Page:Plutarch - Moralia, translator Holland, 1911.djvu/249

Rh aliens who are abroad, after the manner of those who to rid themselves from civil seditions at home, turn the same upon their enemies without, and set them together by the ears, and like as Diomedes in Homer said unto Glaucus:

Even so it may be said unto them; There be a number besides of concurrents upon whom they may exercise their envy and jealousy, and not with their natural brethren; for a brother ought not to be like unto one of the balance scales, which doth always contrary unto his fellow, for as one riseth the other falleth; but as small numbers do multiply the greater and serve to make both them bigger, and their selves too; even so, an inferior brother by multiplying the state of his brother who is his superior, shall both augment him and also increase and grow himself together with him in all good things: mark the fingers of your hand, that which holdeth not the pen in writing, or striketh the string of a lute in playing (for that it is not able so to do, nor disposed and made naturally for those uses), is never a whit the worse for all that, nor serveth less otherwise, but they all stir and move together, yea and in some sort they help one another in their actions, as being framed for the nonce, unequal and one bigger and longer than other, that by their opposition and meeting as it were round together, they might comprehend, clasp, and hold anything most sure, strong, and fast. Thus Craterus, being the natural brother of King Antigonus, who reigned and swayed the sceptre: Thus Perilaus also, the brother of Cassander, who ware the crown, gave their minds to be brave warriors and to lead armies under their brethren, or else applied themselves to govern their houses at home in their absence; whereas on the contrary side, the Antiochi and Seleuci, as also certain Grypi and Cyziceni and such others, laving not learned to bear a lower sail than their brethren, and who could not content themselves to sing a lower note, nor to rest in a second place, but aspiring to the ensigns and ornanents of royal dignity, to wit, the purple mantle of estate with crown, diadem, and sceptre, filled themselves and one another with many calamities, yea and heaped as many troubles upon all Asia throughout.