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s。 Nor were they even content thus； but at the last they laid a plot； and were caught by the Athenians in the act of making an attempt upon their city。 Then did the Athenians give a proof how much better men they were than the Pelasgians； for whereas they might justly have killed them all； having caught them in the very act of rebelling； the； spared their lives； and only required that they should leave the country。 Hereupon the Pelasgians quitted Attica； and settled in Lemnos and other places。〃 Such are the accounts respectively of Hecataeus and the Athenians。 These same Pelasgians； after they were settled in Lemnos； conceived the wish to be revenged on the Athenians。 So； as they were well acquainted with the Athenian festivals； they manned some penteconters； and having laid an ambush to catch the Athenian women as they kept the festival of Diana at Brauron； they succeeded in carrying off a large number； whom they took to Lemnos and there kept as concubines。 After a while the women bore children； whom they taught to speak the language of Attica and observe the manners of the Athenians。 These boys refused to have any commerce with the sons of the Pelasgian women； and if a Pelasgian boy struck one of their number； they all made common cause； and joined in avenging their comrade； nay； the Greek boys even set up a claim to exercise lordship over the others； and succeeded in gaining the upper hand。 When these things came to the ears of the Pelasgians； they took counsel together； and； on considering the matter； they grew frightened； and said one to another； 〃If these boys even now are resolved to make common cause against the sons of our lawful wives； and seek to exercise lordship over them； what may we expect when they grow up to be men？〃 Then it seemed good to the Pelasgians to kill all the sons of the Attic women； which they did accordingly； and at the same time slew likewise their mothers。 From this deed； and that former crime of the Lemnian women； when they slew their husbands in the days of Thoas； it has come to be usual throughout Greece to call wicked actions by the name of 〃Lemnian deeds。〃 When the Pelasgians had thus slain their children and their women； the earth refused to bring forth its fruits for them； and their wives bore fewer children； and their flocks and herds increased more slowly than before； till at last； sore pressed by famine and bereavement； they sent men to Delphi； and begged the god to tell them how they might obtain deliverance from their sufferings。 The Pythoness answered that 〃they must give the Athenians whatever satisfaction they might demand。〃 Then the Pelasgians went to Athens and declared their wish to give the Athenians satisfaction for the wrong which they had done to them。 So the Athenians had a couch prepared in their townhall； and adorned it with the fairest coverlets； and set by its side a table laden with all manner of good things； and then told the Pelasgians they must deliver up their country to them in a similar condition。 The Pelasgians answered and said； 〃When a ship comes with a north wind from your country to ours in a single day； then will we give it up to you。〃 This they said because they knew that what they required was impossible； for Attica lies a long way to the south of Lemnos。 No more passed at that time。 But very many years afterwards； when the Hellespontian Chersonese had been brought under the power of Athens； Miltiades； the son of Cimon； sailed； during the prevalence of the Etesian winds； from Elaeus in the Chersonese to Lemnos； and called on the Pelasgians to quit their island； reminding them of the prophecy which they had supposed it impossible to fulfil。 The people of Hephaestia obeyed the call； but they of Myrina； not acknowledging the Chersonese to be any part of Attica； refused and were besieged and brought over by force。 Thus was Lemnos gained by the Athenians and Miltiades。 The Seventh Book； Entitled POLYMNIA
Now when tidings of the battle that had been fought at Marathon reached the ears of King Darius； the son of Hystaspes； his anger against the Athenians； which had been already roused by their attack upon Sardis； waxed still fiercer； and he became more than ever eager to lead an army against Greece。 Instantly he sent off messengers to make proclamation through the several states that fresh levies were to be raised； and these at an increased rate； while ships； horses； provisions； and transports were likewise to be furnished。 So the men published his commands； and now all Asia was in commotion by the space of three years； while everywhere； as Greece was to be attacked； the best and bravest were enrolled for the service； and had to make their preparations accordingly。 After this； in the fourth year； the Egyptians whom Cambyses had enslaved revolted from the Persians； whereupon Darius was more hot for war than ever； and earnestly desired to march an army against both adversaries。 Now； as he was about to lead forth his levies against Egypt and Athens； a fierce contention for the sovereign power arose among his sons； since the law of the Persians was that a king must not go out with his army； until he has appointed one to succeed him upon the throne。 Darius； before he obtained the kingdom； had had three sons born to him from his former wife； who was a daughter of Gobryas； while； since he began to reign； Atossa； the daughter of Cyrus； had borne him four。 Artabazanes was the eldest of the first family； and Xerxes of the second。 These two； therefore； being the sons of different mothers； were now at variance。 Artabazanes claimed the crown as the eldest of all the children； because it was an established custom all over the world for the eldest to have the pre…eminence； while Xerxes； on the other hand； urged that he was sprung from Atossa； the daughter of Cyrus； and that it was Cyrus who had won the Persians their freedom。 Before Darius had pronounced on the matter； it happened that Demaratus； the son of Ariston； who had been deprived of his crown at Sparta； and had afterwards； of his own accord； gone into banishment； came up to Susa； and there heard of the quarrel of the princes。 Hereupon； as report says； he went to Xerxes； and advised him； in addition to all that he had urged before； to plead… that at the time when he was born Darius was already king； and bore rule over the Persians； but when Artabazanes came into the world； he was a mere private person。 It would therefore be neither right nor seemly that the crown should go to another in preference to himself。 〃For at Sparta；〃 said Demaratus； byway of suggestion； 〃the law is that if a king has sons before he comes to the throne； and another son is born to him afterwards； the child so born is heir to his father's kingdom。〃 Xerxes followed this counsel； and Darius； persuaded that he had justice on his side； appointed him his successor。 For my own part I believe that； even without this； the crown would have gone to Xerxes； for Atossa was all…powerful。 Darius； when he had thus appointed Xerxes his heir； was minded to lead forth his armies； but he was prevented by death while his preparations were still proceeding。 He died in the year followi