But, to return to Plutarch you will find him particularly fond of Cleomenes his character; who, as he was the last of the Spartan heroes, so he was, in my opinion, the greatest. Even his enemy, Polybius, though engaged in the contrary faction, yet speaks honourably of him, and especially of his last action in Egypt. This author is also made English, and will shortly be published for the common benefit. *

What I have added to the story, is chiefly the love of Agathoclea, the king's mistress, whose name I have changed into Cassandra, only for the better sound; as I have also the name of Nicagoras, into that of Conus, for the same reason. Cratesiclæa, Pantheus, and Sosybius, are to be found in the story, with the same characters which they have in the tragedy. There is likewise mention made of the son of Cleomenes, who had resolution enough to throw himself headlong from a tower, when he had heard of his father's ill success. And for Cleora, whom I make the second wife of Cleomenes, (for Egiatis was dead before,) you will find a hint of her in Plutarch; for, he tells us, that after the loss of the battle at Sellasia, he returned to Sparta, and, entering his own house, was there attended by a free-born woman of Megalopolis.

The picture of Ptolemy Philopater is given by the fore-mentioned authors to the full. Both agree that he was an original of his kind; a lazy, effeminate, cowardly, cruel, and luxurious prince, managed by his favourite, and imposed on by his mistress. The son of Sosybius, whom I call Cleanthes,

* Sir Henry Shere published his Translation of Polybius in 1692-3, in two volumes, 8vo, to which there was prefixed a character of the author, and of his writings, by Dryden.

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was a friend to Cleomenes; but, Plutarch says, he at length forsook him. I have given him a fairer character, and made it only a seeming treachery, which he practised. If any be so curious to enquire what became of Cassandra, whose fortune was left in suspense at the conclusion of the play, I must first inform them, that, after the death of Cleomenes, (the hero of my poem,) I was obliged, by the laws of the drama, to let fall the curtain immediately, because the action was then concluded. But Polybius tells us, that she survived Ptolemy, who reigned about twentyseven years; that, with her brother Agathocles, she governed Egypt in the minority of his son Ptolemy Epiphanes; and that, finally, for oppressing of the people, both the brother and sister were slain in a popular insurrection.

There is nothing remaining, but my thanks to the town in general, and to the fair ladies in particular, for their kind reception of my play. And, though I cannot retract what I said before, that I was not much concerned, in my own particular, for the embargo which was laid upon it, yet I think myself obliged, at the same time, to render my acknowledgments to those honourable persons, who were instrumental in the freeing it; for, as it was from a principle of nobleness in them, that they would not suffer one to want, who was grown old in their service, so, it is from a principle of another sort, that I have learned to possess my soul in patience, and not to be much disquieted with any disappointment of this nature.

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[The following verses were sent me by a young gentleman, under twenty years of age, whose modesty would have concealed his name; but I learned it from another hand, and have taken the boldness to subscribe it without his leave. I presume that, on the reading of them, nobody can blame me for making Cleonidas speak above his youth, when you see an Englishman so far surpassing my Spartan.]

TO MR DRYDEN ON HIS CLEOMENES.

HAS youth then lost its great prerogative?
And does the soul alone for age survive?
Like embryos sleeping in their seeds, seem nought,
"Till friendly time does ripen it to thought?
Judgment, experience, that before was theirs ;
But fancy wantons still in younger spheres ;

Played with some loose and scattered beams of light,
And revelled in an anarchy of wit.

Both youth and age unequally did charm ;

As much too cold was this, as that too warm.

But you have reconciled their differing praise,

By fixing both to your immortal bays;

Where Fancy mounts, but Judgment holds the reins,
Not checks, but guides you to harmonious strains.
"Tis harmony indeed, 'tis all unite,

Like finished nature, and divided light :
Like the vast order, and its numerous throng,
Crowded to their Almighty Maker's song;

Where heaven and earth seem but one single tongue.
O wond'rous man! where have you learned the art,
To charm our reason, while you wound the heart?
Far more than Spartan morals to inspire,
While your great accents kindle Spartan fire?
Thus metals, heated to the artist's will,

Receive the impression of a nobler skill.

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Your hero formed so regularly good,
So nicely patient in his want of food,
That it no more th' undress of death appears,
While the rich garment of your sense it wears.
So just a husband, father, son, and friend,
Great in his life, but greater in his end;
That sure, like Xenophon, you meant to show
Not what they are, but what they ought to do;
At once a poet, and instructor too.

The parts so managed, as if each were thine;
Thou draw'st both ore and metal from the mine;
And, to be seen, thou mak'st even vice to shine:
As if, like Siam's transmigrating god,

A single life in each you made abode;

And the whole business of the tedious round,

To copy patterns which in each

you found.

Sure you have gained from heaven Promethean fire,
To form, then kindle souls into desire ;

Else why successive starts of hopes and fears,

A martial warmth first raised, then quenched with tears? Unless this truth shines clearly through the whole,

Sense rules the world, but you command the soul.

THEOPHILUS PARSONS.

THE

LIFE OF CLEOMENES,

TRANSLATED FROM PLUTARCH

BY

MR THOMAS CREECH.

THUS fell Agis. His brother Archidamus was too quick for Leonidas, and saved himself by a timely retreat. But his wife then newly brought to bed, the tyrant forced her from her own house, and compelled her to marry his son Cleomenes, though at that time too young for a wife; for he was unwilling that any one else should have her, she being heiress to her father Gylippus's great estate ; for person, the finest woman in all Greece, very good-natured, of an exemplary life; and therefore, they say, she did all she could, that she might not be compelled to this match.

Being thus married to Cleomenes, she hated Leonidas; but to the youth she showed herself a kind and obliging wife. He, as soon as they came together, began to love her very much; and the constant kindness that she still retained for the memory of Agis, wrought somewhat of concern in the young man for him; so that he would often enquire