nd some solace for their defeat
in the praises they bestowed on the conqueror. He was, they said,
indeed a soldier, worthy to command soldiers; the only king of the age
in whom there could be traced any likeness to the great Alexander.
Pyrrhus revived this image by the fire and vigour of his movements in
the field of battle; the rest only mimicked the hero, whose title they
assumed, in their demeanour, and in the trappings and state of
royalty.[39] We can form an opinion about his knowledge and skill in
military matters from the writings which he has left on these
subjects. It is related, moreover, that Antigonus, when asked who was
the greatest of generals, answered "Pyrrhus, if he lives to be old,"
speaking only of the generals of his own time. Hannibal, however,
considered Pyrrhus to have been the first general that ever lived for
skill and resource, placing Scipio next, and himself third, as is
written in the Life of Scipio. Indeed Pyrrhus devoted the whole of his
intellect to the art of war, regarding it as the only study fit for a
king, and holding all other occupations to be frivolous. At a wine
party he was once asked whether he thought Python or Kaphisias the
better flute player, to which he answered that Polysperchon was the
best general, as though that were the only subject on which a king
should form or express an opinion. Yet he was mild-tempered and gentle
towards his friends, full of gratitude for kindness, and eager to
repay it. He grieved greatly over the death of AEropus; not so much
because he was dead, for that, he said, was the common lot of mankind,
but because he himself had delayed repaying him a kindness until it
was too late. Debts of money, he said, can be paid to the heirs of a
creditor, but men of honour are grieved at not being able to return a
kindness during the lifetime of their benefactor. In Ambrakia once
Pyrrhus was advised to banish a man who abused him in scurrilous
terms. He answered, "I had rather he remained where he is and abused
me there, than that he should wander through all the world doing so."
Once some youths spoke ill of him over their wine, and being detected
were asked by him whether they had used such words of him. "We did, O
king," answered one of the young men, "and we should have said more
evil of you if we had had more wine." At this answer Pyrrhus laughed,
and acquitted them.

IX. After the death of Antigone he married several wives, for the sake
of advantageous