an account of egypt(埃及记)-第17章
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that Esop too was the slave of Iadmon。 As for Rhodopis； she came to
Egypt brought by Xanthes the Samian； and having come thither to exercise
her calling she was redeemed from slavery for a great sum by a man of
Mytilene； Charaxos son of Scamandronymos and brother of Sappho the
lyric poet。 Thus was Rhodopis set free； and she remained in Egypt and by
her beauty won so much liking that she made great gain of money for one
like Rhodopis； though not enough to suffice for the cost of such a pyramid
as this。 In truth there is no need to ascribe to her very great riches；
considering that the tithe of her wealth may still be seen even to this time
by any one who desires it： for Rhodopis wished to leave behind her a
memorial of herself in Hellas； namely to cause a thing to be made such as
happens not to have been thought of or dedicated in a temple by any
besides； and to dedicate this at Delphi as a memorial of herself。
Accordingly with the tithe of her wealth she caused to be made spits of
iron of size large enough to pierce a whole ox； and many in number； going
as far therein as her tithe allowed her； and she sent them to Delphi： these
are even at the present time lying there； heaped all together behind the
altar which the Chians dedicated； and just opposite to the cell of the
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temple。 Now at Naucratis； as it happens； the courtesans are rather apt to
win credit； for this woman first； about whom the story to which I refer is
told； became so famous that all the Hellenes without exception came to
know the name of Rhodopis； and then after her one whose name was
Archidiche became a subject of song all over Hellas； though she was less
talked of than the other。 As for Charaxos； when after redeeming Rhodopis
he returned back to Mytilene； Sappho in an ode violently abused him。 Of
Rhodopis then I shall say no more。
After Mykerinos the priests said Asychis became king of Egypt； and
he made for Hephaistos the temple gateway which is towards the sunrising；
by far the most beautiful and the largest of the gateways； for while they all
have figures carved upon them and innumerable ornaments of building
besides； this has them very much more than the rest。 In this king's reign
they told me that； as the circulation of money was very slow； a law was
made for the Egyptians that a man might have that money lent to him
which he needed； by offering as security the dead body of his father； and
there was added moreover to this law another； namely that he who lent the
money should have a claim also to the whole of the sepulchral chamber
belonging to him who received it； and that the man who offered that
security should be subject to this penalty； if he refused to pay back the
debt； namely that neither the man himself should be allowed to have burial；
when he died； either in that family burial…place or in any other； nor should
he be allowed to bury any of his kinsmen whom he lost by death。 This
king desiring to surpass the kings of Egypt who had arisen before him left
as a memorial of himself a pyramid which he made of bricks and on it
there is an inscription carved in stone and saying thus： 〃Despise not me in
comparison with the pyramids of stone； seeing that I excel them as much
as Zeus excels the other gods； for with a pole they struck into the lake； and
whatever of the mud attached itself to the pole； this they gathered up and
made bricks； and in such manner they finished me。〃
Such were the deeds which this king performed： and after him reigned
a blind man of the city of Anysis； whose name was Anysis。 In his reign the
Ethiopians and Sabacos the king of the Ethiopians marched upon Egypt
with a great host of men； so this blind man departed； flying to the fen…
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country； and the Ethiopian was king over Egypt for fifty years； during
which he performed deeds as follows：whenever any man of the
Egyptians committed any transgression； he would never put him to death；
but he gave sentence upon each man according to the greatness of the
wrong…doing； appointing them to work at throwing up an embankment
before that city from whence each man came of those who committed
wrong。 Thus the cities were made higher still than before； for they were
embanked first by those who dug the channels in the reign of Sesostris；
and then secondly in the reign of the Ethiopian； and thus they were made
very high： and while other cities in Egypt also stood high； I think in the
town at Bubastis especially the earth was piled up。 In this city there is a
temple very well worthy of mention； for though there are other temples
which are larger and build with more cost； none more than this is a
pleasure to the eyes。 Now Bubastis in the Hellenic tongue is Artemis； and
her temple is ordered thus：Except the entrance it is completely
surrounded by water； for channels come in from the Nile； not joining one
another； but each extending as far as the entrance of the temple； one
flowing round on the one side and the other on the other side； each a
hundred feet broad and shaded over with trees； and the gateway has a
height of ten fathoms； and it is adorned with figures six cubits high； very
noteworthy。 This temple is in the middle of the city and is looked down
upon from all sides as one goes round； for since the city has been banked
up to a height； while the temple has not been moved from the place where
it was at the first built； it is possible to look down into it： and round it runs
a stone wall with figures carved upon it； while within it there is a grove of
very large trees planted round a large temple…house； within which is the
image of the goddess： and the breadth and length of the temple is a furlong
every way。 Opposite the entrance there is a road paved with stone for
about three furlongs； which leads through the market…place towards the
East； with a breadth of about four hundred feet； and on this side and on
that grow trees of height reaching to heaven： and the road leads to the
temple of Hermes。 This temple then is thus ordered。
The final deliverance from the Ethiopian came about （they said） as
follows：he fled away because he had seen in his sleep a vision； in which
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it seemed to him that a man came and stood by him and counselled him to
gather together all the priests in Egypt and cut them asunder in the midst。
Having seen this dream； he said that it seemed to him that the gods were
foreshowing him this to furnish an occasion against him； in order that he
might do an impious deed with respect to religion； and so receive some
evil either from the gods or from men： he would not however do so； but in
truth （he said） the time had expired； during which it had been prophesied
to him that he should rule Egypt before he departed thence。 For when he
was in Ethiopia the Oracles which the Ethiopians consult had told him that
it was fated for him to rule Egypt fifty years： since then this time was now
expiring； and the vision of the dream also disturbed him； Sabacos departed
out of Egypt of his own free will。
Then when the Ethiopian had gone away out of Egypt； the blind man
came back from the fen…country and began to rule again； having lived
there during fifty years upon an island which he had made by heaping up
ashes and earth： for whenever any of the Egyptians visited him bringing
food； according as it had been appointed to them severally to do without
the knowledge of the Ethiopian； he bade them bring also some ashes for
their gift。 This island none was able to find before Amyrtaios； that is； for
more than seven hundred years the kings who arose before Amyrtaios
were not able to find it。 Now the name of this island is Elbo； and its size is
ten furlongs each way。
After him there came to the throne the priest of Hephaistos； whose
name was Sethos。 This man； they said； neglected and held in no regard the
warrior class of the Egyptians； considering that he would have no need of
them； and besides other slights which he put upon them； he also took from
them the yokes of corn…land which had been given to them as a special gift
in the reigns of the former kings； twelve yokes to each man。 After this；
Sanacharib king of the Arabians and of the Assyrians marched a great host
against Egypt。 Then the warriors of the Egyptians refused to come to the
rescue； and the priest； being driven into a strait； entered into the sanctuary
of the temple and bewailed to the image of the god the danger which was
impending over him； and as he was thus lamenting； sleep came upon him；
and it seemed to him in his vision that the god came and stood by him and
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encouraged him； saying that he should suffer no evil if he went forth to
meet the army of the Arabians； for he would himself send him helpers。
Trusting in these things seen in sleep； he took with him； they said； those of
the Egyptians who were willing to follow him； and encamped in Pelusion；
for by this way the invasion came： and not one of the warrior class
followed him； but shop…keepers and artisans and men of the market。 Then
after they came； there swarmed by night upon their enemies mice of the
fields； and ate up their quivers and their bows； and moreover the handles
of their shields； so that on the next day they fled； and being without
defence of arms great numbers fell。 And at the present time this king
stands in the
