Euphrates is a river of Parthia, washing the walls of Babylon, formerly
called Medus from Medus the son of Artaxerxes. He, in the heat of his
lust, having ravished away and deflowered Roxane, and finding he was
sought after by the king, in order to be brought to punishment, threw
himself into the river Xaranda, which from thenceforward was called by
his name Medus. Afterwards it was called Euphrates upon this occasion.
Euphrates the son of Arandacus, finding his son Axurta abed with his
mother, and thinking him to be some one of the citizens, provoked by
his jealousy, drew his sword and nailed him to the bed. But perceiving
himself the author of what could not be recalled, he flung himself for
grief into the river Medus, which from that time forward was called by
his name Euphrates.
In this river grows a stone called aetites, which midwives applying to
the navels of women that are in hard labor, it causes them to bring
forth with little pain.
In the same river also there grows an herb which is called axalla,
which signifies heat. This herb they that are troubled with
quartan-agues apply to their breasts, and are presently delivered from
the fit;—as Chrysermus writes in his Thirteenth Book of Rivers.
Near this river lies the mountain Drimylus, where grows a stone not
unlike a sardonyx; worn by kings and princes upon their diadems, and
greatly available against dimness of sight;—as Nicias Mallotes writes
in his Book of Stones.