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 TO 
 
 COLONEL HENRY YULE. 
 
 1.68873 
 
Iberofcotus in Eggpt. 
 
 He left the land of youth, he left the young, 
 The smiling Gods of Greece, he passed the isle 
 
 Where Jason loitered, and where Sappho sung : 
 He sought the secret-founted wave of Nile, 
 Of that old world, half dead a weary while ; 
 
 Heard the Priests murmur in their mystic tongue, 
 And through the fanes went voyaging, among 
 
 Dark tribes that worshipped Cat and Crocodile. 
 
 He learned the tales of death Divine and birth, 
 Strange loves of hawk and serpent, Sky and Earth, 
 
 The marriage and the slaying of the Sun ; 
 The shrines of ghosts and beasts he wandered through. 
 And mocked not at their godhead, for he knew 
 
 Behind all creeds the Spirit that is One. — A. L. 
 
Zo Ibero&otus. 
 
 Far-travelled coaster of the Midland seas ! 
 
 What marvels did those curious eyes behold, 
 
 Winged snakes, and carven labyrinths of old ; 
 The emerald column raised to Heracles, 
 King Perseus' shrine upon the Chemmian leas, 
 Four-footed fishes, decked with gems and gold 
 But thou didst leave some secrets yet untold, 
 And veiled the dread Osirian mysteries. 
 
 And now the golden asphodels among 
 Thy footsteps fare, and to the lordly dead 
 Thou tellest all the stories left unsaid 
 Of secret rites and runes forgotten long, 
 Of that dark folk who ate the Lotus-bread, 
 And sang the melancholy Linus-song. 
 
 — G. R. T 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 This translation of the second book of Hero- 
 dotus, the book on Egypt, is reprinted from a 
 sufficiently rare volume, " THE | Famous Hys- 
 tory of | HERODOTUS \ Conteyning the Dis- 
 course of dyuers Countreys, the succession | of 
 theyr Kyngs : the actes and exploytes | atchieuved 
 by them, the Lawes and [ customes of every 
 Nation : with the | true Description and Anti- 
 quitie of the same. | Deuided into nine Bookes, 
 entituled with | the names of the nine Muses. | 
 AT LONDON. | Printed by Thomas Marshe. 
 
 1584-" I 
 
 The little quarto only contains Books i. and ii. 
 The Dedication runs : — " To the right excellent 
 and virtuous Gentleman Mayster Robert Dormer, 
 sonne to the noble Knight Sir Wyllyam Dormer, 
 B. R. wisheth increase of worship, with the 
 favoure of God." Who is B. E. ? Barnaby 
 Rich has been guessed at ; nothing is certainly 
 known. He writes in a very colloquial style, 
 too colloquial for Herodotus, and his pages are 
 
x PREFACE. 
 
 a treasure of old English, slang. He is as inac- 
 curate, or as careless of close rendering rather, 
 as may he. But B. K. tells a story with point, 
 with hreadth; above all, with enjoyment. Of 
 what other translator of Herodotus can we say 
 as much ! Not of Beloe the proverbially flat, 
 nor of Rawlinson the respectable. 
 
 As to the book itself, it is not common. Be- 
 sides that in the British Museum, I have only 
 seen a copy once belonging to Mr. Payne Collier, 
 and now to the Eev. W. J. Loftie, and my own 
 copy, which, I am happy to say, is much taller, 
 cleaner, and in better case than Mr. Loftie's. 
 The Editor may end by hoping that a new trans- 
 lator of Herodotus will arise, as lively as B. E. ; 
 less addicted to slang, and as accurate as modern 
 scholarship can make him. 
 

 THE 
 
 RELIGION OF HERODOTUS. 
 
 Herodotus in Egypt is one of the most curious 
 and attractive figures in the most singular group 
 of people and circumstances. He comes as the 
 envoy of a race with a strong sense of its own 
 youth, to a race already conscious of antiquity 
 and of decay. A considerahle expanse of time, 
 which he regarded as historic (iooo years, see 
 ii. 145), lay behind Herodotus in Hellas. He 
 thinks Homer some four hundred years his 
 senior, and behind Homer he discerns other 
 
xii THE RELIGION OF HERODOTUS. 
 
 figures of elder poets and priests, warriors and 
 soothsayers, Orpheus, Danaus, Melampus. Yet 
 he feels that even the remotest persons in the 
 legends of his race are of yesterday, compared 
 with the dark backward of Egypt. Curious on 
 all questions of origins, Herodotus first (for of 
 Hecataeus we have received little) brings Egypt 
 under the light of European inquiry. Acknow- 
 ledging the great age of civilisation in the valley 
 of the Nile, he looks there for the beginnings 
 of knowledge — knowledge about men and gods, 
 beasts and omens, arts and manufactures. The 
 tendency to believe that institutions, myths, 
 customs, were not developed alike under many 
 skies, but were invented in one place, and were 
 thence carried about the world, was powerful in 
 the thought of Herodotus. It is a tendency still 
 very vivacious, and the learned frequently endea- 
 vour to account for a myth or rite in a country 
 new to them by supposing that it was brought 
 from a country to them familiar, generally from 
 India or Babylon, according to taste. Herodotus, 
 in the course of his inquiry into all human and 
 divine things, naturally adopts this line of con- 
 jecture. Wherever he discovers a resemblance 
 between a Greek god or a Greek sacrifice or 
 
THE RELIGION OF HERODOTUS, xiii 
 
 mystery, and an Egyptian sacrifice, mystery, or 
 god, he is apt to conclude that the thing or the 
 deity was brought from Egypt. He was well 
 aware that Greece had dealings with the land of 
 Khem even in times before history : Homer bore 
 witness to this, and Cyrus spoke of Egyptian 
 settlers in Argos and of Io, who wandered, gad- 
 driven, fromArgos back to Egypt. Herodotus thus 
 relied on a vera causa. There had been actual 
 intercourse between heroic Greece and Egypt. If 
 similar institutions were found in the two lands, 
 it was natural to conclude that the younger had 
 borrowed from the elder — borrowed gods and 
 ways of worshipping them. Herodotus could 
 hardly be expected to suggest that similar work- 
 ings of similar minds in similar circumstances 
 might have produced similarities of thought, 
 practice, and belief. With his firm conviction 
 that young Greece was but old Egypt's pupil, 
 he came to the mystic Osirian land, expecting, 
 perhaps, to discover something old, yet some- 
 thing true, about the nature of the gods and 
 their relations to men. The questions, the eternal 
 questions, had been mooted by Xenophanes and 
 Empedocles. "Were the gods the capricious folk 
 of myths 1 Were they of human speech and 
 
xiv THE RELIGION OF HERODOTUS. 
 
 shape? Were they bond-slaves of necessity? Were 
 they jealous or kindly? In Egypt Herodotus 
 might hope to hear some whisper of ancient 
 wisdom, to lift for a moment the star-sown veil 
 of Isis. 
 
 Herodotus, in his Theology, is chiefly moved, 
 like the author of the Book of Job, by the spec- 
 tacle of the changes and chances in the world. 
 Do the gods rule the destinies of men ? Do they 
 reward and punish human conduct? Are the 
 vast vicissitudes of empires, the fall and rise of 
 men, due to the divine justice or the divine 
 jealousy ? Can the ways of God or of gods be 
 justified to men ? This is, in truth, the gist of 
 the Histories of Herodotus. "With all his many 
 curiosities about every trait of manners, every 
 turn of events, every variation of morals in dif- 
 ferent conditions, what he is most curious about 
 is the nature of the Divine, and of its human 
 relations. The whirling wheel of fortune (i. 207) 
 he contemplates as it is contemplated by the 
 Buddha — from without. " Who moves it ? Why 
 does it abase the mighty and raise the weak ? " 
 he asks. " Tqv uv6owirriir,\> an ewiordpsvog ivdaifiovfrjv 
 ovda/Aot. i v rujuTp pii/ouoav, exi/JLvriffofLai uficfxiTigtov 
 6'jLoiu; " (i. 5). 
 
THE RELIGION OF HERODOTUS, xv 
 
 " How low men are, and how they rise, 
 
 How high they were, and how they tumble; 
 vanity of vanities, 
 
 laughable pathetic jumble ! " 
 
 Is it mere vanity, the Greek traveller asks, or 
 is there something to be known of the hand 
 behind the curtain that moves the kings and 
 pawns on the board ? Concerning all this there 
 was no certainty in the home of eloquence and 
 music, in the isles of song. It might be that 
 " the meanest of the sacristans of Isis knew 
 more than they." On the whole, Herodotus is 
 disposed to believe in somewhat that is neither 
 quite impersonal fate, nor quite a personal God, 
 or gods — in rb foTov. " The Divine," says Solon, 
 "is ever jealous, and delights to disturb the 
 affairs of men " (i. 32). This is but a half philo- 
 sophical statement of the popular belief in the 
 evil eye, of the instinctive dread which makes 
 the Cyclopes, in Theocritus, spit in his breast 
 when he deems himself beautiful (vi. 39). This 
 superstition has a rational basis, like others. 
 Pride goes before a fall, because pride walks 
 proudly, not looking to its steps. But the popu- 
 lar fancy has always conceived some vague force 
 to which pride and prosperity are distasteful, 
 
xvi THE RELIGION OF HERODOTUS. 
 
 and to -which Polycrates vainly sacrificed his 
 Ring. 
 
 This is rb 6i/bv in Herodotus ; this, more than 
 aught else, is the metaphysical and scientific 
 basis of his religious beliefs. " God has shown 
 a sight of happiness to many men, and then 
 has overthrown them utterly" (i. 32, vii. 105). 
 "Great wrath (Nemesis) from God fell on Croesus, 
 belike because he deemed himself of all men the 
 most fortunate" (i. 34). Here "God" and "the 
 Divine " are equivalents for each other : there 
 is no polytheistic notion, unless by "the god" 
 we are to understand Apollo, the deity best 
 worshipped by Croesus. It is immediately after 
 telling the varied tale of Apollo's dealings with 
 Croesus, and of the Lydian's endeavours " to 
 tempt God," that Herodotus mocks at earlier 
 Athenian credulity. The device of Pisistratus, 
 whereby the tall and fair Phya, in Athene's 
 armour, brought him back to Athens like a 
 goddess visible, seems to Herodotus " the most 
 ridiculous contrivance " (i. 60). He declares 
 that the Athenians, with all their boasted wit, 
 worshipped the woman, and accepted the return 
 of the tyrant. Clearly Herodotus regards the 
 visible apparition of a god or goddess to a multi- 
 
THE RELIGION OF HERODOTUS, xvii 
 
 tude as no longer credible ; yet, in other moods, 
 he can tell of Pan's message to the lonely way- 
 farer in the hills, and of the great ghostly 
 company that sped along the sacred way. 
 
 But his credulity again is overstrained by the 
 iEginetan fable, that the wooden statues of Damia 
 and Auxesia fell on their knees when the Athen- 
 ians tried to drag them by ropes (v. 86). He 
 will not believe that gods lie with women in the 
 temples of Egyptian Thebes, or Babylon (i. 182). 
 On the other hand, the amazing legend of 
 Aristeas, who accompanied Apollo in the guise 
 of a crow, and who appeared in human form at 
 immense intervals of time, evokes no expression 
 of disbelief (iv. 15). Nor does Herodotus dis- 
 pute the beautiful miracle of Helen, who, in 
 Sparta, restored a deformed child to beauty ; nor 
 does he cavil at the wrath of the dead Talthy- 
 bius (vi. 61, vii. 141). He is always ready to 
 be persuaded by oracles and dreams. 
 
 To give examples of these were superfluous. 
 Apparently he thinks that oracles are a kind 
 of vague light shown forth by the gods, or 
 by God, to guide or misguide men as their 
 own conduct and their own wisdom in in- 
 terpretation may chance to deserve. For the 
 
 b 
 
xviii THE RELIGION OF HERODOTUS. 
 
 Divine, to his mind, will not interfere too 
 plainly, nor declare itself too manifestly, even 
 within the region of the supernatural. Man must 
 fight his own hattle now with but vague and faint 
 assistance. It is not as in Homer, where the 
 gods appear manifestly, nor as of old in Phseacia. 
 The divine tendency " makes for righteousness " 
 and for the best. " The providence of God, as 
 is natural, proves itself wise " (iii. 108). " There 
 is a certain child of an oath," says the oracle, 
 "which punishes the perjurer." The gods show 
 forth signs and omens before the coming of a 
 great disaster. They punish men who insult 
 them directly by attacking their suppliants (v. 
 8). The gods are not ungrateful. When Croesus 
 fell, in spite of all his loyalty to Apollo, the oracle 
 justified the ways of the god to the man, by 
 announcing that " even the god cannot avoid 
 the destined fate. Crcesus hath atoned for the 
 crime of his ancestor in the fifth generation," 
 namely, of Gyges, who slew his master. It 
 would have been as easy to reply that Croesus 
 had carded an enemy to death with a fuller's 
 thistle (i. 92), and that "the gods detest the 
 excessive revenges of men" (iv. 205). 
 
 Such is the general Herodotean conception of 
 
THE RELIGION OF HERODOTUS, xix 
 
 the divine government of the world He holds a 
 kind of Theism, in which a spiritual conscious 
 force is limited in its action hy destiny and by 
 circumstance, but never fails to punish human 
 arrogance. This is a theological way of con- 
 ceiving the precept Mjj3h» ayav — the strong, 
 almost instinctive Greek sense of the beauty 
 and the necessity of Law and Limit. But in 
 this Herodotean divinity there is little of human 
 sweetness and charity. These qualities best 
 appear in the miracle wrought by Helen, and in 
 the " divine providence " which commanded the 
 child Cypselus to smile when in the hands of the 
 man who would have slain him — " And when the 
 man beheld it a certain pitifulness constrained 
 him not to slay the babe " (v. 92). But this 
 limited Divinity contrasts poorly with the rich 
 beauty of Greek mythology as it glows in Homer 
 and in art. 
 
 Herodotus pays little regard to questions as to 
 the separate aspects and characters of the gods. 
 It seems as if he had never felt disposed to 
 answer such questions in his own mind, or as if 
 his cautious reverence made him abstain. The 
 Divine, to his fancy, seems something undifferen- 
 tiated, to which local names and characters are 
 
xx THE RELIGION OF HERODOTUS. 
 
 assigned by various races of men. Not that he 
 would deny the separate existence of Osiris or 
 of Dionysus. " A great ox hath trodden on his 
 tongue," the bull Apis, and he is even provokingly 
 silent about the mysteries and sacred stories that 
 he has heard. 
 
 Could Herodotus have chosen a nation whose 
 faith was to his mind, he would perhaps have 
 selected the Persian (i. 131), at least if Persian 
 custom corresponded to his theory of it. " It 
 is not among their customs to raise statues, nor 
 build temples, nor altars, and when others do 
 so they reckon it against them as folly. To my 
 thinking, because they do not hold that the gods 
 have human form as do the Greeks. . . . The 
 whole circle of Heaven they call Zeus. They 
 sacrifice to sun and moon, to earth and stars, 
 and water and wind." The worship of Mitra 
 (Mylitta, or Alitta, or Ourania) they have learned 
 from Arabians and Assyrians. 1 
 
 As to the differentiating of the supernatural, 
 the assignment to the mysterious force of dif- 
 ferent names, characters, and parts in the divine 
 
 1 Professor Sayce (Herodotos, p. 78), says that Darius 
 complains, at Behistun, that Gomates the Magian had 
 destroyed "the temples of the gods." 
 
THE RELIGION OF HERODOTUS, xxi 
 
 comedy, Herodotus inclines, as has been said, to 
 find its origin in Egypt (ii. 50). What he means 
 by his assertion that the Greek names of deities 
 came thence (as the names in Greece and Egypt 
 are so totally different) it is hard to conjecture. 
 Professor Sayce offers no explanation, except that 
 Herodotus had " the same high opinion of the 
 Egyptians that many Englishmen have of the 
 French," and many more of the Germans. Per- 
 haps Herodotus only meant that the roles indi- 
 cated by the names were originally Egyptian, 
 that the Egyptians assigned " departments " to 
 the gods, and that the Greeks followed their 
 example. He also finds known gods all the 
 world over : Dionysus and Urania as Orotal and 
 Alilat in Arabia (iii. 8) ; and in Scythia, Hestia, 
 Zeus, Apollo, Urania, Hercules, Ares, Poseidon. 
 These wear such names as Tahiti, Papasus, Apia, 
 OEtosyrus, Artimpasa, and Thauramasadas (iii. 
 59). Poseidon originally came from Libya. The 
 Greek gods that had no Egyptian counterparts 
 were, by origin, Pelasgian. 
 
 All this theory of borrowing is based by Hero- 
 dotus on the close similarity of the rites of Osiris 
 and Dionysus (ii. 49). He could not believe that 
 the similarity came " by chance," and imagined 
 
xxii THE RELIGION OF HERODOTUS. 
 
 that Cadmus gave the ideas to Melampus. This 
 argument would, of course, demonstrate that the 
 rites of Aztecs and Zunis, when they resemble 
 those of Egypt or Babylon, were carried to 
 America from the Old World. The hypothesis 
 of borrowing has always been a favourite with 
 the learned. Now it is from Egypt, now from 
 India, now from Phoenicia, now from Babylon 
 that the myths and rituals of races are said to 
 have set out. Canon Taylor has discovered 
 that Psyche's is a Babylonian legend. It may be 
 difficult, in many cases, to prove a negative, 
 when intercommunication between races is pos- 
 sible. 1 But it is certain that the assignment of 
 natural departments to gods, that Polytheism, 
 in short, will always have an analogous character 
 among races in certain stages of civilisation. 
 Sahagun found many analogues of Greek gods 
 in Mexico, but they were not borrowed from 
 Greece nor from Babylon. If such ideas can 
 be independently evolved, we may suspend the 
 judgment when the learned ask us to believe 
 that Greek myth and religion came from this 
 or that alien centre, as fancy prompts or indi- 
 vidual choice suggests. 
 
 1 Gruppe, Die Griech. Cult, und Myth., 1 50-1 71. 
 
THE RELIGION OF HERODOTUS, xxiii 
 
 To Herodotus we owe the clearest foreign view 
 of Egyptian religion in his own time. The most 
 remarkable feature, doubtless, is the local ani- 
 mal worship. On this we have written so fully 
 (Myth, Ritual, and Religion, ii. 97-108) that it 
 would be tedious here to repeat all the argument. 
 On the whole, it appears probable to me that 
 Egyptian Religion, as far as we can trace it, is 
 woven of three strands of thought and belief. 
 The worship of the Dead, each of whom is an 
 Osiris, is one strand ; the worship of great ele- 
 mental forces and forms of things, Sun, Moon, 
 Heaven, Earth, is another strand ; the worship, 
 in many localities, of a beast, bird, or fish not 
 sacred in another locality is a third strand. 
 The last I take to be, in many cases, a survival 
 of totemism. All these threads are antique, and 
 all are interwoven, over and under each other, 
 into a pattern of singular complexity. Osiris, at 
 first perhaps the name of the Home, and of the 
 King of the Dead, is identified with Sun, and 
 Stream, with each man's soul, with the soul of 
 all things. The same Osiris is bedizened, for 
 local reasons, in bestial heads, in fur and feather, 
 of ram and bull, crane and hawk. Political and 
 theological syncretism blends god with god, 
 
xxiv THE RELIGION OF HERODOTUS. 
 
 symbols are mixed with symbols, myth with 
 myth, magic with theology : paternity and wor- 
 ship are diversely assigned. As Professor Sayce 
 says, "The animal forms of the gods take us 
 back to a remote prehistoric age, when the 
 religious creed of Egypt was still totemism " 
 (Herodotos, p. 344). But even totemists may 
 have had their stories of a divine Earth, and 
 Sun, and Heaven, and of Osiris, the King of the 
 country of the souls, the Mighty Warden of the 
 Ghosts. To illustrate one's theory and position 
 while enjoying a gentle wrangle dear to anti- 
 quarians, one may quote a learned reviewer of 
 my Myth, Ritual, and Religion. He says in the 
 St. James's Gazette (December 3, 1887) : — 
 
 " We may now proceed to examine the adequacy 
 of Mr. Lang's own method in the selected cases to 
 which he applies it. He devotes a chapter to the 
 mythology of Egypt, and pronounces the beast- 
 headed deities of that country to be survivals from 
 savage totemism. Now, if there is any one ancient 
 mythology the significance of which, owing to the 
 abundance of ancient materials, is absolutely trans- 
 parent, it is that of Egypt ; and here, if the totemistic 
 theory is correct, it ought to be easy to establish it. 
 But Mr. Renouf, following such excellent authorities 
 as De Rouge, Mariette, and Brugsch, has shown that 
 the early Egyptian religion was essentially elemental 
 
THE RELIGION OF HERODOTUS, xxv 
 
 and largely solar ; while the grosser and more cor- 
 rupt elements, the polytheism and the beast-worship, 
 came in at a later day, gradually developing them- 
 selves down to the time of the Ptolemies. In the 
 earlier texts the deities are few, and not totemistic 
 but elemental. Osiris, Ra, Turn, and Horus are the 
 Sun in different aspects ; Nut and Seb are the 
 Heaven and the Earth, parents of the Sun ; Isis, the 
 bride of Osiris, is the Dawn ; Set is the Darkness, 
 Anubis the Twilight, and Thoth the Moon. Because 
 these deities, whose significance is clear, are repre- 
 sented under animal forms or symbols, Mr. Lang 
 contends that they were not elemental but totemistic. 
 But Mr. Renouf has in several cases been able to 
 explain how the animal representations originated. 
 Thus Seb was the earth ; but the word seb in 
 Egyptian signified also a goose, and hence the name 
 of the Earth-god was ideographically expressed by 
 the picture of a goose, which became the symbol of 
 the deity. For a similar reason Thoth was repre- 
 sented by an ibis. These symbols no more imply an 
 early totemism than the fish so often found pictured 
 in the Roman catacombs proves the totemistic origin 
 of Christian belief. The fish was a baptismal 
 symbol, and the word Ix^us was also an anagram 
 formulating the Christian creed. In other cases the 
 animal representations of Egyptian deities were 
 plainly symbols : like the lion of St. Mark, the eagle 
 of St. John, the cock of St. Peter ; or the lamb, the 
 dove, the hart, the peacock, the duck, and the fish 
 represented on the sixth century ambo in the 
 
xxvi THE RELIGION OF HERODOTUS. 
 
 cathedral at Kavenna. These animal symbols might 
 with as much reason be adduced to prove the origin 
 of Christian belief in totemistic savagery as many 
 of the Egyptian and Greek examples on which Mr. 
 Lang relies." 
 
 When a reviewer quite misstates the ideas 
 of his patient it is probable that the patient is 
 partly to blame. I may have so written as to 
 make my critic think that my opinions about 
 the Egyptian religion were almost the very 
 reverse of what I really hold. My reviewer 
 says : — " In the earlier texts the deities are few, 
 and not totemistic but elemental. Osiris, Ea, 
 Turn, and Horus are the Sun in different aspects ; 
 Nut and Seb are the Heaven and the Earth ; Isis, 
 the bride of Osiris, is the Dawn; Set is the 
 Darkness. . . . Because these deities, whose 
 significance is clear, are represented under animal 
 forms or symbols, Mr. Lang contends that they 
 are not elemental but totemistic." I never be- 
 lieved anything of the sort, and I trust that I 
 never said anything of the sort. I do not feel 
 sure that Isis is the Dawn ; I do not feel sure 
 that Osiris was not a kind of Hades before he 
 was identified with the Nocturnal Sun, and with 
 many other aspects of nature. What I said is : — 
 
THE RELIGION OF HERODOTUS, xxvii 
 
 " ' In the oldest tombs, where the oldest writings 
 are found, there are not many gods mentioned — 
 there are Osiris, Horus, Thot, Seb, Nut, Hathor, 
 Anubis, Apheru, and a couple more.' 1 Here was a 
 stock of gods who remained in credit till ' the dog 
 Anubis ' fled from the Star of Bethlehem. Most of 
 these deities bore birth-marks of the sky and of the 
 tomb. If Osiris was ' the sun-god of Abydos,' he 
 was also the murdered and mutilated culture-hero. 
 If Hor or Horns was the sun at his height, he too had 
 suffered despiteful usage from his enemies. Seb and 
 Nut (named on the coffin of Mycerinus of the fourth 
 dynasty in the British Museum) were our old friends 
 the personal heaven and earth. Anubis, the jackal, 
 was 'the lord of the grave,' and dead kings are 
 worshipped no less than gods who were thought to 
 have been dead kings. While certain gods, who re- 
 tained permanent power, appear in the oldest monu- 
 ments, sacred animals are also present from the first. 
 The gods, in fact, of the earliest monuments were 
 beasts. Here is one of the points in which a great 
 alteration developed itself in the midst of Egyptian 
 religion. Till the twelfth dynasty, when a god is 
 mentioned (and in those very ancient remains gods 
 are not mentioned often), ' he is represented by his 
 animal, or with the name spelled out in hieroglyphs, 
 often beside the bird or beast.' 2 ' The jackal stands 
 for Anup (Anubis), the frog for Hekt, the baboon 
 for Tahuti (Thoth). It is not till after Semitic 
 
 1 Lieblein, Egyptian Religion, p. 7. 
 2 Flinders Petrie, Arts of Ancient Egypt, p. 8. 
 
xxviii THE RELIGION OF HERODOTUS. 
 
 influence had begun to work in the country that 
 any figures of gods are found.' By 'figures of gods ' 
 are meant the later man-shaped or semi-man-shaped 
 images, the hawk-headed, jackal-headed, and simi- 
 lar representations with which we are familiar in 
 the museums. The change begins with the twelfth 
 dynasty, but becomes most marked under the 
 eighteenth." 
 
 Is this not a sufficient admission of the 
 elemental character of many gods? Do I not 
 say that these gods " bear birth-marks of the 
 sky " 1 that two of them are " personal heaven 
 and earth " ? Are Osiris and Horus not regarded 
 as sun-gods 1 Can I help it if, on the oldest 
 monuments, they are figured by their beasts'? 
 Again, I have failed to explain my meaning if 
 I have said that "the beast-headed deities of 
 the country are survivals from savage totem- 
 ism." What I mean is that (in many cases) 
 the bestial head which Osiris or Amun Ka 
 wears, in works of art, is a survival from totem- 
 ism, not that an elemental god was originally 
 totemistic. I pointed out that, in localities 
 where a beast was specially adored, there a god 
 with the head of that beast " finds the centre and 
 chief holy place of his worship." I never dreamed 
 of saying that Osiris, Ra, Turn, and Horus, Isis 
 
THE RELIGION OF HERODOTUS, xxix 
 
 and Set, were " not elemental but totemistic," as 
 the reviewer declares. I accepted (ii. no) M. 
 Maspero's classification of the gods : — " The gods 
 of death and of the dead were Sokari, Isis and 
 Osiris, the young Horus and Nepthys. The ele- 
 mental gods were Seb (Earth) and Nut (Heaven), 
 with others. Among solar deities are at once 
 recognised Ea, and others, but there was a strong 
 tendency to identify each of the gods with the 
 sun, especially to identify Osiris with the sun in 
 his nightly absence." I said that many of the 
 gods were represented, from various causes, with 
 bestial heads and so forth. But the reviewer 
 declares : — " Because these deities, whose signifi- 
 cance is clear, are represented under animal 
 forms as symbols, Mr. Lang contends that they 
 are not elemental but totemistic." This is pretty 
 nearly the very reverse of what I do say. One 
 may state, again, and afresh, one's opinion about 
 the religion of Egypt. 
 
 I believe that, as far back as Egyptian religion 
 can be traced, we find gods like Osiris, Nut, Isis, 
 Seb, gods of elements, gods of departments, and that 
 we also find the survivals of totemism in locally 
 worshipped beasts, and in the custom of represent- 
 ing gods by beasts on the monuments. I believe 
 
xxx THE RELIGION OF HERODOTUS. 
 
 that the elemental and departmental gods, in the 
 general syncretism and muddle of schools, faiths, 
 and politics, often wore each other's insignia, as 
 kings and emperors wear the uniform of regi- 
 ments in each other's service. These insignia, 
 such as bestial heads, are often, to my mind, 
 relics of totemism. The reviewer gives M. 
 Le Page Eenouf's idea that Thoth was merely 
 represented by an ibis. He is piously careful 
 not to quote M. Maspero : — " Whatever they may 
 have worshipped in Thoth-Ibis, it was a bird, 
 and not a hieroglyph, that the first worshippers 
 of the ibis adored " (Revue de VHistoire des Reli- 
 gions, vol. i.) The reviewer gives the opinions 
 of De Eouge, Mariette, and Brugsch, who more 
 or less agree with him. His readers must find 
 out for themselves that Maspero, Meyer, Tiele, 
 Perrot, Pietschmann, and Sayce are against him 
 on the whole. When the reviewer brings in 
 "the lion of St. Mark, the eagle of St. John," 
 and so forth, to show that the "animal repre- 
 sentations of Egyptian deities were plainly sym- 
 bolical," he does not tell his readers that I have 
 specially mentioned these very sacred Christian 
 beasts as a warning against hasty generalisations 
 about totemism. Why, the Evangelists, as I 
 
THE RELIGION OF HERODOTUS, xxxi 
 
 show, are occasionally beast-headed in art, and, 
 as I have said, " we must not forget that repre- 
 sentations of this kind in art may be only a 
 fanciful kind of shorthand." 
 
 The science of religion can hardly be advanced 
 by attributing to an opponent ideas which he 
 does not hold, nor by quoting his adversaries 
 while his " great allies " are carefully left in 
 silence, nor by adducing, as opposed to his 
 general theory, the very considerations which 
 he has advanced to show that the theory must 
 not be rashly pushed to extremes. But in these 
 studies it is hard to make oneself understood 
 by the partisans of opposite ideas. I believe 
 that down to the time of Herodotus and Juvenal, 
 when one nome worshipped a sacred beast and 
 persecuted the beast of the neighbouring nome, 
 and once a year solemnly sacrificed its own beast, 
 that was a survival of totemism. I believe that 
 when a departmental or elemental god wore a 
 bestial head, that was in many cases a kind of com- 
 pliment to the local sacred beast, who, again, had 
 been a totem. But only an uneducated fanatic 
 could fancy that the elemental gods had once 
 been totems, or would deny that certain even of 
 the sacred animals need never have been totems 
 
xxxii THE RELIGION OF HERODOTUS. 
 
 at all (Tiele, Theolog. Tidjsch., twelfth year, p. 
 261). The object of the study of religion is to 
 unweave the many threads that make its com- 
 plicated pattern, not to maintain that all mani- 
 festations of faiths have the same source, whether 
 it be totemism, or the worship of Ancestors, or 
 worship of the Elements, or worship of Deities 
 invented for the purpose of making them preside 
 over this or that department — Weather, Love, 
 War, Fire, or what not. As to the origin of a 
 belief in gods, it lies far behind the period which 
 we can investigate. 
 
 Had Herodotus been compelled to state his 
 own theory of the origin of the religion he 
 knew, perhaps he would have declared that the 
 oldest form was the Pelasgian (ii. 52). "They 
 gave no name nor by-name to any of the gods, 
 for they had heard of none." He would, perhaps, 
 have inferred that the Pelasgians acted as they 
 did under a sensus numinis ; a variety of vague 
 inferences from unrecorded and unanalysed im- 
 pressions, all making for a belief in the Divine. 
 To these worshippers came, from Egypt to 
 Dodona, the notion that the gods had names, 
 and the origin of the habit of naming them. 
 The names themselves were "given by Homer 
 
THE GOOD FAITH OF HERODOTUS, xxxiii 
 
 and Hesiod," a very curious assertion. As for 
 Herodotus himself, he plainly declares that 
 " whence sprang each of the gods, and whether 
 they all were from all eternity, and of what 
 fashion they be, came to men's knowledge, as 
 they say, but yesterday." To the knowledge of 
 Herodotus these matters clearly never came at 
 all. He is the most agnostic of religious, the 
 most religious of agnostic men. 
 
 THE GOOD FAITH OF HERODOTUS. 
 
 The good faith of Herodotus hath often been 
 impugned, never more anxiously than by Pro- 
 fessor Sayce in his "Ancient Empires of the 
 East, Herodotus, i.-iii." (London, 1883 x ). Pro- 
 fessor Sayce decides that the greater part of 
 
 1 No attempt is made here to discuss points of Egypto- 
 logy, or Oriental lore, in which the author would make 
 but a poor figure. Nor are questions of textual criticism 
 and grammar raised. The object is merely to study 
 the charges brought against Herodotus, which can be 
 examined in the light of Herodotus himself, his character, 
 purpose, and method. To intrude on the special studies 
 of a learned critic would be mere impertinent sciolism. 
 But we have all a right to read Herodotus. 
 
 C 
 
xxxiv THE GOOD FAITH OF HERODOTUS. 
 
 what our author tells us about the history of 
 Egypt, Babylonia, and Persia is really a " collec- 
 tion of mdrchen, or popular stories, current 
 among the Greek loungers and half-caste drago- 
 men on the skirts of the Persian Empire." 
 Even if this be true, as Professor Sayce remarks, 
 "for the student of folklore they are invaluable." 
 Folklore is itself a branch of history — of the 
 history of the human mind — and we may thank 
 Herodotus for ttsroglrig dnodifyg ^ e# J^ } s c l ear 
 that we cannot blame him for collecting folklore. 
 The question as to his good faith is not decided 
 in the negative because he amassed traditions 
 and legends. The real questions are, does Hero- 
 dotus usually take mdrchen for historical facts, 
 or does he merely give them for what they may 
 be worth? And again, is he honest in his 
 inquiry, and in his statements 1 As M. Maspero 
 remarks, Herodotus teas not writing a liistory of 
 Egypt. 1 Herodotus merely tells us "the current 
 legend in the streets of Memphis." Professor 
 Sayce admits this — he admits that Herodotus is 
 here the folklorist, not the historian — but the 
 admission does not prevent him from criticising 
 the most delightful narrator in the world much as 
 1 Contes Egyptiens, p. xsxiii. 
 
THE GOOD FAITH OF HERODOTUS, xxxv 
 
 an unfriendly critic might treat Mr. Allan 
 Quatermain. 1 
 
 In his critic's opinion Herodotus " can see 
 nothing hut folly in the helief of his fore- 
 fathers." 2 Yet he is more commonly charged 
 with credulity, and is said to have "made 
 demands upon the credulity " of his age. 3 
 Deserting the notion that, in his Egyptian 
 traditional lore, Herodotus is merely the collector 
 of mdrcJien, his critic accuses him of "jealousy 
 of others who had done what he thought he 
 could himself do hetter," and of having a theory 
 to maintain, "a philosophical, or, if the term 
 is preferred, a theological theory, which was a 
 comhination of the old Greek belief in the doom 
 that awaits hereditary guilt, and the artistic 
 Greek conception of the golden mean." Why 
 a man who " could see nothing hut folly in the 
 belief of his forefathers" should make false 
 statements to buttress that very "old Greek 
 belief" does not appear. But Professor Sayce 
 attributes to Herodotus's pious care for a theory 
 based on the " old Greek belief " (which Hero- 
 
 1 I am unable to verify the criticism attributed to 
 Lucian. Vera. Hist. ii. 42. 
 
 2 Op. cit. p. 33, note 4. 3 Page xiii. 
 
xxxvi THE GOOD FAITH OF HERODOTUS. 
 
 dotus, ex hypothesi, "thought folly") his 
 account, for example, of the dreams that pre- 
 ceded the expedition of Xerxes. That expedi- 
 tion "has to he preceded by dreams." 1 Now 
 it does not seem bigoted to hint that these are 
 not coherent charges. If Herodotus, like Homer, 
 believed that the gods indicated coming events 
 by dreams, then he saw a good deal besides 
 "folly" in the "belief of his forefathers." He 
 might, therefore, well record the stories of these 
 visions, without being prompted by mere desire 
 to uphold a theory. Again, if the tales were 
 current, they came within the very province of 
 Herodotus as defined by M. Maspero : "II nous 
 apprend ce qu'on disait dans les rues de " Susa. 
 Thus we can scarcely admit, so far, that any 
 point has been made against the good faith or 
 the old Greek piety of Herodotus. 
 
 As to the various dates at which the Histories 
 of Herodotus were published, as to the number 
 of contemporary " editions " which it " under- 
 went," the questions may provoke the learned 
 discussion of critics, but are scarcely capable of 
 being solved. What was " an edition " in these 
 early days ; what was the mode of publication ? 
 1 Page xvi. 
 
THE GOOD FAITH OF HERODOTUS, xxxvii 
 
 For matters of fact Herodotus relies, as Pro- 
 fessor Sayce shows, on such authorities as could 
 then be found. It is certain that he was unable 
 to read the Egyptian inscriptions. "Whether he 
 could tell a " forged Cadmeian " from a genuine 
 inscription seems beyond our means to discern, 
 as we have not the said Cadmeian or semi- 
 Phcenician inscriptions before us. But it is 
 extremely interesting, if it is true, that even in 
 or before the period of Herodotus the clergy of 
 Thebes were archaeologists enough to be able to 
 counterfeit very archaic writing. 1 Herodotus 
 is discussing the date of writing in Greece. The 
 Cadmeian or Phoenician characters he saw in the 
 tripods at Thebes were "mainly like the Ionian." 
 One tripod pretended to be dedicated by Amphi- 
 tryon, another by Hippocoon, a contemporary of 
 Laius. There may have been early Thebans so 
 named, or the inscriptions may have been written 
 at an early period to support that belief. In any 
 case Herodotus is merely speaking of the char- 
 acters which, though " Cadmeian," were already 
 very like Ionian letters. He does not say, 
 though probably enough he believed, that the 
 tripods had actually been dedicated by the 
 1 The passage is v. 59. 
 
xxxviii THE GOOD FAITH OF HERODOTUS. 
 
 father of Heracles. The motive for forgery may 
 have existed, but is not very apparent, unless it 
 were merely to demonstrate the antiquity of the 
 shrine. 
 
 Oracles, traditions, eye-witnesses, priests (or 
 rather half-caste dragomen, whom Herodotus 
 would so naturally mistake for priests), poets, 
 foreign authors (" in cribs," as Colonel JSTewcorue 
 says), and Greek predecessors in prose, were 
 among the sources of Herodotus. The list is 
 long. But Professor Sayce, rather unkindly, 
 finds traces of the " malignity " of Herodotus 
 even in his quotations. He cites no Greek 
 prose writer by name but Hecataeus, and differs 
 from him. As to Sophocles, " his tragedies had 
 formed no part of the school education of Herodo- 
 tus ; he had learned no passages from them, and 
 was consequently unable to quote from them." 
 But Mr. Swinburne formed no part of my school 
 education, nor indeed did the Border Minstrelsy. 
 Yet, without boasting, I could quote Mr. Swin- 
 burne and the ballads for an hour by Shrewsbury 
 clock. 
 
 Probably the poetic knowledge of Herodotus 
 was not limited by the "rep" he learned at 
 school. It is also urged that he did not quote 
 
THE GOOD FAITH OF HERODOTUS, xxxix 
 
 Sophocles, because, as he was the " fashionable 
 tragedian," " knowledge of a poet about whom 
 every one was talking did not bring with it the 
 same reputation of learning as a knowledge of 
 prehistoric worthies like Musaeus and Bacis." 
 But if " every one was talking " about Sophocles, 
 Herodotus must have been lonely in his ignorance 
 if he could not quote him. It may be fancied, 
 too, that Musaeus and Bacis were not less fami- 
 liar to Greeks than Thomas the Ehymer's pro- 
 phecies to the Scotch borderers of a hundred 
 years ago, and of earlier times. In that case a 
 man might quote them without ostentation of 
 learning. 
 
 We are discussing the good faith of Herodotus. 
 Is it at all seriously disparaged by such argu- 
 ments as these? Nay, do not such arguments 
 display a certain prejudice in the mind of his 
 critic? If this prejudice appears to exist, we 
 may discount some of the other charges, for 
 example, as to earlier prose writers, that Herodo- 
 tus's " chief aim was to use their materials with- 
 out letting the fact be known." We, too, are, 
 and confess to being, prejudiced — prejudiced, not 
 by ill-will, but by gratitude to Herodotus. We 
 believe that he was a gentleman and a good man. 
 
xl THE GOOD FAITH OF HERODOTUS. 
 
 There is an age in the evolution of literature — 
 an age surviving in the East, when each man 
 writes, uses, and annexes as matter of custom 
 the compilations of his predecessors. M. Renan 
 makes this remark in his Biblical criticism. 
 Herodotus may have been just emerging from 
 this artless period of recognised plagiarism. I 
 am pleading, as it were, for the favourable con- 
 sideration of a very old friend. Professor Sayce 
 remarks, on the other side, that " the passport 
 to fame among the Greek-reading public of the 
 age of Herodotus was the affectation of novelty 
 and contemptuous criticism of older writers." 
 Perhaps the reading public of to-day may prefer 
 the same credentials. But I would not pass 
 " contemptuous criticism on" a writer so old as 
 Herodotus. And it is curious that the contem- 
 porary critics of our Homer were, according to 
 that hypothesis, so careful to forge archaisms, if 
 the way to popularity was not through antiquity 
 but through novelty. As to Hecataeus, from 
 whom Herodotus is here said to have stolen, it 
 is not so certain that the fragments attributed to 
 him are not a late pastiche from Herodotus. 1 
 The passage in which Porphyry accuses Herodo- 
 1 Edinburgh Review, 1SS4, p. 541. 
 
THE GOOD FAITH OF HERODOTUS, xli 
 
 tus of stealing his phoenix, hippopotamus, and 
 crocodile hunt from Hecatseus is in Eusehins. 1 
 Eusebius is retorting on his opponents the foolish 
 and futile charge of " plagiarism." " Plagiarists 
 yourselves, as Porphyry shows," he cries, and 
 then quotes a long black calendar, including 
 Herodotus. But even if Herodotus gave the 
 same account as Hecatseus of certain bits of 
 folk-lore, or current waterside talk, f3oa^sa 
 rrapa.'Koirieag, that proves nothing. Nobody 
 denies that Hecatseus and Herodotus were both 
 in Egypt at nearly the same time. The stories 
 of the phoenix and the crocodile catching, which 
 were told to one would be told to the other, 
 and both might repeat them in much the 
 same way. Any European traveller at Amo- 
 rosiky, in Madagascar, may hear the conte 
 which explains why a clan of Betsunarakas do 
 not eat beef, and may repeat, almost in the 
 same words as my friend Commander Haggard, 
 the story of "The Crocodile in Love." Yet 
 neither European would have plagiarised from 
 the other. As Professor Sayce writes of "the 
 mystical Phoenix (bennu), which brings the ashes 
 of its former self to Heliopolis every five 
 1 Prcep. Evan., x. 3. 
 
xlii THE GOOD FAITH OF HERODOTUS. 
 
 hundred years," he surely must perceive that 
 the tale was current, and might have heen told 
 in similar terms, and in similar terms reported, 
 "without any plagiarism, both by Herodotus and 
 Hecataeus. Indeed, Herodotus (ii. 73) expressly 
 gives the tale as a story of the people of Helio- 
 polis, which he declined to believe. Is it 
 credible that he plagiarised a mere anecdote 
 which he declines to accept for more than a 
 mdrchen? But Professor Sayce declares that 
 "even in the ancient world it was notorious 
 that he had stolen" the fable. The "notoriety" 
 is the gossip of Porphyry, in a late age of for- 
 geries. 
 
 We like not Bardolph's security. The critic 
 himself admits (p. xxiii.) that Herodotus may 
 have taken a piece of folk-lore " from the same 
 source" as Charon took his. Why should we 
 not be as lenient in the case of the Phoenix? 
 As for Dr. Smith's Classical Dictionary, that 
 learned authority declares the charge of plagiar- 
 ism brought by Porphyry to be " wholly without 
 foundation." 
 
 His critic is so hard on poor Herodotus, that 
 one is obliged to fight him point by point. He 
 desires to show the malignity of Herodotus. 
 
THE GOOD FAITH OF HERODOTUS, xliii 
 
 Now (iii. 15) the traveller says he could find no 
 certain eye-witness to tell him about the sea on 
 the North of Europe, " though I did my best " 
 (toZto iMt\iTu\i) : " obgleich ich Miihe darauf ver- 
 wandte " (Stein). Professor Sayce remarks that 
 Herodotus, " when he is trying to disparage his 
 predecessors, ostentatiously asserts it was his 
 invariable rule to consult eye-witnesses." These 
 charges of disparagement and ostentation are 
 based on this passage (iii. 15), where Herodotus 
 says nothing about "invariable rules" at all, but 
 merely remarks that he did his best to find an 
 eye-witness in one given case. It is not the 
 good faith of Herodotus that suffers from this 
 accusation, unless rovro fisXsruv means, "as I 
 make my invariable rule." But I am not 
 disposed to pronounce for the correctness of this 
 translation. 
 
 Mr. Sayce declares that Herodotus, " to judge 
 from the way he writes, must have been a 
 marvellous linguist, being able to converse 
 freely with Egyptians, Phoenicians, Arabians, 
 Carthaginians, Babylonians, Skythians, Tau- 
 rians, Kolkhians, Thrakians, Karians, Kaunians, 
 and Persians." 
 
 Does Herodotus tell us, or imply, that he 
 
xliv THE GOOD FAITH OF HERODOTUS. 
 
 talked in all these languages ? "Were there not 
 " Dragomen " 1 May not the foreigners have 
 known Greek 1 As to Phoenicians (ii. 44), he 
 conversed with " the priests of the god at Tyre." 
 He does not say he conversed in Phoenician. 
 As Mr. Sayce thinks that Herodotus's Egyptian 
 priests were often Dragomen, he might make a 
 similar allowance in Phoenicia. Carthaginians 
 (iv. 43) : Herodotus says not a word about con- 
 versing with them. Msrd bs Kaoyjihovio't elai 0/ 
 'keyovreg (sc. yvQjvai alrr t v, Stein). I confess I am 
 at a loss to imagine how this can he regarded as 
 a statement of Herodotus, that he could con- 
 verse with Carthaginians. Nor is it anything 
 but likely that the mercantile folk of Carthage 
 could speak Greek. Arabians (ii. 108): "The 
 Arabians also tell this tale," namely that, ex- 
 cept for a providential arrangement, serpents 
 would overrun the land. Who is boasting of 
 being able to talk with Arabians j If I say 
 " there is a Basque legend that the devil could 
 not learn Basque," am I professing to be a 
 greater linguist than the devil? Babylonians 
 (i. 18 1.): "As the Chaldaeans say," a woman 
 sleeps with the god. Would any one "judge, 
 from the way in which he writes," that Hero- 
 
THE GOOD FAITH OF HERODOTUS, xlv 
 
 dotus was here asserting his power of conversing 
 in Chakhean? "The priests assert," he remarks, 
 and never pretends that they spoke to him in 
 their own tongue, and that he understood them. 
 Scythians (iv. 5) : "As the Scythians say, theirs 
 is the youngest of peoples," and so forth. A man 
 can speak only for himself; but it certainly never 
 occurred to me that, in these and the similar 
 texts, Herodotus was claiming credit as a lin- 
 guist. About the Colchians and Egyptians he 
 does say that "their tongues are alike," and 
 here he probably went beyond his scope, and 
 judged merely from unfamiliar sounds, which, he 
 fancied, resembled each other. Professor Sayce 
 adds a note on "his remark that Egyptian re- 
 sembled the chattering of birds" (ii. 57). What 
 Herodotus does say is that some Egyptian women 
 seemed to the people of Dodona to chatter like 
 birds. It does not appear that Herodotus gives 
 any opinion of his own as to the sound of the 
 Egyptian language. The talking doves of Do- 
 dona are merely ancestors in folklore of the 
 birds of ballads — 
 
 " There cam' a bird frae Weary's Well, 
 On water for to dine " — 
 
 and talking doves and nightingales are common 
 
xlvi THE GOOD FAITH OF HERODOTUS. 
 
 in French Volks-lieder. 1 The argument that 
 Herodotus did not know the name of Osiris, 
 because he often declines to mention him, is 
 Wiedemann's. Professor Sayce puts it : " Hero- 
 dotus or his authorities had not caught the name 
 when taking notes ; hut, instead of confessing 
 the fact, the father of history deliberately de- 
 ceives his readers." Can any one really doubt 
 the extreme reverence of Herodotus'? Are all 
 his veilings of the sacred chapters he knows 
 mere concealments of ignorance 1 For example, 
 when he says (iL 45), "Gods and heroes be 
 merciful to me for speaking thus ! " When he 
 speaks of Osiris, where he thinks fit to name 
 him (ii. 48), he styles him Dionysus. In ii. 170 
 he will not name the god, because the god's 
 tomb is in question. In fact, he conceals the 
 name in places where the Death, Burial, and 
 Lament for the Deity have to be mentioned, just 
 as Plutarch, in a later age, will not tell all he 
 knows on such subjects. He approaches with 
 reverence a topic so awful as the slaying of a god. 
 
 1 P. 180, note 2. The critic admits that it was "the 
 Dodona people " who could not distinguish between the 
 Egyptian language and the chirping of doves — a strange 
 way of putting what Herodotus really says. 
 
THE GOOD FAITH OF HERODOTUS, xlvii 
 
 E/'ff/ 1 hs xa) ai racfya) rov oux osiov vonufiai liri 
 roiovrctj Ker^/fiari t^ayocivw rcvvofiu (ii. 1 70). 
 
 " Yet elsewhere Herodotus has no scruple 
 about mentioning Osiris under his Greek title, 
 Dionysus ! " 
 
 Then how could he be ignorant of the Greek 
 title 1 It is plain that he only abstained from 
 using the god's name when he had to touch on 
 the Divine death and funeral rites. This is 
 reverence, not fraudulent ignorance. 
 
 So, at least, we naturally understand it. But, 
 if we find the good faith of Herodotus clear, and 
 if theories of dishonesty and ignorance seem 
 forced, enough has been said. The present 
 writer has never been in Egypt, and cannot 
 estimate the value of attacks on the local 
 knowledge of Herodotus. If it is a question 
 of the character of Herodotus, has that character 
 suffered at all from the charges we have exa- 
 mined ? If not, we are well content. For this 
 is an old friend, and we are satisfied if the evi- 
 dence that seeks to prove him a vain, mendacious, 
 jealous plagiarist has been found wanting. He 
 is no man of modern science, no philologist, no 
 authority on ancient Egyptian monuments. He 
 is a Greek, reverent, religious, curious, yet far 
 
xlviii THE GOOD FAITH OF HERODOTUS. 
 
 from being idly credulous; he is a traveller, 
 a collector of traditions, an admirable writer, 
 though "his speculations on philology and ethno- 
 logy are never very profound," 
 
 It is intelligible tbat writers of an erudite age, 
 whose speculations are always very profound, 
 sbould quarrel with Herodotus, because he cer- 
 tainly was entirely ignorant of much that they 
 know. He did not pass the limitations of his 
 own country and his own time. But, take him 
 for all he was, and all he claimed to be, and a 
 pleasanter Worthy than Herodotus, a writer 
 more kindly, truthful, pious, and entertaining, 
 is not to be found in the greatest literature of 
 the world. He was not a modern phdologist, or 
 Egyptologist. But one is puzzled to understand 
 how this inevitable defect can be so unpardon- 
 able as to make him appear, in the eyes of 
 learning, a liar, a boaster, and a thief. 
 
HERODOTUS 
 
 HIS SECOND BOOK ENTITULED 
 
 EUTERPE. 
 
 FTER the death of the mojl noble 
 and vertuous King Cyrus, there 
 fucceeded him in the -empyre a 
 fon of his, named Camlyfes, born 
 of Cajfandana daughter to Phar- 
 nafphus, who dying long tyme before the king 
 hir fpoufe, was greatly bewayled by him, and his 
 whole empyre. The younge prince Cambyfes 
 makinge none other accounte of the Iones, then of 
 his lawfull feruants left him by the due right and 
 title of inheritaunce, went in expedition againft 
 the Egyptians, preparing an army as well out 
 of other countreys as alfo out of the regions 
 and borders of Greece, which were under his 
 gouernment. The ^Egyptians before fuch time 
 as Pfammetichus held the fupremicy, thought 
 
 them 
 
2 EUTERPE. 
 
 them felues to haue bene the firft and mofte 
 
 auncient people of the world. This king in time 
 
 of his raigne and gouernaunce in JEgypt, for the 
 
 Anexpe- great defire hee had to know by what people 
 
 wrought for the earth was firft inhabited wrought an expe- 
 
 thetryallof . ,,,»-.. , f 
 
 antiquitie. nence whereby the ^Egyptians were broughte 
 to thinke that the Phrygians were the moft old 
 and auncient people of the earth, and them felues 
 to be nexte in antiquity to them. For Pfam- 
 metichus by all meanes indeuouringe to know 
 who they were that firft and before al others 
 came into the world, finding himfelfe hardly 
 fatisfied with ought he could heare : practifed a 
 deuife and feate of his owne braine. Two young 
 infants borne of bafe parentes, hee gaue to his 
 Sheepheard to bring up and nourifti in this 
 maner. He gaue comaundement that no man 
 in their pretence or hearing lhould fpeake one 
 word: but that being alone in a folitary and 
 deferte cabyne farre from all company, they 
 fhould haue milke and other foode brought and 
 myniftred to them in due and conuenient time. 
 Which thinges were done and commaunded by 
 him, to the intent that when they left of 
 their childifh cries and began to prattle and 
 fpeake plainly, he might know what fpeach and 
 language they would firft ufe : which in procefie 
 of time fell out and happened accordingly. For 
 
 being 
 
EUTERPE. 3 
 
 being of the age of two yeares, it chaunced that 
 the fheepheard (who was their Nourice and 
 bringer up) approching neere to the dore of the 
 Cottage and entering in, both the little brats 
 fprawling at his feete, and ftretching forth it were a 
 their hands, cryed thus : Beccos, Beccos : which man (houid* 
 at the firft hearing, the Paftour noted only and Slanguage, 
 made no words : but perceyuing him felfe al- {"n^ue'hee 
 wayes faluted after one fort : and that euermore ™°^ 
 at his entraunce the children fpake the fame word, 
 the matter was opened to the king : at whofe 
 comaundement he brought the children and de- 
 liuered them up into his hands : whom when 
 Pfammetichus alio himfelfe had heard to chat in 
 the fame maner, he made curioufe fearch what 
 people ufed the word Beccos in their language, 
 and in what meaning they toke it. Whereby he 
 came to know that the word was accuftomably 
 ufed by the people of Phrygia to fignifie bread. 
 For which caufe the ^Egyptians came into opi- 
 nion, that the Phrygians were of greater time 
 and longer continuance then them felues. Of all 
 which matter, and the maner of doing thereof, 
 I was credibly informed by the prieftes of the 
 god Vulcane, abiding at Memphis. Howbeit 
 many fond fables are recited by the Grecian 
 writers, that Pfammetichus geuing the children 
 to certaine women of the country to fucke and 
 
 bring 
 
4 EUTERPE. 
 
 bring up, caufed their tongues to bee cut out 
 that they might not fpeake to them. Thus 
 much was rehearfed by them of the trayning up 
 and education of the infants. Many other things 
 alfo were told me by the holy and religious Chap- 
 laynes of the god Vulcane, with whom I had 
 often conference at Memphis. 
 
 Moreouer, for the fame occafion I toke a 
 
 Heiiopolis iourney to Thels and Heliopolis, which is to 
 
 the Sunne. w h% the city of the Sunne, to the end I might 
 
 fee whether they would iumpe all in one tale 
 
 Thewifeft and agree together. For the Heliopolitans are 
 
 Sjgypt!" fayd to bee the raoft prudent and witty people 
 
 of all the ^Egyptians. Notwithstanding of 
 
 diuine and heauenly matters, as touching their 
 
 gods, loke what they told me I am purpofed 
 
 to conceale, faue onely their names, which are 
 
 manifeftly knowne of all men : of other matters 
 
 I meane to keepe filence, vnleffe by the courfe 
 
 of the Hyftory I lhall perforce bee broughte 
 
 into a narration of the fame. In all their 
 
 talke of mortall and humane affayres, they did 
 
 rightly accord and confent one with an other: 
 
 The 12 faying this: that the ^Egyptians firft of all 
 
 of°the t yeare others found out the circuite and compaffe of 
 
 o^by U the tne y eare > deuiding the fame into 12 feuerall 
 
 ./Egyptians, mone ths according to the courfe and motion of 
 
 the ftarres: making (in my fancy) a better 
 
 computation 
 
EUTERPE. 5 
 
 computation of the time then the Grecians 
 doe, which are driuen euery thirde yeare to 
 adde certaine dayes to fome one moneth, 
 whereby the yeares may fall euen and become 
 of a iuft compaffe. Contrary wife, the ^Egyptians 
 to three hundred dayes which they parte and 
 diftribute into twelue moneths, making addition 
 of five odde dayes, caufe the circle and courfe of 
 their yeares to fall out equally and alwayes a 
 like. In like maner the ^Egyptians first inuented The names 
 and ufed the furnames of the twelue gods : which g dsf Aui- 
 the Grecians borowed and drew from them. ^Jd' Images ' 
 The felfe fame were the farft founders of Aulters, j^^ed' 
 Images, and Temples to the gods : by whom ^ the ^ 
 alfo chiefly were carued the pictures of beafts 
 and other creatures in ftone, which thing for 
 the moil parte they proue and confirme by law- 
 full teftimonyes and good authority : to this they 
 ad befides that the firft king that ever raygned 
 was named Menes, under whofe gouernaunce all Menesthe 
 the lande of Mgypt except the prouince of jj£ t ^« e 
 Thebes was wholly couered and ouerwhelmed "^ygaed. 
 with water, and that no parte of the ground ,Egvpte 
 which lyes aboue the poole called Myris was fo a r r £ e moft 
 then to be fene : into which poole from the fea c ° u , ere d 
 
 r with water. 
 
 is 7. dayes fayling. And truly as concerning the 
 country they feemed to fpeake truth. For it is 
 euident to all men (who hauing neuer heard 
 
 thereof 
 
6 EUTERPE. 
 
 thereof doe but onely beholde it) how that parte 
 of AZgypt whereat the Grecians are wont to 
 arryue is gayned ground, and as it were the gyft 
 of the ryuer. Likwife all the land aboue the 
 poole for the fpace of three dayes fayleing ; 
 whereof notwithstanding they fpake nothing at 
 all. Befides, there is another thing from whence 
 no fmale profe may be borowed : to wit, the 
 very nature and quality of the ^Egyptian foile : 
 which is fuch that being in voyage towards 
 jEgypt, after you come within one dayes fayling 
 of the lande, at euery founde with the plummet, 
 you fhall bringe uppe great ftore of mud and 
 noyfome filth, euen in fuch place as the water is 
 eleuen ells in depth : whereby it is manyfelt 
 that fo farre the ground was call: uppe and left 
 bare by the waters. The length of JEgypt by 
 the fea coafte is 423 miles and a halfe : accord- 
 ing to our lymitation which is from the coafte of 
 Plynthines, to the poole named Selbonis, where- 
 unto reacheth an ende of the great mountayne 
 Cq/fius : on this fide therefore yEgypte is fixety 
 fcheanes, which conteyne the number of myles 
 The maner before mentioned. For with the Egyptians 
 
 ofthe^Egyp- . . 
 
 tians mea- fuch as are flenderly landed, meafure their ground 
 by paces, they which haue more, by furlongs, 
 unto whom very much is allotted, by the Perfian 
 myle named Parafanga : laftly fuch as in large 
 
 and 
 
EUTERPE. 7 
 
 and ample pofleflions exceede the reft, meete ^gypte 
 
 r r nexte the 
 
 their territory by Schosnes. The meafure Para- fea coafte : 
 
 3600. fur- 
 
 fanga contayneth thirty furlongs, the Schoene longes. 
 threefcore, whereby it cometh to pafle that the 
 lande of JEgypt along the fea is 3600. furlongs, 
 from this parte towarde the citie Heliopolis and 
 the middle region : sEgypt is very wyde and 
 broade a playne and champion countrey, defti- 
 tute of waters, yet very fiimie and full of mudde. 
 The iourney from the fea to Heliopolis by the 
 higher parte of the region, is welnigh of the 
 fame length with that way, which at Athens The defcrip- 
 leadeth from the aulter of the twelve gods to countrey of 
 Pi/a, and the palace of Iupiter Olympius, be- gypt ' 
 twene which two wayes by iuft computation can 
 hardly bee founde more than fifteene furlonges 
 difference : for the diftaunce betwene Athens 
 and Pifa is fuppofed to want of 1500 furlongs, 
 fiftene, which number in the other of JEgypt is 
 fill, complet, and perfit : trauayling from Helio- 
 polis by the hills you fhall finde JEgypt to be 
 ftraight and narrowe compafled, banked on the 
 one fide by a mighty hill of Arabia, reachinge 
 from the North towardes the South which by 
 degrees waxeth higher and higher, and beareth 
 upwards toward the redd fea. In this moun- 
 tayne are fundry quaries out of the which the 
 people of jEgypte hewed their ftone to builde 
 
 the 
 
tame. 
 
 8 EUTERPE. 
 
 the Pyramides at Memphis: one this fide, the 
 hill draweth and wyndeth it felfe towarde thofe 
 places whereof we fpake before. The felf fame 
 mountayne hath another courfe from the Eafte 
 to the Wefte ftretching fo farre in length as a 
 man may trauayle in two monethes : the Eafte 
 ende hereof yeldeth frankincenfe in great aboun- 
 daunce : likewife one the other fide of JEgypt 
 which lyeth towardes Africa, there runneth 
 another ftony hill, wherein are builte certayne 
 Amoun- Pyramedes very full of grauell and grolTe Sande, 
 like unto that parte of the Arabian hill that 
 beareth toward the South : fo that from Helyo- 
 polis the wayes are very narrow not pafling foure 
 dayes courfe by Sea. 
 
 The fpace betwene the mountaynes is cham- 
 pion ground, being in the narroweft place not 
 aboue two hundred furlongs from the one hill to 
 the other: hauing pafled this ftraight, &gypt 
 openeth into a large and ample widenefle ex- 
 tendinge it felfe in great breadth : fuch is the 
 maner and fituation of the countrey. 
 
 Furthermore, from Heliopolis to Thebs is nyne 
 dayes iourney by water, being feuered from each 
 other in diftance of place foure thowfand eight 
 hundred and fixty furlongs, which amounteth to 
 the number of foure fcore and one fchoenes ; of 
 the furlongs aforefayd, three thowfand and fixe 
 
 hundred 
 
EUTERPE. 9 
 
 hundred lye to the Tea, as wee declared before : 
 Now from the fea coafte to the city Thebs are 
 6120 furlonges of playne ground, and from 
 Thels to the city Elephantina, 820. Of all the 
 region and countrey of JEgypt whereof we 
 haue fpoken the mod parte is borowed ground, 
 wherein the waters heretofore haue had their 
 courfe : for all the whole bottome which lyeth 
 betwene the two mountaines aboue the city 
 Memphis feemeth to haue bene a narrow fea, 
 much like unto thofe places that lye about 
 Ilium, Teuthrania, Ephefus, and the playne of 
 Meander : if it be not amiffe to bring fmale 
 things in comparifon with greater matters : for- 
 afmuch as none of thofe ryuers which held their 
 paflage in the places forenamed, are worthy to 
 be mentioned where any one of the feuen 
 ftreames of Nylus are brought into talke : there Theftrange 
 be alfo other rloudes not comparable in bigneffe ceruyne 
 to Nilus, which haue wrought ftraunge effe&es ryuer 
 and wonderfull thinges in the places where 
 they haue runne amongft whom is the famous 
 ryuer Achelous, which flowing through Acar- 
 nania into the fea of the lies Echinades, hath 
 joyned the halfe parte of the lies to the mayne 
 and continent. In the countrey of Arabia, 
 not far from sEgypt there is a certaine arme 
 or bofome of the fea, hauing a breach and 
 
 iffue 
 
io EUTERPE. 
 
 iflue out of the red fea, the length whereof 
 beginning at the end of the angle or creeke and 
 continuing to the wyde mayne, is foure dayes 
 fayle : the breadth eafy to be cut ouer in halfe a 
 day: in this narrow fea the waters ebbe and flow, 
 raging and roaring exceedingly againft a forde 
 or fhalow place, wherat the ftreame beateth with 
 great violence : fuch a like creeke I fuppofe to 
 haue bene in former ages in the lande of JEgypte, 
 which brake out from the North fea, and con- 
 tinued his courfe towards jEthyopia r like as 
 alfo the Arabian fea (whereof we haue fpoken) 
 floweth from the fouth waters, towards the 
 coafts of Syria, both which ftraights welnigh 
 in their further!: corners concur and meete to- 
 gether being fe para ted by no great diftaunce of 
 ground : were it then that the ryuer Nilus ihould 
 make a vent, and fhed it felfe into the narrow 
 fea of Arabia, what might hinder, but that in 
 200000 yeares, by the continuall and daily courfe 
 of the ryuer, the creeke of the fait waters fliould 
 be cleane altered and become dry : for I think it 
 poflible, if in ioooo yeares before me, fun dry 
 ryuers haue changed their courfes and left the 
 ground dry whereas firft they ran : an arme of 
 the fea alfo much greater than that may bee 
 dryuen befides his naturall bofome, efpecially by 
 the force of fo great a ftreame as the riuer Nilus, 
 
 by 
 
EUTERPE. n 
 
 by whom diuerfe things of greater admiration 
 haue bene brought to pafle. The reporte there- 
 fore which they gaue of the foyle I was eafely By what 
 brought to beleue, afwel for that the country it countrey Jf 
 felfe bringeth credite to the beholders, as alfo that ar fuJd to 
 in the very hills and mountaynes of the region coueredby 
 are found a multitude of ftiel fifties, the earth waters 
 likewife fweating out a certaine fait and bryniftie 
 humour, which doth corrupt and eate the Pyra- 
 mides. Agayne, it is in no point like to any of 
 the countryes that lye next vnto it, neither to 
 Arabia, Lybia, nor Syria, (for the Syrians in- 
 habite the fea coafte of Arabia) being of a blacke 
 and brittle moulde, which cometh to paife by 
 the greate ftore of mudde and flimy matter 
 which the ryuer beinge a flote bringeth out of 
 JEthyopia into the lande of the ^Egyptians. 
 The earth of Lybia is much more redde and landy 
 underneath. The moulde of Arabia and Syria 
 drawe neere to a fatte and battle claye, beynge 
 vnder grounde very rockye and full of ftone. 
 
 Lykewyfe, for proofe that the Region in tyme 
 paft was watery ground the priefls alleadged 
 how in the time of kinge Myris his raygne the 
 floud aryfing to the heighth of 8 cubits watered 
 the whole countrey of JEgyple lying beneath 
 Memphis, fcarfe 900 yeares being paft and ex- 
 pired fince the death and deceafe of Myris : 
 
 whereas 
 
12 EUTERPE. 
 
 whereas at thefe dayes vnlefle it fwell and in- 
 creafe 15 or 16 cubits high, it cometh not at all 
 in^Egypt into that coaft, which arbrefaid coaft, if accord- 
 rayneth, ingly to the fall of the riuer it grow ftill in lofty- 
 la" de!s r neife and become higher, the earth receyuinge 
 the' ou e e d r- by no moyfture by the floude, I feare the JEgyp- 
 N.7us. of tians themfelues that dwell beneath the lake 
 Myris both other, and alfo the inhabitants of 
 the lande of Delta, will euermore be annoyed 
 with the fame plague and inconuenience, whych 
 the Gretians (by their accounte) are fometimes 
 like to abyde. For the people of JEgypt hearing 
 that the whole countrey of Greece was moyftned 
 and watered by the feafonable fall of rayne and 
 mowers, and not by floudes and ryuers lyke vnto 
 their owne : they prophecy that the day would 
 come, when as the Greekes being deceyued of 
 their hope would all peariihe through famine 
 and hunger : meaning that if the gods did not 
 vouchfafe to fend them raine in due feafon, from 
 whome alone they haue their moyfture, the 
 whole nation fhoulde goe to wracke for want of 
 fuftenaunce. Thus farre it pleafed them to 
 defcant of the fortune of Greece. Let us nowe 
 confider in what eftate and condition they ftand 
 them felues if then (as we fayd before) the lowe 
 countrey of Memphis (for in thefe is the gayne 
 and increafe of grounde feene) waxe and aug- 
 ment 
 
EUTERPE. 13 
 
 merit accordingly as in former times, our 
 friendes of sEgypt thall fhew us the way, what 
 it is to be famiihed and dye by hunger : if 
 neyther theyr land be moyftened by the fweete 
 and timely ihowres of rayne, nor by the fwelling 
 and ryfing of the riuer. For as now, they haue The maner 
 an efpeciall aduauntage afvvell of all men els, amongft the 
 as of the reft of their countreymen that dwell ^p 11 *" 5 - 
 higher, in that they receiue the fruite and in- 
 creafe of the ground without eyther tilling or 
 weeding the earth, or doing ought els belonging 
 to husbandry : wherefore immediately after the 
 ryfeing of the waters, the earth being moyfte and 
 fupple, and the ryuer returned agayne to his 
 olde courfe, they fowe and fcatter their feede 
 every one upon his own grounde and terri- 
 tory : wherinto hauing driuen great heards of 
 Swine that roote and tread the grayne and 
 moulds together, they ftay till the time of Hogs be 
 harveft, attending the increafe and gaine of hufoands in 
 their feede. Being full growne and ripened, the^oHHn 
 they fend in their hogges afrefti to muzle and ngand - 
 ftampe the come from out the eares, which done, 
 they fweepe it together, and gather it. If we 
 follow the opinion of the people of Ionia, as 
 touching the land of jEgypt, who affirme, that A confuta- 
 the true countrey of Aegypt is in very deede '^ni°.n 
 nothing elfe faue the prouince of Delta (which concerning 
 
 taketh Aesypt - " 
 
i 4 EUTERPE. 
 
 taketh his name of the watchtowre or Caftle of 
 efpiall made by Perfeus) teftifying befides, that 
 by the fea coaft to the fait waters of Pelujium, it 
 ftretcheth forty fcheanes in length, and reacheth 
 from the fea toward the hart of the region, to 
 the city of the Cercajians (neere vnto which 
 the riuer Nilus parteth it felfe into two feueral 
 mouthes, the one whereof is called Pelujium, 
 the other Canobus) and that all the other partes 
 of Aegypt are belonging to Arabia and Africa, 
 we might very well inferre and prooue heereof, 
 that the countrey of Aegypt in former times was 
 none at all. For the land of Delta (as they fay, 
 and we earlly beleeue) was grounde left voyde 
 and naked by the water, and that of late yeares 
 alfo and not long ago : wherefore if they had no 
 countrey at all, what caufed them fo curioufly to 
 labour in the fearching out and blazing of their 
 auncienty, fuppoling themfelues to be the chiefe 
 of all people, the knowledge and intelligence 
 whereof, was not worth the two yeares triall 
 and experiment which they wrought in the 
 children. I my felfe am fully perfwaded, that 
 the Aegyptians tooke not their beginning to- 
 gether with the place of Delta, but were alwayes 
 fince the firft beginning and originall of man- 
 kinde, whole countrey gayning ground, and in- 
 creafing by the chaunge and alteration of the 
 
 riuer, 
 
EUTERPE. 15 
 
 riuer, many of them went downe from the high 
 countrey, and inhabited the low places, for which 
 caufe, the City Thebes, and the countrey belong- 
 ing thereto, was heeretofore called Aegypt, the 
 circuite and compaife whereof is 6120 furlongs. 
 Be it fo then that our opinion accord and con- 
 fent wyth truth, the Grcecian writers are in a 
 wrong boxe, but if they fpeake truely, yet in 
 other matters they recken without theyr hofte, 
 making but three partes of the whole earth, 
 Europa, AJia, and Africa : whereas of neceflity 
 Delta in Aegypt fhould be accounted for the 
 fourth : Athens by their owne bookes it is 
 neyther ioyned with AJia, nor yet with Africa. 
 For by this account, it is not the riuer Nilus 
 that diuides AJia from Africa, which at the 
 poynt and fharpe angle of Delta, cutting it felfe 
 into two fundry ftreames, that which lyes in the 
 middes thould equally pertayne both to AJia and 
 Africa. But to leaue the iudgement and opinion 
 of the Greekes, we fay and affyrme, that all that 
 countrey is rightly tearmed Aegypt, whiche is 
 held and porTeffed by the Aegyptians, euen as 
 alfo we make no doubt to call thofe places 
 Cilicia and Affyria where the Cilicians and 
 AJfyrians do dwell. In like manner, according 
 to truth, AJia and Africa are diifeuered and parted 
 betweene themfelues by none other borders, then 
 
 by 
 
i6 
 
 EUTERPE. 
 
 The courfe 
 of the riuer 
 Nilus. 
 
 The names 
 of the 
 chanels of 
 Nilus : 
 Pelufium, 
 Canobus. 
 
 Sebennyti- 
 cum. 
 
 Saiticum. 
 
 Menede- 
 
 fium. 
 
 Bolbitinum. 
 
 Bucolicum. 
 
 by the limits and boundes of Aegypt. Howbeit, 
 if we followe the Grcecians, all Aegypt (begin- 
 ning at the places called Catadupce and the city 
 Elephantina) is to be diuided into two partes, 
 which draw their names of the regions where- 
 vnto they are adioyned, the one belonging to 
 Africa, the other to Afia. For the riuer Nilus 
 taking his beginning from the Catadupce fo 
 called, and flowing through the middes of 
 Aegypt, breaketh into the fea, running in one 
 ftreame til it come to the city of the Cercqfians, 
 and afterwards feuering it felfe into three fundry 
 chanels. The firft of thefe chanels turneth to 
 the Eaft, and is called Pelufium, the fecond 
 Canobus, the third ftreame flowing directly in a 
 ftraight line, kepeth this courfe, firft of all fcour- 
 ing through the upper coaftes of the countrey, it 
 beateth full upon the point of Delta, through 
 the middeft whereof, it hath a ftraight and dire<5t 
 ftreame euen vnto the fea, being the fayreft and 
 moft famous of all the reft of the chanels, and is 
 called Sebennyticum. From this ftreame are 
 deriued two other armes alio, leading to the fait 
 waters, the one being called Saiticum, the other 
 Mendefium. For as touching thole braunches 
 and ftreames of Nilus, which they tearme Bolbi- 
 tinum and Bucolicum, they are not naturally 
 made by courfe of the water, but drawne out 
 
 and 
 
EUTERPE. 17 
 
 and digged by the labour of men. I followe 
 not the fantafies of mine owne brayne, nor 
 imagine any thing of my felfe, for that the 
 countrey of Aegypt is so wyde, and of fuch 
 amplitude as we haue defcribed it, I appeale to 
 the oracle of the god Hammon which came into 
 my minde, beeyng in ftudy and meditation about 
 thefe matters. 
 
 The people of the two cities Mcerea and Apia a ftory 
 
 touching 
 
 that inhabite the borders of Aegypt next vnto the defcrip- 
 Africa, efteeming themfelues to be of the linage .-Egypt. 
 and nation of the Africans, not of the Aegyp- 
 tians, became weary of their ceremonies and 
 religion, and would no longer abfteyne from the 
 flelhe of kyne and feamale cattell, as the reft of 
 the Aegyptians did, they fent therefore to the An oracle in 
 prophecy of Hammon, denying themfelues to be 
 of Aegypt, becaule they dwelt not within the 
 compafle of Delta, neither agreed with them in 
 any thing, wherefore they delired the god that 
 it might be lawful for them without reftraint 
 to tafte of all meates indifferently : but the oracle 
 forbade them fo to do, fhewing how all that 
 region was iuftly accounted Aegypt which the 
 waters of Alius ouerranne and couered, adding 
 heereto all thofe people that dwelling beneath 
 the city Elephantina, dranke of the water of the 
 fame floud. This aunfwere was giuen them by 
 
 the 
 
 B 
 
18 EUTERPE. 
 
 How much the oracle. Nowe it is meete wee know, that 
 of Niius Nilus at what time it rifeth aboue the banckes, 
 ouerfloweth not Delta alone, but all the countrey 
 next vnto Africa, and likewife the other fide 
 adioyning to Arabia, couering the earth on both 
 partes the fpace of two dayes iourney or there- 
 about. 
 
 As touching the nature of the riuer Nilus, I 
 The caufe could not bee fatisfyed either by the priefts, or 
 
 and lime of . . .... 
 
 therifmgof by any other, being alwayes very willing and 
 defirous to heare fomething thereof, firft, what 
 the caufe might be that growing to fo great in- 
 creafe, it fhould drowne and ouergo the whole 
 countrey, beginning to fwell the eyght day before 
 the kalends of July, and continuing aflote an 
 hundred daies, after which time, in the like 
 number of dayes it falleth agayne, flowyng 
 within the compaffe of hys owne banckes tyll 
 the nexte approch of July. 
 
 Of the caufes of thefe thynges the people of 
 Aegypt were ignoraunte themfelues, not able to 
 tell mee anye thyng whether Nilus had any 
 proper and peculiar vertue different from the 
 Nilus fend- nature of other flouds. About which matters 
 nomifte. being very inquifitiue, mooued with defire of 
 knowledge, I demaunded moreouer the reafon 
 and occafion why this fixeame of all others 
 neuer lent foorth any mifie or vapour, fuch as 
 
EUTERPE. 19 
 
 are commonly feene to afcend and rife from the 
 waters, but heerein alio I was fayne to neftle in 
 mine owne ignorance, defiring to be lead of 
 thofe that were as blind as my felfe. Howbeit, 
 certayne Grcecian wryters thinking to purchafe 
 the price and prayfe of wit, haue gone about to 
 difcourle of Nllus, and fet downe their iudge- a refutation 
 ment of the nature thereof, who are found to Grecians as 
 varry and dilfent in three fundry opinions, two thefamf 
 of the which I fuppofe not worth the naming, mss ' 
 but onely to giue the reader intelligence how 
 ridiculous they are. The firft is, that the ouer- 
 fiow of Nilus commeth of none other caufe, 
 then that the windes Etejice so named, blowing 
 direftly upon the ftreame thereof, hinder and 
 beate backe the waters from flowing into the 
 fea, which windes are commonly wont to arife, 
 and haue their feafon a long time after the in- 
 creafe and rifing of Nilus : but imagine it were 
 otherwife, yet this of neceffitie muft follow, that 
 all riuers whatfoeuer hauing a full and direct 
 courfe againft the windes Etejice, fhall in like 
 maner fwell and grow ouer their bankes, and fo 
 much the rather, by how much the lefle and 
 weake the flouds themfelues are, whofe ftreames 
 are oppofed againft the fame. But there be 
 many rivers as well in Syria as in Africa, that 
 fuffer no fuch motion and change as hath bin 
 
 fayd 
 
2 o EUTERPE. 
 
 fayd of the floud Nilus. There is another opi- 
 nion of leffe credite and learning, albeit of 
 greater woonder and admiration then the firft, 
 alleadging the caufe of the rifing to be, for that 
 the riuer (fay they) proceedeth from the Ocean 
 fea, which enuironeth the whole globe and circle 
 of the earth. The third opinion being more 
 caulme and modeft then the reft, is alfo more 
 falfe and unlikely then them both, affirming 
 that the increafe and augmentation of Nilus 
 commes of the fnowe waters molten and thawed 
 in thole regions, carying with it fo much the 
 lefle credit and authority, by how much the 
 more it is euident that the riuer comming from 
 Africa through the middeft of ^Ethiopia, runnes 
 continually from the hotter countreys to the 
 colder, beeing in no wife probable, or any thing 
 likely that the waxing of the waters fhould pro- 
 ceede of fnowe. Many found proofes may be 
 brought to the weakening of this caufe, whereby 
 we may gefle how groflely they erre whiche 
 thinke fo greate a ftreame to be increafed by 
 fnowe. What greater reafon may be found to 
 the contrary, then that the windes blowing from 
 thofe countreys are very warme by nature. More- 
 ouer, the land it felfe is continually voyde of 
 rayne and yce, being moft necelfary that within 
 fiue dayes after the fall of fnowe there ihould 
 
EUTERPE. 21 
 
 come rayne, where by it commeth to pafle that 
 if it ihowe in SEgypt, it mult alfo of neceflity within fiue 
 rayne. The fame is confirmed and eftablifhed fc^^fal* 
 by the blackneife and fwartneife of the people, et rayne ' 
 couloured by the vehement heate and fcorching 
 of the fnnne : likewife by the fwalowes and kytes 
 which continually keepe in thofe coaftes : laftly 
 by the flight of the cranes toward the comming 
 of winter, which are alwayes wont to flye out of 
 Scythia and the cold regions to thefe places, 
 where all the winter feafon they make theyr 
 abode. Were it then that neuer fo little fnow 
 could fall in thofe countreys by the which Nilus 
 hath his courfe, and from which he ftretcheth 
 his head and beginning, it were not poffible for 
 any of thefe things to happen which experience 
 prooueth to be true. They which talke of 
 Oceanus, grounding their judgement vppon a 
 meere fable, want reafon to prooue it. For I That there 
 thinke there is no fuch fea as the Ocean, but called 
 
 Occ, 
 
 an. 
 
 rather that Homer or fome one of the auncient 
 Poets deuiied the name, and made vie thereof 
 afterwardes in their tales and poetry. Now if 
 it be expedient for me hauing refuted and dis- 
 alowed other mens iudgements, to fet downe 
 mine owne. The reafon why Nilus is fo great 
 in fommer I take to be this. In the winter- The true opi- 
 
 , . ,. . r , . - nion of thefe 
 
 time the lunne declining from his former race things. 
 
 vnder 
 
EUTERPE. 
 
 The caufe 
 why the 
 South and 
 Southweaft 
 wind bring 
 rayne. 
 
 vnder the colde winter ftarre, keepeth hys courfe 
 ouer the high countreys of Africa, and in theie 
 fewe wordes is conteyned the whole caufe. For 
 the funne the neerer he maketh his approch to 
 any region, the more he drinketh vp the moyf- 
 ture thereof, and caufeth the riuers and brookes 
 of the fame countrey to runne very lowe. But 
 to fpeake at large, and lay open the caufe in 
 more ample wyfe, thus the cafe ftandeth. The 
 bringer to paffe and worker heereof is the funne, 
 beeing caryed ouer the hygh countreys of Africa : 
 For the fpring time with them beeyng very fayre 
 and cleare, the land hote, and the wyndes colde, 
 the funne paffing ouer them workes the fame 
 effecfe as when it runneth in the middeft of 
 heauen in fommer, forfomuch as by vertue of 
 his beames gathering water vnto him, he caufeth 
 it to afcend into the fuperiour regions, where 
 the windes receiuing it, difpearfe the vapours 
 and refolue them againe, which is chiefely done 
 by the South and Southweft winde that blowe 
 from thefe countreys, beeing ftormy and full of 
 rayne. Now the water drawne out of Nilus by 
 the funne, doth not in this fort fall downe 
 agayne in fhowres and drops of rayne, but is 
 quite fpent and confumed by the heate. To- 
 ward the ende of winter, the funne drawing 
 towards the middeft of the ikye in like manner 
 
EUTERPE. 23 
 
 as before, fucketh the water out of other riuers, 
 which is the caufe that being thus drawne vn- 
 till much rayne and ("howres increafe them 
 agayne, they become fleete and almoft drie. 
 Wherefore the riuer Nilus, into whome alone 
 no ihowres fall at any time, is for iuft caufe 
 lowett in winter, and higheft in fommer, foraf- 
 much as in fommer the funne draweth moylture 
 equally out of all riuers, but in winter out of 
 Nilus alone, this I take to be the caufe of the 
 diuers and changeable courfe of the riuer. 
 Heereof alio I fuppofe to proceede the dryneife 
 of the ayre in that region, at fuch time as the 
 funne deuideth his courfe equally, fo that in the 
 high countreys of Africke it is alwayes fommer : 
 whereas if it were pollible for the placing and 
 lituation of the heauens to be altered, that where 
 North is, there were South, and where South is, 
 North, the funne towardes the comming and 
 approach of winter departing from the middeft 
 of heauen, would haue his paifage in like fort 
 ouer Europe, as now it hath ouer Africke, and 
 worke the fame effects (as I iudge) in the riuer 
 Ijier, as now it doth in Xilus. In like maner, ifteragreat 
 the caufe why Nilus hath no mitt or cloude Europe, 
 arifing from it according as we fee in other 
 flouds, I deeme to be this, becaufe the countrey 
 is exceeding hote and parching, being altogether 
 
 vnfit 
 
24 EUTERPE. 
 
 vnfit to fende vp any vapours, which vfually 
 breathe and ariie out of cold places. But let 
 thefe things be as they are and haue bene 
 alwayes. 
 
 The head and fountayne of Nilus where it is, 
 
 or from whence it commeth, none of the AZgyp- 
 
 Thefprbg tians, Grcecians, or Africans that euer I talked 
 
 Nilus vn- with, could tell me any thing, befides a certaine 
 
 fcribe of Mineruas treafury in the city Sais, who 
 
 feemed to me to fpeake merily, faying, that vn- 
 
 doubtedly he knewe the place, defcribing the 
 
 fame in this manner. There be two raoun- 
 
 taines (quoth he) arifing into fharpe and 
 
 fpindled tops, fituate betweene Syene a city of 
 
 Thebais, and Elepliantina, the one called Crophi, 
 
 the other Mophi. From the vale betweene the 
 
 The two two hilles doth iffue out the head of the riuer 
 
 Cro^hfanT Nilus, being of an vnfearchable deapth, and 
 
 Mop ' without bottome, halfe of the water running 
 
 towardes Aegypt and the North, the other 
 
 halfe towardes ^Ethiopia and the South. Of 
 
 the immeafurable deapth of the fountayne, the 
 
 fcribe affirmed, that Pfammetichus King of the 
 
 ■^Egyptians had taken triall, who founding the 
 
 waters with a rope of many miles in length, 
 
 was vnable to feele any ground or bottome : 
 
 whole tale (if any fuche thyng were done as he 
 
 fayde) made me thinke, that in thofe places 
 
 whereof 
 
EUTERPE. 25 
 
 whereof he fpake, were certayne gulfes or 
 whirlepooles very fwift, violente and raging, 
 whiche by reafon of the fall of the water from 
 the hilleSj would not fuffer the line with the 
 founding leade to finke to the bottome, for 
 which cauie, they were fuppofed to be bottom- 
 leife. Befides this, I coulde learne nothing of 
 any man. Neuertheleife, trauelling to Elcpkan- 
 tina to behold the thing with mine owne eyes, 
 and making diligent inquiry to knowe the truth, 
 I vnderftoode this, that takyng our iourney from 
 thence Southward to the countreys aboue, at 
 length we mall come to a fteepe and bending 
 lhelfe, where the ryuer falleth with great vio- 
 lence, fo that we muft be forced to faften two 
 gables to each fide of the lhip, and in that fort 
 to hale and draw her forward, which if they 
 chaunce either to flip or breake, the veflell is by 
 and by driuen backwards by the intolerable rage 
 and violence of the waters. To this place from 
 the city Elephantlna is four daies faile, where - 
 aboutes the riuer is ful of windings and turn- 
 ings, like the floud Meander, and in length fo 
 continuing twelue fcheanes, all which way the 
 lhip of neceflity muft be drawne. After this, 
 we fhall arriue at a place very fmooth and 
 caulme, wherein is ftanding an Hand incom- 
 pafled rounde by the ryuer, by name Tachampfo. 
 
 The 
 
26 EUTERPE. 
 
 The one halfe heereof is inhabited by the 
 Aegyptians, the other halfe by the Ethiopians, 
 whofe countrey is adioyning to the Southfide of 
 the He. Not farre from the Hand is a poole of 
 woonderfull and incredible bigneffe, about the 
 which the Shepheards of Ethiopia haue their 
 dwelling : whereinto, after we are declined out 
 of the mayne ftreame, we fhall come to a riuer 
 directly running into the poole, where going on 
 more, we rauft take our voyage on foote the 
 fpace of forty dayes by the waters fide, the riuer 
 Nilus it felfe beeyng very full of fharpe rockes 
 and craggy (tones, by the which it is not pof- 
 (ible for a veffell to paffe. Hauing finifhed forty 
 dayes iourney along the riuer, take (hipping 
 againe, and paffe by water twelue dayes voyage, 
 till fuch time as you arriue at a great city called 
 The city Meroe, which is reputed for the chiefe and 
 Metropolitane city of the countrey, the people 
 whereof only of all the gods worfhip Iupiter 
 and Bacchus, whome they reuerence with ex- 
 ceeding zeale and deuotion. Likewise to Iupiter 
 they haue planted an oracle, by whofe counfayle 
 and voyce they rule their martiall affayres, 
 making warre how oft foeuer, or againlt whome- 
 foeuer they are mooued by the fame. From 
 this city Meroe by as many dayes trauell as yee 
 take from Elephantina to the fame, you lhall 
 
 come 
 
 Meroe. 
 
EUTERPE. 27 
 
 come to a kind of people named Automoly, 
 which is to fay, traytours or runnagates, the 
 fame alio in like manner being called Afmach, 
 which emporteth in the greeke tongue fuch as 
 ftande and attende at the Kings left hand. 
 Thefe men being whilome fouldyers in Aegypt 
 to the number of eyght thoufand and two 
 hundred, they reuolted from their owne coun- The foul- 
 trey men, and fled ouer to the ^Ethiopians for M&vt for- 
 tius occafion. Being in the time of King Pfam- u°ne coun- 
 metichus difperfed and diuided into fundry garri- trey ' 
 ions, fome at the city of Elephantina, and Daphnce 
 Pelufice, againft the Aethiopians, other againft 
 the Arabians and Syrians, and thirdly at Marea 
 againft the Africans (in which places agreeably 
 to the order and inftitution of Pfammetichus , the 
 Perjian garrifons alio did lie in munition) hauing 
 continued the fpace of three yeares in perpetuall 
 gard and defence of the lande, without fhift or 
 releafe, they fell to agreement amongft them- 
 felues to leaue their King and countrey, and flye 
 into ^Ethiopia : which their intente Pfammeti- 
 chus hearing, made after them incontinently, 
 and hauing ouertaken the army, humbly be- 
 fought them with many teares, not to forfake 
 by fuche vnkind and vnnaturall wife their wiues, 
 children, and countrey gods, vnto whofe plaint 
 and intreaty, a rude royftrell in the company 
 
 {hewing 
 
The tricke 
 of a knaue. 
 
 28 EUTERPE. 
 
 fhewing his priuy members, made this aunfwere, 
 wherefoeuer (quoth he) thefe be, there will I 
 finde both wyfe and children. After they were 
 come into Aethiopia, and had offered them- 
 felues vnto the King of the foyle, they were by 
 him rewarded on this manner. Certayne of the 
 Aethiopians that were fcarfely found harted to 
 the King, were depriued by him of all their 
 lands and polfeffions, which he franckly gaue 
 and bellowed on the Aegyptians. By means of 
 thefe, the, people of Aethiopia were brought 
 from a rude and barbarous kind of demeanour, 
 to farre more ciuill and manlike behauiour, 
 being inftructed and taught in the maners and 
 cuftoraes of the Aegyptians. Thus the riuer 
 Nilus is founde ftill to continue the fpace of foure 
 monethes iourney by lande and water (leffe then 
 in which time it is not poffible for a man to 
 come from Elephantina to the Automolians) 
 Aftory taking hys courfe and ftreame from the Weft 
 theVnng part of the world, and falling of the funne. 
 
 Howbeit in this place I purpofe to recite a 
 ftory told me by certayne of the Cyrceneans, 
 who fortuning to take a voyage to the oracle of 
 Ammon, came in talke with Etearchus King of 
 the Ammonians, where by courfe of fpeache, 
 they fell at length to difcourfe and common of 
 Nilus, the head whereof was vnfearchable, and 
 
 not 
 
EUTERPE. 29 
 
 not to be knowne. In which place Etearchus 
 made mention of a certaine people called Nama- 
 fones of the countrey of Afrike, inhabiting the 
 quickfands, and all the coaft that lyeth to the 
 eaft. Certayne of thefe men comming to the 
 court of Etearchus, and reporting dyuers ftrange 
 and wonderfull things of the deferts and wild 
 chafes of Africa, they chaunced at length to tell 
 of certayne yong Gentlemen of theyr countrey, 
 iifued of the chiefe and moft noble families of a voyage 
 all their nation, who beeing at a reasonable age by wrtVne 
 very youthfull and valiant, determined in a gentlemen, 
 brauery to go feeke ilraunge aduentures, as well 
 other, as alfo this. Fiue of them being affigned 
 thereto by lot, put themfelues in voyage to go 
 fearch and difcry the wilderneffe, and defert 
 places of Africa, to the ende they might fee 
 more, and make further report thereof then 
 euer any that had attempted the fame. For 
 the fea coait of Africa poynting to the North 
 pole, many nations do inhabite, beginning from 
 Aegypt, and continuing to the promontory 
 named Soloes, wherein Africa hath his end and 
 bound. All the places aboue the fea are haunted 
 with wilde and fauage beaftes, beeing altogether 
 voyde and defolate, peftered with fand, and ex- 
 ceeding drye. Thefe gentlemen-trauellers hau- 
 ing made fufficient prouifion of water, and other 
 
 vyands 
 
3 o EUTERPE. 
 
 vyands neceflary for theyr iourney, firft of all 
 paffed the countreys that were inhabited : and 
 next after that, came into the wylde and wafte 
 regions amongft the caues and dennes of fierce 
 and vntamed beaftes, through which they helde 
 on theyr way to the weft parte of the earth. In 
 which manner, after they had continued many 
 dayes iourney, and trauelled ouer a great part of 
 the fandy countreys, they came at length to efpy 
 certayne fayre and goodly trees, growing in a 
 frefh and pleafaunt medowe, wherevnto incon- 
 tinently making repayre, and tailing the fruite 
 that grewe thereon, they were fuddenly fur- 
 prifed and taken fhort by a company of little 
 dwarfes, farre vnder the common pitch and 
 ftature of men, whofe tongue the gentlemen 
 knew not, neither was their fpeache vnderftoode 
 of them. Being apprehended, they were lead 
 away ouer fundry pooles and meares into a city, 
 where ail the inhabitauntes were of the fame 
 ftature and degree with thofe that had taken 
 them, and of colour fwart and blacke. Faft 
 by the fide of thys city ranne a fwift and violent 
 riuer, flowing from the Weaft to the Eaft, 
 wherein were to be feene very hydeous and ter- 
 rible ferpents called Crocodyles. To this ende 
 drew the talke of Etearchus King of the Ammo- 
 nians, faue that he added befides how the Nama- 
 
 J'onian 
 
EUTERPE. 31 
 
 fonian gentlemen returned home to theyr owne 
 countrey (as the Cyrceneans made recount) and 
 how the people alfo of the city whether they 
 were broughte, were all coniurers, and geuen 
 to the ftudy of the blacke arte. The floud that A City in- 
 had his palfage by the city, Etearchus fuppofed Necro- 
 to be the riuer Nilus, euen as alfo realbn it felfe mancers- 
 giueth it to be. For it floweth from Africa, 
 and hath a iuft and direct cut through the 
 middeft of the fame, following (as it ihould 
 feeme) a very like and femblable courfe vnto 
 the riuer Ifter. 
 
 I/ier beginning at the people of the Celts, and 
 the city Pyrene (the Celts keepe without the 
 pillers of Hercules, being neere neighbours to The defcrip- 
 the Cynejians, and the laft and vtmoft nation of riuer ifter. 
 the wefterne people of Europe) deuideth Europe 
 in the middeft, and fcouring through the coaft, 
 it is helde by the Iftryans (people fo named and 
 comming of the Milefians) it laftly floweth into 
 the fea. Notwithstanding Ifter is well knowne 
 of many, for that it hath a perpetuall courfe 
 through countreys that are inhabited, but where 
 or in what parte of the earth Nilus hath his 
 fpring, no man can tell, forfomuch as Africa 
 from whence it commeth, is voyde, defert, and 
 vnfurnilhed of people, the ftreame and courfe 
 whereof, as farre as lyeth in the knowledge of 
 
 men, 
 
32 EUTERPE. 
 
 men, we haue fet downe and declared, the end 
 of the riuer being in Aegypt where it breaketh 
 into the fea. 
 
 Aegypt is welny oppofite and directly fet 
 againft the mountaines of Cilicia, from whence 
 to Synopis ftanding in the Euxine fea, is fiue 
 daies iourney for a good footeman, by ftraight 
 and euen way. 
 
 The He Synopis lyeth iuft againft the riuer 
 Ifter, where it beareth into the fea, fo that Nitus 
 running through all the coafi: of Africa, may in 
 fome manner be compared to the riuer Ifter, 
 howbeit, as touching the floud Nilus be it 
 hitherto fpoken. 
 
 Let us yet proceede to fpeake further of 
 
 ./Egypt the Aegypt, both for that the countrey it felfe hath 
 
 derfuil ' 1 more ftrange wonders then any nation in the 
 
 theTorid. world, and alfo becaufe the people them- 
 
 felues haue wrought fundry things more worthy 
 
 memory, then any other nation vnder the funne, 
 
 for which caufes, we thought meete to difcourfe 
 
 more at large of the region and people. The 
 
 Aegyptians therefore as in the temperature of 
 
 the ayre, and nature of the riuer, they dirfent 
 
 from all other : euen fo in theyr lawes and 
 
 cuftomes they are vnlike and difagreeing from 
 
 all men. 
 
 In this countrey the women followe the 
 
 trade 
 
EUTERPE. 33 
 
 trade of merchandize in buying and felling : alio The laws 
 victualing and all kinde of fale and chapmandry, tomes of the 
 whereas contrary wyfe the men remayne at home, ^Egypt" 
 and play the good hufwives in fpinning and 
 weauing and fuch like duties. In like manner, 
 the men carry their burthens on their heads, the 
 women on their moulders. Women make water 
 ftanding, and men crouching downe and cowring 
 to the ground. They difcharge and vnburthen 
 theyr bellies of that which nature voydeth at 
 home, and eate their meate openly in the ftreetes 
 and high waves, yeelding this reaibn why they do 
 it, for that (fay they) fuch things as be vnfeemely 
 yet necelfary ought to be done in counfayle, but 
 and fuch as are decent and lawful, in the eyes 
 and viewe of all men. No woman is permitted to 
 do feruice or minifter to the gods or goddeffes, 
 that duty being proper and peculiar to men. 
 The fonne refuling to nourilTi and fufteyne his 
 parents, hath no lawe to force and conftrayne The 
 
 daughter 
 bound 
 
 him to it, but the daughter be fhe neuer fo 
 vnwilling, is perforce drawne and compelled parent i" 
 thereto. The priefts and minifters of the gods need- 
 in other countreys weare long hayre, and in 
 Aegypt are all rafed and fhaven. Likewyfe 
 with other people it is an vfuall cuftome in for- 
 rowing for the dead to powle theyr lockes, and 
 efpecially fuch as are neareft touched with griefe, 
 
 but 
 c 
 
34 EUTERPE. 
 
 but contrarywyfe the Aegyptians at the deceafie 
 
 of their friends fuffer theyr hayre to growe, 
 
 beeing at other times accuftomed to powle and 
 
 cut it to the flumps. Moreouer, the people of 
 
 The good all lands vie to make difference betweene their 
 
 Jkg™pt. ipm owne diet and the foode of beaftes, fauing in 
 
 good man Aegypt, where in barbarous and fwinifh maner 
 
 k d e h to- h ° gS men and beafts feede ioyntly together. Befides 
 
 They're of tn ' s j tne people elfewhere haue their greateft 
 
 very'flender fuftenance by wheate, rye, and barly, which the 
 
 in Aegypt. Aegyptians may not tafte of without great re- 
 
 proch and contumely, vfing neuertheleffe a kind 
 
 of wheate whereof they make very white and 
 
 fine bread, which of fome is thought to be 
 
 darnell or bearebarly. This at the firft hauing 
 
 mingled it with licour, they worke and mould 
 
 with their feete, kneading the fame afterwards 
 
 with their hands. 
 
 In this countrey alfo the manner is to circum- 
 cife and cut round about the fkinne from their 
 priuy parts, which none other vie, except thofe 
 that haue taken letter, and learned the cuftome 
 from the Aegyptians. The men go in two gar- 
 ments, the women in one, Hitching to the infide of 
 the vefture a tape or caddefe to gird their apparell 
 clofe to them, which the people of other regions 
 The manner are wont to weare outwardly. The Grcecians in 
 account". 8 ° writing and calling account, frame their letters, 
 
 and 
 
EUTERPE. 35 
 
 and lay their counters from the left hand to the 
 right, the Aegyptians contrarywife proceede from 
 the right to the left, wherein alfo they frumpe 
 and gird at the Grcecians, faying, that them- 
 felues do all things to the right hand, which is 
 well and honeitly, but the Grcekes to the left, 
 which is peruerfely and vntowardly. Further- 
 more, they vie in writing two kind of characters 
 or letters, fome of the which they call holy and Their letters 
 diuine, other common and prophane. In the edters. 
 feruice and worfhip of the gods, they are more 
 religious and deuout then any nation vnder 
 heauen. They drinke out of brafen pots, which 
 day by day they neuer fayle to cleanfe and wain 
 very fayre and cleane, which manner and cuf- 
 tome is not in a few of them, but in all. They 
 delight principally to go in frefh and cleane cieanneffem 
 linnen, confuming no fmall part of the day in ouVpride? " 
 waihing their garmentes. They circumcife their 
 fecret partes for defire they haue to be voyde of 
 filth and corruption, efteeming it much better to 
 be accounted cleane, then comely. The priefts The cuftome 
 and churchmen ihaue their bodies euery third priefts. 
 day, to the end that neyther lyce nor any kind 
 of vncleanneife may take hold of thofe which 
 are dayly conuerfaunt in the honour and feruice 
 of the gods. The fame are arrayed in one 
 veilure of fingle linnen, and paper ihoes, with- 
 out 
 
36 EUTERPE. 
 
 out fufferance to go otherwife attired at any- 
 time. They purge and walh themfelues euery 
 day twice in the daye time, and as often in the 
 night, vfing other ceremonies and cuftomes welny 
 infinite that are not to be rehearfed. The felfe- 
 fame priefts haue no fmall aduantage or com- 
 modity in this, that they liue not of their owne, 
 neither fpend or confume any thing of their 
 priuate goodes and fubftaunce, but haue dayly 
 miniftred and fupplied vnto them foode in great 
 aboundance, as well the flefh of oxen as of 
 Their dyet. geefe. Their drinke is wine made of grapes, 
 which in like maner is brought them in allow- 
 ance. To take any kinde of fifhe, they hold it 
 vnlawfull : and if by fortune they haue but 
 feene or lightly behelde any beanes, they deeme 
 themfelues the worife for it a moneth after, 
 forfomuch as that kind of pulfe is accounted 
 vncleane. The reft alio of the Aegyptians and 
 common forte vie very seldome or neuer to fowe 
 beanes : and to eate the fame either rawe or 
 fodden, they hold it a greeuous finne. The 
 The orders priefts take their orders in fuch wife, that euery 
 hood eft one by turnes and courfes doth feruice to all the 
 gods indifferently, no man being clarked or 
 chofen to be the seuerall minifter of any one 
 god alone. All thefe are gouerned by one 
 generall prefident or Archbilhop. If any man 
 
 dye 
 
EUTERPE. 37 
 
 dye, his fonne taketh the priefthoode in his ftead. 
 All neate and bullockes of the malekinde they 
 hold facred to Epaphus, whereof if they be in 
 minde to facrifice any, they fearche and trie hym 
 whether he be cleane or no after this manner. 
 If in all hys fkinne there appeare any one blacke The'manner 
 hayre, they by and by iudge him impure and thebuHocks 
 vnfit for facrifice, which triall is made by fome f a crificed 
 of the priefts appoynted for the fame purpofe, Jheyb" 
 who taketh diligent view of the oxe both ftand- o'^"^ 
 ing and lying, and turned euery way, that no 
 part may be vnfeene. After this, fearch is made 
 alfo of his mouth and tongue, whether all the 
 fignes and tokens appeare in him that mould be 
 in a pure and vnfpotted beaft, of which lignes 
 we determine to fpeake in another booke. To 
 make fhort, he curioufly beholdeth the hayres of 
 his tayle whether they growe according to nature, 
 and be all white. If all thefe markes agree, 
 they tye a ribaund to one of his homes, and 
 feare a marke on the other, and fo let him run, 
 and if any man aduenture to offer vp an oxe, 
 whofe homes are not marked with the publike 
 feale or brandyron, he is by and by accufed by 
 the reft of his company, and condemned to dye. 
 Thefe are the meanes which they vfe in fearch- 
 ing and furueying theyr cattell, fuch as are to be 
 offered to the gods. Moreouer, in the time of 
 
 facrifice 
 
38 EUTERPE. 
 
 The order of facrifice and oblation, this is their manner. The 
 facrificmg. bea £ t ^ at . g f ea i ed on t } ie h ornej being brought to 
 
 the aultare and place of immolation, incontinent 
 a fire is kindled, then fome one of the Chaplaynes 
 taking a boule of wyne in his hands, drinketh ouer 
 the oblation with his face towarde the temple, and 
 ^calling with a loude voyce vpon the name of the 
 god, giueth the beaft a wound and killeth him, 
 The head of the head and hyde whereof, they beare into the 
 'hat it'facri- market place, with many deteftable curffes, and 
 accurfed. diuelifh bannings, making fale thereof to the 
 Merchaunts of Greece. Such of the Aegyjjtlans 
 as haue no place of fale or vfe of Merchaundife 
 with the Grcecians, caft both head and hyde into 
 the riuer Nilus. In curlfing the head of the 
 flaine beaft they vfe this manner of imprecation, 
 that if any euill or misfortune be to happen 
 either to thofe which do the facrifice, or to the 
 whole realme and dominion of Aegypt, it would 
 pleafe the gods to turne all vpon that head. The 
 like vfe and cuftome about the heads of fuch 
 cattel as are killed in facrifice, and in time of 
 offering for the prieft to drinke wine, is in all 
 places alike throughout all the churches of 
 Aegypt, in fo much, that it is growne into a 
 fafhion in all the whole land, that no Aegyptian 
 will tafte of the head of beaftes facrificed. 
 Howbeit, there is choyfe and diuerfity of facri- 
 fice 
 
EUTERPE. 39 
 
 fice with them, neyther is the same manner and 
 forme of oblation kept and obferued in euery 
 place. Now we will {hew and declare which 
 of all the goddelfes they chiefly honour, and 
 in whofe name they folemnize and celebrate 
 the greateft feaft. Hauing therefore moft de- 
 uoutely fpent the eue or day before the feaft in 
 folemne falling and prayer, they facrifice an 
 Oxe, whofe hyde incontinently they pull off" and 
 take out his entrayles, luffering the leafe and fat 
 to remayne within him. After that, they hewe 
 off" the lhanke bones, with the lower part of the 
 loyne and ihoulders, likewife the head and the 
 necke, which done, they farce and ftuffe the 
 body with halowed bread, hony, rayfons, figges, 
 franckincenfe, myrrhe, and other precious odours. 
 Thefe things accomplilhed they offer him vp in 
 facrifice, pouring into him much wine and oyle, 
 and abiding ftill fafting, vntill fuch time as the 
 offering be finifhed. In the meane fpace while 
 the facrifice is burning, they beate and torment 
 themfelues with many ftripes, whereby to fatisfy 
 and appeafe the wrath and difpleafure of the 
 gods. Hauing left off" on this manner to afflict 
 and crucifie their flefh, the refidue of the facri- 
 fice is fet before them, wherewith they feaft and 
 refrefhe their hunger. It is a cuftome receyued 
 throughout all the region, to offer bullocks and 
 
 calues 
 
40 
 
 EUTERPE. 
 
 A law 
 
 greatly 
 honoured 
 in /Egypt. 
 
 The maner 
 of burying 
 
 kyne \\ hen 
 they dy. 
 
 calues of the malekinde, if in cafe they be found 
 immaculate and pure, according to the forme 
 of their lawe : howbeit, from kine and heirfers, 
 they abfteyne moft religioufly, accounting them 
 as holy and confecrate to the goddelfe IJis, whofe 
 image is carued and framed like a woman, with 
 a paire of homes on hir head, like as the Grce- 
 cians defcribe and let foorth Id. Hereof it pro- 
 ceedeth that the people of Aegypt do moft of 
 all other beaftes worfhip and reuerence a cowe, 
 for which caufe, none of that nation neither 
 men nor women will eyther kifle a Grcecian, or 
 fo much as vfe hys knife to cut any thing, his 
 fpit to roft, his pot to boyle, or any other thing 
 belonging to them, difdayning and loathing the 
 very meate that hath bin cut with a Grcecians 
 knife, forfomuch as in Greece they feede of all 
 neate indifferently both male and feamale. If 
 an oxe or cowe chaunce to die, they bury them 
 on this wife, the kine and females they caft into 
 the riuer, burying the oxen in fome of the 
 fuburbes with one of his homes flicking out of 
 the ground for a token, lying on this maner 
 vntill they be rotten. At an ordinary and ap- 
 pointed time, there ariueth a fhip from the He 
 Profopitis fituate in that part of Aegypt which 
 is named Delta, being in compafle nine fcheanes, 
 which is 63 miles. In this Hand are planted 
 
 many 
 
EUTERPE. 41 
 
 many cities, one of the which continually fur- 
 nilheth and fends foorth the aforefaid fhip, 
 hauing to name Atarbechis, wherein ftandeth a 
 faire and goodly temple dedicated to Venus. 
 From this city Atarbechis, many people are 
 woont to ftray and wander into other townes of 
 Aegypt. The fhip comming to land at euery 
 city, takes vp the bones of the dead oxen, and 
 caries them all to one place where they are 
 buryed together. The law alfo commaundeth 
 the felfe fame manner to be kept and obferued 
 in the fepulture and burying of other cattell that 
 dye in the land, from the flaughter of the which 
 generally the Aegyptians abfleyne. Neuertheleffe, 
 fuch as abiding in the prouince of Thebes in the 
 temple of Iupiter Thebanus, are inuefted with the 
 orders of priefthoode, vfe the fame abftinence from 
 fheepe, and flayne goates vpon the aultars of the 
 gods, for in Aegypt the fame gods haue not the 
 fame kinde of diuine honour in euery place and 
 with euery people, fauing Ifis and Ofyris, the 
 one a goddeife, the other a god, which are of all 
 men worthipped alyke. This Ofyris is of the 
 Aegyptians thought to be Bacchus, albeit for 
 fome refpect they name him otherwife. Con- 
 trary to thefe, fuch as are belonging to the pal- 
 lace of Mendes, and are conteyned within the 
 precinct and limits of that iheere, withholde 
 
 themfelues 
 
42 
 
 EUTERPE. 
 
 The caufe 
 why fome 
 of the 
 ./Egyptians 
 will kill no 
 fheepe. 
 
 Whence 
 the Am- 
 monians 
 drew theyr 
 name. 
 
 themfelues from goates, and make facrifice of 
 fheepe. The Thebanes therefore, and fuch as 
 following their example efchew and auoyde the 
 flaughter and killing of fheepe, teftine them- 
 felues to be mooued heerevnto by a law, becaufe 
 that Iupiter on a time refufing to be feene of 
 Hercules who greately defired to behold him, at 
 his inftant prayers cut off the head of a ramme, 
 and flripping off the fell, caft it ouer him, and 
 in fuch manner mewed himfelfe to his fonne, 
 whereof the Aegyptians framing the image of 
 Iupiter, made him to haue a rammes head, of 
 whome, the Ammonians tooke that cuftome, 
 whych are an ofspring and braunch growne from 
 two fundry nations the Aegyptians and Aethio- 
 pians, as well may be feene by their language 
 which is a medley of both tongues : who feeme 
 for this caufe to haue named themfelues Am- 
 monians, for that they hold the oracle of Iupiter 
 whome the Aegyptians call by the name of 
 Amman. In this refpe6te the Thebanes abfteyne 
 from the bloud of rammes and fheepe, efteeming 
 them as holy and diuine creatures. Howbeit, 
 one day in the yeare which they keepe feftiuall 
 to Iupiter they kill a ramme, and taking off the 
 fkynne, they couer therewith the image, where- 
 vnto incontinent they bring the picture of Her- 
 cules, after which, they beate the naked flefh of 
 
 the 
 
EUTERPE. 43 
 
 the ramme for a good feafon. The facrifice 
 being in this fort accompliihed, they bury the 
 body in a religious and halowed veifel. This 
 Hercules they recken in the number of the 
 twelue gods, as for the other Hercules of whome 
 the Grcecians make mention, the Aegyptians are 
 altogether vnacquainted with him, neyther do 
 they feeme at any time to haue heard of him. 
 This name I fuppofe to haue come firft from 
 Aegypt into Greece, and to haue bene borrowed The name 
 of them, howfoeuer the Grcecians dilfemble the taken from 
 matter, to make the inuention feeme their owne : [ians. SVV 
 wherevpon I grounde wyth greater confidence, 
 for that the parents of Hercules, Amphytrio and 
 Alcmcena are by countrey and lynage Aegyptians. 
 Likewife in Aegypt, the name of Neptune, and 
 the gods called Diofcuri, was very ftraunge, and 
 vn heard of, neyther would they be brought by 
 any meanes to repute them in the fellowship 
 and company of the gods. And if in cafe they 
 had taken the name of any god from the Grce- 
 cians, it is very credible that as well as of the 
 reft, nay aboue the reft, they would haue made 
 chofe of Neptune and the other, were it that at 
 thofe dayes trade of merchandife, and voyaging 
 by fea were vfed eyther by them into Greece, or 
 by the Grcecians into Aegypt, which I fuppofe 
 and thinke to haue bene. It is therefore moil 
 
 founding 
 
44 EUTERPE. 
 
 founding and agreeable to truth, that if any- 
 thing had bene borrowed by them, the name 
 of Neptune rather then Hercules had crept 
 into their manners and religion. Befides this, 
 The Kings the godhead and name alfo of Hercules is of 
 
 of Aegypt . , . . . . 
 
 could make greate continuance and antiquity in Aegypt, m- 
 pieafur r e fomuch that (by their faying) 17000 yeares are 
 paifed, fince the raigne of King Amajis in tyme 
 of whofe gouernaunce, the number of the gods 
 was increafed from eight to twelue, whereof 
 Hercules was then one. Heerein not contented 
 with a flippery knowledge, but mooued with 
 defire to learne the truth, I came in queftion 
 with many aboute the fame caufe, and tooke 
 ihipping alfo to Tyrus a city of Phoenicia, where 
 I had heard fay that the temple of Hercules was 
 founded. Being landed at Tyrus, I beheld the 
 pallace beautified and adorned with gifts of 
 ineftimable price, and amongft thefe, two croffes, 
 one of tried and molten gold, another framed of 
 the precious gemme Smaragdus, whiche in the 
 night feafon fent foorth very bright and ihining 
 beames, forthwith falling into parle with the 
 chaplaines and priefts of the temple, I de- 
 maunded them during what fpace the chappell 
 had ftoode, and how long fince it was built, 
 whofe talke and difcourfe in nothing agreed with 
 the Grcecians affirming, that the temple tooke his 
 
 beginning 
 
EUTERPE. 45 
 
 beginning with the city, from the firft founda- 
 tion and groundley whereof, two thoufand and 
 three hundred yeares are expired. I faw alfo 
 in Tyrus another temple vowed to Hercules 
 furnamed Thefius. In like fort, I made a iorney 
 to Thafus, where I light vpon a chappell erected 
 by the Phcenicians, who enterpriling a voyage 
 by fea to the knowledge and difcouery of Europe, 
 built and founded Thafus, fiue mens ages before 
 the name of Hercules was knowne in Greece. 
 Thefe teftimonies do plainely prooue that Her- 
 cules is an auncient god and of long durance. 
 For whiche caufe amongft all the people of 
 Greece they feeme to haue taken the belt courfe, 
 that honour Hercules by two fundry temples, The two 
 
 , n -n temples of 
 
 to one they lhew reuerence as to an immortall Hercules 
 god, whome they call Hercules Olympius, to in 
 another, as to a chiefe peere, and mod excellente 
 perfon amongft men. Many other things are 
 noyfed by the Grecians, albeit very rafhly and 
 of {lender ground : whole fond and vndifcret tale 
 it is, that Hercules comming into Aegypt, was 
 taken by the Aegyptians, and crowned with a 
 garland, who were in full mind to haue made 
 him a facrilice to Iupiter. Unto whole aultare 
 being lead with greate pompe and celerity, he 
 remayned very meeke and tractable, vntill fuch 
 time as the prieft made an offer to flay him, at 
 
 what 
 
46 EUTERPE. 
 
 what time recalling his fpirits, and laying about 
 him with manfull courage, he made a great 
 flaughter of all fuch as were prefent and ftroue 
 againft him. By which theyr fabulous and in- 
 credible narration they flatly argue, how igno- 
 raunt and vnaquaynted they be with the maners 
 of Aegypt, for vnto whome it is not lawfull to 
 make oblation of any brute beaft, but of fwine, 
 oxen, calues and geefe : coulde they fo farre ftray 
 from duty and feare of the gods, as to ftayne and 
 blemifh their aultars with the bloud of men : 
 Agayne, Hercules being alone in the hands of fo 
 many Aegyptians, can it flande wyth any credence 
 or lykelyhoode, that of hymfelfe he mould be 
 able to flay fo greate a multitude : But let vs 
 leaue thefe fables, and proceede forwarde to the 
 Thereafon truth. Such therefore of thys people as flye the 
 panes n of 0me bloudfhead and flaughter of goates (namely the 
 wiiPkiiino^ Mendejians) lay for theyr ground, that Pan was 
 goates. - n t j ie num b er f the eyght gods which were of 
 
 greater flanding and antiquitie then the twelue. 
 The forme and image of the god Pan, both 
 the paynters and caruers in Aegypt frame to the 
 fame fimilitude and refemblance as the Grcecians 
 haue expreffed and fet him foorth by, making 
 him to haue the head and fhankes of a goate, 
 not that they thinke him to be fo, but rather 
 like the other gods. Notwithstanding the caufe 
 
 whereby 
 
EUTERPE. 47 
 
 whereby they are mooued to portray and fhadow 
 him in fuch fort, is no greate and handlbme tale 
 to tell, and therfore we are willing to omit it by 
 filence, iulliceth it that we knowe how as well 
 bucke as dooe goates are no pety faincts in this 
 countrey, in fomuch that with the Mendefians 
 goateheards are exalted aboue the common forte, 
 and much more fet by then any other degree of 
 men, of which company, fome one is alwayes of 
 chiefe eftimation, at whofe death, all the quarter 
 of Mendejia is in great forrow and heauines, 
 whereof it commeth, that as well the god Pan 
 himfelfe, as euery male-goate is called in the 
 ^Egyptian fpeach Mendes. In thefe parts of 
 AZgypt it hapned that a goate of the malekinde 
 in open fight clofed with a woman, whiche be- A Goate 
 came very famous and memorable throughout a woman, 
 all the countrey. An hogge is accounted with beafSwurft 
 them an vncleane and defiled beaft, which a £ counted 
 if any palling by fortune to touch, his next "° b g a ^ rds 
 worke is to go waihe and dowfe himfelfe clothes account - 
 and all in the riuer, for which caufe, of all their 
 proper and natiue countreymen, only fuch as 
 keepe fwine, are forbidden to do worfhip in the 
 temples. No man will vouchfafe to wed his 
 daughter to a fwineheard, nor take in marriage 
 any of their difcent and iffue feamale, but they 
 mutually take and yeeld their daughters in mar- 
 riage 
 
48 EUTERPE. 
 
 riage betweene themfelues. Of the number of 
 the gods onely Liber and the Moone are facri- 
 ficed vnto with hogges, whereof making obla- 
 tion at the full of the moone, for that fpace alfo 
 they feede of porke and hogs flefh. The reafon 
 why the people of AZgypt kill fwyne at this 
 time, and at all other times boyle in so great 
 defpight and hatred againft them, bycaufe 
 mine eares glowed to heare it, I thought it 
 maners to conceale it. Swyne are offered 
 Divine facri- vp to the Moone in this manner : the hogge 
 and Luna, ftanding before the aultare, is firft flayne, then 
 taking the tip of hys tayle, the milt, the 
 call, and the fewet, they lay them all together, 
 ipreading ouer them the leafe or fat that lyeth 
 about the belly of the fwine, which immediately 
 they caufe to burne in a bright flame. The 
 flefh remayning they eate at the full of the 
 moone, which is the fame day whereon the facri- 
 lice is made, abhorring at all other times the flefh 
 of fwine as the body of a ferpent. Such as be 
 of poore eftate, and flender fubftaunce, make the 
 picfure and image of a hogge in paaft or dowe, 
 whiche beeing confequently boyled in a veflell, 
 they make dedication thereof to their gods. 
 Another feaft alfo they keepe folemne to Bacchus, 
 in the which towarde fupper they fticke a fywne 
 before the threfhold or entry of their dwelling 
 
 places, 
 
EUTERPE. 49 
 
 places, after which, they make retfitution there- 
 of to the fvvinehearde agayne of whom they 
 bought it. In all other pointes pertayning to Superflitbn 
 thys feaft, fo like the Grecians as may be, runneth into 
 fauing that they fquare a little, and vary heerein. deuifes. 
 For the manner of Greece is in this banquet to 
 weare about their neckes the fimilitude that 
 the Latins name Phallum, wrought and earned 
 of figtree, in ftead whereof, the ^Egyptians haue 
 deuiled fmall images of two cubites long, whiche 
 by meanes of certayne firings and coardes they 
 caufe to mooue and ftirre as if they had fence 
 and were liuing. The cariage of thefe pictures 
 is committed to certayne women that beare 
 them too and fro through the ftreetes, making 
 the part of the image (which is as bigge as 
 all the bodye befides) to daunce and play in 
 abhominable wife. Faft before thefe marcheth 
 a piper, at whofe heeles the women followe 
 incontinent with fundry pfalmes and fonets to 
 the god Bacchus. For what caufe that one 
 member of the pi&ure is made too big for the 
 proportion and frame of the body, and alfo 
 why, that, only of all the body is made to 
 mooue, as they refufed to tell for religion, fo 
 we defired not to heare for modefty. Howbeit, 
 Melampus fonne of Amytheon was falfly fup- 
 pofed to haue bin ignoraunt in the ceremonies 
 
 of 
 
 D* 
 
So 
 
 EUTERPE. 
 
 Melampus 
 the firft 
 founder of 
 this cere- 
 monie in 
 Greece. 
 In the time 
 of Hero- 
 dotus the 
 name of 
 Philofo- 
 phers was 
 ftraunge. 
 
 of JEgypt, in the whiche he was very fkilfull 
 and cunning. By whom the Greekes were firft 
 inftrucfed in the due order and celebration of 
 Bacchus feaft (whome they worfhipped by the 
 name of Dionyjius) and in many other cere- 
 monies and religious obfervations pertayning to 
 the fame. Notwithftanding fomething wanted 
 in this defcription, which was after added, and 
 in more perfect and abfolute manner fet downe 
 by certayne graue and wife men called Philofo- 
 phers, which liued in the fecond age after him. 
 Moft euident it is that the picture of Phallum 
 worne of the Grcecians in the feaft of Bacchus, 
 was found out and deuifed by him, whofe 
 difcipline in this point the Grcecians obferve 
 at this day. This Melampus was a man of 
 rare wifedome, well feene in the art of di- 
 uination and fouthfaying, the author and firft 
 founder to the Grcecians as well of other things 
 which he had learned in ^Egypt, as alfo of 
 fuch ftatutes and obferuances as belong to the 
 feaft of Dionyjius, only a few things altered 
 which he thought to amend. For why, to 
 thinke that the Grcecians and ^Egyptians fell 
 into the fame forme of diuine worlhip by hap 
 hazard or plaine chaunce, it might feeme a 
 very hard and vnreafonable geife, fithence it 
 is manifeft that the Greekes both vfe the felfe- 
 
 fame 
 
EUTERPE. 51 
 
 fame cuftome, and more then that, they kept 
 it of olde. Much lelfe can I be brought to 
 fay, that either this faihion or any other hath 
 bene tranflated and deriued from Greece into 
 /Egypt. I rather iudge that Melampus comm- 
 ing from Phoenicia into Beotia, accompany ed 
 with Cadmus and fome other of the Tyrians, 
 was by them made acquaynted with all fuch 
 rites and ceremonies as in the honour of Diony- 
 Jius are vfed by the Greeh.es. True it is, 
 that the names by which the gods are vfually 
 called, are borrowed and drawne from the 
 /Egyptians, for hearing them to be taken from 
 the Barbarians as the chiefe inuenters and 
 deuifers of the fame, I haue found not only that 
 to be true, but alfo that for the moft parte 
 they are brought out of /Egypt. For fetting 
 alide Neptune and the gods called Diofcuri 
 (as before is declared) Iuno, Venus, Themis, 
 the Graces, the Nymphes Nereides, all the 
 names of the gods and goddeifes haue bene 
 euermore knowne and vfurped in JEgypt. I 
 fpeake no more then the /Egyptians teftify, 
 which auouch fincerely that neyther Neptune 
 nor the gods Diofcuri were euer heard of in 
 their land. Thefe names I iudge to haue 
 bene deuiled by the Pelafgians, except Neptune, 
 whofe name I fuppofe to be taken from the 
 
 people 
 
52 EUTERPE. 
 
 people of Africa, forfomuch as from the be- 
 ginning no nation on the earth but only the 
 Africanes vfed that name, amongft whome, 
 Neptune hath alwayes bene reuerenced with 
 celeftiall and diuine honours, whome the JEgyp- 
 tians alio denie not to be, albeit they fhewe and 
 exhibite no kinde of diuine honour towardes 
 him. Thefe and fuche like cuftomes (which 
 we purpofe to declare) haue the Greekes bor- 
 rowed of the ^Egyptians : neuertheleffe, the 
 image of Mercury I rather deeme to haue 
 proceeded from the maners of the Pelafgians, 
 then from the vfuall and accuftomed wont of 
 JEgypt, and principally to haue growne in vfe 
 wyth the Athenians, whofe fa£r. confequently 
 became a paterne and example to the reft of the 
 Grcecians. For the felfefame foyle was ioyntly 
 held and inhabited both of the Athenians (which 
 were of the right lignage of Hellen) and like- 
 wife of the Pelafgians, who for the fame caufe 
 Cabiri the began to be reckoned for Grcecians. Which 
 of r vuicaae. S things are nothing maruaylous to thofe that are 
 fkilfull and acquaynted with the worfhip and 
 religion whych the Grcecians yeeld to the three 
 fonnes of Vulcane named Cabiri, which diuine 
 ceremonies are now frefh in Samothracia, and 
 were taken and receyued from the Pelafgians. 
 The caufe is, that thofe Pelafgians whome we 
 
 faid 
 
EUTERPE, 53 
 
 faid before to haue had all one territorie with 
 the Athenians, dwelt lbmetime alfo in Samo- 
 thracia, by whorae the people of that foyle were 
 taught and indoCtrined in the ceremonies ap- 
 pertinent to Bacchus. Firft therefore the people 
 of Athens following the fteps of the Pelqfgians, 
 caufed the picture of Mercury to be carued in 
 fuche forte as we haue heard. For authority 
 and proofe why the image fhould be thus 
 framed, the men of Pelafgos recited a myfterie 
 out of holy bookes, which is yet kept and con- 
 ferued in the religious monuments of Samo- 
 thracia. The felfefame in prayer and inuocation 
 to the heauenlye powers, made oblation of all 
 creatures indifferentlye, and wythout refpect 
 (whyche I came to knowe at Dodona) geuing no 
 names at all to the gods, as beeyng flatly igno- 
 raunte howe to call them. Generally they 
 named them Q-oi, gods, in that Stuns "%o» 
 -x.6sij.ci3, that is, they difpofed and placed in order 
 all the countreyes and regions on earth. In 
 tracl of tyme, the names and appellations of the 
 powers diuine vfed in jEgypt, grew alfo in 
 knowledge with the Greekes: enfuing which, the 
 name alfo of Dion yjius, otherwife called Bacchus, 
 came to light, albeit, long after that time and in 
 later dayes. A fmall time exfpired, the Greekes 
 counfayled with the oracle in Dodona to the 
 
 fame 
 
54 EUTERPE. 
 
 Dodona fame ende and purpofe. This chayre of pro- 
 chTe/rorade phecy was in thofe dayes the only and mod 
 auncient feate in the land of Greece, whether 
 the Pelafgicms repayring, demaunded the oracle 
 if the furnames of the gods receiued and taken 
 from the Barbarians, might be lawfully fre- 
 quented in Greece: whereto aunfwere was geuen, 
 that they lhoulde be reteined : for whyche caufe, 
 yeelding facrifice to the gods, fuch names were 
 The begin- helde by the men of Pelafgos, and laftly ob- 
 p'aglnsgods. ferued of the Grcecians. Howbeit, what original 
 or beginning the gods had, or whether they were 
 euermore time out of mind : finally, what forme, 
 figure, or likenefle they bare, it was neuer fully 
 and perfectly knowne till of late dayes. For 
 Hejiodus and Homer (which were not palling 
 400 yeares before us) were the firft that euer 
 made the gods to be borne and fproong of certaine 
 progenies like vnto men, alfigning to euery one 
 a byname, proper and peculiar honours, fundry 
 crafts and fciences wherein they excelled, not 
 leauing fo much as the fauour and portraytour 
 of any of the gods fecrete and vndefcried. As 
 for fuche poets as are faide to haue gone before 
 thefe, they feeme to me to haue liued after 
 them. The firft of thefe things (I meane the 
 names of the natures celeftiall) to haue bene 
 planted in Greece in fuch forte as hath bene 
 
 declared, 
 
EUTERPE. 55 
 
 declared, the priefts at Dodona do iuftly wit- 
 neiTe. Now for this of Hejiode and Homer to 
 be no otherwyfe then is faid, I pawne mine owne 
 credit. Furthermore, of the oracles in Africke 
 and Greece the ^Egyptians blaie this rumor, and 
 principally fuch as are employed in the feruice 
 and minifterie of Iupiter Thelanus : by whome The begin- 
 it is layde, that certaine men of the Phoenicians orad°si n e 
 comming to Theles, ftale priuily from thence Greece! and 
 two women accuftomed to minifter in the 
 temple of Iupiter, one of the which they fold in 
 Lylia, the other in Greece, by whole meanes 
 and aduife it came to pafle, that in each coun- 
 trey the people created an oracle. Heereat 
 x -fomewhat abafhed, and requeuing earneftly how 
 and in what manner they came to knowe this, 
 they made me aunfwere, that leauing no corner 
 vnfearched whereby to come to knowledge of 
 their women, and not able to finde how they 
 were bellowed, newes was brought at length of 
 their plight and condition. Thus farre was I 
 certified by the Thelane prelates, wherevnto I 
 deeme it conuenient to adde fuch things as were 
 notified vnto mee at Dodona by the priefts there, A tale of 
 who vndoubtedly aifyrme how in times forepaft ^'"P'seons. 
 and long ago, two blacke pigeons tooke theyr 
 flight from the cowrtrey of Theles in JEgypt, 
 fcouring with fwift courfe through the iky, one 
 
 of 
 
56 EUTERPE. 
 
 of the which fortuned to light in Africa, the 
 other in that part of Greece where Dodona is 
 now fituate, where pointing vpon a mighty tall 
 beech, fhe was heard to fpeake in a voice humane, 
 like vnto a man, warning the people to erect an 
 oracle or feate of diuination in that place, being 
 fo thought good, and prouided by the deftinies. 
 Whiche admonition the people taking (as well 
 they might) to come by the inftinct and motion 
 of the gods, did as they were commaunded by the 
 doue. In like manner it fell out that in Lybia 
 the people were ftirred vp and incenfed by the 
 other doue to the planting and erection of a feate 
 propheticall, named the oracle of Ammon, being 
 alfo confecrate to the name of Jupiter. Thefe 
 things we receiued of the credite and authoritie 
 of the Dodoneans, confirmed and eftablilhed by 
 the generall confente of thofe that had the care 
 and charge of the temple. Of thefe women 
 priefts refident in the temple of Dodona, the 
 eldeft and moft auncient had to name Promenca, 
 the fecond Timareta, the third and yongeft 
 Nicandra. Neuertheleffe of thefe matters fuch 
 is my iudgement. If any fuch religious and 
 holy women were by Health of the Phenicians 
 tranfported and caryed away into Lybia and 
 Greece, I coniecture that the one of thefe was 
 fold at Thefprotus, in that parte of the region 
 
 which 
 
EUTERPE. 57 
 
 which earft was in the poffeflion of the Pelaf- 
 gians, and is at this prelent reputed for a portion 
 of Hettus : where, hailing ferued certayne yeares, 
 in proceffe of time the brought in vfe the diuine 
 ceremonies of Iupiter, vnder fome beach tree 
 growing in thofe coaftes. For what could be 
 more likely or conueniente, then for her to 
 eftablifh fome monument in the facred honour 
 of Iupiter, in whole feruice and religion the had 
 bene long time conuerfaunt at Thebes in /Egypt. 
 Which her ordinance at length grewe into the 
 cuftome of an oracle. The fame beeing perfed 
 alfo in the Greeke language, difcouered vnto 
 them in what fort the Phenicians had likewife 
 made fale of hir fifter to the people of Africa. 
 The facred and deuoute women of Dodona 
 refyaunt in the pallace of the great god Iupiter, 
 feeme for none other caufe to haue called thefe 
 ^Egyptian pufils two doues, then for that they 
 were come from barbarous countreys, whofe 
 tongue and manner of pronouncing feemed to 
 the Grcecians to founde like the voyce of birds. 
 And whereas they lhewe that in time the doue 
 began to vtter playne language, and fpeake like 
 men, naught elfe is meant heereby then that 
 fhe vfed iuch fpeech as they knew and vnder- 
 ftood, being fo long efteemed to emulate and 
 follow the noyie of birds as fhe remained in her 
 
 barbarous 
 
58 
 
 EUTERPE. 
 
 Inuentions 
 of the 
 Egyptians. 
 
 The feaftes 
 of Diana, 
 Ifis, and 
 Minerua. 
 
 barbarous kind of fpeach and pronuntiation. 
 •For how is it credible that a pigeon in deede 
 could haue vfurped the voice and vtteraunce 
 of a man : and alleadging yet further that it 
 was a blacke doue, they argued her more 
 playnely to haue bene a woman of JEgypt, the 
 flower of whofe beauty is a fayre browne blew, 
 tanned and burnt by the fyery beames of the 
 funne. Agayne, the oracles themfelues, that of 
 Thebes, and this of Dodona, are welnye in all 
 poyntes agreeable. To fpeake nothing of the 
 maner and order of fouthfaying in the temples 
 of Greece, whych any man with halfe an eye 
 may eafily difcerne to haue bene taken from 
 JEgypt. Let it ftand alfo for an euident and 
 vndoubted verity, that aflemblies at feftiuals, 
 pompes and pageants in diuine honour, talke 
 and communication with the gods by a media- 
 tour or interpretour, were inuented in JEgypt, 
 and confequently vfed in Greece. Which I 
 thinke the rather, for that the one is old and of 
 long continuance, the other frelhe and lately 
 put in practife. It is not once in a yeare that 
 the ^Egyptians vfe thefe folemne and religious 
 meetings, but at fundry times and in fun dry 
 places, howbeit, chiefly and with the greatefl 
 zeale and deuotion at the city Bubaftis, in the 
 honour of Diana. Next after that at Bujiris, in 
 
 the 
 
EUTERPE. 59 
 
 the celebration of I/is feaft, where alfo ftandeth 
 the moft excellent and famous temple of 
 IJis, who in the Greeke tongue is called 
 Ay/jirirr,?, which is to wit, Ceres. Thirdly, an The feaft of 
 
 ..,,'.,,,. , . r. . . , .the Sunne. 
 
 aliembly is held in the city Sais in the prayle 
 and reuerence of Minerua. Fourthly, at Helio- 
 polis in honour of the funne. Fiftly, at Butis 
 in remembraunce of Latona. In the fixt and 
 laft place at the city Papremis, to the dignity The celebra- 
 and renowne of Mars. Moreouer, fuch of this nas feaft 
 people as with entyre and affectionate zeale an ars- 
 moft religioufly obferue the feaft at Bubaftis, 
 behaue and beare themfelues on this maner. 
 Certayne thippes being addrefied, wherein in- 
 finite numbers of men and women fayle towards 
 the city, in the meane feafon whiles they be in 
 voiage on the water, certaine of the women play The maner 
 vpon drums and tabers, making a great found repaire to 
 
 dr . i ■ o l i. th e feftiual 
 
 noyie, the men on pipes. Such as want fDi an a. 
 
 thefe implements, clap their hands and ftraine 
 
 their voice in finging to the higheft degree. At 
 
 what city foeuer they ariue, happely fome of the 
 
 women continue their mirth and difport on the 
 
 timbrels, fome other raile, reuile and fcold at the 
 
 dames of the city beyond meafure : many trauife 
 
 and daunce minionly : other caft vp their clothes, 
 
 and openly difcouer and bewray their ihame, 
 
 doing this in all thofe cities that are neere ad- 
 
 ioyning 
 
60 EUTERPE. 
 
 ioyning to the riuers fide. Being affembled and 
 gathered together at Buhaftis, they honour the 
 feaft day with principall folemnity, making large 
 o firings to Diana, wherein is greater expence 
 and effufion of grape wine then all the yeare be- 
 fides. To this place by the voice of the countrey 
 are wont to repayre 7000 men and women, 
 befides children, and thus they paffe the time at 
 Buhaftis. Now in what maner they folemnize 
 the facred day of IJis at the city Bujlris, we de- 
 clared before, wherein their vfage is after the 
 due performance and accomplifhment of the 
 facrifice, to whip and fcourge themfelues in 
 lamentable wife, and that not one or two, but 
 many thoufandes of eache degree both men 
 and women : neuertheleffe, by what meanes, or 
 wherewithal they beate and vexe their bodies in 
 this fort, I may not difclofe. Howbeit fuch of 
 the people of Carta as foiourne and make their 
 abode in JEgypt, ftricken with a deeper remorfe 
 of finne, in this point of zeale and ardency go be- 
 yond the ^Egyptians, in that they hackle and ilice 
 their foreheads with kniues and daggers : where- 
 by it is plainely geuen vs to vnderltande that 
 they come of forreine nations, and not of the 
 homeborne and naturall people of the land. In 
 like manner meeting (as before) at the city 
 Sais, there to accompliihe the rites and cere- 
 monies 
 
EUTERPE. 61 
 
 monies due to the day, at the approche and 
 neere poynt of the evening, they furnim and 
 befet their houfes with torches and lampes, The feaft of 
 
 1 lampes. 
 
 which being replenished with pure oyle mingled 
 with falte, they giue fire to the weike, and 
 fufter them to continue burning till the next 
 morning, naming the day by the feaft of lampes. 
 Such as relbrt not to this feaft, do neuerthelefle 
 at their owne homes giue due honour to the 
 night, placing in euery corner of theyr houfe an 
 infinite number of tapers and candles, the cuf- 
 tome being not only kept at Sais, but fpread 
 and fcattered throughout the whole region. But 
 for what ende this night is helde folemne by 
 lighting of lampes, a certayne myfticall and 
 religious reaibn is yeelded which we muft keepe 
 fecret. At Heliopolis and Butis onely, facrifice, 
 without execution of any other ceremonies, is 
 done to the gods. Likewife at Papremis they 
 retayne the fame cuftome of diuine feruice and 
 worlbipping as in other places. At the funne 
 going downe, certayne chofen men of the 
 priefts, being few in number, and ferioufly held Acombate 
 and bufied about the image, the mofl parte P " e 
 ftanding before the dore of the temple armed 
 with clubs as much as they can weilde : ouer 
 againft whome on the contrary fide, other, 
 more then a thoufand men (of the number of 
 
 thofe 
 
62 EUTERPE. 
 
 thofe that come to worfhip) all ftrongly furnifhed 
 and prepared with bats in their handes. The 
 day before the feaft, the picture or image framed 
 of wood, is by meanes of a few (affigned to the 
 miniftery and care of the woodden god) conueyed 
 out of a fmall temple make of light timber gor- 
 geouily gilded : into another facred and religious 
 houfe, being thither drawne by the minifters 
 themfelues vppon a wayne of foure wheeles, 
 whereon the temple itfelfe is placed, and the 
 image alfo conteined therein. Drawing neere 
 to the temple with their cariage, the clubbes 
 ftanding before the dore wyth threates and cruell 
 manaces forbid them to enter : incontinent the 
 band of men ouer againft them comingwith might 
 and maine to afiift the image, and encountring 
 with thofe that kept the temple, lay on fuche 
 rude blowes, that hardly anye efcapeth without 
 hys crowne crackt in manye places. Wherein alfo 
 I fuppofe that many men mifcarry and came 
 fhort home, albeit they flatly denie that of a 
 wound fo taken any man euer perifhed. The 
 The caufe homelings and peculiar people of that countrey 
 ofthiscom. alleadge this reafon of the battell. In this 
 
 temple (faye they) did fometimes inhabite the 
 mother of the god Mars, who feeking at the 
 eftate of ripe yeares againft the lawe of nature 
 to haue fociety with his owne mother, tooke the 
 
 repulfe, 
 
EUTERPE. 63 
 
 repulfe, and was reiefted by her minifters that 
 knew him not, whereat the god ftorming in 
 great rage, purchafed ayde out of the cities ad- 
 ioynaunt, and made way perforce, to the greate 
 difcomriture and dammage of thofe as fought to 
 refift him, for which caufe, they yet folemnize 
 to Mars a feaft of broken pates and brufed cof- The feaft of 
 tards, enacting moreouer by the vertue of their pa tes. 
 religion, that no man ihould haue carnall copu- 
 lation with a woman in the temple, neyther at- 
 tempt to fet his foote within the dores of any 
 fuche houfe of religion, vnleiTe after the flefhly 
 knowledge of women he firft warn and cleanfe 
 his body wyth pure water, whiche cuftome onely 
 taketh place amongft the Grcecians and Egyp- 
 tians, beeing the vie in other nations to accom- 
 pany with their women in the churches and 
 palaces of their gods, and alio prefently after 
 fuch fecret a6tes, without any regard of puri- 
 fying themfelves, to ruth into the houfes of diuine 
 honour, making no difference betweene men and 
 other brutiib. and vnreafonable creatures. For 
 it is feene (lay they) how other things that haue A reafun 
 life and fence, meddle themfelues each with the vfe of 
 other euen in fuch places as the gods were wor- drfend the 
 thipped, which if it were a thing fo odious and men^ ° 
 difpleafaunt in the eyes of the higher powers, no 
 doubt the beaftes themfelues would efchue and 
 
 auoyde 
 
64 EUTERPE. 
 
 auoyde it, whofe doings together with their 
 iudgement I flatly difalow. Howbeit, vnder- 
 ftand we, that as well in thefe things whereof 
 we haue intreated, as in all other the ^Egyptians 
 are led with a Angular fuperftition. JEgypt alfo 
 it ielfe albeit it abutte and poynt vpon the 
 countrey of Lylia, yet is it not ouermuch pef- 
 tered with beaftes. Such as the lande bringeth 
 vp and foftereth, are reputed holy, and by no 
 meanes to be violated or harmed by any, fome 
 of which haue their nouriture and foode together 
 with the people of the foyle : otherfome are more 
 wilde, fierce, and intractable, refuflng fo gently 
 to come to hand. The caufe of thefe things, why 
 creatures vnreafonable are fo highly honoured 
 of this people, I may not without breach of 
 piety reveale : which things of fet purpofe I 
 haue endeauoured to conceale and keepe fecrete, 
 vnlefle by the neceflary courfe of the hiftory I 
 haue bene brought to the contrary. 
 The manner Furthermore, about the beaftes that breede 
 ^Egyptians and multiplye in the region, fuche is their order. 
 the C be"ftes Generally they are helde with a moft tender and 
 of the land. reuerent C are for the mayntenaunce and fofter- 
 ing of them, in whiche kinde of honour (for it 
 is accounted a greate honour with them, to haue 
 regard of beaftes) the fonne euermore fucceedeth 
 the father. To thefe brute creatures, all fuch 
 
 as 
 
EUTERPE. 65 
 
 as are refident in the cities of ALgypt, performe 
 and pay certayne vowes, makyng humble fuppli- 
 cation to fome one of the gods, in whole patron- 
 age and protection that beaft is, which thing 
 they accomplilh after this manner. Shauing the 
 heads of their fonnes, eyther wholly, in halfe, or 
 for the moft parte, they waigh the hayre in 
 balaunce, fetting agaynft it the iuft weight in 
 filuer, whiche done, they deliuered it to him 
 that hath the charge and oueriight of any fuche 
 cattell, by whom are bought heerewith fmall 
 peeces of fithe which they giue the beaft.es to 
 eate, and fuch is the meanes whereby they 
 nourifhe and bring them vp. The flaying of 
 any of thefe done of malice and fet purpole, is 
 prefent death to the killer, but committed by 
 chaunce a mulct or peine at the difcretion and The great 
 arbitriment of the priells. To kill an hauke or haukes. 
 the bird which is called Ibis, is lofie of life, in 
 what fort foeuer it be done. Such beafts as are 
 tame and come to hand, hauing their food to- 
 gether with men, albeit they be many in number, 
 yet wold they much more increafe, were it not 
 for the flrange nature of cats in the countrey. 
 The feamale hauing once kitled, alwayes after The nature 
 efchueth the male, keeping her felfe secrete Aegypt. 
 and couert from him, which the ^Egyptians 
 feeing, kill the kitlings, and vie them for foode. 
 
 The 
 
66 EUTERPE. 
 
 The feamale bereaued of her yong ones, and 
 finding her neft empty, is by that meanes 
 brought to fubmitte hir felfe to the bucke, 
 beeing of all creatures moft defirous of in- 
 creafe. In time of fire, or fuche like misfor- 
 tune, the cats are mooued with a certaine diuine 
 kind of fury and infpiration. For the Egyp- 
 tians behauing themfelues fecurely in the appeaf- 
 ing and extinguishing the flame, the cats lie 
 couertly in waight, and fodenly courfing towards 
 the place, mount and fkip quite ouer the heads 
 of the people into the fire, at which chaunce 
 whenfoeuer it commeth to paffe, the Egyptians 
 are extreamely forrowfull. In what houfe foeuer 
 Mourning there dies a cat, all of the fame family lhaue their 
 of cats and eyebrowes ; but if a dog dye, their head and 
 body. A cat dying, is folemnely caryed to the 
 temple, where being well powdered with falte, 
 fhe is after buried in the city of Bal-aftis. A 
 Houndes bitch is euermore buryed in the fame city where 
 
 greatlv re- 
 garded, fhe dieth, yet not without the honour of a facred 
 
 tombe, burying their dogges after the fame fort, 
 
 and chiefly houndes of the malekinde, whiche 
 
 they moft of all others efteeme and fet by. 
 
 Likewife fmall ferpents called in their tongue 
 
 Mygalce, and haukes of all kinde, if they fortune 
 
 to dye, they take and bury them at the city 
 
 Butis. Beares, fuch as be halowed, and wolues 
 
 not 
 
EUTERPE. 67 
 
 not much bigger then foxes, are couered in the 
 fame place where they be found dead. The 
 nature alfo of the Crocodyle is thys. Foure The nature 
 monethes in the yeare, and chiefly in the winter codyle. 
 feafon it Hues without meate. And albeit it haue 
 feete like a land-beaft, yet hath it a nature middle 
 and indifferent, liuing as well in the water as 
 one drie land. Her egges fhe layes on the fhore, 
 where alfo flie couereth and hatcheth the fame, 
 biding the moft part of the day abroade on the 
 dry land, but all the night tyme in the water, 
 being much more hoate then the cold deawe that 
 falleth in the night. Of all creatures I iudge 
 none of fo fmall and flender a beginning, to 
 waxe to fuch huge and infinite greatneffe, the 
 egge at the firft not much bigger then a goofe 
 egge, which meafure the broode it felfe exceed- 
 eth not when it fyrft commes out of the fhell, 
 howbeit, in durance of time, it growes to bee 
 monftrous,furmounting the length of feauenteene A cubite is 
 cubites. The Crocodyle hath eyes like a fwine, an haife. 
 teeth of pafling bigneffe, accordyng to the mea- 
 fure and proportion of her bodye, extendyng and 
 bearyng outwarde, beeyng alfo very rough and 
 grating lyke a fawe : and of all other creatures 
 is only without a tongue : the felfefame, con- The Croco- 
 
 , , - ,, , dyle hath no 
 
 trary to the nature and property of all other tongue. 
 beaftes, hath the neathermoft chap ftedfaft and 
 
 without 
 
68 
 
 EUTERPE. 
 
 The bird 
 Trochilus. 
 
 A tame 
 Crocodyle. 
 
 without moouing, and champeth her foode with 
 the vpper iawe. Her clawes are very ftrong and 
 great, a fcaly fkynne, and aboute the backe 
 impenetrable, that no weapon be it neuer fo 
 fharpe can pearce it. In the water as blinde as 
 a moale, on lande of an excellente fharpe and 
 quicke light. Liuing in the water, it commeth 
 to pafle that her mouth is euermore full of 
 horfeleaches. No foule or beaft can abide to 
 fee or come nye a Crocodile, faue only the bird 
 Trochilus, with whome lhe is at a continuall 
 truce for the lingular commodity me receyueth 
 by him. For the Crocodile at what time fhe 
 forfaketh the water, and commeth out on lande, 
 her quality is with wide and opened mouth to 
 lye gaping toward the Weft, whome the bird 
 Trochilus efpying, flyeth into her mouth, and 
 there deuoureth and eateth vp the horfeleaches, 
 which bringeth fuch pleafure to the ferpent, 
 that without any hurt in the world fhe fulfereth 
 the bird to do what fhe will. To fome of the 
 ^Egyptians Crocodiles are in place of holy crea- 
 tures, to other prophane and noyfome, which 
 chace and purfue them as moil odious and pef- 
 tilent beaftes. Thofe that geue honour to them, 
 are fuch as inhabite about Thebes, and the poole 
 of Mceris, who are wont commonly to traine vp 
 a Crocodyle to hand, and make it tame, being 
 
 in 
 
EUTERPE. 69 
 
 in all poyntes fo gentle and traftable as a dogge. 
 At whofe eares they hang gemmes of iingulare 
 price, likewife golden eareings, hampering a 
 chayne to the forefeete. This tame one they 
 cheriih and bryng vp with great care, fetting 
 very much by it while it liueth, and being dead, 
 they powder the body with fault, and lay it 
 vnder the ground in a veffell accounted holy. 
 Unlike to thefe are the people dwelling at 
 Elephantina, who be fo farre from thinking lb 
 reuerently of fuche venemous ferpents, that for 
 hate they flay, and in difdayne eate them. The 
 ^Egyptians call them not Crocodyles, but Crocodiles 
 Champji, this name being brought vp by the called VP 
 people of Ionia, for that in fliape they re- ampi " 
 femble thofe Crocodyles which amongft them 
 ingender and breede in hedges. Diuers are 
 the meanes whereby they are taken, yet amongft 
 other deuyfes this one feemeth to mee moft 
 worthy reherfall. Such as laye for them and 
 feeke all wayes to take them, bayte their 
 hookes with Swynes flefli and caft it into the The maner 
 myddeft of the ryuer : immediately ftanding on crocodyles. 
 the ftiore they beate a younge porkling and caufe 
 it to cry exceedingly : which the Crocodile hear- 
 ing followeth the cry, and drawing neere to the 
 place, findeth the bayte and fwalloweth it vp at 
 one morfel. Being faft intangled and drawne to 
 
 lande, 
 
7 o 
 
 EUTERPE. 
 
 A beafte 
 called the 
 Ryuer 
 horfe. 
 
 The byrde 
 Phoenix. 
 
 lande, they iirfl blinde and flop vp hir eyes with 
 clay and rubbilhe, which caufeth hir to lye flill 
 and fuffer all thinges quietly, which otherwife 
 they coulde neuer obtaine and come by without 
 much a doe. Likewife, the Ryuerhorle (a beafl 
 fo called) in all the borders of Papremis is re- 
 puted holy : being of this fhape and figure. He 
 hath foure feete clouen in funder, and houed 
 like an Oxe : a flat note : and taile and Mane 
 like an Horfe : teeth apparaunt and Handing 
 out : in founde and cry neighing fo like a horfe 
 as may be : in bigneffe refembling a mighty 
 Bull, of fo groffe and thicke an hyde that being 
 well dryed, they make thereof Darts of exceed- 
 ing ftrength and ftiffnerle. There be alfo founde 
 to breede in the ryuer certaine beaftes much like 
 a Beuer and liue like an Otter, which in JEgypt 
 are of great accounte and thought holy. In the 
 fame degre of facred honour are all kinde of 
 fcale fiihe and Eeles. Such is alfo their opinion 
 and reuerance towards birds and fowles of the 
 ayre, as wilde Geefe and fuch like. There is 
 alfo an other bird of whom aboue all other they 
 think molt diuinely, called a Phoenix ; which I 
 neuer faw, but protrayed and fhadowed in 
 coloures. For fhe commeth very feldome into 
 that countrey (as farre as I could heare fay by the 
 He tiopo titans) to wit, once in 500 yeares, and 
 
 that 
 
EUTERPE. 71 
 
 that alfo when hir parent or breeder dyeth. If 
 
 flie be truely drawne by the ^Egyptians this is The fhape 
 
 , • r 1 , • -- . r , . .of a Phoenix. 
 
 hir forme and bignelie : hir feathers partly red 
 and partly yealow, glittering like Golde : in forme 
 and quantity of the body not much differing from 
 an Eagle. Of this Phrenix, Egyptians haue 
 bruted a ftraunge tale, which I can hardly credit : 
 faying that the Phoenix flying from Arabia, to The nature 
 the temple of the Sunne in jEgypt, carieth in phoeuix. 
 hir tallaunts the corps of hir dead lire, embaulmed 
 and roled in Myrrhe, which fhe accuftometh to 
 bury in that place. Adding alfo the maner 
 whereby fhe inureth hir felfe to cary lb great a 
 burthen. Firft fhe gathers a great quantity of 
 Myrrhe and works it into a lumpe, as much as 
 fhee canne well beare, whereby to make tryall of 
 hir owne ftrength. After this perceyuing hir- 
 felfe able to weylde it, fhee maketh an hole with 
 hir Beake in the fide of the balle, framing it 
 very hollow and empty within, wherein fhe 
 inclofeth the body of hir breeder. This done, 
 and the hole cunningly filled vp againe, fhe 
 poyfeth the whole maffe in hir tallaunts : and 
 finally, fhe tranfporteth it to Heliopolis to the 
 temple Pallace of the Sunne : fo fkilfully hand- 
 ling hir cariage, that the Myrrhe body and all 
 waygheth no more then the whole balle did 
 before. 
 
 This 
 
72 EUTERPE. 
 
 Serpents This they mention as concerning the Phoenix. 
 
 haunting in _ 3 , . . . , 
 
 ^Egypt. Knowe wee belides, that in the region or T nebs 
 in AZgypt, there vfe to haunte a kinde of Ser- 
 pents, had in dyuine worfhippe : of body fmale, 
 and nothing noyfome or hurtfull to men. Thefe 
 haue two homes growing out of their heads, 
 and euermore dying are laide in Iupiters temple, 
 vnto whom they are holy and confecrate. 
 
 In Arabia there lyeth a place of no great dif- 
 taunce from the city Batis, whether I went of 
 purpofe, hauing heard of certayne wynged Ser- 
 pents there to bee feene. And being come : I 
 behelde the ribbes and bones of Serpents in 
 number welnigh infinite and not to bee reckoned 
 whereof fome were greater, and fome lelfe. The 
 place where the bones are layde, is a fmale and 
 narrowe bottome betweene two Fountaynes, 
 opening into a wyde and wafte champion. 
 
 rhe bird The fpeach goeth, that out of Arabia at the 
 
 poynte of the Sprynge, many hydious and ter- 
 rible Serpentes take their flight into JEgypt : 
 which the fowles called Ibides meeting with, 
 ftraight wayes kill and deuonr them : by which 
 meanes the foile is rid and deliuered of a great 
 plague. For this caufe the bird Ibis (whereto 
 the Arabians likewyfe accorde) is had in great 
 price and eftimation of the ^Egyptians. The 
 fafhion and protrayture of this bird is fuch : hir 
 
 feathers 
 
 Ibis, 
 
EUTERPE. 73 
 
 feathers as black as Ieat : long fhanks like a The fhape 
 
 Crane : an hooked beake : much about the big- 
 
 nes of a Daker hen. And in this forte is the 
 
 fowle Ibis rightly figured, that killeth the Ser- 
 
 pentes as they come into the land. There is 
 
 alio another of thefe which are brought vp, and 
 
 liue amongft men, hauing a fmale head, a flender 
 
 necke, white plumed in all partes of the body, 
 
 failing in the head and necke, the hinder parte 
 
 of the wyngs and the taile, which are of a dark 
 
 and black hue : the legges and byll in all poynts 
 
 like the other. The Serpents themielues in 
 
 forme and making are much like to the peftilent 
 
 and infectious beaft Hydra, that liueth in the Hydra a 
 
 water. They haue wyngs not of feathers, but Serpent. 
 
 of fmothe and naked fkin like vnto the wings of 
 
 a Bat or Reremoufe. But let it fuffice vs hytherto 
 
 to haue continued the difcourfe and hyftory of 
 
 luch beaftes as with this people are had in chiefe 
 
 and principall honour, exhibiting towards them 
 
 a certayne religious, holy, and diuine worfhip. 
 
 Now it behoueth vs to know that fuch of the 
 -/Egyptians as dwell in the corne Countrey, and 
 are raoft of all conuerfant in defcrying to the The chiefe 
 pofterity the acts and atfayres of auncient ^^ p °[ 
 memory, and of all the nation the molt famous ^ n a d ne rs lr 
 and principall. Whole kinde of lyuing is after 
 this maner. Thrife euery moneth they cleanfe 
 
 and 
 
74 EUTERPE. 
 
 and purifie them felues, both vpwards by vomit- 
 ting and downewards by purginge : hailing efpe- 
 ciall regarde of their health and welfare: euer- 
 more fuppofing all maladies and difeafes to grow 
 and arife of the meate which they eate. For 
 otherwife the ^Egyptians are of all men liuing the 
 mofl founde and healthfnll except the Lilians : 
 the caufe whereof I iudge to proceede of the 
 immutable and conftant courfe of the yeare, 
 which with them neuer varieth but falleth out 
 alwayes alike : the greateft caufe of defecf and 
 Sickneffe ficknefie in men, aryfing of the chaung and 
 P^ e e edeth mutability of the fame. Their bread is con- 
 timefofTh] 6 tinually made of fine wheat : their wyne for the 
 yeare. m ofl part compound of barley : the country 
 
 bearing no vynes at all. They Hue by fifh partly 
 raw and dryed agaynft the funne : fometimes 
 powdred with fait. Likewife by raw byrds well 
 falted, as Quayles, Duckes, and other fmale 
 fowle. In like maner, of other Creatures that 
 haue neere affinity either with fifh or fowle they 
 make their prouifion and furniture, rofting fome 
 and boyleing other. The rych and wealthy men 
 of the lande in greate affemblies haue an vfuall 
 cuftome, that by fome in the company there 
 fhoulde bee caryed aboute in a fmale coffine the 
 liuely and expreffe image of a deade man one 
 or two cubits in length, which hauing fhewne 
 
 and 
 
EUTERPE. 75 
 
 and revealed to all that are prefente, hee fayth An excellent 
 thus: Beholde here, and amiddeft thy pleafure j,raci y fed by 
 and delighte remember this, for fuch a one after 'Agypt. 
 thy death fhalt thou bee thy felfe. Such is their 
 order in feaftes and banquets, contenting them 
 felues alwayes with the cuftomes of their owne 
 countrey and refuting to be ruled by ftraunge 
 and forraine maners. Amongft whom are diuerfe New 
 falhions, very conuenient and well appoynted : abko^ed. 
 in the number of thefe an excellente Poeme or 
 Ditty, which the Grekes call Lynus. And in 
 truth meruayling at other thinges in JEgypt, I 
 am not a litle amazed at this, whence the name 
 of Lynus mould come. The Songe they feeme 
 to haue kept and retained from all antiquity. 
 Lynus in the ^Egyptian gibberithe is called 
 Maneros, who (as they fay) being the onely 
 fonne of their firfte Kinge, was furprifed and 
 taken away by vntimely death, whom the 
 ^Egyptians bewayle and lament in this pitious 
 and dolefull verfe. Herein they iumpe and 
 agree with the Lacedaemonians, in that the in- Civility. 
 feriour meeting with his elder, yeeldeth the 
 way, and iheweth him a dutifull obeifaunce in 
 riieing from his feate, if happily hee bee fitting 
 as he paffeth by : in which poynte they are 
 vnlike all the reft of the Grecians befides. Meet- 
 inge in the way in place of mutuall falutation, 
 
 they 
 
76 
 
 EUTERPE. 
 
 they vfe humble and curteous reuerence each 
 towarde other, bendinge their hands to each 
 others knees. Commonly they goe clothed in 
 linnen garments made faft with a lace about the 
 thigh, which kinde of attyre they call Calafyris : 
 ouer this they call: alfo another vefture of linnen 
 very cleane and white. Garments of woollen 
 are neuer caried into the houfes of religion, 
 neither will any man ihrowd him felfe in a 
 woollen vefture, which is accounted prophane. 
 This hath fome agreement with the ceremonies 
 vfually kept in the facred feafts of Bacchus and 
 Orpheus, which partly were taken from the 
 ^Egyptians, and partly deuifed by the Pythago- 
 reans. For fuch as haue bene partakers of thofe 
 ryts, haue euermore abhorred to be buried in 
 woollen garments. Whereof alfo an holy reafon 
 is geuen which we dare not difclofe. Many other 
 thinges haue bene invented by the Egyptians, as 
 what day and moneth is proper and appertinent to 
 euery god. Likewife in Aftrology what fortune 
 is incident to him that is borne one fuch a day, 
 how hee fhall proue in lyfe, by what meanes hee 
 fhall mifcary by death : which thinges haue bene 
 i vied of many that haue laboured in the Arte 
 and Science of Poetry. 
 
 Alfo, more wonders, and ftraunge fightes and 
 euentes haue bene difcuffed and interpreted by 
 
 them, 
 
EUTERPE. 77 
 
 them, then by any other Nation liuinge. For 
 as any fuch thing hath happened at any tyme 
 they commit it to memory, awaighting dilli- 
 gently what iffue it hath : and if the like fall 
 out at any time after, they coniecture of the ende 
 and effe6t thereof by the example of the firft. 
 The knowledge of diuination is fo practifed 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 thefe Oracles. The 
 prophecy of Hercules, Apollo, Minerua, Diana, The feates 
 Mars, and Iupiter, mod of all reuerencing the in /Egypt, 
 diuine feate of Latona, helde at the city Bails. 
 Thefe prophefles are not all inftituted after the 
 fame fafhion, but haue a difference and diuerfity 
 betweene them. Phificke is lb ftudyed and prac- 
 tyied with them that euery difeafe hath his 
 feuerall phifition, who ftryueth to excell in heal- 
 ing that one difeafe, and not to be expert in 
 curinge many : whereof it commeth that euery 
 corner is full of Phyfitions. Some for the eyes, in jEgypt 
 other for the head, many for the teeth, not a hath his 
 fewe for the ftomacke and belly. Finally, fuch p y 
 as are of knowledge to deale with fecret and 
 priuy infirmities. 
 
 In like forte, the maner of mourninge, and 
 funerall forrow at the death of friendes : alfo the 
 maner of fepulture and buryall which they vfe, 
 
 is 
 
78 EUTERPE. 
 
 Of mourning is moft worthy memory. When as any of their 
 the dead. familiars or domefticall friendes fortune to de- 
 ceafe, (bee hee of regarde amongft them) all the 
 women of that family befmere and gryme their 
 heads and faces with myre and droffe : and 
 leauing the forlorne and languished corps 
 amongeft their friends and acquaintaunce, they 
 themfelues being ftraight gyrded, with their 
 breafts all bare and naked, accompanied with al 
 the women of their kindred, wander about the 
 ltreets with moft piteous lamentation and howl- 
 ing : on the other fide, the men faft gyrte about 
 the loynes, thump and beate themfelues, as the 
 moft miferable, infortunate, and wretched per- 
 fons in the world. After this they cary out the 
 body to embalme and preferue. Certaine there 
 be definitly appointed for the fame purpofe, that 
 make an occupation and trade hereof. Thefe 
 when the corfe is brought vnto them, propounde 
 Themaner and fhew to the bringers, fundry formes and 
 ingtfiedead. pi&ures of the dead, paynted or carued in wood, 
 one of which is wrought with moft curioufe arte 
 and workmanfhip (which we thinke impiety to 
 name) : the fecond of lefle pryce : the third 
 meaneft of all : demaundinge of the bringers, to 
 which of thefe paterns and examples their friend 
 shal be dreffed. Being agreed of the price they 
 depart, leauing the body with the falyners : who 
 
 incontinent 
 
EUTERPE. 79 
 
 incontinent feafon and preferue the corps with 
 al induftry, drawing the braynes out by the 
 nofthrills with a croked inftrument of Iron, in 
 place whereof they fill the Brayne pan with 
 moft fweete and pleafaunt oyntments. This 
 done and finiihed, they cut and rip vp the 
 Bowells with a fharp ftone of AZthyopia, taking 
 thereout the paunche and entrals, and clenfinge 
 the belly with wyne of Palme tree : fecondly, 
 with frefh water mingled with moft fragrant and 
 delightfull fpyces : in place hereof they force and 
 ft u fie the belly it felfe with myrrhe, of the fineft 
 forte brayed and pounded in a morter. Like- 
 wife, with CaJJia and all kinde of pleafaunt 
 odours, except frankincenfe. Hauing thus done, 
 they fowe it vp agayne, and embalming the body, 
 preferue it for the terme of 70 dayes : longer 
 then which they may not keepe it. The dayes 
 exfpired and drawne to an ende, they take the 
 corfe and wafh it ouer a frefh, annoynting the 
 body with gum (which is to the ^Egyptians in 
 fteede 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 the tyme, 
 while the faliners haue him in hand, procure an 
 Image to be made to the likenes and refem- 
 blaunce of him that is dead, wherein being 
 holow and vauted within, they caufe him to be 
 
 inclofed, 
 
8o EUTERPE. 
 
 inclofed, layinge both the Image and the body 
 therein contayned in a toumbe together. How- 
 beit they which in meaner eftate and fortune 
 cannot reach fo high, order the bodyes of their 
 frindes in forme as followeth. Firft of all 
 they fill a clyfter with the oyntment of neder 
 which without any maner cuttinge or opening 
 the belly, they ftrayne it into the body by the 
 inferiour partes and Fundament, preferninge the 
 corfe as before, 70 dayes. The laft day of all 
 they dreyne out the oyle from the bowels of the 
 dead : which is of fuch vertue, that it bringeth 
 out with it all the inner parts of the belly cor- 
 rupted and feftered. Herewith alfo they inftil 
 and power into the body Saltpeter, which is of 
 force to depraue, taynt, and confume the flefh, 
 leauing nothing but fkin and bones : which 
 done, they eftfones deliuer the body to the 
 owners. There is alfo a third kinde of vfage 
 accuftomably practifed about the bodyes of the 
 dead : that if any one be deceafed whole friendes 
 are very poore and of fmaleft fubftaunce, they 
 only purge the belly, and preferuing the corps 
 with fait for terme of like time as before, in fine, 
 redeliuer him to the bringers. 
 
 The wyues of noble men, and fuch as are very 
 fayre and of great refpeft for their beauty, are 
 not preiently vpon pointe of their death, geuen 
 
 to 
 
EUTERPE. 8r 
 
 to be embalmed, but tbree or foure dayes after, Fayre 
 fearing leaft they mould be abuled by the inor- women 
 dinate luft of fuch as dreffe them : alleadging kep^hree 
 
 i <-i i • r ■ i • daves before 
 
 moreover, that a Sahner lometimes working triey bepre- 
 fuch abufe vpon the dead body of a woman, was ferued 
 taken in the maner, and his villany difcryed by 
 one of his owne company. If it fortune any one 
 either of the ^Egyptians, or of forraine countries 
 to be drowned and caft on fhore, the City in 
 whole borders he is founde muft fuflaine the 
 charge of the funeralles, which in honorable 
 maner muft be executed, and the body buried 
 in the facred and holy Monumentes. Being not 
 lawfull for his friends and allies any whit to 
 intermeddle or touch the dead, but the Priefts 
 affigned to the worlhip of the ryuer Nylus in- 
 toumbe and bury him fo nicely and folemnly as 
 if it were the body of a god. The cuftomes of 
 Greece they will in no wife follow : vtterly 
 eftraunging them felues from all orders borowed 
 and deryued from other Nations. 
 
 Albeit Chemmis a great City in the Prouince The City 
 of Thebs not farre from the city Nea, wherein 
 ftandeth the Temple of Perfeus, fonne of Dande, 
 built fourefquare and incompaffed rounde aboute 
 wyth a Springe or Groue of Date trees : hauing 
 alfo a large entry of ftone, on each fide whereof 
 are placed two Images of pafling greatneffe : 
 
 within 
 
 F 
 
82 EUTERPE. 
 
 within the pallace is contayned the earned monu- 
 ment of Perfeus, whom the Chemmyts auouch 
 often times to appeare vnto them out of the 
 earth, and not feldome in the church : at which 
 time they find his flipper which he was wonte 
 to weare, two cubytes in length : affyrminge 
 that at fuch times as that is feene, the yeare 
 proueth very fertile and profperous throughe out 
 all JEgypt. This towne (I fay) hath ordayned 
 certayne games of exercife in the honour of 
 Perfeus, after the maner of Greece, Thefe 
 being demaunded of mee why Perfeus fhould 
 appeare to them alone, and for what caufe in 
 the celebration of their games, they diifented 
 from the reft of the ^Egyptians : they made 
 anfwere, that Perfeus was iffued of theyr city, 
 adding moreuver, that Daneus and Lynceus 
 were alfo Chemmyts and fayled into Greece : in 
 blafing whofe Pedagree they came at length 
 to Perfeus, who comming into JEgypt for the 
 felfe fame caufe as the Grecians teftify, namely, 
 to fetch the head of Gorgon out of Africk, came 
 alfo to them and called to remembraunce his 
 kinred and linage, of whom hauing taken ac- 
 quayntaunce, and hearing his mother to fpeake 
 of the name of Chem, he inftituted a game of all 
 exercifes, which according to his appointment 
 and firft ordinaunce they obferue till this day. 
 
 Thefe 
 
EUTERPE. 83 
 
 Thefe are the maners of thofe that lye aboue the 
 Fennes, fuch as dwell in the Maryfes differ not 
 from the reft, neither in other things, nor in 
 eftate of mariage, euery one inioying the priuate 
 fellowship of his owne wyfe, in femblable maner 
 to the Grecians. Notwithstanding for the eafie 
 prouifion of their foode and fuftenaunce other 
 thinges haue bene foughte out and deuifed by 
 them. For in time of the floude when the Their floud 
 ryuer ouergoeth the countrey, there arife in the 
 water great plenty of lyllyes, which the people 
 of JEgypt call Lotos. Thefe they reape and 
 dry them in the Sunne. The feede whereof 
 (growing in the middeft of the flower, fomewhat 
 like vnto Popy feede) they boyle, after which 
 they kneade it into cakes, and bake it for breade. 
 The roote of this is very tothfome, pleafant and 
 good to eate : being of forme very rounde, and 
 in bignelfe like an aple. There is alfo another 
 kinde of lyllyes much like to rofes, which in like 
 maner haue their growth in the water, from 
 whofe roote fprings a bud vnlike to the former, 
 bearing fruite in maner and likeneffe of an hony 
 Combe : herein are contayned certayne fmale 
 kernells refembling the ftone of an Olyue, not 
 vnfit for fuftenance, and commonly eaten of the 
 ^Egyptians, afwell frefh as wythered. The felfe 
 fame people when the feafon of the yeare lerueth, 
 
 are 
 
84 EUTERPE. 
 
 are bufily conuerfant in gathering a kinde of 
 Rufh called Byblus, the top whereof they crop 
 and turne it into vfe of foode : the refidue being 
 much about one cubyte in length, they partly 
 eate and partly fell. Such as be defirous to 
 make fine and delicate meate of this Rufli, vfe 
 to caft it into an Ouen and broyle it : fome there 
 be that lyue only by fifh, which hauing taken, 
 they incontinently draw them and parch them in 
 the Sunne like ftockfifh, and being well dryed 
 The nature they eate them. The common forte of fifh vied 
 
 of their fifh. J . . 
 
 among them, breede not in the ryuer, but in 
 pooles, being of this nature. Toward the time 
 of fpawning they leaue the fennes and make 
 repayre generally to the lea, the male fifhes in 
 maner of captaines leading the ranke. Thefe 
 male fifhe as they paffe ftill onwarde fhed theyr 
 feede by the way, which their femals following 
 after immediatly deuour, and thereof fhortly 
 after breede theyr fpawnes. Now at the pointe 
 of breede, the femals forfaking the fait waters, 
 ftower backe agayne to the maryfes to their 
 accuftomed haunte, leadinge the males that fol- 
 low after them : and in fwiming backe agayne, 
 they voide fpawne, being very fmale comes, 
 like the graynes of muftard feede which lighting 
 upon the male fifhe in the tayle of the rancke, 
 are fwallowed vp and deuoured by them. Not 
 
 one 
 
EUTERPE. 85 
 
 one of thefe Title graynes but will grow to a 
 time, as well may bee feene by thofe that efcape 
 the males, and are vndeuoured : which being 
 nourifhed by the waters growe to finale Frye. 
 Such of thefe fillies as are taken fwimminge to 
 the fea, are founde to haue the left fide of theyr 
 heads very much worne and gauled : and in 
 comming from the fea, the right side : the caufe 
 being this, that both in going and comming they 
 continually grate agaynft the more and bancks 
 of the ryuer, as a direction to them in paflinge 
 to and fro, leaft that doting in the middeft of 
 the ftreame, they chaunce to ftray and wander 
 ont of the right courfe. At fuch time as the 
 ryuer Nilus beginneth to fwell, all the lowe 
 places in the countrey and Ponds neere adioyning 
 to the ryuer doe likewife increafe : being then 
 to bee feene great ftore of younge Fry in euery 
 litle puddle : whereof thefe lhould breede, this 
 feemeth to be a probable caufe. That the yeare 
 before, at the fall and decreafe of the water, the 
 filh which together with the ryuer departe them 
 felves, leaue behinde them their fpawne in the 
 mudde, which at the ryfing of the nexte floude, 
 being eftfones moyftned, by the waters, recouer 
 vertue, and growe to bee fi(h. As touchinge 
 which thinges let it feeme futflcient thus much 
 to haue fpoken. 
 
 The 
 
86 EUTERPE. 
 
 The gather- The ^Egyptians that keepe in the fenne coun- 
 
 ingoffruite S -* r . , j r i • v. 
 
 for oyies. trey, vie a certaine oyle made of a tree, which 
 the Apothecary es call Pahnachri. Thefe trees 
 (that fpringe naturally in Greece) the ^Egyptians 
 accuftome to plant and fet by the banckes of 
 Pooles and ryuers, which is the caufe that they 
 beare fruite, but very ftrong and rancke of 
 fauoure. The fruite being gathered, fome of 
 them bruife it againft the fyre, other fome frie it 
 in a pan, referuing that which commeth of it, 
 which ferueth them partly for Oyle, partly for 
 the vfe of their Lamps and candles, yeelding (as 
 they fayd before) a deyne very loathfome and 
 vnfauory. Likewife, agaynft gnats and flyes, 
 wherewith their lande aboundeth aboue meafure, 
 certaine remedies are founde out by them. Such 
 as dwell aboue the Fennes are holpen herein by 
 towers and high garrets, wherein they take their 
 fleepe, forafmuch as the winde will not furter 
 the Gnats to fly high. The people of the 
 Fennes in fteede of Turrets are fayne to worke 
 this deuife. Each man hath his Nets, where- 
 with in the day time they goe on filhing, and in 
 the night pytche them aboute their chambers 
 wherein they reft, by whych meanes they come 
 to take a nappe of nyne houres longe : whereas 
 otherwife (were they neuer fo well wrapped in 
 clothes) the Gnats with their lharp nebbes would 
 
 pierc 
 
EUTERPE. 87 
 
 pierc and Hinge quite through all, being not 
 able in like maner to paffe through the Nets. 
 Their Shippes vied for burthen or caryage are The maner 
 made of a kinde of Thorne, not farre vnlike the shyps. 
 tree Lotos growing in Cyrene, from the which 
 there iffueth a certayne kinde of gumme. Of 
 the body of this thorne they fawe and fquare out 
 certaine boardes two cubits longe, and falhioned 
 like a tileiheard, which they frame and compact 
 together after this maner. Firft they vnite and 
 ioyne the plancks together with an infinit number 
 of nayles and pynnes, binding the fame to many 
 tranfomes that goe both croffe and longe wayes 
 for the ltrength of the veffell. Their wood they 
 frame not in compaffe, after the maner of other 
 Nations, but faften and knit the ioyntes together 
 with Bullrulhes and fuch like. They haue only 
 one Helme or Sterne, which is made to goe 
 throughe the hinder parte of the Shippe. The 
 Maft is likewiie of thorne, the Sayle of the 
 Ruthe Byllus. Thefe kinde of veffells are not 
 able to cut againft the ftreame, but are haled 
 and drawne forward by land. Downe the 
 ftreame they paffe in this wyfe. They frame an 
 hurdle of the bulhe Tamarifk, faft bounde and 
 tyed together with the peelings of greene Cane 
 or Reedes : prouydinge moreouer a mighty ftone 
 wyth an hole through the middeft, two talents 
 
88 EUTERPE. 
 
 in weight : which done, they caft the hurdle 
 into the ftreame beinge made fall with a Rope 
 to the nofe of the Veffell : contrariwife, the 
 ftonne they tye behynde wyth an other Cable, 
 geuinge it fo much fcope that it may finke to the 
 bottome. By which meanes it commeth to paffe 
 that the ftreame caryinge on the hurdle, caufeth 
 the Shippe to follow, with exceedinge fwift- 
 neffe and the ftone on the other fide drayling 
 behinde, directeth the fame in euen and fted- 
 faft courfe. At fuch time as the ryuer ouerrun- 
 neth the foyle, the Cityes are only apparent and 
 vncouered, refembling in fhew the Ifles of the 
 fea yEgeum, all the land befides being in maner 
 of a fea. The Cities which in time of the floud 
 are extante, be in place of Portes for the fhips to 
 lye at rode in. During which time they fayle 
 not in the mayne ryuer, but through the midft 
 of the fieldes. They that take fhipping from 
 the Citye Naucrates to Memphis, haue their 
 The Pyra- courfe by the Pyramides : albeit there be an- 
 £e'rtayne ere other way alio tendinge to the fame place, 
 o°f n ftone WerS ftrykinge ouer by the Neb of Delta, and the 
 City of the Cercajians. Likewile as we take 
 our voyage from the Sea coafte, and the city 
 Canobus to Naucrates through the wyde and 
 open fieldes, we lhall paffe by Anthylla a towne 
 fo named : in like manner arryuinge, at the city 
 
 Arcandry. 
 
EUTERPE. 89 
 
 Arcandry. Anthylla a city of chiefe renowne, There- 
 
 ... , . , , r . c uenues of 
 
 is euermore geuen and allotted by the Kinge or acityaf- 
 AZgypt to his Quecne, that then is, to finde her Q° ue eneof 
 fhoes, which are purchafed by the reuenewes of finder' 
 the fame. Which cuflome hath remayned lince oes ' 
 the tyme that the Perjians gouerned in JEgypt. 
 Archandry feemeth to haue taken the name of 
 Archander, sonne in lawe to Danceus, and the 
 lawfull ofspringe of Phthius Achcens : not deny- 
 ing but that there might bee another befides 
 him: but howfoeuer it is, the city Archandry 
 can in no wyfe be made an ^Egyptian name. 
 Hytherto haue I fet downe fuch thinges as 
 eyther by my felfe I haue feene and knowne : 
 or bene conftantly aduertyfed thereof by the 
 people of the region, determining henceforth to 
 profecute fuch matters, as I haue onely by here- 
 fay, interlaceing the fame otherwhiles, with fuch 
 thinges as of myne owne knowledge I am able 
 to iuftifie. 
 
 Menes the firfte Kinge of AZgypt (as the Menes the 
 pryefts make reporte) by altering the courfe of ^Egypt. 
 the ryuer, gayned all that grounde whereon the 
 City Memphis is lituated : the floud being 
 wonte before time to haue his courfe fart by 
 the fandy mountayne which lyeth towarde Lybia. 
 
 This Menes therefore damminge vppe the 
 bofome of the ryuer towardes the fouth Region 
 
 hauinge 
 
90 EUTERPE. 
 
 The aftes hauinge caft vppe a pyle, or bulwarke of Earth 
 much after an hundred Furlonges aboue the 
 City, by that meanes dryed the old Chanell, 
 caufinge the ryuer to forfake and abandone his 
 naturall courfe and runne at randame amiddeft 
 the hills. To which damme alfo the Perjians that 
 rule in JEgypte euen at this day haue a dilligent 
 eye : yearely fortifyinge and repayringe the fame 
 wyth newe and freih Earth. Through the which 
 if by fortune the ryuer ftryuinge to recouer his 
 olde courfe, mould happily make a breach, the 
 city Memphis-were in daunger to bee ouerwhelmed 
 with water. By the felfe fame Menes firfte bear- 
 inge rule and authority in AZgypt (after that by 
 turning the ftreame of Nilus he had made dry 
 ground of that where erfl the ryuer had his paf- 
 fage) in the fame plot of land was the city it felfe 
 founded and erecfed, which (as well may bee 
 feene) ftands in the ftraight and narrow places 
 of the countrey. More then this, to the North 
 and Weft (for Eaftvvard Memphis is bounded 
 by the courfe of the riuer) hee caufed to be 
 drawne out of the ryuer a large and wyde poole : 
 beinge alfo the founder of Vulcans temple in 
 Memphis, one of the fay reft buildinges and of 
 chiefeft fame in all the countrey of sEgypte. 
 Three hundred and thirty Prynces that by mutuall 
 fucceflion followed Menes, the priefts alfo readily 
 
 mentioned 
 
EUTERPE. 91 
 
 mentioned out of the books of their Monuments : Three 
 of which number 18 were by Countrey AZthyo- 30 princes 
 plans, and one a forraine and outlandiih woman, a 
 whofe nation they knew not, al the reft being 
 fprong of their owne land. This woman that Nitocris a 
 aipired to the crowne, bare the name of the yE gyP t. 
 famous Queene of Babylon, and was called 
 Nitocris : whole brother in the time of his em- 
 pire being flaine by the ./Egyptians, Nitocris 
 wearing the crowne after him fought meanes 
 fecretly how to revenge his death, which the 
 brought to paffe by a ftraunge deuice and pollicy. 
 Hauing therefore builte for hir owne vie a fayre 
 and gorgeous courte, fhe caufed an hollow Vaut 
 or caue to be call vnder the earth, pretend- 
 ing for the time a reafon of hir deuice, albeit 
 farre different from hir fecret minde and purpofe. 
 The work ended, fhe inuited thither the moft 
 part of hir nobles to a banquet, fuch as fliee 
 knew to haue bene the authors and workers of 
 hir brothers death, who being all affembled and 
 let together in an inner Parlour, expectinge their 
 cheere, the water was let in at a priuy grate and 
 ouerw helmed them all. 
 
 Thefe thinges they fpake of Nitocris, adding 
 befides, that hauing wrought this feate, fhee caft 
 hir felfe into an houfe full of Afhes to efcape 
 vnpunifhed. 
 
 By 
 
92 EUTERPE. 
 
 Mceris the By the reft of the kinges of AZpypt the prieftes 
 
 laft of the /. , - r, f n .. , 
 
 33 o P rynces. coulde recyte no glorious acte that ihoulde bee 
 accomplished, fauing by the noble king Mosrls 
 the laft and lateft of all this crewe. To whom 
 they attribute the building of the great porches 
 belonging to Vulcans temple, ftanding on the 
 North parte of the Pallace. By the fame alfo 
 was a certaine fenne delued and caft vp, wherein 
 were builded certaine mighty Towers called 
 Pyramides, of whose bygneffe, as alfo of the 
 large compaffe and amplitude of the Poole, wee 
 will ioyntely intreate in another place. 
 
 Thefe thinges were done by Mceris the laft 
 king. The reft confuminge the time of their 
 raygne in lilence and obfcurity, whom for the 
 fame caufe I will paffe ouer, and addreffe my 
 speache to him who came after them in time 
 and went before them in Dignity : namely, the 
 Sefoftris worthy Prynce Sefoftris. Him the Pryeftes re- 
 yEgyp" and counte flrfte of all the kings of vEgypt to haue 
 
 his exployts. 
 
 paffed the narrow Seas of Arabia in longe Ships 
 or Gallyes, and brought in fubieftion to the 
 Crowne all thofe People that marche a longe the 
 redde Sea. From whence retyringe backe againe 
 the fame way, hee came and gathered a greate 
 power of men, and tooke his paffage ouer the 
 waters into the mayne lande, conquering and 
 fubduing all Countreyes whether lb euer hee 
 
 went 
 
EUTERPE. 93 
 
 went. Such as hee founde valiaunte and hardye 
 not refufinge to ieoparde their fafety in the de- 
 fence and maynetenaunce of their liberty, after 
 the victory obtayned, hee fixed in theyr countrey 
 certayne fmale pyllers or Croffes of ftone, wherein 
 were ingrauen the names of the kinge and the 
 countrey, and how by his owne proper force and 
 puiilaunce he had made them yelde. Contrary- 
 wyfe, fuch as without controuerfie gaue them- A monument 
 felues into his handes, or with litle ftryfe andprochof 
 leffe bloudfhed were brought to relent : with 
 them alfo, and in their region he planted Pillers 
 and builte vp litle croffes, as before, wherein 
 were carued and importrayed the fecret partes of 
 women, to fignifie to the pofterity the bafe and 
 effeminate courage of the people there abyding. 
 In this forte hee trauayled with his army vp and 
 downe the mayne, paffing out of AJia into Europe, 
 where he made conqueft of the Scythians and 
 Thracians : which feemeth to haue been the 
 fartheft poynt of his voyage : for fo much as 
 in their land alfo his titles and marks are ap- 
 parantly feene, and not beyonde. Herefro 
 hee began to meafure his fteps back agayne 
 incamping his powre at the ryuer Phqfis : 
 where, I am not able to difcuffe, whether king 
 Sefoftris him felfe planted any parte of his army 
 in that place euer after to poffeffe that countrey : 
 
 or 
 
94 EUTERPE. 
 
 or whether fome of his fouldiers wearyed with 
 continuall perigrination and trauayle, toke vp 
 their manfion place and refted there. For the 
 The people people named Colchi, feeme to be ^Egyptians : 
 f P °ro C ng of the which I fpeake rather of myne owne gathering, 
 ^Egyptians. ^ en o ^ ^^ other mans information. Howbeit, 
 for tryall fake commoninge with the inhabitants 
 of either nation, the Colchans feemed rather 
 to acknowledge and remember the ^Egyptians, 
 /then the ^Egyptians them : affyrming, that the 
 Colchans were a remnante of Sefoftris army. 
 Myfelfe haue drawne a coniecfure hereof: that 
 both people are in countenance a like black, in 
 hayre a like fryzled, albeit it may feeme a very 
 feeble geffe, the fame being alfo in other nations. 
 A better furmife may be gathered of this, that 
 the people of jEthyopia, JEgypt, and Colchis 
 only of all men, circumcyfe and cut of the fore- 
 fkin from their hidden partes, reteyning the 
 cuftome time out of minde. For the Phoenicians 
 and Syrians that dwell in Palceftina, confeffe 
 themfelues to haue borrowed the maner of cir- 
 cumficion from the ^Egyptians. And as for 
 thofe Syrians that dwell neere vnto the ryuers 
 Thermodon and Parthemus, and the people called 
 Macrones their next neighbours, they tooke the 
 felfe fame vfe and cuftome of the Colchans. 
 Howbeit, the ^Egyptians and jtEthyopians, which 
 
 of 
 
EUTERPE. 95 
 
 of them learned it of others, it is hard to dif- 
 cerne, forafmuch as the cuftome in both Coun- 
 tryes is of great antiquity. Nevertheleffe, very 
 good occafion of coniecture is offred vnto vs, 
 that it came fyrft from the ^Egyptians, at fuch 
 time as the ^■Ethyopians had exchaunge of mar- 
 chaundile with them. For the Phoenicians, that 
 in like maner haue mutuall trafique which the 
 Grecians, leaue of to circumcyfe themlelues, and 
 refufe in that poynte to be conformable to the 
 lawes and ftatutes of their countrey. One thinge 
 more may be alleaged wherein the people of 
 Colchis doe very narrowly refemble the cuftomes 
 of JEgypt, in fo much as, thefe two nations 
 alone, work their lynnen and dreffe theyr flax 
 after the fame forte, in all poyntes refpedting 
 each other both in order of lyfe and maner of 
 language. The flaxe which is brought from 
 Colchis the Grecians call Sardonick : the other 
 comming out of vEgypt they terme after the 
 name of the countrey, ^Egyptian flaxe. But to 
 returne to the tytles and emblems that king 
 Sefoftris lefte behind him in all regions through 
 the which he palled, many thereof are fallen to 
 decay. Notwithstanding, certaine of them in 
 Syria and Palceftina I beheld with myne own 
 eyes, intayled with fuch pofyes as we fpake of 
 before, and the pi&ures of womens fecretes in- 
 
 grauen 
 
g6 EUTERPE. 
 
 grauen in them. Likewife in Ionia are to bee 
 feene two fundry Images of Sefoftris himfelfe 
 carued in pillers : one as we paffe from Ephefus 
 to Phoccea : another in the way from Sardis to 
 Smyrna. Eyther of thefe haue the forme and 
 figure of a man, fiue hands breadth in bigneffe, 
 bearing in his righte hand a Darte, in his left a 
 bowe, his harnefle and furniture after the manner 
 of the ^Egyptians and vEthyopians. Croffe his 
 backe from the one fhoulder to the other went a 
 fentence ingrauen in the holy letter of JEgypt : 
 hauing this meaning. By my owne force did 1 
 vanquifhe this region. Notwithftandinge it is 
 Memnon the not there fpecified what he fhould be, albeit els 
 Aurora where it is to be feene. Some haue deemed 
 warrTa" e this monument to haue bene the image of Mem- 
 non, not a litle deceyued in opinion. This noble 
 and victorious prince Sefoftris making his re- 
 turne to JEgypt, came (by report of the priefts) 
 to a place named Daphnoe pelufice, with an in- 
 finite trayne of forraine people out of al Nations 
 by him fubdued : where being very curteoully 
 met and welcomed by his brother, whom in his 
 abfence he had lefte for Viceroy and proteftour 
 The death of the countrey, he was alfo by the fame inuited 
 TntendedTy to a princely banquet, him felfe, his wife, and 
 brother 16 his children. The houfe whereinto they were 
 entered, being compaffed about with dry matter, 
 
 was 
 
EUTERPE. 97 
 
 was fuddaynely by the treachery of his brother 
 fet on fire, which he perceiuing toke counlayle 
 with his wife then prefent, how to efcape and 
 auoyde the daunger. The woman either of a 
 readier wit or riper cruelty, aduifed him to caft 
 two of his fixe children into the fire, to make 
 way for him felfe and the reft to paffe : time 
 not fuftering him to make any long ftay, he 
 put his wyues counfayle in fpeedy praclife, and 
 made a bridge through the fire of two of his 
 children, to preferue the reft aliue. Sefoftris 
 in this forte deliuered from the cruell treafon 
 and malicious deuife of his brother, firit of 
 all tooke reuenge of his trecherous villany 
 and diuelifti intent : in the next place bethink- 
 ing himfelfe in what affayres to beftowe the 
 multitude which he had brought with him, 
 whome afterwards he diuerfly employed : for 
 by thefe captiues were certayne huge and mon- 
 ftrous ftones rolled and drawne to the temple 
 of Vulcane. Likewife, many trenches cut out 
 and deriued from the riuer into moft places of 
 the countrey, whereby the land being aforetime Thecoun- 
 paflable by cart and horfe, was thencefoorth Je^t cut 
 bereaued of that commodity : for in all the time tenches 
 enfuing, the countrey of ^Egypt being for the b^uiTcon- 
 moft parte playne and equall, is through the ^ter" ° f 
 creekes and windings of the ditches brought to 
 
 that 
 
 G 
 
9S EUTERPE. 
 
 that paffe, that neyther horfle nor wayne can 
 haue any courfe or paffage from one place to 
 another. Howbeit, Sefoftris inuented this for 
 the greater beneflte and commodity of the lande, 
 to the ende that fuch townes and cities as were 
 farre remooued from the riuer, might not at the 
 fall of the floud be pinched with the penury and 
 want of water, which at all times they haue 
 
 Adimfion deriued and brought to them in trenches. The 
 fame King made an equall diftribution of the 
 whole countrey to all his fubiecls, allotting to 
 euery man the lyke portion and quantitie of 
 ground, drawne out and limited by a fourefquare 
 fourme. Heereof the King himfelfe helde yeerely 
 reuenewes, euery one being rated at a certayne 
 rent and penlion, which annually he payd to the 
 crowne, and if at the riling of the floud it for- 
 tuned any mans portion to be ouergone by the 
 waters, the King was thereof aduertifed, who 
 forthwyth fent certayne to furuey the ground, 
 and to meafure the harmes which the floud had 
 done him, and to leauy out the crowne rent ac- 
 cording to the refidue of the land that remayned. 
 
 The begin- Heereof fprang the noble fcience of Geometry, 
 
 ning of Geo- . 
 
 metry. and from thence was translated into Greece. For 
 
 as touching the Pole and Gnomon (which is to 
 fay) the rule, and the twelue partes of the day, 
 the Grecians tooke them of the Babylonians. 
 
 This 
 
EUTERPE. 99 
 
 This King Sefoftris held the Empyre alone, 
 leauing in ^Ethiopia before the temple of Vul- 
 cane certayne monuments to the pofteritie, to 
 wit, certayne images of ftone, one for hymfelfe, The images 
 another for his wife, beeyng eache of them thirtie Sefoftris. 
 cubites : the foure images alfo of hys foure 
 fonnes, beeying each of them twentie cubites 
 apeece. In proceffe of time when the image of 
 King Darius that gouerned Perjia ihould haue 
 bene placed before the pifture of Sefoftris, the 
 prieft of Vulcane which ferued in the temple 
 woulde in no wife permit it to bee done, deny- 
 ing that Darius had euer atchieued the like 
 exploites that Sefoftris had done. Who, befides 
 the conquering of fundrie other nations (not in- 
 feriour in number to thofe whiche had beene 
 ouercome by Darius) had alfo brought in fub- 
 ieclion the moll couragious and valiaunt people 
 of Scytliia : for whyche caufe, it were agaynft 
 reafon to preferre hymfelfe in place before him 
 vnto whome he was inferiour in chiualry, 
 whiche bolde aunfwere of the prieft, King 
 Darius tooke in good parte and brooked wel- 
 ynough. 
 
 Sefoftris dying, the feate imperiall came to hys The death 
 fonne Pheco, who beeyng bereaued of hys fight, whome nS ' 
 vndertooke no voyage of warre, but remayned deeded!" * 
 quiet in his kingdome. The caufe he was 
 
 ftricken 
 
ioo EUTERPE. 
 
 ftricken blynde, is fayde to be this. At what 
 tyme the waters of the floud increafing, by 
 reafon of a mightie raging winde, had drowned 
 the lowe countreys eyghteene cubites deepe. 
 The King inraged at the vnaccuftomed fwelling 
 of the ryuer, tooke hys darte and difcharged it 
 into the middeft of the waters, for whyche hys 
 vnreuerent fade, the fame is, that hys fighte 
 incontinente was taken from hym, and hee be- 
 came blynde the fpace of tenne yeares. In the 
 eleuenth yeare, there arofe a prophecie in the 
 city Butis, that the tyme of hys miferie was 
 nowe exfpyred, and that hys fyght fhoulde eft- 
 foones be reftored agayne, if in cafe he warned 
 hys eyes in the water of a woman, whych neuer 
 knewe man but her owne hufbande. For 
 Anexquifite further proofe of thys phetie medicine, the Kyns: 
 
 medicine for r ] r J & 
 
 the eyes. beganne nrft wyth hys owne wyfe, whych work- 
 ing not the effecle he looked for, he tryed many 
 others, but all in vayne, laftly, lighting vppon 
 a poore feely woman that had neuer woorihipped 
 * more Sain&es then one, hee fpeedely recouered 
 hys fighte agayne, and caufing all thofe whome 
 earft he had prooued to be gathered into one 
 citie (the name whereof was called Reddclodd) 
 he fet fire to the towne, and coniumed them 
 all. 
 
 The King thus healed, and freely acquited of 
 
 hys 
 
EUTERPE. 101 
 
 hys former miferie, began to be deuoute, in- An army 
 
 r , , r i , -r ofhonefl: 
 
 creating the temples of the gods with giftes of women 
 exceeding value. All which deferue for theyr clap, 
 excellencie to be had in memorie, and chiefly 
 thofe that he offered in the temple of the Sunne, 
 which were thefe, two mighty great ftones which 
 the ^Egyptians in theyr tongue called Obeli, in 
 fafhion like a fpit or broach ioo cubites long, and 
 in breadth 80. 
 
 Next after hym the kingdome defcended to a 
 certayne man of the citie Memphis, whofe name 
 in the greeke language was Protheus, to whome Protheus 
 the ^Egyptians erected a temple, which is yet to ^Egypt. 
 be feene in Memphis, very fayre and beautifull, 
 garnilhed wyth rich and fingulare giftes. On 
 euery fide whereof dwell the Phenices, a people 
 defcended of the Tyrians, whereof the place 
 taketh the name, and is tearmed the tentes of 
 the Tyrians. Within the temple there is ftand- 
 yng the houfe of Proteus, called the court of 
 ftraunge Venus, vnder which name is meant (as 
 I deeme) Helena, the daughter of Tyndarus, 
 who as a gueft agaynft her wyll, kepte refyaunce 
 for a tyme in the court of Protheus, and was 
 tearmed the ftraunge Venus, in as much as the 
 other Venus (who hath many temples in JEgypt) 
 is neuer called by the name of ftraunge. Heereof 
 entring talke with the facred order of the prieftes, 
 
 they 
 
io2 EUTERPE. 
 
 Of the they difcourfed vnto me, that Alexander hauing 
 
 Paris in ftolne Helena from the Spartanes, and fpeedyng 
 M5ypt ' hymielfe homewarde by the lea called vEgeum, 
 by conftraynte of weather was driuen into the 
 ^Egyptian feas, and perforce againfte his will, 
 was caft alliore in JEgypt. His ariual was at 
 the mouth of the floud Nilus called Canobicum, 
 at the porte whiche the inhabitants tearme by 
 A Sanauary the name of Trachex. In this place is fituated 
 e * a temple to Hercules, wherevnto if any mans 
 feruaunt or valfall flye, and get vppon hym the 
 holy markes (as they call them) in token that 
 hee yeeldeth hys whole alleageaunce to the god 
 of that place, it is not lawful 1 for any man to 
 touch him, which order was kept inuiolate vnto 
 our age. The feruauntes of Alexander hearing 
 of the lawes of this temple, forfooke their Lorde, 
 and fled vnto it, and in humble manner fub- 
 mitting themfelues before the god, they accufed 
 their mayiler (whole death they all defired) 
 mewing in what manner he came by Helena, 
 and the great iniury he had wrought to her huf- 
 band Menelaus. The fame playnt alio they 
 framed before the priefts of Hercules, and the 
 chiefs gouernour of the port named Thonis. 
 Thonis hauing hard the accufation of theie poore 
 fuppliants, fent in all hafte to the King in thefe 
 wordes : Knowe you (noble Prince) that a fewe 
 
 dayes 
 
EUTERPE. 103 
 
 dayes fince, a certayne ftraunger of the Troiane 
 lignage (hauing committed a moft villanous afte 
 in Greece, by entiling away the wife of him that 
 had geuen him entertaynement) is by force of 
 tempeft dryuen vpon our coaftes, we defire there- 
 fore to knowe your hignefle pleafure, whether 
 we fhall geue him free palfage into his countrey, 
 or bereaue him of that he hath, and fende him 
 awaye. To which newes the King returned an 
 aunfwere faying. The perfon you fpeake of, 
 of what nation foeuer hee bee whiche bathe 
 wrought this defpitefull treacherie to his hofte, 
 fee you apprehend and bring to my court, to the 
 ende I may heare what he can fay for himfelfe. 
 Whereat Thonis without any farther delibera- 
 tion, tooke this yong gallaunt of Troy, ftrayned 
 hys fhips, and brought him with the Lady 
 Helena and the reft of his retinue to the city 
 Memphis, where the King at that tyme made his 
 place of abiding. Beeing arriued at the Court, 
 the King afked Alexander in thefe wordes : 
 Yong gentleman, what are you, and from what 
 countrey are you landed heere in sEgypt ? Alex- 
 ander, who was not to feeke of an aunfwere, with 
 a comely grace made aunfwere to the King, def- 
 erring both his countrey and lynage, the place 
 alfo from whence hee was arriued, and to what 
 coaftes he directed his courfe. And where then 
 
 (quoth 
 
104 EUTERPE. 
 
 (quoth the King) had you this goodly gentle- 
 woman, for fhe feemeth to be a woman of no 
 common bloud : whereat my youth fomewhat 
 mammering before he coulde caft the plot of his 
 excufe, was betrayed by his feruaunts, who in 
 humble manner on their knees, difciphered to the 
 King the whole difcourfe of his treafon. The vaf- 
 fals hauing ended their fpeeche, Protheus turned 
 hymfelfe to Alexander, and tucked hym vp with 
 thys rounde tale : my friende (fayde hee) were 
 it not for the reuerence I owe to ftraungers, with 
 whome my cuftome is not to deale by rigour, I 
 wouldefurely pipe yee fuch a dauncefor the wicked 
 villanie wherewith thou haft abufed thyne hoaft 
 in Greece, that all vnthankefull wretches lhoulde 
 take example by thee how to vfe thofe that 
 fhewe them courtefie in a forraigne Iande. Ah 
 vnkynde wretche as thou arte, is thys the beft 
 requitall thou makeft the Grecian for hys noble 
 vfage towarde thee : to bereaue hym of his 
 mate, the moft comfortable companyon of all 
 hys daies, and not contente therewyth, lyke an 
 arraunt theefe thou haft defpoyled hys goodes, 
 the beft and principall treafures of hys houfe. 
 Thou mayeft bleffe the tyme tenne thoufande 
 tymes, that the ^Egyptians yeelde fuche honoure 
 to ftraungers : and packe thee hence from my 
 pretence wyth the reft of thy mates, fwearyng 
 
 'by 
 
EUTERPE. 105 
 
 by my crowne, that if hencefoorth thou bee 
 feene within the borders of jEgypt, I wyll ac- 
 count thee as myne enemye. As lor thy minion 
 and the goodes thou halt broughte, I lhall re- 
 ferue, tyll fuche tyme as the Grecian lhall come 
 to reclayme them. By thefe meanes ((ayd the 
 prieftes) came Helena into /Egypt, whereoi alfo 
 Homer hymfelfe l'eemed not to be ignnraunt, but 
 of purpole rather (for that it fell not out lb 
 fittingly for hys verle) hee chofe the other, de- 
 claring notwythftandyng that fome fuch fame as 
 thya was bruted abroade, whyche appeareth 
 manifellly in hys Illiads, where making mention 
 of the voyage of Alexander, he affyrmeth, that 
 by meanes of a contrarye wynde, hee was toffed 
 by lea, and recouered the lande at the city Sydon 
 in Phoenicia : reade the verfes that are framed 
 by hym in the prayfe of Diomedes, in whych 
 place thefe lynes are founde. 
 
 There were the cloakes of gorgeous hue 
 
 Jo braue and princely dight, 
 Made by the dames of Sydony, 
 
 fold to the feemely wight 
 Kyng Pryams fonne, that f tale hymfelfe 
 
 a wyfe of royall race, 
 Queene Helene hyghte, retyryng home, 
 
 vnto his natyue place 
 
 Touching 
 
106 EUTERPE. 
 
 Touching the fame in his Odyjfea 
 in thefe verfes. 
 
 This poyfon quycke and valerous 
 
 whych Polydamna gaue 
 The wyfe ofThonis, Helen brought, 
 
 and carefully dydfaue. 
 Great /tore whereof in droughty foyle 
 
 of fc arched Aegypt groe 
 Some foueraigne good, and other fome 
 
 the caufe of prefent woe. 
 
 In like maner to Telemachus, Menelaus, 
 fpeaketh in this wife. 
 
 And when I fought to leaue the land 
 
 of Aegypt, and retyre, 
 God hyndred, whome I left vnferued 
 
 by vowes andfacredfyre. 
 
 In thefe verfes Homer confeffeth that he 
 knewe of the wandering of Alexander into 
 vEgypt, forfomuch as the countrey of Syria is 
 bounding vpon ^Egypt, and the people Phce- 
 nices vnto whome the city Sydon is belonging 
 are refyaunt in Syria. As well thefe therefore 
 as alfo the place it felfe, are no fmall proofe, nay 
 rather a mofr. valerous argumente, that the verfes 
 wherein it is fayde, that Alexander conueying 
 Helen from Greece in three dayes fpace, wyth a 
 
 profperous 
 
EUTERPE. 107 
 
 profperous gale, and quyet fea, arryued at Troy, 
 were rather intruded by fome other poet then 
 inuented by Horner, who contrarywyfe in hys 
 Illiads maketh mention of his errour by fea. 
 
 To leaue Homer, and come to the affayres of 
 the Troianes, being defirous to vnderftand of 
 what truth thefe things were which are bruted to Of the 
 
 Troian 
 
 haue beene done by the Greekes at Troy, I fol- warre. 
 licked the matter with the prieftes of JEgypt, 
 who tolde me in fuch manner as themfelues 
 beforetime had beene aduertifed by Menelaus. 
 After the flight of the Lady Helen, there af- 
 fembled, in the caufe of the kings brother Mene- 
 laus, a puiffant armie of the Grecians, who 
 embarking themfelues into Teucria, and incamp- 
 ing in theyr coaftes, fent in ambaffage to the 
 city Troy certayne of theyr chiefs peeres and 
 nobles, amongft whome, was Menelaus brother 
 to the Kyng. Beeyng entered the city, they 
 made clayme of the Lady Helena, with the 
 goodes and treafures fhee tooke wyth her, re- 
 quyring alio a fufficient fatisfaction to be made 
 for the iniurie. Wherevnto the Troianes aun- 
 fwered, that they fpente their fpeech in vaine, 
 to rechallenge eyther women or goodes of them 
 which they neuer fawe, alleadging, that the 
 thyngs they challenged were furprifed by the 
 ^Egyptians : neyther was it reafon why they 
 
 mould 
 
108 EUTERPE. 
 
 fhould beare the faulte of others, and make refti- 
 tution of that which they neuer had. Howbeit, 
 the Greekes imagining they had fpoken it in 
 derifion, to fliift off the fiege for the tyme, bent 
 theyr whole force agaynft the towne, continuing 
 the fiege and batterie fo long, tyll they had 
 brought it to vtter ruyne and fubuerfion. 
 
 The citie taken, when Helena could not be 
 founde, and the fame aunfwere was rendered the 
 Grcecians as before, they gaue credite at length 
 to theyr wordes, and fente Menelaus into JEgypt 
 to the courte of Protheus, whether beeyng come, 
 and declaryng the caufe of hys arriuall to the 
 Kyng, he gaue him greate entertaynemente, re- 
 ftoring vnto him hys Lady with all his treafure, 
 without any manner of lotfe or imbefelment. 
 CourteAe Neuertheleffe, Menelaus for all this courtefie 
 and royall vfage which he had receyued at the 
 handes of the King, gaue him but a poupe for 
 his labour, dooyng to the countrey this iniurie 
 for a farewell. For indeuouring to depart thence, 
 and wayting a fauourable wynde to fit hys 
 purpofe, by meanes whereof, he ftayde a long 
 tyme in AZgypt ; to knowe the ftate of hys 
 voyage, what fortune fhould thereafter betide 
 vnto hym, he tooke two children of the ^Egyp- 
 tians, flewe them, and paunched out theyr 
 bowels, whereby to take view of his future fuc- 
 
 celfe. 
 
 rewarded 
 
 with 
 
 crueltie. 
 
EUTERPE. 109 
 
 cefle. Which beyng knovvne, and perceyuing 
 hymfelfe to be mortally hated and purfued of 
 the inhabitauntes, he fped hym thence into the 
 Ifles of Africa lying oner againft them, from 
 whence alio makyng as good hafte as he coulde, 
 the Egyptians heard no more tydyngs of hym. 
 Of all thefe things they were partly informed 
 by the knowledge of hyftories, beeyng much 
 more certayne of fuch thyngs as were done in 
 theyr countrey. Thus farre the prieftes of sEgypt 
 proceeding in difcourfing of Helena, whereto I 
 adde thys furmize of myne owne, that if Helena 
 had beene in Troy, no doubt for ought that 
 Alexander could haue fayde or done, me had The Quea 
 beene deliuered to the Grcecians. For who neuer at 
 woulde thynke that Kyng Pryamus wyth the r0> 
 refidue of that lignage were fo madde, that to 
 the ende Alexander might enioy the delighte of 
 hys Lady, would imperill theyr owne lyues and 
 theyr childrens, with the flourifhing eftate of fo 
 famous a citie. In whych fond opinion, if in 
 cafe they had bene at the beginning, yet vn- 
 doubtedly they woulde haue recanted at length 
 when as many valiaunt fouldyers of the Troianes, 
 and two or three of the Kings owne fonnes, (if 
 any credit may be geuen to the poets) were 
 moft lamentably flaine by the Grcecians in fight. 
 By thefe things I am driuen to conie&ure, that 
 
 if 
 
no EUTERPE. 
 
 if Helena had beene in their keeping, Pryamus 
 to rayfe the liege from the walles of hys city, 
 woulde willingly haue wrought meanes to re- 
 ftore her agayne. Neyther was Alexander hey re 
 apparaunt to the crowne, fo that his father 
 beeyng crooked wyth age, the adminiftration of 
 the kyngdome ihoulde reft in hys gouerne- 
 mente, one there was betweene hym and home, 
 namely hys brother Hector, as well in number 
 of yeares hys elder, as in noblenelfe of mynde 
 hys better, whome it behoued not to fmooth 
 vp his brother in hys filthy leachery, feeing 
 fuch imminent perill to threaten not onely him- 
 felfe, but alio the whole kyndred and nation of 
 the Troianes. But it was the iuft plague of God 
 inflicted vppon them for their wickedneffe, that 
 they ihoulde neyther delyuer Helena whome they 
 had not, nor be credyted of the Grcecians, to 
 whome they fayned not, to the ende all men 
 might learne, that they whyche ftryke wyth the 
 fwoorde, ihall be beaten with the fcabberde, 
 being euermore feene, that vpon greeuous in- 
 iuries the gods alwayes powre downe greeuous 
 reuengements. Thus much I thought con- 
 uenient to fpeake of mine owne fancye. 
 
 After the deceaffe of Protheus, Rampjinitus 
 
 Rampfinitus. tooke vppon hym the rule of the countrey, who 
 
 in memorie of himfelfe, lefte behynde hym cer- 
 
 tayne 
 
EUTERPE. in 
 
 tnyne porches of ftone, planted weflward agaynit 
 the temple of Vulcane, right ouer agaynft the 
 whych, ftoode two images of fyue and twentye 
 cubites in length. One of the which ftandyng 
 northerly, they call fommer, and the other lying 
 to the weft, they tearme winter, contrary to all 
 reafon and order. This King in aboundance of 
 wealth, and plenty of coyne, fo farre excelled 
 all thofe that came after hym, that none coulde 
 go beyonde him, no not approch neere vnto hym 
 in that kynde : wherefore defirous to poffeffe hys 
 goodes in fafetie, hee builte hym a treafurie or 
 iewellhoufe of ftone, one of the walles whereof 
 bounded vpon the outfyde of hys courte. In A tale of a 
 framing whereof, the workeman had wrought thecfe" 2 
 thys fubtile conueyance, one ftone in the wall 
 hee Iayde in that forte, that a man might ealily 
 at pleafure plucke it in or out, which notwith- 
 ftanding ferued fo fittingly to the place, that 
 nothing coulde be dilcerned. When the build- 
 ing was hnifhed, the King caufed his treafure to 
 be brought into it, minding henceforth to be 
 fecure and to lay afide all feare of misfortune. 
 In proceffe of time, this cunning artificer lying at 
 the poynt to dye, called vnto him his two fonnes, 
 and difclofed vnto them in what manner he had 
 prouided for theyr good eftate, in leauing a fecret 
 and moft priuy paiiage into the Kings treafurie, 
 
 whereby 
 
U2 EUTERPE. 
 
 whereby theyr whole lyfe myght be lead in moil 
 happy and bleffed condition. In briefe, hee 
 (hewed them all that was done by hym, delyuer- 
 ing them the iuft meafures of the ftone, that 
 they mighte not bee deceyued in laying it agayne, 
 whych the two yong youthes well marking, 
 thought from that tyme forwarde to be of the 
 Kings counfayle, if not of hys court, and to be- 
 come the priuy furueyers of hys iewellhoufe. 
 
 Theyr father beeing dead, they made no long 
 delay to put in execution theyr determinate pur- 
 pose, but repayring to the court by night, they 
 found the ftone, which with fmall force remoou- 
 ing it from the place, they fped themfelues wyth 
 plentie of coyne, and fo departed. In (horte 
 fpace after the Kyng entering hys treafurie, and 
 fyndyng the veffels wherein hys money lay to be 
 fomewhat decreafed, was exceedingly amazed, 
 not knowing whome to accufe, feeyng both hys 
 feales, whyche he had fet on the dore, vntouched, 
 and the dore faft locked at hys commyng thyther. 
 Howbeit, repayring fundrie tymes to beholde 
 hys wealth, and euermore perceyuing that it 
 grewe lefle and lefle, deuifed with hymfelfe to 
 befet the place where hys money lay with cer- 
 tayne greens or fnares to entrappe the theefe in. 
 Thefe fubtile merchaunts accordyng to theyr 
 former wont approching the fpring head where 
 
 they 
 
EUTERPE. 113 
 
 they had dronke fo oft before, one of them 
 wente in, and groaping for the money, was fo 
 fall intangled in a fnare, that for hys lyfe hee wift 
 not how to ihifte, but feeyng hymfelfe in thefe 
 braakes, hee called hys brother, to whome he 
 difclofed hys euill happe, willing hym in any 
 wife to cut off hys head, lean" beeyng knowne 
 who hee was, they both myght bee ferued wyth 
 the fame fauce. His brother hearing his coun- 
 fayle to be good, did as he bade hym, and filly 
 placing the ftone as hee founde it, departed home, 
 bearyng wyth hym the head of hys flayne 
 brother. 
 
 The nexte day the Kyng opening hys iewell 
 houfe, and efpying an headleffe theefe furprifed 
 in a ginne, was woonderfully aftonied, feeing 
 euery place fafe, and no way in the world to 
 come in or out at. 
 
 In this quandary, vncertaine what to thynke 
 of fo ftraunge an euent, he deuifed yet to go 
 another way to the wood, caufing the body of 
 the theefe to be hanged out vppon the walles in 
 open view to all that paffed by, appoynting cer- 
 tayne to attend in that place, with ftraight 
 charge, that if they hearde any making moane 
 or lamentation at the fighte thereof, they fhoulde 
 foorthwyth attache them, and bryng them to the 
 Kyng. 
 
 The 
 
H4 EUTERPE. 
 
 The Mother of thefe two Breethren not able 
 Theaffe&ion wyth patiente eyes to beholde the wretched 
 carkaffe of her pitifull fonne, called the other 
 brother vnto her, aduifing him by fome meanes 
 or other, to take awaye hys brothers bodye and 
 burie it, threatening moreouer, that in cafe he neg- 
 lected to accomplifhe it wyth fpeede, lhee woulde 
 open all hys thefte and treacherie to the Kyng. 
 Whome her fonne endeuouring wyth many 
 woordes to perfuade, and nought auayling (lb 
 tender was her affection towardes her childe) hee 
 fet hys wittes abroache to the framing of fome 
 fubtyle conceyte, to beguyle and inueigle the 
 Kyngs watchemen. Pannelling certayne Affes 
 which hee loaded wyth bottells of fweete wyne, 
 he proceeded forwarde wyth hys carryage, tyll 
 fuche tyme as hee came agaynfte the place 
 where the watche laye, where priuily vnftopping 
 one or two of hys bottles, the wyne flowed out 
 in greate aboundance, whereat, fayning as 
 though hee had beene befydes hymfelfe, hee 
 piteoufly cryed out, tearing hys hayre and 
 ftampyng as one vtterly ignoraunte whyche to 
 remedye fyrfte. The keepers feeying the wyne 
 gulhe out fo faft, ranne haftely wyth pottes and 
 cannes to receyue it leafl: all fliould bee lofl, but 
 the dryuer (who had alreadye caft hys plotte) 
 feemed heereat muche more imaged then before, 
 
 tauntyng 
 
EUTERPE. 115 
 
 tauntyng and raylyng at them wyth moft bitter 
 and reuiling woordes. Contraryly, the watch- 
 men geuing hym very fayre and gentle language, 
 hee feemed better contented, leadyng alyde hys 
 AiTes oat of the way to newe girde them, and 
 place his carriage in better order. Manye 
 woordes grewe betweene them whyles he was 
 addrelling hys Affes to proceede on theyr waye, 
 till that one of them bolting foorth a merry ieft, 
 caufed hym to laugh hartily, fo that lyke a good 
 fellowe, he beftowed amongft them a bottle of 
 wyne. Which courtefie they all tooke in very 
 good parte, requesting hym to fitte wyth them 
 for companye, and drinke parte of hys owne colt. 
 Whereto hee willingly contenting, they dranke 
 a caroule, euery man hys cannikin, tyll the wyne 
 began to runne of the lyes, whyche thys coapef- 
 mate perceyuing, let abroach another bottle, 
 and began to quaffe afrelhe, whyche fet my 
 keepers on fuch a tantarra, that beeyng well 
 wetted, they fet more by three drammes of 
 fleepe, then fyxe ounces of witte. When all 
 was hufhed, and the watchmen faft alleepe, hee 
 tooke the bodye of hys brother, and in mockage, 
 lhauing off the hayre of theyr right cheekes, he 
 returned home, beyng right gladly enterteyned 
 of hys mother. 
 
 The Kyng feeyng hys deuiies no better to pro- 
 ceede 
 
n6 EUTERPE. 
 
 ceede, but for ought he coulde imagine the 
 theefe mil beguyled hym, waxed woonderous 
 wrath : howbeit, determining to leaue nothing 
 vnattempted, rather then to let fuch a villayne 
 efcape fcotfree, he built yet another trappe to 
 catch the foxe in. He had at that time abiding 
 in hys courte a goodly gentlewoman his onely 
 daughter, whome he tenderly loued from her 
 childhood. This Lady he made of his counfayle, 
 willing her by the duety of a chylde, to abandon 
 chaftity for the time, making hirfelfe a common 
 ftalant for all that would come, on condition 
 they fhoulde fweare to tell her the fubtileft and 
 the finfulleft prancke that euer they had played 
 in all theyr lyfe tyme, and who fo confelfed the 
 fa6b> lately atchieued in imbefileing the Kings 
 treafure, and Healing away the theefe, him to 
 lay hold on, and not fuffer to depart. 
 
 The gentlewoman obeying her fathers will, 
 kepte open houfe, hauing greate repayre vnto 
 her out of all partes of the countrey. Now the 
 theefe whyche knewe full well to what intente 
 the Kyng had done thys, defirous to bee at oaft 
 wyth hys daughter for a nighte, and fearing the 
 daunger that myghte enfue, beeyng of a verie 
 pregnaunt and readie witte, deuifed yet another 
 fhifte wherewythall to delude the Kyng : he 
 ftrake off the hande of hys brother that was 
 
 dead, 
 
EUTERPE. 117 
 
 dead, and clofely carying it vnder his cloake, he 
 repayred to the place where the Kings daughter 
 lay, who demaunding hyra the queftion as the 
 had done the reft, receyued of him this aunfwere, 
 that the iinfulleft a6le that euer he committed, 
 was to cut off his brothers head, beeing inueigled 
 in a fnare in the Kings treafurie, but the fubtileft 
 in that he had deceyued a fort of dronken affes, 
 whome the King had appoynted to watch the 
 body. The Lady that had liftned to his tale, 
 hearing the newes fhe longed for, ftretched out 
 her hand to lay hold on him, who fubtilly pre- 
 fenting her with the hande of his brother, 
 (which beeing darke, fhe faft griped in ftead of 
 his owne) hee conueyed bimfelfe from her and 
 was no more feene. The King heereof aduer- 
 tifed, was ftricken with fo great admiration as 
 well of his wit in deuifing, as his boldneffe in 
 aduenturing, that forthwith he caufed notice to 
 be geuen throughout all partes of his gouerne- 
 ment, that in cafe the party whiche had done 
 thefe thinges woulde difclofe hymfelfe, and 
 ftande to his mercy, he woulde not only yeeld 
 him free pardon, but alfo indue and honour him 
 with fo princely rewards as were fit for a perfon 
 of fuch excellent wifedome. My yonker yeeld- 
 ing credite to the Kings promife, came foorth in 
 pretence, and defcried himfelfe, with whome 
 
 Rampjinitus 
 
nS EUTERPE. 
 
 Rampjlnitus ioyning his daughter in manage, 
 did him the greateft honour he could deuife, 
 efteeming him for the wifeft man that liued vpon 
 the earth, holding it for certayne, that the JEgyp- 
 tians excelled all others in wifedome, amongft 
 whome he iudged none comparable to hym. 
 The fame King (fay they) whiles he was yet 
 liuing, trauelled fo farre vnder the ground, till 
 Rampfmitus he came to the place which the Grcecians call 
 hell, the feates infernall, where he played at dyce 
 
 with the goddeife Ceres, and fometimes winning 
 fometimes lofing, he returned againe at length, 
 beeing rewarded by her with a mantle of gold. 
 In the meane fpace while Rampjinitus vnder- 
 tooke this voyage to hell, the ^Egyptians kept 
 holyday, prolonging the celebration till fuch time 
 as he retyred backe againe, which folemne ob- 
 feruance, fince our memory hath bene duely 
 celebrated. But whether this be the caufe of 
 that facred feftiuall, I dare not auowe, howbeit, 
 the prieftes ihewed me a certayne cloake, wouen 
 in the fpace of one daye, wherewith once ayeare 
 they attyre fome one of theyr petie vicares, 
 blinding moreouer hys eyes wyth a myter. 
 Beeing in thys forte attyred, they conduct hym 
 to the hygh way that leadeth to the temple of 
 the goddeife Ceres, where after they haue placed 
 hym, they leaue hym grabling in that place, and 
 
 departe 
 
EUTERPE. 119 
 
 departe their waye. To whome incontinently 
 reforte two wolues, conducting the prieft to the 
 temple aforefayde, whyche is diftaunte from 
 the city twentie furlongs, where hauing accom- 
 pliihed certayne rytes, the wolues leade hym 
 backe agayne to the fame place. All thefe 
 thyngs they doubt not to reporte for certayne 
 true, which we leaue to euery mans lyking 
 to iudge of them as they deferue. For myne 
 owne parte I haue thought it meete to make 
 relation of fuch things as I heard amongft them, 
 going no farther in many thyngs then hearefay. 
 
 Amiddeft the infernall powers, the ^Egyptians 
 affyrme that Ceres and Liber haue the chiefe 
 authoritie. 
 
 The fame people were they that firft helde 
 opinion that the foule of man was immortal!, The opinion 
 
 rr- r 1 1 11 ofthe^gyp- 
 
 paiiing from one body into another by a con- tians touch- 
 tinuall courfe, as euery one tooke hys beginning immorality 
 and generation of another, and when it had ° 
 palled through all bodyes that haue theyr beeyng 
 eyther in the lande, fea, or aire, then confe- 
 quentlie to returne into the bodye of man 
 agayne, whyche courfe it finifhed within the 
 tearme of three thoufand yeares whych opinion 
 had many patrones of the Grcecians, fome aun- 
 cient and of great authoritie, others of later 
 dayes, vfurping and chalenging it for theyr owne, 
 
 of 
 
120 EUTERPE. 
 
 of whofe names I am not ignoraunt, albeit I 
 minde not to recite them. The ^Egyptians 
 likewife mention that to the tyme of Rampjinitus, 
 religion, iuftice, and true order of gouernement 
 greatly flouriihed among them. 
 
 After whome, the royall dignitie came into 
 Cheops. the handes of Cheops, a man fraught with all 
 kynde of vicious demeanour, and wicked con- 
 uerfation. For caufing the temples of the gods 
 to be fall locked vp, he gaue out through all 
 quarters of hys Empyre, that it myght not be 
 lawfull for any ^Egyptian to offer facrifice, to 
 the ende, that beeing feduced from the feruice 
 and reuerence of the gods, he might fecurely 
 employ them in hys owne affayres. Some 
 were appoynted to digge ftones in the moun- 
 tayne Arabicus, and from thence, to conuey 
 them to the riuer Nilus, where they were re- 
 ceyued of others which pheryed them ouer the 
 riuer to the roote of a greate hill named Africus. 
 The whole number of thofe that were conuer- 
 faunt in the Kings affayres, was tenne thoufande 
 men, feruing by turnes, euery three monethes a 
 thoufand. In which manner, he helde the people 
 the fpace of tenne yeares, in all whiche tyme, 
 they did nothyng but hewe and cary ftones, a 
 labour of no lefle importaunce (in my iudgemente) 
 then to haue built the pyre it felfe, or towre 
 
 of 
 
EUTERPE. 121 
 
 of ftone, which is in length fiue furlongs, in 
 
 breadth tenne paces, and in height where it 
 
 is greateft, to the number of eyght paces, beeyng 
 
 framed of ftone, curiousfly carued and ingrauen 
 
 with the pictures of beaftes. Heerein alfo were The building 
 
 confumed other tenne yeares, caufing certayne Aegyptian 
 
 chambers to be cut out vnder the grounde, yrami es * 
 
 vndermining the' ftoneworke vp on the which 
 
 the towres were founded, whyche hee prouided 
 
 for hys fepulcher. The fituation heere of was 
 
 in a fmall Ilande, through the whyche by a 
 
 trench or fmall draught, he cauled the riuer to 
 
 haue palfage. The pyre was made flearewife, 
 
 afcending by fleppes or degrees orderly placed 
 
 one aboue another. 
 
 Hauyng in fuche forte rlnilhed the lower 
 worke, they deuifed certayne engines or wreftes 
 to heaue vp ftones from the grounde to the fyrft 
 ftayre, and from thence to the feconde, and fo 
 confequently tyll they came to the place where 
 the ftone lhoulde lye, hauyng vppon each ftayre 
 a wreaft : or (that whyche is more likely) vfing 
 one for all, beeyng framed of lyght wood, to 
 the intente it might the more eafily be remooued. 
 • The groife worke finilhed, they began to 
 polilhe and beautifie the towre from the toppe 
 downewardes, comming laft of all to the neather- 
 moft ftayre, wherein they made a finall ende and 
 
 conclufton 
 
122 EUTERPE. 
 
 conclufion of the beautie and grace of all theyr 
 workemanlhippe. In thys pyre, were intayled 
 certayne letters in the Egyptian language, de- 
 claring the expence the King was at in the time of 
 his building, for muftardfeed, oynyons, and gar- 
 like, which (as I remember) the interpreter told 
 me, did amount to the furarae of a thoufande 
 fixe hundred talents. If this were fo, how much 
 thai we deeme to haue bene fpent upon other 
 things, as vpon tooles, engins, victuals, labouring 
 garments for the workemen, being tenne yeares 
 bufied in thefe affayres : I recken not the time 
 wherein they were held in framing and hewing 
 of ftones to fet them in a readineffe for the 
 mayne worke : neyther all the fpace that paffed 
 ouer in the conueyance and cariage of the itone 
 to the place of building, which was no fmall 
 numbers of dayes, as alfo the time which was 
 confumed in vndermining the earth, and cutting 
 out of chambers vnder the grounde, all whyche 
 things draue the King to fuch a narrow ftraight, 
 that he was fayne to cloute out his deuifes with 
 a moft wicked inuention, which was this : Per- 
 ceiuing his golden mine to draw low that the 
 diuell might daunce in the bottome of his bagge 
 and finde neuer a croffe, he made fale of his 
 daughters honeftie, willing hir to entertayne 
 tagge and ragge all that would come, in cafe 
 
 they 
 
EUTERPE. 123 
 
 they refufed not to pay for their pleafure, fithence 
 Venus accepteth not the deuotion of i'uch as pray 
 with empty hands and threadbare purlfes. The 
 Lady willing to obey the heftes of the King her 
 father, deuifed alfo the meane to prolong the 
 memorie of herfelfe, and to aduaunce her fame to 
 the notice of all ages that lhould enfue, where- 
 fore lhe madereqneft to iuche as had acceffe vnto 
 her, to giue her a ftone to the building and erec- 
 tion of a worke which lhe had determined, 
 wherewith (as the brute goeth) ihe gaue fo many 
 ltones as ferued to the framing of a whole pyre, 
 htuate in the middeft of the three former, in full 
 view and proipeci to the greater!: pyrame, which 
 is euery way an acre and an halfe lquare. 
 
 Enfuing the raigne of Cheops, whole king- 
 dome continued the fpace of fifty yeares, the 
 chiefe gouernement was committed to Cheph- Chephrene 
 renes his brother, which followed the fteps ofiEgypt. 
 his predeceflbur as well in other things, as alfo 
 in building of a pyre, howbeit, not fo huge and 
 great as that which his brother had nnifhed 
 before him, for we tooke the meafure of them 
 all. Moreouer, fuch vnderworke wrought out 
 in caues and chambers vnder the grounde as is 
 to be feene in the pyre of Cheops, are wanting 
 in this, belides the laborious and toilefome worke 
 which they had to deriue and drawe the riuer 
 
 to 
 
124 EUTERPE. 
 
 to that place, which hath his courfe through the 
 middeft of the former pyre, hemming in the 
 whole Hand wherein it is fituate : within the 
 compaffe whereof, they affirme that Cheops him- 
 felfe was buried. By whome in his lifetime, an 
 houfe was framed of one ftone alone, diuerfly 
 coloured, which he had out of the countrey of 
 Ethiopia, forty foote lower then the pire it 
 felfe, yet planted and built vpon the felfefame 
 foundation. Chephrenes alfo (by the computa- 
 tion of the ^Egyptians) ruled the countrey fiftie 
 yeares, by which meanes they make account 
 that their miferie continued an hundred and 
 fixe yeares, al which time, the temples of their 
 gods were vnfrequented, abiding ftill from time 
 to time fealed vp and vnopened, wherefore 
 thefe princes the Egyptians will not name for 
 the hatred they beare them, calling their pyres 
 the towres of the fhepeheard PhiUtio, who at 
 that time kept fheepe in thofe places. 
 
 Chephrenes dying, yeelded the Kingdome to 
 Mycerinus Mycerinus, the fonne of his brother Cheops, 
 ;Egypt. who efchuing the wicked afts and deteftable 
 practifes of his father, caufed the temples to be 
 fet open, giuing libertie to the people being lb 
 long diftreiTed vnder the gouernement of his 
 father and vncle, to follow their owne affayres, 
 and returne to their auncient cuftorae of facri- 
 
 fice 
 
EUTERPE. 125 
 
 rice, miniftring iuftice aboue all the Kings that 
 were before him, for which caufe, none of all Mycennus 
 the princes that haue borne rule in sEgypt is fo hisiuft 
 greatly prayfed and renowned, both for other s ouemm s- 
 caufes which were wifely taken vp by him in 
 iudgement, and chiefly for this, that a certayne 
 ^Egyptian much complayning that the King 
 had wronged him in deciding his caufe, he com- 
 maunded him to value the lolTe which he had 
 futfered by him, which the partie doing, he gaue 
 him fo much of his owne goods to make him a 
 recompence. Mycerinus in this wife gouerning 
 the common weale with great clemency, and 
 feekyng by vertue to aduance his fame, was 
 fodeinely daunted by a great misfortune, the 
 death of his onely daughter, hauing no more 
 children but her, which was the firft and greateft 
 hartbreake that befell him in his kingdome. For 
 which caufe, being ftricken with forrowe aboue 
 meafure, and defirous to folemnife her funeralles 
 by the mofl royall and princely kinde of buryall 
 that could be deuifed : he caufed an oxe to be 
 made of wood, inwardly vauted and hollow 
 within, which being layde ouer and garniihed 
 moft curioufly with gilt, he inclofed therein the 
 wanne and forlorne corpfe of his beft beloued 
 daughter. This royall tombe was not interred 
 and buryed in the grounde, but remayned vnto 
 
 our 
 
126 EUTERPE. 
 
 our age in the city Sais in open view, ftanding 
 in a certayne parlour of the Kings pallace, 
 adorned and fet foorth for the fame purpofe, 
 with moft beautifull and coftly furniture. The 
 cuftome is euermore in the daye time to caft into 
 the belly of the oxe fweete and precious odoures 
 of all fortes 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 thofe that in the fame city 
 of Sais are profeflours in religion, forfomuch as 
 there are feene ftanding in that place certayne 
 mighty images made of wood, twentye or there- 
 aboutes in number, the moft parte of them bare 
 and naked, but what women they referable, or 
 whofe pictures they be, I am not able to alleadge 
 more then hearefay, notwithstanding, 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 befides the courfe of nature, who for 
 intolerable greefe hanging her felfe, was in- 
 tombed in that oxe by her father : the Queene 
 her mother caufing the hands of all her gentle- 
 women to be cut oft", by whofe meanes lhe had 
 beene betrayed to ferue her fathers lull, for which 
 
 caufe 
 
EUTERPE. 127 
 
 caufe (fay they) are thefe 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 off for very age, by reafon that the wood 
 through long continuance of time was fpaked 
 and perilhed, whiche euen to our memory 
 were to be feene lying at the feete of thole 
 which were portrayed. The oxe wherein the 
 yong princeffe lay, was fumptuoufly clad, and 
 arayed all the body wyth a gorgeous mantle of 
 Phenicia, hys head and necke beeyng fpanged 
 and layde ouer with braces and plates of golde 
 of a maruaylous thickeneffe. Betweene hys 
 homes was fet a globe or circle of golde, glifter- 
 ing as the funne. Neyther is the oxe ftanding 
 and borne vp vppon hys feete, but kneeleth as it 
 were on hys knees, equall in bigneffe to a great 
 heighfer. The manner is once a yeare to bring 
 this image out of the parlour wherein it is 
 kepte, hauyng firft of all well beaten and cud- it i s as good 
 gelled a certayne image of one of theyr Sain&es, i£ England 
 whome in thys cafe wee thynke it not lawfull b^lym? 
 for vs to name. The talke goeth, that the Lady 
 belbught the Kyng her father that beeing dead, lhe 
 myght once a yeare beholde the funne, whereof 
 fprang the cuftome and maner aforefayde. 
 
 After 
 
128 EUTERPE. 
 
 After this, there befell vnto him another mif- 
 chiefe that fate as neere hys fkirtes as the death 
 of his dilling, infomuch that he was readie to 
 runne beyonde hymfelfe for forrowe. A pro- 
 phecie arofe in the city of Butis, that the tearme 
 of fixe yeares fully exfpired, the Kyng fhoulde 
 ende hys lyfe, leauing hys Kyngdome to be ruled 
 of another. Whereof the Kyng beeing aduer- 
 tifed, and greately greeuing at the rigorous and 
 vniuft dealing of the gods, fped a meifenger to 
 the place where the feate of prophecie was 
 helde, to expoftulate with the god, for what 
 caufe (fince hys father and vnckle who had 
 beene fo vnmindfull of the gods, fhutting vp 
 their temples, and making hauocke of the 
 people had liued fo long) he hymfelfe that had 
 dealte better with them, and caufed thefe 
 thynges to bee reftored agayne, fhoulde fo foone 
 be depriued of the benefite of lyfe, to whome 
 aunfwere was made, that hys dayes were there- 
 fore fhortened becaufe hee tooke a wrong courfe 
 and dyd not as he fhould do, beyng appoynted 
 by the celeftiall powers, that the countrey of 
 JEgypt fhould futfer miferie, and be afflicted 
 by their princes the fpace of an hundred and 
 fifty yeares, which the two former princes well 
 vnderftanding, was neuertheleffe by him neg- 
 lected and left vnperformed. Myccrlnus hear- 
 ing 
 
EUTERPE. 129 
 
 ing this round reply, and perceiuing that his 
 thread was almoft fpoon, let al at reuell, making 
 great prouifion of lights and tapers, which at 
 euentide he caufed to be lighted, palling the 
 night in exceeding great mirth and princely ban- 
 quetting, letting flip no time wherein he either 
 wandered not alongft the riuer, and through the 
 woods and groues of the countrey, or entertayned 
 the time in fome pleaiaunt deuifes, following all 
 things that might eyther breede delighte, or 
 bring pleafure, which things he did, to the end 
 he might prooue the prophecie falfe, and con- 
 uince the god of a lie, making twelue yeares of 
 fixe, by fpendinsr the nigdites alfo as he did the Mycerinus 
 
 , 5, . ir 1 ■, 1. made twelue 
 
 dayes. Mycerinus alio built a pyre, not equal I yeares of 
 to that which his father had fet vp before him, 
 beeing in meaiure but twentie foote fquare, 
 framed quadrangularly, and another lower then 
 that, of three acres in compafTe, being built to 
 the middeft of the ftone of ^Ethiopia. There 
 be of the Grecian writers that fuppofe thys 
 towre to haue bene erected by a woman of 
 notable fame, called Rhodope, who miffe of their 
 account, not feeming to knowe what that Rho- The ftory of 
 dope was of whome they fpeake. Befides, it is 
 very vnlikely that Rhodope would euer haue 
 enterprifed a worke of lb great value, wherein 
 infinite thoufands of talentes were fpent before it 
 
 came 
 1 
 
i 3 o EUTERPE. 
 
 came to perfection. Laftly, it was not in the 
 dayes of this prince that Rhodope flourifhed, but 
 vnder the gouernement of Amajis, many yeares 
 palling from the tyme of thofe princes that 
 planted the pyres, to the dayes and age of Rho- 
 dope. This gallaunt dame was by countrey a 
 Thracian borne, the bondmayd of one ladmon, 
 whofe abiding was in the land of Samos in the 
 city of the god Vulcane, who in the tyme of her 
 bondage, was fellowferuant with JEfope the in- 
 uenter of fables, to whome this fmooth minion 
 had a monethes mind and more, for which caufe, 
 being giuen out by the oracle at Delphos, that it 
 mighte be free for any man to flay JEfope that 
 would, and take pennaunce for his foule for his 
 faulte committed, there was none found that 
 would put him to death, but the nephew of 
 ladmon that came by his fonne, who was alfo 
 named ladmon : whereby we may gather that 
 JEfope was a flaue and vaffall to ladmon. The 
 death of JEfope wounded Rhodope with fo great 
 feare, that flie tooke her flight foorthwith into 
 JEgypt, accompanyed by one Xanthus a Samian, 
 where flie fet foorth her felfe to the fale of fuch, 
 as rather then Venus fhould be fliut out for a 
 Saincf, thought it no idolatrie to worihip idols. 
 Whiles fliee abode in JEgypt, fhe was redeemed 
 and acquit of her feruitude by one Charaxus, 
 
 who 
 
EUTERPE. 1 3 r 
 
 who purchafed her libertie by a great fumme of 
 money. This Charaxus was of the countrey of 
 Mitilene, fonne of Scamandronymus, and brother 
 to Sappho the notable poetreffe. By thefe 
 meanes came Rhodope to be free, and remayned 
 ftill in sEgypt, where fhe wanne fo great credite 
 and liking of all men, that in fhorte fpace the 
 grewe to maruellous wealth, beeing fuch as 
 farre in deede furmounted the degree of Rhodope, 
 but yet amounted not to the buylding of a pyre. 
 By the tenth parte of whych her fubftaunce, it is 
 eafie for any man to geffe, that the mafle and 
 fumme of money which fhe had gathered, was 
 no fuche myracle as it is made to be. For ftudy- 
 ing to be famous and remembred in Greece, 
 fhe deuifed a worke which had neuer bene 
 imagined or geuen by any other, which in re- 
 membrance of her felfe fhe offered in the temple 
 of Delphos. Wherefore of the tenth parte of 
 her riches which fhe fente to the temple, fhe 
 commaunded fo many yron fpittes to be made 
 (which were imployed to the rolling of oxen) as 
 the quantitie of the money woulde afoorde that 
 was fente thyther by her. Thefe fpittes at this 
 prefent ftande behynde the aultare, whiche the 
 people of Chios erefted iuft ouer againfl: the 
 temple. Howbeit, fuch arrant honeft women 
 as are fifhe for euery man, haue in no place the 
 
 like 
 
132 
 
 EUTERPE. 
 
 Afvchis 
 King of 
 yEgypt. 
 
 A ftatute 
 
 againft 
 
 borrowers. 
 
 like credite, as in the city of Naucrates. Forfo- 
 much as this ftalant of whome we fpeake, had 
 her fame fo bruted in all places, as almoft there 
 was none in Greece that had not hearde of the 
 fame of Rhodope. After whome, there fprang 
 vp alio another as good as euer ambled, by name 
 Archidice, whofe vertues were blafed very farre, 
 but not with like fame and renowne as her pre- 
 deceffour, with whome, Charaxus was fo farre 
 gone, that retyring home to Mytelene, he was 
 almoft befides himfelfe, as Sappho maketh men- 
 tion, inueyghing in verfe agaynft hys folly. We 
 haue thus far digreffed to fpeake of Rhodope, we 
 will now returne to the text agayne. 
 
 Next after Mycerinus, enfued the raigne and 
 dominion of Afychis, by whome (as the priefts 
 report) was confecrated to Vulcane, a princely 
 gallerie ftandyng to the Eaft, very fayre and 
 large, wrought with moft curious and exquifite 
 workemantnip. For befides that it had on euery 
 fide embolfed the ftraunge and liuely pictures of 
 wilde beaftes, it had in a manner all the graces 
 and fumptuous ornaments that coulde be ima- 
 gined to the beautifying of a worke. Howbeit, 
 amiddeft other his famous deedes, this pur- 
 chafed him the greateft dignitie, that perceyuing 
 the land to be oppreffed with debt, and many 
 creditours like to be indamaged by great lone, 
 
 he 
 
EUTERPE. 133 
 
 he inacted foorthwith, that who fo borrowed 
 aught vppon credite, fhoulde lay to pledge the 
 dead body of his father, to be vfed at the difcre- 
 tion of the creditour, and to be buryed by him 
 in what manner he woulde, for a pennaunce to 
 all thole that tooke any thing of loane : prouid- 
 ing moreouer, that in cafe he refilled to repay 
 the debt, he fhould neyther be buryed in the 
 tombe of his fathers, nor in any other fepulchre, 
 neyther himfelfe, nor the iffue that fhould de- 
 fcend and fpring of his body. This prince defir- 
 ing to furpaffe all that had bene before him, left 
 in memorie of himfelfe an excellente pyre built 
 all of clay, wherein was a ftone fet ingrauen in 
 theie wordes : Compare me not to the reft of the 
 pyres, which I fur mount as far re as Iupiter ex- 
 celleth the meaner gods, for fearching the bottome 
 of the riuer with a f coupe, looke what clay they 
 brought vp, the fame they employed to the build- 
 ing of me in fuck forme and bigneffe as you may 
 beholde. And this did Afychis imagine to ad- 
 uance the fame of himfelfe to the time to come. 
 After whome, the fcepter was held by one 
 Anyfis a blynde man, inhabiting in a city called 
 after his owne name Anyfis. In time of whofe 
 raigne, Sabbacus King of AZthyopia inuaded 
 JEgypt with a mightie power. Whereat the 
 poore blinde King greatly affrighted, crope 
 
 priuily 
 
134 EUTERPE. 
 
 Anyfisthe priuily away, and gayned a priuie couert in the 
 Sabbacus fa ' marrilhe places of the countrey, leauyng the 
 .Egypt, e gouernement to Sallacus his enemie, whiche 
 yeare g s 5 ° ruled the fame 50 yeares, whofe actes are 
 mentioned to haue beene thefe. If any of the 
 ^Egyptians made a trefpafle, he neuer vfed to 
 do any man to death for his offence, but ac- 
 cording to the quantity of his fault, to enioyne 
 him to arrere and make higher by forreine fupply 
 of earth and ftone, some parte of the city wherein 
 he dwelt, for which caufe, the cities became 
 very high and eminent, being much more loftely 
 fituated then before. For firft of all in time of 
 Sefoftris fuch earth as was cart out of the trenches 
 (which were made to geue the water a courfe to 
 the cities that were farre off) was employed to 
 the eleuation and aduancing of the lowe townes, 
 and now agayne vnder this jEthynpian they had 
 increafe of freln earth, and grew to be very high 
 The defcrip- and lofty. Amongft the reft, the noble city of 
 temple of Bubaftis feemeth to be very haughty and highly 
 planted, in which city is a temple of excellent 
 memory dedicate to the goddeffe Bubaftis, called 
 in our fpeach Diana, then the which, albeit 
 there be other churches both bigger and more 
 richly furniihed, yet for the fightly grace and 
 feemelyneffe of building, there is none com- 
 parable vnto it. Befides, the very entrance and 
 
 way 
 
EUTERPE. 135 
 
 way that leadeth into the city, the reft is in 
 forme of an Ilande, inclofed round about with 
 two fundry ftreames of the riuer Ni/us, which 
 runne to either fide of the path way, and leauing 
 as it were a lane or caufey betweene them, 
 without meeting, take their courfe another way. 
 Theie armes of the floud are eache of them an 
 hundred foote broade, befet on both fides the 
 banckes with fayre braunched trees, ouerlhadow- 
 ing the waters with a coole and pleafant fhade. 
 The gate or entry of the city is in heighth 10 
 paces, hauing in the front a beautifull image, 
 6 cubites in meafure. The temple it felfe 
 fituate in the middeft of the city, is euermore 
 in fight to thofe that pafie to and fro. For al- 
 though the city by addition of earth was arrered 
 and made higher, yet the temple ftanding as it 
 did in the beginning, and never mooued, is in 
 maner of a lofty and ftately tower, in open and 
 cleare viewe to euery part of the city. Round 
 about the which goeth a wall ingrauen with 
 figures and protraitures of fundry beafts. The 
 inner temple is enuironed with an high groue of 
 trees, fet and planted by the hande and induftrie 
 of men : in the whiche temple is ftanding an 
 image. The length of the temple is euery way 
 a v furlong. 
 
 From the entrance of the temple Eaftward, 
 
 there 
 
136 EUTERPE. 
 
 there is a fayre large caufey leading to the houfe 
 of Mercury, in length, three furlongs, and foure 
 acres broade, all of faire ftone, and hemmed in 
 on each fide with a courfe of goodly tall trees 
 planted by the hands of men, and thus as touch- 
 ing the defcription of the temple. Likewife 
 they make mention in what maner they fhifted 
 their hands of the ALthiopian prince, who ad- 
 monifhed in his fleepe by a vifion, haflned his 
 Thede- flight to depart the countrey. There feemed 
 SabbacuL vnto him one ftanding by his bedfide, willing 
 him in any wife to aflemble together the priefts 
 of ALgypt, and to cut them all afunder by the 
 wafte : which the King pondering in his mind, 
 laid thus, I wel perceiue that the gods would 
 picke a quarrel agaynft me, that by the doing of 
 fome villany or other, I might either incur their 
 hatred, or the difpleafure of men, but fince the 
 time of my rule in ALgypt, which by the oracle 
 was prefined, is nowe exfpired, I will kindle no 
 moe coales then I may well quenche, wherewith 
 departing the countrey, he left the gouernement 
 to the feed of the ALgyptians, and retired him- 
 felfe into his owne lande. For abiding before- 
 time in ALthiopia the oracles which the ALthio- 
 pians vfe, gaue out to the King, that he ihoulde 
 beare rule 50 yeares in ALgypt, which time 
 being finiihed, Sablacus fore troubled with the 
 
 ftrange 
 
EUTERPE. 137 
 
 ftrange fight of his dreame, of his own proper 
 wil departed the liftes of the countrey. Infuing 
 whofe flight, the blinde King forfaking his neft 
 in the fennes, came out, and ihewed his head 
 againe, exercifing gouernement as he had done 
 before, hauing wonderfully inlarged the Hand 
 where he lay, with addition of athes and freih 
 earth. For whofoeuer of the ^Egyptians came 
 vnto him either with grayne or other prouifion, 
 his manner was to giue him in charge, that 
 vnwitting to the ^Ethiopian prince (who then 
 withheld from him the right of his kingdome) 
 he fhould prefent him with a loade or two of 
 allies. This He before the time of Amyrtceus 
 was vnknowne to any man, named in the 
 ^Egyptian language Ello, being in bignes 10 
 furlongs. Next after whome, the title royall 
 was refigned ouer to a certaine prieft called Sethon. 
 Sethon, feruing in the temple of the god Vul- 
 cane, by whom, the fouldyers of Aegypt were 
 abufed and had in contempt as men vnfit, 
 and not feruing for his purpofe. Wherefore 
 befide other flaunderous tauntes and reuiling 
 words, wherby he fought at all times to greeue 
 them, he bereaued them alfo of fuch lands and 
 reuenues as had bene graunted vnto them by 
 the former Kings : for which caufe, after that 
 Senacherib King of the Arabians and Ajpyrians 
 
 had 
 
138 EUTERPE. 
 
 had inuaded Aegypt with a mighty power, they 
 refufed to yeeld him ayd and afliflance in his 
 warres. The prieft driuen to this fudden blanke, 
 not knowing howe to fhift, withdrewe himfelfe 
 into a clofe parlour, where complayning himfelfe 
 before his god, he fhewed what great and immi- 
 nent perils were like to befall him. As he was 
 in this fort powring out his teares and pitiful 
 complaints before his image, he fell aileepe, 
 where there feemed to appeare vnto him the 
 flraunge forme of his god, willing him to be of 
 good comfort, and meete his enemies in the 
 field, not fearing the euent of battayle, for- 
 fomuch as he would fend him fufficient aide to 
 allift and fuccour him. Maifter parfon taking 
 hart of grace by this bleffed virion, tooke with 
 him fuch of the Aegyptians as were willing to 
 follow him, and incamped in Pelujia, on which 
 fide only Aegyptlieth open, and may be inuaded 
 by forreine power, in whofe caufe, not one of 
 the fouldiers would mooue a foote to foil owe 
 him out of dores, but pedlers, tinkers, and 
 common gadders that ftrayed here and there 
 about the countrey. Being arriued at the place 
 before named, in the night feafon, there came 
 into the tents of their aduerfaries an huge multi- 
 tude of field mice, which gnawed their quiuers, 
 bit in hinder their bowftrings, and the braces off 
 
 their 
 
EUTERPE. 139 
 
 their fhields, that in the morning being disfur- 
 niihed of their armour, they betooke themfelves 
 to flight, not without the lofle of many fouldiers. 
 Herehence is it that the pi&ure of the fame 
 prince grauen of ftone, is feene (landing in the 
 temple of Vulcane with this title and infcription, 
 Learne by me to feare God. Thus far went the 
 ^Egyptians and their priefts in defcribinsr the The reward 
 
 • 1 r rr / , • , • j of godlinefs. 
 
 continual fuccemon of their kings and gouer- 
 nours, alleadging that from the firft king vnto 
 this prieft of Vulcane before mentioned, were 
 341 generations. Three hundred generations 
 conteine ten thoufand yeares, forfomuch as to 
 three progenies of men are afligned an hundred 
 yeares, fo that the relidue of the progenies which 
 were 41 are valued at 1340 yeares. Likewife 
 they affirmed, that in the courfe of ten thoufand 
 three hundred and forty yeares, there appeared 
 no god in ALgypt vnder the proportion and 
 ihape of a man, neyther coulde any fuch thing 
 be mentioned to haue falne out vnder the gouer- 
 nance of any of their princes, howbeit, within Myracies 
 the tearme of yeares aforenamed, thefe ftrange the Sunne. 
 alterations were marked in the Sunne at foure 
 fundry times. Two fundry times it was feene 
 to rife from that place where it is now wont to 
 fall, and in like maner to fet in thofe regions 
 from whence it now arifeth, which alfo came to 
 
 pafle 
 
140 EUTERPE. 
 
 paffe two feueral times. Infuing which things, 
 there was no change in the countrey, no altera- 
 tion in any poynt, neither as touching the effects 
 and courfe of the riuer, nor for any maladies, 
 death, or inconueniences in the lande. In like 
 forte, before Hecatceus the writer of monuments 
 (by whome in the city of Thebes a rehearfall was 
 made of the whole difcent of his ftocke and 
 kindred, fetching his progeny from the cvi.god) 
 the prieft of Iupiter did this, (as alfo to my felfe 
 that made no relation of mine alliance) leading 
 vs into a large chappel or houfe of praier, they 
 fhewed vs both the number of our auncetry 
 according to our own account. Wherin alfo 
 flood the images of certaine chiefs priefts and 
 Bifhops in fuch forme and maner as euery one 
 had led his life, where, by orderly difcent and 
 iffue they fhewed vs in what maner the fonne 
 had euermore fucceeded his father in the office 
 of priefthode, reciting euery one of their images 
 vntill they came to the laft. Heerein alfo they 
 difliked the fpeach of Hecatceus and fought to 
 fetch his progeny from the cvi.god, making 
 him another account of his kinsfolke and allies, 
 fhewing him how abfurd a thing it was, and 
 difagreeing from reafon for a man to deriue his 
 iffue from a god. For which caufe, in reciting 
 the genealogies, they difprooued his account in 
 
 this 
 
EUTERPE. 141 
 
 this wife, relating howe each of thefe images 
 were in theyr fpeach named Pyromis which 
 name they tooke by difcent, the fonne from the 
 father by lineall courfe to the number of 345, 
 whole pictures were Handing in the fame oratory. 
 Thefe Pyromes (as they termed them) were 
 fuch men as had no affinity with the gods, 
 neither coulde chalenge their progeny of any 
 one of the chiefe nobles and potentates, being 
 fuch as the Grecians call xaXbg xayudbg, that is, 
 an honeft, fimple, and wel meaning man. Of 
 which fort were al thofe whofe monuments were 
 extant in the place very far from being allied 
 with any of the gods. Before thefe men, the 
 gods themfelues were rulers in ySgypl, hauing 
 their dwelling and abode together with men. 
 Notwithftanding, being many in number, they 
 gouerned not the countrey all at once, but fome 
 one of them for a time, or ech in courfe, til at 
 length the fcepter came to the hands of Orus 
 fonne of OJiris whom the Grcecians call Apollo. 
 The laft and yongeft of al the gods by the 
 Grecians account, are Hercules, Dionijius, and 
 Pan. Albeit Pan with the ^Egyptians is a 
 grandfire god, one of the moft auncientft among 
 them, in the number of thofe eight that are the 
 chief and principal. Hercules is reckned in the 
 number of the xii meaner faints. Dionijius 
 
 among 
 
i 4 2 EUTERPE. 
 
 among thofe that are called the iii fain&s, 
 iffued of the xii former. From Dionijius (who 
 is faid to be the fonne of Cadmus by Semele) 
 vnto this our age, are 6000 yeares. From Her- 
 cules fprong of Alcmena to this time welny 9000. 
 From Pan fonne of Mercury, begotten of the 
 Lady Penelope, vnto thefe daies wherin we Hue, 
 the time is not fo long as from the Troiane war, 
 to wit, 8000 yeres or there aboutes. In all thefe 
 things we leaue it free to euery ones fancy to 
 follow what he will, our felues beft liking of the 
 common opinion which is generally receiued of 
 The Greekes all men. For if thefe gods beeing renowned 
 faints from with great fame in Greece, had there alfo wafted 
 tians. ° the whole courfe of their age (as Hercules de- 
 fcended of Amphytrio, Dionijius of Semele, Pan 
 of Penelope) happily fome man would haue fayde 
 that the ^Egyptians had worfhipped fome other 
 gods, whiche beeing of the fame name with 
 thefe before mentioned, were notwithftanding in 
 time long before them. Now the Grecians 
 themfelves confeffe, that Dionijius being be- 
 gotten by Iupiter, was no fooner borne, but he 
 cleaued faft to his fathers thigh, and was caryed 
 away by hym into Nyjfa, which is a towne in 
 JEthyopia neere vnto JEgypt. Of Pan they 
 make fhorte worke, as ignorant in what parte of 
 the worlde after his birth hee was broughte vp 
 
 and 
 
EUTERPE. 143 
 
 and nouriffied. Whereby it is eafily coniectured, 
 that the names of theie gods came of later dayes 
 to the eares of the Grecians, and that accordyng 
 to that notice, they began to frame for eache of 
 them a cradle in Greece, as though they had 
 beene borne there, planting more upon hearefay, 
 then certaine truth. Thus farre we have fol- 
 lowed the fayings of the Aegyptians, from hence- 
 foorth minding to fet downe the confente of 
 others, wherein they accord with the people of 
 Aegypt as concerning iuch things as were done in 
 that countrey, adding thereto fuch matters as our 
 felues haue bene beholders of, and eyewitneffes. 
 The laft King (beeing as before was men- 
 tioned the prieft of Vulcane) leauing the feate The tweiue 
 imperiall void by his death, the Aegyptians jE^ylt. 
 being now at liberty, and yet vnable to liue 
 without the aid of gouernement, chofe vnto 
 themfelues 12 princes, deuiding the whole land 
 into fo many partes. Thefe 12 ioyning betweene 
 themfelues mutual kindred and affinity, exercifed 
 the authority and office of Kings, eftabliffiing 
 mutuall league and couenaunts, that none ffiould 
 incroch or gather vpon another, but holding him- 
 felfe fatisfied with an equall portion, ffiould liue 
 in friendffiip and amity with the reft, which 
 their league and agreement they fought by fo 
 much the more diligence and warines to con- 
 
 firme 
 
rinth. 
 
 144 EUTERPE. 
 
 firme and ftrengthen, for that in the firft en- 
 trance to their kingdomes a prophecie was geuen 
 out, that who fo dranke of a brafen mazer in the 
 temple of Vulcane, fhould be King alone ouer 
 the whole land. When the facred rites and 
 ceremonies obferued in ftriking of league and 
 making couenant were duly accompliihed, it 
 liked them all to leaue fome common monu- 
 ment or worke behinde them to the continuance 
 of their memories, which they did, making a 
 labyrinth or maze fomewhat aboue the poole 
 The Laby- called Meeris toward the city, much more greater 
 and famous than the brute goeth. This I be- 
 held with mine eies, being named The Maze of 
 the Crocodyles : for if a man would frame his 
 coniecture according to the report which the 
 Grtzcians make thereof, meafuring the walles 
 and beauty of the work after their account, 
 certes he fhal giue but a beggerly iudgement of 
 fo fumptuous and magnificent a building. For 
 albeit the temple of Ephefus be an excellent and 
 worthy monument, and the church or religious 
 houfe of Samos, yet are they nothing in refpecl: 
 of the pires in JEgypt, one of the which may 
 well ftand in companion with all the renowned 
 works of Greece, and yet euen thefe are far ex- 
 celled and furmounted by the labyrinth. In 
 this princely monument are 12 moil fair and 
 
 fumptuous 
 
EUTERPE. 145 
 
 fumptuous haules, whofe gates open oppofit ech 
 againft other, 6 Handing north neere adioing 
 together, the other 6 fbuth, garded about with 
 the fame walls. 
 
 The roomes and lodgings therein conteyned, 
 are of two forts, fome lower, wrought cellarwife 
 vnder the ground, other aboue thefe, being to- 
 gether in number three thoufand and fixe hun- 
 dred. Of fuch roomes as were fituate in the 
 feconde ftory, our felves had the full fight and 
 viewe, fpeaking no more therof then we beheld 
 with our eyes, following in the reft the report of 
 others, forfomuch as the vnder buildings were 
 kepte couert from the fight of all that were 
 trauellers, becaufe in them lay the tombes of 
 thofe Kings that were the founders of that place, 
 with the bodies and dead carkaffes of the facred 
 Crocodyles. Thus of the neathermoft houfe we 
 fpeake by hearefay, of the lodgings aboue view- 
 ing with our owne eyes, more ftraunge and 
 wonderfull miracles then could be wrought by 
 the helpe of men, for the fundry turnings and 
 windings leading from one chamber to another, 
 did wonderfully amaze and aftonith my wits. The defcrip- 
 Out of the great haules we go into certaine Jaues that 
 parlours, wherehence the way leadeth in other Laberfnth. 
 bedchambers, next vnto which are fituate diuers 
 fecrete lodgings that open into the fixe great 
 
 haules, 
 
1 46 EUTERPE. 
 
 haules, Handing on the contrarie parte of the 
 court, all which are coped ouer aboue with 
 wrought and carued ftone, incompaffed alio with 
 a wall of moft fayre and beautifull ftone, in- 
 grauen with fundrie forts of pictures. Euery 
 one of the haules are layde with fmooth white 
 ftone, beautified on each fide with a goodly 
 courfe of pillers. To one corner of the Labe- 
 rinth is adioyning a pyre or towre of ftone, 
 being fortie paces, wherein are the pictures of 
 many ftraunge beaftes hewne out and carued of 
 ftone. To this towre is a way vndermined in 
 the ground. Notwithftanding, for all the won- 
 ders that are to be feene and marked in the 
 Laberinth, the poole called Maris, neere bound- 
 ing vnto the fame, hath (in our iudgement) 
 fundry things thereto belonging of farre greater 
 admiration. The compaffe of this ponde is 
 three thoufande fixe hundred furlongs, and fixty 
 Schoenes as they tearme them, conteyning allto- 
 gether as much fpace as the fea coaft of the 
 countrey of JEgypt. The length of the poole 
 lyeth North and South, being in deapth where 
 it is higheft fiftie paces. Now that it hath not 
 fprong naturally in that place, but rather hath 
 bene wrought and digged by the trauell of men, 
 this is an euident proofe, for that welnye in the 
 middeft of the ponde are planted two mightie 
 
 towres 
 
EUTERPE. 147 
 
 towres of ftone appearing flftie foote aboue the 
 water, and beeing as much vnder. On the 
 toppe of ech towre is a great image wrought 
 of ftone, fitting in a chaire of maieftie, fo that 
 the towres conteyne in heigth an hundreth paces. 
 An hundreth full paces do make a furlong of 
 fixe acres. A pace conteyneth fixe feete, or 
 four cubites. A foote is foure times the breadth 
 of the hande. The water of Mceris is not 
 naturally flowing from any fpring belonging 
 thereto (thegrounde beeyng exceedyngly parched 
 and drie) but is deriued from the riuer, the 
 water hauing recourfe into the poole euerie 
 fixe monethes by ebbing and flowing. The fixe 
 monethes wherein the water is retyring out of 
 the ponde, the multitude of fiihe which is there 
 taken, increafeth the Kings fifke euery day by a 
 talent of filuer, and at fuche time as it refloweth 
 agayne, it bringeth aduantage of twentie pounde 
 a daye. Thys poole, the inhabitants aftyrme, 
 fearcheth through the vames of the earth, and 
 fheddeth his waters into the Syrts or quicke- 
 fands of Africa, vndermining a fecrete courfe 
 into the mayne land towarde the countreys of 
 the Weft, faft by the fide of an huge mountayne 
 which appeareth ouer the city Memphis. Now 
 forfomuch as I could not difcerne how all the 
 molde ihould be beftowed that was caft out 
 
 of 
 
148 EUTERPE. 
 
 of the poole at the firfte making thereof, being 
 defirous to knowe what was become of it, I 
 queftioned with the inhabitaunts of thofe places 
 as touching the fame, whofe anfwere was, that 
 it was employde to the rampeiring of the bankes 
 of Nilus, and much of it throwne downe the 
 riuer, whofe fpeach obteyned the more credite 
 wyth me, for that I remembred the like thing 
 to haue bene done at the city Ninus, one of the 
 chiefe cities of Affyria. In this city it fell out 
 in auncient time, that certayne good fellowes 
 wanting filuer, determined to vifit the Kings 
 treafurie, who at that time was Sardanapalus 
 abounding with infinite fummes of treafure, 
 which for that it lay fafely garded vnder the 
 earth in houfes vndermined for the purpofe, 
 thefe yonkers aforefayde beginning at their owne 
 houfes, made a way vnder grounde, direclly 
 leading to the pallace of the King, voyding all 
 the mold which they digged, into the riuer 
 Tigris by night, which floweth faft by the 
 city, vntill they had brought their enterprife 
 to paffe. After the fame manner it fell out in 
 JEgypt, in calling the lake of Maris, fauing 
 that the one was digged by night, the other by 
 day, but in this alfo, the greateft parte of the 
 voyde earth was caft into Nilus, and difperfed by 
 the ftreame. And in this manner fay the ^Egyp- 
 tians, 
 
EUTERPE. 149 
 
 tians, was the poole of Maris firfte made. Now 
 when as the 12 Kings of JEgypt had pra&ifed 
 equity euery one within his owne territory, they 
 drew together at a certaine time to do facrifice 
 in Vulcans temple, where (as the maner was) 
 the laft day of the feftiuall, the prieft miniftred 
 wine vnto them in certaine chalices of gold re- 
 ferued for the fame vfe, where happily miffing 
 of his number, hauing but xi cups for xii 
 princes, Pfammitichus ftanding laft, tooke from 
 his head a brafen coftlet, and for want of a cup, 
 dranke therein. In lyke maner fel it out with 
 the reft of the princes, that euery one was there 
 prelente in his headpeece of braffe. In thus 
 doyng, it was deemed that Pfammitichus meante 
 no crafte or legerdemayne, but had a playne and 
 fimple meaning. Howbeit, it could not finke 
 with the reft but that he did it of purpofe, and 
 comming in mind of the oracle that was geuen 
 them, that whofoeuer dranke of a brafen chalice, 
 mould vfurpe the whole empyre alone : weying 
 his facie, and finding that it was committed by 
 errour, they thought it not meete to put him to 
 death, but depriuing him of the greatell parte of 
 his dominion, banifhed him into the marriih 
 countrey, with efpeciall threates, that he fhould 
 not meddle with any parte of the countrey be- 
 fides. Notwithstanding, Pfammitichus hauing 
 
 put 
 
150 EUTERPE. 
 
 put to flight Sabbacus the Kyng of the AZthyo- 
 pians, and chafed hym into Syria, after this 
 conqueft was acquit of hys exile, and reftored 
 agayne by thofe vEgyptians which are of the 
 tribe of Sais, wherefore, once agayne vfing 
 gouernement wyth the reft of hys confederates, 
 for the olde grudge of the brafen helmet, they 
 Pfammiti- forced him to take the fennes agayne. Recount - 
 came prince ing therefore with himfelfe the great defpight 
 they had wrought him, determined eftfoones to 
 reuenge his caufe vpon thofe that had purfued 
 him, and fpeeding a melfenger to the oracle of 
 Latona in the citie of Butis, which of all the 
 feates of fouthfaying is of greateft truth, aunfwere 
 was giuen him to be of good courage, he fhoulde 
 haue helpe inough by brafen men that ihoulde 
 arife from the fea. Which prophecie for the 
 ftrangenefle thereof could hardly fincke into his 
 braines, to make him hope for the helpe of 
 brafen fouldyers. Not long after, certayne 
 pyrates of Ionia and Caria proling alongft the 
 feacoaftes for their pray, were by conftraynte of 
 weather driuen vpon the fliores of jEgypt, where 
 going on lande all in armour of brafle, a certayne 
 ^Egyptian ranne to Pfammitichus in the fennes, 
 and for that he had neuer before feene any in 
 the like array, he tolde him that certayne brafen 
 men were fproong out of the fea to wafte and 
 
 defpoyle 
 
EUTERPE. 151 
 
 defpoyle the countrey. Pfammitichus reknow- 
 ledging the truth of the prophecie, foorthwith 
 ioyned himfelfe in amitie with the rouers, in- 
 ducing them by great and large promifes to 
 abide with him, which being by him in like 
 forte obteyned, with this frefh fupply of forreyne 
 ayde, and the helpe of fuch ^Egyptians as 
 fauoured his caufe, he prouided againft the reft 
 of the princes. Hauing the whole gouernement 
 alone, he made in the city of Memphis certayne 
 porches facred to the god Vulcane, lying vpon the 
 South winde, and oueragainft the porches a fayre 
 large haule dedicated to Apis, wherein the god 
 Apis at fuche time as he appeared, was releeued 
 and nourifhed. This place was befet round with 
 ftately pillers, and ingrauen with fundrie fimili- 
 tudes and imboffements of beaftes, foules, and 
 fifties. Wherein alfo in place of fome pillers 
 are planted diuers fayre images of no leffe then 
 twelue cubites in bigneife. To these forreiners 
 of Carta and Ionia, by whome he was holpen in 
 his warres, Pfammetickus gaue certayne manner 
 places to dwell in, lying on each fide of the 
 riuer Nilus called the Tentes, whereof beeing 
 polfeffed, he performed all fuch promifes befides 
 that were couenaunted betweene them. More- 
 ouer, he put vnto them certayne yong impes 
 of the ^Egyptians to be inftru&ed in the 
 
 Greeke 
 
1 52 EUTERPE. 
 
 Greeke language, from whome, by difcent 
 of iffue came thofe which are now interpreters 
 in JEgypt, and vfe the Greeke tongue. A 
 long time did the people of Ionia and Carta 
 inhabite thofe places lying againft the lea, 
 fomewhat aboue the city of Bubaftis, fituate 
 at the mouth of Nilus, which is called Pelujia- 
 cum, from whence, they were afterwardes tranf- 
 lated by King Amajis into the city Memphis to 
 gard him againft the ^Egyptians. After the 
 Greekes were thus fetled in JEgypt, the people 
 of Greece had traffique thither, by which meanes, 
 fuch arfayres as were atchieued in that countrey 
 from Pfammitichus following, are certaynely 
 knowne of vs without any errour. Thefe were 
 the firft that inhabited JEgypt, being of a diuers 
 language from the homelings. In like manner, 
 from whence they fleeted thither, the reliques of 
 their lhips wherein they came, the olde poftes 
 and groundreels of their houfes were fhewed me. 
 And thefe were the meanes whereby Pfammiti- 
 chus obteyned the dominion of jEgypt. As 
 touching the oracle or feate of prophecie, we 
 haue made many wordes, and will make more, 
 as of a thing moft worthy to be mentioned. 
 This oracle is planted in the temple of the god- 
 deife Latona in a great city named Butis Hand- 
 ing againft the mouth of Nilus which is called 
 
 Sebemiiticum, 
 
EUTERPE. 153 
 
 Sebenniticum, into the which they haue entry 
 that from the vpper parte of the fea cut againlt 
 the ftreame. In this city alio are the temples 
 of Apollo and Diana, and the great pallace of 
 Latona, wherein is the place of diuination, 
 hauing a gallery belonging to it tenne paces 
 high. Heerein fuche things as might lawfully 
 be feene, and deferued greateft admiration, of 
 thofe I meane to make report. In this temple 
 of Latona is a fmall chappell framed of one 
 Hone, whole walles beeing of equall heigth, 
 were in length forty cubites : which femblably 
 was coped ouer the top with another Hone, 
 beeing foure cubites in thickeneife. Wherefore 
 of all thofe things that were pertayning to the 
 temple, there was nothing that deferued greater 
 woonder then this little chappell. Next to this 
 is an Ilande called Echemmis ftanding in the 
 middelt of a deepe and wide lake a little befides An Hand 
 the chiefe temple, whiche the ^-Egyptians fup- meth. 
 pofe to fwimme and to be borne vp of the 
 waters. Howbeit, I neither fawe it fwimme 
 nor mooue, maruayling very much (if it were 
 true) that an Hand lhould be caryed in the 
 waters. In this He is planted the temple of 
 Apollo, a greate and fumptuous building, lyke- 
 wyfe three rewes of aultares, and many fay re 
 
 palme-trees, 
 
154 EUTERPE. 
 
 palme-trees, fome very kynde and bearing fruite, 
 other fruitleffe and barren. 
 
 The ^Egyptians alfo render a caufe of the 
 fwimming of this Ilande, faying thus : that at 
 what time Latona (which is one of the eyght 
 faints that are of greateft antiquity amongft 
 them) dwelt in the city of Butis whereas nowe 
 the oracle is helde : fhe tooke the faueguard of 
 ifis the Apollo commended vnto her by his mother IJis, 
 Apollo. and preferued hys lyfe in the fame Ilande, 
 beeyng at that tyme ftedfaft and immoueable, 
 when as Typhon made fo diligente fearche in all 
 places to finde out the fonne of Ofyris. For 
 heere we muft vnderftande, that thys people 
 imagine Apollo and Diana to be the children of 
 Dionijius and IJis, and that Latona was but 
 theyr nourfe and bringer vp, that delyuered 
 them from perill. Apollo in the ^Egyptian 
 tongue is called Horus. Ceres hath the name of 
 Bis : Diana, of Bulaftis, from whence JEfchilus 
 the fonne of Euphorion drew his opinion, which 
 alone of all the reft of the poets maketh Diana 
 daughter to Ceres, after which euent, the lie 
 (fay they) became loofe, and was marked to 
 floate and mooue in the water. 
 Pfammiti- Pfammitichus gouerned in JEgypt 54 yeares, 
 
 ^"yearis? 29 of the which he fpent in the afleige of the 
 
 great 
 
EUTERPE. 155 
 
 great city of Syria, which at length he fubdued. 
 This city is called Azotus, which of all the cities 
 that euer wee hearde of, fufteyned the longeit 
 affaulte. 
 
 Infuing the raigne of Pfamniitichus, the 
 gouernemente of the countrey fell to Necus hys Necus King 
 fonne : by whome, firft of all was the channell 
 digged that leadeth to the red fea, whyche after- 
 wardes was call afrefhe, and made deeper by 
 Darius the Perfian. 
 
 The length of thys courfe was foure dayes 
 fayling, the breadth fuch, as two reafonable 
 veffels of three oares apeece might well fayle in 
 it together. 
 
 The water which is deriued from Nilus into 
 this channell, floweth into it a little aboue the 
 city Bubaftis, againft a towne of Arabia named 
 Patumon, and lb continueth hys courfe vnto the 
 red Sea. 
 
 They beganne firft to digge from the playne 
 of JEgypt towardes Arabia, for all the countrey 
 aboue the playne is filled and occupyed wyth a 
 courfe of greate mountaynes neere vnto the city 
 Memphis, wherein are many pittes and quarries 
 of ltone, wherefore from the roote of thys moun- 
 tayne is the channell deriued, continuing a long 
 courfe towardes the Ealt, vntyll it come to the 
 place where the hyll parteth in twayne, whyche 
 
 diftaunce 
 
156 EUTERPE. 
 
 diftaunce and feparation betweene the moun- 
 taynes openeth to the South regions, and leadeth 
 to the narrow feas of Arabia. 
 
 In the digging of thys courfe there perifhed 
 an hundred and twentie thoufande of the people 
 of JSgypt. 
 
 "When thys enterprife was halfe done, Necus 
 brake off and lefte it vnfinifhed, being dis- 
 couraged by a prophecie that tolde hym that 
 hee toyled for the profite and behoofe of a Bar- 
 barian. 
 
 The ^Egyptians tearme them all Barbarians 
 which are of a fundry language, Necus therefore 
 leauing hys worke vnfinifhed, applyed hys fradie 
 to the prouifion of warre, gathering fouldyers, 
 and preparing a fleete of warring Shippes, fome 
 of the which were builte at the North Seas, 
 others in the flrayghtes of Arabia at the red Sea, 
 fome tokens whereof are yet to be feene in the 
 fame places. Thys Fleete he employed in hys 
 affayres continuallie fo long as it fitted hym to 
 the vfe of warre. 
 
 Forfaking afterwards the Sea, and giuing him- 
 
 The aftes felfe to battailes by the land, where, in a conflict 
 
 Necus. with the Syrians at a place named Magdolos, he 
 
 wanne the renowne of the fielde, and after 
 
 the battayle was ended, tooke the greate city 
 
 Caditis. 
 
 And 
 
EUTERPE. 157 
 
 And beeyng very neate and fine in hys ap- 
 parrell, he fent a fute of hys braueft array to 
 Apollo in Branchidce, a certayne field of the 
 Milefians. In the ende, after he had held the Necus 
 Kingdome feauenteene yeares, hee then died, yeSZ. ' 7 
 leauing the title of his foueraignety to Pfammis Pfammis 
 his fonne. During whofe raigne, a certayne ^Egy P °ianZ 
 people called Helus fent meffengers abrode into 
 all regions, to giue them to vnderftand how by 
 them was deuifed a game in Olympus of greater 
 admiration and equitie, then by any that euer 
 had vfed that place, fuppofing that the ^Egyp- 
 tians (who had the prayie of wifedome aboue all 
 nations) could not better or more iuftly difpofe 
 of thefe matters then themfelues. When they 
 were come into JEgypt, and had told the caufe 
 of their arriuall thither, the King affembled fuch 
 of the JEyyptians as were moft excellent for 
 graue and fage aduice aboue the reft. To 
 whome, when the Helians had made difcourfe 
 of all thofe things which they had ordeyned in 
 the fetting foorth of this noble combate, and had 
 afked the ^Egyptians if they could deuife any 
 thing better, after deliberation had of the matter, 
 they afked the Helians whether they had ina6ted 
 that citizens fhould mayntayne the controuerfie 
 againft ftrangers, or otherwife, who aunfwered, 
 that it was indifferently lawfull for all to ftriue 
 
 of 
 
158 EUTERPE. 
 
 of what countrey foeuer he were : whereto the 
 ^Egyptians replyed, that it coulde no wife ftande 
 wyth iuftice, forfomuch as one citizen would 
 ihew fauour to another, and by that meanes by 
 partial dealing do iniurie to thofe that came from 
 farre, fo that in cafe they would order the matter 
 with more equity, and for that caufe had arriued 
 in JEgypt, it were better to make the game for 
 ftrangers alone, not fuffering any of the Helians 
 to ftriue. Thefe things the ^Egyptians put into 
 Pfammis theyr heads and fent them packing. Pfammis 
 
 raignedfixe , . , _ ., n , . . 
 
 yeares. hauing raigned full out fixe yeares, and making 
 a voyage of warre into sEthyopia, incontinently 
 dyed. 
 
 After whome, fucceeded his fonne Apryes the 
 
 Apryes King moft fortunateft of all the princes that had ruled 
 
 after the de- . . . 
 
 ceaffeof before him, excepting PJamvntichus his great 
 
 Pfammis. . ~ . . 
 
 graundlire, gouerning the countrey 25 yeares. 
 During which time, he warred vpon Sydon, and 
 fought with the people of Tyrus by Sea. How- 
 beit, fortune owing him a defpight, fhe payde 
 him home at length, the caufe whereof, we wil 
 briefely touch at this prefent, deferring a more 
 ample difcourfe of the fame, till we come to 
 fpeake of the affayres of the Punickes. When 
 as therefore vndertaking a iourney againft the 
 Cyrenians he had fuffered great loffe of his 
 men : the ^Egyptians continuing hatred againft 
 
 him, 
 
EUTERPE. 159 
 
 him, denied their allegeaunce and rebelled, fup- 
 pofing that he had betrayed their hues on pur- 
 pofe, to the end that with more fecurity he might 
 gouerne thofe that remained. For which caufe 
 in great diidayne, afwell fuch as forfooke him 
 and returned home, as alio the friends of thefe 
 that had died in the battell, ftoode at defiance 
 with the king, renounceing all duties of fubiec- 
 tion. Apryes witting hereof, fent Amafis to 
 treate peace with them : who, when he came 
 and in many words had rebuked their diiloyalty, 
 one of the ^Egyptians ftanding behinde him 
 clapt a Coftlet on his head, faying hee had done 
 it to make him King, Amajis nothing difcon- Amafis rofe 
 tent herewith, was no foner proclaymed King by Apryes. 
 the rebells, but forthwith he put himfelfe in a 
 readinelfe to encounter with Apryes. Apryes 
 vnderftanding this, fent one of the ^Egyptians 
 named Patarbemes a man of approued vertue,with 
 efpeciall charge to bring to him Amafis alyue. 
 Who arryuing fpeedely at the place where hee 
 was : tolde him the Kinges pleafure. Amafis 
 fittinge on horfe backe and incouraginge thofe 
 that were about him, commaunded Patarbemes to 
 bring Apryes vnto him : Patarbemes once agayne 
 willing him to make fpeede to the King, who 
 had fente for him : hee anfwered that hee 
 woulde come with all fpeede poffible, fayinge, 
 
 that 
 
160 EUTERPE. 
 
 that the Kinge fhoulde haue no caufe to com- 
 playne of his flacknefle, for hee purpofed, god 
 willing, to bee with him fhortely, and bringe 
 him more company. Patarhemes perceiuinge 
 by his maner of fpeache and dealinges what hee 
 was mynded to doe, thought with as much 
 fpeede as hee coulde to geue notice to the King : 
 and being returned, Apryes in a great rage, for 
 that hee had lefte Amafis behinde him, without 
 any woordes, by and by commaunded his Nofe 
 and his Eares to bee cut of. The reft of the 
 ^Egyptians that followed the Kinges partes 
 feeing this, that fo worthy and renowned a man 
 fhould without caufe fuffer fo great lhame and 
 reproche amongft them, without any delay 
 fled ouer to the rebelles and came to Amafis. 
 Apryes increafing his fury, put in armoure all 
 fuch as of forrayne countries were hyrelinges in 
 his hofte (which hee had of Ionia and Carta, 
 aboute thirty thowfande men) and marched 
 agaynft the Egyptians. Hee had in the City 
 Sats a very great and gorgeous Pallace. The 
 armyes therefore of bothe parties, incamped 
 agaynft other at the City Memphis, there to 
 abide the lot and euent of the battayle. 
 
 Nowe the people of sEgypt are diuerfly ad- 
 The trades dieted, amongft whom are to bee marked feuen 
 in I/Egypt S fundry Trades and kindes of liuing : which 
 
 are 
 
EUTERPE. 161 
 
 are thefe : Priefts, Souldiers, Grafters, Neate- 
 heardes, Sale/men, Interpreters, Maryners : fo 
 many kindes bee there of this people, taken 
 of the Trade or crafte which euery one fol- 
 loweth. Likewife, the fouldiers are called 
 Calqfiries and Hermotybies dwelling in certayne 
 regions. For the whole countreye of jEgypte 
 is diftinguifhed into certaine territories. The 
 coaftes of the Hermotylies are thefe. Bufiris, 
 Sdis, Chemmis, Papremis, and the halfe parte of 
 the Hand Profopis, otherwife called JSatho. In 
 thefe quarters are inhabyting of the fouldiers 
 Hermotylies 160 thowfande, none of the which 
 geue themfelues to manuary artes or any trade 
 of gayne, but wholly praclife the fcience of 
 armes. Moreouer, to the Calafyrians are af- 
 figned thefe regions : Thelana, Bulajliana, Aph- 
 tkitana, Tanitana, Mendejia, Selenitana, Athri- 
 litana, Pharlcethitana, Thmuitana, Thnuphitana, 
 Anyfia, Myecphoritana, which tribe poffeffefh 
 an Hand lying againft the City Bulajiis. The 
 tribes of the Calafyrians, when they are muftered 
 to the moft, yeelde to the warre two hundred 
 and fiftye thowfand men, which are neuer trained 
 vp in any thing but in feates of Chiualry the 
 Sonne learning of his father. 
 
 Which cuftome, whether the Greekes tooke 
 from the Egyptians, or borowed it from els 
 
 where, 
 
 L 
 
1 62 EUTERPE. 
 
 Craftsmen of where, I can not certainely fay, feeing that in 
 leaft in the Scythia, Perjia, and Lydia, and welnigh all the 
 countreyes of the Barbarians, the bafelt forte of 
 Cityzens are fuch as exercife handicraftes, and 
 their children of leafte accounte : and they beft 
 regarded which are leafte conuerfante in the 
 fame, efpecially fuch as are employed in the 
 fielde. 
 
 The fame maner alfo doe the Grecians ob- 
 ferue, and chiefly the Lacedcemonyans, and euen 
 amonge the Corinthyans, craftsmen and fuch 
 others are debafed to the loweft degree. 
 
 To thefe gentlemen fouldiers, this chiefe 
 The honour honour is afiigned above all fortes of men, failing 
 in vEgypt. thofe onely that are burled in the feruice of the 
 Sainctes, that to euery one of them is allotted 
 twelue portions of finguler good grounde, exempt 
 and free from all kinde of Tribute and Penfion, 
 and feuerall to their owne vfe and behoofe. 
 Each plot of grounde contayning euery way an 
 hundred cubyts by the ^Egyptian meafure. A 
 cubyt amongft the ^Egyptians is equall to that 
 which they vfe in Samos. 
 
 A thowfand of each company, afwell of the 
 
 Calyfirians as Hermatylians, did yearely geue 
 
 TheKynges attendaunce, to garde and defend the Kinges 
 
 body. To whom, befides the profite and reuen- 
 
 newes of their land, were certayne Farme-places 
 
 geuen, 
 
EUTERPE. 163 
 
 geuen, to each man one. Moreouer, for their 
 lyuery hue pound of tofted bread, two pounde of 
 Beefe, and a gallon of wyne, which were duely 
 lerued to them euery day. When as therefore 
 Apryes on the one fide with his ftipendaries, and 
 on the other fide Amajis with an huge army of 
 the ^Egyptians were come into the City Mem- 
 phis, they clofed battaile : where the hyred 
 fouldiers of Apryes acquited them felues very 
 valiauntly, till at the length (being fewer in 
 number) they were put to flight. Apryes was 
 perfwaded that neither god nor the diuell coulde 
 haue ioynted his nofe of the Empyre, hee feemed 
 fo furely to haue ftrengthned it to him felfe. 
 Neuerthelefle, in this fight hee was foyled, taken 
 a liue, and caried to his owne courte in Sa is : 
 where Amajis kept him more like a Prynce than 
 a pryfoner, for the time that hee lyued. At 
 length the ^Egyptians murmuring againfie him, 
 that hee did not well to referue a liue a mortall 
 enemy both to himfelfe and the whole country, 
 he delyuered vp Apryes into their handes. 
 Whom they immediatly toke and ftrangled, the death of 
 and buried him in the fepulcher of his father in pryes " 
 the temple of Minerua, neere vnto a certayne 
 Oratory, at the lefte hand as you enter in. Being 
 the vfe with the people of Sais to burie all fuch, 
 as out of their tribe haue attayned to the king- 
 dome, 
 
1 64 EUTERPE. 
 
 dome, within the temple. For the toumbe of 
 Amajis is placed vppon the other fide of the 
 Oratory, contrary to the Sepulcher of Apryes 
 and his Progenitours. Likewife, in one place of 
 this Temple is a fayre Chamber builte of ftone, 
 beautyfied with fun dry Pyllers ingrauen like vnto 
 Palme-trees, being otherwyfe very fumptuoufly 
 and royally garnifhed. Iu the middeft of the 
 Chamber are two mayne Pofts, betwene the 
 which ftandeth a Cophine. There is alfo a 
 toumbe in the fame, the name whereof I may 
 not defcry without breache of Religion. 
 
 At Sai's in the Temple of Minerua, beneath 
 the Churche and neere vnto the walle of Minerua, 
 in a bale Chappell, are ftandinge certayne greate 
 brooches of ftone, whereto is adioyninge a lowe 
 place in manner of a Dungeon, couered ouer 
 wyth a ftone curioufly wroughte, the Vaute it 
 felfe being on euery fide carued with mod ex- 
 quifite arte, in biggneffe matchinge with that in 
 Delos, which is called Trocho'ides. Herein euery 
 one counterfayteth the fhadowes of hys owne 
 affections and phantafies in the nyghte feafon, 
 which the ^Egyptians call Myfteryes : touchinge 
 which, god forbid, I fhould aduenture to dif- 
 couer fo much as they vouchiafed to tell mee. 
 In lyke manner of the Decrees of Ceres, which 
 the Grecians terme foopo<f>6°icc, that is to fay, the 
 
 publilhinge 
 
EUTERPE. 165 
 
 publifhinge of Lawes and Ordynances : of thefe 
 matters I dare not bee very francke in fpeakinge, 
 no further then religion wyll permit. This is 
 certayne, that the Daughters of Daneus were the 
 firfte that brought this cuftome oute of JEgypte, 
 and made it knowne to the women of Pelafgos. 
 But afterwardes miflyked of the Dores, it was 
 vtterly abolyfhed and lefte off in all the Coun- 
 trey of Peloponnefus, fauinge of certayne Arca- 
 dians, whom the people of Peloponnefus lycenfed 
 to contynewe in the Countrey, by whome the 
 fame order was retayned. 
 
 Apryes being dead Amajis raygned in his fteede The Kinge. 
 being of the Tribe of Sa'is, and trayned vp in a 
 City named Suph. In the firft entraunce of his 
 raygne the ^Egyptians fet lyght by him, and had 
 him in greate contempte, being fpronge of no 
 Noble houfe, but aryfinge of the common troup 
 of the popular forte. Whofe goodwill Amafis A deuife 
 
 1 -, f ,,- , wrought by 
 
 foughte to reconcile rather by pollicy than Amafis to 
 feuerity. Being therefore infinitely riche, he goodwill of 
 had amongeft other his treafure, a Bafen of ' S " Je 
 cleane Golde wherein both him felfe and his 
 Gueftes were wont to wafhe their Feete. This 
 Bafon hee caufed to bee beaten into the forme 
 and Image of a god, and fet it vp in a fit place 
 of the City. The Egyptians repayringe to the 
 place, bowed themfelues in greate reuerence vnto 
 
 the 
 
166 EUTERPE. \ 
 
 the Image : which Amajis hauing learned by his 
 friendes, affemblinge the people, tolde them that 
 of the fame Bafen wherein him felfe, and many- 
 other of the JEgyptians had bene wonte to 
 vomite, pyife, waihe their feete, and all fuch 
 bafe exercifes, was framed the god that they fo 
 greatly honoured : faying, that his owne prefent 
 eftate was not much vnlyke vnto that Bafon : 
 for albeit, before time he had bene one of the 
 bafeft degree of the people, yet now being their 
 Kinge hee ought of ryghte to bee had in honour. 
 Whereby the JEgyptians weare fo allured that 
 they thought it meete afterwards to obeye their 
 Hiscuftome Prynce. Who afterwards obferued this Cuf- 
 ftring°the tome in dealinge with the affayres of the realme : 
 kmgdome. f rom t h e m0 rninge, vntill the places of ailembly 
 and common meeting were filled, hee fat vppon 
 all matters, that were brought before him : fpend- 
 ing the reft of the day amongft his companyons 
 in fwilling, drinking, and fuch broade and vn- 
 feemely iefting, as if hee had bene fome common 
 rybauld or Vyce of a playe. Whereat his friendes 
 aggrieuinge, rebuked him in theie or fuch like 
 termes. Moft worthy Prince, it is a great ble- 
 miih to your name to hue fo wickedly, more 
 meete it were for you to fit in a Throne of 
 maiefty and decide the caufes of your fubiecfs, 
 whereby the JEgyptians might knowe them 
 
 felues 
 
EUTERPE. 167 
 
 felues to bee gouerned by a worthy Prince, and 
 your fame bee increafed throughout all the lande. 
 To whom hee anfwered. They that owe the 
 Bowe knowe beft when to bend it : which being 
 alway bent becommeth fo weake, that it is alto- 
 gether vnfit for thole that lhoulde vfe it : euen 
 fo it fareth with thofe that tyreing themfelues 
 with continuall paynes, geuing no intermillion 
 to their cares, they are fodenly bereaued either 
 of their right minde, or their perfit members. 
 
 This king, whiles hee lyued without honour, 
 was geuen to bibbing and fcoffing without mea- His nature, 
 fure, neuer greatly minding his affayres : and as 
 ofte as hee wanted to feme his turne, and to 
 yeelde fupply to his pleafures, he fought mayn- 
 tenance by filching and ftealing, whereof if 
 happily hee were at any time attached, his maner 
 was to ftand ftoutly in deniall of the thing and 
 defiance of the perfon : for which caufe, being 
 many times brought to the Oracles and places of 
 fouthfaying : hee was fometime conui&ed by 
 them, and at other times acquited. Wherefore, 
 hauing attayned to the kingdome, which of the 
 gods foeuer had acquited him of theft, he had no 
 regard to their temples, did no honour to them, 
 gaue no gyftes, offered no facrifice, efteeming 
 them vnworthy of any reuerence, hauing geuen 
 out a falfe verdite. And fuch as had pronounced 
 
 him 
 
1 68 EUTERPE. 
 
 him guilty, to thefe as to the moft true gods, 
 whofe Oracles were agreeable to iuftice, hee 
 perfourmed the greateft honour hee coulde de- 
 uife. Betides, in the City of Sais hee made a 
 porche to the temple of Minerua, a worke of 
 great admiration, and farre palling the reft, both 
 in heights and bigneffe, fo great is the quantity 
 of the ftones that were employed in the building. 
 Hee erected befides in the fame place, diuerfe 
 Images of a wonderfull fize, and the piftures of 
 many noyfome and peftilent Serpents. Hee 
 layde there alfo many huge ftones, to the re- 
 payring of the temple, parte of the which were 
 digged out of the ftone quarryes by Memphis : 
 other of great quantity brought from the city of 
 Elephantina, which is diftant from Sais 20 dayes 
 fayling. Moreouer, that which is not the leaft 
 wonder, but in my minde to bee reckoned 
 amongft the chiefeft : hee brought from Ele- 
 phantina an houfe framed of one ftone : in the 
 cariage whereof 2000 choyfe men of the Mariners 
 of JEgypt confumed three yeares. The route 
 hereof on the outlide is 21 cubyts longe, 14 
 cubits broad, and eight cubites highe : being on 
 the infid 22 cubytes in length, and in height 
 5. This houfe is fet at the entring into the 
 temple : geuing this reafon why it was not 
 brought into the church, for that the chiefe 
 
 Mariner, 
 
EUTERPE. 169 
 
 Mariner, when he had gotten it to that place, as 
 wearie wyth hys dayes worke, tooke refpite and 
 breathed him felfe, whereat the King being very 
 much mooued, bad him leaue of work, not per- 
 mitting him to labour any longer. Some lay 
 that one of thofe, which were burled in heauing 
 of the ftone with leauers, to haue bene bruifed 
 to death by it, and that this was the caufe why it 
 ftoode without the Pallace. By the fame King 
 were erected fundry temples, built by arte very 
 exquifitely and cunningly, whereof one hee 
 made facred to Vulcane : before which lyeth a 
 great Image with the face vpwarde, in length 
 leuenty hue feete, being fpread along vppon a 
 pauement of ftone : in the felfe fame place on 
 eache fide this Image, ftand two carued monu- 
 ments of ftone, twenty foote in quantity. Like 
 vnto this is another ftone in Sais, lying in the 
 felfe fame maner. In like forte the great temple 
 in Memphis, fo gorgeous and beautifull to the 
 fight of all that behold it, was the handiwork 
 alio of the fame King Amajis. In the time of 
 this Kinges gouernmente JEgypt floryfhed in all 
 wealth, being greatly increafed, afwell by the 
 ryches which the ryuer yeeldeth, as in other re- 
 uenewes which the people receyue by the coun- 
 trey, which at the fame time was fo populous 
 that there were then inhabited 20000 cityes. 
 
 Likewife, 
 
170 EUTERPE. 
 
 Likewife, by this Kinge it was enacfed, that 
 Aftatuteof euerye one ihould yearely render accounte to 
 the cheife prelident of the countrey, howe, and 
 by what maner of trade hee gayned his lyuinge : 
 being alwayes prouyding that fuch as refined to 
 doe it at all, or beeinge called to a reckoninge, 
 coulde fhewe no lawefull meanes, howe they 
 fpent their tymes ; fhould for the fame caufe bee 
 adiudged to dye. 
 
 Which lawe Solon borowing of the ^Egyptians, 
 did publifh it in Athens, and is by them, for the 
 profite thereof, moft religioully obferued. Amqfis 
 vppon good affe&ion hee bare to the Grecians, 
 befides other benefittes franckly beftowed on 
 them, made it lawefull, for all fuch as trauayled 
 into JEgypte, to inhabyte the City Naucrates. 
 And fuch as would not abyde in that place, 
 hauinge more mynde to feafaring for the vfe of 
 Marchaundize, to thofe hee gaue lybertye to 
 plant aulters and builde churches. So that the 
 greater!: and moft famous Temple in all the 
 land is called the Grecian temple. The Cityes 
 of the Greekes by whofe charge and expence this 
 temple was builte in JEgypte, were thefe : of the 
 countrey of Ionia, Chius, Teus, Phoccea, Clazo- 
 mene : amongft the Dorians foure Cities : Rho- 
 dus, Cnydus, Halicarnajfus , Phafelus : one City 
 of the people of sEolia, namely, Mitylene. To 
 
 thele 
 
EUTERPE. 171 
 
 thefe Cityes of Greece is the Temple belonginge, 
 by whom alfo are founde and mayntayned cer- 
 tayne Priefts to feme in the fame. There are 
 other townes beiides in Greece that haue fome 
 righte to the Temple, as hauing contributed fome 
 thinge to the vie of the fame. 
 
 Howbeit the Temple of Iupiter, the people of 
 JEgina built of their owne proper coll. No 
 City toke parte with Santos in fetting vp the 
 Pallace of luno : the Milejians alone tooke vppou 
 them to ere6t the Temple of Apollo. Beiides 
 thefe there are no other monuments built by the 
 Grecians which remayne extant in JEgypt. And 
 if by fortune any of the Greekes paiie into Nylus, 
 by any other way then that which ferueth to 
 lande from Greece, hee is fayne to fweare that 
 hee was conltrained agaynlt his will, byndinge 
 him felfe by oath that in the fame Shippe he 
 wyll fpeede him felfe into Canobicus, another 
 Channell of the Ryuer fo called : and if by con- 
 trarye wyndes hee bee hindered from arryuinge 
 there : hee mufte hyre caryage by water, and fo 
 ferry the nexte way to Naucrates. In luch forte 
 were the Grecians tyed to that City, beinge by 
 reafon of their trafique thyther, had in principall 
 honoure. Nowe whereas the Pallace of Am- 
 phiclion whiche is nowe at Delphos, beeing 
 liraungely pearylhed by fyre, was gone in hande 
 
 with 
 
172 EUTERPE. 
 
 with a frefhe, vppon price of three hundred tal- 
 lentes : the people of Delphos which were 
 leauyed at the fourth parte of the charges, ftray- 
 ing aboute all countryes, gathered very much, 
 being chiefly affyfted by the ^Egyptians. 
 
 Amajis the Kinge, beftowinge on them a 
 thowfande tallents of Alume, and the Grecians 
 that were abyding in ySgypt twenty pound. 
 Moreouer, with the CyrencBans Prynce Amqfis 
 entred friendfhip, and ftrooke a league of fellow- 
 Ihip with the fame, infomuch, that he thought 
 meete to enter allyaunce with them, taking a 
 wife of that countrey, eyther for affection he 
 bare to the women of Greece, or in refpecfe of 
 hys loue to the Cyrenceans. His wife, as fome 
 fay, was the daughter of Battus fonne of Arceji- 
 laus, as others reporte, of Critolulus a man of 
 chiefe credite and regarde amongft thofe with 
 whome he dwelt. His Ladies name was Ladyce, 
 a woman of furpaffing beautie, with whome, the 
 King beeing in bed, was fo ftrangely benummed, 
 and daunted in courage, as if he had bene an 
 Eunuch, not able to execute any dutie of a man, 
 wherat the King himfelfe beeing greately agaft, 
 feeling himfelfe frollicke in the company of other 
 women, and fo faint to hys Lady Ladyce, on a 
 time began to taunt her in thefe tearmes. Can 
 it be thou filthy and deteftable hagge, that by 
 
 any 
 
EUTERPE. 173 
 
 any meanes I fhould refrayne from doing thee to 
 the moft miferable death that can be detailed, 
 which haft thus inchaunted and bewitched my 
 body : Tn faith minion, I will coniure this diuill of 
 yours, and aflure thy felfe, if thy lucke be not 
 the better, thou ihalt not hue two dayes to an 
 ende. The poore Lady ftanding ftiffely in her 
 owne defence, and nothing preuayling to ap- 
 peafe his fury, vowed within her felfe to the 
 goddefle Venus, that in cafe it might pleafe her 
 to inable Amqfis to performe the duties of an 
 hutband, and accompany with her the fame 
 night, lhe would dedicate an image vnto her at 
 Cyren(B. Her prayers being heard, Amajis be- 
 came fo frollicke, that before the morning they 
 arofe the beft contented folkes on the earth, euer 
 after that finding hymfelfe fo apt to enioy the 
 delightes of his Lady, that he tooke greateft 
 pleafure in her company, and loued her moft 
 entirely of all other. Ladyce remembring her 
 vowe flie had made to Venus, thought good to 
 performe it, and framing a moft beautifull and 
 curious image, lhe fente it to the city Cyrence, 
 which ftoode vnperilhed vnto our dayes, being 
 placed by the citizens without the towne. The 
 fame Ladyce, Cambyfes King of Perfia vanquiih- 
 ing jEgypt vnderftanding what fhe was, fent her 
 without any manner fhame or violence into her 
 
 owne 
 
174 EUTERPE. 
 
 owne countrey. By this King Amqfis were 
 many giftes diflxibuted of fingulare price and 
 value. To Cyrence he fent the image of Miner ua, 
 garnifhed all ouer wyth gilt, and his owne per- 
 fonage mod curioufly fhadowed by a Paynter. 
 Likewife to the city Lindus he gaue two images 
 of the goddeffe Minerua wrought in ftone, with 
 a linnen ftomacher moll excellently imbrodered 
 by arte. Moreouer, to the goddeffe Iuno in 
 Samus, two pictures expreiling her diuine beau- 
 tie, of moil exquilite workemanfhip. Which 
 bountie he exercifed towards the Samians for 
 the great friendfhip he bare to their King Poly- 
 crates the fonne of JEaces. But to the city 
 Lyndus, why he fhould fhewe hymfelfe fo 
 franke and liberall, no other reafon ferued, 
 fauing that the fame wente that the great 
 temple of Minerua in Lindus was builded by 
 the daughters of Danaus after they were knowne, 
 and had efcaped the daungers intended againft 
 them by the fonnes of JEgyptus. 
 Thefe and many other excellente gifts were difperfed 
 and giuen abroade by King Amqfis. By whome alfo 
 the city Cyprus which was deemed of all men 
 inuincible, and had neuer before beene 
 vanquifhed by any, was conquer- 
 ed, taken, and brought 
 vnder tribute. 
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