Page:Xenophon by Alexander Grant.djvu/162

152 to have had the opportunity of questioning Louis Napoleon at the period of his greatest prosperity as to his enjoyment, or otherwise, of the power reached by the coup d'état of the 2d December; and such was the kind of question supposed to be addressed to King Hiero by Simonides. Hiero's answer is of the most gloomy description. He says that it is a mere popular delusion to fancy that tyrants are to be envied. They have not half the pleasure, and they suffer twice the pains, that private individuals do. Their enjoyments are dulled by satiety—they cannot travel, they cannot realise the full pleasures of love because they never can be sure that their affection is returned. "Indeed, there are none from whom conspiracies against kings proceed more frequently than from those who have affected to love them with the greatest sincerity." "If peace is thought to be a great good to mankind, tyrants have the least participation of it; if war is deemed a great evil, kings have the greatest share of it. Private individuals, if they go to make war in an enemy's country, still find, as soon as they return home, that there is safety for them there; but tyrants, when they come to their capitals, are conscious that they are then in the midst of the greatest number of enemies." "They distinguish, no less than private persons, which of their subjects are wise and just, and of a constitutional spirit; but, instead of regarding such characters with admiration, they look upon them with dread. They fear men of courage, lest they should make some bold attempt in favour of liberty; men of abilities, lest they should engage in some con-