EGYPT. 



371 



History, jo Egypt, Ptolemy sent a messenger to demand the ar- 

 m ~Y~**' rears. But indeed the tribute of Phojnicia and the neigh- 

 bouring provinces had also been neglected, and a sum- 

 mons was every where issued requiring payment of the 

 debt. Deputies arrived from various places to obtain an 

 accommodation ; but Joseph, the nephew of the Jewish 

 high priest, discovered so much integrity and unaffected 

 plainness of dealing on his mission, that he not only ob- 

 tained the most favourable terms for his country ; but 

 was also entrusted with the power of levying the tribute 

 from all the adjoining provinces. 



Ptolemy had raised the kingdom of Egypt to a very 

 commanding heighth of power; for, besides his immense 

 influence by land, he was powerful at sea, and had ex- 

 tended his conquests to the straits of Babelmandel. His 

 assistance was requested by the members of the Achaean 

 league ; but Aratus having formed a connection with 

 Antigonus of Macedon, Ptolemy was offended, and lent 

 his aid to Cleomenes king of Sparta. But his new ally 

 being defeated and overthrown in the battle of Sellasia, 

 fled into Egypt, and received protection. Amid the spoils 

 which Ptolemy acquired in his Eastern conquests, be- 

 sides immense sums of gold and silver ; he recovered a 

 prodigious number of statues ; gold and silver shrines 

 and images, which Cambyses had carried away from tire 

 temples and palaces of Egypt. These valuable and re- 

 vered relics Ptolemy returned to their proper places ; 

 and hence he was stiled Euergetes, or the Benefactor. 



While Ptolemy Euergetes was absent on these expe- 

 ditions, his affectionate Queen Berenice was alarmed for 

 his safety; and vowed, if he should be restored to her 

 wishes, she would consecrate her hair in the temple of 

 Zephyrium. Ptolemy returned, and the sacrifice was 

 made ; but by some accident, the consecrated hair was 

 lost. The king was offended, and the priests were in 

 danger; for the female hair was the chief ornament of 

 the Egyptian as well as the Eastern ladies; and the sa- 

 crifice had acquired an additional value, because it was 

 consecrated as a monument of Berenice's affection for her 

 lord. But the superstition of the times, and the address 

 of Conon, the celebrated mathematician of Samoa, deli- 

 vered the priesthood from their fear. In those days, 

 heroes were deified, and sometimes had a place assigned 

 them in the starry heavens ; Imt rVinan'a fancy took a 

 wilder flight, and affirmed, that the consecrated hair of 

 Berenice had been translated to the firmament, and com- 

 posed the seven stars in the tail of Leo. 



Ptolemy Philopater, whose father Euergetes died in the 

 27th year of his reign, ascended the throne of Egypt in 

 due order of succession. Toward the commencement of 

 his reign, Antiorlms, the king of Syria, attempted to wre^t 

 from the hand of Ptolemy, the eastern provinces, which 

 had so long been objects of contention. In this, however, 

 he was disappointed; and if the new king of Egypt had 

 possessed the vigour and genius of his father, he would 

 have driven Antiochus entirely out of Syria. But he 

 was deeply immersed in pleasures, and, by excesses of 

 dissipation, lost his dignity, and paved the way for re- 

 bellion at home. His queen, Arsinoe, was distinguish- 

 ed for military ardourj and having accompanied her lord 

 to the field of war, she frequently shewed her spirit, by 

 riding along the ranks, and animating the men to battle. 

 And though the armies of Ptolemy obtained several vic- 

 tories, and the kingdom of Egypt suffered no diminution 

 of extent ; yet it became feeble at home, and the present 

 reign terminated in the midst of disorders, 



Ptolemy 



IV. 



B. C. W. 



When Ptolemy was at Jerusalem, he attempted by History, 

 force to enter into the most holy place of the Jewish S< 'V'" ' 

 temple ; into which none but the high priest, and that 

 only once a year, was permitted to enter. Being for- 

 cibly prevented from accomplishing a wish, which was 

 sacrilege in the eyes of the Jews; he became frantic with 

 rage, and returned to Egypt, determined to wreak his 

 vengeance on the Jewish people, who had hitherto en- 

 joyed many indulgences in the kingdom of the Ptolemies. 

 He instantly published a decree, putting every Jew with^ 

 out the protection of the law, who should refuse to com- 

 ply with the rituals and substance of the Egyptian wor- 

 ship, and at the same time he offered protection and ho- 

 nours to those who should worship the gods of Egypt. 

 Few of them were indifferent or profane enough to for- 

 sake the religion of their country ; and his wrath rising 

 to a greater height, he resolved to extirpate the whole 

 Jewish people. 



For this cruel purpose, he commanded those of Alex- 

 andria to assemble in the Hippodrome or place of public 

 diversions ; and he collected 500 elephants for the de- 

 struction of that devoted people ; but these enraged ani- 

 mals rushed upon the crowd of spectators instead of the 

 Jews; and many who had assembled from curiosity were 

 put to death. In short, the reign of Ptolemy was alto- 

 gether feeble ; and the latter part of it unjust -and cruel. 

 The affairs of Greece were now placed in that situation, 

 that Cleomenes, the king of Sparta, conceived it to be * 

 proper time for him to return and retrieve his affairs. 

 He had continued in Egypt from the reign of the for* 

 mer king, with many professions of affection, and pro- 

 mises of aid ; but his request was now absolutely refused> 

 and he was treated with severity by the Egyptian go* 

 vernment. Frantic with disappointment, and mad with 

 despair, he attempted to instigate a rebellion in the ca- 

 pital of Egypt. Having acquired some adherents, he 

 sallied forth into the streets of Alexandria; but being 

 surrounded by the guards and soldiers, many of them 

 were slain; and those who survived^ put one another to 

 death, in order to avoid public disgrace. 



Besides his unfeeling conduct in refusing assistance to 

 Cleomenes, his reign is tarnished by many cruel acts. 

 Soon after his accession to the throne, his brother Ma- 

 gas and Berenice his mother were basely put to death. 

 His wife Arsinoe was so completely disgusted with the 

 conduct of the king and the court, that, after having tried 

 every scheme to rectify the public and private abuses, 

 she piayed that an end might be put to her existence. 

 The wicked Sosibes, who was the king's favourite, de- 

 vised means for complying with her demand; but it is 

 not to be supposed, that he durst have ventured upon 

 such a step, if he had not been well assured, that her 

 death would be acceptable to the king his master. Pto- 

 lemy Philopater sunk at last under a ruined constitution, 

 and died in the 37th year of his age. 



Ptolemy Epiphanes, the only son of the late king, . y 

 was but five years old when his father died ; and it re- jj_ ^ 2^4, 

 quired some skill, as well as bold efforts, to protect him 

 from dangerous designs, and fit him for the important 

 station which he was destined to fill. AgathoclVa at- 

 tempted, upon the death of the king, to have the ma- 

 nagement of the young prince, and the direction of pub- 

 lic affairs. For this purpose, she called to her aid her 

 brother Agathocles, and engaged their creatures and mi- 

 nions in the service; but the indignation of the people 

 was roused by so base an attempt. Agathocli'a was the 



