XXV. When he had put an end to the Milesian war, and after a reign of fifty-seven years, Alyattes died. He was the second of his family who made an offering at Delphi, which he did in consequence of his recovery from illness. He presented a large silver goblet, with a saucer of iron 42, curiously inlayed; it is of surprising workmanship, and as worthy of observation as any of the offerings preserved at Delphi. The name of the maker was Glaucus, an inhabitant of Chios, and the inventor of this art of inlaying iron.

XXVI. On the death of his father, Croesus succeeded to the throne; he began to reign at the age of thirty-five, and he immediately commenced hostilities with the Ephesians. Whilst he besieged Ephesus 43 with an army, the inhabitants made a solemn dedication of their city to Minerva, con

necting

ship of dolphins for man, infers that the tale of Arion may believed.

be

Upon the base of this figure was the following inscription: "This saved from the sea of Sicily, by the favour of heaven, Arion son of Cylon."

An ode expressive of Arion's gratitude, though certainly of much later date, is found in Brunck's Analecta.-T.

42 Saucer of iron.]-This is mentioned in Pausanias, Book x. where also Glaucus is spoken of as the original inventor of the art. A farther account of Glaucus may be found in Junius de Pictura Veterum.-T.

43 Whilst he besieged Ephesus.]—The prince of Ephesus, at this time, was Pindar the nephew of Croesus; the story is told at length by Ælian, Book iii. chap. 26.-T.

44

necting with a rope their walls to the temple of the goddess*. This temple is at a distance of about seven stadia from the old town, which was then besieged. These Croesus attacked first. Soon afterwards he made war on every state, both of the Ionians and the Eolians: the motives which he assigned were various, important in some instances, but, when such could not be found, frivolous pretexts sufficed,

XXVII. Not satisfied with compelling the Asiatic Greeks to pay him tribute, he determined to build a fleet, and attack those who lived in the islands. He was deterred from this purpose, although he had made great preparations, by the memorable

A rope.]-The object of the ancients, by thus consecrating their towns, was to detain the deities by a kind of force, and prevent their departure. It was believed, that when a city was on the point of being taken, the deities abandoned it.- Larcher.

* Eschylus, in the Seven Chiefs against Thebes, makes Eteocles say,

The gods they say prepare

To quit their seats and leave a vanquished town.

See Virgil, Æn. 2.

Excessere omnes adytis arisque relictis

Dii quibus imperium hoc steterat.

Mr. Jodrell observes, that the Shekinah, or Divine Presence, was withdrawn from the ark of the first temple before it was destroyed by the king of Babylon.-T.

memorable reply of Bias45 of Priene, who was at that time in Sardis; or, as others say, of Pittacus 46 of Mitylene. The king was enquiring of this person, whether there was any news from Greece: "The Islanders, Sir," he replied, "are collecting a body of ten thousand horse, to attack you and Sardis." The king, supposing him serious, said, he hoped the gods might put it into the minds of the Islanders to invade the Lydians with Cavalry. The other thus interrupted him: “Your wish to see the inhabitants of the islands pursue such measures, is certainly reasonable; but do you not imagine, that your building a fleet to attack the Islanders, must give them equal satisfaction? They

45 Bias.]-Diogenes Laertius, Plutarch, and Valerius Maximus, severally give an account of Bias. He was one of the seven wise men of Greece. Some fishermen found a golden tripod, upon which was inscribed, "To the wisest:" it was given to Bias, who sent it to Delphi. When his vanquished countrymen fled before the enemy, each took with him the most valuable part of his property. Bias took nothing: on being asked why, "I always carry," he replied, "my most valuable things about me," meaning his learning and abilities.-T.

46 Pittacus.]-Pittacus of Mitylene was another of the se ven wise men. His life is written by Diogenes Laertius. In a war betwixt the Athenians and the people of Mitylene, he challenged the enemy's general to single combat, and with a net which he secretly brought, he entangled and easily conquered his adversary. From this circumstance, the contests of the Retiarii and Mirmillones are said first to have arisen. His most memorable saying was—“ Endeavour to prevent calamity; if it happen, bear it with equanimity."-T.

They can wish for no better opportunity of revenging the cause of those Greeks on the continent, reduced by you to servitude, than by meeting the Lydians on the ocean.' The wisdom of the remark was acceptable to Croesus: he declined all thoughts of constructing a fleet, ́and entered into an amicable alliance with the Ionians of the Islands.

XXVIII. He afterwards progressively subdued almost all the nations which are situate on this side the river Halys. The Cilicians and the Lycians alone, were not brought under his yoke; but he totally vanquished the Lydians, Phrygians, Mysians, Mariandinians*, Chalybians, Paphlagonians, Thracians, Thynians, Bithynians, Carians, Ionians, Dorians, Æolians, and Pamphylians.

XXIX. After Croesus had obtained all these victories, and extended the power of the Lydians, Sardis became the resort of the great and the affluent, as well as of those who were celebrated in Greece for their talents and their wisdom.

* Mariandinians.]-These people were the inventors of the shrill pipe used at funerals, which was sometimes also called gingros (γιγγρος). Hence Μαριανδυνος αυλος, more Mariandyno vociferat. Pollux says this pipe was contrived by a Phœnician.--By a Phoenician, these authors seem to mean, one who spoke the Eastern language, and not the Greek. Eschylus has the expression, Μαριανδυνον βια

domt. Among these was Solon47: at the request of the Athenians, he had formed a code of laws for their use. He had then engaged in a course of travels, which was to be of ten years continuance; his avowed purpose was of a philosophical nature; but his real object was to avoid the necessity of abrogating the laws he had enacted. The Athenians were of themselves unable to do this, having bound themselves, by the most solemn oaths, to preserve inviolate, for ten years, the institutions of Solon.

XXX. On account of these laws, as well as to see the world, Solon in his travels had visited Amasis, in Egypt, and came now to Croesus 48, at Sardis.

+ The Greek is copioral, a term honourable at first, but afterwards odious. When the sages and philosophers discoursed upon virtue without mercenary views, the name of sophist was honourable; but when they prostituted their knowledge for hire, the word became a term of contempt. "We call him sophist," says Xenophon, "who sells to the first comer his wisdom for gold."

47 Solon.]-To give a particular account of Solon, would exceed our limits. He was one of the seven wise men of Greece, was born at Salamis; and, according to Aulus Gellius, flourished at Athens, when Tarquinius Priscus reigned at Rome. He was a wise, but severe legislator, rescuing his countrymen from superstition, ignorance, and vice. His life is given at length by Plutarch.-T.

48 Came now to Cræsus.]-It is doubted by some authors, whether the interview which is here described, ever took place. The sagacious reply of Solon to Croesus has been introduced in a variety of compositions ancient and modern.

See