his attention, than any of the Selectæ, now, generally used in our Schools. And I hope the laudable undertaking of the publishers may meet the encouragement to which it is entitled.

WILLIAM THOMPSON.

Lower Dublin Academy, April 28, 1810. Gentlemen,

Having examined the "Epitome Historia Sacra," "De Viris illustribus urbis Roma," and "Narrationes Excerpta," I have no hesitation in declaring them to be good elementary books, containing the substance of voluminous works, and better adapted for beginners, than selections now made use of in our Schools.

FRANCIS GLASS, Teacher of the Latin and Greek Languages, and the Mathematicks.

Gentlemen,

Clermont College, April 28, 1810.

Having taught, during fifteen months, the "Narrationes Excerpta," having also attentively examined the " Historia Sacra," and "De Viris illustribus urbis Roma," I have no

RECOMMENDATIONS.

vii

hesitation to recommend them as excellent School books, and much better calculated to facilitate the acquisition of the Latin language, than selections now in use.

FRANCIS GLASS, Junr. Teacher of the Greek and Latin Languages.

Philadelphia County,

Germantown Road, April 24, 1810. "Narrationes Excerpta," and "De Viris illustribus urbis Roma," are books which I have put into the hands of boys commencing the study of the Latin language, and from experience can vouch for their utility as elementary books: "Epitome Historia Sacra," I think ought to precede them.

THOMAS CLARK.

[The Publishers beg leave to note, that in addition to the preceding approbation of distinguished Critics, the works have also the commendation of all the several Baltimore Seminaries, to which they have been shown. Indeed, there are none who have examined them, who have not determined to adopt them into their Seminaries, as books amply super

seding, (if we include a small Poetic Selection, i. e. counterpart to "Narrationes Excerptæ,' intended to be published) all the usual elementary works, preparatory to the study of Cæsar and the fellow Prose Authors. Besides their intrinsic excellence, their moderation of cost (being but about three dollars for the four) strongly recommend them to the economy of teachers, and to the favour of the public.]

NARRATIONES

EXCERPTÆ EX LATINIS SCRIPTORIBUS, SERVA TO TEMPORUM ORDINE DISPOSITE.

NARRATION I.

The death of Sardanapalus, A. C. 758. (Anc. Hist. Justin, book 1.)

THE Assyrian empire1 is the most ancient of which Latin historians make mention; common tradition says, it was founded by Ninus, the son of Belus, about 1200 years before Christ.

To Ninus succeeded Semiramis his wife. Both of whom made great conquests. Ninus had enlarged Nineveh.2 Semiramis built or embellished Babylon. 3 Ninias, their son possessed none of the il

1 At present called Arzerum and Curdistan, to the east of the Tigris, a part in Turkey in Asia, and a part in Persia.

Nineveh, upon the eastern bank of the Tigris, is two leagues from the Mosul, a city of Dearbeck, which it is thought was built from the ruins of Nineveh.

3 Babylon was situated upon the Euphrates, a little above its junction with the Tigris. It is thought. some vestiges of it still remain to the south, and at some distance from the city of Bagdad.

lustrious qualities of either of them. From the date of this prince's reign a long succession of kings began, who occupied the throne of Assyria for thirty generations. The last was Sardanapalus the most famous of all, for his effeminacy and tragical death.

Postremus apud eos regnavit Sardanapalus, vir muliere corruptior. Ad hunc videndum (quod nemini ante eum permissum fuerat) Præfectus ipsius 'Medis præpositus, nomine Arbactus, cùm admitti magnâ ambitione ægrè obtinuisset, invenit eum inter scortorum greges purpuram colo nentem, et muliebri habitu, cùm mollitiâ corporis, et oculorum lasciviâ omnes feminas anteiret, pensa inter virgines partientem. Quibus visis, indignatus tali feminæ tantùm virorum subjectum, tractantique lanam, ferrum et arma portantes parere; progressus ad socios, quid viderit refert: Negat se ei parere posse, qui se feminam malit esse, quàm virum. Fit igitur conjuratio: bellum Sardanapalo infertur. Quo ille audito, non ut vir regnum defensurus, sed ut metu mortis

1 Media was to the north east of Assyria; it is now comprised within the kingdom of Persia, and forms the Provinces of Shirvan, Guilan, Adersitzan and the western part of Yerack. Atzam Ecbatan, founded by Dejoces, was its capital-Herodotus represents it as encompassed with seven walls rising like amphitheatres above one another. Its modern name is Hamadon.