THALIA. 27

tain satisfaction for an injury which they had for­
merly received. The Samians had violently taken
away a goblet which the Lacedaemonians were car­
rying to Croesus, and a corselet, which was given
them by Amasis, king of Egypt. This latter incident
took place at the interval of a year after the former:
the corselet was made of linen, but there were inter­
woven in the piece, a great number of animals richly
embroidered with cotton and gold; every part of it
deserved admiration: it was composed of chains, each
of which contained three hundred and sixty threads
distinctly visible. Amasis presented another corselet,
entirely resembling this, to the Minerva of Lindus.

XLVTII. To this expedition against Samos, the
Corinthians also contributed, with considerable ar­
dour. In the age which preceded, and about the
time in which the goblet had been taken, this people
had been insulted by the Samians. Feriander, the
son of Cypselus, had sent to Alyattes, at Sardis, three
hundred children of the principal families of the Cor-
cyreans, to be made eunuchs. They were intrusted
to the care of certain Corinthians, who, by distress
of weather, were compelled to touch at Samos. The
Samians soon learned the purpose of the expedition,
and accordingly instructed the children to fly for pro­
tection to the temple of Diana, from whence they
would not suffer the Corinthians to take them. But
as the Corinthians prevented their receiving any food,
the Samians instituted a festival on the occasion,
which they yet observe. At the approach of night,
and as long as the children continued as suppliants
in the temple, they introduced a company of youths
and virgins, who, in a kind of religious dance, were
to carry cakes made of honey and flour in their hands.
This was done that the young Coreyreans, by snatch­
ing them away, might satisfy their hunger, and was
repeated till-the Corinthians who guarded the children
departed. The Samians afterwards sent the children
back to Corcyra.

XLIX. If aftor the death of Feriander, thcro had
existed any friendship betwixt the Corinthians and
the Coreyreans, it might be supposed that they would