19
Again, if someone who wished to praise Milo of Croton or Glaucus of Carystus or PolydamasFamous boxers; see the Index. should say of any one of them that he was stronger than a woman, do not you suppose that he would be laughed at for the senselessness of his praise? Indeed, if it had been said that he was better than any single man, that would not have sufficed for praise. Come, how did a famous poet? praise Glaucus when he said: “Not even mighty Polydeuces” could have held up his hands against that man, “nor yet the iron-hard son of Alemene!” You see what gods he likened him to—nay, actually avouched him better than those gods themselves! And it cannot be said either that Glaucus became indignant when he was praised in opposition to the gods who are the overseers of athletes, or that they punished either Glaucus or the poet as guilty of sacrilege in the matter of that praise. On the contrary, both enjoyed good fame and were honoured by the Greeks, Glaucus for his strength and the poet especially for this very song!
19
Do not wonder then, that I myself, desiring to make comparisons, as one who sought to praise was bound to do, used an exalted counterfoil, since my theme demanded it.
20
Since you mentioned flattery, let me say that I praise you for hating flatterers; I would not have it otherwise. But I wish to make a distinction and a difference for you between the achievement of one who praises, and its exaggeration on the part of one who flatters.
