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It was, however, from the two cities above mentioned that troubles
began now to gather again about Ionia; and this is the way in which
they arose. Certain of the rich men had been banished from Naxos by
the commonalty, and, upon their banishment, had fled to Miletus.
Aristagoras, son of Molpagoras, the nephew and likewise the
son-in-law of Histiaeus, son of Lysagoras, who was still kept by
Darius at Susa, happened to be regent of Miletus at the time of
their coming. For the kingly power belonged to Histiaeus; but he was
at Susa when the Naxians came. Now these Naxians had in times past
been bond-friends of Histiaeus; and so on their arrival at Miletus
they addressed themselves to Aristagoras and begged him to lend them
such aid as his ability allowed, in hopes thereby to recover their
country. Then Aristagoras, considering with himself that, if the
Naxians should be restored by his help, he would be lord of Naxos,
put forward the friendship with Histiaeus to cloak his views, and
spoke as follows:
"I cannot engage to furnish you with such a power as were needful to
force you, against their will, upon the Naxians who hold the city;
for I know they can bring into the field eight thousand bucklers, and
have also a vast number of ships of war. But I will do all that lies
in my power to get you some aid, and I think I can manage it in this
way. Artaphernes happens to be my friend. Now he is a son of
Hystaspes, and brother to King Darius. All the sea-coast of Asia
is under him, and he has a numerous army and numerous ships. I think
I can prevail on him to do what we require."
When the Naxians heard this, they empowered Aristagoras to manage
the matter for them as well as he could, and told him to promise gifts
and pay for the soldiers, which (they said) they would readily
furnish, since they had great hope that the Naxians, so soon as they
saw them returned, would render them obedience, and likewise the other
islanders. For at that time not one of the Cyclades was subject to
King Darius.
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