266 Flint's natural histobt. [Book XXXV. 



bore the marks of being painted, and not of being the natural 

 secretion of the animal's mouth. Yexed and tormented 

 by this dilemma, it being his wish to depict truth itself, and 

 not something that only bore a semblance of truth, he effaced 

 it again and again, changed his pencil for another, and yet by 

 no possibility could satisfy himself. At last, quite out of tem- 

 per with an art, which, in spite of him, would still obtrude 

 itself, he dashed his sponge against the vexatious spot ; when 

 behold ! the sponge replaced the colours that it had just removed, 

 exactly in accordance with his utmost wishes, and thus did 

 chance represent IN'ature in a painting. 



Following his example, Nealces,^ it is said, succeeded in 

 representing the foam at a horse's mouth ; for on one occasion^ 

 when engaged in painting a man holding in a pair of horses 

 and soothing them with his voice,* he also dashed his sponge 

 against the picture, with the view of producing a like effect. 



It was on account of this lalysus, which he was apprehen- 

 sive of destroying, that King Demetrius^ forbore to set ffre to 

 the only side of the city of lihodes by which it was capable of 

 being taken ; and thus, in his anxiety to spare a picture, did 

 he lose his only opportunity of gaining a victory. The 

 dwelling of Protogenes at this period was situate in a little 

 garden in the suburbs, or in other words, in the midst of the 

 camp of Demetrius. The combats that were taking place 

 made no difference whatever to the artist, and in no way in- 

 terrupted his proceeding with the works which he had com- 

 menced ; until at last he was summoned before the king, who 

 enquired how he could have the assurance thus to remain without 

 the walls. "Because I know," was his answer, "that you 

 are waging war with the Ehodians, and not with the arts." 

 Upon this, the king, delighted at having the opportunity of 

 protecting the hand which he had thus spared, ordered a 

 guard to be placed at his disposal for the especial purpose of 

 his protection. In order, too, that he might not distract the 

 artist's attention by sending for him too often, he would often 

 go, an enemy albeit, to pay him a visit, and, abandoning his 

 aspirations for victory, in the midst of arms and the battering 

 down of walls, would attentively examine the compositions of the 



' See Chapter 40 in this Book. 



* *' Poppyzonta." " Smacking with his lips," Somewhat similar to the 

 8— 6— s — s of our grooms and ostlers. * Poliorcetes. 



