The Roman historie containing such acts and occurrents as passed under Constantius, Iulianus, Iovianus, Valentinianus, and Valens, emperours. Digested into 18. bookes, the remains of 31. and written first in Latine by Ammianus Marcellinus: now translated newly into English. Wherunto is annexed the chronologie, serving in stead of a briefe supplement of those former 13. bookes, which by the iniurie of time are lost: together with compendious annotations and coniectures upon such hard places as occurre in the said historie. Done by Philemon Holland of the citie of Coventrie, Doctor in Physicke.

CHAP. VI. Part of the contents in the former Chapter.

ALong these most spatious and large tracts, there bee townes of the Greekes dispersed; all which, except some few in divers and sun∣drie ages, the Milesians, coloners of the Athenians, built: who among other Iönians were long before placed in Asia by Nileus, the sonne of that famous Codrus, who is reported to have exposed himselfe to death in the Doricke warre, for his countrey. Now, the small ends or tips of the said bow on either side, which the two Bospori doe expressely resemble, stand just opposit one against another; the one named * 1.1 Thra∣cius; the other, * 1.2 Cimmericus. And for this cause called they are Bospori, for that through them in times past the * 1.3 daughter of Inachus transformed, as the Poets say, into an heifer, passed over to the * 1.4 Ionian sea. The right side therefore, at the ben∣ding in of Bosporus Thracius, Bithynia boundeth upon, which they in old time called Mygdonia; wherein lye the countries * 1.5 Thynia and Mariandena; wherein also are seated the Bebricians delivered from the crueltie of ^r Amycus through the valiant prowesse of Pollux: also that remote station, in which the Prophet Phineus stood in horrible dread of the ravenous Harpyiae, flying up & downe in such threa∣tening manner as they did: by which shores curving and crooking into long coves or creekes, the rivers * 1.6 Sangarius and * 1.7 Psylis, Bizes also and * 1.8 Rhebas, poure them∣selves into the seas. Against which without forth are the * 1.9 Symplegades, two rockes reaching up on every side into high and steepe heads, and were wont in old time to encounter and meet, yea, and with a terrible noise to run and beat one upon ano∣ther with all their hugenesse, and giving way backward, fetch their feese or beire a∣gaine, and with a fierce charge and assault to returne full butt upon the same that they had knocked and beaten before. Betweene these rockes that thus open asun∣der, and jurre one against another so often, if a fowle should happen to flye, by no swiftnesse of wing could she possibly escape and get away, but be crushed to death. These cliffes, when as Argo (the first ship that ever was making speedie way to * 1.10 Col∣chi, for to steale the golden Fleece) had passed by them without harme, stood un∣mooveable conjoyned in one bodie, with the head or point crackt round about: so that no man who seeth them now, would ever beleeve they were at any time par∣ted asunder, but that all the songs and poemes of men in old time agreed joyntly thereupon. Beyond part of Bithynia, the provinces Pontus and * 1.11 Paphlagonia stretch out in length, wherein stand * 1.12 Heraclea, * 1.13 Sinope, * 1.14 Polemonion, and * 1.15 Amy∣sos, great cities: also Tios and * 1.16 Amastris, all founded auspicately by the direction of bird-flight, such was the precise care of the Greekes: likewise * 1.17 Cerasus, from whence Lucullus brought such fruit as are named Cerasa, i. Cherries. Semblably certaine Isles bearing up aloft, containing in them * 1.18 Trapezus and Pityus, townes of no meane account. Beyond these places, there is the hole or cave Acherusius, which the people dwelling thereby call 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: also the haven Acone, with divers rivers,

rivers, to wit, Acheron (named likewise Archadius) * 1.19 Iris, Tembrius, and, hard by. * 1.20 Parthenius, running all downe into the sea with a swift course and violent streame. Next unto these is the river * 1.21 Thermodoon, falling from the mountaine * 1.22 Armoni∣us, and gliding betweene the woods and groves of Themyscyra; into which the Amazones in times past were forced to flit upon this occasion. The auncient Ama∣zones, after that the bordering nations were sore weakened with continuall losses, as who by them were wasted with bloudie rodes and invasions, aymed now at higher exploits: and considering their owne puissance, and the places bordering neere unto them, oftentimes gave the attempt upon more mightie nations, as being ravished with the heat of greedie desire. And when they had broken forcibly through many countries, they made warre upon the Athenians, and beeing in a sharpe conflict discomfited and scattered asunder, and having the flankes of their Cavallerie layed naked, were slaine every one. When the defeature and death of these were knowne, the feeble remaines of them that were left at home, declining the deadly violence of their neighbours, who had before time suffered extremities, and were like to pay them home with semblable measure, flitted to the more peace∣able seat of Thermodoon. The progenie of these being in long time after multi∣plied by many issues and generations, returned with a mightie power to their first native places, and in processe of time became dread to people of divers discents and originals. Not farre from thence mounteth up * 1.23 Carambis, an hill of gentle ascent, rising full upon the Northren ^f Elice, overagainst which is * 1.24 Criu-metopon, a pro∣montorie of Taurica, distant from the other two thousand and five hundred stadia. And from this place all the maritime coast, which beginneth at the river * 1.25 Halys, ly∣ing streight in length like a line, shapeth out the string fastened to the two ends of the bow aforesaid.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Stretto di Con∣stantinopoli.
• * 1.2

  Stretto di Caffa.
• * 1.3

  Iō.
• * 1.4

  Some take this for the gulfe of Venice, others for the Mediterranean sea.
• * 1.5

  Sagora.
• * 1.6

  Sangari. Bellon.
• * 1.7

  or Psil••is. Fenosia. Pineto.
• * 1.8

  Ribas Gyllio.
• * 1.9

  Pavonate.
• * 1.10

  Canameina. Ca∣staldo.
• * 1.11

  Ro••i. Castaldo.
• * 1.12

  Aupep. Bonac••oto or Pendaruchia. Nigr.
• * 1.13

  Pordapas. Ch••l∣conditae.
• * 1.14

  Vatiza Nigro.
• * 1.15

  vel Amisus.
• * 1.16

  Samastro. Nigro.
• * 1.17

  Cheras••da. Mer∣catori.
• * 1.18

  Treb••••ond••.
• * 1.19

  Lirio. Nig.
• * 1.20

  Dolap. Ortel.
• * 1.21

  Pormon Nigr.
• * 1.22

  or rather Arme∣nius, out of Hero∣dotu••.
• * 1.23

  Cabo Pisello.
• * 1.24

  Cabo Leone. P••••eto. S. Iani. Do••••nico Nigr.
• * 1.25

  Lali. N••g••o.