MERGE TO GYRENE. 567 dismissed them in haste, expressing his apprehension that they would corrupt the opinions of the Roman people *.

Cyrene appears to have not long survived the introduction of Christianity into Northern Africa; for we find it described as— a mass of ruin — by Synesius, who lived in the time of Theodosius the younger. It is probable, that when the bishopric was transferred to Ptolemais, this once beautiful city no longer existed ; and it is certain that the remains of Christian churches at Mersa Suza and Ptolemeta, (the Apollonia and Ptolemais of antiquity,) are superior in every respect to those which are found at Cyrene, and apparently of much more recent construction.

In returning from Cyrene to Bengazi, we proceeded by a different route from that which w'e had taken in approaching it ; and passed through a country rich in vegetation, and producing abundance of grain ; in which we observed frequent traces of building, particularly on the elevated spots of ground.

At Jenain, about two hours distance from Cyrene, we found two * Many pointed observations are recorded of Aristippus the elder, who appears to have possessed a very lively wit. He asked a certain person, who reproached him for having given a sumptuous entertainment — whether he would not have been equally hospitable if it would only have cost him three oboli ? When the other replied in the affirmative, Aristippus observed, “ It is you then, I find, who are fond of money, and not I of pleasure.” Dionysius once sent him three beautiful women, from which the philosopher was desired to select whichever pleased him most ; but Aristippus retained them all three; observing that “ Paris had greatly suffered by preferring one goddess to another.” When someone inquired what Aristippus would expect for the education of his son, he answered five hundred drachmas. “ I can buy a slave,” replied the other, “ foi that money.” “ Do so,” said Aristippus, “ and then you will have two.”