The histories of Herodotus;

45-48] EXPEDITION AGAINST SAMOS 171
rates ; in my opinion, giving an erroneous account : for there
would have been no need for their calling in the Lacedaemonians
if they were themselves able to get the better of Polycrates.
Besides, it is not at all probable that one who had a
numerous body of foreign mercenaries, and of native archers,
should be beaten by the Samians who returned, who were
few in number. Moreover, Polycrates, having shut up together
in the arsenals the children and wives of the citizens
who were subject to him, had them ready to burn, together
with the arsenals themselves, in case they should go over to
those who were returning. When the Samians, expelled by
Polycrates, arrived at Sparta, having presented themselves
before the magistrates, they made a long harangue, as people
very much in earnest. But they, at this first audience, answered
them, that they had forgotten the first part of their
speech, and did not understand the last. After this, having
presented themselves a second time, they brought a sack,
and said nothing else than " the sack wants meal ; " but the
Lacedaemonians replied that the word " sack " was superfluous
: it was, however, decreed that they should assist them.
Then the Lacedaemonians, having made preparations, set out
with an army against Samos ; as the Samians say, requiting
a former kindness, because they had formerly assisted them
with some ships against the Messenians ; but as the Lacedaemonians
say, they undertook this expedition not so much for
the purpose of assisting the Samians who entreated them as
from a desire to revenge the seizure of the bowl which they
sent to Croesus, and the corselet which Amasis, King of Egypt,
had sent to them as a present ; for the Samians had robbed
them of the corselet the year before they took the bowl. This
corselet was made of linen, with many figures of animals inwrought,
and adorned with gold and cotton wool : and on this
account each thread of the corselet makes it worthy of admiration
; for though it is fine, it contains three hundred and
sixty threads, all distinct. Such another is that which Amasis
dedicated to Minerva at Lindus.
The Corinthians readily assisted in abetting the expedition
against Samos ; because an injury had been also done
to them by the Samians in the age preceding this expedition,
done about the same time as the seizure of the bowl. For
Periander, son of Cypselus, had sent three hundred youths,
of the noblest families of the Corcyraeans, to Alyattes at Sardis,
for the purpose of emasculation ; but when the Corinthians
who were conducting the youths touched at Samos,
the Samians, having ascertained for what purpose they were