the history-第130部分

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they　ever　wished　in　their　prayers。〃　Adeimantus；　however；　would　not　believe　what　the　men　said；　whereupon　they　told　him　〃he　might　take　them　with　him　as　hostages；　and　put　them　to　death　if　he　did　not　find　the　Greeks　winning。〃　Then　Adeimantus　put　about；　both　he　and　those　who　were　with　him；　and　they　re…joined　the　fleet　when　the　victory　was　already　gained。　Such　is　the　tale　which　the　Athenians　tell　concerning　them　of　Corinth；　these　latter　however　do　not　allow　its　truth。　On　the　contrary；　they　declare　that　they　were　among　those　who　distinguished　themselves　most　in　the　fight。　And　the　rest　of　Greece　bears　witness　in　their　favour。　　　　　In　the　midst　of　the　confusion　Aristides；　the　son　of　Lysimachus；　the　Athenian；　of　whom　I　lately　spoke　as　a　man　of　the　greatest　excellence；　performed　the　following　service。　He　took　a　number　of　the　Athenian　heavy…armed　troops；　who　had　previously　been　stationed　along　the　shore　of　Salamis；　and；　landing　with　them　on　the　islet　of　Psyttaleia；　slew　all　the　Persians　by　whom　it　was　occupied。　　　　　As　soon　as　the　sea…fight　was　ended；　the　Greeks　drew　together　to　Salamis　all　the　wrecks　that　were　to　be　found　in　that　quarter；　and　prepared　themselves　for　another　engagement；　supposing　that　the　king　would　renew　the　fight　with　the　vessels　which　still　remained　to　him。　Many　of　the　wrecks　had　been　carried　away　by　a　westerly　wind　to　the　coast　of　Attica；　where　they　were　thrown　upon　the　strip　of　shore　called　Colias。　Thus　not　only　were　the　prophecies　of　Bacis　and　Musaeus　concerning　this　battle　fulfilled　completely；　but　likewise；　by　the　place　to　which　the　wrecks　were　drifted；　the　prediction　of　Lysistratus；　an　Athenian　soothsayer；　uttered　many　years　before　these　events；　and　quite　forgotten　at　the　time　by　all　the　Greeks；　was　fully　accomplished。　The　words　were…

　　　　Then　shall　the　sight　of　the　oars　fill　Colian　dames　with　　　　　　　amazement。

Now　this　must　have　happened　as　soon　as　the　king　was　departed。　　　　　Xerxes；　when　he　saw　the　extent　of　his　loss；　began　to　be　afraid　lest　the　Greeks　might　be　counselled　by　the　Ionians；　or　without　their　advice　might　determine　to　sail　straight　to　the　Hellespont　and　break　down　the　bridges　there；　in　which　case　he　would　be　blocked　up　in　Europe；　and　run　great　risk　of　perishing。　He　therefore　made　up　his　mind　to　fly；　but；　as　he　wished　to　hide　his　purpose　alike　from　the　Greeks　and　from　his　own　people；　he　set　to　work　to　carry　a　mound　across　the　channel　to　Salamis；　and　at　the　same　time　began　fastening　a　number　of　Phoenician　merchant　ships　together；　to　serve　at　once　for　a　bridge　and　a　wall。　He　likewise　made　many　warlike　preparations；　as　if　he　were　about　to　engage　the　Greeks　once　more　at　sea。　Now；　when　these　things　were　seen；　all　grew　fully　persuaded　that　the　king　was　bent　on　remaining；　and　intended　to　push　the　war　in　good　earnest。　Mardonius；　however；　was　in　no　respect　deceived；　for　long　acquaintance　enabled　him　to　read　all　the　king's　thoughts。　Meanwhile；　Xerxes；　though　engaged　in　this　way；　sent　off　a　messenger　to　carry　intelligence　of　his　misfortune　to　Persia。　　　　　Nothing　mortal　travels　so　fast　as　these　Persian　messengers。　The　entire　plan　is　a　Persian　invention；　and　this　is　the　method　of　it。　Along　the　whole　line　of　road　there　are　men　（they　say）　stationed　with　horses；　in　number　equal　to　the　number　of　days　which　the　journey　takes；　allowing　a　man　and　horse　to　each　day；　and　these　men　will　not　be　hindered　from　accomplishing　at　their　best　speed　the　distance　which　they　have　to　go；　either　by　snow；　or　rain；　or　heat；　or　by　the　darkness　of　night。　The　first　rider　delivers　his　despatch　to　the　second　and　the　second　passes　it　to　the　third；　and　so　it　is　borne　from　hand　to　hand　along　the　whole　line；　like　the　light　in　the　torch…race；　which　the　Greeks　celebrate　to　Vulcan。　The　Persians　give　the　riding　post　in　this　manner；　the　name　of　〃Angarum。〃　　　　　At　Susa；　on　the　arrival　of　the　first　message；　which　said　that　Xerxes　was　master　of　Athens；　such　was　the　delight　of　the　Persians　who　had　remained　behind；　that　they　forthwith　strewed　all　the　streets　with　myrtle　boughs；　and　burnt　incense；　and　fell　to　feasting　and　merriment。　In　like　manner；　when　the　second　message　reached　them；　so　sore　was　their　dismay；　that　they　all　with　one　accord　rent　their　garments；　and　cried　aloud；　and　wept　and　wailed　without　stint。　They　laid　the　blame　of　the　disaster　on　Mardonius；　and　their　grief　on　the　occasion　was　less　on　account　of　the　damage　done　to　their　ships；　than　owing　to　the　alarm　which　they　felt　about　the　safety　of　the　king。　Hence　their　trouble　did　not　cease　till　Xerxes　himself；　by　his　arrival；　put　an　end　to　their　fears。　　　　　And　now　Mardonius；　perceiving　that　Xerxes　took　the　defeat　of　his　fleet　greatly　to　heart；　and　suspecting　that　he　had　made　up　his　mind　to　leave　Athens　and　fly　away；　began　to　think　of　the　likelihood　of　his　being　visited　with　punishment　for　having　persuaded　the　king　to　undertake　the　war。　He　therefore　considered　that　it　would　be　the　best　thing　for　him　to　adventure　further；　and　either　become　the　conqueror　of　Greece…　which　was　the　result　he　rather　expected…　or　else　die　gloriously　after　aspiring　to　a　noble　achievement。　So　with　these　thoughts　in　his　mind；　he　said　one　day　to　the　king：…　　　　　〃Do　not　grieve；　master；　or　take　so　greatly　to　heart　thy　late　loss。　Our　hopes　hang　not　altogether　on　the　fate　of　a　few　planks；　but　on　our　brave　steeds　and　horsemen。　These　fellows；　whom　thou　imaginest　to　have　quite　conquered　us；　will　not　venture…　no；　not　one　of　them…　to　come　ashore　and　contend　with　our　land　army；　nor　will　the　Greeks　who　are　upon　the　mainland　fight　our　troops；　such　as　did　so　have　received　their　punishment。　If　thou　so　pleasest；　we　may　at　once　attack　the　Peloponnese；　if　thou　wouldst　rather　wait　a　while；　that　too　is　in　our　power。　Only　be　not　disheartened。　For　it　is　not　possible　that　the　Greeks　can　avoid　being　brought　to　account；　alike　for　this　and　for　their　former　injuries；　nor　can　they　anyhow　escape　being　thy　slaves。　Thou　shouldst　therefore　do　as　I　have　said。　If；　however；　thy　mind　is　made　up；　and　thou　art　resolved　to　retreat　and　lead　away　thy　army；　listen　to　the　counsel　which；　in　that　case；　I　have　to　offer。　Make　not　the　Persians；　O　king！　a　laughing…stock　to　the　Greeks。　If　thy　affairs　have　succeeded　ill；　it　has　not　been　by　their　fault；　thou　canst　not　say　that　thy　Persians　have　ever　shown　themselves　cowards。　What　matters　it　if　Phoenicians　and　Egyptians；　Cyprians　and　Cilicians；　have　misbehaved？…　their　misconduct　touches　not　us。　Since　then　thy　Persians　are　without　fault；　be　advised　by　me。　Depart　home；　if　thou　art　so　minded；　and　take　with　thee　the　bulk　of　thy　army；　but　first　let　me　choose　out　300；000　troops；　and　let　it　be　my　task　to　bring　Greece　beneath　thy　sway。〃　　　　　Xerxes；　when　he　heard　these　words；　felt　a　sense　of　joy　and　delight；　like　a　man　who　is　relieved　from　care。　Answering　Mardonius；　therefore；　〃that　he　would　consider　his　counsel；　and　let　him　know　which　course　he　might　prefer；〃　Xerxes　proceeded　to　consult　with　the　chief　men　among　the　Persians；　and　because　Artemisia　on　the　former　occasion　had　shown　herself　the　only　person　who　knew　what　was　best　to　be　done；　he　was　pleased　to　summon　her　to　advise　him　now。　As　soon　as　she　arrived；　he　put　forth　all　the　rest；　both　councillors　and　bodyguards；　and　said　to　her：…　　　　　〃Mardonius　wishes　me　to　stay　and　attack　the　Peloponnese。　My　Persians；　he　says；　and　my　other　land　forces；　are　not　to　blame　for　the　disasters　which　have　befallen　our　arms；　and　of　this　he　declares　they　would　very　gladly　give　me　the　proof。　He　therefore　exhorts　me；　either　to　stay　and　act　as　I　have　said；　or　to　let　him　choose　Out　300；000　of　my　troops…　wherewith　he　undertakes　to　reduce　Greece　beneath　my　sway…　while　I　myself　retire　with　the　rest　of　my　forces；　and　withdraw　into　my　own　country。　Do　thou；　therefore；　as　thou　didst　counsel　me　so　wisely　to　decline　the　sea…fight；　now　also　advise　me　in　this　matter；　and　say；　which　course　of　the　twain　I　ought　to　take　for　my　own　good。〃　　　　　Thus　did　the　king　ask　Artemisia's　counsel；　and　the　following　are　the　words　wherewith　she　answered　him：…　　　　　〃'Tis　a　hard　thing；　O　king！　to　give　the　best　possible　advice　to　one　who　asks　our　counsel。　Nevertheless；　as　thy　affairs　now　stand；　it　seemeth　to　me　that　thou　wilt　do　right　to　return　home。　As　for　Mardonius；　if　he　prefers　to　remain；　and　undertakes　to　do　as　he　has　said；　leave　him　behind　by　all　means；　with　the　troops　which　he　desires。　If　his　design　succeeds；　and　he　subdues　the　Greeks；　as　he　promises；　thine　is　the　conquest；　master；　for　thy　slaves　will　have　accomplished　it。　If；　on　the　other　hand；　affairs　run　counter　to　his　wishes；　we　can　suffer　no　great　loss；　so　long　as　thou　art　safe；　and　thy　house　is　in　no　danger。　The　Greeks；　too；　while　thou　livest；　and　thy　house　flourishes；　must　be　prepared　to　fight　full　many　a　battle　for　their　freedom；　whereas　if　Mardonius　fall；　it　matters　nothing…　they　will　have　gained　but　a　poor　triumph…　a　victory　over　one　of　thy　slaves！　Remember　also；　thou　goest　home　having　gained　the　purpose　of　thy　expedition；　for　thou　hast　burnt　Athens！〃　　　　　The　advice　of　Artemisia　pleased　Xerxes　well；　for　she　had　exactly　uttered　his　own　thoughts。　I；　for　my　part；　do　not　believe　that　he　would　have　remained　had　all　his　counsellors；　both　men　and　women；　united　to　urge　his　stay；　so　great　was　the　alarm　that　he　felt。　As　it　was；　he　gave　praise　to　Artemisia；　and　entrusted　certain　of　his　children　to　her　care；　ordering　her　to　convey　them　to　Ephesus；　for　he　had　been　accompanied　on　the　expedition　by　some　of　his　natural　sons。　　　　　He　likewise　sent　away　at　this　time　one　of　the　principal　of　his　eunuchs；　a　man　named　Hermotimus；　a　Pedasian；　who　was　bidden　to　take　charge　of　these　sons。　Now　the　Pedasians　inhabit　the　region　above　Halicarnassus；　and　it　is　related　of　them；　that　in　their　country　the　following　circumstance　happens：　when　a　mischance　is　about　to　befall　any　of　their　neighbours　within　a　certain　time；　the　priestess　of　Minerva　in　their　city　grows　a　long　beard。　This　has　already　taken　place　on　two　occasions。　　　　　The　Hermotimus　of　whom　I　spoke　above　was；　as　I　said；　a　Pedasian；　and　he；　of　all　men　whom　we　know；　took　the　most　cruel　vengeance　on　the　person　who　had　done　him　an　injury。　He　had　been　made　a　prisoner　of　war；　and　when　his　captors　sold　him；　he　was　bought　by　a　certain　Panionius；　a　native　of　Chios；　who　made　his　living　by　a　most　nefarious　traffic。　Whenever　he　could　get　any　boys　of　unusual　beauty；　he　made　them　eu