49
The Chalcedonians were involved in a war against the Bithyniae, to which they were provoked by all kinds of reasons. When Zeipoetes became king of Bithynia, the Chalcedonians, in full force and with the addition of Thracian allies, devastated the country with fire and sword. When Zeipoetes attacked them near the so-called Phalion, they fought badly through rashness and lack of discipline, and lost over eight thousand soldiers. It was only because Zeipoetes granted an armistice to please the Byzantines that they were not completely annihilated at that time. Since, then, there was a great scarcity of men throughout the city, most of the women were forced to consort with freedmen and resident aliens. But those women who preferred to have no husband at all rather than a marriage of this sort, themselves conducted whatever business they needed to transact with the judges or the officials, drawing aside one part of the veil that covered their faces. And the married women, for very shame, followed the example of these, who, they felt, were better than themselves, and also changed to a similar custom.
50
Why is it that the Argives drive their sheep to the precinct of Agenor when they wish to mate them?
50
Is it because Agenor took most excellent care of his sheep and acquired more flocks than any other king?
51
Why is it that Argive children in a certain festival call themselves, in jest, Pear-throwers?
51
Is it because the first men that were led down by Inachus from the mountains to the plain lived, as they say, on wild pears? They also say that wild pears were first discovered by the Greeks in the Peloponnesus at a time when that country was still called Apia, cf. Pausanias, ii. 5. 7; Aelian, Varia Historia, iii. 39. wherefore wild pears were named apioi.
