[p. 129]
cut which causes impotence, and I believe that these
are the veins which they cut. After this treatment,
when the Scythians approach a woman but cannot
have intercourse, at first they take no notice and
think no more about it. But when two, three or
even more attempts are attended with no better
success, thinking that they have sinned against
Heaven they attribute thereto the cause, and put
on women's clothes, holding that they have lost their
manhood. So they play the woman, and with the
women do the same work as women do.
This affliction affects the rich Scythians because of
their riding, not the lower classes but the upper,
who possess the most strength ; the poor, who do
not ride, suffer less. But, if we suppose this disease
to be more divine than any other, it ought to have
attacked, not the highest and richest classes only of
the Scythians, but all classes equally--or rather the
poor especially, if indeed the gods are pleased to
receive from men respect and worship, and repay
these with favours. For naturally the rich, having
great wealth, make many sacrifices to the gods, and
offer many votive offerings, and honour them, all of
which things the poor, owing to their poverty, are
less able to do ; besides, they blame the gods for not
giving them wealth, so that the penalties for such sins
are likely to be paid by the poor rather than by the
rich. But the truth is, as I said above, these affections
are neither more nor less divine than any others,
and all and each are natural. Such a disease arises
