Page:Fables of Aesop and other eminent mythologists.djvu/48

22 ; but above All other Places, he had the Greatet Mind to ee Babylon: To which End he got Letters of Recommendation from Crœus to the King there: who, according to Herodotus, was a Friend, and an Ally of Crœus's, and his Name, Labynetus; not Lycerus, as Planudes has Handed it down to us upon a Great Mitake. But his Curioity led him firt to pas through Greece, for the ake of the Seven Wie Men, whoe Reputation was at That Time Famous All over the World. He had the Good Hap in his Travels to find them at Corinth, together with Anacharis, and everal of their Followers and Diciples, Where they were All Treated by Periander at a Villa of his not far off the Towne. This Encounter was to the Common Satisfaction of the Whole Company; the Entertainment Philoophical, and Agreeable, and among other Dicoures, they had ome Controversy upon the Subject of Government; and which was the mot Excellent Form: Æop being till for Monarchy, and the Ret for a Common-wealth. He Travell'd thence, a while after into Aia, and o to Babylon, according to his firt Intention.

T was the Fahion in thoe Days, for Princes to Exercie Tryalls of Skill in the Putting and Reolving of Riddles, and Intricate Quetions; and He that was the Bell: at the Clearing or Untying of Knotty Difficulties carry'd the Prize. Æop's Faculty lay notably that way,and render'd him o erviceable to the King, that it brought him both Reputation and Reward. It was his Unhappines to have No Children, for the Comfort and Support of his Old Age; So that with the Kings Conent, he Adopted a young Man, who was Well Born, and Ingenious enough, but Poor; His Name was Ennus. Æop took as much care of his Intitution, as if he had been his own Child, and Train'd him up in thoe Principles of Vertue and Knowledge that might mot probably render him Great and Happy. But there's no working upon a Flagitious and Pervere Nature, by Kindnes and Dicipline, and 'tis time lot to think of Mattering o Incurable an Evil: So that Ennus, after the Manner of other Wicked Men, heaping One Villany