the history-第66章

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among　themselves；　they　founded　the　city；　which　is　still　called　by　the　name　then　given　to　it；　Barca。　At　the　same　time　they　endeavoured　to　induce　the　Libyans　to　revolt　from　Cyrene。　Not　long　afterwards　Arcesilaus　made　an　expedition　against　the　Libyans　who　had　received　his　brothers　and　been　prevailed　upon　to　revolt；　and　they；　fearing　his　power；　fled　to　their　countrymen　who　dwelt　towards　the　east。　Arcesilaus　pursued；　and　chased　them　to　a　place　called　Leucon；　which　is　in　Libya；　where　the　Libyans　resolved　to　risk　a　battle。　Accordingly　they　engaged　the　Cyrenaeans；　and　defeated　them　so　entirely　that　as　many　as　seven　thousand　of　their　heavy…armed　were　slain　in　the　fight。　Arcesilaus；　after　this　blow；　fell　sick；　and；　whilst　he　was　under　the　influence　of　a　draught　which　he　had　taken；　was　strangled　by　Learchus；　one　of　his　brothers。　This　Learchus　was　afterwards　entrapped　by　Eryxo；　the　widow　of　Arcesilaus；　and　put　to　death。　　　　　Battus；　Arcesilaus'　son；　succeeded　to　the　kingdom；　a　lame　man；　who　limped　in　his　walk。　Their　late　calamities　now　induced　the　Cyrenaeans　to　send　to　Delphi　and　inquire　of　the　god　what　form　of　government　they　had　best　set　up　to　secure　themselves　prosperity。　The　Pythoness　answered　by　recommending　them　to　fetch　an　arbitrator　from　Mantinea　in　Arcadia。　Accordingly　they　sent；　and　the　Mantineans　gave　them　a　man　named　Demonax；　a　person　of　high　repute　among　the　citizens；　who；　on　his　arrival　at　Cyrene；　having　first　made　himself　acquainted　with　all　the　circumstances；　proceeded　to　enrol　the　people　in　three　tribes。　One　he　made　to　consist　of　the　Theraeans　and　their　vassals；　another　of　the　Peloponnesians　and　Cretans；　and　a　third　of　the　various　islanders。　Besides　this；　he　deprived　the　king　Battus　of　his　former　privileges；　only　reserving　for　him　certain　sacred　lands　and　offices；　while；　with　respect　to　the　powers　which　had　hitherto　been　exercised　by　the　king；　he　gave　them　all　into　the　hands　of　the　people。　　　　　Thus　matters　rested　during　the　lifetime　of　this　Battus；　but　when　his　son　Arcesilaus　came　to　the　throne；　great　disturbance　arose　about　the　privileges。　For　Arcesilaus；　son　of　Battus　the　lame　and　Pheretima；　refused　to　submit　to　the　arrangements　of　Demonax　the　Mantinean；　and　claimed　all　the　powers　of　his　forefathers。　In　the　contention　which　followed　Arcesilaus　was　worsted；　whereupon　he　fled　to　Samos；　while　his　mother　took　refuge　at　Salamis　in　the　island　of　Cyprus。　Salamis　was　at　that　time　ruled　by　Evelthon；　the　same　who　offered　at　Delphi　the　censer　which　is　in　the　treasury　of　the　Corinthians；　a　work　deserving　of　admiration。　Of　him　Pheretima　made　request　that　he　would　give　her　an　army　whereby　she　and　her　son　might　regain　Cyrene。　But　Evelthon；　preferring　to　give　her　anything　rather　than　an　army；　made　her　various　presents。　Pheretima　accepted　them　all；　saying；　as　she　took　them：　〃Good　is　this　too；　O　king！　but　better　were　it　to　give　me　the　army　which　I　crave　at　thy　hands。〃　Finding　that　she　repeated　these　words　each　time　that　he　presented　her　with　a　gift；　Evelthon　at　last　sent　her　a　golden　spindle　and　distaff；　with　the　wool　ready　for　spinning。　Again　she　uttered　the　same　speech　as　before；　whereupon　Evelthon　rejoined…〃These　are　the　gifts　I　present　to　women；　not　armies。〃　　　　　At　Samos；　meanwhile；　Arcesilaus　was　collecting　troops　by　the　promise　of　granting　them　lands。　Having　in　this　way　drawn　together　a　vast　host；　he　sent　to　Delphi　to　consult　the　oracle　about　his　restoration。　The　answer　of　the　Pythoness　was　this：　〃Loxias　grants　thy　race　to　rule　over　Cyrene；　till　four　kings　Battus；　four　Arcesilaus　by　name；　have　passed　away。　Beyond　this　term　of　eight　generations　of　men；　he　warns　you　not　to　seek　to　extend　your　reign。　Thou；　for　thy　part；　be　gentle；　when　thou　art　restored。　If　thou　findest　the　oven　full　of　jars；　bake　not　the　jars；　but　be　sure　to　speed　them　on　their　way。　If；　however；　thou　heatest　the　oven；　then　avoid　the　island　else　thou　wilt　die　thyself；　and　with　thee　the　most　beautiful　bull。〃　　　　　So　spake　the　Pythoness。　Arcesilaus　upon　this　returned　to　Cyrene；　taking　with　him　the　troops　which　he　had　raised　in　Samos。　There　he　obtained　possession　of　the　supreme　power；　whereupon；　forgetful　of　the　oracle；　he　took　proceedings　against　those　who　had　driven　him　into　banishment。　Some　of　them　fled　from　him　and　quitted　the　country　for　good；　others　fell　into　his　hands　and　were　sent　to　suffer　death　in　Cyprus。　These　last　happening　on　their　passage　to　put　in　through　stress　of　weather　at　Cnidus；　the　Cnidians　rescued　them；　and　sent　them　off　to　Thera。　Another　body　found　a　refuge　in　the　great　tower　of　Aglomachus；　a　private　edifice；　and　were　there　destroyed　by　Arcesilaus；　who　heaped　wood　around　the　place；　and　burnt　them　to　death。　Aware；　after　the　deed　was　done；　that　this　was　what　the　Pythoness　meant　when　she　warned　him；　if　he　found　the　jars　in　the　oven；　not　to　bake　them；　he　withdrew　himself　of　his　own　accord　from　the　city　of　Cyrene；　believing　that　to　be　the　island　of　the　oracle；　and　fearing　to　die　as　had　been　prophesied。　Being　married　to　a　relation　of　his　own；　a　daughter　of　Alazir；　at　that　time　king　of　the　Barcaeans；　he　took　up　his　abode　with　him。　At　Barca；　however；　certain　of　the　citizens；　together　with　a　number　of　Cyrenaean　exiles；　recognising　him　as　he　walked　in　the　forum；　killed　him；　they　slew　also　at　the　same　time　Alazir；　his　father…in…law。　So　Arcesilaus；　wittingly　or　unwittingly；　disobeyed　the　oracle；　and　thereby　fulfilled　his　destiny。　　　　　Pheretima；　the　mother　of　Arcesilaus；　during　the　time　that　her　son；　after　working　his　own　ruin；　dwelt　at　Barca；　continued　to　enjoy　all　his　privileges　at　Cyrene；　managing　the　government；　and　taking　her　seat　at　the　council…board。　No　sooner；　however；　did　she　hear　of　the　death　of　her　son　at　Barca；　than　leaving　Cyrene；　she　fled　in　haste　to　Egypt。　Arcesilaus　had　claims　for　service　done　to　Cambyses；　son　of　Cyrus；　since　it　was　by　him　that　Cyrene　was　put　under　the　Persian　yoke；　and　a　rate　of　tribute　agreed　upon。　Pheretima　therefore　went　straight　to　Egypt；　and　presenting　herself　as　a　suppliant　before　Aryandes；　entreated　him　to　avenge　her　wrongs。　Her　son；　she　said；　had　met　his　death　on　account　of　his　being　so　well　affected　towards　the　Medes。　　　　　Now　Aryandes　had　been　made　governor　of　Egypt　by　Cambyses。　He　it　was　who　in　after　times　was　punished　with　death　by　Darius　for　seeking　to　rival　him。　Aware；　by　report　and　also　by　his　own　eyesight；　that　Darius　wished　to　leave　a　memorial　of　himself；　such　as　no　king　had　ever　left　before；　Aryandes　resolved　to　follow　his　example；　and　did　so；　till　he　got　his　reward。　Darius　had　refined　gold　to　the　last　perfection　of　purity　in　order　to　have　coins　struck　of　it：　Aryandes；　in　his　Egyptian　government；　did　the　very　same　with　silver；　so　that　to　this　day　there　is　no　such　pure　silver　anywhere　as　the　Aryandic。　Darius；　when　this　came　to　his　ears；　brought　another　charge；　a　charge　of　rebellion；　against　Aryandes；　and　put　him　to　death。　　　　　At　the　time　of　which　we　are　speaking　Aryandes；　moved　with　compassion　for　Pheretima；　granted　her　all　the　forces　which　there　were　in　Egypt；　both　land　and　sea。　The　command　of　the　army　he　gave　to　Amasis；　a　Maraphian；　while　Badres；　one　of　the　tribe　of　the　Pasargadae；　was　appointed　to　lead　the　fleet。　Before　the　expedition；　however；　left　Egypt；　he　sent　a　herald　to　Barca　to　inquire　who　it　was　that　had　slain　king　Arcesilaus。　The　Barcaeans　replied　〃that　they；　one　and　all；　acknowledged　the　deed…　Arcesilaus　had　done　them　many　and　great　injuries。〃　After　receiving　this　reply；　Aryandes　gave　the　troops　orders　to　march　with　Pheretima。　Such　was　the　cause　which　served　as　a　pretext　for　this　expedition：　its　real　object　was；　I　believe；　the　subjugation　of　Libya。　For　Libya　is　inhabited　by　many　and　various　races；　and　of　these　but　very　few　were　subjects　of　the　Persian　king；　while　by　far　the　larger　number　held　Darius　in　no　manner　of　respect。　　　　　The　Libyans　dwell　in　the　order　which　I　will　now　describe。　Beginning　on　the　side　of　Egypt；　the　first　Libyans　are　the　Adyrmachidae　These　people　have；　in　most　points；　the　same　customs　as　the　Egyptians；　but　use　the　costume　of　the　Libyans。　Their　women　wear　on　each　leg　a　ring　made　of　bronze；　they　let　their　hair　grow　long；　and　when　they　catch　any　vermin　on　their　persons；　bite　it　and　throw　it　away。　In　this　they　differ　from　all　the　other　Libyans。　They　are　also　the　only　tribe　with　whom　the　custom　obtains　of　bringing　all　women　about　to　become　brides　before　the　king；　that　he　may　choose　such　as　are　agreeable　to　him。　The　Adyrmachidae　extend　from　the　borders　of　Egypt　to　the　harbour　called　Port　Plynus。　　　　　Next　to　the　Adyrmachidae　are　the　Gilligammae；　who　inhabit　the　country　westward　as　far　as　the　island　of　Aphrodisias。　Off　this　tract　is　the　island　of　Platea；　which　the　Cyrenaeans　colonised。　Here　too；　upon　the　mainland；　are　Port　Menelaus；　and　Aziris；　where　the　Cyrenaeans　once　lived。　The　Silphium　begins　to　grow　in　this　region；　extending　from　the　island　of　Platea　on　the　one　side　to　the　mouth　of　the　Syrtis　on　the　other。　The　customs　of　the　Gilligammae　are　like　those　of　the　rest　of　their　countrymen。　　　　　The　Asbystae　adjoin　the　Gilligammae　upon　the　west。　They　inhabit　the　regions　above　Cyrene；　but　do　not　reach　to　the　coast；　which　belongs　to　the　Cyrenaeans。　Four…horse　chariots　are　in　more　common　use　among　them　than　among　any　other　Libyans。　In　most　of　their　customs　they　ape　the　manners　of　the　Cyrenaeans。　　　　　Westward　of　the　Asbystae　dwell　the　Auschisae；　who　possess　the　country　above　Barca；　reaching；　however；　to　the　sea　at　the　place　called　Euesperides。　In　the　middle　of　their　territory　is　the　little　tribe　of　the　Cabalians；　which　touches　the　coast　near　Tauchira；　a　city　of　the　Barcaeans。　Their　customs　are　like　those　of　the　Libyans　above　Cyrene。　　　　　The　Nasamonians；　a　numerous　people；　are　the　western　neighbours　of　the　Auschisae。　In　summer　they　leave　their　flocks　and　herds　upon　the　sea…shore；　and　go　up　the　country　to　a　place　called　Augila；　where　they　gather　the　dates　from　the　palms；　which　in　those　parts　grow　thickly；　and　are　of　great　size；　all　of　them　being　of　the　fruit…bearing　kind。　They　also　chase　the　locusts；　and；　when　caught；　dry　them　in　the　sun；　after　which　they　grind　them　to　powder；　and；　sprinkling　this　upon　their　milk；　so　drink　it。　Each　man　among　them　has　several　wives；　in　their　intercourse　with　whom　they　resemble　the　Massagetae。　The　following　are　their　customs　in　the　swearing　of　oaths　and　the　practice　of　augury。　The　man；　as　he　swears；　lays　his　hand　upon　the　tomb　of　some　one　considered　to　have　been　pre…eminently　just　and　good；　and　so　doing　swears　by　his　name。　For　divination　they　betake　themselves　to　the　sepulchres　of　their　own　ancestors；　and；　after　praying；　lie　down　to　sleep　upon　their　graves；　by　the　dreams　which　then　come　to　them　they　guide　their　conduct。　When　they　pledge　their　faith　to　one　another；　each　gives　the　other　to　drink　out　of　his　hand；　if　there　be　no　liquid　to　be　had；　they　take　up　dust　from　the　ground；　and　put　their　tongues　to　it。　　　　　On　the　country　of　the　Nasamonians　borders　that　of　the　Psylli；　who　were　swept　away　under　the　following　circumstances。　The　south…wind　had　blown　for　a　long　time　and　dried　up　all　the　tanks　in　which　their　water　was　stored。　Now　the　whole　region　within　the　Syrtis　is　utterly　devoid　of　springs。　Accordingly　the　Psylli　took　counsel　among　themselves；　and　by　common　consent　made　war　upon　the　southwind…　so　at　least　the　Libyans　say；　I　do　but　repeat　their　words…　they　went　forth　and　reached　the　des