was besieging those of Amathus, it was reported to him that Artybios a
Persian, bringing with him in ships a large Persian army, was to be
expected shortly to arrive in Cyprus. Being informed of this, Onesilos
sent heralds to different places in Ionia to summon the Ionians to his
assistance; and they took counsel together and came without delay with
a large force. Now the Ionians arrived in Cyprus just at the time when
the Persians having crossed over in ships from Kilikia were proceeding
by land to attack Salamis, while the Phenicians with the ships were
sailing round the headland which is called the "Keys of Cyprus." 109.
This being the case, the despots of Cyprus called together the
commanders of the Ionians and said: "Ionians, we of Cyprus give you a
choice which enemy ye will rather fight with, the Persians or the
Phenicians: for if ye will rather array yourselves on land and make
trial of the Persians in fight, it is time now for you to disembark
from your ships and array yourselves on the land, and for us to embark
in your ships to contend against the Phenicians; but if on the other
hand ye will rather make trial of the Phenicians,--whichever of these
two ye shall choose, ye must endeavour that, so far as it rests with
you, both Ionia and Cyprus shall be free." To this the Ionians
replied: "We were sent out by the common authority of the Ionians to
guard the sea, and not to deliver our ships to the Cyprians and
ourselves fight with the Persians on land. We therefore will endeavour
to do good service in that place to which we were appointed; and ye
must call to mind all the evils which ye suffered from the Medes, when
ye were in slavery to them, and prove yourselves good men." 110. The
Ionians made answer in these words; and afterwards, when the Persians
had come to the plain of Salamis, the kings of the Cyprians set in
order their array, choosing the best part of the troops of Salamis and
of Soloi to be arrayed against the Persians and setting the other
Cyprians against the rest of the enemy's troops; and against Artybios,