tinian Code. Diocletian loved magnificence, and en couraged all the arts; but his great qualities were ob scured by great defects, and we may say of him as of Adrian, that he was a bad man and a great prince. EPAMINONDAS. THE greatest glory existing among men is that of giving laws to nations, or restoring a people to the dignity they had lost. Epaminondas was not a legislator, but Thebes, is indebted to him for the few splendid days which she enjoyed. Before he appeared she was the object of the scorn of Greece: when he ceased to exist, she fell into her original state. Never did the influence of virtue and exalted character display itself in so signal a manner. Epaminondas was born about the year 411 B. J. C. His father, a Theban, named Polymnus, notwithstanding the mediocrity of his fortune, neglected nothing that could contribute to his instruction. He received lessons of philosophy, of Livis of Tarentum. The most skilful masters taught him music. He excelled even in dancing, which was not despised among the Greeks as it was by the Romans. He amused himself in bodily exercises, not from motives of pleasure, but as the means of giving to his limbs more suppleness and agility, so that in wrestling and running he had no superior. His acquired talents were exalted by all the moral virtues. His prudence and modesty, his contempt of riches, and warmth of friendship, by rendering him the admiration of the good, excited the envy and hatred of the malevolent. Solely occupied with the interests of the republic, and the desire of being useful to his coun trymen, he totally forgot his own: but he had recourse to the liberality of the rich when a virtuous man was in indigence-when a captive was to be released—or an innocent girl was refused in marriage through want of a fortune. His solicitations were then generally well received, from the purity of his motives, and because he was known to possess too much wisdom and integrity to exact bounty for men who were undeserving of it. "Upon what principle did you send that adventurer to me who solicited a thousand crowns?" said, one day to him, a haughty and very opulent citizen. "For the reason," replied Epaminondas," that he is poor and you are rich." This illustrious Theban attached himself at an early age to Pelopidas, by those ties of friendship which proceed from a conformity of pursuits and affections. The latter delivered Thebes from the tyranny of the Spartans without the assistance of Epaminondas, but in all their other achievements their dangers were mutual, and the admiration and gratitude of their countrymen united the names of these zealous patriots. He saved Thebes at the battle of Leuctra, which he gained over the Lacedæmonians, by continuing to exercise the power of a general, notwithstanding the decrée which enjoined him to enter the city. This disobedience entailed upon him a capital punishment, and the length of his services, far from disarming the fury of the enemies, tended only to render it more vehement. It was inconceivable by what means he could escape so serious an accusation. He appeared in the assembly of the people, not with the air of a person accused, but with all the confidence of a conqueror. He did not endeavour to |