Page:Ancient India as described by Megasthenês and Arrian.djvu/144

 125 neither as yet entered living into Hades,* nor does he know the course of the sun through the central regions of the earth, while the nations on its boundaries have not so much as heard his name.f If his present dominions are not capacious enough for his desire, let him cross the Ganges river, and he will find a region able to sustain men if the country on our side be too narrow to hold him. Know this, however, that what Alexander offers me, and the gifts he pro- mises, are all things to me utterly useless; but the things which I prize, and find of real use and worth, are these leaves which are my house, these blooming plants which supply me with dainty food, and the water which is my drink, while all other possessions and things, which are amassed with anxious care, are wont to prove ruinous to those who amass them, and cause only sorrow and vexation, with which every poor mor« tal is fully fraught. But as for me, I lie upon the forest leaves, and, having nothing which requires guarding, close my eyes in tranquil slumber ; whereas had I gold to guard, that would banish sleep. The earth supplies me with everything, even as a mother her child with milk. I go wherever I please, and there are no • C&v €V dbov ovdcTTO) TTaprjXBev, The Latin version hsM non zonam Oadem transiit, * has not crossed the zone of Cadiz.' t The text here is so oormpt as to be almost untranslat- able. I have therefore rendered from the Latin, thongh not quite closely. Digitized by Google