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THE COMPARISON OF ALCIBIADES WITH CORIOLANUS
by Plutarch
translated by John Dryden
HAVING described all their actions that seem to deserve
commemoration； their military ones； we may say； incline the balance
very decidedly upon neither side。 They both； in pretty equal
measure； displayed on numerous occasions the daring and courage of the
soldier； and the skill and foresight of the general； unless； indeed；
the fact that Alcibiades was victorious and successful in many
contests both by sea and land； ought to gain him the title of a more
complete commander。 That so long as they remained and held command
in their respective countries they eminently sustained； and when
they were driven into exile yet more eminently damaged； the fortunes
of those countries； is common to both。 All the sober citizens felt
disgust at the petulance； the low flattery； and base seductions
which Alcibiades； in his public life； allowed himself to employ with
the view of winning the people's favour； and the ungraciousness；
pride； and oligarchical haughtiness which Marcius； on the other
hand； displayed in his； were the abhorrence of the Roman populace。
Neither of these courses can be called commendable； but a man who
ingratiates himself by indulgence and flattery is hardly so censurable
as one who； to avoid the appearance of flattering； insults。 To seek
power by servility to the people is a disgrace； but to maintain it
by terror； violence； and oppression is not a disgrace only； but an
injustice。
Marcius； according to our common conceptions of his character； was
undoubtedly simple and straightforward； Alcibiades； unscrupulous as
a public man； and false。 He is more especially blamed for the
dishonourable and treacherous way in which； as Thucydides relates；
he imposed upon the Lacedaemonian ambassadors； and disturbed the
continuance of the peace。 Yet this policy； which engaged the city
again in war； nevertheless placed it in a powerful and formidable
position； by the accession； which Alcibiades obtained for it； of the
alliance of Argos and Mantinea。 And Coriolanus also； Dionysius
relates； used unfair means to excite war between the Romans and the
Volscians； in the false report which he spread about the visitors at
the Games； and the motive of this action seems to make it the worse of
the two； since it was not done； like the other； out of ordinary
political jealousy； strife； and competition。 Simply to gratify anger
from which； as Ion says； no one ever yet got any return； he threw
whole districts of Italy into confusion； and sacrificed to his passion
against his country numerous innocent cities。 It is true； indeed； that
Alcibiades also； by his resentment； was the occasion of great
disasters to his country； but he relented as soon as he found their
feelings to be changed； and after he was driven out a second time；
so far from taking pleasure in the errors and inadvertencies of
their commanders； or being indifferent to the danger they were thus
incurring； he did the very thing that Aristides is so highly commended
for doing to Themistocles； he came to the generals who were his
enemies； and pointed out to them what they ought to do。 Coriolanus； on
the other hand； first of all attacked the whole body of his
countrymen； though only one portion of them had done him any wrong；
while the other； the better and nobler portion； had actually suffered；
as well as sympathized； with him。 And； secondly； by the obduracy
with which he resisted numerous embassies and supplications； addressed
in propitiation of his single anger and offence； he showed that it had
been to destroy and overthrow； not to recover and regain his
country； that he had excited bitter and implacable hostilities against
it。 There is； indeed； one distinction that may be drawn。 Alcibiades；
it may be said； was not safe among the Spartans； and had the
inducements at once of fear and of hatred to lead him again to Athens；
whereas Marcius could not honourably have left the Volscians； when
they were behaving so well to him： he； in the command of their
forces and the enjoyment of their entire confidence； was in a very
different position from Alcibiades； whom the Lacedaemonians did not so
much wish to adopt into their service； as to use and then abandon。
Driven about from house to house in the city； and from general to
general in the camp； the latter had no resort but to place himself
in the hands of Tisaphernes； unless； indeed； we are to suppose that
his object in courting favour with him was to avert the entire
destruction of his native city； whither he wished himself to return。
As regards money； Alcibiades； we are told； was often guilty of
procuring it by accepting bribes； and spent it ill in luxury and
dissipation。 Coriolanus declined to receive it； even when pressed upon
him by his commanders as an honour； and one great reason for the odium
he incurred with the populace in the discussions about their debts
was； that he trampled upon the poor； not for money's sake； but out
of pride and insolence。
Antipater； in a letter written upon the death of Aristotle the
philosopher； observes； 〃Amongst his other gifts he had that of
persuasiveness；〃 and the absence of this in the character of Marcius
made all his great actions and noble qualities unacceptable to those
whom they benefited： pride； and self…will； the consort； as Plato calls
it； of solitude； made him insufferable。 With the skill which
Alcibiades； on the contrary； possessed to treat every one in the way
most agreeable to him； we cannot wonder that all his successes were
attended with the most exuberant favour and honour； his very errors；
at times； being accompanied by something of grace and felicity。 And so
in spite of great and frequent hurt that he had done the city； he
was repeatedly appointed to office and command； while Coriolanus stood
in vain for a place which his great services had made his due。 The
one； in spite of the harm he occasioned； could not make himself hated；
nor the other； with all the admiration he attracted； succeeded in
being beloved by his countrymen。
Coriolanus； moreover； it should be said； did not as a general obtain
any successes for his country； but only for his enemies against his
country。 Alcibiades was often of service to Athens； both as a
soldier and as a commander。 So long as he was personally present； he
had the perfect mastery of his political adversaries； calumny only
succeeded in his absence。 Coriolanus was condemned in person at
Rome； and in like manner killed by the Volscians； not indeed with
any right or justice； yet not without some pretext occasioned by his
own acts； since； after rejecting all conditions of peace in public； in
private he yielded to the solicitations of the women and； without
establishing peace； threw up the favourable chances of war。 He
ought； before retiring； to have obtained the consent of those who
had placed their trust in him； if indeed he considered their claims on
him to be the strongest。 Or； if we say that he did not care about
the Volscians； but merely had prosecuted the war； which he now
abandoned； for