CHAP. II.
A continuation of the Aethiopian Antiquities, and of the Queene of Saba.
HELIODORVS in his Historie (which although for the substance it be fained, as a loue-discourse, yet must hold resemblance with thinges done) and for the variety and conceit thereof, commended by that learned a 1.1 German Philip, and by our English b 1.2 Philip (the soule of Poesie) mitated in his Arcadia, telleth of Hydaspes his Aethiopian King, that after his victorie at Syene, and hauing there performed his deuotions, and seene their Niloscopium (like to that at Memphis, and now at Cairo) and enquired the originalls of their feasts, and holy rites done in honour of that Riuer: when c 1.3 he came to the Cataracts, he sacrificed to Nilus, and the Gods of the Borders. He then sent messengers to the Wise••••••en, whom he calleth Gymnosophists, which are the Kings Counsellours, at Meroe, to certifie them of his victory, and to call a publike assembly wherein to gratifie the Gods for the same with sacrifices & solemne pomps, in the field consecrated to the Sunne, the Moone, and Bacchus. Persina, the Queene, deliuered those letters to the Gymnosophists, who dwelt by themselues in a Groue, con∣secrated to Pan; and before they would giue answere, consulted with the Gods by praier, and then Sisimures the chiefe of them promised all should be fulfilled. The Sa∣crifices were to bee done to the Sunne and Moone. and therefore, except Persina the Queene, which was Luna's Priest, no woman for feare of contaminating the Holies of those Pure and Bright Deities, might bee present. Hydaspes was Priest of the Sunne. Much preparation was made of Beasts for their Hecatombe's, and much concourse of people crossing the Riuer in those boats of Canes or Reedes. There was presented the Images of their Gods, Memnon, Perseus and Andromeda: and nigh to them sete the Gymnosophistae. Three Altars were erected; two ioyntly to the Sunne and Moone; a third to Bacchus by himselfe, to him they offered all sorts of Beasts; to Sol, white Chariot-horses; to the Moone, a yoke of Oxen. And when all things were ready, the people with shouts demanded the sacrifice, which vsually was accustomed for the health of their Nation. That was, some of the strangers taken in the warres, to be of∣fered: First, triall d 1.4 was made by spits of gold, heated with fire, brought out of the Temple, whether the captiues had euer knowne carnall copulation: for treading on the same with their bare feet, such as were pure Virgins receiued no harme, others were scorched. These were offered in sacrifice to Bacchus; the other, to those purer Deities. These thinges haue I here inserted, not as done, but as like to such thinges, which among the Meroites vsed to be done, and agreeing with the generall deuotions of those Ethiopians. Philostratus e 1.5 reporteth like matters of their Gymnosophits and of the Groue where they kept their generall consultations: otherwise, each of them by themselues a-part, obseruing their studies and holies. They worshipped Nilus. inten∣ding