the history-第59章
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corselet which Amasis gave to the temple of Minerva in Lindus is just such another。 The Corinthians likewise right willingly lent a helping hand towards the expedition against Samos； for a generation earlier； about the time of the seizure of the wine…bowl； they too had suffered insult at the hands of the Samians。 It happened that Periander； son of Cypselus； had taken three hundred boys； children of the chief nobles among the Corcyraeans； and sent them to Alyattes for eunuchs； the men who had them in charge touched at Samos on their way to Sardis； whereupon the Samians； having found out what was to become of the boys when they reached that city； first prompted them to take sanctuary at the temple of Diana； and after this； when the Corinthians； as they were forbidden to tear the suppliants from the holy place； sought to cut off from them all supplies of food； invented a festival in their behalf； which they celebrate to this day with the selfsame rites。 Each evening； as night closed in； during the whole time that the boys continued there； choirs of youths and virgins were placed about the temple； carrying in their hands cakes made of sesame and honey； in order that the Corcyraean boys might snatch the cakes； and so get enough to live upon。 And this went on for so long； that at last the Corinthians who had charge of the boys gave them up； and took their departure； upon which the Samians conveyed them back to Corcyra。 If now； after the death of Periander； the Corinthians and Corcyraeans had been good friends； it is not to be imagined that the former would ever have taken part in the expedition against Samos for such a reason as this； but as； in fact； the two people have always； ever since the first settlement of the island； been enemies to one another； this outrage was remembered； and the Corinthians bore the Samians a grudge for it。 Periander had chosen the youths from among the first families in Corcyra； and sent them a present to Alyattes； to avenge a wrong which he had received。 For it was the Corcyraeans who began the quarrel and injured Periander by an outrage of a horrid nature。 After Periander had put to death his wife Melissa； it chanced that on this first affliction a second followed of a different kind。 His wife had borne him two sons； and one of them had now reached the age of seventeen； the other of eighteen years； when their mother's father； Procles； tyrant of Epidaurus； asked them to his court。 They went； and Procles treated them with much kindness； as was natural； considering they were his own daughter's children。 At length； when the time for parting came； Procles； as he was sending them on their way； said； 〃Know you now； my children； who it was that caused your mother's death？〃 The elder son took no account of this speech； but the younger； whose name was Lycophron； was sorely troubled at it… so much so； that when he got back to Corinth； looking upon his father as his mother's murderer； he would neither speak to him； nor answer when spoken to； nor utter a word in reply to all his questionings。 So Periander at last； growing furious at such behaviour； banished him from his house。 The younger son gone； he turned to the elder and asked him； 〃what it was that their grandfather had said to them？〃 Then he related in how kind and friendly a fashion he had received them； but； not having taken any notice of the speech which Procles had uttered at parting； he quite forgot to mention it。 Periander insisted that it was not possible this should be all… their grandfather must have given them some hint or other… and he went on pressing him； till at last the lad remembered the parting speech and told it。 Periander； after he had turned the whole matter over in his thoughts； and felt unwilling to give way at all； sent a messenger to the persons who had opened their houses to his outcast son； and forbade them to harbour him。 Then the boy； when he was chased from one friend； sought refuge with another； but was driven from shelter to shelter by the threats of his father； who menaced all those that took him in； and commanded them to shut their doors against him。 Still； as fast as he was forced to leave one house he went to another； and was received by the inmates； for his acquaintance； although in no small alarm； yet gave him shelter； as he was Periander's son。 At last Periander made proclamation that whoever harboured his son or even spoke to him； should forfeit a certain sum of money to Apollo。 On hearing this no one any longer liked to take him in； or even to hold converse with him； and he himself did not think it right to seek to do what was forbidden； so； abiding by his resolve； he made his lodging in the public porticos。 When four days had passed in this way； Periander； secing how wretched his son was； that he neither washed nor took any food； felt moved with compassion towards him； wherefore； foregoing his anger； he approached him； and said； 〃Which is better； oh！ my son； to fare as now thou farest； or to receive my crown and all the good things that I possess； on the one condition of submitting thyself to thy father？ See； now； though my own child； and lord of this wealthy Corinth； thou hast brought thyself to a beggar's life； because thou must resist and treat with anger him whom it least behoves thee to oppose。 If there has been a calamity； and thou bearest me ill will on that account； bethink thee that I too feel it； and am the greatest sufferer； in as much as it was by me that the deed was done。 For thyself； now that thou knowest how much better a thing it is to be envied than pitied； and how dangerous it is to indulge anger against parents and superiors； come back with me to thy home。〃 With such words as these did Periander chide his son； but the son made no reply； except to remind his father that he was indebted to the god in the penalty for coming and holding converse with him。 Then Periander knew that there was no cure for the youth's malady； nor means of overcoming it； so he prepared a ship and sent him away out of his sight to Corcyra； which island at that time belonged to him。 As for Procles； Periander； regarding him as the true author of all his present troubles； went to war with him as soon as his son was gone； and not only made himself master of his kingdom Epidaurus； but also took Procles himself； and carried him into captivity。 As time went on； and Periander came to be old； he found himself no longer equal to the oversight and management of affairs。 Seeing； therefore； in his eldest son no manner of ability； but knowing him to be dull and blockish； he sent to Corcyra and recalled Lycophron to take the kingdom。 Lycophron； however； did not even deign to ask the bearer of this message a question。 But Periander's heart was set upon the youth； so he sent again to him； this time by his own daughter； the sister of Lycophron； who would； he thought； have more power to persuade him than any other person。 Then she； when she reached Corcyra； spoke thus with her brother：… 〃Dost thou wish the kingdom； brother； to pass into strange hands； and our father's wealth to be made a prey； rather than thyself return to enjoy it？ Come back home with me； and cease to punish thyself。 It is scant gain； this obstinacy。 Why seek to cure evil by evil？ Mercy； remember； is by many set above justice。 Many； also； while pushing their mother's claims have forfeited their father's fortune。 Power is a slippery thing… it has many suitors； and he is old and stricken in years… let not thy own inheritance go to another。〃 Thus did the sister； who had been tutored by Periander what to say； urge all the arguments most likely to have weight with her brother。 He however made answer； 〃That so long as he knew his father to be still alive； he would never go back to Corinth。〃 When the sister brought Periander this reply； he sent his son a third time by a herald； and said he would come himself to Corcyra； and let his son take his place at Corinth as heir to his kingdom。 To these terms Lycophron agreed； and Periander was making ready to pass into Corcyra and his son to return to Corinth； when the Corcyraeans； being informed of what was taking place； to keep Periander away； put the young man to death。 For this reason it was that Periander took vengeance on
