The Good Book_ A Secular Bible - A. C. Grayling [141]
8. The Persians burned it down, then pressed on after the retreating Scythians, till, having traversed the entire country of the Budini, they reached the desert, which extends a distance of seven days’ journey above the Budinian territory.
9. When Darius reached the desert he paused, halting his army upon the Oarus. Here he built eight large forts, at an equal distance from one another, sixty furlongs apart.
10. While he was thus occupied, the Scythians he had been following made a circuit by the higher regions, and re-entered Scythia.
11. On their complete disappearance, Darius left his forts half finished, and returned towards the west.
12. He imagined that the Scythians he had seen were the entire nation, and that they had fled in that direction.
13. He now quickened his march, and entering Scythia, fell in with the two combined divisions of the Scythian army, and instantly gave them chase.
14. They kept to their plan of retreating before him at the distance of a day’s march;
15. And they led his hot pursuit of them into the territories of the nations that had refused to become their allies, first into the country of the Melanchaeni.
16. Great disturbance was caused among this people by the invasion first of the Scythians and then of the Persians.
17. So, having harassed them after this sort, the Scythians led the way into the land of the Androphagi, with the same result as before;
18. And thence passed onwards into Neuris, where their coming likewise spread dismay among the inhabitants.
19. Still retreating they approached the Agathyrsi; but this people, which had witnessed the flight and terror of their neighbours, did not wait for the Scythians to invade them,
20. But sent a herald to forbid them to cross their borders, and to forewarn them that, if they made the attempt, it would be resisted by force of arms.
21. The Agathyrsi then proceeded to the frontier, to defend their country against the invaders.
22. As for the other nations, the Melanchaeni, the Androphagi, and the Neuri, instead of defending themselves, when the Scythians and Persians overran their lands, they forgot their threats and fled away in confusion to the deserts lying towards the north.
23. The Scythians, when the Agathyrsi forbade them to enter their country, refrained; and led the Persians back from the Neurian district into their own land.
24. This had gone on so long, and seemed so interminable, that Darius at last sent a horseman to Idanthyrsus, the Scythian king, with the following message:
25. ‘You strange man, why do you keep flying before me, when there are two things you might do so easily?
26. ‘If you think you can resist my arms, cease your wanderings and come, let us engage in battle.
27. ‘Or if you are conscious that my strength is greater than yours, even so you should stop running away;
28. ‘You have but to recognise me as lord by bringing me earth and water, and come at once to a conference.’
29. To this message Idanthyrsus, the Scythian king, replied, ‘This is my way, Persian. I never fear men or fly from them.
30. ‘I have not done so in times past, nor do I now fly from you. There is nothing new or strange in what I do; I only follow my common mode of life in peaceful years.
31. ‘Now I will tell you why I do not at once join battle with you. We Scythians have neither towns nor cultivated lands, which might induce us, through fear of their being taken or ravaged, to be in any hurry to fight with you.
32. ‘If, however, you must needs come to blows with us speedily, look you now, there are our fathers’ tombs; seek them out, and attempt to meddle with them; then you shall see whether or no we will fight with you.
33. ‘Till you do this, we shall not join battle, unless it pleases us. As for lords, I acknowledge only myself.
34. ‘Earth and water, the tribute you demand, I do not send, but you will soon receive more suitable gifts.
35. ‘Last of all, in return for your trying to call yourself my lord, I say to you, “Go weep.”’
Chapter 45
1. When the Scythian kings