(
Greek characters)[1]. Near Nonacris, in Arcadia, the Styx[2], which
is not unlike it either in odour or in colour, instantly destroys those who drink it. Also in Librosus, a hill in the
country of the Tauri, there are three springs which inevitably produce death, but without pain. In the territory
of the Carrinenses in Spring[3] two springs burst out close
together, the one of which absorbs everything, the other
throws them out. In the same country there is another
spring, which gives to all the fish the appearance of gold,
although, when out of the water, they do not differ in any
respect from other fish. In the territory of Como, near the
Larian lake, there is a copious spring, which always swells
up and subsides again every hour[4]. In the island of Cydonea[5], before Lesbos, there is a warm fountain, which flows
only during the spring season. The lake Sinnaus[6], in Asia,
is impregnated with wormwood, which grows about it. At
Colophon, in the cave of the Clarian Apollo, there is a pool
by the drinking of which a power is acquired of uttering
wonderful oracles; but the lives of those who drink of it are
shortened[7]. In our own times, during the last years of
Nero's life, we have seen rivers flowing backwards, as I have
stated in my history of his times[8].
And indeed who can be mistaken as to the fact, that all springs are colder in summer than in winter[9], as well as
- ↑ Literally, Jovis cultus ; as interpreted by Hardoum, "tanquam si dixeris, divmum Jovis muuus himc foutem esse." Lemaire, i. 447
- ↑ Seneca affiirma its poisonous nature; Nat. Quæst. iii. 25. Q Curtius refers to a spring in Macedonia of the same name, " quo pestiferum vii-us emanat." x. 10.
- ↑ There appears to be some uncertainty respecting the locality of this district; see the remarks of Hardouin, Lemaire, i. 447.
- ↑ "Hunc fontem describit exhnie Phnius jun. hb. iv. epist. ult. Est ad orientalem Larii laeus plagam, Lago di Como, x mill. pass, a Como." Hardouin, Lemaire, i. 448.
- ↑ Our author, in a subsequent passage, v. 39, speaks of Cydonea, "cum fonte calido."
- ↑ According to Hardouin, i. 448, there is a considerable variation in
the MSS. with respect to this name : he informs us that "(
Greek characters) urbs
est Magnæ Phrygiæ Ptolemæo, v. 2."
- ↑ Tacitus gives an account of this oracle as having been visited by Germanicus; Ann. ii. 54.
- ↑ Our author refers to this history in the First book of the present work.
- ↑ "Comparatos scihcet cimi a{{subst:e:}}ris extemi temperie." Alexandre in Lemaire, i. 448.
