MARDONIUS COMES TO IONIA. to govern themselves, subject to the Persian dominion and trib- ute. This was a complete reversal of the former policy of Per- sia, and must be ascribed to a new conviction, doubtless wise ard well founded, which had recently grown up among the Persian leaders, that on the whole their unpopularity was aggravated, more than their strength was increased, by employing these des- pots as instruments. The phenomena of the late Ionic revolt were well calculated to teach such a lesson ; but we shall not often find the Persians profiting by experience, throughout the course of this history. Mardonius did not remain long in Ionia, but passed on with his fleet to the Hellespont, where the land-force had already ar- rived. He transported it across into Europe, and began his march through Thrace ; all of which had already been reduced by Megabazus, and does not seem to have participated in the Ionic revolt. The island of Thasus surrendered to the fleet without any resistance, and the land-force was conveyed acrosc the Strymon to the Greek city of Akanthus, on the western coast of the Strymonic gulf. From hence his land-force marched into Macedonia, and subdued a considerable portion of its inhabitants, perhaps some of those not comprised in the dominion of Amyn- tas, since that prince had before submitted to Megabazus. Mean- while, he sent his fleet to double the promontory of Mount Athos, and to join the land-force again at the gulf of Therma. with a view of conquering as much of Greece as he could, and even of prosecuting the march as far as Athens and Eretria ;' so that the expedition afterwards accomplished by Xerxes would tlcmius, Herodotus reasons from it as an analogy for the purpose of vindi- cating the correctness of another of his statements, which, he acquaints us, many persons disputed ; namely, the discussion which he reports to have taken place among the seven conspirators, after the death of the Magian Smerdis, whether they should establish a monarchy, an oligarchy, or a democracy, ev&avra [teyiffTov $wi)//a Ipsu Tolai fti) airodeKopevoiai TUI. 'EMijvuv, Hepfffuv rola i, enra 'Oravea JVU^TIV a7ro(5e'acrt?at, ug XP? UV e " i n tyuoKpaTESG&ai Hepaaf roiif jilp Tvpdvvovg TUV 'lavuv ica~aTravaa{ nuvraf o MapcJwiOf, 6r/fj.oKpa.Tia. Kariara if ruf Tro/Uaf. Such passages as this let as into the controversies of the time, and prove that Herodotus found many objectors to his story about the discussion on theories of government wnong the seven Persian conspirators (iii, 80-82). 1 Herodot. vi, 43, 44, inopevovTe di im re 'EptTpiav nal ' VOL. IT. 14
