XII. THE SHORTEST WAY TO ABSOLUTE POWER.
170.Periander, king of Corinth, at first, indeed, was humane ; but ever since he had intercourse through messengers with Thrasybulus, tyrant of the Milesians, he became cruel and sanguinary. Having sent a herald to Thrasybulus, he asked of him, ‘How, after settling everything most securely, he could best rule the state?’ Thrasybulus, after leading out of the city the man who had been sent by Periander, entered a certain sown field, and walking through the com, and inquiring of him why he had been sent to him from Corinth, kept meanwhile cutting down every ear that rose above others, until in this way he had destroyed the most beautiful and rich part of the crop. At last, after wandering thus over the field, he dismissed the ambassador without giving him any directions. When the ambassador returned to Corinth, Periander was desirous of learning the advice of Thrasybulus. The ambassador replied that Thrasybulus had given him no commands. Then he reported what he had seen Thrasybulus doing. But Periander, understanding the act, and imagining that he was advised by Thrasybulus to kill all the most distinguished citizens, then began to practise every wickedness against the citizens. Soon he was able, after killing all the chief men, to do everything he wished.
XIII.THE IONIC REVOLT.
The burning of Sardis.
171.The lonians revolted from Darius at the instigation of Aristagoras. Accordingly twenty Athenian ships came to Miletus, which five triremes of the Eretrians followed, as a help to the Ionians. Then Aristagoras undertook an expedition against Sardis. They take the city, but this prevented them from being able to plunder the captured city. Very many houses at Sardis were made of reeds. When one of the soldiers had set one of these on fire, the fire, from that beginnings destroying everything else, proceeded to destroy the whole city. Then the Persians, having made a sortie fh>m the citadel, attacked the enemy. A sharp contest ensued. The lonians were defeated with great slaughter. It is well known that a great number of them were slam by the Persians.
