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BALAUSTION'S ADVENTURE.
9
Might you know any of his verses too?"
Now, some one of the Gods inspired this speech:Since ourselves knew what happened but last year—How, when Gulippos gained his victoryOver poor Nikias, poor Demosthenes,And Syracuse condemned the conquered forceTo dig and starve i' the quarry, branded them—Freeborn Athenians, brute-like in the frontWith horse-head brands,—ah, "Region of the Steed"!—Of all these men immersed in misery,It was found none had been advantaged soBy aught in the past life he used to prizeAnd pride himself concerning,—no rich manBy riches, no wise man by wisdom, noWiser man still (as who loved more the Muse)By storing, at brain's edge and tip of tongue,Old glory, great plays that had long ago
