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the history-第116章

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ose remained unaccomplished。 They therefore resolved to shrink from no contrivance that might bring them success; and accordingly they contracted with the Amphictyons to build the temple which now stands at Delphi; but which in those days did not exist。 Having done this; they proceeded; being men of great wealth and members of an ancient and distinguished family; to build the temple much more magnificently than the plan obliged them。 Besides other improvements; instead of the coarse stone whereof by the contract the temple was to have been constructed; they made the facings of Parian marble。     These same men; if we may believe the Athenians; during their stay at Delphi persuaded the Pythoness by a bribe to tell the Spartans; whenever any of them came to consult the oracle; either on their own private affairs or on the business of the state; that they must free Athens。 So the Lacedaemonians; when they found no answer ever returned to them but this; sent at last Anchimolius; the son of Aster… a man of note among their citizens… at the head of an army against Athens; with orders to drive out the Pisistratidae; albeit they were bound to them by the closest ties of friendship。 For they esteemed the things of heaven more highly than the things of men。 The troops went by sea and were conveyed in transports。 Anchimolius brought them to an anchorage at Phalerum; and there the men disembarked。 But the Pisistratidae; who had previous knowledge of their intentions; had sent to Thessaly; between which country and Athens there was an alliance; with a request for aid。 The Thessalians; in reply to their entreaties; sent them by a public vote 1000 horsemen; under the command of their king; Cineas; who was a Coniaean。 When this help came; the Pisistratidae laid their plan accordingly: they cleared the whole plain about Phalerum so as to make it fit for the movements of cavalry; and then charged the enemy's camp with their horse; which fell with such fury upon the Lacedaemonians as to kill numbers; among the rest Anchimolius; the general; and to drive the remainder to their ships。 Such was the fate of the first army sent from Lacedaemon; and the tomb of Anchimolius may be seen to this day in Attica; it is at Alopecae (Foxtown); near the temple of Hercules in Cynosargos。     Afterwards; the Lacedaemonians despatched a larger force against Athens; which they put under the command of Cleomenes; son of Anaxandridas; one of their kings。 These troops were not sent by sea; but marched by the mainland。 When they were come into Attica; their first encounter was with the Thessalian horse; which they shortly put to flight; killing above forty men; the remainder made good their escape; and fled straight to Thessaly。 Cleomenes proceeded to the city; and; with the aid of such of the Athenians as wished for freedom; besieged the tyrants; who had shut themselves up in the Pelasgic fortress。     And now there had been small chance of the Pisistratidae falling into the hands of the Spartans; who did not even design to sit down before the place; which had moreover been well provisioned beforehand with stores both of meat and drink;… nay; it is likely that after a few days' blockade the Lacedaemonians would have quitted Attica altogether; and gone back to Sparta… had not an event occurred most unlucky for the besieged; and most advantageous for the besiegers。 The children of the Pisistratidae were made prisoners; as they were being removed out of the country。 By this calamity all their plans were deranged; and…as the ransom of their children… they consented to the demands of the Athenians; and agreed within five days' time to quit Attica。 Accordingly they soon afterwards left the country; and withdrew to Sigeum on the Scamander; after reigning thirty…six years over the Athenians。 By descent they were Pylians; of the family of the Neleids; to which Codrus and Melanthus likewise belonged; men who in former times from foreign settlers became kings of Athens。 And hence it was that Hippocrates came to think of calling his son Pisistratus: he named him after the Pisistratus who was a son of Nestor。 Such then was the mode in which the Athenians got quit of their tyrants。 What they did and suffered worthy of note from the time when they gained their freedom until the revolt of Ionia from King Darius; and the coming of Aristagoras to Athens with a request that the Athenians would lend the Ionians aid; I shall now proceed to relate。     The power of Athens had been great before; but; now that the tyrants were gone; it became greater than ever。 The chief authority was lodged with two persons; Clisthenes; of the family of the Alcmaeonids; who is said to have been the persuader of the Pythoness; and Isagoras; the son of Tisander; who belonged to a noble house; but whose pedigree I am not able to trace further。 Howbeit his kinsmen offer sacrifice to the Carian Jupiter。 These two men strove together for the mastery; and Clisthenes; finding himself the weaker; called to his aid the common people。 Hereupon; instead of the four tribes among which the Athenians had been divided hitherto; Clisthenes made ten tribes; and parcelled out the Athenians among them。 He likewise changed the names of the tribes; for whereas they had till now been called after Geleon; Aegicores; Argades; and Hoples; the four sons of Ion; Clisthenes set these names aside; and called his tribes after certain other heroes; all of whom were native; except Ajax。 Ajax was associated because; although a foreigner; he was a neighbour and an ally of Athens。     My belief is that in acting thus he did but imitate his maternal grandfather; Clisthenes; king of Sicyon。 This king; when he was at war with Argos; put an end to the contests of the rhapsodists at Sicyon; because in the Homeric poems Argos and the Argives were so constantly the theme of song。 He likewise conceived the wish to drive Adrastus; the son of Talaus; out of his country; seeing that he was an Argive hero。 For Adrastus had a shrine at Sicyon; which yet stands in the market…place of the town。 Clisthenes therefore went to Delphi; and asked the oracle if he might expel Adrastus。 To this the Pythoness is reported to have answered… 〃Adrastus is the Sicyonians' king; but thou art only a robber。〃 So when the god would not grant his request; he went home and began to think how he might contrive to make Adrastus withdraw of his own accord。 After a while he hit upon a plan which he thought would succeed。 He sent envoys to Thebes in Boeotia; and informed the Thebans that he wished to bring Melanippus; the son of Astacus; to Sicyon。 The Thebans consenting; Clisthenes carried Melanippus back with him; assigned him a precinct within the government…house; and built him a shrine there in the safest and strongest part。 The reason for his so doing (which I must not forbear to mention) was because Melanippus was Adrastus' great enemy; having slain both his brother Mecistes and his son…in…law Tydeus。 Clisthenes; after assigning the precinct to Melanippus; took away from Adrastus the sacrifices and festivals wherewith he had till then been honoured; and transferred them to his adversary。 Hitherto the Sicyonians had paid extraordinary honours to Adrastus; because the country had
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