The histories of Herodotus;

248 HERODOTUS—BOOK IV. MELPOMENE [1 18-120
count, sit aloof, and suffer us to be destroyed, but with one
accord let us oppose the invader. If you will not do this, we,
being pressed, shall either abandon the country or, if we stay,
shall submit to terms ; for what would be our condition if
you refuse to assist us? Nor will it fall more lightly on you
on that account ; for the Persian is advancing not more against
us than against you ; nor will he be content to subdue us and
abstain from you: and we will give you a strong proof of
what we say, for if the Persian had undertaken this expedition
against us only, wishing to revenge his former subjection,
he would have abstained from all others, and have marched
directly against our territories, and would have made it clear
to all that he was marching against the Scythians, and not
against others. But now, as soon as he crossed over to this
continent, he subdued all that lay in his way; and holds in
subjection the rest of the Thracians, and more particularly
our neighbours the Getae." When the Scythians had made
this representation, the kings who had come from the several
nations consulted together, and their opinions were divided.
The Gelonian, Budinian, and Sauromatian, agreeing together,
promised to assist the Scythians ; but the Agathyrsian, Neurian,
Androphagian, and the Melanchlaenian and Taurian princes
gave this answer to the Scythians : " If you, who make the
request that you now do, had not been the first to injure the
Persians, and begin war, you would have appeared to us to
speak rightly, and we, yielding to your wishes, would have
acted in concert with you. But, in fact, you having invaded
their territory without us, had the mastery of the Persians
and they, when the same god
as long as the god allowed you ;
instigates them, repay you like for like. We, however, neither
on that occasion injured these men at all, nor will we now
be the first to attempt to injure them. Nevertheless, should
he invade our territory also, and become the aggressor, we
will not submit to it. But until we see that we will remain
quiet at home ; for we think that the Persians are not coming
against us, but against those who were the authors of
wrong."
When the Scythians heard this answer brought back they
determined to fight no battle in the open field, because these
but to retreat and draw
allies did not come to their assistance ;
off covertly, and fill up the wells they passed by, and the
springs, and destroy the herbage of the ground, having divided
their forces into two bodies, and they resolved that to
one of the divisions, which Scopasis commanded, the Sauromatse
should attach themselves, and that they should retire,