skirmish between mice and
frogs (like that which Pigres, Artemisia's fellow countryman, merrily
and scoffingly related in a poem), and it had been agreed to
fight silently, lest they should be heard by others; and that the
Lacedaemonians excelled not the barbarians in valor, but only got the
better, as fighting against naked and unarmed men. To wit, when Xerxes
himself was present, the barbarians were with much difficulty compelled
by scourges to fight with the Greeks; but at Plataea, having taken other
resolutions, as Herodotus says, "they were no way inferior in courage
and strength; but their garments being without armor was prejudicial to
them, since being naked they fought against a completely armed enemy."
What then is there left great and memorable to the Grecians of those
fights, if the Lacedaemonians fought with unarmed men, and the other
Greeks, though present, were ignorant of the battle; if empty monuments
are set up everywhere, and tripods and altars full of lying inscriptions
are placed before the gods; if, lastly, Herodotus only knows the truth,
and all others that give any account of the Greeks have been deceived
by the fame of those glorious actions, as the effect of an admirable
prowess? But he is an acute writer, his style is pleasant, there is a
certain grace, force, and elegancy in his narrations; and he has, like a
musician, elaborated his discourse, though not knowingly, still clearly
and elegantly. These things delight, please, and affect all men. But
as in roses we must beware of the venomous flies called cantharides; so
must we take heed of the calumnies and envy lying hid under smooth and
well-couched phrases and expressions, lest we imprudently entertain
absurd and false opinions of the most excellent and greatest cities and
men of Greece.

END OF SIXTEEN-----------

INDEX.

Abuse of and by one's enemies.

Achelous, myths of the.

Achilles, Homer's lessons from.

Achilles's Grove.

Acrotatus, saying of.

Actaeon, tragic history of.

Actors, tragic vs. comic.

Administration, caution about.

Admonitions, on hearing.

Adrastea, root of madness.

Adultery and curiosity compared.

Advantage from enemies.

Aeantis, chorus of tribe.

Aegyptus, Nile formerly called.

[Greek],

Aemilii, tyrants called.

Aemilius, Paulus.

Aenianes, the.

Aeschines the Academic, Life of; quoted.

Aeschylus, verses of; quoted; paraphrase of Homer by.

Aesculapius, temple of.