Book XII

the power of Idomeneus was not fo great in reality, as in appearance; he, therefore, took him aside, and addressed him to this effecn:.

" You see, that our endeavours have not been unfuccefsful: we have secured Salentum from dellruftion, but you only can raise her to glory: the government of the people depends upon you; and it is your task to emulate the wisdom of Minoa, and fhew that you are worthy of your descent. I continue to speak freely to yovi, fuppofmg that you lov5e_ truth, and despise flattery. While these princes were praiiing your magnificence, I could not but reflect in silence upon your temerity." At the word temerity, Idomeneus changed countenance; his eyes fparkled, his cheeks glowed, and he was on the point of interrupting Mentor by expressions of refentment. " I see, says Mentor, in a voice that was modest and refpedlful,. though not fakerijtig or irrefolute, that the word temerity has given you offence; andl confess, that if it had been ■afed by any other than myself, your displeasure would have been just: for there is a refpe(5l due to kings; and they have a jealous fenfibility, which even those who reprove them, fhoiild be careful not to wound. To them^ the voice of truth is sufficiently difpleaf-^ ing, however gentle the terms: but I hoped, that you would have permitted me to speak of your faults, without a fludied foftnefs of exprefTion; that you would have indulged me in my design of accuftoming you to hear things called by their names, and of teaching you to discover what others think, when their refpec^ fupprefTes their thought: if you would not resign yourself to voluntary deception,, you mufliilways conceive more than is said, wherr the fubjedl is to your difadvantage. As to myself, I am ready to foften my exprelhons, if they miift be foftcned; but it would surely be more for your interefl, that a man, abfolutcly neutral in your affairs, without interefl, eonnedion, or dcpendancc, should', when when he speaks to you in private, speak plain. No other will ever dare to do it; you will be condemned to see truth imperfectly; you will be a stranger to her face, for she will never appear before you but in a gaudy veil."

Idomeneus, whose firfl impatience had already fubllded, began now to be ashamed of his weakness: " You see, said he to Mentor, what conilant flattery will do. I owe, to you, the preservation of my new kingdom; and there is no truth, that I shall not think myself happy to hear from your lips. , Remember, with pity, that I have been long tainted with the poison of adulation; and that, even in my misfortunes, I was Hill a stranger to truth. Alas! no man has ever loved me enough, to say what he thought I should be difplcafed to hear."

The heart of Idomeneus melted as he spoke, the tears started to his eyes, and he embraced Mentor with great tenderness. " It is with the utmoll regret, said Mentor, that I give you pain; but I am conftrained; I cannot betray you, by concealing truth: could you a.<Et otherwise in my place? If you have always been deceived till now, it was because you chose to be deceived; it was because you feared to fmd fmcerity in those, that were to give you counsel. Have you fought those who were most difmterefted, those who were most likely to contradict you? have you preferred such, as were least devoted to your pleasure, and their own interest; such, as appeared most capable of oppofmg your passions when they were irregular, and your fcntiments when they were unjust? When you have detected a flatterer, have you baniflicd him from your presence; and withdrawn your confidence from those whom you fufpedted? Have you done what those do, who love truth, and deserve to know it? have you now fortitude, to fufTer the humili- ;ition of hearing those truths, by which you are condemned? Let

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CIO BOOK XIL me make the experiment: I must again tell you, that what has gained you fo much praifc, deserves censure. While you are surrounded with enemies, and yet a foreigner in the country, you dream only of adorning your new city with magnificent buildings: to this, as you have confelTed to me, you have sacrificed your repose, and in this you have exhaufled your wealth. You ha.ve thought neither of augmenting your people, nor of cultivating the country: does not your power depend wholly upon a numerous people, and a country highly cukivated for their fubfiftence? A long peace is necessary, at the lirll establishment of a Hate, for encreafing the people; and you ought, at prefcnt, to think of nothing, but agricjLiltiire and legislation. You have been hurried, by a vain ambition, to the brink of a precipice; and to gain the appearance of being great, you have fapped the foundations of substantial grandeur. Let these errors be correiSled without delay; fufpend all these works of idle magnificence; renounce the pomp, that will reduce your new city to ruins; releafe your people from fatigue, and endeavour to facilitate marriage by procuring them plenty. Remember, that you are a king, only in proportion as you have subjects to govern; and that the measure of your power, is not the extent of yoiu' dominions, but the number of their inhabitants. Let your territory be fertile, however small; and let it fwarm with people, at once well difciplined and induftrious: and if you can naakc these people love you, you will be more powerful, more happy, and more glorious, than all the conquerors that have ravaged the earth."

*' What shall I do then, said Idomeneus, with refpecfl to the princes, that have folicited me to join the confederacy? shall I confess to them the weakncfs of my flate? It is, indeed, true, that I have ncglefled agriculture, and even commerce, notwithstanding the uncommon advantages of my situation; I thought only of 7 making making a magnificent city; but must I, then, my dear Mentor, diflionour myi'elf in the prefcncc of fo many kings, by acknowledging my indilcretion? If it must be done, I will do it; and I will do it readily, whatever mortification I suffer: for you have taught me, that asking is born for his people, owes himfclf wholly to them, and ought always to prefer the public welfare to his own reputation."

" This sentiment, said Mentor, is worthy the father of his people; and for this, and not for the vain magnificence of your city, I reverence you as a king worthy of the name. But your honour must be preserved, even for the advantage of your state j leave this to me: I will make these princes believe, that you are engaged to establish Ulysses, if he is yet living, or his son, if he is dead, in the government of his kingdom, and drive the fuitors of Penelope from Ithaca by force. They will at once perceive, that this cannot be efFe(5lcd without numerous troops; and will, therefore, readily consent, that you shall at first afford them but a flight afliftance against the Daunians."

At these words, Idomeneus appeared like a man, suddenly relieved from a burden that was cruflaing him by its weight: " This, indeed, said he, my dear Mentor, will preserve my reputation, and the honour of this rising city, by hiding its weakness from the neighbouring states. But with what appearance of truth can it be pretended, that I am about to send troops to Ithaca, for the establishment of Ulysses, or at least of Telemachus, while Tkle- MACHus himself is engaged in a war against the Daunians I" " Be in no pain about that, replied Menior; I will say nothing that is false. The veflbls that you are fitting out to eflablifli your commerce, will fail to the coast of Epirus, and will efFedl two purposes at once: they will bring back the foreign merchants, whom high

E e 2 duties duties have driven from Salentum; and they will fcek intelligence of Ulysses: if he is still living, he cannot be far from the fcas that divide Greece from Italy; and it has been confidently reported, that he has been seen among the Phenicians. But if Ulysses lliould not be found, your vessels will render an important fcrvice to his son: they will spread terror, with the name of Tel e mac h us, through all Ithaca and the neighbouring country, where it is now believed that he is dead as well as his father: the fuitors of Pene- LQPE will be llruck with astonishment to learn, that he is returning with the forces of a powerful ally; the Ithacans will be awed into obedience; and Penelope will be encouraged to periift in her refusal of a fccond husband. Thus will you render service to Telemachus, while he is rendering service to you, by taking your place in the confederacy againll the Daunians." '* Happy is the king, said Idomeneus, that is favoured with such counsel; but doubly happy is he, who feels its importance, and improves it to his advantage! A wife and faithful friend is better than a vi(5torious army: yet kings too often withdraw their confidence from the faithful and the wife, of whose virtue they stand in awe; and relign themselves to flatterers, of whose perfidy they have no dread. I fell myself into that fatal error; and I will relate to you the miffortunes that I drew upon myself, by a connection with a false friend, who flattered my pafTions, in hopes that, in my turn, I {hould gratify his."

Mentor found it easy to convince the allies, that Idomeneus ought to take charge of the affairs of Telemachus, while Telemachus was, on his behalf, engaged in the confederacy; and they were well satisfied to have, among them, the son of the great Ulysses, with a hundred Cretan youth, whom Idomeneus had put under his command: these young men were the flower of the nobility, whom Idomeneus had brought from their native country, and