THE Cretans, from very early times, have had the misfortune to be stigmatised as a vicious nation. Their character for falsehood in particular was so firmly established, as to become a proverb; so that, to play the Cretan was another phrase to signify lying. With this vice especially, and with some others, they were reproached by Epimenides, one of their own countrymen. And though ancient history has not left us a large account of them, we may yet collect enough to understand that his character of them was at least as good as they got from the rest of the world. The common saying, that was current in the world respecting them, joined the Cretans with the Cilicians and the Cappadocians (the names beginning all with the same letter), and pronounced them to be the three worst people existing. What it might be that entitled the Cappadocians to such a distinction I know not; but the Cilicians were a villanous tribe, who were situated on the southern shores of Asia Minor, and infested all that part of the Mediterranean with their piracies. Polybius has related some thing more specific of the Cretan manners. "Their laws (says he) allow them to possess land to an unlimited extent; and they count it to be not only a necessary, but a most honourable acquisition to get as much as they can. În short, sordid avarice is so general and inherent there, that, of all mankind, the Cretans are the only people who think no gain whatever to be disgraceful." The same author describes another part of their character in these terms: "The Cretans, for ambushes on land or sea, for attacks by night, and for any thing of stratagem, are superior to all others; but for a set battle, face to face, they have neither courage nor steadiness. In all those qualities the Achæans and the Macedonians are directly opposite to them."

The evidence of Epimenides against the Cretans is cited by St. Paul; and his manner of doing so renders it double: for to the words of Epimenides he adds, this witness is true. We may therefore rely upon it that he had acquaintance enough JUNE, 1823.

with their character to warrant him in joining his testimony to that of the Cretan sage.

Whether or no the commentators have brought forward any historical facts to corroborate St. Paul's statement, I am not sufficiently conversant with them to say; but this I will venture to assert, that the story to be detailed in these pages from the history of Polybius, confirms the Cretan character for falsehood, treachery, and deliberate wickedness, beyond any other upon record.

INTRODUCTION.

To render the following story intelligible, it is necessary to premise a few circumstances relating to the persons engaged in it, and the state of the country in which it happened.

Seleucus the younger succeeded his father, of the same name, in that extensive portion of Alexander's conquests, then denominated the kingdom of Syria, which included some considerable provinces on the western side of Mount Taurus. Soon after his accession, he marched with a large army against Attalus, King of Pergamus, who, a few years before, had invaded and possessed himself of those provinces. But while he was upon his march he was treacherously murdered; the command of the expedition then fell to his near relation, by name Achæus; whose conduct was so able and successful, that the troops proposed to make him king. This for the present he refused, acknowledging as his sovereign, Antiochus, the next brother of Seleucus: but, not long after, having regained all that Attalus had taken, and reduced that monarch to extremity, and having beside subdued all the country around, he assumed the royal title and diadem; and still continuing to govern with great ability and energy, his alliance was courted by divers states, and he was esteemed the most formidable potentate of Asia Minor. Meanwhile, Antiochus had no leisure to disturb him; for he was employed in putting down a rebellion in a different part of his dominions, and otherwise engaged in a war with Ptolomy Philopator, 2 U

King of Egypt: but having, after some time, extinguished the first, and made peace with the latter, he turned his arms against Achæus, and pressed him so hard, that he was constrained to shut himself up in Sardes, his capital, where Antiochus closely besieged him. The citadel of Sardes, which stood upon a high rock, was impregnable; the city itself was very strong; but this was taken by surprize in the second year of the siege; and it deserves to be told how the wily sagacity of a Cretan (one who served in the army of Antiochus) led to the capture. A part of the city wall stood just above a lofty precipice, at the bottom of which was a great pit or hollow; here the besieged used to cast their offal, and throw down the carcases of their horses, and other dead beasts, so that the place was continually haunted by vultures and birds of prey. This man then observed, that the birds, after feeding, always mounted to the top of the precipice, or the wall, and sat there undisturbed; from whence he concluded for certain, that no guard could be stationed thereabout. Antiochus, acting upon the informa❤ tion of this Cretan, entered the town from that quarter, and took it by assault. Achæus, however, still held out in the citadel, which was not to be reduced, except by famine: but the blockade had continued more than a twelvemonth, and was still obstinately carried on.

Under these circumstances, Ptolomy, King of Egypt, became anxious for the personal safety of Achæus, who had been his ally: and the ensuing fragment of Polybius is a narrative of the attempt which he made to extricate him, and the event.

There was a native of Crete, named Bolis, who had long resided as an officer in the court of Ptolomy. He was intelligent, bold, and for military practice and experience esteemed equal to the best. Sosibius (Ptolomy's chief minister) having held many discourses with this man, and finding him well disposed to wards himself, and ready to be employed on any service, informs him that there was nothing by which he could at that time gratify the King so much, as by devising some means to save Achæus. Hereupon Bolis

promised to consider what was proposed, and departed. After two or three days' deliberation, he returns to Sosibius, and engages to undertake the business; saying, that he had been a considerable time in Sardes, and was well acquainted with all the place: and also, that Cambylus, the commander of the Cretan troops in the service of Antiochus, was not only his fellow-citizen, but his rela tion and friend. Now it happened that Cambylus, and the Cretans under his command, were entrusted with the care of a port which lay just beneath the citadel: and the nature of the place being such, that they could not erect any works to secure it, they kept a con stant guard upon the spot. Sosibius readily embraced the proposal, believing that, if it were possible to rescue Achæus from his situation, no man could perform it so well as Bolis, who manifested such an alacrity for the undertaking. It was, therefore, presently resolved upon; and that nothing might be wanting, Sosibius advanced money, and also made great promises in case of suc cess: moreover, enlarging upon the favour which Bolis would obtain both from the King, and Achæus when delivered; so that he was incited to entertain the highest hopes. And now being ready, he set sail without delay; taking confidential letters to Nicomachus at Rhodes, (who bore towards Achæus the affection of a father) and likewise to Melancomas at Ephesus. These were the men by whom Achæus used to communicate with Ptolomy, and whom he employed in all his other foreign correspondence. Bolis, hav, ing found them willing to assist in the project, sends forward one Arian, a man under his command, to Cambylus, informing him that he was sent out from Alexandria to enlist a number of foreign troops; and that he was desirous of conferring with Cambylus upon some necessary matters: that for this purpose he wished to meet him privately, at some time and place appointed.

Cambylus did not hesitate to comply with his request: he appointed a place well known to them both, and engaged to repair thither by night; and, with this answer, Arian was sent back. In the meanwhile,

Bolis, being, like a Cretan, of an unsteady and crafty nature, turned the whole affair over again in his mind, considering it in every circumstance and shape: the result was, that, having met Cambylus, according to the appointment, he produced his commission and instructions; which being laid between them, they held a consultation, after the Cretan fashion: that is, they did not deliberate upon saving the person who was in danger, nor upon performing the promise made to their employers; but how they might, with security, best turn the thing to their own profit and being both Cretans, they soon came to an agreement; which was, first, to divide the money (ten talents) advanced by Sosibius, between themselves: next, to disclose the matter to Antiochus; and, if they could obtain his concurrence, to promise to deliver Achæus into his hands; on condition, however, of a present reward, and future expectations, such as so extraordinary a service merited. This being settled, Cambylus undertook to treat with Antiochus, and Bolis engaged to send Arian to Achæus, with a token, and letters from Nicomachus and Melancomas. Cambylus again was to take care that Arian should pass safely to and from the citadel; and, if Achæus approved of the scheme offered him, and gave answers to Nicomachus and Melancomas, then Bolis was to step in and conduct the business. Their parts being thus arranged, they separated, and began to act. And, first, Cambylus laid the affair before the King. Antiochus was overjoyed at a proposal so agreeable and so unexpected, and readily promised all that they asked of him yet he was not without some doubt, till having inquired circumstantially into their plan and measures, he, at last, gave them full credit-thought that Providence itself concurred in the design, and repeatedly intreated Cambylus to accomplish it. Bolis, likewise, performed his part with Nicomachus and Melancomas, who, believing that he was sincere, immediately gave to Arian letters for Achæus, advising him to trust Bolis and Cambylus. These letters were in their usual cipher, and so written, that if they fell into the hands of a stranger,

he would not understand them. Arian, by means of Cambylus, got into the citadel, and delivered the letters: and, as he had witnessed the business from the beginning, he gave a particular and accurate account of the whole. He was often and strictly examined respecting Sosibius and Bolis, and again respecting Nicomachus and Melancomas, but especially respecting Cambylus; and he answered sincerely and openly; which he might well do, as he knew nothing of the agreement that Bolis and Cambylus had made in secret. Achæus trusting to the replies of Arian, but much more to the communications from Nicomachus and Melancomas, immediately sent back Arian with an answer; and this correspondence was repeated more than once. In conclusion, Achæus, having no other hope of safety, resolved to follow the advice of Nicomachus; and desired him to send Bolis and Arian in some night, when there was no moon, and he would put himself into their hands. This letter was received by Melancomas, who thereupon directed Bolis to proceed, making him great promises in case of success. He accordingly had another private consultation with Cambylus; and that was, how to take Achæus alive, if possible; for upon that circumstance depended a great part of their expectation from Antiochus. This then was the arrangement they made. When Achæus came out, Arian was to go foremost, because he knew the path, having gone by it several times in passing to and from the citadel; and Bolis was to keep behind the rest, that when they came to the spot where Cambylus placed his ambush, he might lay hold on Achæus, lest in the tumult and darkness he should escape' into the woods; or throw himself down some precipice, and so not be taken alive, as they intended. This being settled, Cambylus that same night introduced Bolis to Antiochus, who received him graciously, and gave him full assurance of what he had promised; and earnestly intreated them both not to delay their undertaking. They then returned to their quarter; and, towards the morning, Bolis, taking Arian with him, went up to the citadel, and entered while it was yet dark. There

he was received with the greatest kindness by Achæus; who questioned him at much length upon every circumstance of his engagement; and, perceiving him, both by his appearance and discourse, to be a person fully capable, he was one while overjoyed at the hopes of saving himself, but again terrified to a degree of agony at the view of what might befal him. Being then a man of excellent understanding, and much experience in the world, his determination was not to rely on Bolis entirely. He therefore told him, that, for the present, it was impossible for himself to leave the citadel; but that he would send out with him three or four friends, and when they were come to Melancomas, that he himself would be ready. In this Achæus did as much as possible but he did not recollect, that, according to the proverb, he was acting the Cretan against a Cretan: for the sagacity of Bolis perceived what must be meant under this pretence. When the night arrived, in which he said he should send out his friends, he dismissed Bolis and Arian first, to the entrance of the citadel, with orders to wait there for those who were to accompany them out. While they did so in obedience to his commands, he communicated his plan to his wife: and, having staid some little time to comfort and soothe her-for she was distracted by the suddenness of the information-he took four companions, whom he clothed as persons of a middle rank, but drest himself as a common man, in a coarse and ordinary garment. To one of those companions, he gave directions that he alone should answer, if Arian or Bolis asked any questions; and also be the person to make inquiries, if necessary; and should say that the rest were barbarians. When they had joined Arian, he led the way, as being acquainted with it; and Bolis, according to his plan, stationed himself in the rear; but not without feeling some doubt and perplexity. For though he was a Cretan, and ready to suspect any thing against his neighbour, yet now, because of the darkness, he was at a loss respecting Achæus, being unable not only to discover which he was, but even to perceive whether or no he was in the company.

A

The path by which they were descending was for the most part steep and difficult to walk upon, with some slippery and dangerous passes. As often then as they came to such a place, some would help Achæus down, others received him from their hands (for they could not entirely forbear showing him their accustomed respect, even at that season): by this Bolis quickly perceived which of them was Achæus. When they came near the place which Cambylus had appointed, Bolis gave the signal by a whistle; the men in wait rose up and laid hold of the rest, Bolis himself seizing Achæus, while he had his hands within his clothes; for he was afraid lest he should dispatch himself with a sword he had about him. Being then surrounded on all sides, he fell into the hands of his enemies, and was, together with his friends, directly brought to Antiochus. That monarch had begun to entertain doubts of the enterprise, and anxiously expected the result. He had dismissed his company, and was sitting awake in his tent, attended only by two or three of his body guard. When Cambylus and his party entered and laid down Achæus in bonds on the ground before him, he was struck dumb at the sudden sight, and after keeping silence for some time burst into tears. He was moved to this, in my opinion, at beholding the inevitable and strange reverses of fortune. For Achæus was the son of Andromachus, the brother of Laodice, Selcucus's Queen; he had himself married Laodice, the daughter of King Mithridates, and he was lord of all the country west of mount Taurus. In that same hour, when both his own troops, and the adversary, thought him posted in the securest fortress in the world, he was sitting bound on the earth, in the hands of his enemies; while no one yet knew what had happened, but those who were engaged in his capture.

At break of day the King's friend s assembled as usual in his tent; and were not less affected than the King had been, by the spectacle which was there exposed to their view; wondering at what had occurred, and hardly believing their sight. A council being called, there was much debate on the punishment that Achæus