ABYSSINIA. 253 



first proposition ; with reference to the second, he 

 replied, " I reign over men's bodies, not over their 

 opinions. I exact from my subjects obedience to the 

 government ; as to their religious doctrine, the judge 

 of that is the great Creator." 



But it came to pass that a king of the Jewish per- 

 suasion succeeded to the throne : he persecuted his 

 Christian subjects, and made war on Christian kings, 

 burning houses, men, and gospels, wherever he could 

 find them. A Christian Arab made his escape, tra- 

 velled to Constantinople, and holding up a charred 

 testament before the throne, demanded help in the 

 name of the Redeemer. The emperor at once pre- 

 pared for war, and despatched an envoy to his faith- 

 ful ally, the Negus of Abyssinia. 



The old kingdom of Ethiopia had escaped Cambyses 

 and Alexander, and had lost its independence to the 

 Ptolemies only for a time. The Romans made an 

 Abyssinian expedition with complete success, but with- 

 drew from the savage country in disdain. Ethiopia 

 was left to its own devices, which soon became of an 

 Africanizing nature. The priests kept the king shut 

 up in his palace, and when it suited their convenience, 

 sent him word in the African style, that he must be 

 tired, and that it would be good for him to sleep ; 

 upon which he migrated to the lower world, with his 

 favourite wives and slaves. But there was once a 

 king named Ergamenes, who had improved his mind 

 by the study of Greek philosophy, and who, when he 

 received the message of the priests, soon gave them a 

 proof that they were quite mistaken, and that so far 

 from being sleepy, he was wide awake. He ordered 

 them to collect in the Golden Chapel, and then, 

 marching in with his guards, he put them all to death. 



