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While Onesilus was engaged in the siege of Amathus, King Darius
received tidings of the taking and burning of Sardis by the Athenians
and Ionians; and at the same time he learnt that the author of the
league, the man by whom the whole matter had been Planned and
contrived, was Aristagoras the Milesian. It is said that he no
sooner understood what had happened, than, laying aside all thought
concerning the Ionians, who would, he was sure, pay dear for their
rebellion, he asked, "Who the Athenians were?" and, being
informed, called for his bow, and placing an arrow on the string,
shot upward into the sky, saying, as he let fly the shaft - "Grant
me, Jupiter, to revenge myself on the Athenians!" After this
speech, he bade one of his servants every day, when his dinner was
spread, three times repeat these words to him - "Master, remember
the Athenians."
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