In another car was a golden thyrsus, 135 feet in length, and a silver lance 90 feet long.

In this part of the procession were a variety of wild beasts and horses, and 24 lions of a prodigious size; and also a great number of cars, in which were not only the statues of kings, but those of several deities.

After these came a chorus of 600 men, among whom were 300 who played on gilded harps, and wore golden crowns. At a small distance from this band marched 2000 bulls, all of the same colour, and adorned with golden frontlets, in the middle of which rose a crown of the same metal. They were also adorned with a collar, and an ægis a hung on the breast of each. All these habiliments were of gold.

The procession of Jupiter, and a great number of other deities, advanced next, and after all the rest, that of Alexander, whose statue of massy gold was placed in a car drawn by elephants; on one side of this statue stood Victory, and on the other Minerva.

The procession was graced with several thrones of gold and ivory, on one of which was a large diadem of gold, and on another a horn of the same metal. A third supported a crown; and a fourth a horn of solid gold. On the throne of Ptolemy Soter, the father of the reigning prince, was a golden crown, which weighed 10,000 pieces of gold, each containing four drachmas.

In this procession were likewise 300 golden vases, in which perfumes were to be burnt; fifty gilded altars, encompassed with golden crowns. Four torches of gold, 15 feet in height, were fastened to one of these altars. There were likewise 12 gilded hearths, one of which was 18 feet in circumference and 60 in height; and another was only 22 feet and a half high. Nine Delphic tripods of gold appeared next, six feet in height; and there were six others, nine feet high. The largest of all was 45 feet high; on which were placed several animals in gold, seven feet and a half high, and its upper part was encompassed with a golden crown, formed of a foliage of vine leaves.

After these were seen several gilded palms, 12 feet in length, together with a caduceus, gilt also, 66 feet long; a gilded thunderbolt, in length 60 feet; a gilded temple, 60 feet in circumference; a double horn 12 feet long; a vast number of gilded animals, several of which were 18 feet in height. To these were added several deer of a stupendous size, and a set of eagles 30 feet high.

a A kind of buckler which covered the breast, on the middle of which was em. bossed the Gorgon's head,

6 The Attic Stater, usually called Xporus was equal to ten livres of French money; the value therefore of this single crown amounted to 100,000 French livres, which are about 5000 pounds sterling.

Three thousand and two hundred crowns of gold were likewise carried in this procession; together with a consecrated crown, of 120 feet, undoubtedly, in circumference; it was likewise adorned with a profusion of gems, and surrounded the entrance into the temple of Berenice. There was also another golden ægis. Several large crowns of gold were also supported by young virgins richly habited. One of these crowns was three feet in height, with a circumference of 24.

These ornaments of the procession were accompanied with a golden cuirass, 18 feet in height; and another of silver, 27 feet high. On this latter was the representation of two thunderbolts of gold, 18 feet in length; with an oaken crown embellished with jewels; 20 golden bucklers; 64 complete suits of golden armour; two boots of the same metal, four feet and a half in length; 12 basons; a great number of flaggons; 10 large vases of perfumes for the baths; 12 ewers, 50 dishes, and a large number of tables; all these were of gold. There were likewise five tables covered with golden goblets; and a horn of solid gold, 45 feet in length. All these golden vessels and other ornaments were in a separate procession from that of Bacchus, which has been already described.

There were likewise 400 chariots laden with vessels and other works of silver; 20 others filled with golden vessels, and 800 more appropriated to the carriage of aromatic spices.

The troops that guarded this procession were composed of 57,600 foot, and 23,200 horse, all dressed and armed in a magnificent manner.

During the games and public combats, which continued for some days after this pompous solemnity, Ptolemy Soter presented the victors with 20 crowns of gold, and they received 23 from his consort Berenice. It appeared, by the registers of the palace, that these last crowns were valued at 2230 talents, and 50 minæ, about 334,400 pounds sterling from whence some judgment may be formed of the immense sums to which all the gold and silver employed in this splendid ceremonial amounted.

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Such was the pageant (shall I call it religious, or rather theatrical and comic?) exhibited by Ptolemy Philadelphus at his coronation. If Fabricius, the famous Roman, whom 1 have formerly mentioned, so remarkable for his contempt of gold and silver, had been a spectator of it, I am persuaded that he would not have been able to endure the sight of the procession till it closed, and have no doubt that he would have thought and spoken like the emperor Vespasian, upon an occasion which had some resemblance to this. He and his son Titus made a triumphant entry into Rome, after the

capture of Jerusalem; but, finding himself fatigued with the excessive length of that pompous procession, he could not conceal his displeasure, and declared, that he was justly punished, by that tedious ceremony, for his weakness in desiring a triumph at his advanced age.

In this festival given by Ptolemy Philadelphus no part of it seems to have been conducted with any elegance, or to have had the least air of taste and genius. An amazing profusion of gold and silver was lavished, which makes me recollect a passage in Sallust, the beauty and force of which I have the mortification not to be able to render in our language. Catiline wishes to represent the immoderate luxury of the Romans, his contemporaries, who lavished immense sums in the purchase of pictures, statues, wrought plate, and superb buildings. They draw out (says he) and tor"ment their gold and silver by all imaginable methods," (I must intreat the reader's excuse for this literal translation) " and yet this excess of prodigality is incapable of exhausting and overcoming their riches," Omnibus modis pecuniam trahunt, vexant ; tamen summa lubidine divitias suas vincere nequeunt. In such profusion as this did the whole merit of Philadelphus consist on this occasion.

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In fact what can there be truly great or admirable in this vain ostentation of riches, and a waste of such immense treasures in a bottomless abyss, after they had cost the people so many fatiguing labours, and perhaps had been amassed by a long series of violent exactions? The spoils of whole provinces and cities were sacrificed to the curiosity of a single day, and displayed to public view only to raise the frivolous admiration of a stupid populace, without conducing to the least real advantage or utility. Nothing ever argued a more profound ignorance of the true use of riches and solid glory, and of whatever else has any just pretensions to the esteem of mankind.

But what can we say, when we behold a sacred procession and a solemnity of religion converted into a public school of intemperance and licentiousness, such as are proper only to excite the most shameful passions in the spectators, and induce an utter depravity of manners; by presenting to their view all the instruments of excess and debauch, with the most powerful allurements to indulge them, and that

a Adeo nihil ornamentorum extrinsecus cupide appetivit, ut triumphi die fa tigatus tarditate et tædio pompæ, non reticuerit merito se plecti, qui triumphum tam inepte senex concupisset. Sueton. in Vespas. c. xii.

These metaphorical terms, trahant, vexant, vincere nequeunt may possibly be derived from the combats of the Athlete, wherein, after one of them has thrown his adversary, and imagines himself victorious, he drags him along the Arena, in sight of the spectators, twists, shakes and torments him, without being able to extort a confession from him of his defeat. In this contest, therefore, wherein the Roman author represents luxury and riches as engaged, all the prefusion of the former is incapable of exhausting and overcoming her wealth.

under pretext of paying adoration to the gods! What divinities must those be, that would suffer, and even exact, so scandalous a pomp in their worship.

SECT. V.

Commencement of the reign of Ptolemy Philadelphus. Death of Demetrius Phalereus.

a Ptolemy Philadelphus, after the death of his father, became sole master of all his dominions, which were composed of Egypt, and many provinces dependent on it, that is to say, Phoenicia, Colosyria, Arabia, Libya, Ethiopia, the island of Cyprus, Pamphylia, Cilicia, Lycia, Caria, and the isles called the Cyclades.

During the life of Ptolemy Soter, Philadelphus had concealed his resentment against Demetrius Phalereus, for the advice he had given that prince, when he was deliberating on the choice of a successor. But, when the sovereign power entirely devolved upon him, he caused that philosopher to be seized, and sent with a strong guard to a remote fortress, where he ordered him to be confined, till he should determine in what manner to treat him. But at last the bite of an aspic put a period to the life of that great man, who merited a better fate.

The testimonies in his favour which are adduced, by Cicero, Strabo, Plutarch, Diodorus Siculus, and many others, leave no room to doubt of the probity and wisdom of his government; we therefore shall consider only what has been observed with respect to his eloquence.

The characteristics of his writings, as Cicero observes in several places, were sweetness, elegance, beauty, harmony, and ornament, so that it was easy to distinguish in them the disciple of Theophrastus. He excelled in that species of eloquence which is called the temperate and florid. His style, in other respects gentle and calm, was adorned and ennobled with bold and shining metaphors, that enlivened the subject of his discourse, otherwise not enriched in any great degree with noble sentiments, and those beauties that constitute the great and the sublime. He was rather to be a A. M. 3721. Ant. J. C. 283. Theocrit. Idyll. xvii

6 Diog. Laert in Demetr Cie, in orat pro Rabir. Post. n. 23.

c Demetrius Phalereus in hoc numero haberi potest; disputator subtilis, ora. tor parum vehemens, dulcis tamen, ut Theophrasti discipulum possis agnoscere. Offic I. i. n. 3.

Demetrius Phalereus, eruditissimus ille quidem, sed non tam armis institutus quain palestra. Itaque delectabat magis Athenienses quam inflammabat. Pro cesserat enim in solein et pulverem, non ut e militari tabernaculo, sed ut e Theophrasti. doctissimi hominis umbraculis.Suavis videri maluit quam gravis sed Suavitate ea, qua perfunderet animos non qua perfringeret? et tantum ut me moriain concinnitatis suæ, non quemadmodum de Pericle scripsit Eupolis cum delectatione aculeos etiam relinqueret in animis eorum a quibus esset auditus, De clar. Orat. n. 37 & 38,

considered as a wrestler, formed in the shade and tranquillity for public games and spectacles, than as a soldier inured to arms by exercise, and quitting his tent to attack an enemy. His discourse had, indeed, the faculty of affecting his hearers with something soft and tender, but it wanted energy to inspire the force and ardour that inflame the mind, and only left in it at most an agreeable remembrance of some transient sweetness and graces, not unlike that which we retain after hearing the most harmonious concerts.

It must be confessed, this species of eloquence has its merit, when confined within just bounds; but as it is very difficult and unusual to preserve this due moderation, and to suppress the sallies of a fertile and lively imagination, not always guided by the judgment, this kind of eloquence is apt, therefore, to degenerate, and to become, even from its own beauties, a pernicious delicacy, which at length vitiates and depraves the taste. This was the effect, according to Cicero and Quintilian, who were good judges in this point, of the florid and studied graces peculiar to the style of Demetrius. Athens, till his time ", had been accustomed to a noble and majestic eloquence, whose character was a natural beauty without paint and glitter. Demetrius was the first that revolted against this manly and solid eloquence, to which he substituted a soft and languishing species, that abated the vigour of the mind, and at length rendered false taste predominant.

After the death of Ptolemy, two of Alexander's captains still survived, Lysimachus and Seleucus, who, till then, had always been united by interest and friendship, and were engaged to each other by treaties and confederations; and, as they were now advancing to the period of their days, (for each of them had exceeded 80 years of age,) one would have thought they should have been desirous of ending their lives in the union which had so long subsisted between them; instead of which, their mutual destruction, by war, became the sole object of their thoughts, on the following occasion.

Lysimachus, after the marriage of his son Agathocles with Lysandra, one of the daughters of Ptolemy, espoused another himself, whose name was Arsinoe, and had several children by her. The different interests of these two sisters led them into all sorts of intrigues, to form a powerful party in their favour, upon the death of Lysimachus. What are ambitious wives and mothers not capable of attempting! Their opposition to each other was not the mere effect of personal in

a Hæc ætas effudit hanc copiam ; et, ut opinio mea fert, succus ille et sanguis incorruptus usque ad hanc ætatem oratorum fuit, in qua naturalis inesset, non fucatus, nitor. Hic (Phalereus) primus inflexit orationem, et eam mollem tene ramque reddidit. De clar. Orat. n. 36-38.

6 Justin. l. xvii. c. i. Appian. in Syriac. Pausam, in Attic. p. 18.