[ 20 |] . 
the world, where the women might not have had, at fome : 
period or other, a fimilar opportunity for encroachment ; neither 
does it appear very probable that they fhould have made fuch 
extraordinary terms with the conquering Athenians, fince we- 
know, from the experience of all ages, that conquerors are not 
apt to accept of terms from the women of the vanquifhed. It 
is indeed difficult to believe that the ladies would have hazarded, 
or even thought on, fo ftrange a propofition, unlefs we fhould 
fuppofe fome pre-exifling peculiarity in their manners, and in 
the ancient cuftoms of their country, which might induce them 
to propofe fuch wonderful terms, and encourage them with the 
hope that, if obtained, their men would comply; and this fup- 
pofition will bring us back to the early eftablifhment of the 
Lycian ufage, which, having poffibly grown into difufe in a ; 
long courfe of ages, may have been renewed upon this occafion, 
when the ladies found themfelves ftrong enough, with the 
affiftance of the conquerors, to reaffume that ancient fuperiority, 
which, though for a time they might have been compelled to 
yield, it is highly probable they would never forget; and indeed 
there is fome reafon to fuppofe, from the filence of hiftorians, 
that the cuftom may not have been always permanent in the 
ifland, but may have occafionally ceafed, and been renewed from 
time to time. 
