the history-第87章
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g passes his life in the water； the bird bears a great resemblance to the horse； and the arrows might signify the surrender of all their power。 To the explanation of Darius； Gobryas； one of the seven conspirators against the Magus； opposed another which was as follows：… 〃Unless； Persians； ye can turn into birds and fly up into the sky； or become mice and burrow under the ground； or make yourselves frogs； and take refuge in the fens； ye will never make escape from this land； but die pierced by our arrows。 Such were meanings which the Persians assigned to the gifts。 The single division of the Scyths； which in the early part of the war had been appointed to keep guard about the Palus Maeotis； and had now been sent to get speech of the Ionians stationed at the Ister； addressed them； on reaching the bridge； in these words… 〃Men of Ionia； we bring you freedom； if ye will only do as we recommend。 Darius； we understand； enjoined you to keep your guard here at this bridge just sixty days； then； if he did not appear； you were to return home。 Now； therefore； act so as to be free from blame； alike in his sight； and in ours。 Tarry here the appointed time； and at the end go your ways。〃 Having said this； and received a promise from the Ionians to do as they desired； the Scythians hastened back with all possible speed。 After the sending of the gifts to Darius； the part of the Scythian army which had not marched to the Ister； drew out in battle array horse and foot against the Persians； and seemed about to come to an engagement。 But as they stood in battle array； it chanced that a hare started up between them and the Persians； and set to running； when immediately all the Scyths who saw it； rushed off in pursuit； with great confusion and loud cries and shouts。 Darius； hearing the noise； inquired the cause of it； and was told that the Scythians were all engaged in hunting a hare。 On this he turned to those with whom he was wont to converse； and said：… 〃These men do indeed despise us utterly： and now I see that Gobryas was right about the Scythian gifts。 As； therefore； his opinion is now mine likewise； it is time we form some wise plan whereby we may secure ourselves a safe return to our homes。〃 〃Ah！ sire；〃 Gobryas rejoined； 〃I was well nigh sure； ere I came here； that this was an impracticable race… since our coming I am yet more convinced of it； especially now that I see them making game of us。 My advice is； therefore； that； when night falls； we light our fires as we are wont to do at other times； and leaving behind us on some pretext that portion of our army which is weak and unequal to hardship； taking care also to leave our asses tethered； retreat from Scythia； before our foes march forward to the Ister and destroy the bridge； or the Ionians come to any resolution which may lead to our ruin。〃 So Gobryas advised； and when night came； Darius followed his counsel； and leaving his sick soldiers； and those whose loss would be of least account； with the asses also tethered about the camp； marched away。 The asses were left that their noise might be heard： the men； really because they were sick and useless； but under the pretence that he was about to fall upon the Scythians with the flower of his troops； and that they meanwhile were to guard his camp for him。 Having thus declared his plans to the men whom he was deserting； and having caused the fires to be lighted； Darius set forth； and marched hastily towards the Ister。 The asses； aware of the departure of the host； brayed louder than ever； and the Scythians； hearing the sound； entertained no doubt of the Persians being still in the same place。 When day dawned； the men who had been left behind； perceiving that they were betrayed by Darius； stretched out their hands towards the Scythians； and spoke as。 befitted their situation。 The enemy no sooner heard； than they quickly joined all their troops in one； and both portions of the Scythian army… alike that which consisted of a single division； and that made up of two… accompanied by all their allies； the Sauromatae； the Budini； and the Geloni； set off in pursuit； and made straight for the Ister。 As； however； the Persian army was chiefly foot； and had no knowledge of the routes； which are not cut out in Scythia； while the Scyths were all horsemen and well acquainted with the shortest way； it so happened that the two armies missed one another； and the Scythians； getting far ahead of their adversaries； came first to the bridge。 Finding that the Persians were not yet arrived； they addressed the Ionians； who were aboard their ships； in these words：… 〃Men of Ionia； the number of your days is out； and ye do wrong to remain。 Fear doubtless has kept you here hitherto： now； however； you may safely break the bridge； and hasten back to your homes； rejoicing that you are free； and thanking for it the gods and the Scythians。 Your former lord and master we undertake so to handle； that he will never again make war upon any one。〃 The Ionians now held a council。 Miltiades the Athenian； who was king of the Chersonesites upon the Hellespont； and their commander at the Ister； recommended the other generals to do as the Scythians wished； and restore freedom to Ionia。 But Histiaeus the Milesian opposed this advice。 〃It is through Darius；〃 he said； 〃that we enjoy our thrones in our several states。 If his power be overturned； I cannot continue lord of Miletus； nor ye of your cities。 For there is not one of them which will not prefer democracy to kingly rule。〃 Then the other captains； who； till Histiaeus spoke； were about to vote with Miltiades； changed their minds； and declared in favour of the last speaker。 The following were the voters on this occasion… all of them men who stood high in the esteem of the Persian king： the tyrants of the Hellespont… Daphnis of Abydos； Hippoclus of Lampsacus； Herophantus of Parium； Metrodorus of Proconnesus； Aristagoras of Cyzicus； and Ariston of Byzantium； the Ionian princes… Strattis of Chios； Aeaces of Samos； Laodamas of Phocaea； and Histiaeus of Miletus； the man who had opposed Miltiades。 Only one Aeolian of note was present； to wit； Aristagoras of Cyme。 Having resolved to follow the advice of Histiaeus； the Greek leaders further determined to speak and act as follows。 In order to appear to the Scythians to be doing something； when in fact they were doing nothing of consequence； and likewise to prevent them from forcing a passage across the Ister by the bridge； they resolved to break up the part of the bridge which abutted on Scythia； to the distance of a bowshot from the river bank； and to assure the Scythians； while the demolition was proceeding； that there was nothing which they would not do to pleasure them。 Such were the additions made to the resolution of Histiaeus； and then Histiaeus himself stood forth and made answer to the Scyths in the name of all the Greeks。… 〃Good is the advice which ye have brought us； Scythians； and well have ye done to come here with such speed。 Your efforts have now put us into the right path； and our efforts shall not be wanting to advance your cause。 Your own eyes see that we are engaged in breaking the bridge； and； believe us； we will work zealously to procure our own freedom。 Meantime； while we labour here at our task； be it your business to seek them out； and； when found； for our sakes； as well as your own； to visit them with the vengeance which they so well deserve。〃 Again the Scyths put faith in the promises of the Ionian chiefs； and retraced their steps； hoping to fall in with the Persians。 They missed； however； the enemy's whole line of march； their own former acts being to blame for it。 Had they not ravaged all the pasturages of that region； and filled in all the wells； they would have easily found the Persians whenever they chose。 But； as it turned out； the measures which seemed to them so wisely planned were exactly what caused their failure。 They took a route where water was to be found and fodder could be got for their horses； and on this track sought their adversaries； expecting that they too would retreat through regions where these things were to be obtained。 The Persians； however； kept strictly to the line of their former march； never for a moment departing from it
