The Comparison of Lucullus with Cimon   

One might bless the end of Lucullus, which was so timed as to let
him die before the great revolution, which fate, by intestine wars,
was already effecting against the established government, and to close
his life in a free though troubled commonwealth. And in this, above
all other things, Cimon and he are alike. For he died also when Greece
was as yet undisordered, in its highest felicity; though in the field
at the head of his army, not recalled, nor out of his mind, nor sullying
the glory of his wars, engagements, and conquests, by making feastings
and debauches seem the apparent end and aim of them all; as Plato
says scornfully of Orpheus, that he makes an eternal debauch hereafter
the reward of those who lived well here. Indeed, ease and quiet, and
the study of pleasant and speculative learning, to an old man retiring
from command and office, is a most suitable and becoming solace; but
to misguide virtuous actions to pleasure as their utmost end, and
as the conclusion of campaigns and commands, to keep the feast of
Venus, did not become the noble Academy, and the follower of Xenocrates,
but rather one that inclined to Epicurus. And this is one surprising
point of contrast between them; Cimon's youth was ill reputed and
intemperate, Lucullus's well disciplined and sober. Undoubtedly we
must give the preference to the change for good, for it argues the
better nature, where vice declines and virtue grows. Both had great
wealth, but employed it in different ways; and there is no comparison
between the south wall of the acropolis built by Cimon, and the chambers
and galleries, with their sea-views, built at Naples by Lucullus,
out of the spoils of the barbarians. Neither can we compare Cimon's
popular and liberal table with the sumptuous oriental one of Lucullus,
the former receiving a great many guests every day at small cost,
and the latter expensively spread for a few men of pleasure, unless
you will say that different times made the alteration. For who can
tell but that Cimon, if he had retired in his old age from business
and war to quiet and solitude, might have lived a more luxurious and
self-indulgent life, as he was fond of wine and company, and accused,
as has been said, of laxity with women? The better pleasures gained
in successful action and effort leave the baser appetites no time
or place, and make active and heroic men forget them. Had but Lucullus
ended his days in the field, and in command, envy and detraction itself
could never have accused him. So much for their manner of life.
In war, it is plain they were both soldiers of excellent conduct,
both at land and sea. But as in the games they honour those champions
who on the same day gain the garland, both in wrestling and in the
pancratium, with the name of "Victors and more," so Cimon, honouring
Greece with a sea and land victory on the same day, may claim a certain
pre-eminence among commanders. Lucullus received command from his
country, whereas Cimon brought it to his. He annexed the territories
of enemies to her, who ruled over confederates before, but Cimon made
his country, which when he began was a mere follower of others, both
rule over confederates, and conquer enemies too, forcing the Persians
to relinquish the sea, and inducing the Lacedaemonians to surrender
their command. If it be the chiefest thing in a general to obtain
the obedience of his soldiers by good-will, Lucullus was despised
by his own army, but Cimon highly prized even by others. His soldiers
deserted the one, the confederates came over to the other. Lucullus
came home without the forces which he led out; Cimon, sent out at
first to serve as one confederate among others, returned home with
authority even over these also, having successfully effected for his
city three most difficult services, establishing peace with the enemy,
dominion over confederates, and concord with Lacedaemon. Both aiming
to destroy great kingdoms, and subdue all Asia, failed in their enterprise,
Cimon by a simple piece of ill-fortune, for he died when general,
in the height of success; but Lucullus no man can wholly acquit of
being in fault with his soldiers, whether it were he did not know,
or would not comply with, the distastes and complaints of his army,
which brought him at last into such extreme unpopularity among them.