THALIA. 73

Their propositions were accepted by Otanes; and
whilst they were employed in ratifying them, the
principal men of the Persians had seats brought, on
which they placed themselves in front of the citadel.

CXLV. Mteandrius had a brother, whose name was
Charilcus, who was of an untoward disposition, and
for some offence was kept chained in a dungeon. As
soon as he heard what was doing, and beheld from
his place of confinement the Persians sitting at their
ease, he clamorously requested to speak with Mtean-
drius. Mteandrius, hearing this, ordered him to be
unbound, and brought before him. As soon as Cha-
rileus came into his presence, he began to reproach
and abuse him, earnestly importuning him to attack
the Persians. " Me," he exclaimed, " who am your
brother, and who have done nothing worthy of chains,
you have most basely kept bound in a dungeon; but
on the Persians, who would afford you an easy vic­
tory, and who mean to drive you into exile, you dare
not take revenge. If your fears prevent you, give me
your auxiliary troops, who am equally disposed to
punish them for coming here, and to expel you also
from our island."

CXLVI. To this discourse Mteandrius gave a fa­
vourable ear, not, I believe, that he was absurd enough
to imagine himself equal to a contest with the forces
of the king, but from a spirit of envy against Sy loson,
and to prevent his receiving the government of Samos
without trouble or exertion. He wished, by irritating
the Persians, to debilitate the power of Samos, and
then to deliver it into their hands; for he well knew
that the Persians would resent whatever insults they
might receive, upon the Samians, and as to himself he
was certain that whenever he pleased he could depart
unmolested, for he had provided a secret path, which
led immediately from the citadel to the sea, by which
he afterwards escaped. In the meanwhile Charileus,
having armed the auxiliaries, opened the gates, and
sallied forth to attack the Persians, who, so far from
expecting any thing of the kind, believed that a truce
had been agreed upon, and was then in force. Upon
these Persians, who were sitting at their ease, and who
Vol. II. G