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Then Demaratus answered - "O king! since thou askest my advice so
earnestly, it is fitting that I should inform thee what I consider to
be the best course. Detach three hundred vessels from the body of thy
fleet, and send them to attack the shores of Laconia. There is an
island called Cythera in those parts, not far from the coast,
concerning which Chilon, one of our wisest men, made the remark that
Sparta would gain if it were sunk to the bottom of the sea - so
constantly did he expect that it would give occasion to some project
like that which I now recommend to thee. I mean not to say that he
had a foreknowledge of thy attack upon Greece; but in truth he feared
all armaments. Send thy ships then to this island, and thence
affright the Spartans. If once they have a war of their own close to
their doors, fear not their giving any help to the rest of the Greeks
while thy land force is engaged in conquering them. In this way may
all Greece be subdued; and then Sparta, left to herself, will be
powerless. But if thou wilt not take this advice, I will tell thee
what thou mayest look to see. When thou comest to the Peloponnese,
thou wilt find a narrow neck of land, where all the Peloponnesians who
are leagued against thee will be gathered together; and there thou wilt
have to fight bloodier battles than any which thou hast yet witnessed.
If, however, thou wilt follow my plan, the Isthmus and the cities
of Peloponnese will yield to thee without a battle."
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