Histories

Miltiades son of Cimon took possession of +Lemnos [25.25,39.916] (island), Lesvos, Aegean Islands, Greece, Europe Lemnos in this way: When the Pelasgians [*](The Pelasgians were driven into Attica [23.5,38.83] (department), Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Attica by the Boeotian immigration, about sixty years after the Trojan war according to legend.) were driven out of Attica [23.5,38.83] (department), Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Attica by the Athenians, whether justly or unjustly I cannot say, beyond what is told; namely, that Hecataeus the son of Hegesandrus declares in his history that the act was unjust;

for when the Athenians saw the land under +Imittos [23.816,37.95] (inhabited place), Attica, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Hymettus, formerly theirs, which they had given to the Pelasgians as a dwelling-place in reward for the wall that had once been built around the acropolis—when the Athenians saw how well this place was tilled which previously had been bad and worthless, they were envious and coveted the land, and so drove the Pelasgians out on this and no other pretext. But the Athenians themselves say that their reason for expelling the Pelasgians was just.

The Pelasgians set out from their settlement at the foot of +Imittos [23.816,37.95] (inhabited place), Attica, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Hymettus and wronged the Athenians in this way: Neither the Athenians nor any other Hellenes had servants yet at that time, and their sons and daughters used to go to the Nine Wells [*](S.E. of Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens, near the +Ilisos Potamos (brook), Attica, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Ilissus.) for water; and whenever they came, the Pelasgians maltreated them out of mere arrogance and pride. And this was not enough for them; finally they were caught in the act of planning to attack Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens.

The Athenians were much better men than the Pelasgians, since when they could have killed them, caught plotting as they were, they would not so do, but ordered them out of the country. The Pelasgians departed and took possession of +Lemnos [25.25,39.916] (island), Lesvos, Aegean Islands, Greece, Europe Lemnos, besides other places. This is the Athenian story; the other is told by Hecataeus.