Page:History of the Literature of Ancient Greece (Müller) 2ed.djvu/292

270 of its peculiar institutions and usages. The history of Cambyses, of the false Smerdis, and of Darius, is continued in the same detailed manner (Book III.); and an account is given of the power of Samos, under Polycrates, and of his tragical end; by which the Persian power began to extend to the islands between Asia and Europe. The institutions established by Darius at the beginning of his reign afford an opportunity of surveying the whole kingdom of Persia, with all its provinces, and their large revenues. With the expedition of Darius against the Scythians (which Herodotus evidently considers as a retaliation for the former incursions of the Scythians into Asia) the Persian power begins to spread over Europe (Book IV.). Herodotus then gives a full account of the north of Europe, of which his knowledge was manifestly much more extensive than that of Hecatæus; and he next relates the great expedition of the Persian army, which, although it did not endanger the freedom of the Scythians, first opened a passage into Europe to the Persians. The kingdom of Persia now stretches on one side to Scythia, on the other over Egypt to Cyrenaica. A Persian army is called in by Queen Pheretime against the Barcæans; which gives Herodotus an opportunity of relating the history of Cyrene, and describing the Libyan nations, as an interesting companion to his description of the nations of northern Europe. While (Book V.) a part of the Persian army, which had remained behind after the Scythian expedition, reduces a portion of the Thracians and the little kingdom of Macedonia under the power of the great king, the great Ionian revolt arises from causes connected with the Scythian expedition, which brings still closer the decisive struggle between Greece and Persia. Aristagoras, the tyrant of Miletus, seeks aid in Sparta and Athens for the Ionians; whereupon the historian takes occasion to continue the history of these and other Greek states, from the point where he had left it (Book I.); and in particular to describe the rapid rise of the Athenians, after they had thrown off the yoke of the Pisistratids. The enterprising spirit of the young republic of Athens is also shown in the interest taken by it in the Ionian revolt, which was begun in a rash and inconsiderate manner, and, having been carried on without sufficient vigour, terminated in a complete defeat (Book VI.). Herodotus next pursues the constantly increasing causes of enmity between Greece and Persia; among which is the flight of the Spartan king Demaratus to Darius. To this event he annexes a detailed explanation of the relations and enmities of the Greek states, in the period just preceding the first Persian war. The expedition against Eretria and Athens was the first blow struck by Persia at the mother country of Greece, and the battle of Marathon was the first glorious signal that this Asiatic power, hitherto unchecked in its encroachments, was there at length to find a limit. From this point the narrative runs in a regular channel, and pursues to the end the natural course of events; the