Histories

the subject and τὰ κρέα is accusative of definition, “wasting away in his flesh.” Some MSS. have διαφθείρειν, “that he is spoiling his flesh for them.” ↩

γὰρ: some would read δὲ, but the meaning seems to be, “this is done universally, for in the case of weakness arising from old age, the same takes place.” ↩

πρὸς ἄρκτου τε καὶ βορέω ἀνέμον. ↩

This clause indicates the manner in which the size is so exactly known. ↩

αὐτοἱ, i.e. in themselves as well as in their habits. Some MSS. read τὸ for αὐτοὶ, which is adopted by several Editors; others adopt the conjecture αὐτοῖς. ↩

I.e. two in each hind-leg. ↩

καὶ παραλύεσθαι: καὶ is omitted in some MSS. and by some Editors. ↩

οὐκ ὁμοῦ: some Editors omit οὐκ: the meaning seems to be that in case of necessity they are thrown off one after another to delay the pursuing animals. ↩

The meaning of the passage is doubtful: possibly it should be translated (omitting καὶ) “the male camels, being inferior in speed to the females, flag in their course and are dragged along, first one and then the other.” ↩

See II. 75. ↩

μετρὶ: the MSS. have μέτρῃ, “womb,” but for this Herodotus seems to use the plural. ↩

μητέρα: most MSS. have μήτρῃ. ↩

Most of the MSS. have αὐτῶν before τὰ μέλεα, which by some Editors is omitted, and by others altered to αὐτίκα. If αὐτῶν is to stand it must be taken with καταπετομένας, “flying down upon them,” and so it is punctuated in the Medicean MS. ↩

ἕλκεα. There is a play upon the words ἐπελειν and ἕλκεα which can hardly be reproduced in translation. ↩

Κασσιτερίδας. ↩

ὁ κασσίτερος. ↩

Cp. IV. 13. ↩

ἀκινάκεα. ↩

This is the second of the satrapies mentioned in the list, see ch. 90, named from its chief town. Oroites also possessed himself of the first satrapy, of which the chief town was Magnesia (ch. 122), and then of the third (see ch. 127). ↩

The satrapy of Daskyleion is the third in the list, see ch. 90. ↩

σὺ γὰρ ἐν ἀνδρῳν λόγῳ. ↩

Or, “banqueting hall,” cp. IV. 95. ↩

ἀπεστραμμάνον: most of the MSS. have ἐπεστραμμένον, “turned towards (the wall).” ↩

“Whenever he (i.e. Zeus) rained.” ↩

This clause, “as Amasis the king of Egypt had foretold to him,” is omitted in some MSS. and by some Editors. ↩

οἰδεόντων ἔτι τῶν πραηγμάτων: cp. ch. 76. ↩

I.e. satrapies: see ch. 89, 90. ↩

ἀπικομάνων καὶ ἀνακομισθέντων: the first perhaps referring to the slaves and the other to the rest of the property. ↩

I.e. the art of evasion. ↩

ἐς τοῦ χρυσοῦ αὺν θήκῃ: ἐς is not in the MSS., which have generally τοῦ χρυσοῦ σὺν θήκῃ: one only has τοῦ χρυσοῦ τὴν θήλην. ↩

στατῆρας: i.e. the στατὴρ Δαρεικός “Daric,” worth about £1; cp. note on VII. 28. ↩

ἑκατὸν μνέων, “a hundred minae,” of which sixty go to the talent. ↩

This passage, from “for this event happened” to the end of the chapter, is suspected as an interpolation by some Editors, on internal grounds. ↩

Tarentum. Italy means for Herodotus the southern part of the peninsula only. ↩

ῥηστώνης: so one inferior MS., probably by conjectural emendation: the rest have κρηστώνης. The Ionic form however of ῥᾳστώνη would be ῥηιστὼνη. Some would read χρηστώνης, a word which is not found, but might mean the same as χρησμοσύνης (IX. 33), “in consequence of the request of Demokedes.” ↩

κατ’ ἐμπορίην στρατευόμενοι: some MSS. read κατ’ ἐμπορίην, οἱ δὲ στρατευὸμενοι, “some for trade, others serving in the army.” ↩

πρόθυρα. ↩

ἤ τις ἤ οὐδείς. ↩

ισονομίην: see ch. 80, note. ↩

ἀλλ’ οὐδ’ ἄξιος εἶς σύ γε. Maiandrios can claim no credit or reward for giving up that of which by his own unworthiness he would in any case have been deprived. ↩

οὐ δή τι: some read οὐδ’ ἔτι or οὐ δὴ ἔτι, “no longer kept the purpose.” ↩

ἐν γοργύρῃ: the word also means a “sewer” or “conduit.” ↩

προσεμπικρανέεσθαι ἔμελλον τοῖσι Σαμίοισι. ↩

τοὺς διφροφορευμένους: a doubtful word: it seems to be a sort of title belonging to Persians of a certain rank, perhaps those who were accompanied by men to carry seats for them, the same as the θρόνοι mentioned in ch. 144; or,