Histories

For, as I have before indicated, Scythia (region (general)), AsiaScythia produces no asses or mules; and there is not in most of Scythia (region (general)), AsiaScythia an ass or a mule, because of the cold. Therefore the asses frightened the Scythian horses when they brayed loudly;

and often, when they were in the act of charging the Persians, the horses would shy in fear if they heard the asses bray or would stand still with ears erect, never having heard a noise like it or seen a like creature.

The Persians thus gained very little in the war, for when the Scythians saw that the Persians were shaken, they formed a plan to have them remain longer in Scythia (region (general)), AsiaScythia and, remaining, be distressed by lack of necessities: they would leave some of their flocks behind with the shepherds, moving away themselves to another place; and the Persians would come and take the sheep, and be encouraged by this achievement.

After such a thing had happened several times, Darius was finally at a loss; and when they perceived this, the Scythian kings sent a herald to Darius with the gift of a bird, a mouse, a frog, and five arrows.