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According to the account which the Scythians themselves give, they
are the youngest of all nations. Their tradition is as follows. A
certain Targitaus was the first man who ever lived in their country,
which before his time was a desert without inhabitants. He was a child
- I do not believe the tale, but it is told nevertheless - of Jove
and a daughter of the Borysthenes. Targitaus, thus descended, begat
three sons, Leipoxais, Arpoxais, and Colaxais, who was the
youngest born of the three. While they still ruled the land, there
fell from the sky four implements, all of gold - a plough, a yoke, a
battle-axe, and a drinking-cup. The eldest of the brothers
perceived them first, and approached to pick them up; when lo! as he
came near, the gold took fire, and blazed. He therefore went his
way, and the second coming forward made the attempt, but the same
thing happened again. The gold rejected both the eldest and the second
brother. Last of all the youngest brother approached, and immediately
the flames were extinguished; so he picked up the gold, and carried it
to his home. Then the two elder agreed together, and made the whole
kingdom over to the youngest born.
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