you and by what deed have you deserved well of the king?’ Therefore he sets forth the whole matter relating to the cloak. Then the king said, ‘most generous of men, are you then the man who gave the cloak to me when I had no power? Therefore I give in return to you a great weight of gold and silver, that you may not be sorry for your gift.’ To these words Syloson (said in reply): ‘Do not give me gold or silver; but restore to me my country, Samos, which now, after my brother Polycrates was slain by Oroetes, a slave of ours is holding. Give this to me, freed from slaughter and slavery.’ Having heard this, Darius sent an army, and Otanes as general, to do everything which Syloson had asked.
II.THE STORY OF ZOPYRUS.
Revolt of the Babylonians.
110.After the fleet had gone to Samos, the Babylonians, after preparing everything well, revolted from the Persians. For at the time when the Magus was king, and the seven men revolted against him, they had prepared themselves to undergo a siege. In each house they smothered all the women, excepting their mothers, and a single wife, whomsoever each man had desired to be exempted. Now each man exempted the one I have mentioned to make bread. Moreover, they smothered the others lest they should consume the corn.
The townsmen deride the besiegers.
111.On ascertaining this Darius marched against them, after assembling the whole of his forces; and having brought up his army he laid siege to the city. But the Babylonians made little of the siege, for, ascending to the bulwarks on the wall, they used to dance, and mock Darius and his army. One of them also said: ‘Why do ye sit here, Persians? Why don’t ye go away? For when mules (shall) have borne young, then shall ye take us.’ This he said, for she mules do not bring forth young like other animals.
Obstinate defence of the city.
112.A whole year and seven months had already gone by,
