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themistocles-第7部分
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state through the city of Sardis; with the tiara set in the royal
manner upon his head; Mithropaustes; cousin to the king; touched him
on the head; and told him that he had no brains for the royal tiara to
cover; and if Jupiter should give him his lightning and thunder; he
would not any the more be Jupiter for that; the king also repulsed him
with anger; resolving never to be reconciled to him; but to be
inexorable to all supplications on his behalf。 Yet Themistocles
pacified him; and prevailed with him to forgive him。 And it is
reported that the succeeding kings; in whose reigns there was a
greater communication between the Greeks and Persians; when they
invited any considerable Greek into their service; to encourage him;
would write; and promise him that he should be as great with them as
Themistocles had been。 They relate; also; how Themistocles; when he
was in great prosperity; and courted by many; seeing himself
splendidly served at his table; turned to his children and said;
〃Children; we had been undone if we had not been undone。〃 Most writers
say that he had three cities given him; Magnesia; Myus; and Lampsacus;
to maintain him in bread; meat; and wine。 Neanthes of Cyzicus; and
Phanias; add two more; the city of Palaescepsis; to provide him with
clothes; and Percote; with bedding and furniture for his house。
As he was going down towards the sea…coast to take measures
against Greece; a Persian whose name was Epixyes; governor of the
upper Phrygia; laid wait to kill him; having for that purpose provided
a long time before a number of Pisidians; who were to set upon him
when he should stop to rest at a city that is called Lion's…head。
But Themistocles; sleeping in the middle of the day; saw the Mother of
the gods appear to him in a dream and say unto him; 〃Themistocles;
keep back from the Lion's…head; for fear you fall into the lion's
jaws; for this advice I expect that your daughter Mnesiptolema
should be my servant。〃 Themistocles was much astonished; and when he
had made his vows to the goddess; left the broad road; and; making a
circuit; went another way; changing his intended station to avoid that
place; and at night took up his rest in the fields。 But one of the
sumpter…horses; which carried the furniture for his tent; having
fallen that day into the river; his servants spread out the
tapestry; which was wet; and hung it up to dry; in the meantime the
Pisidians made towards them with their swords drawn; and; not
discerning exactly by the moon what it was that was stretched out;
thought it to be the tent of Themistocles; and that they should find
him resting himself within it; but when they came near; and lifted
up the hangings; those who watched there fell upon them and took them。
Themistocles; having escaped this great danger; in admiration of the
goodness of the goddess that appeared to him; built; in memory of
it; a temple in the city of Magnesia; which is dedicated to Dindymene;
Mother of the gods; in which he consecrated and devoted his daughter
Mnesiptolema to her service。
When he came to Sardis; he visited the temples of the gods; and
observing; at his leisure; their buildings; ornaments; and the
number of their offerings; he saw in the temple of the Mother of the
gods the statue of a virgin in brass; two cubits high; called the
water…bringer。 Themistocles had caused this to be made and set up when
he was surveyor of the waters at Athens out of the fines of those whom
he detected in drawing off and diverting the public water by pipes for
their private use; and whether he had some regret to see this image in
captivity; or was desirous to let the Athenians see in what great
credit and authority he was with the king; he entered into a treaty
with the governor to persuade him to send this statue back to Athens;
which so enraged the Persian officer; that he told him he would write
the king word of it。 Themistocles; being affrighted hereat; got
access to his wives and concubines; by presents of money to whom he
appeased the fury of the governor; and afterwards behaved with more
reserve and circumspection; fearing the envy of the Persians; and
did not; as Theopompus writes; continue to travel about Asia; but
lived quietly in his own house in Magnesia; where for a long time he
passed his days in great security; being courted by all; and enjoying
rich presents; and honoured equally with the greatest persons in the
Persian empire; the king; at that time; not minding his concerns with
Greece; being taken up with the affairs of inner Asia。
But when Egypt revolted; being assisted by the Athenians; and the
Greek galleys roved about as far as Cyprus and Cilicia; and Cimon
had made himself master of the seas; the king turned his thoughts
thither; and; bending his mind chiefly to resist the Greeks; and to
check the growth of their power against him; began to raise forces;
and send out commanders; and to despatch messengers to Themistocles at
Magnesia; to put him in mind of his promise; and to summon him to
act against the Greeks。 Yet this did not increase his hatred nor
exasperate him against the Athenians; neither was he in any way
elevated with the thoughts of the honour and powerful command he was
to have in this war; but judging; perhaps; that the object would not
be attained; the Greeks having at that time; beside other great
commanders; Cimon; in particular; who was gaining wonderful military
successes; but chiefly being ashamed to sully the glory of his
former great actions; and of his many victories and trophies; he
determined to put a conclusion to his life; agreeable to its
previous course。 He sacrificed to the gods; and invited his friends;
and; having entertained them and shaken hands with them; drank
bull's blood; as is the usual story; as others state; a poison
producing instant death; and ended his days in the city of Magnesia;
having lived sixty…five years; most of which he had spent in
politics and in wars; in government and command。 The king being
informed of the cause and manner of his death; admired him more than
ever; and continued to show kindness to his friends and relations。
Themistocles left three sons by Archippe; daughter to Lysander of
Alopece;… Archeptolis; Poleuctus; and Cleophantus。 Plato; the
philosopher; mentions the last as a most excellent horseman; but
otherwise insignificant person; of two sons yet older than these;
Neocles and Diocles; Neocles died when he was young by the bite of a
horse; and Diocles was adopted by his grandfather; Lysander。 He had
many daughters; of whom Mnesiptolema; whom he had by a second
marriage; was wife to Archeptolis; her brother by another mother;
Italia was married to Panthoides; of the island of Chios; Sybaris to
Nicomedes the Athenian。 After the death of Themistocles; his nephew;
Phrasicles; went to Magnesia; and married; with her brothers' consent;
another daughter; Nicomache; and took charge of her sister Asia; the
youngest of all the children。
The Magnesians possess a splendid sepulchre of Themistocles;
placed in the middle of their market…place。 It is not worth while
taking notice of what Andocides states in his address to his Friends
concerning his remains; how the Athenian robbed his tomb; and threw
his ashes into the air; for he feigns this; to exasperate the
oligarchical faction against the people; and there is no man living
but knows that Phylarchus simply invents in his history; where he all
but uses an actual stage machine; and brings in Neocles and Demopolis
as the sons of Themistocles; to incite or move compassion; as if he
were writing a tragedy。 Diodorus the cosmographer says; in his work
on Tombs; but by conjecture rather than of certain knowledge; that
near to the haven of Piraeus where the land runs out like an elbow
from the promontory of Alcimus; when you have doubled the cape and
passed inward where the sea is always calm; there is a large piece of
masonry; and upon this the Tomb of Themistocles; in the shape of an
altar; and Plato the comedian confirms this; he believes; in these
verses:…
〃Thy tomb is fairly placed upon the strand;
Where merchants still shall greet it with the land;
Still in and out 'twill see them come and go;
And watch the galleys as they race below。〃
Various honours also and privileges were granted to the kindred of
Themistocles at Magnesia; which were observed down to our times; and
were enjoyed by another Themistocles of Athens; with whom I had an
intimate acquaintance and friendship in the house of Ammonius the
philosopher。
THE END
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