Plutarch's essays and miscellanies, Vol. 3 (of 5) : $b Comprising all his works collected under the title of "Morals"Plutarch
Philosophy
Plutarch's essays and miscellanies, Vol. 3 (of 5) : $b Comprising all his works collected under the title of "Morals"
Plutarch
Classical literature; Essays; Ethics; Philosophy
and set off with all the ornaments of art; and therefore, when they
would present a compliment, they would have it curious, pleasing, and
majestic, as verse usually appears.
2. Sossius applauding these discourses added: Perhaps we may make a
probable conjecture from Theophrastus’s discourse of Music, for I
have lately read the book. Theophrastus lays down three causes of
music,—grief, pleasure, and enthusiasm; for each of these changes
the usual tone, and makes the voice slide into a cadence; for deep
sorrow has something tunable in its groans, and therefore we perceive
our orators in their conclusions, and actors in their complaints, are
somewhat melodious, and insensibly fall into a tune. Excess of joy
provokes the more airy men to frisk and dance and keep their steps,
though unskilful in the art; and, as Pindar hath it,
They shout, and roar, and wildly toss their heads.
But the graver sort are excited only to sing, raise their voice, and
tune their words into a sonnet. But enthusiasm quite changes the body
and the voice, and makes it far different from its usual constitution.
Hence the very Bacchae use measure, and the inspired give their oracles
in measure. And we shall see very few madmen but are frantic in rhyme
and rave in verse. This being certain, if you will but anatomize love
a little, and look narrowly into it, it will appear that no passion in
the world is attended with more violent grief, more excessive joy, or
greater ecstasies and fury; a lover’s soul looks like Sophocles’s city:
At once ’tis full of sacrifice,
Of joyful songs, of groans and cries.[57]
And therefore it is no wonder, that since love contains all the causes
of music,—grief, pleasure, and enthusiasm,—and is besides industrious
and talkative, it should incline us more than any other passion to
poetry and songs.
_QUESTION VI._
WHETHER ALEXANDER WAS A GREAT DRINKER.
PHILINUS, PLUTARCH, AND OTHERS.
1. Some said that Alexander did not drink much, but sat long in
company, discoursing with his friends; but Philinus showed this to be
an error from the king’s diary, where it was very often registered that
such a day, and sometimes two days together, the king slept after a
debauch; and this course of life made him cold in love, but passionate
and angry, which argues a hot constitution. And some report his sweat
was fragrant and perfumed his clothes; which is another argument of
heat, as we see the hottest and driest climates bear frankincense and
cassia; for a fragrant smell, as Theophrastus thinks, proceeds from a
due concoction of the humors, when the noxious moisture is conquered
by the heat. And it is thought probable, that he took a pique at
Calisthenes for avoiding his table because of the hard drinking, and
refusing the great bowl called Alexander’s in his turn, adding, I will
not drink of Alexander’s cup, to stand in need of Aesculapius’s. And
thus much of Alexander’s drinking.
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