disciples； to make trial of his continency； having slipt Lais； that
beautiful and famous courtesan； into his bed； quite naked； excepting the
arms of her beauty and her wanton allurements； her philters； finding
that； in despite of his reason and philosophical rules； his unruly flesh
began to mutiny； he caused those members of his to be burned that he
found consenting to this rebellion。 Whereas the passions which wholly
reside in the soul； as ambition； avarice； and the rest； find the reason
much more to do； because it cannot there be helped but by its own means；
neither are those appetites capable of satiety； but grow sharper and
increase by fruition。
The sole example of Julius Caesar may suffice to demonstrate to us the
disparity of these appetites； for never was man more addicted to amorous
delights than he： of which one testimony is the peculiar care he had of
his person； to such a degree； as to make use of the most lascivious means
to that end then in use； as to have all the hairs of his body twitched
off； and to wipe all over with perfumes with the extremest nicety。
And he was a beautiful person in himself； of a fair complexion； tall；
and sprightly； full faced； with quick hazel eyes； if we may believe
Suetonius； for the statues of him that we see at Rome do not in all
points answer this description。 Besides his wives； whom he four times
changed； without reckoning the amours of his boyhood with Nicomedes； king
of Bithynia； he had the maidenhead of the renowned Cleopatra； queen of
Egypt； witness the little Caesario whom he had by her。 He also made love
to。 Eunoe； queen of Mauritania； and at Rome； to Posthumia； the wife of
Servius Sulpitius； to Lollia； the wife of Gabinius to Tertulla； the wife
of Crassus； and even to Mutia； wife to the great Pompey： which was the
reason； the Roman historians say； that she was repudiated by her husband；
which Plutarch confesses to be more than he knew； and the Curios； both
father and son； afterwards reproached Pompey； when he married Caesar's
daughter； that he had made himself son…in…law to a man who had made him
cuckold； and one whom he himself was wont to call AEgisthus。 Besides all
these； he entertained Servilia； Cato's sister and mother to Marcus
Brutus； whence； every one believes； proceeded the great affection he had
to Brutus； by reason that he was born at a time when it was likely he
might be his son。 So that I have reason； methinks； to take him for a man
extremely given to this debauch； and of very amorous constitution。 But
the other passion of ambition； with which he was infinitely smitten；
arising in him to contend with the former； it was boon compelled to give
way。
And here calling to mind Mohammed； who won Constantinople； and finally
exterminated the Grecian name； I do not know where these two were so
evenly balanced； equally an indefatigable lecher and soldier： but where
they both meet in his life and jostle one another； the quarrelling
passion always gets the better of the amorous one； and this though it was
out of its natural season never regained an absolute sovereignty over the
other till he had arrived at an extreme old age and unable to undergo the
fatigues of war。
What is related for a contrary example of Ladislaus； king of Naples； is
very remarkable； that being a great captain； valiant and ambitious； he
proposed to himself for the principal end of his ambition； the execution
of his pleasure and the enjoyment of some rare and excellent beauty。 His
death sealed up all the rest： for having by a close and tedious siege
reduced the city of Florence to so great distress that the inhabitants
were compelled to capitulate about surrender； he was content to let them
alone； provided they would deliver up to him a beautiful maid he had
heard of in their city； they were forced to yield to it； and by a private
injury to avert the public ruin。 She was the daughter of a famous
physician of his time； who； finding himself involved in so foul a
necessity； resolved upon a high attempt。 As every one was lending a hand
to trick up his daughter and to adorn her with ornaments and jewels to
render her more agreeable to this new lover； he also gave her a
handkerchief most richly wrought； and of an exquisite perfume； an
implement they never go without in those parts； which she was to make use
of at their first approaches。 This handkerchief； poisoned with his
greatest art； coming to be rubbed between the chafed flesh and open
pores； both of the one and the other； so suddenly infused the poison；
that immediately converting their warm into a cold sweat they presently
died in one another's arms。
But I return to Caesar。 His pleasures never made him steal one minute of
an hour； nor go one step aside from occasions that might any way conduce
to his advancement。 This passion was so sovereign in him over all the
rest； and with so absolute authority possessed his soul； that it guided
him at pleasure。 In truth； this troubles me； when； as to everything
else； I consider the greatness of this man； and the wonderful parts
wherewith he was endued； learned to that degree in all sorts of knowledge
that there is hardly any one science of which he has not written； so
great an orator that many have preferred his eloquence to that of Cicero；
and he； I conceive； did not think himself inferior to him in that
particular； for his two anti…Catos were written to counterbalance the
elocution that Cicero had expended in his Cato。 As to the rest； was ever
soul so vigilant； so active； and so patient of labour as his？ and；
doubtless； it was embellished with many rare seeds of virtue； lively；
natural； and not put on； he was singularly sober； so far from being
delicate in his diet； that Oppius relates； how that having one day at
table set before him medicated instead of common oil in some sauce； he
ate heartily of it； that he might not put his entertainer out of
countenance。 Another time he caused his baker to be whipped for serving
him with a finer than ordinary sort of bread。 Cato himself was wont to
say of him； that he was the first sober man who ever made it his business
to ruin his country。 And as to the same Cato's calling； him one day
drunkard； it fell out thus being both of them in the Senate； at a time
when Catiline's conspiracy was in question of which was Caesar was
suspected； one came and brought him a letter sealed up。 Cato believing
that it was something the conspirators gave him notice of； required him
to deliver into his hand； which Caesar was constrained to do to avoid
further suspicion。 It was by chance a love…letter that Servilia； Cato's
sister； had written to him； which Cato having read； he threw it back to
him saying； 〃There； drunkard。〃 This； I say； was rather a word of disdain
and anger than an express reproach of this vice； as we often rate those
who anger us with the first injurious words that come into our mouths；
though nothing due to those we are offended at； to which may be added
that the vice with which Cato upbraided him is wonderfully near akin to
that wherein he had surprised Caesar； for Bacchus and Venus； according to
the proverb； very willingly agree； but to me Venus is much more sprightly
accompanied by sobriety。 The examples of his sweetness and clemency to
those by whom he had been offended are infinite； I mean； besides those he
gave during the time of the civil wars； which； as plainly enough appears
by his writings； he practised to cajole his enemies； and to make them
less afraid of his future dominion and victory。 But I must also say；
that if these examples are not sufficient proofs of his natural
sweetness； they； at least； manifest a marvellous confidence and grandeur
of courage in this person。 He has often been known to dismiss whole
armies； after having overcome them； to his enemies； without ransom； or
deigning so much as to bind them by oath； if not to favour him； at least
no more to bear arms against him； he has three or four times taken some
of Pompey's captains prisoners； and as often set them at liberty。 Pompey
declared all those to be enemies who did not follow him to the war； he
proclaimed all those to be his friends who sat still and did not actually
take arms against him。 To such captains of his as ran away from him to
go over to the other side； he sent； moreover； their arms； horses； and
equipage： the cities he had taken by force he left at full liberty to
follow which side they pleased； imposing no other garrison upon them but
the memory of his gentleness and clemency。 He gave strict and express
charge； the day of his great battle of Pharsalia； that； without the
utmost necessity； no one should lay a hand upon the citizens of Rome。
These； in my opinion； were very hazardous proceedings； and 'tis no wonder
if those in our civil war； who； like him； fight against the ancient
estate of their country； do not follow his example； they are
extraordinary means； and that only appertain to Caesar's fortune； and to
his admirable foresight in the conduct of affairs。 When I consider the
incomparable grandeur of his soul； I excuse victory that it could not
disengage itself from him； even in so unjust and so wicked a cause。
To return to his cl