The histories of Herodotus;

62 HERODOTUS—BOOK I, CLIO [156-159
might hereafter revolt from the Persians, and bring utter
ruin on themselves. Cyrus, pleased with the expedient, laid
aside his anger, and said that he would follow his advice : then
having sent for Mazares, a Mede, he commanded him to order
the Lydians to conform themselves to the regulations proposed
by Croesus, and moreover to enslave all the others who
had joined the Lydians in the attack on Sardis ; but by all
means to bring Pactyas to him alive. Cyrus then having given
these orders on his way, proceeded to the settlements of the
Persians. But Pactyas, hearing that the army which was coming
against him was close at hand, fled in great consternation
to Cyme; and Mazares the Mede, having marched against
Sardis with an inconsiderable division of Cyrus's army, when
he found that Pactyas and his party were no longer there, in
the first place compelled the Lydians to conform to the injunctions
of Cyrus ; and by his order the Lydians completely
changed their mode of life : after this Mazares despatched
messengers to Cyme, requiring them to deliver up Pactyas.
But the Cymaeans, in order to come to a decision, resolved to
refer the matter to the deity at Branchidae, for there was there
an oracular shrine, erected in former times, which all the Ionians
and Cohans were in the practice of consulting : this place
is situated in Milesia, above the port of Panormus. 1 The
Cymaeans, therefore, having sent persons to consult the ora-
cle at Branchidae, asked what course they should pursue respecting
Pactyas that would be most pleasing to the gods.
The answer to their question was, that they should deliver up
Pactyas to the Persians. When the Cymaeans heard this answer
reported, they determined to give him up ; but though
most of them came to this determination, Aristodicus, the son
of Heraclides, a man of high repute among the citizens, distrusting
the oracle, and suspecting the sincerity of the consuiters,
prevented them from doing so ; till at last other messengers,
among whom was Aristodicus, went to inquire a
second time concerning Pactyas. When they arrived at Branchidae,
Aristodicus consulted the oracle in the name of all,
inquiring in these words : " O king, Pactyas, a Lydian, has
come to us as a suppliant, to avoid a violent death at the hands
of the Persians. They now demand him, and require the
Cymaeans to give him up. We, however, though we dread the
Persian power, have not yet dared to surrender the suppliant
till it be plainly declared by thee what we ought to do." Such
1 It will be proper to remark that there were two places of that name
and that this must not be confounded with the port of Panormus, in the
vicinity of Ephesus.—Beloe.
;