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praise beyond all deserving, a King, as if possessed of everyvirtue, who perhaps does not know how to support histhrone: and yet, if he becomes better than he is, thegain will be yours and not mine. Then one of. the bar-barians present looking on him, said, unquestionablythe Gods have given us this extraordinary man: forI am of opinion, that men of virtue conversing with aprince so well instructed as our King, must make himwiser, and better, and more gracious, inasmuch as thesevirtues are painted in his countenance. On this all ranto the palace, proclaiming the good tidings of a manbeing at the King’s gates, who was wise, and a Greek, andan excellent counsellor.

CHAP. XXIX.

WHEN these tidings reached the King, he was in theact of offering sacrifice in the presence of the Magi, towhose care were committed the sacred rites of religion.He called one of them to him, and said, I now recollectthe dream I told you of yesterday, when you came to meas I lay in bed. The King’s dream was, that he thoughthimself Artaxerxes, the son of Xerxes , and that his owncountenance became like unto his. This dream raisedapprehensions in him, lest the change in his countenanceshould forebode a change in his affairs. As soon as heheard of the arrival of a wise man and a Greek at hiscourt, he called to mind Themistocles , who came for-merly from Greece , and who by his conversations withArtaxerxes , made not only that prince estimable, butshewed himself such as he was represented. Then theKing stretching out his right hand, said, bid the man comeforward: and let our conversation begin under the goodomens of having his prayers united with our own, in sacri-ficing to the Gods .