difficult to break; and their arms, though much more ponderous than before, felt much lighter, because they took greater delight in carrying them, from their splendour and beauty; and for this reason they panted to try them, and to see them imbrued in the blood of their enemies.

It must be confessed that Philopemen, in what light soever we view him, is a great captain, and a noble pattern for the imitation of all who embrace a military life. I cannot too strongly exhort young officers and noblemen, to study diligently so perfect a model, and to imitate him in all those things in which he is imitable by them. Our young noblemen are full of courage, sentiments of honour, love of their country, and zeal for their prince. The war which broke out so suddenly in Europe, and to which they fly with incredible ardour, is a convincing proof of this, and especially their behaviour in Italy and on the Rhine. They have fire, vivacity, genius, and do not want talents and qualities capable of raising them to whatever is greatest: but then they sometimes want a manly and vigorous education, which alone can form great men in every kind. Our manners being unhappily turned, through a taste which prevails almost universally, towards effeminacy, pleasures, and luxury, the admiration of things trifling in themselves, and a fondness for false splendour, enervate our courage in our most tender years, and blunt the edge of that valor of ancient Gaul, which was once natural to us.

Were the youth among our nobility educated like Philopemen, so far, I mean, as is consistent with our manners; were they to imbibe, in their early years, an

inclination for studies of a solid kind, such as philosophy, history, and polity; were they to propose as models for their imitation, the many illustrious generals which the last age produced; were they to put themselves under the discipline of those who are now the ornament and glory of our nation; and would they once duly consider, that true greatness does not consist in surpassing others merely in pomp and profusion, but in distinguishing themselves by solid merit; in fine, were they to make it their delight and glory to perfect themselves in the military knowledge; to study it in all its parts, and acquire the true scope and design of it, without omitting any of the means, which conduce to their perfection in it; how illustrious a set of officers, commanders, and heroes, would France produce! One single man inspired the breast of the Acheans with this ardour and emulation. How much were it to be wished; and why should we not wish it? that some one of our princes, great in all things, in valor as well as birth, would revive in our armies this taste of the ancients, for simplicity, frugality, and generosity; and direct the taste of the French nation to things truly beautiful, solid and just! All conquests would be infinitely short of such a glory.

SECTION VI.

EXPEDITIONS OF PHILIP AND SULPITIUS.

A DIGRESSION OF

POLYBIUS, UPON SIGNALS MADE BY FIRE.

"We have already said, that Sulpitius the proconsul, and king Attalus, had continued in winter quarters at Egina. As soon as spring appeared, they had quitted them, and sailed to Lemnos with their fleets, which together amounted to sixty gallics. Philip, on the other side, that he might be able to oppose the enemy, either by sea or land, advanced towards Demetrias, whither the ambassadors of the allies came from all parts to implore his aid, in the imminent danger to which they were exposed. Philip gave them a favourable reception, and promised to furnish them with such succours, as the present juncture, and the neces sity of their affairs, might require. He kept his promise, and sent bodies of soldiers into different places, to secure them from the attacks of the enemy. He repaired to Scotusa, and made his troops march thither from Larissa, which lies very near it, and then returned to Demetrias; and in order to give seasonable succour to such of his allies as should be attacked, he fixed signals in Phocis, Eubea, and in the little island of Peparethos; and placed, in that part where he lay, on Tiseum, a very lofty mountain of Thessaly, men to observe them, that he might have speedy notice of the enemy's march, and of the places he might design to attack. I shall explain those signals hereafter.

A. M. 3797. Ant. J. C. 207. Polyb. L x. p. 612-614. Liv. I. xxviii. n. 5-8.

The proconsul, and king Attalus, advanced towards Eubea, and laid siege to Orea, one of its chief cities. It was defended by two castles, strongly fortified, and was able to hold out a long time; but Piator, who commanded it under Philip, surrendered it treacher ously to the besiegers. He had purposely made the signals too late, that Philip might not have an opportunity of succouring it. But the same did not happen to Chalcis, which Sulpitius besieged immediately after the taking of Orea. The signals were made very seasonably there; and the commander, deaf and inaccessible to the offers of the proconsul, prepared for a stout defence. Sulpitius perceived that he had made an imprudent attempt, and was so wise as to desist immediately from it. The city was strongly fortified in itself; and, besides, situated on the Euripus, that famous strait," in which the sea does not ebb and flow seven times every day, at fixed and stated hours, as, says Livy, is commonly reported; but irregularly, whilst the waves roll on all sides with so much impetuosity, that they seem like torrents falling precipitately from the mountains; so that ships can never ride there in safety.

Attalus besieged Opuntus, a city situated not far from the seaside, among the Locrians, in Achaia. Philip advanced with incredible diligence to its aid,

Haud alia infestior classi statio est. Nam et venti ab utriusque terræ præaltis montibus subiti ac procellosi se dejiciunt, et fretum ipsum Euripi, non septies die, sicut fama fert, temporibus statis reciprocat ; sed temere, in modum venti nunc huc nunc illuc verso mari, velut monte præcipiti devolutus torrens rapitur. Ita nec nocte, nec die,. quies navibus datur. Liv.

having marched upwards of sixty miles in one day." The city had been just taken before he arrived at it; and he might have surprised Attalus, who was employed in plundering the place, had not the latter, the instant he heard of his approach, retired with great precipitation. However, Philip pursued him to the seaside.

Attalus having retired to Orea, and received advice there, that Prusias, king of Bithynia, had entered his territories, he returned towards Asia, and Sulpitius to the island Egina. Philip, after having taken some small cities, and frustrated the project of Machanidas, the Spartan tyrant, who designed to attack the people of Elis, who were employed in preparing for the solemnization of the Olympic games; he repaired to the assembly of the Acheans, which was held at Egium, where he expected to find the Carthaginian fleet, and to join it with his own; but advice being brought, that the ships of the Romans and king Attalus were sailed away, his did the same.

Philip was truly grieved to find, that though he employed the utmost diligence in all his projects, he always came too late to put them in execution; fortune, would he say, taking a pleasure in bereaving him of every opportunity, and in frustrating all his incursions and expeditions. However, he concealed his uneasiness from the assembly, and spoke with an air of confidence and resolution. Having called the

w So Livy has it; which is certainly a prodigious day's march for an army.

* Philippus marebat et angebatur, cum ad omnia ipse raptim isset, nulli tamen se, rei in tempore occurrisse; et rapientem omnia ex oculis elusisse celeritatem suam fortuna m. Liv.