MERGE TO GYRENE. 
567 
dismissed them in haste, expressing his apprehension that they 
would corrupt the opinions of the Roman people *. 
Cyrene appears to have not long survived the introduction of 
Christianity into Northern Africa; for we find it described as— a 
mass of ruin — by Synesius, who lived in the time of Theodosius the 
younger. It is probable, that when the bishopric was transferred to 
Ptolemais, this once beautiful city no longer existed ; and it is 
certain that the remains of Christian churches at Mersa Suza and 
Ptolemeta, (the Apollonia and Ptolemais of antiquity,) are superior 
in every respect to those which are found at Cyrene, and apparently 
of much more recent construction. 
In returning from Cyrene to Bengazi, we proceeded by a different 
route from that which w'e had taken in approaching it ; and passed 
through a country rich in vegetation, and producing abundance of 
grain ; in which we observed frequent traces of building, particularly 
on the elevated spots of ground. 
At Jenain, about two hours distance from Cyrene, we found two 
* Many pointed observations are recorded of Aristippus the elder, who appears to 
have possessed a very lively wit. He asked a certain person, who reproached him for 
having given a sumptuous entertainment — whether he would not have been equally 
hospitable if it would only have cost him three oboli ? When the other replied in the 
affirmative, Aristippus observed, “ It is you then, I find, who are fond of money, and not 
I of pleasure.” Dionysius once sent him three beautiful women, from which the philo- 
sopher was desired to select whichever pleased him most ; but Aristippus retained them all 
three; observing that “ Paris had greatly suffered by preferring one goddess to another.” 
When someone inquired what Aristippus would expect for the education of his son, 
he answered five hundred drachmas. “ I can buy a slave,” replied the other, “ foi that 
money.” “ Do so,” said Aristippus, “ and then you will have two.” 
