Chapter 33 Thucydides

"This...how to do this?" Leptines began to worry.

Philistos was about to speak, when he saw the slave coming with the letter, he hurriedly opened two, and let the slave take it along with the one that Ancitanos gave him earlier: "Lord Ancitanos, look at it. Are the handwriting the same?"

Henepolis also got close to the teacher and picked up the letter for comparison.

"It's true that the handwriting is very different." Ancitalos nodded and admitted that Henepolis had nothing to say.

Philistos passed the letter to several others.

"This is obviously not written by Lord Philistos. I know that adults like to draw a hook at the end of the 'i' letter in the signature, and this person wrote a straight stick!" Marcia said loudly.

Herolis took a deep look at Philistos and simply spit out the word: "No."

Then hand the letter to Ferrosanus next to him.

Philothanus checked it carefully, raised the letter and said directly to Ancitaros: "This is definitely not the handwriting of Philostos!"

"Okay, things are finally getting a little more clear." Philistos rubbed his hands together, showing a relieved look, and then said with a serious expression: "It seems that someone deliberately pretended to be my name, and said to Lord Ancitanos. It seems that they are destroying the order of the Dionysian alliance, but they are actually trying to provoke the relationship between Syracuse and Dionia, in an attempt to induce war. As for the matter of Hermes , this is more related to the safety of Syracuse, and we have to investigate it in detail! But in any case, the source of Dionia's troubles came from Syracuse. As the chief executive of Syracuse, I have no doubts The management responsibility of shirk! Here, I would like to make the most sincere apology to Lord Ancitanos and the Dionysian Alliance!" He stood up and bowed to Ancitanos.

Ancitanos sat upright and received his salute.

"At the same time, Syracuse is also willing to make compensation for the loss caused by Dionia, to express our desire to be close and friendly with Dionia!" Philistos continued to express his expectations.

"This is also another important mission for me to be sent to Syracuse by the Senate this time." Ancitanos said solemnly: "The Dionysian Alliance is willing to sign an alliance agreement with Syracuse. , not only friendly exchanges in diplomacy, mutual prosperity in trade, but also in military security, there are powerful barbarians in the northern mountains of Dionia, who have repeatedly threatened our borders; Syracuse's strong enemy Carthage Although it has suffered repeated fiasco, it still has vast territory and great wealth in the African city, and it may make a comeback at any time. Therefore, Dionia is willing to join forces with Syracuse militarily to jointly protect the Greek city-states of the Western Mediterranean. Safety!……"

As soon as Ancitanos said this, the banquet suddenly became quiet.

Anyone with a bit of political savvy can hear the hidden meaning of Ancitanos’s words: First, Ancitanos is vaguely reminding everyone present that Carthage is still a strong enemy of Syracuse, and don’t make peace with him. Dionia was the enemy; second, Dionia wanted to interact with Syracuse on an equal footing, knowing that at this time, Syracuse was the leader of the Greek city-states in the Western Mediterranean.

"Our powerful Syracuse is not afraid of any enemy now! What is Carthage! It dares to come once, we will defeat him once!" Marcias loudly expressed his disdain for Carthage.

Philistos applauded and said: "Very good proposal! Lord Ancitanos, don't worry, I will report this to Lord Dionysius and let him make a decision."

"Thank you very much!" Ancitanos also expressed his gratitude.

"Alright! Alright! Now that the misunderstanding has been cleared up, let's continue drinking and talking!" Leptines shouted, raising his glass.

"Lord Leptines is right, we should all put those annoying political affairs aside. I originally wanted to talk to Lord Ancitanos tonight about how to write a history book.

Philistos took over the conversation and said with emotion: "Master Ancitanos, I also had the idea of ​​writing a book about the history of Sicily, but due to the busy political affairs, I couldn't find time for a while, so it was very special. I envy that you have the time and energy to do what you want to do. "

"Actually, I never dared to write it before, thanks to the encouragement and help of Lord Davos..." Ancitanos became more enthusiastic when it came to writing history: "But although I have written part of it now, I've decided to throw it away and write it again."

"Why?" Philistos asked curiously.

"Do you know Thucydides?" asked Ancitanos.

The crowd shook their heads and said they didn't know.

"I didn't know it before, but I learned about this person after the introduction of Lord Davos. Although he was unknown in the Mediterranean before this, I believe that in a few years, his name will spread throughout Greece! I I even think he is greater than Herodotus!" Ancitanos said with a look of reverence.

"He wrote a history book?" After all, Ancitanos was a well-known scholar in Greater Greece, and his praise naturally moved Philistos.

"Yes. Thucydides was an Athenian, served as the 'Ten Generals', participated in the Peloponnesian War, and was later exiled by the Citizens Assembly. He lived in seclusion in Thrace and spent more than 20 years concentrating on Writing about the history of the Peloponnesian War... After the war, he returned to Athens, and when Lord Davos sent to visit him, he was very ill, lying in bed, unable to carry a pen. Lord Davos He copied the manuscript from his son and nephew at great expense and brought it back to Turii, ready to store it in the library that was about to be built.

I read this book seriously, although it is not completely written, it is definitely a great historical masterpiece! Thucydides abandoned some of Herodotus's practices, did not write any rumors about oracles, prophecies, etc. in the book, but recorded every event that happened in the Peloponnesian War in chronological order. Describe the event truthfully. As he wrote at the very beginning, 'I have recorded partly from my own experience and partly from material given to me by other witnesses, using the strictest and most careful method possible. Verified...'.

Moreover, although he was an Athenian, he did not favor Athens in the book, but described Athens, Sparta, and other city-states involved in this war in a completely neutral manner, although he said 'I am A historical work without anecdotes and anecdotes would be hard to read,' but whenever I think about this book, the images of the Peloponnesian War come to my mind with unparalleled realism. I think even if the time passes decades, hundreds of years, people are still willing to read it over and over again to understand the truth of this war. And those of us who are willing to write history should also learn from him and use his historical works as a template to write a new history, which is why I want to rewrite it! "

After Ancitanos finished speaking extremely seriously, Philistos couldn't sit still and asked eagerly, "What is the name of this history book written by Thucydides? Has it been announced?"

"The History of the Peloponnesian War, I don't think it has been published yet, but it's coming soon." Ancitanos said, "If Lord Philistos is eager to read it, I can copy it when I go back. Sent to you."

"That's so grateful!" Philistos replied repeatedly.

"It's nothing, I'm very happy to see another companion on the road of exploring history!" Ancitanos said sincerely.

"Well said, I also hope to ask Lord Ancitanos for advice in the future and communicate with each other in writing history. Come, drink this cup for our friendship!" After speaking, Philistos turned to Ansitano. Si Yao raised his glass.

The two drank.

The crowd cheered happily, and the atmosphere became lively.

Philistos put down the glass, wiped the foam from the corner of his mouth, and said with high spirits: "At this moment, it would be great if the Thucydides scholar you mentioned was also at the banquet!"

"I think it's impossible." Ancitanos said in a deep voice, "The Athenian Thucydides... passed away not long ago..."

Philistos' smile froze on his face, and he said in a voiceless voice, "What?! He's dead?!"

"Yes, this is the exact news from Athens. I originally wanted to make time to visit him in Athens, but..." Ancitanos looked regretful and sad.

"What's so sad! Listening to what you said, this Athenian left behind a great book, so even if he went to hell, he would have no regrets." Pherothanus was slightly drunk. Eyes, shouted loudly: "Bring the lyre, I will sing a song for him!"

"It's rare to hear Pherothanus sing a song!" Haroris also began to get excited.

The slave brought the lyre at the behest of Philistos.

The somewhat drunk Ferrosanus took it over cautiously, tried a few notes, and then praised: "Good piano!"

As he said that, he jumped up and sat reclining directly on the dining table, ignoring the oil stains on his clothes.

The female slave next to him was busy removing the food on the table, and he had already started to pluck the strings, and the sweet music flowed from his sliding right hand. He was immersed in the music, and then improvised and sang: in the lonely sky,

Look for the star that shines brighter than the sun,

What joy in the world can be compared to walking in the long river of history,

talk to heroes,

Sing with the warriors,

The muse offers you a wreath of olives,

Apollo drove the gleaming chariot,

You are in the car,

 …”

The crowd reconciled softly and sent their sincere silence and blessings to the Athenian they had never met.

This evening, the host and guests enjoyed themselves.