Note 1 — INTRODUCTION.

A striking instance of this occurs in Justin. Speaking of Harmodius and Aristogiton (see chap. v.), he says, “One of the murderers, being put to the torture to extract the names of his accomplices, enumerated all the nearest friends of Hippias. These were all put to death, and being asked whether any others were privy to his designs, he answered, that now none remained whom he wished to perish, except the tyrant himself. The city, admonished by his virtue, expelled Hippias.”—Lib. ii. 9. The virtue of this act consisted in sacrificing innocent lives to his revenge, by means of a lying accusation: and the stern endurance of this man is dignified with the praise of fortitude and patriotism, without the slightest reference to its atrocious injustice. The story itself rests upon Justin’s authority, and may reasonably be rejected as an improbable fiction.