HERODOTUS.

BOOK V.

TERPSICHORE.

CHAPTER I.

The Persians who had been left in Europe by Da­
rius, under the conduct of Megabyzus, commenced
their hostilities on the Hellespont with the conquest of
the Perinthii, who had refused to acknowledge the au­
thority of Darius, and had formerly been vanquished
by the Paeonians. This latter people, inhabiting the
banks of the Strymon, had been induced by an oracle
to make war on the Perinthians: if the Perinthians on
their meeting offered them battle, provoking them by
name, they were to accept the challenge; if otherwise,
they were to decHRe all contest. It happened accord­
ingly, that the Perinthians marched-into the country
of the Pseonians, and, encamping before their town,
sent them three specific challenges, a man to encounter
with a man, a horse with a horse, a dog with a dog.
The Perinthians having the advantage in the two for­
mer contests, sung with exultation a song of triumph J
this the Pseonians conceived to be the purport of the
bracle: " Now," they exclaimed, " the oracle will be
fulfilled; this is the time for us." They attacked,
therefore, the Perinthians, whilst engaged in their
imaginary triumph, and obtained so signal a victory,
that few of their adversaries escaped.

II. Such was the overthrow which the Perinthians
received, in their conflict with the Paeonians: on the
present occasion they fought valiantly, in defence of
their liberties, against Megabyzus, but were overpow­
ered by the superior numbers of the Persians. After
the capture of Permthus, Megabyzus overran Thrace