If a new translation of Herodotus does not justify itself, it will hardly be justified in a preface; therefore the question whether it was needed may be left here without discussion. The aim of the translator has been above all things faithfulness—faithfulness to the manner of expression and to the structure of sentences, as well as to the meaning of the Author. At the same time it is conceived that the freedom and variety of Herodotus is not always best reproduced by such severe consistency of

331 ( return ) [ See the remarks of P.-L. Courier (on Larcher's version) in the preface to his specimens of a new translation of Herodotus ( OEuvres complètes de P.-L. Courier , Bruxelles, 1828).] 332 ( return ) [ Mr. Woods, for example, in his edition of the first book (published in 1873) gives a list of readings for the first and second books, in which he almost invariably prefers the authority of Gronovius to that of Stein, where their reports differ. In so doing he is wrong in all cases (I t

This is the Showing forth of the Inquiry of Herodotus of Halicarnassos, to the end that 1 neither the deeds of men may be forgotten by lapse of time, nor the works 2 great and marvellous, which have been produced some by Hellenes and some by Barbarians, may lose their renown; and especially that the causes may be remembered for which these waged war with one another. 1. Those of the Persians who have knowledge of history declare that the Phenicians first began the quarrel. These, they say, came

1 ( return ) [ {'Erodotou 'Alikarnesseos istories apodexis ede, os k.t.l.} The meaning of the word {istorie} passes gradually from "research" or "inquiry" to "narrative," "history"; cp. vii. 96. Aristotle in quoting these words writes {Thouriou} for {'Alikarnesseos} ("Herodotus of Thurii"), and we know from Plutarch that this reading existed in his time as a variation.] 2 ( return ) [ Probably {erga} may here mean enduring monuments like the pyramids and the works at Samos, cp. i. 93, ii. 35, et

1. When Cyrus had brought his life to an end, Cambyses received the royal power in succession, being the son of Cyrus and of Cassandane the daughter of Pharnaspes, for whose death, which came about before his own, Cyrus had made great mourning himself and also had proclaimed to all those over whom he bore rule that they should make mourning for her: Cambyses, I say, being the son of this woman and of Cyrus, regarded the Ionians and Aiolians as slaves inherited from his father; and he proceeded t

1 ( return ) [ Some write "Psammitichos" with less authority.] 2 ( return ) [ {tou en Memphi}: many Editors read {en Memphi}, "I heard at Memphis from the priests of Hephaistos," but with less authority.] 3 ( return ) [ {'Eliou polin} or {'Elioupolin}, cp. {'Elioupolitai} below.] 4 ( return ) [ {exo e ta ounamata auton mounon}. Some understand "them" to mean "the gods"; rather perhaps the meaning is that accounts of such things will not be related in full, but only touched upon.] 5 ( return ) [

1. Against this Amasis then Cambyses the son of Cyrus was making his march, taking with him not only other nations of which he was ruler, but also Hellenes, both Ionians and Aiolians: 1 and the cause of the expedition was as follows:—Cambyses sent an envoy to Egypt and asked Amasis to give him his daughter; and he made the request by counsel of an Egyptian, who brought this upon Amasis 2 having a quarrel with him for the following reason:—at the time when Cyrus sent to Amasis and asked him for a

1 ( return ) [ See ii. 1.] 2 ( return ) [ {'Amasin}. This accusative must be taken with {eprexe}. Some Editors adopt the conjecture {'Amasi}, to be taken with {memphomenos} as in ch. 4, "did this because he had a quarrel with Amasis."] 3 ( return ) [ See ii. 152, 154.] 4 ( return ) [ {Suron}: see ii. 104.] 5 ( return ) [ {keinon}: most MSS. and many editions have {keimenon}, "laid up."] 6 ( return ) [ {demarkhon}.] 7 ( return ) [ {exaireomenos}: explained by some "disembarked" or "unloaded."] 8

1. After Babylon had been taken, the march of Dareios himself 1 against the Scythians took place: for now that Asia was flourishing in respect of population, and large sums were being gathered in as revenue, Dareios formed the desire to take vengeance upon the Scythians, because they had first invaded the Median land and had overcome in fight those who opposed them; and thus they had been the beginners of wrong. The Scythians in truth, as I have before said, 2 had ruled over Upper Asia 3 for eig

1 ( return ) [ Some enterprises had been entrusted to others, e.g. the attack on Samos; but this had not been the case with the capture of Babylon, therefore some Editors have proposed corrections, e.g. {au tou} (Schweighäuser), and {autika} (Stein).] 2 ( return ) [ See i. 106.] 3 ( return ) [ {tes ano 'Asies}: this means Eastern Asia as distinguished from the coasts of Asia Minor; see i. 103 and 177.] 4 ( return ) [ {katapausantes}: the expression is awkward if meant to be equivalent to {kai ka

This text was prepared from the third edition, printed in 1914, by MacMillan and Co., Limited, St. Martin's Street, London. Greek text has been transliterated and marked with brackets, as in the opening citation above....

1. In the meantime those of the Persians who had been left behind in Europe by Dareios, of whom Megabazos was the commander, had subdued the people of Perinthos first of the Hellespontians, since they refused to be subject to Dareios. These had in former times also been hardly dealt with by the Paionians: for the Paionians from the Strymon had been commanded by an oracle of their god to march against the Perinthians; and if the Perinthians, when encamped opposite to them, should shout aloud and

1 ( return ) [ {ie paion} (or {paian}), as the burden of a song of triumph.] 2 ( return ) [ {eggenetai}: many MSS. and some Editors read {en genetai}, "and the race can never become united."] 3 ( return ) [ iv. 93.] 301 ( return ) [ Or "from the time that he was born."] 4 ( return ) [ {to astikton} is probably for {to me estikhthai}: but possibly the meaning may be, "those who are not so marked are of low birth."] 5 ( return ) [ "the greatest prizes are assigned for single combat in proportion"

1. Aristagoras accordingly, after having caused Ionia to revolt, thus brought his life to an end; and meanwhile Histiaios the despot of Miletos, having been let go by Dareios had arrived at Sardis: and when he came from Susa, Artaphrenes the governor of Sardis asked him for what reason he supposed the Ionians had revolted; and he said that he could not tell, and moreover he expressed wonder at that which had happened, pretending that he knew nothing of the state of affairs. Then Artaphrenes seei

1 ( return ) [ {proboulous}.] 2 ( return ) [ See i. 148.] 3 ( return ) [ {epi keras}.] 4 ( return ) [ {diekploon poieumenos tesi neusi di alleleon}.] 5 ( return ) [ {tou Dareiou}: a conjecture based upon Valla's translation. The MSS. have {ton Dareion}.] 6 ( return ) [ {prophasios epilabomenoi}.] 601 ( return ) [ {en stele anagraphenai patrothen}.] 7 ( return ) [ "were very roughly handled."] 8 ( return ) [ {epibateuontas}.] 801 ( return ) [ {nuktos te gar}: so Stein for {nuktos te}.] 9 ( return

1. Now when the report came to Dareios the son of Hystaspes of the battle which was fought at Marathon, the king, who even before this had been greatly exasperated with the Athenians on account of the attack made upon Sardis, then far more than before displayed indignation, and was far more desirous of making a march against Hellas. Accordingly at once he sent messengers to the various cities and ordered that they should get ready a force, appointing to each people to supply much more than at th

1 ( return ) [ {kai ploia}, for transport of horses and also of provisions: however these words are omitted in some of the best MSS.] 2 ( return ) [ {all ei}: this is the reading of the better class of MSS. The rest have {alla}, which with {pressois} could only express a wish for success, and not an exhortation to action.] 3 ( return ) [ {outos men oi o logos en timoros}: the words may mean "this manner of discourse was helpful for his purpose."] 4 ( return ) [ {khresmologon e kai diatheten khre

1. Those of the Hellenes who had been appointed to serve in the fleet were these:—the Athenians furnished a hundred and twenty-seven ships, and the Plataians moved by valour and zeal for the service, although they had had no practice in seamanship, yet joined with the Athenians in manning their ships. The Corinthians furnished forty ships, the Megarians twenty; the Chalkidians manned twenty ships with which the Athenians furnished them; 1 the Eginetans furnished eighteen ships, the Sikyonians tw

1 ( return ) [ See v. 77.] 2 ( return ) [ i.e. triremes.] 3 ( return ) [ {os to plethos ekastoi ton neon pareikhonto}: some read by conjecture {oson to plethos k.t.l.}] 4 ( return ) [ Perhaps "also" refers to the case of those who had come to Thermopylai, cp. vii. 207: Others translate, "these Hellenes who had come after all to Artemision," i.e. after all the doubt and delay.] 5 ( return ) [ {pantes}: some MSS. have {plegentes}, which is adopted by most Editors, "smitten by bribes."] 6 ( return

1. Mardonios, when Alexander had returned back and had signified to him that which was said by the Athenians, set forth from Thessaly and began to lead his army with all diligence towards Athens: and to whatever land he came, he took up with him the people of that land. The leaders of Thessaly meanwhile did not repent of all that which had been done already, but on the contrary they urged on the Persian yet much more; and Thorax of Larissa had joined in escorting Xerxes in his flight and at this

1 ( return ) [ "the same who at the former time also were of one accord together."] 2 ( return ) [ {ta ekeinon iskhura bouleumata}: some good MSS. omit {iskhura}, and so many Editors.] 3 ( return ) [ {up agnomosunes}.] 4 ( return ) [ {boulen}.] 5 ( return ) [ {exeneikai es ton dumon}.] 6 ( return ) [ {aleoren}.] 7 ( return ) [ Cp. viii. 140 (a).] 8 ( return ) [ {to men ap emeon outo akibdelon nemetai epi tous Ellenas}, "that which we owe to the Hellenes is thus paid in no counterfeit coin."] 9 (