THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 417 



pons ; others were overpowered by large bodies of men Tal- 

 lying from the thickets, and fighting them firmly foot to 

 foot. Many officers were that day flain, among the reft Al- 

 zague and Petros» two perfons of great diftindtion in the 

 palace. But the king, however afilidled for the lofs of his 

 men, well knew that this defeat would have no other con- 

 fequences ; fo returned to his capital, with refolution to 

 make another vigorous effort againft Lafta. 



The manner in which this expedition was prevented can- 

 •not but give us a high idea of Facilidas: Laeca, at the head 

 of an army of veteran troops, whofe affedlion he never had 

 occafion to doubt, thought it fafer to truil to the generofity 

 of a king, who had flain his father in battle, than to the 

 acquiring a crown that was not his, by perlevering any 

 longer in rebellion. Accordingly he furrendered himfelf, 

 without condition, to Facilidas, who immediately committed 

 him to prifon, which feeming feverity, however, meant no- 

 thing further, than to fliew him the lenity which followed 

 was entirely his own, and not fuggeficd to him by the ofl[i- 

 cioufnefs of courtiers ; for no fooner was he arrived at 

 Gondar, than he fent for Laeca from prifon, received him 

 not only kindly, but with great marks of diftinction ; and, 

 indcad of banifliing him to Wechnc^ as he did his own bro- 

 ther Claudius, and which, as being of the blood-ro^al, 

 fhould have been his delUnation likewife, the king en- 

 tered into a kind of treaty with Laeca, by which he gave 

 liim large poffelfions in ISegemder near Lafta, and married 

 him to his daughter Theoclea, by whom, however, he had no 

 children, but lived long in conftant friendfhip and confi- 

 <ience with Facilidas. 



Voi.. IL 3 G s Except 



