desiring him to pay suitable attention to the present emergence. This is the Milesian narrative. XXI. Alyattes, on the return of his messengers, dispatched a herald to Miletus, whose commission was, to make a truce with Thrasybulus for such time as might be required to repair the temple. Thrasybulus, in consequence of the intimation he had received, was aware of the intentions of Alyattes, and conducted himself in this manner: All the corn which was found, or could be procured at Miletus, was, by his direction, collected in the most public place of the city he then ordered the Milesians, at an appointed period, to commence a scene of feasting and convivial mirth 36. XXII. Thra 36 Convivial mirth.]-Many stratagems of a similar nature with this of Thrasybulus, may be found in the Stratagemata of Polyænus; a book not so well known as it deserves: though, since the first edition of this work was published, it has been translated into English.-T*. * Scene of feasting, &c.]—A similar artifice is recorded of one of the Roman generals, I forget which, who, though reduced to the extremest want, ordered all the bread remaining, after a long siege, to be thrown over the walls amongst the enemy. The besiegers, fatigued and exhausted, imagined that their opponents were prepared to hold out much longer, and hastily retired. See also Cæsar, in his account of the civil war, book iii. 48. where he tells us, that his soldiers made bread of a root called chara, adding, ex hoc effectos panes, quum in colloquiis Pompeiani famem nostris objectarent, vulgo in eos jaciebant, ut spem eorum minuerent. XXII. Thrasybulus intended the Sardian ambassador should inform his master of the scene. of festivity, and of the abundance of provisions he had beheld. He was not disappointed: the herald witnessed the above-mentioned spectacle, delivered his message, and returned to Sardis. This, as I have been informed, was the real occasion of the peace which ensued. Alyattes had imagined, that the Milesians suffered exceedingly from the scarcity of corn, and were reduced to extreme distress. The return of his messenger convinced him he had been mistaken. A strict alliance was immediately formed betwixt the two nations: instead of one, Alyattes erected two temples to Minerva, and was soon afterwards restored to health.-The above is a faithful account of the war betwixt Alyattes and the Milesians. XXIII. Periander, the son of Cypselus, who communicated to Thrasybulus the reply of the oracle, was king of Corinth. A most wonderful incident is said by the Corinthians to have happened in his time, and the story is confirmed by the Lesbians. It is asserted, that Arion the Methymnæan was carried to Tænarus on the back of a dolphin. 37 He excelled all his contemporaries in 37 He excelled.]-Arion, it seems, was a Citharædus, which differed from the Citharistes in this: the former accompanied his instrument with his voice; the latter did not. in his exquisite performance on the harp; and we have reason to suppose he was the first who invented, named, and taught at Corinth, the Dithyrambic measure 38. XXIV. This Arion, they say, after residing for a considerable time at the court of Periander, was desirous of visiting Italy and Sicily. Having there acquired considerable wealth, he wished to return with it to Corinth: with this view, he embarked at Tarentum in a Corinthian vessel, preferring the mariners of that nation. As soon as they stood out to sea, the sailors determined to destroy Arion, for the sake of his riches. He discovered their intentions, and offered them his money, to preserve his life. The men were obdurate, and insisted, that he should either kill himself, that they might bury him on shore 39, or leap instantly into the sea. Reduced to this extremity, he 38 Dithyrambic measure.]-This was a kind of verse or hymn in honour of Bacchus, or in praise of drinking: it was a rude and perplexed composition, replete with figurative and obscure expressions. - Bellanger. Clemens of Alexandria affirms, that the inventor of the Dithyrambic was Lassus or Lasus of Hermione. It should seem, however, from Pindar and his scholiast, that this species of poetry is so very ancient that its original inventor cannot be ascertained.-Larcher. 39 Bury him on shore.]-This passage, which perplexed the learned Reiske, seems to me sufficiently clear. The sailors indirectly promised Arion that they would bury him, if he would be the instrument of his own death.-Wesseling. he intreated, that if they would not spare his life, they would at least suffer him to dress himself in his most valuable clothes, and to give them a specimen of his art in singing; promising, that as soon as he had finished, he would destroy himself. They were anxious to hear a man, reputed the greatest performer in the world, and, in compliance with his request, retired from him to the middle* of their vessel. He accordingly adorned himself splendidly, and, standing on the side of the ship with his harp in his hand, he sang to them a species of song, termed Orthian 4°. As soon as he had finished, he threw himself, dressed as he was, into the sea. The mariners pursued their course to Corinth; but he, it is affirmed, was taken up by a dolphin and carried to Tænarus, As The nautical word for this is the waist. 40 Orthian.]-The Orthian hymn was an air performed either on a flute or cithara, in an elevated key and a quick time. It was, therefore, peculiarly adapted to animate combatants. See Aulus Gellius. By this species of song, Timotheus so inflamed the ardour of Alexander, that he instantly leaped up and called for his arms. See Eustathius. See also Dryden's Ode on St. Cæcilia's Day. Maximus Tyrius says, that to excite military ardour, the Orthian song was peculiarly adapted, as that called Parænion was for social and convivial occasions. See also Homer, Book xi. Thence the black fury through the Grecian throng 4 It is affirmed.]-Voltaire abuses Herodotus for telling this story, as considering it true; but surely without reason, as he by no means vouches for its truth. As soon as he got on shore, he went, without changing his dress, to Corinth, and on his arrival told what had befallen him. Periander disbelieved his story; and, keeping him in close custody, endeavoured to find out the crew. When they appeared before him, he enquired if they could give him any intelligence of Arion; they replied, that his excursion to Italy had been successful, and that they had left him well at Tarentum. Arion then shewed himself, dressed as they had seen him leap into the sea: overcome with terror, they confessed their crime. This event is related both by the Corinthians and the Lesbians; and there remains at Tænarus a small figure in brass, of a man seated on a dolphin's back*, the votive offering of Arion himself. XXV. When * Larcher thus plausibly explains the story. Arion threw himself into the sea in the harbour of Tarentum, or in the road at no great distance. The Corinthians, without giving themselves farther trouble about him, set sail. He gained the shore; and if the remainder of the story has any foundation in truth, he probably met with a vessel ready to set sail, and which was a better sailer than that of the Corinthians. There is on the head of vessels, figures from which the vessels themselves often take their names; as the Centaur, and the Mermaid, &c. The vessel on which Arion went on board the second time, had doubtless a dolphin at the head, and this circumstance might occasion the story of Arion's being saved by a dolphin. Larcher adds, that Helle embarked in a vessel having a ram on its prow, which gave rise to the tradition that she passed, on a ram, the sea which bears her name. Pliny, after reciting a number of facts, to prove the friend |