Plutarch on Boasted Wisdom, Fortitude and Temperance

Plutarch · Constitution of Man Series · 15 pages

A satire in dialogue form, and the wittiest thing in this section. Ulysses, on the island of Circe, asks her permission to restore his companions to human shape; she grants it on condition that the men themselves desire it. Gryllus, one of them and now a swine, is brought forward to answer on behalf of the whole company — and refuses, arguing that by making them beasts Circe has done them a great favour.

His reasons work through the four virtues of the title in turn and give each back to the animals. Beasts have more fortitude than men: they fight in fair open combat without trick or artifice, are no cowards, and never cry for mercy — and even the females are courageous, whereas the courage of men is artificial and their women timid. Beasts are more temperate and chaste, indulging their appetites only in a natural way and at the proper season, while men are incontinent, indulge unnatural and excessive appetites and are never satisfied. Beasts place no value on silver or gold and have no adventitious desire; their senses are more accurate; they are satisfied with one kind of food procured without difficulty, having nature for their teacher — and could, Gryllus says, teach men many useful lessons.

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