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ey were afflicted。 The Pythoness in reply told them 〃that if they and Battus would make a settlement at Cyrene in Libya； things would go better with them。〃 Upon this the Theraeans sent out Battus with two penteconters； and with these he proceeded to Libya； but within a little time； not knowing what else to do； the men returned and arrived off Thera。 The Theraeans； when they saw the vessels approaching； received them with showers of missiles； would not allow them to come near the shore； and ordered the men to sail back from whence they came。 Thus compelled to return； they settled on an island near the Libyan coast； which （as I have already said） was called Platea。 In size it is reported to have been about equal to the city of Cyrene； as it now stands。 In this place they continued two years； but at the end of that time； as their ill luck still followed them； they left the island to the care of one of their number； and went in a body to Delphi； where they made complaint at the shrine to the effect that； notwithstanding they had colonised Libya； they prospered as poorly as before。 Hereon the Pythoness made them the following answer：…
Knowest thou better than I； fair Libya abounding in fleeces？ Better the stranger than he who has trod it？ Oh！ clever Theraeans！
Battus and his friends； when they heard this； sailed back to Platea： it was plain the god would not hold them acquitted of the colony till they were absolutely in Libya。 So； taking with them the man whom they had left upon the island； they made a settlement on the mainland directly opposite Platea； fixing themselves at a place called Aziris； which is closed in on both sides by the most beautiful hills； and on one side is washed by a river。 Here they remained six years； at the end of which time the Libyans induced them to move； promising that they would lead them to a better situation。 So the Greeks left Aziris and were conducted by the Libyans towards the west； their journey being so arranged； by the calculation of their guides； that they passed in the night the most beautiful district of that whole country； which is the region called Irasa。 The Libyans brought them to a spring； which goes by the name of Apollo's fountain； and told them… 〃Here； Grecians； is the proper place for you to settle； for here the sky leaks。〃 During the lifetime of Battus； the founder of the colony； who reigned forty years； and during that of his son Arcesilaus； who reigned sixteen； the Cyrenaeans continued at the same level； neither more nor fewer in number than they were at the first。 But in the reign of the third king； Battus； surnamed the Happy； the advice of the Pythoness brought Greeks from every quarter into Libya； to join the settlement。 The Cyrenaeans had offered to all comers a share in their lands； and the oracle had spoken as follows：…
He that is backward to share in the pleasant Libyan acres； Sooner or later； I warn him； will feel regret at his folly。
Thus a great multitude were collected together to Cyrene； and the Libyans of the neighbourhood found themselves stripped of large portions of their lands。 So they； and their king Adicran； being robbed and insulted by the Cyrenaeans； sent messengers to Egypt； and put themselves under the rule of Apries； the Egyptian monarch； who； upon this； levied a vast army of Egyptians； and sent them against Cyrene。 The inhabitants of that place left their walls and marched out in force to the district of Irasa； where； near the spring called Theste； they engaged the Egyptian host； and defeated it。 The Egyptians； who had never before made trial of the prowess of the Greeks； and so thought but meanly of them； were routed with such slaughter that but a very few of them ever got back home。 For this reason； the subjects of Apries； who laid the blame of the defeat on him； revolted from his authority。 This Battus left a son called Arcesilaus； who； when he came to the throne； had dissensions with his brothers； which ended in their quitting him and departing to another region of Libya； where； after consulting among themselves； they founded the city； which is still called by the name then given to it； Barca。 At the same time they endeavoured to induce the Libyans to revolt from Cyrene。 Not long afterwards Arcesilaus made an expedition against the Libyans who had received his brothers and been prevailed upon to revolt； and they； fearing his power； fled to their countrymen who dwelt towards the east。 Arcesilaus pursued； and chased them to a place called Leucon； which is in Libya； where the Libyans resolved to risk a battle。 Accordingly they engaged the Cyrenaeans； and defeated them so entirely that as many as seven thousand of their heavy…armed were slain in the fight。 Arcesilaus； after this blow； fell sick； and； whilst he was under the influence of a draught which he had taken； was strangled by Learchus； one of his brothers。 This Learchus was afterwards entrapped by Eryxo； the widow of Arcesilaus； and put to death。 Battus； Arcesilaus' son； succeeded to the kingdom； a lame man； who limped in his walk。 Their late calamities now induced the Cyrenaeans to send to Delphi and inquire of the god what form of government they had best set up to secure themselves prosperity。 The Pythoness answered by recommending them to fetch an arbitrator from Mantinea in Arcadia。 Accordingly they sent； and the Mantineans gave them a man named Demonax； a person of high repute among the citizens； who； on his arrival at Cyrene； having first made himself acquainted with all the circumstances； proceeded to enrol the people in three tribes。 One he made to consist of the Theraeans and their vassals； another of the Peloponnesians and Cretans； and a third of the various islanders。 Besides this； he deprived the king Battus of his former privileges； only reserving for him certain sacred lands and offices； while； with respect to the powers which had hitherto been exercised by the king； he gave them all into the hands of the people。 Thus matters rested during the lifetime of this Battus； but when his son Arcesilaus came to the throne； great disturbance arose about the privileges。 For Arcesilaus； son of Battus the lame and Pheretima； refused to submit to the arrangements of Demonax the Mantinean； and claimed all the powers of his forefathers。 In the contention which followed Arcesilaus was worsted； whereupon he fled to Samos； while his mother took refuge at Salamis in the island of Cyprus。 Salamis was at that time ruled by Evelthon； the same who offered at Delphi the censer which is in the treasury of the Corinthians； a work deserving of admiration。 Of him Pheretima made request that he would give her an army whereby she and her son might regain Cyrene。 But Evelthon； preferring to give her anything rather than an army； made her various presents。 Pheretima accepted them all； saying； as she took them： 〃Good is this too； O king！ but better were it to give me the army which I crave at thy hands。〃 Finding that she repeated these words each time that he presented her with a gift； Evelthon at last sent her a golden spindle and distaff； with the wool ready for spinning。 Again she uttered the same speech as before； whereupon Evelthon rejoined…〃These are the gifts I present to women； not armies。〃 At Samos； meanwhile； Arcesilaus was collecting troops by the promise of granting them lands。 Having in this way drawn together a vast host； he sent to Delphi to consult the oracle about his restoration。 The answer of the Pythoness was this： 〃Loxias grants thy race to rule over Cyrene； till four kings Battus； four Arcesilaus by name； have passed away。 Beyond this term of eight generations of men； he warns you not to seek to extend your reign。 Thou； for thy part； be gentle； when thou art restored。 If thou findest the oven full of jars； bake not the jars； but be sure to speed them on their way。 If； however； thou heatest the oven； then avoid the island else thou wilt die thyself； and with thee the most beautiful bull。〃 So spake the Pythoness。 Arcesilaus upon this returned to Cyrene； taking with him the troops which he had raised in Samos。 There he obtained possession of the supreme power； whereupon； forgetful of the oracle； he took proceedings against those who had driven him into banishment。 Some of them fled from him and quitted the country for good； others fell into his hands and were sent to suffer death in Cyprus。 These last happening on their passage to put in through stress of weather at Cnidus； the Cnidians rescued them； and sent them off to Thera。 Another body found a refuge in the great tower of Aglomachus； a private edifice； and were there destroyed by Arcesilaus； who heaped wood around the place； and burnt them to death。 Aware； after the deed was done； that this was what the Pythoness meant when she warned him； if he found the jars in the oven； not to bake them； he withdrew himself of his own accord from the city of Cyrene； believing that to be the island of the oracle； and fearing to die as had been prophesied。 Being married to a relation of his own； a daughter of Alazir； at that time king of the Barcaeans； he took up his abode with him。 At Barca； however； certain of the citizens； together with a number of Cyrenaean exiles； recognising him as he walked in the