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It was with this Polycrates, so fortunate in every undertaking, that
the Lacedaemonians now went to war. Certain Samians, the same who
afterwards founded the city of Cydonia in Crete, had earnestly
intreated their help. For Polycrates, at the time when Cambyses,
son of Cyrus, was gathering together an armament against Egypt, had
sent to beg him not to omit to ask aid from Samos; whereupon Cambyses
with much readiness despatched a messenger to the island, and made
request that Polycrates would give some ships to the naval force which
he was collecting against Egypt. Polycrates straightway picked out
from among the citizens such as he thought most likely to stir revolt
against him, and manned with them forty triremes, which he sent to
Cambyses, bidding him keep the men safe, and never allow them to
return home.
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