Page:The Poetical Works of Thomas Parnell (1833).djvu/276

148 when once they imagined he was Zoilus. The Scyronian rocks were near them, and thither they hurried him with a general cry, to that speedy justice which is practised at places of diversion.

It is here, that, according to Suidas, the critic expired. But we, following the more numerous testimonies of other authors, conclude he escaped either by the lowness of those rocks whence he was thrust, or by bushes which might break his fall; and soon after following the courses of his first intention, he set sail for Egypt.

Egypt was at this time governed by Ptolemy Philadelphus, a prince passionately fond of learning, and learned men; particularly an admirer of Homer to adoration. He had built the finest library in the world, and made the choicest, as well as most numerous collection of books. No encouragements were wanting from him to allure men of the brightest genius to his court, and no time thought too much which he spent in their company. From hence it is that we hear of Eratosthenes and Aristophanes, those universal scholars, and candid judges of other men's performances; Callimachus, a poet of the most easy, courteous delicacy, famous for a poem on the cutting of Berenice's hair, and whom Ovid so much admired as to say, "It was reason enough for him to love a woman, if she would but tell him he exceeded Callimachus;" Theocritus, the most famous in the pastoral way of writing; and among