第 160 节
作者:孤独半圆      更新:2021-02-21 16:06      字数:9322
  eir own dead; each nation apart from the rest。 The Lacedaemonians made three graves; in one they buried their youths; among whom were Posidonius; Amompharetus; Philocyon; and Callicrates;… in another; the rest of the Spartans; and in the third; the Helots。 Such was their mode of burial。 The Tegeans buried all their dead in a single grave; as likewise did the Athenians theirs; and the Megarians and Phliasians those who were slain by the horse。 These graves; then; had bodies buried in them: as for the other tombs which are to be seen at Plataea; they were raised; as I understand; by the Greeks whose troops took no part in the battle; and who; being ashamed of themselves; erected empty barrows upon the field; to obtain credit with those who should come after them。 Among others; the Eginetans have a grave there; which goes by their name; but which; as I learn; was made ten years later by Cleades; the son of Autodicus; a Plataean; at the request of the Eginetans; whose。 agent he was。     After the Greeks had buried their dead at Plataea;' they presently held a council; whereat it was resolved to make war upon Thebes; and to require that those who had joined the Medes should be delivered into their hands。 Two men; who had been the chief leaders on the occasion; were especially named… to wit; Timagenidas and Attaginus。 If the Thebans should refuse to give these men up; it was determined to lay siege to their city; and never stir from before it till it should surrender。 After this resolve; the army marched upon Thebes; and having demanded the men; and been refused; began the siege; laying waste the country all around; and making assaults upon the wall in divers places。     When twenty days were gone by; and the violence of the Greeks did not slacken; Timagenidas thus bespake his countrymen…     〃Ye men of Thebes; since the Greeks have so decreed; that they will never desist from the siege till either they take Thebes or we are delivered to them; we would not that the land of Boeotia should suffer any longer on our behalf。 If it be money that they in truth desire; and their demand of us be no more than a pretext; let money from the treasury of the state be given them; for the state; and not we alone; embraced the cause of the Medes。 If; however; they really want our persons; and on that account press this siege; we are ready to be delivered to them and to stand our trial。〃     The Thebans thought this offer very right and seasonable; wherefore; they despatched a herald without any delay to Pausanias; and told him they were willing to deliver up the men。     As soon as an agreement had been concluded upon these terms; Attaginus made his escape from the city; his sons; however; were surrendered in his place; but Pausanias refused to hold them guilty; since children (he said) could have had part in such an offence。 The rest of those whom the Thebans gave up had expected to obtain a trial; and in that case their trust was to escape by means of bribery; but Pausanias; afraid of this; dismissed at once the whole army of allies; and took the men with him to Corinth; where he slew them all。 Such were the events which happened at Plataea and at Thebes。     Artabazus; the son of Pharnaces; who fled away from Plataea; was soon far sped on his journey。 When he reached Thessaly; the inhabitants received him hospitably; and made inquiries of him concerning the rest of the army; since they were still altogether ignorant of what had taken place at Plataea: whereupon the Persian; knowing well that; if he told them the truth; he would run great risk of perishing himself; together with his whole army… for if the facts were once blazoned abroad; all who learnt them would be sure to fall upon him… the Persian; I say; considering this; as he had before kept all secret from the Phocians; so now answered the Thessalians after the following fashion:…     〃I myself; Thessalians; am hastening; as ye see; into Thrace; and I am fain to use all possible despatch; as I am sent with this force on special business from the main army。 Mardonius and his host are close behind me; and may be looked for shortly。 When he comes; receive him as ye have received me; and show him every kindness。 Be sure ye will never hereafter regret it; if ye so do。〃     With these words he took his departure; and marched his troops at their best speed through Thessaly and Macedon straight upon Thrace; following the inland route; which was the shortest; and; in good truth; using all possible dispatch。 He himself succeeded in reaching Byzantium; but a great part of his army perished upon the road… many being cut to pieces by the Thracians; and others dying from hunger and excess of toil。 From Byzantium Artabazus set sail; and crossed the strait; returning into Asia in the manner which has been here described。     On the same day that the blow was struck at Plataea; another defeat befell the Persians at Mycale in Ionia。 While the Greek fleet under Leotychides the Lacedaemonian was still lying inactive at Delos; there arrived at that place an embassy from Samos; consisting of three men; Lampon the son of Thrasycles; Athenagoras the son of Archestratidas; and Hegesistratus the son of Aristagoras。 The Samians had sent them secretly; concealing their departure both from the Persians and from their own tyrant Theomestor; the son of Androdamas; whom the Persians had made ruler of Samos。 When the ambassadors came before the Greek captains Hegesistratus took the word; and urged them with many and various arguments; saying; 〃that the Ionians only needed to see them arrive in order to revolt from the Persians; and that the Persians would never abide their coming; or if they did; 'twould be to offer them the finest booty that they could anywhere expect to gain;〃 while at the same time he made appeal to the gods of their common worship; and besought them to deliver from bondage a Grecian race; and withal to drive back the barbarians。 〃This;〃 he said; 〃might very easily be done; for the Persian ships were bad sailers; and far from a match for theirs;〃 adding; moreover; 〃that if there was any suspicion lest the Samians intended to deal treacherously; they were themselves ready to become hostages; and to return on board the ships of their allies to Asia。〃     When the Samian stranger continued importunately beseeching him; Leotychides; either because he wanted an omen; or by a mere chance; as God guided him; asked the man… 〃Samian stranger! prithee; tell me thy name?〃 〃Hegesistratus (army…leader);〃 answered the other; and might have said more; but Leotychides stopped him by exclaiming… 〃I accept; O Samian! the omen which thy name affords。 Only; before thou goest back; swear to us; thyself and thy brother…envoys; that the Samians will indeed be our warm; friends and allies。〃     No sooner had he thus spoken than he proceeded to hurry forward the business。 The Samians pledged their faith upon the spot; and oaths of alliance were exchanged between them and the Greeks。 This done; two of the ambassadors forthwith sailed away; as for Hegesistratus; Leotychides kept him to accompany his own fleet; for he considered his name to be a good omen。 The Greeks abode where they were that day; and on the morrow sacrificed; and found the victims favourable。 Their soothsayer was Deiphonus; the son of Evenius; a man of Apollonia… I mean the Apollonia which lies upon the Ionian Gulf。     A strange thing happened to this man's father; Evenius。 The Apolloniats have a flock of sheep sacred to the sun。 During the daytime these sheep graze along the banks of the river which flows from Mount Lacmon through their territory and empties itself into the sea by the port of Oricus; while at night they are guarded by the richest and noblest of the citizens; who are chosen to serve the office; and who keep the watch each for one year。 Now the Apolloniats set great store by these sheep; on account of an oracle which they received concerning them。 The place where they are folded at night is a cavern; a long way from the town。 Here it happened that Evenius; when he was chosen to keep the watch; by some accident fell asleep upon his guard; and while he slept; the cave was entered by wolves; which destroyed some sixty of the flock under his care。 Evenius; when he woke and found what had occurred; kept silence about it and told no one; for he thought to buy other sheep and put them in the place of the slain。 But the matter came to the ears of the Apolloniats; who forthwith brought Evenius to trial; and condemned him to lose his eyes; because he had gone to sleep upon his post。 Now when Evenius was blinded; straightway the sheep had no young; and the land ceased to bear its wonted harvests。 Then the Apolloniats sent to Dodona; and to Delphi; and asked the prophets; what had caused the woes which so afflicted them。 The answer which they received was this… 〃The woes were come for Evenius; the guardian of the sacred sheep; whom the Apolloniats had wrongfully deprived of sight。 They (the gods) had themselves sent the wolves; nor would they ever cease to exact vengeance for Evenius; till the Apolloniats made him whatever atonement he liked to ask。 When this was paid; they would likewise give him a gift; which would make many men call him blessed。〃     Such was the te