Astyages, sovereign of the Medes, having dreamed that a vine springing from his daughter overspread all Asia, the soothsayers led him to apprehend that her offspring would deprive him of his dominions. In order to prevent this, he gave her in marriage to Cambyses, an obscure Persian, and delivered her son Cyrus to a confidential servant to be slain; but the direction not being observed, the child lived to overcome Astyages, and to translate the kingdom from the Medes to the Persians *.

Cambyses, when in Egypt, fancied in his sleep that he saw a messenger arrive from Persia, who reported to him that Smerdis, who had excited his jealousy, being seated on the royal throne, had touched the heavens with his head; on which he sent one of his confidential servants to put him to death; which being effected, gave occasion to the setting up of a

* Herod. L. i.

more formidable rival in a fictitious Smerdis, and eventually caused the death of Cambyses *.

Hamilcar, when he besieged Syracuse, is reported to have dreamed that he should sup the next night in the town. Encouraged by the vision he attempted the assault; but a mutiny having arisen in his army, the townsmen made a sally and took him prisoner.

Justus, a patrician Roman in the reign of Constantius, dreamed that the purple issued from his loins the report of the dream, it is said, excited the jealousy of Constantine, and provoked the emperor to put him to death; but his only daughter, Justina, a beautiful and modest girl, being seen in the bath by Severa Augusta, and made her attendant; and being commended to Valentinian, so engaged his affections, that he obtained a law to marry her,

* Herod. L. iii,

and made her a joint partner of the empire with his empress.

Naronianus is related to have dreamed that he was made consul, and that his son became emperor. Upon the death of Julian, the son ascended the imperial throne; but Naronianus dying, a son of the new emperor, whose name also was Naronianus, was elected consul, and the dreamer appeared to have been amused with a delusive ambiguity*.

* Fulgosius.

CHAPTER IV.

FARTHER

REMARKS ON DREAMS MEN

TIONED IN ANCIENT HISTORY.

Barbarians never taste the hallow'd streams

Of Prophecy, nor are inspir'd by dreams.

Claudian. in Ruf. L. ii. Pref. Nullus Castalios. &c.

It may perhaps be imagined, that some authority should be ascribed to those dreams which are recorded as having had a beneficial tendency, and as having proved conducive to the preservation and comfort of nations and illustrious persons.

Herodotus mentions, that when Sennacherib invaded Egypt with a strong army, and the soldiers, who had been injuriously treated by Sethon, refused to assist in the defence of the country, the priest repaired to the temple of

his god, and falling amidst his lamentations into sleep, dreamed that the deity appeared to him, and encouraged him with the assurance, that if he marched against the troops of the Assyrians, he should suffer no injury, for that God would send him assistance. Encouraged by the vision he marched with his followers, among whom were no soldiers, to Pelusium, where vast numbers of mice in the night invaded the enemy: they gnawed their quivers and bows, and thongs of the shields, so that the next day the Assyrians took flight, and many were destroyed. This, however, seems to be a perverted account of the relation given in the sacred history †.

There are other dreams, which appear to have had a tendency to produce useful purposes; such are those related to have occurred to Themistocles when in exile. In one here alluded to, he is related, when advancing towards a city called Leontocephalus, or the

Herod. L. ii. C. 141.

+ 2 Kings xix. 33.