190
Cambyses a very severe and rigorous King, caus’d a Judge, tho’ his Friend, to be flead alive, because he took Bribes, and did not administer Justice according to Law and Equity: And having afterwards order’d the Judgment-Seat to be cover’d with his Skin, he placed his Son upon it, to succeed his Father in his Employment.
190
Cambyse Roy fort severe & rigoureux, fit écorcher tout vif un Juge, quoy que son Ami, parce qu’il se laissoit corrompre par Presens, & qu’il n’administroit pas la Justice selon les Loix & l’Equité: Et ayant fait ensuite couvrir le Tribunal de sa Peau, il y fit asseoir son Fils, pour succeder à la charge de son Pere.
191
Irene repairs with great cost and charge to Epidaurus, visits Æsculapius in his Temple, and consults with him about all her Ailments. First of all she complains, That she is weary, and spent with Fatigue: And the God declares, This is befallen her by the length of her Journey. She says, She has no Stomach at Night; the Oracle prescribes her, To eat but little at Dinner. She asks him, What makes her so heavy, and what Remedy for it? The Oracle answers, She must rise early in the Morning, and use Exercise. She tells him, That Wine is hurtful to her; so the Oracle bids her, To drink Water. That she cannot digest what she eats, and he adds, she must keep a strict Diet. My Sight decays, says Irene; use then Spectacles, says Æsculapius. I grow weak, says she farther, neither am I so healthful as I have been; the reason of it, says the God, is because you grow old. But which way shall I recover my self? The best way, Irene, is to dye, as did your Mother and Grandmother. Is this, answered Irene, all that Wisdom which Mankind proclaims, and which makes you to be reverenced by all the World? What a rare Mystery you learn me? Did I not know before all those Remedies you prescribe? Why then did not you use them, answers the God, Without coming so far to me, and shortning your Days by so long a Journey?
191
Irene se transporte à grands frais en Epidaure, void Esculape dans son Temple, & le consulte sur tous ses maux. D’abord elle se plaint, Qu’elle est lasse, & recreuë de fatigue; & le Dieu prononce, que cela lui arrive par la longueur du Chemin qu’elle vient de faire. Elle dit, qu’elle est le soir sans appetit. L’Oracle lui ordonne, de diner peu. Elle lui demande, pourquoy elle devient pesante, & quel remede? L’Oracle repond, qu’elle doit se lever de bon matin & prendre de l’exercice. Elle lui declare, que le Vin lui est nuisible; & l’Oracle luî dit, de boire de l’eau. Qu’elle a des indigestions, & il ajoûte, qu’elle fasse Diete. Ma veuë s’affoiblit, dit Irene, Prenez donc des Lunettes, dit Esculape. Je deviens foible, continuë-t-elle, & je ne suis plus si saine que j’ai été. C’est, dit le Dieu, que vous vieillissez. Mais quel moyen de guerir de cette Langueur? Le plus court, Irene, C’est de mourir, comme ont fait vôtre mere, & vôtre ayeule. Est ce-là, repondit Irene, toute cette Science que les hommes publient, & qui vous fait reverer de toute la Terre? que m’apprenez vous de rare & de mysterieux? & ne savois-je pas tous ces remedes que vous m’enseignez? Que n’en usiez vous donc, repondit le Dieu, sans venir me chercher de si loin, & abbreger vos jours par un si long voyage?