第 19 节
作者:
孤独半圆 更新:2021-02-21 16:04 字数:9322
f any men; who have a set place in the middle of their city; where they come together to cheat each other and forswear themselves。 If I live; the Spartans shall have troubles enough of their own to talk of; without concerning themselves about the Ionians。〃 Cyrus intended these words as a reproach against all the Greeks; because of their having market…places where they buy and sell; which is a custom unknown to the Persians; who never make purchases in open marts; and indeed have not in their whole country a single market…place。 After this interview Cyrus quitted Sardis; leaving the city under the charge of Tabalus; a Persian; but appointing Pactyas; a native; to collect the treasure belonging to Croesus and the other Lydians; and bring after him。 Cyrus himself proceeded towards Agbatana; carrying Croesus along with him; not regarding the Ionians as important enough to be his immediate object。 Larger designs were in his mind。 He wished to war in person against Babylon; the Bactrians; the Sacae; and Egypt; he therefore determined to assign to one of his generals the task of conquering the Ionians。 No sooner; however; was Cyrus gone from Sardis than Pactyas induced his countrymen to rise in open revolt against him and his deputy Tabalus。 With the vast treasures at his disposal he then went down to the sea; and employed them in hiring mercenary troops; while at the same time he engaged the people of the coast to enrol themselves in his army。 He then marched upon Sardis; where he besieged Tabalus; who shut himself up in the citadel。 When Cyrus; on his way to Agbatana; received these tidings; he returned to Croesus and said; 〃Where will all this end; Croesus; thinkest thou? It seemeth that these Lydians will not cease to cause trouble both to themselves and others。 I doubt me if it were not best to sell them all for slaves。 Methinks what I have now done is as if a man were to 'kill the father and then spare the child。' Thou; who wert something more than a father to thy people; I have seized and carried off; and to that people I have entrusted their city。 Can I then feel surprise at their rebellion?〃 Thus did Cyrus open to Croesus his thoughts; whereat the latter; full of alarm lest Cyrus should lay Sardis in ruins; replied as follows: 〃Oh! my king; thy words are reasonable; but do not; I beseech thee; give full vent to thy anger; nor doom to destruction an ancient city; guiltless alike of the past and of the present trouble。 I caused the one; and in my own person now pay the forfeit。 Pactyas has caused the other; he to whom thou gavest Sardis in charge; let him bear the punishment。 Grant; then; forgiveness to the Lydians; and to make sure of their never rebelling against thee; or alarming thee more; send and forbid them to keep any weapons of war; command them to wear tunics under their cloaks; and to put buskins upon their legs; and make them bring up their sons to cithern…playing; harping; and shop…keeping。 So wilt thou soon see them become women instead of men; and there will be no more fear of their revolting from thee。〃 Croesus thought the Lydians would even so be better off than if they were sold for slaves; and therefore gave the above advice to Cyrus; knowing that; unless he brought forward some notable suggestion; he would not be able to persuade him to alter his mind。 He was likewise afraid lest; after escaping the danger which now pressed; the Lydians at some future time might revolt from the Persians and so bring themselves to ruin。 The advice pleased Cyrus; who consented to forego his anger and do as Croesus had said。 Thereupon he summoned to his presence a certain Mede; Mazares by name; and charged him to issue orders to the Lydians in accordance with the terms of Croesus' discourse。 Further; he commanded him to sell for slaves all who had joined the Lydians in their attack upon Sardis; and above aught else to be sure that he brought Pactyas with him alive on his return。 Having given these orders Cyrus continued his journey towards the Persian territory。 Pactyas; when news came of the near approach of the army sent against him; fled in terror to Cyme。 Mazares; therefore; the Median general; who had marched on Sardis with a detachment of the army of Cyrus; finding on his arrival that Pactyas and his troops were gone; immediately entered the town。 And first of all he forced the Lydians to obey the orders of his master; and change (as they did from that time) their entire manner of living。 Next; he despatched messengers to Cyme; and required to have Pactyas delivered up to him。 On this the Cymaeans resolved to send to Branchidae and ask the advice of the god。 Branchidae is situated in the territory of Miletus; above the port of Panormus。 There was an oracle there; established in very ancient times; which both the Ionians and Aeolians were wont often to consult。 Hither therefore the Cymaeans sent their deputies to make inquiry at the shrine; 〃What the gods would like them to do with the Lydian; Pactyas?〃 The oracle told them; in reply; to give him up to the Persians。 With this answer the messengers returned; and the people of Cymd were ready to surrender him accordingly; but as they were preparing to do so; Aristodicus; son of Heraclides; a citizen of distinction; hindered them。 He declared that he distrusted the response; and believed that the messengers had reported it falsely; until at last another embassy; of which Aristodicus himself made part; was despatched; to repeat the former inquiry concerning Pactyas。 On their arrival at the shrine of the god; Aristodicus; speaking on behalf of the whole body; thus addressed the oracle: 〃Oh! king; Pactyas the Lydian; threatened by the Persians with a violent death; has come to us for sanctuary; and lo; they ask him at our hands; calling upon our nation to deliver him up。 Now; though we greatly dread the Persian power; yet have we not been bold to give up our suppliant; till we have certain knowledge of thy mind; what thou wouldst have us to do。〃 The oracle thus questioned gave the same answer as before; bidding them surrender Pactyas to the Persians; whereupon Aristodicus; who had come prepared for such an answer; proceeded to make the circuit of the temple; and to take all the nests of young sparrows and other birds that he could find about the building。 As he was thus employed; a voice; it is said; came forth from the inner sanctuary; addressing Aristodicus in these words: 〃Most impious of men; what is this thou hast the face to do? Dost thou tear my suppliants from my temple?〃 Aristodicus; at no loss for a reply; rejoined; 〃Oh; king; art thou so ready to protect thy suppliants; and dost thou command the Cymaeans to give up a suppliant?〃 〃Yes;〃 returned the god; 〃I do command it; that so for the impiety you may the sooner perish; and not come here again to consult my oracle about the surrender of suppliants。〃 On the receipt of this answer the Cymaeans; unwilling to bring the threatened destruction on themselves by giving up the man; and afraid of having to endure a siege if they continued to harbour him; sent Pactyas away to Mytilene。 On this Mazares despatched envoys to the Mytilenaeans to demand the fugitive of them; and they were preparing to give him up for a reward (I cannot say with certainty how large; as the bargain was not completed); when the Cymaeans hearing what the Mytilenaeans were about; sent a vessel to Lesbos; and conveyed away Pactyas to Chios。 From hence it was that he was surrendered。 The Chians dragged him from the temple of Minerva Poliuchus and gave him up to the Persians; on condition of receiving the district of Atarneus; a tract of Mysia opposite to Lesbos; as the price of the surrender。 Thus did Pactyas fall into the hands of his pursuers; who kept a strict watch upon him that they might be able to produce him before Cyrus。 For a long time afterwards none of the Chians would use the barley of Atarneus to place on the heads of victims; or make sacrificial cakes of the corn grown there; but the whole produce of the land was excluded from all their temples。 Meanwhile Mazares; after he had recovered Pactyas from the Chians; made war upon those who had taken part in the attack on Tabalus; and in the first place took Priene and sold the inhabitants for slaves; after which he overran the whole plain of the Maeander and the district of Magnesia; both of which he gave up for pillage to the soldiery。 He then suddenly sickened and died。 Upon his death Harpagus was sent down to the coast to succeed to his command。 He also was of the race of the Medes; being the man whom the Median king; Astyages; feasted at the unholy banquet; and who lent his aid to Place Cyrus upon the throne。 Appointed by Cyrus to conduct the war in these parts; he entered Ionia; and took the cities by means of mounds。 Forcing the enemy to shut themselves up within their defences; he heaped mounds of earth against their walls; and thus carried the towns。 Phocaea was the city against which he directed his first attack。 Now the Phocaeans were the first of the Greeks who performed long voyages; and it was they who made the Greeks acquainted with the Adriatic and with Tyrrhenia; with Iberia; and the city of Tartessus。 The vessel which they used in their voyages wa