herodotus

the land of the Hellespontians, and he proceeded to subdue all who didnot take the side of the Medes.*****145. He then was doing thus; and at this very same time a greatexpedition was being made also against Libya, on an occasion which Ishall relate when I have first related this which follows.--Thechildren's children of those who voyaged in the Argo, having beendriven forth by those Pelasgians who carried away at Brauron the womenof the Athenians,--having been driven forth I say by these fromLemnos, had departed and sailed to Lacedemon, and sitting down onMount Taÿgetos they kindled a fire. The Lacedemonians seeing this senta messenger to inquire who they were and from whence; and theyanswered the question of the messenger saying that they were Minyaiand children of heroes who sailed in the Argo, for[128] these, theysaid, had put in to Lemnos and propagated the race of which theysprang. The Lacedemonians having heard the story of the descent of theMinyai, sent a second time and asked for what purpose they had comeinto the country and were causing a fire to blaze. They said that theyhad been cast out by the Pelasgians, and were come now to the land oftheir fathers,[129] for most just it was that this should so be done;and they said that their request was to be permitted to dwell withthese, having a share of civil rights and a portion allotted to themof the land. And the Lacedemonians were content to receive the Minyaiupon the terms which they themselves desired, being most of allimpelled to do this by the fact that the sons of Tyndareus werevoyagers in the Argo. So having received the Minyai they gave them ashare of land and distributed them in the tribes; and they forthwithmade marriages, and gave in marriage to others the women whom theybrought with them from Lemnos. 146. However, when no very long timehad passed, the Minyai forthwith broke out into insolence, asking fora share of the royal power and also doing other impious things:therefore the Lacedemonians resolved to put them to death; and havingseized them they cast them into a prison. Now the Lacedemonians put todeath by night all those whom they put to death, but no man by day.When therefore they were just about to kill them, the wives of theMinyai, being native Spartans and daughters of the first citizens ofSparta, entreated to be allowed to enter the prison and come to speechevery one with her own husband: and they let them pass in, notsupposing that any craft would be practised by them. They however,when they had entered, delivered to their husbands all the garmentswhich they were wearing, and themselves received those of theirhusbands: thus the Minyai having put on the women's clothes went forthout of prison as women, and having escaped in this manner they wentagain to Taÿgetos and sat down there. 147. Now at this very same time