ABSTRACT
Plutarch's Lives of Noble Grecians and Romanes 545 of: and also when they tooke the contrary side, they made the first have the worse every waye. Now for matters of government, the noble men and honest cittizens dyd hate Alcibiades manner of rule in the common weale, as of a man most dissolute, and geven to flatterie: bicause he ever studied by all devise he could, to currie favour with the common people. So dyd the Romaines malice also Coriolanus government, for that it was to arrogant, prowde, and tyrannicall: whereby neither the one nor the other was to be com" mended. Notwithstanding, he is lesse to be blamed, that seeketh to please and gratifie his common people: then he that despiseth and disdaineth them, and therefore offereth them wrong and injurie, bicause he would not seeme to flatter them, to winne the more authoritie. For as it is an evill thing to flatter the common people to winne credit: even so is it besides dishonesty, and injustice also, to atteine to credit and authoritie, for one to make him selfe terrible to the people, by offering them wrong and violence. It is true that Martius was ever counted an honest natured man, plaine and simple, without arte or cunning: Howbeit Alcibiades merely contrarie, for he was fine, subtill, and deceiptfulJ.1 And the greatest faulte they ever burdened Alcibiades for, was his malice and deceipt, wherewith he abused the ambassadours of the Lacedremonians, and that he was a let that peace was not concluded, as Thucydides reporteth. Now, though by this acte he sodainly brought the cittie of Athens into warres, yet he brought it thereby to be of greater power, and more fearefull to the enemies, by making alliance with the Mantinians and the Argives, who by Alcibiades practise entred into league with the Athenians. And Martius, as Dionysius the historiographer writeth: dyd by craft and deceipt bring the Romaines into warres against the Volsces, causing the Volsces maliciously, and wrongfully to be suspected, that went to Rome to see the games played. But the cause why he dyd it, made the fact so much more fowle and wicked. For it was not done for any civill dissention, nor for any jelouzy and con" tention in matters of government, as Alcibiades dyd: but only following his cholerike moode, that would be pleased with no thing, as Dion sayed, he would needes trouble and turmoile the most parte of Italie, and so beinge angrie with his countrie, he destroyed many other townes and cities that could not helpe it, nor doe with all. This is true also, that Alcibiades spite and malice did worke great mischiefe and miserie to his countrie: but when he saw they repented them of the injurie they had done him, he came to him selfe, and did withdrawe his armie. An other time also, when they had banished Alcibiades, he would not yet suffer the captaines of the
Athenians to runne into great errours, neither would he see them cast away, by followinge ill counsell which they tooke, neither would he forsake them in any daunger they put them selves into. But he did the very same that Aristides had done in olde time unto Themistocles, for which he was then, and is yet so greatly praised. For he went unto the captaines that had charge then of the armie of the Athenians, although they were not his friendes, and tolde them wherein they did amisse, and what they had further to doe. Where Martius to the contrarie, did first great hurte unto the whole citie of Rome, though all in Rome had not generally offended him: yea, and when the best and chiefest parte of the citie were grieved for his sake, and were very sorie and angrie for the injurie done him. Furthermore, the Romaines sought to appease one on ely displeasure and despite they had done him, by many ambassades, petitions and requestes they made, whereunto he never yelded, while 1 his mother, wife, and children came, his harte was so hardned. And hereby it appeared he was entred into this cruell warre (when he would harken to no peace) of an intent utterly to destroy and spoyle his countrie, and not as though he ment to recover it, or to returne thither againe. Here was in deede the difference betwene them: that spialls being layed by the Lacedremonians to kill Alcibiades, for the malice they did beare him, as also for that they were affrayed of him, he was compelled to returne home againe to Athens. Where Martius contrariwise, having bene so honorably received and entertained by the Volsces, he could not with hones tie forsake them, consideringe they had done him that honour, as to choose him their generall, and trusted him so farre, as they put all their whole armie and power into his handes: and not as thother, whome the Lacedremonians rather abused, then used him, suffering him to goe up and downe their citie (and afterwardes in the middest of their camp e) without honour or place at all. So that in the ende Alcibiades was compelled to put him selfe into the han des of Tisaphernes: unlesse they will say that he went thither of purpose to him, with intent to save the citie of Athens from utter destruction, for the desire he had to returne home againe. Moreover, we read of Alcibiades, that he was a great taker, and would be corrupted with money 2: and when he had it, he would most licentiously and dishonestly spend it. Where Martius in contrarie maner would not so much as accept giftes lawefully offered him by his Captaines, to honour him for his valliantnesse. And the cause why the people did beare him such ill will, for the controversie they had with the Nobilitie about clearing of dettes, grew: for that they knewe well
