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Arrived at Chios, the Phocaeans made offers for the purchase of the
islands called the Oenussae, but the Chians refused to part with
them, fearing lest the Phocaeans should establish a factory there,
and exclude their merchants from the commerce of those seas. On their
refusal, the Phocaeans, as Arganthonius was now dead, made up their
minds to sail to Cyrnus (Corsica), where, twenty years before,
following the direction of an oracle, they had founded a city, which
was called Alalia. Before they set out, however, on this voyage,
they sailed once more to Phocaea, and surprising the Persian troops
appointed by Harpagus to garrison town, put them all to the sword.
After this laid the heaviest curses on the man who should draw back and
forsake the armament; and having dropped a heavy mass of iron into the
sea, swore never to return to Phocaea till that mass reappeared upon
the surface. Nevertheless, as they were preparing to depart for
Cyrnus, more than half of their number were seized with such sadness
and so great a longing to see once more their city and their ancient
homes, that they broke the oath by which they had bound themselves and
sailed back to Phocaea.
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