This is Google's cache of classics.mit.edu/Plutarch/s_e_comp.1b.txt.
Google's cache is the snapshot that we took of the page as we crawled the web.
The page may have changed since that time. Click here for the current page without highlighting.


Google is not affiliated with the authors of this page nor responsible for its content.

Provided by The Internet Classics Archive.
See bottom for copyright. Available online at
    http://classics.mit.edu//Plutarch/s_e_comp.html

The Comparison of Sertorius with Eumenes
By Plutarch


Translated by John Dryden

These are the most remarkable passages that are come to our knowledge
concerning Eumenes and Sertorius. In comparing their lives, we may
observe that this was common to them both; that being aliens, strangers,
and banished men, they came to be commanders of powerful forces, and
had the leading of numerous and warlike armies, made up of divers
nations. This was peculiar to Sertorius, that the chief command was,
by his whole party, freely yielded to him, as to the person of the
greatest merit and renown, whereas Eumenes had many who contested
the office with him, and only by his actions obtained the superiority.
They followed the one honestly, out of desire to be commanded by him;
they submitted themselves to the other for their own security, because
they could not command themselves. The one, being a Roman, was the
general of the Spaniards and Lusitanians, who for many years had been
under the subjection of Rome; and the other, a Chersonesian, who was
chief commander of the Macedonians, who were the great conquerors
of mankind, and were at that time subduing the world. Sertorius, being
already in high esteem for his former services in the wars and his
abilities in the senate, was advanced to the dignity of a general;
whereas Eumenes obtained this honour from the office of a writer,
or secretary, in which he had been despised. Nor did he only at first
rise from inferior opportunities, but afterwards, also, met with greater
impediments in the progress of his authority, and that not only from
those who publicly resisted him, but from many others that privately
conspired against him. It was much otherwise with Sertorius, not one
of whose party publicly opposed him, only late in life, and secretly,
a few of his acquaintance entered into a conspiracy against him. Sertorius
put an end to his dangers as often as he was victorious in the field,
whereas the victories of Eumenes were the beginning of his perils,
through the malice of those that envied him. 

Their deeds in war were equal and parallel, but their general inclinations
different. Eumenes naturally loved war and contention, but Sertorius
esteemed peace and tranquillity; when Eumenes might have lived in
safety, with honour, if he would have quietly retired out of their
way, he persisted in a dangerous contest with the greatest of the
Macedonian leaders; but Sertorius, who was unwilling to trouble himself
with any public disturbances, was forced, for the safety of his person,
to make war against those who would not suffer him to live in peace.
If Eumenes could have contented himself with the second place, Antigonus,
freed from his competition for the first, would have used him well,
and shown him favour, whereas Pompey's friends would never permit
Sertorius so much as to live in quiet. The one made war of his own
accord, out of a desire for command; and the other was constrained
to accept of command to defend himself from war that was made against
him. Eumenes was certainly a true lover of war, for he preferred his
covetous ambition before his own security; but Sertorius was truly
warlike, who procured his own safety by the success of his arms.

As to the manner of their deaths, it happened to one without the least
thought or surmise of it; but to the other when he suspected it daily;
which in the first argues an equitable temper, and a noble mind, not
to distrust his friends; but in the other it showed some infirmity
of spirit, for Eumenes intended to fly and was taken. The death of
Sertorius dishonoured not his life; he suffered that from his companions
which none of his enemies were ever able to perform. The other, not
being able to deliver himself before his imprisonment, being willing
also to live in captivity, did neither prevent nor expect his fate
with honour or bravery; for by meanly supplicating and petitioning,
he made his enemy, that pretended only to have power over his body,
to be lord and master of his body and mind. 

THE END

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright statement:
The Internet Classics Archive by Daniel C. Stevenson, Web Atomics.
World Wide Web presentation is copyright (C) 1994-2000, Daniel
C. Stevenson, Web Atomics.
All rights reserved under international and pan-American copyright
conventions, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part
in any form. Direct permission requests to classics@classics.mit.edu.
Translation of "The Deeds of the Divine Augustus" by Augustus is
copyright (C) Thomas Bushnell, BSG.