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He now quickened his march, and entering Scythia, fell in with the
two combined divisions of the Scythian army, and instantly gave them
chase. They kept to their plan of retreating before him at the
distance of a day's march; and, he still following them hotly, they
led him, as had been previously settled, into the territories of the
nations that had refused to become their allies, and first of all into
the country of the Melanchaeni. Great disturbance was caused among
this people by the invasion of the Scyths first, and then of the
Persians. So, having harassed them after this sort, the Scythians
led the way into the land of the Androphagi, with the same result as
before; and thence passed onwards into Neuris, where their coming
likewise spread dismay among the inhabitants. Still retreating they
approached the Agathyrsi; but this people, which had witnessed the
flight and terror of their neighbours, did not wait for the Scyths to
invade them, but sent a herald to forbid them to cross their borders,
and to forewarn them, that, if they made the attempt, it would be
resisted by force of arms. The Agathyrsi then proceeded to the
frontier, to defend their country against the invaders. As for the
other nations, the Melanchaeni, the Androphagi, and the Neuri,
instead of defending themselves, when the Scyths and Persians overran
their lands, they forgot their threats and fled away in confusion to
the deserts lying towards the north. The Scythians, when the
Agathyrsi forbade them to enter their country, refrained; and led the
Persians back from the Neurian district into their own land.
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