"women of Sparta, Argos, Athens, and Co

rinth, of whom I have heard fo much. You have, moreover, in the man who healed the "wound of your foot, the properest person in the "world to defcribe and explain to you every "thing which relates to Greece.” "If it be your "wifh," replied Darius, "that I should first make a "military excurfion againft Greece, it will be proper to fend thither previously fome Perfians as fpies, in company with the man to whom you "allude. As foon as they return, and have in"formed me of the refult of their obfervations, "I will proceed against Greece."

CXXXV. Darius having delivered his fentiments, no time was loft in fulfilling them. As foon as the morning appeared he fent for fifteen Perfians of approved reputation, and commanded them, in company with Democedes, to examine every part of the fea-coast of Greece, enjoining them to be very watchful of Democedes, and by all means to bring him back with them. When he had done this, he next fent for Democedes himself, and after defiring him to examine and explain to the Perfians every thing which related to Greece, he ent treated him to return in their company. All the valuables which he poffeffed he recommended him to take, as prefents to his father and his brethren, affuring him that he fhould be provided with a greater number on his return. He moreover informed him, that he had directed a veffel to accompany him,

which was to be furnished with various things of value. In these profeffions Darius, as I am of opinion, was perfectly fincere; but Democedes, apprehending that the king meant to make trial of his fidelity, accepted these proposals without much acknowledgment. He defired, however, to leave his own effects, that they might be ready for his ufe at his return; but he accepted the veffel which was to carry the prefents for his family. Darius, after giving these injunctions to Democedes, difmiffed the party to profecute their voyage.

CXXXVI. As foon as they arrived at Sidon, in Phoenicia, they manned two triremes, and loaded a large tranfport with different articles of wealth; after this they proceeded to Greece, examining the fea-coafts with the most careful attention. When they had informed themselves of the particulars relating to the most important places in Greece, they passed over to Tarentum 159 in Italy. Here Ariftophilides, prince of Tarentum, and a native of Cro- tona, took away the helms of the Median veffels, and detained the Perfians as fpies. Whilft his companions were in this predicament, Democedes himself went to Crotona. Upon his arrival at his native place, Ariftophilides gave the Perfians their

159 Tarentum.]-Thefe places, with the flighteft variation. poffible, retain their ancient names. We now fay the gulph of Tarento, and Crotona is now called Cottrone.-T.

liberty,

liberty, and reftored what he had taken from

them.

CXXXVII. The Perfians, as foon as they recovered their liberty, failed to Crotona, in pursuit of Democedes, and meeting with him in the forum, feized his perfon. Some of the inhabitants, through fear of the Perfian power, were willing to deliver him up; others, on the contrary, beat the Perfians with clubs; who exclaimed, "Men of Crotona, "confider what ye do, in taking away from us a fugitive from our king. Do you imagine that you will derive any advantage from this infult to "Darius; will not rather your city be the first object of our hoftilities, the firft that we fhall plunder "and reduce to fervitude?" Thefe menaces had but little effect upon the people of Crotona, for they not only affifted Democedes to efcape, but alfo deprived the Perfians of the veffel which accompanied them. They were, therefore, under the neceffity of returning to Afia, without exploring any more of Greece, being thus deprived of their conductor. On their departure Democedes commiffioned them to inform Darius, that he was married to a daughter of Milo, the name of Milo the wrestler being well known to the Perfian monarch. To me it seems that he accelerated his marriage, and expended a vast sum of money on the occafion, to convince Darius that he enjoyed in his own country no mean reputa

tion.

CXXXVIII. The Perfians, leaving Crotona,

were

were driven by contrary winds to Japygia 160, where they were made flaves. Gillus, an exile of Tarentum, ranfomed them, and sent them home to Darius. For this fervice the king declared himfelf willing to perform whatever Gillus fhould require, who accordingly explaining the circumftances of his misfortune, requested to be reftored to his country. But Darius thinking that if, for the purpose of effecting the restoration of this man, a large fleet fhould be fitted out, all Greece would take alarm; he faid that the Cnidians would of themselves be able to accomplish it: imagining that as this people were in alliance with the Tarentines, it might be effected without difficulty. Darius acceded to his wishes, and fent a meffenger to Cnidos 1, requiring them to reftore Gillus to Tarentum. The Cnidians were defirous to fatisfy Darius; but their folicitations had no effect on the Tarentines, and they were not in a fituation to employ force.-Of thefe particulars the above is a faithful relation, and thefe were the firft Perfians who, with the view

,

160 Japygia. This place is now called Cape de Leuca. -T.

161 Cnidos.]-At this remote period, when navigation was certainly in its infancy, it feems not a little fingular that there fhould be any communication or alliance between the people of Tarentum and of Cnidos. The distance is not inconfiderable, and the paffage certainly intricate, Ctefias, the hiftorian, was a native of Cnidos; here alfo was the beautiful ftatue of Venus, by Praxiteles; here alfo was Venus worshipped. Oh Venus regina Cnidi Paphique, &c.

It is now a very miferable place, and called Cape Chio or Cnio.-T.

of

of examining the state of Greece, paffed over thither from Afia.

CXXXIX. Not long afterwards Darius befieged and took Samos. This was the firft city, either of Greeks or barbarians, which felt the force of his arms, and for these reafons: Cambyfes, in his expedition against Ægypt, was accompanied by a great number of Greeks. Some, as it is probable, attended him from commercial views, others as foldiers, and many from no other motive than curiofity. Among these laft was Sylofon, an exile of Samos, fon of Æaces, and brother of Polycrates. It happened one day very fortunately for this Sylofon, that he was walking in the great fquare of Memphis with a red cloak folded about him. Darius, who was then in the king's guards, and of no particular confideration, faw him, and was fo delighted with his cloak, that he went up to him with the view of purchafing it. Sylofon, obferving that Darius was very folicitous to have the cloak, happily, as it proved for him, expreffed himself thus:-" I "would not part with this cloak for any pecuniary « confideration whatever; but if it must be fo, I will “make you a prefent of it." Darius praised his generofity, and accepted the cloak.

CXL. Sylofon for a while thought he had foolishly loft his cloak, but afterwards when Cambyfes died, and the feven confpirators had deftroyed the Magus, he learned that Darius, one of these seven, had obtained the kingdom, and was the very man VOL. II. M

to