Page:Busbecq, Travels into Turkey (1744).pdf/163

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fight with? Do not both of you eat your Emperor's Bread? And yet, forsooth, you must go about to take away one another's Lives! What Precedent had you for this? Don't you know, that whoever of the two had died, the Emperor had lost a Subject? Whereupon, by their Command, he was haled to Prison, where he lay pining many Months, and was, at last, with Difficulty, released; yet with the loss of his Reputation.

Among us Christians, many who have never come in sight of a public Enemy, draw their Swords upon one another, and think it a brave and honourable Thing. What shall a Man do in such a Case, when Vice usurps the seat of Virtue, and that which deserves Punishment, is counted noble and glorious? But to return,

I know you are inquisitive, and therefore give me leave to acquaint you with the public Entrance, which the King of Cholchos made into this City. His Kingdom is by the River Phasis, in a Creek or Bay of the Euxine Sea, not far from Mount Caucasus. His Name is Dadianus, a Man of a tall Stature and grateful Countenance, but of a rough-hew'n Disposition, as some say. He came with a great Train, but in a very Thread-bare, and old-fashion'd Garb. The Italians, at this Day, call the Colchians Mingrelians: They are some of that People, inhabiting between the Caspian Gates, (called by the Turks, Demit capi, i. e. Iron Gates,) and the Potic and Hyrcanian-Seas: They are at this Day called Georgians; whether from that sort of Christian Religion, which they profess, or whether that be their ancient Name (which seems most probable,) is not fully determined. The Albanians and Iberians are reckoned a Part of them. The Cause of his coming is uncertain: Some say, he was sent for by the Turk;