Pagina 203 de 734

It is characteristic also of the Magnificent man to furnish his

house suitably to his wealth, for this also in a way reflects

credit; and again, to spend rather upon such works as are of long

duration, these being most honourable. And again, propriety in

each case, because the same things are not suitable to gods and

men, nor in a temple and a tomb. And again, in the case of

expenditures, each must be great of its kind, and great expense

on a great object is most magnificent, that is in any case what

is great in these particular things.

There is a difference too between greatness of a work and

greatness of expenditure: for instance, a very beautiful ball or

cup is magnificent as a present to a child, while the price of it

is small and almost mean. Therefore it is characteristic of the

Magnificent man to do magnificently whatever he is about: for

whatever is of this kind cannot be easily surpassed, and bears a

proper proportion to the expenditure.

Such then is the Magnificent man.