the history-第114部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


rally　through　Greece；　of　a　different　tenor。　Xerxes；　it　is　said；　before　he　set　forth　on　his　expedition　against　Greece；　sent　a　herald　to　Argos；　who　on　his　arrival　spoke　as　follows：　〃Men　of　Argos；　King　Xerxes　speaks　thus　to　you。　We　Persians　deem　that　the　Perses　from　whom　we　descend　was　the　child　of　Perseus　the　son　of　Danae；　and　of　Andromeda　the　daughter　of　Cepheus。　Hereby　it　would　seem　that　we　come　of　your　stock　and　lineage。　So　then　it　neither　befits　us　to　make　war　upon　those　from　whom　we　spring；　nor　can　it　be　right　for　you　to　fight；　on　behalf　of　others；　against　us。　Your　place　is　to　keep　quiet　and　hold　yourself　aloof。　Only　let　matters　proceed　as　I　wish；　and　there　is　no　people　whom　I　shall　have　in　higher　esteem　than　you。〃　　　　　This　address；　says　the　story；　was　highly　valued　by　the　Argives；　who　therefore　at　the　first　neither　gave　a　promise　to　the　Greeks　nor　yet　put　forward　a　demand。　Afterwards；　however；　when　the　Greeks　called　upon　them　to　give　their　aid；　they　made　the　claim　which　has　been　mentioned；　because　they　knew　well　that　the　Lacedaemonians　would　never　yield　it；　and　so　they　would　have　a　pretext　for　taking　no　part　in　the　war。　　　　　Some　of　the　Greeks　say　that　this　account　agrees　remarkably　with　what　happened　many　years　afterwards。　Callias；　the　son　of　Hipponicus；　and　certain　others　with　him；　had　gone　up　to　Susa；　the　city　of　Memnon；　as　ambassadors　of　the　Athenians；　upon　a　business　quite　distinct　from　this。　While　they　were　there；　it　happened　that　the　Argives　likewise　sent　ambassadors　to　Susa；　to　ask　Artaxerxes；　the　son　of　Xerxes；　〃if　the　friendship　which　they　had　formed　with　his　father　still　continued；　or　if　he　looked　upon　them　as　his　enemies？〃…　to　which　King　Artaxerxes　replied；　〃Most　certainly　it　continues；　and　there　is　no　city　which　I　reckon　more　my　friend　than　Argos。〃　　　　　For　my　own　part　I　cannot　positively　say　whether　Xerxes　did　send　the　herald　to　Argos　or　not；　nor　whether　Argive　ambassadors　at　Susa　did　really　put　this　question　to　Artaxerxes　about　the　friendship　between　them　and　him；　neither　do　I　deliver　any　opinion　hereupon　other　than　that　of　the　Argives　themselves。　This；　however；　I　know…　that　if　every　nation　were　to　bring　all　its　evil　deeds　to　a　given　place；　in　order　to　make　an　exchange　with　some　other　nation；　when　they　had　all　looked　carefully　at　their　neighbours'　faults；　they　would　be　truly　glad　to　carry　their　own　back　again。　So；　after　all；　the　conduct　of　the　Argives　was　not　perhaps　more　disgraceful　than　that　of　others。　For　myself；　my　duty　is　to　report　all　that　is　said；　but　I　am　not　obliged　to　believe　it　all　alike…　a　remark　which　may　be　understood　to　apply　to　my　whole　History。　Some　even　go　so　far　as　to　say　that　the　Argives　first　invited　the　Persians　to　invade　Greece；　because　of　their　ill　success　in　the　war　with　Lacedaemon；　since　they　preferred　anything　to　the　smart　of　their　actual　sufferings。　Thus　much　concerning　the　Argives。　　　　　Other　ambassadors；　among　whom　was　Syagrus　from　Lacedaemon；　were　sent　by　the　allies　into　Sicily；　with　instructions　to　confer　with　Gelo。　　　　　The　ancestor　of　this　Gelo；　who　first　settled　at　Gela；　was　a　native　of　the　isle　of　Telos；　which　lies　off　Triopium。　When　Gela　was　colonised　by　Antiphemus　and　the　Lindians　of　Rhodes；　he　likewise　took　part　in　the　expedition。　In　course　of　time　his　descendants　became　the　high…priests　of　the　gods　who　dwell　below…　an　office　which　they　held　continually；　from　the　time　that　Telines；　one　of　Gelo's　ancestors；　obtained　it　in　the　way　which　I　will　now　mention。　Certain　citizens　of　Gela；　worsted　in　a　sedition；　had　found　a　refuge　at　Mactorium；　a　town　situated　on　the　heights　above　Gela。　Telines　reinstated　these　men；　without　any　human　help；　solely　by　means　of　the　sacred　rites　of　these　deities。　From　whom　he　received　them；　or　how　he　himself　acquired　them；　I　cannot　say；　but　certain　it　is　that　relying　on　their　power　he　brought　the　exiles　back。　For　this　his　reward　was　to　be　the　office　of　high…priest　of　those　gods　for　himself　and　his　seed　for　ever。　It　surprises　me　especially　that　such　a　feat　should　have　been　performed　by　Telines；　for　I　have　always　looked　upon　acts　of　this　nature　as　beyond　the　abilities　of　common　men；　and　only　to　be　achieved　by　such　as　are　of　a　bold　and　manly　spirit；　whereas　Telines　is　said　by　those　who　dwell　about　Sicily　to　have　been　a　soft…hearted　and　womanish　person。　He　however　obtained　this　office　in　the　manner　above　described。　　　　　Afterwards；　on　the　death　of　Cleander　the　son　of　Pantares；　who　was　slain　by　Sabyllus；　a　citizen　of　Gela；　after　he　had　held　the　tyranny　for　seven　years；　Hippocrates；　Cleander's　brother；　mounted　the　throne。　During　his　reign；　Gelo；　a　descendant　of　the　high…priest　Telines；　served　with　many　others…　of　whom　Aenesidemus；　son　of　Pataicus；　was　one…　in　the　king's　bodyguard。　Within　a　little　time　his　merit　caused　him　to　be　raised　to　the　command　of　all　the　horse。　For　when　Hippocrates　laid　siege　to　Callipolis；　and　afterwards　to　Naxos；　to　Zancle；　to　Leontini；　and　moreover　to　Syracuse；　and　many　cities　of　the　barbarians；　Gelo　in　every　war　distinguished　himself　above　all　the　combatants。　Of　the　various　cities　above　named；　there　was　none　but　Syracuse　which　was　not　reduced　to　slavery。　The　Syracusans　were　saved　from　this　fate；　after　they　had　suffered　defeat　on　the　river　Elorus；　by　the　Corinthians　and　Corcyraeans；　who　made　peace　between　them　and　Hippocrates；　on　condition　of　their　ceding　Camarina　to　him；　for　that　city　anciently　belonged　to　Syracuse。　　　　　When；　however；　Hippocrates；　after　a　reign　of　the　same　length　as　that　of　Cleander　his　brother；　perished　near　the　city　Hybla；　as　he　was　warring　with　the　native　Sicilians；　then　Gelo；　pretending　to　espouse　the　cause　of　the　two　sons　of　Hippocrates；　Eucleides　and　Cleander；　defeated　the　citizens　who　were　seeking　to　recover　their　freedom；　and　having　so　done；　set　aside　the　children；　and　himself　took　the　kingly　power。　After　this　piece　of　good　fortune；　Gelo　likewise　became　master　Syracuse；　in　the　following　manner。　The　Syracusan　landholders；　as　they　were　called；　had　been　driven　from　their　city　by　the　common　people　assisted　by　their　own　slaves；　the　Cyllyrians；　and　had　fled　to　Casmenae。　Gelo　brought　them　back　to　Syracuse；　and　so　got　possession　of　the　town；　for　the　people　surrendered　themselves；　and　gave　up　their　city　on　his　approach。　　　　　Being　now　master　of　Syracuse；　Gelo　cared　less　to　govern　Gela；　which　he　therefore　entrusted　to　his　brother　Hiero；　while　he　strengthened　the　defences　of　his　new　city；　which　indeed　was　now　all　in　all　to　him。　And　Syracuse　sprang　up　rapidly　to　power　and　became　a　flourishing　place。　For　Gelo　razed　Camarina　to　the　ground；　and　brought　all　the　inhabitants　to　Syracuse；　and　made　them　citizens；　he　also　brought　thither　more　than　half　the　citizens　of　Gela；　and　gave　them　the　same　rights　as　the　Camarinaeans。　So　likewise　with　the　Megarians　of　Sicily…　after　besieging　their　town　and　forcing　them　to　surrender；　he　took　the　rich　men；　who；　having　made　the　war；　looked　now　for　nothing　less　than　death　at　his　hands；　and　carrying　them　to　Syracuse；　established　them　there　as　citizens；　while　the　common　people；　who；　as　they　had　not　taken　any　share　in　the　struggle；　felt　secure　that　no　harm　would　be　done　to　them；　he　carried　likewise　to　Syracuse；　where　he　sold　them　all　as　slaves　to　be　conveyed　abroad。　He　did　the　like　also　by　the　Euboeans　of　Sicily；　making　the　same　difference。　His　conduct　towards　both　nations　arose　from　his　belief　that　a　〃people〃　was　a　most　unpleasant　companion。　In　this　way　Gelo　became　a　great　king。　　　　　When　the　Greek　envoys　reached　Syracuse；　and　were　admitted　to　an　audience；　they　spoke　as　follows…　　　　　〃We　have　been　sent　hither　by　the　Lacedaemonians　and　Athenians；　with　their　respective　allies；　to　ask　thee　to　join　us　against　the　barbarian。　Doubtless　thou　hast　heard　of　his　invasion；　and　art　aware　that　a　Persian　is　about　to　throw　a　bridge　over　the　Hellespont；　and；　bringing　with　him　out　of　Asia　all　the　forces　of　the　East；　to　carry　war　into　Greece…　professing　indeed　that　he　only　seeks　to　attack　Athens；　but　really　bent　on　bringing　all　the　Greeks　into　subjection。　Do　thou　therefore；　we　beseech　thee；　aid　those　who　would　maintain　the　freedom　of　Greece；　and　thyself　assist　to　free　her；　since　the　power　which　thou　wieldest　is　great；　and　thy　portion　in　Greece；　as　lord　of　Sicily；　is　no　small　one。　For　if　all　Greece　join　together　in　one；　there　will　be　a　mighty　host　collected；　and　we　shall　be　a　match　for　our　assailants；　but　if　some　turn　traitors；　and　others　refuse　their　aid；　and　only　a　small　part　of　the　whole　body　remains　sound；　then　there　is　reason　to　fear　that　all　Greece　may　perish。　For　do　not　thou　cherish　a　hope　that　the　Persian；　when　he　has　conquered　our　country；　will　be　content　and　not　advance　against　thee。　Rather　take　thy　measures　beforehand；　and　consider　that　thou　defendest　thyself　when　thou　givest　aid　to　us。　Wise　counsels；　be　sure；　for　the　most　part　have　prosperous　issues。〃　　　　　Thus　spake　the　envoys；　and　Gelo　replied　with　vehemence：…　　　　　〃Greeks；　ye　have　had　the　face　to　come　here　with　selfish　words；　and　exhort　me　to　join　in　league　with　you　against　the　barbarian。　Yet　when　I　erewhile　asked　you　to　join　with　me　in　fighting　barbarians；　what　time　the　quarrel　broke　out　between　me　and　Carthage；　and　when　I　earnestly　besought　you　to　revenge　on　the　men　of　Egesta　their　murder　of　Dorieus；　the　son　of　Anaxandridas；　promising　to　assist　you　in　setting　free　the　trading　places　from　which　you　receive　great　profits　and　advantages；　you　neither　came　hither　to　give　me　succour；　nor　yet　to　revenge　Dorieus；　but；　for　any　efforts　on　your　part　to　hinder　it；　these　countries　might　at　this　time　have　been　entirely　under　the　barbarians。　Now；　however；　that　matters　have　prospered　and　gone　well　with　me；　while　the　danger　has　shifted　its　ground　and　at　present　threatens　yourselves；　lo！　you　call　Gelo　to　mind。　But　though　ye　slighted　me　then；　I　will　not　imitate　you　now：　I　am　ready　to　give　you　aid；　and　to　furnish　as　my　contribution　two　hundred　triremes；　twenty　thousand　men…at…arms；　two　thousand　cavalry；　and　an　equal　number　of　archers；　slingers；　and　light　horsemen；　together　with　corn　for　the　whole　Grecian　army　so　long　as　the　war　shall　last。　These　services；　however；　I　promise　on　one　condition…　that　ye　appoint　me　chief　captain　and　commander　of　the　Grecian　forces　during　the　war　with　the　barbarian。　Unless　ye　agree　to　this；　I　will　neither　send　succours；　nor　come　myself。〃　　　　　Syagrus；　when　he　hea