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the infinite number of various fables。
In the last couple； this is； moreover； worthy of consideration； that
Paulina voluntarily offered to lose her life for the love of her husband；
and that her husband had formerly also forborne to die for the love of
her。 We may think there is no just counterpoise in this exchange； but；
according to his stoical humour； I fancy he thought he had done as much
for her； in prolonging his life upon her account； as if he had died for
her。 In one of his letters to Lucilius； after he has given him to
understand that； being seized with an ague in Rome； he presently took
coach to go to a house he had in the country； contrary to his wife's
opinion； who would have him stay； and that he had told her that the ague
he was seized with was not a fever of the body but of the place； it
follows thus： 〃She let me go；〃 says he； 〃giving me a strict charge of my
health。 Now I； who know that her life is involved in mine； begin to make
much of myself； that I may preserve her。 And I lose the privilege my age
has given me； of being more constant and resolute in many things； when I
call to mind that in this old fellow there is a young girl who is
interested in his health。 And since I cannot persuade her to love me
more courageously； she makes me more solicitously love myself： for we
must allow something to honest affections； and； sometimes； though
occasions importune us to the contrary； we must call back life； even
though it be with torment： we must hold the soul fast in our teeth； since
the rule of living； amongst good men； is not so long as they please； but
as long as they ought。 He that loves not his wife nor his friend so well
as to prolong his life for them； but will obstinately die； is too
delicate and too effeminate： the soul must impose this upon itself； when
the utility of our friends so requires； we must sometimes lend ourselves
to our friends； and when we would die for ourselves must break that
resolution for them。 'Tis a testimony of grandeur of courage to return
to life for the consideration of another； as many excellent persons have
done： and 'tis a mark of singular good nature to preserve old age （of
which the greatest convenience is the indifference as to its duration；
and a more stout and disdainful use of life）； when a man perceives that
this office is pleasing； agreeable； and useful to some person by whom he
is very much beloved。 And a man reaps by it a very pleasing reward； for
what can be more delightful than to be so dear to his wife； as upon her
account he shall become dearer to himself？ Thus has my Paulina loaded me
not only with her fears； but my own； it has not been sufficient to
consider how resolutely I could die； but I have also considered how
irresolutely she would bear my death。 I am enforced to live； and
sometimes to live in magnanimity。〃 These are his own words； as excellent
as they everywhere are。
CHAPTER XXXVI
OF THE MOST EXCELLENT MEN
If I should be asked my choice among all the men who have come to my
knowledge； I should make answer； that methinks I find three more
excellent than all the rest。
One of them Homer： not that Aristotle and Varro； for example； were not；
peradventure； as learned as he； nor that possibly Virgil was not equal to
him in his own art； which I leave to be determined by such as know them
both。 I who； for my part； understand but one of them； can only say this；
according to my poor talent； that I do not believe the Muses themselves
could ever go beyond the Roman：
〃Tale facit carmen docta testudine； quale
Cynthius impositis temperat articulis：〃
＇He plays on his learned lute a verse such as Cynthian Apollo
modulates with his imposed fingers。〃Propertius； ii。 34； 79。＇
and yet in this judgment we are not to forget that it is chiefly from
Homer that Virgil derives his excellence； that he is guide and teacher；
and that one touch of the Iliad has supplied him with body and matter out
of which to compose his great and divine AEneid。 I do not reckon upon
that； but mix several other circumstances that render to me this poet
admirable； even as it were above human condition。 And； in truth； I often
wonder that he who has produced； and； by his authority； given reputation
in the world to so many deities； was not deified himself。 Being blind
and poor； living before the sciences were reduced into rule and certain
observation； he was so well acquainted with them； that all those who have
since taken upon them to establish governments； to carry on wars； and to
write either of religion or philosophy； of what sect soever； or of the
arts； have made use of him as of a most perfect instructor in the
knowledge of all things； and of his books as of a treasury of all sorts
of learning：
〃Qui； quid sit pulcrum； quid turpe； quid utile； quid non；
Planius ac melius Chrysippo et Crantore dicit：〃
＇Who tells us what is good； what evil； what useful； what not； more
clearly and better than Chrysippus and Crantor？〃
Horace； Ep。； i。 2； 3。＇
and as this other says；
〃A quo； ceu fonte perenni；
Vatum Pieriis ora rigantur aquis〃
＇〃From which； as from a perennial spring； the lips of the poets
are moistened by Pierian waters。〃Ovid； Amoy。； iii。 9； 25。＇
and the other；
〃Adde Heliconiadum comites； quorum unus Homerus
Sceptra potitus；〃
＇〃Add the companions of the Muses； whose sceptre Homer has solely
obtained。〃Lucretius； iii。 1050。＇
and the other：
〃Cujusque ex ore profusos
Omnis posteritas latices in carmina duxit；
Amnemque in tenues ausa est deducere rivos。
Unius foecunda bonis。〃
＇〃From whose mouth all posterity has drawn out copious streams of
verse； and has made bold to turn the mighty river into its little
rivulets； fertile in the property of one man。〃
Manilius； Astyon。； ii。 8。＇
'Tis contrary to the order of nature that he has made the most excellent
production that can possibly be； for the ordinary birth of things is
imperfect； they thrive and gather strength by growing； whereas he
rendered the infancy of poesy and several other sciences mature； perfect；
and accomplished at first。 And for this reason he may be called the
first and the last of the poets； according to the fine testimony
antiquity has left us of him； 〃that as there was none before him whom he
could imitate； so there has been none since that could imitate him。〃
His words； according to Aristotle； are the only words that have motion
and action； the only substantial words。 Alexander the Great； having
found a rich cabinet amongst Darius' spoils； gave order it should be
reserved for him to keep his Homer in； saying： that he was the best and
most faithful counsellor he had in his military affairs。 For the same
reason it was that Cleomenes； the son of Anaxandridas； said that he was
the poet of the Lacedaemonians； for that he was an excellent master for
the discipline of war。 This singular and particular commendation is also
left of him in the