the history-第103章
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and refused to obey his orders； whereupon Cleomenes； Isagoras； and their followers took possession of the citadel。 Here they were attacked by the rest of the Athenians； who took the side of the council； and were besieged for the space of two days： on the third day they accepted terms； being allowed… at least such of them as were Lacedaemonians… to quit the country。 And so the word which came to Cleomenes received its fulfilment。 For when he first went up into the citadel； meaning to seize it； just as he was entering the sanctuary of the goddess； in order to question her； the priestess arose from her throne； before he had passed the doors； and said… 〃Stranger from Lacedaemon； depart hence； and presume not to enter the holy place… it is not lawful for a Dorian to set foot there。〃 But he answered； 〃Oh！ woman； I am not a Dorian； but an Achaean。〃 Slighting this warning； Cleomenes made his attempt； and so he was forced to retire； together with his Lacedaemonians。 The rest were cast into prison by the Athenians； and condemned to die… among them Timasitheus the Delphian； of whose prowess and courage I have great things which I could tell。 So these men died in prison。 The Athenians directly afterwards recalled Clisthenes； and the seven hundred families which Cleomenes had driven out； and； further； they sent envoys to Sardis； to make an alliance with the Persians； for they knew that war would follow with Cleomenes and the Lacedaemonians。 When the ambassadors reached Sardis and delivered their message； Artaphernes； son of Hystaspes； who was at that time governor of the Place； inquired of them 〃who they were； and in what part of the world they dwelt； that they wanted to become allies of the Persians？〃 The messengers told him； upon which he answered them shortly… that 〃if the Athenians chose to give earth and water to King Darius； he would conclude an alliance with them； but if not； they might go home again。〃 After consulting together； the envoys； anxious to form the alliance； accepted the terms； but on their return to Athens； they fell into deep disgrace on account of their compliance。 Meanwhile Cleomenes； who considered himself to have been insulted by the Athenians both in word and deed； was drawing a force together from all parts of the Peloponnese； without informing any one of his object； which was to revenge himself on the Athenians； and to establish Isagoras； who had escaped with him from the citadel； as despot of Athens。 Accordingly； with a large army； he invaded the district of Eleusis； while the Boeotians； who had concerted measures with him； took Oenoe and Hysiae； two country towns upon the frontier； and at the same time the Chalcideans； on another side； plundered divers places in Attica。 The Athenians； notwithstanding that danger threatened them from every quarter； put off all thought of the Boeotians and Chalcideans till a future time； and marched against the Peloponnesians； who were at Eleusis。 As the two hosts were about to engage； first of all the Corinthians； bethinking themselves that they were perpetrating a wrong； changed their minds； and drew off from the main army。 Then Demaratus； son of Ariston； who was himself king of Sparta and joint…leader of the expedition； and who till now had had no sort of quarrel with Cleomenes； followed their example。 On account of this rupture between the kings； a law was passed at Sparta； forbidding both monarchs to go out together with the army； as had been the custom hitherto。 The law also provided； that； as one of the kings was to be left behind； one of the Tyndaridae should also remain at home； whereas hitherto both had accompanied the expeditions； as auxiliaries。 So when the rest of the allies saw that the Lacedaemonian kings were not of one mind； and that the Corinthian troops had quitted their post； they likewise drew off and departed。 This was the fourth time that the Dorians had invaded Attica： twice they came as enemies； and twice they came to do good service to the Athenian people。 Their first invasion took place at the period when they founded Megara； and is rightly placed in the reign of Codrus at Athens； the second and third occasions were when they came from Sparta to drive out the Pisistratidae； the fourth was the present attack； when Cleomenes； at the head of a Peloponnesian army； entered at Eleusis。 Thus the Dorians had now four times invaded Attica。 So when the Spartan army had broken up from its quarters thus ingloriously； the Athenians； wishing to revenge themselves； marched first against the Chalcideans。 The Boeotians； however； advancing to the aid of the latter as far as the Euripus； the Athenians thought it best to attack them first。 A battle was fought accordingly； and the Athenians gained a very complete victory； killing a vast number of the enemy； and taking seven hundred of them alive。 After this； on the very same day； they crossed into Euboea； and engaged the Chalcideans with the like success； whereupon they left four thousand settlers upon the lands of the Hippobotae；… which is the name the Chalcideans give to their rich men。 All the Chalcidean prisoners whom they took were put in irons； and kept for a long time in close confinement； as likewise were the Boeotians； until the ransom asked for them was paid； and this the Athenians fixed at two minae the man。 The chains wherewith they were fettered the Athenians suspended in their citadel； where they were still to be seen in my day； hanging against the wall scorched by the Median flames； opposite the chapel which faces the west。 The Athenians made an offering of the tenth part of the ransom…money： and expended it on the brazen chariot drawn by four steeds； which stands on the left hand immediately that one enters the gateway of the citadel。 The inscription runs as follows：…
When Chalcis and Boeotia dared her might； Athens subdued their pride in valorous fight； Gave bonds for insults； and； the ransom paid； From the full tenths these steeds for Pallas made。
Thus did the Athenians increase in strength。 And it is plain enough； not from this instance only； but from many everywhere； that freedom is an excellent thing since even the Athenians； who； while they continued under the rule of tyrants； were not a whit more valiant than any of their neighbours； no sooner shook off the yoke than they became decidedly the first of all。 These things show that； while undergoing oppression； they let themselves be beaten； since then they worked for a master； but so soon as they got their freedom； each man was eager to do the best he could for himself。 So fared it now with the Athenians。 Meanwhile the Thebans； who longed to be revenged on the Athenians； had sent to the oracle； and been told by the Pythoness that of their own strength they would be unable to accomplish their wish： 〃they must lay the matter；〃 she said； 〃before the many…voiced； and ask the aid of those nearest them。〃 The messengers； therefore； on their return； called a meeting； and laid the answer of the oracle before the people； who no sooner heard the advice to 〃ask the aid of those nearest them〃 than they exclaimed… 〃What！ are not they who dwell the nearest to us the men of Tanagra； of Coronaea； and Thespiae？ Yet these men always fight on our side； and have aided us with a good heart all through the war。 Of what use is it to ask them？ But maybe this is not the true meaning of the oracle。〃 As they were thus discoursing one with another； a certain man； informed of the debate； cried out…〃Methinks that I understand what course the oracle would recommend to us。 Asopus； they say； had two daughters； Thebe and Egina。 The god means that； as these two were sisters； we ought to ask the Eginetans to lend us aid。〃 As no one was able to hit on any better explanation； the Thebans forthwith sent messengers to Egina； and； according to the advice of the oracle； asked their aid； as the people 〃nearest to them。〃 In answer to this petition the Eginetans said that they would give them the Aeacidae for helpers。 The Thebans now； relying on the assistance of the Aeacidae； ventured to renew the war； but they met with so rough a reception； that they resolved to send to the Eginetans again； returning the Aeacidae； and beseeching them to send some
