Book X

company of wandering favages, who, in their opinion, were more like bears than men. They went out, therefore, to the chace iu greater numbers, and better armed j they soon fell in with a party of the natives, and immediately attacked them: the contefl: was bloody; the arrows slew on each fide, as tliick as hail in a florni; and the liivages were at length driven back to their mountains, whither our people did not dare to pursue them.

" A short time aftci-wards, they fcnt two of the wifeftof their old men to me, demanding peace. They brought me such presents as they had, the ikins of wild bcafts and the fruits of the country. After they had given them, they addrelTed me in these terms: " W<: hold, as thou feefl, O king! in one hand the sword, and an olive branch in the other; peace and war; chufc either. jPeace has the preference. in our estimation; it is for peace, that we have yielded, to thy people, the delightful borders of the sea, where the sun renders the earth fertile, and matures the moll: delicious fruits: peace is still more fvveet than these fruits; and, foi* peace, \ye have retired to the mountains that are covered with eternal snow, where spring is decorated with no flowers, and autumn is enriched with no fruit: we abhor that brutality, which, under the fpecious names of ambition and glory, defolates the earth, and destroys mankind. If thou hast placed glory in carnage and desolation, we do not envy but pity the de.lufion; and beseech the Gods, that our minds may never be perverted by fo dreadful a phrenzy. If the fcienccs, which the Greeks learn with fo much afliduity, and the politenefs which they boaft with such conscious fuperiority, infpirc them with desires fo fanguinary and injurious,.we think ourselves happy to be without these advantages. It will be our glory, to continue ignoi-ant and unpolifhed, but just, humane, faithful, and dilintcrefted } to be content with little; and to despise the false delicacy, which makes it ncceiTary to have much. We prize nothiiig

A a 2 but but health, frugahty, freedom, and vigour both of body and of mind: we cukivate only the love of viitue, the fear of the Gods, benevolence to our neighbours, zeal for our friends, and integrity to the world; moderation in prosperity, fortitude in distress, courage to fpcak truth in every situation, and a just abhorrence and contempt of flattery. Such are the people, whom we offer thee as neighbours and allies! If thou shalt be fo blinded by the Gods in their displeasure, as to rejcdl them; experience shall teach thee, when it is too late, that those, whose moderation inclines them to ' peace, are mofl-to be dreaded, when- compelled into war."

" While I liflened to the untutored wisdom of these children of nature, I regarded them with a fixed attention; yet my eye was flill unfatisfiod. Their beards were long, jull as they grew; their hair was fbiortcr, but white as snow; their eye-brows were thick, and their eyes piercing: their look was firm, their speech delibe'rate and commanding, and their deportment simple and ingenuous^. They were covered only with some furs, which being thrown loofely over them, were fade ned with a knot on the shoulder, and discovered inufcles of a bolder fwell, and arms of more finewy flrength, than those of our wrelllcrs,-

" I told these singular envoys, that I was dcfirous of peace; and settled several articles of a treaty between us, with an honcft intention to fulfil them, which we called upon the Gods to wifnefs; and having made them prefenrs in my turn, I difmifi"ed them. The Gods, however, who had driven me from a kingdom that I was born to inherit, continued to perfecute me in this. Our hunting parties that were at this time out, and were confequentiyignorant of our treaty, met a nviraerous body of these poor favages, who had accompanied their envoys, as they were returning home ©Q the very day that the treaty had been concluded j and falling upon upon them with great fury, killed many of them, and pursued the rest into the woods. The war was thus kindled; and the barbarians have conceived an opinion, that we are not to be trusted, either upon our promise or Qur oath.

" That they may be the better able to take the field against us, they have called in, to their assistance, the Locrians, the Apulians, the Lucanians, the Brutians; and the people of Crotona, Neritum, and Brundufium. The Lucanians come to battle, with chariots that are armed with fcythes; the Apulians are covered with the fkins of the wild beasts they have slain, and are armed with maces that are covered with knots, and fluck full of iron fpikes; they are of a gigantic ftature; and the laborious cxercifes to which they arc addidted, render them fo brawny and robuft, that their very appearance is terrifying. The Locrians, who came anciently from Greece, have not yet lost all traces of their origin: they are less favage than the rest; but they have added, to the regular discipline of th'e Greek troops, the^native vigour of the barbarians, and the habitual hardinefs produced by constant adtivity and coarfe fare, which render them invincible: they are armed with a long sword; and, for defence, carry a light target of wicker work covered with fkins. The Brutians are as light of foot as a roe, fo that the grafs scarcely bends under them; nor is it easy to trace their steps even upon the fand: they rufh upon their enemies, almoff before they are seen; and again vanifli with the fame rapidity. The Crotonians are formidable for their archery: they carry such bows as few Greeks are able to bend; and if ever they should become candidates in the Olympic games, they would certainly carry the prize"; their arrows are dipped in the juice of some poifonous herb, which is said to grow upon the banks of Avernus; and the wound which they give is mortal. As for the inhabitants of Neritum andBrunduiiuniy.

jBz B O O K X.

dulium, they have nothing to boaft, but corporal strength and inftinc5tive courage; but they make their onfet with a yell, which, of all sounds, is the moll dreadful: they make no bad use of the fling, from which they discharge a fliower of Itones that darkens the air; but they fight altogether without order. You now know the origin of the war, and the nature of our enemies."

After this explanation, Telemachus, who was impatient for a battle, thought only of taking the field. Mentor again perceived and reflrained his ardour: " How comes it, said he to Idomeneus, that the Locrians, who are themselves of Grecian origin, have taken up arms for the barbarians againfl the Greeks? How comes it, that fo many colonics flourifli upon the fame coast, that are not threatened with the fame hoftilities? You say, O Idomeneus! that the Gods arc not yet weary of perfecuting you; and I say, that they have not yet compleated your infl:ru(5lion. All the misfortunes that you have fufiered hitherto, have not taught you, what Ihoulji be done to prevent a war. What you have yourself related of the candid integrity of these barbarians, is sufficient to slew, that you might have shared with them the bleflings of peace; but pri^e and arrogance neceflarily bring on the calamities of war. You might have changed hoftages; and it would have been easy to have sent some persons, of proper authority, with the ambaflfadors, to have pro^ cured them a safe return. After the war had broken out, you might have put an end to it, by representing to the fufiferers, thaf they were attacked by a party of your people, who could have received no intelligence of the treaty which had been just concluded. Such fureties ought to have been given them, as they Ihould have required; and your fubjecHis fliouldhave been enjoined to keep the treaty inviolate, under the san(5lion of the feverefl punishments. But what farther has happened, since the war broke out?"

" I thought

B O O K X. 1&3

" I thought it beneath us, said Idomeneus, to make any application to these barbarians, when they had precipitately called together all their fighting men, and folicited the affiilance of all the neighbouring nations, to which they necefTarily rendered us hateful and fufpetSled. I thought the best thing I could do, was suddenly to seize certain pailes in the mountains that were not sufficiently secured, which was accordingly done; and this has put the barbarians very much in our power. I have erected towers in these paflTes, from which our people can fo annoy the enemy, as effe6lually to prevent their invading our country from the mountains; while we can enter theirs, and ravage their principal fettlemcnts when we please. We are thus in a condition to ■ defend ourselves againfl fuperiour force, and keep off the almofl innumerable multitude of enemies that furrounds us, although our force is not equal; but as to peace, it seems at prcfent to be impossible.. We cannot abandon these towers, without expofmg ourselves to invasion; and, while we keep them, they arc confidcred as fortrcffes, intended to reduce the nativcrs to a Hate of flavifli fubjecStion."

" I know, replied Mentor, that, to the wisdom of Idomeneus, truth will be moil welcome without ornament or difguifc. You are fuperiour to those, who, with equal weakness and timidity, turn away their eyes at her approach; an4 not having courage to cor- JXifittUeir faults, employ their authority to support them. I will, then, freely tell you, that these favages set you a noble example, when they came with propositions of peace. Did they desire peace, because they were not able to fuflain a war? did they want cither courage, or flrength, to take the field against you? Certainly they did not; for their martial spirit is now equally manifcfl:, with the number and force of their allies. Why was not their example thought worthy of imitation.' You have been deceived into mif- 3 fortune,

« fgvf BOOK X.

fortune, by false notions, both of honour and shame: you have been afraid of making your enemies proud; but have, without fcruple, made them powerful by an arrogant and injurious condu(5f, which has united innumerable nations against you. To what purpose are these towers, of which you have fo pompoufly displayed the advantages; but to reduce all the surrounding nations, to the necessity, cither of perilhing themfelvcs, or of destroying you to prefei-ve their freedom? You erecSled these towers for your security; but they are really the source of your danger. A kingdom is bcft fortified by jufticc, moderation, and good faith; by which neighbouring states are convinced, that their territories will never be ufurped. The strongest walls may give way, by various accidents which no fagacity can forefee; and the befl condu(5ted war may be rendered unfuccefsful, by the mere caprice and inconftancy of fortune: but the love and confidence of neighbouring Hates, that have experienced your moderation, will furround you with impregnable flrength; with bulwarks, againll which no force can prevail, and wiiich temerity will seldom attack. If you Ihould be assailed by the folly and injuflice of some neighbouring power, all the rest, being intercfted in your preservation, will unite in your defence: the afriftance of united nations, who would find it their interest to support yours, would give you advantages, greatly fupcriour to any that you can hope from these boafted towers; which can only renderirremediable, those evils they were intended to obviate. If you had been careful, at first, to prevent jealousy in the neighbouring flates, your rifmg city would have flourished in peace; and you would have become the arbiter of all the nations in Hefpcria. Let us, however, at present, consider only how the future can be made to atone for the past. You say, there are many colonics settled upon this coafl from Greece; these, surely, iire disposed to fuccour you: they cannot have forgotten the name of Miiios, the son of Jupiter; they cannot have forgotten your atchieve-

B O O K X. iSs atchievements at the siege of Troy, where you often fignalized yourself among the Grecian princes in the cause of Greece; why do you not engage these colonies in your interefl i"

" These colonies, replied Idomeneus, have all rcfolved to stand neuter: they have, indeed, some inclination to aflift me; but the magnificent appearance of our city, while it is yet riling from its foundations, has alarmed them. The Greeks, as well as the rest of our neighbours, are apprehenfive, that we have designs upon their liberty: they imagine, that, after having fubdued the barbarians of the mountains, we shall pufli our ambition farther. In a word, all are against us: those, who do not openly attack us, secretly wish to see us humbled; and jealousy has left us without a fmgle ally."

'^ This is, indeed, a llrange extremity, said Mentor: by attempting to appear powerful, you have fubverted your power; and, while you are the objecft of enmity and terror to your neighbours from without, your ftrengtn is exhausted within, to maintain a war which this enmity and terror have made neceflary. You are, indeed, unfortunate, to have incurred this calamity; but still more unfortunate, to have derived from it, but half the wisdom it might have taught you. Is it neceflary you should lose a second kingdom, before you learn to forefee those evils which expose you to such a loss? Leave your present difficulties, however, to me; tell me only, what Grecian cities there are upon this coast."

" The principal, said Idomeneus, is Tarentum, which was founded about three years ago by Phalanthus. A great number of boys were born in Laconia, of women, that forgot their husbands during their absence in the Trojan war: when these hulbands came back,

13 b the iB6 B O ■ O K X.

the women renounced their children, to atone for their crime j and the boys being thus dellitute both of father and mother, abandoned themselves, as they grew up, to the most criminal excefTeS'. The laws being executed against them with great severity, they formed themselves into a body under Phalanthus, a bold, enterprizing, and ambitious chief; who, by various artifices, having gained the hearts of the young men, brought them to this coast, where they have made another Lacedemon of Tarentum. On another spot, Philo(51:etes, who gained fo much renown at the siege of Troy, by bringing thither the arrows of Hercules, has raised the walls of Petilia; less powerful, indeed, than Tarentum, but governed with much greater wisdom. And, at a little dillance, there is Metapontum, a city which the Pylians have founded under the direction of Nellor."

" How! said Mentor, have you Neflor in Hefperia? and could you not engage him in your interest; Neftor, under whose eye you have fo often fought before the walls of Troy, and who was then your friend, engaged in a common cause, and endeared by mutual danger?" " I have lost him, said Idomeneus, by the artifices of these people, who are barbarians only in name; for they have had the cunning to persuade him, that I intended to make myself tyrant of Hefperia." " We will undeceive him, replied Mentor; Telemac h us saw him at Pylos, before he founded this colony, and before we undertook to search the world for Ulysses. By Neftor, Ulysses cannot be forgotten; and he must still remember the tenderness, which he exprelTed for Telemachus his son. Our principal care must be to remove his fufpicions. This war has been kindled, by the jealousy which you have excited in your neighbours; and, by removing that jealousy, it will be extinguilhed. Once more I intreat you, to leave the management of this affair to me."

Idomeneus

B O O K X. 187

Idomeneus wtis fo moved by this address of Mentou, that he was at first unable to reply, and could only clafp him to his breast, in an ecftafy of fpeechlefs tenderness; at last, though not without difficulty, he found words: " Thou art, said he, the meffenger of Heaven! I feel thy wisdom, and renounce my errors: yet I confess, that the fame freedom in another, would have provoked my anger. Thou only couldft have persuaded me to feck for peace; I had resolved to perish, or to conquer; but it is better that I should be guided by thy counsel, than my own pafTions. How happy is Telemachus, who, with such a guide, can never wander as I have wandered! I trufl, with implicit confidence, to thee: to thee, the Gods have communicated celellial wisdom; nor could the counsel of Minerva have been more salutary than thine. Go, then; promise, conclude, concede, whatever my power can fulfil, ratify, or give up: all that Mentor shall do, Idomeneus shall approve!"

"While Idomeneus was yet speaking, they were alarmed by a sudden and confused noise; the rattling of chariots, the neighing of horses, the fliouts of men, and the found of the trumpet. The people cried out, that the enemy had taken a great compass, and come down, without attempting the paiTes that Idomeneus had secured, to befiege Salentum. The old men and the women were llruck with confternation: " Alas! said they, have we then quitted our native country, the dear and fertile plains of Crete, and followed an unfortunate prince through all the dangers of the fcas, to found a new city, which, like Troy, shall be reduced to ashes!" From the walls, v^hich were scarcely finiHied, there appeared, in the vast plain below, the cafques, cuirafTes, and shields of the enemy, which glittered in the sun, and almofl dazzled the fight: their fpears covered the earth to the horizon 5 like the rich harvefts,

B b a which i88 B O O K X.

which Ceres, under the summer's sun, ripens in the fields of Enna, to reward the labour of the hufbandman. Among these, were discovered the chariots armed with fcythes; and all the different nations in the confederacy, were, by their arms and habits, easily to be distinguished.

Mentor, that he might view them to greater advantage, ascended a high tower J and Idomeneus and Telemachus followed him. They prefently discovered Philodtetes on one fide, and Neftor, who was easily known by his venerable age, with his son Pififlratus, on the other: " How is this, cried Mentor! You supposed, that Philodletes and Neftor would content themselves with affording you no assistance; but you see, that they are in arms against you: and, if I am nor deceived, those other troops, that come on with fo deliberate a pace, and in such perfe<ft order, are Lacedemonians, under the command of Phalanthus. All are aga^inft you; there is not a fmgle nation upon the coast, of which you have not made an enemy, without intending it."

Mentor, the moment he had made this discovery, descended haftily from the tower, and went towards a gate of the cityj onthat fide, towards which the enemy advanced: he immediately ordered the centinel to open it; and Idomeneus, astonished at the commanding dignity of his deportment, did not dare to ask his design. He went out at the gate; and, making a sign with his hand, that no body should follow him, advanced diredlly towards the front of the enemy, who were astonished to see a man, wholly unattended, present himself before them. While he was yet at a distance, he held out to them the branch of an olive, as a token of peace: when he was come near enough to be heard, he demanded that their chiefs should be assembled; and as soon as they were got together, he addrefTed them in these terms:

" I see

B O O K X. 189.

" I see before me, the strength of every nation that floiiriflies in this happy country; and I know, that the generous purpose of: this afTembly is the defence of a common cause; of that liberty, which is at once the birth^right, the happiness, and the glory of mankind. I honour your zeal; but permit me to point out an easy way, by which your libert)' and honour may be preserved, without the efFufion of blood. Among other princes in this aflcmbly,. 1 see Neftor: thy years and wisdom, O Neftor! have acquaintedthee with the calamities of war, even when it is undertaken withjullice, and favoured by the Gods: war is the most dreadful of all ■ evils, by which Heaven has alflicfted man. Thou canll never for-get what was fuifered by the Greeks, during the ten years that; they spent before the walls of Troy: what divisions among their' chiefs! what caprices of fortune! what ca^rnage by the hand of He(5lor! what calamity in distant cities, during the long absence* of their kings; and what misfortunes at their return! how some ■ were Ihipwrecked on the promontoiy of Caphareus; and fomeperiflied, with circumstances of yet more horror, in the bofoms of* their wives. The Gods, doubtless, in their wrath, suffered them* to be feduccd by the false splendour of that expedition: may theynever, O people of Hefperia! distinguish you by fo fatal a vicftory! Troy, indeed, is in ashes; . but it would have been better for Greece,' if she had flill flourished in all her glory, and Paris had still enjoyed,^ with Helen, such plcafures as are permitted to infamy and guilt. . Does not Phitb(ftctes, who was fo l6ng wretched and abandoned in ^ the isle of Lemnos, fear the like calamities from a like war? Have not the people of Laconia suffered equally, by the long absence oF their princes, their captains, and their soldiers, who went to the siege of Ti'oy? And is there a fmgl-e Grecian, at this hour, irpon, the coast of Hefperia, that is not a fugitive from his country, in ■ consequence of that fatal expedition i"

During^ rpo BOOK X.

During this address, Mentor advanced towards the Pylians; and Neftor, recolledting his features, came forward to salute hiin: " It is with great pleasure, said he, that I once more give my hand to Mentor. It is many years since I first saw you in Phocis: you was then only fifteen years old; but I perceived the dawning of that wisdom, which has been since fo conspicuous to the world. Tell us, however, by what chance you came hither; and what expedient you have thought of, to prevent a war. Idomeneus has compelled us to attack him. We demand only peace; which is oiir interest, and oiur desire: but it is impollible that peace should be secured, till he is deflroyed. He has violated all his engagements with the neighbouring people; and if we were now to conclude a treaty with him, it would fcrve no other end than to diffolve our confederacy, upon which only our safety depends. He has fufliciently manifested his ambition to reduce every other nation to Ilavery; and we have no means to establish our own liberty, but the fubverfion of his new kingdom. His want of public faith, has reduced us to this alternative, either of putting an end to his power, or receiving his yoke. If you can slew, that he may still be trusted with safety, and alTure us of peace in consequence of a treaty; all the nations that you see here confederated againfl him, will gladly lay down their arms, and we will confess that your wisdom is greater than ours."

" You know, replied Mentor, that Ulysses has entrulled his son Telemachus to my care. The young man, impatient to discover what was become of his father, went firfl to Pylos, where you received him with ail the kindncfs, that he had reason to expert from the friend of his father; and when he left you, appointed your own son to conduct him on his way. He went afterwards many distant voyages by sea; he has visited Sicily, and Egypt, and ■the islands of Cyprus and Crete: the winds, or rather the Gods, have have at length thrown him upon this coast, as he was returning to Ithaca. We are come just in time, to spare you the horrors of another war: for you jQiall not now trust in Idomeneus, but in the son of Ulysses and myself, for the fulfilUng of whatever shallbe ftipulated in a treaty of peace."

During this conference, between Mentor and Neflor, in the midst of the confederate troops; Idomeneus and Telemachus, with all the Cretans under arms, were fpe(5lators of the scene from the walls of Salentum: they were very attentive to discover in what manner Mentor's discourse was received; and wished they could have been present at the conference of two men, fo venerable for age and wisdom. Neftor had always been considered, as fuperiour to the other princes of Greece, in experimental knowledge and graceful elocution: it was he that restrained the anger of Achilles, the pride of Agamemnon, the ferocity of Ajax, and the precipitate courage of Diomedes: perfuafion, sweet as honey, diftilled from his lips; and the found of his voice alone, was sufficient to excite attention: when Neflor spoke, surrounding heroes were silent, and he only had the power of foothing difcord into peace. He began now to feel the chilling influence of age; but his words were flill. forcible, and flill sweet. He frequently related pafl events, that youth might be inllrudled by his experience; and though his speech was somewhat flow, yet his narratives were pleasing.

But this venerable i^dge, fo admired by all Greece, seemed to lose all his eloquence, and all his dignity,, from the moment that he appeared in competition withM.NTOR: in comparison with him, he seemed to be withered and deprefTed by age; . for the -. vigour and adlivity of M&ntjOR appeared to have suffered no injury from time. In the elocution of Mkntor, though it was grave and; fnuple, there was a vivacity and authority, which began to be • wanting in that of Neflor: what he said, was short, precise, and 5 ' nervous J;

X.

nervous; he made no repetitions, and he spoke only to the point in queilion: if it was necessary to mention the fame thing more than once, either to inculcate or to persuade, it was always by some happy fimile or allusion: he had also the art of infmuating truth, by a kind of namelefs complaifance and good humour, when it was necessary to accommodate himself to particular dispositions and capacities. There was something in the appearance of these persons, that strongly excited veneration and love among the" multitude that surrounded them: the forces that were confederated againfl Salentum, crowded one upon another, that they might get a nearer view of their persons, and catch up some fragment of their discourse: and Idomeneus, and the people that were with him, fixed their eyes upon them with the utmost eagerness and ardour, to discover the purport of what they said by their geftures and countenance.

The END of the T E N T H BOOK.

j'.nr.M.

Cff,/i.

J-TKii d^.

XI.

C.Gtym(n//c\ v

IN the mean time, Telemachus, who -could no longer restrain his impatience, difengaged himself from the crowd, and running to the gate by which Mentor had gone out, commanded it to be opened with a tone of authority which was immediately obeyed. Idomeneus, who believed him to be flill standing at his fide, was in a few moments furprized to see him running cross the plain, and not far from the place where Neftor flood. Neftor immediately knew him; and advanced with hafte in his looks, but with a flow and heavy pace, to receive him. Telemachus threw himself on his neck, and held him locked in his arras, without power to speak: at lafl he cried out, " O my father! I fear not to claim you by the dearefl tie! The loss of him from whom I derive my birth, and the parental kindness which I have experienced in you, give me a right to call you by that tender name* You are a father, whom I am again permitted to embrace! O

C c might ip4 BOO K XI.

might I once more be permitted thus to embrace Ulysses! If any thing can atone for his loss, it is the finding his wisdom, his virtues, and his tenderness, in you."

The afTedlionate ardour of this address, meked Ncflor into tears; and he was touched with a secret pleasure, at perceiving the fame expression of tender fenfibihty in his young friend, which gave new grace to his countenance. The beauty, the sweetness, and the noble confidence of this young fliranger, who had without precaution ventured among fo many enemies, afloniflied the alHes: " Is not this the son of the old man, said they, who came to speak with Nefior? We certainly see the fame wisdom at two ages; in one of them it is only in bloflbm, in the other it is matured into fruit."

Mentor, who had with great pleasure observed the tenderness with which Neftor received Telemachus, availed himself of a disposition fo favourable to his purpose: " Here is the son of Ulysses, said he, fo dear to all Greece, and fo tenderly beloved by you! I offer him as an hoflage, as the dearest pledge that can be given, for the accomplishment of whatever shall be promised on the part of Idomeneus. You cannot suppose, that I would aggravate the loss of the father by that of the son; or expose myself to the reproaches of Penelope, for having sacrificed her child to the ambition of the new king of Salentum. "With this pledge, ye nations of Hefperia! voluntarily oiTered by himself, and sent by the Gods that are lovers of amity, I begin my propositions for establishing a lasting peace."

At the name of peace, a confused murmur was heard spreading from rank to rank; an inarticulate expression of anger, which was with difficulty rellrained; for all that were present, thought every

5 moment

B O O K XL 195 moment lost, by which the battle was delayed: they imagined, that' Mentor had no design, but to foften their refentment, and rob them of their prey. The Mandiirians, in particular, could not bear to think of being again deceived j and as they feared that the eloquence of Mentor would gain over their allies, they frequentlv attempted to interrupt him: they began to fufpedt all the Greeks, that were in the field; and Mentor, who perceived this suspicion, immediately resolved to increase it, that he might weaken the confederacy, by dividing it into factions.

" I confcfs, said he, that the Mandurians have reason to complain, and to inlift upon fatisfa<5tion for the injury they have suffered; but it is not equally reasonable, that the ancient inhabitants of the country should regard all Greeks, who have established colonies upon this coast, with suspicion and malignity: the Greeks, therefore, ought to maintain a firm union among themselves, that they may be able to compel a proper treatment from the nations that furround them; although they ought not, upon any pretence, to ufurp their territory. I know, that Idomeneus has unfortunately given sufficient cause of jealousy; but this jealousy may easily be removed: Telemachus and myself, are both ready to become hoflages for his future good faith; and to continue in your power, till his ftipulations shall be fulfilled. I know, said he, addressing himfclf to the Mandurians, that you are provoked at the Cretans having seized the pafies of the mountains by surprise; and secured, to themselves, the power of entering, at pleasure, the country to which you have retired, that you might leave them the level country upon the sea coast: these pafi^es, the Cretans have fortified by high towers, strongly garrifoned; these towers then are the immediate cause of the war: if there is any other, let it be ailigned."

C c 2 The i^'6 BOOK XI.

The chief of the Mandurians then advanced, and spoke to the following cfFecft: " Whatever is the caufc of the war, we have done every thing that was possible to avoid it: the Gods are our witneflcs, that we made use of every art to keep peace among us, till llie was driven away by the refllefs ambition of the Cretans, and the perfidy that made it impossible to trust them, even on their oath. These infatuated people have reduced us to the fatal necessity of perifliing ourselves, or deflroying them. While they continue in poiTcflion of the pafTes that they have fortified, we shall always apprehend a design to invade our territory, and enflave our pcrfons. If they had a sincere desire to live at peace with their neighbours, they would refi: satisfied with the country that we have voluntarily ceded to them: they would have formed no ambitious design againfl the liberty of others; and, consequently, could never be solicitous to secure the avenues, by which their territory could be invaded. But wife as thou art, O full of days! thou knowest them not; and it is by misfortune only, that we know them: cease then, O beloved of Heaven! to prevent fo jufl and neceflary a war, without which Hefperia mufl for ever despair of peace. They are an ungrateful, a perfidious, and inhuman people, whom the Gods have sent among us in their anger, to interrupt our tranquillity, and puniih our oflTenccs: but the Gods, when they have punished, will avenge us; and our enemies also shall experience, that they are j uft."

At these words, the whole afTembly was moved: and it seemed, as if Mars and Bellona were pafiing from rank to rank, and kindling, in every bosom, that rage of war, which Mentor had laboured to extinguifli. But he addrelTed himself again to the afTembly in these terms: " If I offered promises only, they might reafonably be rejecT;ed; but what I offer you, is certain and immediate advantage.

tagc. If you arc not content to receive Telemachus and myself as lioflages, twelve of the noblefl; and bravefl Cretans shall be delivered into your hands. It is, however, but just, that hoftages should also be given on your part; for Idomeneus, though he desires peace, desires it without fear, and without meannefs: he desires peace, upon the fame principles, on which, you say, you desire it, 3yjf4oiTi. and rnp4cratioa; not because he desires to rcpofe in voluptuous tranquillity, or is terrified by a profpe(rt of the dangers of war J he is, like you, ready to perish or to conquer; but he ^jef ei;s.pe^c^ \°Jh^ J^9^ splendid victory: he difdains the fear of being vanquiflied; but he confcfTes, that he fears to be unjust, and is |;^t afljaraedvtQ make an atonement for his faults. He offers you peace with the sword in his hand: but he would not haughtily impose it, upon his own conditions; for he sets no value upon a compulfory treaty. He desires a peace, in which all parties shall be content, which shall put an qndjo^all jealoufies, appeafe all refentment, and remove all diftrufl: his fentimcnts are just what you would wish them to be; and nothing is neceffiry, but to convince you of this truth, which would not be difficult, if you would hear me without prejudice and passion. Hear then, ye nations, distinguished by valour t and hear, ye chiefs, whom wifdoni has united! what I shall now offer on the part of Idomeneus. It is not just, that he should invade the territory of his neighbours; neither is it just, that his territory should be invaded: he confents, that, the towers, by which he has fortified the passes, should be garrifoned by neutral troops. You Neftor, and you Philo(5letes, are of Grecian origin: yet, in this quarrel, you have declared against Idomeneus; you cannot, therefore, be fufpecSted of partiality to his, interests; you take part only in the common cause, the peace and. liberty of Hefperia. To you then, the passes, which have been the cause of the war, shall be confided: you have not less interest, in 3 preventing

198 B O O K XI.

preventing the original natives of Hefperia from destroying' Salentum, a new colony like your own; than in preventing Idomeneus from ufurping the poffeffions of his neighbours: hold, then, the balance between them; and, instead of dellroying, by fire and sword, a people whom you ought to cherifh and to love, secure to yourselves the glory, of a6ling at once as mediator and judge. You will, perhaps, tell me, that these conditions are too good to be fuKillcd; but I lliall abundantly satisfy you, that Idomeneus is fmcere. The hoflages which I have already mentioned, flaall be reciprocally given and detained, till the pafles shall be put into your hands. When the security, not only of Salentum, but of all Hefperia, is at your discretion, will you not be content? Whom then can you diftruft, but yourselves? You do not dare to confide in Idomeneus; but as a proof that his intention is honest, he is ready to confide in you: he is ready to trust you, with the quiet, the life, and the liberty, of himself and his people, if it is true, that you desire only an equitable and lafling peace: such a peace is now offered you, upon terms that leaye you no pretence to reject it. Let me, however, once more caution you against imagining, that Idomeneus has made this proposal from fear: his inotives are prudence and equity; and conscious to the re(5litude of his intention, he will be under no concern about your opinion, though you Ihould impute that to weakness, which he knows to proceed from virtue. He was, in the beginning, guilty of some faults; and he thinks it an honour to acknowledge them, by the ofifer of such terms, as anticipate your wishes. He, who hopes that he shall be able to hide his faults, by afFed;ing to support them with arrogance and pride, difcovers the moil deplorable weakness, the most defpicable variity, and the groffefl ignorance of his own interefl: : but he, who ackno-^ledges his fault to an enemy, and ofl^ers reparation, gives the Ilrongefl proof, that he can never never commit them again; and difplays a wisdom and fortitude, which, if peace is rejedled, mufl make his enmity formidable. Beware, then, that the fault, in the present quarrel, does not become yours. If you rejeft justice and peace, when they fue for acceptance, be aflured, that the cause of peace and justice will be avenged; and Idomeneus, who had just reason to fear the displeasure of the Gods, will engage them in his favour against you. Telemachus and myself will take up arms in his defence; and I call the powers, both of Heaven and of hell to witness, that the propofals which I have now offered you are just."

Mentor then lifted up the olive branch which he held in his hand, that the distant multitude might behold the symbol of peace. The chiefs, who saw him near, were astonished and dazzled with the celestial radiance that fparkled in his eyes; and perceived in him something majeftic and commanding, beyond all that fancy had given to created beings. The magic of his eloquence, at once fo forcible and fo sweet, had, as it were, ftolen away their hearts: its power was secret but irrefiftible; like that of the mysterious fpells, which, in the dead silence of the night, arreft the moon and the stars of Heaven, calm the raging of the sea, command the winds and the waves to be still, and fufpcnd the most rapid rivers in their course.

He appeared, in the midst of this rude and impetuous multitude, like Bacchus surrounded by tygers, whose fci'ocity had been charmed away by the sweetness of his voice, till they exprefled their fondnefs by their carclles, and their fubmiflion by licking his feet. At first, the whole aficmbly was filcnt; the chiefs looked upon each other, unable to oppose the eloquence of Mentor, and v/ondering who he could be. Every eye of the surrounding multitude