Page:Key to Easy Latin Stories for beginners.djvu/84

76 KEY TO EASY LATIN STORIES. [part iv. flax; and he entrusted the caie of this to the Phoenicians and Egyptians. Next, that neither the army, nor the heasts of burden which had to be led into Greece, might perish with hunger, he ordered supplies to be brought together; and having ascertained the best places, wherever he found a very suitable spot he ordered them to be unshipped there, having given orders that (men) should bring them from all parts of Asia, some in one place, others in another.

221.Meanwhile those to whom the business had been given of crossing (lit that they should join) the Hellespont, with a bridge reaching firom Asia to Europe, had finished their work. Now they built two bridges; the Phoenicians one of cables made of flax, the Egyptians the other of papyrus. Now there (is a distance of) seven stades between Abydos and the opposite shore. But when the bridges were thrown across (lit. joined) a great storm arose, which broke up and destroyed everything.

222.On ascertaining this fact, Xerxes, being much annoyed, ordered three hundred blows to be inflicted on the Hellespont, and fetters to be thrown into the sea. They also relate that besides (doing) this he sent men to brand (lit. to burn in brandings into) the Hellespont. He certainly gave orders that while flogging it they should utter these barbarous and insane words: ‘O bitter water, our lord inflicts this punishment on thee because thou hast injured (lit. afliected with injury) him, although thou hast suffered no wrong from him. And the king shall cross thee whether thou wishest or not. And deservedly does no one sacrifice to thee, for thou art a crafty and salt stream.’ Now he ordered this punishment should be inflicted on the sea, and at the same time that the heads of those who had been set over the bridge should be cut off.

223.But other architects then joined bridges, and this is the way they joined them. Having collected vessels to the