The Preface.
gers. To this the Prince anſwers, that theſe Planet-mongers were the Οξυδράπαι, who were a people diſpoſed to the Wars: σοφίαν τὲ μεταχφρισαδζ φασιν, οὐδὲν χσησὸν εἰδότες; And for Knowledg (ſaith he) they make a great Profeſſion of it, but indeed they know nothing that is Excellent. But he proceeds: Οἱ ᾖ ἀτεχνῶς σοφοὶ, &c. Thoſe Wiſe-men (ſaith he) who are truly ſuch, dwell between the River Hyphaſis and Ganges, into which place Alexander never came, not that he durſt not attempt it, ἀλλ’ ≡ιμαι τὰ ἱεοὰ, ἀπεσήμηνεν ἀυτῶ, but as I think (ſaith the Prince) the Reverence due to their Myſteries kept him off. To this he adds, that Alexander knew the River Hyphaſis was paſſable, and that he might with eaſe beleagure the City, wherein theſe Magi did dwell; ἀλλὰ τώ γετύρσιν, but their Tower (ſaith he) had he brought with him a thouſand ſuch Souldiers as Achilles was, and three thouſand ſuch as Ajax, he could never have taken it. To this he gives his Reaſon, namely, that the Magi did not make any ſallies to beat off their Enemies, but keeping quietly within their gates, they
deſtroyed
