for the murder of Polycrates. For after the death of Cambyses, and the reign of the Magians, Orates had remained at Sardis without rendering any support to the Persians, who had wrested the empire from the Medes: seizing the opportunity of those days of confusion, he compassed the death of Mitrobates, the viceroy of Dascyleium, who had upbraided him with his conduct towards Polycrates, and assassinated Mitrobates' son Cranaspes, Persians of high rank. He exhibited many other instances of gross insolence; and murdered one of Darius's couriers 200 who had brought him disagreeable intelligence, on his return; posting on the road some ruffians, who killed the man and his horse, and put 127 the bodies out of sight. After his accession to the throne, Darius longed to be avenged of Orœtes, for all his iniquities; but principally for the murder of Mitrobates and Mitrobates' son he thought it, however, not expedient to send an expedition immediately against him, for matters were not yet quite settled: he himself had but just attained the sovereign power; and he knew Oroetes had a body-guard, consisting of a thousand Persians, and held the governments of Phrygia, Lydia, and Ionia. Darius therefore devised the following stratagem: he convened the Persians of the highest rank, and addressed them thus: "Persians," said he, "who among you will pledge himself to accomplish an "object which requires skill, not violence or great numbers? "for where skill is required, force is of no avail. 66 among you, then, will kill Orates, or bring him to me "alive? him, who never rendered any service to the Per"sians, but has been guilty of great crimes. In the first place, he has made away with two of us, both Mitrobates "and his son: secondly, he slays even those who summon "him in my name, and are sent by my order; such intole"rable insolence does he shew. Ere, therefore, he work "any greater evil to Persia, let death prevent him, at our 128" hands." Such was the proposal made by Darius: thirty champions pledged themselves to the new king, as prepared each to do according to his bidding. Darius put a stop to their contestations 201, by ordering recourse to lot: the lots were drawn: the prize fell to Bagæus the son of Artontes. Bagæus, thus chosen, proceeded thus: he wrote several letters, concerning various matters, and affixed to them Darius's 200 ayyagnios, a courier, or tartar, belonging to the Persian service of the ἀγγαρήϊον: concerning which, see viii. 98. 201 κατελάμβανε ἰρίζοντας. Something of a similar expression occurs in vii. 9, where Portus explains aradaμßáruv διαφοράς, by διαλύειν διαφοράς. Ε. Port. Lex. Ion. 202 seal; and, with these letters in his possession, departed for Sardis. At his arrival, and introduction to Orates' presence, he took out the letters one by one, and gave them to be read out by the king's secretary 2; for an officer of that kind is always appended to the train of a viceroy. These letters were delivered by Bagæus, with a view to try whether bodyguards were inclined to revolt from Orates: and observing that they paid great respect to the letters themselves, and still more to their contents, produced another, which ran thus: "Persians, it is the behest of king Darius that you be no longer the guards of Orates 203." On hearing this, they immediately grounded their javelins. Bagæus, seeing they obeyed this order, even took courage, and handed over the last letter to the secretary, in which was written: King "Darius commands the Persians at Sardis to put Orœtes to "death." The guards no sooner heard these words, than, drawing their scimetars, they killed him on the spot. Thus Orates, the Persian, paid forfeit for the murder of Polycrates, the Samian. 66 The property of Oroetes having been confiscated, and con- 129 veyed to Susa, an accident happened to king Darius shortly after in leaping from his horse at the chace, he strained his foot: so violent was the twist, that the ankle was forced out of its socket and, at first, presuming that he had at his court some of the Egyptians regarded as the first men in the profession of the healing art, he trusted his case to their treatment: these doctors, however, violently twisting the foot back, did but increase the evil. During seven days and seven nights, Darius, in consequence of this accident, was kept awake and on the eighth day, accordingly, the king being still no better, some one, who had already heard, at Sardis, of Democedes the Crotoniat's skill, make a communication to Darius, who ordered Democedes immediately into his presence. They found him among the slaves of Orœtes, where he was held in no estimation; and took him before the king, bound in fetters, and clothed in rags. As the man 130 stood before him, Darius asked him whether he knew the 202 gag signifies, to take away the wrapper of any thing: in this sense we have previously seen Polycrates, iii. 41, igiæıgióμevos tùv oQgnyida, "taking off the signet which encompassed his finger." The letters sent by Turkish gentlemen are always wrapped in silk bags or cases, sealed with their signet: the ancient Persians most probably had some similar usage, which will account for the expression here used by Herodotus, which signifies, literally, having taken off the wrapper of each separately." 203 The superfluous negative, which is, no doubt, too familiar to the reader to require any comment. See Matt. 533, obs. 3. medical art: Democedes, fearing to discover himself, lest he should be separated for ever from Hellas, denied that he knew any thing about it. But Darius saw enough to convince him that he was dissembling 204, and perfectly acquainted with medicine; so he ordered the persons who had brought him, to fetch the whips and spurs. Democedes then discovered himself; declared, that he had learned the art, but imperfectly, and that he had a smattering only of it, having been intimate with a physician. Immediately, Darius entrusted himself to his treatment 205; and he made use of the Hellenic medicines; and, by substituting emollients instead of violent means 206, procured some sleep to the patient; and in a short time restored him to perfect health and soundness of body, although the king himself had given up all hopes of ever being able to step on that foot. In recompense for this service, Darius presented his medical attendant with a pair of golden shackles. Democedes, upon this, asked the king if he had purposely doubled his sorrows because he had restored him to health. Darius, much pleased at this answer, sent him to his own wives: and the eunuchs, taking him round to see them all, said to the ladies, "This is the man who "restored life to our liege lord." Each of the ladies dipped a vase 207 into a chest of gold, and presented it to Democedes; 204 The sense is the same as if there was κατιφάνη τε τῷ Δαρείῳ συχνάZur, xai wię śmiorάuvos, "It appeared to Darius that he dissembled being a physician, though he was SO in fact." Larcher. 205 επέτρεψε: understand ἑαυτὸν, οι rd gaypa. Schweig. 206 I take a as relating to the treatment of Democedes, and ixugà to that of the Egyptians, as being the first signification that would be given to the passage by a non-medical reader. Coray understands both ἤπια and ixuga of the treatment adopted by Democedes: "the injury," says he, was a luxation of the foot, that had been unskilfully treated by the Egyptian physicians: the first operation Democedes had to perform, must have been, therefore, to luxate again the joint. Immediately after that operation, μετὰ τὰ ἰσχυρὰ, in order to calm the pain, he administered to his patient some narcotic, a, as, for instance, opium, to make him sleep. This practice is still followed in all violent surgical operations." The translation, according to this illus trious editor of Strabo, must be, therefore, “ And, by administering some narcotic after the operation, procured," &c. 207 ὑποτύπτουσα δὲ αὐτίων ἑκάστη φιάλῃ ἐς τοῦ χρυσοῦ τὴν θήκην. A most difficult passage. For the different emendations proposed by various scholars, the notes of Schweighauser may be consulted. Construction: ixáorn airśav, each of them, vxoróπτουσα φιάλη, dipping under with a saucer, (so ii. 136, zovră iwoTÚKTOITI ἐς λίμνην ἐς τὴν θήκην τοῦ χρυσοῦ, ἐντο the chest or repository of gold, &c. We have likewise, vi. 119, ὑποτύψας yauxã åveλíu, "shaking under with a bucket draws from the well.” I have followed the reading of Dr. Gaisford, proposed by Porson. Schweighæuser gives ¿æeruscousa àì αὐτίων εκάστη φιάλη, του χρυσοῦ σὺν θήκῃ ἐδωρέετο Δημοκήδια οὕτω δή τι δαψι adwen, x. 5. 2. The translation of which must be, however, lame: "each of them dipping in with a saucer, presented to Democedes such an abundant gift of gold together with the vase," &c.-Leaving the thus conferring such a munificent gift, that the servant who followed him, named Sciton, picked up the gold staters that fell from the vases, and thus collected a great quantity of gold for himself. This Democedes, coming thus from Croton, had proceeded 131 to the court of Polycrates. Being at Croton harshly treated by his father, a man prone to anger, and unable to brook any longer such usage, he forsook his home, and proceeded to Ægina. Settling in that island, he surpassed, in the first year, the first physicians, although unprovided with instruments, and having none of the necessary adjuncts to the arts of medicine and surgery 208. In the second year, the Æginetæ rewarded him by a yearly fee of one talent from the public chest: in the third year, the Athenians allowed one hundred minæ in the fourth year, he arrived at Samos, where Polycrates allowed him two talents annually. From this man the people of Croton became not the least celebrated physicians 200; for it soon came to pass, that they were spoken of, all over Hellas, as the first medical men: the Cyrenæan physicians were but the second. So, about the same period, the Argeians were exalted to the first rank among musicians. At the time 132 we are now speaking of, Democedes, having completely cured Darius, was in possession of a large house at Susa, and was the companion of Darius's table: he enjoyed every luxury, with the exception of his being far away from Hellas. Of his intimacy with the king, the first instance is, that he obtained from Darius the reprieve of the Egyptian doctors who had first administered to the king: they were about to be impaled, because they had proved themselves inferior to one Greek physician: secondly, he rescued from bondage a soothsayer of Elis, who had followed Polycrates, and remained among the slaves, not thought of. In short, Democedes was all in all with the sovereign. reader to search for further information on this passage from the various commentators, I shall proceed to give Larcher's illustration of the meaning of pan. The word aan belongs to the office of the cup-bearers. In order to have a correct idea of what it means, it is necessary to be acquainted with what regards this service. 1st, A certain quantity of wine and water, in proportion to the strength of the wine, or according to the taste of the drinkers, was poured into large vases. These vases, from the mixture of the two liquors, were called craters. 2dly, The mixture was dipped out of these craters with a cyathus (xvábos), a sort of deep pitcher, and the drink was poured out into a cup which was called xяaμα. 3dly, The xxμ was presented to the guest on a piáλn: this latter, therefore, was a saucer or plate: I mean, a flat, broad vessel, on which the cup was presented. See Xen. Cyrop. i. 3, 8. Larcher. 208 Surgery was not, in former times, separated from medicine. 209 C'est à lui que les médecins de Crotone doivent la plus grande partie de leur réputation-To him the Crotonian doctors are indebted for the greatest part of their reputation.— Larcher. 133 A short time after these events, the following occurrence took place. Atossa, the daughter of Cyrus, and wife of Darius, was afflicted with a tumor on the breast. After some time, it broke; and ate away by degrees, until it had increased to a considerable size: she concealed it through shame, and mentioned it to no one. However, as it continued to get worse and worse, she sent for Democedes, and shewed it to him. He told her, that he could heal the tumour; but insisted she should pledge herself210 to remunerate him fairly for his service, by granting a request which he hereafter would make; and added, that he had no intention to ask any 134 thing that a lady would blush to grant. When he had healed the tumor, and restored her to health, Atossa, instructed by Democedes, thus addressed Darius, who was in bed with her. 66 My liege," said Atossa, "possessing such power, you "sit down tranquil, and attempt not to add by conquest any "nation or empire to the Persians. It behoves, I think, a "monarch, young, and master of such riches, to give proof "of his valour, so that the Persians may know they are "commanded by a gallant king. There are two motives "which should urge you to act in this manner; that the Per"sians may be convinced they are headed by a valiant hero; " and that they may taste the toils of war, and not abide in "idleness, brooding conspiracies against yourself. Now "that you are in the bloom of life, you should achieve some "brilliant deed: for, as the body grows, so the mind grows; as the body becomes old and infirm, so it is with the mind; "it is blunted for all purposes." Thus, at the suggestion of Democedes, Atossa spoke. Darius answered: "All that you "suggest, my dear love, I have myself already resolved to "do: for I intend to throw a bridge from this continent to "the other 211, and carry war into Scythia: my designs will 66 be accomplished ere long." Atossa then spoke thus: "Look you now! I beseech you not to march first 212 against "the Scythians; for, when you choose, they will be yours: but, for my sake, invade Hellas. I so long, from what I "hear, to have, in my train, Laconian girls, and others from "Argos and Attica and Corinth. You have, besides, the "best man in the world to tell you every thing about Hellas, "him that cured your foot." Darius answered: "My love, "since you prefer I should make my first essay on Hellas, "I think it better previously to send some Persians, with the "man you speak of, and survey the country. They will see 210iv, used Ionically, in forms of swearing, for unv 211 That is to say, from Asia to Europe: see iv. 88. |