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Now some accounts say that these Samians did not reach Egypt; for
that when they were off Carpathus, they took counsel together and
resolved to sail no further. But others maintain that they did go to
Egypt, and, finding themselves watched, deserted, and sailed back
to Samos. There Polycrates went out against them with his fleet,
and a battle was fought and gained by the exiles; after which they
disembarked upon the island and engaged the land forces of Polycrates,
but were defeated, and so sailed off to Lacedaemon. Some relate that
the Samians from Egypt overcame Polycrates, but it seems to me
untruly; for had the Samians been strong enough to conquer Polycrates
by themselves, they would not have needed to call in the aid of the
Lacedaemonians. And moreover, it is not likely that a king who had
in his pay so large a body of foreign mercenaries, and maintained
likewise such a force of native bowmen, would have been worsted by an
army so small as that of the returned Samians. As for his own
subjects, to hinder them from betraying him and joining the exiles,
Polycrates shut up their wives and children in the sheds built to
shelter his ships, and was ready to burn sheds and all in case of need.
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