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At last, as there came to be much strife concerning this matter, the
Spartans made a decree that the Delphic oracle should be asked to say
whether Demaratus were Ariston's son or no. Cleomenes set them upon
this plan; and no sooner was the decree passed than he made a friend of
Cobon, the son of Aristophantus, a man of the greatest weight among
the Delphians; and this Cobon prevailed upon Perialla, the
prophetess, to give the answer which Cleomenes wished. Accordingly,
when the sacred messengers came and put their question, the Pythoness
returned for answer "that Demaratus was not Ariston's son." Some
time afterwards all this became known; and Cobon was forced to fly
from Delphi; while Perialla the prophetess was deprived of her office.
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