Source edition
Plutarch. Plutarch's Lives, Vol. VIII. Perrin, Bernadotte, editor. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann Ltd., 1919.
Source data
Perseus Digital Library · CC BY-SA (per Perseus's terms)
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This work is a comparative essay that evaluates and contrasts the lives and achievements of the Roman general Sertorius and the Greek general Eumenes, who served Alexander the Great. The comparison begins by highlighting their common ground: both commanded vast armies as foreigners in lands outside their homelands, demonstrating exceptional military genius. However, it points out clear differences in the processes by which they acquired authority and the motivations of their followers. In terms of character, Eumenes is described as someone who loved war and fought voluntarily, whereas Sertorius loved peace but was forced to fight reluctantly to ensure his own safety. Finally, the text contrasts their deaths, concluding with the distinction between Sertorius, who maintained his dignity despite being betrayed, and Eumenes, who pleaded for his life after being captured, thereby surrendering his soul to the enemy.