第 159 节
作者:
孤独半圆 更新:2021-02-21 16:06 字数:9322
Sophanes in after times was the following: he was leader of an Athenian army in conjunction with Leagrus; the son of Glaucon; and in a battle with the Edonians near Datum; about the gold…mines there; he was slain; after displaying uncommon bravery。 As soon as the Greeks at Plataea had overthrown the barbarians; a woman came over to them from the enemy。 She was one of the concubines of Pharandates; the son of Teaspes; a Persian; and when she heard that the Persians were all slain and that the Greeks had carried the day; forthwith she adorned herself and her maids with many golden ornaments; and with the bravest of the apparel that she had brought with her; and; alighting from her litter; came forward to the Lacedaemonians; ere the work of slaughter was well over。 When she saw that all the orders were given by Pausanias; with whose name and country she was well acquainted; as she had oftentimes heard tell of them; she knew who he must be; wherefore she embraced his knees; and said… 〃O king of Sparta! save thy suppliant from the slavery that awaits the captive。 Already I am beholden to thee for one service… the slaughter of these men; wretches who had no regard either for gods or angels。 I am by birth a Coan; the daughter of Hegetoridas; son of Antagoras。 The Persian seized me by force in Cos; and kept me against my will。〃 〃Lady;〃 answered Pausanias; 〃fear nothing: as a suppliant thou art safe… and still more; if thou hast spoken truth; and Hegetoridas of Cos is thy father… for he is bound to me by closer ties of friendship than any other man in those regions。〃 When he had thus spoken; Pausanias placed the woman in the charge of some of the Ephors who were present; and afterwards sent her to Egina; whither she had a desire to go。 About the time of this woman's coming; the Mantineans arrived upon the field; and found that all was over; and that it was too late to take any part in the battle。 Greatly distressed hereat; they declared themselves to deserve a fine; as laggarts; after which; learning that a portion of the Medes had fled away under Artabazus; they were anxious to go after them as far as Thessaly。 The Lacedaemonians however would not suffer the pursuit; so they returned again to their own land; and sent the leaders of their army into banishment。 Soon after the Mantineans; the Eleans likewise arrived; and showed the same sorrow; after which they too returned home; and banished their leaders。 But enough concerning these nations。 There was a man at Plataea among the troops of the Eginetans; whose name was Lampon; he was the son of Pythias; and a person of the first rank among his countrymen。 Now this Lampon went about this same time to Pausanias; and counselled him to do a deed of exceeding wickedness。 〃Son of Cleombrotus;〃 he said very earnestly; 〃what thou hast already done is passing great and glorious。 By the favour of Heaven thou hast saved Greece; and gained a renown beyond all the Greeks of whom we have any knowledge。 Now then so finish thy work; that thine own fame may be increased thereby; and that henceforth barbarians may fear to commit outrages on the Grecians。 When Leonidas was slain at Thermopylae; Xerxes and Mardonius commanded that he should be beheaded and crucified。 Do thou the like at this time by Mardonius; and thou wilt have glory in Sparta; and likewise through the whole of Greece。 For; by hanging him upon a cross; thou wilt avenge Leonidas; who was thy father's brother。〃 Thus spake Lampon; thinking to please Pausanias; but Pausanias answered him… 〃My Eginetan friend; for thy foresight and thy friendliness I am much beholden to thee: but the counsel which thou hast offered is not good。 First hast thou lifted me up to the skies; by thy praise of my country and my achievement; and then thou hast cast me down to the ground; by bidding me maltreat the dead; and saying that thus I shall raise myself in men's esteem。 Such doings befit barbarians rather than Greeks; and even in barbarians we detest them。 On such terms then I could not wish to please the Eginetans; nor those who think as they think enough for me to gain the approval of my own countrymen; by righteous deeds as well as by righteous words。 Leonidas; whom thou wouldst have me avenge; is; I maintain; abundantly avenged already。 Surely the countless lives here taken are enough to avenge not him only; but all those who fell at Thermopylae。 Come not thou before me again with such a speech; nor with such counsel; and thank my forbearance that thou art not now punished。〃 Then Lampon; having received this answer; departed; and went his way。 After this Pausanias caused proclamation to be made; that no one should lay hands on the booty; but that the Helots should collect it and bring it all to one place。 So the Helots went and spread themselves through the camp; wherein were found many tents richly adorned with furniture of gold and silver; many couches covered with plates of the same; and many golden bowls; goblets; and other drinking…vessels。 On the carriages were bags containing silver and golden kettles; and the bodies of the slain furnished bracelets and chains; and scymitars with golden ornaments… not to mention embroidered apparel; of which no one made any account。 The Helots at this time stole many things of much value; which they sold in after times to the Eginetans; however; they brought in likewise no small quantity; chiefly such things as it was not possible for them to hide。 And this was the beginning of the great wealth of the Eginetans; who bought the gold of the Helots as if it had been mere brass。 When all the booty had been brought together; a tenth of the whole was set apart for the Delphian god; and hence was made the golden tripod which stands on the bronze serpent with the three heads; quite close to the altar。 Portions were also set apart for the gods of Olympia; and of the Isthmus; from which were made; in the one case; a bronze Jupiter ten cubits high; and in the other; a bronze Neptune of seven cubits。 After this; the rest of the spoil was divided among the soldiers; each of whom received less or more according to his deserts; and in this way was a distribution made of the Persian concubines; of the gold; the silver; the beasts of burthen; and all the other valuables。 What special gifts were presented to those who had most distinguished themselves in the battle; I do not find mentioned by any one; but I should suppose that they must have had some gifts beyond the others。 As for Pausanias; the portion which was set apart for him consisted of ten specimens of each kind of thing… women; horses; talents; camels; or whatever else there was in the spoil。 It is said that the following circumstance happened likewise at this time。 Xerxes; when he fled away out of Greece; left his war…tent with Mardonius: when Pausanias; therefore; saw the tent with its adornments of gold and silver; and its hangings of divers colours; he gave commandment to the bakers and the cooks to make him ready a banquet in such fashion as was their wont for Mardonius。 Then they made ready as they were bidden; and Pausanius; beholding the couches of gold and silver daintily decked out with their rich covertures; and the tables of gold and silver laid; and the feast itself prepared with all magnificence; was astonished at the good things which were set before him; and; being in a pleasant mood; gave commandment to his own followers to make ready a Spartan supper。 When the suppers were both served; and it was apparent how vast a difference lay between the two; Pausanias laughed; and sent his servants to call to him the Greek generals。 On their coming; he pointed to the two boards; and said:… 〃I sent for you; O Greeks; to show you the folly of this Median captain; who; when he enjoyed such fare as this; must needs come here to rob us of our penury。〃 Such; it is said; were the words of Pausanias to the Grecian generals。 During many years afterwards; the Plataeans used often to find upon the field of battle concealed treasures of gold; and silver; and other valuables。 More recently they likewise made discovery of the following: the flesh having all fallen away from the bodies of the dead; and their bones having been gathered together into one place; the Plataeans found a skull without any seam; made entirely of a single bone; likewise a jaw; both the upper bone and the under; wherein all the teeth; front and back; were joined together and made of one bone; also; the skeleton of a man not less than five cubits in height。 The body of Mardonius disappeared the day after the battle; but who it was that stole it away I cannot say with certainty。 I have heard tell of a number of persons; and those too of many different nations; who are said to have given him burial; and I know that many have received large sums on this score from Artontes the son of Mardonius: but I cannot discover with any certainty which of them it was who really took the body away; and buried it。 Among others; Dionysophanes; an Ephesian; is rumoured to have been the actual person。 The Greeks; after sharing the booty upon the field of Plataea; proceeded to bury their own dead; each nation apart from the rest。 The Lacedaemonians made three graves; in one they bur