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When Darius, with his land forces, reached the Ister, he made his
troops cross the stream, and after all were gone over gave orders to
the Ionians to break the bridge, and follow him with the whole naval
force in his land march. They were about to obey his command, when
the general of the Mytilenaeans, Coes son of Erxander, having first
asked whether it was agreeable to the king to listen to one who wished
to speak his mind, addressed him in the words following: "Thou art
about, Sire, to attack a country no part of which is cultivated, and
wherein there is not a single inhabited city. Keep this bridge,
then, as it is, and leave those who built it to watch over it. So if
we come up with the Scythians and succeed against them as we could
wish, we may return by this route; or if we fail of finding them, our
retreat will still be secure. For I have no fear lest the Scythians
defeat us in battle, but my dread is lest we be unable to discover
them, and suffer loss while we wander about their territory. And
now, mayhap, it will be said, I advise thee thus in the hope of
being myself allowed to remain behind; but in truth I have no other
design than to recommend the course which seems to me the best; nor
will I consent to be among those left behind, but my resolve is, in
any case, to follow thee." The advice of Coes pleased Darius
highly, who thus replied to him: "Dear Lesbian, when I am safe
home again in my palace, be sure thou come to me, and with good deeds
will I recompense thy good words of to-day."
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