Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.5, 1865).djvu/185

 ANXONY. 177 things that were done in his name ; not that he was so in- dolent, as he was prone to trust frankly in all about him. For there was much simplicity in his character ; he was slow to see his faults, but, when he did see them, was ex- tremely repentant, and ready to ask pardon of those he had injured ; prodigal in his acts of reparation, and severe in his punishments, but his generosity was much more extravagant than his severity ; his raillery was sharp and insulting, but the edge of it was taken off by his readiness to submit to any kind of repartee ; for he was as well contented to be rallied, as he was pleased to rally others. And this freedom of speech was, indeed, the cause of many of his disasters. He never imagined that those who used so much liberty in their mirth would flatter or deceive him in business of consequence, not knowing how com- mon it is with parasites to mix their flattery with bold- ness, as confectioners do their sweetmeats with something biting, to prevent the sense of satiety. Their freedoms and impertinences at table were designed expressly to give to their obsequiousness in council the air of being not complaisance, but conviction. Such being his temper, the last and crowning miscliief that could befall him came in the love of Cleopatra, to awaken and kindle to fury passions that as yet lay still and dormant in his nature, and to stifle and finally corrupt any elements that yet made resistance in him, of goodness and a sound judgment. He fell into the snare thus. When making preparation for the Parthian war, he sent to command her to make her personal appearance iu Cilicia, to answer an accusation, that she had given great assistance, in the late wars, to Cassius. Dellius, who was sent on this message, had no sooner seen her face, and remarked her adroitness and subtlety in speech, but he felt convinced that Antony would not so much as think of giving any molestation to a woman like this ; on the VOL. V. 12