Page:The battle of the books - Guthkelch - 1908.djvu/230

156 on this account, though he could never love him or his character; nor is there any proof from the Epistles that he did. Phalaris, after he had given him his life, desired only his friendship in return, and Stesichorus was obliged, both in gratitude and prudence, not to stand off, but to be in as good terms as he could with a man that was able to do him so much mischief. We have a lively account of just such a management as this between Julius Cæsar and Tully, in the Epistles of the latter. When Cæsar had got the better of Pompey, (whose side Tully took,) either out of a true esteem for Tully's virtues, or out of design, he took all methods of making him his own; paid him a great many civilities; and did him a great many services. Tully could never from his heart love a tyrant: but we may imagine how he behaved in this case: he accepted Cæsar's proffered friendship, wrote civilly to him, and lay still. No more than this, that I can see, ever passed between Stesichorus and Phalaris, to speak upon the foot of the letters; and if so, what becomes of Dr Bentley's harangue about the silence of authors, in relation to this fancied intimacy and dearness? Good writers must needs say nothing