Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.5, 1865).djvu/384

 370 ARATUS. enmities. So that indeed he seems not to have been so faithful a friend, as he was a reasonable and gentle enemy, ready, according to the needs of the state, to suit himself on occasion to either side ; concord between nations, brotherhood between cities, the council and the assembly unanimous in their votes, being the objects above all other blessings to which he was passionately devoted ; backward, indeed, and diffident in the use of arms and open force, but in effecting a purpose underhand, and out- witting cities and potentates without observation, most politic and dexterous. Therefore, though he succeeded beyond hope in many enterprises which he undertook, yet he seems to have left quite as many unattempted, though feasible enough, for want of assurance. For it should seem, that, as the sight of certain beasts is strong in the night but dim by day, the tenderness of the humors of their eyes not bearing the contact of the light, so there is also one kind of human skill and sagac- ity which is easily daunted and disturbed in actions done in the open day and before the world, and recov- ers all its self-possession in secret and covert enter- prises ; which inequality is occasioned in noble minds for want of philosophy, a mere wild and uncultivated fruit of a virtue without true knowledge coming up; as might be made out by examples. Aratus, therefore, having associated himself and his city to the Achasans, served in the cavalry, and made himself much beloved by his commanding officers for his exact obedience ; for though he had made so large an addition to the common strength as that of his own credit and the power of his country, yet he was as ready as the most ordinary person to be commanded by the Achaean general of the time being, whether he were a man of Dymge, or of Tritaea, or any yet meaner town than these- Having also a present of five and twenty talents sent