MELPOMENE. 133

and return: he advised them, however, to exert their
sagacity, and interpret the mystery.

CXXXII. The Persians accordingly held a consul­
tation on the subject. Darius was of opinion, that
the Scythians intended by this to express submission
to him, and give him the earth and the water which
he required. The mouse, as he explained it, was pro­
duced in the earth, and lived on the same food as
man ; the frog was a native of the water; the bird
bore a great resemblance to a horse; and in giving the
arrows, they intimated the surrender of their power:
this was the interpretation of Darius. Gobryas, how­
ever, one of the seven who had dethroned the Magus,
thus interpreted the presents: " Men of Persia, unless
like birds ye shall mount into the air, like mice take
refuge in the earth, or like frogs leap into the marshes,
these arrows shall prevent the possibility of your re­
turn to the place from whence you came." This
explanation was generally accepted.

CXXXIII. That detachment of the Scythians who
had before been intrusted with the defence of the
Palus Maiotis, but who were afterwards sent to the
Ionians at the Ister, no sooner arrived at the bridge,
than they thus spake : " Men of Ionia, if you will but
hearken to our words, we come to bring you liberty :
we have been told, that Darius commanded you to
guard this bridge for sixty days only; if in that time
he should not appear, you were permitted to return
home. Do this, and you will neither disobey him,
nor offend us: stay, therefore, till the time which he
has appointed, and then depart." With this injunc­
tion the Ionians promising to comply, the Scythians
instantly retired.

CXXXIII. The rest of the Scythians, having sent
the present to Darius which we have described, op­
posed themselves to him, both horse and foot, in order
of battle. Whilst they were in this situation, a hare
was seen in the space betwixt the two armies; the
Scythians immediately pursued it with loud cries.
Darius, inquiring the cause of the tumult which he
heard, was informed that the enemy were pursuing
a hare; upon this, turning to some of his confidential

M