the history-第88章
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ians； however； kept strictly to the line of their former march； never for a moment departing from it； and even so gained the bridge with difficulty。 It was night when they arrived； and their terror； when they found the bridge broken up； was great； for they thought that perhaps the Ionians had deserted them。 Now there was in the army of Darius a certain man； an Egyptian； who had a louder voice than any other man in the world。 This person was bid by Darius to stand at the water's edge； and call Histiaeus the Milesian。 The fellow did as he was bid； and Histiaeus； hearing him at the very first summons； brought the fleet to assist in conveying the army across； and once more made good the bridge。 By these means the Persians escaped from Scythia； while the Scyths sought for them in vain； again missing their track。 And hence the Scythians are accustomed to say of the Ionians； by way of reproach； that； if they be looked upon as freemen； they are the basest and most dastardly of all mankind… but if they be considered as under servitude； they are the faithfullest of slaves； and the most fondly at。 to their lords。 Darius； having passed through Thrace； reached Sestos in the Chersonese； whence he crossed by the help of his fleet into Asia； leaving a Persian； named Megabazus； commander on the European side。 This was the man on whom Darius once conferred special honour by a compliment which he paid him before all the Persians。 was about to eat some pomegranates； and had opened the first； when his brother Artabanus asked him 〃what he would like to have in as great plenty as the seeds of the pomegranate？〃 Darius answered… 〃Had I as many men like Megabazus as there are seeds here； it would please me better than to be lord of Greece。〃 Such was the compliment wherewith Darius honoured the general to whom at this time he gave the command of the troops left in Europe； amounting in all to some eighty thousand men。 This same Megabazus got himself an undying remembrance among the Hellespontians； by a certain speech which he made。 It came to his knowledge； while he was staying at Byzantium； that the Chalcedonians made their settlement seventeen years earlier than the Byzantines。 〃Then；〃 said he； 〃the Chalcedonians must at that time have been labouring under blindness… otherwise； when so far more excellent a site was open to them； they would never have chosen one so greatly inferior。〃 Megabazus now； having been appointed to take the command upon the Hellespont； employed himself in the reduction of all those states which had not of their own accord joined the Medes。 About this very time another great expedition was undertaken against Libya； on a pretext which I will relate when I have premised certain particulars。 The descendants of the Argonauts in the third generation； driven out of Lemnos by the Pelasgi who carried off the Athenian women from Brauron； took ship and went to Lacedaemon； where； seating themselves on Mount Taygetum； they proceeded to kindle their fires。 The Lacedaemonians； seeing this； sent a herald to inquire of them 〃who they were； and from what region they had come〃； whereupon they made answer； 〃that they were Minyae； sons of the heroes by whom the ship Argo was manned； for these persons had stayed awhile in Lemnos； and had there become their progenitors。〃 On hearing this account of their descent； the Lacedaemonians sent to them a second time； and asked 〃what was their object in coming to Lacedaemon； and there kindling their fires？〃 They answered； 〃that； driven from their own land by the Pelasgi； they had come； as was most reasonable； to their fathers； and their wish was to dwell with them in their country； partake their privileges； and obtain allotments of land。 It seemed good to the Lacedaemonians to receive the Minyae among them on their own terms； to assign them lands； and enrol them in their tribes。 What chiefly moved them to this was the consideration that the sons of Tyndarus had sailed on board the Argo。 The Minyae； on their part； forthwith married Spartan wives； and gave the wives； whom they had married in Lemnos； to Spartan husbands。 However； before much time had elapsed； the Minyae began to wax wanton； demanded to share the throne； and committed other impieties： whereupon the Lacedaemonians passed on them sentence of death； and； seizing them； cast them into prison。 Now the Lacedaemonians never put criminals to death in the daytime； but always at night。 When the Minyae； accordingly； were about to suffer； their wives； who were not only citizens； but daughters of the chief men among the Spartans； entreated to be allowed to enter the prison； and have some talk with their lords； and the Spartans； not expecting any fraud from such a quarter； granted their request。 The women entered the prison。 gave their own clothes to their husbands； and received theirs in exchange： after which the Minyae； dressed in their wives' garments； and thus passing for women； went forth。 Having effected their escape in this manner； they seated themselves once more upon Taygetum。own land It happened that at this very time Theras； son of Autesion （whose father Tisamenus was the son of Thersander； and grandson of Polynices）； was about to lead out a colony from Lacedaemon This Theras； by birth a Cadmeian； was uncle on the mother's side to the two sons of Aristodemus； Procles and Eurysthenes； and； during their infancy； administered in their right the royal power。 When his nephews； however； on attaining to man's estate； took the government； Theras； who could not bear to be under the authority of others after he had wielded authority so long himself； resolved to leave Sparta and cross the sea to join his kindred。 There were in the island now called Thera； but at that time Calliste； certain descendants of Membliarus； the son of Poeciles； a Phoenician。 （For Cadmus； the son of Agenor； when he was sailing in search of Europe； made a landing on this island； and； either because the country pleased him； or because he had a purpose in so doing； left there a number of Phoenicians； and with them his own kinsman Membliarus。 Calliste had been inhabited by this race for eight generations of men； before the arrival of Theras from Lacedaemon。） Theras now； having with him a certain number of men from each of the tribes； was setting forth on his expedition hitherward。 Far from intending to drive out the former inhabitants； he regarded them as his near kin； and meant to settle among them。 It happened that just at this time the Minyae； having escaped from their prison； had taken up their station upon Mount Taygetum； and the Lacedaemonians； wishing to destroy them； were considering what was best to be done； when Theras begged their lives； undertaking to remove them from the territory。 His prayer being granted； he took ship； and sailed； with three triaconters； to join the descendants of Membliarus。 He was not； however； accompanied by all the Minyae； but only by some few of them。 The greater number fled to the land of the Paroreats and Caucons； whom they drove out； themselves occupying the region in six bodies； by which were afterwards built the towns of Lepreum； Macistus； Phryxae； Pyrgus； Epium； and Nudium； whereof the greater part were in my day demolished by the Eleans。 The island was called Thera after the name of its founder。 This same Theras had a son； who refused to cross the sea with him； Theras therefore left him behind； 〃a sheep；〃 as he said； 〃among wolves。〃 From this speech his son came to be called Oeolycus； a name which afterwards grew to be the only one by which he was known。 This Oeolycus was the father of Aegeus； from whom sprang the Aegidae； a great tribe in Sparta。 The men of this tribe lost at one time all their children； whereupon they were bidden by an oracle to build a temple to the furies of Laius and Oedipus； they complied； and the mortality ceased。 The same thing happened in Thera to the descendants of these men。 Thus far the history is delivered without variation both by the Theraeans and the Lacedaemonians； but from this point we have only the Theraean narrative。 Grinus （they say）； the son of Aesanius； a descendant of Theras； and king of the island of Thera； went to Delphi to offer a hecatomb on behalf of his native city。 He w
