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All passions of the mind have repentance still pursuing them closely, but it overtakes this of bashfulness in
the very act. For we give with regret, and we are in confusion
[p. 72]
while we bear false witness; our reputation is
questioned when we engage for others, and when we fail
we are condemned by all men. From this imperfection
also it proceeds, that many things are imposed upon us not
in our power to perform, as to recommend such a man to
court, or to carry up an address to the governor, because
we dare not, or at least we will not, confess that we are
unknown to the prince or that another has more of his ear.
Lysander, on the other hand, when he was in disgrace at
court, but yet for his great services was thought to preserve
something of his former esteem with Agesilaus, made no
scruple to dismiss suitors, directing them to such as were
more powerful with the king. For it is no disgrace not to
be able to do every thing; but to undertake or pretend to
what you are not made for is not only shameful, but extremely troublesome and vexatious.
Plutarch. Plutarch's Morals. Translated from the Greek by several hands. Corrected and revised by. William W. Goodwin, PH. D. Boston. Little, Brown, and Company. Cambridge. Press Of John Wilson and son. 1874. 1.
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