44 SOFRBNl AND eOPHOCLBBi 



Dymas, wno did not like W(J, bad laid upon me the most painful Usks. 

 Incessantly busy, I could not venture to steal a moment's time to muse on, 

 and bemoan ray ill fortune. Covered, with rags, lying upon the ground, 

 reduced to the most common and most insipid food, I marvel I did not 

 sink under my misfortunes. The Gods would not have it to be so. Nay 



I experienced that, if bitternes springs from the bosom of pleasures, 



contentment and comfort also arise from afflictions. I had been thirty 

 days in that condition when the feast of Jupiter drew near. What a " re- 

 collection " for me ! It is not solemnized atDaphnipolis — they celebrate 

 that of Daphne. The rites of it are almost the same. The difference 

 lies only in the choice of the messengers. They are allowed to be mar- 

 ried at Daphnipolis. Dymas was named for Artycome. While every 

 thing was preparing for his journey, Chriseis said to him (fixing her 

 magnificent eyes upon me), "That slave looks sensible— he is wise— he 

 speaks httle. But it is plainly to be perceived how much he labours un- 

 der sorrow — 1 advise you to leave him here. A melancholy slave is 

 Iways ominous to his master ; at least, it is an unpleasant object which 

 you would have before your eyes. However, as he boasts of being an 

 envoy of Jupiter, he may prove useful to you — think of it yourself." 

 Dymas replied, " It is the common custom with slaves to be proud and 

 liars ; that man has a mind to put himself forward. "Is it true, " con- 

 tinued he, turning to me, " that thou hast been honoured with the min- 

 istry I am now invested with } Take care not to add an untruth to thy 

 iother defects!" " O Dymas!" I replied, " I may not desire to impose 

 on your credulity— the Gods forbid ! Fortune may render unhappy, but 

 she cannot banish truth from ray heart ! Do you judge men by their 

 personal appearance ? Virtue does not disdain the tattered cloak of sla- 

 very. Yes," I continued, " I have been an envoy of Jupiter ; I have 



received all' the honours that will be paid to you. They were the source 

 of my distresses,— may they prove that of thy felicity !" 



These words rendered him milder : he put other questions to me — he 

 appeared satisfied with my replies, and abated something of his unkind- 

 ness, conceiving, as I opine, that I might be of service to him. Chri- 

 seis would fain have accompanied us; Dymas was against it — we went 

 awav without her, and I saw her no more. 



Arrived at Artycome, he met with the same eagerness from the inha- 

 bitants, to welcome him to their houses, that I had met with at Artycome 

 on a similar occasion. I endeavoured to banish frora my mind the recol- 

 lection of the honours that were paid to me— it was vain, however. But 

 mv meddlin"- memory continued to torment me in the same ratio as I 

 endeavoured to obliterate the most pleasurable scenes of my ministry. 



