Diodorus Siculus

FRAGMENTS - The Library of History



Page 743 and promis'd to restore all the Cattle, and us'd many words to regain his Favour. Polychares therefore out of regard to the Sacred ties of Friendship, conceal'd the Fact, and sent his Son with Eucephnus to Lacedaemon to recover the Cattle: But Eucephnus disregardful of his Promises, murther'd the Young man that was sent along with him to Sparta. Polychares enrag'd at this bloody Act, requir'd the Spartans to deliver up the Murtherer But the Lacedaemonians, not willing to comply with his Demands, sent the Son of Eucephnus with Letters to Messena, wherein Polychares was order'd to come to Sparta, and there to abide the Judgment of the Ephori and the Kings, concerning the Matters whereof he complain'd; but Polychares by way of Retaliation, kill'd the Son of Eucephnus, and drove away a Prey of Cattle out of the Countrey of Sparta.

15. Archias the Corinthian falling in Love with Actaeon, first courted the Youth with Presents and fair Promises; but being not able to prevail by reason of the Honesty of the Boy's Father, and the Sobriety and Modesty of the Young man himself, he got a Company of his Friends together, resolved to do that by Force which he could not obtain by Intreaty and fair Means: Having therefore made himself drunk with those he had brought along with him, he was hurried on to that degree by his Love-passion, that he broke forceably into the House of Melissus, and took away the Boy by force; but his Father with his Houshold Servants laying hold of his Son to detain him, and both parties earnestly striving to get him one from the other, the poor Child among them was pull'd in pieces, so that the sufferings of the Child, and the manner of it, occasion'd both Grief and Admiration, at one and the same time: For the Youth came to the like end with him that bore the same Name, both of them being destroy'd much in the same manner by those that came in to their assistance.

16. Agathocles to whom was committed the care of building of a Temple to Minerva, laid out the Money out of his own Purse; but he pick'd out the best and largest of the Stones, and built for himself a sumptuous and stately House: But the Power of the Goddess made it self evident, in destroying Agathocles with a Thunderbolt, and burning his House; and the Geomorians confiscated his Goods, although his Heirs made it clear and evident that he had not imbezill'd any of the Sacred Treasure. They consecrated likewise the Carcass of his House, and made it a Place inaccessable, which is now call'd Embrontaeum.

17. Pompilius King of Rome, liv'd peaceably all his Days, and some say he was a hearer of Pythagoras, and that he had his Laws concerning Religion from him, and many other things which much advanc'd his Reputation, and therefore though he was a Stranger, he was sent for to take upon him the Crown.

18. Deioces King of the Medes, when all sorts of Wickedness abounded, was eminent for Justice and all other Virtues.

19. The Sybarites were addicted to Gluttony and Voluptuousness, and such was their strife and study to be Luxurious, that they lov'd the Ionians and Thuscans above all other Strangers, because those among the Greeks, and these among the Barbarians, were most Luxurious and Effeminate. It's said; that Mindyrides was the most Voluptuous of any of the Sybarites; for when Clisthenes King of Sicyon was Victor in the Race with Chariots drawn with four Horses, and had proclaim'd by the Cryer, That whosoever would Marry his Daughter (a most beautiful Lady) should come to Sicyon at a certain Day appointed, this Mindyrides loos'd from Sibaris in a Vessel of above Fifty Oars on a side, and furnish'd it with Rowers out of his own Family, of whom some were Fishermen, and the rest were Fowlers; and when he came into the Haven at Sicyon, that he not only far surpass'd all his Rivals for State and Grandeur, but likewise the King himself, although the whole City for Vain-glory most profusely contributed their Wealth to Clisthenes: And being after his arrival presently entertain'd at Supper, and ask'd by one who should sit next to him, by the Voice of an Herald he caus'd it to be proclaim'd, That he would sit next to the Bride, or by himself alone.

20. Hippomenes, Archon of Athens, when his *Daughter had play'd the Whore, punish'd her after a most cruel and inhumane Manner; for he shut her up in a Stable with a Horse for some days kept without Meat, which through want of Food at length eat up the miserable and unfortunate Lady.

21. Arcesilaus King of Cyrene being grievously afflicted with many pressing Calamities, consulted the Oracle at Delphos; to whom Apollo answer'd, That the Gods were angry for that none of the succeeding Kings since Battus govern'd so Justly and Righteously as he did, for he reign'd mildly and gently, content only with the Name of a King; and that which was most commendable of all was that he carefully kept and maintain'd the Worship of the Gods; but his Successors always (ever since have reign'd Tyrannically, and


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