Plutarch's essays and miscellanies, Vol. 5 (of 5) : $b Comprising all his works collected under the title of "Morals"Plutarch
Philosophy
Plutarch's essays and miscellanies, Vol. 5 (of 5) : $b Comprising all his works collected under the title of "Morals"
Plutarch
Classical literature; Essays; Ethics; Philosophy
but he is, on the contrary, courteous, affable, and of easy access
to all, having his house always open, as a port of refuge to those
that will make use of him, and showing his care and kindness, not
only by being assistant in the necessities and affairs of those that
have recourse to him, but also by condoling with those that are in
adversity, and congratulating and rejoicing with such as have been
successful; neither is he troublesome or offensive by the multitude and
train of domestics attending him at bath, or by taking up of places
in the theatres, nor remarkable by things invidious for luxury and
sumptuousness; but he is equal and like to others in his clothes, diet,
education of his children, and the garb and attendance of his wife, as
desiring in his comportment and manner of living to be like the rest
of the people. Then he exhibits himself an intelligent counsellor, an
unfeed advocate and courteous arbitrator between men and their wives,
and friends at variance amongst themselves; not spending a small part
of the day for the service of the commonweal at the tribunal or in the
hall of audience, and employing all the rest, and the whole remainder
of his life, in drawing to himself every sort of negotiations and
affairs, as the north-east wind does the clouds; but always employing
his cares on the public, and reputing polity (or the administration
of the state) as a busy and active life, and not, as it is commonly
thought, an easy and idle service; he does by all these and such
like things turn and draw the many, who see that all the flatteries
and enticements of others are but spurious and deceitful baits, when
compared to his care and providence. The flatterers indeed of Demetrius
vouchsafed not to give the other potentates of his time, amongst
whom Alexander’s empire was divided, the title of kings, but styled
Seleucus master of the elephants, Lysimachus treasurer, Ptolemaeus
admiral, and Agathocles governor of the isles. But the multitude,
though they may at the beginning reject a good and prudent man, yet
coming afterwards to understand his veracity and the sincerity of his
disposition, esteem him a public-spirited person and a magistrate; and
of the others, they think and call one a maintainer of choruses, a
second a feaster, and a third a master of the exercises. Moreover, as
at the banquets made by Callias or Alcibiades, Socrates only is heard,
and to Socrates all men’s eyes are directed; so in sound and healthy
states Ismenias bestows largesses, Lichas makes suppers, and Niceratus
provides choruses; but it is Epaminondas, Aristides, and Lysander
that govern, manage the state, and lead forth the armies. Which if
any one considers, he ought not to be dejected or amazed at the glory
gotten amongst the people from theatres, banqueting-halls, and public
buildings; since it lasts but a short time, being at an end as soon as
the prizes and plays are over, and having in them nothing honorable or
worthy of esteem.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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