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 CHAPTER XXXIX

THE SANDAL SEWN BY HISTIAEUS

Now when Darius heard that Sardis had been destroyed, he sent for Histiaeus and said to him, 'O Histiaeus, I hear that the man to whom thou hast given thy city has been doing strange things. He has brought over men from Europe to help the Ionians whom I shall punish How can all this seem good to thee? And without thy counsels how could such a thing be done? See that thou bring not thyself into blame afresh.'

Histiaeus tried not to think of the slave whose head he had shaved and whom he had sent to Aristagoras, as he told the king that he had had nothing to do with the revolt in Ionia. He begged to be allowed to go to help Artaphernes to put down the rebellion. He would do even more to show his loyalty; he would seize the rich island of Sardinia to add to the possessions of the great king.

'Yea, I swear by the gods whom the king worshippeth,' he cried, 'that I will not put off the tunic in which I shall go down to Ionia, before I bring under thy power the mighty island of Sardinia.'

It was not difficult to persuade Darius that Histiaeus was innocent, for since the Greek had tarried for him at the bridge of boats the king was ever ready to believe in his loyalty. So to his great delight, Histiaeus was bidden to go to Sardis and help Artaphernes to put down the revolt.

But Artaphernes was less easily deceived than the great king. No sooner had Histiaeus arrived at Sardis than the Persian accused him of treachery.