132 MELPOMENE.

that part of their army which was under Scopasia, to­
gether with the SauromatBe, to solicit a conference
with the Ionians who guarded the bridge over the
Ister; those who remained did not think it necessary
any more to lead the Persians about, but regularly
endeavoured to surprise them when at their meals;
they watched, therefore, their proper opportunities,
and executed their purpose. The Scythian horse
never failed of driving back the cavalry of the Per­
sians, but these last, in falling back upon their infantry,
were always secured and supported. The Scythians,
notwithstanding their advantage over the ^"ersian
horse, always retreated from the foot ; they frequent­
ly, however, attacked them under cover of the night.

CXXIX. In these attacks of the Scythians upon the
camp of Darius, the Persians had one advantage,
which I shall explain—it arose from the braying of
the asses, and appearance of the mules: I have before
observed, that neither of these animals are produced
in Scy thia, on account of the extreme cold. The bray­
ing, therefore, of the asses greatly distressed the Scy­
thian horses, which, as often as they attacked the
Persians, pricked up their ears and ran back, equally
disturbed by a noise which they had never heard, anil
figures they had never seen: this was of some im­
portance in the progress of hostilities.

CXXX. The Scythians, discovering that the Per­
sians were in extreme perplexity, hoped that by de­
taining them longer in their country, they should
finally reduce them to the utmost distress: with this
view, they occasionally left exposed some of their
cattle with their shepherds, and artfully retired ; of
these, with much exultation, the Persians took pos­
session.

CXXXI. This was again and again repeated; Da­
rius nevertheless became gradually in want of almost
every necessary: the Scythian princes, knowing this,
sent to him a messenger, with a bird, a mouse, a frog,
and five arrows, as a present. The Persians inquired
of the bearer, what these might mean ; but the mas
declared, that his orders were only to deliver them