Περὶ τῆς Ῥωμαίων τύχης

Sections

intro – intro intro – 1 1 – 1 2 – 2 3 – 3 4 – 4 5 – 5 5 – 5 6 – 6 7 – 7 8 – 8 8 – 8 8 – 8 8 – 8 9 – 9 9 – 9 10 – 10 11 – 11 11 – 11 12 – 12 12 – 12 12 – 12 12 – 12 12 – 12 13 – 13

İngilizce İngilizce Yunanca Yunanca

intro The text is fairly good, and the majority of the ms. mistakes have been corrected by the various editors and commentators. The essay is No. 175 in Lamprias’s list of Plutarch’s works.

1 Virtue and Fortune, who have often engaged in many great contests, are now engaging each other in the present contest, which is the greatest of all; for in this they are striving for a decision regarding the hegemony of Rome, to determine whose work it is and which of them created such a mighty power. For to her who is victorious this will be no slight testimonial, but rather a defence against accusation. For Virtue is accused of being a fair thing, but unprofitable; Fortune of being a thing inconstant, but good. Virtue’s labours, they say, are fruitless. Fortune’s gifts untrustworthy. Who, then, will not declare, when Rome shall have been added to the achievements of one of the contestants, either that Virtue is a most profitable thing if she has done such good to good men, or that Good Fortune is a thing most steadfast if she has already preserved for so long a time that which she has bestowed?