THE COMPARISON OF DEMOSTHENES AND CICERO
by Plutarch
translated by John Dryden
THESE are the most memorable circumstances recorded in history of
Demosthenes and Cicero which have come to our knowledge。 But
omitting an exact comparison of their respective faculties in
speaking； yet thus much seems fit to be said； that Demosthenes； to
make himself a master in rhetoric； applied all the faculties he had；
natural or acquired； wholly that way that he far surpassed in force
and strength of eloquence all his contemporaries in political and
judicial speaking； in grandeur and majesty all the panegyrical
orators； and in accuracy and science all the logicians and
rhetoricians of his day； that Cicero was highly educated； and by his
diligent study became a most accomplished general scholar in all these
branches； having left behind him numerous philosophical treatises of
his own on Academic principles as； indeed； even in his written
speeches； both political and judicial； we see him continually trying
to show his learning by the way。 And one may discover the different
temper of each of them in their speeches。 For Demosthenes's oratory
was without all embellishment and jesting； wholly composed for real
effect and seriousness； not smelling of the lamp； as Pytheas
scoffingly said； but of the temperance； thoughtfulness； austerity； and
grave earnestness of his temper。 Whereas Cicero's love of mockery
often ran him into scurrility； and in his love of laughing away
serious arguments in judicial cases by jests and facetious remarks；
with a view to the advantage of his clients； he paid too little regard
to what was decent： saying； for example； in his defence of Caelius；
that he had done no absurd thing in such plenty and affluence to
indulge himself in pleasures； it being a kind of madness not to
enjoy the things we possess； especially since the most eminent
philosophers have asserted pleasures to be the chiefest good。 So
also we are told that when Cicero； being consul； undertook the defence
of Murena against Cato's prosecution； by way of bantering Cato； he
made a long series of jokes upon the absurd paradoxes； as they are
called； of the Stoic set； so that a loud laughter passing from the
crowd to the judges； Cato； with a quiet smile； said to those that
sat next him； 〃My friends； what an amusing consul we have。〃
And； indeed； Cicero was by natural temper very much disposed to
mirth and pleasantry； and always appeared with a smiling and serene
countenance。 But Demosthenes had constant care and thoughtfulness in
his look； and a serious anxiety； which he seldom； if ever； laid aside；
and therefore； was accounted by his enemies； as he himself
confessed； morose and ill…mannered。
Also； it is very evident； out of their several writings； that
Demosthenes never touched upon his own praises but decently and
without offence when there was need of it and for some weightier
end； but upon other occasions modestly and sparingly。 But Cicero's
immeasurable boasting of himself in his orations argues him guilty
of an uncontrollable appetite for distinction； his cry being
evermore that arms should give place to the gown； and the soldier's
laurel to the tongue。 And at last we find him extolling not only his
deeds and actions； but his orations also； as well those that were only
spoken； as those that were published； as if he were engaged in a
boyish trial of skill； who should speak best； with the rhetoricians；
Isocrates and Anaximenes； not as one who could claim the task to guide
and instruct the Roman nation； the…
〃Soldier full…armed； terrific to the foe。〃
It is necessary； indeed； for a political leader to be an able
speaker； but it is an ignoble thing for any man to admire and relish
the glory of his own eloquence。 And； in this matter； Demosthenes had a
more than ordinary gravity and magnificence of mind； accounting his
talent in speaking nothing more than a mere accomplishment and
matter of practice； the success of which must depend greatly on the
good…will and candour of his hearers； and regarding those who pride
themselves on such accounts to be men of a low and petty disposition。
The power of persuading and governing the people did； indeed；
equally belong to both； so that those who had armies and camps at
command stood in need of their assistance； as Charas； Diopithes； and
Leosthenes of Demosthenes's； Pompey and young Caesar of Cicero's； as
the latter himself admits in his Memoirs addressed to Agrippa and
Maecenas。 But what are thought and commonly said most to demonstrate
and try the tempers of men； namely； authority and place； by moving
every passion； and discovering every frailty； these are things which
Demosthenes never received； nor was he ever in a position to give such
proof of himself； having never obtained any eminent office； nor led
any of those armies into the field against Philip which he raised by
his eloquence。 Cicero； on the other hand； was sent quaestor into
Sicily； and proconsul into Cilicia and Cappadocia； at a time when
avarice was at the height； and the commanders and governors who were
employed abroad； as though they thought it a mean thing to steal；
set themselves to seize by open force； so that it seemed no heinous
matter to take bribes； but he that did it most moderately was in
good esteem。 And yet he； at this time； gave the most abundant proofs
alike of his contempt of riches and of his humanity and good…nature。
And at Rome； when he was created consul in name； but indeed received
sovereign and dictatorial authority against Catiline and his
conspirators； he attested the truth of Plato's prediction； that then
the miseries of states would be at an end when； by a happy fortune；
supreme power； wisdom； and justice should be united in one。
It is said； to the reproach of Demosthenes； that his eloquence was
mercenary that he privately made orations for Phormion and
Apollodorus； though adversaries in the same cause； that he was charged
with moneys received from the King of Persia； and condemned for bribes
from Harpalus。 And should we grant that all those （and they are not
few） who have made these statements against him have spoken what is
untrue； yet that Demosthenes was not the character to look without
desire on the presents offered him out of respect and gratitude by
royal persons； and that one who lent money on maritime usury was
likely to be thus indifferent； is what we cannot assert。 But that
Cicero refused； from the Sicilians when he was quaestor； from the King
of Cappadocia when he was proconsul； and from his friends at Rome when
he was in exile； many presents； though urged to receive them； has been
said already。
Moreover； Demosthenes's banishment was infamous； upon conviction for
bribery； Cicero's very honourable； for ridding his country of a set of
villains。 Therefore； when Demosthenes fled his country； no man
regarded it； for Cicero's sake the senate changed their habit； and put
on mourning； and would not be persuaded to make any act before
Cicero's return was decreed。 Cicero； however； passed his exile idly in
Macedonia。 But the very exile of Demosthenes made up a great part of
the services he did for his country； for he went through the cities of
Greece； and everywhere； as we have said； joined in the conflict on
behalf of the Grecians； driving out the Macedonian ambassadors； and
approving himself a much better citizen than Themistocles and
Alcibiades did in the like fortune。 And； after his return； he again
devoted himself to the same public service； and continued firm to
his opposition to Antipater and the Macedonians。 Whereas Laelius
reproached Cicero in the senate for sitting silent when Caesar； a
beardless youth； asked leave to come forward； contrary to the law；
as a candidate for the consulship； and Brutus； in his epistles；
charges him with nursing and rearing a greater and more heavy
tyranny than that they had removed。
Finally； Cicero's death excites our pity； for an old man to be
miserably carried up and down by his servants； flying and hiding
himself from that death which was； in the course of nature； so near at
hand； and yet at last to be murdered。 Demosthenes； though he seemed at
first a little to supplicate； yet； by his preparing and keeping the
poison by him； demands our admiration； and still more admirable was
his using it。 When the temple of the god no longer afforded him a
sanctuary； he took refuge； as it were； at a mightier altar； freeing
himself from arms and soldiers； and laughing to scorn the cruelty of
Antipater。
THE END