78 HISTORICAL TALES.

every Ionian and AXolian state, and conquered them
one after the other.

First the great and prosperous city of Ephesus
fell. Then, one by one, others followed, till, by the
year 550 B.c., Croesus had become lord and master
of every one of those formerly free and wealthy
cities and states. Then, having placed all the col-
onies on the mainland under tribute, he designed
to conquer the islands as well, and proposed to build
ships for that purpose. He was checked in this plan
by the shrewd answer of one of the seven wise men
of Greece, either Bias or Pittacus, who had visited
Sardis, the capital of Lydia.

“What news bring you from Greece?” asked
King Creesus of his wise visitor.

“T am told that the islanders are gathering ten
thousand horse, with the purpose of attacking you
and your capital,” was the answer.

“What!” cried Croesus. “Have the gods given
these shipmen such an idea as to fight the Lydians
with cavalry ?”

“T fancy, O king,” answered the Greek, “that
nothing would please you better than to catch. these
islanders here on horseback. But do you not think
that they would like nothing better than to catch
you at sea on shipboard? Would they not avenge
on you the misfortunes of their conquered brethren ?”

This shrewd suggestion taught Croesus a lesson.
Instead of fighting the islanders, he made a treaty
of peace and friendship with them. But he con-
tinued his conquests on the mainland till in the end
all Asia Minor was under his sway, and Lydia had