144 MELPOMENE.
On hearing this, Battus, and they who were with him,
again returned; for the deity still persevered in re
quiring them to form a settlement in Libya, where
they had not yet been: touching, therefore, at Platei,
they took on board the man whom they had left, ami
established their colony in Libya itself. The place
they selected was Aziris, immediately opposite to
where they had before resided; two sides of whirfi
were inclosed by a beautiful range of hills, and a third
agreeably watered by a river. ยป ~*
CLVIII. At this place they continued six years.
when, at the desire of the Libyans, who promised to
conduct them to a better situation, they removed.
The Libyans accordingly became their guides, anil
had so concerted the matter, as to take care that the
Greeks should pass through the most beautiful part
of their country by night: the direction they took was
westward, the name of the country they were not
permitted to see was Irasa. .They came at length to
what is called the fountain of Apollo. "Men of
Greece," said the Libyans, "the heavens are here
opened to you, and here it will be proper for you to
reside."
CLIX. During the life of Battus, who reigned forty
years, and under Arcesilaus his son, who reigned sis-
teen, the Cyreneans remained in this colony, withoui
any alteration with respect to their numbers: to'
under their third prince, who was also called Battus.
and who was surnamed the H,appy, the Pythian, by
her declarations, excited a general propensity in the
Greeks to migrate to Libya, and join themselves to
the Cyreneans. The Cyreneans, indeed, had inviteJ
them to a share of their possessions, but the oracle
had also thus expressed itself:
Who seeks not Libya 'till the lands are shar'd,
Let him for sad repentance be prepar'd.
The Greeks, therefore, in great numbers, settled them
selves at Cyrene. The neighbouring Libyans with
their king Adicran, seeing themselves injuriously de
prived of a considerable part of their lands, and ex
posed to much insulting treatment, made an offer of