the history-第124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！
saly came Diactorides； a Cranonian； of the race of the Scopadae； and Alcon arrived from the Molossians。 This was the list of the suitors。 Now when they were all come； and the day appointed had arrived； Clisthenes first of all inquired of each concerning his country and his family； after which he kept them with him a year； and made trial of their manly bearing； their temper； their accomplishments； and their disposition； sometimes drawing them apart for converse； sometimes bringing them all together。 Such as were still youths he took with him from time to time to the gymnasia； but the greatest trial of all was at the banquettable。 During the whole period of their stay he lived with them as I have said； and； further； from first to last he entertained them sumptuously。 Somehow or other the suitors who came from Athens pleased him the best of all； and of these Hippoclides； Tisander's son； was specially in favour； partly on account of his manly bearing； and partly also because his ancestors were of kin to the Corinthian Cypselids。 When at length the day arrived which had been fixed for the espousals； and Clisthenes had to speak out and declare his choice； he first of all made a sacrifice of a hundred oxen； and held a banquet； whereat he entertained all the suitors and the whole people of Sicyon。 After the feast was ended； the suitors vied with each other in music and in speaking on a given subject。 Presently； as the drinking advanced； Hippoclides； who quite dumbfoundered the rest； called aloud to the flute…player； and bade him strike up a dance； which the man did； and Hippoclides danced to it。 And he fancied that he was dancing excellently well； but Clisthenes； who was observing him； began to misdoubt the whole business。 Then Hippoclides； after a pause； told an attendant to bring in a table； and when it was brought； he mounted upon it and danced first of all some Laconian figures； then some Attic ones； after which he stood on his head upon the table； and began to toss his legs about。 Clisthenes； notwithstanding that he now loathed Hippoclides for a son…in…law； by reason of his dancing and his shamelessness； still； as he wished to avoid an outbreak； had restrained himself during the first and likewise during the second dance； when； however； he saw him tossing his legs in the air； he could no longer contain himself； but cried out； 〃Son of Tisander； thou hast danced thy wife away！〃 〃What does Hippoclides care？〃 was the other's answer。 And hence the proverb arose。 Then Clisthenes commanded silence； and spake thus before the assembled company：… 〃Suitors of my daughter； well pleased am I with you all； and right willingly； if it were possible； would I content you all； and not by making choice of one appear to put a slight upon the rest。 But as it is out of my power； seeing that I have but one daughter； to grant to all their wishes； I will present to each of you whom I must needs dismiss a talent of silver； for the honour that you have done me in seeking to ally yourselves with my house； and for your long absence from your homes。 But my daughter； Agarista； I betroth to Megacles； the son of Alcmaeon； to be his wife； according to the usage and wont of Athens。〃 Then Megacles expressed his readiness； and Clisthenes had the marriage solemnised。 Thus ended the affair of the suitors； and thus the Alcmaeonidae came to be famous throughout the whole of Greece。 The issue of this marriage was the Clisthenes named after his grandfather the Sicyonian… who made the tribes at Athens； and set up the popular government。 Megacles had likewise another son； called Hippocrates； whose children were a Megacles and an Agarista； the latter named after Agarista the daughter of Clisthenes。 She married Xanthippus； the son of Ariphron； and when she was with child by him had a dream； wherein she fancied that she was delivered of a lion； after which； within a few days； she bore Xanthippus a son； to wit； Pericles。 After the blow struck at Marathon； Miltiades； who was previously held in high esteem by his countrymen； increased yet more in influence。 Hence； when he told them that he wanted a fleet of seventy ships； with an armed force； and money； without informing them what country he was going to attack； but only promising to enrich them if they would accompany him； seeing that it was a right wealthy land； where they might easily get as much gold as they cared to have… when he told them this； they were quite carried away； and gave him the whole armament which he required。 So Miltiades； having got the armament； sailed against Paros； with the object； as he alleged； of punishing the Parians for having gone to war with Athens； inasmuch as a trireme of theirs had come with the Persian fleet to Marathon。 This； however； was a mere pretence； the truth was； that Miltiades owed the Parians a grudge； because Lysagoras； the son of Tisias； who was a Parian by birth； had told tales against him to Hydarnes the Persian。 Arrived before the place against which his expedition was designed； he drove the Parians within their walls； and forthwith laid siege to the city。 At the same time he sent a herald to the inhabitants； and required of them a hundred talents； threatening that； if they refused； he would press the siege； and never give it over till the town was taken。 But the Parians； without giving his demand a thought； proceeded to use every means that they could devise for the defence of their city； and even invented new plans for the purpose； one of which was； by working at night； to raise such parts of the wall as were likely to be carried by assault to double their former height。 Thus far all the Greeks agree in their accounts of this business； what follows is related upon the testimony of the Parians only。 Miltiades had come to his wit's end； when one of the prisoners； a woman named Timo； who was by birth a Parian； and had held the office of under…priestess in the temple of the infernal goddesses； came and conferred with him。 This woman； they say； being introduced into the presence of Miltiades； advised him； if he set great store by the capture of the place； to do something which she could suggest to him。 When therefore she had told him what it was she meant； he betook himself to the hill which lies in front of the city； and there leapt the fence enclosing the precinct of Ceres Thesmophorus； since he was not able to open the door。 After leaping into the place he went straight to the sanctuary； intending to do something within it… either to remove some of the holy things which it was not lawful to stir； or to perform some act or other； I cannot say what… and had just reached the door； when suddenly a feeling of horror came upon him； and he returned back the way he had come； but in jumping down from the outer wall； he strained his thigh； or； as some say； struck the ground with his knee。 So Miltiades returned home sick； without bringing the Athenians any money； and without conquering Paros； having done no more than to besiege the town for six…and…twenty days； and ravage the remainder of the island。 The Parians； however； when it came to their knowledge that Timo； the under…priestess of the goddesses； had advised Miltiades what he should do； were minded to punish her for her crime； they therefore sent messengers to Delphi； as soon as the siege was at an end； and asked the god if they should put the under…priestess to death。 〃She had discovered；〃 they said； 〃to the enemies of her country how they might bring it into subjection； and had exhibited to Miltiades mysteries which it was not lawful for a man to know。〃 But the Pythoness forbade them； and said； 〃Timo was not in fault； 'twas decreed that Miltiades should come to an unhappy end； and she was sent to lure him to his destruction。〃 Such was the answer given to the Parians by the Pythoness。 The Athenians； upon the return of Miltiades from Paros； had much debate concerning him； and Xanthippus； the son of Ariphron； who spoke more freely against him than all the rest； impleaded him before the people； and brought him to trial for his life； on the charge of having dealt deceitfully with the Athenians。 Miltiades； though he was present in court； did not speak in his own defence； for his thigh had begun to mortify
