the history-第144章
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mand of Cadmus； the son of Scythas； a native of Cos； who was to go to Delphi； taking with him a large sum of money and a stock of friendly words： there he was to watch the war； and see what turn it would take： if the barbarians prevailed； he was to give Xerxes the treasure； and with it earth and water for the lands which Gelo ruled… if the Greeks won the day； he was to convey the treasure back。 This Cadmus had at an earlier time received from his father the kingly power at Cos in a right good condition； and had of his own free will and without the approach of any danger； from pure love of justice； given up his power into the hands of the people at large； and departed to Sicily； where he assisted in the Samian seizure and settlement of Zancle； or Messana； as it was afterwards called。 Upon this occasion Gelo chose him to send into Greece； because he was acquainted with the proofs of honesty which he had given。 And now he added to his former honourable deeds an action which is not the least of his merits。 With a vast sum entrusted to him and completely in his power； so that he might have kept it for his own use if he had liked； he did not touch it； but when the Greeks gained the sea…fight and Xerxes fled away with his army； he brought the whole treasure back with him to Sicily。 They； however； who dwell in Sicily； say that Gelo； though he knew that he must serve under the Lacedaemonians； would nevertheless have come to the aid of the Greeks； had not it been for Terillus； the son of Crinippus； king of Himera； who； driven from his city by Thero； the son of Aenesidemus； king of Agrigentum； brought into Sicily at this very time an army of three hundred thousand men； Phoenicians； Libyans； Iberians； Ligurians； Helisycians； Sardinians； and Corsicans； under the command of Hamilcar the son of Hanno； king of the Carthaginians。 Terillus prevailed upon Hamilcar； partly as his sworn friend； but more through the zealous aid of Anaxilaus the son of Cretines； king of Rhegium； who； by giving his own sons to Hamilcar as hostages； induced him to make the expedition。 Anaxilaus herein served his own father…in…law； for he was married to a daughter of Terillus； by name Cydippe。 So； as Gelo could not give the Greeks any aid； he sent （they say） the sum of money to Delphi。 They say too； that the victory of Gelo and Thero in Sicily over Hamilcar the Carthaginian fell out upon the very day that the Greeks defeated the Persians at Salamis。 Hamilcar； who was a Carthaginian on his father's side only； but on his mother's a Syracusan； and who had been raised by his merit to the throne of Carthage； after the battle and the defeat； as I am informed； disappeared from sight： Gelo made the strictest search for him； but he could not be found anywhere； either dead or alive。 The Carthaginians； who take probability for their guide； give the following account of this matter：… Hamilcar； they say； during all the time that the battle raged between the Greeks and the barbarians； which was from early dawn till evening； remained in the camp； sacrificing and seeking favourable omens； while he burned on a huge pyre the entire bodies of the victims which he offered。 Here； as he poured libations upon the sacrifices； he saw the rout of his army； whereupon he cast himself headlong into the flames； and so was consumed and disappeared。 But whether Hamilcar's disappearance happened； as the Phoenicians tell us； in this way； or； as the Syracusans maintain； in some other； certain it is that the Carthaginians offer him sacrifice； and in all their colonies have monuments erected to his honour； as well as one； which is the grandest of all； at Carthage。 Thus much concerning the affairs of Sicily。 As for the Corcyraeans； whom the envoys that visited Sicily took in their way； and to whom they delivered the same message as to Gelo… their answers and actions were the following。 With great readiness they promised to come and give their help to the Greeks； declaring that 〃the ruin of Greece was a thing which they could not tamely stand by to see； for should she fall； they must the very next day submit to slavery； so that they were bound to assist her to the very uttermost of their power。〃 But notwithstanding that they answered so smoothly； yet when the time came for the succours to be sent； they were of quite a different mind； and though they manned sixty ships； it was long ere they put to sea with them； and when they had so done； they went no further than the Peloponnese； where they lay to with their fleet； off the Lacedaemonian coast； about Pylos and Taenarum… like Gelo； watching to see what turn the war would take。 For they despaired altogether of the Greeks gaining the day； and expected that the Persian would win a great battle； and then be master of the whole of Greece。 They therefore acted as I have said； in order that they might be able to address Xerxes in words like these： 〃O king！ though the Greeks sought to obtain our aid in their war with thee； and though we had a force of no small size； and could have furnished a greater number of ships than any Greek state except Athens； yet we refused； since we would not fight against thee； nor do aught to cause thee annoyance。〃 The Corcyraeans hoped that a speech like this would gain them better treatment from the Persians than the rest of the Greeks； and it would have done so； in my judgment。 At the same time； they had an excuse ready to give their countrymen； which they used when the time came。 Reproached by them for sending no succours； they replied 〃that they had fitted out a fleet of sixty triremes； but that the Etesian winds did not allow them to double Cape Malea； and this hindered them from reaching Salamis… it was not from any bad motive that they had missed the sea…fight。〃 In this way the Corcyraeans eluded the reproaches of the Greeks。 The Cretans； when the envoys sent to ask aid from them came and made their request； acted as follows。 They despatched messengers in the name of their state to Delphi； and asked the god； whether it would make for their welfare if they should lend succour to Greece。 〃Fools！〃 replied the Pythoness； 〃do ye not still complain of the woes which the assisting of Menelaus cost you at the hands of angry Minos？ How wroth was he； when； in spite of their having lent you no aid towards avenging his death at Camicus； you helped them to avenge the carrying off by a barbarian of a woman from Sparta！〃 When this answer was brought from Delphi to the Cretans； they thought no more of assisting the Greeks。 Minos； according to tradition； went to Sicania； or Sicily； as it is now called； in search of Daedalus； and there perished by a violent death。 After a while the Cretans； warned by some god or other； made a great expedition into Sicania； all except the Polichnites and the Praesians； and besieged Camicus （which in my time belonged to Agrigentum） by the space of five years。 At last； however； failing in their efforts to take the place； and unable to carry on the siege any longer from the pressure of hunger； they departed and went their way。 Voyaging homewards they had reached Iapygia； when a furious storm arose and threw them upon the coast。 All their vessels were broken in pieces； and so； as they saw no means of returning to Crete； they founded the town of Hyria； where they took up their abode； changing their name from Cretans to Messapian Iapygians； and at the same time becoming inhabitants of the mainland instead of islanders。 From Hyria they afterwards founded those other towns which the Tarentines at a much later period endeavoured to take； but could not； being defeated signally。 Indeed so dreadful a slaughter of Greeks never happened at any other time； so far as my knowledge extends： nor was it only the Tarentines who suffered； but the men of Rhegium too； who had been forced to go to the aid of the Tarentines by Micythus the son of Choerus； lost here three thousand of their citizens； while the number of the Tarentines who fell was beyond all count。 This Micythus had been a household slave of Anaxilaus； and was by him left in charge of Rhegium： he is the same man who was afterwards forced to leave Rhegium； when he settled at Tegea in Arcadia； from which place he made his many offerings of statues to the shri
