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Thus we may show a meek and gentle temper and a
submissive bearing of evil in our enmities; and even integrity, magnanimity, and goodness of disposition are also
more conspicuous here than in friendship. For it is not so
honorable and virtuous to do a friend a kindness, as it is
unworthy and base to omit this good office when he stands
in need; but it is an eminent piece of humanity, and a
manifest token of a nature truly generous, to put up with
the affronts of an enemy when you have a fair opportunity
to revenge them. For if any one sympathizes with his
enemy in his affliction, relieves him in his necessities, and
is ready to assist his sons and family if they desire it, any
one that will not love this man for his compassion, and
highly commend him for his charity, ‘must have a black
heart made of adamant or iron,’ as Pindar says.
When Caesar made an edict that the statues of Pompey
which were tumbled down should be rebuilt and restored
to their former beauty and magnificence, Tully tells him
that by setting up again Pompey's statues he has erected one
for himself, an everlasting monument of praise and honor
to after ages. So that we must give to every one his due,
to an enemy such respect and honor as he truly deserves.
Thus a man that praises his enemy for his real deserts
shall himself obtain the more honor by it; and whenever
he shall correct or censure him, he will be credited in what
he does, because every one will believe that he does it out
of a dislike and just abhorrence of his vice and not of his
person.
By this practice we shall be brought at length to perform the most honorable and worthy actions; for he who
is wont to praise and speak the best things of his enemies
will never repine at the prosperity or success of his friends
[p. 294]
and acquaintance; he is never troubled, but rather rejoices,
when they thrive and are happy. And what virtue can
any man exercise that will be more profitable and delightful to him than this, which takes away from him the
bitterness of malice, and doth not only break the teeth of
envy, but, by teaching him to rejoice at another man's
felicity, doth double his own enjoyment and satisfaction.
As in war many things, although they are bad and evil in
themselves, yet have become necessary, and by long custom
and prescription have obtained the validity of a law, so
that it is not easy to root them out, even by those who
thereby suffer much harm; just so doth enmity usher in
the mind a long train of vices, meagre envy coupled with
grim hatred, restless jealousy and suspicion, unnatural joy
at other men's miseries, and a long remembrance of injuries.
Fraud, deceit, and snares, joined to these forces of wickedness, work infinite mischief in the world, yet they appear
as no evils at all when they are exerted against an enemy.
By this means they make a deep entrance into the mind;
they get fast hold of it, and are hardly shaken off. So
that, unless we forbear the practice of these ill qualities
towards our enemies, they will by frequent acts become so
habitual to us, that we shall be apt to make use of them to
the manifest wrong and injury of our friends. Wherefore,
if Pythagoras was highly esteemed for instructing his disciples to avoid all manner of cruelty against beasts themselves,—so that he himself would redeem them out of
their captivity in either the fowler's or the fisherman's net,
and forbade his followers to kill any creature,—it is surely
much better and more manly in our differences with men
to show ourselves generous, just, and detesters of all falsehood, and to moderate and correct all base, unworthy, and
hurtful passions; that in all our conversation with our
friends we may be open-hearted, and that we may not
seek to overreach or deceive others in any of our dealings.
[p. 295]
For Scaurus was a professed enemy and an open accuser
of Domitius; whereupon a treacherous servant of Domitius comes to Scaurus before the cause was to be heard,
and tells him that he has a secret to communicate to him
in relation to the present suit, which he knows not of, and
which may be very advantageous on his side. Yet Scaurus
would not permit him to speak a word, but apprehended
him, and sent him back to his master. And when Cato
was prosecuting Murena for bribery, and was collecting
evidence to support his charge, he was accompanied
(according to custom) by certain persons in the interest
of the defendant, who watched his transactions. These
often asked him in the morning, whether he intended on
that day to collect evidence or make other preparation for
the trial; and so soon as he told them he should not, they
put such trust in him that they went their way. This was
a plain demonstration of the extraordinary deference and
honor they paid to Cato; but a far greater testimony, and
one surpassing all the rest, is it to prove that, if we accustom ourselves to deal justly and uprightly with our enemies,
then we shall not fail to behave ourselves so towards our
friends.
Plutarch. Plutarch's Morals. Translated from the Greek by several hands. Corrected and revised by. William W. Goodwin, PH. D. Boston. Little, Brown, and Company. Cambridge. Press Of John Wilson and son. 1874. 1.
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