| Plutarch's Parallel Lives | |
| The Boys' and Girls' Plutarch | |
|
Comparison of Theseus and Romulus
Both Theseus and Romulus were by nature meant for governors; yet
neither lived up to the true character of a king, but fell off,
and ran, the one into popularity, the other into tyranny, falling
both into the same fault out of different passions. For a ruler's
first end is to maintain his office, which is done no less by
avoiding what is unfit than by observing what is suitable. Whoever
is either too remiss or too strict is no more a king or a
governor, but either a demagogue or a despot, and so becomes
either odious or contemptible to his subjects. Though certainly
the one seems to be the fault of easiness and good-nature, the
other of pride and severity.
But Romulus has, first of all, one great plea, that his
performances proceeded from very small beginnings; for both the
brothers, being thought servants and the sons of swineherds,
before becoming freemen themselves gave liberty to almost all the
Latins, obtaining at once all the most honorable titles, as,
destroyers of their country's enemies, preservers of their friends
and kindred, princes of the people, founders of cities; not
removers, like Theseus, who raised and compiled only one house out
of many, demolishing many cities bearing the names of ancient
kings and heroes. Romulus, indeed, did the same afterwards,
forcing his enemies to deface and ruin their own dwellings, and to
sojourn with their conquerors; but at first, not by removal, or
increase of an existing city, but by foundation of a new one, he
obtained himself lands, a country, a kingdom, wives, children, and
relations. And, in so doing, he killed or destroyed nobody, but
benefited those that wanted houses and homes, and were willing to
be of a society and become citizens. Robbers and malefactors he
slew not; but he subdued nations, he overthrew cities, he
triumphed over kings and commanders. As to Remus, it is doubtful
by whose hand he fell; it is generally imputed to others. His
mother he clearly retrieved from death, and placed his
grandfather, who was brought under base and dishonorable
vassalage, on the ancient throne of Aeneas, to whom he did
voluntarily many good offices, but never did him harm even
inadvertently. But Theseus, in his forgetfulness and neglect of
the command concerning the flag, can scarcely, methinks, by any
excuses, or before the most indulgent judges, avoid the imputation
of parricide. And, indeed, one of the Attic writers, perceiving it
to be very hard to make an excuse for this, feigns that Aegeus, at
the approach of the ship, running hastily to the Acropolis to see
what news there was, slipped and fell down; as if he had no
servants, or none would attend him on his way to the shore.
Return to
©2013 About.com. All rights reserved. | |
