第 81 节
作者:
孤独半圆 更新:2021-02-21 16:05 字数:9322
in of the citizens; together with a number of Cyrenaean exiles; recognising him as he walked in the forum; killed him; they slew also at the same time Alazir; his father…in…law。 So Arcesilaus; wittingly or unwittingly; disobeyed the oracle; and thereby fulfilled his destiny。 Pheretima; the mother of Arcesilaus; during the time that her son; after working his own ruin; dwelt at Barca; continued to enjoy all his privileges at Cyrene; managing the government; and taking her seat at the council…board。 No sooner; however; did she hear of the death of her son at Barca; than leaving Cyrene; she fled in haste to Egypt。 Arcesilaus had claims for service done to Cambyses; son of Cyrus; since it was by him that Cyrene was put under the Persian yoke; and a rate of tribute agreed upon。 Pheretima therefore went straight to Egypt; and presenting herself as a suppliant before Aryandes; entreated him to avenge her wrongs。 Her son; she said; had met his death on account of his being so well affected towards the Medes。 Now Aryandes had been made governor of Egypt by Cambyses。 He it was who in after times was punished with death by Darius for seeking to rival him。 Aware; by report and also by his own eyesight; that Darius wished to leave a memorial of himself; such as no king had ever left before; Aryandes resolved to follow his example; and did so; till he got his reward。 Darius had refined gold to the last perfection of purity in order to have coins struck of it: Aryandes; in his Egyptian government; did the very same with silver; so that to this day there is no such pure silver anywhere as the Aryandic。 Darius; when this came to his ears; brought another charge; a charge of rebellion; against Aryandes; and put him to death。 At the time of which we are speaking Aryandes; moved with compassion for Pheretima; granted her all the forces which there were in Egypt; both land and sea。 The command of the army he gave to Amasis; a Maraphian; while Badres; one of the tribe of the Pasargadae; was appointed to lead the fleet。 Before the expedition; however; left Egypt; he sent a herald to Barca to inquire who it was that had slain king Arcesilaus。 The Barcaeans replied 〃that they; one and all; acknowledged the deed… Arcesilaus had done them many and great injuries。〃 After receiving this reply; Aryandes gave the troops orders to march with Pheretima。 Such was the cause which served as a pretext for this expedition: its real object was; I believe; the subjugation of Libya。 For Libya is inhabited by many and various races; and of these but very few were subjects of the Persian king; while by far the larger number held Darius in no manner of respect。 The Libyans dwell in the order which I will now describe。 Beginning on the side of Egypt; the first Libyans are the Adyrmachidae These people have; in most points; the same customs as the Egyptians; but use the costume of the Libyans。 Their women wear on each leg a ring made of bronze; they let their hair grow long; and when they catch any vermin on their persons; bite it and throw it away。 In this they differ from all the other Libyans。 They are also the only tribe with whom the custom obtains of bringing all women about to become brides before the king; that he may choose such as are agreeable to him。 The Adyrmachidae extend from the borders of Egypt to the harbour called Port Plynus。 Next to the Adyrmachidae are the Gilligammae; who inhabit the country westward as far as the island of Aphrodisias。 Off this tract is the island of Platea; which the Cyrenaeans colonised。 Here too; upon the mainland; are Port Menelaus; and Aziris; where the Cyrenaeans once lived。 The Silphium begins to grow in this region; extending from the island of Platea on the one side to the mouth of the Syrtis on the other。 The customs of the Gilligammae are like those of the rest of their countrymen。 The Asbystae adjoin the Gilligammae upon the west。 They inhabit the regions above Cyrene; but do not reach to the coast; which belongs to the Cyrenaeans。 Four…horse chariots are in more common use among them than among any other Libyans。 In most of their customs they ape the manners of the Cyrenaeans。 Westward of the Asbystae dwell the Auschisae; who possess the country above Barca; reaching; however; to the sea at the place called Euesperides。 In the middle of their territory is the little tribe of the Cabalians; which touches the coast near Tauchira; a city of the Barcaeans。 Their customs are like those of the Libyans above Cyrene。 The Nasamonians; a numerous people; are the western neighbours of the Auschisae。 In summer they leave their flocks and herds upon the sea…shore; and go up the country to a place called Augila; where they gather the dates from the palms; which in those parts grow thickly; and are of great size; all of them being of the fruit…bearing kind。 They also chase the locusts; and; when caught; dry them in the sun; after which they grind them to powder; and; sprinkling this upon their milk; so drink it。 Each man among them has several wives; in their intercourse with whom they resemble the Massagetae。 The following are their customs in the swearing of oaths and the practice of augury。 The man; as he swears; lays his hand upon the tomb of some one considered to have been pre…eminently just and good; and so doing swears by his name。 For divination they betake themselves to the sepulchres of their own ancestors; and; after praying; lie down to sleep upon their graves; by the dreams which then come to them they guide their conduct。 When they pledge their faith to one another; each gives the other to drink out of his hand; if there be no liquid to be had; they take up dust from the ground; and put their tongues to it。 On the country of the Nasamonians borders that of the Psylli; who were swept away under the following circumstances。 The south…wind had blown for a long time and dried up all the tanks in which their water was stored。 Now the whole region within the Syrtis is utterly devoid of springs。 Accordingly the Psylli took counsel among themselves; and by common consent made war upon the southwind… so at least the Libyans say; I do but repeat their words… they went forth and reached the desert; but there the south…wind rose and buried them under heaps of sand: whereupon; the Psylli being destroyed; their lands passed to the Nasamonians。 Above the Nasamonians; towards the south; in the district where the wild beasts abound; dwell the Garamantians; who avoid all society or intercourse with their fellow…men; have no weapon of war; and do not know how to defend themselves。 These border the Nasamonians on the south: westward along the sea…shore their neighbours are the Macea; who; by letting the locks about the crown of their head grow long; while they clip them close everywhere else; make their hair resemble a crest。 In war these people use the skins of ostriches for shields。 The river Cinyps rises among them from the height called 〃the Hill of the Graces;〃 and runs from thence through their country to the sea。 The Hill of the Graces is thickly covered with wood; and is thus very unlike the rest of Libya; which is bare。 It is distant two hundred furlongs from the sea。 Adjoining the Macae are the Gindanes; whose women wear on their legs anklets of leather。 Each lover that a woman has gives her one; and she who can show the most is the best esteemed; as she appears to have been loved by the greatest number of men。 A promontory jutting out into the sea from the country of the Gindanes is inhabited by the Lotophagi; who live entirely on the fruit of the lotus…tree。 The lotus fruit is about the size of the lentisk berry; and in sweetness resembles the date。 The Lotophagi even succeed in obtaining from it a sort of wine。 The sea…coast beyond the Lotophagi is occupied by the Machlyans; who use the lotus to some extent; though not so much as the people of whom we last spoke。 The Machlyans reach as far as the great river called the Triton; which empties itself into the great lake Tritonis。 Here; in this lake; is an island called Phla; which it is said the Lacedaemonians were to have colonised; according to an oracle。 The following is the story as it is commonly told。 When Jason had finished building the Argo at the foot of Mount Pelion; he took on board the usual hecatomb; and moreover a brazen tripod。 Thus equipped; he set sail; intending to coast round the Peloponnese; and so to reach Delphi。 The voyage was prosperous as far as Malea; but at that point a gale of wind from the north came on suddenly; and carried him out of his course to the coast of Libya; where; before he discovered the land; he got among the shallows of Lake Tritonis。 As he was turning it in his mind how he should find his way out; Triton (they say) appeared to him; and offered to show him the channel; and secure him a safe retreat; if he would give him the tripod。 Jason complying; was shown by Triton the passage through the shallows; after which the god took the tripod; and; carrying it to his own temple; seated himself upon it; and; filled with prophetic fury; delivered to Jason and his companions a long prediction。 〃When a descendant;〃 he said; 〃of one of the Argo's crew should seize and carry off the brazen tripod; the