A Hermonian grace

Explanation

certain Pelasgians who dwelt in Lemnos came in ships to Brauron in Attica and carried off the women from there. Falling sick of a plague, they were ordered to make atonement to the Athenians, and would so be rid of the plague. The Athenians bid them quit Lemnos; the Pelasgians said that if anyone could sail with a north wind in a single day from Athens to Lemnos, they would yield up their land. Later, when Darius the Persian was in Thrace and subduing all the surrounding parts, Miltiades the Athenian, setting out from the Chersonese into the open sea, took Lemnos, and said to the Pelasgians that he had come from Athens with a north wind in a single day. Hermon, king of the Pelasgians, gave up the country — in truth out of fear of Darius' power, but pretending to give the Athenians the favour willingly. The proverb is therefore said of those who pretend, under necessity, to do someone a favour.