Diodorus Siculus

FRAGMENTS - The Library of History



Page 742 8. When Troy was entred and taken, Aeneas with some other of the Citizens possessed himself of part of the City, and defended it bravely and valiantly against the assaults of the Enemy. When the Greeks upon the terms made, agreed that each of them should carry away with them as much of their Goods as they could, all of them but Aeneas, took away Gold and Silver, and what ever else of such kind was esteem'd pretious and valuable; but he carry'd away only his old Father upon his shoulders: At which the Grecians did so admire, that they gave him liberty to make choice of what part of his Wealth, and his houshold Goods he pleas'd; upon which, taking only his houshold Gods; the Virtue and Piety of the Man caus'd them to admire much more than before; for they perceiv'd that in the height of his dangers and troubles, his chiefest care was to discharge his duty to his Father, and his due and pious regards to the Gods: And therefore they say that both he, and the rest of the Trojans that remain'd, had liberty given them, with all assurance of safe passage to go from Troy, to what place soever they pleas'd.

9. Romulus Silvius was exceeding Proud all the days of his Life, and a contemner of the Gods. When Jupiter thundred, he us'd to Command his Soldiers upon a sign given, all at once to strike upon their shields with their Swords, and vaunted that it was a greater noise than the other, and therefore he was struck dead with a Thunder-bolt.

10. About this time, one Malachus became King of the City Cuma, by ingratiating himself with the common People, and accusing and calumniating great Men: For afterwards putting to death, the richest of the Citizens, he seiz'd their Estates, and with the Wealth thus got, hir'd strong Guards, and struck a Dread and Terror into all the Cumeans.

11. Such was the eminent Virtue of Lycurgus, that once when he came to Delphos, the Oracle saluted him with these Verses. Seek in the Fragments of Sentences.

While the Lacedemonians observ'd the Laws of Lycurgus, from a mean and low condition, they grew very Potent, and held the Sovereignty of Greece for above 400 Years: But when by degrees they slighted and disregarded one Law after another, and fell to Sloath and Voluptuousness, and began to heap up Money and Wealth, they lost their sovereign Authority.

12. Whereas the Eleans were full of strong and youthful Men, and had a well govern'd Commonwealth, the Lacedemonians jealous of the increase of their power, endeavour'd all they: could to make them Sacred, that so being at Peace, they might gain no experience in matters of War; to that end, with the consent of all the Grecians they devoted them to Jupiter, and therefore neither when Xerxes broke into Greece, were they compell'd to raise any Soldiers, but as the Priests of Jupiter, and overseers of the Games were free: Nor in the Civil Wars of the Greeks did any molest them, all endeavouring to preserve their Country as a City Sacred and Inviolable: But in after times, the Eleans betook themselves to Arms of their own accord.

The two Brothers, Romulus and Remus being thus expos'd in a Cradle, when they grew up to Mens Estate, far excell'd their equals in strength and comeliness of their Persons; and secur'd all the Shepherds and their flocks, by freeing them from the Theeves, that us'd to make a prey of them, killing some in their attempts upon the flocks, and taking others alive: And besides the honour they wan by their Valour, they were greatly belov'd by the neighbouring Shepherds, both for their familiar converse, and their civil and courteous behaviour to all that made their addresses to them. The security therefore of them all, being lodg'd in them, most submitted to them of their own accord, and were observant to their Commands, and went wheresoever they were ordered by them.

Polychares the Messenian, a Man of noble Birth, and very rich, entred into a strict band of familiarity and friendship with Eucephnus the Spartan, who taking upon him the care and protection of the Flocks and Shepherds, began to covet what they had, but his treachery was soon discovered; for having sold some Oxen together with the Herdsmen themselves, to foreign Merchants, and pretending that Robbers carry'd them away by force, it came to pass that the Merchants Sailing by the Coasts of Pelopponnesus towards Sicily, by a sudden Storm, were cast upon the Land. Hereupon the Herdsmen taking advantage of the Night, got off Shipboard, and being well acquainted with the Place, fled and made their escapes, and when they came to Messena, declar'd the whole business to their Master, whereupon Polychares hid the Herdsmen, and sent for Eucephnus from L 〈…〉demon; who, when he came, swore, and impudently stood to it, that the Shepherds and be dsmen were some of them forcibly carried away by Robbers, and the rest were kill'd, upon which Polychares forthwith brought forth the Herdsmen: At which Eucephnus was amaz'd, and thus plainly convicted of falshood, presently began to beg pardon,


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