the history-µÚ75ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
kewise¡¡placed¡¡ten¡¡demes¡¡in¡¡each¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tribes£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡was£»¡¡now¡¡that¡¡the¡¡common¡¡people¡¡took¡¡his¡¡part£»¡¡very¡¡much¡¡more¡¡powerful¡¡than¡¡his¡¡adversaries¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Isagoras¡¡in¡¡his¡¡turn¡¡lost¡¡ground£»¡¡and¡¡therefore£»¡¡to¡¡counter¡plot¡¡his¡¡enemy£»¡¡he¡¡called¡¡in¡¡Cleomenes¡¡the¡¡Lacedaemonian£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡already£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡time¡¡when¡¡he¡¡was¡¡besieging¡¡the¡¡Pisistratidae£»¡¡made¡¡a¡¡contract¡¡of¡¡friendship¡¡with¡¡him¡£¡¡A¡¡charge¡¡is¡¡even¡¡brought¡¡against¡¡Cleomenes¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡on¡¡terms¡¡of¡¡too¡¡great¡¡familiarity¡¡with¡¡Isagoras's¡¡wife¡£¡¡At¡¡this¡¡time¡¡the¡¡first¡¡thing¡¡that¡¡he¡¡did¡¡was¡¡to¡¡send¡¡a¡¡herald¡¡and¡¡require¡¡that¡¡Clisthenes£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡large¡¡number¡¡of¡¡Athenians¡¡besides£»¡¡whom¡¡he¡¡called¡¡¡¨The¡¡Accursed£»¡¨¡¡should¡¡leave¡¡Athens¡£¡¡This¡¡message¡¡he¡¡sent¡¡at¡¡the¡¡suggestion¡¡of¡¡Isagoras£º¡¡for¡¡in¡¡the¡¡affair¡¡referred¡¡to£»¡¡the¡¡blood¡guiltiness¡¡lay¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Alcmaeonidae¡¡and¡¡their¡¡partisans£»¡¡while¡¡he¡¡and¡¡his¡¡friends¡¡were¡¡quite¡¡clear¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡way¡¡in¡¡which¡¡¡¨The¡¡Accursed¡¨¡¡at¡¡Athens¡¡got¡¡their¡¡name£»¡¡was¡¡the¡¡following¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡Athenian¡¡called¡¡Cylon£»¡¡a¡¡victor¡¡at¡¡the¡¡Olympic¡¡Games£»¡¡who¡¡aspired¡¡to¡¡the¡¡sovereignty£»¡¡and¡¡aided¡¡by¡¡a¡¡number¡¡of¡¡his¡¡companions£»¡¡who¡¡were¡¡of¡¡the¡¡same¡¡age¡¡with¡¡himself£»¡¡made¡¡an¡¡attempt¡¡to¡¡seize¡¡the¡¡citadel¡£¡¡But¡¡the¡¡attack¡¡failed£»¡¡and¡¡Cylon¡¡became¡¡a¡¡suppliant¡¡at¡¡the¡¡image¡£¡¡Hereupon¡¡the¡¡Heads¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Naucraries£»¡¡who¡¡at¡¡that¡¡time¡¡bore¡¡rule¡¡in¡¡Athens£»¡¡induced¡¡the¡¡fugitives¡¡to¡¡remove¡¡by¡¡a¡¡promise¡¡to¡¡spare¡¡their¡¡lives¡£¡¡Nevertheless¡¡they¡¡were¡¡all¡¡slain£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡blame¡¡was¡¡laid¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Alcmaeonidae¡£¡¡All¡¡this¡¡happened¡¡before¡¡the¡¡time¡¡of¡¡Pisistratus¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡When¡¡the¡¡message¡¡of¡¡Cleomenes¡¡arrived£»¡¡requiring¡¡Clisthenes¡¡and¡¡¡¨The¡¡Accursed¡¨¡¡to¡¡quit¡¡the¡¡city£»¡¡Clisthenes¡¡departed¡¡of¡¡his¡¡own¡¡accord¡£¡¡Cleomenes£»¡¡however£»¡¡notwithstanding¡¡his¡¡departure£»¡¡came¡¡to¡¡Athens£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡small¡¡band¡¡of¡¡followers£»¡¡and¡¡on¡¡his¡¡arrival¡¡sent¡¡into¡¡banishment¡¡seven¡¡hundred¡¡Athenian¡¡families£»¡¡which¡¡were¡¡pointed¡¡out¡¡to¡¡him¡¡by¡¡Isagoras¡£¡¡Succeeding¡¡here£»¡¡he¡¡next¡¡endeavoured¡¡to¡¡dissolve¡¡the¡¡council£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡put¡¡the¡¡government¡¡into¡¡the¡¡hands¡¡of¡¡three¡¡hundred¡¡of¡¡the¡¡partisans¡¡of¡¡that¡¡leader¡£¡¡But¡¡the¡¡council¡¡resisted£»¡¡and¡¡refused¡¡to¡¡obey¡¡his¡¡orders£»¡¡whereupon¡¡Cleomenes£»¡¡Isagoras£»¡¡and¡¡their¡¡followers¡¡took¡¡possession¡¡of¡¡the¡¡citadel¡£¡¡Here¡¡they¡¡were¡¡attacked¡¡by¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Athenians£»¡¡who¡¡took¡¡the¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡council£»¡¡and¡¡were¡¡besieged¡¡for¡¡the¡¡space¡¡of¡¡two¡¡days£º¡¡on¡¡the¡¡third¡¡day¡¡they¡¡accepted¡¡terms£»¡¡being¡¡allowed¡¡¡at¡¡least¡¡such¡¡of¡¡them¡¡as¡¡were¡¡Lacedaemonians¡¡¡to¡¡quit¡¡the¡¡country¡£¡¡And¡¡so¡¡the¡¡word¡¡which¡¡came¡¡to¡¡Cleomenes¡¡received¡¡its¡¡fulfilment¡£¡¡For¡¡when¡¡he¡¡first¡¡went¡¡up¡¡into¡¡the¡¡citadel£»¡¡meaning¡¡to¡¡seize¡¡it£»¡¡just¡¡as¡¡he¡¡was¡¡entering¡¡the¡¡sanctuary¡¡of¡¡the¡¡goddess£»¡¡in¡¡order¡¡to¡¡question¡¡her£»¡¡the¡¡priestess¡¡arose¡¡from¡¡her¡¡throne£»¡¡before¡¡he¡¡had¡¡passed¡¡the¡¡doors£»¡¡and¡¡said¡¡¡¡¨Stranger¡¡from¡¡Lacedaemon£»¡¡depart¡¡hence£»¡¡and¡¡presume¡¡not¡¡to¡¡enter¡¡the¡¡holy¡¡place¡¡¡it¡¡is¡¡not¡¡lawful¡¡for¡¡a¡¡Dorian¡¡to¡¡set¡¡foot¡¡there¡£¡¨¡¡But¡¡he¡¡answered£»¡¡¡¨Oh£¡¡¡woman£»¡¡I¡¡am¡¡not¡¡a¡¡Dorian£»¡¡but¡¡an¡¡Achaean¡£¡¨¡¡Slighting¡¡this¡¡warning£»¡¡Cleomenes¡¡made¡¡his¡¡attempt£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡he¡¡was¡¡forced¡¡to¡¡retire£»¡¡together¡¡with¡¡his¡¡Lacedaemonians¡£¡¡The¡¡rest¡¡were¡¡cast¡¡into¡¡prison¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Athenians£»¡¡and¡¡condemned¡¡to¡¡die¡¡¡among¡¡them¡¡Timasitheus¡¡the¡¡Delphian£»¡¡of¡¡whose¡¡prowess¡¡and¡¡courage¡¡I¡¡have¡¡great¡¡things¡¡which¡¡I¡¡could¡¡tell¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡So¡¡these¡¡men¡¡died¡¡in¡¡prison¡£¡¡The¡¡Athenians¡¡directly¡¡afterwards¡¡recalled¡¡Clisthenes£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡seven¡¡hundred¡¡families¡¡which¡¡Cleomenes¡¡had¡¡driven¡¡out£»¡¡and£»¡¡further£»¡¡they¡¡sent¡¡envoys¡¡to¡¡Sardis£»¡¡to¡¡make¡¡an¡¡alliance¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Persians£»¡¡for¡¡they¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡war¡¡would¡¡follow¡¡with¡¡Cleomenes¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Lacedaemonians¡£¡¡When¡¡the¡¡ambassadors¡¡reached¡¡Sardis¡¡and¡¡delivered¡¡their¡¡message£»¡¡Artaphernes£»¡¡son¡¡of¡¡Hystaspes£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡at¡¡that¡¡time¡¡governor¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Place£»¡¡inquired¡¡of¡¡them¡¡¡¨who¡¡they¡¡were£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡what¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world¡¡they¡¡dwelt£»¡¡that¡¡they¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡become¡¡allies¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Persians£¿¡¨¡¡The¡¡messengers¡¡told¡¡him£»¡¡upon¡¡which¡¡he¡¡answered¡¡them¡¡shortly¡¡¡that¡¡¡¨if¡¡the¡¡Athenians¡¡chose¡¡to¡¡give¡¡earth¡¡and¡¡water¡¡to¡¡King¡¡Darius£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡conclude¡¡an¡¡alliance¡¡with¡¡them£»¡¡but¡¡if¡¡not£»¡¡they¡¡might¡¡go¡¡home¡¡again¡£¡¨¡¡After¡¡consulting¡¡together£»¡¡the¡¡envoys£»¡¡anxious¡¡to¡¡form¡¡the¡¡alliance£»¡¡accepted¡¡the¡¡terms£»¡¡but¡¡on¡¡their¡¡return¡¡to¡¡Athens£»¡¡they¡¡fell¡¡into¡¡deep¡¡disgrace¡¡on¡¡account¡¡of¡¡their¡¡compliance¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Meanwhile¡¡Cleomenes£»¡¡who¡¡considered¡¡himself¡¡to¡¡have¡¡been¡¡insulted¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Athenians¡¡both¡¡in¡¡word¡¡and¡¡deed£»¡¡was¡¡drawing¡¡a¡¡force¡¡together¡¡from¡¡all¡¡parts¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Peloponnese£»¡¡without¡¡informing¡¡any¡¡one¡¡of¡¡his¡¡object£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡to¡¡revenge¡¡himself¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Athenians£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡establish¡¡Isagoras£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡escaped¡¡with¡¡him¡¡from¡¡the¡¡citadel£»¡¡as¡¡despot¡¡of¡¡Athens¡£¡¡Accordingly£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡large¡¡army£»¡¡he¡¡invaded¡¡the¡¡district¡¡of¡¡Eleusis£»¡¡while¡¡the¡¡Boeotians£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡concerted¡¡measures¡¡with¡¡him£»¡¡took¡¡Oenoe¡¡and¡¡Hysiae£»¡¡two¡¡country¡¡towns¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡frontier£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same¡¡time¡¡the¡¡Chalcideans£»¡¡on¡¡another¡¡side£»¡¡plundered¡¡divers¡¡places¡¡in¡¡Attica¡£¡¡The¡¡Athenians£»¡¡notwithstanding¡¡that¡¡danger¡¡threatened¡¡them¡¡from¡¡every¡¡quarter£»¡¡put¡¡off¡¡all¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Boeotians¡¡and¡¡Chalcideans¡¡till¡¡a¡¡future¡¡time£»¡¡and¡¡marched¡¡against¡¡the¡¡Peloponnesians£»¡¡who¡¡were¡¡at¡¡Eleusis¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡As¡¡the¡¡two¡¡hosts¡¡were¡¡about¡¡to¡¡engage£»¡¡first¡¡of¡¡all¡¡the¡¡Corinthians£»¡¡bethinking¡¡themselves¡¡that¡¡they¡¡were¡¡perpetrating¡¡a¡¡wrong£»¡¡changed¡¡their¡¡minds£»¡¡and¡¡drew¡¡off¡¡from¡¡the¡¡main¡¡army¡£¡¡Then¡¡Demaratus£»¡¡son¡¡of¡¡Ariston£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡himself¡¡king¡¡of¡¡Sparta¡¡and¡¡joint¡leader¡¡of¡¡the¡¡expedition£»¡¡and¡¡who¡¡till¡¡now¡¡had¡¡had¡¡no¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡quarrel¡¡with¡¡Cleomenes£»¡¡followed¡¡their¡¡example¡£¡¡On¡¡account¡¡of¡¡this¡¡rupture¡¡between¡¡the¡¡kings£»¡¡a¡¡law¡¡was¡¡passed¡¡at¡¡Sparta£»¡¡forbidding¡¡both¡¡monarchs¡¡to¡¡go¡¡out¡¡together¡¡with¡¡the¡¡army£»¡¡as¡¡had¡¡been¡¡the¡¡custom¡¡hitherto¡£¡¡The¡¡law¡¡also¡¡provided£»¡¡that£»¡¡as¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡kings¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be¡¡left¡¡behind£»¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Tyndaridae¡¡should¡¡also¡¡remain¡¡at¡¡home£»¡¡whereas¡¡hitherto¡¡both¡¡had¡¡accompanied¡¡the¡¡expeditions£»¡¡as¡¡auxiliaries¡£¡¡So¡¡when¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡the¡¡allies¡¡saw¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Lacedaemonian¡¡kings¡¡were¡¡not¡¡of¡¡one¡¡mind£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Corinthian¡¡troops¡¡had¡¡quitted¡¡their¡¡post£»¡¡they¡¡likewise¡¡drew¡¡off¡¡and¡¡departed¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡This¡¡was¡¡the¡¡fourth¡¡time¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Dorians¡¡had¡¡invaded¡¡Attica£º¡¡twice¡¡they¡¡came¡¡as¡¡enemies£»¡¡and¡¡twice¡¡they¡¡came¡¡to¡¡do¡¡good¡¡service¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Athenian¡¡people¡£¡¡Their¡¡first¡¡invasion¡¡took¡¡place¡¡at¡¡the¡¡period¡¡when¡¡they¡¡founded¡¡Megara£»¡¡and¡¡is¡¡rightly¡¡placed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡reign¡¡of¡¡Codrus¡¡at¡¡Athens£»¡¡the¡¡second¡¡and¡¡third¡¡occasions¡¡were¡¡when¡¡they¡¡came¡¡from¡¡Sparta¡¡to¡¡drive¡¡out¡¡the¡¡Pisistratidae£»¡¡the¡¡fourth¡¡was¡¡the¡¡present¡¡attack£»¡¡when¡¡Cleomenes£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡head¡¡of¡¡a¡¡Peloponnesian¡¡army£»¡¡entered¡¡at¡¡Eleusis¡£¡¡Thus¡¡the¡¡Dorians¡¡had¡¡now¡¡four¡¡times¡¡invaded¡¡Attica¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡So¡¡when¡¡the¡¡Spartan¡¡army¡¡had¡¡broken¡¡up¡¡from¡¡its¡¡quarters¡¡thus¡¡ingloriously£»¡¡the¡¡Athenians£»¡¡wishing¡¡to¡¡revenge¡¡themselves£»¡¡marched¡¡first¡¡against¡¡the¡¡Chalcideans¡£¡¡The¡¡Boeotians£»¡¡however£»¡¡advancing¡¡to¡¡the¡¡aid¡¡of¡¡the¡¡latter¡¡as¡¡far¡¡as¡¡the¡¡Euripus£»¡¡the¡¡Athenians¡¡thought¡¡it¡¡best¡¡to¡¡attack¡¡them¡¡first¡£¡¡A¡¡battle¡¡was¡¡fought¡¡accordingly£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Athenians¡¡gained¡¡a¡¡very¡¡complete¡¡victory£»¡¡killing¡¡a¡¡vast¡¡number¡¡of¡¡the¡¡enemy£»¡¡and¡¡taking¡¡seven¡¡hundred¡¡of¡¡them¡¡alive¡£¡¡After¡¡this£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡very¡¡same¡¡day£»¡¡they¡¡crossed¡¡into¡¡Euboea£»¡¡and¡¡engaged¡¡the¡¡Chalcideans¡¡with¡¡the¡¡like¡¡success£»¡¡whereupon¡¡they¡¡left¡¡four¡¡thousand¡¡settlers¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡lands¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Hippobotae£»¡¡¡which¡¡is¡¡the¡¡name¡¡the¡¡Chalcideans¡¡give¡¡to¡¡their¡¡rich¡¡men¡£¡¡All¡¡the¡¡Chalcidean¡¡prisoners¡¡whom¡¡they¡¡took¡¡were¡¡put¡¡in¡¡irons£»¡¡and¡¡kept¡¡for¡¡a¡¡long¡¡time¡¡in¡¡close¡¡confinement£»¡¡as¡¡likewise¡¡were¡¡the¡¡Boeotians£»¡¡until¡¡the¡¡ransom¡¡asked¡¡for¡¡them¡¡was¡¡paid£»¡¡and¡¡this¡¡the¡¡Athenians¡¡fixed¡¡at¡¡two¡¡minae¡¡the¡¡man¡£¡¡The¡¡chains¡¡wherewith¡¡they¡¡were¡¡fettered¡¡the¡¡Athenians¡¡suspended¡¡in¡¡their¡¡citadel£»¡¡where¡¡they¡¡were¡¡still¡¡to¡¡be¡¡seen¡¡in¡¡my¡¡day£»¡¡hanging¡¡against¡¡the¡¡wall¡¡scorched¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Median¡¡flames£»¡¡opposite¡¡the¡¡chapel¡¡which¡¡faces¡¡the¡¡west¡£¡¡The¡¡Athenians¡¡made¡¡an¡¡offering¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tenth¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ransom¡money£º¡¡and¡¡expended¡¡it¡¡on¡¡the¡¡brazen¡¡chariot¡¡drawn¡¡by¡¡four¡¡steeds£»¡¡which¡¡stands¡¡on¡¡the¡¡left¡¡hand¡¡immediately¡¡that¡¡one¡¡enters¡¡the¡¡gateway¡¡of¡¡the¡¡citadel¡£¡¡The¡¡inscription¡¡runs¡¡as¡¡follows£º¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡When¡¡Chalcis¡¡and¡¡Boeotia¡¡dared¡¡her¡¡might£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Athens¡¡subdued¡¡their¡¡pride¡¡in¡¡valorous¡¡fight£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Gave¡¡bonds¡¡for¡¡insults£»¡¡and£»¡¡the¡¡ransom¡¡paid£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡From¡¡the¡¡full¡¡tenths¡¡these¡¡steeds¡¡for¡¡Pallas¡¡made¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Thus¡¡did¡¡the¡¡Athenians¡¡increase¡¡in¡¡strength¡£¡¡And¡¡it¡¡is¡¡plain¡¡enough£»¡¡not¡¡from¡¡this¡¡instance¡¡only£»¡¡but¡¡from¡¡many¡¡everywhere£»¡¡that¡¡freedom¡¡is¡¡an¡¡excellent¡¡thing¡¡since¡¡even¡¡the¡¡Athenians£»¡¡who£»¡¡while¡¡they¡¡continued¡¡under¡¡the¡¡rule¡¡of¡¡tyrants£»¡¡were¡¡not¡¡a¡¡whit¡¡more¡¡valiant¡¡than¡¡any¡¡of¡¡their¡¡neighbours£»¡¡no¡¡sooner¡¡shook¡¡off¡¡the¡¡yoke¡¡than¡¡they¡¡became¡¡decidedly¡¡the¡¡first¡¡of¡¡all¡£¡¡These¡¡things¡¡show¡¡that£»¡¡while¡¡undergoing¡¡oppression£»¡¡they¡¡let¡¡themselves¡¡be¡¡beaten£»¡¡since¡¡then¡¡they¡¡worked¡¡for¡¡a¡¡master£»¡¡but¡¡so¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡they¡¡got¡¡their¡¡freedom£»¡¡each¡¡man¡¡was¡¡eager¡¡to¡¡do¡¡the¡¡best¡¡he¡¡could¡¡for¡¡himself¡£¡¡So¡¡fared¡¡it¡¡now¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Athenians¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Meanwhile¡¡the¡¡Thebans£»¡¡who¡¡longed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡revenged¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Athenians£»¡¡had¡¡sent¡¡to¡¡the¡¡oracle£»¡¡and¡¡been¡¡told¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Pythoness¡¡that¡¡of¡¡their¡¡own¡¡strength¡¡they¡¡would¡¡be¡¡unable¡¡to¡¡accomplish¡¡their¡¡wish£º¡¡¡¨they¡¡must¡¡lay¡¡the¡¡matter£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨before¡¡the¡¡many¡voiced£»¡¡and¡¡ask¡¡the¡¡aid¡¡of¡¡those¡¡nearest¡¡them¡£¡¨¡¡The¡¡messengers£»¡¡therefore£»¡¡on¡¡their¡¡return£»¡¡called¡¡a¡¡meeting£»¡¡and¡¡laid¡¡the¡¡answer¡¡of¡¡the¡¡oracle¡¡before¡¡the¡¡people£»¡¡who¡¡no¡¡sooner¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡advice¡¡to¡¡¡¨ask¡¡the¡¡aid¡¡of¡¡those¡¡nearest¡¡them¡¨¡¡than¡¡they¡¡exclaimed¡¡¡¡¨What£¡¡¡are¡¡not¡¡they¡¡who¡¡dwell¡¡the¡¡nearest¡¡to¡¡us¡¡the¡¡men¡¡of¡¡Tanagra£»¡¡of¡¡Coronaea£»¡¡and¡¡Thespiae£¿¡¡Yet¡¡these¡¡men¡¡always¡¡fight¡¡on¡¡our¡¡side£»¡¡and¡¡have¡¡aided¡¡us¡¡with¡¡a¡¡good¡¡heart¡¡all¡¡through¡¡the¡¡war¡£¡¡Of¡¡what¡¡use¡¡is¡¡it¡¡to¡¡ask¡¡them£¿¡¡But¡¡maybe¡¡this¡¡is¡¡not¡¡the¡¡true¡¡meaning¡¡of¡¡the¡¡oracle¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡As¡¡they¡¡were¡¡thus¡¡discoursing¡¡one¡¡with¡¡another£»¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡man£»¡¡informed¡¡of¡¡the¡¡debate£»¡¡cried¡¡out¡¡¨Methinks¡¡that¡¡I¡¡understand¡¡what¡¡course¡¡the¡¡oracle¡¡would¡¡recommend¡¡to¡¡us¡£¡¡Asopus£»¡¡they¡¡say£»¡¡had¡¡two¡¡daughters£»¡¡Thebe¡¡and¡¡Egina¡£¡¡The¡¡god¡¡means¡¡that£»¡¡as¡¡these¡¡two¡¡were¡¡sisters£»¡¡we¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡ask¡¡the¡¡Eginetans¡¡to¡¡lend¡¡us¡¡aid¡£¡¨¡¡As¡¡no¡¡one¡¡was¡¡able¡¡to¡¡hit¡¡on¡¡any¡¡better¡¡explanation£»¡¡the¡¡Thebans¡¡forthwith¡¡sent¡¡messengers¡¡to¡¡Egina£»¡¡and£»¡¡according¡¡to¡¡the¡¡advice¡¡of¡¡the¡¡oracle£»¡¡asked¡¡their¡¡aid£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡people¡¡¡¨nearest¡¡to¡¡them¡£¡¨¡¡In¡¡answer¡¡to¡¡this¡¡petition¡¡the¡¡Eginetans¡¡said¡¡that¡¡they¡¡would¡¡give¡¡them¡¡the¡¡Aeacidae¡¡for¡¡helpers¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡Thebans¡¡now£»¡¡relying¡¡on¡¡the¡¡assistance¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Aeacidae£»¡¡ventured¡¡to¡¡renew¡¡the¡¡war£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡met¡¡with¡¡so¡¡rough¡¡a¡¡reception£»¡¡that¡¡they¡¡resolved¡¡to¡¡send¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Eginetans¡¡again£»¡¡returning¡¡the¡¡Aeacidae£»¡¡and¡¡beseeching¡¡them¡¡to¡¡send¡¡some¡¡men¡¡instead¡£¡¡The¡¡Eginetans£»¡¡who¡¡were¡¡at¡¡that¡¡time¡¡a¡¡most¡¡flourishing¡¡people£»¡¡elated¡¡with¡¡their¡¡greatness£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same¡¡time¡¡calling¡¡to¡¡mind¡¡their¡¡ancient¡¡feud¡¡with¡¡Athens£»¡¡agreed¡¡to¡¡lend¡¡the¡¡Thebans¡¡aid£»¡¡and¡¡forthwith¡¡went¡¡to¡¡war¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Athenians£»¡¡without¡¡even¡¡giving¡¡them¡¡notice¡¡by¡¡a¡¡herald¡£¡¡The¡¡attention¡¡of¡¡these¡¡latter¡¡being¡¡engaged¡¡by¡¡the¡¡struggle¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Boeotians£»¡¡the¡¡Eginetans¡¡in¡¡their¡¡ships¡¡of¡¡war¡¡made¡¡descents¡¡upon¡¡Attica£»¡¡plundered¡¡Phalerum£»¡¡and¡¡ravaged¡¡a¡¡vast¡¡number¡¡of¡¡the¡¡townships¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡sea¡board£»¡¡whereby¡¡the¡¡Athenians¡¡suffered¡¡very¡¡grievous¡¡damage¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡ancient¡¡feud¡¡between¡¡the¡¡Eginetans¡¡and¡¡Athenians¡¡arose¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡following¡¡circumstances¡£¡¡Once¡¡upon¡¡a¡¡time¡¡the¡¡land¡¡of¡¡Epidaurus¡¡would¡¡bear¡¡no¡¡crops£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Epidaurians¡¡sent¡¡to¡¡consult¡¡the¡¡oracle¡¡of¡¡Delphi¡¡concerning¡¡their¡¡affliction¡£¡¡The¡¡answer¡¡bade¡¡them¡¡set¡¡up¡¡the¡¡images¡¡of¡¡Damia¡¡and¡¡Auxesia£»¡¡and¡¡promised¡¡them¡¡better¡¡fortune¡¡when¡¡that¡¡should¡¡be¡¡done¡£¡¡¡¨Shall¡¡the¡¡images¡¡be¡¡made¡¡of¡¡bronze¡¡or¡¡stone£¿¡¨¡¡the¡¡Epidaurians¡¡asked£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡Pyt