ne, or rather the force and
coolness of Sophron, prevailed over the blind impetuous fury of
Tigranes; he at once exerted his whole remaining strength, with such
success that he hurled his adversary to the ground, where he lay,
bleeding, vanquished, and unable to rise. 'Thou scarcely,' said Sophron,
'deservest thy life from my hands, who couldst so wantonly and unjustly
attempt to deprive me of mine; however, I will rather remember thy early
merits than my recent injuries.' 'No,' replied the raging Tigranes,
'load me not with thy odious benefits; but rather rid me of a life which
I abhor, since thou hast robbed me of my honour.' 'I will never hurt
thee,' replied Sophron, 'but in my own just defence; live to make a
better use of life, and to have juster ideas of honour.' Saying this, he
assisted Tigranes to rise, but finding his temper full of implacable
resentment, he turned another way, and left him to go home alone.

"It was not long after this event that a company of soldiers marched
across the plains where Sophron was feeding his flocks, and halted to
refresh themselves under the shade of some spreading trees. The officer
who commanded them was struck with the comely figure and expressive
countenance of Sophron. He called the young man to him, and endeavoured
to inflame him with a military ardour, by setting before him the glory
which might be acquired by arms, and ridiculing the obscurity of a
country life. When he thought he had sufficiently excited his
admiration, he proposed to him that he should enrol himself in his
company; and promised him every encouragement which he thought most
likely to engage the passions of a young man. Sophron thanked him, with
humility, for his offers, but told him he had an aged father, who was
now become incapable of maintaining himself, and therefore that he could
accept of no offers, however advantageous they might appear, which would
interfere with the discharge of this duty. The officer replied, and
ridiculed the scruples of the young man; but, finding him inflexible in
his resolution, he at last turned from him with an air of contempt, and
called his men to follow him, muttering, as he went, reflections on the
stupidity and cowardice of Sophron.

"The party had not proceeded far, before, by ill fortune, they came to
the place where Sophron's favourite lamb was feeding; and as the animal
had not yet learned to dread the cruelty of the human species, it
advanced towards them with