count of the tyranny and oppression of Lygdamis,
who had caused his uncle Panyasis to be put to
death; but it does not appear whether he was ex-
pelled or voluntarily retired from Halicarnassus.
During his exile he travelled through Greece,
Egypt, Asia, Scythia, Thrace and Macedonia;
and during his sojourn at Samos he found leisure
to arrange his materials and to form the plan for
writing his history. Halicarnassus was not at this
time wanting in citizens discontented with the ty-
ranny of Lygdamis, and Herodotus having received
intelligence of a patriotic design to expel the tyrant,
left Samos and hastened to join the conspiracy.
On his arrival he dedicated his talents and experi-
ence to the cause; and succeeded, at the head of a
formidable party, in dethroning the tyrant. Ha-
licarnassus was again free, and the people restored
to that liberty which, independently of revenging his
uncle's death, was the chief object of our histo-
rian's constant wishes. Faction and cabal however
soon disgraced the cause he had espoused, and he
was obliged to leave his country a second time,
and to seek protection in Greece, which soon be-
came the noble theatre of his glory.

Having attained his thirty-ninth year, a generous
desire of fame led him publicly to recite a portion

-viii-