hys hand she priuely placed behynd the same dore from whence Gyges afterwardes arysing bereaued Candaules of his life and obtayned both hys wyfe and his kingdome Whereof also Archilocus Parius who was liuing at the same tyme maketh mention in a verse named lambie Trimeter To bee short Gyges proclaymed himselfe kyng and was established in the gouernment by the oracle from Delphos For when as the Lydidians greatly disdayning at the heauy lotts of Candaules arose and were all in armoure they came to agreement w t them that mayntayned the cause of Gyges that wherehe was pronouÌ„ced kyng by y e oracle he should raygne in peace if otherwyse the supreme authority should bee restored to y e bloud of Hercules Counsayle beynge demaunded of the oracle the gouernment and principall authoritye was assygned to Gyges Albeyt Pythia miÌ„gling hony w t gall threatned a reuenge to come vpon y e son of Gyges nephewes nephew or fift in line all discent from himselfe which sayng neither the Lydians nor their princes any thing regarded vntil such tyme as the end had confirmed it Gyges beynge in full possession of the kyngdome sent many giftes to Delphos to the Temple of Apollo whereof the greater part were framed of siluer and besides the siluer a mightye summe of Gold How beit amonges diuerse his presentes one is most worthy memory to wit 6 dishes of golde offred by hym wayghing thirty talentes which were safely garded in the close treasurye of the Corynthians Albeit to speake truth the treasure wee speake of was not proper to the people of Corinth but rather to Cypselus the sonne of Aetion In this manner was Gyges the first king of the Barbarians of whom we haue notice that presented any gyftes at the temple of Delphos saue only Mydas sonne to the noble Gordius and king of Phrigia For Mydas also consecrated a sumptuous chayre of estate wherin he was accustomed to sit and administer iustice very princely and beautiful to behold which was kept and coÌ„serued in the same place where y e golden dishes of Gyges lay The gold and siluer offred by Gyges was termed by the people of Delphos Gygeum or Gygades taking the name of the geuer Beyng setled in hys emperiall dignitye he warred agaynst Myletus and Smyrna and toke the city Colophon by force of armes neither any other act besides this was atchieued byhim albeithe raigned thirty eyght years we wil therfore passe froÌ„ him to hys some named Ardyis who as heire apparaunt to the crowne succeeded his father in the state royall Ardyis conquered the Prienensis and inuaded Miletus in the tyme of whose raygne the people called Cymmerians dispossessed of their owne seats by the Scithians surnamed Nomades came into Asia and adueÌ„turing vpon Sardis the seate of prince Ardyis toke the Citye excepting onely the towre and chiefe castle of defence Ardyis hauyng ruled the kingdome forty nyne yeares then left yt afterward vnto hys Sonne and Heire called Sadyattes who gouerned the same the space of twelue yeares After him the Scepter descended to Halyattes who ioyned battayle with Cyaxares sonne of Beioces and hys people the Medes banishing the Cymmerians out of Asia Moreouer by the same was the Citye Smyrna surprised lying neere vnto Colophon lykewyse the famous Citye Clazomenae valyauntlye assayled wherfore notwithstandynge his noble courage was daunted and he was forst to depart destitute of his hope other thinges also were done by hym in tyme of hys warfare verye worthye of memory which are these following In his warre with the Milesians left vnto hym by hys father he practised thys meanes in beâ—ieging the Citye In time of haruest the grayne beyng ready for the sickle he sent in his army marching with the sound of fluites and pypes which beyng comen into the fieldes of the ennemye their houses they left vntouched onely wasted the trees and fruictes of the region which done they eftsoones retyred to the place from whence they came For the Milesians hauing intelligence of their ennemyes approach forsooke theyr city and dwelling houses and fled to the Sea so that it behoued not the ennemy to stay there hys dryft and purpose in not spoyling the mansion places of his aduersaryes was onele this that the Milesians hauing place wherin to dwell might returne agayne from the Sea to till and sow the grounde which might geue him occasion to râ—enter with his power and bring their labours to none effect In this manner hee inuaded the countrey for terme of xi yeares wherein the Milesians suffred two notable foyles The first in Lemeneium a place so called in their owne countrey The second in a certayne field named Meander Sixe of these eleuen yeares did Sadyattes the sonne of Ardyis raygne in Lidya and beginning the Milesian warre troubled his enemyes by perpetuall inuasions and often conflictes For other fyue years hys sonne Halyattes main tayned the quarel receyued of his father In all the tyme of this warre none of the people of Ionia gaue succour to the Milesians saue onely the inhabitauntes of Chios who hauing before tyme bene ayded by them in the battayle which they fought with the Erythaeans shewing mutuall goodwil sent them now a supply in their like extremityes In the xii yeare Halyattes despoyling the fieldes in lyke sort as before it chaunced that whyle the corne was on fyre a great tempest arose caried the flames violently to y e temple of Minerua surnamed Assessia burnt y e pallaice of y e Goddesse welnigh to the ground Which thing at that present was lightly regarded of hym but being with his army returned to Sardis he fell sicke and beyng much enfeebled with the vehemency of his maladye whether of his owne heade or by the counsayle of others moued thervnto sent to Dephos to the God for the recouery of his health welfare when the messengers were come Pythia refused to geue them answeare before they had repaired the temple of Miuerua which the fyer had consumed at Assessum This I heard with myne owneares at Delphos whyle I there soiorned Hereunto y e Milesians adde besydes y e Periander the sonne of Cypselius hearing what answeare Haliattes had geuen hym by the oracle in all hast possible dispatched a messenger to Thrasibulus theÌ„ King of Miletus his faythful familiar frend to admonish him to workesome deuyse how to delyuer himselfe hys countrey from the perpetual molestation of his enemyes Halyattes hauing receiued these nowes sent incontinent to Miletus for composition of a truce till such tyme as the temple was renewed and erected agayn The ambassadoures being arriued Thrasibulus which knew the cause of their coÌ„ming and vnderstoode the purpose of Halyattes framed this deuise what Corne soeuer was in the city ether of his owne or in the possession of others he commaunded it all to bee brought into the Market place and there to be layed in one heape This done he gaue in especial charge to all the citye
busied in these affaires Tomyris dispatched an Herauld of peace w t a message as followeth Thou king of the Medes leaue of to trouble thy selfe in those matters which y e hast taken in hand vncertayne what gayne y t shalt reape by this thine enterprise be quiet therefore be king of thine owne suffring vs to inioy these borders whereof we haue the right chiefe dominion But what disdaynest y â— my couÌ„saile preferrest thou al things before peace quietnesse Be it then if thy hart burne to be dealing with y e Masâ—agets cease thy buyldings either follow vs 3. dayes iourney into our countrey or departe our coasts receiue vs into thine Cyrus hauing heard this greeting assembled together the chiefe of y e Persians propounded y e matter to be scanned among them who being all of one mynde consenting in one opinion made it no coÌ„trouersie but y t it behoued rather Tomyris with hir army to be receyued into Persia them selues to retyre into their owne lande against whom Craesus being of a contrary iudgment began to reason argue in this maner Truly O king as I sayd before since it hath pleased the mighty Iupiter to delyuer mee into thy hands whatsoeuer I shall marke to be amisse in thy house the same to the most of my power I will study to amend for myne owne fortune albeit an vnthankfull mistresse yet hath she bene a lesson and schooling vnto me if thou thinke thy selfe a god and thy army immortall my counsaile is not for thee my sentence cannot auayle thee but if y e acknowledge thy selfe to be mortall and to rule ouer those that be subiect to death learne this first that y e affayres of men are placed as it were in a circle which being rowled and turned about ne permitteth the same man to bee alwayes fortunate as touching therefore the question propounded I vary in opyon from all thy counsaile for geuing liberty to thy enemies to come into thine owne realme it is to be feared least at the same time thou leese both the victory and thy kingdome thinkest thou the Massagets if they get the better will straight wayes depart without spoyle of thy countrey contrarywise if thou vanquishe them what canst thou winne Certes O Kynge not comparably to that as if thou beate these Cockes one their owne dunghilles so mayste thou followe them presently vpon the spurres and set them besides their owne pearches Consider this noble prince and if thou seeme to like it seeke to follow it and fly not one foote before thou performe it that hauing done this fonde girle to vnderstande thy inuincible force and prowesse thou mayste follow thine enimyes at the hard heeles euen into y e gates and walles of their city For shame let it not be sayd at any time that Cyrus the sonne of Cambyses did abandone the fielde and geue place to a woman I thinke it good therefore to goe so farre forward vntill they prouyde themselues and come forth to meete vs wherein also we haue fit occasion to vse a pollicy It is not vnknowne to you that the Massegets are vnacquainted with the stately dyet and magnificency of the Persians for which cause hauing left behind vs in our tentes all store of delightesome and pleasaunte meates with great plenty and abouÌ„dance of sweete wines let vs leaue the weakest parte of our army there and withdraw our selues aside to y e ryuer our enemyes glutted with ryot and bereaued of their right senses by excesse of wine what may hinder vs to take them vnwares causing them to pay the pryce of their dinner with the losse of their lyues These opinions were vttered as concerning the cause But Cyrus refusing to be ruled by the Persians betoke him selfe wholly to follow the aduise of Craesus Wherefore he gaue significations to Tomyris to retyre back delaring him self to be ready to follow geue her battle at home in her owne countrey The Queene according as shee had determyned withdrew her selfe backe into the middes of the region Now king Cyrus hauing committed to his sonne Cambyses the gouernaunce and administration of the realme he delyuered into his hands Craesus king of y e Lydians earnestly charging him vpon the duty obedience of a sonne y t if his luck in battle were worse then he loked for he should let passe no parte of courtesie honour liberality towards him which when he had sayd he sent them away into Persia passing y e water him selfe with his whole power The same night after hee had trayned his host ouer the streame of Araxes there befell vnto him a straunge vision wherein being on sleepe he seemed to beholde the eldest sonne of Hystaspes hauing on his shoulders two wynges with one of the which he shadowed all Asia with the other all Europa Hystaspes comming of the princely house of y e Persian Achemenides and borne of Arsaces had a sonne named Darius superiour in yeares to the rest of his children being at that time welnigh twenty yeares olde whom his father for that hee was too younge for the campe left at home in his owne conntrey Cyrus awaked from his dreame began to waigh and ponder with him selfe the drift and intent of his vision and supposinge it to bee of no smale moment called for Hystaspes with whom in secret wise hauing remoued all company he coÌ„moned thus Thy sonne Hystaspes hath wrought treason against me and my kingdome which his disloyall malicious trechery I came to knowe by this meanes The heauenly powers whose prouidence is a buckler to mee against all aduersity hauing chiefe care and regarde of my health haue shewed me all things that are to come No longer ago then this last night I beheld in my sleepe the eldest of thy children bearing on each shoulder a mighty winge and couering with the one all Asia with the other Europa whereby I assuredly coniecture his treason which hee couertly tendeth against the crowne hence then dispatch and speede thee into Persia reserue him safely to my nexte retâ—urne that calling him to his tryall I may see by what meanes he can quit himselfe of trechery These things sayd Cyrus for that hee assuredly thought that Darius had tended mischiefe to his person and priuily sought to vndermine him in his kingdome But hee reckned without his host was farre deceyued of his accounte for the gods did foreshew and signifie to him how in that place he should finishe his life and that his kingdome at the length should descend to Darius Hystaspes shaping an answere to y e kings words began and sayd The gods forbid O mighty prince that any one of the Persian bloud should eyther malice thy person or impeach thy Maiesty who if he were knowne a thowsand M. deathes were to easy for him By whom but onely by thy ayde most gratious king were we made of slaues fremen of subiects and vassals lordes and rulers ouer other If the gods haue
Cilisians and Lisians all the rest were subiect to the Empire of Craesus which were these The Lidians Phrigians Mysians Mariandyns likewyse the Chalibes Paphlagonians Thrasians Oetimans lastlye the Bithynians Carians Iones Dores Aeoles Pamphylians which beyng all subdued and the Gouernement of the Lydians greatly amplified by Craesus there repayred to Sardis beyng then in y e flower of her fortune as well other wyse men out of Greece termed Sophisters as also the most famous Solon one of the citye of Athens who at the instant prayers of his citizens hauinge tempered the common wealth with good lawes vnder coloure of visittinge straunge countreyes willingly for terme of yeares abandoned his natyue soyle that hee might not be forced to break the Lawes which he before had made the Athenians them selues standing bound with a solemne and religious vowe for ten yeares space to obserue these statutes which Solon had inuented aswel then for the maintenance of his lawes as to view and see forraine nations he vndertoke a pilgrimage into Aegipt to King Amasis and from thence to Sardis to the court of Craesus where in gentle and curteous manner beynge entertayned by the Kinge at the thirde or fourth daye after his arriuall he was lead about the treasuryes to view the welth and riches of Craesus beholdyng all the inestimable and blessed iewels that were contayned in them After he had attentiuely beheld and with curious eye surueyed them at his pleasure Craesus began to borde hym on this manner You Gentleman of Athens for asmuche as we hearde greate good wordes of your wisedome beyng for knowledge and experience sake a pilgrim from your countrey wee haue deemd it conuenient to aske you a questiō whether at any time you haue seene the happiest man aliue not mistrusting but that the lotte woulde haue fallen to hym selfe to haue exceeded all others in blessednes Solō not mynding to double as one altogeather vn acquaynted with pleasing phrases deliuered his mynd in free speechin forme as followeth I haue seene O King quoth he Tellus one of my coūtriemen of Athens a man surpassing all others in happye lyfe wherat Craesus wondring earnestlye required what cause made him thinke so highlye of Tellus For as muche sayde hee as in a wel ordered common wealth heehadde children trayned vp in vnitye and honesty euery of which hadde likewyse increase of his owne bodye and yet all liuing And hauing spent the course of his age as wel as a man might Fortune crowned his end with the perpetual renowne of a most glorious death For the Athenians ioyning in battayle with their next neighbours Tellus comming with a fresh supplye and putting his ennemies to flight ended his life in the field whom y e people of Athens in the selfe same place where he had shed his bloud caused to be entombed with immortall honour Solon going forward in a large discourse as touching Tellus was cut of by Craesus with a second demaunde who asked him the second tyme whom in conscience he thoughte next vnto him in full hope that at the least his part had bene next to whom he answeared in the next degree Most mighty Prince I haue alwayes reputed Cleobis and Biton two younge menne of the Countrey of Argos of body so strong and actiue that in all games they wanne the price of whom these thinges are left to memorye The feast of Iuno beynge kept at Argos the mother of these two young men was to bee drawne to the temyle by a yoke of bullocks which whē the houre came beyng strayed and gone out of the way the two young youthes yoked thēselues and halyng the chariot forty fyue furlongs they came to the temple which after they had done in the sight view of the whole multitude in a lucky howre they dyed wherby y e Goddesse gaue vs to vnderstand how much better it was for man to die then liue For when as the people flocking about extolled them to the heauens the men praising y e good nature and intent of the sonnes the women commendinge the blessed chaunce of the mother whom nature had indued with two such children the good old mother almost out-of hyr wyttes for ioy what for the kynd deede of her sonnes and the goodly speech of the people aduauncinge their virtue as shee stoode before the ymage of Iuno besought the Goddesse with earnest prayers to rewarde the kindnes of hir children with the chiefe and most precious blessing that might happen vnto man Her prayer made and both the sacrifyce and feast ended they gaue themselues to rest in the temple but neuer after awaking in the mornīg they were founde dead whom the people of Argos by two carued monumentes placed at Delphos commended to euerlastinge memory for men of rare and excellēt vertue To these men did Solon attribute the next step to perfect happinesse Craesus now beyng throughlye warmed and beginninge to storme why then quoth he thou foolishe straunger of Athens is my wealth so base in thyne eyes that thou demest me not worthy to bee compared with two priuate men of Argos Certes 〈◊〉 king sayd he you demaund of me a question as one not altogeather ignorāt y t the hyghest clymers haue the heauiest falles the terme of mans life be threscore yeares and ten which yeares consist of twentye fyue thousande two hundred dayes omitting to speak of that moneth which is giuen to some yeares in addition for the iust compasse and reuolution of the tyme. Howbeit if in euery other yeare we increase a moneth for the due concordaunce and euen course of times to threscore and ten yeres we must adde 35 monethes conteining in themselues 1500 dayes Be it then in all these dayes which in full cōputation are twenty sixe thousand two hundred and fifty what thing do wee see lyke unto other what rather not flatly vnlike straūge disagreyng from the former so y e mā O Craelus is altogeather wretched and miserable not w tstanding thy selfe art in wealth flourishing and a prince of many people all this I deny not and yet I cannot call thee hym whom thou wouldest be til such tyme as I heare of thy fortunate death For wherein is the rych man better then a begger vnlesse the course of his happines continew to his graue Ther are many rych but few blessed and many of a meane patrimony yet very fortune Two thinges there be wherin the infortunate rich excelleth those who in meaner substaunce haue fortune their frende by whom contrariwyse they are excelled in many The wealthy hath to glutte his desires to pay for his default when it happeneth Both which though fortune haue denyed him y t in baser wealth liueth well yet in this he goeth beyond the other y e want of substaunce kepeth him from ryot care of well doyng frō security in offending the same hauing no small thankes to yeeld to Fortune y t he hath his health that hee is gauled greeued with no calamity
of this history shalbee declared Craesus therefore moued with displeasure requyred of the Oracle whether he might proclaime war agaynst Persia hauing receiued a double deceitful answere deeming it to make w t him went out w t his army to assaile fight against a certain part of the PersiaÌ„ dominioÌ„ And approching neare to the Riuer Halis as I iudge hee trailed and convewed ouer his armye by brigges built vppon the water but as some of the Graecians affyrme hee passed the ryuer by the means of Thales Milesiê° who deuised another way For Craesus standiÌ„g at a bay vncertayn what way to passe the water for asmuch as the brygges which are now made for passage as then were none at al Thales Milesius being then in the campe inuented a meanes to chauÌ„ge the course of the water and cause the ryuer that ranne on the righte side of the army to flow on left Hee made therefore to bee dygged a mighty deepe trench or dytch begynninge aboue the tentes and procedinge in compas lyke a Mone on the backside of the host whereinto the water hauing issue froÌ„ the proper chanel became so low and fleet that the ryuer on both partes was passable easy to be waded Some holde opinion that the olde course of the riuer was hereby wholly altered and became drye from whom I dissent For by what meanes the regresse of Craesus into Lydia could the armye haue retyred ouer Craesus hauing recouered the other syde of Halis came into a part of Cappadocia named Pteria safely situated and neere adioyning to the city Synopis that lyeth to the sea Euxinum where hauing encamped his whole power hee spoyled and foraged the mannours and ferme places of the Syrians subduinge also and sacking the city Pteria More ouer he vanquished many other cityes rouÌ„d about casting out the Syrians that neuer offended hym wherof Cyrus hauinge aduertisement gatheryng an armye of the myddle part of hys countrey came out to meete him notwithstanding first he sollicited the Iones to reuolt from Craesus which they refusing hee marched on forward and encamped agaynst the Lydians Where the Armyes beyng in viewe the one Armye to the other and hauinge geuen signes of defyaunce they ioyned in force and cruell battayle wherein many beynge slayne on eyther syde and Nyght drawyng very nere they blew the retrayte the victory remayning on neyther part But Craesus laying for his excuse the small number of his men as farre exceeded by Cyrus in multitude of Souldiours the next day following the Persians abstaining from battayle he moued his campe and repayred backe to Sardis in mynd to summon and call out the Aegiptians according to couenaunt with whose king Amasis he had concluded a league before euer he attempted the Lacedaemonians purposing besides to challenge the helpe of the Babilonians promised and auowed to him by league and composition Not forgetting also to clayme the assistaunce of the Lacedaemonians appoynting them a day to bee present at Sardis that hauing made a generall assembly of all his power and taken his ease that winter he might ymmediatlye at the beginninge of the next springe lay charge to the kingdome of Persia by a new and fresh assault Whilst hee leueled at this mark he sent abroad heroldes to his league fellowes and friendes with earnest requeste that the fifte moneth after they would come togeather and mete at Sardis Lyke wyse the souldiers stipendary which hee hyred and conducted to ayde him agaynst the Persians he disseuered and sent away nothing doubtinge least Cyrus with whom so short tyme before he had fought euen hand with out disuantage should aduenture to come nere approche to Sardis In this sort reasoning the case and debating with himselfe yt fortuned that all the suburbes places conterminate to the city were filled with aboundance of Snakes and Adders which the horse leauing their pasture foode swallowed greedily and in moustruous sort eate vp and deuoured Which Craesus adiudging as it was to be a tokeÌ„ on premonstration of some 〈…〉 to come sente to the Southsayers 〈…〉 The messengers y â— went were 〈…〉 y â— sence and signification of 〈…〉 they neuer brought newes therof to Craesus who before their returne to Sardis was taken captyne The wyse men Telmisses declared vnto them y â— Craesus should be set vppon with a forrayne army which shoulde vanquish and subdue the towne borne and natural people of the countrey alleaging that y â— snake was the child of the earth properly bred and ingen dred of the grouÌ„d but the horse an enemy and a forrainer This meanyng and exposition the Telmisses sent backe agayne to Craesus but now captiue altogeather ignorant of these thinges which befell vnto hym and also to hys Citye Sardis Cyrus a certayned of the determination of Craesus that presently after the conflict at Pteria hee was in purpose to disperse scatter his army thought it expedient in al hast possible to remoue hys host to Sardis to intercept and preuent his ennemy or euer he could assemble the Lydians agayne which aduise he altogeather allowed put in practise and spedely arryuing into Lydia with his power was hymselfe a messenger unto Craesus of his comming Craesus cast into a greate pensiuenes and anguish of mynd to se himselfe so farre deceiued of his accompt notwithstanding put the Lydians in array to battayle At that tyme there was no nation in the worlde neyther in value might neyther in haughty courage magnanimity equall and comparable to the Lydians who commonly warred on horseback as most expert nymble in ryding weaponed with speares of a meruailous length The field wherin the fight was committed lyeth before the citye Sardis through the which both other ryuers haue a pleasaunt and delyghtsome course and chieflye the famous ryuer Hellus flowynge into the mayne streame called Hermus which taking hys yssue and first head from the sacred Mountayne of the holye mother Dyndimena ys caryed wholly into the Sea not farre from the City Phocyas In this field Cyrus beholding the Lydians prepared to the battayle and greatly dreading the prowesse and puissaunce of theyr horsemen determined by the counsayle of Harpagus the Mede to put in execution this straunge deuise hauing gathered together all the Camelles that folowed the Army and disburdened them of theyr loades of corne and vessels wherewith they wer charged he caused certain meÌ„ to sit on them apparelled in a robe accustomably worne of of the Persian Horsemen Whome in this sorte attyred hee gaue in charge to march in the forefronte of the battayle aagaynst the horsemen of the Lydians After these incontynently followed the footemen and in the laste ranke were placed the horsemen into whych order and aray hauing directed and contryued his Armie he straightly commauÌ„ded them to spare none of the Lydians but whomesoeuer they found to make resistaunce him to dispatch and slay presently Craesus onely excepted towards whome he warned
the coller and become of a true subiect a trayterous rebell Wherefore yf thou wilt follow my counsayle do this Place at euery gate of the city certayn of thy gard with precise commaundemēt that no goods be caryed out of the Citye pretending of the tenth parte therof to make an oblation and sacrifice to Iupiter which doing thou shalt neyther purchase their displeasure by takyng away the wealth and themselues acknowleging the intent to bee good wil easily condiscend and bee pleased therwith This counsayle greatly lyked king Cyrus wherfore hauinge in lyke sorte disposed and setled his Garde as Craesus had warned him to him selfe he speake in termes as followeth My good Craesus whereas thou art-a kinge and by nature framed both to do well and speake wysely aske of me what seemeth thee good and it shalbe geuen thee My soueraygne Lorde quoth Craesus I shall esteeme my selfe hyghlye benefyted by your Grace yf by your maiestyes leaue and sufferaunce I may sende these my letters to the Gods in Greece Demaundinge whether it were lawful for him in this order to double with his freyndes But Cyrus requesting to know the cause y t set him so farre out of fauour with Apollo hee brake out and rypt vp the matter from the begynning declaryng vnto him the Oracles which were geuen and chiefly hys offeryngs wheron he presumed to denounce warre agaynst Persia After a large rehersal made as touching all these thinges he returned to his former sute requestyng the Kinge that it might be lawful for him to challenge the God for these matters and cast them in his teeth To whom Cyrus smylyng sayd Not this onely O Craesus but what else soeuer shalbe gaunted to thee and not at this tyme alone but as oft as it shall lyke thee to make petition Leaue obtayned he forthwith dispatched certayne men of the Lydyans to Delphos with charge that laying the gyues at the entry of the temple they shoulde question with Apollo yf hee were not ashamed to delude and cousyne Craesus with his fraudulent and deceitful Oracles making him to assaulte the Persians in hope to vanquish the power of Cyrus of which his hoped victory these were the first fruites commaunding them therw t to shew him the manacles with the which beyng first captiue he had bene chayned Moreouer to aske him whether the Graecian Gods had a priuilege and peculiar liberty aboue the rest to bee ingrate and vnthankful to their friendes The Lydians arryued at Delphos and declaryng theyr messuage Pythia made them aunsweare on this maner The necessary euent of fatall dedestiny it is vnpossible for the Gods themselues to auoyd Craesus layeth the disloyalty of the fift age before him y t is to say of his great graūdfathers father who beyng squyre of the body to y e Heraclidans was induced by the fraud deceypt of a woman to kill his Lorde and was after inuested with his dignity which nothing appertayne◠to him Notwithstandinge Apollo by al meanes endeuouringe to cause the fal of Sardis to light on the posterity of Craesus not vpon himselfe for all this could not prolōg or alter the inchaungeable race of destenye but dispensinge therewith as much as might be in some part he requyted his curtesy by deferryng the battery and conquest of Sardis for terme of three yeares It is meete therefore that Craesus knowe how his seat imperiall came three years later to ruine then was determined and appoincted by fatall necessity Agayne it was no small benefite that he saued him from frying at a stake for as touthing the oracle he hath no cause to cōplain being forewarned by Apollo that furnishinge an armye against Persia he should ouerturne and destroy a great Empyre Of this sayinge if in case he had bene better aduysed it was his part to haue enquyred of Apollo what empyre he meant whether his owne gouernment or the kingdome and principality of Cyrus But the prophecy beyng neither sufficiently pondered by himselfe nor sought to be discussed if any thing happened otherwyse then he would and wished for let him thanke hym selfe and not blame the God Now for that he aleageth besydes the sentence of Apollo as concerning the Mule it was better sayd by the God then considered by him For by the Mule was kyng Cyrus vnderstode whose parents were of dyuers nations and his mother of a more noble progeny and lineage thē his father The one beyng a Mede daughter to Astyages kynge of y e Medes The other a Persian and in homage and subiection to the Medes who beyng a man of base account and verye meane regard neuerthelesse crept into fauour and wedded the daughter of his soueraygne liege The Lydians thus aunsweared by Pythia made their spedy regresse to Sardis declaring to Craesus what they had hearde Wherby he came to confesse that the blame rested in his owne folly and was vniustly and without cause imputed to Apollo It suffyceth therfore to haue spoken this of the dominion and rule of Craesus ann by what meanes hee first vanquished subdued Ionia Furthermore besides those which before are mentioned many other notable presentes were offered by this king which are yet apparant to be seene in Greece For at the Citye Thebs in Boaetia there is a table of three feete all of Gold dedicated vnto Apollo Ismenius Certayne young heighfers also wroughte of Gold with sundry pillers of the same kynde Lykewyse in the entrey and porch of the temple there is to be seene an huge sheyld of solide golde All which were extant and remayning euen vntil our age Albeit by length of tyme many were consumed and brought to decay As for the gyftes he bestowed at Branchidae as farre as we can learne they were nothinge inferiour to them in value which were sent to Delphos Notwithstanding as wel those which hee presented at Delphos as also the other that were geuen to the temple of Amphiaraus were of his owne propre and hereditary substaunce the first fruites of his fathers possessions as for the rest which in lyke maner he consecrated were of the wealth and substaunce of his enemy who before Craesus aspyred to the crowne was of the secte and faction of Pantaleon For this Pantaleon also had to father Halyattes and was brother to Craesus but by sundrye women the mother of Craesus beynge of Caria the other of Ionia no soner was Craesus indued with the soueraygntye but hee toke his enemy y t constantly withstode him drawing hym asyde into a fullers shoppe he bereft hym of his life whose goods before hand vowed to the immortal Gods hee made consecration of in those places wherereof wee spake before And thus much as concerning his liberalitie and magnificency vsed toward the Gods Now as touching the countrey of Lydia there is nothing therof recounted worthy admiration like as of other regions saue that only out of the hyll Tmolus are digged small peeces of gold in manner of grauel
liberty These thinges sounding in the eares of Astyages Cyrus by a purseuant was cyted vp to appeare at y e court whom he returned backe agayne with this answeare that his meaninge was to come verye spedily and somewhat to sone for his purpose At which newes Astyages imediatlye prepared a power of the Medes ouer whoÌ„ in an ill hower he placed Harpagus generall not mynding the iniurye hee had done vnto hym The army prepared and the Medes Persians meeting in the field they which were not priuye to the purpose of Harpagus began to fight and bicker with the enâ—emy the rest without offer of violence ioyning with them Other there were that with small resistaunce turned their backes to the Persians and fled amayne The host of Astyages beynge in this wyse dispersed and shronke in the wetting newes was broughte thereof to the king who in a greate heate of choller and outrage menacing Cyrus sayd Let the traytour bee assured hee shall not thus escape How be it first of all apprehending the wyse men Magi by whose counsayle hee was brought to let Cyrus depart he hanged them vp euery man not leauing one aliue After this he put in armour the rest of the Medes y t were in the city both young and old with whom beyng present in the fielde After that for a whyle he had abidden the might and power of the Persians he was driuen to flie and in the flyght was taken alyue with the losse and perdition of hys whole army Ouer whom beyng now captiue Harpagus his counsaylour greatlye insulted with open scoffes and reproachful tauntes omittyng nothing y t might gaule and greeue him to the verye hart laying in his teeth the supper wherin he hadde caused hym to seede of his sonnes flesh For which cause hee had now made him of a kynge a vassal Why then quoth Astyages dost thou now challeÌ„ge the dead of Cyrus to thy selfe who alleaginge on the other side that it was his deede and done by hym for that Cyrus was moued ther unto by his letters Astyages aunsweared that of all men he held hym most voyd of wit and goodwill to his countrey The one for that hauing power to be king hymselfe he had yelded it ouer to an other the other in that for malice of one supper he had brought his owne countrey into perpetuall thraldome For had it bene necessarye to haue put ouer the kingdome from hymselfe to an other it had bene much better to haue chosen a Mede then a PersiaÌ„ wheras now the Medes being nothing giltye of that fact were become of rulers slaues and y e Persians that hetherto had liued in bondage were now come to be lordes themselues On this manner king Astyages hauinge the space of 35. yeares borne rule in Media was depryued of his seate by whose cruelty and sore dealing the Medes came in subiection to the Persians after they had held the supremisye of all Asia aboue the floud Halis an hundred twenty eight years sauinge the â—yme that the Scithians obtayned the empyre Afterwardes the Medes repenting themselues of that they had done reuolted from Darius but beyng ouercome in battayle they were agayne perforce driuen to obedience The Persians by whose meanes Cyrus vanquished his graundfather Astyages hauing the chiefe rule and dominion of Asia Cyrus doinge no violence to Astyages kepte him in his house to the houre of his death Such therfore was the byrth and education of Cyrus the meanes wherby he atchieued the kyngdome who not longe after tryumphed ouer kyng Craesus his professed enemy of whom wee spake before by which his victory he wan the ful title possession of all Asia Furthermore the rytes and customes which the PersiaÌ„s vse I fynd to be these First for ymages temples aulters they neuer build any and accompt it great follye and madnes in those that do builde them For this cause as I iudge they think not the Gods to come of the progeny and lmeage of men as the Graetians doe Wherfore making choyse of the kighest and most lofty hyls of the couÌ„trey on the toppes of them they do sacrifyce vnto Iupiter by which name they vnderstand the whole cope and vaute of heauen geuing also lyke honor and reuerence to the Sunne the Moone the Earth the Fyre the Water and the Wyndes imputing to these alone a deuyne nature and deity which from the beginniÌ„g they haue had in honour NotwithstaÌ„ding in course of time they began to buckle and pray to Vrania which maner they drew from the Assyrians and Arabians Venus of the Assyrians is called Militta in Arabia Alitta by the Persians Metra The ceremonies ordayned by them to bee kept and obserued in time of sacrifice are these They neyther set vp any aulter or kyndle anye fyre at all omittinge also to say or tast of the sacrifyce before the immolation Pypes Myters saltcakes they neuer vse But as euerye one is purposed to make oblation to the heauenly powers so leadyng his host or sacrifyce into a fayre and cleaneÌ„ place hee humbleth himselfe in prayer to some one of the Gods hauing his head decked with a nightcap vsuallye worne of the women of Persia bounde about for the most parte and enuyroned with mirtle Beyng alwayes prouided that the party which maketh the offeryng hold it not lawful to pray for hymselfe only or to make supplication for any priuate or peculiar commoditye of his owne but vniuersallye for the whole realme and multitude of the Persians and chiefly for the king The sacrifycer hymselfe being a part and parcell of the whole number so that in praying for all others hee prayeth for himselfe This also cutting and hewing y e halowed beast into small and slender peeces they incontinently boyld it which done makinge diligent inquisition for the softest and smothest grasse they can find and especially trifolly or three leaued grasse they spred thereon the sodden flesh ouer which a Magician yalpeth out a songe of the beginning childhod of y e Gods whichthey accompt a most forceable and valerous incantation Without this Magitian They hold no sacrifice lawful or rightly perfourmed After this the sacrifycer taketh the flesh and applyeth it to what vse it seemeth him good Of all the dayes in y e yeare they obserue with greatest ioy and solemnitye theyr byrth day Wherin then at other tymes they vse larger dyete with greater plentye and aboundaunce of meate in so much that the richer and wealthier sorte set whole oxen camels horses and asses vppon the borde prepared and rosted in a fornace Such as are of meaner ability and substance celebrate their natiuity w t beastes of lesse quantity Litle meat sufficeth them the greatest part of theyr prouision consistiÌ„g in choise chats and iunkettinge dishes And those not verye tothsome and daynty Hereof it commeth that the Persians obiect to the Grecians their short meales quicke dinners for that say they they haue nothing pleasaunt dilicate or
many of them without regard of their oth returned backe to Phocaea Others lead with a greater care of theyr late â—ow leauing the Iles Onusae went strayght to Cyrnus Where beyng come on shore for terme of 5 years they ioyned felowship with other their countreymen which before tyme were shed from the city to inhabite that place making ordinaunce and appoyntment of diume seruice and honoure to the Gods Neuerthelesse beyng accustomed in manner of enimyes by open pillage to spoyle and destroy the fields of their neighbours round about the TyrrheniaÌ„s and Carthaginians determined by common consent to encounter them by power of warre hauing furnished to the same end a fleete or Nauye of threscore shippes The lyke number on the other syde beyng prouyded by the Phocaeans wel stored and replenished with souldiours they set forth to meete the enemy in the sea called Sardonium Where ioyninge in battell the Phocaeans obtayned a victory much lyke vnto that of Cadmus For of threscore vessels fourty beyng sunk and ouerwhelmed in the sea the other twenty were so mangled and torne and the noses and stemmes thereof blunted and beaten backe that they serued afterwards to small vse Retiring therfore to Aetalia they toke theyr wiues and children with the rest of their wealth asmuch as coulde wel lye aborde and remoued from Cyrnus to Rhegium The men wherewith the drowned shippes were filled loke how many escaped the water and came into the handes of their enemies which hapned to many at their coÌ„ming to land wer stoned to death Insuing which murder they cattell people of the Agilleans as manye came into that place where the men of Phocaea were stonned were ether scorched and blased all with lightning or attached with extreame furye madnes For which cause the Agylleans willing to make satisfaction for the offence sent to Delphos where Pythia commaunded them to do all those thinges which they hold and obserue to this houre annuallye perfourminge to the Phocaeans that were stayne the solemne pompe of funerall exequies with a game of wrastling and exercise of the body Such was the euent and successe of those people after they for sooke their countrey soyle Of which rout and companye they which escaped the dynt of battel and cut the Seas to Rhegium planted a city in y e Fielde of Oenotria called Hyêla beyngtherto moued by the aduyse of one Posidoniates a manne very well esteemed and thoughte of in all the lande of Phocaea In this manner did Fortune deale with those that dwelt in Ionia The very lyke thing chaunced to them that held the city Teios whose towne by meanes of a vulwarke cast vp agaynste the walles veynge at a poynte welnye vanquished and ouercome by Harpagus they passed the seas into Thracia fynishinge the citye Abdêra in the same place the fouÌ„dation and grounde whereof was fyrst layed by Temesius Clazom enius How bee it not inioyinge the fruite and due guerdon of his labour hee was driuen thence and expelled by the Thracians Albeit the menne of Teios in the selfe same citye of Abdêra haue hym in honour and reputaâ—ion of halfe a God These people onely of the whole natioÌ„ of Ionia moued with hate and disdayne of bondage left the places where they all were naturallye resyaunte and soughte forrayne and strauÌ„ge countries The rest remayninge except the Milesians tooke heart at grasse and foughte both stoutlye and valtauntlye in the behalfe of their landes and liberty But the fortune of warre proceedynge agaynst them they came into captiuitye And abydinge still in theire owne seates dyd as they were commaunded Onely the Milesias who were in league with Cyrus and the Persias as wee sayd before were quiet and voyde of trouble By this meanes was Ionia the second tyme bereaued spoiled of theire libertye The people of the Iles perceyuinge the mayne land to bee all vnder the dominion and rule of the Persians fearyng the worst yelded themselues to Cyrus to be at his pleasure Now the Ionians albeit in very miserable estate and condition yet osyng their olde haunte and accustomed meetinge at Panionium the fame is that one Bias a Prienian gaue them such counsayle as had they pursued it with diligence they had liued in the most happy and blisseful estate of all the GreciaÌ„s His aduyse was this that the people of Ionia abandoninge their owne howses places of habitation should imbarke themselues to Sardinia and there for their whole multitude to build and erect a city to be helde and inhabited by them al in general which doyng they might cast of the yoke of y e Persians and hauing in their dominion the griatest and most principall of all the Iles might also hold y e chiefe rule dominion ouer all the rest This was y e couÌ„sayl of Byas to y e pore afflicted Iones Not much inferyour to this was the graue aduise and sentence of Thales whereby he prouoked and styrred vp the people before their captiuity to the institution of one generall parliament to be coÌ„monly held at Teios both for that y e city was fixed in the midle part of the region and that the other Cityes rounde aboute mighte neurrthelesse bee reckened as tribes appertineÌ„t therto This was y e holesom doctrine wyse couÌ„sayl geuen by these 2 learned sages to y e people of Ionia Harpagus after his tryumph ouer Ionia directed hys power agaynst the Caryans Caunians and Lysians leading with him the Iones and Aeoles Of which number the Carians forsoke the Iles to come dwell in the mayne For in auncient tyme they were vnder the authority and gouernement of Minos bearyng the name of Lelages at what tyme also they were resident in the Ilandes w tout rent or pension of tribute as far as I can learne by y e diligent scrutiny hearsay of times forepast consumed onely they weare leauied at a certayne number of shyppes furnished and prepared with men of armes as often as it semed good to the Prynce Moreouer King Mynos inioying a very large ample Oilion very fortunate in the euent of warre The nation of Caâ—ia was exceedingly aduauÌ„ced aboue the rest in royall fame dignity of whom the Gretians borowed three principall thinges first found out and deuised by them It was their inuestion to weare a Crest or Cope on their Helmets to paynt and set forth their Targets in gallant shewe brauery of colours last of all the steele or handle of the shielde came likewise froÌ„ theÌ„ whereas before they vsed no steeles but hanging them about their neckes and right shoulders with lystes and thonges of leather they moued and guyded them to and fro Along time after the Caryans the Dores also and Iones chaunged the Isles with the mayne or continent and rowsâ—ed theÌ„ there all which things are affirmed of y e Carians by the people of Creta From whom the Caryans themselues doe greatly dissent and swarue in opinion coÌ„stantly auouching how from the beginning and
othe they closed the seconde tyme with their enemyes with whoÌ„ they persisted in valiaunt fight so longe as one man of their number remayned alyue All the Lycians which are called by the name of Xanthians and forreiners and arriued from straunge places except 40 familyes which by fortune at y e same tyme being oute of the city escaped death By this meanes came Xanthus into the handes of the Persians In like manner also the city Caunium was taken by them whose people for y e most part followed the example of the Lycians Harpagus therefore hauing added to the seate of Persia all the cityes the lower the superiour and hygher partes thereof Cyrus by his owne proper Mart and valiauncy had ouercome and vanquished leauing no part of the same free and vnsubdued Wherefore in presence we will leaue of to speake of the rest of their noble actes deedes letting passe many things wittingly for desire to reueale and displaye those thynges which to them selues were most labour some and difficulte and deserue to bee prynted in eternall memory Now when king Cyrus had brought into his power all the nations that lye in the mayne he leuied his whole streÌ„gth against the Assyrians There be many and great cities of Assyria but aboue all one especiall and pryncipall both in defence and dignitie surmounting the rest by name Babylon where after the occasion and ruine of Nynus was planted the seate and palace of the greate kinge This citye had the foundation and being in a wonderful huge playne and was builte and contriued into a foure square forme euery side thereof conteining in length an hundred and twenty acres Whereby it is euidente that the circuit and compasse of the whole city amouÌ„ted to the summe of 480 acres of grounde so greate and of so huge bygnes and amplitude was the mighty citye Babylon Moreouer within the walles faire and beautifull passing measure garnished set forth with rych and sumptuous buildings as no Citye whereof we haue notyce approacheth any thinge to the incomparable dignity of the same First of all it is cast about and incompassed with a wyde and deepe Ditch filled and implet with water in the nexte place is raysed a wall 50 royall cubits in thyckenesse and 200 in heigth a cubute royall contayninge three fyngers more then the vulgare common cubyte which we vsually follow in measuring It shall not be impertinent to y e matter to shew and declare to what vse seruice the earth was imployed which was cast and voyded out of the trench as also in what maner and forme the wal was builte Of the clay cast out and clensed from the ditche were drawed and framed certayne brickes which arysynge at length to a great multitude they were dryed and burnte in a kill or fornace Afterwardes closing the same togeather with morter betwixt euery thirtith course or row of brickes they layd y e â—oppes of canes or reedes dipped and steeped in boylyng lyme and first of in this manner they curbed and garded about the brinckes of the mote w t a list or hemme of brickes obseruing also the selfe same arte in the frame and workemanship of the wal On the toppe of the wall along the edges and margentes therof were built cituated certaine smal howses one story hygh facing and ful opposite one to an other betweene euery of the which was so much space and distance as a carte might haue gone betweene them Through the walles ther opened an 100 broad gates for passage and ingresse into the citye all of brasse with postes and hynges of the same Eyght dayes iourney from BabiloÌ„ is placed a city called Is fast by the which floweth a riuer of no great bygnes named also Is caryinge his streme into y e floude Euphrates This seely brooke scowreth through his chanel greate plenty of lyme wherof they had principall vse in the buildyng of the walles of Babilon Of the forme and description wherof sufficeth it thus to haue spoken How be it it behoueth vs to vnderstande that the citye Babylon ys cutt and sundered in twayne by the mayne streame of the rithe xiuer Euphrates which is very great deepe and swift of course and taking hys fyrst yssue from the mountaynes of Armaenia breaketh at the length and emptyeth yt selfe into the red sea The partition of the walles made by the intercourse of y e riuer shootes bppon the bankes on eyther syde which are breasted out and fortifyed with a countremure of bricke to kepe the waters from flowing into the citye The Citye it selfe is replenished with houses four storyes in heighte beyng also deuyded as it were chekered into sundry streets and lanes some leaÌ„dyng long wayes other some crosse and ouerthwort at the end of one streete openeth a brasen dore through the wall and countergard of the ryuer whereby the people haue accesse to the water And this wall is in defence of the citye agaynst the vyolence of the floud Moreouer in either part and region of the citye there is another wall not much inferyour in strenghe albeit in thicknesse somewhat lesse then the former One of these in y e one parte of the citye incloseth aboute the stately court and resyaunce of the Prince exceeding strong and of a mile compasse Likewise in the other parte of the Citie is a wall in the circle and closure whereof is conteined the Temple of Iupiter Belus wherevnto entry is made through the wall by mighty brasen gates standing yet in this our age to the open view and beholding of trauaylers This wall is built in maner of a quadrangle foure-square being on euery side two acres long In the middest of the Temple standeth a towre of sound worke very firme and solide without vaut or holownesse a furlong thicke and as much high on the top of the which was planted another towre which in like manner vphelde and vnderpropped the third wherevppon likewise were fiue other turrets placed each taking hys ground and foundation from the top of another On the outside of euery towre do winde certaine degrees of steps or stayres leading to the top or highest part of the same In the midway vp the stayres are framed certayne seates or benches for those that go vp to rest and breathe by the way In the top or supremity of the highest turret is another Chappell within the whiche is placed a bed decked with most costly and sumptuous furniture besides the which standeth a beautifull table of fine gold In this sacred house or vestry no image is erected neyther doth any creature lye in the same saue one woman alone beeing of the same countrey as the Priests of Babylon affirme and such a one as it pleaseth the god to choose for his owne dyet Who do also constantly reporte albeit I am hardly brought to beleeue it that the god himselfe entring into the Temple taketh vp his lodging in that chamber Like as also it falleth out at Thebes
accused my childe of treason take him he is thine owne I yeelde him vp to bee dealt withall as it séemeth thee best His talke finished hee immediatly tooke his passage ouer the ryuer Araxes into Persia for farther assuraunce and charge of his sonnes appearaunce at y e Kings pleasure Cyrus hauing gayned the other side of Araxes and marched forward one dayes iourney forthwith he did as Craesus had counsayled him leauing in his tents the feeblest and most vnapt souldiers of his whole number and departed thence with the rest to the shores and banckes of Araxes being lightly harneysed and addressed for the purpose The seely remnaunte of the Persians appointed to stay behinde in defence and munition of the tentes were assayled by the third parte of the Massagets power where vsing al meanes to saue the tentes and succour them selues they were miserably foyled and slayne The enemy entering the campe and perceyuing all places to be furnished with sumptuous prouision of dainty and delicious meates toke the benefit of so good and fauourable fortune and fel freshly to the banquet in so much that hauing there stomacks forced with bittayls and their heads inchauÌ„ted with wyne they were taken with a profounde heauy sleepe when of a sudden the Persians returning from their ambush came vpon them vnwares putting the most parte to the sword the rest they tooke and apprehended alyue Among these was the sonne of Queene Tomyris named Spargapises to whom was geuen and coÌ„mitted the guiding of the army Tomyris aduertised of hir sonnes misfortune together with the chaunce and losse of hir subiects full of stomacke and displeasure sent hir Legate y e second time and saluted Cyrus on this wise Thou insatiable and bloudy boutcher boast not thy selfe of this thou hast done for if by the fruite and sappe of the Vyne wherewith thy selfe otherwhyles being filled to the very eyes art free from no madnesse vyce and blasphemy if herewith I say thou hast taken and inchaunted my sonne it is thy pollicy not thy power thy craft not thy courage that hath gotten thee the victory Well then once agayne heare mee and bee ruled by my counsayle get thee hence yet and bee speedily packinge release my sonne whom thou hast in hold for if in case thou refuse and stay but one moment I sweare by the Sunne the god and king of the Massagets I will glut that greedy pawnch of thine with abouÌ„daunce of bloude wherewith thou seemest to bee insaturable and neuer to be satisfied These words with Cyrus came in at one eare and went out at the other lighter in value then the wynd in waight Notwithstandinge seely Spargapises sonne to the stoute and couragious Queene Tomyris being throughly awaked and come to him selfe perceyuing the case he was in huÌ„bly besought Cyrus to loose him take of his bondes which done and hauing his hands at liberty hee pawnched him selfe into the belly with a Iauelyne and so dyed Such was the end and heauy desteny of poore Spargapises y e Queenes sonne Whom his mother greatly lamenting and seeing hir counsayle to take no place gathered a mighty power fought with king Cyrus in such sorte that of all battayles combatryes of the Barbarians there was neuer any so bloudy fell and cruell on both sides as this The fight and battayle it selfe was in this maner First of all being distant one from another a certayne space they assaulted each other by shotte of Arrowes which beinge spente consumed so feirce a close was geuen on both parts w t Swords Daggers and Iauelynes that the very fire sparkled out by the force and might of their blowes Thus the battayle remayned equall a greate space neither parte yeelding the breadth of a hayre to his enemy till at the length the Massagets preuailing made a great slaughter of the Persians wherein Cyrus himselfe hauing raygned thirty yeares saue one made a finall ende and conclusion of his dayes whom the wrathfull Queene Tomyris seeking oute amonge the slayne and mangled bodyes of the Persians toke his head throwing it into a vessell filled with bloud in vaunting and glorious wife insulted ouer it in these words Thou Boutâ—herly tyrant my sonne thou tokest by craft and kylledst by cruelty wherefore with thy selfe I haue kept touch Now therefore take thy fill bloudy caitife sucke there till thy belly cracke In this maner dyed the noble King Cyrus of whose death and ende since many and sundry thinges are bruted it steinâ—d vs good to followe that which among the rest founded neerest to truth The Massageâ—s are very like the Scythians both in lyuing and attyre There maner is to fighte both on foote and horse backe in both kindes exceeding valiaunt There weapons which they vse are Arrowes Speares short Daggers after the maner and custome of the countrey all their Harnesse and furniture is garnished and adorned both with Golde and Brasse vsinge to their Speares Duyuers and Daggers Spangs and bullions of brasse their Costlets Belts and the rest of their armour beinge gallauntely set forth and beautified with Golde In like maner also the curets of their horse are layde embossed with curious worke of Golde wherewith also are done and beset their raynes brydles and trappinges being altogether vnacquainted with the vse of Siluer or Iron For the land yeelding vnto them inestimable plenty of Gold and Brasse yet of Siluer and Iron it is quite voyde and destitute Moreouer their maners are these Euery one marieth a wyfe which notwithstanding is common and indifferente to all For that which the Grecians affirme to bee done by the Scythians the selfe same not they but the Massagets doe coÌ„monly vse and practise being of a very certainety y t as oft as any of the Massagets is moued with desire of Women he maketh no more adoe but hanging his quyuer vpon the pinne of his wayne goeth openly to worke without any regard They haue no certaine ende or terme of their liues but as euery one is arryued to the pits brinke growne to extremity of age him his kinsfolkes and acquaintance take with certayne cattell and sacrifice him to the gods whose fleshe being afterwardes boyled in a Chaldern they make thereof a solemne feaste or banquet Which kinde maner of death is esteemed with them the most blessed and glorydus death that can possibly happen to man Such as dye through any disease or malady they neuer eate but ouerwhelm and couer them with mouldes holding him vnhappy and accursed that lyued not to the diuine dignity and honour of sacrifice They sowe not one foote of grounde but mayntaine them selues and liue by fish great aboundaunce whereof the riuer Araxes doth yeelde vnto them Their only drinke is milke besides the which they vse nothinge Among the gods they geue honour to the Sunne alone vnto whom they consecrate and offer vp horses which manner of oblation they ordayned for this reason that to the quickest and swiftest of all the