behaviour, being in the vigour of youth, and hitherto without experience of calamity, was totally unable to bear it. 66 Sir," said he to Amyntas, 66 being much incensed, your age is a sufficient "excuse for your retiring; leave me to preside at the banquet, and to pay such attention to 66 our guests as shall be proper and necessary." Amyntas could not but observe that the warmth of youth prompted his son to some act of boldness; he accordingly made him this reply: "I can plainly see your motive for soliciting my absence; you desire me to go, that you may perpetrate somewhat to which your spirit impels you; but I must insist upon it, that you do "not occasion our ruin by molesting these men ; "suffer their indignities patiently.—I shall how 66 66 66 66 ever follow your advice, and retire." With these words Amyntas left them. 66 XX. Upon this, Alexander thus addressed the Persians: "You are at liberty, Sirs, to repose yourselves with any or with all of these fe"males; I have only to require, that you will "make your choice known to me. It is now 24 Insist upon it.]-The reader will in this place, I presume, be naturally suspicious that the good old king Amyntas was well aware what his son Alexander intended to perpetrate, If he suspected what was about to be done, and had not wished its accomplishment, he would probably, notwithstanding his age, have staid and prevented it.-T. "almost time to retire, and I can perceive that 66 our wine has had its effect upon you. You "will please therefore to suffer these women to 66 go and bathe themselves, and they shall after"wards return." The Persians approved of what he said, and the women retired to their proper apartments; but, in their room, he dressed up an equal number of smooth-faced young men, and arming each with a dagger, he introduced them to the company. Persians," said he, on their entering, we have given you 66 66 66 a magnificent entertainment, and supplied you "with every thing in our power to procure. "We have also, which with us weighs more than "all the rest, presented you with our matrons "and our sisters, that we might not appear to 66 you in any respect insensible of your merits; "and that you may inform the king your master "with what liberality a Greek and prince of "Macedonia has entertained you at bed and at "board." When he had thus said, Alexander commanded the Macedonians, whom he addressed as females, to sit by the side of the Persians; but on their first attempt to touch them, the Macedonians put every one of them to death. XXI. These Persians with their retinue thus forfeited their lives; they had been attended on this expedition with a number of carriages and servants, all of which were seized and plundered. At no great interval of time, a strict inquisition was made by the Persians into this business; but Alexander, by his discretion, obviated its effects. To Bubaris 25, a native of Persia, and one of those who had been sent to inquire concerning the death of his countrymen, he made very liberal presents, and gave his sister in marriage. By these means the assassination of the Persian officers was overlooked and forgotten. XXII. These Greeks were descended from Perdiccas: this they themselves affirm, and indeed I myself know it, from certain circumstances which I shall hereafter relate. My opinion of this matter is also confirmed by the determination of those who preside at the Olympic 25 Bubaris.]-It appears from book the seventh, chap. 21, of our author, that this Bubaris was the son of Megabyzus. —T. 26 One of those.]-It is contended by Valknaer, who is answered by Larcher, in a very long note, that instead of rev στρατηγών, it should be Torparny, that is, in fact, whe ther it should be "one of those," &c. or " chief of those," &c. Which of these is the more proper reading, is not, I think, of sufficient importance to warrant any hasty suspicion, not to say alteration of the text. That Bubaris was a man of rank we know, for he was the son of Megabyzus; that he was the chief of those employed on this occasion, may be presumed, from his receiving from Alexander many liberal presents, and his own sister in marriage.-T. 27 games for when Alexander, with an ambition of distinguishing himself, expressed a desire of entering the lists, the Greeks, who were his competitors, repelled him with scorn, asserting, that this was a contest, not of Barbarians, but of Greeks; but he proved himself to be an Argive, and was consequently allowed to be a Greek. He was then permitted to contend, and was matched with the first combatant 28. 27 Preside at the Olympic games.]-The judges who presided at the Olympic games were called Hellanodicæ; their number varied at different times; they were a long time ten, sometimes more, sometimes less, according to the number of the Elean tribes; but it finally reverted to ten. They did not all judge promiscuously at every contest, but only such as were deputed to do so. Their decisions might be appealed from, and they might even be accused before the senate of Olympia, who sometimes set aside their determinations. They who were elected Hellanodica were compelled to reside ten months successively in a building appropriated to their use at Olympia, and named from them the Hellanodicæon, in order to instruct themselves, previous to their entering on their office.-Larcher. 28 Vith the first combatant.]-See Lucian, Hermotimus, vol. i. p. 782-3.-Hemsterhusius. Lycinus.--Do not, Hermotimus, tell me what anciently was done, but what you yourself have seen at no great distance of time. Hermotimus. A silver urn was produced sacred to the god, into which some small lots of the size of beans were thrown: two of these are inscribed with the letter A, two more with B, two others with G, and so on, according to the number of competitors, there being always two lots marked with the XXIII. I have related the facts which happened. Megabyzus, taking the Pæonians along with him, passed the Hellespont, and arrived at Sardis. At this period, Histiæus the Milesian was engaged in surrounding with a wall, the place which had been given him by Darius, as a reward for his preserving the bridge; it is called Myrcinus 29, and is near the river Strymon. Megabyzus, as soon as he came to Sardis, and learned what had been done with Histiæus, thus addressed Darius: 66 respect to "Have you, Sir, done wisely, in permitting a Greek of "known activity and abilities to erect a city "in Thrace? in a place which abounds with 66 every requisite for the construction and equip"ment of ships; and where there are also mines "of silver? A number of Greeks are there, "mixed with Barbarians, who, making him their same letter. The combatants then advanced one by one, and calling on the name of Jupiter, put his hand into the urn, and drew out a lot. An officer stood near with a cudgel in his hand, and ready to strike if any one attempted to see what letter he had drawn. Then the Alytarch, or one of the Hellanodicæ, obliging them to stand in a circle, paired such together as had drawn the same letter. If the number of competitors was not equal, he who drew the odd letter was matched against the victor, which was no small advantage, as he had to enter the lists quite fresh against a man already fatigued. 29 Myrcinus.]-This place in some books of geography is written Myrcenus.-T. |