ly.
When it had a little subsided, a venerable old man, whose beard, white
as the snow upon the summits of the mountains, reaching down to his
middle, slowly arose, and leaning upon his staff, spoke thus:--'Ninety
years have I tended my flocks amid these mountains, and during all that
time I have never seen a human being who was bold enough to propose to
the inhabitants of Lebanon that they should fear death more than infamy,
or submit to the vassals of a tyrant.' At this a second cry, which
seemed to rend the very heavens, was raised, and farther deliberation
judged unnecessary, except upon the most effectual means of defence. For
this purpose the aged and most experienced retired to a little distance
to consult. They were not long in their deliberations; it was
unanimously agreed that all who were able to bear arms should be
embodied, and wait for the approach of the enemy, within the boundaries
of their own mountains. The nature of the country, always rough, and in
many parts inaccessible, would afford them, they thought, sufficient
advantages even against the more numerous and better disciplined troops
of the invader; and, by the common consent of all, Sophron was named
the general of his country, and invested with supreme authority for its
defence.

"When these measures had been resolved upon, the assembly dispersed, and
Sophron was left alone with Chares. It was then the stranger thus
accosted him with a deep sigh:--'Did success, O virtuous Sophron, depend
entirely upon the justice of the cause, or upon the courage and zeal of
its defenders, I should have little doubt concerning the event of the
present contest, for I can truly say, that in all the various countries
I have visited, my eyes have never seen a more martial race than I have
this day beheld assembled; nor can I doubt that their sentiments
correspond to their appearance; all, therefore, that can be effected by
patience, activity, and dauntless courage, will be achieved by your
countrymen in defence of their liberty; but war, unfortunately, is a
trade where long experience frequently confers advantages which no
intrepidity can balance. The troops which are now approaching have been
for years inured to the practice of slaughter; they join to a courage
which defies every danger, a knowledge of every fraud and subtility
which can confound or baffle an adversary. In bodily strength, in
numbers, your countrymen are superior; even in courage, and the contempt