The Comparison of Crassus with Nicias   

IN the comparison of these two, first, if we compare the estate of
Nicias with that of Crassus, we must acknowledge Nicias's to have
been more honestly got. In itself, indeed, one cannot much approve
of gaining riches by working mines, the greatest part of which is
done by malefactors and barbarians, some of them, too, bound, and
perishing in those close and unwholesome places. But if we compare
this with the sequestrations of Sylla, and the contracts for houses
ruined by fire, we shall then think Nicias came very honestly by his
money. For Crassus publicly and avowedly made use of these arts, as
other men do of husbandry, and putting out money to interest; while
as for other matters which he used to deny, when taxed with them,
as, namely, selling his voice in the senate for gain's sake, and injuring
allies, and courting women, and conniving at criminals, these are
things which Nicias was never so much as falsely accused of; nay,
he was rather laughed at for giving money to those who made a trade
of impeachments, merely out of timorousness, a course, indeed, that
would by no means become Pericles and Aristides, but necessary for
him who by nature was wanting in assurance, even as Lycurgus, the
orator, frankly acknowledged to the people; for when he was accused
for buying off an evidence, he said that he was very much pleased
that, having administered their affairs for so long a time; he was
at last accused, rather for giving than receiving. Again, Nicias,
in his expenses, was a more public spirit than Crassus, priding himself
much on the dedication of gifts in temples, on presiding at gymnastic
games, and furnishing choruses for the plays, and adorning processions,
while the expenses of Crassus, in feasting and afterwards providing
food for so many myriads of people, were much greater than all that
Nicias possessed as well as spent put together. So that one might
wonder at any one's failing to see that vice is a certain inconsistency
and incongruity of habit, after such an example of money dishonourably
obtained and wastefully lavished away.
Let so much be said of their estates; as for their management of public
affairs, I see not that any dishonesty, injustice, or arbitrary action
can be objected to Nicias, who was rather the victim of Alcibiades's
tricks, and was always careful and scrupulous in his dealings with
the people. But Crassus is very generally blamed for his changeableness
in his friendships and enmities, for his unfaithfulness, and his mean
and underhand proceedings; since he himself could not deny that to
compass the consulship he hired men to lay violent hands upon Domitius
and Cato. Then at the assembly held for assigning the provinces, many
were wounded and four actually killed, and he himself, which I had
omitted in the narrative of his life, struck with his fist one Lucius
Analius, a senator, for contradicting him, so that he left the place
bleeding. But as Crassus was to be blamed for his violent and arbitrary
courses, so is Nicias no less to be blamed for his timorousness and
meanness of spirit, which made him submit and give in to the basest
people, whereas in this respect Crassus showed himself lofty-spirited
and magnanimous, who having to do not with such as Cleon or Hyperbolus,
but with the splendid acts of Caesar and the three triumphs of Pompey,
would not stoop, but bravely bore up against their joint interests,
and in obtaining the office of censor, surpassed even Pompey himself.
For a statesman ought not to regard how invidious the thing is, but
how noble, and by his greatness to overpower envy; but if he will
be always aiming at security and quiet, and dread Alcibiades upon
the hustings, and the Lacedaemonians at Pylos, and Perdiccas in Thrace,
there is room and opportunity enough for retirement, and he may sit
out of the noise of business, and weave himself, as one of the sophists
says, his triumphal garland of inactivity. His desire of peace, indeed,
and of finishing the war was a divine and truly Grecian ambition,
nor in this respect would Crassus deserve to be compared to him, though
he had enlarged the Roman empire to the Caspian Sea or the Indian
Ocean.
In a state where there is a sense of virtue, a powerful man ought