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
3. Presently every one poured out something in commendation of that
tribe, mentioning every matter that made for its credit and reputation.
Marathon was brought in as belonging to it, and Harmodius with his
associates, by birth Aphidneans, were also produced as glorious
members of that tribe. The orator Glaucias proved that that tribe
made up the right wing in the battle at Marathon, from the elegies of
Aeschylus, who had himself fought valiantly in the same encounter;
and farther evinced that Callimachus the field marshal was of that
tribe, who behaved himself very bravely, and was the principal cause
next to Miltiades, with whose opinion he concurred, that that battle
was fought. To this discourse of Glaucias I added, that the edict
which impowered Miltiades to lead forth the Athenians, was made when
the tribe Aeantis was chief of the assembly, and that in the battle
of Plataea the same tribe acquired the greatest glory; and upon that
account, as the oracle directed, that tribe offered a sacrifice for
this victory to the nymphs Sphragitides, the city providing a victim
and all other necessaries belonging to it. But you may observe (I
continued) that other tribes likewise have their peculiar glories; and
you know that mine, the tribe Leontids, yields to none in any point
of reputation. Besides, consider whether it is not more probable that
this was granted out of a particular respect, and to please Ajax, from
whom this tribe received its name; for we know he could not endure to
be outdone, but was easily hurried on to the greatest enormities by his
contentious and passionate humor; and therefore to comply with him and
afford him some comfort in his disasters, they secured him from the
most vexing grievance that follows the misfortune of the conquered, by
ordering that his tribe should never be determined to be last.
BOOK II.
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