View:
By Section
[1]
When the Fish-eaters arrived among these men, they gave the gifts to their king and said: “ Cambyses, the king of the Persians, wishing to become your friend and ally, sent us with orders to address ourselves to you; and he offers you as gifts these things which he enjoys using himself.”
When the Fish-eaters arrived among these men, they gave the gifts to their king and said: “ Cambyses, the king of the Persians, wishing to become your friend and ally, sent us with orders to address ourselves to you; and he offers you as gifts these things which he enjoys using himself.”
[2] But the
Ethiopian, perceiving that they had come as spies, spoke thus to them: “It is not because he values my friendship that the
Persian King sends you with gifts, nor do you speak the truth (for you have come to spy on my realm), nor is that man just; for were he just, he would not have coveted a land other than his own, nor would he try to lead into slavery men by whom he has not been injured. Now, give him this bow, and this message:
[3] ‘The King of the
Ethiopians advises the King of the
Persians to bring overwhelming odds to attack the long-lived
Ethiopians when the
Persians can draw a bow of this length as easily as I do; but until then, to thank the gods who do not incite the sons of the
Ethiopians to add other land to their own.’”
Histories. Herodotus. ed. A.D. Godley. Cambridge. 1920-1925.
Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.
Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.