New-York tribune., 1871-01-17


Plutarch are often referred to in modern literature
He wondered q" how that city preserved wherein
a fish was sold for more than OK" Once he scoted
at ,the prevailing imperiousneSs of women: " All
other men," said he, "govern their wives, but we
command all other men, and our wives u.s." Hesaid
that "he had rather not be rewarded Tor
his good deeds, than not punished for MS
evil deeds and at any time he could pardon
all other offenders besides himself" He blamed the
people for always choosing the same men officers:
For either you think" said he, /" the government
little worth, or very few fit to govern" When ne
stood for the consulshp and others begging and
ilaterng the people for votes he cried out aloud:
"The people have need Of sharp physician, and
great purge, therefore not the mdest but the most
inexorabe person is TO be chosen" For which word,
he was chosen before all others Such is specimen
of the old apothegms which Plutarch delighted to
retail They are seldom Of a frivolous or absurd
character though not Overburdened with wisdom,
nor we greatly fear revealing the secret OF polcal
success but chatty, gossipng, and pleasant enough
reading to those who like to ramble through booK
after dinner. We dare say the apothegms OF Apia-
ham Lincoln about his great commanders woud
form more piquant essay, if not one of such pro-
tracted length.
The discourse on "The tranquility of Mind" has
an attractive title but il suggests no very novel pre-
cepts for the attainment of that laudabie OBJECT.
After perusing it, we fancy, most readers Will be no
more serene than they were before Sui, Its
healthy, patriarchal tone is agreeable, and may
serve to spread oil over troubled waters for time al
though it gives panacea for the enjoyment OF
babitual peace of mind. Putarch's rebuke Of those
who expect to find content in change of circum-
stances happily put 1t is only weakness of mind,
he urges which prevents us from making right use
of what we now enjoy. The several changes OF life
only shift the causes of our trouble. The rich man
is just uneasy as the poor; the bachelor as the
man of wedlock; the pleader withdraws from the
bar, and then his retirement becomes as irksome as
his practice. Reason makes all sorts of life easy,
and every change pleasant As the shoe ls twisted
into the shape of the foot do the affections OF the
mind compel the conformity of circumstances. Life
is a game at dice, where ought to throw for our
highest advantage, but when we have thrown to
make the best of our casts. We cannot make what
chances we please turn up if we play fair, but If we
are wise, we shall accept patiently what comes TO
our hand, like the man who threw stone at dog
but hit his step-mother, on which he exclaimed
"NOt SO badn Thou stoodst candidate for place
in the government, and vast baked in thy hopes;
consider that thou wilt live at ease in thy own coun-
try following thy own affairs" Hast thou met
with any unfortunate successl Hath caluInny bit,
or envy Missed at theeY There is yet prosper
GUS gale which sets fair to convey thee to the
port Of the MUSES. and land thee at the Academy"
There are some who are disturbed at the evil dispo-
sitions, not only of their friends and domestics,
but also of their enemies. For proneness
to speak evil of another, anger, envy,
il-nature, q Jealous and perverse temper,
are the pests of those who are inflicted with them.
But they serve only to trouble and exasperate fools
The wise man deems them of no account. His blood
is not soured by the enormties of others. We must
sometimes employ men of rough and crooked dispo-
stion not always men of wit and address But it Is
foolish to animadvert upon them for every pecca-
dillo We must use them as surgeons use torceps TO
mill ont teeth. or ligatures to bind wounds What
ever falls out. we must be cheerful, delighting
more in the satisfaction of our own minds, than
concerned at other mems pravity and malicious hu-
morn Otherwise, as dogs bark at all persons in-
differently, thou wilt at last be flied with nothing
but other mems miscarrages.' We should not have
our passions moved at every provocation We should
restrain those little aversions of our temper which
engender suspicious, and "infuse moroseness into
usn "He that hath smoothness in his nature and
talent Of moderation transact and converse with
mankind easily and with mildness."
All this is very fine no doubt, and can he carried
into effect by the calm sweet spirits whose blood
flows in an even course But it will hardly soothe
down the risings of an in1lammable nature. When
it comes to struggle between Plutarch and tenn
perament the latter will be apt to carry the day.
Such fair phrases will not quell the wrath of the
choleric man in fit of toothache or when his shoe
pnches, or dog runs at him from the roadside.
Still we must allow Plutarch place among the
sages whose cOunsels it is good to follow if we can
He has no method, no sequence of thought or
natural deduction, often turns a short corner sud
denly but he never fails TO be entertaining in his
innocent loquacity, and affords an endless fund of
illustrations in his historical references. If we
not set him down as a master Of wisdom, he always
discourses with fluent grace and though we attach
no great importance to his moral medicaments, the
influence of his copious talk is sweet and
kindly The plain, household English of the present
translation, after the fnical elegance and snowy
aiectations of many writer's Of the modern school, is
as refreshing Lord Byron's occasional dinner of
bacon and ale after the delicaces Of an artificial
cuisine.