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ed down； and setting one of the gates slightly ajar； questioned him who he was； and on what errand he had come。 He replied that he was Zopyrus； and had deserted to them from the Persians。 Then the doorkeepers； when they heard this； carried him at once before the Magistrates。 Introduced into the assembly； he began to bewail his misfortunes； telling them that Darius had maltreated him in the way they could see； only because he had given advice that the siege should be raised； since there seemed no hope of taking the city。 〃And now；〃 he went on to say； 〃my coming to you； Babylonians； will prove the greatest gain that you could possibly receive； while to Darius and the Persians it will be the severest loss。 Verily he by whom I have been so mutilated shall not escape unpunished。 And truly all the paths of his counsels are known to me。〃 Thus did Zopyrus speak。 The Babylonians； seeing a Persian of such exalted rank in so grievous a plight； his nose and ears cut off； his body red with marks of scourging and with blood； had no suspicion but that he spoke the truth； and was really come to be their friend and helper。 They were ready； therefore； to grant him anything that he asked； and on his suing for a command； they entrusted to him a body of troops； with the help of which he proceeded to do as he had arranged with Darius。 On the tenth day after his flight he led out his detachment； and surrounding the thousand men； whom Darius according to agreement had sent first； he fell upon them and slew them all。 Then the Babylonians； seeing that his deeds were as brave as his words； were beyond measure pleased； and set no bounds to their trust。 He waited； however； and when the next period agreed on had elapsed； again with a band of picked men he sallied forth； and slaughtered the two thousand。 After this second exploit； his praise was in all mouths。 Once more； however； he waited till the interval appointed had gone by； and then leading the troops to the place where the four thousand were； he put them also to the sword。 This last victory gave the finishing stroke to his power； and made him all in all with the Babylonians： accordingly they committed to him the command of their whole army； and put the keys of their city into his hands。 Darius now； still keeping to the plan agreed upon； attacked the walls on every side； whereupon Zopyrus played out the remainder of his stratagem。 While the Babylonians； crowding to the walls； did their best to resist the Persian assault； he threw open the Cissian and the Belian gates； and admitted the enemy。 Such of the Babylonians as witnessed the treachery； took refuge in the temple of Jupiter Belus； the rest； who did not see it； kept at their posts； till at last they too learnt that they were betrayed。 Thus was Babylon taken for the second time。 Darius having become master of the place； destroyed the wall； and tore down all the gates； for Cyrus had done neither the one nor the other when he took Babylon。 He then chose out near three thousand of the leading citizens； and caused them to be crucified； while he allowed the remainder still to inhabit the city。 Further； wishing to prevent the race of the Babylonians from becoming extinct； he provided wives for them in the room of those whom （as I explained before） they strangled； to save their stores。 These he levied from the nations bordering on Babylonia； who were each required to send so large a number to Babylon； that in all there were collected no fewer than fifty thousand。 It is from these women that the Babylonians of our times are sprung。 As for Zopyrus； he was considered by Darius to have surpassed； in the greatness of his achievements； all other Persians； whether of former or of later times； except only Cyrus… with whom no Persian ever yet thought himself worthy to compare。 Darius； as the story goes； would often say that 〃he had rather Zopyrus were unmaimed； than be master of twenty more Babylons。〃 And he honoured Zopyrus greatly； year by year he presented him with all the gifts which are held in most esteem among the Persians； he gave him likewise the government of Babylon for his life； free from tribute； and he also granted him many other favours。 Megabyzus； who held the command in Egypt against the Athenians and their allies； was a son of this Zopyrus。 And Zopyrus； who fled from Persia to Athens； was a son of this Megabyzus。 The Fourth Book； Entitled MELPOMENE
After the taking of Babylon； an expedition was led by Darius into Scythia。 Asia abounding in men； and vast sums flowing into the treasury； the desire seized him to exact vengeance from the Scyths； who had once in days gone by invaded Media； defeated those who met them in the field； and so begun the quarrel。 During the space of eight…and…twenty years； as I have before mentioned； the Scyths continued lords of the whole of Upper Asia。 They entered Asia in pursuit of the Cimmerians； and overthrew the empire of the Medes； who till they came possessed the sovereignty。 On their return to their homes after the long absence of twenty…eight years； a task awaited them little less troublesome than their struggle with the Medes。 They found an army of no small size prepared to oppose their entrance。 For the Scythian women； when they saw that time went on； and their husbands did not come back； had intermarried with their slaves。 Now the Scythians blind all their slaves； to use them in preparing their milk。 The plan they follow is to thrust tubes made of bone； not unlike our musical pipes； up the vulva of the mare； and then to blow into the tubes with their mouths； some milking while the others blow。 They say that they do this because when the veins of the animal are full of air； the udder is forced down。 The milk thus obtained is poured into deep wooden casks； about which the blind slaves are placed； and then the milk is stirred round。 That which rises to the top is drawn off； and considered the best part； the under portion is of less account。 Such is the reason why the Scythians blind all those whom they take in war； it arises from their not being tillers of the ground； but a pastoral race。 When therefore the children sprung from these slaves and the Scythian women grew to manhood； and understood the circumstances of their birth； they resolved to oppose the army which was returning from Media。 And； first of all； they cut off a tract of country from the rest of Scythia by digging a broad dyke from the Tauric mountains to the vast lake of the Maeotis。 Afterwards； when the Scythians tried to force an entrance； they marched out and engaged them。 Many battles were fought； and the Scythians gained no advantage； until at last one of them thus addressed the remainder： 〃What are we doing； Scythians？ We are fighting our slaves； diminishing our own number when we fall； and the number of those that belong to us when they fall by our hands。 Take my advice… lay spear and bow aside； and let each man fetch his horsewhip； and go boldly up to them。 So long as they see us with arms in our hands； they imagine themselves our equals in birth and bravery； but let them behold us with no other weapon but the whip； and they will feel that they are our slaves；