Herodotus - The Histories.pdf

110 V Herodotus
“Men of Ionia, we Cyprians leave it to you to
choose whether you will fight with the Persians or
with the Phoenicians. If it be your pleasure to try
your strength on land against the Persians, come
on shore at once, and array yourselves for the battle;
we will then embark aboard your ships and
engage the Phoenicians by sea. If, on the other
hand, ye prefer to encounter the Phoenicians, let
that be your task: only be sure, whichever part
you choose, to acquit yourselves so that Ionia and
Cyprus, so far as depends on you, may preserve
their freedom.”
The Ionians made answer- “The commonwealth
of Ionia sent us here to guard the sea, not to make
over our ships to you, and engage with the
Persians on shore. We will therefore keep the post
which has been assigned to us, and seek therein to
be of some service. Do you, remembering what
you suffered when you were the slaves of the
Medes, behave like brave warriors.”
Such was the reply of the Ionians. Not long afterwards
the Persians advanced into the plain before