the history-第123章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ey draw with a swipe； and instead of a bucket make use of the half of a wine…skin； with this the man dips； and after drawing； pours the liquid into a reservoir； wherefrom it passes into another； and there takes three different shapes。 The salt and the bitumen forthwith collect and harden； while the oil is drawn off into casks。 It is called by the Persians 〃rhadinace；〃 is black； and has an unpleasant smell。 Here then King Darius established the Eretrians； and here they continued to my time； and still spoke their old language。 So thus it fared with the Eretrians。 After the full of the moon two thousand Lacedaemonians came to Athens。 So eager had they been to arrive in time； that they took but three days to reach Attica from Sparta。 They came； however； too late for the battle； yet； as they had a longing to behold the Medes； they continued their march to Marathon and there viewed the slain。 Then； after giving the Athenians all praise for their achievement； they departed and returned home。 But it fills me with wonderment； and I can in no wise believe the report； that the Alcmaeonidae had an understanding with the Persians； and held them up a shield as a signal； wishing Athens to be brought under the yoke of the barbarians and of Hippias… the Alcmaeonidae； who have shown themselves at least as bitter haters of tyrants as was Callias； the son of Phaenippus； and father of Hipponicus。 This Callias was the only person at Athens who； when the Pisistratidae were driven out； and their goods were exposed for sale by the vote of the people； had the courage to make purchases； and likewise in many other ways to display the strongest hostility。 He was a man very worthy to be had in remembrance by all； on several accounts。 For not only did he thus distinguish himself beyond others in the cause of his country's freedom； but likewise； by the honours which he gained at the Olympic Games； where he carried off the prize in the horse…race； and was second in the four…horse chariot…race； and by his victory at an earlier period in the Pythian Games； he showed himself in the eyes of all the Greeks a man most unsparing in his expenditure。 He was remarkable too for his conduct in respect of his daughters； three in number； for when they came to be of marriageable age； he gave to each of them a most ample dowry； and placed it at their own disposal； allowing them to choose their husbands from among all the citizens of Athens； and giving each in marriage to the man of her own choice。 Now the Alcmaeonidae fell not a whit short of this person in their hatred of tyrants； so that I am astonished at the charge made against them； and cannot bring myself to believe that they held up a shield； for they were men who had remained in exile during the whole time that the tyranny lasted； and they even contrived the trick by which the Pisistratidae were deprived of their throne。 Indeed I look upon them as the persons who in good truth gave Athens her freedom far more than Harmodius and Aristogeiton。 For these last did but exasperate the other Pisistratidae by slaying Hipparchus； and were far from doing anything towards putting down the tyranny： whereas the Alcmaeonidae were manifestly the actual deliverers of Athens； if at least it be true that the Pythoness was prevailed upon by them to bid the Lacedaemonians set Athens free； as I have already related。 But perhaps they were offended with the people of Athens； and therefore betrayed their country。 Nay； but on the contrary there were none of the Athenians who were held in such general esteem； or who were so laden with honours。 So that it is not even reasonable to suppose that a shield was held up by them on this account。 A shield was shown； no doubt； that cannot be gainsaid； but who it was that showed it I cannot any further determine。 Now the Alcmaeonidae were； even in days of yore； a family of note at Athens； but from the time of Alcmaeon； and again of Megacles； they rose to special eminence。 The former of these two personages； to wit； Alcmaeon； the son of Megacles； when Croesus the Lydian sent men from Sardis to consult the Delphic oracle； gave aid gladly to his messengers； assisted them to accomplish their task。 Croesus； informed of Alcmaeon's kindnesses by the Lydians who from time to time conveyed his messages to the god； sent for him to Sardis； and when he arrived； made him a present of as much gold as he should be able to carry at one time about his person。 Finding that this was the gift assigned him； Alcmaeon took his measures； and prepared himself to receive it in the following way。 He clothed himself in a loose tunic； which he made to bag greatly at the waist； and placing upon his feet the widest buskins that he could anywhere find； followed his guides into the treasure…house。 Here he fell to upon a heap of gold…dust； and in the first place packed as much as he could inside his buskins； between them and his legs； after which he filled the breast of his tunic quite full of gold； and then sprinkling some among his hair； and taking some likewise in his mouth； he came forth from the treasure…house； scarcely able to drag his legs along； like anything rather than a man； with his mouth crammed full； and his bulk increased every way。 On seeing him； Croesus burst into a laugh； and not only let him have all that he had taken； but gave him presents besides of fully equal worth。 Thus this house became one of great wealth； and Alcmaeon was able to keep horses for the chariot…race； and won the prize at Olympia。 Afterwards； in the generation which followed； Clisthenes； king of Sicyon； raised the family to still greater eminence among the Greeks than even that to which it had attained before。 For this Clisthenes； who was the son of Aristonymus； the grandson of Myron； and the great…grandson of Andreas； had a daughter； called Agarista； whom he wished to marry to the best husband that he could find in the whole of Greece。 At the Olympic Games； therefore； having gained the prize in the chariot race； he caused public proclamation to be made to the following effect：… 〃Whoever among the Greeks deems himself worthy to become the son…in…law of Clisthenes； let him come； sixty days hence； or； if he will； sooner； to Sicyon； for within a year's time； counting from the end of the sixty days； Clisthenes will decide on the man to whom he shall contract his daughter。〃 So all the Greeks who were proud of their own merit or of their country flocked to Sicyon as suitors； and Clisthenes had a foot…course and a wrestling…ground made ready； to try their powers。 From Italy there came Smindyrides； the son of Hippocrates； a native of Sybaris… which city about that time was at the very height of its prosperity。 He was a man who in luxuriousness of living exceeded all other persons。 Likewise there came Damasus； the son of Amyris； surnamed the Wise； a native of Siris。 These two were the only suitors from Italy。 From the Ionian Gulf appeared Amphimnestus； the son of Epistrophus； an Epidamnian； from Aetolia； Males； the brother of that Titormus who excelled all the Greeks in strength； and who wishing to avoid his fellow…men； withdrew himself into the remotest parts of the Aetolian territory。 From the Peloponnese came several… Leocedes； son of that Pheidon； king of the Argives； who established weights and measures throughout the Peloponnese； and was the most insolent of all the Grecians… the same who drove out the Elean directors of the Games； and himself presided over the contests at Olympia… Leocedes； I say； appeared； this Pheidon's son； and likewise Amiantus； son of Lycurgus； an Arcadian of the city of Trapezus； Laphanes； an Azenian of Paeus； whose father； Euphorion； as the story goes in Arcadia； entertained the Dioscuri at his residence； and thenceforth kept open house for all comers； and lastly； Onomastus； the son of Agaeus； a native of Elis。 These four came from the Peloponnese。 From Athens there arrived Megacles； the son of that Alcmaeon who visited Croesus； and Tisander's son； Hippoclides； the wealthiest and handsomest of the Athenians。 There was likewise one Euboean； Lysanias； who came from Eretria； then a flourishing city。 From Thessaly came Diactorides； a Cranonian； of the race of the Scopadae； and Alcon arrived from the Molossia
