an account of egypt(埃及记)-第26章
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who dwelt nearest to the lake where the earth was which had been dug out。
These told me to what place it had been carried away； and I readily
believed them； for I knew by report that a similar thing had been done at
Nineveh； the city of the Assyrians。 There certain thieves formed a design
once to carry away the wealth of Sardanapallos son of Ninos； the king；
which wealth was very great and was kept in treasure…houses under the
earth。 Accordingly they began from their own dwelling； and making
estimate of their direction they dug under ground towards the king's palace；
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and the earth which was brought out of the excavation they used to carry
away； when night came on； to the river Tigris which flows by the city of
Nineveh； until at last they accomplished that which they desired。 Similarly；
as I heard； the digging of the lake in Egypt was effected； except that it was
done not by night but during the day； for as they dug the Egyptians carried
to the Nile the earth which was dug out； and the river； when it received it；
would naturally bear it away and disperse it。 Thus is this lake said to have
been dug out。
Now the twelve kings continued to rule justly； but in course of time it
happened thus：After sacrifice in the temple of Hephaistos they were
about to make libation on the last day of the feast； and the chief…priest； in
bringing out for them the golden cups with which they had been wont to
pour libations； missed his reckoning and brought eleven only for the
twelve kings。 Then that one of them who was standing last in order；
namely Psammetichos； since he had no cup took off from his head his
helmet； which was of bronze； and having held it out to receive the wine he
proceeded to make libation： likewise all the other kings were wont to wear
helmets and they happened to have them then。 Now Psammetichos held
out his helmet with no treacherous meaning； but they taking note of that
which had been done by Psammetichos and of the oracle； namely how it
had been declared to them that whosoever of them should make libation
with a bronze cup should be sole king of Egypt； recollecting； I say； the
saying of the Oracle； they did not indeed deem it right to slay
Psammetichos； since they found by examination that he had not done it
with any forethought； but they determined to strip him of almost all his
power and to drive him away into the fen…country； and that from the fen…
country he should not hold any dealings with the rest of Egypt。 This
Psammetichos had formerly been a fugitive from the Ethiopian Sabacos
who had killed his father Necos； from him； I say； he had then been a
fugitive in Syria； and when the Ethiopian had departed in consequence of
the vision of the dream； the Egyptians who were of the district of Sais
brought him back to his own country。 Then afterwards； when he was king；
it was his fate to be a fugitive a second time on account of the helmet；
being driven by the eleven kings into the fen…country。 So then holding that
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he had been grievously wronged by them； he thought how he might take
vengeance on those who had driven him out： and when he had sent to the
Oracle of Leto in the city of Buto； where the Egyptians have their most
truthful Oracle； there was given to him the reply that vengeance would
come when men of bronze appeared from the sea。 And he was strongly
disposed not to believe that bronze men would come to help him； but after
no long time had passed； certain Ionians and Carians who had sailed forth
for plunder were compelled to come to shore in Egypt； and they having
landed and being clad in bronze armour； came to the fen…land and brought
a report to Psammetichos that bronze men had come from the sea and
were plundering the plain。 So he； perceiving that the saying of the Oracle
was coming to pass； dealt in a friendly manner with the Ionians and
Carians； and with large promises he persuaded them to take his part。 Then
when he had persuaded them； with the help of those Egyptians who
favoured his cause and of these foreign mercenaries he overthrew the
kings。 Having thus got power over all Egypt； Psammetichos made for
Hephaistos that gateway of the temple at Memphis which is turned
towards the South Wind； and he built a court for Apis； in which Apis is
kept when he appears； opposite to the gateway of the temple； surrounded
all with pillars and covered with figures； and instead of columns there
stand to support the roof of the court colossal statues twelve cubits high。
Now Apis is in the tongue of the Hellenes Epaphos。 To the Ionians and to
the Carians who had helped him Psammetichos granted portions of land to
dwell in； opposite to one another with the river Nile between； and these
were called 〃Encampments〃； these portions of land he gave them； and he
paid them besides all that he had promised： moreover he placed with them
Egyptian boys to have them taught the Hellenic tongue； and from these；
who learnt the language thoroughly； are descended the present class of
interpreters in Egypt。 Now the Ionians and Carians occupied these
portions of land for a long time； and they are towards the sea a little below
the city of Bubastis； on that which is called the Pelusian mouth of the Nile。
These men king Amasis afterwards removed from thence and established
them at Memphis； making them into a guard for himself against the
Egyptians： and they being settled in Egypt； we who are Hellenes know by
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intercourse with them the certainty of all that which happened in Egypt
beginning from king Psammetichos and afterwards； for these were the first
men of foreign tongue who settled in Egypt： and in the land from which
they were removed there still remained down to my time the sheds where
their ships were drawn up and the ruins of their houses。
Thus then Psammetichos obtained Egypt： and of the Oracle which is in
Egypt I have made mention often before this； and now I give an account of
it； seeing that it is worthy to be described。 This Oracle which is in Egypt is
sacred to Leto； and it is established in a great city near that mouth of the
Nile which is called Sebennytic； as one sails up the river from the sea； and
the name of this city where the Oracle is found is Buto； as I have said
before in mentioning it。 In this Buto there is a temple of Apollo and
Artemis； and the temple…house of Leto； in which the Oracle is； is both
great in itself and has a gateway of the height of ten fathoms： but that
which caused me most to marvel of the things to be seen there； I will now
tell。 There is in this sacred enclosure a house of Leto made of one single
stone upon the top； the cornice measuring four cubits。 This house then of
all the things that were
