that if they pretended to make the success of that war consist in opposing force to force, and numbers to numbers, all the Grecian nations together would never be able to equal the Persians, or to dispute the victory with them; that it was therefore necessary to point out to Greece another means of safety and preservation, whilst she was under these alarms: and that they ought to shew the whole universe, who had all their eyes upon them, what glorious things may be done, when greatness of mind is opposed to force of body, true courage and bravery against blind impetuosity, the love of liberty against tyrannical oppression, and a few disciplined veteran troops against a confused multitude, though ever so numerous. 9. These brave Lacedæmonians thought it became them, who were the choicest soldiers of the chief people of Greece, to devote themselves to certain death, in order to make the Persians sensible how difficult it is to reduce freemen to slavery; and to teach the rest of Greece, by their example, either to vanquish or to perish. The event proved the justness of such sentiments. That illustrious example of courage astonished the Persians, and gave new spirit and vigour to the Greeks. The lives then of this heroic leader and his brave troops were not thrown away, but usefully employed; and their death was attended with a double effect, more great and lasting than themselves had imagined. 10. On one hand, it was in a manner the seed of their ensuing victories, which made the Persians forever after lay aside all thoughts of attacking Greece; so that, during the seven or eight succeeding reigns, there was neither any prince, who durst entertain such a design, nor any flatterer in his court who durst propose the thing to him. On the other hand, such a signal and exemplary in、 stance of intrepidity made an indelible impression upon all the rest of the Grecians, and left a persuasion deeply rooted in their hearts, that they were able to subdue the Persians, and subvert their vast empire. Cimon was the man who made the first attempt of that kind with suc cess. Agesilaus afterwards pushed that design so far, that he made the great monarch tremble in his palace at Susa. Alexander at last accomplished it with incredible facility. He never had the least doubt, no more than the Macedonians who followed him, or the whole country of Greece that chose him general in that expedition, but that with 30,000 -men he could reduce the Persian empire, 300 Spartans having been sufficient to check the united forces of the whole east. 11. The brave will love the brave, and deep revere; Let freemen honour with a brother's tear That king of freedom and his Spartan band, Should foemen fill our country with alarms, QUESTIONS. 1. What is Thermopyle?-2. Who commanded the Grecian forces at this strait?-3. How many had he left with him to defend this strait ?-4. What reply did Leonidas make when Xerxes wrote to him to deliver up his arms?-5. How did Xerxes, with the Persians, succeed in reaching an eminence that overlooked and commanded the Spartan forces?— 6. How many of his forces remained to perish with Leonidas?-7. What did Xerxes cause to be done with the dead body of Leonidas?-8. How many men had Xerxes slain in the battle of Thermopyla? SOCRATES. He gave 1. SOCRATES, the famous Greek philosopher, was born at Athens, about 451 years before Christ. early proofs of his valour in the service of his country; but chiefly applied himself to the study of philosophy, and was a person of irresistible eloquence, and accomplished virtue. His distinguishing characteristic was a perfect tranquillity of mind, which enabled him to support, with patience, the most troublesome accidents of life. He used to beg of those with whom he usually conversed, to put him on his guard, the moment they perceived in him the first emotions of anger; and when they did so, he instantly resumed perfect composure and complacency. His wife, Xantippe, a woman of the most whimsical and provoking temper, afforded him sufficient opportunity of exercising his patience, by the revilings and abuse with which she was constantly loading him. 2. Socrates possessed, in a superior degree, the talent of reasoning. His principal employment was the instruction of youth, an object to which he directed all his care and attention. He kept, however, no fixed public school, but took every opportunity, without regarding times or places, of conveying to them his precepts, and that in the most enticing, agreeable manner. His lessons were so universally relished, that the moment he appeared, whether in the public assemblies, walks, or feasts, he was surrounded with a throng of the most illustrious scholars and hearers. The young Athenians quitted even their pleasures, to listen to the discourse of Socrates. 3. He greatly exerted himself against the power of the thirty tyrants, and in the behalf of Theramenes, whom they had condemned to death; insomuch that they became so alarmed at his behaviour, that they forbade him to instruct the Athenian youth. Soon after, an accusation was formally exhibited against him by Melitus, containing in substance "That he did not acknowledge the gods of the republic, but introduced new deities in their room;" and further, " that he corrupted the youth." He urged, in his defence, that he had assisted, as others did, at the sacrifices and solemn festivals. He denied his endeavouring to establish any new worship. He owned, indeed, he had received frequent admonitions from a divine voice, which he called his genius, that constantly attended him, and discovered to him future events; that he had often made use of this divine assistance for the service of himself and his friends; but, that if he had been thus particularly favoured by Heaven, it was owing chiefly to the regular ity of his life and conduct; and that the appprobation of the Supreme Being, which was given him as a reward for his virtue, ought not to be objected to him as his crime. 4. Then, as to the other article, wherein he was accused of corrupting the youth, and teaching them to despise the settled laws, and order of the commonwealth, he said he had no other view in his conversation with them, than to regulate their morals; that as he could not do this with any public authority, he was therefore forced to insinuate himself into their company, and to use, in a manner, the same methods to reclaim, which others did to corrupt them. 5. How far the whole charge affected him, it is not easy to determine. It is certain, that amidst so much zeal and superstition as then reigned in Athens, he never durst openly oppose the received religion, and was therefore obliged to preserve an outward show of it. But is very probable, from the discourses he frequently held with his friends, that, in his heart, he despised and laughed at their monstrous opinions, and ridiculous mysteries, as having no other foundation than the fables of the poets; and that he had attained to a notion of the one, only true God; insomuch that, upon the account of his belief of the Deity, and his exemplary life, some have thought fit to rank him with christian philosophers. And indeed his behaviour upon his trial, was more like that of a christian martyr, than of an impious pagan; where he appeared with such a composed confidence, as naturally results from innocence; and rather, as Cicero observes, as if he were to determine upon his judges, than to supplicate them as a criminal. 6. But how slight soever the proofs were against him, the faction was powerful enough to find him guilty. It was a privilege, however, granted him, to demand a mitigation of punishment-to change the condemnation of death, into banishment, imprisonment, or a fine, But he replied generously, that he would choose neither of those punishments, because that would be to acknowledge himself guilty. This answer so incensed his judges, that they determined he should drink the hemlock, a punishment, at that time, much in use among them. Thirty days were allowed him to prepare to, die; during which time, he conversed with his friends with the same evenness and serenity of mind he had ever done before. And though they had bribed the jailor for his escape, he refused it, as an ungenerous violation of the laws. He was about seventy years old/ when he suffered; which made him say, he thought himself happy to quit life, at a time when it begins to be troublesome; and that his death was rather a deliverance than a punishment. tes. 7. Cicero has described, with great elegance, the lofty sentiments and magnanimous behaviour of SocraWhile he held the fatal cup in his hand, he declared, that he considered death, not as a punishment inflicted on him, but as a help furnished him of arriving so much sooner at heaven. He gave it as his opinion, that upon the departure of our souls from our bodies, there are two passages for conducting them to the places of their eternal destination; one leading to never ending punishment, which receives those souls, that, during their residence on earth, have contaminated themselves with many great crimes; the other, leading to a state of felicity and bliss, which receives the souls of those who have lived virtuously in the world. 8. When Socrates had finished his discourse, he bathed himself. His children being then brought to him, he spoke to them a little, and then desired them to be taken away. The hour appointed for drinking the hemlock being come, they brought him the cup, which he received without any emotion, and then addressed a prayer to heaven. It is highly reasonable, said he, to offer my prayers to the Supreme Being on this occasion, and to beseech him to render my departure from earth, and my last journey, happy. Then he drank of the poison with amazing tranquillity. Observing his friends, in this fatal moment, weeping, and dissolved in tears, he reproved them with great mildness, asking them, whether their virtue had deserted them; "for," added he, "I have always heard, that it is our duty calmly to |