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more triumphant than victories。 Never could those four sister victories；
the fairest the sun ever be held； of Salamis； Plataea； Mycale； and
Sicily； venture to oppose all their united glories； to the single glory
of the discomfiture of King Leonidas and his men； at the pass of
Thermopylae。 Who ever ran with a more glorious desire and greater
ambition； to the winning； than Captain Iscolas to the certain loss of a
battle？＇Diodorus Siculus； xv。 64。＇ Who could have found out a more
subtle invention to secure his safety； than he did to assure his
destruction？ He was set to defend a certain pass of Peloponnesus against
the Arcadians； which； considering the nature of the place and the
inequality of forces； finding it utterly impossible for him to do； and
seeing that all who were presented to the enemy； must certainly be left
upon the place； and on the other side； reputing it unworthy of his own
virtue and magnanimity and of the Lacedaemonian name to fail in any part
of his duty； he chose a mean betwixt these two extremes after this
manner； the youngest and most active of his men； he preserved for the
service and defence of their country； and sent them back； and with the
rest； whose loss would be of less consideration； he resolved to make good
the pass； and with the death of them； to make the enemy buy their entry
as dear as possibly he could； as it fell out； for being presently
environed on all sides by the Arcadians； after having made a great
slaughter of the enemy； he and his were all cut in pieces。 Is there any
trophy dedicated to the conquerors which was not much more due to these
who were overcome？ The part that true conquering is to play； lies in the
encounter； not in the coming off； and the honour of valour consists in
fighting； not in subduing。
But to return to my story： these prisoners are so far from discovering
the least weakness； for all the terrors that can be represented to them；
that； on the contrary； during the two or three months they are kept； they
always appear with a cheerful countenance； importune their masters to
make haste to bring them to the test； defy； rail at them； and reproach
them with cowardice； and the number of battles they have lost against
those of their country。 I have a song made by one of these prisoners；
wherein he bids them 〃come all； and dine upon him； and welcome； for they
shall withal eat their own fathers and grandfathers； whose flesh has
served to feed and nourish him。 These muscles；〃 says he； 〃this flesh and
these veins； are your own： poor silly souls as you are； you little think
that the substance of your ancestors' limbs is here yet； notice what you
eat； and you will find in it the taste of your own flesh：〃 in which song
there is to be observed an invention that nothing relishes of the
barbarian。 Those that paint these people dying after this manner；
represent the prisoner spitting in the faces of his executioners and
making wry mouths at them。 And 'tis most certain； that to the very last
gasp； they never cease to brave and defy them both in word and gesture。
In plain truth； these men are very savage in comparison of us； of
necessity； they must either be absolutely so or else we are savages； for
there is a vast difference betwixt their manners and ours。
The men there have several wives； and so much the greater number； by how
much they have the greater reputation for valour。 And it is one very
remarkable feature in their marriages； that the same jealousy our wives
have to hinder and divert us from the friendship and familiarity of other
women； those employ to promote their husbands' desires； and to procure
them many spouses； for being above all things solicitous of their
husbands' honour； 'tis their chiefest care to seek out； and to bring in
the most companions they can； forasmuch as it is a testimony of the
husband's virtue。 Most of our ladies will cry out； that 'tis monstrous；
whereas in truth it is not so； but a truly matrimonial virtue； and of the
highest form。 In the Bible； Sarah； with Leah and Rachel； the two wives
of Jacob； gave the most beautiful of their handmaids to their husbands；
Livia preferred the passions of Augustus to her own interest；
＇Suetonius； Life of Augustus； c。 71。＇ and the wife of King Deiotarus；
Stratonice； did not only give up a fair young maid that served her to her
husband's embraces； but moreover carefully brought up the children he had
by her； and assisted them in the succession to their father's crown。
And that it may not be supposed； that all this is done by a simple and
servile obligation to their common practice； or by any authoritative
impression of their ancient custom； without judgment or reasoning； and
from having a soul so stupid that it cannot contrive what else to do； I
must here give you some touches of their sufficiency in point of
understanding。 Besides what I repeated to you before； which was one of
their songs of war； I have another； a love…song； that begins thus：
〃Stay； adder； stay； that by thy pattern my sister may draw the
fashion and work of a rich ribbon； that I may present to my beloved；
by which means thy beauty and the excellent order of thy scales
shall for ever be preferred before all other serpents。〃
Wherein the first couplet； 〃Stay； adder；〃 &c。； makes the burden of the
song。 Now I have conversed enough with poetry to judge thus much that
not only there is nothing barbarous in this invention； but； moreover；
that it is perfectly Anacreontic。 To which it may be added； that their
language is soft； of a pleasing accent； and something bordering upon the
Greek termination。
Three of these people； not foreseeing how dear their knowledge of the
corruptions of this part of the world will one day cost their happiness
and repose； and that the effect of this commerce will be their ruin； as I
presuppose it is in a very fair way （miserable men to suffer themselves
to be deluded with desire of novelty and to have left the serenity of
their own heaven to come so far to gaze at ours！）； were at Rouen at the
time that the late King Charles IX。 was there。 The king himself talked
to them a good while； and they were made to see our fashions； our pomp；
and the form of a great city。 After which； some one asked their opinion；
and would know of them； what of all the things they had seen； they found
most to be admired？ To which they made answer； three things； of which I
have forgotten the third； and am troubled at it； but two I yet remember。
They said； that in the first place they thought it very strange that so
many tall men； wearing beards； strong； and well armed； who were about the
king （'tis like they meant the Swiss of the guard）； should submit to obey
a child； and that they did not rather choose out one amongst themselves
to command。 Secondly （they have a way of speaking in their language to
call men the half of one another）； that they had observed that there were
amongst us men full and crammed with all manner of commodities； whilst；
in the meantime； their halves were begging at their doors； lean and half…
starved with hunger and poverty； and they thought it strange that these
necessitous halves were able