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TIMOLEON
411？…337 B。C。
by Plutarch
translated by John Dryden
IT was for the sake of others that I first commenced writing
biographies； but I find myself proceeding and attaching myself to it
for my own； the virtues of these great men serving me as a sort of
looking…glass； in which I may see how to adjust and adorn my own life。
Indeed； it can be compared to nothing but daily living and associating
together； we receive； as it were； in our inquiry； and entertain each
successive guest； view…
〃Their stature and their qualities；〃
and select from their actions all that is noblest and worthiest to
know。
〃Ah； and what greater pleasure can one have？〃
or what more effective means to one's moral improvement？ Democritus
tells us we ought to pray that of the phantasms appearing in the
circumambient air； such may present themselves to us as are
propitious； and that we may rather meet with those that are
agreeable to our natures and are good than the evil and unfortunate；
which is simply introducing into philosophy a doctrine untrue in
itself； and leading to endless superstitions。 My method； on the
contrary； is； by the study of history； and by the familiarity acquired
in writing； to habituate my memory to receive and retain images of the
best and worthiest characters。 I thus am enabled to free myself from
any ignoble； base； or vicious impressions； contracted from the
contagion of ill company that I may be unavoidably engaged in； by
the remedy of turning my thoughts in a happy and calm temper to view
these noble examples。 Of this kind are those of Timoleon the
Corinthian and Paulus Aemilius； to write whose lives is my present
business； men equally famous； not only for their virtues； but success；
insomuch that they have left it doubtful whether they owe their
greatest achievements to good fortune； or their own prudence and
conduct。
The affairs of the Syracusans； before Timoleon was sent into Sicily；
were in this posture； after Dion had driven out Dionysius the
tyrant； he was slain by treachery； and those that had assisted him
in delivering Syracuse were divided among themselves； and thus the
city by a continual change of governors； and a train of mischiefs that
succeeded each other； became almost abandoned； while of the rest of
Sicily； part was now utterly depopulated and desolate through long
continuance of war； and most of the cities that had been left standing
were in the hands of barbarians and soldiers out of employment； that
were ready to embrace every turn of government。 Such being the state
of things； Dionysius takes the opportunity； and in the tenth year of
his banishment； by the help of some mercenary troops he had got
together； forces out Nysaeus； then master of Syracuse； recovers all
afresh； and is again settled in his dominion； and as at first he had
been strangely deprived of the greatest and most absolute power that
ever was by a very small party； so now； in a yet stranger manner； when
in exile and of mean condition； he became the sovereign of those who
had ejected him。 All therefore that remained in Syracuse had to
serve under a tyrant； who at the best was of an ungentle nature； and
exasperated now to a degree of savageness by the late misfortunes
and calamities he had suffered。 The better and more distinguished
citizens； having timely retired thence to Hicetes； ruler of the
Leontines； put themselves under his protection； and chose him for
their general in the war； not that he was much preferable to any
open and avowed tyrant； but they had no other sanctuary at present；
and it gave them some ground of confidence he was of a Syracusan
family； and had forces able to encounter those of Dionysius。
In the meantime the Carthaginians appeared before Sicily with a
great navy； watching when and where they might make a descent upon the
island； and terror at this fleet made the Sicilians incline to send an
embassy into Greece to demand succours from the Corinthians； whom they
confided in rather than others； not only upon the account of their
near kindred； and the great benefits they had often received by
trusting them； but because Corinth had ever shown herself attached
to freedom and averse from tyranny and had engaged in many noble wars；
not for empire or aggrandizement； but for the sole liberty of the
Greeks； But Hicetes； who made it the business of his command not so
much to deliver the Syracusans from other tyrants； as to enslave
them to himself； had already entered into some secret conferences with
those of Carthage； while in public he commended the design of his
Syracusan clients； and despatched ambassadors from himself； together
with theirs； into Peloponnesus； not that he really desired any
relief to come from there； but in case the Corinthians； as was
likely enough； on account of the troubles of Greece and occupation
at home； should refuse their assistance； hoping then he should be able
with less difficulty to dispose and incline things for the
Carthaginian interest； and so make use of these foreign pretenders； as
instruments and auxiliaries for himself； either against the Syracusans
or Dionysius； as occasion served。 This was discovered a while after。
The ambassadors being arrived； and their request known； the
Corinthians； who had always a great concern for all their colonies and
plantations； but especially for Syracuse； since by good fortune
there was nothing to molest them in their own country； where they were
enjoying peace and leisure at that time； readily and with one accord
passed a vote for their assistance。 And when they were deliberating
about the choice of a captain for the expedition； and the
magistrates were urging the claims of various aspirants for
reputation； one of the crowd stood up and named Timoleon； son of
Timodemus； who had long absented himself from public business； and had
neither any thoughts of nor the least pretensions to； an employment of
that nature。 Some god or other； it might rather seem； had put it in
the man's heart to mention him； such favour and good…will on the
part of Fortune seemed at once to be shown in his election； and to
accompany all his following actions； as though it were on purpose to
commend his worth； and add grace and ornament to his personal virtues。
As regards his parentage； both Timodemus his father； and his mother
Demariste； were of high rank in the city； and as for himself； he was
noted for his love of his country； and his gentleness of temper；
except in his extreme hatred to tyrants and wicked men。 His natural
abilities for war were so happily tempered； that while a rare prudence
might be seen in all the enterprises of his younger years； an equal
courage showed itself in the last exploits of his declining age。 He
had an elder brother； whose name was Timophanes； who was every way
unlike him； being indiscreet and rash； and infected by the suggestions
of some friends and foreign soldiers； whom he kept always about him；
with a passion for absolute power。 He seemed to have a certain force
and vehemence in all military service； and even to delight in dangers；
and thus he took much with the people； and was advanced to the highest
charges； as a vigorous and effective warrior； in the obtaining of
which offices and promotions； Timoleon much assisted him； helping to
conceal or at least to extenuate his errors； embellishing by his
praise whatever was commendable in him； and setting off his good
qualities to the best advantage。
It happened once in the battle fought by the Corinthians against the
forces of Argos and Cleonae； that Timoleon served among the
infantry； when Timophanes； commanding their cavalry； was brought
into extreme danger； as his horse being wounded fell forward and threw
him headlong amidst the enemies； while part of his companions
dispersed at once in a panic； and the small number that remained；
bearing up against a great multitude； had much ado to maintain any
resistance。 As soon； therefore； as Timoleon was aware of the accident；
he ran hastily in to his brother's rescue； and covering the fallen
Timophanes with his buckler； after having received abundance of darts；
and several strokes by the sword upon his body and his armour； he at
length with much difficulty obliged the enemies to retire； and brought
off his brother alive and safe。 But when the Corinthians； for fear
of losing their city a second time； as they had once before； by
admitting their allies； made a decree to maintain four hundred
mercenaries for its security； and gave Timophanes the command over
them； he； abandoning all regard to honour and equity； at once
proceeded to put into execution his plans for making himself absolute；
and bringing the place under his own power； and having cut off many
principal citizens； uncondemned and without trial； who were most
likely to hinder his designs； he declared himself tyrant of Corinth； a
procedure that infinitely afflicted Timoleon； to whom the wickedness
of such a brother appeared to be his own reproach and calamity。 He
undertook to persuade him by reasoning； that de