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The Persian fleet now drew near and anchored at Tamynae, Choereae,
and Aegilia, three places in the territory of Eretria. Once masters
of these posts, they proceeded forthwith to disembark their horses,
and made ready to attack the enemy. But the Eretrians were not minded
to sally forth and offer battle; their only care, after it had been
resolved not to quit the city, was, if possible, to defend their
walls. And now the fortress was assaulted in good earnest, and for
six days there fell on both sides vast numbers, but on the seventh day
Euphorbus, the son of Alcimachus, and Philagrus, the son of
Cyneas, who were both citizens of good repute, betrayed the place to
the Persians. These were no sooner entered within the walls than they
plundered and burnt all the temples that there were in the town, in
revenge for the burning of their own temples at Sardis; moreover,
they did according to the orders of Darius, and carried away captive
all the inhabitants.
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