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NOTES TO THE THIRD BOOK OF THE COURTIER Virtue," as also is the instance next cited by Castiglione, who however reverses the order of events. Note 376, page 200. Erythrae was an important city on the west coast of Asia Minor opposite Chios. The nearest approach to 'Leuconia' in ancient geography is the distant town Leuconum in what is now Slavonia, between the Danube and the Save. Note 377, page 201. Plutarch's version of this story adds that in honour of the Persian women's bravery on this occasion, Cyrus (559-529 B.C.) decreed that whenever the king returned from a long journey, each woman should receive a ring of gold. Note 378, page 201. One of Plutarch's minor works is entitled "Apothegms and Famous Sayings of Spartan Women," and Castiglione's contemporary Marcantonio Casanova wrote two Latin distiches on "The Spartan Mother Slaying Her Son." Note 379, page 201. Saguntum, the modern Murviedro, was a city of Greek origin on the eastern coast of Spain. After a desperate siege of nearly eight months, it was captured by Hannibal in 219 B.C. Note 380, page 201. The reference here is to the victory, at Vercelli near Milan, by which the Roman general Caius Marius repelled the advance of the Cimbri into Italy, loi B.C. The sacred fire (supposed to have been brought from Troy by .ffineas as the symbol of Vesta, the hearth deity) was kept alive at Rome by six virgins. Note 381, page 202. Amalasontha, (498-535 A.D.), was the daughter of Theo- doric the Great, and regent of the East Gothic kingdom from his death in 526 until her own. After a prosperous reign she is said to have been strangled by her cousin and second husband Theodatus, at the instigation of the Empress Theodora, the wife of Justinian. Note 382, page 202. Theodolinda, daughter of Duke Garibald of Bavaria, married (589 A.D.) Autharis, King of the Lombards, and on his death in the following year, she married Duke Agilulph of Turin, who was proclaimed king in 591. She died in 625, after exercising the regency in the name of her son. Her virtue, wisdom and beauty were extolled; she was active in her labours on behalf of Christianity ; and she carried on a correspondence with St. Gregory, who was pope from 590 to 604. Note 383, page 202. The THEODORA here referred to is doubtless the wife, not of Justinian, but of Theophilus, Emperor of Constantinople 829-842. She died in 867, and was canonized by the Greek Church. Note 384, page 202. CouNTESS MATILDA, (1046-1115), one of the most famous 393