Read the _Historical Epitome_ of Cephalion.[291] It begins with
the reign of Ninus and Semiramis[292] and goes down to the times
of Alexander the Great. The entire history comprises nine books,
called after the nine Muses--Clio, Thalia, Polyhymnia, Melpomene,
Terpsichore, Euterpe, Calliope, Erato, and Urania, in which the acts
of Alexander, king of Macedon, are also related.
He writes in the Ionic dialect. The excessive brevity with which he
describes the bare facts of history leaves no room for admiration
or imitation. He says nothing about his race or family, but passes
them over in silence, like Homer, as he himself says. However, it
appears that he wrote the work during his exile in Sicily. While
saying nothing about his race or family, as he ought to have done, he
mentions his exile, an indication of meanness of spirit. His boast
of the number of authors consulted by him in compiling his history
shows a mind incapable of shaking off a petty and childish love of
display. He says that the first book of his history was compiled
from 570 books, of 31 of which he gives the authors’ names; the
second book from 208, with 25 authors’ names; the third from 600,
with 26 authors’ names; the fourth from 850, with 36 authors’ names;
the fifth from 200, with 26 authors’ names, and so on. Such is the
_History_ of Cephalion.