Such was the generous and high-souled speech, which Æmilius made to the people, from a spirit of magnanimity that was perfectly honest and free from artifice.

Though he pitied the fate of Perseus, and was well inclined to serve him, yet all he could do for him was to get him removed from the common prison to a cleaner apartment and better diet. In that confinement, according to most writers, he starved himself to death. But some writers of the time say, the manner of his death was very strange and peculiar. The soldiers (they inform us) who were his keepers, being on some account provoked at him and determined to wreak their malice, when they could find no other means of effecting it, kept him from sleep; taking turns to watch him, and using such extreme diligence to keep him from rest, that at last he was quite wearied out and died 102. Two of his sons also died: and the third, named Alexander, is said to have been distinguished for his art in turning and other small work; and, having perfectly learned to speak and write the Roman language, was employed by the magistrates as a clerk 103, in which capacity he showed himself very serviceable and ingenious.

Of the acts of Æmilius, with regard to Macedon, the most acceptable to the Romans was, his bringing them so much money into the public treasury, that the people had no occasion to pay any taxes till the times of Hirtius and Pansa, who were consuls in the first war perhaps not less affecting, lamentation of Logan, the Indian, described in Morse's America, p. 18. Paulli in domo, præter se, nemo supercst, &c. The spirit of the savage however, as might be expected, in harmony with that of the Roman chieftain, than that of the Christian parent. In the two former, the advantages occurring to their respective countries form their consolation; the latter" prostrate on the earth, most unfeignedly recognises the divine justice, and in some degree submits to it," &c. But the whole passage is pathetic beyond my commendation.*

more

102 This account we have from Diod. Sic. xxvi. (ap. Phot. Biblioth.) Philip is said to have died before his father, but how or where cannot be collected, because the books of Livy and Diodorus Siculus, which treat of those times, are lost.

103 Here was a remarkable instance of the pride of the Roman senate, to have the son of a vanquished king for their clerk; while Nicomedes, the son of Prusas king of Bithynia, was educated by them with all imaginable pomp and splendor, because the father had placed him under the care of the republic.

between Aftony and Cæsar. Æmilius had also the uncommon and peculiar happiness to be highly honoured and caressed by the people, at the same time that he remained attached to the patrician party, and did nothing to ingratiate himself with the commonalty, but ever acted in concert with men of the first rank in matters of government. This conduct of his was afterward adduced, as a reproach to Scipio Africanus (the younger) by Appius. These two, being then the most considerable men in Rome, stood for the censorship; the one having the senate and the nobility on his side, for the Appian family were always in that interest, and the other not only great in himself, but ever greatly in favour with the people. When therefore Appius saw Scipio come into the Forum attended by a crowd of mean persons, and many who had been slaves but who were able to cabal, to influence the multitude, and to carry all before them either by solicitation or clamour, he cried out, "O Paulus Æmilius! groan, groan from beneath the earth, to think that Emilius the crier and Licinnius the rioter conduct thy son to the censorship!" It is no subject of wonder, however, that the cause of Scipio was espoused by the people, since he was continually heaping kindnesses upon them. But Emilius, though he ranged himself on the side of the nobility, was as much beloved by the populace as the most insinuating of their .demagogues. This appeared in their bestowing upon him among other honours that of the censorship 105, which is the most sacred of all offices, and which has high authority annexed to it in many respects, but particularly in the power of inquiring into the morals of the citizens. For the censors could expel from the senate any member, that had acted in a manner unworthy of his station,

104 Upon the amount of these sums, which thus exonerated the people from imposts for upward of a hundred and twenty years, authors widely differ. See and compare Liv. xliv. 40., Vell. Patere, i. 9., Plin. H. N. xxxiii. 3. &c.*

105 He was chosen censor with Q. Marcius Philippus, four years after his second consulship. Livy, in relating the institution, has well detailed the extent, of this authoritative office (iv. 8.) It was established A. U. C. 311. A. C. 443,*

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and enroll any man of character in that body; and they could disgrace any one of the equestrian order, who had behaved licentiously, by taking away his horse. They also took account of the value of each man's estate, and registered the number of the people. The number of citizens, which Æmilius took, was three hundred and thirty-seven thousand four hundred and fifty-two. He declared Marcus Æmilius Lepidus first senator, who had already four times arrived at that dignity. He expelled only three senators, who were men of no note; and both he and his collegue Marcius Philippus behaved with equal moderation, in examining the conduct of the knights.

Having settled many important affairs while he bore this office, he fell into a distemper which at first appeared extremely dangerous, but in time became less threatening, though it was still troublesome and difficult to be cured. By the advice therefore of his physicians he sailed to Velia 106, where he remained a long time near the sea, in a very retired and quiet situation. In the mean time, the Romans deeply regretted his absence, and by frequent exclamations in the theatres testified their anxious desire to see him again. At last a public sacrifice coming on, which necessarily required his attendance, Æmilius seeming now sufficiently recovered returned to Rome; and offered that sacrifice, with the assistance of the other priests, amidst a prodigious multitude of people, who loudly expressed their joy for his return. Next day, he sacrificed again to the gods for his recovery. Having finished these rites, he returned home and went to bed: when suddenly before he could feel the change he fell into a delirium, in which he died the third day 107, having attained to every thing that is supposed to constitute the happiness of man.

His funeral was conducted with wonderful solemnity; the cordial regard of the public did honour to his virtue, by the best and happiest obsequies. These did not

106 Plutarch here writes Elea instead of Velia, and calls it a town in Italy, to distinguish it from one of the same name in Greece. 107 A. U. C. 594., t. 68.*

consist in the pomp of gold, of ivory, or other expenses and parade of preparation; but in esteem, in love, in veneration, expressed not only by his countrymen, but by his very enemies. For as many of the Spaniards, Ligurians, and Macedonians 108, as happened to be then at Rome and were young and robust, assisted in carrying his bier; while the aged followed it, calling Æmilius their benefactor and the preserver of their countries: as not only, at the time when he conquered them, he had gained the character of humanity; but continued likewise to do them services, and to take care of them, as if they had been his friends and relations.

The estate, which he left behind him, scarcely amounted to the sum of three hundred and seventy thousand denarii, of which he appointed his sons jointheirs: but Scipio the younger, who had been adopted into the opulent house of Africanus, gave up his part to his brother 109. Such is the account, which we have, of the life and character of Paulus Æmilius 11.

108 These were some of the Macedonian nobility, who were then at Rome. Valerius Maximus (II. x. 3.) says, it was like a second triumph to Æmilius, to have those persons assist in supporting his bier, which was adorned with representations of the disasters of their country. It was more honourable, in fact, than the triumph which he had led up; because this bore witness to his humanity, and the other only to his valour.

109 Scipio had previously distinguished himself by several noble donations to his mother and other connections. He appears indeed to have been a most generous man, and worthy of his disinterested father.

Plutarch, it should be observed, is rather at variance with himself in what he here states about Æmilius' property, as referred to his former statement on the same subject, p. 6.*

110 A saying of his to his son Scipio is worth mentioning; "a good general never gives battle, but when he is led to it either by the last necessity, or by a very favourable occasion." It is recorded by Sempronius Asellio, who served as military tribune under Scipio, at the siege of Numantia.

52

TIMOLEON AND PAULUS MILIUS

COMPARED.

If we consider these two great men, as history has represented them, we shall find no striking difference between them in the comparison. Both waged wars with very respectable enemies, the one with the Macedonians, the other with the Carthaginians; and both with extraordinary success. One of them conquered Macedon, and-crushed the house of Antigonus, which had flourished in a succession of seven kings ; the other expelled tyranny from Sicily, and restored that island to its ancient liberty. It may be remarked in favour of Æmilius, that he engaged Persens when in his full strength, and when he had beaten the Romans, but Timoleon with Dionysius, when reduced to very desperate circumstances: as, on the other hand, it may be observed to the advantage of Timoleon, that he subdued many tyrants, and defeated an immense army of Carthaginians with such forces as he could collect; "not veteran and experienced troops like those of Æmilius, but mercenaries and undisciplined men, who had been accustomed to fight only at their own pleasure. For equal exploits, with unequal means and preparations, are to be referred to the general who performs them.

In their employments, both paid a strict regard to justice and integrity. Æmilius was prepared from the first so to behave, by the laws and manners of his

111 Plutarch here only includes the princes regularly descended from Antigonus I., without noticing the occasional revolutions in that kingdom.*