such being the story of these two great men's lives, without doubtin the comparison very little difference will be found between them.they made war with two powerful enemies： the one against the macedonians,and the other with the carthaginians； and the success was in bothcases glorious. one conquered macedon from the seventh succeedingheir of antigonus； the other freed sicily from usurping tyrants, andrestored the island to its former liberty. unless, indeed, it be madea point of aemilius's side, that he engaged with perseus when hisforces were entire, and composed of men that had often successfullyfought with the romans； whereas timoleon found dionysius in a despairingcondition, his affairs being reduced to the last extremity； or, on the contrary, it be urged in favour of timoleon, that he vanquishedseveral tyrants, and a powerful carthaginian army, with which an inconsiderablenumber of men gathered together from all parts, not with such an armyas aemilius had, of well-disciplined soldiers, experienced in war,and accustomed to obey； but with such as through the hopes of gainrestored to them, unskilled in fighting and ungovernable. and whenactions are equally glorious, and the means to compass them unequal,the greatest esteem is certainly due to that general who conquerswith the small power.
both have the reputation of having behaved themselves with an uncorruptedintegrity in all the affairs they managed； but aemilius had the advantageof being, from his infancy, by the laws and customs of his countrybrought up to the proper management of public affairs, which timoleonbrought himself to by his own efforts. and this is plain； for at thattime all the romans were uniformly orderly and obedient, respectfulto the laws and to their fellow-citizens： whereas it is remarkablethat not one of the greek generals commanding in sicily could keephimself uncorrupted, except dion, and of him many entertained a jealousythat he would establish a monarchy there, after the lacedaemonianmanner. timaeus writes, that the syracusans sent even gylippus homedishonourably, and with a reputation lost by the unsatiable covetousnesshe displayed when he commanded the army. and numerous historians tellus of the wicked and perfidious acts committed by pharax the spartanand callippus the athenian, with the view of making themselves kingsof sicily. yet what were these men, and what strength had they, toentertain such a thought？ the first of them was a follower of dionysius,when he was expelled from syracuse, and the other a hired captainof foot under dion, and came into sicily with him. but timoleon, at the request and prayers of the syracusans, was sent to be their general,and had no need to seek for power, but had a perfect title, foundedon their own offers, to hold it； and yet no sooner had he freed sicilyfrom her oppressors, but he willingly surrendered it.
it is truly worthy our admiration in aemilius, that though he conqueredso great and so rich a realm as that of macedon, yet he would nottouch, nor see any of the money, nor did he advantage himself onefarthing by it, though he was very generous of his own to others.i would not intend any reflection on timoleon for accepting of a houseand handsome estate in the country, which the syracusans presentedhim with； there is no dishonour in accepting； but yet there is greaterglory in a refusal, and the supremest virtue is shown in not wantingwhat it might fairly take. and as that body is, without doubt, themost strong and healthful which can the easiest support extreme coldand excessive heat in the change of seasons, and that the most firmand collected mind which is not puffed up with prosperity nor dejectedwith adversity； so the virtue of aemilius was eminently seen in hiscountenance and behaviour, continuing as noble and lofty upon theloss of two dear sons, as when he achieved his greatest victoriesand triumphs. but timoleon, after he had justly punished his brother,a truly heroic action, let his reason yield to a causeless sorrow,and humiliated with grief and remorse, forbore for twenty years toappear in any public place, or meddle with any affairs of the commonwealth.it is truly very commendable to abhor and shun the doing any baseaction； but to stand in fear of every kind of censure or disreputemay argue a gentle and open-hearted, but not an heroic temper.
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