§2.1καθαρῶν οὖν καὶ δικαίων ἐν τοῖς πράγμασιν ἀμφοτέρων γεγονότων, Αἰμίλιος μὲν ὑπὸ τῶν νόμων καὶ τῆς πατρίδος οὕτως ἔοικεν εὐθὺς ἀφικέσθαι παρεσκευασμένος, Τιμολέων δὲ τοιοῦτον αὐτὸς ἑαυτὸν παρέσχε.
Since, then, both had shown themselves clean and just in their actions, Aemilius seems to have come prepared from the start in this way by the laws and his country, whereas Timoleon made himself such by his own effort.
§2.2τούτου τεκμήριον ὅτι Ῥωμαῖοι μὲν ὁμαλῶς ἐν τῷ τότε χρόνῳ πάντες ἦσαν εὔτακτοι καὶ ὑποχείριοι τοῖς ἐθισμοῖς καὶ τοὺς νόμους δεδιότες καὶ τοὺς πολίτας, Ἑλλήνων δὲ οὐδεὶς ἡγεμών ἐστιν οὐδὲ στρατηγός ὃς οὐ διεφθάρη τότε Σικελίας ἁψάμενος ἔξω Δίωνος.
As proof of this, the Romans of that time were all alike orderly, obedient to custom, and fearing the laws and their fellow citizens; but of the Greeks, there was no leader or general, except Dion, who was not corrupted once he laid hands on Sicily at that time.
§2.3καίτοι Δίωνα πολλοὶ μοναρχίας ὀρέγεσθαι καὶ βασιλείαν τινὰ Λακωνικὴν ὀνειροπολεῖν ὑπενόουν.
And yet, many suspected Dion of desiring a monarchy and dreaming of some sort of Laconian kingship.
§2.4Τίμαιος δὲ καὶ Γύλιππον ἀκλεῶς φησι καὶ ἀτίμως ἀποπέμψαι Συρακουσίους, φιλοπλουτίαν αὑτοῦ καὶ ἀπληστίαν ἐν τῇ στρατηγίᾳ κατεγνωκότας.
Timaeus says that the Syracusans sent even Gylippus away ingloriously and with dishonor, having condemned his love of money and greed during his command.
§2.5ἃ δὲ Φάραξ ὁ Σπαρτιάτης καὶ Κάλλιππος. ὁ Ἀθηναῖος ἐλπίσαντες ἄρξειν Σικελίας παρενόμησαν καὶ παρεσπόνδησαν, ὑπὸ πολλῶν ἀναγέγραπται.
And as for the lawless and treacherous deeds committed by Pharax the Spartan and Callippus the Athenian in their hope of ruling Sicily, they have been recorded by many.
§2.6καίτοι τίνες ἢ πηλίκων κύριοι πραγμάτων ὄντες οὗτοι τοιαῦτα ἤλπισαν;
Yet who were these men, or of how great affairs were they masters, that they should entertain such hopes?
ὧν ὁ μὲν ἐκπεπτωκότα Συρακουσῶν ἐθεράπευε Διονύσιον, Κάλλιππος δὲ εἷς ἦν τῶν περὶ Δίωνα ξεναγῶν.
One of them was paying court to Dionysius after the latter had been expelled from Syracuse, and Callippus was merely one of Dion's mercenary captains.
§2.7ἀλλὰ Τιμολέων αἰτησαμένοις καὶ δεηθεῖσιν αὐτοκράτωρ πεμφθεὶς Συρακουσίοις, καὶ δύναμιν οὐ ζητεῖν ἀλλʼ ἔχειν ὀφείλων ἣν ἔλαβε βουλομένων καὶ διδόντων, πέρας ἐποιήσατο τῆς αὑτοῦ στρατηγίας καὶ ἀρχῆς τὴν τῶν παρανόμων ἀρχόντων κατάλυσιν.
But Timoleon, having been sent as general with full power to the Syracusans at their request and entreaty, and being in a position to hold, without seeking, the power which he received from those who gave it willingly, made the destruction of the unlawful rulers the end and limit of his own command and authority.
§2.8ἐκεῖνο μέντοι τοῦ Αἰμιλίου θαυμαστόν, ὅτι τηλικαύτην βασιλείαν καταστρεψάμενος οὐδὲ δραχμῇ μείζονα τὴν οὐσίαν ἐποίησεν, οὐδὲ εἶδεν οὐδὲ ἥψατο τῶν χρημάτων, καίτοι πολλὰ δοὺς ἑτέροις καὶ δωρησάμενος.
This, however, is wonderful in Aemilius: that although he conquered so great a kingdom, he did not make his estate larger by a single drachma, and neither saw nor touched the money, even though he gave and presented much to others.
§2.9οὐ λέγω δὲ ὅτι Τιμολέων μεμπτός ἐστιν οἰκίαν τε καλὴν λαβὼν καὶ χωρίον· οὐ γὰρ τὸ λαβεῖν ἐκ τοιούτων αἰσχρόν, ἀλλὰ τὸ μὴ λαβεῖν κρεῖττον καὶ περιουσία τῆς ἀρετῆς, ἐν οἷς ἔξεστιν ἐπιδεικνυμένης τὸ μὴ δεόμενον·
Now, I do not say that Timoleon is to be blamed for taking a fine house and estate; for taking from such sources is not shameful, but not taking is better, being a superabundance of virtue showing that it has no need even when it is permitted.
§2.10ἐπεὶ δέ, ὡς σώματος ῥῖγος ἢ θάλπος φέρειν δυναμένου τὸ πρὸς ἀμφοτέρας εὖ πεφυκὸς ὁμοῦ τὰς μεταβολὰς ῥωμαλεώτερον, οὕτω ψυχῆς ἄκρατος εὐρωστία καὶ ἰσχύς, ἣν οὔτε τὸ εὐτυχεῖν ὕβρει θρύπτει καὶ ἀνίησιν οὔτε συμφοραὶ ταπεινοῦσι, φαίνεται τελειότερος ὁ Αἰμίλιος, ἐν χαλεπῇ τύχῃ καὶ πάθει μεγάλῳ τῷ περὶ τοὺς παῖδας οὐδέν τι μικρότερος οὐδὲ ἀσεμνότερος ἢ διὰ τῶν εὐτυχημάτων ὁραθείς·
But since, just as a body capable of enduring cold or heat is more robust when it is naturally well-disposed towards both changes alike, so too is a soul of unmixed vigor and strength which is neither broken and relaxed by good fortune through insolence nor humbled by misfortunes; hence Aemilius appears more perfect, being seen in harsh fortune and great grief concerning his children as not at all diminished or less dignified than in his successes.
§2.11Τιμολέων δὲ γενναῖα πράξας περὶ τὸν ἀδελφὸν οὐκ ἀντέσχε τῷ λογισμῷ πρὸς τὸ πάθος, ἀλλὰ μετανοίᾳ καὶ λύπῃ ταπεινωθεὶς ἐτῶν εἴκοσι τὸ βῆμα καὶ τὴν ἀγορὰν ἰδεῖν οὐχ ὑπέμεινε.
Timoleon, on the other hand, although he had acted nobly concerning his brother, did not hold out in his reasoning against his grief, but, humbled by repentance and sorrow, could not bear to look upon the speakers' platform or the marketplace for twenty years.
§2.12δεῖ δὲ τὰ αἰσχρὰ φεύγειν καὶ αἰδεῖσθαι, τὸ δὲ πρὸς πᾶσαν ἀδοξίαν εὐλαβὲς ἐπιεικοῦς μὲν ἤθους καὶ ἁπαλοῦ, μέγεθος δὲ οὐκ ἔχοντος.
One must indeed avoid and feel shame at what is disgraceful, but to be cautious of all bad reputation belongs to an amiable and sensitive character, but one that lacks greatness.