[p. 35] perhaps endure fatigue,
and die for their masters, far from their children, their wives, and
other friends; and whatever noble and manly actions they may perform
lead only to the aggrandizement of their masters, whilst the fruits
which they reap are dangers and death; and, in addition to all this,
the lands of such persons must be laid waste by the enemy and want
of culture. Thus, then, if any one be naturally warlike and courageous,
his disposition will be changed by the institutions. As a strong proof
of all this, such Greeks or barbarians in Asia as are not under a
despotic form of government, but are independent, and enjoy the fruits
of their own labors, are of all others the most warlike; for these
encounter dangers on their own account, bear the prizes of their own
valor, and in like manner endure the punishment of their own cowardice.
And you will find the Asiatics differing from one another, for some
are better and others more dastardly; of these differences, as I stated
before, the changes of the seasons are the cause. Thus it is with
Asia.
PART 17
In Europe there is a Scythian race, called Sauromatae, which inhabits
the confines of the Palus Maeotis, and is different from all other
races. Their women mount on horseback, use the bow, and throw the
javelin from their horses, and fight with their enemies as long as
they are virgins; and they do not lay aside their virginity until
they kill three of their enemies, nor have any connection with men
until they perform the sacrifices according to law. Whoever takes
to herself a husband, gives up riding on horseback unless the necessity
of a general expedition obliges her. They have no right breast; for
while still of a tender age their mothers heat strongly a copper instrument
constructed for this very purpose, and apply it to the right breast,
which is burnt up, and its development being arrested, all the strength
and fullness are determined to the right shoulder and arm.
PART 18
As the other Scythians have a peculiarity of shape, and do not resemble
any other, the same observation applies to the Egyptians, only that
the latter are oppressed by heat and the former by cold. What is called
the Scythian desert is a prairie, rich in meadows, high-lying, and
well watered; for the rivers which carry off the water from the plains
are large. There live
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