"My name is Aristomachus." "That name seems known to me." "You were acquainted with many Hellenes, and my name is common among them." "Your dialect would bespeak you my opinion a Spartan." "I was one once." "And now no more ?" "He who forsakes his native land without permission, is worthy of death." "Have you forsaken it with your own free-will ?" "Yes." "For what reason ?" "To escape dishonor." "What was your crime ?" "I had committed none." "You were accused unjustly ?" "Yes." "Who was the author of your ill-fortune ?" "Yourself." Croesus started from his seat.

The serious tone and gloomy face of the Spartan proved that this was no jest, and those who sat near the speakers, and had been following this strange dialogue, were alarmed and begged Aristomachus to explain his words.
He hesitated and seemed unwilling to speak; at last, however, at the king's summons, he began thus: "In obedience to the oracle, you, Croesus, had chosen us Lacedaemonians, as the most powerful among the Hellenes, to be your allies against the might of Persia; and you gave us gold for the statue of Apollo on Mount Thornax.

The ephori, on this, resolved to present you with a gigantic bronze wine-bowl, richly wrought.

I was chosen as bearer of this gift.
Before reaching Sardis our ship was wrecked in a storm.

The wine-cup sank with it, and we reached Samos with nothing but our lives.