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 version 2
covers
As you read this book, let your imagination run wild.
c
What will you create with Scratch? ve ov
rs er
– from the foreword by professor mitchel resnick, creator of scratch io s

super

SUPER SCRATCH PROGRAMMING ADVENTURE!

n
2

SC R ATC H
Comics! games! Programming!
VENTURE !
AD
Scratch is the wildly popular ­educational This full-color comic book makes pro-
PROGR AMMING
programming language used by ­millions gramming concepts like variables, flow
of first-time learners in classrooms and control, and subroutines effortless to
homes worldwide. By dragging ­together absorb. Packed with ideas for games
colorful blocks of code, kids can learn that kids will be proud to show off,
computer programming concepts and Super Scratch Programming Adventure!
make cool games and animations. The is the perfect first step for the budding
latest version, Scratch 2, brings the lan­ programmer.
guage right into your web browser, with
About the Author
no need to download software.
The Learning through Engineering,
In Super Scratch Programming Adventure!, Art, and Design (LEAD) Project is an
kids learn programming fundamentals educational initiative established to
as they make their very own playable encourage the development of creative Learn to
video games. They’ll create projects thinking through the use of technology. Program
g
by Makin
inspired by classic arcade games that Created by the Hong Kong Federation of
can be programmed (and played!) in an Youth Groups in collaboration with the
Cool
Games !
afternoon. Patient, step-by-step expla- MIT Media Lab, the LEAD Project pro-
nations of the code and fun program- motes hands-on, design-based activities
ming challenges will have kids creating to foster innovation, problem-solving
their own games in no time. skills, and technical literacy.

For ages 8 and up

PRICE: $24.95 Shelve In: Computers/Programming Languages

T H E F I N E ST I N G E E K E N T E RTA I N M E N T ™
w w w.nostarch.com
The Project
 Praise for
Super Scratch
Programming Adventure!

“Reveals the power of this deceptively simple programming language . . .

A fun way to learn how to program Scratch, even for adults.”
—Mark Frauenfelder, Boing Boing

“A great introduction to game design. Kids will start building games

from the first page.”
—Liz Upton, The Raspberry Pi Project

“If you think you might have a future programmer on your hands,
it’s time to introduce your kid to Scratch. . . . Super Scratch Pro­
gramming Adventure! makes it even easier to get started.”
—Ruth Suehle, GeekMom

“If you have a kid who plays around with a computer and can read
even a little, get this.”
—Greg Laden, National Geographic’s ScienceBlogs

“An enjoyable and highly accessible introduction to this technology

and the power of computing.”
—Patrice Gans, Education Week’s BookMarks

“If you’ve got a child or maybe even a classroom of students who are
wanting to make their own games, Scratch is a great option. . . . For
structured training that is also entertaining, Super Scratch Pro­gram­
ming Adventure! will make a great textbook.”
—James Floyd Kelly, GeekDad

“Walks readers through a series of extremely well-designed game-design

projects, each of which introduces a new concept or two to young pro-
grammers, providing a gentle learning curve for mastering Scratch’s
many powerful features.”
—Cory Doctorow, Boing Boing

“If you’re looking for a way to get your kid interested in programming,
and Scratch in particular, I can’t recommend this Scratch book enough.”
—Chris O’Brien, San Jose Mercury News’ SiliconBeat
S u pe r

S c r at
atc h
dv e n tu r e!
i ng A m
Pr o g r a m

Learn to
by
Pr o g r a m
ool
Making C
Gam es!

The Project
Super Scratch Programming Adventure! Copyright © 2014 by the LEAD Project.
This edition has been updated to cover Scratch 2.

Super Scratch Programming Adventure! is a translation of the original Traditional Chinese–

language edition, Easy LEAD 創意程式設計 Scratch 遊俠傳 (Easy LEAD: The Scratch
Musketeers), ISBN 978-988-18408-2-0, published by the Hong Kong Federation of Youth
Groups, © 2010 by the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups.

All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by
any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information
storage or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner and
the publisher.

Printed in USA
First printing

17 16 15 14 13   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

ISBN-10: 1-59327-531-5
ISBN-13: 978-1-59327-531-0

Publisher: William Pollock

Adviser: Dr. Rosanna Wong Yick-ming, DBE, JP
Editorial Team: Yolanda Chiu, Alice Lui, Edmond Kim Ping Hui
Contributors: Edmond Kim Ping Hui (Book Contents); Man Chun Chow, Chun Hei Tse,
Vincent Wong (Assistance & Photography)
Interior Design: LOL Design Ltd.
Production Editor: Serena Yang
Cover Design: Tina Salameh
Developmental Editor: Tyler Ortman
Technical Reviewer: Michael Smith-Welch
Compositors: Laurel Chun and Riley Hoffman
Proofreader: Alison Law

For information on distribution, translations, or bulk sales,

please contact No Starch Press, Inc. directly:
No Starch Press, Inc.
245 8th Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
phone: 415.863.9900; fax: 415.863.9950; [email protected]; http://www.nostarch.com/

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

A catalog record of the first edition of this book is available from the Library of Congress.

No Starch Press and the No Starch Press logo are registered trademarks of No Starch
Press, Inc. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of
their respective owners. Rather than use a trademark symbol with every occurrence of a
trademarked name, we are using the names only in an editorial fashion and to the benefit of
the trademark owner, with no intention of infringement of the trademark.

The information in this book is distributed on an “As Is” basis, without warranty. While every
precaution has been taken in the preparation of this work, neither the author nor No Starch
Press, Inc. shall have any liability to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage
caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the information contained in it.

All characters in this publication are fictitious, and any resemblance to real persons, living or
dead, is purely coincidental.
Contents

Foreword by Professor Mitchel Resnick 8

A Note of Thanks from

Dr. Rosanna Wong Yick-ming 9

A Note for Parents and Educators 10

Meet the Cast 18

Stage 1: Riding a Flare from the Sun 19

Let’s get to know Scratch! We’ll also learn about sprites
and coordinates.

Stage 2: Entering Space 31

This is where you’ll make your the first game. You’ll also
learn how to create new costumes and program a sprite’s
movements, reactions, and sound effects.

Stage 3: Trapped by Mona Lisa’s Smile 51

While writing this two-part game, you’ll learn how to
control the flow of a Scratch project. You’ll see how to
keep score using variables and control the order of the
game using broadcasts.

Stage 4: Defend Hong Kong’s Technocore 61

You’ll learn to control sprites with the mouse, program
objects to bounce back, and more.

Stage 5: Penalty Kick in Ipanema 71

You’ll program a soccer game with a targeting system,
several related rules, interactive sound effects, and a
vivid, animated background!
Stage 6: Scratchy’s Wild Ride 85
You’ll learn how to create a side-scrolling racing game,
program complex movements for sprites, and make the
game’s background change over time.

Stage 7: The Lost Treasures of Giza 105

In this Egyptian adventure, you’ll create an interactive
maze with a guard, booby traps, and treasure!

Stage 8: Wizard’s Race! 119

When you make this simple button-mashing game, you’ll
also learn how to play music with Scratch and create an
animated background.

Stage 9: The Final Fight...in Dark space 131

You’ll need to use all the knowledge you’ve gained while
making this exciting fighting game. You’ll create two
characters with unique fight moves, custom health
counters, and more.

Stage 10: Epilogue 151

Closing Thoughts from

Edmond Kim Ping Hui 155

Online Resources 156

Foreword
Scratch is more than a piece of software. It
is part of a broader educational mission. We
designed Scratch to help young people prepare
for life in today’s fast-changing society. As young
people create Scratch projects, they are not just
learning how to write computer programs. They
are learning to think creatively, reason system-
atically, and work collaboratively—essential
skills for success and happiness in today’s world.
It has been exciting to see all of the creative ways that young
people are using Scratch. On the Scratch website (http://scratch
.mit.edu/), young people from around the world are sharing a wide
variety of creative projects: animated stories, adventure games,
interactive tutorials, guided tours, science experiments, online
newsletters, and much more. Scratch is a digital sandbox where
young people can express themselves creatively—and, in the process,
develop as creative thinkers.
Super Scratch Programming Adventure! will help introduce
more young people to the creative possibilities of Scratch. The book
grows out of one of the world’s most innovative and productive Scratch
initiatives, organized by the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups.
I’m delighted that their ideas and activities are now available to
teachers, parents, and children around the world.
As you read this book, let your imagination run wild. What will
you create with Scratch?
Enjoy the adventure!

Professor Mitchel Resnick

Director, MIT Scratch Team
MIT Media Lab
A Note of Thanks
The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups
created the Learning through Engineering,
Art and Design (LEAD) Project in 2005 in
collaboration with the MIT Media Lab and the
Chinese University of Hong Kong. The LEAD
Project promotes hands-on, design-based activities
with the creative use of technology and aims to
develop an innovative spirit among the youth of
Hong Kong. Since its founding, it has promoted
technology education on a grand scale, reaching
more than 1,000,000 students, parents, and
educators.
Super Scratch Programming Adventure! is our second of three
books about Scratch and the first to be translated into English.
This book highlights the playful spirit of learning to program with
Scratch, which inspires young people to apply digital technologies in
imaginative and innovative ways.
We are very grateful to the MIT Media Lab, which has been our
partner since LEAD was established in 2005. We are particularly
appreciative of Professor Mitchel Resnick and Mr. Michael Smith-
Welch, who have always been LEAD’s staunchest supporters and
greatest cheerleaders. Because of their unwavering belief in Scratch
and in LEAD, you are now able to read this English edition.
We hope this book inspires you to design your very own games,
projects, and more with Scratch.

Dr. Rosanna Wong Yick-ming, DBE, JP

Executive Director
The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups
 Pa r ents
fo r ato r s
N ote d u c
A E
and

Scratch opens up an exciting world of computer programming

for kids and other beginning programmers. To follow along with
this book and use Scratch 2.0, you’ll need:
• A computer with a recent Web browser (Chrome 7 or later,
Firefox 4 or later, or Internet Explorer 7 or later) with Adobe
Flash Player version 10.2 or later installed
• A display that’s 1024 × 768 or larger
• A reliable Internet connection
• A microphone and speakers (or headphones) to record and
listen to music
Once you have a browser and Adobe Flash Player installed,
just point your browser at http://scratch.mit.edu/. You can create
a new Scratch project without logging in by clicking the Create
button. You’ll want to eventually Join Scratch to create your
own account and save your projects (see how in “Join the Com-
munity!” on page 15).
You should download the projects used in this book from
http://nostarch.com/scratch/. This online resource includes
complete working projects, custom sprites, and a short Getting
Started with Scratch guide produced by the Scratch team.

10
N ote The Resources file includes two versions of each game
in the book. One version is a completely finished and
playable game, perfect for young learners and anyone
who wants to build on the games in the book. The
second set of projects has no programming added, so
that students can follow along with the programming
instructions in this book. Remember, there’s no wrong
way to play with Scratch!

But What Is Scratch, Anyway?

Scratch is a graphical programming
language that you can use for free.
By simply dragging and dropping
colored blocks, you can create interac-
tive stories, games, animation, music,
art, and presentations. You can even
upload your creations to the Internet
to share them with Scratch program-
mers from around the world. Scratch
is designed for play, self-directed
learning, and design.

Where Did the Name Scratch

Come From?
Scratch is named for the way that hip-hop disc jockeys (DJs)
creatively combine pieces of music, using a technique called
scratching. In the same way, Scratch programmers join different
media (images, photos, sound effects, and so on) in exciting ways
to create something entirely new.

11
Who Created Scratch?
Scratch is a project funded by the US National Science Founda-
tion (NSF). It was developed by the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology (MIT) Media Lab’s Lifelong Kindergarten Group.

Who Is Scratch For?

Scratch was developed for young people aged 8 and up to help
them develop creative learning skills for the 21st century. When
kids create programs, they learn important mathematical and
computer concepts that improve their creative thinking, logical
reasoning, problem solving, and collaboration skills.

This creative thinking spiral is from Professor Resnick’s article,

“Sowing the Seeds of a More Creative Society,” published in ISTE
(International Society for Technology in Education).

12
 Designing Scratch projects challenges kids to think cre-
atively, and learning how to overcome obstacles and solve
problems builds confidence. This gives learners an advantage
later in life.

Is It Easy to Use Scratch?

Scratch was designed to prevent the common beginner pitfalls
in traditional programming languages, like misspelling and
errors in consistency. Instead of typing commands, programming
in Scratch is performed by dragging and joining programming
blocks. This graphical interface allows users to easily control the
way in which different types of commands react to each other.
Additionally, each block can fit with another only if it makes
computational sense. Colorized categories help organize and
group different sets of related commands based on their particu-
lar functions.
Since programs in Scratch run in real time, they can be
edited and tested at any given moment, even while the program
is running. This allows users to easily experiment with new
ideas or to repeatedly test their improvements!

How Many Languages Does

Scratch Support?
Scratch can be used in 50 different languages. Choose your
language from the pull-down menu at the bottom of the Scratch
website.

Where Can You Use Scratch?

You can use Scratch at schools, libraries, community centers,
and home. Even though Scratch is designed for young people
aged 8 and up, younger children can also learn to design and
create alongside their parents or siblings.

13
 Scratch is used around the world in elementary, middle, and
high schools. Computer science professors also use Scratch as a
means of introducing programming concepts to college students.

How Can Scratch Be Used to

Educate in Schools?
Schools can use Scratch to aid teachers in subjects like math-
ematics, English, music, art, design, and information technology.
Scratch is designed for exploration and experimentation, so it
supports many different learning styles.
No matter what they use Scratch for—creative storytelling,
unique video games, or simple demonstrations of programming
concepts—Scratch will provide a space for students to explore
and imagine. By engaging in design-based activity individually
or in groups, students will be motivated to learn.
Here are just a few of the things that students have used
Scratch to do:
• A school in New York City used Scratch to build simulations
of the spread of infectious diseases.
• A group of teenagers in India used Scratch to make an
animated map of their village, illustrating environmental
concerns where they live.

14
• Students at a university in Istanbul used Scratch to examine
video game culture by rapidly prototyping their own games
and testing the games with the public.
• English students in a middle school in California used
Scratch to build a random story generator.
• Students in an elementary school in Russia used Scratch to
build their own personalized tutorials for learning about the
coordinate system and trigonometry.
• High school students in Michigan used Scratch to build a
physics simulator.
The possibilities are endless. It is our sincere hope that
this book inspires students to create their own games, stories,
and more.

Join the Community!

Because Scratch is online, kids can easily share their own
Scratch projects with their friends, family, and teachers. Once
someone shares their work publicly on the Scratch website, other
Scratch programmers can remix their projects, give them feed-
back, and more.
Follow these steps to join Scratch:
1. Visit the Scratch home page (http://scratch.mit.edu/) and click
Join Scratch to register (you only need to register once).
2. Choose a username (don’t use your real name), and then fill
out the rest of the information. If the person registering is
under 13, Scratch will ask for the email address of a parent
or guardian.

NOTE Once you share a project, everyone in the whole world

can see what you’ve made! Make sure that your kids
or students know to keep their personal information
private.

15
 As long as they have the username and password at hand,
kids can find games to play through the project gallery, remix
them, and share their thoughts with others from around the
world! To see how someone else’s game was built, just click the
See Inside button ( ). To add to the program, click the
big orange Remix button ( ).
To share your own projects with the rest of the world, click
the big Share button ( ) in the Scratch editor. To make a
project private again, click the Unshare button in the My Stuff
­listing.
Just remember that as a member of the Scratch community,
you’ll be sharing projects and ideas with people of all ages, all
levels of experience, and all parts of the world. So be sure to:
• Be respectful of other players
• Be constructive when commenting
• Help keep the site friendly and fun
• Keep personal information private
For more ideas and information about sharing and remixing
projects, visit http://wiki.scratch.mit.edu/wiki/Remix.

16
My Computer Can’t Run
Scratch 2.0!
If your computer doesn’t meet the requirements listed on
page 10, you can still download and install Scratch 1.4. (http://
scratch.mit.edu/scratch_1.4/). Scratch 1.4 projects are compat-
ible with the Web-based Scratch 2.0, and you can still share your
projects on the Scratch website using Scratch 1.4. (Unfortunately,
Scratch 1.4 cannot read programs created in the Scratch 2.0
software.)
You can download free PDF versions of Chapters 1 and 2,
which explain how the older 1.4 interface works, by visiting
http://nostarch.com/scratch/. You can also find versions of the
book’s games that are compatible with 1.4 on that page.

I’m an Educator Using Scratch

Awesome! This book is great place to start for classes and after-
school programs. You’ll want to download the free Educator’s
Guide at http://nostarch.com/scratch/. Visit the official Scratch
educator’s forum at http://scratched.media.mit.edu/ to exchange
resources, share success stories, and ask questions of other edu-
cators already using Scratch as an educational tool.

I Still Have Other Questions…

You can find more information on the Scratch website:
• Visit the Scratch FAQ at http://info.scratch.mit.edu/
Support/Scratch_FAQ/.
• Visit the Scratch Help at http://scratch.mit.edu/help/.
“Online Resources” on page 156 has other helpful links.
For updates to this book, visit http://nostarch.com/scratch/.

17
Meet the Cast

Mitch
A computer science
student who loves to
make cool programs,
he’s passionate about
movies and art, too!
Mitch is an all-around
good guy.

The Cosmic Defenders:

Gobo, Fabu, and Pele
The Cosmic Defenders are trans-
dimensional space aliens who can
travel through space and time.
Formally deputized by the Galactic
Council, the Cosmic Defender’s duty
is to maintain the balance of the
universe.

The Dark Wizard

erful
He is a shapeless yet pow
spi rit, wh ose origins Scratchy
and vengeful
now n. No thin g can stop An energetic cat living in cyber-
are unk
yin g the space, Scratchy is exactly what
his ambition of destro
you’d expect from a cat on the
order of space and time.
Internet. He’s quite curious and
impulsive.
The Dark Minions
mic
These pesky foes are Cos
Defend ers wh o hav e fall en
rk
to the dar k side. They wo
for the Dar k Wiz ard now .
Riding a Flare
from the Sun
 A solar storm A Flare
Rages on the Explodes with
surface of a burst of
the sun.... Energy!

Beoo
Beoo o-
oo
p!

Earthqu
I sure wish ak
Meanwhile, in
programming e!
school on Earth...
were easier...

Whoa!

Chirp Chirp

Wake up.

W-who are
Come on, you? What just
wake up! happened?

20
 My name is That’s right. I Amazing! My
Scratchy. followed that name is Mitch. I’m a
I’m from flash of light, And computer science
Cyberspace. here I am! student!

You’re from a
computer?!

Oh no! I
can’t move
my legs!

Hey Mitch.
um…is your Where is
planet always
so gray?
everybody?
Ahhh!
Me neither!
Something Help!!
terrible is
forming in
the sky!
No way!
Something’s
wrong. Let’s
go check
it out!

take this
Secret Manual
Stay Calm! before the
Thank goodness Black Tornado
I found you! swallows you!
Then follow my
Your body is instructions!
being frozen!

Let’s
do
this!

21
 Breaking the Spell!
Chapter Focus The Game
Let’s get to know Scratch! We need to get Scratchy the cat
We’ll also learn about sprites moving again. We’ll make him
and coordinates. dance across the Stage.

To follow along with the Secret Manual,

you first need to open Scratch. Once you
Create a new project, you’ll see Scratchy
the cat on a white backdrop. The cat doesn’t
do anything yet because he doesn’t have any The command blocks you
programs. Scratch calls Scratchy the cat— can give a sprite are here.
and all the other characters and objects we We’ll stack these commands
add to a project—a sprite. Soon, we’ll start together to break the magic
giving him directions to move by using the spell and get Scratchy back on
blue blocks in the middle of the screen. his feet. The blocks here are
all blue, as they’re from the
Motion palette.

an d D r
ck a
i
Cl

To move a block, just click and

drag it over here. This is called
the Scripts Area. It’s where we
write our programs.

You’ll need to give each sprite its

own instructions. In other games
we play, we’ll have more than one
character to control, so we’ll have
more than one sprite listed here, in
the Sprite List. To give a particular
sprite instructions, click a sprite in
the Sprite List first and then drag Now let’s take a closer look
blocks into the Scripts Area. at the rest of the interface…

22
 A Guided Tour of the Scratch Interface!

Palette
Sprite Toolbar Each of these ten buttons lets you choose
Contains the functions (called blocks) for programming your
Play the Give your Duplicate, Delete, sprites. You can combine these command
game full project a Grow, Shrink, and blocks in stacks to create programs that
screen. new name. Block Help tools control objects on the screen.

Stage
Displays your creation

Scripts Area
Here’s where you build your
programs. Stacking blocks
The green flag starts the together here lets you control
game and the red flag the sprites in your project. Click
stops the game. one of the three tabs at the top
to change to other functions:
Scripts: Allows you to
drag command blocks from
the Palette and put them
together to write a program
Costumes: Allows you to
draw, import, or edit images
Sprite List
for a sprite
Here are the characters
and objects you’ve created, Sounds: Allows you to record
including the Stage itself. or import sound files for a
Click the icons to edit each sprite to use
sprite individually.

New Sprite Buttons

There are four ways to add a sprite:
• Pick one from Scratch’s built-in library
• Draw a new one
• Upload an image you already have
• Take a photo with your computer’s webcam

23
 Sprite Information
You might have noticed a little blue i in the corner of the box around
Scratchy when you select his sprite in the Sprite List. Try clicking the i,
and you’ll get information about that sprite.

This section shows the sprite’s name, position, and direction it is facing
(the little blue line).

This is how you can rename the Scratchy sprite.

Right now it’s Sprite1. Don’t you think that’s a
ick little boring? Try renaming this sprite.
Cl ere
h

Click this arrow when Rotation Settings Try clicking and

you’re done with the You can control how a sprite dragging the little
Sprite Settings pane. rotates in three ways: blue line—see what
We’ll play with these • Can rotate freely happens to Scratchy’s
other settings later. • Can face only left or right orientation.
• No rotating allowed

Now, onto the fun stuff. To use Scratch to program

movements, you first have to understand how
Scratch positions things.

Click the Stage icon in the Sprite List. Switch to

the Backdrops tab in the Scripts Area and choose
Choose backdrop from library.

Note: Sprites have costumes while the Stage has

backdrops.

Choose
the xy-grid
backdrop and
click OK to
use it. It’s in
the “Other”
category.

24
Now you can see exactly how Scratch positions objects.
Everything is on a grid with two axes:
y-axis: A vertical line that marks up and down positions;
ranges from –180 (lowest) to +180 (highest)
x-axis: A horizontal line that marks left and right positions;
ranges from –240 (farthest left) to +240 (farthest right)
Scratchy’s default position is at the point where the x-axis
and y-axis meet. His coordinates are (X: 0, Y: 0).

Now we can program movements for

Scratchy the cat! But first, try dragging
him to the top of the Stage, as shown
on the right.

Note: The bottom-right corner displays

the coordinates of your mouse. This
will be really helpful when we start
setting the positions of sprites!

The current coordinates of a sprite are

shown in the upper-right corner of the
Scripts Area, too.

To make sure we’re giving Scratchy the cat

instructions, click him in the Sprite List (the
box at the bottom left of the screen). Switch to
the Scripts tab in the Scripts Area and then
click the Motion palette button. Click and drag
out the command block go to x:0 y:0 to the
Scripts Area.

25
 Click the number of a coordinate to change it. Set x to 0 and
set y to 125. Now click the block to run it! Scratch goes right
to that position. We’ve just written our first program! It’s really
that simple.

We want Scratchy to move

around, but at the moment, he
moves too fast for us to see! To
make him move more slowly, click Next, select the
the Control palette and drag out Duplicate button on
the command wait 1 secs to the the Sprite Toolbar
Scripts Area. Make sure to drag it and stamp it on the
under your blue command block. commands to make
Wait for a white line to appear and five copies.
then release the mouse.

The two commands are joined

together! Now change the time
to 0.1 secs.

Tip: If you want to separate the

commands, simply drag away
the block. If you want to delete a
block, simply drag it back to the
palette. Give it a try. To move a big
stack of blocks, click and drag the
topmost block in the stack.

26
Type these coordinates in your
own program, so it matches this
picture. When you’re finished,
click the whole command block
to make Scratchy jump around
in a pentagon shape!

To make him move in a loop continuously, drag out the

command block forever from the Control palette and place
it at the top of the code. Click the block, and it will actually
run! Click to stop Scratchy from moving around. You can
test any program in this way—just click it with your mouse.

Tip: Whenever you’re writing scripts, you’ll want to test them

every now and then to see if they work the way you expect.

Now let’s make Scratchy glide around instead of

jumping from point to point. To do this, click the
Motion palette, drag out five glide commands,
and join them together. Follow the picture on
the right, and copy the seconds and coordinates.
Once you’re finished, click the script to see the
results!

Now we can join these two programs together! From

the Events palette, drag out the When clicked
command and put it at the top of your two scripts.

Tip: We’ll often need multiple scripts to start at the

same time, and using the When clicked command
will help us do that.

27
 Because we used the When clicked command, we
can use these buttons above the Stage to start ( )
and stop ( ) the game.

Next, click the Pen palette

and drag out the four green
Pen blocks shown on the
right. Now when Scratchy
moves, he’ll draw a magic
star web!

h! Occasionally, when you run your program,

h -o e ’s
U er ! there is a software bug. This is the most
Th ug exciting part of computer programming:
b
a
discovering an error in something you
have made and then solving the problem.
In this case, sometimes Scratchy will
draw an odd line at the beginning of the
program.

If we drag Scratchy anywhere else on

the Stage and then press , he draws an
extra line because he starts in the wrong
place. Try doing this multiple times to see
if you can spot the bug.

28
This software bug can be fixed by adding
some more code—that is, new blocks—to
your program. In this case, simply place
a new go to block (from the blue Motion
palette) above the green Pen blocks and
below the When clicked block.

With this little correction, Scratchy will

always begin drawing from the correct
position in the grid. The bug is gone!

Let’s add a whole new program to

make a magic star web that changes
colors. Build a second stack of blocks
that uses the change pen color by
command and see what happens.

Isn’t that cool? You can give a single

sprite more than one set of blocks!
Scratchy now has two programs. This
tiny second program sure makes a big
difference in how the game looks.

29
 Remember to save
this file so you can
play with it later!

If you are logged into Scratch, the website stores all of your projects into
My Stuff so you can easily find them. The website saves your progress
every so often, but you can save manually too: File4Save Now. You can
also save different versions of your programs to make sure you don’t lose
older versions of your games and can safely experiment—File4Save Copy
creates a new version of your project in My Stuff. If you want to download
a version for yourself, try File4Download to your computer. Then save
it in a safe spot!

Scratchy’s Challenge!!
Can you edit this program to make Scratchy draw
different kinds of shapes? Give it a try!

30
Entering
Space
 Magic Alright! I can
star web! feel my limbs
sh again!
WhoO

The Dark Who are

Nice work!
Wizard? you again?
You’ve broken
the Dark
Wizard’s spell!

My name is this universe is

Gobo. I’m now controlled by the OH no! We’re the
That solar
a cosmic Dark Wizard and his minions. only ones left!
flare
defender! they froze all the cosmic
destroyed
defenders besides me—
the balance
and all the humans
between the
on earth.
digital world
and the real
world!

32
 Great Idea!
This Secret Yes! If I learn You can design
Manual saved to program, it new equipment and
us. Maybe might help to even control our
it can help defeat the Dark movements!
other people Wizard!
as well!

We need the
energy from seven
Alright! dimensional strings
But why does
to open the stargate
Scratchy need
the space suit?
and reach my
friends...

Oh no!
My fellow ...but inside the
defenders are in vortex, there’s no
trouble! Change oxygen, and lightning
into a space suit can make things
and save them, disappear!
kind feline!

Wow! It’s full

I’m ready! of stars!

by the way,
Gobo, my name
is Scratchy, and
he’s Mitch! The adventure into
space begins…

33
 A Space Odyssey!
Chapter Focus The Game
Learn to design new costumes Avoid the lightning bolts and
and program a sprite’s move­ collect seven dimensional strings.
ments, reactions, and sound Once you’ve got them all, the
effects. Monolith will appear!

To make things really easy, let’s start by opening

a blank project called 02 - A Space Odyssey.sb2.
This project has all the sprites you’ll need, but
none of the programming yet. To open a file, click
File4Upload from your computer.

But let’s try making some sprites of our own, so

you can make changes to this game’s characters
and invent your own games, too! Click Scratchy’s
sprite icon in the Sprite List, and then click the
Costumes tab. You’ll see the Paint Editor—just
be sure to click the costume you want to change.

At the top of the Paint

Editor, you can give your
Costume a name. We
can then reference the
costume names in our
programming.

If your Paint Editor

looks different, it could
be because you haven’t
opened the blank project
file (02 - A Space Odyssey
.sb2) that has Scratchy’s
astronaut costume.

Scratch has two modes

for editing graphics—
on the right is Bitmap
mode. See page 38 to
learn more about editing
in Vector mode.

34
 Here’s where all the tools
are. The Brush and Eraser
tools make it easy to draw.

Use the Fill tool to color big

parts of your drawing at once.
You can choose a single color
from the palette or use a The Eyedropper tool will
gradient effect from the Tool match the current color to any
Options. color you click in your image.

Tool Options Click the Zoom buttons (the magnifying

Whatever tool you are using, the options glasses on the bottom right) to zoom in
for the tool will appear at the bottom of or out on your creations. This will make
the Paint Editor. For example, the size it easier to draw! Clicking the equals sign
of the Brush or Eraser can be adjusted (=) shows you exactly how your sprite
if you want to make a big drawing or will appear on the Stage.
add fine detail. Just click and drag here
to pick the right size. If you’re not sure what a button does,
simply hover your cursor over it, and a
You pick a color for your tool here, too. description will appear!

35
 You also have tools to draw rectangles and ellipses.
Can you give Scratchy a stovepipe hat like Abe
Lincoln using the Rectangle and Ellipse tools?

These shapes can be empty inside

or filled in. Try experimenting with
different colors for the inside and
outside. If you press the shift key
when you start to draw, you’ll
have a perfect circle or square!
(You can also use this shift trick
when using the Line tool to draw
a straight line.) Try rotating your
shapes using the handle on the
top of the box.

The Text tool lets you add

writing to your sprite. We’ll
use this tool when we need
to give the player instructions
for our games. If you want
to move the text, simply click
and drag the black box that
surrounds your text.

36
 To use the Select tool, use your
mouse to create a frame around a
certain area. Then you can do all
sorts of things to the selected part
of your costume:
• Click and drag the selection to
move it to a new location.
• Resize, smush, or stretch the
image using the handles on the
sides of the box
• Rotate the selection by clicking
and dragging the handle at the
top center of the box
• Press and hold the ctrl key and
C key at the same time to copy
the image area (Mac users can
use -C instead). Then press
ctrl-V to paste your selection,
as many times as you like.
• Press the delete key to erase
the selection.

The Set costume center

button marks the center of
your sprite. This helps to
make sure your sprite doesn’t
end up in the wrong place
when it spins or rotates!

By using the Duplicate tool,

you can copy and stamp a
selected area as many times
as you want! Just draw a
frame around the area you
want to copy and then click
wherever you want to paste.

37
Vector Mode
You may have noticed that
when you edit other sprites in
Scratch, you don’t see the same
Paint Editor tools. Some newer
sprites are vector art—that’s just
a fancy way to say they’re made
of shapes, instead of pixels.
Vector art have small filesizes,
but they are great quality—and
they can be resized without
losing quality.

Note: For simplicity’s sake, all

of the graphics in this book use
Bitmap mode. But your custom
projects can use a mix of vector
and bitmap graphics.

You can switch from Scratch’s Bitmap mode (the

one seen earlier) to Vector mode by clicking the
Convert to Vector button at the bottom right of Select object
the Paint Editor. The difference between using Reshape a line or shape
(click on an object, then Pencil
these two tools in Scratch is like the difference
drag its round “handles”) Line
between Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator—or
GIMP and Inkscape. Use whichever Paint Editor Rectangle
Ellipse
mode you like the most!
Text
Fill tool
You can import SVG files into Scratch’s vector
editor. In Vector mode, you can squeeze and Duplicate
shape lines, reshape, and ungroup. Here’s how Forward a layer
the Vector mode works. Back a layer
Ungroup

38
Exploring the Variety of Random
Documents with Different Content
sermonibus in contentionem dicuntur incidisse. Et
Mitrobaten quidem, quum de virtute inter se disceptarent,
Orœtæ cum exprobratione dixisse: «Tu vero in virorum
numero habeare, qui Samum insulam, tuæ præfecturæ
proximam, in regis potestatem non redegisti, quum sit
subactu ita facilis, ut indigenarum aliquis, cum quindecim
armatis insurgens, ea potitus sit, atque etiam nunc in ea
dominetur!» (3) Dicunt igitur hunc, his auditis, ægre
ferentem exprobrationem, cupivisse non tam vindictam
capere de eo qui hæc illi dixisset, quam omnino Polycratem
perdere, propter quem male audisset.

CXXI. Sunt pauciores nonnulli qui tradant, misisse Orœten

præconem Samum, nescio quid petiturum (nec enim hoc
memoriæ proditur); Polycratem autem tunc in exhedra forte
decubuisse, adfuisseque ei Anacreontem Teium: (2) atque,
sive consulto res Orœtæ aspernatus sit, sive casu ita
acciderit, tum quum accedens Orœtæ præco verba fecisset,
Polycratem versus murum forte conversum, nec sese versus
illum paulisper convertisse, nec responsum homini dedisse.

CXXII. Sic caussa mortis Polycratis duplici modo traditur:

licetque cuilibet eam, quam voluerit, probare. (2) Orœts
igitur, Magnesiæ residens ad Mæandrum fluvium sitæ,
Myrsum Gygæ filium, Lydum hominem, Samum misit,
nuncium ferentem, quo animum Polycratis exploraret. (3)
Etenim Polycrates primus fuit, quem novimus, ex Græcis,
qui maris obtinere imperium molitus sit; Minoem si excipias
Cnossium, et si quis alius ante hunc mari dominatus est. Ex
hominum quidem, quæ vocatur, ætate primus Polycrates
est, qui magnam spem habuerit fore ut Ioniæ et insularum
obtineat imperium. (4) Hoc eum animo agitare intelligens
Orœtes, misso nuncio, hæc ei dixit: «Orœtes Polycrati hæc
dicit. Intellexi te magnas res moliri, nec vero pro talibus
consiliis satis instructum esse pecunia. Nunc tu, si hocce
feceris, et tuas res augebis, et me quoque servabis. Mortem
mihi meditatur Cambyses, et hoc satis pro certo mihi
renunciatur. (5) Tu ergo et me ipsum fac ex hac terra
educas, et pecunias meas exportes; et harum quidem
partem tu tene, partem me patere habere harum
pecuniarum ope universæ Græciæ obtinebis imperium.
Quodsi pecuniarum caussa fidem mihi non habueris, mitte
qui tibi erit fidissimus, cui ego monstrabo.»

CXXIII. His auditis gavisus Polycrates accepit conditionem;

quumque pecuniarum admodum esset cupidus, misit
primum speculandi caussa Mæandrium, Mæandrii filium, ex
civium numero, qui scriba ejus erat; eumdem qui haud
multo post ornamenta omnia exhedræ Polycratis, spectatu
utique digna, in Junonis templo dedicavit. (2) Orœtes
postquam cognovit exspectari speculatorem, hoc egit: cistas
octo lapidibus complevit, valde brevi spatio excepto circa
oras, super lapides vero aurum conjecit: tum obligatas
cistas in parato habuit. Et Mæandrius ubi advenit
spectavitque, renunciavit Polycrati.

CXXIV. Tum ille, quantumvis dehortantibus vatibus, atque

etiam amicis, ipse eo proficisci paravit. Adhæc filia ejus per
quietem tale viderat insomnium: visus ei erat pater in aere
sublimis esse, et lavari a Jove, inungi vero a sole. (2) Hoc
quum ei oblatum esset visum, quovis modo contendebat, ne
ad Orœten pater proficisceretur: atque etiam, dum ille
actuariam navem conscendebat, ominosis illum verbis est
prosecuta. (3) Tum ille ei minatus est, quando salvus
rediisset, bene multos annos illam virginem mansuram: et
illa precata est, ut rata hæc fiant; malle se enim perdiu
virginitatem sevare, quam a patre privari.

CXXV. Polycrates itaque, spreto omni consilio, ad Orœten

navigavit, quum alios multos amicorum comites secum
ducens, tum in his Democedem, Calliphontis filium,
Croniatam, professione medicum, qui artem dexterrime præ
cæteris per eam ætatem exercebat. (2) Postquam vero
Magnesiam Polycrates pervenit, misere periit, supplicio et
persona ipsius indigno, et ingenio: nam, exceptis
Syracusiorum tyrannis, ne unius quidem ex aliis Græci
generis tyrannis magnificentia cum Polycrate conferri
meretur. (3) Fœdo modo et narratu indigno occisum, cruci
Orœtes adfixit: quicumque vero ex comitibus illius Samii
erant, hos dimisit, gratiam sibi habere jubens, quod
libertatem servarent: quotquot vero peregrini aut servi in
comitatu ejus fuerant, hos mancipiorum loco habuit. (4) Sic
Polycrates ex cruce suspensus universam filiæ visionem
explevit: lavabatur enim ab Jove, quando pluebat; et
inungebatur a sole, humorem ipse e corpore emittens. (5)
Igitur cumulatæ Polycratis felicitates hunc habuere finem,
quemadmodum ei Amasis Ægypti rex ominatus erat.

CXXVI. Haud vero multo post etiam Orœten diræ Polycratis

ultrices sunt persecutæ. Nam mortuo Cambyse, regnantibus
Magis, Sardibus manens Orœtes, nihil juverat rem
Persarum, quum eis imperium esset a Medis ademptum: (2)
sed in illa rerum perturbatione Mitrobaten interfecit,
Dascylei præfectum, qui ei istud de Polycrate
exprobraverat; Mitrobatæ item filium Cranaspen occidit,
ambo spectatos inter Persas viros; tum et alia multa
insolentius gessit, et Darii quendam equitem nuncium,
quum parum grata ipsi essent quæ ille nunciaverat,
redeuntem collocatis in via insidiatoribus occidit, et cadaver
cum ipso equo ex hominum conspectu removit.

CXXVII. Darius vero, postquam imperium obtinuit, pœnas

cupiebat ab Orœte sumere, quum reliquorum omnium
flagitiorum caussa, tum maxime propter Mitrobatæ ejusque
filii cædem. (2) Ex aperto vero copias contra eum mittere
parum consultum ei videbatur, quippe rebus domi nondum
satis tranquillis, et imperio recens inito; tum quod magnam
Orœtæ esse potentiam cognoverat, ut cui mille præsto
essent Persici generis satellites, quique Phrygiam, Lydiam
atque Ioniam provincias obtineret. (3) Quæ reputans
Darius, hancce iniit rationem. Convocatis Persarum
spectatissimis, his verbis eos est adlocutus: «Quis mihi e
vobis, Persæ, recipiet astu se hoc effecturum, non vi et
armatorum manu? Nam ubi prudentia opus est, ibi vim
adhibere nihil attinet. (4) Vestrûm igitur quis mihi Orœten
aut vivum adduxerit, aut interfecerit? qui de Persis adhuc
nihil bene meruit, sed magnis eos malis adfecit; qui et duos
e nobis, Mitrobaten ejusque filium, trucidavit, et nuncios a
me ad illum evocandum missos interimit, denique
insolentiam nullo modo ferendam ostentat. Quare,
priusquam majus aliquod malum Persis infligat, cæde nobis
occupandus est.»

CXXVIII. Hoc quum Darius ab illis quæsisset, triginta viri se

offerebant, quorum unusquisque recipiebat, velle se solum
rem effectam dare. Quos inter se contendentes cohibuit
Darius, sortiri jubens: quod ubi illi fecere, sors præ omnibus
Bagæum designat, Artontæ filium. Is igitur sorte ad rem
suscipiendam designatus, hanc rationem iniit: (2) libellos
plures conscripsit, variis de rebus agentes, quibus sigillum
imposuit Darii: dein cum his libellis[TR7] Sardes proficiscitur.
Quo postquam advenit, in conspectum Orœtæ progressus,
singulos deinceps libellos, detracto sigillo, scribæ regio
tradidit prælegendos: omnibus quippe provinciarum
præfectis adsunt regii scribæ. (3) Libellos istos Bagæus
tradebat explorandæ sententiæ caussa satellitum, an ad
deficiendum ab Orœta parati essent futuri. Quos ubi vidit
magna veneratione prosequi libellos, majorique etiam
veneratione prosequi ea quæ e libellis prælegebantur, alium
tradidit libellum, in quo hæc erant scripta: «Persæ, rex
Darius vobis edicit, ne amplius apud Orœten satellitum
fungamini officio.» (4) Et illi, his auditis, lanceas coram eo
deposuerunt. Tum vero Bagæus, videns illos in hac re
obtemperantes libello, fidenter postremum libellorum scribæ
tradidit, in quo scriptum erat: «Rex Darius Persas, qui
Sardibus sunt, jubet occidere Orœten.» (5) Quo audito,
protinus satellites strinxerunt acinaces, illumque
interfecerunt. Tali igitur modo Orœten persecutæ sunt diræ
Polycratis Samii ultrices.

CXXIX. Postquam Orœtæ res familiaris Susa esset

transportata, ibique jam aderat, accidit haud multo post, ut
Dario regi, inter venandum ex equo desilienti, pes
distorqueretur. Et graviori quodam modo distortus est; nam
astragalus ex articulis exierat. (2) Itaque, quum etiam
antea existimasset adesse sibi medicorum Ægyptiorum eos
qui primarii essent in arte medicandi, hisce usus est. At illi
torquentes pedem vimque magnam adferentes, malum
auxerunt. (3) Postquam igitur totos septem dies septemque
noctes per morbum quo conflictabatur insomnes egisset
Darius, octavo die graviter admodum laboranti nunciat
quispiam, se olim Sardibus Crotoniatæ Democedis artem
forte audivisse laudari: rexque illum quam primum ad se
adduci jussit. (4) Qui ut inter Orœtæ mancipia repertus est
nescio ubi neglectus, producitur in medium, compedes
trahens, et laceros pannos indutus.

CXXX. In medio stantem interrogat Darius, an artem

calleret: at ille negavit, veritus ne, si cognosceretur, nulla
ipsi spes reliqua foret in Græciam umquam redeundi. Darius
vero satis intelligens dissimulare hominem, et gnarum esse
artis; qui adduxerunt eum, flagella et stimulos jussit in
medium proferre. (3) Tum ille professus ait, adcurate
quidem se artem non callere, sed aliquantulam ejus
notitiam habere ex consuetudine quam cum medico quodam
habuisset. Deinde, quum rex se illi permisisset, Græcanicis
adhibitis medicamentis, et lenibus post vehementiora
admotis, effecit ut et somnum caperet rex, et brevi tempore
sanum incolumemque præstitit, quum numquam ille rectum
pedis usum se recepturum sperasset. (3) Inde duobus
paribus aurearum compedum donatus a Dario Democedes,
quærit ex rege, an consulto duplex malum ipsi reddat
propterea, quod sanum illum præstitisset. Quo verbo
delectatus Darius, ad uxores suas eum ablegavit. (4)
Quibus eunuchi, eum producentes, dicebant, esse hunc qui
vitam regi reddidisset. Et earum unaquæque, phialam in
auri cistam vi demittens et hauriens, Democeden donavit,
adeo quidem largo munere, ut famulus, qui eum
sequebatur, cui nomen erat Sciton, ex sublectis stateribus
(aureis viginti drachmarum) qui de phialis in terram
deciderant, ingentem auri vim sibi collegerit.

CXXXI. Democedes hic tali ratione, relicta Crotone, in

Polycratis pervenerat familiaritatem: Crotone premebatur a
patre difficili et iracundo; quem quum ferre non posset,
relicto eo Æginam abiit. (2) Ibi quum sedem suam fixisset,
primo anno alios omnes superavit medicos, imparatus licet,
et instrumentis omnibus carens quibus ad eam artem
exercendam vulgo utuntur. Itaque secundo anno Æginetæ
publice eum talento conduxerunt; tertio anno Athenienses,
centum minis; quarto vero anno Polycrates duobus talentis.
3) Hoc modo Samum venerat. Et inde ab hoc viro maxime
inclaruerunt Crotoniatæ medici. Fuit enim tempus quum
primarii in Græcia medici dicerentur esse Crotoniatæ; tum
secundi ordinis, Cyrenæi. Per idem tempus Argivi primarii
inter Græcos musici ferebantur.

CXXXII. Tunc vero Democedes, postquam Darium

persanavit, maximam Susis domum habuit, et regis fuit
commensalis: denique, præterquam quod in Græciam redire
non licuit, omnium rerum copia adfluebat. (2) Idem
Ægyptios medicos, qui regem prius curaverant, et nunc in
eo erant ut regis jussu palis transfigerentur, quoniam a
Græco medico fuissent superati, hos a rege deprecatus
conservavit: item Eleum vatem, qui, Polycratem secutus,
nunc inter mancipia neglectus latebat, servitute liberavit.
Plurimum enim apud regem Democedes valebat.

CXXXIII. Haud vero ita multo post, aliud quidpiam forte

fortuna accidit hujusmodi. Atossæ, Cyri filiæ, uxori Darii,
ortus erat in mamma tumor; qui postquam erupit, latius
serpebat. Quam diu minor erat tumor, occultabat eum
Atossa, præ pudore nemini indicans: ubi vero jam male erat
affecta, accersito Democedi tumorem monstravit. (2) Et ille,
sanitati se eam restituturum professus, persuadet reginæ,
ut interposito jurejurando ipsi promitteret, vicissim ipsam illi
in eo quod oraturus esset (nihil autem se petiturum
adfirmat quod dedecus adferre possit), operam suam esse
collaturam.

CXXXIV. Deinde, quum adhibitis remediis, sanam

Democedes præstitisset, tum ab illo edocta Atossa his
verbis Darium, dum cubitum eunt, adlocuta est: «Tantis, o
rex, quum sis viribus instructus, otiosus sedes; nec
populum ullum aut potentiam adquiris Persis. (2) Æquum
est tamen, ut vir et ætate florens, et magnarum opum
dominus, aliquod factum a se gestum ostendat, quo Persæ
etiam intelligant, a viro se regi. Duobus autem modis tibi
hoc facere conducet, ut et Persæ sciant virum esse qui illis
præsit, et ut ipsi bellis occupentur, ne, dum otium agunt,
tibi insidientur. (3) Nunc enim præclarum aliquod edere
facinus licet, dum viget tibi ætas; nam augescente corpore
augentur et animi vires; senescente autem corpore, etiam
ingenium senescit, et ad res omnes hebetatur.» (4) Quæ
quum illa, ut erat edocta, dixisset, in hunc modum Darius
respondit: «Quæ ego ipse facere destinaveram, ea tu
omnia, uxor, dixisti. Constitutum enim habeo, duabus
continentibus ponte junctis, ex nostra continente in alteram
transgredi, et Scythis bellum inferre: atque hæc brevi
effecta dabo.» (5) Tum Atossa, «Ecce nunc! ait, adversus
Scythas primum proficisci omitte: hi enim, quandocumque
volueris, in tua erunt potestate: at tu mihi in Græciam
suscipe expeditionem: cupio enim, de quibus fando audivi,
Lacænas et Argivas et Atticas atque Corinthias habere
famulas. (6) Est autem tibi præsto vir omnium maxime
idoneus, qui cuncta tibi in Græcia demonstret et viæ dux
sit; is qui tuum pedem sanavit.» (7) Respondit Darius:
«Quoniam igitur tibi placet, mulier, ut Græciam statim
experiamur, consultius mihi videtur ex Persis exploratores
primum, una cum hoc quem tu dicis, eo mittere; qui,
postquam res Græcorum cunctas cognoverint
spectaverintque, nobis sint renunciaturi. Ac deinde, rebus
omnibus recte cognitis, arma contra illos convertam.»

CXXXV. Hæc ille dixit: et dictum factum. Simul ac enim dies

illuxit, quindecim probatos ex Persis viros vocat, eisque dat
mandatum, ut Democedem comitantes maritima Græciæ
loca lustrent, nec vero committant ut ab ipsis profugiat
Democedes, sed omnino illum reducant. (2) Hæc postquam
his mandata dedit, dein ipsum vocat Democedem, illumque
orat, ut, postquam itineris dux in Græciam Persis illis
fuisset, totamque eis demonstrasset, ad se revertatur;
jubetque eum, ut sua omnia quæ moveri possent secum
sumat, et dono adferat patri fratribusque; quorum loco se
illi alia multis partibus copiosiora in vicem daturum
confirmat; præterea ad dona illa onerariam navem se ei
adjecturum, ait, omnigenis bonis refertam, quæ simul cum
eo sit navigatura. (3) Darius igitur, ut mihi videtur, nullo
doloso consilio hæc ei est pollicitus. Democedes vero,
veritus ne se rex tentaret, haudquaquam cupide oblata
omnia arripuit; se, res suas, ait, Susis se relicturum, ut post
reditum eas haberet; onerariam autem navem, quam ei
promitteret Darius ad dona fratribus perferenda, accipere
se, ait. Huic igitur postquam eadem mandata quæ Persis
dederat Darius, ad mare eos dimisit.
CXXXVI. Itaque hi quum in Phœnicen et Phœnices urbem
Sidonem descendissent, protinus duas triremes
instruxerunt, simulque cum his ingentem gaulum
(onerariam navem) omni bonorum genere impleverunt;
rebusque cunctis præparatis, in Græciam navigarunt. Quo
ubi adpulerunt, oras omnes contemplati sunt
descripseruntque; donec, pleraque ejus et maxime notabilia
speculati, Tarentum in Italiam pervenerunt. (2) Ibi vero
Democedi indulgens Aristophilides, rex Tarentinorum, et
gubernacula navium Medicarum solvi jussit, et ipsos Persas
detinuit, tamquam speculatores: (3) interimque, dum illis
hoc accidit, Democedes Crotonem abiit. Qui postquam
domum ad suos pervenit, Persas Aristophilides custodia
emisit, et, quæ de navibus eorum demerat, illis restituit.

CXXXVII. Inde Persæ navibus profecti, Democedem

persequentes, Crotonem pervenerunt:[TR8] ubi quum eum in
foro versantem invenissent, manus ei injecerunt. (2) Ibi
tum Crotoniatarum alii, Persarum opes veriti, tradere illum
parati erant; alii vero Persis vicissim manus injicientes,
fustibus eos percutiebant. Quibus illi hæc verba
proferebant: «Viri Crotoniatæ, videte quid faciatis!
hominem, qui regis servus fugitivus est, eripitis. Quomodo
rex Darius patienter feret tali contumelia adfici? et quo
pacto vobis impune abibit facinus, si nobis illum eripueritis?
Cui prius, quam huic civitati, bellum inferemus? quam
priorem sub jugum mittere conabimur?» (3) Hæc illi
dicentes non moverunt Crotoniatas: sed, erepto sibi
Democede, atque etiam gaulo spoliati, quem adduxerant, in
Asiam sunt reversi; neque porro Græciam adire aliasque
Græciæ partes cognoscere cupivere, duce privati. Hoc
tamen eis abeuntibus mandatum Democedes dedit,
nunciarent Dario, Democedem filiam Milonis sibi
despondisse uxorem. (4) Erat enim apud regem celebre
Milonis nomen luctatoris: atque hac nimirum de caussa
videtur mihi Democedes, magna vi pecuniæ erogata,
properasse hoc matrimonium, ut adpareret Dario, esse
ipsum etiam in patria spectatum virum.

CXXXVIII. Crotone profecti Persæ, cum navibus in Iapygiam

ejecti sunt: ubi quum in servitutem essent redacti, Gillus
eos liberavit, exsul Tarentinus, et ad regem Darium reduxit.
(2) Pro quo beneficio quum ei, quidquid postulasset, dare
paratus rex esset; Gillus, exposita sua calamitate, petiit ut
in patriam Tarentum ex exsilio restitueretur. Ne autem
Græciam conturbaret, si propter ipsum magna classis in
Italiam navigaret, Cnidios solos, ait, ad se reducendum
sufficere; ratus, ab his maxime, quippe Tarentinorum
amicis, reditum sibi procuratum iri. (3) Id Darius recepit ei,
et promisso stetit: misso enim ad Cnidios nuncio, imperavit
his ut Tarentum reducerent Gillum. Sed Cnidii, Dario
obsequentes, Tarentinis ut eum reciperent non
persuaserunt; ad vim vero adhibendam parum validi erant.
(4) Ita igitur hæ res gestæ sunt: hique primi fuere Persæ,
qui ex Asia in Græciam venere, et talem ob caussam
speculatum erant missi.

CXXXIX. Post hæc Samum cepit rex Darius: estque hæc

prima ex urbibus vel Græcorum vel barbarorum, quæ sub
illius imperio vi capta est. Capta est autem tali ex caussa.
Quo tempore Cambyses expeditionem in Ægyptum suscepit,
frequentes Græci in Ægyptum venerant; alii, ut
consentaneum est, negotiandi caussa, alii militandi, alii
solummodo spectandæ gratia regionis. Horum in numero
Syloson erat, Æacis filius, frater Polycratis, Samo exsulans.
(2) Huic Sylosonti, talis quædam oblata fortuna est: sumpto
rutilo pallio, hoc circumdatus obambulabat Memphi in foro:
quem ubi conspexit Darius, qui satelles tunc erat Cambysis,
nec ullodum nomine clarus; cupidine pallii captus, adit
Sylosontem, illud mercaturus. (3) Syloson, vehementer
cupidum amiculi videns Darium, divino quodam instinctu
ait: «Equidem hoc pallium nullo vendo pretio: do tibi vero
gratis, si omnino ita tuum illud fieri cupis.» Quo laudato
responso, accipit pallium Darius.

CXL. Jamque existimabat Syloson, se propter nimiam animi

bonitatem amiculum hoc perdidisse. Interjecto vero
tempore, postquam mortuo Cambyse adversus Magum
conjuraverant septemviri, et ex septemvirorum numero
Darius regnum obtinuerat; rescivit Syloson, in manus
ejusdem viri transiisse regnum, cui olim ipse in Ægypto
amiculum, quod ille petiisset, dedisset dono. (2) Itaque
Susa adscendit, sedensque in vestibulo ædium regiarum,
ait, se de Dario bene meruisse. Id ubi audivit portæ custos,
renunciavit regi; et ille miratus, ait ad eum: «Quis tandem
Græcus est, qui bene de me meruerit, cui ego gratiam
debeam, qui nuper modo regnum obtinui. Vix unus aut
nullus adhuc ex illa gente ad me adscendit: neque
quidquam dicere possum quod Græco cuiquam homini
debeam. Verumtamen producite eum intro, ut sciam quid
sibi velit homo, quod istud dicat.» (3) Introducit janitor
Sylosontem; stantemque in medio interrogant interpretes,
quis sit, et quo facto bene se de Rege meruisse dicat.
Exponit igitur ille rem omnem ad amiculum spectantem;
adfirmatque se illum esse qui ei illud dono dederit. (4) Tum
rex, «O liberalissime hominum, ait, tu ergo ille es, qui mihi
nullamdum potestatem habenti donum dedisti! quod etsi
exiguum, tamen prorsus æquale est beneficium, ac si nunc
magnum quidpiam alicunde accipiam. Pro quo tibi ego
ingens auri argentique pondus reddo, ne umquam te
pœniteat, Dario Hystaspis filio beneficium contulisse.» (2)
Ad hæc Syloson: «Nec auro me, rex, nec argento dona; sed
patriam meam Samum serva, mihique redde; quam nunc,
postquam frater meus Polycrates ab Orœte interfectus est,
tenet servus noster. Hanc mihi da, a cædibus et servitute
liberatam.»
CXLI. His auditis, Darius exercitum misit ducemque Otanen,
unum e numero septemvirorum, cui mandat ut omnia
effecta det quæ Syloson petiisset. Itaque ad mare descendit
Otanes, exercitumque contraxit.

CXLII. Sami tunc imperium tenebat Mæandrius, Mæandrii

filius, cui cura regni a Polycrate fuerat commissa. Hic, quum
voluisset vir esse omnium justissimus, perficere propositum
non potuerat. Postquam enim nunciatus ei interitus erat
Polycratis, hæcce fecit. (2) Primum, Jovis Liberatoris aram
constituit, et templum circa illam designavit, hoc ipsum
quod etiam nunc est in suburbio. Dein, hoc perfecto,
concione convocata civium omnium, hæc apud eos verba
fecit: «Mihi, ut etiam nostis ipsi, sceptrum Polycratis atque
potestas omnis commissa est: nihilque nunc prohibet,
quominus regnum in vos capessam. (3) At, quod in aliis ego
reprehendo, id quantum in me est, non faciam ipse: nec
enim mihi Polycrates placuit, in viros sibi pares dominium
exercens; nec alius quisquam, qui hoc facit. Polycrates igitur
nunc fatum suum explevit: ego vero, regnum in medio
deponens, juris æquabilitatem vobis pronuncio. (4) Æquum
tamen censeo, ut hæcce mihi præmia honoresque
tribuantur: ex pecuniis Polycratis præcipua sex talenta: tum
sacerdotium mihi meisque in omne tempus posteris postulo
Jovis Liberatoris, cui et templum ego dedicavi, et cujus
nomine libertatem vobis trado.» (5) Hæc quum a Samiis
Mæandrius postulasset, surgens aliquis ait: «At non tu
dignus es qui nobis imperes, pravus qui fuisti et pestifer
homo; quin potius pecuniarum, quas administrasti, facito
reddas rationem.»

CXLIII. Hæc dixit homo spectatus inter cives, cui erat

nomen Telesarchus. Tum vero Mæandrius, secum reputans,
si dominatum ipse deponeret, fore ut alius quispiam in
ipsius locum tyrannus constituatur, non jam amplius
deponere potestatem decrevit: sed, postquam in arcem est
reversus, singulos deinceps ad se vocavit, quasi rationem
redditurus administratæ pecuniæ; eosque comprehensos in
vincula conjecit. (2) Qui dum ita in custodia servantur,
posthæc Mæandrius in morbum incidit. Tunc frater ejus, cui
nomen erat Lycaretus, moriturum illum ratus, quo facilius
ipse rerum Sami potiretur, vinctos cunctos interfecit. Nec
enim, ut videtur, voluerant illi ea conditione quam eis
Lycaretus proposuit liberari.

CXLIV. Jam postquam Persæ Samum venerunt, Sylosontem

in regnum restituturi, nemo manus contra eos sustulit: sed,
qui Mæandrio favebant, atque ipse etiam Mæandrius,
professi sunt, paratos se esse data fide excedere insula.
Quam conditionem quum probasset Otanes, fidemque
dedisset et accepisset; Persarum nobilissimi, positis sellis,
ex adverso arcis residebant.

CXLV. Erat Mæandrio tyranno frater haud satis compos

mentis, nomine Charilaus; qui, quod nescio quid deliquerat,
in subterraneo carcere vinctus erat. Hic tunc, postquam
quæ gerebantur audivit, et per carceris fenestram
prospectans Persas vidit tranquille sedentes, clamavit,
dicens velle se in colloquium venire Mæandrio. (2) Quo
audito, Mæandrius vinculis eum solvi jussit, ad seque
adduci. Et ille, simulatque adductus est, increpans fratrem
et ignavum adpellans, persuadere ei conatus est, ut in
Persas impetum faceret, his usus verbis: «me vero, inquit, o
hominum pessime, tuum fratrem, qui nihil deliqui quod
vinculis dignum esset, ad vincula et subterraneum carcerem
condemnasti: (3) Persas vero quum videas te ejicientes et
in exsilium agentes, non audes pœnam ab illis repetere,
licet ita facile opprimi possint! Quodsi tu illos perhorrescis,
at mihi da auxiliares, et ego ab illis ob terræ nostræ
invasionem pœnam sumam: teque ipsum paratus sum ex
insula deducere.»
CXLVI. Hæc ab Charilao dicta probavit Mæandrius; ut mihi
quidem videtur, non quod eo stultitiæ venisset, ut
existimaret suas copias superiores futuras copiis regis; sed
potius invidens Sylosonti, si civitatem salvam et integram
nullo labore obtinuisset. (2) Itaque, irritando Persas, voluit
res Samiorum quammaxime infirmas reddere, atque ita
urbem tradere: bene quippe gnarus, si male acciperentur
Persæ, tanto magis eos exasperatum iri adversus Samios;
et notum sibi exitum habens, per quem tuto ex insula
evadere, simulatque voluisset, posset; effodiendum enim
sibi curaverat occultum cuniculum, ex arce ad mare
ducentem. (3) Ipse igitur Mæandrius Samo navi egreditur:
Charilaus vero auxiliares cunctos armis instructos, apertis
portis, adversus Persas educit, nihil tale exspectantes,
omniaque convenisse existimantes. (4) Et auxiliares, impetu
facto, Persarum eos qui sellis gestabantur et nobilissimi
erant, interficiebant. Dum vero hi id faciunt, suppetias
interim adcurrunt reliquæ Persarum copiæ: a quibus repulsi
auxiliares, in arce sunt conclusi.

CXLVII. Otanes vero dux, ingentem videns calamitatem,

quam passi erant Persæ, neque mandata ignorans, quæ illi
Darius, quum eum Samum mitteret, dederat, ne Samiorum
quemquam vel occideret vel in servitutem redigeret, sed
immunem malorum insulam traderet Sylosonti; mandata
ista lubens volens oblitus est, edixitque exercitui,
quemcumque nacti essent, sive virum, sive puerum, eum
perinde interficerent. (2) Ibi tum militum alii oppugnarunt
arcem, alii vero obvium quemque interfecerunt, nullo
discrimine sive sacro in loco, sive in profano.

CXLVIII. Mæandrius, Samo ubi profugerat, Lacedæmonem

navigavit. Quo postquam pervenit, resque, quas secum
advexerat, in hospitium transferendas curavit, hocce
instituit facere. Pocula subinde exponebat argentea et
aurea, eaque extergebant famuli: et ille per idem tempus
cum Cleomene, Anaxandridæ filio, rege Spartanorum,
sermones miscens, secum in hospitium illum ducebat; ubi
quum pocula videns Cleomenes admiratione stuperet, ille
eum jubebat ex his secum auferre quæcumque voluisset.
(2) Id quum bis aut ter Mæandrius dixisset, justissimus vir
fuit Cleomenes, qui accipere oblata dedignatus, quum
animadverteret, si aliis civium eadem offerret, auxilia eum
inventurum, ephoros adiit, dixitque, ex usu esse Spartæ, ut
Samius hospes Peloponneso egrediatur; ne aut se aut alium
ex Spartanis corrumpat. Qua re audita, ephori per
præconem abire Mæandrium jusserunt.

CXLIX. Persæ vero Samum, veluti verriculo captam,

hominibusque nudatam, Sylosonti tradiderunt. Insequente
vero tempore dux Otanes eamdem incolis rursus
frequentavit, viso nocturno monitus, et morbo laborans, quo
pudenda ejus erant adfecta.

CL. Postquam navalis exercitus Samum erat profectus,

Babylonii a Persis defecerunt, rebus omnibus bene
admodum præparatis. Nam quo tempore Magus regnavit, et
adversus eum septem viri insurrexerunt, per omne id
tempus, per illamque rerum perturbationem, ad tolerandam
obsidionem sese præparaverunt. Et initio quidem occulte
quodammodo id fecerant. (2) Ex quo autem de professo
descivere, hæcce fecerunt: matribus exceptis, et una ex
uxoribus quam quisque sua e domo exemptam voluerat,
reliquas omnes mulieres congregatas suffocarunt; unam
autem, quam dixi, eximebat quisque quæ panem conficeret.
Suffocarunt autem illas, ne frumentum ipsorum
consumerent.

CLI. His rebus cognitis Darius, contractis universis suis

copiis, adversus eos profectus est; admotoque exercitu,
obsedit urbem. At obsidionem pro nihilo habebant
Babylonii; nam in propugnacula muri adscendentes
tripudiando insultabant irridebantque Darium et ejus
exercitum; unusque eorum hoc verbum emisit: «Quid hic
sedetis, Persæ? quidni abitis? tunc enim nos capietis,
quando mulæ pepererint.» Hoc dixit Babyloniorum aliquis,
existimans numquam mulam parituram.

CLII. Integer annus jam et septem menses erant elapsi,

tædioque adfectus erat Darius ejusque exercitus, quod
expugnare Babylonem non valerent. (2) Nam omnibus licet
artificiis omnibusque machinamentis adversus eos adhibitis,
non tamen poterat Darius eos expugnare, id quod
tentaverat et aliis artificiorum generibus, et illo etiam quo
Cyrus urbem ceperat: sed ita diligenter custodias agebant
Babylonii, ut capi nullo pacto potuerint.

CLIII. Ibi tum, quum vicesimus ageretur mensis, Zopyro

Megabazi filio hujus, qui e septem virorum numero fuit a
quibus Magus interemptus est, huic, inquam, Megabazi filio
Zopyro tale obtigit prodigium: una ex ipsius mulis
frumentum vehentibus peperit. (2) Quod quum Zopyro
esset renunciatum, et ille, ut qui fidem nuncio non
adhiberet, pullum ipse spectasset, imperavit servis ut
nemini edicerent factum, secumque deliberavit. (3)
Recordatus igitur Babylonii illius verbum, qui initio dixerat,
tunc Babylonem captum iri, quum mulæ pepererint, ex
hujus verbis omen colligebat Zopyrus, capi nunc Babylonem
posse: nec enim illum sine dei numine id dixisse, et sibi
nunc mulam peperisse.

CLIV. Quum igitur in fatis esse illi videretur, ut nunc Babylon

caperetur, Darium adiens quæsivit ex eo, an utique maximi
faceret capi Babylonem. Accepto responso, maximi id facere
regem; secundo loco secum deliberavit, quo pacto ipse
esset qui illam caperet, ipsiusque hoc facinus esset
futurum: nam apud Persas præcipue res præclare gestæ
maximis honoribus rependuntur. (2) Nulla vero alia ratione
fieri posse, ut illam in potestatem redigeret, judicavit, nisi si
se ipse mutilasset, atque ita ad illos transfugisset. Ibi tum,
parvi hoc pendens, insanabili mutilatione se ipse adficit:
quippe abscissis naribus auribusque, coma male tonsa,
flagellis item laceratus, Darium adit.

CLV. Darius, ubi virum nobilissimum ita vidit mutilatum,

gravissime adfectus, e solio subsiliens exclamat, ex eoque
quærit, quis eum ita mutilaverit, quave de caussa. (2) Cui
Zopyrus respondit: «Non est is alius nisi tu, qui tantam
habes potestatem, ut ego hoc modo sim adfectus. Nec vero
alienus quispiam, o rex, me ita adfecit, sed ego ipse me,
indignatus Assyriis Persas deridentibus.» (3) Tum Darius,
«O miserrime hominum, ait, fœdissimo facto pulcerrimum
nomen imposuisti, quum te profitearis propter hos, quos
obsidemus, te ipsum tam insanabili modo adfecisse. Quo
vero pacto, stulte, quod tu ita mutilatus sis, eo citius in
potestatem redigentur hostes? Anne mente es alienatus, qui
te ita perdidisti?» (4) Respondit ille: «Atqui, si tecum
communicassem quæ facturus eram, tu me prohibuisses:
nunc privato id feci consilio. Jam ergo, nisi tu iis quæ tui
muneris sunt defueris, capiemus Babylonem. Nam ego, ita
ut sum adfectus, ad murum pro transfuga me conferam,
dicens illis, a te me hæc esse passum: et puto, quum rem
ita se habere iis persuasero, exercitum mihi commissum iri.
(5) Tu vero, a quo die ego murum ero ingressus, decimo
inde die de illa copiarum tuarum parte, cujus jacturam
minime ægre laturus sis, mille homines contra portam
colloca quæ Semiramidis vocatur. Deinde rursus septimo ab
illo decimo, alios bis mille contra Niniam, quæ vocatur,
colloca portam. Ab hoc vero septimo die intermitte dies
viginti, deinde alios contra Chaldæam, quam vocant, duc
portam, ibique locum capere jube quater mille numero. (6)
Nec vero priores, neque hi, aliud quo se tueantur habeant
præter gladios: his tamen armatos esse sinito. Post illum
vero vicesimum diem continuo reliquum exercitum jube
murum circumcirca adgredi: Persas autem mihi ad Belidem,
quam vocant, et ad Cissiam colloca portam. Nam, ut
equidem puto, postquam præclara edidero facta, et reliqua
meæ fidei committent Babylonii, et portarum obices. Exinde
meum erit et Persarum, curare ut quæ ex usu sint
faciamus.»

CLVI. Hæc postquam mandavit, ad portam perrexit; subinde

retro se convertens, tamquam vere transfuga. Quem ubi
conspexerunt qui in turribus speculandi caussa stationem
habebant, raptim descendunt, et paululum reclinata altera
portæ ala interrogant, quis sit, et qua caussa advenerit. (2)
Et ille, Zopyrum se esse, dixit, et ut transfugam ad eos
venire. Quo audito, portæ custodes in curiam Babyloniorum
eum duxerunt: ubi coram senatu constitutus, sortem suam
deplorans, ait, a Dario se hæc (quæ sibi ipse inflixerat) esse
passum, eo quod illi suasisset abducere exercitum,
quandoquidem nulla via capiendæ urbis ostenderetur. (3)
«Et nunc ego (sic dicere perrexit) ad vos, Babylonii, veni,
maximo vobis commodo futurus, Dario atuem ejusque
exercitui et Persis maximo detrimento. Nec enim nimirum
impune ille feret, qui hoc me modo mutilaverit: exploratas
autem habeo omnes consiliorum ipsius vias.»

CLVII. Quæ ubi ille locutus est, videntes Babylonii virum

inter Persas nobilissimum naribus auribusque mutilatum, et
cruore ex flagellis inquinatum, prorsus existimaverunt vera
eum dicere, et ut socium sibi advenisse. Itaque parati erant
ei indulgere quæ ab ipsis postulasset; postulabat autem
armatorum manum. (2) Tum vero ille, postquam copias ab
iis impetravit, ea facere instituit de quibus illi cum Dario
convenerat. Decimo die, educto Babyloniorum exercitu,
mille illos, quos primos certo loco locare mandaverat Dario,
circumdatos interfecit. (3) Jamque intelligentes Babylonii,
factis eum verba æquare, maximo gaudio perfusi, in
omnibus ei parere erant parati. Tum ille, interjecto dierum
numero de quo convenerat, iterum selectos Babyloniorum
eduxit, et bis mille illos, quos supra dixi, Darii milites
interfecit. (4) Igitur hoc etiam factum ubi viderunt
Babylonii, omnium ore Zopyrus celebrabatur laudibus. At ille
rursus, intermisso definito dierum numero, in locum
constitutum copias eduxit, et circumdatos quater mille
interfecit. (5) Qua denuo re gesta, jam omnia Zopyrus apud
Babylonios erat, et imperii summa et muri custodia eidem
permissa est.

CLVIII. Deinde vero, ut ex composito Darius murum

circumcirca oppugnare est adgressus, ibi tum Zopyrus
dolum universum nudavit. Nam, dum Babylonii conscenso
muro repellere oppugnantem Darii exercitum conantur,
Zopyrus interim aperta Cissia et Belide porta Persas intra
murum recepit. (2) Quod factum qui viderunt Babylonii, hi
in Jovis Beli templum confugerunt: qui vero non viderunt, in
suo quisque manserunt ordine, donec et hi proditos se esse
intellexerunt.

CLIX. Igitur hoc modo capta iterum Babylon est. Darius

vero, urbe potitus, et murum ejus diruit, et portas omnes
detraxit; quorum neutrum Cyrus fecerat, postquam primum
Babylonem cepit. Adhuc ex primariis civibus ter mille
admodum e palis suspendi Darius jussit, reliquis vero
Babyloniis urbem reddidit habitandam. (2) Quo vero
mulieres haberent Babylonii, et soboles eis subnasceretur
(quandoquidem, ut initio expositum est, suas suffocaverant
Babylonii, rei frumentariæ consulentes), tali ratione inita
Darius providit: circum habitantibus populis imperavit, ut
mulieres Babylonem, certum cuique populo numerum
definiens, mitterent. Ita mulierum summa, quæ
convenerunt, fuit quinquaginta millium; quibus e mulieribus
prognati sunt qui nunc sunt Babylonii.
CLX. Dario vero judice, nemo Persarum, nec eorum qui
ante, nec qui post fuerunt, melius de Persis meritus est
quam Zopyrus, uno Cyro excepto: nam cum hoc se conferre
nemo adhuc Persarum ausus est. (2) Fertur autem sæpius
hanc sententiam declarasse Darius, malle se, Zopyrum
indigna illa mutilatione non esse adfectum, quam viginti
Babylones sibi ad eam quæ nunc est accedere. Magnifice
autem illum honoravit: nam et munera illi quotannis tribuit
ea, quæ honorificentissima sunt apud Persas, et Babylonem
eidem, quoad victurus esset, administrandam concessit, ita
ut nullum tributum regi penderet; et alia multa insuper
munera ei contulit. (3) Zopyri hujus filius fuit Megabyzus
ille, qui in Ægypto dux exercitus fuit adversus Athenienses
atque socios: hujusque Megabyzi filius fuit Zopyrus is, qui
ad Athenienses transfugit a Persis.
[TR1] "Cambys" → "Cambyses"
[TR2] "sepeliise" → "sepelisse"
[TR3] "habuisse." → "habuisse.»"
[TR4] "(3) »" → "» (3)"
[TR5] "Magum. «Hæc" → "Magum.» Hæc"
[TR6] "Hac" → "Hæ"
[TR7] "libel is" → "libellis"
[TR8] "pervanerunt" → "pervenerunt"

HERODOTI
 HISTORIARUM LIBER QUARTUS.
(MELPOMENE.)

I. Capta Babylone, jam adversus Scythas expeditionem

Darius suscepit. Quum enim viris floreret Asia, et magnæ
redirent pecuniæ, cupido incessit Darium pœnas sumendi
ab Scythis, quod illi, incursione facta in Medicam terram, et
prælio victis adversariis, priores initium fecissent
injuriarum. (2) Etenim, ut supra dixi, per duodetriginta
annos Scythæ superioris Asiæ tenuerant imperium: quippe
persequentes Cimmerios, irruptione in Asiam facta, Medos
imperio exuerant, qui ante Scytharum adventum
imperaverant Asiæ. (3) Scythas autem, postquam octo et
viginti annos domo abfuerant, et tam longo interjecto
tempore in patriam erant reversuri, excepit non minor,
quam Medicus fuerat, labor: offenderunt enim occurrentem
sibi exercitum haud exiguum. Scilicet uxores Scytharum,
dum per longum temporis spatium domo aberant viri, cum
servis habuerunt consuetudinem.

II. Servos autem cunctos excæcant Scythæ, lactis caussa,

cujus potu utuntur. Emulgent vero lac hoc modo: fistulas
sumunt osseas, tibiis simillimas; quibus in equarum
genitalia insertis, sufflant ore; et dum alter sufflat, alter
mulget. Id ea caussa se facere aiunt, quod venæ equarum
ita inflatæ repleantur, et deprimantur ubera. (2) Postquam
emulsere lac, in cava vasa lignea infundunt, illudque
cæcorum operâ, continua serie circum vasa collocatorum,
agitant: tum, quod supernatat, id desuper exhauriunt,
exquisitius æstimantes; quod subsidit, minoris æstimant
altero. (3) Hujus operæ caussa, quemcumque bello capiunt
Scythæ, eum excæcant: nec enim aratores sunt, sed
pastores.

III. Ex his igitur servis et ex Scytharum uxoribus prognata

erat juventus: qui, cognita sua origine, illis ex Media
redeuntibus sese opposuerunt. Ac primum quidem regionem
interceperunt lata ducta fossa, quæ a Tauricis montibus ad
Mæotin paludem, vastissimam illam, pertinebat. Deinde
conantibus irrumpere Scythis, oppositis castris,
repugnarunt. (2) Frequentibus commissis præliis, quum
nihil Scythæ pugnando proficerent, unus ex eis hæc verba
fecit: «Quidnam rei facimus, Scythæ! cum servis nostris
pugnantes interficimur ipsi minuimurque; et, illos si
interficimus, paucioribus deinde imperabimus. (3) Videtur
igitur mihi, omissis hastis et sagittis, unumquemque
nostrûm debere flagellum sumere equi sui, atque ita
adversus istos pergere. Quam diu enim nos illi viderunt
arma gestantes, similes esse nostrûm et ex similibus se
genitos putarunt: qui si nos viderint armorum loco flagellis
instructos, intelligent servos se esse nostros; et conditionis
suæ conscii, nos non sustinebunt.»

IV. Hæc ubi audiverunt Scythæ, effecta dederunt: et illi,

perculsi facto, omissa pugna, fugam arripuere. Ita Scythæ,
Asiæ imperio potiti, rursusque a Medis ejecti, suam in
terram isto modo rediere: eaque caussa pœnas ab illis
sumere cupiens Darius exercitum adversus eos contraxit.

V. Scythæ, ut ipsi aiunt, gens sunt novissima omnium,

originemque gentis hanc fuisse narrant. Primum hominem
in illa terra, quæ deserta tunc fuisset, natum esse, cui
nomen fuerit Targitaus. Hujus Targitai parentes fuisse aiunt,
parum mihi credibilia narrantes, aiunt vero utique, Jovem et
Borysthenis fluvii filiam. Tali igitur genere ortum esse
Targitaum: huic autem filios fuisse tres, Lipoxain, et
Arpoxain, minimumque natu Colaxain. (2) His regnantibus,
de cœlo delapsa aurea instrumenta, aratrum et jugum et
bipennem et phialam, decidisse in Scythicam terram. Et
illorum natu maximum, qui primus conspexisset, propius
accedentem capere ista voluisse; sed, eo accedente, aurum
arsisse. (3) Quo digresso, accessisse alterum, et itidem
arsisse aurum. Hos igitur ardens aurum repudiasse;
accedente vero natu minimo fuisse exstinctum, huncque
illud domum suam contulisse: qua re intellecta, majores
fratres ultro universum regnum minimo natu tradidisse.

VI. Jam a Lipoxai progenitum esse aiunt illum Scythicum

populum, qui Auchatæ vocantur: a medio vero fratrum
Arpoxai hos, qui Catiari et Traspies: a natu minimo vero
Reges [sive Regios], qui Paralatæ nominantur: universis
vero commune nomen esse Scolotos, de regis nomine.
Scythas vero Græci nominarunt.

VII. Hac igitur origine se ortos aiunt Scythæ: annos autem,

ex quo ortum cepissent, a primo rege Targitao usque ad
Darii in Scythiam transitum, in universum elapsos aiunt
mille admodum, non amplius, sed hunc ipsum annorum
numerum. (2) Sacrum autem illud aurum custodiunt Reges
summa cura; et quotannis ibi conveniunt ubi asservatur,
majoribus sacrificiis placantes. (3) Dicuntque Scythæ,
quicumque festis illis diebus aurum hoc sacrum tenens
obdormiverit sub dio, hunc non transigere illum annum; ob
eamque caussam dono ei dari tantum, quantum ille uno die
equo vectus circumire potuisset. (4) Quum sit autem ampla
terra, tria regna aiunt Colaxain filiis suis constituisse; ex
eisque unum regnum fecisse maximum, in quo aurum illud
servetur. (5) Quæ vero loca versus septemtrionem sita sunt
supra eos qui superiores Scythiæ partes incolunt, ea
ulterius spectari aut peragrari non posse aiunt, propter
diffusas plumas: plumis enim et terram et aerem esse
oppletum, hisque intercludi prospectum.
VIII. Ista quidem Scythæ de se ipsis, et de regione quæ
supra ipsorum ditione sita est, narrant: Græci vero ad
Pontum Euxinum habitantes hæcce. Herculem, aiunt,
Geryonis boves agentem, in hanc terram venisse, tunc
desertam, quam nunc Scythæ habitant; Geryonem autem
extra Pontum habitasse insulam illam, quam Erytheam
Græci vocant, prope Gadira (sive Gades) extra Herculis
columnas in Oceano. (2) Oceanum autem, ab ortu solis
initium capientem, universam circumfluere terram, verbis
quidem adfirmant, re autem ipsa non demonstrant. Inde
igitur Herculem in eam regionem, quæ Scythia nunc vocatur
pervenisse. (3) Nempe, ingruente tempestate geluque,
quum adducta super se pelle leonina obdormivisset, equas
de curru ipsius, interim pascentes, divina quadam sorte
evanuisse.

IX. Tum Herculem, ubi expergefactus esset, quæsisse

equas; et, peragrata universa regione, postremo in Hylæam
(Silvosam) quæ vocatur terram pervenisse, ibique in antro
semivirginem quamdam Echidnam (viperam) invenisse
mixtæ naturæ: superiora quippe, inde a natibus, feminæ
fuisse, inferiora vero serpentis. (2) Hanc quum conspexisset
miratusque esset, quæsisse ab ea, an equas alicubi vidisset
oberrantes. Cui illam, se ipsam eas habere, respondisse;
nec vero illi reddituram, nisi secum concubuisset. Et
Herculem hac mercede cum illa coiisse: (3) at illam
distulisse equarum redditionem, quum cuperet quam
diutissime consuetudinem cum Hercule habere; hunc vero
receptis equabus voluisse abire. Ad extremum redditis illis
dixisse Echidnam: «Jam has equas, quum huc venissent,
ego tibi servavi; tuque servatarum solvisti pretium; concepi
enim ex te tres filios: (4) qui quando adoleverint, quid iis
faciam, tu doce; hacne in terra, cujus ego sola teneo
imperium, sedes illis tribuam; an ad te dimittam.» Cui hæc
interroganti illum in hunc modum aiunt respondisse:
«Postquam eos videris ætatem ingressos, recte feceris si
hæcce institueris (5) quem tu illorum videris arcum hunc
modo tendentem, et hoc cingulo sese ita cingentem, ei hanc
terram tribue habitandam; qui vero opera hæc, quæ
præscribo, facere non potuerit, eum ex hac terra emitte.
Hoc ubi feceris, et ipsa lætaberis, et mandata mea
peregeris.»

X. Herculem igitur alterum ex arcubus (duos enim ad id

tempus gestasse) adduxisse, et aptandi cinguli rationem
præmonstrasse: traditoque dein et arcu et cingulo, quod in
extrema commissura auream habuisset phialam, abiisse.
(2) Tum illam, postquam filii ex ea nati ad virilem
pervenissent ætatem, nomina primum eis imposuisse; uni,
Agathyrso; alteri, Gelono; novissimo, Scythæ: deinde dati
mandati memorem, exsecutam esse mandata. (3) Et duos
quidem ex filiis, Agathyrsum et Gelonum, quum proposito
certamini impares inventi fuissent, terra excessisse, a matre
expulsos. Natu vero minimum eorum, Scytham, qui rem
perfecisset, in terra illa mansisse: (4) ab illoque Scytha,
Herculis filio, genus ducere quicumque dein reges fuerint
Scytharum; et ab illa phiala Scythas ad hanc usque ætatem
phialas gestare ex cingulo suspensas. Hoc igitur solummodo
matrem huic Scythæ parasse. Et hæc quidem Græci narrant
Pontum adcolentes.

XI. Est vero etiam alia narratio, ita habens; cui potissimum
equidem adsentior. Scilicet, Scythas Nomades (pastores)
Asiam incolentes, bello pressos a Massagetis, trajecto Araxe
fluvio in terram abiisse Cimmeriorum: quam enim nunc
terram Scythæ tenent, ea olim Cimmeriorum fuisse traditur.
(2) Cimmerios autem, invadentibus terram ipsorum Scythis,
quum deliberarent, utpote ingente irruente exercitu,
diversas abiisse in sententias; fortiter quidem propugnatam
utramque, fortiorem vero eam pro qua reges stabant. Populi
enim fuisse sententiam, excedendum esse terra, neque
manendum et adversus plures adeundum periculum: regum
vero, pro terra utique dimicandum cum invadentibus. (3)
Atqui nec regibus populum voluisse parere, nec reges
populo. Itaque his fuisse constitutum, non tentata pugna
abire, et invadentibus permittere terram: regibus vero
placuisse, sua potius in patria occumbentes sepeliri, quam
cum plebe aufugere; reputantes quantis bonis essent fruiti,
et quantis malis se pressum iri consentaneum esset, si ex
patria profugissent. (4) Talis quum fuisset utrorumque
sententia divisis agminibus, numero utrimque paribus, inter
se mutuo pugnam civisse; et hos quidem, qui a regum
partibus stetissent, a popularibus suis interfectos esse
cunctos, sepultosque a plebe Cimmeriorum ad Tyram
fluvium, ubi ad hunc diem conspicitur illorum sepulcrum;
quibus sepultis, plebem terra excessisse; supervenientes
vero Scythas desertam terram occupasse.

XII. Est autem ad hunc diem in Scythica terra Cimmerium

castellum; sunt et Porthmea Cimmeria (in ostio Mæotidis
paludis); est item regio cui Cimmeria nomen; est Bosporus,
Cimmerius cognominatus. (2) Satis vero etiam constat,
Cimmerios, quum a Scythis expulsi in Asia se reciperent,
peninsulam illam colonis frequentasse, in qua nunc Sinope,
Græca civitas, condita est; (3) constatque etiam, Scythas,
quum illos persequerentur, et Medicam terram invaderent, a
via aberrasse: Cimmerii enim fugientes, semper secundum
mare progressi sunt; Scythæ vero Caucaso ad dextram
relicto eos sunt persecuti, itinere in mediterranea converso.
Hæc est altera narratio, in qua referenda Græcis convenit
cum barbaris.

XIII. Sed Aristeas, Caystrobii filius, Proconnesius, in epico

carmine ait, Phœbi instinctu se ad Issedonas pervenisse;
super Issedonibus vero habitare Arimaspos, homines
unoculos; super his auri custodes Grypas; ulterius
Hyperboreos, ad mare pertinentes. (2) Hos igitur cunctos,
exceptis Hyperboreis, initio facto ab Arimaspis, bellum
constanter inferre finitimis: et ab Arimaspis quidem sedibus
suis pelli Issedonas, ab Issedonibus vero Scythas;
Cimmerios vero, ad australe mare habitantes, pressos a
Scythis, terram suam deseruisse. Ita ne huic quidem de hac
regione convenit cum Scythis.

XIV. Quæ patria fuerit hujus Aristeæ, qui ista versibus

descripsit, dictum est: commemorabo vero etiam id, quod
de eodem in Proconneso et Cyzico narratum audivi.
Aristeam, narrant, nulli civium nobilitate generis secundum,
quum fullonis ingressus esset officinam in Proconneso,
ibidem mortuum esse; et fullonem, occlusa officina, ad
propinquos mortui perrexisse, rem nunciaturum. (2)
Quumque jam rumor pervulgatus esset per urbem,
mortuum esse Aristeam; controversiam his qui id dicebant
movisse civem Cyzicenum, ex Artaca oppido venientem,
adfirmantemque obviam se illi venisse Cyzicum versus
eunti, cum eoque sermones miscuisse. (3) Dum hic ita cum
contentione disceptat, interim propinquos mortui ad fullonis
adfuisse officinam, secum adferentes quæ usui essent ad
tollendum mortuum: sed aperto conclavi, nec mortuum
Aristeam, nec vivum, comparuisse. (4) Septimo vero post
anno rursus Proconnesum venisse, et carmen illud
composuisse, quod a Græcis nunc Arimaspea nominatur: id
autem postquam composuerit, iterum e conspectu hominum
evanuisse. Ista quidem narrant illæ civitates.

XV. Hoc vero scio Metapontinis in Italia accidisse, anno

postquam iterum evanuerat Aristeas trecentesimo
quadragesimo, quemadmodum conferendo quæ et
Proconnesi et Metaponti narrentur reperi. (2) Aiunt
Metapontini, Aristeam sibi sua in terra adparuisse,
jussisseque ipsos aram statuere Apollini, et statuam juxta
illam aram ponere, quæ nominaretur Aristeæ Proconnesii.
Dixisse enim, in solam ipsorum, ex omnibus Italiotis,
regionem venisse Apollinem; et se, qui nunc Aristeas sit,
illum esse comitatum; fuisse autem tunc, quum illum
sequeretur, corvum. (3) His dictis, illum evanuisse. Aiunt
autem Metapontini, se Delphos misisse qui consulerent
oraculum, quodnam illud esset hominis spectrum;
respondisseque Pythiam, ipsis parendum esse spectri
mandatis; id si fecissent, bene eis cessurum. Se igitur,
accepto hoc responso, exsecutos esse mandata. (4) Atque
nunc stat Metapontii in foro statua, quam Aristeæ statuam
vocant, juxta ipsam Apollinis statuam collocata, et lauri
arbores illam circumstant. Sed hæc de Aristea hactenus
dicta sunto.

XVI. Regione ea, de qua hunc sermonem facere institui,

quid sit superne ulterius, nemo adcurate novit. Neminem
quippe, qui suis id oculis conspexisse adfirmaret, potui
reperire: etenim ne Aristeas quidem, cujus modo
mentionem feci, ne hic quidem ultra Issedonas pervenit, ut
in carmine suo ipse profitetur; sed, quæ de eis narrat qui
supra hos habitant, ea fando accepta narravit, dicens
Issedonas esse qui id tradant. Sed nos quidem, quoad
longissime auditu cognoscere adcurate potuimus, omnia
referemus.

XVII. A Borysthenitarum emporio, quod in medio maxime

universæ oræ maritimæ Scythiæ situm est; ab hoc, inquam,
primi Callippidæ habitant, qui sunt Græci Scythæ: tum
super his alius populus, qui vocantur Alazônes. (2) Hi atque
Callippidæ in cæteris quidem Scytharum instituta sequuntur,
frumentum vero et serunt et comedunt, itemque cepas et
allium et lentem et milium. (3) Supra Alazones habitant
Scythæ Aratores; qui frumentum serunt, non in cibi usum,
sed vendendi caussa. (4) Super his Neuri habitant. A Neuris
vero septemtrionem versus deserta hominibus terra est,
quoad nos novimus. Hi sunt populi juxta Hypanin fluvium,
ab occidente Borysthenis.
XVIII. Trans Borysthenem, prima mari regio Hylæa est. Ab
hac proximi habitant Scythæ Agricolæ, quos Græci Hypanin
fluvium adcolentes Borysthenitas nominant, ipsi autem se
Olbiopolitas. (2) Hi igitur Scythæ Agricolæ ad orientem
Borysthenis habitant ad trium iter dierum, pertinentque
usque ad fluvium cui nomen Panticapes; versus
septemtrionem vero, undecim dierum iter adverso flumine
navigantibus. (3) Jam supra hos longe lateque deserta regio
est. Post desertum vero Androphagi habitant, proprius
populus, neutiquam Scythicus. Supra hos vero jam verum
desertum, nec ullus hominum populus, quoad novimus.

XIX. Ab oriente vero Agricolarum istorum Scytharum, trans

Panticapen fluvium, Nomades Scythæ degunt, qui neque
serunt quidquam, nec arant: estque arboribus nuda
universa hæc regio, excepta Hylæa. Nomades autem hi,
orientem versus, terram tenent per quattuordecim dierum
iter patentem ad Gerrhum usque fluvium.

XX. Trans Gerrhum hæc est quæ Regia terra vocatur, quam
Scythæ nobilissimi tenent et numerosissimi, qui reliquos
Scythas servos suos esse reputant. (2) Pertinentque hi,
meridiem versus, ad Tauricam, versus orientem vero, ad
fossam illam quam cæcorum filii duxerunt, et ad emporium
Mæotidis paludis quod Cremni vocatur; partim eorum etiam
ad Tanain flumen. (3) Quæ supra Regios Scythas ad
septemtrionem vergunt, ea Melanchlæni tenent, diversæ
stirpis populus, non Scythicus. Supra Melanchlænos vero,
paludes sunt, et terra hominibus vacua, quantum nos
quidem novimus.

XXI. Trans Tanain fluvium non amplius Scythica terra, sed

partium in quas illa regio divisa, prima est Sauromatarum;
qui ab intimo Mæotidis paludis recessu initium capientes,
tenent, septemtrionem versus, terram in quindecim dierum
iter patentem, arboribus omnibus, tam cultis, quam