the history-第138章
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Xerxes then marched through the country of the Paeonian tribes… the Doberians and the Paeoplae… which lay to the north of Pangaeum； and； advancing westward； reached the river Strymon and the city Eion； whereof Boges； of whom I spoke a short time ago； and who was then still alive； was governor。 The tract of land lying about Mount Pangaeum is called Phyllis； on the west it reaches to the river Angites； which flows into the Strymon； and on the south to the Strymon itself； where at this time the Magi were sacrificing white horses to make the stream favourable。 After propitiating the stream by these and many other magical ceremonies； the Persians crossed the Strymon； by bridges made before their arrival； at a place called 〃The Nine Ways；〃 which was in the territory of the Edonians。 And when they learnt that the name of the place was 〃The Nine Ways；〃 they took nine of the youths of the land and as many of their maidens； and buried them alive on the spot。 Burying alive is a Persian custom。 I have heard that Amestris； the wife of Xerxes； in her old age buried alive seven pairs of Persian youths； sons of illustrious men； as a thank…offering to the god who is supposed to dwell underneath the earth。 From the Strymon the army； proceeding westward； came to a strip of shore； on which there stands the Grecian town of Argilus。 This shore； and the whole tract above it； is called Bisaltia。 Passing this； and keeping on the left hand the Gulf of Posideium； Xerxes crossed the Sylean plain； as it is called； and passing by Stagirus； a Greek city； came to Acanthus。 The inhabitants of these parts； as well as those who dwelt about Mount Pangaeum； were forced to join the armament； like those others of whom I spoke before； the dwellers along the coast being made to serve in the fleet； while those who lived more inland had to follow with the land forces。 The road which the army of Xerxes took remains to this day untouched： the Thracians neither plough nor sow it； but hold it in great honour。 On reaching Acanthus； the Persian king； seeing the great zeal of the Acanthians for his service； and hearing what had been done about the cutting； took them into the number of his sworn friends； sent them as a present a Median dress； and besides commended them highly。 It was while he remained here that Artachaees； who presided over the canal； a man in high repute with Xerxes； and by birth an Achaemenid； who was moreover the tallest of all the Persians； being only four fingers short of five cubits； royal measure； and who had a stronger voice than any other man in the world； fell sick and died。 Xerxes therefore； who was greatly afflicted at the mischance； carried him to the tomb and buried him with all magnificence； while the whole army helped to raise a mound over his grave。 The Acanthians； in obedience to an oracle； offer sacrifice to this Artachaees as a hero； invoking him in their prayers by name。 But King Xerxes sorrowed greatly over his death。 Now the Greeks who had to feed the army； and to entertain Xerxes； were brought thereby to the very extremity of distress； insomuch that some of them were forced even to forsake house and home。 When the Thasians received and feasted the host； on account of their possessions upon the mainland； Antipater； the son of Orges； one of the citizens of best repute； and the man to whom the business was assigned； proved that the cost of the meal was four hundred talents of silver。 And estimates almost to the same amount were made by the superintendents in other cities。 For the entertainment； which had been ordered long beforehand and was reckoned to be of much consequence； was； in the manner of it； such as I will now describe。 No sooner did the heralds who brought the orders give their message； than in every city the inhabitants made a division of their stores of corn； and proceeded to grind flour of wheat and of barley for many months together。 Besides this； they purchased the best cattle that they could find； and fattened them； and fed poultry and water…fowl in ponds and buildings； to be in readiness for the army； while they likewise prepared gold and silver vases and drinking…cups； and whatsoever else is needed for the service of the table。 These last preparations were made for the king only； and those who sat at meat with him； for the rest of the army nothing was made ready beyond the food for which orders had been given。 On the arrival of the Persians； a tent ready pitched for the purpose received Xerxes； who took his rest therein； while the soldiers remained under the open heaven。 When the dinner hour came； great was the toil of those who entertained the army； while the guests ate their fill； and then； after passing the night at the place； tore down the royal tent next morning； and seizing its contents； carried them all off； leaving nothing behind。 On one of these occasions Megacreon of Abdera wittily recommended his countrymen 〃to go to the temples in a body； men and women alike； and there take their station as suppliants； and beseech the gods that they would in future always spare them one…half of the woes which might threaten their peace… thanking them at the same time very warmly for their past goodness in that they had caused Xerxes to be content with one meal in the day。〃 For had the order been to provide breakfast for the king as well as dinner； the Abderites must either have fled before Xerxes came； or； if they awaited his coming； have been brought to absolute ruin。 As it was； the nations； though suffering heavy pressure； complied nevertheless with the directions that had been given。 At Acanthus； Xerxes separated from his fleet； bidding the captains sail on ahead and await his coming at Therma； on the Thermaic Gulf； the place from which the bay takes its name。 Through this town lay； he understood； his shortest road。 Previously； his order of march had been the following：… from Doriscus to Acanthus his land force had proceeded in three bodies； one of which took the way along the sea…shore in company with the fleet； and was commanded by Mardonius and Masistes； while another pursued an inland track under Tritantaechmes and Gergis； the third； with which was Xerxes himself marching midway between the other two； and having for its leaders Smerdomenes and Megabyzus。 The fleet； therefore； after leaving the king； sailed through the channel which had been cut for it by Mount Athos； and came into the bay whereon lie the cities of Assa； Pilorus； Singus； and Sarta； from all which it received contingents。 Thence it stood on for the Thermaic Gulf； and rounding Cape Ampelus； the promontory of the Toronaeans； passed the Grecian cities Torone； Galepsus； Sermyla； Mecyberna； and Olynthus； receiving from each a number of ships and men。 This region is called Sithonia。 From Cape Ampelus the fleet stretched across by a short course to Cape Canastraeum； which is the point of the peninsula of Palline that runs out farthest into the sea； and gathered fresh supplies of ships and men from Potidaea； Aphytis； Neapolis； Aega； Therambus； Scione； Mende； and Sane。 These are the cities of the tract called anciently Phlegra； but now Palline。 Hence they again followed the coast； still advancing towards the place appointed by the king； and had accessions from all the cities that lie near Pallene； and border on the Thermaic Gulf； whereof the names are Lipaxus； Combreia； Lisae； Gigonus； Campsa； Smila； and Aenea。 The tract where these towns lie still retains its old name of Crossaea。 After passing Aenea； the city which I last named； the fleet found itself arrived in the Thermaic Gulf； off the land of Mygdonia。 And so at length they reached Therma； the appointed place； and came likewise to Sindus and Chalestra upon the river Axius； which separates Bottiaea from Mygdonia。 Bottiaea has a scanty sea…board； which is occupied by the two cities Ichnae and Pella。 So the fleet anchored off the Axius； and off Therma； and the towns that lay between； waiting the king's coming。 Xerxes meanwhile with his land force left Acanthus； and started for Therma； taking his way across the land。 This road led him through Paeonia and Crestonia to the river Echeidorus； which rising in the country of the Crestonians； flows through Mygdonia； and reaches the
