for Gelon's memory, prevented it from breaking out. Some time after he had ascended the throne, he entertained violent suspicions of Polyzelus, his brother, whose great influence among the citizens made him fear that he had a design to depose him. In order to rid himself without noise of an enemy whom he fancied very dangerous, he resolved to put him at the head of some forces he was going to send to the succour of the Sybarites against the Crotoniata, hoping that he would perish in the expedition. His brother's refusal to accept this command, made him the more violent against him. Theron, who had married Polyzelus's daughter, joined with his father-in-law. This gave rise to great differences of long duration between the kings of Syracuse and Agrigentum; however, they at last were reconciled by the judicious mediation of Simonides the poet ;4 and to make their reconciliation lasting, they cemented it by a new alliance, Hiero marrying Theron's sister; after which the two kings always lived in good intelligence with each other.

Since the defeat of the Carthaginians in Sicily,' the | as a king; and nothing but the veneration they had several cities enjoyed a profound peace, and Syracuse was particularly happy in its tranquillity, under the auspicious government of Gelon. He was not born in Syracuse, and yet all the inhabitants of that city, though so extremely jealous of their liberty, had forced him in a manner to be their king. Though an alien, the supreme power went in search of him, not courted on his part with any art or inducement but those of merit. Gelon was thoroughly acquainted with all the duties of the regal office, as well as its great weight; and he accepted it with no other view but the good of his people. He thought himself king only for the defence of the state, to preserve the good order of society, to protect innocence and justice, and to exhibit to all his subjects, in his simple, modest, active, and regular life, a pattern of every civil virtue. The whole of royalty that he assumed was the toils and cares of it, a zeal for the public welfare, and the sweet satisfaction which results from making millions happy by his cares in a word, he considered the sovereignty as an obligation, and a means to procure the felicity of At first,s an infirm state of health, which was ina greater number of men. He banished from it pomp, creased by repeated illness, gave Hiero an opportuostentation, licentiousness, and impunity for crimes. nity of thinking seriously; after which he resolved to He did not affect the appearance of reigning, but con- draw around him men of learning, who might converse tented himself with making the laws reign. He agreeably with him, and furnish him with useful innever made his inferiors feel that he was their master, structions. The most famous poets of the age came but only inculcated into them that both himself and to his court, as Simonides, Pindar, Bacchylides, and they ought to submit to reason and justice. To in- Epicharmus; and it is affirmed, that their delightful duce their obedience, he employed no other methods conversation did not a little contribute to soften the but persuasion and a good example, which are the cruel and savage disposition of Hiero. weapons of virtue, and alone produce a sincere and uninterrupted obedience.

A revered old age, a name highly dear to all his subjects, a reputation equally diffused within and without his kingdoms; these were the fruits of that wisdom which he retained on the throne to the last gasp. His reign was short, and only just showed him in a manner to Sicily, to exhibit in his person an example of a great, good, and true king. He died, after having reigned only seven years, to the infinite regret of all his subjects. Every family imagined itself deprived of its best friend, its protector and father. The people erected, without the city, in the place where his wife Demarata had been buried, a splendid mausoleum, surrounded with nine towers of surprising height and magnificence; and decreed those honours to him, which were then paid to the demigods or heroes. The Carthaginians afterwards demolished the mausoleum, and Agatholes the towers: but, says the historian, neither violence, envy, nor time, which destroys all grosser things, could destroy the glory of his name, or abolish the memory of his exalted virtues and noble actions, which love and gratitude had engraved in the hearts of the Sicilians.

est brother.

It will be necessary for us, in order to reconcile the authors who have written concerning this prince, some of whom represent him as a good king, and others a detestable tyrant; it will be necessary, I say, to distinguish the periods. It is very probable that Hiero, dazzled, in the beginning of his reign, by the glitter of sovereign power, and corrupted by the flattery of his courtiers, studiously endeavoured to deviate from that path which his predecessor had pointed out to him, and in which he had found himself so happy. This young prince was avaricious,2 headstrong, unjust, and studious of nothing but the gratification of his passions, without ever endeavouring to acquire the esteem and affection of the people; who, on the other side had the utmost aversion for a prince, whom they looked upon as a tyrant over them, rather than

Plutarchs relates a noble saying of his, which shows an excellent disposition in a prince. He declared, that his palace and his ears should be always open to every man who would tell him the truth, and that without disguise or reserve.

The poets above mentioned not only excelled in poetry, but were also possessed of a great fund of learning in other branches, and were respected and consulted as the sages of their times. This is what Cicero says of Simonides in particular. He had a great ascendant over the king; and the only use he made of it was, to incline him to virtue.

They often used to converse on philosophical subjects.8 I observed on another occasion, that Hiero, in one of these conversations, asked Simonides his opinion with regard to the nature and attributes of the Deity. The latter desired one day's time to consider of it; the next day he asked two, and went on increasing in the same proportion. The prince pressing him to give his reasons for these delays; he confessed, that the subject was above his comprehension, and that the more he reflected, the more obscure it appeared to him.

Xenophon has left us an excellent treatise on the art of governing well, entitled Hiero, and written in monides. Hiero undertakes to prove to the poet, the form of a dialogue between this prince and Sithat tyrants and kings are not so happy as is generally imagined. Among the great number of proofs alleged by him, he insists chiefly on their unhappiness in this life, viz. the enjoyment of a true friend, to whose in being deprived of the greatest comfort and blessing bosom they may safely confide their secrets and afflictions; who may share with them in their joy and sorrow; in a word, a second self, who may form but one heart, one soul with them. Simonides, on the other side, lays down admirable maxims with respect to the duties of a sovereign. He represents to him, that a king is not so for himself, but for others: that his grandeur consists, not in building magnificent palaces for his own residence, but in erecting temples, and fortifying and embellishing his cities: that his glory consists not in his people's fearing him, but in their Diod. 1. xi. p. 56.

Elian. 1. iv. c. 15.

Schol, in, Pind. In Apopth. p. 175.

7 Simonides non poeta solùm suavis, verùm etiam cœteroqui doctus sapiensque traditur. Lib. i. de nat, deor, Cic. l. i, de nat, deor, n. 60.

n. 60.

being afraid for him: that a truly royal care is, not to enter the lists with the first comer at the Olymypic games (for the princes of that age were passionately fond of them, and especially Hiero,) but to contend with the neighbouring kings, who should succeed best in diffusing wealth and abundance throughout his dominions, and in endeavouring to secure the felicity of the people.

Nevertheless, another poet (Pindar) praises this same Hiero for the victory he had won in the horserace. "This prince," says he, in his ode, "who governs with equity the inhabitants of opulent Sicily, has gathered the fairest flower of every virtue. He takes a noble delight in the most exquisite performances of poetry and music. He loves melodious airs, such as it is customary for us to play at the banquets given us by our dearest friends. Rouse then thyself, take thy lyre, and raise it to the Doric pitch. If thou feelest thyself animated by a glorious fire in favour of Pisa and Pherenice; if they have waked the sweetest transports in thy breast, when that generous courser (without being quickened by the spur) flew along the banks of the Alpheus, and carried his royal rider to glorious victory: O sing the king of Syracuse, the ornament of the Olympic course!"

The whole ode, translated by the late Mr. Massieu, is in the sixth volume of the Memoirs of the Academy of Inscriptions and Belles Lettres, from which I have made the short extract above. I was very glad to give the reader some idea of Pindar, from this little specimen.

The next ode to this was composed in honour of Theron, king of Agrigentum, victorious in the chariotrace. The diction of it is so sublime, the thought so noble, and the moral so pure, that many look upon it as Pindar's master-piece.

I cannot say how far we may depend on the rest of the praises which Pindar gives to Hiero, for poets do not always pride themselves upon their sincerity in the eulogiums they bestow on princes; however, it is certain that Hiero had made his court the resort of all persons of wit and genius; and that he had invited them to it by his affability and engaging behaviour, and much more by his liberality, which is a great merit in a king.

who croak in vain against the divine bird of Jove. But modesty was not the virtue which distinguished Pindar. Hiero,5 having driven the ancient inhabitants of Catana and Naxos from their country, settled a colony of 10,000 men there, half of whom were Syracusans, and the rest Peloponnesians. This induced the inhabitants of those cities to appoint, after his death, the same solemnities in his honour, as were bestowed on heroes or demigods, because they considered him as their founder.

He showed great favour to the children of Anaxilaus, formerly tyrant of Zancle, and a great friend to Gelon his brother. As they were arrived at years of maturity, he exhorted them to take the government into their own hands; after Micythus, their tutor, should have perfectly informed them of the state of it, and how he himself had behaved in the administration. The latter, having assembled the nearest relations and most intimate friends of the young princes, gave, in their presence, so good an account of his guardianship, that the whole assembly (in perfect admiration) bestowed the highest encomiums on his prudence, integrity, and justice. Matters were carried so far, that the young princes were extremely urgent with him to continue to preside in the administration, as he had hitherto done. However, the wise tutor preferring the sweets of ease to the splendour of authority, and persuaded, at the same time, that it would be for the interest of the state if the young princes took the government into their own hands, resolved to retire from business. Hiero died after having reigned eleven years.

III. Thrasybulus.

He was succeeded by Thrasybulus his brother," who, by his evil conduct, contributed very much to the making him be regretted. Swelled with pride and a brutal haughtiness, he considered men as mere worms; vainly fancying they were created for him to trample upon, and that he was of a quite different nature from them. He abandoned himself implicitly to the flattering counsels of the giddy young courtiers who surrounded him. He treated all his subjects with the utmost severity; banishing some, confiscating the possessions of others, and putting great numbers to death. So severe a slavery soon grew insupportaWe cannot bestow on Hiero's court the eulogium ble to the Syracusans, and therefore they implored with Horaces gives the house of Mæcenas, in which the succour of the neighbouring cities, whose interest a character prevailed rarely found among scholars, and it was also to throw off the tyrant's yoke. Thrasybunevertheless infinitely preferable to all their erudition. lus was besieged even in Syracuse, the sovereignity of This amiable house, says Horace, was an utter stran- part of which he had reserved to himself, viz. Achrager to the mean and grovelling sentiments of envy dina, and the island, which was very well fortified; and jealousy; and men saw, in those who shared in but the third quarter of the city, called Tyche, was their master's favour, a superior merit or credit, with- possessed by the enemy. After making a feeble resisout taking the least umbrage at it. But it was far tance, and demanding to capitulate, he left the city, and otherwise in the court of Hiero or of Theron. It is withdrew into banishment among the Locrians. He said that Simonides, and Bacchylides his nephew, had reigned but a year. In this manner the Syraemployed all kinds of criticism, to lessen the esteem cusans recovered their liberty. They also delivered which those princes had for Pindar's works. The the rest of the cities of Sicily from tyrants; estalatter by way of reprisal, ridicules them very strong-blished a popular government in all places, and mainly in his ode to Theron, in comparing them to ravens, tained that form by themselves during threescore years, till the reign of Dionysius the tyrant, who again enslaved them.

It is said that Themistocles, seeing him arrive at the Olympic games with a splendid equipage, would have had him forbidden them, because he had not succoured the Greeks against the common enemy, any more than Gelon his brother; which motion did honour to the Athenian general. Elian, l. ix, c. 5.

Pisa was the city, near which the Olympic games were solemnized and Pherenice was the name of Hiero's courser, signifying the gainer of victory.

-Non isto vivimus illic,
Quo tu rere, modo, Domus hàc nec purior ulla est,
Nec magis his aliena malis Nil mi officit unquam,
Ditror hic, aut est quia doctor. Est locus uni
Cuique suus.
Hor. lib. i, sat. 9
Sir, you mistake, that's not our course of life,
We know no jealousies, no brawls, no strife:
From all those ills our patron's house is free,
None, 'cause more learned or wealthy, troubles me;
We have our stations, all their own pursue, &c. Creech.
Scholiast. Pind.

After Sicily had been delivered from the government of tyrants, A. M. 3544. and all the cities of it were restored Ant. J. C.460. to their liberty; as the country was extremely fruitful in itself, and the peace which all places enjoyed, gave the inhabitants of this island an opportunity of cultivating their lands, and feeding their flocks; the people grew very powerful, and amassed great riches. To perpetuate to latest posterity the remembrance of the happy day in which they had thrown off the yoke of slavery, by the banishment of Thrasybulus, it was decreed in the general assembly of the nation, that a calossal statue should be set up to Jupiter the Deliverer; that on the anniversary of this day a festival should be solem

nized, by way of thanksgiving, for the restoration of their liberty; and that there should be sacrificed in honour of the gods, 450 bulls, with which the people should be entertained at a common feast.

There nevertheless lay concealed in the minds of many, a certain secret leaven of tyranny, which frequently disturbed the harmony of this peace, and occasioned several tumults and commotions in Sicily, the particulars of which I shall omit. To prevent the evil consequences of them, the Syracusans established the Petalism, which differed very little from the Athenian Ostracism; and was so called from the Greek éradov, signifying a leaf, because the votes were then given on an olive-leaf. This judgment was put in force against those citizens whose great power made the people apprehensive that they aspired at the tyranny, and it banished them for ten years; however, it did not long continue in force, and was soon abolished; because the dread of falling under its censure, having prompted the most virtuous men to retire, and renounce the government, the chief employments were now filled by such citizens only as had the least merit.

the unfortunate, and in crushing those who are already under one's foot; it was worthy the grandeur and good nature of the Syracusans, to exert their clemency even to those who least deserved it." All the people came into this opinion, and with one consent spared Deucetius's life. He was ordered to reside in Corinth, the mother-city and foundress of Syracuse; and the Syracusans engaged to furnish Deucetius with all things necessary for his subsisting honourably there. What reader, who compares these two different opinions, does not perceive which of them was the noblest and most generous.

SECTION II.—OF SOME FAMOUS PERSONS AND CITIES

IN GRECIA MAGNA. PYTHAGORAS, CHARONDAS, ZA-
LEUCUS, MILO THE ATHLETA; CROTONA, SYBARIS,
AND TRURIUM.
I. Pythagoras.

A. M. 3480.

IN treating of what relates to Græcia Magna in Italy, I must not omit Pythagoras, who was the glory Ant. J. C. 524. of it. He was born in Samos.3 After having travelled into a great many regions, and Deucetius, according to Diodorus,2 was chief over enriched his mind with much uncommon and excellent the people who were properly called Sicilians. Hav-learning, he returned to his native country, but did ing united them all (the inhabitants of Hybla except ed) into one body, he became very powerful, and formed several great enterprises. It was he who built the city Palica, near the temple of the gods called Palici. This temple was very famous on account of some wonders which are related of it; and still more from the sacred nature of the oaths which were then taken, the violation whereof was said to be always followed by a sudden and exemplary punishment. This was a secure asylum for all persons who were oppressed by superior power; and especially for slaves who were unjustly abused, or too cruelly treated by their masters. They continued in safety in this temple, till certain arbiters and mediators had made their peace; and there was not a single instance of a master's having ever broken the promise he had made of pardoning his slaves; so famous were the gods who presided over this temple, for the severe vengeance they took on those who violated their oaths.

not make a long stay in it, because of the tyrannical government which Polycrates had established in it, who however had the highest regard for him, and showed him all the esteem due to his rare merit. But the study of the sciences, and particularly of philosophy, is by no means compatible with slavery, though of the mildest and most honourable kind. He therefore went into Italy, and resided usually either at Crotona, Metapontum, Heraclea, or Tarentum. Servius Tullius,4 or Tarquinius Superbus, reigned in Rome at that time; which absolutely refutes the opinion of those who imagined that Numa Pompilius, the second king of the Romans, who lived upwards of 100 years before, had been Pythagoras's disciple; an opinion that very probably was grounded on the resemblance of their manners, disposition, and principies.

The whole country soon felt very happy effects from the presence of this excellent philosopher. An inThis Deucetius, after having been successful on clination for study, and a love of wisdom, diffused a great many occasions, and gained several victo- themselves almost universally in a very short time. ries particularly over the Syracusans; saw his for- Multitudes flocked from all the neighbouring cities to tune change on a sudden by the loss of a battle, and get a sight of Pythagoras, to hear him, and to profit by was abandoned by the greatest part of his forces. In his salutary counsels. The several princes of the the consternation and despondency into which so ge country took a pleasure in inviting him to their courts, neral and sudden a desertion threw him, he formed which they thought honoured by his presence; and such a resolution as despair only could sugggest. He all were delighted with his conversation, and glad to withdrew in the night to Syracuse, advanced as far as learn from him the art of governing nations with wisthe great square of the city, and there falling prostrate dom. His school became the most famous that had at the foot of the altar, abandoned his life and domi- ever been till that age. He had no less than 4 or 500 nions to the mercy of the Syracusans, that is, to his disciples. Before he admitted them in that quality, he professed enemies. The singularity of this spectacle kept them in a state of noviciate, as it were, and proattracted great numbers of people. The magistrates bation for five years, during which time he obliged immediately convened the people, and debated on the them to keep the strictest silence; thinking it proper affair. They first heard the orators, whose business for them to be instructed, before they should attempt was generally to address the people with great vio- to speak. It is well known that the metempsychosis lence; and these animated them against Deucetius, as or transmigration of souls was one of the chief of his a public enemy, whom Providence seemed to throw tenets. His disciples had the greatest reverence for into their way, to revenge and punish, by his death, every word he uttered; and if he did but barely aver all the injuries he had done the republic. A speech of a thing, that alone, without farther examination, was this tendency struck all the virtuous part of the assem-sufficient to gain credit to his assertion; and to conbly with horror. The most ancient and wisest of the senators represented, "That they were not now to consider what punishment Deucetius deserved, but how it behove the Syracusans to act on that occasion; that they ought not to look upon him any longer as an enemy, but as a suppliant, a character by which his person was become sacred and inviolable. That there was a goddess (Nemesis) who took vengeance of crimes, especially of cruelty and impiety, who doubtless would not suffer that to go unpunished: that besides the baseness and inhumanity there is in insulting

firm the truth of any thing, they used to express themselves in this manner, The master said it. However, the disciples carried their deference and docility too far, in thus waving all inquiry, and in sacrificing implicitly their reason and understanding; a sacrifice

Diog. Laert. in vit. Pythag. 4 Liv. l. i. n. 18.

Græciam, quæ magna dicta est, et privatim et publice, Pythagoras, cùm in Italiam venisset, exornavit eam præstantissimis et institutis, et artibus. Cic. Tuscul, Quæst·

v. n. 10.

that is due only to the divine authority, which is in- | work was noisy; and would not suffer any cocks in finitely superior to our reason and all our knowledge; it, lest their shrill piercing crow should disturb their and which, consequently, is authorised to prescribe balmy slumbers. laws to us, and dictate absolute obedience.

1

The school of Pythagoras bred a great number of illustrious disciples, who did infinite honour to their master; as wise legislators, great politicians, persons skilled in all the sciences, and capable of governing states, and being the ministers of the greatest princes. A long time after his death, that part of Italy which he had cultivated and improved by his instructions, was still considered as the nursery and seat of men skilled in all kinds of literature and maintained that glorious character for several ages. The Romans certainly entertained a high opinion of Pythagoras's virtue and merit, since the oracle of Delphi having commanded that people, during the war with the Samnites, to erect two statues in the most conspicuous part of Rome, the one to the wisest, and the other to the most valiant, among the Greeks, they accordingly set up two in the place where the Comitia were held, representing Pythagoras and Themistocles. We have no certain information with respect to the time and place of Pythagoras's death.

II. Crolona. Sybaris. Thurium.

A. M. 3295.

Ant. J. C. 709.

All these evils were heightened by dissention and discord, which at last proved their ruin. Five hundred of the wealthiest A. M. 3484. persons in the city having been ex- Ant. J. C. 520. pelled by the faction of one Telys, fled to Crotona. Telys demanded to have them surrendered to him; and, on the refusal of the Crotonians to deliver them up (who were prompted to this generous resolution by Pythagoras, who then lived among them) war was declared. The Sybarites marched 300,000 men into the field, and the Crotonians only 100,000; but then they were headed by Milo, the famous champion (of whom we shall soon have occasion to speak,) over whose shoulders a lion's skin was thrown, and himself armed with a club, like another Hercules. The latter gained a complete victory, and made a dreadful havoc of those who fled, so that very few escaped, and their city was depopulated. About threescore years after, some Thessalians came and settled in it; however, they did not long enjoy peace, being driven out by the Crotonians. Being thus reduced to the most fatal extremity, they implored the succour of the Lacedæmonians and Athenians.

Xenocrates.

A. M. 3560.

They built a city near the ancient Two men greatly renowned for their Ant. J. C. 444. Sybaris and called it Thurium.7 learning, the one an orator, and the other an historian, settled in this colony. The first He lived in Thurium, till the ill fate which befell the was Lysias, at that time but fifteen years of age. Athenians in Sicily, and then went to Athens. The second was Herodotus. Though he was born in Halicarnassus, a city of Caria, he was, however, considered as a native of Thurium, because he settled there with that colony.

Crotona was founded by Myscellus,3 chief of the Achæans, the third The latter, moved with compassion at their deplorable year of the seventeenth Olympiad. condition, after causing proclamation to be made in This Myscellus being come to Del-Peloponnesus, that all who were willing to join that phi to consult the oracle of Apollo, about the spot on fleet of ten ships, under the command of Lampon and colony were at liberty to do it, sent the Sybarites a which he should build his city, met Archias the Corinthian there, who was arrived upon the same account. The god gave them a favourable audience; and after having determined them with regard to the place that would best suit their new settlements, he proposed different advantages to them, and left them, among other particulars, the choice of riches or health. The offer of riches struck Archias, but Myscellus desired health; and, if history is to be credited, Apollo performed his promise faithfully to both. Archias founded Syracuse, which soon became the most opulent city of Greece. Myscellus laid the foundations of Crotona, which became so famous for the long life and innate strength of its inhabitants, that its name was used proverbially to signify a very healthy spot, whose air was extremely pure. The natives of this city signalized themselves in a great number of victories in the Grecian games; and Strabo relates that, in one and the same Olympiad, seven Crotonians were crowned in the Olympic games, and carried off all the prizes of the stadium.

the new inhabitants, whom the rest were desirous to
Divisions soon broke out in the city, on occasion of
exclude from all public employments, and privileges.
But as these were much more numerous, they ex-
pelled all the ancient Sybarites, and got the sole pos-
session of the city. Being supported by the alliance
they made with the people of Crotona, they soon
form of government in their city, they divided the citi
grew vastly powerful; and having settled a popular
the different nations whence they sprung.
zens into ten tribes, which they called by the names of

III. Charondas, the legislator.

They now bent their whole thoughts to the strengthening of their government by wholesome laws, for which purpose they made choice of Charondas, who had been educated in Pythagoras's school, to digest and draw them up. I shall quote some of them

Sybaris was ten leagues (200 stadia) from Crotona,5 and had also been founded by the Achæans, but before the other. This city became afterwards very powerful. Four neighbouring states, and twenty-five cities, were subject to it, so that it was alone able to raise an army of 300,000 men. The opulence of Sybaris was soon followed by luxury, and such a dissoluteness of manners as is scarcely credible. The citizens employed themselves in nothing but banquets, games, shows, parties of pleasure, and carousals. Public rewards and marks of distinction were bestow-in this place. ed on those who gave the most magnificent entertain- 1. He excluded from the senate, and all public emments; and even to such cooks as were best skilled ployments, all such as should marry a second wife, in in the important art of making new discoveries in case any children by their first were living: being perdressing dishes, and inventing new refinements to suaded, that a man who was so regardless of his chilplease the palate. The Sybarites carried their delica-dren's interest, would be equally so of his country's, cy and effeminacy to such a height, that they care- and be as worthless a magistrate as he had been a fully removed from their city all such artificers whose father.

2. He sentenced all false accusers to be carried through every part of the city crowned with heath or broom, as the vilest of men; an ignominy which most of them were not able to survive. The city, thus delivered from those pests of society, was restored to its

former tranquillity. And indeed,1 from calumniators | fices and splendid gifts, but by a circumspect con generally arise all feuds and contests, whether of a duct, and by purity and innocence of manners; public or private nature; and yet, according to Taci- these being infinitely more grateful to the deities tus's observation, they are too much tolerated in most than all the sacrifices that can be offered. governments.