Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.5, 1865).djvu/303

 DION. 295 as her uncle, or as her husband ? " This speech of Aristo- mache's brought tears from Dion, who with great affection embraced his wife, gave her his son, and desired her to retii'e to his own house, where he continued 'to reside when he had dehvered up the castle to the Syracusans. For though all things had now suceeded to his wish, yet he desired not to enjoy any present advantage of his good fortune, except to gratify his friends, reward his al- lies, and bestow upon his companions of former time in Athens and the soldiers that had served him some special mark of kindness and honor, striving herein to outdo his very means in his generosity. As for himself, he was con- tent with a very frugal and moderate competency, and was indeed the wonder of all men, that when not only Sicily and Carthage, but all Greece looked to him as in the height of prosperit}', and no man living greater than he, no general more renowned for valor and success, yet in his garb, his attendance, his table, he seemed as if he rather commoned with Plato in the Academy than lived among hired captains and paid soldiers, whose solace of their toils and dangers it is to eat and drink then- fill, and enjoy themselves plentifully every day. Plato indeed wrote to him that the eyes of all the world were now upon him ; but it is evident that he himself had fixed his eye upon one place in one city, the Acad- emy, and considered that the spectators and judges there regarded not great actions, courage, or fortune, but watched to see how temperately and wisely he could use his prosperity, how evenly he could behave himself in the high condition he now was in. Neither did he remit any thing of his wonted stateliuess in conversation or se- rious carriage to the people ; he made it rather a point to maintain it, notwithstanding that a little condescension and obliging civility were very necessary for his present