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
5. And this may be understood by lesser instances. For, if parents will
be displeased when an old servant that has been favored by them shall
be reproached and flouted at by the children, or if the plants and the
fields wherein they took pleasure be neglected, if the forgetting a
dog or a beloved horse fret their humorsome age (that is very apt to
be jealous of the love and obedience of their children), if, lastly,
when they disaffect and despise those recreations that are pleasing
to the eye and ear, or those juvenile exercises and games which they
themselves formerly delighted in,—if at any of all these things the
parents will be angry and offended,—how will they endure such discord
as inflames their children with mutual malice and hatred, fills their
mouths with opprobrious and execrating language and works them into
such an inveteracy that the contrary and spiteful method of their
actions declares a drift and design of ruining one another? If, I say,
those smaller matters provoke their anger, how will all the rest be
resented? Who can resolve me? But, on the other hand, where the love
of brothers is such that they make up that distance Nature has placed
them at (in respect of their different bodies) by united affections,
insomuch that their studies and recreations, their earnest and their
jest, keep true time and agree exactly together, such a pleasing
consort amongst their children proves a nursing melody to the decayed
parents to preserve and maintain their quiet and peace in their old
(though tender) age. For never was any father so intent upon oratory,
ambitious of honor, or craving after riches, as fond of his children.
Wherefore neither is it so great a satisfaction to hear them speak
well, find them grow wealthy, or see them honored with the power of
magistracy, as to be endeared to each other in mutual affection.
Wherefore it is reported of Apollonis of Cyzicum, mother of King
Eumenes and three other sons, Attalus, Philetaerus, and Athenaeus, that
she always accounted herself happy and gave the Gods thanks, not so
much for wealth or empire, as because she saw her three sons guarding
the eldest, and him reigning securely among his armed brothers. And on
the contrary, Artaxerxes, understanding that his son Ochus had laid a
plot against his brothers, died with sorrow at the surprise. For the
quarrels of brothers are pernicious, saith Euripides, but most of all
to the parents themselves. For he that hates and plagues his brother
can hardly forbear blaming the father who begot and the mother who bare
him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account