TERPSICHORE. 211

thai the Ionians have taken the opportunity of my
absence, to accomplish what they have for a long
time meditated. Had I been present in Ionia, I will
venture to affirm, that not a city would have revolted
from your power : you have only therefore to send
me instantly to Ionia, that things may resume their
former situation, and that I may give into your power
the present governor of Miletus, who has occasioned
all this mischief. Having first effected this, I swear
by the deities of Heaven, that I will not change the
garb in which I shall set foot in Ionia, without ren­
dering the great island of Sardinia tributary to your
power."

CVII. Histiseus made these protestations to delude
Darius. The king was influenced by what he said,
only requiring his return to Susa, as soon as he
should have fulfilled his engagements.

CVIII. In this interval, when the messenger from
Sardis had informed Darius of the fate of that city,
and the king had shot an arrow in the manner I have
described; and when, after conferring with Histiaeus,
he had dismissed him to Ionia, the following incident
occurred: Onesilus of Salamis being engaged in the
siege of Amathus, word was brought him that Arty-
bius, a Persian officer, was on his way to Cyprus with
a large fleet, and a formidable body of Persians. On
hearing this, Onesilus sent messengers to different
parts of Ionia, expressing his want and desire of as­
sistance. The Ionians, without hesitation, hastened
to join him with a numerous fleet. Whilst they were
already at Cyprus, the Persians had passed over from
Cilicia, and were proceeding by land to Salamis. The
Phoenicians in the mean time had passed the promon­
tory which is called the Key of Cyprus.

CIX. Whilst things were in this situation, the
princes of Cyprus assembled the Ionian chiefs, and
thus addressed them:—" Men of Ionia, we submit to
your determination, whether you will ongage the
PhoBnicians or the Persians. If you rather choose to
fight on land and with the Persians, it is time for you
to disembark, that we may go on board your vessels,
and attack the Phoenicians. If you think it more ad*