126 MELPOMENE.

CXIV. This adventure was communicated to the
Scythians, who soon conciliated the rest of the women.
The two camps were presently united, and each con­
sidered her as his wife to whom he had first attached
himself. As they were not able to learn the dialect
of the Amazons, they taught them theirs ; which hav­
ing accomplished, the husbands thus addressed then-
wives :—" We have relations and property, let us
therefore change this mode of life; let us go-hence,
and communicate with the rest of our countrymen,
where you and you only shall be our wives." To
this, the Amazons thus replied: "We cannot associate
with your females, whose manners are so different
from our own; we are expert in the use of the javelin
and the bow, and accustomed to ride on horseback;
but we are ignorant of all feminine employments;
your women are very differently accomplished; in­
structed in female arts, they pass their time in their
wagons, and despise the chase, with all similar exer­
cises; we cannot therefore live with them. If yon
really desire to retain us as your wives, and to behave
yourselves honestly towards us, return to your pa­
rents, dispose of your property, and afterwards come
back to us, and we will live together, at a distance
from your other connexions."

CXV. The young men approved of their advice {
they accordingly took their share of the property
which belonged to them, and returned to the Ama­
zons, by whom they were thus addressed: "Our resi­
dence here occasions us much terror and uneasiness i
we have not only deprived you of your parents, but
have greatly wasted your country. As you think ulr
worthy of being your wives, let us leave this place,'
and dwell beyond the Tanais."

CXVI. With this also the young Scythians com­
plied, and having passed the Tanais, they marched
forwards a three days' journey towards the east, and
three more from the Palus Maeotis towards the north.
Here they fixed thomselves, and now remain. The
women of the Sauromatae still retain their former
habits of life; they pursue the chase on horseback,
sometimes with and sometimes without their hus­