Key to Easy Latin Stories for beginners/Part IV/XXII

by George L. Bennett

Layout 2

XXII.—THE AETHIOPIANS.

Some account of the Aethiopians, to whom Cambyses sends an embassy.

281.—Cambyses determined to make an expedition against the Aethiopians. So he sent as scouts some of the Ichthyophagi, who were skilled in the language of the Aethiopians. He sent these to the Aethiopians, well taught as to what they should say, and bearing gifts, a cloak, golden armlets, and a skin of wine. Now these Aethiopians are said to be the strongest and handsomest of all men; they make king whomsoever of their number they consider most handsome and most remarkable for strength of body. So when the Ichthyophagi reached these men they spoke as follows: 'Cambyses, king of the Persians, wishing to form a friendship with thee, O king, has sent us, and gives these gifts, in the use of which he himself also is much pleased.’

The answer of the Aethiopian king.

282.—And the Aethiopian understanding that they were coming as spies replied to them as follows: ‘Neither did the Persian king send you bearing gifts; nor do you speak the truth; nor is he a good man: for if he were good he would not have desired any empire except his own, nor would he have enslaved men who had done him no wrong. So the king of the Aethiopians commends the king of the Persians to undertake an expedition against us, when the Persians can use bows of this sort as easily (as we can). So saying he discharged an arrow from the bow, and gave the bow to those who came.

He examines the presents.

283.—Then taking up the cloak he asked what it was, and in what way it was made. And when the Ichthyopha gave him truthful answers, he remarked ‘that these men were deceitful, and that so were their cloaks.’ Then he asked about the armlets. And when they had spoken of this ornament, the king said with a laugh, thinking they were fetters, that there were among them better fetters than these. When he got to the wine, being much pleased with the drink, he then inquired what food the king used, and what was the longest extent of life (granted) to a Persian. And they said that they lived on bread; and that 80 years was the longest term assigned to the life of man. Then the Aethiopian remarked that it was not surprising that they lived so short a number of years, since they ate such food; and they would not be able to live even so many years unless they made use of this drink: for in this one (respect) (he admitted) they were excelled by the Persians.

He astonishes the spies.

284.—When the Ichtyopha in turn questioned the king about (their) length of life and kind of food: he said that most of them attained 120 years (of age); but their food was cooked meat, their drink, milk. And when the spies were wondering a what he had said about the number of (their) years, they said they were led by him to a river from washing in which their skin he become shining, as if it were a river of oil; that this water moreover, exhaled a very sweet odour and that the Aethiopians lived long because they used his water. While going away from the river they used to relate that they were led to a place where men in chains (lit. bound) were being guarded, and that there they saw all the fetters (to be) of gold. For among these Aethiopians copper is the most precious of metals.

The failure of the Expedition.

285.—The spies after seeing all these things returned. And when they brought back this news, Cambyses, being greatly enraged, determined to wage war on the Aethiopians, without givng any orders about supplies and not reflecting that this expedition was being undertaken against most remote regions. But the troops, as long they were able to find anything from the earth, supported life by eating roots; but when they came to the sands, some of them committed an awful deed; for they chose out every tenth man by lot and devoured him. On ascertaining this, Cambyses gave up the expidition against the Aethiopians, and returned home.