Plutarch on the Delay of the Divine JusticePlutarch
Philosophy
Plutarch on the Delay of the Divine Justice
Plutarch
Punishment -- Early works to 1800
The vision not being discontinued, it is said, he set sail for the
oracle of the dead at Heracleia, and there, by fitting propitiatory
sacrifices and libations, he called up the maiden’s soul;[29:1] and
she, coming into his presence, told him that he should rest from these
troubles on his arrival at Lacedaemon. As soon as he arrived there, he
died.
11. Thus, if there is nothing for the soul after death, that is, if
death is the end of all reward and punishment, one might be disposed
to say that the Deity deals indulgently and leniently with those of
the wicked who are soon punished and die early. For were it maintained
that in their lifetime the wicked incur no other evil than the
conviction that wrong-doing is utterly fruitless and graceless, and
for the many and great conflicts of mind that it costs confers no
benefit nor anything worthy of endeavor, the perception of this alone
is fatal to the soul’s happiness. It is with the evil-doer as with
Lysimachus,[30:1] who, compelled by thirst to surrender his person and
his command to the Getae, having quenched his thirst and being at the
same time made a prisoner, exclaimed, “Alas for my guilt in suffering
myself to be deprived of so great a kingdom for so brief a pleasure!”
It is, indeed, in a case like this, exceedingly difficult to resist
the necessity created by a natural appetite. But when a man, either
from inordinate desire for wealth, or from envy of those possessed of
civic honor and power, or for the sake of some sensual gratification,
commits an unlawful and abominable deed, and, after the thirst and
madness of passion have subsided, sees in due time the vile and fearful
traits of character which lead to crime established permanently within
him, while he can discern in himself nothing useful, or serviceable,
or profitable, is it not probable that the thought often occurs to
him that for vainglory or for slavish and fruitless pleasure, he has
set at naught the greatest and best things that are accounted right
among men, and thus whelmed his life in shame and trouble? For as
Simonides[30:2] said in jest that he found the chest of money always
full, that of thanks empty, so the wicked, having a clear view of their
own guilt, find it—after the indulgence which yields for the moment
an empty pleasure—utterly devoid of hope, and always laden with fears
and griefs, with cheerless memories, suspicion of what the future may
bring, and distrust of the present. Thus, as we hear Ino say on the
stage, repenting of what she has done,—
“Dear women, tell me how, as at the first,
As if this deed of mine were uncommitted,
The house of Athamas may be my home,”[31:1]—
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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