Herodotus - The Histories.pdf

The Histories–Book Three V 143
as he wished, but found themselves unable to persuade
the Tarentines, and were too weak to
attempt force. Such then was the course which
this matter took. These were the first Persians
who ever came from Asia to Greece; and they
were sent to spy out the land for the reason which
I have before mentioned.
After this, king Darius besieged and took Samos,
which was the first city, Greek or Barbarian, that
he conquered. The cause of his making war upon
Samos was the following:- at the time when
Cambyses, son of Cyrus, marched against Egypt,
vast numbers of Greeks flocked thither; some, as
might have been looked for, to push their trade;
others, to serve in his army; others again, merely
to see the land: among these last was Syloson, son
of Aeaces, and brother of Polycrates, at that time
an exile from Samos. This Syloson, during his stay
in Egypt, met with a singular piece of good fortune.
He happened one day to put on a scarlet
cloak, and thus attired to go into the market-place
at Memphis, when Dariuss who was one of
Cambyses’ bodyguard, and not at that time a man