THE LOEB CLASSICAL LIBRARY
FOUNDED BY JAMES LOEB, LL.D.
EDITED BY
fT. E. PAGE, C.H., LITT.D.
fE. CAPPS, ph.d., ll.d. fW. H. D. ROUSE, litt.d.
L. A. POST, L.n.D. E. H. WARMLNGTON, m.a., f.r.hist.soc.
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
IV
PLUTARCH'S
LIVES
WITH AN ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY
BERNADOTTE PERRIN
IN ELEVEN VOLUMES
IV
ALCIBIADES AND CORIOLANUS
LYSANDER AND SULLA
LONDON
WILLIAM HEINEMANN LTD
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS
HARVARD UNIVERSITY PRESS
MCMLIX - -
First printed 1916
Reprinted 1932, 1948, 1959
Printed in Great Britain
CONTENTS
PAGE
PREFATORY NOTE yi
ORDER OF THE PARALLEL LIVES IN THIS EDITION . . . viH
TRADITIONAL ORDER OF THE PARALLEL LIVES .... LX
ALCIBIADES 1
CA1US MARCIUS CORIOLANUS 117
COMPARISON OF ALCIBIADES AND CORIOLANUS .... 218
LYSANDKR 233
SULLA 323
COMPARISON OF LYSANDER AND SULLA 444
DICTIONARY OF PROPER NAMES 459
PREFATORY NOTE
As in the preceding volumes of this series, agree-
ment between the Sintenis (Teubner, 1873-1875)
and Bekker (Tauchnitz, 1855-1857) texts of the
Parallel Lives has been taken as the basis for the
text. Any preference of one to the other where
they differ, and any departure from both, have been
indicated. None of the Lives presented in this
volume is contained in the Codex Seitenstettensis
(S), the relative value of which is explained in the
Introduction to the first volume. A few superior
readings have been adopted from the Codex Matri-
tensis (M a ), on the authority of the collations of
Charles Graux, as published in Dursians Jahresbe.ncht
(1884). No attempt has been made, naturally, to
furnish either a diplomatic text or a full critical
apparatus. The reading which follows the colon in
the critical notes is that of the Teubner Sintenis,
and also, unless otherwise stated in the note, of the
Tauchnitz Bekker.
Some use has been made of the edition of the
vi
PREFATORY NOTE
Sulla by the Rev. Hubert A. Holden, Cambridge,
Pitt Press Series, 1886.
The translation of the Alcibiades has already
appeared in my " Plutarch's Nicias and Alcibiades "
(New York, 1912), and is reproduced here (with
only slight changes) by the generous consent of the
publishers, the Messrs. Charles Scribner's Sons.
The translations of the Coriolanus, Lysander, and
Sulla appear here for the first time. All the standard
translations of the Lives have been carefully com-
pared and utilized, including that of the Sulla by
Professor Long.
B. PERRIN.
New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.A.
April, 1916.
VII
ORDER OF THE PARALLEL LIVES IN THIS
EDITION IN THE CHRONOLOGICAL SEQUENCE
OF THE GREEK LIVES.
Volume I.
(1) Theseus and Romulus.
Comparison.
(2) Lycurgus and Numa.
Comparison.
(3) Solon and Publicola.
Comparison.
Volume II.
(4) Themistocles and
Camillus.
(9) Aristides and Cato the
Elder.
Comparison.
(13) Cimon and Lucullus.
Comparison.
Volume III.
(5) Pericles and Fabius Max-
imus.
Comparison.
(14) Nicias and Crassus.
Comparison.
Volume IV.
(6) Alcibiades and Coriola-
nus.
Comparison.
(12) Lysander and Sulla.
Comparison.
Volume V.
(16) Agesilaus and Pompey.
Comparison.
(8) Pelopidas and Marcellus.
Comparison.
Volume VI.
(22) Dion and Brutus.
Comparison.
(7) Timoleon and Aemilius
Paulus.
Comparison.
Volume VII.
(20) Demosthenes and Cicero.
Comparison.
(17) Alexander and Julius
Caesar.
Volume VIII
(15) Sertorius and Eumenes.
Comparison.
(18) Phocion and Cato the
Younger.
Volume IX
(21) Demetrius and Antony.
Comparison.
(11) Pyrrhus and Caius Marius.
Volume X
(19) Agis and Cleomenes, and
Tiberius and Caius
Gracchus.
Comparison.
(10) Philopoemen and Flam-
ininus.
Comparison.
Volume XI
(24) Aratus.
(23) Artaxerxes.
(25) Galba.
(26) Otho.
viii
THE TRADITIONAL ORDER OF THE
PARALLEL LIVES.
(1) Theseus and Romulus.
(2) Lycurgus and Numa.
(3) Solon and Publicola.
(4) Themistocles and Camillus.
5) Pericles and Fabius Maximus.
(6) Alcibiades and Coriolanus.
(7) Timoleon and Aemilius Paulus.
(8) Pelopidas and Marcellus.
(9) Aristides and Cato the Elder.
(10) Philopoemen and Flamininus.
(11) Pyrrhus and Caius Marius.
(12) Lysander and Sulla.
(13) Cimon and Lucullus.
(14) Nicias and Crassus.
(15) Sertorius and Eumenes.
(16) Agesilaus and Poinpey.
(17) Alexander and Julius Caesar.
(18) Phocion and Cato the Younger.
(19) Agis and Cleonienes, and Tiberius and Caius
Gracchus.
(20) Demosthenes and Cicero.
(21) Demetrius and Antony.
(22) Dion and Brutus.
(23) Artaxerxes.
(24) Aratus.
(25) Galba.
(26) Otho.
IX
ALCIBIADES
AAKIBIAAH2
I. To *AXfci/3idBov yevos avoid ev TLvpvaaKTjv
ihv Atavros dpyjqybv %X 6iV & 0K€ h trpb? Be firjrpo^
'AXicpLai(ovLBr)<; rjv, i/c Ae^oyLta%r?9 yeyovm tt}?
Meya/eXeou?. 6 Be irarrjp avrov KXeivia? IBio-
aroXw Tpir)pei rrepl ' A previa lov eVSofto? evav-
p,dxv<T € v, varepov Be BoiojTot? /za%o/xeyo9 irepl
Kopcoveiav direOave. rov Be 'AX/ciftidBov Uepi-
fcXrjS KaX 'AptypCDV 01 zZavdiTTTTOV, 7TpO(Tl]tCOVT€<;
Kara, yevos, eirerporrevov.
2 Aeyerai & ov tca/ccos on tt)? ^Lco/cpdrovs irpb^
avrov evvoia? KaX (friXavOpcoTrlas ov fiiicpa Trpbs
Bogav direXavaev, etye Nikiov fiev KaX Arjfioo-Oe-
vovs KaX Aa/id^ov KaX QopfiLcovos ®pao~vf3ov\ov Paris
N >~v / , , „ , rv „ > Edition,
re kcli Krtrjpa/jLevovs, eTTUpavoyv avbpwv yevo/ievcov a. 1624, p.
kclt avrov, ovBevbs ovB* 77 p>>')TVP 6v6paro<; rerv- 192
yy)Kev, *A\/ci/3idBov Be KaX rirfirjv, yevos Ad/caivav,
'Afiv/cXav ovo/xa, teal Zooirvpov iraiBaycoybv la/xev,
wv to jiev 'AvriaOevrjs, rb Be IlXdrojv lo-Topq/ce.
ALCIBIADES
I. The family of Alcibiades, it is thought, may be
traced back to Eurysaces, 1 the son of Aias, as its
founder ; and on his mother's side he was an
Alcmaeonid, being the son of Deinomache, the
daughter of Megacles. His father, Cleinias, fitted
out a trireme at his own cost and fought it glori-
ously at Artemisium.* He was afterwards slain
at Coroneia, 3 fighting the Boeotians, and Alcibiades
was therefore reared as the ward of Pericles and
Ariphron, the sons of Xanthippus, his near kinsmen. 4
It is said, and with good reason, that the favour
and affection which Socrates showed him contri-
buted not a little to his reputation. Certain it is
that Nicias, Demosthenes, Lamachus, Phormio,
Thrasybulus, and Theramenes were prominent men,
and his contemporaries, and yet we cannot so much
as name the mother of any one of them ; whereas,
in the case of Alcibiades, we even know that his
nurse, who was a Spartan woman, was called Amycla,
and his tutor Zopyrus. The one fact is mentioned
by Antisthenes, the other by Plato/'
1 Plato, Alcibiades I. p. 121. 2 480 B.C.
8 447 D 0. 4 They were first cousins, once removed.
5 Alcibiades I. p. 122.
3
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
3 Ilepl jxkv olv rov /cdXXovs * AXtcifiidBov ovBev
?<7&>? Bel Xeyeiv, ttXtjv ore /cal rralBa /cal pLetpd/ciov
/cal dvBpa irdar) Gvvav0r\aav rrj rjXi/cia /cal copa
rov a(tifiaTO<; ipdapuiov ical r\Bvv TTapeayev. ov
yap, a)? EvpnriBr)<; eXeye, iravreov roiv /caXcov /cal
to jxeroTTCDpov /caXov iariv, dXXcb rovro 'AX-
KifttdBr] puer oXiywv aXXcov Be evcpvtav ical
4 dperrjv crcopiaros virr\p^e. rf) Be (pwvfj /cal rrjv
rpavXorrjra epar pe-^rai Xeyovai /cal r& XdXw
7n0av6rrjra irapaa^elv x il P LV ifrtreXovaav. p<epL-
vrjrai Be ical ' 'ApHTTO(f>dvr)<; avrov t?)? rpavXorrjros
iv oU eiria/coinnei Secopov
EZt ^AX/cifiidBr]^ elire 77720? //.e TpavXiaav
" oXas ®ia)Xov ; rrjv /cecfraXrjv icoXaico*; e%€i.
6p6o)S ye rovr 'AX/cij3idBr)<; irpavXio~ev.
/cal " A pxnnros rov vlov rov *AXKi(3idBov ct/ccdtt-
reov " Ba67£e*," (f>7]<TL, " BLa/ce)(XiB(Q<;, doi/ndriov
eX/cwv, 07ro)9 ep,<j>epr)<; fidXiara ra> irarpl Bo^eiev
elvai,
IfcXacravyeveverai re /cal rpavXi^erai"
II. To B y t)6o<; avrov 7roA.\a? p,ev vcrrepov, a>?
etVo? iv TTpdypLaai pieydXois /cal rv^ai^ iroXv-
rpoirois, dvopLOLOTrjTas 7rpo? avrb ical pLerafioXd?
iireBel^aro. (f>vaei Be 7roXXcov ovrcov /cal pue-
ydXwv TraOcov iv avrq> t to (ptXovei/cov la^vporarov
ALCIBIADES, i. 3-11. 1
As regards the beauty of Alcibiades, it is perhaps
unnecessary to say aught, except that it flowered out
with each successive season of his bodily growth,
and made him, alike in boyhood, youth and man-
hood, lovely and pleasant. The saying of Euripi-
des, 1 that " beauty's autumn, too, is beautiful," is
not always true. But it was certainly the case with
Alcibiades, as with few besides, because of his excel-
lent natural parts. Even the lisp that he had became
his speech, they say, and made his talk persuasive
and full of charm. Aristophanes notices this lisp of
his in the verses wherein he ridicules Theorus : 2 —
(Sosias) " Then Alcibiades said to me with a lisp,
said he,
' Cwemahk Theocwus ? What a cwaven's
head he has ! ' "
(Xanthias) "That lisp of Alcibiades hit the mark for
once ! "
And Archippus, ridiculing the son of Alcibiades. says :
He walks with utter wantonness, trailing his long
robe behind him, that he may be thought the very
picture of his father, yes,
He slants his neck awry, and overworks the lisp." 8
II. His character, in later life, displayed many in-
consistencies and marked changes, as was natural
amid his vast undertakings and varied fortunes. He
was naturally a man of many strong passions, the
mightiest of which were the love of rivalry and the love
1 Cf. Aelian, Var. Hist. xiii. 4.
a Wasps, 44ft'. The "lisp" of Alcibiades turned his r's
into l's, and the play is on the Greek words K6pa£, raven, and
K($\a£, flatterer or craven.
3 Kock, Com. Alt. Frag. i. p. 688.
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
Y)V Kal TO (f)lXo7rp(OrOV, ft)? BffXoV i(TTt TO£?
TTaihiKoZs aTro/jLVTjfiovev/jLaaiv.
2 *Ev fiev yap ra> iraXaieiv me^ovfjievo^, virep rov
/it) nrecrelv dvayaycov irpos rb arofia rd dfi/xara
rov metyvvros, olos rjv Btacfrayeiv t<z? ^eXpa?.
d<f>evro<i Be rrjv Xa(3r)v eKecrov Kal elirbvros'
" Adfcvecs, w 'AX/ciftuiBr), /caOdirep ai yvvai/ces"
" Ov/c €70)76," elirev, " a\V ft)? ol Xeovres"
v Et« Be fiiKpbs cbv eirai^ev darpaydXoi^ ev tw
a-revcoTTU), rrj<; Be /3oXr}<; Ka@r)Kovo~r)<; et? avrbv
3 dfia^a (poprlcov errrjet. irpcorov fxev ovv ixeXeue
rrepipuelvai rbv dyovra rb feOyo?* vrrernrrre yap
7) ftoXr) rfj irapbBcp tt)? dfid^r]^' fir) iretOofjievov Be
BC dypoiteiav, dXX errayovros, 01 fiev aXXoc rralBes
Biea^ov, 6 8* 'AXKifiidBrj? Kara/3aXcov errl aro/xa
irpb rov fei^yof? /cal rrapareiva^ eavrbv, eiceXevev
oi)Tft>?, el fiovXerat, Bie^eXdelv, ware rbv fiev
dvO pwirov dvaicpovcrai rb ^evyos birlaw Beiaavra,
robs B' IBovras eKirXayrjvai Kal /nerd j3or}$ avv-
Bpafielv 7T/0O? avrbv.
4 'E7ret Be et? rb pxivOdveiv rj/ce, rot? pep aXXois
v7rrjfcove BiBacncdXoLS eirieLKcb*;, rb S' avXelv
e(f>evyev o>? dyevves Kal dveXevOepov TrXrJKrpov
fiev yap Kal Xvpas ^prjcnv ovBev ovre cryrjjxaros
ovre fiop<f>r)<; eXevOepw rrpeirovo-r}*; Bia<\>6eipeiv,
avXov? Be (frvacbvros dv0pd)7rov o-rofiarc Kal rov?
avvrjdeis dv irdvv /xoXfc? Biayvwvai rb 7rp6o-w7rov.
5 en Be rr)v fiev Xvpav ra> y^pwfxevw avficpBeyye-
aOai Kal cvvaBeiv, rbv 8* avXov eV taro/il^eiv Kal
drrofypdrreiv eKaarov rrjv re (froovrjv Kal rbv
Xoyov d(j>aipov/jL€vov. " AvXelroaaav ovv" e<f)fj,
M (drjftaioov 7rat8e?* ov yap lo~ao~i BiaXeyeadar
6
ALCIBIADES, n. 1-5
of preeminence. This is clearfrom the stories recorded
of his boyhood.
He was once hard pressed in wrestling, and to save
himself from getting a fall, set his teeth in his oppo-
nent's arms, where they clutched him, and was like
to have bitten through them. His adversary, letting
go his hold, cried : "You bite, Alcibiades, as women
do ! " "Not I, " said Alcibiades, " but as lions do. "
While still a small boy, he was playing knuckle-
bones in the narrow street, and just as it was his
turn to throw, a heavy-laden waggon came along. In
the first place, he bade the driver halt, since his cast
lay right in the path of the waggon. The driver,
however, was a boorish fellow, and paid no heed to
him, but drove his team along. Whereupon, while
the other boys scattered out of the way, Alcibiades
threw himself flat on his face in front of the team,
stretched himself out at full length, and bade the
driver go on if he pleased. At this the fellow pulled
up his beasts sharply, in terror ; the spectators,
too, were affrighted, and ran with shouts to help
the boy.
At school, he usually paid due heed to his teachers,
but he refused to play the flute, holding it to be an
ignoble and illiberal thing. The use of the plectrum
and the lyre, he argued, wrought no havoc with the
bearing and appearance which were becoming to a
gentleman ; but let a man go to blowing on a flute,
and even his own kinsmen could scarcely recognize
his features. Moreover, the lyre blended its tones
with the voice or song of its master ; whereas the
flute closed and barricaded the mouth, robbing its
master both of voice and speech. " Flutes, then, "
said he, "for the sons of Thebes; they know not
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
rj/jbiv he tols ^AOrjvaiois, &>? ol Trarepe? Xeyovcriv,
dpXrjyeris 'A07)va kclI Trarpaios 'AttoXXwv iariv,
u)V rj pep eppiyjre top clvXop, 6 he kcli top avXijrrjv
6 e^ehecpep" rotaura irai^ayv afxa koX cnrovhd^cop
6 'AXKiftidhrj? avrov re rod fxaOrjfxaros aTrearrjae
/cal tol>? aXXovs. ra^u yap htrjXde A-oyo? eh
toi>? iralhas &>? eu ttolcov 6 'AAva/StaS^? fiheXvT-
toito tt)V av\r\TLKr)V koX yXevd^oi rot/? p,ap0dp-
ovras. oOev e^eneae KOpLihrj tcop eXevOepwv
Siarpiftayv teal tt poeTrrjXaiciadri iravrdiraaiv 6
auXoc.
III. 'E^ he r<xi? ' Apt icf) (ovt os Xoihopicus yey pair-
Tat on irai? o\v, etc t?}? oi/aa? direhpa irpos
Ar)/j.oKpdrr] tipcl tcjp epaencdv /3ovXop,epov 8* 193
avrbv aTrofcrjpvTTeiv *Api(j)popos, Uepi/cXr)? ov/c
etaaep, elirdiv el p,ev reOvrjtcev, r/fiepa jiia hia to
K7]pvy/j,a fyaveladai irporepov, el Be o-w? iariv,
dawGTov avrcp top Xolttov ftiov eaecrOar koX oti
TOiv d/coXovOovvTcov tlvcl KTeipeiev ev tj) Xiftvp-
tlov iraXaiaTpa ^vXw TraTaijas. aXXa tovtois
/lev ovk dtjiop tcra>9 rciGTeveip, d ye XoihopeiaOai
tj? avTw hi' eyQpav 6/xoXoycov elirev.
IV. "Hhrj he iroXXoiV teal yevvalwv dOpoi^o-
p,evwv teal TrepieirovTcov, ol puep dXXoc tcaTCMpavels
r)o~av tt)v XafjbTTpoTrjTa ttjs eopa? €K7re7rXrjyp,€P0L
teal OepairevovTes, 6 he ScDtepaTovs epax; pueya
1 Athene threw away the flute because she saw her puffed
and swollen cheeks reflected in the water of a spring.
Marsyas the satyr was vanquished by Apollo in a musical
contest, and was flayed alive.
8
ALCIBIADES, n. 5 -iv. i
how to converse. But \*e Athenians, as our fathers
say, have Athene for foundress and Apollo for patron,
one of whom cast the flute away in disgust, and the
other flayed the presumptuous flute-player. " 1 Thus,
half in jest and half in earnest, Alcibiades emanci-
pated himself from this discipline, and t-'ie rest of the
boys as well. For word soon made its way to them
that Alcibiades loathed the art of flute-playing and
scoffed at its disciples, and rightly, too. Wherefore
the flute was dropped entirely from the programme
of a liberal education and was altogether despised.
III. Among the calumnies which Antiphon 2 heaps
upon him it is recorded that, when he was a boy, lie
ran away from home to Democrates, one of his
lovers, and that Ariphron was all for having him
proclaimed by town crier as a castaway. But Pericles
would not suffer it. "If he is dead," said he, " we
shall know it only a day the sooner for the
proclamation ; whereas, if he is alive, he will, in
consequence of it, be as good as dead for the rest of
his life." Antiphon says also that with a blow of
his stick he slew one of his attendants in the
palaestra of Sibyrtius. But these things are perhaps
unworthy of belief, coming as they do from one who
admits that he hated Alcibiades, and abused him
accordingly.
IV. It was not long before many men of high
birth clustered about him and paid him their atten-
tions. Most of them were plainly smitten with his
brilliant youthful beauty and fondly courted him.
But it was the love which Socrates had for him that
2 An abusive oration of Antiphon the Rhamnusian against
Alcibiades, cited in Athenaeus, p. 525 b, was probably a
fabrication and falsely attributed to hiia. It is not extant.
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
Haprvpiov r)v rrjs dperfjs tfal evcpvtas rod 7rcu8o?,
tjv €/j,(f)aLi>ojjL£vr]v tw e'iSeL teal BiaXafirrouaav
ivopwv, <f)o/3ovfi€Vo$ Be rbv ttXovtov teal to d^lco/j,a
teal rbv TrpoKaraXa/jL^dvovra teo\aieeiai<; teal yd-
picnv do~ro)V teal ^evcov teal avfifidycov oy\ov, olos
fjv dfjLvveiv teal fit] irepLopdv tw? <f)vrbv ev avOeu rbv
2 olteelov teapirbv diroftdWov teal Bia<\>6elpov. ov-
Beva yap ?; Tuyr) irepieayev e^coOev teal ire pi ecf> pal; e
roc? Xeyofjievois dyaOol? roaovrov cocrr drpcorov
virb <fyi\oao<$ia<> yevecrOai, /cat \6yow dirpbcnrov
irapprjaiav teal Brjy/jubv eypvaiv 009 'AXKL/Sid&rjs
evOv? ef dpyfjs Opvirrbfievos xal diroteXeiopLevos
virb rebv 7T/30? %dpiv igo/ju\ovPT(ov elaafcovaai
rov vovOerovvros teal rraiBevovros, o/mws vtt ev-
(f>via<; eyvcopcae ^ay/epdrr) teal TTpoarjKaro, Btaayoiv
3 robs irXovcriovs teal evhb%ov<; epaards. rayp Be
iroLTjcrdfievos avv^Ot), /cal Xoywv dteovaas ovy
rjBovrjv dvavBpov epacrrov Orjpevovros, ovBe (j>i\r)-
fidrwv teal tyavaews irpoo-atrovvros, dW' eXey-
yovros rb aaOpbv t/}? yjrvyrjs avrov teal ine^ovvros
rbv Kevbv teal dvorjrov rv<f)ov,
"E7TT7;f* dXetercap BovXos o><? teXiva? Trrepov.
teal rb fxev Zwtepdrovs rjyrjaaro irpaypba ru> ovn
dedv birr) pea lav eU vewv eTTipeXeiav elvai teal
4 awrrjpiav' tearacfypovcov 6" avrbs eavrov, 0av/id^cov
8' eteelvov, dyairwv Be rrjv <£>iXo(f)pocrvvr]V, alayyvo-
fievos he rrjv dperrji', eXdvdavev elBcoXov epcoros,
10
ALCIBIADES, iv. 1-4
bore strong testimony to the boy's native excellence
and good parts. These Socrates saw radiantly
manifest in his outward person, and, fearful of the
influence upon him of wealth and rank and the
throng of citizens, foreigners and allies who sought
to preempt his affections by flattery and favour, he
was fain to protect him, and not suffer such a fair
flowering plant to cast its native fruit to perdition.
For there is no man whom Fortune so envelops and
compasses about with the so-called good things of
life that he cannot be reached by the bold and
caustic reasonings of philosophy, and pierced to the
heart. And so it was that Aleibiades, although he
was pampered from the very first, and was prevented
by the companions who sought only to please him
from giving ear to one who would instruct and
train him, nevertheless, through the goodness of his
parts, at last saw all that was in Socrates, and clave
to him, putting away his rich and famous lovers.
And speedily, from choosing such an associate, and
giving ear to the words of a lover who was in the
chase for no unmanly pleasures, and begged no
kisses and embraces, but sought to expose the weak-
ness of his soul and rebuke his vain and foolish
pride,
" He crouched, though warrior bird, like slave, with
drooping wings." x
And he came to think that the work ot Socrates
was really a kind of provision of the gods for the
care and salvation of youth. Thus, by despising
himself, admiring his friend, loving that friend's
kindly solicitude and revering his excellence, he
1 The iambic trimeter is of unknown authorship.
II
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
w? <f)7)(Tiv 6 UXdrcov, avrtpoora /crctifievos, ware
0avp,d{eiv diravra^ opcovras avrov ^.co/cpdret, puev
avvheiirvovvra kol GvpuraXaiovTa kcli gvgkt]-
vovvtcl, Tot? 6' ciXXois ipacrral^ ^akeirov ovra
koX Bvo~xeipcoTOv, eviois Be /ecu TravTairaai
<jo(3ap(o<; irpocrcfiepopLevov, coarrep Avvr<p tw
'Avde/jLiayvos.
'Ervyx ave ^ v 7^/° ^pcov tov 'AX/ciftidBov,
fjevov? Be Tivas eariwv e/edXei /cd/celvov eirl to
Belirvov. 6 Be rrjv puev kXyjctlv direiiraiOy peOv-
crOeU 8* oikoi piera twv eraupcov e/ccopuacre 737)09
rbv "Avvtov, fcal rah Qvpais eTna-rd? tov dv-
Bpwvos /ecu Qeaadp.evos dpyvpcov e/CTrwpbdToov /cal
Xpvcrwv TrXtfpeis Ta<? Tpaire^a^, e/ceXevcre tou?
7ralBa<i tcl rjpLLO-r) XaftovTCts oi/caBe /copLi^eiv 7iy?o?
avTov, elcreXOelv S' ov/c rj^icoo-ev, dXXd tclvtcl
irpd^as dirr\XQe. tcov ovv tjevcov BvcryepaivovTwv
/cal XeyovTcov go? v{3piaTi/ca)<; /cal v7rep7)(f)dpco<; etrj
tw 'Avvto) fcexprjpbevos 6 'AAya/3jaS?7?, " 'JLTneifcco?
p,ev ovv" o "Avvtos ecf>r], " /cal $CXavQ pu>Trw<$' a
yap i^r/v avT(b Xafteiv awavTa, tovtcov r/piiv to,
pueprj KCLTaXeXoLTTev."
V. OvT(D Be KOi TOLS ClXXoLS epaO-TCtls e%yO/)TO'
7tXt)v eva pL€T0L/CL/c6v avOpwnov, co? cpaaiv, o><
TroXXd K€KTr]p,evov, diroBopbevov Be irdvTa /cal to
avvaxOev efc e/caTov aTCiTrjpas t£> 'AXKiftidBr}
TTpoacpepovTa /cal Beop,evov Xa(3eh>, yeXdcras /cat
rjaOel? e/cdXecrev eirl BeZirvov. eo~Tidaa<$ Be /cal
<piXo(f)pomj6el<; to tc XP vaiov direBw/cev clvtw, real
TrpoaeTa^e tj} vcrTepala tovs a>vov p,evov<; ra TeXr)
tcl By)pLoo-ia rai? TipLals vTrepftdXXeiv dvTcovov-
T2
ALCIBIADES, iv. i-v. i
insensibly acquired an " image of love," as Plato
says, 1 " to match love," and all were amazed to see
him eating, exercising, and tenting with Socrates, 2
while he was harsh and stubborn with the rest of
his lovers. Some of these he actually treated with
the greatest insolence, as, for example, Anytus, the
son of Anthemion.
This man was a lover of his, who, entertain-
ing some friends, asked Alcibiades also to the
dinner. Alcibiades declined the invitation, but
after having drunk dee]) at home with some friends,
went in revel rout to the house of Anytus, took his
stand at the door of the men's chamber, and,
observing the tables full of gold and silver beakers,
ordered his slaves to take half of them and carry
them home for him. He did not deign to go in, but
played this prank and was off. The guests were
naturally indignant, and declared that Alcibiades
had treated Anytus with gross and overweening
insolence. "Not so," said Anytus, "but with
moderation and kindness ; he might have taken all
there were : he has left us half."
V. He treated the rest of his lovers also
after this fashion. There was one man, however,
a resident alien, as they say, and not possessed of
much, who sold all that he had, and brought the
hundred staters which he got for it to Alcibiades,
begging him to accept them. Alcibiades burst out
laughing with delight at this, and invited the man
to dinner. After feasting him and showing him
every kindness, he gave him back his gold, and
charged him on the morrow to compete with the
farmers of the public revenues and outbid them all.
Phacdrus, p. 255. 2 Cf. Plato, Symposium, p. 219 e.
H
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
2 pevov. TrapatrovfMevov Be rov dvOpcoirov oia ro
rroXXwv raXdvrcov elvai rrjv wvrjv, rjTreiXrjae
paariycoo-eiv el /jlij ravra Trpdrror /cat jap
eruyyavev eyKaXcov ri rot? reXoovais IBcov. ecoOev
ovv irpoeXdcov x 6 pAroiKOS €69 dyopdv eireQi)Ke rfj
wvfi rdXavrov. eVel 8' ol reXoyvai avarpe<p6p£voi,
Kal dyavafCTovvres eKeXevov ovopud^eiv iyyvrjrrjV,
o>9 ovk du evpovros, Oopvflovpuevov rov dvdpcoTrov
kclI dvaywpovvTO*;, herons 6 'AXKi/3idBr)<; aircoOev
7T/JO? rovs dp^ovras, "'E/te ypdijraT" ecferj, " epos
3 <f>lXos eaTiVy eyyvoypai" ravr aKovaavres ol
reXwvai e\;r)TTopr}Qr)oav. elcoOores yap del rats
Bevrepats oovals ^pecoXvrelv ras nrpcoras, oi>x
eobpcov aTraXXayrjv avrols ovcrav rov it pay par os*
eBeovro Br) rov dvOpcoirov dpyvpiov BiBovres' 6
B* 'AXKi/3idBr>s ovk eia Xaffelv eXarrov raXdvrov.
BiBovrwv he ro rdXavrov eiceXevo~ev diroarrjvai
XaSovra. Kanelvov p,ev ovrcos dxfreXricrev.
VI. 'O Be. HcoKpdrovs epcos rroXXovs eywv kcli
pueydXovs dvrayoyviards iry puev e/cpdrei rov
'AXfciftidBov, oV evcj)vtav dirropevcov rcov Xoycov
avrov teal rrjv KapBlav o~rpe<j)6vro)v Kal BaKpva
eK^eovrcov, eart S' ore Kal rols koXo^l iroXXas
r)Bovds v7To/3dXXovacv evBiBovs eavrov, aTrcoXi-
adaive rov £a>/e parous Kal Bpairerevwv are^co?
eKuvrjyetro, Trpbs p,6vov eKelvov e^wv ro alBelaOat,
Kal ro <j>oj3eia0ai, rcov B" dXXcov virepopcov.
2 'O pev ovv KXedvdrjs eXeye rov epcapuevov u<f) y
1 *po*\Qu,i> Coraes and Bekker, after Reiske : irpooeXduv.
14
194
ALCIBIADES, v. 2 -vi. 2
The man protested, because the purchase demanded
a capital of many talents ; but Alcibiades threatened
to have him scourged if he did not do it, because he
cherished some private grudge against the ordinary
contractors. In the morning, accordingly, the alien
went into the market place and increased the usual
bid for the public lands by a talent. The contractors
clustered angrily about him and bade him name his
surety, supposing that he could find none. The man
was confounded and began to draw back, when
Alcibiades, standing afar off, cried to the magistrates :
" Put my name down ; he is a friend of mine ; I will
be his surety." When the contractors heard this,
they were at their wit's end, for they were in the
habit of paying what they owed on a first purchase
with the profits of a second, and saw no way out of
their difficulty. Accordingly, they besought the
man to withdraw his bid, and offered him money so
to do ; but Alcibiades would not suffer him to take
less than a talent. On their offering the man the
talent, he bade him take it and withdraw. To this
lover he was of service in such a way.
VI. But the love of Socrates, though it had many
powerful rivals, somehow mastered Alcibiades. For
he was of good natural parts, and the words of his
teacher took hold of him and wrung his heart and
brought tears to his eyes. But sometimes he would
surrender himself to the flatterers who tempted him
with many pleasures, and slip away from Socrates,
and suffer himself to be actually hunted down by
him like a runaway slave. And yet he feared and
reverenced Socrates alone, and despised the rest of
his lovers.
It was Cleanthes who said that any one beloved of
15
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
eavrov fiev e/c twv &twv /cpareiadcu, to?? S'
avTepacrrais iroXXds \aj3as nrapeyeiv dOi/CTOv?
eavrCo, Tr)v yaarepa Xeywv /cal ra alBola /cal tov
Xaifiov 'AX/ciftidBrjs 8' rjv p.ev dfieXei teal irpbs
rjBovds aywyt/AO*;' r\ yap virb Sov/cvBlBov Xeyo-
jievri irapavopbia eU to awjia rf}<; BtatTT]^ viroyp-uzv
3 roiaurrjv SlSoxtcv. ov firjv dXXa fidXXov avrov
tt}? (j)i\oTifjLLa<; eirCka^avopuevoi /cal tt}? (piXo-
8ofia9 ol BiacpOeupovTes eveftaXXov ov /caO* wpav
et? fieyaXoir pay puo a vvrjv, dvairelOovTes e«9, orav
7rpcoTov ap^rjrai ra Brjpioo-ia Trpdrreiv, ov fiovov
d/xavpeoo-ovra to?;? aXXovs aTparrjyov^ /cal BrjpLa-
yayyovs evOvs, dXXa /cal rrjv Hepi/cXeovs Bvvapuv
ev to?9 f 'EiXXr)o~i /cat 86%av virepftaXovfievov.
4 wenrep ovv 6 o-uBrjpos ev tw irvpl [xaXaaabpievo^
avOis vtto tov yjrvxpov irvKvovrai /cal o-uvetai
Tot? pLopiois a? avrov, ovtms e/ceivov 6 Sw/cpdirjs
Opv-yjreoos BcdirXecov /cal yavvoT^TO^ bad/us av
Xdftoi, rrie^cov r(p Xoya) /cal avareXXcov Taireivbv
eirolet /cal droXfiov, rjXi/ccov evBe^<; eo~Ti /cal
dreXr]*; 77-009 dperrjv jiavOdvovra.
VII. Trjv Be 7raiBi/cr)v rjXi/ciav irapaXXdaacov
lirkcTTJ) ypap,/xaToBi8ao-/cdX(p /cal (3l(3Xiov fjrqo-ev
'O/irjpi/cov. €itt6pto<; Be tov BiBacrKaXov firjBev
e)(€Lv 'Ofjitjpov, /covBvXro /ca6i/cb}ievo<$ ai/Tov irap-
rfkOev. eTCpov Be fojaavros eyeiv "Ofx^pov ixfi
avTOV BicopOcofjLei'OV, " EZt'," ecpr), " ypd/j,/j,aTa
BiBda/ceLS, "Ofxripov eiravopdovv i/cavbs cov ; ov%l
toj)? veovs TraiBevei? ; "
2 Uept/cXei Be fiovXo/jievos evTvy/iv iirl Ovpas
16
ALCIBIADES, vi. 2-vii. 2
him must be "downed," as wrestlers say, by the
ears alone, though offering to rival lovers many
other " holds " which he himself would scorn to
take, — meaning the various lusts of the body. And
Alcibiades was certainly prone to be led away into
pleasure. That " lawless self-indulgence " of his, of
which Thucydides speaks, 1 leads one to suspect this.
However, it was rather his love of distinction and
love of fame to which his corrupters appealed, and
thereby plunged him all too soon into ways of pre-
sumptuous scheming, persuading him that he had
only to enter public life, and he would straightway
cast into total eclipse the ordinary generals and
public leaders, and not only that, he would even
surpass Pericles in power and reputation among the
Hellenes. Accordingly, just as iron, which has been
softened in the fire, is hardened again by cold water,
and has its particles compacted together, so
Alcibiades, whenever Socrates found him filled with
vanity and wantonness, was reduced to shape by the
Master's discourse, and rendered humble and cautious.
He learned how great were his deficiencies and how
incomplete his excellence.
VII. Once, as he was getting on past boyhood, he
accosted a school-teacher, and asked him for a book
of Homer. The teacher replied that he had nothing
of Homer's, whereupon Alcibiades fetched him a
blow with his fist, and went his way. Another
teacher said he had a Homer which he had corrected
himself. u What ! " said Alcibiades, " are you teach-
ing boys to read when you are competent to edit
Homer ? You should be training young men."
He once wished to see Pericles, and went to his
1 vi. 15, 4.
17
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
ffKflev avrov. 7rv06/j,€vos Be fir) a-^oXd^eiv, dXXa
(TKOirelv tcaO* eavrov oirax; diroBoDO-ei Xoyov 'AOrj-
vaiois, d-mcov 6 'AXtcif3id8r)<;, " Etha? €(f>rj, " /?e\-
rtov ovk r)v (TKOirelv avrov 07tg>? ovk dirohuxrev
Xoyov y \6r)vaioL^;
"Ert he /Aeipdfciov <bv ear parev a aro rrjv eft
TlorLBaiav arparetav, teal 2.<DKpdrr) avaKrjvov
el%€ teal irapaardrr]v ev Tot? dycoaiv. lo-yvpas
8% yevopievrj^ fid)(r]$ VP L(7reva ' ap A**" dpucborepoi,
rov 8* y A\ta/3id8ov Tpavfiari jrepnreaovros 6
^oytepdrr)? rrpoearr) teal ypivve teal p,dXio~ra Bi]
TTpoBtjXcos earoaev avrov p,erd rwv ottXcov. eyivero
fiev ovv ru> Bcteaiordray Xoyto ^(otepdrows to dpi-
arelov eirel S' ol arparrjyol Bid to d^iwpua rro
1 AXKiBidBr) cnrovBd^ovTes ecfyalvovro irepidelvai
rr)v Bo^av, 6 ^(otcpdrrj<; f3ovX6/j,evo<; au^eaOai to 195
(f>i\oTifiov ev rots teaXoL? avrov irpcoro<; ifiaprvpei
teal irapeKaXet o~re(f)avovv eteeivov teal BiBovai rrjv
travoirXiav.
V E™ Be T?}? errl A^Xtw pax^S yevopLev-q? teal
<f>evy6vT<ov 'AOrjvaitov, e^M 'lirirov 6 t AXKij3idBi]^ t
rov Be XcotepaTovs ire^y fier oXuycov diroxcopovv-
to?, ov 7rap/)Xao~€v IBcov, dXXa rrapeirep^y\re teal
irepii)pLVvev t eTntcei/J,€VQ)v ra)v TroXepLiayp teal iroX-
Xovs dvaipovvrcov. teal ravra p.ev varepov
VIII. 'lirTrovitcfp Be tw KaXXuov irarpi, teal
86%av eypvri /leydXrjv teal BvvapLiv d-nb irXovrov
Kal yevovs, eierpiyjre tcovBvXov, ov\ far' 6py~,<; /;
8ia<popa<> rivos irpoaxOei^, dXX' eirl yeXwri,
18
ALCIBIADRS, vn. 2-vin. i
house. But he was told that Pericles could not see
him ; he was studying how to render his accounts to
the Athenians. "Were it not better for him," said
Alcibiades, as he went away, " to study how not to
render his accounts to the Athenians? "
While still a stripling, he served as a soldier in the
campaign of Potidaea, 1 and had Socrates for his tent-
in ate and comrade in action. A fierce battle took
place, wherein both of them distinguished them-
selves ; but when Alcibiades fell wounded, it was
vSocrates who stood over him and defended him, and
with the most conspicuous bravery saved him, armour
and all. The prize of valour fell to Socrates, of
course, on the justest calculation ; but the generals,
owing to the nigh position of Alcibiades, were
manifestly anxious to give him the glory of it.
Socrates, therefore, wishing to increase his pupil's
honourable ambitions, led all the rest in bearing
witness to his bravery, and in begging that the
crown and the suit of armour be given to him.
On another occasion, in the rout of the Athenians
which followed the battle of Delium, 2 Alcibiades, on
horseback, saw Socrates retreating on foot with a
small company, and would not pass him by, but rode
by his side and defended him, though the enemy
were pressing them hard and slaying many. This,
however, was a later incident.
VIII. He once gave Hipponicus a blow with his fist
— Hipponicus, the father of Callias, a man of great
reputation and influence owing to his wealth and
family — not that he had any quarrel with him, or
was a prey to anger, but simply for the joke of the
1 132-431 B.C. Cf. chapter iv. 4.
2 424 b.c. Cf. Pluto, Sympotium, p. 221 a.
19
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
crvvQep.evo<; irpbs tovs kraipov^. TrepiftotJTov Be
tt)? daeXyelas ev rfj iroXec yevopev>)<; koX avv-
ayavafcrovvTcov, tbairep el/cos, cnravTwv, ap, rjpepa
irapr\v 6 'AXKifiidBrjs iirl rrjv oliciav tov 'Itttto-
vlkov, teal tt)V dvpav Ko^fras elarjXOe 777)0? avrov
Kal 0els to IpuCiTiov nrapeBLBov to acbpa, p,aaTL-
2 yovv Kal KoXd^etv /ceXevcov. 6 Be avveyvco Kal
tt]v bpyrjv acj)?)K€V, varepov Be rrjs OvyaTpbs
t l7r7raperr]<; eiroirjcraTO vvpupCov.
"JLviot, Be <f)ao~tv, ov% 'Ittttovlkov, dXXa KaXXtav,
tov vlbv avrov, Bovvau tu> 'AXKiftidBr) ttjv 'lima-
peTTjv iirl BeKa TaXdvTois* elra pevTOi TCKovarjs
aXXa ttoXlv BeKa irpoo-eLairpa^ai rov 'AXKifitdBrjv,
a>? tovto avvOepuevov el yevoivro iralBes. 6 Be
KaXXias e7ri(3ovXr)v BeBoiKtos irpoarjXQe tw Br)p<o
to, xprjpara BiBovs Kal tov oIkov, avirep avra>
o-vpLirecrrj prj KaraXiTrovTi yevedv diroOavelv.
3 RvraKTOS B* ovaa Kal (f>LXavBpo<; rj 'iTnTaperr),
Xvirovpuevrj £' v7r' avrov irepl rov ydpov eraipai%
^evais Kal do-rais gvvovtos, eK ttjs oIkich; diriovaa
7T/)o? rbv dBeXcpbv w^eTO. tov B* 'AXKifiidBov prj
(frpovTi^ovTOS, dXXa Tpu(f)0)VTO<> t eBei to ttjs diro-
Xei^rews ypdpupa irapd tco dpyovTi OeaOai, pbrj oY
4 eTepcov, aXX' avTrjv irapovaav. ft)? ovv Trapfjv
tovto irpd^ovaa KaTa tov vbpiov, eireXOoov o
y A\Ki/3LaBr)<; Kal avvapirdaas avTrjv dirrjXde Bi
dyopds otKaBe Kopifav, prjBevbs ivavria)Or)vai
p,r)$ d(^eXea6at ToXpyjaavros. epeive pevTOi
Trap avTcp pey^pi TeXevrf/s, ireXevrrjae Be peT
ov ttoXvv xpovov els "Ecfrecrov tov 'A\Ki/3tdBov
ir\evaavTO<i.
20
ALCIBIADES, vm. 1-4
thing, on a wager with some companions. The
wanton deed was soon noised about the city, and
everybody was indignant, as was natural. Early the
next morning Alcibiades went to the house of
Hipponicus, knocked at his door, and on being shown
into his presence, laid off the cloak he wore and bade
Hipponicus scourge and chastise him as he would.
But Hipponicus put away his wrath and forgave him,
and afterwards gave him his daughter Hipparete to
wife.
Some say, however, that it was not Hipponicus,
but Callias, his son, who gave Hipparete to Alcibiades,
with a dowry of ten talents ; and that afterwards,
when she became a mother, Alcibiades exacted other
ten talents besides, on the plea that this was the
agreement, should children be born. And Callias
was so afraid of the scheming of Alcibiades to get
his wealth, that he made public proffer to the people
of his property and house in case it should befall him
to die without lineal heirs.
Hipparete was a decorous and affectionate wife,
but being distressed because her husband would
consort with courtezans, native and foreign, she left
his house and went to live with her brother.
Alcibiades did not mind this, but continued his
wanton ways, and so she had to put in her plea for
divorce to the magistrate, and that not by proxy,
but in her own person. On her appearing publicly
to do this, as the law required, Alcibiades came up and
seized her and carried her off home with him through
the market place, no man daring to oppose him or
take her from him. She lived with him, moreover,
until her death, but she died shortly after this, when
Alcibiades was on a voyage to Ephesus.
vol. iv. b 21
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
Avttj fxev ovv ov TravTeXcos eBotjev t) jSLa irapd-
vo/jlos oi/B* aTrdvOpcDiros elvar ical yap 6 vop,o<;
Bokcl Bia tovto irpodyeiv ttjv diroXeiTTOvaav eU
to Brj/jLocriov avrrjv, 6tt<o<$ iyyevrjTai ra> dvBpl
<TVfjL/3r}vaL kcl\ Karao-x^v.
IX. "Ozrro? Be tcvvbs avra> Oav/iaarov to fiiye-
#09 fcal to eZ6\?9, bv eftBo/jurj/covTa fivwv ecovrjfAevos
eTvyyavev , direKo^re ttjv ovpav 7rdy/ca\ov ovcrav.
€7Tlti/jlgI)Vtg)v Be tcov avvrjdwv /ecu XeyovTcov OTl
it dvres 67rl tw kvvI BdicvovTai koX XoiBopovaiv
avToVy eiriyeXdaas, " TiveTCU toivvv" elirev, " b
/3ovXo/jLar ftoyXofiaiyap* KOrjvaiovs tovto XaXetv,
iva fxrj ti ^elpov irepl efiov Xeycoai."
X. Upd)T7]v 8* avTw irdpoBov eh to BTjfjuocriov
yeveaOat Xeyovat, /ictcl XprjfjLaTcov eirtBocrecDS, ov/c
€K irapacrKevrj^, dXXa TrapioVTa OopvftovvTcov
1 'A6rjvai(ov epeaOai T^y alrlav tov 6opv/3ov, ttvOo-
fjuevov Be Xprj/jLaTCDV eirLBoaLV yiveaBai irapeXQelv
Kcd eiriBovvai' tov Be Brjfiov KpoTovvTo? kcu
ftowvTOs v<^ rjBovf)*;, eTriXa0eaOai tov opTvyos bv
eTvyyavev e^wv ev tw i/xaTLW' wTorjOevTos ovv
real BiacpvyovTos eVt /ndXXov €fc/3orjaai tov<;
'AOrjvaiovs, 7roXXoij<; Be avvOrjpav dvao~TdvTa<z,
Xaftelv 8' ai/TOV ' Avtloxov tov /cv/3epvr)TT}v koX
djroBovvar Bib it poatyiXecrTaTov tw ' AXfci/3id8r)
yeveaOcu.
Me7a\a9 3' avTw rcXeicridBas eirl ttjv TroXnelav
22
ALCIBIADES, vm. 5-x. 2
Such violence as this was not thought lawless or
cruel at all. Indeed, the law prescribes that the
wife who would separate from her husband shall go
to court in person, to this very end, it would seem,
that the husband may have a chance to meet and
gain possession of her.
IX. Possessing a dog of wonderful size and beauty,
which had cost him seventy minas, 1 he had its tail
cut off, and a beautiful tail it was, too. His comrades
chid him for this, and declared that everybody was
furious about the dog and abusive of its owner.
But Alcibiades burst out laughing and said : " That's
just what I want ; I want Athens to talk about this,
that it may say nothing worse about me."
X. His first entrance into public life, they say,
was connected with a contribution of money to the
state, and was not of design. He was passing by
when the Athenians were applauding in their
assembly, and asked the reason for the applause.
On being told that a contribution of money to the
state was going on, he went forward to the bema and
made a contribution himself. The crowd clapped
their hands and shouted for joy — so much so that
Alcibiades forgot all about the quail which he was
carrying in his cloak, and the bird flew away in a
fright. Thereupon the Athenians shouted all the
more, and many of them sprang to help him hunt
the bird. The one who caught it and gave it back
to him was Antiochus, the sea captain, who be-
came in consequence a great favourite with Al-
cibiades. 2
Though great doors to public service were opened
1 / e. 7000 drachmas, or francs.
2 Cf. chapter xxxv. 4-6.
23
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
avoiyovTO? tov re yevovs real tov ttXovtov rrjs T€
irepX Ta? yiia^a? dvBpayaOias, <f)LXa)v re ttoXXcov
teal oliceicov virapypvTwv, air ovBevhs rj^iov p,aX-
Xov rj ttj? tov Xoyov ydpiTo^ iayyeiv iv rots 196
7T0X,X0t?. KaX OTl fJL€V BwaTOS T)V elirelv, 0% T€
KWfJLLKol papTvpovai /ecu T(OV prjTOpCOV 6 Bvvard)-
raro<; iv rw Kara MetBuov, Xeycov tov 'AXKiftidBrjv
KaX Setvorarov elirelv yeveadai irpbs rots aWois.
3 el Be &eo(f>pd(TT(p iriGTevopev, avBpX (piXrjKoro
KaX iaropiKW irap ovtlvdvv tojv fytXoaofywv,
evpelv pev r)V Ta Beovra koX vorjaai irdvTwv
iKavcoTaTOS 6 'A\Ki/3td8r)<;, ^tjtcov Be purj \ibvov a
Bel Xeyeiv, dXXa koX 005 Bel Tot? ovopaai koX tols
prj/jLaaiv, ovk eviropwv Be, iroXXaKis icrcj)dXXeTo
Kal /xerafjv Xeycov direaidura Kal BieXeiire, Xe'fea)?
Biacpvyovcrrjs avTov, dvaXap,/3dvcov Kal BiacrKO-
TTOU/ie^O?.
XI. At S' lttttot postal 7repi/36r)Toi pev iyevovro
KaX tw TrXrjOei tcov dppbdrcov ctttcl yap aXXos
ovBeU KaOrJKev *OXvp,TTLao~LV IBioott)*; ovBe /3a-
cnXeus, povos Be iKelvos. KaX to viKi)Gai Be KaX
Bevrepov yeveaOat KaX reraprov, &)? SovkvBiBtjs
cprjcriv, 6 8' Eu pt7TiBr]<; rp'nov, virepftdXXei Xap-
TTpOTTJTL KaX B6tj p TTCLGaV TT)V iv TOVTOL? <j)l-
2 XoTipiav. Xeyei 5' o RvpiTriBi)? iv tco dapbari
ravra'
24
ALCIBIADES, x. 2-xi. 2
to him by his birth, his wealth, and his personal
bravery in battle ; and though he had many friends
and followers, he thought that nothing should give
him more influence with the people than the charm
of his discourse. And that he was a powerful
speaker, not only do the comic poets testify, but
also the most powerful of orators himself, 1 who says,
in his speech " Against Meidias," that Alcibiades
was a most able speaker in addition to his other
gifts. And if we are to trust Theophrastus, the
most versatile and learned of the philosophers,
Alcibiades was of all men the most capable of
discovering and understanding what was required in
a given case. But since he strove to find not only
the proper thing to say, but also the proper words
and phrases in which to say it ; and since in this last
regard he was not a man of large resources he
would often stumble in the midst of his speech,
come to a stop, and pause a while, a particular
phrase eluding him. Then he would resume, and
proceed with all the caution in the world.
XI. His breeds of horses were famous the world
over, and so was the number of his racing-chariots.
No one else ever entered seven of these at the
Olympic games — neither commoner nor king — but
he alone. And his coming off first, second, and
fourth victor (as Thucydides says 2 ; third, accord-
ing to Euripides), transcends in the splendour of
its renown all that ambition can aspire to in this
field. The ode of Euripides 3 to which I refer runs
thus : —
1 Demosthenes, Against Meidias, § 145.
2 In a speech of Alcibiades, vi. 16. 2.
3 An Kpinikion, or hymn of victory, like the extant odes
of Pindar.
25
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
2e 8' aeicro/iai, <w KXewiov it at.
tcaXbv a plkw koSXicttov B\ b firjBel? aXXos
'EXXdvwv,
appari irpeora BpapLelv Kal Bevrepa /ecu Tp'na,
firjvaL t aTTOvrjTL, Ato? arecfyOeura t eXaia.
icdpvKL fioav i irapaBovvav
XII. Tovto fMevroL to Xapuirpov €7TL(paviaT€pov
eiroirjo-ev 77 twv iroXewv <j>iXoTtfita. gkt)vt)v fiev
yap avrrp KeKOcrp.rip,evr)v BiairpeTrcos earrjaav
^Ecfiecnoi, rpo<f>a$ Be ittttoi? kcl\ 17X7)60$ lepeicov
irapel^ev rj Xicov 7roXt?, olvov Be Aecrftioi Kal rrjv
aXXrjv VTToSo-^rjp defieiBcos ecrTicovTi iroXXovs. ov
p,r)v aXXa Kal BiafioXrj Tl$ rj KaKor/Oeia yevofievti
irepl rrjv <f)iXorip,Lav iiceivrjv irXeiova Xoyov
irapeo")(€.
Aeyerai yap <h$ fy 'AOrfvrjai Aio/jLrjBrjs, dvrip
ov irovrjpos, 'AX/eifiiaSov epiXos, eiri0vp.o)V Be
viktiv 'OXv/jLTTi/crjv avrrp yeveaOar teal irvvOavb-
puevos dppua Br)p,6cnov * Apyelois elvai, rbv 'AX/ei-
ftidBriv elBrbs ev "Apyei p,eya Bvvdfxevov /eat (ptlXovs
eyovra iroXXovs, eireiaev avrrp irpiaadai to appua.
irpidpuevos Be ' 'AXta/SidS*]? IBiov direypdyjraro,
rbv Be AiopLijBrj ^aipeiv ecaae %a\e7rco? rpepovra
kcu p,aprvpopL€Vov Oeovs Kal dvOproirovs. r^atve-
rai Be Kal BLkti avaraaa irepl rovrov, Kal Xoyos'
'lo-OKpdrei yeypairrai irepl rod feuyou? virep rod
1 tiths <TT(<p84i>Ta r 4\aia kolovki Boav with Hermann and
Bergk (Poet. Lyr. Gr. ii. 4 p. 266) : 51s are<(>64i/T i iAala tcdpvia
Boav (Bekker, Boav).
26
ALCIBIADES, xi. 2-xn. 3
" Thee will I sing, O child of Cleinias ;
A fair thing is victory, but fairest is what no other
Hellene has achieved,
To run first, and second, and third in the contest
of racing-chariots,
And to come off unwearied, and, wreathed with
the olive of Zeus,
To furnish theme for herald's proclamation."
XII. Moreover, this splendour of his at Olympia
was made even more conspicuous by the emulous
rivalry of the cities in his behalf. The Ephesians
equipped him with a tent of magnificent adornment ;
the Chians furnished him with provender for his
horses and with innumerable animals for sacrifice ;
the Lesbians with wine and other provisions for his
unstinted entertainment of the multitude. However,
a grave calumny — or malpractice on his part —
connected witli this rivalry was even more in the
mouths of men.
It is said, namely, that there was at Athens one
Diomedes, a reputable man, a friend of Alcibiades,
and eagerly desirous of winning a victory at Olympia.
He learned that there was a racing-chariot at Argos
which was the property of that city, and knowing
that Alcibiades had many friends and was very
influential there, got him to buy the chariot.
Alcibiades bought it for his friend, and then entered
it in the racing lists as his own, bidding Diomedes
go hang. Diomedes was full of indignation, and
called on gods and men to witness his wrongs. It
appears also that a law-suit arose over this matter,
and a speech was written by Isocrates 1 for the son of
1 Oration xvi. , De bigis.
27
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
y A\Ki/3td8ov rraiBos, iv «5 TiaLas iaruv, ov
Aio/J,r')&r)<;, 6 hucaadfievo?.
XIII. 'E7T6t 8' atyrjtcev aurbv els rrjv TroXneiav
€TL fieipUKLOV WV, T0U9 p€V ClWoVS 6V0VS €TCL-
Treivaxre 8r)fia<ycdyov$, dycova S' e!%e 7^009 re
<$>aiafca tov ^Kpaaiarpdrov Kal Nlklclv tov Niktj-
pdrou, tov pev rjBr] kclO* ifkiKiav Trporj/covra Kal
arparTjybv apicrrov elvai SoKOuvra, Qala/ca o°
dp%6fjL6vov, axrirep avros, av^dveaOai tot€ Kal
yvcopipucov ovra irarepcov, i\aTTOvp,evov Be Tofc re
2 aWoLS teal irepl tov Xoyov. ivTev/CTifcbs yap IBia
Kal TTiQavbs iBoKet puaXXov rj cpepetv dywvas iv
Srffia) BvvaTos. rjv ydp, a>9 EvttoXls (f)r)o~i,
AaXelv apiGTos, dBvvaTcoTaTO? Xeyeiv.
<f>ep€Tai Be /cal \0709 rt9 KaT 'AXtciftidSou virb 1
<JWa/eo9 yey papLpevos, iv oj jxeTa tcov aXXcov
ykypaiTTai Kal oti t% iroXecos 7roXXd iropurela
y^pvaa Kal dpyvpa K€KTr)p,evr}<; *AXKif3id8r)<; exprJTO
ttclglv avTols coairep IBlois 7Tpb$ T7)V KaB* r)p,epav
hiaiTav.
3 *Hv Be T£9 'TTrepftoXo*; Tlepi6oL8r)<$, ov pbepbvrjTaL
fiev a>? dvOpdiTrov 7rov7]pov Kal ®ovkv8l8t)<;, tols
Be KGifUKOLS 6/JL0V TL TTaGl 8iaTpi$7)V del GKWTTTO-
pevos iv T0Z9 OeaTpois Trapelyev. aTpeirTos Be
7T/309 to KaK&s aKovecv Kal diraOr)? tov oXiywpia
1 v*b with Coraes : Kal.
28
ALCIBIADES, xn. 3-xm. 3
Alcibiades "Concerning the Team of Horses." In
this speech, however, it is Tisias, not Diomedes, who
is the plaintiff.
XIII. On entering public life, though still a mere
stripling, he immediately humbled all the other
popular leaders except Phaeax, the son of Erasi-
stratus, and Nicias, the son of Niceratus. These
men made him fight hard for what he won. Nicias
was already of mature years, and had the reputation
of being a most excellent general ; but Phaeax, like
himself, was just beginning his career, and, though
of illustrious parentage, was inferior to him in other
ways, and particularly as a public speaker. He
seemed affable and winning in private conversation
rather than capable of conducting public debates.
In fact, he was, as Eupolis says, 1
" A prince of talkers, but in speaking most in-
capable."
And there is extant a certain speech written by
Phaeax 2 " Against Alcibiades," wherein, among
other things, it is written that the city's numerous
ceremonial utensils of gold and silver were all used
by Alcibiades at his regular table as though they
were his own.
Now there was a certain Hyperbolus, of the deme
Perithoedae, whom Thucydides mentions 3 as a base
fellow, and who afforded all the comic poets, without
any exception, constant material for jokes in their
plays. But he was unmoved by abuse, and insensible
1 In his Demes (Kock, Com. Att. Frag. i. p. 281).
2 This has come down to us among the orations of
Andocides (Or. iv.). It is clearly a fictitious speech, put by
its unknown author into the mouth of Phaeax (of. §§ 2 and 41).
» viii. 73, 3.
29
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
86^7j<i, fjp ava.KJ'xyvTiav kcu airovoiav ovcrav 197
evToX/xtap evioi kcu dpBpeiav KaXovaip, ovBepl fiev
tfpeatcev, i^prjro 8* avra> ttoXXukis 6 S^/zo? eiri-
Ovfioyv irpoTryfKaKi^eiv tov? ev dtjico/xaTi kcu crvtco-
4 <j)avT€iv. ava7rei(T0el<; ovv vtt avrov Tore to
oarpaKOV eiricpepeip e/ieXXep, &> koXovopt€<; del top
irpovypvTa Bo^rj kcu Bvpd/xei twp ttoXltcop eXav-
vovaiy irapa/JivOovfJievoi top <f)06pop fidXXop rj top
</>o/3oi>. eVet Be BrjXop rjp oti ep\ twp Tpi&p to
Qo-Tpaicov eirolaovai, avpyyaye Ta<? OTaaeis eh
TavTOP 6 *A\fci/3id8r)$ t /ecu SiaXe^del^ 7T/oo? top
Nl/cLclp kclto, tov 'TirepftoXov ttjp ogt paKofyopiav
erpe^ev.
'fl? £' eviol <f)ao-LP, ov 7rpb<; Ni/clap, dXXa Trpb?
fyaiaica BiaXeyOels zeal ttjp ckclpov irpocrXciftayv
€TCUpLap e^rjXao-e top 'TirepftoXop ovtT dp irpoa-
5 SoKrjaaPTa. (f>avXo<; yap ovBeh epeiriiTTep et?
tovtop top KoXaafjLOP ovB* d8ot;os, w? 7TOV KCU
UXaToyp 6 kco/jliko^ etprjree tov 'TirepftoXov fip-qa-
6eL<s,
KatVot ireTTpa^e tcop irpoTepcop l p,ep dgia,
avTod Be kcu tcop aTtyfjuaTcop dpdgia.
ov yap toiovtcop e'lveie oaTpa^ evpeOrj.
irepl fiep ovp tovtcdp ep eTepois fidXXop etprjTai tcl
lo-Topovp,epa.
XIV. Top 8' AX/ci8id8i]P 6 Nj/aa? ov% yjttop
rjpla davfia^opiepo^ viro t<op TroXepiwp r) rt/xco-
1 -Kporiposv with Kock {Com. Att. Frag. i. p. 654) : rp6irwv
(worthy of his ways).
3°
ALCIBIADES, xin. 3-xiv. 1
to it, owing to his contempt of public opinion.
This feeling some call courage and valour, but it is
really mere shamelessness and folly. No one liked
him, but the people often made use of him when
they were eager to besmirch and calumniate men of
rank and station. Accordingly, at the time of which
I speak, persuaded by this man, they were about to
exercise the vote of ostracism, by which they cripple
and banish whatever man from time to time may have
too much reputation and influence in the city to
please them, assuaging thus their envy rather than
their fear. When it was clear that the ostracism would
fall on one of three men — Phaeax, Alcibiades, or
Nicias — Alcibiades had a conference with Nicias,
united their two parties into one and turned the
vote of ostracism upon Hyperbolus.
Some say, however, that it was not Nicias, but
Phaeax, with whom Alcibiades had the conference
which resulted in winning over that leader's party
and banishing Hyperbolus, who could have had no
inkling of his fate. For no worthless or disreputable
fellow had ever before fallen under this condemna-
tion of ostracism. As Plato, the comic poet, has
somewhere said, in speaking of Hyperbolus,
"And yet he suffered worthy fate for men of old ;
A fate unworthy though of him and of his brands.
For such as he the ostrakon was ne'er devised."
However, the facts which have been ascertained
about this case have been stated more at length
elsewhere. 1
XIV. Alcibiades was sore distressed to see Nicias
no less admired by his enemies than honoured by
1 Cf. Nicias, xi.
3'
PLUTAKCH'S LIVES
fl€VO<; V7T0 TWV TTOXlTWP. IT p6t;€P0S fJL6V JOLp Y)P
*A\/cij3id&r)<; tcop AafcehaifLOvicov, teal rovs dXop-
ras avrcov irepl TlvXop dp&pas eOepdirevaep'
2 etrel B* eteeipol re Bid Niteiov fidXiara t% elpr)pr)s
TV)(ovre<; teal tou? avBpas diroXaftoPTes virep-
7)yd7rcov avrop, ev re tois "EXXrjai X0709 r)P go?
TLepitcXeovs fiep avvd\jravro<i avrols, Nttdov Be
Xvcrapros top TroXe/xop, 01 re irXelcrroi rrjv elprj
vr)v NikUiov (t)v6jjLa£ov, ov p,€Tpia)s dviMfievos
6 'AX/ei/3idBr)<; teal <j)0ovcov iftovXeve avy^vaiv
3 opteiwp. teal irpwTOv jxkv 'A/ryetof? alaOapofiepos
jALcrei teal <f>6j3(p tcop HirapTiarSbv ^rjrovvTa<;
drroarpcxfrrjv, e\7r/Sa? avrois epeBlBov tepvepa
•H79 'AOrjvaucov (rvfifiaxlas, teal irapeddppvve
jre/jLTrcov teal BiaXeyofiepos Tot? irpoeaTcoai tov
hiijMOv p,r) BeBiepai firjc? vTreiteeiv AateeBaiiiop'iois ,
dXXa 7r/?o? 'Adrjpaiovs rpeirfaOai teal Trepifiiveiv
oaov ovBiirco fj.€Ta/j,€XouL€vov<; zeal ttjv elprjvqv
d<fiievTa<s.
4 *E7rel Be AateeBaipiovioi 77730? re toi>9 BotajTOu?
iiroir}<TavTO o-Vfifxa^iav teal Udpa/CTOP ov% ecrTOS,
toenrep eBei, tol<; 'AOrjvaloi*; irapeBcofcav, dXXa
KaraXvo-apres, 6pyiL,op,ipou<; Xaftoop toi><? 'AOrj-
pa ou? en fidXXop e^erpd^vpe, teal top Nik lav
5 eOopvftet teal BieftaXXep el/cora teaTtffoptop, on
toi>? ev ^(f>aKTr)pia tcop iroXefiicop dtroXr^cpB 'eWa?
avibs fiep e^eXelp oittc rjOeXrjaep aTpartjycop,
ALCIBIADES, xiv. 1-5
his fellow-citizens. For although Alcibiades was
resident consul for the Lacedaemonians at Athens,
and had ministered to their men who had been
taken prisoners at Pylos, 1 still, they felt that it was
chiefly due to Nicias that they had obtained peace
and the final surrender of those men, and so they
lavished their regard upon him. And Hellenes
everywhere said that it was Pericles who had
plunged them into war, but Nicias who had delivered
them out of it, and most men called the peace the
" Peace of Nicias." 2 Alcibiades was therefore dis-
tressed beyond measure, and in his envy planned a
violation of the solemn treaty. To begin with, he
saw that the Argives hated and feared the Spartans
and sought to be rid of them. So he secretly held
out hopes to them of an alliance with Athens, and
encouraged them, by conferences with the chief
men of their popular party, not to fear nor yield to
the Lacedaemonians, but to look to Athens and
await her action, since she was now all but repentant,
and desirous of abandoning the peace which she had
made with Sparta.
And again, when the Lacedaemonians made a
separate alliance with the Boeotians, and delivered
up Panactum to the Athenians not intact, as they
were bound to do by the treaty, but dismantled, he
took advantage of the Athenians' wrath at this to
embitter them yet more. He raised a tumult in the
assembly against Nicias, and slandered him with
accusations all too plausible. Nicias himself, he said,
when he was general, had refused to capture the
enemy's men who were cut off on the island of
1 In 425 B.C. Cf. Nicias, vii-viii.
2 Ratified in 421 B.C. Qi. Nicias, ix.
33
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
erepwv B' e^eXovrwv d<j>rjKe /ecu direBwKe yapi^o-
fievo? AatceSaifioviois' elr eice'ivovs fiev ovk eireiae.
<f>iXo<; o)V Bohotols fAr] (TWOfivvaOai /JLrjBe K.opiv-
OIols, ' AOrjvaiois * Be KcoXvet 2 rbv /3ov\6fievov
twv 'EXXijvwv cplXov elvav Kal uv^aypv, el fxrj
B6%eie AatceBai/JLOViois.
6 'E/e Be tovtov KaKO)<; (j>epo/jLev(p tg> Nt/aa Trap-
r)aav wairep Kara rvxvv Trpeafiei,*; airb rr}<; Aa/ee-
Baifjiovos, avToOev re Xoyovs eTrieifceU exovres
Kal 7T/0O9 ttclv rb av/i^i^aariKov /cal Bi/caiov
avrofcpdropes rjKeiv <j)dafcovT€<;. diroBe^apievri^
Be T779 ftovXr)<$, rod Be Brjpov rfj varepala fxek-
Xovros e/CfcXrjcridZeiv, Beucra*; 6 'AXKiftidBrjs
Bieirpd^aTO toi>9 Trpecrfteis ev Xoyoi? yeveadai
7 777)09 avrov. 009 Be avvrjXdov eXeye' "Tl ireirov-
Oare, avBpes %7rapridrai ; 7TW9 eXaOev v/mcis on
rd rrj<; ftovXrjs del /xerpia Kal tycXdvOpwira Trpbs
tou9 evrvyxdvovrds eariv, 6 Be Bfj/xos pueya (ppovel
Kal fieyaX'tiv opeyeiai; kclv ^daKrjre Kvpioi
TrdvTcov d^lxOaiy TTpoaraTTWv Kal /3tafo/ie/'09 198
dyvco/novrjaei. (f)ipe Br), rr/v evrjOecav ravrrfv
d^evres, el fiovXeaOe XP^\ (ja<J ^ al /^erploi^ *A0r/-
vaiois Kal firjBev eKJ^iaadrjvai irapd yvco/jbr/v, ovtm
BiaXeyeaOe irepl tcov BiKalcov &>9 ovk 6We9 avro-
1 'AOrjvalois Coraes and Bekker, with C : 'ABrjvaiovs,
a Ko>\vei Coraes, after Reiske : kwKvuv.
34
ALCIBIADES, xiv. 5-7
Sphacteria, and when others had captured them, he
had released and given them back to the Lacedae-
monians, whose favour lie sought ; and then he did
not persuade those same Lacedaemonians, tried friend
of theirs as he was, not to make separate alliance
with the Boeotians or even with the Corinthians,
and yet whenever any Hellenes wished to be friends
and allies of Athens, he tried to prevent it, unless it
were the good pleasure of the Lacedaemonians.
Nicias was reduced to great straits by all this, but
just then, by rare good fortune as it were, an
embassy came from Sparta, with reasonable proposals
to begin on, and with assurances that they came
with full powers to adopt any additional terms that
were conciliatory and just. The council received
them favourably, and the people were to hold an
assembly on the following day for their reception.
But Alcibiades feared a peaceful outcome, and
managed to secure a private conference with the
embassy. When they were convened he said to
them : u What is the matter with you, men of
Sparta ? Why are you blind to the fact that the
council is always moderate and courteous towards
those who have dealings with it, while the people's
assembly is haughty and has great ambitions? If
you say to them that you are come with un-
limited powers, they will lay their commands and
compulsions upon you without any feeling. Come
now, put away such simplicity as this, and if you
wish to get moderate terms from the Athenians, and
to suffer no compulsion at their hands which you
cannot yourselves approve, then discuss with them
what would be a just settlement of your case,
assuring them that you have not full powers to act.
35
PLUTARCH'S LTVES
Kpdrope?. (TU/jLTTpd^o/xeu S' -qfieh AaKehaifiovlois
8 yapit,bp>evoir ravra 8* elircbv opicovs eScoKev
avTols teal /jL€T€(ttt](T€v dirb tov Niklov, iravrd-
TTacn iricTTevovTas avrcp Kal Oavp^d^ovTa^ dpua
tijv BeivoTTjra Kal ervveenv, a>9 ov tov tv^ovtos
dvSpb? ovaav.
Tfj £' \j(TT€pala <TW})X@y A 4 *" ° Stj/jLos, elcrrfkOov
8* ol it peer fieis '. ipcoTcbfievoi 8* virb tov 'A\/«-
ftidSov irdvv <f>i\av0p(t)7rco<; e<p y ol? d^>iyp,kvoi
Tvy^dvovaiv, ov/c ecf>acrav r\Keiv avTo/cpaTopes.
9 evOus ovv 6 'AXKiftidSrjs iveiceiTo pL€Ta Kpavyrj?
Kal opyrjs, wenrep ov/c clSikcov, a\\' (ihtKovjxevo^,
clttio~tov<; Kal ira\ijJ>^6\ov<; diroKaXoyv /ecu purj^ev
vyih firjTe irpd^ai fir)T elirelv ijKOVTas, eTrrj-
yavd/CT€i S' r) ftovXr), Kal 6 Stj/jlos i^aXiiraLve,
rbv Be NiKiav €K7r\r)£i<; el^e KaX KaTrjcpeta twv
dvSpwv tt?? fJL€Ta/3o\f)s, dyvoovvTa ttjv diraT^v
KaX tov 86\ov.
XV. Ovtco Be TOiv AaKsSai/JLovLcov eKireaovTcov,
cTTparriybs diroBei^Oel^ 6 'WtciftidBrj? evOvs
1 Apyeiovs Kal MavTLvecs KaX 'HXetou? avfifid^ovq
eiroirjae tois 'AOrjvalois. Kal tov fxev Tpoirov
oi/8el<; r?7? 7r/3ttf€ft)9 eiryvei, fieya S' rjv to ireirpay-
fievov vir* avTOV y BiaaTrjcrai Kal KpaSavai ITeXo-
irbvvr)GOV okiyov helv diraaav, Kal TocravTas
denrihas iv r)/jLepa p,ia irepl MavTtveiav dvTiTa^ai
AacehaipLOviOLS, KaX TroppcoTdTO) twv 'AOrjvcov
dyoiva KaTaaKevdcrat Kal Kivhvvov avTols, iv c5
p,eya p,ev ov&ev rj vLkt) TTpoakOrjKe KpaTqaaaiv, el
36
ALCIBIADES, xiv. 7-xv. 1
I will cooperate with you, out of my regard for the
Lacedaemonians." After this speech he gave them
his oath, and so seduced them wholly away from the
influence of Nicias. They trusted him implicitly,
admired his cleverness and sagacity, and thought
him no ordinary man.
On the following day the people convened in
assembly, and the embassy was introduced to
them. On being asked by Alcibiades, in the most
courteous tone, with what powers they had come,
they replied that they were not come with full and
independent powers. At once, then, Alcibiades
assailed them with angry shouts, as though he were
the injured party, not they, calling them faithless
and fickle men, who were come on no sound errand
whatever. The council was indignant, the assembly
was enraged, and Nicias was filled with consternation
and shame at the men's change of front. He was
unaware of the deceitful trick which had been
played upon him. 1
XV. After this fiasco on the part of the Lace-
daemonians, Alcibiades was appointed general, and
straightway brought the Argives, Mantineans, and
Eleans into alliance with Athens. 2 The manner of
this achievement of his no one approved, but the
effect of it was great. It divided and agitated
almost all Peloponnesus ; it arrayed against the
Lacedaemonians at Mantinea 8 so many warlike
shields upon a single day ; it set at farthest
remove from Athens the struggle, with all its risks,
in which, when the Lacedaemonians conquered,
their victory brought them no great advantage,
1 This parliamentary trick of Alcibiades is related also in
Nicias, chapter x. 2 420 b.O. 3 418 B.C.
37
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
8* iacpdXrjaav, epyov r)v ttjv AaKeBaipuova irepi-
yeveaOai.
Mera Be ttjv p,d%r)v evOus eireOevro KaraXveiv
ev "Apyei tov Brjpuov ol 'xJlXlol real ri]v ttoXlv
virrjKOOv iroielv AaKeBaipLoviot Be 7rapayev6p,evoi
KareXvaav ttjv BiipoKpariav. avOis Be rcov
ttoXXwv ii;6vey/ca/JL€Vcov ra oirXa Kal Kparrjadv-
twv, eneXOcov 6 'AXfciftidBris rrjv re vlktjv e/3e-
ftaicoae to> Br)p,(p, teal ra naicpa tclxv (rvveiretae
KaOelvat Kal 7rpoapLi,ijavTa<; rfj OaXdaarj ttjv
iroXiv i^dyfrac iravTairaai tt)? ' ' AQijvalwv Bvvd-
peoos. Kal Te/CTOva<; Kal Xidoupyovs i/c rcov
'AOrjvwv eKopaae kcli iraaav iveBeUvvro irpo-
dv/JLLCLV, 01)*% fJTTOV 6CLVT(p KT(0fl€VO<; 7) TTJ TToXct
ydpiv teal iayyv. eireiae Be Kal Uarpeis ofioia)?
reiyeai pax pots avvdyjrai rfj OaXdaarj ttjv ttoXiv.
eiirovTOS Be twos rots Tlarpevaiv on " kcltcl-
TTtovvTai vpa<; 'AOrjvaioL'" ""laws" elirev 6
'AXKifiidBrjs, " Kara piiKpov Kal Kara tovs ttoBcls,
AatceBaipbovioi, Be Kara ttjv K€<f>aXrjv Kal ddpows?
Ov puijv dXXa /ecu rrjs yrj? auveftovXevev dvr-
eyeaOai rot? ' AOrjvaLois, Kal tov ev ' AypavXov
7rpo/3aXX6pL€vov del Tot? €(f)ij/3oi<; opKov epy(p
fteftaiovv. bpvvovai yap opois XP y l aacr ^ al ' T ^>
^Attiktjs TTVpols, KpiOals, dpureXois, eXaiais,
olKeiav iroielaOai BLBaaKopevoi ttjv rjjiepov Kal
Kap7TO(f)6pOV.
XVI. 'Ei> Be toiovtois TToXiTevpaau koX Xoyois
Kal (ppovrjpaTt Kal BeivorrjTL 7roXXrjv av wdXiv
ttjv rpvcfcrjv t?}9 BiaiTrjs Kal irepl 7t6tov<; Kal
38
ALCIBIADES, xv. i-xvi. i
whereas, had they been defeated, the very existence
of Sparta would have been at stake.
After this battle of Mantinea, the oligarchs of
Argos, "The Thousand," set out at once to depose
the popular party and make the city subject to
themselves ; and the Lacedaemonians came and
deposed the democracy. But the populace took up
arms again and got the upper hand. 1 Then
Alcibiades came and made the people's victory
secure. He also persuaded them to run long walls
down to the sea, and so to attach their city completely
to the naval dominion of Athens. He actually
brought carpenters and masons from Athens, and
displayed all manner of zeal, thus winning favour
and power for himself no less than for his city. In
like manner he persuaded the people of Patrae to
attach their city to the sea by long walls. 2 There-
upon some one said to the Patrensians : " Athens
will swallow you up ! " " Perhaps so," said
Alcibiades, " but you will go slowly, and feet first ;
whereas Sparta will swallow you head first, and at
one gulp."
However, he counselled the Athenians to assert
dominion on land also, and to maintain in very deed
the oath regularly propounded to their young
warriors in the sanctuary of Agraulus. They take
oath that they will regard wheat, barley, the vine,
and the olive as the natural boundaries of Attica,
and they are thus trained to consider as their own
all the habitable and fruitful earth.
XVI. But all this statecraft and eloquence and
lofty purpose and cleverness was attended with
great luxuriousness of life, with wanton drunken-
1 417 b.c. 2 419 B.C.
39
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
ZpftiTas v/3pi<T/J.aTa, /ecu 0?)XvT7]ra<; iaO i]T(ov
dXovpywv e\KOjxevwv 6Y dyopds, ica\ 7roXvreXeiav
vrreprifyavov, i/cro/id? re kcltclgt paypbdrwv iv tcll?
Tpirjpeaiv, oVa)? fia\afca)T€pov ey/caOeuSoi, ku-
picus, dXXa pur) cravlcji, rwv arpcopidrayv eiri-
(3aWofievcov, dcrTrlSos re Sia^pvaov iroLr)o-iv ovhev
2 eTTLarjfiov rwv Trarplcov eypvaav, dX\? "Epcora
Kepavvotyopov, direp x opwvres ol puei> evSo^oi fierd
tov /38e\vTT€(T0ai, (cat hva^epaiveiv ecpoftovvro
T7]v oXiywplav avTOv kcu irapavopbiav, co? rvpav-
vikcl koX dXXofcora, tov Be Stjpbov to irdOos to
737)09 avTov ov /carccos efyiyovpuevo*; 6 'ApicrTO-
<f>dvr]<; tclvt eiprj/ee'
UoOec fiev, exOaipet he, ftovXerai h' e%e^,
en he pudXXov T7j vttovoLci iriefyov
MdXiara puev Xeovra pur) *v iroXei rpefaiv
rjv 6° €KTpe<fir) Tt?, Tot? rpoirois virr^peTelv.
3 €7ri86o~€i<; yap real xpprjylai teal tyCXoTipLrjpLCtTCi
7r/?09 rrjv itoXiv virepftoXrjv fir) diroXeiTrovTa koX
ho%a Trpoyovwv ical Xoyov hvvapus kol acopbaro^
evirpeireia /ecu pcopLrj pueT epireipla^ rwv iroXepu-
k6)V teal dXtcrjs iravra raXXa avy^wpelv eiroiei
teal (frepeiv fierpicos rovs 'K6r)vaiov<;, del rd irpao-
Tcna rwv ovopdrwv Tot9 dpLaprrjpao-1 TiOepbevovs,
iraihids /ecu (pLXoTipua^.
1 aTrfp. Either some verb is to be supplied from the context
for the preceding accusatives (so Coraes), or aney is to be
deleted (so Bekker and Sintenis 2 ).
4
ALCIBIADES, xvi. 1-3
ness and lewdness, with effeminacy in dress, — he
would trail long purple robes through the market
place, — and with prodigal expenditures. He would
have the decks of his triremes cut away that he
might sleep more softly, his bedding being slung on
cords rather than spread on the hard planks. He
had a golden shield made for himself, bearing no an-
cestral device, but an Eros armed with a thunderbolt.
The reputable men of the city looked on all these
things with loathing and indignation, and feared his
contemptuous and lawless spirit. They thought such
conduct as his tyrant-like and monstrous. How the
common folk felt towards him has been well set
forth by Aristophanes ' in these words : —
u It yearns for him, and hates him too, but wants him
back ; "
and again, veiling a yet greater severity in his
metaphor : —
" A lion is not to be reared within the state ;
But, once you've reared him up, consult his every
mood."
And indeed, his voluntary contributions of money,
his support of public exhibitions, his unsurpassed
munificence towards the city, the glory of his
ancestry, the power of his eloquence, the comeliness
and vigor of his person, together with his experience
and prowess in war, made the Athenians lenient and
tolerant towards everything else ; they were forever
giving the mildest of names to his transgressions,
calling them the product of youthful spirits and
ambition.
1 Frogs, 1423 ; 1431-1432.
41
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
4 Olov tjv Kal to ^ AydQapypv elp^ai rbv faypd-
(f>ov, elra ypdyfravra rrjv ol/ciav atyeivcu Bwprj-
o~dp,€vov Kal Tavpeav avTiyppriyovvra pairiaai
<f>ikoTLpovp.evov virep t?}? vikt)?' seal to M.r)Xlav
yvpatfca etc rwv al^paXaoroyv e^eXopuevov Kal
5 avvovTa Qpk-^rai iraiBdpiov ef avrrjs. Kal yap
rovro <f)L\dv0pc0irov ixdXovp' ttXtjv on toi>?
MtjXlovs rjfirjBbv aTTOO~$ayr)vai ttjv irXeiaTrjv
CLLTiaV €<TX 6 > T< P tyy<f>LO~/A(lTl aVV6L7T(OV.
'Apio-TOcfrcovTOs Be Nep,eav ypd-tyavros ev Tat?
dyKaXais aurr}<; KaOrjpievov 'AXKiftidBrjv eypvaav,
eOewvro Kal avverrpeypv ^alpovre^. oi Be irpeo--
ftvrepoi Kal tovtoi? eBvo-^epaivov oj? ivpavviKols
Kal irapavopoi^. eBoKei Be Kal ' Appear paros ovk
dirb TpoTrov Xeyeiv a>? r) f E\\a? ovk av tfveyKe
Bvo 'AXKi/3idBa<;.
6 'E7ret Be Tipcov 6 pucrdvO pcoiros evrjpLeprjaavra
rbv 'AXKtftidBrjv Kal irpoirepLiropLevov dirb tt)?
eKKXTjeria*; iirufravGiS ov iraprjXdev ovB' e^eKXivev,
wo~TT€p eld)6ei tol>9 aXXov?, aU' diravrrjaa<; Kal
BetjicocrdpLevos, " E£ 7'," €(pr], " Trotet? av^opevos,
co iral' pueya yap avgrj tca/eov airaat, TouTot?," 01
p,ev iyeXcov, oi B' efiXao-fyrjpLovv, eWou? Be Kal irdvv
to Xe^Oev e7rearp€(f)€V. outgo? aKpiros rjv rj Bolja
ire pi avTOv Bia ttjv t?}? <pvaeu><i dvcopuXiav.
XVII. 'ZiKeXla<; Be Kal UepiKXeovs en fcofTO<?
42
ALCIBIADES, xvi. 4 -xvn. i
For instance, he once imprisoned the painter
Agatharchus in his house until he had adorned it
with paintings for him, and then dismissed His captive
with a handsome present. And when Taureas was
supporting a rival exhibition, he gave him a box
on the ear, so eager was he for the victory. And he
picked out a woman from among the prisoners of
Melos to be his mistress, and reared a son she bore
him. This was an instance of what they called his
kindness of heart, but the execution of all the grown
men of Melos 1 was chiefly due to him, since he
supported the decree therefor.
Aristophon painted Nemea 2 with Alcibiades seated
in her arms ; whereat the people were delighted,
and ran in crowds to see the picture. But the elders
were indignant at this too ; they said it smacked
of tyranny and lawlessness. And it would seem
that Archestratus, in his verdict on the painting, did
not go wide of the mark when he said that Hellas
could not endure more than one Alcibiades.
Timon the misanthrope once saw Alcibiades, after
a successful day, being publicly escorted home
from the assembly. He did not pass him by nor
avoid him, as his custom was with others, but met
him and greeted him, saying : " It's well you're
growing so, my child ; you'll grow big enough to
ruin all this rabble." At this some laughed, and
some railed, and some gave much heed to the saying.
So undecided was public opinion about Alcibiades,
by reason of the unevenness of his nature.
XVII. On Sicily the Athenians had cast longing
1 In the summer of 416. Cf. Thuc. v. 116, 2-4.
2 A personification of the district of Nemea, in the games
of which Alcibiades had been victox'ioua. Cf. Pausanias,
i. 22, 7, with Frazer's notes.
43
PLUTAKCH'S LIVES
irreOv/jLOW 'AOrjvalot, ical TeXevTrjaavTOS tjtttovto,
ical Ta? \eyofjL6vas /3orj0€La<; ical a-vfifxa-^ia^
eirepurov eKaarore to?? dBiicovp,evoL<; virb %vpa-
KOvaLcov €7ri/3d@pa<; t??? p,el£ovo<; arpaTela*; ti-
2 6evT€<;. 6 Be TravTaTraai tov epwra tovtov
dvacf)Xe^a<; avTcov, ical iretaa^ firj /caret pipo*;
fjLTjBe Kara pmepovy dXXa, pueydXq) o~toX(o irXev-
aavras ein^eipelv ical icaTao~Tpe<f>eo~0ai rrjv vr)o~ov,
'AXtafiidhr)? rjv, tov t€ Brjpuov peydXa 7re/<ra?
iXiri^eiv, avros re puei^ovcov opeyopbevos. apxrjv
yap elvai, Trpbs a r/Xirl/ceL, BievoeiTo rrj<; o-TpaTeias,
3 ov reXo?, coenrep oi Xolttol, St/ceXiav. teal N*/aa?
puev a>? 'xaXeirbv epyov bv Ta? Xvpaicovo~a$ eXelv
air6Tp€7T€ tov 8t]/jLOV, ' AXici/3id8r)<; Be Kap^rjBova
teal Ai/3vr]v oveipoiroXwv, etc Be tovtcov irpoa-
yevopuevaov 'JraXlav ical UeXoTrovvrjo-ov 7]Brj irepi-
ftaXXopevos, oXiyov Belv etyoBia tov iroXe/xov
XifceXiav eiroielTo. ical tol»? p,ev veovs avroOev
el^ev rjBrj Tat? eXiriaLv eTrrjppLevovs, tcov Be irpea-
/3vrepG)v rjKpoodVTO iroXXa Oavfidaia irepl t?}?
GTpaTeias irepaivovTwv, ware ttoXXoxjs ev rat?
iraXaio~Tpai<; ical to?? tj/jliicvicXloii; tcaOe^eaOat
tt}? T€ vr}o~ov to a^rjpa ical Oeaiv Aifivrj*; ical
Kap%7]B6vo<; v7roypd<j)ovTa<;.
4 ^(OKpdrrj puevTot rbv (j)iX6ao<f>ov ical Mercova
tov darpoXoyov ovBev eXirio-ai rfj iroXet ^prjarbv
dirb t>}? arpaTeias itcelvi)? Xeyovaiv, 6 p,ev, a>?
eoiice, tov o~vvr}0ovs Baip,ovLov yevop,evov ical
44
ALCIBIADES, xvn. 1-4
eyes even while Pericles was living ; and after his
death they actually tried to lay hands upon it. The
lesser expeditions which they sent thither from time
to time, ostensibly for the aid and comfort of their
allies on the island who were being wronged by the
Syracusans, they regarded merely as stepping stones
to the greater expedition of conquest. But the man
who finally fanned this desire of theirs into flame,
and persuaded them not to attempt the island any
more in part and little by little, but to sail thither
with a great armament and subdue it utterly, was
Alcibiades ; he persuaded the people to have great
hopes, and he himself had greater aspirations still.
Such were his hopes that he regarded Sicily as a
mere beginning, and not, like the rest, as an end of
the expedition. So while Nicias was trying to divert
the people from the capture of Syracuse as an
undertaking too difficult for them, Alcibiades was
dreaming of Carthage and Libya, and, after winning
these, of at once encompassing Italy and Pelopon-
nesus. He almost regarded Sicily as the ways and
means provided for his greater war. The young men
were at once carried away on the wings of such
hopes, and their elders kept recounting in their ears
many wonderful things about the projected ex-
pedition. Many were they who sat in the palaestras
and lounging-places mapping out in the sand the
shape of Sicily and the position of Libya and
Carthage. 1
Socrates the philosopher, however, and Meton the
astrologer, are said to have had no hopes that any
good would come to the city from this expedition ;
Socrates, as it is likely, because he got an inkling of
1 Cf. Nicias, xii. 1-2.
45
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
7Tpo(77}fjLaiVOVTO<;, 6 Be Mercov etre Beiaa<; e/c Xoyia-
/nov to fieXXov etre fiavTi/cr}? tlvl rpbirco XPV~
adfjLevos ea/a]yfraro fiefirjvevai, /cal XajSonv BaBa 200
feat o fie vt]V olo? rjv avrov rrjv ol/ciav vfydirreiv.
5 evioi Be <pa<TL 7rpoa7roiri/j,a fxev fiavla? fir)Bev
ia/cevda6ai rbv Meroova, /carairprjcrai Be rrjv
ol/ciav vv/crcop, eld' ewdev rrpoeXOovra BelaOai /cal
avriffoXelv eVl erv/xepopa rrjXi/eavrrj rbv vlbv
avrw irapeOrjvcu rrj<; arparelaq. i/celvos fiev ovv
ervyev &v rj^Lov, irapaKpovadfievo^ tow? iroXlra*;.
XVIII. 'O Be Nj/aa? d/ccov fiev r/peOr) arparrj-
70?, oi>x rjKLdTa rrjv dpyj)v /cal Bed rbv avvdp-
Xpvra (pevycov ecpauvero yap rols 'AOrjvaLOis rd
rov 7ro\e/jLov fieXriov e^eiv fxr) irpoejxkvoi^i rbv
J A\/a/3idBr)v a/cparov, d\Xa fiixdeio-rjs irpos rrjv
roXfiav avrov rrj<i Ni/aof irpovoia^' /cal yap 6
rpiros o~rparr)yb<; AdfAa%o<; 7]Xi/cia irporj/ccov 6/xcos
iBo/cei fjLTjBev r\rrov elvai rov 'AX/cifiidBov Btd-
2 irvpos /cal tytXo/civBvvos ev to£? dywo~r /3ovXevo-
fjuevcov Be irepl ttXtjOovs /cal rpoirov Trapaa/cevf}?
e , rre')(e'ip'n (Tev a>vdt>s 6 Nt/aa? eviaraaOai /cal /cara-
iravetv rbv TroXe/xov. dvreiirovro^ Be rov 'A\/a-
flidBov /cal /cpari]o~avro<i, eypatye rebv prjropoyv
A.7)/i6o~rparo<; /cal elirev &>? %pr) tou? arparrjyov^
avro/epdropas elvac /cal rfjs TTapaa/cevrj? /cal rov
iroXe/JLOv iravrbs.
'E7riylrr)cl)io~a/jLevov Be rov Btj/jlov /cal yevoLievcov
eroLfuov rrdvrcov 7Tyoo? rbv e/cirXovv, ov xprjard
46
ALCIBIADES, xvn. 4 -xvm. 2
the future from the divine guide who was his familiar.
Meton — whether his fear of the future arose from
mere calculation or from his use of some sort of
divination — feigned madness, and seizing a blazing
torch, was like to have set fire to his own house. Some
say, however, that Meton made no pretence of
madness, but actually did burn his house down in
the night, and then, in the morning, came before the
people begging and praying that, in view of his
great calamity, his son might be released from the
expedition. At any rate, he succeeded in cheating
his fellow citizens, and obtained his desire. 1
XVIII. Nicias was elected general against his will,
and he was anxious to avoid the command most of
all because of his fellow commander. For it had
seemed to the Athenians that the war would go on
better if they did not send out Alcibiades unblended,
but rather tempered his rash daring with the
prudent forethought of Nicias. As for the third
general, Lamachus, though advanced in years, he
was thought, age notwithstanding, to be no less
fiery than Alcibiades, and quite as fond of taking
risks in battle. During the deliberations of the
people on the extent and character of the armament,
Nicias again tried to oppose their wishes and put a
stop to the war. But Alcibiades answered all his
arguments and carried the day, and then Demostratus,
the orator, formally moved that the generals have
full and independent powers in the matter of the
armament and of the whole war. 2
After the people had adopted this motion and all
things were made ready for the departure of the
fleet, there were some unpropitious signs and portents,
1 Cf. Niciaa, xiii. 5-6. 2 Cf. Nicias, xii. 3-4.
47
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
3 irap?jv ovBe ra rr/s eoprrjs. ' ABwv'uov yap €t? Ta<>
rj/iepas eKeivas KaOrjKovrwv elBwXa rroXXa^ov
pe/cpois €/cko/jli£o/jlcvol<; ofioia rrpovKeivro rals
yvvaifJL, teal Ta(/)a9 ipufiovvTO KOTrropuevai, Kai
dprfvovs yBov. r) fxevroi rcov 'EpfjLwv rrepiKOirr),
/Ala vvktI raiv rrXeiarwv aKpcorrjpiaadevrwv ra
7rp6crco7ra, ttoXXovs Kai rayv rrepifypovovvrwv ra
roiavra Bierdpa^ev. eXe^V ^ v ovv ore Kopiv-
dioi Bia rov? ^EvpaKovaiovs cnroi/covs ovras, &>?
€7TL(T^i(T€0)<; iaofievrj? irpbs rwv olcovwv rj fiera-
\ yvaxTecos rod iroXepLOv, ravra Bpdaeiav. ov fjbrjv
rjirrero ye rtav iroXXoiv ouO* ouros 6 Xoyo? ov&* 6
rcov crr]\xelov Beivbv elvai ptrjBev olop,evcov, dXX* oca
(f)iXet (pepeiv a/cparos dKoXacrroyv i erov els v/3pu>
Ik iraiBias v7ro(pepopLevo)V' opyfj 8' a/xa /ecu (pofia)
to yeyovbs XapLj3dvovre<; oj? dirb avvaypboaias errl
TTpdypLcun fieydXois reroXp,r/p,evov, airao~av et;tj-
rat,ov vrrbvoiav iriKpoiS rj re ftovXrj avvLOvaa irepl
rovrcov Kai 6 8r)pio<; ev oXiyais rjpepats iroWaKi^.
XIX. 'Ei> Be Tovrrp SovXovs rivas Ka\ pberoiKovs
irporjyayev ' Av8poKXr)<; 6 hrj/juaycoybs dXXcov re
dyaXfidrcov irepiKOTrds Kai pLvar^pioav Trap oilvov
dnropnarjaeis rov 'AXKiftidBov Kai rcov <f)iXoov
Karrjyopovvra?. eXeyov he ®e68copov puev riva
Bpdv ra rov KrjpvKOs, TiovXvrioova Be ra rov
BqBov^ov, ra Be rov lepoepdvrov rov 'AXKi/SidBy-jv,
tou? 8* aWovs eraipov? rtapelvai Kai puvelaOai
2 fivcrras TTpoaayopevofievovs. ravra yap ev rf)
48
ALCIBIADES, xvm. 3 -xix. 2
especially in connection with the festival, namely,
the Adonia. This fell at that time, and little images
like dead folk carried forth to burial were in many
places exposed to view by the women, who mimicked
bu rial rites, beat their breasts, and sang dirges. 1 More-
over, the mutilation of the Hermae, most of which, in
a single night, had their faces and forms disfigured,
confounded the hearts of many, even among those
who usually set small store by such things. 1 It was
said, it is true, that Corinthians had done the deed,
Syracuse being a colony of theirs, in the hope that
such portents would check or stop the war. The
multitude, however, were not moved by this reasoning,
nor by that of those who thought the affair no
terrible sign at all, but rather one of the common
effects of strong wine, when dissolute youth, in
mere sport, are carried away into wanton acts. They
looked on the occurrence with wrath and fear,
thinking it the sign of a bold and dangerous con-
spiracy. They therefore scrutinized keenly every
suspicious circumstance, the council and the assembly
convening for this purpose many times within a few
days.
XIX. During this time Androcles, the popular
leader, produced sundry aliens and slaves who
accused Alcibiades and his friends of mutilating
other sacred images, and of making a parody of the
mysteries of Eleusis in a drunken revel. They said
that one Theodorus played the part of the Herald,
Pulytion that of the Torch-bearer, and Alcibiades
that of the High Priest, and that the rest of his
companions were there in the role of initiates, and
were dubbed Mystae. Such indeed was the purport
1 Cf. Nicias, xiii. 2, 7.
49
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
elaayyeXla yeypairrai (DecrcraXou rov Ki/movo?
elaayyeiXavTO? 'AXfcifivdBrjv aaefiuv irepl t&>
Oew. Tpa^vvofievov Be rov Brjfiov Kai iriKpo)?
irpbs y AXKi(3idBqv e^ovro^, Kai rov 'AvBpoKXeov?
(tjv yap outo? e^Opo? ev roU pidXiara rov
y AXiaftidhov) irapo^vvovro^, ev dpxfj P-ev era-
3 pa^dr/aav oi irepl rov 'AXKiftidBriv. alaOofievot,
he tou? re vavras, oaoi irXetv epueXXov et?
XiKeXtav, evvovs ovras avrots Kai to arpario)'
tikov, 'Apyeioov Be Kai Mavrivecov yiXiwv ovrcov
oirXcrcov dfcovovres dva(f>avBbv Xeyourcov &>? Bi
'AXtciftidBrjv orrparevocvro Biairovrcov teal {Aatcpdv
arpareiav, edv Be tls dyvoypiovfj irepl tovtov,
evOvs diroo-rrjaeordai, dveOdppovv /cal irapiaravro
tw Kaipu> irpbs rrjv diroXoyiav, ware rov? ey6pov<$
irdXiv ddvfxelv real cf>o/3elo~0ai pur) irepl rrjv KpiGiv
6 Brjpos dp,j3\i>Tepo<> avrw yevrjrat Bid rrjv
yjyeiav.
4 Upbs Tavr ovv Teyy drover i twv prjropcov tovs 201
ov Bofcovvjas e^Opovs rov A\tei/3idBov, pno-ovvra^
Be avrbv ou% rjrrov tcjv bpLoXoyovvrwv, di'iara-
pevovs ev T(p Br)p,<p Xeyeiv &)? droirov earriv
avTOKpdropi o-rparrjyw rrjXiKavrr]^ diroBeBety-
pL€i(o Bvvdfiea)*;, rjOpoiapiivrjs arparta^ /cal rwv
crv p,p,dywv , piera^v tcXrjpovvras BtKaarrfpiov Kai
vBrop BiapLerpovvras diroXXvvai rov tcaipov
"*A\,\a vvv fiev dyadfj Tvyri irXeeTG), rov Be
iroXepuov BtairpaxOevros iirl tols <zi)to£? vop,oi<;
5 diroXoyelaOw irapoov. * ovk eXdvdave per ovv
r\ KaKorjOeia tt)<? dva/3oXi)<^ rov 'AXKt/3idBr}v,
dXX' eXeye irapiwv a)9 Beivbv ecrrcv alrias diro-
5°
ALCIBIADES, xix. 2-5
of the impeachment which Thessalus, the son of
Cimon, brought in to the assembly, impeaching
Alcibiades for impiety towards the Eleusinian god-
desses. The people were exasperated, and felt
bitterly towards Alcibiades, and Androcles, who was
his mortal enemy, egged them on. At first Alcibiades
was confounded. But perceiving that all the seamen
and soldiers who were going to sail for Sicily were
friendly to him, and hearing that the Argive and
Mantinean men-at-arms, a thousand in number, de-
clared plainly that it was all because of Alcibiades that
they were making their long expedition across the
seas, and that if any wrong should be done him they
would at once abandon it, he took courage, and
insisted on an immediate opportunity to defend
himself before the people. His enemies were now
in their turn dejected ; they feared lest the people
should be too lenient in their judgement of him
because they needed him so much.
Accordingly, they devised that certain orators who
were not looked upon as enemies of Alcibiades, but
who really hated him no less than his avowed foes,
should rise in the assembly and say that it was
absurd, when a general had been appointed, with full
powers, over such a vast force, and when his armament
and allies were all assembled, to destroy his beckoning
opportunity by casting lots for jurors and measuring
out time for the case. "Nay," they said, "let him
sail now, and Heaven be with him ! But when
the war is over, then let him come and make his
defence. The laws will be the same then as now."
Of course the malice in this postponement did not
escape Alcibiades. He declared in the assembly
that it was a terrible misfortune to be sent off at the
5*
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
Xiirovra /caO' eavrov /cal Bia/3oXa<; eKTrefJurreaOai
fxerewpov errl roaavrrjs Bvvd/jLew diroOavelv yap
7rpoai]K€iv fXT) Xixravri rds /carrjyopias, Xvaavn
Be /cal (fiavevTi /cadapra rpeireaOat rrpbs tol>?
7T0\€flL0V<Z jurj BeBoL/corc tovs av/cocpdvras.
XX. \E7ret 8' ov/c erreiBev, dXXd irXelv e/cekevov
avrov, avr]X@r] puerd rwv avcrrparTjycov eywv
rpirjpeis fiev ov 7roWa> rcbv reaaapd/covra /cal
e/carbv drroBeovaas, oirXiras Be rrevraKLa^iXlovs
/cal e/carov, ro^oras Be /cal (rfyevBovrjras /cal
yfnXovs irepl rpia/coaiovs /cal ^iXiovs, /cal rrjv
2 aXXrjv m apaa /cevrjv atjioXoyov. 7rpoaf3aXcbv B*
'IraXta teal f Vrjyiov eXcov, elcrrjyyaaro yvoopbrjv orw
TpOTTW 7T0\€fir)T€0V i(TTL. KOI N IKIOV jXeV dvTlXe-
yovros, Aapdypv Be 7rpoa0ep,evov, irXevaas eh
Xi/ceXtav Trpoarjydyero Kardvrjv, aXXo Be ovBev
errpa^e fier dire purr os viro rcov 'A0i]vaL(ov eVt rrjv
Kpiaiv evdvs yevofievos.
Upcorov fiev yap, wairep elpr\rai, ^jrvxpett rives
viro^fiai koX BiaftoXal Kara rov 'AX/ct/3idBov
3 TTpoaeirirr-rov dirb BovXcov /cal perol/ccov erreira
rcov e^dpayv dirovros avrov /caOarrropevwv acpo-
Bporepov, /cal rots 7repl rovs 'Epfias vfipiGfiadi
/cal rd fivari/ca avfnrXe/covrcov, &>? airb pads
errl vewrepiafiw crvvcofioaias rreirpayfieia, rovs
fiev oirwaovv errairLaOevras eveftaXXov d/cpirovs
els to Beapwrrjpiov, rj^0ovro Be rbv ' AX/ci/3idB7}v
firj Xaftovres vrrb rd<z yfrtfefrovs rore /iJ]he /cplvav-
5*
ALCIBIADES, xix. 5 -xx. 3
head of such a vast force with his case still in sus-
pense, leaving behind him vague accusations and
slanders ; he ought to be put to death if he did not
refute them ; but if he did refute them and prove
his innocence, he ought to proceed against the
enemy without any fear of the public informers at
home.
XX. He could not carry his point, however, but
was ordered to set sail. So he put to sea * along with
his fellow generals, having not much fewer than one
hundred and forty triremes ; fifty-one hundred men-
at-arms ; about thirteen hundred archers, slingers,
and light-armed folk ; and the rest of his equipment to
correspond. On reaching Italy and taking Hhegium,
he proposed a plan for the conduct of the war. 2
Nicias opposed it, but Lamachus approved it, and so
he sailed to Sicily. He secured the allegiance of
Catana, but accomplished nothing further, since he
was presently summoned home by the Athenians to
stand his trial.
At first, as I have said, 3 sundry vague suspicions
and calumnies against Alcibiades were advanced by
aliens and slaves. Afterwards, during his absence,
his enemies went to work more vigorously. They
brought the outrage upon the Hermae and upon
the Eleusinian mysteries under one and the same
design ; both, they said, were fruits of a conspiracy
to subvert the government, and so all who were
accused of any complicity whatsoever therein were
cast into prison without trial. The people were pro-
voked with themselves for not bringing Alcibiades to
trial and judgment at the time on such grave charges,
1 About the middle of the summer of 415 B.C.
2 Cf. Nicia8 t xiv. 3. * Chapter xix. 1.
VOL. IV.
53
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
re? eir* atrial? T7}XiKai>Tcu$. 6 Be rf} 7T/309
e/ceivov opyfj Trapcnreacbv oIkcios rj (f)iXo<; rj
crvv>]6r)<; ^a\€7ro)repOL<; avrols eyprjo-aro. T °v$
Be /jLr)vv<ravTa<; 6 fiev %ovKv8i8r)$ ovo\xdaai
Traprjtcev, ciXXoi £' 6vo/id^ov<n AioKXelBav kcu
Tev/cpov, oyv kcu ^pvvt^o^ eaTiv 6 kco/jUkos ravrl
*fl (f>L\rad y 'Epfirj, kcu (f)vXdao-ov, fir) ireaoav
avrbv 7rapafcpov<rj) real Trapdo")(r)<; BiafioXr/v
erepep AiOKXeLBa ftov\o/jLev<p kclkov tc Bpdv.
kclI*
<&v\dtjofiar TevKpco yap ov%l ftouXo/icu
fxrjWTpa Bovvcu, ra> iraXaixvaicp %ev(p.
KaiTOi /3e/3aiov ovBev ouS' lo-^vpov ol /jLrjvvovres
eBeiKwaav. eh S' avrcov epcorco/jLevos 07ro)? rd
irpbaaura twv 'Ep/noKOTriBcov yvaypiaete, kcu
diroKpLvd/jLevo^ oti 7T/)09 rrjv aeXrjvrjv, icrcfrdXr)
rod ttcivtos, evrjs kcu via? ovarj<; ore tclvt eBpdro'
b i Oopvftov fiev irapecye rofc vovv expvtri, rov
Brjfiov 8* ovBe tovto fiaXaKcorepov enrol^ae Trpb<;
rd$ BiajSoXds, a\V &<nrep cbpfjLrjcrev ef dpxrjs, ovk
iiraixTaro cfeepwv koX efiftaXXcDV eh to 8ea/j,(OTr}piop
ov Tt? Kareiiroi.
XXI. Tcoz> ovv BeOevrwv kcu (puXaTTo/nevcov iirl
Kpi(T€t TOTS KCU ' AvSoKiSr]^ rjV 6 pr)T(Op, OV
EXXdviKO? o o~vyypa(f)€v<; eh tou? 'OBvaaecos
diroyovovs dvrjyayev. eBoKei Be /juaoBrjfios Kal
oXiyapxLKo? 6 'AvBokIBtjs, vttotttov Be oi>x
1 t supplied by Coraes and Sink* ; Bekker supplies «al,
after Bryan.
54
ALCIBIADES, xx. 4 -xxi. i
and any kinsman or friend or comrade of his who
fell foul of their wrath against him, found them
exceedingly severe. Thucydides neglected to men-
tion 1 the informers by name, but others give their
names as Diocleides and Teucer. For instance,
Phrynichus the comic poet 2 referred to them thus : —
" Look out too, dearest Hermes, not to get a fall,
And mar your looks, and so equip with calumny
Another Diocleides bent on wreaking harm."
And the Hermes replies : —
" I'm on the watch ; there's Teucer, too ; I would
not give
A prize for tattling to an alien of his guilt."
And yet there was nothing sure or steadfast in the
statements of the informers. One of them, indeed,
was asked how he recognized the faces of the
Hermae-defacers, and replied, " By the light of the
moon." This vitiated his whole story, since there
was no moon at all when the deed was done.
Sensible men were troubled thereat, but even this
did not soften the people's feeling towards the
slanderous stories. As they had set out to do in the
beginning, so they continued, haling and casting
into prison any one who was denounced.
XXI. Among those thus held in bonds and
imprisonment for trial was Andocides the orator,
whom Hellanicus the historian included among the
descendants of Odysseus. He was held to be a foe
to popular government, and an oligarch, but what
most made him suspected of the mutilation of the
1 In vi. 53, 2. a Kock, Com. Att. Frag. i. p. 385.
55
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
rjKiara tt}? tcov 'Ep/iwv irepiKoiTr)<; eiroirjaev 6
fieyas 'E/9/zt)?, 6 irXi^aiov avrov tt)? olicias
2 avdOrfiia rr)<; AlyrjiBos (f>vXr)<; ISpv/xevov iv yap 202
bXiyois irdvv twv iirufravcbv p,6vo<; o~%eBbv
d/cepaios epieive' Bib zeal vvv ^ AvBokiBov KaXeirat,,
koX nrdvre^ Ouray? ovo/ia^ovcri t^? €7riypacj)F]<;
avTi/JLaprvpov(T7)<;.
Ivvefir] Be ra> * AvBokLBtj pbdXicna tcjv ttjv
avrrjv alrlav i^ovrcov iv tw BeapLcoT7)pi(p yeveaOai
(TWrjOrj koX (f)iXov evBo^ov ptev ov% 6p,oi(o<; ifceivu),
avveaei Be real roXpLr) irepiTrov, ovo/xa Tipucuov.
3 outo? avaireldei rbv 'AvBoklBtjv iavrov /earijyopov
teal rivcov aXXcov yeveaOai pit) ttoXXwv opoXo-
yrjaavTi yap dBeiav elvai Kara tyrjfyicrpia rov
Brjpiov, ra, Be Tr}$ /cpLaecDs aBrjXa irdai, rols Be
Bvvarois (f>o/3epcoTaTa' fteXnov Be crcodijvai yjreuho-
fjievov rj puera rrjs avrfjs alrias diroOavelv aSofo)?,
koX to KOivfj (tkottovvti crv pufyepov birdpyeiv,
oXiyovs Ka\ dp,(j)t/36Xov<; irpoepLevov, 7roXXov$
4 teal ayaOoix; i^eXeaOai rr)<; bpyr)<;. ravra rov
Tipuaiov Xeyovros real BiBda/covros 6 'AvBokiBy)?
eireLcrOr), teal yevo/nevos p,7)WTr)S /cad 1 avrov zeal
tcaO' erepcov ea^e rrjv etc rov yjrrj(j)iap / aTO^ a?etav
auToV 01)9 8* d>v6p,aae irdvres wXrjv tcov cfrvyov-
tmv dircbXovTO. /cai Trlcrreax; eve/ca TrpocreOtj/eev
avTols olfceras IBiovs 6 ' AvBo KiBrjs .
5 Ol» p,t)v 6 ye BfjpLO? ttjv opyrjv diraaav d(pf t /eev
56
ALCIBIADES, xxi. 1-5
Hermae, was the tall Hermes which stood near his
house, a dedication of the Aegeid tribe. This was
almost the only one among the very few statues of
like prominence to remain unharmed. For this
reason it is called to this day the Hermes of Ando-
cides. Everybody gives it that name, in spite of the
adverse testimony of its inscription.
Now it happened that, of all those lying in prison
with him under the same charge, Andocides became
most intimate and friendly with a man named
Timaeus, of less repute than himself, it is true, but
of great sagacity and daring. This man persuaded
Andocides to turn state's evidence against himself
and a few others. If he confessed, — so the man
argued, — he would have immunity from punishment
by decree of the people ; whereas the result of the
trial, while uncertain in all cases, was most to be
dreaded in that of influential men like himself. It
was better to save his life by a false confession of
crime, than to die a shameful death under a false
charge of that crime. One who had an eye to the
general welfare of the community might well
abandon to their fate a few dubious characters, if he
could thereby save a multitude of good men from
the wrath of the people. By such arguments of
Timaeus, Andocides was at last persuaded to bear
witness against himself and others. He himself
received the immunity from punishment which had
been decreed ; but all those whom he named,
excepting such as took to flight, were put to death,
and Andocides added to their number some of his
own household servants, that he might the better be
believed.
Still, the people did not lay aside all their wrath
57
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
ivravOa, aXXa fiaXXov diraXXayels rcov 'Ftp/mo/eo-
ttiBcov wcnrep aypXa^ovTi tw dvfiw 7ryoo9 tov
% AXfci/3idSr]v 0A.09 ippvrj, /ecu re\o<; direcrreiXe ttjv
"SaXa/Mviav eV* avrov, 1 ov fyavXws avro ye tovto
7rpO(TTdi;a<;, fii) fiid&crOai puijcT aTrreadai tov
o-(i)/j,aro<;, aXXa TaJ fxerplw Xoyco \pr\a6ai /ceXev-
ovras d/coXovdelv eVl Kpicriv zeal ireideiv tov
6 Br/fiov. i<j)of3ovvTO yap Tapa%d<; tov aTpaTev-
p,aTO<; iv 7ro\e/JLLa yfj zeal o-Taatv, b pqhicos dv
ei;€ipydo~aTO j3ovXr)@el<z 6 'A\/cif3id$r)<;. /cal yap
rjOv/jLOW diribvTOS avTOv, /eal iroXXrjv Tpifirjv
irpoaeho/cwv /cal /yufj/cos dpybv iv tw Ni/cia tov
irokefJLOv etjeiv, /caOdirep /avcottos dcfrypTj/jLevov twv
it pd^ewv . 6 yap Adp,a%os rjv fiev TroXe/jU/cos /cal
dv&pcoBr)*;, a^lcofia b" ov irpoarjv ovS' oyicos avTw
hid irevlav.
XXII. Ev#i>? fjbev ovv diroirXewv 6 'AX/ciftuiBr)*;
d<j>etXeTO Meo-o-ijvrjv 'AOrjvatov*;. rjaav yap oi
fieXXovTes ivBiBovai ttjv ttoXlv, ol>9 i/celvos elSoos
o~a<peo~TaTa toZs ^vpa/covo~icov (f)t\oi<; ifirjvvcre koX
8ie(f)0eip€ ttjv irpatjiv. iv Be ®ovpioL<; yevo/xevos
koX d7ro/3d<; tt}<; Tpiijpovs e/epvyjrev eavTov /cal
2 Biicpvye tovs ^rjTOvvTa<;. iiriyvovios Be tivo<; /cal
sIttovtos' " Ov irio-Teveis, a> 'AXKiftidBr), tj}
iraTpLBi" "Td jxev a\\V' e<t>V> " irdvTa' irepl Be
t^9 ^f%^9 T?J9 ifirj^ ovBe t{) pLTjTpi, /jltJttcos dyvorj-
o~ao~a t^ fieXaivav ami T779 Xev/crjs iirevey/crj
1 iv' avrbv with M a and Cobet : npbs avr6v.
5»
ALCIBIADES, xxi. 5-xxii. 2
at this point, but rather, now that they were done
with the Hermae-defacers, as if their passion had
all the more opportunity to vent itself, they dashed
like a torrent against Alcibiades, and finally dis-
patched the Salaminian state-galley to fetch him
home. They shrewdly gave its officers explicit
command not to use violence, nor to seize his person,
but with all moderation of speech to bid him accom-
pany them home to stand his trial and satisfy the
people. For they were afraid that their army, in an
enemy's land, would be full of tumult and mutiny
at the summons. And Alcibiades might easily have
effected this had he wished. For the men were
cast down at his departure, and expected that the
war, under the conduct of Nicias, would be drawn
out to a great length by delays and inactivity, now
that their goad to action had been taken away.
Lamachus, it is true, was a good soldier and a brave
man ; but he lacked authority and prestige because
he was poor.
XXII. Alcibiades had no sooner sailed away than
he robbed the Athenians of Messana. 1 There was a
party there who were on the point of surrendering
the city to the Athenians, but Alcibiades knew them,
and gave the clearest information of their design to
the friends of Syracuse in the city, and so brought
the thing to naught. Arrived at Thurii, he left his
trireme and hid himself so as to escape all quest.
When some one recognised him and asked, "Can
you not trust your country, Alcibiades ? " " In all
else," he said, "but in the matter of life I wouldn't
trust even my own mother not to mistake a black
for a white ballot when she cast her vote." And
1 In September, 415 B.C.
59
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
yfrrj^ov" varepov 6° cucovaas on Odvarov avrov
KareyvooKev rj ttoXw " 'AW' eyco" dire, " Bei^co
avTol<; 07i ?<w."
3 Tr)z/ [lev ovv elcrayyeXiav oi/Tft)? eyovaav dva-
ypd(f)ov<Tr " (*)e<rcra\o9 Kl/jlcovos AaKidBr]? 'AX/ci-
fiidSrjv KXeivLov ^KapL^wvLBrjv elcrrjyyecXev dBiKelv
irepl ra> Oeco, rrjv Arjp,r)rpav real rrjv Koprjv,
airo/M/jLOVfievov ra p,vo~rrfpia Kal BeiKvvovra rots
avrov eraipois iv rfj oIkicl rfj eavrov, e^pvra
aroXrjv oiavirep 6 lepocpavrr)? 1 eywv BeiKvvei ra
lepd, teal ovopud^ovra avrov puev iepO(f)dvrr]v f
HovXvrlcova Be BqBov'Xpv, Krjpv/ca Be SeoBcopov
<£>r)y aia, tou? o° aWovs eraipovs pbvo-ras irpoa-
ayopevovra Kal iiroirra^ irapa ra vopapia zeal ra
/caOearrjKora virb re ^jV/jloXttiBcov /cal KrjpvKwv
4 /cal royv lepecov rcov ef 'EXevo-lvo$" ip-qp^v B*
avrov /carayvovres Kal ra xPV/ JLaTa BrjpLevcravres
en, Karapaadai rrpoae^^iaavro irdvras lepeis
Kal iepeiaSt &v /jlovtjv (j)ao~l Seavco rrjv Mevcovos
'AypavXfjOev avreiirelv rrpos ro ^^lafxa, (f>dcr-
Kovaav ev^wv, ov Karapwv lepeiav yeyovevai.
XXIII. Toaovrcov Be Kareyjrrj(f)Lo-p,evcov 'AXki-
ftidBov Kal Kareyvcoapuevcov, irvyyave puev iv
"Apyei BiarpLjScov, &>? to irp&rov e/c Sovplcov 20!
diroBpas €t9 UeXoirovvrjo'ov Bie/copLiadr), (froftov-
p,evos Be tov9 ex@pov<> Kal Travrdiracri ri)<; irarpi-
809 direyvco/c<b<; eTrepuyjrev eh ^.Trdprrjv, dtjicov
dBeiav avrw yevecrOav Kal rricrriv iirl p-el^oGi
Xpeiais Kal &)<£e\euM9 ojv rrporepov avrovs dfivvo-
2 fxevos e/3XayJre. Bovrcov Be royv ^rrapnaroiv Kal
1 6 Upo<pdvT7]s with CM a : UpocpivTrjs,
6o
ALCIBIADES, xxn. 2-xxin. 2
when lie afterwards heard that the city had con-
demned him to death, "I'll show them," he said,
(i that I'm alive."
His impeachment is on record, and runs as follows :
" Thessalus, son of Cimon, of the deme Laciadae, im-
peaches Alcibiades, son of Cleinias, of the deme Scam-
bonidae, for committing crime against the goddesses
of Eleusis, Demeter and Cora, by mimicking the
mysteries and showing them forth to his companions
in his own house, wearing a robe such as the High
Priest wears when he shows forth the sacred secrets
to the initiates, and calling himself High Priest,
Pulytion Torch-bearer, and Theodorus, of the deme
Phegaea, Herald, and hailing the rest of his com-
panions as Mystae and Epoptae, contrary to the
laws and institutions of the Eumolpidae, Heralds, and
Priests of Eleusis." His case went by default, his
property was confiscated, and besides that, it was
also decreed that his name should be publicly cursed
by all priests and priestesses. Theano, the daughter
of Menon, of the deme Agraule, they say, was the
only one who refused to obey this decree. She
declared that she was a praying, not a cursing
priestess.
XXIII. When these great judgments and con-
demnations were passed upon Alcibiades, he was
tarrying in Argos, for as soon as he had made his
escape from Thurii, he passed over into Peloponnesus.
But fearing his foes there, and renouncing his
country altogether, he sent to the Spartans, de-
manding immunity and confidence, and promising to
render them aid and service greater than all the
harm he had previously done them as an enemy.
The Spartans granted this request and received him
61
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
Be^a/ievcov, 7rapayevo/J,evo<; TTpoOv/JLax; ev fiev evOvs
e^eipydcraro, fjueXXovra^ koX dvaj3aXXo fievov^
ftoijOelv *ZvpaKOV(TLOi<; eyelpas /cal irapo^vvas
Trepb^rat FvXnnrov dpyovTa /cal dpavcrai rr\v e/cel
rcov ' A6r]vaia)v Bvvafxiv erepov Be, Kivelv rov
avroOev moXepiov eirl tou? 'AOrjvaiovs' rb Be
rpirov /cal /jLeyio-Tov, eiriTeiyiGai Ae/ceXeiav, ov
fiaXXov ouBev BieipydcraTo /cal /caroi/coifiOoprjae
tt\v ttoXlv.
3 ILvBo/cl/jlwv Be BrjfjLocria ical 0av/j,a£6fjL€VO<; ov%
7]ttov IBla tou? iroXXovs /careBrj/jiaycbyeL /cal /car-
eyotjreve rfj Bialry Xa/ccovi^cov, w<7#' opwvras ev
%pu> Kovpiwvra, /cal TJrvxpoXovTOvvra /cal fid^r)
avvovra /cal £g){ig> fieXavi ypco/ievov dircarelv ical
BiaTropelv, el irore fxdyetpov irrl tt)? ol/cia<; outo?
dvrjp ecryev rj Trpoo-eftXetye /juvpeyfrbv r) MiXr/atas
4 r)vi(TX €T0 Q l l& v xXctvLBos. rjv ydp, w? <j>aai, fila
Beivorrjs avrr) tmv ttoXXwv ev avra> /cal firfX av V
6r)pa<; avOpoowcov, avve^ofjiotovadai /cal crvvofio-
iraOelv Tot? eTTLTijBevfiao-i, /cal rats BiairaLs,
ogvrepa? Tpeirofxevco TpoTrds rov xapLaiXeovTos.
ttXtjv i/cetvos fiev, cb? Xeyerai, 7rpbs ev e^aBvvarel
XP&P>a to Xev/cbv d<pop,otovv eavrov 'AX/a/SiaBy
Be Bid yprjarcov lovri /cal irovrjpcbv o/Wa)? ovBev
5 rjv dfii/jLrjrov ovB' dveirirrfBevrov, dXX' ev ^irdpTrj
yv/jivao-Ti/c6<;, evreXi]?, cr/cvOpwrros, ev 'la>wa xXi-
1 A mountain citadel of Attica, about fourteen miles from
Athens towards Boeotia, commanding the Athenian plain
62
ALCIBIADES, xxm. 2-5
among them. No sooner was he come than he
zealously brought one thing to pass : they had been
delaying and postponing assistance to Syracuse ; he
roused and incited them to send Gylippus thither
for a commander, and to crush the force which
Athens had there. A second thing he did was to
get them to stir up the war against Athens at home ;
and the third, and most important of all, to induce
them to fortify Deceleia. 1 This more than anything
else wrought ruin and destruction to his native city.
At Sparta, he was held in high repute publicly,
and privately was no less admired. The multitude
was brought under his influence, and was actually
bewitched, by his assumption of the Spartan mode of
life. When they saw him with his hair untrimmed,
taking cold baths, on terms of intimacy with their
coarse bread, and supping black porridge, they could
scarcely trust their eyes, and doubted whether such
a man as he now was had ever had a cook in his
own house, had even so much as looked upon a per-
fumer, or endured the touch of Milesian wool. He
had, as they say, one power which transcended all
others, and proved an implement of his chase for
men : that of assimilating and adapting himself to
the pursuits and lives of others, thereby assuming
more violent changes than the chameleon. That
animal, however, as it is said, is utterly unable to
assume one colour, namely, white ; but Alcibiades
could associate with good and bad alike, and found
naught that he could not imitate and practice. In
Sparta, he was all for bodily training, simplicity of
life, and severity of countenance ; in Ionia, for
and the shortest routes to Euboea and Boeotia. It was
occupied by the Spartans in the spring of 413 B.C.
63
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
Bavos, eir ir epirrj^y paOvpuos, iv ®pd/cr] peOvariKos,
iv OerraXois iTnraaTifcos, Tcaa^epvrj Be rw
aarpdirr} avvcov virepeftaXev oyKCp Kal iroXvreXeia
TtjV UepaifCTjv pLeyaXoTrpeireiav, ovy^ avrov e^Lard<;
ovra) paBLws €t? erepov ef erepov rpbirov, ovBe
rraaav Be^o p,evo^ tw i]0ei p,era^oXrjv, aXX' on rjj
<f)v<T€i 'xpu>ii€vos epueXXe Xvirelv tol/? evrvyyjivov-
Tfl?, 619 TTUV del TO TT p6<J<j)OpOV €K€LVOl<; Gyf\pa Kal
6 irXdapa KareBvero Kal Karecj)€vyev. iv yovv rfj
AaKeBalpovi 7rpo9 rd e%w6ev r\v elirelv ( "Ov rrals
'A^Wea)?, dX\' eKelvos ' etrj av ' auro9,' olov Av-
xovpyos irralBevae'^ rot? S' dXr)@Lvol<; av ris eire-
(fxtivrjo-ev avrov irdOeat Kal irpdypaaiv ""Q(ttiv
f) irdXai yvvT)?
7 Tcpuaiav yap rrjv " Ay iBos yvvaiKa rov /3ao~iXe(0<i
arparevopevov Kal diroBr)povvro<; ovrco Bie(f>6eipev
coare Kal Kveiv ef 'AXKiftidBov Kal pur) dpvelaOai,
Kal T€Kovar)<; rraiBdpiov dppev e£co p,ev Aeoorv^i-
Brjv KaXelaOai, rb 6° ivrb<; avrov ■tyiQvpitypevov
ovopa 7T/0O9 to.9 (f)iXa<; Kal to.9 07raSou9 vtto T779
prjrpbs 'AXKifiidBrjv elvar roaovros epoos Karelye
rrjv dvd pwirov. 6° ivrpv(f)oov eXeyev ol»% vfipei
rovro rrpdrreiv ovBe Kparovpevo? ixfS rjBovrjf;,
aXX' 07ra)9 AaKeBaipLOvLwv j3acnXeva(oat,v 01 cf
8 avrov yeyovores. ovrco rrparropueva ravra iroX-
Xol Karrjyopovv rrpbs rbv *Ayiv. iirlarevae Be
1 The first part of the passage in quotation marks is an
adaptation of an iambic trimeter by some unknown poet,
64
ALCIBIADES, xxm. 5-8
luxurious ease and pleasure ; in Thrace, for drinking
deep ; in Thessaly, for riding hard ; and when he
was thrown with Tissaphernes the satrap, he outdid
even Persian magnificence in his pomp and lavishness.
It was not that he could so easily pass entirely from
one manner of man to another, nor that he actually
underwent in every case a change in his real
character ; but when he saw that his natural manners
were likely to be annoying to his associates, he was
quick to assume any counterfeit exterior which
might in each case be suitable for them. At all
events, in Sparta, so far as the outside was concerned,
it was possible to say of him, " ' No child of Achilles
he, but Achilles himself,' 1 such a man as Lycurgus
trained " ; but judging by what he actually felt and
did, one might have cried with the poet, " Tis the
selfsame woman still 2 ! "
For while Agis the king was away on his campaigns,
Alcibiades corrupted Timaea his wife, so that she was
with child by him and made no denial of it. When
she had given birth to a male child, it was called
Leotychides in public, but in private the name which
the boy's mother whispered to her friends and
attendants was Alcibiades. Such was the passion
that possessed the woman. But he, in his mocking
way, said he had not done this thing for a wanton
insult, nor at the behest of mere pleasure, but in
order that descendants of his might be kings of the
Lacedaemonians. Such being the state of things,
there were many to tell the tale to Agis, and he be-
lieved it, more especially owing to the lapse of time.
which Plutarch uses entire in Morals, p. 51 c. Cf. Nauck,
Trag. Orate. Fray. 2 p. 907.
2 Electra, of Helen, in Euripides, Orestes, 129.
65
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
tw yjpovu) fidXia-ra, ore aeiafiov yevo/ievov (f>o/37)-
6 els e^eBpafie rod OaXd/xov irapa t?}? yvvaiKos,
elra 8e/ca fjuyvoiv ovk&tl avvrfkdev avrfj, /xeO' ov?
yevofievov rbv AewTV^iBrjv direcprjcrev ef avrov fir)
yeyovevai. teal Bia tovto rr)<; f3aat\eia<; ifjiireaev
varepov 6 AewTv^LBr]^.
XXIV. Mgto. Be ttjp ev ^i/ceXia rcov 'AOrjvaicov
Bvarv^iav iirpeo-ftevo-av els ^irapTTjv djia Xloi
Kal Aeafiioi /ecu Kv£itcr)vol irepl aTToa-rdaew^.
irpaTTovToav Be Hoicotwv fiev Aeo-ftlois, Qapva-
/3d%ov Be Kvfy/crjvois, 'A\fct{3tdBr) TreiaQevres
etkovTO Xtot? irpb ttuvtcop ftorjOelv. eKirXevaas 204
Be Kal avrb? aTrearrjcrev okiyov Belv dirao-av
'Ywviav, Kal iroWa crvvoav T0Z9 7&v AaKeBai-
fioviwv aTparrjyoLS eftXairre to i>9 'AOrjvaiovs.
! 6" *Ayi$ €%#/)09 fiev virr^p^ev avrw Bid rr)v
yvvaiKa KaKcos Treirov6d)<s, rj-^Oero Be Kal rrj Sof??*
ra yap TrXelara yiveaOai Kal irpoywpelv BC
1 'A\Ki0uiBr)v X0709 r)v rcov 8' aXXcov ^irapriaroiiv
oi BvvaTQOTaroi Kal ^ikorifioTaroi rbv 'A\Ki{3id-
Btjv t)Btj eftapvvovTO Bid <f>66vov. ta^vaav ovv
Kal Bieirpd^avro tou9 oiKoOev apypvras eiri-
(TreiXai irpb? 'Icoviav ottco<; airoKreivcoo'iv avrov,
f O 6° V°~ V XV vrpoyvovs Kal (f>o/3r)del<; tojv fiev
irpd^ecov iraaoov eKOivwvei to?9 AaKeBaifioviois, to
B y e/9 X € iP a< * l ^ vai iravTairacrtv ecfrevye, Tiaa^epvrj
Be, t5> /SacriXecD? aarpdirr), Bovs eavrbv virep
do~<$>a\eia<$ ev0v<; r)v irap ai)T(b irpwros Kal
jxeyLGTOS. to fiev yap irdXvTpoTrov Kal 7repirrbv
1 Cf. Lysander, xxii. 4-6.
8 With these words the two years which had elapsed since
the flight of Alcibiades (xxii. 1) are passed over, so far as the
66
ALCIBIADES, xxm. 8-xxiv. 4
There had been an earthquake, and he had run in
terror out of his chamber and the arms of his wife,
and then for ten months had had no further inter-
course with her. And since Leotychides had been
born at the end of this period, Agis declared that he
was no child of his. For this reason Leotychides
was afterwards refused the royal succession. 1
XXIV. After the Athenian disaster in Sicily, 2 the
Chians, Lesbians, and Cyzicenes sent embassies at
the same time to Sparta, to discuss a revolt from
Athens. But though the Boeotians supported the
appeal of the Lesbians, and Pharnabazus that of the
Cyzicenes, the Spartans, under the persuasion of
Alcibiades, elected to help the Chians first of all.
Alcibiades actually set sail in person and brought
almost all Ionia to revolt, and, in constant association
with the Lacedaemonian generals, wrought injury to
the Athenians. But Agis was hostile to him because
of the wrong he had suffered as a husband, and he
was also vexed at the repute in which Alcibiades
stood; for most of the successes won were due to him,
as report had it. The most influential and ambitious
of the other Spartans also were already envious and
tired of him, and soon grew strong enough to induce
the magistrates at home to send out orders to Ionia
that he be put to death.
His stealthy discovery of this put him on his guard,
and while in all their undertakings he took part with
the Lacedaemonians, he sedulously avoided coming
into their hands. Then, resorting to Tissaph ernes,
the King's satrap, for safety, he was soon first and
foremost in that grandee's favour. For his versatility
Sicilian expedition is concerned. They are covered by the
narrative of the Nicias (xv.-xxx.).
67
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
avrov t?}? $€ivori]To<> ou/c wv dirXovs, dXXd
Kaicor)Oi)^ /cal (f)t\07r6vr)ph(;, Wavfxa^ev 6 fidpftapos'
Tat? 8e icaff rj/xepav eV rS crvayoXd^uv /cal ovv-
hiairdaQai ^dpioriv ovSev rjv drey/crop r)6o<$ ovhe
<f)voi<; aj/aXwTO?, dXXd /cal BcSlocti /cal §Qovovo~iv
o/ao)9 to (J vyyeve a 6 at /cal irpoaiheiv i/celvov r)8o-
5 vtjv riva ical <£>i\o<f)po(rvvr)v rrapel^e. rdXX y ovv
lov /cal fjiiaeXXrjv iv tol$ pbaXiara Tlepacov 6
Tiaa(f)ipvr)<;, ovrco<; eve&i$ov rdi 'AX/aft id&y /coXa-
tcevofievos toad' virepfBdXXeiv avrov dvi t/coXa/cevcov
ifcecvos. wv yap i/ce/crrjro rrapahdawv rbv icdX-
Xicrrov /cal vSdrcov /cal Xeifxcovcov vyteivcdv tve/ctv,
Biarptftas eyovra teal /cara<j>vyd<; rja/crj/jievas
fiao-iXiicihs /cal rrepirrcos, 'AX/cif3id$r)v /caXelv
eOero' /cal rrdvres ovrcd /caXovvres /cal rrpocra-
yopevovres SiereXovv.
XXV. 'Airoyi'ov? ovv 6 'AX/cLftidSr)? rd rcov
^Trapriarcbv &>? drnara, /cat fyofBovfjuevos rbv
' Ay iv, i/cd/cov /cal SieftaXXe 7Ty0O9 top Viaa^epvrjv,
ov/c itov /3o7]0€lv avrois irpoOv/jL(o<i ovSe /caraXveiv
rov<i 'Adrjvalovs, dXXa yXio"Xpw<i ypp7)yovvra
OXifteiv /cal drro/cvaieiv drpe/ia /cal iroielv dficfyo-
repovs (3ao~iXeZ xeiporjOet*; /cal /carairbvov? vri
2 dXXrjXwv. 6 8' eireiOero pa&iax; /cal $r)Xo$ r\v
dyaucov xal Oavfid^rov, uycrr diro^XeireaOaL rbv
y AX/Ctf3ld$>lV €/CaT€pO)0€V VTTO TWV 'EXXtjvCOV, TOU?
£' ' ' A6r)vaLov<$ /jLerap,eXeo-0at, rots yvoiaOelai irepl
avrov icaic<t)<i irda^ovra^, d^OeaOai he /cd/celvov
i]8r) ical <f)o/3eio-0aL /irj rravr drr acre rrjs iroXeax;
dvaiptOelerr)? vrrb Aa/ce8ai/j.ovioL<; ykvr\rai /iiaov-
/JL6V0<J.
68
ALCIBIADES, xxiv. 4 -xxv. 2
and surpassing cleverness were the admiration of the
Barbarian, who was no straightforward man himself,
but malicious and fond of evil company. And indeed
no disposition could resist and no nature escape
Alcibiades, so full of grace was his daily life and
conversation. Even those who feared and hated
him felt a rare and winning charm in his society
and presence. And thus it was that Tissaphernes,
though otherwise the most ardent of the Persians in
his hatred of the Hellenes, so completely surrendered
to the flatteries of Alcibiades as to outdo him in
reciprocal flatteries. Indeed, the most beautiful park
he had, both for its refreshing waters and grateful
lawns, with resorts and retreats decked out in
regal and extravagant fashion, he named Alcibiades ;
everyone always called it by that name.
XXV. Alcibiades now abandoned the cause of the
Spartans, since he distrusted them and feared Agis,
and began to malign and slander them to Tissa-
phernes. He advised him not to aid them very
generously, and yet not to put down the Athenians
completely, but rather by niggardly assistance to
straiten and gradually wear out both, and so make
them easy victims for the King when they had weak-
ened and exhausted each other. Tissaphernes was
easily persuaded, and all men saw that he loved and
admired his new adviser, so that Alcibiades was
looked up to by the Hellenes on both sides, and the
Athenians repented themselves of the sentence they
had passed upon him, now that they were suffering
for it. Alcibiades himself also was presently burdened
with the fear that if his native city were altogether
destroyed, he might come into the power of the
Lacedaemonians, who hated him.
69
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
3 *Ev Be rrj Sa/xo) rore irdvra ra Trpdypara to??
' A6i]vaioi,<; o-^eSbv vTrfjpx^' tcdtceWev op^co/xevoi rrj
vavTi/crj Bvvdp,ei ra p,ev dvetCTtovro rcav d<j>e-
(ttgotcov, ra S y etyvXarrov dfio)^ ye 7rco? en Tot?
TroXe/ALOis tcard OdXarrav ovres dgio/iaxoh Tt-
aa$epvY)v Be cj>oj3ovfievoi teal rd<; Xeyofxevas ocrov
ovirco nvapelvai Qowiaaas rpir)peL<; Trevr^tcovra
teal e/carbv ovaas, a>v d§itcop,evwv ovBe/iia aco-
4 rrjpias eXirl<; vrreXeiireTO rfj iroXei. ravra 8*
elBco<; ' 'AX/ay&aS??? eTrepbire tcpvcf>a trpbs tou? ev
md/jLCp Bvvcltovs rosv ' AOrivaiwv, i\7riBa<; €vBlBov<;
irape^eiv rbv TiacMpepvrjv (frtXov, ov Tot? iroXXols
XapL^ofievos ovBe inaTevcov eiceivois, dXXd tol$
apiGTOLS, el ToXfirjaeiav avBpe? dyaOol yevo/ievoi
teal iravaavTes vfipi^ovTa rbv Brjfjuov avrol Bv
eavrcov aoa^eiv ra irpdyfiara teal rr)v ttoXiv.
5 Ot p>ev ovv aXXoi o~<f>6Bpa irpoael'xpv tc3
*A\tci/3idBr)' reov Be (TTpaTrjycov el?, <£>pvvixo<i
6 AeipaBicoTTjs, vTTOTTTevaas, oirep fjv, rbv 'AXtei-
ftidBrjv ovBev Ti fidXXov 6Xiyapxl,a<; r) Brjiioicpa-
Tta? BeofievoVy ^rjrovvra Be 7rai>TO)9 teareXOeiv,
etc StaySoXr)? rov Brjfiov tt pod e pair eveiv teal vtto-
Bveadai rovs Bvvarovs, dvOiararo. teparovfievos
Be rfj yva) fir) teal <f>avepw$ ijBrj rov y AXtci/3idBov
yeyovoos e%#/>o?, egijyyeiXe tcpixfia Trpbs "* AcrTvoypv 20£
toi' twv TroXepiwv vavap^ov, eyteeXev6fj,evo<;
(fyvXarreo-Oai teal o~vXXa/uL/3dveiv &)? eirapL^orepi-
6 ^ovra rbv 'AXtci/3idBr)v. eXeXrjdeL 6" dpa irpoBo-
70
ALCIBIADES, xxv. 3-6
At this time J almost all the forces of Athens were
at Samos. From this island as their naval base of
operations they were trying to win back some of their
Ionian allies who had revolted, and were watching
others who were disaffected. After a fashion they
still managed to cope with their enemies on the
sea, but they were afraid of Tissaphernes and of the
fleet of one hundred and fifty Phoenician triremes
which was said to be all but at hand ; if this once
came up, no hope of safety was left for their city.
Alcibiades was aware of this, and sent secret mes-
sages to the influential Athenians at Samos, in which
he held out the hope that he might bring Tissaphernes
over to be their friend. He did not seek, he said,
the favour of the multitude, nor trust them, but
rather that of the aristocrats, in case they would
venture to show themselves men, put a stop to the
insolence of the people, take the direction of affairs
into their own hands, and save their cause and city.
Now the rest of the aristocrats were much inclined
to Alcibiades. But one of the generals, Phrynichus,
of the deme Deirades, suspected (what was really
the case) that Alcibiades had no more use for an
oligarchy than for a democracy, but merely sought in
one way or another a recall from exile, and therefore
inveighed against the people merely to court betimes
the favour of the aristocrats, and ingratiate himself
with them. He therefore opposed him. When his
opinion had been overborne and he was now become
an open enemy of Alcibiades, he sent a secret mes-
sage to Astyochus, the enemy's naval commander,
bidding him beware of Alcibiades and arrest him, for
that he was playing a double game. But without his
1 During the winter of 412-411 b.o.
7*
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
T779 TTpoSorr} BiaXeyofievo?. tov yap Ticra$>epvr)v
etCTreirX^ypLevos o 'Ao-tuo^o?, teal tov ^AXtCi/StdBrjv
opcov irap avTco peyav ovra, KaTefirjvvcre ra
TOV ^pVll^OV 7T/50? CLVTOV?. 6 8 'AXfClfildBr)*;
evOus et? ^Ldfiov eirepb-^re tou? tov ^pvvi^ov
Karrjyop)]crovTa<;. dyavatCTOvvTcov Be TrdvTcov teal
(TWKjrapLevcdV eVl tov Qpvviyov, oir% opcov
erepav Btacf)vyr)V etc tcov Trapovrcov enreyelp^cTev
7 Idaaadai pel^ovi /catccp to tcatcov. avflis yap
eirefiyfre 777)09 tov * AcrTvoyov, eytcaXcov /juev virep
tt}? pn^vvcreco^, eirayyeXXofievo^ Be to? vavs teal
to aTpaTOTreSov tcov 'AOrjvaicov viroyeipiov avTco
nape^etv.
Ov firjv e/3\ay]re ye toi>? 'AOrjvalovs 77 tov
<$>pvvixov irpoBocria Bia ttjv ^ Agtvo^ov TraXip,-
TTpoBoaiav. teal yap raura /caTeiire tov <$>pvvi%ov
8 77720? tou? ire pi tov *A\Kii3iaBr]v. 6 Be <&pvvixo<;
Trpoaio-Oojievo^ teal TrpoaBexopLevos BevTepav tcaTrj-
yopiav irapa tov 'AXtciftuiBov, cpOdcras avTos
Trpoelire tols ** Adr)vaioi<$ oti fieXXovaLv eTmrXelv
ol 7ro\epuoL, teal irapyveae 777)0? rat? vavalv
9 elvai teal irepiTeiyicrai to cTTpaToireBov. eirel
Be irpaTTovTwv TavTa tcov ' Adrjvaicov rjtce ypdp,-
fiaTa irdXiv irapa tov 'AX/ciftidBov, cpvXaTTeaOai
tceXevovTos tov ^pvviyov &>? irpoBiBovTa toU
TroXe/jLiois tov vavaTaOfiov, rjiriGTi]aav olopevoi
tov 'AXtcifitdBtiv elBoTa craepco? ttjv tcov TroXe/xicov
irapao-tcevrjv teal Bidvoiav diroxprjaOaL Trpbs ttjv
10 toO ^pvviyov BiafioXrjv ovk d\i]0co<;, voTepov
72
ALCIBIADES. xxv. 6-10
knowing it, it was a case of traitor dealing with traitor.
For Astyochus was much in awe of Tissaphernes,
and seeing that Alcibiades had great power with the
satrap, he disclosed the message of Phrynichus to
them both. Alcibiades at once sent men to Samos
to denounce Phrynichus. All the Athenians there
were incensed and banded themselves together
against Phrynichus, who, seeing no other escape
from his predicament, attempted to cure one evil by
another and a greater. He sent again to Astyochus,
chiding him indeed for his disclosure of the former
message, but announcing that he stood ready to de-
liver into his hands the fleet and army of the
Athenians.
However, this treachery of Phrynichus did not
harm the Athenians at all, because of the fresh
treachery of Astyochus. This second message of
Phrynichus also he delivered to Alcibiades. But
Phrynichus knew all the while that he would do so,
and expected a second denunciation from Alcibiades.
So he got the start of him by telling the Athenians
himself that the enemy were going to attack them,
and advising them to have their ships manned and
their camp fortified. The Athenians were busy doing
this when again a letter came from Alcibiades bidding
them beware of Phrynichus, since he had offered to
betray their fleet to the enemy. This letter they
disbelieved at the time, supposing that Alcibiades,
who must know perfectly the equipment and
purposes of the enemy, had used his knowledge in
order to calumniate Phrynichus falsely. Afterwards, 1
1 In the summer of 411 B.C., Phrynichus having been
deposed from his command at Samos, and showing himself
an ardent supporter of the revolutionary Four Hundred at
Athens.
73
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
fxevTOi rov <$>pvviypv evbs twv 7r€pt,7r6\cov'JLp/j,G)vo<;
iv dyopa irard^avTO^ iy%eipL8l(p ical 8iacf)6eL-
pavros, ol 'AOrjvaioL 8l/cr]<z yevo /Jievrj<; rov /jlcv
<$>pvvixov TTpohoaiav KaretyrifyiaavTO redvrjKOTOS,
TOP 8* "EjpfXWVa KCU T0U9 JjL€T CLVTOV (TVCTTCLVTa^
€<TT€(f)dv(0(TaV.
XXVI. 'Ei/ 8e rfi ^djifp Tore /cpari]o~avT€<; ol
*A\/cij3id8ov <j)i\oi irefjun overt UeiaavBpov eh
do-TV Kivrjo-ovra rrjv iroXireiav ical rrapaOap-
pVVOVVTCL TOU? hvVCLTOVS TOiV TTpay/JLaTCOV avriXafi-
fidveaOcu ical tcaraXvecv rov Brjfiov, &>? eVi
tovtois rov 'AX/cifiidBov Tio~a(f>epvr]v avrocs
(piXov ical avfijiaxov irape^ovro^. avrr\ yap
rjv Trp6(f)ao~is ical tovto 7rp6o-%r]fia Tot? KaOiardac
2 rrjv oXiyapx^v. iirel 8* lo-^yaav koX 7rapeXa/3ov
t« Trpdyfiara ol irevrcLKicrxiXioi Xeyofievoi,
rerpaKoacoL 8e 6We?, iXdyjLcrra tg> 'AX/eifiidSg
irpoaeiyov rjBrj ical /jLaXafccorepov ryrrrovTO rov
TToXefiov, rd /nev aTncrTOvvTes en 7rpo? ttjv
fi€Taf3oXr)v ^evoiraOovai to£<? ttoXLtclis, rd 8*
olofievoi /jlclXXov iv8d)o-eiv avrols AatceBaifioviovs
3 del 7rpo? bXiyapyiav iiTiTY)8eiw^ eypvTas. 6
fxev ovv Kara rrjv ttoXlv 8rj/io<; d/ccov vtto 8eov<;
■r)Gvyiav yyc ical yap direcrfydyrio-av ovk oXiyoi
rcov evavTLovfjLevoav (pavepws to£? rerpafcoo-Low
ol 8* iv Sa/xco ravra irvvdavofievoi ical dyavaic-
tovvtcs <bp/j,r)VTo irXetv evQbs irrl tov Tleipaia,
teal /jberaTre/JL^frd/jievoi rov 'AX/ci/SidBrjv fcal arparr]-
ybv diro8€i^avr€<i i/ceXevov rjyelo-Oai /cal tcaraXveiv
tou? rvpdvvov^.
4 'O S* ov\ olov dv Tt? igatyvrj? ^dpiri r&v
74
ALCIBIADES, xxv. io-xxvi. 4
however, when Hermon, 1 one of the frontier guard,
had smitten Phrynichus with a dagger and slain him
in the open market-place, the Athenians tried the
case of the dead man, found him guilty of treachery,
and awarded crowns to Hermon and his accomplices.
XXVI. But at Samos the friends of Alcibiades
soon got the upper hand, and sent Peisander to
Athens to change the form of government. He was
to encourage the leading men to overthrow the de-
mocracy and take control of affairs, with the plea
that on these terms alone would Alcibiades make
Tissaphernes their friend and ally. This was the
pretence and this the pretext of those who estab-
lished the oligarchy at Athens. But as soon as the
so-called Five Thousand (they were really only four
hundred) got the power and took control of affairs,
they at once neglected Alcibiades entirely, and
waged the war with less vigour, partly because they
distrusted the citizens, who still looked askance at
the new form of government, and partly because
they thought that the Lacedaemonians, who always
looked with favour on an oligarchy, would be more
lenient towards them. The popular party in the city
was constrained by fear to keep quiet, because many
of those who openly opposed the Four Hundred had
been slain. But when the army in Samos learned
what had been done at home, they were enraged,
and were eager to sail forthwith to the Piraeus, and
sending for Alcibiades, they appointed him general,
and bade him lead them in putting down the tyrants.
An ordinary man, thus suddenly raised to great
1 The name is wrong, and has crept into the story by an
error which can be traced. Hermon was " commander of the
frontier guard stationed at Munychia " (Thuc, yiii, 92, 5).
75
PLUTARCH'S LIVES ._
7roW(x)V //,eya? yeyovtos tirade Kal ^ydirrjo-e,
irdvra Belv evOvs olop,evo<; yapi^eo-Qai Kal /jbrjBev
dvriXeyecv tois etc wXavyro^ Kal cpvydBos avrov
vewv to(Tovtq)V Kal arparorreBov Kal Bvvdfiews
TT)\ifcavT7)<; dirohel^aa-iv rjyepiova Kal arpanjyov,
dX)C oirep rjv dp\ovri fieydXcp irpoarJKov, dvOiara-
adai (pepo/jiivoi*; vir opyrjs, KwiXvo~a<$ i^afxapTelv,
Tore yovv rd Trpdyjxara rfj iroXet irepufiavcos
5 eacoaev. el yap apavre? direirXevaav OLKaBe,
Tot9 fiev 7ro\€/iLot<; evdv? e%eiv vTrijp-^ev ^\wviav
airaaav, ical top 'EWrjaTrovTOv 1 d^a^el, ical 206
t<z? vrjaovs, ^Adrjvaiois Be 7rpo? r A6r)vaiov<s
fxdyecjQai iov iroXefiov el? rr^v ttoXlv ep,/3aX6vra<;'
ov jjlovos fjudXiara fjurj yeveaOai BieKcoXvcrev 6
'AXKiftldBl]?, OV fjLOVOV 7T€L0COV Kal BiBdaKCDV TO
ttXtjOos, dXXa Kal KaB* eva iov? p,ev dvriftoXwv,
6 twv S* eiriXafJL^avofjLevo^. o-vviirpaTre S' avrco
Kal QpaorvftovXos 6 Xreipiev? d/xa irapcov Kal
KeKpaydx;' r)V yap, a>? Xeyerai, fjueyaXo^covoraro?
'AOrjvaiwv.
'EKelvo re Br) KaXbv tov 'AXKiftidBov Kal
Bevrepov, on viroa^ofievo? Ta? QoLvLaaas vav? y
a? irpoo-eBe^ovro AaKeBai/j,6viOL j3acriXeco<s irep,-
■yfravros, rj fMeraarijaeLV irpo? avrov? t) Biairpdge-
aOat, fxrjhe irpo? eKeivov? KOjjLiaOrjvai, Bid ra^ecov
7 e^eirXevae. Kal Ta? }iev vav? eK^aveiaa? irepl
% ' AairevBov ovk r\yayev 6 Tio~a(f)epvr)<;, dXX'
e-yjfevo-aro rov? AaKeBai/ioviov?, ttjv 8' alriav
rov diroTpk^ai irap dfifyoTepoi*; 6 'AXKifiidBr)?
1 nal rhv ZKKr\(JTtovTov Bekker : 'E\\r)<riTQVTQV.
7
ALCIBIADES, xxvi. 4-7
power by the favour of the multitude, would have
been full of complaisance, thinking that he must at
once gratify them in all things and oppose them in
nothing, since they had made him, instead of a
wandering exile, leader and general of such a fleet
and of so large an armed force. But Alcibiades, as
became a great leader, felt that he must oppose them
in their career of blind fury, and prevented them from
making a fatal mistake. Therefore in this instance,
at least, he was the manifest salvation of the city.
For had they sailed off home, their enemies might at
once have occupied all Ionia, the Hellespont without
a battle, and the islands, while Athenians were
fighting Athenians and making their own city the
seat of war. Such a war Alcibiades, more than any
other one man, prevented, not only persuading and
instructing the multitude together, but also, taking
them man by man, supplicating some and constraining
others. He had a helper, too, in Thrasybulus of
Steiris, 1 who went along with him and did the
shouting ; for he had, it is said, the biggest voice of
all the Athenians.
A second honourable proceeding of Alcibiades
was his promising to bring over to their side the
Phoenician ships which the King had sent out and
the Lacedaemonians were expecting, — or at least to
see that those expectations were not realized, — and
his sailing off swiftly on this errand. The ships
were actually seen off Aspendus, but Tissaphernes
did not bring them up, and thereby played the
Lacedaemonians false. Alcibiades, however, was
1 This illustrious commander, the son of Lycus, is to be
distinguished from Thrasybulus, the son of Thraso (chapter
xxxvi. 1).
77
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
el%e, teal jxaXXov en irapa Toh Aa/ceBai/JLOvioLs,
&)? BiBdcncoav tov fidpftapov avrov? v<f avrtav
nrepiopav airo\\v/JL€vov<; tovs "EXXrjva?. ov yap
rjv aBrfXov otl Tois eTepois Bvva/ju<z roaavrrj
irpoayevofievrj toi>? krepovs a^rjpelro /co/jllBtj to
tepdros tt}? Oa\drrr]<s.
XXVII. 'E/e tovtov KareXvOrjaav fxev oi rerpa-
/coaioi, rtov y AX/a/3id8ov cfrlXcov TrpoOv/jucos crvX-
\afi/3avo/jL€Vcov toI<z xa Btffiov <f>povovo~r ftovXo-
fjievcov Be to)V ev aaret /cal tceXevovTcov tcaTievai
tov 'AX/cifiidBrjv auro? wcto Belv fjurj /cevals x e P ai
fJLTjBe CLTTpaKTOlS, OLtCTO) KOI ^dpiTC TCOV TToXXwv,
dXX! iv$6i;G)<> KCLTeXOeiv. Bib irpwTOV fxev oXiyais
vavalv etc Xdfiov irepieirXei tt)v KviBlcov /cal Kaxov
2 6d\ao-crav e/cel B' dicovGas MlvBapov tov *5*irap-
TiaTrjv eh 'FXkrjo-irovTOV dvairXelv tw o-toA/o
iravn ical tou? ' Adrjvaiovs eira/coXovdelv, rjirelyeTo
ftorjOfjcrcu Toh o-TpaTrjyoLS. /cal tcaTa Tvyr]v et's
tovto /catpov avvqvvae irXeoov btcTW/caLBe/ca Tpv-
rjpecriv, iv w irdaais opuov rat? vaval avfjareaovTe^
eh to avTO /cal BiavavpLa^pvvTe^ irepl "AfivBov
dfUpOTepOt TOIS fieV ^TTOJfieVQL /j£peo-i, Toh Be
viKwvTes aXP L BeiXrjs dycovL fieydXtp avvei'XpvTo.
3 real irapeaye fiev evavnav Bo^av dfufroTepOLs
eirc<j)avehy cbo~T€ Oappelv jxev tou? 7roXe/xtou?,
0opv/3eLo~6at Be tou? 'AOrjvaLovs, ra%u Be o~rj-
fielov apas curb t% vavap%iBo<; (ftuXiov cop/jurjaev
euOvs eirl toi>? KpaTOVVTa? /cal Bia)tcovTa<; twv
UeXoTTovvrjaricov. Tpeyfrd/bLevo? S' avTOv<; e^ecoaev
eh tt)v yrjv, /cal TTpoaKelfJievo^ e/coTTTe tcls vavs
78
ALCIBIADES, xxvi. 7-xxvii. 3
credited with this diversion of the ships by both
parties, and especially by the Lacedaemonians. The
charge was that he instructed the Barbarian to
suffer the Hellenes to destroy one another. For it
was perfectly clear that the side to which such a
naval force attached itself would rob the other
altogether of the control of the sea.
XXVII. After this the Four Hundred were over-
thrown, 1 the friends of Alcibiades now zealously
assisting the party of the people. Then the city
willingly ordered Alcibiades to come back home.
But he thought he must not return with empty
hands and without achievement, through the pity
and favour of the multitude, but rather in a blaze of
glory. So, to begin with, he set sail with a small
fleet from Samos and cruised off Cnidus and Cos.
There he heard that Mindarus the Spartan admiral
had sailed off to the Hellespont with his entire
fleet, followed by the Athenians, and so he hastened
to the assistance of their generals. By chance he
came up, with his eighteen triremes, at just that
critical point when both parties, having joined
battle with all their ships off Abydos, and sharing
almost equally in victory and defeat until evening,
were locked in a great struggle. The appearance
of Alcibiades inspired both sides with a false opinion
of his coming : the enemy were emboldened and the
Athenians were confounded. But he quickly hoisted
Athenian colours on his flagship and darted straight
upon the victorious and pursuing Peloponnesians.
Routing them, he drove them to land, and following
hard after them, rammed and shattered their ships.
1 They usurped the power in June, of 411 B.C. j they fell
in September of the same year.
79
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
teal avv€TLTp>oa/ce, twv dvhpwv etcveovrcov teal
Qapvaftd^ov ire^fj it poa/3or)0ovvTo<; avrols teal
liayppbkvov irapa rrjv OdXarrav virep tojv vewv.
4 re\o<? he twv fiev TroXepiwv rpidfcovra \a{36vres,
dvaaooaavres he ra? avrwv, rpoiraiov ear-qaav.
Ovrw he Xaparpa %pr)G dpuevos evrvx^a, teal
<j>i\oTipLOV/jLevo<; evOvs iyKaWwiriaaaOai rw
Ticra(f>€pvrj, £evia teal hebpa TrapadKevaadp^vos teal
depairelav eywv . rjyepboviKqv eiropevero Trpb?
5 avrov. ov pJt]V erv^ev wv irpoaeho/erjaev, dWa
TrdXai tca/coo? dtcovcoi> o Tiaa(f)epvr]s virb twv
Aatcehaipovlcov, teal 4>of3oup,ei'o<; alriav \a(3elv ere
ftacriXecos, eho^ev ev teaipw rbv y A\ta/3idhr)v
dfylyQai, teal avWaflcbv avrbv elp^ev ev %dp-
hecrtv &>9 \vaiv e/ceuvr)^ rrjs hia/3o\r]<; ttjv dhiKiav
ravTrjv eo-opuevrjv.
XXVIII. Tpid/covra h* rjpepoov hiayevopuevwv
6 J A\/a/3id8r}<; lttttov iroOev einroprjaas teal
dirohpas tol>? (f)v\atea<; et? K\a%opevd<; hiecj)vye.
teal rbv fiev Tio-a<pepvr)v 7rpocrht,e/3aWev co? vtt*
eteeivov fieOei/ievos, avrbs he 7r\eucra? eh to
aTparoTrehov twv ' ' A6r)valwv teal irvOofievos
Mivhapov ofiov teal Qapvafiatyv ev Kvfyfca) ye-
2 yovevat, rovs fiev ar par lout as TrapcopfiTjaev, tw?
dvdyterjv ovcrav avrols teal vavfiayelv teal ire^o-
fia^elv teal vrj Aia Teiypfiayeiv irpbs tovs noXe-
fjLLow ^prjpara yap ovte elvai pur) irdvTT] feparovar
7r\?;pwcra5 he ra<; vavs teal tcajdpas et? Upoitcov-
8o
ALCIBIADES, xxvu. 3-xxvm. 2
Their crews swam ashore, and here Pharnabazus
came to their aid with his infantry and fought along
the beach in defence of their ships. But finally the
Athenians captured thirty of them, rescued their
own, and erected a trophy of victory.
Taking advantage of a success so brilliant as this,
and ambitious to display himself at once before
Tissaphernes, Alcibiades supplied himself with gifts
of hospitality and friendship and proceeded, at the
head of an imperial retinue, to visit the satrap.
His reception, however, was not what he expected.
Tissaphernes had for a long time been accused by
the Lacedaemonians to the King, and being in fear
of the King's condemnation, it seemed to him that
Alcibiades had come in the nick of time. So he
arrested him and shut him up in Sardis, hoping that
such an outrage upon him as this would dispel the
calumnies of the Spartans.
XXVIII. After the lapse of thirty days Alcibiades
ran away from his guards, got a horse from some one
or other, and made his escape to Clazomenae. To
repay Tissaphernes, he alleged that he had escaped
with that satrap's connivance, and so brought ad-
ditional calumny upon him. He himself sailed to
the camp of the Athenians, 1 where he learned that
Mindarus, along with Pharnabazus, was in Cyzicus.
Thereupon he roused the spirits of the soldiers,
declaring that they must now do sea-fighting and
land-fighting and even siege-fighting, too, against
their enemies, for poverty stared them in the face
unless they were victorious in every way. He then
manned his ships and made his way to Proconnesus,
1 Early in the spring of 410 B.C. The Athenians were at
Cardia, a city of the Thracian Chersonese.
81
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
vrjerov eKe'Xevaev evrb<; TrepiftdXXeiv ra Xeirra
irXola teal irapafyvXaaaeiv, 6Va)9 firjBefiia to??
TToXefiioLs iiwrXeoPTos avrov yevono pbTjBafioOev
irpoaiodi)cris*
3 "Eru^e Be Kal iroXvv o/i/3pov e^ai^vr]^ iiri-
ireaovra Kal fipovra? Kal £6<j)ov avvepyrjaav Kal
crvveiTiKpv'^rai rrjv irapacricevrjv. ov yap jjlovov
TOU9 7T0\€fJLL0V<; eXaOeV, dXXd Kal TOl>9 *A@7)VaLOVS
aTreyvcoKoras tfBr) efx^rjvat, KeXevaas avfyOr).
fCCll fJL€TCL pblKpOV 6 T€ ^6cf)0<; BieXv@7} Kal KCLTO)-
<f>0r}crav al roiv HeXoirovvrjaLcov vf}e<} alcopovfjuevai
4 irpb rod Xifiepos rcov Kv^lktjvcou. Be[(ra$ ovv 6
'AXKi/3idBr)<; firj Bid to irXrjdos avrbv it poiBovres
6t9 Tr)V yrjv KaTacf)vycoai, tovs fxev arparr^yov^
eKeXevaev V (TV XV 7r\G0VTa$ vTroXe'nreaOai, avrb?
Be TeTTapd/covra vavs e^cov efyaivero /cal irpov-
/caXeiTO tou9 TToXefiiov?. eVet S' e^rfirdrrjvTO
Kal KarafypovrjaavTes 009 eirl roaavTas dvre^rj-
Xaaav, avrol fiev evOvs e^rjirrovro Kal (TweirXe-
kovto, to)v £' aXXcov tfBrj yLayop,kvoi<$ eiri^epo-
/jievcdv eKTrXayevres ecpeuyov.
5 f O 8' 'AXKi/3id8r)<; eiKoai Tat9 dpiarais BieKirXev-
aas Kal it poa ftaXcbv rfj yfj Kal a7ro/3a9, eveKCLTO
TO?9 (f)€VyOV(TlV 6K TCt)V V6WV Kal TToXXov? €(f)06lp€'
MtvBdpov Be Kal <£>apva/3d%ov 7rpoaffo7]0ovvrcov
Kparrjaas, top puev MuvBapov dveiXev eppcofievw^
6 dy(ovit6p£vov, 6 Be Qapvdfta^os ecpvye. ttoXXwv
Be Kal veKpwv Kal ottXwv Kpart]cravTe<i rd<; re
vavs a7raaa9 eXafiov, xeipcoadfievoi Be Kal Kv&kop,
82
ALCIBIADES, xxvm. 2-6
giving orders at once to seize all small trading craft
and keep them under guard, that the enemy might
get no warning of his approach from any source so
ever.
Now it chanced that copious rain fell all of a sup-
den, and thunder-peals and darkness cooperated with
him in concealing his design. Indeed, not only did
he elude the enemy, but even the Athenians them-
selves had already given up all expectation of fighting,
when he suddenly ordered them aboard ship and put
out to sea. After a little the darkness cleared away,
and the Peloponnesian ships were seen hovering off
the harbour of Cyzicus. Fearing then lest they catch
sight of the full extent of his array and take refuge
ashore, he ordered his fellow-commanders to sail
slowly and so remain in the rear, while he himself,
with only forty ships, hove in sight and challenged
the foe to battle. The Peloponnesians were utterly
deceived, and scorning what they deemed the small
numbers of their enemy, put out to meet them, and
closed at once with them in a grappling fight.
Presently, while the battle was raging, the Athenian
reserves bore down upon their foe, who were panic
stricken and took to flight.
Then Alcibiades with twenty of his best ships
broke though their line, put to shore, and disem-
barking his crews, attacked his enemy as they fled
from their ships, and slew many of them. Mindarus
and Pharnabazus, who came to their aid, he over-
whelmed ; Mindarus was slain fighting sturdily, but
Pharnabazus made his escape. Many were the dead
bodies and the arms of which the Athenians became
masters, and they captured all their enemy's ships.
Then they also stormed Cyzicus, which Pharnabazus
83
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
itcXlTTOVTOS TOU <& CL pl> CL (S d^OV Kai TCDV UeXoTTOV-
vqaiwv BtacpOapevrcov, ou fxovov rbv EiXXijcnroi'TOV
el^ov j3ej3aLfi)s, dXXa teal t?}? aXXrjs OaXdrrr)?
e^rjXaaav Kara /cpdros tovs AaxeBai/ioviovs.
edXw Be Kai ypd/JL/jbara Xcucwvucws (ppd^ovra rots
'Ecfyopois tt)V yey€V7]/jLevr)v drvxlav ""Eppei rd
icdXcf MlvBapo? direaaova' ttgivcovti ToovBpes'
diropiofxef; tl ^prj Bpdv."
XXIX. Ovrco 8' 67rr)p0r)<Tav oi /xera rov 'AXki-
ftidBov (TTparevcrd/jLevoi Kai rocrovrov icfypovrjaav
coar dira^iovv en rots ciXXols Kara/juyvvvaL
arparicorats eavrovs 7roXXdKL5 rjrrrj^evois dyjr-
rrjrovs ovras. Kai yap oh ttoXXw irpbrepov crvve-
/3e/3r)K€L rrraiaavros irepVYLtyecrov rov ®pacrvX\ov
to yakKovv aveardvai rporraiov imb ra>v ^Etyeaiwv
2 err ala^vvrj rcov ^AO^vaiwv. ravr ovv ooveiBi^ov
oi /xerd rov 'AXKiftidBov rols (xerd rov ®paavXXov,
LieyaXvvovres avrovs Kai rbv arparrjyov, ixeivoi?
Be fir^re yvfjbvaaicov firjre ^co/ja? ev arparoireBw
Koivwveiv eOeXovres. iirel Be <$>apvd(3a%o$ irrrreas
re 7roXXov<; eywv koa ire^ovs e7rrj\6ev avrols
€fjLfi€/3Xi]KOO-lV 6t9 TT)V ' Af3vBr]V(x)V, 6 8' ' ' AXKiftldBr)?
€K/3or)@7)cra<; eV avrbv erpe^jraro Kai KareBiw^ev
d\pi o-k6tov<} /xerd rov SpaavXXov, Kai dvcfiiy-
vvvto Kai KOLvfj (f>t,Xo(f)povovfjL€voi Kai yaipovres
erravrjeaav eU to crrparoireBov.
3 T17 8' varepaiq. art] eras rpoiraiov eXerjXdret rrjv
<\>apvaj3d^ov yu>pav ohBevbs d/xvvecrOai to\/xcoi>to9.
iepels fievTOi, Kai iepelas eXaj3e /xev, dXX' dcftrjKev
dveu Xvrpcov. XaXKr)8ovioi<; 8' d(peara)cri Kai
84
ALCIBIADES, xxvm. 6-xxix. 3
abandoned to its fate, and the Peloponnesians in
it were annihilated. Thus the Athenians not only
had the Hellespont under their sure control, but
even drove the Lacedaemonians at a stroke from
the rest of the sea. A dispatch was captured an-
nouncing the disaster to the ephors in true laconic
style : " Our ships are lost ; Mindarus is gone ; our
men are starving ; we know not what to do."
XXIX. But the soldiers of Alcibiades were now
so elated and filled with pride that they disdained
longer to mingle with the rest of the army, since it
had often been conquered, while they were un-
conquered. For not long before this, 1 Thrasyllus
had suffered a reverse at Ephesus, and the Ephesians
had erected their bronze trophy of victory, to the
disgrace of the Athenians. This was what the
soldiers of Alcibiades cast in the teeth of Thrasyllus'
men, vaunting themselves and their general, and
refusing to share either training or quarters in
camp with them. But when Pharnabazus with
much cavalry and infantry attacked the forces of
Thrasyllus, who had made a raid into the territory
of Abydos, Alcibiades sallied out to their aid, routed
Pharnabazus, and pursued him till nightfall, along
with Thrasyllus. Thus the two factions were blended,
and returned to their camp with mutual friendliness
and delight.
On the following day Alcibiades set up a trophy
of victory and plundered the territory of Pharnabazus,
no one venturing to defend it. He even captured
some priests and priestesses, but let them go without
ransom. On setting out to attack Chalcedon, which
1 Daring the summer of 410 B.C., after the victory of
Cyzicus.
vol. iv. n 5
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
BeBeyfievois cjipovpdv /ecu dpfjboa-rrjv Aa/ceBat/iovicov
ayp/jLTj/jLevos TroXefielv, d/covcras & on rrjv \eiav
irdaav e/c Trj$ yjapas crvvayayovTes et? BlOvvovs
vire/cTiOevTai l (J>l\ov<; 6Vt<x?, rj/cev iirl rovs opov?
dycov to crTpdrev/Ma, /ca\ /crjpv/ca 7rpo7refMyjra<;
eve/cdXei to£? Bi0vvol<;. oi Be Beiaavres rrjv re
\eiav direBoaav avrco /cat <fii\iav oopLokoyr^aav.
XXX. ' 'A7TOT6t%tfoyLteVr7? Be rrj<; yLa\/cr]B6vo<;
e/c daXciTTr)^ els OdXarrav, 6 Qapvafia^os rj/cev
go? Xvacov rrjv iroKiopKiaVy /cat 'iTrTro/cpdrrjs 6
appLO(TTr)S etc rr}? 7roA,eco? egayayoov rrjv crvv
avrcp Bvvapnv eTre^eipei rocs 9 A0rjvaloL<;. 6 S'
' AX/ei/3idBr)<; dp,a irpbs dpefiorepovs avTirdi;a<; to
arpdrevfjia, rbv puev Qapvdfta^ov atcr^ow? <f>evyeiv
rfvdy/eacre, rbv o° 'lirTTOKparrj Bie(f)Oeipe /ecu av%vov$
twv irepX avrbv rjTTrjOevra*;.
EZt' avrbs /lev e/cirXevaas eh rbv 'JLXXtfcnrovTOV
rjpyvpoXoyet ical SrjXvftpiav elXev, cufrei&ijcras
eavrov TTCLpa rbv /caipov. oi yap evBtBovres rrjv
ttoXiv avvedevro /xev dvacr)(r}o~eiv irvpabv av7<p
IAeo~ov<rr}<$ vv/cros, r/vay/cdaOrjaav Be rovro 7rotrjaac
TTpb rod /caipov, rcov avvcopLorcbv riva (f>of3r]0evTe<z
ej;aL(pvr)s pLeraj3aX6/nevov. dpOevros ovv rov irvp-
aov fjLrjBeTTQ) ttjs o-Tparta<; 01/0-779 eTot/xr??, dvaXa-
ficov ocrov rpid/covra irepl avrbv eireiyero Bp6/j,q>
7T/?o? rd rei^rj, tou? aXXovs eirecrOai Kara rd%o<;
/ceXevaas. avoi'^deCarj^ Be rrj<; irvXr)^ avrw teal
irpoayevofievcov Tot? rpid/covra 7reXraarcov ei/coai
Trapeiairecrcbv evdvs yaOero rov<; 'Erj\vj3piavovs
ef evavrias fierd rcov ottXgov eTncpepofievow;. eVei
1 vTrfKridevTai with M a and Cobet : iKrldevrat.
86
ALCIBIADES, xxix. 3-xxx. 3
had revolted from Athens and received a Lacedae-
monian garrison and governor, he heard that its
citizens had collected all their goods and chattels out
of the country and committed them for safe keeping
to the Bithynians, who were their friends. So he
marched to the confines of Bithynia with his army,
and sent on a herald with accusations and demands.
The Bithynians, in terror, gave up the booty to him,
and made a treaty of friendship.
XXX. While Chalcedon was being walled in from
sea to sea, 1 Pharnabazus came to raise the siege, and
at the same time Hippocrates, the Spartan governor,
led his forces out of the city and attacked the
Athenians. But Alcibiades arrayed his army so as
to face both enemies at once, put Pharnabazus to
shameful flight, and slew Hippocrates together with
many of his vanquished men.
Then he sailed in person into the Hellespont and
levied moneys there. He also captured Selymbria,
where he exposed himself beyond all bounds. For
there was a party in the city which offered to sur-
render it to him, and they had agreed with him upon
the signal of a lighted torch displayed at midnight.
But they were forced to give this signal before the
appointed time, through fear of one of the con-
spirators, who suddenly changed his mind. So the
torch was displayed before his army was ready ; but
Alcibiades took about thirty men and ran to the walls,
bidding the rest of his force follow with all speed.
The gate was thrown open for him and he rushed
into the city, his thirty men-at-arms reinforced by
twenty targeteers, but he saw at once that the
Selymbrians were advancing in battle array to attack
1 In the spring of 409 B.C.
87
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
8* virodTavTi fiev ovrc ificdvero acorrjpta, Trpo<s Be
rb fyvyelv, drjrrrjro^ <*<XP L T ^ ? i)p>epa<; e/celvrjs iv
TCti? <tt parity Lai? yeyovcos, (fiiXovei/coTepov eZ^e,
rfj adXinyyi Gr\p,r)va<$ aKoirrjv i/ceXevaev eva rcov
irapovTcov avenrelv %r]Xv/3pi,avoL<; ' AOrjvaiovs evav-
4 Tia oirXa fir) riOecrOai,. rovro to KJjpvy/xa tou?
/lev dfiftXvrepovs iiroi^cre irpbs tt)v /jLd%r)v, &>?
rcov iroXepbicov evBov ovrcov diravTcoVy ol Be Tat?
eXiricriv r)B'iov<; iyevovro 777)09 to? BiaXvcrei,<;. iv
co Be avardvre^ dXXrjXois iBLBoaav Xoyov, eir^Xdev
t) arparta rco 'AX/a/3idBr), /cal Te/cpLaipofievos, oirep
r)v, elprjviica (f>pov€?v tov<? HrjXvftpLavovSj eBeiae
6 firj rrjv iroXtv ol ®pafce<; Biapirdacoaiv. rjaav Be
iToXXol, ydpiri rod *AXfci/3idBov teal Bi evvoiav
arparevbfievoi irpodvpLtos. drrerrefx^rev ovv rov-
tou? drravra^ etc rf}<; 7roA,ea)?, tou? Be XrjXvftpLa-
vovs BerjBevra^ ovBev r/Bl/crjcrev, dXXa ^prj^ara
Xaftoov /cal cfypovpdv iy/carao~rr)cra<; aTrrjXOev.
XXXI. Ol Be iroXiop/covvres rrjv XaX/crjBova
arparrjyol airovBas eiroirjaavro 7rpo? Qapvdfta^ov
iirl rco Xp7]fiaTa Xa/3e?v /cal XaXfcrjBovlovs viri)-
koovs rrdXiv *A0r)vaLoi<z elvai, rrjv Be Qapvaftd^ov
Xoapav purj dBt/celv, Qapvdfta^ov Be 7rpecrf3eo~iv
'AOrjvaicov 7T/oo? ftacuXea iropbiryjv fier dacjyaXeias
2 irapacryeW' &>? ovv iiraveXOovra rbv 'AXrci-
fiidBrjv 6 <&apvd/3a£o<; rjglov /cal avrbv bfioaat irepl
rcov co/ioXoyrj/jievcov, ov/c ecprj irporepov r) e/celvov
avTois 6/jLocrai.
Tevofxevcov Be rcov op/ccov eiri Bv£avrlov$ dcj>e-
88
ALCIBIADES, xxx. 3-xxxi. 2
him. In resistance he saw no safety, and for flight,
undefeated as he was in all his campaigns down to
that day, he had too much spirit. He therefore bade
the trumpet signal silence, and then ordered formal
proclamation to be made that Selymbria must not bear
arms against Athens. This proclamation made some of
the Selymbrians less eager for battle, if, as they sup-
posed, their enemies were all inside the walls ; and
others were mollified by hopes of a peaceful settlement.
While they were thus parleying with one another, up
came the army of Alcibiadcs. Judging now, as was
really the case, that the Selymbrians were disposed
for peace, he was afraid that his Thracian soldiers
might plunder the city. There were many of these,
and they were zealous in their service, through the
favour and good will they bore Alcibiades. Ac-
cordingly, he sent them all out of the city, and
then, at the plea of the Selymbrians, did their
city no injury whatever, but merely took a sum of
money from it, set a garrison in it, and went his
way.
XXXI. Meanwhile the Athenian generals who
were besieging Chalcedon made peace with Pharna-
bazus on condition that they receive a sum of money,
that Chalcedon be subject again to Athens, that the
territories of Pharnabazus be not ravaged, and that
the said Pharnabazus furnish safe escort for an
Athenian embassy to the King. Accordingly, when
Alcibiades came back from Selymbria, Pharnabazus
demanded that he too take oath to the treaty ; but
Alcibiades refused to do so until Pharnabazus had
taken his oath to it.
After the oaths had been taken, he went up
against Byzantium, which was in revolt against
89
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
crrwra? rj\6e /cal irepteTeix^ Trjv iroXiv. 'Ava-
giXdov Be /cal Av/covpyov /cal rivcov aXXcov avv-
0€/jL€Vcov iirl crcoTrjpla rrrapaBcoaeiv rrjv ttoXlv,
BiaSovs Xoyov &>? avidrrjaLV avrov? irpdypuaTa
vecoTepa orvviard/jieva irepl ttjv 'Icovlav, 77/xepa?
3 direTrXei Tat? vavcrl Trdacus, vvktos S' vTroarpeijra*;
avrbs fiev direct) fiera tcov ottXltow /cal irpoaeX-
Ocov roi$ Tel^eaiv rjav^iav rjyev, at Be vrjes iirl
rov Xipukva irXevaaaav /cal $iat,bfxevai /cpavyrj re
7roXXf) /cal 9opvl3oi<; /cal tyofyois dfxa /nev efe-
TrXrjTTOV tw aTrpoaBo/c^Ta) tol*? Bufaimoi/?, dpua
Be rot? dm/c^oven irapelypv etr dBela<z tov
'AX/ciftidBrjv Be^eaOait irdvTcov iirl tov Xifieva ical
4 Ta? vavs ftorjdovvTwv. ov firjv dp,a%el irpoo~-
e\d)pr)aav' ol yap irapovres ev tw Bv£avTL<p IleXo-
irovvrjcnoL /cal BokotoI /cal Meyapels tol^? puev dirb
twv vewv irpeyjravTo /cal /caOetp^av eh Ta? vai>s
irdXcv, tovs B y 'AOrjvalov? evBov 6Wa? ala66p,evoi
ical o-vvrdtjavTe? eavrovs eyd>povv ofiocre. /cap-
Tepas Be p^dyri^ yevo/xevr)? ivl/crjaev *AX/cL/3idBr)<;
to Be^ibv /cipas exuyv, ®r)pap,ev7]<; Be to evcovu/iov,
/cal to)v iroXepuov tou? Treptyevo/jLevovs oaov
t pt,a/coo~lov<; fa)i>Ta? eXa/3e.
5 Bv&vtIcdv Be /j,€Ta Trjv pd^v ovBeU dire-
Oavev ovB? efyvyev- iirl tovtois yap ol avBpe? 21
irapeBocrav ttjv iroXiv ical TavTa avveOevTO,
p,r)Bev avToi? cBiov vire^eXofievot. Bib ical Bl/crjv
irpoBoalas ev Aa/ceBalfiovu (frevycov 6 'AmfiAao?
90
ALCIBIADES, xxxi. 2-5
Athens, and compassed the city with a wall. 1 But
after Anaxilaiis, Lycurgus, and certain men besides
had agreed to surrender the city to him on condition
that it be not plundered, he spread abroad the
story that threatening complications in Ionia called
him away. Then he sailed off in broad daylight
with all his ships ; but in the night time stealthily
returned. He disembarked with the men-at-arms
under his own command, and stationed himself
quietly within reach of the city's walls. His fleet,
meanwhile, sailed to the harbour, and forcing its way
in with much shouting and tumult and din, terrified
the Byzantians by the unexpectedness of its attack,
while it gave the party of Athens in the city a
chance to admit Alcibiades in all security, since
everybody had hurried off to the harbour and the
fleet. However, the day was not won without a battle.
The Peloponnesians, Boeotians and Megarians who
were in garrison at Byzantium routed the ships' crews
and drove them back on board again. Then, per-
ceiving that the Athenians were inside the city, they
formed in battle array and advanced to attack them.
A fierce battle followed, but Alcibiades was vic-
torious with the right wing, as well as Theramenes
with the left, and they took prisoners no less than
three hundred of the enemy who survived.
Not a man of the Byzantians was put to death or
sent into exile after the battle, for it was on these
conditions that the men who surrendered the city
had acted, and this was the agreement with them ;
they exacted no special grace for themselves.
Therefore it was that when Anaxilaiis was prosecuted
at Sparta for treachery, his words showed clearly
1 During the winter of 409-408 b.o.
91
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
i(f>dvr) Tft) Xoyw to epyov ovk alcryyvwv. e(f>r) yap
ovk cov AaKeBaifiovios, dXXa Iftv^dvrios, ovBe rrjv
^7rdprr]v KivBvvevovaav, dXXa to "Bv^avnov
opojv, t% fiev 7roXe&)? dirorereL^io-fjievr]^, fir)8evb<;
6 £' elaayo/jievov, rbv B? ovra alrov ev rrj iroXei
TleXoTrovvrjaLtttv Kal TSolwtcov eaOiovrwv, T5v£av-
tlcov Be ireivoovTcov crvv reKVois Kal yvvai^Lv, ov
irpoBovvai to?9 iroXe/jLLOts, dXXa iroXeixwv Kal
kclkwv dTraWdijcu ttjv 7roXiv y fJLijJLOVfievos tou?
dpiarov^ Aa/ce&aifjLovicov, ot? ev KaXbv dirXo)^ teal
BiKaiov ean to rfjs 7rarpiBo<; avficfrepov. oi fiev
ovv AatceBatfiovioi, ravr* dfcovaavres rjBea-Orjaav
Kal direXvorav tou? avBpa<;.
XXXII. 'O 8' 'A\/afiid&r)<; IBelv re ttoOcov rjBrj
ra oi/coi, teal ert puaXXov 6(f>0rjvcu fiovXofievo?
TOLS TTOklTCLlS VeVlKT]KOO^ TOU9 TToXejJLlOVS TO<TdV-
rd/CLS, dvifyOr}, ttoXXclls jjuev dairlai Kal Xacfivpots
kvkXg) /cefco(T/jLr)fievQ)v rwv 'Attikojv rpiypcov,
7roXXd<; B* ifyeX/co/JLevos alx/LiaXcorovs, en Be irXeico
ko/jll&v d/cpocrroXia ro)v BiefyOapfievwv vir avrov
/cal KefcpaTrjfievcDV. rjcrav yap ovk eXdrrov? crvv-
afKporepat BiaKoaiwv.
2 ,V A Be Aovpis o lEa/xto? ' AXtciftidBov (f)d(TKcov
diroyovo*; elvat irpoaTiQ^ai tovtois, ai/Xecv fiev
elpeaiav Tot? eXavvovai Xpvaoyovov rbv itvOlo-
vIktjv, KeXeveiv Be KaXXiTnr tBrjv rbv rwv rpayw-
Bia>v viroKpiTTqv, ara^ov^ Kal i;vo~TiBa<; /cal rbv
92
ALCIBIADES, xxxi. 5-xxxii. 2
that his deeds had not been disgraceful. He said
that lie was not a Lacedaemonian, but a Byzantian,
and it was not Sparta that was in peril. Considering
therefore the case of Byzantium, he saw that the
city was walled up, that no help could make its way
in, and that the provisions already in the city were
being consumed by Peloponnesians and Boeotians,
while the Byzantians were starving, together with
their wives and children. He had, therefore, not
betrayed the city to its enemies, but set it free from
war and its horrors, therein imitating the noblest
Lacedaemonians, in whose eyes the one unqualifiedly
honourable and righteous thing is their country's
good. The Lacedaemonians, on hearing this, were
moved with sincere respect, and acquitted the men.
XXXII. But Alcibiades, yearning at last to see
his home, and still more desirous of being seen by
his fellow citizens, now that he had conquered their
enemies so many times, set sail. 1 His Attic triremes
were adorned all round with many shields and spoils
of war ; many that he had captured in battle were
towed along in his wake ; and still more numerous
were the figure-heads he carried of triremes which
had been overwhelmed and destroyed by him.
There were not less than two hundred of these all
together.
Duris the Samian, who claims that he was a
descendant of Alcibiades, gives some additional
details. He says that the oarsmen of Alcibiades
rowed to the music of a flute blown by Chrysogonus
the Pythian victor ; that they kept time to a
rhythmic call from the lips of Callipides the tragic
actor; that both these artists were arrayed in the
1 From Samos, in the spring of 408 b.o.
93
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
aXXov evaycoviov djxireyopukvov^ koctjjlov, lariw 8*
dXovpyco tt)v vavap\i8a it po o cf>i pea 6 ] ai rot? Xi/ie-
3 aiv, coairep etc fieOrj^ eiriKWjxd^ovTO^, ovre ®eo-
7ro/A7ro? ovt "E<£o/)o? ovt€ £,evocptov yey pa<pev,
ovt el/cbs rjv oi/toj? evrpvfyrjaai toZs WO^vaiot^
jxera cfavyrjv teal trvficpopas Toaavras Karep)^6fie-
vov, d\X' e/eelvos teal Seottos /cartfyeTO, teal Kara^-
Oeis ov irporepov aire^rj t% rpirjpovs, irpiv ara<;
eirl tov fcara(TTpa)fiaro<; ISeZv JLvpvirToXefiov re
tov dveyjribv irapovra teal tw^ aXXwv cpiXcov teal
oitceiiov av)(yov<; itcSexo/jievovs teal TrapatcaXovv-
Tft?.
4 'Fiirel S' aTrefiri, rou? puev aXXov? o-Tpcnrjyovs
ovft bpav iBoKOvv aTravTcovTes ol avdpcoiroi, irpbs
S' etceZvov avvrpkyovres ej3ocov, ^aird^ovTO, nrape-
7re/j,7rov, ear e$ avow irpoaiovTes, ol 8e fxr) 8vvd-
fxevoi TpoaeXOeZv aircoQev eOecovTO, koX Tot? veois
eBeltcvvaav ol ivpeaftvTepoi. ttoXv Be koX 8d-
Kpvov ra> yaipovri t?}? TroXeco? dvetcetcpaTO, teal
/jLvrjfjbr) 7rpo? ttjv irapovaav evTvylav tcov irpoaOev
drv^rj/jLaTCOV, \oyi%ofj,evoi<$ ox? ovt av SitceXlas
5 8trjfjLaprov ovt aXXo tl tcov Trpoa8otcr}6evTcov
itjecpvyev avToix; edaavTas ' AXtcifiid8'qv iirl tcov
tote TrpaypbaTwv /cal tt)<; Bwdpuecos etceLVTjs, el vvv
ttjv ttoXlv irapaXaficov oXiyov 8eovaav etcireiTTCo-
tcevai tt}? 6aXaTTr)<;, tcaTa yrjv Be poXis tcov
7r poaaTeicov tcpaTovaav, avTrjv Be 7rpo? eavTrjv
cTTacrid^ovcrav, etc Xvirpwv 6Ti Xecyfrdvcov tcav TaireL-
vcov dvaaTr\aa<s ov fxovov l tj}? OaXaTTr)? to tcpaTOs
1 /j.6vov with M a and Cobet : ix6pov ye.
94
ALCIBIADES, xxxn. 2-5
long tunics, flowing robes, and other adornment of
their profession ; and that the commander's ship
put into harbours with a sail of purple hue, as though,
after a drinking bout, he were off on a revel. But
neither Theopompus, nor Ephorus, nor Xenophon
mentions these things, nor is it likely that Alcibiades
put on such airs for the Athenians, to whom he was
returning after he had suffered exile and many great
adversities. Nay, he was in actual fear as he put
into the harbour, and once in, he did not leave his
trireme until, as he stood on deck, he caught sight
of his cousin Euryptolemus on shore, with many
other friends and kinsmen, and heard their cries of
welcome.
When he landed, however, people did not deign so
much as to look at the other generals whom they met,
but ran in throngs to Alcibiades with shouts of
welcome, escorting him on his way, and putting
wreaths on his head as they could get to him, while
those who could not come to him for the throng,
gazed at him from afar, the elderly men pointing him
out to the young. Much sorrow, too, was mingled
with the city's joy, as men called to mind their
former misfortunes and compared them with their
present good fortune, counting it certain that they
had neither lost Sicily, nor had any other great
expectation of theirs miscarried if they had only
left Alcibiades at the head of that enterprise and the
armament therefor. For now he had taken the
city when she was almost banished from the sea,
when on land she was hardly mistress of her own
suburbs, and when factions raged within her walls,
and had raised her up from this wretched and lowly
plight, not only restoring her dominion over the sea,
95
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
diroBeBcofcev, dXXa /ecu ire^fj viKoaaav diroBeiKwat
Travrayov TOU? TToXe/jUOVS.
XXXIII. To pev ovv ^^(juafxa rf}$ /caOoBov
irporepov ifcefevpeoro, Kpiruov rod J^aXXaia^pov
ypdyjravTOS, &>9 avrbs iv raZ? iXeyeiais TreTroLr)-
K6V, V7rO/jLlflVlj(TKQ>V TOV *AXtCl/3ldBr}V T% %a/HTO?
iv TOVTOW
Yvco/uLr) 8* rj ae Karrjyay, iyeb ravrrjv iv diraaiv
elirov, teal ypdyjras rovpyov eBpacra roBe.
a<f)payl<> S' rjfjLereprjs yXcorrr]^ iirl rolaBeai
/celraf
2 rare Be rod Br)f.iov <rvve\66i>TOs et? rrjv i/c/cXrjo-iav
irapeXOoov 6 y A\iei/3idBr)<} t teal ra piev avrov irddq 210
/cXavaas teal 6Xocf>vpdpievo<;, iyKa\eaa<; Be puicpa
real piirpia tw Bijpuo), to Be avp,7rav dvaOel? avrov
tlvi TVXV ^ovrjpa teal (f>dovepw Bai/iovi, rrXelara
B' eh iXiTiBas rcov rroXepicov koX 7r/)o? to Oappelv
BiaXe^Oel^ teal Trapoppufjaas, o-T6<pdvoi<; jiev iare-
(pavcoOr] %puo-ot?, ypkBt] S' dpua /cal Kara yr\v koX
3 Kara OdXaaaav avroKpdrwp arparrjyo^. iyjrrj-
<f>Lo~avTO Be rrjv ovaiav diroBovvat avrw, teal ras
dpd$ d<f>oo~icoo~ao-0aL ttoXiv Ei) pboXiriBas koX JZrfpv-
ica?, a? eiroujaavro tov Brjpov irpoard^avTO^,
d(po(TLovpLev(ov Be rcov aXXcov, QeoBcopos o lepo-
(f)dvT7]<; " 'A\V iyoo" elirev, u ovBe tcaTrjpaad-
pLrjr avra> tcaKQV ovBev, el pa^Bev dBi/cel ttjp
ttoXiv"
9 6
ALCIBIADES, xxxn. 5-xxxm. 3
but actually rendering her victorious over her enemies
everywhere on land.
XXXIII. Now the decree for his recall had been
passed before this, 1 on motion of Critias, the son of
Callaeschrus, as Critias himself has written in his
elegies, where he reminds Alcibiades of the favour
in these words : —
" Mine was the motion that brought thee back ; I
made it in public ;
Words and writing were mine ; this the task I
performed ;
Signet and seal of words that were mine give
warrant as follows." 2
At this time, 3 therefore, the people had only to meet
in assembly, and Alcibiades addressed them. He
lamented and bewailed his own lot, but had only
little and moderate blame to lay upon the people.
The entire mischief he ascribed to a certain evil
fortune and envious genius of his own. Then he
descanted at great length upon the vain hopes
which their enemies were cherishing, and wrought
his hearers up to courage. At last they crowned him
with crowns of gold, and elected him general with
sole powers by land and sea. They voted also that
his property be restored to him, and that the
Eumolpidae and Heralds revoke the curses wherewith
they had cursed him at the command of the people.
The others revoked their curses, but Theodorus the
High Priest said : " Nay, I invoked no evil upon him
if he does no wrong to the city."
1 Nearly three years before, in the late autumn of 411 B.C.,
after the overthrow of the Four Hundred.
2 Bergk, Poet. Lyr. (,'raeri, ii. 4 pp. 279 ff.
3 In the early summer of 408 B.o.
97
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
XXXIV. Ovrco Be rov 'AXKiftidBov XapLirpws
evr)fjL6povvTO<; vireOparrev enow o/xco? o tt)? kclOo-
Bov teaipos. JJ yap V^P? fcareirXevcrev, iBpdro
ra UXvvrtjpia rfj Oeoj. Bpcbai Be ra opyia
Tipa^iepyLBai ®apyr)Xia>i>o<; e/crr) <J)0lvovto<; airop-
prjra, rov re Koapuov fcaOeXovre? Kal to eBos
KaTcucaXv^avTes. oOev ev tcu? pAXiara twv
dirocppdBcov ttjv rjfiepav ravrrjv dirpaKrov 'AOrj-
2 vaiov vopi^ovaiv. ov (j>iXo<f)p6v(0<; ovv ovB y ev-
fievSi<; eSSfcet, irpoaBe^Ofxevr) rov J AXKi/3idBr)v rj
#eo? 7rapaKaXv7TT€o-0at teal direXavveiv eavri]<;.
ov firjv dXXa irdvrcov yeyovorcov ra> 'AX/cifttdBrj
Kara yvco/JLyv, Kal 7rXr]pov/iiev(ov e/carbv rpirjpoov
als avOis eicirXelv e/jieXXe, (f>CkoTi,fiia ti<; ovk
dyevvrjs Trpoaireaovaa Karecr^ev avrbv &XP L
jJLVO-Tr)pl(OV.
3 'Ac/)' ov yap eireieiyiaOr) Ae/ceXeia teal rebv
eh 'EiXevcriva irapoBcov eicpdrovv oi iroXepLioi
irapovres, ovBeva kogjjlov elyev 7) reXerrj irep.iro-
fievT) /cara OdXarrav, dXXa /cal dvaiai Kal
yppetai /cal iroXXa tcov Bpay/juevcov icaO' 6Bbv
iepoov, orav egeXavvcocri, top "laK^pv, V7r* dvdyfcrjs
4 e^eXeiirero. icaXbv ovv ecfraiveTO tw 'AXfafiidBr)
Kal 7T/309 deoyv oaiorrjra /cal 777)0? dvOpooircov
Bo^av diroBovvai to irdrpiov cr^rj/xa tois lepols,
7rapa7re/JLyjravra Tre^fj ttjv reXerrjv /cal Bopv(poprj*
aavra irapa rovs 7ro\e/uou?* rj yap drpe/jLTjaavra
KOfiiBf) KoXovaeiv /cal TaireLvooaeiv rov *Ayiv, rj
fidxrjv iepdv Kal OeotytXfj irepl r&v dyicoTarcop
9 s
ALCIBIADES, xxxiv. 1-4
XXXIV. But while Alcibiades was thus prospering
brilliantly, some were nevertheless disturbed at the
particular season of his return. For he had put into
harbour on the very day when the Plynteria of the
goddess Athene were being celebrated. The Praxier-
gidae celebrate these rites on the twenty-fifth day
of Thargelion, in strict secrecy, removing the robes
of the goddess and covering up her image. Where-
fore the Athenians regard this day as the unluckiest
of all days for business of any sort. The goddess,
therefore, did not appear to welcome Alcibiades
with kindly favour and good will, but rather to veil
herself from him and repel him. However, all things
fell out as he wished, and one hundred triremes were
manned for service, with which he was minded to
sail off again ; but a great and laudable ambition
took possession of him and detained him there until
the Eleusinian mysteries.
Ever since Deceleia had been fortified, and the
enemy, by their presence there, commanded the
approaches to Eleusis, the festal rite had been cele-
brated with no splendour at all, being conducted by
sea. Sacrifices, choral dances, and many of the
sacred ceremonies usually held on the road, when
Iacchus is conducted forth from Athens to Eleusis,
had of necessity been omitted. Accordingly, it
seemed to Alcibiades that it would be a fine thing,
enhancing his holiness in the eyes of the gods and
his good repute in the minds of men, to restore its
traditional fashion to the sacred festival by escorting
the rite with his infantry along past the enemy by
land. He would thus either thwart and humble
Agis, if the king kept entirely quiet, or would
fight a fight that was sacred and approved by the
99
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
/cal fieylarcov iv oyjrei t% 7rarpiBo<; fia^eta-dai,
Kal TravTas egeiv fidprvpas tol>? ttoXLtcls t?}?
dvBpayaOias.
5 '12? Be tolvt eyvco Kal irpoelirev ^vpioXiriBais
Kal K.rjpv%i, ct/cottous ptev iirl roiv a/cpcou i/caOccre
Kal TTpoSpo/JLOV? TLVCLS dpi r)/*€pa 7rpO€^€7T€fjLyjr€V,
iepels Be /cal pLvaras /cal pLvcrraywyov^ dvaXa-
ftcov Kal rots oirXois TrepiKaXv^as rjyev iv Koapuw
Kal fiera (tmotttjs, Oeapua aepuvbv Kal Oeoirpeire^
rr)v arparriyiav eKeivov iinBetKvvpbevo^, virb twv
fxrj (f)0ovovvro)V lepocfravri'av Kal pLvaraywytav
6 irpoaayopevofievrjv. pbrjBevbs Be twv iroXeplwi'
eiriQkaQai roXpurjo-avTo^ aa<f>aXa)<; iiravayaycov
el<$ rrjv ttoXiv, rjpOr) puev avrbs ra> (f)povrjpLaTi
Kal rrjv arpajiav iirr)pev a>? dpuaxov Kal
arJTTTjrov ovaav eKeivov o-TparrjyovvTos, toi>? Be
fyopTiKOvs Kal Trevr)Ta<z ovrcos iBrjfxaycoyrja-ev coar
epav epcora Oavpbaarbv vtt* eKeivov rvpavveladat,
Kal Xeyeiv iviov? Kal irpoaievai irapaKeXevopevovs
07r<»9 rov <p>06vov KpcLTTcov yevopuevo? Kal Kara-
fiaXwv TJrr](f)L(Tp,aTa Kal vofiovs Kal (f>\vdpov<;
airoXXvvTas rrjv ttoXlv to? av irpd^r) Kal %/o^-
arjTai rot? irpdypLaari, purj BeBico? toi>? <tvko-
(fravras.
XXXV. Auto? jiev ovv ifcetvos f)v el^e Bidvoiav
irepl tt}? TVpavviBo? aBrfhov eanv oi Be Bvvarco-
raToi T(av ttoXltcov (froftrjOevres icrrrovBaaav avrbv
eKirXevaav rrjv raxla-TTjv, rd r dXXa ylrrjcfrio-d-
puevoi Kal avvdpyovjas ou? eKeivov rjOeXrjcrev.
ioo
ALCIBIADES, xxxiv. 4-xxxv. i
gods, in behalf of the greatest and holiest interests,
in full sight of his native city, and with all his fellow
citizens eye-witnesses of his valour.
When he had determined upon this course and
made known his design to the Eumolpidae and
Heralds, he stationed sentries on the heights, sent
out an advance-guard at break of day, and then took
the priests, mystae, and mystagogues, encompassed
them with his men-at-arms, and led them over the
road to Eleusis in decorous and silent array. So
august and devout was the spectacle which, as
general, he thus displayed, that he was hailed by
those who were not unfriendly to him as High Priest,
rather, and Mystagogue. No enemy dared to attack
him, and he conducted the procession safely back to
the city. At this he was exalted in spirit himself,
and exalted his army with the feeling that it was
irresistible and invincible under his command.
People of the humbler and poorer sort he so captivated
by his leadership that they were filled with an
amazing passion to have him for their tyrant, and
some proposed it, and actually came to him in
solicitation of it. He was to rise superior to envy,
abolish decrees and laws, and stop the mouths of
the babblers who were so fatal to the life of the city,
that he might bear an absolute sway and act without
fear of the public informer.
XXXV. What thoughts he himself had about a
tyranny, is uncertain. But the most influential
citizens were afraid of it, and therefore anxious
that he should sail away as soon as he could. They
even voted him, besides everything else, the col-
leagues of his own choosing. Setting sail, 1 there-
1 Towards the end of October, 408 b.o.
ioi
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
e/c7rXevo-a<; Be Tat? e/carbv vaval ical TTpoaftaXoDV
"AvBpw, l^aXV ^ v ^pdrrjaev avrwv /cal Aa/cc-
Bai/JbovL(ov oaoi Traprjaav, ov^ elXe Be rrjv ttoXlv, 211
dXXa tovto ra>v /caivobv 1 ey/cXrj/uLaTcov irpwrov
virrjp^e /car avrov tols i^Opol^.
2 "Eoi/ce B\ el Tt9 aXXo<; } viro T779 avrov 80^779
fcaraXvOrjvai /cal *AXicifiiaBri<;. fieydXyi yap
ovaa /cal toA,//,??? /cal (rvvecrecos ye/xovaa dcfS <*)V
tCaTCOp0G)(T€V, VTTOTTTOV CLVTOV TO iXXellTOV, C09 OV
o~TrovBdaavTO<;, dirto-Tia rod fir) Bwr}dr)vanrape'i')(e %
o-irovBdaavra yap ovBev av Biafyvyelv. rfkni^ov
Be /cal Xtof9 eaXco/coras dicovaeo-Qai ko\ Tr)v
3 dXXrjv 'IwvLav. o9ev rjyavd/CTovv fir) Tayy Trdvra
/atiS' evOecos, co? iftovXovTO, irvvdavofievoi Bia-
ireirpayfievoVy oi>x vTroXoyL^ofievoi Tr)v d^pv-
fiariav, dfi 779 iroXefioiV Trpos dv6p(OTrov<$ ftaanXea
fjuiyav ^oprryov e%ovra<; r/vay/cd^ero 7roXXd/ci<;
e/cirXewv /cal aTroXeiiTGiv to arpaToireBov fiicrdovs
/cal Tpo<f*a<$ iropi^eiv. /cal yap to TeXevTalov
eyfcXr)/ia Bid TavTrjv eXafte ttjv aWiav.
4 AvcrdvBpov yap cttI ttjv vavap^lav diroo'Ta-
XivTos vtto AafceBaifiovLoyv, /cal T€Tpa>/3oXov dvTi
TpicofioXov tw vavTy BiBovto? if; &v eXa/3e irapd
Kvpov xprj/jLaToyv, auTO? r)Brj yXicrxpcos yopriy&v
/cal to TptcoftoXov dirrjpev dpyvpoXoyrjawv eirl
Kaplas. 6 5* d7roXei<pdel<; eirl tcov vewv eVt-
/jLeXr)Tr)<; 'A^rto^o9 dyados fiev rjv /cvf3epvr]Tr]<;,
5 dvoriro? Be TaXXa /cal (popTitcos' e^v Be irpoa-
1 KcuvSiv with Bekker, M a and Cobet : kou>u>v (public).
102
ALCIBIADES, xxxv. 1-5
fore, with his one hundred ships, and assaulting
Andros, he conquered the islanders in battle, as
well as the Lacedaemonians who were there, but
he did not capture the city. This was the first
of the fresh charges brought against him by his
enemies.
And it would seem that if ever a man was
ruined by his own exalted reputation, that man
was Alcibiades. His continuous successes gave
him such repute for unbounded daring and sagacity,
that when he failed in anything, men suspected
his inclination; they would not believe in his
inability. Were he only inclined to do a thing,
they thought, naught could escape him. So they
expected to hear that the Chians also had been
taken, along with the rest of Ionia. They were
therefore incensed to hear that he had not ac-
complished everything at once and speedily, to
meet their wishes. They did not stop to consider
his lack of money. This compelled him, since he
was fighting men who had an almoner of bounty
in the Great King, to leave his camp frequently
and sail off in quest of money for rations and wages.
The final and prevailing charge against him was due
to this necessity.
Lysander, who had been sent out as admiral by
the Lacedaemonians, paid his sailors four obols a
day instead of three, out of the moneys he received
from Cyrus ; while Alcibiades, already hard put to
it to pay even his three obols, was forced to sail
for Caria to levy money. The man whom he left
in charge of his fleet, Antiochus, 1 was a brave
captain, but otherwise a foolish and low-lived fellow.
1 Cf. chapter x. 1.
103
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
ray/aa irapa, tov i AXKi/3tdBov fir]B J av eiriirXeco-
cnv ol TroXepuoi Biavavfiaxeiv, ovtcos egvftpicre
Kal Kar€(f>p6v7jcrev coo~T€ rrjv avrov irX^pcoadjievos
TpirjpJ] Kal tcov ciXXcov fiiav eTTLTrXevaai rfj
'ILcpeacp Kal irapa ra? irpcopas tcov TroXejiicov
vecov ttoXXcl Kal irpdrrcov Kal cf>0eyy6p,evo<;
6 ciKoXaara Kal /3co/j,o\o%a irape^eXavveiv. to fiev
ovv irpcoTov AvtravBpos oXlyais vavalv eirava^O^
eBlcoKev avrov, tcov 5* 'AOrjvabcov eiriBorjOovvTcov
irdcrais dvayQeis Kal KpaTrjcras avrov ts Biecfrdeipe
top ' Avtlo%ov Kal vav<$ eXafie iroXXas Kal dvOpco-
7TOU9 Kal Tpbiraiov ecrTrjaev. cos Be TavT r]Kovaev
6 'AXKiftidSrjs eiraveXOcov els ^d/jiov, av^yBi)
iravTi tco lttoXco Kal irpovKaXelTO tov AvcravBpov.
6 B* rjydira vevtKrjKcos Kal ovk dvTavtfyeTO.
XXXVI. Tcov Be /jlcctovvtcov tov *A\Kt,/3idB7)v
ev tco cTTpaTorreBcp ®pacrv/3ovXos 6 Spdacovos
e%0pbs cov diTr\pev eh ' AOrjvas KaTrjyoprfcTcov. Kal
tovs CKel nrapo^vvas eXeye irpbs tov BPj/jlov cos
'A\/a/3mS?7? BiecpdapKe tcl Trpdy/xara Kal tc\s
vavs diroXcoXeKev, evrpvobcov Tjj dp^f) Kal rrapa-
BiBovs tt]V o~i paTTjyiav dvdpcoirois eK irorcov Kal
vavTiKrjs aTrepfioXoyias Bwapuevois irap avTco
2 fieyiaTov, ottcos ai/TOS eir dBeias XP r lf lcir ^V Ta t'
irepiirXecov Kal aKoXaaTaivr] /xeOvaKOfievos Kal
ctwcov eTaipaus 'AfivBiyvals Kal 'Icovitriv, ecpop-
fjLOvvTcov Be oXiyov tcov TroXejiicov. ivcKaXovv
104
ALCIBIADES, xxxv. 5-xxxvi. 2
Although he had received explicit commands from
Alcibiades not to hazard a general engagement even
though the enemy sailed out to meet him, he showed
such wanton contempt of them as to man his own
trireme and one other and stand for Ephesus,
indulging in many shamelessly insulting gestures
and cries as he cruised past the prows of the
enemy's ships. At first Lysander put out with a
few ships only, and gave him chase. Then, when
the Athenians came to the aid of Antiochus,
Lysander put out with his whole fleet, won the day,
slew Antiochus himself, captured many ships and
men, and set up a trophy of victory. As soon as
Alcibiades heard of this, he came back to Samos, put
out to sea with his whole armament, and challenged
Lysander to battle. But Lysander was satisfied
with his victory, and would not put out to meet
him.
XXXVI. There were those who hated Alcibiades
in the camp, and of these Thrasybulus, 1 the son of
Thraso, his particular enemy, set sail for Athens to
denounce him. He stirred up the city against him
by declaring to the people that it was Alcibiades
who had ruined their cause and lost their ships by
his wanton conduct in office. He had handed over — so
Thrasybulus said — the duties of commander to men
who won his confidence merely by drinking deep
and reeling off* sailors' yarns, in order that he himself
might be free to cruise about collecting moneys and
committing excesses of drunkenness and revelry
with courtezans of Abydos and Ionia, and this while
the enemy's fleet lay close to him. His enemies
1 Not the illustrious commander (chapter xxvi. 6), who was
the son of Lycus.
I°5
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
8* avrw Kai rrjv ra>v Teiyjav Karao-Kevrjv, a feare-
(T/cevacrev iv Sparer) wepl Hiadvdrjv ainu> Kara-
(jyvyrjv &)? iv rfj TrarpiBt fir) Bvvdfievos ftiovv r)
3 fir) fiovXofievos. oi S' 'AOrjvaioi TreiaOivres
€T€povs eiXovro o~t partly ov<z, ivBeiKvvfievoi rr)v
7Tyoo? i/ceivov 6pyr)v Kai kclkovoiclv. a Br) irvvOavb-
fjuevos 6 i A\Ki/3id8r)<; kol BeBoiKcos dirrfkOev i/c rod
arparoTreBov iravTairacn, kcli arvvayayoov %evov<s
eTroXifiec tch<? tt/3acrt\euTcu? %pa^lv IB'iq, Kai
iroXXa Xprj/jLCLTa (Tvvrjyayev airo tcov d\Lo~KOfi6V(ov,
teal Tot? "FjWtjo-lv dfia Tot? irpoaoiKovaiv dBeiav
airo T(ov /3apf3dpoov irapelyev.
4 'E7rel 8' oi ire pi TvBea teal MevavBpov koX
'ABeifiavrov crrpaTrjyoi, irdaa^ Ofiov rd? virap-
yovo~a<$ Tore vavs tch? 'AOrfvaLois e^ovre^ iv
Alybs TTOTafioZs, elcoOeaav iirtTTXelv tw AvadvBpa)
vav\oxovvri trepX Adfiyfraxov dfi rjfiipa irpoKa-
Xovfievoi Kai irdXiv avao-rpecfieiv ottlo-co Kai
Birj/iepeveiv aTa/crco? Kai dfieXws, are Br) Kara-
5 (ppovovvres, iyyvs cov 6 *A\/ei/3id8ri$ ov irepielBev 21
ovB? rjfieXrfcrev, aXV 'ittttw TTpoaeXdo~a<$ iBLBao~K€
Toy? ctt parrjy ou$ ore /ca/eco? opfiovcriv iv %co plots
dXifievois Kai ttoXlv ovk eypvaiv, dXXa iroppcoOev
iK ^.tjcttov rd iiriTrjBeia Xafiftdvovres, Kai irepi-
opwvTes to vavTLKov, orav iirl tt)? 7779 yevrjrai,
irXavcopevov 01:01 ri<; OeXot Kai Biao-ireipofievov,
dvT€cf)opfiovvTO<; avrols aroXov irpbs iirLTayfia
ILovapyjiKov eWicrfievov aicoTrfj iravra iroielv.
1 With these words Plutarch's story leaps over the events
of two and a half years, from the spring of 407 to the autumn
of 405 B.C.
106
ALCIBIADES, xxxvi. 2-5
also found ground for accusation against him in the
fortress which he had constructed in Thrace, near
Bisanthe. It was to serve, they said, as a refuge for
him in case he either could not or would not live at
home. The Athenians were persuaded, and chose
other generals in his place, thus displaying their
anger and ill-will towards him. On learning this,
Alcibiades was afraid, and departed from the camp
altogether, and assembling mercenary troops made
war on his own account against the Thracians who
acknowledge no king. He got together much money
from his captives, and at the same time afforded
security from barbarian inroads to the Hellenes on
the neighbouring frontier.
Tydeus, Menander, and Adeimantus, the generals,
who had all the ships which the Athenians could
finally muster in station at Aegospotami, 1 were wont
to sail out at daybreak against Lysander, who lay
with his fleet at Lampsacus, and challenge him to
battle. Then they would sail back again, to spend
the rest of the day in disorder and unconcern, since,
forsooth, they despised their enemy. Alcibiades,
who was near at hand, 2 could not see such conduct
with calmness or indifference, but rode up on
horseback and read the generals a lesson. He said
their anchorage was a bad one ; the place had no
harbour and no city, but they had to get their
supplies from Sestos, a long way off; and they
permitted their crews, whenever they were on land,
to wander and scatter about at their own sweet wills,
while there lay at anchor over against them an
armament which was trained to do everything silently
at a word of absolute command.
2 In his stronghold near Pactye (Xen. Hell. ii. 1, 25).
107
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
XXXVII. Tavra Be Xeyovros rou 'AXfctftidBov,
teal irapaivovvros et? ^rjarbv fiedop/xto-ai rov
aroXov, ov nTpocreiX ov °i< o-Tparyyor TvBevs Be
KOI 7T/90? TjftplV €K€\6V(T€V dlTOXOJpeiV, OV JOLp
e/ceivov, dXX' erepov? o-TparrjyeLV. 6 6" 9 A\rci-
/3idBr)<; vTrovorjcras re fcal irpoBocria*; ev avrois
dirrjeLy real Tot? it poire pur ov at tcov dirb rod arparo-
ireBov yvcopL/jicov eXeyev oti /jltj it poirrjXaKLaOels
ovtcos virb tcov aTpaTrjycov oXiyais av rjfiepais
rjvdyfcacre AafceBai fiovlov? Biavav jia^eiv clvtols
2 a/covTa? rj ra? vavs diroXiTrelv. eBotcei Be to£<?
fiev dXa£oveveo~0ai, Tot9 8' el/cora Xeyetv, el
Qpqtcas ifc yrjs iirayaycov ttoXXovs olkovtigtcl^
fcal t7T7T6t? irpoayudyoiTO /cat Biarapdrroi, to
(TTparoTreBov avTcov.
"On fievroi t<29 afiapTLa? tcov 'AOrjvaicov opOcos
crvvelBe, Ta%u to epyov ep-apTvprjaev. depveo yap
avTols /cal dirpoaBoicrjTcos tov AvadvBpov irpoa-
7reo~6vro<;, 6/crco fxovai Tpirjpeis e^eepvyov fiera
KovcovoSy at 8' aXXai pti/cpov air oXelir ova at
3 BiaKoaicov dirrj'xdrjaav al%fjLd\a)TOi. tcov 8? dv-
Qpcoircov t picr)(,L\iov<; eXcov £a>i>Ta? direacpa^ev 6
AvcravBpos. eXafte Be /cal rd? 'AOtjvas bXiyco
Xpovco teal Ta9 vav$ eveir prjae /cal rd ptatcpd
Teixv tcaOeXXev.
(£* Be tovtov (f)o/3r)@el$ 6 'AXtei/3id8r)<; dpyov-
Ta? tJBt) /cal yf}<; teal OaXdrrr)^ tou? AaxeBaifiovLovs
els l&iQvviav fieTearrj, iroXXd ptev dycov xpyj/Aara,
troXXd Be fcofiL^cov, en Be 7rXetco KaraXiircov ev
4 oh cotcei reix^o-iv. ev Be VnOvvla irdXtv ovte
oXiya tcov IBicov diroXeaas teal ireptKOirels virb
tcov ifcei typqtccov, eyvco ptev dvafialveiv 777309
108
ALCIBIADES, xxxvii. 1-4
XXXVII. In spite of what Alcibiades said, and in
spite of his advice to change their station to Sestos,
the generals paid no heed. Tydeus actually insulted
him by bidding him begone : he was not general
now, but others. So Alcibiades departed, suspecting
that some treachery was on foot among them. He
told his acquaintances who were escorting him out of
the camp that, had he not been so grievously in-
sulted by the generals, within a few days he would
have forced the Lacedaemonians to engage them
whether they wished to do so or not, or else lose
their ships. Some thought that what he said was
arrant boasting ; but others that it was likely, since
he had merely to bring up his numerous Thracian
javelineers and horsemen to assault by land and
confound the enemy's camp.
However, that he saw only too well the errors of
the Athenians the event soon testified. Lysander
suddenly and unexpectedly fell upon them, and only
eight of their triremes escaped with Conon ; the
rest, something less than two hundred, were captured
and taken away. Three thousand of their crews
were taken alive and executed by Lysander. In a
short time l he also captured Athens, burned her
ships, and tore down her long walls.
Alcibiades now feared the Lacedaemonians, who
were supreme on land and sea, and betook himself
into Bithynia, taking booty of every sort with him, but
leaving even more behind him in the fortress where
he had been living. In Bithynia he again lost much
of his substance, being plundered by the Thracians
there, and so he determined to go up to the court of
1 In the spring of 404 b. c. , some eight months later.
109
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
% ApTai;€pi;7)v, kavrov re /jltj yelpova %ep,iaTO-
/cXeof? Treipco/jLevw fiacnXel (pavelaOai vopii^cov,
fcal KpeiTTOva tt)V irpo^aaiv ov yap eVt rovs
ttoXltcls, ft)? eiceZvov, dXX! virep tt)<? irarpiBo^
eirl tov<? TroXepblovs vTrovpyrjaeiv Kal Be-qaeaOai
t^9 /3ao~iXeco<; Bwdpew eviroplav Be tt)<; dvoBov
fiera dafyaXeias fidXiara <£>apvd/3a£ov olopuevos
irape^eiv, (px €T0 ^P ? avTOv el? QpvyLav, teal
avvBirjye Oepairevcov dfxa Kal TipLco/xevo^.
XXXVIII. 'AOrjvaloi Be %a\e7nw9 p>ev ecfrepov
Kal t?)9 rjye/jLOVLCK; d7rocT€pr)0evT€<;' eVet Be Kal
T7)V eXevdepiav dtyeXopLevos avrcov 6 AvcravBpos
dvBpdai Tpid/covra TrapeBco/ce rrjv ttoXlv, 0I9 ovk
e%pi]<ravTO aco^eaOai Bvvd/bLevoc XoyiapLOLs, diro-
XcoXotcov ijBrj tcov irpaypuaTcov, avvueaav, 6\ocf>vp6-
fievov koX Bie^Lovres rd<; d/jLapria^ avrcov Kal
dyvoias, cov fieyicrTrjv iiroiovvro rrjv Bevrepav
2 777)0? y AX/cif3idBr)v opyrjv. direppifyr) yap ovBev
dBifccov avros, dXX' virrjperr} ^aXeirrjvavTe^ 0X1-
ya<; diroftaXovTi vav$ alcf)^pco<;, alo-^tov avrol
rbv Kpdriarov Kal TroXe/MKcorarov dtyeiXovTO tt?9
iroXecos (TT partly 6v. en S' ovv opbcog e/c tcov
irapovjcov dvi(f>epe r*9 eXTrls djxvBpd firj Travrd-
iraaiv eppeiv rd 7rpdy/uara tcov 'AOrjvaicov 'AX/ci-
fiidBov 7repi6vTo<;' ovt6 yap irpoTepov rjydTrrjcre
cpevycov dirpayfiovcos tfiv Kal peO^ r)Q-vyla^, ovre
vvv, el tol KaO' eavrbv iKavcos eyei, irepio^eTai
AaKeBatpoviovs vftpi^ovras Kal tou9 TpiaKOvra
TrapmvovvTas.
3 Tavia B' ovk tjv aXoyov ovtoos oveipoiroXelv
no
ALCIBIADRS, xxxvu. 4-xxxvni. 3
Artaxerxes. He thought to show himself not
inferior to Themistocles if the King made trial of
his services, and superior in his pretext for offering
them. For it was not to be against his fellow
countrymen, as in the case of that great man, but in
behalf of his country that he would assist the King
and beg him to furnish forces against a common
enemy. Thinking that Pharnabazus could best give
him facilities for safely making this journey up to the
King, he went to him in Phrygia, and continued there
with him, paying him court and receiving marks of
honour from him.
XXXVIII. The Athenians were greatly depressed
at the loss of their supremacy. But when Lysander
robbed them of their freedom too, and handed the
city over to thirty men, then, their cause being lost,
their eyes were opened to the course they would
not take when salvation was yet in their power.
They sorrowfully rehearsed all their mistakes and
follies, the greatest of which they considered to be
their second outburst of wrath against Alcibiades.
He had been cast aside for no fault of his own ; but
they got angry because a subordinate of his lost a
few ships disgracefully, and then they themselves,
more disgracefully still, robbed the city of its ablest
and most experienced general. And yet, in spite of
their present plight, a vague hope still prevailed that
the cause of Athens was not wholly lost so long as
Alcibiades was alive. He had not, in times past,
been satisfied to live his exile's life in idleness and
quiet ; nor now, if his means allowed, would he toler-
ate the insolence of the Lacedaemonians and the
madness of the Thirty.
It was not strange that the multitude indulged in
in
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
tovs ttoXXovv, oirore teal to?? Tpidfcovra cf>povri-
%eiv itrrjet teal BiairvvOdveadai teal Xoyov fyeiv
irXelaTOV aiv etcetvos eirparre teal BievoetTO.
TeXo? Be KpiTLa? eBLBaaice AvaavBpov eo? ' AOrj-
valcov ovrc €(ttl SiifioKparovfievcov aafiaXws dpyeiv
4 Aa/ce8ai/jLovioL$ t?}? EWaSo?* ' A6r)vaiov<$ Be,
teav TTpaws iravv teal /eaA-w? 7T/oo? oXtyapx^v
e^coaiv, ov/e edaei ££>v *AXfcij3id8r)<; drpepelv
eirl rS)V tcaOearcoTcov. ov firjv eirelaQr) ye irpo-
repov tovtois 6 AvaavBpo? rj irapa tcov oikol
TeXwz> atcvTcLXrjv eXOelv teeXevovaav etc ttoBwv
TroLrjaaaOai tov ' AXtci/3idBrjv, elre tedtce'ivcov
fyofBrjOevTcov rr)v o^vTTjra teal pueyaXo7rpaypoav-
vr)v tov dvBpos, elre ra> " Ay 1B1 yapi^opuevoav.
XXXIX. f fl? ovv 6 AvaavBpov eirepb^re 7rpo?
tov Qapvdfia^ov TavTa irpaTTeiv teeXevcov, 6 Be
Mayauo) Te tw dBeX(p(p jcal XovaapiiOpr) tw Oeiw
TrpoaeTa^e to epyov, eru^e pev ev tccofir) tlvI
tt)<$ <&pvyi,a<; 6 'AX/a/S/ao?;? tot€ BiaiTco/ievos,
eX MV ^^pidvBpav fieO* avTov ttjv eTaipav, oijnv
2 Be KaTa tovs Uttrvovs elBe TOiavTr\v' eBo/eei irept-
tceladai pev avTos Tiflf eaOf]Ta tQ? eTaipav,
etceivrjv Be Trjv tcecftaXrjv ev tgu? aytcaXat,*; e^ou-
aav avTov teocrpelv to it pdawnrov coenrep yvvaitcb?
v7roypd(j)ovaav teal -tyipuvQiovcrav. eTepoiBe (f>acnv
IBelv tt)V tce(f)aXr)v diroTepiVovTas avTov tov? nepl
tov Mayaiov ev to?? inrvois teal to acopa teaio-
fievov. dXXa ttjv p,ev oyjnv ov ttoXv yeveaOai
Xeyovcri trpb t?}? TeXei/T???.
Ol Be TrepLcfrOevTes 7rpo? avTov ovte eToXpu^aav
elaeXOtLv, dXXa tevtcXco ttjv oltciav TrepiaTavTe?
3 eveirip.irpaaav. alaOopuevo^ B* 6 'AXtciJ3idB7]<> tcov
112
ALCIBIADES, xxxvm. 3 -xxxix. 3
such dreams, when even the Thirty were moved to
anxious thought and inquiry, and made the greatest
account of what Alcibiades was planning and doing.
Finally, Critias tried to make it clear to Lysander
that as long as Athens was a democracy the Lace-
daemonians could not have safe rule over Hellas ; and
that Athens, even though she were very peacefully
and well disposed towards oligarchy, would not be
suffered, while Alcibiades was alive, to remain undis-
turbed in her present condition. However, Lysander
was not persuaded by these arguments until a
dispatch-roll came from the authorities at home
bidding him put Alcibiades out of the way ; either
because they too were alarmed at the vigour and
enterprise of the man, or because they were trying
to gratify Agis.
XXXIX. Accordingly, Lysander sent to Pharna-
bazus and bade him do this thing, and Pharnabazus
commissioned Magaeus, his brother, and Sousamithras,
his uncle, to perform the deed. At that time
Alcibiades was living in a certain village of Phrygia,
where he had Timandra the courtezan with him, and
in his sleep he had the following vision. He thought
he had the courtezan's garments upon him, and that
she was holding his head in her arms while she
adorned his face like a woman's with paints and pig-
ments. Others say that in his sleep he saw Magaeus'
followers cutting off* his head and his body burning.
All agree in saying that he had the vision not long
before his death.
The party sent to kill him did not dare to enter
his house, but surrounded it and set it on fire. When
Alcibiades was aware of this, he gathered together
"3
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
fiev Ifxariwv ra TrXetara teal tcov o~Tpa>/j,dT(ov
avvayaycov eireppitye tw irvpi, rfj 8* dpiarepa
%etpt ttjv eavTOv yXapivBa TrepieXitjas, rf) 8e%id
airaadpuevo^ to ey^eLpLBiov i^eireaev diraOrj^ vtto
tov Trvpbs irplv r) Bia<f>Xeyea6ai ra l/iana, teal
tou? fiapftdpovs d(f>del<; BieateeBao-ev. ovBels yap
V7T6/JL6LV6V aifTOV Ov8' 6t<? %€?/)a? GVVTjXOeV, dXX"
aTroaravTes eftaXXov dtcovTioi? teal To^evjxaaiv.
4 ovtgi) 6° avrov ireaovTos teal twv ftapftdpcov
direXdovTcov, rj Ti/idv8pa tov vetepbv dveiXero, teal
toI<z avrr)<; TreptftaXovaa teal TrepiteaXirtyaaa X LT(0 ~
vla/coLS, i/c rcov irapovTcov etcrjBevae Xapirpoy^ teal
<f)lX0Tl/jL(D<;.
Tavrr)s Xeyovai Ovyarepa yeveadai AatBa rt]v
YLopivQLav /lev irpoaayopevOelaav, etc Be 'Ttetedpcov,
XitceXitcov iroXia/JLaro^i al^pbaXcorov yevofievrjv.
5 evioi he rd fiev aXXa irepl t?}<? ' AXteiflidSov
reXevTr/s ofioXoyovert tovtois, aWiav Be epaenv ov
Qapvdfiatyv ovBe AvaavBpov ovBe AatceBaipLOvlovs
irapao-yelv, avrov Be tov 'AXtciftidB^v yvcopifiwv
Tiviiiv BiecpOapteora yvvatov eyeiv crvv avrw, tou?
o° d8eX(f)ovs tov yvvaiov ttjv v/Bpiv ov fieTpiws
<$>epovTa$ epLTTprjcrai T€ ttjv oltelav vvteTcop, ev fj
BiaiTfjo/Juevos eTvy\avev 6 'AXtciftidBrjs, teal teara-
fiaXelv avrov, coarrep eiprjrai, Bid tov irvpos
igaXXofievov.
TI 4
ALCIBIADES, xxxix. 3-5
most of the garments and bedding in the house and
cast them on the fire. Then, wrapping his cloak
about his left arm, and drawing his sword with his
right, he dashed out, unscathed by the fire, before
the garments were in flames, and scattered the
Barbarians, who ran at the mere sight of him. Not
a man stood ground against him, or came to close
quarters with him, but all held aloof and shot him
with javelins and arrows. Thus he fell, and when
the Barbarians were gone, Timandra took up his
dead body, covered and wrapped it in her own
garments, and gave it such brilliant and honourable
burial as she could provide.
This Timandra, they say, was the mother of that
Lais who was called the Corinthian, although she
was a prisoner of war from Hyccara, a small city
of Sicily. 1 But some, while agreeing in all other
details of the death of Alcibiades with what I have
written, say that it was not Pharnabazus who was the
cause of it, nor Lysander, nor the Lacedaemonians,
but Alcibiades himself. He had corrupted a girl
belonging to a certain well known family, and had
her with him ; and it was the brothers of this girl
who, taking his wanton insolence much to heart, set
fire by night to the house where he was living, and
shot him down, as has been described, when he
dashed out through the fire.
1 See the Nicia8> xv. 4.
"5
CAIUS MARCIUS
CORIOLANUS
VOL. TV.
TATOS MAPKIOS
T. 'O MapKLcov olteos ev 'Pay/Ay tmv irarpLKiwv
ttoXXovs irapea^ev evB6t;ov<; avBpas, &v teal
Map/ceo? rjv "Ay/cos, 6 No/xa OvyarpiBovs teal
fxera TvWov ^OgtiXiov fiaaiXevs yevop,evos.
Mdptcioi 8' rjaav teal UottXlos teal KoiVTO? oi
irXelaTOV vBcop teal tedXXiarov ev 'Pcofirj tearayay-
ovres, teal J£r)v(TQ)pivo<;, bv Bis direBei^e Tifirjryv
6 Voifiaioiv BrjpLos, elra vit > clvtov TreiaOeU
eteeivou vo/j,ov eOero teal i-yjrrj^taaro /nrjBevl ttjv
1 dpxv v &$ e^elvai fiereXOelv. Tdio? Be Mdptcioi,
virep ou rdBe yey pairrai, rpaepels virb /jur/rpl XVP a
Trarpbs opefravos, aireBei^e rrjv 6p<fiaviav aXXa fiev
eypvaav teated, irpbs Be rb yeveaOai airovBalov
dvBpa teal BicKpepovra rwv ttoXXmv ovBev ifiiroBoov
ovcrav, aXXcos Be Tot? (fiavXois alrtacrOat, teal yjseyeiv
Trapeypvaav avrrjv a>? dfieXeia Bta^Oeipovaav.
6 B' avrb? dvrjp ifxapTvprjae teal rot? rrjv (pv&iv
fjyovfievoiSy eav ova a yevvaia teal dyaOrj TraiBeias
evBerjS yevrjrcu, iroXXa rot? %/0?7<7to£? ofiov cf>avXa
o~vva7roTLKT€LV, coenrep evyevfj ^copav ev yewpyla
3 OepaireLas fir) TV)(pvaav. to yap layypbv avrov
7T/)o? diravra rr}<; yvd)pL7]<; teal tcaprepbv 6p/j,d<; tc
fieydXas teal TeXeaLovpyoix; tcov teaXcov egtyepe,
118
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS
I. The patrician house of the Marcii at Rome
furnished many men of distinction. One of them
was Ancus Marcius, the grandson of Numa by his
daughter, and the successor of Tullus Hostilius in
the kingship. To this family belonged also Publius
and Quintus Marcius, the men who brought into
Rome its best and most abundant supply of water.
So likewise did Censorinus, whom the Roman people
twice appointed censor, and then, at his own instance,
made a law by which it was decreed that no one
should hold that office twice. Caius Marcius, whose
life I now write, lost his father at an early age, and
was reared by his widowed mother. He showed,
however, that such loss of a father, although other-
wise bad for a boy, need not prevent him from
becoming a worthy and excellent man, and that it is
wrong for worthless men to lay upon it the blame
for their perverted natures, which are due, as they
say, to early neglect. On the other hand, the same
Marcius bore witness for those who hold that a
generous and noble nature, if it lack discipline, is apt
to produce much that is worthless along with its
better fruits, like a rich soil deprived of the husband-
man's culture. For while the force and vigour of his
intelligence, which knew no limitations, led him into
great undertakings, and such as were productive of
the highest results, still, on the other hand, since he
119
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
0v/ioL<; re av irdXiv xp'J>p,evov aKparois Kal <f>i\o-
veiKiais drp67rroL^ ov paBiov ov$ evdpp,oarov
dvOpuiTTOis crvvelvai irapelyev, dXXd rr)v iv r)Boi>al<;
Kal 7ro/'0£? zeal virb XprjpLaTGov dirdQeiav avrov
6avp,d£ovr€<; /cat 6vop > d^ovre<; iyKpdreiav /cal
BiKaLoavvrjv /cat dvBpeiav, iv rat? iroXiriKais av
nrdXiv opiiXiais a>? liraypr\ teal ayapiv teal
4 6\i<yapxi>fchv iBvo"xepaivov. ovBev yap aXXo
Movawv evpieveias diroXavovo-iv dvOpwiroi rocrov-
rov 6a ov ij-rj/jLepcocrai rrjv (f)vaiv vtto Xoyov /cal
TraiBelas, tw Xoyw Be^ajxevrjv to fierpiov /cal to
ay a v diroftaXovaav. oX&>? fiev ovv iv Tot? tots
%p6voi<s r) 'Fco/jLT) pudXiara rr)<$ dperr}? to nepl
Ta? iroXepuKas /cal arpaTKOTiKas €KvBaive irpd^eis,
/cal /xapTVpel to rr)v dperyv vir avrcov evl tw t?)9
dvBpeiav ovofian irpoaayopevecrOai, /cal tovto tov
yevovs ovo/ia koivov virdp^eiv a> ttjv dvBpeiav
IBia /caXovcriv.
II. 'O Be Mdp/cio? erepcov fidXXov ip,ira6r)<;
yeyovax; irpbs toi>? iroXepuKovs dy&vas, ev6i)$ i/c
jraiBbs rd oirXa Bid %eipb<i eZ%e, /cal tcov iiri-
Krrjrcov ovBev epyov olofievos elvai to?? fir) to
avfi(f)VTOV ottXov koX crvyyeves i^r/pTV/ievov eyovai
Kal irapecr/cevacrpevov, ovtcq? r)a/cr)ae to aebfia
irpbs diraaav IBeav fidxv^ &>o-Te /cal Oeiv iXa-
<f)pbv elvai /cal fidpos e^eiv iv Xaftal? Kal iv
BiairdXais iroXepov Bvae/cfiiacnov. ol yovv epiv
expvTe? evtyvxias del Kal dperr)<; irpb? avrov, iv
oh iXe'nrovro, rr)v rod acoparo^ rjriaiVTO poofirjv
drpeiTTOV ovaav Kal irpbs firjbeva irovov diray-
opevovaav.
20
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, i. 3-11.
indulged a vehement temper and displayed an un-
swerving pertinacity, it made him a difficult and un-
suitable associate for others. They did indeed look
with admiration upon his insensibility to pleasures,
toils, and mercenary gains, to which they gave the
names of self-control, fortitude, and justice ; but in
their intercourse with him as a fellow-citizen they
were offended by it as ungracious, burdensome, and
arrogant. Verily, among all the benefits which men
derive from the favour of the Muses, none other is so
great as that softening of the nature which is produced
by culture and discipline, the nature being induced
by culture to take on moderation and cast off excess.
It is perfectly true, however, that in those days
Rome held in highest honour that phase of virtue
which concerns itself with warlike and military
achievements, and evidence of this may be found in
the only Latin word for virtue, which signifies really
manly valour ; they made valour, a specific form of
virtue, stand for virtue in general.
II. And so Marcius, who was by nature exceedingly
fond of warlike feats, began at once, from his very
boyhood, to handle arms. And since he thought
that adventitious weapons were of little avail to such
as did not have their natural and native armour
developed and prepared for service, he so practised
himself in every sort of combat that he was not only
nimble of foot, but had also such a weight in
grapplings and wrestlings that an enemy found it
hard to extricate himself. At any rate, those who
from time to time contended with him in feats of
courage and valour, laid the blame for their in-
feriority upon his strength of body, which was
inflexible and shrank from no hardship.
121
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
III. 'TLo-TparevcraTO Be* Trpwrrjv arparetav ero
fieipdtcioVy ore r YapKwi(£> ra> ftacriXevaavTi t?}?
'Pw/i?/?, elra eKirecrovTL, [xerd TroXXds pbd^a^ Kal
rjTTas toairep ea^arov Kvj3ov dcpiivTO irXelaTOt
jjuev Aarivcov, iroXXol Be Kal twv aXXcov 'lraXuo-
rcov avveXapb^avov Kal avyKarrjyov eirl ttjv
*¥a)fJLr}v, ovk eiceivcp ^api^o/juevoc pbdXXov rj 0o/9o)
ra 'VcofiaLcov av^ofieva Kal cf)06v(p KaraftaXXovres.
2 ev ravry rfj p>d')(r) ttoXXcls Tpo7ra$ eV dfufiorepa
Xajiftavovarr) NlapKios dycovi^o/ievos evpcbaTco? iv
oi/ret rov SiKTaropo?, avBpa ^Vcofjialov Treaovra
irXrjo-lov IBodv ovk r)p,ekrjaeVy dXX* earr] irpo avrov
Kal rov 67n<p6p6fievov Tcov TroXepuiwv apLvvofievos
cnreKT€Lvev. &)? ovv eKpdrrjaev 6 aTparrjyo*;, iv
7rpd>TOi,<; €K6lvov iare^dvcoae Bpvbs are^dvw.
3 Tovtov yap 6 vojjlos rq> irokiTrjv virepao'Tri-
aravri tov o~re<f)avov diroBeBayKev, ecre Brj /ndXtara
Ti\ir)(ja<$ BC 'ApKaBa? tt)V Bpvv /3aXavr]<f)dyov<;
virb tov Oeov ^pTjapiw irpocrayopevOevra^, etre &>?
Ta^u Kal nravjaypv Bpvbs ovcrav eviroplav arpa-
revofievois, elVe Ato? iroXieco^ lepbv ovra rov tt}?
Bpvbs aiefyavov olojievos iirl aayrrjpla ttoXltov
BLBoadat, 7rpe7rovTCi)<z. eari Be r) Bpvs rcov pev
dypicov KaWtKapTTorarov, rcov Be TiOaawv lo~X v ~
4 porarov. rjv Be Kal airiov air avrrj^ tj fidXavos
Kal irorbv to fMeXureiov, otyov Be irapel^e ra
1 By Lake Regillus, 498 (?) B.C.
* Early colonists of Rome, under Evander.
122
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, m. 1-4
III. He made his first campaign while yet a
stripling, when Tarquin, who had been king of Rome,
and then had been expelled, after many unsuccessful
battles, staked his all, as it were, upon a final throw.
Most of the people of Latium and many also of the
other peoples of Italy were assisting him and
marching with him upon Rome, to reinstate him
there, not so much from a desire to gratify him, as
because fear and envy led them to try to overthrow
the growing power of the Romans. In the ensuing
battle, 1 which long favoured now this side and
now that, Marcius, who was fighting sturdily under
the eyes of the dictator, saw a Roman soldier struck
down near by. He ran to him at once, stood in
front of him, defended him, and slew his assailant.
Accordingly, after the Roman general had won the
day, he crowned Marcius, among the first, with a
garland of oak leaves.
This is the civic crown which the law bestows upon
one who has saved the life of a fellow-citizen in
battle, either because the oak was held in special
honour for the sake of the Arcadians, 2 who were
called acorn-eaters in an oracle of Apollo 8 ; or
because they could speedily find an abundance of
oak wherever they fought ; or because it was thought
that the garland of oak leaves, being sacred to
Jupiter, the city's guardian, was fittingly bestowed
upon one who saved the life of a citizen. The oak,
moreover, has the most beautiful fruit of all wild
trees, and is the sturdiest of all trees under culti-
vation. Its acorn used to be food, and the honey
found in it used to be drink 4 for men, and it
furnished them with the flesh of most grazing
3 Cf. Herodotus, i. 66. 4 In the shape of mead.
123
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
irXeto-ra twv V€/jlo/jL€vcov re ttaX Trrrjvcov, Orjpas
bpyavov cj)6povaa rbv l%6v.
y Ev e/celvrj Be rfj p>d%r) /cal tovs Aioa/covpovs
6Tri<f>avr)vai Xeyovo-i, Kal p,era ttjv pbd^v evOix; 215
6<f}0r}pai peop,evoi<; IBpcorc Tot? Xttitoi^ ev dyopa
tt)v vi'/crjv dirayyeXXovTas, ov vvv irapd ttjv Kprj-
vr)v ved)<; eariv avrois i8pv/JLevo<z. oOev Kal ttjv
r)pL6pav ijriviKiov ovaav, ev ra> *\ovXi(p /jltjvI t<z?
elBovs, Aioa/covpois dviepcoKaari.
IV. Necov Be, &>? eoiKev, dvSpcov eirifydveia Kal
TLfir] to.? fiev eXa^oeo? (friXoTipovs (pvaet*; irpwlai-
repov wapayevofiivT] aftivvvcri, Kal aTronrLpnikricn
tayy to BitycoBes avroiv Kal ayjrl/copov rd 8'
efJbfipiOrj Kal /3e/3aia cfrpovrfpara av^ovaiv ai
ri/ial koX Xafiirpvvovaiv (benrep virb irvevfiaro^
iyeipo/JL€va 7r/?o? to cfraivofievov KaXbv. ov
yap &)? fiicrObv a7roXafjLJ3dvovTes, aX)C g>? eVe^-
vpov BtBovre? ala^vvovrat rrjv Bb^av Kara-
Xiire'lv /cal fir) to?? avroiv epyois v7rep/3aXea0aL.
rovro 7ra0obv /cal 6 Mdp/cio? <zuto? avra> ^rjXov
dvBpayadias Trpovdrj/ce, icaivbs re del /3ovXbp,evo<;
elvai Tat? irpd^eacv dpiaTeiai^ dpLarela^ o-vvr/Trre
Kal Xdcpvpa Xacpvpois iirecfrepe, ical Tot? irporepoi^
del tov? varepovs yyep,6va<i e!%e nrepl t?5? eiceLvov
TtyLt?}? ipi&vras, Kal pbaprvpias virepfiaXeaOai,. 1
ttoXXwv ye roc rbre 'Poj/itatot? dycovcov /cal iroXe-
ficop yevofievcov, e% ovBevbs do-Tecfrdvcoros rjXOev
ovS* dyepacrros.
"*Hv he Tot? fiev aXXoi? rj Bbtja rrj? dperrj^ TeXo?,
i/ceivo) Be t?}? Bb^rjf; rj t?}? fiTjTpb? ev^poavvrj, to
1 Kal naprvpias vnep&a\4aQai bracketed by Bekker.
124
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, m. 4 -iv. 3
creatures and birds, since it bore the mistletoe, from
which they made bird-lime for snares.
In the battle of which I was speaking, it is said
that Castor and Pollux appeared, and that immediately
after the battle they were seen, their horses all a-drip
with sweat, in the forum, announcing the victory,
by the fountain where their temple now stands.
Therefore the day on which this victory was won,
the Ides of July, was consecrated to the Dioscuri.
IV. It would seem that when a young man's
ambition is no integral part of his nature, it is apt to
be quenched by an honourable distinction which is
attained too early in life ; his thirst and fastidious
appetite are speedily satisfied. But serious and firm
spirits are stimulated by the honours they receive,
and glow brightly, as if roused by a mighty wind to
achieve the manifest good. They do not feel that
they are receiving a reward for what they have done,
but rather that they are giving pledges of what they
will do, and they are ashamed to fall behind their
reputation instead of surpassing it by their actual
exploits. It was in this spirit that Marcius vied with
himself in manly valour, and being ever desirous of
fresh achievement, he followed one exploit with
another, and heaped spoils upon spoils, so that his
later commanders were always striving with their
predecessors in their efforts to do him honour, and to
surpass in their testimonials to his prowess. Many
indeed were the wars and conflicts which the Romans
waged in those days, and from none did he return
without laurels and rewards of valour.
But whereas other men found in glory the chief
end of valour, he found the chief end of glory in his
mother's gladness. That she should hear him praised
125
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
yap e/ceivrjv eiraivov\xevov d/covcrai /cal crrecpavov-
fievov IBelv /cal 7rept/3a\eLV Ba/cpvovcrav v^ r)8ovr)$
ivTLfiOTCLTOV avrov evopn^e iroielv /cal fia/capta)-
TCLTOV. TOVTO 8' dpueXei /cal TOV *Y>rraj±eivd>vBav
cpaalv iljo/j,o\oyi]crao~0at, rb irdOos, evrvyiav
TTOiov/xevov avrov fieyio-ryv on rrjv iv Aev/crpois
arparr^yiav avrov /cal vlktjv 6 irarrjp /cal rj firjrr^p.
4 en £&We? errelBov. aXk' i/cetvos jiev dpucfyorepcov
direkavcre rcov yovkcov crvvrjBop.evcov ical crvvevr}-
jnepovvrcov, MdpKLOS Be rfj firjrpl /cal ra$ rod
warpbs ocpeiXeiv ydpiras olopuevos ov/c iverrifx-
rrXaro rrjv OvoXov/jLviav evcppaivcov /cal npucov,
ak\a /cal yvval/ca fiovXofjievrjs /cal Beofievrjs
i/ceLvrjs, 1 eyrj/ie /cal rr)v ol/ciav S/cet yevofievcov
iraiBcov ofiov fierd rrj<; pLTjrpoq.
V. "HBtj Be /cal 86%av avrov /cal Bvvapuiv arrb
•n}? dperr)<; iv rr\ rrokei pLeydXrjv e%ovTO$, r) f3ov\rj
rots tt\ovctLoi<; afivvovaa rrpbs rbv Btj/jlov eara-
alacre iroWa ical Beivd rrdaweiv biro rcov Baveicr-
rcov oo/covvra. toi/? fiev yap /ce/crrj/ievov? fierpia
irdvrcov afyypovvTO rcov ovrcov ive^ypao-fiol^ /cal
irpdaecriy rob? Be 7ravre\co<; diropovs avrov?
diTTJyov /cal ra acofiara /caOeipyvvaav avrcov,
chrei\d<s eyovra rerpcofxevcov rroWas /cal ireirovr}-
2 /corcov iv tgu? virep ttJ? rrarpLBo^ arpareiat^, cov
rrjv rekevraiav iBe^avro 77730? Xaficvovs, rcov re
rfkovcncordrcov eTrayyeiXafievcov /xerpidaeiv teal
T7J9 /3ov\r}<; rbv dpyovra Mdp/cov OvaWepiov
eyyvrjaaaOat tyrjcfricra/jLevrjs. cirel Be /cd/cetvrjv
dycoviaajjievois rrjv fid^rjv irpoOvficos zeal /cparr)-
1 5fo/x4v7]s iKcivrjs with M> : Seo/ieVrjS.
126
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, iv. 3 -v. 2
and see him crowned and embrace him with tears of
joy, this was what gave him, as he thought, the
highest honour and felicity. And it was doubtless
this feeling which Epaminondas also is said to have
confessed, in considering it his greatest good fortune
that his father and mother lived to know of his
generalship and victory at Leuctra. But he was so
blessed as to have both his parents share in his
pleasure and success, whereas Marcius, who thought
he owed his mother the filial gratitude also which
would have been due to his father, could not get his
fill of gladdening and honouring Volumnia, nay, he
even married according to her wish and request, and
continued to live in the same house with his mother
after children were born to him.
V. The reputation and influence procured by his
valour were already great in the city, when the
senate, taking the part of the wealthy citizens, began
to be at variance with the common people, who
thought they suffered many grievous ills at the hands
of the money-lenders. For those of them that were
possessed of moderate means were stripped of all
they had by means of pledges and sales, while those
who were altogether without resources were led
away in person and put in prison, although their
bodies bore many marks of wounds received and
hardships undergone in campaigns for the defence of
their country. The last of these had been against
the Sabines, and they had undertaken it upon a
promise of their wealthiest creditors to deal moder-
ately with them, and after a vote of the senate that
Marcus Valerius, the consul, should guarantee the
promise. But after they had fought zealously in
that battle also, and had conquered the enemy, no
127
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
(TCLCri TCOV TToXe/ALCOV OvBeV iyiVeTO TTCipa TCOV
',\ BaveiaTcov eVtet/ce?, ovB* r) (BovXr) TrpoaeTroietTO
fxe/JivrjaOaL tcov cb/uLoXoyrj/jLevcov, dX)C ayofievovs
TrdXiv irepiecopa /cal pvcria^o/nevovs, Oopvfiot Be
/cal avaTciaeLS rjcrav ev rfj iroXei Trovrjpal, /cal
rou? iroXefiiovs ov/c eXaOe TapaxcoBcos excov 6
Br)p,o<;, dXX' £(jL(Ba\6vT€<$ eirvpiroXovv rrjv ^copnv,
tcov B* apyovTwv et? ra oirXa tovs ev rjXi/cia
/caXovvTcov ovBels virrj/covev, ovtco BiecrTijaav al
4 yvco/iat irdXiv tcov ev riXei. /cal rives p,ev coovto
Belv vcpteadai rot? TrevTjai /cal ^aXaaai to avv-
tovov dyav /cat, vo/iifiov, evioi 8' dvrereivov, cov rjv
ical Mdp/cios, ov to tcov xpy/AaTCDV /xeyiaTov
rjyovfievos, dpxv v Be /cal irelpav vj3peco<; oxKov
/cal 6 pacrvTr)TO<? eiraviaTafievov rols vofxois, el
crcocfrpovovcn, iravecv /cal a/3evvvecv irapa/ceXevo- 216
fxevo?.
VI. %vviovo~r)<; Be irepl tovtcov iroXXd/ci*; ev
oXiyco XP^ V( P T ^ ? /3ovXr)<? /cal jjbrjBev TeXos e/c-
cpepovcrr)?, o-vaTdvT€<; oi 7revr}Tes dcf)vco /cal irapa-
/caXetravTes dXXrjXovs direXiTrov ttjv ttoXlv, /cal
icaTaXa(S6vTe<; opo$ o vvv lepov /caXeiTai, irapd
tov 'Avuoiva iroTafjiov e/caOe^ovTo, nrpaTTOvres fiev
ovBev ftiaiov ovBe aTaaiao-Ti/cov, i/cireTTTco/cevai, Be
tt)9 iroXecos virb tcov ttXovltlcov irdXat ySow^re?,
depa Be /cal vBcop /cal tottov evTac\>9)vai TravTayov
2 tt)V ^lraXiav avTols irape^eiv, cov irXeov ovBev
oiKOvai tt)V 'Pco/irjv virapxeiv avTols, dXX* rj
TiTpdia/ceaOaL /cal dirodvijcr/cetv virep tcov ttXovctIcov
GTpaTevo}xevoi<$.
TavT eBeiaev r] fiovXi], ical tou? emeuce!?
128
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, v. 2 -vi. 2
consideration was shown them by their creditors, and
the senate did not even pretend to remember its
agreements, but again suffered them to be seized in
pledge of payments and haled away to prison.
Then there were tumults and disorderly gatherings
in the city, and the enemy, not unaware of the
popular confusion, burst in and ravaged the country,
and when the consuls summoned those of military
age to arms, no one responded. In this crisis, the
opinions of those in authority were again at variance.
Some thought that concessions should be made to
the plebeians, and the excessive rigor of the law
relaxed ; but others opposed this, and among them
was Marcius. He did not regard the financial
difficulties as the main point at issue, and exhorted
the magistrates to be wise enough to check and
quell this incipient attempt at bold outrage on the
part of a populace in revolt against the laws.
VI. The senate met to debate this question many
times within the space of a few days, but came to
no definite conclusion. The plebeians therefore
banded together on a sudden, and after mutual
exhortations forsook the city, and taking possession
of what is now called the Sacred Mount, established
themselves beside the river Anio. 1 They committed
no acts of violence or sedition, but only cried aloud
that they had for a long time been banished from
the city by the rich, and that Italy would everywhere
afford them air, water, and a place of burial, which
was all they had if they dwelt in Rome, except for
the privilege of wounds and death in campaigns for
the defence of the rich.
These proceedings alarmed the senate, and it sent
1 Three miles from the city (Livy, ii. 32, 2).
129
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
fiaXta-ra /cal BrjfjLori/covs twv irpea^vrepcav e%ajr-
eareiXe. nrpo^yopei Be Mevrfvco? , AypL7r7ra<;'
/cal iroXXa jjuev rod Brffiov Beofievos, iroXXd 8' vvrep
rfjs /3ovXr}<; 7rappr](TLa%6/jLevo<; reXevrcovrt, tw \6y<p
irepirjXOev eh a^rj/Jia /jlvOov Biafivrj/jLovevofievov.
3 e<f>rj yap tov avQpoairov ra fieXr) irdvra 77730? ttjv
yaarepa o-Taaiaaai,, /cal /caryyopetv avrrjs ©j?
jx6vy)<; dpyov /cal dav/jb/36\ov /ca0e£o/JLevr)<; ev to5
acbfiaTiy t&v £' aXXcov eh ra<; e/ceLvr)<; opegeis
irovovs re fjueydXovs /cal Xeirovpytas viro/jLevovrcov
rrjv he yaarepa t?}? evr)9eia<; clvtcov /carayeXdv,
dyvoovvrwv ore rijv rpocfrrjv viroXapj^dvei fiev eh
eavrrjv diraaav, dvaire^irei B' avQis eg auT?j? icaX
4 Biave/nei roh aXXois. " Oi/ro)? ow," €<j>r}, " /cal
t% (TvytckrjTov Xoyo<; eariv, o> iroXlrai, 777509
v/acls' ra yap i/cei Tvyydvovra tt}? irpocrrjfcovcrr)*;
eTTifieXeias koX ol/covofAia? /SovXevfiara ical irpdy-
fiara itclglv vplv eirifyepei teal Biavefxet, to XPV~
(tljjlov /cal axpeXifiov.^
VII. 'E/e tovtov BtrjXXdyrjo-av, alrrjadfievoi
irapd t?}? fiovXrjs /cal rv^ovre^ avBpa? alpeccrOac
irevre irpoo-Tara^ rcov Beofievcov j3or)6eias, tou?
vvv Br\p,dp-ypv^ /caXov/jbivovs. e'vXovro Be irpayrov ?,
oh e\pr](TavTO /cal rr}<; diroardcreci)^ rjye/jLoat, tou?
7T€pl ISpOVTOV *loi)VlOV Kal ^IKIVVLOV ReXXoVTOV.
€7rel 6° rj ttoXi? eh ev r)Xdev, ev0v<; ev roh ottXols
rjaav ol ttoXXol, /cal irapel^pv avroix; roh dpypvai
XprjcrOai irpoOvfxws eVt tov ttoXc/jlov.
2 'O Be M.dp/cios ovt avrbs rjBopevos oh 6 Btj/jlqs
130
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, vi. 2 -vii. 2
out those of its older members who were most
reasonably disposed towards the people to treat witli
them. The chief spokesman was Menenius Agrippa,
and after much entreaty of the people and much
plain speaking in behalf of the senate, he concluded
his discourse with a celebrated fable. He said,
namely, that all the other members of man's body
once revolted against the belly, and accused it of
being the only member to sit idly down in its place
and make no contribution to the common welfare,
while the rest underwent great hardships and per-
formed great public services only to minister to its
appetites ; but that the belly laughed at their
simplicity in not knowing that it received into itself
all the body's nourishment only to send it back
again and duly distribute it among the other members.
" Such, then," said Agrippa, " is the relation of the
senate, my fellow-citizens, to you ; the matters for
deliberation which there receive the necessary
attention and disposition bring to you all and severally
what is useful and helpful." l
VII. A reconciliation followed, after the people
had asked and obtained from the senate the privilege
of electing five men as protectors of those who
needed succour, the officers now called tribunes of
the people. And the first whom they chose to this
office were Junius Brutus and Sicinius Vellutus, who
had been their leaders in the secession. 2 When the
city was thus united, the common people at once
offered themselves as soldiers, and the consuls
found them ready and eager for service in the war.
As for Marcius, though he was displeased himself
1 Cf. Livy, ii. 32, 9-11 ; Dionysiua Hal., Antiq. Rom. vi. 86.
2 Cf. Livy, ii. 33, 1-3.
13'
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
Xo~yyev evSovcrr)^ tt)<; apiaroKpaTLas, teal twv
aXXcov TrarpiKLoyv 7roXXov<; opeov to avrb ireirov-
doras, ofjbco? irapetedXei fir) diroXeiirecrQai twv
Stj/iotlkcjv iv Tot? trepl t?J? 7rarpl8o<; dyaxriv,
dXXa rfj aperr} puaXXov r) rfj hvvdfiei (j)alveadai
BiacjyepovTas avTOiv.
VIII. 'Ev $e t&) OvoXovatecov Wvet, irpos ou?
eTroXifiovv, r) K.opt,oXav(ov 7roXt<; d^iwfia fieyio~Tov
et^e. Tavrrjv ovv tov virdrou K.o/mvlov irepi-
<tt par 07re& ever avT o s , ol XolttoI OvoXovcrteoi Sel-
aavT€<i eVi Toy? 'Pcofiatovs o-vve/3or)0ovv iravTa-
yidev, o>9 717)0? tt) TtoXei Troirjao/ievoL fid^v teal
2 hi^oOev eTri^eipiqGovTe^ avrols. eVet 8' o Ko/il-
vlos BieXoDV Tr)v hvvafiiv avrbs fiev dirrjvra toZ?
e%w6ev enriovcn twv OvoXovcrteoov, KdpKiov he
Tltov, dvhpa 'Fcofiaicov iv to£? dpiGTois, eirl tt)?
troXiopteias direkiTre, teaTacppovrjcravTes ol Kopco-
Xavol twv irapoVTOiV eire^rjXOov, teal irpoafiayp-
fievoi to TrpwTov etepaTOvv teal teaTehieo/eov eh
3 tov ydpatea roil? 'Vcofiaiovs. evda hrj Mapxios
itehpa/icov avv oXiyois teal teaTa/3aXcov tou?
irpoafii^avra^ avrw fidXicrTa, tou? o° aXXovs
o~Trjo-as eTTi$epop,€vovs, dveteaXeiTO fieydXrj j3ofj
tou? 'Vwfiaiov^. teal yap r)v, coenrep r)%Lov tov
(TTpaTicoTTjv 6 K.aT(ov, ov X eL P l Kai TrXrjyf) fiovov,
dXXd teal Tovco (f)G)vr}<; teal o-yfret, irpocramov
(poftepbs evTV^elv iroXefiiw teal hvaviroaTaTos.
dOpoi^o/ievcov o*e 7roXX(ov teal avviaTafievcov irepl
4 avTov direyoapovv ol iroXefiLOt SeiaavTes. 6 h*
ovte rjydirrjo-ev, a\V iirrjteoXovOei teal avvrjXavvev
132
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, vn. 2-vm. 4
to have the people increase in power at the expense
of the aristocracy, and though he saw that many of the
other patricians were of the same mind, he never-
theless exhorted them not to fall behind the common
people in contending for their country's welfare, but
to show that they were superior to them in valour
rather than in political power.
VIII. Among the Volscians, with whom the
Romans were at war, the city of Corioli took highest
rank. When, therefore, Cominius the consul had
invested this place, 1 the rest of the Volscians, fearing
for its safety, came to its aid against the Romans
from all parts, designing to give them battle in front
of the city and to attack them on both sides.
Thereupon Cominius divided his forces, going forth
himself to meet the Volscians who were coming up
outside, and leaving Titus Lartius, one of the bravest
Romans of his day, in charge of the siege. Then the
men of Corioli, despising the forces that were left,
sallied out against them, overcame them in battle at
first, and pursued the Romans to their camp. At
this point Marcius darted out with a small band, and
after slaying those who came to close quarters and
bringing the rest of the assailants to a halt, called
the Romans back to the fight with loud cries. For
he had, as Cato thought a soldier should have, 2 not
only a vigour of stroke, but a voice and look which
made him a fearful man for a foe to encounter, and
hard to withstand. Many of his men rallied to
support him, and the enemy withdrew in terror.
With this, however, he was not satisfied, but followed
1 It is in connection with the attack on Corioli that Livy
first mentions Marcius (ii. 33, 5-9) ; also Dionysius Hal.
(vi. 92). a Cf. Cato the Elder, i. 6.
133
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
fjBrj it poi poll dBrjv (pevyovTa? a^pi tcov ttvXcov.
e/cel S' opcov aTroTpeirofievovs tov Bcco/ceiv tovs 217
r ¥a)/jLaL0vs, ttoXXcov fiev dirb tov Tet^of? fieXcov
7rpocr(f)6po/jLevcov, to Be Gweicrirecrelv to*? cpevyov-
o~iv eh ttoXlv dvBpcov TroXe/iL/ccov ye/iovaav ev
t<h? ottXois ovtcov ovBevbs et? vovv e^fiaXeaOai
ToXfiwvTos, oyu.0)? eVtcTTa? Trape/cdXei /cal rrape-
Odppwev, aveS>)(6ai ftocav virb t?}? tv^V^ tol?
8uokovo~i fiaXXov r) to£9 cpevyovcrt, ttjv ttoXlv.
5 ov ttoXXcov Be fiovXofJuevcDV eira/coXovOelv, chcrd-
fxevos Bta tcov iroXejjiicov evrfXaTO tol<; ttvXcus ical
crvveiaeTrecre, /nrjBevbs to irpcoTov dvTicryeiv firjB'
bnroGTr]vai ToXfirjcravTOS, eireiTa Be, &)? /caTelBov
oXiyovs TravTairacriv evBov ovras, o-v/jl/3o7)0ovvtg)v
6 /cal irpoa/jLa^o/jLevcov, dva/jLefiiyfievos 6/jlov cpiXoLS
/cal 7ro\epiioL<; aiTLGTOV dycova XeyeTCLL /cal %ei/oo?
epyois /cal nroBcov Ta^ei /cal ToXpLrjfiao~i yjrvyrj<;
aycQVi£6/jL€V0<; ev ttj iroXei, /cal /cpaTcov diravTcov
777)0? ou? opovaeie, tovs /nev e^cocrai 777)09 tcl
eaya rTa ^P 7 !* T ^ v ^ direnrapLevcov /cal icaTa-
ftaXovTcov to, oirXa ttoXXtjv dBeiav tco Aap/cico
irapaayelv e^coOev eirdyovTi tov<; 'Pcofiaiovs.
IX. Ovtco Be tt}? 7ro\€(»? aXovo-r)<; /cal tcov
TrXeLcTTCdV ev dpirayal? ovtcdv /cal Biacpoprjcrecn
yjpr}fxdTwv, 6 Map/cios fjyavd/CTei /cal ej36a, Beivbv
rjyov/jievos, tov viraTov /cal tcov ctvv e/ceivco ttoXl-
tcov Taya irov crvpiTTeiTTcoKOTcov tol<? iroXep.ioL^
Kal Biaixaypjxevcdv, avTovs xprjfAaTi^eaOai irepi-
tovTas 77 irpocpdaei yprj/xaTicT/jLOv tov kivBvvov
diroBLBpaaKeiv, eirel 8 ov 7roXXol Trpocrelyov
134
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, vm. 4 -ix. i
hard upon them, and drove them at last in headlong
flight, up to the gate of their city. There, although
he saw the Romans turning back from the pursuit,
now that many missiles from the walls were reaching
them, and although not a man of them dared to
think of bursting into the city along with the fugitives,
full as it was of enemies in arms, he nevertheless
took his stand, and exhorted and encouraged them
to the exploit, crying out that fortune had opened
the city for the pursuers rather than for the pursued.
Only a few were willing to follow him, but he pushed
his way through the enemy, leaped against the gate,
and burst in along with them, no man daring to
oppose him at first or resist him. Then, however,
when the citizens saw that few of the enemy all told
were inside, they rallied and attacked them. En-
veloped thus by friends and foes alike, Marcius is
said to have waged a combat in the city which, for
prowess of arm, speed of foot, and daring of soul,
passes all belief; he overwhelmed all whom he
assailed, driving some to the remotest parts of the
city, while others gave up the struggle and threw
down their arms. Thus he made it abundantly
safe for Lartius to lead up the Romans who were
outside.
IX. The city having been captured in this manner,
most of the soldiers fell to plundering and pillaging
it. At this Marcius was indignant, and cried out
that he thought it a shame, when their consul and
their fellow citizens who were with him had perhaps
fallen in with the enemy and were fighting a battle
with them, that they on their part should be going
about after booty, or, under pretext of getting booty,
should run away from the danger. Only a few paid
*35
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
clvtg), tol*? /3ovXopiivov<; dvaXaftcov iftdSi^e rrjv
ohbv y to arpdrevfia irpOKe^wpTj/cb^ r/aOero,
iroXXatci? fiev eiroTpvvwv tou? avv avrw teal
irapcucakoiiv pur) evhihovai, TroXXd/cts 8e rot? Oeols
evxb^€VO<; fir) aTroXeKpdrjvai t% pbd^V^y aXV el?
icaipbv iXOelv ev o) crvvcvyafVLeiTcu teal cruytciv-
8vvevcrei to£? 7roXtra^?.
'Hv 8e Tore TOi? 'Peo/^atot? e#o? et? rd^iv
teadiaT a puivois teal p,6\Xovo~t, tov$ Ovpeovs dva-
\a/jL/3dv€iv teal irepi^divvvadai tt)v rrjftevvov dfia
teal BiaOrffcas dypdefrovs ryiveo~6ai, rpicov r) rerrd-
pcov iira/covovrcov bvopdtpvTa^ tov teXrjpovopov.
ravra 8r) irpaTTOVTas r)Sr) tou? arpanc^Ta?
MdpKio? iv otyet, Twi> iroXepuiayv ovtcov tcare-
\dpLf3ave. teal to p,ev irpwrov ivLOvs Bierdpa^ev
6cf>6el<; fi€T oXiycov, aXpuaTos irepiirXews teal
ISpWTOS' eVel 8e TrpocrSpafioDV tw virdrw irepi-
X a PVS r V v 8etjiav eve(3a\e koX t??? 7roXea)?
dirrjyyetXe rr)v aXeocriv, 6 8e K0/UW09 TrepieTrrv-
%aro avrbv /cal /caTi](T7rdo~aTO, rolq p,ev itvQo-
p,evoi<$ to 'yeyevrjpLevov teaTopOcop^a, toIs £' eltcdaacn
6dpao<; irapkaTr), teal (3oy TrapetedXovv ayeiv
teal GwdiTTevv. 6 8e Mdptcio? rjpcoTrjae top
"Kopbiviov 7rw? hiatcetcba p,r)Tai to tmv iroXepiwv
oirXa teal irov TeTa/cTai to p,a^p,d)TaTOV. iteelvov
8e <firjo~avTos oieo~0ai t«9 tcaTa peaov aireipa^
'AvTtaTobv elvai, TroXepntccoTaTcov teal pL7]8evl
(pipovrjpaTOS vfyiepLevcov, " 'Afjw ae toivvvT b
MdpKio? e(j)r), "teal aiTOvpai, teaTa tovtov? tu^ov
r)p,d<; tov$ av8pa<;" eBcoteev ovv 6 viraTOS, 6av-
p,daa<i avTOv to irp66vp,ov.
'0<? 8 1 rjo-av ep,(SoXal BopaTcop, tea) tov Map/ciov
136
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, ix. 1-5
any heed to his words, whereupon he took those who
were willing to follow, and set out on the road by
which, as he learned, the consul's army had marched
before him, often urging his companions on and
beseeching them not to slacken their efforts, and
often praying the gods that he might not be too late
for the battle, but might come up in season to share
in the struggles and perils of his fellow-citizens.
It was a custom with the Romans of that time,
when they were going into action, and were about to
gird up their cloaks and take up their bucklers, to
make at the same time an unwritten will, naming
their heirs in the hearing of three or four witnesses.
This was just what the soldiers were doing when
Marcius overtook them, the enemy being now in sight.
At first some of them were confounded when they
saw that he had a small following and was covered
with blood and sweat; but when he ran to the
consul with a glad countenance, gave him his hand,
and announced the capture of the city, and when
Cominius embraced and kissed him, then they were
encouraged, some hearing of the success which had
been gained, and some but guessing at it, and all
called loudly upon the consul to lead them into
battle. But Marcius asked Cominius how the enemy
were arrayed, and where their best fighting men
were placed. And when the consul told him he
thought the troops in the centre were those of the
Antiates, who were the most warlike of all and
yielded to none in bravery, " I ask and demand
of you, then," said Marcius, " post us opposite these
men." The consul, accordingly, granted his request,
astonished at his ardour.
As soon as spears began to fly, Marcius darted out
137
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
TTpoetcSpafjiovTos ovk dvria-^ov ol kcltcl aro/ia rcov
OvoXovctkcqv, a)OC q> irpoaepbi^e fiepei T779
(f)d\ayyo$ evOvs Sie/ceKOTrro, T(bv 8' efcarepcoOev
€7riaTpe(j)6vTG)v teal irepikctfiftavovTcov Tot? ottXols
tov dvBpa, 8eio~a<; 6 VTraros tovs KpaTiaTOvs rcov
6 ire pi avTov e^eirepurev. t<7%f/?a9 Be irepl tov
MdpKiov /ia%?;? yevop,evrj<; kclI ttoXXcov ev oXiyco
ve/epwv irecrovTcovy eyKeipLevot kclI KaTa/3ia£6p,evoL
TOVS 7TO\€/jLLOV<; i(t)(7aVT0, KCU TpeTTOpeVOl 7T/30?
Bi(t)^LV CLVTWV TOV MdpKLOV 7)%10VV VTTO T€ KdpLaTOV
fiapvv ovtcl kclI Tpavp,aTcov dvayodpeiv iirl to
arparoireSov. elircov o° i/cecvos on vikcovtcov ovk
eo~TL to /edpvetv, efye'nreTO tols fyevyovaiv. rjTTtjOr]
Be fcal to Xocttov o-TpaTev/xa, 7roXXS)v puev Bia-
ifyOapevTwv, ttoXXwv Be oXovtcdv.
X. Trj 8' vaTepaia tov Aap/ciov irapayevopevov
kclI tmv dXXcov dOpoi^opbevwv Trpbs tov vttcltov,
dvafias eirl to j3r}p,a, real rot? 0€ol<; ttjv Trpenrov-
crav drrroBoix; iirl ttjXlkovtois KaTopdojp,acnv
€V(j)7]p,LaV t 7T/)0? TOV Mdp/ciov TpeTTeTCLl. real
irpWTOV fjuev avTov davfiaaTov eiraivov elire, tojv
fiev avTOS iv Tjj {id)tf} yeyovobs OeaTrjs, to, Be tov
2 Aap/ciov /juapTVpovvTos. eireiTdy iroXXcov XP 7 !'
fiaTcov koX Ilttttcov yeyovoTcov alxpLaXcoTcov /cal
dvOpGOTrcov, i/ceXevcrev clvtov e^eXeaOat, Beica
irdvTa irpb tov vkjxew Tot? aXXois. dvev Be
i/ceuvcov dpLo~Telov avTtp KeKoapbrfpievov Xititov
eBwprjGCLTO. tcov Be 'IPoopLaicov eircuveadvTwv 6
Mdp/cios TTpoeXOoov tov puev Xititov ecj>i] BexeaOai
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, ix. 5 -x. 2
before the line, and the Volscians who faced him
could not withstand his charge, but where he fell
upon their ranks they were speedily cut asunder.
Those on either side, however, wheeled about
and encompassed him with their weapons, so that
the consul, fearing for his safety, sent to his aid the
choicest men he had about his person. Then a
fierce battle raged around Marcius, and many were
slain in short space of time ; but the Romans pressed
hard upon their enemies and put them to rout, and
as they set out in pursuit of them, they insisted that
Marcius, who was weighed down with fatigue and
wounds, should retire to the camp. He answered,
however, that weariness was not for victors, and
took after the flying foe. The rest of their army
also was defeated, many were slain, and many taken
captive. 1
X. On the following day, when Lartius had come
up, and the rest of the army was assembled before
the consul, Cominius mounted the rostra, and after
rendering to the gods the praise that was their due
for such great successes, addressed himself to
Marcius. In the first place, he rehearsed with
praise his astonishing exploits, some of which he had
himself beheld in the battle, while to others Lartius
bore witness. Then, out of the abundant treasures
and the many horses and prisoners that had been
taken, he ordered him to choose out a tenth, before
any distribution to the rest of the army ; and besides
all this, he presented him with a horse, duly
caparisoned, as a prize of valour. After the Romans
had applauded this speech, Marcius came forward
and said that he accepted the horse, and was de-
1 Cf. Dionysius Hal. vi. 94.
139
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
teal ^alpeiv toZs eiraivoL? tov ap^ovTOS, ra Be
aXXa fJbtaOov, ov ti/li/v f/yov/ievos eav, teal dya-
3 irrjaeiv a>? el? e/caaTos rrjv vk/ir/aw. "'Efcw-
perov Be /liav aiTov/iai \dpiv" ecjyr/, " teal Beo/iai
XafieXv. r)v poi %evos ev OvoXovatcois teal cf>iXo<;,
dvr/p eir leucr/? teal /lerrpio?' ovtos edXcotee vvv
teal yeyovev ete nrXovo-'iov teal /la/eapiov SovXos.
TToXXtOV OVV ai)T(p KCLKWV TTLipOVTCdV €V d(f)eX€lV
dpteel, tt)V irpdaiv"
'ULirl tovtols \e-)(6el(TL (3orj re /xel^wv dier/vTr/ae
ra> MapKiw, teal irXeiove? oi Oav/id^ovres eyevovTO
to /it] Kparovp.evov biro ^prj/idrwv rdvSpbs rj rr/v
4 ev toZ? 7roXe/ioL$ dvBpayaOiav. teal yap ol<;
<f>06vov tl teal ^rjXov irpbs avrbv viretceiTO tl/jlco-
fievov etcjrpeirois, tcdfceivois Tore rov Xaj3elv
fieydXa tw /jltj Xa/3eiv a^tos eSo^e, teal /idXXov
avrov rr/v dperr/v r/ydirr/aav, def) 179 tcarecfrpovei
T7]\iKOVT(OV, rj 8t' 0)V TJ^LOVTO. TO flkv ydp €V
Xpr/aOat, ^prj/juaat tedXXcov icrriv rj ottXols, tov Be
'Xpr/aQai to fir) Belcr0ac ^pr/pbaTOiv ae/ivorepov.
XI. 'E7T6t Be eiravaaro ftofjs teal 0opvftov to
Tr\r)6o<$ 9 v7ro\a/3a)v 6 Ko/jllvios, "\A\V etceivas
/xevT earevy " a> avaTpaTiodTai, Ta<; Scoped? ov
Bvvaa0e fiid^eaOai /xr) Be^o/ievov tov dvBpa pur/Be
(BovXo/ievovXaftelv rjv Be ov/e eariv eirl tovtco BlBo-
/xevr/v aTToaaaaOai, Boypuev avTU> teal ^rr/^iadi/ieQa
tcaXeladai KopioXavov, el /irj teal nrpb ijfieov i)
7Tyoaft? avTr) tovto SeScotcev." etc tovtov TpLTOV
eo")(ev ovo/xa tov KopioXavov.
140
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, x. 2 -xi. i
lighted with the praises of the consul, but that he
declined the rest, holding it to be pay, not honour,
and would be content with his single share of the
booty. ** But I do ask one special favour," he said,
"and beg that I may receive it. I had a guest-
friend among the Volscians, a man of kindliness and
probity. This man is now a prisoner, and from
wealth and happiness is reduced to subjection.
Since, then, many evils have befallen him, let me at
least free him from one, that of being sold into
bondage."
At such words as these still louder shouts greeted
Marcius, and he found more admirers of his
superiority to gain than of the bravery he had shown
in war. For the very ones who secretly felt a
certain jealous envy of him for his conspicuous
honours, now thought him worthy of great rewards
because he would not take them ; and they were
more delighted with the virtue which led him to
despise such great rewards, than with the exploits
which made him worthy of them. For the right use
of wealth is a fairer trait than excellence in arms ;
but not to need wealth is loftier than to use it.
XI. When the multitude had ceased shouting
their applause, Cominius took up the word again and
said : " Ye cannot, indeed, my fellow-soldiers, force
these gifts of yours upon the man, when he does not
accept them and is unwilling to take them; but
there is a gift which he cannot refuse when it is
offered. Let us give him this gift, and pass a vote
that he be surnamed Coriolanus, unless, indeed, before
such act of ours, his exploit has itself given him this
name." Thence came his third name of Coriolanus. 1
1 Cf. Dionysiua Hal. vi. 94.
141
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
2 fli kol fidXiara BrjXov ianv on twv ovopaTCOv
iBtov rjv o Td'ios, to Be BevTepov ot/aa? i) yevow;
koivov 6 Mdp/CLO<;, rep Be TpiTw varepov exprjcravTO
7rpd^€oo<; twos i) tvxv*> V IBias rj aperr)? eirtOeTW,
KaBdirep "EWrjve? iriOevro it pd^ews puev eiroovv-
fJLOV TOV ^CDTTJpa KOI TOV KdWlVlKOV, IBea? Be TOV
Qvo-fccova koX tov Tpuirov, dpeTrjs Be tov ~Evep-
ryeTrjv /cat tov QiXdBeXcfrov, evTvxtas Be tov
3 EvBaipova tw BevTepqy twv BaTTft>z\ eviot,<; Be
tcov $ao Che cov kol o-/ecop,paTa irapea^v eiri-
Kkrjaeis, ft>? ' AvTiy 6v(p tov Acoacova kol IlToXe-
fjbai(p tov AdOvpov. eirl irXeov Be to> yevei tovtw
teal 'Vcop.alot Keyjp^VTCii, AtaBrjpaTov Tiva tcov
MeTeXkcov fcakecravTes, otl ttoXvv xpovov eX/co?
eywv ivepievoo-Tei BiaBeBepevos 1 to pbeTcoirov,
eTepov Be Kekepa cnrevcravTa //,€#' r)p,epa<; oXi/ya?
t?)? tov 7ra.Tpo9 TeXeim;? eVtTa^tof? povopudywv
dycbvas Trapaa^lv, to ra%09 teal tt)v o^vttjtcc t?)?
4 Trapao-fcevr)? davpdcravTes. eviovs Be avvTv^a
yevecreco? ^XP L v ^ v ^oiXovaiy YlpoKkov pbev, eav
dTToBlJpLOVVTOS TTCLTpOS yeVTJTCU, KOL TloCTTOVpLOVy
av TeQv7]icoTO%' co B' av BiBvpto yevopuevcp avp,/3f}
ire p i /3 i tovai, OaTepov TeXevTrjaavTO?, Ovoiriaicov.
tcov Be o~cop,aTiiccov ov puovov 5)t>XXa? ovBe Niypovs
1 $ia5e8e/j.evos with M a : irepideSe/xepos.
1 Soter, Saviour ; Callinicus, Of noble victory ; Physcon,
Fat-paunch ; Grypus, Hook-nosed ; Euergetes, Benefactor ;
Philadelphia, Sister- or Brother-lover; Eudaemon, Prosperous;
142
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, xi. 2-4
From this it is perfectly clear that Caius was the
proper name ; that the second name, in this case
Marcius, was the common name of family or clan ;
and that the third name was adopted subsequently,
and bestowed because of some exploit, or fortune, or
bodily feature, or special excellence in a man. So
the Greeks used to give surnames from an exploit,
as for instance, Soter * and Callinicus ; or from a
bodily feature, as Physcon and Grypus ; or from a
special excellence, as Euergetes and Philadephus ;
or from some good fortune, as Eudaemon, the
surname of the second Battus. And some of their
kings have actually had surnames given them in
mockery, as Antigonus Doson and Ptolemy Lathyrus.
Surnames of this sort were even more common
among the Romans. For instance, one of the
Metelli was called Diadematus, because for a long
time he suffered from a running sore and went about
with a bandage on his forehead ; another member of
this family was called Celer, because he exerted
himself to give the people funeral games of
gladiators within a few days of his father's death,
and the speed and swiftness of his preparations
excited astonishment. 2 And at the present day
some of them are named from casual incidents at
their birth, Proculus, for instance, if a child is born
when his father is away from home ; or Postumus, if
after his death ; and when one of twin children
survives, while the other dies, he is called Vopiscus.
Moreover, from bodily features they not only bestow
such surnames as Sulla, Niger, and Rufus, but also
Doson, A I way s -promising ; Lathyrus, Vetchling ; Sulla,
Blotches (?) ; Niger, Black ; Rufus, Red ; Caecus, Blind ;
Claudius, Lame. * Cf. Romulus, x. 2.
M3
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
ovBe f Pou(/)0^9, dXXa Kal KatVou? Kal KXcoBlov?
eTTcovvfiLas rlOevrai, KaXcos eOi^ovres fitjre rvcpXo-
rrjra fir)r aWrjv rivd acofiariKrjv drvylav ovei- 219
So? rjyelaOai fj,7]Be XoiBopiav, dXX* &>? ol/ceioi?
viraKovew bvbixaaiv. dXXa ravra /xev erepco
yevei ypacpfjs irpoarjicei.
XII. Uavcrafievco Be tw irokepiw rrjv crrdaiv
e7rrjyeipov avOis ol Bt]pLaycoyoi, Kaivrjv fiev ovBefiiav
alriav e%ovre<; ov$ eyfcXrj/jLa hlfccuov, a Be rals
irporepais avrcov Biacpopacs Kal rapayals dvay-
kcilglk; eirijKoXovOrjae /ca/cd, ravra irowv/jbevoi
7rp6(f)aaiv eirl rov? rrarpiKiov^. acnropos yap 77
irXelarr] Kal dyecopyrjros direXelfydr) rr}<$ ^copa*;,
dyopas 8' eireiaaKrov Trapaa/cevrjv Bed rbv iroXe-
2 fiov 6 tcaipo? ovk eBcoKev. l<r%vpa$ ovv diropia?
yevopbivrjs, opcovres ol Brj/jbaycoyol fitfr dyopav
eyovra fiyr, el iraprjv dyopd, xprjfidjcov ev-
rropovvra rbv Btj/jlov, eveftaXXov X070U? /cal
SiafioXds Kara rcov ttXovctlcov, o>? i/ceivoi rbv
Xl/jlov eirdyoiev avrol? vtto pLv^aiKaKia^.
'E/c Be rcov OveXtrpavcov fjfee irpeafteia rrjv
ttoXlv irapaBiBovrcov koX Beofxevcov drroiKov^; diro-
areXXeiv. voaos yap epareaovaa XoificoBrfs avroi*;
rocrovrov oXeOpov Kal cpOopav diretpydaaro rcov
dvOpcoTTcov coare fioXis to BeKarov rod iravrbs
3 drroXeicpOfjvai /xe/?o?. eBogev ovv roZ? vovv
eyovaiv ct? Beov yeyovevai kcu Kara Kaipbv r)
XP €ia TC0V OveXcrpavcov Bid re rrjv diroplav
Kovcj)Lo-fjLOV Beop,evoL<;, Kal rr)v ardcrcv dp,a o~K€-
Bdaeiv rjkmtpv, el to Oopvftovv /judXiara Kal
144
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, xi. 4 -xn. 3
such as Caecus and Claudius. And they do well
thus to accustom men to regard neither blindness
nor any other bodily misfortune as a reproach or a
disgrace, but to answer to such names as though their
own. This topic, however, would be more fittingly
discussed elsewhere.
XII. The war was no sooner over than the popular
leaders revived the internal dissensions, without any
new cause of complaint, or just accusations, but
making the very evils which had necessarily followed
in the wake of their previous quarrels and dis-
turbances a pretext for opposing the patricians. For
the greater part of the land had been left unsown
and untilled, and the war left no opportunity to
arrange an importation of market supplies. There
was, therefore, a great scarcity of food, and when
the popular leaders saw that there were no market
supplies, and that if there were, the people had no
money to buy them, they assailed the rich with
slanderous accusations of purposely arraying the
famine against them, in a spirit of revenge.
Moreover, there came an embassy from the people
of Velitrae, who offered to hand their city over to the
Romans, and begged them to send out colonists for
it. For a pestilential disease had assailed them, and
wrought such death and destruction among their
citizens that hardly the tenth part of the whole
number was left. Accordingly, such of the Romans
as were sensible thought that this request of the
people of Velitrae had come at an advantageous and
opportune time, since the scarcity of food made
it needful to ease the city of its burdensome
numbers ; at the same time they also hoped to
dissipate its sedition, if the most turbulent elements
145
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
o-vveTrrjpfievov tols Brj/juay coyote cocnrep Trepurrco/ia
t??? TroXeo)? voaepov real rapa^Cohe^ diroKaOapOeir).
4 tovtovs T€ Br) KaraXeyovT€<; €i? tt\v airoiKiav e'f e
irefjurrov oi viraroi, Kal arpareiav eirrjyyeXXov
erepois eirl tov$ OvoXovaKovs, daypXiav re tcov
ifxcpvXicov paj^avcofievoc 6opv/3cov, teal vo/jll£ovt€<;
ev ottXols kcli aTpaTOireoco Kal koivois dycoaiv
av0c<; yevop.evov<; irXovaiovs o/nou Kal irevrjras
Kal Brj/jLOTifcovs Kal iraTpucLOV?, rj/jLepcorepov av
SiareOrjvac 7T/90? dXXijXovs Kal t/Slov.
XIII. 'FiVlo-tclvto Be Xonrhv oi irepl ^iklvvlov
Kal UpovTOv Brj/jiaycoyoi, fiocovres epyov ao/jLorarov
a\JTOV<i TW 7rpaOTCLT(p TCOV OVOjJLGLTWV CLTTOlKiaV
irpoaayopevaavras dvu podirovs TrevrjTas coairep
eU ftdpaflpov codelv, eKTrefnrovTas eh iroXtv depos
re voaepov Kal veKpcov aTacpcov yifiovaav, dX-
XoTpico Baifiovi Kal iraXapivaicp avvoiKi^op.kvov^'
2 elra coairep ovk apKov/xevovs tovs fiev viro Xipuov
BioXXvvai tcov ttoXltcov, toi><? he Xoi/jlco irpoaftdX-
Xetv, ert Kal iroXepuov avOaiperov eirdyeiv, ottgx;
p,r}&ev kcikov dirfj t??? iroXecos, oti BovXevovaa
rot? ttXovctlois direine. tolovtcov dvairLpurXd-
fievos Xoycov 6 Bi]p,o$ ovre tco KaraXoyco Trpoarjei
tcov virdrcov nrpos re rrjv diroiKiav Biefte/SXrjTO.
3 Tt?9 Be /3ou\?7? 8ia7ropovfjLevT)$ 6 MdpKios, rjBr)
lxeaTo<; cov oyKOV Kal /zeya? yeyovcos tco eppovtf-
fiari Kal davjia^ofievo^ viro tcov KparlaTcov, cpave-
146
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, xn. 3 -xin. 3
in it, and those which made most response to the
exciting appeals of the popular leaders, should be
purged away, like unhealthy and disturbing refuse
from the body. Such citizens, therefore, the consuls
selected as colonists and ordered them forth to
Velitrae. They also enlisted others in a campaign
against the Volscians, contriving thus that there
should be no leisure for intestine tumults, and
believing that when rich and poor alike, plebeians as
well as patricians, were once more united in military
service and in common struggles for the public good,
they would be more gently and pleasantly disposed
towards one another.
XIII. But the popular leaders, Sicinius and
Brutus, with their following, at once rose up in
opposition, crying out that the consuls were dis-
guising a most cruel deed under that most inoffensive
name, a colony, and were really pushing poor men
into a pit of death, as it were, by sending them forth
into a city which was full of deadly air and unburied
corpses, to be associated with a strange and
abominable deity ; and then, as if not satisfied with
destroying some of their fellow-citizens by famine,
and exposing others to pestilence, they proceeded
further to bring on a war of their own choosing, that
no evil might spare the city, which had but refused
to continue in servitude to the rich. With their
ears full of such speeches as these, the people would
neither answer the consular summons for enlistment,
nor look with any favour on the colony. 1
The senate was in perplexity. But Marcius, who
was now full of importance, and had grown lofty in
spirit, and was looked upon with admiration by the
1 Cf. Dionysius Hal. vii. 13.
147
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
po<? rjv fiaXiara roh BrjfjLaycoyoh dvOiardfjuevo^.
KaX ttjv fiev dirotKiav direo-reiXav, eiriTtpiloi^
fjLeydXois toi*? Xa^ovras e%eX6e2v dvayicdcravTev
7T/30? Be rr)v arparelav iravrdiraaiv dirayopevbv-
tcov, avrbs 6 Mdp/cios tov<; re TreXaTas dvaXaficov
teal rcov dXXcov ocrovs e7reio~e, tear eBpa fie tt)v
4 'Avnarcov %(opav. teal ttoXvv fiev alrov evpcov,
TroXXf) Be Xeia, Opefifidrcov KaX dvBpairoBwv
7r€pt,TV%(ov, avT(p fiev ovBev igeiXero, tou? Be
crTparevaafievovs iroXXa fiev ayovras €X a)V >
TroXXa Be cfiepovras, eiravriXOev eh rr)v 'Pw/x^y,
ware roix; aXXovs fierafieXofievovs koX tydovrjaav-
ras roh eviroprjaaaiv d^OeaOai r& Map/cuo) koX
fiapvveadai rr)v B6£av avrov koX tt)v Bvvafiiv, a>?
iirl top Brjfiov av^ofxevi^v.
XIV. 'OXiyov Be %p6vov fjuer/jei fiev virareiav
6 WidpKLos, e/cd/jLTTTOVTO Be oi ttoXXoL, koX TOV
Brjfiov alBcos Ti? elyev dvBpa real yevei koX dperfj
irpwrov drifidcrai koX Karaj3aXelv eirl Toaovroi?
koX t7)Xlkovtol<; evepyeTTjfiaai. koX yap eOos r)v
roh fierLovcri ttjv ap^r)v irapatcaXelv Kal Befjwv-
aOac tov$ TToXiras ev Ifiaria) /canovras eh ttjv
dyopdv dvev yiroivos, eire fiaXXov i/craTrecvovvra^ 220
eavTov? tw a^Tj/iari wpos ttjv Berjcnv, elre BeiK-
vvvras oh rjaav uireiXal 7rpo<j>avr} tcl avfifioXa
2 t% dvBpeias. ov yap vTroyfria Bjittov Biavofir)*;
dpyvpiov /cal Be/cao-jiwv d^cocrrov efiovXovro irpocr-
tevai koX dyiTCdva roh iroXlTais rbv Beofievov
1 Cf. Dionysius Hal. vii. 19.
2 There is nothing of this candidacy for the consulship in
Livy (ii. 34, 7-35). Marcius urges the senate to take advan-
tage of the famine and exact from the plebeians a surrender
I 4 8
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, an. 3-xiv. 2
most powerful men of the city, openly took the lead
in resisting the popular leaders. The colony was
sent out, those that were chosen for it by lot being
compelled to go forth under severe penalties ; and
when the people utterly refused military service,
Marcius himself mustered his clients and as many
others as he could persuade, and made an incursion
into the territory of Antium. There he found much
corn, and secured large booty in cattle and captives,
no part of which did he take out for himself, but
brought his followers back to Rome laden with
large spoils of every sort. The rest of the citizens
therefore repented themselves, envied their more
fortunate fellows, and were filled with hostility to
Marcius, not being able to endure the reputation and
power of the man, which was growing, as they
thought, to be detrimental to the people. 1
XIV. But not long after, when Marcius stood for
the consulship, 2 the multitude relented, and the
people felt somewhat ashamed to slight and humble
a man who was foremost in birth and valour and had
performed so many and such great services. Now it
was the custom with those who stood for the office to
greet their fellow-citizens and solicit their votes,
descending into the forum in their toga, without a
tunic under it. This was either because they wished
the greater humility of their garb to favour their solici-
tations, or because they wished to display the tokens
of their bravery, in case they bore wounds. It was
certainly not owing to a suspicion of the dispensing
of money in bribery that the candidate for the votes
of their tribunate. This so exasperates the people that they
try Marcius in absentia and banish him, whereupon he goes
over to theVolsci. Plutarch's story (xiv.-xx.) agrees closely
with Dionysius Hal. vii. 21- tU.
VOL. IV. F M9
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
avrcov oyfre yap jiera iroXvv yjpbvov wvr) teal
7rpci(TL<; €7retarjX0e, /cal avveplyr} raU e/c/cXrjcriaa-
3 ri/cacs yjr)](f)oi<; dpyvpiov. e/c Be rovrov /cal Bi/cacr-
tcov diyovaa /cal arparoireBwv r) BcopoBo/cta
7repLeari]cr€v eh fiovap-^lav rrjv iroXiv, e^avBpa-
TTohiaafxevT] ra oirXa rocs 'XprjfxaaLV. ov yap
Ka/c(o<; eot/cev elirelv 6 eliroov on irpwros /careXvae
rbv Srj/jLov 6 irpwros ecrridaas /cal Befcdaas.
(^alverai Be /cpv(f>a /cal /caret pmepov vwoppeov ov/c
4 evOvs e/cBrjXov ev 'PcopLy yeveaOat rb /ca/cov. ov
yap Lo-fiev Barn? r)v 6 Be/cdaas irpearo*; ev 'Pco/jltj
Brjpbov r) Bi/cao-rrjptov 'AOrjvrjo-i Be Xeyerai rrpeb-
to? dpyvpiov Bovvai Bi/caarals "Avvto? 6 'AvOe-
[jllcdvos, TTpo8oo~ia<; irepl TivXov /cpivopievos, ev rots
YleXoTTOvvrio-iafcofc rjBrj reXevrcjaiv, oirr)viKa to
yjpvvovv ere yevos /cal a/cr]parov ev 'Pcofirj rrjv
ctyopav /carefyev.
XV. 'AUa rov ye M.ap/clov iroXXas vtto-
cfraLVovTOS Q)TeiXa<; drrb ttoXXcov dycovcov, ev oh
€7rp(i)Tevo-ev eTrra/caiBe/ca err) avve^ws arparevo-
lievos, eBvao)7rovvTO rrjv dperrjv, /cal Xoyov dXXrj-
Xois eBlBoaav W9 e/cetvov diroBel^ovres. eirel Be,
7779 rjfjbepas ev y rrjv tyfjefrov eBei (f>epecv evcrrdarjs,
6 Mdp/cios €69 dyopdv eveftaXe o~of3apw<; virb rrjs
/3ovXr}<; TrpOTre/jLTrofievos, /cal irdvres ol irarpi/cioi
irepl avrbv eyevovro epavepol 7rpo9 /irjBev ovrw
2 pLr)BeiroTe airovBdaavres, e^eireaov avOis ol ttoX-
Xol t?}9 7rpo9 avrbv evvolas, els rb ve/ieadv ical
■5°
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, xiv. 2 -xv. 2
of the citizens was required to present himself before
them without a tunic and ungirt. For it was long
after this time that the buying and selling of votes
crept in and money became a feature of the elections.
But afterwards, bribery affected even courts and camps,
and converted the city into a monarchy, by making
armies the utter slaves of money. For it has been
well said that he first breaks down the power of the
people who first feasts and bribes them. But at
Rome the mischief seems to have crept in stealthily
and gradually, and not to have been noticed at once.
For we do not know who was the first man to bribe
her people or her courts of law ; whereas at Athens,
Anytus, the son of Anthemion, is said to have been
the first man to give money to jurors, when he was
on trial for the treacherous failure to relieve Pylos, 1
toward the close of the Peloponnesian war ; a time
when the pure race of the golden age still possessed
the Roman forum.
XV. So when Marcius disclosed his many scars
from many contests, wherein he had been a foremost
soldier for seventeen years together, the people were
put out of countenance by his valour, and agreed
with one another to elect him. But when the day
for casting their votes came, and Marcius made a
pompous entry into the forum escorted by the senate,
and all the patricians about him were clearly more
bent on success than ever before, the multitude fell
away again from their good will towards him, and
1 A stronghold on the western coast of Messenia, in
Peloponnesus. It was occupied and successfully defended by
the Athenians in 425 B.C. (Thuc. iv. 2-41). In 410, the
Lacedaemonians laid siege to its Messenian garrison, which
surrendered after an Athenian fleet had failed to relieve it
(Diodorus, xiii. 61, of.).
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
(f)0oV6lV V7TO(j>€p6/JL€VOL. 7TpO(T7]V Be T(p TtdQei
Tovrcp teal Seo?, el yevoiTo T779 apXV^ *vpLo<; dvrjp
aplGTOKpCLTlKOS KCU TOaOVTOV eyWV iv T0£9 TTCLTpL-
teiois a^lcofia, p,r) iravTairaatv dcfreXoiTo tov Brjpuov
rr)v eXevOeplav.
3 Oi;to) Br) (jypovrjaavTes aTre-^^laavTO tov
Mdpteiov. a)? 8' dvrjyopevOrjaav erepoi, fiapews
fiev rjveyteev r) j3ovXr) Boteovaa it poireirrfXaKiadat
paXXov eavTr)v rj tov Mdpteiov, avrbs 8' iteelvo?
ov pLeTpLws eayev ovB? iirieite&s irpos to crvpfte-
/3?7«o9, are Br) irkelaTa tw OvpoeiBel teal (piXo-
v€iK(p pApei rrjs "^v%^9, o>9 e^ovri pteyeOo? teal
(ppovrjpa, /cexpyptvos, to o° ip,/3pi0e<; teal to
irpaov, ov to irXelaTov apery 7roXiTitefj piereaTiv,
iyteetepapevov ovte eywv ^ 7ro ^oyov teal iraiBe'ia*;,
4 ovBe rr)v iprjpiia £vvoi/eov, 009 UXdreov eXeyev,
avBdBeiav elBtos oti Bel fidXio-ra Biafyevyetv
eiriye^povvTa itpdypaai teoivols teal dvO ponroi^
opbiXelv, teal yeveaOai tt)9 ttoXXol yeXwpevqs inr'
ivicov dve^LteateLas epaarijv. dXX' a7rXo09 t*9 wv
del teal aTevrjs, teal to viteav teal teparetv dirdvTwv
TrdvT(o<; dvBpeias epyov r)yovp,evo<;, ovte daOevelas
teal p,aXateia<;, etc tov ttovovvto^ teal TreTrovOoros
fxaXio-Ta T779 tyvyrjs, cbenrep o'iBrjpa, tov 6vp.bv
dvaBiBovar]<;, aTryei Tapani)? puearb^ cov teal
5 irucplas 7T/0O9 tov Brjpiov. oi o° iv rfkiKia twv
TraTpiteccov, o ti irep r)v iv tjj TroXei pdXtara
yavpovpevov evyevela teal dvOovv, det> tc dav-
/iao"TW9 eo-TrovBdteeaav irepl tov dvBpa, teal Tore
TTpocrteeipLevoi teal irapovTes ovte eV dyaOu* tov
Ovpibv i^eppiTn^ov avTov T(j> auvayavateTeiv teal
152
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, xv. 2-5
drifted into feelings of resentment and envy. These
feelings were reinforced by their fear that if an
aristocrat, who had such weight with the patricians,
should become supreme in the government, he might
altogether deprive the people of their liberties.
So, being in such a state of mind, they rejected
Marcius and others were proclaimed elected. The
senators were indignant, thinking the insult directed
rather at them than at Marcius, and he himself
could not treat the occurrence with restraint or
forbearance. He had indulged the passionate and
contentious side of his nature, with the idea that
there was something great and exalted in this, and
had not been imbued, under the influence of reason
and discipline, with that gravity and mildness which
are the chief virtues of a statesman. Nor did lie
know that one who undertakes public business must
avoid above all things that self-will which, as Plato
says, 1 is the "companion of solitude" ; must mingle
with men, and be a lover of that submissiveness to
injury which some people ridicule so much. But
since he was ever a straightforward man and obstin-
ate, and since he thought that conquest and mastery
in all things and at all times was the prerogative of
bravery, rather than of effeminate weakness (which
breaks out in anger, like a swelling sore, from the
troubled and wounded spirit), he went away full of
indignation and bitterness towards the people. The
younger patricians, too, that element in the city
which made most vaunt of noble birth and was most
showy, had always been amazingly devoted to the
man, and, adhering to him now, when their presence
did him no good, fanned his anger by their sympa-
1 In a letter to Dio (Bpist. iv. ad Jin.).
*53
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
avvaXyetv. tjv yap r/yefiaov avroLs /cal BtBda/caXos
€VfjL€V1]<; TCOV TToXejULlfCCdV €V T0U9 (TTpaT€LCU<;, teal
^ijXov ap6rrj<s avev cj)66vov 7rpo? dXXjjXovs yav-
pwaai tovs /caTopOovvras.
XVI. 'El/ TOVT(p Be (TITOS TJK6V 6t? 'PtO^I',
ttoXv? fiev a)P7]rb<; ef 'IraTu'a?, ov/c iXdrrcov Be
Ba>p7)rb<; etc ^vpa/eovawv, TeXcovos rod rvpdvvov
7re/r^aj/T0?' wct6 tovs TrXelarovs ev eXirlat,
yeveaOai %pr]o~Tal<;, dfia ttj<; diropias /cal tt}? 221
Bia<popa<; ttjv ttoXlv d7raXXayi]aea0ac TrpoaBo-
/eaWa?. evOvs ovv /3ovXr}<; dOpoiaOeiarj^ irepi-
'XvOels 6 Brjfios e^coOev e/capaBo/cei to reXo?,
eXiri^wv dyopa t€ %pr)0~eo~6ai ^iXav6pd>ir(p /cal
TrpoZica ra? Bwpeds vepurjaeaOai. /cal yap evBov
2 rjaav 01 ravra ttjv ftovXrjv ireiQovTe*;. 6 pevToi
Mdp/cio? dvaaTas acpoBpa icaOityaTO tcov X a P l ~
^opevcov Tot? ttoXXols, Bypbaywyovs ical irpoBoTas
drro/caXcov ttjs dptaT0/cpaTta<; /cal aireppuaTa
irov^pa 6paavTr)T0<; /cal v/3pea)<; eh o%Xov
dfaijmeva TpecfyovTas /caQ^ avTMV, a /caXa><? puev
elye pur) irepiihelv iv dpyfj (pvopeva pajS* layvpbv
dpxfj T7)Xi/cai>Tr) irotrjaai top Brjpiov, tfBrj Be /cal
(froftepbv elvai t5> irdvTa f3ovXop,evoi<; avTols
virdpyeiv ical payBev a/covTa? (Bid^eadav, prjBe
ireideaOai Tot? virdTois, dXX* avapyias e%ovTa$
3 r)yep,6vas IBlov? apyovTas irpoaayopeveiv. iiri-
B6o~€L<; puev ovv /cal Biavopds, cbenrep 'ILXXtfvwv ol
KpaTio-Ta Br)p,o/cpaTovp,€voi, /cade^eaOac "yfnrfi^o-
pbevov? e(f>r) iravTeXGis eh /colvov oXeOpov rrjv
154
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, xv. 5-xvi. 3
thetic vexation and sorrow. For he was their leader
and willing teacher of the art of war in their
campaigns, and inspired them in their victories with
a zeal for valour, which had no tinge of mutual
jealousy.
XVI. In the meantime grain came to Rome, a great
part of it bought in Italy, but an equal amount sent
as a present from Syracuse, where Gelo was tyrant.
Most of the people were consequently in great hope,
expecting that the city would be delivered both from its
scarcity and its discord. The senate, accordingly, was
convened at once, and the people, flocking about the
senate -house, awaited the result of its deliberations.
They expected that the market-price for grain would
now be moderate, and that what bad been sent as a
present would be distributed gratis. For there were
some in the senate who so advised that body. But
Marcius rose in his place and vehemently attacked
those who favoured the multitude, calling them dem-
agogues and betrayers of the aristocracy, and declar-
ing that they were nourishing, to their own harm, the
evil seeds of boldness and insolence which had been
sown among the rabble ; these they should have
choked when they first sprang up, and not have
strengthened the people by such a powerful magis-
tracy as the tribunate. But now their body was for-
midable, because it got everything that it desired,
allowed no constraint upon its will, and refused to
obey the consuls, but had their own leaders in anarchy,
whom they styled their rulers. To sit there, more-
over, voting such a people largesses and supplies, like
those Greeks where democracy is most extreme,
he said was nothing more nor less than maintaining
them in their disobedience, to the common destruc-
'55
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
direlOeiav avTcov efyoBid^eiv. " Ov yap %dpiv ye
Brjirov <f)ij (rover iv diroXapb(3dvetv tcov arparecayv a?
ey/careXurov, /cal tuiv dirocrrdaecov at? Trporj/cavro
rrjv TrcLTpiha, /cal rwv BiafioXwv a? iBe^avro /card
t^9 (SovXtjS' aX)C iKpcepevovs Bid tyoftov /cal
/coXa/cevovras vp,d<; ravra BiBbvai /cal Gvyywpelv
eXiricravTes, ovBev e^ovai irepas cnreiOeia*;, ovBe
4 iravGOvrai hiafyepojxevoi /cal GTaaid^ovre^. coare
tovto fiev io~Ti /copaBf) fiavt/cov el Be aco^povov-
fiev, dcpacprjcropeOa ttjv Bijf.iap'^lav avrcov, aval-
pea iv ovaav VTrarelas /cal Bidaraaiv t>)? 7ro\ea>?,
ov/cert, fiicis, w? wporepov, ova?)?, dXXa BeBeypbevrjs
rofirjv fJLrjheiroTe avpb^vvai firjB' 6p,0(f)povr)(rai, purjBe
iravaaaQai voaovvras rjfia<; /cal raparTopLevovs vif
dXXrjXcov edaovaavT
XVII. UoXXa Toiavra Xeycov 6 Mdp/cio$ virep-
^>yw? el%e tou? veovs avvevOovaicovTas avrw /cal
rou? irXovalovq oXlyov Belv airavras, fiovov
e/celvov dvBpa rr)V irokiv e%eiv dtjrrrjTOV /cal
d/co\d/ceuTov ftocovras. evioi Be twv irpeo-fivTe-
pcov rjvavTLOVvro, vcpopao/xevoc to djroftrjo-ofievov.
direful) Be %pr)o~Tov ovBev. ol yap Brjfiap-^oi
Trapovres, a>? rjcrOovro rfj yvca/xr) /cparovvra rbv
Mdp/ciov, eljeBpafiov eh rbv o^Xov puera /Sot??
Trapa/ceXevopLevoi, auvlaracrOai ical ftorjOelv avrois
2 rovs ttoWov?. i/c/cXrjcrLas Be 6opv/3coBov<; yevo-
/jLevrjs, /cal t&v Xoycov ov<; 6 Mdp/cios etirev dvayo-
pevOevrcov, oXiyov eBer^crev epareaelv vir 6pyr)<;
(pep6p,evo$ 6t? ttjv ftovXrjv 6 Bfjpo?' ol Be Btjp,ap-^oi
rov M.ap/clov ttjv ahlav £itoiovi>to, ical irepnrov-
156
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, xvi. 3 -xvn. 3
tion of all. " For they surely will not say that they
are getting these as a grateful return for the military
services which they omitted, and the secessions by
which they renounced their country, and the ca-
lumnies against the senate which they have counten-
anced. They will rather be confident that your fears
drive you to subserviency and flattery when you make
them these gifts and concessions, and will set no limit
to their disobedience, nor cease from their quarrels
and seditions. Such action on our part would there-
fore be sheer madness ; but if we are wise, we shall
take their tribunate away from them, for it makes
the consulship null and void, and divides the city.
This is no longer one, as before, but has been cut in
two, so that we can never grow together again, or be
of one mind, or cease afflicting and confounding one
another."
XVII. With many such words as these Marcius
was beyond measure successful in filling the younger
senators, and almost all the wealthy ones, with his
own fierce enthusiasm, and they cried out that he
was the only man in the city who disdained submis-
sion and flattery. But some of the older senators op-
posed him, suspecting the outcome. And the outcome
was wholly bad. For the tribunes were present, and
when they saw that the proposal of Marcius was
likely to prevail, they ran out among the crowd with
loud cries, calling upon the plebeians to rally to their
help. Then there was a stormy session of the as-
sembly, and when the speech of Marcius was reported
to it, the people were carried away with fury and
almost burst in upon the senate. But the tribunes
made their formal denunciation of Marcius, and sum-
moned him by messenger to come before them and
*57
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
T€9 CKaXovv avrbv diroXoyrjaopevov. a><? Bk
7rpo? vfipiv toi>? irepfydkvras i^Xacrev vTrrjperas,
avrol fiera rcov dyopavopicov tjkov a%ovre<s ftla
Tov avBpa, Kal tov o~d>p,aTO<; eireXaplBdvovro.
<TVardvT€<i £' ol nraTpiKioi tovs puev Bripdp^ov^
direrpi^ravTO, Tot? S' dyopavofiois Kal TrXrjyds
eveftaXov.
3 Tore pev ovv eairkpa KaraXaftovaa ttjv rapa-
y))v BieXvaev ap,a S' rjpepa rbv Brjpov i^rjypia)-
pevov opwvres oi vttcltoi Kal avvrpexovra irav-
TayoOev eh ttjv dyopdv eBeicrav vrrep rr}<; 7roX,e&)?,
Kal ttjv fiovXrjv dOpoiaavres eKeXevov GKOirelv
oVtw? €7rietKeai Xoyoi? Kal Boypaai xprjo-Tofc
irpavvcoo-c Kal KaTacrTrjo~(oo~i tovs ttoXXovs, go? ov
(piXoripia? ovaav copav, ovB> virep Bb^rjs dpiXXav,
el craxppovovaiv, dXXd Kaipov eiriafyaXy] Kal otjvv,
evyvcopovos TroXireias Kal ^iXavOpconov Beopuevov.
4 eli;dvT(ov Be twv TrXeio-rcov irpoeX66vTe<i &>9 evrjv
pdXiara to> Bijpqy BieXeyovro Kal Kareirpavvov,
diroXvopevol re t<z? Bia/3oXd<; eTneiKws Kal r<y
vovOerovvTL Kal Bukvovti perpia)<; ^pcopuevoi, irepl
Be Tipr}<; aivlcov Kal dyopas ovBev BioiaeaOai Trpbs
avrovs <pdaKovre<;.
XVIII. r I29 ovv eveBiBov rb 7roXv tov Brjpov 222
Kal (fravepbv r)v tg> Koo-pioos Kal o-cocppovaxs
aKoveiv dyopevov Kal KrjXovpevov, dvearrjaav oi
Brjpapxoiy rfi p,ev ftovXrj o-uK^povovarj rbv Brjpov
dvOvirei^eiv oo~a KaX&s e")(ei (frdo-Kovre?, rbv Be
TMdpKiov diroXoyeladai KeXevovre?, el pur] cjyrjo-iv
i S 8
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, xvn. 3 -xvin. i
make his defence. And when he insolently drove
away the officers who brought their message, they
went themselves, attended by the aediles, to bring
him by force, and tried to lay hands upon his person.
But the patricians, banding together, drove the tri-
bunes away, and actually beat the aediles.
By this time, then, evening had fallen, which put
an end to the tumult ; but as soon as it was day, the
exasperated people came running together from all
quarters into the forum. When the consuls saw this,
they were alarmed for the city, and convening the
senate, urged them to consider how, by reasonable
proposals and suitable resolutions, they might soothe
and pacify the multitude, since it was not a time for
ambitious rivalry, nor would they be wise in contend-
ing for their dignity, but the crisis was severe and
critical, and demanded measures that were considerate
and humane. The majority of the senate acceding
to these views, the consuls went out and reasoned
with the people as well as they could, and tried to
mollify them, answering their accusations in a reason-
able manner, and making only a moderate use of
admonition and rebuke ; as regarded the price of
provisions and market supplies, they declared there
should be no difference between them.
XVIII. Accordingly, the greater part of the people
showed signs of relenting, and it was evident, from
their decorous and sober attention, that they were on
the way to be controlled and won over. Then the
tribunes rose and declared that since the senate was
now acting soberly, the people in their turn would
make such concessions as were fair and honourable.
They insisted, however, that Marcius should make
answer to the following charges : Could he deny that
■59
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
errl avyxvo-ei T ^ ? tro\nela$ icaX KaraXvaet, rod
hrjfjLOV rrjv re fiovXrjv irapo^vveiv kcu kclKov fiGvos
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4 6 fiev 8?}//,o? e%€Tpaxvv0i] ical (f>avepb<; yv Bvaava-
axerwv ical ftapwofievos to?? Xeyofievois, twv Se
cjrjfidpxcov 6 6pacrvTaT0<; Xi/clvvios fiiicpa Toh
avvdpxovo-L hiaXexOeh, elr eh fieaov dvayopevaas
a)? Odvaros virb tmv Srjfidpxfov tov Mapfdov
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5 t>5? viroiceifievY]^ cftdpayyos. diTTOfievwv Be twv
dyopavopcov tov crdyparo^ eSoge fiev ical tojv
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vireprj^avov, ol Se iraTpiKioi TravTairacnv eiccndvTes
160
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, xvm. 1-5
he had instigated the senate to violate the constitu-
tion and abrogate the powers of the people ? When
summoned to appear before them, had he not refused ?
And finally, by insulting and beating the aediles in
the forum, had he not done all in his power to incite
the citizens to arms and bring about a civil war ?
They made this demand with a desire either that
Marcius should be publicly humiliated, if, contrary to
his nature, he curbed his haughty spirit and sued for
the favour of the people ; or, if he yielded to his
natural promptings, that he should do something
which would justify their wrath against him and
make it implacable. The latter was what they the
rather expected, and they rightly estimated the man's
character.
For he came and stood before them as one who
would defend himself, and the people were quiet and
silent in his presence. But when, instead of the more
or less deprecatory language expected by his audience,
he began not only to employ an offensive boldness of
speech, which at last became actual denunciation, but
also to show, by the tone of his voice and the cast of
his countenance, that his fearlessness was not far re-
moved from disdain and contempt, then the people
was exasperated, and gave evident signs that his
words roused their impatience and indignation. Upon
this, Sicinius, the boldest of the tribunes, after a
brief conference with his colleagues, made formal
proclamation that Marcius was condemned to death
by the tribunes of the people, and ordered the aediles
to take him up to the Tarpeian rock at once, and cast
him down the cliff below. But when the aediles laid
hold of his person, it seemed, even to many of the
plebeians, a horrible and monstrous act; the patricians,
?6i
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
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ft>9 ^frr)(f)q) /cpivovvras"
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162
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, xvm. 5 -xix. i
moreover, utterly beside themselves, distressed and
horror stricken, rushed with loud cries to his aid.
Some of them actually pushed away the officers
making the arrest, and got Marcius among them-
selves ; some stretched out their hands in supplica-
tion of the multitude, since words and cries were of
no avail amid such disorder and confusion. At last
the friends and kindred of the tribunes, perceiving
that it was impossible, without slaying many pa-
tricians, to lead Marcius away and punish him, per-
suaded them to remit what was unusual and oppressive
in his sentence, not to use violence and put him to
death without a trial, but to surrender him and refer
his case to the people. Then Sicinius, becoming
calm, asked the patricians what they meant by taking
Marcius away from the people when it wished to
punish him. But the patricians asked in their turn :
" What then is your purpose, and what do ye mean,
by thus dragging one of the foremost men of Rome,
without a trial, to a savage and illegal punishment ? "
"Well then," said Sicinius, "ye shall not have any
such excuse for factious quarrel with the people ; foi
they grant your demand that the man have a trial.
And we cite thee, Marcius, to appear before the
citizens on the third market-day ensuing, and con-
vince them, if you can, of your innocence, assured
that they will decide your case by vote."
XIX. For the time being, then, the patricians were
satisfied with this truce, and went away in glad poss-
ession of Marcius. But in the time which inter-
vened before the third market-day (for the Romans
hold their markets every ninth day, calling them,
therefore, "mmdinae"), a campaign was undertaken
against the city of Antium, which led them to hope
163
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XX. r Op(x)v ovv 6 Mdp/cios evvola fiev avrov,
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164
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, xix. i-xx. i
that the issue might be avoided altogether. The
campaign would last long enough, they thought, for
the people to become tractable, after their rage had
languished or altogether disappeared by reason of
their occupation with the war. But presently, when
the citizens returned home after a speedy settlement
of their dispute with Antium, the patricians were in
frequent conclave, being full of fear, and deliberating
how they might not surrender Marcius, and yet pre-
vent the popular leaders from throwing the people
again into tumult and disorder. Appius Claudius,
indeed, who was counted among those most hostile
to the claims of the people, said with all solemnity
that the senate would destroy itself and utterly
betray the government of the city, if it should suffer
the people to wield their vote in judgement on the
patricians. But the oldest senators, and those most
inclined to favour the people, maintained on the con-
trary that it would not be rendered harsh or severe
by its exercise of this power, but mild and humane ;
for since it did not despise the senate, but rather
thought itself despised by that body, the prerogative
of trying a senator would be a solace to its feelings
and a mark of honour, so that as soon as it proceeded
to vote it would lay aside its wrath.
XX. Marcius, therefore, seeing that the senate
was in suspense between its kindly feelings towards
him and its fear of the people, asked the tribunes
what the accusations against him were, and on what
charge he would be tried if they led him before the
people. They replied that the charge against him
was usurpation, and that they would prove him guilty
of planning a usurpation of the government. There-
upon he rose of his own accord and said he was going
165
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
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firjBeva Tpoirov fcpiaews ptr]Be, av dXa>, tco-
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x66
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, xx. 1-4
at once before the people to make his defence, and
would deprecate no manner of trial, nor, should he
be found guilty, any form of punishment ; " Only,"
said he, " see that ye confine yourselves to the charge
mentioned, and do not play false with the senate."
The tribunes agreed to this, and on these terms the
trial was held.
But when the people were come together, in the
first place, the tribunes insisted that the votes be
cast not by centuries, 1 but by tribes, thus making
the indigent and officious rabble, which had no
thought of honour, superior in voting power to the
wealthy and well known citizens of the military
class. In the second place, abandoning the charge
of usurpation, which could not be proven, they dwelt
again upon the speech which Marcius had previously
made in the senate, when he protested against the
lowering of the market-price of grain, and urged
them to take the tribunate away from the people.
They also added a fresh charge against him, namely,
his distribution of the spoils which he had taken
from the country of Antium ; these, they said, he
had not turned into the public treasury, but had dis-
tributed them among those who made the campaign
with him. By this accusation Marcius is said to have
been more disturbed than by all the rest. For he
had not expected it, and was not ready at once
with an answer which would satisfy the people, but
began to praise those who had made the campaign,
whereupon he was clamorously interrupted by those
who had not made it, and they were the more
numerous. In the end, therefore, the vote was taken
1 Out of the 193 centuries, the richest class alone had 98,
against 95 of all the other five classes put together.
167
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
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CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, xx. 4 -xxi. 3
by tribes, and a majority of three condemned him. 1
The penalty assigned was perpetual banishment.
After the result was announced, the people went off
in greater elation and delight than they had ever
shown for any victory in battle over their enemies ;
but the senate was in distress and dire dejection,
repenting now and vexed to the soul that they had
not done and suffered all things rather than allow
the people to insult them in the exercise of such
great powers. And there was no need now of dress
or other marks of distinction in telling one class from
another, but it was clear at once that he who rejoiced
was a plebeian, and he who was vexed, a patrician.
XXI. Albeit Marcius himself, who was neither
daunted nor humbled, but in mien, port, and count-
enance fully composed, seemed the only man among
all the distressed patricians who was not touched by
his evil plight. And tins was not due to calculation,
or gentleness, or to a calm endurance of his fate, but
he was stirred by rage and deep resentment, and
this, although the many know it not, is pain. For
when pain is transmuted into anger, it is consumed,
as it were, by its flames, and casts off* its own humility
and sloth. Wherefore the angry man makes a show
of activity, as he who has a fever is hot, his spirit
being, so to speak, afflicted with throbbing, disten-
tion, and inflation. And that such was his condition,
Marcius showed right quickly by his conduct.
He went home, where his mother and his wife met
him with waitings and loud lamentations, and after
embracing them and bidding them to bear with
equanimity the fate that had come upon them, he
1 Dionysius Hal. (vii. 64) says that nine of the twenty-one
tribes voted to acquit Marcius,
169
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170
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, xxi. 3 -xxn. 2
straightway departed and went to the city gate.
Thither all the patricians in a body escorted him,
but without taking anything or asking for anything
he departed, having only three or four of his clients
with him. For a few dtays he remained by himself
at some country place, torn by many conflicting coun-
sels, such as his anger suggested to him, purposing
no good or helpful thing at all, but only how he
might take vengeance on the Romans. At last he
determined to incite some neighbouring nation to a
formidable war against them. Accordingly, he set
out to make trial of the Volscians first, knowing that
they were still abundantly supplied with men and
money, and thinking that they had been not so
much crippled in power by their recent defeats as
filled with contentious wrath against the Romans.
XXII. Now there was a certain man of Antium,
Tullus Aufidius by name, who, by reason of his wealth
and bravery and conspicuous lineage, had the standing
of a king among all the Volscians. By this man
Marcius knew himself to be hated as no other Roman
was ; for they had often exchanged threats and chal-
lenges in the battles which they had fought, and
such emulous boastings as the ambitious ardour of
youthful warriors prompts had given rise to a mutual
hatred of their own, in addition to that of their
peoples. However, since he saw that Tullus had a
certain grandeur of spirit, and that he, more than
all other Volscians, was eager to retaliate upon the
Romans, if they gave him any opportunity, Marcius
bore witness to the truth of him who said 1 : " With
anger it is hard to fight ; for whatsoe'er it wishes,
1 Heracleitus, Fragment 105 (By water, Heracliti Ephesii
rdiquiat, p. 41).
171
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yap av OeXy, ^ V XV^ MvelTai" XafBcov yap i<r6r}ra
teal a/C€vr)v iv y fidXiaTa firj Botjeiv o? rjv efieXXev
opcojievos, cbairep 'OBvaaevs,
'AvBpwv Bvcrfievecov fcare&v ttoXlv.
XXIII. *Hi> S' eairepa, Kal iroXXol fiev avrw
77 poaeTvyyavov ', iyvcopt^e B* ovBefc. i/3dBc£ev ovv
iirl rrjv oIkiclv tov TvXXov, /ecu TrapeicreXOoov
a(f)VQ) 7T/309 TT)V kcTlCLV €fcd6lG€ <TlC07rf}, Kal TT)V
/cecf)a\r)V iyfca\v\jrd/uL€Vo<; rfavyiav rjyev. oi Be
Kara, rrjv oIkiclv QavfidcravTes dvaarrjaai fiev ovk
iroXfirjcrav (rjv yap it koX irepl avTOV d^lcofia teal
tov ayrffiaTo^ Kal rrjs aHDTrrjs), efypaaav Be tc5
TvXXw irepl Belirvov ovri ttjv droiriav tov irpdy-
2 fjLaros. 6 £' e^avaara^ tjkb 7T/30? avrov, Ka\
dve/cpive rt? cov dtyiKTai Kal rlvwv Beo/ievos.
outw? ovv 6 WlapKios aTTOKaXvyJrd/jLevos icai fii-
Kpbv dvao~)£cbv, " Et firjirco fie yivdio-iceis, w
TuWe," elirev, " a\\' opcov dirto-Tels, dvdyicr) \xe
/carrfyopov ifiavTOV yeveaOai. Tdios elfii M.dp-
klos, 6 irXelara ae Kal OvoXovctkow; ipyao~dfievos
KaKa, Kal rrjv ovk icoo~av dpvelaOai ravra irepi-
3 cf)ep<ov it poarjyo plav tov KopioXavov. ovBev yap
aXXo Tcov woXXcov irovoav Kal kivBvvcdv eKelvcov
eKTrjadjUT]^ eiraOXov r) to irapda^fiov ovofia Tr}<;
7T/30? vjuias eyOpas. Kal tovto fiot TrepLeaTiv
ava<fiaipeTOV to, 8' aXXa ofiov irdvTa <j>6ovw
hrjfxov Kal v/Bpei, fiaXaKia Be Kal TrpoBoala tcov
iv TeXei Kal iarorifuov direcrTeprjpai,, Kal (fivyas
iXrjXapai, Kal yeyova t% ecnias tt?? af}? iKeTrjs,
ol»% virep aBeias Kal awTrjpias (rl yap eBet fie
172
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, xxn. 2-xxm. 3
that it buys, even at the cost of life." For, putting
on such clothing and attire as would make him seem,
to any one who saw him, least like the man he was,
like Odysseus,
"He went into the city of his deadly foes." 1
XXIII. It was evening, and many met him, but
no man knew him. He proceeded, therefore, to the
house of Tullus, and slipping in unawares, took his
seat at the hearth 2 in silence, covered his head, and
remained there motionless. The people of the house
were amazed, and did not venture to raise him up,
for his mien and his silence gave him a certain dig-
nity ; but they told Tullus, who was at supper, what
a strange thing had happened. Tullus rose from table
and came to him, and asked him who he was, and
why he was come. At this, then, Marcius uncovered
his head, and after a slight pause, said : " If thou
dost not yet recognize me, Tullus, but disbelievest
thine eyes, I must be my own accuser. I am
Caius Marcius, he who has wrought thee and the
Volscians most harm, and the surname of Coriolanus
which I bear permits no denial of this. I have won
no other prize for all the toils and perils which I
have undergone than the name which is a badge of
my enmity to your people. This, indeed, cannot be
taken away from me ; but of everything else I have
been stripped, through the envy and insolence of the
Roman people, and the cowardly treachery of the
magistrates and those of my own order. I have been
driven into exile, too, and am become a suppliant at
thy hearth, not for the sake of security and safety, —
1 Odyssey, iv. 246.
2 A sacred place of refuge for the suppliant. Cf. Odyssey,
vii. 153.
173
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
Bevpo rjfceiv <f>o/3ov[ievov diroOavecv;) dXXd Bt/cas
Xafielv XPV^ (0V » Kai Xaiiftdvcov tjBtj irapa to)v
4 €K/3a\\6vTG)v tw ere iroielv ifiavrov icvptov. el
fiev ovv icrru o~oi Ov/jlos eiri^eipelv Tot? iroXeiiLois,
Wi, tgu? eiials av/Mpopais, to yevvale, ^prjaai, fcal
KOIVQV €VTV%rifia 7r0i7]CT0V OvoXoVCTfCCDV T7)V i/J,7)V
envyiav, tootovtco j3£Xtlov virep vjiayv iroXeinj-
aovros fj irpos v/ias, oa(p woXefiovai fieXriov oi
ytvcoaKovres ra irapa toI<$ iroXepbLOis tcov dyvo-
ovvtcov. el 3' aireiprjicas, out iyco /3ovXopLai ^r)v 225
ovtg aol tcaXcos e%ei aco^etv irdXac /iev e^Opbv
avBpa /cal iroXeficov, vvv 8* dvaxfieXr) ical a^pv
crTOvr
5 f n? ovv ravra 6 TvXXo? tf/covcrev, r)o~6r\ re
Qavfxao'TtoS /cal rrjv Be^idv e/juftaXcbv, " ^Avi-
o-Taao," elirev, " co Mdp/cie, /cal ddppei. fieya yap
rj/ilv dyaObv fj/ceis BlBovs aeavTov, eXirt^e 8e~
jxei^ova irapa OvoXovo-/ccov" /cal rore fiev eio~Tia
fyiXotypovoviievos tov Mdp/CLOv, iv Be rals eiriov-
aais rj/iepats efiovXevovTO irepl tov iroXeixov /cad*
eavTOus.
XXIV. Trjv Be 'Pcofirjv tj re tcov irarpitcicov
Bvapeveia irpbs tov Brj/iov, ou% rjiciGTa tt)V tov
MapKiov KaTaBiK-qv aiTiav e^ovTcov, iTapaTTe,
ical iroXXd Bai/Aovia fidvTeis /cal tepee? ical IBiairai
TrpoarjyyeXXov a^ia cppovTiBos. ev Be XeyeTai
toiovto ti yeveadai. Tito? v\v Aarivos, dvrjp ov/c
ayav iiricfiavr}*;, dirpdy/icov Be ical fieTpcos aXXa)?
1 Livy simply says that Marcius was kindly received by
the Volscians, and that he lodged with Tullus (ii. 35, 6).
Chapters xxi.-xxiii. agree closely with Dionysius Hal. vii. 67
and viii. 1.
174
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, xxm. 3 -xxiv. i
for why should I come hither if I were afraid of
death ? — but with a desire to take vengeance on
those who have driven me forth, which I take at
once when I put myself in thy power. If, then,
thou art eager to assail thine enemies, come, good
Sir, take advantage of my calamities, and make my
individual misfortune the good fortune of all the
Volscians ; I shall fight better for you than I have
against you, in just so far as those who know the
secrets of their enemies fight better than those who
do not. But if thou hast given up hope, neither do
I wish to live, nor is it for thine advantage to spare
one who has long been an enemy and a foe, and now
is unprofitable and useless."
When Tullus heard this, he was wonderfully
pleased, and giving him his right hand, said : " Rise
up, Marcius, and be of good courage. In giving
thyself to us, thou bringest us a great good, and
thou mayest expect a greater one still from the
Volscians." Then he entertained Marcius at table
with every mark of kindness, and during the ensu-
ing days they took counsel together concerning the
war. 1
XXIV. But at Rome, owing to the hatred of the
people by the patricians, who were especially em-
bittered by the condemnation of Marcius, there were
great commotions, and many signs from heaven were
reported by seers, priests, and private persons, which
could not be ignored. One of these is said to have
been as follows. There was one Titus Latinus, 2 a
man of no great prominence, but of quiet and modest
life in general, and free from superstitious fears, as
2 The story is found in Livy, ii. 36, and in Valerius
Maximus, i. 7, 4.
175
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
/cal tcaOapbs BeicnBaipLOvlas, en Be /xaXXov dXa-
2 ^ovela?. ovros ovap elSev &>? rov Ato? et? oyjrip
ijtcovro? aura) /cal /ceXevovros eiirelv irpbs ryjv
avy/cXrjrov on /ca/cbv rbv op^arrjv eareiXav
auT(p irpb rfjs Tropiirrj? /cal arepireararov. IBcov
Be rr)V 6^\riv eXeye fir) ttclvv (fipovricrcu rb irpwrov
ox? Be /cal Bevrepov IBwv /cal rpirov rjfieXrjcre,
rraiBos re %pr}o~rov Odvarov e7TiBeiv /cal rov
o-go/jlcltos a<j)V(o irapeOevro? d/cparr)<; yeveaOai.
3 ravra 8' iv kXlvlBlw (popdSrjv /copucrOels els rr)v
cvy/cXrjrov dirrjyyeiXev. dirayyeiXas B\ w? (jxiaiv,
ev0vs jjadero pcovvvp,evov avrov rb atopa, /cal
dvaaras diryeu BC avrov /3aBl^o)v. Oavpdaavres
ovv oi (BovXevral iroXXr)v eiroirjo-avro rod irpdy-
/iiaTOS ^r)TY](TLV.
T Hi> Be roiovrov ol/cerrjv Ti? avrov irapaBovs
ol/cerais erepois e/ceXevaev e^dyetv oY dyopas
4 paariyovvras, elr drro/crelvai. ravra izpar-
rovaiv avrols /cal rbv avOpcoirov altci£op,evoL$,
arpocpds re iravroBaTrds vtt dhvvrj*; o~rpe<popevov
koX Kivr}o~eL<; aXXas drepirels ra> irepiiradelv
KLVOvpLevov, r) irofiiTr) Kara ri>xv p r)/coXov6r)Kei.
/cal iroXXol puev iBvo-^epaivov rcov rrapovrcov, ovr
oyjnv [Xapav opcovre? ovre /civrjo-eis irpeirovo~as>
ovBels o° i7re^r)X0ev, dXXd XotBopiai pbvov
eyevovro /cal /cardpai tw 7ri/cpco<; ovrcos /coXd^ovri.
/cal yap e^pwvro rroXXfj rrpb? rob? ol/cerat
emeiKela rore, Bid avrovpyiav /cal rb /coivcovelv
btair7)<i rjpiepcorepov e^ovre? rrpos avrov? /cat
5 avvrjOearepov. rjv Be peydXrj /coXacris ol/cerov
7rXr]p,peXijo-avro<;, el %vXov dfid^ qs, w rbv pvpibv
176
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, xxiv. 1-5
lie was also, and yet more, from vain pretensions.
This man dreamed that Jupiter appeared to him, and
bade him tell the senate that the dancer, whom they
had appointed to head his procession, was a bad one,
and gave him the greatest displeasure. After having
this vision, Titus said, he gave it no thought at all
at first, but after he had seen it a second and a third
time, and still neglected it, he had suffered the loss
of an excellent son by death, and had himself be-
come suddenly palsied. This story he told after
having been brought into the senate on a litter,
and no sooner had he told it, they say, than he at
at once felt the strength return to his body, and
rose up, and went away, walking without aid. In
amazement, then, the senators made a careful in-
vestigation of the matter.
Now, what had happened was this. A certain man
had handed over one of his slaves to other slaves,
with orders to scourge him through the forum, and
then put him to death. While they were executing
this commission and tormenting the poor wretch,
whose pain and suffering made him writhe and twist
himself horribly, the sacred procession in honour of
Jupiter chanced to come up behind. Many of those
who took part in it were, indeed, scandalized at the
joyless sight and the unseemly contortions of the
victim, but no one made any protest ; they merely
heaped abuse and curses on the head of the master
who was inflicting such a cruel punishment. For in
those days the Romans treated their slaves with great
kindness, because they worked and even ate with
them themselves, and were therefore more familiar
and gentle with them. And it was a severe punish-
ment for a slave who had committed a fault, if he
'77
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
virepelhovaLV, dpapuevos hie^eXOoc irapd ttjv yeiT-
viaaiv. 6 yap tovto iraOoov teal ofyOels irapcu tcov
avvoUcov real yeiTovcov ov/cert, itlgtiv elyev.
ercaXecTO he (frovpfticpep' b yap ol "EWrjve? viro-
a-Tarrjv teal aTi]piypLa, tovto 'Pcopualoi fyovpitav
dvofid&vaiv.
XXV. 'H? ovv o AaTlvos airrjyyeiXe ttjv o-^riv
aVTOLS KOI SirjTTOpOVV 00~TI<; TjV TTjS ITOflTTTj^ T0T6
irporjyov/jLepos aTepTrrjs /cal /ca/ebs op^rjaTi]^,
avepLVi^aOrjaav evioi hid rrjv aTOiriav tt)? Ttpuco-
pias e/ceivov tov OepdirovTos, bv pLao-Tiyovvres
etjrjyayov hi ay o pas, eW eOavaTcoaav. avpLcfrcovr)-
advTcov ovv tcov lepecov 6 re heairoTris hircrjv ehco/ce,
teal t« Oecp ttjv TTopLirr^v teal Tas 6eas avOis ef
dpxr}<; €7r€Te\ovv.
"Eoi/cev ovv 6 NoyLta? rd t ciXXa tcov lepcov
<7ocf)coTaT0<; e^TjyrjTrjs yeyovevai, teal tovto iray/cd-
Xa>? ye vopuodeTrjaai TTpbs evXd/3eiav avTols. OTav
yap apyovTes rj tepees irpaTToool ti tcov delcov, 6
Krjpvt; TTpbeiai pueyaXr) (fxovfj ftocov, "*Oa; aye."
Grjfiaivei S* r) (pcovrj, tovto irpaTTe, irpoo-eyeiv
tceXevovaa toIs lepots /cal firjhev epyov ep,(3aXelv
juL€Taf;v firjhe ypeiav dayoXias, co? to, irXelo-Ta tcov
avOpcoirivcov dvajfcaiop tlvI Tpoirco teal htd fiias
irepaivofieva. dvaias he /cal Tropurds /cal 6eas
1 According to Livy (ii. 36 and 37), it was at the repetition
of the great games, which was made necessary by the
i 7 8
CAIUS MARCITJS CORIOLANUS, xxiv. 5 -xxv. 3
was obliged to take the piece of wood with which
they prop up the pole of a waggon, and carry it
around through the neighbourhood. For he who
had been seen undergoing this punishment no longer
had any credit in his own or neighbouring house-
holds. And he was called " furcifer " ; for what the
Greeks call a prop, or support, is called "furca" by
the Romans.
XXV. When, therefore, Latinos had reported his
vision to the senators, and they were at a loss to
know who the unpleasant and bad dancer was who
had headed the procession referred to, some of them
were led, owing to the extraordinary nature of his
punishment, to think of the slave who had been
scourged through the forum and then put to death.
Accordingly, with the concurrence of the priests,
the master of the slave was punished, and the pro-
cession and spectacles in honour of the god were
exhibited anew. 1
Now it would seem that Numa, who in other
respects also was a very wise director of sacred
rites, had very properly sought to secure the people's
reverent attention by means of the following ordin-
ance. When, namely, magistrates or priests perform
any religious function, a herald goes before, crying
with a loud voice, " Hoc age." The meaning of the
cry is, Mind this ! and it warns the people to give
heed to the sacred rites, and suffer no task or demand
of business to intervene, 2 implying that men per-
form most of their duties under some sort of com-
pulsion and by constraint. And it is customary for
profanation made known by the dream of Latinus, that the
Volscians were sent out of the city, as described by Plutarch
in chapter xxvi. 1. 2 Of. Numa, xiv. 2.
179
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
ov fxovov ig atria? rrjXi/cavTT]?, dXXa /cal Bia
/Mfcpas 'Pco/xatot? e#o? icrrlv dvaXafiftdveiv. itt~
ttov re yap evbs tcop dyovroov Ta$ icaXov fjuevas
6r)craa<$ arovrjaavTcx;, /cal iraXiv rov rjvLoyov rfj 226
dpiarepa %etpt ret? r)vla<; avXXaj36vTo<;, avOis
i-^n](f)LcravTo rrjv irofxir^v iimeXelv. iv Be roh
Kara) %povoi<; piav OvaLav Tpiafcovrd/ccs iiroirjaav,
del tlvos iXXel/jLjiaros i) irpoaKpovapaTO? yivevQai
Bokovvto?. TOiavrr) fiev evXdfieca 77730? to Oelov
'Fcofiatcov.
XXVI. O Be Nldp/cios teal T1/XX0? iv 'Avrlq}
roh SvvaTCDTaTOis fcpvcpa BceXeyovro, ica\ irape-
fcdXovv, €&)? crraaid^ovaiv oi 'Fco/xacoi, 7rpb<;
aXX^Xof?, rbv nrbXe/nov i^evey/ceiv. tosv Be
BuorCOTTOVfieVCOV, OTL (TTTOvBal BUret? TjGaV aVToh
ical dvox^tl yeyevi] fievai, irpbfyacriv avrol 'Pw/ialoi
irapevyov , etc rivos VTrotylas rj 8iaj3oXr}<; iv Qeais
/cal dyoivi /crjpv^avres dirievai OvoXova/covs irpb
2 tjXlov Bvvovros i/c t^? 7roXea)9. evioi Be (j>aatv
diraTrj rod M.ap/clov /cal BoXw yeveadai tovto,
TrefiyjravTOS eh 'Poofirjv irpbs tou? apyovras ov/c
dXrjdr) /carijyopov twv OvoXova/cwv, o>? iv rah
@eai<; Biavoovp.evwv iiriQkaQai rot? 'Pw/icuot? kuI
rrjv ttoXlv ifxiuirpav. Trdvras jxev yap avrovs rb
Krjpvy/xa tovto Bvo-fAeveaTepovs iiroirjae Toh
'VcDfiaiow Be TuXXo? iirl /xel^ov aipwv to
irpdy/xa /cal irapo^vvcov re\o<; eireiae 7re/jL-^ravTa<i
eh r Pd)/jLr)v rrjv re yjapav dnraiTelv Kal to.?
7roXet?, oaas dcpr/prjvTai TroXe/xrp tcov OvoXov-
1 See the following Comparison, ii. 2.
8 According to Livy (ii. 37, 1-7), it was Tullus himself
180
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, xxv. 3 -xxvi. 2
the Romans to renew sacrifices and processions and
spectacles, not only for such a reason as the above,
but also for trivial reasons. For instance, if one of
the horses drawing the sacred chariots called Tensae
gives out ; or again, if the charioteer takes hold of
the reins with his left hand, they decree that the
procession be renewed. And in later ages, a single
sacrifice has been performed thirty times, because
again and again some failure or offence was thought
to occur. Such is the reverent care of the Romans
in religious matters.
XXVI. But Marcius and Tullus were secretly con-
ferring at Antium with the chief men, and were
urging them to begin the war while the Romans
were torn by internal dissensions. And when shame
restrained them from this course, because they had
agreed to a truce and cessation of hostilities for two
years, the Romans themselves furnished them with a
pretext, by making proclamation at the spectacles
and games, because of some suspicion or slanderous
report, that the visiting Volscians must leave the
city before sunset. Some say x that this was due to
a deceitful stratagem of Marcius, who sent a man to
the consuls in Rome, bearing the false charge that
the Volscians purposed to fall upon the Romans at
the spectacles, and set the city on fire. 2 This pro-
clamation made all the Volscians more embittered
against the Romans ; and Tullus, magnifying the
incident, and goading them on, at last persuaded
them to send ambassadors to Rome 3 and demand
back the territory and the cities which had been
who came to the consuls, as had been planned with Marcius.
Plutarch agrees rather with Dionysius Hal. viii. 3.
3 Livy speaks only of a revolt (ii. 38, Jin.). Plutarch
agrees with Dionysius Hal. viiL 4-10.
vol. IV. G
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
3 (TKcov, ol Be 'Pay fialoi T<wy Trpeo~fteayv aKovcravTes
r/yavaKTrjo-av, /cat aireicpivavTO irporepov^ piev
dvaXi^eaQai ra oirXa tou? OvoXovaKovs, vare-
pov$ Be KaraOrjaeaOai 'Paypiaiovs. i/c tovtov
away ay gov eKKXrjaLav irdvBrjpbov 6 TvWos, eirel
tov irokepiov iyfrrjtjyia'avTO, avveftovXeve tov Map-
Kiov fcaXeaac, purjBev avray pLvrjai/ca/covvra?, dXXa
iriGTevaavTas on avpLpua^ayv dx^eXrjaet oaa nroXe-
fiayv ovk eftXayjrev.
XXVII. 'Eirel Be /cXrjOeh 6 Map/cio? /cal Bia-
X€%#et9 7r/?09 to ttXtjOos ov^ tjttov dirb tcov
\6yayv rj Tayv oirXayp dvrjp Beivbs ecjydvrj /cal
7TO\€fll/cb$ Kal TO (j>pOV€LV Kal ToXpidv TrepiTTOS,
diroBeiKVVTai puerd TvXXov o-Tparrjybs avro-
2 Kpdrayp tov iroXepov. BeB toy? Be rbv yjpbvov
iv w Trapacr/cevdaaaOai tov? OvoXovo-kovs eBei y
pur) ttoXvs yevopevos tov /caipbv dcpeXrjrai, T/79
irpdfjeays, ra pev dXXa toim? /card ttoXlv BvvaTov?
Kal dpyovTas i/ceXeve avvdyeiv /cal iropi^eiv,
auT09 Be to l>9 irpodvpLOTaTOVS dvev /caraXoyov
ireLo~a<; etcovTa? avTay crvve^eXOelv, ivefiaXev eU
rrjv Toyv *P ay p,ala>v a<f>vay Kal pr)Bevb<; irpoaBoKoyv-
3 T09. 66ev 7]V7ropr]ae Xelas ToaavTrjs oarjv ayovTas
Kal fyepovTas Kal xpayp,ivov<; iv tw aTpaToireBay
toi»9 OvoXovo-kovs direiirelv, rjv Be puiKpoTaTov
epyov avray T779 aTpaTelas eKeivr t ? 7) eviropla Kal
to TroXXd jSXdtyai Kal KaKoyaai tiiv %ay pa v ov
B> y eveKa TavT eirpaTTe, p>eya, to roix; iraTpLKiov^
182
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, xxvi. 3 -xxvii. 3
taken from the Volscians in war. But the Romans,
after hearing the ambassadors, were full of indigna-
tion, and replied that the Volscians might be first to
take up arms, but the Romans would be last to lay
them down. Upon receiving this answer, Tullus
called a general assembly of his people, and after
they had voted for the war, advised them to call in
Marcius, cherishing no resentment against him, but
firmly convinced that he would be more helpful as
an ally than he had been injurious as a foe.
XXVI I. Marcius was therefore called in, and held
a conference with the assembly ; they saw from his
speech that he was as eloquent as his exploits in
arms had taught them that he was warlike, and were
convinced of his surpassing intelligence and daring ;
so they appointed him general with Tullus, and gave
him full powers to conduct the war. Fearing, then,
that the time needed to equip and marshal the
Volscians would be so long as to rob him of his best
opportunity for action, he left orders with the magis-
trates and chief men of the city to assemble and
provide the remaining forces and supplies that were
requisite, while he himself, after persuading the most
ardent spirits to march forth as volunteers with him
and not stop for formal enrolment, burst into the
Roman territory of a sudden, when no one expected
it. Consequently he secured such abundance of
booty that the Volscians had more than they could
possibly do to use it in their camp or carry it off
home. But the abundant supplies secured, and the
great injury and damage done to the enemy's country,
were, in his eyes, the most insignificant result of that
expedition; its chief result, and his main object in
making it, was to furnish the people of Rome with
'83
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
it pocrSiaftaXelv rco Bij/jLco. ra yap aXXa irdvra Xv-
/jLciivofievos /cal Biacptfetpcov, rov<; eKeivcov dypovs
laxupcbs i(f)v\arT€, Kal ovk eta tccucovpyeZv ovBe
4 Xafifidveiv ef eKeivcov ovBev. SOev ev Bta^oXaU
ere fiaXXov eyevovro Kal Tapayals 7rpo? aXXrjXovs,
ol fiev izcLTpiKioi tois iroXXols eyKaXovvT€<; ft>9
dvBpa Bvvarbv dBiKco? €K/3aXovcrLV, 6 Be 8r}fjL0<;
itcelvovs tJticlto Bia fivrjaiKaKuav eirdyeiv rov
Mdp/ciov, elra iroXe^ovfievcov eTepcov 6eara<$
fca6fja6ai, cpvXaKa rod ttXovtov Kal tcov XP 7 !'
/jbdrcov e^co top iroXefiov avTOV eyovras. ravra
Biair pa^dfiev '09 o Mapwo?, Kal fieydXa irpb? to
Oappelv Kal Kara^povelv tcov iroXepLicov tou9
OvoXovctkov? chcpeXtfcras, dirrjyayev dacpaXcos.
XXVIII. 'E7T6t Be irdcra Tayy Kal irpoOvficos
V) tcov QvoXovctkcov Bvva/Lus r)6poia6r] ttoXXt}
cpavetcra, fiepos fiev eyvcoaav viroXarelv T<xt?
TroXeaiv virep dcrcpaXeias, fiepei Be arpareveiv eVt
tovs f Pct)yLtatol'9• eKetrOai Be tcov r/yefiovtcov 6
MdpKio? eBcoKe tw TvXXcp rrjv eTepav. 6 Be
TvXXos, elircov &>9 ovBev dpeTrj XeLirofievov avrov
tov MdpKiov 6 pa, tvxV ^ /3e\Tiovt Kexp r H JL ^ vov ^ v
Tat9 fidxai? dirdaai^, eKeXevtrev rjyeicrdaL tcov 227
e^iovTcov, auTO? Be ra9 tc TroXeis virofievcov
(j)vXd^€LV Kal T0A9 CTTpaTeVOjXeVOl^ virovpyrjaeiv
2 tcl 7rp6o-(f>opa. fiaXXov ovv eirippcoaOels 6 Map-
/ao9 e^copei irpcoTOv eirl Klpxaiov, iroXiv airoiKiBa
1 There is nothing of this preliminary foray in Livy. It is
on the main expedition (chap, xxviii.) that the patrician lands
184
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, xxvu. 3 -xxvni. 2
fresh charges against the patricians. For while he
maltreated and destroyed everything else, he kept a
vigorous watch over the lands of the patricians, and
would not suffer anyone to hurt them or take any-
thing from them. This led to still further accusa-
tions and broils between the parties in the city ; the
patricians accused the people of unjustly driving out
an influential man, and the people charged the pa-
tricians with bringing Marcius up against them in a
spirit of revenge, and then enjoying the spectacle of
what others suffered by the war, while the war itself
protected their own wealth and property outside the
city. After Marcius had accomplished his purposes,
and greatly helped the Volscians towards courage
and scorn of their enemies, he led his forces back
in safety. 1
XXVIII. The entire force of the Volscians was
assembled with speed and alacrit}', and was then
seen to be so large that they determined to leave a
part of it behind for the security of their cities, and
with the other part to march against the Romans.
Moreover, Marcius left it to the choice of Tullus
which of the two divisions he would command. Then
Tullus, remarking that Marcius was clearly in no
wise inferior to himself in valour, and had enjoyed a
better fortune in all his battles, bade him lead the
division that was to take the field, and he himself
would remain behind to guard the cities and provide
what was requisite for the army abroad. 2 With a
stronger force than before, then, Marcius set out first
against Circeii, a city which was a colony of Rome ;
are spared (ii. 39). According to Dionysius (viii. 12), Tullus
led one division into the territory of the Latins. Marcius the
other into that of Rome, and both brought back enormous
booty. a Cf. Dionysius, viii. 13.
185
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
'Pcofiaiayv, /cal ravnjv evBovcrav e/covai(o<t ovBev
rjBi/crjae. fjuera Be ravrr\v eiropOei rrjv Aarlvcov
yutpav, evravQa irpocr yiayelaOal 7rpocr8e^oyii€i>o?
avrq* tovs 'Pwyu-atof? virep roov Aarivcov av/x-
liaywv ovrcov /cal iroXXdicis avrov? eiri/caXov-
3 fievcov. eVel Be /cal to 7r\r}0o<; aTrpoBvfxov eyevero
/cal roU vTrdrois oXljos ere irepir\v t?}? dpyrjs
Xpovos, ev <p /civBvveveiv ov/c e/3ovXovTO, /cal Bid
ravra tou? Aarivov? direirepi'^aVy ovrcov 6 Mdp-
/ao? €7r avrds Ta? 7roXei? rjye, /cal ToXepivov? ical
Aaovi/cavovs /cal TIeBavovs, en Be BajXavou?
aVTCGTCLVTCLS CtVT(p KCLTO, KpaTOS cXcDV, id T€
GtofACLTCL Xelav eiroirjo-aro /cal ra xprjfMara Bi-
rjpTraae. rwv Be rrpoo-riOefxevaiv eiri/jLeXeiav
erroieiro TroXXrjv, orrco^ p>yB' a/covros avrov
jSXdirroivro, iroppcordrai arparorreBevwv /cal rrj?
%d)pa<; direxo/Aevos.
XXIX. 'Ejrel Be real BoXXa? ttoXlv ov irXelovs
o~TaBlovs e/carbv direxovcrav rrjs 'Vco/jlt)? eXcov
Xprj/jbdrcov rroXXwv e/cpdrTjae /cal rrdvra^ oXiyov
Belv rou? ev rjXitcia Bie(f)6eipe, rwv Be OvoXovor/ccov
ovB* ol fjieveiv ev rals rr6Xeo~L Ta^#eWe? e/cap-
repovv, aXV i(pepovro avv to£<? ottXois 717509 rbv
Mdp/cwv, eva arparrjybv /cal fiovov dpyovra eav-
ro)v yivcoa/ceiv e/celvov elvai Xeyovres, rjv ovo/ma
/card iraaav avrov rrjv 'IraXlav fieya /cal Bo%a
Oav/juacrrr), rrj<; apery)? evbs crco/juaros fieraOeaei
roaovrov direpyao-a/xevrj^ rb irapdXoyov ev to??
Trpdyfiaai.
2 Ta Be roiv 'Pcofiaiav ovBeva /coo~/nov er^e,
lidyeo-Qai fiev a7reyvo)/c6r(ov, ev Be avardaeai /cal
Xoyois o~rao~iao~ri/col<s ba^fxepai Trpb? dXXtfXovs
186
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, xxvm. 2 -xxix. 2
this surrendered to him of its own accord, and he
did it no harm. Next, he laid waste the country of
the Latins, where he expected that the Romans
would engage him in defence of the Latins, who
were their allies and by frequent messengers were
calling upon them for help. But the commons were
indifferent to the appeal, the consuls were unwilling
to risk a campaign during the short time left of their
term of office, and therefore the Latin envoys were
dismissed. Under these circumstances Marcius led
his forces against their cities, and taking by assault
those which offered resistance to him, namely, To-
lerium, Lavicum, Pedum, and later Bola, he made
slaves of the inhabitants and plundered their property.
But for those who came over to him of their own
accord he showed much concern, and that they might
suffer no harm, even against his wishes, he encamped
as far as he could from them, and held aloof from
their territory.
XXIX. But after he had taken Bola, a city not
more than twelve miles away from Rome, where he
got much treasure and put almost all the adults to
the sword ; and after the Volscians even who had
been ordered to remain in their cities grew impatient,
and came trooping in arms to Marcius, declaring that
he was the sole and only general whom they would
recognize as their leader, then his name was great
throughout all Italy, and men thought with amaze-
ment how the valour of a single man, upon his
changing sides, had effected such a marvellous turn
in affairs.
At Rome, however, all was disorder; its citizens
refused to fight, and spent their whole time in cabals
and factious disputes with one another, until tidings
187
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
ovrcov, ayjpi ov Aaovtviov a7rr]yyeX07) Tzepneiyi-
%6/jL€V0V VTTO TCOV TToXe/ALCDV, 07T0V Kal OeSiV l€pd
'VayfAaiois rrarpuxov airefceiTO, Kal rov yivovs
rjcav avrols dpyai, Bia rb Trpcorrjv ttoXlv eKeivrjv
3 KTiaai rov Klveiav. i/c Be rovrov OavpLaart) fiev
eo-%e Kal aOpoa fieraftoXr) yvd)p,T]<; rbv Btj/jlov,
aroiros Be KopaBfj Kal irapdXoyos robs irarpiKLov;.
6 fiev yap Brjp,o<; a>ppbr]ae Xvecv rrjv rov Map/clou
KaraBUrjv Kal KaXelv avrbv 6i? rrjv iroXtv, rj Be
fiovXr) o-vva^Oelaa Kal GKOirovaa irepl rov
{3ovXevparo<; aireyvco Kal BieKooXvaev, elre irdv-
Tw? evlcrraaOai §CkoveiKovo~a iraaiv oh 6 Btj/jlos
4 eairovBa^ev, elr aXXw? ^dpiri rov Brjjxov rov
dvBpa jxrj jSovXofievrj KareXOeiv, elre KaKelvov
avrbv 77877 rreiroirjpevrj Bt 0/37179, ore irdvra^ eiroiei
KaKGi? ov% virb irdvrcov dyvco/bLOvrjOeh, Kal rrjs
rrarplBos avrbv eBeigev eyOpbv, ev fj to Kvptcorarov
Kal Kpdriarov [xepos eyivwo~Ke avparadovv avrw
Kal avvaBiKovpuevov. i^evex^^^rj^ Be rrjs yvcofxrjs
€t? tou? iroXXoix;, fiev Br)/jLO<; aKvpo<i rjv rov
yfri](f>fp Kal vopuw ri rroieiv avev 7rpo/3ovXev/j,aro<;.
XXX. 'O Be M.dpKLO$ aKovaa? ere fiaXXov
e^zrpayyvQrj, Kal rrjv rroXiopKiav aTtoXnruiV errl
rrjv rcoXiv vir bpyrjs eywipei, Kal irepl t«9 Xeyo-
fjLevas KXoiXta? rd<f)pov<; KarearparoireBevae
reaaapaKovra rrj<; TroXecos araBiovs defrearcos.
6(j)0eh Be <j)0J3epbs Kal rroXvv 06pu/3ov irapaax^v,
o/jlg)$ ev TrS mapbvri rrjv ardaiv eiravaev ovBel<;
yap en to£9 iroXXols eroXpajaev dvreirrelv ovr
apX wv °vt€ fiovXevrrj? rrepl rov rov MdpKiov
2 KardyeiVy dXX* opobvres ev rfj iroXei BiaBpofxd^
188
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, xxix. 2 -xxx. 2
came that the enemy had laid close siege to Lavinium,
where the sacred symbols of the ancestral gods of
the Romans were stored up, and from which their
nation took its origin, since that was the first city
which Aeneas founded. This produced an astonishing
and universal change of opinion in the commons, as
well as one which was altogether strange and unex-
pected in the patricians. For the commons were
eager to repeal the sentence against Marcius and
invite him back to the city ; whereas the senate, on
assembling and considering the proposition, rejected
and vetoed it ; either because they were angrily bent on
opposing all the people's desires ; or else because they
were unwilling that Marcius should owe his restoration
to the kindness of the people ; or because they were
now angry at Marcius himself, seeing that he was injur-
ing all alike, although he had not been ill-treated by
all, and showed himself an enemy of his whole country,
although he knew that the most influential and
powerful men in it sympathised with him and shared
in his wrongs. When this decision of the senate
was made public, the people was powerless ; it could
not by its vote enact a law, without a previous decree
of the senate.
XXX. But Marcius, when he heard of it, was yet
more exasperated, and raising the siege of Lavinium,
marched against Rome in wrath, and encamped at
the so-called Fossae Cluiliae, only five miles distant
from the city. Although the sight of him produced
terror and great confusion there, still, it put a stop
for the present to their dissensions ; for no one longer,
whether consul or senator, dared to oppose the people
in the matter of restoring Marcius. On the contrary,
when they saw the women running frantic in the
189
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
yvvaifctov kclI irpbs iepofc l/ceaias ical Bdicpva
TrpeajSvrwv /cal Se^cret?, irdvra B* evBed ToXfirjs
/cat <TG)Tr]pL(ov Xoytaficov, avveyvaxrav opOws rov
Brjfiov eirl ra? BiaXXayd<; rov Maptciov rparre-
aOai, rrjv Be fiovXrjv rov Travrbs djxaprdveiv, ore
rravaaaOai /caXws elyev bpyrjs /cal jjuvrjai/ca/cLa^, 228
dpypjxevrjv. eBo^ev ovv irddL Trpeafteis diro-
(TTelXai 7TyOO§ TOP WLdp/ClOV €K€lV(p T€ /CaOoBoV
BiB6vra<; el$ rrjv irarpiha kcu rbv nbXepbov avrols
3 Xvaai Beofjuevovs. 01 Be ire/xcj) devres dirb fiovXij?
rjaav fiev eTrirrjBeioi tw Map/cUo, irpoaeBexovro
Be iroXXrjv rrepi ye t<z? Trpooras diravrrjaei^
(f>iXo<f>poavvrjv Trap dvBpbs 01/ceiov ical avvrjOovs.
eyivero Be roiovrov oi/Bev, dXXa Bid rov crrparo-
ireBov rcov TroXeji'uDv dySevres evervyyavov avr&
fier oy/cov /caOe^opLevw ical (Sapvrrjros ov/c dve/c-
4 rrjs. eywv Be robs rrpcorovs rwv OvoXovcr/ccov
rrepl avrov, e/ceXeve Xeyeiv &v BebfievoL rvyyd-
vovcriv. elirbvrcov Be Xoyov? ernei/cels /cal <f>iXav-
6po)7Tov<; ev rjOei tw irpeirovrt /cal Travaapievcov,
drreicpivaro rd jiev Tri/cpco? vrrep avrov ical irpbs
bpyrjv o)V eirade, rd 8* vrrep rcov OvoXovcr/ccov a>9
arparrjyos, drroBovvai ra? rroXeis /cal rrjv ycopav,
oarjv direr e/novro rroXefico, /ceXevwv, /cal "^rrj(pi-
oaa-Qai OvoXovcr/cot*; laoiroXireiav rjvrrep Aari-
5 vow dXXrjv yap ov/c elvai fteftaiov r) rrjv eVl rots
I'crot? fcal Bucaiois diraXXayrjv rov iroXe/iov.
ypbvov Be fiovXrjs eBw/cev avrols rj^epas Tpid-
190
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, xxx. 2-5
city, and the aged men resorting to the sacred shrines
with suppliant tears and prayers, and everywhere an
utter lack of courage and saving counsels, then all
agreed that the people had done well to seek a
reconciliation with Marcius, but that the senate had
made a total mistake in beginning then to indulge
its wrath and revengeful spirit, when it had been
well to lay such feelings aside. It was, therefore,
unanimously decided to send ambassadors to Marcius,
offering him the privilege of returning to his country,
and begging him to stop his war upon them. More-
over, the messengers from the senate were kinsmen
and friends of Marcius, and expected to be treated
with great friendliness in their first interview with
a man who was a relative and associate of theirs.
But matters turned out quite otherwise ; for after
being led through the camp of the enemy, they
found him seated in great state, and looking insuf-
ferably stern. Surrounded by the chief men of the
Volscians, he bade the Romans declare their wishes.
They did so, in reasonable and considerate language,
and with a manner suitable to their position, and
when they had ceased, he made an answer which,
so far as it concerned himself, was full of bitterness
and anger at their treatment of him, and in behalf
of the Volscians, as their general, he ordered the
restitution of the cities and territory which had
been torn from them in war, and the passage of
a decree granting the Volscians, as allies, equal
civic rights, as had been done for the Latins.
For no respite from the war would be secure and
lasting, he said, except it be based on just and
equal rights. Moreover, he gave them thirty days
for deliberation, and when the ambassadors were
191
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
kovtcl' /cat roov Trpeaftecov direXdovrcov evOvs
dve^ev^ev iic t?)? %w/?a?.
XXXI. Tovro 8rj TrpSiTOV aiTtafia rcov Ovo-
Xovctkcov ol iraXai fiapwo/jLevoi ttjv Bvvapav avrov
Kai (pOovovvres eXdp,(3avov' wv rjv Kai o TuWo?,
Ihia /xev vtto rod MapKiov jjL7]Sev dSiKOVfievos, ev
K avOpwirivw irdOet yeyovws. rj%@6T0 yap rjpav-
pcofjLevos TravTaircMTi rfj Bo^rj Kai irapopwjxevo^
vtto tcov OvoXovo~kcdv, irdvra fiovov rjyovpievwv
auTot? elvat rbv ^lapKiov, tovs Be aXXov<; d^covv-
Twv, oaov e/ceivos avrols fieraBcoaet, Bvi'dfiecos teal
2 apx*j<>> dyairdv e^ovras. 06 ev at irpwTai Karrj-
yoplai tcpvcfia Biecnrei'povTO, Kai avviardfievoL 7rpo?
aXkijXovs rjyavaKTOW, /cal irpoBoaiav ifcdXovv
ttjv dvd^ev^tv, ov reiyjisv ovB* ottXcov, dXXa
Kaipwv, oh Kai raXXa irdvra aco^eadai Kai iraXiv
diroXXvaOat irefyvKev, rjfiepcov rpiaKovra t©
iroXe/jLcp BeBofievcov, ov {leifrvas ovBev ev eXdrrovL
Xpovw Xafifidveiv /jLeTa/3oXd<;.
3 KaiTOi rbv %povov tovtov 6 Mdptcios ovk dpybv
Birjyev, dXXa tovs avixpbdyov^ r<ov iroXepiicov
e(f)@€ipev iTTicov Kai irepteKOTTre Kai iroXeis eirra
fjueydXas koI iroXvavOpunrovs eXaffev. ol Be
'Pcofialoi ftor)0e2v puev ovk eroXfiwv, aX\' okvov
TrXrjpeis rjaav avr&v at ^u%at, Kai Tot? eKvevap-
ktjkoo-l ko/mBt} Kai irapaXeXvfxevoLs acofiaoiv
4 opioid)? BieKeivro 7r/ao? rbv TroXe/iov. eVet 8*
1 There is nothing of this withdrawal of forces in Livy
(ii. 39).
192
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, xxx. 5 -xxxi. 4
gone, he immediately withdrew his forces from the
country. 1
XXXI. This was the first ground of complaint
against him which was laid hold of by those of the
Volscians who had long been jealous of him, and
uneasy at the influence which he had acquired.
Among these was Tullus also, not because he had
been personally wronged at all by Marcius, but be-
cause he was only too human. For he was vexed
to find his reputation wholly obscured and himself
neglected by the Volscians, who thought that Marcius
alone was everything to them, and that their other
leaders should be content with whatever share of
influence and authority he might bestow upon them.
This was the reason why the first seeds of denuncia-
tion were sown in secret, and now, banding together,
the malcontents shared their resentment with one
another, and called the withdrawal of Marcius a
betrayal, not so much of cities and armies, as of
golden opportunities, which prove the salvation or
the loss of these as well as of everything else; for
he had granted a respite of thirty days from war,
although in war the greatest changes might occur
in much less time than this.
And yet Marcius did not spend this time in idle-
ness, but fell upon the enemy's allies, harassed and
ravaged their territories, and captured seven of their
large and populous cities. 2 And the Romans did not
venture to come to their aid, but their spirits were
full of hesitation, and their attitude toward the war
was that of men who are completely benumbed and
paralyzed. And when the time had passed, and
1 Cf. Dionysius, viii. 36. Chapters xxviii.-xxx. in Plutarch
agree closely with Dionysius viii. 14-35.
193
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
%p6vo<; Bt,rj\0e real iraprjv avOis 6 Mdpraos fierct
tt)? Bwdpuecos dirdarj^;, e kit efMr overt 7rp€er/3elav
nrdXiv tov "Map/clov Be-qerofievrjv vcpeerOai tt)?
opyr)<; /cal tol»? OvoXovertcovs etc rr}? %copa$ diraya-
yovra nTpdrretv real Xeyeiv 6 ri av dficfroTepois
o'lrirai /3£\tiov elvar cf>6(3(p fiev yap ovBev evBcoereiv
'Vcopaiovs, idv Be twos tcov epiXav0pco7rcov oltjtck,
Beiv Tvyelv tov$ QvoXover/cov?, dirav avToi<?
5 yevrjaeaOai ra oTrXa tcaraOe/jLevoi*;. 7rpb<; ravd >
6 Mdp/aos €(f)7) fjii]Bev a>9 OvoXover/ccov diTOKplveaOai
arpar>]y6<i, a>? Be 'Vcopalcov en ttoXitt)^ irapaivelv
/cal nrapa/caXelv fierpicorepa cppovrjcravTas eirX
TOi? hlKCtlOL*; TjKELV 7T/909 CLVTOV CV rjflipaiS TplCrlv,
a irpofcakeZrai ylrrjcfyLera/jLevov^' el 8 erepa Bo^eie,
yiyvcoer/ceiv ov/c overav clvtols aBeiav clvOls /xera
\6ycov Kevcov ftaBl^ovcriv els to erTpaToireBov.
XXXII. 'EiraveXOovTcov Be tcov 7rpeer/3ecov dteov-
aracra rj fiovXrj, leaQdnrep ev yeipicovi 7roXXcp teal
kXvBcovl ttjs iroXecc;, dpacra rrjv dtf> lepas dcpij/cev.
oaoi yap yerav lepei? Oecov rj /jLverTrjpLcov opyiacrral
rj cpvXa/ces rj ttjv air olcovcov irdrpiov overav etc 229
iraXaicov /xavTi/crjv e^ovres, tovtov? Trdvras diri-
evai 717509 tov MdpKtov e^rj (frier avro, tcetcocr/jLii/jLe'vov*;
a>9 r)v e/cdo-T(p vopLO? ev rais lepovpylaw Xeyeiv Be
Tavrd, real iraparcaXelv 07ra)9 diraXXd^as tov
iroXe/jiov ovtco BiaXeyrjTai irepl tcov OvoXover/ccov
2 TCH9 iroXiTaiS. eBeljaTO fiev ovv eh to erTpaToireBov
TOU9 avbpas, aXXo 6 ovbev ebco/eev ovb eirpa^ev
ovcT elire fiaXa/ecoTepov, aXV e</>' 0I9 irpoTepov
194
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, xxxi. 4 -xxxii. 2
Marcius was at hand again with his entire force, they
sent out another embassy to entreat him to moderate
his wrath, withdraw the Volscian army from the
country, and then make such proposals and settle-
ments as he thought best for both nations ; for the
Romans would make no concessions through fear,
but if he thought that the Volscians ought to obtain
certain favours, all such would be granted them
if they laid down their arms. Marcius replied that,
as general of the Volscians, he would make no
answer to this, but as one who was still a citizen
of Rome, he advised and exhorted them to adopt
more moderate views of what justice required, and
come to him in three days with a ratification of
his previous demands ; but if they should decide
otherwise, they must know well that it was not
safe for them to come walking into his camp again
with empty phrases.
XXXII. When the embassy had returned and the
senate had heard its report, it was felt that the city
was tossing on the billows of a great tempest, and
therefore the last and sacred anchor was let down.
A decree was passed that all the priests of the gods,
and the celebrants or custodians of the mysteries,
and those who practised the ancient and ancestral
art of divination from the flight of birds, — that all
these should go to Marcius, arrayed as was the custom
of each in the performance of their sacred rites, and
should urge him in the same manner as before to put
a stop to the war, and then to confer with his fellow-
citizens regarding the Volscians. He did, indeed,
admit this embassy into his camp, but made no other
concession, nor did he act or speak more mildly,
but told them to make a settlement on his former
195
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
i/ceXeve iroielaOat ra? BiaXvaets r) Bex^^Bac rbv
iroXefjLOv. iiraveXQovTWv ovv rcov Upecov eBo^ev
arpe/jLovvras iv rfj ttoXcc rd Telyy) (fivXarreiv rcai
TrpoaftaWovTCL*; airoKpoveaOai tovs iroXe/jLiov;,
3 iv Tft) y^povqi fidXicrra /cal to£? airo rfjs tvxv^
TrapaXoyois ti0€/jL€voi<; Ta? iXiriBas, iwel oY avrcov
ye acorrjpLov ovBev r/TrLo-ravTO irparrovre^, aXXa
rapaxv teal irroia koX (prffirj irovr\pa rrjv ttoXlv
/earetxev, aXP 1 °v ^ vv ^$ r l ™ Trpdyfia rw iroXXd-
kis £</>' 'OfJbrjpov Xeyofievq), 1 p,r] irdvv Be ireiOovn 2
4 tovs ttoXXovs, o/jloiov. Xeyovros yap CLVTOV zeal
ava$(dvovvTO<s iirl T<xt? iieydXais irpd^eai teal
TrapaXoyow
Tw 6° dp iirl (ppeal Oqtce Bed y\avKC07n<;
^AOr/vr]'
teal to
'AXXa tis dOavdrcov Tpe^rev cfrpevas, o<? 7' iv)
6vfJLU)
Btffiov 6rJK€ tydrtv
V H Ti oicrcrdfjLevos rj ko\ #eo? a>? e/ceXeve'
fcaracppovovcriv &>? dBwdroi? irpdyiiaai /cat fivOev-
fjuacrtv diricTTOL^ tov e/cdarov Xoyiapov tj}?. irpo-
5 aipe<re(»i$ diriaTov* /caOtaTavTO?. ov iroiel Be.
tovto "O/jLijpos, dXXa rd fiev el/cora teal avvrfit]
1 t£ . . . Xeyotxcvcp Coraes and Bekker, after Reiske
(Amyot) : rwv . . . Acyo/xhcov.
2 irdQovri Bekker, after Reiske : -kuQov.
8 &iri<TTov Bekker has aKparrj (powerless to determine).
196
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, xxxn. 2-5
terms, or else accept the war. 1 Accordingly, when
the priests had returned, it was decided to remain
quietly in the city, guarding its walls, and repulsing
the enemy, should he make an attack. They put
their hopes in time especially, and in the vicissitudes
of fortune, since they knew not how to save them-
selves by their own efforts, but turmoil, terror, and
rumours of evil possessed the city. At last some-
thing happened that was like what Homer often
mentions, although people generally do not wholly
believe it. For when some great and unusual deed
is to be done, that poet declares in his stately
manner : —
u He then was inspired by the goddess, flashing-eyed
Athene " ; 2
and again : —
" But some immortal turned his mind by lodging in
his heart
A fear of what the folk would say " ; 8
and again : —
"Either through some suspicion, or else a god so
bade him do " ; 4
but people despise Homer and say that with his im-
possible exploits and incredible tales he makes it
impossible to believe in every man's power to de-
termine his own choice of action. This, however,
is not what Homer does, but those acts which are
natural, customary, and the result of reasoning, he
1 Cf. Livy, ii. 39, 12 ; Dionysius, viii. 38.
2 Odyssey, xviii. 158 = xxi. i. (tjj 5' &pa).
8 Not to be found now in Homer. 4 Odyssey, ix. 339.
197
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
koX Kara \6yov Trepaivopieva tu> €<£' rj/ntv airoBl-
Scoai, tcai Xeyei Brfirov TroWd/ci?'
Avrap iya) ftovXevaa Kara fieyaXtjropa Ovjjlov
icai,
"\Q? <pdro, TLrjXeiwvt, S' «%o? yever, iv Be oi
r)rop
ar-qOeaaiv Xaaioicn BidvBixa peppypi&v'
koX ttoXiv,
aXXd rbv ov rt
ireW dyaQa (ppoveovra, Baixppova BeXXepocpov-
T7]V*
6 iv Be rats aroTTOL? ical irapapoXoi? irpd^eai ica\
(popds tivos ivOovaLcoBov? ica\ irapaardaew^i Beo-
p,kvai<$ ov/c dvaipovvra irotel rov deov, dXXa
Kivovvra tt)V irpoaipeaiv, ovB' opfAcis evepya^o/ievov,
dXXa (pavracrLas op/uuwv aywyovs, ah ouBe irotel
rrjv irpd^iv cikovctlov, dXXa t<£ etcovaicp BiBcoatv
apXH v > KCLi T0 Oappelv /cal to iXirt^etv irpocrTtflrjcrtv.
7 r\ yap diraXXa/creov 6'A,&)? ra Seta irdat]^ alrLas
koX dpxv^ r ^ )V Ka ^ Vpfc, rj Tt? av aXXos etr) rpoiros
<5$ f3or)6od(Tiv dvOpcoirots teal avvepyovatv; ov to
o-wfia Btjitov irXajTovres rjficov, ovBe Ta? %€tpa?,
a)? Bel, /JLeraTiOevres avrol real tou? iroBas, dXXa
t^? ^^X^ T0 irpaKTifcov ical irpoaiperticbv dp^cus
rtat /cal (pavraatats real eirtvoiat? eyeipovTes r)
rovvavTiov aTTOo-TpefyovTes koX iaTavres.
198
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, xxxn. 5-7
attributes to our own volition, and he certainly says
frequently : —
"But I formed a plan within my lordly heart" J 1
and also : —
"So he spake, and Peleus' son was sore distressed,
and his heart
Within his shaggy breast between two courses was
divided" ; 2
and again : —
" But him no whit
Could she persuade from his integrity, the fiery
hearted Bellerophon " ; 8
while in exploits of a strange and extraordinary
nature, requiring some rush of inspiration, and des-
perate courage, he does not represent the god as
taking away, but as prompting, a man's choice of
action ; nor yet as creating impulses in a man, but
rather conceptions which lead to impulses, and by
these his action is not made involuntary, but his
will is set in motion, while courage and hope are
added to sustain him. For either the influence of
the gods must be wholly excluded from all initiating
power over our actions, or in what other way can
they assist and co-operate with men ? They certainly
do not mould our bodies by their direct agency, nor
give the requisite change to the action of our hands
and feet, but rather, by certain motives, conceptions,
and purposes, they rouse the active and elective
powers of our spirits, or, on the other hand, divert
and check them.
1 Odyssey, ix. 299. 8 Iliad, i. 188 f. 3 Iliad, vi. 161 f.
199
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
XXXIII. 'Ey Be rfj *V(i)fir} rbre rwv yvvaiKcov
aWai fiev 7r/?o? uXXols !epoL<z, al Be irXelarai Kal
BoKLficorarai rrepl rbv rov KaircrcoXlov A*o? /3o)/jlov
Ifcerevov. ev Be ravrai^ r)V t) TloirXiKoXa rov
fxeydXa Kal TroXXa Vwfiaiovs ev re iroXe/jLOL? Kal
rroXireiais axpeXrjo-avros dBeX^rj OvaXepla. Yiorr-
XttcoXas fiev ovv ere6vr\Kei rrpbrepov, a>? ev roh
irepl ckclvov yey pap^fxevoi^ laroprjKafjLev, 7) Be
OvaXepla Bb^av el%ev ev rfj irbXei kcll rL/nijv,
2 BoKovaa ra> ftUo fir) /caraLO-^vveiv rb yevo<f. oirep
ovv Xey<o rrados e^arrlvT)^ iraOovo-a, teal /car
eirivoLav ovk aOelaarov dyjrafievT) rov avfKJyepovro^y
avTTj re aviarr) zeal ras a\Xa$ dvaarrjaaaa irdaa<$
rj/cev iirl rr)v oliciav t?}? rov Map/clov /jLrjrpb?
QvoXovfivias. &)? B* elarjXOe Kal tcareXa/3e fierd
tj?9 vvov Ka0e£o/jLevr}v Kal rd rraLBia rov \lapKLOV
rrpbs to£<? koXttols e^ovaav, ev kvkXw irepiarrjaaaa
3 ra<; yvvalKas avrrjs' " Avrat, ye ^/xefc," elirev, " a) 230
OvoXovp-vla, Kal av, OvepyLXla, yvvaLKes ^icofxev
irpb? yvvaiKas, ovre /3ovXrj<; yjrrjcfrio-afiivrjs ovr
dp)(Ovro<; KeXevcravros, dXX* o Oebs rjficbv, &>9
eoLKev, OLKrelpas rr)v licereiav, op/jLrjv irapeo-rrjae
Bevpl rpaireaOai 7T/90? tyza? Kal Ber)9rjvai o~co-
rrjpiav [xev avrals Kal rol<; aXXois iroXiraLS, vpZv
Be 7r€icr0€LG~ais eirLcpavearepav (pepovra Bb^av fj$
al ^aftivcov Ovyarepe? eayov, el<$ <j)LXlav Kal
elprjvriv €K TToXeficov away ay over ai irarepas Kal
1 Chapter xxiii.
1 " Then the matrons came in a body to Veturia, the
mother of Coriolanus, and Volumnia, his wife. Whether
this was the result of public counsel, or of the women's fear,
200
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, xxxm. 1-3
XXXIII. Now in Rome, at the time of which 1
speak, various groups of women visited the various
temples, but the greater part of them, and those of
highest station, carried their supplications to the
altar of Jupiter Capitolinus. Among these was Va-
leria, a sister of that Publicola who had done the
Romans so many eminent services both as warrior
and statesman. Publicola, indeed, had died some
time before, as I have related in his Life ; l but
Valeria was still enjoying her repute and honour in
the city, where her life was thought to adorn her
lineage. This woman, then, suddenly seized with
one of those feelings which I have been describing,
and laying hold of the right expedient with a pur-
pose not uninspired of heaven, rose up herself, bade
the other women all rise, and came with them to the
house of Volumnia, 2 the mother of Marcius. After
entering and finding her seated with her daughter-
in-law, and holding the children of Marcius on her
lap, Valeria called about her the women who had
followed, and said: "We whom thou seest here,
Volumnia, and thou, Vergil ia, are come as women to
women, obeying neither senatorial edict nor consular
command ; but our god, as it would seem, taking
pity on our supplication, put into our hearts an im-
pulse to come hither to you and beseech you to do
that which will not only be the salvation of us our-
selves and of the citizens besides, but also lift you
who consent to do it to a more conspicuous fame
than that which the daughters of the Sabines won,
when they brought their fathers and husbands out
I cannot ascertain." — Livy, ii. 40, 1. In Dionysius also
(viii. 39, 40), whom Plutarch seems otherwise to be following,
Veturia is the mother, and Volumnia the wife, of Marcius.
20I
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
4 dvBpas. Bevre 7T/oo? Mdp/ciov iovaai pueff rjpwv
avvd\fra(T06 tt)? itceTr)pi,a<;, teal puaprvprjaare ttj
irarplBi puapTVpiav dXrj6r] real Bi/caiav, on iroXXd
irdaypvaa kclkws ovBev ovr eirpa^e Seivbv ovr
eftovXevcre irepl v/iwv Bu opyrjv, dXX* diroBlBwcriv
Vfias i/c€LV(p kclv purjSevbs Tvyyciveiv pLeXXrj rcbv
eirieiKtovV
5 Tavra rrjs OvaXepias elirovarj^ dveftorjcrav at
XolttoX yvval/ces, ypLeiyfraro Be r) OvoXovpvla'
"K.al rcbv KOivSiV r)fuv o~vp,(f)0p(hv i a> yvvaT/ces,
oaov /jL6T€(tti, kclI IBia. irpaTTopuev tea/cobs diroXe-
aaaat ttjv M.aptciov Bb^av teal dperrjv, to acofia 8'
avTOV Tot? rcov iroXeixlcov ottXol? (frpovpov/mevov
puaXXov f) crco^b puevov icpopebo-cu. fxeyiarov 8' rjLitv
rcbv drvxv/ JL( ^ TCOV ^o-tlv, el ra tt}9 7rarpiBo<; ovtws
6 i^rjo-Oevrjfcev war ev rjpuv e%eiv to? i\iri8a$. ov/c
olSa yap el riva Troirjarerat, Xoyov tjliwv eKelvos, el
ye pu^Beva iroielrai rrj^ TrarpiBos, r)v real p,r)Tpb<$
/cal yvvai/cbs teal re/evcov 7rpoerip,r]o~ev. ov pJr)v
dXXa yjpr\(jQe tjluv Xaftovaai /cal /coLil^ere irpb^
e/ceivov, el p,r)8ev aXXo, rat? virep t% iraTpiSos
iKeaiais evairoiTvevaai Bvvapeva?"
XXXIV. 'E/c tovtov id re irauBia teal ttjv
OvepyiXiav dvacrrijaacra pbera twv aXXcov yvvai-
kcov eftdSi^ev eU to o-TparoTreSov rwv OvoXov-
cr/ccov. rj 8' 0^9 avTobv to t olfcrpbv /cal tois
7roXepLioi<; eveiroi^aev alBco /cal accoTrrjv. erv^e 8'
6 M.dpKio<; eirl /3i]pLaro<; /caOe^bpevo? pLera T(bv
2 fjyepLOVuewv. a>? ovv elBe nrpoaiovaa^ ra<; yvvai-
tcas, eOavpuacrev' eiriyvovs Be ttjv pLTjTepa Trpcorrjv
/3aSt£ovo-av eftovXeTO puev epupieveiv rols drpeTTTOi?
202
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, xxxm. 4 -xxxiv.2
of war into friendship and peace. Arise, come with
us to Marcius, and join with us in supplicating him,
bearing this just and true testimony in behalf of
your country, that, although she has suffered much
wrong at his hands, she has neither done nor thought
of doing harm to you, in her anger, but restores
you to him, even though she is destined to obtain
no equitable treatment at his hands."
These words of Valeria were seconded by the cries
of the other women with her, and Volumnia gave
them this answer: — "O women, not only have we
an equal share with you in the common calamities,
but we have an additional misery of our own, in that
we have lost the fame and virtue of Marcius, and see
his person protected in command, rather than pre-
served from death, by the arms of our enemies. And
yet it is the greatest of our misfortunes that our
native city is become so utterly weak as to place her
hopes in us. For I know not whether the man will
have any regard for us, since he has none for his
country, which he once set before mother and wife
and children. However, take us and use us and
bring us to him ; if we can do nothing else, we can
at least breathe out our lives in supplications for our
country."
XXXIV. After this, she took the children and
Vergilia and went with the other women to the camp
of the Volscians. The sight of them, and the piti-
fulness of it, produced even in their enemies rever-
ence and silence. Now it chanced that Marcius was
seated on a tribunal with his chief officers. When,
accordingly, he saw the women approaching, he was
amazed ; and when he recognized his mother, who
walked at their head, he would fain have persisted
203
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
€K€ivoi<; /cal airapaiTi]Toi^ Xoyco-fioh, yevofievo^ Be
rod irdOovs ekdrTWv ical o-vvrapax&els Trpbs ttjv
b\\riv ovk erXrj /caOe^opteva) irpoaeXOelv, dXXa
KaTafSds Oclttov r) /3d8r)v /cal diravT^o-as irpwrrjv
fiev r)airdaaTO rrjv /xrjTepa /cal TrXelarov yjpbvov,
elra Be ttji/ yvval/ca /cal tc\ re/cva, pbrjre Ba/cpvcov
en /juyre tov cfuXofypovelaOcu <f>eiB6pL€vo<;, aXX'
uxjirep vrrb pevfiaro^ (jzepeadat rod irdOov^ eavrbv
ivBeBwtc 609.
XXXV. 'E^ei Be tovtcov aBrjv etye ical tt)v
/jbrjrepa /3ovXopL€vr)v rjBrj Xoycov apyeiv yaOero,
tou? roiv OvoXova/ccov TrpofiovXovs irapacrTrjo'd-
fievos rjKOvae tt}? OvoXovpLvias toiclvto, Xeyovcrrjs'
" 'Opqs p,ev, 0) iraly /cav avral pur) Xeycap-ev,
iaOrjri, /cal fiop<pfj rcov dOXucov o-cojudrayv T€/cpLaip6-
fievos, o'iav ol/covplav r)pblv 7] o~r) cpvyr) irepieTcoir\-
aaro' X6yio~ai Be vvv o>? drvx^o-rarai ttcktcov
d(f)iypLeda yvvai/ccov, ah to rjBio-rov Oeajia <f>o-
ftepcoTaTov r) tvxv TreTrolrj/cev, i/iol fiev vlov,
ravry S' dvBpa to£? tt)? TrarpiBos reiyeo-tv IBelv
dvTi/cadrjfievov. B* eo~Ti rot? aXXois aTf%ta?
7rdar)<i teal /ca/coir payla<; TrapafivOiov, evxecrOai
Oeols, rjfjLtv diropcoTarov yeyovev. ov yap olov re
real rfj irarplBi vl/ctjv dp,a ical o~ol acorrjpLav
alrelcrOai irapa twv Oecov, aXX* a -us av rjpLiv
KarapdaaiTO t&v e^Opoiv, ravra rais r/pLerepai*;
eveo~TLV evyals. avdy/crj yap r) rr)<; iraTpiBos r)
aov arepeoOai yvvai/cl ajj /cal t£kvoi$. iyeb B* ov
irepipuevS) Tavrrjv /jlol Btairrjaai rrjv tvxV v ^°"V
tov TToXepuov, dXX el /j,rj o~e ireiaaipa fyCXiav /cal
bfibvoiav dvrl Biacpopas /cal Ka/ccov dep.evov djuL(f>o-
204
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, xxxiv. 2-xxxv. 3
in his previous inflexible and implacable course, but,
mastered by his feelings, and confounded at what he
saw, he could not endure to remain seated while
they approached him, but descended quickly from
the tribunal and ran to meet them. He saluted his
mother first, and held her a long time in his embrace,
and then his wife and children, sparing now neither
tears nor caresses, but suffering himself as it were to
be borne away by a torrent of emotion.
XXXV. But when he was sated with this, and
perceived that his mother now wished to say some-
thing, he brought to his side the councillors of the
Volscians, and heard Volumnia speak as follows :
"Thou seest, my son, even if we do not speak our-
selves, and canst judge from the wretchedness of our
garb and aspect, to what a pitiful state thy banish-
ment has reduced us. And now be sure that we
who come to thee are of all women most unhappy,
since fortune has made the sight which should have
been most sweet, most dreadful for us, as I behold
my son, and this wife of thine her husband, encamped
against the walls of our native city. And that which
for the rest is an assuagement of all misfortune and
misery, namely prayer to the gods, has become for
us most impracticable ; for we cannot ask from the
gods both victory for our country and at the same
time safety for thee, but that which any one of our
foes might imprecate upon us as a curse, this must
be the burden of our prayers. For thy wife and
children must needs be deprived either of their
country or of thee. As for me, I will not wait to
have the war decide this issue for me while I live,
but unless I can persuade thee to substitute friend-
ship and concord for dissension and hostility, and so
205
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
T€p(OV €V€pJ€T7]V yevkodai /JidXXoV Y) Xvp€(OVa TO)V
erepcov, ovto) Biavoov /cal irapacr/ceva^e aeavTov
a>9 rfj TrarpuBc yu,?/ Trpoapu^ai Bvvdp,evo<; irplv rj 231
ve/cpav virepftrjvai Tr)v Te/covaav. ov yap i/ceivrjv
fxe Bel rr]V rjfiepav dvapueveiv ev rj tov vibv eV-
b^ropai Opiapbflevojmevov vtto twv ttoXltwv rj OpiapL-
4 Pevovra Kara tt)? TrarplBos. el pev ovv a^tco ae
rr/v TrarpiBa awaai OvoXova/cov$ diroXeaavTa^
yaXzirr) aoi /cal BvaBiaiTrjTos, a> iral, irpo/ceiTai
<TK€"^n<;' ovre yap BiacfrOelpai, tovs TroXiras /caXov,
ovre tovs ireiriaTevKOTas irpoBovvai BUaiov vvv
8' diraXXayrjv /ca/ccov aliovp,e6a y crcoTrjpiov puev
a/jL<f>OTepoi<; o/jLOLcos, evBo^ov Be. /cat KaXrjv puaXXov
OvoXova/cois, otl tu> /cparelv B6tjovo~L BiBovau ra
fieyiara rebv ayaOwv, oi>x fjrrov Xap,/3dvovre<;,
elprjvrjv koX (friXcav, £>v p,dXiara fiev alrios ear)
yevo/juevcov, fir) yLVopAvcov Be fiovos aWiav efct?
5 irap d/ji(f)OTepoL<;. aBr/Xo? B* wv 6 TroXepios tout
eyei irpoBrfKov, otl ctol vl/coovtl fiev akdaTopi TJ79
iraTpiBos elvai TrepleaTiv, rjTTco/jLevos Be Sofet? xjit*
opyfjs evepyeTais dpBpdcn /cal (friXois t&v jneylaTcop
GVjjbfyopwv atVjo? yeyovevai"
XXXVI. TavTa tt)? OvoXovpuvia? Xeyovcrrjs 6
NLdp/cios rjKpoaTO prjBev diroKpivofieio^. eirel Be
/cal TravcrapLevrjs elcrTrjrcei (tlwttoov ttoXvv y^povov,
avQts r) OvoXovpbvla' " TV criyas" elirev, " a> iral;
•noTepov bpyfj /cal pvrjac/caKia irdvTa cvyycopelv
icaXov, ov /caXov Be firjTpl yaplaaadaL Beop,evr)
20C
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, xxxv. 3 -xxxvi. i
to become a benefactor of both parties rather than a
destroyer of one of them, then consider and be well
assured that thou canst not assail thy country with-
out first treading underfoot the corpse of her who
bore thee. For it does not behoove me to await that
day on which I shall behold my son either led in
triumph by his fellow-citizens or triumphing over his
country. If, then, I asked you to save your country
by ruining the Volscians, the question before thee
would be a grievous one, my son, and hard to
decide, since it is neither honourable for a man to
destroy his fellow-citizens, nor just for him to betray
those who have put their trust in him ; but as it is,
we ask only a relief from evils, something which
would be salutary for both parties alike, but more
conducive to fame and honour for the Volscians,
because their superiority in arms will give them the
appearance of bestowing the greatest of blessings,
namely peace and friendship, although they get these
no less themselves. If these blessings are realized, it
will be chiefly due to thee ; if they are not, then
thou alone wilt bear the blame from both nations.
And though the issues of war are obscure, this is
manifest, that if victorious, thou wilt only be thy
country's destroying demon, and if defeated, the
world will think that, to satisfy thy wrath, thou
didst bring down the greatest calamities upon men
who were thy benefactors and friends."
XXXVI. While Volumnia was saying this, Marcius
listened without making any answer, and after she
had ceased also, he stood a long time in silence.
Volumnia therefore began once more: "Whv art
thou silent, ray son ? Is it right to yield everything
to wrath and resentment, but wrong to gratify a
207
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
2 irepl rrfkiKOVTwv; rj to fiefivrJG0at TreirovOora
/cclkws dvBpl fieydXro 7rpoar}/cei, to 8' evepyeGias,
als evepyerovvrac TralBes vtto tcov re/eovTow,
aefteaOcu teal Tifidv ov/e dvhpo? epyov earl
fieydXov ical dyaOov; teat, firjv ovhevl fidXXov
eirpeire Trjpelv X^P 11 ' ^ aoi > 1TiK P^ ovtws dxapi-
3 ariav eVeftozm. Kalioi irapd tj)? TrarpiBos tfBr)
fieydXas Biteas direiXri^as, rfj firjrpl 8' ovBefilav
yapiv diro8kBwK.as> fjv fiev ovv oGtwrarov avev
twos avdyKt]^ Tvxeiv fie irapd gov Beofiev^v
ovtg) teaXwv teal Btteaicov fir) ireiOovaa Be tl
fyeiBofiai tt)s eV%aT?7? eXiriBos ; " teal tclvt
elirovaa wpoenrlineL to?9 ttogIv avrov fiera ttjs
4 yvvai/cos dfia teal twv tckvcov. 6 Be Ma/?/ao?
dva/3oijaa<i' ** Ola elpyacrai fie, co iirjrep" e^avi-
GTT)aiv avrrjV, teal ri]v Befjidv irieoras GCpoBpa-
" Nevw^a?," elirev, " evrvxv fiev rfj TrarpiSc
viKJfv, ifiol & bXeOpiov airetfii yap viro gov
fiovTjs rjTTcbjievos" tovto 8' elircov, teal ftpaxea
rff firjrpl teal rfj yvvaiKi 8iaXex@els IBta, rds
fiev direirefi^ev els 'Vco/i^v irdXiv auras Beojievas,
t?}? Be vvterbs TrapeXdovG-qs dirrfyayev OvoXov-
GKOVSi ov tov avrov Tpoirov ovB* ofioUos Biateei-
5 fievovs airavTas. oi fiev yap efiefi<f>ovTo teal top
avBpa teal tt)v irpdfyv, oi Be ovBerepa, irpos
BidXvGiv teal elprjvrfv olteetcos exovres, eviot Be
BvGX^petivovTes ra ir parr b fiev a tov M.dpteiov
ofiws ov TTovr]pbv evofii^ov, dXXa avyyveoGTOv
€7n/cXaGdevTa TrfXiteavTaL? dvdy/eais. avrelire
208
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, xxxvi. 2-5
mother in sucli a prayer as this ? Or is the remem-
brance of his wrongs becoming to a great man, while
the remembrance, with reverence and honour, of the
benefits which children have received from their
parents is not the duty of a great and good man ?
Surely for no man were it more seemly to cherish
gratitude than for thee, who dost so bitterly proceed
against ingratitude. And yet, although thou hast
already punished thy country severely, thou hast not
shown thy mother any gratitude. It were, therefore,
a most pious thing in thee to grant me, without any
compulsion, so worthy and just a request as mine ;
but since I cannot persuade thee, why should I spare
my last resource? " And with these words she threw
herself at his feet, together with his wife and children.
Then Marcius, crying out " What hast thou done to
me, my mother ! " lifted her up, and pressing her
right hand warmly, said : " Thou art victorious, and
thy victory means good fortune to my country, but
death to me ; for I shall withdraw vanquished, though
by thee alone." When he had said this, and had
held a little private conference with his mother and
his wife, he sent them back again to Rome, as they
desired, and on the next morning led away his
Volscians, who were not all affected in the same
way nor equally pleased by what had happened.
For some found fault both with him and with what
he had done ; but others, who were favourably dis-
posed towards a peaceful settlement of the dispute,
with neither; while some, though displeased with
his proceedings, nevertheless could not look upon
Marcius as a bad man, but thought it pardonable
in him to be broken down by such strong compul-
sions. No one, however, opposed him, but all followed
209
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
8* ov8ei?, aXka irdvre? eirrovro, rrjv dperrjv pidXXov
avrov Oavpid^ovre? r) rrjv eljovcriav.
XXXVII. f 8e 'Pcofiaicov 8f)p,o? iv oacp (£o/3ft>
KOI Klv8\)V<£> KaOeiGTr\K£l TOO TTOke/JLOV TTCLpOVTOS,
aiaOrjacv Trapea^e piaXXov XvOivro?. apia yap
a<j)ecopcov rov? OvoXovateov? dva^evyvvovra? ol
irepl ra TeLx 7 !' KaL 7r< ^* ; € v@v$ iepov dvecpyei
<rT€<j)avr)(f)opovvT(DV wo~7rep iirl viterj teal Ovovrcov.
jxaXiara 8e rrj trepl ra? yvvaitea? ayairrjaei teal
ti/jLtj ri]? re fiovXrj? rod re ttXi]6ov? diravro?
ev8rjXo? r)v 7] X&pa rrj? TroXeco?, teal Xeyovrwv
teal vofjLL^ovrwv yey ovkvai rrj? acorrjpia? irepi-
2 (jyavco? i/eeiva? atria?. 'fyrjfyiGapLevr)? 8e rrj?
fiovXr)?, ri av avrai? d^icoacoai yevkaQai rrpo?
86^av rj ydpiv, rovro Troirjaai teal rrapaa^'iv
rov? dpyovra?, ov8ev rj^icoaav aXko rj Tv%r}<?
yvvaiteeia? lepov IBpuaaaOai, to jjuev dvdXwpa
avjj,j3aX6pievai Trap' avrwv, lepovpyia? he teal
ripid?, oaai 6eol? TTpeirovcri, 8rjpoaia rF)? 7t6X€(o?
3 dvaXafiovcr)?. eVel 8e rj flovX}) rrjv fiev <\>iXori- 232
jxlav eiryveae, Brjp.oaiai? 8e 8airdvai? eiroitjcraro
rov vecov teal to k'8o?, ov8ev rjrrov avral xprjpara
avveiaeveyKOvaai 8evrepov ayaXpua tearea/cevao-av,
8rj teai $ao~i *¥wpaloi teaOicrrdpievov ev rro lepSt
(fiOeytaaOai ri roiovrov " SeocfriXei pie 6eapa>
yvval/ee? BeSooKare."
XXXVIII. Tavrrjv teal 81? yeveaOai rr)v (jxovrjv
pivOoXoyovaiv, dyevrjroi? opoia teal ^aXe7ra irec-
210
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOL ANUS, xxxvi. 5-xxxvm. 1
him obediently, though rather out of admiration for
his virtue than regard for his authority. 1
XXXVII. But the Roman people showed more
plainly, when they were set free from the war, the
greatness of their fear and peril while it lasted. For
as soon as those who manned the walls descried the
Volscians drawing their forces off, every temple was
thrown open, and the people crowned themselves
with garlands and offered sacrifices as if for victor}'-
But the joy of the city was most apparent in the
honour and loving favour which both the senate and
the whole people bestowed upon the women, declar-
ing their belief that the city's salvation was manifestly
due to them. When, however, the senate passed a
decree that whatsoever they asked for themselves in
the way of honour or favour, should be furnished and
done for them by the magistrates, they asked for
nothing else besides the erection of a temple of
Women's Fortune, the expense of which they offered
to contribute of themselves, if the city would under-
take to perform, at the public charge, all the sacrifices
and honours, such as are due to the gods. The senate
commended their public spirit, and erected the temple
and its image at the public charge, 2 but they none
the less contributed money themselves and set up a
second image of the goddess, and this, the Romans
say, as it was placed in the temple, uttered some such
words as these : " Dear to the gods, O women, is your
pious gift of me." 8
XXXVIII. These words were actually uttered
twice, as the story runs, which would have us be-
1 Compare Livy's story of this interview and its results
(ii. 40, 3-9). Plutarch agrees rather with Dionysius, viii.
39-54.
8 Cf. Livy, ii. 40, 11. 8 Cf Dionysius, viii. 66.
211
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
ad'?)vai 7T€L0ov7€<; r)f/,a$. IBLovTa piev yap dydX-
fiara (pavr/vat, Kal BaKpvppoovvra Kal rivas
fieOievTCL voTiBas aip^aTcioBeis ovk ahvvarov earr
Kal yap %vXa Kal XWoi iroXXaKLS fxev evpwra
avvayovGi yovi/iov vypoTrjTOS, 7roXXa<; Be ^poici*;
dviaaiv ef eavrojv, Kal Be^ovrat /3acj)d<; e'/c tov
7T6pi€^o^TO?, ol9 evict, arj/iaiveiv to Batpioviov ovBev
2 av B6%eie KcoXveiv. Bvvarbv Be /cal fivy/nS) Kal
(TTevayfJL(p yjr6(f)0v opotov eKpdXXetv ayaXpara
Kara prfew rj Bidaracriv pbopicov ftiatoTepav ev
ftddei yevoptevrjv evapOpov Be (fxovrjv Kal Bid-
Xcktov ovrco o~a(f)f} Kal TreptTTrjv Kal apTLaro/xov
ev ayfrv^a) yeveaOai TravTairaaiv dpurj^avov, el
pL7]Be tt]v tyvyjiv Kal tov Oeov avev acopbaTO^
opyaviKOv Kal Btrjppioapevov fiepeai XoyiKols
3 yeyovev t)X € ^ v Kai BiaXeyeaOai. oirov B' rjpcis rj
laTopCa 7roWois air oft Lateral Kal iriOavols p,ap-
tvo~iv, avopLOtov alaOrjaei irdOos eyytvopcevov tw
(f)avTao-TiK(p ttJ? ^u%^? o~vvavaireLQei to Bogav,
osairep ev vttvois aKovetv ovk ctKovovTes Kal
ftXeiretv ov ftXeirovTeg BoKovpbev. ov pur)V dXXa
T0Z9 vtt evvoias Kal (ptXlas irpb^ tov Oebv ayav
e/jL7ra0(*)<; eyovai, Kal purjBev aOerelv /jltjB' avalve-
crdai TOiV toiovtcov Bwapuevois, pteya irpbs ttlcttiv
earl to davptdatov Kal purj Ka6' r/pLcis tt)<; tov
4 Oeov BvvdpL€(o<?. ovBev yap ovBapLcos dvOpwirivw
TrpoaeoiKev ovre (frvaiv ovtc Kivrjaiv ovtc Teyy^v
out la^yv, ovB' el ti iroiel tcov rjpitv dironjrcov
Kal p,K)yavaTai tcov dpLrj^dvcov, irapdXoyov itrnv,
212
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, xxxvm. 1-4
lieve what is difficult of belief and probably never
happened. For that statues have appeared to sweat,
and shed tears, and exude something like drops ot
blood, is not impossible ; since wood and stone
often contract a mould which is productive of
moisture, and cover themselves with many colours,
and receive tints from the atmosphere ; and there is
nothing in the way of believing that the Deity uses
these phenomena sometimes as signs and portents.
It is possible also that statues may emit a noise like
a moan or a groan, by reason of a fracture or a
rupture, which is more violent if it takes place in
the interior. But that articulate speech, and language
so clear and abundant and precise, should proceed
from a lifeless thing, is altogether impossible ; since
not even the soul of man, or the Deity, without a
body duly organized and fitted with vocal parts, has
ever spoken and conversed. But where history forces
our assent with numerous and credible witnesses, we
must conclude that an experience different from that
of sensation arises in the imaginative part of the soul,
and persuades men to think it sensation ; as, for
instance, in sleep, when we think we see and hear,
although we neither see nor hear. However, those
who cherish strong feelings of good-will and affec-
tion for the Deity, and are therefore unable to reject
or deny anything of this kind, have a strong argu-
ment for their faith in the wonderful and transcend-
ent character of the divine power. For the Deity
has no resemblance whatever to man, either in
nature, activity, skill, or strength ; nor, if He does
something that we cannot do, or contrives some-
thing that we cannot contrive, is this contrary to
reason ; but rather, since He differs from us in all
vol. iv. w 2I 3
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
aXXa fiaXXov iv Tract, Biafyeptov ttoXv /laXicrra
to?9 epyocs avofioio? iari teal TraprjXXay/jLevos.
dXXa tcov fJL€V Oeicov ra iroXXd, tcaO* 'HpdtcXeiTOv,
airiGTiri Bcacpvyyavei firj yLvcoa/ceadac.
XXXIX. Tbv Be Mdp/ciov, 009 eiravrjXOev et<?
to "Avtlov drrb t?}? arpareia^, puiacov irdXai
teal fiapvvofjLevos Blcl <f)06vov TuWo? eVe/Sou-
Xevev dveXelv evOvs, &>? el vvv Btacpvyoi, Xaftrjv
ercepav ov irape^ovTa. ttoXXovs Be avarrjaa^ teal
Trapaa/eevdaas eir avrbv etceXevaev evOvvas xjtto-
ayeiv TOt9 OvoXovgkois, diroBbvTa rrjv apyr)v.
2 6 Be <f>ol3ovfjL€VO<; IBicottjs yeveaOai rod TvXXov
(TTparrjyovvro^ teal Bwa/xevov jxeyicrTov iv rolq
eavrov iroXiTaLs, eXeye tt)v ^PXV V diroBcocreiv
OvoXovctkols, idv tceXevcocri,, teal yap Xaftetv
irdvTcov tceXevovTGOV, evdvvas Be BiBovat, real Xoyov
ovBe vvv irapaireladai Tot? ftovXofievois 'Avria-
tcov. yevo/LLevrjs ovv ifctcXrjcrLas, 01 Trapeatcevacr-
fjuevoi tcov Brj/juaycoycov dvLtTTafievcu Trapcofjvvov to
3 TrXrjdos. iirel S' dvacrravri tco Map/cup to jxev
dyav dopvfiovv vir alBovs eveBlBov teal irapelyev
aSeco? Xeyeiv, oi Be ^iXriaTot, teal fxdXtara
yaipovres elprjvy tcov ' AvTiaTcbv eyevovTO cpavepol
fieT evvolas dtcovao/nevoL teal Bitcaicos /cpcvovvTes,
eBetcrev 6 Tv'Wo? ttjv diroXoyiav tov dvBpos.
fjv yap iv to£? fidXccTTa Beivbs elirelv, teal tcl
214
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, xxxvm. 4 -xxxix. 3
points, in His works most of all is He unlike us
and far removed from us. But most 01 the Deity's
powers, as Heracleitus says, 1 " escape our knowledge
through incredulity."
XXXIX. But as for Marcius, when he came back
to Antium from his expedition, Tullus, who had long
hated him and been oppressed with jealousy of him,
plotted to take him off at once, believing that if his
enemy escaped him now, he would never give him
another chance to seize him. Having, therefore, ar-
rayed a large party against him, he bade him lay
down his command and give the Volscians an^ ac-
count of his administration. But Marcius, afraid of
being reduced to private station when Tullus was in
command and exercising the greatest influence among
his own countrymen, said he would resign his com-
mand to the Volscians, if they bade him do so, since
it was at their general bidding that he had assumed
it ; and that he was ready, and would not refuse even
before that, to give a full account of his administra-
tion to all the people of Antium who desired it. An
assembly was therefore held, at which the popular
leaders who had been set to the work rose and tried
to embitter the multitude against him. But win n
Marcius rose to speak, the more disorderly part of
his audience grew quiet, out of reverence for him,
and gave him opportunity to speak fearlessly, while
the best of the men of Antium, and those that were
especially pleased with peace, made it clear that they
would listen to him with favour and give a just de-
cision. Tullus, therefore, began to fear the effect of
the man's plea in self-defence ; for he was one of the
most powerful speakers, and his earlier achievements
1 Fragment 116 (By water, p. 45)
215
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
irpoo~6ev epya puel^ova rrjv %dpiv elye rr)<; vare-
pov atrial, pidXXov S' oXco? to ey/cXr)p,a rov
4 pueyedovs t?}? %a/Otro? tjv puapTUpiov. ov yap av
eBogav ahiKeladai rrjv ^(iofirjv viroyeipiov p,7]
Xafiovres, el pr] tov Xaftelv iyyvs iyevovro Bid
Mdptciov.
Ov/cer ovv eBofje BiapueXXeiv ovBe ireipaoOai 233
twv ttoXXwv, dU' iy/cpayovres ol Opaa-vraroi
T(OV <TVVe(TT(t)TCdV ft)? OVK eaTIV a/COVCTTeOV OvBe
irepioiTTeov QvoXovaicois tov TrpoBorrjv rvpav-
vovvra kcu pir) KarariOefievov tt]v dp^rjv, irpoaire-
crcWe? ad pool Bii(j)Oetpav avTov, koX irpoo-rjpbvvev
5 ovheis rcov irapovTwv. on Be rot? irXeiGTOi? ovtc
iirpdyjdr] Kara yvco/HTjv, eBrfXcocrav avriica avvBpa-
fjLovres i/c twv iroXecov 67rt to owfia /cal ddyfravTes
ivTLfM(o<; koX rov rdefrov oirXois teal Xacfrvpoi?
Kocrfjurjo-avres go? dpiareo)^ koX arparrjyov. 'Pft>-
/jLaloi Be rrjv TeXevrrjv TrvOSfievoi, dXXo pev ovBev
direBei^avro crrjfjbelov ovre Tipcr)? out' 6pyrj<s 7Tyoo?
avrov, alrrjo-apLivai? Be Tat? yvvaiQv eireTpeyjrav
diroTrevdrjo-aL Be/ca p/qvas, Mairep e#o? rjv eKaarrj
irarepa /cat iralBa ical dBeXcpov. ovros yap iiv
opos rov pLaKpordrov irivOovs, ov copio~e NoyLta?
IT opLTTiXi o?, a)? ev to?? irepl i/ceivov yey pa pLpLevoi?
BeBrjXwrai.
6 Tov Be yidptctov evOvs eiroOei rd OvoXova/ccov
TrpdypLara. irpcorov puev yap araacdaavre^ irpos
Altcavov? crvpupidypvs koX c/hA.ou? ovras virep
1 " Then, after he had withdrawn his troops from the
Roman territory, they say that he was overwhelmed with
hatred in consequence, and lost his life, different writers
giving different details of his death. In Fabius, who is by
216
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, xxxix. 3-6
secured him a gratitude which outweighed his later
fault; nay more, the very charge against him was
but so much proof of the great gratitude which was
his due. For they would not have thought themselves
wronged in not getting Rome into their power, had
not the efforts of Marcius brought them near to
taking it.
Accordingly, the conspirators decided to make no
more delay, and not to test the feelings of the multi-
tude ; but the boldest of them, crying out that the
Volscians must not listen to the traitor, nor suffer him
to retain his command and play the tyrant among
them, fell upon him in a body and slew him, and no
man present offered to defend him. 1 However, that
the deed was not wrought with the approval of the
majority of the Volscians, was seen at once from their
coming out of their cities in concourse to his body,
to which they gave honourable burial, adorning his
tomb with arms and spoils, as that of a chieftain and
general. But when the Romans learned of his death,
they paid him no other mark either of honour or
resentment, but simply granted the request of the
women that they might mourn for him ten months,
as was customary when any one of them lost a father,
or a son, or a brother. For this was the period fixed
for the longest mourning, and it was fixed by Numa
Pompilius, as is written in his Life. 2
The loss of Marcius was keenly felt at once by the
Volscian state. For, in the first place, they quarrelled
with the Aequians, who were their allies and friends,
over the supreme command, and carried their quarrel
far the most ancient authority, I find that he lived even to
old age" (Livy, ii. 40, 10). Chapter xxxix. in Plutarch
agrees closely with Dionysius viii. 57-59, who says that
Marcius was stoned to death. 2 Chapter xii. 2.
21?
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
rjyefiovLas, cL\pi rpav/jbdrcov /cal <f)6vcov TrporjXOov
eireura fid^rj /cpaTrjdevTes viro 'Fcopaicov, iv fj
TfXXo? direOave /cal to dvOovv p,dXio~Ta tt}<? Bvvd-
/x€0)? Si€(p0dp7}, SiaXvaeis ala^itna^ ^ydir^aav
virrjKooi yevofievoi, /cal to TrpoaraTTOfxevov avroU
7T0Lr)G€LV ofioXoyrjaavTes*
AAKIBIAAOY KAI KOPIOAANOY 2YrKPl2I2
I. 'EiKK€LfJLeVQ)V $€ twv nrpd^ecov, oaa? r\yov-
fieOa Xoyou teal fivrjixr]^ dfjlas eivai, to.? fiev iroXe-
fjbiKa^ in ovherepov ttolovgcls pOTrrjv fieydXrjv opav
eariv. 6fAa\o)s yap dpL^orepoi iroXXa fiev arpa-
TicoTiicrjS epya toX/at)*; /cal dvSpeias, iroXXd Be /cal
re^vr}^ /cal irpovolas o-TpaTr)youvre<; iirehei^avTo,
2 7r\7)v el purj -us OeXoi rbv 'AX/ct/ScdSrjv, oil /cal
Kara yi}v /cal /card OdXarrav iv ttoXXols dywcri
vtKOdv /cal /caropOwv ScereXeaev, dirocfraiveiv reXeio-
repov o-Tparrjyov iirel to ye Trapovras /cal dp-
yovras opOovv del TrpoSijXco? rd ol/ceca /cal irpo-
SrjXorepov av irakiv ftXaTrreiv [leOtaTafievov^
3 d/jL(poT€pot<; virrjp^e. TroXtTeiav Be ttjv fiev 'AX-
tciftidhov tt]V dyav Xa/xvpav ical to yJr) /caOapevov
dvaywyias /cal /SwyLtoXo^/a? iv tw 777369 x^P iV
ofjuXelv Tot? 7roXXot? ol adxppoves i/38e\vTTOvro,
tt)v he TAap/ciov iravTairao-iv dyapiv ical virepr)-
218
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, xxxix. 6
to the length of bloodshed and slaughter; in the
second place, they were defeated in battle by the
Romans, wherein Tullus was slain and the very flower
of their forces was cut to pieces, so that they were
glad to accept most disgraceful terms, becoming sub-
jects of Rome, and pledging themselves to obey her
commands. 1
COMPARISON OF ALCIBIADES AND
CORIOLANUS
I. Now that all the deeds of these men are set
forth, so far as we consider them worthy of recol-
lection and record, it is plain that their military
careers do not incline the balance either way very
decidedly. For both alike gave many signal proofs
of daring and valour as soldiers, as well as of skill
and foresight as commanders ; except that some may
give the preference to Alcibiades, because he was
continually successful and victorious in many struggles
by sea, as well as by land, and declare him therefore
the more consummate general. It is certainly true
of each that, when he was at home and in command,
he always conducted his country's cause with manifest
success, and, contrariwise, inflicted even more mani-
fest injury upon it when he went over to the enemy.
As statesmen, if the exceeding wantonness of Al-
cibiades, and the stain of dissoluteness and vulgarity
upon all his efforts to win the favour of the multi-
tude, won the loathing of sober-minded citizens, it
was equally true that the utter ungraciousness of
1 Cf. Livy, ii. 40, 12 f.
219
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
(fyavov /cal oXiyap^L/c^v yevopLevrjV epLi'o"r)o~ev 6
4 'Vcapaicov Br/pos. ovherepav pev ovv eTraivereov
6 Be SrjfjLaycoywv /cal yapi^opevos twv oVco? ou
Bo^ovcn Brjpbaycoyecv nrpOTrrjXa/CL^ovTcov tov<; ttoX-
Xou? apLepLTTTOTepos' ala^pbv p,ev yap to icoXa-
Keveiv Brjpuov eV! tg> BvvaaOai, to B' la^yeiv Ik tov
(pofiepbv elvcti /cal /ca/covv /cal Ttie^eiv 7r/oo? tg>
cday^ptp /cal ciBlkov Igtiv.
II. "Oti toivvv dirXovs Tt? 6 Map/cio? hirel-
\r)7TTai to) TpoTrw yeyovevai /cal avOe/caaTOS, 6 Be
'AXfcifiiaBr]? Travovpyos iv tt} iroXiTeua /cal ava-
XijOrjs, ov/c aB^Xov iarTi. p,dXio~Ta Be Karrjyopov-
div avTOu /catcorfOeiav /cal dirdTrjv, fj rou? Aatce-
Baipovicov Trpeo-fteis irapa/cpovcrdpLevos, &)? ®ov/cv-
2 BiBr)<; laTOprj/ce, ttjv elprjvrjv eXwev. aXV clvtt)
pev 7] TroXiTeia, /calirep eU iroXepov avOts ip,-
ftaXovaa ty)v ttoXlv, la^vpav eiroirjcre ical <f>o-
fiepdv, tt5? MavTtvecov /cal 'Apyeiwv avpupiax^ Bt
y AXfci/3idBov irpoayevopuevr]?' Ma^/ao? cT otl pev
diraTr] koX avTO<$ i£e7roXep,(oo~€ 'Pcopaiovs /cal
OuoXovcr/covs BiafiaXcov \JrevBa><; tou9 rjfcovTas eirl
tt]v Oeav, Aiovvaio*; IcrToprj/cev r/ B' aWia cjiavXo-
3 Tepov Troiei to epyov. ov yap e/c <piXovetfCia<; ovBe
TroXiTi/crjs P'dyjqs V CLpiXXrj<;, go? e/celvos, dX\!
opyfj yapi^opevos, Trap rjs ovBeva (f>^crlv 6 Atcov 1 234
diroXaftelv ydptv, iroXXa, tt)? 'IraXta? p^eprj avve-
Tapa^e /cal 7roXXa<; iroXei^ ovBev dBi/covaas tm
7r/)09 tt]v iraTpbBa Ovpw irapavdXcoae. /caiTOi
1 Alow Bekker corrects to "lav, after Bryan. The verse
. . . ouSels yap opyijs X^P IV o.ire(\r](pey, irdrep ... is attributed
to Menander in Stobaeus, Floril. xx. 6 (Kock, Com. Att.
Frag. iii. p. 188).
ALCIBIADES AND CORIOLANUS, i. 3-11. 3
Marcius, together with his pride and oligarchical
demeanour, won the hatred of the Roman people.
Neither course, then, is to be approved ; although
the man who seeks to win the people by his favours
is less blameworthy than those who heap insults
on the multitude, in order to avoid the appearance
of trying to win them. For it is a disgrace to flatter
the people for the sake of power; but to get power
by acts of terror, violence, and oppression, is not
only a disgrace, it is also an injustice.
II. Now, that Marcius is usually thought to have
been rather simple in his nature, and straightforward,
while Alcibiades was unscrupulous in his public acts,
and false, is very clear. And Alcibiades is particularly
denounced for the malicious deceit by which he
cheated the Lacedaemonian ambassadors, as Thucy-
dides relates, 1 and put an end to the peace. But
this policy of his, although it did plunge the city
again into war, made it nevertheless strong and for-
midable, by reason of the alliance with Mantinea
and Argos which Alcibiades secured for it. And yet
Marcius himself also used deceit to stir up war
between the Romans and Volscians, when he brought
a false charge against the visitors to the games, as
Dionysius relates ; 2 and the motive for his action
makes it the worse of the two. For he was not
influenced by ambition, or by rivalry in a political
struggle, as Alcibiades was, but simply gave way to
his anger, from which passion, as Dion says, " no one
ever gets a grateful return," and threw many districts
of Italy into confusion, and needlessly sacrificed
many innocent cities to his rage against his country.
1 V. 45; cf. Plutarch's Nicias, x. ; Alcibiades, xiv.
2 See Coriolanus, xxvi. 2; Dionysius Hal., Antiq. Rom.
viii. 2.
221
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
Kal y A\/ci/3id8r]<; Bi opyrjv peydXcov aiTio? o~vp-
4 (f)opwv /carearr] Tot? ttoXltcus. dXX* ore irpoiTOv
eyvco pueTapeXopevovs, evyvcopovrjae, Kal irakiv
a7roppL(f)eU ovk efyrjcrOr) to£? arrpaTrfyols dpapTa-
vovgiv ovBe irapelBe tca/cco? fiovXevopuevovs Kal
KivBvvevovTas, dXX\ orrrep ' ApiaTeiBrjs eiraivelTai
p,dXio~Ta irpd^a^ 7r/?o? %epno~TOKXea, tovt eiroirjae,
7Tpo? tovs tot apyovTas ov (piXovs 6Wa9 eXOoov Kal
5 (ppdaas to Beov Kal BiBd^as. Map/ao? Be irpwTov
pev oXrjv KaKax; eiroiei Tt)V ttoXiv ov% v<£* oXr)<;
iraddyv, dXXd tov fteXTLcrTov Kal KpaTiaTOV p,epov<$
o-vva8iKr)QkvTO<$ avTip Kal avvaXyrjo-avTos' eireiTa
iroXXal? Trpeo-fteiais Kal Bet'iaeai puiav Icopbevcov
opyrjv Kal dyvoiav ov TeyyOels ov$ et^as eB?]Xo)o~ev
eirl t& Bia^deipat ttjv iraTpiBa Kal KaTaftaXelv,
ov% oVft)? aTToXdftr) Kal KaTeXOy, fiapvv iroXep,ov
6 Kal aairovBov eiravyprjpevo^. tovtw Be 1 <prjaei
Tit 8ia$>epeiv 'AXKi/3id8r]v pev yap eTriftovXevo-
pevov biro SirapTiaTcov Bia Seo? dpa Kal plaro<;
avTcov p J eTao'Tr]vai 7rpo? ' AOrjvaiovs, Map/aco Be
irdvTa BtKaia iroiovvTa^ OvoXovgkovs ov /eaXtw?
eZ%ei> eyKaTaXnrelv. Kal yap rjyepcov diroBeBeiKTO
7 Kal peyio-Trjv ttigtiv eZ^e pueTa Bvvdpecos, ov% &>?
eKelvos, diroxpwpevwv pdXXov i) ^pa)p,eva)v avTw
AaKeBaipov'uDV, ev tt) nroXeu irepucov Kal kvXlv-
Bovpievos avOis ev tw aTpaTOireBw TeXos eh Ta?
1 Tovrcf) 5e Coraes and Bekker read toutc? ye with C, and
Bekker assumes a lacuna before the words.
222
ALCIBIADES AND CORIOLANUS, n. 3-7
It is true, indeed, that Alcibiades also, through his
anger, was the cause of great calamities to his
countrymen. But just as soon as he saw that they
were repentant, he showed them his goodwill, and
after he had been driven away a second time, he
did not exult over the mistakes of their generals,
nor look with indifference upon their bad and
perilous plans, but did precisely what Aristides is
so highly praised for doing to Themistocles: he came
to the men who were then in command, although
they were not his friends, and told them plainly
what they ought to do. Marcius, however, in the
first place, did injury to his whole city, although he
had not been injured by the whole of it, but the
best and strongest part of it shared his wrongs and
his distress ; in the second place, by resisting and
not yielding to the many embassies and supplications
with which his countrymen tried to heal his single
wrath and folly, he made it clear that he had under-
taken a fierce and implacable war for the overthrow
and destruction of his country, not that he might
recover and regain it. Further, in this point it may
be said there was a difference between them, namely,
that Alcibiades, when he went over to the side of
the Athenians, was moved by fear and hatred of the
Spartans, who were plotting to take his life ; whereas
it was dishonourable for Marcius to leave the Vol-
scians in the lurch when they were treating him
with perfect fairness. For he was appointed their
leader, and had the greatest credit and influence
among them, unlike Alcibiades, whom the Lacedae-
monians misused rather than used, who wandered
about aimlessly in their city, and again was tossed
to and fro in their camp, and at last threw himself
223
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
Tio-CKpepvov xelpas acprjtcev avrov el /jltj vr) Aia
fit) (pOaprjvcu Ta? 'Kdrjvas iravTairaai irodow
KareXdelv eOepdireve.
III. Xpijfiara roivvv 6 piev y A\Ki/3idBrj<; Kal
Xafieiv ovk ev iroXkaKis etc BcopoBoKiwv kcu Bia-
Oecrdai /ca/cco? els rpvcf>r)V Kal cucokaaiav larop^rai-
MdpKiov Be crvv ri/xfj BiBovres ol arparrjyol
\afieiv ovk eireiaav. Bib Kal fidXiara rots iro\-
Xot? eiraxQh? V v * v Ta ^ ^repl %P e ™ v Biacpopais
7TyOO? TOV BfjfMOV, Ct>9 OVK 67Tt KepBeGlV, aWcb BC
vftpiv kcu ire pity poavvrjv to?9 irevrjatv eTrrjpedfav.
2 y AvrL7rarpo<; puev ovv ev e7riaro\fj rivi ypd(f>cov
irepl r/79 'Apio-ToreXovs rov (j)i\oo-6<pov reXevrrj^,
" Ilyoo? Tot? aAAo£9," <j>r]o~iv, " 6 dvrjp KCU TO
ireiOeiv ۣ%ۥ " T ^? ^ M.apKiov TTpdfjeis Kal
dpera? rovro pur) irpoabv eVa%#et9 eiroir\cFev
avTOis to?9 ev iraOovai, rov ojkov avrov kcu rrjv
iprjpLia avvoiKOV, a>9 TlXdrcov elirev, avOdBeiav
pur) inropieivavras. rov o° 'A\Ki/3idBov rovvavriov
emarapievov xpf)a$cu ro?9 rrpoo-rvyyavovaiv ol-
K€LO><;, ovhev Oavfiaarbv ev ol? KaroopOov rrjv Bofjav
dvOeiv pier evvoias Kal tl/jlt)? evr\p,epovGav, orrov
kcu to)V dpiaprrjpidrayv evict iroXXaKis l ydpiv el^e
3 Kal copav. oOev ovros piev ov piiKpd f3Xdyfra<; ovB*
oXiya rt)V iroXiv oput><; direBeiKwro rroXXaKi?
r/yepiGDV Kal arparrjyos, eKeivos Be pierioiv iwl
1 iroWaKis bracketed by Bekker.
224
ALCIBIADES AND CORIOLANUS, n. 7-111. 3
into the hands of Tissaphernes ; unless, indeed, he
was all the while paying him court in order that the
Athens to which he longed to return might not be
utterly destroyed.
III. Furthermore, in the matter of money, we are
told that Alcibiades often got it ill by taking bribes,
and spent it ill in luxury and dissipation; whereas
Marcius could not be persuaded to take it even when
it was offered to him as an honour by his commanders.
And for this reason he was especially odious to the
multitude in the disputes with the people concerning
debts, because they saw that it was not for gain, but
out of insolence and scorn, that he acted despitefully
towards the poor.
Antipater, writing in one of his letters about the
death of Aristotle the philosopher, 1 says : " In ad-
dition to all his other gifts, the man had also that of
persuasion" ; and the absence of this gift in Marcius
made his great deeds and virtues obnoxious to the
very men whom they benefited, since they could not
endure the arrogant pride of the man, and that self-
will which is, as Plato says, 2 "the companion of
solitude." Alcibiades, on the contrary, understood
how to treat in a friendly manner those who met
him, and we cannot wonder that when he was suc-
cessful his fame was attended with goodwill and
honour, and flowered luxuriantly, since some of his
errors even had often charm and felicity. This was
the reason why, in spite of the great and frequent
harm done by him to the city, he was nevertheless
many times appointed leader and general ; while
Marcius, when he stood for an office which was his
1 See Comparison of A ristides and Cato, ii. 4.
2 See Coriolanus, xv. 4.
225
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
iroXXacs apLGTeiai? /cal dvBpayaOiais o,pXV v
TrpocrrjKovaav e^eireaev. ovtco top puev ovBe
irdo-ypvre^ /ca/cco<; eBvvavro paaeiv ol TroXirai, tw
Be irepirjv Oav/na^ofieua) /xrj fyiXeiaOai.
IV. Kal yap tol Map/ao? puev ovBev direBei^aTo
rfj iroXei crrparrfycbv, dXXa to?? iroXefiloL^ Kara
T/}? irarplBo^' ' AX/ci/3idBov Be ical arparevofiivov
7ro\\dfci$ teal arpar^youvro^ direXavaav ol *A0rj-
vator /cal irapozv e/epdret rwv e^dpoiv oaov eftov-
Xero, /cal firj 7rap6vro<; la^vaav at BiaftoXaL'
2 Map/cios Be irapaiv vtto ^Voopbaicov /careBi/cdcrOr},
irapbina Be OvoXova/coc Bii(f)0eipav, ov Bi/calax;
fiev ovB y oaicos, alriav Be rov evXoyov irapea^ev
avros, ort BrjfjLocrta t<X9 Bt,aXv(T€i$ firj irpoaBe^d-
/jlcvos, IBla Be ireiadeh virb rcov yvvai/cwv ov/c 235
eXvae ttjv e^Opav, dXXa rod iroXepuov /jLevovro?
3 dirdiXeae rov Kaipbv /cal BtecpOeipe. irelaavra
yap eBet, rovs ireiricrTevKOTas direXOelv, el rov
7T/oo? ercelvovs Bi/calov irXelarov eiroieiTO Xoyov.
el Be [Ar)Bev efypovri^ev OvoXova/ecov, dXXa tt)v
opyrjv efiTTXrjaat ttjv eavrov /3ovXop,evo<; ivfjye rov
iroXefiov, elr eXrj^ev, ov Bia ttjv firjrepa /caXoos
eZ%e $eiaao~6ai t?)? irarpiBo^, dXXa avv rfj irarpiBi
•nj? fir)Tp6^' /Ltepos yap rjv ical rj firjTrjp ical r\ yvvr)
4 t?}9 TrarpiBos i)v eiroXiopfcei. rb Be Brj/jLoalai^
Ifceaiais teal Berjaet, irpeafiecov ical Xirats lepecop
226
ALCIBIADES AND CORIOLANUS, m. 3-iv. 4
due in view of his valorous achievements, was
defeated. And so it was that the one could not
make himself hated by his countrymen, even when
he was doing them harm ; while the other was after
all not beloved, even while he was admired.
IV. For Marcius did not, as a commander, obtain
any great successes for his city, but only for his
enemies against his country ; whereas Alcibiades was
often of service to the Athenians, both as a private
soldier and as a commander. When he was at home,
he mastered his adversaries to his heart's content;
it was when he was absent that their calumnies pre-
vailed. Marcius, on the contrary, was with the
Romans when they condemned him, and with the
Volscians when they slew him. The deed was not
in accordance with justice or right, it is true, and yet
his own acts supplied an excuse for it, because, after
rejecting the terms of peace publicly offered, and
suffering himself to be persuaded by the private
solicitations of the women, he did not put an end to
hostilities, but allowed the war to continue, while he
threw away for ever its golden opportunity. For he
should have won the consent of those who had put
their trust in him, before retiring from his position,
if he had the highest regard for their just claims
upon him. If, on the other hand, he cared nothing
for the Volscians, but was prosecuting the war merely
to satisfy his own anger, and then stopped it abruptly,
the honourable course had been, not to spare his
country for his mother's sake, but his mother together
with his country ; since his mother and his wife were
part and parcel of the native city which he was be-
sieging. But after giving harsh treatment to public
supplications, entreaties of embassies, and prayers of
227
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
uTrrjvcbs xprjaajjievov elra yapicraaQai rfj firjrpl
ttjv dva^wpijacv, ov tt)? firjrpb? rjv Tijxrj, akX
aTLjiia rrj<i iraTpihos, oXktw kclI irapaLTrjcrei hid
fMLav yvvalfca aootojjL&vr)*;, a>? ovk aj~la<i aco^eadai
oV avTrjv. €7TL(j)0ovo<; yap i) ydpis /cal go/jlt) /cal
ayapiGTO<$ akrjOo)^ ical irpbs ovSeripovs eypvca
to evyvwfiov dveyd>pr)ae yap /jLijre ireiaOel^ viro
T(av iroXe/xovfjievcov fiyre ireicra^ toi>? o-v/JbiroXe-
fiovvras.
5 *£lv aiTiov airdvjwv to dvo/uLiXrjTov rod Tpoirov
kcl\ \iav v7repy](jyavov kclL avdaSe?, b Ka6* avrb
fxev eVa^#e? eari to?? ttoWois, t<d he ^h\otl/jlw
irpoabv yiveTai TravrdiTacnv dypiov koX dira-
paiT7]T0V. ov yap Oepairevovai tou? ttoWovs oj?
/jltj heopievoi Tifirj^, elra yaXtTraivovGi firj Tvy%d-
vovres. iirel to ye /xy Xnrap?] firjhe OepairevTiKov
o^Xcdv elvai koI MeTeXXo? el^e ical 'ApiaTeiBr)*;
6 koX ' Ej7rafi€cvci)v8a<>' dXXd to5 Karatypovelv d\r)6oi)<;
wv hrjfios eo~Ti /cat hovvai /cal d<pe\ea9ai Kvpios,
e^oaTpa/CL^o/jievoi /cal drroxeipoTOvovfievoi /cal
/caTa$i/ca£6juL€V0i iroWdfas ovk oopyl^ovTO Tot?
7ro\iTai<; dyvoo/jLovovcTLV, dXX? rjydirwv avOis fieTa-
fieXo/jievovs /cal BirjWaTTOVTO irapaKaXovvTcov.
top yap rjKiaTa OepairevTiKov rj/aaTa irpeirei
TificoprjTiKOv elvai twv ttoW&v, o>? to ^aXeiraiveiv
fid\io-Ta p,r) Tvy^dvovTa t?}? Ti/J,r)<; i/c tov acpoSpa
yklyeaQai tyvofievov.
V. 'A\/a/3idBr}<; fiev ovv ovk rjpveiTO Tifioo/ievos
yal\eiv Kal Svacfropetv 7rapopco/j,€i>o<;, 66ev eireipaTO
2?8
ALCIBIADES AND CORIOLANUS, iv. 4 -v. i
priests, then to concede his withdrawal as a favour
to his mother, was not so much an honour to that
mother, as it was a dishonour to his country, which
was thus saved by the pitiful intercession of a single
woman, and held unworthy of salvation for its own
sake. Surely the favour was invidious, and harsh,
and really no favour at all, and unacceptable to both
parties ; for he retired without listening to the per-
suasions of his antagonists, and without gaining the
consent of his comrades-in-arms.
The cause of all this lay in his unsociable, very
overweening, and self-willed disposition, which of
itself is offensive to most people, and when combined
with an ambitious spirit, becomes altogether savage
and implacable. Such men pay no court to the
multitude, professing not to want their honours, and
then are vexed if they do not get them. Certainly
there was no tendency to importune or court the
favour of the multitude in men like Metellus, Aris-
tides, and Epaminondas ; but owing to their genuine
contempt for what a people has the power to give
and take away, though they were repeatedly ostra-
cised, defeated at elections, and condemned in courts
of justice, they cherished no anger against their
countrymen for their ingratitude, but showed them
kindness again when they repented, and were recon-
ciled with them when they asked it. Surely he who
least courts the people's favour, ought least to resent
their neglect, since vexation over failure to receive
their honours is most apt to spring from an excessive
longing after them.
V. Well, then, Alcibiades would not deny that he
rejoiced to be honoured, and was displeased to be
overlooked, and he therefore tried to be agreeable
229
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
Trpo<T(f)i\r)<; elvai to?? irapovcn kclI Keyapia p.evos'
M.dp/ciov Be Bepaireveiv p,ev ovk eta tovs ti/aclp
Bvvapuevovs teal av^eiv to VTreprjfyavov, 6pyi]v Be
teal Xvirrjv ap,e\ovp,ev(p to (j)L\6ripLOv irapelx^'
2 koI ravr eanv a ri<; av alridaaiTo rod av-
8/309* tcl 6° aWa irdvra 'KapLirpd. auxfipoavvr)*;
Be teal XprjpLCLTcov eyKpareua^ eveica to?? apio"roi<$
zeal tcaOapcoTCLTOis tcov 'EiWtfvwv d^iov avrbv
TrapaftdWeiv, ovk ' AXfciftidBr) pud Ala tw Opaav-
rdrw irepl ravra teal oXtywpoTaTO) toO tcaXov
yevofievcp.
230
ALCIBIADES AND CORIOLANUS, v.
1-2
and pleasant to his associates ; but the overweening
pride of Marcius would not suffer him to pay court
to those who had the power to honour and advance
him, while his ambition made him feel angry and
hurt when he was neglected. These are the blame-
worthy traits in the man, but all the rest are brilliant.
And for his temperance and superiority to wealth,
he deserves to be compared with the best and purest
of the Greeks, not with Alcibiades, who, in these
regards, was the most unscrupulous of men, and the
most careless of the claims of honour.
231
LYSANDER
AY2ANAP02
I. '0 * Afcavdiayv Orjaavpbs ev AeX<f>ot<; eVt-
ypa(j>r)v e^ei Toiavrrjv " BpaalBas real 'A/cdvOiot,
air Adjjvaicov " Bib zeal 7roXXol tov eWo? earcora
tov oi/cov it a pa rals 6 v pais XlOivov dvBpidvra
BpaaiBov vop,i^ovaiv elvai. AvcrdvBpov Be eariv
el/covi/cos, ev fidXa KOfxcavros eOei to> iraXaiS) teal
2 ircoycova /caOeifiivov yevvalov. ou yap, go? eviol
(fracriv, 'Apyeicov fxerd rrjv /jLeydXrjv r)Trav eirl irev-
Bei /capevroov oi XTrapriarai irpbs to avriiraXov
avrois ras fcofias dyaXXofievoi tch? nreirpayp.evois
dvfj/cav, ovBe Bafc%ia8a)v rcov etc KopivBov cfrvyov-
tcov 6*9 Aa/ceBaifiova raireivodv Ka\ dfiopcfxov Sid
to KeipaaOai ras Kecj)aXds (pavevrcov els ^rjXov
avrol tov Kopidv rjXBov, dXXa real tovto Av/covp-
yeiov eari. ical (paaiv avrbv elirelv ft>? r) tcofir]
tovs fxev icaXovs evirpeireo-Tepovs opdaOat iroLeZ,
tovs Be ala%povs (feoftepcoTepovs.
II. Aeyerac Be 6 AvadvBpov 7rarr)p 'ApiaTO-
kXcitos oiKias p>ev ov yeveadai j3ao~iXi/cr]S, dXXcos
Be yevovs elvai tov twv 'Hpa/cXeiBcov. irpdcf)7] Be
6 AvaavBpos ev irevlct, /cal irapicyev eavrbv
evratcrov, ft)? ei tis aXXos, 7r/>o? tovs eOiapiovs kcl\
1 In B.C. 424, Brasidas won Acanthus, a town on the
Chalcidic peninsula, away from its alliance with Athens
(Thuc. iv. 84-88). - Herodotus, i. 82.
2 34
LYSANDER
I. The treasury of the Acanthians at Delphi bears
this inscription : " Brasidas and the Acanthians, with
spoil from the Athenians." 1 For this reason many
think that the marble figure standing within the
edifice, by the door, is a statue of Brasidas. But it
really represents Lysander, with his hair very long,
after the ancient custom, and growing a generous
beard. For it is not true, as some state, that because
the Argives, after their great defeat, shaved their
heads for sorrow, the Spartans, in contrary fashion,
let their hair grow long in exultation over their
victory ; 2 nor was it because the Bacchiadae, 3 when
they fled from Corinth to Lacedaemon, looked mean
and unsightly from having shaved their heads, that
the Spartans, on their part, became eager to wear
their hair long ; but this custom also goes back to
Lycurgus. And he is reported to have said that a
fine head of hair makes the handsome more comely
to look upon, and the ugly more terrible. 4
II. The father of Lysander, Aristocleitus, is said
to have been of the lineage of the Heracleidae,
though not of the royal family. But Lysander was
reared in poverty, and showed himself as much as
any man conformable to the customs of his people ;
8 An oligarchical family, deposed from rule in Corinth by
Cypselus, about 650 B.C. (Herod, v. 92).
4 Cf. Lycurgus, xxii. 1.
235
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
dvBpwBr] kcl\ Kpeirrova 7racr^9 rjBovfjs, 7rXrjv €i
Tiva Tipwpevois teal KaropOovaiv at KaXal irpd^ei^
iirifyepovai. ravTrjs Be ovk aloyjpbv iaTiv rjrra-
2 <t6cll tou9 veovs iv Xirdprrj. fiovXovrai yap evOvs ef
apXl^ irawyeiv tl tov$ TralBa<; avrcov 7rpo<? Bo^av,
dXyvvop,evov$ re rot? -v/royo*? teal pueyaXwopLevov^
vtto rcjv iiralvwv 6 Be airaOr]^ Kal a/ai>??To? iv
tovtols &>? dtfiiXoripiOS 7rpo? dperrjv Kal dpybs
Kara(ppoi'€iTac. to p,ev ovv (piXoripov avru* Kal
(j)i\6vetKov i/c T7]<i AaKwviKrfi rrapepbeive iratBela^
iyyevopevov, Kal ovBev n pueya %pr) ttjv (pvo~iv iv
3 toutoj? alridaOai' OepaTrevrifcb? Be roiv Bvvarcov
paXXov r) Kara ^TrapTidrrjv (pvcrei Bo/ceiyeveaOai,
teal ftdpos i^ovGias Bid ^peiav iveytcelv evxoXos'
b TroXiTifcrjs BeivoTrjTos ov piKpbv evioi iroiovvrai
puepos. ^ApiaTOTekrjs Be Ta9 p,eyd\as (pvaei<; diro-
(fraLVcov pLeXay^oXucds, co? ttjv X<y k par ov$ Kal
UXdrcoios Kal 'Hpa/cXeovs, laropec /cat AvaavBpov
ovk ev6v<$, dXXa Trpecrfivrepov ovrarfj pe\ay)(oXia
irepiTTeaelv.
4 "IBiov Be avrov pudXiara to /caXco? ireviav
(j>epovra, Kal pbrjBapLOV Kpar^Oevra purjBe BiacfiOa-
pevra xprjpiaaiv avrov, ipLirXijo-ai ttjv TrarpiBa
ttXovtov /cal tyiXoirXovTias Kal iravaai Oavpua^o-
puevrjv iirl tw p-r] 6avp,d£eiv ttXovtov, eladyovra
Xpvaiov Kal dpyvpiov 7rXr)6o<; pierd rbv 'Attikov
iroXepov, eavrq) Be pbrjBepLLav Bpa^pr]V VTroXeLiro-
5 puevov. Aiovvaiov Be tov rvpdvvov irepi-^ravro^
avrov rals Ovyarpdat, TroXvTeXfj ^ircovia tcov
236
LYSANDER, n. 1-5
of a manly spirit, too, and superior to every pleasure,
excepting only that which their good deeds bring to
those who are successful and honoured. To this
pleasure it is no disgrace for the youth in Sparta to
succumb. Indeed, from the very first they wish their
boys to be sensitive towards public opinion, distressed
by censure, and exalted by praise ; and he who is in-
sensible and stolid in these matters, is looked down
upon as without ambition for excellence, and a cum-
berer of the ground. Ambition, then, and the spirit
of emulation, were firmly implanted in him by his
Laconian training, and no great fault should be found
with his natural disposition on this account. But
he seems to have been naturally subservient to men
of power and influence, beyond what was usual in a
Spartan, and content to endure an arrogant authority
for the sake of gaining his ends, a trait which some
hold to be no small part of political ability. And
Aristotle, when he sets forth that great natures, like
those of Socrates and Plato and Heracles, have a
tendency to melancholy, writes also l that Lysander,
not immediately, but when well on in years, was a
prey to melancholy.
But what is most peculiar in him is that, though
he bore poverty well, and though he was never
mastered nor even corrupted by money, yet he filled
his country full of wealth and the love of wealth,
and made her cease to be admired for not admiring
wealth, importing as he did an abundance of gold
and silver after the war with Athens, although he
kept not a single drachma for himself. And when
Dionysius the tyrant sent his daughters some costly
tunics of Sicilian make, he would not receive them.
1 Problems, xxx. 1.
237
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
^iKeXcJv, ovk eXaftev, eliroov fyoftelcrOcu purj Bid
TavTa puaXXov ala^pal (fravcocriv. dXX oXiyov
varepov Trpbs tov clvtov Tvpavvov i/c Tr)? avrrjs
7roXe&)? airocnaXels irpea(3evTr}<;, it poairep^avTO<;
a\)T(p Bvo (TToXas i/ceuvov kcu KeXevaavTOS rjv
fiovkercu tovtcov eXopuevov rfj Ovyarpl Kopbt^eiv,
avrrjv i/ceivrjv ecfrr) ftekriov alprjaeaOcu, kcu Xa/3oi)v
ap,(f)OTepa<; airrjXOev.
III. 'Eirel Be tov UeXoTrovvrjaiatcov iroXepuov
p,?jKO<; XapuftdvovTOs, kcu pera rrjv iv XtfceXLa twv
1 AOrjvaicov kclkott payiav avTitca p,ev i-rriBo^cov
ovtcov ifCTTeaeiadaL ttj? daXaTTrj?, ov 7roXXo) Be
varepov dirayopevaeLV iravTairacnv, 'AXtcijSidBr)?
dirb Tr)? (frvyPjs einaTa^ rot? Trpdypuaai p,eydXr)v
perafioXrjv iTroiv)o~e kclI Karecrrrjae tou9 vclvtlkovs
2 dywvas et<? dvTiiraXov clvtols, BeiaavTe*; ovv oi
AaKeBcup,6vioi irdXiv Kal yevbpievoi Tai<$ irpo-
Ovpicus tcaivol 7r/)o? tov TToXepbov, &>? rjyepbvos re
Beivov Kal Trapaa/cevfjs ippcopueveaTepa^ Bebpbevov,
ifCTrepirovaiv eVl rrp> tt)? OaXdrrrj^ f)yep,oviav
AvaavBpov. yev6p.evo<; 8' iv 'Ecfcicray, Kal rrjv
ttoXlv evpoov evvovv puev avTQ) Kal XaKcovi^ovaav
TTpoOvpOTCLTa, TTpaTTOVGaV Be TOT€ XviTpWS KCU KIV~
Bvvevovaav ifc/3ap/3apc06r}vai tols Tlepcri/cois eOeac
Bed t<z9 iiripa^ias, are Brj tt)? AvBia? TrepiiceyyP't-
vrjs /cal tcov ftaaiXLtcwv o-Tparrjywv avroOt rd
3 TToXXa BiarpifioVTCdv, arparoireBov fiaXopievos kcu
rd irXola iravrayodev eXKeaOai KeXevaas eKel rd
(popryjya, kcu vavirr^yiav rpirjpwv e/ret Kara-
o-Kevaadpevos, Tat? p,ev ifnroplai? tou? Xip,eva<;
avT&v dveXaftev, epyacrlais Be rr)v dyopdv, %pr)-
p,a,Tio-p,<A>v Be Toi><> oikov? kcu rds Te%va<; eve-
238
LYSANDER, n. 5-111. 3
saying he was afraid they would make his daughters
look more ugly. But a little later, when he was sent
as ambassador to the same tyrant from the same
city, and was presented by him with two robes, and
ordered to choose which of them he would, and
carry it to his daughter, he said that she could
choose better herself, and went off with both of
them.
111. The Peloponnesian war had now been carried
on for a long time, and after their disaster in Sicily l
it was expected that the Athenians would straight-
way lose their control of the sea, and presently give
up the struggle altogether. But Alcibiades, returning
from exile and taking the command, wrought a great
change, and made his countrymen again a match for
their enemies by sea. 2 The Lacedaemonians, accord-
ingly, were frightened again, and summoning up fresh
zeal for the war, which required, as they thought, an
able leader and a more powerful armament, sent out
Lysander to take command upon the sea. 3 When
he came to Ephesus, he found the city well disposed
to him and very zealous in the Spartan cause, al-
though it was then in a low state of prosperity and
in danger of becoming utterly barbarized by the
admixture of Persian customs, since it was enveloped
by Lydia, and the King's generals made it their
headquarters. He therefore pitched his camp there,
and ordered the merchant vessels from every quarter
to land their cargoes there, and made preparations
for the building of triremes. Thus he revived the
traffic of their harbours, and the business of their
market, and filled their houses and workshops with
1 413 b.o. Cf. Thuc. viii. 2. 2 Cf. Alcibiades, xxxii. 4.
8 In the autumn of 408 B.C.
239
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
TrXrjaev, ware Trpcorov air* eiceivov tov ypovov
ttjv ttoXiv ev eXiriBi tov wept ai/Trjv vvv ovto?
oy/cov /cal fjueyeOov? Bia, AvaavBpov yeveaOai.
IV. TLv06/jL€vo<z Be Kvpov eh ^dpBecs dcplydai
tov /3acrA,ea>? vlov, aveffr) 8iaXe%6pevo<i avrw /cal 435
Ticra(f>epvov k arrjyoprj a wv, 09 eywv Trpoaraypa
Aa/ce8aLp,ovioi$ fforjOeiv /cal t?}? 6aXdaarj<; ef-
eXdaai roi>9 'AOrjvatovs, eBo/cei 81 'AX/ciftidBrjv
v(j)L€pevo<; dirpoOvpios elvai /cal yXio")£p(o<$ X°PV~
2 ytov to vclvtlkov <j>Oeipetv. tjv Be /cal Kvpqj ftovXo-
puevcp tov Tio-acfrepvrjv ev clIticus elvai /cal /ca/c<o<;
d/coveiv, irovripov ovTa /cal 7rpo? avTov IBia
Bia<j)ep6p,evov. e/c re Brj tovtwv /cal t?}? aXXrjs
o-vvBiaiTrjo-ea)? 6 AvaavBpos dyairrjdels /cal to>
OepairevTiKcp fxdXiaTa 7-779 opuXlas eXcov to neipd-
3 kiov enreppcoae 7Tpb<; tov iroXepiov. eirel Be diraX-
XaTTeadai fiovXopevov avTov eaTicov 6 Kvpos
r)%iov /jlt) BicoOelcrOai Ta? Trap 1 avTov (j)iXo(f>po-
o~vva<t, a\V atTelv b j3ovXoito /cal cf>pd^eiv &>?
ovBevbs dirXcos d7TOTev%6p,evov, VTroXaftcov 6 Av~
cravBpos, " J Ei7rel tolvvv" elirev, " oi/to>9 ej£«9, a>
Kvpe, iTpoOvpias, ahovpal ae /cal Trapa/caXco
irpoaOelvai tco p,io~0(p tcov vavTwv oftoXov, 07ra>9
4 TeTpooftoXov dvTi TpuoffoXov Xa/jL/3dvcoaiv" rjar-
6 els ovv 6 KO/309 eirl ttj <j}i\on/ua tov dvBpbs
fivpiovs a\)T(p Bapei/covs eBco/cev, ef a>v e7np,eTpr)aa<;
tov bfioXov T0Z9 vavTais /cal XaparpwdpLevos oXiycp
ypov(p Ta? vavs tcov iroXepacov /cevas eiroi>}o~ev t
a7T€(f)OLT(ov yap ol ttoXXoi 777309 tov? irXeov 81-
240
LYSANDER, in. 3-iv. 4
profits, so that from that time on, and through his
efforts, the city had hopes of achieving the stateliness
and grandeur which it now enjoys.
IV. When he learned that Cyrus, the King's son,
was come to Sardis, 1 he went up to confer with him
and to accuse Tissaphernes, who, though he was
commissioned to aid the Lacedaemonians and drive
the Athenians from the sea, was thought to be remiss
in his duty, through the efforts of Alcibiades, 2 showing
lack of zeal, and destroying the efficiency of the fleet
by the meagre subsidies which he gave Now Cyrus
was well pleased that Tissaphernes, who was a base
man and privately at feud with him, should be ac-
cused and maligned. By this means, then, as well
as by his behaviour in general, Lysander made him-
self agreeable, and by the submissive deference of
his conversation, above all else, he won the heart of
the young prince, and roused him to prosecute the
war witli vigour. At a banquet which Cyrus gave
him as he was about to depart, the prince begged
him not to reject the tokens of his friendliness, but
to ask plainly for whatever he desired, since nothing
whatsoever would be refused him. u Since, then,"
said Lysander in reply, " thou art so very kind, I beg
and entreat thee, Cyrus, to add an obol to the pay
of my sailors, that they may get four obols instead
of three." 3 Cyrus, accordingly, delighted with his
public spirit, gave him ten thousand darics, out of
which he added the obol to the pay of his seamen,
and, by the renown thus won, soon emptied the
ships of his enemies. For most of their seamen
1 Ho succeeded Tissaphernes as satrap of Lydia.
2 Cf. Alcibiades, xxv. 1-2.
» Cf. Xen. Hell. i. 5, 6 f.
241
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
Bovras, ol Be pLevovres airpoOv/jLOi /cal o-raaiooBet,*;
eyivovro /cal /cared irapel^ov oo-rjpbepai rocs crTparrj-
70t9. ov firjv dXXd /caiirep ovrw? rrepiGirdaa^
kcu /ca/ccocras rovs iroXepiLovs 6 AvaavBpo? (hppcoBei
vavp.cL'xelv, Bpaarijpiov ovra rov 'A\fct,/3id8r]v /cal
vewv itXyjOsl irepiovra /cal pud'yas /cal Kara yrjv
kcl\ Kara OdXarrav et? etcelvo y^povov irdaas dr\r-
rrjrov rjycovMTfievov BeBoiKax;.
V. 'E7rel Be 6 puev 'AX/cifiidBrjs et? QwKaiav i/c
Zd/JLOV Bte7rXevaev eVt rod aroXov KaraXiirwv
'Avrioyov rov Kv(3epvr)T7]v, 6 Be 'A^Tto^o? olov
i(f>v^pL^(ov t& AvadvBpw /cal Qpaavvopievos eVe-
ir\evae Bval rpirjpeaiv eh rov Xi/ieva rwv
'ILfaaicov /cal rrapd rov vavaraO puov yeXcori teal
irardyw ^pcojievo^ aoftapcos TraprjXavvev, dyavaic-
Tr)oa<$ 6 AvaavBpos /cal Karaarrdaa^ rb irpoyrov
ov ttoXXcls rwv rpirjpwv eBico/cev avrov, IBcov Be
av rovs ' AOrjvaiovs (3or)6ovvra$ aXXas eirXrjpov,
/cal reXos evav pudypvv o-vpuireaovres. eviica Be
Avo~avBpo$, /cal irevTe/caiBeica rpirfpei? Xaftcov
earrjae rpbiraiov. errl rovrw rov ' AXKifiidBrjv 6
fiev ev aarei Bff/.io<; 6pyia6el<s dire'^eLporov^o'ev,
vtto Be rcov ev Xdpco arparicorcov drcpa^o/xevo^
/cal /ca/ews aKovwv direirXevaev eh Xeppovijo-ov e/c
rov arparorreBov. ravnjv pev ovv rr)v p,dy7]v t
Kaiirep ov pieydXrjv rfj irpd^ei yevopevrjv, f) rv^rj
Bi ■ AXtci(3idBriv 6vofiao~T7)v iiroirjaev.
'O Be AvaavBpos dirb rcov iroXecov eU "E^ecTo^
pLerarrepbiropevo^ ol>9 ecopa pdXiara Tat? re roX-
fiaa /cal rot? (frpovrjpaaiv virep rovs ttoXXovs
ovra$, dp%d<; vireaireipe rcov varepov eV avrov
yevofievcov BexaBap^icov ical vecorepiap,cov, irpo-
242
LYSANDER, iv. 4 -v. 3
came over to those who offered higher pay, and
those who remained were listless and mutinous, and
gave daily trouble to their officers. However, al-
though he had thus injured and weakened his ene-
mies, Lysander shrank from a naval battle, through
fear of Alcibiades, who was energetic, had a greater
number of ships, and in all his battles by land and
sea up to that time had come off victorious.
V. But after this, Alcibiades sailed away from
Samos to Phocaea, leaving Antiochus, his pilot, in
command of the fleet ; and Antiochus, as if in bold
mockery of Lysander, put in to the harbour of
Ephesus with two triremes, and rowed ostentatiously
past his ships, as they lay drawn up on shore, with
noise and laughter. Lysander was incensed, and
launching at first only a few of his triremes, pursued
him ; then seeing that the Athenians were coming
to the rescue, he manned others, and at last the
action became general. Lysander was victorious,
too, captured fifteen triremes, and set up a trophy.
Thereupon the people of Athens, flying into a
passion, deposed Alcibiades from his command, and
finding himself slighted and abused by the soldiers
at Samos, he left the camp and sailed off to the
Chersonese. This battle, then, although actually
not a great one, was made memorable by its bearing
on the fortunes of Alcibiades. 1
Lysander now summoned from their various cities
to Ephesus men whom he saw to be most eminent
for confidence and daring, and sowed in their minds
the seeds of the revolutionary decadarchies 2 after-
wards instituted by him, urging and inciting them to
1 Cf. Alcibiades, xxxv.-xxxvi.
2 Governing bodies of ten men.
243
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
rpeircov fcal irapo^vvwv eraipiKa, avviaraaOai Kai
TTpoaeyeiv tov vovv rocs irpdyfjiaaiv, go? d/ia rra
KaraXvOrjvai rovs ' Kd^vaiovs rcov re SrjpLwv
aTTaXka^ofJievovs kclI Bwaareuaovras ev rals
4 rrarplo'i. rovrcov Be rrjv ttigtiv i/cdarw 6Y
epywv irapelye, rovs i]Br] yeyovoras (ptXovs avrfp
Kai %evov<; els fxeydXa irpdypiara teal rifxas fcal
o~rparr\yias dvdywv, Kai avvaSiKOiv /cal avve^-
apaprdveov avrbs vrrep rrjs itceivwv irXeove^ias,
ware rrpoaeyeiv diravras avra> Kai ^api^eaOai
Kai iroOelv, eXrri^ovras ovBevbs drvyj]aeiv rwv
5 fxeylarcov eKetvov Kparovvros. Bib Kai KaX-
XtKpartSav ovr evOvs rjBecos elBov eXOovra tw
AvcrdvBpa) BidBo^pv rrjs vavapytas, ovre, co?
varepov BiBovs rrelpav dvrjp efyaivero Trdvrcov
apiaros Kai BtKatoraros, rjpeaKovro rw rpoirw 43 G
rrfs rjye/jtovi'as drrXovv ri Kai Awptov e^ovo-rjs Kai
dXrjOivov. dXXa rovrov ptev rrjv dperrjv wairep
dydXptaros rjpcoiKov KaXXos edavpta^ov, eiroOovv
Be rrjv eKetvov crTrovSrjv Kai rb (frtXeraipov teal
XpeiwSes i^ijrovv, ware dO vptetv eKTrXeovros avrov
Kai BaKpvetv.
VI. f O Be rovrovs re ra> KaXXiKpartBa Bvo~-
pevearepovs eiroieL en puaXXov, Kai rwv virb
K.vpov xprj/jLarcov avrG) BeSoptevcov eh rb vavriKov
ret ireptovra irdXiv els %dpBets dveirepb-^rev, avrbv
alrelv, el fiovXoiro, top KaXXiKpartSav Kai gko-
irelv ottcos Opeyjrot robs a r par Moras KeXevaas.
2 rekos Be diroTrXewv eptaprvparo 7rpbs avrbv ore
244
LYSANDER, v. 3 -vi. 2
form political clubs in their several cities, and apply
themselves to public affairs, assuring them that as
soon as the Athenian empire was destroyed, they
could rid themselves of their democracies and be-
come themselves supreme in power. Moreover, by
actual benefits he gave them all a confidence in this
future, promoting those who were already his friends
and allies to large enterprises and honours and com-
mands, and taking a share himself in their injustice
and wickedness in order to gratify their rapacity.
Therefore all attached themselves to him, courted
his favour, and fixed their hearts upon him, expecting
to attain all their highest ambitions if only he re-
mained in power. Therefore, too, they neither looked
kindly upon Callicratidas at the first, when he came
to succeed Lysander in the admiralty, 1 nor afterwards,
when he had shown by manifest proofs that he was
the justest and noblest of men, were they pleased
with the manner of his leadership, which had a
certain Doric simplicity and sincerity. They did,
indeed, admire his virtue, as they would the beauty
of a hero's statue ; but they yearned for the zealous
support of Lysander, and missed the interest which
he took in the welfare of his partisans, so that when
he sailed away they were dejected and shed tears.
VI. Lysander made these men yet more dis-
affected towards Callicratidas. He also sent back
to Sardis what remained of the money which Cyrus
had given him for the navy, bidding Callicratidas
ask for it himself, if he wished, and see to the
maintenance of his soldiers. And finally, as he
sailed away, he called Callicratidas to witness that
1 Late in the year 407 b.o. It was Spartan policy to
change their admiral yearly.
VOL. IV. t 2 45
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
OaXaaoroKpaTovv to vavn/cbv Trapahihwcriv. 6 Se
/3ovXop,evo<z eXey^ai ttjv fyiXoTipiav dXa^oviKrjv
Kal fcevrjv ovaav, " Ovkovv" ecjirj, "Xaftoov iv
dpiarepa Xdpov Kal TrepnrXevaas els MlXtjtov
€K€L fiOL irapdhos Ta? TpirjpeiS' BeSievai yap ov
yjpr) irapairXeovTas rjpas tovs iv ^dp,w 7ro\e/uoi>?,
3 el OaXao-croKparov/jLev" irpbs ravra elircov 6
AvaavSpos oti ov/c avTos, dXX* i/ceivos dpX 01 r ^ )P
vecov, direirXevaev els UeXowovvijaov, iv iroXXfj
tov KaWiKpariSav diropla Kara\i7rcov. ovre
yap OLKoOev acpl/cro y^p^para Kop,l£cov, ovre tcls
iroXeis dpyvpoXoyelv Kal /3id£ta0at, pLO")(0r)pa
4 irpaTTOvaas VTrep,eive. Xoiirbv ovv r)V iirl Ovpas
lovra twv ^aacXecos crTpaTrjywv, wcnrep Avcrav-
Bpos, alreiv 77730? irdvTwv dcpveararo^ eTvyya-
vev, dvrjp iXevOeptos Kal pueyaXocppcov, Kal iraaav
v<f> 'EXXijvcov rjrrav "RXXrjaiv i)yovpevos evirpe-
irearepav elvai tov KoXaKeveiv Kal (froirdv eirl
Ovpas dv0pd)7T(ov ftapfidpcoVy ttoXv ftpvaiov, aXXo
8' ovSev KaXbv i%6vTcov.
5 'FiKf3ta£6pL€VO<; Be virb t?)? diropias, dvaftas els
AvBlav evO v$ eiropevero eh ttjv OiKtav tov Kvpov,
Kal <j)pd£eiv irpoaeTa^ev otl KaXXcKpaTiBas 6
vavapyps rjKei BiaXeyOrjvaL ftovXopievos auTw.
T(ov 8' eirl 6 v pais twos elirovTOS, " 'AU' ov
aypXr) vvVy w %€V€, Kvpq)' irlvei ydp" d(f>e-
XeaTaTa irons KaXXtKpaTiBas, " OvBev," ed>r],
" Becvov avTOV yap ecrTcos dvafieva), pe^pi 7m;."
6 tot€ pev ovv Bo^as dypotKos ti$ elvat Kal KaTa-
yeXaaOels virb tcov ftapftdpcov dirr)X6ev iirel Be
Kal BevTepov eXdoov eirl Ovpas ov irapeiOrj, j3apicos
246
LYSANDER, vi. 2-6
the fleet which he handed over to him was in com-
mand of the sea. But he, wishing to prove the
emptiness and vanity of this ambitious boast, said :
" In that case, keep Samos on the left, sail to Miletus,
and there hand the triremes over to me ; surely we
need not fear to sail past the enemy at Samos if we
are masters of the sea." To this Lysander answered
that Callicratidas, and not he, was in command of
the ships, and sailed off to Peloponnesus, leaving
Callicratidas in great perplexity. 1 For neither had
he brought money from home with him, nor could
he bear to lay the cities under forced contribution
when they were already in an evil plight. The only
course left, therefore, was to go to the doors of the
King's generals, as Lysander had done, and ask for
money. For this he was of all men least fitted by
nature, being of a free and lofty spirit, and one who
thought any and every defeat of Greeks at the hands
of Greeks more becoming to them than visits of
flattery to the houses of Barbarians, who had much
gold, but nothing else worth while.
Constrained, however, by his necessities, he went up
into Lydia, proceeded at once to the house of Cyrus,
and ordered word to be sent in that Callicratidas
the admiral was come and wished to confer with
him. And when one of the door-keepers said to
him : " But Cyrus is not at leisure now, Stranger,
for he is at his wine"; Gillicratidas replied with
the utmost simplicity : " No matter, I will stand
here and wait till he has had his wine." This time,
then, he merely withdrew, after being taken for a
rustic fellow and laughed at by the Barbarians. But
when he was come a second time to the door and
1 Cf . Xen. Hell. i. 6, 2 f.
247
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
ivey/ccov eh v E(f>eaov &)%6to, rroXXa, puev erra-
pcopcevos Katca roh TrpcoTOis evrpv$r]6elcnv viro
ftapftdpcov Kal Bt,Bd£aaiv avrovs vftpi^eiv Bid
7 7t\ovtov, o/jlvvcov Be 7roo9 toi"? Trapovras rj firjv,
orav irpoyrov eh XTrdprrjv irapayevqrai, rrdvra
iroirjaeiv virep rov BiaXvOfjvai rovs "EAA^ra?, &)?
(f)o/3epol roh ftapfidpois elev avrol Kal iravaaivro
tt}? ifceivcDV err* dXXtjXov^ heofievoi BvvdjjLews.
VII. 'AXXa KaXXiKpariBas fiev a%ia t?)?
Aa/ce&ai/iovos BiavorjOeh* Kal yevofievo? roh clk-
pots evd/niXXos roiv 'EXXrjvcov Bid BiKaioavvrjv Kal
IxeyaXo^vyiav Kal dvBpeiav, /xer ov rroXvv y^povov
ev 'Apytvovaais KaTavavpayj]Qeh r)§avLaQr\. ro)v
Be irpaypbaTcov viro^epofxevuiv oi ovix\xaypi rrpea-
fteiav rrepbirovTe^ eh ^Trdprrjv rjrovvro AvaavBpov
errl rr)V vavapyiav, &>? rroXv irpoOv/jLorepov dv-
TtXTj-^rofiepoi roiv irpayixdrwv eKelvov arpanqyovv-
2 to?, ra Be avrd Kal KOoo? dtjiwv erreareXXev.
eirel Be vofjuos rjv ovk ewv Bh rov avrbv vavapyelv,
eftoiikovTo re yapi^ecQai roh avpjidyoi^ oi AaKe-
Baiybovioiy to pev ovopia rr\^ vavapyias 'ApaK<p
tlvI irepieOeaav, rov Be AvaavBpov irriaroXea tw
Xoya), tw S' epycp Kvpiov drrdvrcov e^erre/jbyfrav.
TO?? fJLCP OVV TrXeiCTTOLS TWV Tro\lT€VO/ieV(0V Kal
Bvvafievwv ev rah rroXeai rrdXai TroOovfievos
$)Kev rjXrn^ov yap en fiaXXov layyaeiv BC avrov
3 rravrdrraai t&v BtJ/jlcov KaraXvOevTwv roh Be
rov arrXovv Kal yevvalov dyair&ai ronv rjyefioi'cov 431
248
LYSANDER, vi. 6-vn. 3
was refused admittance, he was indignant, and set
off for Ephesus, invoking many evils upon those who
first submitted to the mockery of the Barbarians and
taught them to be insolent because of their wealth,
and swearing roundly to the bystanders that as soon
as he got back to Sparta, he would do all he could
to reconcile the Greeks with one another, in order
that they might themselves strike fear into the
Barbarians, and cease soliciting their power against
each other.
VII. But Callicratidas, after cherishing purposes
worthy of Lacedaemon, and showing himself worthy
to compete with the most eminent of the Greeks by
reason of his righteousness, magnanimity, and valour,
not long afterwards lost the sea-fight at Arginusae
and vanished from among men. 1 Then, their cause
declining, the allies sent an embassy to Sparta and
asked that Lysander be made admiral, declaring that
they would grapple much more vigorously with the
situation if he were their commander. Cyrus also
sent to make the same request. Now the Lacedae
monians had a law forbidding that the same man
should be admiral twice, and yet they wished to
gratify their allies ; they therefore invested a certain
Aracus with the title of admiral, and sent out Ly-
sander as vice-admiral, 2 nominally, but really with
supreme power. So he came out, as most of those
who had political power and influence in the cities
had long desired, for they expected to become still
stronger by his aid when the popular governments
had been utterly overthrown ; but to those who loved
simplicity and nobility in the character of their leaders,
1 In the late summer of 406 B.C. (Xen. Hill. i. 6, 33).
2 In the spring of 405 B.C. (Xen. Hell. ii. 1, 7).
249
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
TpoTrov, 6 AvaavBpos tw KaXXi/cparlBq, irapa-
ftaXXo/nevos eho/cei iravovpyos elvai ical aocpuTTrjs,
dirdrai^ ra iroXXa BiairoiKLXXwv rov iroXepuov
/cal to Bi/caiov eirl tw Xva-ireXovvrc p,eyaXvvcov,
el Be /xr), tw crufMpepovTi xpeopuevos co? /caXw, /cal
to dXrjdes ov cfrvcrei rov yjrevBovs /cpetrrov rjyov-
fievos, aX)C e/carepov rfj xpeia tt)V Tip,r/v opi^wv.
T&V B" a^iovvTcov fir] iroXepbelv puerd BoXov toi>5
a<$> 'Hpa/cXeovs yeyovoras /carayeXdv e/ceXevev
""Ottov yap rj Xeovrrj fir) efyacvelrai, irpoapcnrreov
itCel T7)P aX(D7T€fcf}v."
VIII. Toiavra Be avrov /cal ra irepl M.lXr]rop
laropr\rai. rcov yap (puXcov ical %ev(ov, ol? vire-
ayero avy/caraXvaeLv re rov Brjpuov /cal avve/c-
ftaXelv rovs Bia<p6pov<;, pera/3aXop,evcov /cal BiaX-
Xayevrwv rot? depots, fyavep&s pev rjBeaOai
irpoaeiroielro ical avvBiaXXdrreiv, /cpvcf>a Be
XocBopcov avrovs /cal /caid£(ov irapco^vvev eiri-
OeaOai TOt5 rroXXols. a>5 Be fjadero yivop,evr)v
rrjv eiravdcTTacnv, ofeo)? ftorjOr'jaas ical irapeiaeX-
6a)V 64? T7)V TToXlV 045 TTpWTOL^ emrvypi TCOV
vecor epL^ovrcov e^aXeiraive rfj (f)covfj ical irpoarjye
Tpa~)(yvop.evo<$ 005 eiridrjo-cov Bl/crjv avrols, toi>5
Be aXXov? e/ceXeve Oappelv ical purjBev en irpoa-
Bo/cav Beivov avrov Trapovro?. vireicpivero Be
ravra /cal Bte7rob/CLXXe } rov? BTjpLori/ccDrdrov^ teal
/cparLCTTOVS ftovXopevos prj fyevyeiv, dX~\! diroda-
velv ev rrj iroXei \ieivavras. o /cal <rvvef3r}'
TTavres yap direac^dyqaav ol Karairiarevaavre^.
' AnropLV^pioveverai Be inrb 'AvBpo/cXelBov Xoyos
ttoXXi'iv riva /carrjyopcbp rov AvadvBpov rrepl row
250
LYSANDER, vn. 3-vm. 3
Lysander, compared with Callicratidas, seemed to be
unscrupulous and subtle, a man who tricked out most
of what he did in war with the varied hues of deceit,
extolling justice if it was at the same time profit-
able, but if not, adopting the advantageous as the
honourable course, and not considering truth as in-
herently better than falsehood, but bounding his
estimate of either by the needs of the hour. Those
who demanded that the descendants of Heracles
should not wage war by deceit he held up to ridicule,
saying that " where the lion's skin will not reach, it
must be patched out with the fox's."
VIII. Of such a sort were his dealings with Mi-
letus, according to the record. For when his friends
and allies, whom he had promised to aid in over-
throwing the democracy and expelling their oppo-
nents, changed their minds and became reconciled
to their foes, openly he pretended to be pleased
and to join in the reconciliation ; but in secret he
reviled and abused them, and incited them to fresh
attacks upon the multitude. And when he perceived
that the uprising was begun, he quickly came up and
entered the city, where he angrily rebuked the first
conspirators whom he met, and set upon them roughly,
as though he were going to punish them, but ordered
the rest of the people to be of good cheer and to
fear no further evil now that he was with them.
But in this he was playing a shifty part, wishing the
leading men of the popular party not to fly, but to
remain in the city and be slain. And this was what
actually happened ; for all who put their trust in
him were slaughtered.
Furthermore, there is a saying of Lysander's, re-
corded by Androcleides, which makes him guilty of
2 5 r
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
4 op/covs evyepeiav. itceXeve yap, co«? (frrjai, tou?
/jL€V iralBas dcrTpayaXois, tol»? Be avBpas optcois
e^airaraVy dirofiifioufzevo^ UoXv/cpaTrj TovXd/MOV,
ovtc opOcbs rvpavvov (TTparrjyo*;, ovBe Aclkwvikov
to XprjaOai toIs 0eoi$ cbairep tois 7roXe/jLLOi<;,
fiaXXov Be vf3pMTTitcoi)Tepov. 6 yap optcw irapa-
fcpovo/JLevo? tov fiev e^Opbv o/juoXoyel BeBcevai,, tov
Be 9eov Kara^povelv.
IX. 'O B' ovv KOpo? eh %dpBet,<; pLeiairefx^d-
fjievos tov AvaavBpov, ra /xev eBwrce, rd Be bireayeTO,
veavievadpLevos eh TfjP etceivov %dpiv fcal el firjBev
6 irarrjp BlBcot) KaTa^opijyijcreiv rd ol/ceia m tcdv
eirCXiirrj iravra, tcaTatcoijreiv ecprj tov Opbvov eft
w KaOijfievos ixprj/jLarL^e, y^pvaovv /cal dpyvpovv
2 ovra. TeXos Be eh M.t]B[av dvaftaivoov 7T/30? tov
iraTepa, tow? tc (f)6pov$ atreBei^e tcov iroXewv
Xa/jL0dveiv etceivov, /cat ttjv avTov Bierrio'Tevcrev
dpxv v ' dcnraad/jLevo? Be teal BerjOeh fir) vavyuayelv
'A-drjvaioLSj irplv avTov dcpitcecrOaL irdXiv, d(j)l^-
eadai Be vavs eypvTa 7roXXa<; etc tc Qoivltcr)? koX
KtXt/aa?, dve/3aivev a>? ftacriXea.
AvaavBpos Be fjbijre vav/xa^eiv dy)((oixdX(p irXrj-
6ei Bwd/ievos fjafjTe dpybs /caOe^eaOac jxeTa vecov
ToaovTcov, ava^(6eh evias TrpoarjydyeTo tow vrjacov,
Aiyivdv Te /cal XaXafilva Trpoa/xii;a<; /caTeBpap,ev.
3 eU Be ttjv 'Attiktjv a7ro/9a? /cal tov "*Ayiv daTraad-
jievoSy /caTej3rj yap avTos etc Ae/ceXe/a? irpb? avTov,
irreBeL^e tw ire^w itapovTi ttjv tov vavTitcov
1 Cf. Xen. Hell. ii. 1, 13 f.
2 In the spring of 413 B.C. the Spartans had fortified
Deceleia, a few miles N.W. of Athens, and stationed there a
252
LYSANDER, vm. 4 -ix. 3
the greatest recklessness in the matter of oaths. It
was his policy, according to this authority, "to cheat
boys with knuckle-bones, but men with oaths," thus
imitating Polycrates of Samos ; not a proper attitude
in a general towards a tyrant, nor yet a Laconian
trait to treat the gods as one's enemies are treated,
nay, more outrageously still ; since he who over-
reaches his enemy by means of an oath, confesses
that he fears that enemy, but despises God.
IX. Well, then, Cyrus summoned Lysander to
Sardis, and gave him this, and promised him that,
ardently protesting, to gratify him, that he would
actually squander his own fortune, if his father gave
him nothing for the Spartans ; and if all else failed,
he said he would cut up the throne on which he sat
when giving audience, a throne covered with gold
and silver. And finally, as he was going up into
Media to wait upon his father, he assigned to Lysander
the tribute of the cities, and entrusted his own
government to him ; and embracing him in farewell,
and begging him not to fight the Athenians at sea
until he was come back, and promising to come back
with many ships from Phoenicia and Cilicia, he set
out to go up to the King. 1
Then Lysander, who could neither fight a naval
battle on equal terms, nor remain idle with the large
fleet at his disposal, put out to sea and reduced some
of the islands, and touching at Aegina and Salamis,
overran them. Then he landed in Attica and saluted
Agis, who came down in person from Deceleia 2 to
meet him, and displayed to the land forces there the
permanent garrison under Agis the king. Lysander's ravaging
of Aegina and Salamis was just before hia siege of Athens,
according to Xenophon {Hell. ii. 2, 9).
253
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
pcbfirjv, a)? irXecov fj /3ovXolto, KpaTCOv t% Oakar-
ttjs. ov fJLrjv dXXa tou9 ' A0r]vaiov<; al<j66/j,evo<;
BicoKOVTas avjov dXXco Bpo/xco Bid vrjacov ecpevyev
eh tt)V *Aaiav.
4 Kal tov 'EXXijcnrovTov eprj/iov KaTaXaftcov
e7T6X€ipei Aa/jLijrataivoLs avrbs i/c OaXdrrrj^; rat9
vavai, ©copal; Be tco ire^co arparco avvavvcras eh
to uvto irpoae^aXe Toh TeLyecriv. eXcov Be ttjv
ttoXlv Kara Kpci-ro^ Biapirdaai T049 arparicorai^
eBcoKev. 6 Be tcov ^ AQiqvaicov cttoXo? oyBorjKOVTa
/cal e/carbv rpiijpcov eTvyyave fiev apri KaOcop/jLicr-
fAevos eh 'RXaiovvra t^<? Xeppovrjaov, irvvQavo-
[jbevoi Be diroXcoXevai ttjv Ad/i-fra/cov ev6v<s eh 43£
5 Xtjcttov Karatpovat. KaiceWev eincnrLadixevoL
irapeirXevaav eh At'709 irorafioixi, dvinrepas
tcov TToXepuicov en vavXoypvvTcov nrepl ttjv Adpu-
yjraKov. earpaTrpyovv Be tcov ' A6t]vaicov aXXoi re
irXeiovs Kal <PiXoKXr}<; 6 nreicra^ irore tyijcpicraaOai
tov Brjjuov diroKoiTTeiv tov Be^tbv dvTiyeipa tcov
dXicTKOfievcov KaTa iroXepiov, 07rco9 Bopv fiev cpepeiv
/JLT) BvVCOVTai, KCOTTTJV Be eXavvcoac.
X. Tot€ fiev ovv dveiravovTo irdvTes, eXiri^ovTe^
eh Tr]V vGTepaiav vavfxayi^eiv. 6 Be AvtravBpos
dXXa fiev BtevoeiTO, irpocreTaTTe Be vavTais Kal
KvftepvtfTaLs, 009 dycovo<; dfia rjfiepa yevrjtrofievov,
irepl opQpov e/j,/3aiveiv eh t<z9 Tpur)pei<; Kal KaQet-
eadai Koafico Kal cricoTry, Be\ofievov<; to irapay-
yeXXofievov, &>9 8' avTco? Kal to ire^bv ev Ta^ei
2 irapa ttjv OdXaTTav rjcrvyd^etv. dvicryovTos Be
tov rjXlov Kal tcov 'AOyvatcov p-eTcoirrfBov aTrdaai^
€7TL7rXe6vTcov Kal 7rpoKaXov/xevcov f avTiirpcopov^
254
LYSANDER, ix. 3 -x. 2
strength of his fleet, with the mien of one who
sailed where he pleased and was master of the sea.
But on learning that the Athenians were pursuing
him, he fled by another route through the islands
to Asia.
Finding the Hellespont unguarded, he himself
attacked Lampsacus from the sea with his ships,
while Thorax, co-operating with the land forces,
assaulted the walls. He took the city by storm,
and gave it up to his soldiers to plunder. 1 Mean-
while the Athenian fleet of a hundred and eighty
triremes had just arrived at Elaeus in the Chersonese,
and learning that Lampsacus had fallen, they straight-
way put in at Sestos. There they took in provisions,
and then sailed along to Aegospotami, over against
their enemies, who were still in station at Lampsacus.
The Athenians were under the command of several
generals, among whom was Philocles, the man who
had recently persuaded the people to pass a decree
that their prisoners of war should have the right
thumb cut off, that they might not be able to wield
a spear, though they might ply an oar. 2
X. For the time being, then, all rested, expecting
that on the morrow the fleets would engage. But
Lysander was planning otherwise, and ordered his
seamen and pilots, as though there would be a
struggle at daybreak, to go on board their triremes
in the early morning, and take their seats in order
and in silence, awaiting the word of command, and
that the land forces also, in the same manner, remain
quietly in their ranks by the sea. When the sun
rose, however, and the Athenians sailed up with all
their ships in line and challenged to battle, although
1 Cf. Xen. Hell ii. 1, 18 f. * See the note on xiii. 1.
2 55
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
eywv Ta9 vavs kcli 7re7rXrjpa)p,eva<i en vvKrbs ovk
dvrjyero, irepbirwv Be virrjperiKa irapa rd$ irpaira^
to)V vexv drpepelv eKeXeve teal peveiv ev rd^ei prj
3 6opvj3ovpevov<$ /jlt)& dvreKirXeovras. ovrco Be irepl
BeLXrjv diroirXeovrMv birlaco rcov ' ' KO^vaiwv ou
rrporepov i/c roiv vecov tou? arparuora^ d<pfifcev,
el pur) Bvo /cal rpels rpitfpeis, a? eirepyfre KaraaKo-
7rou?, eXOelv IBovras d7ro/3e/3rjK6ra^ toi>9 iroXepi-
of?. ry S' varepaiq, irdXiv eylvovro ravra real
rfj TplTT) fieXP 1 ' T€rdpT7]<; } CO<7T€ TToXl) TOt? ' A07J-
vaiois dpaaos eyyeveaOai kcl\ Kara(pp6vrjacv a><?
BeBcorcov teal avvearaXpLevcov r&v rroXepiwv.
4 'Ei/ tout co Be 'AX/ciftidBiis (ervy^ave yap irepl
'Keppovrjaov ev rots eavrov rei^evi Biairob/ievos)
Xttttw TrpoaeXdaas irpbs to arpdrevpia r&v 'AOrj-
vaiayv yriaro tovs crrparrjyovs rrpwrov p>ev ou
KaX(o<; ovB' do~<paXw<; arparoireBeveiv ev alyiaXois
BvaoppLOis kcu avairerrrap^evoi^' erretra iroppwOev
etc ^rjarov ra eTrirrjBeia Xapbftdvovras dpuaprdveiv,
5 Beov eh Xipeva /cal ttoXiv Hrjcrrbv 6Y oXiyov
TrepnrXevaravTas, dirmepw yeveaOai ra>v iroXepicov
icf)oppLovvTQ)v arparevpuarc piovap^ovpuevw ica\
irdvra 7rp09 <f>6/3ov ofe&>9 airo avvOrjparo^; VTrrjpe-
rovvri. ravra Be avrov BiBdaKovros ouk eirei-
OovrOy Tv Bevs Be /cal 7r/?o? vftpiv direKpivaro, <prjo~as
ovk e/celvov, dXX' erepov<; arparrjyelv.
XL 'O puev ovv 'AXKi/3idBr]<; viroirrevcra<; ri
kcu Trpo&oaLas ev avrols dir^XXdrrerQ, irepirrrj
256
LYSANDER, x. 2-xi. i
he had his ships drawn up in line to meet them and
fully manned before it was light, he did not put out
from his position, but sending despatch-boats to the
foremost of his ships, ordered them to keep quiet
and remain in line, not getting into confusion nor
sailing out to meet the enemy. And so about
midday when the Athenians sailed back, he did not
allow his men to leave their ships until two or three
triremes, which he sent to reconnoitre, came back,
after seeing that the enemy had disembarked. On
the following day this was done again, and on the
third, and at last on the fourth, so that the Athenians
became very bold and contemptuous, believing that
their enemies were huddling together in fear.
At this juncture, Alcibiades, who was living in his
own fortress on the Chersonese, rode up to the
Athenian army and censured the generals, first, for
having pitched their camp in a bad and even danger-
ous place on an open beach where there was no road-
stead ; and second, for the mistake of getting their
provisions from distant Sestos, when they ought to
sail round the coast a little way to the harbour and
city of Sestos, where they would be at a longer
remove from their enemies, who lay watching them
with an army commanded by a single man, the fear
of whom led it to obey his every order promptly.
These were the lessons he gave them, but they
would not receive them, and Tydeus actually gave
him an insolent answer, saying that he was not
general now, but others. 1
XI. Alcibiades, accordingly, suspecting that some
treachery was afoot among them, went away. But
1 Cf. Xen. Hell. ii. 1, 20-26 ; Plutarch, Alcibiades,
xxxvi. 4-xxxvii. 1.
257
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
he rjpepa rcov 'ABrjvaiwv Troiiqaafievwy tov eiri-
ttXovv /cal irdXiv dire pyo pev cov, axT7rep elcoOeaav,
oXtyGopcos irdvv /cal Karacj) povrjTL/ca)^, o Avcrav8po$
eKirepbTTCDV t<z? /caTaa/coTrovs vavs e/ceXevae tov<s
Tpii]pdp^ov^, orav 'thecal toi)? 'A6rjvaiov<$ e/cfte-
firjKOTCLs, eXavveiv diroar pe^\ravra^ oirlao) Tayei
ttclvtl, /cal yevop^evovs Kara pueaov tov iropov
dairiha ^aX/crjv eirdpaaOai irpwpaOev eir'nrXov
2 avp(3oXov. at»TO? he tov? fcvftepvijras ical Tpirjp-
dp%ov<i eimrXewv dve/caXeiTO /cal irapcoppLa crvv-
eyew €fcaaTOV ev rd^ec to TrXtfpcopLa /cal toi/?
vavras /cal tou? iiri^dra^, orav he aripavOf), p,er<i
TTpodvpiLas /cal pcoprj? eXavvetv eirl tov? iroXe-
pLiovs. &)? he rj re dairls dirb rcov vewv i]p6rj /cal
Trj cdXTTLjyi tt]v dvaycoyrjv ear)p,aivev dirb t?}?
vavapxihos, iireirXeov puev at vijes, rjpiXXcovTO he
3 ol tre^ol irapa tov alyiaXbv eVt ttjv a/cpav. to he
pLeratjv twv rjireipcov hid(TTr){ia ravrrj irevTeKai-
he/ca arahicov earl, /cal Ta^ew? virb airovh?^ /cal
irpoOvpiias rcov eXavvovTcov avvyprjTO. K.6vcov he
7r/)ft)T09 o rcov 'AOrjvaicov <TTpaT7]yb<; dirb tt}? yf}<;
lha>v eTTLTrXeovra tov cttoXov i£ai(pvr)<; dvefiorjcrev
epLf3aiveiv, /cal irepLwaOcbv ra> /ca/cw rovs p,ev
e/cdXei, T(bv he ehecro, toi>? he rjvdy/ca^e TrXypovv
4 Ta? Tpirfpeis. v)V he ovhev epyov avrov rr)<; enrovhrj^ 439
eo-tcehaapevoov t&v dvOpcoircov. ft)? yap i^efirjaav,
ev6v$, are pu^hev Trpocrho/codVTes, rjyopa&v, eVXa-
V03VT0 irepl rrjv ycopav, e/eddevhov i/irb rats
GKTjVal^, rjpiGTOTTOlOVVTO , ITOppCdTaTCO TOV pAXXoV-
5 to? direipia tmv rjyovpbevcov 6We?. rjhrj he /cpavyrj
teal podlw irpoa^epopAvwv tcqv iroXepilcov 6 p,ev
258
LYSANDER, xi. 1-5
on the fifth day, when the Athenians had sailed over
to the enemy and back again, as was now their wont,
very carelessly and contemptuously, Lysander, as he
sent out his reconnoitring ships, ordered their com-
manders, as soon as they saw that the Athenians
had disembarked, to put about and row back with
all speed, and when they were half way across, to
hoist a brazen shield at the prow, as a signal for the
onset. And he himself sailed round and earnestly
exhorted the pilots and trierarchs to keep all their
crews at their post, sailors and soldiers alike, and as
soon as the signal was given, to row with ardour and
vigour against the enemy. When, therefore, the
shield was hoisted on the lookout ships, and the
trumpet on the admiral's ship signalled the attack,
the ships sailed forth, and the land forces ran their
fastest along the shore to seize the promontory. The
distance between the two continents at this point is
fifteen furlongs, and such was the zealous ardour of
the rowers that it was quickly consumed. Conon,
the Athenian general, who was the first to see from
the land the onset of the fleet, suddenly shouted
orders to embark, and deeply stirred by the threat-
ening disaster, called upon some, besought others,
and forced others still to man the triremes. But his
eager efforts were of no avail, since the men were
scattered. For just as soon as they had disembarked,
since they expected no trouble, some went to market,
some walked about the country, some lay down to
sleep in their tents, and some began to get their
suppers ready, being as far as possible removed from
any thought of what was to happen, through the
inexperience of their commanders. The shouts and
splashing oars of the oncoming enemy were already
259
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
Kovcov 6/ctco vavcrlv vire^eirXevae /cal Btacpvycov
aTTeirepaaev eh Kvirpov 7rpo? Evayopav, Tat? Be
aXXais eTmreaovTes ol WeXoTrovvrjcrioi Ta? pev
Kevas TTavrdiraaiv ypovv, ras 8' eVt 7rXrjpovpbeva<;
6/C07TT0V. ol Be ClvOpCOTTOt, 7T/50? T€ Tat? VCLValv
aireOvrjcr/cov dvoirXoi /cal cnropdBes eiriftorjOovvTes,
ev T6 rfj yfj cpevyovTes dfroftdvTcov tcov TroXepblcov
6 6KT€lvopto. Xapuftdvei Be 6 AvcravBpos Tpia^LXiovs
dvBpas alypuaXcoTov^ fiera tcov crTpaTrjycov, clttclv
Be to vavo-raO/jiov avev rf)<; YiapdXov /cal tcov
fiera "Kovcovos e/ccpvyovcrcov. avaBrjcrdfievo^ Be
ras vavs /cal Biairop6r)aa<; rb o-TparoireBov fiera
avXov /cal iraidvcov dveirXevcrev eh Adfiijra/cov ,
epyov ekayiarco ttovco peyiarov e^eipyaafievos,
/cal GVvrjprjKCQS copa fiia %povov fi^/ciGrov ical
Troi/cCkcorarov irdOeal re /cal rvyai^ aTriarorarov
7 tcov irpb avrov iroXeficov, o? [ivpias p,opcpa<; dyco-
vcov /cal irpayfidrcov fiera j3oXci<; afiel^a?, /cal
o-Tparrjyovs ocrou? ovBe ol Gvp/navre^ ol irpb avrov
t?;? f EXXaSo? dvaXcocras, evb$ avBpbs evfiovXiq,
/cal BeivorrjTi crvvr)pr)TO' Bib /cal Oelov Ttye? r]yrj-
cravro rovro to epyov.
XII. *Hcrav Be Ttve<; ol tou? Aiocrtcovpov<; eirl
T>}? AvadvBpov vecos etcarepcoOev, ore tov Xipevos
e^eirXei Trpcorov eirl tou? TroXefiiovs, dcrrpa roh
oiajjiv e7riXdp,yfrat Xeyovres. ol Be /cal rrjv tov
XiOov tttcoctlv eirl tco rrdOei rovrcg arjfielov cpaai
260
LYSANDER, xi. 5-XI1. t
heard, when Conon, with eight ships, sailed stealthily
away, and making his escape, proceeded to Cyprus,
to Evagoras ; but the Peloponnesians fell upon the
rest of the ships, some of which they took entirely
empty, and others they disabled while their crews
were still getting aboard. And the men, coming up
unarmed and in straggling fashion, perished at their
ships, or if they fled by land, their enemies, who
had disembarked, slew them. Lysander took three
thousand men prisoners, together with their generals,
and captured the whole fleet, excepting the Paralus '
and the ships that had made their escape with Conon.
So after plundering his enemy's camp and taking
their ships in tow, he sailed back to Lampsacus, to
the sound of pipes and hymns of victory. He had
wrought a work of the greatest magnitude with the
least toil and effort, and had brought to a close in a
single hour a war which, in length, and the incredible
variety of its incidents and fortunes, surpassed all its
predecessors. Its struggles and issues had assumed
ten thousand changing shapes, and it had cost Hellas
more generals than all her previous wars together,
and yet it was brought to a close by the prudence
and ability of one man. Therefore some actually
thought the result due to divine intervention.
XII. There were some who declared that the
Dioscuri 2 appeared as twin stars on either side of
Lysander's ship just as he was sailing out of the
harbour against the enemy, and shone out over the
rudder-sweeps. And some say also that the falling
of the stone was a portent of this disaster ; for ac-
1 One of the sacred state-galleys. It now carried the news
of the disaster to Athens (Xen. Hell. ii. 1, 28).
8 Castor and Pollux.
261
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
yeveaOai* Karrjve^Or) yap, &>9 77 Bo^a ra>v iroXXtav,
ef ovpavov TrapLpbeyeOrjs XlOos eh Alyb? 7TOTap,ov<;.
2 Kal BeUvvrai pev en vvv, aefiopevcov avrbv tcov
XeppovrjacTobv Xeyerai Be 'Avatjayopav irpoeiirelv
g>9 twi^ Kara rbv ovpavov evBehepevcov aaypuaTcov,
yevojievov rivb? oXLcrOrjparos rj o~d\ov, plijris
carat Kal 7Ttwo-£9 ez/09 diroppayevros' elvai Be Kal
tmv aarpcov eKaaTOV ovk ev y 7recpvKe X^PT
XcdcoBr) yap ovra Kal f3apea Xapuireiv p,ev avrepeicrei
Kal irepiKkdaei rov aWepos, eXKeaOai he virb /3ta?
a(j)Lyy6/jLeva BCvrj Kal tovco tt}9 7repuf)opa<;, G09 ttov
Kal to TTpwrov eKparTjOrj fjiTj ireaelv Bevpo, T<t)V
yjrvxpcov Kal fiapecov diroKpivopevoav rov Travros.
3 "Earc Si Tt9 Tridavcorepa Soga ravrr)^, elprjKOTCov
ivLcov ct>9 oi SiaTTOvres darepe^ ov pvcns elalv ovB'
iirivep^rjac^ aldepiov irvpbs ev depi Karacr/3evvvpevov
irepl Tr)V e^atyiv avrrjv, ovBe depos eh rrjv avw
X<&P av 7r\rj0ei XvOevro? eKTrprjcris Kal dvdcpXegis,
piyjn? Be Kal 7ttcoctj9 ovpavicov aapdrcov olov
evBoaei nvl tovov Kal irepiTpoirov 1 Kcvrjaeco^
eKiraXwv (f>epopevcov ov 777)09 rov oiKovpevov roirov
T779 7*79, dXXd to)v irXeiaTcov 6/CT09 eh ttjv
pbeydXrjv eKTrcTrrovrcov OdXarrav Bib Kal XavOd-
VOVGl.
4 Tg> B' 'Avatjayopa paprvpel Kal Aafyia^09 ev
rot? Uepl evcrefteLas, laropcjv oti irpb rov ireaelv
rbv XiOov e$' rjpepas e/3Sop,7]Kovra Kal irevre
avvex&S Kara rbv ovpavov ecopdro irvpivov aaypa
1 irepiTp6jrov the correction of Coraes: iraparp6itov (unusual).
262
LYSANDER, xn. 1-4
cording to the common belief, a stone of vast size had
fallen from heaven at Aegospotami, 1 and it is shown
to this day by the dwellers in the Chersonese, who
hold it in reverence. Anaxagoras is said to have pre-
dicted that if the heavenly bodies should be loosened
by some slip or shake, one of them might be torn
away, and might plunge and fall down to earth ; and
he said that none of the stars was in its original
position ; for being of stone, and heavy, their shining
light is caused by friction with the revolving aether,
and they are forced along in fixed orbits by the
whirling impulse which gave them their circular
motion, and this was what prevented them from
falling to our earth in the first place, when cold
and heavy bodies were separated from universal
matter.
But there is a more plausible opinion than this,
and its advocates hold that shooting stars are not a
flow or emanation of aetherial fire, which the lower
air quenches at the very moment of its kindling,
nor are they an ignition and blazing up of a quantity
of lower air which has made its escape into the upper
regions ; but they are plunging and falling heavenly
bodies, carried out of their course by some relaxation
in the tension of their circular motion, and falling,
not upon the inhabited region of the earth, but for
the most part outside of it and into the great sea;
and this is the reason why they are not noticed.
But Dai'machus, in his treatise "On Religion,"
supports the view of Anaxagoras. He says that
before the stone fell, for seventy-five days continu-
ally, there was seen in the heavens a fiery body of
1 In 468-7 B.C., according to the Parian marble {ep. 57) and
Pliny, N.H. ii. 149 f.
263
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
irapLfieyeOes, coonrep vecpos (pXoyoeiBes, ov aypXa^ov,
dXXa TToXvirXofcovs /cal /ce/cXacrpevas <popd<; <f>epo-
pevov, cbo~re virb aaXov kcu irXdvqs diroppriyvv-
fieva Trvpoeihrj airdapLara <f>epeaOai iroXXaxov
/cal darpdiTTetv, wenrep ol Blclttovt€<; dare pes.
5 eirel Be evravOa t^9 7^5 eftpiae /cal iravadpevoi
$>6(3ov /cal 6dp(Sov<; ol eiriyoipioi avvrfkOov, wcpOr)
TTvphs [iev ovBev epyov ovb* Xyyos roaovro, 1 Xl6o<;
Be fcei/jbevos, aXXcos puev fieyas, ovOev Be pbipos, eo9
elirelv, e/celvrj<; rrjs irv poeuBovs Trepio'xfjS ^X (Jdv -
on p,ev ovv evyvwpiovcov 6 AatpLa%o<; d/cpoarcov
6 Beirai Bfj\6<z eariv el Be dXrjOrjs 6 Aoyo?, e^eXey^ei
Kara /cpdro? tou9 <pdo-/covra<; e/c twos d/cpa>pela<;
diroKOirelaav irvevpLaai, /cal ^dXacs irerpav, viro-
Xrjcpdelaav o° wcrirep ol arpoftiXoi, /cal (pepo/jLevrjv,
r) irpwTov eveBco/ce /cal BceXvOr] to ireptBivrjaav,
7 i/cpKpfjvai /cal Treaelv. el firj vrj Ala irvp pev tjv
6Vt&)9 to (paivopevov eirl ttoXXcis rjpepas, o~fieai<;
Be /cal (f)0opd p,era/3oXr)v depi irapea^ev eh irvev-
/jLara ftiaioiepa /cal /civ)]0~ei<;, v$> wv aweTvye ical
tov XlOov e/cpicj)7]vaL. ravra puev ovv erepw yevei
ypa(pf}<; BtaKpi^coreov.
XIII. 'O Be AvaavBpos, eirel ra>v Tpio-^iXlcov
'A0i]val(ov, 01)9 eXaftev alx/.iaXcorovs, virb rcov
avveBpcov Odvaros /careyvcoaro, tcaXeaas QcXo/cXea
tov CTpaT7]ybv avTCOv r/pcor^aev rlva ripLarai
Bl/crjv eavrw roiavra irepl ^KXXtjvwv o-vp,/3e/3ov-
1 Toaovro Coraes and Bekker adopt Reiske's correction to
TocrevTov.
1 See chapter ix. 5. According to Xenophon (Hell. ii. 1, 31 f. ),
however, the Athenians had passed a decree that, if
victorious in the sea-fight, they would cut off the right hand
264
LYSANDER, xn. 4 -xin. i
vast size, as if it had been a flaming cloud, not resting
in one place, but moving along with intricate and
irregular motions, so that fiery fragments, broken
from it by its plunging and erratic course, were
carried in all directions and flashed fire, just as shoot-
ing stars do. But when it had fallen in that part of
the earth, and the inhabitants, after recovering from
their fear and amazement, were assembled about it,
no action of fire was seen, nor even so much as a
trace thereof, but a stone lying there, of large size,
it is true, but one which bore almost no proportion
at all to the fiery mass seen in the heavens. Well,
then, that Daimachus must needs have indulgent
readers, is clear ; but if his story is true, he refutes
utterly those who affirm that a rock, which winds
and tempests had torn from some mountain top, was
caught up and borne along like a spinning top, and
that at the point where the whirling impetus given
to it first relaxed and ceased, there it plunged and
fell. Unless, indeed, what was seen in the heavens
for many days was really fire, the quenching and
extinction of which produced a change in the air
resulting in unusually violent winds and agitations,
and these brought about the plunge of the stone.
However, the minute discussion of this subject
belongs to another kind of writing.
XIII. Lysander, after the three thousand Athenians
whom he had taken prisoners had been condemned
to death by the special council of allies, calling
Philocles, their general, asked him what punishment
he thought should be visited upon him for having given
his fellow-citizens such counsel regarding Greeks. 1
of every prisoner ; and the crime of Philocles was that he had
ordered the crews of two captured triremes to be thrown over
a precipice.
265
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
2 Xevfco)? roh TToXijais. 6 Se ovBev ri irpbs rrjv
<rv/JL(f)Opav eVSou? etceXevo-e firj /carrjyopelv wv
ovSeh ecrri hucacrTrjSy dXXa vi/ccovra irpdrreiv
direp av vt/crjOeh eiraa^ev elra Xovad/ievo^ teal
Xaftoov , )(\avi§a Xaparpav irp6oro<; eirl rrjv a^ayrjv
rjyelro roh iroXirais, go? laropel ®e6(j>paaro^. e/c
8k rovrov irXewv 6 AvaavSpo? iirl Tfl? 7roXet?
'A07]vaL(DV fiev oh emrvypi i/ceXeve irdvras eh
'AOrjvas drnevar fyeiaeaOai yap ovBevos, aXX'
3 diroarfyd^eiv bv av e%(0 Xdfty t% 7ro\e&)?. ravra
8* eirparre /cal avvijXavvev airavras eh to aarv
{3ovX6/jl€vos ev rfj iroXei rayy Xt/ibv layvpbv
yeveaOai teal Girdviv, oVe-)? jjlt] irpdypara irapd-
ayoiev avrw rrjv rroXiopKiav eviropco^ VTro/ievovre^.
/caraXvcov Se tou? BrjpLovs /ca\ rd<; aXXas TroXireias,
eva jxev dp/jiocrrr)v eKdarrj Aa/ceSaifioviov /careXiire,
8e/ca Be dpypvras e/c rcov vtt avrov avy/ce/cporrj-
4 fievcov Kara iroXiv eraipeiwv. teal ravra rrpdr-
ro)v 6/ioCco? ev re rah rroXepiai? real rah o~vp,-
fid^oi^ yey evrj p,evai<$ iroXecri, rrapeirXei o~)(,oXaico<;,
rpbrrov rivd /caracr/ceva^6fJLevo<$ eavrcb rrjv r?}?
'RXXdSos rjye/jLoviav. ovre yap dpiariv&rjv ovre
irXovrivSrjv direheiKwe rov$ apyovras, dXX* erai-
peiai? ko\ %eviai<$ yapi^ofxevo^ rd Trpdyfiara real
tcvpiovs TTOiwv ripfjs re tcai /coXdcrecos, woXXah
Be irapaytvopbevos avrbs afyayah teal crvve/cfidX-
Xcov rov$ rcov fyiXwv e^Opovs, ov/c iniet/ch e8i8ov
roh "FjXXrjai Sely/xa rrjs Aa/ceSaifiovicov dp^r}?,
266
LYSANDER, xin. 2-4
But he, not one whit softened by his misfortunes,
bade him not play the prosecutor in a case where
there was no judge, but to inflict, as victor, the
punishment he would have suffered if vanquished.
Then, after bathing and putting on a rich robe, he
went first to the slaughter and showed his country-
men the way, as Theophrastus writes. After this,
Lysander sailed to the various cities, and ordered
all the Athenians whom he met to go back to Athens,
for he would spare none, he said, but would slaughter
any whom he caught outside the city. He took this
course, and drove them all into the city together,
because he wished that scarcity of food and a mighty
famine should speedily afflict the city, in order that
they might not hinder him by holding out against his
siege with plenty of provisions. He also suppressed
the democratic, and the other forms of government,
and left one Lacedaemonian harmost l in each city,
and ten rulers chosen from the political clubs which
he had organized throughout the cities. This he did
alike in the cities which had been hostile, and in
those which had become his allies, and sailed along
in leisurely fashion, in a manner establishing for him-
self the supremacy over Hellas. For in his appoint-
ments of the rulers he had regard neither to birth
nor wealth, but put control of affairs into the hands
of his comrades and partisans, and made them masters
of rewards and punishments. He also took part him-
self in many massacres, and assisted in driving out
the enemies of his friends. Thus he gave the Greeks
no worthy specimen of Lacedaemonian rule, nay,
1 The specific name for the governor whom the Lace-
daemonians sent out to the islands and cities of Greece during
their supremacy.
267
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
5 dXXa /cal 6 /cco/M/cbs ®eo7ro/r7ro9 eoi/ce Xrjpelv
(nreiKa^wv tovs AaKehaiiioviovs rah KairrfkiGiv^
on tovs "FXXrjvas 7]Bkttov ttotov t% eXevdepias
y€vo~avTe<; ofo9 eve^eav evOvs yap rjv to yevp.a
$vo~X€pe<; /cal iri/cpov, ovre tol»? BiJjulovs /cvplovs
rcov Trpay/jbdrcov iwvTOs elvcu rov AvadvBpov, ical
rcov oXiyoov tois OpacrvrdroLS /cal fyiXoveucoTdrois
ra? TroXeis iyx ei P^ 0PT0< >-
XIV. Aiarpityas Be irepl ravra j^povov ov
iroXvv, /cal TrpoTrefiyjras eh Aa/ceBai/xova tou?
dirayyeXovvras otl irpoairXel /nera veoiv Bta/coo-icov,
avvejJUL^e irepl ^Arri/crjv "AyiBt, /cal Uavcravia roh
ftacnXevaiv a>9 Ta^v avvaiprjawv ttjv ttoXiv. eirel
Be avTelyov ol 'AOrjvacoi, Xaficov ra? vavs irdXtv
eh 'A.aiav Bteirepaae' /cal tcov fiev aXXwv 7roXecov
o/iaXco? diraaoop icareXve ra<; TroXireias ical /cad-
io~rr) Be/caBapxias, ttoXXwv fiev ev e/cdo-Ty a^arro-
fievayv, ttoXXcov Be (pevyovroov, ^.afiiov^ Be iravra^
eK^aXaiV irapeBco/ce roh (pvydcri t&9 7ro\et9.
2 "^rjarbv £' 'AOrjvalcov eypvTwv dfyeXopievo*; ov/c
elaaev ol/ceov %7]cttlov<;, dXXa roh yevofievois vii
ai)T(p icvftepvr)Tai<s ical /ceXevarah eBco/ce ttjv
ttoXiv /cal ttjv %(i)pav ve/xeadaL. irpbs o /cal wpcorov
dvre/cpovcrav ol Aa/ceBaifiovioi /cal rovs 2?7<7Ttou9
3 audi? eirl rrjv ^copav /cartfyayov. a\X* i/ceivd ye
rov AvcdvBpov iravTes rjBe(t)<i ecopcov ol "EXXrjves, 441
AlyivrjTas re Bia 7roXXov ^pbvov ttjv avrcov iroXiv
268
LYSANDER, xm. 5-xiv. 3
even the comic poet Theopompus was thought ab-
surd in likening the Lacedaemonians to tavern-
women, because they gave the Greeks a very pleasant
sip of freedom, and then dashed the wine with
vinegar ; for from the very first the taste was harsh
and bitter, since Lysander not only would not suffer
the people to be masters of their affairs, but actually
put the cities into the hands of the boldest and most
contentious of the oligarchs.
XIV. After he had spent some little time in this
business, and had sent messengers to Lacedaemon to
report that he was sailing up with two hundred ships,
he made a junction in Attica with the forces of Agis
and Pausanias, the kings, believing that he would
speedily capture the city. 1 But since the Athenians
held out against them, he took his ships and crossed
again to Asia. Here he suppressed the governments
of all the remaining cities in like manner, and set up
decadarchies, many citizens being slain in each city,
and many banished ; he also drove out all the Samians,
and handed their cities over to the men whom they
had banished. 2 Moreover, when he had taken Sestos
out of the hands of the Athenians, he would not
permit the Sestians to dwell there, but gave the city
and its territory to be divided among men who had
been pilots and boatswains under him. And this was
the first step of his which was resisted by the Lace-
daemonians, who restored the Sestians again to their
country. But there were other measures of Lysander
upon which all the Greeks looked with pleasure, when,
for instance, the Aeginetans, after a long time, 3 re-
1 Cf. Xen. Hell. ii. 2, 5-9.
2 This was after the fall of Athens (Xen. Hell. ii. 3, 6 f.).
8 They had been expelled by the Athenians in 431 B.C.
269
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
a7ro\a/jLJ3dvoPTa<; /cal M^A-tou? /cal X/cicovaiov? vir
avrou GWoiKi^oyukvovs, e^eXavvofievcov ' 'AOrjvalcov
/cal rds 7roXet9 diroBiBovTwv.
"HS7 Be /cat tovs ev acrrei /ca/ca><; e^eiv virb
Xi/jlov 7rvv0av6fAevo<; /careirXevaev et? tov Ueipaid
/cal TrapeaTTjcraTO ttjv ttoXiv, dvay/caaOelaav e<£'
ot? i/celvos e/ceXeve iroLrjaaaOai rd? BtaXvo-eis.
4 icaiTOi Aa/ceBai/jiovicov iarlv d/covcrat, Xeyovrwv co?
AvaavBpos /xev eypatye tol<; i(f)6pot<; rdSe' " ' AXco-
KavTi ral *Adavai" AvadvBpw 6" dvreypayfrav
oi ecpopoi' " 'Ap/cel to ye eaXooKeiv" dXX'
evirpeireias %dpiv ovto? 6 Xoyos ireirXao-Tai.
to 8* dXrjOivbv Boypua rebv icpopcov ovrcos el^e-
M TdBe ra reXr) tu>v Aa/ceBaipbovicov eyvco- /ca/3-
ftaXovres tov TLeipaia /cal ra pua/cpd o-fceXrj,
/cal ifc/3dvre<; i/c iracroiv twv iroXecov rdv avrcbv
ydv e^ovTes, ravrd tea Bpcovre? rdv elpdvav
e^oire, al xprfSoire, /cal tov? fyvydBas dvivres.
5 7repl rdv vacbv tco 7rXrj0eos, b/colbv rl /ca rrjvel
Bo/cerj, ravra Troieere" ravrr)v Be irpoaeBe^avro
ttjv o~/cvrdXr}v ol ' * AQr)valoi ®r)pa/j,evov<; rod
" Ay veovos o~vp,/3ovXevo~avTO<;' ore /cai <f>acriv vnrb
twv vecov Tivb<z SrjfAayoyyoov K.XeopLevovs ipcord)-
fievov el ToXpua ravavrla ®epuio~TO/cXeZ irpdrreiv
/cal Xeyecv, irapaBiBovs ra reuxv T ot? Aa/ceBac-
fjLOViois, a Aa/ceBatfJLovCcov d/covrcov e/ceZvos dv-
6 earrjaev, elireZv " 'AA-V ovSev, w /jbeipd/ciov, vire-
vavriov eyeb irpdrTW ^epnaro/cXeZ' ra yap aura
reixv fcd/celvo<z eirl acoTrjpla t&v iroXncov dv-
270
LYSANDER, xiv. 3-6
ceived back their own city, and when the Melians 1
and Scionaeans 2 were restored to their homes by
him, after the Athenians had been driven out and
had delivered back the cities.
And now, when he learned that the people ot
Athens were in a wretched plight from famine, he
sailed into the Piraeus, and reduced the city, which
was compelled to make terms on the basis of his
commands. It is true one hears it said by Lacedae-
monians that Lysander wrote to the ephors thus :
"Athens is taken"; and that the ephors wrote back
to Lysander: "'Taken' were enough"; but this
story was invented for its neatness' sake. 3 The actual
decree of the ephors ran thus : " This is what the
Lacedaemonian authorities have decided : tear down
the Piraeus and the long walls ; quit all the cities
and keep to your own land ; if you do these things,
and restore your exiles, you shall have peace, if you
want it. As regards the number of your ships, what-
soever shall be decided there, this do." 4 This edict
was accepted by the Athenians, on the advice of
Theramenes the son of Hagnon, who, they say, being
asked at this time by Cleomenes, one of the young
orators, if he dared to act and speak the contrary to
Themistocles, by surrendering those walls to the
Lacedaemonians which that statesman had erected
in defiance of the Lacedaemonians, replied : " But
I am doing nothing, young man, that is contrary to
Themistocles ; for the same walls which he erected
1 The island and city of Melos were captured and depopu-
lated by the Athenians in the winter of 416-415 B.C.
2 The city of Scione, on the Chalcidic peninsula, was
captured and depopulated by the Athenians in 421 B.C.
3 To illustrate the Spartan passion for brevity of speech.
4 Cf. Xen. Hell. ii. 2, 20.
271
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
earrjae teal r)p,el<$ iirl acorrjpla tearaj3aXovpL€v.
el Be ra reLXV t^? troXecs evBaifiovas iiroiei,
iracroiv eBei rrpdrreiv ica/ciara rrjv XirdpTijv
CLTelyj,GTOV OIKTCLV.
XV. 'O S' ovv AvaavBpos, co? TrapeXa/Se Ta9
re vavs dirdaas ttXtjv BcoBe/ca teal rd rei^V T & v
'AOrjvaiwv, e/crr} iirl Betedrrj Movvv^lcovos /jltjvos,
iv fj KaX rrjv iv XaXafiLVL vavp,ayiav ivl/ewv tov
fidp(3apov t iftovXevaev ev6v<; KaX rrjv TroXireiav
2 /jLeraarrjcraL. BvaireiOoi^ Be teal T/oa^eco? (pepov-
tcov, diroareiXas 7T/?09 toi> Brj/iov e(j)7] ttjv ttoXlv
elXrjfyevai irapaairovBovaav ecrrdvai, yap ra
Teixn f&v rj/jbepwv iv ah eBeo tcaOrjpqadat Trapw-
^rjfiivcov. erepav ovv ef upXV? Trpodrjcreiv yvco-
firrv irepl avrcov &)9 t<z? opoXoyias XeXv/eoreov.
evioi Be teal TrporeOfjvaL (f/aaiv &>9 dXr)6a)<; virep
dvBpairoBiapLOv yvcopurjv iv tols GvpLpudyois, ore
KaX rbv Srjflalov 'EplavOov elarjyrjaaaOat rb
pev cio~tv Karaa/cd-ty-ai, t?/z> Be X ( * ) P ap dvelvai
3 p,r)X6(3oTOV. elra pLevroo avvovalas yevop,evrj$
tcov r)yep,6v(ov irapd ttotov, teal 1 rivos <&coteew<>
aaavros i/c rr}9 T&vpnriBov ' HXe/cr pas ttjv irdpoBov
n* v apxv
* Ay a pbepuvovos go teopa,
Y)\v6ov, 'HXercTpa, irorl adv dyporeipav avXdv,
Trdvras i7rtteXao~0r]vai, teal <j>avf}vat, <t^6tX,£0^
epyov rr)v ovtcos evteXed ical toiovtovs avBpas
fyepovaav dveXelv zeal BiepydaaaOai ttoXlv.
4 'O o' ovv AvaavBpos ivBovrcov reov 'AOrjvalcov
1 7ropa ttStov Kai Bekker follows Coraes in transposing to
kclI irapa tt6tov.
272
LYSANDER, xiv. 6-xv. 4
for the safety of the citizens, we shall tear down for
their safety. And if walls made cities prosperous,
then Sparta must be in the worst plight of all, since
she has none."
XV. Lysander, accordingly, when he had taken
possession of all the ships of the Athenians except
twelve, and of their walls, on the sixteenth day of
the month Munychion, the same on which they con-
quered the Barbarian in the sea-fight at Salamis, took
measures at once to change their form of government.
And when the Athenians opposed him bitterly in
this, he sent word to the people that he had caught
the city violating the terms of its surrender ; for its
walls were still standing, although the days were past
within which they should have been pulled down ;
he should therefore present their case anew for the
decision of the authorities, since they had broken
their agreements. And some say that in very truth
a proposition to sell the Athenians into slavery was
actually made in the assembly of the allies, and that
at this time Erianthus the Theban also made a motion
that the city be razed to the ground, and the country
about it left for sheep to graze. Afterwards, how-
ever, when the leaders were gathered at a banquet,
and a certain Phocian sang the first chorus in the
"Electra" of Euripides, 1 which begins with
" O thou daughter of Agamemnon,
I am come, Electra, to thy rustic court/*
all were moved to compassion, and felt it to be a
cruel deed to abolish and destroy a city which was so
famous, and produced such poets.
So then, after the Athenians had yielded in all
1 Verses 167 f. (Kirchhoff).
273
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
777309 airavra, iroXXas fiev ef acTeo? /AeTa7re/n/ra-
fjuevos avXrjTpiBas, irdcras Be ra9 iv tco (rrparo-
TreBco crvvayaycov, ra rei^V Karea/ca7rT€ kcu Ta?
rpnjpeis KaTecpXeye 777)09 tov avXov, icrTecfyavco-
fievcov feal irai^ovTcov a /ml tcov crupbixd^cov, cos
ifceivrjv ttjv rjfiepav apypvaav Trjs iXevOepias.
5 evOvs Be /cal ra irepl ttjv iroXiTeiav i/CLvrjcre,
Tpicucovra [lev iv a<TT€i, Sefca Be iv Ueipatel
KaTacrTrjGas ap'XpvTas, ififtaXcov Be (ppovpav els
ttjv atcpoiroXiv, /cal KaXXifiiov apfioarrfv, dvBpa
^TrapridrTjv, iiriGTiqcras. iireX Be ovtos Auto-
Xvkov tov dOXrjrijv, ifi co to av/LLTTocriov 6 aevo-
cfycov 7re7T0L7)Ke t rrjv ftafcrrjpiav Biapdfievos iraiaeiv
e/xeXXev, 6 Be tcov cr/ceXcov avvapd/xevos dverpe^frev
avTov, ov avvrjyavd/CTrjcrev 6 AvaavBpos, dXXd
/cal crvve7reTip,r)cre, 1 cptfcras avrbv ovk eTriaracrOaL 442
eXevOepcov dp^euv. dXXd tov fiev AvtoXvkov
01 TpidtcovTci tco YLaXXifilco ^api^ofxevoi, yuKpbv
vcTepov dvelXov.
XVI. r O Be AvcravBpos dirb tovtcov yevo/ievos,
avTos fiev eVt SpaKrjs itjeirXevcre, tcov Be XPV~
fiaTcov tci irepiovTa kcu oaas Bcopeds avTos rj
<TTe(f)dvov$ iBe^aTO, ttoXXcov, cos el/cos, BlBovtcov
dvBpl BvvaTcoTaTCp kcu Tpoirov Tivd Kvpico r%
EXXdBos, direcTTeiXev els AaKeBaifiova Bid Tv-
X'nrirov tov cTTpaTrjyrjcravTos irepl ^tfceXtav. 6
Be, C09 XeyeTai, Tas pacftds tcov dyyeicov tcaTcoOev
1 avi'eirtTiy.ricre Bekker adopts Reiske's correction to literl-
1 Cf. Xen. Hell. ii. 2, 23.
2 The scene of the " Symposium " is laid at the house of
274
LYSANDER, xv. 4 -xvi. i
points, Lysander sent for many flute-girls from the
city, and assembled all those who were already
in the camp, and then tore down the walls, and
burned up the triremes, to the sound of the flute,
while the allies crowned themselves with garlands
and made merry together, counting that day as the
beginning of their freedom. 1 Then, without delay,
he also made changes in the form of government,
establishing thirty rulers in the city and ten in
Piraeus. Further, he put a garrison into the acro-
polis, and made Callibius, a Spartan, its harmost.
He it was who once lifted his staff to smite Auto-
lycus, the athlete, whom Xenophon makes the chief
character in his " Symposium " ; 2 and when Auto-
lycus seized him by the legs and threw him down,
Lysander did not side with Callibius in his vexation,
but actually joined in censuring him, saying that he
did not understand how to govern freemen. But
the Thirty, to gratify Callibius, soon afterwards put
Autolycus to death.
XVI. Lysander, after settling these matters, sailed
for Thrace himself, but what remained of the public
moneys, together with all the gifts and crowns which
he had himself received, — many people, as was
natural, offering presents to a man who had the
greatest power, and who was, in a manner, master
of Hellas, — he sent off to Lacedaemon by Gylippus,
who had held command in Sicily. 3 But Gylippus,
as it is said, ripped open the sacks at the bottom,
Callias, to which Autolycus and his father have been invited,
together with Socrates and some of his friends.
• As Spartan general sent out to aid the Syracusans, he
had turned the success of the besieging Athenians into
disaster. See the Nicias, chapters xviii. ff.
275
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
dvaXvaa? koX dfyeXcbv dvyyhv dpyvpiov ef e/cd-
(Jtov irdXiv avveppa^rev, dyvor)o-a<s on ypa/ju-
fiariSiov ivrjv e/cdo~T(p tov dpiOfibv crrj/xalvov.
2 iXOwv Be eh ^TrdpTrjv a fiev v<f>r}pr)TO Karefcpv\jrev
virb top KepcLfjuov t?}? ol/CLas, ret Be dyyeca irape-
Bafce tols e(j)6pot$ tcai ra<; acfrpayiBas iireBei^ev.
€7rel Be dvoc^dvTcov real dpiO jjlovvtwv Bie^covei
7T/30? Ta ypd/ifiara to ttXtjOos tov dpyvpiov
teal irapel^e Toh icpopois diropiav to irpdyfia,
fypd^ei depdircov tov YvXi'mrov 7T/90? avTovs alvi-
gd/juevos viro tw Kepa/jUKO) KOiTa^eaOai iroXXcis
yXavicas. r)v yap, oj? eoiiee, to ^dpayfia tov
irXeicTTOV roVe vo/jllo-/j,cito<; Bed toj;? 'A^^i^atof?
yXav/ces.
XVII. 'O fJL€V OVV YvXlTTTTO*; alcF)(pOV OVTG)
/ecu dyevves epyov eirl XafXTTpoh -rot? efjarpoadev
kcu iieydXoi? epyaadjuevo^ /leTeaTTfaev eavTov
etc Aa/ceBai/Liovos. oi Be (frpovifiooTCiToi Toyv^irap-
TICLTCOV 0V% TjKLO-Ta fCCll Bid TOVTO T7)V TOV V0JJL10--
fjLCtTOS la"xyv <fiof3r)6evT€<;, a>9 o£%l T(ov tv^ovtcov
aTTTOfJLevrjv 7ToXlt(ov, tov t€ AvcravBpov iXoiBopovv
real BiefiapTvpavTO Toh i(p6pot<; dTToBioiroinreZ-
aQai irdv to dpyvpiov teal to y^pvaiov wairep
fcrjpas eiraycoyifjiov^. ol Be TrpovOeaav yvcofirjv.
2 /cat ®607ro/A7ro? fiev (prjat, ^tcipacfriBav, "Ecpopo?
Be QXoylBav elvcti tov diro^>r]vdpievov a>? ov
%pr) Trpoo-BexeaOcu vofiia/jia y^pvaovv xal dpyv-
povv eh ttjv iroXiv, dXXa %pr}o~6ai to> iraTplw.
tovto Be rjv acBrjpovv, TrpcoTOV fiev o£ei kcltci-
^aiTTOfievov e/c irvpos, oVoj? fir) KctTaycCkKevoiTO,
cCKkd Bid Tr)v ftcKprjv doTOfiov real dBpaves ylvoiTO,
eireiTa (SapvcrTaO fiov kcu Bvo-irapaKOfuaTov kcu
276
LYSANDER, xvi. i-xvii. 2
and after taking a large amount of silver from each,
sewed them up again, not knowing that there was a
writing in each indicating the sum it held. And
when he came to Sparta, he hid what he had stolen
under the tiles of his house, but delivered the sacks
to the ephors, and showed the seals upon them.
When, however, the ephors opened the sacks and
counted the money, its amount did not agree with
the written lists, and the thing perplexed them, until
a servant of Gylippus made the truth known to them
by his riddle of many owls sleeping under the tiling.
For most of the coinage of the time, as it seems,
bore the effigy of an owl, owing to the supremacy of
Athens.
XVII. Gylippus, then, after adding a deed so dis-
graceful and ignoble as this to his previous great and
brilliant achievements, removed himself from Lace-
daemon. And the wisest of the Spartans, being led
by this instance in particular to fear the power of
money, which they said was corrupting influential
as well as ordinary citizens, reproached Lysander,
and fervently besought the ephors to purify the
city of all the silver and the gold, as imported
curses. The ephors deliberated on the matter.
And it was Sciraphidas, according to Theopompus, or
Phlogidas, according to Ephorus, who declared that
they ought not to receive gold and silver coinage
into the city, but to use that of the country. Now
this was of iron, and was dipped in vinegar as soon
as it came from the fire, that it might not be worked
over, but be made brittle and intractable by the dip-
ping. 1 Besides, it was very heavy and troublesome
1 Cf. Lycuryus, ix. 2.
VOL. IV. K 277
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
0L7T0 7ToXXoV TIVOS 7rXr}6oV<S teal OJKOV jALfCp&V
3 Tiva dgiav Bvvdpevov. KivBvvevet Be teal to
irdpirav dpyaiov ovtcos e^eiv, ojSeXiateoK; XP W ~
pevcov voplo-fxaai x atB^pol^;, eviwv Be xclXkoZs' defy
up irapapivei ttXtjOo? §ti teal vvv twv teeppaTcov
ofioXovs teaXelaOat, Bpa^prjv Be tou? eg o/3o\ou?*
Toaovrcov yap rj %et/o TrepteBpaTTeTO.
4 Twv Be AvadvBpov cpiXcov virevavTiovpevcov
teal airovBaadvTcov ev rfj iroXei tearapelvai ra
XprfpaTa, Brjpoala puev eBogev eladyeaOai vopbtapba
tolovtov, dv he tis dX<p teeteTrjpevo? IBia, ^rjplav
copicrav Odvarov, oyairep tov Avteovpyov to
vbpiapa (po/3r]6evTO<z i ov tt)V iirl tu> vopicrp,aTi
(piXapyvpiav, rjv ovie d^rjpei to pur) KetcrrjaOai
tov IBl(ott}v, co? to KeKTrjcrOai ttjv ttoXlv elae-
iroielTO, 2 t?}? xpeias dgiav irpoaXapfiavovaris teal
5 ^rjXov. ov yap rjv Brjpoala Tipuoopevov opwvTa?
IBia teaTacppovetv &)? dxptfaTOV, teal 7T/90? tcl
olteela vopi^eiv etedaTfp prjBevos dgiov 7rpayp,a to
KOivfj ovtcos evBotcipovv /cal dyairoopevov, dWd
/cal iroXXq* Tayiov diro twv teoivwv eTrLTrjBevpaTcov
eiTLppeovavv oi eOiapLol tols ISmdtikoI? /3tot? rj tcl
Kaff e/caaTOV oXiaOrjpaTa teal irddr] t<z? 7ro\ej?
6 dva7TLp7r\r)cri, irpaypaTwv irovrjpSiv. tw yap oXoy
avvSiaaTpeepeaOai to, p>epr) paXXov, bWav evBa>
7r/)o? to yelpov, eiteos, at Be diro pepovs els oXov
dpapTiai 7roXXa<; evo-Taaeis teal ftorjOcLas diro
tcov vyiaivovTwv eyovcriv. oi Be Tat? /xev olteiais
tcov ttoXltoov, 6V go? ov Tcdpeio~iv eh avTas vopicr- 44
pa, tov (f>6/3ov eirecTTriaav cfrvXatea teal tov vbpov,
1 vofiiff/jLcuri Bekker corrects to vo^tV^art.
2 claenoie'iTo Bekker adopts Coraes' correction to elffenoUi.
278
LYSANDER, xvn. 2-6
to carry, and a great quantity and weight of it had
but little value. Probably, too, all the ancient money
was of this sort, some peoples using iron spits for
coins, and some bronze ; whence it comes that even
to this day many small pieces of money retain the
name of "oboli," or spits, and six "oboli" make a
" drachma," or handful, since that was as many as
the hand could grasp.
But since Lysander's friends opposed this measure,
and insisted that the money remain in the city, it
was resolved that money of this sort could be intro-
duced for public use, but that if any private person
should be found in possession of it, he should be
punished with death ; just as though Lycurgus had
feared the coin, and not the covetousncss which the
coin produced. And this vice was not removed by
allowing no private person to possess money, so much
as it was encouraged by allowing the city to possess
money, its use thereby acquiring dignity and honour.
Surely it was not possible for those who saw money
publicly honoured, to despise it privately as of no
service ; or to consider as worthless for the indi-
vidual's private use that which was publicly held
in such repute and esteem. Moreover, it takes far
less time for public practices to affect the customs
of private life, than it does for individual lapses and
failings to corrupt entire cities. For it is natural
that the parts should rather be perverted along with
the whole, when that deteriorates ; but the diseases
which flow from a part into the whole find many
correctives and aids in the parts which remain sound.
And so these magistrates merely set the fear of the
law to guard the houses of the citizens, that money
might have no entrance there, but did not keep their
279
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
avra? Be rds yjrvxas dve/cirXrffcrovs /cal drraOels
7T/309 dpyvptov ov Bierrjprjaav, e/jL/3a\6vre$ els
£V}\oi> &)? (T6/JLV0V 8rj rivos /cal /neydXou rod tt\ov-
relv airavTas. nrepl p,ev ovv rovrcov /cal Be erepas
ttov <ypacf)i)<; f)y\rdp,e6a Aa/ceBaipbovlwv.
XVIII. c Be AvaavBpo? earrjaev dirb rwv
\a,(f>vpcov ev AeA,<£ot? avrov xa\/cf)v el/cova /cal
ra>v vavdpy^cov eicdarov /cal ^pvaovs darepas
rcov Aioa/covpcov, ol irpo rS)v Aev/crpi/ccov rjepavi-
aOrjaav. ev Be ra> ISpaalBov /cal 'A/cavOlcov
Orjaavpro rpirjpr]<; e/ceiro Bid y^pvaov ireiroi7]jxe.v^
/cal e\e<pavTo<; Bvelv rnqyjhv, i)v KOpo? avrw vi/ci]-
2 rrjpiov eVe/x-v/rei/. 'Ava^avBpiBr]? Be 6 AeA.<£o?
laropel /cal 7rapa/cara0rj/cr)v ivravOa AvadvSpov
tceZadaL rdXavrov dpyvplov /cal puvas irevrr]Kovra
Bvo /cal irpb? tovtols evBe/ca ararrjpa^, oi>x 6/jlo-
\oyovp,eva ypdcficov rots rrepl t^? Trevia? rod
dvBpbs 6/.io\oyovp,evoi$. rore £' ovv 6 AvcravBpos
oaov ovBels rwv irpoaOev 'ILWijvcov BvvrjOels
iBo/cei (f>pov?]pari /cat oytcw p,el£ovL /cexpyo-0ai rrjs
3 Buvd/jiecos. TTpcorq) [iev yap, ft)? laropel Aovpis,
'EXkrjvwv i/c€LV(p ftcopLOvs at 7r6\et<; dvearrjaav 009
6eS) ical 6vaia<$ eOvaav, eU rrpcorov Be iraidves
fjadrjaav, 0)V evo$ dpyr\v drropLvrn-LOvevovai
roidvBe*
Tbv r E\\a£o? dyaQeas
arparaybv air evpv^opov
Srrdpras vpLvrjaopiev, &>,
Irj Uatdv.
4 ^dpioi Be rd rrap avrols 'Hpata AvadvBpeia
/caXelv e^rrjcplaavro. r<i)V Be ttoujtwv XotplXov
2S0
LYSANDER, xvn. 6-xvm. 4
spirits undaunted by the power of money and in
sensible to it ; they rather inspired them all with an
emulous desire for wealth as a great and noble object
of pursuit. On this point, however, we have censured
the Lacedaemonians in another treatise. 1
XVIII. Out of the spoils, Lysander set up at
Delphi bronze statues of himself and each of his
admirals, as well as golden stars of the Dioscuri,
which disappeared before the battle of Leuctra.' 2
And in the treasury of Brasidas and the Acanthians 3
there was stored a trireme two cubits long, made of
gold and ivory, which Cyrus sent Lysander as a prize
for his victory. Moreover, Anaxandrides the Delphian
writes that a deposit of Lysander's was also stored
there, consisting of a talent of silver, and fifty-two
minas, and eleven staters besides; a statement that
is inconsistent with the generally accepted accounts
of his poverty. At any rate, Lysander was at this
time more powerful than any Greek before him had
been, and was thought to cherish a pretentious pride
that was greater even than his power. For he was
the first Greek, as Duris writes, to whom the cities
erected altars and made sacrifices as to a god, the
first also to whom songs of triumph were sung. One
of these is handed down, and begins as follows : —
" The general of sacred Hellas
who came from wide-spaced Sparta
will we sing, O ! io ! Paean."
The Samians, too, voted that their festival of Hera
should be called Lysandreia. And the poet Choe-
1 Inst. Lacon. 42 (Morals, p. 239 f.).
2 An omen of the defeat of the Spartans in that battle
(371 B.C.). 3 Cf. chapter L 1.
281
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
pev del irepl avrov elyev &>? Koapbt] aovr a tcls
7rpd^6L<; 8ia 7T017]tlkP]<;, ' AvrtXo^w 8e iroirjaavrt
pLerpiovs rivas et? avrov crriyovs rjaOek eSco/ce
7rXrjcra<; dpyvplov rbv ttlXov. ' * Avripbdypv 8e rov
KoXocf)coviov Kal Nifcrjpdrov nvbs 'HpaxXecorov
nroir)\xao~i Avo~dv8peia 8t,aycovicrapev(Dv eV avrov
rbv Ni/ajparov iare^dvcoo-ev, 6 8e 'Avr ipua^o^
5 a^Oeo-deis r)(f)dvLo-e rb iroir^pa. HXdrcov 8e veos
cav Tore, Kal 6avfid^(ov rbv ^ Avrip.a^ov eirl rrj
TroLrjrifcf}, ftapecos (pepovra ryv r)rrav dveXdpftave
Kal nrapejivOelro, rots dyvoovai icarcbv elvai cf>d-
p£V0<; rrjv dyvoiav, warrep rr)v rvcpXorrjra rols ptrj
(SXeirovcnv. eirel p,evrov 6 Kidap(p8bs * Apiarovovs
e£a/a? Uvdia vevitcrj/ccos eTrrjyyeXXero ra> Av-
advSpa) (f)iXo(j)povovfM€VO<;, av vlkyjo-t} rrdXiv,
Avo~dv8pov fcrjpvgeiv eavrbv, "*H 8ovXov" elirev.
XIX. 'A\V r) puev (j>iXori/jLLa rod Avadv8pov
rot? rrpQorois Kal laoripois r)v eVa^^? fiovov.
vTrepoyfrias 8e iroXXrjs dfia rfj <f)iXorip,La 8ia rovs
Oepairevovras iyyevopevrjs tw rjOei Kal fSapvrrjros,
ovre Ttfirj? ovre rificopias jnerpov rjv irap avrw
8r)p,oriKov, dXXa fyiXias pcev aOXa Kal £evLa<;
avvirevOvvot, 8vvaarelai rroXewv Kal rvpavvl8es
dve^eraaroi, 6vp,ov 8e pla 7rXi)pcoo~i<; diroXeadai
2 rbv direyfiopLevov ov8e yap (ftvyeiv i^fjv. dXXd
Kal MlXtjctlcov varepov rov<; rod 8rjp,ov rrpolara-
fxivovs 8e8i(io<; pur) (pvyaxri, Kal rrpoayayeiv tou?
KeKpvpLpevovs ftovXopLevos, copboae pbrj d8iKr]aeiv'
282
LYSANDER, xvm. 4-xix. 2
rilus was always kept in his retinue, to adorn his
achievements with verse; while with Antilochus,
who composed some verses in his honour, he was so
pleased that he filled his cap with silver and gave it
to him. And when Antimachus of Colophon and a
certain Niceratus of Heracleia competed with one
another at the Lysandreia in poems celebrating his
achievements, he awarded the crown to Niceratus,
and Antimachus, in vexation, suppressed his poem.
But Plato, who was then a young man, and admired
Antimachus for his poetry, tried to cheer and console
him in his chagrin at this defeat, telling him that it
is the ignorant who suffer from their ignorance, just
as the blind do from their blindness. However, when
Aristonoiis the harper, who had been six times victor
at the Pythian games, told Lysander in a patronizing
way that if he should be victorious again, he would
have himself proclaimed under Lysander's name,
"That is," Lysander replied, "as my slave?"
XIX. Now to the leading men, and to his equals,
the ambition of Lysander was annoying merely. But
since, owing to the court that was paid to him, great
haughtiness and severity crept into his character
along with his ambition, there was no such modera-
tion as would become a popular leader either in his
rewards or punishments, but the prizes he awarded
to his friends and allies were irresponsible lordships
over cities, and absolute sovereignties, while the sole
punishment that could satisfy his wrath was the
death of his enemy ; not even exile was allowed.
Nay, at a later time, fearing lest the active popular
leaders of Miletus should go into exile, and desiring
to bring from their retreats those also who were in
hiding, he made oath that he would do them no
283
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
7ri<TT€vaavTas Be kcu TrpoeXOovras diroG^d^ai
Tot? okvyapyiKois irapeBcoKev, ovte iXdrrovas
3 oktclkoglcov avvafuporepovs ovras. rjv Be kcu
roiv aWcov ev rat? irokeGi Btj^otlkcov (f>6vo<; ovk
api0{ir)T6s, are Br) pur) kclt IBias /jlovov atrlas
avrov ict6lvovto$, dWa 7To\Xat? fiev ex6pac<;,
TToXkal^ Be irXeove^lcus twv e/caaraxoOi <f>i\cov
yapt^opiivou ra rotavra kclI GvvepyovvTos. 66 ev
evSoKi/JLTjaev 'EreotfTu)? 6 AafceSaifiovios elirwv &)?
ovk av r) c EX\a? Bvo AvGavBpovs rjvey/ce. to Be
avrb tovto kcu irepl ' 'AX/ciftidBov (f>rjal Seo- 444
4 cfrpaGTOs elirelv ' ' Apx^rparov. aX)C e/cel fiev
vftpis t)v koX Tpv(f>r) gvv av6aBela to pbdXtGTa
BvG^e pcuvbpevov ttjv Be AvadvBpov Bvvapuv r)
tov Tpoirov ^aX.67TOT779 (j)OJ3epdv iiroiei kcu
fiapeZav.
Oi Be AafceBaifJiovioi Toh puev aXXois ov irdvv
irpoGeZyov tyKaXovGiv iirel Be <f>apvd/3a£o$ dBi-
KOVpLeVOS V7T CtVTOV T7]V ^copa-v djOVTOS kcu
fyepovTos aTrea-TeiXev ek ttjv ^irdpTrjv KaTrjyopovs,
dyavaKTijaavTes oi e(popoi tcov jxev ipi\a>v clvtov
kcu avo-TpaTrjycov eva ScopaKa \a/36vT€$ dpyvpiov
IBla K€KT7]/jLevov direKTetvav, eKeiva) Be gkvtoX^v
enrepuy^rav rjKeLV KeXevovTes.
5 "Egti Be rj crKVTaXr) tolovtov. eirdv eKirepL-
ttwgl vavapxpv rj GTpctTrjybv oi eipopoi, i;v\a Bvo
aTpoyyvXa /jltjkos kcu irdyp^ aKpiftws dinad>-
aavT€<;, (octt€ tclls TopaZ? e<j>appi6%eiv 7T/90? aWrjXa,
to puev avTol (pvXaTTOvat, OaTepov Be tg> 7rep,7ro-
p,eva> BiBoclgl. tclvtcl Be tcl i;vXa GKVTaXa?
6 kclXovglv. oTav ovv dir6pp))Tov ti kcu fieya
284
LYSANDER, xix. 2-6
harm ; but when the first put faith in him and the
second came forth, he delivered them all over to the
oligarchs for slaughter, being no less than eight
hundred of both classes. In the other cities also
untold numbers of the popular party were slain,
since he killed not only for his own private reasons,
but also gratified by his murders the hatred and
cupidity of his many friends everywhere, and shared
the bloody work with them. Wherefore Eteocles the
Lacedaemonian won great approval when he said
that Hellas could not have borne two Lysanders.
Now this same utterance was made by Archestratus
concerning Alcibiades also, 1 as Theophrastus tells us.
But in his case it was insolence, and wanton self-will,
that gave most offence ; whereas Lysander's power
was made dreadful and oppressive by the cruelty
of his disposition.
The Lacedaemonians paid little heed to the rest of
his accusers, but when Pharnabazus, who was out-
raged by Lysander's pillaging and wasting his terri-
tory, sent men to Sparta to denounce him, the ephors
were incensed, and when they found Thorax, one of
Lysander's friends and fellow-generals, with money
in his private possession, they put him to death, and
sent a dispatch-scroll to Lysander, ordering him
home.
The dispatch-scroll is of the following character.
When the ephors send out an admiral or a general,
they make two round pieces of wood exactly alike
in length and thickness, so that each corresponds to
the other in its dimensions, and keep one themselves,
while they give the other to their envoy. These pieces
of wood they call " scytalae." Whenever, then, they
1 Cf. Alcibiades, xvi. 5.
285
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
<f>paaai {3ov\r)0(O(ri, (BiftXiov axrirep Ifiavra
fia/cpbv Kal arevbv iroiovvTes TrepieXiTTOvai tt)v
Trap avTols a/cvraXrjv, ovBev BidXei/mpLa ttoiovvtcs,
aXXa TravTaybQev kvkXw rrjv iirMpdveiav avTrjs
tw /3j/3Aift> KaTa\ap,/3dvovT€<>. tovto Be ttoit)-
aavres a /3ov\ovtcu KaTaypdcpovaiv els to
ftiftXiov, coo-irep earl 777 a/cvrdXtj TrepiKeijxevov
orav Be ypdyjrcoaiv, dfyeXovTes to ftiBXiov dvev
tov %vXov 7T/009 tov gt paT7]ybv diroaTeXXovai.
7 Be^d/xevos Be ixeivo? aXXws fiev ovBev dvaXe^a-
o~6ai BvvaTai twv ypafifidroyv avvacfrrjv ovk eyov-
TCOVy dXXd Bieairaa jjuevwv, Ti]v Be Trap avrw
cr/cvrdXyv Xaftcov to t/jltj/jlo, tov ftiftXiov irepl
aVTTjV 7T€pL€T€lV€V, WCTT6, TTJS eXiKOS 6t? Ta%lV
6/uloloos drro/caOiaTa/jievrj^, eiriftaXXovTa Tot? irpoa-
tols rd Sevrepa, kvkXw ttjv o^lv eirdyeiv to
cvveyes dvevpiGKovaav. KaXetrat, Be o/movv/jLoos
tco %vX(p crtcvrdXr) to flifiXiov, go? tw pLSTpovvri
to fieTpovfievov.
XX. e Q Be AvcravBpos, eXOovcn^s ttjs aKVTaXrjs
irpbs avTOv els tov * RXXrjaTrovTov, BieTapd%6r),
teal pLaXio-Ta t<z? toO Qapvaftd^ov BeBiws kcltt)-
yop'ias, ecnrovBaaev els Xbyovs avTco o~vveX6elv,
go? Xvawv T7)V Biacfropdv. Kal crvveXOcov eBetTO
ypdyjrai irepl avTOV 7rpbs tol>? dpypvTas eTepav
eiriGToXr)v go? ovBev r)BiK7)p,evov ovB* iy/caXovvTa.
2 TTpbs K.pi)Ta Be a pa, to tov Xoyov, /cprjTt^cov
rjyvbei tov <t>apvd/3a£ov. vTroa^ofievos yap
airavTa Troirjaeiv, cpavepcos fiev eypa\jrev o'lav
Avaavdpos r)^iwaev eiuo-ToXriv, Kpixpa Be elx€v
eTepav avToQi yey pa \xp,evr)V. ev Be tw Ta? a<j)pa-
286
LYSANDER, xix. 6-xx. 2
wish to send some secret and important message,
they make a scroll of parchment long and narrow,
like a leathern strap, and wind it round their
" scytale," leaving no vacant space thereon, but
covering its surface all round with the parchment.
After doing this, they write what they wish on the
parchment, just as it lies wrapped about the
" scytale " ; and when they have written their
message, they take the parchment off, and send it,
without the piece of wood, to the commander. He,
when he has received it, cannot otherwise get any
meaning out of it, — since the letters have no con-
nection, but are disarranged, — unless he takes his
own " scytale " and winds the strip of parchment
about it, so that, when its spiral course is restored
perfectly, and that which follows is joined to that
which precedes, he reads around the staff, and so
discovers the continuity of the message. And the
parchment, like the staff, is called "scytale," as the
thing measured bears the name of the measure.
XX. But Lysander, when the dispatch-scroll
reached him at the Hellespont, was much disturbed,
and since he feared the denunciations of Pharnabazus
above all others, he hastened to hold a conference
with him, hoping to compose their quarrel. At this
conference he begged Pharnabazus to write another
letter about him to the magistrates, stating that he
had not been wronged at all, and had no complaints
to make. But in thus " playing the Cretan against a
Cretan," as the saying is, he misjudged his opponent.
For Pharnabazus, after promising to do all that he
desired, openly wrote such a letter as Lysander
demanded, but secretly kept another by him ready
written. And when it came to putting on the seals,
287
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
yiha? eirt^dXXetv evaXXdtjas ra piftXia fjurjhev
hicufiepovTa rrj otyei, hlhwaiv ifceivrjv avTop ttjv
3 k pvcf> a yey pafipevrjv. d^i/copLevos ovv 6 Avoavhpos
et'9 AaicehaipLOva zeal iropevOeis, cbcnrep e@o<; eo~Tiv,
6^9 to dpyelov, direhooKe rols e<f>6pOL<i ra ypd/n/jLara
tov <&apvaftd^ov, ireireiapLevo*; dvrjprjaOai to
/meyiarov avrov rcov eyfcXrj/jidTcov' rjycnrcno yap 6
<&apvd(3a^os vrrb rcov AcucehaLfjLovlwv, irpoOvpio-
t<xto? iv too TroXe/icp tcov /3aaiXe(o<; a r parrjy cov
4 yeyevrjfievos. iirel he dvayvbvTe^ oi e(popot ttjv
eTriaroXrjv ehet^av avrw, koX avvi)Kev co?
Ovfc ap 'Ohvaaevs ianv aip.vXo<; yu,oVo9,
Tore fiev la^vpo)^ Te0opvf3r)/j,evo<; dirrjXOev ^pikpai^
he okiyais vcrrepov ivTV^oov rots ap%ovaiv h'(f)r)
heiv avrbv el$ "Afifioovo? dvafirjvai fcal tw 6ew
5 Ovaai Ovaias a? ev^aro irpo tcov dyoovcov. evioi
pev ovv dXrjOoos <fyao~iv avTOj TroXiopKOvvTC tt)V tcov
A^viaicov ttoXiv iv ©pa/07 Kara, roil? virvovs
Trapaarrjvat tov "AfJLfiwva' hib kcl\ ttjv iroXiop-
tc'iav dcfoeus, a>9 tov Oeov TrpoardgavTos, iiceXevcre
tou? *A(j>uTalou<; "Afifjicovi Oveiv koX tov debv
iairovhaaev eh ttjv Aiftvqv iropevOels i^CXdaa-
6 gOcll. to£? he irXeio-TOL^ ihoicei Trpoa^rifxa ttol-
elaOai tov 6eov, aXXoos he tou9 icfiopovs hehoifcoos 445
feed tov otfcoL tyybv ov cpepcov ovh' viropuevoov ap-
yeadai irXdvris opeyeaOat teal TrepupoiTrjaecos
tivos, ooairep Xttttos iic vo/jur}? d<j)€TOv /cat XeLp.covo<$
civOls tjkcov eiTL (bdrvijV teal 777309 to avvrjOes epyov
288
LYSANDER, xx. 2-6
he exchanged the documents, which looked exactly
alike, and gave him the letter which had been secretly
written. Accordingly, when Lysander arrived at
Sparta and went, as the custom is, into the senate-
house, he gave the ephors the letter of Pharnahazus,
convinced that the greatest of the complaints against
him was thus removed ; for Pharnahazus was in high
favour with the Lacedaemonians, because he had
been, of all the King's generals, most ready to help
them in the war. But when the ephors, after
reading the letter, showed it to him, and he under-
stood that
"Odysseus, then, is not the only man of guile," *
for the time being he was mightily confounded and
went away. But a few days afterwards, on meeting the
magistrates, he said that he was obliged to go up to the
temple of Amnion 2 and sacrifice to the god the sacri-
fices which he had vowed before his battles. Now some
say that when he was besieging the city of Aphytae
in Thrace, Amnion really stood by him in his sleep ;
wherefore he raised the siege, declaring that the god
had commanded it, and ordered the Aphytaeans to
sacrifice to Ammon, and was eager to make a journey
into Libya and propitiate the god. But the majority
believed that he made the god a pretext, and really
feared the ephors, and was impatient of the yoke at
home, and unable to endure being under authority,
and therefore longed to wander and travel about
somewhat, like a horse which comes back from
unrestricted pasturage in the meadows to his stall,
and is put once more to his accustomed work.
1 An iambic trimeter of some unknown poet.
2 In an oasis of the great desert of Libya. Cf. Cimon,
xviii. 6 f.
289
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
av6i<s dyofievos. rjv /j,€V yap "Ecfropos t?J9 aTroBrj-
/jlicls ravTT}<; alriav dvaypdcjyei, fiera pu/epbv
d(j)r]yr)cro/j,a.i.
XXI. MoXt? Be zeal %a\e7r<w9 dcpeOrjvai Biairpa-
%djJL€VO<; V7T0 TCOV €CJ)6pCOV e^eirXevaev. ol Be
(Sao-ikels diroBrfiJLrjcravTOS avTov crvpcppovrjaavTe^
ort, Tat? ercupeiai*; t<z? ttoXcis Kare^cov Sid ttclvtos
dpyei zeal zevpios eari, t?}? 'EWaSo?, eirpaaaov
07ra)9 air o 8 co a overt Tot? BrjfAOTCUS rd Trpdy/iara
2 tov? ezceivov cpiXovs ifcj3aX6vT€<;. ov /uirjv aXXa
irdXiv 7T/309 ravra Kivrjfiaro^ yevofievov, zeal irpco-
tcov tcov diro <§>vXi)<; * AQr^vaLcov eiridefievcov Tot?
Tptd/covra zeal zepaTOvvTcov, eiraveXdcov hid 7Ct\erov
o Avo~av8po<; eireicre toi>? Aa/ceBcu/ioviovs Tat?
oXtyap^iai^ porjdelv /ecu tou9 Brjfiovs zeoXd^eiv.
zeal TTpcoTOis tch9 Tpid/coVTa irefiTrovaiv e/carbv
rdXavra irpbs tov iroXepiov /ecu GTpaTiqybv avrbv
3 AvaavBpov. ol Be ftacnXels cpOovovvre? zeal BeBib-
Te9 f^rj irdXiv eXrj Ta9 *A6r}va$, eyvcotrav e^ievai
tov erepov ai/Tcov. i^fjXde Be 6 Ylavtravias, Xoyco
fjuev virep tcov TVpdvvcov 67U tov Btj/jlov, epyep Be
/ecLTaXvcrcDV tov iroXefiov, 009 fify irdXiv 6 Av-
cravBpos Bid tcov cpiXcov zcvpios yevoiTO tcov 'AOtj-
vcov. tovto /nev ovv Bieirpd^aTO paBLcos' zeal toi)?
1 AOijvaious BiaXXdifas teal /eaTcnravcTa*; ttjv aTacriv
4 dcf)€iXeTO tov AvcrdvBpov ttjv cpiXoTi/jiiav. oXiyco
Be vaTepov dirocTTavTcov irdXiv tcov ' ' A0r\vaicov
auTO? tiev ahiav eXaBev, co? eyfcexaXivcop,evov ttj
oXiyap^ici tov Brjfiov dvels avOis e^vflpiaai zeal
290
LYSANDER, xx. 6-xxi. 4
Ephorus, it is true, assigns another reason for this
absence abroad, which I shall mention by and by. 1
XXI. After he had with great difficulty procured
his release by the ephors, he set sail. But the kings,
when he had gone abroad, became aware that by
means of the societies which he had formed, he had
the cities entirely in his power and was master of
Hellas ; they therefore took measures for deposing
his friends everywhere and restoring the management
of affairs to the people. However, fresh disturbances
broke out in connection with these changes, and
first of all the Athenians from Phyle attacked the
Thirty and overpowered them. Lysander therefore
came home in haste, and persuaded the Lacedae-
monians to aid the oligarchies and chastise the
democracies. Accordingly, they sent to the Thirty,
first of all, a hundred talents for the war, and
Lysander himself as general. But the kings were
jealous of him, and feared to let him capture
Athens a second time ; they therefore determined
that one of them should go out with the army.
And Pausanias did go out, ostensibly in behalf ot
the tyrants 2 against the people, but really to put a
stop to the war, in order that Lysander might not
again become master of Athens through the efforts
of his friends. This object, then, he easily accom-
plished, and by reconciling the Athenians and
putting a stop to their discord, he robbed Lysander
of his ambitious hopes. A short time afterwards,
however, when the Athenians revolted again, he
himself was censured for taking the curb of the
oligarchy out of the mouth of the people, and
letting them grow bold and insolent again ; while
1 Chapter xxv. 3. 2 That is, the Thirty in Athens.
291
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
OpaavvaaOai, ra> Be AvadvBpw irpoaeOrjicaTO
Sofjav dvBpb<; ov 7rpb<; erepcov %dpiv ovBe dearpi-
tfw?, dXXa 7rpo? to rfj %7rdprr] o-vpL(j)epov avOe-
«:acrTCt)? (TTpaTrjyovvTO*;.
XXII. *Hv Be real ra> Xoyra Opaavs teal /cara-
TrXrjKTlKOS TTpOS TOVS dvTLT€LVOVTCL<;. ' 'Apyelois fiev
yap d/jLcfaiXoyovfievois irepl 7779 opcov feed BtKaio-
T€pa rcov AatceBaipuoviayv olofjuevoi? Xeyeiv Bellas
tt]v jxd'xeapaV) " f O TauTT/?," etyr], " fcparwv @e\-
Tiara irepl 777? opcov BiaXeyerai." M.eyapeco<; Be
dvBpbs ev Tivi avXXoyro irapprjaia ^p-qaapuevov
7T/)o? avroVy " Ol Xoyoi <tov" elireVy " &> f eve,
2 7roXeco? Beovrai." toi>? Be Bojwtou? eiraid^orepi-
foz^Ta? r/pGora irorepov opOols Tot? Bopaaiv r)
Ke/cXipLevois BiaTropevrjrac rrjv yo&pav avrwv. eirel
Be rcov KopLvdicov d(f>€o-T(OT(ov izapepyop.evo^ 73730?
rd T61XH tou? AaKeBaipoviovs ecopa TTpoaftdXXeiv
o/cvovvras, Kai Xaydy? T£? o7)(j)9r) BiaTrrjBwv rrjv
rd(j)pov, " Ov/c aiayyveo-Qe" e^rj, " tolovtovs
<f>o(3ovpevoi TroXepLLovs, wv ol Xayojol 81 dpyiav
roc? rei^eaiv eyica6ev8ovo~iv ; "
3 'E7rel Be *A7i? 6 j3aaiXev<; ereXevrrjcrev dBeX-
<f)bv piev * Ay r)aiXaov KCLTaXnroov, vlbv Be vopbi^opbe-
vov AeoirvyiBav, epaarrjs rod 'AyrjcriXdov yeyo-
vo)<; 6 AvcravBpos eireiaev avrbv avTiXapb^dveaOac
tt}? ftaaiXeias &)? ^pa/cXelBrjv ovra yvrjacov. 6
yap AeobTW)(i8a<; BiaftoXrjv ei^ev el; ' AXtciftidBov
yeyovevai, crvvovros fcpv<fia rfj "A7/S09 yvvaiici
TipLaia, Ka9^ ov ^povov cfrevycov ev Sirdprr) Bie-
4 rpt/Sev. 6 Be ^7^9, w? (jyaaL, y^povov Xoyiafiro to
TTpdypua avveXa)v, co? ov Kvrjaetev ef avrov, iraprj-
192
LYSANDER, xxi. 4 -xxn. 4
Lysander won fresh repute as a man who exercised
his command in downright fashion, not for the
gratification of others, nor yet to win applause, but
for the good of Sparta.
XXII. He was harsh of speech also, and terrifying
to his opponents. For instance, when the Argives
were disputing about boundaries, and thought they
made a juster plea than the Lacedaemonians, he
pointed to his sword, and said to them : "He who is
master of this discourses best about boundaries."
And when a Megarian, in some conference with him,
grew bold in speech, he said : "Thy words, Stranger,
lack a city." And when the Boeotians tried to play
a double game with him, he asked them whether he
should march through their territory with spears
upright, or levelled. And once when the Corinthians
had revolted, and, on coming to their walls, he saw
that the Lacedaemonians hesitated to make an
assault, a hare was seen leaping across the moat ;
whereupon he said : " Are ye not ashamed to fear
enemies who are so lazy that hares sleep on their
walls ? "
When Agis the king died, 1 leaving a brother,
Agesilaiis, and a reputed son, Leoty chides, Lysander,
who had been a lover of Agesilaiis, persuaded him to
lay claim to the kingdom, on the ground that he was
a genuine descendant of Heracles. For Leotychides
was accused of being a son of Alcibiades, who had
secret commerce with Timaea, the wife of Agis,
while he was living in exile at Sparta. Now Agis,
as they tell us, being convinced by a computation of
time that his wife had not conceived by him, ignored
1 In 398 B.C., after returning home from a victorious
campaign (Xen. Hell. iii. 3, 1).
*93
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
pieXev rod Aecorvx^Bov real (j>avepb<; rjv dvaivbp,evo<s
avrov irapd ye rbv Xoiirbv xpovov. erreX Be vocrcov
el$ 'Hpauav e/co/jLL(T@r) kcCi reXevrav ep.eXXe, ra
p,ev inr avrov rod veavlcr/cov, ra Be virb rcov
cpiXcov €K~ki7rap7]0el<i evavriov iroXXcov a7re<f>t]vev
vlbv avrov rbv Aecorv^iSav, koX BerjOels rcov
irapovroov eTTifiaprvprjo-ai ravra 7rpo? tou? Aa-
5 KeBai p,oviovs aired avev. ovrot piev ovv ipiap- 446
rvpovv ravra rco Aecorv^iSa,' rbv £' 'AyrjaiXaov
Xapurpov ovra raXXa /cal avvaycovicrrf] ra> Av-
advBpw xpcopievov e/3Xairre AioireiOrjs, avrjp evBo-
KtpLos eirl xpr)o-p,oXoyi,a y roiovBe pbdvrevpba irpofye-
pcov eh rrjv ^coXorrjra rod 'AyrjonXdov
<$>pdt,eo Br}, Hirdprr), Kairrep pteydXav^o^ eovcra,
/it) cre0ev dpriiroBo<; /3Xdo-rrj %ft)X-^ ftacriXeia.
Brjpbv yap pbySoi ae Karao~)(rjo-ovatv deXirroi
(ftOiaifipoTOV t eirl /cvpua /cvXivBofievov iroXe-
p,oio.
6 itoXXwv ovv viroKarafcXivopLevcov irpbs rb Xoyiov
teal rpeiropuevcov 777)0? rbv Aecorv^Bav, 6 Av-
cravBpos ov/c bpOws e<t>y tov AioireiOr] rrjv puavretav
vTroXapifidveiv ov yap av irpoairralaa^ Tt? &PXV
AaKeSaLp,ovicov, 8vo"%epaiveLV rbv debv, dXXa
X<oXr}V elvai rrjv fiaaiXeiav el v69oi real Aca/ceo?
yeyovore<; /3ao~iXevo~ovo~i avv 1 'Hpa/cXetSat?. roc-
avra Xeycov real Bvvdpuevos irXelarov eireio-e, tcai
yiverat fiaaiXev*; 'AyrjaiXaos.
1 ovv supplied by Sintenis alone.
294
LYSANDER, xxn. 4-6
Leotychides, and manifestly repudiated him up to
the last. But when he was carried sick to Heraea
and was about to die, he yielded to the entreaties of
the young man himself and of his friends, and
declared in the hearing of many that Leotychides
was his own son, and after begging those who were
present to bear witness of this to the Lacedae-
monians, died. Accordingly, they did so bear witness
in favour of Leotychides. Moreover, Agesilaiis, who
was otherwise illustrious, and had Lysander as a
champion, was injured in his claim by Diopeithes, a
man in high repute for his interpretation of oracles,
who published the following prophecy with reference
to the lameness of Agesilaiis l : —
1 Bethink thee now, O Sparta, although thou art
very proud,
Lest from thee, sound of foot, there spring a maimed
royalty ;
For long will unexpected toils oppress thee,
And onward rolling billows of man-destroying
war."
Many, therefore, out of deference to the oracle,
inclined to Leotychides, but Lysander declared that
Diopeithes did not interpret the prophecy correctly ;
for it did not mean that the god would be displeased
if one who was lame should rule the Lacedaemonians,
but the kingdom would be maimed if bastards and
ill-born men should be kings in a line with the
posterity of Heracles. By such arguments, and
because he had very great influence, he prevailed,
and Agesilaiis became king. 2
1 Cf. Plutarch's Agesilaiis, ii. 2.
2 Cf. Plutarch's Agesilaiis, iii. 3-5 ; Xen. Hell. iii. 3, 2f.
295
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
XXIII. ItLvOvs ovv avrbv e^coppua teal irpov-
rpeirev 6 AvaavBpos eh rrjv ' Aalav (TTpareveiv,
imoTiOeis eXTrlBas go? KaraXvaovn Uepaa<; kcli
pbeyiarw yevTj a ofievco, 737)0? re toi>? ev 'Aaia
<f)L\ov<; eypa-yjrev aWelaOat /ceXevcov irapa Aa/ce-
Batpioviwv crrparr)ybv 'AyrjaiXaov €7rl rbv 727309
2 rovs ftapfidpovs iroXepiov. 01 Be eireiOovro ical
Trpeafteis eirepuvov eh AcuceBaipLova Beopuevovs' b
Bo/cei rr}^ /3ao~iXeias ov/c eXarrov 'Ayr]o~i'\drp kclXov
virdp^at Bia AvaavBpov. dXV ai (faiXoripoi
<f)V(T€i<; aXXcos pkv ov /cafcal 7rpo? Ta? rjyep,ovla<i
elal, to he cj>0ovetv roh opoiocs Bid Bo^av ov
fjLitcpbv epuroBiov ro)v KaXcov irpd^ewv eyovai*
iroiovvrai yap avTaycoviards rrj<; dperr}*; oh irdp-
3 eo"ri y^prjoQai avvepyoh. 'AyrjaiXaos puev ovv
eTTTfydyero AvaavBpov ev roh rpidfcovra avpu-
fiovXois a>? pidXiara /cal irpd)T(p rcov (friXwv
%pr]o~6pLevo<;' iirel Be eh rrjv 'Aaiav irapayevopbe-
vcov 727)09 eicelvov pev ov/c e%ovTe<; oi avdpwrroi
avvrjOws /Spa^ea /cal a7ravi0)<; BieXeyovro, rbv Be
AvaavBpov etc ttoXXtjs t/}? irpoaOev opuXias o'i re
(fiiXoi Oeparrevovres ol re virorrroi BeBoi /cores
4 €<poLT(DV eirl 6vpa<; /cal iraprjKoXovOovv, olov ev
TpaycpBicus linei/ccos crvpftalvet nrepl tojj? vtto-
/cpirds, rbv pev dyyeXov rtvbs 17 Oepdirovros
eirLKeipuevov 1 irpoacoirov evBo/cipeiv /cal irpwraywv-
tarelv, rbv Be BidBrjpa /cal a/crjirrpov (fropovvra
purjBe d/coveoQai (j>6eyy6pevov, ovrco ire pi rbv
avpftovXov tjv to irav dglcopa rf}<? dpxv^> T( ? Se
BaaiXeZ rovvopua t% Bvvdpecos epr)p,ov direXeiTrero.
1 iiriiceiufvov BeUker adopts Comes' correction to rcfurcl-
/nevov.
296
LYSANDER, xxm. 1-4
XXIII. At once, then, Lysander tried to rouse
and incite him to make an expedition into Asia,
suggesting hopes that he would put down the
Persians and become a very great man. He also
wrote letters to his friends in Asia, bidding them
ask Agesilaiis of the Lacedaemonians as general for
their war against the Barbarians. 1 They obeyed,
and sent ambassadors to Lacedaemon with the
request, and thus an honour not inferior to that of
being made king was obtained for Agesilaiis through
the efforts of Lysander. But with ambitious natures,
which are otherwise not ill qualified for command,
jealousy of their equals in reputation is no slight
obstacle to the performance of noble deeds ; for they
make those their rivals in the path of virtue, whom
they might have as helpers. Agesilaiis did indeed
take Lysander with him among his thirty counsellors,
intending to treat him with special favour as his
chief friend ; but when they were come into Asia,
the people there, who were not acquainted with him,
conferred with him but rarely and briefly, whereas
Lysander, in consequence of their large intercourse
with him in former times, had them always at his
door and in his train, those who were his friends
coming out of deference, and those whom he
suspected, out of fear. And just as in tragedies it
naturally happens that an actor who takes the part
of some messenger or servant is in high repute and
plays leading roles, while the one who bears the
crown and sceptre is not even listened to when he
speaks, so in this case the whole honour of the govern-
ment was associated with the counsellor, and there
was left for the king only the empty name of power.
1 Cf. Plutarch's Agesilaiis, vi. If.
297
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
5 yeveaOai fiev ovv icrax; eBei tlvcl tt}? €k/jl€\ov<;
Tavrr)s (piXoTifita^ iira^rju teal ava-raXrjvai, tov
AvaavBpov a\pi tcov BevTepelcov to Be 7ravTe\co<;
airoppL-^rai teal irpoirifXaKiaai Bid B6£av evepyeTTjv
dvBpa koX (j)iXov ov/e rjv ai;iov ' Ay t] a iXdw irpoa-
elvai.
UpcoTov pev ovv ov itapelyev avrw irpd^ecov
d(j)oppd<;, ovBe erarrev e^)' rjyepovlas' eireiTa
V7T6p cov al'adoLTo tl irpaTTOVTd teal o~irovBd£ovTa
tov AvaavBpov, del tovtov? iravTcov dwpd/eTovs
fcal tcov eiriTvyovToov eXarrov exovras direirepLTre,
irapaXvoov y)o~vyr\ leal Bia^vycov ttjv e/eeLvov
6 Bvvapav. eVel Be tcov ttuvtcov BiapbapTavcov 6
AvcravBpos eyvco Tot? (f)(\oi<; ttjv trap ai/Tov
o-TTOvBrjv ivavTLcopa yivopbevrjv, clvtos t€ to ftorjdelv
e^eXiire /ed/eeivoov eBelTO p,rj irpocnevai pLrjBe Oepa-
ireveiv avTov, dXXa tw ftaaiXei Bia\eyea0ai kcli
tois Bvvap,evoi$ cocfreXeiv tovs TipucovTas clvtovs
7 pbdXXoV iv TCp TTCLpOVTl. TClVTa dfCOVOVTSS 01
ttoXXoI tov puev ivoxXelv avTov irepl rrpaypLaTcov
direixovTO, tcls Be depaireias ov KaTeXnrov, aXka
TTpoafyoiTcovTes ev tol<; irepi7rdT0i<; ical yvpuvaaiois 447
ert pbdXXov rj irpoTepov rjvlcov tov 'Ayrjo-iXaov vtto
(pdovov Trjs TipLrjs, coo~Te Tot? 7ro\\o£? HirapTidTais; 1
i)yepovia<; irpaypbaToov zeal Bwiferjae^ iroXewv diro-
BiBovs tov AvaavBpov dweBec^e KpeoBaiTTjv. eiTa
olov i(f)v/3pi%(ov 7roo? tov<; "loovas, " 'Attlovtcs,"
e<f>r) f " vvv tov epbbv KpeoBaLTrjv depaireveTcoaav^
8 eBo^ev ovv tw AvadvBpco Bid Xoycov irpbs clvtov
1 2irapTia.Ta.is the correction of Emperius : aTpaTiwTais
(soldiers),
298
LYSANDER, xxm. 5-8
It is true, perhaps, that there should have been sonic
gentle handling of this excessive ambition, and that
Lysander should have been reduced to the second
place ; but entirely to cast off and insult, for fame's
sake, a benefactor and a friend, was not worthy of
the character of Agesilaiis.
In the first place, then, he did not give him
opportunities for achievement, nor even assign him
to a command ; and secondly, those in whose behalf
he perceived that Lysander was earnestly exerting
himself, these he always sent away with less reward
than an ordinary suitor, or wholly unsuccessful, thus
quietly undoing and chilling his influence. So when
Lysander missed all his aims, and saw that his
interested efforts for his friends were an obstacle to
their success, he not only ceased to give them his
own aid, but begged them not to wait upon him nor
pay him their court, but to confer with the king,
and with such as had more power to benefit those
who showed them honour than was his at present.
Most of those who heard this refrained from troubling
him about their affairs, but did not cease paying him
their court, nay rather, by waiting upon him in the
public walks and places of exercise, they gave
Agesilaiis even more annoyance than before, because
he envied him the honour. Therefore, though he
offered most of the Spartans l commands in the field
and governments of cities, he appointed Lysander
his carver of meats. And presently, as if by way of
insult to the Ionians, he said : " Let them be off,
and pay their court now to my carver of meats."
Accordingly, Lysander determined to have a con-
1 Agis took thirty Spartans with him aa counsellors and
captains (Plutarch's Agesilaiis, vi. 3 ; Xenophon'a Agesilaiis,
i. 7).
299
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
eXOelv ical yiverai (Spayy? teal Aafaoin/cbs avrcov
BtdXoyos. "*H fcaXto<; rjBeis, co 'AyijatXae, (plXovs
ekCLTTOVV." KCU 6V ""A j/ 76 6/jLOV (3ouXtovTat
fiei^oves elvar tol>? Be av^ovra^ ttjp i/xi]v Bvva/niv
9 teal ybereyeiv avrrjs Bl/caiov. " 'AXA,' Tcra)? /xe^,
&> 'AyrjaiXae, aol XeXetcTai /cdXXiov f) ifiol 7re-
irpaicTcu' Beofiac Be gov teal Blol rov<; itcro?
avOpcorrovs, oi 7rpo? r)/ud$ (nroftXeirovo-iv, evravOd
jie tt)? aeavrov arpar7]yia<; rd£ov, ottov reray-
fievov rjKLGTa fiev eirayOrj, fiaXXov Be xprjaipov
ecreorOai oreavrcp vofAi^eLs"
XXIV. 'E/e tovtov tt pea /3evrr)<; eh 'RXXiictttov-
tov eirepbireTO' ical top fiev * Ay r) a tXaov Bl 6pyr)<;
elyev, ov/c ^fieXet Be rod ra Beovra irpdrreiv,
SiriOpiBdrTjv Be rbv Tlepcrrjv irpoaKetcpovicoTa
<£>apva/3d£cp, yevvalov dvBpa teal crrparidv eyovra
irepl aurov, diroaryaa^ r)yaye irpos rov 'Ayrj-
2 aiXaov. dXXo Be ovBev eyprjaaro avrco 7rpo? rov
iroXep-ov, dXXa rov ypovov BieXdovros direirXevaev
efc tt\v XrrdpTTjv dri/Aco?, opyi^ofievo? fiev ra>
'Ayr/criXdcp, {jllctcov Be teal rrjv oXtjv TroXireiav en
fiaXkov tj rrrpoTepov, teal ra ird\ai Bo/covvra
avyKelaOai ical fiefiTj^avrjaOac 7T/90? fj.€Taj3oXr)v
teal vewrepia/nbv eyvcotctos eyyeipelv rore teal firj
Bia/jteXXeiv.
3 *Hv Be roidBe. tcov dva/JLi^Oevrcov Acopievaiv
'HpaicXeiBcov ical tcareXOovrcov et? UeXoirovvyaov
ttoXv fiev iv ^irdprr) ical Xapurpov rjvOriae yevos,
ov iravrl Be avrcov TJ79 fiacriXi/crjs fieT7]v BtaBo%r)<;,
300
LYSANDER, xxm. 8-xxiv. 3
ference with him, at which a brief and laconic
dialogue passed between them. * Verily, thou
knowest well, Agesilaiis, how to abase friends." To
which Agesilaiis : " Yes, if they would be greater
than I ; but those who increase my power should
also share in it." " Well, perhaps thy words,
Agesilaiis, are fairer than my deeds ; but I beg thee,
even because of the strangers who have their eyes
upon us, to give me a post under thy command
where thou believest that I shall be least annoying
to thyself, and more serviceable than now." 1
XXIV. Upon this, he was sent as ambassador to
the Hellespont ; and though he was angry with
Agesilaiis, he did not neglect to do his duty, but
induced Spithridates the Persian, a high-minded
man with forces at his command, to revolt from
Pharnabazus, with whom he was at odds, and
brought him to Agesilaiis. 2 The king made no
further use of Lysander, however, in the war, and
when his time had expired, he sailed back to Sparta
without honour, not only enraged at Agesilaiis, but
hating the whole form of government more than ever,
and resolved to put into execution at once, and
without delay, the plans for a revolutionary change
which he is thought to have devised and concocted
some time before.
They were as follows. Of the Heracleidae who
united with the Dorians and came down into Pelo-
ponnesus, there was a numerous and glorious stock
flourishing in Sparta ; however, not every family
belonging to it participated in the royal succession,
1 Cf. Plutarch's Agesilaiis, vii.-viii. 1-2 ; Xen. Hell. iii. 4,
7-9.
a Cf. Plutarch's Agesilaiis, viii. 3; Xen. Hell. iii. 4, 10.
301
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
dXX' eftaaiXevov etc Bvetv oikwv puovov JLvpvirwv-
rlBai Kal 'AyidBat rrpoaayopevopuevot,, rocs Be
aXXois ovBev eripov irXeov e^eiv ev rjj iroXireia
Bid rrjv evyeveiav virrjp^ev, al Be air dperrjs
4 ti/jlclI irdai irpovKeivro roc? Bwafievois. rovrcov
ovv yeyovco? 6 AvaavBpos, oj? et? Bo^av ro)v rrpd-
^ewv ijpOj] peydXrjv Kal (f)iXov<; e/cercTrjTO 7roXXov<;
Kal Bvvapuv, rj^Oero rrjv ttoXiv opcov (jit* avrov
puev av^avo[xevr]V, v(j) erepcov Be ^acrcXevopevrjv
ovBev {3£\riov avrov yeyovorcov, Kal Bievoelro rrjv
dp%r)V eK rwv Bvelv olkcov fieracrTrjcras et? kolvov
5 drroBovvai irdcnv 'HpaKXetBais, go? Be evioi (f)aaiv,
ou% 'HpaKXelBais, dXXd ^irapridrais, Xva pbr) r)
rcov ac£' 'HpaKXeovs, dXXd rcov olos 'H^a/cA^? to
yepa<;, apery Kpivopuevcov, r) KaKelvov eh 0ecov
rifid? dvtjyayev. y)XiTL^e Be rrj<; /3ao-cXeia<; ovrco
BiKa%oiievr)<; ovBeva irpo avrov XrrapndTijv av
alpeOrjaeaOai.
XXV. Tlpcorov fiev ovv enreyelpriae Kal rrape-
o~Kevdaaro rreiQeiv BC eavrov rov<$ rroXiraSy Kal
Xoyov e^efieXera 7T/30? rrjv viroOeaiv yeypa/JL/ievov
vtto K.\ecovo<; rov 'AXiKapvaaaecos. erreira rr)v
dronrlav Kal ro pLeyedo? rov Kaivoro/xov/ievov
irpdy/jLaros opcov lrap,(orepa<; Beopuevov ftorjOeias,
wairep ev rpaywBia px\yavr)V acpcov eirl rovs
2 rroXbra^y Xoyia rrvdo^priara Kal %pr}o~povs o~vv-
ejiOei Kal KareaKeva^ev, co? ovBev a)(f)eXr}o-6-
1 Cf. Plutarch's Agesilaus, viii. 3.
302
LYSANDER, xxiv. 3-xxv. 2
but the kings were chosen from two houses only,
and were called Eurypontidae and Agiadae. The
rest had no special privileges in the government
because of their high birth, but the honours which
result from superior excellence lay open to all who
had power and ability. Now Lysander belonged
to one of these families, and when he had risen to
great fame for his deeds, and had acquired many
friends and great power, he was vexed to see the
city increased in power by his efforts, but ruled by
others who were of no better birth than himself.
He therefore planned to take the government away
from the two houses, and restore it to all the
Heracleidae in common, or, as some say, not to the
Heracleidae, but to the Spartans in general, 1 in order
that its high prerogatives might not belong to those
only who were descended from Heracles, but to
those who, like Heracles, were selected for superior
excellence, since it was this which raised him to
divine honours. And he hoped that when the
kingdom was awarded on this principle, no Spartan
would be chosen before himself.
XXV. In the first place, then, he undertook and
made preparations to persuade the citizens by his
own efforts, and committed to memory a speech
written by Cleon, the Halicarnassian, for the purpose.
In the second place, seeing that the novelty and
magnitude of his innovation demanded a more
audacious support, he brought stage machinery to
bear upon the citizens, 2 as it were, by collecting and
arranging responses and oracles of Apollo ; convinced
2 In the Greek theatre, gods were swung into view, above
the plane of the action, by means of a huge crane. Cf
ThemistocUs, x. 1.
303
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
fievos iiirb rrjs liXecovo^ BeivorrjTOS, ei fir} (f)o/3(p
Oeov tlvi Kal Beta iBaifiovla irpoeKirX^as Kal
yeipwadfievos viraydyot 777509 TbvXoyov tovs ttoXl-
Ta9. "Kcj)opo<; fiev ovv $r\aiv clvtop, ax? rijv re
HvOlav eTriyeipr]<ja<s Bia$6elpai /ecu Ta? AcoBco-
vLBas avOcs dvaireiOoav Bid <Pep€fc\eov<; dire-
rv^ev, el<$ "AfjL/jicovos dva/3r)vat, teal BiaXeyeaOai
Tot? 7rpo(f)r)TaL<; iroXv ^pvaiov BiBovra, tovs Be
Bva^epaivovTas eh ^irdprrfv Tivds diroarelXai
rod AvadvBpov KaT7)yopr)aovTa$, eirel Be dire-
XvOrj, tov<; AlJ3vcl<; diriovTas elirelv "'AX\'
r)fiei<; ye fieXnov, &> ^irapTidrai, Kpivovjiev, orav 44!
rjfC7]T€ 7T/309 r)fJLa? €i9 Ai/3V7]V olfCr)<JOVT€<i" ft)9
Br) xprjafxov tivos 6W09 nraXaiov AaKeBai/ioviovs
ev Ai/3vr) KaroiKr)aai. rrjv Be oXrjv e7ri(SovXr)v
Kal (T/cevcoplav rod irXdafiaTOS ov (f)avXi]v ovaav
ovSe d(f) wv eTvyev dp^afievrrv, dXXa 7roXXa<$
real fieydXas viroOecreis, oiairep ev Biaypdfifiari
fjLa6r)/j.aTiK(p, 7rpoaXa^ovaav Kal Sid Xrjfifidrcov
XaXeirwv Kal Bvgttop'kttwv eirl to avfiirepaafia
irpolovaaVy r)fieZ<s dvaypdyjro/iev dvBpbs laropiKov
Kal (piXoo-6cf)ov Xoyco KaraKoXovOijaavre^.
XXVI. 'Hy yvvaiov ev TLovroy Kveiv i£ 'AttoX-
\wvo<; cf)d/ievov, d) 7roXXol fiev, G09 el/cbs r)v,
rjiriarovv, ttoXXoI Be Kal irpoaelyov, ware Kal
TeKovarjS iraiBdpiov dppev virb iroXXoav Kal yvco-
plfiwv airovBd^eaOai rrjv €Krpo^>r)v avrov Kal
rrjv eirifieXeiav. ovofia Be tw ivaiBl ^.eiXrjvos
eK Br) tivos air la<$ eredrj. ravrrjv Xafioov 6
3°4
LYSANDER* xxv. 2 -xxvi. i
that Cleon's clever rhetoric would not help him
at all unless he should first terrify and subdue his
countrymen by vague religious fear and superstitious
terror, and then bring them under the influence of
his argument. Well, then, Ephorus tells us that
after an attempt to corrupt the Pythian priestess,
and after a second failure to persuade the priestesses
of Dodona by means of Pherecles, he went up to
the temple of Ammon and had a conference with
that god's interpreters there, at which he offered
them much money, but that they took this ill, and
sent certain messengers to Sparta to denounce him ;
and further, that when Lysander was acquitted of
their charges, the Libyans said, as they went away,
" But we will pass better judgments than yours,
O Spartans, when ye come to dwell with us in
Libya" ; for they knew that there was a certain ancient
oracle bidding the Lacedaemonians to settle in Libya.
But since the whole plot and concoction was no
insignificant one, nor yet carelessly undertaken, but
made many important assumptions, like a mathe-
matical demonstration, and proceeded to its con-
clusion through premises which were difficult and
hard to obtain, we shall follow, in our description of
it, the account of one who was both a historian and a
philosopher. 1
XX VJ. There was a woman in Pontus who declared
that she was with child by Apollo. Many dis-
believed her, as was natural, but many also lent
an ear to her, so that when she gave birth to a
male child, many notable persons took an interest
in its care and rearing. For some reason or other,
the name given to the boy was Silenus. Lysander
1 Probably Ephorus.
305
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
AvaavSpos apxqv, rd Xoiird nap eavrov rrpocre-
T€KTaiv€TO /ecu avvvfyaivev, ovk oXuyois %p<w-
fxevos ovBe (fravXois rod puvOov away caviar als,
6l rrjv re (j)7]/ji7jv tt)? yeviaecos rov 7ra^So? e/?
TTl(TTLV aWTTOTTTO)^ TrpOTjyOV, aXXoV T€ XoyOV €K
AeXcpcov avTLfco/uLio-avres els rrjv ^irdprrjv fcare-
ftaXov KCtX Bieaireipav, 00? ev ypd[Xfiaaiv dirop-
pi]TOL<^ VTTO TCOV UpeOJV (j)v\aTT0LVTO TtCLyLlTllkaiOl
Brj rives xprja/jLoL, tcai Xaftecv ovk e^eari rovrovs
ovS* evrvyelv de/jLLTov, el jxr) ris dpa yeyovcos
cf 'AtToXXcDVO? d(j)LK0lT0 TO) 7T0XX(p ^pOVCp KCLl
avvOrifia rot? <^vXdrrovai rfjs yeveaeoos yvcopi-
fiov irapaay/hv KOfiiaairo rds BeXrovs ev als rjaav
01 %prjo-fjLOL. rovrcov Be 7T poKarea fcevacr /jievcov eBei
rov ^eiXrjvbv eXOovra rovs ^prjo-fiovs drrairelv
C09 ' AttoXXcovos iraioa, rovs Be av/xirpdrrovras
ra>v lepecov etja/cpi/3ovv efcaara teal BiarrvvQdve-
aOai, irepl rr)s yevecrecos, reXos Be ireTreia/ievovs
Br)6ev C09 ' ArroXXwvos via) Bel^ai rd ypdfxjxara,
rov he dvayvwvai 7roXX(bv irapovrwv aXXas re
fiavreuas kcll r)s eve/ca rdXXa ireirXaaraL x rrjv
irepl rr)s /SaaiXeias, a>9 dpueivov eirj kcll Xojiov
%7rapTidrai<; etc rayv dpiarcov TroXircov alpovjievois
701*9 ftaaiXeas.
"HBrj Be rov XeiXrjvov fieipciKiov yeyovoros /cal
7T/009 rr)v rrpd^iv rjKOvros, e^eireare rov Bpd/iaros 6
AvaavBpos droXfiia rcov virofcpircov kcli avvepycov
evos, ft>9 eV avrb to epyov rjXOev, diroBeiXidaavros
Kal dvaBvvros. ov /jltjv e^wpdOrj ye rov Avadv-
Bpov ^covros ovOev, dXXa fierd rrjv reXevrrjv.
1 tSaAo TTiirXaa-Tat the correction of Corae's ; naaai Bekker :
irhdarai, with the MS&.
306
LYSANDER, xxvi. 1-4
took these circumstances for his foundation, and
supplied the rest of his cunning fabric himself,
making use of not a few, nor yet insignificant,
champions of the tale, who brought the story of the
boy's birth into credit without exciting suspicion.
They also brought back another response from
Delphi, and caused it to be circulated in Sparta,
which declared that sundry very ancient oracles were
kept in secret writings by the priests there, and that
it was not possible to get these, nor even lawful to
read them, unless someone born of Apollo should
come after a long lapse of time, give the keepers an
intelligible token of his birth, and obtain the tablets
containing the oracles. The way being thus pre-
pared, Silenus was to come and demand the oracles
as Apollo's son, and the priests who were in the
secret were to insist on precise answers to all their
questions about his birth, and finally, persuaded,
forsooth, that he was the son of Apollo, were to show
him the writing. Then Silenus, in the presence ot
many witnesses, was to read aloud the prophecies,
especially the one relating to the kingdom, for the
sake of which the whole scheme had been invented,
and which declared that it was more for the honour
and interest of the Spartans to choose their kings
from the best citizens.
But when at last Silenus was grown to be a youth,
and was ready for the business, Lysander's play was
ruined for him by the cowardice of one of his actors,
or co-workers, who, just as he came to the point,
lost his courage and drew back. However, all this
was actually found out, not while Lysander was alive,
but after his death.
307
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
XXVII. 'FiTeXevrrjo-e Be irplv ef \Atna? eirav-
eXOelv rbv ^AyrjaiXaov, ep,ireacov ei? rbv Bojo)-
TCfCOV TToXe/JLOV, T) fiaWoV €fl/3a\cbV TT)V 'EXXdBa.
Xeyerai yap dficporepa)*;' /cal rr)v aWiav ol puev
TIV€S €K€LVOV TTOiOVaiV, ol Be Hr)/3aLwv, ol Be
KOivrjV, 0?7/3atO£9 fiev ey/caXovvres rrjv ev AvXiBi
to)v lepcov Bidppc^rLv /cal otl t&v ire pi *AvBpo-
/cXeiBrjv Ka\ 'A/jLcfilOeov %pr)pLacri f3ao-i\ucol<$ Bia-
(f>6apevT(dv eirl rq> Aa/ceBai/novlois 'EXXrjvc/cbv
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2 yozpav avrwv eiropOqaav, AvaavBpov Be cpaacv
bpyfj cpepeiv ore r?}? Be/cdrrjs avreTTOirjaavTO rod
7ro\e/xov ®i~i(3aloi povoi, rcov aXXcov crv fxpudycov
rjavxa^ovTcov, /cal irepl xprjfidrcov ^yavd/crrjaav
a AvaavBpos eh XTrdprrjv aTreareiXe, /xdXiara
Be eirl tw nrapaayelv dp^rjv ' AOrjvaiois eXevde-
pGoaecos dirb twv Tpid/covra rvpdvvcov, oi>? Av-
cravBpos fiev /carearTjcre, Aatcehaifxovioi Be BvvapLiv
ical <j)6/3ov avrols 7rpoo~Ti6ivTe<; i^rjcplaavro tovs
(pevyovras 4% 'Adrjvwv dy(oyip,ov<; elvau iravra-
yodev, e/ccnrovBovs Be tovs evicTTapuevov^ to2<;
3 ayovai. irpb? ravra yap avre-^rrjcplaavro Srj-
fialoi "^rrjcpLapara irpeirovia /cal dBeXcpd rals
'Hpa/cXeovs /cal Aiovvcrov 7rpdgeaiv, ol/clav p,ev
dvetoyOai irdcrav /cal iroXiv ev BotwTt'a tols
Beojievois 'AOrjvalcov, rbv Be rro dyo/ievq) cfivydBi
fly fior)6rjo-avTa ^t]p,lav 6<pelXeiv rdXavrov, dv 449
Be ri? ' Adrjva^e Bid t?)? Boiama? eirl tovs rvpdv-
1 In 395 B.C., the aggressions of Sparta led to an alliance
between Thebes and Athens against her. In the follo-ving
year Corinth and Argos joined the alliance, and the whole
308
LYSANDER, xxvu. 1-3
XXVII. And he died before Agesilaiis returned
from Asia,after he had plunged, or rather had plunged
Hellas, into the Boeotian war. 1 For it is stated in both
ways ; and some hold him responsible for the war,
others the Thebans, and others both together. It is
charged against the Thebans that they cast away the
sacrifices at Aulis, 2 and that, because Androcleides and
Amphitheus 3 had been bribed with the King's
money to stir up a war in Greece against the Lace-
daemonians, they set upon the Phocians and ravaged
their country. It is said, on the other hand, that
Lysander was angry with the Thebans because they
alone laid claim to a tenth part of the spoils of the
war, while the rest of the allies held their peace ;
and because they were indignant about the money
which he sent to Sparta ; but above all, because they
first put the Athenians in the way of freeing them-
selves from the thirty tyrants whom he had set up,
whose terrorizing power the Lacedaemonians had
increased by decreeing that fugitives from Athens
might be brought back from every place of refuge, and
that all who impeded their return should be declared
enemies of Sparta. In reply to this the Thebans issued
counter decrees, akin in spirit to the beneficent deeds
of Heracles and Dionysus, to the effect that every
house and city in Boeotia should be open to such
Athenians as needed succour ; and that whosoever
did not help a fugitive under arrest, should be fined
a talent ; and that if any one should carry arms
war, which dragged along until 387 B.C., is usually known as
the "Corinthian war."
2 In the spring of 396, when Agesilaiis vainly tried to
sacrifice there, ir imitation of Agamemnon (Plutarch's
Agesi/aus, vi. 4-6 ; Xen. J J ell. iii. 4, 3f., and 5, 5).
8 Cf. Xen. Hell. iii. 5, 1 and 4.
VOL. IV. L 309
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
vov<; oirXa KOfil^j), firjre bpdv riva ®7]/3acov pajre
4 afcoveiv. Kal ovk eyjrrjcpicravTO fiev ovto)<$ 'E\-
XrjviKa fcal <j)iXdv0p(O7ra, ra<; Be wpd^eis to??
ypd/jifMaaiv opLoias ov Trapea^ov, dXXa %paav-
fiovXos Kal oi gvv avro) <&v\r)V KaraXaj36vT€<;
i/c <di]/3oov (hpfiTjOrjaaVy oirXa teal xPVI JLaTa Kai
to XaOelv Kal to ap^aadai ®r)f3aL(ov avroU
GVpLirapaGKevaGavrcov. alrta? fiev ovv ravras
e\a/3e Kara twv (drjftaicov 6 AvGavBpos.
XXVIII. "HBrj Be iravrdiraGi y^aXeiTO^ tbv
opyrjv Bid rrjv pLeXayxoXuav eirLTeivovaav els
yfjpas, irapay^vve tovs e(f>6pov<? Kal GweireiGe
(j)f}vat, (j)povpdv eV avTOV?, Kal Xa/3cbv rrjv rjje-
fioviav i^earrpdrevo-ev. varepov Be Kal Uav-
aaviav rbv /3ao~i\ea pLerd arparca^ direareiXav.
2 dXXd Tlavcravias filv kvkXw irepieXOtov Bid rov
KiOaipeovos epiftdXXeiv e/ieXXev eh rrjv Bouoriav,
AvaavBpo? Be Bid QcoKecov airrjVTa GTpariooTas
e^cov ttoXXov?' Kal rrjv fiev 'OpxopLevLcov ttoXlv
eKOvaicos 7rpocrx (0 PV cra(Tav €\a^€, ttjv Be Aeftd-
Beiav eireXOobv BieiropOricrev. eirep^e Be tw Uav-
aavia ypd/jb^ara KeXevwv eh ' AXiaprov eK IlXa-
raicov avvdiTTeLV, a>? auTO? dp! rjp-epa irpos roh
Tet%€o-fc twv * AXiapricov yevrfGopievos. ravra rd
ypapLpbaia irpb? tovs ©rjfiaiovs a7rr)vex6v> T °v
Kopit,ovTO<i eh KaraGKOTrovs rivds ep,TreGovTO<;.
3 oi Be irpoGfiefioriOriKOTWv avroh 'AOrjvaicov ttjv
fiev ttoXiv eKeipois BieiriGTevGaVy avroi Be irepi
1 Cf. Xen. Hell. ii. 4, 1 f.
2 Lj'sander was commissioned to raise a force of allies in
Phocis and the neighbouring country, with which Pausanias
310
LYSANDER, xxvn. 3-xxvm. 3
through Boeotia against the tyrants in Athens, no
Theban would either see him or hear about it. And
they did not merely vote such Hellenic and humane
decrees, without at the same time making their deeds
correspond to their edicts ; but Thrasybulus and
those who with him occupied Phyle, set out from
Thebes to do so, 1 and the Thebans not only provided
them with arms and money, but also with secrecy
and a base of operations. Such, then, were the
grounds of complaint which Lysander had against
the Thebans.
XXVIII. And since he was now of an altogether
harsh disposition, owing to the melancholy which
persisted into his old age, he stirred up the ephors,
and persuaded them to fit out an expedition against
the Thebans; and assuming the command, he set
out on the campaign. 2 Afterwards the ephors sent
out Pausanias the king also with an army. Now it
was the plan that Pausanias should make a circuit
by the way of Mount Cithaeron, and then invade
Boeotia, while Lysander marched through Phocis to
meet him, with a large force. He took the city of
Orchomenus, which came over to him of its own
accord, and assaulted and plundered Lebadeia.
Then he sent a letter to Pausanias, bidding him move
from Plataea and join forces with him at Haliartus,
and promising that he himself would be before the
walls of Haliartus at break of day. This letter was
brought to Thebes by some scouts, into whose hands
its bearer fell. The Thebans therefore entrusted
their city to a force of Athenians which had come to
their aid, while they themselves set out early in the
was to unite his troops (Xen. Hell. iii. 5, 6). Plutarch's
language is obscure.
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
nrpcoTOV virvov i^opfJufjaavTes ecfrOacrav oXlyco rbv
AvaavBpov iv 'AXidpTco yevojievot, /cat fiepec tlvI
iraprjXOov eU ttjv ttoXiv. eiceivos Be to fiev
irpcoTov eyvco ttjv arpaTiav iBpvcras iirl Xocfrov
irepifieveiv rbv TlavaavLav eireira irpolovar)^ t?)?
rjpbepa^ arpefielv ov Bvvdfievo*;, Xaffcov ra oirXa /ecu
Toi><; crvfi/judyovf; irapoppLrjaa^ opOicp ttj (paXayyc
4 irapa TrjV oBbv r^ye 7rpo? to Tet^o?. tcov Be
%r)j3aicov ol fiev ef&> fie/JLevrj/cores iv apiarepa
rr)V ttoXiv XafiovTes iftdBi&v iirl toi>? iaxdrovs
TCOV 7T0X€fli(i)V V7TO TT)V Kpr)VY]V TT\V Kt(T(TOV(TaV
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Kal Trielv tjBicttov. ol Be Y^pr)dioi o~TvpaKe<$ ov
irpoaco irepnrecpvfcaaLV, a re/cfnjpia tt)? 'PaSa-
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rai, Kal rdcjyov avrov BeiKvvovaiv *AXea KaXovv-
5 T6?. eart Be Kal to t?}? 'A\/Cfi7Jvr)$ /jLvrj/Meiov
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TeXevrtfv.
Ol Be iv ttj TToXei %r)fialoi fiera tcov 'AXiap-
tlcov cruvrerayfievoL T6C09 p>ev ritrvya^ov , iirel Be
rbv AvaavBpov dp,a Tot? irpcoTOis tt poaireXd^ovra
tco Tel^ei KarelBov, i^airivt]^ dvoi^avre^ t<z?
TruXa? Kal 7rpocnT€o-6vT€<z avrov re fiera rod
fiavTecos KareftaXov Kal tcov ctXXcov oXtyovs
TLvds' ol yap irXelaTOL Ta%ecos dve<f>vyov Trpbs
6 tt]V cpdXayya. tcov Be &r)j3a[cov ovk dvievrcov,
aXXa TrpooKeip>kvcov avTols, iTpdirovTO TrdvTes
dvd tov$ X66ov$ cbevyeiv, Kal ^CXlol ttItttovgiv
312
LYSANDER, xxvm. 3-6
night, and succeeded in reaching Haliartus a little
before Lysander, and a considerable part of them
entered the city. Lysander at first decided to post
his army on a hill and wait for Pausanias ; then, as
the day advanced, being unable to remain inactive,
he took his arms, encouraged his allies, and led them
along the road in column towards the wall of the
city. But those of the Thebans who had remained
outside, taking the city on their left, advanced upon
the rear of their enemy, at the spring called Cissusa.
Here, as the story goes, his nurses bathed the in-
fant Dionysus after his birth ; for the water has the
colour and sparkle of wine, is clear, and very pleasant
to the taste. And not far away the Cretan storax-
shrub grows in profusion, which the Haliartians
regard as a proof that Rhadamanthus once dwelt
there ; and they show his tomb, which they call
Alea. And near by is also the memorial of Alcmene ;
for she was buried there, as they say, having lived
with Rhadamanthus after the death of Amphitryon.
But the Thebans inside the city, drawn up in
battle array with the Haliartians, kept quiet for
some time ; when, however, they saw Lysander with
his foremost troops approaching the wall, they
suddenly threw open the gate and fell upon them,
and killed Lysander himself with his soothsayer, and
a few of the rest ; for the greater part of them
fled swiftly back to the main body. And when the
Thebans made no halt, but pressed hard upon them,
the whole force turned to the hills in flight, and a
thousand of them were slain. Three hundred of
3*3
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
avrwv. aireOavov Be /cal Srjfiaicov Tpia/cocrioi
Trpbs ra Tpayea /cal /caprepa roi? TroXe/jiiois
avvenireaovTe^. ovrot Be tjgclv iv aliia, rod
Xafcwvi^eiv, rjv <T7rov$d£ovTe<; diroXvaaaBai rot?
TroXirais /cal atywv avrcbv d<j>eiBovvre<; iv rj}
Bico^ei TrapavaX(ti6r)<jav.
XXIX. Tw Be Uavcravia rb irdQos dyyeXXerai
/cad* 6Bbv e/c UXaraicbv eh ®e<T7ria<; iropevofxevw'
koX avvTatjd/jLevos rj/ce jrpbs rbv 'AXiaprov. rj/ce
Be /cal QpaavftouXos i/c Sr)/3(bv aywv rovs *A0rj-
vaiovs. ftovXevo/uevov Be rod Uavaavlov tou9
ve/cpovs virocnrovBovs airaiTelv, Bvo-cpopovvres ol
Trpecrfivrepoi rcbv XirapTiarwv avrol re /caO*
eavjovs r)yavd/crovv, /cal tw fiaaiXel irpocnovre^
ifiaprvpavro pJr) Bia airovBoiv avaipeledai Av-
aavBpov, dXXa Si ottXcov irepl rod croojxaTOS
dywvtaapbevov^ /cal vi/cr)aavTa<; outco rbv dvBpa
QdiTTeiVy r/TTcofievois Be /caXbv ivravOa /celadai
jaera rov (TTpaTtyyov. ravra rcbv TrpeaftvTepcov
Xeyoi'TW bpwv 6 Ylavaavlas jaeya jjlIv epyov
vTrepftaXecrOai fJ<dxV T0 ^ < ? ®r)/3aLov$ dpit /ce/cparrj-
/coras, iyyvs Be rcbv Teiyfiv to aoijia tov Av-
advBpov TrapaTTeTTTGi/cbsy ware yaXeirr]v avev
airovBciiv /cat vi/ccbcriv elvai rrjv dvatpeaiv, eire/jLyjre
/crjpv/ca /cal aireio-dfievos anrrjyaye tt)v Buvapav
07TL0-C0. TOV Be AvaavBpOV $ TTpCOTOV KOflL^OVTe^
V7rep rou9 opovs iyevovro rr)<; BoicDTias iv (f>iXrj
/cal av/jb/xa^iBo \dypa rfj Uavoirecov /careOeaav, ov
vvv to ybvr]fxelbv icrri irapa rrjv 6Bbv et'9 Xatpcb-
veiav i/c AeXcpwv nropevo fievoi^.
'JLvravOa Br) t^9 o~TpaTia$ /caTavXiaafievr)?
3*4
LYSANDER, xxvm. 6-xxix. 3
the Thebans also lost their lives by pursuing their
enemies into rough and dangerous places. These
had been accused of favouring the Spartan cause, and
in their eagerness to clear themselves of this charge
in the eyes of their fellow-citizens, they exposed
themselves needlessly in the pursuit, and so threw
away their lives. 1
XXIX. Tidings of the disaster were brought to
Pausanias while he was on the march from Plataea
to Thespiae, and putting his army in battle array, he
came to Haliartus. Thrasybulus also came from
Thebes, leading his Athenians. But when Pausanias
was minded to ask for the bodies of the dead under
a truce, the elders of the Spartans could not brook
it, and were angry among themselves, and coming
to the king, they protested that the body of Lysander
must not be taken up under cover of a truce, but by
force of arms, in open battle for it ; and that if they
conquered, then they would give him burial, but if
they were vanquished, it would be a glorious thing
to lie dead with their general. Such were the words
of the elders ; but Pausanias saw that it would be a
difficult matter to conquer the Thebans, flushed as
they were with victory, and that the body of
Lysander lay near the walls, so that its recovery
would be difficult without a truce, even if they were
victorious ; he therefore sent a herald, and after
making a truce, led his forces back. And as soon as
they had come beyond the boundary of Boeotia with
Lysander's body, they buried it in the friendly soil
of their allies, the Panopeans, where his monument
now stands, by the road leading from Delphi to
Chaeroneia.
Here the army bivouacked ; and it is said that a
1 Cf. Xen. Hell. iii. 5, 17-20.
315
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
XeyeTaL Tiva t&v tyco/cewv erepw firj iraparv^ovri
tov dycova Birjyov/jbevov, elirelv 009 ol iroXefiioi
irpoo-weGoiev avTols tov AvadvBpov tov 'OttXCtijv
4 778?? Biafte fir/ kotos. davpdaai'Ta Be ^TrapTidrrjv
dvBpa tov AvadvBpov 4>lXov epeaOai Tiva Xeyoi
tov 'OirXiTrjV' ov yap elBevai to 
