Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.5, 1865).djvu/107

 DEMETRIUS. 99 Let us here record an example in the early life of De- metrius, showing his natural humane and kindl}^ dispo- sition. It was an adventure which passed betwixt him and Mithridates, the son of Ariobarzanes, who was about the same age with Demetrius, and lived with him, in at- tendance on Antigonus ; and although nothing was said or could be said to his reproach, he fell under suspicion, in consequence of a dream which Antigonus had. Anti- gonus thought himself in a fair and spacious field, where he sowed golden seed, and saw presently a golden crop come up ; of which, however, looking presently again, he saw nothing remain but the stubble, without the ears. And as he stood by in anger and vexation, he heard some voices saying, Mithridates had cut the golden harvest and carried it off into Pontus. Antigonus, much discomposed with his dream, first bouijd his son by an oath not to speak, and then related it to him, adding, that he had resolved, in consequence, to lose no time in I'idding him- self of Mithridates, and making away with him. Deme-. trius was extremely distressed ; and when the young man came, as usual, to pass his time with him, to keep his oath he forbore from saying a word, but, drawing him aside little by little from the company, as soon as they were by themselves, without opening his lips, with the point of his javelin he traced before him the words, " Fly, Mithridates." Mithridates took the hint, and fled by night into Cappadocia, where Antigonus's dream about him was quickly brought to its due fulfilment ; for he got possession of a large and fertile territory ; and from him descended the line of the kings of Pontus, which, in the eighth generation, was reduced by the Piomans. This may serve for a specimen of the early goodness and love of justice that was part of Demetrius's natural character. But as in the elements of the world, Empedoclea