Page 767 96. The Kingdom of Syria, being now brought low, and Demetrius being only the surviving Branch of the Royal Stock, believing himself to be out of all Danger, disregarded the Deportment of the former Kings, who studied to ingratiate themselves into the good Opinion of their People, by their affable and courteous Behaviour: But he growing every day more and more unsufferable, fell at length to downright Cruelty, and all sorts of hainous Enormities. The cause of all which is not only to be attributed to his own corrupt Disposition, but to one of his Friends, who had the Management of all the Affairs of the Kingdom: For being a Wicked and Rash Fellow, he incited by his Flattery, the young Man to all manner of Wickedness. At first therefore, he put to death all that had sided against him in the War, with unusual sorts of Punishments. Afterwards, when the Antiochians Taunted and Jear'd at him, as they were wont to do, he got together a Company of Mercenary Soldiers against them, and commanded that they should be disarm'd, but the Antiochians refusing to deliver them; some he kill'd as they fell into his hands, others he Murdered in their own Houses, together with their Wives and Children; upon which a great Uproar being rais'd in the City, he burnt down most of the Town to the Ground, and many that were accus'd to be Heads of this Commotion, were put to death, and their Estates Confiscated, and brought into the Kings Exchequer: And therefore many of the Citizens, both out of Fear and Hatred of Demetrius, Fled out of the City, and wander'd up and down all Syria, watching for a fit time and opportunity to be reveng'd. In the mean time, Demetrius hated of every Body, rag'd notwithstanding in Slaughters, Banishments, and Confiscations, far exceeding his Father in Cruelty: For he was far from Royal Clemency and Kindness, but exercising a Tyrannical and Arbitrary Power, oppress'd his Subjects with most grievous and unsufferable Calamities, in somuch as the Kings of this Family, for their oppressions, were hated by all, and those of the other, as much belov'd for their Moderation and Clemency; so that thro' the mutual Plots and circumventing Contrivances of the Heads of both these Families, one against another, Syria was continually full of Stirs and Commotions: and the common People themselves, through the Flattery and fair Promises of those Kings that sought to succeed the other, were so led aside, as that they still delighted in Change.
97. The Aradians growing high Crested and Insolent, abus'd the Marathenian Ambassadors, who crying out against their Impiety, challeng'd the Sacred regard that ought to be had to Suppliants, and the Security and Protection due to Ambassadors, upon which, some of the audacious young Fellows, presently knockt them on the Head. Then these Murderers and their Co-partners got together in a general Assembly, and adding one piece of Wickedness to another, contriv'd an Impious and Vile design against the Marathenians; for taking the Rings off the Fingers of them that were Murder'd, they writ Letters to the Marathenians, as from the Ambassadors, by which they inform'd them, that the Aradians would within a short time send them Aid, to the end that the Marathenians might receive the Aradian Soldiers into their City, and so be Surpriz'd, thinking they were really, and without Fraud, sent to them as Auxiliaries. But the Aradians fail'd in their wicked Design, for when they had laid an Embargo upon all the Ships, that none might discover their Treachery to the Marathenians, a certain Seamen, a Neigbour to the Marathenians commiserating their Condition, and being acustom'd to Sail in the Neighbouring Sea, took a Ship, and in the Night pass'd over that narrow Cut, about Eight Furlongs in Breadth, and discover'd the Fraud of the Aradians, to the Marathenians; the Aradians therefore, when they understood their Plot was discover'd, forbore sending the Letters.
98. Ptolemy Physcon, the Brother of Philometer, began his Reign most wickedly; for charging many with Plots against his Life, he put them all to death, with most cruel Torments, others for pretended Crimes invented by himself, he Banish'd and Confiscated their Estates: by which cruelties, in a short time, his Subjects were so inrag'd, that they all hated him Mortally; however he Reign'd Fifteen Years.
99. Viriathus, when at his Marriage many Gold and Silver Cups, and all sorts of rich Carpets of exquisite Workmanship, were set forth to grace the Solemnity, he held them all upon the point of a Lance, not with admiration of such rich and splendid Furniture, but rather in scorn and contempt. After, when he had upon this occasion spoken many things, with much Wisdom and Prudence, he concluded with many Emphatical expressions, and with this one, very remarkable for by this saying, he signifi'd, that it was the greatest Imprudence imaginable, to trust in Goods of Fortune, which are so uncertain; especially, since it was then apparent, that all those highly esteem'd riches of his Father in Law, were liable to be a prey to him, that might carry them away upon his Spears point; further he added, that his Father in Law ought rather to thank him,
The Histories of Herodotus written in 440 BC is considered to be the founding work of history in Western literature. His history included stories and fables but he claimed to have traveled extensively and learned about many countries through direct observation.
The thesis of Stolen Legacy is that the Egyptians created what is wrongly called Greek philosophy. Dr. James argues that the African origin of Greek Philosophy is well known but rarely discussed. Ancient Greek historians such as Herodotus and Diodorus the Sicilian wrote in significant detail about the contributions of Egypt. Egyptian technology and libraries were unmatched and Greek philosophers such as Pythagoras and Plato studied there. The contribution of Africa to the intellectual foundation of modern knowledge is tremendous but unacknowledged.
The Library of History by Diodorus the Sicilian is one of the most highly regarded universal histories in antiquities. His work includes the history of Egypt, Asia, Africa, Greece and Europe. His book is a must read for research of ancient history.
Bible Study The King James Bible (kjv), World English Bible (web) and Bible in Basic English (bbe) are all examples of public domain books. The King James Bible (kjv) online uses the content from these books and open source software to enhance Bible study capabilities. The site includes the verse of the day, search tools, christian literature and links to related content. It demonstrates the use of open source to create a valuable service.