the history-第183章
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a gift。 Xerxes； who was greatly pleased with it； forthwith put it on； and went in it to visit Artaynta； who happened likewise on this day to please him greatly。 He therefore bade her ask him whatever boon she liked； and promised that； whatever it was； he would assuredly grant her request。 Then Artaynta； who was doomed to suffer calamity together with her whole house； said to him… 〃Wilt thou indeed give me whatever I like to ask？〃 So the king； suspecting nothing less than that her choice would fall where it did； pledged his word； and swore to her。 She then； as soon as she heard his oath； asked boldly for the robe。 Hereupon Xerxes tried all possible means to avoid the gift； not that he grudged to give it； but because he dreaded Amestris； who already suspected； and would now； he feared； detect his love。 So he offered her cities instead； and heaps of gold； and an army which should obey no other leader。 （The last of these is a thoroughly Persian gift。） But； as nothing could prevail on Artaynta to change her mind； at the last he gave her the robe。 Then Artaynta was very greatly rejoiced； and she often wore the garment and was proud of it。 And so it came to the ears of Amestris that the robe had been given to her。 Now when Amestris learnt the whole matter； she felt no anger against Artaynta； but； looking upon her mother； the wife of Masistes； as the cause of all the mischief； she determined to compass her death。 She waited； therefore； till her husband gave the great royal banquet； a feast which takes place once every year； in celebration of the king's birthday… 〃Tykta〃 the feast is called in the Persian tongue； which in our language may be rendered 〃perfect〃… and this is the only day in all the year on which the king soaps his head； and distributes gifts to the Persians。 Amestris waited； accordingly； for this day； and then made request of Xerxes； that he would please to give her； as her present； the wife of Masistes。 But he refused； for it seemed to him shocking and monstrous to give into the power of another a woman who was not only his brother's wife； but was likewise wholly guiltless of what had happened… the more especially as he knew well enough with what intent Amestris had preferred her request。 At length； however； wearied by her importunity； and constrained moreover by the law of the feast； which required that no one who asked a boon that day at the king's board should be denied his request； he yielded； but with a very ill will； and gave the woman into her power。 Having so done； and told Amestris she might deal with her as she chose； the king called his brother into his presence； and said… 〃Masistes； thou art my brother； the son of my father Darius； and； what is more； thou art a good man。 I pray thee； live no longer with the wife whom thou now hast。 Behold； I will give thee instead my own daughter in marriage； take her to live with thee。 But part first with the wife thou now hast… I like not that thou keep to her。〃 To this Masistes； greatly astonished； answered… 〃My lord and master； how strange a speech hast thou uttered！ Thou biddest me put away my wife； who has borne me three goodly youths； and daughters besides； whereof thou hast taken one and espoused her to a son of thine own… thou biddest me put away this wife； notwithstanding that she pleases me greatly； and marry a daughter of thine！ In truth； O king！ that I am accounted worthy to wed thy daughter； is an honour which I mightily esteem； but yet to do as thou sayest am I in no wise willing。 I pray thee； use not force to compel me to yield to thy prayer。 Be sure thy daughter will find a husband to the full as worthy as myself。 Suffer me then to live on with my own wife。〃 Thus did Masistes answer； and Xerxes； in wrath； replied… 〃I will tell thee； Masistes； what thou hast gained by these words。 I will not give thee my daughter； nor shalt thou live any longer with thy own wife。 So mayest thou learn； in time to come； to take what is offered thee。〃 Masistes； when he heard this； withdrew； only saying… 〃Master thou hast not yet taken my life。〃 While these things were passing between Xerxes and his brother Masistes； Amestris sent for the spearmen of the royal bodyguard； and caused the wife of Masistes to be mutilated in a horrible fashion。 Her two breasts； her nose； ears； and lips were cut off and thrown to the dogs； her tongue was torn out by the roots； and thus disfigured she was sent back to her home。 Masistes； who knew nothing of what had happened； but was fearful that some calamity had befallen him； ran hastily to his house。 There； finding his wife so savagely used； he forthwith took counsel with his sons； and； accompanied by them and certain others also； set forth on his way to Bactria； intending to stir up revolt in that province； and hoping to do great hurt to Xerxes： all which； I believe； he would have accomplished； if he had once reached the Bactrian and Sacan people； for he was greatly beloved by them both； and was moreover satrap of Bactria。 But Xerxes； hearing of his designs； sent an armed force upon his track； and slew him while he was still upon the road； with his sons and his whole army。 Such is the tale of King Xerxes' love and of the death of his brother Masistes。 Meanwhile the Greeks； who had left Mycale； and sailed for the Hellespont； were forced by contrary winds to anchor near Lectum； from which place they afterwards sailed on to Abydos。 On arriving here； they discovered that the bridges； which they had thought to find standing； and which had been the chief cause of their proceeding to the Hellespont； were already broken up and destroyed。 Upon this discovery； Leotychides； and the Peloponnesians under him； were anxious to sail back to Greece； but the Athenians； with Xanthippus their captain； thought good to remain； and resolved to make an attempt upon the Chersonese。 So； while the Peloponnesians sailed away to their homes； the Athenians crossed over from Abydos to the Chersonese； and there laid siege to Sestos。 Now； as Sestos was the strongest fortress in all that region； the rumour had no sooner gone forth that the Greeks were arrived at the Hellespont； than great numbers flocked thither from all the towns in the neighbourhood。 Among the rest there came a certain Oeobazus； a Persian； from the city of Cardia； where he had laid up the shore…cables which had been used in the construction of the bridges。 The town was guarded by its own Aeolian inhabitants； but contained also some Persians； and a great multitude of their allies。 The whole district was under the rule of Artayctes； one of the king's satraps； who was a Persian； but a wicked and cruel man。 At the time when Xerxes was marching against Athens； he had craftily possessed himself of the treasures belonging to Protesilaus the son of Iphiclus； which were at Elaesus in the Chersonese。 For at this place is the tomb of Protesilaus； surrounded by a sacred precinct； and here there was great store of wealth； vases of gold and silver； works in brass； garments； and other offerings； all which Artayctes made his prey； having got the king's consent by thus cunningly addressing him… 〃Master； there is in this region the house of a Greek； who； when he attacked thy territory； met his due reward； and perished。 Give me his house； I pray thee； that hereafter men may fear to carry arms against thy land。〃 By these words he easily persuaded Xerxes to give him the man's house； for there was no suspicion of his design in the king's mind。 And he could say in a certain sense that Protesilaus had borne arms against the land of the king； because the Persians consider all Asia to belong to them； and to their king for the time being。 So when Xerxes allowed his request； he brought all the treasures from Elaesus to Sestos； and made the sacred land into cornfields and pasture land； nay； more； whenever he paid a visit to Elaesus； he polluted the shrine itself by vile uses。 It was this Artayctes who was now besieged by the Athenians… and he was but ill prepared for defence； since the Greeks had fallen upon him quite unawares； nor had he in the least expected their coming。 When it was now late in the autumn； and the siege still continued； the Athenians began to murmur that they were kept abro
