第 111 节
作者:
孤独半圆 更新:2021-02-21 16:05 字数:9322
lace; to do something which she could suggest to him。 When therefore she had told him what it was she meant; he betook himself to the hill which lies in front of the city; and there leapt the fence enclosing the precinct of Ceres Thesmophorus; since he was not able to open the door。 After leaping into the place he went straight to the sanctuary; intending to do something within it… either to remove some of the holy things which it was not lawful to stir; or to perform some act or other; I cannot say what… and had just reached the door; when suddenly a feeling of horror came upon him; and he returned back the way he had come; but in jumping down from the outer wall; he strained his thigh; or; as some say; struck the ground with his knee。 So Miltiades returned home sick; without bringing the Athenians any money; and without conquering Paros; having done no more than to besiege the town for six…and…twenty days; and ravage the remainder of the island。 The Parians; however; when it came to their knowledge that Timo; the under…priestess of the goddesses; had advised Miltiades what he should do; were minded to punish her for her crime; they therefore sent messengers to Delphi; as soon as the siege was at an end; and asked the god if they should put the under…priestess to death。 〃She had discovered;〃 they said; 〃to the enemies of her country how they might bring it into subjection; and had exhibited to Miltiades mysteries which it was not lawful for a man to know。〃 But the Pythoness forbade them; and said; 〃Timo was not in fault; 'twas decreed that Miltiades should come to an unhappy end; and she was sent to lure him to his destruction。〃 Such was the answer given to the Parians by the Pythoness。 The Athenians; upon the return of Miltiades from Paros; had much debate concerning him; and Xanthippus; the son of Ariphron; who spoke more freely against him than all the rest; impleaded him before the people; and brought him to trial for his life; on the charge of having dealt deceitfully with the Athenians。 Miltiades; though he was present in court; did not speak in his own defence; for his thigh had begun to mortify; and disabled him from pleading his cause。 He was forced to lie on a couch while his defence was made by his friends; who dwelt at most length on the fight at Marathon; while they made mention also of the capture of Lemnos; telling how Miltiades took the island; and; after executing vengeance on the Pelasgians; gave up his conquest to Athens。 The judgment of the people was in his favour so far as to spare his life; but for the wrong he had done them they fined him fifty talents。 Soon afterwards his thigh completely gangrened and mortified: and so Miltiades died; and the fifty talents were paid by his son Cimon。 Now the way in which Miltiades had made himself master of Lemnos was the following。 There were certain Pelasgians whom the Athenians once drove out of Attica; whether they did it… justly or unjustly I cannot say; since I only know what is reported concerning it; which is the following: Hecataeus; the son of Hegesander; says in his History that it was unjustly。 〃The Athenians;〃 according to him; 〃had given to the Pelasgi a tract of land at the foot of Hymettus as payment for the wall with which the Pelasgians had surrounded their citadel。 This land was barren; and little worth at the time; but the Pelasgians brought it into good condition; whereupon the Athenians begrudged them the tract; and desired to recover it。 And so; without any better excuse; they took arms and drove out the Pelasgians。〃 But the Athenians maintain that they were justified in what they did。 〃The Pelasgians;〃 they say; 〃while they lived at the foot of Hymettus; were wont to sally forth from that region and commit outrages on their children。 For the Athenians used at that time to send their sons and daughters to draw water at the fountain called 'the Nine Springs;' inasmuch as neither they nor the other Greeks had any household slaves in those days; and the maidens; whenever they came; were used rudely and insolently by the Pelasgians。 Nor were they even content thus; but at the last they laid a plot; and were caught by the Athenians in the act of making an attempt upon their city。 Then did the Athenians give a proof how much better men they were than the Pelasgians; for whereas they might justly have killed them all; having caught them in the very act of rebelling; the; spared their lives; and only required that they should leave the country。 Hereupon the Pelasgians quitted Attica; and settled in Lemnos and other places。〃 Such are the accounts respectively of Hecataeus and the Athenians。 These same Pelasgians; after they were settled in Lemnos; conceived the wish to be revenged on the Athenians。 So; as they were well acquainted with the Athenian festivals; they manned some penteconters; and having laid an ambush to catch the Athenian women as they kept the festival of Diana at Brauron; they succeeded in carrying off a large number; whom they took to Lemnos and there kept as concubines。 After a while the women bore children; whom they taught to speak the language of Attica and observe the manners of the Athenians。 These boys refused to have any commerce with the sons of the Pelasgian women; and if a Pelasgian boy struck one of their number; they all made common cause; and joined in avenging their comrade; nay; the Greek boys even set up a claim to exercise lordship over the others; and succeeded in gaining the upper hand。 When these things came to the ears of the Pelasgians; they took counsel together; and; on considering the matter; they grew frightened; and said one to another; 〃If these boys even now are resolved to make common cause against the sons of our lawful wives; and seek to exercise lordship over them; what may we expect when they grow up to be men?〃 Then it seemed good to the Pelasgians to kill all the sons of the Attic women; which they did accordingly; and at the same time slew likewise their mothers。 From this deed; and that former crime of the Lemnian women; when they slew their husbands in the days of Thoas; it has come to be usual throughout Greece to call wicked actions by the name of 〃Lemnian deeds。〃 When the Pelasgians had thus slain their children and their women; the earth refused to bring forth its fruits for them; and their wives bore fewer children; and their flocks and herds increased more slowly than before; till at last; sore pressed by famine and bereavement; they sent men to Delphi; and begged the god to tell them how they might obtain deliverance from their sufferings。 The Pythoness answered that 〃they must give the Athenians whatever satisfaction they might demand。〃 Then the Pelasgians went to Athens and declared their wish to give the Athenians satisfaction for the wrong which they had done to them。 So the Athenians had a couch prepared in their townhall; and adorned it with the fairest coverlets; and set by its side a table laden with all manner of good things; and then told the Pelasgians they must deliver up their country to them in a similar condition。 The Pelasgians answered and said; 〃When a ship comes with a north wind from your country to ours in a single day; then will we give it up to you。〃 This they said because they knew that what they required was impossible; for Attica lies a long way to the south of Lemnos。 No more passed at that time。 But very many years afterwards; when the Hellespontian Chersonese had been brought under the power of Athens; Miltiades; the son of Cimon; sailed; during the prevalence of the Etesian winds; from Elaeus in the Chersonese to Lemnos; and called on the Pelasgians to quit their island; reminding them of the prophecy which they had supposed it impossible to fulfil。 The people of Hephaestia obeyed the call; but they of Myrina; not acknowledging the Chersonese to be any part of Attica; refused and were besieged and brought over by force。 Thus was Lemnos gained by the Athenians and Miltiades。 The Seventh Book; Entitled POLYMNIA
Now when tidings of the battle that had been fought at Marathon reached the ears of King Darius; the son of Hystaspes; his anger against the Athenians; which had been already roused by their attack upon Sardis; waxed still fiercer; and he became more than ever eager to lead an army against Greece。 Instantly he sent off messengers to make proclamation through the several states that fresh levies were to be raised; and these at an increased rate; while ships; horses; provisions; and transports were likewise to be furnished。 So the men published his commands; and now all Asia was in commotion by the space of three years; while everywhere; as Greece was to be attacked; the best and bravest were enrolled for the service; and had to make their preparations accordingly。 After this; in the fourth year; the Egyptians whom Cambyses had enslaved revolted from the Persians; whereupon Darius was more hot for war than ever; and earnestly desired to march an army against both adversaries。 Now; as he was about to lead forth his levies against Egypt and Athens; a fierce contention for the sovereign power arose among his sons; since the law of the Persians was that a king must not go out with h