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example of the younger Cato compared with Phocion； for in this couple
there would have been a more likely disparity； to the Roman's advantage。
As to Marcellus； Sylla； and Pompey； I very well discern that their
exploits of war are greater and more full of pomp and glory than those of
the Greeks； whom Plutarch compares with them； but the bravest and most
virtuous actions any more in war than elsewhere； are not always the most
renowned。 I often see the names of captains obscured by the splendour of
other names of less desert； witness Labienus； Ventidius； Telesinus； and
several others。 And to take it by that； were I to complain on the behalf
of the Greeks； could I not say； that Camillus was much less comparable to
Themistocles； the Gracchi to Agis and Cleomenes； and Numa to Lycurgus？
But 'tis folly to judge； at one view； of things that have so many
aspects。 When Plutarch compares them； he does not； for all that； make
them equal； who could more learnedly and sincerely have marked their
distinctions？ Does he parallel the victories； feats of arms； the force
of the armies conducted by Pompey； and his triumphs； with those of
Agesilaus？ 〃I do not believe；〃 says he； 〃that Xenophon himself； if he
were now living； though he were allowed to write whatever pleased him to
the advantage of Agesilaus； would dare to bring them into comparison。〃
Does he speak of paralleling Lysander to Sylla。 〃There is；〃 says he；
〃no comparison； either in the number of victories or in the hazard of
battles； for Lysander only gained two naval battles。〃 This is not to
derogate from the Romans； for having only simply named them with the
Greeks； he can have done them no injury； what disparity soever there may
be betwixt them and Plutarch does not entirely oppose them to one
another； there is no preference in general； he only compares the pieces
and circumstances one after another； and gives of every one a particular
and separate judgment。 Wherefore； if any one could convict him of
partiality； he ought to pick out some one of those particular judgments；
or say； in general； that he was mistaken in comparing such a Greek to
such a Roman； when there were others more fit and better resembling to
parallel him to。
CHAPTER XXXIII
THE STORY OF SPURINA
Philosophy thinks she has not ill employed her talent when she has given
the sovereignty of the soul and the authority of restraining our
appetites to reason。 Amongst which； they who judge that there is none
more violent than those which spring from love； have this opinion also；
that they seize both body and soul； and possess the whole man； so that
even health itself depends upon them； and medicine is sometimes
constrained to pimp for them； but one might； on the contrary； also say；
that the mixture of the body brings an abatement and weakening； for such
desires are subject to satiety； and capable of material remedies。
Many； being determined to rid their soul from the continual alarms of
this appetite； have made use of incision and amputation of the rebelling
members； others have subdued their force and ardour by the frequent
application of cold things； as snow and vinegar。 The sackcloths of our
ancestors were for this purpose； which is cloth woven of horse hair； of
which some of them made shirts； and others girdles； to torture and
correct their reins。 A prince； not long ago； told me that in his youth
upon a solemn festival in the court of King Francis I。； where everybody
was finely dressed； he would needs put on his father's hair shirt； which
was still kept in the house； but how great soever his devotion was； he
had not patience to wear it till night； and was sick a long time after；
adding withal； that he did not think there could be any youthful heat so
fierce that the use of this recipe would not mortify； and yet perhaps he
never essayed the most violent； for experience shows us； that such
emotions are often seen under rude and slovenly clothes； and that a hair
shirt does not always render those chaste who wear it。
Xenocrates proceeded with greater rigour in this affair； for his
disciples； to make trial of his continency； having slipt Lais； that
beautiful and famous courtesan； into his bed； quite naked； excepting the
arms of her beauty and her wanton allurements； her philters； finding
that； in despite of his reason and philosophical rules； his unruly flesh
began to mutiny； he caused those members of his to be burned that he
found consenting to this rebellion。 Whereas the passions which wholly
reside in the soul； as ambition； avarice； and the rest； find the reason
much more to do； because it cannot there be helped but by its own means；
neither are those appetites capable of satiety； but grow sharper and
increase by fruition。
The sole example of Julius Caesar may suffice to demonstrate to us the
disparity of these appetites； for never was man more addicted to amorous
delights than he： of which one testimony is the peculiar care he had of
his person； to such a degree； as to make use of the most lascivious means
to that end then in use； as to have all the hairs of his body twitched
off； and to wipe all over with perfumes with the extremest nicety。
And he was a beautiful person in himself； of a fair complexion； tall；
and sprightly； full faced； with quick hazel eyes； if we may believe
Suetonius； for the statues of him that we see at Rome do not in all
points answer this description。 Besides his wives； whom he four times
changed； without reckoning the amours of his boyhood with Nicomedes； king
of Bithynia； he had the maidenhead of the renowned Cleopatra； queen of
Egypt； witness the little Caesario whom he had by her。 He also made love
to。 Eunoe； queen of Mauritania； and at Rome； to Posthumia； the wife of
Servius Sulpitius； to Lollia； the wife of Gabinius to Tertulla； the wife
of Crassus； and even to Mutia； wife to the great Pompey： which was the
reason； the Roman historians say； that she was repudiated by her husband；
which Plutarch confesses to be more than he knew； and the Curios； both
father and son； afterwards reproached Pompey； when he married Caesar's
daughter； that he had made himself son…in…law to a man who had made him
cuckold； and one whom he himself was wont to call AEgisthus。 Besides all
these； he entertained Servilia； Cato's sister and mother to Marcus
Brutus； whence； every one believes； proceeded the great affection he had
to Brutus； by reason that he was born at a time when it was likely he
might be his son。 So that I have reason； methinks； to take him for a man
extremely given to this debauch； and of very amorous constitution。 But
the other passion of ambition； with which he was infinitely smitten；
arising in him to contend with the former； it was boon compelled to give
way。
And here calling to mind Mohammed； who won Constantinople； and finally
exterminated the Grecian name； I do not know where these two were so
evenly balanced； equally an indefatigable lecher and soldier： but where
they both meet in his life and jostle one another； the quarrelling
passion always gets the better of the amorous one； and this though it was
out of its natural season never regained an absolute sovereign