The third volume of Plutarch's lives. Translated from the Greek, by several hands

The Comparison of Lucullus with Cimon.

ONe might bless the End of Lucullus, who died before the great Alteration of Affairs, which Fate by intestine Wars was bringing, on, and left this Life in a free, though troubled State, wherein, above all other things, Cimon and he agreed. For

he died also when the state of Greece was free, and flourished; though in the Field, at the Head of his Army, not recalled, nor disgraced, nor sullying the Glory of his Wars, Engagements, and Conquests, with Feastings and Debauches: As Plato repre∣hended Orpheus for saying, That an eternal Debauch hereafter, was the Reward of those who lived well here. Indeed ease and Quiet, and the Study of pleasant and speculative Learning, to an old Man, unfit for War or State, is a most ornamental and com∣fortable thing; but to misguide vertuous Actions to Pleasure, as their utmost End, and to leave the Wars for the Sports and Delights of Venus, did not become the gra∣vity of the Academy, and a Follower of Xenocrates, but one that rather inclined to Epicurus. But the greatest wonder of all is, their Youthful days were flat opposite; the ones being infamous and vicious, the others well disciplin'd and sober; yet better is the Change for Good, for it argues a more ingenuous Mind, where Vice decay∣eth, and Vertue increaseth. Though both had great Wealth, they differently employ∣ed it; and there is no Comparison between the South-wall of the Tower built by Ci∣mon, and the stately Mansions and watry Prospects at Neapolis, built by Lucullus, out of the Spoils of the Barbarians. Nei∣ther

can we compare Cimon's popular and numerous Table, to the Noble and Royal one of Lucullus, that receiving a great ma∣ny Guests every day at small Expence, this being richly spread for a few Good-Fellows:* 1.1 unless you will say that different times made the alteration. For who can tell, but that Cimon, if he had retired in his old age from Business and War, to Quiet and Solitude, might have liv'd a more lux∣urious and debauch'd Life, who was a Good∣fellow, a pleasant Companion, and (as is said) a Lover of Women? But brave and generous Actions, transported with other Delights than arise from the lower Appetite, make active and heroick Men neglect and forget these. Had but Lucullus ended his days in the Field, Envy itself and Detracti∣on could never have accused him. So much for their manner of Life.

In War it is plain they were both Men of excellent Conduct, both at Land and Sea. And as they honoured those Cham∣pions, who on the same day, in the same Games, were Crowned for their Mastery in all, by calling their Actions, Wonderful Victories; so likewise Cimon, honouring Greece with a Sea and Land-Victory on the same day, is worthy to be placed in the first Rank of Commanders. Lucullus re∣ceived Command from his Country, but

Cimon brought it to his. He united the Lands of his Enemies to her, who ruled o∣ver Confederates before; but this Man ta∣king the Power out of other Hands, made his Country both rule over Confederates, and Conquer Enemies too; forcing the Persians to relinquish the Sea, and the La∣cedaemonians to submit. But if it be the chiefest thing in a General to win his Sol∣diers to Obedience by Gentleness; Lucullus was despised by his own Army, but Cimon was obeyed by others. Those deserted the one, these fled for Protection to the other. He came home without those Forces he led out; this Man sent out at first under the Command of others, returned home with Authority even over them also, having served his City in three difficult Negotiati∣ons, establishing Peace with the Enemy, Dominion over Confederates, and Unity with Lacedaemon. Both aiming to destroy great Kingdoms, and subdue all Asia, fail'd in their Enterprise. Cimon very unfortu∣nately; for he died when General, in the height of Felicity: But Lucullus, no Man can excuse from a Fault to his Soldiers, whether he knew not, or would not com∣ply with the Distaste and Complaints of his Army, which brought him into so great hatred among them. But did not Cimon also suffer like him in this? For the

Citizens arraigned him, and never left till they had banished him; that, as Plato says, They might not hear him for the space of ten Years. For Heroick Minds seldom please the Vulgar, or are acceptable to them; for by punishing their Extravagan∣cies, they oftentimes pinch to the quick, like Chirurgeons bands, reducing dislocated Bones to their natural position. But both of them perhaps may be cleared of this.

Lucullus very much out-went him in War, being the first Roman who carried an Army over Taurus, passed the Tigris, took and burnt the Royal Palaces of Asia, in the sight of the Kings, Tigranocerta, Cabira, Si∣nope, and Nisibis, subduing the North Parts as far as Phacis, the East as far as Media, and the South and Red Sea, through the King∣doms of Arabia; broke the Power of Kings, and narrowly missed their Persons, who fled away like Wild Beasts into the Desarts, the thick and unpassable Woods. A De∣monstration of which was, That the Persi∣ans, as if no great harm had befel them un∣der Cimon, soon after appeared in Arms a∣gainst the Grecians, and overcame and de∣stroyed a great Army of theirs in Aegypt. But after Lucullus, Tigranes and Mithrida∣tes were able to do nothing: The latter being disabled and broken in the former Wars, never dared to shew his Army to

Pompey without the Camp, but fled away to Bosphorus, and there died. Tigranes threw himself naked and unarmed down be∣fore Pompey, and taking his Crown from his Head, laid it at his Feet, complement∣ing Pompey with what was not his own, but that which Lucullus had triumphed o∣ver before; and when he received the En∣signs of Majesty again, he was well plea∣sed, because deprived before. Greater is that Commander, who, like a Wrestler, leaves an Adversary almost Conquered for his Successor; and therefore Cimon, at his Arrival, finding the Forces of the King dis∣persed, and the Minds of the Persians down, by their continual Overthrows and Flights under Themistocles, Pausanias, and Leoty∣chides, easily overcame their Bodies, whose Souls were dis-spirited and faint before. But Tigranes, never yet baffled in Fight, but flush'd with Success, engaged against Lucul∣lus. There is no comparison between those Numbers which came against Lucullus, and those subdued by Cimon. All which things being rightly considered, it is a hard matter to give judgment: For the Gods were favourable to both Parties, directing the one what to act, and the other what to avoid; and they have thereby declared them both brave Men, and of Heavenly Extract.

Notes

• * 1.1

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