f tL...r aLcestors aci their pcrsocad wrtyj
^ 'r\',^ ^Ti^l ro tre rest of tiit Greeks we sav, ths*^
: ► r !.' ' vaityj- ror takes It a v. ay ; aoj whatever ^•««l
. . A 11 or. i-avour to 'Jo ]>«^r.i»ur to it, and take or vs-
fpr^ r.o ii -r^re iipou r.ur former achievtmcnts ; for we are ociccv'
#!:;:]:? r I- r^vniT I with <^.ur ril!i?s, l^ut to fight our ei;eiDk$: ccta
r...r-:^ ^r " 'rr.ijni, L'Tym our fore fia hers, but to a;>prove oorcTncs-
i^-v :ri rh'? '"•1USJ ri Ore- ce. Aud tlie battle will soon show iU
\;ili:r « ;jr ^jountrf s!io*.i!'] -et on every state, everv eeneral. am! PC-
\;:t!r iri:»ij/' After this sjx*tch,t!ie cotaicil cf war declared in ftvcor
of r!:'' Ail'"!iip.ns,aii(iiravctliein tl it* command of the left win«.

V i.ilc thf' fate of Greece w,'ts iu susjH?nse, the aflfains of the Atae-
niai.s \it:rc in a \cxy dangerous posture; for tliose of the best famifei
uMt\ f'ji tunes being rcfhiced by the war, and seeio]^ their authority m
\\\v ^\'\\v and their distinction gone with their wealth and otbfli
rising to I'.onours and employments, assembled pri Fa tely in a bouse
at l*l:it«-a, and conspired to abolish the democracy; and IftfaatiBl
not succcerl, to ruin ail Greece, and betray it to the barbaiiiis.
When Aristidcs irot intelligence of the conspiracy thus entered into
in the cannp, and found that numbers were corrupted, he was greatly
alarmed at its happening at such a crisis, and unresolved at first how
to proceed. At length he determined neither to leave the matter
uninquired into, nor yet to sift it thoroughly, because he knew oot
how far the contagion had spread, and thought it advisable io saai-

AHISTIDES. S49

fice justice in some degree* to the pul)lic good, by forbearing to pro-
secute mnny that were guiliy. He therefore caused eight persons
only to be appreherdcd, and of those eight no more than two, who
were most gviiVty, to be proceeded against, iSschines of Lampra,and
Agesias of AcharnaB; and even /A^y made their escape during the
proserui Ion As for the wjst, he discharged them.» and gave thcro^
and rsil tliat were concerned in the plot, opportunity to recover their
spipr:, and change their sentiments, as they might imagine that
no»liing was made out against them; iKJt he admonished them at
the same time, '* That the battle was the great tribunal wliere
they might clear themselves of the charge, and show that they had
never followed any counsels but such as were just and useful to
their country."

Afrer ihis*, Mardonius, to make a trial of the Greeks, ordered hit
cavairy, in whicli he was strongest, to skirmish with them. The
Grec\s were all encamped at tbe foot of Mount Cithferon, in strong
anti stony places; cxcej>t the Megarensians, who, to the number of
three thousav^d, were posted on the plain, and by this means suffered
much by the enemy's horse, who charged them on every side. Un-
able to stand against such superior numbers, they dispatciied a mes-
senger to Pausanias for assistance. Pausanias hearing their request,
and seeitjg tiie camp of tt>e Megarensians darkened with the shower
of d.irts and arrows, and that they were forced to contract themselves
within a r.arrow compass, was at a loss what to resolve on ; for he
knew that his heavy -armed Spartans were not fit to act againdt
cavalry. He endeavoured, therefore*, to awaken the emulation of
the generals and other officers that were about him, that they might
make it a poii»t of honour voluntarily to undertake the defence and
succour of tlic Megarensians. But they all declined it, except
Aristides, who made an offer of his Athenians, and gave immediate
orders to Olympiodovus, one of the most active of his officers, to
advance with his select band of three hundred men, and some archers
intermixed. They were all ready in a moment, and ran to attack
the barbarians. Masistius, general of the Persian horse, a man dis-
tinguished for his strength and graceful niein, no sooner saw them
advancing, than he spurred his horse against them. The Athenians
received him with great firmness, and a sharp conflict ensued; for

* The battle of Platxa was fought in the year before Chrht 479, the year after (hat
of Salamb. Herodotus ivas then ubuut nine or ten jears old^ and had hi:i accounts from
persons that were present in the battle. And he informs us that the circumstance here
related by Plutarch happened before the Greeks left their camp at Erythras, in order
to encarnp round Platea, and before tlie contest between the Tcgrtio aad the Athe*
su«iis. Lib. is. c. 99, 30, %ie.

crioMj
DCdM

idesM

550 HI-UTARCtl's LIVES.

they considered lliis as !i specimen of the success nf the nbolrl
lie. At last Mnsislius' horse nas wounded with an arroir,
threw his rider, who could not recover himself because of the wci
of his armour, nor yet be easily slain by the Aiheiuans ihut sti
which slinuld do it Rrst, because not only liis body and his hn
his legs and anns, were covered with plates of gv>ld, bnts<, bik
But the vizor of his hetinei leaving part of his f^ceo{>cn, oneoj
pierccit iiim in the eye with the staff of his spear, an J so i
him. T!ie Ver^Jans then left the body, and fled.

The iuiptn-iaiice of this achievement appeared to the Gr<
by the numl>er i>f their eneuiies lying dead upon the Mi,
that wBs but small, but by the mourning of the barbarians, rf
in their grief for Masistius, cut oft' their Imir, aitd the minn
their horses and mules, and filled all the plain with their c
groans, as having lost the msn that was next to Maxdouiiis in c
and aa:liorIty.

After this engagement with the Persian cavalry, both sides it
bore the combat a long time; for the diviners, from the entniHii
the vi[iims,equRi!y assured the Persians and the Greeks of ridar
if they stood upon the defensive, and llireatened a total defeat tori
Agtp'essors. But at leiii^th Mardonius, seeing but a few days pn
vision left, and that the Gredan forces increased daily Ly the writi
of fresh troo|)S, grew unewsy at the delay, and resolved to pus tk
Asopus ne>(t morning by break of day, and fall upoa llie (inda
whom he hoped lo find unprepared. For this pur|Kisc bt gave ki
orders over-night: but ai niidiilftlrt a man on horseback softly ^
proachcd thi; Oreciim camp, and aildresslng himself to tlic sei^an
hade them call Aristldcs the Athenian general lo him. AibtiM
came immediately, and the unknown person said, " 1 am Alcxwdd
king of Mucedon, who, for the friendship I bear yow, hare i niiiiiJ
myself to the greatest dangers to prevent your fighting under ikctf-
advaiitugc of a surprise : for Mardonius will give you battle to-
row; not that he is induced to it by nny well-grounded fcoj
prospect of success, but by the scarcity of provisions; forihen
savers, by their ominous sacrifices and ill-boding oraele^, endta
lo divert him from ii; but necessity forces him cither to haa
} • battle, or to sit siill and see his whole army perish through wa

Alexander having thus opened himself to Aristides, desired Mm
take notice and avail himself of the intelligence, but iw>t to ctmm
nieate it to any other person •. Aristides, however, thought it wm

• According to Ilcrodulut, Alciindfr hid c<cc>)tcij Pauantu odI wflhiitbMgi
ticicc; i (Ud ttaii U laoil probtblc, bccxuc P«o)uui» »<

to conceal it from Pausanias, who was commandor-in-cliief; but lie
promised not to mention tlie tiling to any one besides, until after the
battle; and assuied liim at t)>e same time, that If the Greeks proved
victorious, tbe whole army sIiouUI be acquutnted whh.this kindness
and glorious during conduct of Alexander,

Tlie king of Macedon, having dispatclicd this affiur, returned, and
Aristides went immediately to the tent of Pausaiiias, and laid the
whole iKtforeliim; wliercupon the other officers were sent for, and
ordered to put the troops under arms, and have lliein ready for bat-
tle. At the same time, accordingto Herodotus, Pausanias informed
Aristides of Ills design to alter the dispofiliion of the army, by re-
moving the Atbeniaos from the left wing to the right, and setting
them to oppose the Persians; against whom they would act wiihth^
more bravery, because they had made proof of tlieir manner of fight-
ing, and with greater assunince of success, because they had already
succecdeil ; as for the left wing, which would have to do with those
Greeks that had embraced the Median interest, he intended lo com-
mand there himself*. The other Athenian officers thought Patisa-
uias carried it with a partial and high hand, in moving them up and
<lown, like so many helots, at his pUasure, to facj; tlie boldest of (he
enemy's troops, while he left the rest of the confederates in their
posts. But Aristides told them ihty were under a great mistake:
" Vou contcudid," said be, " a few days ago with the TegeiK for
tlie command of the left wing, and valued yourselves uptm tiie pre-
ference } and now when the Spartans voluntarily ofl'er you the right
wing, which is in effect giving up lo you the command uf the ivliole
army, you are neither pleased with the honour, nor sensihie of the
ad^-aniage of not being obliged to fight agahist your couiiirymeii and
those who have the same origin with you, but against barbarians, your
natural enemies."

These words had such an effect upon the Athenians that they
readily agreed to change posts with the Spartans, and itothitig was
heard among them but inniu^l exhortations to act nirb bravery.
They observed, " That the enemy brought neither better arms nijr
bolder hearts than they had at Marathon, but came wiib the same
bows, tlic same embroidered vests and profusion of gold, the same ef-
feminate bodies, and the same unmanly souls. For our part," con-
tinued they, " we have the same weapons and Etrcngtli of body, to-
gether with additional spirits from our victories; and wc do nut, like

* Hecod'iliii sa;\ (he conlrar;; nataelj, [libl all \\it Alhruien aSLpn »prr Rni.
biliuiu ef thu puil, but did QCt lliiok piupcr !» prupose ii Tar feat of dl>t.^li^LDi

55^ Plutarch's lives-

them, fight for a track of land or a single city, but for the trophicsd
Maratlion and Saiuinis, that the people of Athens, and not Miltiada
and fortune, may have the glory of them."

While they were thus encouraging each other, they hastened Id
tlieir new post. But tlie Thehans, being informed of it by desotea
sent and acquainted Mardonius; wlio, either out of fear of thcAtk-
nians^ or from an ambition to try his strength with the Laeda-
monians, immediately moved the Persians to his right wing, and the
Greeks that were of his party to the left, opposite to the Atbeniaii
Tliis change in the disposition of the enemy's army being kaovB.
Pausanias made another movement, and passed to the right; whick
Mardonius perceiving, returiK^d to the left, and so still faced the
LacedsemoDians. Thus the day passed without any action at all. h
the evening the Grecians held a council of war, in which theyd^
termined to decamp, and take possession of a place more coniniodkv
lor water, because the springs of their present camp were distuiM
and spoiled by the enemy's horse.

When night was come*, and the officers began to inarch at dK
head of their troops to tlij place marked out for a new camp theso^
diers followed unwuliingly, rmd could not without great difficult? be
kept together; for they were no sooner out of their first intrencbmdii!^
than many of tiiem made oft' to tlie city of Plataea, and either dis-
persing there, or pitching their tents without any regard todisdpUoe
were in the utmost confusion. It happened that tlie Ltacedcemoniaos
alone were left behind, though i»gainst their will. Fur AmomiAi-
retus, an intrepid man, who had long been eager to engage and ob-
easy to see the battle so often put oft' and delaved, plainly called this
decampment a disgraceful ftight, and declared, ^^ He would not quit
his post, but remain there with liis troops, and stand it out a^nst
Mardonius." And when Pausanias represented to him, that thb
measure was taken in pursuance of the counsel and determinatioD of
the confederates, he took up a large stone with both his hands iwl
throwing it at Pausanias* feet, said, " This is my ballot for a battle;
and I despise tlie timid counsels and resolves of others." Pausanias
was at a loss what to do, but at last sent to the Athenians, who by
this time were advancing, and desired them to halt a little, that they
might all proceed Ui a body: at the same time he marched with the
rest of the troops towards Plataea, hoping by that means to dnnr
AmomplKU*etus after him.

* On this occfisiun Mardonius did wtt fail to insult Artabuus^ I'eproaching him witk
his cownrdi^- prudence, uud the talse noiiou be had conceiTed of ihm JLacedatmciuaflW

^L'j, u,i hepretcodcd^ ncTcr fled before the enei:iy.

•*- - - - - 1,1^ ^ ih^iiMai

ARlSTinES. 553

By this time it was ilny, and Mar<ioiiius*, who was not ignoiiint
tliat tht Greeks liacl quilteil their cntnp, put liis nrmy in order of bat-
tle, and bore down upon tlie Spartans; the barbarians sutiing up
such shouts, and clanking thcii" arms in such a manner, as if they
expected to have only ttic plimderinj; of fugitives, and rot a battle,
And indeed it was like to have been so; for though Pausanias, upon
seeing this motion of Mardonius, slopped, and ordered every one to
his post, yet, cither confused with ids resentment against Amomplin-
rctus, or with the sudden attack of llie Persians, he forgot lo give
his troops the word; and forthac reason ihcy neither engaged readily,
nor in a body, but continued scattered in small parties, even after
(he fight was begun.

Pausanias in the mean lime offered sacrifice; but seeing no aus-
picious tokens, he commanded the Ivacedssmonians to lay down their
shields at their feet, and to stand still and attend his ordei;i, without
opposing the enemy. After this he olfered other snci itices, the Per-
sian cavalry still advancing. They were now within bow-shot, and
some of llic Spartans were wounded ; among whom was Callicrates,
a man that for size and beauty exceeded the whole army. TJiis brave
soldier being shot with an arrow, and ready to expire, said, " He
did not lament his death, because he came out resolved to shed his
blood for Greece; but he was sorry to die without having once diuwn
his sword against the enemy."

If the terror of this .■situation was great, the steadiness and pa-
tience of the Spnrtans was wonderful; for they miide no defence
against the enemy's charge, hut, wailing the time of li'^aven and their
general, sufl'cred themselves to be wounded and slain while standing !u
tbcir ranks.
' Some say, that as Pausanias was sacrificing and praying at a little

' distance from the lines, certain Lydians, coming suddenly upon him,
' seized and scattered the sacred uiensllLi, and that Pausanias and those
' about him, having uo weapons, drove tiiem av/ay wiili rods and
'' scourges. And tliey will l>ave it to be in imitation of this assault of
F' the Lydians, that ihey celebrate a fc;>tival at Spana now, in which boys

f • IIa*iiig iiassBtl \\\t Asopui, lie ciDie up wild (lit LscPiliiniijDiaui iind l>gtt«, whu

if »erc •epmmcil from i lie boilj ut llie nrmy, to lliu nuinhir uriillj-lhrcc (IioasHijd, Pau-

A HDUU, fulling him»:ir iliui alluclicil by Mie nhule Pcriiaii armj', db|intclied a mcuciigcr

A to ■('luaiiil tlia AlheniuDi, wliu had luLcu uiintlicr route, Willi the dauj^cr he wit m.

Tbe Alheiiiaiii Irnninliaicly put IhcuiKlvej on iLtic luarch lo luccour llicir diilrriicd

■Itiea, but were attacked, and, la llieic grral regret, preieuird by iboie Greeki wlio

•idcd wilb Ibe Feniuns Tliv balllc being lliut foujilit iu two diJIcreiit plat;ei, IheijpBi.

' IMU wcr* tbe Crit nliu bruke inlu Ilie ceiiliB DI' the i'eraioa aimj^, anili Hltei a inoil ub-

^ . MJoate teiutuice, put Ibeiu to flighu

Vol. 1, No. 17t a.«aa

554 PLUTARCH*9

are'scourged rctiii'l the altar, auil which

the Lydian march.

Pauflaiii.^, extreiDdy aiBicted at these <»c

priest oliered sacrifice upon sacriSce^ tamiii^ t

Juno, and, with tears tricKiing firom his

prayed to that godde&s, the protectress of

tutelar deities of the PlataB:.Ds^ <' That if the Atcs' hpi «

that the Grecians should cooquer, they mi^t

sell their lives dear, and show the enemy^ fay

brave men and experienced soldiers to deal with."
The very moment that Pansanias was uttoin^ tUs fa

token so much desired appeared in the victiiiiy and ik

announced him^ victory. Orders were innDetlifttely nvcall

army to come to action, and the Sijartan pliafaua all ateaeey

appearance of some fierce animal erecting his bristles, i

to exert his strength. The barbarians then saw clearly

to do with men who were ready to spill the bst chop of

and thercfure, covering themselves with their tancts.

rows against the Lacedemonians. The

forward in a close compact body^ fell upon the

their targets from them, directed their (Mkes against

breasts, and brought many of them to the ground. Howeifr

they wer^ do^n, they continued to give proofs oftlKir

and courage; for they laid hold of the pikes widi thdr

hands, and broke theni^ and then springing up^ betook

to tiicir swords and battle-axes, and wresting away their o^

mies shields, and grappling close with them^ made a long and dk

stinate resistance.

The Athenians all this while stood stilly expecting tlie
monians \ but when the noise of the battle reached them anl
officer,* as wc are told, dispatched by Pausanias, gave them ai

count that the engagement was begun, they hastened to hh

auce; and as tlicy were crossing the plain towards the place ahot
the noise was heard, the Greeks who sided with the enemy puM
agttinst them. As soon as Aristidcs saw them^ he advanced a coi»
siderable way before his troops, and calling out to them with all hk
force, conjured them by the gods of Greece *^ to renounce this ia*
pious war, and not oppose the Athenians, who were mnniDgto'tk
succour of those that were now the first to hasard their Iitcs ftr
the safety of Greece." But finding that, instead of hearkening to
him, they approached in a hostile manner, he quitted his design of
going to assist the Lacedaemonians, and jmned battle with tbe»
Greeks, who were above five thousand in number. But thegitiieil

1 .- >

AHTSnDES. 555

part soon pnve wjiy and rttreaird, esjieciiilly when iht-y heard that
till.' barbfirians were put to fliglit. The shurp- st part of this action
is said to liave been with the Thelnms; among whom Ihe fii*st in
(juality and power having embraced the Median interest, by tlicir au-
thority carried out tlic commort pi^-ople against their inclination.

The battle thus divided into iwo parts, the Lacedfemonians first
broke and routed the Persians J and Mardoniua* himself was slain
by a Spartan named Arimnestust, who broke his skull with a stone,
Ss the oracle of Amphiaraus had foretold liim. For Mardonius had
sent a Lydian to consult this oraclt, and at the same time a Carian
to ti.e cBvcFTrophoniuil- The priest of Trophonius answerpd
the Carian in his own lanptiajre; but ihe L>4j*"i "s he slept in the
temple of Arapl'iarausll. rhougbt lie law amiuisic of the gt^d ap-
proach him, wlio conmiai.flpd him tn he gone, and, upon his r^fnsal,
threw a great stone at hi3 head, so tlut he lnHuved himself killtd by
the blow. Such is liie account wi. have of that s(Riir.

The barbarians, flyinjr before the Spartans, were pursued to their
camp, which they had fortified with wooden walls; and soon iifier
the Athenians routed the Thebans, killing three hundretl persons of
the fir^t distinction on the spot. Just as the Theuans began to give
way, news was brought that thcbarbarians were shut up and l.csicged
in their wooden furtificalion : the Aiheniaus, therefore, suffering the
Greeks to escape, hastened to assist in the siege : aud finding that
the Lace dsetnon tans, unskilled in the stottning of walls, m^dcbuta
slow progress, the; attacked and took the eainp§, with a pi'odigious
slaughter of the tncnjy: I'ur it Is said that of three hundred thousand
men, only forty thousand escaped with Artabazus^T; wiicreas, of

* Murdaniuf, maunird on a while Imne, nunaVaid himtclf grrailv, and, n' ilie bead
Ct s Ihuu^ond chiMcn aicn, killcU a ffctx aumbrr of [lie eueiuji but, wlieii lie fell, Iba
whole Prniaii sriuy urai essilj^ routed.

t Id lome ca^lei lie ii cailid Diunneitui. Aflmtieitui »u general of ihe Pla-

J The cane of Trophoniui hh ne»r Ihe cilj of UbidU in Bxatie, nbove Dflplii.
Uardunius had leut lo cumuli, nul unly Ihii uhlIc, bur aluioit all Ihe utlier Oiiclci in
UiccouDlrj, HI rcillciiend anc^ii} vai he about the evcni ufllie Rur.

I Aiu[ihianiuj, in hli lileliinc. had beiii ■ great inlcrpreier ofdrranisi and llierc-
fore, atler ttii death, gave hl> uiaclei bj drciinu; for irhlch purjwK, Miose ihut
COOiutlcd bim ilcpl in hit tEiii)jl« on the ikin of a ram which ikv; had McriSced

( The rpail wii inmcnae, contiiting of *a>t larai of iDimfy, of gold siid lilru
cnpa..veH('!i, tabic), bncelelt, itcb bedi. aad all loiriof fuTDitiirc. Tbejr ^trc the tenlb '
•(all to Paiuaniat.

^ Aitabain^ vhn, ftnni M>ri]uTiii»' imprudent coiiiIi,ci-, )iki) tut too well forcwen
the miilurluni- Ihat beiel him, oiler Uaviiiy dijliii^imlie'l tiimjelf inUiei.nja^'TU'^nl, inido
« limcly rctnut with ibc fortj (houxuid men he bad cuumatided, anivediAfe « Sj-

IK

A then
grewl;
of the

PLLTAECa S LP/ES.

tiioM itiai fought in tlie cause of Greece, do more were sbin Au I
iboasacd three bnudreil and sixtj; unong whom were iStj-tm I
Athenluis, all, according to Clidcmus^ of the tribe of AiaotM, •birl I
gresilf dbtioguisbed itself io that action. And theFcfure, inonk I
of the Delphic oracle, the AiaDlid* offered a yearly sacrifice orthinl'-
gtrii^ for the »icto(y to the nympKi Sphragili4lt:s, liaeiog ilw n-
peoae defrayed out of the irctisnn'. The Laced seinoniaiis lost ninrtv I
one, and the TegeUe sixteen. But it b surprising that Herodor* I
should say thai these were the only Greeks tliat engaged thetur- f
barians and iliai no other were concerned in the action; furloi^
the number of the stainand the monuments sboiv that it u-as the cixf
mot) achievemeut of the confederates: and the altar erected ooik
occasion would not have had the following inscription, if only (liici
stales iiad engaged, and the re-it liad sat still :

Thr Gncli, tlicii coiintr; ftMri, rhc Penaws •km.
)Citc reir-d Ihu ihir on ibe gkiriuu ficM,
ToftMdon'i pilron. Juit •••.

This battle was fought on the fourih of Boedromion, Septetnf/n*,
according to tlie Athenian way of reckociing; hut, according to ttx
Bceotian computation, on the tweniy-fQUrth of the month Pa- '
netnus. And on that day there is btiU a general assenihlv ui [lir
Greeksat Platsa, and the Platieans saciiticd to Jupiter /Ae Rclhrrrr.
for the victory. Nor is this difTerence of days in the Grecian munib
to be woudered at, since even now, wlicu the science of astri'Ddv;
is so much improved, the muntiis begin and end diflerently in dif-
ferpiit jilaces.

This victory went near to the ruin of Greece : for the Athcniaw,
unwilling to allow the Sjuirtans the honour of the day, or to con-
sent that they should erect the trophy, would have referred it to the
decision of the sword, had not Aristideij taken great puiiis to expUio
the tnatter, and pacify the other generals, parlicttlarly I^ocnict aod
Myronides; persuading thetij to leave it to the judgment of the

Afia. Bei>d«ilic:ie, unl^ llirtredwitundw

lanliuin, and from IIicbM puHcl uvcf Inl
cicaped. lUrodol. lib. ii. c. 31— C9.

* Dacter hu it Oetehtr in hii iranti alien, but liE juslly uluurvc
Athenian monlli doe* nul oiuwer eiacllj lo uiic of uuH. but li> pii
koollier; BucJnnnum, for indaiicr, iiepni abmit ihc Grieenlh ol' 1
■Iwut Ihc fineenlli of Octuber. So llial li.e bolKe of PlaWi mutt, i
puUtion. have beon on tbe nioeli-ciiUi "f ScplemLer at Icait; lliai

>■ Plutarch iccm to Ilhi
tliit battle wai fo'lghl on tlic lltitd of I
crtpl ii^lo il* (Bit, airi^--. being a Baoti
(fl'tTlll '?f 'li't gjctorj wu held.

iiiber, anil cmft

aUti

drgiuiuii. liut wc
liiinicir, be coald ui

I f C«aill lu, be nj s
r Uiiiik tome einrt bn
igiiorast wbii doj (bt

(ireeks. A cuuncil was culled accordingly, in wliicli Tlieogiton gave
it as Itis opinion, " That those two stales should give up tlie puliii
to a third, if tlicy desired to prevent a civil war." Then Clc^jcrilus
the Corinthian rose up, and it wus expected he would set forth the
pretensions of Corinth to the prize of valour, as the city next in dig-
nity to Spartaand Athens; buttlicywcrc most agreealil)' surprisL'd
when they found that he spoke in behalf of the I'latfeans, and pro-
posed, " That, all disputes laid aside, the palm should be adjudged
to tbcin, since neither of the contending parties could be jealous of
them." Anslides wasthefli'sttogive up the point for the Atheuiaus,
and then Pausanias did the same for the Lacedtemonians ^.

The confederates thus reconciled, eighty talents were set apart
for the I'laticans, with which they built a temple, and erected asia-
tue to Minerva; adorning the temple with paintings, which to tliis
day retain their original beauty and lustre. Botli the Lacediemouians
and Athenians erected trophies separately ; and sending to consult the
oracle at Delphi about the sacrifice they were to offer, they were direcl-
£d by Apollo " to build an altar to Jupiter t/ie DetiLertr, but not to
offer any sacrifice upon it till they had extinguished all the fire In the
country (because it had been polluted by thebarbarians), and sup-
plied themselves with pure fire from the common altar at DelpbL"
Hereupon the Grecian generals went all over the country, and caus-
ed the fires to be put out ; and Euchidas a Flatfean, undertaking to
fetch fire with all imaginable speed from the altar of the god, w«trt
to Delphi, sprinkled and purified himself ilierc with ivater, put a
crowu of laurel on his head, took fire from the uliar, and then hasten-
ed back to Plfltsea, where he arrived before sua set, thus perioiming
ajourneyofa thousand furlongs in one day. But having saluted
his fellow-citizens, and delivered the fire, he fell down on the spit,
and presently expired. The PlaCteaiis carried him to the temple
of Diana, surnamcd Eucleia, and buried him there, puitingthis short
jnseilptlon ou his tomb:

Hire liE> EiuJiidai, who wciit to Delphi, aail returned llie •ame Jay.

As for Eurleiu, the generality believe her to be Diana, and call
her by that name ; but some say she wasdaughter to Hercules and
Myrlo, the daughter of Mcnceeeus, and sister of Patroclus j aiid that,
dying avlrgin, she bad divine honours paid her by the Bceotians imd
Loerians : fur in the market-place of every clly uf theirs slie has a

* Ai lo indiiiduali, when the; ciuie ti> df tcruiiiie nvliicb had bebircil with niMI tour.
*gc, the/Kll g»vejiidgtn(Uliu lavouror Arijludciiiui, hIio uui llieonlji one Ihai hi»l
uied hiiDKlf alTltiTBjojij'liP, aud ni>w wiiied olf llie bleiuj>U bf hJi fornicr cuudi.tl k>*
aglarioiudealh.

^w

558 plltarch's Livej.

stalac aod *a aliar, where persons of bolfa sexes tkai sre hclroditti
offer sacrifice before m-irria^re.

Id the first general assem'ily of the Grrdcs after this victorr, Am-
tldes proposed a decree, "That deputie? from all the states of Gmn
■hoold meet annually at PUnea, t^ sacrifice to Jupiter tAe TieKtmr,
and that every fifth rear ihey shoald celebrate the games of fiterbf:
that a general levy should be made through Greece of ten tlioosuKl
foot, a thousand horse, and a hundred ship*;, for the war aninst tbr
barbarians: and that the Plat leaos should be exempt, beingsetapnt
for the service of the god, to piopittatc litm in behalf of Greece, in]
conseijiiently their persons to be esteemed sacred."

These articles passing into a taw, (he Plaueans undertook to cele-
brate the anniversary of those that n-ere slain and buried in that
place, and they continue it to this day. Tlie ceremony ts as fbilom:
on the sixteenth day of Mattnacterion, Aot'einAer, nrhich, with thr
Boeotians, is the mcinih jllalcomennis, the procession begins >t
break of day, preceded by a trumpet, Mhich sounds the sigtral of bat-
tle. Tlien follow severnl chariots fiill of garlands and branches of
myrtle, and next to the chariots is led a black bull. Tlten comes
some young men thai are free-born, carrying vessels fall of wine and
milk for the libations, and cruets of oil and perfumed essences; no
■lave being allowed to have any share in this ceremony, sacred to
the memory of men tliat died for liberty. The procession closa
with the archon of I'lutaea, who at other times is not allnw-cd either
to touch iron, oi to wear any ^rment but a white one ; but that day
he is clothed with a purple robe, :ind girt wiih s\ sword; and canj-
ing in his baud a wati-r-pot tnken out of the public hall, be mils
through the midst of the city to the tombs. Then he tnkes water Ja
the pot out of a fountain, and, with his own hands, w-ashes the little
pillars of the monunicnls*, and rubs them with essences. After this
he kills the bull upon it pile of wood; and having made his suppli-
cations to the ttrtestiiiil Jupiterf, and Mercury, he invites those
brave men, who fell in tbe cause of Greece to the funeral- banquet,
and the steams of blood. Last of all, he Gils a bowl with wine, and
pouring it out, he says, " I present this bowl to the men who died

* It sppesn from ud vpljnm of CulllniBchui, tbiL il »ti cujtomar; to place Tittle
pitlan upou itie nioiiuiuenu, iiliicli I lie fnendiof Ibe dcccuscd perfumed with euenco.
•nd cruiiiieiJ nilb noiuis.

t TLc Lerrotriiil Ju|ilier ii Plula, wLu, *» well u the celeilial. Iiad b» Mercwy.
<n elie barioRcd the OteiatngGr ul [be gods o[lii> biOitiir. To be lutc, IJicK nifftl
be II Hell mo KlEtcucii'!) as Iwo Jupitcri; liut llie conducting of luuJi to tlieduda
bclaw is icuLuueil part o( tke oQlve ol'lhut Mcrcur;; •>liu wajlt apon tb* JiiuiWi o(

I

ARISTIDF.S. 559

for the lilieriy of Greece." Sueli is tlie ceremony still obseri'ed by
ihe Plmwans.

When (lie AtlienianG were returned home, Anstides observing that
tliey used their utmost endeavours to make the govcriiment entirely
demociBttcul, considered, on one side, that the people deserved some
atteution and respect ou account of their gallant behaviour, and, on
the other, tluit, being dated with their victories, it would be difficult
to force iliem to depart from their puqiose; and tliererore he caused
a decree to be made, that all the citizens slmuld have a share in tho
fldmiiiisiraliou, and that the an- Ac js, should be chosen out of the
whole body of them.

Thcinistoclcs hiivingone day declared to the ^'neral assembly that
he had thouylit of an exi>edient which was very salutary to Athens*,
but ought to he kept secret, he was ordered to communicate it to
Aristides only, and abide by his judgment of it. Accordingly he told
him his project was to bum the whole fleet of the confederates: by
which means the Athenians would be mised to the sovereignty of
all Greece. Aristides then returned to the assembW) and acquainted
tlie Athenians, " That nothing could be more advantageous than the
project of Thcmistoclcs, nor any thing more unjust." And, upon
hia report of the matter, they commanded Theniistoclcs to give over
nil thoughts of it. Such regard bad that people fur justice, and 90
much confidence in the integrity of Aristides.

Some time after this f he was joined in a commission with CImon,
and sent against ihe barbariuns ; where, observing that Pausanias and
the other Spartan generals beluivcd with cxc«ssive haughtiness, he
cbosc a quite ditferent manner, showing much mildness and con-
descension in his whole conversation and address, and prevailing
with Cimon to behave with e(|ual goodness and aflability to the wiiote
league. Thus he insensibly drew thechiefcomuiand from the Lacc-
<ltemonians, not by force of arms, horses, or ships, but by his gentle
and obligii'g deportment. For the justice of Aristides, and the
candour of Cimon, having made the Athenians very agreeable to
(he confederates, their regard was Increiiscd by the contrast they found
in Pansanias' avarice and scvciity ofmuuners; for be never spoke
to the officers of the allies but with sharpness and anger, and he or-
dered many of their men to be flogged, or to stand all day with an
iron anchor on their shoulders. He would not suflV-r uny of them
to provide tlicmselves with foragv or straw to lie on, or to go to the
, springs for water, before the Spartans were supplied, but placed his

* Tliii wu before the battle of rialM, II tltct'mr hIifq Xcrie: wu put lo flight,
111 driitn back iiilo Ajia,
t Eijlit jr»u .fttr,

J60 i-lutarch's lives.

scn'ants there wiili rods lo drive away those that shoold attoy
ft — And whey Arisliilcs was going to remonstrate with him Qpooit,
be knit his brows, and, telting him " He was not at leisure," n
to hear him.

From that time the sea-cnptains and latid-ollicen of Ibc Gmfa,
particularly those of Chios, Samos, and I^^bos, pressed Aristidetto
take npon him the command of the confederate forces, and 10 »•
ceive them into his protection, since thi'v had long desired to be df
lircred from the Spartan yoke, und to act under the orders oflbi
Athenians. He answered, " That he saw the necessity andjostiot
of what they proposed, l)ut that the proposal ought first to be e
firmed by some act, which would make it impossible for the tro
to depart from tlieir resolution." Hereupon Uliades of Sunos, sad
Antagoras of Chios, conspiring together, went boldly atid attacked
Pansanias' gallt'y at tlie head of the fleet. Pausanias uponihts la-
aolcnce cried wH, in n menacing tone, " He would soon show iIkw:
fellows they had not offered this iusuh to his ship, but to their omt
countries." But they told him, " The besi thing he could do wu
to retire, and thank fortune for fighting for him at Platjeaj fbrthit
umhing but llic regard they had for tliat great action restrained d>t
Greeks from wreaking their just vengeance oo bim." Tlie cooclo-
ffloii was, that they quitted the SparUn banners, and ranged them-
selves under those of the Athenians.

On this occasion the magnanhnity of the Spartan people appeared
with great lustre. For as soon as they |>erceived their generals were
sjjoiled with too much power, they sent no more, but voluntarily ga«
lip llieir pretensions to the chief command; choosing rather to
cultivate in their citizens a principle of modesty and tenaciousnes
of the laws and customs of their couutrj', tlian to possess the suvereigu
command of Greece

While the Laccdfcuionians had the command, the Greeks paid «
certain tax towards llie war; and now, being desirous that evoy
city might be more equally rated, tliey begged the favour of the
Atiieniiins that Aristidcs might take it upon him, and give him in-
structions to inspect their lands and revenues, in order to proponioD
the burden of each to its ability.

Aristidcs, invested with this authority, which in a manner made
iiira master of all Greece, did not abuse it : for, though he weW
out poor, he returned poorer, having settled the quotas of the several
states not only justly and disinterestedly, but with so much tender-
ness and humanity, that his assessment was agreeable and con-
venient to all. And as the ancients praised the limes of Satura, so
the allies of Athens blest the setttements of Arbtides^ calUi^ it

J

ARISTID£S. 561

'I ■ ■

the happy fortune of Greece; a conYliment which soon after ap-
peared still more jtist^ when this taxation was twice or three times as
high: for that of Aristidcs amounted only to four kUndred and sixty
talents, and Pericles increased it almost one third; for Tliucydides
writes^ that at the beginning of the war the Athenians received from .
their allies six hundred talents; and, ^fter the death of Pericles,
those that had the administration in their hands raised it by little and
little to the sum of thirteen hundred talents. Not that the war grew
more expensive, either by its length or want of success, but because
they had accustomed the people to receive distributions of money for
the public spectacles and other purposes, and had made tliem fond of
ei'ecting magnificent statues and temples.

The great and illustrious character which Axis tides acquired by the
equity of this taxation piqued Themistocles, and he endeavoured to
turn the praise bestowed upon him into ridicule, by saying, " It was
not the praise of a man, but of a money-chest, to keep treasure with-^
out diminution." By tl»is he took but a feeble revenge for the free-
dom of Aristidcs: for one day Themistocles happening to say,
** That he looked upon it as the principal excellence of a general to
know and foresee the desiijjns of the enemy," Aristidcs answered,
^* That is indeed a necessary qualification: but there is another very
excellent one, and highly becoming a general, and that is, to have
clean hands."

When Aristidcs had settled the articles of alliance, he called upon
the confederates to confirm them with an oath, which he himself
took on the part of the Athenians ; and, at the same lime that he
uttered the execration on those that should break the articles, he
threw rc(l-iu)t pieces of iron into the sea*. However, when the ur-
gency of affairs afterwards required the Athenians to govern Greece
with a stricter iiand than those conditions justified, he advised them
to let the consequences of the perjury rest with him, and pursue the
path which expediency had pointed outf. Upon the whole, Theo-
phrastus says, that in all his own private concerns, and in those of his
fellow-citizens, he was inflcxiWy just, but in affairs of state he did
many things, according to the exigency of the case, to serve his

•

• As much as to fl.\v, as the fire in thetp piccej of iron is extinguislied in a raonicnt
so may their clays be exliuc* wlu) brtrak tins covenant.

t Thus cvvn the juit, the upright Ari5hdei, made a distinction between his private
■nd polilicrtl conscience. A distinction wh:ch has no manner of foundation in truth or
reason, and which, in the end, will be productive of ruin, rather than advantage; as all
those natioDi wili find, who avail fbemseives of injustice to kerve u present occaiioo^ for
CO much reputation is so much power; and states, as well as private persons, are rospccr
able only in their cbaraoter. ^

\0UA. No, 17. BBBB

rUTTABCH S LIVES.

country, which seemed often v* have need of the assistance of mj
ticc. And he retnics, that when it was debated in council, «\ie
the treasure deposited at Delos should be broug^ht to Aihcns^ia
Samians had advised, though contrary to treaties, on i« M
to his turn to speak, he said, " It ^vas not just, but h «tt
pedient."

Tiiis must be said, notwithstanding, that thougli he extcodri
dominion of Athens over so many people, he himself still conlii
poor, and esteemed his poverty no less a glury than all the hud

had won The following is a clear proof of it. Callias tbe 4

bearer, who was liii near relation, was prosecuted in a eapittlii
by his enemies. When they had alleged what they had agvnft I
which was nothing ver)' (lagrant, they launched out iniowmcij
foreign to their own charge, and tlius addressed the judges:—"
know Aristides the son of L}'simachus, who is justly the adnM
of all Rreece. When yon see with what a garb he appous id ft
in what manner do yon think he must live at home ? Mast td
who shivers here witli cold fur want of clothing, be almost face
there, and (lestitule of all necessaries? yet this is the mui ■!
Callins,hiscousin'german, and the richest man in Athens, alwii
neglects, in)d leavesj with his wife and children, in such wrdd
ness; though helms often made use of him, and availed hnuri
his interest with you." Callias, pcrceiviug that this pdirtdi
and exasperated his judges more than any thing else, called M
tides to testify before the court that lie had many times oflenfl
considerable sum^, and strongly pressed him tu accept them, In
Iiad always refused them, in such terms as these : " It better bi
Aristides to gUny in his jiovcny, than Callias in his rieho; !
see every day many people make a good as well as a bad u
but it is hard to find one that hears poverty with a noble si
they are only ashamed of it who are poor against their will."
Aristides had given in his evideiiccj there was noi a inan ii
who did not leave it with an inclination rather to be poor m
than rich with O.llias. This [jarticular we linve from .T
disciple of Socrates. And Plato, among all that ^rere ■
and lUustiious men in Athens, judged none but .Aristides*
real esteem. As for Tliemistoclcs, Cimon, and Pericles, thn I
the city with magnificent buildings, with wealth, and ibe TvnMf
fluities of life; but virtue was the only object that Aristklet ki
view in the whole course of his administration.

We have extraordinary instances of the candour with whid
haved towards Tliemistoclcs : for though he was
in all afiairs of goverumcnt, and the mcaos of Im I

AlUSTIDES. 563

«•■

when Themistocles was accused of capit<'il crimes against the state^
and lie had an opportunity to pay him in kind, he indulged not the
least revenge; but while Alcmieon, Cimon, and many others, were
accusing him, and driving him into exile, Aristides alone neither did
nor said any thing to his disadvantage : for, as he had not envied his
prosperity, so now he did not rejoice in his misfortunes.

As to the death of Aristides, some say it happened in PontuSj
whither he had sailed about some business of the state ; others say
he died at Athens, full of days, honoured and admired by his fellow-
citizens; but Crater us the Macedonian gives us another account of
the death of this great man. He tells us, that, after the banishment
of Themistocles, the insolence of the people gave encouragement to
a number of villanous informers, who, attacking the greatest and best
men, rendered them obnoxious to the populace, now much elated
with prosperity and power. Aristides himself was not spared, but^
on a charge brought against him by Diophantus of Ampliitrope, was
condemned for taking a bribe of the lonians, at the time he levied
the tax. He adds, that being unable to ^ay his fine^ which was fifty
fnimSf he sailed to some part of Ionia, and there died. But Craterus
gives us no written proof of this asseition, nor does he allege any re-
gister of court or decree of the people, though on other occasions he
is full' of such proofs, and constantly cites his author. The other
hiiftoriaus, without exception, who have given us an account of the
unjust behaviour of the people of Athens to their generals, among
many other instances, dwell upon the banishment of Themistocles,
the imprisonment of Miltiades, the fine imposed upon Pericles, and
the death of Pachas, who, upon receiving sentence, killed himself in
the judgment-hall, at the foot of the tribunal. Nor do they for-
get the banishment of Aristides, but they say not one word of his
condem nation.

Besides, his monument is still to be seen at Phalerum> and is said
to have been erected at the public charge, because he did not leave
enough to defray the expenses of his funeral. They inform us too^
that the city provided for the marriage of his daughters, an J that each
of them had three thousand draclnnte to her portion out of the trea-
sury; and to hb son Lysimachus the people of Athens gave a hun-
dred mince of silver, and a plantation of as many acres of land, with a
pension of four drachmae a-day * ; the whole Seing confirmed to him by

* Though this maji teem no extraordinary matter to us, being only about half a

•rown uf our monej, yet in those days it n^as: for an ambassador was allowed only two

drachmas a-day, as appears from t^ Achamenits of Aristophanes. The poet, indeed,

apeaks of oye sent to the king of Persia, at v«hose coiirt an ambassador was pretty s«r«

j^h^ epriciied.

V(4

ruciMMtm^

^ * — —

^ ^ ^ ^ *

<i^ h^ p^^fTTT. Bet rl*n It *afic^::j ccs^caef 3ir nasm&sAi

teilfr w>l

%Uuf\y %a:slt rV; tMnplc frf BaccLi^s Lrrbwr cga^M. ^afc&s ir^sfil
\jt 'iUf erf,ttxeti firetiT;* for a lirdiLc-.-i ; »r<i
a d:!^r<:", bjr which hw mr^h^r 2:r»d aa&t
SitUmtfi for th^ir «ul>%Ut::ncr. He i]«nher

uUrrvntr^sS ht uridert^xyk to refr/riD :be Athenkui laws, he erieri
r^ch rif th^i&« women a Jraehma ^-'iav. Xor is it «» k vuiui
llut thi% iftople t(yjk so much care of those tlzxL Urcd wiA tScsi
Athen^^wheri having heard tl;at a ^rarid-Jauefater of Anscoj^itniM
in mean circumstances in I^cninos, and ctintinued mmiamed tprn-
%ffn of her pfjvcriy, they sent for her to Athens, and uamed ham
man of a cmisiderahle family, {raving her for a |x>rtioo mcttsKa
the Ixirough of Fotamr^. 1 liat city, evco in oar days, contiusc s
^ive so many proofs of her henevolence and humanity, that she btt-
sfrrverJIy arlmired and applauded hy all the world.

CATO THi: CENSOR.

IT IS Kaid ilmt Marcus Cuto was born at Tiisculani, of which
j)1ace his family <^rjVinally was, and that before he was coiKerncJiB
civil or military aftaiis, be lived upon an estate which his father left
bitn near the country of ilbc Sabiiics. Though his ancestors were
reckoned to have been persons of no note, yet Cato himself boasts
ofhi.s father as a brave nian and an excellent soldier, and assures as
tl.;.t bis mnandtatber Cato received several military rewards, and that
having' Imd five bor;ses killed under bini, be bad the value of them paid
biiii otit of the in usury, us an iickuowledijnient of his gallant bd»-

viour. As the Romans always gave the appelklion oiiiew vien* to
those who, having no honours transmitted to them from ihcir ances-
tors, began to distinguish themselixs, ihey mentioned Ciilo by the
same style: bui he Uied to say, he was indeed wm* with respect to
offii-es and dignities, but, wiili regnrd to the services and virtues of
- his ancestors, he was very ancient.

His third name, at first, was not Cato, but Porcius. It was after-
wards changed to that of Cato, on aecount of his groat wisdom; for
the Romans call wiite tncu Calonf, He had red hair and grey eyes,
as this epigram ill-naturedly enough declares:

Wiih eyti so B"'y »'") '■•'' " ""I'

Wilb tutkll 10 sl.<irp and Lccn.
Tliou'il fnglit Ibe sbodct »bcii tliou arl dead,

And bell HOD-I let llx-e iu.

Inured to labour and temperance, and brought up, as it were, in
camps, he had an excellent constitution, with respetl to strength as
well as health. And he considered eloquence as a valuable contin-
gent, an instrument of great things, not only useful, but necessary
for every man who does not clioose to live obscure and Inactive; for
which reason he exercised and improved that talent in the neighbour-
ing boroughs and villages, by undertaking the causes of such as applied
to him ; so that he was soon allowed to be an able pleader, and after-
wards a good orator.

From this time, all ihal conversed with him discovered in him such a
gravity of beliaviour, such a dignity and depth of sen timent,a3 qualjiieil
him fur the greatest a ftiiirs in the most respectable government in the
woild. For he was not only so disinterested astoplead witli^ut fceor
reward, but it appeared that the honour to be gained in that department
was not his principal view; his amb'ltoii was miliiary g!<jry; andjwlien
yet but a youth, he had fought so many battles that his breast was full
of scars. He himself tells us he made his first campaign at scvcniecti
years of age, when Hannibal, in tin* height of his prosperity, was
layaig Italy waste with tire and sword. Iu battle he sIoihI firm, had

* Tlic juM iffuginura *■* inneird to (hs grenl officii of ilalc, iiiil none hid their
Matuo or picluies but luch m hud bocoe tlioae olliccs, TUcrefoic, be wlto liad the pu:-
tuttt uf bi> ancrslon w» tailed italJe; he who bud •iu\y lii» i^iiii wu caileil « bcb iuuu;
and be wlio liad neilliet the one uot llie uilier wu chilled iguable. So .ajs Aicoiiiui.
But it doci uot (ppirar iLbI a uiau nbo liid borue a greil uffitt, tlic touiuliiii' hii Ih-
■(■uce, *■■ igibiUe. bcciuic he bad nut Iiii ilatue at {uctiire ; lur be Diight iiul chow it.
Cat* hiniKK did nul Lbuoir il : Lii restoa, we gu|ipuiF, w», liei:ausi; be liaJ none vi hit
auccfl9^, Iliuugh be viai yihuir'i lo lau^u aiiuLler.

I Tbe Lniia word calHi iigiiifie* " jicudeal."

t The cpiftiamiDHliil, whcu be tiijt Ibat lie «M paiidalitlii, " one [bit bit crcr; lLiii{
Il |t»t caaie in Lit wo v,' plaji upon bit name of ^prtiin, quasi i'on-w, ■■!ioj."

566 Plutarch's lives.

a sure and executing hand, a fierce countenance^ and spoke to i»
enemy in a threatening and dreadful accent; for he rigbtly judged^
and endeavoured to convince others, that such a kind of bebiTioitf
often strikes an adversary with greater terror than the sword itself.
He always marched on foot, and carried his own arms^ followed oo^
by one servant, who carried his provisions. And it is said he Deter
was angry, or found fault with that servant, wliatever he set before
him ; but when he was at leisure fiom military duty^ he would eaie
and assist him in dressing it. All the time he was in the army lie
drank nothing but water^ except that, when almost burnt up witk
thirst, he would ask for a little vinegar, or^ when he found his
strength and spirits exhausted, he would take a little wine.

Near his country scat was a cottage which formerly belonged t9
JVIauius Curius^, who was thrice honoured with a triumph. Caio
often walked thither, and reflecting on the smallnes&of the farm, and
the meanness of the dwelling, used to think of the peculiiEur virtoei
of Dentatus, who, though he was the greatest man in Rome, W
subdued the most warlike nations, and driven Pyrrhus out of Italy,
cultivated this little spot of ground with his own hands, and, after
three triumphs, lived in this cottage. Her^ the ambassadors of tbe
Samnites found him in the chimney corner, dressing turnips, and
offered him a large present of gold; but he absolutely refused it,
and gave them this answer, A man who can be satisfied with sttdk
a snpper has no 7ieed of gold; and 1 think it more gloriinu to
conquer the owners of it than to have it myself. Full of these
thoughts, Cato returned home, and taking a view of his own estate,
his servants, and manner of living, added to his own labour, and
retrenched his unnecessary expenses.

When Fabius Maxinius took the city of Tarentum, Cato, who
was then very youngf, scn^d under him. Happening at that time
to lodge with a Pythagorean philosopher named Nearchus, he desired
to hear some of his doctrine; and learning from him the same
maxims which Plato advances, That pleasure is the greatest incen-
live to evil; thai the gi-eafest burden and calamity to the soul it
the bodt/,fro7n which she cannot disengage herself, but by such a
wise use of reason as shall wean and separate her frofn ait corpo-
real passions ; he became still more attached to frugality and tem-

* Manius Curium Dentatus triumphed twice in his first coosoUte* in the foQr handrcd
aii'l sixty tiiird >car oi Rome. l>st over the Samnites, and afterwardt over tbe Sabiacs.
And elHit ^cars after that, in his third consulate, he triumphed over Pjirbos. After
xXix-i, he I'Hi up tl»e less triuiu|)li, called Ccat'um, for his victory over tbe T^ucaQiana.

t Fahius Maiimus took Tarentuio in his fifth consulate, in the year of Rome 5li.
Cato was then twenty-three years old^ but he bad made bis first campmi^ uyiitx ibe
name ITubius five years before.

CATO THE CENSOR. bSj

perance. Yet it is said that he learned Greek very late, and was
considerably advanced in years when he began to read the Grecian
writers, among whom he improved his eloquence, -somewhat by
Thucydides, but by Demosthenes very greatly. Indeed, his own
writings are sufficiently adorned with precepts and examples borrowed
from the Greek, and among his maxims and sentences we find many
that are literally translated from the same originals.

At that time there flourished a Roman nobleman of great power
and eminence, called Valerius Fiaccus, whose penetration enabled
him to distinguish a rising genius and virtuous disposition, and whose
benevolence inclined him to encourage and conduct it in the path of
glory. This nobleman had an estate contiguous to Cato's, where he
often heard his servants speak of his neighbour's laborious and tempe-
rate manner of life. They told him that he used to go early in the
morning to the little towns in the neighbourhood, and defend the
xrauses of such as applied to him; that from thence he would return
to his own form, where, in a coarse frock, if it was winter, and naked,
if it was summer, he would labour with his domestics, and after-
wards sit down with them, and ^at the same kind of bread, and
^rink of the same wine. Ttiey related also many other instanoes of
hi3 condescension akid moderation, and mentioned several of his
short sayings, that were full of wit and good sense. Valerius,
charmed with his character, sent him an invitation to dinner. From
that time, by frequent conversation, he found in him so much
sweetness of temper, and ready wit, tiiat he considered him as aa
excellent plant, which wanted only cultivation, and deserved to be
removed to a better soil. He therefore persuaded him to go to
Rome, and apply himself to affairs of state.

Tiiere his pleadings soon procured him friends and admirers; the
interest of Valerius, too, greatly assisted his rise to preferment; so
that he was first made a tribune of the soldiers, and afterwards
quaestor. And having gained great reputation and iionour in those
^Dployments, he was joined with Valerius himself in the highest
dignities, being his colleague both as consul and as censor.

Among all the ancient senators, he attached himself chiefly to

Fabius Maximus, not so much on account of the great power and

lK)DOur he had acquired, as for the sake of his life and manners,

which Cato considered as the best model to form himself ui)on. So

*^ Aat he made no scruple of differing with the great Scipio, who,

^^ Hiough at that time but a young man, yet, actuated by a spirit of

- ^ emulation, was the person who most opposed the power of Fabius.

K 4 For being sent quaestor with Scipio to the war in Africa, and per-

Criving tjbat he indulged liimself^ as usual, in an unbounded expense^

/

*6s

PlA'TARCil S I.IVES.

' to remonstrate; observini;, " Tliat ilie expense I'lsolf wm
greatest evil, Ijiit liie consequence of lliat ex|)ciise, sii
the ancient simplicity of the soltljcry, wlio, when tliey had more
ney than was necessary for their subsistence, were sure lo betum i
Upon luxury and riot." Scipio answered, " He had oo aeti of
« very exact and frtignl treasurer, because he intended to spread iS
bis sails in ilic ocean of war, and because his country expected fron
luRt an ncrount of serTJccs performed, not of inoncy expendci"
/Upon this Cato left Sicily, and returned to Konie, where, togttlu
with Fabius, he loudly complained to the senate of " Scipw's im-
mense profusion, and of his passing his time like a boy, in wresilii^
rings <ind theatres, as if be hail not been sent out to niake vrar, bat
to exhibit games and shows." In consequence of this, tribaut
were sent to examine into the affair, with' orders, if the iccusitiai
proved true, to biiug Scipio back tu Rome. Scipio represented id
them, " Tbat success depended ttitirely upon the great ocss of the
prepnmtions;". and riade ihcm sensible, " Tliut though he speDthi*
hours of leisure in a cheerful manner with his friends, his lUwnl
way of living had not caused him to neglect any great or imporcuit
husincss " With this defence the cominiss loners were satisfied, ui
he id sail for Africa.

Ai for Cato, he coulinued lo gain so much influence and aulhoritv
by hU eloquence, tixt he was commonly call<-ii tlie R-mian Demas-
thenes; but he was still more celebrate',' for his manner of livio^.
His excellence bs a sijcalter awakened a general emulation amoQj;
the youth lo dijlinguish ihcmseh-es the same way. and lo surpass
each other: but few were wilUiig to imitate htm in the ancient caj-
tom of tilling the field with their own hands, in catiug a dinner pre-
pared wllhout fire, and a sjjare frugal supper; few, like him, couU
be satisfied with a plain dress and a poor cottage, or think it mote

I honourable not to want the superfluities of life, than to |H>sse&s them.

For the conimonwcnlth now no longer retained its primitive parity
and integrity, by reason of the vast extent of its doniiuious; lJ»e
many djfterent affairs under its management, and the inflnite num-
ber uf people that weie iubject to its command, had introduced!
great variety of customs and modes of living. Justly, thereforc,wu
Cato entitled to admiration, when the other citizens were frightened
at labour, and enervated by pleasure, and lie alone was uncon^iKixd
by either, not only while young and ambitious, but whca old md
grey-baircd, after his consulship and triumph ; like a brave wrestler,
who, after be bas come off conqueror, observes the common rutn,
and continues his exercises to the last.

r

CATO THE CENSOR. ftfij)

' He himself tells us that li<^ ncvtr wore a g.iniient thai cost more

thsH a liuiidrcU ilrarhmer, tliat, tveii wlicn prstor or cniisul, he
drank tlie same wine with lih slaves; thai a dinner Dcvc-r lusi him
from ilic msrtiel above iliirty ajr«; nnd that 'he wqr Urns frugal fur
the snlte afliis countty, that he ii)i;;ht be nble to endure the harder
service in war. He addx, that having got, nniongKomc (loods he
HBs heir to, a piece of Baliylonian lapesiry, he solj it iniinediaK-ly;
that (he walls of his country-houses were neii)ierpla.''ti'rfdncr white-
washed; that he never gave more for a slave than lit'ieen hundred
drofAfute, as not requiring in his sen-»iils delicate shajiex and fine
faces, but sircnffth and ability lo labour, that they init<ht be fit to be
employed in his fialtles, about his catile, or such like busincs; and
these he thought proper to sell a^iti when they grew old*, iliut he
might have qu useless |>ers'inii to maintain. In a word, lie tliougitt
nulhinf cheap that was supertluous ; that what a man has iio need of
is dear even at a penny; end that it is mucli belter to hare fields where
tlie plouf^h goes, or cattle Iced, than fine gardetis and yialks that re-
^tiire much w.itering and sweeping.

Some iiiipuiid iliesc things to a narrowness of spirit, nhilc others
supposed that he betook himself to this contracted manner of living
in order to cornel, by his example, the growing luxury ot the age.
For my part, i cannot but charge his using his servants like so many
beasts of burden, and turning iheiii olf, or selling theai, when grown
old, tu the account uf a mean and ungeiici'ous spirit, which thinks
that the sole tie between man and man is inttrcsi or necessity. But
goodness moves in a larger sphere than ju^ttLc; the ohli},'utionsof
law and equity reach only to munkitid, but kindness and beneficenee
should be extended lo creatures of every species; and the.se still flow
from the breast of a well-natured man, as streams thut issue from
the living fountain. A guod man will take care of his horKcs anil
dogs, not only while they are young, but when old and past service.
Thus the people of Athens, when ihcy hail finished the temph' called
Htcalamiieiliiii, set ui liberty titc beasts of buideti that had been
chiefly employed in thai work, sul1'enii|? them to pasture at large,
free from any further service. It is said that one of these afterwords
came of its own accord to work, and pulling itself at ihc head of the

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CCCC

570 Plutarch's lives.

lalwuring cattle, marched before them to the citadel. This pletsed
the people, and they made a decree that it should be kept at the
pubh'c charge as long as it lived. The graves of Cimon's mares,
with which he thrice conquered at the Olympic games, are still to be
seen near his own tomb. Many have shown particular marks of re-
gard in burying tlie dogs which they had cherished and been food of;
and, among the rest, Xanthippus of old, who0e dog swam by the
ftide of his galley to Salamis, when the Athenians were forced to
abandon their city, was afterwards buried by his master npoD a pio-
montory, which to this day is called the dog* s grave. We ccrtaiolf
ought not to treat living creatures like shoes or household goods,
which, when worn out with use, we throw away; and, were itonh
to learn benevolence to human kind, we should be merciful to odm
creatures. For my own part, I would not sell even an old oi thit
had laboured for me ; much less would 1 remove, for the sake of t
little money, a man grown old in my ser\*ice, from his usual pbec
and diet; for to him, p(X)r man ! it would be as bad as banishmeot,
since he could be of no more use to the buyer than he was tothesd'
ler. Hut Cato, as if he took a pride in these things, tells us, that
when consul, he left his war-horse in Spain, to save the public the
charge of liis freight. \\'hethcr such things as these are instancesof
greatness or littleness of soul, let the reader judge for himself.

He was, however, a man of wonderful temperance?: for, wbea
general of the army, he took no nion? from the public, for himseU
and those about him, than three Attic medimni of wheat a-niODth,
and less than a medimuus and a half of barley for his horses. Aad
wlun he was governor of Sardinia, thoujrh his predecessors had put
tlie province to a very great expense for pavilions, beddin?, and ap-
parel, and still more by tlie nnmber of friends and servants they had
about them, and by the great and sumptuous entertainments they
gave. In", on the contrary, was as remar!.ablc for his frugality. Io»
deed, he put the public to no manner of charge. Instead of makiif
use of a eiiriirige, he walked from one town to another, attended only
by one oflicor, who carried his robe and a vessel for libations. Butil
in these ihlngs he appeared plain and easy to those who were underhil
comnKMul, lie preserved a gravity and severity in every thing else. For
he was inexorable in wliatever related to public justice, and ioflezibl}
rigid in the execution of his orders ; so that the Roman govemmenthad
never before appeared to that people either so awful or so amiable*.

This contrast was found not only in his manners^ but in hblMe,

* II is unly amuiement was to hear tlie iastructioni of the poet Eudjiu^ andcr wboa he
Ir: .trued t!ie Gn'ck «cience9. He banUlicil usurers from bis proTiacc^ «id Rdsccd tht

.'>i.^rcM upun iodiis aliuoAt to nothing.

r

CATO THE CENSOR. 571

which was elegant, fucciious, anil familiar, and at tlie saniL- time
grave, nervous, and sententious. Tims Flato tells us, "The out-
side of Socrates was that of a satyr and buffoon, but his soul was all
virtue, and from within hitn came sueh divine and pathetic things, as
[lierced ilie heart, aud drew tears from the hearers." And as the
same may justly be sfKraied of Caio, I cannot euinprehend ibeir
meaning who compare his language lo that of Lysias. I leave this,
however, to be decided by those who are more capable than myself of
judging of the several sorts of style used among the Komans: and
bciuf; persuaded that a man's disposition may be discovered much
better liy his speeeh than by his looks (though some are of a different
opiui'Ui), I sliall set down some of Calo's remarkable sayings.

One day when the llomuns elainourcd violently and unseasonably
fur a distribution of corn, to difsuude tlifni from it, he thus began
his address : It is a lUffintU lask, mi/ fi-Uow-cilke/u, to Speafi to the '
belli/, because it has no earx. Another time, complaining nf the
luxury of the Kotiiiius, he said. It tuns a hard mttltey to save thnt
cUi/ from ruin n-herr a fiab wit-i sold J'ur more than un oj: On
another uceasion he said, The Raman pe<iple were li/ce sheep, J'or an
those cnii scarce be brought to itir ningiy, but all in a boily readily
follow their leaden, jiut such arci/e: the mat wtione counsel i/ou
would not tufie as individuals, lead you with ease in a crowd.
Speakin^r of the power t.f women, he said, .-ill inett naiurailif govern
the women, we gmrern all men, and our wives got'em us. But this
might be taken from the Apupluheg^iis of Themistucles : for,hissan
dln.-eliii^ in most ihings through his rnoiher, he said. The Athe-
niaiiSj govern the Greeks, I govern the Aiheniatis, you, wife, go-
vern me, mid your ton governs you; let him then use that fjower
Kith moderation, tchirh, ihild as he is, sets him above all tha
Greeks. Another of Caio's sayings was. That the Homan peopla
jixed the value, not only of ilte several kinds of culuurs, htU of (he
artsaHdicieticea: for,iiAAcA\\c, as the dyers dye, that sort of
purple which is most agreeable lo you, xo our youth only study and
strive to excel in such thing* as yon esteem and cunimrnd. Ex-
horting the people to virtue, he said, ^ It is by virtue and temper-
ance thai you are become great, vhaiti^e not for the u-orse ; but (^
Ay intemperance and vtre, change frir the better; far you are
ulrcndy i^rent enough by such means as titcse Of such as uerc
perpetually solieiiitig for great offKes, he said, Lilte men who Awmi
not theincay, they wanted tictors always to catuluct them. Hu
found fault with ihe people for often choosing tht: same persons
consub: You cither, sjuA \te, thinlt tlte conmlate of little worth, or
that there are but fav worthy of the consulate. Concerning one

575 PLUTARCH*8 UVltS.'

of Lis enemies who led a very profligate and iufaiiHMis life, he
JJis mother takes it for a airse, and noi a pray'erj whtfn WK§mt
wishes this son may survive her. Pointing' to a man who hid soU
a paternal estate near the sea-side^ he pretended to admire him, a
one that was stronger than the sea itself: Far^ said he, tchatih
sea could not have swallowed without diffictgltyy this mem hastdta
d^wm with all the ease imaginable. When king Eomenes* cnoe
to Rome, the senate received him with extraordinary respect, and the
great n)cn strove which should do him the most honour; hot Cm
visibly neglected and shunned him. Upon which somebody sd,
ffhif do yon shun Eumeiies, who is so good a man, tsnd 90gni
a friend to the Romans? That may he, answered Cato, but Ihtk
ttpon a king as a creature that feeds upon hfiman Jlesh\ ; andtf
all the Atn^> that hare been so much cried up, I find not one tok
compared with an Epaininondas, a Pericles, a Themistoclrs, •
Manius Curius, or with ilaniilcar, sumamed Barcas. He used to
say, that hh enemies hated him because he neglected his oararoi-
cernSy and rose In fore day to mind those of the public. But tki
he had rather his good actions should go unrcwartled, than hishtd
ones v.f] vni.'ihed; and that he pardoned every bcdy*s faults twmtf
than his ouiu 'Mie Romans having sent three ambassadors to the
kii"!: o{ Biihynia, of whom one had the gout, another had his skuQ
trcpnrmecl, and liie x\.\t{\ was reckoned little better than a fool Cito
smiled, and s.ii J, Thy had sent an embassy which had neither fed^
head, nor heart. Wiicn Scipio applied to him, at the request o(
Polylj .:*?, in bihaU* of the Achiean exiles J, and the "matter was
much tanvusscd in tl»c senate, some speaking for their bein^ restor-
ed, and some against it, Cato rose up, and said, ^4s if we had nothing
else to do, we sit hrre all day debating whether a few poor M
Circcks Jndlhe Iwrirdby our grave diggers^ or those of their om
country. The senate then decreed that the exiles should retnm
home; and P()lyl)iiis, some days after, endeavoured to procure
another meeting of that respectable body, to restore those exiles to

• Eumcncs Htnt to Rome ia the jrear of Reme 58t. Cato was then thirtr-obe
jcurs old

i Tins jet is tukcn from that expression in the first book of lioiQer's Iliad
baiitchs, *' king ihul di'vourcst tliv people."

t Tlie Acha in-, in the first vear of the hundred and fifty-third OlvmpiaiL

into meakuies lor delivering up ihei^ country to the king of Persia, bn^ beioff diaMCRll
a thousand ol tl»cin were seized, and con^peiled to live exiles in Italy. Ther« tier ea»-
tinued sexenieen years; after which, about three hundred,' who were stUi living, were
restored by a decree of the senate, whiph was particolarly nide in fmroiir of MjUbl
who was one of the numben

CATO THE CENSOH. 673

their former honours in Achaia. Upon this affair he sounded Cato^
mho answered smiling, I%is was just as if Ulysses should havt
toanied to enten the Cyclops* cave again for a hat and a belt which
he kiul left behind. It was a saying of his. That wise men learn
more Jrom fools, thanfoolsfirom the wise; for the wise avoid the
trrors offoolsy while fools do not profit by the examples of the tvise^
Another of his sayings was. That he liked a young man that
blushed, more than one thai turned pale; and that he-did not like
a soldier who moved his hands in marching, and his feet in fights
ing, and who snored louder in bed than he shouted in battle. Jest-
ing upon a very fat man, he said, Cf what service to his country
Wn such a body be, which is nothing but belly? When an epicure
desired to be admitted into his friendship, he said, He cotdd not live
path a man whose palate had quicker sensatiotis than his hearty
He used to say, The soul of a lover lived in the body of another:
And that in all his life he never repented but of three things; the
first was, that he had trusted a woman with a secret; the second,
that he had gone by sea, when he might have gone by land; and
the third, that he had passed one day without having a will by
him*. To an old debauchee, he said. Old age has deformities
enough of its own : do not add to it the deformity of vice, A tri-
bune of the people, who had the character of a poisoner, proposing a
|)ad law, and taking great pains to have it passed, Cato said to him^
Young mauj I know not which is most dangerous, to drink what
you mix, or to enact what you propose. Being scurrilously treated
by a man who led a dissolute and infamous life, he said. It is upon
very unequal terms that I contend with you; for you are accus^
tamed to be spoken ill of, and can speak it with pleasure ; but with
fne it is unusual to hear it, and disagreeable to speak it. Such was
the manner of his repartees and short sayings.

Being appointed consul along with his friend Valerius Flaccus, the
government of that part of Spain which the Romans call Citerior^
^* hither," fell to his lotf* Whilehe was subduing some of the nations
there by arms, and winning others by kindness, a great' army of bar-
barians fell upon him, at)d he was in danger of being driven out with

* This lias been misonderstood bjr all the tran»lators» who have agreed in readeriiig
it, " that he had passed one day idly."

t Af Cato's troops consisted, for the most part, of raw soldiers, he took great pains to
dbcipliQ^ them, considering that they had to deal with the Spaniards, who, in their wart
wail the Romans and Carthaginians, had learned the military art, and were naturally
bimve and coarageous. Before he came to action, he sent away his fleet, that his sol>
4iers might place all their hopes in their valour. With the same view, when he cane
near the enemy, he took a compass, and posted his army bdiincl them in the plain ; to
f|iat the Spaniards were between him and hii camp.

S74 Plutarch's uvcsw

dishonour. Ou this occasion he sent to desire su4XJuai> q£ im
neighbours the Celtiberians, who demanded two hmidTcd akotslv
that service. All the officers of bis army thought it iDiolcnbie dM
the Romans should be obliged to purchase assistance o( the buk-
rians; but Cato said. It U no such great hardship ^ Jhr if vrcoa-
qucTj we shall pay them at the eiiemy^s expence^ ^Mdy if memt
ronqneredy there will he nobody either to pay or wsakr the dtmmai.
He gained the battle, and every thing afterwards ssicceedcd to Ui
wish. Polybius tells us, that tlie walls of all the Spaniditovmai
this side the river Bsetis were razed by his oommand in one dij^,
notwithstanding the towns were numerous^ and their inhihiw
brave. Cato himself says, he took more cities tlian he spent dm ii
Spain; nor is it a vain boast, for they were acrtualiy no fewer doi
four hundred. Though tlus campaign aSbrded tlie soldien pas
booty, he gave each of them a pound weight of sillier besides, savii^
// was Itetter that many of the Romans should reiwm with sikerk
their poc/ic'tSf than -a few irith gold. And fur his own part, betf-
surcs us, that of all that was taken in the war, nothing came tobii
share but what he ate and drank. Xot that Iblasne, says be, ikm
that seek their men advantage in these things ;^ but I had rmthie
contend for rnlour with the brave j than for wealth with the rkk^
or in raj:a(iousness with the covitous. And he not only kept
bimscli' clear of extortion, but all that were inunediately under hii
direciion. He hud five servants with him in this expedition; one of
whom, named Paccus, had purchased three boys tliat were anKng
the prisr.ijcrs; but when he knew that bis master was informed of it,
unable U) bear the tb.t^uirhts of cominj: into his presence, be banged
liimstlf. I'pon which Cato sold the boys, and put the uionev into
the |)i:i»iic treasure.

\\ Ij.Ic be was scttiirjiT the affairs of Spain, Scipio the Great, wlio
was his cnemv, and waated to break the course of his success, tod
have the fii:!-!.:!!;: of i!ie v,-ar himself, managed matters so as to get
bimself appointed bis successor. After which he made all po<^ible
haste to take liie command of tl.c army from him. But Cato, betr-
inir of his march, took five companies of foot, and five hundred hocse,
as a convoy to attend upon Scipio, and as he went to meet him, de-
feated the Lecetainans, and took among them six hundred Roman

* A< the liroaJ of }ii« na:nc procnrr d him creat ir«pect in aU the provincrs btjoad
the Ibcrus. l:o \*r.'io tlu* vt.io d *\ pnra'c letters to the cotamaDdrrs of several
tu«n*>, ordtrirc t!u-:u To i!c:duIMi wiihcut delaj tbrir fortificatioos; and asMuing
thai he woulii pardon i.uue but such as readily complied with his orders. Everj one ol
the coromantUr?, biUoiug the order* lo be sent onir to himself, imiuedtatelT bealdom
their walls ard lowert. Ur. I. xxxIt. c. \b.

tATO THE CE^SOA. $7i

deserters, whom he caused to be put to death. And upon Scipio's
^expressing his displeasure at tliis, lie answered ironically, Rome
icould be great indeedy if mm of birth would not yield the palm of
virtue to the comnumalty, and if plebeians^ like himself would,
vontendfor excellence with men of birth and quaiitj/. Besides, as
the senate had decreed that nothing should be altered which Cato
had ordered and established, the post which Scipio had made so much
interest for rather tarnished his own glory than that of Cato; for he
continued inactive during that government.

In the mean time, Cato was honoured with a triumph. But he didl
not act afterwards like those whose timbition is only for fame, and
not for virtue, and who, having reached the highest honours, borne
the office of consul, and led up triumphs, withdraw from public busi-
ness, and give up the rest of their days to ease and pleasure. On
the contrary, like those who are just entered upon business, and
thirst for honour and renown, he exerted himsdf as if he was begin-
ning his race anew, his services being always ready both for his
friends in particular, and for the citizens in general, either at the bar
or in the field: for he went with the consul Tiberius Semproiiius to
Thrace and the Danube*, as his lieutenant. And, as legionary tri-
bune he attended Manius Acilius Glabrio into Greece, in the war
against Antiochus the Great, who, next to Hannibal, was the most
formidable enemy the Ronrans ever had : for having recovered almost
all the provinces of Asia which Seleucus Nicanor had possessed, and
reduced many warlike nations of barbarians, he wasL so much elated
as to think the Romans the only match for him in the field. Ac-
cordingly he crossed the sea with a powerful army, colouring his de-
aign with the specious pretence of restoring liberty to the Greeks, of
whidi, however, they stdod in no need ; for, being lately delivered
by the favour of the Romans from the yoke of Philip and the Ma-
cedonians, they were free already, and were governed by their owa
laws.

At his approach, all Greece was in great commotion, and unre-
solved liow to act, being corrupted with the splendid hopes infuse<l
by the orators whom Antiochus had gained. Acilius, therefore, sent
ambassadors to the several states, Titus Flaminius appeased the dis
turbances, and kept most of the Greeks in the Roman interest^
without using any violent means, as I have related in his life; and
Cato confirmed the people of Corinth, as well as those of Patne and
^Sgium in their duty. He also made a considerable stay at Athens (
and it is said there is still extant a speech of his, which he delivered

* The year after his cousuNhip, aud the secoud year uf (he hundred aud fcirty-kiktli
Olympiad.

&76 FLUTARCH^S ttVtS^

to the Athenians in Greek, expressing hb admiration of the Tiitue
of their ancestors, and his satisfaction in beholdiDf the beantj ind
grandeur of their city. But thi9 account is not true^ for he spoke to
them by an interpreter. Not that he was igoorant of Greek, but
chose to adhere to the customs of his country, and laugh at tboie
who admired nothing but what was Greek. He therefore ridicukd
Posthumius Albinus, who had written a history in that language^
and made an apology for the improprieties of expressions, sayiog,
He ought to be pardoned^ as he wrote it bjf command of the Amphic*
tyons. We are assured that the Athenians admired the strength
and conciseness of his language; for what he delivered in few
words, the interpreter was obliged to make use of many to explaiaj
insomuch that he left them in the opinion that the expressions of the
Greeks flowed only from the lips, while those of the Romans came
from the heart ^.

Antiochus having blocked up the narrow pass of Thennopyhe with
his troops, and added walls and intrenchments to the natural fortifi-
cations of the place, sat down tliere unconcerned, thinking the war
could not touch him. And indeed the Romans despaired offor^
cing the pass. But Cato, recollecting the circuit the Persians had
taken on a like occasion f^ set out in the night with a proper de^
tachment.

When they had advanced a considerable height, the guide^ who
was one of the prisoners, missed his way, and wandering about
among impracticable places and precipices, threw the soldiers into
inexpressible dread and despair. Cato, seeing the danger^ ordered
his forces to halt, while he, with one Lucius Manlius^ who was
dexterous in climbing the steep mountains |, went forward with
great difficulty, and at the hazard of his life, at midnight, without any
moon, scrambling among wild olive-trees and steep rocks, that still
more impeded his view, and added darkness to the obscurity. At
last they hit upon a path which seemed to lead down to the enemy's
camp. There they set up marks upon some of the most conspicu^

* There cannot be a stronger instance than this, that the brief expression of the Sfwir^
tani was owing to the native simplicity of their manners, and the siucericj of their hearts.
It was the expression of nature. — Artificial and circumlocutory cxpressiou, like licen-
tious paintings, are the consequences of licentious life.

t In the Persian nar, Leonidus, with three hundred Spartans only, sustained the
fliock of an innumerable multitude in the pass of Thermopylae, until the barbariaos fetcb-
ing a compass round the mountains by by- ways, came up upon him behind, and cut hit
party in pieces.

X The mountains to tlie east of the straits of Thermopyls are comprehended under
the namt of CEia, and Uie highest of them is called Callidiomus, at the fo«t of wbkb ia
a road sixty feet broad. Lxv, 1, ixz?i, c. 15.

CATO THE CENSOR. 5^7

ous rocks on the (op of tijc mounlain Callidrnmus; and, returning
the snmc way, toolt the whole pariy wilh ihem; wiiom they con-
ducted liy the direction of Ihe marks, and so regained the little jwlli,
where tliey made a projier disposition of the troops, l^hey had
marched but a little fartiicr when the path failed lliem, and they saw
nothing heforelhembul a predjiice, which distressed them still more,
for they could not yet perceive that they were near the enemy.

The day now began to appear, when one of them thonght he heard
the sound of human voices, and a ]i(tk' after they saw the GretHau
camp aiu! the advanced guard at the f'xit of the rock. Cirto llicre-
fore made a halt, and sctii to acijUHitit tlie Pirmians that he wanted
to speak with them in private*, These were troops whose fidelity
and courage Ite had experienced on ihe most datigerous ocoasions,
Tltcy hastened into his presence, when he thus addressed them : " I
want to take one of the enemy alive, to learn of him who theynrc
that compose this advanced guard, and how many in nuinher; and
tn he informed what is the disposition and order of ihelr whole army,
and what preparations they luivemade to receive us; but the busttress
requires the speed and itnpetiiusiiy of lions who rush hito a herd of
timorous beasts."

When Cato had done speaking, the Firmians, without further pre-
paration, pouK'd down the mountain, surpnsed the advanced guard,
dispersed them, look one armed man, and brought him to Cato,
Tlie prisoner informed him ilmt the main body of the army was en-
' camped wilh the king in the narrow pass, and that llie detachment
which guarded the heights consisted (if stx hundred select .£lolians.
' C>Bto despising ihe>ie troops, as well on account of their small nmn-
' tier as their negligence, drew his sword, and rushed upon them witli
' all the alarm of voices and trumpets. The i^tolians no sooner saw
f ' biin descend from the mouniaitis than they fied to the main body, and
f put the whole in ihe utmost confusion.

I* At the same time Munius forced the intrenchmcnfs of ,\ntiochus

f below, and poured into the pass wilh his army. Aniiochus himself

ff being wounded in the mouth wilh a slone, and having some of bis

netb struck out, the anguish obliged him to turn his horse and re-

^ tire After his reireiit, no part of his army could stand the shock

. of the Romans; and though there appeared no hopes of escaping by
fiight, by reason of the straiiness of the road, the deep marshes on one
/ side, and rocky precipices on the other, yet they crowded along through
^ tliDse narrow passages, and pushing each other down, perished misei-
»' .ably, out of fear of being destroyed by the Romans.
. Cato, who was never sparing in hh own praises, and thouifht
^ * FiiHium win « Hmmii Goluuj iaibcriecBc.

■v Vol. 1. No. 17, vddd

878 Plutarch's lives.

boasting a naturiil atleiidant on great nclions, is very pompous in hii
account of tins exploit. He says, " That those who saw him diar-
ging the enemy, routing and pursuing them, declared that Cato uwtd
lesstothepeopleofRnmethan the people of Rome owed toCaio: and
that the consul Manius hlinsi'lf, coming hot from the 6ght, took him
in his arms as he too eaine panting from the action, and embiscii^
him a long time, cried out in a transport of joy, that neither he not
the whole Roman iK'uple could sufficiently reward Gito's merit.

Immediately after the hattle, the consul sent him with an account
of it to Home, that he might he the first to carry the news of his ova
achievements. With a favourahle wind he sailed to HruiidusiDin;
from thence he reached Tarenmm in one day : and having- travelled
four days more, he arrived at Rome the fifth day after he landeil,
and was the first that brought the news uf the victory. His arrini
filled the city with sacrifices and other testimonies of joy, and gsw
the people so high an opinion of themselves, iliat tliey now beiieixd
there could be no bounds to tlieir empire or their power.

These are llie most remarkable of Cato's actions; and, with re-
■pect to civil alFuirs, he appears to have thought the ioipcacbing of
offenders, and bringing them to justice, a thing that well deserved
his attention: for he prosecuted several, and encouraged and assisted
others In carrying in their prosecutions. Thus he set up Pctiliui
against Scipio the Great: but, secure in the dignity of his fenuly,
and his own greatness of mind, Scipio treated the accusation with
the utmost contempt. Cato, perceiving he would not lie capitally
condemned, dropped the accusation ; but, with some others who as-
sisted him in the cause, impeached his brother, Lucius SeifHO, wha
was sentenced lo par a fine which his circumstances could not aa-
Bwer, so that lie was in danger of imprisonment; and it teas ui>t
without great dilheulty, and appealing to the tribunes, that he via
dismissed.

We have also an account of a young man who had procured t
verdict against an enemy of his father, who whs lately dead, and hud
liiin stigmatized. Cato met him as he was passing through the
^ forum, and taking him by the hand, addressed him in these words:
" It is thus we are to sacrifiec to the nuiiies of our parents, not with
the blood of goats and lambs, but with the tears and condemnation
of their enemies."

Cato, however, did not escape these attacks; hut when, in tlit
business uftiie state, he gave the least handle, was certainly prose-
euted, and sometimes in danger of being condemned: for it 15 said
that near fifty impeachments were brought against him, and the \as\
when he was eighty-six years of age : on which occasion he mad*

uie of ihal memorable expression, It is hard that I who have lived
viih ntm of one generation should be uUiged to make my defenca
to those of another. Nor was iliis the end of liis cnuttsls at tlie bar;
fur, four years after, a[ tlie a^e of uiiiety'', he iiii]ieaclied Serviliui
Galba : so that, like Nestor, he lived ihrcc general Ions, and, like liim,
was always ia action. Id bhoit, after having constantly opposed
Scipio ID maiters of government, he lived until the time of young Sci-
pio, his adopted grandson, and sou of Paulus iEmillus, who conquered
Perseus and tlie Macedonians.

Ten years after his con:>ulship, Cato stood for the office of censor,
which was the highest dignity In the republie: for, beside the other
power and authority that attended thi& office, it gave the magistrate
a right uf inquiry into the lives and manneis of the ciiizens — ^Th«
Romans did not think it proper that any one should be left to follow
his own inclinations without inspection or control, cither in marriage,
in the procreation of children, in his table, or in the company he
kept. But, convinced tltat in these private scenes of life a man'*
real character w!is much more distinguishable than in his public and
political transactions, they appointed two magistrates, the one out c£
the patricians, and the other out of the plebeians, to inspect, lo cor-
rect, and to chastise such as they found giving into dissipation and
liceutiousness, and deserting the ancient and establislied manner of
living. These great officers they called censors: and they had power
to deprive a Roman knight of his horse, or to expel a senator that led
a vicious and disorderly life. They likewise took an estimateof each
ciiizeu's estate, and enrolled them accordingto their pedigree, quality,
and condition.

This office has several other great prerogatives anneited to it; and
therefore, when Cato solicited it, the pi iiicijHil senators opposed liim.
Tlie motive to this opposition with some of the patricians was envy;
for they imagined it would be a disgrace to the nobility, if persons
of a meui and obscure origin were elevated to the highest hcnour in
the state; with others it was fear; fur, consctous that llicir lives were
vicious, aud tliat they had depariLcl from the ancient simplicity of
manners, they dreaded the austerity of Cato, because ibcy believed
he would be slera and inexorable in bis office. Having consulted

■ Plulircli licra ii nut CBDtitlenI willi biiDs«1f. Taoarili tht Iwginnlns of lliil LkU
hcHjalliuCilOHObul >c>fiilcfn yttnitU it iLe liaie«rUii>dibiJ'*iurc»tinlUl;;
■Dil ■( tlic MHicluuon lie iclli ihil Culu died juit at the brgianiDg of lb* lliird ram*
■«. But iliDOibti e*me intu IlmJ^ in Ibc jenr of Kotae AM ; iiift Ib« Uiird Punic war
broLl aul K'cnij yean illrr, in ihi jur of Runic 601. AeocdinflolLiiCDnipiiIatioti,
Cato coold not be nn« tbao eightf'Hian yiui uM wliiu ba ixti; aod Ihii acauvat i)

PI-ltTAllcaS LIVES.

^■1 iMvparcd ihcir measures, they |)Ut seven candidates in opposi-
tion w Cmo; ftnti imagifiin^ (bat tlie people wanted to be govi:mr<i
i an essy hand, ihry soothed (hera with hopes of a mild censot-
t, Cato. on the contrary, without condescending to the least
y <ir eoinpLaisancr, in his speeches from the rostrum, professwi
is rrsolntioo lo punt&h every instance of vice, and loudly declaring
■t the eitymnied great reformatiun, conjured the people, Iflhcy
X, to choose not the mildest but the s«-verest physician. He
•rid tima tlut Arn-asonc ofthHt cliaracter, and, among the patn-
L, Valcrins Flaccns was anothtr; and tliat, with him for hisco!-
d him only, he could hope to render good ser\tce to ibt
allh, by efTcctually cutting off, like another fofdra, ibe
I luxury and effeminacy of the limes. He added, thai be uw
s pressing into the censorship in order to esert-ise that office ia
«hal nuUMrr, because they were afraid of such as would dbclurge it
WtUbDy.
nc Roman people on this occasion showed themselves truly
J worthy of the Ijt'st of leaders: for, far from dreading ibe
y of this intlexihle man, tiiey rejected titose smoother candi-
« ibat >cemed ready to consult their pleasure in evei^' thing, am!
L fh»c Valerius Flaceus with Caio; attending to the latter, nut as a
BM thai solicited the ufiice of censor, but as one who, already pos-
IH»4 of it, gave out hi» orders by virtue of his authority.

TV fitst thing Catn did w^is to name his friend and colleague,
boos Valerius Piaccus, chief of the senate, and to ex|>el many
«then Ibe house ; paiiicuhirly LuL:ius Quintus, who had been consul
ft.-*** jvars before, and, what w.is still a greater honour, was brother
mTUw Ftauiuius*, who overthrew hing Philip.

KeeiprlWslso Manilius, another senator, whom the general
M&dw fead nurked out for i-oiisul, beeause he had given his wife a
fe^ tM the day-tiinc in th^ sight of his daughter; ** Fur hi^- own
mi%C^ KesaM, " his wife never cm'jracedhimbutwhcnilthundered
twlij^ — " (Klding, by nay of joke, '* That be was happy when
^iM^-f^— -^ >" thunder."

U» ^iW ctiit«uretl as having merely indulged his envy when he de-
a^toildKi^ who was brother to Seipio the Great, and had been
WfMwd wilh « iriuiupb; for he look from biui his horse; and it

vj^-^t k- JLi ;» (o insult the inemury of Scipio A/ricauus.

1^. ifc_H ,as another thing that rendered him more generally ob-

uhI that was the reformation be introduced in point rf

, H wv iiiiiiossible for him to begin his attacks upon ilopetttj-^

because ihe whole body of the people was iuffcted, and therefore he
took an indirect mt'tliod. He caused aii estimate to Ijc taken of all
apparel, carriages, feniiile ornaments, furuitute, and uteniiits; and
whatever exceeded Hfieeti hundred </r«cft)n(e in value, heratijdat
ten times as much, and imposed a tax according to that valualion;
for every thousand ases he nmde tliem pay ilirce ; iliat finding tliem-
selves burdened with the tax, while the modest and frugal, witli equal
substance, jiaid much less to the public, they miglit be induced" lo
rttrendi their appearance. This procured him many enemies, not
onlyamonp those who, nithcr than parrwiihtheirluxtiry, submitted to
the tax, but among those who lessened the expense of their figure
to avoid it: for the generality i>f manlfind think that prohibittun to
ahow their wealth is the sume filing ii?< taking it away, and ihat opu-
lence is seen in the sujierfhiities, not in the necessaries of life. And
this (we are told) was what surprised Aristo the philosopher; for lie
could not comprehend why rliosc tliat are possessed of superfluities
should be accounted happy, rather than such as abound in wliat is ne-
cessary and useful. But Scojias tlic Thessalian, when one of hi*
friends asked' him fur something tlitt could be of little use to him,
and gave bim that as a reason why he should grant his requesr,
made answer, " tt is in tltcse useless and superfluous things that I
am ridi and happy." Thus (he desire of wealth, far from beinj
a natural passion, i« a foreign and adventitiouit one, arising froid vul-
gar opinion.

Caio paid no regHrd to these complaints, hut became more xevpre
and rigid. He cut off the pipes by which people conveyed water
from the public fuunlains into their houses atid gardens, and de-
molisbed ail the buildings that projected out into the streets. He
lowered the price of public works, and farmed out the public reve-
nues at the highest rent ihey could boar. By these things he brought

upon himself the hatred of vast numbers of people: so thai TituE
Flaminius and' his party attacked him, and prevailed with the senate
to annul the cuntructs he had made for repairing the temples and
public buildings, as deirimenlal to the state. Nor did they stop
bere, but incited the boldest of the tribunes to accuse him to th«
people, and fine hiiu two talents. They likewise opposed him very
much in bis building, at the public charge, a hnll below the scirnle-
house by the forum, which he finished nutwiilistauding, iind called
the Pbrrian hall.

The people, however, appear to have been highly pleased wiili his
behaviour in this office: twr, when they erected his statue in the
temple ai Health, they made no mention on the pedestal of his vic-
tories aad triumph, but the inscription wasiothiscBl-ct; "lnh

*8«

PLUTARCH 9 LIVES,

hen tlje RoiDan common wealth was de-

, by good disciplini

(Vise inslitutiODS

^V of Goto the censor, who, i

^H generating id

^^M restored It."

^H Before this, he laughed at those who were fond ofsucli honours^

^H and said, " They were not aware that they plumed themselves upoD

^H the workmanship of founders, sutuaries, and painters, nhile the Ro-

^H mans bore about a more glorious image of him in their hearts." Aa<l

^H to those that expressed their wonder, that while many persons of llt-

^H tie note had their statues, Calo had none, he said, I/e Aart much

^H rather ii should he asked why he had not a statue, than tohf he had

^V one. In short, he was of opinion that a good citizen should not eFca

Kccept of his due praise, unless it tended to the advanta^ of the
community, Yet of all men he was the most forward to commend
himself: for he tells us, that those who are guilty of misdemeanors,
and afterwards reproved for tliein, used to say, " They were excu
sable} they were not Culos:" and iliat such as imitated some of his
actions, but did it awkwardly, were called /e/(-AnHrfed Catos. He
adds, " That the senate, in djflieult and dangerous times, used to cast
their eyes upon him, as pusseiigers in u ship do upon the pilot in >
9toru] ;" and, " That, when he happened to be absentf tlicy fre-
quently put off the considerniion of matters of importance." These
particulars, indeed, are L'onfirtned by other writers; for his life, hi>
eloquence, and Ins age, gave him great authority in Rome.

He was a good father, a good husband, and an excellent economist.
And as he did not think the care of his family a mean and trifling thing,
which required only a superficial attention, it may be of use to gi«
some account of his conduct iu that respect.

He chose his wife rather for her family than her fortune; per-
suaded that though both the rich and the high-born have their pridc^
yet women of good families arc more ashamed of any base and un-
worthy action, and more obedient to their husbands In every thing
that is good and honourable. He used to say, that they who beat
their wives or children hud their sacrilegious hands on the most
sacred things in the world; and that he preferred the character of a
good husband to that of a great senator. And he admired nothing
more in Socrates than his living iu an easy and quiet manner with an
ill-tempered wife aiidstupid children. When he had ason horn, no
business, however urgent, except it related to the public, could
hinder him from being present while his wife washed and swad-
dled the infant ; for she suckled it herself; nay. she often gave the
breast to the sons of her servants, to inspire them with a brotherlj*
Regard for her own.

As soon OS the dawn of uaderslaadin^ appi-ared, Cato took upon.

CATO THE CENSOR. 5S3

Vim the office of schoolmaster lo bis son, though he hat) a ^kve named
Chilo who wjis a good granimiirian, ajit! taught several other chil-
dren. But he tells us, he did not choose that his son should be re-
primanded by a slave, or pulled by the cars, if he happened to be slow
in learning; or that he should be indebted to so mean a person for
liis education. He was therefore liiniself his preceptor In gram-
mar, in law, and in the necessary exercises: for he taught liim not
only how to throw a dart, to fight hand to hand, and to ride, but to
box, to endure heat and cold, and to swim the most rapid rivers. He
further acquaints us, that he wrote histories for him with his own
hand in large eharactcrs, that, without siirting out of his father's
house, he might gain a knowledge of the great actions of the ancient

Komnns, and of the customs of his country. He whs as careful not

to utter an indecent word before his son, us he would have been ia
the presence of the vestal virgins; nor did he cvor bathe with him.
A regard to decency iu th;s respect was indeed at that time general
among llic Romans: for even sons-in-law avoided bathing with
their fathers-in-law, not choosing to appear naked before them; but
cfterwards the Greeks taught them not to be so scrupulons in unco-
Tcring themselves, and ihcy in their turn taught the Greeks to bathe
naked even before the women.

While Cato was taking such excellent measures for forming hi«
con to virtue, he found him naturally ductile both in genius and in-
clination; but as his body was too weak to undergo much hardship,
^is father was obliged to relax the sevcrilj of his discipline, and to
indulge him a little in imint of diet. Yet, with this consiiiuiion, he
was an excellent soldier, and particularly distinguished himself under
Paulus -ilmilius in the battle against Perseus. On tliia occasion, his
cword happening to be struck from his hand, the moisture of which
prevented him from graspii.g it firmly, he turned to some of his com-
panions with great concern, and begged their nssiitanee in recover-
ing it. He then rushed with them into the midst of the enemy, and
Jiaving, with extraordinary elfiirls, cteaicd the place tvhere the sword
was lost, he found it, with much difficulty, under heaps of arms, and
dead bodies of friends as well as enemies, piled upon each other.
Faulus ^'Emilius admired this gallant action of the young man; and
J there is a letter still extant, written by Cato to his son. In which be ex-
, tremely commends his high sense of honour eajircsseed in tlie recovery
j of that sword. The young man aftenvards married Tertia, daughter
^ toPaulusj^milius, and sister to young Seipio; the honour of which
. alliance was as much owing to his own us to bis father's merit.
Thus Cato's care in lUc education of liis sou auiwered the cud
^^ofoss4

5S4 PLl'TARCIIS LIVES.

He Imd many bIiivce wliom he purcliHstfd Among the captives token
ia war, always choosing the youngest, and sudi as wctv ■ll<>.^t capabk
of Instruction, like whelps or colts thiit tniiy be trained al|>lea»ure.
None of these slaves ever went into any other man's house, except
ibey were sent by Calo or his wUe ; and if any of them was asied
what his master was doii^, he always answered, he did not know:
for it was a rule wiih Calo to have his slaves either eoiployi-d in the
hoDSC or asleep; and he liked those best that slept the mu&t kindly,
believing that ihey were better tempered than others tliat luu) not so
much of that refreshment, and fitter for any kind of business. And
as he knew that slaves will stick at nothing to gratify Iheir pnssiM
for women, he allowed them to have the com|mny uf his fiarak
slaves, upon paying a certain price; but under a strict iiruhibition d(
approiiching any other women.

When he was a yoimg soldier, and as yet in low ctrcuRisianceSr
le never found fault wiih any thing that was ionvd up to his tsbll^
Init thought it a shame Iq quarrel witli a servant on ticcuunt of iui
palate. Yet afterwards, when he was possessed of an easy rortno^
nnd made entertainments for his friends and the principAl a(ficcrs,v
sunn IIS dinner was over, he never failed lo correct with Jcaiben
thongs such of his slaves as had not given due attendauce, or bid
ftuffercd any thing to he spoiled. He conirlv^-d means u> ruse qw*r-
rels amonfT his servants, and lo keep them at variance, ever subject-
ing and fearing some biul eoDsequenee from tlieir unanimity.

When any of them were guilty of a capital crime, he gjivc them ■
formal trial, and put them to death in the presence of their fellow-
sorvatits. As his thirst after wealth increased, and lie found that
agriculture was ratlier amusing than profitable, he turned his thoughts
lo surer dependencies, and employed his money in purchasing ponds,
hot-huihs, places proper for fullers, and estates in good condition,
having pasture-ground and wood-lands. From these he had a great
levetiue, i^f A a one, he used to say, aa Jupiter /i4We/^to«W no/ dis-
appomt Itim of.

He practised usury upon ships in Ihe most hlameahlc mtnncr.
His ini'tliod was (o insist that those whom he furnished with oioury
should liike a great nuinhtr Into partnership. When iherc were full
fifiy u( ihcin, and as many ships, he demanded one share for himself,
which lie managed by Quintio his frecd-nian, who sailed and imfBchcd
along with them. Thus, though his gain was great, he did not risk
his capitni, hut only a small part of it.

He likcwiiie lent money to such of Ins slaves as chose it, and tlicy
etntilovcd it in purchasing bovs, who were afterwards instructed and
fitted for service at Cato's expense; and being sold at thcj^^X '

^'M^^J

CATO THE CENSOR. 585

by auction, Cato took several of them himself at the price of the
highest bidder, deducting it out of what he had lent. To incline his
son to the same economy, he told him, Tliat to diminish his sub^
stance was not the part of a maUy but of a widow-tvoman. Yet he
carried the thing to extravagance, when he hazarded this assertion^
2^hat the man truly wonderful and godlikfj and Jit to he re-
gistered in the lists of glory ^ was he by tvhose accounts it should
at last appear that he had more than doubled what /ic had received
from his ancestors.

When Cato was very far advanced in years, there arrived at Rome
two ambassadors from Athens*, Camcades the Academic, and Dio-
genes the Stoic. They were sent to beg off a fine of five hundred
talents which had been ir*iposed on the Athenians for contumacy by

the Sicyonians, at the suit of the people ofOropusf.: Upon the

arrival of tliese philosophers, such of the Roman youth as had a taste
for learning went to wait on them, and heard them with wonder and
delight. Above all, they were charmed with the graceful manners
of Carneades, the force of whose eloquence being great, and his. re-
putation equal to his eloquence, had drawn an audience of the most
considerable and the politest persons in Rome, and the sound of his
fame, like a mighty wind, had filled the whole city. The report ran,
tliat there was come from Greece a man of astonishing powers, whose
eloquence, more than human, was able to soften and disarm tlvB
fiercest passions, and who had made so strong an impression upon
the youth, that, forgetting all other pleasures and diversions, they
were quite possessed with an enthusiastic love of philosophy.

The Romans were delighted to find it so; nor could they without
uncommon pleasure behold their sons thus fondly receive the Gre-
cian literature, and follow these wonderful men. But Cato, from
the beginning, was alarmed at it. He no sooner perceived this pas-
sion for the Grecian learning prevail, but he was afnud that the youth
would turn their ambition that way, and prefer the glory of elo-
quence to that of deeds of arms. But when he found that the repu-
cation of these philosophers rose still higher, and their first speeches
,4vere translated into Latin by Caius Acilius, a senator of great dis-
^jtinction, who had earnestly begged the favour of interpreting them,
le had no longer patience, but resolved to dismiss these philosophers
apOQ some decent and specious pretence.

lie went, therefore, to the senate, and complained of the magis-

* Aulus Gellius iDentions a third ambassador, Crltolaus tlie Peripatetic,
t The Athenians had plundered the citj of Oropus. Upon coiuplaiot made bj the
nhabitants, the kiTair waa referred to the deteriuination of the Sicyooiaofl, and the Ath««
.ijmna not appearing to justify tbcmtelfci, were fined fi?e bandied taleatia

Vol. I. No. 17* ujbk

586 PtrUTARCn's LIVES.

ses

trates for detaining so long such ambassadors as those, who coaU
persuade the people to whatever they pleased. ^^ You ought," said
be, " to determine their affair as speedily as possible, that, retumiog
to their schools, they may hold forth to the Grecian youth, and thit
our young men may again give attention to the laws aud the magis-
trates.*' Not that Cato was induced to this by any particular pique
to Carneades, whicli some suppose to have been t\ye case, but by hb
aversion to philosophy, and his making it a point to show his con-
tempt of the polite studies and learning of the Greeks. Nay, be
scrupled not to affirm, " That Socrates himself was a prating sedi-
tious fellow, who used his utmost endeavours to tyrannise over hii
country, by abolishing its customs, and drawing tiie people over to
<yinions contrary to the laws.*' And, to rKlicule the slow methods
of Isocrates' teaching, he said, ^^ His scholars grew old in learning
their art, as if they intended to exercise it in the shades below, and
to plead causes there.*' And to dissuade his son from those studies,
he told him, in a louder tone than could be expected from a man of
his age, and, as it were, in an oracular and proplietic way, 7%a/ wiem
the Romans came fhoroughh/ to imbibe tlie Grecian Uieruturej thof
would lose the empire o/ the tverld. But time has siiowu the vanttj
of that invidious assertion ; for Rome was never at a higher pitch of
greatness than when she was most perfect in the Grecian erudition,
and most attentive to all manner of learning*.

Nor was Cato an enemy to the Grecian philosophers only, bat
looked upon the physicians also with a suspicious eye. He hid
heard, it seems, of the answer which Hippocrates gave the king of
Persia, when he sent for him, and offered him a reward of many ta-
lents, " I will never make use of my art in favour of barbarians who
are enemies to tlie Greeks." This, he said, was an oath which all
the physicians had taken, and therefore he advised his son to beware

t>f them all. He added, that he himself had written a little treatise,

Ir which he had set down his method of curef, and the regimen he
prescribed when any of his family were sick; that he never recom^
mended fasting, but allowed .them herbs, with duck, pigeon, or hare;
such kind of diet being light and suitable for sick people, having no

• Rome had, indeed, a very extensive empire in tlie Augustine age, but, at the same
time, ibe lost her ancient constitution and her liberty. Not that the learnini: of the
Boroans contributed to that loss; bat tbeir irreligion, their luxury, and corruptioo, oc-
casioned it.

t Cato was a worse quack than Dr. Hill. His medical recipes, which may be found
in his treatise of country aflfairs, ate either very simple or very dangerous; and fasting,
which he exploded, is better than them all. Duck, pigeon, and hare, which, if we may
believe Plutarch, he gave his sick people as a light diet, are certainly the strongest and
most iadigeitibk iun4* ^f iood, ud their mtk^^ tbem dre«« w« n pcoof of it

CATO THE C ENSOR. 587

otlicr inc-onvetiienftf bui its making ihcm dream; and lliat, with
these remedies and tliis n-i^imcii, lie pieseiTcd liimself and his fa-
mily. But Itis self'sullicii-iicy in lliis respect went not unpunished;
for lie lost both hia wifo uiiJ ^on. lie himself, indeed, by his strong
make and good liabit of body, lasted long; so that even in old
age he fretjuently indulged his ineliitation for the stx, and at ao
unseasonable time of life married R young womaa. It was on the
following pretenee.

Aft«r ibc death of his wife, he married his son to the daughter of
I'aulu* ^miliua, the sister of Scipio, and continued a widower, but
had a young female slave that came privately to his bed. It could
not, however, be long a secret in a small house, with a daughter-ia-
law in it; and one day as the favourite slave passed by with a haughty
and flaunting air to f.o to the censor's ehamber*, young Calo gave
her a severe look, and turned his back upon her, but said not a word.
The old man was soon informed of this circumstance; and finding
that this kind of commeice displeased his son and his daughter-in-
law, he did not expostulate with them, nor take the least noticet
Next moruinff he went to ilie Jorum, according to custom, with his
friends about him ; and, as he went along, he called aloud to one
Salonius, who had been his secretary, and now uks one of his train^
and asked him, " Whether he had provided a husbattd fur his daugh-
ter?" Upon his answering, " That he had not, nor should, witliout
consullitig his best friend ;" Cato said, " Why, ilieu, I have found
out u very fit husband for her, if she can bear with the disparity of
age; for in otlier respects he a unexceptionable, but he is very old,"
Salonius replying, '* That he left the disposal of her entirely to him.
For she was under his protection, and had no dependence but ujran
liis bounty;" Calo said, without farther ceremony, " Then 1 will be
your son-in-law." The man at first was astonialied at the proposal,
as may easily be imagined, believing Cato past the time of life for
marrying, and knowing himself far beneath an nil iancc with a fa-
mily that had been honoured with the consulate aud a Itiumpht
but when he saw tlwl (nto was in earnest, he embraced the offer
with joy, and the marriage comract was signed aa soon rj they cama
lo the Jorum,

While they were busied iu preparing for the nuptials, young Calo
t;J(iog his relations with him, went and asked his fatlicr, '• What of-
fence he bad committed, that he was giving to put a mother-in-law
I him?" Cato immediately answered, "Ask t

a quel-

■ lilt PiWt tictorqii* dctm, cui liriiri iniuUb

Indgitvr ficicKi n

sod; for, instead of bfi
your whole conduct; I am only

PLUTARCH S Lft'E?.

t tbuK

e modeiHMA

l; olTeiided, I have raise
riesirous of liavin^ man
and leaving more such citizens lo my couniry." But
said to have been given long bclure by Pisistraius the At
rnnt, who, when he had sons by a former wife almdy
niuiricd a second, Tiiiionassa of Arf^os, by whom be is win
had two sons more, Jophon and Tlicssalus.

By tills wife Cato had a son, wliom lie called Saloniw, lAtf
Riothet's fatlier. Aa for his eldest son Cato, he dicdmlw;
ship. His father often mal<es mentiou of him id his
brave and worthy man. He bore this loss with the
philosopher, applying himself, with his usual activity, to tSia
state. For he did not, like Lucius Lruc-ullus afiemrardi, and iM
Ills I'ins, think age an orcmption from ilic sen-ice of the fiaiSt,i
considered that service as his indispensable duty; norveifiitfl
as Scipio Africiinus had done, who, finding himself at lacktd tJ
posed by envy in hia course of glory, qiiiiied the adminiinil
and spent the remainder of his days in rctimueut and iiiaetioa. 1
told Dionysias, that the most honourable ileath woi w A
possession of sovereign power, so Cato esteemed tluu the iMtl
uourable old age which was spent in serving the
The amusements in which he pnss<-d hts leisure houn vn
writing of books, and tilling the ground ; and this is the n«
our having so many treatises on vKrious subjects, and bisttirin i
composing*.

In his younger days he applied himself to a^iculiurr,wtt!ii
to prolii ; for he used to say, he had only two way
income, labour and juirximmitf ; hut, ns he grew old, be
it only by way of theory and amusement. He wroiealw4a»
corning country atlJiirsf, in which, among other ililnf*,l>e^miiia
for making cakes, and preserving fruit; for he was Aainioi «i h
thought curious and particular in every tiling-. He keptabtOMlt
ble in the couniry than in the town ; for he ulwavs inriieil hmH
his acquaintance in the ncighlKiurhood to sup with htin
these he passed the time in cheerful eunrcrsation, raakiitf
agreeable not only to those of his own age, but to the yoda^i
bad a thorough knowledge of the world, and had either
ur heard from others, a variety of things that were cai

* Btiidci » tiundrfd lad Irftj nritiout, aod marc. lUat he \en ba^Bd k^to^
fj dutiplinr, mi,d booL. vf anU.,u.tia. In i^ rf^M* k.«
ibu fuuadBti'ju uf tlf ritiei of Iialji ; the oilier Crr cantuiicd lbs Bao^ Mm^
«u)irl]> ■ nimtive of iW Gril lud KcODd funic war.

I Tlii. itUwuQl/ wotli>fl.i.tl»iri:ia«ii.«niin.i «f ilwrtgi »,||„,a^fc

CATO THE CENSOR. 589

tcrtaining. He looked upon the table as one of the best means of
forming friendships; and at his, the conversation generally turned
upon the praises of great and excellent men among the Romans; as
for the bad and the unworthy, no mention was made of them, for he
would not allow in his company one word, cither good or bad, to be
said of such kind of men.

The last service he is said to hare done the public, was the destruc-
tion of Carthage. The younger Scipio indeed gave the finishing
stroke to that work, but it was undertaken chiefly by the advice and
at the instance of Cato. The occasion of the war was this : the
Carthaginians, and Massinissa king of Numidia, being at war with
each other, Cato was sent into Africa to inquire into the causes of
the quarrel. Massinissa from the first had been a friend to the Ro-
mans, and the Carthaginians were admitted into their alliance after
the great overthrow they received from Scipio the elder, but upon
terms which deprived them of great part of their dominions, and im-
posed a heavy tribute*. When Cato arrived at Carthage, he found
that city not in the exhausted and humble condition which the Ro-
mans imagined, but full of men fit to bear arms, abounding in money,
in arms, and warlike stores, and not a little elated in the thought of
its being so well provided. He concluded, therefore, that it wji$ now
time for the Romans to endeavour to settle the points in dispute be-
tween the Numidians and Carthage ; and that if they did not soon
make themselves masters of that city, which was their old enemy,
and retained strong resentments of the usage she had hitcly received,
and which had not only recovered herself after her losses, but was
prodigiously increased in wealth and power, they would soon be ex-
posed to all their former dangers. For tliis reason he returned in all
haste to Rome, where he informed the senate, ** That the defeats
and other misfortunes which had happened to the Carthaginians, had
not so mucK drained them of their forces, as cured them of their
folly; and that, in all probability, instead of a wr'aker, they had made
them a more skilful and warlike enemy ; that their war with the Nu-
midians was only a prelude to future combats with the R(;mans; and
that the late peace was a mere name, for they considered it only as
a suspension of arms, which they were willing to avail themselves of,
till they had a favourable opportunity to renew the war."

It is said that, at the conclusion of his speech, he shook the lap of

* Scipio Africanas obliged the Carthaginians, at the conclusion of the second Punic
war, to deliver up their fleet to the Romans jrield to Massinissa part of Syphax's do*
minions, and pay the Romans tea thousand talents. This peace was made in the thiid
rear of the haodred and forty-fourth Olympiad, two hundred years bcl'ore the Chrii-
tiaa era.

688 Plutarch's lives.

lion, my son; for, instead of being offended, I have reason to praise
your whole conduct; I am only desirous of having more such sons,
and leaving more such citizens to my. country/' But this answer is
said to have been given long before by Pisistratus the Athenian ty-
rant, who, when he had sons by a former wife already grown up,
married a second, Timonassa of Argos, by whom he is said to liave
had two sons more, Jophon and Thessalus.

By this wife Cato had a son, whom he called Salonius, after hii
mother's father. As for his eldest son Cato, he died in his praetor-
ship. His father often makes mention of him in his writings as a .
brave and worthy man. He bore this loss with the moderation of a
philosopher, applying himself, with his usual activity, to affairs of
state. For lie did not, like Lucius Lucullus afterwards, and Metel-
lus Pius, think age an exemption from the ser\'ice of the public, but
considered that ser\'ice as his indispensable duty; nor yet did he act
as Scipio Africanus had done, who, finding himself attacked and op-
posed by envy in his course of glory, qiiitted the administration,
and spent the remainder of his days in retirement and inaction. But,
as one told Dionysius, that the most honourable death was to die in
possession of sovereign power, so Cato esteemed that tlie most ho-
nourable old age which was spent in serving tlie commonweahh.
The amusements in which lie passed his leisure hours were the
writing of books, and tilling the ground; and this is the reason of
our having so many treatises on various subjects, and histories of his
composing*.

hi his younger days he applied himself to agriculture, with a view
to profit; for he used to say, he l.ad only two ways of increasini: his
income, labour and parsimtnnf ; but, as he grew old, he recrjirded
it only by way of theory and amusement. He wrote a book con-
- cerning country ailiiirst, in which, among other things, he gives rules
for making cakes, and preserving fruit; for he was desirous to he
thought curious and particular in every thing. He kept a better ta-
ble in the country than in the town; for he always invited some of
his acquaintance in the neighbourhood to sup with him. With
these he passed the time in cheerful conversation, making himself
agreeable not only to those of his own age, but to the young; for he
had a thorough knowledge of the world, and had either seen himself,
or heard from others, a variety of things that were curious and eu-

• Besides • hundred and fifty orations, and more, that he left Jbehind him, he i^rote
a treatise on military discipline, and books of antiquiCrs. In two of those he treats of
the foundation of the cities of Italy; the other five contained the lioinan history, parti-
cularly a narrative of the first and second Punic war.

t 1 his is the only work of hU that remains entire; of tbe.rcst we hsTe only fragments.

C ITD TilE I KN-OR. ^-fj

tcrtaininir. He lo<:.ked i ;: »*; the X:aAc :.> oi.l* mi" iltv :,t'-t in^Hiib of
forn)iiip:fnend>hip5: aiid it hi^. ;'jo co: \or'.i:I'»n ;jt*::-.r;!!y lurntd
upon the praises of irrcu: i^ : .■ .lit;:: i:,e:i ;»:.. .:,^ ::. • Ri i;:::jts: liS
fur the had and the urrvcnlv. !. n:ci/iio:i wa> iii::»Je ••:" :!.vrii. I' ir !.-
would not allo'A- in \.U co.-iij-j'y <-...• w. ri, *,'::],." c" ^ -'r ' i^i. t'il.e
caid of such kind of r.ip.

The last seniv:e in- :- >j.;i :■ ::ivr ■!■_ i.e :;::.':.u^-!i\ v.r-.- :■••'■' ctmc-

tion of Canharre. T!.e tii: jer Scir; ■ i-.d-tl l-:-..- v.. ■::.iT!.!:«j

— • • ^

stroke to ihial wvrk. l.-_: :: w:is u^.Jerriki:^ .-riirrv '^v r':- -. > - • r-. A,

m m

^t the i!is:aRfe nf t:.;:. T. c f.cris: :: cf :I.:- ■w 7 ■■. . . i !-: :i.i»
Cariliairiniarc. ar^d >?:^i-::.i5=-i kl: r ■ :' X-t;:J^. -.v- _-i- -. .r v.*: si
each other. Caro «i^ >.-:.: !': A:". !:-.i •.■ !:.- ^i:'. i:.:-j -i.j m .«.." f>i
the quarrel. Mi*^::.:^^2 rr'rr; :':.: "ir*: '-_-' . ■• .::':; :.* : .•.■..- Ro-
mans, and the Car.hij!:-:"i:> ':'.-■: vr':' i i :»■-.;- i".:_' ..-.• if'.t-r
the great ovcnhrcy t:.ey r-c-iv-: ::.r:. ^ .'•'.: •:. :■ '.;!.:. ^^t t::^' a
terms whi..h •-e:;n"rc^I :'. .t. ■ • .r: • ' '• :":! .!: ■'. ::.'.:.' - -. :. -; !-.-
posed a hea\7 ::l^.;:r ". \'. .. ::. T.- . .--: . : • r . - . i ., •. ,.^
that citv !>c: in :::e t:.:.-u-:c : :• . .:..:'-::..;. :!. r !< ,-
mans irnainne'i. !:c: :-l! :: i:.-: :":v . .i:..-. ....-.';:._•;

..J .-.

z'.'

- J

in arms, and wir!!kt ••.: -. .-::.•: . - '. '■. \ r •' ._• .t r f

its bc:n7 50 well p'lTii.::. \\r ....: :: . -.■ -,■ ;• .^:.w

time for the Rcr:.*:.? :• ■:;.-. .■ •. •. . ■ " •- !:. .;.. .--j ;. ..

tween the N'urr/:i!i:.= '-'.i •. . ._•.: ■ 1: !:•".-•. .^ :..: -.'-r.tt

make 1 hems the? :.-ii*r:? '.:' ■ .' '.'-. . - .. ■.:,:...•.

• • •

and rei:iinc'i s::c:.r :• ' ■-•';■"■ . ":'._• . ■ . ;..:...

and whic-i hi: no: ■'.:,. :.: .•..:.."■ v . . • -. §

prcdidou*;y ir.cf:^*: : '. - ■- ". " ■ .. .

posed to ail :l.t!r f-^rr-r -■.■/•. ' • . ■ - -,-;

haste to Kol-.-. w:.*-r .: ! ":■; . ■ -: - .■•'.'.•-

and other Tr.>:\r.-:. * v . . . . . .- • '. ,

f\oi so uiM... 'i:-J.L:i • -.:_.-:•'■■
follv: and T:i>:. T- ::! :•-._
therm a a.'.re :f.!.: -- :■ ' .* i-
midiatiS V7i> c: y i : • . . ■ ".•
that the laTc jr. -:» v.:_: 1 ; .

a suspension of tr::.-- ■..•'-.- ^ • ■ . * -. -
till thev had a fi-i >ui ..c : • ^ . • * ;
It is said liii!. i: -jLt :::-..- .- . . -

• ScipiO Afri:.fc':i: M. r^: .■•':.-.
wmr^ to deljicr i.^ : «•:: i*-^" ". '."•■ - -. . .
ininioas ftJid p»^ 'ii^K.^.*::* '.•.l .i . :

'■9

69^ PLUTARCH^S LIVE9.

his gown, and purposely dropped some Libyan figs ; and when he
Jbund the senators admired them for their size and beauty, he uM
them, ^* That the country wliere they grew was but three days sail
from Rome." -But wliat is a stronger instance of his enmity to Car-
thage, he never gave his opinion in the senate upon any other point
whatever, without adding these words, ^^ And my <^ini4m is, that
Carthage should be destroyed." Scipio, surnamed Nasica, made it
a point to maintain the contrary, and concluded all hi» speeches, thuiy
^' And my opinion is, that Carthage should be left standing." It b
very likely that this great man, perceiving that the people were come
to such a pitch of insolence as to be led by it into the greatest ex-
cesses (so that, in the pride of prosperity, they could not be restrained
by the senate, but by their overgrown power were able to draw the
government what way they pleased), thought it best that Carthage
should remain to keep them in awe, and to moderate their presump-
tion; for he saw that the Carthaginfans were not strong enough to
conquer the Romans, and yet too respectable an enemy to be despised
by them. On the other hand, Cato thought it dangerous, while the
people were thus inebriated and giddy with power, to suffer a city,
which had always been great, and which was now grown sober and
wise through its misfortunes, to lie watching every advantage against
them. It appeared to him, therefore, the wisest course to have all
outward dangers removed from the commonwealth, that it might be
at leisure to guard against internal corruption.

Thus Cato, they tell us, occasioned the third and last war against
the Carthaginians. But, as soon as it began, he died, having first
prophesied of the person that should put an end to it ; who was then
a young man, and had only a tribune's command in th« army, but was
giving extraordinary proofs of his conduct and valour. The news of
these exploits being brought to Rome, Cato cried out,

He is tbe soul of couDcil;

The re&t are shadows vain.

This Scipio soon confirmed by his actions.

Cato left one son by his second wife, who, as we ha^re already
observed, was surnamed Salonius, and a grandson by the son of
his first wife, wlio died before him. Salonius died in bb praetor-
ship, leaving a son named Marcus, who came to be ponsul, and was
grandfather* to Cato the philosopher, the best and most illustrious
man of his time.

* This is a mistake iu Plutarch -, for Salonius was the grandfather, and Marcus, tbt
father gf Cato of Utica.

ARISTIDBS AKD CATO COMPARED. jgi

ARISTIDES AND CATO

COMPARED.

HAVING thus giveu a detail of the most memorable actions of
these great men, if wc compare the whole life of the one with that of
the utlier, it will not he easy to discern the difference between them,
the eye being attracted by so many striking resemblances. But if
we examine the several parts of tlieir lives distinctly^ as we do a poera
or a picture, we shall find, in the first place, this common to them
both, tli^t they rose to high stations and great honour in their res-
pective conimonweabhs, not by the help of fj^mily connections, but
merely by their own virtue and abilities. It is true, that when Aris-
tides raised himself, Atliens was not in her grandeur, and the dema-
gogues and chief magistrates he had to deal with were men of mo-
derate and nearly equal fortunes. For estates of the highest class
were then only five hundred i^Mlmni; of those of the second order,
vho were knights, three hundred ; and of those of the third order^ who
were called ZetigittE^ two hundred. But Cato, from a little village
and a country life, launched into the Roman government, as into a
boundless ocean, at a time when it was not conducted by the Curii,
the Fahricii, and Hostilii, not received for its magistrates and orators
men of narrow circumstances, who worked with their own hands,
from the plough and the spade, but was accustomed to regard great-
ness of family, opulence, distributions among the people, and ser\'ility
io courting their favour; for the Romans, elated with their power and
importance, loved to hun^ble those who stood for the great offices of
state. And it was not the same thing to be rivalled by a Tlremis-
tocles, who was neither distinguished by birth nor fortune (for he is
flaid not to have been worth more than three, or at the most five
talents, when he first applied himself to public affairs), as to have to
contest with a Scipio Africanus, a Servius Galba, or a Quintius Fla-
minius, without any other assistance or support but a tongue accus-
tomed to speak with freedom in the cause of justice.

Besides, Aristides was only one among ten that commanded at
Marathon and Platiea; whereas Cato was chosen one of tbo two con-
suls, from a number of competitors, and one of the two censors,
though opposed by seven candidates, who were some of the greatest
and most illustrious men in Rome.

It should be observed, too, tliat Aristides was never principal in
any action; for Miltiades had the chief honour of llie victory at Ma-
fathoD} Tbemistoclea of that at Salamis^ and the pahn of the im-

5r-? PtrTASLCH ? Lrr£5.

- ^

Xi/.-iv-rrj -r.e ^'^:':r.r: -..ic-j -vis liso'^rviu 7.1r>. Ari.?tidfis by Sophanes,
A r. !-.'"« . ^ 1 ! V : ': : !. .. - , .md C 7- .x>r rui , ^ bo creatl v dist i Deuished

Oi :!.-' ■-*>.« r ::i7 :. Ci: > r:'~t odIv «t:«.ii Srsr in cocraee and con-
^': :t ':'.:^"-.^ 'is :-,Tn :':r.i:.?a'*, anii :n ire V3.r with Spain, but when
??e i:*-?'i .1* Ther::..:pyLe i.nir as a :r!rcne. under tfce auspices of
a'.'Vr.ifr. !'.;? r- . -I t'-.'i j'orv ot ihe Tictorv: fen* he it was thai un-
V.rvvi r-t ^•^7 :":r *.r.: R'Tans to rush ud»>q Anrioolius, and that
fcr-iu-jh: :!.e ':\.ir j-«m rhe -iiLk ot the kin^, who minded onlv what

1 mm • 9

W2.N ^KZ-'.Tt hirr- IT: .It vi,:r-.rv, whicK was manifest !v the work of
Ci:?. cr: .* A:ii ■.: of Greece, and •:pOQevi the pas:s:ig^e for Scipioto

Eo''^ :* r .er.i -.vere ccaallj Ticr«)riou< In war, bat Aristides mis-
r-rr:-?*: ::: r"--* I'lT.ir.i.m:! >r:, r*y.7i-^ barUhfd and oppressed by the
n :'!•:"! ■•: T''".':?rr.i'ir:c::5: wi;!>r t'jco, tkoairh he had for aotasronists
»f^." ■ ':' • : 'rrc\.*-:t ir.J: z; -^i p<'werf'jl rkq in Roice, who kept
^■:r.'r. ■ ''. : '-^ \'.\ :".;ni ew- L". V.'ts o\d ag*, like a skilful wrestler, alwavs
y.z'.i r.:- ?• -i.-r. Or.ci. iaipoachcd before the people, and ofEea
t:.:- rr : .^^^t ■■: i:: i..ice»ic!iriirr:r. !.;.» gecerally succeeded in his pro-
5k .:! :" • "i.e:*; vltA wns rj^vcr condemned hlxuseif, secure in that
b .! ■ •--. 1!:'.. liie dcfor.sive arid o&nsive armour of eloquence;
a. : ■ ... r.: re ju>tly than to fonune, or his guardian ^miii5y

u-> :....; .:.'.. .!^j : !- li.^i'iriinlr:; his dignity uiiolemished totlielast:
fcf A ;•.:..- ic^t.-.vj.J :!it.' 5a Tie eucoaiium upon Aristotle the phi-
}.- ; .^'j i.: V >.-: hj \vro:c co::j'. ri.::i^ him after his death, that,
an:.. _• ! ! '--T ci«-":l!c?. i.e l.A ti;c v^r)* extraordinar}' one of per*
ML...:.: J ; ;.■. t v .. itcvor lu \ :::::scc:.

Ti. .: ti»j ^:: * :' j ij-r:'!.,- ci.ijs :.l -i c: mnioiiwealths is the chief
exc^';".:-:*-^; « r ::.r:-;. ..:.;;1'> i.-.i of a cioiij:: and it isireuentllv ainroed.
that T".L' -.::" « f J v.r. :• _' a t*:i:r.;!y i> r ^ s::::l11 irj-r^'Jient in that ex-
cc'.!v'!.'.'o : :* r :it::y, '.vli.jl; i> ti/iV n l» l:-vti'j: 1 : ..liiiiles, cannot be
pr\>r 7i i:- i:i ti l u1h»1l-, up' ess lie ■■. .i . : (.x>m|>use it be

nin-M-liipi: r.^i-.i ;.r.i>p. reus. A.»-.; L;i^'i.\ ■■ ■■> ;: ^k i::iiiished gold
1:1. ; -^V.v- " • ui i>i ^paita. ai:;l L'.iv^- ti:^.- cl \i n^, ir.>i^:i! t»t' it, money
nn:' ..f ii i: liiit iiad i^txi: spol'ivd Lv x\ • lir.', did lu.t liisiirn toexcuse
tliiii- '^* .'i"j a:tL.ii..i..^toeco!i >.j;y,hut only to prevent luxury, wliichisa
tuiih '.i; :i:: i ii;:l ui'ittioii caus»jd l)V riches, tl.at cvcivonemiirht have the
gre-ni r j;!eiuy <;f the nccLSsaries and conveniences oFliie. By this es-
taMIslimeiji of I.JN, it appearMhathesavvfarthertiKi.i any other legislator,
since he was sensible tiiat every society has more to apprehend from its
needy members than from the rich: for this reason Cato, was no less
attentive to the management of his domestic concerns than to that o£

public affujrs; and he not only incrensed his own estate, but became
a ^ide to others in economy nnd agriculture, concerning which lie
collected many useful rules.

But Aristides by his indi^nce brought a dis^ce upon justice it-
self, as If it were the ruin and impoverish mciii of families, and a
()Ualily that is pnifiiable to any one rather than the owner. Hesiorf,
however, has said a good deal to exhort us both to justice and econo-
my, and inveighs againM idlcue.ss as the source of injustice. The
tame is well represented by Homer*,

ir fi«ld, >lilch Gilt Ihe Man

U-hicb K

ilir

itkri

ailing progeny, u

The ^Itul ihip, to (ound lUc Hump o( wjr.

To point llie politli'd ip»r, iinil burl llic quiTerin| 1t.net, - '

By which the poet intimates, that those who neglect their own af-
fairs generally support themselves by violence and Injustice. For
what the physicians say of oil, that, used outwardly, it is beneficial,
but pernicious when taken inwardly, is not a]>plii'able to the just
man J nor is it true that he is uscfol to others, and unprofitable t?
himself and his family. The (tolittet; of Aristides seem, therefore, to
have been defective in (his respect, if it is true (as most writers as-
sert) that he left not enough either for the portions of his daughters,
or for the expences of his funeral.

'llius Caio's family produced pretors and consuls to the fourth ge-
neration; for his grandsons and their children bore the highest of-
fices; whereas, though Aristides was one of the greatest men Iq
Greece, yet the most distressful poverty prevailing among his de<
scendents, some of them were forced to get iheir bread by showing
tricks of slight of hund, or telling fortunes, and others to receive
public alms, and not one of them entertained a sentiment worthy of
their illustrious aiiCL-stor.

It is true, ihis point is liable to some dispute; for poverty is not
ilislionourable in itself, but only when it is the elTeot of Idleness, in-
temjieranee, prodigality, and folly. And when on the contrary, it is
associated with all the virtues in the solier, the industrious, the jus^
and valiant statesman, it speaks a great and elevated mind. For an
attention to little things renders it impossible to do any thing thitt Is
gTcal; Dor can he provide for the wants of others whose own are nu-
nerous and craving. Tlie great and necessary provision for a states-
man Is not riches, but a contented mind, which, requiring no super-
fluities for itself, leaves a man at full liberty to serve the conmion-
wealth. God is absolutely exempt from wants; and the viriuous
Aian, in proportion as he reduces his wants, upproaches nearer to the

Vol., 1. No. i^, • CJyi. lib. iv. rFFC-

S94 PUTTJUtCB's LITS&

Arine pcAcomu For m a bodr vdl baflt Sot hedMi
ni[niiifp ocfacr in Bood or dodiiBg, so a latknal wvj of £«!■£•
a veiI-2nTenia*«i fiunilj^ drmindu « tctt modriJUe siqiport. OvyoH
senjos^indeeii^dioaUbeproporiioocdtotlievie wev^eof Am:
ie dat jiiMfars s great deal, and oses but little, is fa* fin» hatf
aodbafppTialiisdMnidaoce: for if, wfaSe be k sofidioaiii
it, ke bas do desire of thoae thii^ whidi makh caa fi9>
be ii iooftisb : if be does desire diem, and jet, oat cf — f —^
of fpirit. irzJl 3ot iHow bimself their eojorment, he is miseiable.

I wnild &ia ask Cato biaaelf this question: *' If riches are tok
eqcyeiL why. when possessed of a great deal, did he plnme hinsdif
en 'xinjT Acisoefi with a littler** If it be a commendable diiog,s
mdeed rt 3, to be coctented with coarse bread, and svch wine as om
senaaB laii laaoiiriii^ people drink, and not to covet pvplc ni
eincinrly paiscaeti faiOQacs, then Aristides, FpM«m»»^MMfa^^ \fiiM
CsrJSik, iod CjIto Fibricxos, were pcrfectlj right in nc^cctiiif id
acqmre wear dief £d not think proper to use. For it was faj ao
aaeans mict^ssarr i^c i beui wiio, like Odo^ could make m defirinai
sieal cc r-imlri^ ajac ioved to boil tiiem himself, while his wife baked
the drcmL a? siik so ainck about a £uthicg, and to write hf wbM
mtsaas a axaa au^cbr soooest grow ridi. Indeed, simplicity and &a*
gxitr see dKs only gnat things when they free the mind 6oni the
osire ot ^cserjufnei acd the anxieties of care. Hence it was thrt
Arjsduifs^ in tiae tral of Gdlas, said, // mas jit for mome la if
^jJittsmed q-"' pot^rtir. iirf #Aosr tkmt were poor qgaitui tkeir wHb^
03u£ ct'Ji tfktm aritK Me iun, mere poor omi qfcAoice, wugki gknf
is £:. Per i: 1> ri-ilculoos to suppose, that the poverty of Aristidei
WKs :«> ce Lm^utcfd to scoch, since he might, without being guilty
oc r?ve >JM ba5<.ccs5« rave n^sed himself to opulence by the sp<Ml of
oce buikiridr. or cu^ plunder of one tent. But enough of this.

A5 tc iciiiijirv achievemeats, those of Cato added but little to the
Romaa empire, wlilch was already very great ; whereas the battles of
Alaiathon, S^Limis, and Platsa, the most glorious and important
actions of the Greeks, are numbered among those of Aristides. And
surely Aatiochus is not worthy to be mentioned with Xerxes, nor
the demolishing of the walb of the Spanbh towns, with the destruc-
tion of so many thousands of barbarians both by sea and land. On
these great occasions Aristides was inferior to none in real serrice,
but he left the glory and the laureb, as he did the wealth, to oihen
who had more need of them^ because he was above them.

I do not blame Cato for perpetually boasting, and giving himself
the preference to others, though in one of his pieces be says^ It.U
ifhatrd/or # smsi eiiher to commend or depreciate himself: \hx\\

PHILOP(£M£N. 59s

think the man who is often praising himself not so complete in virtue
es the modest man who does not even want others to praise him;
for modesty is a very proper ingredient in the mild and engaging
manner necessary for a statesman. On the other hand^ he who de*
9iands any extraordinary lespect is diiEcult to please^ and liable to
tnvy, Cato was very subject to this fault, and Aristides entirely free
from it. For Aristides> by coM>perating with his enemy Themisto-
cles in his greatest actions, and being as it were a guard to him while
he had the command, restored the afiiurs of Athens; whereas Cato^
by counteracting Scipio, had well nigh blasted and ruined that expe-
dition of his against Carthage, which brought ilown Hannibal, who
till then was invincible. And he continued to raise suspicions
against him, and to persecute him with calumnies, till at last he drove
him out of Rome> and got his brother stigmatized with the shameful
crime of embezzling the public money.

As for temperance, which Cato always extolled as the greatest of
virtues, Aristides preserved it in its utmost purity and perfection;
while Cato, by marrying so much beneath himself, and at an unsea«>
aonable time of life, stood justly impeached in that respect; for it
was by no means decent, at his great age, to bring home to his son
and daughter-in-law a young wife> the daughter of his secretary, a
man who received wages of the public^ Whether he did it merely to
gratify his appetite, or to revenge the affront which his son put upon
his favourite slave> both the cause and the thing were dbhonourable*
And the reason wliich he gave to his son was ironical and ground-
less: for if he was desirous of having more children like him, he
ihould have looked out before for some woman of family^ and not
have put off the thoughts of marrying again till his commerce with
so mean a creature was discovered; and when it was discovered, he
ought to have chosen for his father-in-law, not the man who would
most readily accept his proposals, but one whose alliance would
have done him the most honour.

PHILOPCEMEN.

AT Mantinea there was a man of great quality and power, named
Cassander*, who, being obliged by a reverse of fortune to quit his
own country, went and settled at Megalopolis. He was induced to
fijt there chiefly by the friendship which subsisted between him and

* PaauiuM ct|k hia CUmtdtr; and ftome suuiiiicripti of PlatMoh agrtt with
So H i» alao in tho tnoflatioa of Guaiioi.

, the father of Ptij|iipa?mcn, H'ho was in s)I rc»pe4.-ts ■o«-
Iraordinary man. While his friend lived, he had nil thai lie eovM
wish; and being desirous, after his death, to miiltc some return fot
his hospitality, tie educated liis oq>liaii son id tlie same imniiM u
Homer says Achilles was educnicd hy I'htf nix, and furmed liim lioiD
his infaney to (generous seiiiimenis and royat virtues.

But whon he was past the years of ehJldhoud, Ecdemus and Dr-
tnophaneat had the prtnei[>nl caic of him. They were both Mcfilo-
potitans, who, having leanW the aeademie philosopliy of Arccsil>B>I,
applied it, ahove all the men of their lime, to action aad afbin of
itatc. 1'hey delivered their country from tyranny, by providing per-
sons privately to take off Aristodemus; they were assiating to Aniiu
in driving out Neocles the tyrant of Sicyon ; and at tlic retjnesi «t
tiie people of Cyrene, whose government was in great disorder, tlu-y
sailed tliiihcr, settled it on the foundation of good laws, and llto-
rouglily regulated the com moti wealth. But, among all thdrgml
actions, they valued themselves most on the education of Fliilnjxr-
mcn, as having rendered him, by the principles of phtlusophy, i
common benefit to Greece. And indeed, as he came the last of so
many exceUenl generals, Greece loved him extremely, as the child
of her old age, and, as his reputntiim increased, enlarged his power:
for which reason, a certain Roman calls him the last of the Grteh,
meaning (lint Greece had not produced one great man, or one lliai
was worthy of her, after him.

His visage was not very homely^, as some imagine tt to liai-e bent;
fi)r we see his statue still remaining at Delphi. As for the mintalF
of liis hostess nt Megara, it is said to be owing to his tnsiuess of be-
haviour, and the simplicity of his garh. She having word bniu^l
tliat the general of the Achteans was coming to her iiotisc, was in
E^reat care and hurry to provide his supper, her huithund hapjH'ning to
)>c out of the way. In the mean time Philopfi>men came^ atid, as
Ids habit was ordinary, she fxik him fur one of his own sert-ants, or
fur a l.iirbiiii;er, and desired him to assist her in the businex* of the
kitchen. He presently threw ofl* his cloak, and began to cleave
some wood ; when the master of the house rcturiiing, and seeing faim
80 employed, said, " What is the meaning of this, PhikipietDen : "

* Cr>Bg» io PaumnJu; in ihe iiucri|iliun efa ilalue of PliilopviuFU ml Tac««, ud

IK CDllFClion of rpigrmms.
1 In pHMCiiai ihelr nioKi are Ildctui mid Megiiluphinei.

t Arcoil'iu *>•* touadci of the middle Acidcuy. (iid miuJc •ook ■tleralton in \\m
doclribc ohicli liud obmintd.

et u> tliil liit 1 iug« WH huiult , but •■ tl.e Mme line d««lim, ihii ,
to psial o( uo u)d McoBj;itii no bmu la Ptloputuieiat eiccrdi'd him.

PHILOPOlMEy. bt)'J

He replied, in broad Doric, " I am paying lli« fine of my defomiity."
Tiws Flaminius, rallying him one day upon his make, said, " Whst
fine hands and legs ymi have ! but tlien you have no belly !" and he
was indeed very slender in the waist. But this raillery might rather
be referred to the eondition of his fortune; for he liad pood soldiera,
botli horse and fool, but very often wanted money to pay them. These
stories are subjects of disputatton in the schools.

As to his manners, we find that his pursuits of honour were to©
inucli attended with roughness and passion. Epaminondns was the
person whom he adopted as his jialtem; and he succeeded in imi-
tating his activity, his shrewdness, and contempt of riches; but his
choleric contentious humour prevented his attaining to the tniU-
ncss, the gravity, and candour of that great man in political disputes;
so that he seemed rather fit for war thun fur the civil administration.
Indeed, from a child, he was fund uf every thing in the military way,
and readily entered into the exercises which tended to that purpose;
those of riding, for instance, and handling of arms. Aa he seemnl
well formed for wrestling, .too, his friends and governors advised him
to improve himself in that art; which gave him occasion to ask,
whether that might Ik consistent willi his proficiency as s soldier?
Tliey told him the truth; that the habit of body and manner of life,
the diet and exercise of a soldier and a wrestler were entirely dif-
fcreui; that the wrestler must have much sleep and full meals, stated
times of exercise and rest, every little departure from his rules being
very prejudicial to him; wlicreas the soldier should be pre]>ared for
the most irregular changes of living, and should chiefiy endeavour to
bring himself to bear the want of food and sleep without difficuhv.
Philop<Btnen, hearing this, not only avoided and derided the exercise
of wrestling himself, but afterwards, when he came to be general, to
the utmost of his ])owcr exploded the wliolc art by every mark of
disgrace and expression of contempt, sulisHed thiit it rendered j>er>Oiu
who were the most fit for war quite useless, and unable to fight on
necessary occasions.

When his governors and preceptors had quitted their charge, lie
engaged in those private incursions into Lacoiiia which the city of
Mcgalo|)olis made fur the sake of Iwoly; and in these he was sure to
be the first to march out, and the last to return.

His leisure he spent either in the chace, which increased both ],U

\ strength and activity, or in the tilLigc of the field; for he had u hand-

I some estate tt^cnty furlongs from the city, to which he went every

day after dinner, or after supper ; and at night he threw himself upon

an ordinary maurcss, and slept as one of the labourers. Early in the

4noruing he rose and went lo work along with his vinc-drcssers or

S99 ^LUtAECH^S U¥£5«

ptoogfaoicn; after which be returaed to the towD^ aod emplojed hv
time about the public afikirs with his friends, and with the magis-
tntes* What he gained in the wars he kid out upon horses or anu^
cr iu the redeeming of captives ; but he endeavoured to improve hia
own estate the justest way in the world, by agricuhore I niean*^
Kor did he apply himself to it in a cursory manner^ but in full con^
victjon that the surest way not to touch what belongs to others is.ta
tike care of one's own.

He qient some time in hearing the discourses and studying the
writings of philosophers, but selected such as he thoi^^t mj^t u*
sist his progress in virtue. Among the poetical inuiges of Homer,
he attended to those which seemed to excite and encourage valour;
and as to other autiiors, he was most conversant in the iaetim of
Evangelusf, and in the histories of Alexander; being persuaded that
learning ought to conduce to action, and not be considered as mere
pastime and a useless fund for talk» In the study of tactics, he ne«
giected those plans and diagrams that are drawn upon paper, and ex-
emplified the rules in the field; considering with himself as lie
travelled, and pointing out to those about him the difficulties of
steep or broken ground; and how the ranks of an army must be ex-
tended or closed, according to the difierence made by riven, ditches^
and defiles*

He seems, indeed, to have set rather too great a value on mili-
tary knowledge; embracing war as the most extensive exercise of
virtue, and despising those that were not versed in it as persons en-
tirely useless. ^

He was now thirty years old, when Cleomenes {> kingof theLace^
dssmonians, surprised Megalopolis in the night; and, having forced
, the guards, entered and siezed the market*place. Philopoemen ran
to succour the iuliabitants, but was not able to drive out the enemy,
though he fought with the most determined and desperate valour.
He prevailed, however, so far as to give the people opportunity to
steal out of the town, by maintaining the combat with the pursuers,

* Columellft says, agriculture is next akin to philosophy. It does* iiidevd, affuid a
peiBODy who b capable of specalation^ an opportunity of mcditattng ooiuitufc; and tack
meditations enlarge the mind. «

t This author is oientioned by Arrian, who also wrote a disMurse on Tactka. Ha
observes that the treatise ol Evangelus, as well as those of several otber writcra on %^
subject, were becoma of little use in his time, because they had omitted aeveral things at
sufficiently known in their days, which, however, then wanted explicatioii. This may
serve as a caution to future writers on this and such lihe sohjects.

X Qeomenes made himself master of Megalopolis in the second year of the hmdifld
and thirty*ninth 01ympia4» which was the two handled And twenty-fint helbft tha
Christian

PHILOrCEMEN. 59^

and drawing Cleomenes upon himself, so that he retired the last wilh
diflSculty, and after prodigious eflforts, being wounded, and harinf
his horse killed under him. When they had gained Messene, Cleo^
menes made them an offer of their city with their lands and goodd.
Philcqxsmen perceiving they were glad to accept the proposal, and
in haste to return, strongly apposed it, representing to them, in aa^
speech, that Cleomenes did not Ti'ant to restore them their city, bift
to be master of the citizens, in order that he might be more aecom
in keeping the place; that he could not sit still long to watch emp^
houses and walls, for the very solitude would force them away. S^
this argumeut he turned the M egalopolitans from their purpose, biit
at the same time furnished Cleomenes with a pretence to plunder
the town, and demolish the greater part of it, and to march offloadd
with booty.

Soon after, Antigonus came to assist the Achseans against Cleo*
menes; and finding that he had possessed himself of the heights of
Sellasia, and blocked up the passages, Antigonus drew up his amgr
near him, with a resolution to force him from his post. Philopoe-
men, with his citizens, was placed among the cavalry, supported by
the Illjrrian foot, a numerous and gallant body of men, who closed
that extremity. They had orders to wait quietly until, from tlie other
wing, where the king fought in person, they should see a red robe
lifted up upon the point of a spear. The Achieans kept their grouni
as they were directed; but the Illyrian officers with their corps at-
tempted to break in upon the Lacedaemonians. Euclidas, the bm-
tlier of Cleomenes, seeing this opening made in the enemy's army,
- immediately ordered a party of his light-armed infantry to whed
about and attack the rear of the lllyrians thus separated from the
horse. This being put in execution, and the lllyrians harassed and
broken, Philopoemen perceived that it would be no difficult matter to
drive off that light-armed party, and that the occasion called for it.
First he mentioned the thing to the king's officers, but they re-
jected the hint, and considered him as no better than a madman, hit
reputation being not yet respectable enough to justify such a move-
ment. He, therefore, with his Megalopolitans, falling upon that
light armed corps himself, at the first encounter put them in con-
fusion, and soon after routed them with great slaughter. Desirous
yet farther to encourage Antigonus' troops, and quickly to penetrate
into the enemy's army, which was now in some disorder, he quitted
lib horse; and advancing on foot, in his horseman's coat of mail, and
other heavy accoutrements, upon rough uneven ground, that was full
of springs and bogs, he was making his way with extreme difficulty,
<#Mn he hi|d both hia thighs struck throu^ with n javelin, so that

,the point came tbroii;;li on tlic other side, and tlie wtHind wu greil,
•bough not morul. At first he stootl slill as if he Itad been »h*clLkd,
BM knowing what milhod to take : fur tlie thong in the middle of
the javelin rendered it diRiculttobedrawn out, aor would any sboW
ibim venture to do it. At the same time, the fight being at the boi-
teet, Kiid likely to be sood over, lioHour and indigiMtion pushed ttim
OD to take his aliare in it ; and therefore, by moving his legs tlu9 <ngr
and that, he broke the sUfT, and then ordered the pieces to be pu/M
imt. Thus set free, he ran sword in hand through the first rsnki w
charge the enemy ; at the same time aniinating the troops, and firing
tibem with emulation.

Antigotius having gained the victory, to try his MaceiioDuiii of'
ficers, dcaunided of them, " Why lliey liad brought on the (-avaliy
before he gave them the signal?" By way of apology, they said,
* lltey were obliged, against their will, to come to nction, becaiue
I a young man ufMegiilo|Kilis had begun the attack too soon." "That
young man," replied Anligonus smiling, " has performed ibeoStC
.«f an experienced general,"

This action, ns we may easily imagine, lifted Phltopoemen ioto
great reputation, so iliat Anrigonus was very desirous of havitig Ui
■erviees in the wars, and ofl«ied him a eousideruble conimaiid, whb
great apjwinimeais; but he declined it, because he knew he could

not bear to t>c uitder the direction of another. Nut choosing, honr-

cvcr. tu lie idle, and bearing there was a war in Crete, he sailed
thither tn exercise and improve his military talents. When he had
•erved there a good while along with a set of brave men, who weie
not only versed in all the stratagems of war, but temperate besides,
widsirici in their manner of living, he returned with so much re-
nown to the Achieans, that they immediately appointed him general
of IkOJ'se. He found that the cavalry made use of small and nican
horses, which they picked up as they could when ihey were called to
a campaign; that many of them shunned the wars, and sent otben
in their stead ; and that shameful ignorance of service, with its cuo-
sc(|ucncc, timidity, prevailed among them all. The former generals
]iad connived at this, because, it being a degree of honour among the
Achmins to serve on horseback, the cavalry had great power in tlie
common wealth, and cousidcnible influence in the distribution of re-
wards and pui:isbuieuts. But Pliilop<Emcn would not yield to mcb
consideralions, or grant them the least indulgence. Instead of that,
ho applied to the several towns, and to each of the young men b
particular, rousing them to a sense of honour, puniiihing where ne-
ccHxiiy required, and practising them in exercise, R-views, and mock-
btttlet, in placet of the greatest resort. By these u

iac«a»,iaalimy |

PIIILOP(EMEK» 60t

time, he brought them to surprising strength and spirit; and, what
is of most consequende in discipline, rendered them so light and
quick, that all their evolutions and movements^ whether performed
separately or together, were executed with so much readiness and ad*-
dress, that their motion was like that of one body actuated by an in-
ternal 'Voluntary principle. In the great battle which they fought
with the .£tolians and Eleans near the river Larissus*, Dcmophan-
tus, general of the Elean horse, advanced before the lines, at full
speed, against Philopcemen. Philopoemen, preventing his blow,
with a push of his spear brought him dead to the ground. The ene-
my, seeing Demophantus fall, immediately fled. And now Philo-
poemen was universally celebrated, as not inferior to the young in
personal valour, nor to the old in prudence, and as equally well qua-
lified both to fight and to command.

Aratus was, indeed, the first who raised the commonwealth of the
Achffiaus to dignity and power; for whereas before they were in a
low condition, dispersed in unconnected cities, he united them in one
body, and gave them a moderate civil government, worthy of Greece*
And as it happens in running waters that when a few small bodies
atop, others stick to them, and one part stretigthening another, the
whole becomes one firm and solid mass, so it was with Greece. At
a time when she was weak and easy to be broken, dispersed as she
was in a variety of cities, which stood each upon its own bottom, the
Achfeaos first united themselves, and then drawing some of the neigh-
bouring cities to them, by assisting them to expel their tymnts, while
others voluntarily joined them for the sake of that unanimity which
they beheld in so well-constituted a government, they conceived the
gretX design of forming Peloponnesus into one community. It is
true, that while Aratus lived, they attended the motions of the Mace-
donians, and made their court first to Ptolemy, and afterwards to An-
tigonus and Philip, who all had a great share in the affairs of Greece.
liut when Philopoemen had taken upon him the administralMir, the
Achcans, finding themselves respectable enough to oppose their
strongest adversaries, ceased to call in foreign protectors. As for
Aratus, not being so fit for conflicts in the field, he managed most of
his affairs by address, by moderation, and by the firiendships he had
f formed with foreign princes, as we have rekted in his life. But
f Philopoemen, being a great warrior, vigorous and bold, and successful
{I withal in the first battles that he fought, raised the ambition of the
y Acheans togedier with their power; for under him they were used
^t to conquer.

p * This battle wai fought the fourtb year of the hundred and fortj second Oljmplad,
5^ wbtn Vlulopceniea waa in hit fortj-fborth jear,

^ VOU 1. No. 17. GGQQ

609 -•

PLUTAKCH S LITES.

In the first place he corrected the errors of the Aehmins io dnw'
in^ up their forces, and in the make of their arms ; for hitbcrto ^ej
had made use of bucklers, which were easy to*manage on accoaot of
their smallness, but too narrow to cover the body, and lances that
^rere much shorter than the Macedonian pikes ; for which reason
they answered the end in fighting at a distance, bat were of little use
in close battle. As for the order of battle, they had not been accus-
tomed to draw up in a spiral form *, but in the square battalkm,
which having neither a front of pikes, nor shields fit to lock togethtr,
like that of the Macedonians, was easily penetrated and broken.
Philopopmen altered both ; persuading them, instead of the buckler
and lance, to take the shield and pike; to arm their heads, bodies,
thighs, and legs, and, instead of a light and desultory manner of
fighting, to adopt a close and firm one. After he had brought the
^outh to wear complete armour, and on that account to consider
themselves as invincible, his next step was to reform them with res-
pect to luxury and love of expense. He could not, indeed, entirely
cure them of the distemper with which they had long been infected,
the vanity of appearance, for they had vied with each other in fine
clothes, in purple carpets, and in the rich service of their tables.
But he began with diverting their love of show from superfluous
things to those that were useful and honourable, and soon prevailed
with them to retrench their daily expense upon their persons, and to
give into a magnificence in their arms and the whole equipage of
war. The shc^, therefore, were seen strewed with plate broken in
pieces, while breast-plates were gilt with the gold, and shields and
bridles studded with the silver. On the parade the young men were
managing horses, or exercising their arms. The women were seen
adorning helmets and crests with various colours, or embroidering
military vests both for the cavalry and infantry. The very sight of
these things inflaming their courage, and calling forth their vi-
gour, made them venturous and ready to face any danger: for
much expense, in other things that attract our eyes, tempts to
luxury, and too often produces effeminacy, the feasting of the senses
relaxing tlic vigour of the mind; hut in this instance it strengthens
and improves it. Thus Homer represents Achilles, at the sight of
his new armour, exulting with joy t, and burning whh impatience

* Tlie Macedoi:iuii phalanx occu^i(}nalIy altered tlieir position from the square to
the gfjirat or orbicular form, whenever they were surrounded, in order that thej night
fare an«l fight the enemy on cverj side; and 5orai9inies to t*iat of the ewneta or wedge*

t She drops tiie radiant burden on the ground;
CJung the strong arnu, and ring the shores around.
Back shrink the Myrmidons with '^ ^

And from the broad eiTulgence

PHILOPCEMEK. 603

to use it. When Philopoeinen bad persuaded the youth thus to aria
and adorn themselves^ he mustered and trained them continually,
and they entered with pride and pleasure into his exercise : for they
were greatly delighted with the new form of the battalion, which
w|s so cemented that it seemed impossible to break it. And their
arms became easy and light in the wearing, because they ware
charmed with their richness and beauty, and they longed for no*
thing more than to use them against the enemy, and to try them te
a real encounter.

At that time the Achseans were at war with Machanidas, the ty^
rant of Laced^mon, wlio, with a powerful army, was watching hia
opportunity to subdue all Peloponnesus. As soon as news wm
brought that he was fallen upon the Mantineans, Philopcemen toolc
t^e field, and marched against them. . They drew up their armiea
near Mantinea, each having a good number of mercenaries in pay,
beside the whole force of their respective cities. The engagement
being begun, Machanidas with his foreign troops attacked and put
to flight the spear-men and the Tarentines, who were placed in the
Aehaeau front} but afterwards, instead of falling upon that part of
the army who stood their giound, and breaking them, he went upon
the pursuit of the fugitives^; and when he should have endeavoured
to rout the main body of the Ach^eans, left his own uncovered.
Philopcemen, after so indifferent a beginning, made light of the mis-
fortune, and represented it as no great matter, though the day seem*
ed to be lost. But when he saw what an error the enemy committed
in quitting tiicir foot, and going upon the pursuit, by which they
left him a good opening, he did not try to stop them in their career
after the fugitives, but suffered them to pass by. When the pursuers
were got at a great distance, he rushed upon the Lacedaemonian in-
fantry, now left unsupported by their right wing. Stretching, there-
fore, to the left, he took them in flank, destitute as they were of
a general, and far from expecting to come to blows; for they
thought Machanidas absolutely sure of victory when they saw him
upon the pursuit.

After he had routed this infantry with great slaughter (for it is said
that four thousand Lacedaemonians were left dead upon the spot),
be marched against Machanidas, who was now returning with Ins

Unmov*d, the hero kindles at the ihow.
And feeli with ngc divine bis bosom glow;

I

From his fierce eye-bulls living flumes expire.

And fl4sh ince&sant like a stream of fire. ^oft, Iliad, 19.

* See Folybias, book ii«

6o4 Plutarch's lives.

mercenaries from the pursuit. There was a broad and deep (fitch
between them, where both strove awhile^ the one tb get over andfiy,
the other to hinder him. Their appearance was not like that of i
combat between two generals, but between two wild beasts (or radier
between a hunter and a wild beast) whom necessity reduces tofi§iit
Philopoemen was the great hunter. —-The tyrant's horse being stroo^
and spirited, and violently spurred on both sides, ventnred to leip
into the ditch, and was raising his fore feet in order to gain the op-
posite bank, when Simmias and Polyienus, who alwa)rs fought by the
side of Philopoemen, both rode up and levelled their spears agunst
Machanidas. But Philopcemen prevented them; and perceiTing
that the horse, with his head high reared, covered the tyrant's bod?,
he turned his own a little, and pushing his spear at him with all his
force, tumbled him into the ditch. The Achaeans, in admiiationof
this exploit, and of his conduct in the whole action, set up his statue
in brass at Delphi, in the attitude in which he killed the tyrant.

It is reported, tliat at the Nemcan games, a little after he had
gained the battle of M autinea, PhilopoBmen, then chosen general die
second time, and at leisure on account of that great festival, fint
caused this phalanx, in the best order and attire, to pass in review
before the Greeks, and to make all the movements which the ait of
war teaches, with the utmost vigour and " agility. After this he en-
tered the theatre, while the musicians were contending for the
prize. He was attended by the youth in their military cloaks and

scarlet vests. ^These young men were all well made, of thesameage

and stature ; and though they showed great respect for tlieir general,
yet they seemed not a little elated themselves with the many glorious
battles they had fought. In the moment that they entered, Pylades
the musician happened to be singing to his lyre the PerstB of Timo-
theus *, and was pronouncing this verse, with which it begins.

The palm of Liberty for Greece I won ;

^hen the people, struck with the grandeur of the poetry, sung by a
voice equally excellent, from every part of the theatre turned ihcir
eyes upon Pliilopoemep, and welcpwied him with the loudest plaudits.
They caught in idea the anpient dignity of Greece, and in their present
confidence aspired to the lofty spirit of former times.

As young horses require their accustomed riders, and are wild and
ynruly wlien mounted by strangers, so it was with the Acljaeans.
When their forces were vmder any other commander, on every great
emergency, they grew discontented, and looked about for Philopce-:

* Timotheni was a dithjrambic poet, who floarisbed aboat the ninetj-fiAh Oljmpiadj
three bundfed an^d iusetjr*cigbt jean before the Christian era«

riTII,OP(T.MEN. U05

men ; and if he did hut make liis apjif arancc, they were soon satisfied
again, and filled for attion by llie confidence whkh they placed ia
tim; well knowing that he was the only general whom their ene-
mies durst not look in the face, and that they were ready to tremble
at his very name.

Philip, king of Mnccdon, thinking he could easily bring the A-
chaans under him ngain, if Philopcpmen was out of the way, priralely
sent some persons to Argos to assassinate him. But this treachery
was timely discovered, and brought upon Philip the hatred and con-
tempt of all the Greeks. The Bceotians were besieging Megara,
and hoped to be soon masters of the place, when a report, though
not a true one, being spread among tbcni, that Philopcemen was ap-
proaching to the rehef of the besieged, they left their scaling-ladders,
already planted against the wbils, and took to flight. Nabis, who
was tyrant of Lneediemon after Maclmuidas, had taken Messene by
surprise; and Ptjilopcemen, who was out of command, endeavoured
to persuade Lysippus, then general of the Achaians, to succour the
Messenians: but not prevailing wiih bim, because he said the enemy
was within, and the place irrecoverably lost, he went himself, taking
with him his own citizens, wlio waited neither for form of law nor
commission, but followed him tipon this natural principle, that he
' who excels should always command. When he was got pretty near,
Nabis was informed of it; and not daring to wait, though his army
lay quartered in the town, sio-e out at another gate with his troops, and
marched off precipitately, thinking himself happy if he could escape.
He did indeed escape, but Messene was rescued.

Thus far every thing is great in ttie character of Philopcemen,
But as for his going a second time into Crete at the request of the
Gortyntans, who were engagi-d in war, and wanted him for general,
ft has been blamed, either as an act of cowardice in deserting his own
country when she was distressed by Nabis, or as an unseasonable am-
bition to show himself to strangers. And it is true, the Megalopo-

litans were then so hard pressed, that they were obliged to shut
, themselves up within their walls, and to sow corn in their veiy
streets; the enemy having laid waste their lands, and encamped
almost at their gates. Piiilopcf men, therefore, by entering into the
service of the Cretans at such a time, and taking a command beyond
' sea, furnished his enemies with a pretence to accuse him of basely
flying from the war at home.

Yet it is said, that as the Achffians had chosen other generals,
Philopcemen, being unemployed, bestowed his leisure upon the
Gortynians, and took a command among them at their request. For
lie bad no extreme aversion to idleaess, and was desirous, above all

4

€o6 tlutarch's lives.

things^ to keep his talents^ as a soldier and a general^ in constant
practice. Thb was clear from wliat he said of Ptcdemy* Some
were commending that prince for daily studying the art of war, aid
improving his strength by martial exercise: ^* Who^" said he^
'^ can prais(^ a prince of his age^ that b always preparing, and
never performs?"

The M egalopolitansj highly incensed at his absence^ And lookiof
Bpoo it as a desertion^ were inclined to pass an outlawry against hinu
But the Ach<£ans prevented them^ by sending their general Aris-
t»netu»^ to Megalopolis, who, though he differed with PhilopoeBieii
about matters of government, would not suffer him to be declaiedaa
outlaw. Philopoemen, finding himself neglected by bis cidzens^
drew off from them several of the neighbouring boroughs, and io*
structed tiiem to allege that they were not comprised in their tax-
ations, nor originally of their dependencies. By assisting them t»
maintain this pretext, he lessened the authority of Megalopolis in
the general assembly of the Achseans. But these things happened
some time after.

Whilst he commanded the Gortynians in Crete^ he did not^ like a
Feloponnesian or Arcadian, make war in an open generous manner^
hut, adopting the Cretan customs, and using their artifices and slights^
their stratagems and ambushes against themselves, he soon showed
that their devices were like the short-sighted schemes of children^ when
compared with the long reach of an experienced genexaU

Having greatly distinguished himself by these means, and perform*
ed many exploits in that country, he returned to Peloponnesus with
honour. Here he found Philip beaten by T. Q. Flamiuius, and
Nabis engaged in war both with the Romans and Achseans. He was
immediately chosen general of the Acht'eans; but, venturing to act
at sea, he fell under the same misfortune with Epaminon das; he saw
the great ideas that had been formed of his courage and conduct
vanish in consequence of his bad success in a naval engagement
Some say, indeed, that Epaminondas was unwilling tliat liis country-
men should have any share of the advantages of the sea, lest, of good
soldiers (as Plato expresses it), they should become licentious and
dissolute sailors; and therefore chose to return from Asia and the
isles without effecting any thing. But Philopoemen, being persuaded
that his skill in the land service would ensure his success at sea,
found to his cost how much experience contributes to victory, and
how much practice adds in all tilings to our powers. For he was not
only worsted in the sea-fight for want of skill, but having fitted up
an old ship which had been a famous vessel forty years before,

* To) J bios and Utj ckII him Aristsnus.

FRILOP(£M£N. 607

«nd manned it with his townsmen^ it proved so leaky that they were
in danger of being lost. Finding that^ after tltis^ the enemy des*
pised him as a man who disclaimed all pretensions at sea, and that
they had insolently laid siege to Gythium, he set sail again; and at
they did not expect him, bat were dispersed without any precaution,
by reason of their late victory, he landed in the night, burnt their
camp, and killed a great number of them.

A few days after, as he was marchgig through a difficult pass, Nahis
came suddenly upon him. The Achseans were in great terror, think*
ing it impossible to escape out of so dangerous a passage, which the
enemy had already seized. But Philopcemen, making a little halt, and
seeing at once the nature of the ground, showed that skill in drawing
up an army is die capital point in the art of war; for, altering a little
the disposition of his forces, and adapting it to the present occasion
without any bustle, he easily disengaged them from the difficulty,
and then falling upon the enemy, put them entirely to the route.
When he saw that they fled not to the town, but dispersed themselves
about the country, as the ground was woody and uneven, and, on ac-
count of the brooks and ditches, impracticable for the horse, he did
not go on the pursuit, but encamped before the evening. Conclud-
ing, however, that the fugitives would return as soon as it grew dark,
and draw up in a straggling manner to the city, he placed in am-
bush, by the brooks and hills that surrounded it, many parties of the
Achieans with their swords in their hands. By this means the greatest
part of the troops of Nabis were cut off: for not returning in a
body, but as the chance of ffight dispersed them, they fell into the
cnemy*s hands, and were caught like so many birds, ere they could
enter the town.

Pliilopoemen being received on this account with great honour and
applause in all the theatres of Greece, it gave some umbrage to
Flaminius, a man naturally ambitious. For, as a Roman consul, he
thought himself entitled to much greater marks of distinction among
the Achseans than a man of Arcadia, and that, as a public benefac-
tor, he was infinitely above him ; having, by one proclamation, set
free all that part of Greece which had been enslaved by Philip and
the Macedonians*. After this, Flaminius made peace with Nabis;
and Nabis was assassinated by the iEtolians. Uereupon, Sparta
being in great confusion, Philopcemen, seizing the opportunity, came
upon it with his army, and; partly by force, partly by persuasion,
brought that city to join in the Achsan league. The gaining over n
city of such dignity and power made him perfectly adored among the
Achseans. And, indeed, Sparta was an acquisition of vast importance

* Dacier reads Jsoced^monlant, bat does not mcntiun his authurltf.

l^HILOrOEMEK. 609

into the town himself, and, though hut a private man, shut the gates
against an Achaean general and a Roman consul ; healed the divi-
sions among the Lacedemonians, and brought them back to the
league.

Yet afterwards, when he was general himself, upon some new sub-
ject of complaint against that people, he restored their exiles, and
t>ut eighty citizens to death, as Polybius tells us, or, according to
Aristocrates, three hundred and fifty. He demolished their walls,
took from them great part of their territory, and added it to that of
Megalopolis. All who had been made free of Sparta by the tyrants,
he disfranchised and carried into Achaia, except three thousand, who
refused to quit the place, and those he sold for slaves. By way of
insult, as it were, upon Sparta, with the money arising thence he
built a portico in Megalopolis. Pursuing his vengeance against tliat
unhappy people, who had already suffered more than they deserved^
lie added one cruel and most unjust thing to fill up the measure of
it; he destroyed their constitution; he abolished the discipline
of Lycurgus, compelled them to give their children and youth an A-
chseau education, instead of that of their own country, being persuade
ed that their spirit could never bo humbled while they adhered to the
institutions of their great lawgiver. Thus brought, by the weight
of their calamities, to have the sinews of their city cut by Philopcemenj
they grew tame and submissive. Some time after, indeed, upon ap«
piication to the Romans, they shook ofl'the Achiean customs, and re-
established their ancient ones, as far as it could be done, after so much
misery and corruption.

When the Romans were carrying on the war with Antiochus in

Greece, Philopcemen was in a private station. And when he saw

Antiochus sit still at Ciialcia, and spend his time in youthful love,

and a marriRge unsuitable to his years, wiiile the Syrians roamed from

town to town without discipline and without officers, and minded

nothing but tlieir pleasures, he repined extremely that he was not

then general of the Acliieans, and scrupled not to declare that he

envied the Romiyps their victory: *' For, had I been in command,**

said he, *^ I would have cut them all in pieces in the taverns.*' After

Antiochus was overcome, the Romans pressed still harder upon

Greece, and hemmed in the Achffiims with their power; tlic orators,

^ too, inclined to their interest. Under the auspices of Heaven, their

' strength prevailed over all; and the point was at hand where for-

• tune, who had long veered, was to stand still. In tiiese circum-

^ stances, Philopoemen, like a good pilot, struggled with the storm.

i Sometimes he was forced to give way a little, and yield to the times;

but, on most occasions^ maintaining the conflict, he endeavoured to

Vol. 1. No. 17. uuhu

I

6lO Plutarch's lives.

draw all that were considerable, either for their eloqueuce or riches^
to the side of liberty. Aristsp.netus, the Megalopolitan, who had great
interest among the Acha*^ns, but always courted the Romans, de«
clared it in counsel as his opinion, *' That they ought not to be op-
posed or disobliged in any thing." Philopcemen heard him with
silent indignation ; and at last, when he could refrain no longer, said
to him, ^^ And why in such haste, wretched man, to see an end of
Greece?" Manias*, the Roman consul^ after the defeat of Ad-
tiochus, moved the Achfeans to permit the Lacedflemonian exiles to
return, and Titus seconded him in his application ; but Philopoemen
opposed it, not out of any ill-will to the exiles, but because he was
willing they should be indebted for that benefit to himself and the
Achaeans^ and not to the favour of Titus and the Romans ; for the next
year, when he was general himself, he restored them. Thus his gallant
spirit led him to contend with the prevailing powers.

He was elected general of the Achseans, the eighth time, when
seventy years of age ; and now he hoped not only to pass the year of
his magistracy without war, but the remainder of his life in quiet
For as the force of distempers abates with the strength of the body,
so in the states of Greece the spirit of contention failed with their
power. Some avenging deity, however, threw him down at last, like
one who, with matchless speed, runs over the race, and stumbles
at the goal. It seems that^ being in company where a certain general
was mentioned as an extraordinary man, Philopcemen said, *' There
was no great account to be made of a man who suffered himself to
be taken alive." A few days after this, Dinocrates the Messenian,
who was particularly on bad terms witli Philopcemen, and, indeed,
not upon good ones with any one, by reason of his profligate and
wicked life, found means to draw Messene off from the league;
and it was also said that he was going to sieze a little place called
Colonist. Philopoimen was then at Argos, sick of a fever; but
upon this news he pushed to Megalopolis, and reached it in one dav,
though it was at the distance of four hundred furlongs. From thence
he presently drew out a body of horse, consisting of the nobility, but
all young men, who, from afteclion to his person, and ambitiun for
glory, followed him as volunteers. With these he marched towards
Messene, and meeting Dinocrates on Evander's hill J, he attacked

* Manius Acilius Glabrio.

t There it no Biich place known as Co/oh »5. Livy (lib. xxxix.) call* it Cri^nc; and
riutarcb probably wrote Corona, or Coronis, Strabo inculions ihe latter as a nlacc io.
the neighbourhood uf Messene.

X Ev<mder*s hill is likewise unknown. Polybius, and after him Pausnnias, mentions a
hill called Evan, (which name it probably had from the cries of the Bacchanals) not far
from Messene.

PHILOPOEMEN. 6ll

and put him to flight. But five hundred men, who guarded the flat
country, suddenly coming up, the othefs who were routed, seeing
them, rallied again about the hills. Hereupon Philopoemen, afraid
of being surrounded, and desirous of saving his young cavalry, re-
treated upon rough and diflicult ground, while he was in the rear,
often turning upon the enemy, and endeavouring to draw them. en-
tirely upon himself. Yet none of them dared to encounter him ;
they only shouted and rode about him at a distance. As he often
faced about, and left his main body, on account of his young men,
each of whom he was solicitous to put out of danger, at last he found
himself alone amidst a number of the enemy. Even then they durst
not attack him hand to hand, but, hurling their darts at a distance,
they drove him upon steep and craggy places, where he could scarcely
make his horse p), though he spurred him continually. He was still
active through exercise, and for that reason his age was no hinder-
ai/ce to his escape ; but being weakened by sickness, and extremely
fatigued with his journey, his horse tlirew him, now heavy and en*
cumbered, upon the stones. His head was wounded with the fall,
and he lay a long time speechless, so that the enemy, thinking him
dead, began to turn him, in order to strip him of his arms. But find-
ing that he raised his head and opened his eyes, they gathered thick
about him, bound his hands behind his back, and led him off with such
unworthy treatment and gross abu&e, as Philopoemen could never have
supposed he should come to suffer even from Dinocrates.

The Messenians, elated at. the news, flocked to the gates. But
when they saw Philopuemeu dragged along in a manner so unworthy
of the glory of his achievements and trophies, most of them were
touched with pity and compassion for his misfortune. They shed
tears, and contemned all human greatness as a faithless sup]K)rt, as
vanity and nothing. Their tears, by little and little, turned to kind
words, and they began to say they ought to remember his former be-
nefits, and the liberty he had procured them by expelling the tyrant
Mabis. A few there were, indeed, who, to gratify Dinocrates, talked
of putting Philopoemen to torture and to death, as a dangerous and
implacable enemy, and the more to be dreaded by Dinocrates, if he-
escaped after being made prisoner, and treated with such indignity..
At last they put him in a dungeon called the Treasury* j which had
neither air nor light from without, and which, having no doors, was
closed with a great stone. In this dungeon they shut him up witiv
t)ie stone, and placed a guard around it.

* The public treasure wai kept there; and it was shut up wUh an innienae ttonc^
moved lo it b^ on engiue. Liv, 1. xxxix.

6l3 Plutarch's uves.

Meanwliik, the Achsao cavaliy, recollectiog theiBiclTes aha :l
Right, fuund that Philopfsnien was not with them, umI probabU
lost his ['lie. They made a stand, and culled Iiim wJi Vma c
blaaiiiig each oih«r for makiDg a hase and shameful escape, btil
doning their general, who had been prodieral of his owa iife in n
to save theira. By much search and iiiqtiiry ;i'»out the c«ii
they got intelligence that he was taken pristHicr, and carried thth
DewsTDthe stales of Achaia,who, considering it as thi.- greatest of kt
resohed to send uo embassy to deinaod him of the Messeuius,
ID the mean time prepared for war.

\\'hile the Achaeans were taking these resolutions, Dimcn
who most of all dreaded time, as the thing most likely to ure I
lopoemen, determined to be before-Iiaiid with the le^ne. Th
fore, wfaea night was come, and (he muhitude retired, be opt
the dungeon, and sent in one of b)s servants with a dose of pas
and orders not to leave him till be had taken it. Philopcmira
laid down in his cloak, hot not asleep : vexation and resentment i
liim awake. When he saw the light, and the man standing by 1
with a cup of puisoo, he raised himself up as well as his seikc
would permit, and, receiving the cup, asked him, ** Wbetheriiel
heard any thing of his cat-alry, and particularly of Lycortasr" 1
executioner answering that they almost all escaped, he nodded
head in sign of satisfaction; and looking kindly upoa him, a
" Thou bringest good tidings, and we are not in all respects i
happy." \\lthotii uttering another word, or breatlu'ng the le
sigli, he drank off the puisoii, and laid down again. He wa.- ilrfj
hroiiirbt s(i low, that lie could not make much struggle with i::e li
' •] dose, and it disp'ilelied liioi presently.

; _ The news ol" his death filled all Acliaia with grief and lamrn;

,i' ■ tatioii. All thf youth immediately repaired with the deputtm-i':

j ^ ■ several cities l.i .Mi-piiopolis, where they resolved, without lw>

'! , time, to take their revenge: for this puriwsc, liaviuir clK»>eii L

cortas* fur tliiir general, they entered Messene, and lavaLTod i
\ cdtintry, till the MesscnJuns, with one consent, opened tk-ii Ci.'-

'. 1 and received ihein. Diiioerates prevented their revenge bv kil: .

[ himself; and iliose who voied for having I'liilotni'men put to xj

followed his exaniplc. But such as were for having iii.ii ili
the torture win; taken by Lycortas, and reserved for ni.ne i';;

(/

punishments.

;iFi(1 f„fij-,i

PHILOPdlMEN. 6 IS

When they had burnt his remains^ they put the ashes in an urn^
and returned, not in a disorderly and promiscuous manner^ but
uniting a kind of triumphal march with the funeral solemnity. First
came the foot, with crowns of victory on their heads, and tears in
their eyes, and attended by their captive enemies in fetters. Poly-
bius, the general's son, with the principal Achffians about him, car-
ried the urn, which was so adorned with ribbons and garlands that it
was hardly visible. Tht march was closed by the cavalry, com-
pletely armed and superbly mounted ; they neither expressed in their
looks the melancholy of such a mourning, nor the joy of a victory.
The people of the towns and villages on their way flocked out, as if
it had been to meet him returning from a glorious campaign, touch-
ed the urn with great respect, and conducted it to Megalopolis.
The old men, the women, and children, who joined the procession,
raised such a bitter lamentation, that it spread through the army,
and was re-echoed by the city, which, besides her grief for Philo-
poemen, bemoaned her own calamity, as in him she thought she lost
the chief rank and influence among the Achsans*

His interment was suitable to his dignity, and the Messenian pri-
soners were stoned to death at his tomb. Many statues were set
up*, and many honours decreed him by the Grecian cities. But
when Greece was involved in the dreadful misfortunes of Cbrinth, a
certain Roman attempted to get them all pulled downf^ accusing
him in form, as if he had been alrve, of implacable enmity to the
Romans. When he had finished the impeachment, and Polybius
had answered his calumnies, neither Mummius nor his lieutenants
would sufier the monuments of so illustrious a man to be defaced,
though he had opposed bolb Flaminius and Glabrio not a little.
For they made a proper distinction between virtue and interest, be-
tween honour and advantage; well concluding that rewards and
grateful acknowledgments are always due from persons obliged to
their benefactors, and honour and respect from men of merit to each
other. So much concerning Philopoemcn.

* Paosaniaij io his Arcadici gives us the inscription the Tegeans put upon one of
those statues.

t This happened thirty-stven jears after his death, that is, the second jear of the
hundred and fortj-cighth Olympiad, one hundred and forty-five years before the Chria-
tiao era.

U s. PLUTA&CH^S UVES.

FLAMINIUS,

^^ ?enca -vritim vc pot in parallel with Philopoemen is Titoi

j««. ,-* :.> ?*jiiiL:ii:a *. Tlio5« who are desirous of being acquainted

i:a :i> .viiiicesBic:: imi ifsre need but look upon the statue b

^ r^^'.z'ljL Bftune. with a Greek inscription upon it, op-

.>r» YurriMi lucar the great statue of Apollo, which

.fviuiCTti rvfo 'Jjnnaee. As to his disposition, he was quick

?uia '■» 7s«nt LB mur^. jnd 3> do a service. But his resentment

«■» . uL a jI rnrccs iific I'a jJection, for he punished lightly, and

^MWft \«rt>i -::c mtOL^'. tuc ills' xctacfaments and services were last-

.^^ i*i .•.•uit'ic-?. ?ir ine wauos whom he had obliged he ever

?*.^:.x*t . :::u rostra; a K usfnsutocnecciv'ing, they had conferred

. ;^ou^ ^'■. '.-riMucfiux 'tttrm js- hj& greatest treasure, he was

:..L«.« .-. * tuccc; X'- 11 3njnictj£ tbeci. Naturally ooVetous

. « ...im. oxu vuz .isuuaeimr m let others have any share in

^ « •. - <^u ^.-uu. .i:-tu(r>» :^ viitk macz paeasore in those whom he

M*.. . -.^. :ix I 3v>c Tisu .TJUUL ^Te him assistance; looking

tfU-u : :?::• ^ r-^^^^u^ TiJii uninxed d^Toi for the exertion ot

.vL.rt w «•£> TMuaok jp :u 3ie profession of arms; for
^ ;.K ^ ^ :'^ wu^ jtimr^3A 'vscs 4ai» her hands, her youth
^.«.-.^ -^ ^T^ c-.iuio Q .X3SK lutt ~3ad eartr opportunities to
„;,^ . 'c^ -^^ J \Hutxnuiu^ y^iruimufr served like the rest, and

w^ -^ ^ mi- -uin: aiucr nc jaBttDlarcellttst, in the war
^. ^^ t^r- .4> ?;• ;cLO j« aBniBcicie, and wasslaio;
i.t» ^ *ii:i:. .^> v^a- 4-*-ivu:'.£a p^^rsnut M Tarentum^ newly
r^«»;.- . : '. ' "u^:"!* ^i^oi ;. Ji :iiis woounission he grew

a* .^^^ lucu^ '-> -^ J. u.itHr:u.a*u a v&ac£ liiaa far his military

- . <^-n - ^ -r^.-z". .rB.i..i.a. nu nn -^ ttmmmm ?ii j^iww Li^Jr and all tbe
^•«- .."^- •*»:''» '.•••c '*«...■».-. .*-.-.-•.. r« '^^■Bm «<e?« & verj diflerent family
■«.»« i« "^.uL^usi. c .fTv w— t«^- •.:.ui«^ mr 'MBEcr TitfOciaBS. Caiiu FImdi*
n»«i^ ** u *>'' •» >'*«^ -X. T*» ntirr^ J, : *s xmk t "^ i L.»i»gaujt. «9s of the plebeian
- — . i«is^«-<'» -«--?QK xuruti.r-.-o.. L. jBiSAk.-. .;:« iacml 4B ^<wb. and ooe that
7>i,T^' ,•.'Iu^»« :-.•!, .-'* L i" 111 ■ -ua « ..-jr ««.u.a j« sidbrtKrvc aadltuhcj to oorrcct
t Ji»-. *av •*■'*.> v_-:::54.ii -imbc ul'.u- • -i.rnv- ;v.:u:3« if^UiVCS lias calkd him Fia-
^us- 1» •* " *■-'■ ■ "-'=''• ;a •« .1 la ii "r *i i*s *»c »uj, xiui-^i. «e'«ral ■iv:deni writers
BIT*- r.JK :•=' *iiin<-

- <t« mm iinauaiei a Triitxne i£ ~3e ag*? n r^'.m^. aritf ni<T*a vear of the hundred
>s ia'^^«ci:<u .'l;'i*aiaa. :uaae4ueai.T je wxin jiukeiraevwoC the hundred and

*T*r-Bri«t. wijcn ▼*« tae v?ar it Xjinc r-ii^ L^-i :ciji o^ he was tiurtj*

T. a. FLAMINIUS. 6l»

skill ; for which reason he was appointed chief director of the two
colonies that were sent to the cities of Narnia and Cossa.

This inspired him with such lofty thoughts, tliat, overlooking th«
ordinary previous steps by which young men ascend, I mean the of-
fices of tribune, praetor, and aedile, he aimed directly at the consul-
ship. Supported by those colonists, he presented himself as a can-
didate; but the tribunes Fulvius and Manlius opposed him, insist-
ing tliat it was a strange and unheard-of thing for a man so young,
who was not yet initiated in the first mysteries of government, to in-
trude, in contempt of the laws, into the highest office in the state«
The senate referred the affiiir to the suffrages of the people ; and the
people elected him consul, though he was not yet thirty years old,
with Sextus iElius. The lots being cast for the provinces, the war
with Philip and the Macedonians fell to Flaminius ; and this hap-
pened very fortunately for the Roman people, as that department re-
quired a general who did not want to do every tl.ing by force and
violence, but rather by gentleness and persuasion : for Macedonia
iarnished Philip with a sufficient number of men for his wars, but
Cireece was his principal dependence for a war of any length. She
it was that supplied him with money and provisions; with strong
holds and places of retreat; and, in a word, with all the materials of
war; so that, if she could not be disengaged from Philip, the war
with him could not be decided by a single battle. Besides, the
Greeks as yet had but 4ittle acquifintance with the Romans; it was
BOW first to be established by the intercourse of business ; and, there-
fore, they would not so soon have embraced a foreign authority, in-
stead of that they had been so long accustomed to, if the Roman
general had not been a man of great good- nature, who was more
ready to avail himself of treaty than of the sword ; who had a persua-
sive manner where he applied, and was aftable and easy of access
when applied to, and who had a constant and invariable regard to jus-
tice. But this will better appear from his actions themselves.

Titus finding that Salpitius and Publius*, his predecessors in
command, had not entered Macedonia till late in the season, and
then did not prosecute the war with vigour, but spent their time in
skirmishing to gain some particular post or pass, or to intercept some
provisions, determined not to act like them. They had wasted the
jear of their consulate in the enjoyment of their new honours and
administration of domestic affiiirs, and towards the close of -the year
they repaired to their province; by which artifice they got their coni-
mand continued another year, being the first year in character of

* Pablitts SQlpitiai Galba wtt consol two jeari before. Fublius Villiis Taj>pu!u9 w«4
cosnl the jtMi after SutfNtiat, tad ueit before FiarainiM.

6l6 PLUTARCtfs LIVfiS.

consul, and the second of pro-consul. But Titus, anabitious to dis«^
tinguish his consulship by some important expedition, left the honours
and prerogatives he had in Rome; and having requested the senate
to permit his brother Lucius to command the naval forces, and se-
lected three thousand men, as yet in full vigour and spirits, and the
glory of the field, from those troops who, under Scipio, had subdued
Asdrubal in Spain, and Hannibal in Africa, he crossed the sea, and
got safe into Epirus. There he found Publius encam|>ed over
against Philip, who had been a long time defending the fords of
the river Apsus and the adjoining straits; and that Publius had
not been able to effect any thing, by reason of the natural stiength
of the place.

Titus having taken the command of the army, and sent Publius
home, set himself to consider the nature of the country* Its natural
fortifications are equal to those of Tempe^ but it is not like Tempe
in the beauty of tV.e woods and groves, and the verdure of vallies and
delicious meads. To die right and left there is a chain of lofty ODOun-
tains, between which there is a deep and long channel. Down this
runs the river Apsus, like the Peneus, both in its appearance and rapi-
dity. It covers the foot of the hills on each side, so that there is
IdFt only a narrow craggy path, cut out close by the stream, which
is not easy for an army to pass at any time, and, when guarded, is not
passable at all.

There were some, therefoie, who advised Flaminius to take a com-*
pass through Dassaretus along the Lycus, which was an easy pas-
sage. But he was afraid that if he removed too far from the sea into
a country that was barren and little cultivated, while Philip avoided
a battle, he might come to want provisions, and be constrained, like
the general before him, to retreat to the sea without eflecting any
thing. This determined him to make Iiis way up the mountains
sword in hand, and to force a passage. But Philip's army, being
possessed of the heights, showered down their darts and arrows upon
the Romans from every quarter. Several sharp contests ensued, in
which many were killed and wounded on both sides, but none that
were likely to be decisive.

In the mean time, some shepherds of those mountains came to
the consul with the discovery of a winding way neglected by the
enemy, by which they promised to bring his army to the top in three
days at the faithest; and to confirm the truth of what they had said^
they brought Charops, the son of Machatas, prince of the E^irots,
who was a friend to the Romans, and privately assisted them out of
fear of Philip. As Flaminius could confide in him, he sent away a
tribune with four thousand foot and three hundred horse. The sbep-

T. a. FLAMINIUS. 617

herds, in bonds, led the way. In the day-time they lay still in the
hollows of the woods, and in the night they marched ; for the moon
was then at full. Flaminius, having detached this party, let his
main body rest the three days, and only had some slight skirmishes
with the enemy to take up their attention. But the day that he ex-
pected those who had taken the circuit to appear upon the heights^
he drew out his forces early, both the heavy and light-armed, and
dividing them into three parts, himself led the van, marching his men
along the narrowest path by the side of the river. The Macedonians
galled him with their darts ; but he maintained the combat, notwith-*
standing the disadvantage of ground; and the other two parties
fought with all the spirit of emulation, and clung to the rocks with
astonishing ardour.

In the mean time the sun arose, and smoke appeared at a distance,
not very strong, but like the mist of the hills. Being on the back
of the enemy, they did not observe it, for it came from the troops
who bad reached the top. Amidst the fatigue of the engagement^
the Romans were in doubt whether it was a signal or not, but they

inclined to believe it the thing they wished. And when they saw it

increase, so as to darken the air, and to mount higher and higher,
they were well assured that it came from the fires which their friends
had lighted. Hereupon they set up loud shouts, and charging the
enemy with greater vigour, pushed them into the most craggy places.
The shouts were re-echoed by those behind at the top of the moun-
tain; and now the Macedonians Red with the utmost precipitation.
Yet there were not above two thousand slain, the pursuit being im-
peded by the difficulty of the ascent. The Romans, however, pil-
laged the camp, seized the money and slaves, and became absolute
roasters of the pass. >

They then traversed all Epirus, but with such order and discipline,
that though they were at a great distance from tlieir ships and the
sea, and had not the usual monthly allowance of corn, or conveni-
ence of markets, yet they fpsred the country, which at the same
time abounded in every thing. For Flaminius was informed that
Philip, in his passage or rather flight through Thessaly, had compelled
the people to quit' their habitations, and retire to the mountains; had
burnt the towns, and had given as plunder to his men what was too
heavy or cumbersome to be carried off; and so had in a manner yielded
up the country to the Romans. The consul, therefore,'madeapo]nt
of it to prevail with his men to spare it as their own, to march through
it as land already ceded to them.

The event soon showed the benefit of this good order: for as soon
as they entered Thessaly, all its cities declared for them^ and the

\oh. I. No, 17, im

6l8 PLUTARChV UVE8.

.Greeks witliin Thermopylae longed for the protection of FlaminiuSy
and gave up their hearts to him. The Acbeans reoounced their al-
liance with Phiiip» and by a solemn decree resolved to take part witli
the Romans against him. And though the iEtolians, who at that
time were strongly attached to the Romans, made the Opuntiaos an
vffer to garrison and defend their city, they refused it; and^ having
3eij' for FLaminius, put themselves in his band^.

I- is reported of Pyrrhus, when, from an eminence, lie had first a
]./ spect of the disposition of the Konmn ^rmy^ that he said, '^ I see
nothing barbarian-like in the ranksof these barbanans." Indeed,
all who once saw Flaminius spoke of him in the same terms. They
had heard the Macedonians^representhimas the fierce commander of
a host of barbarians, who was come to ruin and destroy, and to re-
duce all to slavery : and when afterwards they met a young man of a
mild aspect, who spoke very good Greek, and was a lover of true
honour, they were extremely taken with him, and excited the kind
regards of their cities to him, as to a general who would lead them
to liberty.

After this, Philip seeming inclined to treat, Flaminius came to an
interview with him ^, and offered him peace and friendship with
Rome, on condition that he left the Grecians free, and withdrew
liii> garrisons from their cities. And as be refused those terms,
it was obvious even to the partisans of Philip that the Romans
were not come to fight against the Greeks, but for Greece against
the Macedonians.

The rest of Greece acceding voluntarily to the confederacy, the
consul entered Bceotia, but in a peac^ble manner, and the chief of
the Thcbans came to meet him. They were inclined to the Mace^
donian interest on account of Barchyllas, but they honoured and re-
spected Flaminius, and were willing to preserve the friendship of
both. Flan^inius received them with great goodness, embraced
them, and went on slowly with them, asking various questions, and
entertaining them with discourse, on puqppse to give liis soldiers time
to come up. Thus advancing insensibly to the gates of Tliebes, he
entered the city with them. They did not indeed quite relish the
thing, but they were afraid to forbid him, as he came so well attended.
Then, as if he had been no ways master of the town, he endeavoured
by persuasion to bring it to declare for the Romans ; king Attains
seconding him, and using all his rhetoric to the Thebans. But that
prince, it §eems, in his eagerness to serve Flaminius, exerting him<r
self more than his age could bear, was seized, as he was speaking,
with ^ giddiness or rheum, which made him swoon away. A few days

T. a. FLAMIOTUS. 6\g

tfter, his fleet conveyed him into Asia, and he died thert. As for th^
Bceotians, they took part with the Romans.

As Philip sent an embassy to Rome, Flaminius also sent his agents
to procure a decree of the senate, prolonging his commission if the
war continued, or else empowering him to make peace. For his
ambition made him apprehensive that, if a successor were sent, he

should be robbed of ail the honour of the war.. His friends managed

matters so well for him, that Philip failed in his application, and the
command was continued to Flaminius Having received the decrecy
he was greatly elevated in his liopes, and marched immediately into
Thessaly to carry on the war against Philip. His army consisted of
more than twenty-six thousand men, of whom the iEtolians fiw-
nished six thousand foot and three hundred horse. -Philip's forces
were not inferior in number. They maruhed against each other, and
arrived near Sootusa, where they projxwed to decide the affair with
the sword. The vicinity of two such armies had not the usual effect
to strike the officers with a mutual awe; on the contrary, it increased
their courage and ardour; the Romans being ambitious to conquer
the Macedonians, whose valour and power Alexander had rendered
so famous, and the Macedonians hopii'.g, if they could beat the Ro-^
mans, whom they looked upo!i as a more respectable enemy than the
Persians^ to raise the glory of Pliilip above that of Alexander. Fla-
minius, therefore, exhorted his men to behave with the greatest cou-
rage and gallantry, as they had to contend with brave adversaries in
so glorious a theatre as Greece. On the other side, Philip, in order
to address his army, ascended an eminence without his camp, which
happened to be a burying- place, either not knowing it to be so, or, in
the hurry, not attending to it. There he began an oration, such as
is usual before a battle; but the omen of a sepulchre spreading a
dismal melancholy among the troops, he stopped and put off the ac-
tion till another dav.

0

Next morning at day*break, after a rainy night, the clouds turning
into a mist darkened tlie plain; and as the day came on, a foggy
thick air descendinc^ from the hills, covered all the ground between
the two camps. Those, therefore, that were sent out on both sides
to sieze posts or to make discoveries, soon meeting unawares, en-
gaged at the Cynoscephalce^ which are sharp tops of hills standing
opposite each other, and so called from their resemblance to the
heads of dogs. The success of these skirmishes was various, by rea-
son of the unevenness of the ground, the same parties sometimes
flying and sometimes pursuing; and reinforcements were sent on
botli sides, as they found their men hard pressed and giving way; till
at length the day clearing up, the action became general. Philip^

6«0 Plutarch's lives.

who was in the right wing, advanced from the rising ground with bis
whole phalanx against ttie Romans, who could not, even the bravest
of them^ stand the shock of the united shields and the projected
spears ^« But the Macedonian left wing being separated and inter-
sected by the hills f, Flaminius observing that, and having no hopes
on the side where his troops gave way, hastened to the other, and
there charged the enemy, where, on account of the inequality and
roughness of the country, they could not keep in the close forin of a
phalanx, nor line their ranks to any great depth, but were forced to
fight man to man, in heavy and unwieldy armour. For the Mace-
donian phalanx is like an animal of enormous strength, while it keeps
in one body, and preserves its union of locked shields ; but^ when
that is broken, each particular soldier loses of his force, as well be-
cause of the form of his armour, as because the strength of each con-
sists rather in his being a part of the whole, than in his single per-
son. When these were routed, some gave chace to the fugitives,
others took those Macedonians in flank who were still fighting; the
slaughter was great, and the wing lately victorious soon broke in
such a manner that they threw down their arms and fled. There
were no less than eight thousand slain, and about five thousand were
taken prisoners. That Philip himself escaped was chiefly owing to
the i£tolians, who took to plundering the camp, while the Romans
were busied in the pursuit, so that at their return there was nothing
left for them.

This from the first occasioned quarrels and mutual reproaches.
But afterwards Flaminius was hurt much more sensibly, when the
iEtolians ascribed the victory to themselves^, and endeavoured to
prepossess the Greeks that the fact was really so. This report got
such ground, that the poets and others, in the verses that were com-
posed and sung on this occasion, put them before the Romans. The
verses most in vogue were the following:

Stranger! unwept, uiilionoiir'd with a grave,

See thrice ten tliuusand bodies of Uw brave !

The fierce iEtoliaus, and llie I^atin power, <

Led bj7 Flaminius, rui'd the vengeful hour;

Kmathia't scourge, beneath whoso stroke thej bled ;

And swifter than tiie roe tlie mighty Philip tied.

• The pike of the fifth man in file projected \feyond the front. There was, therefore
an amazing strength in the phalanx while it stood firm, fiut it had its incunvcDieiicts.
It could not act at all except in a level and clear field. Pohjb, lib. xvii. sab Rn.

t Plutarch makes no mention of the elephaott, which, according to Livjr and Polybios
were very serviceable to Flaminius.

X Pol^bius informs uh that the Macedonians in the first encounter had the advantage
and beat the Romans from the tops of the moQutains thejr had gained. And lie affirms

T. a. FLAMINIUS, &21

Alcseus wrote this epigram in ridicule of Philip, and purposely
misrepresented the number of the slain. The epigram was indeed
in every body's mouth ; but Flaminius-was much more hurt by it than
Philip: for the latter parodied Alc«us as follows:

Stranger! unleav'd, unhonoor*d e*en with bark,
See this tad tree, the gibbet of Alcsns!

Flaminius, wlio was ambitious of the praise of Greece, was not a
Iktle provoked at this, and therefore managed every thing afterwards
by himself, paying very little regard! to the iEtoliaus. They, in their
turn, indulged their resentment; and when Flaminius liad admitted
proposals for an accommodation, and received an embassy for that
purpose from Philip, the iEtolians exclaimed, in all the cities of
Greece, that he sold the peace to- the Macedonian, at a time when
he might have put a final period to the war, and have destroyed that
empire which first enslaved the Grecians. These speeches, though
groundless, greatly pei*plexed the allies ; but Philip 4x>ming in per-
son to treat, and submitting himself and his kingdom to the discre«
tion of Flaminius and the Romans, removed all suspicion.

Thus Flaminius put an end to the war. He restored Philip his
kingdom, but obliged him to quit all claim to Greece: he fined liin
a thousand talents, took away all hb ships except ten, and sent De-
metrius, one of his sons, hostage to Rome. In this pacification he
made a happy use of the present, and wisely provided fur the time to
come : for Hannibal the Carthaginian, an inveterate enemy to the
Romans, and now an exile, being at the court of Antiochus*, exhorted
him to meet fortune, who opened her arms to him; and Antiochui
himself, seeing his power very considerable, and that his exploits had
already gained him the title of Great, began now to think of univer-
sal monarchy, and particularly of setting himself agtunst the Romans.
Had not Flaminius, therefore, in his great wisdom foreseen this, and
made peacef, Autiochus might have joined Philip in the war with
Greece, and tlK)se two kings, then the most powerful in the world,
have aiadea common cause of it, which would have called Rome
again to as great conflicts and dangers as she had ex])erienced in the
war with Hannibal.. But Flaminius, by thus putting an intermedi-

Chat in all probability the Romans would have been put to flight, had they not been top*
ported by the ifltnlian cavalry.

* This is a mistake^ Hannibal did not come to the court of Antiochus till they cur af-
ter Flaminius bad proclaimed liberty to Greece at the Isthmian games ; Catu and V&le*
riut Flaccos, who were then consuls, having sent an embassy to Carthage to cooiplaio
of him.

t Polybius tells os, Flaminius was induced to conclude t peace upon the iotelligencfi
he had received, that Antiochus was marching tawards Greece with a powerful army; and
ht was afraid PhiJip might lay hold on that adranUge to continue the war.

(f22 PLUTARCH*S lives;

ate space of peace between tlie two wars, aud finishing the oite before
the other began, cut off at once the last hope of Philip, and the first
of Antiochus*

The ten commissioners now sent by the senate to assist Fiamini-*
ns advised him to set the rest of Greece free, but to keep garrisons
in the cities of Corinth, Chalcis^ and Demetrias, to secure them in
case of a war with Antiochus. But the ^tolians, always severe in
their accusations, and now more so than ever, endeavoured to* excite
a spirit of insurrection in the cities, calling upon Flamuiius to knock
off the shackles of Greece; for so Philip used to term those cities.
They asked the Greeks, *^ If they did not find their chain very com-*
fortable, now it was more polished, though heavier than before; and
if they did not consider Flaminius w the greatest of benefiiictors, for
unfettering their feet, and binding them by the neck.*' Flaminius,
afflicted at these clamours, begged of the council of deputies^ and at
last prevailed with them, to deliver those cities from the garrisons,
in order that his favour to the Grecians might be perfect and entire.

They were then celebrating the Isthmian games, and an innume-
rable company was seated to see the exercises. For Greece^ now en-
joying full peace after a lengtli of wars, and big with the expectations
of liberty, had given into these festivals on that occasion. Silence
being commanded by sound of trumpet, a herald went forth and
made proclamation, *^ That the Roman senate, and Titus Quinctius
Flaminius, the general and proconsul, having vanquished king Phi-
lip and the Macedonians, took off all impositions, and withdrew all
garrisons from Greece, and restored liberty, and their own laws and
privileges, to the Corinthians, Locrians, Phocians, Euboeans, Ach«-
ans, Phthistee, Magnesians, Thessalians, and Perrhiebians."

At first the proclamation was not generally or distinctly heard, biil
a confused murmur ran through the theatre; some wondering, some
questioning, and others calling upon the herald to repeat what he had
said. Silence being again commanded, the herald raised his voice,
so as to be heard distinctly by the whole assembly. The shout which
they gave in the transport of joy was so prodigious, that it was heard
as fur as the sea. The people left their scats; there was no further
regard paid to the diversions; all hastened to embrace and to address
the preserver and protector of Greece. The hyperbolical accounts
that have been given of the effect of loud shouts were verified on that
occasion; for the crows which then happened to be flying over their
heads fell into the theatre. The breaking of the air seems to have
been the cause : for the sound of many united voices being violently
strong, the parts of the air are separated by it, and a void is left,
which affords tlie birds no support : or, perhaps, the force of the soond

T. d. FLAl41NIUS« 6f3

SE3SSBB

Strikes tl^e birds like an arrow, and kills them in an instant: or^pos*
^ibly, a circular motion is caused in the air, as a whirlpool is produ-
ced in the sea by the agitations of a storm.

If Flaminius, as soon as he saw the assembly risen, and the crowd
rushing towards him^ bad not avoided them, and got under covert^
he must have been surrounded, and, in all probability, suffocated by
such a multitude. When they had almost spent themselves in ac-
chMuations about his pavilion, and night was now come, they retired;
and whatever friends or fdlow-citizens they happened to see, they
embraced and caressed again, and tlien went and concluded the evening
together in feasting and merriment. There, no doubt, redoubliog
their joy, they began to recollect and talk of the state of Greece:
they observed, ^^ That notwithstanding the many great wars she had
been engaged in for liberty, she had never gained a more secure or
agreeable enjoyment of it than now, when others had fought for her;
that glorious and important prize now hardly costing them a drop of
blood, or a tear: that of human excellencies, valour and prudence
were but rarely met with, but that justice was still more uncommon:
tliat such generals as Agesilaus, Lysander, Nicias, and Alcibiades^
Icnew how to manage a war, and to gain victories both by sea and land;
but they knew not how to apply their success to generous and nobk
purposes. So that if one excepted the battles of Marathodf, of Sala-
mis, of PlatsEa, and Thermopylae, and the actions of Cimon upon the
Eurymedon, and near Cyprus, Greece had fought to no other purpose
but to bring the yoke upon herself; all the trophies she had erected
were monuments of her dishonour, and at last her afiairs were ruined
by the unjust ambition of her chiefs. But these strangers, who had
scarce a spark of any thing Grecian left^, who scarce retained a faint
tradition of their ancient descent from us, from whom the least in-
clination, or even word in our behalf, could not have been expected ;
these strangers have run the greatest risks, and submitted to the
greatest labours, to deliver Greece from her cruel and tyrannic mas-
ters, and to crown her with liberty again."

These were the reflections the Grecians made; and the actions of
Flaminius justified them, being quite agreeable 4o his proclamation:
for he immediately dispatched Lentulus into Asia to set the BargyK
lians free, and Titilliusf into Thrace, to draw Philip's garrisons out
of the towns and adjacent islands. Publius Villius set sail in order to
treat with Antiechus about the freedom of the Grecians under him:

* According to Dionjsius of Halicaraauui, Rome wu stocked with iuhabitantt at
^C, chiefly from those Greciau colooiet which bad settled iu the south of Itily helocc
the tine of Romulus.

t Pdybiofl wnA Lrry ctU him Lvcittt Steftmiei.

6t4 ' PLUTARCH^S LIVES.

ftod Flaminius himself went to Chalcis^ and sailed from thence to
Magnesia, where he removed the garrison^ and pat the goverQment
again in the hands of the people.

At Argos, being appointed director of the Nemeau games^ he set-
tled the whole order of them in the most agreeable manner, and on
that occasion caused liberty to be proclaimed again by the crier —
And as he passed through the other cities, he strongly recomaiended
to them an adherence to law, a strict course of justice, and domestic
peace and unanimity. He healed their divisions; he restored their
exiles. In short, be had less pleasure in the conquest of the Mace-
donians, than in reconciling the Greeks to each other ; and their
liberty appeared the least of the benefits he conferred upon them.

It is said that when Lycurgus the orator had delivered Xenocrates
the philosopher out of the hands of the tax-gatherers, who were hur-
rying him to prison for the tax paid by strangers,, and had prosecuted
them for their insolence; Xenocrates afterwards meeting the children
of Lycurgus, said to them, '' Children I have made a noble return
to your father for the ser\Mce he did me; for all the world pniise him
for it.'' But the returns which attended Flaminius and the Romans,
for their beneficence to the Greeks, terminated not in praises only,
but justly procured them the confidence of all mankind, and added
greatly to their power: for now a variety of people hot only accepted
the governors set over them by Rome, but even sent for them, and
begged to be under their government. And not only cities and com*
tnon wealths, but kings, when injured by other kings^ had recourse
to their protection; so that, the divine assistance too perhaps co-
operating, in a short time the whole world became subject to them.
Flaminius also valued himself most upon the liberty he had bestowed
on Greece: for having dedicated some silver bucklers, together with
his own ^ihicld, at Delphi, he put upon them the following inscription :

Ye Spartan twins, who tam'd the fuaiuing steed,
Ve friends, ve putrons uf each glorious deed*
Behold Flnmiiiiiis, ol" .lOncas' line,
Piesents this oJlerin*; at yonr awful shrine.
Ye sons of lovc> your generous paths he trod.
And snalch'd from Greece each little tyrant's rod

He offered also to Apollo a golden crown inscribed with these verses:

See grateful Titus homage pay

To thee, the glorious god of day ;

See him with gold thy locks adorn.

Thy locks wliich shed th' ambrosial morn.

O grant him fame and cv'ry gift divine.

Who led the warriors of y£neas* line. «

The Grecians have had the noble gift of liberty twice conferred on
thcift in the city of Corinth 5 by Flaminius then, and by Nero ia our

T. a. FLAMIN1U8. 6iS

times. It was granted in both cases during the celebration of the Isth-
mian games. Flaminius had it proclaimed by a herald; but Nero
himself declared the Grecians free, and at liberty to be governed by
their own laws, in an oration which he made from the rostrum in the
public assembly. This happened long after*.

Flaminius next undertook a very just and honourable war against
Nabis, the wicked and abandoned tyrant of Laced^mon ; but in this
instance he disappointed the hopes of Greece: for, though he might
have taken him prisoner, tie would not; but struck up a league with
him, and left Sparta unworthily in bondage ! whether it was ttiat he
feared, if the war was drawn out to any length, a successor would be
sent him from Rome, who would rob him of the glory of it; or whether^
in his passion for fame, he was jealous of the reputation of Philopoe-
men, a man who on all occasions had distinguished himself among
the Greeks, and in that war particularly had given wonderful proofs
both of courage and conduct; insomuch that the Achaeans gloried in
him as much as in Flaminius, and paid him the same respect in their
theatres. This greatly hurt Flaminius; he could net bear that an
Arcadian, who had only commanded in some inconsiderable wars up-
on the confines of his own country, should be held in equal admira*
tion with a Roman consul, who had fought for all Greece. Flami*
nius, however, did not want apologies for his conduct: for he said^
^^ lie put an end to the war, because he saw he could not destroy the
tyrant without ifiVolving all the Spartans in the mean time in great
calamitiesf."

The Achaeans decreed Flaminius many honours, but none s6emed
equal to his services, unless it were one present, which pleased him
above all the rest. It was this: the Romans who had the misfortune
to be taken prisoners in the war with Hannibal, were sold for slaves^
and dispersed in various places. Twelve hundred of them were now
in Grei^cc. That sad reverse, of fortune made them always unhappy^
but now (as might be expected) they were still more so, when they
m^t their sons, their brothers, or their acquaintance, and saw them
Iree, while they were slaves ; and conquerors, while they were captives.

* Two hiiDdrcd uni sixtj^thrre years.

t Liry touches upon this reuon; but lit the same time he mentions othert mort ta
the honour of this great Qian. Winter was now coming on, ami the siege of Sparlft
luight have Ustcd a considerable time. The enemy's country was so exhauatcdj that it
could not &up|)iy him with provisions^ and it was difficult to get convoys from any other
quarter. Beaides, Villius was returned from the court of Antiochus« and brought advice
that the peace with that prince was not to be depended upon. In fact, he had already
entered Europe with a fleet and army mure numerous than before. And what forcet
bud they to oppose him in case of ft rupture, if Flaminius continued to employ his iu
the siege of Sparta ? Liv, 1. zxxiv. c. 53, 34.

Vot. 1. No. 18. KKKI^

6f6 Plutarch's lives.

Flaminius did not pretend to take them from their masters, though
his heart sympathised with their distress. But the AchaF»ans red^mcd
them at the rnte of five minsc a man, and having eollccted them to-
gether, made Flaminius a present of them, just as he was going on
board; so tl'.at he set sail with great satisfaetion, haring found a glo-
tious reeompence for his glorious scr\-ices, a return suitable to a man
of such humane sentiments, and such a lover of his country. This
indeed made the most illustrious part of his triumph : for these poor
men got their heads shaved, and wore the cap of liberty, as the cus-
tom of slaves is upon their manumission, and in this habit they fol-
lowed the chariot of Flaminius. But to add to the splendour of the
•how, there were the Grecian helmets, the Macedonian targets and
spears, and the other spoils, carried in great pomp before him. And
the quantity of money was not small: for, as Itanus relates if, there
were carried in this triumph three thousatid seven hundred and thir-
teen pounds of unwrought gold, forty-throe thousand two hundred
and seventy of silver, fourteen thousand five hundred and fourteen
pieces of coined gold, called Philippics; besides which, Philip owed
A thousand talcr>ts. But the Romans were afterwards prevailed up-
on, chiefly by the mediation of Flaminius, to remit this debt; Philip
ti'as declared their ally, and his son, who had been with them as a
hostage, sent home.

After this Antiochas pnsscd over into Greece with a great fleet and
apowcifnl army, and solicited the states to join him. The i£tol:ans
who had been a long time ill affected to the Romans, took his part,
and surxp^ested this pretence for the war, that he came to bring the
Grecians liberty. The Grecians had no want of it, for they were free
already; but, as he bad no better cause to assign, th^y instructed him
to cover bis attnnpt with that splendid pretext.

The Romans, foarii^g on this account a revolt in Greece, as well
as the strciigtb of Antiocbus, sent the consul Manius Acilius to com-
mand in the war, but appointed Flaminius bis lieutenant*, for the
salvc of his influence in Greece. His appearance there immediately
confirmed such as were yet friends in their fidelity, and prevented
those who were wavering from an entire defection. This was effected
by the respect they bore him ; for it operated like a potent rcmedv
at the beginning of a disease. There were few, indeed, so entirely
gained and corrupted by tbc/Etolians that his interest did not prevail
ujjon; yet even these, though he was much exasperated against
them at present, he saved after the battle; for Antiocbus, being de-
feated at Thermopylae, and forced to fly, immediately embarked for

• According to Livy, it was tiot Titus, but Lucius Quinctiu% who was appointed lica-
lenant to Glabrio. «

T. a. FLAMmiUS. Sslf

Asia. Upon this^ the consulManius went against sofnc of the i£to-*
lianSy and besieged their towns, abandoning others to Philip. Thus
great ravages were committed by the Macedonians among the Dolo-
pians and Magnesians on one haiid, and among the Athamanians and '
Aperantians on the other; and Manius himself having sacked the
city of Heraclea, besieged Naupactus^ then in the hands of the i£to-
iians. But Flaminius^ being touched with compassion for Greece^
went from Peloponnesus to the consul^ by water. He begaii with
remonstrating, that the consul, though he had won the victory him4>
self, suffered Philip to reap the fruits of it: and tliat while, to gratify
his resentment, he spent his time about one town, the Macedonians
were subduing whole provinces and kingdoms. The besieged hap-
pening to see Flaminius, called to jiim from the walls^ stretciied out
their hands, and begged his interposition. He gave them no an*
swer, but turned round and wept, and then immcdiafely withdrew*
Afterwards, however, he discoursed with Man'ms so effectually^
that he appeased his anger, and procured the ^Etolians a truce, and
tinie to send deputies to Rome, to petition for favourable terms.

fiut he had much greater difficulties to combat when he applied
to Manius in behalf of the Chalcidians. The consul was highly in-
censed at them on account of the marriage which Antiochus cele*
brated among them, even after the war was begun; a marriage every
way unsuitable as well as unseasonable ; for he was far advanced in
years, and the bride very young. The person be thus fell in love with
was daughter to Cleoptolemus, and a virgin of incomparable beauty*.
This match brought the Chalcidians entirely into the king*s intorestj
and they suffered him to make use of their city as a place of armsw
After the battle, he fled with great precipitation to Chalcis, and tak-
ing with him his young wife, his treasures, and his friends, sailed
from thence to Asia. i\nd now Manius in his indignation marching
directly against Chalcis, Flaminius followed, and cndeavuured to ap-
pease his resentment. At last he succeeded by his assiduities with
him and the most respectable Romans who were likely to have «a
influence upon him. The Chalcidians, thus saved from destructioai
consecrated the most beautiful and the noblest of their public edi-
fices to Titus Flaminius; and such inscriptions as these are to be
seen upon them to this day : ^^ The people dedicated this Gymnasium
to Titus and Hercules : The people consecrate the Delphinium 19
Titus and Apollo." Nay, what is more, eVeu in our days a priest o£
Titus is formally elected and declared ; and on occasions of sacjrifioe
to him, when the libations are over, tliey.skig a bymn^ tbe greatest
port of which I omit^ on account of its length:

626

PLUTARCH*8 LIVES.

Willie Rome's protecting power we prore.

Her faith adore, ber virtoet Iot«,

Still, M oar strains to heaven aspire*

l<et Rome and Titus wake the Ijre I

To these our gralefui altars blaze, #

And oor lung psans pour immortal praise.

The rest of the Grecians conferred upon him all due honoors: and
what realized those honours^ and added to their lustre^ was the ex-
traordinary affection of the people, which he had gained by his lenity
and moderation : for if he happened to be at variance with any one
upon account of business, or about a. point of hoDour, as, for in-
stance, with Philopoemen, and with Diophanes, general of the Achae-
ans, he never gave into malignity, or carried his resentaient into ac-
tion, but let it expire in words, in such expostulations as the freedom
of public debates may seem to justify. Indeed, no man ever found
him vindictive, but he often discovered a hastiness and passionate
turn. Setting this aside, he was the most agreeable man in the
world ; and a pleasantry, mL\cd with strong sense, distinguished his
iconversation. Thus, to divert the Acli^eaus from their purpose of
conquering the island of Zacynthus, he told them, ^< It was as dan-
gerous for them to put their heads out of Peloponnesus^ as it was for
the tortoise to trust his out of his shell.** In the first conference
which Philip and he had about peace, Philip taking occasion to sav,
" Titus, you come with a numerous retinue, whereas I come quite
alone:" Flaminius answered, " No wonder if you come alone, for
you have killed all your friends and relations.'* Dinocratcs the iles-
senian, beingin company at Rome, drank until he was intoxicated, and
then put on a woman's iiabit, and danced iu that disguise. Next
day he applied to Flaminius, and begged Ins assistance in a desii^n
which he had conceived, to withdraw Messcne from the Achaean
league. Flaminius answered, " I will consider of it; but I am sur-
prised that you, who conceived such great designs, can sing and
dance at a carousal." And when the ambassadors of Antiochus re-
presented to the Achaeans how numerous the king's forces were and
to make them appear still more so, reckoned thcni up by alj their
different names: " I supped once," said Flaminius, " with a friend-
and upon my complaining of the great niunber of dishes, and ex-
presing my wonder how he could furnish his table with such a vast
variety, be not uneasy about that, said my friend, for it is all hog's
flesh, and the difference is only in the dressing and the sauce. In
like manner, I say to you, my Achaean friend, be not astonished at tlie
iMimber of Antiochus' forces^ at these pikemen, these halberdiers

t. a. FLAMINIUS. 629

and cuirassiers ; for they are all Syrians, only distinguished by the
trifling arras they bear."

After these great actions in Greece, and the conclusion of the wax
with Antiochus, Flaminius i^'as created censor. This is the chief
dignity in the state, and tlie crown, as it were, of all its honours.
He had for colleague the son of Marcellus, who had been five times
consul. They expelled four senators who were men of no great
note : and they admitted as citizens all who offered, provided that
their parents were free. But they were forced to this by Terentius
Culeo, a tribune of the people, who, in opposition to the nobility,
procured such orders from the commons. Two of the greatest and
most powerful men of those times, Scipio Africanus and Marcus
Cato, were then at variance with each other. Flaminius appointed
the former of these president of the senate, as the first and best ma«
in the commonwealth; and with the latter he entirely broke, on the
following unhappy occasion, Titus had a brother named Lucius
Quinctius Flaminius, unlike him in all respects, and quite abandoned
to his pleasures, and regardless of decorum. This Lucius had a fa-
vourite boy whom he carried with him, even when he commanded
armies and governed provinces. One day, as they were drinking,
the boy, making his court to Lucius, said, ^' I love you so tenderly,
that preferring your satisfaction to my own, I left a show of ^gladiators
to come to you, though I have never seen a man killed." Lucitis,
delighted with the flattery, made answer, *^ If that be all, you need
not be in the least uneasy, for I shall soon satisfy your longing.**
He immediately ordered a convict to be brought from the prison, and
having sent for one of his lictors, commanded him to strike off the
man's head in the room where they were carousing. Valerius Antias
writes, that this was done to gratify a mistress. And Livy relates,
from Cato's writings, that a Gaulish deserter being at the door with
fais wife and children, Lucius took him into the banqueting<-room,
and \Al\ed him with his own liaud; but it is probable that Cato said
this to aggravate the charge: for that the person killed was not a de-
serter, but a prisoner, and a condemned one too, appears from
many writers, and particularly from Cicero, in his Tireatise on Old
. Age, where he introduces Cato himself giving that account of the
matter.

Upon this account, Cato, when he was censor, and set himself to
remove all obnoxious persons from the senate, expelled Lucius,
though be was of consular dignity. His brother thought this pro«
ceeding reflected dishonour upon himself; and they both went into
the assembly in the form of suppliants, and besought the people,
with tears, that Cato might be obliged to assigp ids reason for fixing

630 PUTTARCH^ UVES.

ioch a mark of disgrace upon so illustrious a family. The request
appeared reasonable. Cato^ without the least hesitatioDy came out,
and standing up with bb colleague, interrogated Titus wbetlier he
knew any thing of that feast. Titus answering in the DegatiTCj Cato
related the affair, and called upon Lucius to declare upon oath, whe-
ther it was not true. As Lucius made no reply, the people deter-
mined the vote of infamy to be just, and conducted Catd home wich
great honour from the tribunal.

Titus, greatly concerned at his brother's misfortuney leagued with
the inveterate enemies of Cato, and gaining a noajority in the senate,
quashed and annulled all the contracts, leases, and bargains which
Cato had made relating to the public revenues, and stirred up many
and violent prosecutions against him. But I know not whether he
acted well, or agreeably to good policy, in thus becomJiig a mortal
enemy to a man who had only done what became a lawful magistrate
and a good citizen; for the sake of one who was a relation indeed, but
an unworthy one, and who iiad met widi the punishment he deserved*
Some time after, however, the people being assembled in the thea-
tres to see the shows, and tlie senate seated, according to custom, in
the most honourable place, Lucius was observed to go, in a bumble
and dejected manner, and sit down upon one of the lowest beoches.
The people could not bear to see this, but called out to him to go up
higher, and ceased not until he went to the consular bench, who made
room for him.

The native ambition of Flaminius was applauded, while it found
sufficient matter to employ itself uiK)n, in the wars we have given ac-
count of. And his serving in the army as a tribune, after he had
been consul, was regarded with a iuvouruble eye, though no one re-
quired it of him. But when he was arrived at an age that excused
him from all employments, he was blamed for indulging a violent
passion for fame, and a youthful impetuosity in tiiat inactive season
of life. To some excess of this kind seems to have been owing his
behaviour with respect to Hannibal*, at which the world was much
offended. For Hannibal, having lied his country, took refuge first
at the court of Antiochus; but Antiochus, after he had lost the battle
of Phrygia, gkdly a(!cepting conditions of peace, Hannibal was again

* Flaiiai)lu» was no wore tliun forty- four vears of age vrben he went ambassndur to
Prusids. It was not iherefoie an unseusoiutLlc doire of a public character, or extrava-
gant passion for fame, whidi was blamed in him on this occasion, but an anwortby per-
secution of a great iliuugh union uuatc niin. We arc indiucd, bowever, to thinks that
he Iwd secret instructions from the senate fur what he d;(J : for it is not probable that »
man of his mild and liumaue disposition would choose to bunt dcmn an cild unhappj
waniur; and Plutarch conilrms this upiiiiou uAcruauLH.

T. ft. FLAMINIUS. 631

forced to fly, and, after wanderinp: through many countries, at length
settled in Bhhynia, and put himself under the protection of Prusias.
The Romans knew this perfectly well, bat they took no notice of it,
considering him now as a man enfeebled by age, and ovenhroMrn by
fortune. But Flaminius, being sent by the senate upon an emba^sj
to Prusias about other matters, and seeing Hannibal at his coutt,
could not endure that he should be suffered to live. And though
Prusias used much intercession and entreaty in behalf of a man who
came to him as a suppliant, and lived with him under the sanction of
hospitality, he could not prevail.

It seems there was an ancient oracle which thus prophesied con-
cerning the end of Hannibal,

Libjssan «arih shall hide the bones of Hannibal.

He therefore thought of nothing but ending his days at Carthage,
and being buried in Lybia. But in Bithynia there is a sandy place
near the sea, which has a small village in it called Libyssa. In this
neighbourhood Hannibal lived. But having always been apprised of
the timidity of Prusias, and distrusting him on that account, and
dreading withal the attempts of the Romans, he had some time be-*
fore ordered several subterraneous passages to be dug under his house,
which were continued a great way undt r ground, and terminated in
several different places, but were all undiscernil)le without. As soon
as he was informed of the orders which Flaminius had given, he at-
tempted to make his escape by those passages ; but finding the king's
guards at the outlets, he resolved to kill himself. Some say, he
wound his cloak about his neck, and ordered his servant to put his
knees upon his back, and pull with all his force, and not to leave
twisting till he had quite strangled him. Others tell us, that, like
Themistocles and Midas, he drank bull's blood. But Liv}' writes,
that having poison in readiness, he mixed it for a draught, and taking
the cup in his hand, " I^et us deliver the Romans," said he, " from
their cares and anxieties, since they think it too tedious and danger-
ous to ii-ait for the death of a poor hated old man. Yet shall not
Titus gain a conquest worth envying, pr suitable to the generous
proceedings of his ancestors, who sent to caution Pyrrhus, tliougli a
victorious enemy, against the poison that was prepared for him.**

Thus Hannibal is said to have died. When the news was brouglit
to the senate, many in that august body \^ere highly displeased. Fla-
minius appeared too officious and cruel in his precautions to procure
the death of Hannibal, now tamed by his misfortunes, like a bird
that through age ha4 lost its tail and feathers, and suffered to live
so. And as he had no orders to put him to death, it was plain that
)ie did it out of a passion for fiime, and to be mentioned in after times

632 PLUTARCH^S LIVES.

as the destroyer of Hannibal*. On this occaaion they reeoUectcd
aod admired more than ever the humane and generous bebaTiour of
Scipio Africanus; for when he had vanquished Haonibal to Africa,
at a time when he was extremely formidable, and deemed ioyincible,
he neither insisted on his banbhment, nor demanded him of his
fellow- citizens; but as he had embraced him at the conference which
he had with him before the battle, so, after it, whea he settled the
conditions of peace, he offered not tl\e least affront or insult to hu
misfortunes. *

It is reported that they met again at Ephesus, and Hannibal, as
they walked together, taking the upper hand, Africanus suffered it,
and walked on without the Kast concern. Afterwards they fell into
conversation about great generals, and HannibaRj^serted that Alex-
ander was the greatest general the world had ever seen, that Pyrrhus
was the second, and himself the third. Scipio smiled at this, and said,
" But what rank would you have placed yourself in, if I had not con-
quered you?'* " O Scipio!" said he, " then 1 would not have placed
myself the third, but the first."

The generality, admiring this moderation of Scipio, found die
greater fault with Flaminius for taking the spoils of an enemy whom
another man had slain. There were some indeed who applauded the
thing, and observed, ^^ That while Hannibal lived, they must have
looked upon him as a fire, which wanted only to be blown into a
flame : that when he was in the vigour of his age, it was not his bo-i
dily strength or his right hand which ^'as so dreadful to the Romans^
but his capacity and experience^ together with his innate rancour
and hatred to their name; and that these are not altered by age^ for
the native disposition still overrules the manners; whereas fortune,
far from remaining the same, changes continually, and by new hopes
invites those to new enterprises who were ever at war with us in their
hearts,*' And the subsequent events contributed still more to the
justification of Flaminius: for, in the first (^lace, Aristonicus, the
son of a harper's daughter, on the strength of his being reputed the
natural son of Eumenes, filled all Asia with tumult and rebellion;
and, in the next place, Mithridates, after such strokes as he had met
with from Sylla and Fimbria, and so terrible a destruction among his
troops and officers, rose up stronger than ever against Lucullus, both
by sea and land. Indeed, Hannibal was never brought so low as
Caius Marius had been: for Hannibal enjoyed the friendship of a

* ir this was reaHy the motive of Flaminius, and nothing of a political tendency en*
tered into thii dastardly destruction of that great general, it would hardly b« possible
for all the Tirtues, all the triuoiphs of the Romans^ to redeem him from the ioiamj qC
to base sn action.

FLAMINIUS AND PniLOPCEMEN COMPARED. 633

■* ' ■ ■ ■ I « I

kiogj from whom lie received liberal supplies, and with those officers^
both in the navy and army, be had important connexions; whereas
Marius was a wanderer in Africa, and forced to beg his bread : but
the Romans, who had laughed at his fall, soon after%led, in their own
streets, under Iiis rods and axes, and prostrated themselves before
him. So true it is, that there is nothing either great or little, at this
moment, which is sure to hold so in the days to come; and that the
changes we have to experiei^ only terminate with our lives. For
this reason, some tell us, that^laminius did not do this of him$elf^
but that he was joined in commission with Lucius Scipio, and that
tlie sole purpose of their embassy was *to procure the death of Han-
nibal. As we BaUCno account after this of any political or military
act of Flaminiuijjj^and only kno^ that he died in his bed, it is time
to come to the comparison*

FLAMINIUS AND PHILOPCEMEN

COMPARED.

IF we consider the extensive benefits which Greece received from
Flaminius, we $hall find that neither Philopcemen, nor other Gre-
cians more illustrious than Philopcemen, will stand the comparison
with him: for the Greeks always fought against Greeks; but Flami-
nius, who was not of Greece, fought for that country. And at*a time
when Philopcemen, unable to defend his fellow-citizens, who were
tfngaged in a dangerous war, passed over into Crete, Flaminius hav-
ing vanquished Philip in the heart of Greece, set cities and whole
nations free. If we examine into their battles, it wll] appear that
Philopcemen, while he commanded the Achaean forces, killed more
Greeks than Flaminius, in asserting the Grecian cause, killed Ma-
cedonians.

As to their failings, ambition was the fault of Flaminius, and ob-
stinacy that of Philopcemen. The former was passionate, and the
latter implacable. Flaminius left Philip in his royal dignity, and
pardoned the iEtolians; whereas Philopcemen, in his resentment
against his country, robbed her of several of her dependencies. Be-
sides, Flaminius was always a firm friend to those whom he had once
served; but Philopcemen was ever ready to destroy the merit of his
former kindnesses, only to indulge his anger: for he had been a great
benefactor to the Lacedaemonians; yet afterwards he demolished
their walls, and ravaged their country; and, in the end, entirely

Vol.. 1. No. 18. LLLL

634 Plutarch's uvss.

changed and overturned their constitution. Nay, he seems to have
sacrificed his life to his passion and perverseness^ by too hastily and
unseasonably invading Mcssenia, instead of taking, liVe Flaminius,
every precaution ftr his own security and that of his troops.

But Philopoemen's military knowledge and experience was per-
fected by his many wars and victories: and, whereas Flaminiuf
decided his dispute with Philip in two engagements, Philopoemen,
by conquering in an incredible number of battles, left fortune no
room to question his skill.

Flaminius, moreover, availed himself of the power of a great and
flourishing commonwealth, and raised himself by its strength; but
Philopcemen distinguished himself at a time wUin his country was
upon the decline : so that tiie succel^s of the one %*to be ascribed

solely to himself, and that of the other taall the Romans. ^The one

had good troops to command, and the other made those so which be
commanded: and though the great actions of Philopcemen, being
performed against Grecians, do not prove him a fortunate man, yet
thev prove him a brave man; for, where all other things are equal,
great success must be owing to superior excellence. He had to do
with two of the most wjirlike nations among the Greeks; the Cre-
tans, who were the most artful, and the Lacedaemonians, who were
the most valiant; and yet he mastered the former by policy, and the
latter by courage. Add to this, that Flaminius had his men ready
armed and disciplined to his hand; whereas Philopcemen had the ar-
mour of his to alter, and to new-model their discipline: so that the
things which contribute most to victory were the invention of the
one, wlulc the other only practised what was already in use. Ac-
cordingly Philopri!men's personal exploits were many and great;
but we find nothing of that kind reniarkable in Flaminius: on the
contrary, a certain .Etolian said, by way of raillery, " Whilst I ran
with my drawn sword to charire the Macedonians, who stood firm,
and continued fi^rhtinc:, Titus was standing still, with his hands lifted
up towards heaven, and praying."

It is true, all acts of Flaminius were glorious, while he was gene-
ral, and during his lieutenancy too; but Piiilopcemen showed himself
no less serviceable and active among the Achaetms, when in a private
capacity, than when he had the command : for, when commander-
in-chief, he drove Nabis out of the city of Mcsscne, and restored the
inhabitants to their liberty; but he was only in a private station
when he shut the gates of Sparta against the general Diophanes, and

against Flaminius, and by that means saved the Lacedsemoniaus.

Indeed nature had given him such talents for command, that he
knew not only how to govern according to the laws, but how to go-

—f

FLAMnhuS AND PHILOPCEMEN C0M1*ARED. 633

vera the laws themselves^ when the public good required it; not
waiting for the foraiality of the people^s appointing him, but rather
employing them when the occasion demanded it ; for he was per-
suaded that not he wliom the people elect, but he who thinks best for
the people^ is the true general.

There was undoubtedly something great and genenms in the cle-
mency and humanity of Flaminius towards the Grecians; but there
was something still greater and more generous in the resolution
which Philopoemen showed in maintaining the liberties of Greece
against the Romans j for it is a much easier matter to be liberal to
the weak, than to oppose and to support a dispute with the strong.
Since, therefore, after all oui^nquiry into the characters of these two
great men, the superiority is not obvious^ Jperhaps we shall not greatly^
err^ if we give the Grecian the palm of generalship and military skill,^
anil the Roman that of justice and humanity.

END OF VOLUME FIRST.

rr. U*Doii:aH, Frintcr, Panhtrton,Ror,
London,

,1

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