Exercise 41.

This demand was rejected by Hamilcar with indignation. Never, he replied, would he surrender to the Romans the arms which his country had given him to use against them; and he declared that, sooner than submit to such terms, he would defend Eryx to the last extremity. Lutatius thought of Regulus and of the vengeance which had punished his abuse of victory, and he withdrew his demand. It was then agreed that the Carthaginians should evacuate Sicily, and make no war upon Hiero or his allies, that they should release all Roman prisoners without ransom, and pay to the Romans in twenty years 2,200 talents. These were the preliminaries, which were subject to the approval of the Roman government; the senate and the people would not, however, ratify them, but sent over ten commissioners with full powers to conclude a treaty.-T. '74.

Exercise 42.

Perceiving their condition, Gylippus sent them a herald, with a proclamation inviting all the islanders among them to come forth from the rest, and promising them freedom if they did so. The inhabitants of some cities, yet not many-a fact much to their honour-availed themselves of this offer and surrendered. Presently however a larger negotiation was opened, which ended by the entire division capitulating upon terms, and giving up their arms. Gylippus and the Syracusans engaged that the lives of all should be spared, that is, that none should be put to death either by violence or by intolerable bonds or by starvation. Having been all disarmed they were forthwith carried away as prisoners to Syracuse, 6,000 in number. Disdaining either to surrender or to make any stipulation for himself personally, Demosthenes was on the point of killing himself with his own sword; but his intention was prevented, and he was carried off a disarmed prisoner by the Syracusans.-M. '74.

Exercise 43.

Scarcely had the Romans evacuated the territory of the Caledonians, when information was brought to Severus, that the barbarians had recommenced hostilities. His infirmities had been so much increased by the fatigue of the late campaign, that he was no longer able to join the army. He therefore gave the command to Caracalla, with an injunction to extirpate the whole race without mercy. But that prince had a far different object in view, namely, the exclusion of his brother from the succession to the throne. Instead of marching against the Britons, he endeavoured to gain the affections of the troops, by indulgences and presents: and as soon as his father had breathed his last, he renewed the peace, disbanded the army, and returned to Rome.-H. '75.

Exercise 44.

Among the number who came to thank their deliverer on this occasion, there appeared a majestic old man, who falling at the Emperor's feet addressed him as follows, "Great father of China, behold a wretch now 85 years old, who was shut up in prison at the age of 22. I have now lived in solitude and darkness for more than 50 years, and am grown familiar with distress. As yet, dazzled with the splendour of that sun, to which you have restored me, I have been wandering the streets to find out some friend that would assist or relieve or remember me; but my friends, my family, and my relations are all dead, and I am forgotten. Permit me then to wear out the wretched remains of my life in my former prison; the walls of my dungeon are to me more pleasing than the most splendid palace; I have not long to live, and shall be unhappy except I spend the rest of my days where my youth was passed,-in that prison from whence you were pleased to release me."-T.75.

Exercise 45.

The night was spent by some in busy preparation, by others in a state of discomfort and terror, which those only can conceive who have been suddenly awakened from a state of peacefulness to the miseries of civil war. Whole families, who but yesterday lived in comfort and even luxury, now deemed themselves fortunate if they could obtain the shelter of some narrow room, to shield them from the bitter night air, or some portion of coarse food to satisfy the cravings of nature. Children clung in terror to their parents, to whom they had hitherto looked for protection; and those parents were little able to console them, being themselves full of apprehension for what the morrow might bring. Alas! few eyes save those of the hardy soldier, accustomed to such scenes, were closed in sleep that fearful night.-M. '75.

Exercise 46.

There were all the nobles and all the best men that were in this land: there was the mighty multitude of English freemen, gathered to hail the return of the worthiest of their own blood. And there, surrounded by his four valiant sons, stood the great deliverer, the man who had set the king upon his throne, the man who had refused to obey his unlawful orders, who had cleared the land of his unworthy followers, but who had never swerved in his true loyalty to the king and his kingdom. Godwine stood forth; he laid his axe at the foot of the throne, and knelt before his lord the king. By the crown upon his brow, whose highest and brightest ornament was the cross of Christ, he conjured his sovereign to allow him to clear himself before the king and his people of all the crimes which had been laid against him and his house. The demand could not be refused, and the voice which had so often swayed assemblies of Englishmen, was heard once more setting forth the innocence of Godwine himself and of Harold and all his sons.-H. '76.

Exercise 47.

When the consuls took the field at the beginning of the campaign, two legions had been left, as usual, to protect the capital. These were now to be employed in active service; and with them was a small detachment of troops, which had been drawn from Picenum and the neighbourhood of Arminium, where their services were become of less importance. The contingents from the allies were not ready; and there was no time to wait for them. In order, therefore, to enable the dictator to take the field immediately, eight thousand slaves were enlisted, having expressed their willingness to serve; and arms were provided by taking down from the temple the spoils won in former wars. The dictator went still further; he offered pardon to criminals and release to debtors, if they were willing to take up arms: and amongst the former class were some bands of robbers, who then, as in later times, infested the mountains, and who consented to serve the state on receiving an indemnity for their past offences.-T. '76.

Exercise 48.

Jupiter himself appeared to a citizen in a dream, and bade him tell the consuls not to lay down their office without being reconciled. On this Pompeius stood still, and said not a word; but Crassus advanced, took his hand, and exclaimed, "My countrymen, I am doing nothing ignoble or mean in being the first to give way to Pompeius, whom you deemed worthy of the name of Magnus before he had a beard, and twice decreed him a triumph before he was a senator." Such was the ceremony which Pompeius demanded of his equals; to the multitude he was still more haughty. He withdrew himself from the business of an advocate, on which the most illustrious citizens had been wont to pride themselves; and he never went into the forum unless surrounded by a company of nobles.M. '76.

Exercise 49.

Crassus, who had the command in that war, upon the arrival of Pompey, who, he feared, might snatch the laurels out of his hand, resolved to come to a battle. He succeeded, and killed twelve thousand three hundred of the enemy. Yet fortune gave Pompey a share in this honour also, for he killed five thousand of the slaves with whom he fell in as they fled after the battle. Immediately upon this, to be beforehand with Crassus, he wrote to the senate "that Crassus had beaten the gladiators in a pitched battle, but that it was he who had cut up the war by the roots." The Romans took a pleasure in speaking of this among one another, on account of their regard for Pompey; which was such that no part of the success was ascribed by them to any but him.—H. ’77.

Exercise 50.

Now when the Delphians heard what danger they were in, great fear fell on them. In their terror they consulted the oracle concerning the holy treasures, and inquired if they should bury them in the ground, or carry them away to some other country. The god, in reply, bade them leave the treasures untouched. "He was able,” he said, " without help to protect his own." So the Delphians, when they received this answer, began to think about saving themselves. And first of all they sent their women and children across the gulf into Achæa. After which the greater number of them climbed up into the tops of Parnassus, and placed their goods for safety in the Corycian cave; while some effected their escape to Amphissa in Locris. In this way all the Delphians quitted the city, except sixty men and the prophet.-T. '77.