The farther I went, continued Sir George, the more my Regret increased; and, finding it would be impossible to live, and quit the Divine Sydimiris, I all at once took a Resolution to remain in the Town concealed; and, communicating my Design to my Guide, I engaged him to a**ist me in it, by a Present of a considerable Sum, which he could not resist: Accordingly he left me in a remote Part of the Town, and went to find out a convenient Lodging for me; which he soon procured, and also a Suit of Cloaths to disguise me, my own being very rich and magnificent.
Having recommended me as a Relation of his, who was newly arrived, I was received very civilly by the People with whom he placed me; and, finding this young Man to be very witty and discreet, and also very capable of serving me, I communicated to him my Intentions by staying, which were only to be near the Divine Sydimiris, and to have the Happiness of sometimes seeing her, when she went abroad. This Man entering into my Meaning, a**ured me, he would faithfully keep my Secret; and that he would not fail to bring me Intelligence of all that pa**ed in the Palace of Marcomire. I could with Difficulty keep myself from falling at his Feet, to express my Sense of his kind and generous pa**ed among many Persons for one, who, by Application and Study, had acquired an universal Knowledge of ancient History.
Speaking of any particular Circumstance, he would fix the Time, by computing the Year with the Number of the Olympiads. It happened, he would say, in the 141st Olympiad. Such an amazing Exactness, had a suitable Effect on his Audience, and always procured him a great Degree of Attention.
This Gentleman hitherto had no Opportunity of displaying his Knowledge of History, the Discourse having wholly turned upon News, and other Trifles; when Arabella, after some more Enquiries concerning the Place, remarked, that there was a very great Difference between the medicinal Waters at Bath, and the fine Springs at the Foot of the Mountain Thermopylæ in Greece, as well in their Qualities, as manner of using them; and I am of Opinion, added she, that Bath, famous as it is for restoring Health, is less frequented by infirm Persons, than the famous Springs of Thermopylæ were by the Beauties of Greece, to whom those Waters have the Reputation of giving new Lustre. Mr. Selvin, who, with all his Reading, had never met with any Account of these celebrated Grecian Springs, was extremely disconcerted at not being able to continue a Conversation, which the Silence of the rest of the Company made him imagine, was directed wholly to him.
The Shame he conceived at seeing himself posed by a Girl, in a Matter which so immediately belonged to him, made him resolve to draw himself out of this Dilemma at any Rate; and, though he was far from being convinced, that there were no such Springs at Thermopylæ as Arabella mentioned; yet he resolutely maintained, that she must be mistaken in their Situation; for, to his certain Knowledge, there were no medicinal Waters at the Foot of that Mountain. Arabella, who could not endure to be contradicted in what she took to be so incontestable a Fact, reddened with Vexation at his unexpected Denial.
It should seem, said she, by your Discourse, that you are unacquainted with many material Pa**ages, that pa**ed among very illustrious Persons there; and if you knew anything of Pisistratus the Athenian, you would know, that an Adventure he had at those Baths, laid the Foundation of all those great Designs, which he afterwards effected, to the total Subversion of the Athenian Government. Mr. Selvin, surprised that this Piece of History had likewise escaped his Observation, resolved, however, not to give up his Point. I think, Madam, replied he, with great Self-sufficiency, that I am pretty well acquainted with everything which relates to the Affairs of the Athenian Commonwealth; and know by what Steps Pisistratus advanced himself to the Sovereignty.
It was a great Stroke of Policy in him, said he, turning to Mr. Glanville, indeed, to wound himself, in order to get a Guard a**igned him. You are mistaken, Sir, said Arabella, if you believe, there was any Truth in the Report of his having wounded himself: It was done, either by his Rival Lycurgus or Theocrites; who believing him still to be in Love with the fair Cerinthe, whom he courted, took that Way to get rid of him: Neither is it true, that Ambition alone inspired Pisistratus with a Design of enslaving his Country: Those Authors who say so, must know little of the Springs and Motives of his Conduct. It was neither Ambition nor Revenge, that made him act as he did; it was the violent Affection he conceived for the beautiful Cleorante, whom he first saw at the famous Baths of Thermopylæ, which put him upon those Designs; for, seeing that Lycurgus, who was not his Rival in Ambition, but Love, would certainly become the Possessor of Cleorante, unless he made himself Tyrant of Athens, he had recourse to that violent Method, in order to preserve her for himself.
I protest, Madam, said Mr. Selvin, casting down his Eyes in great Confusion at her superior Knowledge in History, these Particulars have all escaped my Notice; and this is the first time I ever understood, that Pisistratus was violently in Love; and that it was not Ambition, which made him aspire to Sovereignty. I do not remember any Mention of this in Plutarch, continued he, rubbing his Forehead, or any of the Authors who have treated on the Affairs of Greece.
Very likely, Sir, replied Arabella; but you will see the whole Story of Pisistratus's Love for Cleorante, with the Effects it produced, related at large in Scudery. Scudery, Madam! said the sage Mr. Selvin, I never read that Historian. No, Sir! replied Arabella, then your Reading has been very confined. I know, Madam, said he, that Herodotus, Thucydides, and Plutarch, have indeed quoted him frequently. I am surprised, Sir, said Mr. Glanville, who was excessively diverted at this Discovery of his great Ignorance and Affectation, that you have not read that famous Historian; especially, as the Writers you have mentioned quote him so often.
Why, to tell you the Truth, Sir, said he; though he was a Roman; yet it is objected to him, that he wrote but indifferent Latin; with no Purity or Elegance; and You are quite mistaken, Sir, interrupted Arabella; the great Scudery was a Frenchman; and both his Clelia and Artamenes were written in French. A Frenchman was he? said Mr. Selvin, with a lofty Air: Oh! then, 'tis not surprising, that I have not read him: I read no Authors, but the Ancients, Madam, added he, with a Look of Self-applause; I cannot relish the Moderns at all: I have no Taste for their Way of Writing.
But Scudery must needs be more ancient than Thucydides, and the rest of those Greek Historians you mentioned, said Mr. Glanville: How else could they quote him? Mr. Selvin was here so utterly at a Loss, that he could not conceal his Confusion: He held down his Head, and continued silent; while the Beau, who had listened to the latter Part of their Discourse; exerted his supposed Talent of Raillery against the unhappy Admirer of the ancient Authors; and increased his Confusion by a thousand Sarcasms, which gave more Diversion to himself, than anybody else.