5

—
4 JO NOTES.
Justin as his autborhy.
But what will the reader thiuk of Mr<
Pinkarton, when I assure him that Justin does not once mention
Tanaus on the, occasion, nor, indeed, any Scythian king whatever;
nay, what Is more, he does not, throughout his whole
treatise on the origin and history of the Scythians, contained iii
the five first chapters of his second book, once mention the name
of Tanaus.
The only Scythian kings he mentions are Sagillus
and Janeirus, the first cotemporary with Hercules, and the
\rith Darius.
last
Justin had, however, fixed (he Kra of both these
kings, and they were, besides, too modern for Mr. Pinkarton's
purpose.
But as Justin had assigned the Egyptians a king, and
had been so unpolite as to march the Scythians to this war with,
out one, Mr. Pinkarton was obliged to look out for a straggltt
of some kind or other, and place him at th« head of his red hair,
edfriends.
of the first oeok of Justin.
This straggler Tanaus he found in the first chapter
Speaking of Ninus, and the Assyrian
monarchy, which he reckons the first on record, Justin proceeds
thus
Fuere quidem ietnporiius anliquiores, Sesostris J^gffpti,
et Sei/thiae rex Tanaus; quorum alter in Powtum, alter usqve
^gyptum proeessit.
Sed longinqua, nonfinitima bella gerebant,
nee imperium sibi, sed populis suis gloriam qutprebani, cotUenti.
que victoria^ imperio abstinebant. Ninus magnitudinem queesilae
domintttiottis continua possessiotteJirmaKit—i. e. " Sesostris, king
of Egypt, and Tanaus, king of Scythia, were indeed more ancient
than Ninas, the one of whom advanced as far as Poatos, and the
other as far as Egypt.
But they carried on wars at a distance,
not in their own vicinity, nor did they seek dominion for them.
selves, but glory for their people; and, content with victory,
did not domineer oyer the conquered. Ninus established th«
greatness of his acquired dominion by taking immediate posses,
sion of his conquests." In the preceding part of the chapter,
Justin informs ns of the justice and equity of ancient kings, who
defended theborderaof their own kingdoms, but did not advance
them by encroachments on their neighbours; and then proceed*
as above quoted. Ninus was the first who broke through this
•qultalile principle.
Josfin admits there were two kings before