skilful Masters to examin the young Prentices Those Arts said he which are not absolutely necessary ought not to admit of any thing that 's mean or indifferent and therefore no young Men should be suffer'd to learn them but those whose promising Genius seems to tend to Perfection As for others who are Born for less noble Arts they will be usefully employ'd about the ordinary Occasions of the Commonwealth The only thing added he wherein Carvers and Painters ought to be employ'd is in preserving the Memory of great Men and their noble Actions and for that purpose Representations and Memorials of what has been Atchieved with an extraordinary Industry ought to be us'd in publick Buildings and Tombs Moreover Mentor's Moderation and Frugality did not go so far but that he allow'd these great Buildings design'd for Horse or Chariot-Races Wrestling Fights with Cestus and all other Exercises which render the Body both more supple active and vigorous He suppressd a vast number of Merchants and Shopkeepers who sold figur'd Stuffs of remote Countries Embroider'd Works of an excessive Price Gold and Silver Vessels with embossed Figures of the Gods Men and Animals and lastly refined Liquors and Perfumes He order'd likewise that the Furniture of every House should be plain strong and lasting Thus the Salentines who loudly complain'd of their Poverty began to be sensible how many superfluous Riches they enjoy'd but those were deceitful Riches which made them really poor and they only became truly Rich as soon as they had the Resolution to dispossess themselves of them 'T is the best way said they to grow Rich by despising such Riches as exhaust the Nation and the reducing all our Wants to the true and necessary occasions of Nature Mentor was diligent in viewing the Arcenals and publick Magazines to see that Arms and all other Things necessary in War were in Order For said he we always must be in readiness to make War the better to prevent the Misfortune of being first Attackt Now havving found a great many Things wanting every where he presently assembled Artificers to work Iron Steel and Brass You might have seen burning Furnaces and Clouds of Fire and Smoak mounting on high like those substerranean Fires which are vomited up by Mount AEtna The studdy Hammer resounded on the Anvil which groan'd under the repeated Strokes the neighbouring Mountains and Sea-shore ecchoed to 'em one would have thought himself to be in that famous Island where Vulcan cheers up his Cyclopes and forges Thunderbolts for the Father of the Gods And by a wise forecast all the Preparations for a War were making in a profound Peace Afterwards Mentor went out of the City with Idomeneus and found a great Tract of fertile Lands lying waste and uncultivated others were manur'd but by halves through the Negligence and Poverty of the Husbandmen who wanted more Hands and bodily Strength to bring Agriculture to Perfection Mentor beholding those desolate Fields said to the King This Land is willing to enrich the Inhabitants but the Inhabitants are wanting to the Land and to themselves Let us therefore take all the useless Artificers who are in the City and whose Trade tends only to debauch Manners in order to make them till and manure these Plains and high Grounds I own its a Misfortune that all those Men who have practis'd Arts which require a sedentary Life are not inur'd to hard Labour but here is a Remedy for it We must divide among them all the Lands void of Inhabitants and call to their assistance some of the Neighbouring People who will undertake the hardest Work under 'em provided they allow them a reasonable share in the Profits of the Lands they shall begin to Plow Nay in time they may enjoy a proportion of those Lands and being thus incorporated with your People provided they be laborious and submissive to the Laws they will encrease your Power and prove the best Subjects Your City-Tradesmen now transplanted into the Country will train up their Children to Labour and enure them to the Yoke of a rural Life and in process of Time all the Country round about shall be stock'd with strong vigorous Men addicted to Husbandry Now you need not be sollicitous about the increase of your People for they will soon multiply to a Prodigy if you encourage Matrimony which you may do with great ease Most Men have an Inclination to Marry and 't is generally Want that keeps them from it If you do not over-charge 'em with Taxes they will live at ease with their Wives and Families for the Earth is never ungrateful She always yields Fruits to sustain those who cultivate her with Care and Diligence and only denies her Benefits to those who refuse to bestow their Labour upon her The more Children Husbandmen have the richer they are provided the Prince study not to make them Poor for their Children even from their tenderest Youth begin to be a help to 'em the youngest tend the Flocks while they are Feeding those of riper Years begin to drive the great Droves of Cattle and the most aged guide the Plough-handle with their Father In the mean time the Mother and all her Family Dress a course Meal for her Husband and her dear Children against they come home spent with the Toil of the Day She takes care to Milk her Cows and Streams of sweet Liquor fill her cleanly Pails she lights a great Fire round which the innocent and peaceful Family divert themselves with Singing merry Lays before they go to rest she gets ready Cheese Chesnuts and Fruits that look as fresh as if new gather'd In the mean time the Shepherd comes home with his Flute and Sings to the Family such new Songs as he learnt in the Neighbouring Villages The Husbandman comes in with his Plough and goads along his wearied Oxen which walk with slow Steps and bending Necks All the Hardships of Labour end with the Day The kind Poppies which Morpheus by the Command of the immortal Gods scatters all over the Earth quiet all black Thoughts charm and lull Nature into a soft Enchantment and every one falls asleep without forecasting the Labours of the next Day Happy are those Men who live without Ambition Distrust or Disguise provided the Gods vouchsafe to give 'em a good King who never disturbs their innocent Joys But what a horrid piece of Cruelty it is the wresting from their Hands the sweet Fruits of the Earth which they owe to the Bounty of Nature and the sweat of their Brows only to gratifie the Pride and Ambition of one single Man Nature alone out of her fruitful Bosom is able to maintain an infinite number of thrifty and laborious Men but 't is the Pride and luxurious Effeminacy of some Men who reduce so many others to the dreadful pressures of Poverty But what shall I do said Idomeneus if those Men whom I disperse about a fruitful Country neglect to Cultivate it Follow answer'd Mentor a Method entirely
Fugitive whom the avenging Gods and Men pursue All my past Honours and Glory serv'd only to make my Fall the more ingnominious and insupportable I sought a shelter for my houshold-Gods on this desart Coast where I found nothing but wild uncultivated Lands over-run with Thorns and Briars cover'd with Trees as old as the Earth it self and huge steep Rocks inaccessible to all but fierce Beasts which harbour'd under them Yet such was the Extremity to which I was reduc'd that I was glad to enjoy with a few Soldiers and Friends who had been willing to accompany me in my Misfortunes that wild savage Land and make it my Country having no hopes ever to see again that fortunate Island whereof I was born King Alass said I to my self what a Change is here What a dreadful Example am I to Kings What wholsome Instructions they can draw from my Miscarriages They fancy there is nothing they ought to be afraid of because of their Elevation above the rest of Men But oh 't is that very Elevation which ought to make them more afraid than others I was dreaded by my Enemies and belov'd by my Subjects I Commanded over a powerful and warlike Nation Fame had spread my Renown as far as the remotest Countries I reign'd in a fruitful and delightful Island an hundred Cities paid me a yearly Tribute out of their Riches my People acknowledg'd me to be the Off-spring of great Jupiter and as I was born in their Country they lov'd me as the Grand-Son of wise Minos whose Laws make them so powerful and happy What could be wanting to my Felicity except the knowing how to use it with Moderation But alass my own Pride and the Flattery of others to which I listned but too much have over-turn'd my Throne and in the like manner will all Kings fall who will give up themselves to their own Desires and the deceitful Counsels of their Flatterers In the Day-time I endeavour'd to put on a Countenance both smiling and full of Assurance in order to keep up the Courage of those who had follow'd me Let us build said I to them a new City that will make us amends for all our Losses we are surrounded by Nations whose Example ought to animate us in this Undertaking we behold Tarentum which is rearing up pretty near us and 't is Phalantus with his Lacedemonians who possesses that new Kingdom Philoctctes builds another great City on the same Coast to which he gave the Name of Petilia Metapontus is likewise such another Colony why then should we do less than those Strangers who wander like us since Fortune is no more cross to us than to them Whilest with these and the like words I endeavour'd to alleviate the Troubles of my Companions I conceal'd a mortal Grief in the bottom of my Heart I felt some Comfort at the withdrawing of the day when in the gloomy Shade of silent Night I was at liberty to lament my wretched Fate my Eyes became two Streams of continual Tears and sweet Sleep had quite deserted my Bed The next day I resum'd my Toils with unwearied eagerness and that 's the Reason Oh! Mentor you found me so much alter'd by Age. Idomeneus having thus given Telemachus and Mentor the Relation of all his Misfortunes he desir'd their Assistance in the War wherein he was engag'd I will said he take care that you are safely conducted to Ithaca as soon as the War is over in the mean time I will send out Ships to the most distant Shoars to learn News of Ulysses into what Place of the known World he may be cast either by the stormy Winds or some angry Deity I will bring him back from thence may the Gods but grant that he be still alive As for you I will send you back into your own Country in the best Ships that ever were built in the Isle of Crete they are made of Trees fell'd on Mount Ida where great Jove was born that sacred Wood can never perish in the Waves the Winds and Rocks both fear and reverence it and even Neptune tho' never so angry dares not to raise his fierce Billows against it Therefore be assur'd that you will return to Ithaca with ease and safety and that no cross Deity shall be able to make you wander on so many Seas any more The Passage to your own Island is short and easie send away the Phenician Vessel that brought you hither and think now on nothing but on the Honour you shall reap in settling Idomeneus in his new Kingdom and making him amends for all his Losses 'T is by these Actions Oh! Son of Ulysses that you will be thought worthy of your Father and tho' cruel Fate should have already confin'd him within the gloomy Kingdom of Pluto yet all Greece shall have the Pleasure to find him again in you At these words Telemachus interrupting Idomeneus let us said he send away the Phenician Vessel Why do we defer any longer to take up Arms and attack your Enemies who are now become ours Since we were Victorious when we fought in Sicily for Acestes a Trojan and an Enemy of Greece can any one doubt but that we will shew a greater Ardour and Resolution and be more favour'd by the Gods when we fight for one of those Grecian Heroes who over-threw Troy the City of Priamus Mentor looking upon Telemachus with a serence and compos'd Countenance and perceiving that he burnt with a noble and eager Desire of Fighting spoke thus to him I am very glad Oh! Son of Ulysses to find in you so generous and commendable a Passion for Glory but remember that the great Renown your Father got amongst the Grecians at the Siege of Troy was only by approving himself the wisest and most moderate of them Altho ' the fierce Achilles was both invincible and invulnerable altho' he carried Terrour and Destruction where-ever he fought yet Achilles could not make himself Master of Troy he fell before the Walls of that famous City which triumph'd over the Murderer of Hector but Ulysses whose Valour was ever guided by Prudence carried Fire and Sword amongst the Trojans and 't is to him the fall of those lofty Towers which during ten Years defied whole Greece is entirely owing As much as Minerva is above Mars by so much a discreet and provident Valour surpasses a boisterous rash and wild Courage Therefore let us First consider the Reasons and Circumstances of this War which is to be carried on I decline no Dangers whatsoever but methinks Idomeneus you ought to let us know First whether the War you engage in be just Secondly against whom you wage it and lastly whether your Forces be such as you may reasonably hope to overcome your Enemies Idomeneus reply'd At our first landing on this Coast we found in it a savage People who liv'd in the Woods and fed upon what they kill'd in Hunting and the Mast of Trees they were frighted at the fight of our
Servitude as his only Refuge Formerly I would have chosen Death in Sicily to avoid Slavery but my first Misfortunes were only the weak Essays of Fortunes Injustice Now I tremble lest I should not be receiv'd among Slaves O Gods See my Calamity O Hazael remember Minos whose Wisdom you admire and who will judge us both in the Kingdom of Pluto Hazael looking upon me with Kindness and Compassion put forth his Hand and rais'd me up I am not ignorant said he of the Wisdom and Virtue of Ulysses Mentor has often told me of the Glory he has acquir'd among the Greeks and besides Fame has not been wanting to spread his Name over all the Nations of the East Follow me thou Son of Ulysses I will be your Father till you find him who gave you Life But tho' I were not mov'd with the Glory of your Father his Misfortunes and your own yet the Friendship I have for Mentor would engage me to take care of you 'T is true I bought him as a Slave but I keep him as a faithful Friend the Mony he cost has acquir'd me the dearest and most valuable Friend that I have in the World In him I have found Wisdom I owe all the Love I have for Virtue to his Instructions From this Moment he is free and you shall be so too I ask nothing of either but your Heart In an Instant I pass'd from the bitterest Grief to the most lively Joy that Men can feel I saw my self deliver'd from the worst of Dangers I was drawing near to my Country I had found One to assist me in my Return I had the Pleasure of being with a Man who lov'd me already for the sake of Virtue in Word I found every thing in finding Mentor and that which endear'd my good Fortune to me was that I feared not to lose him again In the mean time Hazael advanc'd to the Shoar we follow'd we Imbark'd with him our Oars cut the yielding Waters the Zephyrs plaid in our Sails gave Life and easie Motion to the Ship the Island of Cyprus soon disappear'd Hazael impatient to know my Sentiments ask'd me what I thought of the Manners of that Island I told him ingenuously to what Dangers my Youth had been expos'd and the Combat I had suffer'd within me He was tenderly mov'd with my abhorrence of Vice and said these Words O Venus I acknowledge your Power and that of your Son I have burnt Incense upon your Altars But give me leave to detest the infamous dissolution of the Inhabitants of your Island and the brutal Impudence with which they celebrate your Festivals After this he discours'd with Mentor of that first Being which form'd the Heavens and the Earth of that pure infinite and unchangeable Light which is communicated to all without any Diminution of that supreme and universal Truth which enlightens the Spiritual World as the Sun enlightens the Corporeal He who has never seen this Light said he is as blind as one born without Sight he passes his Life in a dismal Night like that of those Regions where the Sun never shines for many Months of the Year he thinks himself Wise and is a Fool he fancies he sees all and sees nothing he Dies without seeing any thing at most he perceives only false and obscure Flashes vain Shadows Phantoms that have no real Being Of this kind are all those who are carried away by sensual Pleasures and the Inchantments of Imagination There are no true Men upon the Earth but those who consult love and obey this eternal Reason 'T is she that inspires us when we think well 'T is she that reproves us when we think ill Our Reason as well as our Life is her Gift She is as a vest Ocean of Light the Reason of Men is like little Rivulets emaning from her which return and lose themselves in her again Tho' I did not yet throughly comprehend the Wisdom of this Discourse I tasted nevertheless something in it so Pure and so Sublime that my Heart grew warm and Truth seem'd to shine in all these Words They continued to speak of the Original of the Gods of the Hero's of the Poets of the Golden Age of the Deluge of the first Histories of the World of the River of Oblivion into which the Souls of the Dead are plung'd of the eternal Punishments prepar'd for the Impious in the dark Gulph of Tartarus and of that happy Tranquility which the Just enjoy in the Elysian Fields without any apprehensions of Change During this Conversation we saw great numbers of Dolphins cover'd with Scales that seem'd to be of Gold and Azure They play'd in the Sea and lash'd the Floods into a Foam After them came the Tritons sounding their wreathed Trumpets made of Shells They surrounded the Chariot of Amphitrite that was drawn by Sea-Horses whiter than Snow They cut the Briny Sea and left vast Furrows behind them Their Eyes darted Fire and Smoak issued from their Nostrils The Chariot of the God-dess was a Shell of a wonderful Figure 't was more white than the finest Ivory and the Wheels were all of Gold This Chariot seem'd to fly upon the surface of the Waters A Troop of Nymphs came Swimming behind the Chariot Their lovely Hair hung loose upon their Shoulders floating at the Pleasure of the Winds The Goddess had in one Hand a golden Scepter with which she commanded the Waves With the other she held upon her Knee the little God Palemon her Son who hung upon her Breast Her Face was so bright and so majestick that the black Tempests and all the seditious Winds fled from before her The Tritons guided the Horses and held the golden Reins A large Sail of the richest Purple hung floating in the Air above the Chariot a Multitude of little Zephyrs hover'd about it and labour'd to fill it with their Breath In the midst of the Air Eolus appear'd diligent restless and vehement his stern and wrinkled Face his menacing Voice his Eye-brows hanging down to his Beard his Eyes full of a dim and austere Fire dispers'd the Clouds and kept the fierce Aquilons silent The vast Whales and all the Monsters of the Sea came out of their profound Grotto's to gaze upon the Goddess and with their Nostrils made the briny Waters ebb and flow After we had admir'd this wonderful Sight we began to discover the Mountains of Creet tho' yet we could hardly distinguish them from the Clouds of Heaven and flowings of the Sea Then we saw the summet of Mount Ida which rises above all other Mountains of the Island as an antient Stag carries his branching Head above the young Fawns that follow him in the Forest By degrees we saw more distinctly the Coast of the Island representing the form of an Amphitheater as we found the Lands in Cyprus neglected and uncultivated so those of Creet appear'd plentifully cover'd with all manner of Fruits by the Industry of the Inhabitants On all sides we
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
beyond what Fame proclaims about it whereupon he began thus The River Betis runs through a fruitful Land and under a temper'd and ever-serene Sky The Country has its Name from the River which discharges its Waters into the great Ocean near the famous Pillars of Hercules and about that Place where the furious Sea breaking thro' its Banks divided heretofore the Land of Tarsis from Great Africa This Country seems to have preserv'd the Delights of the Golden Age here Winters are Luke-warm and the fierce Northern Winds never rage in it the scorching Heat of the Summer is ever allay'd by refreshing Zephires which fan the sweltry Air towards Noon so that the whole Year is but a happy Hymen betwixt Spring and Autumn which seem ever to go Hand in Hand The Land both in the Vallies and the Plains yields every Year a double Harvest the Hills are over-spread with numerous Flocks of Sheep whose fine Wool is a choice Commodity among all Nations of the known World There are a great many Mines of Gold and Silver in that happy Country but its rude Inhabitants contented and happy with their Plainness disdain to count Gold or Silver among their Riches and only value what is really necessary to answer the Wants of Humane Nature When we first began to Trade with that Nation we found Gold and Silver employ'd among them about the same uses as Iron as for example for Plow-shares c. As they had no outward Trade so they wanted no Coin most of them are either Shepherds or Husband-men Artificers and Tradesmen are but few in this Country for they only tolerate those Arts which procure the Necessaries of Life and besides tho' most of the Inhabitants either follow Agriculture or the tending of Herds and Flocks yet they are skill'd in those Arts which are serviceable for the support of their plain and frugal way of living The Women spin that silky Wool I told you of and make extraordinary fine and white Stuffs they bake Bread dress Victuals and all those Labours are easie to them for in this Country their ordinary Food is Fruit and Milk out of the Leather of their Sheep they make thin Shoes for themselves their Husbands and their Children they make Tents some of waxed Skins and others of Barks of Trees they wash the Cloaths keep the Houses in order and sweet and clean to admiration and make Garments for all the Family those Garments are easily made for in this sweet and happy Climate they only wear a thin and light Piece of Stuff neither cut nor sow'd and which for Modesty's sake every one laps about his Body in long folds and in what form he pleases The Men besides Husbandry and the tending of the Herds and Flocks have no other Arts to exercise but the Working and Fashioning of Wood and Iron and even in 〈◊〉 they seldom make any use of Fire unless it be for Tools necessary for Husbandry All those Arts which belong to Architecture are altogether useless to them for they never build Houses it argues say they too great a Fondness for the Earth the building a Dwelling upon it much more lasting than one self it is sufficient to have a Shelner against the Injuries of the Air. As for all other Arts so much 〈◊〉 among the Grecians the AEgyptains and other civiliz'd Nations they abhor and detest them as the Inventions of Pride and Effeminacy When they hear of Nations that have the skill of raising magnificent Buildings and can make Gold and Silver houshold Goods Stuffs adorn'd with Imbroidery and precious Stones exquisite Perfumes delicious and dainty Dishes of Meat and Instruments of Musick whose Harmony inchants the Soul they answer in these words Those Nations are unhappy thus to have bestow'd so much Time Labour and Industry upon the corrupting of themselves those Superfluities soften intoxicate and torment the Possessors of them and tempt those that are depriv'd of them to acquire them by Injustice and Violence And how can that be called a Good which serves only to make Men wicked The Men of those Countries are they more sound strong and robust than we Do they live longer And are they better united among themselves Is there Life more free from Cares more peaceful and more jovial and merry Nay on the contrary they must needs be jealous of one another devour'd by shameful and black Envy ever disquieted and tortur'd by Ambition Fears and Avarice and incapable of enjoying plain unmixt and solid Pleasures since they are Slaves to so many sham Necessaries on which they make all their Felicity depend Thus 't is continued Adoam that these wise Men speak who owe all their Wisdom to their diligent Study of Nature they have an abhorrence for our Politeness and it must be confest that theirs has something great in their admirable Plainness they live all together without dividing the Land every Family is govern'd by its Chief who is real King of it the Father of the Family has the power to punish any of his Children of Grand-children that commits a Fault but before he inflicts the Punishment he advises with the rest of the Family 'T is rare indeed that there is any Punishment for the Innocence of Manners Truth Honesty Integrity Obedience and Abhorrence of Vice dwell in this happy Place and it seems as if Astrea who is said to have retir'd into Heaven lies yet conceal'd here among these People There is no need of Judges amongst them for their own Consciences Judge'em All their Goods are in Common the Fruits of the Trees the Grain Pulse of the Earth the Milk of the Herds are so abounding that a People so Sober and so Moderate have no occasion to divide 'em each moving fancily in this happy Countrey carry their Tents from one Place to another when they have eaten up the Pasturage and consum'd the Fruits of that part whence they come so that it is not their Interest to maintain one against t'other and if they all love one another with a brotherly Love which nothing can interrupt 't is the contempt of vain Riches and of deceitful Pleasures which confirm 'em in this Peace Union and Liberty They are all free and all equal and there is no other difference among 'em than that alone which the Experience of the Grave old Men or the extraordinary Wisdom of some young Men makes who being accomplish'd in all Virtue equal the old Men The cruel Outcrys of Fraud Violence Perjury Law-suits and Wars are never heard in this Countrey cherish'd by the Gods No human Blood ever stain'd this Land no not so much as the Blood of innocent Lambs When they hear of bloody Battels devouring Conquests of the overthrow of States which are frequent in all other Nations they are Amaz'd What say they are not Men subject enough to Mortality without percipitating one another to Death Life that is so short seems to them too long Are they sent here upon Earth to tear one another in
Pieces and so make themselves mutually Miserable Nor cou'd these People of Betica imagin why those Conquerors who subjugate great Empires shou'd be so much admir'd What a Folly 't is said they for a Man to place his Happiness in governing other Men the government of whom is so very troublesome if they are govern'd by reason and according to Justice But how can he take Pleasure in governing them against their Wills 'T is all that a wise Man ought to do to submit himself to govern a docile People of whom the Gods have given him Charge or a People who entrent him to be as a Father or Shepherd to 'em but to govern a People against their Will is to make himself most Miserable to gain a false Honour for kiiping them in Slavery A Conqueror is a Man whom the Gods irritated against Mankind have sent upon the Earth in their Wrath to lay Kingdoms wast spread Terrours Misery and Despair every where and to make as many Slaves as there are free Men. Is it not Glory enough to a Man that thirsts after Fame to rule those with Prudence whom the Gods have put under him Do's he think that he is not worthy of Praise unless he becomes Violent Unjust Insulting an Usurper and Tyrannick over all his Neighbours War shou'd never be thought on but for the defence of Liberty He is happy who being a Slave to no Man has not the vain Ambition to make another Man his Slave Those mighty Conquerors whom they represent to us with so much Glory are like those overflowing Rivers which appear Majestick but destroy those fertile Countrys which they shou'd only refresh After Adoam had given this Description of Betica Telemachus charm'd with his Relation ask'd him several particular Questions Do these People said he drink Wine They are so far from Drinking it reply'd Adoam that they never car'd to make any not that they want Grapes since no Country whatever produces more delicious but they are satisfi'd with eating Grapes as they do other Fruits for they dread Wine as the Corrupter of Mankind 'T is a kind of Poyson say they which makes 'em Mad it does not kill a Man indeed but it makes him a Beast Men may preserve their Health without Wine whose effect is to destroy good Manners Then said Telemachus I wou'd fain know what Laws are observ'd in Marriages in this Nation No Man replied Adoam can have more than one Wife whom he must keep as long as she lives The Honour of the Men in this Country depends as much on their Fidelity to their Wives as the Honour of the Wives depends in other Countries on their Fidelity to their Husbands Never were People so Honest and so jealous of their Chastity the Wives here are Beautiful and Agreeable but Plain Modest and Laborious their Marriages are Peaceable Fruitful and without Blemish the Husband and Wife seem to be but one Person in Two different Bodies the Husband and the Wife share the Cares of domestick Affairs together the Husband manages all the Concerns abroad the Wife keeps close to her Business at home she Comforts her Husband and seems to be made for nothing else but to please him she gains his Confidence and contributes less by her Beauty than her Virtue to heighten the Charms of their Society which lasts as long as they live The Sobriety Temperance and the Purity of Manners of these People give 'em a long Life and free from Diseases here are Men of an Hundred and of an Hundred and twenty Years Old who yet are Fresh and Vigorous I wou'd know now said Telemachus how they do to avoid going to War with other People their Neighbours Nature continued Adoam has separated them from other People on one side by the Sea and on the other side by high Mountains On the other hand the neighbouring Nations respect 'em for the sake of their Virtue Several times the other People falling out among themselves have made these Judges of their Differences and have entrusted the Lands and Towns for which they disputed with them As this wise Nation has never committed any Violence no Body distrusts ' em They Laugh when they hear of Kings who can't govern the Frontiers of their Estates among themselves Is it to be fear'd say they that Men shou'd want Lands There will ever be more than they can cultivate as long there remains free Lands we wou'd not so much as defend our own against our Neighbours who wou'd take 'em from us nor Envy nor Pride nor Falshood nor a Desire of enlarging their Dominions was ever known among the Inhabitants of Betica so that their Neighbours never have occasion to fear such a People nor can ever hope to make them fear it which is the reason that they never molest 'em These People wou'd sooner forsake their Country or wou'd deliver themselves up to Death than submit themselves to Slavery Thus they are as difficult to be Enslav'd as itis for them to desire to Enslave others 'T is that causes so profound a Peace between them and their Neighbours Adoam ended this Discourse with an Account of the menner of Traffick between the Phaenicians and those of Betica These People Pursu'd he were amaz'd when they saw strange Men come from so far on the Waves of the Sea They receiv'd us very kindly and gave us part of all that they had without taking any payment for it they offer'd us all that was left of their Wooll after they had sufficiently provided for their own use and indeed sent us a rich Present of it 'T is a Pleasure to them to give their overplus liberally to Strangers As for their Mines it was no manner of trouble at all to have parted with 'em to us they made no advantage of 'em they fancy'd Men were not overwise to search with so much Pains in the Bowels of the Earth what cou'd not make 'em happy nor satisfy true Necessity Do not dig said they to us so deep into the Earth content your selves with Ploughing and Tilling it it will afford you real Goods that will nourish you you will reap Fruits from it that are more valuble than Gold and Silver since Men desire neither Gold nor Silver only to purchase Necessaries to support Life We wou'd often have taught 'em Navigation and have carry'd the young Men of their Country into Phaenicia but they wou'd never consent that their Children shou'd learn to Live after our manner They wou'd learn said they to us to have occasion for all those Things that are meerly necessary to us they wou'd have 'em and they wou'd forsake Virtue to gain them they wou'd grow like a Man who has good Legs and who having lost the custom of Walking brings himself at last to the sad necessity of being always carry'd like a sick Man Indeed they admire Navigation because it is an industrious Art but they believe it is pernicious If those People say they have sufficient of what is
are deriv'd his Kingdom is exhausted of Mony and Men and the loss of these is the greatest and the most irreparable His despotick Power makes as many Slaves as he has Subjects they all seem to adore him whereas they only tremble at his dreadful Looks But see what will happen at the least Revolution this monstrous Power scrued up to a violent Excess can hold out no longer she finds no Supplies in the Affections of the People she has wearied and provok'd all the different Ranks of Men in his State and by that means forces every Member of that Body to sigh with equal earnestness after a Change At the very first blow which is made at her the Idol is thrown down and trampled under Foot Contempt Hatred Fear Resentment Distrust in a word all the Passions unite themselves against so odious an Authority The King who during his vain Prosperity could find no Man that durst speak the Truth to him shall not find in his Misfortune any one Man that will either excuse his Follies or defend him against his Enemies These and the like Discourses of Mentor having prevail'd upon Idomeneus he presently distributed the waste Lands among the useless Artificers and put in execution what had been resolv'd before And now the Fields which had long been o're-spread with Briars and Thorns begin to promise plentiful Harvests and Fruits till then unknown The Earth opens her Bosom to receive the cutting Plow-share and prepares her Riches to recompence the Labour of the Husband-man Hope revives and smiles on every side You might see both in the Vallies and on the Hills numerous Flocks of Sheep skipping and bleeting on the Grafs and great Herds of larger Cattle which make the high Mountains resound with their Bellowings Those Flocks and Herds fatten in the Fields and Meadows 't is Mentor who has found the way to procure them by advising Idomeneus to exchange with the neighbouring Nations all the superfluous Things which are now prohibited in Salenta for those Sheep Cows and Oxen which the Salentines wanted At the same time both the Cities and Villages round about were full of fine sprightly Youths who for a long time had languish'd in Misery and were afraid to marry lest they should aggravate their Woes But when they saw that Idomeneus began to embrace Sentiments of Humanity and was willing to become their Father they were no more afraid of Hunger nor of the other Plagues with which Heaven afflicts Mankind There were heard every where great Shoutings for Joy the Shepherds and Plow-men celebrated the Hymeneal Pleasures in their rural Songs so that one would have thought that the God Pan with a Chorus of Satrys Fauns and Nymphs danc'd to the soft sound of the Flute in the Shady Woods All was peaceful and smiling but 't was a moderate Joy and as those Pleasures serv'd obly to allay the Hardships of daily Labour so they were more quick and more sensible The Old Men surpriz'd to see what they did not so much as hope for during the long series of their Years wept through an excess of Joy mixt with Tenderness and lifting up their trembling Hands towards Heaven Bless said they Bless Oh! great Jupiter the King who resembles thee and is the greatest King thou ever madest As he is born for the good of Mankind return him all the good we receive from him Our Great-grand-sons sprung from those happy Marriages which he encourages shall be indebted to him even for their very Brith and he will truly be the Father of all his Subjects The young Men and Maidens who married together exprest their mutual Joys in singing the Praises of him who was the Fountain of those Joys ' every Mouth every Heart were continually fill'd with his Praises The sight of him was accounted a great Happiness his absence a Misfortune and the losing of him had been the Desolation of all Families Thereupon Idomeneus confest to Mentor that he never felt so trus and sensible a Pleasure as that of being belov'd and making so many People happy I could not said he have believ'd what I now see I thought all the Greatness of Princes consisted only in making themselves to be fear'd that the rest of Mankind were all made for them And I look'd upon it as a meer Fable whatever I had heard of those Kings who were the Delight and Darlings of their People I now find the Truth of it but I must relate to you how from my tenderest Infancy my Mind was intoxicated with the Authority of Kings which was the cause of all the Misfortunes of my Life Protesilaus who is something older than my self was of all others the young Man whom I lov'd most his lively and bold Temper suited with my Inclinations he insinuated himself into my Pleasures and Diversions flatter'd all my Passions and gave me a distrust of another young Man whom I loved also and whose Name was Philocles This Philocles fear'd the Gods and had a great Soul but full of Moderation He placed Greatness not in raising but in conquering himself and doing nothing that 's Base and Ungenerous He told me of my Faults with freedom and even when he durst not speak to me his very Looks and sed Countenance gave me susficiently to understand what he had a mind to reproach me with I was well enough pleas'd at first with his Sincerity and I often assur'd him that I would ever hear him in Confidence as long as I liv'd To secure me against Flatteries he told me all I ought to do to tread in the Footsteps of Minos and to make my Subjects happy his Wisdom was not so deep as yours Oh Mento but I now find by degrees that his Maxims were good The cunning Insinuations of Protesilaus who was Jealous and full of Ambition gave me a disgust for Philocles Philocles being indifferent and free from towring Thoughts suffer'd the other to get the Ascendant and contented himself with telling me the Truth when I was willing to hear it for 't was my Good and not my Fortune that he sought Protesilaus made me insensibly believe that Philocles was a morose and proud Censurer of all my Actions who ask'd no Favours of me because his Pride would not suffer him to be beholden to me and that he courted the Reputation of one that is above all Honours that I was able to bestow He added that he spoke as freely about my Faults with other People as he did with my self that he gave sufficiently to understand what a small Esteem he had for me and that his lessening my Reputation was a Design to open himself a Way to the Throne by the shew of a rigid Virtue At first I was unwilling to think that Philocles design'd to usurp my Crown for there is a certain Candour and Ingenuity in true Virtue which cannot be counterfeited and which cannot be mistaken if consider'd with attention Yet I begun to grow wary of Philocles's Obstinacy in condemning my Weakness
wise and good Men as much as by the Gods whom I had offended I continu'd during this whole Siege of Troy without help without hope or any Thing to ease my Pain Excessively tormented in a desert and savage Island where nothing was to be heard but the noise of Billows breaking upon the Rocks In this Retirement I found a hollow Cave within a Rock which pointed with a double Head towards the Heavens and afforded a clear and pleasant Spring This Cave was the usual retreat of wild Beasts to whose Fury I was expos'd Night and Day My Bed was of Leaves which I had gather'd together All my Utensils were a Wooden-box coursely wrought and some tattered Cloaths with which I bound up my Wound to stop the Blood and which I used likewise to clean it In this Place forsaken of Mankind and delivered over to the Anger of the Gods I spent my solitary Hours in darting the Pigeons and other Birds that flew about the Rock And when I had kill'd any to satisfie my Hunger I was forc'd to crawl along the Ground with extremity of Pain to take up my Prey and with my own Hands to dress it at a Fire I had lighted with a Flint for the Provisions which the Greeks had left me did not last long This solitary Life dreadful as 't was had seem'd pleasant in so much as it remov'd me from the Company of base and deceitful Mankind if I had not been quite overcome with the extremity of my Pain and the continual remembrance of my last sad Adventure How said I to entice a Man from his Native Country as the only Person that was capable to revenge the Qrarrel of Greece and then to leave him in a desert Island asleep for so I was when the Greeks went away And you may judge of my Surprize when I awak'd how I wept when I saw their Fleet plough the Deep Looking about on all hands I found nothing but Sorrow in this horrid and desent Island where there are neither Harbour Commerce nor Hospitality nor any that land but who are driven upon it by Storm You can hope for no Company but by Shipwrack and even such durst not carry me along with them being afraid both of the Anger of the Gods and of the Greeks Thus ten Years did I suffer Pain and Hunger feeding a Wound which devour'd me so that Hope it self was quite extinguish'd in my Breast One day having been in quest of Medicinal Plants for my Wound on a sudden I perceiv'd in my Cave a young Man handsome of a graceful but haughty Meen and heroick Stature Methought I saw Achilles so much did he resemble him in his Features Look and Gate only the difference of Age made me understand it could not be he I obsev'd in his Countenance both Pity and Confusion He was mov'd with Compassion to see with what trouble and slowness I crawl'd along My piercing and doleful Scrieks which made all the Echo's along the Coast to ring melted his very Heart Seeing him at a distance O Stranger said I what Misfortune has brought thee into this Island I know that Grecian Habit still so dear to me O how I long to hear thy Voice and that Language that drops from thy Lips which I learn'd in my Childhood and for so long a time never could talk to any in this Desart Be not afraid at the sight of so miserable a Creature whom thou ought'st rather to pity Neoptolemus had hardly pronounced these words I am a Greek when I cry'd out O sweet Word after so many Years of Silence and Sorrow O my Son what Misfortune What Storm or rather what favourable Wind has brought thee hither to put an end to my Misery He answer'd I am of the Island of Sciros whither I am returning they say I am the Son of Achilles thou know'st whether it be so or not So short an Account did not satisfie my Curiosity O Son said I of a Father whom I so much lov'd the dear Charge of Lycomedes How camest thou hither and from whence He answer'd me That he came from the Siege of Troy Thou were not said I in the first Expedition Then said he where wert thou I answer'd him I see thou art ignorant both of the Name and Misfortunes of Philoctetes Alass how unhappy am I my Persecutors insult over me in my Affliction It encreases my Sorrow to think that Greece is ignorant of that which I suffer The Atrides have brought me into this Condition and may the Gods repay them Afterwards I gave him an Account how the Greeks had left me As soon as he had heard the Relation of my Misfortunes he thus began his own After the death of Achilles said be immediatly I stopt him What! Achilles dead Pardon me my Son if I interrupt your Relation with the Tears I owe your Father Neoptolemus answers In so doing you oblige me How I am pleas'd to see Philoctetes bewail my Father and thus he proceeded After the death of Achilles Ulysses and Phenix sought me out assuring me that without me they could not overthrow the City of Troy 'T was no hard task to persuade me to follow them in this famous War in which my Grief for the death of Achilles and a desire to inherit his Glory did naturally engage me I no sooner arriv'd at the Camp than the Army gather'd round about me every one could have swore that he had seen Achilles but alass he was no more Young and without Experience I could promise my self any thing from those who had bestow'd on me such large Commendations Immediately I demanded of the Atrides my Father's Armour to which they made me this barbarous Reply Thou shalt have all that belong'd to thy Father except his Armour which are destin'd for Ulysses At this I fell into a most extravagant Passion my Grief and Anger knew no Bounds but Ulysses calmly told me Young Man thou hast had no share in the Perils of this long Siege and so cannot deserve such a Reward thou begin'st too soon to talk haughtily rest satisfy'd thou shalt never have the Armour of Achilles Thus rob'd unjustly by Ulysses I return'd to the Isle of Sciros less incens'd against him than the Atrides O Philoctetes I shall say no more but may the Gods always befriend their Enemies Then I ask'd him how it came that Telemonian Ajax did not hinder such a Piece of Injustice He is dead answer'd he Dead said I and Ulysses lives and prospers Then I ask'd him News of Antilochus the Son of sage Nestor and Patrocles the Favorite of Achilles they are dead too said he Then I cry'd out alas What do'st thou tell me Cruel War it seems mows down the Good and lets the Bad stand Ulysses lives and Thersytes likewise no doubt Is this the Justice of the Gods And must we still continue to praise them Whilest I fell out in this Passion against your Father Neoptolemus continu'd to deceive me and added these
left his Country voluntarily exiling himself and died Poor in a strange Land by this means to oblige his People always to observe these useful Laws according to their Oath That other Prince thou seest is the eleventh King of the Pylians and one of the Ancestors of wise Nestor When the Earth was ravag'd by a Pestilence which cover'd the Banks of Acheron with a multitude of new Ghosts he requested of the Gods that they would suffer him to appease their Anger in satisfying by his Death for so many Thousands of innocent Men. The Gods heard his Petition and gave him here a royal Grandeur in comparison of which all the Pomps of the Earth are but so many vain Shadows That old Man whom thou seest crown'd with Flowers is the famous Belus he reigned in Egypt and married Anchinoe the Daughter of the God Nilus who hides the source of his Streams and enriches the Countries which he Waters by his fruitful Inundations he had two Sons Danaus of whose History thou art not Ignorant and Egyptus who gives his Name to that considerable Kingdom Belus thought himself Richer by the Prosperity he gave his People and the love his Subjects bare to him than by all the Tributes he could have exacted of ' em These Men my Son whom thou supposest to be dead are alive and that Life which Men lead amidst many Miseries on Earth is no better than Death only the Names of Things are chang'd May it please the Gods to render thee Vertuous enough to merit this blessed Life which nothing can ever either end or disturb Haste away 't is time to go and seek thy Father before thou shalt find him alass how much Blood-shed shalt thou see But yet what Glory waits for thee in the Fields of Hesperia Remember the Counsels of the wise Mentor if thou follow'st them thy Name shall be great among the Nations and in all Ages Having said this he presently conducted Telemachus toward the Gate of Ivory which leads out of the gloomy Empire of Pluto Telemachus parted from him with Tears in his Eyes without being able to embrace him Being come out of these dark Regions he made what haste he could to return to the Camp of the Allies after he had again joyn'd the two young Cretans on the Way who had accompanied him very near the Cavern and had lost their hope of ever seeing him again In the mean time the chief Commanders of the Army met together to deliberate whether they should possess themselves of Venusia It was an old Fort which Adrastus had heretofore usurp'd upon his Neighbours the Appulians These were enter'd into the Confederacy against him to demand Satisfaction for this piece of Injustice Adrastus to appease 'em had put this City by way of Caution into the Hands of the Lucanians but had by Money corrupted both the Lucanian Garrison and the Person that Commanded it so that the ' Lucanians had in reality no more Authority than he in Venusia And thus the Appulians who had consented that the Lucanian Garrison should keep Venusia were trick'd in this Negotiation A Citizen of Venusia nam'd Demophantes had made a private Offer to the Allies to deliver up one of the Gates of the City in the Night This Advantage was so much the greater in that Adrastus had sent all the Ammunition and Provisions to a Castle near Venusia which could not defend it self if Venusia were taken Philoctetes and Nestor had already given their Opinion that such a happy Opportunity ought to be improv'd all the Principal Commanders sway'd by their Authority and attracted by the Advantage of so easie an Enterprize Applauded their Sentiment But Telemachus at his Return made his utmost Efforts to divert 'em from it I am not Ignorant said he that if ever any Man deserv'd to be surpriz'd and deceiv'd Adrastus does who has so often dealt fraudulently with every body else I see very well that in Venusia you 'l only put your selves in possession of a City that belongs to you since it pertains to the Appulians who are one of our Confederate Parties I confess you may do it with the better colour of Justice in as much as Adrastus who has put this City as a Pledge in the Hands of others has Corrupted the Commander and the Garrison that he may enter it when he thinks fit In fine I understand as well as you that if you take Venusia you 'l the next Day be Masters of the Castle where all Adrastus his Provisions are laid up and so may end this so formidable a War in two Days time But is it not much better to Perish than Conquer by such means as these Is Fraud to be repell'd by Fraud Shall it be said that so many Kings who enter'd into a Confederacy to punish the Impious Adrastus for his Guile are become fraudulent like him If'tis lawful for us to do as Adrastus has done he is not Guilty and we are to be blam'd to go about to punish him What has all Hesperia which is supported by so many Greek Colonies and by so many Hero 's return'd from the Siege of Troy Has Hesperia no other Arms against the Perfidiousness and Perjury of Adrastus than the practice of the same Vices You have sworn by the most sacred Things that you would leave Venusia in Trust in the Hands of the Lucanians The Lucanian Garrison you say is Corrupted with Adrastus his Money I believe it as well as you but this Garrison is paid by the Lucanians and has not refus'd to obey 'em it has kept at least in appearance a Neutrality Neither Adrastus nor any of his Men have ever enter'd into Venusia the Treaty subsists your Oath is not forgotten by the Gods shall we not keep the Promises we have given but only when we want plausible pretexts to violate ' em Shall we not be faithful and religiously regard our Oaths but only when there is nothing to be got in breaking them If the Love of Virtue and the Fear of the Gods don't move you be concern'd at least for your Reputation and for your Interest If you shew the World this pernicious Example of violating your Faith and breaking your Oaths to terminate a War what Wars will you not stir up by your Impious Conduct Which of your Neighbours will not find themselves constrain'd to be jealous of you on all occasions and utterly to detest you Who will for the future confide in you in the most pressing Exigencies What Security will you be able to give if you should have a mind to be sincere and when it would be of great Consequence to you to perswade your Neighbours of your sincerity Shall it be a solemn Treaty when you have trampled such a one under your Feet Shall it be an Oath when it is known you make no account of the Gods if you have any hope of gaining an Advantage by Perjury Peace will give no more Security in respect of you than War all that
that the Earth is too large for 'em all that you must have Neighbours and 't is best to have such as are oblig'd to you for their Establishment Be mov'd with the Misfortune of a King who cannot return into his own Country Polydamas and he being united together by the Bands of Justice and Virtue which are the only durable ones will preserve you in profound Peace and render you formidable to all the neighbouring Nations that may think of aggrandizing themselves You see O Daunians that we have given you and your Nation a King capable of advancing its Glory to the Skies Do you also give a Piece of Ground that is useless to you seeing we ask it at your hands to a Prince who is worthy of all kind of Relief The Daunians reply'd that they could refuse nothing to Telemachus since it was he that had procur'd Polydamas to be their King And they immediately went to seek for him in his solitary Dwelling to make him Reign over ' em Before they went they gave the fertile Plains of Arpos to Diomedes for him to found a new Kingdom there The Allies were extremely pleas'd with it because this Colony of Greeks would considerably fortifie the Confederate Party if ever the Daunians should endeavour to renew the Usurpations of which Adrastus gave 'em so ill an Example Telemachus with Teass in his Eyes took his leave of 'em together with his Company after he had tenderly embrac'd the valiant Diomedes the wise and inconsolable Nestor and the famous Philoctetes the worthy Possessor of the Arrows of Hercules The brave Son of Ulysses long'd with impatience to see Mentor again at Salentum and to embark with him for Ithaca where he hop'd his Father might by this time be arriv'd When he approach'd Salentum he was amaz'd to see the Country round which he had left almost quite uncultivated and desert manur'd like a fine Garden and fill'd with industrious Labourers he knew this must be the work of Mentor When he enter'd the City he observ'd there were fewer Artificers for Luxury and the Pleasures of Life and to make a great appearance of Magnificence Telemachus was choaked at this for he naturally lov'd all things that carried Pomp and Politeness with them But his Mind was soon possess'd with other Thoughts He saw at a distance Idomeneus coming toward him with Mentor this instantly mov'd his Heart with Joy and Tenderness And notwithstanding all the Success he had had in the War against Adrastus he was afraid lest Mentor should not be well pleas'd with him and as he advanc'd he examin'd his Eyes to see if he could read nothing in 'em that might occasion him to reproach himself First Idomeneus embrac'd Telemachus as his own Son after which Telemachus threw himself about Mentor's Neck and wetted him with his Tears Says Mentor to him I am well pleas'd with you you have committed great Faults but they have serv'd to make you know your self and to give you a diffidence in your own Performances Men often derive more Advantage from their Defects than from their great Actions for these swell the Mind and inspire it it with a dangerous Presumption whereas a Man's Faults make him recollect himself and restore him that Prudence which he had lost in the time of his good Successes That which remains for you to do is to Praise the Gods and not to desire the Praises of Men your self you have done great Things but confess the Truth 't is scarce your self that have done 'em Did they not enter like something Adventitious that was infus'd into you And were you not capable of spoiling all by your too great Temerity and Imprudence Do you not find that Minerva has as it were transform'd you into another Man above your self to perform by you that which you have done She has held all your desects in suspense as Neptune does when he appeases the Tempests and suspends the irritated Waves While Idomeneus was speaking to the 〈◊〉 who were return'd from the War Telemachus listen'd to the wise Counsels of Mentor After which he look'd on every side with Astonishment and said what a Change do I see the reason of which I cannot comprehend Is some Calamity befallen Salentum during my absence Whence is it that that Magnificence that reign'd in every part of it at my departure is not discernible at present I see here neither Gold nor Silver nor precious Stones The Habit of the People is plain and the Buildings that are Erecting are not so magnificent and full of Ornaments the Arts languish here and the City is become a Desert Says Mentor smiling upon him Have you observ'd the Conditions of the Country round about this City Yes reply'd Telemachus I see Husbandry is in Repute every where and the Fields are clear'd and manur'd Which is best added Mentor a City Proud and Magnificent with abundance of Gold and Silver with the Country round it neglected and barren or a City mean in its Ornaments and modest in its Manners with Fields about it cultivated and fruitful A great City of Artificers employ'd in soft Arts which corrupt the Manners of Men by engaging them in a luxurious Course of Life when 't is surrounded with a Kingdom that is poor and ill cultivated is like a Monster whose Head is of an extravagant Size and whose whole Body is extremely thin and depriv'd of Nourishment so that it bears no proportion to that Head 'T is the number of People and plenty of Provisions in which the true Strength and true Riches of a Kingdom consists Idomeneus has now a People innumerable and indesatigable in Labour who fill the whole Extent of his Country His whole Country is as it were but one entire City Salentum is only the Center of it the more the People multiply the more are the Fruits of Earth multiplied by their Labour this so sweet and peaceable Multiplication augments his Kingdom more than a Conquest Only those superfluous Arts are rejected in this City which divert the Poor from seeking the supply of their real Wants from the Earth and corrupt the Rich by casting 'em into a state of Pride and Softness Thus Idomeneus is much more powerful than he was when you so much admired his Magnificence That dazzling Splendor hid under it a Weakness and Misery which would soon have overturn'd his Empire now he has a greater number of Men he provides for 'em more easily these Men who are accustom'd to Labour and Toil and to a generous contempt of Life by the Love they bear to good Laws are always ready to Fight to defend those Lands which their own Hands have Cultivated This State which you suppose under a declension will soon become the Wonder of Hesperia Remember O Telemachus that two Things are very pernicious in the Government of Nations and sacrce ever admit a Remedy The first is an unjust and too violent Authority in Kings the other is Luxury which corrupts the Manners of