THE LIFE OF PERICLES. 391
maruelled why they had so highly praised that in him, which was common to many other captaines, and wherein fortune dealt with them in equalitie alike, & all this while they had forgotten to speake of the best and most notable thing that was in him, which was, that no Athenian had euer worne blacke gowne through his occasion. And sure so was he a noble and worthy person. For he did not onely shew him-selfe merciful and courteous, euen in most weightie matters of gouernment among so enuious people and hatefull enemies: but he had this judgement also to thinke, that the most noble acts he did were these, that he neuer gaue himselfe to hatred, enuy, nor choler, to be reuenged of his most mortal enemy, without mercy shewed towards him, though he had committed vnto him such absolute power & sole gouernment among them. And this made his surname be Olympius (as to say, diuine or celestiall) which otherwise for him had bene too proud and arrogant a name, because he was of so good and gentle a nature, and for that in so great libertie he had kept cleane hands and vndefiled : euen as we esteeme the gods,authors of all good, and causers of no euill, and so worthy to gouerne and rule the whole monarchy of the world. And not as Poets say, which do confound our wits by their follies, and fond fainings, and are also contrary to themselues, considering that they call heauen (which containeth the gods) the everlasting seate, which trembleth not, and is not driuen nor moued with winds, neither is darkned with cloudes, but is alwayes bright and cleare, and at all times shining equally with a pure bright light, as being the onely habitation and mansion place of the eternall God, onely happy and immortall: and afterwards they describe it themselues, full of dissentions, of enmities, of anger, and passions, which do nothing become wise and learned men. But this discourse peraduenture