it and took effectual measures to guard against it.  The Scythian expedition was no insane project of a frantic despot, burning for revenge, or ambitious of an impossible conquest.  It has all the appearance of being a well-laid plan, conceived by a moderate and wise prince, for the furtherance of a great design, and the permanent advantage of his empire.  The lord of South-Western Asia was well aware of the existence beyond his northern frontier of a standing menace to his power.  A century had not sufficed to wipe out the recollection of that terrible time when Scythian hordes had carried desolation far and wide over the fairest of the regions that were now under the Persian dominion.  What had occurred once might recur.  Possibly, as a modern author suggests, “the remembrance of ancient injuries may have been revived by recent aggressions.”  It was at any rate essential to strike terror into the hordes of the Steppe Region in order that Western Asia might attain a sense of security.  It was still more essential to do so if the north-west was to become the scene of war, and the Persians were to make a vigorous effort to establish themselves permanently in Europe.  Scythia, it must be remembered, reached to the banks of the Danube.  An invader, who aspired to the conquest even of Thrace, was almost forced into collision with her next neighbor.

Darius, having determined on his course, prefaced his expedition by a raid, the object of which was undoubtedly to procure information.  He ordered Ariaramnes, satrap of Cappadocia, to cross the Euxine with a small fleet, and, descending suddenly upon the Scythian coast, to carry off a number of prisoners.  Ariaramnes executed the commission skilfully, and was so fortunate as to make prize of a native of high rank, the brother of a Scythian chief or king.  From this person and his companions the Persian monarch was able to obtain all the information which he required.  Thus enlightened, he proceeded to make his preparations.  Collecting a fleet of 600 ships, chiefly from the Greeks of Asia, and an army estimated at from 700,000 to 800,000 men, which was made up of contingents from all the nations under his rule, he crossed the Bosphorus by a bridge of boats constructed by Mandrocles a Samian; marched through Thrace along the line of the Little Balkan, receiving the submission of the tribes as he went; crossed the Great Balkan; conquered the Getae, who dwelt between that range and the Danube; passed the Danube by a bridge, which the Ionian Greeks had made with their vessels just above the apex of the Delta; and so invaded Scythia.  The natives had received intelligence of his approach, and had resolved not to risk a battle.  They retired as he advanced, and endeavored to bring his army into difficulties by destroying the forage, driving off the cattle, and filling in the wells.  But the commissariat of the Persians was, as usual, well arranged.  Darius remained for more than two months in Scythia