the history-第107章
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de than one man… for Aristagoras； though he failed to impose on Cleomenes the Lacedaemonian； succeeded with the Athenians； who were thirty thousand。 Won by his persuasions； they voted that twenty ships should be sent to the aid of the Ionians； under the command of Melanthius； one of the citizens； a man of mark in every way。 These ships were the beginning of mischief both to the Greeks and to the barbarians。 Aristagoras sailed away in advance； and when he reached Miletus； devised a plan； from which no manner of advantage could possibly accrue to the Ionians；… indeed； in forming it； he did not aim at their benefit； but his sole wish was to annoy King Darius。 He sent a messenger into Phrygia to those Paeonians who had been led away captive by Megabazus from the river Strymon； and who now dwelt by themselves in Phrygia； having a tract of land and a hamlet of their own。 This man； when he reached the Paeonians； spoke thus to them：… 〃Men of Paeonia； Aristagoras； king of Miletus； has sent me to you； to inform you that you may now escape； if you choose to follow the advice he proffers。 All Ionia has revolted from the king； and the way is open to you to return to your own land。 You have only to contrive to reach the sea…coast； the rest shall be our business。〃 When the Paeonians heard this； they were exceedingly rejoiced； and； taking with them their wives and children； they made all speed to the coast； a few only remaining in Phrygia through fear。 The rest； having reached the sea； crossed over to Chios； where they had just landed； when a great troop of Persian horse came following upon their heels； and seeking to overtake them。 Not succeeding； however； they sent a message across to Chios； and begged the Paeonians to come back again。 These last refused； and were conveyed by the Chians from Chios to Lesbos； and by the Lesbians thence to Doriscus； from which place they made their way on foot to Paeonia。 The Athenians now arrived with a fleet of twenty sail； and brought also in their company five triremes of the Eretrians； which had joined the expedition； not so much out of goodwill towards Athens； as to pay a debt which they already owed to the people of Miletus。 For in the old war between the Chalcideans and Eretrians； the Milesians fought on the Eretrian side throughout； while the Chalcideans had the help of the Samian people。 Aristagoras； on their arrival； assembled the rest of his allies； and proceeded to attack Sardis； not however leading the army in person； but appointing to the command his own brother Charopinus and Hermophantus； one of the citizens； while he himself remained behind in Miletus。 The Ionians sailed with this fleet to Ephesus； and； leaving their ships at Coressus in the Ephesian territory； took guides from the city； and went up the country with a great host。 They marched along the course of the river Cayster； and； crossing over the ridge of Tmolus； came down upon Sardis and took it； no man opposing them；… the whole city fell into their hands； except only the citadel； which Artaphernes defended in person； having with him no contemptible force。 Though； however； they took the city； they did not succeed in plundering it； for； as the houses in Sardis were most of them built of reeds； and even the few which were of brick had a reed thatching for their roof； one of them was no sooner fired by a soldier than the flames ran speedily from house to house； and spread over the whole place。 As the fire raged； the Lydians and such Persians as were in the city； inclosed on every side by the flames； which had seized all the skirts of the town； and finding themselves unable to get out； came in crowds into the market…place； and gathered themselves upon the banks of the Pactolus This stream； which comes down from Mount Tmolus； and brings the Sardians a quantity of gold…dust； runs directly through the market place of Sardis； and joins the Hermus； before that river reaches the sea。 So the Lydians and Persians； brought together in this way in the market…place and about the Pactolus； were forced to stand on their defence； and the Ionians； when they saw the enemy in part resisting； in part pouring towards them in dense crowds； took fright； and drawing off to the ridge which is called Tmolus when night came； went back to their ships。 Sardis however was burnt； and； among other buildings； a temple of the native goddess Cybele was destroyed； which was the reason afterwards alleged by the Persians for setting on fire the temples of the Greeks。 As soon as what had happened was known； all the Persians who were stationed on this side the Halys drew together； and brought help to the Lydians。 Finding however； when they arrived； that the Ionians had already withdrawn from Sardis； they set off； and； following close upon their track； came up with them at Ephesus。 The Ionians drew out against them in battle array； and a fight ensued； wherein the Greeks had very greatly the worse。 Vast numbers were slain by the Persians： among other men of note； they killed the captain of the Eretrians； a certain Eualcidas； a man who had gained crowns at the Games； and received much praise from Simonides the Cean。 Such as made their escape from the battle； dispersed among the several cities。 So ended this encounter。 Afterwards the Athenians quite forsook the Ionians； and； though Aristagoras besought them much by his ambassadors； refused to give him any further help。 Still the Ionians； notwithstanding this desertion； continued unceasingly their preparations to carry on the war against the Persian king； which their late conduct towards him had rendered unavoidable。 Sailing into the Hellespont； they brought Byzantium； and all the other cities in that quarter； under their sway。 Again； quitting the Hellespont； they went to Caria； and won the greater part of the Carians to their side； while Caunus； which had formerly refused to join with them； after the burning of Sardis； came over likewise。 All the Cyprians too； excepting those of Amathus； of their own proper motion espoused the Ionian cause。 The occasion of their revolting from the Medes was the following。 There was a certain Onesilus； younger brother of Gorgus； king of Salamis； and son of Chersis； who was son of Siromus； and grandson of Evelthon。 This man had often in former times entreated Gorgus to rebel against the king； but； when he heard of the revolt of the Ionians； he left him no peace with his importunity。 As； however； Gorgus would not hearken to him； he watched his occasion； and when his brother had gone outside the town； he with his partisans closed the gates upon him。 Gorgus； thus deprived of his city； fled to the Medes； and Onesilus； being now king of Salamis； sought to bring about a revolt of the whole of Cyprus。 All were prevailed on except the Amathusians； who refused to listen to him； whereupon Onesilus sate down before Amathus； and laid siege to it。 While Onesilus was engaged in the siege of Amathus； King Darius received tidings of the taking and burning of Sardis by the Athenians and Ionians； and at the same time he learnt that the author of the league； the man by whom the whole matter had been Planned and contrived； was Aristagoras the Milesian。 It is said that he no sooner understood what had happened； than； laying aside all thought concerning the Ionians； who would； he was sure； pay dear for their rebellion； he asked； 〃Who the Athenians were？〃 and； being informed； called for his bow； and placing an arrow on the string； shot upward into the sky； saying； as he let fly the shaft… 〃Grant me； Jupiter； to revenge myself on the Athenians！〃 After this speech； he bade one of his servants every day； when his dinner was spread； three times repeat these words to him… 〃Master； remember the Athenians。〃 Then he summoned into his presence Histiaeus if Miletus； whom he had kept at his court for so long a time； and on his appearance addressed him thus 〃I am told； O Histiaeus； that thy lieutenant； to whom thou hast given Miletus in charge； has raised a rebellion against me。 He has brought men from the other continent to contend with me； and； prevailing on the Ionians… whose conduct I shall know how to recompense… to join with this force； he has robbed me of Sardis！ Is this as it should be； t
