[ ^7 ] 



own hands, in a manner uncommonly favage. Whatever may have 

 been the provocations of the prince and his family, and great they 

 certainly v^^ere, the narrative, wrhile it gives a ftriking pidure of 

 ferocity, fhews that the poet viewed it with approbation. The 

 paffage is too long and too horrid to be quoted here ; the reader 

 will find it in the twenty fecond book of the Odyffey. 



Not to refort to the doubtful hiftory of the fabulous and heroic 

 times, confider the moft dignified period of Grecian ftory, when 

 refinement and arts were in their zenith, and you will find the 

 records of this people crowded with examples of fanguinary cruelty. 

 In the Peloponnejian war, the garrifon of Platen, a town which 

 had deferved fo well of Greece, were, after a noble defence, delibe- 

 rately brought forth by the Spartans and their allies, and put to 

 death, one by one, in cold blood*. Quarter has been too often 

 refufed, in the heat of battle, by all people, antient and modern, 

 but the Greeks generally murdered their prifoners of war, when 

 all refiftance was paft, and they wanted the excufe of pafiion to 

 palliate their cruelty. Thus, when Mitykne had furrendered on 

 terms, the Athenians, in a full afi!embly of the people, and on 

 debate, condemned all the males in the city (notwithftanding the 

 capitulation) to death, and all the females to flavery. This decree 

 was revoked, it is true, on a fecond debate, but it was the uncom- 

 mon diligence alone of thofe who conveyed the revocation, and 

 performed their journey with aftonifhing celerity, that prevented 

 its execution, However, all thofe prifoners who had been fent to 

 Vol. VI. (C) Temdos, 



* Thucydides. 



