134 MELPOMENE.

attendants, " These men," he exclaimed, " do, indeed,
seem greatly to despise us; and Gobryas has properly
interpreted the Scythian presents: I am now of the
same opinion myself, and it becomes us to exert all
our sagacity to effect a safe return to the place from
whence we came." "Indeed, Sir," answered Go­
bryas, "I had before heard of the poverty of this peo­
ple, I have now clearly seen it, and can perceive that
they hold us in extreme contempt. I would therefore
advise, that as soon as the night sets in, we light our
fires as usual; and farther to elude the enemy, let as
tie all the asses together, and leave behind us the
more infirm of our forces; this done, let us retire, be­
fore the Scythians shall advance towards the Ister,
and break down the bridge, or before the Ionians shall
come to any resolution which may cause our ruin."

CXXXV. Darius having acceded to this opinion
of Gobryas, as soon as the evening approached, the
more infirm of the troops, and those whose loss was
deemed of little importance, were left behind; all the
asses also were secured together: the motive for this
was, the expectation that the presence of those who
remained would cause the asses to bray as usual. The
sick and infirm were deserted, under the pretence,
that whilst the king was marching with his best troops
to engage the Scythians, they were to defend the
camp. After circulating this report, the fires were
lighted, and Darius with the greatest expedition di­
rected his march towards the Ister: the asses, missing
the usual multitude, made so much the greater noise,
from hearing which the Scythians were induced to
believe that the Persians still continued in their camp.

CXXXVI. When morning appeared, they who
were left, perceiving themselves deserted by Darius,
made signals to the Scythians, and explained their
situation: upon which intelligence, the two divisions
of the Scythians, forming a junction with the Sauro-
mate, the Budini, and Geloni, advanced towards the
Ister, in pursuit of the Persians; but as the Persian
army consisted principally of foot, who were ignorant
of the country, through which there were no regular
paths; and as the Scythians were chiefly horse, and