the history-第114章
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the Persians with the Ionians。 The next spring Darius superseded all the other generals； and sent down Mardonius； the son of Gobryas； to the coast； and with him a vast body of men； some fit for sea； others for land service。 Mardonius was a youth at this time； and had only lately married Artazostra； the king's daughter。 When Mardonius； accompanied by this numerous host； reached Cilicia； he took ship and proceeded along shore with his fleet； while the land army marched under other leaders towards the Hellespont。 In the course of his voyage along the coast of Asia he came to Ionia； and here I have a marvel to relate which will greatly surprise those Greeks who cannot believe that Otanes advised the seven conspirators to make Persia a commonwealth。 Mardonius put down all the despots throughout Ionia； and in lieu of them established democracies。 Having so done； he hastened to the Hellespont； and when a vast multitude of ships had been brought together； and likewise a powerful land force； he conveyed his troops across the strait by means of his vessels； and proceeded through Europe against Eretria and Athens。 At least these towns served as a pretext for the expedition； the real purpose of which was to subjugate as great a number as possible of the Grecian cities； and this became plain when the Thasians； who did not even lift a hand in their defence； were reduced by the sea force； while the land army added the Macedonians to the former slaves of the king。 All the tribes on the hither side of Macedonia had been reduced previously。 From Thasos the fleet stood across to the mainland； and sailed along shore to Acanthus； whence an attempt was made to double Mount Athos。 But here a violent north wind sprang up； against which nothing could contend； and handled a large number of the ships with much rudeness； shattering them and driving them aground upon Athos。 'Tis said the number of the ships destroyed was little short of three hundred； and the men who perished were more than twenty thousand。 For the sea about Athos abounds in monsters beyond all others； and so a portion were seized and devoured by these animals； while others were dashed violently against the rocks； some； who did not know how to swim； were engulfed； and some died of the cold。 While thus it fared with the fleet； on land Mardonius and his army were attacked in their camp during the night by the Brygi； a tribe of Thracians； and here vast numbers of the Persians were slain； and even Mardonius himself received a wound。 The Brygi； nevertheless； did not succeed in maintaining their own freedom： for Mardonius would not leave the country till he had subdued them and made them subjects of Persia。 Still； though he brought them under the yoke； the blow which his land force had received at their hands； and the great damage done to his fleet off Athos； induced him to set out upon his retreat； and so this armament； having failed disgracefully； returned to Asia。 The year after these events； Darius received information from certain neighbours of the Thasians that those islanders were making preparations for revolt； he therefore sent a herald； and bade them dismantle their walls； and bring all their ships to Abdera。 The Thasians； at the time when Histiaeus the Milesian made his attack upon them； had resolved that； as their income was very great； they would apply their wealth to building ships of war； and surrounding their city with another and a stronger wall。 Their revenue was derived partly from their possessions upon the mainland； partly from the mines which they owned。 They were masters of the gold mines at Scapte…Hyle； the yearly produce of which amounted in all to eighty talents。 Their mines in Thasos yielded less； but still were so far prolific that； besides being entirely free from land…tax； they had a surplus income； derived from the two sources of their territory on the main and their mines； in common years of two hundred； and in the best years of three hundred talents。 I myself have seen the mines in question： by far the most curious of them are those which the Phoenicians discovered at the time when they went with Thasus and colonised the island； which afterwards took its name from him。 These Phoenician workings are in Thasos itself； between Coenyra and a place called Aenyra； over against Samothrace： a huge mountain has been turned upside down in the search for ores。 Such then was the source of their wealth。 On this occasion no sooner did the Great King issue his commands than straightway the Thasians dismantled their wall； and took their whole fleet to Abdera。 After this Darius resolved to prove the Greeks； and try the bent of their minds； whether they were inclined to resist him in arms or prepared to make their submission。 He therefore sent out heralds in divers directions round about Greece； with orders to demand everywhere earth and water for the king。 At the same time he sent other heralds to the various seaport towns which paid him tribute； and required them to provide a number of ships of war and horse…transports。 These towns accordingly began their preparations； and the heralds who had been sent into Greece obtained what the king had bid them ask from a large number of the states upon the mainland； and likewise from all the islanders whom they visited。 Among these last were included the Eginetans； who； equally with the rest； consented to give earth and water to the Persian king。 When the Athenians heard what the Eginetans had done； believing that it was from enmity to themselves that they had given consent； and that the Eginetans intended to join the Persian in his attack upon Athens； they straightway took the matter in hand。 In good truth it greatly rejoiced them to have so fair a pretext； and accordingly they sent frequent embassies to Sparta； and made it a charge against the Eginetans that their conduct in this matter proved them to be traitors to Greece。 Hereupon Cleomenes； the son of Anaxandridas； who was then king of the Spartans； went in person to Egina； intending to seize those whose guilt was the greatest。 As soon however as he tried to arrest them； a number of the Eginetins made resistance； a certain Crius； son of Polycritus； being the foremost in violence。 This person told him 〃he should not carry off a single Eginetan without it costing him dear… the Athenians had bribed him to make this attack； for which he had no warrant from his own government… otherwise both the kings would have come together to make the seizure。〃 This he said in consequence of instructions which he had received from Demaratus。 Hereupon Cleomenes； finding that he must quit Egina； asked Crius his name； and when Crius told him； 〃Get thy horns tipped with brass with all speed； O Crius！〃 he said； 〃for thou wilt have to struggle with a great danger。〃 Meanwhile Demaratus； son of Ariston； was bringing charges against Cleomenes at Sparta。 He too； like Cleomenes； was king of the Spartans； but he belonged to the lower house… not indeed that his house was of any lower origin than the other； for both houses are of one blood… but the house of Eurysthenes is the more honoured of the two； inasmuch as it is the elder branch。 The Lacedaemonians declare； contradicting therein all the poets； that it was king Aristodemus himself； son of Aristomachus； grandson of Cleodaeus； and great…grandson of Hyllus； who conducted them to the land which they now possess； and not the sons of Aristodemus。 The wife of Aristodemus； whose name （they say） was Argeia； and who was daughter of Autesion； son of Tisamenus； grandson of Thersander； and great…grandson of Polynices； within a little while after their coming into the country； gave birth to twins。 Aristodemus just lived to see his children； but died soon afterwards of a disease。 The Lacedaemonians of that day determined； according to custom； to take for their king the elder of the two children； but they were so alike； and so exactly of one size； that they could not possibly tell which of the two to choose： so when they found themselves unable to make a choice； or haply even earlier； they went to the mother and asked her to tell them which was the elder； whereupon she declared that 〃she herself did not know the children apart〃； although in
