The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation Volume Ix Part 6

Haeres cuius pater defungitur, si alicuius vult esse reputationis, mandat cognatos, amicos, Relligiosos, et sacerdotes pro posse, qui certo Die conuenientes sub magno Symphoniae festo, corportant defuncti cadauer, in montis sublime cac.u.men. Ibi accedens dignior Praelatorum, funeris caput abscindit, tradens haeredi in aureo disco decantanti sub deuotione suas orationes c.u.m suis in propria lingua. Atque interim aues regionis rapaces, et immundae, vt corui, vultures, et aquilae, quae pro consuetudine optime morem norunt, aduolant magno numero in aere: Tuncque Relligiosi c.u.m sacerdotibus detruncant corpus in frusta velut in macello, proijcientes pecias in altum auibus, ac decantantes certam ad hoc compositam orationem, tanquam si nostri sacerdotes cantarent. Subuenite sancti Dei, etc.

Et habet eorum oratio, hunc sensum in sua lingua. Respice quam iustus et sanctus ext.i.tit h.o.m.o iste, quem Angeli Dei conueniunt accipere et in Paradisum deferre. Talique diabolico errore delusi, putant filius, et amici, quod defunctus sit in Paradisum translatus, viuat illic sempiterne beatus, quoniam, vbi plures conuenere volucrum, ibi maiorem laetantur et iactant fuisse numerum Angelorum.

Hinc deinde reuertentes, c.u.m choris, et resonantia Musicorum, filius paratum praestat omnibus conuiuium, in cuius fine pro extremo ferculo, tradit singulis particulam, de patris capite summa c.u.m devotione. Hanc etiam capitis caluariam filius facit postmodum debite formari et poliri sibi pro cypho, in quo bibit in conuijs, ob recordationem amantissimi patris.

Ab hoc Regno decem dietis per potestatem Imperatoris Grand Can, inuenitur Insula delectabilis, et speciosa satis: cuius Rex est praepotens in gloria, et in diuitijs superabundans, et de multis quae illic geruntur admirandis vnum recito solum.

[Sidenote: Diues Epulo.] Qud est ibi h.o.m.o quidam ditissimus nullius dignitatis nomine honoratus, sed bysso, ac serico adornatus, et splendide omni tempore epulatus: non ergo vult dici princeps, Dux, comes, miles, aut huiusmodi, licet superioritatem habeat super marchiones aliquos et barones.

Eius possessionis valor aestimatur in anno 30. c.u.man de a.s.sinarijs bladi, et risi, nec quaerit nisi delitiose viuere in isto seculo, vt c.u.m diuite Epulone sepeliatur in inferno. c.u.m etiam sibi derelictus sit, iste viuendi modus a retrogenitoribus, eum et ipse posteris derelinquet. Hic tanquam Imperiali residet palatio, cuius muri ambitus ad tractum leucae tenditur, continens arbusta, vineta, rinulos, fontes et stagna, aulas, et cubicula auro strata depictaque mire, et sculpta artificiose, vltra quam vales explicare, et inter omnia ad medium palatium in celso vertice atrium amaenum, valde tamen modico, sed cunctis praeciosius, aedificio, quasi ad seema nostrarum Ecclesiarium, c.u.m turribus, pilarijs, et columnis, in quibus nihil prominet indignius auro. Nunquam vel rar hic exit de suo palatio c.u.m solis pulchris quos sibi conuocat et conuariat paruis pueris et puellis, non excedentibus 16. annos aetatis. Tendit dum libet pedibus, quandoque vectatur equo, interdum ducitur vehiculo, nonnunquam vult ferri gestatorio, vel certe puellaribus brachijs, et visitat saep.i.s.sime praefatum praeciosius aedificium: atque hijs et modis alijs excogitat delectare visum pulchris, auditum suauibus, olfactum redolentibus, tactum lenibus, et gustum pascere delicatis. Electas semper habet praesto 50. puellas ei, et de proximo exquisitissime ministrantes tam ad mensam quam ad cubiculum, et ad omne libitum.

[Sidenote: Versus.] Hae ad prandium rec.u.mbenti afferunt processionis more pro singulo ferculo semper 5. genera dapum n.o.bilium c.u.m dulcisonae resonantia cantilenae, quarum aliquae ei singulos detruncant genu flexo morsellos, aliquae ponunt in ore, mundis tergentes comedentis l.a.b.i.a mappis.

Nam ipse quidem in mensa continet iacentes ma.n.u.s puras et quietas. Post deseruitionem ferculi primi, seruitur pro secundo in 5. alijs dapum generibus modo quo supra, et renouatur in apponendo cantus suauior melodia.

Ista absque vlla Domini cura per ministros quotidie reparantur etiam in maiori satis quam effor n.o.bilitate, nisi dum ipse pro placito iusserit, quandoque temperari.

Deliciosius igitur quo vult deducit carnem, non curans animam, sed nec probitatem curans terrenam, pascit sterilem, et viduae non benefacit. Et

Quia viuit sicut porcus, Morientem suscipit orcus.

[Sidenote: Longitudo vnguium. Vtunturetiam in Florida principes longis vnguibus.] Porr quod eum dixi ma.n.u.s tenere quietas, noueritis nimirum nil posse manibus capere vel tenere, propter longitudinem, et recuruitatem vnguium in digitis, qui sibi nullo tempore praescinduntur. Seruatur enim hoc pro n.o.bili more patriae, et viri diuites delicati, qui proprios possunt habere ministros nunquam sibi dimittunt vngues resecare, vnde et nonnullis circ.u.mdantur vndique ma.n.u.s, acsi uiderentur armatae.

[Sidenote: Noua historia Chinensis hoc testatur.] Foeminarum autem mos est n.o.bilis si habeant paruos pedes, vnde et generosarum in cunis strictissime sime obuoluuntur, vt vix ad medium debitae quant.i.tatis excrescere possint.

The English Version.

Of the Customs of Kynges, and othere that dwellen in the Yles costynge to Prestre Johnes Lond. And of the Worschipe that the Sone dothe to the Fader, whan he is dede.

[Sidenote: Cap. x.x.xI.] From tho yles, that I have spoken of before, in the lond of Prestre John, that ben undre erthe as to us, that ben o this half, and of other yles, that ben more furthere bezonde; who so wil, pursuen hem, for to comen azen right to pursuen hem, for to comen azen right to the parties that he cam fro; and so environne alle erthe: but what for the yles, what for the see, and what for strong rowynge, fewe folk a.s.sayen for to pa.s.sen that pa.s.sage; alle be it that men myghte don it wel, that myght ben of power to dresse him thereto; as I have seyd zou before. And therfore men returnen from tho yles aboveseyd, be other yles costynge fro the lond of Prestre John. And thanne comen men in returnynge to an yle, that is clept Ca.s.son: and that yle hathe wel 60 jorrneyes in lengthe, and more than 50 in brede. This is the beste yle, and the beste kyngdom, that is in alle tho partyes, out taken Cathay. And zif the merchauntes useden als moche that contre an thei don Cathay, it wolde ben better than Cathay, in a schort while. This contree is fulle well enhabyted, and so fulle of cytees, and of G.o.de townes, and enhabyted with peple, that whan a man gothe out of o cytee, men seen another cytee, evene before hem: and that is what partye that a man go, in alle that contree. In that yle is gret plentee of alle G.o.des for to lyve with, and of alle manere of spices. And there ben grete forestes of chesteynes. The kyng of that yle is fulle ryche and fulle myghty: and natheles he holt his lond of the grete Chane, and is obeyssant to hym. For it is on of the 12 provynces, that the grete Chane hathe undre him, with outen his propre lond, and with outen other lesse yles, that he hathe: for he hathe fulle manye.

From that kyngdom comen men, in returnynge, to another yle, that is clept Rybothe: and it is also under the grete Chane. That is a fulle G.o.de contree, and fulle plentefous of alle G.o.des and of wynes and frut, and alle other ricchesse. And the folk of that contree han none houses: but thei dwellen and lyggen all under tentes, made of black ferne, by alle the contree. And the princypalle cytee, and the most royalle, is alle walled with black ston and white. And alle the stretes also ben pathed of the same stones. In that cytee is no man so hardy, to schede Blode of no man, ne of no best, for the reverence of an ydole, that is worschipt there. And in that yle dwellethe the pope of hire lawe, that they clepen Loba.s.sy. This Loba.s.sy zevethe alle the benefices, and alle other dignytees, and all other thinges, that belongen to the ydole. And alle tho that holden ony thing of hire chirches, religious and othere, obeyen to him; as men don here to the Pope of Rome.

In that yle thei han a custom, be alle the contree, that whan the fader is ded of ony man, and the sone list to do gret worchipe to his fader, he sendethe to alle his frendes, and to all his kyn, and for religious men and preestes, and for mynstralle also, gret plentee. And thanne men beren the dede body unto a gret hille, with gret joye and solempnyte. And when thei han brought it thider, the chief prelate smytethe of the hede, and leythe it upon a gret platere of Gold and of sylver, zif so be he be a riche man; and than he takethe the hede to the sone; and thanne the sone and his other kyn syngen and seyn manye orisouns: and thanne the prestes, and the religious men, smyten alle the body of the dede man in peces: and thanne thei seyn certeyn orisouns. And the fowles of raveyne of alle the contree abouten knowen the custom of long tyme before, and comen fleenge aboyen in the eyr, as egles, gledes, ravenes and othere foules of raveyne, that eten flesche. And than the preestes casten the gobettes of the flesche; and than the foules eche of hem takethe that he may, and gothe a litille thens and etethe it: and so thei don whils ony pece lastethe of the dede body. And aftre that, as preestes amonges us syngen for the dede, _Subvenite sancti Dei_, &c. right so the preestes syngen with highe voys in hire langage, beholdethe how so worthi a man, and how G.o.de a man this was, that the aungeles of G.o.d comen for to sechen him, and for to bryngen him in to paradys. And thanne semethe in to the sone, that he is highliche worschipt, whan that many briddes and foules and raveyne comen and eten his fader. And he that hathe most nombre of foules, is most worschiped. Thanne the sone bryngethe hoom with him alle his kyn, and his frendes, and alle the othere to his hows, and makethe hem a gret feste. And thanne alle his frendes maken hire avaunt and hire dalyance, how the fowles comen thider, here 5, here 6, here 10, and there 20, and so forthe: and thei rejoyssen hem hugely for to speke there of. And whan thei ben at mete, the sone let brynge forthe the hede of his fader, and there of he zevethe of the flesche to his most specyalle frendes, in stede of entre messe, or a sukkarke. And of the brayn panne, he letethe make a cuppe, and there of drynkethe he and his other frendes also, with great devocioun, in remembrance of the holy man, that the aungeles of G.o.d han eten. And that cuppe the sone schalle kepe to drynken of, alle his lif tyme, in remembrance of his fadir.

From that lond, in returnynge be 10 jorneyes thorghe out the lond of the grete Chane, is another G.o.de yle, and a gret kyngdom, where the kyng is fulle riche and myghty. And amonges the riche men of his contree, is a pa.s.synge riche man, that is no prince, ne duke ne erl; but he hathe mo that holden of him londes and other lordschipes: for he is more riche. For he hathe every zeer of annuelle rente 300000 hors charged with corn of dyverse greynes and of ryzs: and so he ledethe a fulle n.o.ble lif, and a delycate, aftre the custom of the contree. For he hathe every day, 50 fair damyseles, alle maydenes, that serven him everemore at his mete, and for to lye be hem o nyght, and for to do with hem that is to his pleasance. And whan he is at the table, they bryngen him hys mete at every tyme, 5 and 5 to gedre. And in bryngynge hire servyse, thei syngen a song. And aftre that, thei kutten his mete, and putten it in his mouthe; for he touchethe no thing ne handlethe nought, but holdethe evere more his hondes before him, upon the table. For he hathe so long nayles, that he may take no thing, ne handle no thing. For the n.o.blesse of that contree is to have longe nayles, and to make hem growen alle weys to ben as longe as men may. And there ben manye in that contree, that han hire nayles so longe, that thei envyronne alle the hond: and that is a gret n.o.blesse. And the n.o.blesse of the wommen, is for to haven smale feet and litille: and therfore anon as thei ben born, they leet bynde hire feet so streyte, that thei may not growen half as nature wolde; and alle weys theise damyseles, that I spak of beforn, syngen alle the tyme that this riche man etethe: and whan that he etethe no more of his firste cours, than other 5 and 5 of faire damyseles bryngen him his seconde cours, alle weys syngynge, as thei dide beforn. And so thei don contynuelly every day, to the ende of his mete. And in this manere he ledethe his lif. And so dide thei before him, that weren his auncestres; and so schulle thei that comen aftre him, with outen doynge of ony dedes of armes: but lyven evere more thus in ese, as a swyn, that is fedde in sty, for to ben made fatte. He hathe a fulle fair palays and fulle riche, where that he dwellethe inne: of the whiche, the walles ben in circuyt 2 myle: and he hathe with inne many faire gardynes, and many faire halles and chambres, and the pawment of his halles and chambres ben of gold and sylver. And in the myd place of on of his gardynes, is a lytylle mountayne, wher there is a litylle medewe: and in that medewe, is a litylle toothille with toures and pynacles, alle of gold: and in that litylle toothille wole he sytten often tyme, for to taken the ayr and to desporten hym: for that place is made for no thing elles, but only for his desport.

Fro that contree men comen be the lond of the grete Chane also, that I have spoken of before.

And ze schulle undirstonde, that of alle theise contrees, and of alle theise yles, and of alle the dyverse folk, that I have spoken of before, and of dyverse lawes, and of dyverse beleeves that thei han; zit is there non of hem alle, but that thei han sum resoun with in hem and undirstondynge, but zif it be the fewere: and that han certeyn articles of oure feithe and summe G.o.de poyntes of oure beleeve: and that thei beleeven in G.o.d, that formede alle thinges and made the world; and clepen him G.o.d of Nature, aftre that the prophete seythe, _Et metuent c.u.m omnes fines terre_: and also in another place, _Omnes gentes servient ei_; that is to seyn, _Alle folke schalle serven Him_. But zit thei cone not speken perfytly; (for there is no man to techen hem) but only that thei cone devyse be hire naturelle wytt. For thei han no knouleche of the Sone, ne of the Holy Gost: but thei cone alle speken of the Bible: and namely of Genesis, of the prophetes lawes, and of the Bokes of Moyses. And thei seyn wel, that the creatures, that thei worschipen, ne ben no G.o.ddes: but thei worschipen hem, for the vertue that is in hem, that may not be, but only be the grace of G.o.d. And of simulacres and of ydoles, thei seyn, that there ben no folk, but that thei han simulacres: and that thei seyn, for we Cristene men han ymages, as of Oure Lady, and of othere seyntes, that wee worschipen; nohte the ymages of tree or of ston, but the seyntes, in whoos name thei ben made aftre. For righte as the bokes of the Scripture of hem techen the clerkes, how and in what manere thei schulle beleeven, righte so the ymages and the peyntynges techen the lewed folk to worschipen the seyntes, and to have hem in hire mynde, in whoos name that the ymages ben made aftre. Thei seyn also, that the aungeles of G.o.d speken to hem in tho ydoles, and that thei don manye grete myracles. And thei seyn sothe, that there is an aungele with in hem: for there ben 2 maner of aungeles, a G.o.de and an evelle; as the Grekes seyn, Cacho and Calo; this Cacho is the wykked aungelle, and Calo is the G.o.de aungelle: but the tother is not the G.o.de aungelle, but the wykked aungelle, that is with inne the ydoles, for to disceyven hem, and for to meyntenen hem in hire errour.

CAPVT. 50.

De compositione huius tractatus in n.o.bili ciuitate Leodiensi.

In reuertendo igitur venitur ab hac insula per prouincias magnas Imperij Tartarorum, in quibus semper noua, semper mira, imo nonnunquam incredibilia viator potest videre, percipere, et audire.

Et Noueritis, vt praedixi, me pauca eorum vidisse, quae in terris sunt mirabilium, sed nec hic scripsisse centessimam partem eorum quae vidi, quod nec omnia memoriae commendare potui, et de commendatis multa subticui, propter modestiam, quam decet omnibus actibus addi.

Idcirco vt et alijs, qui vel ante me in partibus illis steterunt, vel ituri sunt, maneat locus narrandi siue scribendi, modum huius pono tractatus, potius decurtans quam complens, quoniam alias loquendi non esset finis, nec aures implerentur auditu.

[Sidenote: Concludit opus suum.] Itaque anno a natiuitate Domini nostri Iesu Christi 1355. in patriando, c.u.m ad n.o.bilem Legiae, seu Leodij ciuitatem peruenissem, et prae grandeuitate ac artericis guttis illic dec.u.mberem in vico qui dicitur, Ba.s.sessanemi, consului causa conualescendi aliquos medicos ciuitatis: Et accidit, Dei nutu, vnum intrare physic.u.m super alios aetate simul et canicie venerandum, ac in sua arte euidenter expertum, qui ibidem dicebatur communiter, Magister Ioannes ad barbam.

Is, dum pariter colloqueremur, interseruit aliquid dictis, per quod tandem nostra inuicem renouabatur antiqua not.i.tia, quam quondam habueramus in Cayr Aegypti apud Melech Mandibron Soldanum, prout supra tetigi in 7. capitulo libri.

Qui c.u.m in me experientiam artis suae excellenter monstra.s.set, adhortabatur ac praecabatur instanter, vt de hijs quae videram tempore peregrinationis, et itinerationis meae per mundum, aliquid digererem in scriptis ad legendum, et audiendum pro vtilitate.

Sicque tandem illius monitu et adiutorio, compositus est iste tractatus, de quo certe nil scribere proposueram, donec saltem ad partes proprias in Anglia peruenissem. [Sidenote: Edwardus tertius.] Et credo praemissa circa me, per prouidentiam et gratiam Dei contigisse, quoniam a tempore quo recessi, duo reges nostri Angliae, et Franciae, non cessauerunt inuicem exercere destructiones, depraedationes, insidias, et interfectiones, inter quas, nisi a Domino custoditus, non transissem sine morte, vel mortis periculo, et sine criminum grandi c.u.mulo. Et ecce nunc egressionis meae anno 33. const.i.tutus in Leodij ciuitate, quae a mari Angliae distat solum per duas diaetas, audio dictas Dominorum inimicitias, per gartiam Dei consopitas: quapropter et spero, ac propono de reliquo secundum maturiorem aetatem me posse in proprijs, intendere corporis quieti, animaeque saluti.

Hie itaque finis sit scripti, in nomine Patris, et Filij, et spiritus sancti, AMEN.

Explicit itinerarium a terra Angliae, in partes Hierosolimitanas, et in vlteriores transmarinas, editum prim in lingua Gallicana, a Domino Ioanne Mandeuille milite, suo auth.o.r.e, Anno incarnationis Domini 1355. in Ciuitate Leodiensi: Et Paul post in eadem ciuitate, translatum in dictam formam Latinam.

The English Version.

There ben manye other dyverse contrees and manye other marveyles bezonde, that I have not seen: wherfore of hem I can not speke propurly, to telle zou the manere of hem. And also in the contrees where I have ben, ben many dyversitees of manye wondir fulle thinges, mo thanne I make mencioun of.

For it were to longe thing to devyse zou the manere. And therfore that that I have devised zou of certeyn contrees, that I have spoken of before, I beseche zoure worthi and excellent n.o.blesse, that it suffise to zou at this tyme. For zif that I devysed zou alle that is bezonde the see, another man peraunter, that wolde peynen him and travaylle his body for to go in to tho marches, for to encerche tho contrees, myghten ben blamed be my wordes, in rehercynge many straunge thynges. For he myghten not seye no thing of newe, in the whiche the hereres myghten haven outher solace or desport or l.u.s.t or lykynge in the herynge. For men seyn alle weys, that newe thynges and newe tydynges ben plesant to here. Wherfore I wole holde me stille, with outen ony more rehercyng of dyversit.e.e.z or of marvaylles, that ben bezonde, to that entent and ende, that who so wil gon in to the contrees, he schalle fynde y nowe to speke of, that I have not touched of in no wyse.

And zee schulle undirstonde, zif it lyke zou, that at myn hom comynge, I cam to Rome, and schewed my lif to oure holy fadir the Pope, and was a.s.soylled of alle that lay in my conscience, of many a dyverse grevous poynt: as men mosten nedes, that ben in company, dwellyng amonges so many a dyverse folk of dyverse secte and of beleeve, as I have ben. And amonges alle, I schewed hym this tretys, that I had made aftre informacioun of men, that knewen of thinges, that I had not seen my self; and also of marveyles and customes, that I hadde seen my self; as fer as G.o.d wolde zeve me grace: and besoughte his holy fadirhode, that my boke myghten be examyned and corrected be avys of his wyse and discreet conscille. And oure holy fadir, of his special grace, remytted my boke to ben examyned and preved be the avys of his seyd conscille. Be the whiche, my boke was preeved for trewe; in so moche that thei schewed me a boke, that my boke was examynde by, that comprehended fulle moche more, ben an hundred part; be the whiche, the _Mappa Mundi_ was made after. And so my boke (alle be it that many men ne list not to zeve credence to no thing, but to that that thei seen with hire eye, ne be the auctour ne the persone never so trewe) is affermed and preved be oure holy fadir, in maner and forme as I have seyd.

And I John Maundevylle knyghte aboveseyd, (alle thoughe I ben unworthi) that departed from oure contrees and pa.s.sed the see, the zeer of grace 1322, that have pa.s.sed many londes and manye yles and contrees, and cerched manye fulle straunge places, and have ben in manye a fulle G.o.de honourable comyanye, and at many a faire dede of armes, (alle be it that I dide none my self, for myn unable insuffisance) now I am comen hom (mawgree my self) to reste: for gowtes, artetykes, that me distreynen, tho diffynen the ende of my labour, azenst my wille (G.o.d knowethe). And thus takynge solace in my wrecched reste, recordynge the tyme pa.s.sed, I have fulfilled theise thinges and putte hem wryten in this boke, as it wolde come in to my mynde, the zeer of grace 1356 in the 34 zeer that I departede from oure contrees.

Wherfore I preye to alle the rederes and hereres of this boke, zif it plese hem, that thei wolde preyen to G.o.d for me: and I schalle preye for hem. And alle tho that seyn for me a _Pater nostre_, with an _Ave Maria_, that G.o.d forzeve me my synnes, I make hem parteneres, and graunte hem part of alle the G.o.de pilgrymages and of alle the G.o.de dedes, that I have don, zif ony be to his plesance: and noghte only of tho, but of alle that evere I schalle do unto my lyfes ende. And I beseche Almighty G.o.d, fro whom alle G.o.denesse and grace comethe fro, that he vouchesaf, of his excellent mercy and habundant grace, to fulle fylle hire soules with inspiracioun of the Holy Gost, in makynge defence of alle hire gostly enemyes here in erthe, to hire salvacioun, bothe of body and soule; to worschipe and thankynge of Him, that is three and on, with outen begynnynge and withouten endynge; that is, with outen qualitee, good, and with outen quantytee, gret; that in alle places is present, and alle thinges conteynynge; the whiche that no goodnesse may amende, ne non evelle empeyre; that in perfeyte Trynytee lyvethe and regnethe G.o.d, be alle worldes and be alle tymes. Amen, Amen, Amen.

Richardi Hakluyti breuis admonitio ad Lectorem.

Ioannem Mandeuillum nostratem, eruditum et insignem Auth.o.r.em (Balaeo, Mercatore, Ortelio, et alijs, testibus) ab innumeris Scribarum et Typographorum mendis repurgando, ex multorum, eorumque optimorum exemplarium collatione, quid praest.i.terim, virorum doctorum, et eorum praecipue, qui Geographiae et Antiquitatis periti sunt, esto iudicium. Quae autem habet de monstriferis hominum formis itinerarij sui praecedentis capitibus trigessimo, trigessimo primo, trigessimo tertio, et sparsim in sequentibus, quanquam non negem ab illo forta.s.se quaedam eorum alicubi visa fuisse, maiori tamen ex parte ex Caio Plinio secundo hausta videntur, vt facile patebit ca c.u.m his Plinianis, hic ideo a me appositis, collaturo, quae idem Plinius, singulis suis authoribus singula refert, in eorum plaerisque fidem suam minime obstringens. Vale, atque aut meliora dato, aut his vtere mec.u.m.

Ex libro s.e.xto Naturalis historiae C. Plinij secundi. Cap. 30.

Vniuersa ver gens aetheria appellata est, deinde Atlantia, mox a Vulcani filio aethiope aethiopia. Animalium hominumque effigies monstriferas circa extremitates eius gigni minime mirum, artifici ad formanda corpora effigiesque caelandas mobilitate ignea. Ferunt certe ab Orientis parte intimatgentes esse sine naribus. aequali totius oris planitie. Alias superiore labro orbas, alias sine linguis. Pars etiam ore concreto et naribus carens, vno tantum foramine spirat, potumque calamis auenae trahit, et grana eiusdem auenae, sponte prouenientis ad vescendum; Quibusdam pro sermone nutus motusque membrorum est, &c.

Ex libro eiusdem Plinij septimo. Cap. 2. cui t.i.tulus est, De Scythis, et aliarum diversitate gentium.

Esse Scytharum genera, et quidem plura, quae corporibus humanis vescerentur, indicauimus. Idipsum incredibile forta.s.se, ni cogitimus in medio orbe terrarum, ac Sicilia et Italia fuisse, gentes huius monstri, Cyclopas et Laestrigonas, et nuperrime trans Alpes hominem immolari gentium carum more solitum: quod paulum a mandendo abest. Sed et iuxta eos, qui sunt ad Septentrionem versi, haud procul ab ipso Aquilonis exortu, specuque eius dicto, quem loc.u.m Gesc.l.i.tron appellant, produntur Arimaspi, duos diximus, vno oculo in fronte media insignes: quibus a.s.sidue bellum esse circa metalla c.u.m gryphis, ferarum volucri genere, quale vulg traditur, eruente ex cuniculis aurum, mira cupiditate et feris custodientibus, et Arimaspis rapientibus, multi, sed maxime ill.u.s.tres Herodotus, et Aristeas Proconnesius scribunt. Super alios autem Anthropophagos Scythas, in quadam conualle magna Imai montis, regio est, quae vocatur Abarimon, in qua syluestres viuunt homines, auersis post crura plantis, eximiae velocitatis, pa.s.sim c.u.m feris vagantes. Hos in alio non spirare coelo, ideoque ad finitimos reges non pertrahi, neque ad Alexandrum magnum pertractos, Beton itinerum eius mensor prodidit. Priores Anthropophagos, quos ad Septentrionem esse diximus decem dierum itinere supra Borysthenem amnem, ossibus humanorum capitum bibere, cutibusque c.u.m capillo pro mantelibus ante pectora vti, Isigonus Nicaensis. Idem in Albania gigni quosdam glauca oculorum acie, a pueritia statim canos, qui noctu plusquam interdiu cernant. Idem itinere dierum x. supra Borysthenem, Sauromatas tertio die cib.u.m capere semper. Crates Pergamenus in h.e.l.lesponto circa Parium, genus hominum fuisse tradit, quos Ophiogenes vocat serpentum ictus contactu leuare solitos, et manu imposita venena extrahere corpori. Varro etiam nunc esse paucos ibi, quorum saliuae contra ictus serpentum medeantur. Similis et in Africa gens Psyllorum fuit, vt Agatharchides scribit, a Psyllo rege dicta, cuius sepulchrum in parte Syrtium maiorum est. Horum corpori ingenitum fuit virus exitiale serpentibus, vt cuius odore sopirent eas. Mos ver, liberos genitos protinus obijciendi saeuissimis earum, eque genere pudicitiam coniugum experiendi, non profugientibus adulterino sanguine natos serpentibus. Haec gens ipsa quidem prope internicione sublata est a Nasamonibus, qui nunc eas tenent sedes: genus tamen hominum ex his qui profugerant, aut c.u.m pugnatum est, abfuerant, hodieque remanent in paucis.

Simile et in Italia Marsorum gentis durat, quos a Circes filio ortos seruant, et ideo inesse ijs vim naturalem eam. Et tamen omnibus hominibus contra serpentes inest venenum: feruntque ictas saliua, vt feruentis aquae contactum fugere. Qud si in fauces penetrauerit, etiam mori: idque maxime humani ieiuni oris. Supra Nasamonis confinesque illis Machlyas, Androginos esse vtriusque naturae, inter se vicibus coeuntes, Calliphanes tradit.

Aristoteles adijcit, dextram mamman ijs virilem, lacuam muliebrem esse. In eadem Africa familias quasdam effascinantium, Isigonus et Nymphodorus tradunt quarum laudatione intereant probata, arescant arbores, emoriantur infantes. Esse eiusdem generis in Triballis et Illyrijs, adijcit Isigonus, qui visu quoque effascinent, interimantque quos diutius intueantur. Iratis praecipue oculis: quod eorum malum facilius sentire p.u.b.eres. Notabilius esse qud pupillas binas in oculis singulis habeant. Huius generis et foeminas in Scythia, quae vocantur Bithyae, prodit Apollonides. Philarchus et in Ponto Thibiorum genus, multosque alios eiusdem naturae: quorum notas tradit in altero oculo geminam pupillam, in altero equi effigiem. Eosdem praeterea non posse mergi, ne veste quidem degrauatos. Haud dissimile ijs genus Pharnac.u.m in aethiopia prodidit Damon, quorum sudor tabem contactis corporibus afferat. Foeminas quidem omnes vbique visu nocere, quae duplices pupillas habeant, Cicero quoque apud nos autor est. Ade naturae, c.u.m ferarum morem vescendi humanis visceribus in homine genuisset, gignere etiam in toto corpore et in quorundam oculis quoque venena placuit: ne quid vsquam mali esset, quod in homine non esset. Haud procul vrbe Roma in Faliscorum agro familiae sum paucae, quae vocantur Hirpiae: quae sacrificio annuo, quod fit ad montem Soractem Apollini, super ambustam ligni struem ambulantes non aduruntur. Et ob id perpetuo senatusconsulto militiae omniumque aliorum numerum vacationem habent. Quorundam corpore partes nasc.u.n.tur ad aliqua mirabiles sicut Pyrrho regi pollex in dextero pede: cuius tactu lienosis medebatur. Hunc cremari c.u.m reliquo corpore non potuisse tradunt, conditumque loculo in templo. Praecipue India aethiopumque tractus, miraculis scatent. Maxima in India gignuntur animalia, Indicio sunt canes grandioris caeteris. Arbores quidem tantae proceritatis traduntur, vt sagittis superari nequeant. Haec facit vbertas soli, temperies coeli, aquarum abundantia (si libeat credere) vt sub vna ficu turmae condantur equitum. Arundines ver tantae proceritatis, vt singula internodia alueo nauigabili ternos interdum homines ferant. Multos ibi quina cubita constat longitudine excedere: non expuere: non capitis, aut dentium, aut oculorum vllo dolore affici, rar aliarum corporis partium: tam moderato Solis vapore durari. Philosophos eorum quos Gymnosophystas vocant, ab exortu ad Occasum praestare, contuentes Solem immobilibus oculis: feruentibus harenis toto die alternis pedibus insistere. In monte cui nomen est Milo, homines esse auersis plantis, octonos digitos in singulis pedibus habentes, autor est Megasthenes. In multis autem montibus genus hominum capitibus caninis, ferarum pellibus velari, pro voce latratum edere, vnguibus armatum venatu et aucupio vesci. Horum supra centum viginti millia fuisse prodente se, Ctesias scribit: et in quadam gente Indiae, foeminas semel in vita parere, genitosque confestim canescere. Item hominum genus, qui Monosceli vocarentur, singulis cruribus, mirae pernicitatis ad saltum: eosdemque Sciopodas vocari, qud in maiori aestu humi iacentes resupini, vmbra se pedum protegant, non longe eos a Troglodytis abesse.

Rursusque ab his Occidentem versus quosdam sine ceruice, oculos in humeris habentes. Sunt et Satyri subsolanis Indorum montibus (Cartadalorum dicitur Regio) pernicissimum animal, tum quadrupedes, tum recte currentes humana effigie propter velocitatem, nisi senes aut aegri, non capiuntur.

Choromandarum gentem vocat Tauron siluestrem sine voce, stridoris horrendi, hirtis corporibus, oculis glaucis, dentibus caninis. Eudoxus in meridianis Indiae viris plantas esse cubitales, foeminis ade paruas, vt Struthopodes appellentur. Megastenes gentem inter Nomadas Indos narium loco foramina tantum habentem, anguium modo loripedem, vocarit Syrictas. Ad extremos fines Indiae ab Oriente, circa fontem Gangis, Astomorum gentem sine ore, corpore toto hirtam vestiri frondium lanugine, halitu tantum viuentem et odore quem naribus trahant: nullum illis cib.u.m, nullumque potum: tantum radic.u.m florumque varios odores et syluestrium malorum, quae sec.u.m portant longiore itinere, ne desit olfactus, grauiore paul odore haud difficulter examinari. Supra hos extrema in parte montium Spithamaei Pygmaei narrantur, ternas spithamas longitudine, hoc est, ternos dodrantos non excedentes, salubri caelo, semperque vernante, montibus ab Aquilone oppositis, quos a gruibus infestari Homerus quoque prodidit: Fama est, insidentes arietum, caprarumque dorsis, armatos sagittis, veris tempore, vniuerso agmine ad mare descendere, et oua pullosque earum alitum consumere, ternis expeditionem eam mensibus confici, aliter futuris gregibus non resisti.

Casas eorum luto, pennisque, et ouorum putaminibus construi. Aristotelis in cauernis viuere Pygmaeos tradit. Caetera de his, vt reliqui. Cyrnos Indorum genus Isigonus annis centenis quadragenis viuere. Item Aethiopas Marcrobios, et Seras existimat, et qui Athon montem incolant: hos quidem quia viperinis carnibus alantur, itaque nec capiti, nec vestibus eorum noxia corpori inesse animalia. Onesicritus, quibus in locis Indiae vmbrae non sint, corpora hominum cubitorum quinum, et binorum palmorum existere, et viuere annos centum triginta, nec senescere, sed vt medio aeuo mori. Crates Pergamenus Indos, qui centenos annos excedant Gymnaetas appelat, non pauci Macrobios. Ctesias gentem ex his, quae appellatur Pandore, in conuallibus sitam, annos ducenos viuere, in iuuenta candido capillo, qui in senectute nigrescat. Contra alios quadragenos non excedere annos, iunctos Macrobijs, quorum foeminae semel pariant: idque et Agatharchides tradit, praeterea locustis eos ali, et esse pernices. Mandrorum nomen ijs dedit c.l.i.tarchus et Megastenes, trecentosque eorum vicos annumerat. Foeminas septimo aetatis anno parere, senectam quadragesimo anno accedere. Artemidorus, in Taprobana insula longissimam vitam sine vllo corporis languore traduci. Duris, Indorum quosdam c.u.m feris coire, mistosque et semiferos esse partus. In Calingis eiusdem Indiae gente quinquennes concipere foeminas, octauum vitae annum non excedere, et alibi cauda villosa homines nasci pernicitatis eximiae, alios auribus totos contegi. Oritas ab Indis Arbis fluuius disterminat. Ii nullum alium cib.u.m nouere, quam piscium, quos vnguibus dissectos sole torreant, atque ita panem ex his faciunt, vt refert c.l.i.tarchus. Troglodytas super Aethiopiam velociores esse equis, Pergamenus Crates. Item Aethiopas octona cubita longitudine excedere. Syrbotas vocari gentem eam Nomadum Aethiopum, secundum flumen Astapum ad Septentrionem vregentium. [Marginal note: Vel vergentium.] Gens Menisminorum appellata, abest ab oceana dierum itinere viginti, animalium que Cynocephalos vocamus, lacte viuit, quorum armenta pacscit maribus interemptis, praeterquam sobolis causa. In Africae solitudinibus hominum species obuiae subinde fiunt, momentoque euanesc.u.n.t. Haec atque talia, ex hominum genere ludibria sibi, n.o.bis miracula, ingeniosa fecit natura: et singula quidem, quae facit indies, ac prope horas, quis enumerare valeat? Ad detegendam eius potentiam, satis sit inter prodigia posuisse gentes.