day the rich offerings, for they shall come to you without stint and sparing, seeing that the sons of men shall hasten hither from all lands, to learn my will and ask for aid in the hour of fear. Only guard ye my temple well, and keep your hands clean and your heart pure: for if ye deal rightly no man shall take away your glory; but if ye speak lies and do iniquity, if ye hurt the people who come to my altar, and make them to go astray, then shall other men rise up in your place, and ye yourselves shall be thrust out for ever, because ye would not obey my words.'13

THE VENGEANCE OF APOLLO.14

N the cool evening time King Darius walked

Persians were around him. Then came there a messenger from the western land in haste and said, 'O King, the men of Athens with the sons of Javan have taken thy city of Sardes, and the temple of the great goddess Kybêbê has been burnt.' And King Darius answered quickly and said, 'What sayest thou, O messenger, that men of whose name I never heard have come with my slaves against the land of the great king?' Then he bade them bring a bow and arrows; and while one went for them, the Persians stood round him in silence, for they feared to say aught while the king was angry. So when he took the bow, he fitted an arrow to it and shot it up into the sky, and prayed, saying, 'O Zeus, that dwellest in the high heavens, suffer me to be avenged upon the men of Athens. The sons of Javan are my slaves, and sorely shall they be smitten for the deeds which they have

done.' Then he gave command, and each day, when the banquet was spread in the gilded hall, and the king sat down to meat, there stood forth one who said with a loud voice, 'O king, forget not the men of Athens.'

But Zeus hearkened not to the prayer of the great king, for the ships were made ready, and his chieftains and warriors hastened away to the Athenian land, and fought in Marathon. But they fared not well in the battle, for the men of Athens strove mightily for their country, and the bright heroes came back to aid their kinsfolk. Then were there seen wonderful forms taller and more glorious than the sons of men; and the mighty Echetlæos with his great ploughshare smote down the chiefest of the Medes. So in great fear the Persians fled to the sea-shore, while the men of Athens slew them on the land and in the water as they struggled to reach the ships. And when the fight was over, they spoiled the Persians who lay dead on the sea-shore, and took rich plunder, for scattered about they found embroidered turbans, and bright swords and daggers, and golden bits and bridles, and silken robes and jewels.

Thus sped the hosts of King Darius; and the messenger came again in haste, as he sat on his