THE History of Herodotus
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This is a reproduction of a library book that was digitized by Google as part of an ongoing effort to preserve the information in books and make it universally accessible. https://books.google.com -t- y > Samuel (^arbtner. ^ - -ys w *ff MICHIGAN LIBRARIES » • '$".# > Ga.L THE H ISTOR Y O F HERODOTUS: Translated from theGreek. By Isaac Littlebury. VOL. II. The Third Edition. LONDON: Printed for D. Midwikter, A. Bettesworth and C. Hitch, J. and J. Pemberton, R. Ware, C. Rjvingtom, J. Batley and J. Wood, F. ClaV, A. Ward, J. and P. Knapton, T. Lonoman, and R. Hstt. M.DCC.XXXVII. Sdr i/; 2 \ [ II THE History of Herodotus. book v. TERPSICHORE. HE Persians, left in Europe under the Orders of. Megabyzus, subdued the Perinthians first of all the Hellespon- tins, for refusing to submit to Darius, tho' they had before been considera bly weaken'd by the Pæonians. For the Pæoni- ans, who inhabit upon the River Strymon, had been admonish'd by an Oracle to invade the Perinthians; and if they should draw out their Forces, and with Clamours provoke the Pæo nians by Name to fight, then to engage ; other wise not. The Pæonians did as they were in structed: And the Perinthians marching out, encamp'd before their City. Upon which a CkJJencre ensued, and three single Combats were fought: The first, of two Men; the Vol. II. A second, 2 HERODOTUS. second, of two Horses ; and the third, of two Dogs. The Perinthians already victorious in two of these Duels, were so full of Joy that they began to fing the Song of Triumph: "When the Pæonians recollecting the Answer of the Oracle, said among themselves, " The «« Prediction is now accomplished : OurWork " is next: " And immediately salling upon the Perinthians as they were singing, gave them so great a Blow, that few escap'd out of the Field. In this manner the Perinthians were defeated by the Pæonians: But against Megabyzus they behav'd themselves with the Valour that becomes Men fighting for Li berty -, and were oppress'd only by the Num bers of the Persians. After the taking of Pe- rintbus, Megabyzus advanc'd with his Army, and reduc'd all the Cities and Nations "of Thrace to the Obedience of the King. For Darius had commanded him to subdue the Thracians. This Nation is the greatest of any among Men, except the Indians : And in my Opinion, if the Thracians were either under the Government of one Person, or unanimous in their Coun sels, they would be invincible, and the strongest People of the World. But because this is ex tremely difficult, or rather impossible, they are of little Strength. They go under several Names according to the Places they inhabit ; but all observe the same Customs, except the Getes, the Traufes, and the Crestoneans, who are seated in the uppermost Parts. I have al ready spoken of the Customs of the Getes relating to Immortality. The Traufes differ in nothing from the rest of the Thracians, except in the M nners observ'd at the Times of their 3 Nativity JBookV. TERPSICHORE. 3 Nativity and Death. When a Child is born, his Relations fitting in a Circle about him, de plore his Condition, on account of the Evils he must suffer in the Course of Life ; enume rating the various Calamities incident to Man kind. But when a Man is dead, they inter him with Exultation and Rejoicings, repeating the Miseries he has exchang'd for a compleac Felicity. Among the Crestoneans who inhabit the highest Part of Thrace, every Man has many Wives ; and at his Death all these Wo men, strongly supported by their several Friends, contend fiercely, who shall be accounted to have been most dear to the Husband. In the end, she who is adjudg'd to have merited that Honour, having receiv'd great Commendations both from the Men and Women, iskill'dupon the grave by the nearest of her Relations, and buried together with the Man ; Which is a great Mortification to the rest, because ac* counted the utmost Disgrace. The rest of the Thracians fell their Children for Transportati on: and take no care of their Daughters ; but suffer them to entertain as many Men as they like. Nevertheless they keep their Wives un der a strict Guard, and purchase them of their Relations at a great Rate. To be mark'd on the Forehead is honourable ; and a Man with out such Marks is accounted ignoble. Idle ness is esteem'd decent; Husbandry unbe coming; and to subsist by War and Rapine is thought glorious. These are the most con siderable Customs of this Nation. For their Gods, they worship only Mars, Bacchus and Diana. But their Kings, besides the national' Deities, adore Hermes with great Religion ; A 2 swearing 4 HERODOTUS. swearing by his Name alone, and pretending to be descended from him. The Funerals of eminent Persons are celebrated in this manner. They expose the Corps to publick View du ring three Days ; and after they have perform'd their Lamentations, they sacrifice all kinds of Animals, and apply themselves to feasting. Then they either burn, or bury the Body in the Ground : And having thrown up a Mound of Earth over the Grave, celebrate all manner of Agonistical Exercises round the Place ; appoint ing the greatest Prizes for those who fight single Combats. And such are their funeral Rites. Concerning the Northern Parts of this Region, no Man can certainly affirm by what People they are possess'd. But those beyond the Danuhe are wild and impracticable ; inha bited by no other Men, that I have heard of, but the Sigynes, who wear the Median Habit, and have Horses cover'd over with Hair, like Bristles five Digits long ; low of Stature, un able to carry a Rider, and having short Noses turning upward: Yet they draw a Chariot with Swiftness and the Inhabitants use them to that end. Next adjoining to these, aretheHenetes, who dwell in Adria, and say they are a Colony of the Medes. But by what means that Colony came thither, I cannot affirm ; tho' nothing be impossible to happen in length of Time. The Ligurians, who inhabit beyond Marseilles, call the Sigynes, Brokers; and the Cyprians give them the Name of Javelins. The Thraci- ans say, that the Parts which lie beyond the Danuhe ate full of Bees, and on that account impassable. But I think their Assertion carries no Appearance of Truth ; because that Animal cannot BookV. TERPSICHORE. 5 cannot endure the Cold ; and lam inclin'd to believe that the excessive Frost of the Nor thern Climates, are the only Cause why those Countries are uninhabited. But I have said enough concerning these Parts: Of which Me- gabyzus reduc'd all the maritim Places to the Obedience of Darius. NO sooner was Darius arriv'd at Sardis, after he had repass'd the Hellespont, than remem bering the good Offices of Hiftiœus the Milesian, and the Counsel ofCoes of Mitylene, he sent for both those Persons, and gave them the Choice of their Recompence. Histiœus being already Tyrant of Miletus, demanded no other Domi nion ; and only desir'd the Edonian Myrcinus, in order to build a City there. But Cow, who was a private Man, and possess'd of no Govern ment demanded the Dominion of Mitylene. They easily obtain'd all they desir'd, and then departed to take Possession. About the same time, by means of a certain Accident, Darius took a Resolution to command Megabyzus to transplant the Pæonians out of Europe into Asia. For Pigres and Mastyes, two Pæonians, being desirous to become Masters of Pœonia, came to Sardis after the Return of Darius, accom panied by their Sister, who was a tall and beau tiful Person : And observing Darius one Day fitting in the Suburbs of the Lydians, they dress'd their Sister in the best manner they could, and sent her down to the River ; carry ing a Pitcher on her Head, leading a Horse by a Bridle hanging upon her Arm, and at the same time spinning a Thred from her Distaff. Darius looking upon' the Maid with Attention as she pass'd by ; because her manner was alto- A 3 gether 6 HERODOTUS. gether different from the Customs, not only of the Persian and Lydian Women, but of any other in Asia, order'd some of his Guards to observe what she would do with the Horse. The Guards follow'd her, and found that when she came down to the River, she water'd the Horse, and having fill'd her Pitcher, return'd again by the same way ; carrying the Water on her Head, leading her Horse, and spinning, as she had done before. Darius no less surpriz'd with the Account they gave, than with what he himself had seen, commanded her to be brought into his Presence: Where she was no sooner intro- ctuc'd, than her Brothers, who had obscrv'd all thatpass'd, appear'd likewise ; and when Darius ask'd who she was, the young Men made an swer, th^t they were Pæonians, and that the Maid was their Sister. The King proceeding to enquire, what fort of Men the Pæonians were; in what Part of the World they liv'd ; and upon what Motive they themselves came to Sardis ; receiv'd for Answer, that they came to put themselves under his Protection ; that Pa- onia is situate upon the River Strymon, not sar from the Hellespont; and that the People area Colony of Teucrians, from the City of Troy.