The CDPD Public Domain Collection for CDTV 3/CDPDIII.bin/books/plutarch/t & a comp

Text File | 1992-07-31 | 5KB | 76 lines

                                      75 AD
                THE COMPARISON OF TIMOLEON WITH AEMILIUS PAULUS
                                  by Plutarch
                           translated by John Dryden

  SUCH being the story of these two great men's lives, without doubt
in the comparison very little difference will be found between them.
They made war with two powerful enemies: the one against the
Macedonians, and the other with the Carthaginians; and the success was
in both cases glorious. One conquered Macedon from the seventh
succeeding heir of Antigonus; the other freed Sicily from usurping
tyrants, and restored the island to its former liberty. Unless,
indeed, it be made a point of Aemilius's side, that he engaged with
Perseus when his forces were entire, and composed of men that had
often successfully fought with the Romans; whereas Timoleon found
Dionysius in a despairing condition, his affairs being reduced to
the last extremity; or, on the contrary, it be urged in favour of
Timoleon, that he vanquished several tyrants, and a powerful
Carthaginian army, with which an inconsiderable number of men gathered
together from all parts, not with such an army as Aemilius had, of
well-disciplined soldiers, experienced in war, and accustomed to obey;
but with such as through the hopes of gain restored to them, unskilled
in fighting and ungovernable. And when actions are equally glorious,
and the means to compass them unequal, the greatest esteem is
certainly due to that general who conquers with the small power.
  Both have the reputation of having behaved themselves with an
uncorrupted integrity in all the affairs they managed; but Aemilius
had the advantage of being, from his infancy, by the laws and
customs of his country brought up to the proper management of public
affairs, which Timoleon brought himself to by his own efforts. And
this is plain; for at that time all the Romans were uniformly
orderly and obedient, respectful to the laws and to their
fellow-citizens: whereas it is remarkable that not one of the Greek
generals commanding in Sicily could keep himself uncorrupted, except
Dion, and of him many entertained a jealousy that he would establish a
monarchy there, after the Lacedaemonian manner. Timaeus writes, that
the Syracusans sent even Gylippus home dishonourably, and with a
reputation lost by the unsatiable covetousness he displayed when he
commanded the army. And numerous historians tell us of the wicked
and perfidious acts committed by Pharax the Spartan and Callippus
the Athenian, with the view of making themselves kings of Sicily.
Yet what were these men, and what strength had they, to entertain such
a thought? The first of them was a follower of Dionysius, when he
was expelled from Syracuse, and the other a hired captain of foot
under Dion, and came into Sicily with him. But Timoleon, at the
request and prayers of the Syracusans, was sent to be their general,
and had no need to seek for power, but had a perfect title, founded on
their own offers, to hold it; and yet no sooner had he freed Sicily
from her oppressors, but he willingly surrendered it.
  It is truly worthy our admiration in Aemilius, that though he
conquered so great and so rich a realm as that of Macedon, yet he
would not touch, nor see any of the money, nor did he advantage
himself one farthing by it, though he was very generous of his own
to others. I would not intend any reflection on Timoleon for accepting
of a house and handsome estate in the country, which the Syracusans
presented him with; there is no dishonour in accepting; but yet
there is greater glory in a refusal, and the supremest virtue is shown
in not wanting what it might fairly take. And as that body is, without
doubt, the most strong and healthful which can the easiest support
extreme cold and excessive heat in the change of seasons, and that the
most firm and collected mind which is not puffed up with prosperity
nor dejected with adversity; so the virtue of Aemilius was eminently
seen in his countenance and behaviour, continuing as noble and lofty
upon the loss of two dear sons, as when he achieved his greatest
victories and triumphs. But Timoleon, after he had justly punished his
brother, a truly heroic action, let his reason yield to a causeless
sorrow, and humiliated with grief and remorse, forbore for twenty
years to appear in any public place, or meddle with any affairs of the
commonwealth. It is truly very commendable to abhor and shun the doing
any base action; but to stand in fear of every kind of censure or
disrepute may argue a gentle and open-hearted, but not an heroic
temper.


                             THE END