Madoc
, i. 4 (1805).
Cyrus and Tom'yris. Cyrus, after subduing the eastern parts of Asia, was defeated by Tomyris queen of the Massage'tae, in Scythia. Tomyris cut off his head, and threw it into a vessel filled with human blood, saying, as she did so, "There, drink thy fill." Dantê refers to this incident in his Purgatory, xii.
Consyder Syrus ...
He whose huge power no man might overthrowe,
Tom'yris Queen with great despite hath slowe,
His head dismembered from his mangled corps
Herself she cast into a vessel fraught
With clotted bloud of them that felt her force.
And with these words a just reward she taught—