the history-第79章

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！


dings　came　to　Onesilus；　the　Salaminian；　who　was　still　besieging　Amathus；　that　a　certain　Artybius；　a　Persian；　was　looked　for　to　arrive　in　Cyprus　with　a　great　Persian　armament。　So　Onesilus；　when　the　news　reached　him；　sent　off　heralds　to　all　parts　of　Ionia；　and　besought　the　Ionians　to　give　him　aid。　After　brief　deliberation；　these　last　in　full　force　passed　over　into　the　island；　and　the　Persians　about　the　same　time　crossed　in　their　ships　from　Cilicia；　and　proceeded　by　land　to　attack　Salamis；　while　the　Phoenicians；　with　the　fleet；　sailed　round　the　promontory　which　goes　by　the　name　of　〃the　Keys　of　Cyprus。〃　　　　　In　this　posture　of　affairs　the　princes　of　Cyprus　called　together　the　captains　of　the　Ionians；　and　thus　addressed　them：…　　　　　〃Men　of　Ionia；　we　Cyprians　leave　it　to　you　to　choose　whether　you　will　fight　with　the　Persians　or　with　the　Phoenicians。　If　it　be　your　pleasure　to　try　your　strength　on　land　against　the　Persians；　come　on　shore　at　once；　and　array　yourselves　for　the　battle；　we　will　then　embark　aboard　your　ships　and　engage　the　Phoenicians　by　sea。　If；　on　the　other　hand；　ye　prefer　to　encounter　the　Phoenicians；　let　that　be　your　task：　only　be　sure；　whichever　part　you　choose；　to　acquit　yourselves　so　that　Ionia　and　Cyprus；　so　far　as　depends　on　you；　may　preserve　their　freedom。〃　　　　　The　Ionians　made　answer…　〃The　commonwealth　of　Ionia　sent　us　here　to　guard　the　sea；　not　to　make　over　our　ships　to　you；　and　engage　with　the　Persians　on　shore。　We　will　therefore　keep　the　post　which　has　been　assigned　to　us；　and　seek　therein　to　be　of　some　service。　Do　you；　remembering　what　you　suffered　when　you　were　the　slaves　of　the　Medes；　behave　like　brave　warriors。〃　　　　　Such　was　the　reply　of　the　Ionians。　Not　long　afterwards　the　Persians　advanced　into　the　plain　before　Salamis；　and　the　Cyprian　kings　ranged　their　troops　in　order　of　battle　against　them；　placing　them　so　that　while　the　rest　of　the　Cyprians　were　drawn　up　against　the　auxiliaries　of　the　enemy；　the　choicest　troops　of　the　Salaminians　and　the　Solians　were　set　to　oppose　the　Persians。　At　the　same　time　Onesilus；　of　his　own　accord；　took　post　opposite　to　Artybius；　the　Persian　general。　　　　　Now　Artybius　rode　a　horse　which　had　been　trained　to　rear　up　against　a　foot…soldier。　Onesilus；　informed　of　this；　called　to　him　his　shield…bearer；　who　was　a　Carian　by　nation；　a　man　well　skilled　in　war；　and　of　daring　courage；　and　thus　addressed　him：…　〃I　hear；〃　he　said；　〃that　the　horse　which　Artybius　rides；　rears　up　and　attacks　with　his　fore　legs　and　teeth　the　man　against　whom　his　rider　urges　him。　Consider　quickly　therefore　and　tell　me　which　wilt　thou　undertake　to　encounter；　the　steed　or　the　rider？〃　Then　the　squire　answered　him；　〃Both；　my　liege；　or　either；　am　I　ready　to　undertake；　and　there　is　nothing　that　I　will　shrink　from　at　thy　bidding。　But　I　will　tell　thee　what　seems　to　me　to　make　most　for　thy　interests。　As　thou　art　a　prince　and　a　general；　I　think　thou　shouldest　engage　with　one　who　is　himself　both　a　prince　and　also　a　general。　For　then；　if　thou　slayest　thine　adversary；　'twill　redound　to　thine　honour；　and　if　he　slays　thee　（which　may　Heaven　forefend！）；　yet　to　fall　by　the　hand　of　a　worthy　foe　makes　death　lose　half　its　horror。　To　us；　thy　followers；　leave　his　war…horse　and　his　retinue。　And　have　thou　no　fear　of　the　horse's　tricks。　I　warrant　that　this　is　the　last　time　he　will　stand　up　against　any　one。〃　　　　　Thus　spake　the　Carian；　and　shortly　after；　the　two　hosts　joined　battle　both　by　sea　and　land。　And　here　it　chanced　that　by　sea　the　Ionians；　who　that　day　fought　as　they　have　never　done　either　before　or　since；　defeated　the　Phoenicians；　the　Samians　especially　distinguishing　themselves。　Meanwhile　the　combat　had　begun　on　land；　and　the　two　armies　were　engaged　in　a　sharp　struggle；　when　thus　it　fell　out　in　the　matter　of　the　generals。　Artybius；　astride　upon　his　horse；　charged　down　upon　Onesilus；　who；　as　he　had　agreed　with　his　shield…bearer；　aimed　his　blow　at　the　rider；　the　horse　reared　and　placed　his　fore　feet　upon　the　shield　of　Onesilus；　when　the　Carian　cut　at　him　with　a　reaping…hook；　and　severed　the　two　legs　from　the　body。　The　horse　fell　upon　the　spot；　and　Artybius；　the　Persian　general；　with　him。　　　　　In　the　thick　of　the　fight；　Stesanor；　tyrant　of　Curium；　who　commanded　no　inconsiderable　body　of　troops；　went　over　with　them　to　the　enemy。　On　this　desertion　of　the　Curians…　Argive　colonists；　if　report　says　true…　forthwith　the　war…chariots　of　the　Salaminians　followed　the　example　set　them；　and　went　over　likewise；　whereupon　victory　declared　in　favour　of　the　Persians；　and　the　army　of　the　Cyprians　being　routed；　vast　numbers　were　slain；　and　among　them　Onesilus；　the　son　of　Chersis；　who　was　the　author　of　the　revolt；　and　Aristocyprus；　king　of　the　Solians。　This　Aristocyprus　was　son　of　Philocyprus；　whom　Solon　the　Athenian；　when　he　visited　Cyprus；　praised　in　his　poems　beyond　all　other　sovereigns。　　　　　The　Amathusians；　because　Onesilus　had　laid　siege　to　their　town；　cut　the　head　off　his　corpse；　and　took　it　with　them　to　Amathus；　where　it　was　set　up　over　the　gates。　Here　it　hung　till　it　became　hollow；　whereupon　a　swarm　of　bees　took　possession　of　it；　and　filled　it　with　a　honeycomb。　On　seeing　this　the　Amathusians　consulted　the　oracle；　and　were　commanded　〃to　take　down　the　head　and　bury　it；　and　thenceforth　to　regard　Onesilus　as　a　hero；　and　offer　sacrifice　to　him　year　by　year；　so　it　would　go　the　better　with　them。〃　And　to　this　day　the　Amathusians　do　as　they　were　then　bidden。　　　　　As　for　the　Ionians　who　had　gained　the　sea…fight；　when　they　found　that　the　affairs　of　Onesilus　were　utterly　lost　and　ruined；　and　that　siege　was　laid　to　all　the　cities　of　Cyprus　excepting　Salamis；　which　the　inhabitants　had　surrendered　to　Gorgus；　the　former　king；　forthwith　they　left　Cyprus；　and　sailed　away　home。　Of　the　cities　which　were　besieged；　Soli　held　out　the　longest：　the　Persians　took　it　by　undermining　the　wall　in　the　fifth　month　from　the　beginning　of　the　siege。　　　　　Thus；　after　enjoying　a　year　of　freedom；　the　Cyprians　were　enslaved　for　the　second　time。　Meanwhile　Daurises；　who　was　married　to　one　of　the　daughters　of　Darius；　together　with　Hymeas；　Otanes；　and　other　Persian　captains；　who　were　likewise　married　to　daughters　of　the　king；　after　pursuing　the　Ionians　who　had　fought　at　Sardis；　defeating　them；　and　driving　them　to　their　ships；　divided　their　efforts　against　the　different　cities；　and　proceeded　in　succession　to　take　and　sack　each　one　of　them。　　　　　Daurises　attacked　the　towns　upon　the　Hellespont；　and　took　in　as　many　days　the　five　cities　of　Dardanus；　Abydos；　Percote；　Lampsacus；　and　Paesus。　From　Paesus　he　marched　against　Parium；　but　on　his　way　receiving　intelligence　that　the　Carians　had　made　common　cause　with　the　Ionians；　and　thrown　off　the　Persian　yoke；　he　turned　round；　and；　leaving　the　Hellespont；　marched　away　towards　Caria。　　　　　The　Carians　by　some　chance　got　information　of　this　movement　before　Daurises　arrived；　and　drew　together　their　strength　to　a　place　called　〃the　White　Columns；〃　which　is　on　the　river　Marsyas；　a　stream　running　from　the　Idrian　country；　and　emptying　itself　into　the　Maeander。　Here　when　they　were　met；　many　plans　were　put　forth；　but　the　best；　in　my　judgment；　was　that　of　Pixodarus；　the　son　of　Mausolus；　a　Cindyan；　who　was　married　to　a　daughter　of　Syennesis；　the　Cilician　king。　His　advice　was　that　the　Carians　should　cross　the　Maeander；　and　fight　with　the　river　at　their　back；　that　so；　all　chance　of　flight　being　cut　off；　they　might　be　forced　to　stand　their　ground；　and　have　their　natural　courage　raised　to　a　still　higher　pitch。　His　opinion；　however；　did　not　prevail；　it　was　thought　best　to　make　the　enemy　have　the　Maeander　behind　them；　that　so；　if　they　were　defeated　in　the　battle　and　put　to　flight；　they　might　have　no　retreat　open；　but　be　driven　headlong　into　the　river。　　　　　The　Persians　soon　afterwards　approached；　and；　crossing　the　Maeander；　engaged　the　Carians　upon　the　banks　of　the　Marsyas；　where　for　a　long　time　the　battle　was　stoutly　contested；　but　at　last　the　Carians　were　defeated；　being　overpowered　by　numbers。　On　the　side　of　the　Persians　there　fell　2000；　while　the　Carians　had　not　fewer　than　10；000　slain。　Such　as　escaped　from　the　field　of　battle　collected　together　at　Labranda；　in　the　vast　precinct　of　Jupiter　Stratius…　a　deity　worshipped　only　by　the　Carians…　and　in　the　sacred　grove　of　plane…trees。　Here　they　deliberated　as　to　the　best　means　of　saving　themselves；　doubting　whether　they　would　fare　better　if　they　gave　themselves　up　to　the　Persians；　or　if　they　abandoned　Asia　for　ever。　　　　　As　they　were　debating　these　matters　a　body　of　Milesians　and　allies　came　to　their　assistance；　whereupon　the　Carians；　dismissing　their　former　thoughts；　prepared　themselves　afresh　for　war；　and　on　the　approach　of　the　Persians　gave　them　battle　a　second　time。　They　were　defeated；　however；　with　still　greater　loss　than　before；　and　while　all　the　troops　engaged　suffered　severely；　the　blow　fell　with　most　force　on　the　Milesians。　　　　　The　Carians；　some　while　after；　repaired　their　ill　fortune　in　another　action。　Understanding　that　the　Persians　were　about　to　attack　their　cities；　they　laid　an　ambush　for　them　on　the　road　which　leads　to　Pedasus；　the　Persians；　who　were　making　a　night…march；　fell　into　the　trap；　and　the　whole　army　was　destroyed；　together　with　the　generals；　Daurises；　Amorges；　and　Sisimaces：　Myrsus　too；　the　son　of　Gyges；　was　killed　at　the　same　time。　The　leader　of　the　ambush　was　Heraclides；　the　son　of　Ibanolis；　a　man　of　Mylasa。　Such　was　the　way　in　which　these　Persians　perished。　　　　　In　the　meantime　Hymeas；　who　was　likewise　one　of　those　by　whom　the　Ionians　were　pursued　after　their　attack　on　Sardis；　directing　his　course　towards　the　Propontis；　took　Cius；　a　city　of　Mysia。　Learning；　however；　that　Daurises　had　left　the　Hellespont；　and　was　gone　into　Caria；　he　in　his　turn　quitted　the　Propontis；　and　marching　with　the　army　under　his　command　to　the　Hellespont；　reduced　all　the　Aeolians　of　the　Troad；　and　likewise　conquered　the　Gergithae；　a　remnant　of　the　ancient　Teucrians。　He　did　not；　however；　quit　the　Troad；　but；　after　gaining　these　successes；　was　himself　carried　off　by　disease。　　　　　After　his　death；　which　happened　as　have　related；　Artaphernes；　the　satrap　of　Sardis；　and　Otanes；　the　third　general；　were　directed　to　undertake　the　conduct　of　the　war　against　Ionia　and　the　neighbouring　Aeolis。　By　them　Clazomenae　in　the　former；　and　Cyme　in　the　latter；　were　recovered。　　　　　As　the　cities　fell　one　after　another；　Aristagoras　the　Milesian　（who　was　in　truth；　as　he　now　plainly　showed；　a　man　of　but　little　courage）；　notwithstanding　that　it　was　he　who　had　caused　the　disturbances　in　Ionia　and　made　so　great　a　commotion；　began；　seeing　his　danger；　to　look　about　for　means　of　escape。　Being　convinced　that　it　was　in　vain　to　endeavour　to　overcome　King　Darius；　he　called　his　brothers…in…arms　together；　and　laid　before　them　the　following　project：…　〃'Twould　be　well；〃　he　said；　〃to　have　some　place　of　refuge；　in　case　they　were　driven　out　of　Miletus。　Should　he　go　out　at　the　head　of　a　colony　to　Sardinia；　or　should　he　sail　to　Myrcinus　in　Edonia；　which　Histiaeus　had　received　as　a　gift　from　King　Darius；　and　had　begun　to　fortify？〃　　　　　To　this　question　of　Aristagoras；　Hecataeus；　the　historian；　son　of　Hegesander；　made　answer　that　in　his　judgement　neither　place　was　suitable。　〃Aristagoras　should　build　a　fort；〃　he　said；　〃in　the　island　of　Leros；　and；　if　driven　from　Miletus；　should　go　there　and　bide　h