110 EXPEDITION INTO [Chap.XIU. 



ignorant of their power. Ever thirsting for the 

 blood of his subjects, the base dissembler could 

 stand unmoved, and blandly smile,, while he feasted 

 on the execution of his atrocious decrees ; or he 

 could assume an expression of deep sorrow at the 

 necessity which had called him to issue them. The 

 world has been scourged by monsters. Rome had 

 her Nero, the Huns their Atiia, and Syracuse her 

 Dionysius, the East has likewise produced her 

 tyrants ; but Cliaka immeasurably echpsed them 

 all. In sanguinary executions, and in refined cru- 

 elties, he outstripped all who have gone before him 

 in any country. He was a monster — a compound 

 of vice and ferocity — without one virtue to redeem 

 his name from the infamy to which history has con- 

 siorned it. 



