en uncle by the means. They are both accused | doned by his people: the latter deserted his, of perfidy, in that one of them threw Artabazus even whilst they were fighting for him. The in prison; and the other killed Alexander. An- fault of Demetrius was, that, by his conduct, tony, however, has some apology in this case; for he had been abandoned and betrayed by Artabazus in Media. But Demetrius was suspected of laying a false accusation against Alexander, and of punishing, not the offender, but the injured.

There is this difference, too, in their military operations, that Demetrius gained every victory himself, and many of Antony's laurels were won by his lieutenants.

Both lost their empire by their own fault, but by different means. The former was aban

he lost the affection of his army: the fault_of Antony, his desertion and neglect of that affection. Neither of them can be approved in their death; but Demetrius much less than Antony; for he suffered himself to fall into the hands of the enemy, and, with a spirit that was truly bestial, endured an imprisonment of three years for nothing but the low indulgences of appetite. There was a deplorable weakness, and many disgraceful circumstances attending the death of Antony; but he effected it at last without falling into the enemy's hands.

DION.

than themselves. These things, however, I must refer to another occasion, and in this twelfth book of parallel lives, of which Dion and Brutus are the subjects, I shall begin with the more ancient.

As we learn from Simonides, my dear Senecio, that the Trojans were by no means offended at the Corinthians for joining the confederates in the Grecian war, because the family of Glaucus, their own ally, was originally of Corinth, so neither the Greeks nor the Romans have rea- After Dionysius the elder had seized the son to complain of the academy, which has been government of Sicily, he married the daughter equally favourable to both. This will appear of Hermocrates, a Syracusan. But, as the mo from the lives of Brutus and Dion; for, as onenarchic power was yet but ill established, she was the scholar of Plato, and the other edu- had the misfortune to be so much abused in her cated in his principles, they came like wrest-person by an outrageous faction that she put lers from the same Palæstra, to engage in the greatest conflicts. Both by their conduct, in which there was a great similarity, confirmed that observation of their master, that " Power and fortune must concur with prudence and justice, to effect any thing great in a political capacity:" but as Hippomachus, the wrestler said, that he could distinguish his scholars at a distance, though they were only carrying meat from the market; so the sentiments of those who have had a polite education, must have a similar influence on their manners, and give a peculiar grace and propriety to their conduct.

Accident, however, rather than design, gave a similarity to the lives of these two men; and both were cut off by an untimely death, before they could carry the purposes, which they had pursued with so much labour, into execution. The most singular circumstance attending their death was, that both had a divine warning of it, in the appearance of a frightful spectre. There are those, indeed, who say, that no man in his senses ever saw a spectre; that these are the delusive visions of women and children; or of men whose intellects are affected by some infirmity of the body: and who believe that their absurd imaginations are of divine inspiration. But of Dion and Brutus, men of firm and philosophic minds, whose understandings were not affected by any constitutional infirmity;-if such men could pay so much credit to the appearance of spectres, as to give an account of them to their friends, I see no reason why we should depart from the opinion of the ancients, that men had their evil genii, who disturbed :hem with fears, and distressed their virtue, est by a steady and uniform pursuit of it, they should hereafter obtain a happier allotment

an end to her life. When Dionysius was confirmed in his government, he married two wives at the same time. One was Doris, a native of Locris, the other Aristomache, the daughter of Hipparinus, who was a principal person in Syracuse, and colleague with Dionysius, when he was first appointed general of the Sicilian forces. It is said that he married these wives on the same day. It is not certain which he enjoyed first, but he was impartial in his kindness to them; for both attended him at his table, and alternately partook of his bed. As Doris had the disadvantage of being a foreigner, the Syracusans sought every means of obtaining the preference for their countrywoman; but it was more than equivalent to this disadvantage, that she had the honour of giving Dionysius his eldest son. Aristomache, on the contrary, was a long time barren, though the king was extremely desirous of having children by her, and put to death the mother of Doris, upon a supposition that she had prevented her conceptions by potions.

Dion, the brother of Aristomache, was well received at court; not only on her account, but from the regard which Dionysius had for his merit and abilities; and that prince gave his treasurer an order to supply him with whatever money he wanted; but, at the same time, to keep an account of what he received.

But whatever the talents and virtues of Dion might be originally, it is certain that they received the happiest improvement under the

This is perfectly agreeable to the Platonic doctrine And, as Dion and Brutus were both great enthusiasts of the different orders and dispositions of the genii. in Platonism, the strength of their faith brought their spectres before them.

auspices of Plato. Surely the gods, in mercy | account, who reigned with great humanity, bot to mankind, sent that divine philosopher from you have reigned in such a manner, that, for Italy to Syracuse, that through the humane in- your sake, no man will be trusted hereafter. fluence of his doctrine, the spirit of liberty | Gelo made monarchy appear the best of governmight once more revive, and the inhabitants of that country be rescued from tyranny.* Dion soon became the most distinguished of his scholars. To the fertility of his genius, and the excellence of his disposition, Plato himself has given testimony,† and he did the greatest honour to that testimony in his life. For though he had been educated in servile principles under a tyrant; though he had been familiarized to dependence on the one hand, and to the indulgence of pomp and luxury, as the greatest happiness, on the other; yet he was no sooner acquainted with that philosophy which points out the road to virtue, than his whole soul caught the enthusiasm; and, with the simplicity of a young man, who judges of the dispositions of others by his own, he concluded that Plato's lectures would have the same effect on Dionysius: for this reason he solicited, and at length persuaded, the tyrant to hear him. When Plato was admitted, the discourse turned on virtue in general. Afterwards they came to fortitude in particular; and Plato made it appear, that tyrants have, of all men, the least pretence to that virtue. Justice was the next topic: and when Plato asserted the happiness of the just, and the wretched condition of the unjust, the tyrant was stung; and being unable to answer his arguments, he expressed his resentment against those who seemed to listen to him with pleasure. At last he was extremely exasperated, and asked the philosopher what business he had in Sicily. Plato answered, "That he came to seek an honest man." "And so, then," replied the tyrant, "it seems you have lost your labour." Dion was in hopes that his anger would have ended here: but while Plato was hasting to be gone, he conveyed him on board a galley, in which Pollis, the Lacedæmonian, was returning to Greece. Dionysius urged Pollis either to put Plato to death in his passage, or, at least, to sell him as a slave: "for, according to his own maxim," said he, "this man cannot be unhappy; a just man, he says, must be happy in a state of slavery, as well as in a state of freedom." Pollis, therefore carried him to Ægina, and sold him there. For the people of that place, being at war with the Athenians, had made a decree, that whatever Athenian was taken on their coast, he should be sold. Dion, notwithstanding, retained his interest with Dionysius, had considerable employments, and was sent ambassador to Carthage. Dionysius had a high esteem for him, and he, therefore, permitted him to speak his sentiments with freedom. An instance of this we have in the retort he made in the tyrant's ridiculing the government of Gelo, "Gelo," said Dionysius, "is (Gelos) the laughing-stock of Sicily." While others admired and applauded this witticism, Dion answered, "You obtained the crown by being trusted on Gelo's

ments; but you have convinced us that it is the worst." Dionysius had three children by Doris, and four by Aristomache, whereof two were daughters, Sophrosyne and Arete. The former of these was married to his eldest son, Dionysius; the latter to his brother Thearides; and after his death, to her uncle Dion. In the last illness of Dionysius, Dion would have applied to him in behalf of the children of Aristomache, but the physicians were beforehand with him. They wanted to ingratiate themselves with his successor; and when he asked for a sleeping dose, Timæus tells us, they gave him so effectual a one that he waked no more.

When his son Dionysius came to the throne, in the first counsel that he held, Dion spoke with so much propriety on the present state of affairs, and on the measures which ought to be taken, that the rest appeared to be mere children in understanding. By the freedom of his counsels, he exposed in a strong light, the slavish principles of those, who, through a timorous disingenuity, advised such measures as they thought would please their prince, rather than such as might advance his interest. But what alarmed them most, was the steps he proposed to take with regard to the impending war with Carthage; for he offered either to go. in person to Carthage, and settle an honourable peace with the Carthaginians, or, if the king were rather inclined for war, to fit out and maintain fifty galleys at his own expense.

Plato, in his seventh letter, says, "When I explained the principles of philosophy and humanity to Dion, I little thought that I was insensibly opening a way to the subversion of tyranny!" † Plato, ibid. For twenty pounds.

Dionysius was pleased with the magnificence of his spirit; but the courtiers felt that it made them appear little. They agreed that, at all events, Dion was to be crushed, and they spared no calumny that malice could suggestThey represented to the king, that he certainly meant to make himself master by sea, and by that means to obtain the kingdom for his sister's children. There was, moreover, another and an obvious cause of their hatred to him, in the reserve of his manners, and of the sobriety of his life. They led the young and ill educated king through every species of debauchery, the shameless panders to his wrong-directed passions. Yet while folly rioted, tyranny slept; its rage was dissolved in the ardour of youthful indulgences, as iron is softened in the fire; and that lenity which the Sicilians could not expect from the virtue of their prince, they found in his weakness. Thus the reins of that monarchy, which Dionysius vainly called adamantine, fell gradually from the loose and dissolute hand that held them. This young prince, it is said, would continue the scene of intoxication for ninety days without intermission; during which time no sober person was admit ted to his court, where all was drunkenness and buffoonery, revelry, and riot.

Their enmity to Dion, who had no taste for these enjoyments, was a thing of course. And, as he refused to partake with them in their vices, they resolved to strip him of his virtues. To these they gave the names of such vices as His gravity of manners, they called pride; his are supposed in some degree to resemble them. freedom of speech, insolence; his declining to

nysius were chiefly owing to his want of education, he exhorted him earnestly to apply himself to study; and by all means to send for Plato, the prince of philosophers, into Sicily. "When he comes," said he, "apply to him

join in their licentiousness, contempt. It is true, there was a natural haughtiness in his deportment; and an asperity that was unsociable and difficult of access: so that it is not to be wondered if he found no ready admission to the ears of a young king, already spoiled by flat-without loss of time. Conformed by his pretery. Many, even of his own particular friends, cepts to that divine exemplar of beauty and who admired the integrity and generosity of perfection, which called the universe from conhis heart, could not but condemn those forbid- fusion into order, you will at once secure your ding manners, which were so ill adapted to so-own happiness, and the happiness of your peocial and political intercourse: and Plato himself, when he wrote to him some time after, warned him, as it were by the spirit of prophecy, To guard against that austerity which is the companion of solitude. However, the necessity of the times, and the feeble state of the monarchy, rendered it necessary for the king, though contrary to his inclination, to retain him in the highest appointments: and this Dion himself very well knew.

ple. The obedience they now render you through fear, by your justice and moderation you will improve to a principle of filial duty; and of a tyrant, you will become a king. Fear and force, and fleets and armies, are not, as your father called them, the adamantine chains of government; but that attention, that affection, that respect, which justice and goodness for ever draw after them. These are the milder, but the stronger bonds of empire. Besides, it is surely a disgrace for a prince, who in all the circumstances of figure and appearance is distinguished from the people, not to rise above them at the same time, in the superiority of his conversation, and the cultivation of his mind."

to be a philosopher in theory, and not in practice; and flattering himself that if he could rectify the mind of the prince, he might by the same means remedy the disorders of the kingdom, he yielded to their request.

As he was willing to impute the irregularities of Dionysius to ignorance and a bad education, he endeavoured to engage him in a course of liberal studies, and to give him a taste for those sciences which have a tendency to moral improvement. By this means he hoped As Dion frequently solicited the king on this that he should induce him to think of virtue subject, and occasionally repeated some of without disgust, and at length to embrace its Plato's arguments, he conceived at length a viprecepts with pleasure. The young Dionysius olent inclination to hear him discourse. He was not naturally the worst of princes; but his therefore sent several letters of invitation to father being apprehensive that if his mind were him at Athens, which were seconded by the improved by science and the conversation of entreaties of Dion. The Pythagorean philoso wise and virtuous men, he might sometime or phers in Italy requested at the same time, that other, think of depriving him of his kingdom, he would undertake the direction of this young kept him in close confinement; where, through prince, whose mind was misguided by power, ignorance and want of other employment, he and reclaim him by the solid counsels of philos amused himself with making little chariots,ophy. Plato, as he owns himself, was ashamed candlesticks, wooden chairs, and tables. His father, indeed, was so suspicious of all mankind, and so wretchedly timorous, that he would not suffer a barber to shave him; but had his hair singed off with a live coal by one of his own attendants. Neither his brother nor his The enemies of Dion, now fearing an alterson were admitted into his chamber in their ation in Dionysius, advised him to recal from own clothes, but were first stripped and exam- exile one Philistus, who was indeed a man of ined by the sentinels, and after that were oblig-learning, but employed his talents in defence ed to put on such clothes as were provided for of the despotic policy; and this man they inthem. When his brother Leptines was once tended to set in opposition to Plato and his describing the situation of a place, he took a philosophy. Philustus, from the beginning, had spear from one of the guards to trace the plan, been a principal instrument in promoting the upon which Dionysius was extremely offended, monarchic government, and kept the citadel, and caused the soldier who had given up his of which he was governor, a long time for that spear, to be put to death. He was afraid, he party. It is said that he had a private comsaid, of the sense and sagacity of his friends; merce with the mother of the elder Dionysius, because he knew they must think it more eli-and that the tyrant himself was not ignorant of gible to govern than to obey. He slew Marsy-it. Be this as it may, Leptines who had two as, whom he had advanced to a considerable military command, merely because Marsyas dreamed that he killed him; for he concluded, that this dream by night was occasioned by some similar suggestion of the day. Yet even this timorous and suspicious wretch was offended with Plato, because he would not allow him to be the most valiant man in the world!

When Dion, as we have before observed, considered that the irregularities of young Dio

• SE œufs apи Evvoixos. Literally, Haugh tiness lives under the same roof with solitude. This

is towards the end of Plato's fourth letter. It is precoded by a fine political precept, viz. that the complaisance which produces popularity, is the source of the greatest operations in government.

daughters by a married womon whom he had debauched, gave one of them in marriage to Philistus; but this being done without consulting Dionysius, he was offended, imprisoned Leptines's mistress, and banished Philistus. The latter fled to his friends at Adria, where, it is probable, he composed the greatest part of his history; for he did not return to Sicily dur ing the reign of that Dionysus. After his death, as we have observed, Dion's enemies occasioned him to be recalled. His arbitrary principles were suitable for their purpose, and he began to exercise them immediately on his return.

He wrote the histories of Egypt, Sicily, and the reign of Dionysius. Cicero calls him the petty Thucydides: Pusillus Thucidides.

the king. It was addressed to the Carthaginian agents, and directed them not to have their audience of the king concerning the conclusion of the peace, unless he were present, and then every thing should be settled as they wished. Timæus informs us, that after Diony. sius had shewed this letter to Philistus, and consulted him upon it, he over-reached Dion by a pretence of reconciliation, and told him, that he was desirous their good understanding might be renewed. After this, as he was one day walking alone with him by the walls of the

At the same time calumnies and impeachments against Dion were, as usual, brought to the king. He was accused of holding a private correspondence with Theodoses and Heraclides, for the subversion of the monarchy; and indeed it is probable that he entertained some hopes from the arrival of Plato, of lessening the excessive power of Dionysius, or, at least, of making him moderate and equitable in the use of it. Besides, if he continued obstinate, and were not to be reclaimed, he was determined to depose him, and restore the commonwealth to the Syracusans; for he pre-castle, near the sea, he shewed him the letter, ferred even the popular form of government to an absolute monarchy, where a well regulated aristocracy could not be procured.

and accused him of conspiring with the Carthaginians against him. When Dion attempted to speak in his own defence, Dionysius refused to hear him: and having forced him on board a vessel which lay there for the purpose, commanded the sailors to set him ashore in Italy.

Such was the state of affairs when Plato came into Sicily. At first he was received with the greatest appearance of kindness, and was conveyed from the coast in one of the king's most splendid chariots. Even Dionysius him- When this was publicly known, it was genself sacrificed to the gods in acknowledgment erally condemned as tyrannical and cruel. The of his safe arrival, and of the honour and hap-court was in distress for the ladies of Dion's piness they had by that means conferred on family; but the citizens received fresh courage his kingdom. The people had the greatest from the event; for they were in hopes that hopes of a speedy reformation. They ob- the odium which it would bring upon Dionyserved an unusual decorum in the entertain- sius, and the general discontent that his govments at court, and a sobriety in the conduct ernment occasioned, might contribute to bring of the courtiers; while the king answered all about a revolution. Dionysius perceived this to whom he gave audience in a very obliging with some anxiety, and thinking it necessary manner. The desire of learning, and the study to pacify the women and the rest of Dion's of philosophy were become general; and the friends, he told them that he was not gone into several apartments of the royal palace were exile, but only sent out of the way for a time, like so many schools of geometricians, full of that his obstinacy might not draw upon him a the dust in which the students describe their heavier punishment. He also allowed his mathematical figures. Not long after this, at friends two ships, that they might convey to a solemn sacrifice in the citadel, when the him, in Peloponnesus, as much of his treasure, herald prayed as usual for the long continuance and as many of his servants as they should of the government, Dionysius is said to have think fit: for Dion was a man of considerable cried, "How long will you continue to curse property, and little inferior to the king in me?" This was an inexpressible mortification wealth or magnificence. The most valuable to Philistus and his party: if Plato, said part of his effects, together with presents from they, has already made such a change in the ladies and others of his acquaintance, his the king, his induence in time will be ir-friends conveyed to him; and the splendour of

resistible.

They now no longer made their attacks on Dion separately, or in private. They united in exclaiming against him, that he had fascinated the king with the delusions of eloquence and philosophy, in order to obtain the kingdom for his sister's children. They represented it as a matter of the greatest indignity, that after the whole force of the Athenians had vainly invaded Sicily, and were vanquished and destroyed, without so much as being able to take Syracuse, they should now, by means of one sophist, overturn the empire of Dionysius. It was with indignation they beheld the deluded monarch prevailed on by his insinuations to part with his guard of ten thousand spearmen, to give up a navy of four hundred galleys, to disband an army of ten thousand horse, and many times that number of foot, in order that he might pursue an ideal happiness in the academy, and amuse himself with theorems of geometry, while the substantial enjoyments of wealth and power were left to Dion and the children of Aristomache.

By means of these suggestions Dion first incurred the suspicion, and soon after the open displeasure of Dionysius. A letter of his was likewise intercepted, and privately carried to

his fortune gained him great respect among the Greeks. At the same time they conceived a high idea of the power of the tyrant, when an exile from his kingdom could make such an appearance.

Dionysius now removed Plato into the citadel, under colour of kindness; but in reality to set a guard upon him, lest he should follow Dion, and proclaim to the world how injuri ously he had been treated.

As wild beasts become tame and tractable by use, so the tyrant, by frequent conversation with the philosopher, began at last to conceive an affection for him; yet even that affection had something of the tyrant in it; for he required of Plato, in return, that he should exclusively confine his regard and admiration to him. On condition that he would prefer his friendship to that of Dion, he was willing to give up the whole administration into his hands. This extravagant affection gave Plato no small trouble; for it was accompanied with petulance and jealousy, as the love which subsists between the different sexes has its quarrels and reconciliations. He expressed the strongest desire to become Plato's scholar and to proceed in the study of philosophy; but he expressed it with reluctance in the presence of those who

wanted to divert him from his purpose, and [ed that he had so ill availed himself of his seemed as if he was in pursuit of something he ought to be ashamed of.

Dion's popularity in Greece soon excited the jealousy of Dionysius, who therefore stopped his remittances, and put his estate in the hands of his own stewards. However, that his reputation might not suffer, through Plato's means, amongst the philosophers, he retained a number of learned men in his court; and being desirous to outshine them all in disputation, he frequently was under a necessity of introducing, without the least propriety, the arguments he had learned from Plato. He now wished for that philosopher again, and repent-estate, and converted the money to his own