Page:History of Greece Vol IV.djvu/267

 SAMOS CONQUERED BY THE PERSIANS. 249 for any price sell it ; but I give it you for nothing, if it must be yours." Darius thanked him, and accepted the cloak ; and for Borne years the donor accused himself of a silly piece of good- nature. 1 But as events came round, Syloson at length heard with surprise that the unknown Persian, whom he had presented with the cloak at Memphis, was installed as king in the palace at Susa. He went thither, proclaimed himself as a Greek, as well as benefactor of the new king, and was admitted to the regal pres- ence. Darius had forgotten his person, but perfectly remembered the adventure of the cloak, when it was brought to his mind, and showed himself forward to requite, on the scale becoming the Great King, former favors, though small, rendered to the simple soldier at Memphis. Gold and silver were tendered to Syloson in profusion, but he rejected them, requesting that the island of Samos might be conquered and handed over to him, without slaughter or enslavement of inhabitants. His request was complied with. Otanes, the originator of the conspiracy against Smerdis, was sent down to the coast of Ionia with an army, carried Syloson over to Samos, and landed him unexpect- edly on the island. 3 Mfeandrius was in no condition to resist the invasion, nor were the Samians generally disposed to sustain him. He accordingly concluded a convention with Otanes, whereby he agreed to make way for Syloson, to evacuate the island, and to admit the Per- sians at once into the city ; retaining possession, however for such time as might be necessary to embark his property and treasures of the acropolis, which had a separate landing-place, and even a subterranean passage and secret portal for embarka- tion, probably one of the precautionary provisions of Poly- krates. Otanes willingly granted these conditions, and himself with his principal officers entered the town, the army being quartered around ; while Syloson seemed on the point of ascend- ing the seat of his deceased brother without violence or blood- shed. But the Samians were destined to a fate more calamitous. Maeandrius had a brother named Charilaus, violent in his temper, und half a madman, whom he was obliged to keep in confine* 1 Herodot. iii, 140. 1 Herodot. iii, 141-144.