TERPSICHORE. 175

unquestionably, promote the interest of the king, and
the particulars of your advice are reasonable and con­
sistent ; instead of one hundred, a fleet of two hun­
dred vessels shall be ready for you in the beginning
of spring; it will be proper, however, to have the
sanction of the king's authority."

XXXII. Pleased with the answer he received, Aris-
tagoras returned to Miletus. Artaphernes sent imme­
diately to acquaint Darius with the project of Arista­
goras, which met his approbation; he accordingly fitted
out two hundred triremes, which he manned partly
with Persians, and partly with their allies. Megabatos
had the command of the whole; a Persian of the family
of the Archsemenides, related to Darius and himself,
whose daughter, if report may be credited, was, in suc­
ceeding times, betrothed to Pausanias, the Lacedaemo­
nian, son of Cleombrotus, who aspired to the sovereign­
ty of Greece. These forces, under the direction of this
Megabates, were sent by Artaphernes to Aristagoras.

XXXIII. Megabates, embarking at Miletus, with
Aristagoras, a body of Ionians, and the Naxians, pre­
tended to sail towards the Hellespont; but arriving at
Chios, he laid-to near Caucasa, meaning, under favour
of a north wind, to pass from thence to Naxos. The fol­
lowing circumstance, however, happened, as if to prove
it was ordained that the Naxians should not suffer
from this expedition: Megabates, in going his rounds,
found a Myndian vessel deserted by its crew; he was
so exasperated, that he commanded his guards to find
Scylax, who commanded it, and to bind him in such a
situation, that his head should appear outwardly from
the aperture through which the oar passed, his body
remaining in the vessel. Aristagoras being informed
of the treatment which his friend the Myndian had re­
ceived, went to Megabatos to make his excuse, and
obtain his liberty; but as his expostulations proved
ineffectual, he went himself and released Scylax. Me­
gabates was much incensed, and expressed his dis­
pleasure to Aristagoras; from whom he received this
reply : " Your authority," said Aristagoras," does not
extend so far as you suppose ; you were sent to attend
me, and to sail wherever 1 should think expedient;—