Page:Plutarch - Moralia, translator Holland, 1911.djvu/388

366 highly the sayings of men and the persons themselves, than in despising and debasing them too low: for like as we say in physic it is a good sign of health when diseases are not diverted and translated into the noble members and principal parts of the body; even so it seemeth that when the vices of such as are in the way of reformation and amendment of life change into passions that are more mild and moderate, it is a good beginning of ridding them away clean by little and little.

The Lacedaemonian Ephori, which were the high controllers of that whole state, demanded of the musician Phrynis, when he had set up two strings more to his seven-stringed instrument, whether he would have them to cut in sunder the trebles or the bases, the highest or the lowest? But as for us, we had need to have our affections cut both above and beneath, if we desire to reduce our actions to a mean and mediocrity. And surely this progress or proceeding of ours to perfection, professeth rather to let down the lightest first, to cut off the extremity of passions in excess, and to abate the acrimony of affections before we do anything else, in which, as saith Sophocles:

As for this one point, namely, that we ought to transfer our judgment to action, and not to suffer our words to remain bare and naked words still in the air, but reduce them to effect, we have already said, that is the chief property belonging to our progress and going forward: now the principal arguments and signs thereof be these; if we have a zeal and fervent affection to imitate those things which we praise; if we be forward and ready to execute that which we so much admire, and contrariwise will not admit nor abide to hear of such things as we in our opinion dispraise and condemn.

Probable it is and standeth with great likelihood that the Athenians all in general praised and highly esteemed the valour and prowess of Miltiades; but when Themistocles said that the victory and trophy of Miltiades would not give him leave to sleep, but awakened him in the night, plain it is and evident that he not only praised and admired, but had a desire also to imitate him, and do as much himself; semblably, we are to make this reckoning, that our progress and proceeding in virtue is but small when it reacheth no farther than to praise only and have in admiration that which good men have worthily done, without any motion and inclination of our will to imitate the