head of Cyrus in a vessel filled with blood; mocking the dead man in these words, she said: ‘Thou hast ruined me (though) alive, and thy victress: for thou hast slain my son; but I will satiate thee with blood.’
XVI.SPARTAN BREVITY.
85.Once upon a time the Samians, having been expelled by Polycrates, came to Sparta. Having been brought before the Ephors, they spoke at great length, asking for help. But these replied, ‘We have forgotten your first words, and do not understand your last.’ Being subsequently introduced again, bringing a sack, they said nothing else save these words: ‘The sack lacks corn.' To these words the Spartans replied, ‘Now we understand: we shall afford you assistance.’
XVII.THE BATTLE OF THE WHIPS.
86.Formerly, their slaves having made a conspiracy against the Scythians, fought a battle (against them). They fought for a long time. At length one of the Scythians spoke as follows: ‘Scythians, what are we doing, pray? While fighting with our slaves we are being slain ourselves: also, when they have been killed, we shall then have fewer (slaves). Therefore, leaving our spears and arrows, let us take our whips, and make an attack on our slaves, for they think themselves equal to and like us; but when we have taken our whips, they will remember their slavery.’ The Scythians obeyed these words; but the slaves, seeing the whips, betook themselves to flight.
XVIII.THE MAGIC RING.
87.Once, a certain Gyges, on the earth gaping after some heavy rains, descended into that aperture, and saw a brazen horse. In its sides were doors; on these being opened, he saw a body of a dead man of wonderful size, having on its finger a golden ring. He put on the ring himself (now he was a slave of the king), and then betook himself to the assembly of the
