melted into tenderness and pity at the affecting spectacle; every heart was moved, every eye was moist, but that of a pitiless tyrant, deaf to the voice of nature, and inaccessible to her claims.

In vain did this heroic and admirable woman humble herself before a monster whose heart ambition had seared, inexorable in cruelty, and stern in his resolves. To political security the rights of humanity were sacrificed, and the husband and the father coldly doomed to death.

Eponina, determined to share the fate of her husband, wiped away her tears, and, assuming an air of intrepidity, thus

addressed the emperor: "Be assured," said she, in a firm and dignified tone, "that I know how to contemn life. With Sabinus I have existed nine years in the bowels of the earth, with a delight and tranquillity untasted by tyrants amidst the splendours of a throne; and with him I am ready to unite myself in death, with no less cheerfulness and fortitude."

This act of ill-timed severity threw a stain upon the character and memory of Vespasian, whose temper in other respects had not been accounted sanguinary. The generous affection and heroism of Eponina was consecrated in the admiration of future ages.

ΕΝ

OST of our readers have heard of this famous retreat, but perhaps all are not acquainted with the circumstances of it. We proceed (following Gillies) to give a brief account of it.

About the year 400 B.C. there was a conflict between Cyrus and Artaxerxes for the vast Asiatic empire of Darius, their father. Artaxerxes was in possession, but Cyrus, with the help of a body of Greek auxiliaries, marched against him. The forces. met at Cunaxa, and at first it seemed that the invading forces would be successful. But the impatience of Cyrus defeated this favourable prospect. He observed the movement of his brother, and eagerly rode to meet him, at the head of only six hundred horse. Such was the rapid violence of his assault, that the advanced guards of the king were thrown into disorder, and their

leader, Artagerses, fell by the hand of Cyrus, who, with all his great qualities, had not learned to distinguish between the duties of a soldier and a general. By a seasonable retreat he might still, perhaps, have saved his life, and gained a crown. But his eye, darting along the ranks, met that of his brother. He rushed forward, with a blind, instinctive fury, crying out, "I see the man!" and, penetrating the thick globe of attendants, aimed his javelin at the king, pierced his corselet, and wounded his breast. His eagerness to destroy the enemy prevented proper attention to save himself. From an uncertain hand he received a severe wound in the face, which, however, only increased the fury with which he assaulted his brother. Various and inconsistent accounts were given of the death of Cyrus, even by those who assisted in this memorable engagement. The crowd of historians thought it incumbent on them to make him die like the hero of a tragedy, after many vicissitudes of fortune, and many variations of misery. Dinon and Ctesias, the longer to suspend

be continually exposed in eighteen days' journey along the level frontiers of Media. It was difficult to repel these light skirmishers, and impossible to attack them without being exposed to considerable loss, because a detachment of heavy-armed men, or even of targeteers, could not overtake them in a short space, nor could they continue the pursuit without being cut off from the rest of the army. Xenophon, with more valour than prudence, tried the unfortunate experiment; but was obliged to retreat fighting, and brought back his men wounded, disheartened, and disgraced.

But this unfortunate event neither disheartened nor disgraced the commander. He ingenuously acknowledged his error, which, pernicious as it was, had taught the Greeks their wants. They wanted cavalry and light-armed troops; the former of which might be obtained by equipping for war the baggage-horses which had been taken from the enemy; and the latter might be supplied by the Rhodians (well skilled in the sling), of whom there were great numbers in the army.

Measures were taken in accordance with this, and they kept the enemy at bay whilst they passed by the banks of the Tigris through the ancient kingdom of Media. They noted as they passed along, the immense walls, the lofty and durable pyramids, the spacious but deserted cities, which testified the ancient greatness of that flourishing kingdom, before the Medes reluctantly submitted to the oppressive government of Persia. The Barbarians still endeavoured to annoy them, but with very little success, unless when they passed a bridge, or any narrow defile. On such occasions, the square form, in which they had hitherto marched, was found inconvenient, and was slightly modified.

With this useful precaution the Greeks erformed a successful march to the untains of the Carduchians, where

the enemy's cavalry could no longer annoy them. But here they found new difficulties, far more formidable than those with which they had hitherto been obliged to contend. The Tigris, on their left, was so deep and rapid that the passage appeared absolutely impracticable. Before them rose the high and craggy mountains, which overshadowed the river, inhabited by a warlike race of men, whose barbarous independence had always defied the hostilities of Persia, as that of their successors, the modern Curdes, does the arms of the Turk, to whom they are but nominally subject. While the Greeks doubted what course to pursue, a certain Rhodian undertook to deliver them from their perplexity, provided they gave him a talent, to reward his labour. "I shall want, besides," continued he, "two thousand leather bags, which may be obtained by slaying the sheep, goats, oxen, and asses, which the country affords in such numbers as around us. The skins may be blown, tied at the ends, and fastened together by the girts belonging to the sumpterhorses, then covered with fascines, and lastly with earth. I shall use large stones instead of anchors; every bag will bear two men, whom the fascines. and earth will prevent from slipping, and whom, with very little labour on their part, the rapidity of the current will waft across the river."

we see

This ingenious contrivance was commended, but not carried into execution; the Grecians having learned from some prisoners recently taken, that the road through the country of the Carduchians would soon conduct them to the spacious and plentiful province of Armenia. Thither they fearlessly penetrated.

The month of January was employed in traversing the fruitful plains of Armenia, which are beautifully diversified by hills of easy ascent. Teribazus, the Persian governor of the province, entered into an agreement with the

arms.

generals, that if they abstained from hostilities, he would not obstruct their march, but furnish them plentifully with provisions. But this league was perfidiously violated. The Greeks had recourse to arms; pursued Teribazus; assaulted and plundered his camp. Next day they were exposed to a more dangerous contest, in which neither skill nor valour could avail. The snow fell in such quantities during the night, as completely covered the men with their Their bodies were benumbed and parched with the piercing coldness of the north-wind. Many slaves and sumpter-horses perished, with about thirty soldiers. The rest could scarcely be persuaded by Xenophon to put themselves in motion, which was known to be the only remedy for their distress; and as the severity of the weather still continued during the remainder of their march through Armenia, several soldiers lost their sight by the glare of the snow, and their toes and fingers by the intenseness of the cold. The eyes were best defended by wearing something black before them.

They struggled on through these difficulties to the country of the Chalybeans, whom they found very hostile. These had daggers in their girdles; and attacked with pikes fifteen cubits long. Instead of discovering any symptoms of flight or fear, they sang, danced, and rejoiced at the approach of an enemy. They boldly defended their villages; not declining even a close engagement with the Greeks, who could supply themselves with nothing from this inhospitable and warlike country, but, in their dangerous march through it, subsisted entirely on the cattle lately taken from the Taochians.

The river Harpasus, four hundred feet broad, separated the territories of the Chalybeans and Scythinians. From the latter the Greeks met with little resistance, in a march of thirteen days, which brought them to the lofty mount

Theches, a place held in particular devotion by the inhabitants of the neighbouring territory. The vanguard had no sooner ascended this sacred mountain, than the army were alarmed by loud shouts, which continued to redouble with increasing violence. It was imagined that some new form of danger had appeared, or that some new enemy was ready to assail them. The rear advanced with all possible expedition to the assistance of their companions; but having arrived within hearing, were seized with the most pleasing astonishment, when their ears were saluted from every quarter with the repetition, "The sea! the sea!" the sight of which, a sight so long wished in vain, at first filled them with transports of tumultuous joy, and afterwards recalled more distinctly the remembrance of their parents, their friends, their country, and every object of their most tender concern. The soldiers, with tears in their eyes, embraced each other, and embraced their commanders. Here they heaped up a mount of stones as a memorial.

In three days from this they passed to the western frontier of Colchis, inhabited by an ancient colony of Egyptians, who still preserved the singular manners, and the more singular rites and ceremonies, of their mother-country. Though distinguished in other respects from the neighbouring nations, whom they detested, and to whom they seemed detestable, they agreed with them in their jealousy of the Greeks, whose flourishing colonies along the southern shores of the Euxine threatened the safety of their dominions. They assembled therefore from all quarters, occupied the heights, and prepared to dispute the passage with obstinacy. Their numbers, their discipline, their arms, but, still more, their situation, rendered them formidable. Yet the Greeks advanced with celerity to the attack. The enemy, who saw them approach, and who perceived that on either hand they out