These were the Ionian ships; the ships of the foreigners were six hundred. When these, too, reached the Milesian shore, and all their land power was present, the Persian generals, learning the number of the Ionian ships, feared they would be too weak to overcome the Greeks. If they did not have mastery of the sea, they would not be able to take Miletus [27.3,37.5] (Perseus) Miletus, and would be in danger of some evil treatment by Darius.

With this in mind, they gathered the tyrants of the Ionians who had been deposed from their governments by Aristagoras of Miletus [27.3,37.5] (Perseus) Miletus and had fled to the Medes, and who now were with the army that was led against Miletus [27.3,37.5] (Perseus) Miletus. They gathered as many of these men as were with them and said to them:

“Men of Ionia (region (general)), Europe Ionia, let each one of you now show that he has done good service to the king's house; let each one of you try to separate your own countrymen from the rest of the allied power. Set this promise before them: they will suffer no harm for their rebellion, neither their temples nor their houses will be burnt, nor will they in any way be treated more violently than before.

But if they will not do so and are set on fighting, then utter a threat that will restrain them: if they are defeated in battle, they will be enslaved; we will make eunuchs of their boys, and carry their maidens captive to Balkh [66.9,36.75] (inhabited place), Balkh, Afghanistan, AsiaBactra, and hand over their land to others.”