按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the inhabitants； for they are different； and do not at all resemble
one another。 To treat of all would be a long story； but I will tell
you how I think it is with regard to the greatest and most marked
differences。 I say； then； that Asia differs very much from Europe as
to the nature of all things； both With regard to the productions of
the earth and the inhabitants； for everything is produced much more
beautiful and large in Asia； the country is milder； and the
dispositions of the inhabitants also are more gentle and affectionate。
The cause of this is the temperature of the seasons； because it lies
in the middle of the risings of the sun towards the east； and
removed from the cold （and heat）； for nothing tends to growth and
mildness so much as when the climate has no predominant quality； but a
general equality of temperature prevails。 It is not everywhere the
same with regard to Asia； but such parts of the country as lie
intermediate between the heat and the cold； are the best supplied with
fruits and trees； and have the most genial climate； and enjoy the
purest waters； both celestial and terrestrial。 For neither are they
much burnt up by the heat； nor dried up by the drought and want of
rain； nor do they suffer from the cold； since they are well watered
from abundant showers and snow； and the fruits of the season； as might
be supposed； grow in abundance； both such as are raised from seed that
has been sown； and such plants as the earth produces of its own
accord； the fruits of which the inhabitants make use of； training them
from their wild state and transplanting them to a suitable soil； the
cattle also which are reared there are vigorous； particularly
prolific； and bring up young of the fairest description； the
inhabitants too； are well fed； most beautiful in shape； of large
stature； and differ little from one another either as to figure or
size； and the country itself； both as regards its constitution and
mildness of the seasons； may be said to bear a close resemblance to
the spring。 Manly courage； endurance of suffering； laborious
enterprise； and high spirit； could not be produced in such a state
of things either among the native inhabitants or those of a
different country； for there pleasure necessarily reigns。 For this
reason； also； the forms of wild beasts there are much varied。 Thus
it is； as I think； with the Egyptians and Libyans。
13。 But concerning those on the right hand of the summer risings
of the sun as far as the Palus Maeotis （for this is the boundary of
Europe and Asia）； it is with them as follows： the inhabitants there
differ far more from one another than those I have treated of above；
owing to the differences of the seasons and the nature of the soil。
But with regard to the country itself； matters are the same there as
among all other men； for where the seasons undergo the greatest and
most rapid changes； there the country is the wildest and most unequal；
and you will find the greatest variety of mountains； forests；
plains； and meadows； but where the seasons do not change much there
the country is the most even； and； if one will consider it； so is it
also with regard to the inhabitants； for the nature of some is like to
a country covered with trees and well watered； of some； to a thin soil
deficient in water； of others； to fenny and marshy places； and of some
again； to a plain of bare and parched land。 For the seasons which
modify their natural frame of body are varied； and the greater the
varieties of them the greater also will be the differences of their
shapes。
14。 I will pass over the smaller differences among the nations；
but will now treat of such as are great either from nature； or custom；
and； first； concerning the Macrocephali。 There is no other race of men
which have heads in the least resembling theirs。 At first； usage was
the principal cause of the length of their head； but now nature
cooperates with usage。 They think those the most noble who have the
longest heads。 It is thus with regard to the usage： immediately
after the child is born； and while its head is still tender； they
fashion it with their hands； and constrain it to assume a lengthened
shape by applying bandages and other suitable contrivances whereby the
spherical form of the head is destroyed； and it is made to increase in
length。 Thus； at first； usage operated； so that this constitution
was the result of force： but； in the course of time； it was formed
naturally； so that usage had nothing to do with it； for the semen
comes from all parts of the body； sound from the sound parts； and
unhealthy from the unhealthy parts。 If； then； children with bald heads
are born to parents with bald heads； and children with blue eves to
parents who have blue eyes； and if the children of parents having
distorted eyes squint also for the most part； and if the same may be
said of other forms of the body； what is to prevent it from
happening that a child with a long head should be produced by a parent
having a long head？ But now these things do not happen as they did
formerly； for the custom no longer prevails owing to their intercourse
with other men。 Thus it appears to me to be with regard to them。
15。 As to the inhabitants of Phasis； their country is fenny； warm；
humid； and wooded； copious and severe rains occur there at all
seasons； and the life of the inhabitants is spent among the fens；
for their dwellings are constructed of wood and reeds； and are erected
amidst the waters； they seldom practice walking either to the city
or the market； but sail about； up and down； in canoes constructed
out of single trees； for there are many canals there。 They drink the
hot and stagnant waters； both when rendered putrid by the sun； and
when swollen with rains。 The Phasis itself is the most stagnant of all
rivers； and runs the smoothest； all the fruits which spring there
are unwholesome； feeble and imperfect growth； owing to the
redundance of water； and on this account they do not ripen； for much
vapor from the waters overspreads the country。 For these reasons the
Phasians have shapes different from those of all other men； for they
are large in stature； and of a very gross habit of body； so that not a
joint nor vein is visible； in color they are sallow； as if affected
with jaundice。 Of all men they have the roughest voices； from their
breathing an atmosphere which is not clear； but misty and humid；
they are naturally rather languid in supporting bodily fatigue。 The
seasons undergo but little change either as to heat or cold； their
winds for the most part are southerly； with the exception of one
peculiar to the country； which sometimes blows strong； is violent
and hot； and is called by them the wind cenchron。 The north wind
scarcely reaches them； and when it does blow it is weak and gentle。
Thus it is with regard to the different nature and shape of the
inhabitants of Asia and Europe。
16。 And with regard to the pusillanimity and cowardice of the
inhabitants； the principal reason the Asiatics are more unwarlike
and of gentler disposition than the Europeans is； the nature of the
seasons； which do not undergo any great changes either to heat or
cold； or the like； for there is neither excitement of the
understanding nor any strong change of the body whereby the temper
might be ruffled and they be roused to inconsiderate emotion and
passion； rather than living as they do always in the state。 It is
changes of all kinds which arouse understanding of mankind； and do not
allow them to get into a torpid condition。 For these reasons； it
appears to me； the Asiatic race is feeble； and further； owing to their
laws； for monarchy prevails in the greater part of Asia； and where men
are not their own masters nor independent； but are the slaves of
others； it is not a matter of consideration with them how they may
acquire military discipline； but how they may seem not to be
warlike； for the dangers are not equally shared； since they must serve
as soldiers； perhaps endure fatigue； and die for their masters； far
from their children； their wives； and other friends； and whatever
noble and manly actions they may perform lead only to the
aggrandizement of their masters； whilst the fruits which they reap are
dangers and death； and； in addition to all this； the lands of such
persons must be laid waste by the enemy and want of culture。 Thus；
then； if any one be naturally warlike and courageous； his
disposition will be changed by the institutions。 As a strong proof
of all this； such Greeks or barbarians in Asia as are not under a
despotic form of government； but are independent； and enjoy the fruits
of their own labors； are of all others the most warlike； for these
encounter dangers on their own account； bear the prizes of their own
valor； and in like manner endure the punishment of their own
cowardice。 And you will find the Asiatics differing from one
another； for some are better and others more dastardly； of these
differences； as I stated before； the changes of the seasons are the
cause。 Thus it is with Asia。
17。 In Europe there is a Scythian race； called Sauromatae； which
inhabits the confines of the Palus Maeotis； and is different from
all other races。 T