Montaigne, indeed, complained of Plutarch's brevity.

"No doubt," he added, "but his reputation is the better for it, though in the meantime we are the worse.

Plutarch would rather we should applaud his judgment than commend his knowledge, and had rather leave us with an appetite to read more than glutted with what we have already read.

He knew very well that a man may say too much even on the best subjects....

Such as have lean and spare bodies stuff themselves out with clothes; so they who are defective in matter, endeavour to make amends with words." [195] Plutarch possessed the art of delineating the more delicate features of mind and minute peculiarities of conduct, as well as the foibles and defects of his heroes, all of which is necessary to faithful and accurate portraiture.