enemies of
Timotheus painted cities falling into his nets as he lay sleeping. For
they undoubtedly diminish the greatness and beauty of the actions, who
deny the performer of them to have done them generously, industriously,
virtuously, and by themselves.

Moreover, those who will directly speak ill of any one incur the
reproach of moroseness, rashness, and madness, unless they keep within
measure. But they who send forth calumnies obliquely, as if they were
shooting arrows out of corners, and then stepping back think to conceal
themselves by saying they do not believe what they most earnestly desire
to have believed, whilst they disclaim all malice, condemn themselves
also of farther disingenuity.

Next to these are they who with their reproaches intermix some praises,
as did Aristoxenus, who, having termed Socrates unlearned, ignorant,
and libidinous, added, Yet was he free from injustice. For, as they who
flatter artificially and craftily sometimes mingle light reprehensions
with their many and great praises, joining this liberty of speech as
a sauce to their flattery; so malice, that it may gain belief to its
accusations, adds also praise.

We might here also reckon up more notes; but these are sufficient to let
us understand the nature and manners of Herodotus.

First therefore,--beginning, as the proverb is, with Vesta,--whereas
all the Grecians affirm Io, daughter to Inachus, to have been worshipped
with divine honor by the barbarians, and by her glory to have left her
name to many seas and principal ports, and to have given a source and
original to most noble and royal families; this famous author says of
her, that she gave herself to certain Phoenician merchants, having been
not unwillingly deflowered by a mariner, and fearing lest she should be
found by her friends to be with child (Herodotus, i. 5.) And he belies
the Phoenicians as having delivered these things of her, and says that
the Persian stories testify of her being carried away by the Phoenicians
with other women. (Ibid. i. 1.) Presently after, he gives sentence on
the bravest and greatest exploits of Greece, saying that the Trojan war
was foolishly undertaken for an ill woman. For it is manifest, says he,
that had they not been willing they had never been ravished. (Ibid. i.
4.) Let us then say, that the gods also acted foolishly, in inflicting
their indignation on the Spartans for abusing the daughters of Scedasus
the Leuctrian, and in punishing