454 LUC I AN
barbarians fell in such numbers, and so many cities were destroyed ?
Hermes. But, Menippus, you did n't see the woman alive. Else you, too, would have declared it a blame- less thing " to suffer ills so long a time for such a lady's sake." ^ For, take the case of flowers that are with- ered ; if one should look at them, now that they have lost their color, to him no doubt they will seem un- sightly. When, however, they are in blossom and have their proper hue, they are in the highest degree beautiful.
Meniiypus. Therefore, Hermes, I 'm amazed at this, that the Greeks did n't perceive that they were strain- ing every nerve over a thing so ephemeral and easily fading away.
Hermes. Well, Menippus, I have n't any leisure for arguing the matter with you. So select a spot wherever you please, and lay yourself down and stay there. For I must go at once and fetch the rest of the dead.
PEREGRINUS
" Peregrinus Proteus, who burned himself alive at the Olympic games in A. d. 165, — Lucian himself being present, — had been a Christian before he became a Cynic." This selection contains §§ 11-13 of the letter of Lucian which give an account of Peregrinus's death.
At this time also he ^ made himself proficient in the marvellous wisdom of the Christians by keeping com- pany, around about Palestine, with their priests and scribes. Yes, and would you believe it ? — in a short ^ Homer's Iliad, ΠΙ. 157. ^ Peregrinus.
