aving at length got a little
sleep, he had a dream, in which, in the midst of a thunder-storm, a bolt
seemed to him to fall upon his father's house, and the house in
consequence became all in a blaze. 12. Being greatly frightened, he
immediately awoke, and considered his dream as in one respect
favourable, (inasmuch as, being in troubles and dangers, he seemed to
behold a great light from Jupiter,) but in another respect he was
alarmed, (because the dream appeared to him to be from Jupiter who was a
king, and the fire to blaze all around him,) lest he should be unable to
escape from the king's territories, but should be hemmed in on all sides
by inextricable difficulties.

13. What it betokens, however, to see such a dream, we may conjecture
from the occurrences that happened after the dream. What immediately
followed was this. As soon as he awoke, the thought that first occurred
to him was, "Why do I lie here? The night is passing away. With daylight
it is probable that the enemy will come upon us; and if we once fall
into the hands of the king, what is there to prevent us from being put
to death with ignominy, after witnessing the most grievous sufferings
among our comrades, and enduring every severity of torture ourselves?
14. Yet no one concerts measures, or takes thought, for our defence, but
we lie still, as if we were at liberty to enjoy repose. From what city,
then, do I expect a leader to undertake our defence? What age am I
waiting for to come to myself? Assuredly I shall never be older, if I
give myself up to the enemy to-day." 15. After these reflections he
arose, and called together, in the first place, the captains that were
under Proxenus.

When they were assembled, he said, "For my part, captains, I cannot
sleep, nor, I should think, can you, nor can I lie still any longer,
when I consider in what circumstances we are placed; 16. for it is plain
that the enemy did not openly manifest hostility towards us, until they
thought that they had judiciously arranged their plans; but on our side
no one takes any thought how we may best maintain a contest with them.
17. Yet if we prove remiss, and fall into the power of the king, what
may we not expect to suffer from a man who cut off the head and hand of
his own brother by the same mother and father, even after he was dead,
and fixed them upon a stake? What may not we, I say, expect to suffer,
who have no relative[121] to take our part, and who have marched agai