of the war. They determined to prosecute it with greater
earnestness than before, and as they required a skilful general, as
well as a large force, they gave Lysander the command of their fleet.

When he came to Ephesus, he found the city friendly to him, and
willing enough to support the Lacedaemonian cause; but it was in a weak
and ill-managed condition, and in danger of falling into the Persian
manners and losing its Greek nationality, because it was close to
Lydia, and the Persian generals generally made it their headquarters.
But Lysander formed a camp there, ordered all transports to be
directed to sail thither, and established a dockyard for the
construction of ships of war. By this means he filled the harbour with
trading vessels, and the market with merchandise, and brought money
and business into every house and workshop; so that, thanks to him,
the city then first began to entertain hopes of arriving at that pitch
of greatness and splendour which it has since attained.

IV. When he heard that Cyrus, the son of the king of Persia, had
arrived at Sardis, he went thither to confer with him, and to complain
of the conduct of Tissaphernes, who, although he received orders to
assist the Lacedaemonians, and to drive the Athenians from the sea, yet
by means of the influence of Alkibiades appeared to be very much
wanting in zeal for the Lacedaemonian cause, and to be ruining their
fleet by his parsimony. Cyrus gladly listened to anything to the
discredit of Tissaphernes, who was a worthless man and also a personal
enemy of his own. After this Lysander gained considerable influence
with the young prince, and induced him to carry on the war with
greater spirit. When Lysander was about to leave the court, Cyrus
invited him to a banquet, and begged him not to refuse his courtesies,
but to demand whatever boon he pleased, as he would be refused
nothing. Lysander replied, "Since, Cyrus, you are so very kind to me,
I ask you to add an obolus to the pay of the sailors, so that they may
receive four obols a day instead of three." Cyrus, pleased with his
warlike spirit, presented him with ten thousand darics,[146] with
which money he paid the extra obolus to the sailors, and so improved
the equipment of his fleet, that in a short time he all but emptied
the enemy's ships; for their sailors deserted in crowds to the best
paymaster, and those who remained behind were so disheartened and
mutinous, that they gave their officers c