5 returns to his brother with this company, all three of them surrounding and earnestly importuning him, that now at length he would listen to reason. But when Timophanes began first to laugh at the men's simplicity, and presently broke out into rage and indignation against them, Timoleon stepped aside from him and stood weeping with his face covered, while the other two, drawing out their swords, dispatched him in a moment. When this act became publicly known, the better and more generous of the Corinthians applauded Timoleon for the hatred of wrong and the greatness of soul, that had made him, though of a gentle disposition and full of love and kindness for his family, think the obligations to his country stronger than the ties of consanguinity, and prefer honour and justice to private interest and advantage. For the same brother, who with so much bravery had been saved by him when he fought valiantly in the cause of Corinth, he had now as nobly sacrificed for enslaving her afterwards by a base and treacherous usurpation. But on the other side, those who knew not how to live under popular government, and had been used to make their court to absolute rulers, though openly they professed to rejoice at the death of the tyrant, nevertheless secretly reviling Timoleon, as one that had committed an impious and abominable act, drove him into melancholy and dejection. And when, in addition to this, he learnt how heavily his mother took it, and that she uttered vehement complaints and terrible imprecations against him, and on his going to satisfy and comfort her, found that she would not so much as see him, but caused her doors to be shut against him, with grief at this he grew so disordered in his mind and so disconsolate, that he determined to put an end to his life by abstaining from sustenance. But through the care of his friends, who were very instant with him, and added force to their entreaties, he came to resolve and promise at last, that he would endure living, provided it might be in solitude and away from the world: so that, quitting all civil and political business, for a long while after his first retirement he never came into Corinth, but spent his time in the country, wandering about in the least frequented places, full of distressing and sorrowful thoughts. So true it is, that the minds of men are easily shaken 6 and carried off from their own sentiments through any casual commendation or reproof of others, unless the judgments they make, and the purposes they conceive, are confirmed by reason and philosophy, and hence obtain strength and steadiness. An action must not only be just and laudable in its own nature, but it must proceed likewise from solid conviction and a lasting principle, that so we may fully and constantly approve the thing, and be perfectly satisfied in what we do. For otherwise, after having put our resolution into practice, we shall out of weakness be troubled at the performance, when the grace which made it pleasing to us begins to decay and wear out of our fancy: like greedy people, who seizing on the more delicious morsels with the keenest appetite, are quickly sated, and feel disgust at what at first they so eagerly desired. For a succeeding repentance spoils the best of actions; whereas the choice does not change or lose its place and character, even though the actual issue appear to go against it. Thus Phocion of Athens, having always opposed the measures of Leosthenes*, when success appeared to attend them and he saw his countrymen rejoicing and offering sacrifice in honour of their victory, told them, "I should have been glad to have gained these successes myself, and I am glad in any case to have given you the advice I gave you." A more vehement reply is recorded to have been made by Aristides the Locrian, one of Plato's companions, to Dionysius the elder, who demanded one of his daughters in marriage: “I had rather," he said to him, "see the maiden in her grave, than in the palace of a tyrant." And when Dionysius put his sons to death some time after, and then again insultingly asked, whether he were still in the same mind as to the disposal of his daughters, his answer was, that he was grieved for what had been done, but had no change to make in what he had said. Such a temper as this may perhaps however belong to a more sublime and transcendent virtue. 7 The grief of Timoleon, whether it arose from commiseration of his brother's fate, or the reverence he felt for his mother, so shattered and broke his spirits, that for the space of almost twenty years, he had not offered to concern himself in any honourable or public action. When therefore he was nominated for general, and joyfully accepted as such by the suffrages of the people, Teleclides, who was at that time the most powerful and distinguished man in Corinth, began to exhort him that In the Lamian war, after Alexander's death. See the life of Demosthenes, Chap. 27. 66 room. he would act now like a man of worth and courage: For," said he, "if you do bravely in this service, people will say we killed a tyrant; but if otherwise, a brother."* While he was yet preparing to set sail, and enlisting soldiers to embark with him, there came letters to the Corinthians from Hicetes, plainly disclosing his revolt and treachery. For the envoys had no sooner started for Corinth, but he openly joined the Carthaginians, negotiating that they might assist him to throw out Dionysius, and become master of Syracuse in his And fearing he might be disappointed of his aim, if troops and a commander should come from Corinth before this were effected, he sent a letter of advice thither, to prevent their setting out, telling them they need not be at any cost and trouble, or run the hazard of a Sicilian voyage, since the Carthaginians, alliance with whom against Dionysius the slowness of their motions had compelled him to embrace, would dispute their passage, and were lying in wait to attack them with a numerous fleet. This letter being publicly read, if any had been cold and indifferent before as to the expedition in hand, the indignation they now conceived against Hicetes so inflamed them all, that they willingly contributed to supply Timoleon, and endeavoured with one accord to hasten his departure. When the vessels were equipped, and his soldiers 8 every way provided for, the female priests of Proserpine had a dream or vision, wherein she and her mother Ceres appeared to them in a travelling garb, and were heard to say, that they were going to sail with Timoleon * So that it seems that Teleclides had been himself a party to into Sicily; whereupon the Corinthians, having built a sacred galley, devoted it to them, and called it the galley of the goddesses. Timoleon went in person to Delphi, where he sacrificed to Apollo, and, descending into the place of prophecy, received the following sign. A riband with crowns and figures of Victory embroidered upon it slipped off from among the gifts that were hung up in the temple, and fell upon his head; so that Apollo seemed already to crown him with success, and send Depar- him thence to conquer and triumph. He put to sea with only seven ships of Corinth, two of Corcyra, and a tenth which was furnished by the Leucadians. And ture from Corcyra, B.C. 345 or 344. when he was now entered into the deep by night, and carried with a prosperous wind, the sky seemed on a sudden to break open, and a bright spreading flame to issue from it, and hover over the ship he was in; then having formed itself into a torch, not unlike those that are used in the Mysteries, it took the very course they were steering, and came down in the very quarter in which the pilots expected to make the land of Italy. The soothsayers affirmed, that this apparition agreed with the dream of the women, since the goddesses were |