Plutarch's morals. Part 5. translated from the Greek by several hands.

Araxes, Now Arass, Arais, Achlar and Caiacs.

Araxes is a River in Armenia, so call'd from Araxus the Son of Pylus. For he contending with his Grand-Father Arbelus for the Empire, stabb'd him with an Arrow. For which being haunted by the Furies, he threw himself into the River Baetros, for that reason call'd Araxes; as Ctesiphon testifies in his First Book of Persian Affairs. Araxes King of the Armenians, being at War with his Neighbours the Persians, before they came to a Battle, was told by the Oracle that he should win the Victories, if he sacrific'd to the Gods two of the most noble Virgins in his Kingdom. Now he out of his paternal Affection to his Children, spar'd hi•• own Daughters, and caus'd two lovely Virgins, the Daughters of one of his Nobility to be laid upon the Altar. Which Mnesalkes, the Father of the Victims laying to heart, for a time conceal'd his Indignation, but afterwards, observing his opportunity, kill'd both the Kings Daughters, and then leaving his native Soyl fled into Scythia. Which when Araxes understood, for grief he threw himself into the River Halmus, which then was alter'd, and the River call'd Araxes.

In this River grows a Plant which is call'd Araxa, which in the Language of the Natives signifies a Virgin Hater. For that if it happen to be found by any Vir∣gin, it falls a bleeding and dyes away.

In the same River there is also found a Stone, of a

black color, call'd Sicyorus. This Stone when the Ora∣cle advises the sacrificing of a human Victim, is laid upon the Altar of the Mischief diverting Gods. And then, no sooner does the Priest but touch it with his Knife but it sends forth a stream of Blood; at what time the superstitious sacrificers retire and with howlings and loud Ohonings carry the Stone to the Temple, as Doritheus the Caldaean relates in his Second Book of Stones.

Nere to this River lies the Mountain Diorphus; so call'd from Diorphus, the Son of the Earth; of whom this Story is reported. Methras desirous to have a Son, yet hating Woman-kind, lay with a Stone till he had heated it to that degree, that the Stone grew big, and at the prefix'd time was deliver'd of a Son, call'd Diorphos, who growing up and contending with Mars for cou∣rage and stoutness was by him slain; and the Moun∣tain where the Contender was buried was call'd Dior∣phos by his Name.

In this Mountain grows a Tree, not unlike a Pome∣granate-Tree, which yields plenty of Apples, in taste like Grapes. Now if any one gather the ripest of this Fruit, and do but name Mars while he holds it in his hand, it will presently grown green again, as Ctesiphon Witnesses in his Third Book of Trees.

Notes

• Saxum Sarrivit, ac∣cording to that of Martial, Quid Sarrire si velit Saxum?