ATHENS AND THE ATHENIANS.

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6. They gathered round him, eagerly asking about Miltiades and the army. The soldier leaned heavily upon his spear. He seemed too much exhausted to give utterance to the news he had brought.

7. But exerting all his strength, he cried out, "Rejoice, my countrymen! The victory is ours!" and, with that exulting shout, he fell down dead.

8. The Athenians showed themselves ungrateful to the brave Miltiades. All that he demanded as a reward for rescuing his native land from slavery, was a crown of olive-leaves, which was esteemed a mark of honor among the Greeks. But they refused to give him one; and he was afterward condemned, on some frivolous pretense, to pay a fine of fifty talents, which was a very large sum. As Miltiades had not so much money in the world, he perished in prison. 9. After the battle of Marathon, the Persians were driven out of Greece, and Darius died while he was preparing to invade the country again. His son Xerxes renewed the war. In the history of Persia, I have already told of the invasion of Greece by Xerxes with two millions of men, and of the misfortunes which befell him there.

CHAPTER LI.-EUROPE-CONTINUED.
Affairs of Athens.

1. After the Persian war, Ci'-mon, Ar-is-ti'-des, and Per'-i-cles were the three principal men of Athens. Pericles at length became the chief person in the republic. Athens was never more flourishing than while he was at the head of the government.

2. He adorned the city with magnificent edifices, and rendered it famous for learning, poetry, and beautiful works of art, such as temples, statues, and paintings. But the Athenians were fickle, and generally ungrateful to their public benefactors; and they sometimes ill treated Pericles.

3. In the latter part of his administration, a terrible plague broke out in Athens. Many of the citizens fell down and died, while passing through the streets. Dead bodies lay in heaps, one upon another.

4. The illustrious Pericles was one of the victims of this pestilence. When he lay at the point of death, his friends praised him for the glorious deeds which he had achieved. "It is my greatest

7. What news did the messenger bring? 8. How did the Athenians treat Miltiades? His fate? 9. What of the Persians after the battle of Marathon? What of Darius ? Xerxes? What may you read in the history of Persia?

CHAP. LI.-1. Who were the three principal men of Athens? What of Pericles? 2. What did he do for Athens? What was the general character of the Athenians?

3. What of the plague? 4. What did Pericles say on his death-bed?

glory," replied Pericles, "that none of my acts have caused a citizen of Athens to put on mourning."

5. Three years before the death of Pericles, a war had commenced between Athens and Sparta. These were now the two principal states of Greece, and they had become jealous of each other's greatness. A fierce war followed, in which all the states of that part of Greece called Pel-o-pon-ne'-sus were engaged. This bloody strife lasted twenty-eight years.

6. In the course of this war, Al-ci-bi'-a-des made a conspicuous figure among the Athenians. He was the handsomest and most agreeable man in Athens. At one period he was greatly beloved by the people, and possessed almost unlimited power. But he was ainbitious and destitute of principle.

7. He was the cause of much trouble, not only in his native city, but all over Greece. At last, when he had lost the good will of everybody, he retired to a small village in Phryg'-i-a, in Asia Minor, and dwelt there with a woman named Ti-man'-dra.

8. His enemies sent a party of assassins to murder him. These set fire to the house in which he lived. Alcibiades was a brave man, and he rushed out, sword in hand, to fight the assassins. But they stood at a distance, and pierced him through with javelins. They then went away, leaving Timandra to bury him.

9. The Peloponnesian war brought great misfortunes upon the Athenians. The Spartans conquered them, and burnt the city; and while this work of destruction was going forward, the victors caused gay tunes of music to be played.

10. The Athenians were now placed under the government of thirty Spartan captains. These were called the Thirty Tyrants of Athens; but they held their power only three years. Thras-y-bu'lus, a patriotic Athenian, then incited his countrymen to regain their freedom.

11. The thirty tyrants were expelled; and Thrasybulus was rewarded with a wreath made of two twigs of an olive-tree, which, as I have before said, was esteemed a great mark of honor. Athens again became prosperous, and its former government was restored in the year 403 before the Christian era.

5. What was begun three years before the death of Pericles? What of Athens and Sparta? How long did the Peloponnesian war last? What part of Greece was called Peloponnesus?-(See Map of Greece, p. 100.) What states were included in the Peloponnesus?--Ans. Arcadia, Laconia, Messenia, Elis, Argolis, Achaia, Sicyon, and Corinth. 6. What of Alcibiades? 7. What happened to him? 8. How did he die? 9. What of the Peloponnesian war? Sparta? 10. What of the thirty tyrants? Thrasy bulus? 11. How was he rewarded for expelling the thirty tyrants? What took place 403 B. C.?

THE THEBAN WAR.

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CHAPTER LII.-EUROPE-CONTINUED.

Beginning of the Theban War.

1. Not long after this period, Thebes became the most distinguished city of Greece. It was the capital of the kingdom of Boeotia [be-o'-she-a]. A war between Thebes and Sparta had originated in the following manner: Phoebidas [feb'-i-das], a Spartan general, had wrongfully taken possession of Cad-me'-a, a fortress belonging to Thebes. The Thebans demanded that it should be given up; but the Spartans garrisoned it strongly, and resolved to hold it as their own.

2. A brave and patriotic young man of Thebes, named Pe-lop'-idas, contrived a scheme to get back the fortress. He and eleven companions put on their breastplates, and girded their swords around them, but clothed themselves in women's garments over their armor. In this garb they went to the gate of Cadmea, and were admitted.

3. The magistrates and Spartan officers were assembled at a splendid festival. Ar'-chi-as, the Spartan commander, sat at the head of the table. He and his friends were wholly occupied with the enjoyment of the banquet. They took scarcely any notice when the twelve figures in female attire entered the hall.

4. At the moment when the mirth and festivity of the Spartans was at its height, the strangers tore off their female garb. Instead of twelve women, there stood twelve young warriors. The light of the festal torches flashed back from their bright breastplates. Their naked swords were in their hands.

5. Pelopidas and his eleven companions immediately attacked the Spartan banqueters. Their surprise hindered the Spartans from making any effectual resistance. Archias and many others were struck dead, almost before they could rise from the table.

6. Thus the Thebans gained possession of the fortress. But Sparta immediately began a war against Thebes. Many of the other states of Greece lent their assistance to the Spartans. It appeared probable that the Thebans would be conquered and utterly ruined.

7. But they had a brave and skillful general, named E-pam-i-non'das. With only six thousand Thebans, he encountered twenty-five thousand Spartans, commanded by Cle-om'-bro-tus, their king. The battle was fought at Leuc'-tra. The Thebans gained a complete victory, and killed Cleombrotus and fourteen hundred of his men.

CHAP. LII.—1. What of Thebes? In what part of Greece was Baotia? How did the war between Thebes and Sparta originate? 2. What of Pelopidas? Describe the scheme of Pelopidas and his companions. 5. Did this bold undertaking succeed? 6. What state made war upon Thebes? Other states? 7. What of Epaminondas? His army? The Spartan force? Who was the Spartan leader? Were the Thebans victorious?

CHAPTER LIII.-EUROPE-CONTINUED.

Sequel of the Theban War.

1. EPAMINONDAS, the Theban general, was one of the best men that lived in ancient times. His private virtues were equal to his patriotism and valor. It is said of him that a falsehood was never known to come from his lips, —one of the highest praises that can be bestowed on any man.

2. It might be supposed that the Thebans would have felt the utmost gratitude toward Epaminondas, whose valor had saved his country; and it is true that the most virtuous part of the people honored him according to his merits; but I am sorry to tell you that a great and good man is very apt to have enemies.

3. His virtues and his greatness are a reproach to the vicious and the mean, and therefore they hate him, and seek to destroy him. So it happened with Epaminondas, and so it has happened in all ages.

4. Epaminondas had many enemies among the Thebans. They at first attempted to have him sentenced to death because he had kept the command of the army longer than the law permitted. But as his only motive had been to preserve Thebes from ruin, his judges concluded to let him live.

5. Nevertheless, in order to disgrace him as much as possible, he was appointed to clean the streets of Thebes. Epaminondas was not mortified; for he knew that the Thebans might disgrace themselves by such ingratitude, but could not disgrace him. He therefore set about discharging the duties of his new office, and the great and victorious general was accordingly seen clearing away the filth from the streets.

6. But the war was not yet at an end; and the Thebans soon found that they could not do without Epaminondas. They made him throw away his broom, and take the sword again. He was placed at the head of an army with greater power than he had possessed before.

7. So long as Epaminondas was their general, the Thebans were the most powerful people of Greece. The last victory that he gained was at Man-ti-ne'-a. But it cost the Thebans dear; for while Epaminondas was fighting in the thickest of the battle, a Spartan soldier thrust a javelin into his breast.

CHAP. LIII.-1. Character of Epaminondas? 2. Were the Thebans grateful to him? 3. Why do the wicked hate a great and good man? 4. What did the Thebans attempt? 5. How did they attempt to disgrace Epaminondas? Was he mortified? What did he do? 6. What did the Thebans find? What did they do? 7. What of Thebes while Epaminondas was general? What was his last victory? How was he wounded?

GRECIAN MYTHOLOGY.

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8. The Thebans and Spartans fought around the wounded Epaminondas, the latter wishing to put an end to his life, and the former to bear him from the field. The Spartans were driven back, and some of his soldiers carried Epaminondas in their arms to his tent.

9. The javelin remained sticking in the wound, for the surgeons è declared that he would die the moment that it should be drawn out. Epaminondas lay in great pain; but he thought little of his own agony, and was anxious only for the success of his countrymen.

10. At last a messenger came from the battle-field, and told him that the Spartans were flying, and that Thebes had won a glorious victory. "Then all is well!" said Epaminondas. As he spoke, he drew the javelin out of his wound, and instantly expired.

11. This event took place in the year 363 before the Christian era. After the death of Epaminondas, the Thebans were no longer formidable to the rest of the Greeks.

CHAPTER LIV.-EUROPE-CONTINUED.

Grecian Religion or Mythology.

1. My history has now reached the period when the glory of Greece was at its height; and I shall soon have to speak of its decline. Before doing so, I think it proper to give a slight account of the religion of the Greeks, and some other interesting particulars.

2. The Greeks believed that there were three classes of deitiesthe Celestial, the Marine, and the Infernal. The first, as they fancied, dwelt in the sky, the second in the sea, and the third in the dreary regions under the earth. Besides these, there were inferior kinds of deities, who haunted the woods, or lived in fountains and streams.

3. The deities whose home was in the sky, were Jupiter, Apollo, Mars, Mercury, Bacchus, Vulcan, Juno, Minerva, Venus, Diana, Ceres, and Vesta. The greatest of all the gods was Jupiter. When it thundered and lightened, the Greeks supposed that Jupiter was angry, and was flinging his thunderbolts about.

4. The Olympic games were instituted by the Greeks, in honor of Jupiter. These games were celebrated every four years. They con

8. By whom was he carried from the field? What of the javelin? 9. Describe the death of Epaminondas. 10. When did this happen? What of the Thebans after the death of Epaminondas?

CHAP. LIV.-1. At what period was the glory of Greece at its height? 2. In what deities did the Greeks believe? What were the three classes? Where did each of them dwell? What of inferior deities? 3. Who were the celestial deities? What of Jupiter? 4. What of the Olympic games?