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But Aristagoras took an olive-bough in his hand, and hastened to the
king's house, where he was admitted by reason of his suppliant's
pliant's guise. Gorgo, the daughter of Cleomenes, and his only
child, a girl of about eight or nine years of age, happened to be
there, standing by her father's side. Aristagoras, seeing her,
requested Cleomenes to send her out of the room before he began to
speak with him; but Cleomenes told him to say on, and not mind the
child. So Aristagoras began with a promise of ten talents if the king
would grant him his request, and when Cleomenes shook his head,
continued to raise his offer till it reached fifty talents; whereupon
the child spoke: "Father," she said, "get up and go, or the
stranger will certainly corrupt thee." Then Cleomenes, pleased at
the warning of his child, withdrew and went into another room.
Aristagoras quitted Sparta for good, not being able to discourse any
more concerning the road which led up to the king.
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