Erato   

lookers-on; whereupon Leotychides, who was now king in his room, sent
a servant to him and asked him, by way of insult and mockery, "how
it felt to be a magistrate after one had been a king?" Demaratus,
who was hurt at the question, made answer- "Tell him I have tried them
both, but he has not. Howbeit this speech will be the cause to
Sparta of infinite blessings or else of infinite woes." Having thus
spoken he wrapped his head in his robe, and, leaving the theatre, went
home to his own house, where he prepared an ox for sacrifice, and
offered it to Jupiter, after which he called for his mother.
When she appeared, he took of the entrails, and placing them in
her hand, besought her in these words following:-
"Dear mother, I beseech you, by all the gods, and chiefly by our
own hearth-god Jupiter, tell me the very truth, who was really my
father. For Leotychides, in the suit which we had together, declared
that when thou becamest Ariston's wife thou didst already bear in
thy womb a child by thy former husband, and others repeat a yet more
disgraceful tale, that our groom found favour in thine eyes, and
that I am his son. I entreat thee therefore by the gods to tell me the
truth. For if thou hast gone astray, thou hast done no more than
many a woman; and the Spartans remark it as strange, if I am Ariston's
son, that he had no children by his other wives."
Thus spake Demaratus; and his mother replied as follows: "Dear
son, since thou entreatest so earnestly for the truth, it shall indeed
be fully told to thee. When Ariston brought me to his house, on the
third night after my coming, there appeared to me one like to Ariston,
who, after staying with me a while, rose, and taking the garlands from
his own brows placed them upon my head, and so went away. Presently
after Ariston entered, and when he saw the garlands which I still
wore, asked me who gave them to me. I said, 'twas he; but this he
stoutly denied; whereupon I solemnly swore that it was none other, and
told him he did not do well to dissemble when he had so lately risen
from my side and left the garlands with me. Then Ariston, when he
heard my oath, understood that there was something beyond nature in
what had taken place. And indeed it appeared that the garlands had
come from the hero-temple which stands by our court gates- the
temple of him they call Astrabacus- and the soothsayers, moreover,
declared that the apparition was that very person. And now, my son,
I have told thee all thou wouldest fain know. Either thou art the
son of that hero- either thou mayest call Astrabacus sire; or else
Ariston was thy father. As for that matter which they who hate thee
urge the most, the words of Ariston, who, when the messenger told
him of thy birth, declared before many witnesses that 'thou wert not
his son, forasmuch as the ten months were not fully out,' it was a
random speech, uttered from mere ignorance. The truth is, children are
born not only at ten months, but at nine, and even at seven. Thou wert
thyself, my son, a seven months' child. Ariston acknowledged, no
long time afterwards, that his speech sprang from thoughtlessness.
Hearken not then to other tales concerning thy birth, my son: for be
assured thou hast the whole truth. As for grooms, pray Heaven
Leotychides and all who speak as he does may suffer wrong from
them!" Such was the mother's answer.
Demaratus, having learnt all that he wished to know, took with him
provision for the journey, and went into Elis, pretending that he
purposed to proceed to Delphi, and there consult the oracle. The
Lacedaemonians, however, suspecting that he meant to fly his
country, sent men in pursuit of him; but Demaratus hastened, and
leaving Elis before they arrived, sailed across to Zacynthus. The
Lacedaemonians followed, and sought to lay hands upon him, and to
separate him from his retinue; but the Zacynthians would not give
him up to them: so he escaping, made his way afterwards by sea to
Asia, and presented himself before King Darius, who received him
generously, and gave him both lands and cities. Such was the chance
which drove Demaratus to Asia, a man distinguished among the
Lacedaemonians for many noble deeds and wise counsels, and who alone