36S

them was liable to hail and rain, and such other inclemen-cies of weather as are fatal to the productions of the earth.But when he found a pitcher of three thousand darics* init not far from the Apiary, and had received a considera-ble produce from his olives, though the year was not pro-ductive, he celebrated Apollonius in hymns, whilst suitorsflocked from all quarters to woo his daughters, and paytheir respects to the father.

CHAP. XL.

AMONG the memorabilia of Apollonius, is noticed whatfollows. There was a young man who fell in love withthe statue of Venus,+ which stood naked in Gnidus. Hemade her many presents, and promised many more if shewould marry him. All this Apollonius considered as veryabsurd : yet the Gnidians made no objection to it, on thecontrary they encouraged it, from thinking the Goddess would acquire greater celebrity by being beloved. This iswhat made Apollonius take the resolution of clearing thetemple from such a folly. The Gnidians asked if hewished to make any reformation in their prayers and sacri-fices ? All Apollonius said to this, was, that he would im-prove their sight, but that the rites and ceremonies of the

* Daric—a famous piece of gold coined by Darius, not the father ofXerxes , but one more ancient. It was dispersed over the East, andalso Greece: so that the Persian Daric called Stater , was the goldcoin best known in Athens. According to Dr. Bernard it weighed twograins more than one of our guineas, but as it was remarkably beauti-ful, of the finest and purest gold, and contained little or no alloy, itmay be reckoned worth about 25 shillings of our money,—It bore theimage of Darius, and on the reverse, a chariot drawn by mules.

t Miratur, ethaurit

Pectore Pygmalion simulati corporis ignes.

Ovid.