138 MELPOMENE.

sent to inquire of them who and whence they were}
they returned for answer, that they were Miny<b, de­
scendants of those heroes who, passing the ocean in •
the Argo, settled in Lemnos, and there begot them.
When the Lacedaemonians heard this account of their
descent, they sent a second messenger, inquiring what
was the meaning of the fire they had made, and what
were their intentions in coming among them. Their
reply was to this effect, that, being expelled by the
Pelasgians, they had returned, as was reasonable, to
the country of their ancestors, and were desirous to
fix their residence with them, as partakers of their
lands and honours. The Lacedsemonians expressed
themselves willing to receive them upon their own
terms; and they were induced to this, as well from
other considerations, as because the Tyndaridoe had
sailed in the Argo; they accordingly admitted the
Minyae among them, assigned them lands, and dis­
tributed them among their tribes. The Minyse in re»
turn parted with the women whom they had brought
from Lemnos, and connected themselves in marriage
with others.

CXLVI. In a very short time these Minyae became
distinguished for their intemperance, making them­
selves not only dangerous from their ambition, but
odious by their vices. The Lacedaemonians conceived
their enormities worthy of death, and accordingly
cast them into prison: it is to be remarked, that this
people always inflict capital punishments by night,
never by day. When things were in this situation,
the wives of the prisoners, who were natives of the
country, and the daughters of the principal citizens,
solicited permission to visit their husbands in confme­
ment; as no stratagem was suspected, this was grant­
ed. The wivfes of the Minyos accordingly entered
the prison, and exchanged dresseR with their hus­
band,: : by this artifice they effoctod their escape, and
again took refuge on mount Taygetus.

CXLVH. It was about this time that Theras, the
son of Autesion, was sent from Lace'daemon to estab­
lish a colony : Autesion was the son of Tisamenusi
grandson of Thersander, great-grandson of Polynicee.