was a tyrant of Samos, famous for the good fortune which always attended him. He became very powerful; and got possession not only of the neighbouring islands, but also of some cities on the coast of Asia. He had a fleet of 100 ships of war, and was so universally esteemed, that Amasis the king of Egypt made a treaty of alliance with him. The Egyptian king was, however, afraid of his continued prosperity, and advised him to chequer his enjoyments, by relinquishing some of his most favourite objects. Polycrates, in compliance, threw into the sea a beautiful seal, the most valuable of his jewels. The loss of so precious a seal afflicted him for some time; but soon after he received as a present a large fish, in whose belly it was found. Amasis no sooner heard this, than he gave up all

(A) The miraculous part of this account is ridiculed by Dr Middleton in his Free Enquiry and Defence of it; but something is offered in its favour by Mr Jortin, who observes, "the circumstances are sufficient only to create a pause and a doubt." Remarks on Ecclesiastical History, vol. i.

(B) Jortin, vol. i. p. 68. who to the particulars made out by Cotelerius, has added one from Galat. iv. 26, and another from Hebr. iv. 12, 13. Polycrates all alliance with the tyrant of Samos, and observed, that sooner or later his good fortune would vanish. Some time after Polycrates visited Magnesia on the Maeander, where he had been invited by Orontes the governor. Here he was shamefully put to death, merely because the governor wished to terminate his prosperity. The daughter of Polycrates had dissuaded her father from going to the house of Orontes, on account of the bad dreams which she had, but in vain.