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unhappy； having the ruin of his country and universal mischief to the
world for its abominable object； that； all things raked together and put
into the balance； I must needs incline to Alexander's side。
The third and in my opinion the most excellent； is Epaminondas。 Of glory
he has not near so much as the other two （which； for that matter； is but
a part of the substance of the thing）： of valour and resolution； not of
that sort which is pushed on by ambition； but of that which wisdom and
reason can plant in a regular soul； he had all that could be imagined。
Of this virtue of his； he has； in my idea； given as ample proof as
Alexander himself or Caesar： for although his warlike exploits were
neither so frequent nor so full； they were yet； if duly considered in all
their circumstances； as important； as bravely fought； and carried with
them as manifest testimony of valour and military conduct； as those of
any whatever。 The Greeks have done him the honour； without
contradiction； to pronounce him the greatest man of their nation； and to
be the first of Greece； is easily to be the first of the world。 As to
his knowledge； we have this ancient judgment of him； 〃That never any man
knew so much； and spake so little as he〃；＇Plutarch； On the Demon of
Socrates； c。 23。＇ for he was of the Pythagorean sect； but when he did
speak； never any man spake better； an excellent orator； and of powerful
persuasion。 But as to his manners and conscience； he infinitely
surpassed all men who ever undertook the management of affairs； for in
this one thing； which ought chiefly to be considered； which alone truly
denotes us for what we are； and which alone I make counterbalance all the
rest put together； he comes not short of any philosopher whatever； not
even of Socrates himself。 Innocence； in this man； is a quality peculiar；
sovereign； constant； uniform； incorruptible； compared with which； it
appears in Alexander subject to something else subaltern； uncertain；
variable； effeminate； and fortuitous。
Antiquity has judged that in thoroughly sifting all the other great
captains； there is found in every one some peculiar quality that
illustrates his name： in this man only there is a full and equal virtue
throughout； that leaves nothing to be wished for in him； whether in
private or public employment； whether in peace or war； whether to live
gloriously and grandly； and to die： I do not know any form or fortune of
man that I so much honour and love。
'Tis true that I look upon his obstinate poverty； as it is set out by his
best friends； as a little too scrupulous and nice； and this is the only
feature； though high in itself and well worthy of admiration； that I find
so rugged as not to desire to imitate； to the degree it was in him。
Scipio AEmilianus alone； could one attribute to him as brave and
magnificent an end； and as profound and universal a knowledge； might be
put into the other scale of the balance。 Oh； what an injury has time
done me to deprive me of the sight of two of the most noble lives which；
by the common consent of all the world； one of the greatest of the
Greeks； and the other of the Romans； were in all Plutarch。 What a
matter！ what a workman！
For a man that was no saint； but； as we say； a gentleman； of civilian and
ordinary manners； and of a moderate ambition； the richest life that I
know； and full of the richest and most to be desired parts； all things
considered； is； in my opinion； that of Alcibiades。
But as to what concerns Epaminondas； I will here； for the example of an
excessive goodness； add some of his opinions： he declared； that the
greatest satisfaction he ever had in his whole life； was the contentment
he gave his father and mother by his victory at Leuctra； wherein his
deference is great； preferring their pleasure before his own； so dust and
so full of so glorious an action。 He did not think it lawful； even to
restore the liberty of his country； to kill a man without knowing a
cause： which made him so cold in the enterprise of his companion
Pelopidas for the relief of Thebes。 He was also of opinion that men in
battle ought to avoid the encounter of a friend who was on the contrary
side； and to spare him。 And his humanity； even towards his enemies
themselves； having rendered him suspected to the Boeotians； for that；
after he had miraculously forced the Lacedaemonians to open to him the
pass which they had undertaken to defend at the entrance into the Morea；
near Corinth； he contented himself with having charged through them；
without pursuing them to the utmost； he had his commission of general
taken from him； very honourably upon such an account； and for the shame
it was to them upon necessity afterwards to restore him to his command；
and so to manifest how much upon him depended their safety and honour；
victory like a shadow attending him wherever he went； and indeed the
prosperity of his country； as being from him derived； died with him。
CHAPTER XXXVII
OF THE RESEMBLANCE OF CHILDREN TO THEIR FATHERS
This faggoting up of so many divers pieces is so done that I never set
pen to paper but when I have too much idle time； and never anywhere but
at home； so that it is compiled after divers interruptions and intervals；
occasions keeping me sometimes many months elsewhere。 As to the rest；
I never correct my first by any second conceptions； I； peradventure； may
alter a word or so； but 'tis only to vary the phrase； and not to destroy
my former meaning。 I have a mind to represent the progress of my
humours； and that every one may see each piece as it came from the forge。
I could wish I had begun sooner； and had taken more notice of the course
of my mutations。 A servant of mine whom I employed to transcribe for me；
thought he had got a prize by stealing several pieces from me； wherewith
he was best pleased； but it is my comfort that he will be no greater a
gainer than I shall be a loser by the theft。 I am grown older by seven
or eight years since I began； nor has it been without same new
acquisition： I have； in that time； by the liberality of years； been
acquainted with the stone： their commerce and long converse do not well
pass away without some such inconvenience。 I could have been glad that
of other infirmities age has to present long…lived men withal； it had
chosen some one that would have been more welcome to me； for it could not
possibly have laid upon me a disease for which； even from my infancy； I
have had so great a horror； and it is； in truth； of all the accidents of
old age； that of which I have ever been most afraid。 I have often
thought with myself that I went on too far； and that in so long a voyage
I should at last run myself into some disadvantage； I perceived； and have
often enough declared； that it was time to depart； and that life should
be cut off in the sound and living part； according to the surgeon's rule
in amputations； and that nature made him pay very strict usury who did
not in due time pay the principal。 And yet I was so far from being
ready； that in the eighteen months' time or thereabout that I have been
in this uneasy condition； I have so inured myself to it as to be content
to li