much more than the loss of liberty. This man, who did not
doubt that he should enchant the soul of a Scythian barbarian, by the
same arts which had enraptured his refined audiences at home, exerted
himself with an agility that extorted the loudest applause from all the
spectators but Arsaces. At length one of our countrymen took the liberty
of asking the monarch what he thought of this extraordinary performance?
'I think,' replied he, coldly, 'that it would gain him great credit
among a nation of monkeys.' Another time he was present at the
exhibitions of a celebrated musician, who was reputed to possess
unrivalled skill in playing soft and melting tunes upon the lyre. All
the audience seemed to feel the influence of his art, by their
inarticulate murmurs of admiration, and the languishing postures of
their bodies. When the exhibition was finished, the musician advanced,
amid the united plaudits of the audience, as if to receive the just
tribute of approbation from Arsaces; but he, with a stern look, said to
him, 'Friend, I permit thee to play every night before the Syrians; but
if thy lyre is ever heard to sound in the presence of my Scythians, I
denounce certain death for the offence.' Another time an officious
glutton of our city introduced to him, with great solemnity, two men,
whose talents he assured him were unequalled in their different
professions. The one, he said, adjusted hair with such dexterity, that
he could give an artificial beauty to every countenance; and the other
possessed such unrivalled skill in cooking a repast, that even the
soberest guest was tempted to commit intemperance. 'My soldiers,'
replied Arsaces, 'are accustomed to adjust their locks with the point of
their arrows, nor does our nation consider a bloated paunch and an
unwieldy shape as any accomplishment in warriors; all therefore, that I
can do for these gentlemen is, to depute one of them to comb my horse's
tail, and the other to feed the hogs of the army.'

"'After I had conversed some time with this barbarian chief, who heard
me with the greatest attention, the hour of refreshment for the army
approached, and I was preparing to retire; but the general stopped me
with a smile, and told me, I had already entertained him with the
greatest hospitality, and that therefore it was just that I should stay
and taste the Scythian food. A bit of dried flesh, which I afterwards
found was that of a horse, some sour coagulated milk, with an infusi