Lydia, long after the Trojan war, and still farther removed from Abraham, and the supposed foundation of the Assyrian empire. And in proof of this being the author's meaning, we find him afterwards more explicitly shewing, that these excursions of the Sacæ were as late as the empire of the Persians. The account is so particular and precise, that I will lay it at large before the reader. 15 The inroads of the Sace were very like those of the Cimmerians and Treres, some of them being made to a great distance, and others nearer home. For they not only got possession of Media, but also seized upon the most eligible part of Armenia, which they called Sacasene, after their own name. They advanced as far as Cappadocia ; especially towards that part of it which borders upon the Euxine sea, and is called the region of Pontus. Thus far all is right: but observe the sequel. Here, as they were giving themselves up to feasting and jollity from the plunder which they had taken, they were set upon in the night by some of the Persian Satrapæ, and all cut off. Pezron therefore might well say that the Sacæ, in the midst of their exploits, seem at once to have

15 L. 11. p. 779.

Επιθεμενοι δ' αυτοις πανηγυρίζεσιν απο των λαφύρων οι τότε ταύτῃ των Περσών σρατηγοι νύκτωρ, αρδην αυτες ηφάνισαν. Ibid.

been annihilated, and their name extinct. Strabo tells us that they were totally ruined: apin avres nav: the Persians cut them all off to a man. Hence we may see of what great oversights this learned man was guilty in the prosecution of his scheme. First, in supposing these Sace to have been of as great antiquity as the Patriarchs, and antecedent to the foundation of Assyria, who were manifestly as late as the reign of Cyrus. Secondly, in giving the character of universal conquerors to a set of banditti, who in one attack were extirpated. Lastly, in attributing the most material circumstances in the antient history of Europe to a people who were never there. Thus is this fairy vision brought to an end. The history of the Titans, the achievements of Acmon, the empire of Jupiter, the part delegated to Tal-man, are quite effaced; and much labour and ingenuity has been expended to little purpose. In short, the whole Celtic system is ruined; for the Sacæ, upon whom it depended, are stopped in their career, and no more heard of; and all this is

16 Strabo says, that, according to some historians, it was Cyrus who cut them off. 1. 11. p. 780. But it was probably an age later when the Persian empire was more established. See the passage: Oi de, iTi Kugos, x.T.λ. See also Diodorus Sic. 1. 2. p. 119.

manifest from the authorities to which Pezron appeals. Such too frequently are the quotations made use of by people of an eager disposition; which, as they are introduced, answer but in part; when examined, are totally repugnant. His reasoning throughout is carried on by a chain, of which not one link is fairly connected.

An ingenious writer and antiquary of our own nation has followed the steps of Pezron, and added to his system largely. He supposes, that all science centered of old in Bactria, called " Bochary, or the land of Books, which Pezron had supposed to have been the principal place of residence of his Sacæ. He accordingly tells us, that in these parts we must look for the origin of the Titans, Celts, and Scythæ. We are

17 See the History and Chronology of the Fabulous Ages, by Wise. p. 119. and note (1) in another treatise, he says: Pezron proves, that Uranus, Calus, Saturn, and Jupiter, were no imaginary beings, but the true names of Celtic emperors, who were more generally known by the name of Titans. Wise. Dissertation on the Language, Learning, &c. of Europe. It appears, that Uranus, Saturn, and Jupiter were powerful princes; sovereigns over a vast empire, comprehending all Europe, and a great part of Asia. Ibid. p. 55. These writers were too modest in limiting Jupiter's empire, which they might as well have extended over all the earth, especially as they might have quoted authority for it. Τον Δια (φασι) βασιλεύσαι TE FRUWRITOG KOBJA. Diodorus. 1. 3. p. 194

likewise informed by another writer, that near

18

Cashmire and Thebet they speak good " Irish at this day. The learned Salmasius also deduces every thing from Scythia. "9 Nulla fere Europæ gens nec Asiæ, quin a septentrione proma n verit, &c. Scythia igitur, quæ ad septentrionem, omnes fere gentes evomuit. But what are we to understand by Scythia? It is an unlimited, undefined term, under which Grecian ignorance sheltered itself. Whatever was unknown northward was called Scythian. It is certain, that vast bodies of men have at times come from the north: though Salmasius carries his notions to a degree of extravagance. But giving his opinion a full scope, What has this to do with the language and learning of Europe; which by many are so uniformly deduced from the same quarter? It is notorious, that this vast track of country called, ignorantly, Scythia, was possessed by people essentially differing from one another. Timonax, a writer of great antiquity, took notice of fifty nations of Scythians. Mithridates had twentylanguages spoken within his territories,

two

21

20

18 See Parsons, in his treatise styled Japhet.

19 De Hellenisticâ. p. 366.

20 Της δε Σκυθίας εθνη πεντήκοντα Τίμωναξ αναγράφει εν πρώτω περι Exv. Scholia in Apollon. 1. 4. v. 320.

Mithridates duarum et viginti gentium Rex, totidem linguis

22

most of which were esteemed Scythic. The people of Colchis at one time carried on a great trade; and variety of inland nations came down to their marts. According to Timosthenes, they were not less than three hundred, which had each their particular language. And even afterwards, in the times of the Romans, it is said, that they were obliged to keep up an hundred and thirty interpreters to carry on traffic. Yet we are apt to speak of the Scythians collectively as of one family, and of one language, and this the Titanian or Celtic. 23 The Titan language, says Wise, was universal in Europe: the Titan language, the vehicle of all the knowledge which dawned in Europe. -The Titans, masters of all the knowledge derived from the sons of Noah. And who these Titans were, he repeatedly shews, by saying, that they were the first civilizers of mankind, and Scythians. The true Scuthai, or Scythians, were undoubtedly a very learned and intelligent people but their

jura dixit. Plin. 1. 7. c. 24. p. 387. See Aulus Gellius. 1. 17. c. 17. There were twenty-six languages among the Albani. Strabo. 1. 11. p. 768. See also Socratis Hist. Eccles. 1. 1. c. 19. Ρ. 49. Βαρβαρων εθνη πολλα, διάφορους χρωμένα γλώσσαις.

22 Plin. l. 5. c. 5. p. 305. Many of these were probably only dialects. Yet there must have been in some instances a real difference of language; and consequently a distinction of people. 23 P. 56.