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"is to your province; and which indeed may fo " easily be taken, that one of its own citizens made "himself master of it, with the help of fifteen men « in arms, and still retains the fupreme authority?" This made a deep impreffion upon the mind of Oroetes; but without meditating revenge against the perfon who had affronted him, he determined to effect the death of Polycrates, on whofe account he had been reproached.

CXXI. There are some, but not many, who affirm that Orætes fent a meffenger to Samos, to propose some question to Polycrates, but of what nature is unknown; and that he found Polycrates in the men's apartment, reclining on a couch, with Anacreon of Teos 143 by his fide. The man advanced to deliver his

143 Anacreon of Teos.]-It is by no means aftonishing to find, in the court of a tyrant, a poet who is eternally finging in praise of wine and love; his verses are full of the encomiums of Polycrates. How different was the conduct of Pythagoras! That philofopher, perceiving that tyranny was established in Samos, went to Egypt, and from thence to Babylon, for the fake of improvement: returning to his country, he found that tyranny ftill fubfifted; he went therefore to Italy, and there finished his days.--Larcher.

This poet was not only beloved by Polycrates, he was the favourite also of Hipparchus the Athenian tyrant. And, notwithftanding the inference which Larcher feems inclined to draw, from contrasting his conduct with that of Pythagoras, he was called σοφος by Socrates himfelf; and the terms ψηφος και αγαθος, are applied to him by Athenæus. By the way, much as has been faid on the compositions of Anacreon by H. Stevens, Scaliger, M. Dacier, and others, many of the learned are in doubt whe

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his meffage; but Polycrates, either by accident, or to demonftrate the contempt 144 in which he held Orotes, continued all the time he was speaking with his face towards to the wall, and did not vouchsafe any reply.

CXXII. These are the two affigned motives for the deftruction of Polycrates: every one will prefer that which feems most probable. Oroetes, who lived at Magnefia, which is on the banks of the Mæander 145, fent Myrfus the Lydian, fon of Gyges, with a meffage to Polycrates at Samos. With the character of Polycrates Oroetes was well acquainted; for, except Minos 146 the Cnoffian, or whoever before him accomplished it, he was the first Greek

ther the works afcribed to him by the moderns are genuine. Anacreontic verfe is fo called, from its being much used by Anacreon; it confifts of three Iambic feet and a half, of which there is no inftance in the Lyrics of Horace.-See the Prolegomena to Barnes's Anacreon, §. 12.

14 Demonftrate the contempt.]-This behaviour of Polycrates, which was doubtlefs intended to be expreffive of contempt, brings to mind the ftory of Charles the Twelfth of Sweden, who at an interview with the Grand Vizier, expreffed his contempt and indignation by tearing the minifter's robe with his fpur, and afterwards leaving the apartment without saying a word..

145 On the banks of the Maander.]-This is added in order to diftinguish that city from the Magnefia on the Sipylus, lying between Sardes and Phocæa.

146 Except Minos.]-What Herodotus fays of the maritime power of Minos, is confirmed by Thucydides and Diodorus Sicalus. His teftimony concerning Polycrates is fupported also by Thucydides and Strabo.-Larcher,

who

who formed the design of making himself master of the fea. But as far as hiftorical tradition may be depended upon, Polycrates is the only individual who projected the subjection of Ionia and the islands. Perfectly aware of these circumftances, Oroetes fent this meffage.

"OROETES to POLYCRATES.

"I understand that you are revolving fome vast "project in your mind, but have not money refpon"fible to your views. Be advised by me, and you "will at the fame time promote your own advan<c tage and preferve me. I am informed, and I be"lieve it to be true, that king Cambyfes has de"termined on my death. Receive, therefore, me " with my wealth, part of which fhall be at your disposal, part at mine: with the affiftance of this "you may eafily obtain the fovereignty of Greece. « If you have any suspicions, send to me some one "who is in your intimate confidence, and he shall "be convinced by demonftration."

сс

CXXIII. With thefe overtures Polycrates was fo exceedingly delighted, that he was eager to comply with them immediately, for his love of money was exceffive. He fent first of all, to examine into the truth of the affair, Mæandrius his fecretary, called fo after his father. This Mæandrius, not long afterwards, placed as a facred donative in the temple of Juno, the rich furniture of the apartment of Polycrates. Oratęs, knowing the motive for which

this man came, contrived and executed the following artifice: He filled eight chefts nearly to the top with ftones, then covering over the furface with gold, they were tied together 147, as if ready to be removed. Mæandrius on his arrival faw the above chests, and returned to make his report to Poly

crates.

CXXIV. Polycrates, notwithstanding the predictions of the foothfayers, and the remonftrances of his friends, was preparing to meet Orctes, when his daughter in a dream faw this vifion: She beheld her father aloft in the air, washed by Jupiter, and/ anointed by the fun. Terrified by this incident, she ufed every means in her power to prevent his going

147 Tied together.]-Before the ufe of locks, it was the custom in more ancient times to fecure things with knots of these fome were fo difficult, that he alone who poffeffed the fecret was able to unravel them. The famous Gordian knot must be known to every one; this ufage is often alfo alluded to by Homer:

Then bending with full force, around he roll'd
A labyrinth of bands in fold an fold,

Clos'd with Circæan art.

According to Euftathius, keys were a more modern invention, for which the Lacedæmonians are to be thanked.

Upon the above paffage from Euftathius, Larcher remarks, that it is fomewhat fingular, that the Lacedæmonians, whofe property was in common, fhould be the inventors of keys.

The verfion of Pope which I have given in the foregoing lines is very defective, and certainly inadequate to the expreffion of Αυτικό επήρτυε πωμα θεως δέπι δεσμον ἴηλε

Ποικιλον, ον ποτε μιν δέδαε φρεσι ποτνία Κίρκη, Τ.

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to meet Orætes; and as he was about to embark for this purpose, on board a fifty-oared galley, she perfifted in auguring unfavourably of his expedition. At this he was fo incenfed, as to declare, that if he returned safe fhe fhould remain long unmarried. To this fhe expreffed herself very defirous to fubmit; being willing to continue long a virgin 148, rather than be deprived of her father.

CXXV. Polycrates, difregarding all that had been faid to him, fet fail to meet Oroetes. He was accompanied by many of his friends, and amongst the reft by Democedes 149, the fon of Calliphon; he was a physician of Crotona, and the most fkilful practitioner of his time. As foon as Polycrates arrived at Magnefia, he was put to a miferable death, unworthy of his rank and fuperior endowments. Of all the princes who ever reigned in Greece, those

148 Long a virgin.]-To die a virgin, and without having any children, was amongst the ancients esteemed a very serious calamity. Electra in Sophocles enumerates this in the catalogue of her misfortunes:

Electra makes a fimilar complaint in the Oreftes of Euripi. des; as does alfo Polyxena at the point of death, in the Hecuba of Euripides.-T.

149 Democedes.]-Of this perfonage a farther acount is given in the fourth book. He is mentioned alfo by Ælian, in his Various History, book viii. chap. 17; and alfo by Athenæus, book xii. chap. 4. which laft author informs us, that the phyficians of Crotona were, on account of Democedes, efteemed the first in Greece.-See alfo chap. 131. of this book.-T.

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