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LIFE OF PLUTARCH.

and writing the Lives of these noble men, to be a familiar haunting and frequenting of them. Also he thought, [said he himselfe] that he lodged these men one after another in his house, entering into consideration of their qualities, and that which was great in either of them,

choosing and

noted, and most worthy to be knowne in their sayings

Principally taking that which was to be

and deeds."

"

Of Plutarch in his domestic relations we gather much information from his own writings. The name of his father has not been preserved, but it was probably Nikarchus, from the common habit of Greek families to repeat a name in alternate generations. His brothers Timon and Lamprias are frequently mentioned in his

essays and

the most

dialogues, whero Timon is spoken of in affectionate terms. Rualdus has ingeniously name of his wife, Timoxena, from internal

recovered the

evidence afforded by his writings. A touching letter is still extant, addressed by Plutarch to his wife, bidding her not give way to excessive grief at the death of their only daughter, who was named Timoxena after her Autobulus and Plutarch are especially spoken of as his sons, since the treatise on the Timacus of Plato is dedicated

mother.

to them,

The number of his sons we cannot exactly state.

occasion of one of the dinner-partics recorded in the Table

and the marriage of his son Antobulus is tho

Talk.

which

Another person, one Soklarus, is spoken of in terms Beem to imply that he was Plutarch's son, but this

is nowhere definitely stated. Ilis treatise also on Marriago Questions, addressed to Eurydike and Pollianus, seems to speak of her as having been recently an inmate of his house, but without enabling us to form an opinion whether

she

describes Was

his daughter or not. A modern writer well

his maturer years by the words: "Plutarch was

• North's 'Plutarch,' 1631, p. 1198.

well born, well taught, well conditioned; a self-respecting amiable man, who know how to better a good education by travels, by devotion to affairs private and public; a master of ancient culture, he read books with a just criticism: eminently social, he was a king in his own house, surrounded himself with select friends, and knew the high value of good conversation; and declares in a letter written to his wife that he finds scarcely an erasure, as in a book well written, in the happiness of his life.'"

Ile was an active member of the little community of Chacronca, being archon of that town. Whether this dignity was annual or for life we do not know, but it was probably the former, and very likely he served it moro than once. He speaks of his devotion to the duties of his office as causing him to incur the ridicule of some of his fellow-citizens, when they saw him engaged in the humblest duties, "But," he says, in Clough's version, “the story told about Antisthenes comes to my assistance. When some one expressed surprise at his carrying home some pickled fish from market in his own hands, It is, ho answered, for myself. Conversely, when I am reproached with standing by and watching while tiles are measured、 out, and stone and mortar brought up, This service, I say, is not for myself, it is for my country."

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Plutarch was for many years a priest of Apollo at Delphi. The scene of some of his Table Talk' is laid there, when he in his priestly capacity gives a dinner party in honour of the victor in the poetic contest at the Pythian games. Probably this office was a source of considerable income, and as the journey from Chacronca to Delphi, across Mount Parnassus, is a very short one, it interfered but little with his literary and municipal business. In his essay on "Whether an old man should continue to take part in public life," he says, "You know, Euphanes, that I have for many Pythiads (that is, periods of four years

LIFE OF PLUTARCH.

elapsing between the Pythian festivals), exercised the office of Priest of Apollo: yet I think you would not say to me, 'Plutarch, you havo sacrificed enough; you have led processions and dances enough; it is time, now that you are old, to lay aside the garland from your head, and to retire as superannuated from the oracle.''

passed peacefully away. "Notwithstanding," as North says, Thus respected and loved by all, Plutarch's old ago that he was very old, yet ho made an end of the Lives... Furthermore, Plutarch, having lived alwaies honourably even to old age, he died quietly among his children and friends in the city of Chacronca, leaving his writings, an honour his citizens did him, there was a statue set up for him by ordinance of the people of Rome, in memory of his

immortal

virtucs.

Savour of his name, unto posterity. Besides the

Bomo part of the writings of this great man, and minished Bome other: neverthelesse those which remaine, being a great number, have excellent use to this day among us."

Now furthermore, though time hath devoured

PLUTARCH'S LIVES.

LIFE OF THESEUS.

66

I. As in books on geography, Sossius Senecio, the writers crowd the countries of which they know nothing into the furthest margins of their maps, and write upon them legends such as, "In this direction lie waterless deserts full of wild beasts;" or, Unexplored morasses;" or, "Here it is as cold as Scythia;" or, "A frozen sca;" so I, in my writings on Parallel Lives, go through that period of time where history rests on the firm basis of facts, and may truly say, "All beyond this is portentous and fabulous, inhabited by pocts and mythologers, and there is nothing true or certain."

When I had written the lives of Lykurgus the lawgiver and Numa the king, it appeared to me natural to go back to Romulus also, as I was engaged on the history of times so close to his. So when I was reflecting, in the words of Eschylus,

"Against this chieftain, who can best contend?

Whom shall I match in fight, what trusty friend ?"

it occurred to me to compare the founder of the fair and famous city of Athens with him, and to contrast Theseus with the father of unconquered glorious Rome. Putting aside, then, the mythological clement, let us examine his story, and wherever it obstinately defies probability, and cannot be explained by natural agency, let us beg the indulgence of our readers, who will kindly make allowance for tales of antiquity.

B

PLUTARCH'S LIVES.

II. Theseus appears to have several points of resemblance thildren, and were reputed to descend from the Gods.

Both were unacknowledged illegitimate

to Romulus.

64

Both warriors, well we all do know,"

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and both wero wise as well as powerful. The one founded Rome, while the other was the joint founder of Athens; and these are two of the most famous of cities. Both carried off women by violence, and neither of them escaped domestic misfortune and retribution, but towards the end if we may put any trust in the least extravagant writings of their lives both were at variance with their countrymen, upon the subject. Ill. Theseus traced his descent on the father's side from mother's side he was descended from Pelops. For Pelops surpassed all the other princes of the Peloponnesus in the number of his children as well as in wealth; and of these rulers in various cities. One of these, Pittheus, the grandmen of the country, and established inany of his sons as father of Theseus, founded Trozen, which is indeed but man of his time for eloquence and wisdom. The nature a little stato, though ho had a greater reputation than any

and the original Autocthones, while on tho

Erechtheus

of this

same

Wisdom of his seems to have been much of the as that which made the reputation of

kind

Hesiod, in the collection of maxims known as the 'Works and Days.' One of theso maxims is indeed ascribed to

Pittheus:

"Let promised pay be truly paid to friends."

At any rate, this is what Aristotle the philosopher has recorded; and also Euripides, when he speaks of Hippolytus

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child of holy Pittheus," shows the prevailing opinion

about Pittheus. Now geus desired to have children, and the Oraclo at Delphi is said to have given him tho well-known response, forbidding him to have intercourse

Autochthones was the name by which the original citizens of

Athens called themselves, meaning that they were sprung from the
Dil itself, not immigrants from some other country.

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