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So these men died in prison. The Athenians directly afterwards
recalled Clisthenes, and the seven hundred families which Cleomenes
had driven out; and, further, they sent envoys to Sardis, to make
an alliance with the Persians, for they knew that war would follow
with Cleomenes and the Lacedaemonians. When the ambassadors reached
Sardis and delivered their message, Artaphernes, son of Hystaspes,
who was at that time governor of the Place, inquired of them "who
they were, and in what part of the world they dwelt, that they wanted
to become allies of the Persians?" The messengers told him; upon
which he answered them shortly - that "if the Athenians chose to give
earth and water to King Darius, he would conclude an alliance with
them; but if not, they might go home again." After consulting
together, the envoys, anxious to form the alliance, accepted the
terms; but on their return to Athens, they fell into deep disgrace on
account of their compliance.
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