第42章

[Whotellsuswhatisgood，whatevil，whatuseful，whatnot，moreclearlyandbetterthanChrysippusandCrantor？"

——Horace，Ep。，i。2，3。]

andasthisothersays，"Aquo，ceufonteperenni，VatumPieriisorariganturaquis"

["Fromwhich，asfromaperennialspring，thelipsofthepoetsaremoistenedbyPierianwaters。"——Ovid，Amoy。，iii。9，25。]

andtheother，"AddeHeliconiadumcomites，quorumunusHomerusSceptrapotitus;"

["AddthecompanionsoftheMuses，whosesceptreHomerhassolelyobtained。"——Lucretius，iii。1050。]

andtheother:

"CujusqueexoreprofusosOmnisposteritaslaticesincarminaduxit，Amnemqueintenuesausaestdeducererivos。

Uniusfoecundabonis。"

["Fromwhosemouthallposterityhasdrawnoutcopiousstreamsofverse，andhasmadeboldtoturnthemightyriverintoitslittlerivulets，fertileinthepropertyofoneman。"

——Manilius，Astyon。，ii。8。]

’Tiscontrarytotheorderofnaturethathehasmadethemostexcellentproductionthatcanpossiblybe;fortheordinarybirthofthingsisimperfect;theythriveandgatherstrengthbygrowing，whereasherenderedtheinfancyofpoesyandseveralothersciencesmature，perfect，andaccomplishedatfirst。Andforthisreasonhemaybecalledthefirstandthelastofthepoets，accordingtothefinetestimonyantiquityhasleftusofhim，"thatastherewasnonebeforehimwhomhecouldimitate，sotherehasbeennonesincethatcouldimitatehim。"

Hiswords，accordingtoAristotle，aretheonlywordsthathavemotionandaction，theonlysubstantialwords。AlexandertheGreat，havingfoundarichcabinetamongstDarius’spoils，gaveorderitshouldbereservedforhimtokeephisHomerin，saying:thathewasthebestandmostfaithfulcounsellorhehadinhismilitaryaffairs。ForthesamereasonitwasthatCleomenes，thesonofAnaxandridas，saidthathewasthepoetoftheLacedaemonians，forthathewasanexcellentmasterforthedisciplineofwar。ThissingularandparticularcommendationisalsoleftofhiminthejudgmentofPlutarch，thatheistheonlyauthorintheworldthatnevergluttednordisgustedhisreaders，presentinghimselfalwaysanotherthing，andalwaysflourishinginsomenewgrace。

ThatwantonAlcibiades，havingaskedone，whopretendedtolearning，forabookofHomer，gavehimaboxoftheearbecausehehadnone，whichhethoughtasscandalousasweshouldifwefoundoneofourpriestswithoutaBreviary。XenophanescomplainedonedaytoHiero，thetyrantofSyracuse，thathewassopoorhehadnotwherewithaltomaintaintwoservants。"What！"repliedhe，"Homer，whowasmuchpoorerthanthouart，keepsabovetenthousand，thoughheisdead。WhatdidPanaetiusleaveunsaidwhenhecalledPlatotheHomerofthephilosophers？Besideswhatglorycanbecomparedtohis？Nothingissofrequentinmen’smouthsashisnameandworks，nothingsoknownandreceivedasTroy，Helen，andthewarabouther，whenperhapstherewasneveranysuchthing。Ourchildrenarestillcalledbynamesthatheinventedabovethreethousandyearsago;whodoesnotknowHectorandAchilles？Notonlysomeparticularfamilies，butmostnationsalsoseektheirorigininhisinventions。Mohammed，thesecondofthatname，emperoroftheTurks，writingtoourPopePiusII。，"Iamastonished，"sayshe，"thattheItaliansshouldappearagainstme，consideringthatwehaveourcommondescentfromtheTrojans，andthatitconcernsmeaswellasitdoesthemtorevengethebloodofHectorupontheGreeks，whomtheycountenanceagainstme。"Isitnotanoblefarcewhereinkings，republics，andemperorshavesomanyagesplayedtheirparts，andtowhichthevastuniverseservesforatheatre？SevenGreciancitiescontendedforhisbirth，somuchhonourevenhisobscurityhelpedhimto！

"Smyrna，Rhodos，Colophon，Salamis，Chios，Argos，Athenm。"

TheotherisAlexandertheGreat。Forwhoeverwillconsidertheageatwhichhebeganhisenterprises，thesmallmeansbywhichheeffectedsogloriousadesign，theauthorityheobtainedinsuchmereyouthwiththegreatestandmostexperiencedcaptainsoftheworld，bywhomhewasfollowed，theextraordinaryfavourwherewithfortuneembracedandfavouredsomanyhazardous，nottosayrash，exploits，"ImpellensquicquidsibisummapetentiObstaret，gaudensqueviamfecisseruins;"

["Bearingdownallwhosoughttowithstandhim，andpleasedtoforcehiswaybyruin。"——Lucan，i。149。]

thatgreatness，tohaveattheageofthree—and—thirtyyears，passedvictoriousthroughthewholehabitableearth，andinhalfalifetohaveattainedtotheutmostofwhathumannaturecando;sothatyoucannotimagineitsjustdurationandthecontinuationofhisincreaseinvalourandfortune，uptoaduematurityofage，butthatyoumustwithalimaginesomethingmorethanman:tohavemadesomanyroyalbranchestospringfromhissoldiers，leavingtheworld，athisdeath，dividedamongstfoursuccessors，simplecaptainsofhisarmy，whoseposteritysolongcontinuedandmaintainedthatvastpossession;somanyexcellentvirtuesashewasmasterof，justice，temperance，liberality，truthinhisword，lovetowardshisownpeople，andhumanitytowardsthoseheovercame;forhismanners，ingeneral，seemintruthincapableofanymannerofreproach，althoughsomeparticularandextraordinaryactionsofhismayfallundercensure。Butitisimpossibletocarryonsuchgreatthingsashedidwithinthestrictrulesofjustice;suchashearetobejudgedingrossbythemainendoftheiractions。TheruinofThebesandPersepolis，themurderofMenanderandofEphistion’sphysician，themassacreofsomanyPersianprisonersatonetime，ofatroopofIndiansoldiersnotwithoutprejudicetohisword，andoftheCossians，somuchastotheverychildren，areindeedsalliesthatarenotwelltobeexcused。For，astoClytus，thefaultwasmorethanredeemed;andthatveryaction，asmuchasanyotherwhatever，manifeststhegoodnessofhisnature，anaturemostexcellentlyformedtogoodness;anditwasingeniouslysaidofhim，thathehadhisvirtuesfromNature，hisvicesfromFortune。Astohisbeingalittlegiventobragging，alittletooimpatientofhearinghimselfill—spokenof，andastothosemangers，arms，andbitshecausedtobestrewedintheIndies，allthoselittlevanities，methinks，mayverywellbeallowedtohisyouth，andtheprodigiousprosperityofhisfortune。Andwhowillconsiderwithalhissomanymilitaryvirtues，hisdiligence，foresight，patience，discipline，subtlety，magnanimity，resolution，andgoodfortune，wherein（thoughwehadnothadtheauthorityofHannibaltoassureus）hewasthefirstofmen，theadmirablebeautyandsymmetryofhisperson，eventoamiracle，hismajesticportandawfulmien，inafacesoyoung，ruddy，andradiant:

"Qualis，ubiOceaniperfususLuciferunda，QuemVenusantealiosastrorumdiligitignes，Extulitossacrumcoelo，tenebrasqueresolvit;"

["Aswhen，bathedinthewavesofOcean，Lucifer，whomVenuslovesbeyondtheotherstars，hasdisplayedhissacredcountenancetotheheaven，anddispersesthedarkness"——AEneid，iii。589。]

theexcellenceofhisknowledgeandcapacity;thedurationandgrandeurofhisglory，pure，clean，withoutspotorenvy，andthatlongafterhisdeathitwasareligiousbeliefthathisverymedalsbroughtgoodfortunetoallwhocarriedthemaboutthem;andthatmorekingsandprinceshavewrittenhisactionsthanotherhistorianshavewrittentheactionsofanyotherkingorprincewhatever;andthattothisverydaytheMohammedans，whodespiseallotherhistories，admitofandhonourhisalone，byaspecialprivilege:whoever，Isay，willseriouslyconsidertheseparticulars，willconfessthat，allthesethingsputtogether，IhadreasontopreferhimbeforeCaesarhimself，whoalonecouldmakemedoubtfulinmychoice:anditcannotbedeniedthattherewasmoreofhisowninhisexploits，andmoreoffortuneinthoseofAlexander。Theywereinmanythingsequal，andperadventureCaesarhadsomegreaterqualitiestheyweretwofires，ortwotorrents，overrunningtheworldbyseveralways;

"AcvelutimmissidiversispartibusignesArenteminsilvam，etvirgultasonantialauroAutubidecursurapidodemontibusaltisDantsonitumspumosiamnes，etinaequoracurrunt，Quisquesuumpopulatusiter:"

["Andasfiresappliedinseveralpartstoadrywoodandcracklingshrubsoflaurel，oraswithimpetuousfallfromthesteepmountains，foamingtorrentspourdowntotheocean，eachclearingadestructivecourse。"——AEneid，xii。521。]

butthoughCaesar’sambitionhadbeenmoremoderate，itwouldstillbesounhappy，havingtheruinofhiscountryanduniversalmischieftotheworldforitsabominableobject，that，allthingsrakedtogetherandputintothebalance，ImustneedsinclinetoAlexander’sside。

Thethirdandinmyopinionthemostexcellent，isEpaminondas。Ofgloryhehasnotnearsomuchastheothertwo（which，forthatmatter，isbutapartofthesubstanceofthething）:ofvalourandresolution，notofthatsortwhichispushedonbyambition，butofthatwhichwisdomandreasoncanplantinaregularsoul，hehadallthatcouldbeimagined。

Ofthisvirtueofhis，hehas，inmyidea，givenasampleproofasAlexanderhimselforCaesar:foralthoughhiswarlikeexploitswereneithersofrequentnorsofull，theywereyet，ifdulyconsideredinalltheircircumstances，asimportant，asbravelyfought，andcarriedwiththemasmanifesttestimonyofvalourandmilitaryconduct，asthoseofanywhatever。TheGreekshavedonehimthehonour，withoutcontradiction，topronouncehimthegreatestmanoftheirnation;andtobethefirstofGreece，iseasilytobethefirstoftheworld。Astohisknowledge，wehavethisancientjudgmentofhim，"Thatneveranymanknewsomuch，andspakesolittleashe";——[Plutarch，OntheDemonofSocrates，c。23。]——forhewasofthePythagoreansect;butwhenhedidspeak，neveranymanspakebetter;anexcellentorator，andofpowerfulpersuasion。Butastohismannersandconscience，heinfinitelysurpassedallmenwhoeverundertookthemanagementofaffairs;forinthisonething，whichoughtchieflytobeconsidered，whichalonetrulydenotesusforwhatweare，andwhichaloneImakecounterbalancealltherestputtogether，hecomesnotshortofanyphilosopherwhatever，notevenofSocrateshimself。Innocence，inthisman，isaqualitypeculiar，sovereign，constant，uniform，incorruptible，comparedwithwhich，itappearsinAlexandersubjecttosomethingelsesubaltern，uncertain，variable，effeminate，andfortuitous。

Antiquityhasjudgedthatinthoroughlysiftingalltheothergreatcaptains，thereisfoundineveryonesomepeculiarqualitythatillustrateshisname:inthismanonlythereisafullandequalvirtuethroughout，thatleavesnothingtobewishedforinhim，whetherinprivateorpublicemployment，whetherinpeaceorwar;whethertolivegloriouslyandgrandly，andtodie:IdonotknowanyformorfortuneofmanthatIsomuchhonourandlove。

’TistruethatIlookuponhisobstinatepoverty，asitissetoutbyhisbestfriends，asalittletooscrupulousandnice;andthisistheonlyfeature，thoughhighinitselfandwellworthyofadmiration，thatIfindsoruggedasnottodesiretoimitate，tothedegreeitwasinhim。

ScipioAEmilianusalone，couldoneattributetohimasbraveandmagnificentanend，andasprofoundanduniversalaknowledge，mightbeputintotheotherscaleofthebalance。Oh，whataninjuryhastimedonemetodeprivemeofthesightoftwoofthemostnobleliveswhich，bythecommonconsentofalltheworld，oneofthegreatestoftheGreeks，andtheotheroftheRomans，wereinallPlutarch。Whatamatter！whataworkman！

Foramanthatwasnosaint，but，aswesay，agentleman，ofcivilianandordinarymanners，andofamoderateambition，therichestlifethatI

know，andfulloftherichestandmosttobedesiredparts，allthingsconsidered，is，inmyopinion，thatofAlcibiades。

ButastowhatconcernsEpaminondas，Iwillhere，fortheexampleofanexcessivegoodness，addsomeofhisopinions:hedeclared，thatthegreatestsatisfactionheeverhadinhiswholelife，wasthecontentmenthegavehisfatherandmotherbyhisvictoryatLeuctra;whereinhisdeferenceisgreat，preferringtheirpleasurebeforehisown，sodustandsofullofsogloriousanaction。Hedidnotthinkitlawful，eventorestorethelibertyofhiscountry，tokillamanwithoutknowingacause:whichmadehimsocoldintheenterpriseofhiscompanionPelopidasforthereliefofThebes。Hewasalsoofopinionthatmeninbattleoughttoavoidtheencounterofafriendwhowasonthecontraryside，andtosparehim。Andhishumanity，eventowardshisenemiesthemselves，havingrenderedhimsuspectedtotheBoeotians，forthat，afterhehadmiraculouslyforcedtheLacedaemonianstoopentohimthepasswhichtheyhadundertakentodefendattheentranceintotheMorea，nearCorinth，hecontentedhimselfwithhavingchargedthroughthem，withoutpursuingthemtotheutmost，hehadhiscommissionofgeneraltakenfromhim，veryhonourablyuponsuchanaccount，andforthesh