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Now the Chersonesites relate that the following prodigy befell one of
the Greeks who guarded the captives. He was broiling upon a fire some
salted fish, when of a sudden they began to leap and quiver, as if
they had been only just caught. Hereat, the rest of the guards
hurried round to look, and were greatly amazed at the sight.
Artayctes, however, beholding the prodigy, called the man to him,
and said -
"Fear not, Athenian stranger, because of this marvel. It has not
appeared on thy account, but on mine. Protesilaus of Elaeus has sent
it to show me, that albeit he is dead and embalmed with salt, he has
power from the gods to chastise his injurer. Now then I would fain
acquit my debt to him thus. For the riches which I took from his
temple, I will fix my fine at one hundred talents - while for myself
and this boy of mine, I will give the Athenians two hundred talents,
on condition that they will spare our lives."
Such were the promises of Artayctes; but they failed to persuade
Xanthippus. For the men of Elaeus, who wished to avenge
Protesilaus, entreated that he might be put to death; and Xanthippus
himself was of the same mind. So they led Artayctes to the tongue of
land where the bridges of Xerxes had been fixed - or, according to
others, to the knoll above the town of Madytus; and, having nailed
him to a board, they left him hanging thereupon. As for the son of
Artayctes, him they stoned to death before his eyes.
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