204 A HISTORY OF 



nature. Strength is not hereditary, although titles are : and I am very 

 much induced to believe that this great tribe of heroes, who were all 

 represented as the descendants of heroes, are more obliged to theii 

 titles than to their strength for their characters. With regard to the 

 shining characters in Homer, they are all represented as princes, and 

 as the sons of princes, while we are told of scarce any share of prowess 

 in the meaner men of the army, who are only brought into the field 

 for these to protect or to slaughter. But nothing can be more unlikely, 

 than that those men who were bred in the luxury of courts, should be 

 strong, while the whole body of the people, who receive a plainer and 

 simpler education, should be comparatively weak. Nothing can be 

 more contrary to the general laws of nature, than that all the sons of 

 heroes should thus inherit not only the kingdoms, but the* strength of 

 their forefathers ; and we may conclude, that they owe the greatest 

 share of their imputed strength rather to the dignity of their stations 

 than the force of their arms ; and, like all fortunate princes, their 

 flatterers happened to be believed. In latter ages, indeed, we have 

 some accounts of amazing strength, which we can have no reason to 

 doubt of. But in these, nature is found to pursue her ordinary course, 

 and we find their strength accidental. We find these strong men 

 among the lowest of the people, and gradually rising into notice, as 

 this superiority had more opportunity of being seen. Of this number 

 xvas the Roman tribune, who went by the name of the second Achilles, 

 who, with his own hand, is said to have killed, at different times, three 

 hundred of the enemy ; and when treacherously set upon, by twenty- 

 five of his own countrymen, although then past his sixtieth year, killed 

 fourteen of them before he was slain. Of this number was Milo, who, 

 when he stood upright, could not be forced out of his place. Pliny 

 also tells us of one Athanatus, who walked across the stage at Rome, 

 loaded with a breastplate weighing five hundred pounds, and buskins 

 of the same weight. But of all the prodigies of strength, of whom 

 we have any accounts in Roman history, Maximin, the emporor, is to 

 be reckoned the foremost. Whatever we are told relative to him is 

 well attested ; his character was too exalted not to be thoroughly 

 known ; and that very strength for which he was celebrated, at last 

 procured him no less a reward than the empire of the world. Maxi 

 min was above nine feet in height, and the best proportioned man in 

 the whole empire. He was by birth a Thracian ; and, from being a 

 simple herdsman, rose through the gradations of office, until he came 

 lo be emperor of Rome. The first opportunity he had of exerting 

 his strength, was in the presence of all the citizens, in the theatre, 

 tvneie he overthrew twelve of the strongest men in wrestling, and 

 outstript two of the fleetest horses in running, all in one day. He 

 could draw a chariot loaden, that two strong horses could not move ; 

 he could break a horse's jaw with a blow of his fist ; and its thigh 

 with a kick. In war he was always foremost and invincible : happy 

 had it been for him and his subjects, if, from being formidable to his 

 enemies, he had not become still more so to his subjects; he reigned 

 for some time with all the world his enemy ; all mankind wishing him 

 dead, yet none daring to strike the blow. As if fortune had reso ved 

 ..hat through life ho should continue unconquerable, he was Killo<l at 



