herodotus

97. While they had these thoughts and had been set at enmity with thePersians, at this very time Aristagoras the Milesian, ordered awayfrom Sparta by Cleomenes the Lacedemonian, arrived at Athens; for thiswas the city which had most power of all the rest besides Sparta. AndAristagoras came forward before the assembly of the people and saidthe same things as he had said at Sparta about the wealth which therewas in Asia, and about the Persian manner of making war, how they usedneither shield nor spear and were easy to overcome. Thus I say hesaid, and also he added this, namely that the Milesians were colonistsfrom the Athenians, and that it was reasonable that the Atheniansshould rescue them, since they had such great power; and there wasnothing which he did not promise, being very urgent in his request,until at last he persuaded them: for it would seem that it is easierto deceive many than one, seeing that, though he did not prove able todeceive Cleomenes the Lacedemonian by himself, yet he did this tothirty thousand Athenians. The Athenians then, I say, being persuaded,voted a resolution to despatch twenty ships to help the Ionians, andappointed to command them Melanthios one of their citizens, who was inall things highly reputed. These ships proved to be the beginning ofevils for the Hellenes and the Barbarians.98. Aristagoras however sailed on before and came to Miletos; and thenhaving devised a plan from which no advantage was likely to come forthe Ionians (nor indeed was he doing what he did with a view to that,but in order to vex king Dareios), he sent a man to Phrygia to thePiaonians who had been taken captive by Megabazos from the riverStrymon, and who were dwelling in a district and village of Phrygiaapart by themselves; and when the messenger came to the Paionians hespoke these words: "Paionians, Aristagoras the despot of Miletos sentme to offer to you salvation, if ye shall be willing to do as he says;for now all Ionia has revolted from the king and ye have anopportunity of coming safe to your own land: to reach the sea shall beyour concern, and after this it shall be thenceforth ours." ThePaionians hearing this received it as a most welcome proposal, andtaking with them their children and their women they began a flight tothe sea; some of them however were struck with fear and remained inthe place where they were. Having come to the coast the Paionianscrossed over thence to Chios, and when they were already in Chiosthere arrived in their track a large body of Persian horsemen pursuingthe Paionians. These, as they did not overtake them, sent over toChios to bid the Paionians return back: the Paionians however did notaccept their proposal, but the men of Chios conveyed them from Chiosto Lesbos, and the Lesbians brought them to Doriscos, and thence theyproceeded by land and came to Paionia.