others, and those the more numerous body, set out in pursuit of the
enemy.
Oeobazus fled into Thrace; but there the Apsinthian Thracians
seized him, and offered him, after their wonted fashion, to
Pleistorus, one of the gods of their country. His companions they
likewise put to death, but in a different manner. As for Artayctes,
and the troops with him, who had been the last to leave the town, they
were overtaken by the Greeks, not far from Aegospotami, and defended
themselves stoutly for a time, but were at last either killed or taken
prisoners. Those whom they made prisoners the Greeks bound with
chains, and brought with them to Sestos. Artayctes and his son were
among the number.
Now the Chersonesites relate that the following prodigy befell one
of the Greeks who guarded the captives. He was broiling upon a fire
some salted fish, when of a sudden they began to leap and quiver, as
if they had been only just caught. Hereat, the rest of the guards
hurried round to look, and were greatly amazed at the sight.
Artayctes, however, beholding the prodigy, called the man to him,
and said-
"Fear not, Athenian stranger, because of this marvel. It has not
appeared on thy account, but on mine. Protesilaus of Elaeus has sent
it to show me, that albeit he is dead and embalmed with salt, he has
power from the gods to chastise his injurer. Now then I would fain
acquit my debt to him thus. For the riches which I took from his
temple, I will fix my fine at one hundred talents- while for myself
and this boy of mine, I will give the Athenians two hundred talents,
on condition that they will spare our lives."
Such were the promises of Artayctes; but they failed to persuade
Xanthippus. For the men of Elaeus, who wished to avenge Protesilaus,
entreated that he might be put to death; and Xanthippus himself was of
the same mind. So they led Artayctes to the tongue of land where the
bridges of Xerxes had been fixed- or, according to others, to the
knoll above the town of Madytus; and, having nailed him to a board,
they left him hanging thereupon. As for the son of Artayctes, him they
stoned to death before his eyes.
This done, they sailed back to Greece, carrying with them, besides
other treasures, the shore cables from the bridges of Xerxes, which
they wished to dedicate in their temples. And this was all that took
place that year.
It was the grandfather of the Artayctes, one Artembares by name,
who suggested to the Persians a proposal which they readily
embraced, and thus urged upon Cyrus:- "Since Jove," they said, "has
overthrown Astyages, and given the rule to the Persians, and to thee
chiefly, O Cyrus! come now, let us quit this land wherein we dwell-
for it is a scant land and a rugged- and let us choose ourselves
some other better country. Many such lie around us, some nearer,
some further off: if we take one of these, men will admire us far more
than they do now. Who that had the power would not so act? And when
shall we have a fairer time than now, when we are lords of so many
nations, and rule all Asia?" Then Cyrus, who did not greatly esteem
the counsel, told them,- "they might do so, if they liked- but he
warned them not to expect in that case to continue rulers, but to
prepare for being ruled by others- soft countries gave birth to soft
men- there was no region which produced very delightful fruits, and at
the same time men of a warlike spirit." So the Persians departed
with altered minds, confessing that Cyrus was wiser than they; and
chose rather to dwell in a churlish land, and exercise lordship,
than to cultivate plains, and be the slaves of others.


THE END