第38章

There is a tradition that Cadmus introduced into Greece the letters of the alphabet which were invented by the Phoenicians.

This is alluded to by Byron, where, addressing the modern Greeks, he says:

"You have the letters Cadmus gave, Think you he meant them for a slave?"Milton, describing the serpent which tempted Eve, is reminded of the serpents of the classical stories, and says, "-----pleasing was his shape, And lovely; never since of serpent kind Lovelier; not those that in Illyria changed Hermione and Cadmus, nor the god in Epidaurus."The "god in Epidaurus" was AEsculapius. Serpents were held sacred to him.

THE MYRMIDONS

The Myrmidons were the soldiers of Achilles in the Trojan war.

>From them all zealous and unscrupulous followers of a political chief are called by that name down to this day. But the origin of the Myrmidons would not give one the idea of a fierce and bloody race, but rather of a laborious and peaceful one.

Cephalus, king of Athens, arrived in the island of AEgina to seek assistance of his old friend and ally AEacus, the king, in his wars with Minos, king of Crete. Cephalus was kindly received, and the desired assistance readily promised. "I have people enough," said AEacus, "to protect myself and spare you such a force as you need." "I rejoice to see it," replied Cephalus, "and my wonder has been raised, I confess, to find such a host of youths as I see around me, all apparently of about the same age.