A war arose between the Naxians and Milesians upon the account of
Neaera, the wife of Hypsicreon, a Milesian. For she fell in love
with Promedon a Naxian, who was Hypsicreon’s guest. Promedon lies
with his beloved Neaera; and she, fearing her husband’s displeasure,
took shipping with her Promedon, who carried her over into Naxos and
placed her a supplicant to Vesta. The Naxians not restoring her upon
demand, for the sake of Promedon and making her devotion to Vesta their
pretence, a war arose. To the assistance of the Milesians came in many
others; and of the Ionians the Erythraeans were most ready. So that
this war was of long continuance, and had great calamities attending
it. But as it was begun by the lewdness of a woman, so it was ended by
a woman’s policy. Diognetus, a colonel of the Erythraeans, holding a
fortification committed to his keeping, which was cast up against the
Naxians, lying naturally to great advantage and well furnished with
ammunition, took great spoils from the Naxians; yea, he captivated both
free married women and virgins; with one of which, called Polycrita,
he fell in love, and treated her not as a captive but after the manner
of a married wife. Now a festival coming in turn to be celebrated
among the Milesians in the camp, and all of them given to their cups
and luxury, Polycrita petitioned Diognetus that he would be pleased
to permit her to send some part of the cakes to her brethren. He
permitting and bidding her do it, she thrust into a cake a piece of
lead engraven with writing, and commanded the bearer to say to her
brethren that they alone by themselves should eat up what she had sent.
Accordingly they met with the plate of lead, and read Polycrita’s
hand-writing, advising them that night to fall upon their enemies,
who, by reason of excess caused by their feastings, were overcome with
wine and therefore in a careless secure condition. They acquainted the
officers with it, and urged them to accompany them forth against the
enemies. Upon engagement the stronghold being gotten and many slain,
Polycrita by entreaty of her countrymen obtained the life of Diognetus
and preserved him. But she being met by her countrymen at the gate,
who received her with acclamations of joy and garlands, and greatly
applauded her deed, could not bear the greatness of the joy, but died,
falling down at the gate of the citadel, where she was buried; and
it is called the Sepulchre of Envy, as though some envious fortune
had grudged Polycrita the fruition of so great honor. And thus do the
Naxian writers declare the history. But Aristotle saith, that Polycrita
was not taken captive, but that by some other way or means Diognetus
seeing her fell in love with her, and was ready to give and do all that
he could for the enjoying her. Polycrita promised to consent to him,
provided she might obtain one only thing of him; concerning which,
as the philosopher saith, she required an oath of Diognetus. When he
had sworn, she required Delium to be delivered up to her (for the
stronghold was called Delium), otherwise she would not yield to go with
him. He, being besotted with lust and for his oath’s sake, delivered up
the place into the hands of Polycrita, and she to her countrymen. From
henceforward they adjusted matters so equally, that the Naxians had
free converse, as they pleased, with the Milesians.