Chapter XXXIV: Demokedes. — Darius Invades Scythia

Conquering dispositions of Darius. — Influence of his wife,
Atossa. — Dêmokêdês, the Krotoniate surgeon — his adventures — he
is carried a slave to Susa. — He cures Darius, who rewards him
munificently. — He procures permission by artifice, and through
the influence of Atossa, to return to Greece. — Atossa suggests
to Darius an expedition against Greece. — Dêmokêdês, with some
Persians, is sent to procure information for him. — Voyage of
Dêmokêdês along the coast of Greece — he stays at Kroton — fate
of his Persian companions. — Consequences which might have been
expected to happen if Darius had then undertaken his expedition
against Greece. — Darius marches against Scythia. — His naval
force formed of Asiatic and insular Greeks. — He directs the
Greeks to throw a bridge over the Danube and crosses the river.
— He marches into Scythia — narrative of his march impossible
and unintelligible, considered as history. — The description
of his march is rather to be looked upon as a fancy-picture,
illustrative of Scythian warfare. — Poetical grouping of the
Scythians and their neighbors by Herodotus. — Strong impression
produced upon the imagination of Herodotus by the Scythians. —
Orders given by Darius to the Ionians at the bridge over the
Danube. — The Ionians are left in guard of the bridge; their
conduct when Darius’s return is delayed. — The Ionian despots
preserve the bridge and enable Darius to recross the river, as
a means of support to their own dominion at home. — Opportunity
lost of emancipation from the Persians — Conquest of Thrace by
the Persians as far as the river Strymon — Myrkinus near that
river given to Histiæus. — Macedonians and Pæonians are conquered
by Megabazus. — Insolence of the Persian envoys in Macedonia
— they are murdered. — Histiæus founds a prosperous colony at
Myrkinus — Darius sends for him into Asia. — Otanês Persian
general on the Hellespont — he conquers the Pelasgian population
of Lemnos, Imbros, etc. — Lemnos and Imbros captured by the
Athenians and Miltiadês. 252-280