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The Persians now quitted Tarentum, and sailed to Crotona in pursuit
of Democedes; they found him in the market-place, where they
straightway laid violent hands on him. Some of the Crotoniats, who
greatly feared the power of the Persians, were willing to give him
up; but others resisted, held Democedes fast, and even struck the
Persians with their walking-sticks. They, on their part, kept
crying out, "Men of Crotona, beware what you do. It is the
king's runaway slave that you are rescuing. Think you Darius will
tamely submit to such an insult? Think you, that if you carry off the
man from us, it will hereafter go well with you? Will you not rather
be the first persons on whom we shall make war? Will not your city be
the first we shall seek to lead away captive?" Thus they spake, but
the Crotoniats did not heed them; they rescued Democedes, and seized
also the trading-ship which the Persians had brought with them from
Phoenicia. Thus robbed, and bereft of their guide, the Persians
gave up all hope of exploring the rest of Greece, and set sail for
Asia. As they were departing, Democedes sent to them and begged
they would inform Darius that the daughter of Milo was allianced to
him as his bride. For the name of Milo the wrestler was in high
repute with the king. My belief is, that Democedes hastened his
marriage by the payment of a large sum of money for the purpose of
showing Darius that he was a man of mark in his own country.
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