33 



person out of passion or caprice; or give judgment, in 

 any case, otherwise than as the law ordained. This admi- 

 rable constitution, and most of the privileges of the peo- 

 ple, remained under the Grecian race of monarclis; many 

 of -whom were wise and beneficent kings, and consulted 

 tlie happiness of their subjects, in every particular; and 

 especially in the encouragement of knowledge, commerce, 

 and the arts. Even the Avorst and Aveakest princes of this 

 dynasty, were munificent and liberal to learned men and 

 artists; and invited men of talents, from all parts, by the 

 most splendid rewards; formed magnificent collections of 

 books, paintings, and sculptures; and themselves excelled 

 in learning, and many of the arts they patronized.* Thus. 

 VOL. X. E we 



* Athenaeus relates of Ptolemy, who was nick-named Physcon, from his 

 corpulence, and Cacergetes, from his cruelty, that every species of art and 

 science vas cherished and taught, in Egypt, in his time. This prince, having 

 ■^ut to death a great number of the citizens of Alexandria, and banished 

 ochers, who were attached to his brother, from whom he had usurped the 

 crown, filled his dominions with grammarians, philosophers, geometricians, 

 musicians, schoolmasters, and other persons, capable of perfecting the arts; 

 who, having no other subsistence than the fruits of their labour and diligence, 

 contributed greatly to the propagation of knowledge, and refinements, and 

 the love of the arts. The father of Cleopatra, and last of the Ptolemies, 

 derived the name of Auletes, or the Flute-player, from his excessive attach- 

 ment to that instrument. Strabo says of him, that, besides his debaucheiies, 

 he applied himself, in a particular manner, to playing on the flute. He had 

 such an opinion of his abilities, that he instituted musical contests at his pa- 

 lace, where he disputed the prize with the first musicians of his time. AikI 

 as the dress of players on the flute, among the ancients, was something pe- 

 culiar to the profession, he submitted to wear the buskins,' and even the 



bandage 



