Such is
said to have been the life and character of Aemilius Paulus.
[Footnote A: Little more than L3000.]
COMPARISON OF PAULUS AEMILIUS AND TIMOLEON.
I. The characters of these men being such as is shown in their
histories, it is evident that in comparing them we shall find few
differences and points of variance. Even their wars were in both cases
waged against notable antagonists, the one with the Macedonians, the
other with the Carthaginians: while their conquests were glorious, as
the one took Macedonia, and crushed the dynasty of Antigonus in the
person of its seventh king, while the other drove all the despots from
Sicily and set the island free. Unless indeed any one should insinuate
that Aemilius attacked Perseus when he was in great strength and had
conquered the Romans before, whereas Timoleon fell upon Dionysius when
he was quite worn out and helpless: though again it might be urged on
behalf of Timoleon that he overcame many despots and the great power of
Carthage, with an army hastily collected from all sources, not, like
Aemilius, commanding men who were inured to war and knew how to obey,
but making use of disorderly mercenary soldiers who only fought when it
pleased them to do so. An equal success, gained with such unequal means,
reflects the greater credit on the general.
II. Both were just and incorruptible in their conduct: but Aemilius
seems to have had the advantage of the customs and state of feeling
among his countrymen, by which he was trained to integrity, while
Timoleon without any such encouragement acted virtuously, from his own
nature.
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