Page:The battle of the books - Guthkelch - 1908.djvu/306

232 of his great monarchy, but hard ones of his cruelty and barbarity, that made me suppose such matters did not busy his head. Mr B., then, might have saved that diminishing character that he gives here of Phalaris's power. One may guess it was much against his mind, to depress his Sicilian prince; but his anger against his antagonist was stronger here than his sense of loyalty. But let us see how he manages! "He was only a petty prince," he says, "of one town in Sicily." I perceive, he has not lost all his former respect for him; he will make him a prince still, though it be but a petty one. But why so ill natured as to allow him but one single town Agrigentum; and in that single town, too, to take away half of his subjects? What will he do therefore with Suidas, who makes him tyrant of all Sicily? or with Diogenianus, who affirms, that he subdued the city and country of Leontini? or with Polyaenus, who makes him conquer the Sicanians and take Ouessa (or rather Inessa) their capital city? or with Diodorus, who informs us, that he had two castles,, and , in the territories of Gela, a day's journey from Agrigentum? or lastly, what will he do with the Epistles themselves,