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Maeandrius fled from Samos to Lacedaemon, and conveyed thither all
the riches which he had brought away from the island, after which he
acted as follows. Having placed upon his board all the gold and silver
vessels that he had, and bade his servants employ themselves in
cleaning them, he himself went and entered into conversation with
Cleomenes, son of Anaxandridas, king of Sparta, and as they talked
brought him along to his house. There Cleomenes, seeing the plate,
was filled with wonder and astonishment; whereon the other begged that
he would carry home with him any of the vessels that he liked.
Maeandrius said this two or three times; but Cleomenes here displayed
surpassing honesty. He refused the gift, and thinking that if
Maeandrius made the same offers to others he would get the aid he
sought, the Spartan king went straight to the ephors and told them
"it would be best for Sparta that the Samian stranger should be sent
away from the Peloponnese; for otherwise he might perchance persuade
himself or some other Spartan to be base." The ephors took his
advice, and let Maeandrius know by a herald that he must leave the city.
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