Histories

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.

These Pelasgians dwelt at that time in +Lemnos [25.25,39.916] (island), Lesvos, Aegean Islands, Greece, Europe Lemnos and desired vengeance on the Athenians. Since they well knew the time of the Athenian festivals, they acquired fifty-oared ships and set an ambush for the Athenian women celebrating the festival of Artemis at +Brauron [24.025,37.9167] (Perseus) Brauron. They seized many of the women, then sailed away with them and brought them to +Lemnos [25.25,39.916] (island), Lesvos, Aegean Islands, Greece, Europe Lemnos to be their concubines.

These women bore more and more children, and they taught their sons the speech of Attica [23.5,38.83] (department), Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Attica and Athenian manners. These boys would not mix with the sons of the Pelasgian women; if one of them was beaten by one of the others, they would all run to his aid and help each other; these boys even claimed to rule the others, and were much stronger.