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THE COMPARISON OF LUCULLUS WITH CIMON
by Plutarch
translated by John Dryden
ONE might bless the end of Lucullus； which was so timed as to let
him die before the great revolution； which fate； by intestine wars；
was already effecting against the established government； and to close
his life in a free though troubled commonwealth。 And in this； above
all other things； Cimon and he are alike。 For he died also when Greece
was as yet undisordered； in its highest felicity； though in the
field at the head of his army； not recalled； nor out of his mind；
nor sullying the glory of his wars； engagements； and conquests； by
making feastings and debauches seem the apparent end and aim of them
all； as Plato says scornfully of Orpheus； that he makes an eternal
debauch hereafter the reward of those who lived well here。 Indeed；
ease and quiet； and the study of pleasant and speculative learning； to
an old man retiring from command and office； is a most suitable and
becoming solace； but to misguide virtuous actions to pleasure as their
utmost end； and as the conclusion of campaigns and commands； to keep
the feast of Venus； did not become the noble Academy； and the follower
of Xenocrates； but rather one that inclined to Epicurus。 And this is
one surprising point of contrast between them； Cimon's youth was ill
reputed and intemperate； Lucullus's well disciplined and sober。
Undoubtedly we must give the preference to the change for good； for it
argues the better nature； where vice declines and virtue grows。 Both
had great wealth； but employed it in different ways； and there is no
comparison between the south wall of the acropolis built by Cimon； and
the chambers and galleries； with their sea…views； built at Naples by
Lucullus； out of the spoils of the barbarians。 Neither can we
compare Cimon's popular and liberal table with the sumptuous
oriental one of Lucullus； the former receiving a great many guests
every day at small cost； and the latter expensively spread for a few
men of pleasure； 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
lived a more luxurious and self…indulgent life； as he was fond of wine
and company； and accused； as has been said； of laxity with women？
The better pleasures gained in successful action and effort leave
the baser appetites no time or place； and make active and heroic men
forget them。 Had but Lucullus ended his days in the field； and in
command； envy and detraction itself could never have accused him。 So
much for their manner of life。
In war； it is plain they were both soldiers of excellent conduct；
both at land and sea。 But as in the games they honour those
champions who on the same day gain the garland； both in wrestling
and in the pancratium； with the name of 〃Victors and more；〃 so
Cimon； honouring Greece with a sea and land victory on the same day；
may claim a certain pre…eminence among commanders。 Lucullus received
command from his country； whereas Cimon brought it to his。 He
annexed the territories of enemies to her； who ruled over confederates
before； but Cimon made his country； which when he began was a mere
follower of others； both rule over confederates； and conquer enemies
too； forcing the Persians to relinquish the sea； and inducing the
Lacedaemonians to surrender their command。 If it be the chiefest thing
in a general to obtain the obedience of his soldiers by good…will；
Lucullus was despised by his own army； but Cimon highly prized even by
others。 His soldiers deserted the one； the confederates came over to
the other。 Lucullus came home without the forces which he led out；
Cimon； sent out at first to serve as one confederate among others；
returned home with authority even over these also； having successfully
effected for his city three most difficult services； establishing
peace with the enemy； dominion over confederates； and concord with
Lacedaemon。 Both aiming to destroy great kingdoms； and subdue all
Asia； failed in their enterprise； Cimon by a simple piece of
ill…fortune； for he died when general； in the height of success； but
Lucullus no man can wholly acquit of being in fault with his soldiers；
whether it were he did not know； or would not comply with； the
distastes and complaints of his army； which brought him at last into
such extreme unpopularity among them。 But did not Cimon also suffer
like him in this？ For the citizens arraigned him； and did not leave
off till they had banished him； that； as Plato says； they might not
hear him for the space of ten years。 For high and noble minds seldom
please the vulgar； or are acceptable to them； for the force they use
to straighten their distorted actions gives the same pain as surgeons'
bandages do in bringing dislocated bones to their natural position。
Both of them； perhaps； come off pretty much with an equal acquittal on
this count。
Lucullus very much outwent him in war； being the first Roman who
carried an army over Taurus； passed the Tigris； took and burned the
royal palaces of Asia in the sight of the kings； Tigranocerta； Cabira；
Sinope； and Nisibis； seizing and overwhelming the northern parts as
far as the Phasis； the east as far as Media； and making the South
and Red Sea his own through the kings of the Arabians。 He shattered
the power of the kings； and narrowly missed their persons； while
like wild beasts they fled away into deserts and thick and
impassable woods。 In demonstration of this superiority； we see that
the Persians； as if no great harm had befallen them under Cimon；
soon after appeared in arms against the Greeks； and overcame and
destroyed their numerous forces in Egypt。 But after Lucullus； Tigranes
and Mithridates were able to do nothing； the latter； being disabled
and broken in the former wars； never dared to show his army to
Pompey outside the camp； but fled away to Bosporus； and there died。
Tigranes threw himself； naked and unarmed； down before Pompey； and
taking his crown from his head laid it at his feet； complimenting
Pompey with what was not his own； but； in real truth； the conquest
already effected by Lucullus。 And when he received the ensigns of
majesty again； he was well pleased； evidently because he had forfeited
them before。 And the commander； as the wrestler； is to be accounted to
have done most who leaves an adversary almost conquered for his
successor。 Cimon moreover； when he took the command； found the power
of the king broken； and the spirits of the Persians humbled by their
great defeats and incessant routs under Themistocles； Pausanias； and
Leontychides； and thus easily overcame the bodies of men whose souls
were quelled and defeated beforehand。 But Tigranes had never yet in
many combats been beaten； and was flushed with success when he engaged
with Lucullus。 There is no comparison between the 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
supernatural favour also appears to have attended both of them；
directing the one what to do； the other what to avoid； and thus they
have； both of them； so to say； the vote of the gods； to declare them
noble and divine characters。
THE END