The same is also deduceable from very approved Authors: _Polybius_ speaking of the way which _Anibal_ marched into _Italy_, useth the word βεβημάτισται, that is, saith _Petrus Victorius_, it was stored with devices for men to get upon their horses, which ascents were termed _Bemata_, and in the life of _Caius Gracchus_, _Plutarch_ expresseth as much. For endevouring to ingratiate himself with the people, besides the placing of stones at every miles end, he made at nearer distances certain elevated places, and Scalary ascents, that by the help thereof they might with better ease ascend or mount their Horses. Now if we demand how Cavaliers then destitute of stirrops did usually mount their Horses; as _Lipsius_ informeth the unable and softer sort of men had their ἀναβολεῖς, or Stratores, which helped them up on horse back, as in the practice of _Crassus_ in _Plutarch_, and _Caracalla_ in _Spartianus_, and the later example of _Valentinianus_, who because his horse rised before that he could not be setled on his back, cut off the right hand of his Strator. But how the active and hardy persons mounted, _Vegetius_ [SN: De re Milit.] resolves us, that they used to vault or leap up, and therefore they had wooden horses in their houses and abroad: that thereby young men might enable themselves in this action: wherein by instruction and practice they grew so perfect, that they could vault up on the right or left, and that with their sword in hand, according to that of _Virgil_ _Poscit equos atque arma simul, saltuque superbus Emicat._ And again: _Infrænant alii currus et corpora saltu Injiciunt in equos._ So _Julius Pollux_ adviseth to teach horses to incline, dimit, and bow down their bodies, that their riders may with better ease ascend them. And thus may it more causally be made out, what _Hippocrates_ affirmeth of the _Scythians_, that using continual riding, they were generally molested with the Sciatica or hip-gout. Or what _Suetonius_ delivereth of _Germanicus_, that he had slender legs, but encreased them by riding after meals; that is, the humours descending upon their pendulosity, they having no support or suppedaneous stability. Now if any shall say that these are petty errors and minor lapses, not considerably injurious unto truth, yet is it neither reasonable nor fair to contemn inferiour falsities; but rather as between falshood and truth there is no medium, so should they be maintained in their distances: nor the contagion of the one, approach the sincerity of the other. CHAPTER XIV Of the Picture of _Jephthah_ sacryficing his daughter. [Sidenote: _That_ Jephthah _did not kill his daughter_.]