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ommanded them to shut their doors against him。 Still； as fast as he was forced to leave one house he went to another； and was received by the inmates； for his acquaintance； although in no small alarm； yet gave him shelter； as he was Periander's son。 At last Periander made proclamation that whoever harboured his son or even spoke to him； should forfeit a certain sum of money to Apollo。 On hearing this no one any longer liked to take him in； or even to hold converse with him； and he himself did not think it right to seek to do what was forbidden； so； abiding by his resolve； he made his lodging in the public porticos。 When four days had passed in this way； Periander； secing how wretched his son was； that he neither washed nor took any food； felt moved with compassion towards him； wherefore； foregoing his anger； he approached him； and said； 〃Which is better； oh！ my son； to fare as now thou farest； or to receive my crown and all the good things that I possess； on the one condition of submitting thyself to thy father？ See； now； though my own child； and lord of this wealthy Corinth； thou hast brought thyself to a beggar's life； because thou must resist and treat with anger him whom it least behoves thee to oppose。 If there has been a calamity； and thou bearest me ill will on that account； bethink thee that I too feel it； and am the greatest sufferer； in as much as it was by me that the deed was done。 For thyself； now that thou knowest how much better a thing it is to be envied than pitied； and how dangerous it is to indulge anger against parents and superiors； come back with me to thy home。〃 With such words as these did Periander chide his son； but the son made no reply； except to remind his father that he was indebted to the god in the penalty for coming and holding converse with him。 Then Periander knew that there was no cure for the youth's malady； nor means of overcoming it； so he prepared a ship and sent him away out of his sight to Corcyra； which island at that time belonged to him。 As for Procles； Periander； regarding him as the true author of all his present troubles； went to war with him as soon as his son was gone； and not only made himself master of his kingdom Epidaurus； but also took Procles himself； and carried him into captivity。 As time went on； and Periander came to be old； he found himself no longer equal to the oversight and management of affairs。 Seeing； therefore； in his eldest son no manner of ability； but knowing him to be dull and blockish； he sent to Corcyra and recalled Lycophron to take the kingdom。 Lycophron； however； did not even deign to ask the bearer of this message a question。 But Periander's heart was set upon the youth； so he sent again to him； this time by his own daughter； the sister of Lycophron； who would； he thought； have more power to persuade him than any other person。 Then she； when she reached Corcyra； spoke thus with her brother：… 〃Dost thou wish the kingdom； brother； to pass into strange hands； and our father's wealth to be made a prey； rather than thyself return to enjoy it？ Come back home with me； and cease to punish thyself。 It is scant gain； this obstinacy。 Why seek to cure evil by evil？ Mercy； remember； is by many set above justice。 Many； also； while pushing their mother's claims have forfeited their father's fortune。 Power is a slippery thing… it has many suitors； and he is old and stricken in years… let not thy own inheritance go to another。〃 Thus did the sister； who had been tutored by Periander what to say； urge all the arguments most likely to have weight with her brother。 He however made answer； 〃That so long as he knew his father to be still alive； he would never go back to Corinth。〃 When the sister brought Periander this reply； he sent his son a third time by a herald； and said he would come himself to Corcyra； and let his son take his place at Corinth as heir to his kingdom。 To these terms Lycophron agreed； and Periander was making ready to pass into Corcyra and his son to return to Corinth； when the Corcyraeans； being informed of what was taking place； to keep Periander away； put the young man to death。 For this reason it was that Periander took vengeance on the Corcyraeans。 The Lacedaemonians arrived before Samos with a mighty armament； and forthwith laid siege to the place。 In one of the assaults upon the walls； they forced their way to the top of the tower which stands by the sea on the side where the suburb is； but Polycrates came in person to the rescue with a strong force； and beat them back。 Meanwhile at the upper tower； which stood on the ridge of the hill； the besieged； both mercenaries and Samians； made a sally； but after they had withstood the Lacedaemonians a short time； they fled backwards； and the Lacedaemonians； pressing upon them； slew numbers。 If now all who were present had behaved that day like Archias and Lycopas； two of the Lacedaemonians； Samos might have been taken。 For these two heroes； following hard upon the flying Samians； entered the city along with them； and； being all alone； and their retreat cut off； were slain within the walls of the place。 I myself once fell in with the grandson of this Archias； a man named Archias like his grandsire； and the son of Samius； whom I met at Pitana； to which canton he belonged。 He respected the Samians beyond all other foreigners； and he told me that his father was called Samius； because his grandfather Archias died in Samos so gloriously； and that the reason why he respected the Samians so greatly was that his grandsire was buried with public honours by the Samian people。 The Lacedaemonians besieged Samos during forty days； but not making any progress before the place； they raised the siege at the end of that time； and returned home to the Peloponnese。 There is a silly tale told that Polycrates struck a quantity of the coin of his country in lead； and； coating it with gold； gave it to the Lacedaemonians； who on receiving it took their departure。 This was the first expedition into Asia of the Lacedaemonian Dorians。 The Samians who had fought against Polycrates； when they knew that the Lacedaemonians were about to forsake them； left Samos themselves； and sailed to Siphnos。 They happened to be in want of money； and the Siphnians at that time were at the height of their greatness； no islanders having so much wealth as they。 There were mines of gold and silver in their country； and of so rich a yield； that from a tithe of the ores the Siphnians furnished out a treasury at Delphi which was on a par with the grandest there。 What the mines yielded was divided year by year among the citizens。 At the time when they formed the treasury； the Siphnians consulted the oracle； and asked whether their good things would remain to them many years。 The Pythoness made answer as follows：…
When the Prytanies'seat shines white in the island of Siphnos； White…browed all the forum…need then of a true seer's wisdom… Danger will threat from a wooden host； and a herald in scarlet。
Now about this time the forum of the Siphnians and their townhall or prytaneum had been adorned with Parian marble。 The Siphnians； however； were unable to understand the oracle； either at the time when it was given； or afterwards on the arrival of the Samians。 For these last no sooner came to anchor off the island than they sent one of their vessels； with an ambassage on board； to the city。 All ships in these early times were painted with vermilion； and this was what the Pythoness had meant when she told them to beware of danger 〃from a wooden host； and a herald in scarlet。〃 So the ambassadors came ashore and besought the Siphnians to lend them ten talents； but the Siphnians refused； whereupon the Samians began to plunder their lands。 Tidings of this reached the Siphnians； who straightway sallied forth to save their crops； then a battle was fought； in which the Siphnians suffered defeat； and many of their number were cut off from the city by the Samians； after which these latter forced the Siphnians to give them a hundred talents。 With this money they bought of the Hermionians the island of Hydrea； off the coast of the Peloponnese； and this they gave in trust to the Troezenians； to keep for them； while they themselves went on to Crete； and founded the city of Cydonia。 They had not meant； when they set sail； to settle there； but only to drive out the Zacynthians from the island。 However they rested at Cydonia； where they flourished greatly for five years。 It was they who built the various temples that may still be seen at that place； and among them the fane of Dictyna。 But in the sixth year they were attacked by the Eginetans； who beat them in a sea…fight； and； with the help of the Cretans； reduced them all to slavery。 The beaks of their ships； which carried the figure of a wild boar； they sawed off； and laid them up in the temple of Minerva in Egina。 The Eginetans took part against the Samians on account of an ancient grudge； since the Samians had first； when Amphicrates was king of Samos； made war on them and done great harm to their island； suffering； however； much damage also themselves。 Such was the reason which moved the Eginetans to make this attack。 I have dwelt the longer on the affairs of the Samians； because