herodotus

of the same race as they; and in Tenedos there is one city, andanother in what are called the "Hundred Isles." Now the Lesbians andthe men of Tenedos, like those Ionians who dwelt in the islands, hadno cause for fear; but the remaining cities came to a common agreementto follow the Ionians whithersoever they should lead.152. Now when the messengers from the Ionians and Aiolians came toSparta (for this business was carried out with speed), they chosebefore all others to speak for them the Phocaian, whose name wasPythermos. He then put upon him a purple cloak, in order that as manyas possible of the Spartans might hear of it and come together, andhaving been introduced before the assembly[155] he spoke at length,asking the Spartans to help them. The Lacedemonians however would notlisten to him, but resolved on the contrary not to help the Ionians.So they departed, and the Lacedemonians, having dismissed themessengers of the Ionians, sent men notwithstanding in a ship of fiftyoars, to find out, as I imagine, about the affairs of Cyrus and aboutIonia. These when they came to Phocaia sent to Sardis the man of mostrepute among them, whose name was Lacrines, to report to Cyrus thesaying of the Lacedemonians, bidding him do hurt to no city of theHellas, since they would not permit it. 153. When the herald hadspoken thus, Cyrus is said to have asked those of the Hellenes whom hehad with him, what men the Lacedemonians were and how many in number,that they made this proclamation to him; and hearing their answer hesaid to the Spartan herald: "Never yet did I fear men such as these,who have a place appointed in the midst of their city where theygather together and deceive one another by false oaths: and if Icontinue in good health, not the misfortunes of the Ionians will befor them a subject of talk, but rather their own." These words Cyrusthrew out scornfully with reference to the Hellenes in general,because they have got for themselves[156] markets and practise buyingand selling there; for the Persians themselves are not wont to usemarkets nor have they any market-place at all. After this heentrusted Sardis to Tabalos a Persian, and the gold both of Crœsus andof the other Lydians he gave to Pactyas a Lydian to take charge of,and himself marched away to Agbatana, taking with him Crœsus andmaking for the present no account of the Ionians. For Babylon stood inhis way still, as also the Bactrian nation and the Sacans and theEgyptians; and against these he meant to make expeditions himself,while sending some other commander about the Ionians.154. But when Cyrus had marched away from Sardis, Pactyas caused theLydians to revolt from Tabalos and from Cyrus. This man went down tothe sea, and having in his possession all the gold that there had beenin Sardis, he hired for himself mercenaries and persuaded the men ofthe sea-coast to join his expedition. So he marched on Sardis and