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THE COMPARISON OF PHILOPOEMEN WITH FLAMININUS
by Plutarch
translated by John Dryden
FIRST them； as for the greatness of the benefits which Titus
conferred on Greece； neither Philopoemen； nor many braver men than he；
can make good the parallel。 They were Greeks fighting against
Greeks； but Titus； a stranger to Greece； fought for her。 And at the
very time when Philopoemen went over into Crete； destitute of means to
succour his besieged countrymen； Titus； by a defeat given to Philip in
the heart of Greece； set them and their cities free。 Again； if we
examine the battles they fought； Philopoemen； whilst he was the
Achaeans' general； slew more Greeks than Titus； in aiding the
Greeks； slew Macedonians。 As to their failings； ambition was Titus's
weak side； and obstinacy Philopoemen's in the former； anger was easily
kindled； in the latter； it was as hardly quenched。 Titus reserved to
Philip the royal dignity； he pardoned the Aetolians； and stood their
friend； but Philopoemen； exasperated against his country； deprived
it of its supremacy over the adjacent villages。 Titus was ever
constant to those he had once befriended； the other； upon any offence；
as prone to cancel kindnesses。 He who had once been a benefactor to
the Lacedaemonians； afterwards laid their walls level with the ground；
wasted their country； and in the end changed and destroyed the whole
frame of their government。 He seems； in truth； to have prodigalled
away his own life； through passion and perverseness； for he fell
upon the Messenians； not with that conduct and caution that
characterized the movements of Titus； but with unnecessary and
unreasonable haste。
The many battles he fought； and the many trophies he won； may make
us ascribe to Philopoemen the more thorough knowledge of war。 Titus
decided the matter betwixt Philip and himself in two engagements；
but Philopoemen came off victorious in ten thousand encounters； to all
which fortune had scarcely any pretence； so much were they owing to
his skill。 Besides； Titus got his renown； assisted by the power of a
flourishing Rome； the other flourished under a declined Greece； so
that his successes may be accounted his own； in Titus's glory Rome
claims a share。 The one had brave men under him； the other made his
brave； by being over them。 And though Philopoemen was unfortunate；
certainly； in always being opposed to his countrymen； yet this
misfortune is at the same time a proof of his merit。 Where the
circumstances are the same； superior success can only be ascribed to
superior merit。 And he had； indeed； to do with the two most warlike
nations of all Greece； the Cretans on the one hand； and the
Lacedaemonians on the other； and he mastered the craftiest of them
by art and the bravest of them by valour。 It may also be said that
Titus； having his men armed and disciplined to his hand； had in a
manner his victories made for him； whereas Philopoemen was forced to
introduce a discipline and tactics of his own； and to new…mould and
model his soldiers； so that what is of greatest import towards
insuring a victory was in his case his own creation； while the other
had it ready provided for his benefit。 Philopoemen effected many
gallant things with his own hand； but Titus none； so much so that
one Archedemus； an Aetolian； made it a jest against him that while he；
the Aetolian； was running with his drawn sword； where he saw the
Macedonians drawn up closest and fighting hardest； Titus was
standing still； and with hands stretched out to heaven； praying to the
gods for aid。
It is true Titus acquitted himself admirably； both as a governor and
as an ambassador； but Philopoemen was no less serviceable and useful
to the Achaeans in the capacity of a private man than in that of a
commander。 He was a private citizen when he restored the Messenians to
their liberty； and delivered their city from Nabis； he was also a
private citizen when he rescued the Lacedaemonians； and shut the gates
of Sparta against the general Diophanes and Titus。 He had a nature
so truly formed for command that he could govern even the laws
themselves for the public good； he did not need to wait for the
formality of being elected into command by the governed； but
employed their service； if occasion required； at his own discretion；
judging that he who understood their real interests was more truly
their supreme magistrate； than he whom they had elected to the office。
The equity； clemency； and humanity of Titus towards the Greeks display
a great and generous nature； but the actions of Philopoemen； full of
courage； and forward to assert his country's liberty against the
Romans； have something yet greater and nobler in them。 For it is not
as hard a task to gratify the indigent and distressed； as to bear up
against and to dare to incur the anger of the powerful。 To conclude；
since it does not appear to be easy； by any review or discussion； to
establish the true difference of their merits and decide to which a
preference is due； will it be an unfair award in the case； if we let
the Greek bear away the crown for military conduct and warlike
skill； and the Roman for justice and clemency？
THE END