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the discipline of war。 This singular and particular commendation is also
left of him in the judgment of Plutarch； that he is the only author in
the world that never glutted nor disgusted his readers； presenting
himself always another thing； and always flourishing in some new grace。
That wanton Alcibiades； having asked one； who pretended to learning； for
a book of Homer； gave him a box of the ear because he had none； which he
thought as scandalous as we should if we found one of our priests without
a Breviary。 Xenophanes complained one day to Hiero； the tyrant of
Syracuse； that he was so poor he had not wherewithal to maintain two
servants。 〃 What！〃 replied he； 〃Homer； who was much poorer than thou
art； keeps above ten thousand； though he is dead。 What did Panaetius
leave unsaid when he called Plato the Homer of the philosophers？ Besides
what glory can be compared to his？ Nothing is so frequent in men's
mouths as his name and works； nothing so known and received as Troy；
Helen； and the war about her； when perhaps there was never any such
thing。 Our children are still called by names that he invented above
three thousand years ago； who does not know Hector and Achilles？ Not
only some particular families； but most nations also seek their origin in
his inventions。 Mohammed； the second of that name； emperor of the Turks；
writing to our Pope Pius II。； 〃I am astonished；〃 says he； 〃that the
Italians should appear against me； considering that we have our common
descent from the Trojans； and that it concerns me as well as it does them
to revenge the blood of Hector upon the Greeks； whom they countenance
against me。〃 Is it not a noble farce wherein kings； republics； and
emperors have so many ages played their parts； and to which the vast
universe serves for a theatre？ Seven Grecian cities contended for his
birth； so much honour even his obscurity helped him to！
〃Smyrna； Rhodos； Colophon； Salamis； Chios； Argos； Athenm。〃
The other is Alexander the Great。 For whoever will consider the age at
which he began his enterprises； the small means by which he effected so
glorious a design； the authority he obtained in such mere youth with the
greatest and most experienced captains of the world； by whom he was
followed； the extraordinary favour wherewith fortune embraced and
favoured so many hazardous； not to say rash； exploits；
〃Impellens quicquid sibi summa petenti
Obstaret； gaudensque viam fecisse ruins；〃
＇〃Bearing down all who sought to withstand him； and pleased
to force his way by ruin。〃Lucan； i。 149。＇
that greatness； to have at the age of three…and…thirty years； passed
victorious through the whole habitable earth； and in half a life to have
attained to the utmost of what human nature can do； so that you cannot
imagine its just duration and the continuation of his increase in valour
and fortune； up to a due maturity of age； but that you must withal
imagine something more than man： to have made so many royal branches to
spring from his soldiers； leaving the world； at his death； divided
amongst four successors； simple captains of his army； whose posterity so
long continued and maintained that vast possession； so many excellent
virtues as he was master of； justice； temperance； liberality； truth in
his word； love towards his own people； and humanity towards those he
overcame； for his manners； in general； seem in truth incapable of any
manner of reproach； although some particular and extraordinary actions of
his may fall under censure。 But it is impossible to carry on such great
things as he did within the strict rules of justice； such as he are to be
judged in gross by the main end of their actions。 The ruin of Thebes and
Persepolis； the murder of Menander and of Ephistion's physician； the
massacre of so many Persian prisoners at one time； of a troop of Indian
soldiers not without prejudice to his word； and of the Cossians； so much
as to the very children； are indeed sallies that are not well to be
excused。 For； as to Clytus； the fault was more than redeemed； and that
very action； as much as any other whatever； manifests the goodness of his
nature； a nature most excellently formed to goodness； and it was
ingeniously said of him； that he had his virtues from Nature； his vices
from Fortune。 As to his being a little given to bragging； a little too
impatient of hearing himself ill…spoken of； and as to those mangers；
arms； and bits he caused to be strewed in the Indies； all those little
vanities； methinks； may very well be allowed to his youth； and the
prodigious prosperity of his fortune。 And who will consider withal his
so many military virtues； his diligence； foresight； patience； discipline；
subtlety； magnanimity； resolution； and good fortune； wherein （though we
had not had the authority of Hannibal to assure us） he was the first of
men； the admirable beauty and symmetry of his person； even to a miracle；
his majestic port and awful mien； in a face so young； ruddy； and radiant：
〃Qualis； ubi Oceani perfusus Lucifer unda；
Quem Venus ante alios astrorum diligit ignes；
Extulit os sacrum coelo； tenebrasque resolvit；〃
＇〃As when； bathed in the waves of Ocean； Lucifer； whom Venus loves
beyond the other stars； has displayed his sacred countenance to the
heaven； and disperses the darkness〃AEneid； iii。 589。＇
the excellence of his knowledge and capacity； the duration and grandeur
of his glory； pure； clean； without spot or envy； and that long after his
death it was a religious belief that his very medals brought good fortune
to all who carried them about them； and that more kings and princes have
written his actions than other historians have written the actions of any
other king or prince whatever； and that to this very day the Mohammedans；
who despise all other histories； admit of and honour his alone； by a
special privilege： whoever； I say； will seriously consider these
particulars； will confess that； all these things put together； I had
reason to prefer him before Caesar himself； who alone could make me
doubtful in my choice： and it cannot be denied that there was more of his
own in his exploits； and more of fortune in those of Alexander。 They
were in many things equal； and peradventure Caesar had some greater
qualities they were two fires； or two torrents； overrunning the world by
several ways；
〃Ac velut immissi diversis partibus ignes
Arentem in silvam； et virgulta sonantia lauro
Aut ubi decursu rapido de montibus altis
Dant sonitum spumosi amnes； et in aequora currunt；
Quisque suum populatus iter：〃
＇〃And as fires applied in several parts to a dry wood and crackling
shrubs of laurel； or as with impetuous fall from the steep
mountains； foaming torrents pour down to the ocean； each clearing a
destructive course。〃AEneid； xii。 521。＇
but though Caesar's ambition had been more moderate； it would still be so
unhappy； having the ruin of his country and universal mischief to the
world for its abominable object； that； all things raked t