this unfortunate old Man the Light was odious to him his Soul desir'd nothing but to Die and plunge himself into the eternal Night of Pluto's Empire In vain did all his Friends speak to him his sinking Heart was disgusted with all Friendship as a sick Man disrelishes the most dainty Meats To all that could be said to him to make the deepest Impression on his Mind he return'd nothing but deep Sighs and Groans From time to time he was heard to say O Pisistratus Pisistratus Pisistratus my Son thou call'st me away I 'll follow thee thou wilt render Death sweet to me O my Son all the Happiness I now desire is to see thee again on the Banks of Styx He past whole Hours without uttering one Word but was still Groaning and lifting up his Hands and Eyes all drown'd in Tears to Heaven In the mean time the Princes being assembled were expecting Telemachus who was by the Body of Pisistratus he strew'd handfulls of 〈◊〉 upon the Corps to which he added exquisite Perfumes and pour'd forth bitter Tears O my dear Companion said he I shall never forget how I saw thee at Pilos and how I follow'd thee to Sparta how I found thee again on the Coasts of the great Hesperia I owe thee a Thousand and a Thousand kind Offices I Lov'd thee and thou hadst a like Love for me I knew thy Valour it 〈◊〉 that of many famous Greeks But alass 't is extinguish'd with thy Glory 't was thy Valour that has rob'd the World of that improving Vertue of thine which would have equal'd that of the greatest Men. Yes thy Wisdom and thy Eloquence in a riper Age would have resembled the like Endowments in the most celebrated Men of Greece Thou hadst already acquired that sweet Insinuation that could not be resisted when thou spakest those natural and lively ways of relating Matters that prudent Moderation which is a Charm to appease irritated Minds that Authority which proceeds from Prudence and the force of good Counsels When thou spokest every Ear was attentive all were prepossess'd in thy Favour every one was willing to find Reason on thy side Thy Speech that was plain and simple void of Pomp sweetly instill'd it self into Men's Souls like the Dew upon the 〈◊〉 Grass But alass all those Advantages which we were in possession of a few Hours ago are taken away from us for even Pisistratus whom I embrac'd this Morning is now no more We have nothing remaining but the sad remembrance of him 〈◊〉 That thou hadst clos'd the Eyes of Nestor and that we had not all been so unhappy to see thine clos'd he would not then have seen what he is now forc'd to behold he would not then have been the most unhappy Father in the World After these Words Telemachus caus'd the bloody Wound which was in the side of Pisistratus to be wash'd he order'd him to be laid out upon a purple Bed where his Head inclining on his Shoulder with the paleness of Death resembled a young Tree which having cover'd the Earth with its Shadow and stretch'd its flourishing Boughs towards Heaven is wounded by the Edge of the Woodman's Axe it no longer holds by its own Root nor by the Earth that fruitful Mother that nourishes her Branches in her Bosom it languishes its Verdure decays and being no longer able to bear up down it falls its wide and thick Branches that lately were as a Veil to obscure the Light of Heaven now lye extended in the Dust wither'd and dry 't is now no more than a Trunk fell'd to the Ground and spoil'd of all its Beauties Thus Pisistratus being become a Prey to Death was now carried away by those who were appointed to lay him on the fatal Pile The Flame already began to ascend toward Heaven a Troop of Pylians with Eyes dejected and full of Tears and with their Arms revers'd with a slow and mournful Pace attended him The Body was soon Burnt the Ashes put into a Golden Urne and Telemachus who took care to have all this perform'd committed this Urne as a great Treasure to Callimachus who had been Pisistratus his Governour Keep safely says he these Ashes the sad but precious Remains of him you Lov'd Keep 'em for his Father but wait till he recovers Strength enough to ask 'em before you give 'em to him that which irritates Sorrow at one time allays it at another At length Telemachus enter'd the Assembly of the confederate Kings where every one kept Silence in expectation to hear him Discourse when he perceiv'd it he blush'd and they could by no means engage him to Speak The Praises that were given him by publick Acclamations and above all his late Actions augmented his bashful Disposition So that he would have been glad to have hid himself This was the first time that he appear'd embarrass'd and unsteady in fine he desir'd as a Favour that they would desist from speaking in his Praise 'T is not said he that I do not love Praises above all when they are given by such good Judges of Vertue but 't is because I am afraid of Loving 'em too much for they are apt to corrupt Men they fill 'em with themselves and render 'em Vain and Presumptuous We ought both to merit 'em and avoid ' em The justest Praises resemble those that are false and flattering The most wicked of all Mankind the Tyrians are those that have made themselves prais'd the most by servile Flatterers What Pleasure is there in being Prais'd like them Due Praises are such as you will give me in my absence if I am so happy as to deserve ' em If you believe me to be truly Good you ought also to believe that I am willing to be Modest and to be afraid of Vanity Spare me therefore if you value me and do not Praise me as if I were a Man fond of Praises After Telemachus had thus express'd himself he answer'd not a Word more to those that continued to extol him to the very Heavens but by an Air of Indifference he soon put a stop to the Enocomiums that were made on him till they began to fear they should displease him in commending him But their Admiration still increased every one knowing the Tenderness he had manifested to Pisistratus and the care he had taken to render him the last Devoirs the whole Army was more touch'd with the Marks of Tenderness and Generosity of his Heart than with all the Prodigies of Wisdom and Valour that had been shining so Conspicuously in him He is Wise he is Valiant said they in secret one to another he is the Friend of the Gods and the true Hero of our Age he is rais'd a degree above Mankind But this is only matter of Wonder all this does no more than fill us with Astonishment he has Humanity and Goodness he is a Friend he is Tender he is Compassionate he is Beneficent and entirely theirs whom he ought to Love he is the Delight
about him whilst he treated with the utmost Contempt all the antient Sages who had been entrusted by his Father In a Word he was a Monster and not a King All Egypt groan'd under him and tho' the name of Sesostris which was so dear to the Egyptians made them support the base and cruel Conduct of his Son Yet he made hast to Ruin for 't was impossible that a Prince so unworthy of the Throne should Reign long As for me I thought no more of returning to Ithaca I was confin'd to a Tower that stands by the Sea near Pelusium where I should have imbark'd if Sesostris had not died Metophis had been freed from his Imprisonment and received into Favour by the new King 'T was he that caused my Confinement to revenge the Disgrace I had brought upon him I pass'd the Days and Nights in the profoundest Melancholly All the Things which Termosiris had foretold and those that I had heard from the Cave appear'd to me to be but Dreams I was ready to sink under the weight of my Grief I saw the Waves beating at the foot of the Tower where I was Prisoner I often employ'd my time in observing the Ships that were overtaken by Storms and in danger to be split against the Rocks upon which the Tower was built Far from pitying these Men who were threatned with Shipwrack I envied their Condition In a short time said I to my self they will see an end of all their Misfortunes or arrive in their own Country But Alas I can hope for neither Whilst thus I consum'd away in useless Regrets I perceiv'd as a Forest of Masts the Sea was cover'd with Ships and the Winds fill'd all their Sails The Waters turn'd into a Foam under the Strokes of innumerable Oars I heard a confus'd Noise on every side I saw one part of the Egyptians upon the Shore terrified and running to their Arms whilst others seem'd going to receive the Fleet which they saw arriving I soon perceiv'd that part of these Ships were of Phenicia and the rest of the Island of 〈◊〉 For my Misfortunes began to render me experienc'd in every thing that relates to Navigation The Egyptians were divided among themselves And I doubted not that the foolish King had by his Violences caused his Subjects to Revolt and raised a Civil War I was Spectator of a bloody Battle from the top of my Tower That part of the Egyptians who had invited these Foreigners to their Assistance having favour'd their Descent fell upon the other Egyptians who had the King at their Head I saw this King encouraging his Men by his own Example He appear'd like the God of Battle Streams of Blood ran down by his side The Wheels of his Charriot were died with black thick and foaming Gore and could hardly move for the numbers of dead Men that lay in the way This young King vigorous of Body fierce and haughty in his Looks had Rage and Despair painted on his Face He was like a beautiful Horse that has no Mouth His Courage push'd him on to Danger but he had no prudence to moderate his Valour He knew neither how to repair a Fault nor to give the necessary Orders nor to foresee the Dangers that threatned nor to manage his Men to the best Advantage 'T was not that he wanted Understanding his Quickness was as great as his Courage but he had never been instructed by Adversity His Masters had poison'd his good Nature with their Flattery He was drunk with his own Power and Felicity He thought every thing must yield to his impetuous Desires The least Resistance put him into a Rage He consulted his Reason no longer his Pride transform'd him into a Savage Beast his natural Goodness forsook him in an instant the most faithful of his Servants were forc'd to fly from him and he consider'd none but those who flatter'd his Passions By this means he always 〈◊〉 into Extremities against his true Interest and made all honest Men detest his foolish Conduct His Valour sustained him for a long time against the multitude of his Enemies but at last he was born down with Numbers I saw him perish the Arrow of a Phenician pierc'd his Breast He sunk down in his Chariot and not being able to hold the Reins any longer he was overthrown and trampled under Foot by the Horses A Soldier of Cyprus cut off his Head and holding it up by the Hair shew'd it in Triumph to the victorious Army I shall ever remember that I saw the Head smear'd with Blood the Eyes shut and extinguish'd the Face pale and disfigur'd the Mouth half open and attempting to finish some Words it had begun a fierce and menacing Air which Death it self could not efface This sight will be always before my Eyes to the last day of my Life And if ever the Gods permit me to Reign I Shall never forget after this fatal Example That no King is worthy to Command or can be happy in the Possession of his Power unless he himself be govern'd by Reason and that 't is the utmost of all Misfortunes for a Man who is created for the Publick Good to govern vast Numbers of Men only to render himself miserable Calypso heard with Astonishment these wise Reflections And that which charm'd her the most was to see how the young Telemachus ingeniously related the Faults he had committed either through Precipitation or want of Docility for the sage Mentor She was surpris'd with the greatness and generosity of his Mind who accused himself and made so good use of his own Imprudences to become Wise Sagacious and Moderate Continue said she my dear Telemachus I long to know how you left Egypt and where you found the wise Mentor whose Loss was so sensible to you Telemachus resuming his Discourse said The best of the Egyptians who were most faithful to the King finding themselves over-power'd and the King dead were compell'd to submit to the rest and another King called **** was establish'd The Phenicians and the Troops of Cyprus departed from Egypt after they had made an Alliance with the new King All the Phenicians that were Prisoners were set at Liberty and I was accounted one of them I departed from the Court I imbark'd with the rest and my Hopes began to revive in the bottom of my Heart Already a favourable Wind fill'd our Sails our Oars cut the foaming Waves the vast Sea was cover'd with our Ships the Mariners shouted for Joy the Shoars of Egypt 〈◊〉 from us the Hills and Mountains diminished we began to see nothing but the Heavens and the Waters whilst the Sun surrounded with sparkling Flames seem'd to rise from the bosom of the Sea his Rays guilded the tops the Mountains which we could still discover upon the Horizon and the whole face of Heaven painted with a sable Azur gave us Hopes of a happy Navigation Tho' I had been set at Liberty as one of the Phenicians yet none of them knew
wretched Hopes of that imperfect Rest which the Souls enjoy that have cross'd the River Styx after their Bodies have receiv'd Burial Idomeneus lifting up his Eyes and Hands to Heaven invok'd Neptune in these Words O powerful God! who commandest the Empire of the Sea vouchsafe to hear the Prayer of the Distressed if thou deliverest me from the fury of the Winds and bringest me safe to Creet the first Head I see shall fall by my own Hands a sacrifice to thy Deity In the mean time his Son impatient to see his Father made haste to meet and embrace him at his Landing unhappy Youth who knew not that he was running to his own Destruction The Father escap'd the Storm and landed in the Port of Syria He gave Thanks to Neptune for hearing his Prayers but soon found how fatal they had been to him A black Presage of his Misfortune made him bitterly repent his rash Vow He dreaded his own Arrival he fix't his Eyes upon the Ground He fear'd to see whatever was dear to him in the World But the inexorable Goddess Nemesis who never fails to punish Men and especially haughty Kings push'd him on with a fatal and invisible Hand Idomeneus arrives hardly daring to lift up his Eyes He sees his Son He starts back with Horrour his Eyes in vain look about for some other Head to serve for his vow'd Sacrifice His Son approach'd and threw his Arms about his Neck surpris'd to see his Father dissolving in Tears and making no return to his Tenderness O my Father said he Whence comes this Sadness after so long absence are you displeas'd to see your Kingdom and to be the Joy of Your Son What have I done You turn your Eyes away for fear of seeing me The Father overwhelm'd with Grief made no answer At last after many bitter Sighs he said Ah! Neptune what have I promis'd Restore me to the Winds and to the Rocks which ought to have dash'd me in Pieces and finish'd my wretched Life Let my Son live O thou cruel God here take my Blood and spare his As he spoke he drew his Sword to pierce his own Heart but those that were about him staid his Hand The aged Sophronymus by whom the will of the Gods is convey'd to Men assur'd him that he might satisfie Neptune without the Death of his Son Your Promise said he was imprudent the Gods will not be honour'd by Cruelty Beware of adding to the Error of your Promise the crime of accomplishing it against the Laws of Nature Offer a hundred Bulls white as Snow to Neptune let their Blood stream about his Altar crown'd with Flowers let the sweetest Incense smoak in Honour of the God Idomeneus heard this Discourse inclining his Head towards the Earth and answer'd not one Word Fury sat glaring in his Eyes his pale and disfigur'd Face chang'd Colour every Moment and all his Limbs shook with horrour In the mean time his Son said to him My Father here Lam your Son is ready to Die to appease the God I die contented since my Death will have prevented yours Strike O my Father and suspect not to find in me the least fear of Death or any thing unbecoming your Son In that Moment Idomeneus transported with Distraction and possess'd by infernal Furies surpris'd all that stood about him with Astonishment He thrust his Sword into the Heart of this Youth and drew it out again reeking and full of Blood to plunge it into his own Bowels But he was once more prevented by those that were present The Youth fell down into his own Blood the shades of Death hung upon his Eyes he open'd them a little to the Light but could not support its Brightness As a beautiful Lilly in the midst of the Field out up from the Root by the Plowshare lies down and languishes on the Ground It receives no more Nourishment from the Earth and the Springs of Life are intercepted yet the snowy White and noble Lustre in part remains So the Son of Idomeneus like a young and tender Flower is cut down in the bloom of his Age. The Father through excess of Grief is become insensible he knows not where he is nor what he does nor what he ought to do he reels to wards the City and demands his Son FINIS The other Parts will be Publish'd in a short time THE ADVENTURES OF TELEMACHUS The Son of ULYSSES PART II III IV V. LONDON Printed for A. and J. Chruchill at the Black-Swan in Pater-Noster-Row MDCC THE ADVENTURES OF TELEMACHUS The Son of ULYSSES PART II. IN the mean time the People being touch'd with Pity for the Son and full of Horror at the barbarous Action of the Father cry out That the just Gods have abandon'd him to the Furies Their Rage furnishes 'em with Arms They lay hold of what Weapons come next to hand Discord breaths a secret Venom into their Breasts The Cretans the wise Cretans forget their belov'd Wisdom They will no longer acknowledge the Son of sage Minos Idomeneus ' s Friends know not how to consult his Saftey but by conducting him back to his Ship They embark with him and commit their Flight to the Waves Idomeneus being come to himself returns them Thanks for carrying him away from a Land he 〈◊〉 besprinkled with his Son's 〈◊〉 and which he could no longer inhabit the Winds waft 'em over to Hesperia where they lay the Foundation of a new Kingdom in the Country of the Salentines But now the Cretans being destitute of a King to govern 'em they resolve to chuse such an one as will keep up the Purity of the establish'd Laws And these are the Measures they take for that purpose All the chief Men of a hundred Cities are now to meet at one Place they begin with offering Sacrifices they assemble all the most renown'd Sages of the Neighbouring Countries to examine the Wisdom of those who shall be thought worthy of Command they order publick Games where all the Competitors are to fight for the Crown is the Prize which they propose to him who shall excel both as to strength of Body and endowment of Mind They will have a King whose Body must be strong and active and his Soul adorn'd with Wisdom and Virtue They invite all Strangers to this grand Assembly Nausicrates having recounted to us this wonderous Story cries out Haste therefore you Strangers to our Assembly you shall contend with the Rest and if the Gods decree the Victory for either of you he shall Reign in this Country We followed him not out of any desire of being victorious but only out of a Curiosity to see an Election so extraordinary We arrived at a Place resembling a very large Circus surrounded with a thick Wood. The middle of this Circus was an Arena or Pit prepared for the Combatants it was surrounded by a large Amphitheater of green Turf whereon sat in order an innumerable multitude of Spectators As soon as we came there we were
bitter Sorrow stood painted on their Warlike Countenances and the Tears trickl'd down in abundance After the rest came the aged Pherecides stooping not so much under the great number of his Years as a load of Grieffor surviving Hippias whom he had brought up from his very Infancy He rais'd his Hands and his Eyes that were drown'd in Tears towards Heaven After the death of Hippias he refus'd all manner of Food nor could Sleep shut his Eye-lids or suspend the smartness of his Pain for a Moment With a trembling pace he walk'd after the Procession not knowing whither he went he was speechless because his Heart was quite oppress'd his silence was the effect of Despair and Dejection But no sooner did he see the Pile kindled than he cry'd out in a fury O Hippias Hippias I shall never see thee again Hippias is no more and yet I live still O my dear Hippias 't is I that am the cause of thy Death 't was I that taught thee to despise it I believ'd that thou shouldst have shut my Eyes and suck'd my last Breath O ye cruel Gods Why did ye prolong my days only that I might see the death of Hippias O my dear Child that I have brought up with so much care I shall see thee no more but I shall see thy Mother whom Grief will kill and who will reproach me with thy Death I shall see thy young Spouse beating her Breast and pulling off her Hair and I am the unhappy cause O dear Shade call me to the Banks of Styx for the Light is hateful to me and 't is thee only my dear Hippias that I wish to see Hippias Hippias O my dear Hippias I only live now to pay my last Duty to thy Ashes In the mean time you might see the Body of young Hippias stretch'd out in a Coffin adorn'd with Purple Gold and Silver Death that had shut his Eyes was not able to deface all his Beauty and the Graces appear'd still in his pale Face Around his Neck that was whiter than Snow but now leaning on his Shoulder his long black Hair did wave finer than those of Atis and Ganimede but which were now to be turn'd to Ashes You might observe in his Side the deep Wound through which all his Blood had run out and which had sent him down into the gloomy Regions of Pluto Telemachus sad and dejected follow'd the Corps at a little distance strowing Flowers When they came to the Pile the young Son of Ulysses could not endure to see the Flame seize on the Cloth in which the Body was wrapt without shedding fresh Tears Adieu said he O magnanimous Hippias For I dare not call thee Friend Rest in quiet O Shade who hast merited so much renown If I did not love thee I should envy thy Happiness who art free'd from those Miseries that accompany us and art retir'd by the Path of Honour How happy should I be if my End were the same May Styx ne're be able to stop thy Ghost may thy Passage be easie into the Elysian Fields may Fame preserve thy Name throughout all Ages and may thy Ashes rest in Peace Scarce had he spoke these Words which were interrupted with Sobs when the Army gave a hideous shout they were mov'd with grief for the loss of Hippias they were recounting his great Actions and their Grief for his death brought to their Minds all his good Qualities and made them forget all those Failings which the Heat of his Youth or his bad Education had occasion'd But they were more mov'd with the tender Affection that Telemachus had for him Is this said they the young Greek that was so Proud so Haughty so Disdainful and untractable See how gentle how humane how kind he 's now become Minerva no doubt who loved his Father so dearly has had the same Passion for the Son doubtless she has bestow'd on him the most valuable Blessing that the Gods can give to Mortals in affording him together with Wisdom a Heart sensible of Friendship By this time the Flame had consum'd the Body Telemachus with his own Hands besprinkl'd the Ashes that were yet smoaking with a Liquor richly perfum'd then put them into an Urn of Gold which he crown'd with Garlands and carried to Phalanthus He lay stretch'd out wounded in several places and in the extremity of his Weakness had a glimpse of the melancholy Gates of Death Traumaphilus and Nozofugus whom the Son of Ulysses had sent to attend him had try'd their utmost skill for his Relief They had by degrees brought back his departing Soul fresh Spirits began insensibly to revive his Heart and create a penetrating Vigor The Balsom of Life gliding from Vein to Vein had reach'd his Heart a grateful warmth reviv'd his Limbs but in the very Moment that the Swooning left him Grief succeeded for he began to be sensible of the Loss of his Brother which till then he had not been in a condition to think of Alas said he why all this care to save my Life Had I not better die and follow my dear Hippias I saw him fall hard by me O Hippias the comfort of my Life my Brother my dear Brother thou art now no more I can hereafter neither see thee nor hear thee nor embrace thee nor comfort thee in thy Troubles nor complain to thee of my own O ye Gods Enemies to Mankind Must I forever be depriv'd of Hippias Is it possible is it not a Dream No it is real O Hippias I have left thee I have seen thee die and I must live till I have aveng'd thee I will sacrifice to thy Ghost the Cruel Adrastus who is stain'd with thy Blood While Phalanthus was thus speaking the two Divine Men used their utmost endeavour to appease his Grief for fear it should increase his Disease and frustrate the Effects of their Medicines On a sudden he perceiv'd Telemachus who came to see him At first sight two contrary Passions were strugling in his Breast he harbour'd a Resentment of what had pass'd between Telemachus and Hippias his Grief for the loss of Hippias gave it an Edge he could not forget that he owed the preservation of his Life to Telemachus who rescu'd him out of the Hands of Adrastus all bloody and half dead But when he saw the Golden Urn which inclos'd the Ashes of his dear Brother Hippias he dissolv'd into Tears he embrac'd Telemachus without being able to speak At last with a languishing Voice interrupted with Sighs he said O worthy Son of Ulysses thy Virtue constrains me to love thee I owe thee the small remainder of my Life and I owe thee also something that 's more dear to me Had it not been for thee the Body of my Brother had been a Prey to the Vultures Had it not been for thee his Ghost depriv'd of Sepulture had wander'd in a miserable Condition on the Banks of the River Styx continually pusht back by the pitiless Charon Must I be so
their Sheep instead of leading 'em into good Pasture According to you a Man becomes Guilty as soon as he is accus'd and Suspicion makes him deserve Death the Innocent lie at the mercy of Envy and Calumny and according to your encrease of this tyrannical Jealousie in your Minds we must have more such Victims sacrific'd Telemachus utter'd these Words with such Authority and Vehemence as captivated their Hearts and cover'd the Authors of this so unmanly Advice with Shame and Confusion In fine he soften'd his words For my part said he I am not so much in love with Life as to secure it at that rate I had rather Acanthus should be Vile and Wicked than my self and would sooner chuse to die by his Treachery than put him to Death by any unjust Sentence only founded upon Suspicion But have a little Patience O you who in being establish'd Kings that is Judges of the People under your Charge ought to know how to discharge the Function with Justice Prudence and Moderation let me examine Acanthus in your Presence Immediately he interrogated this Man about his Correspondence with Arion he press'd him with an infinite number of Circumstances he often made him believe he would send him back to Adrastus as a Deserter that deserv'd to be punish'd that he might the better make his Observation whether he were afraid to be sent back or not but the Countenance of Acanthus still remain'd calm and even From which Telemachus concluded that Acanthus might not be Guilty In fine perceiving he could not thus draw the Truth out of his Breast says he to him Give me your Ring for I 'll send it to Adrastus No sooner was the Ring demanded but Acanthus turn'd Pale and was much embarrassed Telemachus whose Eyes were continually fix'd on him discern'd it he took the Ring I 'll immediately send this says he to Adrastus by the Hand of an intreaging Lucanian nam'd Polytropus with whom you are acquainted he shall pretend to be come secretly from you if we can by this means discover their private Intelligence with Adrastus you shall without Mercy be put to Death by the most cruel Torments if on the contrary you now confess your Fault you shall be pardon'd and we 'll content our selves only in sending you into an Island where you shall want nothing Upon this Acanthus corfess'd all and Telemachus obtain'd of the Kings that his Life might be spar'd because he had given him the promise of it and he was sent to the Islands call'd Echinades where he liv'd in Peace Not long after this a Daunian of obscure Birth but of a violent and daring Temper nam'd Discorus Temper nam'd Discorus came in the Night into the confederate Camp to make an offer to 'em to kill King Adrastus in his Tent. He was capable of this Attempt for that Man is Master of the Life of another who puts no Value upon his own This Person breath'd nothing but Revenge because Adrastus had taken away his Wife whom he passionately Lov'd and whose Beauty did not come behind that of Venus her self He had secret Intelligence whereby he could find a Way into the King's Tent in the Night and could be favour'd in this Enterprize by several Daunian Captains but he thought it necessary for the Confederate 〈◊〉 to attack Adrastus his Camp at the same time that in the noiseand hurry of Action he might with greater Facility make his Escape and carry away his Wife too and if he could not compass this last Thing after he had kill'd the King he was content to Die As soon as Dioscorus had explain'd his Design to the Kings they all turn'd themselves toward Telemachus thereby signifying they desir'd a direction in this matter from him The Gods said he who have preserv'd us from Traitors forbid us to make use of 'em and if we had not Vertue enough to detest the Treason our Interest alone would be sufficient to make us reject it when we have once authoriz'd it by our Example we shall deserve to have it turn'd against us and who among us from that Moment will be safe 'T is possible Adrastus may escape the Blow that threatens him and may make it fall upon the Confederate Princes and then War will become quite another Thing Wisdom and Vertue will be of no manner of use and nothing will be seen but Frauds Treasons and Assassinations I therefore conclude we ought to send this Traitor back to Adrastus I cofess the King does not deserve it but all Hesperia and all Greece who have their Eyes upon us deserve that we should conduct our selves so as to gain their Esteem we owe our selves and in short we owe the just Gods such a Testimony as this of our Horror of Treachery Dioscorus was immediately sent to Adrastus who trembled to think of the Danger he had been in and mightily wonder'd at the Generosity of his Enemies for ill Men know not how to comprehend what pure Vertue is Adrastus was oblig'd whether he would or no to admire what he saw but durst not commend it This noble Action of the Allies recall'd the shameful Remembrance both of all his Treacheries and all his Cruelties he would fain have extenuated the Generosity of his Enemies yet was ashamed to appear Ungrateful while he ow'd 'em his Life but Men that are corrupted soon harden themselves against every Thing that touches ' em Adrastus observing that the Reputation of the Allies daily augmented thought himself oblig'd to perform some Action against 'em that might make a Noise in the World and since he could not do a Vertuous one he was desirous at least of obtaining some great Advantage over 'em by Arms and therefore made what haste he could to Fight The Day of Battle being come scarce had Aurora open'd the oriental Gates to the Sun in a Path strow'd with Roses when the young Telemachus by his early Care out-stript the Vigilance of the oldest Captains by throwing off the soft Embraces of Sleep and putting all the Officers in Motion already his Helmet cover'd with his floating Hair glitter'd on his Head and his Cuirass dazzled the Eyes of the whole Army it was the Work of Vulcan and had besides its natural Beauty the Lustre of a shining Breast-plate that was plac'd under it He held a Spear in one Hand and pointed with the other to the divers Posts that 't was necessary to possess Minerva had fill'd his Eyes with a divine Fire and his Countenance with an awful Majesty which began already to promise Victory He march'd and all the Kings forgetting their Age and Dignity found themselves attracted by a superior Power which oblig'd 'em to follow his Steps Weak Jealousie could enter their Breasts no more Every thing gives way to him whom Minerva insensibly Leads by the Hand His Action had nothing in it that was Impetuous or Precipitant he was Mild Calm Patient always ready to hear others and to profit by their Advice but Active