The beauty of the face denotes good manners, and those amiable mental
qualities from which true politeness proceeds. If it does not entirely
satisfy the eye, it has the power, at least, of attracting attention.
Beauty is followed by virtue, and repels vice. It is said that Achilles
had a handsome visage, and that he was liberal and noble-minded; in war,
generous, quick, and merciful. Patroclus was distinguished for his
stature, and was strong and prudent. Priam, king of Troy, who was
endowed with uncommon beauty of face, was highly virtuous. Troilus, who
was remarkably handsome, was very generous, and an admirer of virtue.
Hecuba was uncommonly beautiful, just, pious, and possessed of a
masculine spirit. Andromache, who was possessed of bright eyes, fair
complexion, and an elegant figure, was modest, wise, gentle, and chaste.
Polyxena was fair, beautiful, and well proportioned, and surpassed all
the other princesses in beauty. According to Dares, the Phrygian, she
was elegant and liberal, and thought little of life. Diogenes says that
Pythagoras was so extremely beautiful, that his disciples looked upon
him as an Apollo, who came from the northward. He was the first real
philosopher in Italy, where he not only professed the greatest sciences,
but even invented several. Cyrus was extremely well proportioned, and
was a lover of the fine arts and of honour. In the pursuit of glory, he
willingly submitted to all manner of fatigue, and encountered the
greatest dangers. Xenophon speaks of the virtue and warlike
achievements of this truly great man. Plutarch relates that Darius was
the handsomest and finest looking man of his time, insomuch that
Alexander could easily distinguish him in battle. Evagoras’s face
expressed honesty; he was so noble minded, brave, temperate, wise, and
just, that some thought him to be a genius under the human form.
Democles, on account of his personal beauty, surnamed the beautiful, was
courageous and very prodigal. To escape the violence of Demetrius, who
surprised him naked, and going to bathe, he leaped into a reservoir of
boiling water. History mentions a young man, named Galetes, who was
much beloved by Ptolemy, on account of his uncommon beauty, and the
noble sentiments of his mind. The latter used to exclaim, “O thou dear
and amiable youth! thou hast never caused any harm, but the sight of
thee has afforded pleasure to many.” Scipio Africanus was graced with a
matchless beauty, and surpassed all other men in the faculties of his
mind, in eloquence, benignity, magnificence, and continence. He was well
acquainted with the sciences and liberal arts; he was a valiant captain,
and, by his heroic deeds, excelled not only the greatest princes of his
time, but those of former ages. During battle he always displayed an
invincible courage, and his clemency in victory was never equalled.
Augustus preserved his beauty through life, and was admired for his
eloquence, and the exercise of the fine and military arts. He was the
most fortunate of all the Cæsars. Macrobius testifies, in his writings,
that as Publius Syrus was extremely handsome, so the faculties of his
mind were uncommonly brilliant, which enabled him to give that sharpness
to his jests for which he was so celebrated. Lucretia, so celebrated
among the Romans, owed her celebrity to her beauty and chastity.
Galeatius surpassed all his cotemporaries in virtue and magnificence, as
well as in beauty. He established a college, and a library, in which he
placed the best professors and the choicest books. Saladin, emperor of
the Turks, was handsome and generous. John Pic Mirandula, possessed
great beauty of face, symmetry of shape, and elegance of figure. His
imagination was brilliant, his behaviour frank, and his eloquence
irresistible; for which virtues he was justly called the Phœnix of his
age.