to life for the consideration of another； as many excellent persons have
done： and 'tis a mark of singular good nature to preserve old age （of
which the greatest convenience is the indifference as to its duration；
and a more stout and disdainful use of life）； when a man perceives that
this office is pleasing； agreeable； and useful to some person by whom he
is very much beloved。 And a man reaps by it a very pleasing reward； for
what can be more delightful than to be so dear to his wife； as upon her
account he shall become dearer to himself？ Thus has my Paulina loaded me
not only with her fears； but my own； it has not been sufficient to
consider how resolutely I could die； but I have also considered how
irresolutely she would bear my death。 I am enforced to live； and
sometimes to live in magnanimity。〃 These are his own words； as excellent
as they everywhere are。
CHAPTER XXXVI
OF THE MOST EXCELLENT MEN
If I should be asked my choice among all the men who have come to my
knowledge； I should make answer； that methinks I find three more
excellent than all the rest。
One of them Homer： not that Aristotle and Varro； for example； were not；
peradventure； as learned as he； nor that possibly Virgil was not equal to
him in his own art； which I leave to be determined by such as know them
both。 I who； for my part； understand but one of them； can only say this；
according to my poor talent； that I do not believe the Muses themselves
could ever go beyond the Roman：
〃Tale facit carmen docta testudine； quale
Cynthius impositis temperat articulis：〃
＇He plays on his learned lute a verse such as Cynthian Apollo
modulates with his imposed fingers。〃Propertius； ii。 34； 79。＇
and yet in this judgment we are not to forget that it is chiefly from
Homer that Virgil derives his excellence； that he is guide and teacher；
and that one touch of the Iliad has supplied him with body and matter out
of which to compose his great and divine AEneid。 I do not reckon upon
that； but mix several other circumstances that render to me this poet
admirable； even as it were above human condition。 And； in truth； I often
wonder that he who has produced； and； by his authority； given reputation
in the world to so many deities； was not deified himself。 Being blind
and poor； living before the sciences were reduced into rule and certain
observation； he was so well acquainted with them； that all those who have
since taken upon them to establish governments； to carry on wars； and to
write either of religion or philosophy； of what sect soever； or of the
arts； have made use of him as of a most perfect instructor in the
knowledge of all things； and of his books as of a treasury of all sorts
of learning：
〃Qui； quid sit pulcrum； quid turpe； quid utile； quid non；
Planius ac melius Chrysippo et Crantore dicit：〃
＇Who tells us what is good； what evil； what useful； what not； more
clearly and better than Chrysippus and Crantor？〃
Horace； Ep。； i。 2； 3。＇
and as this other says；
〃A quo； ceu fonte perenni；
Vatum Pieriis ora rigantur aquis〃
＇〃From which； as from a perennial spring； the lips of the poets
are moistened by Pierian waters。〃Ovid； Amoy。； iii。 9； 25。＇
and the other；
〃Adde Heliconiadum comites； quorum unus Homerus
Sceptra potitus；〃
＇〃Add the companions of the Muses； whose sceptre Homer has solely
obtained。〃Lucretius； iii。 1050。＇
and the other：
〃Cujusque ex ore profusos
Omnis posteritas latices in carmina duxit；
Amnemque in tenues ausa est deducere rivos。
Unius foecunda bonis。〃
＇〃From whose mouth all posterity has drawn out copious streams of
verse； and has made bold to turn the mighty river into its little
rivulets； fertile in the property of one man。〃
Manilius； Astyon。； ii。 8。＇
'Tis contrary to the order of nature that he has made the most excellent
production that can possibly be； for the ordinary birth of things is
imperfect； they thrive and gather strength by growing； whereas he
rendered the infancy of poesy and several other sciences mature； perfect；
and accomplished at first。 And for this reason he may be called the
first and the last of the poets； according to the fine testimony
antiquity has left us of him； 〃that as there was none before him whom he
could imitate； so there has been none since that could imitate him。〃
His words； according to Aristotle； are the only words that have motion
and action； the only substantial words。 Alexander the Great； having
found a rich cabinet amongst Darius' spoils； gave order it should be
reserved for him to keep his Homer in； saying： that he was the best and
most faithful counsellor he had in his military affairs。 For the same
reason it was that Cleomenes； the son of Anaxandridas； said that he was
the poet of the Lacedaemonians； for that he was an excellent master for
the discipline of war。 This singular and particular commendation is also
left of him in the judgment of Plutarch； that he is the only author in
the world that never glutted nor disgusted his readers； presenting
himself always another thing； and always flourishing in some new grace。
That wanton Alcibiades； having asked one； who pretended to learning； for
a book of Homer； gave him a box of the ear because he had none； which he
thought as scandalous as we should if we found one of our priests without
a Breviary。 Xenophanes complained one day to Hiero； the tyrant of
Syracuse； that he was so poor he had not wherewithal to maintain two
servants。 〃 What！〃 replied he； 〃Homer； who was much poorer than thou
art； keeps above ten thousand； though he is dead。 What did Panaetius
leave unsaid when he called Plato the Homer of the philosophers？ Besides
what glory can be compared to his？ Nothing is so frequent in men's
mouths as his name and works； nothing so known and received as Troy；
Helen； and the war about her； when perhaps there was never any such
thing。 Our children are still called by names that he invented above
three thousand years ago； who does not know Hector and Achilles？ Not
only some particular families； but most nations also seek their origin in
his inventions。 Mohammed； the second of that name； emperor of the Turks；
writing to our Pope Pius II。； 〃I am astonished；〃 says he； 〃that the
Italians should appear against me； considering that we have our common
descent from the Trojans； and that it concerns me as well as it does them
to revenge the blood of Hector upon the Greeks； whom they countenance
against me。〃 Is it not a noble farce wherein kings； republics； and
emperors have so many ages played their parts； and to which the vast
universe serves for a theatre？ Seven Grecian cities contended for his
birth； so much honour even his obscurity helped him to！
〃Smyrna； Rhodos； Colophon； Salamis； Chios； Argos； Athenm。〃
The other is Alexander the Great。 For whoever will consider the age at
which he began his enterprises； the small means by which he effected so
glorious a design； the authority he obtained in such mere youth with the
greatest and most experienced captains of the world； by whom he was
followed； the extraordinary favour wherewith fortune embraced and
favoured so many hazardous； not to say rash； exploits；
〃Impellens quicquid sibi summa petenti
Obstaret； gaudensque viam fecisse ruins；〃
＇〃Bearing down all who sought to withstand him； and pleased
to force his way by ruin。〃Lucan； i。 149。＇
that greatness； to have at the age of three…and…thirty years； passed
victorious through the whole habitable earth； and in half a life to have
attained to the utmost of what human nature can do； so that you cannot
imagine its just duration and the continuation of his increase in valour
and fortune； up to a due maturity of age； but that you must withal
imagine something more than man： to have made so many royal branches to
spring from his soldiers； leaving the world； at his death； divided
amongst four successors； simple captains of his army； whose posterity so
long continued and maintained that vast possession； so many excellent
virtues as he was master of； justice； temperance； liberality； truth in
his word； love towards his own people； and humanity towards those he
overcame； for his manners； in general； seem in truth incapable of any
manner of reproach； although some particular and extraordinary actions of
his may fall under censure。 But it is impossible to carry on such great
things as he did within the strict rules of justice； such as he are to be
judged in gross by the main end of their actions。 The ruin of Thebes and
Persepolis； the murder of Menander and of Ephistion's physician； the
massacre of so many Persian prisoners at one time； of a troop of Indian
soldiers not without prejudice to his word； and of the Cossians； so much
as to the very children； are indeed sallies that are not well to be
excused。 For； as to Clytus； the fault was more than redeemed； and that
very action； as much as any other whatever； man