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So Miltiades returned home sick, without bringing the Athenians any
money, and without conquering Paros, having done no more than to
besiege the town for six-and-twenty days, and ravage the remainder of
the island. The Parians, however, when it came to their knowledge
that Timo, the under-priestess of the goddesses, had advised
Miltiades what he should do, were minded to punish her for her crime;
they therefore sent messengers to Delphi, as soon as the siege was at
an end, and asked the god if they should put the under-priestess to
death. "She had discovered," they said, "to the enemies of her
country how they might bring it into subjection, and had exhibited to
Miltiades mysteries which it was not lawful for a man to know." But
the Pythoness forbade them, and said, "Timo was not in fault;
'twas decreed that Miltiades should come to an unhappy end; and she
was sent to lure him to his destruction." Such was the answer given
to the Parians by the Pythoness.
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