第 18 节
作者:
孤独半圆 更新:2021-02-21 16:04 字数:9321
blessed with Ionia; neither above it nor below it; nor east nor west of it。 For in other countries either the climate is over cold and damp; or else the heat and drought are sorely oppressive。 The Ionians do not all speak the same language; but use in different places four different dialects。 Towards the south their first city is Miletus; next to which lie Myus and Priene; all these three are in Caria and have the same dialect。 Their cities in Lydia are the following: Ephesus; Colophon; Lebedus; Teos; Clazomenae; and Phocaea。 The inhabitants of these towns have none of the peculiarities of speech which belong to the three first…named cities; but use a dialect of their own。 There remain three other Ionian towns; two situate in isles; namely; Samos and Chios; and one upon the mainland; which is Erythrae。 Of these Chios and Erythrae have the same dialect; while Samos possesses a language peculiar to itself。 Such are the four varieties of which I spoke。 Of the Ionians at this period; one people; the Milesians; were in no danger of attack; as Cyrus had received them into alliance。 The islanders also had as yet nothing to fear; since Phoenicia was still independent of Persia; and the Persians themselves were not a seafaring people。 The Milesians had separated from the common cause solely on account of the extreme weakness of the Ionians: for; feeble as the power of the entire Hellenic race was at that time; of all its tribes the Ionic was by far the feeblest and least esteemed; not possessing a single State of any mark excepting Athens。 The Athenians and most of the other Ionic States over the world; went so far in their dislike of the name as actually to lay it aside; and even at the present day the greater number of them seem to me to be ashamed of it。 But the twelve cities in Asia have always gloried in the appellation; they gave the temple which they built for themselves the name of the Panionium; and decreed that it should not be open to any of the other Ionic States; no State; however; except Smyrna; has craved admission to it。 In the same way the Dorians of the region which is now called the Pentapolis; but which was formerly known as the Doric Hexapolis; exclude all their Dorian neighbours from their temple; the Triopium: nay; they have even gone so far as to shut out from it certain of their own body who were guilty of an offence against the customs of the place。 In the games which were anciently celebrated in honour of the Triopian Apollo; the prizes given to the victors were tripods of brass; and the rule was that these tripods should not be carried away from the temple; but should then and there be dedicated to the god。 Now a man of Halicarnassus; whose name was Agasicles; being declared victor in the games; in open contempt of the law; took the tripod home to his own house and there hung it against the wall。 As a punishment for this fault; the five other cities; Lindus; Ialyssus; Cameirus; Cos; and Cnidus; deprived the sixth city; Halicarnassus; of the right of entering the temple。 The Ionians founded twelve cities in Asia; and refused to enlarge the number; on account (as I imagine) of their having been divided into twelve States when they lived in the Peloponnese; just as the Achaeans; who drove them out; are at the present day。 The first city of the Achaeans after Sicyon; is Pellene; next to which are Aegeira; Aegae upon the Crathis; a stream which is never dry; and from which the Italian Crathis received its name;… Bura; Helice… where the Ionians took refuge on their defeat by the Achaean invaders… Aegium; Rhypes; Patreis; Phareis; Olenus on the Peirus; which is a large river… Dyme and Tritaeeis; all sea…port towns except the last two; which lie up the country。 These are the twelve divisions of what is now Achaea; and was formerly Ionia; and it was owing to their coming from a country so divided that the Ionians; on reaching Asia; founded their twelve States: for it is the height of folly to maintain that these Ionians are more Ionian than the rest; or in any respect better born; since the truth is that no small portion of them were Abantians from Euboea; who are not even Ionians in name; and; besides; there were mixed up with the emigration Minyae from Orchomenus; Cadmeians; Dryopians; Phocians from the several cities of Phocis; Molossians; Arcadian Pelasgi; Dorians from Epidaurus; and many other distinct tribes。 Even those who came from the Prytaneum of Athens; and reckon themselves the purest Ionians of all; brought no wives with them to the new country; but married Carian girls; whose fathers they had slain。 Hence these women made a law; which they bound themselves by an oath to observe; and which they handed down to their daughters after them; 〃That none should ever sit at meat with her husband; or call him by his name〃; because the invaders slew their fathers; their husbands; and their sons; and then forced them to become their wives。 It was at Miletus that these events took place。 The kings; too; whom they set over them; were either Lycians; of the blood of Glaucus; son of Hippolochus; or Pylian Caucons of the blood of Codrus; son of Melanthus; or else from both those families。 But since these Ionians set more store by the name than any of the others; let them pass for the pure…bred Ionians; though truly all are Ionians who have their origin from Athens; and keep the Apaturia。 This is a festival which all the Ionians celebrate; except the Ephesians and the Colophonians; whom a certain act of bloodshed excludes from it。 The Panionium is a place in Mycale; facing the north; which was chosen by the common voice of the Ionians and made sacred to Heliconian Neptune。 Mycale itself is a promontory of the mainland; stretching out westward towards Samos; in which the Ionians assemble from all their States to keep the feast of the Panionia。 The names of festivals; not only among the Ionians but among all the Greeks; end; like the Persian proper names; in one and the same letter。 The above…mentioned; then; are the twelve towns of the Ionians。 The Aeolic cities are the following:… Cyme; called also Phriconis; Larissa; Neonteichus; Temnus; Cilla; Notium; Aegiroessa; Pitane; Aegaeae; Myrina; and Gryneia。 These are the eleven ancient cities of the Aeolians。 Originally; indeed; they had twelve cities upon the mainland; like the Ionians; but the Ionians deprived them of Smyrna; one of the number。 The soil of Aeolis is better than that of Ionia; but the climate is less agreeable。 The following is the way in which the loss of Smyrna happened。 Certain men of Colophon had been engaged in a sedition there; and being the weaker party; were driven by the others into banishment。 The Smyrnaeans received the fugitives; who; after a time; watching their opportunity; while the inhabitants were celebrating a feast to Bacchus outside the walls; shut to the gates; and so got possession of the town。 The Aeolians of the other States came to their aid; and terms were agreed on between the parties; the Ionians consenting to give up all the moveables; and the Aeolians making a surrender of the place。 The expelled Smyrnaeans were distributed among the other States of the Aeolians; and were everywhere admitted to citizenship。 These; then; were all the Aeolic cities upon the mainland; with the exception of those about Mount Ida; which made no part of this confederacy。 As for the islands; Lesbos contains five cities。 Arisba; the sixth; was taken by the Methymnaeans; their kinsmen; and the inhabitants reduced to slavery。 Tenedos contains one city; and there is another which is built on what are called the Hundred Isles。 The Aeolians of Lesbos and Tenedos; like the Ionian islanders; had at this time nothing to fear。 The other Aeolians decided in their common assembly to follow the Ionians; whatever course they should pursue。 When the deputies of the Ionians and Aeolians; who had journeyed with all speed to Sparta; reached the city; they chose one of their number; Pythermus; a Phocaean; to be their spokesman。 In order to draw together as large an audience as possible; he clothed himself in a purple garment; and so attired stood forth to speak。 In a long discourse he besought the Spartans to come to the assistance of his countrymen; but they were not to be persuaded; and voted against sending any succour。 The deputies accordingly went their way; while the Lacedaemonians; notwithstanding the refusal which they had given to the prayer of the deputation; despatched a penteconter to the Asiatic coast with certain Spartans on board; for the purpose; as I think; of watching Cyrus and Ionia。 These men; on their arrival at Phocaea; sent to Sardis Lacrines; the most distinguished of their number; to prohibit Cyrus; in the name of the Lacedaemonians; from offering molestation to any city of Greece; since they would not allow it。 Cyrus is said; on hearing the speech of the herald; to have asked some Greeks who were standing by; 〃Who these Lacedaemonians were; and what was their number; that they dared to send him such a notice?〃 When he had received their reply; he turned to the Spartan herald and said; 〃I have never yet been afraid of any men; who have a set place in the middle of their city; where they come together to cheat each