Timoleon's； setting aside the necessity he was placed under in
reference to his brother； to which； as Timaeus observes； we may not
fitly apply that exclamation of Sophocles…
〃O gods！ what Venus； or what grace divine；
Did here with human workmanship combine？〃
For as the poetry of Antimachus； and the painting of Dionysius； the
artists of Colophon； though full of force and vigour； yet appeared
to be strained and elaborate in comparison with the pictures of
Nicomachus and the verses of Homer； which； besides their general
strength and beauty； have the peculiar charm of seeming to have been
executed with perfect ease and readiness； so the expeditions and
acts of Epaminondas or Agesilaus； that were full of toil and effort；
when compared with the easy and natural as well as noble and
glorious achievements of Timoleon； compel our fair and unbiased
judgment to pronounce the latter not indeed the effect of fortune； but
the success of fortunate merit。 Though he himself indeed ascribed that
success to the sole favour of fortune； and both in the letters which
he wrote to his friends at Corinth； and in the speeches he made to the
people of Syracuse； he would say； that he was thankful unto God；
who； designing to save Sicily； was pleased to honour him with the name
and title of the deliverance he vouchsafed it。 And having built a
chapel in his house； he there sacrificed to Good Hap； as a deity
that had favoured him； and devoted the house itself to the Sacred
Genius； it being a house which the Syracusans had selected for him； as
a special reward and monument of his brave exploits； granting him
together with it the most agreeable and beautiful piece of land in the
whole country； where he kept his residence for the most part； and
enjoyed a private life with his wife and children； who came to him
from Corinth。 For he returned thither no more； unwilling to be
concerned in the broils and tumults of Greece； or to expose himself to
public envy （the fatal mischief which great commanders continually run
into； from the insatiable appetite for honours and authority）； but
wisely chose to spend the remainder of his days in Sicily； and there
partake of the blessings he himself had procured； the greatest of
which was to behold so many cities flourish； and so many thousands
of people live happy through his means。
As； however； not only； as Simonides says； 〃on every lark must grow a
crest；〃 but also in every democracy there must spring up a false
accuser； so was it at Syracuse： two of their popular spokesmen；
Laphystius and Demaenetus by name； fell to slander Timoleon。 The
former of whom requiring him to put in sureties that he would answer
to an indictment that would be brought against him； Timoleon would not
suffer the citizens； who were incensed at this demand； to oppose it or
hinder the proceeding； since he of his own accord had been； he said；
at all that trouble； and run so many dangerous risks for this very end
and purpose； that every one who wished to try matters by law should
freely have recourse to it。 And when Demaenetus； in a full audience of
the people； laid several things to his charge which had been done
while he was general； he made no reply to him； but only said he was
much indebted to the gods for granting the request he had so often
made them； namely； that he might live to see the Syracusans enjoy that
liberty of speech which they now seemed to be masters of。
Timoleon； therefore； having by confession of all done the greatest
and the noblest things of any Greek of his age； and alone
distinguished himself in those actions to which their orators and
philosophers； in their harangues and panegyrics at their solemn
national assemblies； used to exhort and incite the Greeks； and being
withdrawn beforehand by happy fortune； unspotted and without blood；
from the calamities of civil war； in which ancient Greece was soon
after involved； having also given full proof； as of his sage conduct
and manly courage to the barbarians and tyrants； so of his justice and
gentleness to the Greeks； and his friends in general； having raised；
too； the greater part of those trophies he won in battle without any
tears shed or any mourning worn by the citizens either of Syracuse
or Corinth； and within less than eight years' space delivered Sicily
from its inveterate grievances and intestine distempers； and given
it up free to the native inhabitants； began； as he was now growing
old； to find his eyes fail； and awhile after became perfectly blind。
Not that he had done anything himself which might occasion this
defect； or was deprived of his sight by any outrage of fortune； it
seems rather to have been some inbred and hereditary weakness that was
founded in natural causes； which by length of time came to discover
itself。 For it is said； that several of his kindred and family were
subject to the like gradual decay； and lost all use of their eyes；
as he did； in their declining years。 Athanis the historian tells us
that even during the war against Hippo and Mamercus； while he was in
his camp at Mylae； there appeared a white speck within his eye； from
whence all could foresee the deprivation that was coming on him； this；
however； did not hinder him then from continuing the siege； and
prosecuting the war； till he got both the tyrants into his power；
but upon his coming back to Syracuse； he presently resigned the
authority of sole commander； and besought the citizens to excuse him
from any further service； since things were already brought to so fair
an issue。 Nor is it so much to be wondered that he himself should bear
the misfortune without any marks of trouble； but the respect and
gratitude which the Syracusans showed him when he was entirely blind
may justly deserve our admiration。 They used to go themselves to visit
him in troops and brought all the strangers that travelled through
their country to his house and manor； that they also might have the
pleasure to see their noble benefactor； making it the great matter
of their joy and exultation； that when； after so many brave and
happy exploits； he might have returned with triumph into Greece； he
should disregard all the glorious preparations that were there made to
receive him； and choose rather to stay here and end his days among
them。 Of the various things decreed and done in honour of Timoleon；
I consider one most signal testimony to have been the vote which
they passed； that； whenever they should be at war with any foreign
nation； they should make use of none but a Corinthian general。 The
method； also； of their proceeding in council was a noble demonstration
of the same deference for his person。 For； determining matters of less
consequence themselves； they always called him to advise in the more
difficult cases； and such as were of greater moment。 He was； on
these occasions； carried through the market…place in a litter； and
brought in； sitting； into the theatre； where the people with one voice
saluted him by his name； and then； after returning the courtesy； and
pausing for a time； till the noise of their gratulations and blessings
began to cease； he heard the business in debate； and delivered his
opinion。 This being confirmed by a general suffrage； his servants went
back with the litter through the midst of the assembly； the people
waiting on him out with acclamations and applauses； and then returning
to consider other public matters； which they could despatch in his
absence。 Being thus cherished in his old age； with all the respect and
tenderness due to a common father； he was seized with a very slight
indisposition； which； however； was sufficient； with the aid of time；
to put a period to his life。 There was an allotment then of certain
days given； within the space of which the Syracusans were to provide
whatever should be necessary for his burial； and all the
neighbouring country people and strangers were to make their
appearance in a body； so that the funeral pomp was set out with
great splendour and magnificence in all other respects； and the
bier； decked with ornaments and trophies； was borne by a select body
of young men over that ground where the palace and castle of Dionysius
stood before they were demolished by Timoleon。 There attended on the
solemnity several thousands of men and women； all crowned with
flowers； and arrayed in fresh and clean attire； which made it look
like the procession of a public festival； while the language of all；
and their tears mingling with their praise and benediction of the dead
Timoleon； manifestly showed that it was not any superficial honour； or
commanded homage； which they paid him； but the testimony of a just
sorrow for his death； and the expression of true affection。 The bier
at length being placed upon the pile of wood that was kindled to
consume his corpse； Demetrius； one of their loudest criers；
proceeded to read a proclamation to the following purpose： 〃The people
of Syracuse have made a special decree to inter Timoleon； the son of
Timodemus； the Corinthian； at the common expense of two hundred minas；
and to honour his memory for ever； by the establishment of annual
prizes to be competed for in music； and horse…races； and all sorts
of bodily exercise； and this； because he suppressed the tyrants；
overthrew the barbarians； replenished the principal cities； that
were desolate； with new inhabitants； and then restored the Sicilian
Greeks to the privilege of living by their own laws。〃 Besides this；
they made a tomb for him in the market…place； which they afterwards
built round with colonnades； and attached to it places of exercise for
the young men； and gave it the name of the Timoleonteum。 And keeping
to that form and order of civil policy and observing those laws and
constitutions which he left them； they lived themselves a long time in
great prosperity。
THE END