THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 ^^ r\ 
 
 H43E1 
 
 m? 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 INTENDING to give a jhort Account of 
 Herodotus, and of his Hiftory which is here 
 prefented to tbe Publick in Englifh, / think 
 myfelf oblig'd in the frft Place to fay fomething 
 of Hiftory in general. For what can be more juft, 
 than tojhew the Value and Ufefulnefs of this kind 
 of Writing, when I am to fpeak of the Man who 
 firft placed it in true Dignity and Luftre ; and by 
 the native Strength of his own Genius raised at 
 once that noble and beautiful Structure, which has 
 ferv'd for a Model to fucceeding Ages ? Before 
 his Time, whatever had the Title of Hiftory, was, 
 for the moft part, either Fable and Poetical Fic- 
 tion ; or, at beft, but a naked Regifter of publick 
 Events ; hardly more than a bare Lift of the 
 Names of the principal Aclors, and of the Places 
 of Aclion ; without Ornament, without Life ; 
 affecting the Eye rather than informing the Un- 
 der/landing, or moving the Heart, by fpecifying 
 the Caufes, Councils, and Circutnftances, which 
 give Rife to every Aftion, influence the various 
 Turns, and produce the final IJ/ue of all publick 
 Enterprises. Herodotus found out the Art ofcol- 
 le&ing the rough Materials, Jhaping them in juft 
 A ^ Proportion* 
 
 473372 
 
 LIBRARY
 
 iv The P R E F A C E. 
 
 Proportion, ranging them in exaft Order, and 
 giving the whole Frame majejtick Beauty and im~ 
 mortal Strength. 
 
 I may venture to fay, that whatever is truly 
 ufeful, cannot but be pleafing to human Nature. 
 And, as nothing in the World is fo ufeful and be- 
 neficial as Government founded on common Equity 
 and Prudence -, fo nothing is fo delightful to the 
 Mind, as the Contemplation of the Happinefs of 
 bearing a Part in a well-regulated Community, 
 tfhere is fuch a Charm in good Order and fleady 
 ~Difcipline, that whole Nations have been raviftfd 
 with it to fuch a Degree, as to feem for fever al 
 Ages, to have been infenfible of all other Pleafure : 
 And by how much any Man excelled others in Ele- 
 vation and Greatnefs of Soul, by fo much more was 
 he inflamed with a Zeal to contribute to the Pre- 
 fervation of that good Order, and in Conference to 
 the general Felicity. 
 
 'THOSE who are acquainted with the Aftions 
 of the ancient Grecians and Romans, will readily 
 ajjent to this 'Truth : Which will by a natural In- 
 ference lead them to another, and demonftrate, That 
 of all kinds of Writing none is fo ufeful and en- 
 tertaining as Hiftory. 
 
 THE Poets were quick to obferve this in the 
 earlieft and rudeft Times ; and therefore feiz'd a 
 Province fo fertile of Incidents proper to infpire 
 the fublimeft Thoughts in themfelves, and by the 
 means of their powerful Art to work upon the Paf- 
 fions of others j and were the firft who fet up for 
 Hiftorians. But the Richnefs of the Soil, proved 
 the Ruin of the luxuriant Difcoverers : The in- 
 nate Luftre of great Attions wrought fo ftrongly on 
 Minds too fufceptible of the lighteft Impreffions, 
 that they overheated their Imaginations, quitted the 
 
 common
 
 The PREFACE, w 
 
 common Theatre of Human Life, and foaring out 
 of Reafon's View from Hyperbole to Fable, loft 
 themfelves in the Clouds to 'which they had exalted 
 their Bacchus, their Hercules, and the reft of 
 their Heroes. 
 
 I have faid that 'tis natural, from the Benefit 
 and Happinefs arifing from good Government, to 
 infer the Ufe and Pleafure of Hiftory. 'Tis indeed 
 moft natural ; feeing the one was the very Caufe 
 and Parent of the other. y Twas good Government 
 'which gave Life and Being to Hiftory ; and refcued 
 Mankind from the Delujion of Fable, 'The politi- 
 cal Inftitutions of Solon and Lycurgus$ produced a 
 long Series of more beautiful and glorious Scenes of 
 real Attions, than all the Poets infpir'd by their 
 Apollo, had ever been able to figure to themfelves 
 in Idea, and deliver In Fiflion. 
 
 THE Mind of Man does not willingly endure 
 Deception : The Poets could no longer amufe with 
 wonftrous Shadows, Eyes which had feen the na- 
 tive Force of good Order eftablijh'd on impartial 
 Reafon and natural Equity. In a Word, the juft 
 Lawgiver prepaid the Way for the judicious Hif- 
 torian : And (to come clofe to my prefent Purpofe) 
 Herodotus happily found, in the Times immediately 
 preceding his own, a Subjeft which fupplied him at 
 once with all the Rules for writing Hiftory ; and 
 had only the plain (tho* that be the difficult] Tajk, 
 to fuit his Compofition and Stile to the Conduft of 
 the Nations whofe Actions and Manners he under- 
 took to relate. 
 
 EXPERIMENT and Comparifon render 
 Men capable of finding the true Value of every 
 Thing. On the jirft Appearance of Herodotus* 
 all the fabulous Legends of the Poets, with the in- 
 animate Regifters of dry Annalifts, were found to 
 A 3 bear
 
 vi The PREFACE. 
 
 bear no Proportion, either in Profit or Delight, 
 when thrown into the Balance againfl his Hiftory. 
 Ana in like manner ; the Comparifon which every 
 Man who reads bis Work cannot but make, of 
 the different Effects of an Equal and 'Tyrannical 
 Government, of firm and flack Difcipline, of Cau- 
 tion and Prefumption, of Fortitude and Meannefs 
 of Spirit, of Dijfolutenefs and Sobriety, in Jhort, 
 of all kinds of Virtue and Vice, upon all Conditions 
 and Degrees of Men, from Monarchs and States 
 down to private Perfons ; that Comparifon, I 
 fay, has been the principal Rule of Writing 
 (from which the reft are eafily deduced) to all the 
 Hiflorians who have fucceeded him, and muft be 
 the eternal Meafure to others for judging of all 
 Human Affairs. As will appear amply, from a 
 general View of the Inflruftion and Entertainment 
 of Hiftory. 
 
 NO PaJJion is fo Jlrong in Man, and fo uni- 
 verfal in all Ages and Nations, as that of ac- 
 quiring Glory by publick Services. Not only 'Tri- 
 umphs and Statues, but even Crowns of Leaves* 
 beftow'd as a national Acknowledgment of diflin- 
 guiflfd Merit, have been purfued with as much 
 Eagernefs and Danger, as ever the Rewards of 
 Titles and Riches pojjibly can : And I believe few 
 Men are fo fordid or profligate, as not to own 
 themf elves affeRed with a Defirc of Reputation, 
 in fuch a modefl Degree as is fui fable to their Sta- 
 tion in the World -, at leafl, that they are difpos'd 
 to live with fome Decency, however privately. 
 Now in whatever Station a Man is placed, whe- 
 ther publick or private, he will find himfelf more 
 or lefs qualified to manage his own Affairs, or thofe 
 of the Community to which he belongs, as his Know- 
 ledge of Men and Things is more or lefs extenfive. 
 2 \ '.-, The
 
 The P R E F A C E. vii 
 
 'The Means of -acquiring Knowledge are of two 
 Sorts, Experience or Information. The jirft is ne- 
 ver very confiderable in Men, till they are paft the 
 Exercife of almoft all Virtues : And Themifto- 
 cles feems reafonably to complain of the miferable 
 Condition of Man, who muft die as foon as he be- 
 gins to know how to live. Befides all who at- 
 tain to old Age, do not arrive at Experience : 'The 
 Employments that lead to it are not many : And 
 the longeft Life affords but few Opportunities of 
 extraordinary Actions. As for perfonal Informa- 
 tion from others, it can at beft only reach tofuch 
 Affairs as have pafs'd in their own 'Time, and 
 that imperfectly ; but what is this in Compari- 
 fon ' to fo many Thoufand Tears included in the 
 Hiftorical Regijiers of the World ? Which bring 
 all Human Things under the Eye of the Reader 
 within a fmall Compafs ; teach him to form his 
 Conduft by the beft Examples \ and reprefent 
 fuch a Variety of Conjunctures and Accidents, 
 as confider'd with Judgment creates a Habit of 
 Prudence, without the Help of Age or actual Ex- 
 perience. Hiftory is fo far preferable to the 
 longeft Experience, as the paft Ages comprehend 
 more Examples than the Age of one Man. The 
 Dead are the beft Counfellors ; not to be cor- 
 rupted by Money ; not to be terrified by Pow- 
 er ; not to be perfuaded by Intreaty ; not de- 
 ceiving by falfe Colours. They will faithfully in* 
 JtruEl us by what means Empires are erected, de- 
 cay, and perijh : How a fmall State may become 
 great : With what Judgment Wars are to be un~ 
 dertaken ; and with what Diligence purfued : 
 With what Caution to treat of Peace, or engage 
 in Leagues, without Injuftice, Dishonour, or Da- 
 mage. In jborty would we know what Fate at- 
 A 4 tends
 
 viii The PREFACE. 
 
 tends any State or Kingdom ? Hiftory only will 
 teach us, from a thoufand Examples, to exercife 
 the Art of Divination innocently and furely : And 
 at leaft cannot but have this Effect, that hardly 
 any thing can feem new, aftonijhing, or dreadful 
 to us. In Hiftory, as in the Book of Fate, ft and 
 recorded the Glory of good Men, and the eternal 
 Infamy of the Bad : By which every private Per- 
 fon is taught how to acquit himfelf in all Conditions 
 ' fo as to deferve the Name of a Man ; and Princes 
 are warn'd that they are no more than Men, and 
 that Fame is always juft to the Dead, however 
 partial to the Living. 'The Art of Government is 
 beft learnt from Hiftory ; or rather that 'tis no 
 Art, but that the fame Caufes ever did and will 
 produce the fame Effects. So that Statefmen can 
 never be at a Lofs how to exert the Virtues of For- 
 titude, Conftancy, and Integrity, to prevent or cure 
 the publick Dif orders and Calamities. Generals 
 are inftruEted by the Delays of Fabius, and the 
 Celerity of Casfar ; the Stratagems of Lyfander, 
 and the Induftry of Hannibal. Even Nations 
 learn, from the Description they find of Servitude, 
 how to value Liberty : Phalaris, Dionyfius, Ne- 
 ro, Caligula, Domitian, and too many others, are 
 the terrifying Examples ; and by the fraudulent 
 Practices of a Philip, are taught to ft op their 
 Ears againft the moft fpecious Promifes of one ac- 
 cuftotrfd to deceive. 
 
 TO conclude, nothing can be more delightful, 
 than by the means of Hiftory to enter the Athenian 
 Areopagus, and the Roman Senate: To be pre- 
 fent with Leonidas at Thermopyle, with Arifti- 
 des at Plata?a, with Scipio at Carthage, and with 
 Alexander at Arbela : To be placed as a Spectator 
 cut of all Hazard, to learn Wifdomfrom the Dan- 
 2 gers
 
 The PREFACE. ix 
 
 gers of others -, to take a diftincj View of paft Go- 
 vernments, Cuftoms, and Manners ; and by ap- 
 plying former Examples to our own Ufe, reap the 
 Advantage of other Mens Experience, and of Try- 
 ah already made in every kind. 
 
 HERODOTUS was lorn at Halicarnafliis, 
 a Grecian Colony in the lower Afia, a little be- 
 fore the Invafion of Greece by Xerxes ; and Uv'd 
 to the 'Times of the Peloponefian War. He with- 
 drew from the Place of his Nativity to Samos, 
 to avoid the tyranny of Lygdamis, Grandfon 
 of the famous Artemifia fo often mentioned in his 
 Hiftory. From thence returning after feme Time 
 to his own Country, he had a principal Part in 
 the Expuljion of the Tyrant : But foon finding him- 
 felf envied and us'd with Ingratitude, he went to 
 Italy with a Colony fent by the Athenians to build 
 a City, which they caird Thurium, near the Ruins 
 of the ancient Sybaris. 
 
 WHETHER he wrote his Hiftory at Sa- 
 mos or Thurium, is not certain : But both thofe 
 Places being governed in a popular manner, left him 
 free from all Impreffions of Hope or Fear, which 
 might incline him to Flattery or Detraction. And 
 as for Truth, he fpar'd no Pains to collet! the beft 
 Information that could pojjibly be had. To that 
 End he traveled into /Egypt, faw all the princi- 
 pal Cities, and conversed with the Priefts of that 
 Country: He fpent fome Time in vifiting the feve- 
 ral Parts of Greece ; went to Babylon and Tyre ; 
 and was in Thrace, Scythia, Arabia, and Pa- 
 leftine. 
 
 HAVING composed his Hiftory from the 
 Materials he had with fo great Labour collecJed, 
 he refolv'd to expofe it to the Cenfure of Men, who 
 were not only well informed of the main Faffs, but 
 
 perfeclly
 
 x The P R E F A C E. 
 
 perfectly qualified to judge of his Performance. He 
 went to the Olympian Exercifes, for which the 
 Grecians were affembled from all Parts. Many 
 cf thefe doubtlefs had been perfonally in one or other 
 of the Battles againft the Perfians ; and not a Man y 
 could be ignorant, at the diftance of fo few Tears, 
 cf the chief Circumftances of a War fo important 
 to all Greece, fo this Affembly, composed of Men, 
 own'd by the moft knowing Part of the World to 
 have been their Mafters in all the nobleft Arts, he 
 read his Hiftory, which with infinite Applaufe 
 was universally approved. 
 
 AFTER a Judgment fo folemn and in every 
 Refpeff fo valuable, 'tis unneceffary to colletJ all 
 the Suffrages of the beft Writers of fucceeding Times 
 among the Grecians and Romans, in Praife of 
 Herodotus. Tet I am unwilling to omit, that 
 Cicero to Jbew his Eftecm for our Author ufes the 
 highejl Expre/ion the Roman Language is capable 
 of, filling him the Father of Hiftory i not becaufe 
 he was the moft ancient, for befides others of lefs 
 Fame, Hellanicus of Mitylene and Charon of 
 Lampfacus were before him ; but judging him the 
 Prince of Hiftorians, he gave him the Title of Fa- 
 ther, which the Romans ever us'd to denote a Per- 
 fon moft illuftrious and highly deferving of the Com- 
 monwealth : The Name of Lord being held in Ab- 
 horrence, till the SuppreJJion of their Liberty intro- 
 duc'd the Name with the Thing. Nor can I with- 
 eut Injuftice fupprefs the Teftimony given to him by 
 Dionyfius the Halicarnaman ; becaufe his own ad- 
 mirable Hiftory is the higheft Proof of his Ability 
 tofpeak juftly on this Argument. 
 
 THIS Writer in his Critical and Rhetorical 
 Works, extols the Happinefs of Herodotus in chu- 
 fing a Sukjetl of the great eft Dignity, that Jhew'd 
 
 his
 
 The PREFACE. xi 
 
 bis Country in the utmoft Glory ; and proved to a 
 Demonftration, by the uniform SucceJJes of the 
 Battles of Marathon, Salamis, Plataea, and My- 
 cale, that Superiority of Numbers was but a feeble 
 Defence to the Great King againft the military 
 Virtue and excellent Difcipline of the Grecians. He 
 commends the Smoothnefs and unaffected Simplicity 
 of his Narration j the Decency of his Speeches, 
 moft artfully adapted to the Character of every Per- 
 fonfpeaking -, together with the beautiful Order and 
 Compaction of his Hiftory, which by following 
 Things ; not Time, ever charms to the loft Syllable, 
 and leaves the Reader with a dejire of more : Pre- 
 ferring him to Thucydides in every thing, except 
 Brevity, Vehemence, and clofe Reafoning , 'Talents, 
 if I mijlake not, more proper to an Orator than a 
 Hiftorian , and probably for that Reafon fo much 
 efteem'd and imitated by Demofthenes, that he is 
 faid to have written over his Hiftory eight times 
 with his own Hand. 
 
 AS Herodotus us'd the proper eft Means not to 
 be imposed upon, fo in many Places of his Hiftory 
 he has prov'd himfelf to be free, as well from Cre- 
 dulity, as from any Intention to impofe upon others, 
 by insinuating and fometimes by arguing the Impro- 
 bability, either of general Reports, or of fame par- 
 ticular Informations he himfelf had received. In 
 his 2d Book he fays, Thefe Things are related by 
 the ^Egyptians ; and if any Man think them cre- 
 dible, he is at Liberty : For me, I am oblig'd 
 to write what I have heard. In another Place, 
 Thefe Things I relate after the Libyans. And 
 though many like Warnings are drop'd in divers 
 Parts of his Work ; yet out of abundant Caution 
 be thinks Jit to make this plain Declaration in his 
 7th Book, I am oblig'd to relate what is faid, 
 
 tho f
 
 xii The PREFACE. 
 
 tho' I am not oblig'd to believe every thing with- 
 out Diftinction -, which I defire may be conlider'd 
 iii all the courfe of this Hiftory. to this let it be 
 added, 'That feveral things which he relates, and 
 were formerly disbelieved, have by the modern Na- 
 vigations been found to be true, as well as other 
 things moreflrange than mqft of thofe he mentions : 
 'That Length of Time, Alteration of Manners, va- 
 rious Revolutions, and in many Places a total 
 Change of the Face of Things, render us in fome 
 meafure incompetent "Judges of what may have really 
 been in Nature and Cuftom, efpecially in the moft 
 remote and unfrequented Parts of the World : I 
 fay, let all this be confided d, and I believe no in- 
 genious Man will think Herodotus ftands in need 
 of a more laboured Apology. But befides, the Ground 
 of his Hiftory was, the Wars between the Grecians 
 and Barbarians ; and all the firange Cuftoms and 
 Religions which he takes Occafion to defcribe, feem 
 intended rather to give us a Notion of what human 
 Nature is capable, than for an ejjential Part of 
 his main Defign : And therefore no wife Man will 
 intcrefl himfelf any farther in thofe Relations, or 
 lay any greater Strefs upon them, than he thinks 
 reafonable , but will attend chiefly to the Excellence 
 find Infiruttion of the fubftantial and vital Part of 
 the Hiftory. 
 
 I am not ignorant that Plutarch has left behind 
 him a whole Book againfl Herodotus, in which he 
 accufes him of fpeaking too favourably of the Bar- 
 barians, and cenfuring the Conduff of all the Gre- 
 cians in general ; but moft efpecially defaming the 
 Boeotians and Corinthians : Of attributing, with- 
 out Reafcn, the Original of the Grecian Gods to 
 .fligypt , and giving too much Credit to the Rela- 
 tions of the Egyptians : Of Impiety, in attribu- 
 ting
 
 The PREFACE. xiii 
 
 ting to Solon his own irreligious Sentiments , and, 
 insinuating, or rather affirming, that the Delphian 
 Oracle was federal times corrupted, and guilty of 
 Impofture : With many more Imputations of vari- 
 ous Kinds. Now one would think, that in order 
 to ruin the Reputation of Herodotus, Plutarch 
 ought to have foewn, that when he commends or 
 approves any part of the Conduct or Manners of the 
 Barbarians, he had no good Ground for his Opinion \ 
 and when he mentions the Faults and mutual Ani- 
 mofities of the Grecians, his Allegations were un- 
 true : He might at leaft have produced feme plaufi- 
 ble Arguments, to-fiytw that the Religion of Greece 
 was not derived from ^Egypt j and have acknow- 
 ledg'd with the Sincerity which becomes a Philofc- 
 pher, that the Account of the Egyptian Affairs, 
 to the Reign of Pfarameticus, was by the Hiftori- 
 an's own Declaration intirely owing to the Relati- 
 ons he had from the Priefts of that Country : He 
 ought to have brought fame Authority to 'prove that 
 the Words attributed to Solon, had been by foms 
 or other accounted fuppofititious : And that, to ac- 
 cufe the Oracle of Obliquity, double Meaning, and 
 Corruption, was a mere Abufe : But he was too 
 angry to take fuch Meafures, as might ferve to 
 Jhew his Judgment or Ingenuity : And becaufe he 
 found his Countrymen the Thebans, and all the 
 reft of the Boeotians, except the Platseans and Thef- 
 pians, branded by the Hiftorian with the Infamy 
 of betraying the Common Caufe, and openly Jiding 
 with the fworn Enemy of the Grecian Name, he 
 could not bear the Reproach, however jitft. Tet, 
 the Fatl is fo notorious, that not only Demofthenes 
 appeals to it in one of his * Philippics as to a 
 
 * Second Philip. 
 
 Truth
 
 xiv The PREFACE. 
 
 Truth univerfally known ; but Xenophon himfelf 
 in his Grecian * Hiftory concurs with Herodotus 
 in charging the fame Guilt upon that People. As 
 for the Corinthians, the many honourable Teftimo- 
 nies given them by Herodotus, particularly the 
 Speech of Soficles their AmbaJJador to diffuade the 
 Lacedaemonians from fupporting the 'Tyrant Hip- 
 pias ; and the generous Refolution, he acknowledges, 
 they took., rather to break with thofe powerful Al- 
 lies^ than to take Part with them in an unjuft 
 War -, are fufficient to demonftrate that the Phi- 
 lofopher was either blinded by Paffion, or vainly 
 thought by {hewing a Concern for others to efcape 
 the Imputation of open Partiality to his Boeotians. 
 Having touch* d upon thefe few things, IJkall not 
 enter into a longer Difpute in Vindication of our 
 Hiftorian , partly, becaufe I am unwilling to tran- 
 fcribe from Camerarius, Stephanus, Balduinus, 
 Dupin, and many others, who have defended him 
 from the Exceptions of Plutarch ; but chiefly, be- 
 caufe I amperfuaded his own Hiftory will fet this 
 Matter in the cleareft Light, and beft determine 
 the Queftion, Whether Herodotus has partially 
 favoured the Barbarians, and invidioujly afpers'd 
 the Conduct and Manners of the Grecians ? Or, 
 Whether the Charge of Malignity and DetraRion^ 
 which Plutarch fo liberally throws upon him^ may 
 not with better Reafon be retorted on himfelf? 
 
 I forbear to mention the Elegance ', Fluency, and 
 Sweetnefs of his Stile, (in which the beft Judges 
 among the Ancients unanimoujly allow Herodotus 
 to have excelled all others -,) becaufe I am fenfible 
 I have not been able to transfufe thofe Graces 
 into my Verfion. I have endeavoured, I confefs, 
 
 VII.
 
 The P R E F A C E. xv 
 
 tvjhew his Air and 'Turn of ExpreJJion, as well as 
 bis Meaning ; imagining that moft Readers would 
 not be difpleas'd to fee fome kind of Representation, 
 however imperfeft, of the Genius and Spirit of fo 
 great a Mafter : And, in doing this, I have, with- 
 out Regret, frequently facrific'd a fafhionable Phrafe 
 to a plain Exprejfion which I judgd nearer to the 
 Author's native Candor and Simplicity. But, upon 
 the whole, I am not infenfible that many Errors 
 may be found in my Tran/latton ; which I might 
 offer to excufe in fome meafure, by charging part on 
 the Faults which thro* the Negligence of Tranfcri- 
 bers have crept into the Original, and part on 
 the difficulty of forming (at fo great a diftance of 
 Time, in which the whole Face of the World is in 
 all refpefts fo much changd,) a certain and juft 
 Notion of feveral Things mentioned in the Courfe 
 of this Hiftory : But IJhall content myfelf to fay, 
 that I have not willingly left any Paffage erroneous 
 or obfcure, tho* I had not Ability to mend all that 
 Ifaw orfufpefted.
 
 An EXPLANATION of feme Words 
 
 occurring in this Hijiory. 
 
 AMPHORA, is a Meafure containing about a Twelfth 
 Part of our Hogfhead. 
 
 Artabe, about a Bufhel and half of our Meafure. 
 Catadupiam, fo calPd, becaufe they inhabit near the Cataracls. 
 Cbatnix, a Grecian Meafure, containing about two Pints or 
 
 Pounds. 
 
 Cubit, is a Meafure one Foot and half in Length. 
 Cypftla, a Sort of Cheft, containing about 9 of our Bufhels, 
 
 in which the Corn for the prefent Ufe of the Family was 
 
 conftantly kept. 
 
 Foot, confifts of 4 Palms, and is two Thirds of a Cubit. 
 Icbtbyopbages, ^Egyptians of Elephantis, who eat Fifli. 
 Libation, Wine or other Liquor pour'd out on the Sacrifices, 
 
 in Honour of the Gods. 
 
 Medimnus, a Meafure containing about a Buftiel and half. 
 Mine, (Altick) worth about 26 of our Shillings. 
 Macrobians-, certain ^Ethiopians, fo call'd from their Jong 
 
 Life j which commonly extended to 1 20 Years, according 
 
 to pur Author. 
 
 Nmades, fo call'd becaufe they were Keepers of Cattle. 
 Orguya, which is tranflated Perch or Fathom, was the Mea- 
 fure of 6 Foot or 4 Cubits. 
 Parafange, contains 30 Stades in Length. 
 Palm, is the 4 lh Part of a Foot. 
 Pletbron, fix of thefe make a Stade. 
 Scbane, confifts of 60 Stades. 
 A Stade, is generally accounted equal to 125 Geometrical 
 
 Paces, and allowing 5 Foot to each Pace, the Stade a- 
 
 mounts to 625 Foot. 
 Stater of Gold, a Per/tan Coin of the Value of about 26 of 
 
 our Shillings. 
 Talent, (Attick) is by fome accounted worth 60 Pound weight 
 
 of Silver ; by others 80. 
 
 '7w not pretended that this Calculation is entirely ex aft : Pat 
 it may pojfibly ferve to prevent fome grofs Mijiakes, which Men 
 unacquainted with tbefe Wordt might otberviife make in reading 
 ibe HiJIorj. 
 
 THE
 
 HISTORY 
 
 O F 
 
 HERODOTUS. 
 
 BOOK I. 
 
 C L I O. 
 
 HERODOTUS of Halicarna/us writes 
 this Hiftory, that the Memory of 
 Things paft may not be extinguifh'd 
 by Length of Time, nor the great and 
 admirable Actions of the Grecians and Barbari- 
 ans remain deftitute of Glory ; relating, with 
 other Things, the Caufes of the Wars that hap- 
 pen'd between thofe People. 
 
 M E N of celebrated Fame among the Perfiahs 
 fay, that the Original of this Enmity is to be im- 
 puted to the Phoenicians ; who, coming from the 
 Red Sea^ and fettling in the Regions they now in- 
 habit, prefently applied themfelves to make long 
 Voyages , and being us'd to carry the Merchan- 
 dizes of y#y/>/ and A/yria into divers Parts, came 
 alfo to Argosy which was then the principal City 
 of thofe Countries that now go under the Name 
 of Greece -, that, after they had expos'd their 
 B Goods
 
 a HERODOTUS. Book I. 
 
 Goods to Sale during five or fix Days, and 
 had fold almoft all, a great Company of Women 
 came down to the Shore, and among them the 
 Daughter of King Inachus^ both by the Perfians 
 and Grecians call'd lo j that, while thefe Wo- 
 men were (landing about the Stern of the Ship, 
 and buying what they moft defir'd, the Phreni- 
 cians having mutually encourag'd each other to 
 the Attempt, laid Hands upon as many as they 
 could i and, tho' the greater Part made their E- 
 fcape by Flight, yet having feiz'd 70, with feve- 
 ral others, they fecur'd them on board, and im- 
 mediately fet Sail for Mgtyt. In this Manner 
 the Perfians, differing from the Grecians, relate 
 the Story of /<?'s ParTage into ^Egypt ; and fay, 
 that this was the firft Injury done on either Part. 
 To thefe Things they add, that certain Greci- 
 ans, whofe Country they know not (but who 
 indeed were of Crete) arriving at lyre in Phoe- 
 nicia^ carried away Europa the King's Daughter, 
 and by that means brought Things to an Equali- 
 ty on both Sides. After which the Grecians be- 
 came guilty of a fecond Injury : For arriving) with 
 a Ship at Aia in Colchis on the River Pbajis, 
 and having difpatch'd their other Affairs, they 
 carried off Medea the King's Daughter j and 
 when the King fent an Herald to Greece to re- 
 quire Satisfaction for that Violence, and to de- 
 mand his Daughter, the Grecians return'd for 
 Anfwer, that they would make him no Repara- 
 tion, becaufe they had receiv'd none for the 
 Rape of the Argian lo. They fay alfo, that in 
 the next fucceeding Age, Alexander the Son of 
 Priamus hearing the Relation of thefe Things, 
 refolv'd to have a Wife from Greece by the like 
 Means, perfuading himfelf that he mould not be 
 
 con-
 
 CLIO. 3 
 
 -.conftrain'd to any Reparation, fince all thefe had 
 efcap'd with Impunity ; but that, after he had 
 taken away Helena^ the Grecians determin'd in 
 the firft Place to fend Ambafladors to demand 
 her, and to require Satisfaction for the Wrong ; 
 which when they had done, the Trojans object- 
 ed the Rape of Medea ; wond*ring at the Un- 
 reafonablenefs of thofe, who having neither re- 
 ftor'd that Woman, nor made any kind of Re- 
 paration, mould have the Confidence to de- 
 mand Satisfaction from others: That hitherto^ 
 however, no other kind of Violence had hap- 
 pen'd between thefe People ; but that the Gre- 
 cians became afterwards highly injurious, by en- 
 tring Afia with an Army, before Europe was in- 
 vaded by any People of that Country ; who are 
 perfuaded, that tho' all Violences of this Nature 
 be unjuft, yet to revenge fuch Injuries is as evi- 
 dently the Part of Madmen, as of the Wife to 
 have no Regard for thofe Women , becaufe no- 
 thing is more manifeft, than that they had never 
 been carried off, unlefs they had confented. For 
 thefe Reafons the Perfians fay that the People of 
 AJia fcorn'd to concern themfelves about fuch 
 Women ; but that the Grecians aflembled a 
 numerous Fleet, pafs'd over to Afia^ and de- 
 ftroy'd the Kingdom of Priamus^ for the fake 
 of a Lacedemonian Woman ; from which Time 
 they account the Grecians to have been their E- 
 nemies. For the Perfians conftder Afia as their 
 own, with all the barbarous Nations that inha- 
 bit thofe Regions, and think they have no man- 
 ner of Society with Greece and Europe. Thus 
 the Perfians relate the Fact, and derive the Ori- 
 ginal of their Hatred to the Grecians from the 
 Deftruction of 'Troy. But the Phoenicians dif- 
 B 2 agreeing
 
 4 HERODOTUS. Book T. 
 
 agreeing with them concerning 70, deny that 
 they carried her away by Force into sEgypt ; and 
 affirm, that falling in Love with the Commander 
 of their Ship, and finding herfelf with Child 
 by him, me voluntarily departed, for fear of 
 being detected by her Parents. Thefe Things 
 are faid by the Perfians and by the Phoenici- 
 ans , and I fhall not enter into a Difpute con- 
 cerning the Truth of their Relations : But be- 
 ginning with the Perfon who we are certain 
 attack'd the Grecians unjuftly without any Pro- 
 vocation, I mall proceed in my Narration, and 
 give an Account, as well of the little Cities and 
 Republicks, as of thofe of more Power and 
 Extent. For many which are now fmall, 
 were formerly great ; and others, which are 
 great at this Day, were once fmall and inconfi- 
 derable. Knowing therefore that human Pro- 
 fperity cannot always continue in the fame State,. 
 I mail fpeak of the one fort, as well as of the 
 other. 
 
 CRCESUS, by Birth a Lydian> and Son 
 to Alyattes^ was King of thofe Nations that are 
 fituate on this fide the River Hdys, which de- 
 fcending from the South, and patting North- 
 ward between the Syrians and Paphlagonians, 
 falls into the Euxin Sea. He was the firft of all 
 the Barbarians' we know, who render'd fome of 
 the Grecians tributary to him, and receiv'd others 
 into his Alliance ; for he fubdued the lonians 
 and ./Eolians, with the Dorians that inhabit in 
 AJla-t and made the Lacedemonians his Friends: 
 Whereas before his Reign, all the Grecians were 
 free. For the Irruption of the Cimmerians into 
 Ionia with an Army, which happen'd before 
 the Time of Crcefus^ ended not in the Deftruc- 
 
 tiou.
 
 CLIO. 5 
 
 tion of Cities , but only in Ravages, incident 
 to a fudden Invafion. This Kingdom belong'd 
 to the Heraclides, and pafs'd into the Family 
 of Crcefus^ call'd Mermnades, in the following 
 Manner. 
 
 CANDAULES, by the Grecians nam'd 
 Myrfilus^ being defcended from Alc<eus the Son 
 of Hercules, was King of the Sardians , and as 
 Argon the Son of Ntnus, Grandfon to Belus, and 
 great Grandfon to Alcxus, was the firft of the 
 HeracKdes that reignM in Sardis, fo Candaules 
 the Son of Myrfus was the laft. Thoie who 
 had been Kings of this Country before Argon^ 
 were defcended from Lydus the Son of Atys^ who 
 gave his Name to the whole Nation, which be- 
 fore his Time were call'd Meones. Under thefe, 
 the Heraclides defcending from Hercules and a 
 Slave of lardanus^ were educated ; and having 
 obtain'd the Kingdom by means of an Oracle, 
 held it five hundred and five Years, during two 
 and twenty Generations of Men, the Son al- 
 ways fucceeding the Father, to the Time of 
 Candaules the Son of Myrfus. This Candaules 
 fo paflionately lov'd his Wife, that he thought 
 her the moft beautiful of all Women ; and in 
 this Perfiaafion extoll'd her Beauties above mea- 
 &re to Gyges the Son of Dafcylus^ who was one 
 of his Guard, much in his Favour, and intruft- 
 ed with his moft important Affairs. But not 
 long after, being mark'd out by Fate for De- 
 ftruclion, he open'd himfelf farther to Gyges in 
 thefe Terms j $ Since thou feemeft to me not 
 " to believe the Things I have faid concerning 
 " the Beauty of my Wife, and becaufe I know 
 '? the Eye to be a more proper Inftrument of 
 ** Conviction than the Ear *, I refolve thou malt 
 B 3 fet
 
 6 HERODOTUS. Book I. 
 
 f c fee her naked." Gyges amaz'd at this TLan- 
 guage, cried out, " What ftrange Diforder, 
 '* SIR, has poflefs'd your Mind, that you 
 * c mould command me to view the Queen my 
 " Miftrefs naked ? For a Woman puts off her 
 " Modefty with her Garments. Many excel- 
 " lent Precepts have been convey'd down to 
 " us by Men of former Ages, for our Inftruc- 
 " tion, and this one among the reft, Thai 
 " every Man /hould look into his own Affairs. 
 " As for me, I believe the Queen to-be the 
 " moft beautiful of all Women , but I earneftly 
 " defire you would not command me to do an 
 " unlawful Thing." Thus Gyges dreading left 
 the Confequences mould be fatal to him, en- 
 deavour'd to diffuade the King from his ill- 
 conceiv'd Defign. But he, perfifting in his 
 Refolution, replied in thefe Words ; "Be con- 
 " fident, Gyges ) and think not that I have faid 
 " this to make Trial of thee, nor fear the Re- 
 f e fentment of my Wife , for I will fo contrive 
 *< the Matter that me fhall never know me 
 " was feen by thee. To this End I will place 
 " thee behind the open Door of our Apartment ; 
 * c into which my Wife will not fail to come, 
 " fo foon as me hears I am there , and as me 
 " ufes to undrefs at a Chair, where fhe lays 
 '< down her Garments one after another, me will 
 " give thee Time to take a full View of her at 
 " Leifure j only when thou malt fee her go- 
 " ing to the Bed, with her Back turn'd towards 
 " thee, be careful that fhe may not difcover 
 " thee afterwards repaying thro* the Doors." 
 Gyges rinding all he could fay to have no Ef- 
 fect, refolv'd to obey -, and at the ufual Hour 
 tjie King going to his Apartment, took Gyges 
 
 with
 
 CLIO. 7 
 
 with him. The Queen came immediately af- 
 ter, and whilft me undrefs'd, and laid down her 
 Cloaths, afforded Gyges a fufficient View of 
 herfelf. But as me turn'd her Back to go to- 
 wards the Bed, and Gyges endeavour'd at the 
 fame Time to retire, me faw him going out. 
 And tho* me plainly perceiv'd that this was her 
 Hufband's Contrivance, Shame reftrain'd her 
 from making the leaft Exclamation : But me 
 refolv'd within her felf, . to be reveng'd upon 
 Candaules : For among the Lydians, and almoft 
 all barbarous Nations, 'tis a great Difhonour 
 even for a Man to be feen jiaked. She pafs'd 
 the Night in a feeming Tranquillity, and having 
 fupprefs'd her Refentment till the Morning, 
 fent fome of the moft faithful of her Servants 
 to bring Gyges to her. He, not fufpecting the 
 Queen to be acquainted with what had pafs'd, 
 and being accuftom'd to go to her as often as 
 me fent for him, fail'd not to obey her Order. 
 When he was come to her Chamber, me faid 
 to him ; " Gyges, Two Ways lie before thee ; 
 " chufe which thou wilt, for I leave the 
 " Choice to thy Difcretion. Either kill Can- 
 " daules, and take Poffeflion of me, together 
 " with the Kingdom of Lydia, or refolve to 
 " die immediately , that by obeying Candaules 
 " without Referve, thou may 'ft not hereafter 
 " behold what ought not to be feen by thee : 
 " For either the Contriver of this Thing muft 
 " perifh, or thou, who haft feen me naked, and 
 " been guilty of a criminal Action." Gyges at 
 firft flood amaz'd at thefe Words , and after- 
 wards earneftly begg'd of her, that me would 
 not drive him to the Neceffity of making fo 
 hard a Choice. But when he faw he could not 
 B 4 prevail,
 
 8 HERODOTUS. Book I. 
 
 prevail, and that he muft either kill his Mafter, 
 or die himfelf by the Hands of others, he chofe 
 to fave his own Life. " Since then, faid he to 
 *' the Queen, you compel me, againft my 
 *' Will, to kill my Mafter, let me know how 
 * c we mail execute this Enterprize." " From 
 " that very Place, replied Jhe, where he expos'd me 
 ^ l naked to thy View, thou fhalt fall upon him 
 *' as he fleeps." When they had thus concerted 
 the Attempt, and Night came, Gyg.es plainly 
 feeing he muft either kill Candaules* or inevi-r 
 tably perifh, becaufe he had not been permitted 
 to go out, followed the Queen to her Bedcham- 
 ber j where me gave him a Dagger with her 
 own Hand, and plac'd him behind the Door, 
 as Candaules had done. After fome Time he 
 went foftly to the Bed ; kill'd the King as he 
 flept, and pofiefs'd himfelf of his Wife and 
 Kingdom. He is mention'd in the lambick 
 Verifes of Arcbilocus the Parian, who liv'd at 
 the fame Time. In this Manner Gyges obtain'd 
 the Kingdom, and was confirm'd in his Acqui- 
 iition by the Oracle of Delphi. For when the 
 Lydians, highly refenting the Death of Can- 
 daules , had affembled together in Arms, an A- 
 greement was at laft concluded between them 
 and the Soldiers of Gyges, that if the Oracle 
 fhould pronounce him King of Lydia y he mould 
 be permitted to reign ; if not, he mould re- 
 ftore the Kingdom to the Heraclides. The 
 Anfwer of the Oracle was favourable to Gyges, 
 and he was univerfally acknowledg'd to be King. 
 But the Pythian added this Claufe ; " That 
 *' the Heraclides mould be aveng'd, in the Time 
 ^ of the fifth Defcendant of Gyges ," tho' nei- 
 the Lydians nor their Kings had any 
 
 Regard
 
 CLIO. 9 
 
 Regard to this Prediction, before it was actually 
 accomplim'd. Thus the Mermnades deprived 
 the Heraclides of the Sovereignty, and made 
 themfelves Mafters of Lydia. 
 
 AFTER Gyges had obtained the Kingdom, 
 he fent many Prefents to Delphi ; for he not 
 only dedicated the greateft part of the Silver 
 feen in that Place, but alfo made an Offering of 
 a vaft -Quantity of Gold ; among all which 
 nothing better deferves to be remembred, than 
 fix Bowls of Gold, weighing thirty Talents, 
 plac'd in the Treafury of the Corinthians ; tho* 
 to fay the Truth, that Treafury was not found- 
 ed by the People of Corinth, but by Cypfelus 
 the Son of Mtion. For this Caufe Gyges is ao 
 counted the firft of all the Barbarians we know, 
 who dedicated Donations at Delphi-, except 
 only Midas the Son of Gordius King of Phry- 
 gia, who prefented the Royal Tribunal from 
 whence he us'd to adminifter Juftice, which is 
 a piece of Workmanfhip that deferves to be con- 
 fid er'd, and ftands by the Cups of Gyges. The 
 Gold and Silver, of which thefe Dedications 
 confift, is call'd Gygian, from the Name of the 
 Donor. He made War againft Miletus and 
 Smyrna, and took Colophon by Force , but as he 
 perform'd no other memorable Action during all 
 the Time of his Reign, which was eight and 
 thirty Years, we {hall content our felves with 
 what we have faid of him, and proceed to give 
 fome Account of Ardyes, his Son and Succeflbr ; 
 who took the City of Priene, and invaded the 
 Territories of Miletus. In his Time the Cim- 
 merians, who had been difpoflefs'd of their own 
 Country by the Scythian Nomades, pafb'd into 
 Afia, and poflefs'd themfelves of Sardts, the 
 
 Fort
 
 io HERODOTUS. Book I. 
 
 Fort only excepted. He reign'd forty nine 
 Years, and his Son Sadyattes fucceeded him, and 
 reign'd twelve Years. Alyattes fucceeding Sa- 
 dyattes, made War upon Cyaxares Grandfon of 
 DsioceS) King of the Medes. He expell'd the 
 Cimmerians out of Ajia , and having taken the 
 City of Smyrna , founded by the Colophonians, 
 he invaded the Territories of the Clazomeni- 
 ans. But not finding the Event anfwerable to 
 his Defires, he was oblig'd to return with con- 
 iiderable Lofs. He did many other Actions du- 
 ring his Reign, which deferve to be remembred 
 in Hiftory. He continued the War which his 
 Father had begun againft the Milefians, and en- 
 tring their Country, diftrefs'd the Inhabitants 
 in this Manner. When their Corn and Fruits 
 were ripe, he took the Field with his Army, at- 
 tended in his March with Pipes, Harps, and 
 Flutes of both forts ; and advancing into the 
 Territory of the Milefians, he neither demo- 
 lifh'd nor burnt their Country Houfes, nor broke 
 their Doors ; but fuffering all thefe to ftand un- 
 touch'd, he cut down the Trees, deftroy'd the 
 Corn upon the Ground, and then return'd home ; 
 for he knew 'twas in vain to fit down before 
 the City, becaufe they were Matters of the 
 Sea. <ie would not deftroy their Houfes, to 
 the End that the Milefians having thofe Habi- 
 tations, might apply themfelves to fow and cul- 
 tivate their Lands, and by that Means he 
 might have fomething to ravage, when he mould 
 invade them with his Army. This War was 
 thus manag'd eleven Years, during which the 
 Milefians receiv'd two great Blows, one at Li" 
 mention within their own Territories, and the 
 other in the Plains of the Meander. Six of 
 
 thefe
 
 CLIO. ii 
 
 thefe eleven Years Sadyattes the Son of Ardyes y 
 who began the War, and invaded the Mile- 
 fians with an Army, was King of the Lydi- 
 ans. But during the laft five Years, the War 
 was profecuted with much more Vigour by his 
 Son Alyattes. The Milefians had no Support 
 all that Time from any of the lonians, except 
 the Chians only ; who came to their Afliftance, 
 in Requital for the Succour they had receiv'd, 
 when the Erythrasans made War againft them. 
 In the twelfth Year when the Army of Aly- 
 dttes had fet Fire to the Corn, the Wind hap-, 
 pening to blow hard, carried the Flames to the 
 Temple of Minerva at AJJefus, and burnt it to 
 the Ground. This Accident was little regard- 
 ed at that Time ; but after the Return of Aly- 
 attes with his Army, he fell fick at Sardis i 
 and finding his Diftemper not eafy to remove, 
 he fent to confult the Oracle of Delphi^ touch- 
 ing his Condition -, either mov'd by his own 
 Judgment, or elfe by the Perfuafion of others.. 
 However, when his Meflengers arriv'd at Del- 
 phi, the Pythian told them me would give no 
 Anfwer, 'till they mould rebuild the Temple 
 of Minerva at AJfefus in the Country of the 
 Milefians, which they had burnt. This Rela- 
 tion I had from the Delphians : And the Mi- 
 lefians add, that Periander the Son of Cypfelus 
 hearing what Anfwer had been made to Aly- 
 attes , difpatch'd a MefTenger to ^hrafybulus^ Ty- 
 rant of Miletus^ and his particular Friend, with 
 Advice to make the beft Ufe he might of the 
 prefent Conjuncture ; which according to the 
 Report of the Milefians, he effected in this 
 Manner. When Alyattes had receiv'd Informa- 
 tion of what had pafs'd at Delphi, he fent Am- 
 
 bafladors
 
 12 HERO DO TUS. Book I. 
 
 feafladors to Miletus, with Orders to agree 
 upon a Truce with Tbrafybulus and the Mile- 
 fians, for all the Time the Temple mould be 
 rebuilding. But, Thrafybulus having had the 
 preceding Intelligence, and perceiving the De- 
 (ign of Alyattes, no fooner heard that the Am- 
 bafladors were coming, than he gave Order, 
 that all the Corn which was in the City, 
 either of his own or belonging to private Per- 
 ibns, mould be brought into the Market, and 
 that all the Inhabitants mould eat and drink 
 cheerfully together, upon a Signal to be given 
 fey him. This was done by the Contrivance 
 of Thrafybulus, to the End that the Sardian 
 Ambafladors feeing fo great a Quantity of Corn, 
 and the People every where diverting them- 
 felves, might make their Report accordingly, 
 which happen'd as he defign'd. For when 
 the Ambafladors had feen thefe Things, and 
 delivered their Meffage to Tbrafybulus, they 
 return'd to Sardis , and this alone, as I am 
 inform'd, was the Caufe of the enfuing Peace ; 
 becaufe Alyattes, who thought the People of 
 Miletus were in extreme Want of Corn, re- 
 ceiv'd a quite contrary Account from his Am- 
 bafladors at their Return : By which means 
 an Agreement was made between them, that 
 for the future they mould be good Friends 
 and Confederates. Whereupon Alyattes, inftead 
 of one, having built two Temples at Affefus, 
 dedicated to Minerva, recover'd his Health: 
 And thus a Period was put to the War, 
 which Alyattes made againft Tbrafybulus and 
 the Milefians. 
 
 i PERI-
 
 CLIO. 13 
 
 PER I AND E R the Son of Cypfelus> who 
 acquainted tfbrafybulus with the Anfwer of the 
 Oracle, was King of Corinth : And the Corin- 
 thians fay, that a moft aftonifhing Thing hap- 
 pen'd there in his Time, which is alfo confirm M 
 by the Lefbians. Thofe People give out, that 
 Arion of Methymna, who was Second to none 
 of his Time in playing on the Harp, and firft 
 Inventor of Dithyrambicks, both Name and 
 Thing, which he taught at Corintb y was brought 
 by a Dolphin to T<enarqs ; and thus they 
 tell the Story : Arion having continu'd long 
 with Periander, refblv'd to make a Voyage to 
 Italy and Sicily ^ where when he had acquired 
 great Riches, determining to return to Corintb y 
 he went to Tarentum, and hir'd a Ship of cer- 
 tain Corinthians, becaufe he put more Confi- 
 dence in them than in any other Nation. But 
 thefe Men, when they were in their Paflage, 
 confpir'd together to throw him into the Sea, 
 that they might get his Money : Which he no 
 fooner underftood, than offering them all his 
 Treafure> he only begg'd they wou'd fpare his 
 Life. But the Seamen being inflexible, com- 
 manded him either to kill himfelf, that he might 
 be buried afhore, or to leap immediately into 
 the Sea. Arion feeing himfelf reduc'd to this 
 hard Choice, moft earneftly defir'd, that having 
 determined his Dearh, they would permit him 
 to drefs in his richeft Apparel, and to ring ftand- 
 ing on the Side of the Ship, promifing to kill 
 himfelf when he had done. The Seamen high- 
 ly pleas'd that they mould hear a Song from the 
 beft Singer of the World, granted his Requeft, 
 and went from the Stern to the middle of the 
 Veflel. In the mean Time Arion having put on 
 
 all
 
 J4 tlERODOTUS. Book I. 
 
 all his Robes, took up his Harp, and began an 
 * Orthian Ode , which when he had finim'd, he 
 leap'd into the Sea as he was drefs'd, and the 
 Corinthians continued their Voyage homeward. 
 They fay, a Dolphin receiv'd him on his Back, 
 from the Ship, and carried him to Tenants ; 
 where he went afhore, and thence proceeded to 
 Corinth^ without changing his Cloaths ; that up- 
 on his Arrival there, he told what had happened 
 to him , but that Periander giving no Credit to 
 his Relation, put him under a clofe Confine- 
 ment, and took efpecial Care to find out the Sea- 
 men : That when they were found and brought 
 before him, he inquir'd of them concerning 
 Arion ; and they anfwering, that they had left 
 him with great Riches at Tarentum, and that 
 he was undoubtedly fafe in fome part of Italy, 
 Arion in that Inftant appear'd before them in 
 the very Drefs he had on when he leap'd into 
 the Sea j at which they were fo aftonifh'd, that 
 having nothing to fay for themfelves, they con- 
 fefs'd the Fad. Thefe Things are reported by 
 the Corinthians and Lefbians ; in Confirmation 
 of which, a Statue of Arion^ made of Brafs, 
 and of a moderate Size, reprefenting a Man fit- 
 ting upon a Dolphin, is feen at Tenants. Aly- 
 aites the Lydian having put an End to the Mi- 
 lefian War, died, after he had reign'd fifty feven 
 Years. He was the fecond of his Family that 
 
 * Euftathius in his Commentary upon Homer, Page 827. of 
 the Roman Edition, fays, the Orthian Sang was a kind of Ode 
 contrived to inflame the Mind with a Defire of Fighting', and for 
 a Proof adds, that Timotheus afing that fort of Mujick in the 
 Pre fence of Alexander, for id him on aftidden to fart up and run 
 it bis Arms. 
 
 made
 
 CLIO. 15 
 
 made Offerings at Delphi, which he did upon 
 the Recovery of his Health ; dedicating a large 
 Silver Ewer, with a Bafon of Iron fo admirably 
 inlay'd, that 'tis juftly efteem'd one of the moft 
 curious Pieces of Art among all the Donations 
 at Delphi. This Bafon was made by Glaucus the 
 Chian, who firft invented the Way of working 
 Iron in that Manner. 
 
 AFTER the Death of Alyattes^ his Son Crce- 
 fus having attain'd the Age of thirty five Years, 
 fucceeded him in the Kingdom, and made 
 War upon the Ephefians, before he attack'd 
 any other People of Greece. The Ephefians 
 being befieg'd by him, confecrated their City 
 to Diana, and tied their Walls by a Rope to 
 her Temple, which was feven Stades diftant 
 from the ancient City, then befieg'd. When 
 Crcsfus had reduc'd the Ephefians, he attack'd 
 the feveral Cities of the lonians and ^Eolians 
 one after another, under various Pretences, the 
 beft he could find, though fome were exceed- 
 ingly frivolous : And after he had compell'd all 
 the Grecians of Afta to be tributary to him, he 
 form'd a Defign to build a Fleet, and by that 
 means to invade the Iflanders. But when all 
 Things were prepar'd for the building of Ships, 
 Bias of Priene, (or, as others fay, Pittacus of 
 Mitykne,) arriving at Sardis, put a flop to his 
 intended Project. For Crcefus inquiring what 
 News he had from Greece ', receiv'd this Anfwer ; 
 " SIR, faid he, the Iflanders have bought up 
 " ten thoufand Horfes, w.ith Intention to make 
 " War upon you, and to attack Sardis" Crce- 
 fus thinking he had fpoken the Truth, " May 
 " the Gods, replied he, infpire the Grecians 
 " with a Refolution to attack the Lydiana 
 r &'- i " with
 
 16 HERODO-fUS. Book. L 
 
 ce with Horfe." " It feems then, faid Bias, you 
 ' would wifh above all Things to fee the Ifland 
 " ers on Horfeback upon the Continent ; and 
 " not without Reafon. But what can you 
 " imagine the Iflanders will more earneftly de- 
 " fire, after having heard of your Refolution 
 " to build a Fleet, in order to attack their 
 < c Iflands, than to meet the Lydians by Sea ; 
 ce and to revenge the Misfortune of thofe Gre- 
 " cians, who have been enflav'd by you on the 
 " Continent ?" Crcefus was fo well pleas'd with 
 the Acutenefs and Reafon of this Difcourfe, 
 that he not only laid afide the Deiign of build- 
 ing a Fleet, but made an Alliance with all the 
 lonians who inhabit the Iflands. In the Courfe 
 of fome Years, he became Mafter of all the 
 Nations that lie within the River Halys, ex- 
 cept only the Cilicians and the Lycians: That 
 is to i. y of the Lydians, the Phrygians, the 
 Myfians, the Mariandynians, the Chalybians,- 
 the Paphiagonians, the Thracians, the Thyni- 
 ans, the Bithynians, the Carians, the lonians, 
 the Dorians, the ./Eolians, and the Pamphyli- 
 ans. When thefe Nations were fubdued, and 
 the Power of the Lydians was thus augmented 
 by Creefus^ many wife Men of that Time went 
 from Greece to Sardis, which had then attain'd 
 to the higheft Degree of Profperity j and among 
 others Solon of Athens^ who having made Laws 
 for the Athenians at their Requeft, abfented 
 himfelf from his Country, under Colour of 
 feeing the World, for the Space of ten Years, 
 that he might not be driven to the Neceflity 
 of aboliming any of the Conftitutions he had 
 eftablifh'd. For the Athenians of themfelves 
 could make no Alteration, having taken a fo- 
 V lemri
 
 CLIO. 17 
 
 lemn Oath to obferve the Laws he had inftitut- 
 ed, during ten Years. With this Intention 
 therefore, and to fee the State of Things abroad, 
 Solon went firft to _the Court of Amafis King 
 of jEgypt^ and after wards to that of Crcefus at 
 Sardis. Crcefus entertain'd him in his Palace 
 with all Humanity, and on the third or fourth 
 Day after his Arrival, order'd his Officers to 
 mew him the Wealth and Magnificence of his 
 Treafury ; which when Solon had feen and con- 
 fider'd, Crcefus faid to him ; " My Athenian 
 " Gueft, having heard much Difcourfe of your 
 " Perfon ; of your Wifdom ; and of the Voy- 
 " ages you have undertaken, as a Philofbpher, 
 " to fee many Things in various Countries ; I 
 " am very defirous to aik you, who is the moft 
 * c happy Man you have feen ? " This Queftion 
 he afk'd, becaufe he thought himfelf the moft 
 happy of all Men. But Solon refolving to fpeak 
 the Truth freely, without flattering the King, 
 anfwer'd, " Tellus the Athenian." Crcefus a- 
 ftonim'd at his Anfwer, prefs'd him to declare 
 what Reafons he had fo to extol the Happinefs 
 of Tellus. " Becaufe, replied Solon, Tellus liv'd 
 " in a well-govern'd Commonwealth; had fe- 
 " veral Sons who were valiant and good , his 
 " Sons had Children like to themfelves, and all 
 " thefe furviv'd him ; in a Word, "when he had 
 " liv*d as happily as the Condition of human 
 " Affairs will permit, he ended his Life in v. 
 " glorious Manner. For coming to the Affift- 
 " ance of his Countrymen in a Battle they 
 " fought at Eleujis againft fome of their Neigh- 
 u bours, he put the Enemy to flight, and died 
 " in the Field of Victory. He was buried by 
 " the Athenians at the publick Charge in the 
 C " Place
 
 1 8 HERODOTUS. Book I. 
 
 '< Place where he fell, and was magnificently 
 ' e honour'd at his Funeral." When Solon had 
 faid thefe and many other Things concerning 
 the Felicity of 'Tellus, Crcefus hoping at leaft 
 to obtain the fecond Place, afk'd, who of 
 thofe he had feen might be accounted next to 
 him ? " Ckobis^ faid he, and Bitott, two Gre- 
 " cians of Argos^ poflefs'd of a plentiful For- 
 " tune, and withal fo ftrong and vigorous of 
 " Body, that they were both equally victorious 
 " in the Olympian Exercifes. Of thefe 'tis re- 
 " ported, that when the Argians were celebrat- 
 " ing a Feftival of Juno^ and their Mother 
 " was obliged to go to the Temple in a Cha- 
 " riot drawn by a Yoak of Oxen, the two 
 " young Men finding that the Oxen were not 
 " brought time enough from the Field, and per- 
 " ceiving that the Hour was paft, put them- 
 <c felves under the Yoak ; drew the Chariot in 
 <l which their Mother fat forty five Stades, 
 " and brought her in that manner to the Tern- 
 * c pie. After they had done this m the View 
 ** of a great Concourfe of People met together 
 " to celebrate the Feftival, a happy Period was 
 " put to their Lives ; and God determin'd by 
 " this Event, that 'tis better for a Man to die 
 ** than to live. For when the Men of Argos? 
 " who ftood round, commended the Refolu- 
 *' tion of the two Brothers, and the Women 
 " magnified the Happinefs of the Mother of 
 " fuch Sons, the Mother herfelf tranfported 
 "* with Joy by the Action and the Honours 
 " me receiv'd on that Account, made it her 
 " Petition, as me ftood before the Image of 
 " the Goddefs, that her Sons Choirs and Bit on 
 " might be rewarded with that Thing which 
 
 " was-
 
 CLIO. 19 
 
 " was of moft Advantage to Men. When 
 " {he had finim'd her Prayer, and her Sons 
 " had facrific'd and feafted with her, they fell 
 " afleep in the Temple, and awak'd no more. 
 u upon which the Argians, in Commemora- 
 " tion of their Piety, caus'd their Statutes to be 
 " made and dedicated at Delphi" Thus Solon 
 having adjudg'd the fecond Place of Felicity to 
 Cleobis and Biton^ Crcefus faid with Indignation, 
 " Is my Condition then fo contemptible in your 
 " Opinion, as not to be thought equal to that 
 " of private Men?" " Crafus, faid Solon, 
 " you alk me concerning human Affairs, and I 
 u anfwer as one who thinks that all the Gods 
 " are envious and Difturbers of Mankind. For 
 " in the Courfe of a long Life, Men are con- 
 " ftrain'd to fee many Things they would not 
 u willingly fee, and to furTer many Things they 
 " would not willingly fuffer. Let us fisppofe 
 * { the Term of Man's Life to be feventy Years, 
 " which confift of twenty five thoufand and 
 " two hundred Days, without including the 
 " Intercalatory Month , and if we add that 
 " Month to every other Year, in order to fill 
 " up the juft Meafure of Time, we mail find 
 " thirty five Months more in the feventy Years, 
 " which make one thoufand and fifty Days. 
 " Yet in all this Number of twenty fix thou- 
 " fand two hundred and fifty Days, that com- 
 " pofe thefe feventy Years, no one Day will be 
 " found like another. So that upon the whole 
 " Matter Mankind is a miferable Thing. You 
 " appear to me to be Mafter of immcnfe Trea- 
 " fures, and King of many Nations ; but I can- 
 *' not fay that of you which you demand, 'till 
 *' I hear you have ended your Life honourably. 
 C 2 " For
 
 20 HERODOTUS. Book I. 
 
 " For the richeft of Men is not more happy 
 " than he that lives by the Day, unlefs his good 
 " Fortune attend him to the Grave, and he finifti 
 " his Life in Honour. Many Men, who a- 
 " bound in Wealth, are unhappy , and many, 
 " who have only a moderate Competency, arc 
 " fortunate. He that abounds in Riches, and 
 " is yet unhappy, exceeds the other only in two 
 " Things , but the other furpafles him in many 
 " more. The wealthy Man indeed is better 
 " furnim'd with Means to gratify his Paflions, 
 " and to bear the Hatred of many. But if the 
 " other have not the fame Power in thefe two 
 " Points, his good Fortune fecures him from 
 " the Neceflity of doing either the one or the- 
 " other. He is free from Troubles i free from 
 " Difeafes ; his Looks are ferene -, and he has 
 " good Children : And if all thefe Things come 
 " at laft to be crown'd by a decent End, fuch a 
 <c one is the Man you feek, and may juftly be 
 " call'd happy. For to that Time we ought 
 " to fufpend our Judgment, and not to pro- 
 " nounce him happy, but only fortunate. Now 
 *' becaufe no Man can poflibly attain to this 
 " Perfection of Happinefs ; as no one Region 
 " yields all good Things ; but produces fome- 
 " and wants others, that Country being ever 
 * efteem'd beft y which affords the greateft Plen- 
 " ty : And farther,, becaufe no human Body is 
 in all Refpeds felf-fufficient ; but pofleffing 
 w fome Advantages, is deftitute of others; he 
 " therefore, who, after he has moft conftantly 
 " enjoy'd the greateft Pait of thefe, finimes the 
 " laft Scene of Life with a decent Serenity of 
 " Mind, is in my Judgment truly a King, and 
 " juftly deferves the Name of Happy. For 
 2 " Men
 
 CLIO. 21 
 
 u Men ought to obferve the End of all Things ; 
 " becaufe God frequently brings utter Deftruc- 
 " tion upon thofe he has fhewn to the World 
 " in the Height of Profperity." Solon having 
 faid thefe Things to Crcefus^ without the lean: 
 Flattery or fhew of Efteem, was difmifs'd, as a 
 Man of no Experience; who without Regard 
 to prefent Profperity, counfelPd Men to obferve 
 the End of all Things. 
 
 AFTER the Departure of Solon, the Indig- 
 nation of the Gods fell heavy upon Crxfus, pro- 
 bably becaufe he thought himfelf the moft hap- 
 py of all Men ; and as he flept he had a Dream, 
 which pointed out to him the Misfortune that 
 was ready to befal him in the Perfon of one of 
 .his Sons. For Crcefus had two Sons, of whom 
 one was dumb and unfit for any Thing , but 
 the other, whofe Name was Atys, far furpafs'd 
 all the young Men of his Age in rare Endow- 
 ments. His Dream reprefented to him his Son 
 Atys mortally wounded with an Iron Lance : 
 5o that when he awak'd and had confider'd 
 the Thing, dreading the Confequence of the 
 Vifion, he provided a Wife for his Son , would 
 no longer permit him to lead the Armies of the 
 Lydians, as formerly he had done ; and caused 
 all the Spears, Lances, and other Weapons of 
 War, to be remov'd from the publick Rooms 
 where they hung, and laid up in private Cham- 
 bers, that none of them might fall upon his 
 Son. But when all Things were prepared for 
 the Marriage of At\s^ a Phrygian arriv'd at Sar- 
 dis, of Royal Birth , yet polluted with Blood, 
 and overwhelm'd with Affliction. This Man 
 coming to the Palace of Crcefus, defir'd he would 
 purify him according to the Rites of the Coun- 
 C 3 'try;
 
 22 HERODOTUS. Book I. 
 
 try-, which are almoft the fame in that refpeft 
 among the Lydians #s among the Grecians. 
 Crafa* granted his Requeft, and having per- 
 form'd the ufual Ceremonies, afk'd him whence 
 he came, and who he was - 3 ipeaking to him in 
 the following Terms : " 'I defire to know who 
 " thou art , from what Part of Pbrygia thou 
 " art come hither ; and what Man or Woman 
 " thou haft kill'd?" The Stranger made An- 
 fwer -, cc I am, faid he, the Son of Gordius^ 
 " Grandfon to Midas^ and my Name is Adraftus< 
 '' I kill'd my Brother by Accident, and on 
 " that Account am banim'd by my Father, and 
 " difpofTefs'd of all." " I perceive, replied 
 " Crafus, you are born of Parents who are our 
 " Friends, and therefore I aflure you of your 
 " Welcome. If you will ftay with us you mall 
 " want nothing, and if you can bear your Mif- 
 " fortune with Courage, you will be a great 
 " Gainer." So Adrafius reiolv'd to ftay in the 
 Court of Crcefus. 
 
 AT this Time a Boar of a prodigious Bignefs 
 was frequently feen in Myjia, coming down from 
 Mount Olympus,, and destroying the Hufbandry 
 of the Inhabitants. The Myfians had often at- 
 tack'd him, but always came off with Lofs, 
 and could not hurt him. At laft they fent De- 
 puties to Crcefus, who deliver'd their MefTage in 
 thefe Words j " There is, O King, a monftrous 
 " Boar in Myfia, that ravages all the Country ; 
 ^ and tho* v/e have often endeavour'd to take 
 " him, yet ail our Attempts have been unfuc- 
 " cefsful. We therefore earneftly beg, that 
 f you would {end your Son and Ibme other 
 *' chofen young Men with Dogs, that our 
 " Country may be deliver'd from this pernicious 
 
 " Beaft."
 
 CLIO. 23 
 
 Beaft." When they had fpoken m this Man- 
 ner, Crafus remembring his Dream anfwer'd; 
 " Make no farther Mention of my Son , for \ 
 " fhall not fend him, becaufe he is lately mar- 
 " ried, and therefore otherwife employed. But 
 " I will fend the moft Ikilful of the Lydians, 
 " with Dogs and all Things neceflary for 
 " hunting, and order them to aflift you with 
 " their beft Endeavours, to free your Country 
 " from the Boar." The Myfians were not con- 
 tented with the Anfwer of Crcefus, and in that 
 Inftant his Son arriv'd, and being inform'd of 
 their Requeft, and of his Father's Denial to fend 
 him with them, he addrefs'd himfelf to the King 
 in this Manner. " Father, faid he, in Time 
 " paft, I was permitted to fignalize myfelf in 
 " the two moft noble and moft becoming Ex- 
 " ercifes, of War and Hunting -, but now you 
 " keep me excluded from both, without having 
 " obferv'd in me either Cowardife or Abjection 
 " of Mind. What Regard will Men have for 
 " me when I appear in Publick ? What will 
 " the People fay ? And what kind of Man 
 " will the Wife I have fo lately married .think 
 " me to be ? Either fuffer me to go and take 
 *' Part in this Enterprize, or convince me that 
 " you have better Reafon to detain me at 
 " home." " My Son, anfwer'd Crafas, the 
 " Refolution I have taken proceeds not from 
 *' any Thing I have obferv'd in you, difpleafing 
 ** to me; out I have been admonim'd in a 
 " Dream that you fliall not live long, and muft 
 *' die by the Wound of a Spear. For that 
 " Reafon I haften'd your Marriage, and now 
 " refufe to fend you to this Expedition -, becaufe 
 " 4uring my Life I would take all poffible Care 
 C 4 to
 
 24 HERODOTUS. Book I. 
 
 *' to prevent the Danger that threatens you. 
 " For I efteem you to be my only Son, and have 
 " no Regard to the other, who is render'd ufe- 
 " lefs by his Defeds." " Indeed, replied the 
 Youth, " I cannot blame you, if after fuch a 
 " Dream you take fo much Care to preferve my 
 " Life : But becaufe you have not difcover'd the 
 *' true Meaning, give me leave to be your In- 
 " terpreter. You fay the Dream plainly figni- 
 " fied that I mould die by an Iron Lance: 
 " But what Hand or what Lance has a Boar, 
 " to create fuch Fears in you ? Had your Dream 
 " foretold I mould lofe my Life by a Tooth, 
 " or fomething of like Nature, you ought then 
 " to have done as you now do ; but if I am to 
 *' die by a Lance, you may fafely let me go, 
 " becaufe our Attempt is not to be made againft 
 " Men. " *' You have convinc'd me, faid Crcs- 
 fu!) " that you rightly underftand my Dream j 
 " and therefore changing my Refolution, I per- 
 " mit you to undertake this Enterprize." Thus 
 Crafus having given his Confent, call'd for A-> 
 draftus the Phrygian, and when he came into 
 his Prefence, {poke to him in this Manner ; 
 " AdraftuS) I receiv'd you in your Diftrefs ; I 
 " purified you from Blood, and now entertain 
 ' you in my Houfe at my Expence ; which I 
 *' fay, not to upbraid you with Ingratitude , 
 ^ but having oblig'd you firft by my Kindnefs, 
 '' I think it juft you mould make me fome Re- 
 " turn. I beg you would be my Spn's Guard 
 " in this Expedition, and take Care that no 
 *? execrable Aflaffins may from their private 
 f Haunts furprize and fall upon you by the Way. 
 " Befides you ought to go for your own Sake, 
 K in order to fignalize yourfelf, and by your
 
 CLIO. 25 
 
 AcYions to imitate your Anceftors, becaufe 
 *' you are not in the Strength and Vigour of 
 * c your Age." Adraftus anfwer'd, " No other 
 " Reafons, SIR, could induce me to take part 
 *' in this Enterprize : For one in my unfortu- 
 " nate Circumftances ought not to appear, nor 
 ^ 6 defire to appear among thofe of his own Years, 
 ** who are innocent and unblemifh'd ; and there- 
 " fore I have often declin'd thefe Occafions al- 
 " ready. Neverthelefs, becaufe you fo much 
 *< denre it ; and becaufe I ought to mew my 
 " Gratitude for the Benefits I have receiv'd from 
 " your Hand, I am ready to obey your Order ; 
 <c and aflure you no Care fhall be wanting on 
 " my Part to bring home your Son in Safety.'* 
 After Adraftus had made this Anfwer to Crcefus^ 
 they went away, attended by a chofen Compa- 
 ny of young Lydians, and well furnifh'd with 
 Dogs for the Chace. When they arriv'd at 
 Mount Olympus^ they fought the Boar, and hav- 
 ing found him, drew into the Form of a Circle, 
 and from all Sides lanc'd their Javelins at him. 
 Among the reft, the Stranger Adraftus, who had 
 been already expiated for Blood, throwing his 
 Javelin at the Boar, mifs'd him, and ftruck the 
 Son of Crcsfus ; by which Wound the Predicti- 
 on of the Dream was accomplim'd. Upon this 
 a Meflenger ran back to Crcefus, and arriving at 
 Sardis^ gave him an Account of the Action, and 
 of his Son's Fate -, Crtzfus violently difturb'd for 
 the Death of his Son, bore the Difafter with 
 the Icfs Patience, becaufe he fell by the Hand of 
 one, whom he himfelf had purified from the 
 Blood he had med before ; and with loud Com- 
 plaints of the Indignity of his Misfortune, ad- 
 drefs'd himfelf to Jupiter the God of Expiation, 
 
 attefting
 
 26 HERODOTUS. Book I. 
 
 attefting the Calamity brought upon him by 
 this Stranger. He invok'd the fame Deity a- 
 gain, by the Name of the God of Hofpitality 
 and private Friendmip : As the God of Hofpi- 
 tality, becaufe by receiving a Stranger into his 
 Houfe, he had harbour'd the Murderer of his 
 Son : As the God of private Friendmip, be- 
 caufe he had entrufted the Care of his Son to 
 one, whom he now found to be his greateft 
 Enemy. 
 
 AFTER this, the Lydians arriving with the 
 Bod) r of Atys^ Adraftus, who had kill'd him, fol- 
 low'd ; and coming into the Pretence of Crcefus^ 
 plac'd himfeif before the Corpfe, holding out 
 both his Hands, arid in that Manner furrendring 
 his Perfon, begg'd of Crcefus to kill him upon 
 the dead Body, acknowledging his former Mif- 
 fortune, and faying he ought to live no longer, 
 iince he had taken away the Life of his Bene- 
 factor, who had purg'd him from Bloodmed be- 
 fore. When Crcefus heard this, tho* his own 
 Affliction was above Meafure great, he pitied 
 Adraftus^ and faid to him, " You have made 
 " me full Satisfaction by condemning yourfelf 
 " to die. But no, Adraftus^ you were not the 
 " Author of this Difafter, for you did the Fact 
 *' unwillingly. But that God, whoever he was, 
 " that foretold my Misfortune, *twas he that 
 " brought it upon me." Crcefus celebrated the 
 Funeral of his Son, as the Dignity of his Birth 
 requir'd : But Adrajlus, who had kill'd both his 
 Brother and his Benefactor, judging himfeif the 
 moft miferable of all Men ; went to the Se- 
 pulchre in the dead of Night, and kill'd himfeif 
 upon the Grave. 
 
 CRCESUZ
 
 CLIO. 27 
 
 C ROZSUS continued difconfolate for the 
 Lofs of his Son during two Years ; after which, 
 the Profperity of Cyrus the Son of Cambyfes^ 
 who had difpoflefs'd Aftyages the Son of Cyaxares 
 of his Kingdom, and the growing Greatnefs of 
 the Perfians, interrupted the Courfe of his Grief ; 
 and led him into a follicitous Care, how he 
 might deftroy the Perfian Power, before it mould 
 become more formidable by farther Succefles. 
 In thefe Thoughts he determin'd to make Trial 
 of the Oracles of Greece and Libya *, and to that 
 End fent fome Perfons to Delphi, and to Abe a 
 City of Phocis ; others to Amphiaraus and Tro- 
 phonius, and fome to Brancbis in the Territories 
 of the Milefians. Thefe were the Grecian Ora- 
 cles, to which Crcsfus fent; and at the fame 
 Time he difpatch'd other Men to confult that of 
 Amman in Lybia ; defigning to try the feveral 
 Oracles, and if they mould be found to give a 
 true Anfwer, in that Cafe to fend again, to in- 
 quire whether he mould make War againft the 
 Perfians. Before he difmifs'd the Lydians on 
 this Meflage, he order'd, that computing the 
 Days from the Time of their Departure from 
 Sardis, they mould in one and the fame Day 
 make Trial of all the Oracles, by afking this 
 Queftion ; " What is Crafts the Son of Aly- 
 " attes King of Lydia now doing?" Com- 
 manding moreover, that they mould bring him 
 the Anfwer of each Oracle in Writing. What 
 were the Anfwers given by the other Oracles, is 
 mention'd by none : But the Lydians no fooner 
 enter'd the Temple of Delphi to confult the 
 God, and to afk the Queftion they had in 
 Charge, than the Pythian thus fpoke in Heroick 
 Verfe.
 
 28 HERODOTUS. Book I. 
 
 / know the Number of the Lybian Sands ; 
 ^he Ocean* s Meafure : I can penetrate 
 *rhe Secret of the Silent, or the Dumb. 
 I f me II th* afcending Odour of a Lamb 
 And Tortoife in a brazen Cauldron boiled : 
 Brafs lies beneath* and Brafs above the Flejh. 
 
 The Lydians having received and written down 
 this Anfwer of the Pythian, return'd to Sardis. 
 And when the reft, who had been fent to o- 
 ther Places, were arriv'd, Crafus open'd and 
 view'd the Anfwers they brought, without be- 
 ing fatisfied with any. But when he heard 
 the Words of the Delphian Oracle, acknow- 
 ledging the Truth they contain'd, he ador'd the 
 God , believing that alone to be a real Oracle, 
 which had difcover'd the Thing he did at Sar- 
 dis. For after he had fent the Lydians to conT 
 fait the Oracles, bearing in Mind the Time that 
 had been fixed, he on that Day took a Lamb 
 and a Tortoife, and boil'd them together in a 
 Cauldron of Brafs, which had a Cover of the 
 fame Metal ; judging it an impoflible Thing to 
 imagine or guefs at what he was doing. I can. 
 fay nothing certain touching the Anfwer given 
 to the Lydians by Amphiaraus^ after they had 
 perform'd the Ceremonies requir'd by the Cuftom 
 of the Place : Only 'tis reported in general, that 
 Crcefus imputed no Falfhood to his Oracle. Af- 
 ter thefe Things he offer ? d magnificent Sacrir 
 ikes to the Delphian God, confiding of three 
 Thoufand Head of Cattle ; and thinking to 
 render him yet more propitious, he brought out 
 Beds of Gold and Silver ; Vials of Gold \ with 
 Jlobes of Purple, and other rich Apparel ; and 
 
 burnt
 
 CLIO. 29 
 
 burnt all together on a Pile of Fire which he 
 had prepar'd to that End ; commanding all the 
 Lydians to imitate his Example. In this Of- 
 fering fo great a Quantity of Gold was melted 
 down, that one Hundred and feventeen Tiles 
 were made out of it ; of which the longeft 
 were fix Palms in Length ; the fhorteft three ; 
 and both forts one Palm in Thicknefs. Four 
 of thefe were of pure Gold, each weighing 
 two Talents and a half; the reft were of a 
 paler Gold, and weigh'd two Talents each. 
 He alfo caus'd the Figure of a Lion to be made 
 of fine Gold, weighing ten Talents; but while 
 the Temple of Delphi was burning, the Lion 
 fell down from the Tiles, on which it flood to 
 that Time, and lies now in the Treafury of the 
 Corinthians, reduc'd to the Weight of fix Ta- 
 lents and a half, the reft having been melted off 
 by the Fire. When thefe Things were finim'd, 
 Crcefus fent them to Delphi, accompany'd with 
 many other Donations, among which were 
 two large Bowls, one of Gold and the other 
 of Silver. That of Gold was plac'd on the 
 right Hand as Men go into the Temple, and 
 that of Silver on the left ; but they were both 
 remov'd when the Temple was burnt; and the 
 golden Bowl, weighing eight Talents and a 
 half and twelve Mines, is laid up in the Trea- 
 fury of Clezomene ; the other of Silver, con- 
 taining fix Hundred Amphoras, lies in a Cor- 
 ner of the Portico, and is us'd at Delphi for 
 mixing the Wine on the Feftival calPd 'fbtopba- 
 nea. The Delphians fay it was made by Tbts- 
 dorus the Samian ; which I think probable, be- 
 caufe to me it appears to be the Work of an un- 
 common Hand. He alfo prefented four VefTels 
 
 of
 
 36 HERODOTUS. Book I. 
 
 of Silver, which are plac'd in the Treafury of 
 the Corinthians ; and gave two round Bafons 
 to contain the Holy Water us'd in the Tem- 
 ple, one of Gold, and the other of Silver. 
 On the Bafon of Gold is an Infcription, which 
 attributes that Donation to the Lacedemoni- 
 ans ; but wrongfully i for it was given by 
 Crcefus , though a certain Delphian, whofe Name 
 I know, and am not willing to mention, en- 
 grav'd thofe Words, in order to pleafe the 
 Lacedemonians. They gave indeed the Boy, 
 through whofe Hand the Water runs , but 
 neither the one nor the other of the Bafons. 
 At the fame Time Crcefus fent many other Pre- 
 fents of lefs Value ; with divers round Dimes of 
 Silver -, and the Image of a Woman, three 
 Cubits high, which the Delphians fay reprefents 
 the Perfon that prepar'd his Bread : And to all 
 thefe Things he added the Necklaces and Gir- 
 dles of his Wife. Thefe were the Donations 
 he dedicated at Delphi ; and to Amphiaraus, on 
 Account of his Virtue and Sufferings, he fent a 
 Shield and a Spear, both of folid Gold, which 
 remain to this Day at Thebes in the Temple of 
 Ifmenian Apollo. 
 
 When the Lydians were upon their De- 
 parture, chargM with thefe Preients for the 
 two Oracles ; Crcefus commanded them to in- 
 quire of both, if he mould undertake a War 
 againft the Perfians, and if he mould invite 
 any other Nation to his Affiftance. According- 
 ly arriving in the Places to which they were 
 fent, they confulted the Oracles in thefe Words ; 
 " Crcefus King of the Lydians and of other 
 " Nations, efteeming thefe to be the only O- 
 " racles among Men, fends thefe Prefents in- 
 
 " Acknow-*
 
 CLIO. 31 
 
 u Acknowledgment of the Thing you have 
 " difcover'd , and demands, whether he mail 
 " lead an Army againft the Perfians, and whe- 
 " ther he (hall join any auxiliary Forces with 
 u his own?" To thefe Queftions both the 
 Oracles gave a like Anfwer, and foretold, " That 
 " if Crosfus would make War upon the Perfi- 
 " ans, he ihould deftroy a great Empire ," coun- 
 felling him at the fame Time to engage the moil 
 powerful of the Grecians in his Alliance. When 
 thefe Anfwers were brought and reported to 
 Crxfus, he became fo elevated, that not doubt- 
 ing to deftroy the Kingdom of Cyrus, he fent 
 more Prefents to Delphi ; and caus'd two Staters 
 of Gold to be distributed to each of the Inha- 
 bitants, whofe Number he had already learnt. 
 In Confideration of which, the Delphians grant- 
 ed to Crcefus and the Lydians a Right to con- 
 fult the Oracle, and to be difmifs'd before any 
 other Nation ; together with the firft Place in 
 the Temple ; and the Privilege of being made 
 Citizens of Delphi, to as many as mould defire 
 it in all future Time. 
 
 CRCESUS having made thefe Prefents at 
 Delphi, fent a third Time to confult the Oracle. 
 For after he had fatisfied himfelf of the Oracle's 
 Veracity, he was not fparing of his Queftions. 
 His Demand now v/as, whether he fhould long 
 enjoy the Kingdom ; to which the Pythian gave 
 this Anfwer, 
 
 When o'er the Medes a MukJhaH reign as King* 
 Learn thou the Name of Coward to dejpife i 
 And on tly tender Feet, O Lydian, fly 
 Tojlony Hermus, and his Furj Jbun. 
 
 2 This
 
 32 HERODOTUS. Book. 1 
 
 This Anfwer being brought to Crafus, pleas'd 
 him much more than thofe he had received be- 
 fore. For he prefum'd that a Mule mould never 
 be King of the Medes, and confequently that 
 neither he nor his Pofterity mould ever be de- 
 priv'd of the Kingdom. In the next place he 
 began to conflder how he might induce the 
 moft powerful of the Grecians to be his Con- 
 federates , and upon Inquiry found that the La- 
 cedemonians and Athenians were the principal 
 Nations of Greece, the firft being of Dorian, 
 and the other of Ionian Defcent. They were in- 
 ancient Time efteem'd the mofl: confiderable* 
 when they went under the Names of Pelafgians 
 and Hellenians ; of which the latter conftantly 
 continued in one Country, while the former ve- 
 ry often chang'd their Seat : For under the Reign 
 of Deucalion the Pelafgians inhabited the Coun- 
 try of Pthiotis ; and in the Time of Dorus the 
 Son of Hellenes pofTefs'd that Region which is 
 call'd IftiaotiS) lying at the Foot of the Moun- 
 tains Offa and Olympus. From thence being ex- 
 pell'd by the Cadmaeans, they betook themfelves 
 to Macednum on Mount Pindus ; which Place 
 they afterwards abandon'd for another Settlement 
 tn Dryopis ; and again changing their Country, 
 came to inhabit in Peloponefus^ where they were 
 call'd Dorians. What Language the Pelafgians 
 us'd I cannot certainly affirm , but if I may form 
 a Conjecture by that which at prefent is fpokeii 
 among thofe Pelafgians, who being now fettled 
 at Crotona beyond the Tyrrhenians, were for- 
 merly Neighbours to thofe call'd at this Day 
 Dorians, and dwelt in Thejfaly when the Pelafgi- 
 ans founded Placia and Scylace on the Hellefpont y 
 and liv'd in Society with the Athenians : If, I fay, 
 
 adding
 
 CLIO. 33 
 
 adding to thefe fuch other Pelafgian Cities as 
 have alter'd their Name, I may be permitted to 
 give my Conjecture, the Pelafgians fpoke a bar- 
 barous Language. And if the whole Pelafgian 
 Body did fo , the People of Attica^ who are 
 defcended from them, muft have unlearnt their 
 own Mother Tongue, after they took the Name 
 of Grecians. For the Language of the Croto- 
 nians and of the Placians is the fame ; but dif- 
 ferent from that of all their Neighbours. By 
 which it appears they have taken Care to pre- 
 ferve the Language they brought with them in- 
 to thofe Places. But the Hellenians, as I think, 
 have from the Time they were People, us'd 
 the fame Language they now fpeak : And tho', 
 when feparated from the Pelafgians, they were 
 at firft of no confiderable Force ; yet from a 
 fmall Beginning they advanc'd to a mighty 
 Power, by the Conjunction of many Nations, as 
 well Barbarians as others. Whereas, on the 
 other hand, the Pelafgians being a barbarous Na- 
 tion, feem to me never to have rifen to any con- 
 fiderable Grandeur. 
 
 CROiSUS had heard that the People of 
 Attica, one of thefe Nations, was opprefs'd un- 
 der the Tyranny of Pififtratus the Son of Hip- 
 pocrates then reigning in Athens : To this Hip* 
 pocrates, a ftrange Prodigy happen'd, while as a 
 private Man he was prefent at the Olympian Ex- 
 ercifes. For having kill'd a Victim, and put 
 the Flefh with Water into a Cauldron, the 
 Liquor boil'd over without Fire. Ckilon the 
 Lacedemonian, who was accidentally there, 
 and faw the Prodigy, advis'd Hippocrates not to 
 marry any Woman by whom he might have 
 Children j or, if he was already married, to di- 
 D vorce
 
 34- HERODOTUS. Book I. 
 
 voite his Wife; and if he had a Son, to ab- 
 dicate him. But Hippocrates not perfuaded by 
 the Counfel of Chi Ion, had afterwards a Son, 
 whom he brought up, and nam'd Pijiftratus. 
 After thefe Things, a Sedition happening be- 
 tween the Paralians led by Mcgacles the Son of 
 Alcm<fon, and the Pedieans headed by Lycur- 
 gus the Son of Ariftolaides , Pijiftratus defign- 
 ing to make himfelf Tyrant, formed a third 
 Party, and having aflembled his Partizans un- 
 der Colour of protecting the Hyperacrians, 
 contriv*d this Stratagem. He wounded himfelf 
 and his Mules ; and driving his Chariot into the 
 publick Place, as if he had efcap'd from Ene- 
 mies that defign'd to murder him in his Way to 
 the Country, he befought the People to grant 
 him a Guard, relying much on the Reputation 
 he had acquir'd, as well in the Expedition of 
 Megara, as by the taking of Nifea* and other 
 fignal Succefles. With thefe Pretences the Peo- 
 ple of Athens were deluded, and appointed 
 fjme chofen Men of the City for his Guard, 
 who were to attend him arm'd with Clubs, and 
 not with Javelins. Neverthelefs, by the Help 
 of this Guard Pijiftratus feiz'd the Acropolis, 
 and then poflefs'd himfelf of the whole Power ;. 
 yet he neither difturb'd the ancient Magiftra- 
 cies, nor alter'd the Laws ; but leaving Things 
 as they were, adminifter'd the Government 
 with Order and Moderation. Notwithftanding 
 which, the Parties of Megades and Lycurgus 
 being fome Time after reconcil'd, join'd toge- 
 ther and drove him out. In this Manner Pi- 
 jiftratus firft made himfelf Matter of Athens* 
 and was difpoffefs'd before his Power was well 
 But new DilTentions arifmg between 
 
 thofe
 
 C L I 0. 35 
 
 thofe who expell'd him, Megacles weary of fuch 
 Diforders, fent a Meflage to Pi/iftratus, offering 
 him the Dominion of Athens^ if he would marry 
 his Daughter. Pififtratus accepted the Propofi- 
 tion ; and, in order to his Reftitution, they two 
 contriv'd the moft ridiculous Project, that, I 
 think, was ever imagin'd : Efpecially if we con- 
 fider that the Grecians have long been accounted 
 much more acute and free from all ftupid Sim- 
 plicity than the Barbarians ; and that the Authors 
 of this Contrivance were Athenians, who are 
 efteem'd among the wifeft of the Grecians. Pbya, 
 a Woman of the Pasanean Tribe, was four Cu- 
 bits high, wanting three Digits, and in other 
 Refpecls beautiful : This Perfon they drefs'd in 
 a compleat Suit of Armour , plac'd her on a 
 Chariot ; and having difpos'd all Things in fuch 
 a Manner as might make her appear with all pof- 
 fible Advantage, they conducted her towards 
 the City, fending Heralds before, with Order to 
 fpeak to the People in thefe Terms j " Give a 
 " kind Reception, O Athenians, to Pififtratus^ 
 " who is fo much honour'd by Minerva above 
 " all other Men, that me her felf condefcends 
 " to bring him back to her Acropolis," When 
 the Heralds had publifh'd this in feveral Places, 
 the Report was prefently fpread through the ad- 
 joining Parts, that Minerva was bringing home 
 Pijiftratus ; and in the City the Multitude believ- 
 ing this Woman to be the Goddefs, addrefs'd her 
 with Prayers, and readily receiv'd Pifijiratus \ 
 who having thus recover'd the Tyranny, mar- 
 ried the Daughter of Megacles in Performance of 
 his Agreement. But becaufe he had Sons al- 
 ready , and knew befides, that the Alcmaeonides 
 were reported to be guilty of an unexpiated 
 D 2 Crime,
 
 36 HERODOTUS. Book I. 
 
 Crime, he refolv'd to have no Children of this 
 Marriage, and therefore would not ufe the Com- 
 pany of his new Wife according to Cuftom. 
 The Woman for fome Time conceal'd the 
 Thing ; but afterwards, either mov'd by her 
 Mother's Sollicitation, or other Reafons, difco- 
 ver*d it to her, and me to her Hufband. A&- 
 gacles highly refenting the Difgrace, and tranf- 
 pprted with Anger againft Piftftratus^ reconcil'd 
 himfelf to the adverfe Party ; which Pijiftratus 
 underftanding to be done in Enmity to him, he 
 withdrew quite out of the Country, and arriving 
 in Eretria, confulted with his Sons about the 
 State of their Affairs. In this Confutation the 
 prevailing Opinion was that of Htppias, who 
 advis'd to attempt the Reduction of Athens. 
 Purfuant to whofe Counfel, they follicited the 
 Cities, where they had an Intereft, to fupply 
 them with Money ; and many gave great Sums , 
 but the Thebans furpafs'd the reft in Liberality. 
 To be fhort, when all Things were ready for 
 the Expedition, they were joined by fome Argian 
 Troops which they had hir'd in Peloponnefus ; and 
 by Lygdamis a Naxian, who to their great Sa- 
 tisfaction came voluntarily in, aud brought both. 
 Men and Money to their Afliftance. In the ele- 
 venth Year of their Exile, departing from Ere- 
 tria they ariv'd in Attica^ and in the firft Place 
 pofTefs'd themfelves of Marathon : Where while 
 they lay encamp'd, they were join'd not only 
 by their feditious Partizans of the City ; but by 
 great Numbers from the adjoining Parts, who 
 were more fond of Slavery than of Liberty. Orr 
 the other Hand, the Athenians had fhewn very 
 little Concern all the Time Pijiftratus was folli- 
 citing for Money j or even when he made him- 
 felf
 
 CLIO. 37 
 
 felf Matter of Marathon. But when they heard 
 he was marching directly for Athens, they af- 
 fembled all their Forces to defend themfelves, 
 and to repel the Invader. In the mean Time 
 Pififtratus advancing with his Army from Mara- 
 thon^ arriv'd at the Temple of the Pallenian Mi- 
 nerva ; and after they had plac'd their Arms be- 
 fore the Gates, Amphilytus a Prophet of Acarna- 
 nia, by divine Impulfe, went to him, and pro- 
 nounc'd this Oracle in Hexameter Verfe. 
 
 The Net is fp read, and dextroujly thrown ; 
 By the clear Moonlight jhall the Tunnies come. 
 
 When the Prophet had deliver'd thefe Words, 
 Pififtratus comprehending the Oracle, and fay- 
 ing he accepted the Omen, broke up with his 
 Army. In the mean Time the Athenians having 
 drawn their Forces out of the City, and taken 
 their Dinner, betook themfelves afterwards to 
 Dice or Sleep. So that the Army of Pififtra- 
 tus falling upon them by Surprize, foon put 
 them to Flight ; and as they were endeavouring 
 to make their Efcape, Pififtratus contriv'd an 
 artful Stratagem, in order to difperfe them fo in- 
 tirely, that they might not rally again. He 
 commanded his Sons to ride before with Speed, 
 and in his Name to inform all thofe they mould 
 overtake, that they had nothing to fear, and 
 that every Man might return to his own Habi- 
 tation. The Athenians readily embracing the 
 Opportunity, Pififtratus took a third Time Pof- 
 feflion of Athens -, and eftablifh'd himfelf more 
 firmly in the Tyranny, partly by the Afliftance 
 of auxiliary Forces, and partly by Revenues 
 at Home, or brought from the River 
 P 3 Strymon.
 
 38 HERODOTUS. Book I. 
 
 Strymon. He compelled thofe who refitted in 
 the Battle, and had not prefently fled out of the 
 Field, to deliver up their Sons to him as Hofta- 
 ges, and fent them to Naxus ; which Ifland he 
 had formerly conquer'd, and put into the Hands 
 of Lygdamis. He likewife purified the Ifland of 
 Delos, as he had been admonifh'd by an Oracle ; 
 caufing the dead Bodies to be taken up, and 
 remov'd from all Places that lay within the Pro- 
 fpecT: of the Temple. In this Manner Pijijtra- 
 tus recover'd the Dominion of Athens ; many of 
 the Athenians having been kill'd in the Fight, 
 and many others leaving the Country with the 
 Alcmaeonides. 
 
 CRCESUS receiv'd Information that this 
 was the prefent Condition of the Athenians ; 
 and that the Lacedemonians having extricated 
 themselves out of great Difficulties, had been at 
 laft victorious againft the Tegeans. For in the 
 Time of Leon and Hegeficles, Kings of Sparta^ 
 they were fuccefsful in all other Wars except only 
 againft that People. But before their Reign, 
 they had been the moft diforderly People of all 
 Greece ; without any good Correfpondence either 
 among themfelves, or with Strangers ; 'till better 
 Orders and Difcipline were introduc'd by Lycur- 
 gut) in this Manner. Lycurgus^ who was a Man 
 much efteem'd in Sparta^ arriving at Ddpbi to 
 confult the Oracle ; no fooner entred the Temple, 
 than the Pythian fpoke thefe Words, 
 
 Welcome, Lycurgus, to this happy Place ; 
 'Thou Favourite of Heav'n : I doubting ftand, 
 J-Wiether IJhall pronounce thee God or Man : 
 Inclining yet 'to think thou art a God. 
 
 Some
 
 CLIO. 39 
 
 Some Men fay, that befides this, the Pythian 
 at the fame Time communicated to him that 
 Form of good Government, which is now ob- 
 ferv'd in Sparta. But the Lacedemonians af- 
 firm, that Lycurgus, being both Uncle and Tu- 
 tor ,to Leobotes King of Sparta, brought thofe 
 Inftitutions from Crete. However, after he had 
 undertaken the Guardianmip, he alter'd all their 
 Cuftoms, and caus'd his own Regulations to 
 be punctually obey'd. He form'd a Militia, di- 
 vided into Companies under diftincl: Names ; 
 eftablifhing the Order of eating together in pub- 
 lick , and conftituted the Ephori and the Se- 
 nate : Which Change of Government was at - 
 tended by fuch good Confequences, that the La- 
 cedemonians built a Temple to Lycurgus after his 
 Death, and paid him divine Honours. In a 
 fhort Time, aflifted by the natural Goodnefs of 
 their Country, and Increafe of their People, 
 they grew considerable : And having attained to 
 a great Meafure of Profperity, could be no 
 longer contented to live in Peace ; but thinking 
 themfelves more valiant than the Arcadians, fent 
 to confult the Oracle of Delphi, touching the 
 Conqueft of all their Country, and received this 
 Anfwer 5 
 
 rfo ajk Arcadia is a high Demand : 
 A hardy Race of Men defend that Land. 
 But againft Tegea if thou wilt advance. 
 Upon her Plains thy founding Feet Jhall dance ; 
 And with a Line thou Jhalt trace out the Soil. 
 
 When the Lacedemonians heard the Report of 
 
 their Meflengers, they laid afide their Defign 
 
 againft all Arcadia -, and relying on this equivo- 
 
 D 4 cal
 
 40 HERODOTUS. Book I. 
 
 cal Oracle, led an Army againft Tegea only -, car- 
 rying Fetters with them in their March, as if 
 they had been fure of making a).l the Tegeans 
 Prisoners . But coming to a Battle, they them- 
 felves were defeated, and all that were taken 
 alive being bound with the fame Fetters they 
 brought, were compell'd to labour, and fo to 
 meafure the Lands of the Country. Thofe Fet- 
 ters were afterwards hung up by the Tegeans in 
 the Temple of the Haliaean Minerva^ and con- 
 tinued there to our Time. In this fir ft War, 
 which the Lacedemonians made againft 3egea 9 
 they were always unprofperous > but in the Time 
 of Cr&fuS) and during the Reign of Anaxandri- 
 des and AHJlon^ Kings of Sparta^ they had better 
 Succefs ; by thefe Means : Having confider'd 
 that they had always been beaten by the Te- 
 geans, they fent to enquire of the Oracle at 
 Delphi ; , what God they mould addrefs, in order 
 to be victorious againft that People. The Py- 
 thian anfwer'd, they mould then be fuccefsfu), 
 when they mould carry back the Bones of Orcftes 
 the Son of 'Agamemnon , to Sparta. The Lacede- 
 monians not knowing where to find the Sepul- 
 chre of Oreftes, fent again to inquire of the God 
 in what Country he lay interr'd ; and received 
 this Anfwer by the Mouth of the Pythian : 
 
 In the Arcadian Plains lies Tegea, 
 tfn>ere two impetuous Winds are forced to blow : 
 Form rejifts Form : Mifchief on Mifchiefftrikes. 
 Jlere Mother -Earth keeps Agamemnon' J Son ; 
 Carry him off^ and be victorious. 
 
 The Lacedemonians having heard this Anfwer, 
 \vere no lefs in Pain than before, tho' they usM 
 
 all
 
 CLIO. 41 
 
 all poiTible Diligence in fearching for the Sepul- 
 chre of Oreftes : Till Liches, one of thofe Spar- 
 tans who are call'd Agathoergoi (or well-deferr- 
 ing >) found it by an Accident. Thefe Agatbo- 
 ergoi confift of Citizens who have ferv'd in the 
 Cavalry till they attain a considerable Age ; and 
 then five of the eldeft are yearly exempted from 
 that Duty ; and that they may be ftill ufeful 
 to the State, are fent Abroad during the firft 
 Year of their Difmiffion. Liches was one of 
 thefe Perfons, and his Prudence was not infe- 
 riour to his good Fortune on this Occafion. 
 For as the Lacedemonians had ftill the Li- 
 berty of going to Tegea, Liches was there at 
 that Time ; and entering one Day into the Shop 
 of a Smith, attentively confider'd the Art of 
 the Mafter in Shaping his Iron: Which when 
 the Artificer obferv'd he ceas'd from his Work, 
 and faid -, " You feem, Laconian Stranger, to 
 " admire my Work ; but if you knew a cer- 
 " tain Thing I know, you would be much more 
 " aftonim'd. For as I was finking a Well in 
 " this Inclofure, I found a Coffin feven Cubits 
 " long : And becaufe I could not think that 
 " Men were ever of a higher Stature than in our 
 " Time, I open'd the Coffin, which I faw ex- 
 " aclly fitted to the Body : And after I had 
 " taken the juft Meafure, I cover'd all again 
 * with Earth." Liches reflecting on his Dif- 
 courfe, conjeclur'd from the Words of the Ora- 
 cle, that this was the Body of Oreftes , not doubt- 
 ing that the Smith's Bellows he faw, were the 
 two Winds , the Anvil and Hammer the two 
 contending Forms ; and that the fhaping of Iron 
 was fignified by the redoubled Mifchiefs men- 
 tion'd in the Oracle ; becaufe he imagin'd that 
 
 the
 
 42 HERODOTUS. Book I. 
 
 the Invention of Iron had been deftructive td 
 Men. Having confider'd thefe Things, he re- 
 turn'd to Sparta, and gave the Lacedemonians 
 an Account of the whole Matter ; which when 
 they had heard, they contriv'd in Concert with 
 Liche^ to charge him with a fictitious Crime ; 
 and under that Colour banifh'd him. The Spar- 
 tan arriving in fegea, related his Misfortune to 
 the Smith ; and hir*d the Inclofure of him, be- 
 caufe he would not fell it. But after he had per- 
 fuaded him, and inhabited there for fome Time, 
 he open'd the Sepulchre ; and having collected 
 all the Bones, carried them away with him to 
 Sparta. From that Time the Lacedemonians 
 were always fuperior in War to the Tegeans ; 
 and befides, they had already fubdued many 
 Countries of Peloponefus. 
 
 CRCESUS being inform'd of all thefe Things, 
 fent Ambafladors to the Spartans, with Prefents, 
 and Orders to defire their Alliance : Who when 
 they were arriv'd, deliver'd their Meflage, as 
 they were inftructed, in thefe Words ; " Croefus 
 " King of the Lydians and of other Nations, 
 " having confulted the Oracle, has been ad- 
 " monim'd to make the Grecians his Friends ; 
 " and knowing you, O Lacedemonians, to be 
 ** the principal People of Greece., has fent us to 
 " tell you, that in Obedience to the God he 
 " ofTers to become your Ally and Confederate 
 " without Fraud or Artifice." The Lacedemo- 
 nians, who had Notice of this Oracle before, 
 were pleas'd with the coming of the Lydians, 
 and readily enter'd into a League of Amity and 
 mutual Affiftance with Crcefus ; from whom they 
 had formerly receiv'd fome Kindnefs. For when 
 they had refolv'd to erect that Statue of Gold to 
 
 Apollo*
 
 CLIO. 43 
 
 Apollo, which now ftands at Tbornace in Laco- 
 nia, and difpatch*d certain Perfons to purchafe 
 a fufficient Quantity at Sardis, Crcefus prefented 
 them with as much Gold as was neceflary to that 
 End. For which Caufe, and the Honour he had 
 done them in defiring their Friendfhip prefera- 
 bly to all the reft of the Grecians, they accepted 
 the Offer of his Alliance ; engaging to be ready 
 with their Forces whenever he fhould defire 
 their Afliftance. And that they might make him 
 fome other Return, they caus'd a Bafon to be 
 made of Brafs, capable of containing three hun- 
 dred Amphoras, and wrought all over the exte- 
 rior Part with the Figures of various Animals, 
 which they fent away in order to be prefented 
 to Crafus. But the Bafon never reach'd Sardis, 
 for one of thefe two Reafons : The Lacedemo- 
 nians on their Part fay, that the Samians being 
 informed of their Defign, fitted out divers long 
 Ships ; and falling upon them in the Road of 
 Samos, robb'd them of the Prefent. On the 
 other hand the Samians affirm, that the Lacede- 
 monians, who were charg'd with the Bafon, 
 came too late ; and hearing that Sardis was 
 taken, and Crcefus himfelf made Prifoner, fold 
 the intended Prefent at Samos to fome private 
 Perfons, who dedicated it in the Temple of Ju- 
 no : And that pofTibly when they were return'd 
 to Sparta, they might fay the Samians had taken 
 it away. 
 
 In the mean time Crcefus miftaking the Oracle, 
 refolv'd to invade Cappadocia with an Army, in 
 hope to deftroy the Power of Cyrus and of the 
 Perfians ; and whilft he was preparing all Things 
 for his Expedition, a Lydian nam'd Sandanis^ 
 who before that Time was efteem'd a wife Man, 
 
 and
 
 44- HERODOTUS. Book I. 
 
 and on this Occafion acquir'd a great Addi- 
 tion of Reputation, gave him Advice in thefe 
 Words : " O King, you are preparing to make 
 " War againft a People who have no other 
 " Cloathing than Skins ; who inhabit a bar- 
 " ren Country , and eat not the Things they 
 " would chufe, but fuch as they can get. They 
 " ufe Water for Drink, and have neither Wine 
 " nor Figs, nor any delicious Thing among 
 *' them. What Advantage can you gain by 
 " the Conqueft of fo poor a People ? But if 
 *' you are conquer'd, confider what your Condi- 
 " tion will be. When they come to tafte of 
 " our voluptuous Way of Living, they will efta- 
 " blifh themfelves in this Country, and we fhall 
 <c never be able to drive them out. As for me, 
 " I thank the Gods that they have not infpir'd 
 " the Perfians with Thoughts of attacking us." 
 But all this was not fufficient to dhTuade Crcefus 
 from making War againft the Perfians, who be- 
 fore they conquer'd the Lydians, poflefs'd no- 
 thing either delicious or commodious. 
 
 T H E Cappadocians, by the Grecians call'd 
 Syrians, were fubject to the Medes before the 
 Eftablifhment of the Perfian Power ; and in the 
 Time of this War were under the Dominion of 
 Cyrus. For the Kingdoms of Media and Lydia 
 are feparated by the River Halys, which de- 
 fcending from the Mountains of Armenia, paries 
 thro' Ciiicia ; and leaving the Matienians on the 
 Right and the Phrygians on the left Hand, tends 
 to the Northward, and divides the Syrians of Cap- 
 padocia from the Paphlagonians , the former in- 
 habiting on the Right, and the latter on the Left 
 of that Stream. In this Manner the River Halys 
 divides almoft all the lower Afia, from the Cy- 
 prian.
 
 CLIO. 45 
 
 prian to the Euxin Sea, which is in Length as 
 much as a ftrong Man can travel over in five 
 Days. Crcefus was indeed very defirous to add 
 the Country of Cappadocia to his own Terri- 
 tories ; but his Confidence in the Oracle, and 
 great Inclination to revenge the Difpofition of 
 Aftyages upon Cyrus, were the principal Caufes 
 that induc'd him to invade the Cappadocians. 
 For Cyrus the Son of Cambyfes had defeated and 
 taken Aftyages the Son of Cyaxares, who was 
 King of the Medes, and nearly related to Crce- 
 fus ; in the following Manner. Upon a Sedition 
 which happen'd amongft the Scythian Nomades, 
 a Party of them efcap'd into Media^ where Cy- 
 axares the Son of Phraortes^ and Grand fbn to 
 Dioces, was then King , who confidering their 
 Diftrefs, receiv'd them at firft with great Huma- 
 nity ; and having entertain'd a good Opinion of 
 them, entrufted to their Care divers Youths, to 
 learn the Ufe of the Bow and the Scythian 
 Tongue. Thefe Strangers exercis'd themfelves 
 with frequent Hunting, and were ever accuftomed 
 to return with Prey. But one Day, when they 
 had taken nothing, and came back with empty 
 Hands, Cyaxares^ who, as plainly appear'd, 
 was of a violent Temper, treated them with 
 moft opprobrious Language. The Scythians re- 
 fenting this Ufage with great Indignation, agreed 
 among themfelves to kill one of the Youths that 
 were educated under their Care, and to pre- 
 pare his Flem for Cyaxares as they us'd to drefs 
 his Veriifon i and then to make their Efcape im- 
 mediately to Alyattes the Son of Sadyattes King 
 of Lydia. Thefe Things they executed as they 
 defign'd : Cyaxares and thofe who fat with him 
 at the Table, tafted of the Flefli j and the Scy- 
 ^ thians
 
 46 HERODOTUS. Book I. 
 
 thians flying to Surdis, implor'd the Protection 
 of Alyattes. After this Cyaxares fent to demand 
 the Scythians i but not prevailing with Alyattes 
 to deliver them up, he made War againft him 
 five Years with various Succefs, the Medes fome- 
 times defeating the Lydians, and fometimes be- 
 ing defeated by them ; during which Time, they 
 fought once by Night. In the fixth Year, 
 Things being hitherto well near equal on both 
 fides, they came to another Battle, and whilft 
 they were contending for Victory, the Day was 
 fuddenly turn'd into Night-, which Alteration 
 Shales the Milefian had foretold to the Ionian s, 
 and nam'd the Year when it mould happen. The 
 Lydians and Medes feeing Darknefs fucceeding 
 in the Place of Light, defifted from righting, 
 and fhew'd a great Inclination on both fides to 
 make Peace. Syennefis of Celitia, and Labync- 
 tus the Babylonian were the Mediators of their 
 Reconciliation : And becaufe important Agree- 
 ments require ftrong Securities, they not only 
 oblig'd them to confirm the Treaty by Oath, 
 but perfuaded Alyattes to give his Daughter 
 Aryenis in Marriage to Aftyages the Son of Cy- 
 axares. Thefe Nations in their Federal Con- 
 tracts obferve the fame Ceremonies as in Greece ; 
 except only, that both Parties cut themfelves on 
 the Arm till the Blood gufhes out, and then 
 mutually lick it from the Wounds. 
 
 WHEN Cyrus had conquer'd and confin*d 
 'Aftyages his Grandfather by the Mother, for 
 Reafons which I mall hereafter relate, Crcefus 
 Was fo much offended with him, that he fent to 
 confult the Oracle, if he mould make War a- 
 gainft the Perfians , and having received an iiiu- 
 fbry Anfwer, which he interpreted to his own 
 
 Advantage,
 
 CLIO. 47 
 
 Advantge, he led his Army towards their Ter- 
 ritories. When he arriv'd at the River Hafys, 
 he caus'd his Forces to pafs over, as I believe, 
 by Bridges which were then built. But the 
 common Opinion of the Grecians is, that Shales 
 the Milefian procur'd him a Paffage by other 
 Means. For, fay they,, whilft Crafftts was in 
 great Pain how his Army mould pafs over the 
 River, on which no Bridges were then built, 
 Tbales, who was in his Carnp, caus'd the Stream 
 which ran along the Left of his Army, to pafs 
 likewife on the Right by this Invention. They 
 began a deep Trench by his Direction at the 
 Head of the Camp, which they carried round 
 by the Rear in the Form of a Halfmoon to the 
 aritient Channel , and the Stream being thus 
 fuddenly divided, was found fordable in both 
 Parts. Some fay, that the antient Channel of 
 the River became quite dry , but I cannot af- 
 fent to their Opinion : For how then could thofe 
 repafs, who return'd from that Expedition ? 
 However, Crcefus having pafs'd the River, en- 
 ter'd with his Army into the Country of Pteria, 
 the moft populous Part of Cappadocia, and lying 
 near the City of Sinope, which is fituate on the 
 Euxin Sea. Encamping in that Region he ra- 
 vag'd the Lands of the Syrians -, took the chief 
 City of the Pterians, which he pillag'd, with 
 all the adjacent Places, and expelled the Inhabi- 
 tants, who had given him no Caufe of Dif- 
 content. 
 
 CTRUS being inform'd of thefe Things, af- 
 fembled his Army, and taking with him the 
 Forces of thofe Countries thro* which he was 
 to .pafs, refolv'd to march towards the Enemy. 
 But before he began to advance, he fent Heralds 
 
 to
 
 48 HERODOTUS. Book I. 
 
 to the lonians, to perfuade them to revolt from 
 Crcefus^ and receiv'd a pofitive Denial. When 
 he arriv'd within View of the Enemy, he en- 
 camp'd in the Territories of Pteria^ and after 
 feveral Skirmifhes, the two Armies came to a 
 bloody Battle ; which continued with great 
 Slaughter on both Sides, till Night parted them, 
 and left it undetermin'd who had the better. 
 But Crcefus being difTatisfied to fee his Forces 
 much inferiour in Number to thofe of Cyrus, as 
 indeed they were, and finding nothing attempted 
 againft him the Day after the Battle, retir'd to 
 Sardis with his Army, defigning to fend to the 
 Egyptians for Succour, purfuant to the Con- 
 federacy he had made with Amafis King of 
 Aigypt, before he treated with the Lacedemo- 
 nians. In like manner, becaufe the Babylonians, 
 with their King Labynetus^ were alfo his Allies, 
 he refolv'd to require their Afliftance, and to fix 
 a Time for the coming of the Lacedemonians ; 
 determining with thefe Forces and his own to 
 attack the Perfians in the Beginning of the next 
 Spring. With this Defign he return'd Home j 
 and after he had difpatch'd Ambafiadors to his 
 Confederates to require them to fend their Forces 
 to Sardis before the End of five Months, lie 
 feparated his Army which had fought againft 
 the Perfians, and fent Home all the foreign 
 Troops , not imagining that Cyrus* who had 
 not been able to beat him in the Field, would 
 venture to advance to Sardis. While thefe 
 Things were in Agitation, a great Number of 
 Serpents were feen in the Lands about Sardis \ 
 which when the Hcrfes found, they left their 
 Pafture, and eat as many as they could take, 
 not without Reafon, thinking this to 
 
 be
 
 C L I 0. 49 
 
 be a Prodigy, fent to confult the Interpreters 
 at Telmijjus by certain Perfons, who arriving 
 in that Place, receiv'd the Anfwer of the Tel- 
 miflians , but could not deliver it to Crcefus y 
 becaufe he was taken Prifoner before they re- 
 turn'd to Sardis. The Interpretation of the 
 Telmiffians was that the Kingdom of Crcefus 
 fhould foon be invaded by a foreign Army, 
 v/hich mould conquer the Natives ; becaufe, faid 
 they, the Serpent is a Son of the Earth, and the 
 Horle is an Enemy and a Stranger. This An- 
 fwer they gave after the Difafter of Crcefus ; yet 
 without knowing what had happen'd to him and 
 to Sardis. 
 
 CTRUS being inform'd that Crcefus was re- 
 tir'd after the Battle of Pteria, with Defign to 
 feparate his Army, call'd a Council, and refolv'd 
 to march with all poflibje Expedition to Sardis, 
 that he might furprize the Enemy, before the 
 Lydian Forces could be drawn together ; which 
 Refolution was executed with fo great Dili- 
 gence, that Cyrus himfelf at the Head of his 
 Army brought thither the News of his own 
 Enterprize. Crcefas y tho* extremely alarm'd at 
 an Attempt which he neither forefaw nor expedt- 
 ed, drew out the Lydians into the Field, who 
 in that Time were as brave and warlike a 
 People as any other of all AJia. They fought 
 on Horfeback arm'd with ftrong Lances, and 
 manag*d their Horfes with admirable Addrefs. 
 The Place where they aflembled was a fpacious 
 Plain, lying before the City, and water*d by di- 
 vers Rivers, particularly by the Hellus, which 
 runs into the greateft of all call'd the Hermus. 
 This River defcending from a Mountain, facred 
 to Cybele Mother of the Gods> falls into the Sea 
 E near
 
 5 o HERODOTUS. Book I. 
 
 near the City of Pbocia. Cyrus feeing the Ly- 
 dians drawn up in order of Battle, and appre- 
 hending the Efforts of their Horfe, by the Sug- 
 geftion of Harfagus a Mede made ufe of this 
 Stratagem. He order'd all the Camels that fol- 
 low'd the Army with Provifions and Baggage, 
 to be brought together ; and having caus'd their 
 Loading to be taken down, commanded Men 
 cloath'd after the Manner of the Cavalry to 
 mount thofe Animals, and to march in the Van 
 of his Forces againft the Lydian Horfe. Behind 
 the Camels he plac'd his Infantry, and all his 
 Cavalry in the Rear. And having made this 
 Difpofition, he gave out ftricl: Order thro* the 
 whole Army, not to fpare any Lydian they 
 fhould meet, Crcefus only excepted, whom they 
 were forbidden to kill, even tho* he mould refift 
 fingle. Cyrus plac'd the Camels in the Front of 
 his Army, in order to render ufelefs the Enemies 
 Cavalry, by which the Lydian hop'd to obtain 
 a glorious Vidory ; for a Horfe is afraid of a 
 Camel, and cannot bear either to fee or fmell 
 him. Accordingly the Battle no fooner began, 
 than the Horfes, impatient of the Scent and 
 Sight of the Camels, turn'd their Heads and ran 
 away ; which Crcefus obferving, gave all his 
 Hope for loft. Neverthelefs the Lydians, who 
 perceiv'd the Caufe of what had happen'd, were 
 not prefently difcourag*d, but difmounting from 
 their Horfes, renew'd the Fight on Foot ; till 
 at laft, after an obftinate Difpute, in which great 
 Numbers fell on both Sides, they fled to Sardis, 
 and mutting themfelves up within the Walls of 
 the City, were foon befiegM by the Perfians. 
 
 CRCESUS
 
 CLIO. 51 
 
 CRCESUS thinking the Siege would be 
 long, fent again to his Allies, and in Place of 
 defiring their Afliftance within five Months, fol- 
 licited them to fuccour him with all Expedition, 
 becaufe he was already befieg'd in Sardis. A- 
 mong the reft of his Confederates, he fent to 
 the Lacedemonians ; who at the fame Time had 
 a Conteft with the Argians, about the Country 
 of Tbyrea, which the Spartans had feiz'd, tho* . 
 of Right belonging to Argos. And indeed, 
 whatever lies Weftward of that City, even to 
 Malea, on the Continent, together with Cythera y 
 and the other Iflands, belongs to the Argians. 
 This Affair depending, the Argians advanc'd 
 with their Forces to recover 'Tbyrea -, but upon 
 a Conference, the contending Parties agreed, 
 that three Hundred Men on each Side mould 
 determine the Difpute by Combat, and the 
 Country be adjudg'd to the Victorious. Yet in 
 the firft Place, both Armies were to depart, left 
 either Side finding their Countrymen in Diftrefs, 
 might come in to their Afllftance. This Agree- 
 ment being made, and the Armies retir'd, the 
 Fight began ; and was maintain'd with fuch 
 equal Valour, that of the fix Hundred, three 
 Men only were left alive: Neither had thefe 
 all furviv'd, if Night coming on had not fav'd 
 them. Two of the three were Argians, Alcinor 
 and Chromius by Name, who thinking themfelves 
 victorious ran to Argos with the News. But 
 OtbryadeS) the only Survivor on the Part of the 
 Lacedemonians, after he had collected the Spoil 
 of the Argians, and carried all their Arms into 
 the Spartan Camp, continued in the Field. The 
 next Day both Armies being inform'd of the E- 
 vent, met again in the fame Place, and both laid 
 E 2 Claim
 
 52 HERODOfUS. Book I. 
 
 Claim to the Victory. The Argians alledg'd, 
 that they had more than one left alive. But 
 the Lacedemonians urg'd, that the furviving 
 Argians ran away ; and that their Countryman 
 alone had kept the Field and pillag'd the dead. 
 From Words they betook themfelves to their 
 Arms ; and after a bloody Fight, in which ma- 
 ny were kill'd on both Sides, the Lacedemoni- 
 ans obrain*d the Victory. Upon this Difafter, 
 the Argians cutting off their Hair, which to 
 that Time they had been oblig'd to wear of a 
 considerable Length, agreed to a Law, and made 
 a folemn Vow, that they would not fuffer their 
 Hair to grow long, nor permit their Women to 
 drefs with Ornaments of Gold, 'till they mould 
 recover iTyyrea. On the other Hand, the Lace- 
 demonians made a contrary Order, enjoining all 
 their People to wear long Hair, which they had 
 never done before. As for Othryades, who was 
 the only furviving Spartan of the three Hundred, 
 they fay, he kill'd himfelf at Thyrea, afham'd to 
 return home after the Slaughter of all his Com- 
 panions. 
 
 THE Affairs of the Lacedemonians were in 
 this Condition, when the Sardian Ambaflador 
 arriving in Sparta, pray'd their Afliftance on the 
 Part of Crcefus^ who was befieg'd in Sardis ; 
 which they no fooner heard, than they refolv'd 
 to fuccour him. But when they had made ready 
 their Ships, and prepared all Things for the Ex- 
 pedition, they were inform'd by another Meflage, 
 that the City of Sardis was taken, and Crcefus 
 himfelf made Prifoner ; which they took for a 
 great Misfortune, and denfted from their Enter- 
 prize. The City of Sardis was taken in this 
 Manner. On the fourteenth Day of the Siege, 
 3 Cyrus
 
 CLIO. 53 
 
 Cyrus order'd Proclamation to be made by Men 
 on Horfeback throughout his Camp, that he 
 would liberally reward the Man who mould firft 
 mount the Enemies Walls : Upon which feveral 
 Attempts were made, and as often fail'd; 'till, 
 after the reft had defifted, one Hyrxades a Mar- 
 dian found a Way to climb an Afcent on that 
 Side of the Caftle, which having been always 
 judg'd impracticable and fecure from all At- 
 tacks, was not defended by any Guard. To 
 this Part alone of all the Fortifications, Males a 
 former King of Sardis^ never brought his Son 
 Leo, whom he had by a Concubine ; though the 
 Telmiflians had pronounc'd, that if he were car- 
 ried quite round the Works, Sardis mould be 
 for ever impregnable ; but having caus*d him to 
 be brought to every other Part of the Place, to- 
 tally neglected this, which faces the Mountain 
 TmoluS) as altogether infuperable and inacceflible. 
 Hyrceades the Mardian had feen a Lydian come 
 down this Precipice the Day before, to take up 
 a Helmet that was drop'd, and after he had at- 
 tentively obferv'd and confider'd the Thing, he 
 afcended the fame Way, follow'd by divers Per- 
 fians-, and being foon fupported by greater 
 Numbers, the City of Sardis was thus taken and 
 plunder'd. 
 
 CRCESUS, as I have already faid, had a Son 
 who was dumb, though in all other Refpects 
 commendable ; and as in the Time of his Profpe- 
 rity, he omitted nothing that might contribute 
 to deliver him from that Infirmity, among other 
 Experiments, he fent to confult the Oracle of 
 Delphi concerning him, and receiv'd this An- 
 fwer from the Pythian ; 
 
 E 3 O
 
 54 HERODOTUS. Book I. 
 
 O too imprudent Indian ! Wi]h no more 
 ffie charming Sound of a Son's Voice to hear : 
 Better for thee, could Things reft As they are ; 
 For in an evil Day befirftjhallfpeak. 
 
 Upon the taking of the City, a certain Perfian 
 ^not knowing Crafus, advanc'd to kill him ; and 
 when he, not caring to furvive that Difafter, 
 negleded to avoid the Blow, his fpeechlefs Son, 
 feeing the Soldier ready to ftrike, and fearing 
 for the Life of his Father, in that Inftant cried 
 out, Man, kill not Croefus. Thefe were the 
 firft Words he ever utter'd ; but from that 
 Time he continued to fpeak readily during all 
 the reft of his Life. In this Manner the Per- 
 fians became Matters of Sardis, and made Grce- 
 fus their Prifoner ; who having reign'd fourteen 
 Years, and been befieg'd fourteen Days, put an 
 End to his great Empire, as the Oracle had pre- 
 dicted. 
 
 THE Perfians having taken Crcejus^ and brought 
 him to Cyrus, he commanded him to be fetterM, 
 and plac'd on a great Pile of Wood already 
 prepar'd, accompanied by fourteen young Ly- 
 dians : Defigning either to offer this Sacrifice to 
 fonie God, as the firft Fruits of his Vidlory ; or 
 to perform a Vow ; or perhaps to fee, becauie 
 he had heard of his Devotion to the Gods, whe- 
 ther any Daemon would fave him from the Fire. 
 When Croefus had afcended the Pile, notwith- 
 ftanding the Weight of his Misfortunes, the 
 Words of Solon reviving in his Memory, made 
 him think he was infpir*d by fome God, when he 
 faid, that no living Man could juftly be call'd 
 Happy. Revolving thefe Words in his Mind, 
 
 he
 
 CLIO. 55 
 
 he figh'd often in the Anguifti of his Soul, and 
 thrice pronounc'd the Name of Solon. Which 
 when Cyrus heard, he commanded his Interpret 
 ters to aflc him, whofe Affiftance he implor'd. 
 They obey*d immediately; but Crafus for a 
 while kept Silence ; yet at laft being conftrain'd 
 to fpeak, he faid, " I nam'd a Man, whofe 
 * 6 Difcourfes I more defire all Tyrants might 
 " hear, than to be Pofleflbr of the greateft 
 " Riches." The Interpreters judging this An- 
 fwer obfcure, repeated their Demand *, and per- 
 fifting in their Importunity, prefs'd him earneftly 
 to explain his Meaning. Upon which Crcefus 
 acquainted them, that Solon an Athenian having 
 formerly vifited him, and view*d his immenie 
 Treafures, had defpis'd all ; and that the Truth 
 of what he then faid was now verified, though 
 his Difcourfe was generally relating to all Man- 
 kind as much as to himfelf, and efpecially to 
 thofe who vainly imagine themfelves happy. Af- 
 ter Crcefus had faid thefe Words, and the Flames 
 began to afcend on every Side, Cyrus* already 
 inform'd by the Interpreters of what he had 
 faid, relented on a fudden ; and confidering that 
 being but a Man, he was yet going to bu#i 
 another Man alive, who had been no way inferior 
 to himfelf in Prosperity ; and fearing a Retalia- 
 tion of Punimment, as one who was not igno- 
 rant of the Inconftancy of human Affairs; he 
 commanded the Fire to be prefently extinguim'd, 
 and Crafus, with thofe who were about him, 
 to be taken down. Accordingly all Endeavours 
 were us'd to execute his Orders ; but they 
 could not matter the Fire, In this Diftrefs, 
 Cnvfus, as the Lydians report, being inform'd 
 that Cyrus had aiter'd his Refolution, and fee- 
 4 ing
 
 56 HERODOTUS. Book I. 
 
 ing every Man toiling in vain to put out the 
 Fire, burft into Tears 5 and with a loud Voice 
 invoking Apollo ; befought the God, if ever any 
 of his Offerings had been agreeable to him, to 
 protect and deliver him from the prefent Dan- 
 ger : That immediately Clouds were feen ga- 
 thering in the Air, which before was ferene, 
 and a violent Storm of Rain enfuing, quite ex- 
 tinguifh'd the Flames -, by which Cyrus under- 
 ftanding that Crcefus was a good and pious Man, 
 fpoke to him as foon as he came down, in 
 thefe Terms. " Tell me, Crcefus , who per- 
 " fuaded you to invade my Territories, and to 
 " be my Enemy, rather than my Friend ? " 
 " This War, laid Crcefus^ as fortunate to you, 
 " O King, as unfortunate to me, I undertook 
 " by the Perfuaiion and Encouragement of the 
 " Grecian God. For no Man is fo void of Un- 
 " derftanding as to prefer War before Peace ; 
 " becaufe in Time of War Fathers bury their 
 " Children, and in Time of Peace Children 
 " perform that Office to their Parents. But 
 " fuch was the Will of the Daemon." When 
 he had thus fpoken, Cyrus commanded his Fet- 
 ters to be taken off; and permitting him to fit 
 down by his Side, fhew'd him great RefpecT: ; 
 for both he and all thofe that ftood about him, 
 were aftonim'd at the Things they had feen and 
 heard. Crcefus fat for fome Time penfive and 
 filent : But afterwards turning about, and feeing 
 the Perfians facking the City, he afk'd Cyrus, 
 whether he might fpeak with Freedom, or whe- 
 ther he ought to fupprefs his prefent Thoughts ; 
 Cyrus bid him take Courage, and deliver his 
 Opinion freely ; upon which Crafus afk'd him, 
 what thofe great Numbers were now doing with 
 
 fo
 
 CLIO. 57 
 
 fo much Diligence. " They are, faid Cyrus, 
 " pillaging your City, and deftroying your 
 " Riches and Magnificence." " Not fo, re- 
 " plied Crafas, they neither plunder my City, 
 " nor deftroy my Riches : For I have now no 
 " Part in thofe Things ; but they ravage and 
 " confume what belongs to you." This An- 
 fwer made fuch an Impreflion on Cyrus, that 
 taking Crarfus afide, he afk'd him privately, 
 what he thought mould be done in this Con- 
 juncture ? " Since the Gods, faid Crxfus, have 
 " made me your Servant, I am in Duty oblig'd 
 " to acquaint you with all that may conduce to 
 " your Advantage. If you permit the Perfians, 
 " who are poor, and by Nature infolent, to 
 " plunder and poflefs great Riches ; you may ex- 
 *' peel: that thofe who enrich themfelves moft, 
 " will be moft ready to rebel. Therefore, if 
 " you approve my Sentiment, place fbme of 
 " your Guards at every Gate, with Orders to 
 * c take the Booty from all thofe who would go 
 <c out, and to acquaint them that the Tenth 
 " muft of Neceflity be confecrated to Jupiter: 
 " By which Method you will avoid the Impu- 
 " tation of feizing their Plunder by Violence ; 
 " and every one acknowledging your Intention 
 *' to be juft, will readily obey." Cyrus having 
 heard the Propofition of Crafus with great Sa- 
 tisfaction, and intirely approving his Counfel ; 
 commanded the Guards to do as he advis'd ; 
 and then turning to him again, faid ; " Becaufe 
 *' both your Words and your Actions are truly 
 *'. Royal, 1 1 permit you to afk immediately 
 * c whatever Thing you chiefly defire." " SIR, 
 faid Crcefus" " The moft acceptable Favour you 
 " can beftow upon me, is, to let me fend my 
 
 " Fetters
 
 5 8 HERODOTUS. Book I. 
 
 " Fetters to the God of the Grecians, whom 
 " I have honour'd more than any other Deity ; 
 " and to afk him, if it be his Manner to de-r 
 44 ceive thofe who deferve beft of him." Cy- 
 rus afk'd what Caufe he had to complain of the 
 God, that might induce him to make this Re- 
 queft: Upon which Crcefus recollecting all his 
 Thoughts on that Subject, gave him an Ac- 
 count of the Anfwers he receiv'd from the Ora- 
 cles, and of the Donations he had prefented ; 
 in Confidence of which he had made War a- 
 againft the Perfians ; befeeching him again to 
 grant him Leave to reproach the God with 
 thefe Things. Cyrus laughing, aflur'd him he 
 would not only grant this, but whatever elfe 
 he fhould defire: Which Crcefus hearing, dif- 
 patch'd certain Lydians to Delphi, with Orders 
 to lay down his Fetters at the Entrance of the 
 Temple, and to demand of the God, if he were 
 not amam*d to have encourag'd Crcefus by his 
 Oracles, to believe that by undertaking a War 
 againft the Perfians, he mould deftroy the Power 
 of Cyrus : Commanding them after thefe Words 
 to mew the Fetters, as the Trophies of his pro- 
 mis'd Succefs, and to afk if the Grecian Gods 
 were accuftom'd to be fo ungrateful. When 
 the Lydians arriv'd at Delphi, and had put his 
 Orders in Execution, the Pythian is reported 
 to have made this Anfwer : " The God himfelf 
 " cannot avoid the predetermin'd Decrees of 
 Fate; and Crosfus, in the fifth Generation, 
 " fuffers for the Crime of a Man, who being 
 " one of the Guard to the laft King of the 
 " Blood of Hercules, was induc'd by the Fraud 
 " of a Woman to murther his Matter, and to 
 " ufurp his Dignity, to which he had no Right. 
 
 ** Yet
 
 CLIO. 59 
 
 * c Yet Apollo us'd his bcft Endeavours, that 
 " the Difafter of Sardis might be fufpended tp 
 " the Time of his Sons, and not happen during 
 " the Reign of Crcefus : And though he could 
 " not fet afide the fatal Decree ; yet he had done 
 ic as much in his Favour as that would permit ; 
 *' having delay 'd the Subverfion of his King- 
 " dom for three Years. And therefore let Crce- 
 ** fus know, that he was taken Prifoner three 
 " Years later than the Fates had ordain'd. In 
 " the next Place, when he was upon the Point 
 *' of being burnt alive, the God came in to hit 
 " Relief. Then, as to the Prediction of the 
 " Oracle, he has no Right to complain; be- 
 " caufe Apollo only foretold, that if he would 
 " make War againft the Perfians, he mould fub- 
 c * vert a great Empire ; and had he defir'd to be 
 " truly inform'd, he ought to have fent again to 
 " enquire, whether his own or that of Cyrus was 
 " meant by the Oracle. But if he neither com- 
 " prehending the Meaning of the Oracle, nor 
 " would enquire again, the Fault is his. In a 
 " Word, he did not underftand the Anfwer he 
 <c receiv'd concerning the Mule, when he laft 
 " confulted the God ; for Cyrus was that Mule, 
 " inafmuch as he was born of Parents, wha 
 " were not only of different Nations, but of 
 *' very unequal Condition : For his Mother was 
 " a Mede, and Daughter to Aftyages King of 
 " Media ; but his Father was of Perfia, a Coun- 
 " try then fubjedl to the Medes ; and being eve- 
 *' ry Way inferior to her, had married his Lord's 
 " Daughter." The Lydians having receiv'd 
 this Anfwer from the Pythian, return'd, and 
 made their Report to Crcefus ; who acknowledged 
 the Fault to be his, and that the Oracle was 
 
 wholly
 
 60 HERODOTUS. Book. I. 
 
 wholly innocent. In this Manner the Kingdom 
 ofCrafus was conquer'd, and Ionia the firft Time 
 fubdued. 
 
 MANY other Donations were confecrated by 
 Crarfus in Greece^ befides thofe already mention'd. 
 For at Thebes of Eccotia he dedicated a Tripos of 
 Gold to Ifmenian Apollo : At Ephefus, he gave 
 the golden Heifers, with the greater Part of the 
 Pillars ; and fent a large Shield of Gold to Dd- 
 pkij which hangs in the Entrance of the Tem- 
 ple. All thefe remain to this Day ; but others 
 , have been loft. The Offerings he dedicated in 
 Brancbis, a City belonging to the Milefians, 
 were, as I am inform'd, equal in Weight to 
 thofe he prefented at Delphi. Thefe laft, toge- 
 ther with thofe he fent to Amphiaraus, were the 
 firft Fruits of his domeftic and patrimonial 
 Riches. But the reft arofe out of the Confifca- 
 tions of an Enemy ; who endeavouring to put 
 the Kingdom of Lydia into the Hands of Pan- 
 taleon^ form'd a Party againft Crcefus^ to hinder 
 his Accemon to the Throne. Pantaleon was the 
 Son of Alyattes^ and Brother to Crcsfus^ though 
 not born of the fame Mother ; for Alyattes had 
 Crcsfus by a Carian, and Pantaleon by an Ionian 
 Woman. But when Crcsfus obtain'd the King- 
 dom, purfuant to the Designation of his Father, 
 he kill'd the Confpirator in the Houfe of a Ful- 
 ler, and having already vow'd all his Treafure to 
 the Gods, he perform'd his Promife by the Do- 
 nations he made to the Places I mention'd be- 
 fore. And this I think fumcient to fay touch- 
 ing thefe Things. 
 
 THE Territories of Lydia have nothing ad- 
 mirable and deferving Mention, like other Coun- 
 tries j unlefs fome Particles of Gold brought 
 
 down
 
 CLIO. 61 
 
 down from the Mountain Imolus. But the 
 Lydians mew one Building, which in Great- 
 nefs much furpafles all others, except thofe of 
 the /Egyptians and Babylonians : I mean the 
 Sepulchre of Alyattes, Father to Crcefus ; the 
 Bafis of which is compos'd of Stones of ex- 
 traordinary Dimenfions, and all the reft is a Ter- 
 rafs. This Fabrick was built by Artificers -and 
 mercenary Labourers, with the Affiftance of 
 young Maids ; and on the uppermoft Part of 
 the Sepulchre five Monuments are plac'd for 
 Boundaries, with Infcriptions feen to this Day, 
 certifying the Meafure of their Labour, and 
 fhewing that the Maids did more Work than 
 the Men. The Daughters of the Lydians are 
 accuftom'd to acquire their Dowries by Pro- 
 ftitution ; and are then permitted to marry as 
 they pleafe. This Sepulchre is fix Stades and 
 two Plethrons in Circumference, and thirteen 
 Plethrons in Breadth; {landing near a fpacious 
 Lake, which the Lydians fay is fed by perpe- 
 tual Springs, and derives its Name from Gyges. 
 The Cuftoms of the Lydians differ little from 
 thofe of the Grecians, except only that they 
 proftitute their Daughters. They were the firft 
 of all the Nations we know, who introduc'd 
 the Art of coining Gold and Silver to facili- 
 tate Trade, and firft practis'd the Way of re- 
 tailing Merchandize. They pretend to be the 
 Inventors of divers Games, which are now 
 common to them with the Grecians : And, as 
 they fay, were found out about the Time they 
 fent a Colony to Tyrrhenia, on this Occafion. 
 During the Reign of Atys the Son of Manes 
 King of Lydia, a Scarcity of Provifions fpread 
 over the Kingdom, which the People for a Time 
 
 fupport-
 
 62 HERO DO TUS. Book I. 
 
 fupported with Patience and Induftry. But 
 when they faw the Evil dill continuing, they 
 applied themfelves to find out a Remedy ; and 
 fome inventing one Game, and others another, 
 they gradually introduc'd Dice, Balls, Tables, 
 and all other Plays, Chefs only excepted, of 
 which the Lydians do not challenge the In- 
 vention : And to bear this Calamity better, 
 they us'd to play one whole Day without In- 
 termiffion, that they might not be difquieted 
 with the Thoughts of Food ; eating and drink- 
 ing on the next Day, without amufing them- 
 felves with any kind of Game. After they had 
 continued this alternate Manner during eighteen 
 Years, and found their Wants rather increasing 
 than abating ; the King divided the People into 
 two Parts, and order'd them to determine by 
 Lot, which Divifion mould relinquifh the 
 Country ; and which mould remain in Pofleffi- 
 on ; he himfelf defigning to reign over thofe 
 who mould have the Fortune to ftay, and ap- 
 pointing his Son Tyrrbenus to command that 
 Part which mould be oblig'd to remove. Thofe 
 who by Lot were conftrain'd to depart, march'd 
 down to Smyrna ; where having built a fufficient 
 Number of Ships, and put all Things neceflary 
 on Board, they fet Sail in fearch of Food, and 
 of a new Habitation ; till having pafs'd by 
 many Nations, they arriv'd in Umbria, and 
 built divers Cities, which they inhabit to this 
 Day. There they chang'd their ancient Name, 
 and were no longer call'd Lydians ; but Tyrrhe- 
 nians, from their Leader Tyrrbenus the Son of 
 their King. 
 
 HAVING already related in what Manner the 
 Lydians were conquer*d by the Perfians, I mall 
 
 in
 
 CLIO. 63 
 
 in the next Place fliew, who Cyrus was, that 
 deftroy'd the Kingdom of Crafas, and how the 
 Perfians became Mailers of Afia. In which 
 Narration I fhall follow thofe Perfians only, 
 who without heightening the Actions of Cyrus? 
 have fpoken the Truth with Plainnefs and Sin- 
 cerity; tho' I am not ignorant, that there are 
 three other Ways of relating this Hiftory. After 
 the Aflyrians had poffefs'd the Empire of up- 
 per Afia five hundred and twenty Years, the 
 Medes were the firft that revolted from them ; 
 and ftrenuoufly contending for Liberty, fhoolc 
 off the Yoke of Servitude with fuch Courage, 
 that other Nations imitated their Example. 
 They made and enjoy 'd their own Laws for 
 fome Time all over that Continent : But were 
 again reduc'd under a Tyranny by the Artifice 
 of Deioces a Mede, and Son to Phraortes : Who 
 being a fubtle Man, and aiming at abfolute 
 Power, effected his Defign in this Manner. The 
 Medes were at that Time diftributed into feve- 
 ral Diftricts ; and Deioces having liv'd among 
 them before in confiderable Efteem, and now 
 feeing all kind of Licentioufnefs fpread over the 
 whole Country, applied himfelf to the Exer- 
 cife of Juftice with great Zeal and Diligence ; 
 tho' he knew how much the Juft were hated 
 by Men of Violence. The Medes of the fame 
 Diftrict obferving the Equity of his Conduct, 
 chofe him for their Judge ; and he, afpiring 
 to compafs the Sovereign Power, perform'd 
 that Office with all poflible Regard to Juftice. 
 By this Means he not only acquir'd much Ho- 
 nour in the Diftrict where he liv'd, but alfo a- 
 mong thofe of the other Divifions ; who were 
 made to believe, that Dsioces was the only im- 
 z partial
 
 64 HERODOTUS. Book I. 
 
 partial Judge in the whole Nation ; and there- 
 fore fuch as thought themfelves injur'd by unjuft 
 Sentences, came from all Parts to him, in order 
 to obtain Juftice : Till at laft no Man would 
 commit the Decifion of a Difference to any 
 other Perfon. In the End, the Numbers of 
 thofe who applied to him for Redrefs augment- 
 ing in Proportion to the great Fame of his E- 
 quity, Deioces feeing the whole Care of diftri- 
 buting Juftice devolv'd upon his Perfon, abfented 
 himfelf from the Place where he us'd to fit to 
 determine Differences, and declar'd he would 
 pronounce no more Judgments ; becaufe he could 
 not find his Account by fpending the Day in 
 doing Right to others, whilft his own Affairs 
 were neglected. Upon this, Rapine and all 
 manner of Injuries growing far more frequent 
 in every Part than before, the Medes call'd a 
 general Aflembly, and as they were confulting 
 about the prefent State of Things, the Parti- 
 sans of Deioces gave, in my Opinion, a very 
 plaufible Turn to their Difcourfe. " If, faid 
 they, " we continne in our prefent Condition, 
 " ,we cannot expect to live long in this Coun- 
 " try. Let us therefore conftitute a King, that 
 *' the Nation may be govern'd by good Laws ; 
 " and that applying our Care to our own Bu- 
 " finefs, we may not be conftrain'd to abandon 
 <c our Habitations by the Diforders of Anarchy." 
 The Medes perfuaded by their Difcourfe, and 
 refolving to have a King, began in the next 
 Place to confider who mould be the Perfon -, 
 when prefently Deioces was univerfally nam'd, 
 and with great Applaufe and general Confent, 
 approved. But after his Election, he command- 
 ed them to build him a Palace fuitable to the 
 
 Dignity
 
 C L I 0. 65 
 
 Dignity of a King, and requir'd Guards for the 
 Security of his Perfon. The Medes obey'd -, 
 and on the Ground he chofe, erected a ftrong 
 and ftately Fabrick for his Ufe ; permitting 
 him at the fame Time to chufe for his Guard 
 fuch Perfons as he mould think fit out of the 
 whole Nation. Being thus poflefs'd 'of the 
 Power^ he compelled the Medes to come un- 
 der one Polity ; and relinquishing the Care of 
 the reft, to build one City furrounded with 
 Fortifications. In this alfo he was obeyM ; and 
 thofe ftrong and magnificent Walls, which 
 now go under the Name of Eclatana, were 
 then built.' They are of a circular Form, one 
 within the other, and each gradually rais'd juft 
 fo much above the other as the Battlements 
 are high. The Situation of the Ground, rifing 
 by an eafy Afcent, was very favourable to the 
 Defign. But the Thing chiefly to be confi- 
 der'd, is, that the King's Palace and Treafury 
 are built within the innermoft Circle of the 
 feven, which compofe this City. The firft 
 and moft fpacious of thefe Walls is equal in 
 Circumference to the City of A- hens, and white 
 from the Foot of the Battlements. The fecond 
 is black, the third of a purple Colour, the 
 fourth blue, and the fifth of a deep Orange. 
 All thefe are colour'd with different Compofi- 
 tions i but of the two innermoft Walls, one 
 is painted on the Battlements with a filver Co- 
 lour, and the other is gilded with Gold. 
 Deioces having thus provided for his Refidencc, 
 and the Safety of his Perfon, commanded the 
 reft of the People to fix their Habitations in 
 Places fituate without the Walls of the City ; 
 which when they had done, he eftablifh'd 
 F ' thefe
 
 66 HERODOTUS. Book I. 
 
 thefe Rules to be obferv'd as {landing Orders 5 
 That no Man mould be admitted to the King's 
 Prefence, but fhould tranfadb all Things with him 
 by Meffengers , That none fhould be permitted 
 to fee him -, and, that either to laugh or fpit in 
 his Sight, mould be accounted indecent. All 
 which he enjoin'd, left Men of Spirit and 
 Courage, converting with him, mould be pro- 
 vok'd by Difcontent to confpire againft his 
 Perfon : Not doubting, that thofe who were 
 debarr'd from feeing him at all, would eafily 
 be induc'd to think him of a fuperior Nature 
 to themfelves. When he had eftablifh'd thefe 
 Orders, and fettled himfelf in the Tyranny, he 
 was very fevere in the Execution of Juftice. 
 The Parties contending were oblig'd to fend 
 him their Cafe in Writing ^ which when he 
 had feen and confider'd, he us'd to fend it back 
 with his Decifion ; and this was the Method 
 he took in Matters of Conteftation. But if he 
 receiv'd Information that any Man had injur'd 
 another, he would prefently fend for him, and 
 punifh him in Proportion to his Offence, main- 
 taining to that End many Emiflaries and Spies 
 in the Provinces of his Government. The 
 Power of Deioces extended not beyond the 
 whole Nation of the Medes , which confifts 
 of the Bufians, Paratacenians, Struchates, Ari- 
 zantins, Budians, and the Mages. He reign'd 
 fifty three Years, and his Son Phraortes fuc- 
 ceeded him in his Kingdom , who not con- 
 tented to be King of Media only, made his firft 
 Expedition again ft the Perfians, and reduc'd them 
 under the Dominion of the Medes. And hav- 
 ing united the Forces of thofe two powerful 
 Nations, he fubdued Afia ; advancing his Con- 
 
 quefts
 
 CLIO. 67 
 
 quefts gradually, and attacking one Country af- 
 ter another ', till at laft he invaded the AfTyrians, 
 who inhabited the City of Ninus^ and had 
 been the principal People of thofe Nations ; 
 though at that Time they were abandon*d by 
 their Confederates. Yet their Affairs being 
 otherwife in good Condition, they prov'd a 
 formidable Enemy ; for Pbraortes having en- 
 ter*d their Territories, perim'd with the great- 
 eft Part of his Army in that Enterprize, after 
 he had reign'd twenty two Years. CyaxareS 
 the Son of Phraortes^ and Grandfon to Deioces, 
 fucceeded him, and is generally efteem'd to have 
 been more brave and warlike than his Ancef- 
 tors. He form'd the People of Afia into diftinct 
 Bodies, of Lances, Cava'ry, and Archers \ where- 
 as before they had been accuftom'd to mix 
 in a confus*d Manner-, and fought that Battle 
 againft the Lydians, when the Day was on a 
 fudden turn'd into Night. At length having 
 united all Afia beyond the River Halys, under 
 him) and aflembled all his Forces, he march'd 
 towards the City of Ninus^ to avenge the Death 
 of his Father by the Deftruction of that Place ; 
 but after he had obtain'd a Victory over the 
 Aflyrians, and actually befieg'd Ninns^ a great 
 Army of Scythians appear*d in full March, 
 under the Conduct of Madyes their King, and 
 Son of Protothyas. Thefe Scythians had driven 
 the Cimmerians out of Europe, and purfuing 
 them into Afia, by that Means enter'd the Ter- 
 ritories of the Medes. The Diftance between 
 the Lake Maeotis and the River Pha/is in the 
 Country of Colchis^ is as much as a vigorous 
 Man can walk in thirty Days : But the Way 
 from Colchis to Media is not long, no other 
 F 2 People
 
 68 HERODOTUS. Book I. 
 
 People than the Safpires lying between both. 
 However, the Scythians declining to pafs thro* 
 their Territories, march'd round by the Way of 
 the high Country, having the Mountain Cauca- 
 fus on the right Hand ; and in thofe Parts fought 
 and defeated the Army of the Medes, who with 
 the Battle loft the Dominion of Afia. The Scy- 
 thians having thus poffefs'd themfelves of Afia, 
 march'd directly againft the Egyptians : But, 
 when they were arriv'd in the Paleftine Syria, 
 Pfammetichus King of ALgypt came thither to 
 meet them, and by Prayers and Prefents prevail'd 
 with them to advance no farther. In their Re- 
 turn they pafs'd by Afcalon a City of Syria, and 
 moft Part of the Army march'd thro* the Place 
 without doing any Injury. But fome few, who 
 were left behind, pillag'd the Temple of the 
 eeleftial Venus \ which as I am inform'd, is the 
 moft ancient of all thofe that are dedicated to 
 this Goddefs. For her Temple in Cyprus was 
 built after that of Afcalon, as the Cyprians them- 
 felves confefs ; and that of Cytbera was erected 
 by Phoenicians who came from the fame Part of 
 Syria. However, the Goddefs to avenge this 
 Attempt, inflicted on thofe that robb'd her Tem- 
 ple, and all their Pofterity, a Diftemper, in 
 other Places only common to Women ; and di- 
 vers of thefe Patients are feen by thofe who tra- 
 vel into Scytoia, where they are call'd by the 
 Name of impious Perfons. 
 
 AFTER the Scythians had been twenty eight 
 Years in Poffeflion of Afta, and by their Info- 
 lence and Negligence brought all to Confufion, 
 laying heavy Impofitions on the Publick, and in- 
 vading the Properties of private Men, Cyaxares 
 and the Medes invited the greateft Part to a Feaft, 
 
 and
 
 CLIO. 9 
 
 and kill'd them when they were drunk : In Con- 
 fequence of which Action, the Medes recover'd 
 their former Power, and all they had poflefs'd 
 before , took the City of Ninus, as I mall re- 
 late in another Place, and fubdued the Aflyri- 
 ans, Babylon and the adjoining Country only ex- 
 cepted. Having accomplim'd thefe Things, Cy- 
 axares died ; after he had reign'd forty Years, 
 comprehending the Time of the Scythian Domi- 
 nion. 
 
 ASTTAGES the Son of Cyaxares, fucceed- 
 ing him in the Kingdom, had a Daughter nam'd 
 Mandane ; and having dreamt me made fo great 
 a Quantity of Water, as not only fill'd his Ca- 
 pital City, but overflow'd all Afia, he confulted 
 the Interpreters of Dreams among the Mages ; 
 and by their Explanation was caft into fuch a 
 Dread of the Event, that feeing his Daughter of 
 fufficient Age, he refolv'd not to marry her to a 
 Mede, worthy of her Bed , but chofe a Perfian 
 for her Hufband, nam'd Cambyfes, defcended of 
 a good Family, of a peaceful Difpofition, and 
 one he thought inferior to a Mede even of mo- 
 derate Condition. Within the Space of a Year 
 after he had married Mandane to Cambyfes, he 
 had another Dream ; in which he feem'd to fee 
 a Vine mooting from the Bowels of his Daughter, 
 and extending its Branches over all Afia. This 
 he alfo communicated to the Interpreters, and 
 having heard their Anfwer, fent to Perfia for his 
 Daughter, who was then big with Child ; and 
 upon her Arrival put her under a Guard, refol- 
 ving to deftroy whatever mould be born of her. 
 For the Mages confidering his Dream, had in- 
 form'd him that the Iflue of his Daughter mould 
 feign in his Place. And therefore as foon as Cyrus 
 F 3 was
 
 7 P HERODOTUS. Book I. 
 
 was born, Aftyages mindful of the Prediction, 
 fent for Harpagus^ who was his Favourite, and 
 of all the Medes moft entrufted with his Affairs, 
 and faid to him, " Harpagus, Fail not to per- 
 " form the Thing I now command. Deceive 
 " me not , and by chufing others to do this 
 *' OfEce, draw Ruin upon thy own Head. 
 *' Take Mandamus Son , carry him to thy 
 " Houfe 5 kill him, and bury him as thou 
 " malt think fit." Harpagus anfwer'd, " O 
 <c King, As you have never obferv'd me unwil- 
 *' ling to obey your Commands in any Thing ; 
 *' fo I mall ever take care to preferve myfelf 
 " free from the Crimes of Difobedience. If 
 " therefore this Thing be agreeable to your In- 
 " tention, my Part is to perform it with Di- 
 " ligence." Having made this Anfwer, he re- 
 ceiv'd the Infant richly drefs'd, with Orders 
 to put the cruel Sentence in Execution. He 
 wept as he carried him to his own Houfe, and 
 arriving there, acquainted his Wife with all 
 that had pafs'd between Aftyages and himfelf. 
 " What then, faid me, are you refolv'd to do ?" 
 " Not to obey Aftyages, replied Harpagus , in the 
 " Manner he has commanded, tho* he mould 
 " be yet more outrageous and mad than he is : 
 " Neither will I myfelf commit this Murder 
 " for many Reafons ; but principally becaufe 
 * l the Child is related to me in Blood, and Afly- 
 " ages is old, and has no Son to fucceed him. 
 " So that after his Death, if the Kingdom 
 *' mould devolve into the Hands of his Daugh- 
 *' ter, what Punimment may I not expecl: for 
 " the Murder of her Son ? J Tis indeed neceflary 
 * for my Prefervation that the Infant mould die, 
 " l?ut as neceflary that fome Perfon belonging to
 
 CLIO. 71 
 
 e Aftyages mould be the Executioner, and not 
 " any Perfon of my Family." In this Refolu- 
 tion he immediately fent for one of the King's 
 Herdfmen, who lie knew kept his Cattle at the 
 Foot of certain Hills, abounding with wildBeafts, 
 and on that account very commodious for his 
 Defign. Mitradates was the Name of tjie Herdf- 
 man, and he had married a Wife who was 
 his Fellow-Servant. Her Name in the Lan- 
 guage of Greece was Cyno, and in that of the 
 Medes Spaco, which fignifies a Bitch. The Man 
 kept his Cattle in Paftures that Jie under the 
 Hills on the North of Ecbatana, towards the 
 Euxin Sea. For this Part of Media, which bor- 
 ders upon the Safpires, is very mountainous, and 
 cover'd with Woods ; whereas all the reft is plain 
 and level. When the Herdfman had receiv'd 
 the Meflage, he went with great Diligence to 
 Harpagus, who fpoke^ to him in thefe Terms -, 
 ' Aft y ages has commanded thee to take this In- 
 " fant, and to lay him down in the moft aban-r 
 " don'd Defert of the Mountains, that he may 
 " prefently perifh ; and has charg'd me to add, 
 " that if thou fhouldft venture to difobey him, 
 " and by any means fave the Child, thou malt 
 " dye in the moft exquifite Tortures that can 
 " be invented , and I am appointed to fee his 
 41 Order put in Execution." Mitradates having 
 heard thefe Words, took the Infant, and re- 
 turn'd by the fame Way to his Cottage ; where 
 he found his Wife, who had been all the Day 
 in hard Labour, providentially brought to Bed, 
 whilft he was abfent in the City. During this 
 Time, they had been both in great Trouble ; the 
 Hufband much concern'd for the Condition of 
 his Wife, and the Woman no lefs difturb'd about 
 F 4 her
 
 72 HERODOTUS. Book!. 
 
 her Hufband, becaufe Harpagus had never fent 
 for him before. So that he no fooner came 
 within the Door, than the Woman in a Sur- 
 
 Eri^e afk'd him, Why Harpagus had fent for 
 im in fuch Hafte ? " Wife, faid he, I have 
 " been in the City, where I have feen and 
 <c heard fuch Things, as I wifh had never been 
 ^ feen by me, nor ever happen'd to our Maf- 
 *' ters. The whole Houfe of , Harpagu s was 
 a fill'd with Lamentations : And as I went in, 
 *' ftruck with Horror, I faw an Infant drefs'd 
 " in Gold and the richeft Colours panting and 
 " crying on the Floor. Harpagus feeing me, 
 " order'd .me to carry away the Child with all 
 *' Speed, and to leave .him in that Part of the 
 " Mountains which is moft frequented by wild 
 *' Beads ; telling me at the fame Time, that this 
 " was the Command of Aftyages, and threaten- 
 " ing the fevereft Punimment if I fhould fail. 
 <c I took the Infant, which I fuppos'd to be- 
 " long to fome Perfon of the Family ; having 
 " then no Sufpicion of his high Birth, though 
 " I was aftonim'd to fee the Gold and Magni- 
 <c ficence of the Apparel, and to have heard 
 " fuch loud Lamentation in the Houfe of Har- 
 " pagus. But being upon the. Way, I under- 
 ftood all from die Servant that accompanied 
 me out of. the City , who delivering the 
 Boy into my Hands, affur'd me he was born 
 of Mandane our King's Daughter, and of 
 " Cambyfes the Son of Cyrus, and that Aftya- 
 " ges .had commanded him to be kili'd." As 
 he fininVd thefe Words, he fhew'd the Infant 
 yncover'd to his Wife ; who feeing him beau- 
 tiful and well proportion'd, embrac'd theJCnees 
 of her Hufband, and. with Tears befought him 
 
 npt 
 
 cc 
 
 It
 
 CLIO. 73 
 
 not to execute the Orders he had receiv'd. He 
 told her he was under an abfolute Neceffity of 
 obeying \ becaufe the Spies of ffarpagus would 
 certainly come to fee the Thing done, and be- 
 caufe he himfelf had been threatned with the 
 moft cruel Death, if he mould fail. The Wo- 
 man finding me could not prevail this Way, had 
 Recourfe to another. " Since then, faid me, I 
 " cannot perfuade you not to expofe the In- 
 " fant, do this at leaft, if the Spies of Harpa- 
 " gus muft lee his Orders obey'd : Take my 
 " Child, which was born dead ; leave him a-' 
 *' mong the Hills inftead of the other, and let 
 * us bring up the Son of Mandam as our own. 
 '' For by that Means we mall fufficiently confult 
 " our own Safety, without doing any Injury to 
 " our Lords : The Child that is dead mall have 
 " a Royal Sepulchre, and the furviving Infant 
 " mall be prefer v'd from an untimely Death." 
 The Herdfman judging this Expedient very pro- 
 per in the prefent State of Things , and refolving 
 to do as his Wife advis'd, deliver'd the Infant 
 he was about to deftroy into her Hands; and 
 having wrapped his own dead Child in all the 
 rich Apparel, he put it into the fame Baflcet 
 in which he had brought the other, and car- 
 ried it to the moft defolate Part of all the Moun- 
 tains. On the third Day after this was done, 
 kaving one of the Herdfmen in his Place, he 
 went to the Houfe of Harpagus in the City, 
 and told him he was ready to mew the Carcafs 
 of the Infant. Upon which Harpagus difpatch'd 
 fome of his Guards, whom he moft trufted, to 
 fee what was done; and at their Return took 
 Care to interr the Herdfman's Child. The other, 
 who afterwards had the Name of Cyrus, was 
 
 educated
 
 74 HERODOTUS. Book I. 
 
 educated by the Wife of the Herdfman, and 
 went under the Name me gave him. But 
 when he attain'd to the Age of ten Years, he 
 was difcover'd by this Action. Being one Day 
 playing in thefe Paftures with Boys of a like 
 Age, whilft he pafs'd for the Son of the Herdf- 
 man, he was chofen King by his Companions ; 
 and in Virtue of that Power, diftinguim'd them 
 into (everal Orders and Offices, appointing fome 
 to be Builders, and others to wait on him as 
 Guards ; one to be his Chief Minifter, who is 
 call'd the Eye of the King, and another to have 
 the Care of bringing Meflages to him. The 
 Son of Artembares^ a Man of eminent Dignity 
 among the Medes, being one of his Compani- 
 ons in this Play, and refufmg to obey his Or- 
 ders, Cyrus commanded him to be immediately 
 feiz'd and punifhM with many Stripes, which 
 was done accordingly. But, as foon as the Boy 
 was difmifs'd, he haften'd to the City, full of 
 Grief and Indignation on account of this Dif- 
 grace, which he thought infupportable, and 
 with Tears told his Father what he had fuffer'd 
 from Cyrus, calling him the Son of the King's 
 Herdfman ; for at that Time he had not the 
 Name of Cyrus. Artembares in a Tranfport of 
 Anger, went prefently to Aflyages^ accompanied 
 by his Son ; and mewing the Boy's Shoulders 
 to the King, " Are we then, faid he, to be 
 " treated in this fhameful Manner by a Slave, the 
 *' Son of thy Herdfman?" Aftyages heard and 
 faw what was done ; and refolving for the Ho- 
 nour of Artembares to avenge the Indignity of- 
 fer'd to the Youth, commanded the Herdfman 
 and his Son to be brought before him. When 
 they came into his Prefence^ the King looking 
 
 upon
 
 CLIO. 75 
 
 upon Cyrus , afk'd him, how he, who was the 
 Son of fo mean a Man, had dar'd in fo infolent 
 a Manner to abufe the Son of one of the princi-p 
 pal Perfons in his Kingdom ? " Si R, faid Cyrus > 
 " I have done no more than I had a Right to 
 " do. For he with other Boys of our Neigh^ 
 " bourhood, in our Recreations made me their 
 " King, becaufe they thought me mod capable 
 ** of that Dignity. All the reft obey'd me, 
 " and perform'd what I commanded ; but he 
 " alone refufing to obey, and flighting my Or- 
 " ders, has fuffer*d the Punimment he deferv'd : 
 " And if this be a Crime, I am in your Power." 
 AS the Boy was fpeaking, Aftyages began to 
 think he knew him : The Air of his Face ap- 
 pear'd to him like his own ; his Anfwer Libe- 
 ral and Noble ; and reflecting on the Time 
 when his Grandfon was expos'd, he found it a- 
 greeing with his Age. Aftonifh'd at thefe 
 Things, he was long filent ; and at laft hardly re- 
 covering himfelf, he difmifs'd Artembare$ with 
 Aflurance, that he would take care his Son 
 mould have no Caufe of Complaint; which 
 he did in order to examine the Herdfman pri- 
 vately. When Artembares was gone out, the 
 King commanded his Attendants to conduct 
 Cyrus into the Palace ; and detaining the Herdf- 
 man alone, afk'd him where he had the Boy, 
 and from whofe Hands? Mitradatcs affirm'd 
 he was his own Son, and that the Mother of 
 the Boy was ftill living. Aftyages told him, he 
 as little confulted his own Safety, as if he pur- 
 pofely defign'd to bring himfelf into the greateft 
 Extremities , and at the fame Time commanded 
 his Guards to feize him. The Man feeing him- 
 felf reduc'd to this Neceifity, difcover'd the 
 
 whole
 
 76 HERODOTUS. Book I. 
 
 whole Matter without Referve ; and implor'd 
 the King's Mercy ; who having found out the 
 Truth, feem'd not much concern'd about the 
 Herdfman. Being highly incens'd againft Har- 
 pagus, he fent his Guards with Orders to bring 
 him to the Palace ; where when he was come, 
 Aftyages afk'd him, in what Manner he had kill'd 
 the Son of his Daughter Mandane ? Harpagus 
 feeing the Herdfman prefent, refolv'd to con- 
 ceal nothing by a Falfhood, left he mould be 
 convicted by his Teftimony, and therefore faid ; 
 " O King, after I had receiy'd the Infant, I 
 " carefully confider'd how your Command 
 <c might be obey'd, and I, who had not offend - 
 <c ed you, might not be guilty of fo great a 
 *' Crime againft you and your Daughter. To 
 " that End I fent for this Man, and gave him 
 * 6 the Child ; which I faid you had commanded 
 ** him to deftroy -, and I told him the Truth, 
 " for fuch indeed were your Orders. Jn this 
 " Manner I put the Infant into his Hands , 
 " charging him in the next Place to lay him 
 " down in fome Defert of the Mountains, and 
 *' to ftay till he mould fee him perifh, threat- 
 " ning the fevereft Punimment if he mould dare 
 " to fail. When he had executed thefe Or- 
 " ders, and the Child was dead, I fent fome of 
 " the moft trufty among my Eunuchs to in- 
 * c fpecl the Matter; and after they had given 
 " me a fatisfa&ory Account, I buried him. 
 " This is the whole Truth, O King, and fuch 
 " was the Fate of the Infant." Thus Harpa- 
 gus fpoke with Plainnefs j and Aftyages diflem- 
 bling his Refentment, repeated to him the 
 whole Confeflion of the Herdfman ; adding, 
 that the Boy was living, and that he himfelf was 
 
 glad
 
 CLIO. 77 
 
 glad of the Event. " For, faid he, I was in 
 " great Pain on Account of this Thing, and 
 " could not eafily bear the Reproaches of my 
 " Daughter : Therefore fince Fortune has been 
 " more propitious than we expected, fend your 
 <c Son to accompany the Boy I have recover'd, 
 " and come yourfelf to my Supper ; for I re- 
 " folve to facrifice to thofe Gods, who have 
 " a Right to my Acknowledgment on this Oc- 
 " cafion." As foon as Harpagus heard thefe 
 Words, he ador*d the King, and went home 
 exceedingly pleas'd, that his Fault had turn'd to 
 fo good Account, and that he was invited to 
 the Feaft of Joy. At his Return he fent his 
 only Son, of about thirty Y^ars of Age, to 
 Aftyages^ with Order to do as he mould com- 
 mand ; and acquainted his Wife with what had 
 pafs'd, in Expreflions of the higheft Satisfaction. 
 But the Youth going into the Palace, was kill'd 
 and cut in Pieces by Aftyages \ who, after he 
 had roafted fome Parts of his Flefh, and boiPd 
 others, kept them in a Readinefs to be ferv'd. 
 At the appointed Hour, when Harpagus and all 
 the Company was come, the Tables where the 
 King fat, and the reft of thofe he had invited, 
 were ferv'd with Mutton ; but before Harpagus 
 all the Body of his Son was plac'd, except the 
 Head, the Hands and Feet, which were laid 
 together in a Bafket, and cover'd. When he 
 feem'd to have eaten fufficiently, Aftyages afk'd 
 him, if he lik'd the Meat , and Harpagus an- 
 fwer'd, That he had never tailed any Thing 
 more delicious, the Officers appointed to that 
 End, brought the Head, Hands, and Feet of 
 the Youth ; defiring him to uncover the Bafket, 
 and take what pleas'd him beft. He did as they 
 3 defir'd,
 
 78 HERODOTUS. Book L 
 
 denVd, and faw the Remains of his Son's Body, 
 without being aftonim'd at the Sight, or mewing 
 any Sign of Difcontent : And when AJlyages 
 afk'd him, If he knew what kind of Venifon he 
 had eaten , he faid, he knew very well, and was 
 always pleas'd with whatever the King did i 
 After which Anfwer, he collected the mangled 
 Parts, and went Home, as I conje<5lure, to bury 
 them together. 
 
 AS STAGES after he had thus punifh'd 
 Harpagus, beginning to confider what he mould 
 do with Cyrils^ fent again for the Mages, who 
 had formerly interpreted his Dream ; and when 
 they came into his Prefence, aik'd them what 
 Judgment they had made of it. They gave 
 the fame Anfwer as before , and faid, That if 
 the Boy mould continue to live, he muft of 
 Neceffity be a King. ^ He is living and fafe, 
 " anfwer'd Aftyages ; and having been chofen 
 " King by the Boys of that Diftrict where he 
 " liv*d, he has already perform'd all the Offi- 
 " ces which belong to a real King. For he 
 " exercis'd that Power in appointing Guards, 
 Doorkeepers, Meflengers, and all other Things 
 requisite: And now I defire to know what 
 you think of thefe Actions ?" If the Boy be 
 living, faid the Mages^ and has already been a 
 King by fuch an Accident, and not by Con- 
 trivance, you may reft fatisfied in full Aflu'- 
 rance that he mall not reign a fecond Time. 
 " For our Predictions often terminate in Things 
 <c of little Importance, and Dreams efpecially 
 " are fulnll'd by flight Events." " I am fully 
 *' perfuaded, replied Aftyages^ that my Dream is 
 " accomplifh'd, and that I have nothing more 
 41 to fear, finte the Title of King has been 
 ^ 3 " given
 
 CLIO. 79 
 
 " given to the Boy, yet confider well, and 
 " with all pofiible Circumfpedion advife what 
 44 may be moft conducing to the Safety of my 
 " Family and to yourfelves. Our great Inte- 
 44 reft, anfwer'd the Mages^ is, That your King- 
 44 dom mould be firmly eftablim'd ; becaufe if 
 44 the Sovereignty be alienated and transferr'd to 
 44 this Perlian, we, who are Medes, mail be- 
 " come Servants of the Perfians, and be treated 
 " as Foreigners, with the utmoft Contempt ; 
 44 whereas now, living under a King of our 
 " own Country, we have a Part in the Go- 
 44 vernment, and enjoy the greateft Honours. 
 " So that ftanding oblig'd by Intereft to be 
 44 careful and vigilant to preferve your Perfon 
 44 and Kingdom, we would not conceal any 
 " Thing from you which might be dangerous 
 44 to either. And therefore, fmce the Dream is 
 " accomplim'd by a frivolous Event, we exhort 
 " you to lay afide your Fears, as we have al- 
 " ready done, and to fend away the Boy to his 
 " Parents in Perfia" Aftyages heard this Dif- 
 courfe with Joy, and calling for Cyrus, faid to 
 him -, " Child, I have been unjuft to thee, by 
 44 reafon of an infignificant Dream; but thou 
 44 haft furviv'd thy own Deftiny. Prepare now 
 44 to go cheerfully to Perfia with thofe I mail 
 44 appoint to attend thee ; where thou fhalt 
 44 find thy Father and Mother, very different 
 * 4 in Condition from the Herdfman Mitradates 
 44 and his Wife.'* After thefe Words, Cyrus 
 was difmifs'd by Aflyages ; and upon his Arrival 
 at the Houfe of Cambyfes, his Parents receiv'd 
 and embrac'd him with the greateft Tendernefs, 
 as a Child they had long given over for dead ; 
 and afk'd him, by what Means his Life had 
 
 been
 
 8o HERO DO f US. Book I. 
 
 been preferv'd. He faid, he had liv'd in the 
 deepeft Ignorance of his Condition, and knew 
 nothing of his own Misfortunes, but believed 
 he was the Son of the King's Herdfman ; till 
 thofe* who accompany'd him in this Journey, 
 informed him of all that had pafs'd. He related 
 the Manner of his Education under the Care of 
 the Herdfman's Wife, and frequently repeating 
 the Name of Cyno, commended her on every 
 Oceafion. This Name his Parents made ufe of 
 to perfuade the Persians that the Prefervation of 
 Cyrus was particularly owing to a divine Power, 
 affirming that a Bitch had nourifh'd him, when 
 he was expos'd in the Defert : And hence the 
 Original of that Fable is deriv'd. 
 
 WHEN Cyrus had attain'd to the Age of a 
 Man, and was become the moft belov'd and 
 moft brave of all his Equals in Years, Harpagus 
 vehemently defiring to be reveng'd upon AJty- 
 ages and defpairing to accomplim his Ends by 
 his own Power, becaufe he was but a private 
 Man, courted him with Prefents ; and judging 
 the Injuries they had fuffer'd to be of like Na- 
 ture, made a Friendmip with him. He did yet 
 more to bring about his Purpofe. For feeing the 
 Medes opprefs'd by the Cruelty of Ajlyages, 
 he applied himfelf to the principal Perfons of 
 the Nation, one after another, and perfuaded 
 them that they ought to depofe him, and ad- 
 vance Cyrus to the Throne in his Place. Whert 
 he had done this, and prepar'd the Medes to fe- 
 cond his Defign, he refolv'd to difcover his 
 Intentions to Cyrus ; and having no other Way 
 left, becaufe Guards were plac'd on all the 
 Roads that lead to Per/ta, he contriv'd the fol- 
 lowing Artifice. He open'd the Belly of a 
 
 Hare,
 
 CLIO. 81 
 
 Hare, and without tearing any Part, put a Let- 
 ter, containing what he thought neceflary to 
 write, into the Body ; and having few'd it up 
 fo artfully that the Incifion was not vifible, he 
 deliver'd the Hare with a Net to the moft 
 trufty of his Domeftick Officers, cloath'd in 
 the Habit of a Hunter ; commanding him to go 
 to Perfia, and upon the Delivery of the Hare, 
 to denre Cyrus not to open it in the Prefence 
 of any other Perfon. The MefTenger executed 
 his Orders, and Cyrus opening the Hare with 
 his own Hands, found a Letter in which he read 
 thefe Words, " Son of Cambyfes, the peculiar 
 " Care of the Gods, as thy Prefervation evi- 
 " dently demonftrates! Refolve now to punifh 
 " thy Murderer Aftyages ; for he did all he 
 " could to compafs thy Death j but Heaven 
 " and my Care have preferv'd thee. I need 
 * c not repeat what he has done againft thee, 
 " nor what I have fuffer'd from him for deli- 
 " vering thee to the Herdfman, inftead of exe- 
 " cuting his bloody Orders, becaufe I fuppofe 
 " thou haft been long inform'd of thefe Things. 
 " At prefent, if thou wilt follow my Counfel, 
 "all the Dominions which Aflyages pofTefles 
 " mall be thine. Perfuade the Perfians to re- 
 " volt, and at the Head of their Forces invade 
 " Media. The Succefs is certain, whether 
 " Afryages appoint me or any other illuftrious 
 " Mede to command his Army. For all the 
 " principal Perfons among the Medes will de- 
 " fert him ; and joining with thee, will en- 
 " deavour to dethrone him. Defer not the 
 * e Execution of this Enterprize \ becaufe all 
 ** Things are ready on our Part." Cyrus having 
 read thefe Words, began to confider what Mea- 
 G fures
 
 82 HERODOTUS. Book I. 
 
 fures he mould take to perfuade the Perfians to 
 revolt ; and after various Thoughts, fix'd upon 
 this Method as the moft proper. He fram'd a 
 Letter in fnch Terms as he thought fit, and 
 call'd an Aflembly of Perfians , in which, when 
 he had open'd and read the Letter, he declared, 
 that Aftyages had conftituted him Captain Ge- 
 neral of Perfia : "And now, faid he, I com- 
 " mand you to attend me, every Man with his 
 " Hatchet." The Perfians are divided into ma- 
 ny Tribes, of which thofe that Cyrus fummon'd 
 and perfuaded to revolt are the principal, and 
 influence all the reft. They are the Arteates, 
 the Perfians, the Pefargades, the Meraphians, 
 and the Mafians. But of all thefe, the Pefar- 
 gades are efteem'd the moft brave, and com- 
 prehend the Achaemenian Family, of which the 
 Kings of Perjta are defcended. The reft are, 
 the Panthelians, the Derufians, and the Germa- 
 nians, who are all Hufbandmen ; but the Dai- 
 ans, the Mardians, the Dropicians, and the Sa- 
 gartians are Keepers of Cattle. When they 
 came to Cyrus with their Hatchets, he order'd 
 them to clear in one Day a Piece of Land, con- 
 taining eighteen or twenty Stades overgrown 
 with Briars ; and after they had done that Work, 
 he bid them go Home and wafti, and attend 
 him again the next Day. In the mean Time 
 he order'd all his Father's Flocks and Herds to 
 be kill'd and drefs'd ; providing Wine, and 
 the beft of Things in Abundance, to treat the 
 whole military Power of Perfia. The next Day 
 when they were all aflembled, and feated on the 
 Green Turf, he feafted them plentifully ; and 
 after they had din'd, afk'd, whether they would 
 chufe to live always in that Manner, or as they 
 
 had
 
 CLIO. 83 
 
 had done the Day before. They anfwer'd, the 
 Difference was great ; for they had pafs'd the 
 preceding Day in Toil and Labour* and this in 
 Mirth and Pleafure. Cyrus perceiving the Ten- 
 dency of thefe Words, difcover'd his Inten- 
 tions, and faid ; " Men of Per/ia, -If you will 
 " hearken to my Counfel, you mall enjoy thefe, 
 *' and infinite other Advantages, without any 
 " Kind of fervile Labour; but if you refufe, 
 " innumerable Hard mips like thofe of Ifefterday 
 " are prepar'd for you. Believe me therefore, 
 " and be a free People. For I am perfuaded 
 *' fome Divine Power brought me into the 
 " World, to be the Author of your Happinefs : 
 " Neither can I think you any W T ay inferior 
 " to the Medes-, efpecially in Military Af- 
 " fairs i And, if thefe Things are fo, deliver 
 " yourfelves without Delay from the Tyranny 
 " of A/tyages" The Perfians, who during 
 many Years had liv'd in Reluctancy under the 
 Obedience of the Medes, accepted him for 
 their Leader* and readily re-arTum*d their Li* 
 berty. 
 
 ASTTAGES being informed of thefe TranA 
 actions, fent a Meflenger for -Cyrus ; who by the 
 fame Perfon return'd this Anfwer: " That he 
 *' would come fooner than Aftyages defir'd.*' Which 
 when the King heard, he arm'd all the Medes j 
 and, as if the Gods had depriv'd him of Under- 
 ftanding, made Harpagus General of his Army, 
 utterly forgetting the Outrage he had done 
 him. So that when the two Nations came to 
 a Battle, tho 1 fome of the Medes, who knew 
 nothing of the Confpiracy, behaV'd themfelves 
 with Courage ; yet great Numbers revolted to 
 the Perfians ; and the far greater Part willingly 
 G a lofmg
 
 84 HERODOTUS. Book I. 
 
 lofing the Day, fled out of the Field. The Ar- 
 my of the Medes being thus fhamefully difli- 
 pated, and the News brought to Aftyages, he 
 broke into a great Rage, and threatn'd Cyrus 
 that he mould not long enjoy the Pleafure of his 
 Victory. After which, having firft command- 
 ed the Mages who had interpreted his Dream, 
 to be impal'd, for advifing him to fend Cyrus to 
 Perfia^ he arm'd all the Medes he found in the 
 City, both old and young ; and marching out 
 with thefe Forces, engag'd the Enemy : In 
 which Action he loft the Day, with his whole 
 Army, and was himfelf made Prifoner by the 
 Perfians. Harpagus {landing by Aftyages after he 
 was taken, reproach'd and infulted him openly ; 
 and among other Difcourfe tending to imbitter 
 his Calamity, afk'd, What he thought of his 
 Feaft, when he compell'd him to eat the Flefti 
 of his own Son , by which he had now ex- 
 chang'd a Kingdom for a Prifon. Aftyages look- 
 ing ftedfaftly on Harpagus, demanded, Whether 
 he thought himfelf the Author of the late Suc- 
 cefs obtain'd by Cyrus? He anfwer'd, Yes-, be- 
 caufe by his Letter he had animated Cyrus to 
 this War ; and therefore might juftly lay claim 
 to the Enterprise. Aftyages faid, he was then 
 the weakeft and moft unjuft of all Men : The 
 weakeft, in giving the Kingdom to another, 
 which he might have aflum'd to himfelf, if in- 
 deed he had effected this Change ; and the moft 
 unjuft, in enflaving the Medes on Account of the 
 Supper. For, if he was neceflitated to confer 
 the Kingdom on another Perfon, and not to take 
 the Power to himfelf, he might with more Ju- 
 ftice have advanc'd a Mede to that Dignity than 
 a Perfian : Whereas now the Medes, who before 
 
 were
 
 CLIO. 85 
 
 were Mafters of Perfia, and had no Part in the 
 Fault, were by his Means reduc'd to the Con- 
 dition of Servants , and the Perfians, who had 
 been Servants to the Medes, were become their 
 Lords. In this Manner Aftyages was depriv'd of 
 the Kingdom, after he had reign'd Thirty five 
 Years-, and by his Cruelty the Medes became 
 fubject to the Perfians, after they had com- 
 manded in all thofe Parts of Afia that He be- 
 yond the River Halys, for the Space of One 
 hundred and twenty eight Years, the Time of 
 the Scythian Dominion only excepted. Yet af- 
 terwards repenting of what they had done, they 
 revolted againft Darius ; but were again defeat- 
 ed in a Battle; and the Perfians, who under 
 the Conduct of Cyrus, had taken Arms againft 
 Aftyages and the Medes, have from that Time 
 been Mafters of Afia. As for AJlyages, Cyrus 
 kept him in his Palace till he died, without ex- 
 ercifing any farther Severity againft him. And 
 this is the Account of the Birth, Education, and 
 Advancement of Cyrus to the Dignity of a King. 
 How he afterwards conquer'd Crafus, who inva- 
 ded his Territories without Caufe, I have rekted 
 before. 
 
 THE Cuftoms which I have obferv'd among 
 the Perfians are thefe. They make no Images, 
 nor build either Altars or Temples , charging 
 thofe with Folly who do fuch Things ; becaufe, 
 as I conjecture, they hold the Gods to be alto- 
 gether different in Nature from Men, contrary 
 to the Opinion of the Grecians. When they go 
 to offer a Sacrifice to Jupiter, they afcend the 
 higheft Parts of the Mountains ; and call the 
 whole Circle of the Heavens by the Name of 
 Jupiter. They facrifice to the Sun and Moon, 
 03 to
 
 86 HERODOTUS. Book I. 
 
 to the Earth, the Fire, the Water, and the 
 Winds. Thefe are their Original Gods -, but 
 they have fmce learnt from the Arabians and Af- 
 fyrians to facrifice to Venus Urania, who by the 
 Arabians is call'd /f/;V/tf, by the Aflyrians My- 
 Utta, and by the Perfians Mitra. W T hen a 
 Perfian refolves to facrifice, he builds no Altar, 
 kindles no Fire, makes no Libation, nor ufes 
 either Flutes, Fillets, or confecrated Flower j 
 but wearing a Tiara garnim'd chiefly with Myr- 
 tle on his Head, leads the Victim to a clean 
 Piece of Ground, and invokes the God. He 
 that offers is not permitted to pray for himfelf 
 alone , but as he is a Member of the Nation, is 
 oblig'd to pray for the Profperity of all the Per- 
 fians, and in particular for the King. When 
 he has cut the Victim into fmall Pieces, and 
 boil'd the Flem, he lays it on a Bed of tender 
 Grafs, efpecially Trefoil , and after all Things 
 are thus difpos'd, one of the Mages ftanding up 
 fmgs an Ode concerning the Original of the 
 Gods, which, they fay, has the Force of a 
 Charm ; and without one of thefe they are not 
 permitted to facrifice. After this, he that of- 
 fer'd having continued a ihort Time in the Place, 
 carries away and difpofes of the Flem as he 
 thinks fit. They are perfuaded, that every Man, 
 ought to celebrate his Birthday above all other 
 Days, and furnim his Table in a more plentiful 
 Manner than at other Times. Beeves, Camels, 
 Horfes, and Afles, roafted intire, are feen in the 
 Houfes of the Rich on that Day ; and fmaller 
 Cattle in thofe of the meaner Sort. They are 
 moderate in the Ufe of common Food ; but 
 eat plentifully of the Defert, which yet is not 
 very delicious, tho* they thence take Occafion 
 
 to
 
 CLIO. 87 
 
 to fay, that the Grecians rife hungry from Ta- 
 ble , and that if they had any Thing good fet 
 before them after their Repaft, they would not 
 leave off Eating fo foon. The Perfians drink 
 Wine in abundance ; but may not vomit or 
 make Water before any Man. Thefe Cuftoms 
 are obferv'd to this Day. They debate the 
 moft important Affairs in the midft of their 
 Cups: But the Matter of the Houfe where 
 they meet to confult, propofes the fame Things 
 the next Day to the Company j and if when 
 they have not drunk at all, their preceding Re- 
 folutions are approv'd, they ftand, and, if not, 
 are rejected. In like Manner, when they drink 
 they refume the Confideration of whatever they 
 debate before their Wine. When they meet 
 one another in the Way, Men may eafily know 
 their Condition and Quality. For if they are 
 Equals, they falute with a Kifs on the Mouth : 
 If one be a little inferior to the other, they kifs 
 on the Cheek , but if he be of a much lower 
 Rank, he proftrates himfelf before the other. 
 They give the greateft Honour to their nearer! 
 Neighbours, lefs to fuch as are more remote, 
 and leaft of all to thofe who live at the great* 
 eft Diftance ; efteeming themfelves much more 
 worthy in every Thing than the reft of Men, 
 and others to participate of Virtue only in 
 Proportion to the Nearnefs of their Situation ; 
 always accounting thofe the worft and moft 
 bafe, who inhabit fartheft from them. During 
 the Empire of the Medes, each Nation had a 
 gradual Superiority : For tho* the Medes had the 
 Supreme Power, yet they exercis'd a more par- 
 ticular Authority over thofe that were neareft to 
 them i thefe again, over fuch as liv'd next be- 
 G 4 yond
 
 88 HERODOTUS. Book I. 
 
 yond their Borders , and the laft in like Manner 
 over their Neighbours of the adjoining Country : 
 Which Example the Perfians imitated, when 
 increafmg in Power, they obtain'd the Domi- 
 nion, with the Government of Provinces. No 
 Nation has ever been more ready to admit fo- 
 reign Cuftoms. They wear the Habit of the 
 Medes ; which they think more becoming than 
 their own ; and in War they ufe the ^Egyptian 
 Cuirafs. They are defirous to enjoy all Kinds 
 of Pleafure they here, mention'd, and have learnt 
 from the Grecians to make love to Boys. The 
 Virgins they take for their Wives are many; 
 but their Concubines are far more numerous. 
 To be a Father of many Children is accounted 
 a Part of Manhood little inferior to Military 
 Courage ; and fuch Perfons as can mew a nu- 
 merous Offspring, receive yearly Prefents from 
 the King, becaufe they think their Strength 
 confifts in their Numbers. From the Age of 
 five Years to that of twenty, the Perfians in- 
 ftruct their Sons in three Things only ; to ma- 
 nage a Horfe, to fhoot dextroufly with a Bow, 
 and to fpeak Truth. A Son is not admitted to 
 the Prefence of his Father, but is brought up 
 by Women, till he attain the Age of five Years ; 
 left if he mould die before that Time, his Fa- 
 ther might be afflicted by the Lofs. Thefe 
 Cuftoms relating to Education I much approve ; 
 and likewife that, by which even the King is 
 reftrain'd from killing any Man for a fingle 
 Crime ; and every private Perfian from exer- 
 cifing the utmofr. Severity againfl thofe of his 
 Family for one Fault. He is firft to confider 
 the Actions of the Delinquent ; and if his Faults 
 are found to over-balance his former Services, 
 
 he
 
 CLIO. 89 
 
 he may punim him at Pleafure. They fay, no 
 one has ever kill'd his Father or Mother; 
 and that if at any Time fuch a Crime comes 
 into Queftion, the Perfc-i accus'd mall certainly 
 upon due Information be found to have been 
 fuppofititious, or begotten in Adultery ; for 
 they hold it utterly improbable that a true Fa- 
 ther mould be murder'd by his own Son. They 
 are not allow'd even to mention the Things 
 they may not do. To affirm a Falfhood, is a- 
 mong them the utmoft Infamy ; and to be in 
 Debt is for many Reafons accounted the next 
 Degree of Difgrace ; but efpecially becaufe they 
 think fuch a Man always expos'd to the Ne- 
 ceflity of Lying. If any of the Citizens have a 
 Leprofy, or fcrophulous Difeafe, he is not per- 
 mitted to ftay within the City, nor to con- 
 verfe with other Perfians -, having, as they be- 
 lieve, drawn this Punimment upon himfelf, by 
 committing fome Offence againft the Sun. But 
 if Strangers are infected with thofe Diftem- 
 pers, they are prefently expell'd the Country: 
 And white Pigeons are not fuffer'd to be kept, 
 from Motives of the fame Kind. They never 
 fpit, nor warn their Hands, in a River ; nor 
 defile the Stream with Urine or any other 
 Thing -, but pay a moft Religious Reverence to 
 running Waters. Their Language has one 
 Thing peculiar , which tho* unknown to them, 
 is well underftood by us. For all Names re- 
 prefenting the Perfon or Dignity of a Man, 
 terminate in that Letter which the Dorians 
 call San, and the lonians Sigma. And every 
 one upon Inquiry will find, that all Periian 
 Names, without Exception, end in the fame 
 Letter. Thefe Things I can with certainty affirm 
 
 to
 
 90 HERODOTUS. Book I. 
 
 to be true. But, as their Cuftoms relating to the 
 Dead are more conceal'd and not fo manifeft, 
 I cannot fay that all the Perfians are expos'd for 
 a Prey to fome Dog or Bird before they are bu- 
 ried ; but I certainly know this to be the Man- 
 ner of the Mages ; for 'tis done openly. The 
 Perfians cover the Body with a fufficient Quan- 
 tity of Wax, and aftewards lay it in the Ground. 
 Their Mages not only differ from all other Men, 
 but even from the ^Egyptian Priefts, who will 
 not pollute themfelves by killing any Animal, 
 except thofe they facrifice to the Gods : Whereas 
 the Mages make no Scruple to kill every Thing 
 with their own Hands, except a Man or a 
 Dog ; and think they do a meritorious Thing, 
 when they deftroy Ants, Serpents, Birds or Rep- 
 tils. And thus having defcrib'd thefe yfages, 
 I return to my Narration. 
 
 WHEN the lonians and ^olians heard that 
 the Lydians had been fo eafily conquer'd by the 
 Perfians, they fent Ambafladors to Cyrus before 
 his Departure from Sardis, to make an Offer of 
 their Submiffion to him, on the fame Terms 
 they obtain'd under the Government of rcc- 
 fus. Which Proportion Cyrus hearing^ made 
 them no other Anfwer than this ; "A Piper 
 feeing many Fifties in the Sea, and imagining 
 he might entice them to the Shore, by his 
 Mufick, began to play ; but finding his Hopes 
 difappointed, he threw a Net into the Wa- 
 ter, and having enclos'd a great Number, 
 drew it to the Land. When the Piper faw 
 the Fimes leaping on the Ground, he faid, 
 Since you would not dance to my Pipe be- 
 " fore, you may now forbear dancing at all." 
 This Apologue was a Reprimand to the loni-. 
 
 ans
 
 CLIO. 91 
 
 ans and TEolians ; who, when Cyrus prefs*d them 
 by his Ambaflador to revolt from Crcefus, re- 
 fus'd to confent, and now were ready to com- 
 ply with his Defires, becaufe they faw the Sue- 
 cefs of his Arms. With this Anfwer, which 
 Cyrus gave in Anger, the lonians return'd home ; 
 and having fortified their Cities, met together 
 in a general AfTembly of the whole League, the 
 Milefians only excepted, who were fmgly admit- 
 ted into the Alliance of Cyrus on the Foot of 
 their former Agreement with the Lydian. All 
 the reft of the lonians met, and unanimoufly 
 refolv'd to fend Ambafladors to Sparta, earneft- 
 ly to defire Succour from the Lacedemonians. 
 The Ionian Cities, of which this Confederacy 
 confifts, are more commodioufly and happily 
 plac'd than any other we know among Men ; 
 for neither the Regions that are above Ionia on 
 one Side., nor thofe that lie below on the other, 
 nor any Part fituate either to the Eaft or Weft, 
 can juftly be compar'd with this Country ; be- 
 caufe they are either chill'd with Cold and 
 Rain, or exposM to the ExcefTes of Heat and 
 Drynefs. All the lonians are not of the fame 
 Language ; but have four different Ways of ex 
 prefTmg themfelves. The City of Miletus lies 
 to the Southward, and is accounted the princi- 
 pal of this League. The next are Myus and 
 Priene. Thefe three are ficuate jn Caria, and 
 ufe the fame Dialed. Ephefus, Colophon, Le- 
 bedus, Teos, Clazomene, and f*hoc<ea, are Part of 
 Lydia \ and though they vary not at all from 
 one another in their Manner of fpeaking, yet 
 their Language is different from the other. The 
 reft of the Ionian Communities are three, two 
 pf which inhabit the Iflands of Ckios and Sa-
 
 92 HERODOTUS. Book I. 
 
 mos ', but the Erythraeans are plac'd on the Con- 
 tinent. This People ufe the fame Dialed with 
 thofe of Chios ; whereas the Samians have one 
 peculiar to themfelves. And thefe are the four 
 Proprieties of Speech obferv'd in Ionia. 
 
 AMONG thefe lonians, the Milefians made 
 their Peace with Cyrus, to exempt themfelves 
 from the Apprehenfions of his Power. But the 
 Iflanders had nothing to fear ; becaufe the Phoe- 
 nicians were not then under the Obedience of 
 the Perfians, nor were the Perfians at all ac- 
 quainted with maritime Affairs. This Separa- 
 tion of the Milefians, had no other Foundation 
 than the Weaknefs of the Grecians in general, 
 *nd of the lonians in particular ; who were the 
 weakeft of all, and in no Manner of Efteem. 
 The Athenians alone, among all thofe of that 
 Extraction, were of considerable Fame. But, 
 neither they nor others were willing to be call'd 
 tonians , as indeed in our Time the greater 
 Part feems to be amam'd of the Name. Yet, 
 the twelve Cities not only gloried in their Name, 
 but built a Temple, which from themfelves they 
 call'd Pan-Ionion, and refolv'd not to commu- 
 nicate the Privilege of that Place to any other 
 lonians , neither have others ever defir'd to be 
 admitted ; except the Smyrnaeans alone. In 
 this they refembled thofe Dorians, now known 
 by the Name of the Five Cities, which were 
 formerly fix in Number ; who not only con- 
 ftantly refus'd to admit any of the neighbour- 
 ing Dorians into their Temple at Triope', but 
 excluded fome of their own Community for 
 tranfgrefiing the eftablifh'd Orders. For in thofe 
 Exercifes that were perform'd there in Honour 
 pf Apollo, a Tripos of Brafs was the Reward of 
 
 the
 
 CLIO. 93 
 
 the victorious ; which yet no Man might carry 
 out of the Temple, but was oblig*d to leave de- 
 pofited on the Altar of the God. Neverthelefs, 
 when Agafichs of HalicarnaJJius won the Prize, 
 and violated their Cuftom, by carrying away the 
 Tripos, and affixing it to his own Houfe, the 
 five Cities of ZJtUUtS, laliffus^ Camirus, Cofs, 
 and Cnidus^ excluded that City, which was the 
 fixth, from the Union -, and punifh'd the Hali- 
 carnaflians in that Manner.) 
 
 TH E lonians feem to have form'd themfelves 
 into twelve Cities, and refolv'd to admit no 
 more into their Society, becaufe they had been 
 divided into juft fo many Parts, when they in- 
 habited in Peloponefw ; as the Achaians, who 
 drove out thofe lonians, now confift of the 
 fame Number. The City of Pellena^ fronting 
 towards Sicyon, is the firft of the Achaian 
 League : The next are Mgyra^ and JEge, which 
 is water'd by the perpetual Streams of the River 
 Crafts, from whence that of Italy takes its 
 Name : After thefe, Bura t and Helice^ to which 
 Place the lonians fled, when they were defeated 
 by the Achaians : Mgyon^ Rhipes, Patras, Phare % 
 and Olenus, through which runs the great River 
 Pirus : The reft are Dyma and Trit<ea, the only 
 inland Places among them. Thefe are the 
 twelve Parts of the Achaian Territories, which 
 formerly belong'd to the lonians i and on that 
 Account they conftituted the fame Number of 
 Cities in their new Eftablimment. For to fay 
 that thefe are more properly lonians, or any Way 
 more confiderable, than other lonians, is great 
 Folly ; when we know that the Abantes from 
 Eubaa, who had neither Name, nor any other 
 Thing in common with the lonians, are no in- 
 
 confi-
 
 94 HERODOTUS. Book I. 
 
 confiderable Part of this Colony ; and that the 
 Minyan Orchomenians, the Cadmasans, Dryo- 
 pians and Moloffians, with the Pelafgians of 
 Arcadia, the Dorians, Epidaurians, and many 
 other People, were intermix'd with them ; as 
 well as the Athenians, who were fent by the 
 Prytanasan Council, and thought themfelves the 
 moft Illuftrious of the lonians. They had no 
 Wives with them when they came to fettle in 
 this Country ; but feiz*d a fufficient Number of 
 Carian Women, after they had kill'd their Pa- 
 rents : And, for that Reafon, thofe Women en- 
 ter*d into a mutual Compact, which they con- 
 firm'd by an Oath, and tranfmitted as facred ta 
 their Daughters, that they would never eat with 
 their Hufbands, nor ever call them by their 
 Names ; becaufe they had kill'd their Fathers, 
 their Hufbands, arid their Children, and after 
 fuch Violences had forcM them to fubmit to 
 their Will. This Action was done in the Coun- 
 try of Miletus. 
 
 THE lonians appointed Kings to govern 
 them; fome chufing Lycians of the Pofterity 
 of Glaucus; others electing out of the Pylian 
 Caucones, who are defcended from Codrus the 
 Son of Melanthus ; and fome again from both 
 thofe Families. They are exceedingly pleas'd 
 with the Name of lonians, and are true and ge- 
 nuine lonians j as all thofe are, who derive their 
 Original from Athens , and celebrate the Apatu- 
 rian Feftival, which is univerfally obferv'd in 
 Ionia, except by the Ephefians and Colophoni^ 
 ans; but thefe alone are excluded, under the 
 Pretext of fome Murder. The Pan-Ionion is a 
 facred Place in Mycale, fituate to the North- 
 ward, and dedicated by the Ionian Confederacy 
 
 to
 
 CLIO. 95 
 
 to Neptune of Helicon : And My cole is a Pro- 
 montory on the Continent, leaning on the South- 
 Weft Side, towards Samos. In this Place the 
 lonians met to celebrate the Pan-Ionian Solem- 
 nity : And we mall obferve by the Way, that 
 not only the Ionian, but all the Grecian Fefti- 
 vals terminate, like the Perfian Names, in the 
 fame Letter. 
 
 HAVING given this Account of the Ionian 
 Cities, I mall proceed to thofe of the ^Eolians ; 
 which are, Cyme, otherwife call'd Pbriconis, La- 
 rijja, Neonfzchus, Tenus, Cylla, Notion, JEgi- 
 rtfff'a, Pitane, jEg*ea, Myrina. Thefe are ele- 
 ven of the twelve Cities formerly belonging to 
 the JEolhns ; but Smyrna, which was the other, 
 was ruin'd by the lonians. They all ftand on 
 the Continent in a Region of greater Extent, 
 but inferior in Climate to that of the lonians. 
 The ^Eolians were depriv'd of Smyrna in this 
 Manner. A great Number of Colophonians 
 having unfuccefsfully mutinied at home, and be- 
 ing forc'd on that Account to abandon their 
 Country, came to Smyrna, where they were re~ 
 ceiv'd and protected by the Inhabitants. But 
 fome Time after their Arrival while the People 
 were celebrating the Rites of Bacchus without 
 the Walls, they took that Opportunity to mut 
 the Gates and feize the City. Upon which, 
 when the ^Eolians came with all their Forces to 
 fuccour the Smyrnasans, the Difpute was deter- 
 min'd by an Agreement, conceiv'd in thefe 
 Terms ; That the lonians mould reftore all 
 moveable Goods, and that the ^Eolians on their 
 Part mould quit their Claim to the City. The 
 Smyrnseans confenting to thefe Conditions, were 
 diftributed into the other eleven Cities, and per- 
 
 mttted
 
 96 HERODOTUS. Book I. 
 
 mitted to enjoy the Privilege of Citizens. Thefe 
 Places belonging to the ./Eolians, are on the 
 Continent ; befides thofe about Mount Ida, 
 which lie at a great Diftance. In the Iflands 
 they had the following Cities : Five in Lejlos ; 
 for the Methymnians deftroy'd Arifba, which 
 was the fixth, though they were of the fame 
 Blood ; one in Tenedos ; and another in the Hun- 
 dred I/lands. The Lefbians, with thofe of <Tene- 
 dos, and the lonians of the Iflands, were under 
 no Fear of the Perfian Power ; and all the other 
 Cities had taken a Refolution to follow, where- 
 foever the lonians fhould lead. 
 
 TH E Ambafladors of the lonians and .^Eolians 
 having perform'd their Voyage with all poflible 
 Diligence, and arriving in Sparta, made choice 
 of Py thermits a Phocaean to fpeak in the Name 
 of all ; who, to bring a greater Number of La- 
 cedemonians together, cloath'd himfelf in a Pur- 
 pic Habit, and in a long Speech implor'd their 
 Afliftance. But, the Spartans rejecting his Re- 
 queft, determin'd not to fuccour the lonians in 
 any Manner : Upon which the Ambafladors re- 
 turn'd home. Yet the Lacedemonians, though 
 they had difmifs'd the Ionian Embafly with a 
 plain Denial, fent away certain Perfons by Sea, 
 to obferve, as I conjecture, what mould pafs be- 
 tween Cyrus and the lonians. Theie Men ar- 
 riving in Pboctea, fent Lacrines, who was the 
 moft eminent Perfon among them, to Sardis, 
 with Inftructions to acquaint Cyrus, That if he 
 fhould commit any Hoftility againft the Grecian 
 Cities, they would not pafs by the Indignity. 
 Which when Cyrus heard, he inquir*d of the 
 Grecians that were prefent, who the Lacede- 
 monians were, and what Number of Men they 
 
 could
 
 CLIO. 97 
 
 could bring into the Field ? And being inform'd 
 of thefe Particulars, he faid to the Spartan ; 
 " I was never afraid of thofe, who in the midfl 
 *' of their Cities have a Place of publick Re- 
 *' fort, where they cheat one another by mu- 
 " tual Oaths : And if I continue in Life and 
 *' Health, they fhall have fufficient Caufe to 
 *' be concern'd for their own Calamities, with- 
 " out difquieting themfelves about thofe of 
 " the lonians." Thefe Words of Cyrus were 
 levell'd at all the Grecians in general, who iri 
 every City have fome publick Place for the Ufes 
 of buying and felling-, but the Perfians have 
 none of thefej nor any Place of publick Meet- 
 ing at all. 
 
 CTRUS having eritrufted Tabalus a Perfian 
 with the Government of Sardis^ and appointed 
 Paffyas a Lydiah to bring away the Gold found 
 in the Treafury of Crcsfus^ and other Parts of 
 the City, took Crcsfus with him, and departed 
 for Ecbatana. And becaufe he expected to find 
 more Refiftance from the Babylonians, Bactri- 
 ans, Saces and ^Egyptians, than frdm the loni- 
 ans, whofe Power he defpis'd , he refolv'd to lead 
 his Army ih Perfon againft thbfe Nations, and 
 to fend another General againft the Idnians. 
 But as foon as he was retir'd from Sardis^ Pafty- 
 as prevailed with the L,ydians tci revolt from him, 
 and putting to Sea with all the Riches of Lydia 
 in his Pofleflion, engag'd the maritime Places to 
 join with him ; and after he had rais'd a good 
 Number of Mercenaries, march'd to Sardis^ 
 and befieg'd ^abalus^ who had (hut himfelf up 
 in the Cafcle. Which News when Cyrus heard, 
 as he was on his Way, he fpoke to Crafus in. 
 thefe Terms ; " What will be the End of thefe 
 H " Things?
 
 98 HERODOTUS. Book I. 
 
 * c Things ? And when will the Lydians ceafe to 
 " give Difturbance to me, and to themfelves ? 
 '* I have almoft determin'd to deftroy the Na- 
 " tion, and to reduce the People to the Condi- 
 " tion of Servants ; perfuaded, that I have 
 " done as imprudently as thofe, who after hav- 
 " ing kill'd the Father, mould fpare the Lives 
 " of his Sons. For I compel you, who have 
 " been more than a Father to the Lydians, to 
 " follow me as a Prifoner, and at the fame Time 
 " have reinftated them in the Pofleflion of their 
 " City : And, now, mall I wonder at their Re- 
 " bellion!" When Cyrus had thus plainly de- 
 liver'd his Thoughts, Crcefus fearing the utter 
 Ruin of Sardis, anfwer'd ; " SIR, You have 
 " but too much Reafon for what you fay ; yet 
 <e you will do better to moderate your Indigna- 
 " tion, and not to deftroy an ancient City, al- 
 *' together innocent of this, as well as of the 
 " former OfFence. I myfelf committed the 
 *' firft Fault, and am now actually under the 
 " Punifhment. But as Paffyas, who was en- 
 *' trufted by you, is guilty of this fecond ; let 
 " him be treated as his Crime deferves, and let 
 ** the Lydians be pardon'd. Yet to the End 
 " they may never more revolt, nor be trouble- 
 " fome to you, command all their Arms to be 
 " taken away *, and enjoin them to wear Vefts 
 " and Bufkins, and to teach their Sons to iing, 
 " to play on the Harp, and to drink in Publick- 
 " Houfes. For, by thefe Means, you will foon 
 " fee the manly Spirit of the Lydians degene- 
 " rate into a womanifh Weaknefs j fo that they 
 46 will never rebel, nor be formidable to you in 
 " Time to come." Crczfus fuggeiled this Me- 
 thod to CJT#J, becaufe lie judg'd the Lydians 
 
 would
 
 CLIO. 99 
 
 would be lefs unhappy under fuch Circumftances, 
 than if they mould be fold for Slaves ; and was 
 perfuaded, that unlefs he could frame fome plau- 
 fible Pretext, he fhould not prevail with him to 
 alter his Refolution : Neither was he without 
 Apprehenfion, that if the Lydians mould other- 
 wife efcape the prefent Danger, they might 
 hereafter revolt from the Perfians^ and bring ut- 
 ter Ruin on themfelves. Cyrus pleas'd with the 
 Expedient, told Crcefus he would take his Ad- 
 vice i and fending for Mazares a Mede, com- 
 manded him to order the Lydians to conform 
 themfelves to the Regulations propos'd by Crce- 
 fus > and to treat all thofe as Slaves, who had aA 
 fitted in the Attempt upon Sardis ; but above 
 all, to bring Paffyas alive to him : And having 
 given thefe Orders in his Way, he return'd to 
 Perfia. 
 
 PACTTAS being inform'd that the Army 
 was approaching, with Defign to fall upon him, 
 fled in great Confternation to Cyme ; and Ma- 
 zares with that Part of the Perfian Forces he 
 had, march'd diredlly to Sardis. But not rind- 
 ing Paffyas and his Followers there, he, in the 
 firft Place, conftrain'd the Lydians to conform 
 themfelves to the Orders prefcrib'd by Cyrus, 
 and totally to alter their Manner of Life : After 
 which he difpatch'd MefTengers to Cyme* with 
 Inftrudlions to demand the Perfon of Paftyas. 
 The CymaRans call'd a Council on this Occafion, 
 and reiblv'd to confult the ancient Oracle of 
 Branckis, which was frequented by all the loni- 
 ans and TEolians, and ftands in the Territory of 
 Mile t iiS) a little above the Port of Panormus. 
 When the Perfons, who were fent to the Ora- 
 cle, airivM at Brancbis, and pray'd to be in- 
 II 2 form'd
 
 loo HE R DOfUS. Book I. 
 
 form'd what they fhould do, that might be moft 
 pleating to the Gods, they were commanded to 
 
 ytf j to the Pernans : Which Anfwer 
 being brought to the Cymaeans, determin'd the 
 Majority to decree that he fhould be furrender'd 
 accordingly. But after they had taken that Re- 
 folution, Ariftodicus the Son of Heraclides, one 
 of the principal Men of the City, either dif- 
 trufting the I 7 aith of the Oracle, or fufpecting 
 the Sincerity of the Confulters, prevail'd with 
 the Cymaeans to fufpend the Execution of their 
 Decree, and to fend other Perfbns to enquire a 
 fecond Time concerning Pattyas. By this means 
 another Deputation was refolv'd, and Ariftodicus 
 was chofen for one \ who arriving with the 
 other Deputies at Brancbis^ cpnfulted the Oracle 
 in the Name of the reft, ufing thefe Words ; 
 t O King, Patty as the Lydian came to us as a 
 " Suppliant, to avoid a violent Death from the 
 *' Hands of the Perfians. They have demanded 
 " him of the Cymaeans, and refolve to admit no 
 " v Denial. We who are under great Apprehen- 
 " fions of the Perfian Power, have not yet dar'd 
 ** to furrender the Suppliant, 'till we mall be 
 " plainly inform'd by thee, what we ought to 
 *' do in this Conjuncture/* Thus fpoke Arifto- 
 dicus , but the Oracle gave the fame Anfwer as 
 before, and again admonim'd them to furrender 
 Paftyas to the Perfians. Upon which Ariftodi- 
 cus, in purfuance of the Defign he had form'd, 
 walking round the Temple, took away all the 
 Sparrows, and other Birds he found in the Nefts 
 that were within the Limits of the Place : And 
 when he had fo done, 'tis reported, a Voice was 
 heard from the innermoft Part of the Temple, 
 directing thefe Words to Ariftodicus -, " O thou 
 
 " moil
 
 CLIO. ioi 
 
 " moft wicked of ail Men, how dareft thou 
 " thus tear my Suppliants from under my Pro- 
 " tection?" Ariftodicus readily anfwer'd, " Art 
 " thou then fo careful to fuccour thy Suppliants, 
 " and yet fo forward to command the Cymas- 
 " ans to abandon Patty as to the Perfians?'* 
 " Yes, faid the Voice, I command it ; that 
 " fuch impious Men as you are may fuddenly 
 " perifh, and never more difturb the Oracle 
 " with Queftions of like Nature." When this 
 laft Anfwer was brought to Cyme^ the People, 
 being unwilling either to furrender PaRyas to 
 be deftroy'd by the Perfians, or to draw a War 
 upon themfelves by protecting him, fent him 
 away to Mitylene. Some fay the Mitylenaeans, 
 upon a Meflage they receiv'd from Mazares, a- 
 greed to deliver Paclyas into his Hands for a 
 certain Reward , but I cannot affirm this, be- 
 caufe the Thing was never effected. For the Cy- 
 rnaeans being inform'd of what was doing in 
 Mitylene^ difpatch'd a VefTel to Lejbos, and 
 tranfported Pattyas to Cbio : Where he was 
 taken by Violence from the Temple of Miner- 
 va Protectrefs of the City, and deliver'd up by 
 the Chians : Who in Recompence were put in- 
 to PofTeflion of Atarnem^ a Place fituate in My- 
 fia, over-againft Lejbos. In this Manner Paftyas 
 fell into the Hands of the Perfians, and was kept 
 under Confinement, in order to be conducted to 
 Cyrus. And for a long Time after this Action, 
 none of the Chians would ufe the Barley of A- 
 tarneus in their Offerings to the Gods, or make 
 any Confection of the Fruits produc'd by that 
 Country ; but totally abftain'd from the whole 
 Growth of thofe Lands in all their Temples. 
 
 H WHEN
 
 io2 HERODOTUS. Book I. 
 
 WH E N the Chians had deliver'd up Patty as ^ 
 Mazares march'd with his Forces againft thofe 
 who had aflifted in befieging Tabalus j and 
 having firft deftroy'd Priene, and ravag'd all 
 the Plain that lies by the River Meander ', he 
 abandon'd the Booty to his Army. But after 
 he had treated the Magnefians in the fame Man- 
 ner, he fell fick and died. Upon which, Har~ 
 pagus, who was alfo a Mede, and the fame Per- 
 fon, that having been entertain'd by Aftyages at 
 an execrable Feaft, had open'd a Way for Cyrus 
 to afcend to the Throne, came down to com- 
 mand the Army in his Place. This Man being 
 appointed General by Cyrus , and arriving in Io- 
 nia, took feveral Cities, by throwing up Earth- 
 Works to the Walls, after he had forc'd the 
 People to retire within their fortified Places. 
 Pboctea was the firft of the Ionian Cities that 
 fell into his Hands. Thefe Phocaeans were the 
 firft of all the Grecians who undertook long 
 Voyages, and difcover'd the Coafts of Adria^ 
 tyrrhenia, Iberia and farteffus. They made 
 their Expeditions in Gallies of fifty Oars, and 
 us'd no Ships of a rounder Form. When they 
 arriv'd at Tarteffus, they were kindly receiv'd by 
 Arganthonius the King of that Country, who 
 had then reign'd fourfcore Years, and liv'd to 
 the Age of one Hundred and twenty. They 
 had fo much of his Favour, that he at firft fol- 
 licited them to leave Ionia, and to fettle in any 
 Part of his Kingdom they mould chufe ; but af- 
 terwards finding he could not prevail with the 
 Phocaeans to accept his Offer, and hearing they 
 were in great Danger from the increafing Power 
 of the Medes, he prefented them with Treafure 
 to defray the Expence of building a. Wall round 
 
 their
 
 CLIO. 103 
 
 their City *, which he did with fo liberal a Hand, 
 that the whole Structure, comprehending no 
 fmall Number of Stades in Circumference, was 
 built with large and well compacted Stone. 
 Harpagus arriving with his Army before this 
 City, firft fent a MefTage to acquaint the Pho- 
 caeans within, that if they would demolifh one 
 of the Towers built upon their Wall, and con- 
 fecrate one Edifice, he would reft contented. 
 The Phocaeans detefting Slavery, anfwer'd, 
 That they would take one Day to deliberate 
 touching his Propofal, if in the mean Time he 
 \vould draw off his Forces from about the City. 
 Harpagus faid, That though he well knew their 
 Defign ; yet he would permit them to confult 
 together, as they defir'd. But, when he had 
 withdrawn his Army, the Phocaeans made ready 
 their Ships ; and having put their Wives, Chil- 
 dren, and Goods on board, together with the 
 Images and other Things dedicated in their Tem- 
 ples, except Pictures, and Works of Brafs or 
 Stone, they themfelves embark'd likewife, and 
 fet fail for Ohio : So that the Perftans at their 
 Return found the City defolate, and abandon'd 
 by all the Inhabitants. The Phocaeans arriving 
 in Cbio, defir'd to purchafe the GEnuJJiam I/lands 
 of the Chians ; but becaufe the Chians would 
 not confent to fell them, left they mould become 
 the Seat of Trade, and their own Ifland be ex- 
 cluded, they embark'd again, directing their 
 Courfe to Cyrnus , where, by the Admonition 
 of an Oracle, they had built a City, which 
 they nam'd Alatia, twenty Years before. In 
 their Pafiage to Cyrnus, turning in at Phoc<ea^ 
 they cut in Pieces the Perfian Garrifon left by 
 Harpagus in the City, and about the fame Time 
 H 4 Argan-
 
 IP4 HERODOTUS. Book I. 
 
 Arganthonius died. Having deftroy'd thefe Per- 
 fians, they pronoun c'd terrible Imprecations a- 
 gainft thofe who mould ftay behind , and bound 
 themfelves by mutual Oaths, never to return to 
 Phoc<ea, till a burning Ball of Iron, which 
 they threw into the Sea on that Occafion, 
 fhould appear again unextinguim'd. Neverthe- 
 lefs, as they were making towards Cyrmis, more 
 than one half of the Fleet, mov'd by Regret 
 and Affection for their native Country, broke 
 through all thefe Engagements, and return'd to 
 Phoc<a ; while the reft refolving to obferve the 
 Oaths they had taken, purfued their Voyage 
 from the CEnuJ/ian IJlands to Cyrnus. When 
 they arriv'd there, they built divers Temples, 
 and liv'd five Years in one Community with the 
 former Colony. But becaufe in that Time they 
 had ravag'd the Territories of all their Neigh- 
 bours, the Tyrrhenians and Carthaginians com- 
 bin'd together to make War againft them, each 
 Nation with fixty Ships. The JPhocasans on 
 their Part fitted out their Fleet, confifting in all 
 of fixty Sail alto ; and coming up with the Ene- 
 my in the Sea of Sardinia, fought and con- 
 quer'd ; but obtain'd a Cadmaean Victory : For 
 forty of their own Ships were funk ; and all 
 the reft having loft their Prows, were utterly 
 difabled. After this Actipn, returning to Ala- 
 lia, they put their Wives and Children on board 
 again, with as much of their Goods as they 
 could carry off, and leaving Cyrnus^ fail'd to 
 Rbegium. Of thofe Phocaeans that loft their 
 Ships in the Fight, many fell into the Hands of 
 the Carthaginians and Tyrrhenians ; who at 
 their landing fton'd them 'to Death in the Ter- 
 ritory of Agylla. After which, all the Men andl
 
 CLIO. 105 
 
 Cattle that came into thofe Parts, were feiz'd 
 with a burning Diftemper, attended by Convul- 
 {ions and Madnefs. In this Extremity the Agyl- 
 lians being defirous to expiate the Crime, had 
 Recourfe to the Oracle of Delphi , and the Py- 
 thian enjoin'd them to ufe thofe Rites which 
 they ftill obferve ; for they commemorate the 
 Death of the Phocasans with great Magnifi- 
 cence, and Gymnaftick Combats. This was the 
 Fate of thefe Phocasans ; and as for the reft, 
 who fled to Rhegium, they left that Place, and 
 in CEnotria built a City, which is now call'd 
 Hyele, by the Advice of a certain Pofidonian ; 
 who told them they had miftaken the Oracle, 
 and that the Pythian meant they mould build 
 a Monument for Cyrnus the Hero, and not a 
 City in the Ifland of that Name. 
 
 THE Conduct of the Teians in this Con- 
 juncture was not unlike that of the Phocaeans. 
 For when Harpagus, by the Advantage of his 
 Earthworks, had made himfelf Mafter of their 
 Walls, all the Teians went on board their Ships, 
 and tranfporting themfelves to Thrace, fettled in 
 the City of Abdera ; which Timefius of Clazo- 
 mcne had formerly founded ; but was afterwards 
 driven out by the Thracians, who would not 
 fuffer him to continue in Pofleflion of the Place ; 
 where yet he is honour'd as a Hero at this Time 
 by the Teians of Abdera. Thefe were the only 
 People of all the lonians, who chofe rather to 
 abandon their Country, than fubmit to Servi- 
 tude. The reft, except the Milefians, were 
 conquer'd by Harpagus, after they had as ftre- 
 nuoufly defended their feveral Cities, as thofe 
 who left the Country j and when they were 
 ferc'd to furrender to a fuperior Power, they 
 
 continu4
 
 io6 HERODOTUS. Book I. 
 
 continued to inhabit the fame Places, and fub- 
 mitted to the Will of the Conqueror. But the 
 Milefians having made a League with Cyrus, as 
 I faid before, kept themfelves quiet during thefe 
 Commotions. And in this Manner the lonians 
 of the Continent were a fecond Time conquer'd ; 
 which put the Iflanders under fuch Confterna- 
 tion, that they readily made their Submiffion to 
 Cyrus. Yet, as the lonians, even in thefe Cir- 
 cumftances, were permitted to meet in the Pan- 
 Ionian Council, I am inform'd that Bias of 
 friene orTer'd them fuch falutary Advice in one 
 of thofe Aflemblies, that if they had hearken'd 
 to him, they might have been the moft happy 
 of all the Grecians. For he counfelPd the lonians 
 to tranfport themfelves in their Ships to Sardi- 
 nia^ and to have only one Capital City there, 
 for the Ufe of the whole Confederacy ; by 
 which Means they would not only be deliver'd 
 from Servitude ; but inhabiting the moft con- 
 fiderable of the Iflands, could not fail of leading 
 and governing all the reft : Whereas mould they 
 continue in lonia^ he faw no Hope of recover- 
 ing their Liberty. This was the Counfel of 
 Bias the Prienean, after the lonians were fub- 
 dued ; but ttales the Milefian, who was of 
 Phoenician Defcent, gave them the moft ufeful 
 Advice before that Calamity happen'd, in ad- 
 moniming the lonians to conftitute one general 
 Council of the whole League in the City of 
 Teos, which ftands in the Centre of Ionia ; and 
 to efteem all the reft of the inhabited Cities as 
 fo many equal Parts of the fame Community. 
 Such were the Sentiments of thofe two Per- 
 fons. 
 
 HARP A-
 
 CLIO. 107 
 
 HARPAGUS having fubdu'd Ionia, led 
 his Army, which he reinforc'd with lonians 
 and JEolians, againft the Carians, Caunians, and 
 Lycians. The Carians came from the Iflands 
 to inhabit on the Continent. They were an- 
 tiently call'd Leleges, and liv'd in the Iflands 
 under the Protection of Minos, paying no Kind 
 of Tribute, that I could ever find by enqui- 
 ring into the remoteft Times. But when he 
 had occafion for Mariners, they aflifted him 
 with their Ships in the great Conquefts he 
 made, and rais'd themfelves to a higher Degree 
 of Reputation than any other Nation. They 
 were the Inventers of three Things now in Ufe 
 among the Grecians. For the Carians were the 
 firft who wore a Creft upon their Helmets ; 
 adorn'd their Shields with various Figures , and 
 invented the Handle, by which they are ma- 
 nag'd ; whereas, before this Invention, the 
 Shield hung about the Soldier's Neck by a 
 Thong of Leather, and defcended by the Left 
 Shoulder. After a long Time, the Dorians and 
 lonians abandon'd the Iflands likewife, as the 
 Carians had done, and fettled on the Conti- 
 nent : And this Account the Cretans give of 
 the Carians, But the Carians not aflenting to 
 thefe Things, affirm they were originally Inha- 
 bitants of the Continent, and always went under 
 the fame Name. In Teftimony of which they 
 fhew an antient Temple at Mylafa, dedicated to 
 the Carian Jupiter ; where the Myfians and Ly- 
 dians are admitted to participate with the Carians 
 in their Worfhip, as Nations of the fame Blood. 
 For, foy they, Lydus and Myfus were Brothers to 
 Cares, and on that Account the Ufe of this Tem- 
 ple is communicated to their Porlerity, and not 
 
 to
 
 io8 HERODOTUS. Book I. 
 
 to any other People, tho' of the fame Lan- 
 guage with the Carians. The Caunians, as I 
 conjecture, are originally of the Country they 
 inhabit, tho' they Jay their Anceftors came from 
 Crete. But whether they have accommodated 
 their Language to that of the Carians, or the 
 Carians have form'd their Speech by the Cau^ 
 nian, I cannot determine with Certainty. In 
 their Cuftoms and Manners the Caunians refem- 
 ble no other Nation, not even the Carians ; 
 accounting it a decent Thing in Men, Women, 
 and Boys, to drink in great Companies, with 
 their Friends, and with thofe of the fame Age. 
 They antiently worfhipp'd the Gods of other 
 Nations; but afterwards changing their Opi- 
 nion, and refolving to have no other than their 
 own national Deities, they all arm'd themfelves, 
 and in a petulant Manner brandifhing their 
 Spears in the Air, marchM up to the Moun- 
 tains of Qalinda, crying as they went, That 
 they were expelling the Foreign Gods out of 
 their Country. The Ly clans derive their Ori- 
 ginal from Crete, which in antient Time was in- 
 tirely in the PofTefiion of Barbarians. But Sar- 
 pedon and Minos, the Sons of Europa, contend- 
 ing for the Kingdom ; Sarpedon being defeated 
 by Minos, was driven out of the Ifland with all 
 his Partizans, and landing in Afia, fettled in Mi- 
 lyas ; for that was the antient Name of the 
 Country which the Lycians now inhabit, tho' 
 the Milyans were then call'd Solymi. During 
 the Reign of Sarpedon they went by the Name 
 they brought with them into Afia -, and in our 
 Time are by their Neighbours call'd Termili- 
 ans. But when Lycus the Son of Pandion was 
 compejl'd by his Brother JEgeus to quit Athens, 
 
 h'4
 
 C LI 0. 109 
 
 he fled to Sarpedon at Termile^ and from him the 
 People began to be nam'd Lycians. Their Cuf- 
 toms are, for the moft Part, deriv'd from the 
 Cretans and Carians ; but they have one peculiar 
 to themfelves, in which they differ from all other 
 Nations. For they take their Names from their 
 Mothers, and not from their Fathers , fo that if 
 any one be aflc'd who he is, and of what Fa- 
 mily, he recounts his Maternal Genealogy, in the 
 Female Line. Betides, if a free-born Woman, 
 marry a Servant, her Children enjoy the full Pri- 
 vilege of Citizens ; but mould a Man of ever fo 
 high Dignity marry a Foreigner or a Concu- 
 bine, his Children would be uncapable of any 
 Honour. 
 
 THE Carians were fubdu'd by Harpagus, with' 
 out doing any memorable Action in their De- 
 fence : And all the Grecians that inhabit thofe 
 Parts, behav'd themfelves with as little Courage. 
 Among thefe were the Cnidians, a Lacedemo- 
 nian Colony, whofe Territories defcend to the 
 Triopian Sea. This Region, except the Ifthmus 
 of Byblejia^ which is no more than five Stades in 
 Breadth, is furrounded by the Sea, having on 
 the North-Side the Ceraunian Gulph^ and on the 
 South-Weft the Rhodian and Symean Seas. The 
 Cnidians there, while the Arms of Harpagus were 
 employ'd in the Conqueft of Ionia, form'd a De- 
 fign to cut thro' the Ifthmus, and to make their 
 Country an Ifland. But, as they were carrying 
 on that Work with great Diligence, the Shivers 
 of the Stones broken by their Inftruments, flew 
 about fo thick, and wounded fo many Men in 
 the Body, and particularly in the Eyes, that fall- 
 ing into great Confternation, and imagining fome 
 Divine Power had interpos'd, they fent to in- 
 quire
 
 tio HERODOTUS. Book I. 
 
 quire of the Delphian Oracle coneerning this 
 Obftruction; and, as the Cnidians fay, had the 
 following Anfwer from the Pythian ; 
 
 Build here no Toiv'rs, nor thro* the Iftkmus cut : 
 Had the God fleas' d that this Jhould be an IJle+ 
 The Sea had waft? d your Coaft in ev'ry Part. 
 
 Upon the Reception of this Oracle* the Cnidians 
 defifted from their Work, and when Harpagus 
 appear'd with his Army, furrender'd without 
 Refiftance. But the Pedafeans inhabiting a mid- 
 land Country fituate above Halicarnajfus^ were 
 the only People of Caria that oppos'd Harpagus 
 with Vigour. For retiring to a Mountain call'd 
 Lyda, they fortified and defended themfelves 
 valiantly, and were not fubdued without great 
 Difficulty. When any finifter Event is about to 
 fall upon the Pedafeans and their Neighbours, a 
 long Beard moots fuddenly upon the Chin of 
 Minerva's Prieftefs ; and this Prodigy has thrice 
 happen'd. After thefe SuccefTes, Harpagus drew 
 his Army into the Plain, in order to attack the 
 Lycians of Xanthus -, who, tho' they were few 
 in Number, yet having aflembled what Forces 
 they could, took 'the Field, and fought the Per- 
 iians with great Courage. But being overpow- 
 er'd with Numbers, and forc'd to retire into the 
 City, they put their Wives, Children, and Ser- 
 vants, with all their Riches, into the Caftle, 
 and fet fire to the Place. Which when they 
 had done, and all was burnt, they engag'd them- 
 felves by the ftrongeft Ca>hs to dye together, 
 and to that End returning into the Field of Bat- 
 tle, they renew'd the Fight, and were cut in 
 Pieces to the laft Man. All the Xanthian Ly- 
 2 cians
 
 CLIO. nt 
 
 cians of our Age are defcended from Strangers, 
 except eighty Families, which being abfent at 
 the Time of this Invafion, efcap'd with Life. 
 Thus Xanthus fell into the Hands of Harpagus ; 
 and Caunia almoft in the fame Manner ; for the 
 Caunians were accuftom'd to follow the Exam- 
 ple of the Lycians. 
 
 WHILE Harpagus fubdued the Lower, 
 Cyrus conquer'd the Upper Afia^ without fparing 
 any Nation he found in his Way. But I mail 
 forbear to mention the greater Part of his 
 Actions, and content myfelf to relate the moft 
 memorable ; efpecially fuch as were attended 
 with the greateft Difficulty. When he had re- 
 duc'd all the Continent of Afia, he refolv'd to 
 invade AJfyria, which contains many famous Ci- 
 ties ; but the principal in Strength and Name is 
 Babylon, where the Seat of the Kingdom was 
 fix'd after the Deftruction of Ninus. Babylon 
 ftands in a fpacious Plain, and being perfectly 
 fquare, mews a Front, on every Side, of one 
 Hundred and twenty Stades, which make up 
 the Sum of four Hundred and eighty Stades in 
 the whole Circumference. This City, fo great 
 in Dimenfion, is more magnificently built than 
 any other we know. In the firft Place, a wide 
 and deep Ditch, always fupplied with Water, 
 encompafles the Wall ; which is two Hundred 
 Royal Cubits in Height, and fifty in Breadth ; 
 every Royal Cubit containing three Digits more 
 than the common Meafure. And here I think 
 myfelf oblig'd to give fome Account, how 
 the Babylonians employ'd the Earth that was 
 taken out of fo large a Ditch, and in what 
 Manner the Wall was built. As they open'd 
 the Ground, and threw out the Earth, they 
 
 made
 
 ti2 HERODOTUS. Book L 
 
 made Bricks ; and when they had fhap'd a con- 
 venient Number^ they bak'd them in Furnaces 
 prepared for that Purpofe. The Cement they 
 us'd was a bituminous Subftance heated on the 
 Fire ; and every thirty Orders of Bricks were 
 compacted together with an Intermixture of 
 Reeds. With thefe Materials they firft lin'd 
 the Canalj and afterwards built the Wall in the 
 fame Manner. Certain Edifices confirming only 
 of one Floor, were plac'd on the Edges of the 
 Wall, fronting each other, and a Space was left 
 between thofe Buildings, fufficient for turning 
 a Chariot with four Horfes abreaft. In the 
 Circumference of the Wall one hundred Gates 
 of Brafs are feeiij with Intablatures and Support- 
 ers of the fame Metal, all of like Architecture, 
 Eight Days Journey from Babylon {rands another 
 City, call'd Is, on a River of the fame Name, 
 that falls into the Euphrates, and brings down 
 great Quantities of Brimftone in Lumps ; which 
 being carried to Babylon was us'd in this Work: 
 And thus the City was encompafs'd with a 
 Wall. Babylon confifts of two Parts, fepara- 
 ted from each other by the River Euphrates ; 
 which defcending from the Mountains of Ar- 
 menia, becomes broad, deep, and rapid, and 
 falls into the Red-Sea. The Walls were brought 
 down on both Sides to the River, with fome 
 Inflexion at the Extremities ; from whence a 
 Rampart of Brickwork was extended along the 
 Edge of the River on both Sides. The Houfes 
 of Babylon are of three and four Floors in Height - y 
 and the principal Streets pafs in a direct Line- 
 quite through the City. The reft traverfmg 
 thefe in feveral Places, 'lead to the River ; and 
 little Gates of Brafs, equal in Number to the 
 
 leffer
 
 CLIO. 
 
 lefler Streets, are plac'd in the Ramparts which 
 border the Stream. Within the firft Wall, which 
 is fortified with Towers, another is built, not 
 much inferior in Strength^ tho* not altogether 
 fo thick : And befides thefe, the Centre of 
 each Divifion is wall'd round; containing in 
 one Part the Royal Palace, which is very fpa- 
 cious and ftrong ; and in the other the Tem- 
 ple of Jupiter Belus^ being a fquare Building* 
 extended to the Length of two Stades on 
 every Side, and having Gates of Brafs. as may 
 ftill be feen in our Time. In the midft of this 
 Temple ftands a folid Tower, of one Stade 
 in Height, and in Length and Breadth of the 
 fame Meafure. On this Tower another is built* 
 and a third upon that* till they make up the 
 Number of eight. The Afcent to thefe is by a 
 circular Way carried round the Outlide of the 
 Building to the higheft Part. In the midft o 
 the Afcent is a Place, where thofe who go up 
 may reft themfelves * and within the upper- 
 moft Tower a fpacious Dome is built, in which 
 a Table of Gold ftands at the Side of a magni- 
 ficent Bed. No Image is feen in this Place, 
 nor is any Mortal permitted to remain there by 
 Night (as the Chaldaeans, who are the Priefts 
 of this Temple, (ay) except only a Woman 
 chofen by the God out of the whole Nation j 
 affirming for a Truth* which neverthelefs I think 
 incredible, that the God comes by Night and 
 lies in the Bed : Which refembles the Account 
 given by the Egyptians of their Temple at 
 Thebes. For there alfo a Woman lies in the 
 Temple of Jupiter, and neither of thefe are fuf- 
 pecled to have the Company of Men ; any more 
 than the Prieftefs of Pataris in Lycia j where, 
 I tho*
 
 ii4 HERODOT&S. Book I. 
 
 tho* they have not a conftant Oracle, yet when 
 an Anfwer is to be delivered, fhe is fhut up du- 
 ring all the Night in the Temple. 
 
 I N a Chapel which ftands below, within 
 the Temple of Babylon, a large Image of Gold, 
 reprefenting Jupiter fitting, is plac*d on a 
 Throne of Gold, at a Table of the fame Me- 
 tal, all together weighing eight hundred Ta- 
 lents, as the Chaldaeans affirm. Without this 
 Chapel is an Altar of Gold ; and another of 
 a greater Size, which is ufed when Cattle of 
 full Age are facrific'd ; for on the Golden Al- 
 tar no other than fucking Victims may be of- 
 fer*d. On the great Altar the Chaldaeans con- 
 fume yearly the Weight of a thoufand Ta- 
 lents in Incenfe, when they celebrate the Fe- 
 ftival of this God. Befides thefe Things, a Statue 
 of folid Gold, twelve Cubits high, flood for- 
 merly in this Temple ; which becaufe I did 
 not fee, I mall only relate what I heard from 
 the Chaldaeans ; who fay, that Darius the Son 
 of Hyftafpes, having form'd a Defign to take 
 away this Statue, had not Courage to effect 
 his Purpofe: But that Xerxes the Son of 
 Darius, not only took the Statue, but kill'd the 
 Prieft who had forbidden him to remove it. 
 In this Manner the Temple of Jupiter Belus is 
 built and adorn'd ; not to mention divers other 
 Donations confecrated there by private Per- 
 fons. 
 
 MANY Kings, whofe Names I mail mention 
 in my Difcourfes of the Affyrian Affairs, reign'd 
 formerly in Babylon, and beautified the City with 
 Temples and other publick Edifices : But none 
 more than two Women. The firft of thefe, 
 Semiramis, liv'd five Generations before 
 2 the
 
 CLIO. 115 
 
 the other, and rais'd fuch Banks to prevent the 
 Inundations of the River, which frequently 
 overflow'd all the Plain of Babylon, as deferv'd 
 Admiration. But the other, whofe Name was 
 Nitocris, having afterwards obtain'd the King- 
 dom, and being much more provident, not only 
 left Monuments of herfelf, which I mail de- 
 fcribe; but when (he faw the Power of the 
 Medes grown formidable and ftrong, and that 
 they had taken the City of Ninus, with divers 
 others, me made all imaginable Provifion for the 
 Defence of her Territories. To that End, in 
 the firft Place {he caus'd a Channel to be open'd 
 above Babylon, with fo many various Windings, 
 to receive the Stream of the Euphrates, which 
 before ran in a ftraight Line, that this River was 
 made to touch no lefs than three feveral Times 
 at one fmgle Town of AJjyria, call'd Arderica ; 
 and all thofe who now afcend from the Sea by 
 the Way of Babylon, are neceflitated to pafs 
 thrice by that Place in three feveral Days. 
 Much higher than Babylon, at a little Diftance 
 from the Euphrates, me caus'd a fpacious Lake 
 to be made, four Hundred and twenty Stades 
 over on every Side ; and in Depth till the 
 Workmen came to Water. She border'd the 
 Edge of this Lake quite round with Stone, and 
 all the Earth they threw out was difpos'd of, 
 by her Direction, to augment the Banks of the 
 River, which by that Means are of an aftonifh- 
 ing Height and Thicknefs. Thefe two Things 
 me did, that the Current being broken by fre- 
 quent Inflexions, the River might move on but 
 flowly, and that the Capacioufnefs of the Lake 
 might render the Navigation to Babylon long 
 and difficult. All this was done in that Part of 
 I 2 the
 
 n6 HERODOTUS. Book I. 
 
 the Country which lies next to the Medes, and 
 is their fhorteft Way to Babylon ; to the End 
 they might have no Opportunities of difcover- 
 mg her Affairs by an eafy Communication with 
 the AfTyrians. Both thefe Works me ftrengthen'd 
 with a folid Facing from the Bottom, and 
 eredted another between the two Divifions of 
 the City. For confidering that Babylon was 
 divided by the River into two Parts ; and that 
 all Perfons who pafs'd from one Side to the other 
 during the Reigns of former Kings, had been 
 neceflitated to make ufe of Boats, which in my 
 Opinion was very troublefome; me provided 
 the following Remedy ; and after having funk 
 the Draining Lake, I mentioned before, left this 
 alfo for a Monument of her Fame. She 6r- 
 der'd Stones to be cut of large Dimensions ; 
 and when they were ready, commanded a great 
 Compafs of Ground to be opened, and the 
 Current of the Euphrates to be turn*d into that 
 Place. By this Means, when the Water was 
 drain*d out, and the antient Channel become 
 dry, (he lin*d the Banks of the River on both 
 Sides with a Facing of burnt Brick, below the 
 little Gates that lead to the Water within the 
 City, and cemented as the Walls had been. 
 Which having done, me built a Bridge about 
 the midft of the City with the Stones me had 
 prepared ; binding them together with Plates of 
 Lead and Iron. Upon thefe Stones, Planks of 
 fquarM Timber were laid by Day, that the Ba- 
 bylonians might pafs over from one Side to the 
 other, but were remov'd at Night to prevent 
 mutual Robberies. When the Lake was fill'd 
 with the Water of the Euphrates, and the Bridge 
 finifh'd, me brought back the River to its an- 
 tient
 
 CLIO. 117 
 
 tient Channel. This Invention of the Lake was 
 much applauded ; and thus a Bridge was built 
 for the Ufe of the Inhabitants. The fame Queen 
 laid this Snare for fucceeding Time : She pre- 
 par'd a Sepulchre for herfelf over the moft fre- 
 quented Gate of the City, expos'd to open 
 View with the following Infcription : IF ANY 
 ONE OF MY SUCCESSORS, KINGS OF 
 BABTLON, SHOULD FIND HIMSELF 
 INWANT OFMONEY, LET HIMOPEN 
 THIS SEPULCHRE, AND TAKE AS 
 MUCH AS HE SHALL THINK FIT: BuT 
 IF HE BE NOT REDUCED TO REAL 
 WANT, HE OUGHT TO FORBEAR; 
 OTHERWISE HE SHALL HAVE CAUSE 
 TO REPENT. This Monument continued un- 
 touch'd to the Reign of Darius , who judging 
 it unreafonable that the Gate mould remain ufe- 
 lefs to the Inhabitants (for no Man would pafs 
 under a dead Body ;) and an inviting Treafure be 
 render*d unferviceable, broke up the Sepulchre, 
 and inftead of Money found only the Body and 
 thefe Words ; HADST THOU NOT BEEN 
 
 INSATIABLY COVETOUS, AND GREE- 
 DY OF THE MOST SORDID GAIN, 
 
 THOUWOULD'ST NOT HAVE VIOLATED 
 THE SEPULCHRE OF THE DEAD. And 
 
 this is the Account they give of Nitocris Queen 
 of Babylon. 
 
 CTRUS made War againft Labynitus the Son 
 of this Queen, who had his Name and the King- 
 dom of Affyria from his Father. When the 
 Great King leads his Army in Perfon, he has 
 with him Cattle and other Provisions in abun- 
 dance. The Water he drinks is brought from 
 the River Cboapfes, which runs by Sufa ; for 
 I 3 the
 
 n8 HERODOrUS. Book I. 
 
 the Kings of Perfia drink of no other. This 
 Water being firft boil'd and preferv'd in VefTels 
 of Silver, is loaded on many Waggons drawn 
 by Mules, and carried after him wherefoever 
 he goes. Cyrus arriving at the River Gyndes 
 in his March towards Babylon, endeavour'd to 
 pafs over with his Army , but that River was 
 not fordable. The Gyndes rifes in the Hills of 
 Matiene, and defcending thro* Dardania, falls 
 into the Tigris ; which patting by the City of 
 Opis, runs out into the Red Sea. In the mean 
 Time one of thofe who were mounted on white 
 Horfes, accounted facred among the Perfians, 
 with an audacious Petulancy pufh'd into the 
 River ; but the Current proving too ftrong, 
 drew him fuddenly with his Horfe to the Bot- 
 tom. Cyrus, much offended with the River 
 for this Affront, threaiten'd to render his Stream 
 fo contemptible, that Women mould pafs to 
 either Side without wetting their Knees. After 
 which Menace, deferring his Expedition againft 
 Babylon, he divided his Army into two Parts ; 
 and having mark'd out one Hundred and eighty 
 Channels, by the Line, on each Side of the 
 River, commanded his Men to dig out the 
 Earth. His Defign was indeed executed, by the 
 great Numbers he employ'd ; but the whole 
 Summer was fpent in the Work. Thus Cyrus 
 punifh'd the River Gyndes, by draining the 
 Stream into three Hundred and fixty Trenches ; 
 and in the Beginning of the next Spring advanc'd 
 with his Army towards Babylon. Upon his Ap- 
 proach the Babylonians, who in Expectation of 
 his coming had drawn out their Forces, gave 
 him Battle, and being defeated fled back to the 
 City. But having been long acquainted with the 
 
 reftlefi
 
 C L "/ 0. 119 
 
 S-eftlefs Spirit of Cyrus, and his Cuftom of at- 
 tacking all Nations without DiftincTion, they 
 had laid up Provifions for many Years, and were 
 under no Apprehenfions about a Siege. On 
 the other Hand, Cyrus himfelf finding much 
 Time confum'd, and his Affairs not at all ad- 
 vanc'd, fell into great Doubt what he mould 
 do next -, when at laft, either by the Suggeftion 
 of fome other Perfon, or of his own fagacious 
 Invention, he refolv'd upon the following Stra- 
 tagem. He pofted one Part of his Army near 
 the Place where the River enters Babylon, and 
 the reft in another Station below, where the 
 fame River leaves the City -, with order to en- 
 ter, fo foon as they mould fee the Channel pafT- 
 able. Having given this Direction, and en- 
 courag'd his Forces, he went with the ufelefs 
 Part of his Men to the Lake, and did as the 
 Queen of Babylon had done. For by open- 
 ing a large Trench, he turn'd the Stream into 
 the Lake, and by that Means the River fubfi- 
 ding, the antient Channel became fordable: 
 Which the Perfians, who were appointed to 
 that Purpofe, obferving, put their Orders in exe- 
 cution, and boldly enter'd the City, having the 
 Water no higher than the Middle of the Thigh. 
 Yet if the Babylonians had been well inform'd, 
 or had forefeen the Attempt of Cyrus, they would 
 doubtlefs have deftroy'd his Army, and not have 
 fupinely fuffer'd the Perfians to pafs. For by 
 fhutting all the little Gates that lead down to the 
 River, and mounting the Brickworks that run 
 along the Key, they might have taken them in 
 a Kind of Cage -, whereas having no Sufpicion of 
 fuch a Defign, they were unexpectedly furpriz'd 
 by the Perfians. The Extent of the City was 
 I 4 &d
 
 i2o HERODOTUS. "Book I, 
 
 fuch, that, if we may believe the Babylonians, 
 when thofe who inhabited near the Centre were 
 taken, the People that dwelt about the Extre^ 
 mities of Babylon heard nothing of their Difafter 5 
 but were celebrating a Feftival that Day with 
 Dancing and all manner of Rejoicing, till they 
 receiv'd certain Information of the general 
 Fate. And thus Babylon was the firft Time 
 taken. 
 
 AMONG many Things which I mall mention, 
 to mew the Power and Wealth of the Babylo- 
 nians, this is one. That, whereas all the Do- 
 minions of the Great King are charg'd with pro- 
 viding Subfiftence for his Perfon and Armies, 
 over and above the ufual Tribute ; the Terri- 
 tory of Babylon contributes as much as is fuffi- 
 cient for four of the twelve Months that make 
 up the Year, all the reft of Afia furnifhing no 
 more than for eight Months only : So that the 
 Country of AJJyria alone is accounted equiva- 
 lent to one half of all the other Parts of Aft a. 
 The Government of this Region, which the 
 Perfians call a Satrapy, is much more confi- 
 derable than any other, and yielded an Artabe 
 of Silver every Day to 'Tritcecbmes the Son of 
 Artabazus, who was appointed Governor by 
 the King. The Artabe is a Perfian Meafure 
 containing three Chcenixes more than the At- 
 tick Medimnus. Befides this Revenue, and his 
 Horfes for War, a Studd of eight Hundred 
 3tallions, and fixteen Thoufand Mares, one Horfe 
 to twenty Mares, was kept for him at the Ex- 
 pence of the Country : And his Indian Dogs 
 were fo many, that four confiderable Towns in 
 the Plain were exempted from all other Taxes, 
 on Condition to provide Food for thofe Animals, 
 
 Such
 
 CLIO. 121 
 
 Such Advantages belong'd to the Governor of 
 Babylon. Little Rain falls in Aflyria ; but the 
 Root of the Corn is nourim'd in another Man- 
 ner; and though the Earth is not watered by 
 the overflowing of the River, as in jEgypt ; 
 yet the Hands of Men and Watering- Engines, 
 invented for that Purpofe, fupply the Lands 
 with a fufficient Quantity of Moifture. For all 
 the Country about Babylon is, like jEgypt, di- 
 vided by frequent Canals ; of which the largeft 
 is navigable, and beginning at the Euphrates, 
 defcends towards the Winter-Solftice, and falls 
 into the River Tigris, where the City of Ninus 
 formerly flood. No Part of the known World 
 produces fo good Wheat ; but the Vine, the 
 Olive and the Fig-Tree, were never feen in this 
 Country. Yet, in Recompence, it abounds fo much 
 in Corn, as to yield at all Times an Increafe of 
 two Hundred for one ; and even three Hun- 
 dred, when the Year is extraordinary fruitful, 
 and the Climate feems to out-do itfelf. Wheat 
 and Barley carry a Blade four full Digits in 
 Breadth : And though I well know to what a 
 furprizing Height Milet and Sefama grow in 
 thofe Parts, I (hall be filent in that Particular ; 
 becaufe the Truth would feem incredible to all 
 thofe who have never been at Babylon. They 
 uf no other Oil than fuch as is drawn from Se- 
 fama'. The Palm-Tree grows naturally over all 
 the Plain; and the greater Part bears Fruit; 
 with which they make Bread, Wine, and Ho- 
 ney. This Tree is cultivated as the Fig-Tree ; 
 and they tie the Fruit of that which the Gre- 
 cians call the Male-Palm, about thofe Trees 
 that bear Dates, to the End that a Gnat may 
 enter and ripen the Fruit j left otherwife the 
 
 Gland
 
 122 HERODOTUS. Book I. 
 
 Gland fall before Maturity ; for the Fruit of 
 the Male-Palm, like that of the wild Fig-Tree, 
 produces a Gnat. But the Thing which, next 
 to the City, feems moft wonderful to me, is 
 this : The VefTels that defcend the River to Ba- 
 lylon, are round, and in great Meafure com- 
 pos*d of Skins. For when they have cut the 
 Ribbs out of Willows growing in the Hills of 
 Armenia above Babylon, they cover them with 
 Hides extended on the Outfide, to ferve for a 
 Bottom-, making no Diftindion of Stem or 
 Stern. Thefe Veflels thus fhap'd in the Form 
 of a Buckler, they ftow with Reeds, and ven- 
 ture upon the River, freighted with Merchan- 
 dize, and efpecially with Caflcs of Palm- Wine. 
 Two Men {landing upright with a Pole in the 
 Hand of each, one pulling to, and the other 
 putting off from himfelf, direci the Courfe of 
 thefe Boats ; fome of which are very large, ancf 
 others of a lefs Size ; but the moft capacious 
 carry the Weight of five thoufand Talents. 
 Every VefTel has an Afs on Board, and the 
 greateft more. For after they arrive at Babylon t 
 and have difpos'd of their Goods, they fell the 
 Ribbs of the Boat with the Reeds j and loading 
 the Hides on the Afles, return by Land to Ar- 
 menia ; the River not being navigable upwards, 
 by reafon of the Rapidity of the Stream. For 
 this Caufe they ufe Skins, rather than Timber, 
 in fitting up thefe Veflels , and at their Re- 
 turn to Armenia, they build more after the 
 fame Manner. Such is the Account of that 
 Navigation. For their Drefs, they wear a 
 Linen Shirt down to the Feet, upon which 
 they have a Veft of Woollen Cloth, and a 
 white Mantle over all. Their Shoes are made 
 
 iti
 
 CLIO. i-2 3- 
 
 in a Fafhion peculiar to the Country, not unlike 
 thofe of the Boeotians. They wear long Hair, 
 covering the Head with a Mitre, and anoint the 
 whole Body with perfum'd Oils. Every Man 
 has a Ring with a Signet, and a Staff curioufly 
 wrought ; on the Top of which is plac'd either 
 an Apple, a Rofe, a Lily, or an Eagle, or fome 
 other Thing , for to wear a Stick without fuch 
 an Ornament, is accounted indecent. Among 
 their Cuftorrts, they had one moft prudently 
 eftablifh'd ; and another, which I approve, and 
 which, I hear, the Henetes of Illyria likewife 
 ufe. In every Diftrict they annually afTembled 
 all the Virgins of marriageable Age on a certain 
 Day ; and when the Men were come together, 
 and ftood round the Place, the Crier rifing up, 
 fold one after another, always propofing the 
 jnoft beautiful firft ; and having fold her for a 
 great Sum of Gold, he puts up the Maid who 
 was efteem*d fecond in Beauty. On this Occa- 
 fion the richeft of the Babylonians us'd to con- 
 tend for the faireft Wife, and to outbid one ano- 
 ther. But the Vulgar thinking they had no 
 great need of handfome Women, were content- 
 ed to take the ugly and lame with Money. 
 For when all the beautiful Virgins were fold, 
 the Crier order'd the moft deform'd to ftand 
 up ; and after he had openly demanded, who 
 would marry her with a fmall Sum, fhe was at 
 length adjudg'd to the Man that would be fa- 
 tisfied with the leaft. And in this Manner the 
 Money arifing by the Sale of the handfome, 
 ferv'd for a Portion to thofe, who were either 
 of difagreeable Looks, or under any other Im- 
 perfection of Body. A Father was riot permit- 
 ted to indulge his own Fancy in the Choice 
 
 of
 
 124- HERODOTUS. Book I. 
 
 of a Hufband for his Daughter ; neither might 
 the Purchafer carry off the Woman he had 
 bought, without giving fufficient Security to 
 cohabit with her as his Wife : If he refus'd, he 
 was oblig'd to reftore the Money he had re- 
 ceiv'd. Yet Men of another Diftrict might 
 come and buy if they thought fit. All thefe 
 Precautions were taken, that Women might 
 not be ill-us*d, nor forc'd away into other Pro- 
 vinces. But this excellent Law, which in for- 
 mer Time was ftrictly obferv'd, is now totally 
 abolim'd. For after the Taking of Babylon, they 
 fuffer'd great Calamities, and were reduc'd to 
 fuch Extremities in their private Fortunes, that 
 all the meaner Sort proftitute their Daughters for 
 a Living. Another Cuftom they have, which 
 deferves the fecond Praife. All fick Perfons are 
 brought out into the moft frequented Places, 
 (for they ufe no Phyficians ;) and as thofe who 
 come thither, always enquire concerning the 
 Difeafe of the Patient, when they find that they 
 have been afflicted with the fame, or have feen 
 others in a like Condition, they advife him to 
 do as they did to cure themfelves, or as others, 
 they knew, had done in the fame Cafe. For, to 
 pafs filently before the Sick, without enquir- 
 ing into the Nature of their Diftemper, is 
 among them accounted a Crime. They em- 
 balm the dead in Honey, and their funeral La- 
 mentations are like thofe of the ./Egyptians. 
 When a Babylonian defigns to accompany with 
 his Wife, he firft burns Incenfe, fitting on one 
 Side of the Fire, while me does the lame on 
 the other; and about Break of Day they go 
 both into a Bath, as the Arabians likewife do, 
 refufing to touch any Thing till they have wafh'd. 
 
 Never-
 
 CLIO. 125 
 
 Neverthelefs they have one eftablim'd Cuftom, 
 which is infamous in the higheft Degree. For 
 every Woman is oblig'd, once in her Life, to 
 fit down openly in the Temple of Venus, in or- 
 der to proftitute herfelf to fome Stranger. Yet 
 becaufe the moft Wealthy difdain to expofe 
 themfelves in Publick among the reft, many 
 come in cover'd Chariots to the Gates of the 
 Temple, and make that their Station, with a 
 numerous Train of Servants attending at a Dif- 
 tance. But the far greater Part enter into the 
 Temple, and fit down crown'd with Garlands, 
 fome continually going out, and others coming 
 in. The Galleries where they fit are built in a 
 ftraight Line, and open on every Side, that all 
 Strangers may have a free Paflage to chufe fuch 
 Women as they like beft. When a Woman 
 has feated herfelf, me muft not return home, 
 till fome Stranger throw a Piece of Silver into 
 her Lap, and lie with her at fome Diftance from 
 the Temple ; ufing this Form as he gives her the 
 Money. / befeech the Goddefs Mylitta to favour 
 Thee : For the Aflyrians call Venus by that Name. 
 The Law forbids any Woman to refufe this Pre- 
 fent, how fmall foever, becaufe fuch Money is 
 accounted facred : And commands her to follow 
 the firft that offers it, without rejecting any 
 Man. Having fatisfied this Obligation, and per- 
 form'd her Duty to the Goddefs, me returns 
 home ; and after that Time is never more to be 
 obtain'd by any Prefents, how great foever. 
 Thofe Women who excel in Beauty and Shape, 
 are foon difmifs'd ; but the Deform'd are fome- 
 times neceffitated to wait three or four Years, 
 before they can fatisfy the Law. The Cyprians 
 have a Cuftom not unlike to this in fome Parts 
 
 2 Of
 
 126 HERODOTUS. Book I. 
 
 of the Ifland of Cyprus. The Babylonians have 
 three Tribes among them, who eat nothing but 
 Fifh ; which they order in this Manner : When 
 they have taken and dry'd the Fifh in the Sun, 
 they throw them into a Mortar ; and after hav- 
 ing reduc'd the whole Subftance to a Kind of 
 Meal, they cleanfe it through a linen Search; 
 making it up into Cakes, as they have Occafion, 
 and baking it as Bread. And thefe are the Cuf- 
 toms of the Babylonians. 
 
 CTRUS having fubdued this Nation, grew 
 very defirous to conquer the Maflagetes, who 
 are accounted a great and valiant People. They 
 inhabit towards the Eaft, and the Rifing-Sun 
 beyond the River Araxes^ over-againft the Ifle- 
 donians ; and fome fay they are Scythians. Many 
 think the Araxes to be greater than the Ifter, 
 and others, lefs ; containing, as they fay, divers 
 Iflands, equal to Lejbos in Circumference, and 
 inhabited by Men, who during the Summer feed 
 upon all manner of Roots, which they dig out 
 of the Ground, and for their Winter-Provifion 
 lay up the ripe Fruits they find upon the Trees. 
 They add, that a certain Tree growing in this 
 Country, produces Fruit of fuch a Nature, that 
 when the Inhabitants meet together in Compa- 
 ny, and throw a Quantity of it upon the Fire, 
 they become intoxicated as they fit round the 
 Steam, no lefs than the Grecians by drinking 
 Wine : That the more they fling on, the more 
 drunk they grow, and that when they find 
 themfelves in this Condition, they rife up to 
 dance and fing. In this Manner thefe Iflanders 
 are reported to live. The Araxes defcends from 
 the Hills of Matiene, (as I obferv'd before of the 
 River Gyndes, which Cyrus turnM into three 
 
 Hun-
 
 CLIO. 127 
 
 Hundred and fixty Trenches,) and, except one 
 Stream which runs into the Cafpian Sea, dif- 
 charges all its Waters by forty feveral Paflages 
 into certain Fens and Lakes ; where 'tis faid the 
 Inhabitants feed only upon raw Fifh, and cloath 
 themfelves in the Skins of Sea-Calves. The 
 Cafpian has no Communication with any other 
 Sea ; whereas that which the Grecians navigate, 
 together with the Red Sea, and the Atlantick* 
 lying beyond the Columns of Hercules^ are but 
 one Sea. The Length of the Cafpian is as much 
 as a Veflel with Oars can make in fifteen Days ; 
 and to crofs the Breadth in the wideft Part, re- 
 quires eight. This Sea is bounded on the Weft 
 by Mount Caucafus, the greateft and higheft of 
 all Mountains ; containing many different Na- 
 tions, who for the moft Part live upon fueh 
 Things as the Earth produces without Cultiva- 
 tion. In this Country, 'tis faid, they have a 
 certain Tree, the Leaf of which, when bruifed 
 and diluted with Water, ferves to paint the 
 Figures of various Animals on their Garments, 
 with a Colour that never fades ; that thefe Fi- 
 gures are not wafh'd out by Water ; but con- 
 tinue to wear as if they had been woven in the 
 Cloth ; and that thefe People never conceal 
 themfelves when they ufe the Company of Wo- 
 jnen, any more than do Cattle. Mount Cau- 
 cafus, as I faid before, is extended on the Weft 
 of the Cafpian Sea , and on the Eaft, towards 
 the Rifing of the Sun, lies a Plain of immenfe 
 Extent. The greater Part of this Country is 
 inhabited by the Mafiagetes, againft whom Cy- 
 rus was fo vehemently inclin'd to make War. 
 The Motives that pufh'd him on to this Enter- 
 prize, were many and powerful} principally, 
 
 becaufe
 
 128 HERODOTUS. Book 1 
 
 becaufe his Birth had infpir'd him with an O- 
 pinion that he was fomething above a Man *, 
 and good Fortune had fo conftantly attended 
 him, in all his military Expeditions, that he 
 had conquer*d as many Nations as he had at- 
 tack'd. The Maflagetes were at this Time under 
 the Government of Tomyris^ who had been 
 Wife to their laft King : And this gave Cyrus 
 a Pretext to fend Ambafladors to her, with 
 Propofals of Marriage in his Name. But I'o- 
 wyris believing he only courted the Kingdom, 
 and not her Perfon, fent to forbid them to pro- 
 ceed in their Journey. Upon this Cyrus per- 
 ceiving his Artifice ineffectual, pull'd off the 
 Mafk ; and openly advancing with his Army 
 againft the Maflagetes, arrived at the River 
 Araxes -, over which he laid Bridges of Boats 
 for the Paflage of his Forces, and fortified 
 thofe Bridges with Towers. Whilft he was 
 employ'd in this Work, fomyris fent him a 
 Meflage by a Herald, in thefe Terms , " King 
 " of the Medes, defift from the Enterprize 
 " thou haft begun with fo great Diligence ; for 
 " thou art not fure the End will prove fortu- 
 " nate. Be contented to govern thy own Do- 
 " minions, and fufFer us to rule the Country 
 " we poflefs. But if thou wilt not hearken to 
 " my Counfel, and art refolv'd to prefer every 
 " Thing before Peace ; in a Word, if thou haft 
 " fo great a Defire to make Trial of thy Forces 
 " againft the Maflagetes, toil no longer in vain. 
 " to build' Bridges over the Araxes ; but pafs 
 *' boldly to this Side, whilft I retire with my 
 " Army full three Days March from the River : 
 " Or, if this Condition pleafe thee not, receive 
 " us into thy Territories on the fame Terms." 
 
 When
 
 & L t 0* 129 
 
 When Cyrus heard this Meflage, ne call'd a 
 Council of all the principal Perfians ; and after 
 he had laid the Prbpofal before them, and de- 
 manded their Opinion, they unartirnoufly advis'ct 
 him to Jet fomyris pafs with her Army into his 
 Dominions. But Crcefus the Lydian, who was 
 prefent in the Aflemblyi disproving their 
 Counfel, fpoke thus to Cyrus ; " Si R, in Pur- 
 *' fuance of the Prbrhife I made you, when Ju- 
 " pter deliver'd me into your Hands, I will al- 
 *' ways, to the utmoft of my Power, endea- 
 *' vour to prevent the Misfortunes I fee impend- 
 " ing over your Head ; and my own Calami- 
 tl ties, however fevere, have contributed fome- 
 " thing to my Inftruction. If you think your- 
 *' felf immortal, and your Army to have the 
 " like Prerogative, 'tis heedlefs for me to tell 
 " you my Opinion. But if you know you are 
 " no more than a Mart \ and that the Forces 
 " you command are Men likewife, confider, in 
 cc the firft Place, that the continual Rotation 
 *' of human Affairs never fuffers the fame Per- 
 *' fon to be always profperous. For this, and 
 * c other Reafons, I am oblig'd to diflent from 
 *' the Advice of all this Aflembly, touching the 
 " Queftion now before us. For if we deter- 
 " mine to receive the Enemy into this Coun- 
 ** try, and happen to be defeated, you will be 
 u in Danger of lofing all your Dominions ; be- 
 ** caufe no Man can imagine, that after fuch a 
 " Victory the Maflagetes would prefently retire 
 *' with their Forces j but rather immediately 
 *' fall upon your Territories : And if you mould 
 " conquer, the Advantage of your Victory 
 " could be no Way comparable to thofe you will 
 " obtain by beating them in their own Country, 
 K " and
 
 130 HERODOTUS. Book I. 
 
 " and vigoroufly purfuing their broken Troops. 
 " For I am perfuaded, that fuch Succefs im- 
 " prov'd with Diligence, would enable you to 
 '? fubdue the whole Kingdom of Tomyris whh- 
 " out more Refiftance. Befides, the Difgrace 
 " is too great and intolerable, for Cyrus the 
 " Son of Cambyfes to retreat before a Woman. 
 " My Opinion therefore is, that you would re- 
 *' folve to pafs the River -, and when you are ad- 
 <e vanc'd near the Enemy, then to ufe the fol- 
 " lowing Stratagem, in order to furprize their 
 " Forces. I have heard the Maflagetes live 
 " hardly, and are unacquainted with the delici- 
 " ous Tables of the Perfians. And therefore I 
 " advife that great Numbers of Cattle, kill'd 
 " and drefs'd, with Plenty of unmix'd Wine, 
 " and all other Provifions in abundance, mould 
 " be prepar'd in our Camp for thefe Men , and 
 " that leaving the weakeft of our Forces behind, 
 " all the reft mould return towards the River : 
 " For the Maflagetes, if I miftake not, when 
 " they fee fo much exquifite Fare, will not fail 
 " to fall on immediately, and by that means af- 
 " ford us an Occafion of ftriking a Blow of 
 " Importance." Of thefe two Opinions, Cyrus 
 rejected the firft ; and approving that of Creefus, 
 fent a Meflage to Tomyris, requiring her to re- 
 tire, whilft he mould pafs the Araxes with his 
 Army. The Queen mindful of her Promife, 
 did as he defir'd : And after Cyrus had committed 
 the Care of the Kingdom, and of Crcefus, to his 
 Son Cambyfes \ commanding him, if the Expe- 
 dition againft the Maflagates mould prove unfor- 
 tunate, to honour Crcefus^ and treat him with 
 Favour, he difmifs'd both, with Orders to return 
 to Perfia, and pafs the River with all his Focres. 
 
 CTRUS
 
 ?/# L 1 0. 
 
 CTRU S having pafs'd the Araxes'^ enter'd 
 the Country of the MafTagetes ; and in the 
 Night dream'd he faw the eldeft Son of Hy- 
 ftafpes with Wings on his Shoulders ; which he 
 fpread} and maded Afia with one, and Europe 
 with the other. Hyftafpes the Son of Arfames 
 was of the Achsemenian Blood, and the Name 
 of his eldeft Son was Darius ; who having then 
 fcarce attain'd to the Age of twenty Years, had 
 been left in Perfid^ as too young to fuftain the 
 Hardships of War. Cyrus awaking, confider'd 
 his- Dream with Attention*, and judging it to 
 be of the iaft ConfequencCj fent for tlyftafpes* 
 and taking him afide^ faid ; " flyftafpes, thy 
 u Son has form'd a Defign againft me and my 
 " Government, and I will tell thee how I know 
 " this with Certainty. The Gods$ follicitous 
 '' for my Prefervation, ever give me timely No- 
 ** tice of all impending Dangers : And therefore 
 Iaft Night as I flept, I Sw in a Dream the 
 eldeft of thy Sons, having Wings on his 
 Shoulders -, with one of which he cover'd 
 Europe, and Afia with the other. For this 
 Caufe I order thee to return immediately to 
 Perjla^ and to take Care, that when I come 
 home with Victory^ thy Son may be ready 
 to anfwer for himfelf." Thefe Words Cyrus 
 faid, in a full Perfuafion that Darius had form'd 
 a Defign againft him : But the Daemon by this 
 previous Admonition fignifled, that he mould 
 die in the Enterprise he had undertaken, and 
 that his Kingdom mould be transferr'd to Da- 
 rius. Hyftafpes anfwer'd, " God forbid, O 
 " King, that one who is born a Perfianj mould 
 " confpire againft thee! But if any fuch be 
 " found, may fudden Deftruction overtake him. 
 K 2 " For
 
 132 HERODOTUS. Book I 
 
 " For thou haft not only enfranchis'd the Per- 
 " fians, who before were Servants ; but ad- 
 " vanc'd them from the Condition of Slaves, 
 " to the Power of commanding other Nations : 
 " And therefore whatever Vifion has reprefented 
 " my Son contriving any Thing againft thee,- I 
 " freely furrender him to be treated in the Man- 
 " ner thou malt command." Having made this 
 Anfwer, Hyftafpes repafs'd the River Araxes? and 
 when he arriv'd in Perfia r plac'd a Guard upon 
 his Son Darius. 
 
 IN the mean Time Cyrus advanced one Day's 
 March beyond the River ; and after {bme ftay, 
 purfuant to the Counfel of Crafus^ retired again, 
 with all his beft Troops ; leaving only the worft 
 of his Men behind him. Thefe the Maflagetes 
 attack'd with a third Part of their Army, and 
 after fome Refiftance, cut in Pieces. Which 
 having done, and feeing a plentiful Feaft pre- 
 paid, they eat and drank to fueh Excefs, that 
 they fell afleep upon the Spot. In this Con- 
 dition they were furpriz'd by the Perfians, who 
 kill'd many, and took a greater Number Pri- 
 foners ; among them Spargapifes, Son to Tomy- 
 w, and General of the Mafiagetes. The Queen 
 hearing the Misfortune of her Son, and one 
 Part of her Army, fent a Herald to Cyrus with 
 a Meflage in thefe Words ; " O Cyrus, thou 
 *' infatiable Hunter of Blood, be not vain and 
 *' infolent , if, by the Fruit of the Vine, which 
 ' none of you can bear without raving, and 
 " which never enters into your Bodies without 
 " bringing up all Manner of unbecoming Lart- 
 " guage ; if, I fay, by this treacherous Poifon, 
 * c thou haft circumvented my Son, inftead of 
 ' conquerijig him by Vabur in the Field. 
 
 " How-
 
 CLIO. 133 
 
 * c However, for the prefent take thebeftCoun- 
 *' fel I can give. Reftore my Son : Depart out 
 " of this Country, and reft fatisfied with having 
 *' furpriz'd a third Part of my Army by Fraud. 
 " But if thou wilt not do thefe Things, I fwear 
 * c by the Sun, who is the Lord of the Maf- 
 * fagetes, to give thee Blood enough -, infatia- 
 " ble as thou art." After this Meflage, which 
 had no Effect upon Cyrus^ Spargapifes the Son 
 of Tomyris^ being recovered from his Wine, 
 and perceiving the Difafter that was fall'n upon 
 him, begg*d of Cyrus to be unbound ; and hav- 
 ing obtain'd his Requeft, no fooner found his 
 Hands at Liberty, than he immediately kill'd 
 himfelf. But Tomyrts finding her Advice flight- 
 ed by Cyrus, aflembled all her Forces, and en- 
 gag'd die Perfians in a Battle j which I think 
 to have been the moft obftinate that ever was 
 fought by Barbarians. At firft, as I am informed, 
 whilft the two Armies were at a Diftance, they 
 fent Showers of Arrows upon each other ; and 
 after they had quite emptied their Quivers, and 
 thrown all their Javelins ; they joined in clofe 
 Fight with their Swords and Spears. In this 
 Manner they continued for a long Time, fighting 
 Avith equal Fury ; but at length the Maflagetes 
 had the Victory, moft of the Perfian Army be- 
 ing cut in Pieces, and Cyrus himfelf kill'd in the 
 Place, after he had reign'd Twenty nine Years. 
 'Tomyris found the Body of Cyrus, among the 
 (lain , and having cut off the Head, threw it 
 into a Veflel fill'd with human Blood, which 
 (he had purpofely prepared , faying, in an infult- 
 ing Manner , " Thou didft, indeed, treacheroufly 
 *' furprize and deftroy my Son; but I, who 
 ** furvive, arid am thy Conqueror, will now 
 K 3 " make
 
 HERODOTUS. Book I. 
 
 ** make good my Word, and give thee Blood 
 " enough." Such was the End of Cyrus ; and 
 though many other things are faid of him, I 
 have reftrain'd my Relation to thefe, which to 
 me feem beft attefted. 
 
 THE Maflagetes refemble the Scythians in 
 their Habit and Way of Living: They have 
 both Horfe and Foot in their Armies: Their 
 Weapons of War are Arrows, Javelins, and 
 Scy meters : About their Arms they ufe Brafs or 
 Gold ; for the Blade of their Scymeter is Brafs, 
 and their Javelins and Arrows are pointed with 
 the fame Metal ; but their Helmets, Belts, and 
 Body Armour are adorn'd with Gold. They 
 arm their Horfes with a Breaftplate of Brafs, 
 and the Bridle, with all the reft of the Furni- 
 ture, is enrich'd with Gold. They ufe no Sil- 
 ver nor Iron, for neither of thofe Metals are 
 found in their Country. As for their Manners, 
 every one marries a Wife ; but they lie with 
 thofe Women in common ; and the Grecians, 
 miftake, when they attribute this Cuftom to. 
 the Scythians, which is peculiar to the Mafla- 
 getes; among whom, whenever a Man defires 
 to have the Company of a Woman, he hangs 
 up his Quiver at the Head of his Chariot, and 
 ufes her without Shame. The Years of Life 
 are not limited by any Law : but after a Man 
 has attain'd to old Age, all his Relations meet, 
 and iacrifice him, with Cattle of feveral Kinds j 
 and when they have boil'd all the Flefh together, 
 they fit down as to a Feaft. This Death they 
 account the moft happy ; for they never eat the 
 Bodies of thofe who die by Sicknefs; but bury 
 them in the Earth, and think it a great Misfor- 
 tune, that they did not attain to be facriric'd, 
 
 Their
 
 C L J 0. 135 
 
 Their Drink is Milk; and they fow nothing; 
 contenting themfelves with the Flefh of Ani- 
 mals, and Fifh, which the River Araxes yields 
 in abundance. They adore the Sun only of all 
 the Gods, and facrifice Horfes to his Deity ; 
 judging it moft proper to offer the fwifteft of all 
 Animals to the fwifteft of all the Gods. 
 
 K 4 THE
 
 THE 
 
 Hiitory of Herodotus. 
 
 BOOK II. 
 
 EUTERPE. 
 
 AFTER the Death of Cyrus, Cambyfes 
 fucceeded him in the Kingdom. He 
 was the Son of Cyrus, and of Cajfandana. 
 the Daughter of Pharnafpes ; who dy- 
 ing fome Time before, was publickly lamented by 
 Cyrus, and in Obedience to his Command, by all 
 the People of his Dominions. Born of thefe Pa- 
 rents, Cambyfes treated the lonians and ^Eolians 
 as his Patrimonial Servants ; and having deter- 
 min'd to invade Mgypt, conftrain'd the Grecians 
 that were fubject to him, to join his other For- 
 ces, and to attend him in his Expedition. 
 
 TH E Egyptians who liv'd before the Reign 
 of Pfammetichus, thought themfelves the moft 
 antient People of all the World. But fmce the 
 Experiment he made, to find out the Truth of 
 that Matter, they have yielded the Priority to 
 the Phrygians, ftill efteeming themfelves the fe- 
 cond in Antiquity. For after Pfammetichus had 
 long endeavour'd in vain to difcover who were 
 the firft Men, he at laft contriv'd this Expedient. 
 
 He
 
 138 HERODOTUS. Book II. 
 
 He took two Male Children newly born of poor 
 Parents, and putting them into the Hands of a 
 Shepherd to be brought up among his Flocks, 
 commanded him not to permit any one to fpeak 
 in their hearing ; but to lay them in a folitary 
 Cottage ; to bring them Goats to fuck at cer- 
 tain times, and when he mould perceive they 
 were fatiated with Milk, to nourim them with 
 other Food. Thefe Orders Pfammeticbus gave, 
 that he might be inform'd, what Word would 
 firft break from the Children, when they mould 
 begin to articulate ; and the Succefs was an- 
 fwerabje to his Expectation. For at the end of 
 two Years, as the Shepherd to whofe Care they 
 were committed, was one Day entring the Cot- 
 tage, and had already open'd the Door, both 
 the Children ran to him, and holding out their 
 Hands, cried Bekkos. The Shepherd at firft 
 faid nothing ; but after he had often obferv'd 
 that this Word was ever repeated at his coming 
 in, he acquainted the King with what had hap- 
 pen'd, and by his Command brought the Chil- 
 dren into his Prefence. Pfammetichus having 
 heard the fame, inquir'd in the next place, if 
 any Nation made ufe of the Word Bekkos 
 and when he found by Inquiry, that the Phry- 
 gians call Bread by that Name, the Egyptians 
 confented to take this for a Proof, that the 
 Phrygians were the more antient People. This 
 Relation I had at Memphis from the Priefts of 
 Vulcan. But the Grecians, among many other 
 ridiculous things, report, that Pfammetichus de- 
 liver'd thefe Children to be brought up by cer- 
 tain Women, whofe Tongues he caus'd to be 
 cut out v Divers other things I heard at Mem- 
 
 fbis,
 
 EUTERPE. 139 
 
 pbis in feveral Conferences I had with the Priefts 
 of Vulcan. I went alfo to Thebes, and to Heli- 
 Ppolis, in order to fee whether their Accounts 
 jnight agree with what I had heard at Memphis ; 
 for the HeliopoJitans are efteem'd the wifeft of 
 all the ^Egyptians. Their Difcourfes touching 
 the Gods, I am not very willing to publifh, 
 except only their Names; fuppofing that all 
 Men think alike concerning them: And there- 
 fore I mall fay no more of thofe matters than 
 the Thread of my Narration abfolutely requires. 
 But as for human Sciences, they all agree, that 
 the ^Egyptians were the firft Inventers of the 
 Year, which they divided into twelve Parts, by 
 means of the Knowledge they had of the Stars : 
 In this, as I think, more able than the Greci- 
 ans, who to make up the Time, throw in an 
 intercalatory Month every third Year : Whereas 
 the .^Egyptians allowing thirty Days to each of 
 the twelve Months, and adding five Days to 
 each Year, render the Revolution of Time 
 equal and regular. They {aid alfo, that the 
 ./Egyptians were the firft who gave Names to 
 the twelve Gods; and that the Grecians had 
 thofe Names from them ; that they eredted the 
 firft Altars, Images, and Temples to the Gods, 
 and carv'd the Figures of Animals on Stone ; 
 moft of which they demonftrated to be fo in 
 fad. They added, that Mates was the firft 
 King, who reign'd in the World ; and that in 
 his Time all JEgypt, except the Country of 
 Tbebcs^ was one Morafs ; no part of the prefent 
 Land appearing then below the Lake Myris* 
 which is feven Days Paflage from the Sea by the 
 way of the River. Indeed, to me they feemM 
 
 to
 
 HERODOTUS. Book II. 
 
 to fpeak rationally touching this Region. For 
 any Man of Underftanding will eafily perceive 
 at fight, tho* he had never heard thefe things, 
 that thofe Parts of Mgypt which the Grecians 
 frequent with their Shipping, are an Acceflion 
 of Land beftow'd upon the Egyptians by the 
 River : And fo is all that Country, which Men 
 fee beyond the Lake during a Parfage of three 
 Days j cf which yet thefe ^Egyptians faid no- 
 thing. Betides, when a Ship bound to /Egypt 
 rides at a Diftance of a whole Day's Sail from 
 the Port, if a Man try the Sounding, he fhall 
 draw up his Plummet cover'd wkh Mud, even, 
 where the Sea is eleven Fathom deep which 
 plainly fhews, that all that Earth was brought 
 down thither by the River. The -/Egyptian 
 Coaft extending, as we reckon, from the Bay 
 of Plinthene to the Lake Seibonis under Mount 
 Co/ins, is fixty Schoenes in Length. And here 
 we muft obferve, that thofe Nations who have 
 only fmall Territories, meafure their Land by 
 the Rod , fuch as have more, by the Stade > 
 and thofe who have very much, by the Para- 
 fanges, each confiding of thirty Stades. But in 
 Countries of vaft Extent, they account by the 
 Schoene, which is an Egyptian Meafure equal 
 to iixty Stades. So that the whole Coaft of 
 jfigypt is three thoufand and fix hundred Stades 
 in Length. From the Sea upwards to the Ci- 
 ty of Heliopolis, the Country is a fpacious Le- 
 vel, without Rivers, yet moift and gluti- 
 nous. The Diftance from the Sea to Heliopolis, 
 is about the fame, as from the Altar of the 
 twelve Gods in Attica to Pifa and the Temple 
 of Olympian Jupiter. For whoever will corn^ 
 
 pars
 
 EUTERPE. 141 
 
 pare thefe Ways, mall find by Computation that 
 they differ not one from the other above fif- 
 teen Stades ; the Road kadmg to Pifa wanting 
 no more of one thoufand five hundred Stades, 
 which is juft the Number that lie between the 
 Sea and Heliopolis. From this City upwards, 
 ALgypt is narrow, and mut up on one fide by 
 the Mountains of Arabia, which form a conti- 
 nued Line, extending from the North to the 
 South and South- Weft, till they reach the Red 
 Sea. In thefe Hills are found Quarries of 
 Stone, which were us'd in building the Pyra- 
 mids of Memphis. But I have heard, that to 
 travel this Country over in the wideft Part from. > 
 Eaft to Weft, is a Journey of two Months ^ 
 and that the moft Eaftwardly Limits produce 
 Frankincenfe in abundance. On that fide of 
 Aigypt which borders upon Libya, are other 
 Mountains, very rocky and cover'd with Sand. 
 They contain divers Pyramids, and ftand over- 
 againft thofe of Arabia which ftretch to the 
 Southward. So that the Country is narrow be- 
 yond HeliopoliSy as far as one can pafs in four 
 Days Voyage up the River ; which is not 
 much, if we confider the Extent of JEgypt. 
 Between the Mountains before-mention'd the 
 Land is level, and, in the narroweft Part, feems 
 to me not above two hundred Stades, in Breadth, 
 from the Arabian to the Lybian Hilis : But be- 
 yond thefe Streights the Country grows wider 
 again. Such is the Form and Situation of this 
 Region. From Heliopolis to Thebes Men pafs 
 by Water in nine Days, the Diftance between 
 thofe two Cities being four thoufand eight 
 hundred and fixty Stades, which amount to 
 eighty one Schcenes, In Conclufion i the Coaft 
 
 of
 
 HERODOTUS. BookIL 
 
 of Egypt, as I faid before, contains in Lengtfr 
 three thoufand and fix hundred Stades: 'Thebes 
 is diftant from the Sea fix thoufand one hundred 
 and twenty; and the City of Elepbantis eight 
 hundred and twenty from Thebes. The greater 
 Part of all this Country, as the Priefts inform'd 
 me, and as I judge by what I faw, is an Ac- 
 ceflion of Land to the ^Egyptians. For the 
 Plains that lye between the Mountains beyond 
 Memphis^ feerh to me to have been formerly a 
 Bay of the Sea: And I have the fame Opinion 
 of thofe about Ilittm$ Teuthrania, Epbefus, and 
 the Meander , if I may be permitted to com- 
 pare fmall things with great : For none of al! 
 the Rivers that have thrown out Earth in this 
 manner on thofe Regions^ can juflly be brought 
 in Competition with any one of the feven 
 Channels of the Nik. I might mention other 
 Rivers which have wrought the like EffecT:,* 
 and, tho' not fo confiderable as the Nile have 
 yet done great things of this Nature. Of thefe,- 
 one of the moft remarkable is the Achelois ; 
 xvhich pa-fling- thro* Acarnania^ and falling into 
 the Sea by the Ecbinades, has already join'd 
 one half of thofe Iflands to the Continent. Be- 
 fides, there is a Bay, not far from ALgypt^ 
 branching out from the Red Sea, tho' belong- 
 ing to Arabia, which is long and narrow, in 
 the manner I {hall here defcribe : From the in- 
 nermoft Part of this Bay to the broad Sea, the 
 Paflage is of as great a Length as a Veflel 
 with Oars can perform in forty Days ; and yet 
 the Breadth in the wideft Place is no more than 
 half a Day over. The Tides of this GulpH 
 are ftrong; the Waters ebb and flow daily j 
 and I am of Opinion that ALgypt was antiently 
 
 penetrated
 
 EUTERPE. 143 
 
 penetrated in like manner by an Arm of the 
 Sea, entring on the North fide, and afcending 
 towards ^Ethiopia ; as that of Arabia^ which I 
 mention'd before, ftretches from the South to- 
 wards Syria \ and that the Extremities of thefe 
 two had only, a narrow Trad of Land lying 
 between, and feparating the one from the other. 
 Now, if the Nile would turn its Stream into 
 the Arabian Sinus, what could hinder that Ri- 
 ver from filling the Channel with Earth in 
 twenty thoufand Years ? For, as I am perfua- 
 ded that the other has fuffer'd the like Change 
 within the Space of ten thoufand Years before 
 my Time j I prefume that this, or even a 
 much greater Channel may be fill'd up in that 
 Time by fuch a vigorous and abounding Ri- 
 ver. The Things therefore which I heard con- 
 cerning Mgypt^ together with the Teftimony 
 of my own Eyes, induce me to this Opinion; 
 efpecially having obferv'd, that this Country lies 
 lower than the next adjoining Region ; that 
 Shells are found on the Hills ; that a brackifh 
 Humour ifluing from the Earth corrodes the 
 Stones of the Pyramids ; and that among all 
 the Mountains of jEgypt, this alone which is 
 lituate above Memphis , abounds in Sand. Re- 
 fides, sEgypt is utterly unlike all the adjacent 
 Countries, whether of Arabia^ Libya^ or Syria ; 
 (for the maritim Parts of Arabia are inhabited 
 by Syrians ;) the Soil being black, loofe, and 
 apparently fuch as the Nile brings down from 
 ^Ethiopia : Whereas we know that the Earth of 
 Libya is reddifh, and mix'd with Sand -, as that 
 of Arabia and Syria is either Stony, or mix'd 
 with Clay. Another Particular, of great Mo- 
 ment to confirm what is faid touching this Coun- 
 2 try,
 
 i 4 4 HERODOfUS. Book IL 
 
 try, I had from the Priefts ; who affirm, 
 under the Reign of Myris, if the Nile rofe to^ 
 the height of eight Cubits, all the Lands of 
 JEgypt were fumciently watered : And yet My- 
 ris had not been nine hundred Years dead* when 
 I receiv'd this Information, But in our time, 
 unlefs the River fwells to fixteen Cubits, or fif- 
 teen at leaft, the Country is not cover'd with 
 Water. So that if the Soil continues to in- 
 creafe in the fame Proportion as in Ages pafty 
 I am perfuaded, that thofe who inhabit below 
 the Lake of Myris, and in all that Part which 
 is cali'd Delta, muft for ever furrer by a Defi- 
 ciency of Water: The fame Calamity * they 
 us'd to fay, muft at fome time fall upon the Gre- 
 cians. For having heard that all the Lands of 
 Greece were water'd by Rain, and not* as sE- 
 gypt) by Rivers ; they faid the Grecians, at 
 fome time or other, would be difappointed of* 
 their Hopes and ftarve : Meaning, if Jupiter 
 fhould not afford Rain, but fend dry Seafons in 
 the place of wet, they muft perim by Famine, 
 having no other Water than that which the 
 Heavens are pleas'd to beftow. I acknowledge 
 this Difcourfe is not altogether groundlefs ; yet 
 in return, I defire to know of the ^Egyptians* 
 what Expedient they could invent to preferve 
 themfelves from ftarving, if, as I faid before, all 
 the Land below Memphis, which vifibly rifes 
 every Year, mould continue hereafter to increafe 
 in the fame Proportion ; when the Country mail 
 neither be water'd by Rain from Heaven, nor 
 the River be furEcient to afcend above the Soil, 
 At this Day indeed, no People in the World, 
 nor in the reft of Mgypt^ enjoy the Producti- 
 ons of the Earth with fo little Labour. They 
 
 are
 
 EUTERPE. 
 
 are exempted from the Toil of Plowing and 
 Digging, and other painful parts of Huflbandry, 
 to which all the reft of Mankind are fubjedl. 
 For as foon as the River has overflow'd the Coun- 
 try, and retreated again, every Man fows his 
 own Land ; an-d having put in his Hogs ttf 
 tread the Seed into the Ground, expects the 
 Harveft without farther Care ; and when that 
 Seafoh comes, lets in his Hogs again, to make 
 the Grain out of the Ear, and has no other 
 Trouble than to lay up his Corn. But if we 
 Ihould follow the Opinion of the lonians, who 
 fay, that the Country of Delta alone is properly 
 call'd JEgypt \ extending along the Shore front 
 the Tower of Perfeus to the Salt- Pits of Pelu- 
 ium^ forty Schcenes in Length, and from the 
 Sea upwards, to the City of Cercafora, where 
 the Nile divides, and defcends towards Pelufium 
 and Canopus ; attributing the reft of Mg$t part- 
 ly to Libya and partly to Arabia , we mould 
 evidently infer* that the ^Egyptians had not 
 formerly any Country. For they themfelves ac- 
 knowledge, and I concur in Opinion with them, 
 that "Delta is form'd of the Soil which the River 
 has brought down, and did not always exift. 
 And if this be true, to what End were they fo 
 follicitous to be thought the moft antient of all 
 People ? Sure they might have forborn to try 
 by an Experiment, what Language Children 
 would firft fpeak. For my own part, I am not 
 of Opinion that the .^Egyptians are precifely 
 coaetaneouS with the Country which the lonians 
 call Delta \ but that they always were, fince 
 Men have been : Ancl that as the Soil increas'd 
 gradually, many came down from the higher 
 Parts to inhabit the new form'd Earth ; and 
 L many
 
 146 HERODOTUS. Book II. 
 
 many continued in their former Poffefiloiis. For 
 the Province of 'Thebes went antiently by the 
 Name of JEgypt, and comprehends fix thoufand 
 one hundred and twenty Stades in Circumfe- 
 rence. If therefore we judge rightly of thefe 
 things, the Opinion of the lonians is erroneous ; 
 but if their Sentiment be well grounded, we 
 fliall fliew, that neither the Grecians nor the 
 lonians reafon well, when they fay the World 
 is divided into three Parts , Europe, Afia, and 
 Libya ; becaufe they plainly add a fourth, if the 
 ./Egyptian Delta be not a Part either of Libya, 
 or of Afia. For, by their reafoning, the Nile 
 does not feparate Afia from Libya ; that River 
 dividing at the Point of Delta, and rowling 
 down on each fide of a Region^ which being 
 thus encompafs*d, can belong neither to Libya 
 nor to Afia. But not to infift longer on the 
 Opinion of the lonians, I prefume, that all the 
 Countries which the ^Egyptians inhabit, ought 
 to be accounted JEgypt, as thofe of the Cilici- 
 ans and ArTyrians are known by the Names of 
 Cilicia and 'AJJyria. Neither can I imagine what 
 Parts may be properly call'd the Bounds of Afia 
 and Libya, except the Limits of Mgypt. Yet 
 if we follow the Opinion which the Grecians 
 embrace, we muft fay, that all Mgypt below the 
 Catadupians and the City of Elephant is, is divi- 
 ded into two Parts under two diftind Names, 
 one belonging to Libya, and the other to Afia. 
 For the Nile defcending from the Catadupians, 
 pafles thro* the midft of &gypt in one Channel 
 towards the Sea, to the City of Cercafora, and 
 there feparates into three. That which runs out 
 to the Eaftward is called the Pelufian Mouth: 
 The fesond inclining Weftward, goes by the 
 
 Name
 
 EUTERPE. 147 
 
 Name of Canopean : And the third Channel de- 
 fcending from above by a ftraightLihe, pafles thro* 
 the midft of Delta, and being no way inferior 
 to the other two in Fame, or Quantity of Wa- 
 ter, is call'd the Mouth of Sebennytus , whence 
 two more are deriv'd, which take their Named 
 from the Cities of Sais and Mendes, and flow in- 
 to the Sea. For thofe of Bolbitis and Bucolis 
 were not form'd by Nature, but are owing to 
 the Induftry of Men. To this Opinion con- 
 cerning the Extent of AZgypt, I have the con- 
 burring Teftimony of the Oracle of Ammon t 
 which yet I had not heard before I was fully 
 perfuaded of thefe things. For the People who 
 inhabit the Cities of Apis and Marea, fituate ort 
 the Frontier of sEgypt, next to the Borders o 
 Libya, impatient of the ^Egyptian Superftition, 
 and unwilling to abftain from the Flem of Hei- 
 fers, were very defirous to be accounted Libyans 
 rather than Egyptians; and to that End con- 
 fulting the Oracle of Amman, profefs'd they had 
 no Relation to the ./Egyptians, becaufe they liv'd. 
 but of Delta, and could by no means agree 
 with them, but denVd to eat all manner of Food 
 without Diftinction. . Neverthelefs, the God re- 
 jecting their Requeft, pronounc'd^ That sEgyp 
 comprehends all the Territories which are over- 
 flow'd by the Nile ; and that all thofe who drink: 
 of that River below the City of Elepbantis, are 
 ^Egyptians. 
 
 TH E Inundations of the Nile not only cover 
 Delta, but the Frontier of Libya alfo, and fome- 
 times that of Arabia^ to the Extent of about 
 two Days Journey more or lefs on each fide. 
 And though I was very defirous to be inform'd 
 touching the Nature of this River, I could not 
 L 2 learn
 
 148 HERODOTUS. -Book It 
 
 learn either from the Priefts, or any other Per- 
 fons, what fhould caufe the Nile to overflow 
 during a hundred Days after the Summer Sol- 
 ftice, and then going off again in about the 
 fame fpace of Time, to continue low all the 
 "Winter, and even to the return of the next 
 Summer Solftice. Of thefe Particulars I could 
 pet no Account from the ./Egyptians ; tho* I 
 inquired, whether this River have any peculiar 
 Quality, or be different in Nature from other 
 Rivers : And my great Defire to be informed, 
 hot only leads me to afk thefe Queftions -, but 
 alfo how it comes to pafs that the Nile alone, 
 of all the Rivers in the World* never emits the 
 leaft Wind on the adjacent Parts. Neverthelefs, 
 fome of the Grecians pretending to diftinguim 
 themfelves by their Knowledge, have nam'd 
 three feveral Caufes of thefe Inundations ; two 
 of which I think deferve fo little Regard, that 
 I mail only mention them, becaufe I would omit 
 nothing concerning this Subject. They fay firft, 
 that the Etefian Winds are the Caufe of the fwel- 
 ling of this River, by repelling the Stream, and 
 preventing h from difcharging into the Sea. 
 But the Nile has fometimes performed its Work, 
 before the Etefian Winds begin to blow : And 
 befides, if thofe Winds were the Caufe of thefe 
 Inundations, all other Rivers that are expos'd to 
 the fame Winds, fnuft of neceflity be liable to 
 the fame Effect ; and the rather, by being weak- 
 er and lefs rapid : Yet the Rivers of Syria and 
 Libya, which are many, were never fubject to 
 the like Influence. The fecond Opinion is more 
 groundlefs than the former, tho' more wonder- 
 ful , affirming, that the Nile, flowing from the 
 Ocean, performs thefe things ; and that the 
 
 Ocean
 
 EUTERPE; 149 
 
 Ocean furrounds the whole Earth. The thircj 
 Way of refolving this Difficulty is the mod pro- 
 bable, and yet moft untrue. For by faying that 
 the Waters of the Nile are produc'd by melted 
 Snow, they fay nothing ; becaufe this River de- 
 fcends from Libya thro* the midft of ^Ethiopia 
 into JEgypt ; that is to fay, from a very hot to 
 a very cold Region, and therefore cannot owe 
 its Being to Snow. Many Reafons will readily 
 occur to Men of good Underftanding, to mew 
 the Improbability of this Opinion. Firft and 
 principally, becaufe the Winds which blow 
 from ^Ethiopia are always hot. In the fecond 
 place, neither Rain nor Ice is feen in thofe 
 Countries ; and yet Rain always follows within 
 the fpace of five Days after Snow : So that if 
 Snow falls in thofe Regions, Rain muft. Be- 
 fides, the Inhabitants are render'd black by the 
 exceflive Heat ; Swallows and Kites continue 
 there all the Year ; and the Cranes, to avoid 
 the Cold of Scytbia^ come to pafe the Winter 
 in that Country : All which could not be, if 
 any Snow mould fall in the Parts adjacent to 
 the Source and PafTage of the Nile. As for 
 thofe who attribute thefe Inundations to the 
 Ocean, they involve their Aflertion in myfteri- 
 ous Fables, and give no folid Proof: Neither do 
 ,1 Jcnow any River fo call'd ; but conjecture 
 that Homer , or fome other antient Poet finding 
 
 .own concerning fo intricate a Queftion, That 
 which caufes the Nile to overflow in Sum- 
 jner, is, in my Judgment, this. During the 
 Winter, the Sun relinquiming his former Courfe, 
 L 3 retires
 
 HERODOTUS. Book II, 
 
 retires to the upper Regions of Libya ; which 
 in few Words comprehends the whole Matter ; 
 for this God diminifhes the Rivers, and finks 
 the Streams of thofe Countries that lie neareft 
 to his Paflage. But to explain my meaning 
 more amply, I fay, that the Sun patting over 
 the remoter Parts of Libya, which are always 
 clear, hot, and liable to frefh Winds, acts then 
 in the fame manner there, as in other Places ir* 
 the midft of Summer , attracting the Moifture, 
 and throwing it back again upon the higher 
 Regions ; where it is received and liquefied by 
 the Winds, which in this Climate blow gene- 
 rally from the South and South- Weft, and con- 
 fequently moft attended with Wet of any other. 
 Yet I am of Opinion, that the Sun may retain 
 fome Part of the Water, and not difcharge all 
 every Year into the Nile. But v/hen the Ri- 
 gours of Winter are paft, and the Sun returns 
 again to the midft of the Heavens, all Rivers 
 are attracted by the Heat in equal Proportion. 
 To which time all other Streams, by the fall- 
 ing of frequent Rains, run high, and overflow 
 the adjacent Parts ; whereas in Summer being 
 deftitute of Rain, and at the fame Time ex- 
 hal'd by the Sun, they fink to a contemptible 
 Lownefs : But the Nile, though deftitute of 
 Rain, and attracted by the Sun, is the only Ri- 
 ver that runs higher in Summer than in Win- 
 ter. Yet this River is as liable to Exhalation by 
 the Sun as any other during the Summer, and in 
 Winter is fingly fubject to that Effect. From 
 all which, as I conceive, the Sun is the Caufe of 
 the Inundations of the Nile. And in my Opi- 
 nion, the Drynefs of the Air in thofe Parts pro- 
 ceeds from the fcorching Heat of the fame Be- 
 ing,
 
 EUTERPE. 151 
 
 ing, which affects in an extraordinary manner all 
 that lies near its Paflage : And for this Occafion 
 the upper Regions of Libya are always hot. 
 Now if fuch a Change of Seafons and Climate 
 could be made, that the South Winds might take 
 the Place of the North, and the North Winds 
 be transferr'd to the Southward, the Sun retiring 
 from the North in Winter to the upper Regions 
 of Europe, and patting through thofe Parts, as 
 now he does through Libya, would doubtlefs 
 caufe the fame Effects in the Ifter, which we 
 now fee in the Nile. And whereas I faid before, 
 that no Wind blows from this River ; my Opi 
 nion is, that Winds are the natural Production 
 of cold Climates, and that the hotteft feldom 
 produce any. But I leave thefe things as they 
 are, and as they always were. 
 
 TOUCHING the Source of the Nile, no 
 Man of all the ^Egyptians, Libyans, or Greci* 
 ans I have conversed with, ever pretended to 
 know any thing certain ; except a Scribe who 
 had the Charge of Minerva's Treafury at Sais, 
 a City of Mgypt. And tho* I thought he tri- 
 fled with me, when he faid he was perfectly in- 
 form'd of this Secret, J mall yet give a Place 
 here to his Relation. Cropbi, faid he, and Me-? 
 phi, are two Mountains with Heads of a Pyra- 
 midical Form, (ituate in the Way from Elephan^ 
 tis to Syrene, a City of Thebais ; and between 
 thefe Hills is a profound Abyfs, which contains 
 the Springs of the Nile. One half of the Wa- 
 ter iffuing from this Place runs into JEgypt 
 Northward -, the other half pafles Southward to 
 ^Ethiopia : And that the Source of the Nile is 
 an Abyfs, Pfammetichus King of jEgypt found 
 by an Experiment. For having caus'd a Line 
 L 4 of
 
 152 HERODOTUS. Book II. 
 
 pf twifted Cord to be made many thoufand Fa- 
 thom in Length, he founded the Depth, but 
 could not find a Bottom. Which, if admit- 
 ted for true, would induce me to believe, that 
 Cataracts of Water continually falling down 
 from the two Hills, make fuch violent Tides and 
 Whirlepools below, as to hinder a Line from 
 fathoming the Place: And more than this I ne- 
 ver could hear from any Man. 
 
 I travell'd to Elephantis^ and faw all Parts of 
 the Country with my own Eyes j but of thofe 
 which are fituate beyond that City, I fpeak 
 upon the Credit of others, and the moft exa<5l 
 Information I could get. Thofe who afcend the 
 River above the City of Elepbantis, find a 
 Country in their Paflage fo fteep, that every 
 "v*eflel, like a Cow tied by the Horns, is drawn 
 by Ropes faften'd to each fide, and mull be 
 hurried down the Stream 'by the Impetuofity of, 
 the Torrent, if the Ropes mould happen to 
 break. This Region is four Days Voyage from, 
 Uttffpbantis, and the Nile is there as crooked and 
 ftill of Windings as the Maunder. Thefe Difficul- 
 ties continue till the Veflel has made twelve full 
 Schcenes : After which the Navigation is level ; 
 and an' Ifland call'd I'acbompfo appears in the 
 mid ft of the Nile. The ./Ethiopians inhabit the 
 Country beyond Elepbantis^ and one half of the 
 Ifland Tacbompfoi the other half being in the 
 PofTeflion of the Egyptians. " Contiguous to 
 this Ifland lies a vaft Lake, the Borders of 
 which are inhabited by ./Ethiopian Herdfmen ; 
 and from that Lake the VefTel enters again into 
 the Channel of the Nile. A little beyond this 
 Place Men are oblig'd to go afhore, and to 
 travel forty Days by the fide of the River ; 
 *' r becaufd
 
 EUTERPE. 153 
 
 l^ecaufe the Frequency of Rocks and Shelves 
 renders the Navigation of thofe Parts utterly 
 impracticable. At the End of thefe forty Days, 
 they go on board another Veflel, and arrive in 
 about twelve more at the great City of Meroe, 
 which is accounted the Capital of all ^Ethiopia. 
 The Inhabitants of that Place worfhip no other 
 Gods than Jupiter and Bacchus ; but thefe they 
 adore with extraordinary Pomp. They have art 
 Oracle of Jupiter ; and make War, when that 
 God commands, againft any Nation whatever. 
 The Diftance between Meroe and the Auto- 
 moles, is the fame as between Elephantis and 
 Meroe. This People is call'd by the Name of 
 Afmak t which in the Languge of Greece ligni- 
 tes, fbfffi that ftand at the left Hand of the 
 King. Their Anceftors were ^Egyptians; and 
 being in Number two hundred and forty thou- 
 fand military Men, revolted to the ^Ethiopians 
 on the following Occafion. Some of them were 
 plac*d in Garrifon at Elephantis^ and in the Pe- 
 lufian Daphne^ to fecure thofe Parts againft the 
 ./Ethiopians : Others were pofted on the Fron- 
 tiers of Arabia and AJJyria^ and fome in Marea 
 on the Confines of Libya : Which Method of 
 Pfammetichus we have feen imitated by the 
 Perfians of our time, who maintain Guards 
 both in Elephantis^ and Daphne. Thefe 1E- 
 gyptians, after they had continu'd three Years 
 in their refpedive Pofts, without hearing any 
 thing of being reliev'd, confulted together -, and 
 unanimoufly refolving to abandon Pfammetichus \ 
 march'd away to ^Ethiopia. When the King 
 heard what was doing, he follow'd, overtook, 
 and adjur'd them not to forfake the Gods of 
 their Fathers, with their own Wives and Chil- 
 dren.
 
 i 5 4 HERODOTUS. Book II. 
 
 dren. But in Anfwer to his Exhortation, one 
 of the ^Egyptians is reported to have uncover'd 
 his private Parts, and to have faid, That where- 
 foever thefe were, there could not be wanting 
 either Wives or Children. So continuing their 
 March, they prefented themfeives to the King 
 of ^Ethiopia ; who in Recompence fent them 
 into a Country which was difaffected to him, 
 with Orders to expel the Inhabitants, and to 
 poflefs their Lands : By the Settlement of 
 which Colony the ^Ethiopians became more ci- 
 viliz'd, and learnt the Manners of the ./Egyp- 
 tians. Thus four whole Months are requir'd to 
 view the Courfe of the Nile, partly by Land, 
 and partly by Water, without including its Pak 
 fage through ALgjpt. For upon Computation, 
 fo much Time will be found neceflary to thofe 
 who travel from Ek-pkantis to the Automoles. 
 This River defcends from the Weft and the Set- 
 ting of the Sun ; but to trace its Original, is 
 a vain Attempt, becaufe the excemve Heat 
 renders the reft of the Country defert and un- 
 inhabited. 
 
 I WAS alfo inform'dby fome Cyrenasans, that 
 in a Journey they took to the Oracle of Am- 
 mon, they had conferr'd with Etearchus King 
 of the Ammonians , and that, among other 
 things, dtfcourfing with him concerning the 
 Head of the Nile, as of a thing altogether un- 
 known, Etearchus acquainted them, that certain 
 Nafamonians, a Nation of Libya inhabiting the 
 Borders of the Syrtis to the Eaftward, coming 
 into his Country, and being afk'd by him if they 
 had learnt any thing new touching the Libyan 
 Deferts, anfwered, That fome petulant young 
 Men, Sons to divers Perfons of great Power 
 
 among
 
 EUTERPE. 155 
 
 among them, had, after many extravagant Ac- 
 tions, refolv'd to fend five of their Number to 
 the Deferts of Libya^ to fee if they could make 
 any farther Difcovery than others had done. For 
 the Northern Coaft of Libya, from dEgypt to 
 the Promontory of Solois, where Libya termi- 
 nates, is inhabited by Libyans of various Na- 
 tions ; except thofe Parts alone, which are pof- 
 iefs'd by the Grecians and Phoenicians. Above 
 this Coaft, and the maritim Places, which are 
 well peopled, the next Country is abandon'd to 
 Beafts of Prey ; and all beyond that is deftitute 
 of Water, cover'd with Sands, and utterly de- 
 folate. The young Men chofen by their Com- 
 panions to make this Expedition, having fur- 
 nifhed themfelves with Water and other necef- 
 fary Provifions, firft pafs'd thro' the inhabited 
 Country ; and when they had like wife travers'd 
 that Region which abounds in Wild Beafts, 
 they entered the Deferts, making their Way 
 towards the South- Weft. After they had tra- 
 yell'd many Days thro* the Sands, they at length 
 faw fome Trees growing in a Plain, and while 
 they were eating of the Fruit they found on 
 the Branches, divers little Men, lefs than thofe 
 we account of a middle Stature, came up to 
 them, fpeaking a Language which the Nafamo- 
 nians underftood not-, neither did they under- 
 ftand the Speech of the Nafamonians. Howe- 
 ver, they conducted them over vaft Morafles to 
 a City built on a great River running from the 
 Weft to the Eaft, and abounding in Crocodiles ; 
 where the Nafamonians found all the Inhabitants 
 black, and of no larger Size than their Guides. 
 To this Relation Etearchus added, as the Cyre- 
 nzeans aflur'd me, that the Nafamonians returned 
 2 fafe
 
 156 HERODOTUS. Book II. 
 
 fefe to their own Country, and that the little 
 Men were all Enchanters ; but for the River, 
 which pafles by their City, he thought it to be 
 the Nile ; and his Opinion is not unreafonable ; 
 becaufe the Nile defcends from Libya, dividing 
 the Country in the midft ; and, as I form my 
 Conjectures of things unknown on things 
 known, may probably run thro' as large a Trad: 
 $f Land as the Ifter. For the Ifter beginning 
 to appear at the City of Pyrenne among the 
 Celtes, who inhabit beyond the Columns of 
 Hercules, and border on the Territories of the 
 Cynefians, which lie in the. Extremity of Eu- 
 rope to the Weftward, pafles thro* all this Part 
 cf the World, and ends at the Euxin Sea, in 
 the Country of the Iftrians, who are a Milefian 
 Colony. Now, the Ifter is generally known, 
 becaufe the adjacent Parts are every where well 
 peopled ; but the Springs of the Nile are undif- 
 cover'd, becaufe this River pafles thro* the unin- 
 habited Deferts of Libya. I mall therefore fay no 
 more concerning the Courfe of the Nile^ having 
 already mention'd as much as J could learn by 
 the moft diligent Inquiry ; only that it flows 
 into the Sea by the way of Mgypt y which lies 
 oppofife to the Mountains of Cilicia, from 
 whence a flrong Man may travel in five Days 
 to Sinope, a Place fituate on the Euxin, and di- 
 reclly facing the Mouth of the Ifter. So that 
 in my Opinion the Nile^ which traverfes all Li- 
 &ya^ may be properly comparM with the Ifter. 
 And thus I have finim'dmy Account of the Nile. 
 I SHALL now proceed in my Difcourfe concern- 
 ing sEgypt which will be very ample and par- 
 ticular, becaufe that Country far furpafles all 
 etjiers in things admirable, and beyond Exprefli-
 
 EUTERPE. 157 
 
 on remarkable. For as the Climate and River 
 of sEgypt differ in Nature from thofe of any- 
 other Region ; fo the /Egyptians have fram'd 
 their Laws and Manners very different from the 
 reft of Mankind. The Women of Mgypt are 
 employ'd in Trade and Bufinefs, while the 
 Men ftay at home to fpin and weave. Other 
 Nations weave the rough fide of the Piece up- 
 permoft, the Egyptians underneath. The Men 
 bend the Body when they make Water, but 
 the Women perform that Action {landing. 
 The Egyptians difcharge their Excrements at 
 home, and eat in publick ; alledging, that 
 whatever is indecent, though neceflary, ought 
 to be done in private, but things no way unbe- 
 coming ihould be done openly. No Woman 
 may be a Prieftefs of any God or Goddefs : Men 
 only are employ'd in thofe Offices. Sons are 
 not conftrained to make Provifion for their Pa- 
 rents, if they are not willing ; but Daughters, 
 however unwilling, are compell'd to this Duty. 
 In other Countries the Priefts of the Gods wear 
 Hair ; in jEgypt they are all fhav'd. Among 
 other People, the general Cuftom in time of 
 Mourning is, that thofe who are moft nearly 
 concern'd (have their Heads ; but when any one 
 dies in sEgypt his Relations ceafe to (have, and 
 let the Hair grow on their Heads and Faces. 
 In other Regions, the Apartments of Men are 
 feparated from Beafts ; whereas in^sEgypt Man 
 and Beaft live together. Other Nations ufe 
 Barley and Wheat for Food ; which would 
 be a Reproach among the ./Egyptians, who 
 make Bread of a fine Flower call'd by fome 
 Olyra, and by others Zea. They work this into 
 Pafte with their Feet ; but temper Mortar with 
 
 their
 
 i$8 HERODOTUS. Bookli. 
 
 their Hands. The ./Egyptians are circumcis'd 
 in their fecret Parts , which all other Men leave 
 as they are form'd by Nature , thofe only ex- 
 cepted, who have learnt this Cuftom from them. 
 The Men wear two Garments, the Womeri 
 but one. They fafteti the Ropes and Hooks 
 to the infide of the Sails, and all other Nati- 
 ons to the outfide. When the Grecians writ? 
 or calculate with Counters, they carry the, Hand 
 from the Left to the Right ; but the ^Egypti- 
 ans, on the contrary* from the Right to the 
 Left: And yet pretend in doing fo, that their 
 Line tends to the Right* and ours to the Left. 
 They have two forts of Letters ; one of which 
 they call facred, and the other vulgar. . They 
 are of all Mankind the moft exceflive Wor/hip- 
 pers of the Gods* and ufe thefe Ceremonies. 
 They drink in Cups of Brafs^- which they fcour' 
 every Day ; and this Cuftom is hot only praclis'd 
 by fome particular Men* but by all the Egypti- 
 ans in general. They wear Garments of Linert 
 frefh wafh'd, taking fmgular Care to have them 
 always clean, and are circumcis'd principally for 
 the fake of Cleanlinefs, which they efteem more 
 than Ornament. The Priefts {have all Parts 
 of the Body once in three Days ; left Lice or 
 any other Impurity mould be found about thofe 
 who officiate in the Service of the Gods. They 
 are cloath'd in Linen, wear Shoes of Linen.; 
 and are not permitted to drefs in any other 
 Manner. They conftantly bathe themfelves 
 twice in cold Water by Day, and twice by 
 Night ; ufing fo many other Superftilionsj that 
 we may fay their Number is infinite. On the 
 other Hand they enjoy great Advantages : For 
 they are never difturb'd with domeftick Cares 
 
 and
 
 EUTERPE* 159 
 
 and Expences : They eat the confecrated Bread, 
 and are daily furnim'd with Beef and Geefe in 
 abundance. They have an Allowance of Wine ; 
 but may not tafte of Fifh. Beans are never 
 fow'd in any Part of sEgypt ; and if fome hap- 
 pen to grow there, the ./Egyptians will not eat 
 them either crude or drefs'd. As for the Prifefts, 
 they abhor the Sight of that Pulfe, accounting 
 it impure and abominable. The Service of 
 every God is perform'd, not by one, but by 
 many Priefts, the principal being call'd the 
 Arch-Prieft ; and when he dies, his Son is fub- 
 ftituted in his Place. They facrifice Bulls to 
 Apis -, and for that Reafon make the following 
 Trial. If they find one black Hair upon him, 
 they adjuge him to be unclean ; which that 
 they may know with Certainty, the Prieft ap- 
 pointed to this Purpofe views every Part of the 
 Animal, both {landing and laid down on the 
 Ground. After this he draws out his Tongue, 
 to fee if he be clean by certain Signs* which I 
 /hall mention in another Difcourfe. In the laft 
 place he looks upon the Hairs of his Tail, that 
 he may be fure they are as by Nature they 
 ought to be. If after this Search the Beaft is 
 found unblemim'd, he ties a Label about his 
 Horns , and having feal'd it with the Signet 
 of his Ring, orders him to be led away and 
 fecur'd j becaufe it is Death to facrifice one of 
 thefe Animals, unlefs he has been mark'd with 
 fuch a Seal. And thus having related the Form 
 of this Examination, I proceed to the Manner 
 of their Sacrifices. After they have brought 
 the Victim to the Altar, they immediately kin- 
 dle a P'ire, and pouring Wine upon him, offer 
 tjheir Prayers to the God, This done, they 
 
 kill
 
 |6o HERODOTUS. Book II. 
 
 kill the Beaft, flay the Body, and cut off the 
 Head, which they carry with many Impreca- 
 tions to the publick Place, if they have any, 
 and fell it to fome Grecian Merchant ; but if 
 no fuch is to be found, they throw it into the 
 River, ufing this Form of Execration ; " May 
 " all the Evils impending over thofe that now 
 " facrifice, or over the ./Egyptians in general, 
 *< be averted on this Head." Thefe Ceremonies 
 of the Libation of Wine, and the Manner of 
 devoting the Head of the Sacrifice, are praclis'd 
 in all the Temples of &gy$t ; and for this Rea- 
 fon no Egyptian will eat of the Head of any 
 Animal. But in the Choice of their Victims, 
 and Burnt-Offerings, they have different Cuftoms 
 in feveral Places. 
 
 THE Goddefs they principally worfhip is 
 call'd I/is-, and they celebrate her Feftival with 
 all imaginable Solemnity. On the preceding 
 Day they faft, and after they have pray'd, they 
 facrifice a Bullock; taking out the Bowels, 
 and leaving the Fat with the Vitals in the Car- 
 cafs. This done, they cut off the Legs and 
 End of the Loyn, together with the Shoulders 
 and Neck ; and having fill'd the Body with 
 fine Bread, Honey, dried Raifins, Figs, Incenfe, 
 Myrrh, and other Perfumes, they perform the 
 Rites of Confecration, and pour in a great 
 Quantity of Oyl. They facrifice fafting ; beat- 
 ing themfelves during all the Time the Flefh 
 lies on the Fire ; and when they have fo done.* 
 they feaft upon the reft of the Offering. All 
 the Cattle of this Kind, whether full grown 
 or Calves, us'd by the Egyptians in their Sa- 
 crifices, are unblemifh'd Males; but the Fe- 
 fciales being facred to Ifis, are forbidden to be 
 2 offerU
 
 EUTERPE. 161 
 
 offer'd. For the Image of I/is is always made 
 in the Form of a Woman with the Horns of 
 a Cow on her Head, as the Grecians reprefent 
 lo : And for this Reafon all the Egyptians pay 
 a greater Reverence to that Animal than to any 
 other. So that no Man or Woman among 
 them will ever be perfuaded to kifs a Grecian 
 on the Mouth ; or to ufe the fame Knife, Pot, 
 or Spit ; nor to eat the Flefh even of unble- 
 mim'd Cattle, which has been cut up with the 
 Knife of a Grecian. When any Beaft of this 
 fort happens to die, they difpofe of the Body 
 in the following Manner : They throw the 
 Females into the River, and interr the Males 
 in the Parts adjoining to the City, with one 
 Horn, and fometimes both appearing above 
 the Ground, for a Mark of the Grave. When 
 the Flefh is confum'd, fo as all the Bones may 
 be tranfported, a Veflel appointed <to that End 
 arrives at a certain time from Pro/oprtes, an Ifland 
 of Delta, which comprehends nine Schoenes 
 of Land in Circumference and feveral Cities. 
 The Veflel is fent by one of thefe, call'd Atar- 
 becbis, where a Temple ftands dedicated to Venus* 
 and from whence many others are difpatch'd 
 to different Parts. After they have thus col- 
 lected all the Bones, they bury them together 
 in any one Place ; and the fame Rites are ob- 
 ferv'd with relation to other Cattle. For the 
 /Egyptians are forbidden by their Laws to kill 
 any. 
 
 THOSE who worfhip in the Temple of Ju* 
 pter at Thebes, or belong to that Country, 
 abftain from Sheep, and facrifice Goats only. 
 For the ./Egyptians are not unanimous in their 
 Manner of honouring the Gods, if we except 
 M |g
 
 if> 2 HERODOTUS. Book II. 
 
 Ifts and Ofiris, who, they fay, is no other than, 
 Bacchus : But in the Worfhip of thefe Deitiea 
 they all agree. On the other hand, thofe who 
 frequent the temple of Mendes 9 with all the In 
 habitants of that Territory, abftain from facrinV 
 cing Goats, and offer Sheep only. Now the 
 Thebans and all thofe who abftain from Sheep 
 after their Example, pretend that this Cuftom 
 was eftablifh'd among them by the means of Her- 
 cules ; who being very defirous to fee Jupiter^ 
 did not without great Difficulty obtain his Re- 
 queft ; for the God was unwilling to be feen ; 
 till at laft Jupiter yielding to his Importunity, 
 contriv'd this Artifice. Having feparated the 
 Head from the Body of a Ram, and flayed the, 
 whole Carcafs, he put on the Skin with the 
 Wool, and in that Form fhew'd himfelf to Her- 
 cules. For this caufe the Egyptians reprefent 
 Jupiter by an Image wearing the Head of a Ram : 
 In which they have been imitated by the Ammo- 
 nians, who are a Colony of ^Egyptians and ^Ethi- 
 opians, fpeaking a Language compos'd of Words 
 taken from both thofe Nations ; and, as I con- 
 jecture, have given themfelves the Name of Am- 
 monians, becaufe Jupiter is by the Egyptians 
 call'd Amman. For the fame Reafon the Ram is 
 accounted a facred Animal, and never kill'd by 
 the Thebans, except once in every Year on the 
 Feftival of Jupiter ; when, after they have flay'd 
 the Body, and put the Skin upon the Image of 
 the God, they bring a Statue of Hercules into his 
 Prefence : Which done, all the Afliftants give a 
 Blow to the Ram, and afterwards bury him in a 
 confecrated Coffin. I have been inform'd, that this 
 /Egyptian Hercules is one of the twelve Gods ; 
 but of the other,, who i& known to the Grecians, I 
 i could
 
 EUTERPE. 163 
 
 cbuld never hear the lead mention in any part 
 of JEgypt. And I have many good Reafons to 
 believe, that the /Egyptians did not borrow 
 this Name from the Grecians; but rather the 
 Grecians, and efpecially thofe who gave it to 
 the Son of Amphitryon, from the -^Egyptians: 
 Principally, becaufe Amphitryon and Alcmena, 
 Father and Mother to the Grecian Hercules, 
 were both of ^Egyptian Defcent. Befides; the 
 ./Egyptians affirm, they know not the Names of 
 Neptune, Caftor and Pollux, nor ever receiv'd 
 them into the Number of their Gods: Yet if 
 they had borrow'd the Name of any Deity from 
 the Grecians, they would certainly have men- 
 .tion*d thefe in the firft Rank, had any of the 
 Grecians then frequented the Sea, and been ac- 
 quainted with the Ufe of Shipping, as I believe 
 they were. And therefore the ^Egyptians muft 
 have known the Names of thefe Gods, rather 
 than that of Hercules. But however this be, Her- 
 cules is one of the antient Gods of the Egyptians ; 
 who fay, that feventeen thoufand Years before 
 the Reign of Amajis, the number of their Gods, 
 which had been eight, was increas'd to twelve, 
 and that Hercules was accounted one of thefe. 
 Concerning which things, being defirous to 
 know with Certainty as much as might be dif- 
 cover'd, I fail'd to Tyre in Phoenicia, becaufe I had 
 heard there was a Temple dedicated to Hercules. 
 That Temple I faw, eiirich'd with many magni- 
 ficent Donations, and among others with two 
 Pillars, one of fine Gold, the other made of 
 a Smaragdus, which mines by Night in a furpri- 
 zing Manner. Converfing with the Priefts of 
 this God, and inquiring how long this Temple 
 had been built, I found thefe alfo to differ from 
 M 2 the
 
 1 64 HERODOTUS. Book II. 
 
 the Grecians. For they aiTur'd me that the 
 Temple was built at the fame Time with the 
 City, and that two thoufand three hundred 
 Years were already paft fince the Foundation of 
 Tyre. In this City I faw another Temple dedi- 
 cated to Hercules by the Name of Thafian ; 
 and when I arriv'd in l^afus, I found there 
 alfo a Temple of the fame God, built by thofe 
 Phoenicians, who founded that City during the 
 Expedition they made in Search of Europa * 
 which was five Generations before Hercules the 
 Son of Amphitryon appear'd in Greece. All 
 thefe things evidently prove, that the ^Egyptian 
 Hercules is a God of great Antiquity ; and there- 
 fore, in my Opinion, thofe Grecians act moft 
 rationally* who build Temples to both ; facri- 
 ficing to the firft, as to an Immortal Being, un- 
 der the Name of Olympian, and honouring the 
 other as a Hero. But the Grecians fay many 
 other things on this Subject without due Exami- 
 nation, and in particular have invented the fol- 
 lowing Fable. When Hercules, fay they, arriv'd 
 in Mgypt^ the ^Egyptians crown'd him with a 
 Garland, and defigning to facrifice him to Ju- 
 piter^ conducted him to the Altar in great Cere- 
 mony : During the Way he was filent ; but 
 when they had brought him thither, he col- 
 lected all his Strength, and kill'd every Man 
 that was there prefent. Now thofe who tell 
 this Story, feem to me utterly ignorant of the 
 Nature and Laws of the Egyptians. For how 
 can we imagine that a People forbidden to kill 
 any kind of Animal, except Geefe, Swine, and 
 fuch Bulls and Calves as they find without Ble- 
 mifh, would facrifice Men ? And how could 
 Hercules kill fo many thoufands ; being then 
 
 alone,
 
 EUTERPE, 165 
 
 alone, and at that Time, by their own Confef- 
 fion, no more than a Man ? Neverthelefs, I 
 defire the Gods and the Heroes would take in 
 good part what I have faid concerning thefe 
 things. 
 
 THE Reafon that prevails with the Mende- 
 fians I mention'd before, not to facrifice the 
 Goats, either Male or Female, is, becaufe they 
 account Pan one of the eight Gods, who, they 
 fay, are more antient than the twelve. And in- 
 deed their Painters and Sculptors reprefent Pan 
 with the Face and Legs of a Goat, as the Gre- 
 cians do. Not that they imagine this to be his 
 real Form, for they think him like other Gods ; 
 but I have no Inclination to mention the Reafon 
 they give for reprefenting him in that manner. 
 However, the Mendefians pay a religious Wor- 
 ihip to all Goats, but to the Males much more 
 than to the Females ; and highly reverence the 
 Goatherds ; particularly one, who is honour*^ 
 at his Death by publick Lamentations in all Parts 
 of the Country. In the Language of SEgypt y 
 Pan and a Goat are equally call'd by the Name 
 of Mendes : And in my Time a Goat lay with a 
 Woman of that Country in fo publick a manner, 
 that all Men knew the Prodigy to have really 
 happen'd. Swine are accounted fuch impure 
 Beafts by the ^Egyptians, that if a Man touches 
 one, even by accident, he prefently haftens to 
 the River, and in all his Cloaths plunges himfelf 
 into the Water. For this reafon Hogherds alone, 
 of all the ^Egyptians, are not fuffer'd to enter any 
 of their Temples ; neither will any Man give his 
 Daughter in Marriage to one of that Profeflion, 
 nor take a Wife born of fuch Parents : So that 
 they are neceffitated to intermarry among them- 
 M 3 felves.
 
 1 66 HERODOTUS. Book II. 
 
 felves. The Egyptians are forbidden to facrifice 
 Swine to any other Deities than to Bacchus, and 
 to the Moon, when compleatly full; at which 
 Time they may eat of the Flefh. But if I 
 ihould mention the Reafon they give for the 
 Liberty they then take, and for abftaining from 
 that Animal on all other Feftivals, I mould of- 
 fend againft Decency : And therefore I mail only 
 fay, That when they offer this Sacrifice to the 
 Moon, and have kill'd the Victim, they put the 
 End of the Tail, with the Spleen and Fat, into a 
 Cawl found in the Belly of the Animal ; all 
 which they burn on the facred Fire, and eat the 
 reft of the Flefh on the Day of the full Moon, 
 tho' at any other time they would not tafte it. 
 Thofe, who on account of their Poverty can- 
 not bear the Expence of this Sacrifice, mould 
 a Pafte into the Form of a Hog, and make 
 their Offering. In the Evening of the Feftival 
 of Bacchus, tho' every one be oblig'd to kill a 
 Swine before the Door of his Houfe, yet he 
 immediately reftores the Carcafs to the Hogherd 
 that fold him. The reft of this Feftival is ce<- 
 lebrated in Mgypt to the Honour of Bacchus 
 with the fame Ceremonies as in Greece : Only 
 inftead of the Phallus they have invented cer- 
 tain Images of one Cubit in Height, fo arti- 
 ficially contriv'd with Nerves, that the Priapus, 
 almoft equal in Bignefs to the reft of the Body, 
 is feen to move, while the Women, who make 
 the Proceffion, carry the Images, finging the 
 Praifes of Bacchus, and preceded by a Flute. 
 But the Reafon they have to form this Part fo 
 difproportion'd to the Body, and to give it thefe 
 Motions, they fay is a facred Myftery. For my 
 wn part, I think Melampus the Son of Any-
 
 EUTERPE. 167 
 
 i&eon was not ignorant of any thing relating 
 to this Ceremony, but perfectly well inftructed 
 in all thefe Rites. For he firft introduc'd the 
 Name and Sacrifices of Bacchus among the Gre- 
 cians, together with the Pomp of the Phallus ; 
 tho* he did not fo fully explain every Particular, 
 as other learned Perfons have done who liv'd 
 after him. But Melampus was certainly the firft 
 that taught the Grecians to carry the Phallus 
 in Proceflion to the Honour of Bacchus, and in- 
 troduc'd all the Ceremonies they ufe on that 
 Occafion. I think him to have been a wife 
 Man, fkilful in the Art of Divination ; and that 
 he inftrucled the Grecians in many things which 
 were deriv'd from jEgypt; but efpecially in 
 the Worfhip of Bacchus, changing only fome 
 few Particulars. For I mail not fay that the 
 Agreement of thefe two Nations in the ufe of 
 the fame Rites in the Service of this God, is 
 the Effecl of Chance; becaufe they are per- 
 form'd in a uniform Manner thro* all Greece, 
 and were not ktely introduc'd : Neither mail 
 I pretend that the ^Egyptians have borrow'd 
 thefe, or any other Rites from the Grecians. 
 But I am of opinion that Melampus was in- 
 ftrucled in the Ceremonies of Bacchus chiefly 
 by Cadmus the Tyrian, and thofe Phoenicians 
 who accompanied him to that Country, which 
 now goes under the Name of Ecsotia. And 
 indeed the Names of almoft all the Grecian 
 Gods were originally deriv'd from the ^Egyp- 
 tians , as I found, after I had heard that they 
 were introduc'd by barbarous Nations. Only we 
 muft except Neptune, Caftor and Pollux, men- 
 tion'd before , Juno, Vefta, Ihemis, the Graces, 
 Nereides, and fome others, whofe Names are ut- 
 M 4 terly
 
 1 68 HERODOTUS. Book II. 
 
 terly unknown in Mgypt, as the /Egyptians 
 affirm ; and, as I conjecture, are all owing to 
 the Pelafgians, except that of Neptune, which 
 they learnt from the Libyans, who firft in- 
 vok'd the Name of this God, and always wor- 
 fliipp'd him with fingular Veneration. But 
 the ./Egyptians pay no religious Honour to He- 
 roes. 
 
 THESE, and other Rites which I mall after- 
 wards mention, the Grecians receiv'd from the 
 ./Egyptians ; but they learnt of the Pelafgians 
 to make the Image of Hermes with an erected 
 Priapus, the Athenians having been the firft who 
 practised this Manner, and others by their Ex- 
 ample. For in that Time the Pelafgians inha- 
 bited Part of the Athenian Territories ; and, be- 
 caufe the Athenians were accounted among the 
 Nations of Greece, came likewife to be efteem'd 
 Grecians. Whoever is initiated in the Cabirian 
 Myfteries of the Samothracians, which they re- 
 ceiv'd from the Pelafgians, knows what I fay. 
 For thefe Pelafgians were Inhabitants of Samo- 
 thracia, before they came into the Country of 
 Attica, and had inftructed the Samothracians in 
 the Orgian Rites; as they afterwards did the 
 Athenians, who by that means were the firft of 
 all the Grecians that form'd the Images of Mer- 
 cury in the manner above-mention'd : For which 
 the Pelafgians pretend certain facred Reafons, 
 explain'd in the Myfteries of Samothracia. They 
 had formerly facrific'd and pray'd to Gods in 
 general, as I was inform'd at Dodona, without 
 attributing either Name or Surname to any Deity, 
 which in thofe Times they had never heard : But 
 they call'd them by the Name of Gods, becaufe 
 they difpos'd and governed all Actions and Coun- 
 tries.
 
 EUTERPE. 169 
 
 tries. After a long Time, the Names of the 
 other Gods were brought among them from 
 Mgypt, and laft of all that of Bacchus: Upon 
 which they confulted the Oracle of Dodona, ftill 
 accounted the moft ancient, and then the only 
 Oracle in Greece ; and having enquir'd, whether 
 they mould receive thefe Names from Barbari- 
 ans, the Oracle anfwer'd, they mould. So from 
 that time they invok'd the Gods in their Sacri- 
 fices, under diftinct Names, and the fame were 
 afterwards receiv'd by the Grecians from thefe 
 Pelafgians. But what Original is to be aflign'd 
 to each of thofe Gods ; whether they always 
 were, and of what Form, was utterly unknown 
 till of late, and, to ufe a common Expreflion, 
 of Yefterday. For I am of Opinion, that He- 
 fiod and Homer, who liv'd not above four hun- 
 dred Years before my time, were the Perfons 
 that introduc'd the Genealogy of the Gods a- 
 mong the Grecians ; impos'd Names upon each ; 
 aflign'd their Functions and Honours -, and 
 cloath'd them in their feveral Forms. As to the 
 other Poets, fuppos'd to be more ancient, I 
 think they liv'd after thefe. And this is my 
 Senfe touching Heftod and Homer ; but the reft, 
 which I related before, I had from the Prieftef- 
 fes of Dodona. 
 
 CONCERNING the Oracles of Greece and 
 Libya, the -^Egyptians give the following Ac- 
 count. The Priefts of the Theban Jupiter told 
 me, that two PrieftefTes were carried away out 
 of that Country by certain Phoenicians; who 
 afterwards, as they were inform'd, fold one of 
 them in Libya, and the other in Greece, and that 
 thefe two Women eftablifh'd the firft Oracles 
 among thofe People. When ' I enquir'd how 
 
 they
 
 170 HERODOTUS. Book H. 
 
 they knew this to be true, they anfwerM, That 
 indeed the Women were never found, though 
 all poffible Diligence was us'd to that End -, but 
 they had flnce learnt, that things had pafs'd as 
 they related. This Account I receiv'd from the 
 Priefts of Thebes. On the other hand, the prin- 
 cipal Prieftefles of Dodona fay, that two black 
 Pigeons flew away at a certain time from Thebes 
 in sEgypt ; that one of thefe arriv'd in Libya % 
 and the other in Dodona ; that this laft, as ma 
 fat pearch'd on a Beach-tree, admonim'd the 
 Inhabitants with an articukte Voice, to erect 
 an Oracle in that Place to Jupiter ; and that the 
 People believing this to be no lefs than a divine 
 Revelation, readily obey'd. They add, that 
 the other Pigeon, which flew into Libya, com- 
 manded the Lybians to found the Oracle of 
 Ammon dedicated to the fame God. Thefe 
 things are faid by the Prieftefles of Dodona, 
 and affirm'd by all that belong to the Temple. 
 The eldeft of thefe Women is nam'd Prome- 
 nia^ the fecond Timarete^ and the third Nican- 
 dra. But my Opinion is, that if the Phoenici- 
 ans did really carry off the two Prieftefles before- 
 mention'd, and fold the one in Libya^ and the 
 other in Greece^ this laft was bought by the 
 Thefprotians, who inhabited thofe Parts which 
 are now call'd Hellas^ and in that time were 
 known by the Name of Pelafgia : That during 
 her Servitude (he confecrated an Altar to Jupiter 
 under a Beach ; nothing being more natural, 
 than to fuppofe that fhe who had been a Prieftefs 
 of that God in Thebes^ would not be unmind- 
 ful of his Worfhip in another Place ; that this 
 is the Original of that Oracle ; and that after 
 fhe had learnt the Language of Greece^ flie de- 
 
 clarM
 
 EUTERPE. 171 
 
 clar'd that her Sifter had met with the like For- 
 tune, and had been fold in Libya by the fame 
 Phoenicians. The Dodonseans, as I conjecture, 
 gave them the Name of Pigeons, becaufe they 
 were Barbarians, and their Speech no more un- 
 derftood than the chattering of Birds: But as 
 foon as this Woman became able to fpeak their 
 Language, they prefently reported that the Pige- 
 on had fpoken with a human Voice ; for while 
 fhe continued to ufe a barbarous Tongue, me 
 was no better underftood than a Bird. If thefe 
 things are not fo, I defire to be inform'd how a 
 Pigeon mould come to fpeak the Language of 
 Men. In a Word, they feem to have had the 
 Epithet of Black, becaufe they were ^Egypti- 
 ans. And as the Oracles of Dodona, and of 
 Thebes, are almoft alike in every thing, we 
 may conclude, that the Cuftom of predicting 
 future Events in Temples, is deriv'd from the- 
 /Egyptians. 
 
 TH E /Egyptians were alfo the firft Inventers 
 of Feftivals, Ceremonies, and Tranfactions with 
 the Gods, by the Mediation of others : All 
 which I perfuade myfelf the Grecians receiv'd 
 from that People ; becaufe they plainly appear 
 to have been very ancient among the /Egypti- 
 ans, and but lately introduc*d in Greece. 'Tis 
 not thought fufficient in Mgyft to celebrate the 
 Feftivals of the Gods once every Year ; but they 
 have many Times appointed to that End : Par- 
 ticularly in the City of Bubaftis, where they af- 
 femble to worfhip Diana with much Devotion ; 
 and in Bufiris, a Place fituate in the midft of 
 Delta, where the great Temple of Ifis, by the 
 Grecians call'd Demefer, is built. The Feftivals 
 of Mjnerva are folemniz'd in the City of Safs ; 
 
 and
 
 i 7 2 HERODOTUS. Book II. 
 
 and thofe of the Sun in Heliopolis. Latona is 
 particularly worfhipp'd in Butus, and Mars in the 
 City of Papremis. The manner obferv'd in the 
 Feftivals of Buba/lis, is this : Men and Women 
 embark promifcuoufly in great Numbers, and 
 during the Voyage, fome of the Women beat 
 upon a Tabor, while part of the Men play on 
 the Pipe ; the reft of both Sexes finging and 
 ftriking their Hands together at the fame time. 
 At every City they find in their Paflage, they 
 hawl in the Veflel, and fome of the Women 
 continue their Mufick , but others either provoke 
 the Women of the Place with opprobrious Lan- 
 guage, or dance and mew themfelves naked: 
 And this they do at every Town that ftands by 
 the Shore. When they arrive at Bubaftis^ they 
 celebrate the Feftival with numerous Sacrifices, 
 and confume more Wine than in all the reft of 
 the Year. For the Inhabitants fay this Aflembly 
 ufually confifts of about feven hundred thoufand 
 Men and Women, befides Children. I have al- 
 ready related how the Wor/hip of I/is is per- 
 form'd in the City of Bufiris ; and mall only add, 
 that after the Sacrifices, all the Men and Women 
 then prefent, who always amount to many thou- 
 fands, difcipline themfelves, but with what In- 
 ftrument I may not difcover. In this Devotion 
 the Carians that live in dSgypt furpafs all 5 for 
 they cut their Foreheads with Swords, and by 
 this Adion diftinguim themfelves to be Stran- 
 gers, and not ./Egyptians. When they meet to 
 Sacrifice in the City of Sais 9 they hang up by 
 Night a great number of Lamps fill'd with Oil, 
 ,and a Mixture of Salt, round every Houfe, the 
 Tow fwimming on the Surface. Thefe burn 
 during the whole Night, and the Feftival is thence 
 
 nam'd
 
 EUTERPE. 173 
 
 nani'd, We Lighting of Lamps. The Egypti- 
 ans who are not prefent at this Solemnity, ob- 
 ferve the fame Ceremonies, wherever they be ; 
 and Lamps are lighted that Night, not only in 
 Sais 9 but throughout all jEgypt. Neverthelefs, 
 the Reafons for ufing thefe Illuminations, and 
 paying fo great Refpect to this Night, are kept 
 fecret. Thofe who aflemble on fuch folemn 
 Occafions at Heliopolis and Butus, offer Sacri- 
 fices only, without any farther Ceremonies. 
 But in Papremis, when they have perform'd 
 their Worfhip, and finifh'd their Offerings, as 
 in other Places, a fmall number of Priefts at the 
 Setting of the Sun attend about the Image of 
 Mars -, but the far greater part place themfelves 
 before the Gates of the Temple, with Clubs in 
 their Hands; while other Men who have de- 
 voted themfelves to this Service, and frequently 
 amount to above a thoufand, arm'd in like man- 
 ner, aflemble together in a Place oppofite to 
 them. The Image of the God, which is kept 
 in a little Tabernacle of Wood gilded with 
 Gold, is brought on the Eve of the Feftival, 
 and plac'd within another ; and thofe few who 
 are appointed to attend, draw both the Taber- 
 nacle and the Image to the Temple on a Chariot 
 of four Wheels. But the Priefts, who ftand at 
 the Entrance, refufing to give them Admittance, 
 the Votaries, in Duty to the God, begin to ftrike 
 with their Clubs, and an obftinate Combat en- 
 fues, both fides dealing their Blows chiefly on 
 the Head : So that, as I conjecture, many die 
 of the Wounds they receive, though the JE- 
 gyptians affirm the contrary. Thefe Rites, if 
 we may believe the Inhabitants, were inftituted 
 for the following Caufe. They fay that Mars 
 i was
 
 174 HERODOTUS. Book II. 
 
 was educated abroad, till he attain'd to the Age 
 of a Man ; when, coming home to vifit his Mo- 
 ther, who dwelt in this facred Place, he was 
 denied Entrance by her Servants, and driven a- 
 way by Violence ; becaufe they had never feen 
 him before. That Mars retiring to another Ci- 
 ty, collected a good number of Men, and re- 
 turning, fell upon the Servants, and enter'd by 
 Force -, in Commemoration of which Action, 
 this Combat is reprefented on his Feftival. The 
 /Egyptians were like wife the firft who ordain'd, 
 that Men mould abftaih from Women in the 
 Temples ; and not enter any facred Place with- 
 out warning, after the Ufe of a Woman. Fof 
 almoft all other Nations, except the .^Egyptians 
 and Grecians, neither fcruple to perform that 
 Action in Temples, nor to go thither unwafh'd 
 after they have had the Company of Women 5 
 thinking Mankind to be like other Animals. 
 And becaufe they frequently fee Beafts and 
 Birds coupling together in Groves and Tem- 
 ples, they imagine that if this Action were 
 difagreeable to God, thofe Creatures would 
 abftain in thofe Places. But I cannot approve 
 the Conclufion they draw from this Obferva- 
 tion. 
 
 THE ./Egyptians are beyond meafure fuper- 
 ftitious in all things concerning Religion ; efpe- 
 cially in the enfuing Particulars. jEgypt^ tho* 
 adjoining to Libya, abounds not in Variety of 
 Beafts i yet all thofe they have, both wild and 
 tame, are accounted facred. But if I mould 
 take upon me to give the Reafons of this Opi- 
 nion, I muft enter into a long Difcourfe of di- 
 vine things, which I avoid with all poffible 
 Care ; having hitherto faid nothing of that kind, 
 
 unlefsi
 
 EUTERPE. 175 
 
 ttnlefs in a tranfient manner, and compell'd by 
 he force of Neceflity. Their Cuftoms, how- 
 ever, relating to the Beafts, are thefe. In the 
 firft place, Men and Women have the Care of 
 feeding and bringing up all domeftick Animals 
 fcy themfelves ; and the Son fucceeds the Fa- 
 ther in this Office. All the Inhabitants of the 
 Cities offer their Prayers to thefe, and to the 
 Deities to which they are facred, with the fol- 
 lowing Ceremonies. They fhave the Heads of 
 their Children, either intirely, or one half, or 
 at leaft a third Part, and putting the Hair into 
 one Scale, and Money into the other, when 
 the Silver carries the Balance they give it to the 
 Keeper of the Animals, who for that Reward 
 provides them with Fifh cut in pieces, which 
 is their ufual Food. If any Perfon kills one of 
 thefe Beafts voluntarily, he is punifh'd with 
 Death ; if involuntarily, his Punifhment is re- 
 ferr'd to the Difcretion of the Priefts. But if 
 a Man kill either a Hawk or an Ibis, whether 
 with Defign or not, he muft die without Mer- 
 cy. The Beafts that are brought up among 
 Men are many, and would be much more nu- 
 merous, if fome Accidents mould not frequently 
 happen to the Cats. For when the Females 
 have brought their Kitlins, they care no longer 
 for the Male, and obftinately refufe to be co- 
 ver'd ; which the Male perceiving, contrives this 
 Artifice : He waits an Opportunity to rob the 
 Female of her Young, and having done fo, kills 
 them all, but abftains from eating their Flefh. 
 The Female feeing herfelf depriv'd of her Kit- 
 lins, and being very defirous of more, begins 
 again to follow the Male ; for this Creature is 
 exceedingly fond of having Young. 3ut when a 
 
 Houfe
 
 176 HERODOTUS. Book II. 
 
 Houfe takes Fire, the manner of this Animal 
 is very furprizing. For though the Egyptians 
 ftanding at a Diftance, negledt the Progrefs of 
 the Flames, and take much greater Care to p*e- 
 ferve the Cats than the Houfe ; yet, either by 
 creeping flily along the Ground, or leaping over 
 the Heads of the Men, the Cats for the moft 
 part find a way to throw themfelves into the 
 Fire; and on thefe Occailons great Lamenta- 
 tions are heard among the ./Egyptians. In 
 whatever Houfe a Cat dies a natural Death, all 
 the Family fhave their Eyebrows ; and if a Dog 
 die, they mave the whole Body. All dead Cats 
 are carried to certain facred Houfes, where be- 
 ing put into a Brine, they are afterwards buried 
 in the City of Bubaftis. Bitches are laid in 
 confecrated Coffins, and interr'd in the Cities 
 where they die, and fo are hunting Dogs; but 
 Hawks and the venomous Mole are carried to 
 the City of Butus. The Bears, which are few 
 in number, and Wolves, no bigger than Foxes, 
 are buried in the Places where they are found 
 dead. As for the Crocodiles, they are of a 
 ftrange Nature. They eat nothing during the 
 four coldeft Months ; and though they have 
 four Feet, yet they equally frequent the Water 
 and the Land. They lay their Eggs, and hatch 
 their Young on dry Ground ; flaying afhore 
 the greater part of the Day. But they go 
 down to the River by Night, becaufe the 
 Water is then warmer than the Air and Dews. 
 No living thing, that we know, grows to fo 
 vaft a Size, from fo fmall a Beginning. For 
 their Eggs are little bigger than thofe of a 
 Goofe, and their Young, at the firft Appear- 
 ance, proportionable : But they afterwards grow 
 
 to
 
 EUTERPE. 177 
 
 to the Length of feventeen Cubits and more. 
 They have the Eyes and Tufhes of a Hog, with 
 great Teeth, fuitable to the reft of the Body. 
 Of all Animals, thefe alone have no Tongue, 
 and move the upper Jaw only when they eat ; 
 the lower never. They have Ckws exceedingly 
 ftrong, and a fcaly Hide, impenetrable. The 
 Crocodile is blind in the Water, but very quick- 
 lighted by Land : And becaufe he lives for the 
 moft part in the River, his Mouth is generally 
 infefted with Leaches : So that though all o- 
 ther Beafts and Birds equally avoid him ; yet he 
 lives in Peace with the Trochilus, becaufe he 
 receives a beneficial Service from that Bird. 
 For when the Crocodile goes out of the Wa- 
 ter, and opens his Mouth, which he dpes moft 
 commonly towards the South, the Trochilus 
 enters and devours the Leaches ; with which 
 good Office the Crocodile is fo well pleas'd, 
 that he never hurts him. One part of the 
 Egyptians efteem the Crocodile fecred ; but 
 others purfue him to Death as a common Ene- 
 my. Thofe who inhabit the' Country of Thebes \ 
 and that adjoining to the Lake of Mans, pay 
 a peculiar Veneration to him. For each of 
 thefe People train up a Crocodile to be fo 
 tame as to endure the Hand, putting Strings 
 of Jewels or Gold through his Ears, and a 
 Chain on his Fore-feet. Whilft he lives he is 
 us'd with great Refpect, and fed with confe- 
 crated Provifions at the pub lick Charge : And 
 when he is dead, he is prefer v'd in Salt and bu- 
 ried in a facred Coffin. But the Inhabitants of 
 Elepbantis are fo far from accounting the Cro- 
 codile facred, that they eat his Flefh. The 
 /Egyptian Name of this Animal is Champfe : 
 N For
 
 i 7 8 HERODOTUS. -Book II. 
 
 For the lonians were the firft who call'd them 
 Crocodiles ; becaufe they thought them to be 
 like certain Creatures they find in Hedges, and 
 call by that Name. The ways of taking the 
 Crocodile are various ; but I mall only defcribe 
 that which to me feems moft remarkable. They 
 faften the Chine of a Hog to an Iron Hook, 
 which they let down into the River, beating a 
 living Pig on the Shore at the fame time. The 
 Crocodile hearing the Noife, and making that 
 way, meets with the Chine -, which he devours, 
 and is drawn to Land : Where when he arrives, 
 they prefently throw Dirt in his Eyes, and by 
 that means do what they will with him, which 
 otherwife would be difficult. The Water- 
 Horfe is efteem'd facred by the Inhabitants of 
 Papremis, though in no other part of jEgypt. 
 He is a Quadruped with divided Feet, and 
 Hoofs like a Bull : His Nofe is fhort and retort- 
 ed ; but his Mane, Tail, and Voice, refemble 
 thofe of a Horfe, and his Teeth grow out in 
 the manner of Tufhes. He is equal in Bignefs 
 to the largeft Bull ; and his Skin is fo thick, 
 that Darts are cut out of the Hide. A Water- 
 Snake calPd Enhydris is likewife feen in the 
 River ; which, with the Eel and fcaly Lepi- 
 dotus, are in a peculiar manner facred to the 
 Nile, as the Vulpanfer is among the Birds. The 
 Phoenix is another facred Bird, which I have 
 never feen except in Effigy. He rarely ap- 
 pears in jfcgypt j once only in five hundred 
 Years, immediately after the Death of his Fa- 
 ther, as the Heliopolitans affirm. If the Paint- 
 ers defcribe him truly, his Feathers reprefent a 
 Mixture of Crimfon and Gold ; and he refembles 
 the Eagle in Form and Proportion,, They fay 
 
 he
 
 EUTERPE. 179 
 
 he comes from Arabia -, and bringing the Body 
 of his Father embalm'd, buries him in the 
 Temple of the Sun. The manner of his Per- 
 formance, which I think incredible, they relate 
 thus. Firft he moulds as great a Quantity of 
 Myrrh into the Shape of an Egg, as he is well 
 able to carry ; and after having try'd the Weight, 
 he difbowels the Egg, and puts his Father into 
 the hollow Space: When he has done this, 
 and adjufted the Weight to his Strength, he 
 flops the Aperture with more Myrrh, and car- 
 ries the whole Mafs to the Temple of the Sun 
 in jEypt. Such is the Account they give of 
 the Phoenix. In the Country of Thebes a fmall 
 kind of Serpent is found, efteem'd facred by the 
 ^Egyptians, having Horns growing on the top 
 of the Head, and no way hurtful to Men. When 
 any of thefe Serpents die, they are buried in the 
 Temple of Jupiter, becaufe they are thought 
 to belong to that God. Having heard that in 
 a Part of Arabia, fituate a little beyond the 
 City of Butus, I might learn fomething con- 
 cerning the flying Serpents, I went thither alfo ; 
 and faw there an incredible Quantity of their 
 Bones, amafs'd in many Heaps, of different big- 
 nefs, fome greater and others lefs. The En- 
 trance into this Plain, which lies level with &- 
 gypt^is by a narrow Pafiage between the Moun- 
 tains ; and to this Place the Inhabitants fay, the 
 flying Serpents advance in the beginning of every 
 Spring ; but are prevented by the Ibis from 
 proceeding farther, and deftroy'd in the Chops 
 of the Hills , for which Service the Ibis is 
 highly reverenc'd by the Egyptians, as both 
 they and the Arabians acknowledge. This Bird 
 is, in Colour, of the deepeft Black, and in 
 N 2 Bjgnefs
 
 i8o HERODOTUS. Book II. 
 
 Bignefs equal to a Heron : His Beak is crooked, 
 and his Legs like thofe of a Stork. This is the 
 Form of the black Ibis, which kills the Ser- 
 pents. Another fort of Ibis, more commonly 
 feen by Men, has white Feathers on every part 
 of his Body, except the Head, Neck, and Ex- 
 tremities of the Wings and Tail ; which are of 
 as deep a Black as thofe of the other kind : But 
 his Head and Neck are not fo big. The Ser- 
 pent is in Shape like the Water-Snake ; but his 
 Wings are deftitute of Feathers, and fmooth 
 like thofe of a Bat. And here I leave this Dif- 
 courfe concerning facred Animals. 
 
 THE Egyptians, who inhabit thofe Parts of 
 jEgypt) which are fow'd with Corn, are of all 
 Nations I ever faw the greateft Reafoners about 
 the Monuments of Antiquity, and Aclions of 
 Mankind. Their Manner of Life is this : They 
 purge themfelves every Month, three Days fuc- 
 ceftively, by Vomits and Glyfters, in order to 
 preferve Health ; fuppofing thac all Difeafes 
 among Men proceed from the Food they 
 ufe. For otherwife, the ^Egyptians are by Na- 
 ture the moft healthy People of the World, 
 the Libyans only excepted ; which, as I con- 
 jecture, is to be attributed to the Regularity of 
 the Seafons, and Conftancy of the Weather, 
 moft Diftempers beginning upon fome Altera- 
 tion in the Temperature of the Air. They 
 make their Bread of Olyra, and call it by the 
 Name of Colleftis ; but their Wine is made of 
 Barley, becaufe they have no Vines in that 
 Country. They eat Fifh, both pickled and 
 dried in the Sun ; together with Quails, Ducks, 
 and fmaller Birds, preferv'd in Salt, without 
 any other Preparation. Whatever elfe has any 
 
 Refem- 

 
 EUTERPE. 181 
 
 Refemblance to Birds or Fifhes, except fuch as 
 they account facred, is eaten without Scruple, 
 either boil'd or roafted. At their principal 
 Feafts, when they begin to tafte the Wine af- 
 ter Supper, a Perfon appointed to that End, 
 carries about in a Coffin the Image of a dead 
 Man, carv'd in Wood, and reprefenting the O- 
 riginal in Colour and Shape. Thefe Images, 
 which are always of one, and fometimes of 
 two Cubits in Length, are carried round all the 
 Company, and thefe Words pronounc'd to every 
 one diftinclly, " Look upon this : Then drink 
 " and rejoice; for thou malt be as this is." 
 Thefe, and all other Ufages deriv'd from their 
 Ancestors, they obferve ; but will not encreafe 
 their Number by new Additions. Among other 
 memorable Cuftoms, they fing the Song of 
 Linus, like that which is fung by the Phoe- 
 nicians, Cyprians and other Nations, who vary 
 the Name according to the different Languages 
 they fpeak. But the Perfon they honour in this 
 Song, is evidently the fame that the Grecians 
 celebrate. And as I confefs my Surprize at ma- 
 ny things I found among the ./Egyptians, fo I 
 more particularly wonder, whence they had this 
 Knowledge of Linus ; becaufe they feem to have 
 celebrated him from time immemorial. The 
 ^Egyptians call him by the Name of Maneros ; 
 and fay, he was the only Son of the firft of their 
 Kings ; but happening to die by an untimely 
 Death in the Flower of his Age, he is lamented 
 by the ^Egyptians in this Mourning Song , 
 which is the only Competition of the kind us'd 
 in Mgy$t. 
 
 N a In
 
 182 HERODOTUS. Book II. 
 
 IN one Particular, the Egyptian manner is 
 like that of the Lacedemonians only among all 
 the Grecians : For the young Men rife up from 
 their Seats, and retire out of the way, at the 
 Approach of thofe who are of elder Years ; 
 which is not praclis'd in any other Nation of 
 Greece. When the ^Egyptians falute one ano- 
 ther in publick, they bow the Body reciprocally, 
 and carry their Hands to each others Knee. 
 They wear a linen Tunick border'd at the bot- 
 tom with Fringes, and a Cloak of white wool- 
 len Cloth over it ; but to enter into any Temple 
 with this Garment, or to be buried in any thing 
 made of Wool, is accounted profane. This 
 Cuftom is obferv'd by thofe who are initiated 
 in the Rites of Orpheus and Bacchus \ which 
 were borrow'd from the /Egyptians and Pytha- 
 goras. For among them alfo, to interr the Dead 
 in woollen Garments is accounted irreligious, 
 and certain myfterious Reafons are alledg'd to 
 juftify their Opinion. 
 
 THE ./Egyptians were alfo the Inventers of 
 divers other things. They aflign'd each Month 
 and Day to fome particular God ; obferving the 
 time of Mens Nativity ; predicting what For- 
 tune they mall have, how they mall die, and 
 what kind of Perfons they mail be. All which 
 the Grecian Poets have made ufe of in their 
 Poems. Prodigies abound more in jEgypt^ than 
 in all the reft of the World ; and, as often as 
 they happen, are defcrib'd in Writing with their 
 Confluences ; which Accounts they carefully 
 preferve, out of an Opinion, that if the like 
 happen at another time, the Event will be the 
 fame. Predictions ^re not deliver'd by any hu- 
 man Being ; but only by fome of the Gods. 
 
 For
 
 EUTERPE. 183 
 
 For Hercules, Apollo, Minerva, Diana, Mars, 
 and Jupiter have their feveral Oracles. Yet that 
 which they reverence above all others, is the 
 Oracle of Latona in the City of Butus. They 
 are not all adminiftred in the fame manner, but 
 differently. 
 
 IN thefe Countries the Art of Phyfick is di- 
 ftributed into feveral diftinct Parts, and every 
 Phyfician applies himfelf wholly to the Cure of 
 one Difeafe only, no Man ever pretending to 
 more : By which means all Places abound with 
 Phyficians , fome profefling to cure the Eyes, 
 others the Head, Teeth, or Parts about the 
 Belly, whilft others take upon them the Care of 
 internal Diftempers. Their manner of mourn- 
 ing for the Dead, and their Cuftoms relating to 
 Funerals, are thefe. When a Man of any Con- 
 fideration dies, all the Female Sex of that Fa- 
 mily befmear their Heads and Faces with Dirt ; 
 and leaving the Body at home, march, attended 
 by all their Relations of that Sex, through the 
 Streets of the City, with naked Breafts, and 
 Girdles tied about the Wafte, beating themfelves 
 as they go : While the Men, on their Part, 
 forming another Company, gird and beat them- 
 felves in like manner. When this Office is per- 
 form'd, they go to thofe who are appointed to 
 exercife the Trade of Embalming , and as foon 
 as the dead Body is brought, the Embalmers 
 mewing feveral Models made of Wood and paint- 
 ed, afk them which fort they would have. One 
 of thefe Models is finim'd with the greateft 
 Care, and call'd by a Name which I am not 
 permitted to difcover : The fecond is of an in- 
 ferior fort and lefs Value ; and the third is the 
 rrreaneft of all. When thofe who are concern*d, 
 N 4 hava
 
 184 HERODOTUS. Book II. 
 
 have concluded an Agreement, they return home, 
 and the Artifts fall immediately to work in this 
 manner. Firft they draw out the Brains through 
 the Noftrils, with a crooked Inftrument of Iron ; 
 and infufe certain Medicaments into the vacant 
 Space : Then they open the Belly with an M- 
 thiopian Knife made of a fharpned Stone, and 
 take out the Bowels , to which, after they are 
 cleans'd and waih'd in Palm Wine, they add a 
 fufficient Quantity of odoriferous Drugs. When 
 this is done, and the Belly fill'd with pounded 
 Myrrh, Caflia and other Odours, Frankincenfe 
 cxcepted, they few all up again, and lay the 
 Bedy in Nitre for feventy Days, which is the 
 longeft time allow'd. At the Expiration of this 
 Term, they warn the whole Body, and binding 
 Fillets of Silk round every part, cover it with 
 Gums, which the ./Egyptians commonly ufe in- 
 ftead of Glue. All being thus finim'd, the Re- 
 lations of the Dead receive the Body, and place 
 It in a Frame of Wood, fhap'd in the Figure of 
 a Man, which they fet upright againft the Wall 
 of the Edifice referv'd to that End. And this 
 is the moft coftly way of preferring the Dead. 
 Thofe who to avoid fo great Expence, will be 
 contented with a more common Preparation, are 
 ferv'd in the following manner. They fill Sy- 
 ringes with Oil of Cedar, which they injecT: by 
 the common way, without cutting the Belly, 
 or taking out the Bowels ; and after the Body 
 has been laid in Nitre during fo many Days as I 
 mention'd before, the Oil of Cedar is let out by 
 the Fundament, and by a peculiar Virtue brings 
 away all the Guts and Vitals fhrunk and putri- 
 fied, the Nitre having in all this time confum'd 
 the Flefh, and left nothing remaining except 
 
 the
 
 EUTERPE. 185 
 
 the Skin and the Bones. When this is done, 
 they deliver the Body without any farther Ope- 
 ration. The third and laft manner of preferv- 
 ing the Dead, ufed only for the poorer fort, is 
 perform'd by the Injection of certain Liquors to 
 cleanfe the Bowels, and laying the Body in Ni- 
 tre for feventy Days *, after which they deliver it 
 to be carried away by the Perfbns concern'd. 
 The Wives of confiderable Perfons, and all 
 Women who have been beautiful, and dear to 
 their Relations, are not deliver'd to the Em- 
 balmers prefently after Death, but kept at home 
 three or four Days before they are carried out, 
 in order to prevent thofe Artificers from abufing 
 the Bodies of fuch Perfons , one of them having 
 been formerly accus'd of this Crime by his Com- 
 panion. If any ^Egyptian, or even a Stranger, 
 be found kill'd by a Crocodile, or drown'd in 
 the River, wherever the Body comes amore, 
 the Inhabitants are by Law compell'd to pay all 
 the Charges of Embalming, and placing it a- 
 mong the confecrated Monuments, adjufted in 
 the moft coftly manner. For none of his Friends, 
 or Relations, or any other, may touch his Body, 
 except the Priefts of the Nile, who bury him 
 with their own Hands, as fomething more than 
 human. They utterly reject the Grecian Cuf- 
 toms ; and, to fay all at once, will not receive 
 the Ufages of any other People. Which 
 Maxim is almoft general among the Egypti- 
 ans. 
 
 BUT the City of Cbemmis, {landing in the 
 Province of Thebes, not far from Afoz, has a 
 Temple of a quadrangular Form dedicated to 
 Perfeus the Son of Danae. This Fabrick is fur- 
 rounded with Palm-Trees, and adorn'd with a 
 
 fpacious
 
 i86 HERODOTUS, feook II. 
 
 fpacious Portico of Stone, on which two vaft 
 Statues, of Stone likewife, are erected. In a Cha- 
 pel built within the Limits of the confecrated 
 Ground, an Image of Perfeus is plac'd ; where, 
 the Inhabitants affirm, the Hero frequently ap- 
 pears rifing out of the Earth, as he often does 
 in other parts of the Temple , that they have 
 one of the Sandals he wore, which is two Cu- 
 bits in length ; and that after his Appearance, a 
 plentiful Year always enfues in JEgypt. Thefe 
 things they fay ; and have inftituted all manner 
 of Gymnick Exercifes to the Honour of Per- 
 feus, intirely agreeing with thofe us'd in Greece, 
 rewarding the victorious with Cattle, Apparel, 
 and Skins. When I enquired what might be 
 the Reafon that Perfeus appear*d only to them, 
 and why they differ'd from the reft of sEgypt in 
 appointing thefe Gymnick Exercifes; they an- 
 fwer*d, that Perfeus was defcended of their Blood. 
 For, faid they, Danaus and Lynceus were both 
 Chemmites, and fail'd together into Greece ; 
 enumerating the feveral Generations down to 
 Perfeus ; who pafling through jEgypt, in order 
 to fetch the Gorgon's Head from Libya, (as 
 the Grecians likewife acknowledge) arriv'd in 
 this Country, and having formerly heard the 
 Name of Cbemmis from his Mother, own'd his 
 Relations, and by his Command thefe Gym- 
 nick Exercifes were firft inftituted. This Opi- 
 nion is receiv'd by the -^Egyptians that inhabit 
 above the Morafles ; but thofe who live in the 
 Fenny Parts, are conformable in Manners to the 
 reft of j&gypf, and as in other things, fo par- 
 ticularly in this, that each Man has no more 
 than one Wife, like the Grecians. With refpect 
 to their Food, they have been the Inventers of 
 
 divers
 
 EUTERPE. 187 
 
 divers forts. For when the River fwells and 
 overflows the Plains, great Numbers of Lilies, 
 which the ^Egyptians call Lotus, (hoot up thro* 
 the Water. Thefe they cut down, and after 
 they are dried in the Sun, take out the Heart 
 of the Plant ; which refembling the Pulp of a 
 Meakin, they mould into a Pafte and bake as 
 Bread. They likewife eat the Root of the Lo- 
 tus, which is round, and equal to an Apple in 
 Bignefs. Another Lily grows in the fame 
 Places, much like to a Rofe, with a certain 
 Fruit found at the Foot of the Stem, in Form 
 not unlike a Wafp's Neft, and cover*d with a 
 Pellicule containing divers Kernels of the Size 
 of an Olive Stone, which are eaten either ten- 
 der or dried. The Byblus they annually gather 
 in the Fens, and divide into two Parts; the 
 Head is referv'd for other Ufes, but the lower 
 Part being of a Cubit in Length, is eaten and 
 publickly fold. When any one is defirous to 
 eat thefe Stems drefs'd in the beft Manner, he 
 flews them in a clean Pan. Some among thefe 
 People live altogether upon Fim, which they 
 difbowel and dry in the Sun, without any far- 
 ther drefling. 
 
 FISHES that are gregarious, and fwim in 
 Company, feldom breed in the River ; but when 
 the Defire of ingendring feizes them, leave the 
 Waters they frequent, and drive out in Shoals 
 to the Sea, the Males leading the Way, and 
 fcattering their Spawn upon the Surface. This 
 the Females fwallow as they come up, and are 
 thus impregnated. When they find themfelves 
 full, they return to their accuftom'd Haunts , 
 tho* not under the Conduct of the Males, but 
 of the Females j which in their Way home do 
 2 as
 
 1 88 HERODOTUS. Book II. 
 
 as the Males did in their Paflage outwards. For 
 they eject their Eggs like fmall Grains of Millet, 
 which the Males that follow devour ; yet fuch 
 as remain undevour'd, are fometimes nourifh'd 
 and become Fifti. If any of thefe Fifti happen 
 to be taken in their Paflage towards the Sea, 
 they are found bruis'd on the left fide of the 
 Head ; if in their Return, on the right : Be- . 
 caufe they fwim outwards leaning towards the 
 Land on the left fide, and when they return 
 keep fo clofe to the Shore, in fear of being car- 
 ried down by the Stream, that they bruife 
 themfelves frequently on the Bank. When the 
 Nile begins to overflow, the hollow Vales and 
 Morafles that lie near the River, are the firft 
 that are fill'd by the Inundation, and immedi- 
 ately fwarm with infinite Numbers of fmall 
 Fifties ; the Reafon of which, as I conjecture, 
 is this : Whilft the annual Inundation of the Nile 
 is retreating back, the Fifties lay their Eggs 
 on the Slime, and go off with the laft of the 
 Waters , and when the River returns to over- 
 flow the fame Places again after the Revolution 
 of a Year, thefe Fifties are immediately producM 
 from thofe Eggs. 
 
 THE Egyptians who inhabit about the Fens 
 ufe an Oil call'd Kiki^ drawn from the Fruit of 
 the Sillicyprian Shrub, which they fow upon the 
 Borders of Rivers and Lakes. This Plant grows 
 wild in Greece ; but is fow'd in Mgypt^ and bears 
 great Abundance of Fruit, tho' of an ill Scent. 
 Some bruife it in a Prefs, and fqueeze out the 
 Oil -, others put it into Pans which they fet on 
 the Fire, and by that means extract the Juice. 
 The Liquor is unctuous, and no lefs ufeful in 
 Lamps than other Oil ; but the Odour is ftrong 
 2 and
 
 EUTERPE. 189 
 
 and difagreeable. Thefe Parts are much infefted 
 with Gnats, and therefore the Inhabitants have 
 contriv'd to defend themfelves from that Infect 
 by the fqilowing Means. Thofe who live above 
 the Marmes go up to take their Reft in Towers 
 built to that End ; becaufe the Gnats are pre- 
 vented by the Winds from mounting fo high : 
 And thofe who inhabit the lower Parts, ufe this 
 Artifice inftead of fuch Towers. Every Man 
 has a Net, which ferves him by Day to take 
 Fifh, and at Night to defend the Place where 
 he fleeps ; for if he mould wrap himfelf up ei- 
 ther in his Clothes or any kind of Linen, the 
 Gnats would not fail to bite ; but never attempt 
 to pafs the Net. Their Ships of Burden are 
 made of the Acantha, which in fhape refem- 
 bles the Cyrasnean Lotus, and diftils a fort of 
 Gum. From this Tree they cut Timber of 
 about two Cubits fquare, in the fhape of Tyles, 
 and faften thefe Planks together with many long 
 Bands, which when they have well compacted 
 in this manner, they erect the Benches for the 
 Rowers. For they ufe no ,kind of Ribs or 
 arch'd Timber in their Work, but bend the 
 Joints of the Infide with Ropes; having only 
 one Rudder, which pafles quite thro* the Planks 
 of the Ship, with a Maft of Acantha, and Sails 
 of Byblus. Thefe VerTels are altogether unfit 
 to mount the River againft the Stream, and 
 therefore are always drawn up, unlefs the Wind 
 prove very frefh and favourable. But when 
 they go with the Current, they faften a Hurdle 
 of Tamaris with a Rope to the Prow of the 
 Veflel. This Hurdle is ftrengthen'd with Bands 
 of Reeds, and fo let down into the Water. They 
 have like wife a Stone, pierc'd thro 9 the middle, 
 
 Qf
 
 i go HERODOTUS. Book II. 
 
 of about two Talents in weight, which they alfo 
 let down into the River by another Rope made 
 faft to the Poop ; and by this means the Stream 
 bearing hard upon the Hurdle carries down the 
 Ship with great Expedition, whilft the weight of 
 the Stone balances and keeps it fteady. Thefe 
 VefTels are very numerous in thofe Parts, and 
 fome of them carry the weight of many thoufand 
 Talents. 
 
 WHEN the Nile has overflow'd, nothing is 
 feen in JEgypt^ except the Cities, which appear 
 like the Iflands of the ALgean Sea. All the reft 
 of the Country is cover'd with the Flood, and 
 Vefiels hold not the fame Courfe as at other 
 Times by the Channel of the River, but thro* 
 the mid ft of the Plains. Thofe who would pafs 
 from Naucratis to Memphis^ leave the common 
 Route, which is by the Pyramids, to fail by the 
 Point of Delta and by the City of Cercafora : And 
 the Paflage from Canopus and the Seat to Nau- 
 cratis, is thro' the Plains, by the Cities of An- 
 thylla and Archandra. Since Algypt has been un- 
 der the Dominion of the Perfians, the Revenues 
 of Anthylla, which is a considerable City, have 
 been always given to the Wife of the Perfon 
 who is entrufted with the Government, for her 
 Expence in Shoes. And the other, as I con- 
 jecture, was nam'd Archandra by Danaus, who 
 married the Daughter of Archander of Ptbios y 
 the Son of Achxus. 'Tis pomble there may 
 have been another Archander ; -but moft certain 
 that this Name is not ./Egyptian. 
 
 HAVING hitherto advanc'd nothing con- 
 cerning the ^Egyptians except what I have ei- 
 ther feen, or known by Inquiry ; I mall now 
 proceed to give fome Account of ._ their Reports 
 
 and
 
 EUTERPE. 191 
 
 and Traditions,- which yet will be interwoven 
 with divers things that I faw. The Priefts in- 
 form'd me, that Menes, who was the firft King 
 of &gy$t, by throwing up a Rampart above 
 Memphis of about a hundred Stades in length, 
 ftretching towards the South, dried up that 
 part of the Nile, which to his time had pafs'd 
 by the Foot of the Mountain of Sand in Libya, 
 and caus'd the Water to run from a certain An- 
 gle thfo* the Hills by a new Channel : That 
 this Paflage is diligently preferv'd in our time, 
 and annually repair*d by the Perfians , becaufe 
 if the River mould at any time break thro* 
 the Bank, the whole City would probably be 
 drown'd. They added, that the fame Menes y 
 after he had diverted the courfe of the Water, 
 built the City which to this Day is call'd Mem- 
 phis, within the antient Bed of the River , and 
 indeed this Place is fituate in one of the nar- 
 roweft Streights of Mgypt : That, on the North 
 and Weft Side he caus'd a Lake to be made 
 without the Walls from the River, which pafles 
 on the Eaftwardly Part, and founded the mag- 
 nificent and memorable Temple of Vulcan in the 
 fame City. After this the fame Priefts read to 
 me from a Book, the Names of three hundred 
 and thirty Kings who had reign'd after Menes. 
 During all which time eighteen were ./Ethio- 
 pians, one Woman, and the reft ^Egyptians. 
 The Woman, like the Queen of Babylon, was 
 call'd by the Name of Nitocris , and they in- 
 form'd me, that after me had receiv'd the Power 
 from the Hands of the Egyptians, who had flain 
 her Brother and immediate Predeceflbr, me re- 
 veng'd his Death by the following Artifice. 
 ' She built a Palace for herfelf, with a fpacious 
 
 Hall
 
 192 HERODOTUS. Book II. 
 
 Hall under Ground, which feem'd ftrange to 
 others i but was contriv'd in order to execute 
 the Defign {he had laid. For having invited all 
 thofe fhe knew to have been principally con- 
 cern'd in the Death of her Brother, to a great 
 Feaft, fhe let in the River by a private Way, 
 and drown'd them all together ; fhe herfelf efca- 
 ping in the mean time into another Apartment, 
 fo well fecur'd with a Rampart of Ames as to 
 preferve her Life. This Account they gave of 
 Nitocris. But of the other Kings they faid no- 
 thing, becaufe they had perform'd no memora- 
 ble Action , except Mceris y who being the laft 
 of them, built the Portico of Vulcarfs Temple, 
 fronting to the Northward, and caus*d a Lake 
 to be made (the Dimenfions of which I mail 
 defcribe hereafter) with Pyramids, which I fhall 
 alfo mention when I come to fpeak of the Lake. 
 In a Word, they afTur'd me he had done thefe 
 great things, and all the reft nothing. And 
 therefore I mail pafs them by, to relate the me- 
 morable Actions of a fucceeding King, whofe 
 Name was Sefoftris. 
 
 TH E Priefts affirm'd, that this King was the 
 firft, who paffing thro* the Arabian Gulph with 
 a Fleet of long Ships, fubdued thofe Nations that 
 inhabit about the Red Sea \ and continued his 
 Expedition, till certain Sands prevented him from 
 advancing farther : That returning to JEgypt y he 
 aflembled a numerous Army, with which he 
 landed on the Continent, and conquer'd all the 
 Countries where he pafs'd : That wherever he 
 fubdued any valiant People, fighting ftrenuoufly 
 to preferve their Liberty, he erected a Column 
 in that Place, with an Infcription declaring his 
 own Name and Country, and that he had con- 
 quer'd
 
 EUTERPE. 193 
 
 quer'd them by his Power: But when he fub- 
 dued a Nation either without fighting, or by an 
 eafy Victory, he caus'd a Pillar and Infcriptions 
 to be erected, as in the Places where he found 
 the greatefl Refinance, with the Addition of 
 Figures reprefenting the fecret Part of a Wo- 
 man, to perpetuate the Memory of their Cow- 
 ardice. In this manner extending his Conquefts 
 thro* the Continent, he march'd out of Afia into 
 Europe, and fubdued the Scythians and Thra- 
 cians. For fo far, and no farther, the Egyp- 
 tian Army appears to have penetrated, becaufe 
 their Pillars are to be feen in thofe Countries, 
 and no where beyond them. From thence re- 
 turning to ALgy-pt^ and arriving at the River Pha- 
 Jis, I cannot affirm, whether he appointed part 
 of his Army to inhabit that Country, or whe- 
 ther fome of his Forces grown uneafy with the 
 Fatigues of their Expedition, did voluntarily re- 
 main in that Region ; but the Inhabitants of 
 Colchis feem to me of Egyptian Extraction ; 
 which I collected rather from my own Experi- 
 ence, than the Information of others. And 
 tho j upon Inquiry I found more evident Marks 
 of this Relation among the Colchians than in 
 sEgypt yet the Egyptians fay they believe 
 them to be defcended from a part of the Ar- 
 my of Sefoftris ; which I think probable, be- 
 caufe their Complexion is fwarthy, and their 
 Hair frizled, tho* no certain Proof; for others 
 are fo likewife. But that which weighs moft 
 with me is, that the Colchians, Egyptians, 
 and Ethiopians are the only Nations of the 
 World, who from time immemorial have been 
 circumcis'd. For the Phoenicians, and thofe 
 Syrians that inhabit Paleftine, acknowledge they 
 O receiv*d
 
 194 HERO DO rUS. Book II. 
 
 receiv'd the Circumcifion from the Egyptians : 
 As the other Syrians, who pbflefs the Countries 
 adjacent to the River Thermodon and Parthenion? 
 with their Neighbours the Macronians, confefs 
 they very lately learn'd the fame Cuftom from 
 the Colchians. And thefe are the only Nations 
 .that are circumcis'd, and imitate the Egyptians 
 in the Ufe of this Ceremony. But whether the 
 Ethiopians had this Ufage from tlie Egyptians, 
 or thefe, on the contrary, from the ^Ethiopi- 
 ans, is a thing too ancient and obfcure for me 
 to determine. Yet I am inclin'd to believe that 
 the Ethiopians took up this Cuftom by con- 
 .verflng with the Egyptians ; becaufe we fee 
 that none of thofe Phoenicians, who have any 
 Commerce with the Grecians, continue to imi- 
 tate the Egyptians in this Ufage, of circumci- 
 fing their Children. One thing more I mall 
 mention, in which the Colchians refemble the 
 Egyptians. They alone of all People work 
 their Thread after the manner of 'jEgypt ; and 
 the fame way of Living, as well as the fame 
 Language, is common to both Nations ; tho* 
 the Grecians call the Thread they import from 
 Cclchis, by the Name of Sardonian, and that 
 which comes from Mgypt by the proper Name 
 of the Country . rU< , '' 
 
 THE Pillars creeled by Sefojlris King of'yff- 
 gypt in the Countries he fubdued, were for the 
 moft part demoliih'd : Yet I faw fome of them 
 (landing in the Syrian Paleftine, with the Infcrip- 
 tions I mention'd before, and the genital Parts of 
 a Woman. Two Images likewife of this King, 
 carv'd on Stone, are feen in Ionia, upon the 
 Ways that lead from Efhefus to Pbocaa, and 
 from Sdrdis to Smyrna. His Figure is five Palms 
 "* in
 
 EUTERPE. _igj 
 
 in height, holding a Bow in one Hand and an 
 Arrow in the other, and arm'd after the ^Egyp- 
 tian and ^Ethiopian. Manner. On a Line drawn 
 from one Shoulder to the other thefe Words are 
 engrav'd in the facred Letters of JEgypt^ I ob- 
 tain* d this Region by the Strength of thefe Arms. 
 The Stone does not difcover who the Perfon re- 
 prefented was, nor from whence he came ; and 
 tho' this is well known by other means, yet Ibme 
 who have feen the Monument, have grofly mif- 
 taken it for an Image of [Mcmnon. The Priefts 
 farther inform'd me, that Scfcjlris follow'd by 
 great Numbers of Captives drawn out of the 
 Countries he had conquer'd, landed in his Re- 
 turn at the Pdufian Daphne ; where his Brother, 
 to whom he had committed the Government -of 
 jEgypf during his Abfence, defir'd him to accept 
 the Entertainment of his Houfe for himfelf ^nd 
 Sons; and having prevail'd with the King to 
 ftay, he caus'd a great quantity of combuftible 
 Matter to be laid in all the Paflages, and fet on 
 
 . iire : That Sefoftris being inform'd of the Dan- 
 ger, and consulting with his Wife, who had ac- 
 company *d him in his Expedition, me advis'd 
 him to take two of his fix Sons, and extending 
 their Bodies on the Fire, form a kind of Bridge 
 in order to make his Efcape : That her Coumel 
 was put in Execution, and two of his Sons pe- 
 riming in the Flames, he himfelf with all the 
 reft was preferved ; and afterwards punifh'd his 
 
 . Brother in an exemplary manner for this Trea- 
 chery : That as to the multitude of Prifoners 
 he brought with him from his foreign Con- 
 quefts, he employ'd them partly in drawing 
 thofe immenfe Stones, which are feen in the 
 Temple of Vulcan, and partly in digging the Ca- 
 O ^ nals
 
 196 HERODOTUS. Book II. 
 
 nals of digypt, which has rendred the Ways 
 impracticable for Horfemen, or any kind of 
 Land-Carriage, whereas before that time they 
 were conftantly frequented by both: But the 
 Number and different Forms of thefe Aqueducts 
 in a Country, which is altogether level, has 
 made them inacceflible to either. Yet this was 
 defign'd by Sefqftris, to the end that thofe who 
 inhabit the Cities and other Places that lie re- 
 mote from the River, and have no Rain, might 
 be plentifully fupplied with Water to drink, 
 out of their own Wells, after the Inundations 
 of the Nile are withdrawn : And for this Rea- 
 fon, thefe Canals were cut throughout jEgypt. 
 They told me alfo that this King made an equal 
 Divifion of all the Lands in j&gypt^ and af- 
 fign*d a fquare Piece of Ground to every JE- 
 gyptian, referving to himfelf a certain Rent, 
 which he commanded them to pay annually , 
 yet if the River happen'd to diminim any Man's 
 Portion, he prefently went with his Complaint 
 to the King, who always deputed certain In- 
 fpectors to meafure the Remainder of the Land, 
 and adjuft the Payment in Proportion to the 
 Lofs. Hence Geometry, as I conjecture, had 
 its beginning, and was afterwards introduc'd a- 
 mong the Grecians. But Aftronomy, with the 
 Ufe of the Gnomon, and the Divifion of the 
 Day into twelve Parts, they receiv'd from the 
 Babylonians : Sefqftris alone of all the /Egyptian 
 Kings was Matter of ^Ethiopia ; and for a Mo- 
 nument of his Pofleflion, left divers Statues of 
 Stone erected at the Entrance of Vuhatfs Tem- 
 
 Ele. Two of thefe, reprefenting himfelf and 
 is Wife, are thirty Cubits in height ; and 
 four other Statues reprefenting his four Sons are 
 
 of
 
 EUTERPE. 197 
 
 of twenty Cubits each. Many Ages after, 
 when the Statue of Darius the Perfian was 
 brought thither, the Prieft of Vulcan would 
 not fuffer it to be plac'd above that of Sefo- 
 ftris, faying openly, that the Actions of the Per- 
 fian were not fo illuftrious as thofe of the M- 
 gyptian King. For befides the Conqueft of Scy- 
 thia, his other A equations were equal to thofe 
 of %)arixs, who could not fubdue the Scythi- 
 ans : And to prefer a Man before Sefoftris^ who 
 had not furpafs'd him in glorious Actions, 
 would be unjuft. All which was forgiven by 
 Darius. 
 
 AFTER the Death of Sefoftris^ his Son Pbe- 
 ron fucceeded him in the Kingdom. But he 
 undertook no military Expedition, and became 
 blind by this Accident : At a Time when the 
 Nile had overflow'd in an extraordinary manner, 
 to the height of more than eighteen Cubits a- 
 bove the Surface of the Earth, a great Storm of 
 Wind arofe, and put the Waters into a violent 
 Agitation. Upon this the King, in an infolent 
 Humour, took a Javelin in his Hand, and hav- 
 ing thrown it among the rolling Billows, was 
 prefently feiz'd with a Pain in his Eyes, which 
 made him blind for ten Years. In the eleventh 
 Year, a MefTage was brought from the Oracle 
 of Bufus, importing, that the time of his Pu- 
 nimment was expir'd, and he mould recover his 
 Sight, if he would wafh his Eyes with the U- 
 rine of a Woman, who had never accompanied 
 with any other Man than her own Hufband. In 
 Obedience to the Oracle, he firft tried the U- 
 rine of his ov/n Wife ; but finding no Relief, 
 made ufe of that of others indifferently, till at 
 laft his Sight was reftor'd. Upon which he or- 
 6 3 der'd
 
 198 HEROD Or US. Book II. 
 
 der ? d all thofe Women whofe Urine he had un- 
 fuccefsfully tried, to be fent to a Place call'd E- 
 rytkrebolus, from the rednefs of the Soil, where 
 he caus'd them to be burnt, together with the 
 City , and married the Woman by whofe means 
 he had been cur'd of his Blindnefs. After this, 
 he dedicated many confiderable Offerings in all 
 the Temples, . to perpetuate the Memory of his 
 Recovery , but the mod memorable were two 
 magnificent Obeliflcs which he erected in the 
 Temple of the Sun, each of one Stone only, a 
 hundred Cubits in height, and eight Cubits in 
 breadth. The Priefts farther inform'd me, that 
 a Native of Memphis , who in the Grecian Lan- 
 guage would be nam'd Proteus, fucceeded him 
 in .the Kingdom, and is honour'd in a ftately 
 Temple, which is ftill feen at Memphis, richly 
 adorn'd, and ftanding on the North Side of that 
 dedicated to Vulcan. . The Parts adjacent to the 
 Temple are inhabited by Phoenicians o fyre^ 
 and all that Region is call'd the Tynan Camp. 
 In this Temple is a Chapel dedicated to Venus 
 the Stranger ; which I conjecture to be meant of 
 Helena the Daughter of Tyndarus, who, as I 
 have heard, v/ent under that Name, and refided 
 fome time in the Court of Proteus. For of all 
 the Temples that are dedicated to the other 
 Venus, not one is known by this Name. And 
 indeed, when I enquir'd of the Priefts concern- 
 ing Helena, they told me, that after Alexander 
 had carried her off from Sparta, he met with a 
 violent Storm in his Return homewards, which 
 drove him out of the /Egean into the ./Egyptian 
 Sea ; and ftill continuing with great Fury, forc'd 
 him to put in at Taricbea, a Place fituate in the 
 Canopean Mouth of the River Nile. On that 
 
 Shore
 
 EUTERPE. 199 
 
 Shore ftpod a Temple of Hercules, which re- 
 mains to this Day -, whither, if the Servant 
 of any Perfon flies, and devoting himfelf to the 
 God, takes upon him certain facred Marks, he 
 may not be forc'd from thence under any Pre- 
 text: Arid this Privilege has been prefervM 
 without Violation to our Time. When there- 1 
 fore the Slaves of Alexander had heard of this 
 Immunity, they fled to the Temple, and as 
 Suppliants putting themfelves under the Pro- 
 tection of Hercules, accus'd their Matter of the 
 Rape of Helena, omitting nothing that might 
 aggravate the Injury hie had done to Menelaus. 
 Thefe Complaints were made in the Prefehce 
 of the Priefts, and before the Governor of that 
 Province, whofe Name was 'Thorns. Upon 
 which the Governor immediately difpatch'a a 
 MefTenger to Proteus, at Memphis, with Orders 
 to inform him, " That a certain Stranger, born 
 " at Troy, was arriv'd, who had been guilty of 
 a moft nefarious Action in Greece j having fe- 
 duc'd the Wife of his Hoft, and carried her 
 away with immenfe Riches: That a violent 
 Tempeft had forc'd him to land in Algypt ; 
 ' and that therefore the King would deter- 
 mine, whether he mould be permitted to 
 depart with Impunity, or whether he, and 
 " all he had brought with him, mould be 
 " feiz'd ? " In Anfwer to this Meflage Proteus 
 commanded, that the Man, whoever he was, 
 that had fo injuriously violated the Rights of 
 Hofpitality, mould be fent to him, that he 
 might hear what he had to fay for himfelf. 
 Which Anfwer being brought to Tbonis, he 
 feiz'd the Perfon of Alexander j fecur'd his Ships, 
 and fent him to Memphis, with Helena, hi 
 O 4 Riches,
 
 200 HERODOTUS. Book II. 
 
 Riches, and all his Slaves. When they arriv'd 
 there, and Proteus had afk'd Alexander , who he 
 was, and whence he came, he gave him an Ac- 
 count of his Family, Country, Name, and to 
 what Parts he was bound. But the King pro- 
 ceeding to demand, in what Place he had met' 
 with Helena, he began to fhift, and to deliver 
 his Anfwer in ambiguous Words ; till the fugi- 
 tive Suppliants openly accus'd him, and difco- 
 ver'd all the Circumftances of his Crime. Then 
 Proteus faid, " If I were not very unwilling to 
 " put Strangers to Death, forc'd by the Winds 
 *' to take Refuge in my Territories, I would 
 ** avenge the Injuries thou haft done to that 
 " Grecian : Thou haft {hewn thyfelf the bafeft 
 " of Men, in violating the facred Laws of Hof- 
 " pitality, and feducing the Wife of one, who 
 *' entertain'd thee in his Houfe with Kitidnefs ; 
 ** and, as if it had not been enough to debauch 
 ' his Wife, thou haft brought her away with 
 ** thee ; and to compleat thy Crime, haft robb'd 
 " him of his Treafures : Therefore, though I 
 " cannot perfuade myfelf to kill a Stranger, yet 
 " I will not fuffer thee to carry away the Wo- 
 * c man, or the Riches thou haft plundered ; but 
 * (hall preferve both, in order to reftore them 
 " to thy injur'd Hoft, upon his Demand ; com- 
 " manding thee and all thy Companions to de- 
 * part out of my Kingdom within three Days, 
 " under Pain of being treated as Enemies." In 
 this manner the Priefts reported the Arrival of 
 Helena in Mgypt. And I am of Opinion, that 
 Homer had heard the fame Relation j but not 
 thinking it proper to be inferted in an Epick 
 Poem with thefe Circumftances, he alter'd the 
 Relation, though he has plainly (hewn he was 
 
 not
 
 EUTERPE. 201 
 
 not ignorant of what I have mention'd ; as is 
 fufficiently manifeft in his Iliad, and never re- 
 traded in any part of that Work. For defcrib- 
 ing the Voyages of Alexander, he fhews, that 
 after he had been driven through divers Seas, he 
 arriv'd at Sidon in Phoenicia -, which is prov'd by 
 thefe Verfes, inferted in the Defcription of Dio- 
 wedes's Valour. 
 
 The re Garments lay, in various Colours 
 The Work of Sidon' j Dames , from Sidon brought 
 By Godlike Paris, when he plow'd the Seas, 
 And high-born Helen wafted o'er from Greece. 
 
 In the Odyjfes alfo the following Lines are read. 
 
 JoveV Daughter had an Antidote in ftore, 
 Which Jhe received from Poly dam ne'j Hand, 
 Wife to th* Egyptian Thonis : For that Soil 
 Abounds no lefs with good than noxious Plants. 
 
 To which may be added thefe Words of Mene- 
 laus to Telemachus. 
 
 The Gods detained me en th* ^Egyptian Shore, 
 Becaufe I fail'd whole Hecatombs to pay, 
 Which they expefted. 
 
 The Tenor of thefe Verfes fufficiently fhews, 
 that Homer was not ignorant of Alexander's Ar- 
 rival in JEgy$t. For the Coaft of Syria lies next 
 adjoining to that of ALgypt, and the Phoenici- 
 ans of Sidon are Inhabitants cf Syria. So that 
 thefe Lines, together with the Mention of this 
 Region, plainly prove that Hewer was not the 
 Author of the Cyprian Verfes, but fome other 
 2 Perfon.
 
 202 HERODOTUS. Book II. 
 
 Perfon. For they affirm, that 'when. Alexander 
 brought away Helena from Sparta, he had both 
 Wind and Weather fo favourable, that he arriv'd 
 at Iroy in three Days, whereas Homer in his 
 Iliad fays he was driven from one Place to 
 another. And fo I take my leave of him and 
 the Cyprian Verfes. 
 
 WHEN I afk'd the Priefts whether the Ac- 
 count of the Trojan War, as related by the 
 Grecians, was not an impertinent Story, they 
 aflur'd me they were inform'd by Menelaus him- 
 felf, that after the Rape of Helena, the Grecians 
 refolving to affift him, form'd a numerous Army, 
 and landed in 'Teucris : That upon their landing 
 they mark'd out and fortified a Camp, and fent 
 Ambafladors to Ilium, of which Embafly Mene- 
 laus was one : That thefe Ambafladors went to 
 the City, and demanded Helena, with all the 
 Treafures Alexander had ftolen, and Satisfaction 
 for the Injuries done : That the Trojans proteft- 
 ed and fwore, both at that time and fince, that 
 neither Helena, nor the Riches they demanded, 
 were in their Power, but in Mgypt ; and there- 
 fore to demand Reftitution from them, of things 
 that were in the Pofleflion of Proteus King of 
 JEgypt- was unjuft : That the Grecians taking 
 this Anfwer for a mere Mockery, began the 
 Siege, which they continued till the City was 
 taken: That when they were Mafters of 'Troy, 
 finding the Trojans ftill perfifting in their Affe- 
 verations, and Helena no where appearing, they 
 gave Credit to their former Proteftations, and 
 Jent Menelaus to jgypt ; where being arriv'd, 
 he fail'd up to Memphis, and having truly related 
 what had pafs'd, was affectionately entertain'd 
 by the King ; had his Wife, with ail his Trea- 
 fures,
 
 203 
 
 fares, reftor'd to hint x without any Injury done 
 to Her Perfon -, and that notwithftanding this 
 Kindnefs, Menelaus prov'd ungrateful to the M- 
 gyptians : For being long detain'd in jEgypt by 
 contrary Winds, he perpetrated a moft impious 
 Action i taking two Children, Natives of that 
 Country, and opening their Bodies, in order to 
 confult their Intrails concerning his Departure ; 
 which being difcover'd, and the Inhabitants in 
 Deteftation of his Cruelty preparing to feize 
 him, he fet fail with Precipitation, and fled to 
 Libya ; though what farther Adventures he had 
 they could not tell : Concluding, that they had 
 learnt fome of thefe Particulars from the Infor- 
 mation of others, and were fully afTur'd of the 
 reft, becaufe they were done among them. To 
 this Relation of the Priefts, if I mould add my 
 own Opinion concerning Helena^ I would fay, 
 that if me had been within the Territories of 
 Ilium, doubtlefs the Trojans would have fur- 
 render'd to the Grecians, either with or with- 
 out the Confent of Alexander. For certainly 
 Priamus, and all thofe about him, could ne- 
 ver be fo defperately mad to bring themfelves, 
 with their Children and the whole Kingdom, 
 into the utmoft Hazard, only that Alexander 
 might enjoy Helena. But let us fuppofe they 
 might take fuch a Refolution at firft j yet after 
 the Slaughter of fuch vaft Numbers of Trojans, 
 together with two or three of the King's Sons, 
 or more, if we may believe the Poets, that were 
 kill'd, fighting againft the Grecians, I cannot 
 forbear to think, that if Priamus himfelf had 
 married Helena^ he would have reftor'd her to 
 the Achaians, to be deliver'd from fo great a 
 Calamity. Betides, Alexander not being the 
 
 next
 
 204 HERODOTUS. Book II. 
 
 next Heir to the Crown, could have no Pretence 
 to govern all things during the Life of an aged 
 King : HeRor was elder than he j rightful Suc- 
 ceflbr to Priamus, and much more confiderable 
 for Valour-, and could not with any Decency 
 abet and fupport the Injuftice of his Brother j 
 by whofe means fo many Evils had already hap- 
 pen'd, and were daily impending over his own 
 Head, and over all the Trojans in general. But 
 indeed Helena was not in their Power, though 
 the Grecians would not believe them when they 
 fpoke the truth -, Heaven permitting, as I con- 
 jecture, that they mould be utterly deftroy'd, in 
 order to convince Men, that the Gods have great 
 Punimments in Referve for atrocious Crimes. 
 And thus I have deliver'd my Opinion concern- 
 ing thefe things. 
 
 THE Priefts likewife inform'd me, that up- 
 on the Death of Proteus, Rampftnitus fucceeded 
 him, and for a Monument of his Magnificence, 
 added to the Temple of Vulcan a Portico front- 
 ing to the Weft, and erected two Statues before 
 this Building, of twenty five Cubits each. One 
 of thefe looks to the Northward, and is adored 
 by the ^Egyptians under the Name of Summer : 
 The other facing the South, is altogether neg- 
 lected, and goes by the Name of Winter. Ramp- 
 finitus heap'd together a far greater Quantity of 
 Silver than any of the fucceeding Kings are faid 
 to have poflefs'd , and being defirous to fecure 
 his Treasures, built an Apartment of Stone, 
 which had one Wall on the Outfide of the Pa- 
 lace. This Situation the Architect made ufe of 
 to deceive the King, and plac'd one of the 
 Stories in fo loofe a manner, that a Man might 
 eafily take it out. Some time after the Build- 
 ing
 
 EUTERPE. 205 
 
 ing was finim'd, and the King had lodg'd his 
 Riches in the Place, the Architect lying upon 
 his Death-bed, call'd his two Sons, and acquaint- 
 ed them, that he had contriv'd the King's Trea- 
 fury in fuch a manner, that they might always 
 furnifh themfelves with the means of living 
 plentifully -, directing them to the Place, and ex- 
 plaining all the Particulars they were to obferve, 
 in taking out and putting in the Stone : In a 
 Word, he told them, if they would follow his 
 Inftrudions, they might be Treafurers of all the 
 King's Riches. The Sons waited not long after 
 the Death of their Father to put his Counfel in 
 Execution, and went by Night to the Palace-, 
 where having found the Place, they remov'd 
 the Stone without Difficulty, and carried off a 
 great Quantity of Silver. Rampfinitus entring 
 one Day into the Treafury, and feeing his Heaps 
 much diminim'd, fell into a great Surprize ; in 
 regard he knew not whom to blame, having 
 found all entire, and the Apartment, in Appear- 
 ance, well fecur'd. But after the King had two 
 or three times fucceflively vifited his Treafures, 
 and always found them diminim'd, he ordered 
 Nets to be made, and fpread about the Veflels 
 that contain'd his Money. The Thieves com- 
 ing as before, one of them enter'd, and going 
 to a Veflel fill'd with Silver, was prefently taken 
 in the Snare. Pending himfelf in this Extremi- 
 ty, he immediately call'd his Brother, and ac- 
 quainting him with his Misfortune, defir'd him 
 to come in, and cut off his Head, left the whole 
 Intrigue mould be difcover*d, and neither of 
 them efcape with Life. The Brother compre- 
 hending the Reafon of his Requeft, did as he 
 defir'd, and having put the Stone iu its proper 
 
 Place,
 
 2o6 HERODOTUS. Book It 
 
 Place, return'd home with the Head. Early in 
 the Morning the .King coming to the Treafury, 
 was not a little -aftonim'd to find the Body of 
 the Thief taken in the Net without a Head, and 
 the whole Edifice entire, without the leaft Sign 
 of any Perfon going out or coming in. In this 
 Perplexity he went away, and commanded the 
 Body to be hang'd on the Wall , appointing a 
 Guard, with ftrict Orders, if they mould fee 
 ; any one weeping at the Spectacle, or pitying 
 the Perfon. to bring him immediately before 
 the King. \But no fooner was the Body thus 
 expos'd, than the Mother fell into, a great Paf- 
 fiori, . and commanded her furviving Son, by 
 any Means he could contrive, to take down and 
 bring, away the Corps of his Brother: Threat- 
 \ ning, if. he refus'd, to go_ to the King, and let 
 him know that he was the Thief who had 
 robb'd the Treafury. The Son earneflly en- 
 deavour'd to dirTuade his Mother from her Pur- 
 pofe ; but finding nothing could prevail, he 
 made ready his AfTes, and having loaded them 
 with Skins fill'd with Wine, and driven them 
 near the. Guards that were appointed to , watch 
 the dead Body, he open'd two or three of the 
 Skins, and when he faw the Wine running put, 
 ftruck himfelf upon the Head, and cried out la- 
 mentably ; as if his Cpnfufion had been fo great, 
 that he knew not to which of his AfTes he 
 fhould run firft. The Guards feeing fo much 
 Wine loft, ran prefently to the AfTes with Pots 
 in their Hands, to receive the .Liquor, and make' 
 , ;ufe of the prefent Opportunity -, which the 
 Man perceiving, feign'd himfelf highly incens'd, 
 . and rail'd bitterly, againft the. Soldiers. But 
 . they, on the contrary, giving him .good Words, 
 
 he
 
 EUTERPE. 207 
 
 he grew calm again, and pretending to be pa- 
 cified, led his Afles out of the Way, as if he 
 defign'd to feclire the : reft of his Wine ; till at 
 laft, failing into a Dialogue of Mirth and Rail- 
 lery with the Guards, he gave one of the 
 Skins among them. The Soldiers immediately 
 fat down to drink, and taking him by the 
 Hand, defir'd him to do as they did ; which 
 he accepting, and finding them fond of his 
 Company, was fo literal of his Wine, that 
 they made themfel ves drunk, and fell afleep in, 
 the Place. By this means he took down his 
 Brother in the dead of Night ; and having, in 
 Derifion, fhav'd all the Guard on the right 
 Cheek, he laid the Body upon one of his Afles, 
 and brought it home to his Mother, according 
 to her Defire. They added, that the King 
 hearing the Body of the Thief had been ftolen, 
 was much difturb'd ; and refolving, by any 
 Means, to find out the Contriver of this Arti- 
 fice, form'd a Defign, which to me feems in- 
 credible ; commanding his Daughter to profti- 
 tute herfelf at home to all Comers indifferent- 
 ly, after having firft oblig'd every one in parti- 
 cular, to let her know the moft fubtle, and moft 
 wicked Actions of his whole Life ; and enjoin- 
 ing her, when any one fhould difcover himfelf 
 guilty of the Facl: relating to the Thief, that 
 me mould lay Hands on him, and not fuffer him 
 to efcape. His Daughter obey'd j and the Thief 
 not ignorant to what End this Contrivance 
 tended, and defirous to elude the King's Defign, 
 cut off an Arm from the Body of a Man newly 
 expir'd, and putting it under his Cloak, went 
 to the Daughter of Rampftnitus . -At his com- 
 ing, when iriea&'el him- the fame Queftions flie 
 
 2 had
 
 2o8 HERODOTUS. Book II. 
 
 had propos'd to others, he anfwer'd, That the 
 moil wicked Action he ever did, was, to cut off 
 his Brother's Head in the Treafury ; and the 
 mod fubtle, was the Artifice he contriv'd to 
 make the Guard drunk, and by that means to 
 carry off the Body. No fooner had he faid this, 
 than me offer'd to lay Hands on him j but he 
 being favour'd by the Night, put the dead Hand 
 into hers , and while (he thought me held him 
 faft, convey'd himfelf away, and ran out of the 
 Houfe. When the King was inform'd of this 
 Event, he was aftonifh'd at the Invention and 
 Audacioufnefs of the Man ; and a mort time af- 
 ter, caus'd Proclamation to be made in all Places, 
 that he would not only pardon him, but reward 
 him amply, if he would difcover himfelf. The 
 Thief, in Confidence of this Promife, went di- 
 rectly to the Palace ; and Rampfinitus, in Ad- 
 miration of his Subtlety, gave him his Daugh- 
 ter in Marriage : Accounting him the moft 
 knowing of all Men, becaufe he knew more 
 than the ^Egyptians, who are wifer than the reft 
 of Mankind. 
 
 AFTER this, they faid, Rampfmitus defcend- 
 ed alive into thofe Places which the Grecians 
 call Hades ; where playing at Dice with Ceres* 
 he fometimes won, and other times loft : That 
 me prefented him, at his Departure, with a Ba- 
 fm of Gold i and that the ./Egyptians celebrate 
 a certain Feftival, from the Day of his Defcent 
 to that of his Re-afcenfion, which I have 
 feen them obferve in my time: But whether 
 that Adventure, or fome other thing gave Birth 
 to this Solemnity, I cannot determine. How- 
 ever, the Priefts every Year at that time, cloath- 
 ing one of their Order in a Cloak woven the 
 
 fame
 
 EUTERPE. 209 
 
 fame Day, and covering his Eyes with a Mitre, 
 guide him into the Way that leads towards the 
 Temple of Cere j, and then return : Upon 
 which, they fay, two Wolves come and con- 
 duel: him to the Temple, twenty Stades diftant 
 from the City, and afterwards accompany him 
 back to the Place from whence he came. Thefe 
 things are related by the Egyptians ; and if any 
 Man think them credible, he is at Liberty: 
 For me, I am oblig'd to write what I have 
 heard. 
 
 THE ./Egyptians hold, that the fovereign 
 Power of the infernal Regions is exercis'd by 
 Ceres and Bacchus -, and were the firft of all 
 Mankind, who affirm'd the Immortality of Man's 
 Soul ; which, they fay, upon the Death of the 
 Body always enters into fome other Animal; 
 and pafling, by a continued Rotation, through 
 the different Kinds of Aerial, Terreftrial, and 
 Marine Beings, returns again into a human Body, 
 after the Revolution of three thoufand Years. 
 Yet this Opinion divers Grecians have pnblim*d 
 for their own, in thefe and former times ; but I 
 mall forbear to mention them, though I am not 
 ignorant of their Names. They told me like- 
 wife, that to the Reign of Rampjinitus, Juftice 
 and good Order were preferv'd in ALgypt^ and 
 that the Kingdom flourifh'd in Plenty : But that 
 Cheops who fucceeded him, was a moft flagitious 
 Tyrant. For after he had mut up all the Tem- 
 ples, and forbidden the Publick Sacrifices, he 
 opprefs'd the Egyptians with hard Labour ; ap- 
 pointing fome to receive the Stones that were 
 dug out of the Quarries in the Arabian Moun- 
 tains, and to draw them down to the Nile, in 
 order to be tranfported in Veflels to the other 
 P Side
 
 210 HERODOTUS. Book II. 
 
 Side of that River ; and ordering others to con- 
 Vey them from thence towards the Mountain 
 call'd Libycus. About a hundred thoufand Men 
 were employ'd in this Labour, ten thoufand eve- 
 ry three Months : And ten Years were fpent in 
 the building of a Bridge, which I think to be a 
 Work little lefs considerable than the Pyramid. 
 For that Bridge is five Stades in length ; fixty 
 Foot broad , and in the higheft part, forty 
 eight Foot in Altitude ; all of polifh'd Stone, 
 and carv'd with the Figures of various Animals. 
 The Pyramid, and the fubterraneous Vaults, 
 built within the Hill, on which the Pyramids 
 ftand, were the Labour of twenty Years. Into 
 this Place he convey'd the Nile, by a Trench, 
 and form'd a little Ifland in the midft of the 
 Waters, defigning to place his Sepulchre on that 
 Ground. This Pyramid is Quadrilateral, every 
 Face containing eight Plethrons in length, and 
 the' fame Meafure in height. All the Stones are 
 thirty Foot long, well fquar'd, and jointed with 
 the greateft Exaclnefs ; riling on the Outfide by 
 a gradual Afcent, which fome'call Stairs, and 
 others little Altars, contriv'd in the following 
 Matiner : When they had laid the firft Range, 
 they carried other Stones up thither, by a mort 
 Engine of Wood, and from thence to the fe- 
 cond by another ; for thefe Engines thus em- 
 ploy'd, were equal in Number to the feveral Or- 
 ders of Stone : Or perhaps the Engine was but 
 one; and being eafily manag'd, might be re- 
 mov'd as often as they plac'd a Stone , for I 
 have heard the Relation both ways. The high-- 
 eft were firft finim'd, and the reft in their pro- 
 per Order , but laft of all thofe that are loweft 
 and necireft the Ground. On this Pyramid, an 
 
 Inscription
 
 EUfERPE. an 
 
 Inscription is feen, declaring in ^Egyptian Cha- 
 racters, how much was expended in Radifhes, 
 Onions and Garlick for the Workmen j which, 
 the Interpreter, as I well remember, told me* 
 amounted to no Jefs than the Sum of fixteen 
 hundred Talents of Silver. And if this be true, 
 how much more may we think was expended i& 
 Iron Tools, in Bread, and in Clpaths for the 
 Labourers, during the time they were building 
 this Monument; befides the great Sums that 
 muft of NecefTity have been fpent, while they 
 were employ 'd in transporting the Stones, and 
 digging the fubterraneous Vaults? In the End, 
 Cheops having exhaufted his Treafures, arriv'd 
 to fuch a Degree of Infamy, that he proftituted 
 his own Daughter in a certain Apartment ; com- 
 manding her to get as much Money as {he 
 could ; but the Sum they mentioned not. She 
 obey'd the Order of her Father , and at the 
 fame time contriving to leave a Monument oj> 
 herfelf, afk'd every one that came, to give her 
 a. Stone towards the Edifice me defign'd. By 
 which means me built that Pyramid which (lands 
 in the Midft of the three, within View of the 
 great Pyramid, and extends to the length o 
 a Plethron and half on every fide of the Bafis. 
 Fifty Years, as the ^Egyptians fay, Cheops reign'd, 
 and when he was dead, his Brother Cephrenes 
 Succeeded to the Kingdom ; imitating him iu 
 other things, and particularly in building a Pyra- 
 mid ; which yet is far inferior in Dimenfipns to. 
 that of Cheops (for we ourfelves meafur'd them) 
 having no fubterraneous Chambers, nor a Chan- 
 nel, like the other, dsriv'd from the Nile, and 
 forming a kind of Ifland within, on which they 
 fay the Body pf Cheops lies depofited. The 
 P 2 lower
 
 212 HERODOTUS. Book 11. 
 
 lower part of this Fabrick is built with Ethio- 
 pian Marble of various Colours, forty Foot from 
 the Ground. But they are both of equal Alti- 
 tude, and ftand on the fame Hill 5 which rifes 
 to the height of about a hundred Foot. They 
 inform'd me, that Cephrenes reign'd fifty fix 
 Years , and that the Egyptians having been thus 
 opprefs'd with all manner of Calamities, during 
 one hundred and fixty Years, in all which time 
 the Temples were never open'd, had conceiv*d 
 fo great an Averfion to the Memory of the two 
 Kings, that no Egyptian will mention their 
 Names; but always attribute their Pyramids to 
 one Pbilifion a Shepherd, who kept his Cattle 
 in thofe Parts. They faid alfo, that after the 
 Death of Cephrenes, Mycerinns the Son of Cheops 
 became King ; and difapproving the Conduct of 
 his Father, open'd the Temples, and permitted 
 the People, who are reduced to the laft Extre- 
 mities, to apply themfelves to their own AfFairs > 
 and to facrifice as in preceding times : That the 
 Egyptians praife this King above all others; 
 particularly for adminiftring Juftice with fo 
 much Clemency, that when any Man complain'd 
 of a hard Sentence, he us'd to make him amends, 
 by fome Prefent out of his own Treafury : That 
 while he was thus beneficent to his People, and 
 careful of their Welfare, the firft Misfortune 
 that befel him, was the Death of his only 
 Daughter ; with which Calamity being extremely 
 afflicted, he refolv'd to bury her in an extra- 
 ordinary manner ; and having caus'd the Image 
 of a Cow to be made of Wood richly guilded 
 with Gold, he put the Body of his Daughter 
 into the Machine. This Cow was not interr'd 
 in the Ground v but continued to my time, 
 
 expo&'d
 
 EUTERPE. 213 
 
 exposed to open View, in a magnificent Cham- 
 ber of the Royal Palace in the City of Sais ; 
 where they burn exqffite Odours all the Day, 
 and illuminate the Place by Night with a 
 Lamp. In another Room contiguous to this, 
 are feen the Images of Mycerinus his Concii- 
 bines, as the Priefts of Sais affirm : And indeed 
 about twenty Statues of Wood ftand naked in 
 that Place ; but touching the Women they re- 
 prefent, I know no more than they were 
 pleas'd to tell me. Yet fome giving a diffe- 
 rent Account of this Monument, and of thefe 
 Statues, fay, that Mycerinus falling in Love 
 with his Daughter, us'd violent Means to ob- 
 tain her; which me refenting, hang'd herfelf, 
 and was buried in this manner by her Father: 
 That her Mother cut off the Hands of her 
 Maids, for aflifting Mycerinus i-n the Rape of 
 his Daughter ; and for that Reafon, fay they, 
 the Statues are made, as the Originals were 
 mutilated for that Offence. But thefe things, 
 as I conjecture, are not faid ferioufly ; efpeci- 
 ally in that particular relating to the Images, 
 the Hands of which were feen by me fcatter'd 
 on the Floor ; and I plainly perceiv'd they had 
 dropp'd off through length of Time. The 
 Body of the Cow is cover'd with Phoenician 
 Trappings, except the Head and Neck, which 
 are richly guilded ; and a Circle of Gold in 
 Imitation of the Sun is plac'd between the 
 Horns. This Animal is reprefented kneeling, 
 and equal in Proportion to the largeft living 
 Cow. The ^Egyptians annually carry her out 
 of the Apartment, where me is plac'd ; and af- 
 ter having whipp'd a certain God, not to be 
 jiam'd by me on this Occafion, they bring her 
 P 3 into
 
 214- HERODOTUS. Book II. 
 
 into the Light ; which they fay is done, be- 
 caufe the Daughter of Mycerinus defir'd her Fa- 
 ther before {he died, that he Would permit her 
 "to fee the Sun once every Year. Another Ca- 
 lamity fell upon this King, after the Death of 
 his Daughter. For a Prophecy was brought to 
 him from the City of Butus, importing, that he 
 had no more than fix Years to live, and mould 
 'die in the feventh : Which Denunciation having 
 heard with Impatience, he fent a bitter Com- 
 plaint to the Oracle , reproaching the God, 
 That his Father and Uncle, who had fhut up 
 'the Temples, defpis'd the Gods, and deftroy'd 
 vaft Numbers of Men, had liv'd long ; and he, 
 notwithftanding his Piety and Religion, muft 
 die fo foon. But the Oracle, in Anfwer, fent 
 him another MefTage, to acquaint him, that 
 his Life was morten'd, becaufe he had not act- 
 ed in Conformity to the Decrees of Fate ; 
 which had determin'd that Mgypt 'mould be af- 
 flicted during. one hundred and fifty Years; and 
 that this was well known to the two Kings his 
 PredecefTors, though not underftood by him. 
 Mycerinus finding himfelf thus condemned by 
 the Gods, commanded a great Number of Lamps 
 to 'be made, . and 'lighted every Night, that h'e 
 might irrceflantly pafs the time in drinking and 
 Pleafure ; roving frequently by .Night and by 
 Day a'bout the Plains and Groves, wherever he 
 could hear of 'the moft agreeable Company ; 
 imagining t>y this Artifice to convict the Oracle 
 of Falmoo'd, and ^by turning the Nights into fo 
 .many Days, 'to live twelve Years inftead of fix. 
 This King likewife left 'a Pyramid of a quadran-* 
 gular .Form ; but lower by twenty Foot than 
 that of ; hjs Father, every .Side ^tending to the 
 
 length
 
 EUTERPE. 215 
 
 length of three Plethrons, and built to the Mid- 
 dle with ^Ethiopian Stone. Some of the Gre- 
 cians, without Reafon, attribute this Monument 
 to the Curtezan Rhodophis ; but to me they 
 feem ignorant who me -was. For as me could 
 not have undertaken to build, a Pyramid, which, 
 if I may ufe the Expreflion, would require fuch 
 an infinite Sum ; fo fhe did not live in the fame 
 time, but under the Reign of Amafis, very 
 many Years after the Death of thofe Kings who 
 founded the Pyramids. She was a Native of 
 Thrace, Servant to ladmon the Samian of He- 
 phteftiopolis, and Fellow-fervant with ALfop^ the 
 Inventer of the Fables, who likewife befong'd 
 to ladmon^ as appears by this Teftimony chiefly. 
 For when the Delphians had feveral times de- 
 manded by publick Proclamation, who would 
 take the Penalty impos'd by the Oracle for the 
 Death of jEfop* no Man appear'd, except lad- 
 mon the Grandfon of this ladmon^ who was thd 
 Mafter of &fop. Xanthus the Samian tranf- 
 ported Rhodophis to JSgypt, in order to get Mo- 
 ney ; but Gharaxus of Mitylene, Son to Seaman- 
 dronymus, and Brother to Sappho the Poetefs, 
 purchas'd her Liberty wih a great Sum. By 
 this means being deliver*d from Servitude, Rho- 
 dophis continued in ^Egypt : And as me became 1 
 extremely beautiful, acquir*d great Treafures for 
 a Perfon of her Condition, though no way fuf- 
 ficient to defray the Expence of fuch a Pyramid. 
 And whoever confiders the Tenth of her Riches, 
 which is to be leen in our Days, will foon find 
 they were not fo great. For out of a Deli re to 
 leave fome Memory of herfelf in Greece, me 
 contriv'd fuch a Monument, as no Perfon ever 
 thought of before ; appropriating the Tenth of 
 P 4 al!
 
 ai 6 HERODOTUS. Book II. 
 
 all her Wealth to purchafe a great Number of 
 Iron Spits, ftrong enough to carry an Ox; 
 which me fent as an Offering to the Temple of 
 Delphi -, where they ftill remain behind the Al- 
 tar built by the Chians. From that time the 
 Curtezans of Naucratis have been fond of ap- 
 pearing beautiful; partly, becaufe the Perfon 
 we mention became fo famous, that no Grecian 
 was ignorant of the Name of Rbodopis; and 
 partly on account of Archidice^ who liv'd after 
 her, and was highly celebrated in Greece, tho* 
 not to a Degree equal to the former. As for 
 Cbaraxus, who purchas'd the Liberty of Rbo- 
 dopbis, he return'd to Mitylene^ and was not 
 a little ridicul'd by Sappho in an Ode (he com- 
 pos'd againft him. But I mall fay no more con- 
 cerning RbodoptSj 
 
 AFTER the Time of Mycerinus, the Priefts 
 faid, that Afychis was King of jEgypt, and that 
 he built the moft beautiful and magnificent Por- 
 tico of Vulcan's Temple, which fronts to the 
 Rifing-Sun: For though the other Porticoes 
 are adorn'd with various Figures of excellent 
 Sculpture, and many curious Pieces of Archi- 
 tecture ; yet this is preferable to all : That Afy- 
 cbis finding the Riches of Aigypt not to cir- 
 culate, made a Law, to enable a Man to borrow 
 Money upon the Sepulchre of his Father, with 
 this Addition, that the Debtor mould put the 
 Body into the PofTeflion of the Creditor: And 
 that, if he afterwards refus'd to pay the Debt, he 
 fhould neither be buried in the fame Place with 
 his Father, or in any other, nor have the Liber- 
 ty of burying any Perfon defcended from him ; 
 that this King defiring to outdo all his Predecef- 
 fors, eredled a Pyramid of Brick for his Monu' 
 
 ment,
 
 EUTERPE. 217 
 
 ment, With this Infcription, " Compare me not 
 " to the Pyramids of Stone, which I excel as 
 " much as Jupiter furpafies the other Gods. For 
 " ftriking the Bottom of the Lake with long 
 " Poles, and then collecting the Mire that ftuck 
 " to them, Men made Bricks, and form'd me 
 " in that manner." Thefe were the principal 
 Actions of Afychis. And after him, the Priefts 
 informed me, that Anyfis a blind Man, born in 
 a City of the fame Name, fucceeded in the King- 
 dom: That during his Reign Sabacon King of 
 /Ethiopia, at the Head of a powerful Army, in- 
 vaded Algypt) and that the blind Man fled to 
 the Fens: That the /Ethiopian King reign'd 
 fifty Years in jEgypt, and in all that time put no 
 /Egyptian to Death for any Crime *, contenting 
 himfelf to command every Delinquent, in Pro- 
 portion to his Offence, to carry a certain Quan- 
 tity of Earth to the City, of which he was an 
 Inhabitant; and by this means the Situation of 
 the Egyptian Cities was much elevated; for 
 thofe who cut the Canals in the Time of Sefoftris 
 had already brought thither all the Earth they 
 took out of thofe Aquaeducts ; but under this 
 /Ethiopian King they were raifed much higher; 
 and none more, in my Opinion, than the City 
 of Bubaftis, which has a Temple dedicated to 
 Bubaftis, who is no other than the Diana, of the 
 Grecians. This Temple well deferves mention. 
 For tho* others may be more fpacious and mag- 
 nificent, yet none can afford more Pleafure to 
 the Eye. The Temple is built in a Peninfula, 
 no part, except the Entrance, joining to the 
 Land ; and almoft furrounded by two Canals cut 
 from the Nile, that beat upon the Flanks of the 
 Avenue, without mixing together. Each Ca- 
 nal
 
 2i 8 HERODOTUS. Book II. 
 
 nal is a hundred Foot broad, fhaded with Trees 
 on both Sides. The Portico is ten Fathoms in 
 height, adorn'd with excellent Statues of fix Cu- 
 bits each. This Fabrick ftands in the midft of 
 the City, open on all Sides to the publick View ; 
 and remaining untouch*d when the reft of the 
 Ground was rais'd by an Addition of Earth, 
 is yet, like a Tower, plainly difcover'd from 
 every part about the Place. The Walls are 
 beautified with various Figures wrought in the 
 Stone, and inclofe a Grove of lofty Trees, that 
 encompafs a Chapel, in which an Image is 
 plac'd. This Temple contains a full Stade in 
 length, and as much in breadth. From the Ave- 
 nue Eaftward lies a Way through the Publick 
 Place, leading to the Temple of Hermes, about 
 three Stades in length, and four Plethrons in 
 breadth, all pav'd with Stone, and planted with 
 Trees on each fide, that feem to reach the Hea- 
 vens. And fuch is the Defcription of this Tem- 
 ple. Then proceeding to inform me of their De- 
 liverance from the Ethiopian King, they faid, 
 he fled from JEgypt upon a Vifion he had in a 
 Dream, reprefenting a Man {landing by him, 
 and advifing him to aflemble all the ^Egyptian 
 Priefts, and to cut them in two by the middle 
 of the Body : That after he had reflected on. his 
 Dream, he concluded that the Gods had a De- 
 fign to lay before him an Occafion of commit- 
 ting an impious Action, to the End he might be 
 punim'd either by themfelves or by Men ; but 
 rather than be guilty of fuch a Crime, he would 
 return to his own Country ; becaufe the time 
 was then expir'd, which the Oracles had aifigu'd 
 for the Duration of his Reign in Mgypt : For 
 whilft he was yet in JEthio-pia^ he had been ad- 
 
 monilh'd
 
 EUTERPE. 219 
 
 monifh'd by the Oracles of that Country, that 
 he fhouW govern the ^Egyptians fifty Years. 
 In Conclufion, Sabacon feeing the Term of 
 thofe Years elaps'd and being exceedingly dif- 
 turb'd by the Vifion, voluntarily abandon'd ^*- 
 gfpt. So that after his Departure the blind King 
 return'd to the Exercife of the Government 
 from the Fens , where he had continued fifty- 
 Years, and had form'd an Ifland for his Habita- 
 tion, compos'd of Aflies and Earth. For when 
 any ^Egyptian went to him by Order with Pro- 
 vifions, he always defir'd him to bring fome 
 Ames thither, without difcovering the Secret to 
 the /Ethiopian. This Ifland which goes by the 
 Name of Elba, and comprehends ten Stades in 
 length, and the fame Meafure in breadth, lay un- 
 difcover'd more than feven hundred Years, 'till 
 the Reign of Amyrtxus ; and was never found 
 out by any of the Kings his Predeceflbrs. After 
 him fucceeded Setbon^ a Prieft of Vulcan^ who 
 flighting the military Men of JEgypt as Perfons 
 altogether ufelefs to him, among other Indigni- 
 ties, took away the Lands they poffefsM, and 
 which had been aflign'd to them by former Kings, 
 being a fquare of fix hundred Cubits to each. 
 Man. For this Reafon, when Senacherib King 
 of Arabia and Affyria invaded AZgypt with a nu- 
 merous Army, the military Men refus'd to aflift 
 him ; fo that the Prieft in great Perplexity be- 
 took himfelf to the Temple ; and proftrate be- 
 fore the Image of the God, deplor'd the Cala- 
 mities impending over his Head. In the midft of 
 thefe Lamentations he fell afleep, and dream'd 
 he faw the God (landing by his fide, exhort- 
 ing him to take Courage, and afluring him, 
 if he would march out againft the Arabians, he 
 2 fhould
 
 220 HERODOTUS. Book II. 
 
 /hould receive no hurt ; but on the contrary be 
 effectually fuccour'd, and aveng*d of his Ene- 
 mies. In confidence of this Vifion, the Prieft 
 aflembled the Artificers, Traders, and all the 
 Populace, who were willing to follow him, and 
 encamp'd on the Frontier near Pelufium, with- 
 out any of the Military Order in his Army. 
 But the Night after his Arrival, an infinite num- 
 ber of Field-Rats entring the Enemy's Camp, 
 gnaw'd their Quivers, Bows, and the Thongs 
 of their Shields in pieces. So that, finding 
 themfelves difarm'd, they were conftrain'd to 
 break up the next Morning in Confufion, and 
 fuftain'd great Lofs in their Flight. For which 
 Caufe, a Statue of Stone reprefenting this King, 
 is creeled in the Temple of Vulcan, with a Rat 
 in one Hand, and thefe Words iffuing from his 
 Mouth; Whoever beholds me, let him learn to 
 le Religious. Thus far the ^Egyptians and the 
 Priefts are the A.uthors of this Relation, and gave 
 an Account of three hundred forty and one Ge- 
 nerations, from their firft King to the Reign of 
 Sethon Prieft of Vulcan, and laft of thefe Mo- 
 narchs; in which Time the Number of High 
 Priefts was found equal to that of the Kings. 
 Now, three hundred Generations are ten thou- 
 fand Years, every three Generations being ac- 
 counted equivalent to a hundred Years : And the 
 forty one that remain above the three hundred, 
 make one thoufand three hundred and forty Years. 
 Thus, they faid, in eleven thoufand three hun- 
 dred and forty Years, no God had put on the 
 Form of a Man : Neither had they ever heard 
 of fuch a thing in ALgypt, under their more an- 
 cient or later Kings. They faid indeed, that 
 in thofe Days, the Sun had four times alter'd his 
 
 regular
 
 EUTERPE. 221 
 
 regular Courfe, having been twice obferv'd to 
 rife where he now fets, and to go down twice 
 where he now rifes ; yet without producing any 
 Change, either by Land or Water, by Difeafes 
 or Mortality. 
 
 HAVING given an Account of my Defcent 
 to the Priefts of Jupiter at Thebes, I met with 
 almoft the fame Return, Hecat<eus the Hiftorian 
 formerly had from them ; when tracing his Ge- 
 nealogy by the Male Line, he deriv'd himfelf 
 from fixteen Gods. For they conducted me to a 
 fpacious Edifice, and fhew'd me large Images of 
 Wood, reprefenting all their preceding High 
 Priefts ; and pointing to each in Order, as they 
 flood, the Son after the Father, they went thro* 
 the whole Number I mention'd before, repeat- 
 ing their Genealogy in a gradual Defcent ; for 
 every High Prieft places his Image there during 
 his Life. But when Hecateus in the Account of 
 his Family, came to mention the fixteenth God, 
 they would by no means admit of his Suppofi- 
 tion, that a Man could be begotten by a God ; 
 but on the contrary told him, that each of the 
 Images he faw reprefented a Piromois begotten by 
 another Piromois ; and that of the whole Number, 
 amounting to three hundred and forty five, no 
 one had been reputed either a God or a Hero ; 
 the Word Piromois fignifying no more in their 
 Language than an honeft and virtuous Man ; 
 which Character all thofe reprefented by the 
 Images had, and yet were far inferior to the 
 Gods: That indeed before the time of thefe 
 Men, the Gods had been the Sovereigns of M- 
 gypty but were not converfant with Mortals ; 
 that one of them always exercis*d the fupreme 
 Power, and that the laft of thofe Kings was 
 
 Orus
 
 222 HE RQDO TUS. Book II. 
 
 Orus the Son of Ofirist who dethroned Typhon^ 
 and by the Grecians is call'd Apollo, as Ofiris 
 by the fame People is nam'd Bacchus. The Gre- 
 cians alfo think, that Hercules, Bacchus, and Pan 
 are the youngeft of all the Gods ; but in jE- 
 gypt Pan is efteem'd the moft ancient, even of 
 the eight primary Deities : Hercules is among 
 thofe that are fecond in Antiquity, and go under 
 the Name of the twelve : And Bacchus is of 
 the third Order of Gods, who derive their Being 
 from the former. I have already declar'd how 
 many Years the ^Egyptians account from Her- 
 cules to the Reign of Amafis : But their Compu- 
 tation from Pan contains a greater Number, and 
 from Bacchus fewer Years than from either, thp* 
 from this God to the Reign of Amafis they reckon 
 no lefs than fifteen thoufand Years. The ^gyp 
 tians fay they know thefe things with Certainty, 
 becaufe they have always computed the Years, 
 and kept an exact Account of time. Now from 
 Bacchus, who is faid to have been the Son of 
 Semele the Daughter of Cadmus, to our time, 
 about fixteen hundred Years have pa(s'd ; and 
 from Hercules the Son of /Ucmena, about nine 
 hundred ; but from Pan, who,, as the Grecians 
 fay, was the Son of Mercury by Penelope, not 
 more than eight hundred ; which is a lefs Num- 
 ber of Years than they account from the Siege 
 of Troy. Let every Man embrace the Opinion 
 he judges moft probable ; as I have declar'd my 
 own touching thefe things. For if Bacchus the 
 Son of Semele, and Pan the Son of Penelope, 
 had liv'd famous and grown old in Greece, like 
 Hercules the Son of Ampbytrion, fome might 
 have faid, that thefe Men obtain'd the Names 
 of thofe ancient Gods. But, becaufe the Gre- 
 cians
 
 EUTERPE. 223 
 
 clans report that Jupiter receiv'd Bacchus as foon 
 as he was born , and having few'd him into his 
 Thigh, carried him to Ntffa in ^/Ethiopia be- 
 yond ./Egypt ; and becaufe they have nothing at 
 all to fay touching the Place of Pan's Education, 
 I am fully convinc'd, that the Grecians had not 
 heard of thefe, 'till they were made acquainted 
 with the Names of the other Gods, and there- 
 fore they afcribe their Generation to that time, 
 and not higher. Thus having reported the Tra- 
 ditions peculiar to the Egyptians, I mall now 
 relate fuch things as other Nations, no lefs than 
 they, acknowledge to have been done in jEgypt, 
 and mail add fome Particulars, of which I was 
 an Eye-Witnefs. 
 
 THE Egyptians were free, upon the Death 
 of their King, the Prieft of Vulcan j but having 
 never been capable of living without a kingly 
 Government, they divided Mgypt into twelve 
 Parts, and conftituted a King over each Divifion. 
 Thefe twelve Kings contracted Alliances by mu- 
 tual Marriages, and reciprocally oblig'd them- 
 felves to continue in perpetual Amity without 
 invading the Territories of each other,' or en- 
 deavouring to enlarge their own. Which Con- 
 tract they contriv'd in fuch obligatory Terms, 
 becaufe they had been admonim'd by an Oracle, 
 when they afliim'd the Government, that who- 
 ever among them mould offer a Libation in the 
 Temple of Vulcan out of a Bowl of Brafs, mould 
 be fole King of Mgypt ; for they us'd to aflem- 
 ble in all the Temples indifferently. But being 
 defirous to leave a publick Monument of their 
 Reign at the common Charge, they built a La- 
 byrinth near the City of Crocodiles, a little above 
 -the Lake of MmV, which J faw, and found far 
 
 furpafling
 
 224 HERODOTUS. Book II. 
 
 furpafllng the Report of Fame. For if any 
 Man will impartially confider the Buildings and 
 Monuments of the Grecians, he will plainly lee 
 upon Comparifon, that this Labyrinth is a 
 Work of more Labour and greater Expence; 
 tho* I confefs the Temples of Epbefus and Santos 
 deferve a peculiar Regard. The Pyramids are 
 beyond Expreffion magnificent, and fingly com- 
 parable to many of the greateft Structures in 
 Greece confider'd together. And yet the Laby- 
 rinth is more admirable than the Pyramids. For 
 this Building contains twelve vaulted Halls, 
 with fo many oppofite Doors; fix opening to 
 the North, and fix to the South ; all encom- 
 pafs j d by the fame Wall. Fifteen hundred Cham- 
 bers are comprehended within the upper part of 
 this Edifice, and an equal Number under Ground. 
 I view'd every Room of the upper part, and 
 only report what I faw. But of the fubterra,- 
 neous part I can fay nothing, except upon the 
 Credit of other Men ; for the ./Egyptians who 
 kept the Place would by no means permit me to 
 go in ; becaufe, faid they, the Sepulchres of the 
 holy Crocodiles, and of thofe Kings that built 
 the Labyrinth are there. I am therefore confin*d 
 only to report the things I heard concerning the 
 fubterraneous Buildings. But the upper Part, 
 which I carefully view'd, feems to furpafs the 
 Art of Men : So many Egreflions by various Paf- 
 fages, and infinite Returns, afforded me a thou- 
 fand Occafions of Wonder, as I pafs'd from a 
 fpacious Hall to a Chamber ; from thence to 
 a private Cabinet ; then again into other Paf- 
 fages out of the Cabinets, and out of the 
 Chambers into the more fpacious Rooms. All 
 the Roofs and Walls within are incrufted with 
 i Marble >
 
 &i EUTERPE. 
 
 Marble ; but the Walls are farther adorn'd with 
 Figures of Sculpture. The Halls are furround- 
 ed with Pillars of white Stone finely polifh'd. 
 And at the Angle where the Labyrinth ends, a 
 Pyramid is erected, forty Fathom in Height, 
 with Figures of the largeft Animals in Sculpture, 
 and a fubterraneous Way leading into it. Ne- 
 verthelefs, tho* this Labyrinth be fuch as I 
 have defcrib'd ; yet the Lake of Afd?m, by 
 which that Monument ftands, is more wonder- 
 ful ; containing the full Meafure of three thou- 
 fand and fix hundred Stades, or fixty Schcenes 
 in Circumference ; which is equal to the 
 Length of all the Sea-Coaft of Aigypt. The 
 Figure of this Lake is Oblong, ftretching to 
 the North and South ; and in the deepeft Parts 
 has fifty Fathom of Water. But the two Py- 
 ramids built about the Middle of the Lake* 
 which raife their Heads fifty Fathom above the 
 Surface of the Water, and conceal as many un- 
 derneath, mew undeniably that this Work was 
 perform'd by the Hands of Men. On each of 
 thefe a Statue of Marble is plac'd, feated in a 
 Throne ; by which Account, the Pyramids are 
 one hundred Fathom in Height ; and one hundred 
 Fathom make up juft a Stade of fix Plethrons. 
 1 he Fathom is a Meafure containing fix Foot, or 
 four Cubits : The Foot comprehends four Palms, 
 and the Cubit fix. This Lake is not fed by 
 Springs ; for all thofe Parts are exceflively dry ; 
 but by Waters deriv'd thro* Chanels cut from 
 the Nile, which flow into the Lake fix Months of 
 the Year, and return to the River the other fix* 
 During all the fix Months of the River's Retreat, 
 the Fifhery yields a Talent of Silver every Day 
 to the King's Treafury ; and the reft of the 
 Q^ Time,
 
 226 HERODOTUS. Book II. 
 
 Time, twenty Mines only. The Inhabitants 
 afTur*d me that this Lake runs under the Earth as 
 far as the Sands of Libya, leaning always to the 
 Weftward, by the Way of the midland Country, 
 and the Mountains of Memphis. But being much 
 concern'd not to fee the Earth that was taken 
 Out of thefe Works, I defir'd the neighbouring 
 People to explain the Matter ; who informing 
 me that all that Earth had been carried away, 
 I eafily gave them Credit, becaufe I had heard 
 that the like had been done at the City of 
 Ninus in Affyrla. For when certain Thieves 
 had form'd a Defign to ftesl the vaft Treafures 
 of Sardanapalus King of Ninus, which were 
 preferv'd in fubterraneous Vaults, they carried 
 on a Mine from their own Habitations to the 
 Palace, and every Night throwing the Earth 
 they had taken out into the River Tigris, which 
 paffes by the City, they at laft effected their 
 Defign. The fame Method was taken in &gypt+ 
 with this Exception only, that they wrought 
 here by Day and not in the Night. For they 
 inform*d me, that all the Earth they dug, was 
 carried by the ^Egyptians to the Nile, and dif- 
 pers'd by the Current of that River. And in 
 this Manner the Lake of Mceris is reported to 
 have been made. 
 
 THE twelve Kings continued ftrictly to ob- 
 ferve the Contract they had made j when meet- 
 ing all together at a ftated Time to facrifice in 
 the Temple of Vulcan, and being about to offer 
 a Libation on the laft Day of the Solemnity, the 
 High Prieft by Miftake brought no more than 
 eleven of the twelve golden Bowls, which were 
 referv'd for thefe Occafions. So that to fupply 
 the Deficiency, Pfammetichus, who flood laft in 
 
 Order,
 
 EUTERPE. 227 
 
 Order, took off his Helmet of Brafs, and hold- 
 ing it in his Hand, perform'd the Ceremony of 
 Libation with the reft. Ail the other Kings 
 had the fame kind of Helmet, and wore them 
 at that Time ; neither had Pfammetickus any ill 
 Intention. But they considering the A&iori, 
 and recollecting the Prediction of the Oracle^ 
 " That he who mould offer a Libation out of a 
 u Bowl of Brafs, mould be fole King of &gypt ; 
 tho* they would not put him to Death, becaufe 
 upon Examination they found him free from 
 any evil Defign, neverthelefs unanimously a- 
 greed to diveft him of the greateft Part of his 
 TerritorieSj and to banifli him into the Fens* 
 with a ftricT: Prohibition not to remove, or in- 
 termeddle in the Affairs of any other Part of 
 &gypt. Long before this Event Pfammeticbus 
 had been forc'd to fly into Syria? to efcape the 
 Fury of Sabbacon King of ^Ethiopia, who had 
 kill'd his Father Necbos ; and to continue in 
 Exile, 'till he was recall'd by the Inhabitants 
 of Sais^ after the dLthi&pian had been induc'd 
 by the Terror of a Dream to abandon Egypt. 
 Then reigning in Conjunction with the eleven 
 Kings, he was again conftrain'd to withdraw 
 into the Fens, for ufing his Helmet at the 
 Libation. But not being able to digeft this 
 Indignity, and ftudying how to revenge him- 
 felf againft his Perfecutors; he fent to the 
 Oracle of Latona in the City of Butus? which 
 is accounted the moft infallible in Aigypt? and 
 receivM for Anfwer, " That he mould be re- 
 *' veng*d by Men of Brafs fuddenly rifing out 
 " of the Sea. This Oracle plung'd him into 
 the deepeft Incredulity ; not comprehending the 
 poffibility of receiving Succour from Men of 
 
 Brafs.
 
 228 HERODOTUS. BooklL 
 
 Brafs. But not long after, fome Ionian and 
 Carian Pirates driven by Neceflity to "go afhore 
 in jgypt, landed in Armour of Brafs. Upon 
 which an Egyptian, who had never before feen 
 Men arm'd in that Manner, went to the Fens, 
 and acquainted Pfammeticbus, that certain Men 
 of Brafs had rifen out of the Sea, and were 
 ravaging all the Lands adjacent to the Shore. 
 He, no longer doubting the Accomplimment 
 of the Prediction, : made an Alliance with thefe 
 lonians and Carians, and having by Promifes 
 of ample Gratifications perfuaded them to ftay, 
 did, with their Afliftance and the Help of fuch 
 /Egyptians as well affected to him, fubdue 
 and dethrone all the other Kings. 
 
 THUS being in Pofleflion of all JEgypt, he 
 added a Portico to Vulcan's Temple at Mem- 
 phis^ facing the South ; and in the Front of 
 this Portico, built another fpacious Edifice, 
 adorn'd with various Figures of Sculpture, and 
 furrounded with Collofs's twelve Cubits high, 
 in the Place of Pillars, defign'd for the Ha- 
 bitation of Apis, by the Grecians nam'd Epa- 
 phus^ when he mould be found. He rewarded 
 the lonians and Carians who had aflifted him, 
 with Lands fituate on each fide of the Nile 9 
 and feparated by that River ; calling thofe 
 Habitations, the Camp. And befides thefe 
 Lands he gave them whatever he had pro- 
 mis'd before the Expedition ; and put divers 
 /Egyptian Children under their Care, to be in- 
 truded in the Knowledge of the Grecian Lan- 
 guage. So that thofe who now perform the 
 Office of Interpreters in Mgypt^ are defcended 
 from this Colony. The lonians and Carians con- 
 tinued for a long Time to inhabit thofe Parts; 
 
 which
 
 EUTERPE, 229 
 
 which lye near the Sea, below the City of Bu- 
 baftiS) in the Pelufian Mouth of the River Nile : 
 'Till in fucceeding Time, Amafis King of Mgypt 
 caus'd them to abandon their Habitations, and 
 fettle at Mem-phis, to defend him againft the 
 ./Egyptians. But from the Time of their firft: 
 Eftablifhment, they had fo conftant a Commu- 
 nication with the Grecians, that one may juftly 
 fay, we certainly know all things that pafs'd in 
 ASgypt fince the Reign of Pfammetichus to our 
 Age. They were the firft People of a different 
 Language, who fettled in jEgypt ; and the Ruins 
 of their Buildings, together with the Remains of 
 the Stations and Arfenals they had for Shipping, 
 are feen to this Day evidently difcovering the 
 Place where they firft inhabited. And in this 
 Manner Pfammetichus became Matter of all 
 JEgypf. 
 
 CONCERNING this Oracle, I have already 
 related divers particulars ; and mail now farther 
 enlarge on the fame Subject j as a thing that de- 
 ferves- a fingular Regard. The Temple is de- 
 dicated to Lafona, and built in the great City of 
 Butus, as I mention'd before, beyond the Seben- 
 nytic Mouth of the Nile, as Men navigate from 
 the Sea up that River. Apollo and Diana have 
 alfo Temples in the fame City ; and that of La- 
 tona, which contains the Oracle, is a magnificent 
 Structure adorn'd with a Portico fixty Foot high. 
 But of all the things I faw there, nothing feem'd 
 fo aftoniming to me, as a quadrangular Chapel 
 in this Temple, cut out of one fingle Stone, 
 and containing a Square of forty Cubits on every 
 fide, intirely cover'd with a Roof of one Stone 
 likewife, having a Border four Cubits thick. 
 This Chapel, I confefs, appear'd to me the mod
 
 2 3 o HERODOTUS. Book II. 
 
 prodigious thing I faw in that Place; the next 
 to this, the Ifland of Cbemmis^ fituate in a broad 
 and deep Lake near the Temple of Butus. The 
 ^Egyptians fay this is a floating Ifland-, but I 
 could not fee it either float or move, and won- 
 der'd to hear them affirming fo ftrange a thing. 
 The Ifland of Cbemmis contains a fpacious Tem- 
 ple dedicated to Apollo^ and three Altars ; with 
 great Numbers of Palms, and other Trees, as 
 well of fuch as produce Fruit, as of thofe that 
 ferve for Shade and Ornament. The Opinion 
 of the ^Egyptians touching this Ifland is founded 
 on the following Tradition. They fay that 
 Latona^ one of the eight Primary Deities, re- 
 fiding in Bufus? where her Oracle now is, re- 
 ceiv'd Apollo from the Hands of I/is, and 
 preferv'd his Life by concealing, him in. this, 
 which is now call'd the floating Ifland, when 
 Syphon arriving in thofe Parts, us-'d all poffible 
 Diligence to find out the Son of Oftris. For 
 they {ay that Apollo and Diana are the Offspring 
 of Dionyjtus and Ifis ; and that Latona was their 
 Nurfe and Prefer ver^ calling Apollo and Ceres 
 by the Names of Orus and IJis ; and Diana by 
 that of Bubaftis. Now from this Account and 
 no other, Mfchylus the Son of Eupborion took his 
 Information, when he alone of all the former 
 Poets introduc'd Diana as the Daughter of 
 Ceres* and faid that the Ifland was made to 
 float on this Occafion. Thefe things are thus 
 reported. 
 
 PSAMMETICHUS reigii'd in AZgypt fifty 
 four Years ; nine and twenty of which he fpent 
 at the Siege of Azotus in Syria* before he could 
 reduce that great City, which of all others we 
 know, held out the longeft Time. His Son Necus 
 
 fucceeded
 
 EUTERPE. 231 
 
 fucceeded him, and began a Canal of Commu- 
 nication beetween the Nile and the Red Sea, 
 which Darius the Perfian afterwards fmifh'd. 
 Two Galleys may advance abreaft, and perform 
 the whole Voyage in four Days. This Canal 
 begins at the Nile a little above Bubaftis, and 
 paffing by Patumon a City of Arabia, flows into 
 the Red Sea. 'Tis cut thro' the Plains of AZgypt, 
 that lye towards Arabia ; becaufe the Mountains 
 of Memphis, which contain the Quarries of 
 Stone, are fituate beyond this Level. And there- 
 fore this great Canal is carried along the Foot 
 of thofe Hills from the Weft to the Eaftward, 
 and then turn'd thro* the Chops of the Moun- 
 tains towards the South into the Arabian Gulph. 
 But the morteft and moft compendious Paflage 
 from the Northern Sea to the Southern, or Red 
 Sea, is by Mount Cafius, which feparates Egypt 
 from Syria. For this Mountain is not above a 
 thoufand Stades diftant from the Gulph of Ara- 
 bia. So that this is the fhorter Way, the other 
 being render'd more tedious by the frequent 
 Turnings of the Canal. One hundred and twenty 
 thoufand ./Egyptians employ'd in this Labour, 
 perifh'd under the Reign of Nee us ; and when 
 the Work was half done, the Oracle admo- 
 nim'd him to defift, and leave the Canal to be 
 nnifh'd by a Barbarian ; for that Name is given 
 by the ^Egyptians to all thofe who are of ano- 
 ther Language. Thus Necus abandoning his De- 
 fign, turn'd his Thoughts to Military Affairs, 
 and built a Fleet of Gallies on the Northern 
 Sea, and another in the Arabian Gulph, at the 
 Mouth of the Red Sea, as appears by the Ruins 
 of his Arfenals and Havens remaining to this 
 Day. Thefe Fleets he us'd upon Occafion ; and 
 
 was
 
 232 HERODOTUS. Book II. 
 
 was no lefs formidable by Land. For he fought 
 a Battle againft the Syrians in the Plains of Mag- 
 dolus\ and after he had obtained the Victory, 
 took the great City of Cadytis. The Garments 
 he wore in thefe Actions, he confecrated to 
 Aaollo, and fent them to Branchis in the Terri- 
 tories of the Milefians. He reign'd fixteen Years ; 
 and at his Death left the Kingdom to his Son 
 Pfammis. 
 
 DURING the Reign of this King, Ambaf- 
 fadors from Elis arriv'd in digypf, boafting that 
 they had out-done all Mankind, in eftablifhing 
 the Olympian Exercifes under the moft juft 
 and excellent Regulations, and did not think 
 that tfye Egyptians, tho* they were the wifeft 
 People of the World, could make any Addi- 
 tion to their Inftitution. Being arriv'd, and 
 having acquainted the King with the Caufe 
 of their Ambafly, he fummon'd an Aflembly 
 of fuch Perfons as were efteem-d the wifeft 
 among the ./Egyptians: Who when they had 
 heard all that the Eleans had to fay concerning 
 the Olympian Exercifes, and the Caufe of their 
 coming, which they faid was to inquire whe- 
 ther the Egyptians 'could invent any thing more 
 equitable j ask'd the AmbafTadors, if the Citi- 
 zens of Elis were permitted to enter the Lifts : 
 And the Eleans anfwering that they and all 
 other Grecians were equally admitted ; the JE- 
 gyptians replied, that in fo doing they had to- 
 tally deviated from the Rules of Jufticej No 
 Consideration being fufficient to reftrain Men 
 from favouring thofe of their own Country to 
 the Prejudice of Strangers. But if they were 
 ilncerely defirous to act juftly, and had under-r 
 faken this Voyage into Mgyft with that Inten- 
 tion.
 
 EUTERPE. 233 
 
 tion, they ought to exclude all the Eleans, and 
 admit only Strangers to be the Opponents. This 
 Admonition the Eleans received from die /E- 
 gyptians. 
 
 PSAMMIS reign'd only fix Years; and having 
 undertaken an Expedition againft the Ethio- 
 pians, died foon after, and left the Kingdom to 
 his Son Apries. This King liv'd twenty five 
 Years in greater Profperiry than any of his Pre- 
 deceflbrs, except his Grandfather Pfammeticbus. 
 In which Time he invaded Sidon with an Ar- 
 my, and engag'd the Tynans in a Sea-fight. 
 But being deftinated to Ruin, his Misfortunes 
 began upon an Occafion, which I mall briefly 
 mention in this Place, and more largely explain, 
 when I fpeak of the Libyan Affairs. Aprie? 
 having fent a numerous Army againft the Cy- 
 renaeans, and receiving a very great Defeat, 
 the Egyptians revolted ; fufpecling he had de- 
 fignedly contriv'd the Slaughter of thofe For- 
 ces, that after their Deftruclion he might go- 
 vern the reft with a more abfolute Authority ;' 
 which they fo highly refentecj, that not only 
 thofe who returned from that Expedition, 
 but all the Friends of thofe that had perim'd, 
 openly revolted againft him. When Apries 
 heard of this Defection, he difpatch'd Ama/is 
 to pacify them with kind Expreflions. But 
 as he was beginning to reprove the /Egypti- 
 ans, and to difTuade them from their Enterprise, 
 a certain ^Egyptian who ftood behind Amafts^ 
 put a Helmet upon his Head, and faluted him 
 King of Mgypt. Which was not done without 
 the Participation of Ama/is , as the Event fhew'd. 
 For he was no fooner declar'd King, than he 
 prepar'd to lead an Army againft A 'pries ; W 7 ho 
 
 being
 
 234 HERODOTUS. Book II. 
 
 being inform'd of all that had pafs'd, fent Patar- 
 bemis^ one of the moft considerable Perfons a- 
 mong the Egyptians that adher'd to him, with 
 Orders to bring Amafis alive into his Prefence. 
 Paterbemis arriving in the Camp, call'd to A- 
 mafis , but he, as he fat on Horfeback, lifting 
 up his Thigh and breaking Wind, bid him carry 
 that to Apries. In the End, when Pata-rbemis 
 requir'd him to go to the King, he anfwer'd, 
 that he had been long preparing to vifit him ; 
 and that he might give him no Caufe of Com- 
 plaint, he would not only appear himfelf, but 
 would bring fome Company with him. Patar- 
 lemis perceiving the Defign of Amafis by the 
 Words he had heard, and the Preparations he 
 faw, thought himfelf obliged to inform the 
 King of thefe things with all Expedition : And 
 coming into his Prefence without Amafis^ A- 
 pries, faid not one Wor-d to him -, but in a fud- 
 den Tranfport of Paffion commanded his Ears 
 and Nofe to be cut off. The reft of the JE- 
 gyptians, who to that Time had continued 
 faithful to Apries r feeing a Perfon of univerfal 
 Ealeem treated in fo unworthy a Manner, went 
 immediately over to thofe who had revolted, 
 and offer'd themfelves to Amafis \ which when 
 Agyies heard, he drew out his Auxiliary For- 
 ces, confifting of Carians and Ionians> to the 
 Number of thirty thou&nd ; and marching from 
 Sats, where he had a beautiful and magnificent 
 Palace,, led his Troops againft the Egyptians ; 
 whilft Amafis led the Army he commanded a- 
 gainft the Foreigners. They met in the Fields 
 of Memphis,, and prepar'd themfelves on both 
 fides for a Battle. 
 
 THE
 
 EUTERPE. 235 
 
 THE -^Egyptians are diftinguifhM into {even 
 Orders of Men-, Priefts, Soldiers, Herdfmen, 
 Hogherds, Traders, Interpreters, and Pilots, 
 who take the Names from the Profeflions they 
 exercife. The Military Men are calTd either 
 Calafirians, or Hermotybians, according to the 
 Diftricts they inhabit. For all dZgypt is divided 
 into Diftricts or JurifdicTions. The Hermoty- 
 bians are of the Diftrid of Bit/iris, Sais, Cbem- 
 mis, Papremis, and one half of the Ifland Pro- 
 fopis, which is call'd Natbo. From thefe Di- 
 ftricts a hunderd and fixty thoufand Hermo- 
 tybians may be drawn, when they are moft 
 numerous. None of thefe ever leani any Me- 
 chanick Art, but apply themfelves wholly to 
 Military Affairs. The Calafirians are of the 
 Jurifdictions of Thebes, Bubaftis, Aptbis, Ta- 
 w's, Mendes, Sebennytus, Athribis, Pharb<ethist 
 Tbmuis, Onyphis, Anyfis and of Mycepboris, which 
 is fituated in an Ifland over againft Bubaftis. 
 Thefe Diftricls of the Calafirians may furnifh 
 two hundred and fifty thoufand Men at moft -, 
 who being likewife reftrain'd from exercifing 
 any Mechanick Profeffion, are oblig'd to ap-. 
 ply themfelves from Father to Son, to the Art 
 of War only. I cannot affirm that the Greci- 
 ans receiv'd this Cuftom from the Egyptians ; 
 efpecially confidering that the Thracians, Scy- 
 thians, Perfians, Lydians, and almoft all barba- 
 rous Nations have little Regard to thofe who 
 profefs any Mechanick Art ; judging fuch as ab- 
 ftain from thofe Employments, and particularly 
 Military Men, to be of a more generous Spirit. 
 Yet all the Grecians have entertain'd the fame 
 Maxim, and principally the Lacedaemonians 5 
 tho* the Mechanick Arts are not accounted alto- 
 gether
 
 236 HERODOT'US.Eookn. 
 
 gether fo difhonourable among the Corinthi- 
 ans. The Lands conferr'd upon the Militia 
 are exempted from all publick Tributes as well 
 as thofe of the Priefthood. Twelve Acres are 
 aflign'd to each Man, every Acre containing a 
 Square of one hundred ./Egyptian Cubits, which 
 are equal to fo many Cubits of Samos. They 
 all enjoy thefe Advantages, but are admitted 
 to other Profits by Turns. For a thoufand Ca- 
 lafirians, and as many Hermotybians ferve the 
 King annually for a Guard, and, befides the 
 Revenue of their Lands, receive a daily Al- 
 lowance, confifting of five Pounds of Bread, 
 and two of Beef, with four Draughts of Wine 
 to each Man. 
 
 BOTH Armies being advanc'd to Memphis -, 
 Apries at the Head of his Auxiliaries, and Amafis 
 with all the ./Egyptians, they fought a Battle : 
 In which the Foreigners behav'd themfelves 
 with great Courage: But being opprefs'd with 
 Numbers, were entirely defeated. 'Tis reported 
 that Apries fondly thought he had fo well efta- 
 blim'd his Authority, that the Power of a God 
 would not prove fufficient to difpoflefs him of 
 the Kingdom ; and yet he was beaten, taken Pri- 
 foner, and confin'd to the Palace of Sais, for- 
 merly his own, and now belonging to Amafis ; 
 where he was kept for fome Time, and treated 
 with great Humanity. But the People murmur- 
 ing at the Lenity of Amafis to a common Ene- 
 my, as injurious to himfelf and the whole Nati- 
 on, he was conftrain'd to deliver Apries into the 
 Hands of the ./Egyptians ; who ftrangled him, 
 and laid his Body in the Sepulchre of his Ancef- 
 tors, erected in tke Temple of Minerva adjoyn- 
 ing to the Palace, on the Left-hand of the En- 
 trance,
 
 EUTERPE. 237 
 
 trance. For the Inhabitants of Sais have al- 
 ways buried the Kings that were of their Pro- 
 vince in this Temple. But the Monument of A- 
 mafis is plac'd at a greater Diftance from the Pa- 
 lace than that of Afritt and his Progenitors. In 
 the Court of this Temple ftands a magnificent 
 Structure, adorn'd with Columns of Stone cut 
 to extraordinary Dimenfions, and refembling 
 Palm-Trees in Figure; together with many o- 
 ther Ornaments \ and within that Edifice are 
 two Doors between which a funeral Monument 
 is plac'd. Behind the fame Temple of Minerva 
 at Sais, certain Sepulchres are built by the back 
 Wall. For a Memorial of things not to be nam'd 
 by me. Vaft Obelifks ftand creeled on the con- 
 fecrated Ground, near a Lake of orbicular Form, 
 lin'd with Stone, and in my Opinion equal 
 to that of Delos, which from the Roundnefs 
 of its Figure is call'd I'rochoeides. In this Lake 
 the Egyptians form the Ideas of their noctur- 
 nal Paflions, which they call Myfteries. But 
 for the Sake of Decency, I mail not explain 
 thefe things, tho' the far greater Part are well 
 known to me. Neither mall I utter one Word 
 more than is permitted, touching the facred 
 Rites of Ceres , which in Greece are call'd < Thef- 
 moforian. The Daughters of Danaus brought 
 thefe Ceremonies from jEgypt, and inftructed 
 the Pelafgian Women in the Ufe of them. But 
 upon the Expulfion of the Peloponnefians, thefe 
 Rites were almoft abolim'd ; except among the 
 Arcadians, who were not ejected by the Dori- 
 ans. 
 
 AFTER the Death of Aprles^ the Kingdom 
 continued in the Hands of Amafis^ who was 
 born in the City of Siuph, in the Province of Sais. 
 
 The
 
 238 HERODOTUS. Book II. 
 
 The ^Egyptians fhew'd little Refpect to him in 
 the Beginning of his Reign : but rather def- 
 pis'd him as a Perfon of inferior Rank; and not 
 defcended of an illuftrious Family, but he foon 
 acquir'd their Efteem by his Art and Dexte- 
 rity. For among other infinite Treafures, he 
 had a Bafon of Gold in which he and all thofe 
 who were admitted to eat at his Table, were 
 accuftom'd to warn their Feet. This Bafori 
 he caus*d to be melted down, and formed 
 into the Statue of a God ; which having plac'd 
 in the moft frequented Part of the City, the 
 ^Egyptians with great Reverence paid their 
 Devotions to the Image. In the mean Time 
 Amafis^ inform'd of their Behaviour, calls a 
 general AfTembly, and acquaints the ^Egypti- 
 ans, that the Image they now wormipp'd fo de- 
 voutly, was made out of the Bowl, in which 
 they had fo often pifs'd, vomited ^ and wafh'd 
 their Feet ; and that his Condition was not un- 
 like that of the Image: For tho' he had been 
 formerly an ordinary Perfon, yet being now 
 their King, he requir'd them to honour and o- 
 bey him : And by this Means he perfuaded the 
 Egyptians to think themfelves oblig'd in Du- 
 ty to pay him all that Refpect and Submimon 
 which is due to a King. His ufual Manner was 
 to employ all the Hours in the Morning in an 
 afliduous application to the Publick Affairs, and 
 afterwards to divert himfelf in Company, drink- 
 ing with his Companions, and frequently de- 
 fcending even to play the Part of a Buffoon. 
 But his Friends offended at his Conduct, admo- 
 nifh'd him, that thefe Actions tended to render 
 him contemptible. " For, faid they, he who 
 ** fits on a Throne ought to pafs the whote Day 
 i "in
 
 EUTERPE. 239 
 
 " in the Adminiftration of publick Bufinefs ; that 
 " the Egyptians may know they are govern'd 
 " by a great King, and fpeak honourably of 
 " his Perfon. Whereas your Conduct is alto- 
 * c gether unbecoming the Royal Dignity. Ama- 
 fis in Anfwer faid, " That an Archer, when he 
 " is about to moot, braces his Bow; but af- 
 *' ter he has (hot, loofens the String; becaufe 
 " a Bow that mould always continue bent, 
 " would either break or be render'd ufelefs 
 " in Time of need : And that this might rea- 
 " fonably be applied to Men : For if a Man 
 " mould inceflantly attend to ferious Studies, 
 " and rerufe to fpend any Part of his Time 
 *' in ludicrous Recreations, either Madnefs or 
 " Stupidity would fteal upon him: Of which 
 " Truth being perfectly convinc'd, he had 
 " contriv'd to divide the Time between Bufi~ 
 " nefs and Diverfion. And indeed the Egyp- 
 tians fay that Amafis, while he "was a private 
 Perfon, lov'd to drink, and divert himfelf with 
 Jefting and Raillery ; and was fo far from be- 
 ing a Man of Diligence and induftry, that he 
 betook himfelf to ftealing, when he could no o- 
 therwife fupply the Expences of his Luxury: 
 For which being frequently accus'd by thofe he 
 had robb*d, and always denying the Fact, he was 
 often carried to the Oracle of the Place, where 
 he was many Times convicted, and as often 
 acquitted. But after his Acceflion to the 
 Throne, he flighted the Temples of all thofe 
 Gods, who had acquitted him ; and abftaining 
 from their Sacrifices, would never beftow any 
 Donation upon them ; well knowing they de- 
 ferv'd no regard, by the Experience he had of 
 the Falfhood of their Oracles. Whereas on the 
 
 contrary,
 
 2 4 o HERODOTUS. Book II. 
 
 contrary,- perfuaded of the Veracity of thofe 
 Gods, who had declar'd him a Thief, he paid 
 a fingular Reverence to their Temples. He 
 built that admirable Portico which ftands be- 
 fore the Temple of Minerva in Sais 9 far fur- 
 paling all others in Circumference and Eleva- 
 tion, as well as in the Dimenfions of the Stones ; 
 and adorn'd the Building with Coloflian Sta- 
 tues, and the monftrous Figures of Androfybyn- 
 ges. One Part of the Stones employ 'd in .this 
 Work, were cut in the Quarries of Memphis -, 
 but thofe of the greateft Magnitude were con- 
 vey*d by Water from the City of Elepbantis, 
 diftant from Sais as far as a Veflel can make 
 in twenty Days. But that which I beheld with 
 greateft Admiration was a Houfe he brought from 
 Elephantis, made of one Stone. Two thou- 
 fand Men, all Pilots, were employ *d during 
 three whole Years in the Tranfportation of 
 this Houfe; which has in Front twenty one 
 Cubits, in Deph fourteen, and eight in Height. 
 And this is the Meafure of the Outfide. The 
 Infide is eighteen Cubits and upwards in Length, 
 twelve in Depth, and five Cubits in Height. 
 This wonderful Edifice is plac'd by the Entrance 
 of the Temple , fome fay, becaufe the Architect 
 regretting the Time he had fpent in fo tedious 
 a Labour, fetch'd a deep Sigh as he was moving 
 the Machine towards its Station , which Amafis 
 refenting would not fuffer him to proceed. But 
 others affirm, that one of the Men who guided 
 the Rowlers, was crufh'd to pieces in the Way 
 to the Temple, and on that Account they ad- 
 vanc'd no farther. Among the many magnificent 
 Donations which Amafis prefented in the moil 
 famous Temples, he caus'd a Colofius, lying with 
 
 the
 
 EUTERPE. 241 
 
 the Face upwards, feventy five Foot in Length* 
 to be plac'd before the Temple of Vulcan at 
 Memphis; And on the fame Ban's erected two 
 Statues of twenty Foot each, wrought out of 
 the fame Stone, and (landing on each fide of 
 the great Coloflus. Like this, another is feen 
 in Sais, lying in the fame Pofture ; cut in 
 Stone, and of equal Dimensions. He likewife 
 built the great Temple of I/is in the City of 
 Memphis, which well deferves to be admired. 
 
 UNDER the Reign of Amafis jEgypt was ex- 
 ceedingly happy in all the Conveniences deriv'd 
 from the River to the Country, or from the 
 Country to Men, and contain'd twenty thou^- 
 fand populous Cities. He eftablifh'd a Law, 
 commanding that every ^Egyptian mould an- 
 nually declare before the Governor of the Pro- 
 vince, by what Means he maintain'd himfelfj 
 and if he omitted to go, or gave not a {atisfac- 
 tory Account of his Way of Living, he mould 
 be punifh'd with Death. This Law Solon the 
 Athenian brought from jfcgypt^ and introduc'd 
 into Athens -, where 'tis inviolably obferv'd as a 
 moft equitable Conftitution. Amajis was a Lo- 
 ver of the Grecians, and, befides the Favours 
 he conferred upon particular Perfons and Cities, 
 he permitted as many as would come into jE+ 
 gypt? to inhabit the City of Naucratis^ and 
 granted that thofe who would not fettle there, 
 but chofe rather to attend their Commerce by 
 Sea, might erect Altars and Temples to the 
 Gods in certain Places aflign'd to that End. 
 The greateft, nobleft, and moft frequented of 
 thefe Temples is that which is generally known 
 by the Name of the Grecian Temple, built at 
 the common Expence of the Ionian Cities of 
 R Cbio 9
 
 242 HERODOTUS. Book II. 
 
 Ckio, feos, Poc<ea, and Clazomene ; in Conjunc- 
 tion with the Dorian Communities of Rhodes, 
 Cnidus, Halicarna/us, Phafeli 's ; and the City 
 of Mitykne only of the ^lolians. So that thefe 
 Places alone have a Title to this Temple, and 
 to appoint the Governors of Commerce: And 
 all other Communities that participate of thofe 
 Privileges, are only admitted upon Favour. For 
 the People of Mgina built a Temple to Jupi- 
 tfr at their own Charge; the Samians one to 
 Juno, and the Milefians another to Apollo. 
 The City of Naucratis was antiently the only 
 Place of Refort for Merchants in all AEgypt : 
 And if a Veflel put into any other Harbour of 
 the Nile, the Proprietor was oblig'd to fwear 
 he arriv'd unwillingly, and would depart in the 
 fame Ship by the firft Opportunity ; and that 
 if contrary Winds mould prevent him from 
 reaching the Port of Canopus, he would unload 
 his Goods, and carry them in Boats round the 
 Delta to Naucratis. So great were the Privi- 
 leges of that City. 
 
 WHEN the Amphyctions agreed to pay three 
 hundred Talents for rebuilding the Temple 
 of Delphi, which had been burnt by an un- 
 known Accident, and charg'd a fourth Part of 
 that Sum upon the Inhabitants of the Place, the 
 Pelphians went about, defiring Afliftance of di- 
 vers Cities, and brought Home no fmall Con- 
 tributions from AEgypt. For they received a 
 thoufand Talents of Aim from Amajis, and the 
 Value of twenty Mines from the Grecians who 
 were fettled in his Kingdom. Amafis made 
 alfo an Alliance of mutual Amity and Defence, 
 with the Cyrenaeans; and refolving to take a 
 Wife of that Country i either out of a Defire 
 
 of
 
 EUTERPE. 243 
 
 of having a Grecian Woman, or from a peculiar 
 Affection to that People, he married Ladice, the 
 Daughter, as fome fay, of Battus^ others, of 
 Arcefilaus ; tho* a third fort pretend {he was the 
 Daughter of Critobulus^ a Perfon of great Au- 
 thority among the Cyrenaeans. But not being 
 able to ufe her as his Wife after Marriage, and 
 yet finding no Impediment with Refpect to other 
 Women, he at length told her me had inchan- 
 ted him, and that no Artifice mould be fufficient 
 to deliver fo wicked a Woman out of his Hands. 
 Ladice denied the Fact, and endeavour'd to paci=- 
 fy him: But when nothing would prevail, me 
 figh'd out a mental Prayer to Venus ; and vow'd, 
 if Amafis mould be enabled to do the Part of a 
 Hufband that Night (which was the only Re- 
 medy left) me would fend a Statue of the God- 
 defs to be creeled in Cyrene. No fooner had me 
 made this Vow than Amafis found himfelf like 
 other Men, and continued to ufe Ladice as his 
 Wife with all poflible Tendernefs and Affection. 
 On the other Hand Ladice not unmindful of 
 her Promife to the Goddefs, fent the Statue" me 
 had vow*d, which (lands intire to this Day 
 without the Gates of Cyrene. And when Cam- 
 byfes had conquer'd ^Egypf t and receiv'd an Ac- 
 count of this Perfon, he preferv'd her from all 
 injurious Ufage, and caus'd her to be con- 
 ducted in Safety to her own Country. Amafis 
 fent feveral confecrated Donations to Greece. He 
 prefented a guilded Statue of Minerva to the 
 City of Cyrene; with his own Picture drawn 
 after the Life: To Lindus he gave two Statues 
 of Stone reprefenting the fame Goddefs, toge- 
 ther with a linen Pectoral of admirable Work- 
 man/hip : And fent two Images of himfelf carv'd 
 R 2 in
 
 244 HERODOfUS. Book II. 
 
 in Wood to the City Sams ; where to this 
 Day they are feen ftanding in the great Temple 
 of Juno behind the Gates. Amafis made this 
 Donation to Samos, on Account of the mutual 
 Obligations of Hofpitality, contracted between 
 him and Polycrates the Son of JEaces : And the 
 other to Lindus, without any Engagement of 
 that Nature, but becaufe the Daughters of Da- 
 naus are reported to have founded the Tem- 
 ple of Minerva in that City, when they fled thi- 
 ther from the Sons of jEgyptus. And thefe were 
 the Donations of Amafis. He was the nrft 
 who conquer*d Cyprus, and conftrain'd the Cy- 
 prians to pay him Tribute. 
 
 THE
 
 245 
 THE 
 
 Hiftory of Herodotus. 
 
 BOOK III. 
 
 THALIA. 
 
 AGAINST this Amafis, Cambyfes the Son 
 of Cyrus aflembled an Army, confifting 
 of his own Subjects, and the Grecian 
 Forces of the lonians and ./Eolians. 
 The Caufe of the War was this. Cambyfes fent 
 a Herald into Mgypt to demand the Daugh- 
 ter of Amafis : To which he was perfuaded 
 by an Egyptian Phyfician diflatisfied with the 
 King becaufe he had feparated him from his 
 Wife and Children, and compell'd him to go 
 to Perfia rather than any other, when Cyrus by 
 a Meflage deiir'd Amafis to fend him the beft 
 Phyfician for the Eyes that could be found 
 in ALgypt. The angry /Egyptian inceflantly en- 
 deavour'd to induce Cambyfes to make this De- 
 mand, to the End that Amafis, if he mould com- 
 ply, might be mortified with the Lofs of his 
 Daughter, or irritate the King of Perfia by his 
 Refufal. Under thefe Difficulties Amafis could 
 not eafily determine what Refolution to take: 
 For he dreaded the Perfian Power ; and knew 
 Cambyfes demanded his Daughter, not to make 
 her his Wife, but his Concubine. At laft he re- 
 R 3 folv'd
 
 246 HERODOTUS. Book II. 
 
 folv'd upon this Expedient. His Predeceflbr 
 Apries had left an only Daughter, tall and beau- 
 tiful, whofe Name was Nitetis. This Vir- 
 gin Amafis furnim'd with all Manner of mag- 
 nificent Apparel, and fent her to Perfia for 
 his own Daughter: Where fome Time after 
 her Arrival, when Cambyfes vifiting her in a fa- 
 miliar Manner call'd her the Daughter of A- 
 majis, five (aid, " O King, Thou haft been de- 
 " ceiv'd by Amafis, who fent me hither with all 
 " thofe Ornaments in the Place of his Daughter: 
 " Whereas indeed I am the Daughter of Apries 
 " his Mafter whom he put to Death, after he 
 ** had revolted with the reft of the ^Egyptians." 
 Thefe Words fill'd Cambyfes the Son of Cyrus 
 with Indignation, and determin'd him to make 
 War againft JEgypt. Thus the Perfians report 
 the Matter. But the ^Egyptians claim a Re- 
 lation to Cambyfes by Blood, and pretend that 
 he was the Son of this Nitetis ; and that Cyrus ; 
 not Cambyfes, was the Perfon who fent for 
 the Daughter of Amafis. Neverthelefs this Ac- 
 count is groundlefs and difingenuous. For if 
 any People of the World are well inform'd 
 pf the Perfian Cuftoms, the ^Egyptians cer- 
 tainly are ; and therefore could neither be ig- 
 norant that a Son of the half Blood is never ad- 
 mitted to be King of Perfia^ when a legitimate 
 Heir is apparent ; nor that Cambyfes was the Son 
 of Caffandana Daughter to Pharnafpes of the 
 Race of Ach<gmenes-, and not of an ^Egyptian 
 Woman. But they have deliberately perverted 
 the Truth, that they might have fome Colour to 
 pretend a Relation to the Family of Cyrus. Ano- 
 ther Story they have contriv'd, which I think no 
 lefs incredible than the former. They fay that a 
 tt Perfian
 
 THALIA. 247 
 
 Perfian Lady being admitted tP the Prefence of 
 the King's Women, and feeing the Children 
 of Caffandana beautiful and well proportion'd, 
 could not refrain from admiring her Happinefs; 
 but Cajfandana anfwer'd, that tho' me was Wife 
 to Cyrus, and Mother to thefe Children, yet 
 he flighted her, and preferr'd an Egyptian 
 Servant, meaning the hated Nitetis, before her: 
 Upon which Cambyfes, the eldeft of her Sons 
 faid, " Mother, when I am a Man, I will 
 " on your Account turn all JEgypt upfide down :" 
 That this Difcourfe of Cambyfes, who had 
 not then attained to more than ten Years of 
 Age, ftruck all the Women prefent with Ad- 
 miration ; and that he kept his Revenge in Me- 
 mory till he grew up ; and when he was pof- 
 fefs'd. of the Kingdom, made War againft M- 
 gypt. Another Motive that concurr'd to induce 
 him to undertake this Expedition, was the Ar- 
 rival of Pbanes, by Defcent a Grecian of Hali- 
 carnaffus. He had been one of the Auxiliaries 
 of Amafis, prudent in Council, and valiant in 
 Action. This Man diflatisfied with Amajis^ on. 
 I know not what Occafion, departed by Sea 
 from JEgypt, with a Defign to confer with Cam- 
 byfes. But Amafis, who knew him to be a Man 
 of Credit among the Auxiliaries, and well ac- 
 quainted with the ^Egyptian Affairs, refolv'd to 
 purfue him with all Diligence: And to that 
 End fent one of the moft trufty among his Eu- 
 nuchs with a Galley, who furpriz'd him in Lycia ; 
 but did not bring him back to JEgypt^ becaufe 
 he was over-reach'd by his Prifoner. For Pbanes 
 made his Guard drunk, and by that Means 
 efcaping into Perfia^ arriv'd at the Time when 
 Cambyfes was preparing all things for his Expe- 
 R 4 dition.
 
 248 HERODOTUS. Book III. 
 
 dition to Mgypt> and much perplex'd how he 
 fliould pafs the Deferts that were deftitute of 
 Water. He difcover'd many important Affairs 
 of Amajis to the King of Perfia, and advis'd 
 him to defire the King of Arabia by a MefTage 
 to grant him a fafe Paflage thro* his Territo- 
 ries -, as the only Way into AEgypt eafy of Ac- 
 cefs. For whatever is fituate between Phoeni- 
 cia and the Borders of Cadytis, which belongs to 
 the Syrians of Pal^eftine^ and in my Opinion is 
 little inferior to Sardis-, together with all the 
 trading Places on the Coaft to the City of Jeny- 
 fus, is part of the Arabian Territories. And fb 
 is the whole Tract of Land that lies extended 
 from Jenyfus, which belongs to the Syrians, 
 to the Lake of Serbonis, where Mount Cq/iu$ 
 ilretches towards the Sea. But from the Lake 
 of Serbcnis* in which Typhon is reported to have 
 conceal'd himfelf, the Country belongs to AS-!- 
 gypf. And all that Space which lies between 
 the City of Jenyfus^ Mount Cafius and the Lake, 
 being no lefs than three Days March, is utterly 
 deftitute of Water. But in this Place I mail 
 mention a thing which has not been obferv'd 
 by many who have pafs'd by Sea into Ai.gypt, 
 Twice every Year the Grecians and Phcenir 
 cians tranfpprt thither certain Earthen Veflels 
 fill'd with Wine ; and yet not one of thefe 
 is ever to be found empty. Now if any Man 
 ask how this comes to pafs, I mail inform him. 
 The Governor of every Province is oblig'd tp 
 collect: all thofe VeiTels that he can find within 
 his Jurifdiclion, and fend them to Memphis; 
 where they are fill'd with Water, and then con? 
 vey'd to thofe arid Parts of Syria. So that all 
 VefTels, that can be founc| in jEgypt^ are 
 * from
 
 THALIA 249 
 
 from Time to Time fent back into Syria In this 
 Manner the Perfians, when they had conquer'd 
 jEgypt^ made Provifion of Water for the For- 
 ces they mould afterwards fend to that Coun- 
 try. But, as before this Expedition Water was 
 not thus preferv'd in thofe Parts, Cambyfes by 
 the Advice of Phanes the Halicarnaflian fent Am- 
 bafladors to folicite the King of Arabia to per- 
 mit him to pafs in Safety , and upon mutual Af- 
 furances of Amity obtain'd his Requeft. The 
 Arabians are moft religious Obfervers of the Con- 
 tracts they make-, which ^re attended with 
 thefe Ceremonies. When they enter into mu- 
 tual Obligations, a third Perfon ftanding be- 
 tween the Parties, makes an Incifion with a fharp 
 Stone in the Palm of the Hand under the Ion- 
 geft Fingers of both the Contracters ; and cut- 
 ting a Shred from the Garment of each, dips it 
 in the Blood, and anoints feven Stones brought 
 thither to that End, invoking the Names of 
 Bacchus and Urania. After this Invocation, the 
 Mediator of the Agreement exhorts the Stranger, 
 or the Citizen, if the Contract be made with a 
 Citizen, to perform the Conditions: And the 
 Contracters are oblig'd to profefs themfelves 
 bound in Juftice to obferve the Treaty. They 
 acknowledge no other Gods than Bacchus and 
 Urania, whom they call by the Names of Ou- 
 rotalt and Alilat. They fhave their Temples, 
 and cut their Hair to a circular Form ; in order, 
 as they fay, to refemble Bacchus. The Arabi- 
 an, after the Conclufion of this Treaty with the 
 Ambafladors of Cambyfes> caus'd a great Num- 
 ber of Camels Skins to be fill'd with Water, and 
 loaded on living Camels , which being done, he 
 order'd them to be drived to the arid Defarts, 
 
 and
 
 250 HERODOTUS. Book II. 
 
 and there in Perfon expe&ed the Arrival of 
 Cambyfes with his Army. This Account feems 
 to me the moft credible : Yet I muft not omit 
 to mention another Expedient; (tho* lefs pro- 
 bable) becaufe 'tis affirm'd likewife. Corys is a 
 great River of Arabia, and runs into the Red 
 Sea. And they fay that the King of Arabia by 
 joyning together the raw Hides of Oxen and 
 other Animals, made an Aquaeduct from this 
 River to the Deferts, and convey*d the Water 
 thither by that Means, into Cifterns provided for 
 receiving and preferving as much as mould be 
 neceflary. But that becaufe the Way between 
 the River and this dry Country was no lefs than 
 twelve Days Journey, he contriv'd to convey 
 the Water by three feveral Aqaeducts into three 
 different Places. 
 
 PSAMMENITUS the Son of Amafts lay en- 
 camp'd with his Army at the Peluftan Mouth of 
 the Nik, in Expectation of Cambyfes ; for Ama- 
 Jis died before this Invafion, after he had reign'd 
 forty and four Years, in a continued Courfe of 
 Felicity. His Body was embalm'd, and bu- 
 ried in the Sepulchre which he had built for him- 
 felf in the Temple. During the Reign of Pfam- 
 menittis ,a great Prodigy was feen in ALgypt. 
 Showers of Rain fell at 'Thebes -, which, the 
 Thebans fay, had never happen'd before, nor 
 fmce even to this Day. For no Rain ever falls 
 in the upper Regions of Mgypt : But at that 
 Time they had Rain, as the Thebans affirm. 
 
 THE Perfian Army march'd thro* the un- 
 waterM Country, and arriving near the Camp 
 of the ./Egyptians, refolv'd to hazard a Battle : 
 Which the Grecians and Carians, who were 
 Auxiliaries to the Egyptians, perceiving, they, 
 
 to
 
 THALIA. 251 
 
 to mew their Deteftation of Phanes y for intro- 
 ducing a foreign Enemy into digypf, brought 
 his Sons into the Camp; and having plac'd a 
 Bowl between the two Armies, kill'd them all 
 upon the Bowl in Sight of their Father. Then, 
 they pour'd Water and Wine into the Blood; 
 and after all the Auxiliaries had tafted of this 
 Mixture they began the Attack. The Battle 
 was obftinately fought, and great Numbers fell 
 on both fides : But at laft the /Egyptians were 
 put to Flight. On this Spot of Ground I faw 
 a very furprizing thing, which the People of 
 the Country fhew'd me. For as the Bones of 
 thofe who were kill'd in that Fight are fepara- 
 ted ; thofe of the Perfians lying in one Place, 
 and thofe of the ./Egyptians in another, I found 
 the Skulls of the Perfians fo weak that one 
 might break them with the leaft Pebble ; where- 
 as thofe of the -/Egyptians were hard enough to 
 refift the Percuflion of a weighty Stone. They 
 told me, and I aflented to their Experience, that 
 this Difference is owing to the /Egyptian Cu- 
 ftom of (having the Heads of their Children 
 early ; by which Means the Bone is rend red 
 thicker and ftronger thro* the Heat of the Sun, 
 and the Head preferv'd from Baldnefs: And 
 indeed we fee fewer Perfons bald in JEgypt than 
 in any other Country. As therefore the Skull 
 of an ^Egyptian is fortified by this Method, 
 fo the Heads of the Perfians are foften'd by 
 contrary Cuftom. For they are not expos'd to 
 the Sun, but always cover'd with Caps and 
 Turbans. And I obferv'd the fame thing at 
 Papremis in thofe who were defeated with 
 Acb*menes the Son of Darius, by Inarus King 
 of Libya. 
 
 THE
 
 252 HERODOTUS. Book III. 
 
 TH E Egyptians, after they had loft the Bat- 
 tle, fled away to Memphis in a diforderly Man- 
 ner. Which Cambyfes hearing, he fent a Per- 
 /ian Herald thither in a Ship of Mitylene to ex- 
 hort them to furrender. But when they faw the 
 VefTel entring the Port of Memphis, they ran 
 out in great Numbers to the Shore ; deftroy'd 
 the Ship ; tore the Men in Pieces, and carried 
 their mangled Limbs into the City. Upon this 
 the ./Egyptians were befieg'd, and after fome 
 Time forc'd to fubmit. Which fo terrified the 
 Libyans, that to avoid the like Calamity, they 
 yielded to Mercy without a Blow, and taxing 
 themfelves in Proportion to their Abilities fent 
 divers Prefents to Cambyfes. The Cyrenasans and 
 Barcaeans being under the fame Apprehenfions, 
 iurrendred likewiie as the Libyans had done. 
 Cambyfes very favourably receiv'd the Prefents 
 of the Lybians, but was highly difpleas'd at 
 thofe of the Cyrenaeans, as I conjecture, becaufe 
 they were inconfiderable. For they fent no 
 more than five hundred Mines of Silver, which 
 he took with Difdain, and threw about a- 
 mong the Soldiers. On the Tenth Day af- 
 ter the taking of Memphis, Cambyfes to try 
 the Conftancy of Pfammenitus, who had reign'd 
 only fix Months, fent him in Difgrace to the 
 Suburbs of the City, accompanied by other 
 ^Egyptians ; and at the fame Time ordering his 
 Daughter to be drefs'd in the Habit of a Slave, 
 and furnim'd with a Bucket, commanded her, 
 with other Virgins of the principal Families 
 m sEgypt cloath'd in the fame Manner, to 
 bring Water from the River. When the Fa- 
 thers of thefe Virgins faw them weeping and 
 lamenting, they likewife wept and bewail'd the 
 
 Calamity
 
 THALIA. 253 
 
 Calamity of their Children. But Pfammenitus 
 alone, who faw and heard no lefs than they, 
 only turn'd his Eyes towards the Ground. Thefe 
 Virgins having pafs'd by with Water, Cambyfes 
 in the next Place fent the Son of Pfammenitus 
 thither alfo, attended by two thoufand Egypti- 
 ans of like Age, all with Halters about their 
 Necks, and a Curb in their Mouth ; to fuffer 
 Death in Satisfaction for the Lives of thofe Mi- 
 tylenasans who perifh'd with their Ship. For the 
 King's Judges had determin'd that ten of the 
 principal ./Egyptians mould be facrific'd for every 
 one of thofe Men. Yet when Pfammenitus per- 
 ceiv'd them pafling, and knew, that his Son was 
 going to dye, he did no more than he had done 
 at the Sight of his Daughter ; tho* all the reft 
 of the Egyptians about him made loud Lamen- 
 tations. But he no fooner faw one of his Com- 
 panions, a Man advanc'd in Years, plunder'd of 
 all, and living only upon Alms, walking about 
 the Suburbs, where the Army, and Pfammeni- 
 tus with other Egyptians were, than he wept 
 bitterly, and calling him by his Name, ftruck 
 himfelf upon the Head. All thefe things be- 
 ing reported to Cambyfes by three Perfons who 
 were plac'd about Pfammenitus to obferve his 
 Actions, he was ftruck with Wonder, and 
 fent a Meflage to him in thefe Words. " Pfam- 
 
 is defir 
 
 Thy Mafter Cambyfes is defirous 
 " to know why, after thou hadft feen thy 
 " Daughter fo ignominioufly treated, and thy 
 " Son led to Execution, without any Excla- 
 " mation or Weeping, thou fhouldft be fo 
 " highly concern'd for a poor Man no Way 
 " related to thee, as he is inform'd." To this 
 Queftion Pfammtnitus returned the following An- 
 
 fwer,
 
 254 HERODOTUS. Book III. 
 
 fwer, " Son of Cyrus , The Calamities of my 
 " Family are too great to leave me the Power 
 " of weeping : But the Misfortunes of a Com- 
 " panion, reduc'd in his Old-age to the extrem- 
 " eft Neceflity, may be fitly lamented with 
 " Tears." His Anfwer being brought to Cam- 
 byfes, was generally approv'd ; and the ^Egypti- 
 ans fay that not only Crcefus, who accompanied 
 him in this Expedition, and all the Perfians 
 that were prefent, could not refrain from Tears - 9 
 but that Cambyfes himfelf touch'd with Remorfe, 
 fent immediate Orders to fave the Life of the 
 Son, and to bring the Father from the Suburbs 
 into his Prefence : That thefe Meflengers found 
 the Son already dead, having been the firft 
 that furTer'd; but conducted Pfammenitus to 
 Cambyfes ; who permitted him to live at his 
 own Difcretion, without doing him any Manner 
 of Violence. And if by his Conduct he had per- 
 fuaded Cambyfes that he defir'd no Innovation, 
 he might probably have been entrufted with the 
 Adminiftration of &gypt. For the Perfians are 
 accuftom'd to pay fo great Refpect to the Sons 
 of Kings, that they ufually beftow the King- 
 doms of thofe who revolt, upon their Children ; 
 as may be proved by many Examples, and par- 
 ticularly by thofe of Thannyra the Son of Inarus 
 the Lybian, who was invefted with his Fa- 
 ther's Government ; and of Paufiris the. Son of 
 Amyrtteus, who met with the fame Fortune ; tho* 
 greater Difafters never fell upon the Perfians, 
 than by the Means of thofe two Kings. But 
 Pfammenitus defigning to raife new Difturbances, 
 and foliciting the Egyptians to rebel, was 
 fiez'd by order of Cambyfes, and receiv'd the juft 
 Reward of his Infidelity. . For. after his Con- 
 viction
 
 THALIA 255 
 
 vision he drank the Blood of a Bull, and died 
 immediately. 
 
 FROM Memphis Cambyfes went to the City of 
 <Sais, in order to execute a Defign he had pro- 
 jecled ; and to that end going into the Palace of 
 Amafis, he prefently commanded his Body to 
 be taken out of the Sepulchre-, which being 
 done, he gave farther Orders to whip him -, to 
 pull of his Hair ; to prick him with pointed 
 Inftruments, and to abufe the Cdrpfe with all 
 Manner of Indignity. But after they had tired 
 themfelves with this Employment, and faw 
 all their Efforts rendred ineffectual by the So- 
 lidity of the imbalming Competition, Cambyfes 
 commanded the Body to be burnt: Which was 
 an Action of Impiety ; becaufe the Perfians be- 
 lieve Fire to be a God ; and to burn a dead Body 
 is not permitted in either Nation. For the Per- 
 fians fay 'tis a Violation of Religion to feed a 
 God with the dead Body of a Man : And the 
 ^Egyptians hold that Fire is a favage Animal, 
 which devours all that comes within his Reach, 
 and after he has glutted his voracious Appetite, 
 expires with the things he has confum'd: Nei- 
 ther do they ever give the Bodies of dead Men to 
 wild Beafts ; but chufe rather to embalm them 
 than to bury them in the Earth, left they 
 fhould be eaten by Worms. So that Cambyfes 
 commanded a thing altogether repugnant to 
 the Manners of both Nations. Bat the /B- 
 gyptians pretend this was not the Body of Am&- 
 fis, but of another /Egyptian, equal to him in 
 Years, whom the Perfians, miftaking him for 
 Amafjs^ treated fo opprobrioufly. For they fay, 
 that Amafis bfcing admonifh'd by the Oracle of 
 What fhould happen to him after Death, eohtriv'd 
 
 to
 
 a S 6 HERODOTUS. Book III. 
 
 to fecure himfelf againft the Prediction, by pla- 
 cing the dead Body of this Egyptian near the 
 Door of his Sepulchre, and commanding his 
 Son to depofit his own in the remoteft Part of 
 the fame Monument: Tho* I am of Opinion 
 that thefe pretended Commands of Amafis touch- 
 ing his own Funeral, and this .^Egyptian, are 
 fi&itious. 
 
 AFTER this, Canibyfes refolv'd to under- 
 take three feveral Expeditions ; one againft the 
 Carthaginians i another againft the Ammo- 
 mans; and a third againft the Macrobian /E- 
 thiopians, who inhabit that Part of Libya 
 which lies upon the South Sea. He defign'd to 
 attack the Carthaginians with a Fleet, and the 
 Ammonians by a Land-Army. But before he 
 would make War againft the ^Ethiopians, he 
 determined to fend fome Perfons into the Coun- 
 try, who under Pretence of carrying Pre- 
 fents to their King, and inquiring into the Truth 
 of the Report concerning the Table of the Sun, 
 might difcover the Strength and Condition of 
 the Kingdom. They fay this Table of the Sun 
 is a certain Meadow in the Suburbs, furnifh'd 
 with the roafted Flefh of all Sorts of four-foot- 
 ed Animals, which being rang'd in Order by 
 the Magiftrates of the City in the Night, ferve 
 to feaft all Comers in the Morning. The In- 
 habitants fay, that thefe things are a daily Prefent 
 of the Earth : And this is their Account of 
 the Table of the Sun. 
 
 CAMBYSES in Purfuance of his Refolution 
 touching the Spies, fent to Elephantis for fuch 
 Perfons among the Ichthyophages, as beft under- 
 ftood the ^Ethiopian Language ; and in the mean 
 Time commanded all his Naval Forces to fail to- 
 wards
 
 'THALIA. 257- 
 
 %vards Carthage. But the Phoenicians alledging 
 that they were under the moft facred Obligations 
 of Relation to the Carthaginians, and could not 
 without Impiety make War againft their own 
 Blood, refus'd to execute the Orders of Cambyfes. 
 And the reft being utterly uncapable of fuch an 
 Enterprize, the Carthaginians were thus pre- 
 ferv'd from the Perfian Power. For Cambyfes 
 did not think convenient to compel the Phoe- 
 nicians to obey, becaufe they had voluntarily 
 fubmitted to him, and made up the great 
 Strength of his Fleet ; tho* the Cyprians had 
 done the fame, and were likewife employ'd a- 
 gainft the /Egyptians. When the Ichthyophages 
 arriv'd from Elephantis^ Cambyfes fent them away 
 to Mthiopa with full Inftrudions, and Prefents 
 confifting of a Suit of Purple, a Necklace and 
 Bracelets of Gold, an Alabafter Box of rich 
 Ointment, and a Veflel of Palm Wine. Thefe 
 Ethiopians are reported to furpafs all other Men 
 in Beauty and large Proportion of Body -, and to 
 govern themfelves in refpecl: to the Succeflion of 
 the Kingdom by a peculiar Method, unknown 
 in any other Part of the World. For they con- 
 fer the Royal Dignity upon the Man who is 
 of the largeft Size, and of Strength propor- 
 tionable to his Perfon. To this Nation the 
 Ichthyophages were fent , and after their Arrival 
 having made their Prefents to the King, they 
 addrefs'd themfelves to him in thefe Words, 
 ' Cambyfes King of the Perfians, being defirous 
 " ' to enter into mutual Engagements of Friend - 
 *' (hip and Hofpitality with Thee, has given 
 " us Commiflion to treat of this Affair ; and 
 *' fent thefe Prefents, which are fuch as he him- 
 felf is moft delighted with/' To which the 
 S ^Ethiopian
 
 j 5 8 HERODOTUS. Book III. 
 
 Ethiopian, not doubting they were Spies, re- 
 turn'd this Anfwer. " 'Twas not from any Con- 
 " fideration of my Friendfhip that the King of 
 <c Perfia fent you to me with thefe Prefents ; 
 " neither have you fpoken the Truth -, but are 
 " come into my Kingdom as Spies. If Cambyfes 
 " were an honeft Man, he would defire nd 
 " more than his own ; and not endeavour to 
 " reduce a People under Servitude who have 
 " never done him any Injury. However, give 
 " him this Bow from me, and let him know 
 " that the King of ^Ethiopia advifes the King 
 << of Perfia to make War againft the Macro- 
 " bian Ethiopians, when the Perfians mall 
 " be able thus eafily to draw fo ftrong a Bow - y 
 " and in the mean Time to thank the Gods, 
 " that they never infpir'd the Ethiopians 
 tc with a Defire of extending their Domini- 
 " on beyond their own Country." When he 
 faid this, he loofen'd the String, and deliver'd 
 the Bow to the Ambafiadors. Then taking 
 up the purple Garment, he aik'd what it was, 
 and how made ; and after they had inform'd 
 him touching the Colour, and Manner of the 
 Tinclure, " The Men, faid he, are deceit- 
 " ful, and fo is the Cloathing they wear." 
 In the next Place he queftion*d them concern- 
 ing the Necklace and Bracelets -, and when 
 they had explain'd to him the curious Work- 
 manmip of thofe things, the King laught, and 
 told them that Chains of a far greater Strength 
 were to be found in ^Ethiopia. Of the Oynt- 
 ment he gave the fame Judgment as of the pur- 
 ple Garments. But when they enter*d into a 
 Difcourfe about the Wine, which the Ethiopian 
 tafled with great Pleafure, he defir'd to know 
 
 what
 
 THALIA. 259 
 
 What Provifions were us'd at the King of Per/fa's 
 Table, and to what Age the longeft Life of 
 a Perfiari might reach. The Ambafladors an*- 
 fwer'd, that the Food of the King of Perfia 
 Was Bread ; taking Occafion from that Demand 
 to defcribe the Nature of Wheat , and that 
 the longeft Life of a PeHian might extend to 
 fourfcore Years. The Ethiopian King replied, 
 that he was not at all furpriz'd, if Men who 
 eat nothing but Dung, did not attain to a longei 1 
 Life : And was perfuaded they could not ar- 
 rive even to that Age, without the Affiftance 
 of Wine : Acknowledging the Perfians to have 
 the Advantage of the ./Ethiopians in that Par- 
 ticular, Then the Ichthyophages inquiring iri 
 their Turn concerning the Life and Diet of the 
 ^Ethiopians, the King faid, that they ufually 
 attained to a hundred and twenty Years , ana 
 fome to a greater Age j tfhat they fed upon 
 roafted Flefh, and us'd Milk for their Drink. 
 But feeing the Spies afHonim'd at the Mention 
 of fo great a Number of Years ; he brought 
 them to a Fountain, which renders the Bodies 
 of Men fmooth as if anointed with Oil, and 
 perfum*d, as with the Odour of Violets. The: 
 Water of this Fountain, as the" Spies faid, 
 is too weak to bear either Wood, or other 
 Subftance lighter than Wood ; but every thing 
 prefently finks to the Bottom. This Water, 
 if indeed they have any fuch, is faid to be 
 us'd by all the Inhabitants, and accounted the 
 Caufe of their Longevity. From this Foun- 
 tain the King conducted them to fee the Pri- 
 fons, where all the Prifoners are fetter*d with 
 Chains of Gold : For among thefe ./Ethiopians 
 &e moft rare and valued of all Metals, is 
 S 2 Brafs.
 
 z6o HERODOTUS. Book III. 
 
 Brafs. The next thing they view'd was the 
 Place which is call'd the Table of the Sun ; 
 and laft of all the Sepulchres, which are faid 
 to be cover*d with Glafs in the Manner follow- 
 ing. When they have dried the Body after the 
 /Egyptian Fafhion, or fome other Way ; they 
 lay on a Covering of white Plaifter, which 
 they paint with Colours as near as poflible to 
 the Likenefs of the Perfon deceas'd : Then 
 they inclofe the Body within a hollow Column 
 of Cryftal, which they dig eafily, and in 
 great Abundance in thofe Parts. The Dead are 
 plainly feen thro* thefe tranfparent Glailes ; 
 emitting no ill Scent; nor being at all difa- 
 greeable to the Eye ; becaufe they perfectly 
 refemble the Perfons living. They are kept a 
 whole Year in the Houfes of their neareft Re- 
 lations ; and during that Time are honour'd 
 with Sacrifices, and the firft Fruits of all 
 things : After which they are carried out, and 
 plac'd upright round the Parts adjoyning to 
 the City. 
 
 TH E Ichthyophages having feen every thing 
 remarkable, return'd to Cambyfes ; and after 
 they had acquainted him with all that had 
 pafs'd, he fell into a violent Paflion, and or- 
 der'd his Army to march immediately againft 
 the ^Ethiopians, without making any Provi- 
 fion for their Subfiftance, or once confider- 
 ing that he was going to make War in the 
 remoteft Parts of the World ; but aflbon as he 
 had heard the Report of his Meffengers, like a 
 Man abandon'd of Rcafon and good Senfe, he 
 began to move with the whole Body of his Land 
 Forces , commanding only the Grecians to ftay 
 behind with their Ships. When he arriv'd at
 
 THALIA. 261 
 
 Thebes, he drew out about fifty thoufand Men 
 ordering them to ravage all the Country of th e 
 Ammonians, and to burn the Oracle of 'Jupiter 
 Ammon, whilft he with the reft of his Army 
 mould march againft the ^Ethiopians. But be- 
 fore he had advanced a fifth Part of the Way, his 
 Provifions were confum*d, together with the 
 Cattle that ferv'd to carry the Baggage : And if 
 upon the firft Information of this Want, Cambyfes 
 had return'd with his Forces, and ceas'd to pur- 
 fue his rafh Attempt, before he committed more 
 Faults, he had given fome Proof of his Wifdom. 
 But he abandon'd all to Chance, and obftinately 
 continued his March. The Soldiers fed upon 
 Herbs, fo long as they found any in their Way : 
 But when they arriv'd in the fandy Defarts, fome 
 of them were guilty of a horrid Adion. For 
 they caft Lots among themfelves, and eat every 
 tenth Man : Which Cambyfes hearing, and ap- 
 prehending they would continue to devour one 
 another ; he defifted from his Enterprize againft 
 the ^Ethiopians, and retreated to 'Thebes , after 
 he had loft a great Part of his Army. From 
 thence under the Conduct of Guides he return'd 
 with the reft of his Forces to Memphis -, where, 
 at his Arrival he difmifs'd the Grecians with 
 Leave to retire in their Ships to their own 
 Country : And thus ended this Expedition of 
 Cambyfes againft the Ethiopians. As for that 
 Part of the Army which he fent againft the 
 Ammonians, they march'd from Thebes, and 
 by the Help of their Guides arriv'd at the City 
 Qafts, inhabited by Samians, who are report- 
 ed to be defcended from the Efchrionian Tribe, 
 and fituate feven Days March from Thebes, thro* 
 the Sands. This Country in the Grecian Lan- 
 S 3 guagc
 
 HERODOTUS. Book III. 
 
 guage is call'd the Fortunate Ifland, and no Man 
 doubts that an Army arriv'd in this Place. But 
 what was their Fate afterwards, is related by 
 none except the Ammonians, or thofe who 
 have convers'd with them : For they never re- 
 turn'd to their own Country, nor even to sEgypt, 
 The Ammonians fay, they march'd from Qafis \ 
 and after they had pafs'd one half of the Sands 
 which lie in the Way from that City, a ftrong 
 and impetuous Wind began to blow from the 
 South at the Time of their Dinner, and rais'd 
 the Sands to fuch a Degree, that the whole Ar* 
 jny was buried alive and perifh'd. 
 
 WHEN Cambyfes was return'd to Memphis , 
 Apis, or, as the Grecians call him, Epaphys, ap- 
 pearing among the ^Egyptians, they put on the 
 richeft of their Apparel, and feafted fplendidly. 
 Which Cambyfes feeing, and highly refenting 
 thefe Expreffions of Joy, after his Affairs had 
 fucceeded fo ill ; he fent for the Magiftrates of 
 Memphis, and putting them in Mind that the 
 ./Egyptians had done no fuch thing when he 
 was in Memphis before, ask'd why they carried 
 themfelves in this Manner, after he had loft fo 
 great a Part of his Army. They anfwer'd, that 
 when their God manifefted himfelf, which felr 
 dom happen'd, the ^Egyptians had been always 
 accuftom'd to. celebrate his Appearance with the 
 grcateft Pemonftrations of Joy. Which when 
 Cqmbyfes heard, he told them. They tyed , 
 gnd put them to Death, as Lyars. Then he 
 fent for the Priefts j and having rcceiv'd the 
 like Anfwer from them, he faid, that if any God 
 was fo. mild and familiar to mew himfelf to the 
 ^Egyptians, he would not be unacquainted 
 m $ and withpyt more Words com~ 
 
 manded
 
 THALIA. 263 
 
 manded the Priefts to bring their God. So 
 they departed to put his Orders in Execution. 
 This Apis, or Epapbys, is the Calf of a Cow 
 uncapable of' bearing another, and no other- 
 wife to be impregnated than by Thunder, as 
 the ^Egyptians affirm. The Marks that diftin- 
 guifh him from all others, are thefe. His Body 
 is black , except one Square of White on the 
 Forehead : He has the Figure of an Eagle 
 on his Back ; a double Lift of Hair on his 
 Tail -, and a Scarabasus under his Tongue. 
 When the Priefts had brought their God into 
 the Prefence of Cambyfes, he in a brutal Man- 
 ner drew his Dagger, and defigning to thruft 
 it into the Belly of Apis* wounded him in the 
 Thigh : Then falling into a Fit of Laughter, 
 " Ye Wretches, faid he, are thefe things, which 
 " are composed of Flefti and Blood, and fo eafily 
 " vulnerable, the Gods you worfhip ? This is a 
 " worthy God indeed, and fuitable to the Cha- 
 " racier of the ./Egyptians. But I will let you 
 " know that you hall not abufe me with Im- 
 " punity". When he had faid thefe Words, he 
 commanded the proper Officers to whip the 
 Prieft , and to kill all the ^Egyptians they mould 
 find making publick Demonstrations of Joy. 
 Thus the Feftival was interrupted ; the Priefts 
 punifh'd -, and Apis, after he had languifh'd 
 fome Time, dying of his Wound in the Tem- 
 ple, was buried by the Priefts, and his Death 
 conceal'd from Cambyfes. The Egyptians 
 fay Cambyfes grew mad immediately after this 
 facrilegious Action ; tho* 'tis known he was 
 fo before ; and had made the nrft Difcove- 
 ry of his Extravagance upon the Perfon of 
 his Brother Smerdis, who was born of the 
 S 4 fame
 
 264 HERODOTUS. Book III. 
 
 fame Father and Mother with himfelf -, fending 
 him back from jEgypt in a jealous Humour to 
 Pefjia^ becaufe he alone of all the Perfians 
 had been able to draw the Bow, which the 
 Ichthyophages brought from the ^Ethiopian 
 King, within the Breadth of two Fingers. Af- 
 ter his Departure Cambyfes dream'd he faw a Vi- 
 fion, reprefenting a Meflenger arriv'd from Per- 
 fia to inform him that Smerdis was feated on the 
 Royal Throne, and touch'd the Heavens with 
 his Head. Upon which fearing his Brother 
 would kill him, and aflume the Kingdom, he fent 
 Prexafpes, one of his principal Confidents, to 
 Per/ia, with Orders to kill Smerdis. Prexafpes, 
 in Purfuance of his Inftructions put an End 
 to the Life of Smerdis ; fbme fay at a Hunting 
 appointed to that purpofe : Others, that he 
 drown'd him in the Red Sea, after he had by 
 Jiis Perfuafions drawn him thither : And this 
 is accounted the firft delirious Action of Cam-r 
 byfes. His feccnd, was the Murder of his own 
 Sifter, who had accompanied him into jEgypt, 
 and was alfo his Wife. Which was the firft 
 Example of that Kind among the Perfians ; 
 who till that Time had always abftain'd from 
 fuch Marriages. But Cambyfes being in Love 
 with one of his Sifters, and as defirous of mak- 
 ing her his Wife, as convinced of the Novelty 
 of his Defign, fummon'd all the Royal Judges to- 
 gether. Thefe Judges are certain chofen Per- 
 iians, v.'ho continue in their Offices during Life, 
 unlefs they are convicted of a Crime. They 
 decide all Controverfies ; interpret the Laws ; and 
 all things are referred to their Determination. 
 T'o thefe Perfons Cambyfes apply'd himfelf, and 
 haying demanded whether they had any Law that 
 
 permit-
 
 f HAL I A. 265 
 
 permitted a Man to marry his Sifter, receiv'd this 
 cautious and proper Anfwer : That indeed they 
 could find no Law to permit a Man to marry 
 his Sifter ; but were well acquainted with ano- 
 ther, which gives a Liberty to the Kings of Per- 
 fia to do whatever they think convenient. And 
 by this Means they did not abrogate a Law for 
 fear of Cambyfes j but that they might not lofe 
 their Lives by a pertinacious Refiftance, they 
 found out another in favour of the King, who 
 was fo defirous of this Match. Upon their An- 
 fwer Cambyfes married the Sifter he lov'd, and a 
 little Time after, another. The Perfon he kill'd 
 was the youngeft of thefe, who followed him 
 into &gypt -, and whofe Death, as well as that 
 of SmerdiS) is reported two Ways. For the 
 Grecians fay, that Cambyfes having one Day 
 brought a young Dog to the Whelp of a Lyon, 
 diverted himfelf to fee them fight , and that this 
 Dog being over-match'd, another of the fame 
 Litter broke loofe, and ran to his Afliftance; 
 by which Means the two Dogs worfted the Ly- 
 on : That whilft Cambyfes was pleafing himfelf 
 with this Entertainment, the young Woman, 
 who fat by him, began to weep ; of which 
 when the King had aflc'd her the Reafon, {he 
 anfwer'd, That feeing the little Dog come fo 
 feafonably to the Succour of his Brother, fhe 
 could not refrain from Tears, becaufe this Ac- 
 cident put her in mind of the Fate of her Bro-* 
 ther Smerdis, whofe Death fhe knew no Body 
 \vould revenge : And the Grecians affirm that 
 for thefe Words Cambyfes kill'd her. But the 
 Egyptians fay, that as they were both at Table, 
 fhe took a Lettuce, and pulling the Leaves afun- 
 4er, afk'd her Hufband, " Whether an entire 
 2
 
 266 HERODOTUS. Book III. 
 
 " Lettuce was not more beautiful than one 
 " pull'd in pieces. He anfwer*d, Moft certain- 
 " ly: Then faid me, you have truly reprefent- 
 " ed this broken Lettuce, by difmembring the 
 " Houfe of Cyrus :" That upon thefe Words 
 Cambyfes in a Rage ftruck her with his Foot, and 
 caus'd an Abortion, of which (he died. Thus 
 Cambyfes exercis'd his Fury, againft thofe of his 
 own Family ; but whether his Madnefs fiez'd 
 him for the Death of Apis, or from any other 
 Caufe, may be doubted ; becaufe human Na- 
 ture is fubject to many Evils. And indeed we 
 are inform'd that Cambyfes was afflicted from 
 his Infancy with a convulfive Malady, by fome 
 call'd the facred jDifeafe : And then, no Wonder 
 if his Mind were not found in fo diftemperM a 
 Body. Befides thefe, he was guilty of other 
 outragious Extravagancies againft the Perfians, 
 and among them againft Prexafpes ; who had 
 always been honour'd by him in an extraordi- 
 nary Manner-, receiv'd all Meflages in his 
 Name : .and had a Son that ferv'd him as Cup- 
 bearer, which is an Office of great Dignity. 
 For when he aflc'd Prexafpes what the Perfians 
 {aid of 'him, and what Character they ufually 
 gave him in their familiar Converfations, Prexaf- 
 /wanfwer'd, " SIR, They highly applaud your 
 *' Actions in general ; only think you too much 
 " addicted to Wine. How, faid Cambyfes with 
 " Indignation ; the Perfians fay I overthrow my 
 ' Underftanding and Judgment by drinking Wine 
 " to excefs? -If that be true, they have been 
 " great Diflemblers". For Cambyfes being for- 
 merly preient in a great Aflembly of Perfians, 
 where Crcefus likewife aflifted ; and aiking what 
 Opinion they had of 'him in Comparifon of his 
 
 Father
 
 THALIA 267 
 
 Father Cyrus, they told him, he far furpafs'd his 
 Father, becaufe he was not only Matter of all 
 that Cyrus poflefs'd, but had added digypf and 
 the Sea to his Dominions. Neverthelefe Crce- 
 fus not approving their Conclufion, fpoke thus 
 to Cambyfes ; " Son of Cyrus, I cannot per- 
 *' fuade myfelf that thou art equal to thy Fa- 
 " ther : For thou haft not yet fuch a Son to 
 ** fucceed thee as he had : Which Words were 
 fo grateful to Cambyfes, that he highly com- 
 mended the Judgment of Crcefus : And on this 
 Occafion remembering what had pafs'd at that 
 Time, faid with Indignation to Prexafpes, 
 tl See now, whether the Perfians have fpoken 
 " the Truth ; or are diffracted themfelves, 
 4C when they fay thefe things of me? For if 
 " I moot this Arrow thro' the Heart of thy 
 " Son, who ftands there under the Portico, 
 " the Perfians have faid nothing to the Purpofe : 
 " But if I mifs, they have fpoken the Truth, 
 * c and I am mad." He had no fooner pronounc'4 
 thefe Words, than drawing his Bow, he /hot 
 an Arrow thro* the ody of the young Man : 
 Then commanding him to be taken up and Or 
 pen'd i and finding the Arrow had pierc'd hi? 
 Heart, he turn'd about with great Joy, an4 
 laughing in the Face of the Father, faid, " f*rex r 
 " afpes, I fuppofe thou art now conyiric'd that 
 " the Perfians are mad, and not Cambyfes. 
 " Tell me \ didft thou ever fee a Man moot 
 *' more juft than I have done ? " But Prexafpcs 
 perceiving him to be delirious, and being under- 
 great Apprehenfions for his own Life, " Truly, 
 " SIR, faid he, I bejieve a God could not 
 ** moot more dexteroufly." At another Time he 
 ommanded twelve Perfians of the firft Rank to 
 
 be
 
 268 HERODOTUS. Book III. 
 
 be fiez'd and without any juft Caufe to be bu- 
 ried alive. But whilft he was proceeding in 
 this furious Manner, Crcefus the Lydian thought 
 fit to admonifh him in thefe Words. " I be- 
 " feech you, SIR, let not Youth and Anger 
 " be fo prevalent with you ; but reftrain and 
 " moderate your Paflions. For 'tis the Part of 
 " a wife Man, and conducing to your own 
 " Safety to forefee and prevent Danger. You 
 " have deftroy'd divers of your own Country- 
 *' men upon flight Occaftons ; and have not 
 " fpar'd their Children ; confider if you per- 
 " fift in fucli a Courfe, whether the Perfians 
 "- may not rebel. For my own Part I cannot 
 " refrain from giving you this Advice, becaufe 
 " your Father Cyrus expreily commanded me 
 " to put you in Mind of whatever might 
 " be mo ft expedient for your Affairs." To 
 this friendly Counfel of Crcefus, Cambyfes an- 
 fwer'd, " How dare you prefume to advife 
 *' me ? As if you had fo wifely govern'd your 
 " own Kingdom : 'Twas admirable Counfel 
 " you gave my Father, when you perfuaded 
 " him to pafs the River Araxes^ and attack the 
 " Maflagetes, inftead of permitting them to 
 " enter our Territories as they were willing to 
 do. You firft ruin'd yourfelf by your own 
 ill Government : And then deftroy'd Cyrus by 
 your ill Advice. But you mall not long enjoy 
 the Pleafure of that Action : For 'tis more 
 than Time I mould take Occafion to avenge 
 his Death." No fooner had he pronounc'd 
 thefe Words, than he took up his Bow to (hoot 
 Crcefus ; but the Lydian fav'd himfelf by running 
 immediately out of his Prefence. Neverthelefs 
 Cambyfes perceiving the Object of his Fury with- 
 drawn.
 
 fHALIA. 269 
 
 drawn, commanded his Officers to fieze him 
 and put him to Death. But they, who knew his 
 Manner, refolv'd to conceal Crcefus ; that if 
 Cambyfes mould repent of his Ramnefs, and en- 
 quire for him, they might be well rewarded for 
 preferving his Life ; or difpatch him after- 
 wards, if they mould find that Cambyfes had 
 neither alter'd his Opinion, nor defir'd to fee 
 him. In a little Time the King fail'd not to 
 aflc for Crcefus ; which the Officers underftand- 
 ing, acquainted him that Crcefus was ftill liv- 
 ing. " I am very glad, faid Cambyfes, that he 
 " is alive: But will never forgive thofe who 
 ' fav'd him." And indeed he made good his 
 Word , for he put them all to Death. Many 
 more Actions of this Nature he did whilft he 
 ftaid at Memphis, not only againft the Perfians, 
 but alfo againft his Confederates. He open'd 
 many ancient Sepulchres to view the Bodies of 
 the Dead ; and entring into the Temple of Fid- 
 can, derided the Image of the God: Which 
 indeed refembles thofe Phoenician Figures that 
 are plac*d on the Prow of their Ships, and cal- 
 led Pat<ecians, not exceeding the Stature of 
 a Pigmy. He likewife went into the Temple 
 of the Cabirian Gods, (which no Man except 
 the Prieft may prefume to enter,) and after 
 he had ridicul'd the Form of their Images, or- 
 der'd them to be thrown into the Fire ; be- 
 caufe they were like that of Vulcan, from whom 
 they are faid to be defcended. All thefe things 
 convince me that Cambyfes was outragiouily 
 mad : Elfe he would never have attempted to 
 make a Mockery of National Religions and Cu- 
 ftoms. For if all Men were left at Liberty to 
 introduce from other Places fuch Rites and 
 
 Ufages
 
 2?o HERODOTUS. Book III, 
 
 tlfages as they mould beft approve ; they would 
 yet chufe to retain their own ; every Man be- 
 ing ftrongly inclin'd to prefer the Manners of 
 his Country before thofe of any other. That 
 this is the common Sentiment of all Mankind, 
 I could prove by many Inftances ; but mail 
 content myfelf with one. Darius having af- 
 fembled the Grecians who liv'd under his Em- 
 pire, aik'd them for how great a Sum they 
 would oblige themlelves to eat the dead Bo- 
 dies of their Parents ; and they anfwering that 
 nothing was fufficient to induce them to com- 
 mit fo great a Crime -, he prefently fent for cer- 
 tain Indians call'd Callatians, who are accuftom- 
 ed to eat the dead Bodies of their Fathers, and 
 demanding in the Prefence of the Grecians and 
 their Interpreters, how much Money they 
 would take to burn their Parents after Death, 
 they made loud Exclamations, and begg'd he 
 would mention fuch things no more. This is 
 the Effect of Cuftom : And therefore Pindar in 
 my Opinion fays judicioufly, 'That Cuftom is the 
 King of all Men. 
 
 WHILST the Arms of Cambyfes were em- 
 ploy'd in this Expedition, the Lacedaemoni- 
 ans made War againft Samos ; where Polycra- 
 tes had put himfelf at the Head of a Party, 
 and by Violence fiez'd the Government. He 
 at firft divided his Acquifition with his two 
 Brothers Pantagnotus and Sylofon ; but after- 
 wards having put the elder to Death, and ex- 
 pell'd Sylofon^ who was the younger, he be- 
 came fole Matter of all, and made an Alli- 
 ance with Amafis King of JEgypt ; which was 
 confirm'd and cultivated on both fides by mutu- 
 al Prefents. His Enterprizes- were attended with 
 2 fuch
 
 THALIA. 
 
 fuch Succefs, that in a mort Time all the Ioni- 
 an and Grecian Cities were acquainted with his 
 Fame -, every thing yielding to the Reputation 
 of his Arms, wherever he determined to make 
 War. He had a hundred Gallies of fifty Oars 
 each, and a thoufand Archers. He attacked 
 all Places without Diftinction ; pretending to 
 do a greater Favour to his Friends by reftoring 
 what he had taken away, than by leaving them 
 in the quiet Enjoyment of their Pofleflions. 
 He fubdued many of the Hands ; took divers 
 Cities on the Continent i defeated the Les- 
 bians in a Sea-fight, as they were going to af- 
 fift the Milefians with their whole Fleet ; and 
 putting them all to the Chain, compell'd them 
 to make the Ditch that furrounds the Walls 
 of Samos. So many Succefles were not un- 
 known to Amafis^ and plung'd him into no 
 tittle Perplexity. But when he heard that their 
 Number increas'd daily, he wrote to Polycra* 
 tes in thefe Terms. " Amafis to Polycrates : 
 ** I have heard with Pleafure the fortunate 
 * Succefles that attend the Enterprizes of a 
 " Friend and Ally. But the Excefs of thy Prof- 
 '* perky difturbs me j becaufe I know how en- 
 " vious the Gods are. As for me, I would ra- 
 " ther chufe, that my Affairs and thofe of my 
 " Friends mould alternately participate of good 
 " and bad Fortune thro* the whole Courie of 
 " Life, than be always accompanied with un- 
 ** interrupted Felicity. For I cannot remember 
 " that I ever heard of a Man, who having 
 '* been always happy, did not at laft perifh by 
 > fbme fignal Calamity. Be advis'd therefore by 
 *' me; a/id fence againft good Fortune in 
 ** this Manner: Confider what you value at a 
 
 " high
 
 272 HERODOTUS. Book III. 
 
 ce high Rate, and would be much concern'd 
 " to lofe : Deprive yourfelf of this precious 
 " thing fo effeftually, that it may be utterly 
 ' loft: And if your Profperities ftill continue 
 " without other Viciffitude, repeat the Reme- 
 ** dy which you have now from me." When 
 Polycrates had read this Letter, and attentively 
 confider'd the Matter, he approved the Coun- 
 fel of Amafis ; and deliberating with himfelf, 
 which of all his Treafures he could not aban- 
 don without a moft fenfible Reluctancy, came 
 at laft to this Refolution : He had a Signet 
 made of an Emerald, fet in Gold by the Hand of 
 fbeodorus the Son of Telecks the Samian ; and 
 this he determin'd to Iofe in the following Man- 
 ner. He went on board a Galley of fifty Oars 
 compleatly mann'd, commanding the Mariners 
 to put offi and when he faw they had advanced 
 to a confiderable Diftance from the Ifland, he 
 took the Jewel in his Hand, and in the Pre- 
 fence of all the Company threw it into the 
 Sea. This done, he commanded them to car- 
 ry him back, and at his Return was not a little 
 difturb'd for his Lofs. But on the fifth or fixth 
 Day after, a certain Fimerman having taken a 
 krge and beautiful Fim, and thinking it a Pre- 
 fent worthy of Polycrates^ went to the Gates 
 of his Palace, and defir'd Admiflion: Which 
 being granted, he prefented the Fim to the King, 
 and faid, " Tho' I get my Living by hard La- 
 " bour-, yet I could not perfuade myfelf to 
 " carry this Fim, which I have taken, to the 
 Market, becaufe I thought it a fit Prefent for 
 a King." Polycrates pleas'd with -thefe Words, 
 commended the Man , and having thank*d him, 
 as well for his Compliment as for the Fim, in- 
 vited
 
 THALIA. 273 
 
 vited him to Dinner. The Fifherman receiv'cl 
 thefe Favours with great Joy, and went away 
 to his own Habitation. In the mean Time the 
 Servants opening the Fifhj faw the Signet lodg- 
 ed in the Belly ; and when they had taken it 
 out, haften'd with much Satisfaction to Poly- 
 crates^ reftor'd the jewel, and acquainted him 
 in what Manner they had found it. Polycrates 
 perfuaded that the Event was divine, wrote down 
 what he had done, as well as what had happen'd 
 to him afterwards, and fent the whole Account 
 to jgypt. By which Amafis being convinc'd 
 that no Man can deliver another from the Ef- 
 fects of a fatal Decree, and that the Life of 
 Polycrates would not terminate in fuch Profpe- 
 rity as had attended his Actions fo conftantly 
 that he recover'd even thofe things which he 
 defign'd to lofe, fent a Herald to Samos with 
 Orders to renounce his Friendfhip, and diflblve 
 all Obligations of Hofpitality that had been 
 contracted between them -, left the future Ca- 
 lamities of Polycrates mould affect him with 
 that Grief which Men owe to the Misfortunes 
 of a Friend. 
 
 AGAINST this Polycrates^ fo univerfally hap- 
 py in all his Affairs, the Lacedaemonians prepar'd 
 to make War, at the Solicitation of thofe Sami- 
 ans who afterwards founded the City of Cydonia 
 in Crete. But Polycrates^ being inform*d of their 
 Defign, fent a MefTenger privately to Cambyfes 
 the Son of Cyrus, as he was preparing to invade 
 Mgyt>t\ with Instructions to defire him to de- 
 mand fome Afliftance of the Samians. Which 
 when Cambyfes heard, he readily difpatch'd a 
 Meflage to Polycrates^ defiring he would furnifh 
 a Fleet to aflift him in his Egyptian Expedition. 
 T Upon
 
 2-4 HERODOTUS. Book III. 
 
 Upon this Demand Polycrates drew out all thofe 
 he fufpected of feditious Defigns, and fent them 
 with forty Gallies to Cambyfes^ requefting .him 
 at the fame Time that he would not permit them 
 to return to Sams. Some affirm that thefe Sa- 
 mians never arriv'd in Mgypt ; but in their Paf- 
 fage thro* the Carpathian Sea, calling a Coun- 
 cil of War,, came to a Refolution not to pro- 
 ceed farther in their Voyage: Others fay, that 
 they arriv'd in sEgypt \ but finding themfelves 
 obferv'd and under Guard, they took an Op- 
 portunity to make their Efcape, and in their 
 Heturn to Samos met the Fleet of Polycrates^ 
 which they defeated, and landed fafely in their 
 own Country ; where they fought an unfuccefs- 
 ful Battle by Land, and afterwards fet Sail for 
 Lacedtemon. Yet fome pretend they had the 
 Victory in this Action alfo ; but I think their O- 
 pinion is groundlefs. For they could not have 
 been under a Necemty of imploring the Aid of 
 the Lacedaemonians, if they had found them- 
 felves able to refift the Forces of Polycrates. Be- 
 iides, 'tis repugnant to Reafon to imagine that 
 one who had a numerous Army of foreign Mer- 
 cenaries in his Pay, and fuch a Body of Samiati 
 Bowmen, mould be beaten by fo unequal a Num- 
 ber as thofe were who returned from sEgypt : 
 Efpecially if we confider, that Polycrates to pre- 
 vent Treachery, had brought together the 
 Wives and Children of all the Samians into the 
 Arfenal of the Navy ; refolving to burn them to- 
 gether with the Naval Stores, if he mould find 
 himfelf betray'd to the returning Exiles. 
 i THESE Samians, thus expell'd by Polycrates^ 
 arriv'd in Sparta , and coming before the Senate, 
 implor'd their Afljftance in many Words, and with 
 
 prefling
 
 THALIA. 275 
 
 preflmg Inftances. But at J&is firft Audience, 
 the Lacedaemonians gave-them no other Anfwer 
 than that they had forgotten the firft Part of 
 their Speech, and therefore could not compre- 
 hend the laft. At their fecond Appearance, 
 the Samians caus'd an empty Bafket to be 
 brought in, and only faid, There was no Bread : 
 Upon which the Lacedaemonians aniwer'd, That 
 the Bafket might have been fufficient to de- 
 clare their Wants; and immediately decreed 
 to aflift them. When all things were ready for 
 the Expedition, the Lacedaemonians tranfpor- 
 ted their Army to Samos^ in Requital, as the 
 Samians pretend, for the Afliftance they for- 
 merly had from Samos^ when they were engag- 
 ed in a War againft the MefTenians ; tho* the La- 
 cedaemonians lay, they did not undertake this 
 Enterprize out of good Will to the Samians , 
 but to revenge themfelves of that People 
 for intercepting the Bafon they fent to Crcefus^ 
 and robbing them the Year before of a curi- 
 ous Pectoral which Amafis King of Aigypf had 
 fent to them. This Pectoral was made of Li- 
 nen adorn'd with many Figures of Animals wo- 
 ven into the Work, and enrich'd with Gold 
 and Variety of Colours : The Chain is of ad- 
 . mirable Artifice, fine and (lender, tho' confifting 
 of three hundred and fixty diftinct Threads. 
 Such another is feen at Lindus^ prefented to 
 Minerva by the fame Amafis. The Corinthians 
 were eafily induc'd to take Part in this W r ar ; 
 becaufe they alfo had been injur'd by the Sami- 
 ans in the preceding Age. For when Peri- 
 ander the Son of Cyffelus had fent three hundred 
 Youths, born of the nobleft Families of Cor- 
 fyra to Alyattes King of Sardis, that they might 
 T 2 be
 
 276 HERODOTUS. 'Book III. 
 
 be made Eunuchs : And the Corinthian Ships, 
 which tranfported them, were already arriv'd 
 at Samos ; the Sampans, who were not ignorant 
 of the Defign of this Voyage, in the firft place 
 inftructed the Boys to take Sanctuary in the 
 Temple of Diana, forbidding the Corinthians 
 to ufe any violent Means to remove them, be- 
 caufe they were under the Protection of the 
 Goddefs : And when the Corinthians refus'd to 
 give them Subfiftance, the Samians on their Ac- 
 count inftituted a Feftival, which they obferve 
 to this Day. For at Night, whilft the Suppli- 
 ants were in the Temple, they aflembled the 
 young Men and Virgins to dance ; and order'd 
 them to carry about certain Cakes made of 
 Flower and Honey, that the Corcyrsean Youths 
 might fnatch them out of their Hands, and by 
 this Means fuftain themfelves : Which Practice 
 they continued, till the Corinthians weary of 
 attending, thought fit to depart from Samos ; 
 and were no fooner gone, than the Samians 
 fent Home the Boys to Corcyra. Now if the 
 Corinthians had liv'd in Amity with the Corcy- 
 faeans after the Death of Periander, they would 
 not have taken Part with the Lacedaemonians 
 againft Samos on this Occcafion : But indeed 
 from the firft peopling of that Ifland, their 
 Diffenfions have been perpetual. The Corin- 
 thians therefore not forgetting the Ufage they 
 receiv'd at Santos, join'd their Forces to the 
 Lacedaemonians. As for Periander, the Reafon 
 he had to fend the Sons of the principal Men of 
 Corcyra to Sardis, with the Defign I have men- 
 tioned was this. When he had kill'd his 
 Wife Melt/fa, he found that Calamity attended 
 by another. She left him two Sons, one of fe- 
 
 venteen
 
 T HAL I A, 277 
 
 venteen, and another of eighteen Years of Age. 
 Thefe young Men Procles Tyrant of Epidaurus^ 
 their Grandfather, by the Mother, fent for to his 
 Court, and carefs'd with that Tendernefs which 
 is ufually mewn to the Children of a Daughter. 
 And when he difmifs'd them faid, " You know 
 " who kill'd your Mother." The Elder made 
 no Reflexion on thefe Words ; But the Youn- 
 ger, whofe Name was Lycophron^ returning to 
 Corinth full of Refentment, and detefting the 
 Murderer of his Mother, difdain'd either to fpeak 
 to his Father, or make any Anfwer to the Que- 
 ftions he afk'd : 'Till at laft Periander in great 
 Anger turn'd him out of his Houfe ; and after- 
 wards enquir'd of the elder Brother what Dif- 
 ccurfes they had heard from their Grandfa- 
 ther. He acquainted him that they had been 
 receiv'd by Procles in the kindeft Manner ; not 
 at all mentioning the Words he faid at their De- 
 parture : Becaufe they had made no Impreflion 
 on his Mind. But Periander infifting that their 
 Grandfather had undoubtedly given him fome 
 Inftructions, ply'd him fo long with Quefti- 
 ons, that in the End the young Man recover'd 
 his Memory, and repeated the Words to his Fa- 
 ther : Which he having attentively confider'd ; 
 and refolving to treat his Son without the 
 leaft Indulgence, fent to the Perfons that had 
 given him Reception, forbidding them to har- 
 bour him for the future. Lycopbron being 
 remov'd from this Houfe retir'd to another ; 
 from whence upon the Menaces and pofitive 
 Commands of Periander^ he was expell'd in like 
 Manner. But betaking himfelf to a third, he 
 was receiv'd as the Son of Periander^ tho' the 
 Perfons concerned were not without Fear of his 
 T 3 Difplea-
 
 2 7 8 HERODOTUS. Book III. 
 
 Difpleafure. At laft Periander by an Edict com-, 
 manded all Men to abftain from receiving him, 
 or converting with him, under Penalty of a 
 certain Fine to be applied to the Temple of Apol- 
 lo. After which every one declining his Pre- 
 fence and Converfation, he refolv'd to retire into 
 the publick Porticoes, without making any far- 
 ther Trial of his Friends in fuch defperate Cir- 
 cumftances. But on the fourth Day after this 
 Refolution, Periander finding him disfigured 
 by Want and Naftinefs, began to relent, and 
 approaching him with Compaffion, faid ; " Son, 
 " Art thou better pleas'd with this mifera- 
 " ble way of living, than to qualify thyfelf 
 " by obeying me, to enjoy all the Power and 
 " Riches I poflefs? Thou, who art my Son, 
 * 6 and a King in the rich City of Corinth^ haft 
 " chofen a vagabond Life by difobeying and 
 *' irritating me contrary to thy Duty: For 
 " that Misfortune, which fo highly difturbs 
 * c thee, has fallen more heavily on me ; be- 
 * f caufe the Fact was perpetrated by myfelf, 
 <c Therefore as I doubt not that thou haft fuffi- 
 " ciently learnt how much better 'tis to be envi-. 
 " ed than pitied, and how prejudicial to provoke 
 <f a Parent and a powerful Man, I give thee 
 *' Leave to return Home." Such was the Ad- 
 monition of Periander to his Son. Bat Lycophron 
 return'd no other AnTwer to his Father, than 
 that he had incurr'd the Penalty of his own Edict 
 by fpeaking to him. So that Periander perceiv-r 
 ing the Qbftinacy of his Son to be infuperable 
 and without Remedy, remov'd him out of his 
 Sight, and fent him by Sea to Corcyra, which 
 was a Part of his Dominions. After the Depar^ 
 tyre of Lycephron 9 Periander made War againft
 
 r HAL I A. 279 
 
 his Father-in-Law Procles, as the principal Au- 
 thor of thefe Troubles ; forc'd the- City of 
 Epidaurus, and took Prodes Prifoner at the fame 
 Time. At length growing old, and perceiving 
 he could no longer attend the Adminiftration 
 of publick Affairs, he fent for Lycophron from 
 Corcyra to take the Government upon him, be- 
 caufe he found his eldeft Son ftupid and uncapa- 
 ble ; but Lycophron would not vouchfafe to give 
 Audience to the Meflenger. Neverthelefs Peri- 
 ander ftill fond of the young Man, fent ano- 
 ther Meflage to him by his own Daughter, who 
 was Sifter to Lycophron ; thinking me might 
 perfuade him to return. At her Arrival (he 
 fpoke to him in thefe Terms ; " Child, faid me, 
 " Hadft thou rather fee thy Father's Dominions 
 " fall into the Hands of others, and our Fa- 
 *' mily utterly deftroy'd than return to Corinth 
 " and take Pofleflion of all ? Come away from 
 this Place, and ceafe to punifh thyfelf. Ob- 
 ftinacy is an inaufpicious Quality : Think not 
 to cure one Evil by another. Many have 
 preferr'd Equity before the Rigour of Ju- 
 ftice i and many have loft their paternal In- 
 heritance by purfuing a maternal Claim. A 
 Tyranny is an uncertain Pofleflion, and cour- 
 " ted by numerous Pretenders* Thy Father, 
 *' is old, and infirm : Let nothing therefore 
 " prevail with thee to abandon to others the 
 " Advantages which belong to thyfelf.'* Thus 
 fhe prefs'd him with thefe Exhortations, as fhe 
 had been inftructed by her Father. But Lyco- 
 phron refufing to comply, affur'd her he would 
 never return to Corinth fo long as he mould 
 hear his Father was living. With this Anfwer 
 (he departed, and having inform'd Periander of 
 T 4 what
 
 HERODOTUS. Book HI. 
 
 what had pafs'd he fent a third Meflage by a He- 
 rald to acquaint his Son, that he himfelf de- 
 fign'd to retire to Corcyra ; and commanded 
 him to return, in order to take immediate Poflef- 
 fion of the Government. To this Proportion 
 Lycophron confented ; and as Periander was pre- 
 paring to remove to Corcyra^ and his Son to Co- 
 rinthy the Corcyraeans inform'd of the Defign, 
 and unwilling to receive Periander into their 
 Country, kill'd the young Man : And this was 
 the Caufe that mov'd Periander to revenge him- 
 felf againft the Corcyrasans. 
 
 THE Lacedaemonians arriving with a great 
 Fleet, befieg'd Samos , and advancing towards 
 the Wall, pafs'd by a Fort which was built upon 
 the Shore near the Suburbs : But Polycrates at the 
 Head of a confiderable Force falling upon their 
 Army, compell'd them to retire. Soon after, a 
 good Body of Samians, in Conjunction with 
 their Auxiliary Forces fallied out from another 
 Tower, which ftands on the Ridge of a Hill, 
 and attack*d the Lacedaemonians ; but fled away 
 after a fhort Difpute, and were purfu'd with 
 great Slaughter : And if all the Lacedaemonians 
 who were in that Action, had behav'd themfelves 
 as well as Archias and Lycopes^ Samos had been 
 taken that Day. For thefe two Men alone of 
 all thofe who purfu'd the Samians, enter'd the 
 City at their Heels, and finding all Hopes of re- 
 treating cut off, died valiantly fighting within 
 the Walls. I remember to have feen one Archias, 
 the Son of another of that Name, and Grandfon 
 to this ArchiaSy in Piiane ; for he was of that 
 Tribe. This Perfon efteem'd the Samians above 
 "all other Strangers, and faid, that the Surname 
 of Samian was given to his Father, becaufe he 
 I was
 
 THALIA. 281 
 
 was Son to that Archias who fell fo glorioufly 
 at Samos ; and that he himfelf mould always pay 
 a peculiar Refpect to the Samians, becaufe they 
 had honour'd the Memory of his Grandfather 
 with a magnificent Funeral at the Publick 
 Charge. The Lacedaemonians, after they had 
 been forty Days before Samos, and done little 
 towards the Reduction of that Place, rais'd the 
 Siege, and retir'd to Peloponnefus ; tho* a ground- 
 lefs Report has been rais'd, that Pclycrates hav- 
 ing caus'd a great Number of Pieces made of 
 guilded Lead to be coin*d, purchas'd their De- 
 parture with that Money. This was the firft 
 xpedition the Dorians undertook againft AJia^ 
 under the Conduct of the Lacedaemonians : After 
 whofe Departure, thofe Samians who had 
 brought this War upon Polycrates, finding them- 
 felves abandon'd, and their Treasures exhaufted, 
 fet fail for Siphnus. The Affairs of the Siph- 
 nians were then in a flouriming Condition, and 
 their Riches immenfe; the Ifland fo abounding 
 in Mines of Gold and Silver, that the Tenth of 
 the Money they coin'd, tranfported to Delphi, 
 made up a Treafure equal to the greateft : And 
 they never fail'd once every Year to divide the 
 Riches they drew from their Mines. When 
 the Siphnians had amafs'd thefe Treafures, they 
 confulted the Oracle, to know if their Prosperity 
 mould long continue, and receiv'd this Anfwer 
 from the Pythian, 
 
 IVben pullick Structures Jhould be cloattfd in 
 
 Wbite, 
 
 A wife Man's Care Jhould fence againft the Rage 
 Of weodtn Troops^ and Red Ambafladors. 
 
 The
 
 282 HERODOTUS. Book III. 
 
 The Prytanean Court and Piazza of Sipbnus, 
 were at that Time adorn'd with white Parian 
 Marble. Yet the Siphnians- could not com- 
 prehend the Intention of the Oracle, either be- 
 fore, or upon the Landing of the Samians , tho* 
 immediately after their Arrival they ient an 
 Embafiy to the City in one of their Ships* 
 which according to the Samian Fafhion was 
 colour'd over with Red. And this was the thing 
 meant by the Pythian, when me forewarn'd the 
 Siphnians to beware of a wooden Force and 
 red Ambafladors. Thefe Samians being ad- 
 mitted to an Audience, defir'd a Loan of ten 
 Talents; but receiving a Denial, return'd to 
 their Companions, and ravag'd the Territories 
 of Siphnus. Upon which the Siphnians draw- 
 ing all their Forces together, fought a Battle, 
 and were defeated by the Samians ; who took 
 many Prifoners in the Purfuit, by cutting off 
 their Retreat to the City ; and receiv'd one 
 hundred Talents for their Ranfom. In the 
 next Place, the Samians fail'd to Hermione^ and 
 inftead of Money, receiv'd the Ifland of 'Thy- 
 rea, fituate near Peloponnefus^ which they com- 
 mitted to the Care of the Troezenians : And af- 
 terwards landing in Crete, founded the City of 
 Cydonia ; tho' they came not thither with that In- 
 tention, but only to expel the Zacynthians 
 out of the Ifland. Five Years they continued 
 in this Settlement, attended with fuch Profperi- 
 ty, that they built the Temple of Diffyna, and 
 all other Temples which remain to this Time 
 in Cydonia. But in the fixth Year,- they, to- 
 gether with the Cretans, were entirely defeated 
 in a- Sea- battle, and utterly fubdued by the Jgi J 
 netes , who took off the Prows of their Ships, 
 
 and,
 
 THALIA 283 
 
 and dedicated them in the Temple of Minerva. 
 The People of Mgina took this terrible Re- 
 venge, in Requital for the War, which the 
 Samians under the Conduct of their King Am- 
 fhicrates had made againft them, and which had 
 reduc'd both fides to great Extremities. I have 
 been more particular in relating the Affairs of 
 the Samians, becaufe they have three things 
 more considerable than are feen in any other 
 Parts among the Grecians. They have openM 
 a Way thro' a Mountain, one hundred and fifty 
 Fathom high. The Length of this Paflage, 
 which pierces the Hill from one fide to the 
 other, contains full feven Stades , and the 
 Height and Breadth, eight Foot each. A Ca- 
 nal twenty Cubits deep, and three Foot broad, 
 runs quite along the fide of the Aperture, and 
 ferves to convey the Water of a plentiful Spring 
 into the City, thro* various Pipes. Eupalinus 
 of Megara^ the Son of Nauftrophus, was the 
 Contriver and Director of ^this Work. The fe- 
 cond thing worthy to be obferv'd is a Mole of 
 one hundred and twenty Foot in Height, em- 
 bracing the Harbour, and advancing above two 
 Stades into the Sea. The third, is a Temple, 
 greater than all thofe I ever faw ; and of which 
 the principal Architect was Rbcecus, the Son of 
 PbileuSi a Native of Samos. Thefe things havfc 
 induc'd me to enlarge my pifcourfe concerning 
 the Samians. 
 
 WHILST Cambyfes the Son of Cyrus continued 
 delirious in Mgypt, two of the Mages, who were 
 Brothers, confpir'd againft him. One of thefe, 
 whofe Name was Patizithes^ had been by Camby- 
 fes made Governour of his Hqumold during his 
 Abfence. This Perfon being well inform'd of 
 
 the
 
 284. HERODOrUS. Book III. 
 
 the Death of Smerdis, which was kept private, 
 and known to few of the Perfians, (who, for the 
 inoft Part thought him ft ill alive,) undertook 
 to invade the Throne in the following Mannner. 
 He had a Brother, as I faid, for his Accom- 
 plice ; in Shape and Mien perfectly refembling 
 Smerdis the Son of Cyrus, who had been mur- 
 der'd by Cambyfes -, and bearing the fame 
 Name. This Man Pailzitbes inftructed in the. 
 Part he was to act : And when he had plac'd 
 him in the Throne fent Heralds to all Places, 
 and particularly to the Army in jfcgypt, com- 
 manding them for the future to acknowledge 
 Smerdis the Son of Cyrus as King of Perfta, 
 and no longer to obey Cambyfes. The Heralds 
 every where performed their Office j and he 
 who was difpatch'd to jEgypt, rinding Cambyfes 
 with his Forces at Ecbatana in Syria, plac'd 
 himfelf in the Mid ft of the Army, and open- 
 ly proclaim'd the Orders of Patizithes. Cam- 
 byfes^ who was prefent at the Proclamation, be- 
 lieving the Words of the Herald to be true, 
 and imagining Prexafpes had treacheroufly o- 
 mitted to execute the Order he gave him to 
 kill Smerdis, turn'd to him in Anger and 
 faid, " Prexafpes, Thou haft not obey'd my 
 " Command.'* To which Prexafpes anfwer'd, 
 *' SIR, The Words you have heard are falfe: 
 ** "5four Brother Smerdis cannot rebel againft 
 " you ; neither can you have any Difpute, 
 " great or fmall, with him. I myfelf put 
 " your Order in Execution, and buried him 
 " with my own Hands. If indeed dead Men 
 *' can rife again, then we may expec"l another 
 " Rebellion from Aftyages the Mede : But if the 
 " Courfe of things be not Jilter'd, you have no- 
 
 thing
 
 THALIA. 285 
 
 * thing to fear from your Brother. However 
 " I am of Opinion we ought to purfue the 
 <c Herald and examine ; who fent him to com- 
 *' mand us to obey King Smerdis" Camby- 
 fes approving his Advice, commanded the Her- 
 ald to be purfued ; and when he was brought 
 back, Prexafpes, faid to him ; " Man, Since 
 " thou fay'ft thou art the MefTenger of Smerdis 
 " the Son of Cyrus, fpeak the Truth, and thou 
 " malt be difmifs'd with Impunity. Did'ft thou 
 cc fee Smerdis, and receive thefe Orders from his 
 " Mouth -, or from any one of his Minifters ? 
 " Truly, anfwer'd the Herald, I have not feen 
 " Smerdis the Son of Cyrus fmce Cambyfes de- 
 " parted for <&gypt : But the Mage, whom he 
 " appointed Governor of his Domeftick Affairs, 
 " gave me thefe Orders, and told me that Smer- 
 " dis the Son of Cyrus commanded me to pub- 
 " lifh them here." This was the plain Truth ; 
 and fatisfied Cambyfes fo fully, that, turning to 
 Prexafpes, he faid, " I am now convinc'd 
 " that thou did'ft obey my Command like an 
 " honeft Man -, and haft no Part in this Event: 
 " But what Perfian can this be, who has re- 
 " volted againft me, and aflum'd the Name of 
 " Smerdis ? O King, replied frexafpes, I think 
 " I underftand the Intrigue : The Confpira- 
 *' tors are the two Mages, Patizitbes Go- 
 " vernor of the Houmold, and his Brother 
 " Smerdis" The mention of that Name deeply 
 affected Cambyfes, and reviv'd the Memory of 
 his Dream ; in which he had feen a Meflen- 
 ger, who came to acquaint him, that Smerdis 
 was plac'd in the Royal Throne, and touch'd 
 the Heavens with his Head. Reflecting how 
 tmjuftly he had deftroy'd Jbas Brother, he wept 5 
 
 and
 
 286 HERODOTUS. Book III. 
 
 and after he had lamented him, and bitterly 
 complain'd of his own Calamity, he mounted 
 his Horfe, with a Refolution to return in all 
 Diligence to Sufa, and make War againft the 
 Mage. But as he mounted his Horfe, his Sword 
 fell out of the Scabbard, and wounded him on 
 the Thigh, in that Part where he had former- 
 ly ftruck the Egyptian God Apis. Cambyfes 
 being thus wounded afk'd the Name of the City, 
 and was inform'd that the Place was call'd Ecba- 
 tana. He had formerly receiv'd an Oracle from 
 Butus, that he mould end his Life in the City 
 of Ecbatana ; and therefore imagin'd he mould 
 dye an old Man in the Place of that Name in 
 Media, where all his Treafures were ; but the 
 Oracle meant no other than the Syrian Ecbata- 
 na. Thus having heard the Name of the City , 
 tho* vex'd with the Injury of the Mage, and 
 afflicted with his Wound, he recover'd his 
 Understanding ; and rightly interpreting the 
 Senfe of the Oracle, faid, " Fate has decreed 
 " that Cambyfes the Son of Cyrus mail dye in 
 " this Place." Thefe Words he faid at that 
 Time -, and about twenty Days after, having 
 afTembled all the principal Men of the Perfians 
 who were with him, he fpoke to them in thefe 
 Terms. " I am neceffitated to acquaint you 
 *' with a thing, which above all others I de- 
 " fir'd to conceal. When I was in Mgypt I 
 " faw a Vifion in a Dream, which I wiih I 
 " had never feen, reprefenting a Meflenger ar- 
 " riv'd from Perfia with Tydings, that Smer- 
 *' dis was feated on the Royal Throne, .and 
 " touch'd the Heavens with his Head. Induc'd 
 " by this Dream I fear'd my Brother would.de- 
 " prive me of the Kingdom, and acted with 
 
 " more
 
 T H A L I A 287 
 
 " more Precipitation than Prudence : For no 
 " human Power is able to fruftrate the Decrees 
 " of Fate. I foolimly fent Prexafpes to Sufa 
 * c with Orders to kill Smerdis ; and have liv'd 
 " in the profoundeft Security fince the Execu- 
 " tion of that Crime ; not at all fufpecting 
 " that any Mortal would rebel againft me, after 
 " I had remov'd him out of the World. But I 
 u find myfelf utterly miftaken ; I have mur- 
 " der'd my Brother in vain, and neverthelefs am 
 " deprived of the Kingdom. For the God, who 
 " fent me that Vifion, meant no other Perfon 
 ".than Smerdis the Mage* when he admonim'd 
 *' me that Smerdis would invade my Throne. 
 " Since then I have inform'd you that I am 
 " guilty of this Crime, you are not to imagine 
 " that Smerdis the Son of Cyrus is living ; but 
 ** that two Mages (I mean Patizitbes and 
 " Smerdis) have taken PorTeflion of the King- 
 ** dom : The firft of thefe I appointed Gover- 
 " nour of my Houfhold during my Abfence, 
 " and the other is Brother to him. Now be- 
 *' caufe he, who of right fhould have reveng'd 
 " the Indignity I fuffer from the Mages, is pre- 
 " vented by the Inhumanity of his neareft Re- 
 " lation , I think myfelf oblig*d in this Exi- 
 " gency to let you know what I would have 
 " you do for me after my Death. In the firft 
 " Place I command, by the Gods of the Royal 
 *' Family adjure you all, efpecially thofe among 
 *' you who are of the Achasmenian Blood, 
 " never to permit the Government to return 
 " into the Hands of the Medes : And if at any 
 " Time they mould ufurp the fupreme Power 
 " by Artifice, to ufe the like Means to reco- 
 " ver it 5 or if they fliould acquire the Do- 
 2 " minion
 
 288 HERODOTUS. Book III. 
 
 " minion by Arms, then likewife to wreft it 
 " from them by Arms. On this Condition, 
 44 may the Earth furnim you with uninterrupted 
 " Plenty ; may your Wives bring you many 
 " Children j your Herds and Flocks increafe ; 
 *' and your Liberty remain inviolable for ever. 
 " But if you neglect to preferve or recover 
 " your Superiority over the Medes, may the 
 *' contrary Imprecations overtake you, and 
 * c every one of the Perfians end his Life as un- 
 * happily as I." When Cambyfes had finifh'd 
 thefe Words, he again paflionately lamented 
 the Death of Smerdis ; and all the Perfians fee- 
 ing their King fo deeply afflicted, wept abun- 
 dantly, and tore their Garments in Pieces. But 
 in a little Time his Wound corrupting the Bone, 
 caus'd a Mortification in his Thigh, and put an 
 End to the Life of Cambyfes the Son of Cyrus, 
 after he had reign'd feven Years and five Months , 
 having never had any Children of either Sex. 
 He was no fooner dead, than the Perfians who 
 had accompanied him, began to enter into a 
 violent Sufpicion, that whatever he had faid 
 concerning the Ufurpation of the Mages and the 
 Death of his Brother, was fictitious, and con- 
 triv'd by Cambyfes with Defign to render all the 
 Perfians Enemies to Smerdis. This Incredulity 
 cafily wrought them into a Perfuafion, that 
 Smerdis the Son of Cyrus was really the Perfon 
 who had taken PofTeffion of the Kingdom : And 
 Prexafpes contributed not a little to this DeJu- 
 fion, by denying utterly that he had kill'd Smer- 
 dis. For indeed, after the Death of Cambyfes he 
 could not fafely own, that he had murder'd the 
 Son of Cyrus with his own Hand. 
 
 THE
 
 THALIA 289 
 
 TH E Mage Smerdis, by pretending to be the 
 Son of Cyrus, reign'd without Difturbance during 
 the feven Months that remain'd to compleat the 
 eighth Year of Cambyfes j in which Time he 
 treated the People with fuch Beneficence, that 
 all the Nations of Afia, the Perfians only ex- 
 cepted, exprefs'd their Sorrow at his Death. 
 For upon his Acceflion to the Throne, he dif- 
 patch'd Orders thro* all Parts of his Dominions, 
 to proclaim a general Exemption from Tri- 
 bute and Military Services for the Space of 
 three Years. But in the eighth Month he was 
 difcover'd in this Manner. Otanes the Son of 
 Pharnafpes, a Man equal to the greateft of the 
 Perfians both in Fortune and Blood, was the firft 
 who fufpe&ed him to be an Impoftor, and not 
 the Son of Cyrus ; becaufe he never went 
 out of the Caftle, nor admitted any of the prin- 
 cipal Men of Perfta to his Prefence. In this 
 Sufpicion he contriv'd the following Artifice, 
 in order to difcover the Truth. His Daughter 
 Pbtfdyma had been one of the Wives of Cam- 
 byfes, and was kept, as all the reft were, for 
 the Ufe of Smerdis. To her therefore he fent 
 a Meflage, to acquaint her, that he defir'd to 
 know, whether the Perfon (he lay with, was 
 Smerdis the Son of Cyrus, or fome other Man : 
 And receiving for Anfwer, that having ne- 
 ver feen Smerdis the Son of Cyrus, me could 
 not inform him with whom me lay ; he fent 
 to her a fecond Time to defire, that fince me 
 could not refolve his Doubt, me would aflc 
 Atojfa, who he was that lay with both ; being 
 fully perfuaded that me mutt of Neceflity know 
 her own Brother. But his Daughter let him 
 know, that me was not permitted to fpeak to 
 U Atoff*
 
 290 HERODOTUS. Book III. 
 
 Atoffa, or to fee any of the other Women ; be- 
 caufe the King, whoever he was, had from the- 
 Beginning of his Reign difpers'd all his Wives 
 into diftmct and feparate Apartments. This 
 Anfwer much increafing the Sufpicion of Ota* 
 nes, he fent a third Meflage to Pb<edyma in thefe 
 Words. " Daugther, Being defcended of an 
 " illuftrious Family, you ought to undertake 
 " the moft hazardous Enterprise, in Obedience 
 " to the Commands of your Father. If this 
 " Smerdis is not the Son of Cyrus ^ but the 
 " Perfon I fufpect him to be ; he is fo far 
 *' from being worthy to poflefs the Perfian King- 
 ** dom, or your Perfon, that he ought not to 
 " efcape without exemplary Punimment. Fol- 
 " low therefore my Advice ; and when you lye 
 " by him, and perceive him to deep, carry your 
 " Hand to his Head, and if you find he has 
 " Ears, be aflur'd he is the Son of Cyrus ; 
 " but if he has none, he can be no other than 
 " Smerdis the Mage." To this Meflage Pb<e- 
 dyma anfwer'd, that the Danger was exceed- 
 ing great; becaufe if the King had no Ears, 
 and mould furprize her endeavouring to find 
 out fuch a Truth, he would not fail to kill 
 her : Neverthelefs me would make the Attempt, 
 and take upon her to fatisfy the Doubt of her 
 Father touching this Smerdis, (whofe Ears had 
 been formerly cut off, for a Reafon of Impor- 
 tance, by Cyrus the Son of Cambyfes.') In Purfu- 
 ance therefore of her Promife, Pb<edyma the 
 Daughter of Otanes, carefully executed the Or- 
 ders of her Father ; and going in her Turn to the 
 King's Bed, as the Manner of the Perfian Wo- 
 men is, me no 'fooner perceiv*d him to fleep pro- 
 foundly, than fhe eafily difcovePd by her Hand 
 i that
 
 "THALIA 
 
 that the Man had no Ears -, and early the next 
 Morning fent an Account to her Father of what 
 me had done. Otanes having received this Infor- 
 mation, communicated the whole Affair to Go- 
 brias and Afpathines^ Perfians of the firft Rank, 
 and of undoubted Honour : Who, becaufe they 
 had entertain'd the fame Sufpicion before readi- 
 ly aflented to the Judgment made by Otanes^ 
 and came to an Agreement with him, that 
 each of the three mould nominate one of his 
 moft trufty Friends among the Perfians, to be 
 admitted to a Participation of their Counfels* 
 Purfuant to this Refolution, Otanes made Choice 
 of Intaphernes, Gobryas of Megabyfus, and Afya- 
 thines of Hydarnes. In the mean Time Darius 
 the Son of Hyftafpcs arriving in Sufa from Per- 
 fia^ where his Father was Governour, the fix 
 Perfians refolv'd to admit him into their Society. 
 And now being feven in Number, they met to- 
 gether j and after mutual Aflurances of Fide- 
 lity, enter'd into a Debate touching the thing 
 in queftion. But when Darius came to fpeak 
 in his Turn ; he faid, " I thought no Man, ex- 
 *' cept myfelf, had known that the Kingdom 
 *' is ufurp'd by a Mage, and that Smerdis the 
 " Son of Cyrus is dead : And therefore I came to 
 " this Place with a Refolution to kill the U- 
 *' furper. But fince I find that you alfo are 
 " inform'd of this Indignity, my Opinion is, 
 ' to difpatch the Enterprize with all Expedi- 
 *' tion, becaufe Delays in fuch a Conjuncture are 
 " not fafe. Son of Hyftafpes, fad Otanes, thou, 
 " art born of a magnanimous Father, and thy 
 " Courage is not inferior to thy Birth ; yet for- 
 * c bear to act inconfiderately, and attempt no- 
 *' thing without due Caution ; For I think we 
 U a ought
 
 292 HERODOfUS. Book III. 
 
 " ought not to undertake this Enterprise with- 
 " out augmenting our Number." Darius replied, 
 *' Believe me, Friends, if you follow the Ad- 
 " vice of Otanes^ you will all inevitably perifh : 
 " For one or other will not fail to difcover the 
 *' Confpiracy to the Mage for private Advantage: 
 *' And indeed you alone, who firft form'd the 
 " Defign, ought to have put it in Execution im- 
 <c mediately : But ft nee you have thought fit to 
 " communicate your Intentions to a greater 
 " Number, and to me among others ; Jet us 
 " make the Attempt this Day ; or be afTur'd, 
 " that if you let go the prefent Occafion, I 
 " will prevent any other from accufing me, and 
 " accufe you all to the Mage." Otanes perceiv- 
 ing Darius fo preflmg i " Since then, faid he, 
 *' we are neceflitated to precipitate our Enter- 
 " prize, and not permitted to defer the Execu- 
 " tion, pray tell us in what Manner we mail 
 " enter the Palace ; which, as you know, or 
 " at lead have heard, is defended by Guards 
 " plac'd in all the Paflages j and I defire to be 
 " inform'd how we mall force them." Darius 
 anfwer'd, " Some things, O fanes, may be ex- 
 * c plain'd by Action, that cannot be demon- 
 *' ftrated in Words , while other things, which 
 " feem eafy in Difcourfe, produce no confi- 
 " derable Effect in the Execution. No Man 
 " here can imagine that we mall find any great 
 k j Difficulty in parling the Guards ; becaufe 
 " our Quality is fuch, that every one either 
 " from a Motive of Reverence or Dread will 
 <c prefently give us Way. Befides, I am fur- 
 ' nifh*d with a Pretext which cannot fail to re- 
 <e move all Obftruclions : For I will fay I come 
 <c directly from Perfia and bring a Meflage 
 
 2 " tO
 
 THALIA 293 
 
 " to the King from my Father. Falmood 
 " may take Place, when Truth ought not to 
 " be fpoken, and when Men aim at the fame 
 *' thing by both. Some make ufe of an Un- 
 " truth, in order to perfuade to advantageous 
 ** things; whilft others on the contrary fpeak 
 * the Truth, that they may obtain the fame 
 " End : And thus by different Ways we com- 
 " pafs the fame Defigns. But if we fucceed not 
 ' there will be little Difference between Truth 
 ** and Falmood. As for the Guards, they 
 " who willingly permit us to pafs, mall be 
 '* rewarded in due Time ; but whoever offers 
 " to refift, muft be treated as an Enemy ; till 
 tc we have forc'd our PafTage, and finim'd our En- 
 " terprize." To this Gobryas added, " Friends, 
 tc 'twill be more glorious for us Perfians to re- 
 " cover the Sovereign Power, or dye in the 
 *' Attempt, than to be fubjecl: to a Mage of 
 *' Media without Ears. Thofe among you, 
 ". who attended Cambyfes during his Sicknefs, 
 Cc well remember the Imprecations he utter*d 
 " at the Point of Death againft the Perfians, if 
 <c they mould neglect to ufe their utmoft En- 
 '* deavours to repoflefs themfelves of the Kirig- 
 cc dom ; tho* his Difcourfe made little Impref- 
 " fion upon us at that Time, becaufe we ima- 
 " gin'd he fpoke out of Hatred to his Bro- 
 " ther. Therefore I concur with the Opinion 
 " of Darius^ and think we ought not to fepa- 
 " rate under any Pretext-, but immediately up- 
 " on the breaking up of this Meeting go directly 
 *' to the Mage:" Which Propofal was unani- 
 moufly approv'd. 
 
 WHILST they were concerting this Attempt, 
 
 the Mages confulted together, and contrived to 
 
 U 3 engage
 
 294 HERODOTUS. Booklll. 
 
 engage Prexafpes in their Interefts ; as well be- 
 caufe he had been ill us'd by Cambyfes^ who fhot 
 his Son dead with an Arrow ; as becaufe he 
 alone of all the Perfians knew certainly that 
 Smcrdis the Son of Cyrus was not living ; having 
 difpatch'd him with his own Hand : And be- 
 lides this, he had acquir'd a general Eileem a- 
 mong the Perfians. For thefe Reafons they fent 
 to Prexafpes, and having obtain'd a Promife 
 of his Friendship, they oblig'd him to give his 
 Word confirm*d by an Oath, that he would 
 be filent, and never difcover to any Man the 
 Fraud they had put upon the Perfians : Aflur- 
 ing him in Consideration of this Service, they 
 would add Millions to his prefent Riches. 
 When the Mages had perfuaded Prexafpes to 
 promife the Performance of thefe things, they 
 acquainted him farther, that having determin'd 
 to afTemble all the Perfians under the Walls of 
 the Palace they defir'd he would afcend a cer- 
 tain Tower, and from thence publickly pro- 
 claim, That Smerdis the Son of Cyrus and na 
 other Perfon was the King then reigning. 
 This Command they laid upon him, becaufe 
 they not only knew he was a Man of princi- 
 pal Authority among the Perfians ; but alfo 
 that he had frequently affirm'd with great Affe- 
 veration, that Smerdis the Son of Cyrus was ftill 
 living, and utterly denied that he had kill'd 
 him. The Mages having thus induc'd Prexafpes 
 to take upon him this Office, and fummon'd the 
 Perfians together, commanded. him to mount the 
 Tower and from thence to harangue the Aflem- 
 bly. But he, willing to forget the Words they 
 had defir'd him to fpeak, began his Difcourfe with 
 the Genealogy of Cyrus, which he deduc'd from
 
 THALIA. 295 
 
 Acb<emenes in the male Line ; and afterwards put 
 them in mind of the great Benefits the Perfian 
 Nation had receiv'd from that King. When he 
 had finim'd this Part, he confefs'd the whole 
 Truth ; and told them, that the Apprehenfions 
 he had of the Hazards he muft inevitably run 
 by publifhing the Fraud, had conftrain'd him to 
 conceal it fo long ; but now feeing the Neceflity 
 of difcovering the Secret, he acknowledg'd, 
 that he had been compell'd by Cambyfes to take 
 away the Life of Smerdis the Son of Cyrus, 
 and that the prefent PofTeflbr of the Kingdom 
 was no other than a Mage. Then fulminating 
 many Imprecations againft the Perfians, if they 
 ihould neglect to recover the Sovereignty and 
 punifh the Mages, he precipitated himfelf head- 
 long from the Tower. Thus died Prexafpes, 
 a Man highly efteem'd during the Courfe of 
 his whole Life. 
 
 IN the mean Time the feven Perfians having 
 determin'd to execute their Defign againft the 
 Mages without Delay, went to implore the Aflift- 
 ance of the Gods -, and in the Midft of their Way 
 were inform'd of all that Prexafpes had faid and 
 done ; which obliging them to retire and confer 
 together, Otanes earneftly exhorted them to defer 
 the Enterprize, and not to attempt any thing in 
 the prefent Diforder of Affairs : But Darius ftill 
 infifting upon immediate Execution, and reject- 
 ing all Propofitions of Delay, the Difpute grew 
 warm ; and as they were contending, feven 
 Hawks appeared purfuing^two Vultures in the Air, 
 pulling and tearing them to pieces : Which when 
 the feven Perfians obferv'd, they accepted the 
 Omen -, fell in with the Opinion of Darius, and 
 rnarch'd directly to the Palace ; where they no 
 U 4 {boner
 
 2 9 6 HERODOTUS. Book III. 
 
 fooner arriv'd than they found his Conjecture 
 verified. For the Guards refpecting their Dig- 
 nity, and no way doubting fuch a Defign from 
 Perfons of their Rank and Figure, permitted 
 them to pafs without afking any Queftion. But 
 when they enter'd the Hall, the Eunuchs who 
 attended to receive MefTages began to enquire 
 what Bufmefs they had there ; and threaten- 
 ing the Guards for permitting them to pafs, 
 put themfelves into a Pofture of Refiftance, 
 if they mould attempt to proceed farther. 
 Then the feven Perfians animating each other, 
 drew . their Swords ; kill'd all that oppos'd 
 their Paflage, and in an Inftant penetrated to 
 an inner Room where the two Mages were 
 confulting about the late Action of Prexafpes ; 
 who, when they heard the Exclamations and 
 Tumult of the Eunuchs, went together to 
 the Door, and perceiving what was doing, 
 refolv'd to have recourfe to Arms. To that 
 End, one of them taking up a Bow, and the 
 other a Javelin, they began to engage in the 
 Combat: He who had the Bow, foon found 
 that Weapon of no Ufe in fo clofe an Action ; 
 but the other with his Javelin wounded Afpa- 
 tbines in the Thigh, and ftruck out the Eye of 
 Intaphernes, tho' the Wound was not mortal. 
 Thus one of the Mages wounded two of the 
 Perfians ; whilft he who found his Bow ufelefs, 
 ran to a Bed-Chamber adjoining to the Place 
 where they fought, with Defign to mut the 
 Door upon himfelf ; but was fo clofely purfued 
 by Darius and Gobryas^ that they broke into the 
 Chamber with him : And as Gobryas was ftrug- 
 gling with the Mage, Darius ftood ftill, doubt- 
 ing how to direct his Blow in the dark : Which 
 
 Gobryas
 
 THALIA. 297 
 
 Gobryas perceiving, and afking why he held 
 his Hand ; Darius anfwer'd, becaufe he fear'd 
 he might hurt him , " Pufh, Pum, faid Gobryas^ 
 " tho' you ftrike thro' the Bodies of both.'* Up- 
 on this Darius refolv'd to put all to the venture, 
 and by good Fortune kill'd the Mage. When 
 the feven had difpatch'd the Mages, they cut 
 off their Heads j and leaving the two Perfians 
 who were wounded, to fecure the Palace, be^ 
 caufe they could not be ferviceable elfewhere, 
 the other five carrying the Heads of the Mages, 
 march'd out with great Tumult and Exclama- 
 tion ; and calling to the Perfians, related what 
 they had done , mewing them the Heads , and 
 kill'd all the Mages they found in their Way. 
 The Perfians were no fooner inform'd of what 
 had pafs'd, and of the Deceit of the Mages, 
 than they like wife refolving to act in Confor- 
 mity to the feven, kill'd every Mage they met ; 
 and if Night coming on had not prevented, no 
 one of that Order had been left alive. All 
 the Perfians celebrate this Day with the greateft 
 Solemnity, and call the Feftival by the Name of 
 Magophonia^ or 'The Slaughter of the Mages. On 
 that Day no Mage may be feen abroad ; but 
 every one of them is conftrain'd to ihut him- 
 ielf up in his own Hou(e. 
 
 FIVE Days after this Tumult, thofe who had 
 been concern'd in the Attempt againft the Mages, 
 met to confult about the Government, and made 
 the following Speeches-, notwithftanding fome 
 among the Grecians fondly imagine they are 
 fictitious. Otanes opening the Conference with 
 an Exhortation to the reft that they would efta- 
 blifh a Commonwealth in Perfia, faid j "My 
 " Opinion is, that we ought not to entruft the 
 
 " fupreme
 
 298 HERODOTUS. Book III. 
 
 *' fupreme Power with any fingle Perfon among 
 " us; becauie a Monarchical Government is 
 44 neither good nor fafe. You know to what 
 44 ExcefTes Cambyfes was tranfported, and have 
 44 fufficiently experienc'd the Infolence of a 
 44 Mage. And indeed how can that Govern- 
 *' ment be well adminifter'd, where one Man 
 44 may do all Things with Impunity ; and in 
 44 which even the beft are eafily tempted by 
 44 an exorbitant Power to abandon the Virtues 
 44 they had acquired ? A Man, made Infolent 
 44 by Greatnefs, and naturally envious like other 
 44 Men, cannot but be compleatly vicious: 
 44 For Infolence, in Conjunction with Envy, 
 44 pufhes Men on to many nefarious Actions. 
 44 One would think a Tyrant mould not be 
 46 envious, becaufe he poflefles fuch eminent 
 44 Advantages above other Men -, but Expe- 
 " rience demonftrates the contrary. He envies 
 44 the beft, and favours the worft Men of 
 " the Nation : He hearkens to Calumny with 
 " Pleafure; and his Conduct is fo irregular, 
 " that if any one commend him modeftly, he 
 4 grows angry, and thinks he is not treated 
 " with fufficient Reverence: On the other 
 44 Hand, if he be highly admir'd, he is no 
 44 lefs offended, becaufe he fufpeds he is flat- 
 * 4 ter*d. In Things of greater Importance he 
 " is yet more intolerable. He overthrows 
 " the Orders and Cuftoms of the Country ; 
 44 violates the Chaftity of Women ; and murders 
 " the Innocent unheard. But a popular Govern- 
 44 ment defer vedly bears the charming Name 
 "of Equality, and is never guilty of thofe 
 4 Excefles that are the conftant Attendants of 
 44 Monarchy. The Magiftrates are appointed 
 
 44 by
 
 THALIA. 299 
 
 " by Election ; every Officer is oblig'd to give 
 " an Account of his Adminiftration, and all 
 " Refolutions are pafs'd by common Confent. 
 " My Opinion therefore is, that we ought to 
 " reject Monarchy, and eftablifti a popular Go- 
 " vernment : For no valuable Quality can be 
 " wanting in a numerous Aflembly." When 
 Otanes had thus deliver'd his Opinion, Megaby- 
 zus fpoke next i and recommending an * Oligar- 
 chy to their Choice, faid, " I readily concur with 
 *' Otanes in the Advice he has given to abolifh 
 " the Tyranny j but to counfel us to confer the 
 " whole Power upon the Multitude, is, as I 
 " conceive, a wide Deviation from the right 
 " Way. For nothing can be imagin'd more 
 " foolifh and arrogant than the Vulgar ; and 
 " therefore nothing can be more extravagant, 
 " than that we, who are endeavouring to avoid 
 " the Infolence of a Tyrant, mould give our 
 " felvesup to ferve the Petulancy of a capricious 
 " Multitude. A Tyrant knows what he does; 
 " but the Populace is brutally ignorant: For 
 "how mould they know any thing, who are 
 *' bred under no Difcipline ; and have no Idea of 
 " Virtue, or even of common Order ; precipi- 
 " tating all their Adions with a Fury refembling 
 " an impetuous Torrent? Let thofe then who 
 " defire the Ruin of the Perfians, promote the 
 " Eftablimment of a popular State : As for me, 
 41 I am of Opinion that we ought to place the 
 " Sovereign Authority in a felec~t Council of 
 " the bell Men ; both becaufe we ourfelves 
 " mail be of their Number, and becaufe in all 
 " Appearance the beft Men will give the beft 
 *' Advice." After Megabyzus had thus fpoken, 
 
 Darius 
 * ;'. e. Government in the Hands of a Few.
 
 300 HERODOTUS. Book III. 
 
 Darius declar'd his Judgment in thefe Terms, 
 " The things which have been faid by Megabyfus 
 " againft a popular Government, feem to me ve- 
 " ry juft and right ; but I cannot approve his 
 " Opinion touching the excellency of an Oligar- 
 " chy , becaufe, I think, a Monarchy preferable 
 " either to that, or to a popular State, fuppofing 
 " the Powers in each be perfectly well admini- 
 " fter'd. Certainly nothing can be imagin'd 
 " more excellent than the Government of a fin- 
 " gle Perfon, if he be compleatly virtuous : For 
 " fuch a Man will govern the People without 
 " departing from the Rules of Equity, and lock 
 " up the Secret of his Defigns from the Know- 
 " ledge of all Enemies. Whereas in an Oligar- 
 " chy, whilft many are contending to furpafs 
 " each other in advancing the publick Service, 
 " private Enmities will frequently and unavoida- 
 " bly arife : And every Man be willing to be 
 " the principal Manager, and defirous to fee 
 " his own Opinions prevail, Animofities of the 
 " moft dangerous Confequence muft neceflarily 
 " enfue. From this Source Seditions arife ; 
 " from Sedition Murder ; and from mutual 
 " Murders things naturally tend to Monarchy : 
 ** Which is fufficient to prove this Kind of 
 " Government highly preferable to any other. 
 " On the other Hand, in a popular State, ill 
 " Defigns will certainly be fometimes form'd 
 " againft the Publick ; and when that happens, 
 " they will not produce Enmity, but the 
 " ftrongeft Ties of mutual Friendfhip and 
 " Confidence; for fuch Men always conceal 
 " one another : 'Till at laft fome Perfon of 
 " great Authority with the Multitude, puts 
 " himfelf at their Head, and ftops the Pro- 
 
 " ceedings
 
 fHALIA. 301 
 
 " ceedings of the Confpirators : Which this 
 " admir'd Man has no fooner done, than he be- 
 *' comes a real Monarch, and mews by his Ex- 
 " ample the Excellency of monarchical Govern- 
 " ment. To finifh all in a Word ; From what 
 " Caufe, and by whofe Means were we made a 
 " free Nation ? Did we receive our Liberties 
 " from the People ; from a few felect Perfons ; 
 " or from a Monarch? My Opinion therefore 
 " is, that fince we were deliver'd from Servi- 
 ' ' tude by a fingle Perfon, we would refolve to 
 " confirm that Kind of Government, and not 
 " to alter the Cuftom of our Country which has 
 " been fo advantageous to us: For we fhould not 
 " find our Account in the Change." After thefe 
 three Opinions had been propos'd, four of the 
 feven embrac'd that of Darius ; and Ofanes, 
 who had endeavoured to introduce an equal Re- 
 publick, finding his Sentiment over-rul*d by 
 Number, concluded with thefe Words, " Since 
 " you have difcover'd your factious Defign, 
 " and have determin'd that one of us mail be 
 *' King, either by the Chance of a Lot, or 
 " the Election of the Perfian Multitude, or 
 " by fome other Way, I will not be your 
 " Competitor, becaufe I refolve neither to go- 
 " vern nor be govern'd ; but quit all my Right, 
 " on Condition that neither I nor any of my 
 " Pofterity may be accounted Subjeas." When 
 he had faid this, and the fix had confented to 
 his Demand, Otanes retir'd without more dif- 
 pute ; and his Defendants alone of all the Per- 
 fians retain their Liberty to this Day i being 
 no farther fubject to the King than they think 
 convenient, and only oblig'd to conform to the 
 Cuftoms and Manners of the Country. After 
 
 his
 
 302 HERODOTUS, ^ok III. 
 
 his Departure, the other fix enter'd into a Deli- 
 beration touching the moft equitable Manner 
 of conftituting a King ; and in the firft Place 
 refolv'd, that if any one of their Number ob- 
 tain'd the Kingdom, Otanes, and his Pofterity 
 after him, fhould every Year receive a Median 
 Veft, accompanied with all other Prefents which 
 are accounted moft honourable among the Per- 
 fians. Thefe Advantages they conferr'd upon 
 him, becaufe he had been the Author of the 
 Enterprize againft the Mage, and brought them 
 together into this Aflbciation. In the next 
 Place, they determin'd that the feven mould 
 have full Liberty to enter into all the Apart- 
 ments of the Palace without being introduc'd ; 
 unlefs the King mould happen to be in Bed 
 with one of his Women ; and that he mould 
 not be permitted to marry a Wife out of any 
 other Family, than of the Aflbciated feven. 
 Then taking the future Election into theiv Con- 
 fideration, they all agreed, that they would 
 mount on Horfeback, and ride to the Suburbs 
 the next Morning upon the Rifing of the 
 Sun ; and that he, whofe Horfe mould be 
 heard to neigh firft, mould be declar'd King. 
 In this Refolution the AfTembly parted, and 
 Darius was no fooner return'd Home, than call- 
 ing for Oebares, who had the Charge of his Horfes, 
 and was a Man of Ingenuity, he faid to him, 
 " OebareSy We have determin'd to difpofe of 
 " the Kingdom in this Manner : He, whofe 
 " Hoffe mail neigh firft after the Rifing of the 
 *' Sun, is to have the Sovereign Power. Now 
 " therefore, if thou haft any Invention, exer- 
 " cife thy Talent, that I may obtain this Glo- 
 ** ry, with the Exclufion of all other Perfons." 
 
 " SIR,
 
 ? HA L I A 303 
 
 ' SIR, anfwer'd Oebares, if nothing elfe be 
 " wanting to make you King, take Courage 
 " and be no Way difturb'd ; for I know a Secret 
 " which will certainly prove effeclual, and ex- 
 " elude all your Competitors. If thou haft fuch 
 " a Secret, faid Darius, 'tis time to ufe it with- 
 4< out Delay ; for the Trial is to be made to 
 " Morrow." Ocbares having heard this, depar- 
 ted; and when Night came, he led a Mare, 
 which the Horfe of Darius lov'd, to the Suburbs, 
 and tied her up : Then he brought his Matter's 
 Horfe thither alfo ; and after he had led him fe- 
 veral Times round the Mare, and fuffer'd him to 
 Hand in the fame Place, he at laft let him cover 
 her. The next Morning at Day-break the fix 
 Perfians appearing on Horfeback purfuant to their 
 Refolution, rode about the Suburbs ; and as 
 they pafs'd by that Part where the Mare had 
 been tied the preceding Night, the Horfe of 
 Darius ran to the Place, and neigh'd ; which 
 he had no fooner done, than Flames of Lighten- 
 ing were feen ifTuing from a clear Sky, and fol- 
 low'd by a clap of Thunder. This happen'd for- 
 tunately to Darius, as if Heaven had confented 
 to his Advancement, and put an End to the Dif- 
 pute ; all his Competitors difmounting from 
 their Horfes, and adoring him as King. This 
 Account is moft commonly given of the Artifice 
 us'd by Ocbares : But others fay (and the Perfians 
 relate the Story both Ways) that having rubb'd 
 his Hand upon the genital Part of the Mare, 
 he kept it warm under his Garment ; and that 
 after the Rifing of the Sun, when the Horfes 
 were ready to fet forward, Oebares drew out 
 his Hand, and ftrok'd the Noftrils of his Ma- 
 fter's Horfe j who taking the Scent, began 
 
 to
 
 304 HERODOTUS. Book HI. 
 
 to fnort and neigh immediately after. How- ' 
 ever this be, Darius the Son of Hyftafpes was 
 declar'd King, and all the People of Afia fub- 
 mitted to his Government, except the Arabians, 
 who tho* they had been conquer'd by Cyrus, and 
 afterwards by Cambyfes, were never reduc'd to 
 the Condtion of Subjects by the Perfians, but 
 were accounted their Friends, and gave them a 
 free Paflage into A2gypt ; which they could not 
 have compafs'd without their Permiflion and Af- 
 fiftance. The firft Perfian Wives of Darius 
 were, the two Daughters of Cyrus, Atoffa and 
 Artyftona. The former had been Wife to her 
 Brother Cambyfes, and alfo to the Mage ; but 
 Artyftona was a Virgin. To thefe he added Parmys, 
 the Daughter of Smerdis the Son of Cyrus -, to- 
 gether with that Daughter of Otanes, who de- 
 tected the Mage: And having taken due Care 
 to eftablifh his Power, he order'd a Statue of 
 Stcne to be creeled, reprefenting a Man fit- 
 ting on Horfeback, and bearing this Infcrip- 
 tion, DARIUS THE SON OF HTSTASPES 
 OBTAIN'D THE KINGDOM OF PERSIA 
 BY THE VIGOUR OF HIS HORSE (here 
 the Name of the Horfe was read) AND BY 
 THE ART OF OEBARES MASTER OF 
 HIS STABLES. Having done this, he divided 
 his Dominions into twenty Provinces, or Satra- 
 pies, and conftituted a Governour in each Di- 
 vifion. Then he appointed the Tribute, which 
 every Nation mould be oblig'd to pay into- 
 his Treafury ; in fome Places uniting to thofe 
 Nations the Inhabitants of the adjacent Re- 
 gions ; but in other Parts omitting the contigu- 
 ous Countries, and joyning together divers fe- 
 parated Diftri&s under the fame Government. 
 
 When
 
 THALIA 305 
 
 When he had fettled the Provincial Tribute, he 
 farther ordain'd, that all thofe who brought their 
 Portion in Silver, fhould make their Payments 
 by the Babylonian Talent, which is equal to 
 feventy Eubcean Mines ; and thofe who paid 
 in Gold, mould bring in their Part by the 
 Standard of the Euboean Talent. During the 
 Reign of Cyrus no Tributes were impos*d, nor 
 even afterwards under Cambyfes-, but the Peo- 
 ple made voluntary Prefents to the King : And 
 therefore from the Eftablimment of thefe Tax- 
 es, and other things of like Nature, the Per- 
 fians fay Darius was a mere Trader, Camby- 
 fes a Mafter, and Cyrus a Father to the Coun- 
 try. For Darius made Profit of every thing ; 
 Cambyfes was Morofe and Haughty ; but Cy- 
 rus : was Mild, and always contriving to render 1 
 the People happy. The lonians, and Afiatick 
 Magnefians, with the ^Eolians, Carians, Ly- 
 cians, Melyans, and Pamphylians, were ap- 
 pointed to pay a Tribute of four hundred Ta- 
 lents in Silver, and compos'd the firft Satra- 
 py. The Myfians, Lydians, Alyfonians, Ca- 
 balians, arid Hygeniaris, were the fecond, and 
 paid five hundred Talents of Silver. The Coun- 
 tries that lye on the right Hand of thofe who 
 fail thro' the Hellespont, together with the Phry* 
 gians, Afiatick Thraciaris, Paphlagoniarts, Ma- 
 riandenians and Syrians, paid three hundred and 
 fixty Talents, arid made up the third Govern- 
 ment. The Cilicians were the fourth , and fur- 
 nim'd Darius with three hundred and fixty white 
 Horfes ; that is, one for every Day of the Year i 
 befides five hundred Talerits in Silver ; a hun* 
 dred and forty of which were confum'd in thatf 
 Part of Cilicia^ where thofe Horfes were kept, 
 X sind
 
 306 HERODOTUS. Book III. 
 
 and the remaining three hundred and fixty were 
 paid into the Treafury. The fifth comprehended 
 all the Countries that lie extended from the City 
 of Pofideum, built in the Mountains of Cilicia and 
 Syria by Amphilochus the Son of Amphiaraus, 
 down to sEgypt, excepting only the Arabian Ter- 
 ritories, which are free from any Tribute : This 
 Portion, containing all Phoenicia, the Palafiine 
 Syria, and Cyprus, was tax'd at three hundred 
 and fifty Talents. sEgypt, and thofe Parts of 
 Lybia which border upon sEgypt, together 
 with Cyrene and Barca, made up the fixth Go- 
 vernment, and contributed feven hundred Ta- 
 lents, befides the Revenue arifmg from the 
 Fifhery of the Lake Myris ; and a fufficient 
 Quantity of Corn for one hundred and twenty 
 thoufand Perfians and their Auxiliaries, who 
 had their Station within the white Wall of 
 Memphis. The feventh Satrapy confiding of 
 the Sattagydians, Gandarians, Dadicians and 
 Apparites, paid one hundred and feventy Ta- 
 lents. Sufa and the reft of the Ciflians were 
 the eighth, and contributed three hundred. A 
 thoufand Talents of Silver, and five hundred 
 young Eunuchs, were furnim'd yearly by the 
 City of Babylon, and other Parts of AJJyria : This 
 was the ninth Divifion. Ecbatana and the reft of 
 Media, with the Paricanians and Orthocoryban- 
 tes, were the tenth, and paid a Tribute of four 
 hundred and fifty Talents. The Cafpians, Pau- 
 fics, Pantimatians, and Darites, contributed two 
 hundred Talents, and compos'd the eleventh 
 Satrapy. The twelfth, which extended from the 
 Bactrians to the ^Eglans, brought in three hun- 
 dred and fixty Talents. The City of PaRya with 
 the Armenians, and other neighbouring Parts 
 
 down
 
 THALIA 307 
 
 down to the Euxine Sea, made the thirteenth Go- 
 vernment, and was order'd to pay four hundred 
 Talents. The fourteenth confifted of the Sagar- 
 tians, Sarangaeans, Thamanasans, Utians, Me- 
 cians, and thofe who inhabit the Iflands of the 
 Red Sea, where baniih'd Perfons were confinM 
 by the King j all thefe together were oblig'd to 
 bring in fix hundred Talents. The fifteenth, 
 comprehending the Saces and Cafpians, paid 
 two hundred and fifty. The Parthians, Cho- 
 rafmians, Sogdians, and Arians, were the fix- 
 teenth Government, and furnifh'd three hun- 
 dred Talents. Four hundred were required from 
 the Paricanians, and Afiatick ^Ethiopians, who 
 made the feventeenth Divifion. The eigh- 
 teenth confifting of the Mantienians, Safperi- 
 ans, and Alarodians, brought in two hundred 
 Talents. The Mofchians, Tibarenians, Macro- 
 nians, Mofmaecians, and Mardians, were enjoyn- 
 ed to pay three hundred Talents, and compos'd 
 the nineteenth Satrapy. The Indians were the 
 .twentieth -, and as they are more numerous 
 than any other People we know, the Tri- 
 bute charg'd upon them was proportionably 
 great : For they were oblig'd to bring in yearly 
 three hundred and fixty Talents of Gold. Now, 
 if the Babylonian Talent be reduc'd to the Foot 
 of the Eubcean, we mall find in this Account 
 nine thou&nd five hundred and forty Talents : 
 . And if we efteem the Gold to be worth thirteen 
 Times its Weight in Silver, the Sum will a- 
 mount to four thoufand fix hundred and eighty 
 Euboean Talents. All this computed together, 
 mews that Darius receiv'd the yearly Tribute 
 of fourteen thoufand five hundred and fixty 
 Talents of the Eubcean Value ; befides other 
 X 2 Sums
 
 308 HERODO-fUS. Book III. 
 
 Sums of lefs Confequenee : Which I forbear to 
 mention. Thefe Revenues were paid to Darius 
 by the Inhabitants of Afia^ and a fmall Part of 
 Libya But in fucceeding Times another Tri- 
 bute was laid upon the Iflands, and divers Parts 
 of Europe as far as nejfaly. The King pre- 
 .ferves his Treafures in this Manner : He caufes 
 the Metals to be melted down, and pour'd into 
 earthen Pots : Which done the Veflels are bro- 
 ken, and when Occafion requires, fo much is 
 cut off as feems necefTary. Thus the feveral 
 Governments and Tributes were eftablim'd. 
 
 AMONG the tributary Countries I have not 
 mentioned Perfia\ becaufe the Lands of the 
 Perfians are free from all Taxes. But the JE- 
 thiopians, who border upon Mgypt, and were 
 conquer'd by Cambyfes in his Expedition againft 
 the Macrobians ; together with thofe who in- 
 habit the facred City of Nyffa, and celebrate the 
 Feftival of Bacchus ; are not enjoyn*d to pay 
 Tribute, but fend a yearly Prefent to the King. 
 Thefe ^Ethiopians and the adjoyning People, 
 who live in fubterraneous Dwellings, and ufe the 
 fame Grain with the Calantian Indians, make a 
 Prefent every third Year of two Choenix's of 
 unrefm'd Gold ; two hundred Bundles of Ebo- 
 ny ; five ./Ethiopian Children ; and twenty Ele- 
 -phants Teeth of the largeft Size: Which Cu- 
 ftom they continue to this Day. The Colchians 
 were alfo number'd among thofe who gave Pre- 
 fents ; with the Nations that lye between their 
 Country and Mount Caucafus : For fo far the 
 ^ Dominions of Perfia extend. But the People 
 who inhabit the North fide of that Mountain, 
 yield no Obedience to the Perfian Power. The 
 Prefent fent by the Colchians, confirming of one 
 
 hundred
 
 f R r A L I A 309 
 
 hundred Boys and the fame Number of Virgins, 
 was deliver'd every fifth Year. Thefe Gifts and 
 a thoufand Talents of Frankincenfe prefented 
 yearly by the Arabians, were brought in to the 
 King, over and above the ordinary Tribute. 
 
 I SHALL now explain in what Manner the 
 Indians colled that great Quantity of Gold, 
 which ferves to pay the Tribute impos'd up- 
 on them by the King. That Part of India 
 which faces the Kiting Sun is cover'd with 
 Sand ; and of all the People who inhabit Afea, 
 and are known to us by certain Information, 
 the Indians are plac'd in the moft eaftwardly 
 Situation. The Country which moft advan- 
 ces towards the Eaft, is rendred defart by the 
 Sands. The Indians confift of many Nations, 
 and . fpeak different Languages , fome apply 
 themfelves to the keeping of Cattle, and others 
 not. Some inhabit the Morafles of the Ri- 
 ver, and feed upon raw Fifh, which they take 
 in Boats compos'd of Reeds parted at the 
 Joint. Thefe Indians wear Garments made of 
 Rufhes, which they cut in the River \ and in- 
 terlacing together, form into the Shape of a 
 Cuirafs. Eaftward of this People lye the Pa- 
 dseans, who keep Cattle, eat raw Flefh, and are 
 reported to ufe the following uftoms. When 
 any one of the Community is fck, his beft 
 Friends difpatch him prefently ; becaufe, fay 
 they, he is in a wafting Condition, and the 
 Difeafe will corrupt his Body : If he deny he 
 is fick, they have no Regard to his Words j 
 but kill him and feaft upon his Flefh : And if 
 a Woman be in the fame Condition, (he is treated 
 in the fame Manner by other Women. They 
 kill thofe who happen to live 'till they are 
 X 3 ' V 01d,
 
 310 HERODOTUS. Book III. 
 
 Old, and eat their Flefh with Rejoycing ; 
 but few among them attain to ]ong Life, be- 
 caufe they fpare none that fall into any Di- 
 ftemper. On the other Hand fome Indians 
 obferve a quite contrary Cuftom. For they 
 neither kill any Animal, nor fow any Seed, 
 nor build Houfes ; but content themfelves with 
 what the Earth freely affords. The Country 
 naturally produces a fort of Grain equal to Mil- 
 let in Bignefe, and cover'd with a kind of 
 Hufk : Which being gather'd, and boil'd to- 
 gether with the Skin, ferves for Food. When 
 any one among them is fick, he retires into 
 the Defart ; where no Care is taken of him, 
 whether he live or dye. All thefe Indians I 
 have mention'd referable the ./Ethiopians in 
 Complexion, and perform the Act of Genera- 
 tion in Publick, like other Animals. The Seed 
 they emit is not white, as that of other Men, 
 but of equal Blacknefs with their Skin ; and 
 fuch alfo is the Seed of the /Ethiopians. This 
 Part of India is fituate to the Southward, very 
 remote from the Perfians, and by that Means 
 was not fubject to Darius. Other Indians in- 
 habiting towards the North, and confining up- 
 on the Territories of Cafpatyrus and Paffya, 
 refemble the Bactrians in Manners, and are the 
 moft valiant People of all India. Thefe are 
 they, who are appointed to collect Gold upon 
 the uninhabited Sands of their Country. In 
 this Defart are found Pifmires, lefs indeed than 
 Dogs, yet of a larger Size than P'oxes. Some 
 of them are kept in the Palace of the Perfian 
 King, which were taken in this Place. Thefe 
 Pifmires are in Shape exactly like thofe of 
 Greece-, and burrow themfelves under Ground, 
 
 by
 
 THALIA. 311 
 
 by carrying out the Sand (which is intermix*d 
 with Gold) after the fame Manner as with us. 
 To this Defart the Indians fend to fetch Gold, 
 every Man employ'd in that Work tying three 
 Camels together j a Male on each fide, and a 
 Female in the Middle, which he mounts him- 
 felf, and always takes Care me be one that 
 has newly foal'd. Thefe Camels are no lefs 
 fwift than Horfes, and much more able to carry 
 Burdens. Their Form I need not defcribe to 
 the Grecians ; and therefore mail only obferve, 
 that a Camel has four Thighs and four Knees 
 on his hinder Parts, and the genital Member 
 turning towards his Tail ; which things are 
 not commonly known. When the Indians 
 have prepar'd and harnefs'd their Camels in the 
 Manner abovemention'd they fet forwards to- 
 wards the Defart ; having before calculated the 
 Time fo as to arrive there during the moft 
 fcorching Heat of the Day ; becaufe the Pif- 
 mires are then all under Ground. In this Climate 
 the Sun is not, as in other Regions, hotteft at 
 Noon ; but in the Morning : During which, 
 even to the Hour when Men ufually retire from 
 our publick Places, the Heat is more fcorch- 
 ing than at Noon in Greece ; and for this Rea- 
 fon, as is commonly reported, thefe Indians are 
 accuftom'd at that Time to bathe in cold Wa- 
 ter. At Noon the Heat is little different from 
 that which is felt in other Countries ; but foon 
 after becomes as moderate as the Morning elfe- 
 where ; gradually diminishing as the Sun de- 
 clines, and upon the Setting changes into ex- 
 ceflive Cold. 
 
 TH E Indians arriving in this Place, fill their 
 
 Sacks with the Sand and return with all poflible 
 
 X 4 Expe.-
 
 312 HERODOTUS. Book III. 
 
 Expedition. For the Pifmires, as thePerfians fay, 
 immediately taking the Scent purfue them with 
 fiich unparallel'd Swiftnefs, that none of the 
 Indians could efcape, if they did not life the ut- 
 moft Diligence before thefe Creatures can get 
 together. For this Caufe they untye the Male 
 Camels, left, they mould not be equally match'd, 
 and fo hinder each other in their Courfe ; 
 Whilft the Females, which are more fwift 
 than the Males, and animated by the Remem- 
 brance of their Young, fpare no Efforts to re- 
 turn with all poflible Speed. In this Manner 
 the Indians colled the greateft part of their 
 Gold, as the Perfians fay : For that which they 
 dig out of the Mines is not fo confiderable. 
 Thus the remoteft Part of the inhabited World 
 poflefTes fome of the moft noble things; as 
 Greece is more happily blefs'd with an agreeable 
 Temper of Air and Seafons. For in thefe Re- 
 gions, which, as I faid before, lye fartheft to 
 the Eaftward, and are call'd India, all Anirnals, 
 both Quadrupeds and Birds, are bigger than in 
 other Places -, except only Horfes, which are 
 not fo large as the Myfasan Horfes of Media. 
 There is likewife Abundance of Gold, either dug 
 out of the Mines, or brought down by the Ri- 
 vers, or robb'd from the Pifmires in the Man- 
 ner I have related ; befides a certain Tree, grow- 
 ing wild and inftead of Fruit bearing a Wool, 
 which excels that of Sheep both in Colour 
 and Goodnefs, and is ufed by the Indians for 
 Cloathing. 
 
 4RABIA is the Jaft inhabited Country ly- 
 ing to the Southward; and the only Region 
 which produces Frankincenfe, Myrrh, Caflia, 
 Cinnamon, and Ledanum. All thefe things the 
 i Arabi-
 
 f H A L I A. 313 
 
 Arabians gather with great Facility, Myrrh only 
 excepted. For tho* the Trees which produce 
 Frankincenfe are guarded by great Numbers of 
 flying Serpents, fmall of Body, fpotted with va- 
 rious Colours, and of the fame kind with thofe 
 that attempt to invade jEgypt -, yet the Arabians 
 by burning Styrax underneath, a Gum common- 
 ly tranfported into Greece by the Phoenicians, 
 drive them away with the Smoak, and then ga- 
 ther the Frankmcenfe from the Trees. Thefe 
 Serpents, the Arabians fay, would fill all the 
 Country, if they were not fubject to the fame 
 Effect which is experienc'd in Vipers : And 
 we may rationally conjecture, that the Wif- 
 dom of divine Providence has made all thofe 
 Creatures, which are naturally fearful, and 
 ferve for Food, to be very prolific, left the 
 Species fhould be deftroy'd by conftant Con- 
 fumption : And on the contrary, fuch as are 
 rapacious and cruel, to be almoft barren. Hence 
 the Hare, which is hunted by Beafts, Birds, 
 and Men, is a great Breeder, and the only Ani- 
 mal that conceives to Superfoetation ; carrying 
 young ones in her Belly, of which fome are 
 forming in the Womb, others naked, and o- 
 thers ready for Birth at the fame Time : Where- 
 as a Lyonefs, which is the ftrongeft and fierceft 
 of Beafts, brings no more than one Lyon during 
 her Life ; becaufe me ejects her Matrix with 
 her Whelp : For he is no fooner capable of Mo- 
 tion, but with his Claws, fharper than thofe 
 ef any other Beaft, he begins to tear the Part 
 where he lies ; till increafing in Strength, he at 
 laft rends it in pieces, and leaves nothing found 
 behind him at his Eruption. If Vipers and the 
 winged Serpents of Arabia mould multiply with- 
 out
 
 314 HERODOTUS. Book III. 
 
 out Impediment, Men could not poflibly live. 
 But when they couple together, and th Male 
 emits his Seed, the Female feizes him by the 
 Neck, and prefTes fo hard with her Teeth, that 
 ihe never lets him go, 'till me has torn out the 
 Piece. In this Manner the Male dyes; and 
 the Female efcapes not long' with Impunity: 
 For when her young Ones are intirely form'd, 
 they open a Way for themfelves with their 
 Teeth thro* her Bowels, and thus revenge the 
 Death of their Father: Whilft other Serpents 
 which are not hurtful to Men, lay their Eggs, 
 and produce great Abundance of their own 
 Kind. As for Vipers, they are found in all Parts 
 of the World ; but flying Serpents are no where 
 feen, at leaft in any confiderable Number, except 
 in Arabia. 
 
 HAVING related the Manner of gathering 
 Frankincenfe, I mail now give fome Account of 
 the Way they take to furnim themfelves with 
 Caflia, which is this : They cover all the Body and 
 Face, except the Eyes, with Hides and Skins, and 
 go down to the Lake where the Caffia grows. 
 This Lake is not deep ; but infefted with great 
 Numbers of winged Beads, in Form refem- 
 bling a Bat ; making hideous Cries, and aflaulting 
 boldly. From thefe the Arabians take Care to 
 defend their Eyes, and in the mean Time cut 
 the Caffia. But the Manner of getting Cinna- 
 mon is yet more admirable. They can neither 
 .tell how, nor in what Region this Aromatick is 
 produc'd ; and the beft they can fay is only 
 founded upon Conjecture : Some pretending that 
 it grows in thofe Countries where Bacchus re- 
 ceiv'd his Education ; and from thence, fay 
 they, certain great Birds bring thofe Sticks 
 
 (which
 
 f HA L I A. 315 
 
 (which we from the Phoenicians call Cinna- 
 mon) to build their Nefts, with a Mixture of 
 Dirt, in mountainous Cliffs inaccefllble to Men : 
 The Arabians, to furmount this Difficulty, have 
 invented the following Artifice. They cut Oxen, 
 Aries, and other large Cattle into great Pieces, 
 and when they have carried and laid them down 
 as near as is poffible to the Nefts ; they retire to 
 fome Diftance from the Place. In the mean Time 
 the Birds defcend to the Flefh, and carry up the 
 Pieces to their Nefts , which not being ftrong 
 enough to fupport fuch a Weight, fall down 
 immediately to the Ground. The Arabians ap- 
 proaching, gather up the Sticks , and by this 
 Means, they and other Nations are furniftYd 
 with Cinnamon. But the gathering of Leda- 
 num, which the Arabians call Ladanum, is far 
 more wonderful. For tho* this Drug be found 
 {ticking to the Beard of the He-Goat, like the 
 Mouldinefs of putrified Wood, and come from 
 fuch a ftinking Place, yet it is of a moft fra- 
 grant Scent ; entring into the Composition of 
 various Ointments, and is more generally burnt 
 by the Arabians than any other Perfume. But 
 I have faid enough of thefe Odours. For the 
 reft, the Air of Arabia is divinely fweet ; 
 and the Country produces two forts of Sheep, 
 which are very ftrange, and no where elfe feen : 
 The firft Kind has a Tail at leaft three Cubits 
 long, which would certainly ulcerate, if they 
 were fuffer'd to draw it after them upon the 
 Ground. But every Shepherd learning as much 
 of the Wheelwright's Art as ferves his Purpofe, 
 makes little Carts -, upon which he places the 
 Tails of the Sheep, and faftens them. The 
 other fort has a Tail -of a full Cubit iu Breadth. 
 
 South-
 
 3 1 6 HE RODOJUS. Book III. 
 
 South- Weft of this Country, lye the Regions 
 of Mthiapia^ which are the utmoft Limits of 
 the inhabited World ; abounding in Gold, Ebo- 
 ny, and Elephants of a prodigious Size. The 
 Trees grow wild and uncultivated \ and the In- 
 habitants are tall, beautiful, and of long Life. 
 Thefe are the Extremities of Afia and Libya - y 
 but I have nothing certain to relate concerning 
 the weftern Bounds of Europe: Neither can I 
 aflent to thofe who tell us of a River, by the 
 Barbarians call'd Eridanus, which, they fay, 
 furnifhes Amber, and runs Northward into the 
 Sea. I know as little of the Iflands call'd Caffi- 
 teridesy from the Tin which is thence import- 
 ed among us. Indeed the very Name of Eri- 
 danus, which is Greek, and not Barbferous, dif- 
 covers it to be the Ficlion of fome Poet. And 
 tho* I have diligently inquir'd ; yet I have ne- 
 ver feen any Man, who by his own Experience 
 could inform me concerning the Nature of that 
 Sea, which bounds the Extremities of Europe. 
 However 'tis certain that Amber and Tin come 
 from the remoteft Parts : And great Abundance 
 of Gold is found in the Northern Regions ; 
 but in what Manner I am not able to relate with 
 Certainty, tho' 'tis faid that the Arimafpians,, 
 a People who have only one Eye, fteal it from the 
 Griffins. But I cannot believe that Men are 
 born with one Eye, and yet refemble the reft 
 of Mankind in all other things. In a Word, 
 thefe extreme Parts feem to contain another Re- 
 gion, abundantly provided with whatever we 
 account rare and excellent. 
 
 THERE is a Plain in Afia encompafs'd on 
 every fide with a Ridge of Hills, opening into 
 five feveral Paffages. This .Country was for- 
 merly
 
 THALIA. 317 
 
 merly in the PofTefTion of the Chorafmians, in- 
 habiting the Mountains , and of the Hyrcanians, 
 Parthians, Sarangaeans, and Thomanians ; but 
 fmce the Eftablimment of the Perfian Power, 
 belongs to the King. A great River, known 
 by the Name of Aces^ flows from thefe Hills, 
 and in Times paft water'd the Territories of the 
 Nations before mention'd. But thefe People 
 have fuffer'd much fince they were reduc'd un- 
 der the Dominion of the Perfians. For the King 
 caus'd the Apertures to be fo effectually ftopp'd, 
 that the River finding no Paflage out, was 
 inclos'd within the Hills as in a Bafon : And 
 the People, who before had been fupplied with 
 thofe Waters, being depriv'd of a thing fo ne- 
 ceflary, were reduc'd to great Extremities. 
 For tho', as other Countries, they have Rain 
 in Winter; yet in Summer, when they fow 
 Panicum and Sefamus, they ftand in need of 
 a farther Supply of Water ; and therefore find- 
 ing themfelves totally excluded from the Be- 
 nefit of the River, they went with their 
 Wives to the King's Palace, howling, and 
 making loud Exclamations before the Gates. 
 Upon which the King gave Order that the 
 Paflages mould be open'd towards thofe Lands 
 that were in the moft prefling Want, and fhut 
 up again when they were fufficiently water'd ; 
 and afterwards to do the like to the reft, in fuch 
 Order as mould be found neceflary. But this, 
 as I am well inform'd, was only a Contrivance 
 to extort great Sums of Money befides the ufual 
 Tribute. 
 
 INT4PHERNES, one of the feven who had 
 confpir'd againft the Mage, was fiez'd and put 
 to Death by the King, on the following Occa- 
 
 fion.
 
 3 1 8 HERODOTUS. Book III. 
 
 fion. Soon after that Enterprize, he went to 
 the Palace, in order to confer with Darius ; pur- 
 fuant -to the Agreement beforemention'd, by 
 which Provifion was made, that all the Accom- 
 plices might freely go into the King at any Time, 
 except when he mould happen to be in Bed with 
 one of his Wives. Intaphernes therefore, in Con- 
 fidence of this Privilege, attempting to enter 
 'the Royal Apartment without an Introducer, 
 was ftopp'd by the Door-keeper and Meffenger, 
 under Colour that the King was then accompa- 
 nied by one of his Women. But Intapbernes fuf- 
 pecting they lyed, drew his Scymiter, and after 
 he had cut off the Ears and Nofes of both thofe 
 Officers, he faften'd a Bridle to the Head of each, 
 and fo left them. In this Condition they went 
 in, and mewing themfelves to the King, acquain- 
 ted him with the Caufe of the ill Ufage they had 
 receiv'd. Upon which Darius fearing the fix 
 might have concerted this Attempt together, 
 fent for them, one after the other, and afk'd if 
 they approv'd the Action. But finding by their 
 Anfwers that Intaphernes was fingly guilty, he 
 caus'd him to be fiez'd with his Children and 
 Family, having many Reafons to fufped that 
 he and his Relations might raife a Rebellion. 
 Whilft they were under Confinement, and 
 bound, in order to Execution, the Wife of 
 Intathernes went to the Gates of the Palace, 
 weeping and lamenting loudly ; which me con- 
 tinued fo afliduoufly,. that at laft Darius mov'd 
 with Companion, fent a Meflenger to fpeak 
 to her in thefe Terms, " Woman, The King 
 " gives you the Life of any one among your 
 " Relations, who are Prifoners, and leaves you 
 " the Choice of the Perfon." " Since the King, 
 
 faid
 
 THALIA 319 
 
 " faid flic, after fome Deliberation, will grant 
 *' me no more than one, I chufe my Bro- 
 " ther." Darius, when he heard her Anfwer, 
 wondring at her Choice, difpatch'd another 
 Meflenger to afk her in his Name, " Why me 
 " had fhewn fo little Regard to her Hufband 
 " and Children, and rather chofen to fave the 
 " Life of her Brother, who was not fo near re- 
 " lated to her as her Children, nor could be fo 
 " dear to her as her Hufband." She anfwer*d, 
 " That by the Permiffion of God me might 
 " have another Hufband and other Children, 
 " if me mould be depriv'd of thofe me had -, 
 " but could never have another Brother, be- 
 " caufe her Father and Mother were already 
 " dead." The King was fo well pleas'd with 
 this Anfwer, that he not only pardon'd her 
 Brother, but gave her likewife the Life of 
 her eldeft Son, and put all the reft to Death. 
 Thus Darius caus'd one of the feven to be ex- 
 ecuted in the Beginning of his Reign. 
 
 OROETES a Perfian, who had been confti- 
 tuted Governour of Sardis by Cyrus, under- 
 took a deteftable Enterprize about the Time 
 of Cambyfes's Sicknefs. For he form'd a De- 
 fign againft the Life of Polycrates the Sami'an, 
 tho' he had never leen him, nor ever re- 
 ceiv'd any Injury from him by Word or Deed. 
 But the moft current Report is, that the Caufe 
 was this. As he was one Day fitting at the 
 Gates of the Palace with another Perfian, 
 whofe Name was Mitrobates, at that Time 
 Governour of Dafcylium, they fell from ordi- 
 nary Difcourfe into a moft violent Conteftation 
 concerning Valour ; in which Mitrobates up- 
 braided Orestes in thefe Terms. " Art thou then, 
 i " faid
 
 320 HERODOTUS. Book III. 
 
 " faid he,, to be accounted a Man of any Efteenij 
 " who haft not yet reduc'd the Ifland of Samos 
 " to the King's Obedience ; which lies near 
 *' thy Government, and is fo eafy a Conqueft, 
 " that the prefent Pofleflbr made Himfelf Ma- 
 " fter of all, and fiez'd the Sovereign Power, 
 * with the Afliftance only of fifteen Men?" 
 This Reproach, they fay, left a deep Impreflion 
 on the Mind of Orestes, and made him take a 
 Refolution to revenge himfelf; not upon Mi* 
 trobates who had done him the Injury, but a- 
 gainft Polycrates^ as the Caufe of the Affront he 
 had receiv'd. Others pretend, tho* not with 
 fo good Authority, that a Meflenger difpatch'd 
 by Ortetes to Polycrates^ to demand fomething, 
 which is not mention'd, found him repofing 
 in an inner Chamber, with Anacreon of Teas fit- 
 ting by his Couch ; and either knowing and de- 
 liberately, or elie by Accident, when the Herald 
 deliver'd his Meflage, Polycrates continued all the 
 Time with his Face towards the Wall, and never 
 turn'd about, nor condefcended to make him any 
 Anfwer. Both thefe Reafons are ailed g'd to have 
 been the Caufe of the Cataftrophe of Polycra^ 
 tes ; and I leave every Man to determine for him- 
 felf. However, Orostes^ who refided in the 
 City of Magnefia upon the River Meander ', be- 
 ing acquainted with the Intentions of Polycrates^ 
 fent a Meflage by Myrfus the Son of Gygfs the 
 Lydian to Samos. For Polycrates was not only 
 the firft of all the Grecians we know, who 
 form'd a Defign to render himfelf Mafter of the 
 Sea, except Minos of Crete', or perhaps fome 
 other before his Reign ; but the firft of all Men, 
 wh'o to that time had entertain'd the Thought 
 of fubduing Ionia and the Iflands. Orestes there- 
 fore
 
 THALIA 321 
 
 fore well inform'd of his Defign, feht him & 
 Meffage in thefe Words ; " OROETES to PO- 
 " LYCRATES. I hear you have great things in 
 " View ; but want Money to put your Projects 
 46 in Execution. Now if you will hearken to 
 " my Advice, you may fucceed in your Enter- 
 " prizes, and preferve me : For I have certain 
 " Information that Cajnbyfes has refolv'd to 
 " take away my Life. Receive me therefore 
 " with my Treafures, and you mall have 
 *' one Part, on Condition I may enjoy the o- 
 " ther : By thefe Means you cannot fail to ac- 
 " quire the Dominion of Greece. If you doubt 
 " what I fay concerning my Riches^ fend to 
 "me one of the moft faithful Perfons about 
 *' you, and I will fatisfy him in that Particular.'* 
 Polycrates pufh'd on by Covetoufnefs reeeiv'd. 
 the Proportion of Orcetes with Joy ; and re- 
 folving to purfue his Advice, fent his Secre- 
 tary M<eandrus the Son of M#andrius to take a 
 View of his Wealth. This Man was a Citi- 
 zen of Samos ; and not long after prefented all 
 the magnificent Furniture found in the Apart- 
 ment of Polycrates^ to the Temple of Juno. 
 When Orcetes heard that he was coming with 
 this Defign, he caus'd eight Chefts to be al- 
 moft fill'd with Stones ; and having fpread a 
 thin Covering of Gold upon the Surface, he 
 made them faft, and kept them ready *till the 
 Arrival of Mxandrus ; who, when he had in^ 
 fpected the pretended Treafure, departed, and 
 at his Return acquainted his Mafter with what 
 he had feen. Upon this Information Polycrates 
 refolv'd to go in Perfon to Oroetes^ tho' he was 
 earneftly difiuaded by his Friends, and by the 
 Oracles \ but efpecially by his Daughter, who 
 Y dream'd
 
 322 HERODOTUS. -Book III. 
 
 dream'd me faw her Father elevated in the Air ; 
 wafh'd by Jupiter, and anointed by the Sun, 
 Deeply affecled with her Dream, fhe endea- 
 vour'd by all Means poflible to divert him from 
 his intended Voyage ; and as he was going to 
 imbark on a Galley of fifty Oars, perfifted to 
 tell him that nothing but Misfortune could at- 
 tend his Enterprize. On the other Hand he 
 threatened her, if he return'd fafe, that fhe mould 
 long continue unmarried -, which fhe willingly 
 imprecated upon herfelf; chufing rather to re- 
 main a Virgin, than to lofe her Father. Thus 
 Polycrates rejecting all Counfel, went away to 
 Qrcetes, accompanied by divers of his Friends, 
 and among others by Democedes the Crotonian, 
 who was Son to Calliphon^ and the moft fkilful 
 Phyfician of his Time. When he arriv'd in 
 Magnefia he was put to Death in an infamous 
 Manner, unworthy of his Perfon and Magnani- 
 mity : For none of all the Grecian Tyrants, not 
 even thofe of Syracufe, are to be compar'd with 
 Polycrates for Dignity and Grandeur. But O- 
 rcetes put him to Death in a Manner not to be 
 mention'd without Indignation: For he caus'd 
 him to be crucified ; and retaining all the Stran- 
 gers and Servants, who had follow'd him, as 
 Captive Slaves, he difmifs'd the reft of the Sa- 
 mians, and told them they ought to thank him 
 for their Liberty. Thus Polycrates accomplim'd 
 the Dream of his Daughter. For as he hung 
 upon the Crofs, he was walh*d with the Rain 
 of Jupiter ; and anointed by the Sun, as the 
 Moifture of his Body was exhal'd. And fuch 
 was the End of all his Profperities, as Ama/is 
 King of Mgypt had foretold. 
 
 BUT
 
 'THALIA. 323 
 
 BUT the Fate of Poly crates remained not long 
 unreveng'd. For after the Death of Cambyfes y 
 and during the Ufurpation of the Mages, Orcetes^ 
 continuing at Sardis, gave no Manner of Aflift- 
 ance to the Perfians, who had been fraudulently 
 difpofTefs'd of their Power by the Medes , and not 
 only took that Opportunity to murder Mitro- 
 bates Governor of Dafcylium, becaufe he had up- 
 braided him with the Actions of Poly crates ; to- 
 gether with his Son Cranafpes, both highly re- 
 fpected by the Perfians j but among an infinite 
 Number of other Crimes, caus'd a MefTenger, 
 who brought an unwelcome Meflage to him from 
 Darius^ to be aflafTmated in his Return by cer- 
 tain Perfons appointed to way-lay him, and bury 
 him privately with his Horfe, after they had put 
 their Orders in Execution. Darius therefore 
 upon his Accefiion to the Threne, refolv'd to 
 punifh Orestes for all his Crimes j and efpecially 
 for the Death of Mi t rebates and his Son. But 
 becaufe he knew his own Affairs were not 
 yet firmly eftablifh'd in the Beginning of his 
 Reign ; and that Orcetes^ befides a Guard of 
 one thoufand Perfians, could draw together 
 great Forces out of his Governments of Phrygia^ 
 Lydia, and Ionia, he declined to fend an Army 
 immediately againft him -, and chufing rather 
 to make ufe of other Means, fummon'd the 
 principal of the Perfians together, and fpoke to 
 them in thefe Terms. " Who among you, O 
 " Perfians, will take upon him by his Wifdom 
 " to execute an F^iterprize on my Account, 
 " without having Recourfe to Violence or Num- 
 " bers of Men ? For where Prudence is requir'd, 
 " Force is unneceflary. Who among you will 
 " bring me the Body of Orestes either alive or 
 Y 2 dead?
 
 324 HERODOTUS. Book III. 
 
 " dead ? Of Orates, I fay, who has never done 
 " any Service to the Perfians, but brought infi- 
 4t hite Mifchiefs upon them : Who has already 
 " murder'd two of us, I mean Mitr abates and 
 " his Son ; and by an unparallel*d Infolence, af- 
 " faflinated the Meflengers I fent to recal him. 
 " Therefore we ought by his Deftruclion to 
 " prevent him from bringing greater Evils upon 
 " the Nation." When Darius had thus fpo- 
 ken, thirty of thofe who were prefent, profefled 
 themfelves ready to execute his Orders ; and every 
 one contending for the Employment, Darius 
 order'd them to determine the Difpute by Lot ; 
 which being done, Bag<eus the Son of Artontes 
 was charg'd with the Enterprize, and perform'd 
 it in this Manner. He wrote divers Letters 
 about feveral Affairs , and after he had feal'd 
 them with the Signet of Darius, he departed 
 for Sardis ; and coming into the Prefence of Qrce- 
 tes, deliver'd the Letters, one after the other, 
 to be read by the King's Secretary ; for every 
 Governour has one of thefe Secretaries attending 
 him. This he did in order to fee if the Guards 
 would mew any Signs of Defection : And per- 
 ceiving they paid great Refpects to the Letters, 
 and much greater to the Contents, he put ano- 
 ther into the Hands of the Secretary, contain- 
 ing thefe Words, " Perfians, King Darius 
 " forbids you to ferve any longer for Guards 
 " to Orxtes :" Which they no fooner heard, than 
 they laid down their Lances. When Bag<zus 
 faw them fo readily obey, he took greater Con- 
 fidence, and deliver'd his laft Letter to the Se- 
 cretary, written in thefe Terms, " King Darius 
 *' commands the Perfians who are in Sardis, to 
 " kill Or&tes." Upon the reading of which 
 
 the 
 
 v
 
 THALIA. 325 
 
 the Guards drew their Scymiters, and kill'd him 
 immediately. Thus Vengeance overtook Orates 
 the Perfian for the Death of Polycrates, and all 
 his Treafures were tranfported to Sufa. 
 
 NOT long after, as Darius was hunting, he 
 hurt his Foot by a Fall from his Horfe, fo grie- 
 voufly, that his Heel was diflocated from the 
 Joint; and thinking he had the beft of the 
 ./Egyptian Phyficians about him, he made Ufe of 
 their Afliftance. But they by violent pulling 
 and diftortion of the Part, augmented the Pain 
 to fuch a Degree, that he lay feven Days and 
 feven Nights without Sleep. On the eighth 
 Day Darius ftill continuing in a reftlefs Condi- 
 tion, was inform'd of the Ability of Democedes 
 the Crotonian, by one who had heard of him 
 at Sardis ; and prefently commanded him to 
 be brought into his Prefence. He was found 
 among the Slaves of Orates, altogether neglect- 
 ed ; and introduc'd to the King, loaded with 
 Fetters, and cloath'd in Rags. When Da^ 
 rius faw him, he aik'd him whether he under- 
 ftood the Art of a Phyfkian. But he fearing 
 fuch a Confeflion might for ever prevent his 
 Return to Greece, would not acknowledge his 
 Skill. So that Darius fufpecling by his Difr 
 courfe that he knew more than he was willing 
 to confefs, and commanding thofe who had 
 brought him thither, to bring out the Inftru- 
 ments of Whipping and Torture, Democedes 
 prefently declared, that indeed he could not pre- 
 tend to underftand the Art in Perfection, but 
 had learn'd fomething by the Converfation of 
 one who was a Phyfician. Upon which being 
 permitted to take Care of Darius, he applied 
 Medicines after the Grecian Manner i and bath- 
 Y 3 ing
 
 326 HERODOTUS. Book III. 
 
 ing the Part with ftrong Fomentations, gave 
 him Reft ; and in a little Time reftor'd him to 
 his Health ; tho' the King had before defpair'd 
 of ever recovering the Strength of his Foot. 
 When he had perform'd this Cure, Darius pre- 
 fented him with two Pair of golden Fetters. 
 But Democedes afk'd him, if he meant to reward 
 him with a double Evil for reftoring his Health. 
 With which Anfwer Darius was pleas'd, and 
 fent him to the Womens Apartment attended by 
 fome of his Eunuchs ; who having inform'd 
 them that this Man had fav'd the King's Life, 
 every one of his Wives gave Democedes a Vial 
 cover'd with a Cafe, and fo full of Gold, that 
 his Servant Scitcn, who follow'd him, collected 
 a confiderable Treafure, of the Pieces he took 
 up as they fell to the Ground. This Democedes 
 came to be known to Polycrates in the following 
 Manner. He had liv'd with his Father in Cro- 
 tcna i but growing impatient of his exceffive 
 Severity, remov'd to ALgina ; where within the 
 Space of a Year, tho' he was altogether unpro- 
 vided with the Inftruments requifite to his Pro- 
 feflion, he furpafs'd the moft fkilful of their 
 Phyficians ; and the fecond Year obtain'd a Ta- 
 lent for his Salary out of the Publick Treafury. 
 The third Year he was entertain'd by the Athe- 
 nians at the Rate of a hundred Mines ; and the 
 fourth by Polycrates with a Reward of two Ta- 
 lents ; and on that occafion went to Samos. The 
 Crotonian Phyficians became very famous by 
 the Reputation of this Man, and generally e- 
 fteem'd the ableft of all the Grecians. The Cy- 
 renaeans pofTefs'd the fecond Place j and the 
 Argians were at the fame Time accounted the 
 moft fkilful in the Art of Muficjc.
 
 T HAL I A. 327 
 
 DEMOCEDES having thus cur'd Darius, 
 liv'd at Sufa, in a magnificent Houfe, was ad- 
 mitted to the King's Table, and enjoy'd every 
 thing in Abundance, except the Liberty of re- 
 turning to Greece. He obtain'd a Pardon for 
 the Egyptians, who having been the King's Phy- 
 ficians, were condemn'd to be impal'd for fuffer- 
 ing themfelves to be outdone by a Grecian ; and 
 procur'd the Liberty of a certain Prophet of Elis, 
 who had attended Polycrates, and lay neglected 
 among the Prifoners. In a Word, Democedes 
 was the principal Favourite of Darius. 
 
 NOT long after thefe things had pafs'd, A- 
 tojja the Daughter of Cyrus, and Wife to 
 Darius, had a Tumour in her Breaft ; which 
 breaking, fpread fb far, that tho* in Mode- 
 fly me had to that Time conceaPd it from all 
 Perfons, yet finding the Danger to encreafe, 
 me at laft fent for Democedes, and fhew'd him 
 the Ulcer. He prefently promis'd to cure her 
 Breaft; and at the fame Time earneftly de- 
 fir'd that (he on her Part would confer a Fa- 
 vour upon him, which mould be no way dif- 
 honourable to her. When AtoJJa was per- 
 fectly recover'd, and inftructed by Democedes, 
 me addrefs'd herfelf to Darius, as (he lay in his 
 Bed, with thefe Words. " 'Tis ftrange that a 
 * King of fo great Power mould be unactive ; 
 " and not rather conquer Nations, and enlarge 
 " the Empire of the Perfians. A young Prince, 
 " poflefs'd of fuch vaft Treafures, ought to ren- 
 " der himfelf confiderable by his Actions, and 
 *' to convince his Subjects that they are govern - 
 " ed by a Man. Two Reafons oblige you to 
 " this Conduct: Firft that the Perfians may 
 " know they are commanded by a valiant King ; 
 Y 4 " and
 
 328 HERODOfUS. Book III. 
 
 " and then that they may be employ'd in War, 
 " and not tempted by too much Eafe to rebel. 
 " Exert yourfelf therefore, while you are in 
 " the Flower of your Years. For as the Fa- 
 ^ 6 culties of the Mind keep equal Pace with the 
 " Body in advancing to their utmoft Vigour : 
 " So both decline together gradually : And be- 
 ^' come uncapable of any Enterprize." Thus 
 Atoffa exprefs'd herfelf at the Sollicitation of 
 DemocedeS) and Darius in Anfwer, faid, " Wo- 
 " man, Thou haft advis'd me to do as I had al- 
 " ready determin'd. For I refolve to make 
 V War upon the Scythians, and to that end 
 46 defign to lay a Bridge from our Continent 
 " to the other ; which I will do in a fhort 
 " Time. Cpnfider well, faid me , and by no 
 " Means make your firft Expedition againft the 
 *:' Scythians ; who will be an eafy Conqueft 
 " whenever you pleafe, but take my Advice 
 " and lead an Army into Greece. For the Ac- 
 " count I have heard of the Lacaedemonian, 
 " Argian, Athenian, and Corinthian Women, 
 " has infpir'd me with a vehement Defire to 
 " have fome of them for Servants. Befides, 
 tl you have the fitteft Man in the World to 
 " inform you of every thing concerning Greece, 
 " I mean the Perfon who cur*d your Foot.*' 
 " Since then, replied Darius^ you are of Opi- 
 " nion that I ought to make my firft Attempt 
 " againft Greece , I think convenient to fend 
 ** fome Perfons thither with the Man you men- 
 " tion ; in order to difcover what they can 
 " relating to the Country; and when they 
 u have Satisfied me in all Particulars, I will 
 *' follow with my Army." Having faid this, 
 fee foon began to make good his Word. For early 
 
 the
 
 7" H A L I A 329 
 
 the next Morning he fent for fifteen eminent 
 Perfians, and commanded them to accompany 
 Democedes in taking a view of all the maritim 
 Places of Greece, and to bring him back again, 
 without affording him any Opportunity of mak- 
 ing his Efcape. After he had given thefe In- 
 ftructions to the Perfians, he fent alfo for Demo- 
 cedes, and enjoyn'd him to return, fo foon as he 
 had aflifted them in viewing all the Parts of Greece, 
 and difcovering whatever could be known of 
 their Affairs ; commanding him to carry all his 
 Goods and Furniture for a Prefent to his Fa- 
 ther and Brothers, and promifing to furnifli 
 him with better at his Return. He aflur'd him 
 farther, that he would provide a Ship for the 
 Tranfportation of his Prefents, and would caufe 
 all things neceflary and convenient for his Voy- 
 age to be embark'd in her. My Opinion is, 
 that Darius promis'd him all thefe things fin- 
 cerely and without Art: But Democedes fear- 
 ing the King might have a Defign to try whe- 
 ther he had any Inclination to abandon him, 
 defir'd he might be permitted to leave his own 
 Goods in his Houfe 'till he mould return ; 
 and only to accept the Ship with what mould 
 be put on board for a Prefent to his Brothers. 
 Thus having receiv'd their Inftructions, and 
 taken leave of Darius, they departed ; and 
 paffing thro* Phoenicia arriv'd in the City of Si- 
 don : Where having caus'd two Gallies to be 
 made ready with all Diligence for the Tranf- 
 portation of their Perfons, and another Ship 
 of great Burden to attend them with all 
 things neceflary and commodious, they fet 
 fail for Greece ; and after they had view'd and 
 defcrib'd all the maritim Places, and curi- 
 
 oufly
 
 330 HERODOTUS. Book HI. 
 
 oufly obferv'd whatever is accounted moft re- 
 markable in that Country, they pafs'd on to 
 Italy, and landed at Tarentum. But Arifto- 
 fhilides King of the Tarentins, who was a Na- 
 tive of Crotona as well as Democedes, took off 
 the Rudders of the Median Ships, and fiez'd all 
 the Perfians as Spies. During their Confinement 
 Democedes went to Crotona and in the mean 
 Time Ariftophilides fet the Perfians at Liberty, 
 and reftor'd all that he had taken out of their 
 Ships : Upon which they fet fail from 'Tarentum 
 in Purfuit of Democedes ; and arriving in Croto- 
 na, found him and laid Hands on him in Pu- . 
 biick. Some of the Inhabitants dreading the Per- 
 fian Power, were for delivering him up; but 
 others took hold on the Perfians, and beat 
 them with Clubs, tho' they admonim'd the Cro- 
 tonians to defift in thefe Terms. " Men of 
 " Crotona, confider what you do, in protecting 
 " one who is a Fugitive from the King : What 
 will you get by offering this Injury to Dari- 
 us? And what will be the Event if you 
 ' force this Man from us? Shall we not cer- 
 tainly make War againft your City before all 
 others ? And ufe our utmoft Endeavours 
 to reduce you into Servitude ?" Yet thefe 
 Words were not fufficient to periuade the Cro- 
 tonians -, for they not only detain'd Democedes, 
 but feiz'd the great Ship that attended the Perfi- 
 ans : Who being thus depriv'd of their Guide, 
 reimbark'd in order to return to Afia, without 
 endeavouring to inform themfelves farther con- 
 cerning Greece. At their Departure Democedes re- 
 quir'd them to tell Darius, that he was preparing 
 to marry the Daughter of Milo ; for he was not 
 ignorant that the Name of Milo, the famous Ath- 
 2 lete,
 
 THALIA. 331 
 
 lete, was well known to the King. And I am in- 
 clin'd to believe that Democedes fpar'd no Expence 
 to haften the Conclufion of this Match, in order 
 to perfuade Darius that he was no inconfidera- 
 ble Perfon in his own Country. After the Per- 
 fians departed from Crotona^ they fell in with 
 fome Ships near lapygia, and being taken and 
 carried Prifoners thither, were ranfom'd by Gillus 
 a banifh'd Tarentin, and conducted by him to 
 Darius : For which Service the King profefs'd 
 himfelf ready to reward Gillus in the Manner 
 he fhould defire. But he, relating the Caufe 
 of his Banimment, afk'd nothing more than to 
 be reftor'd to his Country by the Authority of 
 Darius. Yet left all Greece mould take the A- 
 larm, if a great Fleet mould be fent thro' their 
 Seas to accompany him to Italy, he faid the 
 King might eafily effect his Reftitution by the 
 Cnidians alone, becaufe they were in Amity 
 with the Tarentins. This Expedient Darius ap- 
 , prov'd ; and having difpatch'd a Meflenger to 
 \ require the Cnidians in his Name, to conduct 
 Gillus to Tare-ntum, they readily obey'd his Or- 
 ders , but could obtain nothing from the Ta- 
 rentins, and were not ftrong enough to conftrain 
 them by Force. In this Manner thefe Things 
 pafs'd ; and the Perfians I have mention'd, were 
 the firft, who went from Afia to difcover the 
 Affairs of Greece. 
 
 AFTER thefe Tranfactions, Darius conquer'd 
 Samos ; which was the firft of all the Cities he 
 took either from the Grecians or Barbarians. 
 The Caufe was this. During the Expedition of 
 Cambyfes the Son of Cyrus againft &gypt y many 
 Grecians reforted thither; partly, as one may 
 conjecture, on Account of Trade, and partly, to 
 
 take
 
 333 HERODOTUS. Book III. 
 
 take a View of the Country. Among the laft 
 was Sylofen the Son of Maces ; brother to Poly- 
 crates, and an Exile of Samos. His good Fortune 
 led him to make ufe of a fcarlet Cloak, with 
 which he cover'd himfelf, and walk'd publickly 
 in the Streets of Memphis. Darius, who was 
 one of Cambyfes's Guards, and made no great 
 Figure at that Time, looking upon him, grew de- 
 firous of the Cloak, and afk'd him if he would 
 fell it. Sylofon perceiving Darius to be paffion- 
 ately fond of the Garment, made this Anfwer, 
 as if he had been extraordinarily infpir'd, " I 
 ** would not fell my Cloak for any Riches ; yet 
 *' if you defire it fo much, I will give it you 
 " for a Prefent." Darius accepting his Offer 
 with Thanks, took the Cloak , and Sylofon 
 thought himfelf a Lofer by his forward Gene- 
 rofity. But when, after the Death of Cambyfes y 
 and the Deftruction of the Mages by the feven 
 Perfians, Darius^ who had been one of that 
 Number, was advanc'd to the Throne, Sylofon 
 hearing that the Kingdom was fallen into the 
 Hands of the Man he had prefented with his 
 Cloak in Mgypt, went to Sufa, and fitting at 
 the Gates of the Palace, faid he had been a Be- 
 nefactor to Darius : Which being reported to 
 the King by one of the Doorkeepers, he an- 
 fwer'd with Surprize, ct What Grecian is this, 
 " who pretends to have conferr'd Benefits up- 
 " on me, and to be refpecled on that Account ? 
 " I have but lately taken Pofleflion of the King- 
 " dom, and few or none of that Country have 
 " been feen here : Neither can I remember 
 " that I am at all oblig'd to any Grecian. How- 
 *' ever bring in the Man, that I may know the 
 *' meaning of his Words.'* The Doorkeeper 
 i prefently
 
 r HA LI A. 333 
 
 prefently introduc'd Sylofon^ and as he ftood 
 in the Midft of the Company, the Interpreters 
 aflc'd him, who he was, and what he meant by- 
 faying he had been a Benefactor to the King. 
 Then Sylofon related what had pafs'd between 
 Darius and himfelf concerning the Cloak ; and 
 having own'd that he was the Perfon who had 
 made him that Prefent, the King anfwer'd, " O 
 " thou moft generous of Men ! Art thou then 
 " the Man, from whofe Hands I receiv'd that 
 " Gift j which tho' fmall in itfelf, yet at that 
 " Time, when I had no Power, was of no lefs 
 " Value to me, than a very great thing would 
 " be now ? I will reward thee with great A- 
 " bundance of Gold and Silver, that thou 
 " mayft not repent thy Kindnefs to Darius 
 " the Son of Htfafpes." O King, replied 
 *' Sylofon^ give me neither Gold nor Silver; 
 " but fave my Country, which ever frnce the 
 " Death of my Brother Poly crates^ who was 
 " kill'd by Orcetes^ has been ufurp'd by one 
 " of our Servants : Give me, I fay, Samos 
 " without Blood, and without the Expulfion 
 " of my Countrymen." When Darius had 
 heard his Requeft, he fent an Army under 
 the Conduft of Otanes^ one of the feven, 
 with Orders to aft in Conformity to the De- 
 fires of Sylofon. And being thus inftrufted O&f- 
 nes march'd to the Sea-Coaft, and imbark'd his 
 Army for Samos. 
 
 IN the mean Time Mteandrus the Son of M<e~ 
 andrius had taken upon him the Government of 
 Samos ; which had been committed to his Care 
 by Polycrates ; and refolving to mew himfelf an 
 honeft Man, was thus prevented from accomplifh- 
 ing his Intention, When he heard of the Death 
 
 of
 
 334 HERODOTUS. Book III. 
 
 of Polycrates, he prefently ereded an Altar to 
 Jupiter the Deliverer, and mark'd out the Ground 
 for a Temple, which is now feen in the Suburbs 
 of the City. Having done this, he fummon'd a 
 general Aflembly of the Citizens, and made the 
 following Speech. " You know, faid he, that 
 *' I was entrufted with the Scepter and all the 
 " Power of Polycrates, and that the Government 
 " is wholly in my Hands. But I will ufe the 
 " beft of my Endeavours to abftain from a Crime, 
 " which I mould condemn in another. For the 
 <c arbitrary Power afTum'd by Polycrates over Men 
 <c equal to himfelf, was never approv'd by me ; 
 " neither mail I ever approve the like in a- 
 ** ny other Perfon. Now feeing the Decree of 
 " Fate has been accomplifh'd by his Death, I 
 " furrender the Government into your Hands, 
 " and proclaim an equal Liberty to all. Only 
 <e I defire you would grant me fix Talents 
 * c out of the Wealth of Polycrates ; and confer 
 <e upon me, and my Defcendents for ever, the 
 " Priefthood of the Temple I have built to Jupi- 
 " ter the Deliverer, as a juft Reward of my Ser- 
 " vice in reftoring your Liberties." When M<e- 
 andrus had made thefe Demands, fekffarcbus, an 
 eminent Citizen of Samos, (landing up in the 
 AfTembly faid, " Thou art utterly unworthy to 
 " govern us, and defervedly obnoxious to ac- 
 " count for the Treafures thou hafl imbezzled. 
 " For thou waft born to be a publick Peft, and 
 " common Calamity." M<eandrus perceiving by 
 the Tenour of thefe Words, that if he mould 
 diveft himfelf of the Power, fome other would 
 aflume the Tyranny in his Place, refolv'd to keep 
 PofTemon of the Government. To which end 
 
 retiring
 
 THALIA 335 
 
 retiring to the Caftle, and fending for the Citi- 
 zens thither, under Colour of giving them an 
 Account of the publick Treafure, feiz'd their 
 Perfons, as they came, one after the other. But 
 whilft they were under Confinement, he fell 
 ftck ; and his Brother Lycaretus imagining he 
 could not recover, kill'd all the Prifoners, that 
 he might with greater Facility ufurp the Do- 
 minion of Samos ; where Men feem'd to retain 
 fo little Affection for Liberty, that when the 
 Perfians came before the City with Sylofon, no 
 Man lifted up a Hand againft them ; and ALe- 
 andrus with thofe of his Party, offer'd to depart 
 the Ifland under a Promife of Protection : Which 
 Proportion when Otanes had accepted, and a 
 Truce was agreed on both fides, the principal 
 Men of the Perfians fat down in their Chariots 
 before the Caftle. In the mean Time Chari- 
 laus another Brother of M#andrus> and extra- 
 vagantly foolifh, was kept Prifoner in a Dun- 
 geon for fome Fault he had committed. This 
 Man having overheard what was doing, and 
 from an Aperture of his Prifon obferv'd the 
 Perfians fitting in great Tranquillity, demand- 
 ed with many Exclamations to fpeak with M<e- 
 andrus : Which Mteandrus hearing, command- 
 ed him to be brought into his Prefence : Where 
 immediately after his Admiflion, he began with 
 opprobrious and reviling Language to excite 
 him to fall upon the Perfians. " Thou art, 
 " faid he, the bafeft of Men : Thou haft 
 " thrown me into a Dungeon, who am thy 
 " Brother, and have done nothing to deferve 
 " fuch Ufage ; but haft not Courage enough 
 " to avenge thyfelf on the Perfians, tho* no- 
 ** thing be more eafy, and thou know'ft they 
 
 " are
 
 336 HERODOTUS. Book III. 
 
 " are come to drive thee out of thy Country. 
 " If thy Fears are fo great, lend me thy Aux- 
 " iliary Forces, and I will not only make them 
 *' repent their coming-, but expel thee out of 
 " the Ifland Jikewife." Mxandrus readily ac- 
 cepted the Offer of Charilaus : Not, as I fup- 
 pofe, that he was fo deftitute of Underftanding, 
 to imagine his own Power fuperior to that of the 
 King ; but out of Envy to Sylofon^ who, he 
 faw, would otherwife poflefs himfelf of the City 
 without Refiftance. He refolv'd therefore to 
 provoke the Per flans, and by this Means to 
 weaken the Power of the Samians, before 
 they mould fall into the Hands of Sylofon. 
 For he knew the Perfians would not fail to 
 take a fevere Revenge againft the Samians for 
 the Outrages they mould fuffer : And, as for 
 himfelf, he could make his Efcape out of the 
 Ifland at his Pleafure -, which he did afterwards 
 by a private Paflage he had made under Ground, 
 leading from the Caftle to the Sea. In the 
 mean Time Cbarilaus having arm'd the Auxili- 
 aries, fet open the Gates ; and fallying out upon 
 the Perfians, who expected not any Hoftility, 
 and thought every thing had been agreed, fur- 
 priz'd and kill'd the principal Men among them 
 as they were fitting in their Seats. But the reft 
 of the Army taking the Alarm, came in to their 
 Succour, and repuls'd the Auxiliaries into the 
 Caftle. When Otanes the General faw the great 
 Lofs he had fuftain'd by the Slaughter of thefe 
 Perfians, he neglected to obey the Orders given 
 him by Darius at his Departure, importing 
 that he mould neither kill nor take Prifoner 
 any Samian, but deliver the Ifland to Sylofon. 
 without Damage i and on the contrary com- 
 manded
 
 THALIA 337 
 
 manded his Army to put all the Sarriiaris they 
 mould find to the Sword* without fparing the 
 Children. So that while one Part of his For- 
 ces was employ'd in befieging the Caftle, the 
 reft kill'd all they met, as well within the 
 Temples as in other Places. Mteandrus made 
 his Efcape by Sea, and fled from Samos to La- 
 ced<emon ; and, foon after his Arrival with the 
 Riches he had carried off, order'd his Ser- 
 vants to take out and cleanfe his Cups of Gold 
 and Silver, and at the fame Time conducted 
 Cleomenes the Son of Anaxandrides^ and then 
 King of Sparta^ to his Houfe, difcourfing to- 
 gether. The King viewing the Cups, was 
 fill'd with Surprize and Aftonifhment : Which 
 M<eandrus perceiving, folieited him to take what- 
 ever he defir'd, and repeated his Offer feveral 
 Times. But Cleomenes mew*d himfelf an ho- 
 neft Man, by refuting ftedfaftly to accept any 
 thing -, and being afterwards inform'd that other 
 Citizens had receiv'd his Prefents, he went to 
 the Ephori, and told them it was neceflary to 
 expel this Samian out of Peloponnefus^ left he 
 {hould corrupt him or others of the Spartans* 
 Upon which they took his Advice, and banim'd 
 him by publick Proclamation. In the mean 
 Time the Perfians put Samos into the Hands of 
 Sylofon^ plunder J d and depopulated. But ta- 
 xes the Perfian General repeopled the City after- 
 wards, upon a Vifion he faw in a Dream^ 
 and a Diftemper which feiz'd him in his private 
 Parts. 
 
 WHILE thefe Forces were employ 'd in this 
 
 Naval Expedition againft Samcs 9 the Babylonians 
 
 revolted, after they had provided all things ne- 
 
 ceflary to that Purpofe. For during the Ufurpa-^ 
 
 Z tkut
 
 338 HERODOTUS. BooklH. 
 
 ^ion of the Mage, and the Enterprize of the 
 feven, they had made Ufe of thofe Times of 
 Confufion to prepare themfelves to fuftain a 
 Siege, and had not been difcover'd. But when 
 they appear'd in open Rebellion, they took the 
 following Method to prevent the Confumption 
 of their Provifions. They preferv'd their Mo- 
 thers in general : And after they had permitted 
 every Man to referve the Wife he beft lov'd, 
 with another Woman to make his Bread, they 
 aflembled all the reft together and ftrangled 
 them. Darius being inform J d of thefe Af- 
 fairs, drew all his Forces out ; march'd to Baby- 
 Ion, and befieg'd the City. But the Babyloni- 
 ans not at all felicitous about the Event mount- 
 ing the Ramparts of the Wall, fell to dancing , 
 and derided Darius with his Army -, one of them 
 adventuring to fpeak in this Manner to the 
 Perfians ; " What Bufinefs have you here to 
 *' detain you? Decamp rather and march off: 
 " For you will not be Matters of this Place 
 " till a Mule brings forth a Colt :" Which 
 Words were fpoken by the Babylonian in full 
 aflurance that a Mule could never breed. When 
 Darius had fpent a Year and feven Months 
 before Babylon, and was grown no lefs uneafy 
 than his Army with the tedious Length of 
 that Siege, he endeavour'd by various Strata- 
 gems and Artifices to take the Place, and a- 
 mong others by that which had fucceeded fo 
 well with Cyrus ; but all his Efforts were ren- 
 dred ineffectual by the unwearied Vigilance of 
 the Babylonians. In the twentieth Month of 
 this Siege, a Prodigy happen'd in the Quarters of 
 Zopyrus, the Son of Megabyfus one of the ieven 
 Perilous who deftroy'd the Mage. For a Mule 
 
 that
 
 -THALIA. 339 
 
 that carried his Provisions brought forth a Colt : 
 Which Zopyrus hearing, and doubting the 
 Truth of fo ftrange an Event, he went to the 
 Place ; and after he had fully fatisfied himfelf, 
 ftriclly commanded all that were prefent to con- 
 ceal the thing : And becaufe he well remembred 
 the Words of the Babylonian, who faid, " The 
 " City might be taken when Mules mould begin. 
 " to breed ;" He concluded that the Man 
 had fpoken, and the Mule brought a Colt, by 
 the Influence of a divine Power ; and that 
 therefore the Time for reducing Babylon was 
 come. In this Perfuafion Zopyrus going to Da- 
 rius, afk'd him if the taking of Babylon would 
 be acceptable to him , and being afiur'd by the 
 King that he vehemently defir'd to repoflefs him- 
 felf of that Place, he began to confider by 
 what Means he alone might accomplim the 
 Work : For among the Perfians great Achieve- 
 ments are the Steps by which Men afcend to 
 the higheft Honours. And after mature Deli- 
 beration, finding no other poflible Way to com- 
 pafs his Defign, than by mutilating his Body, 
 and in that Condition deferting to the Enemy ; 
 he laid afide all Regard to the Dignity of his 
 Perfon, and having cut off his Noie and Ears, 
 whipp'd himfelf, and cut his Hair in the moft 
 indecent Manner, went thus horribly disfigur'd 
 into the Prefence of Darius. The King in 
 the utmoft Surprize to fee a Man of his Rank 
 fo atrocioufly mangled, rofe up haftily from 
 his Throne, and with loud Exclamation afk'd, 
 who had been the Author of that Outrage, 
 and on what Occafion. " You alone, an- 
 " fwer'd Zopyrus ; for no other Perfon could 
 *' have treated me in this Manner \ tho* I my- 
 Z 2 " if
 
 340 HERODOTUS. Book III. 
 
 <c felf was the immediate Executioner -, becaufe 
 <c I could no longer fee the Perfians baffled by 
 * the Aflyrians." Wretched Man, faid Darius, 
 *' thou haft endeavour'd to put a fair Colour 
 on a foul Action i pretending to have in- 
 flicted this Indignity on thyfelf by Reafon 
 of the Siege. Art thou fo foolim to believe 
 the Babylonians will furrender the fooner 
 for thy Wounds ? Or rather had ft thou not 
 loft thy Underftanding, before the Commif- 
 fion of this cruel Fact ? " " Had I, replied 
 Zopyrus; inform'd you of my Intentions, you 
 would not have permitted me to proceed. But 
 becaufe I confulted only with myfelf, I have 
 " executed my Defign ; and if your Troops 
 " are not wanting to themfelves, we mall take 
 " Babylon. For I will defert to the Babyloni- 
 " ans in this Condition, and tell them I have 
 " fuffer'd thefe Indignities from you ; and 
 "when I mail have perfuaded them of my 
 " Sincerity, I doubt not to obtain the Com- 
 *' mand of their Forces. My Opinion there- 
 *' fore is, that on the tenth Day after my De- 
 " parture, you would command a thoufand Men 
 *' of thofe you leaft value, to march up to 
 " the Gate of S emir amis -, two thoufand on 
 " the feventh Day after to the Gate of Ninus ; 
 " and twenty Days from the Expiration of 
 *' that Term, four thoufand more to that of 
 " the Chaldaeans. But none of thefe Par- 
 " ties are to be permitted to carry any other 
 " Arms, than Swords only for their Defence. 
 " After the twentieth Day is pafs'd, command 
 " all the reft of the Army to march up directly 
 " to the Walls, with particular Orders to the 
 " Perfians, to poft themfelves at the Gates of 
 
 " Belus
 
 THALIA. 341 
 
 " Belus and CiJJia. For unlefs I deceive myfelf, 
 " the Babylonians will not fail among other 
 " things to entruft me with the Keys of the 
 " Gates, in Confideration of my great Actions : 
 " And then I and the Perfians will take care to 
 " perform the reft." When he had given this 
 Advice, he took his Way towards the City ; 
 and the better to act the Part of a Deferter, 
 look'd frequently behind him as he went. The 
 Guards who were plac'd on the Towers feeing 
 him approaching, went down, and drawing 
 back the Gate afk'd him who he was ? And 
 what Bufmefs brought him thither ? He an- 
 fwer'd, he was Zopyrus, and defir'd to be re- 
 ceiv'd into the City: Which the Guards hear- 
 ing, they conducted him to the Common Hall ; 
 where he was no fooner admitted, than he began 
 to deplore his Condition, and aflbr'd them he 
 had fuffer'd from Darius what indeed he had 
 done to himfelf ; for advifing him to break up 
 the Siege, becaufe he faw no Appearance of 
 taking the City. " Now therefore, faid he 
 " to the Babylonians, I put myfelf into your 
 " Hands, with a Refolution to do you the great- 
 " eft Service, and all pofiible Mifchief to Da- 
 " n'j, his Army, and to the Perfians. For I 
 " will not be long unreveng'd of his Cruelty ; 
 " fince I am perfectly inform'd of all his Coun- 
 " fels and Defigns." The Babylonians feeing a 
 Man of that Diftinction among the Perfians de- 
 priv'd of his Ears and Nofe, and cover'd with 
 Wounds and Blood, never doubted the Truth 
 of his Words ; and afluring themfelves of his 
 Afliftance, fhew'd a Readinefs to grant him 
 whatever he would afk. Accordingly he defir'd 
 the Command of fome Forces j and having ob- 
 Z 3 tam*d
 
 342 HERO DO TUB. Book III. 
 
 tain'dr his Requeft, acted as he had preconcerted 
 with Darius. For on the tenth Day he Tallied 
 out of the City at the Head of the Babylonians, 
 and furrounding the thoufand Men that Darius 
 had already fent in purfuance of their Project., 
 he cut them all in Pieces on the Spot. When 
 the Babylonians faw that his Actions were fui- 
 table to his Promifes, they exprefs'd their Joy 
 m an extraordinary Manner, and declar'd them- 
 felves ready to fupply him with all things 
 he fhould demand. Zopyrus therefore at the 
 Time prefixed by Darius and himfelf, drew out 
 another Party, and kill'd two thoufand more 
 of his Men ; which fecond Action fo pleas'd 
 the Babylonians, that the Name of Zopyrus be- 
 came the general Subject of their Praifes. In 
 Conclufion, he march'd out a third Time, and 
 leading his Troops to the Place appointed, fur- 
 priz'd and cut in Pieces the other four thoufand. 
 Upon which Succefs Zopyrus acquired fo great 
 Credit in Babylon^ that he was constituted Ge- 
 neral, and had the Guard of the City commit- 
 ted to his Care. But when Darius advanc'd 
 with his whole Army to furround the Body 
 of the Place, purfuant to the Agreement they 
 had made, then Zopyrus difcover'd his Treach- 
 ery. For whilft the Babylonians were defend- 
 ing themfelves from the Walls againft the Ar- 
 iny of Darius^ Zopyrus open'd the Gates of 
 Belus and Ciflia, and introduc'd the Perfians in- 
 to the City. Thofe who faw this traiterous 
 Action, fled into the Temple of Jupiter Belus ; 
 and thofe who perceiv'd nothing of what 
 pafs'd, continued in their feveral Pofts, till 
 they were inform'd in what Manner they had 
 been betray'd. Thus Babylon was taken a fecond 
 
 Time 5
 
 THALIA. 343 
 
 Time; and Darius becoming Mafter of the 
 Place, not only demolim'd the Walls and Gates, 
 which had been left intire by Cyrus, but com- 
 manded about three thoufand of the principal 
 Leaders to be impal'd, and then gave Leave to 
 the reft to continue in their Habitations. And 
 becaufe the Babylonians had ftrangled their Wo- 
 men, as I faid before, in order to prevent the 
 Consumption of their Provisions ; he took care 
 to furnifh them with Wives, that they might 
 not be deftitute of Children : And to that End 
 enjoyriM. the neighbouring Provinces to fend a 
 certain number of Women to Babylon, amount- 
 ing in all to fifty thoufand , and from thefe the 
 Babylonians of our Time are defcended. Touch- 
 ing Zopyrus, the Judgment of Darius was, 
 that by the Generality of this Action he had 
 furpafs'd all the Perfians of his own or precedr- 
 ing Times, Cyrus only excepted , with whom 
 no Perfian ever thought himfelf worthy to be 
 compar'd. 'Tis alfo reported that he frequently 
 us'd to fay, he would rather wifh Zopyrus had 
 fuffer'd no Hurt, than to acquire twenty more 
 Babylons. However, he rewarded him magni- 
 ficently i for befides annual Prefents confifting of 
 all thofe things which are accounted moft ho- 
 nourable among the Perfians, he gave him the 
 Revenues of Babylon for Life, free from any 
 Manner of Charge. Megabyfus, afterwards Ge- 
 neral in &gypt againft the Athenians and their 
 Allies, was Son of this Zopyrus ; and Father to 
 another of that Name, who abandon'd the Per- 
 jtians, and voluntarily deferted to Athens. 
 
 Z4 THE
 
 _ 
 T H E 
 
 34-5 
 
 \: ' ' 
 
 Hiftory of Herodotus. 
 
 *W<4 
 
 BOOK IV. 
 
 MELPOMENE. 
 
 A 
 
 FTE R the Reduction of Babylon, Darius 
 undertook an Expedition againft Scy- 
 tbia , and feeing Afia abounding in Men 
 and Riches, grew very defirous to re- 
 venge himfelf upon the Scythians ; who "without 
 Provocation had formerly invaded the Territories 
 of Media, and defeated all thofe who appear'd 
 in Arms againft them. The Scythians, as I 
 have faid already, continued twenty eight Years 
 in the PofTemon of Ufper-Afia ; having enter'd 
 thofe Provinces in Purfuit of the Cimmerians, 
 and fupprefs'd the Power of the Medes, who 
 before that Time were Matters of all Afia. But 
 after they had fpent fo many Years abroad, 
 they met with as great Difficulties in return- 
 ing to their own Country, as they had en- 
 counter'd before in Media^ and found an Ar- 
 my of no inconfiderable Force ready to oppofc 
 their Entrance. For during fo long a Time 
 of Abfence, the Wives of thofe Scythians had 
 us'd the Company of their Slaves ; who are all 
 blind, and ferve to draw the Milk they drink 
 in this Manner. They have Bones fhap'd like 
 
 Flutes ;
 
 346 HERODOTUS. Book IV. 
 
 Flutes ; which being apply'd to the genital Part 
 of a Mare, one of thefe Slaves blows with his 
 Mouth, whilft another milks the Beaft. They 
 fay this Invention is practis'd, becaufe the Wind 
 makes the Veins of the Mare to grow turgid, 
 and her Teats to defcend. When the Milk is 
 drawn, and pour'd into hollow Veflels of Wood, 
 the blind Men {landing round the Tubs beat 
 it for fome Time. Then they fkim off the 
 Subftance which lies uppermoft, and is efteem'd 
 the moft precious ; leaving the reft, as of lefs 
 Value. And on this Account the Scythians 
 put out the Eyes of all the Prifoners they 
 take ; never applying their Care to Hufbandry ; 
 but only to the keeping of Cattfe. Born of 
 thefe Slaves and the Wives of the Scythi- 
 ans, a new Generation was grown up, who 
 knowing their own Extraction, marched out 
 to oppofe the Return of thofe that came 
 from Media. To this End they fortified the 
 Frontier of the Country by a broad Ditch, 
 carried on from Mount Taurus to the Lake 
 Mtfotis, which is the greateft of all others, 
 and when the Scythians endeavour'd to force 
 their Intrenchments, they drew together and 
 made a vigorous Refiftance. The Scythians 
 repeated the Attempt feveral Times, and were 
 as often repuls'd ; upon which one among 
 them faid, " Men of Scytbia, What can we 
 " mean by making War with our Slaves ? If we 
 " are kill'd, our own Power diminimes -, and if 
 " we kill, we leflen the Number of thofe we 
 " ought to command. My Opinion therefore 
 " is, that we would lay afide our Bows and 
 " Spears, and every one taking his Horfe-whip 
 " in his Hand go directly to them m that Po-
 
 MELPOMENE. 347 
 
 fr< fture. For fo long as they mall fee us arm'd, 
 ** fo long they will think themfelves equal to 
 us, and born of as good Blood as we. But 
 " when they fhall perceive us approaching with 
 " our Whips inftead of Arms, they will foon be 
 " convinc'd they are our Servants, and under 
 ** that Apprehenfioii will refift no more." The 
 Scythians did as he advis'd, and the Slaves 
 {truck with Aftonimment forgot they were to 
 fight, and fled away. Thus the Scythians, who 
 had the Dominion of Afia, and were afterwards 
 expell'd by the Medes, return'd to their own 
 Country : And Darius defiring to take Revenge, 
 aflembled an Army, in order to invade their 
 Territories. 
 
 TH E Scythians fay their Nation is of a later 
 Original than any other, and began in this 
 Manner. The firft Man that appear'd in Scy- 
 thia,- then an uninhabited Defert, was Targi- 
 taus, concerning whom they relate things in- 
 credible to me. For they affirm that he was 
 born of Jupiter and a Daughter of the River 
 Beryfthenes : That he had three Sons who went 
 by the Names of Lipoxais, Apoxais, and Co- 
 laxais : That during their Reign a Plow, with 
 a Yoke, an Axe, and a Bowl, all of Gold, 
 fell down from Heaven into Scythia : That 
 the eldeft, v/ho faw thofe things nrft, approach- 
 ing with Defign to take them up, found them 
 burning hot, and retir'd : That the fecond 
 came immediately after, and found the Gold 
 in the fame Condition : That when they had 
 both withdrawn themfelves from the burning 
 Metal, the youngeft Son advanc'd, and find- 
 ing the Fire extinguifh'd, carried away the 
 things with him j and that the elder Brothers 
 2 having
 
 34-8 HERODOTUS. Book IV. 
 
 having obferv'd this Event, furrendred the King- 
 dom to the youngeft. They farther fay, that 
 the Auchatian Scythians are defcended from 
 Ltpoxais-, the Catiarians and Trafpians from 
 slpQxais -, and the Race of their Kings, which 
 they call Paralates, from Colaxais^ the third Son 
 of T'argitaus. They give themfelves the general 
 Name of Scolotes ; which is alfo the Surname of 
 their Kings: But the Grecians call them Scy- 
 thians. This Account they give of their Origi- 
 nal ; and reckon about a thoufa'nd Years at moft, 
 from the Reign of Targitaus the firft King of 
 Scythia^ to the Time they were invaded by Darius. 
 The Kings take all imaginable Care to preferve 
 the facred Gold, and annually aflift at the mag- 
 nificent Sacrifices, which are offer'd to thofe 
 holy Inftruments. If he who has the Guard of 
 thefe things on the Feftival Day, happen to fall 
 afleep in the open Air, the Scythians fay he 
 cannot live long, and therefore make him a 
 prefent of as much Land as he can ride over on 
 Horfeback in one Day. Colaxais perceiving the 
 Country to be of vaft Extent, divided the King- 
 dom between his three Sons ; and made that 
 Share moft confiderable, where the Gold which 
 fell from Heaven, is kept. The Scythians fay, 
 that thofe Parts which are fituate to the North- 
 ward of their Territories, are neither vifible 
 nor practicable, by reafon of the Feathers that 
 fall continually on all fides. For the Earth i$ 
 intirely cover'd, and the Air fo full of thefe 
 Feathers, that the Sight is altogether obftrucit- 
 ed. Thefe things are related by the Scythians 
 concerning themfelves, and the Regions that 
 lye above them. But the Grecians who inhabit 
 Pontus give a different Account ; and fay, that 
 i as
 
 MELPOMENE. 349 
 
 as Hercules was driving away the Cows of Geryon, 
 he arriv'd in the Country now poffefs'd by the 
 Scythians ; which was then an uninhabited De- 
 fert ; and that Geryon liv'd in an Ifland by the 
 Grecians call'd Erytbia^ remote from Pontus, 
 and foliate not far from Gades, beyond the Co- 
 lumns of Hercules upon the Ocean. They like- 
 wife affirm that the Ocean rifing in the Eaft 
 furrounds the whole Earth ; but bring no Proof 
 of their Aflertion : That Hercules in his Re- 
 turn pafs'd thro* the Country, which is now 
 call'd Scythia ; and finding the Weather cold 
 and frofty, lay down to fleep wrapp'd in the 
 Lyon's Skin : That while he flept, the Mares 
 which drew his Chariot, led by a divine Hand, 
 ftray'd from the Place where they fed ; and 
 that when he awak'd he fought them all over 
 the Country, and coming to a Place call'd Hy- 
 /<*?#, found a Creature of an ambiguous Nature, 
 refembling a Virgin from the Thighs upwards, 
 and fhap'd like a Serpent in the lower Parts. 
 Aftonifh'd at the Sight, he afk*d her if me had 
 feen his Mares. She told him they were in her 
 Power -, but that me would not reftore them, 
 unlefs he would lye with her : To which he 
 confented, in order to recover his Mares. Ne- 
 verthelefs me delay'd to perform her Promife, 
 out of a Defire to enjoy the Company of Hercu- 
 les as long as me could ; 'till finding him no lefs 
 defirous to depart, me reftor*d the Mares, and 
 fpoke to him in thefe Terms. " I preferv'd 
 " your Mares when they ftray'd hither, and you 
 " have given me the Recompence of my Care ; 
 " for I have three Sons by you. Tell me there- 
 " fore how I mall difpofe of them when they are 
 " grown up: Whether they fhall continue to 
 
 " live
 
 350 HERODOTUS. Book IV. 
 
 " live in this Country, where I am Miftrefs? 
 " or whether I ihall fend them to you?" To 
 this Queftion Hercules anfwer'd ; " When you 
 " fee the Children arriv'd to the Age of Men, 
 " you cannot err, if you retain in thefe Regions 
 " that Son, who mall be found capable of draw- 
 " ing this Bow and wearing this Belt, and fend 
 " away thofe who mail be of inferior Force. If 
 " you do this, you will confult your own Happi- 
 " nefs, and perform my Orders." Then draw- 
 ing out one of his Bows (for he carried two at 
 that Time) and delivering it into her Hands, 
 with the Belt, which had a golden Cup hanging 
 at the loweft Seam, he took Leave and went 
 away. When her Sons had attain'd to the Age 
 of Men, me nam*d the eldeft Agathyrfis^ the fe- 
 cond GelonuS) and the youngeft Scytha ; and re- 
 membring the Orders of Hercules, put them 
 in Execution, as he had enjoyn'd ; but finding 
 two of her Sons, Agathyrfis and Gelonus, unable 
 to perform the things requir'd, me fent them 
 out of the Country ; retaining Scytha her young- 
 eft Son with her, becaufe he had accomplim'd 
 the Will of his Father. All the Kings of Scy- 
 tbia have been the Defendants of this Scytha 
 the Son of Hercules ; and from his Time the 
 Scythians have always carried a Cup faften'd to 
 the lower Part of their Belt. Thefe things are 
 reported by the Grecians who inhabit Pontus : 
 But another Relation, which feems more pro- 
 bable to me, runs in this Manner. The Scy- 
 thian Nomades were once Inhabitants of AJia, 
 and being harrafs'd by the Maflagetes with fre- 
 quent Wars, they pafs*d the River Araxes, and 
 cnter'd the Country of the Cimmerians ; who,' 
 they fay, were the ancient PofTefTors of thofe 
 
 Regions
 
 MELPOMENE. 351 
 
 Regions which are now inhabited by the Scy- 
 thians. The Cimmerians finding themfelves 
 invaded by the Scythians with a numerous Ar- 
 my, aflembled in Council, but could not come 
 to any Agreement, becaufe the Kings and the 
 People were of different Sentiments; both 
 founded upon ftrong Reafons, tho* that of the 
 Kings was the more generous. For the People 
 were of Opinion to abftain from Force, and 
 not put all to hazard againft fo great a Multi- 
 tude. But the Kings on the contrary advis'd, 
 that they would oppofe the Invaders of their 
 Country by Arms. Thus when neither the Peo- 
 ple would aflent to the Perfuafions of the Kings, 
 nor the Kings to thofe of the People ; and one 
 Party refolv'd to depart without fighting, and 
 leave their Pofleflions to the Invaders ; whilft 
 the other reflecting on the great Advanta- 
 ges they had enjoy'd at Home, and the ap- 
 parent Evils they muft fuffer if they mould for- 
 fake their Country, determin'd rather to dye 
 on the Spot, than betake themfelves to Flight 
 with the Multitude: In this Contrariety of 
 Opinions they divided ; and being equal in Num- 
 bers, the two Parties engag'd in Battle, and 
 all thofe who fell in the Difpute, were buried 
 by the reft of the People near the River Ty- 
 ras ; where their Sepulchre remains to this Day. 
 When the Cimmerians had perform'd that Of- 
 fice, they abandon'd the Country and left it 
 intirely difpeopled in the PofTeflion of the Scy- 
 thians. Divers Ports and Walls are ftill feea 
 in Scythia, which retain the Name of Cimme- 
 rian ; together with a whole Province, and a, 
 Bofphorus or a narrow Sea. 'Tis certain the 
 Cimmerians who fled from the Scythians into 
 
 Afta,
 
 352 HERODOTUS. Book IV. 
 
 Afia, fettled in that Peninfula where the City 
 of Sinope, a Colony of the Grecians, was after- 
 wards built : And 'tis no lefs evident that the 
 Scythians purfuing them, fell into Media y and 
 miftook their Way. For the Cimmerians in 
 all their Flight never abartdon'd the Coaft of 
 the Sea : Whereas the Scythians in their 
 Purfuit leaving Mount Caucafus .on the right 
 Hand, deflected towards the midland Coun- 
 tries, and fo enter'd Media, Another Report 
 is generally current as well among the Gre- 
 cians as Barbarians. For Arifleas^ a Poet of 
 Prcconnefus and Son to Cauftrobius, fays in his 
 Verfes, that he was tranfported by Apollo into 
 the Territories of the Ifledonians ; beyond which 
 the Arimafpians inhabit, who are a People that 
 have only one Eye , that the next Region abounds 
 in Griffins, which guard the Gold of the Coun- 
 try ; and that the Hyperboreans are fituate yet 
 farther, and extend themfelves to the Sea: That 
 all thefe, except the Hyperboreans, following 
 the Example of the Arimafpians, were conti- 
 nually employed in making War againft their 
 Neighbours : That the IfTedonians were ex- 
 pell'd by the Arimafpians ; the Scythians by 
 the IfTedonians ; and that the Cimmerians, 
 who inhabited on the South-Sea, were forc'd 
 by the Scythians to abandon their Country. So 
 that this Arifteas differs from the Scythians 
 in the Account he gives of thefe Regions. I 
 have already mention'd the Place of his Birth, 
 and (hall now add what I heard concerning 
 him in Proconnefus and Cyzicus. Arifteas^ fay 
 they, who was inferior to no Man of the City 
 in any kind, entring one Day into a Fuller's 
 Shop, died fuddenly: Upon which the Fuller, 
 
 after
 
 MELPOMENE. 353 
 
 after he had (hut up his Door, went and ac- 
 quainted the Relation of the Deceas'd with 
 what had happen'd. When the News of his 
 Death had fpread over the City, a certain Cy- 
 zicenian arriving from Artace, difputed the 
 Truth of the Report ; affirming that he had 
 feen and convers'd with him in his Way to 
 Cyzicus; and while he perfifted obftinately to 
 maintain his Aflertion, the Relations of Arifteas 
 had been at the Fuller's Shop, with all things ne- 
 ceflary for removing the Body, but could not 
 find "him either alive or dead. In the feventh 
 Year he appeared again in Proconnefus ; com- 
 pos'd thofe Verfes, which by the Grecians are 
 call'd Arimafpian, and then difappear'd a fecond 
 Time. Thefe things are commonly reported in 
 the Cities I have mentioned ; and that which 
 follows happen'd among the Metapontins of 
 Italy three hundred and forty Years after 
 the fecond Difappearing of Arifteas the Procon- 
 nefian, as I found by Computation in Procon- 
 nefus and Metapontium : At which Time, the 
 Metapontins fay, Arifteas appear'd in their 
 City, and exhorted them to eredb an Altar to 
 Apollo, and a Statue by that Altar, which 
 mould bear the Name of Arifteas the Procon- 
 nefian , telling them, " They were the only 
 " Nation of the Italian Coaft which had ever 
 " been favour'd with the Prefence of Apollo ; 
 " that he himfelf attended the God, and was 
 " then a Crow ; tho* now he went under the 
 " Name of Arifteas" Having pronounc'd thefe 
 Words he vanim'd; and the Metapontins fay 
 they went to Delphi to inquire of the God 
 concerning the Apparition ; and that the Py- 
 thiaji in Anfwer admonifh'd them to obey the 
 A a Phantom,
 
 354 HERODOTUS. Book IV. 
 
 Phantom, and their Affairs fhould be prof- 
 perous. In purfuance therefore of this Oracle, 
 they did as Arifteas had defiYd, and his Statue 
 is feen to this Day in the publick Place, erect- 
 ed near the Image of Apollo^ and furrounded 
 with Laurels. Thus much I thought fit to fay 
 concerning Arifteas. 
 
 No Man knows, with certainty, the Coun- 
 tries that lye beyond thofe, about which I am 
 now to fpeak , neither could I ever find a Per- 
 fon who had view'd them with his own Eyes. 
 Arifteas himfelf, who is juft now mention'd, 
 fays, in his Verfes, that he went no farther 
 than the IfTedonians, and that he learnt from 
 them whatever he relates touching thofe Parts. 
 Neverthelefs, I mail repeat, as fully as I can, 
 all that I have heard concerning this Matter. 
 Above the principal Port of the Boryfthenians, 
 which is fituate in the midft of the maritim 
 Places of Scytbia, the firft People feen are the 
 Callipedes, who derive their Original from 
 Greece -, and next to thefe is another Nation, 
 call'd Halazons. Both thefe obferve the Cu- 
 ftoms of the Scythians ; except only that they 
 fow Wheat, Onions, Garlick, Lentils, and 
 Millet, for Food ; whereas the Scythians, who 
 lye beyond the Halazons, and are Hufbandmen, 
 fow Wheat, not for Food, but Sale. The 
 Neurians are the next People, and I am inform'd 
 that the northern Parts of their Country are ut- 
 terly uninhabited. Thefe Nations are fituate 
 along the River Hypanis, on the Weft Side of 
 the Boryfthenes. But if we pafs over to the 
 other Side of the Boryftbcnes from the Sea, we 
 (hall firft enter into Hyt<ea, and then into an- 
 other Region poflefs'd by Scythians, who apply 
 
 themfelves
 
 MELPOMENE. 355 
 
 themfelves to Agriculture, and are call'd Boryfthe- 
 nians, by thofe Grecians who inhabit on the 
 Hypanis ; tho* they give themfelves the Name 
 of Olbiopolitans. Thefe Scythian Hufbandmen 
 poffefs, to the Eaftward, a Country of three 
 Days March, extending to the River call'd Pan- 
 ticapes ; and of eleven Days Sail by the Boryft- 
 benes to the Northward. Beyond this Region 
 lyes a vaft Defart, and beyond that Defart, a 
 Country inhabited by the Androphages, or Men- 
 eaters, who are a diftincl: People, and not of 
 Scythian Extraction. All beyond this is unin- 
 habited, no Man being found there, that we 
 know. To the Eaftward of thofe Scythians who 
 apply themfelves to the Culture of Land, and 
 on the other Side of the River Panticapes, the 
 Country is inhabited by Scythians, who neither 
 plow nor fow, but are employ'd in keeping 
 Cattle ; none of thofe Parts producing Trees, 
 except Hyl<ea only. Thefe Herdfmen pofiefs a 
 Tract of Land of fourteen Days March from 
 the Eaft to the River Gerrbus. On the other 
 Side of this River are the Royal Provinces, full 
 of People, and poffefs'd by the moft valiant of 
 all the Scythians, who think all the reft to be 
 only their Slaves. Their Country extends from 
 the South to Mount Taurus ; and from the Eaft 
 to the Intrenchments that were made by the 
 Sons of the blind Men, and to the Port of 
 Cbremni, on the Lake M<eotis ; betides that 
 Part which borders upon the River Tanais. 
 Above thefe Royal Scythians the Melanchla?ni- 
 ans inhabit to the Northward ; a diftinct Nation, 
 and not of Scythian Race. But beyond them 
 all is full of Fens, and uninhabited, as we are 
 inform J d, 
 
 A a 2
 
 356 HERO DO fUS. Book IV. 
 
 THE Regions that lye beyond the River 
 TanaiS) are no Part of Scythia. The firft Por- 
 tion belongs to the Sauromatians ; who inhabit 
 a Country of fifteen Days March from the far- 
 theft Part of the Lake Mxotis to the North- 
 ward, deftitute of all kind of Trees, either wild 
 or cultivated. The fecond is poffefs'd by the 
 Budians ; abounding in Trees of all forts, and 
 ending in a Defart of feven Days Journey : Next 
 to which, and a little deflecting to the Eaft- 
 ward, the Tyflagetes inhabit ; who are a feparate 
 People, very numerous, and living upon the Ve- 
 nifon they take. The lyrcians are contiguous 
 to thefe ; and poflerTmg another Part of the 
 Country, fubfift alfo by hunting, in this Manner. 
 They climb the Trees (which abound in all 
 Places) and . wait for the Game, attended by a 
 Dog, and a Horfe taught to lye down upon his 
 Belly to prevent Difcovery. When the Hunter 
 fees the Beaft from the Tree, he lets fly an Ar- 
 row, mounts his Horfe, and purfues the Chace 
 with his Dog. The next Region to the Eaft- 
 ward, is inhabited by Scythians, who feparating 
 from the Royal Scythians, fettled themfelves 
 there. Thus far Scythia is a plain Country, and 
 of a deep Soil : But the reft is rocky and un- 
 even. After a long and difficult Paflage from 
 hence, arriving at the Foot of very high Moun- 
 tains, Men difcover a certain People, who na- 
 turally, both Men and Women, are bald from 
 their Infancy. They have fhort retorted Nofes, 
 and great Chins ; fpeak a peculiar Language ; 
 wear the Scythian Habit ; and feed upon the 
 Fruit of a Tree which they call Ponticon, 
 equal to the Fig-tree in Bignefs, and bearing 
 Fruit with a Kernel of the Shape of a Bean. 
 
 When
 
 MELPOMENE. 357 
 
 When this Fruit is ripe, they put it into a Prefs, 
 and fqueeze out a thick and black Liquor, call'd 
 Afchy, which they fuck, and drink mingled 
 with Milk ; making Cakes of the Sediment, 
 to ferve inftead of other Food: For they have 
 few Cattle in thefe Parts, becaufe they are not 
 induftrious. They deep in the Winter under 
 Trees, which are cover'd with a ftrong white 
 Cloth ; in the Summer without any other 
 Covering than the Tree. No Man offers Vio- 
 lence to this People ; for they are accounted 
 facred, and have no warlike Weapon among 
 them. They determine the Differences that 
 arife among their Neighbours j and whoever 
 flies thither for Refuge, is permitted to live 
 unmolefted. This bald People goes by the 
 Name of Argippseans. Their Country has a 
 wide Profped: of all the Regions before men- 
 tion'd, and one may, without Difficulty, be in- 
 form'd concerning them , becaufe not only 
 fome of the Scythians, but the Grecians, inha- 
 biting the Ports of the Boryfthenes and of Pon- 
 tus, frequent thefe Parts. The Scythians arrive 
 in this Country, thro* feven different Languages, 
 and by the help of feven forts of Interpreters. 
 Thus far therefore things are known: But no 
 Man can fpeak with certainty of thofe Re- 
 gions that are fituate beyond thefe bald Men, 
 for high and inacceffible Mountains render the 
 Way impracticable. Yet they pretend that 
 thofe Mountains are inhabited by Men who 
 have Feet like Goats, which is to me incre- 
 dible : And thr-.t beyond thofe Hills another 
 People is found, who fleep continually the 
 Space of fix Months ; which I can lefs admit 
 for true than the former. We certainly know 
 A a 3 that
 
 358 HERODOTUS. Book IV. 
 
 that the Ifledonians inhabit to the Eaftward of 
 this bald Nation. But whatever lies to the 
 Northward, either of the Argippseans or Ifledo- 
 nians, is utterly unknown, except only from 
 what they are pleafed to tell us. 
 
 THE Ifledonians are faid to obferve thefe 
 Cuftoms. When a Man's Father dies, all his 
 Relations bring him Sheep; which, when they 
 have facrific'd, and divided into Pieces, they 
 likewife cut the Body of his dead Parent into 
 like Portions, and having mingled all this Flefh 
 together, fit down to feaft. Then taking off 
 the Hair, and cleanfing the Head, they gild the 
 Skull, and annually celebrate magnificent Sacri- 
 fices to this R click. Every Son performs thefe 
 Funeral- Rites to his Father, as a Grecian folem- 
 nizes the Day of his Nativity. They add far- 
 ther, that this Nation is likewife accounted juft, 
 and that the Women are not inferior in Forti- 
 tude to the Men. Thefe Countries are not un- 
 known. But the Ifledonians affirm, that the 
 Regions beyond them, are poflefs'd by Men 
 who have only one Eye, and by Griffins that 
 guard the Gold. The Scythians repeat thefe 
 things from the Ifledonians, and we have them 
 from the Scythians, who give the Name of 
 Arimafpians to the People above-men tion'd, be- 
 caufe Arima^ in the Scythian Language, figni- 
 fies One, and Spou an Eye, All this Country is 
 fo infefted with Cold during the Winter, and 
 Frofts fo exceflive for eight Months in the Year, 
 that if a Man pour Water on the Earth, he 
 ihall not make Dirt, unlefs he ftand by a Fire. 
 Even the Sea freezes ; together with the 
 whole Cimmerian Bofphorus, in fuch a Manner, 
 that the Scythians who live within the In- 
 2 frenchmen t,
 
 MELPOMENE. 359 
 
 trenchment, lead their Armies, and drive their 
 Chariots over the Ice as far as India. Eight 
 Months their Winter continues ; and the other 
 four are more than ordinarily Cold ; the Cli- 
 mate differing from all others in this particular, 
 that little or no Rain falls in the proper Seafon, 
 and that the Summer is inceflantly wet. Thun- 
 der is frequent in Summer ; but feldom heard 
 at thofe Times when 'tis moft common in 
 other Parts. If any happen in Winter, 'tis taken 
 for a Prodigy ; and an Earthquake either in Sum- 
 mer or Winter, is no lefs aftoniming. Their 
 Horfes are not affected by the long continued 
 Cold ; but their Mules and Afles are unable to 
 refift the Beginnings of the Winter : Whereas in 
 other Places, Horfes are ruin'd by that Cold, 
 which Mules and A.fles eafily bear. Thefe Win- 
 ters feem to me to be the Caufe, why their Cows 
 and Oxen have no Horns ; and the following 
 Verfeof Homer in his OdyJJes confirms my Opinion ; 
 
 And Libya, where the Lambs have early Horns. 
 
 Rightly intimating, that the Horns of Cattle 
 fhoot fpeedily in hot Countries ; for in thofe 
 which are violently cold, they either cannot moot 
 early, or never grow to any Bignefs. Thefe 
 are the Effects of Cold in Scytbia : And becaufe 
 I always propos'd to myfelf to make fuch In- 
 quiries, I muft not omit to mention my Surprize, 
 that no Mules are ingender'd in all the Territo- 
 ries of Elis, tho' the Climate be no Way diftem- 
 per'd with Cold, nor any vifible Caufe of this 
 Defect appear. The Eleans pretend they are 
 under the Force of a Charm in this particular ; 
 and therefore at the Times of Breeding, they 
 A a 4 Iea4
 
 360 HERODOfUS. Book IV. 
 
 lead their Mares to fome of the Parts adjacent ; 
 where they caufe them to be cover'd by He- 
 AfTes, and after they have conceiv'd, bring them 
 Home again. Touching the Feathers, with 
 which the Scythians fay the Air is fo fill'd 
 that Men can neither fee nor pafs farther upon 
 the Continent, my Opinion is, that perpetual 
 Snows fall in thofe Parts, tho* probably in 
 lefs Quantity during the Summer than in Win- 
 ter: And whoever has obferv'd great Abun- 
 dance of Snow falling, will eafily compre- 
 hend what I fay ; for the Snow is not un- 
 like to Feathers. On this Account therefore, 
 as I conjecture, the Regions fituate to the 
 Northward of that Continent, are uninhabit- 
 ed ; and the Scythians with other adjoyning 
 People, imagine the Snow to be Feathers. 
 But I have infifted long enough on thefe 
 Reports, 
 
 CONCERNING the Hyperboreans, nothing 
 is faid either by the Scythians or any other Na- 
 tion that inhabit thofe Parts, except the Iffe- 
 donians ; and as I think they fay little to the 
 Purpofe, fo I am of Opinion the Scythians 
 could inform us no better than they have done 
 of the People with one Eye : Hefiod indeed men- 
 tions the Hyperboreans, and Homer fpeaks of 
 them in his Epgones^ if we may believe him to 
 have been the Author of thofe Verfes. But the 
 Delians fay much more about the Hyperboreans ; 
 affirming that their facred things were tranfmit- 
 ted to Scythia wrapp'd in a Bundle of Wheat- 
 Straw, and from the Scythians gradually advanc'd 
 thro* the bordering Nations ; 'till they pene- 
 trated very far Weft ward, and were receiv'd in 
 4dria ; That from hence they travell'd towards 
 
 the
 
 MELPOMENE. 361 
 
 the South, and that the Dodonaeans were the 
 firft of all the Grecians who admitted them: 
 That by this Way they defcended to the Gulph 
 of Melts \ pafs'd into Eubxa, and from thence 
 thro* various Cities to Caryftus : That they were 
 not introduc'd among the Andrians ; but that 
 the Caryftians tranfported them to Tenus, and 
 the Tenians to Delos : In this Manner the De- 
 lians fay they receiv'd thefe Rites. They add, 
 that the Hyperboreans had firft fent two Vir- 
 gins to carry thefe facred things abroad, and 
 call them by the Names of Hy-perocbe and 
 Laodice : That for their Security they appoint- 
 ed five Citizens to accompany them, whofe 
 Memory is to this Day in great Veneration 
 among the Delians, and their Perfons known by 
 the Title of Peripberees : But the Hyperboreans 
 finding that none of thofe they had charged with 
 thefe Orders, return'd Home, were greatly 
 difpleas'd ; and tying up their holy Things in a 
 Bundle of Wheat- Straw, difpatch'd certain Per- 
 fons to carry them into the next adjacent Coun- 
 tries, and to exhort the Inhabitants to fend them 
 forward to other Nations. And thus, the Deli- 
 ans fay thefe facred Rites were introduc'd, thro* 
 many other Parts, into their Ifland. Something 
 like thefe Myfteries, I have obferv'd among 
 the Thracian and Pasonian Women, when they 
 facrifice to Diana the Royal. For they ne- 
 ver celebrate thofe Ceremonies without ufing 
 the Straw of Wheat, as I myfelf have feen. 
 Thefe Hyperborean Virgins died in De!os 9 
 and their Memory is honour*d by the Delian 
 Maids and young Men in this Manner. The 
 Maids cut ofT a Lock of their Hair before Mar- 
 riage ; which they wind about a Diftaff, and 
 
 dedicate
 
 362 HERODOTUS. Book IV. 
 
 dedicate upon the Sepulchre of the Virgins, 
 built within the Temple of Diana on the left 
 Hand of the Entrance, and cover'd by an O- 
 live-tree. The young Men twift their Hair 
 about a Tuft of Grafs, and confecrate it on the 
 fame Monument : Such Veneration is paid to 
 thefe Virgins by the Inhabitants of Delos. They 
 likewife fay, that Argis and Opis two other 
 Hyperborean Virgins landed at Delos in the 
 fame Age, before Hyper ocbe and Laodice : That 
 thefe laft came only to make an Acknowledg- 
 ment to Lucina for a fpeedy Delivery ; but 
 that Argis and Opis arriv'd with the Gods, and 
 were honour'd by the Delians with great So- 
 lemnities -, for the Women aflembling together 
 fing a Hymn to their Praife compos'd by Olen 
 the Lycian, which the lonians and Iflanders af- 
 terwards learnt to perform in the fame Manner : 
 That the Names of Argis and Opts are frequently 
 repeated in the Hymn, and that this Lycian was 
 the Author of other ancient Compofitions which 
 are fung in Delos : That the Ames of the Sacrifi- 
 ces burnt on the Altar are thrown upon their 
 Sepulchre, which ftands behind the Temple of 
 Diana, facing to the Eaft, and adjoyning to the 
 Refectory of the Ceians. And this I think fuf- 
 ficient to fay concerning the Hyperboreans. For 
 I mail not mention the Fable of Abaris, who, 
 they fay, was of that Country, and, without 
 eating, carried an Arrow thro* all the Parts of 
 the World. Yet if there be any Hyperboreans, 
 lying fo far to the Northward, we may as well 
 prefume there are other Hyperauftralian People 
 inhabiting to the Southward. And here I cannot 
 forbear Laughter, when I confider how many 
 ^tfen have defcrib'd the Circumference of the 
 
 Earth
 
 MELPOMENE. 363 
 
 Earth without any kind of Judgment , pretend- 
 ing that the Ocean furrounds the whole ; that 
 the Earth is round as a Ball j and that Europe 
 is equal in Extent to Afia. I (hall therefore 
 briefly difcover the Dimenfions of each Part, 
 and give a juft Defcription of their Form. The 
 Countries inhabited by the Perfians, and extend- 
 ing Southward, are bounded by the Red Sea ; 
 to the Northward they have the Medes ; then 
 the Sapirians, and beyond thefe the Colchi- 
 ans, whofe Country reaches to the North Sea, 
 into which the River Phafis runs. Thefe four 
 Nations poflefs whatever lies between thofe 
 Seas. To the Weft ward, two Traces of Land 
 lye extended along the Shore, which I mall de- 
 fcribe. One of thefe, beginning at the River 
 Phafis^ defcends Northward to the Sea by the 
 Way of Pontus and the Hellefpont, down to the 
 Trojan Sig<eum -, and is extended to the South- 
 ward from the Gulph of Mariandynia^ which 
 borders upon Phfcnicia^ to the Promontory of 
 Triopis. This Region is inhabited by thirty 
 feveral Nations. The other begins among the 
 Perfians and reaches to the Red Sea -, compre- 
 hending likewife AJJyria, and terminating in the 
 Gulph of Arabia : Which could not have been, 
 if Darius had not introduc'd the Nile by Ca- 
 nals into that Sea. The Countries that lye be- 
 tween the Perfians and Phoenicians are fpacious 
 and of great Extent. From Phoenicia the fame 
 Coaft ftretches along the Sea by the PaUfiine 
 Syria and JEgypt ; terminates there, and cfcn- 
 tains only three Nations. Thefe Regions are 
 fituate in Afia^ from Per/fa to the Weftward ; 
 and thofe that lye beyond the Perfians, Medes, Sa- 
 pirians and Colchians, are bounded on the Eaft 
 
 bv
 
 364 HERODOTUS. Book IV. 
 
 by the Red Sea and on the North by the Caf- 
 $ian, and the River Arapes, which flows to- 
 wards the Rifing Sun. /All AJia is inhabited 
 even to India : But beyond India whatever lies 
 to the Eaftward, is Defart, or utterly unknown. 
 Such, and fo great is Afia. Libya is in ano- 
 ther Region, and begins where Mgypt termi- 
 nates. In this Part the Country is narrow ; and 
 no more than a hundred thoufand Rod, or one 
 thoufand Stades, are computed from the M- 
 gyptian to the Red Sea. Beyond thefe Streights, 
 the Coaft opens, and becoming vaftly fpacious 
 is call'd Libya. I admire therefore as thofe 
 who have made the Divifion and Separation 
 of Europe, Libya, and Afia ; becaufe the Difpro- 
 portion is great. For tho' Europe exceed the 
 other in Length ; yet in Breadth it is not com- 
 parable to either. Libya is furrounded by the 
 Sea, except in that Part which borders upon 
 Afia : And this Difcovery was firft made by Ne- 
 cus King of Mgypt ; who after he had deiift- 
 ed from opening the Channel, that conveys the 
 Waters of the Nile into the Arabian Gulph, fur- 
 nim'd certain Phoenicians with Ships, in order 
 to pafs by the Columns of Hercules into the 
 Northern Sea, and then to return to Mgypt. 
 Thefe Men fet fail from the Red Sea, and en- 
 tring into the Southern Sea, went afhore in Li- 
 bya about the Time of the Autumnal Equinox, 
 and having fow'd the Land in what Part foever 
 they arriv'd, waited the Time of Harveft, and 
 wiien they had cut the Corn, put to Sea a- 
 gain. After they had fpent two Years in their 
 Voyage, they pafs'd by the Columns of Hercu- 
 les in the third ; and returning to digypt, rela- 
 ted a thing which I cannot believe, tho' per- 
 2
 
 MELPOMENE. 365 
 
 haps others may ; affirming, that as they fail'd 
 round the Coaft of Libya, they had the Sun on 
 their right Hand. And in this Manner Libya 
 was firft difcover'd. Since that Time, the Car- 
 thaginians fay, that Satafpes the Son of Teafpes 
 one of the Achaemenian Blood, was fent with 
 Orders to fail round Libya, and did not finifti 
 his Enterprize : But tir'd with the Length of 
 the Voyage, and the inhofpitable Defarts, re- 
 turn'd Home without accomplifhing this La- 
 bour , which was impos'd upon him by his Mo- 
 ther, for forcing a Virgin, who was Daughter 
 to Zopyrus the Son of Megabyfus. Xerxes had 
 condemn'd him to be impal'd for this Crime : But 
 his Mother, who was Sifter to Darius, fav'd him 
 from that Death, by afliiring the King (he would 
 inflict a greater Punimment upon her Son, 
 than he had appointed ; by enjoy ning him to 
 furround the Coaft of Libya, till he mould 
 arrive in the Gulph of Arabia. Xerxes accept- 
 ed her Propofition, and Satafpes departed into 
 JEgypt : Where, having furniih'd himfelf with 
 Ships and Men, he fet fail; and pafling by 
 the Pillars of Hercules, doubled the Libyan 
 Cape of Sylois, and fteer'd to the Southward. 
 But after he had been many Months at Sea, 
 and found many more would be neceflary to 
 finifh his Voyage, he difcontinued his Courfe, 
 and return'd to jEgypt. From thence he went 
 to Xerxes, and told him he had fail'd very 
 far, and feen a Nation of little Men cloath'd 
 in the Phoenician Habit, who upon the Ap- 
 proach of his Ships left their Cities, and fled 
 to the Mountains; that he had indeed taken 
 fome Provisions in their Country ; but had not 
 done them any other Injury. Then, to excuie 
 
 himfdf
 
 366 HERODOTUS. Book IV. 
 
 himfelf for not performing his Voyage, he al- 
 kdg'd that his Ships became immoveable, and 
 hindred him from proceeding farther. But 
 Xerxes not believing what he faid, put the for- 
 mer Sentence in Execution, and commanded 
 him to be impal'd, becaufe he had not accom- 
 plifh'd the Enterprize impofed on him : Upon 
 which the Eunuch of Satafpes hearing of his 
 Matter's Death, ran away with great Riches to 
 Samos ; where a certain Samian, whofe Name I 
 forbear to mention, defrauded him of all. 
 
 MUCH of Afia was difcover'd in the Reign 
 of Darius. For that King being defirous to 
 know in what Part the Indus, which is the 
 fecond River that produces Crocodiles, runs 
 into the Sea, fent Scylax of Caryanda with o- 
 thers of approv'd Fidelity to make the Dif- 
 covery. Accordingly they departed in divers 
 Ships from Cafpatyrus and the Territories of 
 Paffya ; fail'd down the River Eaftward to 
 the Sea, and then altering their Courfe towards 
 the Weft, arriv'd in the thirtieth Month at 
 that Place where the King of JEgypt had caufed 
 the Phoenicians I mention'd before to embark, 
 in order to furround the Coaft of Libya. After 
 this Voyage, Darius fubdued the Indians, and 
 became Mafter of that Sea. By which Means, 
 without accounting thofe Regions that are C\- 
 tuate in the Eaftern Parts, the reft of Afta is 
 known to be equal in Extent to Libya. But 
 Europe has not been fully difcovered by any 
 Man ; and we have no Account whether it be 
 bounded on the North and Eaft fides by the Sea, 
 or not : Only we know that in Length 'tis not 
 unequal to the other Parts. And I cannot com- 
 prehend with what -Reafon Men. have impos'd 
 
 three
 
 MELPOMENE. 367 
 
 three diftinft Names upon the Earth, which is 
 but one , and thofe properly the Names of Wo- 
 men ; fome limiting this arbitrary Divifion by 
 the ^Egyptian Nile, and the Colchian Phafis\ 
 and others by the River of Tanais, the Lake 
 Mtfotis, and the Cimmerian Bofpborus. Nor could 
 I ever learn by what Perfons thefe Names were 
 impos'd, and from what Original they were de- 
 riv*d. The moft prevailing Opinion among the 
 Grecians is, that Libya was fo call'd from a 
 Woman of that Name and Country ; and Afia 
 from the Wife of Prometheus. But the Lydi- 
 ans put in a Claim to the laft, and fay that Afia 
 had its Name from Afius the Son of Cotys, and 
 Grandfon to Mamus^ and not from Afia the 
 Wife of Prometheus ; alledging for a Proof of 
 their Aflertion, that they have a Tribe in Sardis 
 which goes under the Name of the Afian Tribe. 
 In Conclufion, no Man knows whether Europe 
 be furrounded by the Sea ; nor from whence 
 that Name was deriv'd. Neither are we more 
 certain who was the firft Impofer; unlefs we 
 will fay that the Tyrian Europa gave her Name 
 to that Region, which, like the reft, before her 
 Time had none. Befides, we are fure me was 
 of Afia^ and never came into thofe Parts which 
 are now call'd Europe by the Grecians ; but ar- 
 riv'd in Crete from Phoenicia^ and from thence 
 fail'd to Libya. Thus having reported the com- 
 mon Opinions, I mall fay no more concerning 
 thefe things. 
 
 ALL the Nations that border on the Euxin 
 Sea, are extremely ignorant, except the Scythi- 
 ans, againft whom Darius was preparing to make 
 War : And we have nothing to fay touching the 
 Wifdom of any of thofe People ; nor ever heard 
 
 of
 
 3 68 HERODOTUS. Book IV. 
 
 of any learned Man among them, Anacharfis and 
 other Scythians only excepted. But in Scytbia 
 one thing is obferv'd more prudently contriv'd 
 than in any other Nation we know. For who- 
 ever enters their Country, can never make his 
 Efcape ; neither are the Scythians ever to be 
 found, unlefs they are willing; becaufe they 
 have no Cities, nor inclos'd Places ; but every 
 Man has a moveable Houfe ; and fights on, 
 Horfeback, arm'd with a Bow and Arrows. 
 They have not their Subfiftence from the 
 Plow, but from the Cattle, and ufe Carts in- 
 ftead of Houfes. If thefe things were not 
 fo, they would be an eafy Conqueft, and un- 
 able to make Refiftance. The Situation of 
 their Country, which is Level, and the Fre- 
 quency of their Rivers, have greatly contri- 
 buted to thefe Advantages. For the Soil is rich 
 and well water'd , and the Rivers are almoft as 
 numerous as the Canals of ALgypt. Of thefe the 
 moft celebrated, and moft navigable from the 
 Sea, are, the Ifter, the Tyres, the Hypanis, the 
 Boryftbenes, the Panticapes, the Hypacyris, the 
 Gerrhus and the Tanats. The Ifter is the great- 
 eft of all Rivers we know, flowing with art 
 equal Stream both in Summer and Winter, and 
 defcends from the Weftward into Scytbia. This 
 River becomes fo great by the Addition of many 
 other Waters. In the firft Place, five feve- 
 ral Rivers parting thro' Scytbia, contribute to 
 fwell its Stream. The firft of thefe is by the 
 Scythians call'd Par at a, and by the Grecians Pyre- 
 ton. The other four go under the Names of 270- 
 rantus, Ararus, Naparis, and Ordiffus. The Pora- 
 ta is a confiderable River -, and running towards 
 the Eaft, flows into the Ifter. The Tiarantus is 
 
 lefs,
 
 MELPOMENE. 369 
 
 and deflects rather to the Weftward: The 
 Ararus, Naparis, and Ordiflus, pafs between 
 both, and fall likewife into the fame River. All 
 thefe are properly Scythian Rivers ; but the 
 Marts defcends from the Agathyrlians, and 
 mixes with the fame Stream. The Atlas, the 
 Auras, and the Tibefts, three great Rivers rifing 
 in the Mountains of H<emus, and defcending 
 Northward ; befides the Athres, Noes, and 
 Atarnes, which pafs thro* Thrace and the 'Thra- 
 cian Crobyzians ; and the River Cius, beginning 
 iii the Etonian and Rhodopean Hills, and flow- 
 ing thro* the mid ft of H<emus: All thefe like- 
 wife difcharge their Waters into the Ifter. In 
 like Manner the Angrus, a River of fllyria, 
 flowing towards the North, and crofting the 
 Plains of Traballis, enters into the Brongus ; and 
 both thefe, confiderable in themfelves, are re- 
 ceiv'd together by the River Ifter. And laftly, 
 from the Regions that are fituate above the Um- 
 bricians, two other Rivers, which go by the 
 Names of Carps and Alps, defcending to the 
 Northward, fall into the fame Stream. The 
 Ifter rifes in the Country of the Celtes, who, 
 with the Cynetes, inhabit the remoteft Parts of 
 Europe to the Weftward, and traverfing all the 
 European Regions, enters obliquely into the 
 Borders of Scytbia. And thus, by the Addition 
 of the Waters I have mentioned, with the Con- 
 tributions of divers other Streams, the Ifter be- 
 comes the greateft of all Rivers. But if we 
 compare the Waters of the Nile, with thofe that 
 properly belong to the Ifter, we fhall find the 
 former much fuperior in Quantity ; becaufe no 
 River or Fountain enters into the Nile, nor con- 
 tributes any thing to its Increafe. The Ifter is 
 Bb of 

 
 370 HERODOTUS. Book IV. 
 
 of equal Height in Summer and in Winter, for 
 this Reafon, as I conjecture. The Rains of 
 Winter, tho* moderate, raife the Ifter to its full 
 Height, or rather fomewhat higher than ordi- 
 nary ; and in Summer the Snows, which never 
 fail to cover the Country during the Winter- 
 Seafon, melting and running down from all 
 Parts, together with copious and frequent Rains, 
 keep the River full : And, tho' more Water 
 falls into the Ifter in Summer than in Winter, yet 
 the Sun in compenfation exhaling a great Part 
 of that Moifture, renders the Stream, in a 
 Manner, equal in both Seafons. The firft Ri- 
 ver then of Scythia is the Ifter. The fecond is 
 the tyres, which comes from the North, ifluing 
 out of a vaft Lake, and feparates Scythia from 
 Nebris. At the Mouth of this River certain 
 Grecians inhabit, who, for that Reafon, are 
 call'd Ty rites. The third is the Hypanis, de- 
 fcending likewife from a great Lake in Scythia, 
 which is defervedly nam'd the Mother of that 
 River. Great Numbers of wild Horfes, white 
 of Colour, are feen grazing about the Borders 
 of this Lake. The Chanel of the Hypanis is 
 narrow, and the Water fweet, during the Na- 
 vigation of five Days ; but then becomes horribly 
 bitter, and fo continues for four Days Voyage 
 down to the Sea. This Effect is caus'd by the 
 Bitternefs of a Spring ; fmall indeed, yet fo very 
 bitter, as to infect the Hypanis ; which never- 
 thelefs is equal to moft other Rivers in Bignefs. 
 This Spring rifes in the Borders of the Scythian 
 Hufbandmen and Alazons, and from that Part 
 of the Country is call'd by the Name of Exam- 
 p<eus ; which, in the Grecian Language, Signi- 
 fies,
 
 MELPOMENE. 371 
 
 fies, lie facred Ways. The Tyres and Hypanis 
 run near together, along the Territories of the 
 Alazons, and then feparating, leave a wide 
 Space between each Chanel. The Boryfthenes, 
 which is the fourth and greateft River of Scytbia, 
 after the Ifter, furpafles, in my Opinion, not 
 only the reft of the Scythian Rivers, but all 
 others, except the Egyptian Nile ; to which 
 none may juftly be compar'd. This noble Ri- 
 ver renders the adjoyning Lands beautiful, and 
 abounding in Pafture for the Cattle ; affords 
 great Variety of exquifite Fiih, and Water of 
 a moft pleafant Tafte. The Streams are pure 
 and limpid, tho* patting thro* a rich Soil ; and 
 the bordering Plains produce excellent Corn, 
 with Plenty of Grafs in the Places which are 
 left uncultivated. At the Mouth of this River 
 abundance of Salt is inceflantly made by the 
 Hand of Nature , and a fort of Whale is taken, 
 of great Bignefs, and without any fpinous 
 Bones; which the Scythians ufe to fait, and 
 call by the Name of Antacasus. So much of 
 the Boryfthenes is known, as may be navigated 
 in a Voyage of forty Days, from the North to 
 the Country of Gerrhus : But no Man can affirm 
 any thing certain concerning the remoter Parts, 
 thro* which this River pafles : Probably they 
 are uninhabited Defarts, down to the Regions 
 of the Scythian Hufbandmen, that lie extended 
 along the River during a Sail of ten Days, 
 The Head of the Boryfthenes, as well as that of 
 the Nile^ is unknown to me, and, I think, to 
 all other Grecians. This River, and the Hypa- 
 nis^ joyn at a little Diftance from the Sea, and 
 difcharge their Waters together. The Space that 
 lies between the two Streams, is call*d the Pro- 
 B b a montory
 
 372 HERODOTUS. Book IV. 
 
 montory of Hyppokon, in which a Temple dedi- 
 cated to Ceres is built, and beyond that Temple 
 the Boryfthenians inhabit the Country to the 
 River Hyfanis. But we have faid enough of 
 thefe. The fifth River is the Pa&tttapes, which 
 alfo defcends from the North, and out of a Lake; 
 and between this River and the Boryfthenes^ 
 the Country is inhabited by Scythian Husband- 
 men. The P an ti capes enters into Hyl<ea, and 
 pafling quite through that Region, mixes with 
 the Bcryfthenes. The Hypacaris is the fixth 
 River ; which beginning in a Lake, traverfes 
 the Country of the Scythian Herdfmen ; and 
 then clofmg the Borders of Hylxa on the right, 
 together with that Place, which is call'd the 
 Race of Achilles, rolls into the Sea at the City 
 of Carcinitis. The feventh is the Gerrhus ; 
 which, by a Country of the iame Name, is 
 feparated from the Boryfthenes, in thofe Parts 
 where this River begins to be known ; dividing 
 the Territories of the Herdfmen from thofe of 
 the Royal Scythians, and then falling into the 
 Hypacaris. The eighth River is the Tanais, ori- 
 ginally defcending from a great Lake, and enter- 
 ing into another yet greater, call'd M<eotts 9 
 which feparates the Royal Scythians and the 
 Sarmatians. The River Hygris runs into the 
 Tanais \ and all thefe celebrated Rivers ferve 
 for the Ufe and Defence of Scythia. The 
 Grafs that grows in this Country is the moft 
 bitter of any we have feen, as Experience mews 
 at the opening of the Cattle. Such are the 
 moft confiderable Advantages of the Scythians. 
 Their Cuftoms and religious Ceremonies are 
 eftablifh'd in this Manner. They wormip no 
 other Gods than thefe. In the firft Place
 
 MELPOMENE. 373 
 
 who is their principal Deity : Then Jupiter ; and 
 the Earth, which is accounted his Wife : After 
 them Apollo ; Venns^ Urania ; Hercules, and Mars. 
 All thefe are generally acknowledg'd : But thofe 
 who go under the Name of Royal Scythians, 
 facrifice likewife to Neptune. Vefta^ in the 
 Scythian Language is call'd Tahiti : Jupiter is, 
 in my Opinion, rightly nam'd Pappus : The 
 Earth Apia : Apollo Oetofyrus : The Celeftial 
 Venus Artimpafa^ and Neptune 'Thamimafades. 
 They erect no Images, Altars, or Temples, to 
 any other God, except Mars alone. Their Sa- 
 crifices are perform'd in all Temples alike, with- 
 out Variation, and in this Manner. The Ani- 
 mal is led out, and after they have tied his Fore- 
 feet together, he who facrifices (landing behind 
 him, firft takes off the Band, then ftrikes the 
 Victim, and as he falls, invokes the God they 
 wormip. This done, he throws a Halter about 
 his Neck, and {training the Cord with a Stick, 
 ftrangles him; without kindling any Fire, or 
 offering either firft Fruits or Libations. When 
 he hath perform'd this Office, and taken off the 
 Skin from the Body, he immediately applies 
 himfelf to drefs the Flefh. But becaufe the 
 Country is very ill furnifh'd with Wood, the 
 Scythians have found out this Contrivance. 
 'When they have flay'd the Victim, they ftrift 
 the Bones, and put the Flem into Pots, made 
 in Scytbia, and refembling thofe of Lesbos in 
 Form, though not altogether fo large. Then 
 making a Fire of the Bones, they boil the Flefh 
 of the Animal. If they have no Pot at Hand, 
 they throw all the Flem into the Paunch, with 
 a competent Quantity of Water, and burn the 
 Bones underneath. So this Fire being abun- 
 B b 3 dantly
 
 374 HERO DO TUS. Book IV. 
 
 dantly fufficient for the Purpofe, and the Paunch 
 eafily containing all the Meat feparated from 
 the Bones, the Ox, and all other Cattle us'd in 
 their Sacrifices, furnifh all things necefiary to 
 boil themfelves. When the Flefli is fufficiently 
 prepar'd, he that facrifices, in the firft Place, 
 makes an Offering of Part of the Meat and 
 Inteftines, which he throws out before him. 
 They make ufe of divers forts of Cattle in thefe 
 Sacrifices, but chiefly of Horfes : And this is 
 the Form of their Oblations to all the Gods 
 they worfhip, except only Mars ; who, accord- 
 ing to an ancient Cuftom, has an Altar in every 
 Diftrict, built in the following manner. A 
 great Quantity of fmall Wood, tied up in 
 Bundles, is brought together, and plac*d upon 
 three Stades of Land, covering the whole 
 Ground both in Length and Breadth ; but not 
 of a proportionable Height. The Top is qua- 
 drangular; three of the Sides perpendicular, 
 and the fourth a gradual Declivity, and eafy Ac- 
 cefs. One hundred and fifty Loads of Faggots 
 are annually brought to this Place ; becaufe many 
 are putrified by the Winter. On each of thefe 
 Heaps an old Scymeter of Iron is creeled, which 
 they call the Image of Mars, and honour with 
 yearly Sacrifices of Horfes and other Cattle, in 
 greater Abundance than they offer to the reft 
 of their Gods. They likewife facrifice to this 
 Deity every hundredth Man of the Prifoners 
 they take from their Enemies : But in a diffe- 
 rent Manner from the Offerings they make of 
 other Animals. For after they have pour'd a 
 Libation of Wine on the Head of the Prifoner, 
 they cut his Throat over a Bowl, and then 
 ascending the Heap of Faggpts, wafh the Sword 
 I with
 
 MELPOMENE. 375 
 
 with his Blood. This they do at the Top of the 
 Altar : And below, after they have kill'd the 
 Man on the facred Place, they cut off his right 
 Arm by the Shoulder ; which they throw into 
 the Air, and leave on the Ground where it falls. 
 Thus the Body lies in one Part, and the Arm in 
 another. When they have perform'd thefe and 
 other Ceremonies, they depart. And fuch are 
 the Sacrifices inftituted by the Scythians. They 
 make no Ufe of Swine, nor will fuffer any to be 
 kept in their Country. 
 
 THE Military Affairs of Scytbia are order*d in 
 this Manner. Every Scythian drinks the Blood 
 of the nrft Prifoner he takes, and prefents the 
 King with the Heads of the Enemies he has 
 kill'd in Fight. For if he brings a Head, he 
 is intituled to a Share of the Booty, otherwife 
 not. They flay thefe Heads by cutting a Cir- 
 cle round the Neck clofe under the Ears ; and 
 ftripping off the Skin, as they would do that 
 of an Ox : Then they foften the Skin with 
 their Hands; and thefe Skins thus prepaid 
 ierve inftead of Napkins, hanging on the 
 Bridles of their Horfes when they ride. He 
 who has the greater Number of thefe, thinks 
 beft of himfelf, and is accounted the moft va- 
 liant Man. Many Scythians clothe themfelves 
 with the Skins of Men few'd together, as others 
 with the Skins of Beafts ; and frequently ftrip- 
 ping the right Hands of the Enemies they 
 kave kill'd, extend thofe Skins with their 
 Nails, and ufe them for Coverings to their 
 Quivers. For the Skin of a Man is thick, and 
 of a brighter white, than that of any other Ani- 
 mal. Many take off the Skins of Men intire, 
 and carry them about on Horfeback ftretch'd out 
 B b 4 upon
 
 376 HERODOTUS. Eodk IV. 
 
 upon a Board. Thefe Ufages are receiv*d among 
 the Scythians. Yet they are not accuftom'd 
 to ufe all Heads alike , for thofe of their great- 
 eft Enemies are treated in the following Man- 
 ner. They cut off the whole Face from the 
 Eye-brows downwards, and having cleans'd the 
 reft, if they are poor, they content themfelves 
 to cover the Skull with Leather : But the Rich, 
 befides this Covering of Leather, guild the in- 
 fide with Gold ; and thefe ferve inftead of Cups 
 for their Drink. They do the fame to their 
 familiar Friends ; if upon any difpute they 
 conquer them in the Prefence of the King. 
 When they entertain any Stranger of Confide- 
 ration, they mew him thefe Heads, and rela- 
 ting the injurious Ufage they receiv'd from 
 their Friends, together with the Victory they 
 obtain'd, value themfelves much upon thefe 
 Actions. Every Provincial Governour provides 
 a Veflel of Wine once a Year in his own Pro- 
 vince, to treat all thofe Scythians who have 
 kill'd Enemies : Whilft thofe who have not 
 perform'd any fuch Exploit, fit at a Diftance 
 with mame, and are not permitted to tafte the 
 Liquor; which is accounted a great Difgrace: 
 But they who have kill'd many Men, drink 
 out of two Cups, which they bring with them. 
 The Scythians abound in Prophets, who di- 
 vine by Rods of Willow in the following Man- 
 ner. They collect great Bundles of thefe Twigs ; 
 which they lay down, and open on the Ground. 
 Then feparating the whole Parcel one from 
 the other, they begin to utter their Predicti- 
 ons, and whilft they are yet fpeaking, gather 
 up the Rods again, and tye them in Faggots 
 as before. This Way of Divination is origi- 
 nally
 
 MELPOMENE. 377 
 
 nally Scythian ; but the Enarians and Andro- 
 gynes pretend that Venus gave them the Power 
 of predicting by the Bark of a Lime-tree, which 
 they fplit in three Places ; and tearing the 
 Parts afunder with their Fingers, pronounce 
 the Oracle. When the King of Scytbia is fick, 
 he fends for three of the moft famous of thefe 
 Prophets ; and they generally tell him, that 
 fome Scythian, whom they name, has per- 
 jur'd himfelf, in fwearing falfly by the Roy- 
 al Throne. For that is the Oath which the 
 Scythians fwear, when they would affirm a 
 thing with the greateft Solemnity. The Per- 
 fon accus'd is prefentiy feiz'd, and brought into 
 the King's Prefence ; where the Prophets charge 
 him with Perjury, and pretend to have dif- 
 cover'd by their Art, that he has fworn falfly 
 by the Throne, and fo brought this Diftem- 
 per upon the King. If he deny the Fact, and 
 complain of the Injury, the King fends for a 
 double Number of Prophets : And in Cafe they 
 confirm the former Judgment after they have 
 perform'd the ufual Ceremonies, the Man im- 
 mediately lofes his Head, and the firft three 
 divide his Riches among themfelves. But if 
 they judge him innocent, more and more of thefe 
 Diviners are call'd ; and if he is at laft acquitted 
 by a Plurality of Voices, thofe who firft accus'd 
 him are condemn'd to dye ; and the Sentence is 
 executed in this Manner. When they have laid 
 a great Quantity of fmall Wood upon a co- 
 ver'd Cart drawn by Oxen, they tye the Pro- 
 phets Hand and Foot , ftop their Mouths, and 
 place them clofe together on the midft of the 
 Faggots: Then fetting fire to the Pile, and 
 terrifying the Oxen with loud Exclamations, 
 
 they
 
 3 ?8 HERODOTUS. Book IV. 
 
 they withdraw. Many of thefe Beafts are con- 
 fum'd with the Diviners, and many efcape half 
 burnt, by running away after the Axle-tree falls 
 afunder. In this Manner, and fometimes for 
 other Reafons, they burn thefe Men, and call 
 them falfe Prophets. The King never fpares 
 the Sons of thofe he puts to Death ; but de- 
 ftroying all the Males, faves only the Female 
 Children. 
 
 THE Scythians in their Alliances and Con- 
 tracts ufe the following Ceremonies with all 
 Men. They pour Wine into a large Earthen 
 Veflel, and mingle ,it with Blood taken from 
 thofe who are to fwear, by making a flight 
 Wound in their Fleih with a Knife or Sword. 
 When they have done this, they dip a Scymeter, 
 fome Arrows, a Bill, and a Javelin in the Veflel ; 
 and after many Imprecations, the Perfons ap- 
 pointed to conclude the Agreement, with the 
 moft confiderable Men there Prefent, drink off 
 the Liquor. The Sepulchres of the Kings are 
 in the Country of the Gerrhians, where the 
 Boryfthenes is firft known to be navigable. When 
 their King dies, they dig a great Hole in the 
 Ground, of a quadrangular Form, and having re- 
 ceiv'd the Body covered with Wax, they open 
 and cleanfe the Belly, filling the Space with 
 bruis'd Cyprefs, Incenfe, Seeds of Parfley, and 
 Anis : And after they have fow*d up the Belly 
 again, they carry the Body in a Chariot to a- 
 nother Province ; where, thofe who receive it - 
 imitate the Royal Scythians in the following 
 Cuftom. They cut off Part of one Ear ; fliave 
 their Heads ; wound themfelves on the Arms, 
 Forehead, and Nofe j and pierce the left Hand 
 with an Arrow, Having done thus, they ac- 
 company
 
 MELPOMENE. 379 
 
 company the Chariot to another Diftrict; and 
 this Manner is obferv'd in every Province ; till 
 having carried the dead Body of the King thro* all 
 his Dominions, they bury him in the Country of 
 the Gerrhians, who inhabit the remoteft Parts of 
 the Kingdom. Here they lay him in the Sepul- 
 chre, upon a Bed encompafs'd on all fides with 
 Spears ; which they cover with Timber, and 
 fpread a Canopy over the whole Monument. In 
 the Spaces that remain vacant, they place one of 
 the King's Concubines ftrangled ; with a Cup- 
 bearer ; a Cook ; a Groom -, a Waiter ; a 
 MefTenger ; certain Horfes ; and fome of all 
 things neceflary. To thefe they add Cups of 
 Gold ; becaufe Silver and Brafs are not ufed 
 among them. This done, they throw up the 
 Earth with great Diligence, and endeavour to 
 raife the Mound as high as poffibly they can. 
 After a Year is expired, they perform thefe 
 things farther. They chufe fuch Servants as 
 they judge moft ufeful, out of the King's 
 Houfhold ; which confifts wholly of native 
 Scythians. For the King takes thofe that pleafe 
 him beft, and is never ferv'd by Men bought 
 with Money. Thefe Officers being fifty in 
 Number, they ftrangle; and with them fif- 
 ty beautiful Horfes ; and after they have emp- 
 tied and cleans'd their Bellies, they fill them 
 with Straw, and fow them up again. Then 
 they lay two Planks of a femicircular Form 
 upon four Pieces of Timber, plac'd at a conve- 
 nient Diftance, with the half Circle upwards ; 
 and when they have erected a fuflkient Num- 
 ber of thefe Machines, they fet the Horfes upon 
 them, fpitted with a ftrong Pole quite thro* the 
 Body to the Neck : And thus one Semicircle 
 
 fupports
 
 3 8o HERODOTUS. Book IV. 
 
 iiipports the Shoulders of the Horfe, the other 
 his Flank, and his Legs are fufpended in the 
 Air. After this they bridle the Horfes, and 
 hanging the Reins at full Length upon Pofts e- 
 rected to that End, mount one of the fifty young 
 Men they have ftrangled, upon each Horfe, 
 and fix him in the Seat, by driving a ftraight 
 Stick upwards from the End of the back Bone 
 to his Head, and fattening the loweft Part of 
 that Stick in an Aperture of the Beam that 
 fpits the Horfes. Then placing thefe Horfe- 
 men quite round the Monument, they all de- 
 part. And this is the Manner of the King's 
 Funeral. But when any other Scythian dies, 
 his neareft Relations carry him about in a Cha- 
 riot among his Friends ; who receive and en- 
 tertain the whole Company, in their Turn, 
 fetting the fame things before the dead Man as 
 before the reft. In this Manner all private 
 Men are carried about forty Days, before they 
 are buried : And thofe who have aflifted at 
 thefe Funerals, purify themfelves thus. When 
 they have cleans'd and wafh'd their Heads, they 
 fet up three Pieces of Timber leaning to each 
 other, and laying a good Number of Woolen - 
 Bags clofe together, throw burning Stones in- 
 to a hollow Space left in the midft of the Wood 
 and Bags. In this Country a fort of Hemp 
 grows, very like to Flax ; only longer and thick- 
 er ; and much more excellent than ours, whe- 
 ther fow'd or produc'd by Nature. The Thra- 
 cians cloath themfelves with Garments made of 
 this Hemp; fo well refembling Flax, that a 
 Man muft have great Experience in thofe Ma- 
 terials to diftinguifh one from the other : And he 
 who had never feen this Hemp, would think 
 
 their
 
 MELPOMENE. 381 
 
 their Cloaths were wrought out of Flax. The 
 Scythians put the Seeds of this Hemp under the 
 Bags, upon the burning Stones , and immedi- 
 ately a more agreeable Vapour is emitted than 
 from the Incenfe burnt in Greece. The Com- 
 pany extremely tranfported with the Scent, howl 
 aloud -, and this Manner of Purification ferves 
 inftead of warning: For they never bath their 
 Bodies in Water. But their Wives grinding the 
 Wood of Cyprefs, Cedar, and Incenfe upon 
 a rough Stone, and infufing the Powder in Wa- 
 ter, compound a thick Subftance, which they 
 fpread over all the Parts of the Body and Face. 
 This Compofition is taken off the next Day, 
 and renders the Women fweet, mining, and 
 clean. They ftudioufly avoid the Ufe of any 
 other Cuftoms than their own ; not admit- 
 ting even thofe of their Scythian Neighbours ; 
 and are particularly averfe to thofe of the 
 Grecians, as the Examples of Anacharfis, and 
 afterwards of Styles, fufficiently demonftrate. 
 For Anacbarjis, after he had view'd many Coun- 
 tries, and acquired great Wifdom failing thro* the 
 Htllefpont in his Return to Scytbia, and landing 
 at Cyzicus, found the Inhabitants of that Place 
 celebrating a Feftival to the Mother of the Gods 
 with great Solemnity ; and made a Vow to 
 the Goddefs, that if he return'd in Health and 
 Safety to his own Country, he would facrifice 
 in the fame Manner he found practis'd by the 
 Cyzicenians, and introduce the nocturnal Cere- 
 monies. Accordingly when he arriv'd in Scy- 
 tbia, he went privately into the Country of Hy- 
 l<ea, fituate near the Race of Achilles, and aboun- 
 ding in Trees of all kinds. There he fully per- 
 form'd all the Rites of the Goddefs j holding 
 
 a
 
 382 HERODOTUS. Book IV. 
 
 a Timbal in his Hand before the Images he had 
 hung in the Trees. But a certain Scythian obferv- 
 ing what he was doing, difcover'd the whole 
 Matter to King Saulius ; who coming to the 
 Place, and feeing Anacharfis thus employ'd, drew 
 his Bow and kill'd him on the Spot. Yet if any 
 Man queftion the Scythians concerning Ana- 
 charfis^ they prefently fay they know nothing of 
 him ; becaufe he travell'd into Greece, and af- 
 feded foreign Cuftoms. Neverthelefs I have 
 been inform'd by Timnes the Guardian of Spar- 
 gapyfbes, that Anacharfis was Uncle to Indathyr- 
 fus King of Scythia Son to Gnurus and Grand- 
 fon of Lycus the Son of Spargapythes : And if 
 he was of that Family, he was kill'd by his own 
 Coufin German: For Indathyrfus was the Son 
 of Saulius^ and Saulius kill'd Anacharfis. But I 
 had a different Account from the Peloponnefians ; 
 who faid, that Anacharfis was fent abroad by 
 the King of Scytbia ; that he became a Dilci- 
 ple of the Grecians ; and at his Return told 
 the King, that all the Grecians were employ'd 
 in acquiring Knowledge, except the Lacedae- 
 monians, who only ftudied how to give and 
 receive with Prudence: But this is a Fidi- 
 on contriv'd in Greece , and Anacharfis was in- 
 deed kill'd in the Manner I have mention'd ; 
 becaufe he affeded foreign Cuftoms, and had 
 convers'd with the Grecians. Many Years af- 
 ter this Event, Scyles the Son of Aripithes King 
 of Scythia^ met with the like Fate. Aripithes 
 was the Father of many other Children: But 
 he had Scyles by an Iftrian, not a Scythian Wo^ 
 man. His Mother inftruded him in the Gre- 
 cian Language and Letters ; and when, after 
 fome Time Aripithes was kill'd by the Fraud of 
 
 Sparga-
 
 MELPOMENE. 383 
 
 Spargapythes King of the Agathyrfians, Scyles 
 took Pofiefiioii of the Kingdom, and married 
 Qp<ea his Father's Wife, a Native of Scythia^ 
 and Mother of Oricus, another Son of Aripithes. 
 But tho* Scyles was King of the Scythians, he 
 diflik'd the Cuftoms of Scytbia , and much ra- 
 ther inclining to the Grecian Manners, in which 
 he had been educated from his Infancy, he con- 
 triv'd this Invention. Leading the Scythian Ar- 
 my to the City of the Boryfthenians, which they 
 fay is a Colony of the Milefians, and arriving be- 
 fore the Place, he left his Scythians without 
 the Walls, and entring alone, caus'd the Gates 
 to be immediately fhut ; put off his Scythian 
 Garment ; and having cloath'd himfelf in the 
 Grecian Habit, walk'd in Publick without 
 Guards, or other Attendants. And that no Scy- 
 thian might fee him drefs'd in this Manner, he 
 plac'd Sentinels at every Gate ; conforming 
 nimfelf to the Grecian Cuftoms in the Wor- 
 fhip of the Gods, no lefs than in all other 
 things, and after he had ftaid a Month or more 
 in this Place, he refum'd the Scythian Habit, 
 and departed. This Practice he frequently re- 
 peated ; built a Palace in the City and married 
 a Wife, who was a Native of the Place. But 
 the fatal Decree was pafs'd, and his ill Fortune 
 fell upon him on this Occafion. He was very 
 defirous to be initiated in the Rites of Bacchus ; 
 and when all things were prepared for the Ce- 
 remony of his Initiation, a great Prodigy hap- 
 pen'd. The outward Court of the magnificent 
 Palace, which, I have faid, he built in the Ca- 
 pital of the Boryfthenians, was adorn'd quite 
 round with Images of white Marble, reprefent- 
 'ing Sphynxes and Griffins. In this Place the 
 
 Thunder
 
 384 HERODOTUS. Book IV. 
 
 Thunder of Jupiter fell, and demolim'd them all. 
 Yet Scyles ftill perfifted in his Refolution, and 
 accompliih'd his Initiation. Now becaufe the 
 Scythians reproach the Grecians with thefe Bac- 
 chanals j and fay, that to imagine a God dri- 
 ving Men into the moft violent Tranfports of 
 Madnefs, is not agreeable to right Reafon ; a 
 certain Boryfthenian, whilft the Ceremonies 
 of Initiation were perform'd, went out, and 
 difcover'd the Thing to the Scythian Army in 
 thefe Words. " You Scythians, faid he, laugh 
 " at us, becaufe we celebrate Bacchanals, and 
 " are pofTefs'd by the God : But now the fame 
 " Deity has taken Pofleflion of your King. 
 " For he alfo celebrates the Rites of Bacchus^ 
 tc full of a divine Fury : And if you will not 
 " believe me, follow, and I will demonftrate 
 " the Fad ". The principal of the Scythians 
 accompanied him accordingly ; and being pri- 
 vately introduc'd by the Boryfthenian into one 
 of the Towers, they perceiv'd Scyles with the 
 Chorus performing the Bacchanalian Rites. 
 They faw thefe Things with great Grief, and 
 going back to the Camp, acquainted all the Ar- 
 my with what they had feen. After fome Time, 
 when Scyles was return'd Home, the Scythians 
 revolted from him, and elected his Brother Offa- 
 mafades^ born of the Daughter of Tyres : 
 "Which Scyles hearing, and underftanding the 
 Reafon of their Proceeding, he fled to Thrace. 
 Ottamafades being inform'd of his Flight, march- 
 ed with an Army againft ^Thrace, and arriving 
 on the Banks of the IJter, found the Forces of 
 the Thracians advancing to meet him. But as 
 both Sides were preparing for a Battle, Sitalces 
 the Thracian fent a Herald to Q&amajades with 
 i this
 
 MELPOMENE. 383 
 
 this Meflage ; " Why mould we try the For- 
 e tune of War? Them art the Son of my 
 <e Sifter, and haft my Brother with thee. Sur- 
 " render my Brother to me, . and I will deliver 
 *' Scyles into thy Hands ; and fo neither of us 
 " {hall run the Hazard of a Defeat." For the 
 Brother of Sitakes having formerly fled from, 
 him* Was now in the Power of Offamafades ; 
 ;who accepting the Condition, furrendred his 
 Uncle to Sitalces^ and received his Brother 
 Scyles in exchange. Sitalces^ upon the Delivery 
 of his Brother, decamp'd with his Army ; and 
 Oftamafades took off the Head of Scyles the 
 fame Day. Thus the Scythians preferve their 
 own Cuftoms ; and thus they punifh thofe who 
 introduce foreign Manners. 
 
 THE Difcourfes I heard concerning the" 
 Numbers of the Scythians were fo various^ that 
 I could not obtain any certain Information on 
 that Subject ; fome pretending they were ex- 
 ceedingly numerous, and others faying they 
 were very Deficient of People. I mall there- 
 fore only relate what I have feen. The Diftrict 
 of Examp<eus, which I lately mention'd when I 
 fpoke of the Spring that infects the Waters of 
 the HypaniS) is fituate between the Boryfthenes 
 and that River. In this Place Jies a Bowl of 
 Brafs, fix times bigger than that which was 
 plac'd by Paufanias, the Son of Cleombrotus, at 
 the Mouth of the Euxin Sea. They who have 
 not been Eye-witnefles, may be here inform'dj 
 that the Scythian Vetfel is fix Inches thick* 
 and large enough to contain full fix hundred 
 Amphoras. The Inhabitants fay it was wrought 
 up out of the Points of Arrows, by the Order 
 of their King Ariantes ; who being defirous to 
 C c know
 
 386 HERODOTUS. Book IV. 
 
 know the Number of the Scythians, command- 
 ed every one to bring him the Point of an Ar- 
 row on Pain of Death, by which Means fo 
 great a Number was brought together, that re- 
 folving to leave a Monument of the Thing, he 
 caus'd the Bowl of Brafs to be made, and dedi- 
 cated in Ex ampins. This I heard concerning 
 the Numbers of the Scythians. Their Country 
 has nothing wonderful except the Rivers, which 
 are very many, and very great. But whatever 
 may feem worthy of Obfervation, befides the 
 Rivers, and Extent of the Plains, mall not be 
 omitted. They mew the Print of the Foot of 
 Hercules, upon a Stone lying by the River Tyres ^ 
 fliap'd like the Step of a Man, and full two 
 Cubits in Length. But I muft now return to 
 the Subject I principally defign'd. 
 
 WHILST Darius was making Preparations 
 againft the Scythians, fending Meflengers to 
 fome Places, with Orders to raife Land-Forces, 
 and commanding others to provide a Fleet, and 
 to lay a Bridge over the Thracian Bofyborus ; 
 Artabanus the Son of Hyftajpes, and Brother of 
 Darius, endeavour'd by all poflible Means to dif- 
 fuade him from his intended Enterprize ; repre- 
 fenting the Poverty of Scythia, and giving him 
 moft ufeful Counfel ; but finding he could not 
 prevail, forbore to prefs him any farther. When 
 all things were ready, and Darius was marching 
 from Sufa with his Forces, Oeobazus, a Perfian, 
 who had three Sons in his Army, came and de- 
 iir'd him that one of the three might be left at 
 Home. The King fpoke kindly to him ; told 
 him the Favour he alk'd was fmall, and that he 
 would leave him all his Sons: Which Anfwer 
 Qeobazus receiv'd with great Joy 5 becaufe he 
 
 hop'd
 
 MELPOMENE. 387 
 
 hop'd his Sons would have their Difmiflion from 
 the Army. But Darius commanded the Officers 
 appointed for fuch Purpofes, to put all the Sons 
 of Oeobazus to Death, and in that Condition 
 left them to their Father. Then marching 
 with his Army from Sufa, he advanc'd to Chal- 
 cedon upon the Bofphorus^ where a Bridge was 
 laid ready for his PafTage ; and going on board 
 a Ship, fail'd to the Cyanean I/lands , which, 
 the Grecians fay, were formerly unfix'd. There, 
 fitting in the Temple, he took a View of the 
 Euxin Sea : A Profpect truly beautiful. This 
 Sea, of all others the moft admirable, is eleven 
 thoufand one hundred Stades in Length ; and, 
 in the widefl Part, three thoufand two hundred 
 in Breadth. The Mouth is four Stades over ; 
 and the Length of the Streights, which is calPd 
 the Bofphorus^ where the Bridge of Communi- 
 cation was laid, contains about an hundred and 
 twenty Stades, and extends to the Propontis. 
 The Propontis is five hundred Stades in Breadth, 
 one thoufand four hundred in Length, and flows 
 into the Helhfpont ; which being feven Stades 
 over in the narrowed Place, and extending to 
 four hundred Stades in Length, falls into the 
 wide JEg<ean : And this is the Meafure of thofe 
 Seas. A Ship commonly advances about feventy 
 thoufand Rod in a long Day, and about fixty 
 thbufand in the Night. So that a Voyage from 
 the Mouth of the Euxin Sea to the River Pba/is> 
 which is the utmoft Point, may be perform'd in 
 nine Days and eight Nights, comprehending the 
 Meafure of a hundred and ten thoufand and one 
 hundred Rod, or eleven thoufand and one 
 hundred Stades. From the Coaft of Scythia to 
 lituate 'on the. River Tbfrmodony 
 C c 2 which
 
 3 88 HERODOTUS. Book IV. 
 
 which is the broadeft Part of the Euxin Sea, 
 the Paflage is made in three Days and two 
 Nights ; being three hundred and three thoufand 
 Rod, or three thoufand and three hundred 
 Stades over. Thefe are the Dimenfions of the 
 Euxin, the Bofphorus, and the Hellefpont, which 
 are fituate as I have related. The Euxin re- 
 ceives the Waters of a Lake call'd M<eotis, not 
 much inferior, in Circumference, to that Sea, 
 and ufually nam'd the Mother of the. Euxin. 
 When Darius had furvey'd the Situation of this 
 Sea, he returned to the Bridge, which was 
 contriv'd by Mandrocks, a Samian Architect. 
 He likewife view'd the Bofpborus, and erected 
 two Columns of white Stone on the Shore, 
 with an Infcription in the Aflyrian Tongue on 
 the one, and another in the Grecian Language 
 on the other ; mentioning the feveral Nations 
 he had in his Army ; which was composed of 
 Men drawn out of every Country of* his Em- 
 pire, and amounted to the Number of feven 
 hundred thoufand Horfe and Foot ; bendes fix 
 hundred Sail of Ships. In fucceeding Times 
 thefe Pillars were remov'd, by the Byzantians* 
 into their City, and us'd in building an Altar 
 to the Orthofjan Diana , except one Stone, full 
 of Aflyrian Letters, which they left in a 
 Temple dedicated to Bacchus^ in Byzantium. 
 The Place where Darius caus'd the Bridge to be 
 laid over the Bofpborus, was, as I conjecture, 
 in the middle of the way between Byzantium 
 and the Temple which ftands at the Mouth 
 of that Sea. The King was fo pJeas'd with 
 the Performance, that he rewarded the Sa- 
 mian Architect Mandrocles, with more than ten 
 times the Value of the Work, &n&Mandrocks in 
 * Gratitude
 
 MELPOMENE. 389 
 
 Gratitude having painted the Conjunction of the 
 two Shores, with Darius fitting on a Throne, 
 and his Army parting over the Bridge, dedicated 
 the Picture in the Temple of Juno, under this 
 Infcription, 
 
 To Juno facred, by Mandrocles plac'd, 
 This Piece defcribes the artful Bridge he lafd 
 Over the Thracian Bofphorus. He joyn'd 
 The fertil Afia to EuropaV Shore, 
 Pleas'd the great King Darius, and acquired 
 Fame to his Country, to himfelf a Crown. 
 
 This Monument ferv'd to preferve the Memory 
 of the Perfon who contriv'd the Bridge. And 
 Darius, after he had rewarded Mandrocles, or- 
 der'd his Army to pafs into Europe ; commanding 
 the lonians to fail by the Euxin Sea to the * Ifter \ 
 there to wait his Arrival, and lay a Bridge over 
 that River: For his naval Forces confifted of 
 lonians, ^olians, and Hellefponts. They pafs'd 
 accordingly by the Cyanean I/lands, fhaping their 
 Courfe directly to the Ifter, and after they had 
 fail'd up the River during two Days, arriving at 
 that Neck where the Stream divides into feve- 
 ral Branches, they form*d a Bridge. In the mean 
 Time Darius had pafs'd over the Bofphorus, and 
 marching thro* Thrace, arriv'd at the Head of the 
 River Tear us, and encamp'd there with his Army 
 three Days. The Inhabitants of the Country 
 fay, this River is more excellent than any other 
 for the Cure of various Diftempers ; and elpeci- 
 ally of Ulcers either in Men or Horfes. The 
 Springs of the Tearus are thirty eight i and 
 C c 3 tho 1
 
 390 HERODOTUS. BooklV. 
 
 tho* fome of thefe are hot, and others cold ; yet 
 all defcend from the fame Rock. They are at 
 an equal Diftance from Herxopolis near Perintbus, 
 and Apollonia on the Euxin Sea ; two Days Jour- 
 ney from each. The Teams runs into the Con- 
 tadefdus ; the Contadefdus into the Agriane ; the 
 Agriam into the Hebrus, and the Hebrus into the 
 Sea by the City of ALnus. Darius incamping at 
 this River, was fo pleas'd, that he erected a Pillar 
 with the following Infcription ; THE SPRINGS 
 
 OF THETEARUS YIELD THE BEST ANDMOST 
 
 BEAUTIFUL WATER OF ALL RivERsiDART- 
 US THE SON OF HTSTASPES, KING OF THE 
 PERSIANS AND OF ALL THE CONTINENT, 
 
 THE BEST AND MOST EXCELLENT OF MEN, 
 LEADING AN ARMY AGAINST THESCYTHI- 
 
 ANS, ARRIV'D HERE. When he had done this, 
 he decamp'd, and advanc'd to another River call'd 
 Artifcus *, which pafles thro* the Country of 
 the Odryfians ; where, at his Arrival he mark'd 
 out a certain Ground, commanding every Man 
 of the Army to bring a Stone thither as he 
 Ihould pafs by the Place ; and when they 
 had executed his Order, he mov'd again, leav- 
 ing vaft Heaps of Stones behind him. But be- 
 fore he reach'd the Ifter^ he fubdued the Getes, 
 who think themfelves immortal. For the 
 Thracians of Salmydeffus, together with the Cyr- 
 mians and Mypfaeans, who inhabit above the 
 Cities of Apollonia and Mefambria, fubmitted to 
 Darius without Refiftance. But the Getes op- 
 pos'd him thro* Ignorance', and tho' they are 
 the moft valiant and honeft of all the Thra- 
 cians, were eafily conquer'd, and reduc'd to 
 Servitude. They pretend to Immortality, in 
 
 this
 
 MELPOMENE. 391 
 
 this Manner. They imagine that the Man who 
 ceafes to live, is not dead, but goes to Zamolxis, 
 accounted by fome among them to be the fame 
 with Gebelizis. Every fifth Year they elect, a 
 Perfon by Lot, and fend him to Zamolxis with 
 Orders to let him know what they want. This 
 Meflenger they difpatch thus. Certain Perfons 
 are appointed to hold three Javelins erected ; 
 whilft others taking the Man they are to fend, 
 by the Hands and Feet, throw him up into 
 the Air -, that he may fall down upon the Points. 
 If he dyes in their Prefence, they think the 
 God propitious : If not, they load him with 
 Reproaches, and affirming he is an ill Man 
 fend another, whom they furnim with Inftruc- 
 tions while he is yet alive. Thefe Thracians, 
 in Time of Thunder and Lightning, let fly 
 their Arrows againft the Heavens, and threaten 
 their God , whom they think the only Deity. 
 But I am inform*d by the Grecians who inha- 
 bit about the Hellespont and Euxin Seas, that 
 this Zamolxis was a Man, and liv'd at Samos 
 in the Service of Pythagoras the Son of Mnefar- 
 chus : That having procur'd his Liberty, and 
 acquir'd great Riches, he return'd to his own 
 Country ; and finding the Thracians ignorant 
 and miferable, he, who had learnt the Ionian 
 Way of Living, and Manners more polite 
 than thofe of Thrace, by converfmg with Gre- 
 cians, and with Pythagoras, a Sophiil of ho 
 fmall Efteem in Greece, built a Hall for the 
 Entertainment of the principal Perfons of the 
 Country, and taught them at their Feafts, that 
 neither he, nor any of thofe prefent, or their 
 Pofterity, mould ever dye ; but go into a Place, 
 where they fhould live eternally in all Manner 
 Cc 4 of
 
 392 HERODOTUS. Book IV. 
 
 pf Felicity. In the mean Time he contriv'xl a 
 fubterraneous Habitation for himfelf, and hav- 
 ing nnifh'cT the Building, went down and con- 
 tinued there during three Years. The Thraci- 
 ans feeing him no more, regretted their Lofs, 
 and lamented him, as dead: But in the third 
 Year he appeared again, and by that Means per- 
 fuaded them to believe the things he had (aid. 
 Thus the Story is told : And for my own 
 Part, I neither abfolutely reject, nor intire- 
 ly believe the Account of this Perfon and his 
 fubterraneous Habitation: But I am of Opi- 
 nion that Zamolxis liv'd many Years before 
 Pythagoras. Yet whether this Zamolxis was 
 a Man, or a native Daemon among the Getes, 
 I mall not difpute. However, that People, 
 obferving fuch Cuftoms as I mentioned before, 
 follow'd the Army of Darius, after they were 
 fubdued. 
 
 TH z King arriving with all his Land Forces 
 at the Ifter , pafs'd over the River, and command- 
 ed the lonians to break the Bridge, and joyn the 
 Army with the Men they had on board. But as 
 they were preparing to execute his Orders, Goes 
 the Son of Erxandrus, and General of the Mity- 
 lenians, after he had afk'd Darius if he might 
 be permitted to deliver his Opinion freely, fpoke 
 to him in thefe Terms ; " O King, faid he, fince 
 tf we are going to make War in a Country which 
 " ufes no Plow 3 nor has any inhabited Cities, 
 " let the Bridge remain intire, under the Guard 
 " of thofe who put it together : That, whether 
 '* we find the Scythians and fucceed in our 
 '* Enterprize, or whether we find them not, we 
 * may at leaft fecure our Retreat. I am not 
 ** afraid the Scythians will defeat us in Battle ; 
 i " yet
 
 MELPOMENE. 393 
 
 <c yet I fear we may fuffer, by miftaking the 
 " Way, if the Enemy will not be found. Per- 
 *' haps fome may think I fay this for my own 
 <c fake j in order to continue here. But, O 
 " King, I fmcerely propofe what I judge moft 
 *< conducing to the Good of your Affairs: For 
 ' I defign to march with an Army, and not to 
 " remain in this Place.'* Darius pleas' d with 
 bis Advice^ anfwer'dhim thus ; " Lefbian Friend, 
 *' If I return Home in Safety, fail not to 
 *' come into my Prefence ; that I may reward 
 " the beft of Counfels with the greateft Ac- 
 * { knowledgment." Then tying fixty Knots 
 upon a String, and calling for the Ionian Com- 
 manders, he faid, " Men of Ionia, I have al- 
 *' ter*d the Refolution I had made concerning 
 " the Bridge : And therefore, take this String, 
 " and do as I direct:. Every Day, after you fee 
 *.' me beginning to march againft the Scythians, 
 *' untye one of thefe Knots : And if I return 
 " not within that Time, and the Days of my 
 " Abfence exceed the Number of the Knots, 
 " you may depart with your Ships to your 
 " own Country. In the mean Time, be upon 
 " your Guard, and apply the utmoft of your 
 " Care to prefer ve and fecure the Bridge: Which 
 " will be the moft acceptable thing you can do 
 " for me." And after Darius had fpoken thcfe 
 Words, he broke up with his Army, and be- 
 gan his March. 
 
 TH E Territories of 'Thrace lye extended along 
 the Borders of Scythia, and defcend to the Sea 
 in the Form of a Bay. Above thefe Countries 
 Scythia begins, and the Ifter falls into the Euxin, 
 with his Mouth turn'd towards the Eaft. But 
 I muft now defcribe thofe Regions of Scytbia, 
 
 tliat
 
 394 HERODOTUS. Book IV. 
 
 that begin at the Ifier, and ftretch down by the 
 Sea Coaft. That Part, which lies North and 
 South of the Ifter^ is the ancient Scythia, and 
 extends to the City of Carcinitis. And the 
 mountainous Regions, which begin at that 
 Place, and are fituate along the Exin, defcend- 
 ing towards the Shore, belong to the People of 
 Taurus, and reach to the rocky Cberfonefus, that 
 terminates in the Eaftern Sea. Thus Scythia is 
 divided into two Parts, both extending to the 
 Sea ; one towards the South and the other to- 
 wards the Eaft ; not unlike the Region of Attica. 
 For the Inhabitants of 'Taurus are fo plac'd in 
 Scythia ; as any other People would be, who in- 
 ftead of the Athenians, mould poflefs the Pro- 
 montory of Sunium, which advances to the Sea 
 between the Tribes of Thoricus and AnapUyftus ; 
 Such is the Situation of Taurus ; if I may be per- 
 mitted to compare fmall things with great. But 
 to thofe who have never fail'd by that Part of 
 Attica^ I mail explain my felf farther : Sup- 
 pofe then, that a Nation diftincl: from the Japy- 
 gians, mould poiTefs the Promontory of Japygia^ 
 from the Port of Brundufium to Tarentum^ and 
 by that Means cut off the Communication be- 
 tween the other Parts of the Country. Many 
 other Inftances of the fame Nature might be 
 given ; but I need add no more to illuftrate 
 the Defcription of Taurus. The Scythians in- 
 habit the Countries that lye beyond the Tau- 
 rians, and thofe that extend to the Eaftern 
 Sea ; together with the Regions fituate to the 
 Weftward of the Cimmerian Bofphorus and the 
 Lake Maotis^ to the River Tanais, which flows 
 into that Lake. So that thofe Countries which be- 
 ginning at the Ijter, advance upwards to the 
 
 midland
 
 MELPOMENE. 395 
 
 midland Parts, are bordered firft by the Agathyr- 
 fians ; then by the Neurians ; next by the An- 
 drophages , and in the laft place, by the Me- 
 lanchlaenians. Thus Scytbia if of a quadrangu- 
 lar Form ; and the two Parts that defcend to the 
 Sea, are equal to the other two that lye far 
 within the Land. For from the Ifter to the Eo- 
 ryfthenes^ is a Journey of ten Days , ten more 
 from the Boryfthenes to the Lake Maoris ; and 
 twenty from the Sea by the midland Countries 
 to the Melanchlasnians, who inhabit above the 
 Scythians. Now if we allow two hundred 
 Stades for every Day's Journey, the Way that 
 traverfes Scythia^ contains four thoufand Stades 
 in Length ; and the direct Paflage upwards by 
 the midland Parts, the fame Number. Such is 
 the Extent of this Country. 
 
 THE Scythians, after they had conferr'd 
 together, and found they were not able with 
 their own Forces to refift the Army of Da- 
 rius in the open Field, difpatch'd Meflengers 
 to the adjoining Nations ; and when their 
 Kings were aflembled, they confulted how 
 to act, under the Apprehenfions of being in- 
 vaded by ib numerous an Army. This Af- 
 fembly confifted of the Kings of 'Taurus ; of 
 the Agathyrfians ; of the Neurians ; of the An- 
 drophages , of the Melanchlaenians , of the Ge- 
 lones ; of the Budians, and of the Sarmatians. 
 Of thefe, the Taurians obferve the following 
 Cuftoms. All thofe who fuffer Ship wrack, 
 and the Grecians they iieze upon their Coaft, 
 they facrifice to a Virgin in this Manner. Af- 
 ter many Imprecations, they ftrike the Man on 
 the Head with a Club, and, as fome affirm, pre- 
 cipitate the Body from a Hill, on which their 
 
 Temple
 
 396 HERODOTUS. Book IV. 
 
 Temple is built ; refervmg only the Head to be 
 fix'd on a Pole ; whilft others, acknowledging 
 this to be the Way they ufe in difpofing of the 
 Head, yet pretend they never throw the Body 
 down from the Hill, but bury it under Ground. 
 The Inhabitants of Taurus fay, that the Daemon 
 they worfhip with thefe Sacrifices, is Iphigenia 
 the Daughter of Agamemnon. Thofe who fall 
 into their Hands in Time of War, are treated 
 in another Manner. For every one cuts off the 
 Head of an Enemy ; which he carries Home, 
 and fixes to a long Pole erected on the Top 
 of his Houfe, and, for the moft Part, over 
 the Chimny : Which they fay, is done in or- 
 der to guard the Houfe. This People live 
 by War and Rapine. The Agathyrfians are a 
 luxurious Nation, and ufually wear Cloaths 
 embroider'd with Gold. They have their Wo- 
 men in common,, to the End they may be all 
 Brethren ; by this Means converfing fo fami- 
 liarly together, that they never exercife any 
 mutual Envy and Animofities. In other things 
 they approach the Manners of the Thraci- 
 ans. The Neurians obferve the Cu&oms of 
 Scytbia ; and one Generation before the Ex- 
 pedition of Darius, were driven out of their 
 Country by Serpents. For befides thofe that 
 were bred in their own Territories, a much 
 greater Number came down from the Defarts, 
 and fo infefted them, that they were compel- 
 led to abandon their Habitations, and retire a- 
 mong the Budians. Thefe Men attempt to be 
 Magicians -, and the Scythians, with the Greci- 
 ans who inhabit in Scytbia, fay, that all the 
 Neurians once every Year are transform'd into 
 Wolves for a few Days, and then refume their 
 
 former
 
 MELPOMENE. 397 
 
 former Shape. But I am not perfuaded to be- 
 lieve this, tho* they affirm their ftfiertion with 
 Oaths. The Androphages live in a more favage 
 Manner than any other Nation *, having no 
 publick Diftribution of Juftice, nor eftablifh'd 
 Laws. They apply themfelves to the breed- 
 ing of Cattle ; cloath themfelves like the Scy- 
 thians, and fpeak a peculiar Language. The 
 Melanchlaenians wear no other Garments than 
 Black, and had their Name from that Cu- 
 ftom. Thefe follow the Ufages of Scytbia\ 
 but are the only People of all thofe Countries, 
 who feed upon human Flefh. The Budians are 
 a great and populous Nation, with Eyes very 
 blue, and red Hair. They have a City call'd by 
 the Name of Gelonus ; built with Timber, and 
 furrounded by a high Wall of the fame Materi- 
 als ; each fide of which is three hundred Stades 
 in Length. The Buildings, as well facred as 
 private, are of Timber likewife : And they 
 have Temples dedicated to the Gods of Greece, 
 adorn'd after the Grecian Manner with Images, 
 Altars, and Chapels of Wood. They cele- 
 brate the Triennial Feftivals of Bacchus, and 
 perform the Bacchanalian Ceremonies. For the 
 Gelonians were originally Grecians ; who tranf- 
 planted themfelves from the trading Ports of 
 Greece, and fettled among the Budians : Where 
 they ufe a Language compos'd of the Scythian 
 and Grecian Tongues. But the Budians differ 
 from the Gelonians in Speech, and in their 
 Manner of Living. For being Original Inhabi- 
 tants of the Country, they apply themfelves to 
 the keeping of Cattle ; and are the only People 
 pf thefe Parts who eat Lice: Whereas the 
 Gelonians till the Land i feed upon Corn ; 
 
 cultivate
 
 398 HERODOTUS. Book IV. 
 
 cultivate Gardens ; and are utterly unlike the Bu- 
 dians both in Mien and Complexion -, tho* the 
 Grecians without ground call the Budians by the 
 Name of the Gelonians. Their Country abounds 
 in Trees of all Kin'ds , and in that Part, where 
 they grow in greateft Numbers, lies a deep and 
 fpacious Lake, furrounded by a Morafs cover'd 
 with Reeds. In this Place, Otters, Beavers, and 
 other Animals of a fquare Vifage, are frequently 
 taken Their Skins few'd together ferve for Gar- 
 ments, and their Tefticles are ufeful in the Dif- 
 eafes of the Mother. Concerning the Sarmati- 
 ans we have the following Account. When the 
 Grecians had fought a Battle on the River 
 Thermodon againft the Amazons, who by the 
 Scythians are call'd Aiorpata, or in our Lan- 
 guage Man/layers ; Aior fignifying a Man, and 
 Pata to kill -, they departed after the Victory 
 they had obtain'd, and in three of their Ships 
 carried off all the Amazons they could take alive. 
 Whilft they were out at Sea, thefe Amazons 
 confpir'd againft the Men, and kill'd all they 
 found on Board. But having no Knowledge 
 of Navigation, nor any Skill in the Ufe of the 
 Rudder, Sails or Oars, they were driven by 
 Wind and Tide, 'till they arriv'd at the Precipi- 
 ces of the Lake M<eotis in the Territories of 
 the Free Scythians. Here the Amazons went a- 
 fhoar, and marching into the Country fiez'd and 
 mounted the firft Herd of Horfes they found, 
 and began to plunder the Inhabitants. The 
 Scythians could not imagine the meaning of 
 this Incurfion j and being utterly ignorant of 
 their Language, Habit and Nation, wonder'd 
 from whence they came. They firft conjectur'd 
 that they were Men, all of the fame Age : But 
 2 after
 
 MELPOMENE. 399 
 
 after they had skirmim'd with them, and taken 
 fome Prifoners, they foon perceiv'd they were 
 Women. The Scythians therefore confulting 
 together, refolv'd not to kill them , but to fend 
 out a Party confiding of a like Number of 
 young Men, with Orders to poft themfelves 
 near their Camp, and attend their Motions. If 
 the Women mould attack the Party, they were 
 commanded to fly, without making Refiftance ; 
 and when they mould find themfelves no longer 
 purfued, then to return again, and encamp with- 
 in the leaft Diftance they could. This Refolu- 
 tion the Scythians took, out of a great De- 
 fire to have Children by thefe Women. The 
 young Men obferv'd their Inftructions, and when 
 the Amazons found they were not come with 
 hoftile Intentions, they fuffer'd them to con- 
 tinue there without Moleftation : And as they 
 had nothing except their Arms and Horfes, they 
 liv'd in the fame Manner by Hunting and Pil- 
 lage. About Noon the Amazons ufually fepa- 
 rated themfelves ; and fometimes fingle, fome- 
 times two together, went out to comply with 
 the Neceflities of Nature: Which when the 
 Scythians perceiv'd, they did fo likewife. And 
 by this Means one of thefe walking alone, 
 met with an Amazon : Who not offering to 
 withdraw, and refolving to make ufe of the Oc- 
 cafion, tho* me could not fpeak to him in Words, 
 becaufe neither underftood the Language of 
 the other ; yet me made him underftand by 
 certain Motions of her Hand, that if he 
 would come the next Day to the fame Place, 
 accompany 5 d by another Scythian, me would 
 bring one of her Companions with her. The 
 young Man, after this Invitation, departed ; and 
 
 having
 
 40 HERODOTUS. Book IV. 
 
 having related his Adventure to the reft, went the 
 next Day with another Scythian to the Place of 
 Aflignation, and found the two Amazons ex- 
 pecting their Arrival. Upon Information of 
 which Succefs, the reft of the young Men ad- 
 drefs'd themfelves to the remaining Amazons ; 
 the two Camps were joyn'd, and every one kept 
 for his Wife the Perfon he firft convers'd with. 
 But becaufe the Men could not attain to fpeak 
 the Amazonian Tongue, the Women Jearn'd 
 the Language of Scythia i and when they found 
 on both fides, that they liv'd in a perfect A- 
 greement, the Scythians fpoke to the Ama- 
 zons in thefe Terms. ,", We have our Parents 
 " and Poneflions ; and being on that Account 
 " unwilling to continue longer in this Way of 
 " living, we would return and live among our 
 " Countrymen ; always retaining you and no 
 " other Perfons, for our Wives." To this the 
 Amazons anfwer'd ; " We mail never indure 
 " to live with the Women of your Country ; 
 " becaufe we differ in Manners. For we have 
 " been accuftom'd to draw a Bow ; throw a 
 " Javelin ; and mount a Horfe ; and were never 
 " inftructed in the ufual Employments of other 
 " Women. Whereas the Scythian Wives do 
 " none of the things we have mention'd: But 
 " are employ'd in Womanifh Labours ; fitting 
 " ftill in your Waggons ; uhaccuftom'd to Hunt- 
 " ing or any other Exercife ; and therefore 
 " we cannot comply with their Manner of 
 " Life. Neverthelefs, if you are defirous to 
 <c keep us for your Wives, and to act like 
 " honeft Men, go to your Parents ; and after you 
 " have receiv'd your Part of their Riches, return 
 u and we will live together." The young Men, 
 
 confenting
 
 MELPOMENE. 401 
 
 ronfenting to go as they defir'd, obtain'd every- 
 one his Portion ; and at their Return, the A- 
 mazons propos'd another Expedient, in thefe 
 Words: " Two things deter us from living 
 " in this Country : For we have depriv'd yoii 
 " of your Parents j and have committed great 
 " Depredations in thefe Parts. Therefore, fmce 
 " you have thought us worthy to be your 
 " Wives, let us unanimously agree to pafs the 
 " Tanais, and fix our Habitations on the other 
 " Side of that River." The young Men con- 
 fenting to this alfo, they pafs'd the Tanais ; and 
 after a March of three Days from the River 
 Eaftward, and three more from the Lake Mteotis 
 to the Northward, they arriv'd and fettled irt 
 the Regions they now inhabit. Hence the 
 Wives of the Sarmatians ftill continue their 
 ancient Way of Living. They hunt on Horfe* 
 back in the Company of their Husbands* and 
 fometimes alone : They march with their Ar- 
 mies, and wear the fame Drefs with the Men. 
 The Sarmatians ufe the Scythian Language i 
 but corrupted from the Beginning; becaufe the 
 Amazons never learnt to fpeak correctly. Their 
 Marriages are attended with this Circumftance t 
 No Virgin is permitted to marry, 'till me has 
 kill'd an Enemy in the Field ; fo that fome al- 
 ways grow old before they can qualify themfelves 
 as the Law requires. 
 
 THE Meffengers difpatch'd by the Scythians, 
 inform'd the Kings of the Nations I have men-' 
 tion'd, in their Aflembly, that the Perfian, ha* 
 ving fubdued all the Countries on the other Con- 
 tinent, had joyn'd the two Shores by a Bridge, 
 and pafs'd over the Neck of the Bofphorus to this 
 Side : Where he had already reduc'd the Thra* 
 D d
 
 40 2 HERODOTUS. Book IV. 
 
 cians, and laid another Bridge upon the Ifier? 
 with defign to conquer all thofe Regions in like 
 Manner : " And therefore, faid they, you ought 
 " not to fit ftill at Home, and look upon our 
 " Deftruction with Indifference ; but joyning all 
 " our Forces together, let us unanimoully 
 " march out, and meet the Invader. If you 
 " refufe to take this Refolution, we mall be 
 " compelled either to abandon the Country, or 
 *' make our Compofition ; for to what End 
 mould we fuffer the laft Extremities, if you 
 refufe to affift us ? Betides you are in equal 
 Danger : The Perfian is marching againft you 
 no lefs than againft us ; and, that he will not 
 content himfelf to deftroy our Country, and 
 " leave you undifturb'd, his own Actions are 
 " the cleared Demonftration : For if he had 
 <c undertaken this Expedition only againft us, 
 <c in order to revenge former Injuries, he ought 
 " to have march'd directly into our Territories, 
 " without offering Violence to any other Na- 
 *' tion ; and by that Means have convinc'd all, 
 " that he had no other Enterprize in his Inten- 
 <e tions, than the Conqueft of Scythia. Where- 
 *' as on the contrary, at his Arrival on this Con- 
 * c tinentj he receiv'd the Submiilions of thofe 
 *' Places that lay in his Way -, and reduc*d the 
 <e reft of Thrace^ with our Neighbours the 
 " Getes, to his Obedience." When the Scythi- 
 ans had finim'd thefe Words, the Kings who 
 were prefent on the Part of feveral Nations, de- 
 liberated touching their Propofal, and divided 
 in Opinion. Thofe of the Gelonians, Budians* 
 and Sarmatians, unanimoufly determined to affift 
 the Scythians : But the Kings of the Agathyr- 
 lians, , Neurians, Androphages, Melanchlenians, 
 2 and
 
 MELPOMENE. 403 
 
 and Taurians, made this Anfwer to the Meflen- 
 gers. " If you had not been the firft Aggref- 
 " fors, and done the firft Injury to the Perfians, 
 " we mould acknowledge the Equity of your 
 " prefent Demands ; and readily yielding to 
 46 your Defires, would concur with you in one 
 <c common Caufe. But as you invaded their 
 <s Territories without our Participation, and 
 " kept your Acquisitions there, during all the 
 " Time God favour'd your Arms : So now, by 
 " the Inftigation of the fame God, they return 
 <e you the fameMeafure: And therefore, hav- 
 *' ing had no Part in that unjuft Invafion, we 
 " will not now begin to injure the Persians. 
 " Yet if this Man mould wrongfully attack us, 
 u and exercife Hoftility in our Country, we 
 would not endure the Affront. 'Till that 
 " Time we mall remain quiet at Home : Be- 
 * fc caufe we think the Perfians are not come 
 " with hoftfle Intentions againft us ; but againft 
 " thofe, who were the Authors of the firft In- 
 " juries.'* 
 
 WHEN the Scythians had received an Ac- 
 count of this Negotiation, they determin'd to 
 fight no Battle in the open Field, becaufe fo 
 many Nations had refus*d to aflift them : But to 
 withdraw themfelves gradually from the Fron- 
 tiers i and filling up all the Wells and Springs irt 
 their Way* and deftroying the Herbage, to di- 
 vide their Forces into two Bodies. They re- 
 folv'd that the Sarmatians mould advance to the 
 Territories of King Scopafts ; with Directions, 
 if the Perfian mould turn his March that Way, 
 to retire by the Lake M<eotis to the River T'anati , 
 and upon his Retreat, to follow him and harrafs 
 his Army. Thefe Orders were to be obferv'd, 
 D d 2 in
 
 40 4 HERODOTUS. Book IV. 
 
 in relation to that Part of the Kingdom. Th* 
 two other Divifions ; one of which being the 
 greater, was under the Government of Inda- 
 thyrfus^ and the other commanded by I'axads^ 
 were directed to acl: in Conjunction with the 
 Gelonians and Budians ; keeping a Day's March 
 before the Perfians, and tiring them with fre- 
 quent Skirmimes: Then retreating again, pur- 
 fuant to their Inftruftions, they were to endea- 
 vour, by all poffible Means, to draw the Enemy 
 into the Territories of thofe who had rejected 
 their Alliance-, that fince they rerus'd to take 
 Part voluntarily in the War againft the Perfians, 
 they might be compell'd againft their Will to 
 defend themfelves: And if that Defign mould 
 fucceed, they might return to their own Coun- 
 try, and attempt whatever they mould judge 
 moft neceflary. When the Scythians had fix'd 
 thefe Orders, they march'd by private Ways to- 
 wards the Army of Darius, and commanded the 
 beft of their Horfe to advance before the reft ; 
 having already fent away their Wives and Chil- 
 dren in the Waggons they ufe inftead of Houfes, 
 with all their Cattle, except fo many as they 
 thought neceflary for their Subfiftance, ordering 
 them to retire inceflantly Northward. The De- 
 tachment of Scythian Horfe finding the Perfians 
 advanc'd about three Days March from the Ifter* 
 encamp'd j and having deftroy'd all the Produci 
 of the Ground, fled away. The Perfians feeing 
 this Cavalry appear, trac'd them by the Marks 
 they left behind ; and entring one of the Di- 
 ftridts, purfued the Scythians ; who fled Eaft- 
 ward to the River Tanais, which they pafs'd i the 
 Perfians ftill following them thro* Sarmatia^ into 
 the Territories of the Budians. All the time the 
 i Perfians
 
 MELPOMENE. 405 
 
 Perfians were marching thro* the Scythian and 
 Sarmatian Region, they found nothing to ra^ 
 vage, becaufe thofe Parts were utterly unirn- 
 prov'd. But entring the Country of the Bu- 
 dians, and arriving at their City, which was built 
 with Wood, and abandon*d by the Inhabitants, 
 after they had carried all away, they fet fire 
 to the Place. Then purfuing their March, 
 they traversed the whole Region, and arriv'd 
 in an uninhabited Defart, fituate above the 
 Budians, and not to be pafs'd in lefs than feven 
 Days. Beyond this Defart the ThefTagetes in- 
 habit; and four great Rivers known by the 
 Names of the Lycus^ Oarus, Tanais, and Syr- 
 gis, rife within their Country , and pafling thro* 
 the Territories of the Maeotians, flow into the 
 Lake M<eotis. Darius arriving at the Defart, 
 ceas'd his Purfuit, and encamp'd with his Ar- 
 my on the River Oarus. During his Stay there, 
 he built eight fpacious Cities, equally diftant, 
 about fixty Stades from each other ; the Ruins 
 of which remain to this Day : And whilft he 
 was employ'd in this Work, the Scythians march- 
 ing about by the upper Regions, returned into 
 Scytbia-, and Darius , perceiving they were 
 withdrawn, and appeared no more, left his Ci- 
 ties unfinifh'd, and turn'd his March to the 
 Weftward ; fuppofing them to be all the Scy- 
 thians, and that they had fled that Way. He 
 advanc'd with his Army in great Diligence; 
 and entring Scytbia fell in with two of the 
 Scythian Divifions, and purfued them a whole 
 Day without Intermiflion. The Scythians de- 
 fignedly flying towards thofe Nations that had 
 refus'd to aflift them, enter'd firft into the Ter- 
 ritories of the Melanchlaenians : And when they 
 D d g and,
 
 4 o6 HERODOTUS. Book IV. 
 
 and the Perfians had equally contributed to put 
 all things there into Confufion, they drew the 
 Perfians after them into the Country of the An- 
 drophages: Where, after they had commit- 
 ted the like Diforders, the Scythians led the 
 Enemy among the Neurians , and having brought 
 thefe alfo into the fame Circumftances, with- 
 drew again towards the Agathyrfians. But be- 
 fore they enter*d the Country, the Agathyr- 
 fians feeing all their Neighbours flying in Con- 
 fufion before the Scythians, difpatch'd a Herald 
 to forbid them to come within their Limits ; 
 and at the fame Time to inform them, that, if 
 they mould attempt to force their Way, they 
 muft firft fight with the Agathyrfians. This 
 Meflage was no fooner fent, than the Agathyrfi- 
 ans march'd to the Borders, with a Refolution 
 to defend their Territories againft all Invaders. 
 Whereas the Melanchlamians, Androphages, and 
 Neurians, never thought of defending themfelves 
 againft the Invafion of the Scythians and Per- 
 fians j but forgetting their former Menaces, fled 
 with the utmoft Precipitation to the Northern 
 Defarts. The Scythians, upon the Admonition 
 of the Agathyrfians, did not attempt to enter 
 their Country j but departing from Neuria, re- 
 treated before the Perfians into their own Terri- 
 tories. And after they had continued to with- 
 draw themfelves in this Manner for a confidera- 
 ble Time, Darius fent a Horfeman to Indathyrfus 
 King of Scytbia, with the following Meflage, 
 Wretched Man, Why doft thou inceflant- 
 " ly betake thyfelf to Flight, when thoumayeft 
 <6 chufe one of thefe two things ? If thou art 
 " perfuaded thy Forces are able to encounter my 
 c Army in the Field ; halt, and fight : If not, 
 
 " come 3
 
 MELPOMENE. 407 
 
 t come, and own me for thy Lord, by pre- 
 " fenting me with Earth and Water, in Tefti- 
 " mony of thy Submiflion." To this MefTage 
 the Scythian King made Anfwer in thefe Words. 
 *' The Way I have taken is moft fuitable to the 
 te State of my Affairs. I never fled from any 
 " Man out of Fear ; neither have I declin'd to 
 " give thee Battle from that Motive. For in 
 " all this, I have done nothing new ; or dif- 
 u ferent from our conftant Cuftom, even in 
 *' Time of Peace. But I will not conceal the 
 " Reafons that move us to this Conduct. We 
 " have no Towns, nor cultivated Lands; and 
 " therefore being under no Apprehenfion of 
 tc Depredation and Ravage, we did not imme- 
 (c diately offer you Battle. Yet if you are fo 
 " defirous to conftrain us to fight, we have 
 u the Sepulchres of our Anceftors among us 5 
 " which if you find, and attempt to violate, 
 " you will foon be convinc'd whether we will 
 " fight on that Account, or not. For we are 
 " refolv*d not to come to a Battle without 
 " good Reafon. But to leave this Point ; I am 
 " to tell you in the next Place, That I ac- 
 " knowledge no other Lords, than Jupiter my 
 " Progenitor, and Vefla Queen of the Scythi- 
 " ans : That inftead of prefenting you with 
 " Earth and Water, I mail fend you fuch a 
 " Prefent as you deferve ; and perhaps, you may 
 " repent your Infolence, in afluming the Title 
 tc of my Matter." With this Anfwer the 
 Meflenger departed, and at his Return informed 
 Darius of all that had pafs'd. 
 
 WHEN the Kings of Scythia had heard the 
 Name of Servitude, they were fill'd with In- 
 dignation, and order'd the Divifion of Scopa/is, 
 D d 4 which
 
 408 HERODOTUS. Book IV. 
 
 which had been joy n'd by the Sarmatians, to ad* 
 vance, and confer with the lonians, who guard- 
 ed the Bridge they had laid over the IJter. And 
 after their Departure the reft refolv'd to lead the 
 Perfians no longer about; but to attack them 
 whenever they mould go out to forage: which 
 Defign they , put in Execution, and furpriz'd 
 the Troops of Darius at thofe Times. In thefe 
 Encounters the Scythian Horfe always routed 
 the Perfians, and drove them to their Camp: 
 Where finding they were fuccour'd by their In- 
 fantry, the Scythians were forc'd to retire out 
 of fear of the Perfian Foot. Befides they fre- 
 quently attack'd the Enemy in the Night, and 
 alarm'd their Camp. But that, which was no 
 lefs ftrange, than prejudicial to the Scythians in 
 the A (Faults they made ; and very advantageous 
 to the Perfians , was the Cry of the AfTes, and 
 Form of the Mules. For Scythia produces nei- 
 ther of thofe Animals, as I have already ob- 
 ferv'd *, the Climate being utterly improper to 
 that End by Reafon of Cold. The braying 
 of the AfTes put the Scythian Horfe into Con- 
 fufion , and frequently as they were advancing 
 to fall upon the Perfians, their Horfes no fooner 
 heard the Noife, than in a great Fright, and 
 with ereded Ears, they turn'd fhort about 5 
 having never before heard fuch a Voice, nor 
 feen fuch a Shape: And this Accident was of 
 fome Importance in the War. But when the 
 Scythians faw the Perfians fajling into great 
 Difficulties, they contriv'd this Stratagem to 
 detain them longer in Scythia, to the end 
 they might be reduc'd to the utmoft Straits, 
 and the want of all things necefTary: They 
 remov'd to a greater Diftance; leaving their 
 
 Cattle
 
 MELPOMENE. 409 
 
 Cattle to the Care of Shepherds , and the Per- 
 fians coming up, took the Booty, and pleas'd 
 themfelves with their good Fortune. This they 
 repeated feveral times ; 'till at laft the Scythian 
 Kings underftanding that the Necefllties of Da- 
 rius were become very prefling, fent a Herald 
 to prefent him on their Part with a Bird, a 
 Moufe, a Frog, and five Arrows. The Perfians 
 ask'd the Meaning of this Prefent ; but the He- 
 rald made Anfwer, That he had no other Orders, 
 than to deliver the things, and return immedi- 
 ately , yet mould advife, that the Perfians would 
 confider, if they were Men of any Penetration, 
 what fuch a Gift might fignify. The Perfians 
 having heard this Anfwer confulted together, 
 and Darius declar'd his Opinion to be, That 
 the Scythians had by their Prefent made a Sur- 
 render of themfelves, and given him Poflefiion 
 of the Land and Water: " For, faid he, the 
 " Moufe is bred in the Earth, and fubfifts by 
 * 6 the fame Food as a Man : A Frog lives in 
 *' the Water; a Bird may be comparM to a 
 f c Horfe j and with their Arrows they feem to 
 t( deliver their whole Force into my Hands." 
 This was the Opinion of Darius. But Gobryas^ 
 one of the feven who had depos*d the Mage, 
 being of a different Sentiment, faid the Prefent 
 intimated, " That unlefs the Perfians could af- 
 " cend into the Air like a Bird; or conceal 
 *' themfelves in the Earth like Mice ; or plunge 
 " into the Fens like Frogs ; they mould inevi- 
 *' tably perifh by thofe Arrows i and never re- 
 *' turn Home:" To which Interpretation the 
 reft of the Perfians concurr*d. In the mean Time 
 that Part of the Scythians, which had been ap- 
 pointed to guard the Lake Maoris, and were then 
 
 commanded
 
 4o HERODOTUS. Book IV. 
 
 commanded to parly with the lonians at the 
 Jfter, arriv'd in the Place where the Bridge 
 was laid, and fpoke to this Effecl ; Men 
 " of Ionia, If you will hearken to us, we are 
 " come to make you an Offer of your Liberty. 
 " We have heard that Darius commanded you 
 " to guard the Bridge nxty Days only, and 
 " then return into your own Country, unlefs 
 " he fhould arrive before the Expiration of 
 " that Time. Now therefore, fince you have 
 continued here 'till all thofe Days are e- 
 " laps'd, put his Orders in Execution, and 
 " make no Difficulty to depart : By which 
 " Means you will avoid to give any juft Oc- 
 " canon of Offence either to Darius or to us." 
 The lonians promis*d to do as they denVd, and 
 the Scythians return'd to their Station with all 
 Expedition. 
 
 TH E reft of the Scythians, after they had fent 
 the Prefent I have mention'd, to Darius^ advanc'd 
 towards the Perfians with all their Forces both 
 of Horfe and Foot, as if they intended to fight ; 
 and as they flood in Order of Battle, a Hare 
 ftarted in the Interval between the two Armies. 
 The Scythians immediately quitting their Ranks, 
 purfued the Hare with loud Outcries ; and when 
 Darius faw the Confufion of the Enemy, and 
 underftood that they follow'd a Hare, he faid 
 to thofe he trufted with all things ; " Thefe 
 " Men treat us with great Contempt ; and I am 
 " convinc'd that Golryas judg'd rightly concern- 
 " ing the Prefent of the Scythians. Therefore 
 " being now of the fame Opinion, I think we 
 " ftand in need of the beft Advice, to fecure our 
 " Return into our own Country." To this, Go- 
 Iryas anfwer'd ; * Fame had made me in fome 
 
 " Meafure
 
 MELPOMENE. 
 
 " Meafure acquainted with the Indigence of 
 " thefe Men: But I have learn'd much more 
 fince I came hither, and obferv'd in what Man- 
 ner they deride us. My Opinion therefore is, 
 that immediately upon the Clofe of the Day, 
 we mould light Fires according to Cuftom, 
 and leaving the worft of our Forces in the 
 Camp to deceive the Enemy, with all the 
 Afies tied up in a ufual Manner, decamp 
 and march away, before the Scythians go 
 and break the Bridge on the Iftcr^ or the lo- 
 " nians contrive Mifchief againft us, as they eafi- 
 " ly may." This was the Advice of Gobryas\ 
 and when Night came, Darius put his Counfel 
 in Execution j leaving all the fick behind in his 
 Camp, with thofe whofe Lofs would leaft af- 
 feel him, and, the Afles rang'd in order. He 
 left the Afles, that they might make a conti- 
 nual Noife , and the Men, under Colour of at- 
 tacking the Enemy with the found Part of the 
 Army, whilft they mould remain for the Se- 
 curity of the Camp. Thus Darius impofmg up- 
 on thofe he was preparing to abandon, and hav- 
 ing caus'd the ufual Fires to be kindled, march- 
 ed away in great Hafte towards the Ifter. The 
 Afles being left alone, began to bray much loud- 
 er than before ; fo that the Scythians hearing 
 the Noife, firmly believ'd the Perfians were ftill 
 in their Camp. But upon the Appearance of 
 Day, the Men that were abandon*d, finding 
 themfelves betray'd by Darius, extended their 
 Hands, and acquainted the Scythians with the 
 State of Affairs: Who prefently drawing toge- 
 ther the two Scythian Divisions ; and joyning 
 the other Part, which had been reinforc'd by 
 the Budians and Gelonians 3 follow'd the Perfians 
 
 towards
 
 4 i2 HERODOTUS. Book IV. 
 
 towards the Ifter: But becaufe the Perfians had 
 great Numbers of Foot in their Army, and were 
 altogether ignorant of the Ways ; whereas the 
 Scythians were all Horfe, and perfectly well 
 acquainted with the various Turnings of the 
 Country, the two Armies mifs'd each other. 
 By which Means the Scythians arriving at the 
 Bridge much before the Perfians, and being in- 
 form'd the Enemy was not yet returned, they 
 fpoke to the lonians, who were on board the 
 Ships, in thefe Terms : " Since the Number of 
 ** Days appointed for your Stay, O lonians, is 
 " already pafs'd, you have not done as you 
 ct ought, in continuing here: And therefore if 
 *' Fear has hitherto been the Caufe of your De- 
 cc lay ; now, take the Bridge in pieces -, depart 
 " in full PofTeflion of your Liberty, and give 
 * c Thanks to the Gods and to the Scythians. 
 <c As for the Man who to this Time has been 
 * e your Mafter, we will take Care to bring him 
 " into fuch Order, that he fhall be no longer in 
 * c a Condition to make War againft any Part of 
 cc Mankind." The lonians met without De- 
 Jay to confult about the Meafures they mould 
 take in this Conjuncture; and Miltiades Gene- 
 jral of the Athenians, and Tyrant of the Hellef- 
 pontin Cherfonefians, advis'd the AfTembly to 
 comply with the Demand of the Scythians, and 
 to reftore the Liberty of Ionia. But Hefti#us 
 theMilefian, being of a contrary Opinion, re^ 
 prefented, that, whereas every one there prefent 
 was Tyrant of his own Country by the Power 
 of Darius ; if that mould be once abolifh'd, 
 he himfelf could no longer continue Mafter 
 of Miletus, nor any of the reft in the Places 
 they then poflefs'dj becaufe the People would 
 
 undoubtedly
 
 MELPOMENE. 4.13 
 
 undoubtedly chufe to live under a popular Go- 
 vernment, rather than under the Dominion of a 
 fingle Perfon. HffttJfUS had no fooner deliverM 
 this Opinion, than they all went over to his fide, 
 tho* they had before a/Tented to the Counfel of 
 Miltiades. The Names of thofe who differ*d 
 from the Opinion of Miltiades^ and had fome 
 Part in the Efteem of Darius^ were Dapbnis Ty- 
 rantofslbydus ; Hippocles of Lampfacus ; Eropban- 
 tus of Pariam ; Metrodorus of Proconnefus ; A- 
 rijiagoras of Cyzicus, and Arifton of Byzantium : 
 All thefe were Hellefpontin Tyrants. Thofe of 
 Ionia were, Stratias of Chio ; Mttides of Samos ; 
 Laodamas of Phoebe a ; and Hefti<eus of Miletus^ 
 whofe Opinion was preferr'd before that of Mil- 
 tiades. On the Part of the .flEolians no other 
 Perfon of Confideration was prefent, except only 
 Ariftagoras of Cyma. When thefe Men had ap- 
 prov*d the Sentiment of Heftia'uSj they concerted 
 in what Manner they mould act and fpeak. Ac- 
 cordingly they refolv'd to take away fo much of 
 the Bridge on the Scythian fide, as an Arrow 
 might reach ; that they might not only feem 
 to do fomething, when in Effect they did no- 
 thing ; but that they might prevent the Scythi- 
 ans from preventing by Force to pafs the Ifter 
 over their Bridge : And whilft they mould be 
 employ'd in removing that Part, which was 
 on the Scythian fide, they agreed to profefs their 
 Readinefs to do any thing that might be ac- 
 ceptable to the Scythians. When they had de- 
 termin'd to make this Addition to the Opinion 
 of Heftitfus^ and chofen him out of all the AfTem- 
 bly to acquaint the Scythians with their Anfwer, 
 he fpoke to this Effect -, " Men of Scytbia? 
 " You have given us good Advice, and feafon- 
 
 " ably
 
 4-14 HERODOTUS. Book IV. 
 
 " ably prefs'd us to put it in Execution : You 
 ' have pointed out the right Way, and we are 
 " prepared to follow your Directions. We have 
 " already cut off the Paflage as you fee, and 
 * will finim the Work with all Diligence , be- 
 " caufe we refolve to be Free. In the mean 
 " time your Part is, to find out the Perfians, 
 " and take full Revenge for the Injuries they 
 <c have done both to you and to us.'* The 
 Scythians believing a fecond Time that the lo- 
 nians were fincere, march'd back to feek the 
 Perfians ; but intirely mifs'd the Ways they had 
 taken. Of this Error the Scythians themfelves 
 were the Caufe, by deftroying the Pafture for 
 the Horfe, and choaking the Springs ; which 
 if they had not done, they might without dif- 
 ficulty have found the Perfians. But now, that 
 which they thought they had contriv'd to their 
 great advantage, prov'd the very thing that 
 mifled them. For they fought the Enemy in 
 thofe parts of the Country, where Forage and 
 Water were to be found ; imagining they would 
 return by that Way. But the Perfians without 
 Deflexion, repeating the March they had made 
 before, trac'd their Way to the River under 
 great Difficulties. They arriv'd in the Night, 
 and not finding tlie Bridge, fell into the utmoft 
 Confirmation, fuppofing they were abandon'd 
 by the lonians. Darius had about his Per- 
 fon an ./Egyptian, furpaffing all other Men in 
 the Strength of his Voice. This Man he com- 
 manded to ftand on the Bank of the Ifter, and 
 call Heftiaus the Milefian. W^hich when he had 
 done, Heftiteus^ who heard him at the firft 
 Cry, brought all the Veflels together, and joyn'd 
 the Bridge immediately, that the Army might 
 
 pafs.
 
 MELPOMENE. 415 
 
 pafs. Thus the Perfians efcap'd, and the Scythi- 
 ans were a fecond time difappointed. On this Ac- 
 count they fay, that if the lonians are confi- 
 der'd as a free People, they are the worft and 
 bafeft of Men : If as Slaves, they indeed love 
 their Mafter, and are not inclined to abandon his 
 Service. Thefe Reproaches the Scythians fling 
 out againft the lonians. 
 
 DARIUS march'd by the Way of 'Thrace to 
 Seftus in the Cberfonefus - 9 and imbarking there 
 pafs'd over into Afia, after he had conftituted 
 Megabyfus, a Perfian, to be his General in Eu- 
 rope. He had already in Perfia exprefs'd his 
 high Efteem of this Man. For being one Day 
 about to eat fome Pomegranates, he had no foon- 
 er open'd the firft, than his Brother Artaba- 
 nus afk'd him, Of what thing he would wifh 
 to poflefs a Number equal to the Grains of 
 that Fruit ; and receiv'd for Anfwer, That he 
 would rather chufe fo many Men perfectly re- 
 fembling Megabyzus y than the intire Conqueft 
 of Greece. Thus he honour'd this Perfian at 
 Home -, and now left him the Command of art 
 Army confiding of eighty thoufand Men. Mega- 
 byzus render'd his own Name immortal among 
 the Hellefpontins, by the following Expreflion. 
 Being inform'd, when he was at Ityzantntm, 
 that the Chalcedonians had inhabited in that 
 Country feventeen Years before the Arrival of 
 the Byzantians j " Sure, faid he, the Chalce- 
 " donians were blind in thofe Times : For if 
 " they could have feen, they would never have 
 <c chofen fo foul a Situation, when they might 
 " have built their City in fo beautiful a Place." 
 In Conclufion Megabyzus being left in thefe 
 Parts to command the Army of Darius, fub- 
 
 dued
 
 4 i 6 HERO DO TUS. Book IV. 
 
 dued thofe Nations who were not in the Intefeft 
 of the Medes. 
 
 ABOUT the fame Time another Army un- 
 dertook an Expedition into Libya-, the Caufes 
 of which I mall relate, and explain fome things 
 by way of Introduction. The Defendants of 
 the Argonauts being expell'd Lemnos by thofe 
 Pelafgians who feiz'd the Athenian Women at 
 Brauron^ fet fail for Lacedtemon, and arriving at 
 ^aygetus^ lighted Fires; which the Lacedae- 
 monians feeing, difpatch'd a MefTenger to de- 
 mand who they were, and whence they came. 
 Their Anfwer was, that they were MinyanSj 
 Grandfons of thofe Heroes who fail'd in the Ar- 
 gos^ and arriving in Lemnos begot their Fathers. 
 When the Lacedaemonians heard they were of 
 Minyan Extraction, they fent another Mef- 
 fenger to enquire with what Defign they had 
 landed and lighted Fires in their Territories. 
 They faid, that being ejected by the Pelaf- 
 gians, they might juftly return to the Coun- 
 try of their Anceftors: And therefore defir'd 
 to inhabit in Laconia, and to participate of 
 their Honours and Lands. The Lacedaemoni- 
 ans receiv'd the Minyans on fuch Terms as they 
 defir'd, for divers Reafons ; and efpecially be- 
 caufe Caftor and Pollux the Sons of 'Tyndarus 
 had been prefent in the Expedition of the Ar- 
 gos. They allotted to every Man a certain Por- 
 tion of Land, and diftributed the whole Num- 
 ber among their Tribes. On the other Part, the 
 Minyans gave the Wives they brought from 
 Lemnos to other Men, and took Spartan Women 
 in their Place. But not long after growing in- 
 folent, they committed many Crimes, and form'd 
 a Defign to ufurp the Kingdom. Upon which, 
 
 the
 
 MELPOMENE. 417 
 
 the Lacedasmonians having determin'd to punifii 
 them with Death, feiz'd and imprifon'd all the 
 Minyans. But becaufe, by the Cuftoms of the 
 Country, all condemn'd Perfons are executed in 
 the Night, and not by Day ; the Wives of the 
 Minyans, who were Daughters to the principal 
 Perfons of Sparta* ask'd Leave to fpeak with 
 their Husbands in the Prifon before the Execu- 
 tion. The Lacedaemonians not fufpecting Fraud, 
 granted their Requeft \ and the Women being 
 admitted accordingly, gave their own Garments 
 to their Husbands, and cloath'd themfelves with 
 thofe of the Men. Upon which the Minyans 
 drefs'd like Women went out of the Prifon, 
 and fled in that Difguife to Taygetus. At the 
 fame Time Tberas the Son of Ante/ion, and 
 Grand fon to Tifamenes, whofe Father 'Therfander 
 was the Son of Polynices, went out with a Co- 
 lony from Lacedamon. He was of the Cad- 
 maean Race : Uncle, by the Mother's Side, to 
 Euryfthenes and Procles* Sons of Ariftodemus* 
 and Regent of the Kingdom during their Mi- 
 nority. But after they came to be of Age, 
 and had taken the Adminiftration of Affairs in- 
 to their Hands, Tberas, who had tafted the 
 Pleafure of commanding, impatient to fee him- 
 lelf reduc'd to .obey, declar'd his Refolution to 
 depart from Sparta, in order to fettle with thofe 
 of his own Blood. The Ifland now call'd Tbe- 
 ra, and formerly known by the Name of 
 Callifta, was then poflefs'd by the Posterity of 
 Membliares the Son of Ptecihs a Phoenician. 
 For Cadmus* the Son of Agenor, arriving there, 
 in the Search he made after Europa ; eithe^ 
 pleas'd with the Beauty of the Country, or 
 mov'd by other Reafons, left Tlis Kinfman 
 E e Mwbliares
 
 4 i 8 HERO DO TUS. Book IV. 
 
 Membliares with fome Phoenicians in that Ifland : 
 And Callifta had been in the Pofleffion of thefe 
 Phoenicians eight Generations before the Depar- 
 ture of Theras from Lacedsemon. To this Place 
 Tberas wentj accompanied by many Perfons 
 drawn out of the Spartan Tribes; not with 
 Defign to expel the Inhabitants, but to live 
 among them, and contribute to render the 
 Ifland more populous. And becaufe the Lacedae- 
 monians ftill perfifted in their Refolution to de- 
 ftroy the Minyans, even after they had fled from 
 the Prifon to Taygetus, he interceded for their 
 Lives, and promis'd he would tranfport them out 
 of that Country. Upon this Aflurance the Lace- 
 daemonians condefcended to his Defires, and 
 tteras departed with his Company for Callifta^ 
 in three Gallies of thirty Oars each ; carrying 
 fome of the Minyans with him, but not many. 
 For the greater Part had already enter'd into the 
 Countries of the Paroreates and Caucones ; where, 
 after they had driven out the Inhabitants, they 
 diftributed themfelves into fix Divifions, and 
 founded the Cities of Leprium, Maciftus, Thrix- 
 as, Pyrgtts, Epium y and Nudium ; moft of 
 which have been deftroy'd in our Time by the 
 Eleansi "fheras chang'd the Name of the Ifland 
 Callifta^ into that of Tbera ; and to his Son, 
 who had refus'd to accompany him in his Voy- 
 age, he faid at his Departure, that he would 
 leave him as a Sheep among Wolves : From 
 which faying the young Man was ever after call'd 
 Oiolycus. This Oiolycus was the Father of jfegeus* 
 from whom the JEgides, a principal Tribe in 
 Sparta, derive their Name. The Men of this 
 Tribe finding they had not the Fortune to bring 
 up their Children, built a Temple by the Admo- 
 nition
 
 MELPOMENE. 419 
 
 nition of the Erinnyan Oracle, dedicated to Laius 
 and Oedipus ; and poflefs'd afterwards by thofe 
 Theraeans, who were defcended from thefe 
 Men. Thus far the Lacedaemonians and the 
 Theneans agree : But of that Part which re- 
 mains., the Theneans only are the Relaters. . Gri- 
 nus, fay they* the Son of jEfanius, one of the 
 Dependents of ^heras, and King of the Ifland 
 There, went to Delphi in order to facrifice a 
 Hecatomb. He was attended by divers Citizens 
 of the Place, and among them by Battus Son to 
 PolymneftuS) of the Mi ny an Family of Eupbemus: 
 And whilft he confulted the Oracle concerning 
 other Affairs, the Pythian admonifh'd him to 
 build a City in Libya. But he anfwer'd, " I am 
 " old, and unfit for fuch an Enterprize : There- 
 " fore rather command one of thefe young Men 
 " to execute that Order ," and as he faid thefe 
 Words, he pointed to Battus. At their return 
 they flighted the Oracle, becaufe they had no 
 Knowledge of the Situation of Libya ; nor durft 
 adventure to fend a Colony upon fo obfcure an 
 Attempt. During feven Years from this Time, 
 they had no Rain in Thera - 9 and after all the 
 Trees of the Ifland, except one, had perifh'd for 
 want of Moifture, the Theramns applied them- 
 felves again to the Oracle : But the Pythian 
 made no other Anfwer, Than that they mould 
 fend a Colony to Libya. Thus feeing no End of 
 their Calamity, they difpatch'd certain Perfons 
 to Crete^ with Orders to inquire, if any of the 
 Cretans or other Inhabitants of that liland had 
 ever been in Libya. Thefe Meffengers travelling 
 from Place to Place, arriv'd in the City of If anus ; 
 where having met with one Corobius a Dyer in 
 Purple, who aflur'd them he had been driven by 
 E e 2 the
 
 420 HERODOTUS. Book IV. 
 
 the Winds to an Ifland of Libya call'd Plaf*a 9 
 they perfuaded him by the Promife of a large 
 Recompence to go with them to Thera. At firft 
 the Theraeans fent only a fmall Number of Men, 
 under the Conducl of Corobius^ to the Ifland Pla- 
 t<ea : And they foon departed again, to give an 
 Account of the Place to the Therasans : Leaving 
 Corobius behind with Proviiions for about two 
 Months. But thefe Men not returning within 
 the Time appointed, Corobius was reduc'd to the 
 laft Neceflity ; when a Ship of Samos bound 
 Homewards from ALgypt, under the Pilotage of 
 Coitus, arriv'd in the Harbour; being driven 
 thither by Strefs of Weather: And after the 
 Safnians had been inform'd by Corobius of all 
 things relating to this Expedition* they left him 
 Subfiftence for a Year, and fet fail from the 
 Ifland, wifhing to recover the Coaft of &gypt ; 
 but on a fudden were furpriz'd by a ftrong Le- 
 vant Wind ; which never ceas'd, 'till they had 
 pafs'd the Columns of Hercules, and arriv'd at 
 yarteffitSy pufh'd on by a moft fortunate Com- 
 pulfion. For as that Port had never been at- 
 tempted before, the Profits they made of their 
 Merchandize were fo confiderable, that at their 
 Return they brought Home a greater Treafure 
 than any of the Grecians we know had ever 
 done, fince the Time of Softratus the Son of 
 Laodamus of JEgina, who is above all Com- 
 parifon. Thefe Samians with the tenth Part of 
 their Gain* amounting to fix Talents, made 
 a Bafon of Brafs^ refembling that of Argolis y 
 and furrounded with the Heads of Griffins leaning 
 to each other. This they plac'd in the Temple 
 of Juno, fupported by three Coloflb's of Brafs in 
 a kneeling Pofture, and feven Foot in Height. 
 
 And
 
 MELPOMENE. 421 
 
 And on this Occafion, the Cyrenaeans and The- 
 raans contracted a great Friendfhip with the 
 Samians. 
 
 WHEN thofe Therseans, who left Corobius 
 in Plat<ea^ were return'd Home, with an Ac- 
 count, that they had taken Pofleflion of art 
 Ifland in Libya, the Theraeans refolv'd to fend 
 a Colony thither, compos'd of Men drawn out 
 of all their Diftricts, which were feven in Num- 
 ber : and that every Brother fhould caft Lots with 
 his Brother to determine who fhould go ; ap- 
 pointing Bat t us to be their King and Leader, 
 and commanding two Gallies of fifty Oars to 
 be made ready for their Tranfportation. Thefe 
 things are reported by the Theraeans only: 
 For what remains, we have the concurring 
 Teftimony of the Cyrenasans ; tho* they differ 
 from the Theraeans in the Account of BattuJ y 
 and relate the Matter thus. Etearchus, fay_jfchey, 
 King of Oaxus a City of Crete, after the Death 
 of his firft Wife, married another Woman; 
 who refolving to be effeclually a Stepmother 
 to his Daughter, whofe Name was Phronima^ 
 treated her in the moft injurious Manner ; and 
 befides an infinite Number of other wicked 
 Contrivances, accus'd her at laft of Unchaftity ; 
 and prevail'd with her Husband to believe the 
 Calumny. Etearchus perfuaded by his Wife, 
 form'd a wicked Defign againft his Daugther, 
 and fending for one Tbemifon a Merchant of 
 Them, who, he knew, was then at Oaxus, re- 
 ceiv'd him kindJy, and compelled him to take 
 an Oath to ferve him in any thing he mould de- 
 fire. When he had done this, he deliver*d his 
 Daughter to the Merchant, and commanded him to 
 E e 3 drown
 
 422 HER ODO fUS. Book IV. 
 
 drown her in the Sea during his Voyage. 
 iTyemifon difturb'd that he had been induc'd to 
 fwear rafhly, and yet unwilling to break their 
 mutual Hofpitality, refolv'd to acT: in this Man- 
 ner. He receiv'd the King's Daughter, and 
 fet fail. But after he was out at Sea, that 
 he might comply with the Obligation of his 
 Oath, he let her down into the Water with 
 Cords tied about her ; and after he had drawn 
 her up again, purmed his Voyage to ^Tbera. 
 Polymnsftus, an eminent Man in that Ifland, 
 took Phronima for his Concubine, and after 
 fome Time had a Son by her, who from his. 
 mrill and ftammering Voice was nam'd Battus r 
 as the Theraans and Cyrenasans fay : But I 
 am of Opinion he had another Name ; and re- 
 ceiv'd that of Battus after his Arrival in Li- 
 bya, purfuant to the Anfwer of the Delphian 
 Oracle, and on Account of the Honour con- 
 ferr'd upon him. For the Libyans call a King 
 Battus ; and therefore I conjecture that the Py- 
 thian Prophetefs forefeeing he mould be a King 
 in Libya, gave him that Title in the Libyan 
 Language ; having return'd this Anfwer, when, 
 being grown a Man, he came to confult the 
 Oracle concerning his Speech, 
 
 BATTUS! about thy Voice inquire no more; 
 Apollo fends tbee to the Libyan Shore 
 In Wool abounding. 
 
 As if me had faid in the Language of Greece^ O 
 King, about thy Voice. Battus anfwer'd, *' I came 
 * 6 to confult the Oracle about my Voice, and the 
 " God requires things impoflible ; commanding 
 u me to go to Libya,. \ defire to know, with 
 
 what
 
 MELPOMENE. 423 
 
 " what Power, and with what Numbers ?" But 
 when nothing could perfuade the Pythian to 
 give any other Anfwer, and Battus found me re- 
 peated the fame Words again, he left the Ora- 
 cle, and return'd to Thera. From that Time 
 both he and the Therasans felt the Revenge of 
 the Pythian : And the People not knowing 
 whence their Misfortunes came, fent again to 
 Delphi to enquire concerning the Caufe, and re- 
 ceiv'd for Anfwer ; " That their Affairs mould 
 " profper better, if, under the Conducl of Bat- 
 " tus, they would build a City in Libya, by the 
 " Name of Cyrene" Upon this Admonition the 
 Therasans made ready two Gal lies of fifty Oars 
 each, and Battus with his Company imbarking, 
 fet fail for Libya : But not being able to perform 
 their Voyage, they return'd Home : Where the 
 Therseans having refus'd to receive them, or 
 fuffer the Men to land, commanded them to 
 refume the Expedition. Thus compelled by Ne- 
 ceflity they fail'd again, and fettled in an Ifland 
 of Libya j call'd, as I faid before, Plat<ea, and 
 reported to be of equal Extent with the Territo- 
 ries now poflefs'd by the Cyrenasans. After they 
 had been two Years in this Place, and found their 
 Condition no way amended ; leaving one of 
 their Company behind, the reft fail'd to Delphi ; 
 and having remonftrated to the Oracle, that tho* 
 they had fettled in Libya^ yet the State of their 
 Affairs ftill continued the fame, they had the 
 following Anfwer from the Pythian; 
 
 Strange ! Toujhould know wool-bearing Libya*.* 
 
 Coaft 
 Better than I : Tou, who were never there. 
 
 E c 4 When
 
 424. HER ODOTUS. Book IV. 
 
 "When Battus and his Companions heard this,, 
 and found they muft return to Libya, becaufe 
 the God would by no Means permit them to a- 
 bandon their Enterprize, they departed, and ar- 
 riving again in the Ifland of Plattea, took on 
 board the Man they had left there, and went to 
 inhabit a Country of Libya, fituate over againft 
 an Ifland call'd Aziriftus furrounded with agree- 
 able Hills, and water'd by two Rivers running 
 on each fide. Six Years they continued in this 
 Region, and in the feventh refolv'd to leave it, 
 by the Perfuafion of the Libyans, who faid 
 they wou'd fhew them a better Place. In ef* 
 feet, the Libyans conducted them Weftward in- 
 to the moft beautiful Country imaginable ; and 
 having computed the Hours of the Day, 
 brought the Grecians thither by Night, that 
 they might not obferve the Way. The Regi- 
 on is call'd by the Name of Irafa : And when 
 the Libyans had fhewn them a Fountain, ac- 
 counted facred to Apollo ; " Grecians, faid they, 
 * c Here you may inhabit moft conveniently ; 
 " and the Heavens feem to invite you'*. Ac- 
 cordingly the Cyrenasans, fix'd their Habitations 
 in this Place, and continued to be about the 
 fame Number as at their Arrival, during all the 
 Time of Battus, who reign'd forty Years, and 
 that of his Son Arce/ilaus, who reign'd fixteen. 
 But under the Reign of another Battus, their 
 third King, firnamed the Happy, the Pythi- 
 an encourag'd all Grecians to undertake the 
 Voyage of Libya, and joyn with the Cyrenas- 
 ans, who invited them to an equal Divifion 
 of the Country. The Words of the Oracle 
 were thefe, 
 
 Regret
 
 MELPOMENE. 425 
 
 Regret attends the Man^ who comes too late^ 
 Fojbare the lovely LibyaV fertil Plains. 
 
 By thefe Means a great Multitude met together 
 at Cyrene ; and after they had divided a vaft Ex- 
 tent of Land among themfelves, the Libyans 
 with their King, whofe Name was Adicrau* 
 finding they were depriv'd of their PorTeflions, 
 and injurioufly treated, fent an Embafly to 
 &%ypt with a Tender of their Submiflion to 
 Apries King of that Country , who aflem- 
 bling a numerous Army of ./Egyptians, fent 
 them to attack Cyrene. But the Cyrensans 
 having drawn out their Forces to the Fountain 
 Theftis in Irafa, fought and defeated the Egyp- 
 tians, who to -that time had been unacquaint- 
 ed with the Grecian Valour, and therefore def- 
 pis'd their Power. The Viftory was fo great, 
 that few of the ^Egyptians return'd Home: 
 And the ill Succefs of this Expedition caus'd 
 fuch Difcontent amongft that People, that they 
 revolted againft Apries. 
 
 ARCESILAUS the Son of Battus, fucceeded 
 him : And in the Beginning of his Reign had 
 fo many Contefts with his Brothers, that they left 
 the Kingdom ; and arriving in another Part of 
 Libya^ rounded the City of Barca, which bears 
 the fame Name to this Day ; and whilft they 
 were fettling their new Colony, perfuaded the 
 Libyans to revolt. But Arcefilaus led an Army, 
 not only againft the revolted Libyans, but alfo 
 againft thofe who had given Reception to his 
 Brothers ; which put them into fuch a Confter- 
 nation, that they fled to the Eaftern Parts of 
 Libya. Arcefilaus purfued them till he arriv'd at 
 
 Leucon :
 
 426 HERODOTUS. Book IV. 
 
 Leucon : And there the Libyans having refolv'd 
 to attack him, fought the Cyrena?ans fuccefsfully, 
 and kill'd feven thoufand Men upon the Spot. 
 After this Difafter Arcefilaus fell fick, and taking 
 a Medicinal Draught, was ftrangled by his Bro- 
 ther Aliarchus. But his Wife, whofe Name was 
 Eryxo, reveng'd his Death, and kill'd Aliarchus 
 by an Artifice of her own Contrivance. Battus 
 the Son of this Arcefilaus ; a lame Man, and un- 
 able to walk, fucceeding him in the Kingdom, 
 the Cyrenaeans who had receiv'd fo great a 
 Blow, fent to enquire of the Delphian Oracle, 
 under what Form of Government they might 
 live moft happily \ and the Pythian in Anfwer 
 commanded them to fend for a Legiflator from 
 Mantinea a City of Arcadia. The Cyrenseans 
 did as they were inftructed, and the Mantineans 
 chofe a Man for that purpofe, highly efteem- 
 ed in their Country, and known by the Name 
 of Demomx. This Perfon arriv'd in Cyrene ; 
 and after he had fully inform'd himfelf of their 
 Affairs, divided the People into three Tribes. 
 The firft confifted of the Theraans and their 
 Neighbours ; the fecond of Peloponnefians and 
 Cretans; and a third contain*d all the reft of 
 the Iflanders. He took away the Temples and 
 facred Offices of Battus; together with all 
 other things, which had been peculiar to" their 
 Kings, and put them into the Hands of the 
 People. Thefe Regulations were exactly ob- 
 ferv'd during the Reign of Battus : But in the 
 Time of his Son Arcefilaus great Diforders arofe 
 about thofe Honours. For Arcefilaus the Son of 
 the lame Battus and Pberetima, declaring he 
 would not fubmit to the Conftitutions of Demo- 
 3!ax y challeng'd all the Prerogatives his Anceftors 
 
 had
 
 MELPOMENE. 427 
 
 had enjoy'd -, and having rais'd a Tumult on that 
 Occafion, he was defeated, and fled to Samos. 
 His Mother efcap'd to Salamis a City of Cyprus, 
 then in the Pofleflion of that Euelthon^ who 
 dedicated the curious Thurible at Delphi^ which 
 is depofited in the Treafury of the Corinthians. 
 Pheretima after her Arrival, defir'd Euelthon to 
 affift her with an Army in order to re-eftablilh 
 her Family in Cyrene: But he chofe rather to 
 prefent her with all other things, than to grant 
 her the Forces fhe demanded. Yet me accepted 
 his Prefents ; and admiring their Beauty, always 
 added, that tho* thefe were very valuable, an 
 Army would be far more acceptable to her. In 
 the end Euelthon gave her a golden Reel, and a 
 Diftaff of the fame Metal, cover'd with Wool ; 
 and finding me repeated her Acknowledgment 
 in the fame Terms, he told her, thefe were 
 the moft proper Prefents for Women, and not 
 Armies. 
 
 IN the mean Time Arcefilaus continued at Sa- 
 mos^ foliciting all Men to joyn with him by Pro- 
 mifes of an Agrarian Divifion ; and having by 
 that Means collected a numerous Army, he fail'd 
 to Delphi^ in order to confult the Oracle concern- 
 ing his Reftoration, and had the following An- 
 fwer from the Pythian. " Apollo grants you the 
 " Dominion of Cyrene during eight Defcents, 
 < e down to the fourth Battus, and the fourth Ar- 
 *' cefilaus ; and exhorts you to aim at no more. 
 " Be contented therefore to live peaceably at 
 " Home: And if you find a Furnace full of 
 " Pitchers, throw them out unburnt : But if you 
 c fet fire to the Kiln, forbear to enter into a 
 " Place bounded with Water on each fide. Un- 
 V lefs you obferve this, you fhall certainly 
 ? perifh
 
 428 HERODOTUS. Book IV. 
 
 < { perim with the beautiful Bull." Arceftlaus 
 having receiv*d the Anfwer of the Pythian, took 
 with him the Forces he had collected in Samos -, 
 and returning to Cyrem, recover'd the Pofleflion 
 of his Kingdom. But forgetting the Counfol of 
 the Oracle, he brought thofe who had ejected 
 him to a Tryal, and charg'd them with the Guilt 
 of his Expulfion : So that many were compell'd 
 to abandon their Country -, whilft others falling 
 Into their Hands, were fent to be executed in Cy- 
 prus. But thefe arriving in the Port of Cnidus, 
 were refcued by the People, and fent away fafe 
 to Tbera. In the mean Time Arcefilaus being 
 inform'd that another Party had retir'd to a 
 Tower belonging to Aglomachus, he furrounded 
 the Place with Wood, and confumM all thofe 
 who were within. Which he had no fooner 
 done, than he underftood the Meaning of the O- 
 racle's. Command, Not to burn the FeJ/els he 
 fhouldfind in the Kiln ; and in that Perfuanon vo- 
 luntarily departed from Gyrene + under violent Ap- 
 prehennons of his own Death, predicted by the. 
 Pythian , who, as he thought, could mean no, 
 other Place, becaufe Cyrene is fituate between 
 two Rivers. He had a Wife rekted to him in. 
 Blood - T and becaufe me was Daughter to A-. 
 lazar King of the Barcasans, he retir'd to Ear- 
 ca : Where fome of the Inhabitants, in Conjunct 
 tion with others of the exil'd Cyrenasans, be- 
 ing' one Day inform'd that he was walking 
 in the Publick Place, kill'd both him and his 
 Father-in-law. Thus Arcefilaus difobeying the 
 Oracle, whether wilfully or otherwife, accom- 
 plifh'd his own Deftiny. His Mother Pbere- 
 tima, whilft he was battening to Deftruction in 
 ^ continued at Cyrene y and enjoy'd all the 
 z Honours
 
 MELPOMENE. 429 
 
 Honours he had poflefs'd ; exercifing the fame 
 Functions, and prefiding in the Council: But 
 when ihe heard the Manner of his Death, me 
 fled to Aigypt j becaufe her Son Arcefilatts had 
 deferv'd well of Cambyfes the Son of Cyrus^ by 
 putting Cyrene into his Protection, and fettling 
 a Tribute to be paid for an Acknowledgment 
 of their Submiflion. Arriving in Mgypt^ and 
 applying herfelf to Aryandes in the Form of a 
 Suppliant, (he befought him to revenge the 
 Death of her Son, who me pretended, had been 
 kill'd becaufe he was a Partizan of the Medes. 
 Aryandes had been conftituted Governour of 
 sEgypt under Cambyfes, and in fucceeding Time 
 was put to death by Darius for attempting to 
 emulate one of his Actions. He had feen that 
 Darius exceedingly defir'd to leave fuch a Mo- 
 nument of himfelf as no King had done be- 
 fore j and refolving to imitate the Example, he 
 receiv'd the Reward of his Prefumption. For 
 after Darius had coin'd Pieces of Gold, refin'd 
 to the utmoft Perfection , Aryandes Governour 
 of AZgypt, caus'd the fame to be imitated in the 
 pureft Silver ; and this Aryandian Money is 
 in high Efteem to this Day. But when Da- 
 rius knew what he had done, he charg'd him 
 with a Defign to rebel, and under that Colour 
 put him to death. This Aryandes in Compaf- 
 fion to Pheretima, aflifted her with all the For- 
 ces of ASgypt both by Land and Sea ; appointing 
 Amafis, one of the Maraphian Blood, to lead 
 the Land Army, and Badres of Paflargadian Ex- 
 traction to command the Fleet. But before lis 
 gave Orders for the Departure of thefe Forces, 
 he fent a Herald to Barca, to demand who they 
 were that had affcflinated Arcef.laus. The Bar- 
 
 cieans
 
 430 HERODOTUS. Book IV, 
 
 casans readily acknowledg'd the Action to be 
 their own, in Requital of the many Evils they 
 had fuffer'd by him: And when Aryandes receiv- 
 ed their Anfwer, he caufed the Army to march 
 away with Pheretima. This was the Pretext of 
 the War. But in my Opinion he fent thefe 
 Forces to conquer the Libyans. For of the Li- 
 byan Nations which are many and differing in 
 their Cuftoms, few were lubjeft to Darius, and 
 the far greater Part defpis'd his Power. To 
 begin with thofe who inhabit next to the JE- 
 gyptians : The Adrymachides are the firft Peo- 
 ple we find ; and for the moft Part obferve the 
 Ufages of ALgypt : Only they cloath in the Li- 
 byan Habit. Their Wives wear a Chain of 
 Brafs on each Leg ; drefs in their Hair, and if 
 they happen to find a Loufe, kill it with their 
 Teeth, in Revenge of the Bite they receiv'd ; 
 and then fpit it out again. In the Obfervation 
 of one Cuftom they are fingular ; being the 
 only People of all Libya, who bring their Vir- 
 gins before Marriage into the King's Prefence, 
 that if he like any one above the reft, he may 
 lye with her. This Country extends from 
 the Borders of ALgypt to the Port of Plynus. 
 Weftward of this Nation the Gigames are feat- 
 ed, and poflefs the Country down to the Ifland 
 Aphrodifia. In the midft of their Coaft the 
 Ifland of Plat#a is fituate, which was inhabited 
 by the Cyrenacans ; and the Lake of Menelas* 
 with the City of Aziris, built likewife by the 
 fame People, are on the Continent. At this 
 Place the Territories of Silpbium begin, and ex- 
 tend from that Ifland of Plat^a to the Chops of 
 the Syrtis. This People in their Cuftoms re- 
 femble the reft of the Libyans. The Afbyftes 
 
 are
 
 MELPOMENE. 431 
 
 are next adjoyning to the Gigames, and inhabit 
 a Country lying to the Weftward above Cyrene. 
 They poflefs no Part of the Coaft j becaufe the 
 Cyrenseans are Matters of all the maritime Pla- 
 ces. They are no lefs, but rather more experi- 
 enc'd than the reft of the Libyans in mounting 
 their Chariots -, and for the moft Part endeavour 
 to imitate the Manners of the Cyrenasans. The 
 Aufchifes are feated to the Weftward of the Af- 
 byftes, in a Region fituate above Barca^ and 
 extending to the Sea by the Country of Eue- 
 fperides. In the midft of the Aufchifes, the Ca- 
 bales inhabit a fmall Territory, reaching to lau- 
 fbira a maritim City of Earca, Both thefe ob- 
 ferve the fame Cuftoms with thofe who dwell 
 above Cyrene. The next Country to the Weft- 
 ward of the Aufchifes is poflefs'd by the Nafa- 
 mones, a very numerous People. In Summer 
 they leave their Cattle on the Coaft, and go 
 up to the Plains of ALgyla^ in order to gather 
 the Fruit of the Palm-trees ; which abound in 
 that Place, and are all Bearers without Excep- 
 tion. There they take Grafs-hoppers, which 
 having dried in the Sun they grind, and in- 
 fufmg them in Milk, compofe a Liquor for their 
 Drink. Every Man by the Cuftom of the Coun- 
 try has divers Wives ; which he ufes, like the 
 Maflagetes, in publick, after he has fet up his 
 Staff for a Mark : And when they marry, the 
 Bride goes the firft Night to all the invited 
 Guefts ; and after they have lain with her, they 
 make her a Prefent, which every one brings 
 from Home to that end. In their folemn Oaths 
 and Divinations they obferve the following Man- 
 ner. When they fwear, they lay their Hands 
 on the Sepulchres of thofe, who are generally 
 
 efteem'd
 
 432 HERODOTUS. Book IV. 
 
 efteem'd to have been the moft juft and excellent 
 Perfons among them. And when they would 
 divine, they go to the Tombs of their Anceftors, 
 and after certain Prayers, they lye down to 
 fleep; and ground their Predictions upon the 
 Dreams they have at thofe Times. In pledging 
 their Faith to each other, they mutually pre- 
 fent a Cup of Liquor ; and if they have none, 
 the Parties take up fbme Duft from the Ground, 
 which they put into their Mouths. The Pfyl- 
 Jians are the next adjacent People to the Na- 
 famones, and were deftroy'd in this Manner. 
 All their Country lying within the Syrtis, is 
 deftitute of Springs ; and when the South- Wind 
 had dried up all their Referves of Water, they 
 confulted together, and determin'd to make War 
 againft that Wind (I only repeat what the Li- 
 byans fay j) and after they were arriv'd at 
 the Sands, the South- Wind blowing hard bu- 
 ried them alive, and the Nafamones took Pof- 
 feflion of their Habitations, The Country that 
 lies above the Nafamones is inhabited by the 
 Garamantees, who avoid the Sight and Society 
 of all other Men ; poflefling no military Wea- 
 pon, nor daring to defend themfelves. But 
 in the maritim Places firuate to the Weftward 
 they have the Maces for their Neighbours, 
 who mave their Heads quite round ; only 
 leaving a Lock of Hair growing in the mid- 
 dle of the Crown : And when they make War, 
 they wear the Skin of Oftriches inftead of Ar- 
 mour. The River Cinyps runs thro' their Coun- 
 try ; riling in an Eminence call'd the Hill of 
 the Graces ; which is cover'd with Trees (tho* 
 all the other Parts I have mention*d are naked) 
 and diftant two hundred Stades from the Sea. 
 
 Next
 
 MELPOMENE. 433 
 
 Next in Situation are the Gindanes, whoie 
 Wives the Libyans fay, wear as many Borders on 
 their Coats as they have had Men : And fhe who 
 has the moft of thofe Borders, is moft efteem'd 
 becaufe fhe has had the greateft Number of Lo- 
 vers. The Promontory that advances from this 
 Country to the Sea, is poflefs'd by the Lotopha- 
 ges, who live altogether upon the Fruit of the 
 Lotus, which is of equal Bignefs of that of the 
 Lentifcus ; but exceedingly iweet like the Date. 
 The Inhabitants make Wine of this Fruit. 
 Next adjoyning to the Lotophages, are the Ma- 
 chlyes, on that fide which defccnds to the Sea. 
 They eat the Fruit of the Lotos: But fubfift 
 not wholly upon it, like thofe I mention'd be- 
 fore. The Triton, a confiderable River, runs 
 along the Borders of this Country, and falls 
 into the great Lake Tritonis , where the Ifland 
 of Pblia is fituate ; to which the Lacedaemo- 
 nians were admonifh'd by an Oracle to fend a 
 Colony, on this Occafion. When Jafcn had 
 built the Argos at the Foot of Mount Pelion, and 
 put a Hecatomb on board, with a Tripos of 
 Brafs, he fail'd round the Coaft of Peloponnefns^ 
 in order to go to Delphi : But endeavouring to 
 double the Cape of Ma/ea, he was ftirpriz'd by 
 a violent Storm blowing from the North, and 
 driven to the Coaft of Libya: Where, before 
 he could difcern the Shore, he found his Ship 
 engag'd in the Sands of the Lake Tritonis. In 
 this Perplexity, they fay, a Triton appearing to 
 Jafon, promis'd to bring the Ship off, and fend 
 her away fafe, if he would prefent him with the 
 Tripos. Jafon accepted the Condition ; and 
 the Triton, after he had fhewn him a Paflage 
 out of the Shelves, placM the Tripos in his awn, 
 F f Temple:
 
 434 HERODOTUS. Eook IV. 
 
 Temple : Which he had no fooner done, than he 
 deliver'd an Oracle from thence , declaring to 
 Jafon and his Companions, That when any of 
 the Dependents of thofe who were on board the 
 Argos, mould be poflefs'd of that Tripos, Fate 
 had determin'd that the Grecians mould efta- 
 blifh a hundred Colonies about the Lake of 3r/- 
 tonis : And when the neighbouring Nations 
 of Libya were inform'd of this Prediction, they 
 took care to conceal the Tripos. Next to thefe 
 is the Seat of the Aufes ; whofe Territories-, 
 together with thofe of the Machlyes, encompafs 
 the whole Lake of Tritfltis, and are fepara- 
 tsd by the River Triton. They let their Hair 
 grow on the fore Part of their Head, and the 
 Machlyes behind. The Aufes celebrate an An- 
 nual Feftival to Minerva ; in which the Virgins 
 dividing themfelves into two Companies, en- 
 gage in a Combat with Sticks and Stones. This, 
 they fay, is done, purfuant to ancient Cuftom, 
 in Honour of a National Goddefs call'd Minerva; 
 and maintain that all thofe who dye of the 
 Wounds they receive in thefe Combats, were 
 not Virgins. But before they depart out of 
 the Field, they take the Virgin, who by com- 
 mon Confent has behav'd herfelf moft vali- 
 antly ; and having drefs'd her in a Corinthi- 
 an Helmet, and a whole Suit of Grecian Ar- 
 mour, they place her in a Chariot, and con- 
 duct her in Triumph round the Lake. What 
 kind of Arms thefe Virgins us'd before the 
 Grecians came to inhabit in thofe Parts, I can- 
 not affirm -, but I conjecture they were fuch 
 as the ^Egyptians ufe : And I am of Opinion, 
 that the Shield and Helmet were brought from 
 Mgypt into Greece. They fay, Minerva was born 
 
 of
 
 MELPOMENE. 435 
 
 of Neptune and the Lake Tritonis ; and that being 
 difcontented with her Father on fome Occasion, 
 fhe gave herfelf to Jupiter, who made her his 
 Daughter by Adoption. The Men of this Coun- 
 try have no Wives appropriated to particular 
 Perfons ; but accompany with all Women in- 
 differently, after the Manner of other Animals : 
 And when a Boy has been educated by his Mo- 
 ther to a convenient Age, he is admitted into 
 an Aflembly of the Men, which is held every 
 three Months to that purpofe ; and the Mari 
 he applies himfelf chiefly to, is reputed his 
 Father. This Nation inhabits the maritini 
 Parts, below the Libyan Nomades : And above 
 thefe, afcending farther within the Land, lies 
 a Region frequented only by wild Beafts ; be- 
 yond which is a Ridge of Sands, ftretching 
 from the ^Egyptian Thebes to the Columns of 
 Hercules. After a Journey of about ten Days' 
 within this Space, Rocks of Salt are found, 
 rifing like Pillars^ and fpouting out a cool and 
 pleafant Water from the Top of each. Thofc 
 who inhabit the Parts adjacent to thefe Springs, 
 are the laft of all the Libyans on this fide the 
 De farts, and beyond the Beafts of Prey. . Ten 
 iDays Journey from Thebes^ the Territories of 
 the Ammonians begin, who have a Temple 
 refembling that of the Tbeban Jupiter. For, as 
 I faid before, the Image of Jupiter^ which is 
 plac'd in the Temple of ^Thebes, has the Head 
 df a Ram. They have likewife a Fountain, 
 which in the Morning is tepid ; and growing 
 cool during the Hours of walking abroad* be- 
 comes very cold about Noon, and is then us'd in 
 watering their Gardens. As the Day declines^ 
 this Cold gradually diminimes, till about the Set- 
 F f 2 ting
 
 436 HERODOTUS. Book IV. 
 
 ting of the Sufi the Water becomes tepid again,- 
 and continuing to increafe in Heat, boils at Mid- 
 night like a Tide, and from that Time to the 
 Morning cools by degrees. This Fountain is 
 call'd, The Fountain of the Sun. At the End of 
 about ten Days more, Men arrive by a fandy 
 Way at another Pillar of Salt, like thofe of the 
 Ammonians i fpouting out Water in the fame 
 Manner, and furrounded with Habitations. The 
 Region goes by the Name of Mgila ; and is 
 frequented by the Nafamones on Account of 
 the Dates. Ten Days more bring a Man to 
 another Pillar of Salt, with an Eruption of 
 Water and Palm-trees covering the adjacent 
 Lands, as in the Places abovemention*d. This 
 Country is inhabited by a populous Nation ; 
 known by the Name of the Garamantes, who* 
 after they have laid frefh Earth upon the Salt, 
 fow their Corn in that Ground. From thefe to 
 the Lotophages the Way is fhort : But from the 
 Lotophages to that Region where the Oxen go 
 backward, is as far as a Man can walk in thirty 
 Days. The Horns of thefe Animals moot dire<5!> 
 ly forward ; and compel them to draw back as 
 they feed. For they could not poffibly go for- 
 ward ; becaufe their Horns muft ftick in the 
 Ground. In every thing elfe they are like other 
 'Oxen , except only that their Hide is harder and 
 ( thicker. Thefe Garamantes are accuftom'd to fit 
 In Chariots, and hunt the ./Ethiopian Troglody- 
 tes ; who are reported to be fwifter of Foot than 
 any other Nation in the World. They feed upon 
 Serpents, and Lizards, with many other Kinds of 
 Reptils ; and their Speech refembles the fhreek- 
 ing of a Bat, rather than the Language of Men. 
 "2" At
 
 MELPOMENE. 437 
 
 At the Diftance of about ten Days Journey from 
 the Garamantes, is feen another Mound of 
 Salt, with a Fountain ifiuing out of the Summit. 
 The adjacent Parts are inhabited by the Atlantes, 
 who are the only People, we know deftitute of 
 a particular Name. For that of Atlantes is the 
 common Appellation of all the Libyans in Con- 
 junction, and not given to any diftincT: Nation, 
 this only excepted. This People curfe the, 
 Sun as it paries over their Heads ; purfuing 
 him with the vileft Reproaches ; becaufe he 
 confumes both the Men and the Country with 
 his fcorching Heat. After a Journey of ten Days 
 more, another Hill of Salt appears, with a 
 Spring like the former, and Habitations of Men 
 in the adjoyning Region. In the Neighbour- 
 hood of this Place Mount Alias is fituate ; cir- 
 cular in Form, and {lender in Circumference ; 
 but of fo great a Height, that his Head is al- 
 ways invifible, being ever furrounded with 
 Clouds, both in Summer and Winter ; and 
 therefore by the Inhabitants call'd The Pillar of 
 Heaven. From hence thefe Men derive their 
 Name, and are call*d Atlantes. They neither 
 eat the Flefh of any Animal, nor are ever inter- 
 rupted in their Sleep by Dreams. Thus far I 
 have been able to fet down the Names of thofe 
 Nations that inhabit this Ridge of Sands ; but 
 cannot proceed farther j tho* they reach beyond 
 the Columns of Hercules. Within that Space, 
 Mines of Salt are found, branching out in, 
 Veins, fo far as a Man may travel in ten Days ; 
 and thofe Parts are inhabited by Men, who. 
 build their Houfes with Lumps of this Salt. In 
 .thefe Parts of Libya no Rain falls ; for Walls of 
 Salt could not ftand long, if any Rain fhould fall 
 F f 3 there,
 
 43? HERODOfUS. Book IV. 
 
 fhere. The Salt which is dug out of thefe Mines 
 is of two Colours, White and Purple. All above 
 this Ridge, tending to the South, and midland 
 Parts of Libya^ is utterly defart ; without Spring 
 or Beaft, Wood, Rain, or any kind of Moi- 
 fture. From Mgypt to the Lake fritonis^ the 
 Libyans are Breeders of Cattle , eat Flem, and 
 drink Milk; but abflain from the Flem of 
 Cows, no lefs than the ./Egyptians, and will not 
 keep Swine. ' Nay, among the Women of Cy- 
 rene^ to ftrike a Cow is accounted a Crime ; be- 
 caufe they celebrate the Fafts and Feftivals of the 
 ./Egyptian Ifis : Neither will the Barcamn Women 
 t'afte the Flem either of a Hog, or of a Cow. 
 And this is the State of things in thofe Parts. 
 THE Libyans who inhabit to the Weft- 
 ward of the Lake Tritonis, are not Keepers of 
 Cattle, and differ from the Cuftoms of thofe 
 that are ; one efpecially relating to Children. 
 For many of thofe who live upon Pafturage, 
 tho' I cannot affirm the fame of all, are ac- 
 Cuftom'd, when their Children attain to the Age 
 of four Years, to cauterife their Veins, either on 
 the Crown or Temples, with an Application of 
 Sheep's- Wool in the Greafe : To the End that, 
 during all the Time of their Lives, they may ne- 
 ver be 1 offended by pituitous Defluxions from 
 the Head. This, they fay, is the Caufe of the 
 perfect Health they enjoy : And indeed the Li- 
 byans of all the Nations we know, are the moft 
 healthy ; but whether from this or any other 
 Caufe, I mail not determine. If any of their 
 Children faint under the Operation, they recover 
 a jain by a fprinkling of Goats Urine ; which is 
 a Remedy of their own Invention. Thefe things 
 I repeat after the Libyans, In their Sacrifices, 
 
 thefe
 
 MELPOMENE. 439 
 
 thefe Libyan Nomades ufe the following Cere- 
 monies. They cut off the Ear of the Victim ; 
 which they throw over the Top of the Building, 
 as the Firft- fruits : And after that, they turn the 
 Head of the Animal from them. They facrifice 
 to no other Deities than the Sun and Moon, 
 which are univerfally wormipp'd by all the Li- 
 byans. But thofe who inhabit about the Lake 
 Tritonis, facrifice alfo to "Triton and Neptune i 
 and principally to Minerva. From thefe the 
 Grecians receiv'd the Apparel and Buckler of 
 Minerva's Images : Except only, that in Libya 
 her Habit is made of Skins, and the Fringes that 
 hang below the Buckler, are Thongs of Lea- 
 ther, and not Serpents. In all other things the 
 Refemblance is perfect : And even the Name 
 teftifies that the Stole of the Palladion came 
 from Libya. For the Libyan Women wear a 
 Mantle of tann'd Goat-fkins, dyed in Red and 
 fring'd, over the reft of their Garments. From 
 thefe Skins the Grecians gave the Name of M- 
 gis to Minerva's Shield : And I am inclin'd to. 
 think that the Songs of Lamentation, which 
 are fung in Temples, had the fame Original; 
 becaufe they are commonly us'd by the Women, 
 of Libya^ and gracefully perform'd. The Gre- 
 cians likewife learn'd from the Libyans, the 
 manner of guiding their Chariots with four Hor- 
 fes rang'd in Front. All the Nomades interr the 
 Dead like the Grecians ; except the Nafamones ; 
 who obferve the Time when the lick Perfon is 
 ready to expire, and then place him in a fitting 
 Pofture, that he may not dye with his Face 
 upward. Their Houfes are made of Shrubs 
 compacted with Rufhes, and portable. Such 
 ve the Cuftoms of thefe People. 
 
 Ff 4 THE
 
 44-0 HERO DO TUS. Book IV. 
 
 TH E Weft fide of the River Triton is inhabit- 
 ed by the Libyan Aufes ; who being Hufband- 
 men, and accuftom'd to live in Houfes, are call'd 
 Maxyes. They wear long Hair on the right fide 
 of the Head, and mave the left. They paint 
 the Body with Vermilion, and pretend to be 
 of Trojan Extraction. Their Country, with 
 all the reft of the weftern Parts of Libya a- 
 bounds more in Woods and wild Beafts, than 
 thofe of the Nomades. For the Regions of Li- 
 bya that lye to the Eaftward, and are inhabited 
 by Herdfmen, are low and fandy, as far as 
 the River Triton : Whereas thofe that are pof- 
 fefs'd by Hufbandmen, and fituate beyond that 
 River, to the Weftward, are mountainous ; a- 
 bounding in Woods, and Beafts of Prey. Ser- 
 pents of incredible Bignefs are feen in this 
 Country ; with Lyons, Elephants, Bears, Afpics, 
 and Afies arm'd with Horns. The Cynoce- 
 phalus, which, as the Libyans fay, has Eyes 
 plac'd on his Breaft ; together with Savages, 
 both Men and Women ; and many other ftrange 
 Animals ; are likewife frequent in thofe Parts. 
 None of thefe things are feen among the No- 
 mades : But in Recompence, they have Eagles 
 with a white Tail ; Buffaloes ; fmall Deer ; and 
 AfTes that never drink. They have likewife the 
 Qrys ; which is a wild Beaft, equal in Bignefs to 
 a Cow : And from the Horns of this Animal the 
 Phcenici-ins took the Mcafure of their Cubit. 
 There is aifo the BarTaria , the Hyaena ; the Por- 
 cupine ; the wild Ram ; the Didtys ; the Thois ; 
 the Panther ; the Borys ; and Land-Crocodiles 
 of about three Cubits in Length, refembling 
 the Lizard in Shape , together with a fort of 
 Oftrich that burrows in the Earth, and a fmall 
 
 Serpent
 
 MELPOMENE. 44* 
 
 Serpent with one Horn, Thefe, and all Kinds 
 of Animals that live in other Countries, except 
 the Stag and the wild Boar, abound in the Re- 
 gions of the Nomades. But neither of thoie 
 two are ever ieen in any Part of Lybia. They 
 have three forts of Rats , fome of which are 
 call'd by the Name of Dipodes, or two-footed ; 
 fome by that of Zegeries., or Mountain- Rats, as 
 the Lybian Word founds in the Grecian Lan- 
 guage , and others are nam'd Echines. There 
 are alfo Weefels in the Territories of Silphium, 
 perfectly like thofe of TarteJJus. So many are 
 the wild Beafts produc'd in the Countries of 
 the Lybiari Nomades; according to" the beft 
 Information I could attain by the ftricteft and 
 inoft diligent" Inquiry. Next adjoyning to the 
 Maxyes, the Zaveces are fituate, whofe Wives 
 drive their Chariots in War: And after them 
 the Country of the Zygantes, where abundance 
 of Honey is made by Bees; and they fay, a 
 much greater Quantity by the Artifice of Men. 
 All thefe paint themfelves with Vermilion, and 
 eat Monkies, which are bred there in great 
 Numbers, especially in the Hills. The Car- 
 thaginians fay, that an Ifland call'd Cyranis lies 
 at a fmall Diftance from this Shore ; inconfi- 
 derable in Breadth, but comprehending two 
 hundred Stades in Length ; of eafy Accefs from 
 the Continent, and abounding in Olive-trees 
 and Vines. They add, that there is a Lake in 
 this Ifland, out of which the Virgins of the 
 Country take up with Feathers a pitchy Sub- 
 ftance intermix'd with Sprigs of Gold. I can- 
 not affirm the Fact to be true ; but I write no 
 more than they fay. Yet 'tis not impoflible. 
 For I have feen Pitch drawn up out of a Lake 
 * in
 
 442 HERODOTUS. Book IV. 
 
 in the Ifland of Zacynthus \ which contains feve- 
 ral Lakes : The larger! of which is a Square 
 of feventy Foot on every fide, and of two Fa- 
 thom in Depth. They let down a Pole into 
 this Lake, with a Myrtle faften'd to the End, 
 and draw out Pitch hanging about the Myrtle, 
 of a Bituminous Scent, and better than that of 
 Pieria. This they put into a Pit prepared to 
 that purpofe near the Lake ; and when they 
 have collected a great Quantity, they pour it 
 off into Veffels. All that falls into the Water, 
 pafles under Ground, and appears again upon 
 the Surface of the Sea, which is about four 
 Stades diftant from the Lake. Thefe things be- 
 ing fo, the Account given of the Libyan Lake 
 jnay not feem improbable. The Carthaginians 
 farther fay, that beyond the Columns of Hercu^ 
 les there is a Region of J^ibya well inhabited ; 
 where when they arrive, they unload their 
 Merchandize on. the Shore, and returning again 
 to their Ships, make great Fires : That the- 
 Inhabitants feeing the Smoak, come down to 
 the Coaft, and leaving Gold in Exchange for 
 the Goods, depart again to fome diftance from 
 the Place : That the Carthaginians at the fame 
 Time going afhore, view the Gold ; and if the 
 Quantity feem fufficient for the Goods, they take 
 it up and fail away ; but if they are not contented, 
 they return to their Ships and continue there : 
 That , the Libyans upon this come again, and 
 lay down more Gold to the former, 'till they 
 have fatisfied the Merchants:, That no Wrong 
 is done on either part, the Carthaginians never 
 touching the Gold, before they acquiefce in the : 
 Price ; nor the Inhabitants the Merchandize, 
 before the Gold is taken away. And thus \ 
 have
 
 MELPOMENE. 443 
 
 have nam'd all the People of Libya I can : The 
 greater Part of which have had little Regard 
 to the King of the Medes, either at that Time 
 or fince. But I muft add, that this Country is 
 inhabited by four feveral Sorts of People, and 
 no more, that we know. Two of thefe are 
 Original Inhabitants, and the other two are Stran- 
 gers. Of the firft Sort are the Libyans and 
 ./Ethiopians , of the other, the Phoenicians and 
 Grecians. Neverthelefs in my Opinion Libya is 
 not comparable to Afia or Europe in Fertility, 
 except in the Territories of Cinyps, which lies 
 upon a River of the fame Name, and is equal 
 to any other Land in the Production of Corn, 
 and altogether unlike the reft of Libya. For 
 the Soil is black, and well water'd with Springs ; 
 fecure from immoderate Drynefs ; and never 
 hurt by exceflive wet ; tho* fome Rain falls in 
 that Region. Thefe Lands produce as great a 
 Meafure of Plenty as thofe about Babylon. The 
 Country of the Euefperides is likewife fruitful ; 
 yielding in a very plentiful Year a hundred for 
 one ; but that of Cinyps about three hundred. 
 The Territories of Cyrene are in Situation higher 
 than any other Part of the Country that belongs 
 to the Libyan Nomades, and contain three Regi- 
 ons worthy of Admiration. For no fooner is 
 the Harveft of the maritim Places laid up, and 
 Vintage over, than the Fruits of the: fecond 
 Region, which they call the Hills, attain to 
 maturity : And whilft they are carried off, 
 thofe of the higheft Part become ripe. So that 
 during the Time they eat and drink the firft 
 Productions, the next Crop is perfectly ready. 
 Thus the Cyrenaeans are eight Months em- 
 ploy'd in a continued Succeflion of Harvefts ; 
 i and
 
 444 HERODOTUS. Book IV. 
 
 and this may be fufficient to fay concerning 
 thefe things. 
 
 THE Perfians who were fent by Aryandes 
 from Mgtyt to revenge the Quarrel of Phere- 
 tima, arriving before Barca laid Siege to the City, 
 and by a Herald demanded thofe Perfons who 
 jiad been concerned in the Death of Arcefilaus : 
 But the Inhabitants having univerfally confented 
 to the Fad, refus'd to hearken to the MefTage. 
 And after the Befiegers had been about nine 
 Months before the Place, carrying on divers 
 Mines towards the Walls, and ufing battering 
 Engines of War ; an Artificer in Brafs difcover'd 
 their Saps in this Manner. He carried a Shield 
 of that Metal round the City within the Wall, 
 and applying it to the Ground, heard no Noife 
 where the Earth was folid : But when he came 
 to the Parts that were undermin'd, the Brafs 
 rung. Upon which difcovery fome of the Bar- 
 caeans fell to countermining, and kill'd all the 
 Perfians who were employ'd in the Mines, 
 Whilft others difmounted their Engines. Much 
 Time had been fpent in the Siege ; many of the 
 Barcaeans kill'd, and the Lofs of the Perfians no 
 lefs confiderable -, when Amafis General of the 
 Army, rinding he could not fucceed by Force, 
 refolv'd to reduce the City by Fraud ; and to 
 that End contriv'd this Stratagem. He open'd 
 a broad Trench in the Night, which he cover'd 
 with flight Planks of Wood ; and by fpreading a 
 Surface of Earth upon the Timber, rendred that 
 Part equal to the adjoyning Ground. Early the 
 next Morning he demanded a Conference with 
 the Barcaeans ; which they readily accepted, be- 
 caufe they were defirous to come to an Accom- 
 modation i
 
 MELPOMENE. 445 
 
 ttiodation ; and accordingly 2 Treaty was con*- 
 eluded on both fides, and confirm'd by Oath on 
 that Spot of Ground^ which was undermin'd ; 
 importing, " That the Agreement mould con- 
 " tinue in force as long as the Earth on which 
 " they flood mould remain in the prefent Con- 
 *' dition : That the Barcasans mould pay a com- 
 " petent Tribute to the King, and that the 
 " Perfians mould innovate nothing in Barca* 
 Under the Faith of this Treaty the Barca?ans 
 opening their Gates, went frequently out of the 
 City, and receiv'd all the Perfians who defir'd to 
 be admitted. But during this Intercourfe, the 
 Perfians enter'd the Place with all their Forces ; 
 after they had broken down the Covering of the 
 Trench they had made. Which they did, to 
 free themfelves from the Obligation of the Oath 
 they had taken to the Barcaeans, " That the 
 " Treaty mould fubfift fo long as the Earth 
 u on which they flood mould continue in the 
 lc fame Condition :" And fuppos'd, that upon 
 the Alteration they had made in that Place, they 
 had Itkewife diflblv'd the Force of their En- 
 gagement. 
 
 WHEN the Perfians had thus furpriz'd the 
 City, and put the Power into the Hands of 
 Pberetima, me caus'd thofe who had been princi- 
 pally concern 'd in the Death of Arcefilaus^ to be 
 impal'd round the Walls ; and having cut off 
 the Breafts of their Wives, affix'd them about 
 the fame Places. She gave the Pillage of the 
 other Inhabitants to the Perfians; excepting 
 only the Battiades, who had not confented to 
 the Enterprize : And on that Account me put 
 them into PofTeflion of the City. The Perfians 
 
 after
 
 HERODOTUS. Book IV. 
 
 after they had reduc'd the reft to Servitude, 
 march'd away , and when they arriv'd in the 
 Territories of Cyrene, the Cyrenaeans, in Obe- 
 dience to fome Oracle, permitted them to pafs 
 freely. But as they pafs'd ; Barest who com- 
 manded the Naval Forces, endeavoured to per- 
 fuade them to plunder the City : To which 
 Amafis^ General of the Land Army, would not 
 tonfent , faying, He was fent againft no other 
 Grecian City than that of Barca. Neverthelefs 
 when they had march'd thro* the Country, and 
 were arriv'd at the Altar of the Lyc<ean Jupiter, 
 they began to repent that they had not poffefs'd 
 themfelves of Cyrene, and attempted to return 
 thither. But tho' the Cyrenaeans were not upon 
 their Guard* nor had drawn out any Force to 
 oppofe them, the Perfians were ftruck with a 
 Panick Fear ; and turning back again with great 
 Precipitation, encamp'd at the Diftance of about 
 fixty Stades. In this Camp they receiv'd an 
 Order of Arydndes for their Return; and hav- 
 ing defir'd a Supply of Provisions from the Cy- 
 renaeans, they obtain'd . their Requefl^ and 
 march'd away towards JEgyft. In their March" 
 they were continually harrafs'd by the Libyans ; 
 vfhctj to get their Clothes and Baggage, kill'd 
 all they found fick or ftraggling, 'till the Army 
 arriv'd in Mgypt ; after they had penetrated the 
 fartheft Part of Libya to the Country of the 
 Euefperides. The Barcasan Captives were fent 
 from JEgypt to King Darius ; and by his Com- 
 mand fettled in a Diftrict of Baftria ; which 
 they afterwards call'd by the Name of Barca^ 
 and the Place is inhabited at this Time. Never- 
 
 thelef*
 
 MELPOMENE. 44.7 
 
 thelefs the End of Pheretima was not happy t 
 For foon after me had taken Revenge againft the 
 Baroeans, and was return'd to Mgypt from Li- 
 bya, fhe was eaten alive by Worms, and perim'd 
 miferably. So odious to the Gods are the Ex- 
 cefles of human Vengeance. Such, and & ex- 
 orbitant was the Cruelty exercis'd againft the 
 Barcaeans by Pberetima the Daughter of Battus. 
 
 End of the Fourth Book. 
 
 Ait
 
 An I N D E X to the Firft Volume of 
 the Hiftory of HERODOTUS. 
 
 A. 
 
 ADraftus, fee Atys and Creefus. 
 jEgypt, and its Productions, largely defcrib'd; toge- 
 ther with the Rites, Cuftoms, Manners and Hiftory of 
 the ./Egyptians : fbefe make the Subjefi of the whole fecond 
 Book, and the Beginning of the third Book ; viz. from 
 Page 137 to 256. 
 
 Egyptians, firft Inventors of the Year, 139. Firft gave 
 Names to the twelve Gods, and creeled the firft Altars, 
 Images and Temples, Ib. Their eafy Husbandry, 145. 
 Their national Cuftoms, 157. Firft us'd Circumcifion; 
 Their Cleanlinefs, efpecially of their Priefts, 158. 
 The Advantages of their Priefts, and their Manner of 
 facrificing, 159, 160, 161. Egyptians will not eat 
 the Head of any Animal, 160. Their Averfion to the 
 Grecians, 161. Are forbidden to kill any Cattle, Ib. 
 The Reafon of their reprefenting Jupiter with the Head 
 of a Ram, 162. They reckon Swine impure, and 
 therefore will not admit Hogheards into their Temples, 
 165. Yet facrifice thofe Animals to Bacchus, and to 
 the Moon when at full, and then eat of them, 166. 
 The Names of almoft all the Grecian Gods, originally 
 deriv'd from the ./Egyptians, 167. Who pay no reli- 
 gious Honour to Heroes, 168. Oracles carried into 
 Greece and Libya from jEgypt, 169. ./Egyptians the firft 
 Inventors of Feftivals, and Ceremonies, 171. Their 
 Manner of celebrating the Feftival of Bubafiis, 172; and 
 of the Feftival call'd 'the Lighting of Lamps, 173. ./Egyp- 
 tians the firft who ordain'd that Men fhould abftain from 
 Women in the Temples, 174. Their Cuftoms relating 
 to Beafts, efpecially Cats and Crocodiles, 175, 177. Some 
 peculiar Manners of the ./Egyptians, 1 80. Inventors of 
 Predictions, and addifted to obferve Prodigies, 182. A- 
 mong the ./Egyptians every Phyfician applies himfelf 
 wholly to the Cure of one Difeafe only, 183. Their 
 Cuftoms relating to the Funerals, Ib. Their Ways of 
 G g embalm-
 
 INDEX. 
 
 embalming, lb. Their Navigation, 189. The .Egyptians 
 firft affirm'd the Immortality and Tranfmigration of a 
 Man's Soul, 209. ./Egyptian Prieils would by no Means 
 allow that a Man could be begotten by a God, 221. The 
 Egyptians divided into feven Orders of Men ; a. Com- 
 putation of the Numbers of that Order which from Fa- 
 ther to Son apply themfelves wholly to military Affairs, 
 235. The Lands conferr'd on their Militia, exempted 
 from all publick Tributes, as well as thofe of the Prieft- 
 hood, 236. 
 
 Dalian Cities, an Account of them, 95. See lonians. 
 
 uEfop, the Fellow-Servant of Rbodoph the Courtezan, 215. 
 
 ^Ethiopians, a remarkable Account of the Macrobian ./Ethio- 
 pians, 257. 
 
 Africa, the Phoenicians fail'd round all its Coaft, from the 
 Red-Sea to jEgyDt, 364. 
 
 Alexander, Son of Priatnus, having carried off Helena from 
 Sparta, is forc'd by a Temped to land in ^Egypt, and is 
 fent up to the Court of King Proteus, 199. 
 
 Afyattes, his Manner of diftrefling the Milefians, whom he 
 could not befiege, 10. The Sequel of that Story, 12. 
 His Sepulchre, 61. 
 
 Amajis, defeats the Army of Apries, and fo fecures his Pof- 
 feffion of the Throne of JEgypt, 236. His Contrivance 
 to gain Refpeft from the ./Egyptians, 239. His Reafon 
 for dividing his Time between Bufinefs and Diverfion, 
 239. His Buildings, 240. Other Actions of his, 241. 
 His Daughter being demanded for a Wife by Cambyfes, 
 he fends to him Nitetis the Daughter of Apries ; which 
 Cambyfes made a Pretext, among others, for invading 
 jEg\pt, 246. But Amafu dies before that Invafion, 
 250. His remarkable Tranfadlion with Polycrates of Sa- 
 mos, 271. 
 
 Amazont, their Arrival in Scjtbia, and their Marriage with 
 Scythian Youths, whom they perfuade to remove with 
 them to Sarmatia, 398. 
 
 Any/is, a blind Man, King of jEgypt, flies to the Fens on 
 the Invafion of his Kingdom by Sabacon, 217. Forms an 
 Jfland in the Fens, 219. Returns to the Exercife of his 
 Government, Ib. 
 
 Apries, King of JEgypt, moft of the ^Egyptians revolt from 
 him and fet up Amafu, 233. By a paffionate and unwor- 
 thy Treatment of an eminent Egyptian, he lofes the reft 
 of the ^Egyptians who adher'd to him, 234. With his 
 Auxiliary Forces of Carians and lonians he fights a Butle 
 againft Amafis and the ./Egyptians, is defeated, taken Pri- 
 foner, and itrangled, 236. Arabia,
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Arabia* fome Account of it, 312. In what Manner the A- 
 
 rabians gather Frankincenfe, 313. And Caffia, 314. 
 Arcejilaus, fee Pberetima. 
 An ArcbiteS, in building an Apartment for the King of JE- 
 
 gypfs Treafure, leaves one Stone loofe ; by removing 
 
 which thofe Treafures might be robb'd: A remarkable 
 
 Story thereupon, 204. 
 
 Arion fav'd from drowning by a Dolphin, 13. 
 Ari/iodicus, a remarkable Story of his Behaviour towards the 
 
 Oracle of Brancbis, 100. 
 Artabanus, in vain offers to difluade his Brother Darius from 
 
 invading Scytbia, 386. 
 
 Afpatbines, fee Seven Noblemen of Ptr/ia, 291. 
 Aftyages, fee Cyrus and Harpagui. 
 Afycbis, King of jEgypt, his Actions, 216. 
 AtoJ/a, Wife of Darius, perfuades him to undertake a War 
 
 againft G/w*, 328. 
 Atys, kill'd by Adr ajius, who afterwards kills himfelf, 21. 
 
 B. 
 
 Babylon, defcrib'd, in. (as is alfo the Country about it, 
 121.) befieg'd and taken by Cyrus, 119. Befieg'd by Da- 
 rius, 338. and taken, 343. 
 
 Babylonians, their Cuftoms, 120, 122. 
 
 Battus, by the Command of an Oracle, fettles with a Colony 
 of Grecians at Cyrene in Libya, 422. 
 
 Bias, his Saying to Crarfus, 15. His Advice to the Io- 
 nians, 106. 
 
 Butus, a City of JEgypt, fome very remarkable Structures 
 there defcrib'd, 229. 
 
 C. 
 
 Cambyfes, fucceeds Cyras in the Kingdom of Perjta, 137. 
 Refolves to lead an Army againft JEgypt, 245. Facilitate* 
 his March to that Country, by a Treaty with the King 
 of Arabia, 249. Defeats Pfammenitut, King of JEgypt, 
 in a fet Battle, 251. and takes Memphis, 252. His Trial 
 of the Conftancy of Pfammenitut, lb. At Sais he caufes 
 the Corpfe of King Amajis to be burnt, 255. He fends 
 Spies under Pretence of carrying Prefents, to the Country 
 of the Macrobian ^Ethiopuns ; their Speech to the 
 King of that Country, at the Delivery of thofe Prefents, 
 257. His Anfwer, 258. On the Return of the Spies, 
 Cambyfes refolves in a Paffion to march againft the M- 
 thiopians, 260. But lofing a great Part of his Army 
 G g 2 in
 
 INDEX. 
 
 in the fandy Defarts beyond Thebes, he is oblig'd to re- 
 turn to Memphis, 261. Another confiderable Body of 
 Men which he had order'd from Thebes, to lay wafte 
 the Country of the Ammonians, are buried alive in the 
 Sands, Ib. He kills the ^Egyptian God Apis, 263. In- 
 duc'd by a Dream, he caufes his own Brother Smerdis to 
 be made away, 264. and kills his own Sifter, 265. He 
 commits other Extravagancies, 266. His Treatment of 
 Crtzfus who admonifti'd him to moderate his Paffions, 
 268. While he continues delirious in JEgypt, two of the 
 Mages confpire agaxntl him ; and one of them (nam'd 
 Smerdis) pretending to be that Smerdis, Brother of Cam- 
 byfes, who was kill'd, caus'd himfeif to be proclaim'd 
 by a Herald in the Army and Prefence of Cambyfes, 
 284. His Regret for having, caus'd his Brother to be 
 kill'd, when be found his Dream fulfill'd by Smerdis the 
 Mage, 285. Mounting his Horfe with a Refolution to 
 march back to Perfia againft the Mages, he accidentally 
 wounds himfeif with his own Sword, and dies of the 
 Wound, 286. His memorable Speech to the Perfians be- 
 fore he expir'd, Ib. 
 Candaules, contrives to let his Wife be feen naked by Gygtt, 
 
 6. and is at his Wife's Inftigation kill'd by him, 8. 
 Carians and Caunians, fome Account of them, 107, 108. 
 Cephrenes, King of jEgypt, erefts one of the Pyramids, 211. 
 Charilaus, fee M&andrus. 
 Cheops, King of uEgypt, builds a wonderful Bridge and Py- 
 
 lamid, 210. Proftitutes his Daughter for Money, 211. 
 Circumdfjon, us'd by the Colchians, ^Egyptians, and ^Ethio- 
 pians, from Time immemorial, 193. 
 
 Cleomenes, King of Sparta, refufes to be corrupted by Mo- 
 ney* 337- 
 Coes, of Mitylene, advifes Darius to leave the Bridge on the 
 
 Ifter Jntire when he pafs'd into Scythia, 392. 
 Crcefus the firft of the Barbarians who attack'd the Grecians, 
 4. His Converfation with Bias, 1 5. His Converfation 
 with Solon, 1 6. Entertains Adraflus, who kills his Son 
 Atys, 2 1 . His Meflage to the Oracle at Delphi, in order 
 to his inquiring afterwards concerning a War with Cy- 
 rus ; and his Prefents for the true Anfwer he receiv'd, 
 26. He coniults the Oracle farther, 30. The Anfwer 
 of the Oracle touching a War againlt Cyrus, 31. He 
 fends to the Spartans to delire their Alliance, 42. He 
 rejefts the prudent Advice of Sandanis, who would 
 have difluaded him from making War againft the Per- 
 fians, 44. He invades Cappadocia, 46. Fights a drawn 
 i Battle
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Battle with Cyrus near Pteria, and then returns to Sardis, 
 
 48. Whither Cyrus advancing, defeats him in the Field, 
 50. And thereupon befieging Sardis, that City is taken, 
 and Crcefus in it, 53. His Life is fav'd on that Occafion. 
 by the Exclamation of his Son, who till then had been 
 dumb, 44. He is fetter'd and plac'd on a Pile of Wood, 
 by Command of Cyrus, in order to be burnt, but is fav'd, 
 55. On his Advice Cyrus takes from the Perfians the 
 Plunder of Sardis, 57. He defires Cyrus to let him fend 
 his Fetters to the God- of the Grecians who had deceiv'd 
 him by illufory Oracles, 58. His Advice to Cyrus to ren- 
 der the Lydians effeminate, 98. His Advice to Cyrus 
 to pafs into the Country of the Maflagetes, rather than 
 let them bring their Forces into his Dominions, 129. 
 He is recommended by Cyrus to his Son Cambyfes, Ib. 
 His artful Compliment to Cambifes, 267. He admonifhes 
 Cambyfes to moderate his Paffions, receives from him a 
 very reproachful Anfwer, and is order'd to be put to 
 Death ; but is fav'd to the Joy of Cambyfes, 268. Who 
 neverthelefs caufes the Officers, who by laving Crcefus 
 difobey'd his Orders, to be executed, 269. 
 
 Cyaraxei, his Actions, 67, 69. 
 
 Cyrus, his Parents and Birth, 69. He is delivered to Har- 
 pagus, by his Grandfather Aftiagei, to be murther'd, but 
 is preferv'd and brought up by a Herdfman's Wife, 70. 
 By an Accident he comes to be difcover'd to 4/lyaget, 
 74. who fends him to his Parents in Perjja, 79. Being 
 grown a Man, he is invited by Harpagus, who had pre- 
 par'd the principal Medes to affift him, to revolt with 
 the Perfians and dethrone Ajlyage^ 80. The Means 
 he us'd to perfuade the Perfians to revolt, 82. He 
 leads them againft the Medes, and fucceeds in his En- 
 terprize, 84. He fights a Battle near Pteria in Cappa- 
 dotia, with Crcefus who had invaded that Country, 48. 
 Advances to Sardis, defeats Crcefus, and befieges Sardii, 
 
 49. takes it, and in it Crcefus, 53. Whofe Life he fpares, 
 on his relating to him a Saying of Solon, 55. His An- 
 fwer to the lonians and ^Bolians, who made an Offer 
 of their SubmifBon ta him after he had conquer'd the 
 Lydians, 90. His Spying concerning the Grecians, 97. 
 He leaves Sardis to return to Perfia, the Lydians revolt, 
 his Words to Crcefus thereupon, Crcefus advifcs him to 
 difarm the Lydians and render them effeminate by in- 
 dulging them in an idle and luxurious Way of living, 
 that fo they might have no Spirit to rebel again, 98. 
 He marches againft Babylon, and in his Way drains the 
 
 G g 3 River
 
 INDEX. 
 
 River Gjnde's, 118. Befieges5<7^>7^, and takes it, 119. 
 He makes War againft the Maflagetes, 1 26. Receives a 
 Meflage from Tomyris Queen of thofe People, 128. En- 
 ters her Country, 131. His Dream concerning Darius, 
 Ib. He defeats by Stratagem the Son of Tomyris ; but 
 his Army is entirely defeated by her, himfelf kill'd, and his 
 Head thrown into a Veflel fill'd with Blood, 133. 
 
 D. 
 
 Darius, Son of Hyftafpes, a Nobleman of Per/ia, one of 
 Seven who confpir'd againft Smerdis the Mage, who 
 with his Brother Patizitbes had ufurp'd the Government 
 of that Monarchy ; his Proportion touching the put- 
 ting their Enterprize into immediate Execution without 
 feparating, 291. 'Tis approv'd by the reft, 293. and 
 executed, one of the Mages being kill'd by the Hand of 
 Darius, 296. The Seven confuting what Sort of Go- 
 vernment to eftablifh, Dariui's Sentiment for Monar- 
 chy prevails, 297. and by Art he gets himfelf eledred, 
 302. He eredls the Statue of his Horfe, by whofe Neigh- 
 ing he gain'd the Crown, 304. He divides his Domi- 
 nions into Satrapies, and appoints the Revenues to be 
 furnim'd him by^ each Divifion, 304. He is accounted 
 covetous, 305, 317. He puts Intepbernes (one of the 
 Seven) to Death, 318. Being perfuaded by his Wife 
 Atojfa to make War againft Greece, he fends Democides 
 with fome Perfians to view the Country, 327. His 
 Gratitude to Sylofon, who in ^Egypt gave him a Scarlet- 
 Cloak, 332. He fends Otaaes with an Army to put Sy- 
 lofon in PofTeffion of Samos, 333. The Succefs of that 
 Expedition, 336. He befieges Babylon, and by the 
 Means of Zopyrus takes it, 338. He prepares to invade 
 Serbia, 386. His cruel Ufage of Oeobazus, Ib. He 
 marches with his Army from Sufa to Cbakedon on the 
 Bofpbortss, where a Bridge was laid ready for his Paf- 
 fage, 387. The Number of his Army, 388. He pafles 
 with his Land-Forces into Europe, and orders the Io- 
 nuns to fail to the ljler t and lay a Bridge over it, 389. 
 His March through Ibrace, Ib. Arriving at the Ifler, he 
 is perfuackd by Goes to leave the Bridge there intire, 
 with the lonians to guard it, 393. He advances into 
 Scytbia, 404. His Meflage to King Indatbyrfus, 407. 
 Receive? a Prefent in Anfwer, 409. He finds himfelf 
 oblig'd to retire back to his Bridge on the IJier, 410. 
 The Expedient he us'd to conceal his Retreat, 41-1. The 
 Scythians get before him to the Bridge, and would have 
 
 perfuaded
 
 INDEX. 
 
 perfuaded the lonians to retire with the Ships that com- 
 pos'd it, and leave the Perfians to their Mercy, 412. But 
 Hifti<eus of Miletus difluades the lonians from taking their 
 Counfel, and fo laves Darius and his Army, 413. He 
 repaffes into Afia, 41 5. 
 
 Dfiofes, having engrofs'd to himfelf the Reputation of a juft 
 Judge, contrives to get himfelf elefted King of the Medes, 
 63. His Aftions afterwards, 65. 
 
 Democides, a Crotonian, cures Darius who had diflocated 
 his Heel; and his Wife dtoffa of a Tumour in her 
 Bread; and by making ufe of her Jntereft with Darius* 
 finds Means to procure his Liberty and return to Greece, 
 
 E. 
 
 Eleans, confult the Egyptians touching the Eftablifhment 
 of the Olympian Exercifes, and receive a notable Anfwer, 
 
 G. 
 
 Games, invented by the Lydians on a remarkable Occa- 
 fion, 62. 
 
 Geometry, its Original, 196. 
 
 Getes, their Way of fending Meflengers to Zamo/xis, 391. 
 
 Gobryas, one of the Seven Nobles of Perfea who confpir'd to 
 dethrone Smerdis the Mage, 291. Determines the reft to 
 agree to the Propofition of Darius to put their Defign into 
 immediate Execution, 293. His perfonal Bravery when 
 it came to the Pufh, 296. The Expedient he pro- 
 pos'd to Darius for retiring fafe out of Sfjtbia to the 
 Ifter, 411. 
 
 Grecians, the religious Rites they learn'd from the ^Egyp- 
 tians and Pelafgians, 167, 168. At what Time they be- 
 gan to invoke the Gods under diftinft Names, 169. Re- 
 ceived the Ufe of Grades, Feftivals, and Ceremonies, 
 from the ^Egyptians, 171. 
 
 Gyges, by the Murther of Candaules poflefles himfelf of the 
 Kingdom of Libya, 8. Some Account of his Reign, 9. 
 
 H. 
 
 Harpagus, receiving Cyrus from his Grandfather AJlyegtt 
 with Order to murther him, delivers him with like Or- 
 der to a Herdfman, who preferves the Infant, 70. On 
 the Difcovery of the Prefervation of Cyrus, Aftyages* 
 to punifh Harpagus for Difobcdience, makes him eac 
 the Flefh of his own Son, 77. In Revenge, when Cy- 
 rus was grown a Man, he exhorts him to revolt with 
 the Pcrfians, and he himfelf prepaid the principal 
 G g 4 Medea
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Medes to receive him and depofe Ajlyages, 80. Being 
 made General of the Mcdes by Aftyagei, he lets Cyrus 
 and the Perfians have the Viftory, which brought on the 
 Depofition of Ajiyages, 84. Being appointed by Cyrus 
 General againft the lon'uns, he takes Phoctsa, 103. and 
 fubdues the reft of Ionia, 105. as alfo the Carians, and 
 Cnidians, 109. 
 
 Helena, being carried off from Sparta by Alexander, is driven 
 by a Storm to land with him in jggypt ; and they are fent 
 up to the Court of King Proteus, 199 ; who reftores her to 
 her Husband Menelauf, 202. 
 
 Hiftiaui, of Miletus, perfuades the lonians to ftay with their 
 Ships, which compos'd the Bridge that Darius caus'd to 
 be made over the IJler, and not to abandon the King and 
 his Army to the Scythians, 413. 
 
 Homer, mentions in his Iliad the Arrival of Alexander and 
 Helena in JSgypt, 201. 
 
 Homer and Hefeod, thought by Herodotus to have introduc'd 
 the Genealogy of the Gods among the Grecians, and 
 affign'd them their Names, Functions, and Forms, 169. 
 
 Houfe, a large one made in JEgypt of a fingle Stone, 240. 
 
 Hydarnes, a Confpirator againft Smerdis the Mage, 291. ,- 
 
 Hyjlafpes, Father of Darius, 131. 
 
 I. 
 
 Ibis, fome Account of that Bird, 179. 
 
 Immortality and Tranfmigration of Man's Soul, full affirmed 
 by the ^Egyptians, 209. 
 
 Indatbyrfus, a King of Scytbia, receives a Meflage from Da- 
 rius, 406. The Prefent return'd in Anfwer to it, 409. 
 
 Indians, fome Account of thofe that pay Tribute to the King 
 of Perfta, 309. 
 
 Intapbernest one of the Confpirators againft Smerdis the Mage, 
 291. He lofes an Eye in the Execution of that Enter- 
 prize, 296. Is put to Death by Darius, 318. The re- 
 markable Behaviour of his Wife on that Occafion, 319. 
 
 Itnian Cities, an Account of them, 91. The lonians and 
 ^Eolians apply to the Spartans for Affiftance againft Cjf- 
 ruf, 96. Are fubdued by Harpagus the General of Cy- 
 rus, 105. 
 
 lonians, a Colony of them fettle in jEgypt in the Time of 
 Pfammeticbus, 229. 
 
 L. 
 
 Labyrinth, built by the Kings of the twelve Divifions of 
 JEgypt, its Dcfcription, 224. 
 
 A
 
 INDEX. 
 
 A Law, (firft eftablifh'd in jgyj>t, and afterwards introduced 
 into Athens) that every Man fhould annually declare before 
 the Governour of the Province, by what Means he main- 
 tain'd himfelf, 241. 
 
 Libya, the Country and People with their Cuftoms, de- 
 fcrib'd, from Page 430 to 443- The Manner of trading 
 between the Libyans and Carthaginians, 442. 
 
 Lycians, a peculiar Cuftom of theirs, 109. Their obftinate 
 Refinance of Harpagus, no. 
 
 Lycopbron, Son of Periander, bears an invincible Refentment 
 againlt him, for killing his Mother, 277. 
 
 Lycurgus, the Character pronounced of him by the Ora- 
 cle at Delphi, 38. He new models the Government of 
 Sparta, 39. 
 
 Ai 
 
 Maandrus, after the Death of Pofytrates, propofes to alter 
 the Government of Samos, from a Tyranny to a Re- 
 publick; but finds Caufe to defift from that Intention 
 and to keep the Government in his own Hands, 334. 
 He is oblig'd to retire from Samos, after he had at the 
 Inftigation of his Brother Charilaus provok'd the Per- 
 lians to treat the Samians hardly, 336. He goes to 
 Sparta, and offers his Treafures to King Cleomenes, who 
 reje&s them, and caufes him to be banim'd that Coun- 
 try, 337. 
 
 Mages, two Brothers of them ufnrp the Government of 
 Perjia, fee Smerdii. 
 
 Mandrocles, Architect of the Bridge over the Bofpborus by 
 which Darius pafs'd vc&o Europe, 388. 
 
 Maffagetes, their Manners, 1 34. 
 
 Megabjzus, one of the feven Confpirators againft Smerdii the 
 Mage, 291. After the Enterprize had fucceeded, advifes 
 the Eftabliihing an Oligarchy, as the belt Form of Go- 
 vernment, 299. 
 
 Megabyzus, left by Darius as his General in Europe, 415. 
 His Saying of the Chalcedonians, lb. 
 
 Menelaus, has his Wife Helena, whom Alexander had ilolen, 
 reftor'd to him by King Proteus of Egypt, 203. His In- 
 gratitude, Il>. 
 
 Menes, King of uEgypt, r39, 191. 
 
 Militia, that of jEgypt exempted, as well as the Priefthood, 
 from publick Tributes, 236. 
 
 Maeris, King of uEgypt, 192. 
 
 Marts, the Lake of that Name defcrib'd, 225. 
 
 Mycerinuj, King of &g"j$t, his Actions, 212. 
 
 N, MM,
 
 INDEX. 
 
 N. 
 
 Necus, King of JEgypt, begins a Canal of Communication 
 between the Nile and the Red-Sea, which Darius the Per- 
 fian finifh'd, 231. Builds Fleets cf Gallics, Ib. 
 
 Vile, an Account of its Inundations, and an Enquiry into 
 the Caufes of them, 148. Its Source not certainly 
 Known, 151. nor to be trac'd, becaufe of Heats and 
 Defarts, 154. Its Courfe from the Automohs to Eh- 
 f bands, 152. How many Cubits high it overflows 
 JEgjpt, 144. The Appearance of the Country at that 
 Time, 190. 
 
 Jiitotris, Queen of 4/yria, her Actions, 1 1 5. 
 
 Nitocris, Queen of JEgjpt, a remarkable Aflion of hers, 191. 
 
 O. 
 
 Oil/ares, having the Charge of Darius' 's Horfes, and be- 
 ing informed by his Matter that the Crown of Perfia was 
 to be gain'd by that Nobleman of fix whofe Horfe fhould 
 neigh firft, he by Art procures the Election to fall on Da- 
 rius, 303. 
 
 Oeobazus, the Fate of his three Sons, 387. 
 
 Grades, by whom firft eftablifh'd in Greece and Lifya, 1 69. 
 
 Orefles, his Bones found ztTegea, 41. 
 
 Original of the Wars between the Grecians and Barbari- 
 ans, i. 
 
 Oroetes, Governour of Sardis, treacherously gets Polycrates 
 Tyrant of Samos into his Power, and executes him on a 
 Crofs, 322. He commits other Crimes, for which Da- 
 rius gets him kilPd by a remarkable Contrivance, 323. 
 
 Otanes, a Perfian Nobleman, by Means of his Daughter 
 Pbesdjma difcovers Smerdis the Mage to be an Impoftor, 
 289. Forms a Confpiracy with fix other eminent Persians 
 againft that Mage and his Brother, the Ufurpers of the 
 Perfian Crown, 291. His Difcourfe touching the Execu- 
 tion of that Enterprize, Ib. The Enterprize fucceeding, 
 the Seven meet to confult what Form of Government 
 to eftablifh, 297. Otanes in a Speech delivers his Opi- 
 nion for a Commonwealth, or popular State, 298. He 
 protefts for himfelf and Pofterity againft a Monarchy, 
 which the Majority agreed to fet up, and retires Home, 
 301. His Expedition to Samos, 333. 
 
 Otbryades, a Spartan, his Fortune and Death, 5 1 . 
 
 P. Patfyar,
 
 INDEX. 
 
 p. 
 
 Paflyas, being left by Cyrus at Sardis, perfuades the Lydians 
 to revolt, 97. He flies to Cyme, 99. Is delivered up to 
 the Perfians, 101. 
 
 Patizitbes, the Mage, fee Smerdij. 
 
 Periander, killing his Wife, could by no Means prevail with 
 a Son he had by her to fupprefs his Refentment and be 
 reconcird to him, 277. 
 
 Per/tans, fubdue the Medes, 85. Their Manners, Il>. 
 
 Pbeedytna, fee Otanes. 
 
 P banes, of HalicarnaJJus, flies from JEgypt, 247. Advifes 
 Cambyfes how to carry his Arms into^gypt, 248. When 
 the ./Egyptian and Perlian Armies are ready to engage, 
 the Sons of Pbanes are by the former kill'd in open View, 
 251. 
 
 Pheretima, Mother of Arcefilaus King of Cyrene, on his Ex- 
 pulfion from thence retires to Sa/amis, as did her Son to 
 Samos, 427. Arcefilaus returns with his Mother to Cyrene, 
 and recovers his Kingdom; but he is kill'd in Barta, 428. 
 Pberetima flies to jEgypt, and applies to Ariandes the Per- 
 fian Governour there, for Succour : He aflifts her with a 
 Fleet and Land-Army, 429. Thefe Forces take Barca by 
 Fraud, 445. Her cruel Revenge on the Barczeans, 445. 
 Her miferable End, 447. 
 
 Pberon, King of JSgypt, a remarkable Story of his Blindnefs 
 and Cure, .197. Erefls two prodigious Obelisks, 198. 
 
 Pbocaans, and Teians, detefting Slavery, intirely abandon 
 their Cities to the Perfians, againft whom they could not 
 defend them, and betake themfelves to the Sea ; their For- 
 tune afterwards, 103. 
 
 Pbeznix, fome Account of that Bird, 179. 
 
 Pbraortes, King of the Medes, his Conquefts and Death, 67. 
 
 Pindar, his Saying that Cuftom is the King of all Men, ap- 
 prov'd by Herodotus, 270. 
 
 Pijiftratus, by Artifice induces the Athenians to allow jym a 
 Guard, by which he makes himfelf Matter of Atbeim 34. 
 The Sequel of his Story, 35. 
 
 Polycrates, Tyrant of Samos, a remarkable Account of his 
 long Courfe of good Fortune, 270. and unhappy End, 
 321. 
 
 Prexafpes, by Order of Cambyfes kills Smerdis, 264. His 
 own Son is kill'd by Cambyfes, 267. What pafs'd be- 
 tween him and Cambyfes, when the Mages ufurp'd the 
 
 Government
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Government of Perfia and fend a Herald to the Army 
 to proclaim Smerdis the Mage, who pretended to be 
 that Smerdis the Brother of Cambyfes whom Prexafpe) 
 had kill'd, 284. Afcending a Tower at the Deiire of 
 Smerdis the Mage, to declare to the Tertians that he was 
 the Son of Cyrus, he on the contrary difcovers the whole 
 Truth ; and precipitating himfelf from the Tower, dies, 
 294. 
 
 Proteus, King of JEgypt, his Treatment of Alexander and 
 Helena, 200, He reftores Helena to Menelaus, 203. 
 
 PJammenitus, King of JEgyft, is defeated by Cambyfet, 
 251. The memorable Story of his Behaviour, on the 
 Trial Cambyfes made of his Conftancy, 252. His Death, 
 254. 
 
 Pfammeticbus, King of JEgypt, his Experiment to find 
 out whether the ^Egyptians were the firft Men, 138. 
 Herodstufs Reafon why that Experiment was needlefs, 
 145. This Pfammeticbus, being one of the twelve 
 Kings of fo many equal Divifions of JEgypt, is by the 
 other eleven banim'd into the Fens, 227. He fubdues 
 and dethrones all thofe other Kings, 228. He fpends 
 twenty nine Years in reducing the City of Azotus in Sy- 
 ria , 230. 
 
 Pyramids of jEgypt, by whom built, 210, zi\. 
 
 R. 
 
 Rbampjtnitus, King of Egypt, a very remarkable Story of 
 
 him, 204. Another, 208. 
 Rbodopis, the Curtezan, falfly reported by the Grecians to 
 
 have built one of the Egyptian Pyramids, her AdUons, 
 
 215. 
 The Royal Dignity, among the Macrobian Ethiopians, 
 
 always conferr'd on the Man among them who is of the 
 
 largeft Size, and of Strength proportionable to hia 
 
 Perfon, 257. 
 
 S. 
 
 Sabacon, King of JStbiopia, conquers uEgypt ; his AUon* 
 during his Reign in that Country ; he retires out of it for 
 a fingular Reafon, 217. 
 
 Saws, the magnificent Works there, 283. 
 
 Sanacbarib, fee Setbon. 
 
 Sandanii, his Advice to Crezfus to diffuade him from making 
 War agajaft the Perfians, 44. 
 
 Sarmatians t
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Sarmatians, fee Amazons. 
 
 Scytbia, the Country and People largely de&rib'd, from 
 
 Page 347 to Page 385, and from Page 393 to 398. 
 Scythians, pafs from Europe into y^fo in Purfuit of the 
 Cimmerians, and entering Media defeat the Army of 
 the Medes, and acquire the Dominion of Afia, 67. But 
 after twenty eight Years Pofieffion, are expclFd by the 
 Medes, 61. Returning to their own Country, they 
 are oppos'd by a new Generation begotten of their 
 Wives in their Abfence by their Slaves, whom they de- 
 feat in a fingular Manner, 346. The I/edonians eat 
 their Fathers when dead, guild their Skulls, and keep 
 them as Relicks, 358- The religious Ceremonies of 
 the Scythians, 373. Their Sacrifices to Mars, very 
 peculiar and obfervable, 374. Their military Cufloms, 
 very extraordinary, 375. A fingular Cuftom obferv'd 
 when their King is fick, Ib. The Funerals and Sepul- 
 chres of their Kings, wonderfully ftrange, 378. So fond 
 of their own Cuftoms, that they kill'd Anacbarfis, and 
 SeyJes one of their Kings, for offering to introduce 
 foreign Manners, 382. Their Buildings are of Timber, 
 397. On the Approach of Darius with his Army, 
 they confult in what Manner to aft again ft him, 395. 
 The Reprefentation that the oppofing the Perfian was a 
 common Caufe, 402. Some Provinces make a Di- 
 ilindion, deny it to be a common Caufe, and there- 
 fore refolve to aft defenfively if invaded at' Home : 
 Others refolve to join their Arms with thofe of the firfl 
 expos'd Provinces, 403. The Manner agreed to be 
 obferv'd by the latter in afting againft the Perfians, 403. 
 The Perfians advance, and the Scythians retreating 
 draw them through thofe Provinces which would not 
 enter into the Alliance, 404. The Scythians would 
 perfuade the lonians to retire from the Ifler with the 
 Ships that coropos'd the Bridge, 410. On the Perfians 
 retiring back towards the Ifler, they purfue them; and 
 arriving before them at the Bridge, once more would 
 perfuade the lonians to be gone and leave the Perfians 
 to their Mercy, 412. Which the lonians promife, but 
 deceive them, 414. 
 Semiramis, Queen of AJftria, 115. 
 Sefojlns, King of JEgypt, his memorable Aftions, 192. 
 Setbon, a Prieft of Pulcan, King of JEgyptt by divine 
 Aifillance defeats the Army of Sarwbarib, King of Af- 
 fyria, ^^<*. 
 
 Sevtn
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Seven Noblemen of Perjia, confpire againft the two Mage 
 who had ufurp'd the Government of that Monarchy, 
 291. Their Debates touching their Enterprize, Ib. 
 They put it in Execution, killing the two Mages, 296. 
 ConfuJt what Form of Government to eftablifh ; three 
 Sorts piopos'd, a popular Government, an Oligarchy, 
 and Monarchy; the latter preferr'd, 297. Otanes pro lefts 
 againft it, for himfelf and Pofterity, and retires, 301. 
 The remaining fix agree on the Privileges themfelves 
 ftiould enjoy under the new Monarch, and .refolve on the 
 Method of Eledlion, 302. Darius by Art gains the 
 Election, 303. 
 
 Smerdii, the Son of Cyrus, kill'd by Prexafpes at the Com- 
 mand of his own Brother Cambyfes, 264. 
 
 Smerdis, the Mage, in Conjunction with his Brother Pati- 
 zithei, ufurps the Throne of Perfea, and perfonates the 
 deceas'd Smerdis Brother of Cambyfes, during the Abfence 
 of Cambyfes in jEgypt, 284. The Manner of his being 
 difcover'd by Pbcsdyma the Daughter of Otanes, 289. 
 Contrives with his Brother to engage Prexafpes in their 
 Intereft, but are deceiv'd by him, 294. He and his Bro- 
 ther are flain, 296. 
 
 Solon, his Converfation with Crcefus, 16. 
 
 Spargapifes, the Son of Queen Tomyris, being by Stratagem 
 furpriz'd by Cyrus, and taken Prifoner, in Regret kills 
 himfelf, 132. 
 
 Spartans, a Fight between three hundred of them and 
 three hundred Argians, very remarkable for the Event, 
 51. On the Samians making a long Speech to the Se- 
 nate at Lacedamon, the Spartans made them this me- 
 morable Anfwer, That they bad forgotten the firft Part 
 of their Speech, and therefore could not comprehend the 
 lafl, 275. 
 
 Sylofon, Brother of Polye rates, gives a Scarlet- Cloak to Darius 
 when he was one of Cambyfefs Guards, 332. For which 
 Darius, when he became King, caus'd him to be put in 
 Poffelfion of Samos, 333. 
 
 T. 
 
 Table of the Sun, 256. 
 
 Ibales, foretels a remarkable Eclipfe, 46. Another Aclion 
 
 of his, 47. His Advice to the lonians, 106. 
 Time, the long Courfe of Time which the ./Egyptian 
 
 Prielts attributed (in their Converfation with Herodotus)
 
 INDEX. 
 
 to the Sacceffion of their Monarchs and High Pricfb, 
 220, 222. 
 
 Temyris, Queen of the MafTagetes, her Meflage to CyrKt 
 who was advancing with his Army to invade her Country, 
 i 28. Her Meflage to Cyrus when by Stratagem he had 
 furpriz'd her Son, 133. Her Revenge on Cyrus, 134. 
 
 Trojan War, the Account given of it by the ./Egyptian 
 Priefts, 202. 
 
 Truth. To fpeak Truth, to manage a Hmfe, and moot 
 dexteroufly with a Bow, the only three Things in which 
 the Perfuns inftruft their Sons till they are twenty Years 
 old, 88. 
 
 Y. 
 
 Tear, firft invented by the ./Egyptians, 139. 
 Z. 
 
 Zamolxis, an Account of him, and of the Artifice he us'd to 
 make the Getes believe his Doctrine, that Men wbt 
 they ceafe to live do not die, but go to a Place of eternal 
 Happinefs, 391. 
 
 Zopyrus, mutilates himfelf, and pretendedly deferts from Da- 
 rius into Babylon then belieg'd, 399. He betrays the City 
 into the Hands of Darius, 442. 
 
 End of VOL. I.
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY 
 
 Los Angeles 
 This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. 
 
 NAR241964 
 
 REC'D 
 
 DEC 2 71! 65 
 
 RECEIVE 
 LD-URL 
 
 TO 
 IRl 
 
 1973 
 
 MAR 
 
 it 
 
 J*itttofW& 
 D ! * f JPR 1980 
 "W 5)p76DEC lU98t 
 
 , 
 
 EC 
 
 JAM 31 71 
 41977 
 
 APfi ^ i 
 APR 3 1984 
 
 i L9-50m-9,'60(B361064)444
 
 II I II I Ml II II I 
 3 1158 00568 9509 
 
 UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 
 
 A 000006281