WHETHER VIRTUE ALONE BE SUFFICIENT. 187there was placed a sphere with a cylinder. When I had

carefully examined all the monuments (for there are a great many tombs at the gate Achvadinae), I observed a small column standing out a little above the briers, with the figure of a sphere and a cylinder upon it ; whereupon I immediately said to the Syracusans for there were some of their principal men with me there that I im agined that was what I was inquiring for. Several men, being sent in with scythes, cleared the way, and made an opening for us. When we could get at it, and were come near to the front of the, pedestal, I found the inscription, though the latter parts of all the verses were effaced al most half away. Thus one of the noblest cities of Greece, and one which at one time likewise had been very cele brated for learning, had known nothing of the monument of its greatest genius, if it had not been discovered to them by a native of Arpinum. But to return to the subject from which I have been digressing. Who is there in the least degree acquainted with the Muses, that is, with lib eral knowledge, or that deals at all in learning, who would not choose to be this mathematician rather than that ty rant? If we look into their methods of living and their employments, we shall find the mind of the one strength ened and improved with tracing the deductions of reason, amused with his own ingenuity, which is the one most delicious food of the mind ; the thoughts of the other en gaged in continual murders and injuries, in constant fears by night and by day. Now imagine a Democritus, a Py thagoras, and an Anaxagoras ; what kingdom, what riches, would you prefer to their studies and amusements ? For you must necessarily look for that excellence which we arc seeking for in that which is the most perfect part of man ; but what is there better in man than a sagacious and good mind? The enjoyment, therefore, of that good which pro ceeds from that sagacious mind can alone make us happy ; but virtue is the good of the mind : it follows, therefore, that a happy life depends on virtue. Hence proceed all things that arc beautiful, honorable, and excellent, as I said above (but this point must, I think, be treated of more at large), and they are well stored with joys. For, as it

is clear that a happy life consists in perpetual and unex-