at a priuye signe to fall to feasting tipling and quaffing betweene themselues aboue measure Which thing he deuysed to the intent the Sardian embassadours beholding so greate plentye and aboundance of grayne and vewing the people in such wise to disport them selues with al kynde of pleasure and delight might make report therof to y e kinge his soueraigne which fell out accordynglye For the ambassadours taking diligent view of all thinges they saw and dispatching their ambassage to Thrasibulus made speedy recourse to Sardis And as I am geuen to vnderstand hereof onelye proceeded a conclusion of peace betwene them For Halyattes supposinge the Milesians to bee oppressed with greate want and penury of grayne at the returne of hys legates hard other newes then hee looked for After this a league was established betweene them of mutuall hospitality and fellowship and in steed of one temple Halyattes caused 2 other to be sumptiuously built at AssessuÌ„ beyng after restored to hysful and perfect strength Such was then the maner of the warre that Halyattes mayntayned agaynst the people of Miletus Periander the some of Sypselus who aduertised Thrasibulus of the oracle was king of Corinth in whose raigne there happened by report of hys people with whom also y e cityzens of Lesbos do iustly accord a miracle right straunge and wonderful Arion Methimnaeus sitting on the backe of a Dolphine by safe and easy conduite arryued at Taenaros hauing the name to bee the most excellent and skylfull musition on the harpe of those â—ymeâ—â— by whom also chieflye was inuented named and taught the kynde and forme of verse called Biâ—hyrambus The fame is how this Aryon hauing a loÌ„g tyme bene resident in the court of Periander was greatly desyrous to passe the Seas into Italye and Cicilie wher beyng growen in wealth and flowinge with infinite summes of money was lead by a desire of retyring backe into hys owne countreye and determyne to in ship himselfe at Tarentum for the speciall credite and good lyking he had to the men of his owne nation hyred a Corinthian barck to returne in which hauing a gall of pleasant wynde and beinge nowe without kenne of Lande the Maryners were all in mind to haue borded Aryon to enioy his money which thing y e pore harper perceyuing freely offred to depart from his wealth if therewith satisfyed they would shew mercy on him selfe and spare his life How beit finding theÌ„ cruelly bent not to bee moued with anye tears but y t either he must kil himselfe be buried on y e laÌ„d or fling hiÌ„selfe hedloÌ„g into y e mids of y e sea he besought theÌ„â—sibly y t since it semed them best to deale so roughly w t him they would graunt him liberty in his richest aray to sing a song wherto they gladly yeldiÌ„g as beyng not a little ioyful to lend their eares to the chiefest and most famous musitioÌ„ then liuing on the earth He weÌ„t from them apart into the middest of the shippe wher hauing decked his body w t most pretious and costlye furniture he framed his voyce to the sweete and melodious verse named Orthium which no soner had he brought to an end but al his pompe glorious arayment he threw himselfe headlonge into the Sea the shipmen held on their course to Corinth Arion receyued by a Dolphin was in perfect safety landed at Taenaros froÌ„ whence so arrayed as he was he framed his steps towarde Corinth to the seate and pallace of the king wher hauing entred a discourse of his strauÌ„ge case incredible fortune y e king supposing him to ouer reach coÌ„mitted him immediatly to close ward wher no maÌ„ might haue accesse vnto hiÌ„ After that diligent serch was made for the mariners who beyng apprehended and curiouslye questioned with about Arion made answere that his abode was aboute Italy and how at their comming from thence they leaft him in florishing estate at Tarentum at which words Arion preseÌ„tly appearing draue them into such a quandarye that hauing no colour of excuse they were compelled perforce to confesse the truth These thinges are verifyed by the men of Corinth and Lesbos Ther is yet to be seene at Taenaros a huge massy monumeÌ„t wrought of brasse Arion sitting on y e back of a Dolphin Howbeit Haliattes prince of Lydia hauing entred the warre with the Milesians gouerned the kingdome 57 yeares finished his dayes who second of that linage after the due recouerye of his strength offred at Delphos a piece of siluer plate of value incomparable and a smal dish of yron curyously wrought a thinge no lesse wonderful to behold then ought that hath bene dedicated in the temple of Apollo being the handy worke of Blaucus Chius who first found out the meane to worke in yron After the death of Haliattes the sceptor descended vnto Craesus his sonne beyng then at the age of thirtye and three yeares This Kyng mynding to haue a fling at the Grecians began first of all and encountred with the people of Ephesus who beyng inuyroned by hym with a siege gaue theyr Citty to the Goddesse tying a rope from the temple of Diana to the walles of the Towne Betweene the olde citye that was besieged and the Temple was the space of 7. furlonges These were the first that Craesus began to quarel with amonges the Grecians After this he began by piecemeale to be doyng with the seuerall cityes of Ionia Aeolia pretending agaynst each diuerse and sundrye causes some very weighty and of due regard other meeretrifles and very friuolous Now when he had subdued the Grecians in Asia and made them tributory to his seat hee determined to furnish a nauy agaynst the inhabitauntes of the Isles To the framing wherof when all things were in readynesse some say that Bias Prienaeus other that Pittacus Mitylaeneus comming to Sardis was demaunded of the Kinge what newes in Greece who shaped him such an answeare that it gaue him small courage to proceede in his enterprise The people of the Isles O King sayd hee haue made prouision of a thousande horses in full purpose to come agaynst thee and thy citye Sardis Craesus thinking he had spoken truth Would God quoth he it might once take them in the brayne to war on horsebacke against the sonnes of the Lydians who taking his talke by the end proceeded saying Most noble Prince it is thy desire to meete with these Sea fishes flooting on shore and what dost thou think they more greedy wish and long after then to take thee and thy Lidyans waueryng and tossing in the water to gleike the one the other syde for so many Grecians become subiect pentionarye to thy kingdome Wherwith Craesus verye much delighted for that he seemed to haue spoken wisely chaunged his mynd and made a friendly league with the people of Ionia that held the Isles in processe of tyme hee became conquerour of al those which are within the ryuer Halis For besydes the
Craesus to haue done him to death not supposing him to haue bene the king Whom he perceyuinge neuerthelesse regarded not the daunger making no difference whether hee perished by sword or otherwyse The dumbe sonne seeyng the imminent perill of the King hys father and fearynge his death brake out in these wordes sayinge Hold thy handes Good fellow slay not king Craesus Which beyng the first wordes that euer he spake hee had alwaies after the ready vse and practise of his toung Thus Craesus and hys city Sardis after he had raygned 14. years and abiden so many dayes siege fell into the hands and power of the Persians hauing lost a great kingdome accordyng to the voyce and sentence of the oracle beyng in this sort apprehended he was brought to king Cyrus who causing his hands feete to be clogged with great waighty giues of yron set him in y e midst of a woodpile made for the nonce accōpanied w t 14. children of the Lydians determinīg to offer these first fruites to y e Gods ether for perfourmāce accōplishment of some vow or for profe or tryall whether any of the Gods vnto whose honor seruice he vnderstode Craesus to be greatly addicted woulde saue deliuer hī frō y e fyre These things are cōmonly spred reported of Cyrus In this most yrksome lamentable case whiles y e kynge of y e Lydiās stode on y e heape or pyle of fagots he bethought hymselfe of the words and saying of Solon who lead by the diuine instinct of some heauenly influence had told hym before that in the number of the liuinge there was no man so singular that might be named happy Wherof beyng admonished in his mynd and fetching from the bottom of his hart a deepe and streyning sigh by report wept bitterly three sundrye tymes cryed out aloude vppon the name of Solon which Cyrus hearing willed the interpreters to aske hym whom he called vppon To whom Craesus made no an sweare at all vntil such tyme as beynge compelled by constraynt he sayd I named him whom I had rather then al the wealth in the worlde hee had lykewyse talked with all those who beynge placed in the hyghest degree of honoure haue the chiefe gouernment of the kingdomes on Earth which woordes for that hee vttered not halfe playnlye and to the cleare and perfyt vnderstanding of those which were attentyue and listened vnto hym they vrged him a fresh to make a recytall therof agayne At whose instant and importunate halinge beynge now constrayned to begynne his speech anew he told them how a long tyme synce Solon an Athenian arriued at his court who beholding his infinite treasure aboundance of wealth made verye light accompt thereof as a thinge of smal and base value in so much that whatsoeuer he had spokē and pronounced of hym the same in due measure had fallen out and comen to euent Which thinges neuerthelesse were not peculiarly spoken by hym but generally of the whole nation and company of men and chiefly of those which please themselues here on earth in a pleasaunt dreame and singular cōtentment of happy blisse Whyles Craesus spake these thinges and the fagottes had taken fyre on euery syde Cyrus vnderstandynge by the expositers of the Lydian toung what he had said was moued with compassion knowinge himselfe also to bee but a man who was now in hand to frye another to death by fyre that of late dayes was nothinge inferiour to himselfe in power and prosperitie And fearing vengeaunce for the same and consydering the instable course and fickle flower of mans affayres commaunded with all diligence the fyre to be extinguished and Craesus with the rest of his company to bee set free But they stroue in vain the fyre hauing taken such vehement holde that it seemed vnquencheable and not to bee ouercome In this place the Lydians recounte that Craesus knowing kyng Cyrus his minde to be chaunged seeing euery man endeuoure to abate the rage and furie of the flame howbeit nothing at all profiting he lyfted vp his voyce cryed to Apollo for succour that if euer any giftes offered by him had ben pleasaunt in his sight he would acquite and deliuer him from this presēt daunger As he was pitifully shedding his teares in plainte and lamentation to the God sodainly the skye being faire the weather smoth and calme the daye was ouercaste and shadowed with the darke vale of dimme and duskie cloudes which breakynge out into maine showres cleane put out and quenched y e fire Herby Cyrus perceiuing that Craesus was a vertuous mā and reuerenced the Gods he saued him from the fyre demaunded him the question saying Tell me now O Craesus whose counsaile was it to inuade my country and became of my friend myne enemy Certes quoth hee G Kinge I haue done this to mine owne great losse and thy gayne the God of the Graecians incyting and leading me hereto who was the cause that I warred agaynst thee For no man is so franticke to desire warre rather then peace when as in tyme of concorde the sonnes bury the fathers but in warre the father carieth the sonne to hys graue Howbeit it seemed good to the God to bringe these things to passe which hauinge saide Cyrus placed him by and hadde hym in great honour and reuerence and stedfastlye beholding him greatly wondred with the rest of his company All which while Craesus in a deepe muse and profound studye sat stil without speaking any worde But sodainly lifting vp his head and vewing the Persian souldiers spoyling and ryflyng the citye Whether shall I speake my mynd noble Cyrus sayde hee and vtter that I thinke or holde my peace at this present and say nothinge But beyng lycenced to speake freely and without feare he asked him saying Wherin is al this company so busily cōuersaunt or what seeke they to do of a truth quoth Cyrus naught else but to pole and dispoile the city and make a hand of thy riches and treasure To whom Cresus answeryng neyther do they wast my city mighty prince sayd he nor consume my goods for the righte of these thinges is no longer myne but they are thy goods which they trayle and lugge aboute and al this wealth pertayueth to thee vpon which wordes the king aduysinge hymselfe drewe Craesus asyde from the company and demaunded of him what he thought meet to be done in this case Who replyed saying For asmuch as it hath pleased the Gods to make mee thy ser 〈…〉 I hold it my duty whatsoeuer I shal perceiue more then thy selfe to make thee priuy and a counsaile therto The Persians quoth he are a croked generation and of nature peruerse and stubburne yet neuertheles verye bare and beggerly whom if in this sort thou securely permit to ryg and ransacke cityes and recouer store plentye of wealth I feare me that as euery one groweth to greattest aboundaunce hee will sonest slipp
in Aegypt by the voyce and record of the Aegyptians where in the oratory or place of seruice dedicate to Iupiter Thebanus a woman vseth to lye who as also the other of Babylon is constantly auouched at no time to haue custome or fellowship with men Such is also the prioresse or woman priest at Paterae in Lycia when time or occasion ferueth for there the Oracle is not continually held but at such time as it approcheth the Abbesse ouer night is fast loâ—kt and included into the Church In the temple of Babylon besides there is another temple somewhat lower wherein is kept the famous monument of the god Iupiter wrought of golde neere vnto the which adioyneth a table which together with the frame and settle thereto belonging is also of meere and solide gold esteemed of the Chaldaean priests at the summe and value of 800. talents At the comming out of the chappell there is also to be seene an aultar of cleane gold not farre from the which standeth another of strange and wonderfull bignes whereon are offered all such beastes as are of perfect age and ripe growth contrarywise on the aultar of golde it is not lawfull to sacrifice any but sucklings and such as are newly drawne and taken from the teate On the greater of the two aultars the Chaldaean Chaplaynes burne incense to the god with expence of a C. M. talents of frankincense In the same temple is also another image of 12. cubites in length of massy and beaten golde which albeit I sawe not with mine owne eies yet presuming vpon the credit of the Chaldaeans I haue aduentured to set it downe This image Darius the sonne of Hystaspes and King of Persia would faine haue bin fingering neuerthelesse for feare of after-claps he was contente to coole his thirst and forgoe the spoile howbeit Xerxes his sonne heire in later daies rifeling the temple made a booty therof hauing done to death a chaplaine who stoutly forbad him to moue the image out of his place With these such like ornameÌ„ts was y t temple of Babylon gorgeously adorned besides an infinite number of gifts and presents franckly geuen and bestowed to the polishing and setting foorth of so rare famous a monument Furthermore the genealogy and succession of the Kings of Babylon is very manyfold and diuerse of whome ioyntly with y t affaires estate of Assyria we meane to intreate parse of these laid their wealth treasure on the trimming beautifying of the city walles other spared no coast to inrich adorne the temples palaces of the gods In the lineall discent of the bloud royall mention is made of two women the one of these raigned fiue ages before the later and was called Semiramis This Queene caused to be cast vp raised great mounts mighty banckes very wonderfull to be seene which kept the riuer within the course of his naturall chanell beeing wont before time to ouerflow couer the whole plame The second Queene named Nitocris was of wit more sharp subtile and of much more fiue inuention then y e former by whom both other things were brought to passe right woorthy memory whiche wee purpose to recount and chiefly this that perceiuing the power and gouernement of the Medes to grow and increase and as well other townes as also the city Ninus to be vanquished by theÌ„ she forethought all the meanes that could be deuised to arme defend hirselfe against the enemy First of all the riuer Euphrates that whilome by a streight equall course streame throughout the towne flowing in a right line towards the sea by meanes of certaine trenches cast vp and digged for the streame she drew into a confuse and intricate race folding winding many waies insomuch that in three sundry places it hath eftsoones recourse vnto one little village in Assyria called Arderica so that they which come froÌ„ the sea to Babylon by y t riuer Euphrates are coÌ„streined to ariue thrice at Arderica that also in three seuerall dayes This was also one worke of hers which she did about y t riuer the borders wherof besides she hath hemmed garded in with a banke so stroÌ„g moÌ„strous what for y t vnmeasurable hignes bignes of y t same it would greatly astonishe those that do view behold it Somewhat aboue the city a little off from the riuers side she caused a place to be cast trenched for the receipt of a standing water or poble which they digged so deepe till they came to the water extending euery way in breadth the space of 320. furlongs The earth that was voyded heerefro was referred and employed to the bancking of the riuer The edge and brinckes of the poole were layde aboute and paued with stone In both which things as well in turning the course of the water as in deluing the trench or lake she had this purpose that the violeÌ„ce of the floud being hindred by so many windings and turnings might flowe in a more quiet and peaceable streame then that the passage from the maine sea to Babylon might be made more troublesome to the saylers by the often creekes and circuites of the water finally that the next way and readiest path from Media to Babylon being shut vp and intercepted by the mutable course of the riuer the Medes hindered from mutable trade of Merchandize with the Assyrians might be ignorant and vnskilfull of hir assayres and counsayle Thus did Queene Nitocris on the lower side of Babylon prouide for the safetie and good estate of the Realme hauing another meaning in the fenne or marish which she caused the people to digge aboue the towne for the City being separate and diuided into two partes by meanes of the riuer which floweth through the middes vnder the raigne and dominion of other Princes whosoeuer of the Citizens was desirous to go ouer on the other side he was fayne to be feried ouer and passe by a boate whiche coulde not be voyde of greate toyle and trouble of which extremity by the good inuention of Queene Nitocris the City obteyned speedie release by one and the selfesame meanes leauing behinde two famous monumeÌ„ts of perpetual memory Wherfore hauing turned the riuer into the maine gulfe or lake that was cast vp and digged in the plaine she incontinently caused mighty stones to be hewed out squared for y e purpose The floud hauing a breach and issue another way within the compasse of his owne chanell became drye and voyde of water Nitocris therefore fenced the bankes and shores of the riuer within the Citie with a skirt or edge of bricke to saue the water from abating and wearing the earth In like maner the steppes leading downe from the brasen wickets to the water she framed of bricke layd and mortered together in like sorte as the walles About the middest of the Citie she made a bridge ouer the water built of stone cut and polished to the same ende which she
Philitio who at that time kept sheepe in those places Chephrenes dying yeelded the Kingdome to Mycerinus the sonne of his brother Cheops who eschuing the wicked acts and detestable practises of his father caused the temples to be set open giuing libertie to the people being so long distressed vnder the gouernement of his father and vncle to follow their owne affayres and returne to their auncient custome of sacrifice ministring iustice aboue all the Kings that were before him for which cause none of all the princes that haue borne rule in Aegypt is so greatly praysed and renowmed both for other causes which were wisely taken vp by him in iudgement and chiefly for this that a certayne Aegyptian much complayning that the King had wronged him in deciding his cause he commaunded him to value the losse which he had suffered by him which the partie doing he gaue him so much of his owne goods to make him a recompence Mycerinus in this wise gouerning the common weale with great clemency and seekyng by vertue to aduance his fame was sodeinely daunted by a great misfortune the death of his onely daughter hauing no more children but her which was the first and greatest hart-breake that befell him in his kingdome For which cause being stricken with sorrowe aboue measure and desirous to solemnize her funeralles by the most royall and princely kinde of buryall that could be deuised he caused an oxe to be made of wood inwardly vauted and hollow within which being layde ouer and garnished most curiously with gilt he inclosed therein the wanne and forlorne corpse of his best beloued daughter This royall tombe was not interred and buryed in the grounde but remayned vnto our age in the city Sais in open view standing in a certayne parlour of the Kings pallace adorned and set foorth for the same purpose with most beautifull and costly furniture The custome is euermore in the daye time to cast into the belly of the oxe sweete and precious odoures of all sortes that may be gotten and in the nighte to kindle a lampe which burneth by the tombe till the next daye In a chamber next adioyning are certayne pictures of women that were the concubines of Mycerinus if we may beleeue the talke of those that in the same city of Sais are professours in religion forsomuch as there are seene standing in that place certayne mighty images made of wood twentye or thereaboutes in number the most parte of them bare and naked but what women they resemble or whose pictures they be I am not able to alleadge more then hearesay notwithstāding there were which as touching the gilded oxe and the other images framed this tale that Mycerinus being inamoured of his own daughter dealt vnlawfully with her besides the course of nature who for intollerable greefe hanging her selfe was intombed in that oxe by her father the Queene her mother causing the hands of all her gentlewomen to be cut off by whose meanes she had beene betrayed to serue her fathers lust for which cause say they are these images portrayed to declare the misfortune which they abode in their lifetime But this is as true as the man in the moone for that a man with halfe an eye may clearely perceiue that their hands fel offfor very age by reason that the wood through long cōtinuance of time was spaked and perished whiche euen to our memory were to be seene lying at the feete of those which were portrayed The oxe wherein the yong princesse lay was sumptuously clad and arayed all the body wyth a gorgeous mantle of Phenicia hys head and necke beeyng spanged and layde ouer with braces and plates of golde of a maruaylous thickenesse Betweene hys hornes was set a globe or circle of golde glistering as the sunne Neyther is the oxe standing and borne vp vppon hys feete but kneeleth as it were on hys knees equall in bignesse to a great heighfer The manner is once a yeare to bring this image out of the parlour wherein it is kepte hauyng first of all well beaten and cudgelled a certayne image of one of theyr Sainctes whome in thys case wee thynke it not lawfull for vs to name The talke goeth that the Lady besought the Kyng her father that beeing dead she myght once a yeare beholde the sunne whereof sprang the custome and maner aforesayde After this there befell vnto him another mischiefe that sate as neere hys skirtes as the death of his dilling insomuch that he was readie to runne beyonde hymselfe for sorrowe A prophecie arose in the city of Butis that the tearme of sixe yeares fully exspired the Kyng shoulde ende hys lyfe leauing hys Kyngdome to be ruled of another Whereof the Kyng beeing aduertised and greately greeuing at the rigorous and vniust dealing of the gods sped a messenger to the place where the seate of prophecie was helde to expostulate with the god for what cause since hys father and vnckle who had beene so vnmindfull of the gods shutting vp their temples and making hauocke of the people had liued so long he hymselfe that had dealte better with them and caused these thynges to bee restored agayne shoulde so soone be depriued of the benefite of lyfe to whome aunswere was made that hys dayes were therefore shortened because hee tooke a wrong course and dyd not as he should do beyng appoynted by the celestiall powers that the countrey of Aegypt should suffer miserie and be afflicted by their princes y e space of an hūdred fifty yeares which the two former princes well vnderstanding was neuerthelesse by him neglected and left vnperformed Mycerinus hearing this round reply and perceiuing that his thread was almost spoon set al at reuell making great prouision of lights and tapers which at euentide he caused to be lighted passing the night in exceeding great mirth and princely banquetting letting slip no time wherein he either wandered not alongst the riuer and through the woods and groues of the countrey or entertayned the time in some pleasaunt deuises following all things that might eyther breede delighte or bring pleasure which things he did to the end he might prooue the prophecie false and conuince the god of a lie making twelue yeares of sixe by spending the nightes also as he did the dayes Mycerinus also built a pyre not equall to that which his father had set vp before him beeing in measure but twentie foote square framed quadrangularly and another lower then that of three acres in compasse being built to the middest of the stone of Aethiopia There be of the Graecian writers that suppose thys towre to haue bene erected by a woman of notable fame called Rhodope who misse of their account not seeming to knowe what that Rhodope was of whome they speake Besides it is very vnlikely that Rhodope woulde euer haue enterprised a worke of so great value wherein infinite thousands of talentes were spent before it came to perfection Lastly it was not in the
gaue no gyftes offered no sacrifice esteeming them vnworthy of any reuerence hauing geuen out a false verdite And such as had pronounced him guilty to these as to the most true gods whose Oracles were agreeable to iustice hee perfourmed the greatest honour hee coulde deuise Besides in the City of Saïs hee made a porche to the temple of Minerua a worke of great admiration and farre passing the rest both in heights and bignesse so great is the quantity of the stones that were employed in the building Hee erected besides in the same place diuerse Images of a woÌ„derfull size the pictures of many noysome and pestilent Serpents Hee layde there also many huge stones to the repayring of the temple parte of the which were digged out of the stone quarryes by Memphis other of great quantity brought from the city of Elephantina which is distant from Saïs 20. dayes sayling Moreouer that which is not the least wonder but in my minde to bee reckoned amongst the chiefest hee brought from Elephantina an house framed of one stone in the cariage whereof 2000. choyse men of the Mariners of Aegypt consumed three yeares The roufe hereof on the outside is 21. cubyts longe 14. cubits broad eight cubites highe being on the inside 22. cubytes in length and in height 5. This house is set at the entring into the temple geuing this reason why it was not brought into the church for that the chiefe Mariner when he had gotten it to that place as wearie wyth hys dayes worke tooke respite and breached him selfe whereat the King being very much mooued bad him leaue of work not permitting him to labour any longer Some say that one of those which were busied in heauing of the stone with leauers to haue bene bruised to death by it and that this was the cause why it stoode without the Pallace By the same King were erected sundry temples built by arte very exquisitely and cunningly whereof one hee made sacred to Vulcane before which lyeth a great Image with the face vpwarde in length seuenty fiue feete being spread along vppon a pauement of stone in the selfe same place on eache side this Image stand two carued monuments of stone twenty foote in quantity Like vnto this is another stone in Saïs lying in the selfe same maner In like sorte the great temple in Memphis so gorgeous and beautifull to the sight of all that behold it was the handiwork also of y e same King Amasis In the time of this Kinges gâ—uernmente Aegypt floryshed in all wealth being greatly increased aswell by the ryches which the ryuer yeeldeth as in other reuenewes which the people receyue by the countrey which at the same time was so populous that there were then inhabited 20000 cityes Likewise by this Kinge it was enacted that euerye one should yearely render accounte to the cheife president of the countrey howe and by what maner of trade hee gayned his lyuinge being alwayes prouyding that such as refused to doe it at all or beeinge called to a reckoninge coulde shewe no lawefull meanes howe they spent their tymes should for the the same cause bee adiudged to dye Which lawe Solon borowing of the Aegyptians did publish it in Athens and is by them for the profite thereof most religiously obserued Amasis vppon good affection hee bare to the Grecians besides other benefittes franckly bestowed on them made it lawefull for all such as trauayled into Aegypte to inhabyte the City Naucrates And such as would not abyde in that place hauinge more mynde to seaâ—aring for the vse of Marchaundize to those hee gaue lybertye to Plant aulters and builde churches So that the greatest and most famous Temple in all the land is called the Grecian temple The Cityes of the Greekes by whose charge and expence this temple was builte in Aegypte were these of the countrey of Iönia Chius Teus Phocoea Clazomene amongst the Dorians foure Cities Rhodus Cnydus Halicarnassus Phaselus one City of the people of Aeolia namely Mitylene To these Cityes of Greece is the Temple belonginge by whom also are founde and mayntayned certayne Priests to serue in the same There are other townes besides in Greece that haue some righte to the Temple as hauing contributed some thinge to the vse of the same Howbeit the Temple of Iupiter the people of Aegina built of their owne proper cost No City toke parte with Samos in setting vp the Pallace of Iuno the Milesians alone tooke vppon them to erect the Temple of Apollo Besides these there are no other monuments built by the Grecians which remayne extant in Aegypt And if by fortune any of the Greekes passe into Nylus by any other way then that which serueth to lande from Greece hee is fayne to sweare that hee was constrained agaynst his will byndinge him selfe by oath that in the same Shippe hee wyll speede him selfe into Canobicus another Channell of the Ryuer so called and if by contrarye wyndes hee bee hindered from arryuinge there hee muste hyre caryage by water and so ferry the nexte way to Naucrates In such sorte were the Grecians tyed to that City beinge by reason of their trafique thyther had in principall honoure Nowe whereas the Pallace of Amphiction whiche is nowe at Delphos beeing straungely pearyshed by fyre was gone in hande with a freshe vppon price of three hundred tallentes the people of Delphos which were leauyed at the fourth parte of the charges straying aboute all countryes gathered very much being chiefly assysted by the Aegyptians Amasis the Kinge bestowinge on them a thowsande tallents of Asume and the Grecians that were abyding in Aegypt twenty pound Moreouer with the Cyrenaeans Prynce Amasis entred friendship and strooke a league of fellowship with the same insomuch that he thought meete to enter asâ—yaunce with them taking a wife of that countrey eyther for affection he bare to the women of Greece or in respecte of hys loue to the Cyrenaeans His wife as some say was the daughter of Battus sonne of Arcesilaus as others reporte of Critobulus a man of chiefe credite and regarde amongst those with whome he dwelt His Ladies name was Ladyce a woman of surpassing beautie with whome the King beeing in bed was so strangely benummed and daunted in courage as if he had bene an Eunuch not able to execute any dutie of a man wherat the King himselfe beeing greately agast feeling himselfe frollicke in the company of other women and so faint to hys Lady Ladyce on a time began to taunt her in these tearmes Can it be thou filthy and detestable hagge that by any meanes I should refrayne from doing thee to the most miserable death that can be deuised which hast thus inchaunted and bewitched my body In faith minion I will coniure this diuell of yours and assure thy selfe if thy lucke be not the better thou shalt not liue two dayes to an ende The poore Lady standing stiffely in her owne defence and nothing preuayling to appease his fury
this pitious and dolefull verse Herein they iumpe and agree with the Lacedaemonians in that the inferiour meeting with his elder yeeldeth the way and sheweth him a dutifull obeisaunce in riseing from his seate if happily hee bee sitting as he passeth by in which poynte they are vnlike all y â— rest of the Grecians besides Meetinge in the way in place of mutuall salutation they vse humble and curteous reuerence each towarde other bendinge their hands to each others knees CoÌ„monly they goe clothed in linnen garments made fast with a lace about the thigh which kinde of attyre they call Calasyris ouer this they cast also another besture of linnen very cleane white Garments of woollen are neuer caried into the houses of religion neither will any man shrowd him selfe in a woollen vesture which is accounted prophane This hath some agreement with y â— ceremonies vsually kept in y â— sacred feasts of Bacchus Orpheus which partly were taken from y â— Aegyptians partly deuised by y â— Pythagoreans For such as haue bene partakers of those ryts haue euermore abhorred to be buried in woollen garments Whereof also an holy reason is geuen which we dare not disclose Many other thinges haue bene invented by y â— Aegyptians as what day and moneth is proper and appertinent to euery god Likewise in Astrology what fortune is incident to him that is borne one such a day how hee shall proue in lyfe by what meanes hee shall miscary by death which thinges haue bene vsed of many that haue laboured in the Arte and Science of Poetry Also more wonders and strange sightes and euentes haue bene discussed and interpreted by them then by any other Nation liuinge For as any such thing hath happened at any tyme they commit it to memory awaighting dilligently what issue it hath and if the like fall out at any time after they coniecture of the ende and effect thereof by the example of the first The knowledge of diuination is so practised by them that they impute not the inuention thereof to the will of men but to certayne of the gods In their lande there bee these Oracles The prophecy of Hercules Apollo Minerua Diana Mars and Iupiter most of all retterencing the diuine seate of Latona helde at the city Batis These prophesies are not all instituted after the same fashion but haue a difference and diuersity betweene them Phisieke is so studyed and practysed with them that euery disease hath his seuerall phisition who stryueth to excell in healing that one disease and not to be expert in curinge many whereof it commeth that euery corner is full of Physitions Some for the eyes other for the head many for the teeth not a fewe for the stomacke and belly Finally such as are of knowledge to deale with secret and priuy infirmities In like sorte the maner of mourninge and funerall sorrow at the death of friendes also the maner of sepulture and vuryall which they vse is most worthy memory When as any of their familiars or domesticall friendes fortune to decease bee hee of regarde amongst them all the women of that family besmere and gryme their heads and faces with myre drosse and leauing the forlorne and languished corps amongest their friends acquaintaunce they them selues being straight gyrded with their breasts all bare and naked accompanied with al the women of their kindred wander about y â— sireets with most piteous lamentation and howling on the other side y â— men fast gyrte about the loynes thump beate themselues as the most miserable infortunate wretched persons in the world After this they cary out the body to embalme and preserue Certaine there be definitly appointed for the same purpose that make an occupation and trade hereof These when the corse is brought vnto them propounde shew to the bringers sundry formes pictures of the dead paynted or carued in wood one of which is wrought with most curiouse arte and workmanship which we thinke impiety to name the second of lesse pryce the third meanest of all demaundinge of the bringers to which of these paterns examples their friend shalbe dressed Being agreed of the price they depart leauing the body with y â— salyners who incontinent season preserue the corps with al industry drawing the braynes out by the nosthrills with a croked instrument of Iron in place whereof they fill the Brayne pan with most sweete and pleasaunt oyntments This done and finished they cut and rip vp the Bowells with a sharp stone of Aethyopia taking thereout the paunche entrals and clensinge the belly with wyne of Palme tree secondly with fresh water mingled with most fragrant delightfull spyces in place hereof they force and stuffe the belly it selfe with myrrhe of the finest force brayed and pounded in a morter Likewise with Cassia all kinde of pleasaunt odours except frankincense Hauing thus done they sowe it vp agayne embalming the body preserue it for the terme of â—0 dayes longer then which they may not keepe it The dayes exspired drawne to an ende they take the corse and wash it ouer a fresh annoynting the body with gum which is to the Aegyptians in steede of Glue and attyring it in a fine lynen drawne together with a lace they send him back againe to his friends His friends in y â— tyme while the saliners haue him in hand procure an Image to be made to the likenes and resemblaunce of him that is dead wherein being holow vauted within they cause him to be inclosed layinge both the Image and the body therein contayned in a toumbe together Howbeit they which in meaner estate and fortune cannot reach so high order the bodyes of their frindes in forme as followeth First of all they fill a clyster with the oyntment of neder which without any maner cuttinge or opening the belly they strayne it into the body by the inferiour partes Fundament preseruinge the corse as before 70. dayes The last day of all they dreyne out the oyle from the bowels of the dead which is of such vertue that it bringeth out with it all the inner parts of the belly corrupted and festered Herewith also they instil power into the body Saltpeter which is of force to depratie taynt and consume the flesh leauing nothing but skin bones which done they eftsones deliuer the body to y â— owners There is also a third kinde of vsage accustomably practised about the bodyes of the dead that if any one be deceased whose friendes are very poore and of smalest substance they only purge the belly and preseruing the corps with salt for terme of like time as before in fine redeliuer him to the bringers The wyues of noble men and such as are very fayre and of great respect for their hearty are not presently vpon pointe of their death geuen to be embalmed but three or foure dayes after
that no violence should be shewed how peruerslie soeuer he behaued himselfe This charge geuen he caused his Camels to proceede forward agaynst the Lydian ryders to this ende for that a horse is very much afrayd of a Camell and can neither away with the sight of him nor abyde his smel Which pollicy he founde out to defeate Craesus of his greattest hope whose chiefest confideÌ„ce he knew to be placed in the streÌ„gth and virtue of his horsemen Asigne of battayle beyng geueÌ„ and the armies comming to the close the Lydian coursers what with the sight and sent of the camels fledd backe and retyred violently which clean discouraged Craesus and put him out of hope But the Lydians nothing abashed therat as hauing learned the cause alyghted spedily and buckled with the Persians on foote tyll at length manye fallyng on ether side they were forced to flye and gard them selues with the walles of the city beyng inuyroned by the PersiaÌ„s with a siege which siege Craesus supposing to put of and delay for a long time sent other messengers from y e walles to his freyndes and confederates hauinge by the first set downe and prefyned the fift moneth ensuinge for the tyme of their assembly Contrariwise by these he requested and desyred mature and speedy ayde beyng held at a baye and inclosed within the walles and gates of hys citye The messengers vndertoke a speedy course as well to other nations as to the Lacedemonians his assured frendes It fortuned that at the same tyme there fell a strife and contention betwene the men of Sparta and Argos about a certayne field called Thyrea which grounde albeit properly belonging to the Arguies was vnlawfullye helde backe and retayned by the Spartans For what land soeuer in the mayne bendeth and inclyneth toward the West as farre as Malea is peculier and appertinent to the Argiues with the tytle also and dominion of certayne Isles in the number wherof is reckoned Cythera Therfore the people of Argos gathering an army for the recouerye of theire owne territory and freedome they fel to condition for the matter to be tryed out by coÌ„bratry of three hundred choise men on eyther syde consenting and agreeing that the right of the lande should follow the victorers Prouiding moreouer that both the armyes should forsake the field and retyre home least beynge presente they might be moued to succour y e part that was most distressed The couenant ratifyed and confirmed betwene them they departed each to theyr owne cityes The partyes syngled out and delected from both armyes remayning behynd gaue byter assault each to other continued the combate til such tyme as of sixe hundred there were left but three men alyue the battayle beynge interupted and broken of by the nere approach and comming of the euening The remayneÌ„tes were these Two of the Argyues Aleinor and Chromius who in manner of conquerours hastened their steps to Argos one of the Lacedaemonians named Othryades who dispoyling the deade bodyes of the Argyues caried their weapons to his tentes keping himselfe in his due order and array The next day the cause beyng known the people of both Cityes were present in y e field laying equall clayme to the victory The Argyues for that the men on their syde escaped and remayninge aliue were more in number The Lacedaemonians for that the Argyues fled the field and their men onely abode behynde taking the spoyle of his slayne enemyes Incontinently fallyng from sowre woordes to sad blowes many were lost on both partes and the conquest atchieued by the Lacedaemonians Since which time the people of Argos shauing their heads wheras of necessity before time they nourished their hayre made a law with a solemne and religious vowe neuer to suffer their lockes to grow or their women to weare gold before they had recouered the field of Thyrea On the other side the Lacedaemonians decreed from that tyme forward to goe long headed contrary to their former vse custome But Othryades the onely suruiuour of 300. Spartans moued with shame and greefe that the rest of hys coÌ„pany were vanquished by the Argyues w t his owne handes ended his owne lyfe in the field of Thyrea Whyle these thinges were fresh at Sparta the Lydian herauld arryued to intreat ayde and helpe for Craesus whoÌ„ they hauing heard thought meete without delay to assyste and succoure him Wherâ—â—ore puttynge themselues in a readines and being at the point to take shipping to Sardis there came another messenger with newes that the wall bulwarke of the Lydians was scald and Craesus himselfe takeÌ„ alyue Wherat the Lacedaemonians greatly greued esteeming themselues to haue suffered no small losse altered the intent of their purposed voyage Furthermore the conquest and winning of Sardis was in this sort Cyrus hauing layne at a siege the space of 14. dayes sent coursers about his army and propounded a great reward to him that first scaled y e city wall which beyng oftentimes in vayne enterprysed by the whole armye when the rest were quiet a certain Mardane by name Hyraeades sought speedy meanes to ascend and clymbe the wall on that part which was naked and vndefended of the Lydians neuer fearyng or suspecting least the citye should be taken on that side which for the roughnesse and craggines therof was demed inuincible On which syde onely Meles first kynge of Sardis had not lead hys bastard sonne Leo The wise men of Telmisses holding opinion that vppon what part of the walles soeuer this Leo passed they shoulde become inexpugnable and not to be vanquished Meles therfore by all partes of the citye walles wherby any daungerous assault mighte laye to the Towne lead and trayned hys vnlawful sonne omitting that syde only which lieth toward Tmolus for that he thought it to be of power and strength sufficient agaynst the vyolent charge and counterpease of the enemy From this part the Mardane Hyraeades hauinge marked a Lydian descending the day before to recouer his helmet thither tombled downe considered with hymselfe and began to attempt the lyke After whom followed other of the Persians who consequently wer pursued by the rest in great routes and multitudes By which meanes y e citye Sardis was taken and sacked Amids this distresse and 〈…〉 eame misery ther chauÌ„ced to Craesus a verye rare and straunge miracle hauinge a dumbe sonne of whom wee made mention before hee toke greate care and wroughte all meanes possible whyle hys kingdome flourished to recure his malladye approuinge and trying aswell other thinges as also the aduyse and sentence of the oracle To whose demaund Pythia made this aunswere Thou vnaduysed Lydian King what makes thee take such care To yeeld vnto thy silent sonne the freedome of his toung The gayne God wot is not so greate thou mayst it wel forbeare The day drawes on when he shall speake for which thou nedes not long Now the walles beynge taken a certayne souldiour of y e Persians came vyolently towards
all to intermedle and deale with anye causes alleagynge y e it was smally to hys profite to spend whole dayes in determination and arbitrement of other mens causes omitting the care of his owne houshold and priuate affayres Wherfore robbery spoyle vyolence and all kynde of villany beyng now more freely and with greater impunity in eeuery place committed then euer before the Medes assemblyng a general counsayle begaÌ„ to deliberate and consult as touching the state and condition of theircommon weale Where as I am brought to thinke the friends and familiars of Deioces consideratlye and ofset purpose spake in this sence It cannot be say they that in this corruption lewdnes of manners we should long enioy and abide in our countrey Goe to then let vs appoynt and ordayne ouer vs a kinge that our laude may bee gouerned by good lawes wherby it may be free for euery man quietly to dispose of hys owne affayres and haue no cause to feare lest by the aâ—homination and outrage of wicked and pernicious maners we be cast out and dispossessed of our owne seats By which woordes the Medes indured to couch submit themselues to a kyng they began to consider whom they might electe and chose for the soueraygne lord of their libertye Which there doubt the name remembrance of Deioces straight wayes cut of who by general consent and one voyce of the whole multitude was named and approued kynge And beyng aduaunced to the chiefest dignity he coÌ„maunded forthwith a pallace to be erected and built vp seemly for the maiesty and magnificient estate of a prince Moreouer y e choyse should be made of stronge and likelie men for the gard and preseruation of his body Which the people of the Medes willing to gratify him by their proue and ready obedieÌ„ce immediatly perfourmed raysing a mighty and sumptuous court notably fenced and garnished for his safe abode situated also in y e part of the countrey which he best fancyed leauing it free and his owne liberty to select and picke out of the whole countrey of y e Medes such as he thought meete for the defence and care of hys health Deioces in full autority and power of a kyng compelled them also to founde a city which beyng by them accordingly furnished fortifyed they might haue y e lesse regard of their smal homely cotages which thinge the people willingly agreeynge to he enuyroned and fensed in a citye with stronge and mighty walies which is now called Ecbatana where one wall â—oundeth vpon an other in such manner that the onely compasse of the one cleane encloseth and whollye conteyneth the other euery one in lyke maner excedinge each other in height Whereunto the nature of the place gaue no small aduauntage as hauinge his reise and rearynge towardes the pitch of a hyll How bee it farre more greate was the helpe of art and industry of man hauing wrought seuen seueral closurs and countermures nere adioyning the one to the other In the last circuit wherof was the pallace of the king togeather with the treasure of the city The scope compasse of the last and greatest incloseth welny as much space or more as the wall of Athens The batlement of the first wall is coloured with whyte the seconde with blacke the third with redde the fourth also with blew or skye coloured the fyft with yellow the two last beyng coped with battlementes the one of siluer the other of gylt The pallace of the king beyng as we haue heard strengthned and corroborated with defence and munition he commaunded the rest of the people to dwell assyde on euerye part rounde aboute prouiding moreouer that no maÌ„ at any time should haue accesse or entraunce to his person but that all thinges should be done by messages to and fro in so much that the king seldome or neuer came vnder view or sight to any Aboue this it was held neyther seemely nor lawful for any man to laugh or spit in presence of the prince or anye other These thinges are therefore practised and obserued by the Medes that those which wer his equalles before of approued courage and valiancy might not haue any cause by seyng hym to be greeued at his dignity and consequentlye to brew treasoÌ„ against hispersoÌ„ but coÌ„trarily being abridged of his sight coÌ„pany y t might come into opinion y t the king was no part of his people but a maÌ„ singled sequestredfroÌ„ y e rest of the multitude â—erew t Deiocos hauinge garnished and set forth his maiesty in perfyte manner autorized setled himselfe in his empyre he ministred iustice w t great rygor and seuerity They which were in plea controuersye one with an other put their causes in wrytinge and by a messenger sent them in to the king which wheÌ„ he had determined he subscribed his iudgement and sent them back agayne executing iustice on this manner In other thinges he held another order yf happily he had intelligeÌ„ce of any that had done wroÌ„g or iniury toan other sending for him he put him to a payne accoring to the measure of his offence to which end he had dispersed diuers espyalles to prye and watch throughout the whole Realme Thus the whole nation of the Medes fell to the rule gouernment of Deioces wherof himselfe was the only principal Appertinent to the tytle and seate of the Medes are thus many seuerall peoples The Busans Paratacenians Struchates Arizantyns Budyans Magians All which were vnder the soueraignty of the Medes After y e decease of Deioces whose raygne continued the terme of 53. yeares his sonne Phraortes tooke vppon him the gouernmente Who not content to be kynge of the Medes alone moued warre vppon the Persians and made them subiect to the power of Media and hauing the rule and dominion of both nations the people of the which were mighty and valyaunt he subdued also Asia muadynge dyuers other countryes now one and then another tyll at length hee came to geue assault to the Assyrians I meane those that whylom were chiefe of al the rest but at that instant renounced and forsaken of all theire Subiectes by rebellion Neuerthelesse of themselues in very good estate Agaynst whom Phraortes vnder taking a voiage the 22. yerre of his raygne was slayne in battel and the most parte of his armye put to the swoord After whose death Cyaxares hys sonne and Nephew to Deioces came to the crowne who hadde the name to be of greater prowesse and might in warre then any of his auncestors Wherfore he distinguished into â—andes trowpes the people of Asia and fyrst of all arranged his army into an order of Spearemen horsemen and bowmen whereas before all were confused and out of aray This is hee who warred with the Lydians at such time as the day was turned into night and who hauinge purchased the fauour of all Asia that lyeth about the ryuer Halis mustered a power of men agaynst
the city Ninus aswell to take reuenge of his fathers death as to vanquish and destroy the citye But in the meane tyme whyle hee foyled the Assyrians in the field and held them at bay within the citye hee was of a sodaine incountered with an huge army of the Sâ—ythians lead and guided by Madyis their kinge successor to his father Protothias Who hauinge driuen the Symmerians out of Europe brake from thence into Asia and beynge in quest and persute of those whom they had flighted in battel came into Media The distauÌ„ce betweene y e two riuers Maeotis Phasis eueÌ„ vnto the countreye of Colchis is 30. dayes iorney for a light footman but betwene Colchis the land of the Medes the way is short the trauell easye one onely region lying betwene them which is the countrey of the people called Saspires which after wee haue passed the next stepp is into Media NotwithstaÌ„ding the ScythiaÌ„s toke not this course but fetcht a compasse about another waye towardes the vpper regions leauing the mount Caucasus on their ryght hand The Medes entring battell with the Scithians were by them vanquished and lost the tytle and superiority of all Asia Wherfore the Sâ—ythiaÌ„s surprising y e dominioÌ„ of Asia went from thence the next way into Aegipt but arryuinge in Siria Palaestina they were met by Psammitiâ—hus Prince of the Aegyptians by whose gentle intreaty and greate rewardes they were stayed from goyng anye further wherefore retyring backe agayne after they were come to y e citye Ascalon in Syria many of them passed by quietly without offer of damage or iniury howbeit some drouping behynd rifled the chappel of Venus Vrania beyng of greatest standing and antiquity amonges all the temples that were euer erected to that Goddesse for the Pallace of Venus in Cyprus toke oryginal of this as the Cyprians themselues testify The temple also extant at Cythera was built by y e Phaenicians which were a progeny and ofspring of the Syrians But the Goddesse moued with wrath agaynst those that wrought the spoile and pillage of her temple punished both themselues and all those which came of them with the feminine sicknes Which thing the Scythians also graunt who are easily brought to confesse that the cause was such and none other why they are tainted and infected with this disease Neither is it hard for those that trauayle into Scythia with their owne eyes to behold them which are thus diseased whom the Scythians call Enareas that is execrable and accursed Asia therfore was held by this people 28. yeares for which tyme proudly and iniuriously exercysing gouernment they made wast and hauocke of al. For beside the ordinary pension of tribute they exacted so much of euery one seuerally as theyr pleasure was to rate them at Wherwith also hardly satisfied they committed spoyle and robberye throughout all the countrey Wherfore Cyaxares and his people the Medes intertaining the most part of them with sumptuous feastes and all sortes of delicious and dayntye fare watching their time when the Scythians were ouerladen with drinke they set vppon them and flue them By which meanes recoueryng the empyre with all that they had before they toke also the citye Nynus The which in what sort it was by them taken and howe they brought vnder their rule all the AssyriaÌ„s saue only Babylon it shall else where be declared Nowe when as Cyaxares had raygned 40. yeares and reclaymed the kyngdome from the Scythians he ended his life Astyages hys soÌ„ne ruled in his stede of whose loynes issued a goodly gentlewoman named Mandâne whom hyr father on a night dreamed to haue let her vryne in so great aboundaÌ„ce y t to it filled the whole citye and couered Asia w t a maine floud The meaning wherof after he had learned of the Magi who had skil to lay opeÌ„ interprete dreames atteynted with exceeding feare hee resolued to marye his daughter beyng now of ripe yeares to none of the noble bloud of y e Medes which might seeme worthy of her persoÌ„ but to a certayne Persian named Cambyses whoÌ„ he knew to be of a good house and of nature remisse and quiet Albeit with him selfe in farre lesse accompt then a meane maÌ„ of the Medes The same yeare he had placed his daughter with Cambyses hee saw another vision no lesse straunge then the former wherein ther seemed vnto hym out of the wombe of his daughter to grow a vyne that ouerspread shadowed all Asia and hauing knowledge what it meant immediatly sent for his daughter from Persia where shee abode to whom beyng greate with childe and neere the tyme of her deliuery hee assygned a strayght and diligent watch in full purpose to destroy that whatsoeuer shee had brought forth into the world beynge geuen him to vnderstand by the wyse Magi the interpretors of dreames that the yssue of his daughter should raygne in hys â—leed Which thing Astyages carefully noting presentlye at the byrth of Cyrus sent for Harpagus his most familiar and faythfull counsayler and the onely solicitor and dealer in al his affayres To whom hee sayde on this manner My good and trusty seruaunt Harpagus I straightlye warne thee not to neglect y e charge I shal lay vpon thee nor in any wyse to delay the speedye dispatch and accomplishment of the same Beware thou dost not deceiue me and take hede least reposing thy trust in other to do it for thee thou bee a cause vnto thy selfe of grieuous reuenge Take this litle bratte of my daughter Mandâne and tary it home with thee to thyne house and slay it which done take order also by some secrete meanes to see it buryed to whom hee answered Most noble Prince your maiesty at no time enioyned ought to Harpagus that he scorned to doe and shall hee from henceforth neglect your hestes Be it your wil and pleasure I shall do it it is my dutye deuoyre to perfourme it Which hauing sayd the young infant was deliuered into hys handes in a rych and coastlye mantle whom hee receyuing departed home to his own house the teares trickling downe his cheekes for sorrow Whether beyng comen hee opened to his wyfe all the wordes that had passed betwene himselfe and the king who began to demaund him in these wordes And what then my lord are you mynded to do Certes quoth he albeit I am commaunded by Astyages yet whyle I liue wil I neuer be brought to commit so detestable a villany be he neuer so madd and tenne hundred times more enraged then he is at this present both for that this pore seely brat is of myne owne kyndred and allyance and then because Astiages himselfe is now olde and without issue of a man child After whose whose death if by fortune his daughter should aspyre to y t crowne whose sonne I am charged to bereaue of his life what else could I hope for but the most cruel and miserable death that coulde bee deuysed