Thalia   

and the Persians away to the coast.
The men went down to Phoenicia, to Sidon, the Phoenician town,
where straightway they fitted out two triremes and a trading-vessel,
which they loaded with all manner of precious merchandise; and,
everything being now ready, they set sail for Greece. When they had
made the land, they kept along the shore and examined it, taking notes
of all that they saw; and in this way they explored the greater
portion of the country, and all the most famous regions, until at last
they reached Tarentum in Italy. There Aristophilides, king of the
Tarentines, out of kindness to Democedes, took the rudders off the
Median ships, and detained their crews as spies. Meanwhile Democedes
escaped to Crotona, his native city, whereupon Aristophilides released
the Persians from prison, and gave their rudders back to them.
The Persians now quitted Tarentum, and sailed to Crotona in
pursuit of Democedes; they found him in the market-place, where they
straightway laid violent hands on him. Some of the Crotoniats, who
greatly feared the power of the Persians, were willing to give him up;
but others resisted, held Democedes fast, and even struck the Persians
with their walking-sticks. They, on their part, kept crying out,
"Men of Crotona, beware what you do. It is the king's runaway slave
that you are rescuing. Think you Darius will tamely submit to such
an insult? Think you, that if you carry off the man from us, it will
hereafter go well with you? Will you not rather be the first persons
on whom we shall make war? Will not your city be the first we shall
seek to lead away captive?" Thus they spake, but the Crotoniats did
not heed them; they rescued Democedes, and seized also the
trading-ship which the Persians had brought with them from
Phoenicia. Thus robbed, and bereft of their guide, the Persians gave
up all hope of exploring the rest of Greece, and set sail for Asia. As
they were departing, Democedes sent to them and begged they would
inform Darius that the daughter of Milo was allianced to him as his
bride. For the name of Milo the wrestler was in high repute with the
king. My belief is, that Democedes hastened his marriage by the
payment of a large sum of money for the purpose of showing Darius that
he was a man of mark in his own country.
The Persians weighed anchor and left Crotona, but, being wrecked
on the coast of Iapygia, were made slaves by the inhabitants. From
this condition they were rescued by Gillus, a banished Tarentine,
who ransomed them at his own cost, and took them back to Darius.
Darius offered to repay this service by granting Gillus whatever
boon he chose to ask; whereupon Gillus told the king of his
misfortune, and begged to be restored to his country. Fearing,
however, that he might bring trouble on Greece if a vast armament were
sent to Italy on his account, he added that it would content him if
the Cnidians undertook to obtain his recall. Now the Cnidians were
dose friends of the Tarentines, which made him think there was no
likelier means of procuring his return. Darius promised and
performed his part; for he sent messenger to Cnidus, and commanded the
Cnidians to restore Gillus. The Cnidians did as he wished, but found
themselves unable to persuade the Tarentines, and were too weak to
attempt force. Such then was the course which this matter took.
These were the first Persians who ever came from Asia to Greece; and
they were sent to spy out the land for the reason which I have
before mentioned.
After this, king Darius besieged and took Samos, which was the
first city, Greek or Barbarian, that he conquered. The cause of his
making war upon Samos was the following:- at the time when Cambyses,
son of Cyrus, marched against Egypt, vast numbers of Greeks flocked
thither; some, as might have been looked for, to push their trade;
others, to serve in his army; others again, merely to see the land:
among these last was Syloson, son of Aeaces, and brother of
Polycrates, at that time an exile from Samos. This Syloson, during his
stay in Egypt, met with a singular piece of good fortune. He
happened one day to put on a scarlet cloak, and thus attired to go