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So they proceeded no further at that time. When, however, the day
appointed for the answer came, and the two once more met, Cleomenes
asked Aristagoras, "how many days' journey it was from the sea of
the Ionians to the king's residence?" Hereupon Aristagoras, who
had managed the rest so cleverly, and succeeded in deceiving the king,
tripped in his speech and blundered; for instead of concealing the
truth, as he ought to have done if he wanted to induce the Spartans to
cross into Asia, he said plainly that it was a journey of three
months. Cleomenes caught at the words, and, preventing Aristagoras
from finishing what he had begun to say concerning the road, addressed
him thus: "Milesian stranger, quit Sparta before sunset. This is
no good proposal that thou makest to the Lacedaemonians, to conduct
them a distance of three months' journey from the sea." When he had
thus spoken, Cleomenes went to his home.
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