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The Carians by some chance got information of this movement before
Daurises arrived, and drew together their strength to a place called
"the White Columns," which is on the river Marsyas, a stream
running from the Idrian country, and emptying itself into the
Maeander. Here when they were met, many plans were put forth; but
the best, in my judgment, was that of Pixodarus, the son of
Mausolus, a Cindyan, who was married to a daughter of Syennesis,
the Cilician king. His advice was that the Carians should cross the
Maeander, and fight with the river at their back; that so, all
chance of flight being cut off, they might be forced to stand their
ground, and have their natural courage raised to a still higher pitch.
His opinion, however, did not prevail; it was thought best to make
the enemy have the Maeander behind them; that so, if they were
defeated in the battle and put to flight, they might have no retreat
open, but be driven headlong into the river.
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