The CDPD Public Domain Collection for CDTV 3/CDPDIII.bin/books/plutarch/dion&brutus

Text File | 1992-07-31 | 8KB | 123 lines

                                      75 AD
                       THE COMPARISON OF DION AND BRUTUS
                                  by Plutarch
                           translated by John Dryden

  THERE are noble points in abundance in the characters of these two
men, and one to be first mentioned is their attaining such a height of
greatness upon such inconsiderable means; and on this score Dion has
by far the advantage. For he had no partner to contest his glory, as
Brutus had in Cassius, who was not, indeed, his equal in proved virtue
and honour, yet contributed quite as much to the service of the war by
his boldness, skill, and activity; and some there be who impute to him
the rise and beginning of the whole enterprise, saying that it was
he who roused Brutus, till then indisposed to stir, into action
against Caesar. Whereas Dion seems of himself to have provided not
only arms, ships, and soldiers, but likewise friends and partners
for the enterprise. Neither did he, as Brutus, collect money and
forces from the war itself, but, on the contrary, laid out of his
own substance, and employed the very means of his private sustenance
in exile for the liberty of his country. Besides this, Brutus and
Cassius, when they fled from Rome, could not live safe or quiet, being
condemned to death and pursued, and were thus of necessity forced to
take arms and hazard their lives in their own defence, to save
themselves, rather than their country. On the other hand, Dion enjoyed
more ease, was more safe, and his life more pleasant in his
banishment, than was the tyrant's who had banished him, when he flew
to action, and ran the risk of all to save Sicily.
  Take notice, too, that it was not the same thing for the Sicilians
to be freed from Dionysius, and for the Romans to be freed from
Caesar. The former owned himself a tyrant, and vexed Sicily with a
thousand oppressions; whereas Caesar's supremacy, certainly, in the
process for attaining it, had inflicted no trouble on its opponents,
but, once established and victorious, it had indeed the name and
appearance, but fact that was cruel or tyrannical there was none. On
the contrary, in the malady of the times and the need of a monarchical
government, he might be thought to have been sent as the gentlest
physician, by no other than a divine intervention. And thus the common
people instantly regretted Caesar, and grew enraged and implacable
against those that killed him. Whereas Dion's chief offence in the
eyes of his fellow-citizens was his having let Dionysius escape, and
not having demolished the former tyrant's tomb.
  In the actual conduct of war, Dion was a commander without fault,
improving to the utmost those counsels which he himself gave, and
where others led him into disaster correcting and turning everything
to the best. But Brutus seems to have shown little wisdom in
engaging in the final battle, which was to decide everything, and when
he failed not to have done his business in seeking a remedy; he gave
all up, and abandoned his hopes, not venturing against fortune even as
far as Pompey did, when he had still means enough to rely on in his
troops, and was clearly master of all the seas with his ships.
  The greatest thing charged on Brutus is, that he, being saved by
Caesar's kindness, having saved all the friends whom he chose to ask
for, he moreover accounted a friend, and preferred above many, did yet
lay violent hands upon his preserver. Nothing like this could be
objected against Dion; quite the contrary; whilst he was of
Dionysius's family and his friend, he did good service and was
useful to him; but driven from his country, wronged in his wife, and
his estate lost, he openly entered upon a war just and lawful. Does
not, however, the matter turn the other way? For the chief glory of
both was their hatred of tyranny, and abhorrence of wickedness. This
was unmixed and sincere in Brutus; for he had no private quarrel
with Caesar, but went into the risk singly for the liberty of his
country. The other, had he not been privately injured, had not fought.
This is plain from Plato's epistles, where it is shown that he was
turned out, and did not forsake the court to wage war upon
Dionysius. Moreover, the public good made Brutus Pompey's friend
(instead of his enemy as he had been) and Caesar's enemy; since he
proposed for his hatred and his friendship no other end and standard
but justice. Dion was very serviceable to Dionysius whilst in
favour; when no longer trusted, he grew angry and fell to arms. And,
for this reason, not even were his own friends all of them satisfied
with his undertaking, or quite assured that, having overcome
Dionysius, he might not settle the government on himself, deceiving
his fellow-citizens by some less obnoxious name than tyranny. But
the very enemies of Brutus would say that he had no other end or
aim, from first to last, save only to restore to the Roman people
their ancient government.
  And apart from what has just been said, the adventure against
Dionysius was nothing equal with that against Caesar. For none that
was familiarly conversant with Dionysius but scorned him for his
life of idle amusement with wine, women, and dice; whereas it required
an heroic soul and a truly intrepid and unquailing spirit so much as
to entertain the thought of crushing Caesar, so formidable for his
ability, his power, and his fortune, whose very name disturbed the
slumbers of the Parthian and Indian kings. Dion was no sooner seen
in Sicily but thousands ran in to him and joined him against
Dionysius; whereas the renown of Caesar, even when dead, gave strength
to his friends; and his very name so heightened the person that took
it, that from a simple boy he presently became the chief of the
Romans; and he could use it for a spell against the enmity and power
of Antony. If any object that it cost Dion great trouble and
difficulties to overcome the tyrant, whereas Brutus slew Caesar
naked and unprovided, yet this itself was the result of the most
consummate policy and conduct, to bring it about that a man so guarded
around, and so fortified at all points, should be taken naked and
unprovided. For it was not on the sudden, nor alone, nor with a few,
that he fell upon and killed Caesar; but after long concerting the
plot, and placing confidence in a great many men, not one of whom
deceived him. For he either at once discerned the best men, or by
confiding in them made them good. But Dion, either making a wrong
judgment, trusted himself with ill men, or else by his employing
them made ill men of good; either of the two would be a reflection
on a wise man. Plato also is severe upon him, for choosing such for
friends as betrayed him.
  Besides, when Dion was killed, none appeared to revenge his death.
Whereas Brutus, even amongst his enemies, had Antony that buried him
splendidly; and Caesar also took care his honours should be preserved.
There stood at Milan in Gaul, within the Alps, a brazen statue,
which Caesar in aftertimes noticed (being a real likeness, and a
fine work of art), and passing by it presently stopped short, and in
the hearing of many commanded the magistrates to come before him. He
told them their town had broken their league, harbouring an enemy. The
magistrates at first simply denied the thing, and, not knowing what he
meant, looked one upon another, when Caesar, turning towards the
statue and gathering his brows, said, "Pray, is not that our enemy who
stands there?" They were all in confusion, and had nothing to
answer; but he, smiling, much commended the Gauls, as who had been
firm to their friends, though in adversity, and ordered that the
statue should remain standing as he found it.


                              THE END