Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-06-13

was received with great friendship and high
hsnors bythesovereign OF Persia, who assign
etto him the revenues of three rich cities to
ind him In bread, meat and wine. But
pthemistocles was still Greek at heart, and
pmei for the mountains and vallics of Atti-
ca. fie could not, in snch temper of mind,
Garry on war against Athens, and either poi
isaned himself or died broken-hearted. His
bones were conveyed home by the Athenians,
who erected a splendid monument to his
memory.
Aristides, who has been called the lust,
was chiefly distinguished for his rigid probity
aai temperance. He shrunk before the
mastery genius of Thcmistocles, who occa-
Sfoped his Punishment. He was, however,
'recNIed, took part in the Persian war, and
disdhg oshed, himself at the battle of Platea,
where he held command in conjunction with
Pausanias.s~ He died poor, was buried at the
public expence, and, in consideration Of the
tather'svirtue and their indulgence, his daugh-
ters, when manageable, received dowry
from the purse of the republic.
Nicias was general of much courage and
experience, but of fearful understanding,
slow, and indecisive. It was he he who,
Contrary to his own advice and will, had the
direction of the expedition against Sicily, in
concert with Demosthenes, another general,
who, we are to observe, was not the great
orator of that name. They both persisted
by the hands of the hangman, contrary to
the law of nations and the faith of treaties.
+ Conon was an Athenian naval commander,
who obtained celebray by his successes and
his misfortunes.
) Brasidas, Gylippus, and Callicratidas ex-
hibited considerable talents and effected
great things OH the part of the Lacedemoni-
ans: but Lysander eclipsed them all: He.
covered his country with glory by his sue
cesses. He was arrogant and fond of praise
but valiant in battle and subtle in council
he aimed at absolute power, but never
could completely attain it, and finally fell in
Combat with the Haliartians, who attacked
him by surprize. The spoils of Athens even
tually avenged her misfortunes upon her
victorious rival. They were for Sparta the
empoisoned tinic of Nessus; for the riches
which Lysander introduced into the bosom
of his country paved the way for the destruc-
ton of the Lacedemonians.
The reader who is curious to go more at
large into the history Of the illustrious men
who were particularly distinguished among
the Greeks, may resort to the entertaining
biography OF Plutarch: But I must not al
together omit the story of Xenophon and the
wonderful retreat of the ten thousand. This
is an action, the most celebrated of its kind
that history has transmitted to us. The
young Cyrus, brother of Artaxerxes Nine
monSkipg of Persia, commanded in the
WESTERN provinces Of that empire in Asia
Minor. -tmpelied by blind and culpable
apbition5 ne replted against his sovereign
and parstkd upon Babylon at the head of
100000 Baroarjans and of $4,000 Greeks,
with intention of dethroning his brother:
ne latter met him at the head of more than
90o,ooo men. The two armies fought the
plains or Cunaxa, within sixty miles of .he
capital OF the empire. The young Cyrus, in
the midst of victory, seized with fury at the
sight OF his brother, rushed impetuously upon
him, but was thrown from his horse and
slain. The Greeks, who, in the wing where
they were stationed, had achieved an entire
victory, found themselves placed by the
death OF Cyrus IN very singular predica-
mcnt. Deprived of their prince, environed
by enemies, more than 1900 miles from home.
without provisions and without allies, thew
were summoned to surrender: But thew
proudly refused, and demanded a free and
peaceable passage to their country: this
was granted to them; for the Persians were
AFRAID to attack them, and believed il easier to
destroy them by treachery than subdue them
by force. In truth, CIearchus, with MANY
otner OF their officers were soon afterwards
put to death Aenophon, young Athenian,
full of wisdom, revived the dropping spirits
of his companions on this trying occasion.
and they placed him at their head. It was
he who had the glory of efFectinr this memo
rable retreat, so often referred to by men
OF science as one of the most admirable ex-
peditions recorded in the annals of nations.
Constantly pursued by a multitude of enc
mics, the Greeks had to pass rivers, to cross
mountains, and to traverse deserts innumera-
bic. In word, they were perpetuallv
compelled to fight, to vanquish, to march, to
md themselves in provisions; and vet it was
not above fifteen months, after having over
come every natural obstacle as we'll as the
attacks of their foes, that the ten thousand
Greeks, reduced to eight thousand six hun
dred, reached their native borders. They
had marched upwards of ], 800 leagues. The
sage Aenophon, who was their guide and be-
came theirYlstorian, has immortalized him
self u1sder Nth these titles. He was n dis
ciple Aofl SOCIETIES, aud devoted himself dur
ing the latter part Of his life TO philosophy
and literature. His style of writing was 50
distinguished for simplicity and sweetness
that he obtained the surname of the Bee aft
Greece, and Qlintilian has paid him b;sh
compliment On the beauty Of his diction.
.all he wrote was calculated to inspire his
readers Win love of virtue, to whose die
tates he likewise coDformed in his personal
department. q
Our readers viii sec that the arrival from