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It was while the Ionians were in this distress, but still, amid it
all, held their meetings, as of old, at the Panionium, that Bias
of Priene, who was present at the festival, recommended (as I am
informed) a project of the very highest wisdom, which would, had it
been embraced, have enabled the Ionians to become the happiest and
most flourishing of the Greeks. He exhorted them "to join in one
body, set sail for Sardinia, and there found a single Pan-Ionic
city; so they would escape from slavery and rise to great fortune,
being masters of the largest island in the world, exercising dominion
even beyond its bounds; whereas if they stayed in Ionia, he saw no
prospect of their ever recovering their lost freedom." Such was the
counsel which Bias gave the Ionians in their affliction. Before
their misfortunes began, Thales, a man of Miletus, of Phoenician
descent, had recommended a different plan. He counselled them to
establish a single seat of government, and pointed out Teos as the
fittest place for it; "for that," he said, "was the centre of
Ionia. Their other cities might still continue to enjoy their own
laws, just as if they were independent states." This also was good advice.
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