The History of the Manners and Customs of Ancient Greece, Volume 3 (of 3) — John Shaqi
The History of the Manners and Customs of Ancient Greece, Volume 3 (of 3)St. John, James Augustus
History
The History of the Manners and Customs of Ancient Greece, Volume 3 (of 3)
St. John, James Augustus
Greece -- Social life and customs
The conduct of Eunus and his followers, when, immediately after their
revolt, they took possession of the city of Euna, presented the most
striking contrast with this moderation of the Chian slaves: they
pillaged the houses, and, without distinction of age or sex,
slaughtered the inhabitants, plucking the infants from the breasts,
and dashing them to the ground. Over part of their atrocities the
historian modestly drops a veil: Εἰς δὲ τὰς γυναῖκας observes he, οὐδ᾽
ἔστιν εἰπειν (καὶ τότε βλεπόντων τῶν ἀνδρῶν) ὅσα ἐνύβριζόν τε καὶ
ἐνησέλγαινον, πολλοῦ αὐτοῖς πλήθους τῶν ἀπὸ τῆς πόλεως δούλων
προστεθέντος οἱ καὶ κατὰ τῶν κυρίων πρότερον τὰ ἔσχατα ἐνδεικνύμενοι
οὕτω πρὸς τὸν τῶν ἄλλων φόνον ετρέποντο. Diodor. Sicul. ap. Phot.
Biblioth. p. 385.
-----
So far the affairs of the Chians and their revolted bondsmen proceeded
smoothly. But things continued not always on this footing. Observing old
age to be creeping upon Drimacos, and rendered wanton apparently by
prosperity, the government issued a proclamation, offering a great
reward to any one who should capture him, or bring them his head.[63]
The old general, discerning, perhaps, signals of treachery, or convinced
that, at last, it must come to that, took aside a young man whom he
loved, and said, “I have ever regarded you with a stronger affection
than any other man, and to me you have been, instead of a son, a
brother, and every other tie. But now, the days of my life are at an
end, nor would I have them prolonged. With you, however, it is not so.
Youth and the bloom of youth are yours. What then is to be done? You
must prove yourself to possess valour and greatness of soul; and since
the state offers riches and freedom to whomsoever shall slay me and bear
them my head, let the reward be yours. Strike it off, and be happy!”
-----
Footnote 63:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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