MAIDENS, MENALIPPE AND HIPPOLYTA, BEAT THEM,
HORSES AND ALL, INTO A HEAP.
1.18.1
“W hat should I tell you? The ladies o f Amazonia
had already accomplished so much through the strength
o f their bodies that they were feared and respected by
all countries. The news o f their power reached the land
of Greece, which was quite distant, as well as the report
of how these ladies never stopped invading and con
quering but w ent everywhere, laying waste lands and
countries if they did not immediately surrender, and of
how there was no force which could resist them. The
Greeks were frightened by this news, fearing that the
power o f these women might at the same time extend
even to their own land.
1.18.2
“ At this time, in Greece, the marvelous and strong
Hercules was in the flower o f his youth; in his time he
performed more wonders o f physical strength than men
bom o f women who are mentioned in historical accounts
had ever accomplished, for he fought w ith giants, lions,
serpents, and fabulous monsters, and he was victorious
over all. In short, he was so strong that no man ever
equaled him in strength except the mighty Samson. This
Hercules said that it would not be wise to w ait until
the Amazons came to them, and that therefore it was by
far the best thing to invade them first. In order to accom
plish this, he had a fleet armed and he assembled a large
mass o f noble youths to go there in great strength. W hen
the valiant and brave Theseus, who was king o f Athens,
learned this news, he said that Hercules would never go
without him and so assembled his army w ith that of
Hercules, and thus they put to sea in large numbers,
heading for the land o f Amazonia. WTien, after a short
while, they had approached Amazonia, Hercules, not
withstanding his fabulous strength and boldness and his
large army o f such valiant soldiers, did not dare to come
into port nor to land during the day, so much did he fear
the great power and daring of these women. This would
be fantastic to repeat and hard to believe if so many
The Book o f the City o f Ladies
44
historical writings did not attest to it, that a man who
could not be conquered by the power o f any creature
feared the strength o f women. So Hercules, as well as
his army, waited until dark night had come, and then, at
the hour when all m ortal creatures should rest and sleep,
these men streamed out o f the ships and entered the
country and began to put different cities to the torch and
to slay all those women who were caught off-guard,
unarmed. W ithin a short time, the alarm was great, and
the women ran to arms as fast as they could, and w ith
their best effort they began most courageously to rush
in great troops tow ard the ocean, against their enemies.
“ A t this time the queen, Orithyia, a lady o f most 1.18.3
outstanding valor who had conquered many lands, ruled
over the Amazons. She was the m other o f the brave
queen Penthesilea, o f whom mention will be made here-
afterw ard. This Orithyia had been crowned after the
valiant queen Antiope, who had upheld and governed the
Amazons w ith a great discipline o f valor and had been
most brave in her time. Orithyia heard the news that
the Greeks, w ithout provocation, had fallen upon their
land at night and were slaying all whom they met. No one
need ask w hether she was angered w ith them. She
resolved that they would pay dearly for her displeasure,
and, immediately, w ith strong threats against these men
whom she did not fear in the least, she commanded all
her battalions to be armed. You would have seen how
urgently the ladies rushed to arms and assembled around
their queen, who, by daybreak, had all her troops ready.
“ But while this assembly was forming and the queen 1.18.4
was preparing to put her armies and battalions in order,
two valiant maidens o f supreme strength and valor, bold
and brave over all others— the one called Menalippe and
the other Hippolyta, both close relatives o f the queen—
could not w ait for the troops o f their lady. As soon as
they were able to arm themselves, w ith lances in hand,
shields o f strong elephant hide hanging from their necks,
mounted on swift chargers, they left for the port at the
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