- Source
- Herodotus. Godley, Alfred Denis, editor. Cambridge, MA; London: Harvard University Press; William Heinemann, Ltd., 1920-1925 (printing).
- Translation
- AI-generated (gemini-3.5-flash) — machine translation; may contain errors
- Languages
- 日本語 · English · 简体中文 · 한국어
- CTS URN
- urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:4.139.1-4.139.3
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-10
The Greek tyrants decide on a plan to break down only the Scythian side of the bridge to pretend cooperation, and Histiaeus deceives the Scythians by claiming they are dismantling it while urging them to pursue the Persians.
οὗτοι ὦν ἐπείτε τὴν Ἱστιαίου αἱρέοντο γνώμην, ἔδοξε σφι πρὸς ταύτῃ τάδε ἔργα τε καὶ ἔπεα προσθεῖναι, τῆς μὲν γεφύρης λύειν τὰ κατὰ τοὺς Σκύθας ἐόντα, λύειν δὲ ὅσον τόξευμα ἐξικνέεται, ἵνα καὶ ποιέειν τι δοκέωσι ποιεῦντες μηδὲν1 καὶ οἱ Σκύθαι μὴ πειρῴατο βιώμενοι καὶ βουλόμενοι διαβῆναι τὸν Ἴστρον κατὰ τὴν γέφυραν, εἰπεῖν τε λύοντας2 τῆς γεφύρης τὸ ἐς τὴν Σκυθικὴν ἔχον ὡς πάντα ποιήσουσι τὰ Σκύθησι ἐστὶ ἐν ἡδονῇ.
Therefore, when they chose the opinion of Histiaeus, they decided to add to it the following deeds and words: to break down the part of the bridge which was on the side of the Scythians, and to break down as much of it as a bowshot could reach, in order that they might seem to be doing something though they were doing nothing, and that the Scythians might not attempt to force their way across the Istrus by the bridge, wishing to cross it; and to say to them, while they were breaking down the part of the bridge facing Scythia, that they would do everything that was pleasing to the Scythians.
ταῦτα μὲν προσέθηκαν τῇ γνώμῃ. μετὰ δὲ ἐκ πάντων ὑπεκρίνατο Ἱστιαῖος τάδε λέγων. Ἄνδρες Σκύθαι, χρηστὰ ἥκετε φέροντες καὶ ἐς καιρὸν ἐπείγεσθε· καὶ τά τε ἀπʼ ὑμέων ἡμῖν χρηστῶς ὁδοῦται καὶ τὰ ἀπʼ ἡμέων ἐς ὑμέας ἐπιτηδέως ὑπηρετέεται. ὡς γὰρ ὁρᾶτε, καὶ λύομεν τὸν πόρον καὶ προθυμίην πᾶσαν ἕξομεν θέλοντες εἶναι ἐλεύθεροι.
These things they added to the opinion. And afterwards Histiaeus answered on behalf of them all, speaking as follows: “Scythians, you have come bringing good tidings, and you have hastened in good season; what comes from you is going well for us, and what comes from us is being dutifully rendered to you. For as you see, we are breaking down the passage, and we shall show all zeal, wishing to be free.
ἐν ᾧ δὲ ἡμεῖς τάδε λύομεν, ὑμέας καιρός ἐστι δίζησθαι3 ἐκείνους, εὑρόντας δὲ ὑπέρ τε ἡμέων καὶ ὑμέων αὐτῶν τίσασθαι οὕτω ὡς κείνους πρέπει.
But while we are breaking this down, it is time for you to seek them out, and having found them, to take vengeance upon them both for our sake and for your own, in such a manner as is fitting for them.”
- 4.139.1ποιέειν τι δοκέωσι ποιεῦντες μηδέν
The present subjunctive δοκέωσι (Ionic for δοκῶσι) governs the infinitive ποιέειν, while the present participle ποιεῦντες (Ionic for ποιοῦντες) is used concessively with the negative μηδέν. This construct expresses the deceptive plan: 'in order that they might seem to be doing something, though in reality they are doing nothing.'
- 4.139.1λύοντας
Although the dative pronoun σφι is used with the main impersonal verb ἔδοξε ('it seemed good to them'), the participle λύοντας is placed in the accusative as the subject of the subsequent infinitive εἰπεῖν. This reflects a common Greek grammatical tendency where the logical subject of an infinitive shifts to the accusative in impersonal constructions.
- 4.139.3ὑμέας καιρός ἐστι δίζησθαι
The accusative pronoun ὑμέας serves as the logical subject of the infinitive δίζησθαι (Ionic for ζητεῖν), which depends on the impersonal phrase καιρός ἐστι ('it is time [for someone] to [do something]'). The entire clause expresses a timely obligation: 'it is time for you to seek them out.'