He was an active member of the little community of Chaeronea, being archon of that town.  Whether this dignity was annual or for life we do not know, but it was probably the former, and very likely he served it more than once.  He speaks of his devotion to the duties of his office as causing him to incur the ridicule of some of his fellow-citizens, when they saw him engaged in the humblest duties.  “But,” he says, in Clough’s version, “the story told about Antisthenes comes to my assistance.  When some one expressed surprise at his carrying home some pickled fish from market in his own hands, It is, he answered, for myself.  Conversely, when I am reproached with standing by and watching while tiles are measured out, and stone and mortar brought up, This service, I say, is not for myself, it is for my country.”

Plutarch was for many years a priest of Apollo at Delphi.  The scene of some of his ‘Table Talk’ is laid there, when he in his priestly capacity gives a dinner party in honour of the victor in the poetic contest at the Pythian games.  Probably this office was a source of considerable income, and as the journey from Chaeronea to Delphi, across Mount Parnassus, is a very short one, it interfered but little with his literary and municipal business.  In his essay on “Whether an old man should continue to take part in public life,” he says, “You know, Euphanes, that I have for many Pythiads (that is, periods of four years elapsing between the Pythian festivals), exercised the office of Priest of Apollo:  yet I think you would not say to me,’Plutarch, you have sacrificed enough; you have led processions and dances enough; it is time, now that you are old, to lay aside the garland from your head, and to retire as superannuated from the oracle.’”

Thus respected and loved by all, Plutarch’s old age passed peacefully away.  “Notwithstanding,” as North says, “that he was very old, yet he made an end of the Lives....  Furthermore, Plutarch, having lived alwaies honourably even to old age, he died quietly among his children and friends in the city of Chaeronea, leaving his writings, an immortal savour of his name, unto posterity.  Besides the honour his citizens did him, there was a statue set up for him by ordinance of the people of Rome, in memory of his virtues.  Now furthermore, though time hath devoured some part of the writings of this great man, and minished some other:  neverthelesse those which remaine, being a great number, have excellent use to this day among us.”

PLUTARCH’S LIVES.

LIFE OF THESEUS.

I. As in books on geography, Sossius Senecio, the writers crowd the countries of which they know nothing into the furthest margins of their maps, and write upon them legends such as, “In this direction lie waterless deserts full of wild beasts;” or, “Unexplored morasses;” or, “Here it is as cold as Scythia;” or, “A frozen sea;” so I, in my writings on Parallel Lives, go through that period of time where history rests on the firm basis of facts, and may truly say, “All beyond this is portentous and fabulous, inhabited by poets and mythologers, and there is nothing true or certain.”