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In this way he made himself master of all the Greek cities in Asia,
and forced them to become his tributaries; after which he began to
think of building ships, and attacking the islanders. Everything had
been got ready for this purpose, when Bias of Priene (or, as some
say, Pittacus the Mytilenean) put a stop to the project. The king
had made inquiry of this person, who was lately arrived at Sardis, if
there were any news from Greece; to which he answered, "Yes,
sire, the islanders are gathering ten thousand horse, designing an
expedition against thee and against thy capital." Croesus, thinking
he spake seriously, broke out, "Ah, might the gods put such a
thought into their minds as to attack the sons of the Lydians with
cavalry!" "It seems, oh! king," rejoined the other, "that thou
desirest earnestly to catch the islanders on horseback upon the
mainland, thou knowest well what would come of it. But what thinkest
thou the islanders desire better, now that they hear thou art about to
build ships and sail against them, than to catch the Lydians at sea,
and there revenge on them the wrongs of their brothers upon the
mainland, whom thou holdest in slavery?" Croesus was charmed with
the turn of the speech; and thinking there was reason in what was
said, gave up his ship-building and concluded a league of amity with
the Ionians of the isles.
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