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defeat of the Messenians. With his pockets well lined with Spartan gold, Aristocrates prevailed upon his Arcadian forces, under false pretences, to retire from the field; and in order to put the rest of the allied army into disorder, caused his men to retire through the ranks of the other corps. In expectation of this event, the Spartans had made the necessary dispositions to surround the remaining troops, the moment the Arcadian chief had walked off; but Aristomenes forming the whole into close compact bodies, retired fighting, as if for victory, until the greater part of the superior officers and flower of the Messenian nobility had bit the dust, when relinquishing all hopes of success, he retired with the shattered remains of his fine army to a place of temporary security. "Ah, base hearted treachery has doom'd our undoing!

My poor bleeding country, what more can I do? Even Valour looks pale o'er the red field of ruin,

And Freedom beholds her best warriors laid low.'

"Seeing it impossible to continue the struggle on a large scale, Aristomenes fortified mount Ira, placed garrisons in Pylax and Methone, and collecting all the inhabitants within the walls of those places, abandoned all the rest of the country to the enemy.

"Fancying the war at an end, the Spartan kings caused the Messenian lands to be divided amongst the citizens. But selecting 300 tried men, Aristomenes soon gave them to understand, by making numerous excursions into the territories around mount Ira, and carrying away large supplies of provisions, that he had no intention of submitting. To starve him, all Messenia and part of Laconia were ordered to remain uncultivated, which causing a famine at Sparta, an outbreak of the people was the consequence, which, but for the prudence of Tyrtæus, would have proved ruinous to the country.

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Despite of these precautions, Aristomenes continued his harassing system of warfare with success. Capturing and plundering the city of Amyclar, he was attacked on his return to the fort by the Spartan army, commanded by the sovereigns. The attack being rather unexpected, Aristomenes, on the spur of the occasion, resolved upon giving battle, instead of retreating; an error which brought in its train most ruinous consequences to himself and followers.

As was

to be expected, he, throughout the battle, made the most of the very limited means at his disposal, and in every charge exhibited his usual gallantry; but after a long and severe conflict, in which he was dreadfully wounded, Aristomenes and about fifty of his men were taken prisoners, all the others having fallen where they fought.

"The joy of the enemy was indescribable when they beheld in fetters the man whose

undaunted courage had enabled his impoverished country to defend itself against the whole power of Sparta.

"The Spartans, conceiving that the effect of the punishment intended for their gallant captive would be materially lessened if inflicted in his then mutilated condition, ordered him to be supplied with every kind of nourishment, and the greatest care to be taken of his wounds, a refinement in cruelty, which, I am sure, no British officer will ever imitate.

"The wounds of Aristomenes being soon after cured, the Messenian leader and his companions in arms were ordered to be conveyed to a cavern in the vicinity of the place where they were captured, preparatory to their several sentences being carried into execution. On being made acquainted with the day and hour, and hearing that a punishment never inflicted on any but the very lowest description of criminals, had been selected as that best suited to the occasion, I proceeded to the spot at the appointed time, to have a last interview with that man, whose fame the Peloponnesus was of too limited dimensions to contain. Soon after my arrival, the prisoners arrived in charge of a Spartan guard. To describe the conduct and countenance of every member of this group is impossible; suffice it to say, that though the remembrance of home, and all its endearing associations, operated more powerfully on the countenances of some than those of others, yet the conduct of the whole reflected infinite credit on them as fathers, husbands, brothers, patriots, soldiers, and defenders of the liberties of their country.

"On the arrival of the prisoners at the cavern, the death they severally were to die, viz., to be thrown headlong into the cavern, was communicated to them; the only difference being this, that the kings, with royał condescension, were pleased to permit Aristomenes the inestimable favour of wearing his armour on the very interesting occasion. When the various arrangements for carrying the sentences into effect were completed, one of the unfortunate prisoners was precipitated headlong into the cavern, speedily followed by another and another, until every one of them had been tumbled into the house of darkness and death, so humanely provided for them by their merciless conquerors!

"But thrilling as was the effect produced upon my feelings by the horrible tragedy I had witnessed, it was nothing to that which I felt on a visit to the cavern on the following day. None of the prisoners having been killed in descending into the cavern, the space being so small that the inmates were forced to remain huddled on the top of each other, and life being as dear to one man as another, the most frightful contests took

place between them to secure an upper berth. The rage of the combatants was excessive; I have seen hundreds, yea, thousands of men led to the scaffold, but in my life I never witnessed all the various passions so completely depicted in the countenances of any men as on those of the dying maniacs in the hellish Spartan cell-revenge, fear, despair, were deeply sealed on each, save on that of Aristomenes, who under all the horrible circumstances stated, appeared as calm and placid as when moving at the head of his gallant army. A slight inclination of his head intimated that he observed me, but lest my presence might not be any longer agreeable, I turned away from the terrific scene, my eyes bedewed with the tear of sympathy; and on meeting soon after with one of the Spartan kings, I could not refrain from telling him that the lustre of military achievements was tarnished by nothing so much as by cruelty, which could afford pleasure to none but men of the most depraved disposition; and that acts such as those he had committed, whether to gratify a mean grovelling revenge, or to suit political convenience, could not fail to heap upon the head of the perpetrators, the indignation of every person in whose breast there reposed one particle of justice or humanity. My little lecture, however, made no impression on the obdurate heart of the royal chief. In this dismal abode Aristomenes had remained three days, partly covered with the dead bodies of his gallant friends, and almost suffocated with the stench arising from the mass of corruption around, above, and below him, when close to his head he heard an animal busily engaged in gnawing the bones of one of his dead companions. Uncovering his face he perceived it was a fox. Conceiving it much the same thing to perish from a want of food, or to be murdered by a fox, he instantly laid hold of the animal by the hind leg, and with the other defended himself against the assaults of his carnivorous intrusionist, who, conceiving he had got into the wrong box, turned round and made a dart at the proboscis of Aristomenes, which the latter expecting, he caught the assailant by the jaw, and held him fast, until showing a great anxiety to depart, he let go his hold of the jaw, but held fast by the hind leg, in expectation that reynard would ultimately show how to effect his escape from the abode of death. Following his guide, therefore, they arrived at a small aperture, into which the fox having thrust his head, Aristomenes, weak as he was, instantly set to work, and, with the assistance of his nails only, soon made it large enough to receive his body, and thus effected his purpose. On perceiving my gallant friend emerging, as it were, from the grave, I hurried forward,

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"Conceiving that they had for ever got rid of Aristomenes, the Spartans not only weakened their posts around mount Ira, but were less vigilant in guarding against surprise. With the intention, however, of resuming their attacks on the fort, the Corinthian troops had been drawn closer to the scene of active operations. Every thing, therefore denoted a coming crisis, to the issue of which the Messenians looked forward with any thing but confidence, or feelings of a pleasant description. The capture and presumed death of their great chief, had cast a deep-seated gloom over the countenances of the garrison of Ira, but nothing like despondency had appeared in its ranks. Where so many commanded, plans for the future conduct of the besieged were numerous. Though all were animated with the best spirit, I observed in the fort more than one influential person anxious to come to terms with the enemy, not from any wish to escape from the fury of the pending storm, but simply because, in the absence of Aristomenes, they fancied no effectual resistance could be opposed to the overwhelming force of their opponents. In this state of hesitation and doubt, a few of the officers had met to consult what was best to be done, and just as they were on the point of deciding, the cry of Aristomenes! Aristomenes!' was heard from various parts of the walls. In a twinkling, the whole of the garrison assembled on the ramparts, and received their beloved chief with loud and long acclamations. The presence of Aristomenes operated like electricity on the troops. Instead of hesitation and doubt, all was activity and confidence. His country being ever uppermost in his thoughts, the noble patriot, without allowing himself more than a trifling repose, made the necessary peeparations for an attack on the enemy's posts before he could be aware of his escape. When every thing was ready, Aristomenes, to inflame the passions of his followers, related all that he had suffered at the hands of the Spartans, dwelling forcibly upon the horrible act of cruelty of throwing so many human beings into one small cavern, with the sole view of making each of them die a lingering death. Having roused their courage and the spirit of revenge to the highest pitch, he moved forthwith to the assault of the enemy's posts, and so admirably laid were the plans, and so nobly executed, that the greater part of the Corinthian officers and soldiers were slain, their camp

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taken and plundered; so considerable, indeed, was their loss, that, under pretence of assisting at an approaching festival, the Spartans agreed to a suspension of hostilities for forty days, to bury their dead.

"A few days after the return to the fort of this victorious expedition, the Messenian chief, in conscious security, being protected by the treaty just alluded to, was enjoying himself outside of the walls of fort Ira, when nine Cretan archers came upon him by surprise, and carried him away a prisoner. So overjoyed were the Cretans at their good fortune, that two of them ran post haste to Sparta with the exciting news, leaving their prize in charge of the other seven, who, for greater security, bound him and conducted him to a solitary cottage, inhabited by a widow and her daughter. This unexpected misfortune again totally changed the aspect of affairs in fort Ira. Here no longer were heard the loud shout of joy, gladness, and victory, but the sepulchral sound of lamentation, mourning, and woe. The splendid success which had so lately attended their operations, were now of no avail; the great master spirit and director of the patriot force being in the hands of the enemy. But though despondency might be traced in every countenance, the hell-fiend despair never found a restingplace in the breasts of any of the brave garrison, being not without hope that, that Power which preserved Aristomenes in the prison-house of death, and ultimately so miraculously restored him to them, would once more throw a protecting shield over his head, and restore him again in safety to his bleeding and oppressed country.

On

"Immediately after the capture of Aristomenes, I proceeded to the cottage to watch the progress of the unfortunate affair. my arrival, the daughter hearing I was from the fort, informed me that in a dream the previous night she saw a lion, bound and without claws, dragged along by wolves; that pitying the poor animal, she loosened his fetters, and furnished him with claws, on which he immediately turned upon the wolves and tore them to pieces. That on seeing Aristomenes, and being informed by her mother who he was, it immediately occurred to her that in the person of the Messenian general, the lion stood before her; and that as her dream had been so far verified, it was her duty to furnish him with the means of ridding himself of his Cretan guards. Having no great faith in dreams myself, I was at first inclined to treat the girl's story as unworthy of notice; but taking the whole of the circumstances into consideration, I felt a something in my breast that made me change my opinion, and to encourage her to attempt the liberation of my friend Aristomenes. To prevent surprise, I proceeded instantly to

the Spartan head-quarters to watch their movements, and to give the earliest notice of any hostile step.

"On my arrival, I found a council assembled to decide upon what was best to be done with their inveterate enemy. I could not but smile at the various propositions of the members of council, aware of what was passing at the cottage. The president, on perceiving this, expressed surprise that I should smile in their presence, when a subject of so grave a nature as the life of a fellow-creature was under debate. Having ascertained their views regarding the disposal of Aristomenes, I instantly turned on my heel, and after remarking that some people 'reckoned without their host,' quitted the presence chamber, and proceeded to the cottage to hasten the operations of the fair dreamer, lest they might be frustrated.

"On my return to the cottage, the Cretans having been liberally supplied with strong drink by the daughter, had become intoxicated. This being exactly what she wished to accomplish, a sweet smile of satisfaction played upon her lip as she observed them, one by one, drop gently into the arms of the drowsy god. I would not have given up the place I occupied at that moment for any consideration on earth. Fully convinced that she had been commissioned to act some very important part on the occasion, and conceiving likewise that the means had been pointed out, by which she was to perform her part in the tragedy, she gently stole a poniard from one of the Cretans, cut the thongs with which Aristomenes was bound, and then placing the weapon in his hand, he soon verified her dream to the very letter, by putting all his guards to death. This was an awful scene, seven human beings hurried into eternity by one hand in a few moments, and in a state of total unconsciousness produced by dissipation, that curse of your army. Yes, my friends, I say drunkenness is the bane of the British army. A few glasses of wine after dinner, sipped during some edifying conversation, all must approve. But by dipping deep into the cup of intemperance, be assured the worshipper of Bacchus destroys his mental faculties, ruins his pecuniary resources, as well as his constitution. Reflect, therefore, seriously on the consequences which almost invariably follow in the train of dissipation, before seating yourselves to enjoy the pleasing but intoxicating beverage, lest in some unfortunate moment you may be led to commit a crime by duel or otherwise; for which, like Alexander on the death of Clitus, you may be made to suffer all the horrors which a conscience, burdened with the death of a fellowcreature, and that individual a bosom friend, can inflict upon you.

"But to return to the cottage. Time being precious, Aristomenes, the moment he had secured a retreat, instantly moved towards the fort, with the widow and her daughter, leaving to the Spartans the duty of committing the inanimate trunks of their friends to the earth, the arrival of whom at the cottage he momentarily expected. On appearing before the gates of the fort, the sentries on the walls instantly recognized their chief; and their notes of surprise and congratulation having reached the ears of their brethren in the interior, the whole garrison were assembled on the ramparts in a few minutes, and welcomed his return with loud acclaim, which proceeded from the heart.

"Grateful and generous as he was brave, Aristomenes, as a token of his gratitude, and a reward for her services, tendered for the acceptance of the widow's daughter, the hand of his son Gorgus in marriage, a young man only eighteen years of age; and then busily employed in the defence of the fort. The offer being accepted, the ceremony was soon after performed with great pomp. And as Gorgus possessed all the fire of his father, the people, fancying that this union would secure to them a succession of generals from the same stock, hastened the marriage of their young leader, as an assurance that on some future day they would regain their independence, if not under their great chief, at least under one or other of his descendants.

"During the eleven years immediately succeeding the marriage of Gorgus, Aristomenes kept possession of Fort Ira, in despite of the utmost efforts of the Spartans to capture it. In that time he engaged in numerous expeditionary excursions, in almost all of which he was successful, inflicting on the enemy great loss. In proof, I may mention that he was permitted to celebrate three games--a sacrifice reserved for those only who had killed one hundred men with their own hand-once after his second battle; a second time after the destruction of the Corinthian corps before Mount Ira; and again before the close of the siege.

"When the siege of Ira had continued eleven years, an affair of gallantry between the servant of a Spartan general named Empiramas, and the wife of a Messenian soldier employed in the fort, brought it prematurely to a close. The latter having a house without the walls of the fort, the Spartan occasionally visited the frail fair one at her residence, when her husband was from home on duty.

"One evening, the latter returning sooner than was expected, the virtuous wife, though sadly puzzled at first to secrete her paramour from the vengeance of an insulted husband, at length effected her purpose; and then with all the perfidious flattery peculiar to women of her

character opened the door, and on the way to her apartment again and again inquired to what excess of good fortune she was blessed with his return. The poor fellow thrown off his guard by the deceitful smiles and flattery of a worthless woman, told her in a tone of voice loud enough to be heard by a person in the adjoining apartment, that Aristomenes being confined to bed by the severity of a wound, the soldiers taking advantage of the circumstance, had quitted their posts on the walls, and retired to their quarters. As the night was very tempestuous, the Spartan, fancying the opportunity for striking a decisive blow too good to be lost, stole softly from his hiding place, and made all imaginable haste to his master, then commanding the besieging force in the absence of the kings. Though not particularly fond of midnight operations, yet being anxious to distinguish himself in the absence of the sovereigns, Empiramus instantly moved towards the fort with all his forces; capturing in his progress the Messenian posts without the walls, unknown to the governor. The night, however, being not only dark but very stormy, and the dread which the name of Aristomenes had inspired the Spartans being beyond conception, the Spartan general found it necessary to suspend all further operations until daybreak, when the assault was made with such fury, that had there been none but soldiers in the fort, it would most inevitably have fallen into the hands of the assailants; but the women having gained heart and hand in the fray, the matter soon assumed a different appearance. Placing himself at the head of his troops, Empiramus led them up to the walls, which they assaulted with all the characteristic bravery of Spartan soldiers; but resolved to die rather than submit, the bravery of the Messenians was such that all his efforts proved fruitless. For three days and two nights the Spartans attacked, and the Messenians defended the walls; the repulses of the former, instead of repressing, rather inflaming their fury. sault, therefore, succeeded assault; but by the unflinching courage of the patriot general and his followers, they were invariably beat back with great loss.

As

"Aristomenes perceiving that the Spartans had made up their minds to capture the fort, whatever number of men it might cost them, and having already lost a great many of his best and bravest officers and men, he came to the resolution of extricating himself and garrison from their perilous situation, or dying in the attempt. Accordingly, on the morning of the fourth day, Aristomenes gave orders for every man, woman, and child, to be found in marching order as follows, viz. all the young men in the front and rear; the

less able-bodied men in the main body; and all the woman and children in the centre. The command of the rear columns was bestowed upon his son Gorgus, and Mantecles the son of Thivolis; and the command of the columns in advance Aristomenes reserved for himself.

"Language is inadequate to give you the smallest idea of the scene, which in and around Fort Ira met my eye on entering the place on that memorable morning, every part of which possessed the most thrilling interest. When first I observed the belligerents formed in columns of attack, my heart filled to overflow; but on perceiving Aristomenes take part at the head of his veteran band, and reflected on the probable number of men, women, and children that might fall in the conflict, 1 sobbed aloud. For some time each party remained in an attude of defiance, but seemingly disinclined to be the first to move; each, no doubt, entertaining the most gloomy forebodings as to the future. Every moment the scene acquired additional interest. Time, however, being of great value to the besieged, the last barrier was at length thrown open by order of Aristomenes, who raising his spear in the attitude of defiance, gave the order to advance. On clearing the gate he halted the advance, to give time for the centre and rear columns to resume their proper stations. The Spartan general had taken post on a little commanding spot, at no great distance from the walls, having piquets thrown forward to watch the motions of the Messenians; the numbers of the latter being much inferior to the former. I trembled for the issue on seeing Aristomenes retrace his march from the gate, and direct his march upon the thickest of the Spartan masses. With a slow and firm pace, and with countenances on which might be read, 'Victory or death,' the whole moved towards the enemy. The latter, fully resolved to oppose all attempts at escape, had at an early hour made all the necessary preparations for that purpose; but Empiramus, convinced from the information he had received, that Aristomenes intended to retire from the fort, and further, from the cool and determined manner in which all the arrangements had been made, that he would effect his purpose, or die in the attempt, recalled the orders he had issued in anticipation of a severe conflict; and on the approach of the garrison, made his troops open to the right and left, to afford a free and unmolested retreat to Aristomenes, and the sad remains of his once splendid little army, and thereby spare the lives of many brave men, innocent women, and helpless children.

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by a similar desire to spare the blood of the brave, accepted with pleasure the passage made for them, abstained from hostilities, and retired towards Arcadia.

"The Arcadians, on hearing of the fall of Fort Ira, urged Aristocrates to lead them to the assistance of Aristomenes; but by the most plausible tales of pure fiction, he imposed on them so far, as to make them believe that the Messenian general and his troops had all been cut off. A few days serving to undeceive them in this respect, by the arrival of the latter on the Arcadian soil, the Arcadians not only supplied Aristomenes with provisions, but made him a tender of any other aid in their power to bestow.

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"At a general assembly of the people convened by his desire, Aristomenes told the Arcadians that he had still 500 men of tried courage at his command, ready to undertake any enterprise however hazardous; and as the Spartans would necessarily be busy in plundering Fort Ira, an immediate advance upon Sparta might be the means of placing the enemy's capital in their hands. admirably planned attack on Sparta was received by all with cheers, save Aristocrates, who uttering some bitter expressions on the orator, caused his people to suspect him of treachery. To arrive at the truth, they intercepted some of his messengers, in whose possession were found letters establishing his guilt in so satisfactory a manner, that with one voice they voted him worthy of death.

"The Arcadians requested the Messenians to join them in stoning their king; but in strict accordance with every other act of his life, Aristomenes, instead of giving his followers permission to take part in the dreadful tragedy, or glorying in the downfal and death of the man who, through the basest treachery, had brought ruin upon his native land, was so affected on seeing a crowned head suffering so degrading, though merited a death, shed tears in profusion. To perpetuate the infamy of Aristocrates, his subjects soon after his death erected a monument near the spot where he fell.

"It would be unreasonable to look for any thing approaching to perfection in the character of any man, however exalted his rank may be, for—

"The heavens have clouds, and spots are in the sun, A faultless virtue's to be found in none.'

"But I think you will agree with me that when fortune, in one of her merry freaks, raises a poor good-for-nothing creature like Aristocrates, to the pinnacle of human grandeur, the act must be considered one of sheer malice on the part of the fickle goddess. I have told you how this worthless individual,

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