XERXESS BRIDGE OF BOAT* .581 



sea side; the one was a passage to be cut through mount Alhos. 

 This mountain reaches a great way into the sea, in the form of a 

 peninsula, and is joined to the land by an isthmus twelve furlongs 

 over. The sea, in this place, is very tempestuous, and the Persian 

 fleet had formerly su tit-red shipwreck in doubling this promontory. 

 To prevent the like disaster, Xerxes caused a passage to be cut 

 through the mountain, broad enough to let two galleys, with three 

 banks of oars each, pass in front. By this means he severed from 

 the continent the cities of Dion, Olophyxus, Acrothoon, Tlipus, 

 and Cleone. It is said however, that Xerxes undertook this 

 enterprize only out of ostentation, and to perpetuate the memory 

 of his name, since he might, with far less trouble, have caused his 

 fleet'to be conveyed over the isthmus, as was the practice in those 

 days. 



He likewise commanded a bridge of boats to be laid over the 

 Hellespont, for the passing of his forces from Asia into Europe. 

 The sea which separates Sestos and Abydus, where the bridge was 

 built, is seven furlongs over. The work was carried on with great 

 expedition by the Phoenicians and Egyptians, who had no sooner 

 finished it, but a violent storm arising, broke it in pieces, and dis. 

 persed or dashed against the shore the vessels of which it was com- 

 posed : which when Xerxes heard, he fell into such a violent trans, 

 port of anger, that he commanded three hundred stripes to be 

 inflicted on the sea, and a pair of fetters to be thrown intuit, in. 

 joining those who were trusted with the execution of his orders, to 

 pronounce these words : <: Thou salt, and bitter element, thy master 

 has condemned thee to this punishment, for offending him without 

 cause; and is resolved to pass over thee, in spite of thy billows, 

 and insolent resistance." The extravagant folly and madness of 

 this prince did not stop here ; he commanded the ht-ads of those 

 who had the direction of the work to be struck oil'. 



In their room he appointed more experienced architects to build 

 two other bridges, one for tbe army, the other for the beasts of 

 burden, and the baggage. When the whole work was completed, 

 and the vessels which formed tin- bridges strcur? against the violence 

 of the winds, and the current of the water, Xerxes- defatted Irom 

 Sardis, where the army had wintered, and directed his march to 

 Abydus. N\ hen he arrived at that city, he dc.tircd to see all his 

 forces together ; and, to that end, ascending a stately rdiuce of 

 white stone, which the Abydcniaus had built, on purpose to receive 



