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So Aristagoras went to Sardis and told Artaphernes that Naxos was
an island of no great size, but a fair land and fertile, lying near
Ionia, and containing much treasure and a vast number of slaves.
"Make war then upon this land (he said) and reinstate the exiles;
for if thou wilt do this, first of all, I have very rich gifts in
store for thee (besides the cost of the armament, which it is fair
that we who are the authors of the war should pay); and, secondly,
thou wilt bring under the power of the king not only Naxos but the
other islands which depend on it, as Paros, Andros, and all the
rest of the Cyclades. And when thou hast gained these, thou mayest
easily go on against Euboea, which is a large and wealthy island not
less in size than Cyprus, and very easy to bring under. A hundred
ships were quite enough to subdue the whole." The other answered -
"Truly thou art the author of a plan which may much advantage the
house of the king, and thy counsel is good in all points except the
number of the ships. Instead of a hundred, two hundred shall be at
thy disposal when the spring comes. But the king himself must first
approve the undertaking."
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