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| author | www-data <www-data@mail.pglaf.org> | 2026-06-29 13:20:25 -0700 |
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| committer | www-data <www-data@mail.pglaf.org> | 2026-06-29 13:20:25 -0700 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9f57f44 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text +*.htm text +*.html text +*.png binary +*.jpg binary +*.svg text +*.pdf binary +*.bmp binary +*.zip binary +*.midi binary +*.mp3 binary diff --git a/78980-0.txt b/78980-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..191bfe2 --- /dev/null +++ b/78980-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5121 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78980 *** + + + + + Stories of the + + Persian Wars + + CHURCH + + H. M. CALDWELL CO., PUBLISHERS + + NEW YORK AND BOSTON + + + + + CONTENTS. + + + CHAPTER PAGE + I. OF THE REVOLT OF MILETUS 7 + II. OF THE TAKING OF MILETUS 16 + III. OF THE FIRST WAR AGAINST GREECE 31 + IV. OF THE BATTLE OF MARATHON 39 + V. OF THE SONS OF ALCMÆON AND THE + END OF MILTIADES 49 + VI. HOW PREPARATION WAS MADE FOR THE + SECOND WAR AGAINST THE GREEKS 57 + VII. OF THE SETTING FORTH OF XERXES 71 + VIII. OF THE MARCH OF XERXES 79 + IX. HOW XERXES CROSSED OVER INTO + EUROPE AND OF HIS ARMY 89 + X. OF THE MARCH OF XERXES 99 + XI. OF THE PREPARATIONS OF THE + GREEKS 108 + XII. OF THE ARMY AND THE SHIPS OF + XERXES, AND OF THE FIRST + FIGHTING WITH THE GREEKS 119 + XIII. OF THE BATTLE OF THERMOPYLÆ 124 + XIV. OF THE BATTLE OF THERMOPYLÆ + (_Cont’d_) 135 + XV. OF THE SHIPS OF THE GREEKS AT + ARTEMISIUM 144 + XVI. OF THE DEPARTURE OF THE GREEKS + FROM ARTEMISIUM AND OF THE + ADVANCE OF XERXES 152 + XVII. OF THE GREEKS AT SALAMIS AND OF + THE CITY OF ATHENS 159 + XVIII. OF THE BATTLE OF SALAMIS 170 + XIX. OF THE FLIGHT OF XERXES 180 + XX. OF THE PREPARING OF THE + PERSIANS AND OF THE GREEKS + FOR THE WAR 188 + XXI. OF THE BATTLE OF PLATÆA 197 + XXII. OF THE BATTLE OF MYCALE 214 + + + + + THE + + STORY OF THE PERSIAN WAR. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +OF THE REVOLT OF MILETUS. + + +King Darius gave Myrcinus that is on the river Strymon, in the land of +Thrace, to Histiæus, lord of Miletus, for a reward; for Histiæus had +done him good service in his warfare against the Scythians. But when +the man began to build a wall about the place, one said to the King, +“O King, what is this that thou hast done, giving this city in Thrace +to a man that is a Greek, and wise moreover and crafty? For in that +country is great store of timber for ship-building, and mines also of +silver and there are many inhabitants, both Greeks and barbarians, +who will take this fellow for a leader, and will do what he shall bid +them, working day and night. Do thou therefore stay him in this work; +but stay him with soft words. Bid him come to thee, and when he is +come, take good care that he never go among the Greeks any more.” This +counsel seemed good to the King. Wherefore he sent a messenger to +Histiæus, saying, “Thus saith the King, I am persuaded that there is no +man better disposed to me and to my kingdom than thou. Come therefore +to me, for I have great matters in hand and would fain ask thy counsel +about them.” So Histiæus, taking these words to be true, and counting +it a great thing to be the King’s counselor, came to Sardis to Darius. +And when he was come, Darius said to him, “Hear now the cause wherefore +I have sent for thee. Since the day that thou didst depart from me I +have desired nothing so much as to see thee and talk with thee; for +in my judgment there is nothing so precious as a friend that is both +faithful and wise; and this I know thee to be. Leave now thy city of +Miletus, and that also which thou art building in Thrace, and come with +me to Susa, for all that I have is thine, and thou shalt live with me, +and be my counselor.” + +After this the King went up to Susa, taking Histiæus with him. And he +left Otanes to be captain of them that dwell by the sea. This Otanes +was the son of a certain Sisamnes whom, being one of the royal judges, +and having given unrighteous judgment for money, King Cambyses slew; +and having slain him, he flayed off his skin, and cutting it into +strips stretched them on the judgment-seat. And making the son of +Sisamnes to be judge in his father’s room, he bade him remember on what +manner of seat he sat. + +In these days Miletus was the most prosperous of all the cities of +Ionia, though it had been brought very low in the second generation +before by strife among its citizens. This strife was healed after this +fashion by the Parians, whom the men of Miletus chose out of all the +Greeks to be judges in their case. These Parians went through the land +of Miletus, and wheresoever they saw in the country, which was for most +part desolate, any field well tilled, they wrote down the name of the +master of the field. And when they had traversed the whole, and found +not many such, so soon as they were come back to the city, they called +an assembly, and made this award, that the men whose fields they had +seen to be well tilled should bear rule, for they judged that such as +managed well their own affairs would manage well the affairs of the +State also. But now from this city of Miletus, and from the island +of Naxos, which was the richest of all the islands, there came great +damage to the men of Ionia. It happened on this wise. Certain of the +rich men of Naxos, being banished by the commons, fled to Miletus, of +which city one Aristagoras was lord in those days, being son-in-law +to Histiæus. And when the exiles prayed him for help that they might +come back to their own country, Aristagoras, thinking that if they +should come back by his help, he should be lord of Naxos, said to them +(and he had this pretext for helping them that they had been long time +friends of his father in-law) “I cannot bring you back to Naxos against +the will of the city, for I hear that they have eight thousand men at +arms, and many ships of war. But I have a friendship with Otanes, that +is brother to King Darius, and captain of them that dwell by the sea, +and has many soldiers and ships. I will work with him that he shall do +what ye wish.” To this the exiles agreed, saying that they would find +pay for the army. Then went Aristagoras to Otanes and said to him, +“There is a certain island of Naxos, not very great, but a good land +and fair, and near to Ionia, and having in it much wealth and many +slaves. If thou wilt make war upon this island, bringing back to it +certain men that have been banished, thou shalt receive much wealth +from me, over and above the cost of the war, for this it is just that +we who desire it should pay; also thou wilt win for the King Naxos +and the islands that are subject to it, and from thence thou wilt be +able to make war on Eubœa, a great island and a rich, being not less +than Cyprus, and easy to be subdued. For all this a hundred ships will +be sufficient.” To this Otanes made answer, “Truly thou bringest a +matter that may advantage the house of the King, and thy counsel is +good, save as to the number of the ships. There shall be ready not +one hundred, but two hundred in the spring season. Only the King must +approve of the undertaking.” And when he had sent to the King and had +his assent, he made ready two hundred ships of war, putting on them a +great multitude of Persians and allies, and setting Megabates, that was +nephew to him and to the King, to command them. (It was the daughter +of this Megabates that Pausanias the Spartan would have taken to wife, +if indeed the story be true, when he sought to make himself lord of +Greece.) Megabates took with him Aristagoras, and many soldiers from +Miletus, and the exiles, and sailed towards the Hellespont. But when he +came to Chios he cast anchor, waiting for a north wind that he might +sail to Naxos. And here--for it was not to be that Naxos should perish +at this time--there befell this thing. + +As Megabates went about visiting the watches of the fleet, he found +a ship of Myndus in Caria that had no watch set. Being very wroth +at this, he bade his guards find the captain of the ship (the man’s +name was Scylax,) and bind him in one of the tholes of the oars, so +that his head should be without the ship and his body within. When +the man had been so bound, there came one to Aristagoras saying that +Megabates had bound Scylax of Mindus in a shameful fashion. Then +Aristagoras entreated of Megabates that he would loose him; but, as he +could not prevail, he loosed the man himself. When Megabates heard it +he was very wroth with Aristagoras, who said to him, “What hast thou +to do with these things? Wast thou not sent to do my pleasure, and +to sail whithersoever I should bid thee? Meddle not then with other +men’s matters.” Then Megabates, in his anger, sent a messenger to the +Naxians, so soon as it was night, telling them what was preparing +against them. Now these had not thought of any such thing; but when +they heard it, forthwith they carried their goods from out of the +fields into the city, and prepared themselves for a siege, making +provision of food and drink. When therefore the Persians were come +from Chios, they found the city of the Naxians defended against them; +and having besieged it to no purpose for four months, when now all +the money they had brought with them was spent, and much also that +Aristagoras had furnished, they departed, having first built forts +for the exiles. Then Aristagoras was in a great strait, for he could +not fulfill the promise that he had made to the servants of the King, +neither could he pay the money that had been spent upon the war, and he +feared lest, falling into ill-favor with the Persians, being already +at enmity with Megabates, he should loose the lordship of Miletus. +For these causes he had it in his mind to revolt from the King. And +while he thought thereon there came to him the man with the branded +head from Histiæus at Susa, with a message that he should do this very +thing. For Histiæus, seeking to send word to Aristagoras, yet not +being able to send it safely, because the roads were guarded, devised +this thing. He took the most faithful of his slaves and, shaving the +man’s head, branded on it certain letters. And when the hair was grown +again he sent him to Aristagoras with a message, “Look on this man’s +head when thou hast shaven it.” Now the marks signified that he should +revolt. And this Histiæus did, counting it a grievous thing that he +was constrained to tarry at Susa; for he said to himself, “If there +be rebellion at Miletus, doubtless I shall be sent down to the sea; +but if not, I shall go there no more.” Then Aristagoras took counsel +with his fellows, declaring to them his own judgment and the message +that had come to him from Susa. To them spake Hecatæus, the writer of +chronicles. First he counseled them not to make war against the King, +telling them of all the nations that he ruled and of his might. And +when he could not persuade them, he said that they should certainly +make themselves masters of the sea, and that this they could do only +by laying hands on the treasures that had been given by Crœsus the +Lydian to the temple of Apollo at Branchidæ, for these were very great, +“since I have good hope,” said he, “that by help of these ye may have +the upper hand at sea; any how, ye will have the using of them, and +they will not be a spoil to the enemy.” But neither in this could he +prevail. Nevertheless they made ready to revolt. And first of all they +sent and laid hands by guile on the captains of the ships that had +sailed against Naxos. Such of these men as were lords of their cities +Aristagoras gave into the hands of their citizens to do with them as +they would. And he gave up his own lordship at Miletus. Thus lordship +ceased out of all the cities of Ionia. + +After this Aristagoras sailed to Sparta, for he had need to make +alliance with some city that could help him. Now Cleomenes was King at +Sparta in those days; to him therefore Aristagoras opened the matter, +saying, “Marvel not, Cleomenes, that I have been at the pain to come +hither. That we men of Ionia should be slaves and not free is a shame +and grief, first indeed to us, but next to you more than all others, +seeing that ye have the pre-eminence in Greece. Do ye therefore +deliver us from slavery, seeing that we are of the same blood with +you. And this ye can easily do, for these barbarians have but small +courage, in which ye, I know, excel. Their manner of fighting is this. +They have bows and short spears, and for clothing they have loose +tunics and turbans on their heads. Think then how easily ye can subdue +them.” After this Aristagoras showed to the King the divers nations and +countries that were obedient to the Persians, for he had a tablet of +brass on which was engraven the whole compass of the world, with the +sea and all the rivers. And he set forth to him in what things each +was excellent, till he came at the last to the city of Susa. “Here,” +he said, “is the river Choaspes with the great city of Susa, where +the King has his palace. Here also are his treasures, on which if ye +can lay your hands ye may without fear compare yourselves for riches +to Zeus himself. What profit is there to fight, and that many times, +for a few furlongs of barren land, with Messenians, men that are your +match, or with Arcadians or Argives that have not gold or silver or any +such thing, for the getting of which a man might willingly go in peril +of his life, and this when ye might be lords of all Asia?” Then said +Cleomenes, “Man of Miletus, I will give thee an answer in this matter +on the third day.” And on the third, when they came together as had +been appointed, the King said, “Tell me, Aristagoras, of how many days +is the journey from the sea to this city of Susa?” Now in every thing +else Aristagoras had answered him craftily; but in this he was taken +unawares. For if he would have had the Spartans come to Asia, he should +not have told the truth; but this he did tell, for he said, “It is a +journey of three months.” But when the King heard this he would not +suffer Aristagoras to say what he would have told about the journey, +but cried, “Man of Miletus, depart from Sparta before the setting of +the sun; for thou hast nothing to say that can profit the Spartans if +thou wouldst take them a journey of three months from the sea.” When he +had said this, the King departed to his house. Then Aristagoras taking +the garb of a suppliant, went to him and besought him, as he had regard +to a suppliant, to listen to him. “But first,” he said, “send away the +child;” for there stood by the King his little daughter, whose name +was Gorgo. This Gorgo was his only child, being now of eight or nine +years. But Cleomenes bade him say what he would, and stay not for the +child. Then Aristagoras began with ten talents, promising that he would +give him so much if he would help him to that which he desired. And +when Cleomenes would not, he promised yet more, till he came to fifty +talents. Then the child spake, “Father, this stranger will corrupt thee +unless thou rise up and depart.” This counsel of the child greatly +pleased Cleomenes, so that he rose up from his place and went into +another chamber. After this Aristagoras departed from Sparta, and came +to Athens, knowing that this city held the next place for power. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +OF THE TAKING OF MILETUS. + + +The city of Athens had greatly increased in might since it was rid +of its lords. The manner of the riddance was this. For a while after +Hipparchus had been slain--this Hipparchus, with Hippias his brother, +had received the lordship from Pisistratus his father, and he had been +slain at the festival of Athene--the tyranny was more grievous than +before. Now there was in Athens a great house, the sons of Alcmæon, +and these had been banished by the children of Pisistratus. At the +first indeed joining with others who were in like cause, they sought +to obtain their return by force, building a fort on Mount Parnes, +whence they might attack the city; but they accomplish nothing. Then +they devised this device. They made a covenant with the council of +the Amphictyons that they would build the temple of Apollo that is in +Delphi for a certain sum of money. But in the building they made all +things fairer than according to the letter of the covenant--and this +they could do by reason of their great wealth--and especially, when +it had been agreed that they should use common stone in the building +of the temple, they used for the front thereof marble of Paros. After +this they persuaded the Pythia with a sum of money that whenever +any men from Sparta came to ask counsel of the oracle, whether they +came on their own affairs or the affairs of the State, she should +bid them set free the city of Athens. When this message had come to +the Lacedæmonians many times, they sent one of their chief citizens +with an army to drive out the children of Pisistratus from Athens. +And this they did, though the men were dear friends to them, for they +judged it well to prefer the bidding of the Gods to the friendship +of men. This army came by sea and landed at Phalerus. And when the +sons of Pisistratus heard of it, they sent for help to Thessaly, with +which country they had alliance, and there came to them from Thessaly +a thousand horsemen, under Cineas, King of Thessaly. With them they +assailed the camp of the Lacedæmonians, and slew not a few of them, +among whom was the captain of the army, and drove such as were left +into their ships. After this the Lacedæmonians sent another army, +greater than before, under King Cleomenes, sending them not in ships, +but by land. These also, so soon as they had crossed the borders, the +horsemen of the Thessalians attacked, but could not stand before them, +but fled back without delay into their own land. Then Cleomenes, coming +to the city and taking to him such as were minded to drive out from +Athens its lords, besieged the sons of Pisistratus in the Pelasgian +fort; but they would not have accomplished their purpose--for they had +no mind to make a long siege of the fort, and the sons of Pisistratus +had meat and drink in abundance--but would have tarried a few days, +and so departed, but for this chance. The sons of Pisistratus sought +to send their children out of the country secretly; but the children +were taken. Then they made a covenant with the Athenians that, if the +children should be given back to them, they would depart out of the +country within the space of five days. And this they did, their house +having had the lordship for thirty years and six. Thus was Athens rid +of its lords. + +Aristagoras then coming to this city of Athens presented himself before +the people, and said the same words that he had said before in Sparta, +about the good things in Asia, and about the manner of fighting of the +Persians, how they had neither spear nor shield, and were therefore +easily to be conquered. Also he said that the Milesians were colonists +from Athens, and that it was just that the Athenians, being so mighty, +should deliver them from slavery. And because his need was great, there +was nothing that he did not promise, till at the last he persuaded +them. For it is easier, it seems, to deceive a multitude than to +deceive one man. Cleomenes the Spartan, being but one man, Aristagoras +could not deceive; but he brought over to his purpose the people of +Athens, being thirty thousand. So the Athenians, being persuaded, made +a decree to send twenty ships to help the men of Ionia, and appointed +one Melanthius, a man of reputation among them, to be captain. These +ships were the beginning of trouble both to the Greeks and the +barbarians. + +After this Aristagoras sailed to Miletus; and as soon as he was +gone there he did a thing which could be of no profit to the men of +Ionia, but vexed King Darius. He sent a messenger to the Pæonians, +whom Megabazus had carried away captive from the river Strymon and set +down in Phrygia, saying, “Thus saith Aristagoras, lord of Miletus, If +ye will obey him, ye shall have deliverance. All Ionia hath rebelled +against the King. Now therefore ye can depart in safety to your own +land. How ye shall get to the sea ye must order for yourselves; but +when ye come thither, we will see to the matter.” The Pæonians heard +this with great gladness; and taking with them their wives and their +children, they fled to the sea. Yet some of them were afraid and +remained behind. And when they had come to the sea, they crossed over +to Chios. And when they were already in Chios there came a multitude of +the horsemen of the Persians, pursuing them, who, as they had not been +able to overtake them, sent messengers to them in Chios, bidding them +return to the land of Phrygia. But the Pæonians would not hearken to +them. And the people of Chios carried them thence to Lesbos, and the +Lesbians carried them to Doriscus; and from Doriscus they returned on +foot to their own land of Pæonia. + +When the twenty ships of the Athenians were arrived, and with them five +ships of the Eretrians, which came, not for any love of the Athenians, +but because the Milesians had helped them in old time against the men +of Chalcis, Aristagoras sent an army against Sardis, but he himself +abode in Miletus. This army, crossing Mount Tmolus, took the city +of Sardis without any hindrance; but the citadel they took not, for +Artaphernes held it with a great force of soldiers. But though they +took the city they had not the plunder of it, and for this reason. +The houses in Sardis were for the most part built of reeds, and such +as were built of bricks had their roofs of reeds; and when a certain +soldier set fire to one of these houses, the fire ran quickly from +house to house till the whole city was consumed. And while the city +was burning, such Lydians and Persians as were in it, seeing that +they were cut off from escape (for the fire was in all the outskirts +of the city), gathered together in haste to the market-place. Through +this market-place flows the river Pactolus, which comes down from +Mount Tmolus, having gold in its sands, and when it has passed out of +the city it flows into the Hermus which flows into the sea. Here then +the Lydians and Persians were gathered together, being constrained to +defend themselves. And when the men of Ionia saw their enemies how +many they were, and that these were preparing to give battle, they +were stricken with fear, and fled out of the city to Mount Tmolus, and +thence, when it was night, they went back to the sea. In this manner +was burned the city of Sardis, and in it the great temple of the +goddess Cybele, the burning of which temple was the cause, as said the +Persians, for which afterward they burned the temples in Greece. Not +long after came a host of Persians from beyond the river Halys; and +when they found that the men of Ionia had departed from Sardis, they +followed hard upon their track and came up with them at Ephesus. And +when the battle was joined, the men of Ionia fled before them. Many +indeed were slain, and such as escaped were scattered, every man to his +own city. + +After this the ships of the Athenians departed and would not help +the men of Ionia any more, though Aristagoras besought them to stay. +Nevertheless the Ionians ceased not from making preparations of war +against the King, making to themselves allies, some by force and some +by persuasion, as the cities of the Hellespont and many of the Carians +and the island of Cyprus. For all Cyprus, save Amathus only, revolted +from the King under Onesilus, brother of King Gorgus. + +When King Darius heard that Sardis had been taken and burned with +fire by the Ionians and the Athenians, with Aristagoras for leader, +at the first he took no heed of the Ionians, as knowing that they +would surely suffer for their deed, but he asked, “Who are these +Athenians?” And when they told him he took a bow and shot an arrow +into the air, saying, “O Zeus, grant that I may avenge myself on these +Athenians.” And he commanded his servant that every day, when his +dinner was served, he should say three times, “Master remember the +Athenians.” After this he called for Histiæus of Miletus, and said to +him, “Histiæus, I hear that thy deputy to whom thou gavest over Miletus +has rebelled, and has brought men from over the sea to help him, and, +taking with him also certain of the Ionians (who verily shall suffer +for their wrong-doing), has taken from me the city of Sardis. How can +this have been done without thy counsel? Take heed lest the blame fall +on thee.” Then answered Histiæus, “What is this that thou hast said, +that I should devise any evil against thee? For what do I lack being +here with thee? If my deputy has done such things, he has done them of +his own counsel. Yet do I scarce believe that he has done them. But if +so, see what a thing thou hast done in taking me away from the coast +country. Surely had I been yet there, no city had been troubled. But +now send me as speedily as may be to the land of the Ionians, that I +may set all things in order as they were aforetime, and also deliver +up this deputy, if he has so done, into thy hands. Verily, I swear by +thy Gods, O King, that I will not put off the tunic which I shall wear +on the day when I go down to the land of the Ionians, before I make +the great island of Sardinia tributary to thee.” So Darius let him go, +commanding him when he had accomplished these things to come back to +him at Susa. + +Meanwhile the Persians took not a few cities of the Ionians and +Æolians. But while they were busy about these, the Carians revolted +from the King; whereupon the captains of the Persians led their army +into Caria, and the men of Caria came out to meet them; and they met +them at a certain place which is called the White Pillars, near to the +river Mæander. Then there were many counsels among the Carians whereof +the best was this, that they should cross the river and so contend +with the Persians, having the river behind them, that so there being no +escape for them if they fled, they might surpass themselves in courage. +But this counsel did not prevail. Nevertheless, when the Persians had +crossed the Mæander, the Carians fought against them, and the battle +was exceedingly long and fierce. But at the last the Carians were +vanquished, being overborne by numbers, so that there fell of them ten +thousand. And when they that escaped--for many had fled to Labranda, +where there is a great temple of Zeus and a grove of plane trees--were +doubting whether they should yield themselves to the King or depart +altogether from Asia, there came to their help the men of Miletus +with their allies. Thereupon the Carians, putting away their doubts +altogether, fought with the Persians a second time, and were vanquished +yet more grievously than before. But on this day the men of Miletus +suffered the chief damage. And the Carians fought with the Persians yet +again a third time; for, hearing that these were about to attack their +cities one by one, they laid an ambush for them on the road to Pedasus. +And the Persians, marching by night, fell into the ambush, and were +utterly destroyed, they and their captains. + +After these things, Aristagoras, seeing the power of the Persians, and +having no more any hope to prevail over them--and indeed, for all that +he had brought about so much trouble, he was of a poor spirit--called +together his friends and said to them, “We must needs have some place +of refuge, if we be driven out of Miletus. Shall we therefore go to +Sardinia, or to Myrcinus on the river Strymon, which King Darius gave +to Histiæus?” + +To this Hecateus, the writer of chronicles, made answer, “Let +Aristagoras build a fort in Leros (this Leros is an island thirty miles +distant from Miletus) and dwell there quietly, if he be driven from +Miletus. And hereafter he can come from Leros and set himself up again +in Miletus.” + +But Aristagoras went to Myrcinus, and not long afterwards was slain +while he besieged a certain city of the Thracians. + +And now Histiæus came down from Susa to Sardis. When he was come to +Sardis, Artaphernes, the governor, inquired of him the cause why the +Ionians had rebelled, and when Histiæus said that he could not tell, +Artaphernes said, for indeed he knew the whole matter, “The matter +stands thus, Histiæus. Thou hast stitched the shoe and Aristagoras has +put it on.” When Histiæus heard this, and perceived that the thing was +known, he fled to the coast. And first he went to Chios, where the +people cast him into prison, but finding that he had rebelled against +the King set him at liberty; and from Chios he went to Miletus; but +the men of Miletus, being rid of one lord, even Aristagoras, were +not minded to take to themselves another, and when he sought to make +an entrance by night, they fought against him and wounded him in the +thigh. After this, having got ships from the Lesbians, he laid wait at +the Hellespont and seized all the ships that came forth from the Black +Sea unless they would take service with him. + +Now the Persians had gathered together a great host and a fleet also +against Miletus; and the men of Miletus sent deputies to the Great +Ionian Council. And the council resolved that they would not send an +army to fight against the Persians, but that the cities should send all +their ships, not leaving one behind, and that they should be assembled +at Lade, which is an island near Miletus. So all the Ionians sent their +ships, a hundred coming from Chios, and eighty from Miletus, and sixty +from Lesbos. The number of the whole was three hundred and fifty and +three. But the number of the ships of the barbarians was six hundred. + +First the Persian captains sent for the lords of the Ionian cities +whom Aristagoras had driven out, and said to them, “Now can ye do good +service to the house of the King. Let each seek to draw away his own +countrymen from the alliance of the Ionians; and let him tell them that +they shall suffer no harm by reason of their revolt, but shall be in +all points even as they were in former days. But if they be stubborn +then shall they and their children be sold into slavery, and their land +shall be given unto strangers.” Then the lords sent messengers to tell +these words to their countrymen; but these would not hearken or betray +their allies. And each people thought that these promises were made to +them only and not to the others. + +Afterwards divers councils were held by the captains of the fleet, in +which, after others had set forth their opinions, Dionysius of Phocæa +thus spake, “Ye men of Ionia, now are our fortunes on the razor’s +edge, whether we shall be free men or slaves, and slaves that are also +runaways. If ye will endure for the time some hardness, ye will be able +to prevail over your enemies and so be free forever; but if ye continue +in your present slothfulness and disorder, there is no hope but that +ye will suffer the wrath of the King when he shall avenge himself on +you for your revolt. Be therefore persuaded by me and yield yourselves +to my commands; for if ye fulfill these faithfully either will the +Persians fly before us, or if they fight, will be utterly vanquished.” + +The Ionians hearkened to these words and committed themselves to +Dionysius. And he every day made them move their ships in column, and +practice with their oars, and exercise themselves in breaking the line. +And the fighting men were kept under arms, and the ships remained on +their anchors, so that the men had toil without ceasing from morning +until night. These things the Ionians endured for seven days, but on +the eighth--for they were not accustomed to such toil--being worn out +with labor and with the heat of the sun, they began to say to each +other, “Against what god have we sinned that we suffer such things? +Surely we were mad that we gave ourselves to this boaster from Phocæa +that has brought but three ships only. For he has taken us and plagued +us with trouble that cannot be endured, so that many of us have already +fallen sick, and many will soon fall. Surely it were better to endure +anything rather than these hardships. Even slavery were better than +this servitude. Let us therefore yield him obedience no more.” + +After this they would not obey him, but pitched their tents upon the +island, as though they had been soldiers, and lay in the shade, and +would not practice themselves on their ships, which when the captains +of the Samians perceived, they were more ready to receive the offer +which the Persians had made to them. For they saw that there was no +order among the Ionians, nor did they hope to prevail over the King, +knowing that if they could vanquish this present fleet that was arrayed +against them, there would come another five times as great. For this +cause the Samians made an agreement with the King. + +Now many days afterwards the ships of the Phœnicians sailed out to do +battle, and the Ionians sailed against them. Who indeed bare themselves +bravely and who played the coward that day is not certainly known, +for the Ionians accused one another. But it is said that the Samians, +according to the agreement that they had made, hoisted their sails and +departed to Samos, but that eleven ships remained in their place and +fought, for that the captains would not obey the leaders. For this deed +the state of Samos granted them this honor, that their names should +be written on a pillar, and that the pillar should be set up in the +market-place of Samos. And this was done. Also the men of Lesbos, when +they saw what their neighbors did, left also their place in the line; +and indeed the greater part of the Ionians followed in the same way. +Of them that remained the men of Chios were the most roughly handled. +These had come with a hundred ships, on each of which were forty picked +men at arms. Nor would they follow an ill example when they saw others +play the coward, but behaved very valiantly, and though they were left +well-nigh alone, yet broke many times through the lines of the enemy, +and took many ships. And at the last, such as were able fled to Chios; +and such as had their ships so sorely wounded that they could not +return, beached their ships at this isle, and marched into the country +of the Ephesians. This they did in the night, and the Ephesians, +thinking that they were robbers that had come to steal away their +women--for they were keeping a festival--marched out against them with +their whole force and slew them. + +As for Dionysius of Phocæa, when he saw that the Ionians were +conquered, he would not return to Phocæa, for he knew that it must +certainly fall into the hands of the Persians, but sailed away with his +own ships and those that he had taken, and came to Phœnicia. There he +sank certain merchantmen and took out of them a great booty. Afterwards +he sailed to Sicily, and became a pirate, sparing indeed Greek ships, +but taking ships of the Carthaginians and Tuscans. + +The Persians besieged Miletus both by land and sea, digging mines +under the walls, and using against it all manner of devices. And they +took it in the sixth year from the time when Aristagoras caused it to +revolt from the King. Most of the men they slew, and all the women and +the children they made slaves; and the temple of Apollo at Branchidæ, +to which, as has been said before, King Crœsus made many gifts, they +burned with fire. Such of the inhabitants of Miletus as were not slain +were sent up to Susa. The King did them no further harm, but settled +in the city of Ampe, which is near to the Red Sea, by the mouth of the +river Tigris. + +The Athenians showed what great sorrow they had at the taking of +Miletus by many other proofs, and especially by this. The poet +Phrynichus made a play, “The Taking of Miletus;” but when he showed +it on the stage the whole multitude in the theatre wept. And they +put a fine of a thousand drachmas upon him because he had called to +mind, they said, their own misfortune. And they made a law that no one +thereafter should show this play. + +Not many days afterwards Histiæus was taken prisoner by the Persians. +Doubtless, had he been sent to Susa, King Darius would have pardoned +him. And indeed, for fear of this, Artaphernes, governor of Sardis, +commanded him to be slain. His body he fastened on a stake, and his +head he embalmed and sent it on to the King. When the King heard it, he +greatly blamed the governor, because he had not sent him up alive; and +he commanded that they should take the head and dress it with all care, +and so bury it, for that this man had been a great benefactor to the +Persians. + +After this the Persians took all the towns of the Greeks on the +mainland of Asia, and they netted the islands. Now the manner of +netting was this. The men joined hands, making a line across the island +from north to south, and so passed through it from end to end, hunting +out all the inhabitants. Thus were the cities of the Ionians enslaved +for the third time, once by Crœsus, King of the Lydians, and twice by +the Persians. + +After this the King, having conquered the Ionians, bided his time till +he should avenge himself upon the Athenians. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +OF THE FIRST WAR AGAINST GREECE. + + +Mardonius, the son of Gobryas, came down from Susa, and he had a great +army and many ships. He was a young man, and he had newly married the +daughter of King Darius. When he was come to the land of Cilicia, he +took ship and sailed to the coast of Ionia, the other ships following +him. And being in Ionia he did this thing (a marvelous thing, +doubtless, in the eyes of them that believe not the story of Otanes, +how he would have set up among the Persians the rule of the people); +he cast down from their place all the lords of the Ionians, setting up +in every city the rule of the people. When he had done this he went +with all haste to the Hellespont, whither was gathered together a +great multitude of ships and many thousands of men. These crossed the +Hellespont in the ships, and so marched through the land of Europe. And +their purpose was, as they said, to have vengeance on the cities of +Athens and Eretria; but in truth they had it in their minds to subdue +as many as they should be able of the cities of the Greeks. First, +then, they subdued the Thracians. These did not so much as lift a hand +against the Persians, and so were added to the nations whom they had in +slavery. From Thasos they went to Acanthus, and leaving Acanthus they +sought to pass round Mount Athos, which is a great promontory, running +far out into the sea. Here there fell upon the ships a very mighty +wind, such as they could in no wise bear up against, and did them much +damage. Men say indeed that there perished of the ships three hundred, +and of men more than twenty thousand. For the sea in these parts is +full of great monsters, which laid hold on many of the men; many also +were dashed against the rocks, and were so destroyed; and some perished +because they could not swim, and some from cold. Thus it fared with the +ships. As for Mardonius and his army, the Brygi, that are a tribe of +Thracians, assailed him in his camp by night and slew many of his men, +and wounded Mardonius himself. Notwithstanding, the Brygi escaped not +the doom of slavery, for Mardonius left not this region till he had +utterly subdued them. But when he had done this he went back to Asia, +for his army had suffered much from the Thracians, and his ships from +the storm at Mount Athos. Thus did this great undertaking come to an +end with little honor. + +For all this Darius changed not his purpose concerning Athens and the +other cities of Greece. For every day, at his bidding, did his servant +say to him, “O King, remember the Athenians.” Also the children of +Pisistratus ceased not to speak against the city. The King indeed +desired, having for a pretense his quarrel against the Athenians, to +subdue all the Greeks that would not give him earth and water; for +the giving of these things is to the Persians a token of submission. +Mardonius, seeing that he had fared badly in his undertaking, the King +discharged of his office, appointing thereto Datis, that was a Mede, +and Artaphernes his brother’s son. These then he sent on the same +errand on which he had sent Mardonius, saying to them, “Make slaves +of the men of Eretria and of the men of Athens, and bring them to me +that I may see them.” So these two went down from the city of Susa to +Cilicia, having with them a very great army and well-appointed; and +while they were encamped here in a plain that is called the Aleian +plain, there came also to that country the whole array of ships as had +been commanded, and with the rest ships designed for the carriage of +horses, for in the year before the King had commanded the inhabitants +that such should be built. On these ships, therefore, they embarked +their horses, and on the other ships the rest of the army, and so set +sail to Ionia, having in all six hundred ships of war. + +But they sailed not along the coast after the former manner, going +northwards to the Hellespont and to Thrace, but voyaged through the +islands, beginning with Samos; and this they did, as it seems, because +they feared the going round Mount Athos, remembering what loss and +damage they had suffered at this place in the former expedition. Also +they had Naxos in their mind, for this had not as yet been conquered. +They sailed, therefore, first to Naxos, and the people of the island +did not abide their coming, but fled forthwith to the mountains. And +the Persians made slaves of all on whom they could lay their hands, +and burned the temples and the city with fire, and so departed. While +they were doing these things the men of Delos left their island of +Delos and fled to Tenos. But Datis suffered not the ships of the +Persians to come to anchor at Delos, but bade them tarry over against +it in Rhenea; and having heard where the men of Delos had bestowed +themselves, he sent an herald, saying, “Holy men, why have ye fled +from your dwelling-place, and have thought that which is not fitting +concerning me? For indeed my own purpose and the commandment also which +has been laid upon me by the King is this, that we should do no harm to +the land in which the two Great Ones, Apollo and Artemis, were born, +neither to it nor to the inhabitants thereof. Return ye therefore to +your own dwellings and inhabit your island.” This was the message which +Datis sent to the men of Delos; and afterward he burned three hundred +talents’ weight of frankincense upon the altar of their temple. And +it came to pass that when he had departed from Delos, the island was +shaken by an earthquake. Now it had never been so shaken before, nor +hath been since. This thing, without doubt, happened for a sign to the +sons of men of the evils that were coming upon them. And indeed, in the +days of Darius the son of Hystaspes, and Xerxes the son of Darius, and +Artaxerxes the son of Xerxes, that were kings of Persia, the one after +the other, there befell the Greeks worse evils than had befallen them +for twenty generations before the days of Darius, of which evils some +indeed came from the Persians and some from the chief among themselves +when they contended together for the pre-eminence. Therefore it may +well be believed that Delos had never been shaken before as it was +shaken in these days. + +From Delos the barbarians sailed to the other islands of that sea. +And whithersoever they came they took some of the islanders to serve +in the army and the ships, and of their children some to be hostages. +But when they came to Carystus, the people of the land would not give +hostages, neither were they willing to help in making war upon the +cities of their neighbors, meaning thereby Eretria and Athens. Then the +Persians besieged their town and laid waste their country till the men +of Carystus agreed to do as had been required of them. + +When the Eretrians heard that the Persians were coming against them +with a great host and many ships, they sent to the Athenians praying +for help. This the Athenians refused not to give, but sent to such of +their citizens as had had land allotted to them in the country of the +horse-breeding Chalcidians that they should go to the help of the men +of Eretria. But these, though they sent this message to the Athenians, +had no steadfast or worthy purpose in the matter. Some of them indeed +were for leaving the city, that they might flee to the hill country +of Eubœa, but others, looking only to their own gain, and thinking +that they should best get this from the Persians, made ready to betray +their country. This, when Æschines the son of Nothus, than whom there +was none greater in Eretria, heard, he told to the Athenians that had +come the whole matter, and said to them: “Depart ye straightway to +your own country, lest ye also perish.” And the Athenians hearkened +to the counsel of Æschines and departed, crossing the Oropus, and so +got safe away. After this the ships of the Persians came to the land +of Eretria, and put out the horses that they carried, and made ready +as if they would fight with the enemy. But the Eretrians had no mind +to come out of their walls and fight; only they hoped that they might +perchance keep these against the enemy, for as to the counsel of +leaving their city and fleeing to the hills, this they had given up. +Then the Persians attacked the wall with great fury; and for six days +they fought, many being slain on both sides; but on the seventh day, +two men, of good repute among the citizens, whose names were Euphorbus +and Philagrus, betrayed Eretria to the Persians; and these entering +into the city, first burned the temples, thereby revenging the burning +of the temples of Sardis, and next made slaves of all the people, +according as King Darius had given them commandment. + +When they had thus dealt with Eretria, they sailed against Athens, +having no doubt that they should speedily deal with this also after +the same fashion. And seeing that Marathon was the most convenient for +their purpose, and nearest also to Eretria, thither did Hippias the son +of Pisistratus lead them. And the Athenians, so soon as they heard of +their coming, marched with their whole force to Marathon. Ten generals +they had, of whom the tenth was Miltiades the son of Cimon, the son of +Stesagoras. + +This Cimon had been banished from Athens by Pisistratus. And it chanced +to him that as he went into banishment he won the prize at Olympia +for the race of four-horse chariots. This same prize his half-brother +Miltiades had also won. And in the next games at Olympia, being five +years afterwards, he won again with the same mares; but granted to +Pisistratus that his name should be proclaimed as the winner. Because +he did this he came back to Athens under safe-conduct. And yet again +he won the same prize with the same mares at the games next following; +and having done this he was slain by the sons of Pisistratus, for +Pisistratus himself was not yet alive. In the common hall was he slain +by men that were sent against him at night. He is buried before the +City, beyond the road that is called the Hollow Road; and over against +him are buried the mares that won for him these prizes. This same thing +was done by other four mares, belonging to Evagoras the Lacedæmonian, +but besides these none other have done it. This Cimon had two sons, +of whom the elder, Stesagoras, was brought up by his friends in the +Chersonese, and the younger, being named Miltiades, after this same +uncle, was with his father in Athens. + +This Miltiades then the Athenians had chosen with nine others to be +general. But before this he had but narrowly escaped death. For first +the Phœnicians pursued him as far as Imbros, being very desirous to +lay hands upon him and to take him to the King. And when he had escaped +from these, and, coming to his own country, believed that he was now in +safety, his enemies brought him into judgment by reason of the lordship +which he had had in the Chersonese. But these, too, he escaped, and the +people chose him for their general. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +OF THE BATTLE OF MARATHON. + + +First of all the generals, before they led forth their army out of +the city, sent a herald to Sparta, Pheidippides by name, who was +an Athenian by birth, and by profession a runner, and one who had +diligently exercised himself, and was very swift of foot. This man +affirmed and declared to the Athenians that when he came in his running +to Mount Parthenius, which is above Tegea, there met him the god Pan, +and that Pan called him by his name, Pheidippides, and said to him: +“Say to the Athenians, Why do they take no heed of me, though I am +their friend, and have often done them good service in time past, +and will do so hereafter?” The Athenians, believing that this story +was true, afterwards, when things had gone well with them, built a +temple to the god Pan under the Acropolis, and honored him with yearly +sacrifices and a procession of torches. Pheidippides then, being thus +sent by the generals, came to Sparta on the next day. (Between Athens +and Sparta there are one hundred and thirty and seven miles.) And so +soon as he was come he went to the rulers and said: “O men of Sparta, +the Athenians pray you that ye come and help them, and suffer not the +most ancient city in the land of Greece to be brought into slavery by +the barbarians. Already have they brought men of Eretria into slavery, +and Greece hath become the weaker by a famous city.” This message did +Pheidippides deliver to the Spartans. And to them when they heard it +seemed good that they should help the men of Athens. Only they could +not go to their help forthwith, because they would not break the law. +For it was then but the ninth day of the moon; and on the ninth day it +was unlawful for them, they said, to march, because the moon was not +yet full. Therefore they waited for the full moon. + +In the meantime Hippias the son of Pisistratus led the Persians to +Marathon; and the prisoners from Eretria he landed on the island that +is called Ægileia. And when the barbarians had disembarked from the +ships he busied himself with the setting of them in order. In the doing +of this it happened to him to sneeze and cough with much violence; +and, he being an old man, his teeth for the most part were grievously +shaken, and one of them he spat forth. This tooth fell into the sand, +and he made much ado to find it, but could not. Seeing this he groaned, +and said to them that stood by: “This land is not ours, neither shall +we be able to subdue it; as for the share of it that was mine this +tooth has taken it.” + +By this time the army of the Athenians was drawn up in the precinct +of Hercules. To them being there there came the men of Platæa, every +man that was able to bear arms. For the Platæans had before this given +themselves over to Athens, and the Athenians had by this time had no +small trouble on their behalf. + +The cause of the Platæans so giving themselves over was this. At the +first, when they were pressed hard by the Thebans, they came to King +Cleomenes, who chanced to be in their country, and would have given +themselves over to him and the Lacedæmonians. But Cleomenes and his +people would not receive them, saying: “We dwell in a country that is +very far from you, and our help would be but of small avail to you. +For indeed it might happen to you, and not once only, that ye should +be made slaves before any of us could so much as hear of the matter. +Therefore we counsel you to give yourselves over to the men of Athens; +seeing that they dwell close at hand and are good to help.” This was +the counsel of the Lacedæmonians, which they gave, not because they +had any love for the men of Platæa, but thinking that the Athenians +would have trouble without end if by these means they should be set at +enmity with the Thebans. The men of Platæa willingly hearkened to their +counsel, and sent envoys, who, journeying to Athens, sat themselves +down on the altar and surrendered themselves, the Athenians keeping +at this time the festival of the twelve gods. When the Thebans heard +what had been done they marched against the men of Platæa; and on the +other hand the Athenians came to their help. When these were now about +to join battle, the Corinthians--for they chanced to be there--would +not suffer them so to do, but made an agreement between them, both +consenting thereunto. This agreement was that if any of the dwellers +in Bœotia wished not to come into the league of Thebes, it should be +lawful for them to stand aloof. When the Corinthians had given this +sentence they departed to their own city. The Athenians also departed; +but as they were on their way, the Thebans set upon them, but were +worsted in the battle. Then the Athenians were no longer willing to +abide by the boundaries which the Corinthians had determined for the +men of Platæa, but took instead the river Asopus to be the boundary +between them and the Thebans. So now the men of Platæa, being willing +to make a return to the Athenians for the benefit which they had +received, came to their help at Marathon. + +The generals of the Athenians were divided in their opinion, some being +unwilling that they should join battle with the Persians, for they +considered how few in numbers they were to stand against so great a +host; but others, among whom was Miltiades, were for joining battle. +Then, there being this division, as it seemed likely that the worse +counsel would prevail, Miltiades went to the war-archon, whose name +was Callimachus, a man of Aphidnæ. The war-archon among the Athenians +was appointed by lot, and in former days it was the custom that he +should vote together with the ten generals. To him therefore went +Miltiades, and spake to him these words: “Thou hast it in thine hands, +O Callimachus, either to bring Athens under the yoke of slavery, or +to make it free for evermore, and in so doing to gain for thyself a +name that shall never die, and glory such that not even Harmodius and +Aristogeiton won for themselves. For indeed never since Athens was a +city has it come into such danger as that wherein it now stands. For +if it bow its neck to the yoke of the barbarian and be given over to +this Hippias, what it will suffer thou knowest very well; but if it +escape this danger, then will it become the very first city in the +land of Greece. And now I will set forth to thee how these things may +pass, and also how it lies with thee to determine whether they shall +turn out for the better or the worse. We generals are ten in number, +and our opinions are divided, for some would have us join the battle +with the Persians, and others would not. Now hear what will take place +if we join not battle with these strangers forthwith. There will be a +great dispute in the city, and the counsels of men will be turned aside +from the right, so that the party of the Persians will prevail. But +if we join battle before this evil begin to show itself, then I doubt +not, if the Gods deal fairly with us, that we shall prevail in battle, +and so be safe. And now all this lies upon thee, whether it shall be +so or no. If thou wilt add thy vote to my vote, then shall this thy +native country be free, and shall be the first city in all Greece. But +if, on the other hand, they that be unwilling to fight shall gain the +day, then shall happen to us the contrary of all the good things of +which I have spoken.” With these words Miltiades persuaded Callimachus; +and when the vote of the war-archon was given to them that counseled +battle, it was agreed that battle should be given. After this, each +one of those generals that had given his vote for joining battle, when +his turn of command came round--for each man commanded in turn day by +day--gave up his turn to Miltiades. Nevertheless Miltiades made not +use of any of their turns, but waited till his own proper turn came +round. And when this was come then the Athenians were drawn up in order +of battle; their right wing was led by Callimachus--for in those days +it was the custom among the Athenians that the war-archon should lead +the right wing--and after him came the tribes of the Athenians, one +after the other, in their order, according to their numbers, and last +of all, upon the left wing, were the men of Platæa. And ever since the +battle that was fought upon this day it has been the custom among the +Athenians, when they hold their sacrifice and solemn convocation in +the fifth year, that the herald of the Athenians should pray aloud in +these words: “May the Gods send all blessings to the men of Athens and +to the men of Platæa.” Now the Athenians sought to make their line of +battle equal to the line of the Persians; and that they might do so +they took away men from the center, so that this was the weakest part +of the army, the wings being the strongest. And so, so soon as the +battle had been set in array, and the sacrifice being made appeared to +be favorable, then the Athenians, being let go, charged the Persians at +a running pace, the space between the two armies being eight furlongs +or thereabouts. And the Persians, when they saw them coming against +them at a run, made ready to receive them, but thought that they must +be possessed with utter madness and frenzy, seeing that they were so +few in number and yet were running to meet them, and this though they +had neither horsemen nor archers. So the barbarians judged; but not +the less the Athenians, joining battle in one body with their enemies, +quitted themselves in a manner worthy of all praise. For indeed never +before had Greeks so charged against their enemies in battle at a +running pace, nor had any before endured to see without fear men clad +and armed in the fashion of the Medes. For indeed before that day the +very name of the Medes had been a terror to the Greeks to hear. Long +time did the barbarians and Athenians fight together in Marathon. +In the middle of the line the barbarians prevailed, for there the +Persians and the Sacæ had their place. These broke the line of the +Greeks, and pursued them for some space toward the mountains. But on +each of the two wings the Greeks prevailed, the Athenians being on the +one wing and the men of Platæa upon the other. These, having broken +their enemies, suffered them to flee, and then wheeling round the two +wings upon the barbarians that had broken the middle of the line, they +prevailed over these also. Then the Persians fled to their ships, and +the Athenians pursued them, smiting them and slaying them; and when +they, pursuing them, came to the sea, they called for fire and would +have burned the ships. In this part of the battle fell Callimachus, +the war-archon, who had shown himself that day a man of valor. Also +there fell Stesilaus, son of Thrasilaus, being one of the ten generals. +Also Cynægirus, son to Euphorion, whose brother was Æschylus the poet, +was slain at this time; for, laying hold of the stern ornament of one +of the ships of the Persians, he had his hand cut off by the blow of an +axe; and there perished with him other Athenians also of note and name. +Nevertheless the Athenians took seven of the ships at this time. With +the rest the barbarians pushed off from the shore, and having taken up +the prisoners from Eretria from the island whereon they had left them, +they sailed round the promontory of Sunium, hoping that they should +come to the city before that the army of the Athenians should be able +to return thither. In this matter the house of the sons of Alcmæon were +accused by their fellow-countrymen, who said that they had held up a +shield for a signal to the Persians; and that it had been covenanted +that they should do so, that the Persians might take the city unawares +and empty of men. So the Persians sailed round Cape Sunium; and the +Athenians marched with all the speed that they could that they might +defend the city; and when they were come they encamped in the precinct +of Hercules, that is at Cynosargæ; and it so chanced that they came +from the precinct of Hercules that is in Marathon. For a while the +ships of the barbarians lay off Phalerum, which was in those days the +port of Athens, but in no long time sailed back to Asia. + +In this battle that was fought at Marathon there were slain of the +barbarians six thousand and four hundred or thereabouts, and of the +Athenians one hundred and ninety and two. In the battle also there +happened this marvel. A man of Athens, Epizelus by name, the son of +Couphagoras, fighting in the press, and bearing himself bravely, was +of a sudden smitten with blindness, and this without being wounded +any where in the body or stricken at all. And he was blind for the +remainder of his days. Now the story which this man told about the +matter was this. “I saw,” he said, “a man of great stature fully armed +stand over against me, and he had a great beard that covered his whole +shield. Me indeed he passed by, but the man that stood next to me he +smote and slew.” + +When Datis was on his way to Asia, being at Myconos, he saw a vision +in his sleep. What this vision was no man knows; but this is certain +that so soon as the day dawned he caused a search to be made in all the +ships; and in a certain Phœnician ship he found an image of Apollo that +was covered with gold, and would know whence it had been brought. And +when he knew from what temple it had been taken, he sailed with his own +ship to Delos. And he put the image in the temple and laid a command +upon the men of Delos--for they had by this time come back to their +island--that they should carry back the image to the Delian temple +of the Thebans. (This temple stands on the sea shore over against +Chalcis.) When he had given these commands Datis departed, but the men +of Delos neglected to do as he had said; but twenty years after the +Thebans, having been warned by an oracle, fetched it themselves. + +When Datis and Artaphernes were come to Asia they took the people of +Eretria whom they had carried away captive and brought them up to Susa, +to King Darius. Now King Darius had before this been greatly enraged +against the people of Eretria, holding that they had done him wrong +without provocation; but when he saw them thus brought before him and +in his power, he did them no harm, but settled them in a station of his +own in the land of the Cissia. This station was called Ardericca, and +it is distant from Susa twenty and six miles or thereabouts. Five miles +from this Ardericca is a great well whence they got three things, to +wit, bitumen, salt and oil. Here then King Darius settled the people of +Eretria, and here they remained many years afterwards, still speaking +their own language. + +When the full moon was past there came to Athens two thousand +Lacedæmonians, having marched with all speed, so that they came to +Athens on the third day after they had set out from Sparta. These, +though they had come too late for the battle, much desired to see the +Persians that had been slain. So they went to Marathon, and when they +had seen them and had greatly praised the Athenians and their valor, +they departed to their own home. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +OF THE SONS OF ALCMÆON AND THE END OF MILTIADES. + + +This story that they tell of the sons of Alcmæon, how they held up a +shield to the Persians seeking to destroy the city, that it might be +under the lordship of Hippias, is passing strange, seeing that the +house of Alcmæon had showed itself an enemy to tyrants not less than +any other house among the Greeks. And indeed so long as the lordship of +the sons of Pisistratus endured at Athens, so long did they remain in +exile; and as for the ending of this lordship, they are to be praised +for it rather than are Harmodius and Aristogeiton, for these did but +make the sons of Pisistratus the more cruel by slaying Hipparchus; +but as for making their tyranny to cease they did nothing. This was +the work of the sons of Alcmæon if it be true, as has been told, that +they had persuaded the Pythia for money to lay this charge upon the +Lacedæmonians that they should cause Athens to be free. Nor indeed is +it to be thought that the sons of Alcmæon betrayed their country by +reason of anger against their countrymen; for there were none in those +days of greater reputation than were these men, nor any that were more +honored. That a shield was held up is certain; but as to who it was +that held it up, this no man knows. + +As for the house of Alcmæon it was famous in Athens from the beginning; +but there were two men that more than all others made it to be of great +renown; and these two were Alcmæon and Megacles. As for Alcmæon, how he +got him great riches from Crœsus, King of Lydia, has been told already; +and as for Megacles the matter stands thus. + +Cleisthenes, son of Aristonymus, being lord of Sicyon, would have for +his daughter’s husband that man whom he should find to be noblest +of all the Greeks. The name of this daughter was Agarista. For this +purpose he caused proclamation to be made at the festival of Olympia, +where he had won a victory with a chariot of four horses. And the +proclamation was this: “Let any Greek who holds himself to be worthy +of being son-in-law to Cleisthenes come on the sixtieth day, or before +it if he will, to the city of Sicyon, for Cleisthenes will determine +in the space of a year, beginning with the sixtieth day, to whom he +should give his daughter in marriage.” To Cleisthenes therefore came +so many of the Greeks as thought much of themselves or of their house; +and he had prepared a course for foot-racing and a wrestling ground +to make trial of them. From Italy came Smindyrides of Sybaris, that +was the most luxurious liver of all the men of his day. And those +were the times when the city of Sybaris was at the very height of its +prosperity. And from Ætolia there came Males brother of Titormus. +This Titormus excelled all men in strength. He it was that seeking +to withdraw himself altogether from the sight of men fled into the +furthest parts of Ætolia. There came also Leocedes, son of Pheidon, +that was lord of Argos. This was that Pheidon who brought in the +weights and measures that the dwellers in Peloponnese use. No man was +more arrogant than he. He drove out the men of Elis from being masters +of the festivals of Olympia and was master himself. Also among the +suitors was Laphanes the Arcadian, the son of Euphorion, who, so say +the Arcadians, received in his house the Twin-Brethren, and ever after +used hospitality to all comers. From Athens there came Hippoclides, the +son of Tisander, who excelled all the Athenians in riches and beauty; +and also Megacles, being son to that Alcmæon whom King Crœsus had made +rich. These and others also came to Sicyon as suitors for Agarista on +the sixtieth day, as had been appointed. Then Cleisthenes first of all +inquired of each his country and his father’s house; and afterwards, +for the space of a whole year, made trial of their courage and their +temper and their training and their behavior, having converse with them +sometimes one by one and sometimes altogether. Such as were younger +among them he would send to the place of games; but chiefly he made +trial of all at the banqueting table. Thus he behaved himself with +them for the space of a whole year entertaining them right splendidly +the whole year. And of all the suitors none pleased him so well as the +two that came from Athens, and of these two he inclined the rather to +Hippoclides, not only for his high carriage, but also because he was of +kin to the house of Cypselus that had had the lordship of Corinth. + +When the day came for the espousals, and for Cleisthenes to declare +his mind whom he chose out of the suitors for his daughter’s husband, +he sacrificed a hundred oxen and made a great feast to the suitors +and to all the people of Sicyon. And after the feast the suitors +contended with each other in music and in speaking on some subject +that was proposed to them. And as the drinking went on, Hippoclides, +all the others wondering much at him, bade the flute-player play +music to him; and when the flute-player did so, he danced. And in +this dancing he pleased himself marvelously, but Cleisthenes looked +askance on the whole business. Again, after resting awhile, Hippoclides +bade them bring a table; and when the table was brought, he mounted +upon it, and danced, first certain Spartan figures, and then certain +Athenian; and at the last, with his head upon the table, he began to +toss his legs about in the air. During the first dancing, and during +the second, Cleisthenes held his peace, not wishing to break out upon +the man, though indeed he loathed to think of having Hippoclides for +a son-in-law, so much did he hate the man’s passion for dancing and +his shamelessness. But when he saw him tossing his legs in the air he +could restrain himself no longer, but cried aloud: “Son of Tisander, +thou hast danced away thy wife!” And the young man said: “Hippoclides +does not care!” which words have become a proverb among the Greeks. +After this Cleisthenes commanded silence, and spake thus in the midst +of the suitors: “My friends that are come to be suitors of my daughter, +I am well pleased with all of you, and gladly would I content you all, +if it were possible, and not choose out one from among you and reject +the rest. But this, seeing that I have to dispose of a single maiden in +marriage, I cannot do. To you therefore who are disappointed in your +suit I give a gift, a talent of silver to each man, because ye have +done me honor in seeking to take a wife from my house, and because +ye have been at charge, living away from your homes. But my daughter +Agarista I betroth to Megacles, the son of Alcmæon, after the custom +of the land of Attica.” And when Megacles had also plighted his troth, +the marriage was made. Thus did the house of Alcmæon become famous +throughout the land of Greece. To these two, Megacles and Agarista, +was born Cleisthenes, the same that divided the Athenians into tribes +and set up also the rule of the people. This name he had from his +grandfather of Sicyon. Also there was born another son, Hippocrates, +and Hippocrates had a son Megacles and a daughter Agarista. This +Agarista was married to Xanthippus the son of Ariphon; and being with +child, she had a vision in her sleep, and dreamed that she brought +forth a lion. Not many days afterwards she bore a son whose name was +Pericles. + +Now shall be told the end of Miltiades. This man, after the battle +that was fought at Marathon, having been held before in high esteem +among his countrymen, increased yet more in reputation. This being so, +he asked of the Athenians seventy ships and an army and money. He told +them not to what place he purposed to take the ships, saying only that +if they would hearken to him he would greatly enrich them; for he would +take them to a land whence they might easily get gold without stint. In +this way he asked for the ships, and the Athenians, being carried away +by what they heard, gave him that which he asked for. Then Miltiades, +having got the ships and the army, sailed to the island of Paros. And +the cause which he pretended for so doing was that the Parians had +first made war against Athens, for that they had sent a ship of war +with the Persians. This cause indeed he pretended; but in truth he had +a grudge against a certain man of Paros, Lysagoras by name, because +he had slandered him to Hydarnes the Persian. When Miltiades was come +to Paros, the Parians took refuge within their walls; and a siege was +begun. Then he sent a herald to the city, and demanded of the Parians +a hundred talents, saying that he would not take his army thence till +he had destroyed them, if they would not pay the money. Now the Parians +had no thought of paying the money to Miltiades; but they did their +utmost to strengthen their city against him, contriving many devices, +among which was this, that where the wall was weakest there they built +it up to twice the height that it had before. + +So far in the story are the Greeks agreed. But what happened after this +is thus told by the men of Paros. To Miltiades, being in great straits, +there came a woman that was a priestess, a Parian by birth, whose name +was Timo; and she was a priestess of the lower gods, but one of the +meaner sort. This woman came to Miltiades and said to him: “If thou +hast set thy mind on taking Paros, do what I shall tell thee and thou +shalt have thy wish.” And when she had unfolded to him her counsel, +he went to the hill that is before the city and leaped over the fence +that is about the precinct of Demeter the Lawgiver, for the door he +was not able to open. And after leaping over the fence, he went to the +sanctuary; and what he purposed to do therein, whether to move any of +the things that may not be touched, or any other thing, no man can say; +but when he was come to the door there fell suddenly upon him a great +horror, so that he went back by the way by which he had come. But +as he leaped over the fence he strained his thigh, or, as some say, he +bruised his knee upon the ground. + +After this Miltiades, being in evil case, went back to Athens, but he +brought the people no money, neither had he conquered Paros for them. +Only he had besieged the city for twenty and six days, and had laid +waste the island. And when the men of Paros knew of the priestess, +that she had led Miltiades into the temple, so soon as the siege was +at an end they sent worshippers to Delphi who should inquire whether +they should not slay the priestess that had meditated the betraying +of the country, and had caused Miltiades to see the holy things which +it is not lawful for any man to behold. But the Pythia answered: “Slay +her not; for it was the will of the Gods that Miltiades should come to +an evil end, and this woman led him unto the same.” As for Miltiades, +when he was come back to Athens the Athenians had much talk about him; +and the chief of his enemies was Xanthippus. This man brought him to +trial for his life before the people, whom, he said, he had deceived. +And Miltiades, though he was present at his trial, could not plead for +himself because his thigh was sorely diseased, but lay there upon a +couch, while his friends pleaded earnestly on his behalf, saying much +about the battle of Marathon and how he had taken the island of Lemnos. +And the favor of the people was with him, so that they did not take +away his life; yet was he condemned for his wrong-doing in a fine of +fifty talents. After this Miltiades died in his prison, for the bone of +his thigh had splintered, and the flesh was mortified. And the fine was +paid by Cimon his son. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +HOW PREPARATION WAS MADE FOR THE SECOND WAR AGAINST THE GREEKS. + + +When King Darius heard tidings of the battle at Marathon, his wrath, +which was already hot against the Athenians by reason of their doings +at Sardis, waxed yet more fierce, so that he was more earnest than ever +to make war against Greece. And straightway he sent messengers to all +the cities in his dominions, bidding them gather together soldiers--and +of these many more than he had commanded before--and with these, ships +and horsemen and food and vessels of transport. And for the space of +three years after these commands had been given, all Asia was in an +uproar, seeing that the bravest of her children were being chosen to +march against the Greeks, and were making ready to go. But in the +fourth year the Egyptians, who had been enslaved by Cambyses, revolted. +Then was Darius more zealous than before to march both against the +Athenians and the Egyptians. But while he was making ready so to do, +there came a great disputing among his sons who should be King after +him; for the law of the Persians is that the King declares who shall +reign after him before he goes to the war. Now Darius had had three +sons born to him by his wife the daughter of Gobryas; and these were +born before that he was made King: and after that he was made King he +had four others born to him of Atossa that was the daughter of Cyrus. +Of the first three Artabazanes was the eldest, and of the four Xerxes. +These disputed among themselves, and Artabazanes claimed the kingdom +because he was the eldest of all, and because it was the custom over +all the world that the eldest should have the pre-eminence; but Xerxes +claimed it because his mother was daughter to Cyrus, and it was Cyrus +that had established the kingdom of the Persians. Now while Darius +doubted about the matter, there came up to Susa Demaratus the son of +Ariston. The same had been deprived of his kingdom in Sparta and had +fled from the city. When this man knew what it was that the sons of +Darius disputed about, he came forward, according to report, and gave +counsel to Xerxes that over and above the words that he had said he +should say also this, that he had been born when Darius was already +King and had dominion over all the Persians, but that Darius was a +subject only when Artabazanes was born. “And indeed at Sparta,” said +Demaratus, “the law is this, that if a king have children that are born +before he be made King, and also a child that is born after, then he +that is born after is preferred.” Of these words of Demaratus Xerxes +made such use that King Darius declared that he should be King in his +room. But in the year after it so befell that while he was preparing to +make war both against the Greeks and against the Egyptians, King Darius +died, having reigned over the Persians thirty and six years in all; +and Xerxes his son reigned in his stead. Now at the first Xerxes by no +means desired to make war against the Greeks, but against the Egyptians +he made great preparations. Then said Mardonius the son of Gobryas, who +was cousin to the King, being sister’s son to King Darius, “My lord, it +is by no means fitting that the Athenians, seeing that they have done +grievous wrong to the Persians, should thus go unpunished. Do therefore +first the thing that thou hast now in hand, and when thou hast humbled +the Egyptians go forth against the Greeks. So shalt thou have great +renown throughout the world, and men shall fear hereafter to trouble +thy land.” And besides thus speaking of vengeance, Mardonius would +also add that Europe was a very beautiful land, bearing all manner of +fruitful trees, and of an excellent fertility, and altogether such that +no man but the King was worthy to possess it. All this he said because +he was a lover of change and adventure; also he hoped to be made ruler +over the land of Greece. And at last he had his way, persuading Xerxes +to take the matter in hand. There were other things that helped him +persuading Xerxes to this act. First there came envoys from the house +of Aleuas, that was King in Thessaly, who would fain have the King come +against the land of Greece, and showed all zeal in his cause. Also +certain of the house of Pisistratus that had come up to Susa held the +same language. These had with them one Onomacritus, a man of Athens, +that was a soothsayer, and one that had set in order the prophecies +of Musæus. Once, indeed, there had been enmity between the son of +Pisistratus and this Onomacritus; for Hipparchus had banished him from +Athens, having found that he had added to the prophecies of Musæus a +certain prophecy how that an island which lies near unto Lemnos should +one day be swallowed up in the sea. A certain Leros had found him out +in this, and Hipparchus banished him, having been wont to consult him +continually. But now the sons of Pisistratus were reconciled to him, +and took him in their company to Susa, and talked much of him and of +his wisdom. And so soon as he was brought before the King, he repeated +to him certain of the prophecies. If there were any prophecy that spake +of disaster to the Persians, of this he would make no mention, but such +as seemed to promise them success he would set forth, how that it was +in the fates that a Persian should bridge over the Hellespont. Thus did +Onomacritus make much of his prophecies, and the sons of Pisistratus +and the sons of Aleuas set forth their opinions to the same purpose. + +So King Xerxes was persuaded to make war upon the Greeks. And first, +in the second year after the death of Darius, he marched into the +land of Egypt, and having enslaved it more than it had been enslaved +before, he gave it over to Achæmenes his brother, and son to Darius. +(This Achæmenes was afterward slain by Inaros, the son of Psammeticus, +a Nubian.) And after this, being now about to lead his army against +Athens, he called an assembly of the noblest of the Persians, that he +might hear what they thought, and might himself say what he would +have them hear. And when they were gathered together he spake, saying, +“There is a custom, which, indeed, I did not first establish, but +received it from the kings before me, that we Persians have never +rested since the day when we took this kingdom from the Medes. So the +Gods will have it, and in so doing have we greatly prospered. What +nations Cyrus and Cambyses and Darius my father subdued ye know well. +And since I came to this kingdom I have studied how I might show myself +to be not behind them, and might not the less increase our Empire. +And now I will set before you what I purpose. I will bridge over the +Hellespont and cross into Europe that I may avenge my father and this +nation upon the Athenians for all the wrong that they have done, +burning their city with fire. Nor shall we get vengeance only, but +this good also, that conquering the Athenians and their neighbors that +dwell in the island of Pelops, we shall have the whole earth subject +to us, for I take it that when these Greeks have been subdued there is +no city or nation that shall be able to stand against us. This then +is my judgment, but I would have you say what is your minds. Speak, +therefore.” + +Then spake Mardonius: “O my lord, thou showest thyself to be the +noblest of the Persians, not of those only that have been in former +times, but also of all that shall be hereafter, when thou settest forth +such good counsels in such excellent words. Surely it is not well that +these men of Ionia should laugh at us and go unpunished, and that +when we have subdued Indians and Assyrians and Ethiopians, not because +they had done us wrong, but because we would enlarge our borders, we +should leave these Greeks unharmed after that they have done us wrongs +grievous and many. And that we may easily vanquish them, I doubt not at +all. For I myself, at the bidding of my father Darius, marched against +them, and went so far as the land of Macedonia, and indeed had come to +the city of Athens itself, nor did I find any that dared meet me in +battle. And yet, as I hear, these Greeks are wont to fight in a most +foolish and ignorant fashion. For when they have declared war against +one another, then they choose out the fairest and smoothest plot that +they can find, and come down to this, and so fight that they who have +the better in the battle yet depart not without great loss; as for them +that are worsted there is nothing to be said, for they are utterly +destroyed. For why, seeing that they are all of them one language, do +they not send heralds and messengers and so compose their differences +peaceably, rather than settle them by fighting? And, if they must needs +fight, why do they not make the best each of them of that which they +have, and so join in battle? And yet, notwithstanding this their folly, +when I marched so far as Macedonia, not one of them dared to meet me. +And now, O King, who will stand up against thee when thou bringest with +thee all the warriors out of the land of Asia and the ships also? And +if they be so mad as to stand, then shall they learn that we Persians +are the greatest warriors on the face of the earth.” + +When Mardonius had thus spoken all the other Persians kept silence; +but at the last Artabanus, the son of Hystaspes, being uncle to King +Xerxes, and so taking courage to speak, put forth a contrary opinion +in these words: “O King, if there be not set forth opinions that are +contrary the one to the other, thou canst not choose the better, but +must follow the one which thou hearest. For it is with opinions as it +is with gold. Pure gold we know not so long as it is left by itself, +but when we rub it against that which is not pure, then we know it. +I counseled thy father Darius that he should not make war on the +Scythians, men that have no city to dwell in; but he, thinking to +subdue them, would not hearken to me, but marched against them, and +lost many and brave soldiers. And now thou hast it in thy heart to +make war against men that are far better than the Scythians, being +mighty both by sea and land. Hear, therefore, into what danger thou art +moving. Thou wilt bridge over the Hellespont, and march into the land +of Greece. Suppose that thou suffer defeat whether it be by sea or by +land, or, haply, by both, for the men are valiant (and, indeed, what +they can do we know full well, for Datis and Artaphernes, when they led +a mighty host into Attica, the Athenians alone defeated). But suppose +they get the mastery by sea only, and so, sailing to the Hellespont, +break down the bridge. This surely, O King, would be a terrible thing. +Nor is this thing that I say of my own devising. For thy father Darius +bridged over the Thracian Bosphorus and the Danube, and so marched +against the Scythians. And when the Scythians used all manner of +entreaties to the Ionians, to whom indeed the King had entrusted the +charge of the bridge, if Histiæus of Miletus had followed the judgment +of the other lords of the Ionians in this and had set himself against +us, then had the power of the Persians been utterly destroyed. Surely +it is a dreadful thing even to speak of, that the fortunes of the King +should have rested upon the will of one man. Put away, therefore, O +King, I beseech thee, this thy purpose to run without any need into +this great danger, and hearken unto me. Break up this council and think +over this matter in thine heart, and afterward declare unto us thy +purpose, and remember this also, that God smites with his thunder such +creatures as are tall and strong, passing by them that are smaller and +weaker, and that it is on the tallest houses and trees that his bolts +for the most part fall. For he is wont to bring down all high things. +So otherwise a very great host is often put to flight by a few men, God +sending upon it some storm or panic, for he will not suffer any but +himself to have high thoughts. And as to thee, Mardonius, thou doest +ill, speaking lightly against the Greeks, and persuading the King to +head his army against them; for this thou manifestly wishest. God grant +that thou succeed not in thy purpose. But if it must needs be that we +march against the Greeks, then at the least let the King remain here +safe at home. And let us make this wager between ourselves. Choose out +for thyself such men as thou wilt have, and take with thee an army so +great as thou desirest, and if things go as thou sayest that they will, +according to the pleasure of the King, then let my children be slain, +and I also with them. But if things go not so, then shall thy children +be slain, and thou also with them, if indeed thou shalt ever come back. +But if thou shalt not take this wager, and wilt still march against +the Greeks, then am I sure that they who are left in this land will +hear that Mardonius has perished, having first worked great harm to the +Persians, and lies torn by dogs and birds in the land of the Athenians, +or, it may be, of the Lacedæmonians, having so learned what manner of +men they are against whom thou persuadest the King to make war.” + +When Artabanus had thus spoken, Xerxes was very wroth, and cried, +“Artabanus, thou art brother to my father, and this kinship shall save +thee, so that thou shalt not receive the due reward of thy folly. +Nevertheless, this disgrace I ordain for thee, for thy evil-mindedness +and cowardice; thou shalt not march with me against this land of +Greece, but shalt remain here with the women, and I without thee +will accomplish that I have said. For let me not be said to be the +son of Darius, the son of Hystaspes, the son of Arsemes, the son of +Ariaramness, the son of Teispes, the son of Cyrus, the son of Cambyses, +the son of Teispes, the son of Achæmenes, if I avenge not myself on +these Athenians. Verily I believe that if I do not so they will come +against this land, so bold have they shown themselves in time past, so +that if we subdue them not, then will they subdue us, for indeed there +is nothing between these two things. Rightly then shall I make war +against these men, and so learn what is this great danger that lies in +dealing with them, for are they not the same whom Pelops the Phrygian, +that was servant to the kings my fathers, subdued so utterly, that +their land is called the Island of Pelops to this day?” + +But when it was night the King was much troubled by the words of +Artabanus; and taking counsel with himself, he judged that it would +not be well to make war against the Greeks, and so fell asleep. But in +the night, so say the Persians, he saw a vision. There stood over him +a man tall and fair, who spake to him, saying, “Man of Persia, dost +thou then change thy purpose so that after bidding the Persians gather +together a great army, now thou wilt not lead it against the Greeks? +Thou dost not well so to change. Go rather on the way whereon thou hast +set out.” When the man had said so much he vanished out of the King’s +sight. But when the day dawned Xerxes made no account of the vision +that he had seen, but called together the Persians, as he had done the +day before, and spake to them, saying, “Forgive me, men of Persia, if +I change the purpose that I had yesterday; for I am not yet grown to +the full height of my understanding, and they that give me this counsel +cease not urging me. When therefore I heard the words of Artabanus the +spirit of youth grew hot within me, and I spake to him such words as I +should not have spoken, seeing that he is an old man. But now I confess +my fault and yield myself to his judgment. Rest therefore in peace, +knowing that I have changed my purpose, and will not make war against +the Greeks.” + +When the Persians heard these words they rejoiced greatly and worshiped +the King. But when it was night there came again the same vision to +Xerxes, and stood over him, and spake, saying, “Son of Darius, thou +hast declared thyself openly before all the Persians, changing thy +purpose about this expedition, and taking no account of my words. Know +this, therefore, that if thou do not go straightway on this journey, +there shall rise out of the matter this ending. As thou didst become in +a short space great and the lord of many men, so shalt thou in a short +space be brought low.” + +When Xerxes heard these words he was much dismayed, and leaped up from +his bed and sent a messenger to call Artabanus. And when he was come, +Xerxes said to him, “Artabanus, I was not well advised, speaking to +thee unseemly words when thou hadst given me good counsel. But in a +short time I repented me purposing to do the things which thou didst +counsel me. But though this is my purpose, I am not able to follow it; +for now that I am changed and have repented of my folly, there appears +to me a vision haunting me, and in nowise consenting to my resolve. And +even now it has threatened me and departed. If therefore it be God that +sends this vision to me, and if it be altogether according to his will +that I should make this expedition against Greece, then the same vision +will come to thee, and command thee the same things that it commanded +me. And this, I think, will most surely happen if thou wilt take all my +royal apparel and put it on thee, and so sit on my seat, and afterward +sleep in my bed.” + +This at the first Artabanus was loth to do, but at the last moment +consented to it. But first he spake to the King, saying, “When thou +didst reproach me, O King, this troubled me not, but rather to see that +when there were set before the Persians two counsels, whereof the one +tended to increase their pride, and the other to prudence, thou didst +choose the worse. And now that thou hast turned to wiser counsels thou +sayest that there came a vision that will not suffer thee to cease from +this purpose of war, and that it comes by the sending of a god. Now +as to dreams and visions, know that there is nothing divine in them, +but that they wander about at random. For I am much older than thou, +and know more of such things. Now men are wont to dream of such things +as they have been concerned with in the day; and we have been much +concerned with this matter of the war. But if this vision be not such +as I think, but rather as thou sayest, of the sending of a god, then +will it appear and lay its commands upon me even as it did upon thee; +nor should it appear to me at all the more because I wear thy clothing +or sit upon thy seat. For this thing, whatever it be, that thou seest +in thy dreams can not be so foolish as to think that I am thou, +because I wear thy clothing. Now if it takes no heed of me, and still +appear to thee saying the same things, then shall I myself judge it to +be of God. For the rest, if it be thy purpose that I wear thy apparel, +and sleep in thy bed, be it so; let the vision appear to me. But for +the present I hold to my own opinion.” + +So much said Artabanus, hoping to persuade Xerxes that the thing was +naught. He put on the King’s apparel, and sat on his throne, and +afterward lay down to sleep in his bed. And when he was asleep there +came to him the same vision that had come to Xerxes, and stood over him +and spake, saying, “Thou art he that persuadeth Xerxes not to make war +against the Greeks, having, thou sayest, a care for him. Verily thou +shalt not go unpunished, either now or hereafter, seeking to hinder +that which it is the purpose of God to bring to pass. And as for what +Xerxes shall suffer if he be disobedient in this matter, it has been +declared to him already.” + +When the vision had thus spoken it seemed to Artabanus to make as if it +were about to burn out his eyes with hot irons. Then he cried aloud, +and leaped up from the bed, and sat him down by Xerxes and told him all +that he had seen. And afterward he said to the King, “I am one, O King, +that has seen strong things overthrown by the weak, and so I would not +have thee yield to thy desires, knowing that it was an evil thing to +covet great possessions, and remembering how ill Cyrus fared when he +made war against the Massagetæ, and Cambyses against the Ethiopians, +and having myself gone with Darius against the Scythians. But now since +this inspiration comes from God, who is preparing, it seems, utter +destruction against the Greeks, I change my counsel. Do thou therefore +declare to the Persians the purpose of God, and take good care that if +God give thee this opportunity, thou shalt not fail any thing on thy +part.” + +So soon therefore as it was day Xerxes told the whole matter to the +Persians, and Artabanus, who had been the only one to speak against the +war, was now the foremost in urging it. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +OF THE SETTING FORTH OF XERXES. + + +For the space of four years from the subduing of Egypt did the servants +of King Xerxes gather together the host and all such things as were +needful for it. And in the beginning of the fifth year the King set out +upon his march, having such an army as had never before been seen. For +indeed that which Darius led against the Scythians was as nothing in +comparison of this, neither was that wherewith the Scythians invaded +the land of Asia, and subdued the northern parts thereof (this was +the cause why Darius invaded the land of the Scythians), nor that +which the sons of Atreus led against Troy, nor that of the Mysians and +Teucrians, who, in the days before the Trojan war, conquered the land +of Thrace, and came as far as the river Peneus that is in the land of +Thessaly. Not one of these armies is worthy to be compared with the +army of Xerxes. For what people of Asia did he not lead against Greece? +And what stream, saving only the great rivers, was not drunk up by his +armies? Some were bidden to furnish foot soldiers, and some horsemen, +and some ships for carrying of horses and men at arms, and some ships +of war for the bridges, and others food and ships. First of all, seeing +that they who had first sailed against Greece had suffered great loss +at Mount Athos, Xerxes caused that there should be a fleet of ships of +war at Elæus, and that men from the ships, taking turn by turn, should +dig a great trench, digging under the lash of taskmasters, in which +work the people of the country also took their part. + +Now this Athos is a great and famous mountain, that stretches out +into the sea, and the land by which it is joined to the continent is +narrow, being of the breadth of a mile and a half. Across this Xerxes +would have them dig a trench. And the men dug it after this fashion. A +line was drawn across by city Sane, and the nations divided the work +among themselves. When the trench was now deep, some stood below and +dug, and others handed up the earth to men that stood on ladders, and +these again to others, till it was brought to the top, and so carried +away. The greater part had double trouble with the digging, the sides +breaking away continually; nor indeed could it have been otherwise, +seeing that they made the measure of the top and the measure of the +bottom to be the same. But with the Phœnicians it was not so, for they +showed their wisdom in this as they commonly do in other things. When +they had had their part allotted to them, they made their digging at +the top twice as broad as was needed for the trench; but as they went +down they made it narrower, till at the bottom it was of the same width +as the rest. Near to the trench was a plain wherein there was a market +and a place for buying and selling; and much corn, ready ground, was +brought to the place from Asia. + +This work, it would seem, Xerxes did from pride, wishing to show his +might, and to leave a memorial of himself. For when he might without +trouble have had his ships drawn across the isthmus, he commanded that +a trench should be made from one sea to the other, and this of such a +breadth that two ships of war could pass. And he also commanded them +that had the business of digging this trench that they should build a +bridge over the river Strymon. Other preparations also were made, ropes +of papyrus and of white flax for the bridges, and stores of food for +the army and for the beasts of burden. + +The place of gathering for the armies was Critalla in Cappadocia. +Setting out thence, it marched through the land of Phrygia to the city +of Celænæ, which is on the river Mæander. Here in the market-place is +hung out the skin of Marsyas the Satyr, whom Apollo flayed, when he had +vanquished him in a conquest of singing. + +In this city there dwelt a certain Pythius, the son of Atys, a Lydian. +This man entertained Xerxes and his whole army with very great +hospitality, and said also that he was willing to give him money for +the war. And when the King heard this talk of money, he asked them that +stood by, saying, “Who is this Pythius, and what wealth has he that he +makes such promises?” And they said, “O King, this is the man that gave +the golden plane-tree to King Darius thy father, and the vine also; and +he surpasses all men there are in wealth, thou only being excepted, O +King.” At the last words Xerxes marveled much; and he called Pythius +and asked him, saying, “What is the sum of thy wealth?” And Pythius +made answer, “I will hide nothing from thee, nor will I make any +pretense that I do not know the sum of my substance. I know it, and +will declare it truly to you. So soon as I knew that you were purposing +to come down with your army to the sea of the Greeks, because I wished +to furnish you with some money for the war, I reckoned up all that +belongs to me, and found that I have two thousand talents of silver and +four millions of gold darics, wanting seven thousand only. All this I +willingly give thee for a gift; and I shall still have sufficient from +my fields and from my slaves.” + +These words pleased King Xerxes much, and he said, “Since I came out +from the laud of Persia I have not found a man who was willing to give +entertainment to my whole army, and also to furnish money for the war, +saving thee only. But thou hast entertained my army in royal fashion, +and now makest offer of much money. Now for all this I will make thee +this return. First of all thou shalt be my friend from this time forth, +and thy four millions of darics I will complete out of my own treasury, +giving thee the seven thousand that thou lackest, that the tale may +be completed. Do thou therefore keep for thyself that which thou hast +gained. And remember to be such always as thou hast shown thyself +to-day, for he that doeth such things will in no wise repent himself +of them either now or in the time to come.” + +When he had said this, and had made good his promises, he went on his +way. And he came to Colossæ, a great city of Phrygia, where the river +Lycus entering a great gulf flows for five furlongs under the earth, +and from Colossæ to Cydrara, where King Crœsus had set up a pillar to +mark the boundaries of Lydia. After this he saw a plane-tree which was +so fair that for the sake of its beauty he gave it ornaments of gold, +and appointed one of the Immortals to have the charge of it. So he came +to the city of Sardis. + +Being arrived at this city he straightway sent heralds to Greece who +should ask for earth and water, as tokens that they gave themselves and +their country to the King. To Athens, indeed, and to Sparta he sent +not, but to all other cities he sent, for he thought that they who had +refused to give them on the sending of King Darius would now give them +for fear of his host. + +Now the cause why he sent not heralds to Athens and Sparta was this, +that these cities had dealt evilly with the heralds which King Darius +had sent on this errand, the Athenians throwing them down into the pit, +which is the place of punishment for such as are appointed to die, and +the Spartans casting them into a well and bidding them take earth and +water for themselves. What ill thing befell the Athenians by reason of +their having dealt so unrighteously with the heralds it is not possible +to discern, unless indeed it be that their city and country were laid +waste; but for this laying waste there was doubtless another cause. +But on the Spartans there came trouble from the wrath of Talthybius, +the same that was herald to King Agamemnon. (There is a temple of this +Talthybius in Sparta, and when there is any sending of heralds from +Sparta, his descendants, who are called the sons of Talthybius, are +sent.) After the doing of this deed the Spartans found no good tokens +in their sacrifices. And when this had been so for many days, the +Spartans were much troubled, and called many assemblies of the people +about this matter. At the last they made proclamation inquiring whether +any Spartan were willing to die for his country. Whereupon two men, +Sperthias the son of Aneristus, and Bulis the son of Nicolaus, nobles +both of them, and than whom there were none more wealthy in Sparta, +of their own free-will offered themselves as an offering of atonement +to Xerxes, and the Spartans sent them to the Persians as men that +were doomed to die. In their journey to Susa they came to Hydarnes. +This Hydarnes was a Persian, and governor of all them that dwelt on +the sea-coast of Asia. This man showed them hospitality; and as they +sat at the banquet, he said to them, “Men of Sparta, why are you not +willing to be friends with the King? Ye see that the King knows how to +honor good men, for consider me and my fortune. And ye also, if you +would give yourselves to the King--for the King knows that ye are good +men--would be rulers of the land of Greece by the King’s favor.” To +this the men answered, “Thy counsel, Hydarnes, is not the counsel of +one that knows the whole matter. Thou knowest indeed what it is to be a +slave, but of freedom thou hast never made trial, whether it be sweet +or no. Surely if thou hadst made such trial thou wouldst counsel us to +fight for it, not with the spear only, but also with the battle-axe.” + +Such was the answer which the men made to Hydarnes. After this they +went unto Susa, and came before the King. And when the guards would +have had them fall down before the King and do obeisance, these two +Spartans refused. “We will not do it,” said they; “no, not if ye thrust +our heads down to the ground, for it is not our custom to fall down +before any man, neither are we come hither for any such thing.” In this +manner they escaped the doing such obeisance. Afterward they spake to +the King, saying, “King of the Medes, the Lacedæmonians have sent us to +make atonement for thy heralds that were slain in Sparta.” But Xerxes, +for greatness of heart, would not take such atonement. “The Spartans,” +he said, “when they do such things overthrow all law and justice among +men; but I will not make myself like unto them. I will neither do the +thing for the doing of which I reproach them, nor will I loose them +from their guilt by slaying the men that they have sent to me.” + +By these means the anger of Talthybius was staid awhile, and this +though Sperthias and Bulis came back safe to Sparta. Nevertheless many +years afterward it fell on the Spartans, as they themselves say, in +the great war that was waged between them and the Athenians. That this +wrath should fall on envoys of the Spartans, and should not cease till +it was satisfied, seems to be just; but that the men on whom it fell +should be children of these same two that were sent to the King at +Susa, this is passing strange. Yet so it fell out. For Nicolaüs the +son of Bulis, and Aneristus the son of Sperthias, having been sent as +ambassadors to Asia, were betrayed by Sitalces, King of Thrace, to the +Athenians, and being carried to Attica, there perished, and with them +Aristeas of Corinth. These things came to pass many years after the +expedition of King Xerxes. + +When the messengers, then, had been sent to the cities of the Greeks, +the King prepared to march to Abydos, purposing to pass over thence +into Europe. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +OF THE MARCH OF XERXES. + + +While Xerxes tarried at Sardis, they that were appointed to this +business made a bridge over the Hellespont, from Abydos to a certain +rocky land that runs out into the sea on the other side, the space +between being seven furlongs. One line the Phœnicians made with cables +of white flax, and the other the Egyptians, with cables of papyrus. +But when the work was finished there arose a great storm and brake it +all to pieces. So soon as Xerxes heard what had befallen, he was very +wroth, and commanded that they should lay three hundred lashes of the +whip upon the Hellespont, and should also throw into the sea a pair +of fetters. It has been said that he even sent branders to brand the +Hellespont. Certainly he commanded them that laid the stripes on the +water to say therewith barbarous and impious words: “O evil water, thy +master putteth this punishment on thee because thou hast worked him +harm that had worked no harm to thee. Know that King Xerxes will cross +thee whether thou will or no. Rightly doth no man offer sacrifice to +thee, deceitful and salt river as thou art.” This punishment he bade +them put upon the sea, and he cut off the heads of them that were set +over the making of the bridge. Then they that had this thankless +office put upon them fulfilled their task; and afterward other builders +set about the work and accomplished it. They joined together ships of +war, three hundred and sixty on the one side toward the Black Sea, and +three hundred and fourteen on the other, mooring them with very great +anchors that they might not be moved by the winds that blow either way. +And they left three spaces that such as would pass by in light vessels, +to or from the Black Sea, might do so without let. And when the bridge +was finished, they made planks of wood of the same breadth as was the +bridge, and laid them on the top; and on the planks they put brushwood, +and on the brushwood earth; and when they had trodden this down they +set up a barrier on either side, that the beasts of burden and the +horses might not be afraid looking upon the sea. + +But when the bridge had been finished, and the trench by Mount Athos, +and the breakwater about the mouth of the trench--for they had made +breakwaters by reason of the surf, that the mouth of the trench might +not be filled up--it was now winter. Xerxes therefore passed the winter +in Sardis; and when it was spring the army set forth. + +On the very day of its setting forth the sun left its place in the +heavens; and though there were no clouds, but the sky was at its +clearest, the day was turned into night. When Xerxes saw this he +was not a little troubled, and asked the Magians what this sight +might mean. And the Magians made answer that the things signified +to the Greeks the leaving of their cities; for that the sun was +the foreteller to the Greeks and the moon to the Persians. But when +Pythius the Lydian saw this marvel that had happened in the heavens, +being emboldened by the gifts that he made to the King, he stood +before Xerxes and said: “O my lord, I pray thee that thou grant me a +certain thing which is of small account to thee, but to me very much +to be desired.” And Xerxes, not thinking what he had in his mind, made +answer, “Speak on and I will do for thee whatsoever thou desirest.” +When Pythius heard these words he took courage and said, “O my lord, +I have five sons, and thou art taking them all with thee for this war +which thou makest against the Greeks. Have pity, therefore, on me, O +King, remembering my old age, and release from this service one of +my sons, even the eldest, that he may have me and my possessions in +charge.” When Xerxes heard this he was very wroth, and made answer, +“Vile fellow, hast thou dared, even when I am myself going against +Greece, and bringing with me my sons and my brethren, and my ministers +and friends, to make mention of thy sons, thou that art my slave, and +art bound to follow me with thy whole household, and even with thy +wife? When thou didst well and madest to me offers of good things, thou +couldst not surpass the King in bounty, and now that thou doest ill, +thou shalt have less than thy desert. Thy hospitality shall save thee +and four of thy sons; but the life of him whom thou lovest above the +rest is the forfeit.” So soon as Xerxes had said this, forthwith he +gave command to them that had the charge of such things to search out +the eldest of the sons of Pythius and cut him in twain; and when they +had cut him in twain to put the two halves one on the right hand of the +way and the other on the left. And he bade the army pass between the +two. So the army passed between the two halves. First came they that +bare the baggage, and the beasts of burden, and after them a great army +of many nations, without any space between the nations, in all more +than half of the whole. Then there was left a space between the host +and the King. Afterward there came a thousand horsemen, chosen out of +all the Persians, and after the horsemen a thousand spearmen, these too +being chosen men, bearing their spear-points turned toward the ground, +and after the spearmen ten horses of Nisa, having very fair trappings. +These horses came from the plain of Nisa in the land of Media, and are +very great. Behind the horses came the sacred chariot of Zeus, drawn by +eight white horses, and after the horses there walked the charioteer on +foot, holding the reins in his hand, for on the seat of this chariot +no man may sit. After this came Xerxes himself, on a chariot drawn +by horses of Nisa, and by his side was a charioteer, Patiramphes the +son of Otanes. And whenever the wish took him he would change from +his chariot to a litter. Behind the King came a thousand spearmen, +the noblest and bravest of the Persians, holding their spears in the +usual fashion; and after these a thousand chosen horsemen; and after +the horsemen ten thousand chosen men on foot. A thousand of these had +golden pomegranates instead of spikes at the shafts of their spears. +These compassed about the other nine thousand, who had their spears +with pomegranates of silver. The spearmen that pointed their spears +to the ground had also pomegranates of gold, and those that came next +after the King had apples of gold. After the ten thousand that were on +foot came ten thousand horsemen of the Persians. Behind the horsemen +was a space of two furlongs, after which came the remainder of the +host, mingled in one crowd. + +As the host passed by Mount Ida there fell upon it a great storm of +thunder and lightning, and slew many men. After this it came to the +river Scamander; this was the first of the rivers that failed, being +drunk up by the army and the horses and the beasts of burden. Here the +King went up into the citadel of Priam, desiring to see the place; and +when he had seen and heard every thing he sacrificed a thousand heifers +to Athene of Troy; and the Magi poured out libations to the heroes. +That night a panic fell upon the host; and so soon as it was day they +departed and came to Abydos. + +When he was come to Abydos Xerxes greatly desired to see his army. Now +there had been prepared beforehand for him by the men of Abydos a seat +of white marble on a hill that was nigh unto the city, for so he had +bidden them. On this therefore he sat, and looking down upon the shore +saw his army and his ships. And as he looked upon them he had a desire +to see a race of ships; and there was made a race, and the Phœnicians +of Sidon prevailed. Xerxes was greatly delighted with the contest and +with the sight of his army. For when he saw all the Hellespont covered +with ships, and all the shores and all the plains of Abydos filled with +men, he counted himself a happy man. But afterward he wept. + +And Artabanus, his uncle, the same that at the first spake boldly to +the King that he should not make war against the Greeks, when he knew +that Xerxes wept, went to him, and said, “O King, how different is this +that thou doest now from that which thou didst but a short time ago? +For then thou calledest thyself happy, but now thou weepest.” Then +said the King, “There come upon me of a sudden a thought of pity how +short is the whole life of man, seeing that of all this great army not +one shall be alive one hundred years hence.” Then said Artabanus, “We +men have to endure in life things more piteous than this. For in this +life, for all its shortness, there is no man so happy but that he will +wish, and this not once but many times, to die rather than to live. +For misfortunes come upon us, and diseases harass us, so that life, +though it be short, yet seems to be overlong, and death, so full of +trouble is life, to be the best refuge to which a man can fly. For the +Gods that give us a taste of the sweetness of life, yet are jealous so +that we may not enjoy it to the full.” To this Xerxes made answer, “Let +us not so think of human life, though it be such as thou sayest, nor +keep evil things in our minds when we have good things in our hands. +But come now tell me, if thou hadst not seen that vision wouldst thou +have been still of the same opinion, advising me that I should not make +war against the Greeks?” Artabanus answered, “O King, may the vision +which we saw be accomplished as we would have it. Yet am I full of +fear, seeing that there are two things, and these the greatest of all, +that are against us.” And the King said, “What are these two? Thinkest +thou that the Greeks will bring against us more men or more ships?” +Then said Artabanus, “No man that had any understanding could find any +thing that he might blame either in thy host or thy fleet. Yet are two +things against us, even the land and the sea. For there is, I suppose, +no harbor in the sea so great that it could receive all this great +multitude of ships; and yet we should have not one harbor, but many, +one after the other, along the whole coast of the land. Seeing then +that such harbors are not to be found, remember that chances are rulers +of men rather than men of chances. And if the sea be hostile, much +more is the land, and not the less so if none seek to withstand thee, +seeing that the further thou shalt go the greater will be the danger +of famine. This I say thinking it best for men to fear all things when +they take counsel, and to fear nothing when they are in action.” + +Then said the King, “What thou sayest, Artabanus, thou sayest not +without reason. Yet if a man will always look to all chances that +may happen he will never accomplish great deeds. Thou seest to what +greatness this realm of Persia has grown. Yet if the kings that were +before me had followed such counsel as thine it had never grown in such +a fashion. Not without peril did they attain this glory, for great +things are achieved by great dangers. We therefore follow in their +steps, and having now set forth in the fairest season of the year, will +return safe, when we have subdued all Europe; neither shall we meet +with famine nor any evil thing whatsoever. For much food we carry with +us, and we shall have the food of such nations as we shall subdue. And +remember that it is against men that till the earth and not against +wanderers that we go.” + +To this Artabanus made answer, “At the least, O King, hearken to one +counsel which I would give thee. Cyrus the son of Cambyses subdued all +the Ionians, save the Athenians only. I counsel thee, therefore, that +thou do not by any means compel these Ionians to fight against their +fathers. Surely without them we shall be stronger than our enemies. But +if thou compel them, then must they either do a great wrong in fighting +against the land that sent them forth, or do a righteous act going over +from us to our enemies and thereby greatly injuring us.” + +To this Xerxes answered, “There is naught, Artabanus, in which thou +hast gone further from the truth than in this judgment of thine +concerning the Ionians. Have we not a sure proof of their truth--a +thing of which both thou and all they that went with King Darius +against the Scythians are witnesses--that it was in their hands to +destroy the army of the Persians or to save it alive. And they behaved +themselves righteously, and did nothing unjust. And besides this, they +have left their wives and children in our land. Why then should they +think to rebel against us? But be of good heart; and go, take charge +of my house and my kingdom. For to thee only of all the Persians do I +commit my scepter.” + +So Xerxes sent Artabanus to Susa. And when he was departed he called +together the noblest of the Persians, and said to them, “Men of +Persia, I have called you together that I may bid you bear yourselves +bravely, and do no shame to the deeds which the Persians in former days +have wrought, for these have been great and worthy of renown. Do ye +therefore one and all be zealous in this war, for we seek that which +concerns us all. And, indeed, I am told that they are good men against +whom we make war, and that if we conquer them there are none on earth +who can resist them. And now let us pray to the gods that have rule +over Persia, and pass over the bridge.” + +So all that day they made preparations for the passing over; and the +next day they waited for the rising of the sun, desiring to see it +before they should begin to cross. And when the sun was risen, Xerxes, +pouring drink offerings into the sea from a cup of gold, made his +prayer with his face turned to the sun, that no misfortune might befall +him before he should conquer all Europe, even to the uttermost borders. +And when he had finished praying, he cast the cup into the Hellespont, +and also a mixing bowl of gold, and a Persian sword which they call +a cimeter. But whether he cast these things into the sea because he +would offer them to the sun, or whether he repented him of having laid +stripes upon the Hellespont and gave these gifts in atonement to the +sea, can not certainly be known. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +HOW XERXES CROSSED OVER INTO EUROPE, AND OF HIS ARMY. + + +All things being now ready, the host of Xerxes crossed over from Asia +into Europe, the foot soldiers and the horsemen going over the bridge +that was toward the Black Sea, and the servants of the army and the +beasts of burden the bridge that was toward the Ægean. First came the +Ten Thousand, all of them wearing crowns; and after them came a mixed +host of all nations. These passed over on the first day; and on the +next day passed over the horsemen, and they that carried their spears +turned toward the ground. These also had crowns on their heads. After +these came the sacred horses and the sacred chariot; and next to these +Xerxes and the spearmen and the thousand horsemen, and after these the +rest of the army. And all the ships sailed to the shore over against +Abydos. + +When Xerxes had crossed over, he watched his army crossing over under +the lash, and this they did without pause or rest for seven days and +seven nights. It is reported that when Xerxes had passed over a man +that dwelt in these parts cried out, “O Zeus, why art thou come in the +likeness of a Persian, and calling thyself Xerxes and not Zeus, with +the whole race of men following thee, to destroy the Greeks when thou +couldst have destroyed them without so doing?” + +When they had all crossed over there happened a great marvel, of which +Xerxes took no account, though indeed it was easy to understand. The +marvel was this, that a mare brought forth a hare. And what was to be +understood from it was this--that Xerxes was leading against the Greeks +a great host and splendidly equipped, and yet before many days he would +come again to the same place as one that fled for life. + +Then Xerxes went on his way, the fleet sailing along by the coast. +And when he came to Doriscus he had a desire to know the number of +his army. What indeed were the numbers of the several nations can not +be said; but the number of the whole host was found to be a thousand +thousand and seven hundred thousands. These were numbered in a way that +shall now be told. They brought ten thousand men into one place; these +they placed together as closely as they could, and having done this, +they drew a circle about them; and when they had done this circle and +let the ten thousand go, they made a heap about the circle, so high as +the middle of a man. When they had so done they brought others into the +place that was thus hedged about till they had filled it. When they had +numbered the host they set it in order nation by nation. + +These nations were many in number. First of all were the Persians, +wearing turbans on their heads and about their bodies tunics with +sleeves of divers colors, having iron scales like to the scales of a +fish. On their legs they had trews, and their shields were of wicker. +For arms they had short spears and long bows and arrows of reed; also +they had daggers hanging from their girdles by the right thigh. The +Medes were accoutered in the same way; and indeed this fashion of armor +is Median rather than Persian. + +The Assyrians had helmets of brass, wrought in a strange fashion. These +had shields and spears and daggers like to the Egyptians; and besides +they had clubs of wood with knots of iron and linen corslets. + +The Scythians had trews. These carried bows and daggers, and +battle-axes also. The Indians were clad in cotton, with bows of cane, +and arrows also of cane pointed with iron. As for the Arabians they +had long cloaks bound about the waist with girdles, and at their right +side they carried bows bending backward. They that came from Ethiopia +were clad in skins of panthers and lions. Their bows were of the stems +of palm leaves, four cubits and more in length; their arrows were +small and of reed, having heads of stone for iron. (This same stone is +used for engraving of seals.) They had spears also, with the horns of +antelopes made sharp for spear-heads, and knotted clubs also. When they +were about to go into battle they would paint the one-half of their +bodies with chalk and the other with vermilion. There were also Eastern +Ethiopians (these had straight hair, while they of the West had hair +more woolly than the hair of other men) equipped like to the others, +but having the scalps of horses on their heads. These they flay off +with the ears and mane. The ears stand upright and the mane is for a +crest. For shields they have bucklers made of the skins of cranes. + +Many nations came from the Lower Asia, as Phrygians and Paphlagonians, +and Lydians, these last being clad and armed very much in Greek +fashion. There were also Mysians (who in old time came forth from +Lydia, but then dwelt in the Mysian Olympus). These had helmets and +bucklers and staves of wood with one end hardened in the fire. Also +the Bithynians came from this land, having before dwelt about the +Strymon, in Thrace. These had skins of foxes on their heads, and tunics +with long cloaks of many colors about their bodies, and buskins of +fawn skins about their legs and feet; and for arms javelins and light +shields and short daggers. + +From these and many other nations of Asia and Africa came the footmen +of the host. They had captains of tens and of hundreds and of +thousands and of ten thousands; and over all six generals, Mardonius, +Tritantæchmes, son of Artabanus, Megabyzus, son of Zopyrus, the same +that took the city of Babylon for King Darius, and three others. + +These six commanded all the footmen save only the Ten Thousand. These +Ten Thousand were Persians all of them, chosen men. These Hydarnes led, +and they were called the Immortals, because if any man among them die +or fall sick, straightway another is chosen into his place, so that +they are ten thousand always, neither more nor less. Of all the host +the Persians were the bravest and most splendidly equipped. + +The horsemen came from many nations. Among these were the Sagartians, +a wandering people. These are wont to have no arms either of iron or +bronze, save only a dirk. But they have lassoes of leathern thongs and +trust to these. They fight in this fashion. When they go into battle, +they cast their lassoes having nooses at the end; and that which is +entangled in the noose they draw toward them, be it man or horse, and +slay it. + +Of the Indians some rode in chariots drawn by wild asses. The Arabians +rode on camels that were not less swift than horses. These were set +last in order because the horses could not endure the sight of the +camels. Of horsemen there were in all eighty thousand. + +The number of the ships of war was one thousand and two hundred +and seven. Of these the Phœnicians furnished three hundred and the +Egyptians two hundred, and the men of Cyprus one hundred and fifty, and +the men of Cilicia one hundred. The Ionians and the Æolians and the +Greeks that dwelt about the Hellespont and the Black Sea furnished two +hundred and sixty and seven. And on all the ships there were fighting +men, Persians and Medes and Sacæ. The best of all the ships were the +Phœnician, and of the Phœnician ships the best they that came from +Sidon. + +As to the names of them that commanded the ships, there is no need to +tell them. For indeed they were not commanders, but slaves, even as the +others. But the Persians that commanded were Ariabignes son of Darius, +and Megabazus, with two others. Of smaller ships and transports and the +like there were three thousand in all. + +One of the generals must needs be mentioned, namely Artemisia, the +daughter of Lygdamis. She, her husband being dead and her son but a +lad, had the lordship of her city, even Halicarnassus; and she went +with Xerxes against Greece, not of necessity, but of her own free will, +so valiant was she and of so manlike a spirit. She furnished five +ships to the King, and in all the fleet there were none better, save +only those of the Sidonians; nor was there one of the allies that gave +better counsel to the King than did this Artemisia. + +When Xerxes had numbered the host and the fleet, and had set them +in order, it seemed good to him to go through them and see them for +himself. This therefore he did. First he rode on a chariot, driving +from nation to nation, and inquiring about each many things; and there +followed scribes, who wrote down that which was answered. This he did +till he came to the very end of the footmen and of the horsemen. After +this he left his chariot and embarked on a ship of Sidon, and sitting +under a tent of gold sailed along by the prows of the ships, these +all having been launched and being drawn up about four hundred feet +from the shore, and the fighting men upon them, some ready armed as +for battle. The King sailed between the ships and the shore; and the +scribes followed him and wrote as before. + +When he had ended these things he sent for Demaratus, the son of +Ariston, that had been King in Sparta, and had been banished thence, +and asked him, saying, “Demaratus, it is my pleasure to ask thee a +certain question. Thou art a Greek; and as I hear from thee and from +other of thy people, thou comest of a city that is by no means the +least or weakest in the land of Greece. Tell me, then, will the Greeks +abide our coming, and lift a hand against us? For, as it seems to me, +not all the Greeks, nor all the barbarians of the west, if they were +gathered together, could stand up against me when I come against them, +if they were not of one mind. But tell me, what thinkest thou?” + +Then said Demaratus, “Shall I answer thee that which is true or that +which is pleasant?” + +The King said, “Speak that which is true. It shall not be the worse for +thee.” + +When Demaratus heard this, he said, “O King, thou biddest me speak +the truth, so that I may not be found hereafter to have lied unto +thee. With us Greeks poverty is born and bred; and we have gotten +for ourselves valor by help of wisdom and law, and by valor we keep +ourselves both from poverty and from servitude. Now that which I am +about to say regards the Spartans only, though indeed I honor all the +Greeks that dwell in the Dorian country. Know then, in the first place, +that the Spartans will receive no conditions from thee that shall bring +slavery upon Greece; and in the second, that they will surely come +forth to meet thee in battle, yea, though all the Greeks besides be on +thy side. But as to their number there is no need to inquire; for if +there be a thousand that shall march out to battle, or if there be more +or less these will surely fight.” + +When Xerxes heard this he laughed, and said, “What is this that thou +hast said, Demaratus? Shall a thousand men fight with a whole army? +Tell me now. Thou hast been, thou sayest, King of these Spartans. Wilt +thou then forthwith fight singly with ten men? Yet if all thy nation +be such as thou sayest, thou being their King shouldst, according to +your custom, contend against as many again; so that if a common man be +a match for ten men of my army thou shouldst be a match for twenty. But +if they that so boast themselves are no bigger or stronger than the +Greeks that I have seen, thyself, to wit, and others, then is this talk +but empty words. Consider now the likelihood of the thing. How could +a thousand, or ten thousand, or even fifty thousand, stand up against +such an army, the more so if they be free and not under the rule of one +man? For say that there be five thousand of them, yet shall we have +more than a thousand to one. If, indeed, they were under the rule of +one man after our fashion, then might they for fear of him be valiant +even beyond their nature, and fight few against many, being driven +thereto by the lash. But being free, and left to choose, they will do +neither the one nor the other. I verily believe that Greeks could +scarce stand up in battle against Persians, the number being equal. +But as to this, that one man can fight against many, we have indeed a +few such in our army, but a few only, for some of my spearmen would +not refuse to fight one man against three Greeks. But about this thou +knowest nothing, and so talkest idly.” + +To this Demaratus made answer, “O King, I knew at the beginning that if +I should speak the truth I should not please thee. But the truth thou +wouldst have me speak; therefore I told thee the things that concerned +the Spartans. And yet I love them not, as thou knowest very well, +seeing that they took from me the place and dignity that came to me +from my father, and drave me out into banishment, whereas thy father +Darius received me and gave me sustenance and a home to dwell in; and +it is not to be believed that a wise man would scorn such kindness, but +rather that he would cherish it in his heart. For myself I engage not +to fight with ten men, nor yet with two, nor indeed would I willingly +fight with one; yet if there should be any necessity or great cause, +I would gladly fight with any of the men who say they are a match for +three Greeks. And as for the Spartans, when they fight singly they are +as good as any men in the world; and when they fight together they are +better than any. For though they be free, yet are they not wholly free. +For they have a master over them, even Law, whom they fear more than +thy people fear thee. Whatsoever this master commands, that they do. +And he commands them that they turn not their backs in battle, how +many soever be their enemies, but abide in their place, and conquer or +die. If thou thinkest that these things that I say are naught, then +will I hold my peace hereafter. Howbeit, I pray that all things may be +as thou wouldst have them, O King.” + +This was the answer of Demaratus. And the King laughed, and sent him +away in peace. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +OF THE MARCH OF XERXES. + + +Xerxes made Mascames governor of the fort of Doricus. This man he +esteemed very highly, sending him gifts every year; and Artaxerxes +after him sent gifts to the children of Mascames. Nor, indeed, was any +of the Persian governors held in greater honor, save Boges only. This +Boges was besieged in Eion that is on the river Strymon by Cimou and +the Athenians. And though he might have made an agreement with them +and come out from Eion and returned safe to Asia, he would not, lest +he should seem to the King to have failed in valor, but held out to +the last. And when there was no food remaining in the fort, he caused +a great pile of wood to be built, and slew his children and his wife +and his concubines and his slaves, and cast them into the fire. After +this he threw all the gold and silver that was in the fort into the +river: and last of all he cast himself into the fire. With good cause, +therefore, do the Persians honor him to this day. + +Then Xerxes went on his way from Doricus westward; and whomsoever he +found he compelled to take service with him. The road by which he went +the Thracians in after time held in great honor, and did not plow it or +sow it. + +When the King came to Acanthus that is by Mount Athos, and saw what had +been done with the trench, and knew that the people of Acanthus had +been very zealous in the work, he sent them a Persian dress for a gift, +and praised them much. While he tarried here Artachæes, a Persian, and +of the royal house, who had been set over the digging of the trench, +fell sick and died. He excelled in stature all the Persians, being but +five fingers short of five cubits of the royal measure, and his voice +surpassed that of other men. Wherefore the King was much troubled at +his death, and buried him with great honor, and all the host made a +mound over his grave. Afterward the people of Acanthus sacrificed to +this man as to a hero, being bidden so to do by an oracle. + +As for the Greeks that fed the army and entertained Xerxes, they were +brought to great poverty, so that many of them were driven to forsake +their homes. For when the people of Thasos, having possessions on the +mainland, were commanded so to entertain the army of Xerxes, a certain +Antipater, one of the chiefest of the citizens, having the charge of +the matter, showed that there were expended on the meal four hundred +talents of silver. In other cities also they that had this charge +made the same reckoning. And, indeed, this entertainment was ordered +many days beforehand, and was a matter of no small preparation. The +manner of it was this. So soon as they received the commandment from +the heralds that were sent to give them warning, then the citizens +set about grinding wheat and barley. This they did for many months. +Also they fatted beasts, finding the best that they could buy; and +they reared birds, both land-birds and water-birds, in buildings and +ponds for the entertaining of the army. Also they prepared cups and +bowls of gold and silver and all other things for the furniture of the +table. This indeed they did for the King and for them that sat at meat +with him only; but for the rest of the army they made ready only such +food as had been commanded. For Xerxes a tent was made ready wherein +he might lodge; but the rest of the army lodged without shelter. So +soon as the time of eating came they that entertained had great toil +and trouble; and the soldiers ate their fill and staid that night in +the same place. The next day they tare down the tent and took all the +furniture, leaving nothing, but carrying all away with them. Well +therefore did Megacreon of Abdera speak when he counseled the men of +Abdera to go with their wives and children to the temples, and after +putting up prayers for the time to come, thank the Gods that it was +not the pleasure of King Xerxes to have two meals in the day, for that +verily if he had desired not only dinner, but breakfast also, then must +the people of Abdera have either fled from before the King or, waiting +his coming, have been utterly ruined. + +At this town of Acanthus Xerxes commanded the fleet that it should +sail through the trench by Mount Athos and should await his coming at +Therma; but he himself led his army through the land of Pæonia. Here +the camels that carried the victuals for the host were set upon by +lions, which coming by night from their dens touched neither man nor +beast, but the camels only; but what it was that drave them to this, +considering that they had never before seen the beast, or made any +trial of it, no man can say. There are many lions in this country, and +wild oxen also with very long horns, which are brought into Greece. So +Xerxes came to Therma; and being at Therma he saw the two mountains +Olympus and Ossa, which are indeed marvelously high. And when he heard +that there was between these mountains a narrow pass through which +ran a river, and that this was the road into Thessaly, he conceived a +desire to go on shipboard and see the place where the river flowed into +the sea. Wherefore he embarked on a ship of Sidon, the same that he was +wont to use when he would go on such a journey, and gave the signal for +the others to set sail also. And when he came to the place, he marveled +much at the outflow of the rivers, and calling to him the guide would +fain know whether it were possible to bring the rivers into the sea by +any other way. + +Men say that in old time Thessaly was a great lake, being shut in on +every side by high mountains. And indeed toward the east Ossa and +Pelion are joined together at the base, and on the north is Olympus, +and on the west Pindus, and on the south Othrys. In this land there +are many rivers which all make their way into the sea by one channel, +even the Peneus. But they say that in old time this channel was not, +but that afterward Poseidon made it; which may well be if Poseidon +brings earthquakes to pass, and if chasms are his handiwork. For it +is manifest that the hills have been torn asunder by an earthquake. +When therefore Xerxes asked the guides whether the water could pass by +any other outlet into the sea, the men, as knowing the nature of the +place, made answer, “There is no other way, O King, by which this water +can pass into the sea save this which thou now seest; for Thessaly is +girded about with hills.” + +Then said Xerxes, “The men of Thessaly are wise. Good reason had they +to change their minds in time and to make provision for their safety. +For, not to speak of other things, they knew that they dwelt in a land +which it was easy to subdue. For nothing was needed save to turn the +river upon their lands, building up a mound in this channel, and so +turning the stream from its course. So would all Thessaly be changed +into a lake.” + +When the King said this he thought of the sons of Aleuas, who had made +their submission to him first of all the Greeks, being Thessalians. And +he thought that they had done this in the name of the whole people. +After this the King went back to Therma. And here there came to him the +heralds whom he had sent to the Greek cities demanding earth and water, +some being empty-handed and some carrying that for which they had been +sent. Many nations gave earth and water, as the Thessalians and the +Locrians and the Bœotians; only the men of Platæa and Thespiæ, that +are towns of the Bœotians, gave them not. Against all such the Greeks +that stood up against the barbarians sware this oath: “From all people +who being Greeks have given themselves up to the Persians, without +necessity compelling, we will take a tithe of their goods, and offer it +to the god at Delphi.” + +Now it must be remembered that Xerxes, though he said that he was +marching against Athens, had it in his mind to subdue all Greece. And +this the Greeks knew beforehand, though indeed they did not all regard +the matter in the same way. For some had no fear of the barbarians, as +having given them earth and water, and thinking therefore that they +should receive from them no harm; but others, having not given these +things, were in great fear. For whereas they thought that all the ships +in Greece were not enough to meet the Persians, so also they knew that +the greater part of the cities would take no part in the war, but +greatly favored the enemy. + +And here must be said a thing which because it is true ought to be +said, though most men will mislike it. If the Athenians, for fear of +the danger that was coming upon them, had left their country, or, not +leaving it, had submitted themselves to Xerxes, then certainly none +would have sought to withstand the Persians by sea; and if none had +withstood the Persians by sea, then there would have come to pass on +the land what shall now be set forth. Though many breastworks had +been built across the Isthmus, yet would the Lacedæmonians have been +betrayed by their allies; not of their free will, indeed, but because +their cities would have been taken, one after the other, by the fleet +of the barbarians. So would they in the end have been left alone, and +being so left alone, after many deeds of valor, would have perished +with great glory. Or if not, then seeing beforehand that all the other +Greeks were submitting themselves to the Persians, they also would +have made an agreement with Xerxes. So, in either case, would Greece +have been made subject to the barbarians. For what would have been the +profit of walls built across the Isthmus while the King had the mastery +by sea? If a man then should say that in truth the Athenians were the +saviours of Greece, he would speak truly; for to whichever side they +had inclined that would have been the weightier. And they, having a +fixed purpose that Greece should be free, stirred up all the nations +that had not submitted themselves to the Persians, and so, next to the +Gods, drave back the enemy. + +And this they did though they were sorely terrified by the oracle. +For when they sent messengers to inquire of the god at Delphi, and +these had offered sacrifices after the custom, and were now come into +the shrine, the priestess gave to them this answer. (The name of the +priestess was Aristonice.) + + “Why sit ye still? Fly, wretched race, + To earth’s far bounds the fatal place. + Fly hearth and home and craggy hill, + Round which the wheel-like city stands; + Through all her being fares she ill, + Body, and head, and feet, and hands. + The fire consumes them, and from far, + Wild Ares drives his Syrian car. + + Full many a tower, both fair and tall, + Not thine alone, before him fall; + Full many a holy place and shrine + The fire’s devouring flames shall seize; + Cold stands the sweat on face divine, + And shake with fear the trembling knees; + From high-pitched roof the blood-drops fall, + Fell signs of storm and coming woe; + Leave, suppliant band, Apollo’s hall, + Prepare you for the fate ye know.” + +When the messengers from Athens heard these words they were greatly +troubled. But Timon the son of Androbulus, a chief man among the +citizens of Delphi, seeing how utterly cast down they were by the evil +that was prophesied concerning their country, counseled them that they +should take tokens of suppliants in their hands, and in this guise go +and inquire of the oracle once more. This then the Athenians did, and +spake, saying, “O King, prophesy unto us some better thing about our +country, having regard to these tokens of suppliants which we bring +into thy presence. Else will we not depart from thy sanctuary, but will +abide here till the day of our death.” Then the priestess prophesied to +them a second time, using these words: + + “Pallas desires with deep desire + To change the purpose of her sire. + Again entreats him, and again; + But vain her prayers, her counsel vain. + Yet sons of Athens, hear once more + The firm, unyielding word of fate; + Whene’er the fair Cecropian state, + From bound to bound and shore to shore. + + Before the foeman’s might shall bow, + One boon will Zeus All-wise allow + To Pallas’ prayer--that ne’er shall fall + Fair Athens’ stay, her wooden wall: + Think not to wait that evil hour + Horsemen or footmen’s dark array; + Fly, fly their host; yet comes the hour + Ye stand to meet the foemen’s power. + Thou, holy Salamis, shalt bring + Dark death to sons of women born, + Or when abroad the seed they fling, + Or when they pluck the ripened corn.” + +These words seemed to be, as indeed they were, milder than the former +words. So the envoys wrote them down, and returned with them to Athens. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +OF THE PREPARATIONS OF THE GREEKS. + + +When the messengers told the words that they had heard and written +down to the people, there were many and various opinions among those +who sought to interpret the oracle. Some of the older men said that it +seemed to them that the god bade them fortify the citadel, for that in +old time the citadel of Athens had been surrounded with a fence. And +this fence they supposed to be the “wooden wall.” And there were others +that said the “wooden wall” signified their ships; but these were +confounded by the last words of the oracle: + + “Thou, holy Salamis, shalt bring + Dark death to sons of women born, + Or when abroad the seed they fling, + Or when they pluck the ripened corn.” + +These words troubled them much, for the readers of oracles declared +that it was signified by them that they should fight in ships and be +worsted at Salamis. + +Now there was at Athens a certain man that was but newly risen into +the front rank of the citizens. This was Themistocles the son of +Neocles. He then coming forward affirmed that the oracle-readers did +not read the words aright, for that, if they had been really spoken +concerning the Athenians, the god would have said, “Sad Salamis,” +rather than “Holy Salamis,” it being decreed that the dwellers in the +land should die there. It was manifest, therefore, he said, to one +that interpreted the words aright that they were spoken concerning the +barbarians, and not concerning the Athenians. Wherefore he advised his +fellow-citizens that they should make ready to fight in ships, for that +these were their “wooden wall.” When Themistocles had set forth these +opinions, the Athenians judged them to be better than the opinions of +the oracle-readers. For these would have hindered them from fighting +in ships, yea, from so much as lifting up their hands against the +enemy; and would have had them leave their country, and find some other +wherein to dwell. + +Before this, another counsel of this same Themistocles had been given +excellently in season. It so chanced that the Athenians had much +money in their public treasury, having received it from their mines +at Laurium. This they were about to divide among the citizens, man by +man, so that each should have ten drachmæ; but Themistocles persuaded +the Athenians that this division should not be made, but that they +should use the money for the building of two hundred ships for the war +that they had on hand, that is to say, the war against Ægina. This +war indeed it was that was the saving of Greece, for it compelled the +Athenians to become seafaring men. As for the two hundred ships, they +were not used for the end for the which they were made; but they were +a help to Greece when she most needed them. So many ships had the +Athenians ready before the war; and they began to build others. And +now, after hearing the oracle and consulting thereupon, they judged it +well to put their whole force on shipboard, even as the god commanded +them; and so, together with such of the Greeks as were of the same +mind, to give battle to the barbarians. + +So soon as the Greeks that followed the good cause, even the cause of +Greece, were assembled together, they took counsel and pledged their +faith one to the other. This being done, they agreed in this, that, +first of all, all feuds that there were of nation against nation should +be appeased. Many such there were; but the greatest of all was that +between the men of Athens and the men of Ægina. Afterward, when they +knew that King Xerxes had come down to Sardis with his host, they +thought it good to send spies to see how matters stood with the King in +Asia; also they sent embassadors, some to Argos, to make an alliance +against the Persians; and others to Sicily, to Gelon, lord of Syracuse; +and to Corcyra, to ask for help; and others again to Crete. For they +desired to bind together into one all that bare the Greek name, so that +they might strive with one heart against him that was the enemy of all. +Now the power of Syracuse was said to be greater than the power of any +other city among the Greeks. + +When they had thus taken counsel together, and had caused all such as +were at enmity to be reconciled, they sent three men into Asia to be +spies. These came to Sardis and learned what was to be known about +the King’s army. But being discovered, they were questioned by the +generals and condemned to die. But when Xerxes heard this he blamed the +purpose of the generals, and sent some of his own spearmen, commanding +that if they found the spies yet alive they should bring them into his +presence. So the spearmen went, and finding them yet alive brought them +into the presence of the King. And when the King saw them, he inquired +of them wherefore they had come; and afterward commanded the spearmen +that they should show them the whole army, both horse and foot, and all +the power of the King, and that when the men had had their fill of this +sight, they should send them away unhurt whithersoever they would. And +the cause, he said, why he gave this commandment about the spies was +this. If these spies be put to death, the Greeks will not know that my +power is greater by far than all that they have heard, nor shall we +harm them much slaying three of their men. But if these spies return to +Greece, then will the Greeks hear the truth about this my host, and of +their own free will they will give themselves to us and surrender their +freedom, and we shall be spared the trouble of this great business. At +another time, also, Xerxes spake much in the same fashion. When he was +in Abydos he saw three corn ships coming from the Black Sea and sailing +down the Hellespont, carrying wheat to Ægina and the Peloponnesus. +And they that sat by him when they knew that the ships belonged to +the enemy had thought of taking them, and looked to the King that he +should give the word. Then said Xerxes, “Whither do these ships sail?” +And the men answered, “To thy enemies, O King, carrying corn to them.” +Then the King said, “And are we not sailing to the same place, taking +with us corn as well as many other things? What wrong therefore do +these men carrying food for us?” So it came to pass that the spies +returned safe to Greece. + +After this the Greeks sent messengers to divers cities, asking help. +First they sent them to Argos. Now the Argives had been warned by an +oracle that they should sit quiet, being indeed greatly weakened by +that which they had suffered at the hands of the Spartans, for these, +under King Cleomenes, had slain six thousand citizens. Nevertheless +they bade the messengers come into their council chamber and declare +their message. And when they had heard it they answered, “We will help +you if the Spartans will give us a truce for thirty years, and will +also divide with us the command of the army. This indeed we should +by rights have altogether, but we will divide it with Sparta.” The +truce they asked that, their children having grown to man’s estate, +they might be able to make head against Sparta, if need should be. The +Spartans answered, “As for the truce, we will bring the matter before +the people, but the leadership we can not divide as ye would have it. +For we have two kings and ye only one. But your King shall have one +vote.” This the Argives could not endure. Whereupon they said to the +messengers, “Depart out of our borders before the sun be set, or we +will deal with you as with enemies.” + +This is the story of the Argives, but the other Greeks affirm that +Xerxes sent a messenger to them, saying, “We Persians are your kinsmen, +for Perses, who is our father, was son to Perseus that was the son of +Danae, that was the daughter of Acrisius your King. Wherefore neither +should we fight against you, nor ye against us. Do ye, therefore, keep +quiet, and there shall be none whom we will honor more than you.” With +this message the Argives were greatly pleased; and they asked for +a share in the leadership for a pretense only, as knowing that the +Spartans would not yield it. + +Many years after it chanced that while certain ambassadors from Athens +were at Susa, there came up also an embassy from Argos, who inquired +of King Artaxerxes, that was son to Xerxes, “Does the friendship that +Xerxes thy father made with us still remain, or dost thou count us as +enemies?” To this Artaxerxes answered that the friendship remained, and +that he held no city dearer to him than Argos. + +The truth of these matters can not certainly be known. Yet so much may +be affirmed without doubt, that if all men were to bring their own +misdeeds into one place, as wishing to exchange them for the misdeeds +of their neighbors, when they came to look close into the misdeeds of +their neighbors, they would be right glad to carry back their own. + +Other messengers, among whom was one Syagrus of Sparta, were sent to +speak with Gelon, lord of Syracuse. These, when they were come into +his presence, spake, saying, “The Spartans and the Athenians and their +allies have sent us to tell thee that the Persians are marching into +Europe, giving out indeed that they make war upon Athens only, but +proposing to subdue the whole land of Greece. Do thou therefore--for +thou has great power, being lord of Sicily--help us that we may keep +our freedom. And be sure that if thou suffer us to perish these +barbarians will fall next upon thee, and that if thou helpest us +thou helpest thyself.” To this Gelon made answer, “Men of Greece, ye +think only of yourselves when ye ask my help against the Persians. +Did ye help me when I would have had you for my allies against the +Carthaginians? Nevertheless I will not render evil for evil, but will +help you, sending two hundred ships, and twenty thousand footmen, and +two thousand horsemen, and archers and slingers and light horsemen, +of each two thousand. Also I will promise meat for the whole host of +the forces so long as the war shall continue. Only ye must make me +commander.” + +Therefore Syagrus the Spartan burst forth, “Surely now Agamemnon son of +Pelops would groan to hear that Gelon and the men of Syracuse had taken +the leadership from Sparta. If thou wilt help the Greeks, O King, know +that thou must follow the leading of the Spartans.” + +Then said Gelon, “For all thy evil words, man of Sparta, thou shalt +not persuade me to answer thee evil. Yet if ye put such store by this +command, how much more should I, that can bring with me so great an +army! Howbeit I will yield to you so much as this. If ye will take the +rule of the army, then will I command the ships; or, if ye choose the +ships, yield the army to me. But if this please you not, then ye must +depart without my alliance.” + +Then said the ambassador from Athens, making haste before the Spartan +can speak, “The Greeks have sent me, O King, to ask not for a leader, +but for an army; but thou sayest little of an army, but art over-eager +for the leadership. As to the army, we were willing that the Spartan +should answer; but as to the fleet, hear this. If the Spartans will +have the command, we yield it to them; but if not, then it comes to us, +and we give it to no man. For why should we yield, who are the most +ancient nation of all the Greeks, and of whom came the most skillful to +order an army of all the chieftains that fought against Troy?” + +Then said Gelon, “Man of Athens, ye seem to have commanders more than +enough, but of them that should be commanded a few only. Go ye back +then to Greece with all haste, and say that she has lost the spring out +of the year.” For he likened himself and his power to the spring, which +is the best season of the year. + +When the Greeks had departed, Gelon sent three small ships, and with +them one Cadmus, who should watch the issue of the war. And the man had +with him many gifts and earth and water. These Gelon commanded him to +give to King Xerxes if he should get the upper hand, and if not, to +bring back again. This Cadmus had received the lordship of Cos from his +father, yet for love of right and justice gave it up to the people. +And in this manner also he showed himself to be a righteous man; for +when the Greeks had prevailed, and Xerxes had departed, he kept not the +gifts, as he might have done, but carried them back to Gelon. + +Nevertheless some say that, notwithstanding the matter of the +leadership, Gelon would have helped the Greeks, but that there came +to Sicily about this time a great army of Phœnicians and Libyans and +Sardinians under Hamilcar, King of Carthage. They say also that he +conquered this army on the very same day on which the Greeks conquered +the Persians at Salamis. + +Envoys went also to the Corcyreans, who spake them fair, saying that +they would send sixty ships. But these ships were long delayed; +and after they had set forth they lingered about the coast of the +Peloponnese, waiting for the end, even as did Gelon. But when the +Greeks reproached them, the Corcyreans answered that the Etesian winds +had not suffered them to round Cape Malea. + +The Cretans inquired of the god of Delphi whether they should help +the Greeks; and the god answered them, “Do ye not remember, ye fools, +how that Minos was wroth with your nation because ye went to help the +Greeks against Troy, because forsooth a barbarian had carried off a +woman from Sparta, yet cared not to avenge him when he perished at +Camicus?” Wherefore the men of Crete sat still. + +While these things were being done the men of Thessaly sent to the +Greeks, saying, “Come ye and guard the pass of Olympus, so shall ye +preserve both our country and the rest of Greece also. But if ye will +not, then must we yield to the Persians, lest we be left alone and so +perish on your behalf.” + +Then the Greeks sent an army, even ten thousand men at arms, to the +Pass of Olympus. But when they had been there a few days only there +came messengers from Alexander, King of Macedon, saying, “Depart from +this place lest ye be trampled underfoot by your enemies.” And he +told them of the number of the army and of the ships. So the Greeks +departed and returned to the Isthmus; and having taken counsel again, +they determined to send an army to Thermopylæ, which is the Pass from +Thessaly into Greece. And the fleet they sent to Artemisium, which is +in the island of Eubœa. As for the Pass it is but fifty feet wide, and +westward there is a high mountain which no man can climb, but to the +eastward is the sea and the marshes of the river Peneus. And across +this Pass there had been built a wall in old time. The Phocians built +it for fear of the men of Thessaly. And now the Greeks repaired the +breaches, for it was broken down. + +In the meanwhile the men of Delphi inquired of the god what they should +do, being in great fear of the barbarians. And the god said to them +that they should pray to the winds. To the Athenians also there came +an oracle that they should seek help from their son-in-law. Now their +son-in-law was Boreas, the northwind; for Boreas, being a prince of +Thrace, took to wife, as say the Greeks, Orithyia, the daughter of +Erechtheus, that was King of Athens. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +OF THE ARMY AND THE SHIPS OF XERXES, AND OF THE FIRST FIGHTING WITH THE +GREEKS. + + +King Xerxes brought with him from Asia twelve hundred and seven great +ships; and in each ship there were two hundred rowers and thirty +fighting men. Also he had of smaller ships, having fifty oars or under, +three thousand, and in each of these, taking one with another, there +were eighty men. Therefore the whole number of the men that served on +the ships was five hundred and seventeen thousand and six hundred. Of +foot soldiers there were seventeen hundred thousand, and of horsemen +eighty thousand, and of Arabs riding on camels and of Libyans that +fought from chariots twenty thousand. There were also one hundred and +twenty ships of Greeks that dwelt in Thrace and in the islands thereof, +and in these twenty and four thousand men. To these must be added foot +soldiers of the Thracians, the Pæonians, the Macedonians, and others. +And the sum of the whole was two million six hundred and forty-one +thousand six hundred and ten. And of all this great host there was none +fitter to be the ruler for beauty and great stature than King Xerxes +himself. Of those that followed the camp, and of the crews of the +provision ships and other vessels of transport, the number was more +rather than less the number of the fighting men. As for the women that +ground the corn, and others that came with the army, and the horses, +and the beasts of burden, and the dogs, their number can not be told. + +The fleet, departing from Therma, came to the country of Magnesia +and there cast anchor. But ten of the swiftest ships sailed down the +gulf of Therma straight to the island of Sciathos, which lies to the +northward of Eubœa. Here were three ships of the Greeks, whereof one +was from Athens, and one from Ægina, and one from Trœzen; these were +looking out for the coming of the barbarians. And when they spied the +ships of the barbarians they fled with all speed, and the barbarians +pursued them, and overtook the ship of Trœzen. Then they took the +most beautiful of the fighting men and sacrificed him at the prow of +the ship, thinking that this was an omen of good to them, for the man +was very beautiful, and was the first captive they had taken from the +Greeks. Also his name was Leo, that is to say, Lion; and this was +another cause for which they sacrificed him. + +The ship of Ægina gave the Persians no small trouble, a certain +Pytheas, who was a fighting man thereon, bearing himself very bravely. +For when the ship was taken he did not cease to contend with the +enemies, until he fell, being covered with wounds from head to foot. +But the Persian soldiers, finding that he was not dead, but still +breathed, made much of him, seeking to keep him alive. His wounds they +dressed with myrrh and bound with bandages of cotton; and when they +came back to their encampment they showed the man to the host, admiring +him and dealing with him kindly. But with the rest of the crew they +dealt as with slaves. + +As for the Athenian ship, it was run aground at the mouth of the river +Peneus. The men leaped ashore and escaped through Thessaly, but the +ship was taken by the barbarians. When the rest of the Greeks knew of +the coming of the barbarians they were sore afraid, and departed from +Artemisium, intending to defend the Euripus. Now the Euripus lies to +the southward, where the strait between the island of Eubœa and the +mainland is the narrowest. + +And now there befell the first disaster that came upon the Persians. +When the fleet cast anchor on the coast of Magnesia, the first row of +ships was anchored to the shore, and the next row was without these, +and the whole number of the rows was eight, one after the other, for +the beach was very small. The night indeed was calm; but at dawn there +fell upon them a strong wind from the east, which the dwellers in these +parts call the wind of the Hellespont. Such as knew the storm coming, +and were able to drag their ships on to the shore, saved themselves, +but of the others many were broken to pieces. Thus it was, say the +Athenians, that Boreas, their son-in-law, helped them; and when they +returned to their country they built a temple to him on the banks of +the river Ilissus. Of the Persian ships there were broken, at the +least, four hundred. There were drowned also men without number, and +much treasure was lost. Of this treasure, indeed, one Ameinocles, a +Magnesian, made much gain, gathering gold and silver cups which were +washed up by the sea, and treasure boxes of the Persians, and articles +of gold without number. Thus he became very rich, but had trouble +withal, losing his children by violence. + +For three days the storm endured. But the Magians offering victims and +using incantations and doing sacrifices to Thetis and the nymphs of +the sea, laid it on the fourth day, or, may be, it ceased of its own +accord. The cause wherefore they offered sacrifices to Thetis was that +here Peleus carried her off to be his wife. + +When the Greeks heard from their watchers--for they had all watchers on +the hills of Eubœa--of the storms and of the breaking of the Persian +ships, they hastened back with all speed to Artemisium, thinking to +find a few ships only to fight with. And ever after they were wont to +speak of Poseidon as the Preserver. + +When the storm had ceased, the barbarians sailed to Aphetæ, that is +a harbor on the mainland over against Artemisium. But fifteen ships +having lagged behind, fell into the hands of the Greeks, for they took +the Greek ships for their own, and sailed into the midst of them: +a certain Sandoces was commander of the fifteen. This man had been +governor of Cumæ in Æolia, and being one of the royal judges had been +crucified by King Darius because he had taken a bribe. But while he +hung upon the cross, the King found that the good deeds which he had +done to the King’s house were more than his evil deeds, and commanded +that he should be taken down. Thus he escaped with his life; but this +second peril he did not escape. + +In the meanwhile Xerxes with the host passed through the land of +Thessaly. Here he matched his horses with the horses of Thessaly, +hearing that these were the swiftest in all Greece; and the horses of +Thessaly were far outstripped. And having passed through Thessaly he +came to Trachis. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +OF THE BATTLE OF THERMOPYLÆ. + + +King Xerxes pitched his camp in the region of Trachis, and the Greeks +pitched their camp in the Pass. (This Pass is called Thermopylæ, that +is to say, the Hot Gates, by the greater part of the Greeks, but the +inhabitants of the country call it Pylæ, that is to say, the Gates.) +Here then the two armies were set over against each other, the one +being master of all the country from the Pass northward, and the other +having that which lay to the southward. Now the Greeks that abode +the coming of the Persians in this place were these--three hundred +Spartans, heavy-armed men; and men of Tegea and Matinea a thousand, +from each five hundred, and from Orchomenus one hundred and twenty, +and from the rest of Arcadia a thousand. From Corinth there came four +hundred, and from Phlius two hundred, and from Mycenæ eighty. So many +came from the Peloponnesus; of the Bœotians there came seven hundred +from Thespiæ and four hundred from Thebes. Besides these there had +come at the summons the Locrians of Opus with all the men that they +had, and a thousand Phocians. For these the other Greeks had summoned +to their help, saying to them by messengers, “We all that are here +are come but as the vanguard of the host; as for the others we look +for their coming day by day. The sea also is in safe keeping, being +watched by the men of Athens and the men of Ægina, and such others as +have been appointed to this work. Remember also that he who now comes +against Greece is no god, but a man only; nor is there any mortal, nor +ever will be, with whom from the very day of his birth misfortune is +not always close at hand, and the greater the man the greater also the +misfortune. Wherefore it may be believed that he who now comes against +us, being but a mortal man, may fail of his purpose.” When the Phocians +and Locrians heard these words, they came to the help of the Greeks +at Trachis. All of these had commanders of their own, for every city +one; but he that was most admired and had the chief command of the army +was a Spartan, Leonidas by name, being the twenty-first in descent +from Hercules, and having obtained the kingdom in Sparta contrary +to expectation. For he had two brothers that were older than he, to +wit, Cleomenes and Dorieus, and so had no thoughts of the kingdom. +Nevertheless, when Cleomenes died without male offspring, and Dorieus +also was dead, having perished in Sicily, the kingdom came to Leonidas, +for he was older than Cleombrotus. (This Cleombrotus was the youngest +of the sons of Anaxandrides.) This Leonidas had to wife Gorgo, the +daughter of Cleomenes; and now he went to Thermopylæ, taking with him +three hundred men according to the custom of the kings of Sparta. These +three hundred he had chosen from such as had male children. On his +way he took with him the four hundred men of Thebes, their commander +being Leontiades. Now the cause why Leonidas made much account of +taking these men rather than any other of the Greeks was this. It was +commonly laid to the charge of the Thebans that they favored the cause +of the Persians. For this cause he summoned them to the war, seeking +to know whether they would send the men or would plainly refuse the +alliance of the Greeks. And the Thebans, though they wished otherwise, +nevertheless sent the men. The Spartans indeed sent on Leonidas and his +company beforehand, purposing themselves to follow. For they thought +that when the allies knew that these were already gone, they would +also make ready; and they feared lest these should favor the Persians, +if they themselves should be seen to linger. And they purposed, when +they should have kept the feast--for it chanced to be the feast of the +Carneia--to leave a garrison in Sparta, and to follow with their whole +force. And the rest of the allies were minded to do the same thing; and +it so befell that the festival of Olympia was being kept at this time. +But when they sent these men before them, they had no thought that +matters at Thermopylæ would be brought to an end so speedily. + +Now the Greeks that were at Thermopylæ, when they saw that the Persians +were now near to the mouth of the Pass, were sore afraid, and took +counsel together whether they should not depart. The Peloponnesians, +for the most part, desired to return to the Peloponnesus and guard +the Isthmus; but Leonidas, seeing that the Phocians and Locrians were +greatly vexed at this counsel, gave his sentence that they should +remain, and should send messengers to the cities of the Greeks, bidding +them send all the help that they could, for that they were over few to +stand up against so great a host. + +While the Greeks were holding a council on this matter, Xerxes sent a +scout, a horseman, to see how many in number they were, and what they +were doing. Now the man heard, while he was yet in Thessaly, that a +small company of men were gathered together in this place, the chief +of them being Spartans, and the leader King Leonidas, of the house +and lineage of Hercules. And when he rode up to the place where the +army was encamped, he saw a part of the men. The whole army he saw +not, for they had built again the wall that was across the Pass, and +were guarding it; and they that were within the wall he saw not; but +they that were without the wall, having their arms piled besides them, +he saw. Now it so chanced that they who had their place at the time +without the wall were the Spartans. These the horseman saw busy with +exercises and combing their hair. All this he much marveled to see, +finding also how few they were in number. And when he had learned every +thing for certain, he rode back again in peace; for no one pursued +after him, or indeed paid him any heed whatsoever. And when he was come +back he told Xerxes all the things that he had seen. But when Xerxes +heard these things he could by no means understand that which was +indeed the truth; how these men were making ready to slay as many as +might be of their enemy, and so perish. Thinking therefore that the +whole thing was but foolishness, he sent for Demaratus, for the man was +yet with the army. And when Demaratus stood before him he asked him +about these things, desiring to know what they signified. And Demaratus +said, “Thou hast heard from me, O King, the truth concerning these men +before this, even when we were first beginning this war; but when thou +heardest it thou didst but laugh at me, though I told thee that which +I knew would surely come to pass. For indeed, O King, I strive always +with my whole heart to tell thee the truth. Hear, therefore, yet again +what I say. These men are come hither to contend with us for the Pass; +and this they now prepare to do; and they have this custom among them, +that when they are about to put their lives in peril they adorn their +heads with exceeding care. Know, also, O King, that if thou canst +subdue these men, and such others of their nation as have been left +behind in Sparta, there is no nation upon the earth that will abide +thy coming or lift up a hand against thee; for this city that thou now +fightest against is the most honorable in all Greece, and these men are +the bravest.” + +But these things seemed to Xerxes to be wholly beyond belief; and he +asked again the second time, “In what manner will these men, being so +few, as we know them to be, fight with my great army?” + +But Demaratus answered this only, “O King, deal with me as with a liar +if every thing fall not out even as I have said.” Notwithstanding, he +could not persuade the King that it was so in truth. + +Four days, therefore, did the King suffer to pass, hoping always that +the Greeks would flee away from their place. But on the fifth day, +seeing that they were not departed, but were full, as it seemed to him, +of impudence and folly, he grew angry, and sent against them the Medes +and the Cissians, giving them a command that they should take these +Greeks alive and bring them before him. But when these men came up and +fell upon the Greeks, many of them were slain. Then others came up into +their places and ceased not from fighting, though indeed they suffered +a very grievous slaughter, so that it was manifest to all men, and more +especially to the King, that though he had very many that bore arms, +yet had he but few men of war. And this battle endured throughout the +whole day. + +The Medes, having been thus roughly handled, fell back and the Persians +took up the fighting in their place, even the Ten Thousand that had the +name of the Immortals, whom Hydarnes commanded. These men thought to +finish the matter very speedily. Nevertheless, when they came to deal +with the Greeks, they accomplished nothing more than had the Medes, but +fared just as ill, for indeed they fought in a narrow place, and their +spears were shorter than the spears of the Greeks, and their numbers +availed them not at all. As for the Spartans, they fought in a notable +way, showing themselves more skillful by far in battle than were their +enemies. Then they would sometimes turn their backs, and make as though +they were all fled; and when the barbarians saw them flee they would +pursue after them with much shouting and uproar. Then the Spartans +would turn again and stand face to face with the barbarians; and when +they turned they would slay such multitudes as could not be counted. +Here also there fell certain of the Spartans, but a few only. In the +end, when the Persians after many trials could not by any means gain +the Pass, neither by attacking in division nor by any other means, they +went back to their camp. And twice, while these battles were being +fought, did Xerxes leap from his seat in great fear for his army. + +The next day also the barbarians fought, but fared no better than +before; for they hoped that the Greeks, being few in number, had been +overcome with their wounds, and would not be able any more to stand up +against them. But these had been ordered in companies, according to +their nations, and so fought, the one coming in the place of another. +Only the Phocians did not fight, being set over the mountain that +they might guard the path. Wherefore the Persians, finding that they +prevailed not one whit more than before, turned back to the camp. + +The King, therefore, was greatly perplexed what he should do. But while +he considered there came to him a certain Ephialtes, a man of Malea, +and desired to talk with him. This man, hoping to receive a great +reward from the King, discovered to him the path that led over the +mountain to Thermopylæ. Thus did he bring to destruction the Greeks +that abode in the Pass. In after time, for fear of the Spartans, this +man fled into Thessaly. And when he fled the wardens of the Pass put a +price upon his life. This they did when the Amphictyons met at Pylæ. +And as time went on Ephialtes came back from banishment and went to +Anticyra. There a certain Athenades slew him, not for this treachery, +but for some other cause. But the Spartans honored Athenades not the +less on this account. This was the end of Ephialtes. As for the other +story, that there were two others, to wit, Phanagoras and Corydallus, +that led the Persians by this path, it is not to be believed. For the +wardens of the Pass set a price not on these two, but on Ephialtes, +having without doubt a perfect knowledge of the whole matter. Also it +is well known that Ephialtes went into banishment for this cause. Let +him therefore be named as having done this great wickedness. + +The King was greatly pleased at the thing which this man undertook, +that is to say, the showing of the path; and he sent Hydarnes and the +Ten Thousand that were called the Immortals. These setting out from +the camp about the time of the lighting of the lamps, crossed over the +river Asopus, and marched all night, having Œta on their right and +Trachis on their left. And when it was morning they were found close to +the top of the mountain. At the first, indeed, the Phocians that had +been set to guard the path knew not of their coming, for the whole +of the mountain was covered with a wood of oak trees. But when they +came near, the morning being calm, there was heard a loud rustling, as +indeed could not but be, the Persians treading the leaves under their +feet. Then the Phocians leaped up and took their arms, and forthwith +the barbarians appeared; and the Phocians, when they saw the armed men, +were greatly astonished; for when they had not thought to deal with any +enemy whatsoever, lo! there was an army at hand. Hydarnes indeed was +much troubled, fearing that the men that he saw were Spartans. And he +inquired of Ephialtes who they might be; and when he knew the certainty +of the matter he commanded the Persians to make them ready for battle. +Then the Phocians, finding that the arrows fell very thickly upon them, +and thinking that the Persians were set upon their destruction, fled to +the top of the mountain, and prepared to meet their death. But Hydarnes +and Ephialtes took no heed of them, and went down the side of the +mountain with all the speed they could. + +As for the Greeks that were in the Pass, they knew of the doom that +should come upon them so soon as the day appeared, first of all +from the soothsayer Megistias (for Megistias learned it from the +sacrifices). Afterward came in certain deserters with tidings that the +Persians had made a compass by the path across the mountains; lastly, +when the day was breaking, came the scouts running down from the hills. +Then the Greeks held a council, considering what they should do; and +they were divided; for some would not leave the post where they had +been set, and others were very eager to depart. And when the council +was broken up, some departed going each to their own cities, and others +made ready to abide in the Pass with Leonidas. Some say, indeed, that +Leonidas sent away them that departed, having a care for their safety; +but it did not become him and the Spartans that were with him, he said, +to leave their post that they had come to keep at the first. And indeed +it seems fit to be believed that Leonidas, seeing that the others were +faint-hearted and would not willingly abide the peril, bade them go, +but that he himself held it to be a shameful thing to depart. For he +knew that he should get for himself great glory by abiding at his post, +and that the prosperity of Sparta should not be destroyed. For when +the Spartans at the very beginning of the war sent to inquire of the +Pythia, seeking to know what should befall them, there was given to +them an oracle, that one of two things must come to pass, to wit, that +Sparta must perish, or that one of their kings must fall in battle. + +And that oracle was this-- + + “Dwellers in Sparta’s proud domains, + Hear what the will of fate ordains: + Or falls your noble city low + Beneath the feet of Persian foe; + Or all your borders shall bewail + A Zeus-descended monarch slain; + Nor bull nor lion shall avail + The foe’s fierce onset to restrain; + Lo! onward moves his dark array, + Mighty as Zeus, and will not stay + Till King or city be his prey.” + +Remembering therefore this oracle, and desiring to get for the Spartans +all the glory of this matter Leonidas sent away the others. This is +rather to be believed than that they had a controversy in the council, +and so departed in an unseemly fashion and without order. + +And that this was so is manifest both from other things and also from +what befell Megistias the soothsayer. This Megistias was an Acarnanian +and of the house, it was reported, of Melampus; and Leonidas would have +sent him away together with the others, lest he should perish with +them. Megistias indeed would not depart, but he sent away his son who +chanced to be with the army; for indeed he had no other son but him +only. + +The others thereupon hearkened to the words of Leonidas and departed; +but the Thespians and the Thebans only abode with the Spartans. This +the Thebans indeed did against their will, for Leonidas kept these to +be as hostages; but the Thespians remained of their own free will, +affirming that they would not leave Leonidas and his companions. +Wherefore they abode in the Pass and perished together with the +Spartans. Their leader was Demophilus. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +OF THE BATTLE OF THERMOPYLÆ.--(_Continued._) + + +So soon as the sun was risen Xerxes made libations; and about the +time when the market begins to fill he commanded that the army should +advance. This he had been bidden to do by Ephialtes, because the way +for them that descended the mountain was shorter by far than the way +for them that ascended. Now when the Persians were seen to approach, +Leonidas and his companions, as knowing that their end was near, went +further than they had gone on the days before into that part which is +broader. For before they had been wont to guard the wall, and advancing +therefrom to fight in the narrows of the Pass. But now they joined +battle with the barbarians in the open space, slaying great multitudes +of them. As for these indeed the captains of their companies standing +behind them and having great whips, drave them forward. And many were +thrust into the sea by the press and so perished; and many were trodden +down by their companions. Nor did any one take any count of them that +perished. And the Greeks, knowing that death was at hand, now that +the barbarians had come round over the mountains, recked not of their +lives, but fought with rage that was beyond all measure. By this time +the spears of the greater part were already broken, so that they +smote down the Persians with their swords. While they thus fought King +Leonidas was slain, having done many deeds of valor; and there fell +many other Spartans with him, men of renown. Many famous Persians also +were slain at this time, and among them were two sons of Darius. And +there was an exceeding fierce fight between the Spartans and Persians +concerning the body of Leonidas; but in the end the Spartans prevailed, +so great was their valor, and carried it away, and they drave back the +Persians four times. But when the Greeks perceived that the Persians +that followed Ephialtes were at hand, they returned to the narrows of +the Pass, beyond the wall, and gathered themselves together in the +company on the mound that is at the entering in of the Pass, where +in aftertime there was set a lion of stone over the grave of King +Leonidas. Here such as had swords yet remaining to them unbroken, +defended themselves with them; and the rest fought with their hands and +teeth, till at the last the barbarians, some pulling down the walls +and assailing them in front and others surrounding them on every side, +overwhelmed them with stones and arrows and the like. + +All the Spartans and Thespians showed themselves right valiant; but the +bravest of all was Dieneces a Spartan. It was this Dieneces that spake +a very noteworthy saying before the Spartans joined battle with the +Persians. And the saying was this. A man of Trachis affirmed that when +the Persians shot off their arrows the sun was darkened by the number +of them. But Dieneces was not one whit astonished at the matter, but, +taking no heed at all of the multitude of the Persians, made answer, +saying, “This is good news that the stranger from Trachis brings us, +for if the Persians so hide the sun then shall we fight in the shade.” +Many such like sayings did this Dieneces speak. Next after this +Dieneces were two brothers, Alpheus and Maron; and of the Thespians the +bravest was one Dithyrambus. + +All these were buried even where they were slain. On them that died +before that Leonidas had sent away a part of his army, there was +written this epitaph-- + + “Four times a thousand men from Pelops’ land + Three thousand times a thousand did withstand.” + +But over the Spartans by themselves there was written-- + + “Go, tell the Spartans, thou that passest by, + That here, obedient to their laws, we lie.” + +And over the soothsayer was this-- + + “Here lies the great Megistias, whom of yore + The Persian host, from swift Asopus shore + Ascending, slew. The seer his doom could read, + Yet left not Sparta’s chieftains in their need.” + +The other columns indeed and that which was written upon them did +the Amphictyons set up; but the column of Megistias the seer and the +inscription thereon Simonides set up for friendship’s sake. + +Of the three hundred two, Eurytus and Aristodemus, were absent from +their companions on the day of the battle. Now these two might, if they +had been willing to agree, either have returned both of them to Sparta, +for Leonidas had sent them away from the army and they lay at Alpeni, +grievously afflicted with sickness of the eyes, or if they were not +willing so to return, have died along with the others. As for Eurytus, +when he knew that the Persians had come round by the path, he called +for his arms and put them on him, and bade his helot lead him into +the battle. So the helot led him to the battle, and then turned and +fled, and Eurytus thrust himself into the press of the battle, and so +perished. But as for Aristodemus his courage failed him, and he tarried +at Alpeni. Now if Aristodemus only had been sick and so returned alive +to Sparta, or if they two had so returned together, it may well be +believed that the Spartans would have had no indignation against them; +but seeing that, both being in the same case, one perished, but the +other was not willing to die, it could not but be that they should have +great indignation against him that still lived. + +Such is the story that some tell about Aristodemus; but others say +that having been sent as a messenger from the army, when he might have +returned before the battle, he lingered on the way of set purpose, but +that his fellow messenger returned and was slain. This Aristodemus, +going back to Sparta, was held in great shame and dishonor. For no +Spartan would give him fire, nor would any talk with him, but they +called him “Aristodemus the Coward.” Notwithstanding at the battle of +Platæa he did away with all his disgrace. + +As for the Thebans that were with Leonidas, for a while they fought +together with the other Greeks against the Persians, doing this +by compulsion. But when the barbarians prevailed, and the Greeks +gathered themselves together at the mound, then the Thebans separated +themselves from them, and stretching forth their hands came near to +the barbarians, and cried, speaking indeed the veriest truth, that +they had yielded themselves to the Persians, and had given earth and +water to the King, none sooner, and that they had come to Thermopylæ +under compulsion, and were without guilt for the loss that had befallen +the King’s army. Thus they were saved alive, and indeed they had the +Thessalians to witness for them that they spake the truth. Nevertheless +they were not altogether fortunate, for some of them were slain by +the barbarians as they approached, and the others were branded with +the King’s mark, for such was the command of Xerxes. The first that +suffered this was their general Leontiades. The son of this Leontiades, +Eurymachus, was afterward slain by the men of Platæa when he came with +four hundred other Thebans seeking to take their city. + +These things being finished, the King sent for Demaratus and spake +to him, saying, “Demaratus, thou art a good man, as I know by thy +speaking of the truth, for indeed all things have turned out according +to thy saying. Tell me now how many in number are the Spartans that +yet remain? and how many of them are such as they that have now fought +against us?” + +Then said Demaratus, “O King, there are many Lacedæmonians; but in this +country of Lacedæmon there is a certain city, Sparta, wherein are, as +near as may be, eight thousand men as brave as them that fought in the +Pass. The other Lacedæmonians are not a match for these; nevertheless +they are brave men.” + +Xerxes said, “Tell me now, Demaratus, how shall we best get the mastery +over these men? Speak, for that wast a King among them and must need +know all their counsels.” + +Demaratus made answer, “Since thou seekest counsel of me so earnestly, +O King, I will tell thee, as is right, the best thing thou canst do. +Send three hundred of thy ships against the land of the Lacedæmonians. +Now there lieth over against this land a certain island, Cythera, +concerning which island one Chilon, a very wise man that once dwelt +among us, was wont to say that it would be far better for the Spartans +that it should be sunk under the sea than that it should be +above the sea. This he said because he feared always lest some such +thing should be done as I am now about to tell thee. And he said it +knowing nothing of thy coming against Greece, but fearing all coming +of strangers to this place. Send men therefore to this island, and let +them harass the Spartans from thence. And it shall be that if they have +a war of their own close at home they will not be a trouble to thee, +so as to help the other Greeks when thy army seeks to subdue them. +And when thou hast subdued the rest of Greece, the Spartans, being +left alone, will be feeble. But if thou wilt not follow this counsel +then know that there shall come to pass that which I now tell thee. +When thou comest to the Peloponnesus thou wilt find a narrow neck of +land: and at this neck all the men of the Peloponnesus that are leagued +together against thee will be gathered together, and there wilt thou +have to fight battles fiercer by far than that which thou hast now +seen.” + +Now it is so chanced that Achæmenes, who was brother to King Xerxes, +and had command of the fleet, was present when Demaratus thus spake. +Fearing then that the King might follow this counsel, he brake in, “I +see, O King, that thou listenest to the counsels of a man that envies +thy good fortune, and seeks to betray thee. This indeed is ever the +manner of the Greeks; they envy good fortune, and hate that which is +stronger than themselves. If now, when we have lost four hundred ships +by shipwreck, three hundred more shall be sent away from the fleet to +sail round the Peloponnesus, then will our enemies be a match for us. +But if we keep our whole fleet together, then will it be such as they +will not dare to encounter. Consider also that if that which we have +on the land and that which we have on the sea advance together, the +one will be able to help the other. But if thou part them asunder, the +fleet will not be able to help thee, nor thou to help the fleet. Only +order thine own affairs well, and take no thought about thine enemies, +whether they will join battle with thee, or what they will do, or how +many they be in number. Surely they without us can manage their own +affairs and we ours without them. As to the Spartans, if they come out +to fight against us, they will in no wise heal this great wound that +they have now received at our hands.” + +To this the King made answer, “This is well said, Achæmenes, and I will +follow thy counsel. For though Demaratus saith what he deems the best +for me, his judgment is worse than thine. But this I will not believe, +that he has not good will for me and my fortunes. So much I know from +the counsel that he has given me before, and also from his own affairs. +For that a man may envy a fellow-citizen that is more fortunate than +he, and may hate him secretly, and if he be asked for counsel will +not speak the thing that is best, is to be believed, unless indeed +he be of a very rare and excellent virtue. But a friend rejoices in +the prosperity of a friend that is of another country, and gives him +counsel according to the best of his power. Now this Demaratus is my +friend, and I warn all men that hereafter they keep themselves from +speaking evil of him.” + +When Xerxes had thus spoken, he went to see the bodies of them that +had been slain. And when he came to the body of Leonidas, knowing him +to have been the captain and King of the Spartans, he commanded that +they should cut the head from it and put it on a cross, which may be +taken for a proof that there was no man that Xerxes hated so much as +he hated Leonidas while he was yet alive; for else he had not done +this dishonor to his dead body. For the Persians are wont, for the +most part, more than other men, to show honor to them that have shown +themselves good men in war. + +It must yet be told how the Spartans first knew that the King had it +in his mind to bring an army against Greece. This Demaratus, of whom +mention has been made, was not friendly, it would appear, to them that +had driven him forth. Wherefore it may be doubted whether he did this +thing that shall now be told from goodwill or from insolence. So soon +as Xerxes had fixed it in his mind to march against Greece, Demaratus, +being then in the city of Susa, and hearing the matter, desired to send +tidings of it to the Spartans. And the way which he devised of sending +them was this, for there was great peril lest he should be discovered. +This therefore was his contrivance. He took a tablet that had two +leaves, and having cleared away from it the wax, he wrote upon the wood +the purpose of the King. And having done this he melted the wax again +over the writing knowing that the guards of the road would not trouble +themselves about a tablet that was seen to be empty. But when the +tablet was brought to Sparta no one could understand the matter, till +Gorgo, that was daughter to Cleomenes and wife to Leonidas, discovered +it to them, for she said, “Scrape the wax from off the tablet and you +will of a surety find writing upon the wood.” Thus did the Spartans +hear of the coming of the King, and forthwith sent tidings of it to the +other Greeks. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +OF THE SHIPS OF THE GREEKS AT ARTEMISIUM. + + +The Greeks had in all two hundred and seventy and one ships of war +having three banks of oars, and of smaller ships a few. Of these the +Athenians furnished one hundred and twenty and seven, certain of these +being manned by the men of Platæa, who, though they had no knowledge +of the seaman’s art, yet of their valor and zeal took their part in +the business. Also the Athenians supplied twenty ships to the men of +Chalcis. The Spartans sent ten ships only; nevertheless, the commander +of the fleet was a Spartan, Eurybiades by name, for the allies had +said, “Unless a Spartan be commander we will break up the fleet, for an +Athenian we will not serve.” + +Now there had been talk, even before the sending of the ambassadors +to Sicily for help, how that it would be well to hand over to the +Athenians the command of the fleet. But when the allies set themselves +against the thing, then the Athenians gave place, for they desired +above all things that Greece should be saved, and judged, and +that right truly, that if there should be a strife concerning the +pre-eminence, it would surely perish. And indeed a strife between +kindred is as much worse than war, wherein all have one mind, as war +itself is worse than peace. The Athenians, knowing this, did not hold +out for themselves, but gave place. Only afterward, when the occasion +served, they showed their thoughts. For when the Greeks had driven back +the Persians, so that they had now to fight for their own country, then +finding occasion in the insolence of Pausanias, they took away the +chief command from the Spartans. But this happened afterward. + +When the Greeks that assembled at Artemisium saw the ships of the +barbarians how many in number they were, and how the whole country was +filled with their armament, and saw that the Persians had prospered +in their undertaking beyond what they had thought, they were in great +fear, and took counsel together whether they should not depart from +Artemisium and betake themselves to the inner parts of their country. +Now when the men of Eubœa were aware that the Greeks had such a purpose +in their minds, they came to Eurybiades, and besought him to remain a +while, till they should have removed their children and their slaves +to a place of safety. And when they could not persuade Eurybiades +they departed from him and went to Themistocles, the commander of +the Athenians, and persuaded him to do this thing, giving him thirty +talents of silver. And the manner in which Themistocles caused the +Greeks to tarry at Artemisium was this. First he sent to Eurybiades +five talents of the thirty, making as though they came from himself. +Thus was Eurybiades persuaded. Then to Adeimantus of Corinth--for this +man still opposed, affirming that he would sail away from Artemisium +and would by no means tarry--he said with an oath, “Surely thou wilt +not forsake us. I will give thee greater gifts if thou abide with us +than the King would give thee for going over to him.” And when he had +said this he sent three talents to the Corinthian’s ship. Thus these +two were won over by gifts, and the men of Eubœa had what they desired. +As for Themistocles, he made no small gain in this matter, for he kept +that which was left for himself, none knowing of it. They that had a +share in the money believed that it had been sent from Athens for this +very end. Thus did it come to pass that the Greeks fought with the +barbarians at Artemisium. + +As for the battle, it was in this wise. When the barbarians saw that +the ships of the Greeks were few in number they were desirous to fight +without delay, hoping that they might take them before they could +escape, and fearing lest they should flee. But they judged it better +not to sail straight against them, lest the Greeks seeing them so +advance should take to flight, for that if night should fall while +they fled they would clean escape out of their hands. Now the desire +of the Persians was that not even the torch-bearer, as men say, should +escape. (When the Spartans go forth to war they have with them one +who keeps the sacred fire for the sacrifices. Him they defend with +all their might; nor is he killed unless the whole army perish.) They +contrived therefore this plan. They separated two hundred ships from +the whole fleet, and sent them around the island of Eubœa, commanding +them to make a very wide circuit, lest the Greeks should see them. And +their purpose was that the two hundred ships should bar the way by the +Euripus (the Euripus is the channel at the extremity of the island +southward), and that so the Greeks might be shut in on either side, +for the two hundred ships would be behind them, and the remainder of +the fleet would attack them from before. Having so done they remained +in their place, till they should know by a signal that the two hundred +ships had accomplished their voyage. + +Now there was among the Persians a certain Scyllias of Scione, than +whom there was in those days no more skillful diver. This man had saved +much treasure for the Persians after the great storm that fell on the +fleet from Mount Pelion, getting also no small portion for himself. +He had been minded for some time to go over to the Greeks, but had +not before found occasion. And indeed how he passed from the Persians +to the Greeks is not certainly known; but marvelous things are told +about it. For some say that diving into the sea at Aphetæ he did not +come up to the top of the water so much as once till he was arrived at +Artemisium, so passing through eighty furlongs of sea or thereabouts. +Many other things are told about this man that are manifestly false, +and some that are true. But as to his coming from Aphetæ to Artemisium, +doubtless he came in a boat. And so soon as he was come he told the +commanders of the fleet of the damage done to the Persians, and also +of the two hundred ships that had been sent round Eubœa. + +When the commanders heard these things they took counsel what they +should do. At the first they proposed to remain in their place till +midnight, and then sail to meet the two hundred ships; but afterward, +changing their purpose, they set sail, not long after noonday, toward +the fleet of the barbarians, desiring to make a trial of their manner +of fighting and of their skill. + +Now when the Persians perceived the Greeks thus sailing against them, +and saw how few ships they had, they thought that they were mad, and +went out to meet them, not doubting that they should easily take them +all; for their ships were many more in number and also sailed better. +And such of the Ionians as wished well to the Greeks, and served with +the Persians against their will, were much troubled to see the fleet +of the Greeks surrounded, thinking it certain that none of them would +escape; but they that had no love for the Greeks rejoiced, and strove +with each other who should first take an Athenian ship, and gain +for himself great gifts from the King. For the Athenians were most +accounted of both among the Persians and the Greeks. + +The Greeks, when the first signal was given, brought the sterns of +their ships together and turned their prows toward their enemies; and +on the second signal they joined battle; and though they were shut +into a narrow space they bare themselves bravely and took twenty ships +of the barbarians, and with them Philaon, brother to Gorgus King of +Salamis, a man held in much respect. And the first of the Greeks that +took a ship of the Persians was Lycomedes of Athens, to whom was given +the prize of valor. But while they still fought, and victory was yet +doubtful, the night fell. So the Greeks sailed back to their place, and +the Persians also, marveling much at what had befallen them, for it was +far otherwise than what they had hoped. In this battle one only of the +Greeks came over from the Persians to the Greeks, a man of Lesbos, to +whom the Athenians gave afterward certain lands in Salamis for a reward. + +But before night a great rain, with thunder and lightning from Mount +Pelion, fell upon the Persians; and the dead corpses of them that had +been slain in the battle, and broken pieces of the ships, were floated +into the midst of the ships and hindered the oars. And the Persians +were greatly afraid, thinking that there was no end of their perils, +first the storm, and then the battle, and now this great storm of rain. +But as for them that were sent round the island they fared much worse, +for the storm fell upon them while they were in the open sea. They were +near to the Hollows of Eubœa when the wind and the rain overtook them; +nor could they hold up against the storm, but being driven they knew +not whither, fell among rocks, and so were utterly destroyed. Thus did +the Gods contrive that the number of the Persian ships should be made +equal to the number of the ships of the Greeks. + +Right glad were the barbarians when the morning was come; and that day +they tarried in their place, being well content to be quiet after all +their troubles. And to the Greeks there came fifty and three ships of +the Athenians. Tidings also were brought how that all the ships of the +barbarians that had sought to sail round Eubœa had perished by reason +of the storm. All this put them in good heart; and at the same hour at +which they had sailed the day before, they went forth and fell on some +Cilician ships and destroyed them, and so, at nightfall, sailed back to +Artemisium. + +The third day the barbarians took it much to heart that so few ships +of the Greeks should work them such injury. They feared also what +Xerxes would do to them; therefore they did not tarry till the Greeks +should begin the battle, but bidding each other be of good heart, about +noonday they sailed out. Now it so fell out that these three days +were the very days on which the Persians and the Greeks had fought +in the Pass. For the Greeks at Artemisium sought to keep the Euripus +even as Leonidas and his comrades sought to keep the Pass. So the +Greeks strengthened each other, saying that they should not suffer the +barbarians to go from thence into their land, and the Persians were +fain to destroy the fleet of their enemies and so get the mastery of +the strait. This day then the barbarians set themselves in order of +battle and sailed against the Greeks, and these kept in their place +at Artemisium. But when the Persians, having their ships in the shape +of a crescent, made as if they would take the Greeks on both sides, +then these sailed out and joined battle. This day neither the one +nor the other had the upper hand, for the fleet of Xerxes was damaged +not a little by reason of the multitude of the ships, these falling +into confusion and striking the one against the other; nevertheless it +held out and gave no place to the enemy, for the Persians counted it a +grievous thing that they should be put to flight by a few. Thus it came +to pass that many of the ships of the Greeks were broken, and many of +the men perished. But of the barbarians there perished more by a great +many both of ships and of men. And after they had fought together for a +long time they parted asunder, going right gladly to their own place. +In this battle of all the men of Xerxes none bare themselves more +bravely than the Egyptians, and of all the Greeks none more than the +Athenians, and among these than Cleinias, the son of Alcibiades. This +Cleinias served at his own charges, having two hundred men and his own +ship. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +OF THE DEPARTURE OF THE GREEKS FROM ARTEMISIUM AND OF THE ADVANCE OF +XERXES. + + +The battle being ended, the Greeks got possession of the broken ships +and of the dead bodies of the slain; but seeing that they had been +roughly handled, the Athenians not less than the others--for the half +of their ships had suffered damage--they purposed to depart. Then +Themistocles, thinking that if he could divide the men of Ionia and the +men of Caria from the barbarians, the Greeks could have the mastery +of the rest, gathered together the commanders, while the Eubœans +were driving down their sheep to the sea, and told them that he had +conceived a device by which he could divide from the King the bravest +of his allies. Also he said that they should kill as many as they would +of the sheep of the Eubœans, for that it was better that they should +have them than that they should fall into the hands of the barbarians; +also he would have the camp-fire according to custom. “And I will take +care,” he said, “that you shall get back to Greece without any damage.” + +Now the people of Eubœa had paid no regard to the oracle of Bacis, +making light of it altogether, and neither removing their goods from +the island, nor yet putting them into their strong places. And the +oracle was this: + + Ye sons of fair Eubœa heed: + Whene’er the strangers’ dark array + Shall bridge the sea with ropes of reed, + Drive ye your bleating flocks away. + +And by this neglect they were brought to ruin. + +By this time there was come a messenger from Thermopylæ. For the Greeks +had set a man in Trachis to tell them that fought in the Pass how it +fared with the ships at Artemisium, and there was another man with +King Leonidas who was to bring news to Artemisium of the doings of the +Spartans. This man was now come, telling all that had befallen the +Greeks in the Pass; which when the commanders of the fleet had heard, +they delayed no longer, but departed, each in their order, first the +Corinthians, and last of all the Athenians. But Themistocles chose the +swiftest of the Athenian ships, and going to the places for watering, +engraved there upon the rocks certain words which the Ionians coming +the next day to Artemisium read. And the words were these, “Men of +Ionia, ye do wrong making war against your fathers and seeking to +enslave the land of Greece. Of right ye should be on our side. But if +this be not possible to you, yet stand ye aloof from the battle, and +entreat the Carians also that they do likewise. And if so be that ye +can not either help us or stand aloof, being under such constraint +that ye cannot revolt against the barbarians, yet, when the battle +is joined, ye should hold your hands, remembering that ye are of our +blood, and that for your sake we first prevoked the barbarians to +wrath.” For Themistocles said to himself, “Either this writing will not +come to the knowledge of the King, and the Ionians will perchance be +persuaded to help us; or, coming to his knowledge, it will cause him to +have doubts of them, and he will not suffer them to come into battle +together with his ships.” + +Now when the barbarians heard that the Greeks had fled from Artemisium, +at the first they would not believe it, but afterward, finding it to be +so, they sailed thither. And when they were arrived at the place there +came a herald from King Xerxes, saying, “Comrades, the King permits +any that will to leave his place and see for himself how he fights +against the foolish men that thought to resist his might.” But before +that he sent the herald he had ordered matters in this wise. He took of +them that had been slain of his army at the Pass one thousand (but the +number of the whole was twenty thousand), and left them to be seen; but +the rest he hid away, digging two great trenches for them and covering +them with leaves, and heaping earth upon them. Now when the herald had +made this proclamation there could scarcely be found a boat, so many +desired to see the sight. So they crossed over and saw it, passing +among the dead bodies; all these they thought to be either Spartans or +men of Thespiæ, though indeed there were many helots among the slain. +Nevertheless they that crossed over perceived what Xerxes had done +with the dead of his own army. And indeed it was a foolish device, for +on the one side were to be seen the thousand men, and on the other +four thousand, gathered together all of them into one place. This day +therefore they spent in this fashion, and in the next the seamen went +back to their ships and Xerxes with his army went forward. + +About this time there came to the Persians certain men from Arcadia, +poor men that sought for a livelihood. When these were brought before +the King, one of the Persians asked them, saying, “What do the Greeks +at this season?” The Arcadians answered, “They hold the games at +Olympia, looking on the sports and on the races of chariots.” Then +said the Persian, “What is the prize for which they contend?” And when +the Arcadians answered, “They contend for a wreath of olive leaves,” +Tritantæchmes, that was the son of Artabanus, cried out, “Now, by the +Gods, O Mardonius, what manner of men are these against whom thou +bringest us, that they contend with each other, not for money, but +for glory only?” This was in truth a noble thing that he said, but it +angered the King, so that he charged Tritantæchmes with cowardice. + +From Trachis the Persians marched into Doris, and from Doris into +Phocis. This they laid waste, burning the towns and the temples. As for +the Phocians themselves, they escaped, for the most part, with their +wives and children, to the heights of Mount Parnassus. When they had +passed through the land of Phocis the barbarians divided their army +into two parts, whereof the one, with King Xerxes, marched toward +Athens through the land of Bœotia, and the other, having taken to +themselves guides, marched toward the temple at Delphi. This they did +purposing to spoil the temple, and to bring the treasure to the King; +and indeed the King knew all the notable things that were laid up in +the treasury at Delphi better than he knew the things that he had left +in his own house; for there was continually much talk about them, and +especially about the offering which Crœsus, King of the Lydians, had +made to the god. + +The men of Delphi, when they knew of the coming of the Persians, were +in great fear; therefore they inquired of the oracle what they should +do with the treasures of the temple, whether they should bury them in +the earth, or take them away to some other land. But the god answered +them in these words, “Move them not, for I am sufficient to defend that +which is mine own.” When the men of Delphi heard these words, they took +counsel about themselves. First they carried their women and children +across the gulf of Corinth to the land of Achaia, and after that they +fled, for the most part, to the heights of Parnassus, and their goods +they hid in the Corycian cave; but some of them escaped to Amphissa, a +city of the Locrians; of all the men of Delphi there were left in the +city sixty only, and the prophet. + +So soon as the barbarians were come near so that they could see the +temple, the prophet (his name was Acetatus) espied the holy arms which +it is not lawful for a man to touch, lying without the temple. And +while he went to tell this marvel to them that were in the city, and +the barbarians were coming up with all speed, and were now near to +the temple of Athene, there befel marvels greater by far than that +which has been told. A great marvel indeed is it that arms should move +of their own accord so as to be seen lying without the temple, but +the things that befell afterward are greater by far, and such indeed +that nothing can be compared with them. First of all, so soon as the +barbarians, coming up the road, were now hard by the temple of Athene, +there fell on them great thunderbolts from heaven, and two great +rocks brake off from the top of Mount Parnassus, and rolled down upon +them with a great crash, and slew many of them, and there was heard +also from the temple a war-cry and a shout of victory. And when the +barbarians saw and heard all these things, great fear came upon them, +so that they turned their backs and fled. And when the men of Delphi +perceived that they fled, they came down and pursued after them, and +slew not a few of them. And they that escaped fled into Bœotia, turning +neither to the right hand nor to the left. They said also that, over +and above the other marvels that have been told, they saw two men at +arms, whose stature exceeded the stature of a man, following after +them and slaying them. These two men the men of Delphi affirm to have +been heroes of the country, Phylacus and Autonous. These two have +each a temple and a precinct near to the city of Delphi. As for the +rocks that fell from Parnassus, they are to be seen to this day in the +precinct of Athene, in which they lodged after that they had passed +through the host of the barbarians. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +OF THE GREEKS AT SALAMIS AND OF THE CITY OF ATHENS. + + +The ships of the Greeks, having departed from Artemisium, came to +Salamis. The Athenians had besought them to do this that they might +carry their women and children out of their country, and might also +take counsel together what was best to be done. For indeed things had +not happened according to their expectations. For they had thought to +find the men of the Peloponnese drawn up with their whole force in the +land of Bœotia to do battle with the barbarians. But now they heard +that these purposed to build a wall across the Isthmus, and so defend +their own country, suffering the rest of Greece to take thought for +itself. And this the Greeks did. And so soon as they were come thither +there flowed to them no small force that had been gathered together at +Pogon, the haven of the Trœzenians. For the word had gone forth that +all who would fight for Greece should be gathered together at Pogon. +All these the same Euribiades that was at Artemisium commanded, being +a Spartan, but not of the house of the Kings. Of all the ships the +best were the ships of the Athenians, being in number one hundred and +eighty. These were now altogether manned by their own people, for the +men of Platæa had gone to carry away their wives and children from +their city. The men of Ægina sent thirty ships, leaving certain others +to defend their city. From the island of Naxos there came four. These +indeed had been sent by their people to help the Persians, but they +made light of the command and helped the Greeks. This they did at the +instance of Democritus, a notable man among the Naxians and captain +of a ship. The men of Seriphos and Siphnos and Melos also helped the +Greeks, being the only islanders that had not given earth and water to +the barbarians. These three sent in all four ships of fifty oars. And +of all the countries beyond the sea the men of Crotona only came to +the help of the Greeks in their great peril. These sent one ship which +Phayllus, a man that had been crowned at the Pythians games, commanded. +Now the number of the ships in all was three hundred and seventy and +eight; but in this number the ships of fifty oars were not reckoned. + +Meanwhile there had been made a proclamation among the Athenians that +each man should save his children and his household as best he could. +The most part sent them away to Trœzen; but some sent them to Ægina, +and some to Salamis. This they did with all speed, desiring to obey +the words of the oracle, and also for another reason which shall now +be told. The Athenians say that in their citadel in the temple there +dwells a great snake that is the guardian of the place. And indeed they +set out for this snake a monthly provision of food, as for a veritable +creature; and the monthly provision is a honey cake. This honey cake +which before had always been eaten, was now seen to be untouched. +When the priestess told these things to the people they were more +earnest than before to leave the city, as thinking that the goddess +Athene had deserted the citadel. Nevertheless they did not all depart, +for the Persians, when they came, found the city indeed desolate of +inhabitants, but in the citadel certain men, that were either ministers +of the temple or of the poorer sort that for lack of means had not +departed with the rest of the people to Salamis. But some of them went +not, thinking that they rightly understood the oracle of the Pythia +when she said, “The wooden wall shall not be taken;” for that by this +wall was signified, not the ships, but a veritable wall of wood. These +therefore had fenced about the citadel with doors and pieces of wood, +and so awaited the coming of the Persians. + +The Persians indeed encamped on the hill that is over against the +citadel (this hill the Athenians call the hill of Ares) and began +the siege, shooting at the Greeks arrows with burning tow upon them +that so they might set fire to the barricade. Nevertheless the men +held out, though indeed they were in evil case, and their wooden wall +had failed them; nor would they hearken to the words of the sons of +Pisistratus when these would have them surrender, but they rolled down +great stones upon the barbarians as these came up to the gates, and so +kept the place. And for many days Xerxes was in great doubt, and knew +not how he should prevail over them; but at last they discovered a way +of access. For it must needs be that the oracle should be fulfilled, +that all the country of the Athenians upon the mainland should be +conquered by the barbarians. Certain Persians climbed up the hill where +there was no watch, no one believing that any man could mount by that +way, so steep was it. (The place is on the face of the cliff, behind +the gates and the way by which men commonly ascend.) So soon as the +Athenians saw them now already on the top, some threw themselves from +the wall and so perished; and some fled for refuge to the sanctuary. +But the Persians, when they had opened the gates of the citadel for +their fellows, slew all them that had taken sanctuary; and afterward +they plundered the temple and burned all the citadel with fire. Then +Xerxes, being now wholly master of Athens, sent off a messenger, a +horseman, to Artabanus, to tell him of his good success. Also, on the +second day after the sending of the herald, he commanded the Athenian +exiles that had followed in his train to go up to the citadel and do +sacrifice in the place according to the custom of their country. This +he did either by reason of a dream, or because it repented him that +he had burned the temple. And the exiles did as the King commanded. +And when they were come to the citadel they found a marvelous thing. +There was in the citadel a temple of Erectheus, whom the Athenians call +the “earth-born,” and in the temple an olive tree, which Athene left +for a memorial of her when she contended with Poseidon for the land +of the Athenians. Now this olive had been burned with other things in +the temple, but when the Athenians went up according to the King’s +commandment, they found that there had sprung forth from the trunk a +fresh shoot of a cubit in length. + +So soon as tidings came to the Greeks of Salamis of the things that had +befallen Athens and its citadel, there came upon them such fear that +some of the captains would not wait till the council should have voted, +but embarked in their vessels with all haste, and hoisted up their +sails, as though they would fly without delay. And such as stayed at +the council voted that the fleet should give battle to the Persians at +the Isthmus. Afterward, it being now night, the captains departed, each +man to his own vessel. + +And when Themistocles was come to his ship there met him a certain +Mnesiphilus, an Athenian, who asked him what the council had decreed. +And when Themistocles said, “They have decreed that we should sail to +the Isthmus, and there fight for the Peloponnese,” Mnesiphilus made +answer, “If these men take away their ships from Salamis, there will +be no one country for which ye may fight. For the Greeks will depart +each to his own city, and neither Eurybiades nor any other man shall +be able to hinder them from so scattering themselves. So shall Greece +perish by the folly of their children. If therefore there be any device +by which thou canst deliver us from this end, haste and make trial of +it. Happily thou mayest persuade Eurybiades to change his purpose and +remain in this place.” + +This counsel pleased Themistocles well. To Mnesiphilus indeed he +answered nothing, but he went straightway to the ship of Eurybiades, +and said that he had a matter concerning the common weal about which +he would speak with him. Then said Eurybiades, “Come into my ship if +thou hast aught to say.” So Themistocles sat by his side and told him +all that he had heard from Mnesiphilus--only he said these things as +if from himself--and added also many other things. So urgent was he +that at the last Eurybiades went forth and gathered together the other +captains to council. So soon then as these were gathered together, +before that Eurybiades had set forth the matter wherefore they were +assembled, Themistocles, as one that was wholly intent on his purpose, +said many things, so that Adeimantus of Corinth cried out to him, +“Themistocles, in the games they that start too soon are scourged.” +“Yea,” said Themistocles, excusing himself, “but they that linger are +not crowned.” Thus he answered the Corinthian softly. And to Eurybiades +he spake, not indeed after his former manner how that the ships would +be scattered from where he should have sailed to the Isthmus, for the +allies were present, and he thought it not seemly to say this thing +in their ears, but rather in some such fashion as this: “It is in thy +hands to save Greece, if thou wilt hearken unto me and abide in this +place, and so give battle to the barbarians, not heeding those who +would have thee depart hence to the Isthmus with thy ships. For hear +now, and set these two things one against the other. If the host give +battle at the Isthmus, then shall we fight in the open sea, than which +there could be nothing less to our advantage, seeing that our ships +are fewer in number and these heavier. Also we shall lose Salamis and +Megara and Ægina, though we prosper in the battle. For remember that +the army of the barbarians will follow, together with their fleet, +and that thou wilt thus bring both the one and the other to the +Peloponnesus, and so put all Greece upon the hazard. But if thou wilt +hearken unto me, see what we shall gain. First we shall do battle in +a narrow space, a thing much to our advantage and to the harm of our +enemies. And secondly, we shall yet keep Salamis, where we have put our +wives and children, and Megara also and Ægina. And at Salamis, saith +the oracle, we shall prevail over the barbarians.” + +When Themistocles had thus spoken, Adeimantus of Corinth reproached +him again, bidding him be silent, because he was a man without a city +(for Athens had been destroyed by the barbarians). Then Themistocles +brake out against him and the Corinthians with many bitter words, and +saying, “Nay, but we have a city and a land greater than yours, for we +have two hundred ships well manned, whose attack no city of the Greeks +would be able to withstand.” Then he turned to Eurybiades, and said +with all earnestness, “If thou wilt abide here and bear thyself bravely +all will be well; but if not, then wilt thou bring Greece to ruin. For +verily we will take our wives and children and go straightway to Siris +in Italy, which is ours. Verily, when ye have lost our help, ye will +remember what I have said this day.” + +When Eurybiades heard these words, he changed his purpose, knowing +that if the Athenians should depart, the rest of the fleet should not +be able to withstand the Persians. Wherefore he made his resolve that +he would stay and give battle at Salamis. Then all the captains made +ready for battle. After this, at daybreak there was an earthquake, and +it seemed good to the Greeks to make supplications to the Gods, and to +call the sons of Æacus to their help. And this they did, for they put +up prayers, and sent a ship to Salamis to fetch Æacus and his children. + +A certain Dicæus, an exile of Athens and a man of repute among the +barbarians, told this tale of what he saw about this time. He chanced +to be with Demaratus the Spartan in the plain of Thria, the land of +Attica having been by this time laid waste by the army of Xerxes, +and he saw coming from Eleusis a great cloud of dust, such as a host +of thirty thousand men might make in their march. And while the two +marveled who these could be that could cause such dust, he heard +voices and the sound, as it seemed to him, of the hymn to Bacchus. +Now Demaratus heard the voices, and asked what they were saying, for +he knew nothing of the mysteries of Eleusis. Then said Dicæus, “O +Demaratus, of a truth, some great trouble will overtake the army of the +King. For seeing that Attica is void of inhabitants, these that sing +are surely gods, and they come from Eleusis to help the Athenians and +their allies. If therefore this that we see turn to the Peloponnese, +there will be peril to the King and to his army, but if to Salamis, +then there will be peril to the fleet. For know that year by year the +Athenians keep a feast to the Mother and Daughter, and the voices which +thou heardst were singing the hymn of the feast.” Then said Demaratus, +“See that thou tell the matter to no man. For if the King hear it, thou +wilt surely perish. Hold thou thy peace therefore; the Gods will order +as they please with the army of the King.” + +By this time the ships of the barbarians were come to Phalerum, which +is a haven of Athens. And it seemed good to Xerxes to learn the +judgment of them that had command in the fleet. Wherefore he went on +board and sat on a seat of honor, and all the kings and the captains +sat before him, each in his place, after the pleasure of the King. The +King of Sidon sat in the first place, and in the second the King of +Tyre. Then Xerxes sent Mardonius, bidding him ask each in his order +what he counseled, whether they should fight or no. To this all made +answer in the same words that they should fight, save Artemisia of +Halicarnassus only, who spake after this fashion, “Say to the King, O +Mardonius, what I now say to thee. Seeing that I bare myself not less +bravely than the others in the battles at the island of Eubœa. I have +the right to speak what I judge to be most for thy advantage. I say +then spare thy ships and fight not. These men are better than thine +upon the sea, even as men are better than women. Art thou not master +of Athens, for which thou camest hither? Doth any man resist thee? Or +if thou art not yet satisfied, thou canst easily accomplish all that +is in thine heart to do. These men will not long abide in their place, +and indeed they have, I fear, no store of food in the island; and if +thou goest forward toward the Peloponnese, they will be scattered each +to his own city, for the men of the Peloponnese will not care to fight +for the Athenians. But I fear me much that some great evil will befall +thee, if thou art resolved to join battle with the Greeks by sea. For +remember that good masters have ever evil servants, and evil masters +good servants; thou indeed art the best of men, but thy servants are +evil. For these thy allies, as they are called, these men of Egypt and +of Cyprus and of Cilicia and of Pamphylia, are of no account.” + +When Artemisia spake these words all that wished her well were much +troubled, for they thought that she would surely be cruelly dealt with +by the King, because she counseled him not to give battle; but all that +were enemies to her rejoiced, and they that envied her for the honor +which the King had done to her beyond all the allies, thinking that she +would perish. Nevertheless Xerxes, when the words of all the kings and +the captains were told to him, was not pleased with any so much as with +the words of Artemisia. Nevertheless it seemed good to him to follow +the counsel of the greater number, and to give battle; for he thought +that the ships had not done their best at Eubœa because he himself had +been absent, and was minded to see the battle that should now be fought +with his own eyes. + +So the ships of the barbarians sailed to Salamis and took their places, +as they had been commanded, no man hindering them; for the Greeks, +especially the men of the Peloponnese, were greatly troubled, fearing +lest they should be shut up in Salamis while their own country was left +without defense. + +The same night the army of the barbarians went forwards to the +Peloponnese. There indeed all things had been done that the Persians +might not be able to come into the country. For so soon as there came +the tidings how that Leonidas and his companions had fallen at the +Pass, straightway the inhabitants assembled from their cities and +pitched their camp at the Isthmus, their commander being Cleombrotus, +who was brother to Leonidas. First they blocked up the way of Susa, +that leads from Magara to Corinth; and afterwards they built a wall +across the Isthmus. This work they wrought in a few days only, for +there were many thousands of men, and they worked without ceasing +either by night or by day. Now the nations that were gathered at +the Isthmus were these: the Lacedæmonians, all the Arcadians, the +Corinthians, the men of Elis, the men of Sicyon, and of Epidaurus, and +of Phlius, and of Trœzen, and of Hermione. But the other nations, as +the Achæans and the Argives, came not to the Isthmus, nor gave help to +the Greeks, but rather, if the truth is to be told, gave help to the +Persians. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +OF THE BATTLE OF SALAMIS. + + +Meanwhile there was much doubt and fear among the Greeks at Salamis. +For a time indeed the captains talked privately the one with the other, +marveling at the ill counsel of Eurybiades that he left the Peloponnese +without defense; but at the last their discontent brake forth, and the +assembly was called together, in which many things were said to the +same purpose as in the former assembly, some affirming that they ought +to sail away to the Peloponnese that they might defend it, it being a +vain thing, they said, to remain at Salamis and fight for that which +was already in the power of their enemies, and the men of Athens and +of Ægina and of Megara being urgent that they should remain and give +battle. + +Then Themistocles, perceiving that his counsel should not prevail +against the counsel of the men of the Peloponnese, went out secretly +from the assembly, and sent straightway a messenger in a boat to the +camp of the Persians. (The name of the messenger was Sicinnus, he +was servant to Themistocles and tutor to his children; and after the +war Themistocles caused him to become a citizen of Thespiæ, for the +Thespians were admitting strangers to citizenship, and gave him great +riches.) This Sicinnus therefore, going in a boat to the camp of the +barbarians, spake to their captains, saying, “The commander of the +Athenians has sent me, without the knowledge of the rest of the Greeks, +to say that the Greeks are in great fear and purpose to fly from their +place, and that ye have a great occasion of destroying them utterly, +if only ye will not suffer them to escape. For indeed they are not of +one mind, nor will they withstand you any more, but ye will see them +fighting the one against the other, they that are on your side being +opposed to them that are against you. And this my master does because +he is a friend to the King, and because he would rather that you should +prevail than that the Greeks should have the mastery.” + +When Sicinnus had thus spoken he departed straightway. And the +Persians, because they believed what Sicinnus had told them, first +landed many of their men on Psyttaleia, which is a little island +between Salamis and the mainland; and next, about midnight, they moved +the westernmost wing of their ships to Salamis, and those that were +posted at Ceos and Cynosura set sail also, and filled all the strait +even as far as Munychia. This they did that the Greeks might not be +able to escape, but might be shut up within Salamis, and so pay the +penalty of what they had done at Artemisium. As for the landing of +the Persians at Psyttaleia, it was done for this cause, that when the +battle was joined, and the broken ships and shipwrecked men should be +carried down by the current to the island--which must needs be the +case, seeing that it was in the very way of the battle that should be +fought--these soldiers might be able to save their friends and slay +their enemies. All this the barbarians did in silence, lest haply the +Greeks should hear of the thing that had been done. So the Persians +made ready for the battle, taking no rest, but toiling through all the +night. + +Meanwhile there was much angry talk among the captains at Salamis, for +they knew not yet that they were shut in by the barbarians. But while +they were assembled there came over from Ægina a certain Aristides, a +man of Athens, that had been banished by the people (yet was he the +best and most righteous man in Athens). This Aristides, coming to the +council, would have Themistocles called out to speak with him. Now +Themistocles was no friend to Aristides, but an enemy and very bitter +against him; nevertheless, for the great trouble that had come upon +the land, he took no count of this enmity, but came and called for +him, wishing to speak with him. And when Themistocles was come forth, +Aristides said to him, “We two, O Themistocles, have contended together +aforetime concerning other things, but now let us contend who shall do +the better service to his country. What I am now come to say is this: +Let the men of the Peloponnese say little or say much about sailing +hence, it is all one. For I affirm, of my own knowledge, that the +Corinthians and Eurybiades himself cannot now depart, if they would, +for that the barbarians have closed us in. But go thou and tell this +thing to the captains.” And Themistocles made answer, “This is good +news thou hast brought, telling of your own knowledge the things that +I greatly desired should come to pass. What the barbarians have done +was indeed of my doing, because if the Greeks would not fight of their +free will there was a necessity that they should be made to fight +against their will. But as thou hast brought good news, tell it to the +captains thyself, for if I tell it they will deem that I am lying to +them. Tell it therefore thyself, and if they believe thee, well; but +if not, yet can they not escape, if as thou sayest, the Persians have +closed us in.” + +Then Aristides went in to the assembly and told them that he was come +from Ægina, having barely escaped the watch ships of the barbarians; +and that they were closed in by the Persians. And he counseled them to +make ready for the battle. Having so spoken he departed. Then there +arose a great disputing, the greater part of the captains not believing +these tidings. But while they doubted there came a ship of war from +Tenos, which a certain Panætius commanded. This man told them the whole +truth of the matter. For this cause the men of Tenos were written on +the offering among them that destroyed the barbarians. And now the +number of the ships of the Greeks was made up to three hundred and +eighty. + +The Greeks, learning that the words of the men of Tenos were true, made +themselves ready for battle. And when it was morning there was called +an assembly of the crews, and Themistocles spake to them very noble +words, how that men should always choose good rather than evil, and +honorable things rather than base things. When he had ended his speech +he bade them embark on their ships; and while they were embarking +there came from Ægina the ships that brought the children of Æacus. +Then all the Greeks began to move their ships from their place. But so +soon as they began to move them, the Persians advanced against them, +and the Greeks backed their oars, so that they would have beached the +ships, only one Ameinias, a man of Athens, bade his men row forward, +and coming forth before the line, drave his ship against a ship of the +barbarians. Then others went to the help of Ameinias, and so the battle +was begun. This is what the Athenians say; but the men of Ægina affirm +that the ship that went to fetch the children of Æacus first began the +battle. Also this story is told, that there was seen the likeness of a +woman who cried with a loud voice, so that all the Greeks could hear +her, “How long, ye simple ones, will ye back your oars?” + +The order of the battle was this. The Phœnicians were on the right +wing, towards the west and towards Eleusis, and the Athenians were +ranged over against them; and the Ionians were on the left, towards +the east and towards the Piræus, having the Lacedæmonians over against +them. Of the Ionians a few only followed the counsel of Themistocles, +and held back from the fighting; for many of their captains took ships +of the Greeks, of whom was Theomestor, that for this service was made +lord of Samos by the Persians, and Phylacus, who also was of Samos, +that had lands given to him and was written among the benefactors +of the King. But for the most part the ships of the Persians were +destroyed by the Greeks, and especially by the Athenians and the men of +Ægina. For the Greeks fought in good order and kept their plans, but +the barbarians were without order, neither had they any purpose in what +they did. Wherefore they must needs have been worsted in the battle. +Nevertheless they this day surpassed themselves, bearing themselves +more bravely than at Eubœa; for every man was very zealous, having the +fear of the King before his eyes, and deeming that the King saw what he +did. + +How the rest of the Greeks and of the barbarians behaved themselves +cannot be described, but of Artemisia of Halicarnassus this story is +told. The fleet of the King being now in great confusion, it so chanced +that the ship of Artemisia was pursued by an Athenian ship. And she, +not being able to escape, for she was the nearest of all to the ships +of the enemy, and had many of her own friends in front of her, devised +this means of saving herself, and also accomplished it. She drave her +ship against the ship of the lord of Calyndus, being one of the fleet +of the King (whether she had a quarrel against this man, or the ship +chanced to be in her way is not known for certain), and had the good +fortune to sink it. And thus she gained a double gain. For when the +captain of the Athenian ship saw what she did, judging that her ship +was of the fleet of the Greeks, or that it had deserted from the King, +he left pursuing her; and also, having done this ill service to the +Persians, yet she got the greatest glory from the King. For Xerxes, +as he looked upon the battle, saw not her ship smite another. And one +said to him, “O King, seest thou how bravely Queen Artemisia bears +herself, sinking a ship of the enemies?” Then said the King, “Was this +verily the doing of Artemisia?” And they affirmed that it was, knowing +the token of her ship; but the ship that was sunk they judged to be +one of the Greeks. It so chanced also, that her good fortune might be +complete, that not a man of the ship of Calyndus was left to tell the +truth. As for Xerxes, he is reported to have said, “My men have become +women, and my women have become men.” + +In this battle fell Ariabignes, being brother to the King, and also +many other famous men of the Medes and the Persians. Of the Greeks +indeed there perished not many; for even though their ships were +destroyed, yet being able to swim they saved themselves; but of the +barbarians the greater part perished, for they were not able to swim. +And so soon as the first of the Persian ships began to fly before the +Greeks then there followed a great destruction. For they that were +behind pressed forward, seeking to show some deed of valor before the +eyes of the King, and drave against the ships that fled, and so both +did and received great damage. This thing also happened. Certain of +the Phœnicians, whose ships had perished, came to the King and made a +complaint against the Ionians that they had betrayed them. But while +they were yet speaking, a ship of Samothrace drave against an Athenian +ship and sank it; then there came a ship of Ægina against the ship of +Samothrace and wounded it sorely; notwithstanding, while it was sinking +the Samothracians, being throwers of javelins, smote down the men of +Ægina, and boarded their ship and took possession of it. This thing was +the salvation of the Ionians. For Xerxes, seeing that these Greeks had +wrought a great deed and being in great vexation of spirit, and ready +to blame all men, commanded that they should cut off the heads of the +Phœnician captains, that they might not any more bring accusations +against men that were better than they. All the time of the battle the +King sat on the hill that is over against Salamis, and when any deed of +valor was done by his ships, he would ask the name of the captain, and +the scribes wrote it down, with the names also of his father and of his +city. + +Such of the ships of the barbarians as sought to escape by way of +Phalerum the men of Ægina dealt with, waiting in the strait, and +behaving themselves most valorously. For the Athenians destroyed such +as yet fought and such as fled, and the men of Ægina fell upon them +that would sail out, so that if any escaped from the Athenians they +fell into the hands of the men of Ægina. + +In this battle the men of Ægina were judged to have shown most valor, +and next to them the Athenians; and among the men of Ægina Polycritus, +and among the Athenians Eumenes and Ameinias. It was this Ameinias +that pursued Artemisia. And indeed, had he known whom he pursued, he +would not have left following her till he had taken her, or himself +been taken; for there was proclaimed a reward of ten thousand drachmas +to the man that should take Artemisia alive, the Athenians being very +wroth that a woman should presume to bear arms against their city. + +Of Adeimantus the Corinthian the Athenians tell this story, that in +the very beginning of the battle, being wholly mastered with fear, +he hoisted his sails and fled; and that the other Corinthian ships, +seeing the ship of their commander flying, fled also; and that when +they were come in their flight over against the temple of Athene of +Sciron, they met there a pinnace, that came not by any bidding of +men; and that when it was close to their ships the men in the pinnace +cried out, “Thou indeed art flying, O Adeimantus, and showing thyself +traitor to the Greeks; but they are winning the victory over their +enemies.” When Adeimantus would not believe, the men said that they +were willing to answer for it with their lives that their words were +true. Then Adeimantus turned back his ship, and he and his companions +came to Salamis when the battle was now finished. This is the story +of the Athenians concerning the Corinthians; but the Corinthians deny +it, affirming that they fought among the first. And in this they are +confirmed by the testimony of the other Greeks. + +On that day Aristides the Athenian did good service. He took with him +many men at arms, Athenians, that had been drawn up along the shore of +Salamis, and landed them on the island of Psyttaleia, so that they +slew all the Persians that had been set to keep the place. + +When the battle was ended the Greeks drew to Salamis such of the +broken ships as yet floated, and prepared to fight yet again, for they +thought that the King would not fail to use the ships that remained +to him. But many of the wrecks the wind--for it chanced to blow from +the west--carried to the shore of Attica, which is called the shore of +Colias. Thus was fulfilled a certain oracle of Lysistratus the Athenian. + + “That Colian dames their bread may bake, + Full many an oar that day shall break.” + +And this came to pass after the King had departed. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +OF THE FLIGHT OF XERXES. + + +When King Xerxes perceived what damage his ships had suffered he +resolved that he would flee without delay to Persia. Yet, to hide this +purpose, he made as if he would carry on the war, making a mound across +the channel that is between Salamis and the mainland, and doing other +things. But though he deceived others he did not deceive Mardonius. + +In the meanwhile he sent a messenger to Susa, whither he had before +sent the tidings of how he was master of Athens, and as before the +people had rejoiced, strewing myrtle boughs in the streets, and burning +incense, and feasting and making merry, so now they were greatly +troubled, rending their garments, and making much ado with weeping and +wailing. Nor was it for the damage of the ship that they lamented, but +for fear lest the King himself should suffer harm. Nor would they be +comforted till he came back in safety. + +Now when Mardonius saw that the King purposed to flee, fearing lest he +should suffer punishment for that he had advised the marching against +Greece, he made this resolve, that either he would himself conquer +Greece--and this indeed he hoped to do--or perish honorably. Wherefore +he said to Xerxes, “Trouble not thyself overmuch, O master, for this +loss that has befallen us; for these fellows, whom thou thinkest to +have conquered us, will not dare to stand against us. And, if we wish, +we may deal with them without delay, or, if we will, we may wait +awhile. But if, O King, thou art minded to depart straightway, hear my +counsel. Make not thy Persians a laughing-stock to the Greeks. For if +the Phœnicians and Egyptians and the like have played the coward, yet +have not the Persians so done. Depart then, therefore, if thou art so +minded, but let me choose out three hundred thousand men of the army, +with whom I may conquer these Greeks.” + +Xerxes when he heard these words was very glad, and made answer to +Mardonius that he would deliberate about these things. And because +before Artemisia only had perceived what should be done, he sent +for her, and when she was come, sent away his other counselors, and +inquired of her what he should do, setting before her the counsel of +Mardonius. To this she made answer in these words: “I counsel thee to +depart straightway, O King. And if Mardonius promises to conquer Greece +for thee, let him stay behind and do it. For if he succeed, thine will +be the gain; and if he fail, there will follow no great damage, so that +thou and thy house be safe. For of a surety, so long as these remain, +the Greeks will often be in peril of their lives. And if they prevail +over this Mardonius, he is nothing more than thy slave.” This counsel +seemed very good to the King, being altogether to his mind, and if +all the men and women in the world had counseled him to remain, hardly +would he have done it, so terrified was he. He commended therefore +Artemisia, and sent her on to Ephesus with certain of his children in +her charge, in which charge was joined also one Hermotimus of Pedasus. +The people of Pedasus say that when a mischance is about to befall any +of their neighbors the priestess of Athene in their city has a beard, +and that this has happened twice. + +The next day Xerxes commanded the ships to sail with all speed to the +Hellespont, that they might guard the bridges against his coming. So +they departed; and sailing by Cape Zoster, where certain rocks jut out +from the land, they took the rocks for ships, and fled far away. But +afterward, when they knew the truth, they gathered themselves together +again. + +For awhile the Greeks, seeing the army of the barbarians in the same +place, supposed that the ships also remained, and made ready for +battle. But when they knew the truth, they pursued after them; but +having sailed as far as Andros, and not seeing them, they held a +council of war. Then Themistocles would have had them make with all +speed for the Hellespont that they might break down the bridges, but +Eurybiades was of the contrary opinion, saying, “There can no worse +thing befall the Greeks than that we should break down the bridges. For +if the Persians be thus cut off and driven to remain, see what will +follow. If they be quiet they must come to ruin, for their host will +perish of hunger; but if they bestir themselves they will conquer all +Europe, city by city, and for food they will have our harvests. Now, +indeed, because his ships have been vanquished, he is minded to depart; +and this we should suffer him to do. Only when he has departed, we may, +if we will, strive with him for the mastery of his own country.” + +To this counsel the other leaders of the Peloponnesians consented. And +when Themistocles saw that he could not persuade them, he changed his +purpose, and said to the Athenians, for these were vexed beyond all +the rest that the Persians were suffered to escape, “Often have I seen +with my own eyes or heard from others that men having been worsted and +driven to despair have recovered their own and become conquerors in +their turn. Now we have found great good fortune, saving ourselves and +Greece from this mighty host of men. Let us therefore be content and +not pursue them when they flee. For we have not done this of our own +might. The Gods and the heroes have done it, having jealousy that one +man should be lord both of Asia and Europe, and he, too, a destroyer of +images and temples, and that scourged the sea and threw fetters into +it. Let us, therefore, now that the barbarians have departed, return +each man to his home and sow our land, and in the spring will we sail +to the Hellespont!” + +With these words he persuaded the Athenians; but he did it that he +might bind the King to him by this service, desiring to have a +refuge, if any evil should come upon him at Athens. Wherefore he sent +certain men to Attica, faithful men that would not betray him even +under torture, and among them the man Sicinnus. This Sicinnus went to +the King and said, “Themistocles the Athenian, wishing to do thee a +service, has sent me to tell thee that he has restrained the Greeks who +would have broken the bridges of the Hellespont, and that thou mayest +return at thy leisure.” + +After this the Greeks laid siege to Andros. For Themistocles had +demanded money of this city for the Greeks, saying, “You must needs pay +the money, for we come bringing with us two great gods, even Persuasion +and Necessity.” But the Andrians made answer, “Well may Athens be great +and happy, seeing that it has such gods; but we have two that are +unprofitable, yet dwell with us and will not leave us, even Poverty +and Helplessness.” For this cause the Greeks besieged their city. As +for Themistocles, he ceased not to get riches for himself, without the +knowledge of the others, taking money from the islanders and others +that the fleet should not sail against them. + +Meanwhile Mardonius chose out of the host such as he would have for +his army. All the Immortals he chose, save Hydarnes, who was not +willing to leave the King, and such of the Persians as wore corslets, +and the thousand horsemen, and the Medes and the Sacæ and Bactrians +and the Indians, both horse and foot. These nations he took wholly, +and out of the rest of the host he chose such as excelled in stature +or had done some valiant deed. The number was three hundred thousand +in all. This choosing was done in Thessaly; and before it was finished +there came a herald from Sparta, seeking satisfaction from the King for +the death of Leonidas and his companions, for the god at Delphi had +bidden the Spartans seek for it. The herald stood before Xerxes and +said, “King of the Medes, the Spartans and the sons of Hercules ask of +thee satisfaction for blood-guiltiness, because thou didst slay their +King Leonidas when he defended Greece.” The King laughed; but after a +while he pointed to Mardonius, who chanced to be present, and said, +“This man will give such satisfaction as is due.” And the herald said, +“I accept the satisfaction,” and so departed. + +After this Xerxes, leaving Mardonius in Thessaly, made for the +Hellespont with all haste. In forty and five days he came to it, having +but a small part of his army. These had laid their hands on all the +corn in the countries through which they passed; and where corn was +wanting they had devoured the bark and the leaves of all manner of +trees, leaving nothing at all, so that many died of sundry diseases, +and some were left behind sick in the cities on the way. When they came +to the Hellespont they found the bridges broken, and crossed over in +ships as they best could. And many, when they had abundance of food and +drink, using these without measure, so died. + +There is told another tale of the flight of Xerxes. He left Hydarnes, +it is said, to have charge of the army, and himself embarked on a +Phœnician ship, and so sailed to Asia. But as he sailed there fell +upon the ship a great wind from the north; and, being overladen, it +was ready to sink, for there were many Persians with the King upon the +deck. Then Xerxes cried aloud to the helmsman, saying, “Is there any +help?” And the helmsman answered, “There is no help except we be rid +of these many passengers.” Then said Xerxes to the Persians, “Let now +any that will, show that he cares for his King, for my life is in your +hands.” Then the Persians made obeisance to him and leaped into the +sea; so the ship being lightened came safe to Asia. And when Xerxes +was come to the shore he dealt thus with the helmsman. For that he had +saved the life of the King he gave him a crown of gold; but for that +he had caused the death of many Persians, he commanded that he should +be beheaded. But this story is scarcely to be believed. For why did +not the King rather send down these Persians, being the first men in +the realm, into the lower part of the ship, and cause the like number +of rowers, being Phœnicians, to leap into the sea? But in truth Xerxes +returned by way of the land, whereof we have a proof that he passed +through Abdera, and making a covenant with the people of that city, +gave them a cimeter of gold and a turban broidered with gold. + +And now the Greeks were assembled at the Isthmus that they might +adjudge the prize of valor to him that of all the Greeks had shown +himself most worthy in the war. The captains then being met laid +their votes on the altar of Poseidon, a vote for the first place and a +vote for the second. Each man gave the first place to himself, but the +greater part gave the second to Themistocles. But though the captains +could not agree for jealousy, yet was Themistocles commonly reported +among the Greeks to have shown himself by far the wisest man of all +in the war. And when he went to Sparta the Spartans received him with +great honor. The prize of valor, indeed, which was a crown of olive, +they gave to Eurybiades; but the prize of wisdom and dexterity, also +a crown of olive, they gave to Themistocles. Also they gave him the +fairest chariot that was in all Sparta; and when he departed three +hundred chosen men, that are called the Knights, went with him so far +as the borders of Tegea. Nor has any man, save Themistocles only, been +so sent out of their country by the Spartans. + +When he came back to Athens a certain citizen of Aphidnæ, that came +from Belbis, being his enemy, a man of no repute, reproached him, +saying, “Thou hast these honors from the Spartans for Athens’ sake, not +for thine own.” And when the man said this many times, Themistocles +answered him, “Surely I had not been so honored had I been of Belbis, +nor thou hadst thou been of Athens.” + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +OF THE PREPARING OF THE PERSIANS AND OF THE GREEKS FOR THE WAR. + + +Mardonius and his host had their winter quarters in Thessaly. When +he was now about to leave them, he sent one Mys, a man of Caria, +to inquire of the oracles. This Mys inquired of the oracles and of +Amphiaraus in Thebes. (No Theban may inquire of Amphiaraus, for he gave +them their choice whether they would have him for their prophet or +their helper; and they chose to have him for their helper.) But when +Mardonius read the answer that had been given to Mys, he sent an envoy +to Athens, even Alexander of Macedon, choosing him because his sister +was married to a Persian, and because he was a friend to the Athenians. + +Of the ancestors of Alexander there is told this story. Three brothers +of the royal house of Argos came into the land of Macedonia and took +service with the King, one tending the horses, and one the cows, and +one the smaller cattle. In those days not the people only, but the +kings also were poor, so that the King’s wife was wont to bake the +bread. And when she baked it she saw that the loaf of Perdiccas, that +was the youngest of the brothers, grew to be twice as large as the +other loaves. And as this happened day after day she told it to her +husband. Then the man perceiving that it was a miracle, and signified +no small matter, bade the three depart out of the country. But when +they would have had their wages, he said to them, for it chanced that +the sun was shining down the chimney into the house, “Here are your +fit wages. This I give you;” and he pointed to the sunshine, for the +Gods had taken his wits from him. The two elder stood astonished and +said nothing, but the youngest, having a knife in his hand, drew a line +with it on the floor round the sunshine, and made as if he would draw +it up into his bosom three times, and so departed and his brothers +with him. Now when they were gone, one went and told to the King what +the youngest had done; and the King, when he heard it, was angry, and +sent horsemen after them to slay them. But a certain river swelled so +high when the three brothers of Argos had safely crossed it, that the +horsemen could not follow. (Their descendants yet do sacrifice to this +river as to their saviour.) The brothers took up their abode in a place +which they call the Gardens of Midas. (Here are roses so great as can +not be found elsewhere, having each sixty leaves, and over the gardens +a mountain so cold that none can climb to the top.) From this place +they went forth till they had conquered the whole land of Macedonia. +From this Perdiccas came Alexander the Macedonian in the seventh +generation. + +Alexander said, “Men of Athens, Mardonius bids me say that there has +come to him this message from the King, ‘I forgive the Athenians all +their trespasses against me. And do thou this, Mardonius. Give them +back their land and add to it any other that they will, and build again +the temples that I burned with fire, if they will make agreement with +me. And they shall live under their own laws.’ Mardonius also says, +‘This will I do unless ye on your part hinder me. And why do ye stand +out against the King? Do ye not know his might? See this great host +that I have. If so be that ye prevail over this, which indeed ye can +not hope to do, there will come against ye a host many times greater. +Why then will ye resist, losing your country and going always in danger +of your lives?’ These are the words of Mardonius; and I, Alexander, +for that I am your friend, beseech you to give ear to him, and to make +agreement with the King, who has chosen you out of all the Greeks to +make friendship and alliance with you.” + +Now the Spartans knew that Alexander had been sent by Mardonius to +Athens. Whereupon they also sent ambassadors; and it was ordered that +they should have audience of the people on the self-same day. When +therefore Alexander had spoken, the Spartans stood forth, and urged +them that they should not listen to the words of Mardonius, nor betray +the Greeks. Also they promised that they would give sustenance to their +women and children so long as the war should continue. To Alexander +the Athenians made this answer: “We know how great is the power of the +barbarians, yet will we resist it to the uttermost, holding fast to +our freedom. Seek not then to persuade us, but say to Mardonius, ‘So +long as the sun shall go by the path which now he goeth, we make no +agreement with Xerxes, but will stand against him, the Gods and heroes +whose temples he has burned with fire helping us.’ And thou, Alexander, +come not again to Athens with such words as these, for thou art our +friend and we would not willingly do thee hurt.” + +To the Spartans they said, “It is like enough that ye should be fearful +about this thing. Nevertheless, ye, knowing what manner of men we are, +did us great wrong. Know then there is no store of gold in all the +world, nor land so fair that would tempt us to make agreement with the +Persians. For first we can have no peace with them that have burned +with fire our temples and the images of our Gods. And next we can not +betray our brethren the Greeks that have one tongue with us and worship +the same Gods. Know therefore that so long as one Athenian shall remain +alive we will make no agreement with Xerxes. As for your kindness to +us, we thank you; but we will not be burdensome to you. Only lead out +your army with all speed. For we doubt not that the barbarians will +invade our land a second time. Therefore should we meet him in Bœotia, +and there join battle with him.” + +When Mardonius heard the words of the Athenians he marched forthwith +into Attica, nor would he hearken to the Thebans when they counseled +him to tarry in Bœotia and seek to divide the Greeks against +themselves. For they said, “If the Greeks be at one no power on earth +can subdue them; but if thou wilt send gifts to the chief men in each +state, thou wilt easily prevail.” But Mardonius greatly desired to be +master of Athens a second time. This he did, but the Athenians had +departed, some to their ships, but the greater part to Salamis. + +After this he sent another messenger with the same words that Alexander +of Macedonia had brought, for he thought, “Now that they have lost +their country a second time they will surely listen to him.” When the +man--he was a Greek from the Hellespont--was brought into the council, +a certain councilor, Lycidas, said, “Let us bring this matter before an +assembly of the people.” But when the Athenians, both the councilors +and they that stood without, heard these words, they were full of +wrath, and rose up against Lycidas, and stoned him with stones that he +died. And the women ran with one accord to his house and slew his wife +and his children in the same fashion. But the messenger the Athenians +sent away without hurt. + +Meanwhile the Athenians had sent ambassadors to Sparta, complaining +that the Spartans had not sent an army to defend Attica from the +barbarians. Now the Spartans were keeping holiday, for it was the feast +of Hyacinthus, and had no thought for any thing besides. Also the wall +which they were building across the Isthmus was now well advanced, +so that they were putting on it the battlements. The ambassadors +therefore, being brought in before the Ephors, said, “The King was +willing to make peace with us, and to give us back our country, and +to add to it any other country that we would. But we would not betray +Greece, though we knew that it should be more to our profit to make +peace with the Persians than to continue fighting against them. We +therefore have been true to you, but ye have been false to us, caring +nothing for us now that ye have come near to finish your wall across +the Isthmus. But come; now that Bœotia is lost we shall best fight in +the plain of Thria.” + +To these words the Ephors made no answer, but put off the matter to the +morrow; and on the morrow they did likewise, and so for ten days. + +But on the tenth day there came to the Ephors a man of Tegea, one +Chileus, that had more weight with the Spartans than any other +stranger. This Chileus said, “The matter stands thus, ye Ephors. If the +Athenians be not your friends, but make agreement with the Persians, +then how strong soever shall be your wall across the Isthmus, there +will be many doors open into the Peloponnese. Hearken therefore to what +these men say while it is time.” + +This counsel they took to heart. To the ambassadors they said nothing, +but that same night they sent five thousand Spartans, and with each +seven helots, their captain being Pausanias, the son of Cleombrotus. +The next day the ambassadors came unto the Ephors, being minded to +depart to their own country, and said, “Ye Spartans stay at home and +keep holiday and leave the Greeks to perish. We Athenians will make +agreement with the King, and will go with him whithersoever he will +lead us.” + +To this the Ephors made answer with an oath, “The men are gone against +the strangers (for they called the barbarians _strangers_), and are +now in Oresteum of Arcadia.” When the ambassadors heard this they also +departed; and at the same time there went five thousand men of Laconia, +chosen men and fully armed. + +When the men of Argos knew that the Spartans had departed they sent a +messenger to Mardonius, the swiftest runner they could find--for they +had promised to keep the Spartans from coming--saying, “The Spartans +have set forth, neither could we stay them. Take heed therefore to +thyself.” When Mardonius heard this he would tarry no longer in Attica, +but departed straightway, having first burned with fire and destroyed +all that yet stood, whether house or temple. For Attica was not fit +for horsemen, and if he should be worsted in the battle, there was no +escape save by one narrow pass only. Wherefore he was minded to go +back into Bœotia, for this country was fit for horsemen, and also was +the country of friends. But while he was on his way there came another +messenger saying that there was a thousand Spartans in the land of +Megara, having come in advance of the army; and, thinking that he might +cut them off, he changed his purpose and marched toward Megara, while +the horsemen ravaged the country. Nor did the Persians make their way +toward the setting sun further than this. And now there came another +messenger saying that the whole army of the Peloponnesians was at the +Isthmus. Therefore he turned his course, and came into the territory +of the Thebans. And here he encamped his army along the river Asopus +from Erythræ to Platæa. And though the Thebans were friends to the +Persians, he cut down all the trees in the country, not from hatred but +from need, because he would have a rampart and a place of refuge if the +battle should go against him. Such a rampart he made of ten furlongs +every way. + +While the Persians were building this defense a certain Theban made +a great feast to Mardonius and the Persians. Concerning this feast +Thersander, a notable citizen of Orchomenus, told this story to +Herodotus: “I was called to this feast with other Thebans, fifty in +all, and there were called also fifty Persians. We were not set apart, +but on each crouch a Persian and a Theban; and when we had dined and +were now drinking, the Persian that was on the same couch said to me in +the Greek tongue, ‘Whence art thou?’ and I said, ‘I am of Orchomenus.’ +Then said he, ‘Since thou hast eaten with me from the same table and +poured out a libation from the same cup, I will leave with thee a +memorial of my belief, and this the more that thou mayest look after +thine own life. Thou seest these Persians that are feasting with us +and this army that we left encamped on the river. Of all these thou +shalt see in a short time but few remaining.’ And when the Persian had +so spoken he wept bitterly. And I said to him, for I marveled much +at his words, ‘Shouldst thou not tell this to Mardonius and to the +Persians that are in high place with him?’ But the Persian answered, ‘O +my friend, that which the Gods order a man can not change, for though +he speak the truth no one will hearken to him. Many of the Persians +know these things that I have said unto thee, but are constrained by +necessity to follow whither we are led. But of all the griefs in man’s +life none is so sore as this, to know much and to have power to do +nothing.’” + +This story did Thersander tell to Herodotus, as he told it to many +others also, even before the battle of Platæa. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +OF THE BATTLE OF PLATÆA. + + +The Spartans pitched their camp at the Isthmus, whither came the other +men of the Peloponnese also, so many as followed the good cause, not +being willing to be left behind when the Spartans went forth to the +war. And from the Isthmus they marched to Eleusis. Here the Athenians, +having crossed over from Salamis, came up with him. When they saw that +the barbarians were encamped on the Asopus, they ranged themselves over +against them on the slope of Mount Cithæron. Here Mardonius sent his +cavalry under Masistius their captain to attack them. This Masistius +was in great repute among the Persians, and he rode on a horse of Nisa, +that had a bit of gold, and was otherwise richly adorned. The horsemen +charged the Greeks by squadrons, and did them much damage. + +Now it so chanced that the men of Megara had been set in the place +where the cavalry could most easily approach; and these, as they +received much damage, sent a message to Pausanias, saying, “Send +over and help us, for without help we can not hold our place.” Then +Pausanias inquired whether any would take the place of the men of +Megara, but none were willing, save the Athenians only. Of these, +three hundred chosen men, having with them the archers, took the place +of the men of Megara. And after a while, the barbarians still charging +by squadrons it chanced that an arrow struck the horse of Masistius on +the flank, he being a long way in front of the others. And the horse +reared by reason of the pain and threw off its rider; which when the +Athenians saw, they ran forward and slew Masistius where he lay. For +a while they could not kill him, for he had a breast-plate of scales +of gold and a tunic of scarlet over it, and this could not be broken +through by any blows; which when one of the soldiers perceived he +drave his weapon into the man’s eye and so slew him. When the Persians +saw that he was dead they charged with their whole force, seeking to +get back his dead body, and the Athenians, on the other hand, called +to their comrades to help them. So the battle waxed hot; and while +the three hundred were alone they could not hold their ground; but +the others coming up the Persians turned their backs, and, being now +without a leader, returned to the camp. + +Mardonius and the Persians made a great lamentation over Masistius, +cutting the hair from their heads, and the manes from their horses and +beasts of burden, and making all Bœotia resound with their crying, for +they had lost a man whom the army honored next after Mardonius himself. +But the Greeks put the dead body in a cart, and caused it to be carried +through the army, and indeed it was worthy to be looked at, both for +beauty and for stature. The cause why it was thus carried was that the +men would leave their ranks to look at it. + +After this it seemed good to the Greeks to leave their place on the +slopes of Cithæron and to come down to the territory of the Platæans. +Here they set themselves in array, nation by nation, nigh to the +fountain of Gargaphia and the precincts of the hero Andocrates, and +they stood partly on certain small hillocks and partly on the plain. + +But while the army was being set in array there arose a very sharp +contention between the Athenians and the men of Tegea, who should be +set on the left wing. The men of Tegea affirmed that this place had +always been theirs of right, saying, “When first the sons of Hercules +came back to the Peloponnese we, with others that then dwelt therein, +went forth to meet them.” Then Hyllus the son of Hercules said, +“There is no need to put these two armies in peril. Let the men of +the Peloponnese choose a champion that he may fight with me.” And an +agreement was made, “If Hyllus slay the champion of the Peloponnesians, +the children of Hercules shall return to their inheritance; but if the +champion of the Peloponnesians slay Hyllus, then will the children of +Hercules swear an oath that they will not again seek to return for +the space of a hundred years. Then Echemus, that was King of Tegea, +offered himself for champion, and slew Hyllus in battle. For this cause +we have always had our place in one of the wings when the men of the +Peloponnese go forth to battle.” + +To this the Athenians made answer, “We are come hither not to make +speeches, but to fight against the barbarians. But as the men of +Tegea will have a comparison of deeds we must of necessity set forth +our claims. To the children of Hercules, whose leader they affirm +themselves to have slain, we alone of all the Greeks gave shelter; and +when the Thebans would not give up for burial the bodies of the Argives +that had been slain in the siege of their city, we took them and buried +them at Eleusis, and we fought against the Amazons, and in the war of +Troy were not one whit behind any. But why should we speak of ancient +things? Surely for what we did at Marathon, when we, alone of all the +Greeks, fought against the Persians, and conquered them, putting to +flight forty and six nations, we are worthy to have this honor, yea, +and many other honors also. Nevertheless--for at such a time it is not +fitting to dispute about places--we are ready to do as ye command, ye +men of Sparta, and take our place wheresoever ye will, and there quit +ourselves like men.” + +Then all the Spartans cried out with one voice that the Athenians were +the more worthy to have the place. + +The whole number of the Greeks was of heavy-armed men thirty-eight +thousand and seven thousand, and of light-armed sixty and nine thousand. + +Mardonius also set his battle in array. Over against the Spartans +he set the Persians; and since these far excelled the Spartans in +number he drew them up with their ranks deeper than common, and also +so ordered it that they stood opposite to the men of Tegea; only the +best of them he set to deal with the Spartans. Next to the Persians +he set the Medes, and next to the Medes the Bactrians. These stood +over against the other dwellers in the Peloponnese. But against the +Athenians he set such of the Greeks and Macedonians as had joined +themselves to him. + +Both armies being now ready for battle, the soothsayers offered +sacrifice. The Spartans had with them one Tisamenus, a man of Elis. To +this Tisamenus, inquiring about his childlessness, there was given an +oracle that he should be the winner in five very great contests. This +he understood of the contests of the games. But when he had exercised +himself for the fivefold contests at Olympia but had failed, being +vanquished in wrestling by a man of Andros, the Spartans perceived that +the oracle spake not of contests in sport but, of contests in battle. +Then they sought to hire the man that he might go with them to battle. +But he said, “Give me the citizenship of your city.” This they could +not endure, but when the fear of the Persians hung over them they sent +to him again. And Tisamenus, perceiving that they were changed, said, +“Ye must give the citizenship not to me only but to my brother also.” +To them only have the Spartans given their citizenship. So Tisamenus +offered sacrifice, and the signs were for good luck if the Greeks +stayed in their place, but for bad if they crossed the Asopus. + +To Mardonius also were given the same signs when he sacrificed before +the battle. For he too had a soothsayer, who divined after the Greek +manner, a certain Hegistratus of Elis. This man had been taken by the +Spartans and condemned to die, but set himself free in a marvelous way. +The Spartans had set him with one foot in the stocks, these being of +wood, but bound with iron. But some one giving him a tool of iron, he +cut off with his own hand so much of his foot that he could draw that +which was left through the hole. And after making his way through the +woods, for he was watched by watch-men, he escaped to Tegea, traveling +by night and hiding himself in the woods by day. And though the whole +people of the Spartans sought for him he came safe on the third night +to Tegea; for Tegea was in those days at enmity with Sparta. And now +he served Mardonius right willingly, partly for gain, and partly for +hatred of the Spartans. + +And for eight days the two armies sat over against each other doing +nothing, save that the horsemen of the Persians laid hands on a convoy +of five hundred beasts that brought food from the Peloponnese to the +Greeks. + +Again they sat quiet for two days. On the eleventh day the Persians +held a council. Then Artabazus, a man held in high esteem among the +Persians, said, “Let us break up our camp, and bring our army to +Thebes, where is a fenced city, and food in plenty for ourselves and +our beasts. And when we are there, seeing we have gold, coined and +uncoined, in abundance, and silver, and cups, let us take of these +without stinting and send gifts to the Greeks, especially to them that +bear rule in the cities. Speedily will they give up their freedom.” + +But Mardonius, being of a contrary opinion, was very fierce and +obstinate, saying, “We are much stronger than they. Therefore let us +fight as speedily as may be. As for the signs of the soothsayer we will +not heed them, but will give battle as the Persians are wont to do.” +And the opinion of Mardonius prevailed, for it was he that was captain +of the host. + +That night came Alexander of Macedon to the camp of the Greeks and +desired to speak with the generals. Then ran some of the guards and +said, “Here is come a horseman from the camp of the Persians, who would +speak with the generals, naming them by name.” And when these had +gone to the outposts they found Alexander, who said to them, “Men of +Athens, tell to no man, save to Pausanias only, what I shall say unto +you. For surely I had not come but that I had a great love for Greece; +and indeed I am a Greek by descent, but would fain see this land free +rather than enslaved. Hear, therefore. Mardonius can not get the signs +as he would have them; else he would have given battle long since. But +now he is minded not to heed the signs any more but to fight. Be ye not +then taken unawares, but make ready to receive him. But if he still +delay, then abide in your place, for he can not long hold out, having +but a few days’ provision. And if the end of this war be as ye would +have it, remember me and the kindness I have done you. I am Alexander +the Macedonian.” When he had so spoken he rode back to his own people. + +After this Pausanias said to the Athenians, “It would be well that you +should deal with the Persians, of whom ye have had experience, having +prevailed over them at Marathon, and we with the Bœotians and the other +Greeks. For we know nothing of the Persians and of their manner of +fighting, but the Greeks we know well. Let us therefore go to our place +in the line, and ye shall come to yours.” + +The Athenians answered, “We had this very thing in our minds, and would +have spoken ourselves, but that we doubted whether it would please you. +But now let it be done.” + +So Pausanias, it being now morning, began to lead his men to the left +wing. But the Thebans perceiving it, told it to Mardonius, who changed +his order also, which, when Pausanias saw, he led the Spartans back and +stood as before. Then Mardonius sent a herald to the Spartans, saying, +“Ye said that ye are braver than other men, never leaving your place, +but remaining till ye slay your enemies or are yourselves slain. But +this we now see to be false; for ye leave your place before ever the +battle is joined. But come now. Will ye fight with an equal number of +Persians, ye for the Greeks and they for the King?” When the herald had +waited a while, and no man answered him a word, he departed. + +Then Mardonius, being greatly puffed up by this victory of words, +commanded his horsemen that they should charge the Greeks. This they +did, doing much damage with the throwing of javelins and the shooting +of arrows, for they used the bow while they rode, so that the Greeks +could not deal with them hand to hand. Also they choked the fountain +of Gargaphia, from which all the Greeks drew water. The Spartans only +had their place near to the fountain, but all the Greeks used it, for +the horsemen and the archers of the barbarians kept them from the +river. Then the captains held a council; and it seemed good to them, +if the Persians should not fight that day, to change the place of +their camp to the Island. This is before the city of Platæa, and men +call it the Island because a certain river, coming down from Mount +Cithæron, divides here into two streams which flow for a space three +furlongs apart, and after join together again. So all that day they +stood in their place, suffering grievously from the horsemen of the +barbarians, and when it was night they began to change their place. And +when the greater part of the Greeks had departed--but they went not to +the Island, but fled straight to Platæa, and encamped by the temple +of Here, which is before the city--Pausanias commanded the Spartans +that they also should depart. The rest of the captains were willing to +obey, but one Amompharetus, that led the men of Pitana, would not move, +saying, “I will not fly from the strangers, nor bring disgrace upon +Sparta.” Pausanias took it very ill that the man should not obey his +command, yet he would not leave him and his company alone, lest they +should be destroyed. For this cause he kept the Spartans and their +army in its place, and sought to persuade Amompharetus. And when the +Athenians saw that the rest of the Greeks had departed, but that the +Spartans remained, knowing that it was their custom to think one thing +and say another, they sent a horseman to inquire whether they were +minded to go or to remain. When the horseman came he found them in the +very heat of the dispute, for Amompharetus took up a very great stone +with both his hands and laid it at the feet of Pausanias, saying, “With +this pebble I vote not to fly from the strangers” (for the Greeks give +their votes with pebbles), and Pausanias affirmed that he was a fool +and mad. And turning himself to the Athenian horseman, he said, “Ye see +how things are with us; go and tell this to your captains.” So the men +departed; but the Spartans ceased not to dispute till the day began +to dawn. And then Pausanias gave the signal to depart, expecting that +Amompharetus, when he found that they had departed, would also leave +his place and follow them. And in this he judged rightly, for the man, +thinking that he had been in truth forsaken, commanded his men that +they should take their arms and follow the rest of the army. This they +did, and came up with them in the space of ten furlongs, near to the +temple of Demeter of Eleusis; for the army had waited for them there. +The Athenians also left their place, but these marched all along the +plain, while the Spartans kept to the hill for fear of the horsemen of +the Persians. + +When Mardonius heard that the Greeks had departed in the night, and +beheld their place that it was empty, he called the sons of Aleuas, and +said to them, “What say ye now, seeing this place is empty? Ye would +have it that the Spartans fled from no man; yet ye saw before how they +would have left their station, and now in this night now passed they +have fled altogether. You indeed I can excuse, for ye know nothing of +the Persians; but I marvel at Artabanus that he feared these men, and +would have had us follow a coward’s counsel, even to break up our camp, +and to suffer ourselves to be besieged in the city of Thebes. Verily +the King shall hear of this matter. And indeed we must not suffer them +to do as they would, but must pursue after them till we overtake them, +and exact punishment for all the wrong that they have done.” + +When he had thus spoken he led the Persians across the Asopus, and +followed the Spartans at full speed, as if they were verily flying from +him; the Athenians he saw not, for they were hidden from him by the +hills. And the other barbarians, when they saw the Persians moving, +took up their standards and came after them, as quickly as they could, +without any order, as though they would have swallowed up the Greeks. + +When Pausanias saw that the horsemen of the Persians were pressing him +hard, he sent a messenger to the Athenians, saying, “Now that the hour +is come when we must fight for Greece, whether she shall be enslaved or +free, we and you, men of Athens, are all alone, for our allies have +fled. We must therefore help the one the other as best we may. If these +horsemen had fallen on you, then had we and the men of Tegea--for they +are faithful to Greece--have helped you; and now must ye help us; and +because we know that ye have been more zealous than any other nation in +this present war, we ask you with the more confidence.” + +When the Athenians heard these words they made ready to go to the +help of the Spartans; but the Greeks that fought for the King fell on +them and hindered them. The Spartans therefore being left alone, made +ready to fight against Mardonius and the Persians. But for a while +the signs did not favor them, and while they tarried many fell, and +many more were wounded, for the Persians had made a rampart of wicker +shields and shot their arrows from behind it, troubling the Spartans +grievously. But still the signs were evil, till Pausanias, lifting up +his eyes to the temple of Here of Platæa, cried aloud, “O goddess, +disappoint not the hopes of the Greeks.” And as he prayed, the men of +Tegea ran forward, and the Spartans--for at the last the signs favored +them--advanced also. The Persians left shooting and came to meet +them. First there was fighting at the rampart of the wicker shields; +and when this was broken down a very fierce battle by the temple of +Demeter, wherein they fought against each other hand to hand. Many a +time did the barbarians lay hold of the spears of the Greeks, seeking +to break them; for in courage and strength the Persians were not one +whit behind the Greeks, only they had not armor of defense, and were +unused to battle, nor any match for their enemies in skill; but running +forward, now one by one, and now in companies of ten, or, it might be, +of more or less, threw themselves upon the Spartans, and so perished. +Where Mardonius himself fought, riding on a white horse, having about +him the thousand who were the bravest of all the Persians, the Greeks +were hardest pressed. So long indeed as Mardonius lived his men held +out, and smote down a few of the Spartans; but when he had fallen +and his companions with him, the rest of the Persians fled before +the Greeks, for their equipment, being without armor, was a grievous +hindrance to them. And indeed they were light-armed men, fighting with +heavy-armed. + +Thus did Mardonius and his host pay due penalty for the death of +Leonidas, and Pausanias won a victory more glorious than any man +had ever won before. As for Mardonius himself, he was slain by one +Æimnestus, that perished afterward, he and three hundred Spartans with +him, fighting against the whole host of the Messenians. + +The Persians, being now put to flight by the Spartans, fled without +any order to their camp, to the defense of trees which they had made. +As to the precinct of Demeter, though many fell round about it, none +fell within it, or so much as entered it, the goddess, it is to be +supposed--if it is lawful to suppose any thing about the Gods--herself +keeping them from it, because they had burned her dwelling at Eleusis. + +Artabazus having sought to hinder Mardonius from giving battle, when +he found that he could not prevail, took counsel for his own safety. +He commanded his men, of whom he had forty thousand, to follow at such +speed as they should perceive him to use. Then he made as if he would +have joined the battle, but seeing the Persians already in fight, he +turned round and made with all speed for the Hellespont. + +As for the Greeks that fought for the King, they all played the coward +of set purpose, saving the Bœotians. These fought very fiercely with +the Athenians, so that three hundred of them were slain. + +Of the rest of the barbarians some stood against the Greeks, but fled +so soon as they saw the Persians giving way. Nevertheless the horsemen, +both Persian and Theban, did good service, coming between them that +fled and the Greeks. + +As for the rest of the Greeks, none did good service save the Spartans, +and the Athenians, and the men of Tegea only. For when they heard +that Pausanias prevailed, they hastened from Platæa with great haste +and without order, which a captain of the Theban horsemen perceiving, +he charged the men of Megara and of Phlius, that were marching along +the plain, and slew six hundred of them, and drave the rest to Mount +Cithæron. So these men perished without honor. + +The men of Mantinea and of Elis came when the battle was now finished, +greatly lamenting that they were late. These, when they had returned to +their cities, banished their captains. + +For none of the Greeks fought in this battle of Platæa save the +Spartans and the Athenians and the men of Tegea only. + +Now the Persians that had fled to the camp were able to climb into +the towers before the Spartans came up; and being there, they held +the wall as best they could. And indeed before the coming of the +Athenians the barbarians kept back the Spartans, who are but little +skilled in fighting against fortified places. But after the coming of +the Athenians the wall was attacked yet more fiercely than before. +These after a while prevailed, climbing to the top of the wall, and +making a breach, so that the Greeks could enter in. And of all the +Greeks the first to enter were the men of Tegea. These spoiled the tent +of Mardonius, taking therefrom the mangers of brass from which his +horses had eaten. And so the barbarians held out no longer, but were +slaughtered as sheep, so that of the whole host there were left three +thousand only. But Artabazus had taken with him forty thousand. Of the +Spartans there perished ninety and one; of the men of Tegea sixteen; of +the Athenians fifty and two. + +Of the barbarians the bravest were the Persians among the foot +soldiers, and the Sacæ among the horsemen; but of all Mardonius +fought the best. Among the Greeks the Spartans excelled, and among +the Spartans Aristodemus, that had come back from Thermopylæ, and +Posidonius and Philocyon and Amompharetus. But of Aristodemus the +Spartans said that he had manifestly sought for death by reason of his +disgrace, and they paid no honor to him; but to the others that had not +desired to die they paid honor. + +As for Callicrates, that was the goodliest man not among the Spartans +only, but among all the Greeks, he was slain, but not in the battle. +For while Pausanias was sacrificing, and he sat in his place in the +ranks, an arrow smote him in the side. Therefore, when his comrades +went forward to the battle, men carried him out of the battle, being +very loth to die, for he said to a Platæan that stood by, “It does not +trouble me that I die for Greece, but that I die without putting my +hand to the fight, or doing such worthy deeds as I had desired.” Of the +Athenians the bravest was Sophanes of Decelea, of whom they say that he +had an anchor fastened to his belt by a chain of brass; and that when +he came near to the enemy, he threw out his anchor so that he might not +be able to be driven from his post; and that when the enemy fled, he +took up his anchor and pursued. But others say he had the device of an +anchor on his shield. + +Of Pausanias they tell this story, that coming into the camp of the +Persians, he found the war-tent of Xerxes, for Xerxes had left it with +Mardonius. And when he saw it with its furniture of gold and silver, +and adorned with hangings of divers colors, he commanded the bakers and +the cooks that they should prepare a feast as they were wont to do for +Mardonius. And when he saw the couches of gold and silver with their +dainty coverlets, and tables of gold and silver, and all the furniture +of the feast very rich, he was astonished; and for mirth’s sake bade +his servants prepare a dinner in the Spartan fashion. When they had so +done, Pausanias laughed, seeing how great was the difference between +them; and, sending for the other captains of the Greeks, he said to +them, “I have brought you here that I may show you the folly of these +Persians, who, having such fare as this, came to rob us of our poverty.” + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +OF THE BATTLE AT MYCALE. + + +While these things were being done in the land of Bœotia, the fleet +of the Greeks lay at Delos, Leotychides of Sparta being its chief +captain; but the fleet of the Persians was at Samos. And there came +from Samos three men whom the people of the land sent to the captains +of the Greeks; but neither did the Persians know of their going, nor +Theomestor the lord of the land, for the Persians had made him lord. + +When these men were come into the presence of the captains, they were +very urgent with them, saying, “If the Ionians do but see you, they +will revolt from the Persians; nor will these abide your coming; or, if +they abide it, ye will find such a prey as ye could not find elsewhere. +It is right that ye should help men that are Greeks and worship the +same gods. Right is it and easy withal, for the ships of the Persians +are no match for yours. And if ye doubt whether we come in good faith, +take us with you in your ships as hostages.” + +Then Leotychides asked the chief speaker of the three, “Man of Samos, +what is thy name?” asking either because he sought for a sign or by +chance and by inspiration of God. And the man said, “Hegesistratus,” +which is by interpretation “Leader of armies.” Then said Leotychides, +“I accept the sign of this word--leader of armies. Only you must +pledge your word, you and these others, that the men of Samos will be +zealous and true.” Then the three pledged their word with an oath. And +the Greeks sailed to Samos, taking with them Hegesistratus, for they +took his name for a good sign. Also they had with them a soothsayer, +one Deiphonus, the son of Evenius of Apollonia. Of Evenius they tell +this story. The men of Apollonia have a flock of sheep that are sacred +to the sun. And these feed by day by the river that flows from Mount +Lacmon, and by night they are kept by men wealthy and noble, chosen +from among the citizens, each man keeping them a year; for the men of +Apollonia by reason of a certain oracle make much account of these +sheep. They are folded by night in a cave that is far distant from the +city; and it chanced that this Evenius, having the charge of them on a +certain night, fell asleep, and that while he slept wolves entered into +the caves and devoured sixty of them. Evenius indeed sought to keep the +matter secret, purposing to put another sixty in the place of these, +but it came to the knowledge of the people; and they brought him to +judgment for his misdeed and condemned him to lose his eyes. But lo! +after they had blinded him, the sheep bare no more any young, nor the +land its wonted increase. And when the men of Apollonia inquired the +cause of the oracle of Dodona, the prophet answered them, “Ye have done +wickedly, blinding Evenius, the keeper of the sheep. The Gods sent +these wolves; nor will they cease to avenge the man’s cause till ye +shall make him such satisfaction as he shall himself demand of you. And +when ye have done this, then will the Gods themselves give him such a +gift that all men shall call him blessed.” + +When this oracle came to them, the men of Apollonia kept the matter +close, and sent certain citizens to make an agreement with Evenius. +This agreement they made in this wise. They found Evenius sitting on +a bench. Then they sat down by him, and when they had spoken of other +things, came at the last to condole with him for his mishap. And they +asked him, saying, “Evenius, if the men of Apollonia were minded to +give thee satisfaction for this injury, what wouldst thou demand?” +Now Evenius had not heard of the oracle, and he said, “If they will +give me such and such lands,” and he named the two citizens that he +knew to have the best lands in the country, “and such a house,” and +he named a house that he knew to be the fairest in the whole city, “I +will lay aside my wrath, holding that I have had due satisfaction.” +Then they that sat by him answered, “Evenius, the men of Apollonia give +thee the satisfaction that thou demandest, according to the words of +the oracle.” Evenius, indeed, was very wroth when he heard the whole +matter, and knew how he had been deceived; but the men of Apollonia +bought the lands and the house from them that possessed them and gave +to Evenius the things which he had desired. Immediately after this +there fell upon him a gift of prophecy, so that he became famous +throughout Greece. Deiphonus, son of this Evenius, was now soothsayer +to the Greeks. But some say that Deiphonus was not truly his son, but +had taken his name and plied the trade of a soothsayer for hire. + +The Greeks, finding the signs to be good, sailed to Samos; but when the +Persians knew of their coming they left their place and sailed to the +mainland, having first sent away the ships of the Phœnicians, for they +judged that they could not meet the Greeks in battle, and they desired +to have the help of their army that was on the mainland; for Xerxes had +left at Mycale, that is over against Samos, sixty thousand men, under +Tigranes, a Persian of notable beauty and stature, to keep guard over +Ionia. + +So the captains of the Persian ships came to Mycale, and drew their +ships up on the shore and made a fence round them of stones and wood, +cutting down the fruit trees that were in the place, and setting stakes +in the ground about the fence. + +When the Greeks knew that the barbarians had fled to the mainland, they +were greatly troubled that the men had escaped out of their hands, and +doubted whether they should go home or sail to the Hellespont. But +in the end they did neither the one thing nor the other, but sailed +to the mainland, having got ready boarding bridges and other things +needful for a sea-fight. But when they were come to the place, there +were none to meet them, but they saw the ships drawn up within the +ramparts, and a great army sat in array along the shore. First of all +Leotychides sailed in his ship along the shore, keeping as close to the +shore as might be, and crying with a loud voice, “Men of Ionia that +chance to hear me, listen to that which I now say, for the Persians +will understand none of my words. When we join battle, remember all +of you first Freedom, and then our watchword, and this is Hebe. And +if there are any that chance not to hear me, let others tell my words +to them.” Now the purpose of these words was the same as of the words +which Themistocles wrote upon the rocks at Artemisium. If they came not +to the knowledge of the Persians, then they might persuade the Ionians; +but if they came to their knowledge they would cause the Persians to +put no trust in their allies. When Leotychides had ended speaking these +words, the allies brought their ships to the land and disembarked, and +set themselves in array for the battle. + +But the Persians, when they saw how the Greeks set themselves in array, +considered the words which had been spoken to the Ionians. And first of +all they took away from the men of Samos their arms, suspecting that +they favored the Greeks. This they did because the men of Samos had +paid the ransom of five hundred Athenians whom the armies of the King +had found lingering in the land of Attica, and had carried away captive +into Asia. Next after this they sent the men of Miletus to keep the +ways that led to the heights of Mycale, for they knew the country. This +they said, but in truth they desired to keep them outside the camp. +Thus did the Persians seek to guard themselves against the Ionians, +if these were minded to help the Greeks; and after this they made a +rampart of wicker shields to be a defence against the enemy. + +And now the Greeks, all things being ready, began to go forward against +the barbarians. And lo! as they went there ran a rumor through the +whole army and at the same time they saw a herald’s staff lying on the +sea-shore. And the rumor was this, that the Greeks were doing battle +in the land of Bœotia with the army of Mardonius, and were prevailing +over it. And this is one of the many proofs that the gods have a +thought for the affairs of men; for how else, when it had chanced that +this battle at Mycale and the ruin that fell on the Persians at Platæa +should fall out on the self-same day, came this rumor to the Greeks +making them to be of a good courage and willing to put their lives in +jeopardy? At Platæa the battle was in the morning, and at Mycale it was +toward evening. And before the rumor came they had been fearful, not +so much for themselves as for the Greeks, lest they should flee before +Mardonius. But now their fear ceased, and they ran forward both quicker +and with better courage. And indeed both the barbarians and the Greeks +had much eagerness for the battle, whereof the prize was the Hellespont +and the islands. + +Now the Athenians and they that were with them, being altogether +one-half the army, marched along the shore where the way was level, +but the Lacedæmonians with the rest of the army marched over hills +and the channel of a stream. And thus it came to pass that while +these were making their compass the Athenians had now joined battle. +So long as the wicker rampart was standing the Persians held their own +and were not worsted in the fight; but when the Athenians and their +fellows, desiring to have the victory for themselves, encouraged each +other and attacked the Persians more fiercely, things went otherwise. +For the Greeks burst through the rampart and fell in one body upon the +Persians. These indeed awaited their coming and held out for a time, +but at last fled into the fort. And the Athenians with the men of +Corinth and of Sicyon and of Trœzen--for these had been set next to the +Athenians--entered into the fort along with them. And now when their +fort was taken, the barbarians made no more resistance, but fled all of +them, save the Persians only. But while these still held out against +the Greeks, a few fighting together, there came up the Lacedæmonians +and the others, and slew them all. Not a few of the Greeks fell in this +battle, especially among the men of Sicyon. + +The men of Samos, from whom the Persians had taken their arms, did +good service to the Greeks while they were fighting. As for the men +of Miletus, they did not what had been commanded them, but led the +Persians astray, so that they went into the hands of the enemy, and at +last fell upon them with their own hands. Thus did Ionia revolt that +day a second time from the King. + + + + + Transcriber’s Notes + + Italic text is denoted by _underscores_. + + Perceived typographical errors have been silently corrected. + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78980 *** diff --git a/78980-h/78980-h.htm b/78980-h/78980-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b66cea3 --- /dev/null +++ b/78980-h/78980-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7066 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> +<head> + <meta charset="UTF-8"> + <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> + <meta name="format-detection" content="telephone=no,date=no,address=no,email=no,url=no"> + <title> + Stories of the Persian wars | Project Gutenberg + </title> + <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + <style> +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +h1,h2 { + text-align: center; + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .5em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .5em; +} +.p4 {margin-top: 4em;} +.fs80 {font-size: 0.8em;} +.fs120 {font-size: 1.2em;} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: 33.5%; + margin-right: 33.5%; + clear: both; +} +hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} +@media print { hr.chap {display: none; visibility: hidden;} } + +div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} +h2.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +.pagenum { + + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: small; + text-align: right; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal; + text-indent: 0; +} + +.center {text-align: center; text-indent: 0;} + +.allsmcap {font-variant: small-caps; text-transform: lowercase;} + + +.poetry-container {text-align: center;} +.poetry {text-align: left; margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%;} +.poetry .stanza {margin: 1em auto;} +.poetry .verse {text-indent: -3em; padding-left: 3em;} + + +.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; + color: black; + font-size:small; + padding:0.5em; + margin-bottom:5em; + font-family:sans-serif, serif; +} + +img { + max-width: 100%; + height: auto; +} +img.w100 {width: 100%;} + + +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; + page-break-inside: avoid; + max-width: 100%; +} + +.poetry .indent0 {text-indent: -3.0em;} +.poetry .indent2 {text-indent: -2.0em;} + +table.autotable { border-collapse: collapse; } +table.autotable td, +table.autotable th { padding: 0.25em; } +.tdl {text-align: left;} +.tdr {text-align: right;} + + +/* Illustration classes */ +.illowp45 {width: 45%;} +.x-ebookmaker .illowp45 {width: 100%;} + </style> +</head> + +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78980 ***</div> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp45" id="cover" style="max-width: 89.4375em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/cover.jpg" alt=""> +</figure> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<p><a id="Page_1"></a><a id="Page_2"></a><a id="Page_3"></a><a id="Page_4"></a><span class="pagenum">[Pgs 1-4]</span></p> + + +<h1> +Stories of the<br> +<br> +Persian Wars +</h1> + +<p class="center p4 fs120">CHURCH</p> + + +<p class="center p4">H. M. CALDWELL CO., PUBLISHERS</p> + +<p class="center">NEW YORK AND BOSTON</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_5"></a><a id="Page_6"></a>[Pgs 5-6]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CONTENTS"> + CONTENTS. + </h2> +</div> +<table class="autotable"> + <tr><th class="fs80">CHAPTER</th><th></th><th class="fs80">PAGE</th></tr> + <tr><td class="tdr">I.</td><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">OF THE REVOLT OF MILETUS</a></td><td class="tdr">7</td></tr> + <tr><td class="tdr">II.</td><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">OF THE TAKING OF MILETUS</a></td><td class="tdr">16</td></tr> + <tr><td class="tdr">III.</td><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">OF THE FIRST WAR AGAINST GREECE</a></td><td class="tdr">31</td></tr> + <tr><td class="tdr">IV.</td><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">OF THE BATTLE OF MARATHON</a></td><td class="tdr">39</td></tr> + <tr><td class="tdr">V.</td><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">OF THE SONS OF ALCMÆON AND THE END OF MILTIADES</a></td><td class="tdr">49</td></tr> + <tr><td class="tdr">VI.</td><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">HOW PREPARATION WAS MADE FOR THE SECOND WAR AGAINST THE GREEKS</a></td><td class="tdr">57</td></tr> + <tr><td class="tdr">VII.</td><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">OF THE SETTING FORTH OF XERXES</a></td><td class="tdr">71</td></tr> + <tr><td class="tdr">VIII.</td><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">OF THE MARCH OF XERXES</a></td><td class="tdr">79</td></tr> + <tr><td class="tdr">IX.</td><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">HOW XERXES CROSSED OVER INTO EUROPE AND OF HIS ARMY</a></td><td class="tdr">89</td></tr> + <tr><td class="tdr">X.</td><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">OF THE MARCH OF XERXES</a></td><td class="tdr">99</td></tr> + <tr><td class="tdr">XI.</td><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">OF THE PREPARATIONS OF THE GREEKS</a></td><td class="tdr">108</td></tr> + <tr><td class="tdr">XII.</td><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">OF THE ARMY AND THE SHIPS OF XERXES, AND OF THE FIRST FIGHTING WITH THE GREEKS</a></td><td class="tdr">119</td></tr> + <tr><td class="tdr">XIII.</td><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">OF THE BATTLE OF THERMOPYLÆ</a></td><td class="tdr">124</td></tr> + <tr><td class="tdr">XIV.</td><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">OF THE BATTLE OF THERMOPYLÆ (<i>Cont’d</i>)</a></td><td class="tdr">135</td></tr> + <tr><td class="tdr">XV.</td><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">OF THE SHIPS OF THE GREEKS AT ARTEMISIUM</a></td><td class="tdr">144</td></tr> + <tr><td class="tdr">XVI.</td><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">OF THE DEPARTURE OF THE GREEKS FROM ARTEMISIUM AND OF THE ADVANCE OF XERXES</a></td><td class="tdr">152</td></tr> + <tr><td class="tdr">XVII.</td><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">OF THE GREEKS AT SALAMIS AND OF THE CITY OF ATHENS</a></td><td class="tdr">159</td></tr> + <tr><td class="tdr">XVIII.</td><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">OF THE BATTLE OF SALAMIS</a></td><td class="tdr">170</td></tr> + <tr><td class="tdr">XIX.</td><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">OF THE FLIGHT OF XERXES</a></td><td class="tdr">180</td></tr> + <tr><td class="tdr">XX.</td><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">OF THE PREPARING OF THE PERSIANS AND OF THE GREEKS FOR THE WAR</a></td><td class="tdr">188</td></tr> + <tr><td class="tdr">XXI.</td><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">OF THE BATTLE OF PLATÆA</a></td><td class="tdr">197</td></tr> + <tr><td class="tdr">XXII.</td><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">OF THE BATTLE OF MYCALE</a></td><td class="tdr">214</td></tr> +</table> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="THE"> + <span class="fs80">THE</span><br><br> + <span class="fs120">STORY OF THE PERSIAN WAR.</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_I"> + CHAPTER I. + <br><br> + <span class="fs80">OF THE REVOLT OF MILETUS.</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>King Darius gave Myrcinus that is on the +river Strymon, in the land of Thrace, to Histiæus, +lord of Miletus, for a reward; for Histiæus +had done him good service in his warfare against the +Scythians. But when the man began to build a wall +about the place, one said to the King, “O King, +what is this that thou hast done, giving this city in +Thrace to a man that is a Greek, and wise moreover +and crafty? For in that country is great store of +timber for ship-building, and mines also of silver and +there are many inhabitants, both Greeks and barbarians, +who will take this fellow for a leader, and will +do what he shall bid them, working day and night. +Do thou therefore stay him in this work; but stay +him with soft words. Bid him come to thee, and +when he is come, take good care that he never go +among the Greeks any more.” This counsel seemed +good to the King. Wherefore he sent a messenger +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</span>to Histiæus, saying, “Thus saith the King, I am persuaded +that there is no man better disposed to me +and to my kingdom than thou. Come therefore to +me, for I have great matters in hand and would +fain ask thy counsel about them.” So Histiæus, +taking these words to be true, and counting it a +great thing to be the King’s counselor, came to Sardis +to Darius. And when he was come, Darius said +to him, “Hear now the cause wherefore I have sent +for thee. Since the day that thou didst depart from +me I have desired nothing so much as to see thee and +talk with thee; for in my judgment there is nothing +so precious as a friend that is both faithful and wise; +and this I know thee to be. Leave now thy city of +Miletus, and that also which thou art building in +Thrace, and come with me to Susa, for all that I have +is thine, and thou shalt live with me, and be my +counselor.”</p> + +<p>After this the King went up to Susa, taking Histiæus +with him. And he left Otanes to be captain of +them that dwell by the sea. This Otanes was the +son of a certain Sisamnes whom, being one of the +royal judges, and having given unrighteous judgment +for money, King Cambyses slew; and having slain +him, he flayed off his skin, and cutting it into strips +stretched them on the judgment-seat. And making +the son of Sisamnes to be judge in his father’s room, +he bade him remember on what manner of seat +he sat.</p> + +<p>In these days Miletus was the most prosperous of +all the cities of Ionia, though it had been brought +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</span>very low in the second generation before by strife +among its citizens. This strife was healed after this +fashion by the Parians, whom the men of Miletus +chose out of all the Greeks to be judges in their case. +These Parians went through the land of Miletus, and +wheresoever they saw in the country, which was for +most part desolate, any field well tilled, they wrote +down the name of the master of the field. And when +they had traversed the whole, and found not many +such, so soon as they were come back to the city, they +called an assembly, and made this award, that the +men whose fields they had seen to be well tilled +should bear rule, for they judged that such as managed +well their own affairs would manage well the +affairs of the State also. But now from this city of +Miletus, and from the island of Naxos, which was the +richest of all the islands, there came great damage to +the men of Ionia. It happened on this wise. Certain +of the rich men of Naxos, being banished by the +commons, fled to Miletus, of which city one Aristagoras +was lord in those days, being son-in-law to +Histiæus. And when the exiles prayed him for help +that they might come back to their own country, +Aristagoras, thinking that if they should come back +by his help, he should be lord of Naxos, said to them +(and he had this pretext for helping them that they +had been long time friends of his father in-law) “I +cannot bring you back to Naxos against the will of +the city, for I hear that they have eight thousand +men at arms, and many ships of war. But I have a +friendship with Otanes, that is brother to King +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</span>Darius, and captain of them that dwell by the sea, +and has many soldiers and ships. I will work with +him that he shall do what ye wish.” To this the +exiles agreed, saying that they would find pay for the +army. Then went Aristagoras to Otanes and said to +him, “There is a certain island of Naxos, not very +great, but a good land and fair, and near to Ionia, +and having in it much wealth and many slaves. If +thou wilt make war upon this island, bringing back +to it certain men that have been banished, thou shalt +receive much wealth from me, over and above the +cost of the war, for this it is just that we who desire +it should pay; also thou wilt win for the King Naxos +and the islands that are subject to it, and from thence +thou wilt be able to make war on Eubœa, a great +island and a rich, being not less than Cyprus, and +easy to be subdued. For all this a hundred +ships will be sufficient.” To this Otanes made +answer, “Truly thou bringest a matter that may +advantage the house of the King, and thy counsel is +good, save as to the number of the ships. There +shall be ready not one hundred, but two hundred in +the spring season. Only the King must approve of +the undertaking.” And when he had sent to the +King and had his assent, he made ready two hundred +ships of war, putting on them a great multitude +of Persians and allies, and setting Megabates, that +was nephew to him and to the King, to command +them. (It was the daughter of this Megabates that +Pausanias the Spartan would have taken to wife, if +indeed the story be true, when he sought to make +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</span>himself lord of Greece.) Megabates took with him +Aristagoras, and many soldiers from Miletus, and the +exiles, and sailed towards the Hellespont. But when +he came to Chios he cast anchor, waiting for a north +wind that he might sail to Naxos. And here—for it +was not to be that Naxos should perish at this time—there +befell this thing.</p> + +<p>As Megabates went about visiting the watches of +the fleet, he found a ship of Myndus in Caria that +had no watch set. Being very wroth at this, he bade +his guards find the captain of the ship (the man’s +name was Scylax,) and bind him in one of the tholes +of the oars, so that his head should be without the +ship and his body within. When the man had been +so bound, there came one to Aristagoras saying that +Megabates had bound Scylax of Mindus in a shameful +fashion. Then Aristagoras entreated of Megabates +that he would loose him; but, as he could not +prevail, he loosed the man himself. When Megabates +heard it he was very wroth with Aristagoras, +who said to him, “What hast thou to do with these +things? Wast thou not sent to do my pleasure, and +to sail whithersoever I should bid thee? Meddle not +then with other men’s matters.” Then Megabates, +in his anger, sent a messenger to the Naxians, so +soon as it was night, telling them what was preparing +against them. Now these had not thought of any +such thing; but when they heard it, forthwith they +carried their goods from out of the fields into the city, +and prepared themselves for a siege, making provision +of food and drink. When therefore the Persians +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</span>were come from Chios, they found the city of the +Naxians defended against them; and having besieged +it to no purpose for four months, when now all the +money they had brought with them was spent, and +much also that Aristagoras had furnished, they departed, +having first built forts for the exiles. Then +Aristagoras was in a great strait, for he could not fulfill +the promise that he had made to the servants of +the King, neither could he pay the money that had +been spent upon the war, and he feared lest, falling +into ill-favor with the Persians, being already at +enmity with Megabates, he should loose the lordship +of Miletus. For these causes he had it in his mind +to revolt from the King. And while he thought +thereon there came to him the man with the branded +head from Histiæus at Susa, with a message that he +should do this very thing. For Histiæus, seeking to +send word to Aristagoras, yet not being able to send +it safely, because the roads were guarded, devised +this thing. He took the most faithful of his slaves +and, shaving the man’s head, branded on it certain +letters. And when the hair was grown again he sent +him to Aristagoras with a message, “Look on this +man’s head when thou hast shaven it.” Now the +marks signified that he should revolt. And this +Histiæus did, counting it a grievous thing that he +was constrained to tarry at Susa; for he said to himself, +“If there be rebellion at Miletus, doubtless I +shall be sent down to the sea; but if not, I shall go +there no more.” Then Aristagoras took counsel with +his fellows, declaring to them his own judgment and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</span>the message that had come to him from Susa. To +them spake Hecatæus, the writer of chronicles. +First he counseled them not to make war against the +King, telling them of all the nations that he ruled +and of his might. And when he could not persuade +them, he said that they should certainly make themselves +masters of the sea, and that this they could do +only by laying hands on the treasures that had been +given by Crœsus the Lydian to the temple of Apollo +at Branchidæ, for these were very great, “since I +have good hope,” said he, “that by help of these ye +may have the upper hand at sea; any how, ye will +have the using of them, and they will not be a spoil +to the enemy.” But neither in this could he prevail. +Nevertheless they made ready to revolt. And first of +all they sent and laid hands by guile on the captains +of the ships that had sailed against Naxos. Such of +these men as were lords of their cities Aristagoras +gave into the hands of their citizens to do with them +as they would. And he gave up his own lordship at +Miletus. Thus lordship ceased out of all the cities +of Ionia.</p> + +<p>After this Aristagoras sailed to Sparta, for he had +need to make alliance with some city that could help +him. Now Cleomenes was King at Sparta in those +days; to him therefore Aristagoras opened the matter, +saying, “Marvel not, Cleomenes, that I have +been at the pain to come hither. That we men of +Ionia should be slaves and not free is a shame and +grief, first indeed to us, but next to you more than +all others, seeing that ye have the pre-eminence in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</span>Greece. Do ye therefore deliver us from slavery, +seeing that we are of the same blood with you. And +this ye can easily do, for these barbarians have but +small courage, in which ye, I know, excel. Their +manner of fighting is this. They have bows and +short spears, and for clothing they have loose tunics +and turbans on their heads. Think then how easily +ye can subdue them.” After this Aristagoras showed +to the King the divers nations and countries that +were obedient to the Persians, for he had a tablet of +brass on which was engraven the whole compass of +the world, with the sea and all the rivers. And he +set forth to him in what things each was excellent, +till he came at the last to the city of Susa. “Here,” +he said, “is the river Choaspes with the great city of +Susa, where the King has his palace. Here also are +his treasures, on which if ye can lay your hands ye +may without fear compare yourselves for riches to +Zeus himself. What profit is there to fight, and that +many times, for a few furlongs of barren land, with +Messenians, men that are your match, or with Arcadians +or Argives that have not gold or silver or any +such thing, for the getting of which a man might +willingly go in peril of his life, and this when ye +might be lords of all Asia?” Then said Cleomenes, +“Man of Miletus, I will give thee an answer in this +matter on the third day.” And on the third, when +they came together as had been appointed, the King +said, “Tell me, Aristagoras, of how many days is the +journey from the sea to this city of Susa?” Now in +every thing else Aristagoras had answered him +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</span>craftily; but in this he was taken unawares. For if +he would have had the Spartans come to Asia, he +should not have told the truth; but this he did tell, +for he said, “It is a journey of three months.” But +when the King heard this he would not suffer Aristagoras +to say what he would have told about the +journey, but cried, “Man of Miletus, depart from +Sparta before the setting of the sun; for thou hast +nothing to say that can profit the Spartans if thou +wouldst take them a journey of three months from +the sea.” When he had said this, the King departed +to his house. Then Aristagoras taking the garb of a +suppliant, went to him and besought him, as he had +regard to a suppliant, to listen to him. “But first,” +he said, “send away the child;” for there stood by +the King his little daughter, whose name was Gorgo. +This Gorgo was his only child, being now of eight or +nine years. But Cleomenes bade him say what he +would, and stay not for the child. Then Aristagoras +began with ten talents, promising that he would give +him so much if he would help him to that which +he desired. And when Cleomenes would not, he +promised yet more, till he came to fifty talents. +Then the child spake, “Father, this stranger will +corrupt thee unless thou rise up and depart.” This +counsel of the child greatly pleased Cleomenes, so +that he rose up from his place and went into another +chamber. After this Aristagoras departed from +Sparta, and came to Athens, knowing that this city +held the next place for power.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_II"> + CHAPTER II. + <br><br> + <span class="fs80">OF THE TAKING OF MILETUS.</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>The city of Athens had greatly increased in might +since it was rid of its lords. The manner of the +riddance was this. For a while after Hipparchus had +been slain—this Hipparchus, with Hippias his brother, +had received the lordship from Pisistratus his father, +and he had been slain at the festival of Athene—the +tyranny was more grievous than before. Now there +was in Athens a great house, the sons of Alcmæon, +and these had been banished by the children of Pisistratus. +At the first indeed joining with others who +were in like cause, they sought to obtain their return +by force, building a fort on Mount Parnes, whence +they might attack the city; but they accomplish +nothing. Then they devised this device. They made +a covenant with the council of the Amphictyons that +they would build the temple of Apollo that is in +Delphi for a certain sum of money. But in the +building they made all things fairer than according +to the letter of the covenant—and this they could do +by reason of their great wealth—and especially, when +it had been agreed that they should use common +stone in the building of the temple, they used for +the front thereof marble of Paros. After this they +persuaded the Pythia with a sum of money that +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</span>whenever any men from Sparta came to ask counsel +of the oracle, whether they came on their own affairs +or the affairs of the State, she should bid them set +free the city of Athens. When this message had +come to the Lacedæmonians many times, they sent +one of their chief citizens with an army to drive out +the children of Pisistratus from Athens. And this +they did, though the men were dear friends to them, +for they judged it well to prefer the bidding of the +Gods to the friendship of men. This army came by +sea and landed at Phalerus. And when the sons of +Pisistratus heard of it, they sent for help to Thessaly, +with which country they had alliance, and there +came to them from Thessaly a thousand horsemen, +under Cineas, King of Thessaly. With them they +assailed the camp of the Lacedæmonians, and slew +not a few of them, among whom was the captain of +the army, and drove such as were left into their +ships. After this the Lacedæmonians sent another +army, greater than before, under King Cleomenes, +sending them not in ships, but by land. These also, +so soon as they had crossed the borders, the horsemen +of the Thessalians attacked, but could not stand +before them, but fled back without delay into their +own land. Then Cleomenes, coming to the city and +taking to him such as were minded to drive out from +Athens its lords, besieged the sons of Pisistratus in +the Pelasgian fort; but they would not have accomplished +their purpose—for they had no mind to make +a long siege of the fort, and the sons of Pisistratus +had meat and drink in abundance—but would have +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</span>tarried a few days, and so departed, but for this +chance. The sons of Pisistratus sought to send their +children out of the country secretly; but the children +were taken. Then they made a covenant with the +Athenians that, if the children should be given back +to them, they would depart out of the country within +the space of five days. And this they did, their +house having had the lordship for thirty years and +six. Thus was Athens rid of its lords.</p> + +<p>Aristagoras then coming to this city of Athens +presented himself before the people, and said the +same words that he had said before in Sparta, about +the good things in Asia, and about the manner of +fighting of the Persians, how they had neither spear +nor shield, and were therefore easily to be conquered. +Also he said that the Milesians were colonists from +Athens, and that it was just that the Athenians, +being so mighty, should deliver them from slavery. +And because his need was great, there was nothing +that he did not promise, till at the last he persuaded +them. For it is easier, it seems, to deceive a multitude +than to deceive one man. Cleomenes the Spartan, +being but one man, Aristagoras could not deceive; +but he brought over to his purpose the people +of Athens, being thirty thousand. So the Athenians, +being persuaded, made a decree to send twenty ships +to help the men of Ionia, and appointed one Melanthius, +a man of reputation among them, to be captain. +These ships were the beginning of trouble +both to the Greeks and the barbarians.</p> + +<p>After this Aristagoras sailed to Miletus; and as +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</span>soon as he was gone there he did a thing which +could be of no profit to the men of Ionia, but vexed +King Darius. He sent a messenger to the Pæonians, +whom Megabazus had carried away captive from the +river Strymon and set down in Phrygia, saying, +“Thus saith Aristagoras, lord of Miletus, If ye will +obey him, ye shall have deliverance. All Ionia hath +rebelled against the King. Now therefore ye can +depart in safety to your own land. How ye shall get +to the sea ye must order for yourselves; but when ye +come thither, we will see to the matter.” The +Pæonians heard this with great gladness; and taking +with them their wives and their children, they fled to +the sea. Yet some of them were afraid and remained +behind. And when they had come to the sea, they +crossed over to Chios. And when they were already +in Chios there came a multitude of the horsemen of +the Persians, pursuing them, who, as they had not +been able to overtake them, sent messengers to them +in Chios, bidding them return to the land of Phrygia. +But the Pæonians would not hearken to them. +And the people of Chios carried them thence to +Lesbos, and the Lesbians carried them to Doriscus; +and from Doriscus they returned on foot to their own +land of Pæonia.</p> + +<p>When the twenty ships of the Athenians were +arrived, and with them five ships of the Eretrians, +which came, not for any love of the Athenians, +but because the Milesians had helped them in old +time against the men of Chalcis, Aristagoras sent an +army against Sardis, but he himself abode in Miletus.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</span> +This army, crossing Mount Tmolus, took the +city of Sardis without any hindrance; but the citadel +they took not, for Artaphernes held it with a great +force of soldiers. But though they took the city +they had not the plunder of it, and for this reason. +The houses in Sardis were for the most part built of +reeds, and such as were built of bricks had their roofs +of reeds; and when a certain soldier set fire to one +of these houses, the fire ran quickly from house to +house till the whole city was consumed. And while +the city was burning, such Lydians and Persians as +were in it, seeing that they were cut off from escape +(for the fire was in all the outskirts of the city), +gathered together in haste to the market-place. +Through this market-place flows the river Pactolus, +which comes down from Mount Tmolus, having gold +in its sands, and when it has passed out of the city it +flows into the Hermus which flows into the sea. Here +then the Lydians and Persians were gathered together, +being constrained to defend themselves. And when +the men of Ionia saw their enemies how many they +were, and that these were preparing to give battle, +they were stricken with fear, and fled out of the city +to Mount Tmolus, and thence, when it was night, +they went back to the sea. In this manner was +burned the city of Sardis, and in it the great temple +of the goddess Cybele, the burning of which temple +was the cause, as said the Persians, for which afterward +they burned the temples in Greece. Not long +after came a host of Persians from beyond the river +Halys; and when they found that the men of Ionia +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</span>had departed from Sardis, they followed hard upon +their track and came up with them at Ephesus. And +when the battle was joined, the men of Ionia fled +before them. Many indeed were slain, and such as +escaped were scattered, every man to his own city.</p> + +<p>After this the ships of the Athenians departed and +would not help the men of Ionia any more, though +Aristagoras besought them to stay. Nevertheless the +Ionians ceased not from making preparations of war +against the King, making to themselves allies, some +by force and some by persuasion, as the cities of the +Hellespont and many of the Carians and the island +of Cyprus. For all Cyprus, save Amathus only, +revolted from the King under Onesilus, brother of +King Gorgus.</p> + +<p>When King Darius heard that Sardis had been +taken and burned with fire by the Ionians and the +Athenians, with Aristagoras for leader, at the first he +took no heed of the Ionians, as knowing that they +would surely suffer for their deed, but he asked, +“Who are these Athenians?” And when they told +him he took a bow and shot an arrow into the air, +saying, “O Zeus, grant that I may avenge myself on +these Athenians.” And he commanded his servant +that every day, when his dinner was served, he should +say three times, “Master remember the Athenians.” +After this he called for Histiæus of Miletus, and said +to him, “Histiæus, I hear that thy deputy to whom +thou gavest over Miletus has rebelled, and has +brought men from over the sea to help him, and, +taking with him also certain of the Ionians (who +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</span>verily shall suffer for their wrong-doing), has taken +from me the city of Sardis. How can this have been +done without thy counsel? Take heed lest the blame +fall on thee.” Then answered Histiæus, “What is +this that thou hast said, that I should devise any evil +against thee? For what do I lack being here with +thee? If my deputy has done such things, he has +done them of his own counsel. Yet do I scarce believe +that he has done them. But if so, see what a +thing thou hast done in taking me away from the +coast country. Surely had I been yet there, no city +had been troubled. But now send me as speedily as +may be to the land of the Ionians, that I may set all +things in order as they were aforetime, and also deliver +up this deputy, if he has so done, into thy +hands. Verily, I swear by thy Gods, O King, that I +will not put off the tunic which I shall wear on the +day when I go down to the land of the Ionians, +before I make the great island of Sardinia tributary +to thee.” So Darius let him go, commanding him +when he had accomplished these things to come +back to him at Susa.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the Persians took not a few cities of the +Ionians and Æolians. But while they were busy +about these, the Carians revolted from the King; +whereupon the captains of the Persians led their +army into Caria, and the men of Caria came out to +meet them; and they met them at a certain place +which is called the White Pillars, near to the river +Mæander. Then there were many counsels among +the Carians whereof the best was this, that they +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</span>should cross the river and so contend with the Persians, +having the river behind them, that so there +being no escape for them if they fled, they might +surpass themselves in courage. But this counsel did +not prevail. Nevertheless, when the Persians had +crossed the Mæander, the Carians fought against +them, and the battle was exceedingly long and fierce. +But at the last the Carians were vanquished, being +overborne by numbers, so that there fell of them ten +thousand. And when they that escaped—for many +had fled to Labranda, where there is a great temple +of Zeus and a grove of plane trees—were doubting +whether they should yield themselves to the King or +depart altogether from Asia, there came to their help +the men of Miletus with their allies. Thereupon the +Carians, putting away their doubts altogether, fought +with the Persians a second time, and were vanquished +yet more grievously than before. But on this day +the men of Miletus suffered the chief damage. And +the Carians fought with the Persians yet again a third +time; for, hearing that these were about to attack +their cities one by one, they laid an ambush for them +on the road to Pedasus. And the Persians, marching +by night, fell into the ambush, and were utterly destroyed, +they and their captains.</p> + +<p>After these things, Aristagoras, seeing the power of +the Persians, and having no more any hope to prevail +over them—and indeed, for all that he had +brought about so much trouble, he was of a poor +spirit—called together his friends and said to them, +“We must needs have some place of refuge, if we be +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</span>driven out of Miletus. Shall we therefore go to Sardinia, +or to Myrcinus on the river Strymon, which +King Darius gave to Histiæus?”</p> + +<p>To this Hecateus, the writer of chronicles, made +answer, “Let Aristagoras build a fort in Leros (this +Leros is an island thirty miles distant from Miletus) +and dwell there quietly, if he be driven from Miletus. +And hereafter he can come from Leros and set himself +up again in Miletus.”</p> + +<p>But Aristagoras went to Myrcinus, and not long +afterwards was slain while he besieged a certain city +of the Thracians.</p> + +<p>And now Histiæus came down from Susa to Sardis. +When he was come to Sardis, Artaphernes, the governor, +inquired of him the cause why the Ionians +had rebelled, and when Histiæus said that he could +not tell, Artaphernes said, for indeed he knew the +whole matter, “The matter stands thus, Histiæus. +Thou hast stitched the shoe and Aristagoras has put +it on.” When Histiæus heard this, and perceived +that the thing was known, he fled to the coast. And +first he went to Chios, where the people cast him into +prison, but finding that he had rebelled against the +King set him at liberty; and from Chios he went to +Miletus; but the men of Miletus, being rid of one +lord, even Aristagoras, were not minded to take to +themselves another, and when he sought to make an +entrance by night, they fought against him and +wounded him in the thigh. After this, having got +ships from the Lesbians, he laid wait at the Hellespont +and seized all the ships that came forth from +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</span>the Black Sea unless they would take service with +him.</p> + +<p>Now the Persians had gathered together a great +host and a fleet also against Miletus; and the men of +Miletus sent deputies to the Great Ionian Council. +And the council resolved that they would not send an +army to fight against the Persians, but that the cities +should send all their ships, not leaving one behind, +and that they should be assembled at Lade, which is +an island near Miletus. So all the Ionians sent their +ships, a hundred coming from Chios, and eighty +from Miletus, and sixty from Lesbos. The number +of the whole was three hundred and fifty and three. +But the number of the ships of the barbarians was +six hundred.</p> + +<p>First the Persian captains sent for the lords of the +Ionian cities whom Aristagoras had driven out, and +said to them, “Now can ye do good service to the +house of the King. Let each seek to draw away his +own countrymen from the alliance of the Ionians; +and let him tell them that they shall suffer no harm +by reason of their revolt, but shall be in all points +even as they were in former days. But if they be +stubborn then shall they and their children be sold +into slavery, and their land shall be given unto +strangers.” Then the lords sent messengers to tell +these words to their countrymen; but these would +not hearken or betray their allies. And each people +thought that these promises were made to them only +and not to the others.</p> + +<p>Afterwards divers councils were held by the captains<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</span> +of the fleet, in which, after others had set forth +their opinions, Dionysius of Phocæa thus spake, +“Ye men of Ionia, now are our fortunes on the razor’s +edge, whether we shall be free men or slaves, and +slaves that are also runaways. If ye will endure for +the time some hardness, ye will be able to prevail +over your enemies and so be free forever; but if ye +continue in your present slothfulness and disorder, +there is no hope but that ye will suffer the wrath of +the King when he shall avenge himself on you for +your revolt. Be therefore persuaded by me and yield +yourselves to my commands; for if ye fulfill these +faithfully either will the Persians fly before us, or if +they fight, will be utterly vanquished.”</p> + +<p>The Ionians hearkened to these words and committed +themselves to Dionysius. And he every day +made them move their ships in column, and practice +with their oars, and exercise themselves in breaking +the line. And the fighting men were kept under +arms, and the ships remained on their anchors, so +that the men had toil without ceasing from morning +until night. These things the Ionians endured for +seven days, but on the eighth—for they were not accustomed +to such toil—being worn out with labor +and with the heat of the sun, they began to say to +each other, “Against what god have we sinned that +we suffer such things? Surely we were mad that we +gave ourselves to this boaster from Phocæa that has +brought but three ships only. For he has taken us +and plagued us with trouble that cannot be endured, +so that many of us have already fallen sick, and many +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</span>will soon fall. Surely it were better to endure anything +rather than these hardships. Even slavery +were better than this servitude. Let us therefore +yield him obedience no more.”</p> + +<p>After this they would not obey him, but pitched +their tents upon the island, as though they had been +soldiers, and lay in the shade, and would not practice +themselves on their ships, which when the captains +of the Samians perceived, they were more ready to +receive the offer which the Persians had made to +them. For they saw that there was no order among +the Ionians, nor did they hope to prevail over the +King, knowing that if they could vanquish this present +fleet that was arrayed against them, there would +come another five times as great. For this cause the +Samians made an agreement with the King.</p> + +<p>Now many days afterwards the ships of the Phœnicians +sailed out to do battle, and the Ionians sailed +against them. Who indeed bare themselves bravely +and who played the coward that day is not certainly +known, for the Ionians accused one another. But it +is said that the Samians, according to the agreement +that they had made, hoisted their sails and departed +to Samos, but that eleven ships remained in their +place and fought, for that the captains would not +obey the leaders. For this deed the state of Samos +granted them this honor, that their names should be +written on a pillar, and that the pillar should be set +up in the market-place of Samos. And this was +done. Also the men of Lesbos, when they saw what +their neighbors did, left also their place in the line; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</span>and indeed the greater part of the Ionians followed +in the same way. Of them that remained the men of +Chios were the most roughly handled. These had +come with a hundred ships, on each of which were +forty picked men at arms. Nor would they follow +an ill example when they saw others play the coward, +but behaved very valiantly, and though they were +left well-nigh alone, yet broke many times through +the lines of the enemy, and took many ships. And +at the last, such as were able fled to Chios; and such +as had their ships so sorely wounded that they could +not return, beached their ships at this isle, and +marched into the country of the Ephesians. This +they did in the night, and the Ephesians, thinking +that they were robbers that had come to steal away +their women—for they were keeping a festival—marched +out against them with their whole force +and slew them.</p> + +<p>As for Dionysius of Phocæa, when he saw that the +Ionians were conquered, he would not return to Phocæa, +for he knew that it must certainly fall into the +hands of the Persians, but sailed away with his own +ships and those that he had taken, and came to Phœnicia. +There he sank certain merchantmen and took +out of them a great booty. Afterwards he sailed to +Sicily, and became a pirate, sparing indeed Greek +ships, but taking ships of the Carthaginians and +Tuscans.</p> + +<p>The Persians besieged Miletus both by land and +sea, digging mines under the walls, and using against +it all manner of devices. And they took it in the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</span>sixth year from the time when Aristagoras caused it +to revolt from the King. Most of the men they slew, +and all the women and the children they made slaves; +and the temple of Apollo at Branchidæ, to which, as +has been said before, King Crœsus made many gifts, +they burned with fire. Such of the inhabitants of +Miletus as were not slain were sent up to Susa. The +King did them no further harm, but settled in the +city of Ampe, which is near to the Red Sea, by the +mouth of the river Tigris.</p> + +<p>The Athenians showed what great sorrow they had +at the taking of Miletus by many other proofs, and +especially by this. The poet Phrynichus made a +play, “The Taking of Miletus;” but when he showed +it on the stage the whole multitude in the theatre +wept. And they put a fine of a thousand drachmas +upon him because he had called to mind, they said, +their own misfortune. And they made a law that no +one thereafter should show this play.</p> + +<p>Not many days afterwards Histiæus was taken +prisoner by the Persians. Doubtless, had he been +sent to Susa, King Darius would have pardoned him. +And indeed, for fear of this, Artaphernes, governor of +Sardis, commanded him to be slain. His body he +fastened on a stake, and his head he embalmed and +sent it on to the King. When the King heard it, he +greatly blamed the governor, because he had not sent +him up alive; and he commanded that they should +take the head and dress it with all care, and so bury +it, for that this man had been a great benefactor to +the Persians.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</span></p> + +<p>After this the Persians took all the towns of the +Greeks on the mainland of Asia, and they netted the +islands. Now the manner of netting was this. The +men joined hands, making a line across the island +from north to south, and so passed through it from +end to end, hunting out all the inhabitants. Thus +were the cities of the Ionians enslaved for the +third time, once by Crœsus, King of the Lydians, +and twice by the Persians.</p> + +<p>After this the King, having conquered the Ionians, +bided his time till he should avenge himself upon +the Athenians.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_III"> + CHAPTER III. + <br><br> + <span class="fs80">OF THE FIRST WAR AGAINST GREECE.</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Mardonius, the son of Gobryas, came down +from Susa, and he had a great army and many +ships. He was a young man, and he had newly +married the daughter of King Darius. When he was +come to the land of Cilicia, he took ship and sailed +to the coast of Ionia, the other ships following him. +And being in Ionia he did this thing (a marvelous +thing, doubtless, in the eyes of them that believe not +the story of Otanes, how he would have set up among +the Persians the rule of the people); he cast down +from their place all the lords of the Ionians, setting +up in every city the rule of the people. When he +had done this he went with all haste to the Hellespont, +whither was gathered together a great multitude +of ships and many thousands of men. These +crossed the Hellespont in the ships, and so marched +through the land of Europe. And their purpose was, +as they said, to have vengeance on the cities of +Athens and Eretria; but in truth they had it in their +minds to subdue as many as they should be able of +the cities of the Greeks. First, then, they subdued +the Thracians. These did not so much as lift a hand +against the Persians, and so were added to the +nations whom they had in slavery. From Thasos +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</span>they went to Acanthus, and leaving Acanthus they +sought to pass round Mount Athos, which is a +great promontory, running far out into the sea. +Here there fell upon the ships a very mighty wind, +such as they could in no wise bear up against, and +did them much damage. Men say indeed that there +perished of the ships three hundred, and of men +more than twenty thousand. For the sea in these +parts is full of great monsters, which laid hold on +many of the men; many also were dashed against +the rocks, and were so destroyed; and some perished +because they could not swim, and some from cold. +Thus it fared with the ships. As for Mardonius and +his army, the Brygi, that are a tribe of Thracians, +assailed him in his camp by night and slew many of +his men, and wounded Mardonius himself. Notwithstanding, +the Brygi escaped not the doom of +slavery, for Mardonius left not this region till he had +utterly subdued them. But when he had done this +he went back to Asia, for his army had suffered much +from the Thracians, and his ships from the storm at +Mount Athos. Thus did this great undertaking +come to an end with little honor.</p> + +<p>For all this Darius changed not his purpose concerning +Athens and the other cities of Greece. For +every day, at his bidding, did his servant say to him, +“O King, remember the Athenians.” Also the +children of Pisistratus ceased not to speak against the +city. The King indeed desired, having for a pretense +his quarrel against the Athenians, to subdue all the +Greeks that would not give him earth and water; for +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</span>the giving of these things is to the Persians a token +of submission. Mardonius, seeing that he had fared +badly in his undertaking, the King discharged of his +office, appointing thereto Datis, that was a Mede, and +Artaphernes his brother’s son. These then he sent +on the same errand on which he had sent Mardonius, +saying to them, “Make slaves of the men of Eretria +and of the men of Athens, and bring them to me +that I may see them.” So these two went down from +the city of Susa to Cilicia, having with them a very +great army and well-appointed; and while they were +encamped here in a plain that is called the Aleian +plain, there came also to that country the whole array +of ships as had been commanded, and with the rest +ships designed for the carriage of horses, for in the +year before the King had commanded the inhabitants +that such should be built. On these ships, therefore, +they embarked their horses, and on the other ships +the rest of the army, and so set sail to Ionia, having +in all six hundred ships of war.</p> + +<p>But they sailed not along the coast after the former +manner, going northwards to the Hellespont and to +Thrace, but voyaged through the islands, beginning +with Samos; and this they did, as it seems, because +they feared the going round Mount Athos, remembering +what loss and damage they had suffered at +this place in the former expedition. Also they had +Naxos in their mind, for this had not as yet been +conquered. They sailed, therefore, first to Naxos, +and the people of the island did not abide their coming, +but fled forthwith to the mountains. And the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</span>Persians made slaves of all on whom they could lay +their hands, and burned the temples and the city +with fire, and so departed. While they were doing +these things the men of Delos left their island of +Delos and fled to Tenos. But Datis suffered not the +ships of the Persians to come to anchor at Delos, but +bade them tarry over against it in Rhenea; and having +heard where the men of Delos had bestowed +themselves, he sent an herald, saying, “Holy men, +why have ye fled from your dwelling-place, and have +thought that which is not fitting concerning me? +For indeed my own purpose and the commandment +also which has been laid upon me by the King is this, +that we should do no harm to the land in which the +two Great Ones, Apollo and Artemis, were born, +neither to it nor to the inhabitants thereof. Return +ye therefore to your own dwellings and inhabit +your island.” This was the message which Datis +sent to the men of Delos; and afterward he burned +three hundred talents’ weight of frankincense upon +the altar of their temple. And it came to pass that +when he had departed from Delos, the island was +shaken by an earthquake. Now it had never been so +shaken before, nor hath been since. This thing, +without doubt, happened for a sign to the sons of +men of the evils that were coming upon them. And +indeed, in the days of Darius the son of Hystaspes, +and Xerxes the son of Darius, and Artaxerxes the +son of Xerxes, that were kings of Persia, the one +after the other, there befell the Greeks worse evils +than had befallen them for twenty generations before +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</span>the days of Darius, of which evils some indeed came +from the Persians and some from the chief among +themselves when they contended together for the +pre-eminence. Therefore it may well be believed +that Delos had never been shaken before as it was +shaken in these days.</p> + +<p>From Delos the barbarians sailed to the other +islands of that sea. And whithersoever they came +they took some of the islanders to serve in the army +and the ships, and of their children some to be +hostages. But when they came to Carystus, the people +of the land would not give hostages, neither were +they willing to help in making war upon the cities +of their neighbors, meaning thereby Eretria and +Athens. Then the Persians besieged their town and +laid waste their country till the men of Carystus +agreed to do as had been required of them.</p> + +<p>When the Eretrians heard that the Persians were +coming against them with a great host and many +ships, they sent to the Athenians praying for help. +This the Athenians refused not to give, but sent to +such of their citizens as had had land allotted to them +in the country of the horse-breeding Chalcidians that +they should go to the help of the men of Eretria. +But these, though they sent this message to the +Athenians, had no steadfast or worthy purpose in +the matter. Some of them indeed were for leaving +the city, that they might flee to the hill country of +Eubœa, but others, looking only to their own gain, +and thinking that they should best get this from the +Persians, made ready to betray their country. This, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</span>when Æschines the son of Nothus, than whom there +was none greater in Eretria, heard, he told to the +Athenians that had come the whole matter, and said +to them: “Depart ye straightway to your own country, +lest ye also perish.” And the Athenians hearkened +to the counsel of Æschines and departed, crossing +the Oropus, and so got safe away. After this the +ships of the Persians came to the land of Eretria, and +put out the horses that they carried, and made ready +as if they would fight with the enemy. But the +Eretrians had no mind to come out of their walls and +fight; only they hoped that they might perchance +keep these against the enemy, for as to the counsel +of leaving their city and fleeing to the hills, this +they had given up. Then the Persians attacked the +wall with great fury; and for six days they fought, +many being slain on both sides; but on the seventh +day, two men, of good repute among the citizens, +whose names were Euphorbus and Philagrus, betrayed +Eretria to the Persians; and these entering +into the city, first burned the temples, thereby +revenging the burning of the temples of Sardis, and +next made slaves of all the people, according as King +Darius had given them commandment.</p> + +<p>When they had thus dealt with Eretria, they sailed +against Athens, having no doubt that they should +speedily deal with this also after the same fashion. +And seeing that Marathon was the most convenient +for their purpose, and nearest also to Eretria, thither +did Hippias the son of Pisistratus lead them. And +the Athenians, so soon as they heard of their coming, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</span>marched with their whole force to Marathon. Ten +generals they had, of whom the tenth was Miltiades +the son of Cimon, the son of Stesagoras.</p> + +<p>This Cimon had been banished from Athens by +Pisistratus. And it chanced to him that as he went +into banishment he won the prize at Olympia for the +race of four-horse chariots. This same prize his half-brother +Miltiades had also won. And in the next +games at Olympia, being five years afterwards, he +won again with the same mares; but granted to +Pisistratus that his name should be proclaimed as +the winner. Because he did this he came back to +Athens under safe-conduct. And yet again he won +the same prize with the same mares at the games +next following; and having done this he was slain by +the sons of Pisistratus, for Pisistratus himself was +not yet alive. In the common hall was he slain by +men that were sent against him at night. He is +buried before the City, beyond the road that is called +the Hollow Road; and over against him are buried +the mares that won for him these prizes. This same +thing was done by other four mares, belonging to +Evagoras the Lacedæmonian, but besides these none +other have done it. This Cimon had two sons, of +whom the elder, Stesagoras, was brought up by his +friends in the Chersonese, and the younger, being +named Miltiades, after this same uncle, was with his +father in Athens.</p> + +<p>This Miltiades then the Athenians had chosen with +nine others to be general. But before this he had +but narrowly escaped death. For first the Phœnicians<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</span> +pursued him as far as Imbros, being very +desirous to lay hands upon him and to take him to +the King. And when he had escaped from these, +and, coming to his own country, believed that he +was now in safety, his enemies brought him into +judgment by reason of the lordship which he had +had in the Chersonese. But these, too, he escaped, +and the people chose him for their general.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IV"> + CHAPTER IV. + <br><br> + <span class="fs80">OF THE BATTLE OF MARATHON.</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>First of all the generals, before they led forth +their army out of the city, sent a herald to +Sparta, Pheidippides by name, who was an Athenian +by birth, and by profession a runner, and one who +had diligently exercised himself, and was very swift +of foot. This man affirmed and declared to the +Athenians that when he came in his running to +Mount Parthenius, which is above Tegea, there met +him the god Pan, and that Pan called him by his +name, Pheidippides, and said to him: “Say to the +Athenians, Why do they take no heed of me, though +I am their friend, and have often done them good +service in time past, and will do so hereafter?” The +Athenians, believing that this story was true, afterwards, +when things had gone well with them, built a +temple to the god Pan under the Acropolis, and +honored him with yearly sacrifices and a procession +of torches. Pheidippides then, being thus sent by +the generals, came to Sparta on the next day. (Between +Athens and Sparta there are one hundred and +thirty and seven miles.) And so soon as he was +come he went to the rulers and said: “O men of +Sparta, the Athenians pray you that ye come and +help them, and suffer not the most ancient city in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</span>the land of Greece to be brought into slavery by the +barbarians. Already have they brought men of +Eretria into slavery, and Greece hath become the +weaker by a famous city.” This message did Pheidippides +deliver to the Spartans. And to them when +they heard it seemed good that they should help the +men of Athens. Only they could not go to their +help forthwith, because they would not break the +law. For it was then but the ninth day of the moon; +and on the ninth day it was unlawful for them, they +said, to march, because the moon was not yet full. +Therefore they waited for the full moon.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Hippias the son of Pisistratus led +the Persians to Marathon; and the prisoners from +Eretria he landed on the island that is called Ægileia. +And when the barbarians had disembarked from the +ships he busied himself with the setting of them in +order. In the doing of this it happened to him to +sneeze and cough with much violence; and, he being +an old man, his teeth for the most part were grievously +shaken, and one of them he spat forth. This +tooth fell into the sand, and he made much ado to +find it, but could not. Seeing this he groaned, and +said to them that stood by: “This land is not ours, +neither shall we be able to subdue it; as for the share +of it that was mine this tooth has taken it.”</p> + +<p>By this time the army of the Athenians was drawn +up in the precinct of Hercules. To them being there +there came the men of Platæa, every man that was +able to bear arms. For the Platæans had before this +given themselves over to Athens, and the Athenians +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</span>had by this time had no small trouble on their +behalf.</p> + +<p>The cause of the Platæans so giving themselves +over was this. At the first, when they were pressed +hard by the Thebans, they came to King Cleomenes, +who chanced to be in their country, and would have +given themselves over to him and the Lacedæmonians. +But Cleomenes and his people would not receive +them, saying: “We dwell in a country that is very +far from you, and our help would be but of small +avail to you. For indeed it might happen to you, +and not once only, that ye should be made slaves +before any of us could so much as hear of the matter. +Therefore we counsel you to give yourselves over to +the men of Athens; seeing that they dwell close at +hand and are good to help.” This was the counsel of +the Lacedæmonians, which they gave, not because +they had any love for the men of Platæa, but thinking +that the Athenians would have trouble without +end if by these means they should be set at enmity +with the Thebans. The men of Platæa willingly +hearkened to their counsel, and sent envoys, who, +journeying to Athens, sat themselves down on the +altar and surrendered themselves, the Athenians keeping +at this time the festival of the twelve gods. +When the Thebans heard what had been done they +marched against the men of Platæa; and on the +other hand the Athenians came to their help. +When these were now about to join battle, the +Corinthians—for they chanced to be there—would +not suffer them so to do, but made an agreement +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</span>between them, both consenting thereunto. This +agreement was that if any of the dwellers in Bœotia +wished not to come into the league of Thebes, it +should be lawful for them to stand aloof. When the +Corinthians had given this sentence they departed +to their own city. The Athenians also departed; +but as they were on their way, the Thebans set upon +them, but were worsted in the battle. Then the +Athenians were no longer willing to abide by the +boundaries which the Corinthians had determined +for the men of Platæa, but took instead the river +Asopus to be the boundary between them and the +Thebans. So now the men of Platæa, being willing +to make a return to the Athenians for the benefit +which they had received, came to their help at Marathon.</p> + +<p>The generals of the Athenians were divided in +their opinion, some being unwilling that they should +join battle with the Persians, for they considered +how few in numbers they were to stand against so +great a host; but others, among whom was Miltiades, +were for joining battle. Then, there being this division, +as it seemed likely that the worse counsel would +prevail, Miltiades went to the war-archon, whose +name was Callimachus, a man of Aphidnæ. The +war-archon among the Athenians was appointed by +lot, and in former days it was the custom that he +should vote together with the ten generals. To him +therefore went Miltiades, and spake to him these +words: “Thou hast it in thine hands, O Callimachus, +either to bring Athens under the yoke of slavery, or +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</span>to make it free for evermore, and in so doing to gain +for thyself a name that shall never die, and glory +such that not even Harmodius and Aristogeiton won +for themselves. For indeed never since Athens was +a city has it come into such danger as that wherein it +now stands. For if it bow its neck to the yoke of +the barbarian and be given over to this Hippias, +what it will suffer thou knowest very well; but if it +escape this danger, then will it become the very first +city in the land of Greece. And now I will set forth +to thee how these things may pass, and also how it +lies with thee to determine whether they shall turn +out for the better or the worse. We generals are ten +in number, and our opinions are divided, for some +would have us join the battle with the Persians, and +others would not. Now hear what will take place if +we join not battle with these strangers forthwith. +There will be a great dispute in the city, and the +counsels of men will be turned aside from the right, +so that the party of the Persians will prevail. But if +we join battle before this evil begin to show itself, +then I doubt not, if the Gods deal fairly with us, that +we shall prevail in battle, and so be safe. And now +all this lies upon thee, whether it shall be so or no. +If thou wilt add thy vote to my vote, then shall this +thy native country be free, and shall be the first city +in all Greece. But if, on the other hand, they that +be unwilling to fight shall gain the day, then shall +happen to us the contrary of all the good things of +which I have spoken.” With these words Miltiades +persuaded Callimachus; and when the vote of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</span>war-archon was given to them that counseled battle, +it was agreed that battle should be given. After this, +each one of those generals that had given his vote for +joining battle, when his turn of command came +round—for each man commanded in turn day by day—gave +up his turn to Miltiades. Nevertheless Miltiades +made not use of any of their turns, but waited +till his own proper turn came round. And when this +was come then the Athenians were drawn up in order +of battle; their right wing was led by Callimachus—for +in those days it was the custom among the Athenians +that the war-archon should lead the right wing—and +after him came the tribes of the Athenians, +one after the other, in their order, according to their +numbers, and last of all, upon the left wing, were the +men of Platæa. And ever since the battle that was +fought upon this day it has been the custom among +the Athenians, when they hold their sacrifice and +solemn convocation in the fifth year, that the herald +of the Athenians should pray aloud in these words: +“May the Gods send all blessings to the men of +Athens and to the men of Platæa.” Now the Athenians +sought to make their line of battle equal to the +line of the Persians; and that they might do so they +took away men from the center, so that this was the +weakest part of the army, the wings being the strongest. +And so, so soon as the battle had been set in +array, and the sacrifice being made appeared to be favorable, +then the Athenians, being let go, charged +the Persians at a running pace, the space between the +two armies being eight furlongs or thereabouts. And +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</span>the Persians, when they saw them coming against +them at a run, made ready to receive them, but +thought that they must be possessed with utter madness +and frenzy, seeing that they were so few in number +and yet were running to meet them, and this +though they had neither horsemen nor archers. So +the barbarians judged; but not the less the Athenians, +joining battle in one body with their enemies, quitted +themselves in a manner worthy of all praise. For +indeed never before had Greeks so charged against +their enemies in battle at a running pace, nor had +any before endured to see without fear men clad and +armed in the fashion of the Medes. For indeed before +that day the very name of the Medes had been a +terror to the Greeks to hear. Long time did the barbarians +and Athenians fight together in Marathon. +In the middle of the line the barbarians prevailed, +for there the Persians and the Sacæ had their place. +These broke the line of the Greeks, and pursued +them for some space toward the mountains. But on +each of the two wings the Greeks prevailed, the +Athenians being on the one wing and the men of +Platæa upon the other. These, having broken their +enemies, suffered them to flee, and then wheeling +round the two wings upon the barbarians that had +broken the middle of the line, they prevailed over +these also. Then the Persians fled to their ships, +and the Athenians pursued them, smiting them and +slaying them; and when they, pursuing them, came +to the sea, they called for fire and would have burned +the ships. In this part of the battle fell Callimachus, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</span>the war-archon, who had shown himself that day a +man of valor. Also there fell Stesilaus, son of Thrasilaus, +being one of the ten generals. Also Cynægirus, +son to Euphorion, whose brother was Æschylus the +poet, was slain at this time; for, laying hold of the +stern ornament of one of the ships of the Persians, +he had his hand cut off by the blow of an axe; and +there perished with him other Athenians also of note +and name. Nevertheless the Athenians took seven +of the ships at this time. With the rest the barbarians +pushed off from the shore, and having taken up +the prisoners from Eretria from the island whereon +they had left them, they sailed round the promontory +of Sunium, hoping that they should come to the city +before that the army of the Athenians should be able +to return thither. In this matter the house of the +sons of Alcmæon were accused by their fellow-countrymen, +who said that they had held up a shield for +a signal to the Persians; and that it had been covenanted +that they should do so, that the Persians +might take the city unawares and empty of men. So +the Persians sailed round Cape Sunium; and the +Athenians marched with all the speed that they could +that they might defend the city; and when they were +come they encamped in the precinct of Hercules, +that is at Cynosargæ; and it so chanced that they +came from the precinct of Hercules that is in Marathon. +For a while the ships of the barbarians lay +off Phalerum, which was in those days the port of +Athens, but in no long time sailed back to Asia.</p> + +<p>In this battle that was fought at Marathon there +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</span>were slain of the barbarians six thousand and four +hundred or thereabouts, and of the Athenians one +hundred and ninety and two. In the battle also +there happened this marvel. A man of Athens, +Epizelus by name, the son of Couphagoras, fighting +in the press, and bearing himself bravely, was of a +sudden smitten with blindness, and this without +being wounded any where in the body or stricken at +all. And he was blind for the remainder of his days. +Now the story which this man told about the matter +was this. “I saw,” he said, “a man of great stature +fully armed stand over against me, and he had a +great beard that covered his whole shield. Me indeed +he passed by, but the man that stood next to me he +smote and slew.”</p> + +<p>When Datis was on his way to Asia, being at +Myconos, he saw a vision in his sleep. What this +vision was no man knows; but this is certain that so +soon as the day dawned he caused a search to be +made in all the ships; and in a certain Phœnician +ship he found an image of Apollo that was covered +with gold, and would know whence it had been +brought. And when he knew from what temple it +had been taken, he sailed with his own ship to Delos. +And he put the image in the temple and laid a command +upon the men of Delos—for they had by this +time come back to their island—that they should +carry back the image to the Delian temple of the +Thebans. (This temple stands on the sea shore over +against Chalcis.) When he had given these commands +Datis departed, but the men of Delos neglected +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</span>to do as he had said; but twenty years after the Thebans, +having been warned by an oracle, fetched it +themselves.</p> + +<p>When Datis and Artaphernes were come to Asia +they took the people of Eretria whom they had carried +away captive and brought them up to Susa, to +King Darius. Now King Darius had before this been +greatly enraged against the people of Eretria, holding +that they had done him wrong without provocation; +but when he saw them thus brought before him +and in his power, he did them no harm, but settled +them in a station of his own in the land of the Cissia. +This station was called Ardericca, and it is distant +from Susa twenty and six miles or thereabouts. Five +miles from this Ardericca is a great well whence they +got three things, to wit, bitumen, salt and oil. Here +then King Darius settled the people of Eretria, and +here they remained many years afterwards, still +speaking their own language.</p> + +<p>When the full moon was past there came to Athens +two thousand Lacedæmonians, having marched with +all speed, so that they came to Athens on the third +day after they had set out from Sparta. These, +though they had come too late for the battle, much +desired to see the Persians that had been slain. So +they went to Marathon, and when they had seen +them and had greatly praised the Athenians and +their valor, they departed to their own home.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_V"> + CHAPTER V. + <br><br> + <span class="fs80">OF THE SONS OF ALCMÆON AND THE END OF + MILTIADES.</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>This story that they tell of the sons of Alcmæon, +how they held up a shield to the Persians seeking +to destroy the city, that it might be under the +lordship of Hippias, is passing strange, seeing that +the house of Alcmæon had showed itself an enemy +to tyrants not less than any other house among the +Greeks. And indeed so long as the lordship of the +sons of Pisistratus endured at Athens, so long did +they remain in exile; and as for the ending of this +lordship, they are to be praised for it rather than are +Harmodius and Aristogeiton, for these did but make +the sons of Pisistratus the more cruel by slaying Hipparchus; +but as for making their tyranny to cease +they did nothing. This was the work of the sons of +Alcmæon if it be true, as has been told, that they had +persuaded the Pythia for money to lay this charge +upon the Lacedæmonians that they should cause +Athens to be free. Nor indeed is it to be thought +that the sons of Alcmæon betrayed their country by +reason of anger against their countrymen; for there +were none in those days of greater reputation than +were these men, nor any that were more honored. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</span>That a shield was held up is certain; but as to who it +was that held it up, this no man knows.</p> + +<p>As for the house of Alcmæon it was famous in +Athens from the beginning; but there were two men +that more than all others made it to be of great +renown; and these two were Alcmæon and Megacles. +As for Alcmæon, how he got him great riches from +Crœsus, King of Lydia, has been told already; and +as for Megacles the matter stands thus.</p> + +<p>Cleisthenes, son of Aristonymus, being lord of +Sicyon, would have for his daughter’s husband that +man whom he should find to be noblest of all the +Greeks. The name of this daughter was Agarista. +For this purpose he caused proclamation to be made +at the festival of Olympia, where he had won a victory +with a chariot of four horses. And the proclamation +was this: “Let any Greek who holds himself +to be worthy of being son-in-law to Cleisthenes +come on the sixtieth day, or before it if he will, to +the city of Sicyon, for Cleisthenes will determine in +the space of a year, beginning with the sixtieth day, +to whom he should give his daughter in marriage.” +To Cleisthenes therefore came so many of the Greeks +as thought much of themselves or of their house; +and he had prepared a course for foot-racing and a +wrestling ground to make trial of them. From Italy +came Smindyrides of Sybaris, that was the most +luxurious liver of all the men of his day. And those +were the times when the city of Sybaris was at the +very height of its prosperity. And from Ætolia +there came Males brother of Titormus. This Titormus<span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</span> +excelled all men in strength. He it was that +seeking to withdraw himself altogether from the +sight of men fled into the furthest parts of Ætolia. +There came also Leocedes, son of Pheidon, that was +lord of Argos. This was that Pheidon who brought +in the weights and measures that the dwellers in +Peloponnese use. No man was more arrogant than +he. He drove out the men of Elis from being masters +of the festivals of Olympia and was master himself. +Also among the suitors was Laphanes the +Arcadian, the son of Euphorion, who, so say the +Arcadians, received in his house the Twin-Brethren, +and ever after used hospitality to all comers. From +Athens there came Hippoclides, the son of Tisander, +who excelled all the Athenians in riches and beauty; +and also Megacles, being son to that Alcmæon whom +King Crœsus had made rich. These and others also +came to Sicyon as suitors for Agarista on the sixtieth +day, as had been appointed. Then Cleisthenes first +of all inquired of each his country and his father’s +house; and afterwards, for the space of a whole year, +made trial of their courage and their temper and +their training and their behavior, having converse +with them sometimes one by one and sometimes +altogether. Such as were younger among them he +would send to the place of games; but chiefly he +made trial of all at the banqueting table. Thus he +behaved himself with them for the space of a whole +year entertaining them right splendidly the whole +year. And of all the suitors none pleased him so +well as the two that came from Athens, and of these +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</span>two he inclined the rather to Hippoclides, not only +for his high carriage, but also because he was of kin +to the house of Cypselus that had had the lordship of +Corinth.</p> + +<p>When the day came for the espousals, and for +Cleisthenes to declare his mind whom he chose out +of the suitors for his daughter’s husband, he sacrificed +a hundred oxen and made a great feast to the suitors +and to all the people of Sicyon. And after the feast +the suitors contended with each other in music and +in speaking on some subject that was proposed to +them. And as the drinking went on, Hippoclides, +all the others wondering much at him, bade the +flute-player play music to him; and when the flute-player +did so, he danced. And in this dancing he +pleased himself marvelously, but Cleisthenes looked +askance on the whole business. Again, after resting +awhile, Hippoclides bade them bring a table; and +when the table was brought, he mounted upon it, +and danced, first certain Spartan figures, and then +certain Athenian; and at the last, with his head +upon the table, he began to toss his legs about in the +air. During the first dancing, and during the second, +Cleisthenes held his peace, not wishing to break out +upon the man, though indeed he loathed to think of +having Hippoclides for a son-in-law, so much did he +hate the man’s passion for dancing and his shamelessness. +But when he saw him tossing his legs in +the air he could restrain himself no longer, but cried +aloud: “Son of Tisander, thou hast danced away thy +wife!” And the young man said: “Hippoclides +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</span>does not care!” which words have become a proverb +among the Greeks. After this Cleisthenes commanded +silence, and spake thus in the midst of the +suitors: “My friends that are come to be suitors of +my daughter, I am well pleased with all of you, and +gladly would I content you all, if it were possible, +and not choose out one from among you and reject +the rest. But this, seeing that I have to dispose of +a single maiden in marriage, I cannot do. To you +therefore who are disappointed in your suit I give a +gift, a talent of silver to each man, because ye +have done me honor in seeking to take a wife from +my house, and because ye have been at charge, living +away from your homes. But my daughter Agarista +I betroth to Megacles, the son of Alcmæon, after the +custom of the land of Attica.” And when Megacles +had also plighted his troth, the marriage was made. +Thus did the house of Alcmæon become famous +throughout the land of Greece. To these two, Megacles +and Agarista, was born Cleisthenes, the same +that divided the Athenians into tribes and set up also +the rule of the people. This name he had from his +grandfather of Sicyon. Also there was born another +son, Hippocrates, and Hippocrates had a son Megacles +and a daughter Agarista. This Agarista was +married to Xanthippus the son of Ariphon; and +being with child, she had a vision in her sleep, and +dreamed that she brought forth a lion. Not many +days afterwards she bore a son whose name was +Pericles.</p> + +<p>Now shall be told the end of Miltiades. This man, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</span>after the battle that was fought at Marathon, having +been held before in high esteem among his countrymen, +increased yet more in reputation. This being +so, he asked of the Athenians seventy ships and an +army and money. He told them not to what place +he purposed to take the ships, saying only that if +they would hearken to him he would greatly enrich +them; for he would take them to a land whence +they might easily get gold without stint. In this +way he asked for the ships, and the Athenians, being +carried away by what they heard, gave him that +which he asked for. Then Miltiades, having got the +ships and the army, sailed to the island of Paros. +And the cause which he pretended for so doing was +that the Parians had first made war against Athens, +for that they had sent a ship of war with the Persians. +This cause indeed he pretended; but in truth +he had a grudge against a certain man of Paros, +Lysagoras by name, because he had slandered him to +Hydarnes the Persian. When Miltiades was come to +Paros, the Parians took refuge within their walls; +and a siege was begun. Then he sent a herald to the +city, and demanded of the Parians a hundred talents, +saying that he would not take his army thence till +he had destroyed them, if they would not pay the +money. Now the Parians had no thought of paying +the money to Miltiades; but they did their utmost to +strengthen their city against him, contriving many +devices, among which was this, that where the wall +was weakest there they built it up to twice the +height that it had before.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</span></p> + +<p>So far in the story are the Greeks agreed. But +what happened after this is thus told by the men of +Paros. To Miltiades, being in great straits, there +came a woman that was a priestess, a Parian by +birth, whose name was Timo; and she was a priestess +of the lower gods, but one of the meaner sort. This +woman came to Miltiades and said to him: “If thou +hast set thy mind on taking Paros, do what I shall +tell thee and thou shalt have thy wish.” And when +she had unfolded to him her counsel, he went to the +hill that is before the city and leaped over the fence +that is about the precinct of Demeter the Lawgiver, +for the door he was not able to open. And after +leaping over the fence, he went to the sanctuary; +and what he purposed to do therein, whether to move +any of the things that may not be touched, or any +other thing, no man can say; but when he was come +to the door there fell suddenly upon him a great +horror, so that he went back by the way by which +he had come. But as he leaped over the fence he +strained his thigh, or, as some say, he bruised his +knee upon the ground.</p> + +<p>After this Miltiades, being in evil case, went back +to Athens, but he brought the people no money, +neither had he conquered Paros for them. Only he +had besieged the city for twenty and six days, and +had laid waste the island. And when the men of +Paros knew of the priestess, that she had led Miltiades +into the temple, so soon as the siege was at an end +they sent worshippers to Delphi who should inquire +whether they should not slay the priestess that had +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</span>meditated the betraying of the country, and had +caused Miltiades to see the holy things which it is +not lawful for any man to behold. But the Pythia +answered: “Slay her not; for it was the will of the +Gods that Miltiades should come to an evil end, and +this woman led him unto the same.” As for Miltiades, +when he was come back to Athens the Athenians +had much talk about him; and the chief of +his enemies was Xanthippus. This man brought him +to trial for his life before the people, whom, he said, +he had deceived. And Miltiades, though he was +present at his trial, could not plead for himself +because his thigh was sorely diseased, but lay there +upon a couch, while his friends pleaded earnestly on +his behalf, saying much about the battle of Marathon +and how he had taken the island of Lemnos. And +the favor of the people was with him, so that they +did not take away his life; yet was he condemned for +his wrong-doing in a fine of fifty talents. After this +Miltiades died in his prison, for the bone of his thigh +had splintered, and the flesh was mortified. And the +fine was paid by Cimon his son.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VI"> + CHAPTER VI. + <br><br> + <span class="fs80">HOW PREPARATION WAS MADE FOR THE SECOND + WAR AGAINST THE GREEKS.</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>When King Darius heard tidings of the battle at +Marathon, his wrath, which was already hot +against the Athenians by reason of their doings at +Sardis, waxed yet more fierce, so that he was more +earnest than ever to make war against Greece. And +straightway he sent messengers to all the cities in his +dominions, bidding them gather together soldiers—and +of these many more than he had commanded before—and +with these, ships and horsemen and food +and vessels of transport. And for the space of three +years after these commands had been given, all Asia +was in an uproar, seeing that the bravest of her +children were being chosen to march against the +Greeks, and were making ready to go. But in the +fourth year the Egyptians, who had been enslaved by +Cambyses, revolted. Then was Darius more zealous +than before to march both against the Athenians and +the Egyptians. But while he was making ready so +to do, there came a great disputing among his sons +who should be King after him; for the law of the +Persians is that the King declares who shall reign +after him before he goes to the war. Now Darius +had had three sons born to him by his wife the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</span>daughter of Gobryas; and these were born before +that he was made King: and after that he was made +King he had four others born to him of Atossa that +was the daughter of Cyrus. Of the first three Artabazanes +was the eldest, and of the four Xerxes. +These disputed among themselves, and Artabazanes +claimed the kingdom because he was the eldest of all, +and because it was the custom over all the world that +the eldest should have the pre-eminence; but Xerxes +claimed it because his mother was daughter to Cyrus, +and it was Cyrus that had established the kingdom of +the Persians. Now while Darius doubted about the +matter, there came up to Susa Demaratus the son of +Ariston. The same had been deprived of his kingdom +in Sparta and had fled from the city. When +this man knew what it was that the sons of Darius +disputed about, he came forward, according to report, +and gave counsel to Xerxes that over and above the +words that he had said he should say also this, that +he had been born when Darius was already King and +had dominion over all the Persians, but that Darius +was a subject only when Artabazanes was born. “And +indeed at Sparta,” said Demaratus, “the law is this, +that if a king have children that are born before he +be made King, and also a child that is born after, then +he that is born after is preferred.” Of these words of +Demaratus Xerxes made such use that King Darius +declared that he should be King in his room. But in +the year after it so befell that while he was preparing +to make war both against the Greeks and against the +Egyptians, King Darius died, having reigned over the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</span>Persians thirty and six years in all; and Xerxes his +son reigned in his stead. Now at the first Xerxes by +no means desired to make war against the Greeks, +but against the Egyptians he made great preparations. +Then said Mardonius the son of Gobryas, who was +cousin to the King, being sister’s son to King Darius, +“My lord, it is by no means fitting that the Athenians, +seeing that they have done grievous wrong to +the Persians, should thus go unpunished. Do therefore +first the thing that thou hast now in hand, and +when thou hast humbled the Egyptians go forth +against the Greeks. So shalt thou have great renown +throughout the world, and men shall fear hereafter to +trouble thy land.” And besides thus speaking of +vengeance, Mardonius would also add that Europe +was a very beautiful land, bearing all manner of fruitful +trees, and of an excellent fertility, and altogether +such that no man but the King was worthy to possess +it. All this he said because he was a lover of change +and adventure; also he hoped to be made ruler over +the land of Greece. And at last he had his way, +persuading Xerxes to take the matter in hand. There +were other things that helped him persuading Xerxes +to this act. First there came envoys from the house +of Aleuas, that was King in Thessaly, who would fain +have the King come against the land of Greece, and +showed all zeal in his cause. Also certain of the +house of Pisistratus that had come up to Susa held +the same language. These had with them one Onomacritus, +a man of Athens, that was a soothsayer, +and one that had set in order the prophecies of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</span>Musæus. Once, indeed, there had been enmity between +the son of Pisistratus and this Onomacritus; +for Hipparchus had banished him from Athens, having +found that he had added to the prophecies of +Musæus a certain prophecy how that an island which +lies near unto Lemnos should one day be swallowed +up in the sea. A certain Leros had found him out in +this, and Hipparchus banished him, having been wont +to consult him continually. But now the sons of +Pisistratus were reconciled to him, and took him in +their company to Susa, and talked much of him and +of his wisdom. And so soon as he was brought before +the King, he repeated to him certain of the +prophecies. If there were any prophecy that spake +of disaster to the Persians, of this he would make no +mention, but such as seemed to promise them success +he would set forth, how that it was in the fates that +a Persian should bridge over the Hellespont. Thus +did Onomacritus make much of his prophecies, and +the sons of Pisistratus and the sons of Aleuas set forth +their opinions to the same purpose.</p> + +<p>So King Xerxes was persuaded to make war upon +the Greeks. And first, in the second year after the +death of Darius, he marched into the land of Egypt, +and having enslaved it more than it had been enslaved +before, he gave it over to Achæmenes his +brother, and son to Darius. (This Achæmenes was +afterward slain by Inaros, the son of Psammeticus, a +Nubian.) And after this, being now about to lead +his army against Athens, he called an assembly of the +noblest of the Persians, that he might hear what they +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</span>thought, and might himself say what he would have +them hear. And when they were gathered together +he spake, saying, “There is a custom, which, indeed, +I did not first establish, but received it from the +kings before me, that we Persians have never rested +since the day when we took this kingdom from the +Medes. So the Gods will have it, and in so doing +have we greatly prospered. What nations Cyrus and +Cambyses and Darius my father subdued ye know +well. And since I came to this kingdom I have +studied how I might show myself to be not behind +them, and might not the less increase our Empire. +And now I will set before you what I purpose. I +will bridge over the Hellespont and cross into Europe +that I may avenge my father and this nation upon +the Athenians for all the wrong that they have done, +burning their city with fire. Nor shall we get vengeance +only, but this good also, that conquering the +Athenians and their neighbors that dwell in the +island of Pelops, we shall have the whole earth subject +to us, for I take it that when these Greeks have +been subdued there is no city or nation that shall be +able to stand against us. This then is my judgment, +but I would have you say what is your minds. +Speak, therefore.”</p> + +<p>Then spake Mardonius: “O my lord, thou showest +thyself to be the noblest of the Persians, not of those +only that have been in former times, but also of all +that shall be hereafter, when thou settest forth such +good counsels in such excellent words. Surely it is +not well that these men of Ionia should laugh at us +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</span>and go unpunished, and that when we have subdued +Indians and Assyrians and Ethiopians, not because +they had done us wrong, but because we would +enlarge our borders, we should leave these Greeks +unharmed after that they have done us wrongs +grievous and many. And that we may easily vanquish +them, I doubt not at all. For I myself, at the +bidding of my father Darius, marched against them, +and went so far as the land of Macedonia, and indeed +had come to the city of Athens itself, nor did I find +any that dared meet me in battle. And yet, as I +hear, these Greeks are wont to fight in a most foolish +and ignorant fashion. For when they have declared +war against one another, then they choose out the +fairest and smoothest plot that they can find, and +come down to this, and so fight that they who have +the better in the battle yet depart not without great +loss; as for them that are worsted there is nothing to +be said, for they are utterly destroyed. For why, +seeing that they are all of them one language, do +they not send heralds and messengers and so compose +their differences peaceably, rather than settle them +by fighting? And, if they must needs fight, why do +they not make the best each of them of that which +they have, and so join in battle? And yet, notwithstanding +this their folly, when I marched so far as +Macedonia, not one of them dared to meet me. And +now, O King, who will stand up against thee when +thou bringest with thee all the warriors out of the +land of Asia and the ships also? And if they be so +mad as to stand, then shall they learn that we Persians<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</span> +are the greatest warriors on the face of the +earth.”</p> + +<p>When Mardonius had thus spoken all the other +Persians kept silence; but at the last Artabanus, the +son of Hystaspes, being uncle to King Xerxes, and +so taking courage to speak, put forth a contrary +opinion in these words: “O King, if there be not +set forth opinions that are contrary the one to the +other, thou canst not choose the better, but must follow +the one which thou hearest. For it is with +opinions as it is with gold. Pure gold we know not +so long as it is left by itself, but when we rub it +against that which is not pure, then we know it. I +counseled thy father Darius that he should not make +war on the Scythians, men that have no city to dwell +in; but he, thinking to subdue them, would not +hearken to me, but marched against them, and lost +many and brave soldiers. And now thou hast it in +thy heart to make war against men that are far better +than the Scythians, being mighty both by sea and +land. Hear, therefore, into what danger thou art +moving. Thou wilt bridge over the Hellespont, and +march into the land of Greece. Suppose that thou +suffer defeat whether it be by sea or by land, or, +haply, by both, for the men are valiant (and, indeed, +what they can do we know full well, for Datis and +Artaphernes, when they led a mighty host into Attica, +the Athenians alone defeated). But suppose +they get the mastery by sea only, and so, sailing to +the Hellespont, break down the bridge. This surely, +O King, would be a terrible thing. Nor is this thing +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</span>that I say of my own devising. For thy father +Darius bridged over the Thracian Bosphorus and the +Danube, and so marched against the Scythians. And +when the Scythians used all manner of entreaties to +the Ionians, to whom indeed the King had entrusted +the charge of the bridge, if Histiæus of Miletus had +followed the judgment of the other lords of the +Ionians in this and had set himself against us, then +had the power of the Persians been utterly destroyed. +Surely it is a dreadful thing even to speak of, that +the fortunes of the King should have rested upon the +will of one man. Put away, therefore, O King, I +beseech thee, this thy purpose to run without any +need into this great danger, and hearken unto me. +Break up this council and think over this matter in +thine heart, and afterward declare unto us thy purpose, +and remember this also, that God smites with +his thunder such creatures as are tall and strong, +passing by them that are smaller and weaker, and +that it is on the tallest houses and trees that his bolts +for the most part fall. For he is wont to bring down +all high things. So otherwise a very great host is +often put to flight by a few men, God sending upon +it some storm or panic, for he will not suffer any but +himself to have high thoughts. And as to thee, +Mardonius, thou doest ill, speaking lightly against +the Greeks, and persuading the King to head his +army against them; for this thou manifestly wishest. +God grant that thou succeed not in thy purpose. But +if it must needs be that we march against the Greeks, +then at the least let the King remain here safe at +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</span>home. And let us make this wager between ourselves. +Choose out for thyself such men as thou wilt +have, and take with thee an army so great as thou +desirest, and if things go as thou sayest that they +will, according to the pleasure of the King, then let +my children be slain, and I also with them. But if +things go not so, then shall thy children be slain, +and thou also with them, if indeed thou shalt ever +come back. But if thou shalt not take this wager, +and wilt still march against the Greeks, then am I +sure that they who are left in this land will hear that +Mardonius has perished, having first worked great +harm to the Persians, and lies torn by dogs and birds +in the land of the Athenians, or, it may be, of the +Lacedæmonians, having so learned what manner of +men they are against whom thou persuadest the +King to make war.”</p> + +<p>When Artabanus had thus spoken, Xerxes was very +wroth, and cried, “Artabanus, thou art brother to +my father, and this kinship shall save thee, so that +thou shalt not receive the due reward of thy folly. +Nevertheless, this disgrace I ordain for thee, for thy +evil-mindedness and cowardice; thou shalt not march +with me against this land of Greece, but shalt remain +here with the women, and I without thee will accomplish +that I have said. For let me not be said to be +the son of Darius, the son of Hystaspes, the son of +Arsemes, the son of Ariaramness, the son of Teispes, +the son of Cyrus, the son of Cambyses, the son of +Teispes, the son of Achæmenes, if I avenge not myself +on these Athenians. Verily I believe that if I +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</span>do not so they will come against this land, so bold +have they shown themselves in time past, so that if +we subdue them not, then will they subdue us, for +indeed there is nothing between these two things. +Rightly then shall I make war against these men, and +so learn what is this great danger that lies in dealing +with them, for are they not the same whom Pelops +the Phrygian, that was servant to the kings my +fathers, subdued so utterly, that their land is called +the Island of Pelops to this day?”</p> + +<p>But when it was night the King was much troubled +by the words of Artabanus; and taking counsel with +himself, he judged that it would not be well to make +war against the Greeks, and so fell asleep. But in +the night, so say the Persians, he saw a vision. There +stood over him a man tall and fair, who spake to +him, saying, “Man of Persia, dost thou then change +thy purpose so that after bidding the Persians gather +together a great army, now thou wilt not lead it +against the Greeks? Thou dost not well so to change. +Go rather on the way whereon thou hast set out.” +When the man had said so much he vanished out of +the King’s sight. But when the day dawned Xerxes +made no account of the vision that he had seen, but +called together the Persians, as he had done the day +before, and spake to them, saying, “Forgive me, +men of Persia, if I change the purpose that I had +yesterday; for I am not yet grown to the full height +of my understanding, and they that give me this counsel +cease not urging me. When therefore I heard the +words of Artabanus the spirit of youth grew hot +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</span>within me, and I spake to him such words as I should +not have spoken, seeing that he is an old man. But +now I confess my fault and yield myself to his judgment. +Rest therefore in peace, knowing that I have +changed my purpose, and will not make war against +the Greeks.”</p> + +<p>When the Persians heard these words they rejoiced +greatly and worshiped the King. But when it was +night there came again the same vision to Xerxes, +and stood over him, and spake, saying, “Son of +Darius, thou hast declared thyself openly before all +the Persians, changing thy purpose about this expedition, +and taking no account of my words. Know +this, therefore, that if thou do not go straightway on +this journey, there shall rise out of the matter this +ending. As thou didst become in a short space great +and the lord of many men, so shalt thou in a short +space be brought low.”</p> + +<p>When Xerxes heard these words he was much dismayed, +and leaped up from his bed and sent a messenger +to call Artabanus. And when he was come, +Xerxes said to him, “Artabanus, I was not well advised, +speaking to thee unseemly words when thou +hadst given me good counsel. But in a short time I +repented me purposing to do the things which thou +didst counsel me. But though this is my purpose, I +am not able to follow it; for now that I am changed +and have repented of my folly, there appears to me a +vision haunting me, and in nowise consenting to my +resolve. And even now it has threatened me and departed. +If therefore it be God that sends this vision +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</span>to me, and if it be altogether according to his will +that I should make this expedition against Greece, +then the same vision will come to thee, and command +thee the same things that it commanded me. And +this, I think, will most surely happen if thou wilt +take all my royal apparel and put it on thee, and so +sit on my seat, and afterward sleep in my bed.”</p> + +<p>This at the first Artabanus was loth to do, but at +the last moment consented to it. But first he spake +to the King, saying, “When thou didst reproach me, +O King, this troubled me not, but rather to see that +when there were set before the Persians two counsels, +whereof the one tended to increase their pride, and +the other to prudence, thou didst choose the worse. +And now that thou hast turned to wiser counsels +thou sayest that there came a vision that will not +suffer thee to cease from this purpose of war, and +that it comes by the sending of a god. Now as to +dreams and visions, know that there is nothing divine +in them, but that they wander about at random. For +I am much older than thou, and know more of such +things. Now men are wont to dream of such things +as they have been concerned with in the day; and we +have been much concerned with this matter of the +war. But if this vision be not such as I think, but +rather as thou sayest, of the sending of a god, then +will it appear and lay its commands upon me even as +it did upon thee; nor should it appear to me at all +the more because I wear thy clothing or sit upon thy +seat. For this thing, whatever it be, that thou seest +in thy dreams can not be so foolish as to think that I +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</span>am thou, because I wear thy clothing. Now if it +takes no heed of me, and still appear to thee saying +the same things, then shall I myself judge it to be of +God. For the rest, if it be thy purpose that I wear +thy apparel, and sleep in thy bed, be it so; let the +vision appear to me. But for the present I hold to +my own opinion.”</p> + +<p>So much said Artabanus, hoping to persuade Xerxes +that the thing was naught. He put on the King’s +apparel, and sat on his throne, and afterward lay +down to sleep in his bed. And when he was asleep +there came to him the same vision that had come to +Xerxes, and stood over him and spake, saying, +“Thou art he that persuadeth Xerxes not to make +war against the Greeks, having, thou sayest, a care +for him. Verily thou shalt not go unpunished, either +now or hereafter, seeking to hinder that which it is +the purpose of God to bring to pass. And as +for what Xerxes shall suffer if he be disobedient in +this matter, it has been declared to him already.”</p> + +<p>When the vision had thus spoken it seemed to +Artabanus to make as if it were about to burn out his +eyes with hot irons. Then he cried aloud, and +leaped up from the bed, and sat him down by Xerxes +and told him all that he had seen. And afterward he +said to the King, “I am one, O King, that has seen +strong things overthrown by the weak, and so I +would not have thee yield to thy desires, knowing +that it was an evil thing to covet great possessions, +and remembering how ill Cyrus fared when he made +war against the Massagetæ, and Cambyses against +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</span>the Ethiopians, and having myself gone with Darius +against the Scythians. But now since this inspiration +comes from God, who is preparing, it seems, +utter destruction against the Greeks, I change my +counsel. Do thou therefore declare to the Persians +the purpose of God, and take good care that if God +give thee this opportunity, thou shalt not fail any +thing on thy part.”</p> + +<p>So soon therefore as it was day Xerxes told the +whole matter to the Persians, and Artabanus, who +had been the only one to speak against the war, was +now the foremost in urging it.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VII"> + CHAPTER VII. + <br><br> + <span class="fs80">OF THE SETTING FORTH OF XERXES.</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>For the space of four years from the subduing of +Egypt did the servants of King Xerxes gather +together the host and all such things as were needful +for it. And in the beginning of the fifth year the +King set out upon his march, having such an army +as had never before been seen. For indeed that +which Darius led against the Scythians was as +nothing in comparison of this, neither was that +wherewith the Scythians invaded the land of Asia, +and subdued the northern parts thereof (this was the +cause why Darius invaded the land of the Scythians), +nor that which the sons of Atreus led against Troy, +nor that of the Mysians and Teucrians, who, in the +days before the Trojan war, conquered the land of +Thrace, and came as far as the river Peneus that is in +the land of Thessaly. Not one of these armies is +worthy to be compared with the army of Xerxes. +For what people of Asia did he not lead against +Greece? And what stream, saving only the great +rivers, was not drunk up by his armies? Some were +bidden to furnish foot soldiers, and some horsemen, +and some ships for carrying of horses and men at +arms, and some ships of war for the bridges, and +others food and ships. First of all, seeing that they +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</span>who had first sailed against Greece had suffered great +loss at Mount Athos, Xerxes caused that there should +be a fleet of ships of war at Elæus, and that men +from the ships, taking turn by turn, should dig a +great trench, digging under the lash of taskmasters, +in which work the people of the country also took +their part.</p> + +<p>Now this Athos is a great and famous mountain, +that stretches out into the sea, and the land by which +it is joined to the continent is narrow, being of the +breadth of a mile and a half. Across this Xerxes +would have them dig a trench. And the men +dug it after this fashion. A line was drawn across by +city Sane, and the nations divided the work among +themselves. When the trench was now deep, some +stood below and dug, and others handed up the earth +to men that stood on ladders, and these again to +others, till it was brought to the top, and so carried +away. The greater part had double trouble with the +digging, the sides breaking away continually; nor +indeed could it have been otherwise, seeing that they +made the measure of the top and the measure of the +bottom to be the same. But with the Phœnicians it +was not so, for they showed their wisdom in this as +they commonly do in other things. When they had +had their part allotted to them, they made their digging +at the top twice as broad as was needed for the +trench; but as they went down they made it narrower, +till at the bottom it was of the same width as +the rest. Near to the trench was a plain wherein +there was a market and a place for buying and selling;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</span> +and much corn, ready ground, was brought +to the place from Asia.</p> + +<p>This work, it would seem, Xerxes did from pride, +wishing to show his might, and to leave a memorial +of himself. For when he might without trouble +have had his ships drawn across the isthmus, he commanded +that a trench should be made from one sea +to the other, and this of such a breadth that two ships +of war could pass. And he also commanded them +that had the business of digging this trench that they +should build a bridge over the river Strymon. Other +preparations also were made, ropes of papyrus and of +white flax for the bridges, and stores of food for the +army and for the beasts of burden.</p> + +<p>The place of gathering for the armies was Critalla +in Cappadocia. Setting out thence, it marched +through the land of Phrygia to the city of Celænæ, +which is on the river Mæander. Here in the market-place +is hung out the skin of Marsyas the Satyr, +whom Apollo flayed, when he had vanquished him in +a conquest of singing.</p> + +<p>In this city there dwelt a certain Pythius, the son +of Atys, a Lydian. This man entertained Xerxes +and his whole army with very great hospitality, and +said also that he was willing to give him money for +the war. And when the King heard this talk of +money, he asked them that stood by, saying, “Who +is this Pythius, and what wealth has he that he +makes such promises?” And they said, “O King, +this is the man that gave the golden plane-tree to +King Darius thy father, and the vine also; and he +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</span>surpasses all men there are in wealth, thou only being +excepted, O King.” At the last words Xerxes marveled +much; and he called Pythius and asked him, +saying, “What is the sum of thy wealth?” And +Pythius made answer, “I will hide nothing from +thee, nor will I make any pretense that I do not +know the sum of my substance. I know it, and will +declare it truly to you. So soon as I knew that you +were purposing to come down with your army to the +sea of the Greeks, because I wished to furnish you +with some money for the war, I reckoned up all that +belongs to me, and found that I have two thousand +talents of silver and four millions of gold darics, +wanting seven thousand only. All this I willingly +give thee for a gift; and I shall still have sufficient +from my fields and from my slaves.”</p> + +<p>These words pleased King Xerxes much, and he +said, “Since I came out from the laud of Persia I +have not found a man who was willing to give entertainment +to my whole army, and also to furnish +money for the war, saving thee only. But thou hast +entertained my army in royal fashion, and now +makest offer of much money. Now for all this I +will make thee this return. First of all thou shalt +be my friend from this time forth, and thy four millions +of darics I will complete out of my own treasury, +giving thee the seven thousand that thou lackest, +that the tale may be completed. Do thou therefore +keep for thyself that which thou hast gained. And +remember to be such always as thou hast shown thyself +to-day, for he that doeth such things will in no +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</span>wise repent himself of them either now or in the time +to come.”</p> + +<p>When he had said this, and had made good his +promises, he went on his way. And he came to +Colossæ, a great city of Phrygia, where the river +Lycus entering a great gulf flows for five furlongs +under the earth, and from Colossæ to Cydrara, where +King Crœsus had set up a pillar to mark the boundaries +of Lydia. After this he saw a plane-tree which +was so fair that for the sake of its beauty he gave it +ornaments of gold, and appointed one of the Immortals +to have the charge of it. So he came to the city +of Sardis.</p> + +<p>Being arrived at this city he straightway sent +heralds to Greece who should ask for earth and +water, as tokens that they gave themselves and their +country to the King. To Athens, indeed, and to +Sparta he sent not, but to all other cities he sent, for +he thought that they who had refused to give them +on the sending of King Darius would now give them +for fear of his host.</p> + +<p>Now the cause why he sent not heralds to Athens +and Sparta was this, that these cities had dealt evilly +with the heralds which King Darius had sent on this +errand, the Athenians throwing them down into the +pit, which is the place of punishment for such as are +appointed to die, and the Spartans casting them into +a well and bidding them take earth and water for +themselves. What ill thing befell the Athenians by +reason of their having dealt so unrighteously with +the heralds it is not possible to discern, unless indeed +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</span>it be that their city and country were laid waste; but +for this laying waste there was doubtless another +cause. But on the Spartans there came trouble from +the wrath of Talthybius, the same that was herald to +King Agamemnon. (There is a temple of this Talthybius +in Sparta, and when there is any sending of +heralds from Sparta, his descendants, who are called +the sons of Talthybius, are sent.) After the doing of +this deed the Spartans found no good tokens in their +sacrifices. And when this had been so for many +days, the Spartans were much troubled, and called +many assemblies of the people about this matter. +At the last they made proclamation inquiring whether +any Spartan were willing to die for his country. +Whereupon two men, Sperthias the son of Aneristus, +and Bulis the son of Nicolaus, nobles both of them, +and than whom there were none more wealthy +in Sparta, of their own free-will offered themselves +as an offering of atonement to Xerxes, and the Spartans +sent them to the Persians as men that were +doomed to die. In their journey to Susa they came +to Hydarnes. This Hydarnes was a Persian, and governor +of all them that dwelt on the sea-coast of Asia. +This man showed them hospitality; and as they sat +at the banquet, he said to them, “Men of Sparta, +why are you not willing to be friends with the King? +Ye see that the King knows how to honor good men, +for consider me and my fortune. And ye also, if you +would give yourselves to the King—for the King +knows that ye are good men—would be rulers of the +land of Greece by the King’s favor.” To this the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</span>men answered, “Thy counsel, Hydarnes, is not the +counsel of one that knows the whole matter. Thou +knowest indeed what it is to be a slave, but of freedom +thou hast never made trial, whether it be sweet +or no. Surely if thou hadst made such trial thou +wouldst counsel us to fight for it, not with the spear +only, but also with the battle-axe.”</p> + +<p>Such was the answer which the men made to Hydarnes. +After this they went unto Susa, and came +before the King. And when the guards would have +had them fall down before the King and do obeisance, +these two Spartans refused. “We will not do it,” +said they; “no, not if ye thrust our heads down to +the ground, for it is not our custom to fall down +before any man, neither are we come hither for any +such thing.” In this manner they escaped the doing +such obeisance. Afterward they spake to the King, +saying, “King of the Medes, the Lacedæmonians +have sent us to make atonement for thy heralds that +were slain in Sparta.” But Xerxes, for greatness of +heart, would not take such atonement. “The Spartans,” +he said, “when they do such things overthrow +all law and justice among men; but I will not make +myself like unto them. I will neither do the thing +for the doing of which I reproach them, nor will I +loose them from their guilt by slaying the men that +they have sent to me.”</p> + +<p>By these means the anger of Talthybius was staid +awhile, and this though Sperthias and Bulis came +back safe to Sparta. Nevertheless many years afterward +it fell on the Spartans, as they themselves say, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</span>in the great war that was waged between them and +the Athenians. That this wrath should fall on envoys +of the Spartans, and should not cease till it was +satisfied, seems to be just; but that the men on +whom it fell should be children of these same two +that were sent to the King at Susa, this is passing +strange. Yet so it fell out. For Nicolaüs the son of +Bulis, and Aneristus the son of Sperthias, having +been sent as ambassadors to Asia, were betrayed by +Sitalces, King of Thrace, to the Athenians, and +being carried to Attica, there perished, and with +them Aristeas of Corinth. These things came to +pass many years after the expedition of King Xerxes.</p> + +<p>When the messengers, then, had been sent to the +cities of the Greeks, the King prepared to march to +Abydos, purposing to pass over thence into Europe.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VIII"> + CHAPTER VIII. + <br><br> + <span class="fs80">OF THE MARCH OF XERXES.</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>While Xerxes tarried at Sardis, they that were +appointed to this business made a bridge over +the Hellespont, from Abydos to a certain rocky land +that runs out into the sea on the other side, the space +between being seven furlongs. One line the Phœnicians +made with cables of white flax, and the other +the Egyptians, with cables of papyrus. But when +the work was finished there arose a great storm and +brake it all to pieces. So soon as Xerxes heard what +had befallen, he was very wroth, and commanded +that they should lay three hundred lashes of the whip +upon the Hellespont, and should also throw into the +sea a pair of fetters. It has been said that he even +sent branders to brand the Hellespont. Certainly he +commanded them that laid the stripes on the water +to say therewith barbarous and impious words: “O +evil water, thy master putteth this punishment on +thee because thou hast worked him harm that had +worked no harm to thee. Know that King Xerxes +will cross thee whether thou will or no. Rightly +doth no man offer sacrifice to thee, deceitful and salt +river as thou art.” This punishment he bade them +put upon the sea, and he cut off the heads of them +that were set over the making of the bridge. Then +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</span>they that had this thankless office put upon them fulfilled +their task; and afterward other builders set +about the work and accomplished it. They joined +together ships of war, three hundred and sixty on the +one side toward the Black Sea, and three hundred +and fourteen on the other, mooring them with very +great anchors that they might not be moved by the +winds that blow either way. And they left three +spaces that such as would pass by in light vessels, to +or from the Black Sea, might do so without let. And +when the bridge was finished, they made planks of +wood of the same breadth as was the bridge, and laid +them on the top; and on the planks they put brushwood, +and on the brushwood earth; and when they +had trodden this down they set up a barrier on either +side, that the beasts of burden and the horses might +not be afraid looking upon the sea.</p> + +<p>But when the bridge had been finished, and the +trench by Mount Athos, and the breakwater about +the mouth of the trench—for they had made breakwaters +by reason of the surf, that the mouth of the +trench might not be filled up—it was now winter. +Xerxes therefore passed the winter in Sardis; and +when it was spring the army set forth.</p> + +<p>On the very day of its setting forth the sun left its +place in the heavens; and though there were no +clouds, but the sky was at its clearest, the day was +turned into night. When Xerxes saw this he was +not a little troubled, and asked the Magians what this +sight might mean. And the Magians made answer +that the things signified to the Greeks the leaving of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</span>their cities; for that the sun was the foreteller to the +Greeks and the moon to the Persians. But when +Pythius the Lydian saw this marvel that had happened +in the heavens, being emboldened by the gifts +that he made to the King, he stood before Xerxes +and said: “O my lord, I pray thee that thou grant +me a certain thing which is of small account to thee, +but to me very much to be desired.” And Xerxes, +not thinking what he had in his mind, made answer, +“Speak on and I will do for thee whatsoever thou +desirest.” When Pythius heard these words he took +courage and said, “O my lord, I have five sons, and +thou art taking them all with thee for this war which +thou makest against the Greeks. Have pity, therefore, +on me, O King, remembering my old age, and +release from this service one of my sons, even the +eldest, that he may have me and my possessions in +charge.” When Xerxes heard this he was very +wroth, and made answer, “Vile fellow, hast thou +dared, even when I am myself going against Greece, +and bringing with me my sons and my brethren, and +my ministers and friends, to make mention of thy +sons, thou that art my slave, and art bound to follow +me with thy whole household, and even with thy +wife? When thou didst well and madest to me offers +of good things, thou couldst not surpass the King in +bounty, and now that thou doest ill, thou shalt have +less than thy desert. Thy hospitality shall save thee +and four of thy sons; but the life of him whom thou +lovest above the rest is the forfeit.” So soon as +Xerxes had said this, forthwith he gave command to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</span>them that had the charge of such things to search out +the eldest of the sons of Pythius and cut him in +twain; and when they had cut him in twain to put +the two halves one on the right hand of the way and +the other on the left. And he bade the army pass between +the two. So the army passed between the two +halves. First came they that bare the baggage, and +the beasts of burden, and after them a great army of +many nations, without any space between the nations, +in all more than half of the whole. Then there was +left a space between the host and the King. Afterward +there came a thousand horsemen, chosen out of +all the Persians, and after the horsemen a thousand +spearmen, these too being chosen men, bearing their +spear-points turned toward the ground, and after the +spearmen ten horses of Nisa, having very fair trappings. +These horses came from the plain of Nisa in the +land of Media, and are very great. Behind the horses +came the sacred chariot of Zeus, drawn by eight +white horses, and after the horses there walked the +charioteer on foot, holding the reins in his hand, for +on the seat of this chariot no man may sit. After +this came Xerxes himself, on a chariot drawn by +horses of Nisa, and by his side was a charioteer, +Patiramphes the son of Otanes. And whenever the +wish took him he would change from his chariot to +a litter. Behind the King came a thousand spearmen, +the noblest and bravest of the Persians, holding +their spears in the usual fashion; and after these a +thousand chosen horsemen; and after the horsemen +ten thousand chosen men on foot. A thousand of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</span>these had golden pomegranates instead of spikes at +the shafts of their spears. These compassed about +the other nine thousand, who had their spears with +pomegranates of silver. The spearmen that pointed +their spears to the ground had also pomegranates of +gold, and those that came next after the King had +apples of gold. After the ten thousand that were on +foot came ten thousand horsemen of the Persians. +Behind the horsemen was a space of two furlongs, +after which came the remainder of the host, mingled +in one crowd.</p> + +<p>As the host passed by Mount Ida there fell upon it +a great storm of thunder and lightning, and slew +many men. After this it came to the river Scamander; +this was the first of the rivers that failed, +being drunk up by the army and the horses and the +beasts of burden. Here the King went up into the +citadel of Priam, desiring to see the place; and when +he had seen and heard every thing he sacrificed a +thousand heifers to Athene of Troy; and the Magi +poured out libations to the heroes. That night a +panic fell upon the host; and so soon as it was day +they departed and came to Abydos.</p> + +<p>When he was come to Abydos Xerxes greatly +desired to see his army. Now there had been prepared +beforehand for him by the men of Abydos a +seat of white marble on a hill that was nigh unto the +city, for so he had bidden them. On this therefore +he sat, and looking down upon the shore saw his +army and his ships. And as he looked upon them he +had a desire to see a race of ships; and there was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</span>made a race, and the Phœnicians of Sidon prevailed. +Xerxes was greatly delighted with the contest and +with the sight of his army. For when he saw all the +Hellespont covered with ships, and all the shores and +all the plains of Abydos filled with men, he counted +himself a happy man. But afterward he wept.</p> + +<p>And Artabanus, his uncle, the same that at the +first spake boldly to the King that he should not +make war against the Greeks, when he knew that +Xerxes wept, went to him, and said, “O King, how +different is this that thou doest now from that which +thou didst but a short time ago? For then thou +calledest thyself happy, but now thou weepest.” +Then said the King, “There come upon me of a +sudden a thought of pity how short is the whole life +of man, seeing that of all this great army not one +shall be alive one hundred years hence.” Then said +Artabanus, “We men have to endure in life things +more piteous than this. For in this life, for all its +shortness, there is no man so happy but that he will +wish, and this not once but many times, to die rather +than to live. For misfortunes come upon us, and +diseases harass us, so that life, though it be short, yet +seems to be overlong, and death, so full of trouble is +life, to be the best refuge to which a man can fly. +For the Gods that give us a taste of the sweetness of +life, yet are jealous so that we may not enjoy it to +the full.” To this Xerxes made answer, “Let us not +so think of human life, though it be such as thou +sayest, nor keep evil things in our minds when we +have good things in our hands. But come now tell +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</span>me, if thou hadst not seen that vision wouldst thou +have been still of the same opinion, advising me that +I should not make war against the Greeks?” Artabanus +answered, “O King, may the vision which we +saw be accomplished as we would have it. Yet am I +full of fear, seeing that there are two things, and +these the greatest of all, that are against us.” And +the King said, “What are these two? Thinkest thou +that the Greeks will bring against us more men or +more ships?” Then said Artabanus, “No man that +had any understanding could find any thing that he +might blame either in thy host or thy fleet. Yet are +two things against us, even the land and the sea. +For there is, I suppose, no harbor in the sea so great +that it could receive all this great multitude of ships; +and yet we should have not one harbor, but many, +one after the other, along the whole coast of the land. +Seeing then that such harbors are not to be found, +remember that chances are rulers of men rather than +men of chances. And if the sea be hostile, much +more is the land, and not the less so if none seek to +withstand thee, seeing that the further thou shalt go +the greater will be the danger of famine. This I say +thinking it best for men to fear all things when they +take counsel, and to fear nothing when they are in +action.”</p> + +<p>Then said the King, “What thou sayest, Artabanus, +thou sayest not without reason. Yet if a man will +always look to all chances that may happen he will +never accomplish great deeds. Thou seest to what +greatness this realm of Persia has grown. Yet if the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</span>kings that were before me had followed such counsel +as thine it had never grown in such a fashion. +Not without peril did they attain this glory, for great +things are achieved by great dangers. We therefore +follow in their steps, and having now set forth in the +fairest season of the year, will return safe, when we +have subdued all Europe; neither shall we meet with +famine nor any evil thing whatsoever. For much +food we carry with us, and we shall have the food of +such nations as we shall subdue. And remember +that it is against men that till the earth and not +against wanderers that we go.”</p> + +<p>To this Artabanus made answer, “At the least, O +King, hearken to one counsel which I would give +thee. Cyrus the son of Cambyses subdued all the +Ionians, save the Athenians only. I counsel thee, +therefore, that thou do not by any means compel +these Ionians to fight against their fathers. Surely +without them we shall be stronger than our enemies. +But if thou compel them, then must they either do a +great wrong in fighting against the land that sent +them forth, or do a righteous act going over from us +to our enemies and thereby greatly injuring us.”</p> + +<p>To this Xerxes answered, “There is naught, Artabanus, +in which thou hast gone further from the +truth than in this judgment of thine concerning the +Ionians. Have we not a sure proof of their truth—a +thing of which both thou and all they that went with +King Darius against the Scythians are witnesses—that +it was in their hands to destroy the army of the +Persians or to save it alive. And they behaved +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</span>themselves righteously, and did nothing unjust. +And besides this, they have left their wives and children +in our land. Why then should they think to +rebel against us? But be of good heart; and go, +take charge of my house and my kingdom. For to +thee only of all the Persians do I commit my +scepter.”</p> + +<p>So Xerxes sent Artabanus to Susa. And when he +was departed he called together the noblest of the +Persians, and said to them, “Men of Persia, I have +called you together that I may bid you bear yourselves +bravely, and do no shame to the deeds which +the Persians in former days have wrought, for these +have been great and worthy of renown. Do ye +therefore one and all be zealous in this war, for we +seek that which concerns us all. And, indeed, I am +told that they are good men against whom we make +war, and that if we conquer them there are none on +earth who can resist them. And now let us pray to +the gods that have rule over Persia, and pass over the +bridge.”</p> + +<p>So all that day they made preparations for the +passing over; and the next day they waited for the +rising of the sun, desiring to see it before they should +begin to cross. And when the sun was risen, Xerxes, +pouring drink offerings into the sea from a cup +of gold, made his prayer with his face turned to the +sun, that no misfortune might befall him before he +should conquer all Europe, even to the uttermost +borders. And when he had finished praying, he cast +the cup into the Hellespont, and also a mixing bowl +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</span>of gold, and a Persian sword which they call a +cimeter. But whether he cast these things into the +sea because he would offer them to the sun, or +whether he repented him of having laid stripes upon +the Hellespont and gave these gifts in atonement to +the sea, can not certainly be known.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IX"> + CHAPTER IX. + <br><br> + <span class="fs80">HOW XERXES CROSSED OVER INTO EUROPE, + AND OF HIS ARMY.</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>All things being now ready, the host of Xerxes +crossed over from Asia into Europe, the foot +soldiers and the horsemen going over the bridge that +was toward the Black Sea, and the servants of the +army and the beasts of burden the bridge that was +toward the Ægean. First came the Ten Thousand, +all of them wearing crowns; and after them came a +mixed host of all nations. These passed over on the +first day; and on the next day passed over the horsemen, +and they that carried their spears turned toward +the ground. These also had crowns on their heads. +After these came the sacred horses and the sacred +chariot; and next to these Xerxes and the spearmen +and the thousand horsemen, and after these the rest +of the army. And all the ships sailed to the shore +over against Abydos.</p> + +<p>When Xerxes had crossed over, he watched his +army crossing over under the lash, and this they did +without pause or rest for seven days and seven nights. +It is reported that when Xerxes had passed over a +man that dwelt in these parts cried out, “O Zeus, +why art thou come in the likeness of a Persian, and +calling thyself Xerxes and not Zeus, with the whole +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</span>race of men following thee, to destroy the Greeks +when thou couldst have destroyed them without so +doing?”</p> + +<p>When they had all crossed over there happened a +great marvel, of which Xerxes took no account, +though indeed it was easy to understand. The marvel +was this, that a mare brought forth a hare. And +what was to be understood from it was this—that +Xerxes was leading against the Greeks a great host +and splendidly equipped, and yet before many days +he would come again to the same place as one that +fled for life.</p> + +<p>Then Xerxes went on his way, the fleet sailing +along by the coast. And when he came to Doriscus +he had a desire to know the number of his army. +What indeed were the numbers of the several nations +can not be said; but the number of the whole host +was found to be a thousand thousand and seven hundred +thousands. These were numbered in a way that +shall now be told. They brought ten thousand men +into one place; these they placed together as closely +as they could, and having done this, they drew a +circle about them; and when they had done this circle +and let the ten thousand go, they made a heap +about the circle, so high as the middle of a man. +When they had so done they brought others into the +place that was thus hedged about till they had filled +it. When they had numbered the host they set it in +order nation by nation.</p> + +<p>These nations were many in number. First of all +were the Persians, wearing turbans on their heads +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</span>and about their bodies tunics with sleeves of divers +colors, having iron scales like to the scales of a fish. +On their legs they had trews, and their shields were +of wicker. For arms they had short spears and long +bows and arrows of reed; also they had daggers +hanging from their girdles by the right thigh. The +Medes were accoutered in the same way; and indeed +this fashion of armor is Median rather than Persian.</p> + +<p>The Assyrians had helmets of brass, wrought in a +strange fashion. These had shields and spears and +daggers like to the Egyptians; and besides they had +clubs of wood with knots of iron and linen corslets.</p> + +<p>The Scythians had trews. These carried bows and +daggers, and battle-axes also. The Indians were clad +in cotton, with bows of cane, and arrows also of cane +pointed with iron. As for the Arabians they had +long cloaks bound about the waist with girdles, and +at their right side they carried bows bending backward. +They that came from Ethiopia were clad in +skins of panthers and lions. Their bows were of the +stems of palm leaves, four cubits and more in length; +their arrows were small and of reed, having heads of +stone for iron. (This same stone is used for engraving +of seals.) They had spears also, with the horns +of antelopes made sharp for spear-heads, and knotted +clubs also. When they were about to go into battle +they would paint the one-half of their bodies with +chalk and the other with vermilion. There were +also Eastern Ethiopians (these had straight hair, +while they of the West had hair more woolly than +the hair of other men) equipped like to the others, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</span>but having the scalps of horses on their heads. +These they flay off with the ears and mane. The +ears stand upright and the mane is for a crest. For +shields they have bucklers made of the skins of +cranes.</p> + +<p>Many nations came from the Lower Asia, as Phrygians +and Paphlagonians, and Lydians, these last being +clad and armed very much in Greek fashion. +There were also Mysians (who in old time came forth +from Lydia, but then dwelt in the Mysian Olympus). +These had helmets and bucklers and staves of wood +with one end hardened in the fire. Also the Bithynians +came from this land, having before dwelt about +the Strymon, in Thrace. These had skins of foxes +on their heads, and tunics with long cloaks of many +colors about their bodies, and buskins of fawn skins +about their legs and feet; and for arms javelins and +light shields and short daggers.</p> + +<p>From these and many other nations of Asia and +Africa came the footmen of the host. They had captains +of tens and of hundreds and of thousands and +of ten thousands; and over all six generals, Mardonius, +Tritantæchmes, son of Artabanus, Megabyzus, +son of Zopyrus, the same that took the city of +Babylon for King Darius, and three others.</p> + +<p>These six commanded all the footmen save only +the Ten Thousand. These Ten Thousand were Persians +all of them, chosen men. These Hydarnes led, +and they were called the Immortals, because if any +man among them die or fall sick, straightway another +is chosen into his place, so that they are ten thousand +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</span>always, neither more nor less. Of all the host the +Persians were the bravest and most splendidly +equipped.</p> + +<p>The horsemen came from many nations. Among +these were the Sagartians, a wandering people. These +are wont to have no arms either of iron or bronze, +save only a dirk. But they have lassoes of leathern +thongs and trust to these. They fight in this fashion. +When they go into battle, they cast their lassoes having +nooses at the end; and that which is entangled in +the noose they draw toward them, be it man or horse, +and slay it.</p> + +<p>Of the Indians some rode in chariots drawn by wild +asses. The Arabians rode on camels that were not +less swift than horses. These were set last in order +because the horses could not endure the sight of the +camels. Of horsemen there were in all eighty thousand.</p> + +<p>The number of the ships of war was one thousand +and two hundred and seven. Of these the Phœnicians +furnished three hundred and the Egyptians two +hundred, and the men of Cyprus one hundred and +fifty, and the men of Cilicia one hundred. The +Ionians and the Æolians and the Greeks that dwelt +about the Hellespont and the Black Sea furnished +two hundred and sixty and seven. And on all the +ships there were fighting men, Persians and Medes +and Sacæ. The best of all the ships were the Phœnician, +and of the Phœnician ships the best they that +came from Sidon.</p> + +<p>As to the names of them that commanded the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</span>ships, there is no need to tell them. For indeed they +were not commanders, but slaves, even as the others. +But the Persians that commanded were Ariabignes +son of Darius, and Megabazus, with two others. Of +smaller ships and transports and the like there were +three thousand in all.</p> + +<p>One of the generals must needs be mentioned, +namely Artemisia, the daughter of Lygdamis. She, +her husband being dead and her son but a lad, had +the lordship of her city, even Halicarnassus; and she +went with Xerxes against Greece, not of necessity, +but of her own free will, so valiant was she and of so +manlike a spirit. She furnished five ships to the +King, and in all the fleet there were none better, save +only those of the Sidonians; nor was there one of the +allies that gave better counsel to the King than did +this Artemisia.</p> + +<p>When Xerxes had numbered the host and the fleet, +and had set them in order, it seemed good to him to +go through them and see them for himself. This +therefore he did. First he rode on a chariot, driving +from nation to nation, and inquiring about each many +things; and there followed scribes, who wrote down +that which was answered. This he did till he came +to the very end of the footmen and of the horsemen. +After this he left his chariot and embarked on a ship +of Sidon, and sitting under a tent of gold sailed +along by the prows of the ships, these all having been +launched and being drawn up about four hundred +feet from the shore, and the fighting men upon them, +some ready armed as for battle. The King sailed between<span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</span> +the ships and the shore; and the scribes followed +him and wrote as before.</p> + +<p>When he had ended these things he sent for Demaratus, +the son of Ariston, that had been King in +Sparta, and had been banished thence, and asked +him, saying, “Demaratus, it is my pleasure to ask +thee a certain question. Thou art a Greek; and as I +hear from thee and from other of thy people, thou +comest of a city that is by no means the least or +weakest in the land of Greece. Tell me, then, will +the Greeks abide our coming, and lift a hand against +us? For, as it seems to me, not all the Greeks, nor +all the barbarians of the west, if they were gathered +together, could stand up against me when I come +against them, if they were not of one mind. But +tell me, what thinkest thou?”</p> + +<p>Then said Demaratus, “Shall I answer thee that +which is true or that which is pleasant?”</p> + +<p>The King said, “Speak that which is true. It +shall not be the worse for thee.”</p> + +<p>When Demaratus heard this, he said, “O King, +thou biddest me speak the truth, so that I may not +be found hereafter to have lied unto thee. With us +Greeks poverty is born and bred; and we have gotten +for ourselves valor by help of wisdom and law, and +by valor we keep ourselves both from poverty and +from servitude. Now that which I am about to say +regards the Spartans only, though indeed I honor all +the Greeks that dwell in the Dorian country. Know +then, in the first place, that the Spartans will receive +no conditions from thee that shall bring slavery upon +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</span>Greece; and in the second, that they will surely come +forth to meet thee in battle, yea, though all the +Greeks besides be on thy side. But as to their number +there is no need to inquire; for if there be a thousand +that shall march out to battle, or if there be +more or less these will surely fight.”</p> + +<p>When Xerxes heard this he laughed, and said, +“What is this that thou hast said, Demaratus? Shall +a thousand men fight with a whole army? Tell me +now. Thou hast been, thou sayest, King of these +Spartans. Wilt thou then forthwith fight singly +with ten men? Yet if all thy nation be such as thou +sayest, thou being their King shouldst, according +to your custom, contend against as many again; +so that if a common man be a match for ten +men of my army thou shouldst be a match for +twenty. But if they that so boast themselves are +no bigger or stronger than the Greeks that I have +seen, thyself, to wit, and others, then is this talk but +empty words. Consider now the likelihood of the +thing. How could a thousand, or ten thousand, or +even fifty thousand, stand up against such an army, +the more so if they be free and not under the rule of +one man? For say that there be five thousand of +them, yet shall we have more than a thousand to one. +If, indeed, they were under the rule of one man after +our fashion, then might they for fear of him be +valiant even beyond their nature, and fight few +against many, being driven thereto by the lash. But +being free, and left to choose, they will do neither +the one nor the other. I verily believe that Greeks +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</span>could scarce stand up in battle against Persians, +the number being equal. But as to this, that one +man can fight against many, we have indeed a few +such in our army, but a few only, for some of my +spearmen would not refuse to fight one man against +three Greeks. But about this thou knowest nothing, +and so talkest idly.”</p> + +<p>To this Demaratus made answer, “O King, I knew +at the beginning that if I should speak the truth I +should not please thee. But the truth thou wouldst +have me speak; therefore I told thee the things that +concerned the Spartans. And yet I love them not, +as thou knowest very well, seeing that they took +from me the place and dignity that came to me from +my father, and drave me out into banishment, whereas +thy father Darius received me and gave me sustenance +and a home to dwell in; and it is not to be +believed that a wise man would scorn such kindness, +but rather that he would cherish it in his heart. For +myself I engage not to fight with ten men, nor yet +with two, nor indeed would I willingly fight with +one; yet if there should be any necessity or great +cause, I would gladly fight with any of the men who +say they are a match for three Greeks. And as for +the Spartans, when they fight singly they are as good +as any men in the world; and when they fight together +they are better than any. For though they be +free, yet are they not wholly free. For they have a +master over them, even Law, whom they fear more +than thy people fear thee. Whatsoever this master +commands, that they do. And he commands them +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</span>that they turn not their backs in battle, how many +soever be their enemies, but abide in their place, and +conquer or die. If thou thinkest that these things +that I say are naught, then will I hold my peace +hereafter. Howbeit, I pray that all things may be as +thou wouldst have them, O King.”</p> + +<p>This was the answer of Demaratus. And the King +laughed, and sent him away in peace.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_X"> + CHAPTER X. + <br><br> + <span class="fs80">OF THE MARCH OF XERXES.</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Xerxes made Mascames governor of the fort of +Doricus. This man he esteemed very highly, +sending him gifts every year; and Artaxerxes after +him sent gifts to the children of Mascames. Nor, +indeed, was any of the Persian governors held in +greater honor, save Boges only. This Boges was besieged +in Eion that is on the river Strymon by +Cimou and the Athenians. And though he might +have made an agreement with them and come out +from Eion and returned safe to Asia, he would not, +lest he should seem to the King to have failed in +valor, but held out to the last. And when there was +no food remaining in the fort, he caused a great pile +of wood to be built, and slew his children and his +wife and his concubines and his slaves, and cast them +into the fire. After this he threw all the gold and +silver that was in the fort into the river: and last of +all he cast himself into the fire. With good cause, +therefore, do the Persians honor him to this day.</p> + +<p>Then Xerxes went on his way from Doricus westward; +and whomsoever he found he compelled to +take service with him. The road by which he went +the Thracians in after time held in great honor, and +did not plow it or sow it.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</span></p> + +<p>When the King came to Acanthus that is by Mount +Athos, and saw what had been done with the trench, +and knew that the people of Acanthus had been very +zealous in the work, he sent them a Persian dress for +a gift, and praised them much. While he tarried +here Artachæes, a Persian, and of the royal house, +who had been set over the digging of the trench, fell +sick and died. He excelled in stature all the Persians, +being but five fingers short of five cubits of +the royal measure, and his voice surpassed that +of other men. Wherefore the King was much +troubled at his death, and buried him with great +honor, and all the host made a mound over his grave. +Afterward the people of Acanthus sacrificed to this +man as to a hero, being bidden so to do by an oracle.</p> + +<p>As for the Greeks that fed the army and entertained +Xerxes, they were brought to great poverty, so that +many of them were driven to forsake their homes. +For when the people of Thasos, having possessions +on the mainland, were commanded so to entertain +the army of Xerxes, a certain Antipater, one of the +chiefest of the citizens, having the charge of the +matter, showed that there were expended on the +meal four hundred talents of silver. In other cities +also they that had this charge made the same reckoning. +And, indeed, this entertainment was ordered +many days beforehand, and was a matter of no small +preparation. The manner of it was this. So soon +as they received the commandment from the heralds +that were sent to give them warning, then the citizens +set about grinding wheat and barley. This they +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</span>did for many months. Also they fatted beasts, finding +the best that they could buy; and they reared +birds, both land-birds and water-birds, in buildings +and ponds for the entertaining of the army. Also +they prepared cups and bowls of gold and silver and +all other things for the furniture of the table. This +indeed they did for the King and for them that sat +at meat with him only; but for the rest of the army +they made ready only such food as had been commanded. +For Xerxes a tent was made ready wherein +he might lodge; but the rest of the army lodged +without shelter. So soon as the time of eating came +they that entertained had great toil and trouble; and +the soldiers ate their fill and staid that night in the +same place. The next day they tare down the tent +and took all the furniture, leaving nothing, but +carrying all away with them. Well therefore did +Megacreon of Abdera speak when he counseled the +men of Abdera to go with their wives and children +to the temples, and after putting up prayers for +the time to come, thank the Gods that it was not the +pleasure of King Xerxes to have two meals in the +day, for that verily if he had desired not only dinner, +but breakfast also, then must the people of Abdera +have either fled from before the King or, waiting his +coming, have been utterly ruined.</p> + +<p>At this town of Acanthus Xerxes commanded the +fleet that it should sail through the trench by Mount +Athos and should await his coming at Therma; but +he himself led his army through the land of Pæonia. +Here the camels that carried the victuals for the host +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</span>were set upon by lions, which coming by night from +their dens touched neither man nor beast, but the +camels only; but what it was that drave them to this, +considering that they had never before seen the +beast, or made any trial of it, no man can say. There +are many lions in this country, and wild oxen also +with very long horns, which are brought into Greece. +So Xerxes came to Therma; and being at Therma he +saw the two mountains Olympus and Ossa, which are +indeed marvelously high. And when he heard that +there was between these mountains a narrow pass +through which ran a river, and that this was the road +into Thessaly, he conceived a desire to go on shipboard +and see the place where the river flowed into +the sea. Wherefore he embarked on a ship of Sidon, +the same that he was wont to use when he would go +on such a journey, and gave the signal for the others +to set sail also. And when he came to the place, he +marveled much at the outflow of the rivers, and calling +to him the guide would fain know whether it +were possible to bring the rivers into the sea by any +other way.</p> + +<p>Men say that in old time Thessaly was a great lake, +being shut in on every side by high mountains. +And indeed toward the east Ossa and Pelion are +joined together at the base, and on the north is +Olympus, and on the west Pindus, and on the south +Othrys. In this land there are many rivers which all +make their way into the sea by one channel, even +the Peneus. But they say that in old time this channel +was not, but that afterward Poseidon made it; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</span>which may well be if Poseidon brings earthquakes to +pass, and if chasms are his handiwork. For it is +manifest that the hills have been torn asunder by an +earthquake. When therefore Xerxes asked the guides +whether the water could pass by any other outlet into +the sea, the men, as knowing the nature of the place, +made answer, “There is no other way, O King, by +which this water can pass into the sea save this +which thou now seest; for Thessaly is girded about +with hills.”</p> + +<p>Then said Xerxes, “The men of Thessaly are wise. +Good reason had they to change their minds in time +and to make provision for their safety. For, not to +speak of other things, they knew that they dwelt in +a land which it was easy to subdue. For nothing +was needed save to turn the river upon their lands, +building up a mound in this channel, and so turning +the stream from its course. So would all Thessaly be +changed into a lake.”</p> + +<p>When the King said this he thought of the sons of +Aleuas, who had made their submission to him first +of all the Greeks, being Thessalians. And he thought +that they had done this in the name of the whole +people. After this the King went back to Therma. +And here there came to him the heralds whom he +had sent to the Greek cities demanding earth and +water, some being empty-handed and some carrying +that for which they had been sent. Many nations +gave earth and water, as the Thessalians and the +Locrians and the Bœotians; only the men of Platæa +and Thespiæ, that are towns of the Bœotians, gave +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</span>them not. Against all such the Greeks that stood +up against the barbarians sware this oath: “From +all people who being Greeks have given themselves +up to the Persians, without necessity compelling, we +will take a tithe of their goods, and offer it to the +god at Delphi.”</p> + +<p>Now it must be remembered that Xerxes, though +he said that he was marching against Athens, had it +in his mind to subdue all Greece. And this the +Greeks knew beforehand, though indeed they did not +all regard the matter in the same way. For some +had no fear of the barbarians, as having given them +earth and water, and thinking therefore that they +should receive from them no harm; but others, having +not given these things, were in great fear. For +whereas they thought that all the ships in Greece +were not enough to meet the Persians, so also they +knew that the greater part of the cities would take +no part in the war, but greatly favored the enemy.</p> + +<p>And here must be said a thing which because it is +true ought to be said, though most men will mislike +it. If the Athenians, for fear of the danger that was +coming upon them, had left their country, or, not +leaving it, had submitted themselves to Xerxes, then +certainly none would have sought to withstand the +Persians by sea; and if none had withstood the Persians +by sea, then there would have come to pass on +the land what shall now be set forth. Though many +breastworks had been built across the Isthmus, yet +would the Lacedæmonians have been betrayed by +their allies; not of their free will, indeed, but because +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</span>their cities would have been taken, one after the +other, by the fleet of the barbarians. So would they +in the end have been left alone, and being so left +alone, after many deeds of valor, would have perished +with great glory. Or if not, then seeing beforehand +that all the other Greeks were submitting themselves +to the Persians, they also would have made an agreement +with Xerxes. So, in either case, would Greece +have been made subject to the barbarians. For what +would have been the profit of walls built across the +Isthmus while the King had the mastery by sea? If +a man then should say that in truth the Athenians +were the saviours of Greece, he would speak truly; +for to whichever side they had inclined that would +have been the weightier. And they, having a fixed +purpose that Greece should be free, stirred up all the +nations that had not submitted themselves to the Persians, +and so, next to the Gods, drave back the enemy.</p> + +<p>And this they did though they were sorely terrified +by the oracle. For when they sent messengers to +inquire of the god at Delphi, and these had offered +sacrifices after the custom, and were now come into +the shrine, the priestess gave to them this answer. +(The name of the priestess was Aristonice.)</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“Why sit ye still? Fly, wretched race,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">To earth’s far bounds the fatal place.</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Fly hearth and home and craggy hill,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Round which the wheel-like city stands;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Through all her being fares she ill,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Body, and head, and feet, and hands.</div> + <div class="verse indent0">The fire consumes them, and from far,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Wild Ares drives his Syrian car.</div> + </div> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</span> <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">Full many a tower, both fair and tall,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Not thine alone, before him fall;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Full many a holy place and shrine</div> + <div class="verse indent2">The fire’s devouring flames shall seize;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Cold stands the sweat on face divine,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">And shake with fear the trembling knees;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">From high-pitched roof the blood-drops fall,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Fell signs of storm and coming woe;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Leave, suppliant band, Apollo’s hall,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Prepare you for the fate ye know.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>When the messengers from Athens heard these +words they were greatly troubled. But Timon the +son of Androbulus, a chief man among the citizens +of Delphi, seeing how utterly cast down they were +by the evil that was prophesied concerning their +country, counseled them that they should take tokens +of suppliants in their hands, and in this guise go and +inquire of the oracle once more. This then the +Athenians did, and spake, saying, “O King, prophesy +unto us some better thing about our country, having +regard to these tokens of suppliants which we bring +into thy presence. Else will we not depart from thy +sanctuary, but will abide here till the day of our +death.” Then the priestess prophesied to them a +second time, using these words:</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“Pallas desires with deep desire</div> + <div class="verse indent0">To change the purpose of her sire.</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Again entreats him, and again;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">But vain her prayers, her counsel vain.</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Yet sons of Athens, hear once more</div> + <div class="verse indent2">The firm, unyielding word of fate;</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Whene’er the fair Cecropian state,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">From bound to bound and shore to shore.</div> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</span> </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">Before the foeman’s might shall bow,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">One boon will Zeus All-wise allow</div> + <div class="verse indent0">To Pallas’ prayer—that ne’er shall fall</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Fair Athens’ stay, her wooden wall:</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Think not to wait that evil hour</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Horsemen or footmen’s dark array;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Fly, fly their host; yet comes the hour</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Ye stand to meet the foemen’s power.</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Thou, holy Salamis, shalt bring</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Dark death to sons of women born,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Or when abroad the seed they fling,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Or when they pluck the ripened corn.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>These words seemed to be, as indeed they were, +milder than the former words. So the envoys wrote +them down, and returned with them to Athens.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XI"> + CHAPTER XI. + <br><br> + <span class="fs80">OF THE PREPARATIONS OF THE GREEKS.</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>When the messengers told the words that they +had heard and written down to the people, +there were many and various opinions among those +who sought to interpret the oracle. Some of the +older men said that it seemed to them that the god +bade them fortify the citadel, for that in old time the +citadel of Athens had been surrounded with a fence. +And this fence they supposed to be the “wooden +wall.” And there were others that said the “wooden +wall” signified their ships; but these were confounded +by the last words of the oracle:</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“Thou, holy Salamis, shalt bring</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Dark death to sons of women born,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Or when abroad the seed they fling,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Or when they pluck the ripened corn.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>These words troubled them much, for the readers +of oracles declared that it was signified by them that +they should fight in ships and be worsted at Salamis.</p> + +<p>Now there was at Athens a certain man that was +but newly risen into the front rank of the citizens. +This was Themistocles the son of Neocles. He then +coming forward affirmed that the oracle-readers did +not read the words aright, for that, if they had been +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</span>really spoken concerning the Athenians, the god +would have said, “Sad Salamis,” rather than “Holy +Salamis,” it being decreed that the dwellers in the +land should die there. It was manifest, therefore, he +said, to one that interpreted the words aright that +they were spoken concerning the barbarians, and not +concerning the Athenians. Wherefore he advised his +fellow-citizens that they should make ready to fight +in ships, for that these were their “wooden wall.” +When Themistocles had set forth these opinions, the +Athenians judged them to be better than the opinions +of the oracle-readers. For these would have hindered +them from fighting in ships, yea, from so much as +lifting up their hands against the enemy; and would +have had them leave their country, and find some +other wherein to dwell.</p> + +<p>Before this, another counsel of this same Themistocles +had been given excellently in season. It so +chanced that the Athenians had much money in +their public treasury, having received it from their +mines at Laurium. This they were about to divide +among the citizens, man by man, so that each should +have ten drachmæ; but Themistocles persuaded the +Athenians that this division should not be made, but +that they should use the money for the building of +two hundred ships for the war that they had on hand, +that is to say, the war against Ægina. This war indeed +it was that was the saving of Greece, for it compelled +the Athenians to become seafaring men. As +for the two hundred ships, they were not used for the +end for the which they were made; but they were a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</span>help to Greece when she most needed them. So +many ships had the Athenians ready before the war; +and they began to build others. And now, after hearing +the oracle and consulting thereupon, they judged +it well to put their whole force on shipboard, even as +the god commanded them; and so, together with +such of the Greeks as were of the same mind, to give +battle to the barbarians.</p> + +<p>So soon as the Greeks that followed the good +cause, even the cause of Greece, were assembled together, +they took counsel and pledged their faith one +to the other. This being done, they agreed in this, +that, first of all, all feuds that there were of nation +against nation should be appeased. Many such there +were; but the greatest of all was that between the +men of Athens and the men of Ægina. Afterward, +when they knew that King Xerxes had come down to +Sardis with his host, they thought it good to send +spies to see how matters stood with the King in +Asia; also they sent embassadors, some to Argos, to +make an alliance against the Persians; and others to +Sicily, to Gelon, lord of Syracuse; and to Corcyra, to +ask for help; and others again to Crete. For they +desired to bind together into one all that bare the +Greek name, so that they might strive with one heart +against him that was the enemy of all. Now the +power of Syracuse was said to be greater than the +power of any other city among the Greeks.</p> + +<p>When they had thus taken counsel together, and +had caused all such as were at enmity to be reconciled, +they sent three men into Asia to be spies. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</span>These came to Sardis and learned what was to be +known about the King’s army. But being discovered, +they were questioned by the generals and condemned +to die. But when Xerxes heard this he blamed the +purpose of the generals, and sent some of his own +spearmen, commanding that if they found the spies +yet alive they should bring them into his presence. +So the spearmen went, and finding them yet alive +brought them into the presence of the King. And +when the King saw them, he inquired of them wherefore +they had come; and afterward commanded the +spearmen that they should show them the whole +army, both horse and foot, and all the power of the +King, and that when the men had had their fill of +this sight, they should send them away unhurt +whithersoever they would. And the cause, he said, +why he gave this commandment about the spies +was this. If these spies be put to death, the Greeks +will not know that my power is greater by far than all +that they have heard, nor shall we harm them much +slaying three of their men. But if these spies return +to Greece, then will the Greeks hear the truth about +this my host, and of their own free will they will +give themselves to us and surrender their freedom, +and we shall be spared the trouble of this great business. +At another time, also, Xerxes spake much in +the same fashion. When he was in Abydos he saw +three corn ships coming from the Black Sea and sailing +down the Hellespont, carrying wheat to Ægina +and the Peloponnesus. And they that sat by him +when they knew that the ships belonged to the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</span>enemy had thought of taking them, and looked to +the King that he should give the word. Then said +Xerxes, “Whither do these ships sail?” And the +men answered, “To thy enemies, O King, carrying +corn to them.” Then the King said, “And are we +not sailing to the same place, taking with us corn as +well as many other things? What wrong therefore +do these men carrying food for us?” So it came to +pass that the spies returned safe to Greece.</p> + +<p>After this the Greeks sent messengers to divers +cities, asking help. First they sent them to Argos. +Now the Argives had been warned by an oracle that +they should sit quiet, being indeed greatly weakened +by that which they had suffered at the hands of the +Spartans, for these, under King Cleomenes, had slain +six thousand citizens. Nevertheless they bade the +messengers come into their council chamber and declare +their message. And when they had heard it +they answered, “We will help you if the Spartans +will give us a truce for thirty years, and will also +divide with us the command of the army. This +indeed we should by rights have altogether, but we +will divide it with Sparta.” The truce they asked +that, their children having grown to man’s estate, +they might be able to make head against Sparta, if +need should be. The Spartans answered, “As for +the truce, we will bring the matter before the people, +but the leadership we can not divide as ye would +have it. For we have two kings and ye only one. +But your King shall have one vote.” This the +Argives could not endure. Whereupon they said to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</span>the messengers, “Depart out of our borders before +the sun be set, or we will deal with you as with +enemies.”</p> + +<p>This is the story of the Argives, but the other +Greeks affirm that Xerxes sent a messenger to them, +saying, “We Persians are your kinsmen, for Perses, +who is our father, was son to Perseus that was the +son of Danae, that was the daughter of Acrisius your +King. Wherefore neither should we fight against +you, nor ye against us. Do ye, therefore, keep quiet, +and there shall be none whom we will honor more +than you.” With this message the Argives were +greatly pleased; and they asked for a share in the +leadership for a pretense only, as knowing that the +Spartans would not yield it.</p> + +<p>Many years after it chanced that while certain ambassadors +from Athens were at Susa, there came up +also an embassy from Argos, who inquired of King +Artaxerxes, that was son to Xerxes, “Does the +friendship that Xerxes thy father made with us still +remain, or dost thou count us as enemies?” To this +Artaxerxes answered that the friendship remained, +and that he held no city dearer to him than Argos.</p> + +<p>The truth of these matters can not certainly be +known. Yet so much may be affirmed without +doubt, that if all men were to bring their own misdeeds +into one place, as wishing to exchange them +for the misdeeds of their neighbors, when they came +to look close into the misdeeds of their neighbors, +they would be right glad to carry back their own.</p> + +<p>Other messengers, among whom was one Syagrus +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</span>of Sparta, were sent to speak with Gelon, lord of +Syracuse. These, when they were come into his +presence, spake, saying, “The Spartans and the +Athenians and their allies have sent us to tell thee +that the Persians are marching into Europe, giving +out indeed that they make war upon Athens only, +but proposing to subdue the whole land of Greece. +Do thou therefore—for thou has great power, being +lord of Sicily—help us that we may keep our freedom. +And be sure that if thou suffer us to perish +these barbarians will fall next upon thee, and that if +thou helpest us thou helpest thyself.” To this Gelon +made answer, “Men of Greece, ye think only of +yourselves when ye ask my help against the Persians. +Did ye help me when I would have had you for my +allies against the Carthaginians? Nevertheless I +will not render evil for evil, but will help you, sending +two hundred ships, and twenty thousand footmen, +and two thousand horsemen, and archers and +slingers and light horsemen, of each two thousand. +Also I will promise meat for the whole host of the +forces so long as the war shall continue. Only ye +must make me commander.”</p> + +<p>Therefore Syagrus the Spartan burst forth, “Surely +now Agamemnon son of Pelops would groan to hear +that Gelon and the men of Syracuse had taken the +leadership from Sparta. If thou wilt help the +Greeks, O King, know that thou must follow the +leading of the Spartans.”</p> + +<p>Then said Gelon, “For all thy evil words, man of +Sparta, thou shalt not persuade me to answer thee +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</span>evil. Yet if ye put such store by this command, how +much more should I, that can bring with me so great +an army! Howbeit I will yield to you so much as +this. If ye will take the rule of the army, then will +I command the ships; or, if ye choose the ships, +yield the army to me. But if this please you not, +then ye must depart without my alliance.”</p> + +<p>Then said the ambassador from Athens, making +haste before the Spartan can speak, “The Greeks +have sent me, O King, to ask not for a leader, but +for an army; but thou sayest little of an army, but +art over-eager for the leadership. As to the army, we +were willing that the Spartan should answer; but as +to the fleet, hear this. If the Spartans will have the +command, we yield it to them; but if not, then it +comes to us, and we give it to no man. For why +should we yield, who are the most ancient nation of +all the Greeks, and of whom came the most skillful +to order an army of all the chieftains that fought +against Troy?”</p> + +<p>Then said Gelon, “Man of Athens, ye seem to +have commanders more than enough, but of them +that should be commanded a few only. Go ye back +then to Greece with all haste, and say that she has +lost the spring out of the year.” For he likened +himself and his power to the spring, which is the +best season of the year.</p> + +<p>When the Greeks had departed, Gelon sent three +small ships, and with them one Cadmus, who should +watch the issue of the war. And the man had with +him many gifts and earth and water. These Gelon +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</span>commanded him to give to King Xerxes if he should +get the upper hand, and if not, to bring back again. +This Cadmus had received the lordship of Cos from +his father, yet for love of right and justice gave it up +to the people. And in this manner also he showed +himself to be a righteous man; for when the Greeks +had prevailed, and Xerxes had departed, he kept not +the gifts, as he might have done, but carried them +back to Gelon.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless some say that, notwithstanding the +matter of the leadership, Gelon would have helped +the Greeks, but that there came to Sicily about this +time a great army of Phœnicians and Libyans and +Sardinians under Hamilcar, King of Carthage. They +say also that he conquered this army on the very +same day on which the Greeks conquered the Persians +at Salamis.</p> + +<p>Envoys went also to the Corcyreans, who spake +them fair, saying that they would send sixty ships. +But these ships were long delayed; and after they +had set forth they lingered about the coast of the +Peloponnese, waiting for the end, even as did Gelon. +But when the Greeks reproached them, the Corcyreans +answered that the Etesian winds had not suffered +them to round Cape Malea.</p> + +<p>The Cretans inquired of the god of Delphi whether +they should help the Greeks; and the god answered +them, “Do ye not remember, ye fools, how that Minos +was wroth with your nation because ye went to help +the Greeks against Troy, because forsooth a barbarian +had carried off a woman from Sparta, yet cared not +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</span>to avenge him when he perished at Camicus?” +Wherefore the men of Crete sat still.</p> + +<p>While these things were being done the men of +Thessaly sent to the Greeks, saying, “Come ye and +guard the pass of Olympus, so shall ye preserve both +our country and the rest of Greece also. But if ye +will not, then must we yield to the Persians, lest we +be left alone and so perish on your behalf.”</p> + +<p>Then the Greeks sent an army, even ten thousand +men at arms, to the Pass of Olympus. But when +they had been there a few days only there came messengers +from Alexander, King of Macedon, saying, +“Depart from this place lest ye be trampled underfoot +by your enemies.” And he told them of the +number of the army and of the ships. So the Greeks +departed and returned to the Isthmus; and having +taken counsel again, they determined to send an +army to Thermopylæ, which is the Pass from Thessaly +into Greece. And the fleet they sent to Artemisium, +which is in the island of Eubœa. As for the +Pass it is but fifty feet wide, and westward there is a +high mountain which no man can climb, but to the +eastward is the sea and the marshes of the river +Peneus. And across this Pass there had been built a +wall in old time. The Phocians built it for fear of +the men of Thessaly. And now the Greeks repaired +the breaches, for it was broken down.</p> + +<p>In the meanwhile the men of Delphi inquired of +the god what they should do, being in great fear of +the barbarians. And the god said to them that they +should pray to the winds. To the Athenians also +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</span>there came an oracle that they should seek help from +their son-in-law. Now their son-in-law was Boreas, +the northwind; for Boreas, being a prince of Thrace, +took to wife, as say the Greeks, Orithyia, the daughter +of Erechtheus, that was King of Athens.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XII"> + CHAPTER XII. + <br><br> + <span class="fs80">OF THE ARMY AND THE SHIPS OF XERXES, AND + OF THE FIRST FIGHTING WITH THE GREEKS.</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>King Xerxes brought with him from Asia +twelve hundred and seven great ships; and in +each ship there were two hundred rowers and thirty +fighting men. Also he had of smaller ships, having +fifty oars or under, three thousand, and in each of +these, taking one with another, there were eighty +men. Therefore the whole number of the men that +served on the ships was five hundred and seventeen +thousand and six hundred. Of foot soldiers there +were seventeen hundred thousand, and of horsemen +eighty thousand, and of Arabs riding on camels and +of Libyans that fought from chariots twenty thousand. +There were also one hundred and twenty ships of +Greeks that dwelt in Thrace and in the islands +thereof, and in these twenty and four thousand men. +To these must be added foot soldiers of the Thracians, +the Pæonians, the Macedonians, and others. And +the sum of the whole was two million six hundred +and forty-one thousand six hundred and ten. And +of all this great host there was none fitter to be the +ruler for beauty and great stature than King Xerxes +himself. Of those that followed the camp, and of +the crews of the provision ships and other vessels of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</span>transport, the number was more rather than less the +number of the fighting men. As for the women that +ground the corn, and others that came with the army, +and the horses, and the beasts of burden, and the +dogs, their number can not be told.</p> + +<p>The fleet, departing from Therma, came to the +country of Magnesia and there cast anchor. But ten +of the swiftest ships sailed down the gulf of Therma +straight to the island of Sciathos, which lies to the +northward of Eubœa. Here were three ships of the +Greeks, whereof one was from Athens, and one from +Ægina, and one from Trœzen; these were looking +out for the coming of the barbarians. And when +they spied the ships of the barbarians they fled with +all speed, and the barbarians pursued them, and overtook +the ship of Trœzen. Then they took the most +beautiful of the fighting men and sacrificed him at +the prow of the ship, thinking that this was an +omen of good to them, for the man was very beautiful, +and was the first captive they had taken from the +Greeks. Also his name was Leo, that is to say, +Lion; and this was another cause for which they +sacrificed him.</p> + +<p>The ship of Ægina gave the Persians no small +trouble, a certain Pytheas, who was a fighting man +thereon, bearing himself very bravely. For when +the ship was taken he did not cease to contend with +the enemies, until he fell, being covered with wounds +from head to foot. But the Persian soldiers, finding +that he was not dead, but still breathed, made much +of him, seeking to keep him alive. His wounds they +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</span>dressed with myrrh and bound with bandages of cotton; +and when they came back to their encampment +they showed the man to the host, admiring him and +dealing with him kindly. But with the rest of the +crew they dealt as with slaves.</p> + +<p>As for the Athenian ship, it was run aground at the +mouth of the river Peneus. The men leaped ashore +and escaped through Thessaly, but the ship was taken +by the barbarians. When the rest of the Greeks +knew of the coming of the barbarians they were sore +afraid, and departed from Artemisium, intending to +defend the Euripus. Now the Euripus lies to the +southward, where the strait between the island of +Eubœa and the mainland is the narrowest.</p> + +<p>And now there befell the first disaster that came +upon the Persians. When the fleet cast anchor on +the coast of Magnesia, the first row of ships was anchored +to the shore, and the next row was without +these, and the whole number of the rows was eight, one +after the other, for the beach was very small. The +night indeed was calm; but at dawn there fell upon +them a strong wind from the east, which the dwellers +in these parts call the wind of the Hellespont. Such +as knew the storm coming, and were able to drag +their ships on to the shore, saved themselves, but of +the others many were broken to pieces. Thus it was, +say the Athenians, that Boreas, their son-in-law, +helped them; and when they returned to their country +they built a temple to him on the banks of the +river Ilissus. Of the Persian ships there were broken, +at the least, four hundred. There were drowned also +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</span>men without number, and much treasure was lost. +Of this treasure, indeed, one Ameinocles, a Magnesian, +made much gain, gathering gold and silver cups +which were washed up by the sea, and treasure boxes +of the Persians, and articles of gold without number. +Thus he became very rich, but had trouble withal, +losing his children by violence.</p> + +<p>For three days the storm endured. But the Magians +offering victims and using incantations and doing +sacrifices to Thetis and the nymphs of the sea, +laid it on the fourth day, or, may be, it ceased of its +own accord. The cause wherefore they offered sacrifices +to Thetis was that here Peleus carried her off to +be his wife.</p> + +<p>When the Greeks heard from their watchers—for +they had all watchers on the hills of Eubœa—of the +storms and of the breaking of the Persian ships, they +hastened back with all speed to Artemisium, thinking +to find a few ships only to fight with. And ever +after they were wont to speak of Poseidon as the Preserver.</p> + +<p>When the storm had ceased, the barbarians sailed +to Aphetæ, that is a harbor on the mainland over +against Artemisium. But fifteen ships having lagged +behind, fell into the hands of the Greeks, for they +took the Greek ships for their own, and sailed into +the midst of them: a certain Sandoces was commander +of the fifteen. This man had been governor +of Cumæ in Æolia, and being one of the royal judges +had been crucified by King Darius because he had +taken a bribe. But while he hung upon the cross, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</span>the King found that the good deeds which he had +done to the King’s house were more than his evil +deeds, and commanded that he should be taken down. +Thus he escaped with his life; but this second peril +he did not escape.</p> + +<p>In the meanwhile Xerxes with the host passed +through the land of Thessaly. Here he matched his +horses with the horses of Thessaly, hearing that +these were the swiftest in all Greece; and the horses +of Thessaly were far outstripped. And having passed +through Thessaly he came to Trachis.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIII"> + CHAPTER XIII. + <br><br> + <span class="fs80">OF THE BATTLE OF THERMOPYLÆ.</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>King Xerxes pitched his camp in the region of +Trachis, and the Greeks pitched their camp in +the Pass. (This Pass is called Thermopylæ, that is +to say, the Hot Gates, by the greater part of the +Greeks, but the inhabitants of the country call it +Pylæ, that is to say, the Gates.) Here then the two +armies were set over against each other, the one being +master of all the country from the Pass northward, +and the other having that which lay to the +southward. Now the Greeks that abode the coming +of the Persians in this place were these—three hundred +Spartans, heavy-armed men; and men of Tegea +and Matinea a thousand, from each five hundred, and +from Orchomenus one hundred and twenty, and from +the rest of Arcadia a thousand. From Corinth there +came four hundred, and from Phlius two hundred, +and from Mycenæ eighty. So many came from the +Peloponnesus; of the Bœotians there came seven +hundred from Thespiæ and four hundred from +Thebes. Besides these there had come at the summons +the Locrians of Opus with all the men that +they had, and a thousand Phocians. For these the +other Greeks had summoned to their help, saying to +them by messengers, “We all that are here are come +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</span>but as the vanguard of the host; as for the others we +look for their coming day by day. The sea also is in +safe keeping, being watched by the men of Athens +and the men of Ægina, and such others as have been +appointed to this work. Remember also that he who +now comes against Greece is no god, but a man only; +nor is there any mortal, nor ever will be, with whom +from the very day of his birth misfortune is not always +close at hand, and the greater the man the +greater also the misfortune. Wherefore it may be +believed that he who now comes against us, being +but a mortal man, may fail of his purpose.” +When the Phocians and Locrians heard these words, +they came to the help of the Greeks at Trachis. +All of these had commanders of their own, for every +city one; but he that was most admired and had the +chief command of the army was a Spartan, Leonidas +by name, being the twenty-first in descent from Hercules, +and having obtained the kingdom in Sparta +contrary to expectation. For he had two brothers +that were older than he, to wit, Cleomenes and +Dorieus, and so had no thoughts of the kingdom. +Nevertheless, when Cleomenes died without male offspring, +and Dorieus also was dead, having perished +in Sicily, the kingdom came to Leonidas, for he was +older than Cleombrotus. (This Cleombrotus was the +youngest of the sons of Anaxandrides.) This Leonidas +had to wife Gorgo, the daughter of Cleomenes; +and now he went to Thermopylæ, taking with him +three hundred men according to the custom of the +kings of Sparta. These three hundred he had chosen +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</span>from such as had male children. On his way he took +with him the four hundred men of Thebes, their +commander being Leontiades. Now the cause why +Leonidas made much account of taking these men +rather than any other of the Greeks was this. It was +commonly laid to the charge of the Thebans that +they favored the cause of the Persians. For this +cause he summoned them to the war, seeking to +know whether they would send the men or would +plainly refuse the alliance of the Greeks. And the +Thebans, though they wished otherwise, nevertheless +sent the men. The Spartans indeed sent on Leonidas +and his company beforehand, purposing themselves +to follow. For they thought that when the allies +knew that these were already gone, they would also +make ready; and they feared lest these should favor +the Persians, if they themselves should be seen to +linger. And they purposed, when they should have +kept the feast—for it chanced to be the feast of the +Carneia—to leave a garrison in Sparta, and to follow +with their whole force. And the rest of the allies +were minded to do the same thing; and it so befell +that the festival of Olympia was being kept at this +time. But when they sent these men before them, +they had no thought that matters at Thermopylæ +would be brought to an end so speedily.</p> + +<p>Now the Greeks that were at Thermopylæ, when +they saw that the Persians were now near to the +mouth of the Pass, were sore afraid, and took counsel +together whether they should not depart. The Peloponnesians, +for the most part, desired to return to the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</span>Peloponnesus and guard the Isthmus; but Leonidas, +seeing that the Phocians and Locrians were greatly +vexed at this counsel, gave his sentence that they +should remain, and should send messengers to the +cities of the Greeks, bidding them send all the help +that they could, for that they were over few to stand +up against so great a host.</p> + +<p>While the Greeks were holding a council on this +matter, Xerxes sent a scout, a horseman, to see how +many in number they were, and what they were +doing. Now the man heard, while he was yet in +Thessaly, that a small company of men were gathered +together in this place, the chief of them being Spartans, +and the leader King Leonidas, of the house and +lineage of Hercules. And when he rode up to the +place where the army was encamped, he saw a part +of the men. The whole army he saw not, for they +had built again the wall that was across the Pass, and +were guarding it; and they that were within the wall +he saw not; but they that were without the wall, +having their arms piled besides them, he saw. Now +it so chanced that they who had their place at the +time without the wall were the Spartans. These the +horseman saw busy with exercises and combing their +hair. All this he much marveled to see, finding also +how few they were in number. And when he had +learned every thing for certain, he rode back again +in peace; for no one pursued after him, or indeed +paid him any heed whatsoever. And when he was +come back he told Xerxes all the things that he had +seen. But when Xerxes heard these things he could +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</span>by no means understand that which was indeed the +truth; how these men were making ready to slay as +many as might be of their enemy, and so perish. +Thinking therefore that the whole thing was but +foolishness, he sent for Demaratus, for the man was +yet with the army. And when Demaratus stood +before him he asked him about these things, desiring +to know what they signified. And Demaratus said, +“Thou hast heard from me, O King, the truth concerning +these men before this, even when we were +first beginning this war; but when thou heardest it +thou didst but laugh at me, though I told thee that +which I knew would surely come to pass. For indeed, +O King, I strive always with my whole heart to tell +thee the truth. Hear, therefore, yet again what I +say. These men are come hither to contend with us +for the Pass; and this they now prepare to do; and +they have this custom among them, that when they +are about to put their lives in peril they adorn their +heads with exceeding care. Know, also, O King, +that if thou canst subdue these men, and such others +of their nation as have been left behind in Sparta, +there is no nation upon the earth that will abide thy +coming or lift up a hand against thee; for this city +that thou now fightest against is the most honorable +in all Greece, and these men are the bravest.”</p> + +<p>But these things seemed to Xerxes to be wholly +beyond belief; and he asked again the second time, +“In what manner will these men, being so few, as +we know them to be, fight with my great army?”</p> + +<p>But Demaratus answered this only, “O King, deal +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</span>with me as with a liar if every thing fall not out even +as I have said.” Notwithstanding, he could not persuade +the King that it was so in truth.</p> + +<p>Four days, therefore, did the King suffer to pass, +hoping always that the Greeks would flee away from +their place. But on the fifth day, seeing that they were +not departed, but were full, as it seemed to him, of impudence +and folly, he grew angry, and sent against them +the Medes and the Cissians, giving them a command +that they should take these Greeks alive and bring +them before him. But when these men came up and +fell upon the Greeks, many of them were slain. +Then others came up into their places and ceased not +from fighting, though indeed they suffered a very +grievous slaughter, so that it was manifest to all +men, and more especially to the King, that though +he had very many that bore arms, yet had he but few +men of war. And this battle endured throughout +the whole day.</p> + +<p>The Medes, having been thus roughly handled, +fell back and the Persians took up the fighting in +their place, even the Ten Thousand that had the +name of the Immortals, whom Hydarnes commanded. +These men thought to finish the matter very speedily. +Nevertheless, when they came to deal with the +Greeks, they accomplished nothing more than had +the Medes, but fared just as ill, for indeed they +fought in a narrow place, and their spears were +shorter than the spears of the Greeks, and their numbers +availed them not at all. As for the Spartans, +they fought in a notable way, showing themselves +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</span>more skillful by far in battle than were their enemies. +Then they would sometimes turn their backs, and +make as though they were all fled; and when the +barbarians saw them flee they would pursue after +them with much shouting and uproar. Then the +Spartans would turn again and stand face to face with +the barbarians; and when they turned they would +slay such multitudes as could not be counted. Here +also there fell certain of the Spartans, but a few only. +In the end, when the Persians after many trials could +not by any means gain the Pass, neither by attacking +in division nor by any other means, they went back +to their camp. And twice, while these battles were +being fought, did Xerxes leap from his seat in great +fear for his army.</p> + +<p>The next day also the barbarians fought, but fared +no better than before; for they hoped that the +Greeks, being few in number, had been overcome +with their wounds, and would not be able any more +to stand up against them. But these had been +ordered in companies, according to their nations, and +so fought, the one coming in the place of another. +Only the Phocians did not fight, being set over the +mountain that they might guard the path. Wherefore +the Persians, finding that they prevailed not one +whit more than before, turned back to the camp.</p> + +<p>The King, therefore, was greatly perplexed what +he should do. But while he considered there came +to him a certain Ephialtes, a man of Malea, and +desired to talk with him. This man, hoping to +receive a great reward from the King, discovered to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</span>him the path that led over the mountain to Thermopylæ. +Thus did he bring to destruction the +Greeks that abode in the Pass. In after time, for +fear of the Spartans, this man fled into Thessaly. +And when he fled the wardens of the Pass put a price +upon his life. This they did when the Amphictyons +met at Pylæ. And as time went on Ephialtes came +back from banishment and went to Anticyra. There +a certain Athenades slew him, not for this treachery, +but for some other cause. But the Spartans honored +Athenades not the less on this account. This was +the end of Ephialtes. As for the other story, that +there were two others, to wit, Phanagoras and Corydallus, +that led the Persians by this path, it is not to +be believed. For the wardens of the Pass set a price +not on these two, but on Ephialtes, having without +doubt a perfect knowledge of the whole matter. Also +it is well known that Ephialtes went into banishment +for this cause. Let him therefore be named as +having done this great wickedness.</p> + +<p>The King was greatly pleased at the thing which +this man undertook, that is to say, the showing of +the path; and he sent Hydarnes and the Ten Thousand +that were called the Immortals. These setting +out from the camp about the time of the lighting of +the lamps, crossed over the river Asopus, and +marched all night, having Œta on their right and +Trachis on their left. And when it was morning +they were found close to the top of the mountain. +At the first, indeed, the Phocians that had been set to +guard the path knew not of their coming, for the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</span>whole of the mountain was covered with a wood of +oak trees. But when they came near, the morning +being calm, there was heard a loud rustling, as indeed +could not but be, the Persians treading the leaves +under their feet. Then the Phocians leaped up and +took their arms, and forthwith the barbarians appeared; +and the Phocians, when they saw the armed +men, were greatly astonished; for when they had +not thought to deal with any enemy whatsoever, lo! +there was an army at hand. Hydarnes indeed was +much troubled, fearing that the men that he saw +were Spartans. And he inquired of Ephialtes who +they might be; and when he knew the certainty of +the matter he commanded the Persians to make them +ready for battle. Then the Phocians, finding that +the arrows fell very thickly upon them, and thinking +that the Persians were set upon their destruction, +fled to the top of the mountain, and prepared to +meet their death. But Hydarnes and Ephialtes took +no heed of them, and went down the side of the +mountain with all the speed they could.</p> + +<p>As for the Greeks that were in the Pass, they knew +of the doom that should come upon them so soon as +the day appeared, first of all from the soothsayer +Megistias (for Megistias learned it from the sacrifices). +Afterward came in certain deserters with tidings that +the Persians had made a compass by the path across +the mountains; lastly, when the day was breaking, +came the scouts running down from the hills. Then +the Greeks held a council, considering what they +should do; and they were divided; for some would +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</span>not leave the post where they had been set, and +others were very eager to depart. And when the +council was broken up, some departed going each to +their own cities, and others made ready to abide in +the Pass with Leonidas. Some say, indeed, that +Leonidas sent away them that departed, having a +care for their safety; but it did not become him and +the Spartans that were with him, he said, to leave +their post that they had come to keep at the first. +And indeed it seems fit to be believed that Leonidas, +seeing that the others were faint-hearted and would +not willingly abide the peril, bade them go, but that +he himself held it to be a shameful thing to depart. +For he knew that he should get for himself great +glory by abiding at his post, and that the prosperity +of Sparta should not be destroyed. For when the +Spartans at the very beginning of the war sent to +inquire of the Pythia, seeking to know what should +befall them, there was given to them an oracle, that +one of two things must come to pass, to wit, that +Sparta must perish, or that one of their kings must +fall in battle.</p> + +<p>And that oracle was this—</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“Dwellers in Sparta’s proud domains,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Hear what the will of fate ordains:</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Or falls your noble city low</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Beneath the feet of Persian foe;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Or all your borders shall bewail</div> + <div class="verse indent2">A Zeus-descended monarch slain;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Nor bull nor lion shall avail</div> + <div class="verse indent2">The foe’s fierce onset to restrain;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Lo! onward moves his dark array,</div> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</span> <div class="verse indent0">Mighty as Zeus, and will not stay</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Till King or city be his prey.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>Remembering therefore this oracle, and desiring +to get for the Spartans all the glory of this matter +Leonidas sent away the others. This is rather to be +believed than that they had a controversy in the +council, and so departed in an unseemly fashion and +without order.</p> + +<p>And that this was so is manifest both from other +things and also from what befell Megistias the soothsayer. +This Megistias was an Acarnanian and of the +house, it was reported, of Melampus; and Leonidas +would have sent him away together with the others, +lest he should perish with them. Megistias indeed +would not depart, but he sent away his son who +chanced to be with the army; for indeed he had no +other son but him only.</p> + +<p>The others thereupon hearkened to the words of +Leonidas and departed; but the Thespians and the +Thebans only abode with the Spartans. This the +Thebans indeed did against their will, for Leonidas +kept these to be as hostages; but the Thespians remained +of their own free will, affirming that they +would not leave Leonidas and his companions. +Wherefore they abode in the Pass and perished together +with the Spartans. Their leader was Demophilus.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIV"> + CHAPTER XIV. + <br><br> + <span class="allsmcap">OF THE BATTLE OF THERMOPYLÆ.</span>—(<i>Continued.</i>) + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>So soon as the sun was risen Xerxes made libations; +and about the time when the market begins +to fill he commanded that the army should advance. +This he had been bidden to do by Ephialtes, +because the way for them that descended the mountain +was shorter by far than the way for them that +ascended. Now when the Persians were seen to approach, +Leonidas and his companions, as knowing +that their end was near, went further than they had +gone on the days before into that part which is +broader. For before they had been wont to guard +the wall, and advancing therefrom to fight in the +narrows of the Pass. But now they joined battle +with the barbarians in the open space, slaying great +multitudes of them. As for these indeed the captains +of their companies standing behind them and +having great whips, drave them forward. And many +were thrust into the sea by the press and so perished; +and many were trodden down by their companions. +Nor did any one take any count of them that perished. +And the Greeks, knowing that death was at +hand, now that the barbarians had come round over +the mountains, recked not of their lives, but fought +with rage that was beyond all measure. By this time +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</span>the spears of the greater part were already broken, +so that they smote down the Persians with their +swords. While they thus fought King Leonidas was +slain, having done many deeds of valor; and there +fell many other Spartans with him, men of renown. +Many famous Persians also were slain at this time, +and among them were two sons of Darius. And +there was an exceeding fierce fight between the Spartans +and Persians concerning the body of Leonidas; +but in the end the Spartans prevailed, so great was +their valor, and carried it away, and they drave back +the Persians four times. But when the Greeks perceived +that the Persians that followed Ephialtes were +at hand, they returned to the narrows of the Pass, beyond +the wall, and gathered themselves together in +the company on the mound that is at the entering in +of the Pass, where in aftertime there was set a lion of +stone over the grave of King Leonidas. Here such +as had swords yet remaining to them unbroken, defended +themselves with them; and the rest fought +with their hands and teeth, till at the last the barbarians, +some pulling down the walls and assailing +them in front and others surrounding them on every +side, overwhelmed them with stones and arrows and +the like.</p> + +<p>All the Spartans and Thespians showed themselves +right valiant; but the bravest of all was Dieneces a +Spartan. It was this Dieneces that spake a very +noteworthy saying before the Spartans joined battle +with the Persians. And the saying was this. A man +of Trachis affirmed that when the Persians shot off +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</span>their arrows the sun was darkened by the number of +them. But Dieneces was not one whit astonished at +the matter, but, taking no heed at all of the multitude +of the Persians, made answer, saying, “This is +good news that the stranger from Trachis brings us, +for if the Persians so hide the sun then shall we fight +in the shade.” Many such like sayings did this +Dieneces speak. Next after this Dieneces were two +brothers, Alpheus and Maron; and of the Thespians +the bravest was one Dithyrambus.</p> + +<p>All these were buried even where they were slain. +On them that died before that Leonidas had sent +away a part of his army, there was written this epitaph—</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“Four times a thousand men from Pelops’ land</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Three thousand times a thousand did withstand.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>But over the Spartans by themselves there was written—</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“Go, tell the Spartans, thou that passest by,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">That here, obedient to their laws, we lie.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>And over the soothsayer was this—</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“Here lies the great Megistias, whom of yore</div> + <div class="verse indent0">The Persian host, from swift Asopus shore</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Ascending, slew. The seer his doom could read,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Yet left not Sparta’s chieftains in their need.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>The other columns indeed and that which was written +upon them did the Amphictyons set up; but the +column of Megistias the seer and the inscription +thereon Simonides set up for friendship’s sake.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</span></p> + +<p>Of the three hundred two, Eurytus and Aristodemus, +were absent from their companions on the day +of the battle. Now these two might, if they had +been willing to agree, either have returned both of +them to Sparta, for Leonidas had sent them away +from the army and they lay at Alpeni, grievously +afflicted with sickness of the eyes, or if they were +not willing so to return, have died along with the +others. As for Eurytus, when he knew that the Persians +had come round by the path, he called for his +arms and put them on him, and bade his helot lead +him into the battle. So the helot led him to the +battle, and then turned and fled, and Eurytus thrust +himself into the press of the battle, and so perished. +But as for Aristodemus his courage failed him, and +he tarried at Alpeni. Now if Aristodemus only had +been sick and so returned alive to Sparta, or if they +two had so returned together, it may well be believed +that the Spartans would have had no indignation +against them; but seeing that, both being in the +same case, one perished, but the other was not willing +to die, it could not but be that they should have great +indignation against him that still lived.</p> + +<p>Such is the story that some tell about Aristodemus; +but others say that having been sent as a messenger +from the army, when he might have returned before +the battle, he lingered on the way of set purpose, but +that his fellow messenger returned and was slain. +This Aristodemus, going back to Sparta, was held in +great shame and dishonor. For no Spartan would +give him fire, nor would any talk with him, but they +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</span>called him “Aristodemus the Coward.” Notwithstanding +at the battle of Platæa he did away with all +his disgrace.</p> + +<p>As for the Thebans that were with Leonidas, for a +while they fought together with the other Greeks +against the Persians, doing this by compulsion. But +when the barbarians prevailed, and the Greeks gathered +themselves together at the mound, then the +Thebans separated themselves from them, and stretching +forth their hands came near to the barbarians, +and cried, speaking indeed the veriest truth, that +they had yielded themselves to the Persians, and had +given earth and water to the King, none sooner, and +that they had come to Thermopylæ under compulsion, +and were without guilt for the loss that had befallen +the King’s army. Thus they were saved alive, +and indeed they had the Thessalians to witness for +them that they spake the truth. Nevertheless they +were not altogether fortunate, for some of them were +slain by the barbarians as they approached, and the +others were branded with the King’s mark, for such +was the command of Xerxes. The first that suffered +this was their general Leontiades. The son of this +Leontiades, Eurymachus, was afterward slain by the +men of Platæa when he came with four hundred +other Thebans seeking to take their city.</p> + +<p>These things being finished, the King sent for Demaratus +and spake to him, saying, “Demaratus, thou +art a good man, as I know by thy speaking of the +truth, for indeed all things have turned out according +to thy saying. Tell me now how many in number are +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</span>the Spartans that yet remain? and how many of them +are such as they that have now fought against us?”</p> + +<p>Then said Demaratus, “O King, there are many +Lacedæmonians; but in this country of Lacedæmon +there is a certain city, Sparta, wherein are, as near as +may be, eight thousand men as brave as them that +fought in the Pass. The other Lacedæmonians are not +a match for these; nevertheless they are brave men.”</p> + +<p>Xerxes said, “Tell me now, Demaratus, how shall +we best get the mastery over these men? Speak, for +that wast a King among them and must need know +all their counsels.”</p> + +<p>Demaratus made answer, “Since thou seekest +counsel of me so earnestly, O King, I will tell thee, +as is right, the best thing thou canst do. Send three +hundred of thy ships against the land of the Lacedæmonians. +Now there lieth over against this land +a certain island, Cythera, concerning which island +one Chilon, a very wise man that once dwelt among +us, was wont to say that it would be far better for the +Spartans that it should be sunk under the sea +than that it should be above the sea. This he said +because he feared always lest some such thing should +be done as I am now about to tell thee. And he said +it knowing nothing of thy coming against Greece, +but fearing all coming of strangers to this place. +Send men therefore to this island, and let them +harass the Spartans from thence. And it shall be +that if they have a war of their own close at home +they will not be a trouble to thee, so as to help the +other Greeks when thy army seeks to subdue them. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</span>And when thou hast subdued the rest of Greece, the +Spartans, being left alone, will be feeble. But if +thou wilt not follow this counsel then know that +there shall come to pass that which I now tell thee. +When thou comest to the Peloponnesus thou wilt +find a narrow neck of land: and at this neck all the +men of the Peloponnesus that are leagued together +against thee will be gathered together, and there wilt +thou have to fight battles fiercer by far than that +which thou hast now seen.”</p> + +<p>Now it is so chanced that Achæmenes, who was +brother to King Xerxes, and had command of the +fleet, was present when Demaratus thus spake. Fearing +then that the King might follow this counsel, he +brake in, “I see, O King, that thou listenest to the +counsels of a man that envies thy good fortune, and +seeks to betray thee. This indeed is ever the manner +of the Greeks; they envy good fortune, and hate +that which is stronger than themselves. If now, +when we have lost four hundred ships by shipwreck, +three hundred more shall be sent away from the fleet +to sail round the Peloponnesus, then will our enemies +be a match for us. But if we keep our whole fleet +together, then will it be such as they will not +dare to encounter. Consider also that if that which +we have on the land and that which we have on +the sea advance together, the one will be able to +help the other. But if thou part them asunder, the +fleet will not be able to help thee, nor thou to help +the fleet. Only order thine own affairs well, and +take no thought about thine enemies, whether they +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</span>will join battle with thee, or what they will do, or +how many they be in number. Surely they without +us can manage their own affairs and we ours without +them. As to the Spartans, if they come out to fight +against us, they will in no wise heal this great wound +that they have now received at our hands.”</p> + +<p>To this the King made answer, “This is well said, +Achæmenes, and I will follow thy counsel. For +though Demaratus saith what he deems the best for +me, his judgment is worse than thine. But this I +will not believe, that he has not good will for me +and my fortunes. So much I know from the counsel +that he has given me before, and also from his own +affairs. For that a man may envy a fellow-citizen +that is more fortunate than he, and may hate him +secretly, and if he be asked for counsel will not +speak the thing that is best, is to be believed, unless +indeed he be of a very rare and excellent virtue. But +a friend rejoices in the prosperity of a friend that is +of another country, and gives him counsel according +to the best of his power. Now this Demaratus is my +friend, and I warn all men that hereafter they keep +themselves from speaking evil of him.”</p> + +<p>When Xerxes had thus spoken, he went to see the +bodies of them that had been slain. And when he +came to the body of Leonidas, knowing him to have +been the captain and King of the Spartans, he commanded +that they should cut the head from it and +put it on a cross, which may be taken for a proof +that there was no man that Xerxes hated so much as +he hated Leonidas while he was yet alive; for else he +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</span>had not done this dishonor to his dead body. For +the Persians are wont, for the most part, more than +other men, to show honor to them that have shown +themselves good men in war.</p> + +<p>It must yet be told how the Spartans first knew +that the King had it in his mind to bring an army +against Greece. This Demaratus, of whom mention +has been made, was not friendly, it would appear, to +them that had driven him forth. Wherefore it may +be doubted whether he did this thing that shall now +be told from goodwill or from insolence. So soon as +Xerxes had fixed it in his mind to march against +Greece, Demaratus, being then in the city of Susa, +and hearing the matter, desired to send tidings of it +to the Spartans. And the way which he devised of +sending them was this, for there was great peril lest +he should be discovered. This therefore was his contrivance. +He took a tablet that had two leaves, and +having cleared away from it the wax, he wrote upon +the wood the purpose of the King. And having +done this he melted the wax again over the writing +knowing that the guards of the road would not +trouble themselves about a tablet that was seen to be +empty. But when the tablet was brought to Sparta +no one could understand the matter, till Gorgo, that +was daughter to Cleomenes and wife to Leonidas, +discovered it to them, for she said, “Scrape the wax +from off the tablet and you will of a surety find writing +upon the wood.” Thus did the Spartans hear of +the coming of the King, and forthwith sent tidings +of it to the other Greeks.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XV"> + CHAPTER XV. + <br><br> + <span class="fs80">OF THE SHIPS OF THE GREEKS AT ARTEMISIUM.</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>The Greeks had in all two hundred and seventy +and one ships of war having three banks of +oars, and of smaller ships a few. Of these the +Athenians furnished one hundred and twenty and +seven, certain of these being manned by the men of +Platæa, who, though they had no knowledge of the +seaman’s art, yet of their valor and zeal took their +part in the business. Also the Athenians supplied +twenty ships to the men of Chalcis. The Spartans +sent ten ships only; nevertheless, the commander of +the fleet was a Spartan, Eurybiades by name, for the +allies had said, “Unless a Spartan be commander we +will break up the fleet, for an Athenian we will not +serve.”</p> + +<p>Now there had been talk, even before the sending +of the ambassadors to Sicily for help, how that it +would be well to hand over to the Athenians the +command of the fleet. But when the allies set themselves +against the thing, then the Athenians gave +place, for they desired above all things that Greece +should be saved, and judged, and that right truly, +that if there should be a strife concerning the pre-eminence, +it would surely perish. And indeed a +strife between kindred is as much worse than war, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</span>wherein all have one mind, as war itself is worse +than peace. The Athenians, knowing this, did not +hold out for themselves, but gave place. Only afterward, +when the occasion served, they showed their +thoughts. For when the Greeks had driven back +the Persians, so that they had now to fight for their +own country, then finding occasion in the insolence +of Pausanias, they took away the chief command +from the Spartans. But this happened afterward.</p> + +<p>When the Greeks that assembled at Artemisium +saw the ships of the barbarians how many in number +they were, and how the whole country was filled +with their armament, and saw that the Persians had +prospered in their undertaking beyond what they +had thought, they were in great fear, and took counsel +together whether they should not depart from +Artemisium and betake themselves to the inner parts +of their country. Now when the men of Eubœa +were aware that the Greeks had such a purpose in +their minds, they came to Eurybiades, and besought +him to remain a while, till they should have removed +their children and their slaves to a place of safety. +And when they could not persuade Eurybiades they +departed from him and went to Themistocles, the +commander of the Athenians, and persuaded him to +do this thing, giving him thirty talents of silver. +And the manner in which Themistocles caused the +Greeks to tarry at Artemisium was this. First he +sent to Eurybiades five talents of the thirty, making +as though they came from himself. Thus was Eurybiades +persuaded. Then to Adeimantus of Corinth—for +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</span>this man still opposed, affirming that he would sail +away from Artemisium and would by no means tarry—he +said with an oath, “Surely thou wilt not forsake +us. I will give thee greater gifts if thou abide with us +than the King would give thee for going over to him.” +And when he had said this he sent three talents to +the Corinthian’s ship. Thus these two were won +over by gifts, and the men of Eubœa had what they +desired. As for Themistocles, he made no small gain +in this matter, for he kept that which was left for +himself, none knowing of it. They that had a share +in the money believed that it had been sent from +Athens for this very end. Thus did it come to pass +that the Greeks fought with the barbarians at Artemisium.</p> + +<p>As for the battle, it was in this wise. When the +barbarians saw that the ships of the Greeks were +few in number they were desirous to fight without +delay, hoping that they might take them before they +could escape, and fearing lest they should flee. But +they judged it better not to sail straight against +them, lest the Greeks seeing them so advance should +take to flight, for that if night should fall while they +fled they would clean escape out of their hands. +Now the desire of the Persians was that not even the +torch-bearer, as men say, should escape. (When +the Spartans go forth to war they have with them +one who keeps the sacred fire for the sacrifices. Him +they defend with all their might; nor is he killed +unless the whole army perish.) They contrived +therefore this plan. They separated two hundred +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</span>ships from the whole fleet, and sent them around the +island of Eubœa, commanding them to make a very +wide circuit, lest the Greeks should see them. And +their purpose was that the two hundred ships should +bar the way by the Euripus (the Euripus is the channel +at the extremity of the island southward), and +that so the Greeks might be shut in on either side, +for the two hundred ships would be behind them, and +the remainder of the fleet would attack them from +before. Having so done they remained in their place, +till they should know by a signal that the two hundred +ships had accomplished their voyage.</p> + +<p>Now there was among the Persians a certain Scyllias +of Scione, than whom there was in those days +no more skillful diver. This man had saved much +treasure for the Persians after the great storm that +fell on the fleet from Mount Pelion, getting also no +small portion for himself. He had been minded for +some time to go over to the Greeks, but had not before +found occasion. And indeed how he passed +from the Persians to the Greeks is not certainly +known; but marvelous things are told about it. For +some say that diving into the sea at Aphetæ he did +not come up to the top of the water so much as once +till he was arrived at Artemisium, so passing through +eighty furlongs of sea or thereabouts. Many other +things are told about this man that are manifestly +false, and some that are true. But as to his coming +from Aphetæ to Artemisium, doubtless he came in a +boat. And so soon as he was come he told the commanders +of the fleet of the damage done to the Persians,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</span> and also of the two hundred ships that had +been sent round Eubœa.</p> + +<p>When the commanders heard these things they +took counsel what they should do. At the first they +proposed to remain in their place till midnight, and +then sail to meet the two hundred ships; but afterward, +changing their purpose, they set sail, not long +after noonday, toward the fleet of the barbarians, +desiring to make a trial of their manner of fighting +and of their skill.</p> + +<p>Now when the Persians perceived the Greeks thus +sailing against them, and saw how few ships they +had, they thought that they were mad, and went out +to meet them, not doubting that they should easily +take them all; for their ships were many more in +number and also sailed better. And such of the +Ionians as wished well to the Greeks, and served +with the Persians against their will, were much troubled +to see the fleet of the Greeks surrounded, thinking +it certain that none of them would escape; but +they that had no love for the Greeks rejoiced, and +strove with each other who should first take an Athenian +ship, and gain for himself great gifts from the +King. For the Athenians were most accounted of +both among the Persians and the Greeks.</p> + +<p>The Greeks, when the first signal was given, brought +the sterns of their ships together and turned their +prows toward their enemies; and on the second signal +they joined battle; and though they were shut +into a narrow space they bare themselves bravely and +took twenty ships of the barbarians, and with them +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</span>Philaon, brother to Gorgus King of Salamis, a man +held in much respect. And the first of the Greeks +that took a ship of the Persians was Lycomedes of +Athens, to whom was given the prize of valor. But +while they still fought, and victory was yet doubtful, +the night fell. So the Greeks sailed back to their +place, and the Persians also, marveling much at what +had befallen them, for it was far otherwise than what +they had hoped. In this battle one only of the Greeks +came over from the Persians to the Greeks, a man of +Lesbos, to whom the Athenians gave afterward certain +lands in Salamis for a reward.</p> + +<p>But before night a great rain, with thunder and +lightning from Mount Pelion, fell upon the Persians; +and the dead corpses of them that had been slain in +the battle, and broken pieces of the ships, were +floated into the midst of the ships and hindered the +oars. And the Persians were greatly afraid, thinking +that there was no end of their perils, first the storm, +and then the battle, and now this great storm of rain. +But as for them that were sent round the island they +fared much worse, for the storm fell upon them while +they were in the open sea. They were near to the +Hollows of Eubœa when the wind and the rain overtook +them; nor could they hold up against the storm, +but being driven they knew not whither, fell among +rocks, and so were utterly destroyed. Thus did the +Gods contrive that the number of the Persian ships +should be made equal to the number of the ships of +the Greeks.</p> + +<p>Right glad were the barbarians when the morning +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</span>was come; and that day they tarried in their place, +being well content to be quiet after all their troubles. +And to the Greeks there came fifty and three ships of +the Athenians. Tidings also were brought how that +all the ships of the barbarians that had sought to sail +round Eubœa had perished by reason of the storm. +All this put them in good heart; and at the same +hour at which they had sailed the day before, they +went forth and fell on some Cilician ships and destroyed +them, and so, at nightfall, sailed back to Artemisium.</p> + +<p>The third day the barbarians took it much to heart +that so few ships of the Greeks should work them +such injury. They feared also what Xerxes would do +to them; therefore they did not tarry till the Greeks +should begin the battle, but bidding each other be of +good heart, about noonday they sailed out. Now it +so fell out that these three days were the very days +on which the Persians and the Greeks had fought in +the Pass. For the Greeks at Artemisium sought +to keep the Euripus even as Leonidas and his +comrades sought to keep the Pass. So the Greeks +strengthened each other, saying that they should not +suffer the barbarians to go from thence into their land, +and the Persians were fain to destroy the fleet of their +enemies and so get the mastery of the strait. This +day then the barbarians set themselves in order of +battle and sailed against the Greeks, and these kept +in their place at Artemisium. But when the Persians, +having their ships in the shape of a crescent, made as +if they would take the Greeks on both sides, then +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</span>these sailed out and joined battle. This day neither +the one nor the other had the upper hand, for the +fleet of Xerxes was damaged not a little by reason of +the multitude of the ships, these falling into confusion +and striking the one against the other; nevertheless +it held out and gave no place to the enemy, +for the Persians counted it a grievous thing that they +should be put to flight by a few. Thus it came to +pass that many of the ships of the Greeks were +broken, and many of the men perished. But of the +barbarians there perished more by a great many both +of ships and of men. And after they had fought together +for a long time they parted asunder, going +right gladly to their own place. In this battle of all +the men of Xerxes none bare themselves more bravely +than the Egyptians, and of all the Greeks none more +than the Athenians, and among these than Cleinias, +the son of Alcibiades. This Cleinias served at his +own charges, having two hundred men and his own +ship.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVI"> + CHAPTER XVI. + <br><br> + <span class="fs80">OF THE DEPARTURE OF THE GREEKS FROM ARTEMISIUM + AND OF THE ADVANCE OF XERXES.</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>The battle being ended, the Greeks got possession +of the broken ships and of the dead bodies of +the slain; but seeing that they had been roughly +handled, the Athenians not less than the others—for +the half of their ships had suffered damage—they +purposed to depart. Then Themistocles, thinking +that if he could divide the men of Ionia and the men +of Caria from the barbarians, the Greeks could have +the mastery of the rest, gathered together the commanders, +while the Eubœans were driving down their +sheep to the sea, and told them that he had conceived +a device by which he could divide from the King the +bravest of his allies. Also he said that they should +kill as many as they would of the sheep of the +Eubœans, for that it was better that they should have +them than that they should fall into the hands of the +barbarians; also he would have the camp-fire according +to custom. “And I will take care,” he said, +“that you shall get back to Greece without any damage.”</p> + +<p>Now the people of Eubœa had paid no regard to +the oracle of Bacis, making light of it altogether, +and neither removing their goods from the island, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</span>nor yet putting them into their strong places. And +the oracle was this:</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">Ye sons of fair Eubœa heed:</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Whene’er the strangers’ dark array</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Shall bridge the sea with ropes of reed,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Drive ye your bleating flocks away.</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>And by this neglect they were brought to ruin.</p> + +<p>By this time there was come a messenger from +Thermopylæ. For the Greeks had set a man in +Trachis to tell them that fought in the Pass how it +fared with the ships at Artemisium, and there was +another man with King Leonidas who was to bring +news to Artemisium of the doings of the Spartans. +This man was now come, telling all that had befallen +the Greeks in the Pass; which when the commanders +of the fleet had heard, they delayed no longer, but +departed, each in their order, first the Corinthians, +and last of all the Athenians. But Themistocles +chose the swiftest of the Athenian ships, and going +to the places for watering, engraved there upon the +rocks certain words which the Ionians coming the +next day to Artemisium read. And the words were +these, “Men of Ionia, ye do wrong making war +against your fathers and seeking to enslave the land +of Greece. Of right ye should be on our side. But +if this be not possible to you, yet stand ye aloof from +the battle, and entreat the Carians also that they do +likewise. And if so be that ye can not either help us +or stand aloof, being under such constraint that ye +cannot revolt against the barbarians, yet, when the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</span>battle is joined, ye should hold your hands, remembering +that ye are of our blood, and that for your +sake we first prevoked the barbarians to wrath.” +For Themistocles said to himself, “Either this +writing will not come to the knowledge of the King, +and the Ionians will perchance be persuaded to help +us; or, coming to his knowledge, it will cause him +to have doubts of them, and he will not suffer them +to come into battle together with his ships.”</p> + +<p>Now when the barbarians heard that the Greeks +had fled from Artemisium, at the first they would +not believe it, but afterward, finding it to be so, they +sailed thither. And when they were arrived at the +place there came a herald from King Xerxes, saying, +“Comrades, the King permits any that will to leave +his place and see for himself how he fights against +the foolish men that thought to resist his might.” +But before that he sent the herald he had ordered +matters in this wise. He took of them that had been +slain of his army at the Pass one thousand (but the +number of the whole was twenty thousand), and left +them to be seen; but the rest he hid away, digging +two great trenches for them and covering them with +leaves, and heaping earth upon them. Now when +the herald had made this proclamation there could +scarcely be found a boat, so many desired to see the +sight. So they crossed over and saw it, passing +among the dead bodies; all these they thought to be +either Spartans or men of Thespiæ, though indeed +there were many helots among the slain. Nevertheless +they that crossed over perceived what Xerxes +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</span>had done with the dead of his own army. And +indeed it was a foolish device, for on the one side +were to be seen the thousand men, and on the other +four thousand, gathered together all of them into one +place. This day therefore they spent in this fashion, +and in the next the seamen went back to their ships +and Xerxes with his army went forward.</p> + +<p>About this time there came to the Persians certain +men from Arcadia, poor men that sought for a livelihood. +When these were brought before the King, +one of the Persians asked them, saying, “What do +the Greeks at this season?” The Arcadians answered, +“They hold the games at Olympia, looking on the +sports and on the races of chariots.” Then said the +Persian, “What is the prize for which they contend?” +And when the Arcadians answered, “They +contend for a wreath of olive leaves,” Tritantæchmes, +that was the son of Artabanus, cried out, “Now, +by the Gods, O Mardonius, what manner of men are +these against whom thou bringest us, that they contend +with each other, not for money, but for glory +only?” This was in truth a noble thing that he said, +but it angered the King, so that he charged Tritantæchmes +with cowardice.</p> + +<p>From Trachis the Persians marched into Doris, +and from Doris into Phocis. This they laid waste, +burning the towns and the temples. As for the Phocians +themselves, they escaped, for the most part, +with their wives and children, to the heights of +Mount Parnassus. When they had passed through +the land of Phocis the barbarians divided their army +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</span>into two parts, whereof the one, with King Xerxes, +marched toward Athens through the land of Bœotia, +and the other, having taken to themselves guides, +marched toward the temple at Delphi. This they +did purposing to spoil the temple, and to bring the +treasure to the King; and indeed the King knew all +the notable things that were laid up in the treasury +at Delphi better than he knew the things that he had +left in his own house; for there was continually +much talk about them, and especially about the +offering which Crœsus, King of the Lydians, had +made to the god.</p> + +<p>The men of Delphi, when they knew of the coming +of the Persians, were in great fear; therefore they +inquired of the oracle what they should do with the +treasures of the temple, whether they should bury +them in the earth, or take them away to some other +land. But the god answered them in these words, +“Move them not, for I am sufficient to defend that +which is mine own.” When the men of Delphi +heard these words, they took counsel about themselves. +First they carried their women and children +across the gulf of Corinth to the land of Achaia, and +after that they fled, for the most part, to the heights +of Parnassus, and their goods they hid in the Corycian +cave; but some of them escaped to Amphissa, a +city of the Locrians; of all the men of Delphi there +were left in the city sixty only, and the prophet.</p> + +<p>So soon as the barbarians were come near so that +they could see the temple, the prophet (his name +was Acetatus) espied the holy arms which it is not +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</span>lawful for a man to touch, lying without the temple. +And while he went to tell this marvel to them that +were in the city, and the barbarians were coming up +with all speed, and were now near to the temple of +Athene, there befel marvels greater by far than that +which has been told. A great marvel indeed is it +that arms should move of their own accord so as to +be seen lying without the temple, but the things that +befell afterward are greater by far, and such indeed +that nothing can be compared with them. First of +all, so soon as the barbarians, coming up the road, +were now hard by the temple of Athene, there fell +on them great thunderbolts from heaven, and two +great rocks brake off from the top of Mount Parnassus, +and rolled down upon them with a great crash, +and slew many of them, and there was heard also +from the temple a war-cry and a shout of victory. +And when the barbarians saw and heard all these +things, great fear came upon them, so that they +turned their backs and fled. And when the men of +Delphi perceived that they fled, they came down and +pursued after them, and slew not a few of them. +And they that escaped fled into Bœotia, turning +neither to the right hand nor to the left. They said +also that, over and above the other marvels that have +been told, they saw two men at arms, whose stature +exceeded the stature of a man, following after them +and slaying them. These two men the men of Delphi +affirm to have been heroes of the country, Phylacus +and Autonous. These two have each a temple +and a precinct near to the city of Delphi. As for the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</span>rocks that fell from Parnassus, they are to be seen to +this day in the precinct of Athene, in which they +lodged after that they had passed through the host of +the barbarians.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVII"> + CHAPTER XVII. + <br><br> + <span class="fs80">OF THE GREEKS AT SALAMIS AND OF THE CITY OF + ATHENS.</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>The ships of the Greeks, having departed from +Artemisium, came to Salamis. The Athenians +had besought them to do this that they might carry +their women and children out of their country, and +might also take counsel together what was best to be +done. For indeed things had not happened according +to their expectations. For they had thought to +find the men of the Peloponnese drawn up with their +whole force in the land of Bœotia to do battle with +the barbarians. But now they heard that these purposed +to build a wall across the Isthmus, and so +defend their own country, suffering the rest of Greece +to take thought for itself. And this the Greeks did. +And so soon as they were come thither there flowed +to them no small force that had been gathered together +at Pogon, the haven of the Trœzenians. For the +word had gone forth that all who would fight for +Greece should be gathered together at Pogon. All +these the same Euribiades that was at Artemisium +commanded, being a Spartan, but not of the house of +the Kings. Of all the ships the best were the ships +of the Athenians, being in number one hundred and +eighty. These were now altogether manned by their +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</span>own people, for the men of Platæa had gone to carry +away their wives and children from their city. The +men of Ægina sent thirty ships, leaving certain others +to defend their city. From the island of Naxos there +came four. These indeed had been sent by their people +to help the Persians, but they made light of the +command and helped the Greeks. This they did at +the instance of Democritus, a notable man among the +Naxians and captain of a ship. The men of Seriphos +and Siphnos and Melos also helped the Greeks, being +the only islanders that had not given earth and water +to the barbarians. These three sent in all four ships +of fifty oars. And of all the countries beyond the +sea the men of Crotona only came to the help of the +Greeks in their great peril. These sent one ship +which Phayllus, a man that had been crowned at the +Pythians games, commanded. Now the number of +the ships in all was three hundred and seventy and +eight; but in this number the ships of fifty oars were +not reckoned.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile there had been made a proclamation +among the Athenians that each man should save his +children and his household as best he could. The +most part sent them away to Trœzen; but some sent +them to Ægina, and some to Salamis. This they did +with all speed, desiring to obey the words of the oracle, +and also for another reason which shall now be +told. The Athenians say that in their citadel in the +temple there dwells a great snake that is the guardian +of the place. And indeed they set out for this snake +a monthly provision of food, as for a veritable creature;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</span> +and the monthly provision is a honey cake. +This honey cake which before had always been eaten, +was now seen to be untouched. When the priestess +told these things to the people they were more earnest +than before to leave the city, as thinking that the +goddess Athene had deserted the citadel. Nevertheless +they did not all depart, for the Persians, when +they came, found the city indeed desolate of inhabitants, +but in the citadel certain men, that were either +ministers of the temple or of the poorer sort that for +lack of means had not departed with the rest of the +people to Salamis. But some of them went not, +thinking that they rightly understood the oracle of +the Pythia when she said, “The wooden wall shall +not be taken;” for that by this wall was signified, +not the ships, but a veritable wall of wood. These +therefore had fenced about the citadel with doors and +pieces of wood, and so awaited the coming of the +Persians.</p> + +<p>The Persians indeed encamped on the hill that is +over against the citadel (this hill the Athenians call +the hill of Ares) and began the siege, shooting at the +Greeks arrows with burning tow upon them that so +they might set fire to the barricade. Nevertheless +the men held out, though indeed they were in evil +case, and their wooden wall had failed them; nor +would they hearken to the words of the sons of +Pisistratus when these would have them surrender, +but they rolled down great stones upon the barbarians +as these came up to the gates, and so kept +the place. And for many days Xerxes was in great +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</span>doubt, and knew not how he should prevail over +them; but at last they discovered a way of access. +For it must needs be that the oracle should be fulfilled, +that all the country of the Athenians upon the +mainland should be conquered by the barbarians. +Certain Persians climbed up the hill where there was +no watch, no one believing that any man could mount +by that way, so steep was it. (The place is on the +face of the cliff, behind the gates and the way by +which men commonly ascend.) So soon as the +Athenians saw them now already on the top, some +threw themselves from the wall and so perished; +and some fled for refuge to the sanctuary. But the +Persians, when they had opened the gates of the +citadel for their fellows, slew all them that had taken +sanctuary; and afterward they plundered the temple +and burned all the citadel with fire. Then Xerxes, +being now wholly master of Athens, sent off a messenger, +a horseman, to Artabanus, to tell him of his +good success. Also, on the second day after the +sending of the herald, he commanded the Athenian +exiles that had followed in his train to go up to the +citadel and do sacrifice in the place according to the +custom of their country. This he did either by reason +of a dream, or because it repented him that he +had burned the temple. And the exiles did as the +King commanded. And when they were come to the +citadel they found a marvelous thing. There was in +the citadel a temple of Erectheus, whom the Athenians +call the “earth-born,” and in the temple an +olive tree, which Athene left for a memorial of her +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</span>when she contended with Poseidon for the land of the +Athenians. Now this olive had been burned with +other things in the temple, but when the Athenians +went up according to the King’s commandment, +they found that there had sprung forth from the +trunk a fresh shoot of a cubit in length.</p> + +<p>So soon as tidings came to the Greeks of Salamis +of the things that had befallen Athens and its citadel, +there came upon them such fear that some of +the captains would not wait till the council should +have voted, but embarked in their vessels with all +haste, and hoisted up their sails, as though they +would fly without delay. And such as stayed at the +council voted that the fleet should give battle to the +Persians at the Isthmus. Afterward, it being now +night, the captains departed, each man to his own +vessel.</p> + +<p>And when Themistocles was come to his ship there +met him a certain Mnesiphilus, an Athenian, who +asked him what the council had decreed. And when +Themistocles said, “They have decreed that we should +sail to the Isthmus, and there fight for the Peloponnese,” +Mnesiphilus made answer, “If these men take +away their ships from Salamis, there will be no one +country for which ye may fight. For the Greeks +will depart each to his own city, and neither Eurybiades +nor any other man shall be able to hinder +them from so scattering themselves. So shall Greece +perish by the folly of their children. If therefore +there be any device by which thou canst deliver us +from this end, haste and make trial of it. Happily +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</span>thou mayest persuade Eurybiades to change his purpose +and remain in this place.”</p> + +<p>This counsel pleased Themistocles well. To Mnesiphilus +indeed he answered nothing, but he went +straightway to the ship of Eurybiades, and said that +he had a matter concerning the common weal about +which he would speak with him. Then said Eurybiades, +“Come into my ship if thou hast aught to +say.” So Themistocles sat by his side and told him +all that he had heard from Mnesiphilus—only he said +these things as if from himself—and added also many +other things. So urgent was he that at the last +Eurybiades went forth and gathered together the +other captains to council. So soon then as these +were gathered together, before that Eurybiades had +set forth the matter wherefore they were assembled, +Themistocles, as one that was wholly intent on his +purpose, said many things, so that Adeimantus of +Corinth cried out to him, “Themistocles, in the +games they that start too soon are scourged.” +“Yea,” said Themistocles, excusing himself, “but +they that linger are not crowned.” Thus he answered +the Corinthian softly. And to Eurybiades he spake, +not indeed after his former manner how that the +ships would be scattered from where he should have +sailed to the Isthmus, for the allies were present, +and he thought it not seemly to say this thing in +their ears, but rather in some such fashion as this: +“It is in thy hands to save Greece, if thou wilt +hearken unto me and abide in this place, and so give +battle to the barbarians, not heeding those who would +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</span>have thee depart hence to the Isthmus with thy ships. +For hear now, and set these two things one against +the other. If the host give battle at the Isthmus, +then shall we fight in the open sea, than which +there could be nothing less to our advantage, seeing +that our ships are fewer in number and these heavier. +Also we shall lose Salamis and Megara and Ægina, +though we prosper in the battle. For remember that +the army of the barbarians will follow, together with +their fleet, and that thou wilt thus bring both the +one and the other to the Peloponnesus, and so put all +Greece upon the hazard. But if thou wilt hearken +unto me, see what we shall gain. First we shall do +battle in a narrow space, a thing much to our advantage +and to the harm of our enemies. And secondly, +we shall yet keep Salamis, where we have put our +wives and children, and Megara also and Ægina. +And at Salamis, saith the oracle, we shall prevail +over the barbarians.”</p> + +<p>When Themistocles had thus spoken, Adeimantus +of Corinth reproached him again, bidding him be +silent, because he was a man without a city (for +Athens had been destroyed by the barbarians). Then +Themistocles brake out against him and the Corinthians +with many bitter words, and saying, “Nay, but +we have a city and a land greater than yours, for we +have two hundred ships well manned, whose attack +no city of the Greeks would be able to withstand.” +Then he turned to Eurybiades, and said with all +earnestness, “If thou wilt abide here and bear thyself +bravely all will be well; but if not, then wilt +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</span>thou bring Greece to ruin. For verily we will take +our wives and children and go straightway to Siris in +Italy, which is ours. Verily, when ye have lost our +help, ye will remember what I have said this day.”</p> + +<p>When Eurybiades heard these words, he changed +his purpose, knowing that if the Athenians should +depart, the rest of the fleet should not be able to +withstand the Persians. Wherefore he made his +resolve that he would stay and give battle at Salamis. +Then all the captains made ready for battle. After +this, at daybreak there was an earthquake, and it +seemed good to the Greeks to make supplications to +the Gods, and to call the sons of Æacus to their help. +And this they did, for they put up prayers, and sent +a ship to Salamis to fetch Æacus and his children.</p> + +<p>A certain Dicæus, an exile of Athens and a man of +repute among the barbarians, told this tale of what +he saw about this time. He chanced to be with Demaratus +the Spartan in the plain of Thria, the land +of Attica having been by this time laid waste by the +army of Xerxes, and he saw coming from Eleusis a +great cloud of dust, such as a host of thirty thousand +men might make in their march. And while the two +marveled who these could be that could cause such +dust, he heard voices and the sound, as it seemed to +him, of the hymn to Bacchus. Now Demaratus +heard the voices, and asked what they were saying, +for he knew nothing of the mysteries of Eleusis. +Then said Dicæus, “O Demaratus, of a truth, some +great trouble will overtake the army of the King. +For seeing that Attica is void of inhabitants, these +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</span>that sing are surely gods, and they come from Eleusis +to help the Athenians and their allies. If therefore +this that we see turn to the Peloponnese, there will +be peril to the King and to his army, but if to Salamis, +then there will be peril to the fleet. For know +that year by year the Athenians keep a feast to the +Mother and Daughter, and the voices which thou +heardst were singing the hymn of the feast.” Then +said Demaratus, “See that thou tell the matter to no +man. For if the King hear it, thou wilt surely perish. +Hold thou thy peace therefore; the Gods will +order as they please with the army of the King.”</p> + +<p>By this time the ships of the barbarians were come +to Phalerum, which is a haven of Athens. And it +seemed good to Xerxes to learn the judgment of +them that had command in the fleet. Wherefore he +went on board and sat on a seat of honor, and all the +kings and the captains sat before him, each in his +place, after the pleasure of the King. The King of +Sidon sat in the first place, and in the second the +King of Tyre. Then Xerxes sent Mardonius, bidding +him ask each in his order what he counseled, whether +they should fight or no. To this all made answer in +the same words that they should fight, save Artemisia +of Halicarnassus only, who spake after this fashion, +“Say to the King, O Mardonius, what I now say to +thee. Seeing that I bare myself not less bravely than +the others in the battles at the island of Eubœa. I +have the right to speak what I judge to be most for +thy advantage. I say then spare thy ships and fight +not. These men are better than thine upon the sea, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</span>even as men are better than women. Art thou not +master of Athens, for which thou camest hither? +Doth any man resist thee? Or if thou art not yet +satisfied, thou canst easily accomplish all that is in +thine heart to do. These men will not long abide in +their place, and indeed they have, I fear, no store of +food in the island; and if thou goest forward toward +the Peloponnese, they will be scattered each to his +own city, for the men of the Peloponnese will not care +to fight for the Athenians. But I fear me much that +some great evil will befall thee, if thou art resolved +to join battle with the Greeks by sea. For remember +that good masters have ever evil servants, and +evil masters good servants; thou indeed art the best +of men, but thy servants are evil. For these thy +allies, as they are called, these men of Egypt and of +Cyprus and of Cilicia and of Pamphylia, are of no account.”</p> + +<p>When Artemisia spake these words all that wished +her well were much troubled, for they thought that +she would surely be cruelly dealt with by the King, +because she counseled him not to give battle; but all +that were enemies to her rejoiced, and they that envied +her for the honor which the King had done to +her beyond all the allies, thinking that she would +perish. Nevertheless Xerxes, when the words of all +the kings and the captains were told to him, was not +pleased with any so much as with the words of Artemisia. +Nevertheless it seemed good to him to follow +the counsel of the greater number, and to give battle; +for he thought that the ships had not done their best +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</span>at Eubœa because he himself had been absent, and +was minded to see the battle that should now be +fought with his own eyes.</p> + +<p>So the ships of the barbarians sailed to Salamis +and took their places, as they had been commanded, +no man hindering them; for the Greeks, especially +the men of the Peloponnese, were greatly troubled, +fearing lest they should be shut up in Salamis while +their own country was left without defense.</p> + +<p>The same night the army of the barbarians went +forwards to the Peloponnese. There indeed all things +had been done that the Persians might not be able to +come into the country. For so soon as there came +the tidings how that Leonidas and his companions +had fallen at the Pass, straightway the inhabitants assembled +from their cities and pitched their camp at +the Isthmus, their commander being Cleombrotus, +who was brother to Leonidas. First they blocked up +the way of Susa, that leads from Magara to Corinth; +and afterwards they built a wall across the Isthmus. +This work they wrought in a few days only, for there +were many thousands of men, and they worked without +ceasing either by night or by day. Now the nations +that were gathered at the Isthmus were these: +the Lacedæmonians, all the Arcadians, the Corinthians, +the men of Elis, the men of Sicyon, and of Epidaurus, +and of Phlius, and of Trœzen, and of Hermione. +But the other nations, as the Achæans and the +Argives, came not to the Isthmus, nor gave help to +the Greeks, but rather, if the truth is to be told, gave +help to the Persians.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"> + CHAPTER XVIII. + <br><br> + <span class="fs80">OF THE BATTLE OF SALAMIS.</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Meanwhile there was much doubt and fear +among the Greeks at Salamis. For a time +indeed the captains talked privately the one with the +other, marveling at the ill counsel of Eurybiades that +he left the Peloponnese without defense; but at the +last their discontent brake forth, and the assembly +was called together, in which many things were said +to the same purpose as in the former assembly, some +affirming that they ought to sail away to the Peloponnese +that they might defend it, it being a vain +thing, they said, to remain at Salamis and fight for +that which was already in the power of their enemies, +and the men of Athens and of Ægina and of Megara +being urgent that they should remain and give battle.</p> + +<p>Then Themistocles, perceiving that his counsel +should not prevail against the counsel of the men of +the Peloponnese, went out secretly from the assembly, +and sent straightway a messenger in a boat to +the camp of the Persians. (The name of the messenger +was Sicinnus, he was servant to Themistocles and +tutor to his children; and after the war Themistocles +caused him to become a citizen of Thespiæ, for the +Thespians were admitting strangers to citizenship, +and gave him great riches.) This Sicinnus therefore, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</span>going in a boat to the camp of the barbarians, spake +to their captains, saying, “The commander of the +Athenians has sent me, without the knowledge of the +rest of the Greeks, to say that the Greeks are in +great fear and purpose to fly from their place, and +that ye have a great occasion of destroying them utterly, +if only ye will not suffer them to escape. For indeed +they are not of one mind, nor will they withstand +you any more, but ye will see them fighting +the one against the other, they that are on your side +being opposed to them that are against you. And +this my master does because he is a friend to the King, +and because he would rather that you should prevail +than that the Greeks should have the mastery.”</p> + +<p>When Sicinnus had thus spoken he departed +straightway. And the Persians, because they believed +what Sicinnus had told them, first landed +many of their men on Psyttaleia, which is a little +island between Salamis and the mainland; and next, +about midnight, they moved the westernmost wing +of their ships to Salamis, and those that were posted +at Ceos and Cynosura set sail also, and filled all the +strait even as far as Munychia. This they did that +the Greeks might not be able to escape, but might be +shut up within Salamis, and so pay the penalty of +what they had done at Artemisium. As for the +landing of the Persians at Psyttaleia, it was done for +this cause, that when the battle was joined, and the +broken ships and shipwrecked men should be carried +down by the current to the island—which must needs +be the case, seeing that it was in the very way of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</span>battle that should be fought—these soldiers might be +able to save their friends and slay their enemies. +All this the barbarians did in silence, lest haply the +Greeks should hear of the thing that had been done. +So the Persians made ready for the battle, taking no +rest, but toiling through all the night.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile there was much angry talk among the +captains at Salamis, for they knew not yet that they +were shut in by the barbarians. But while they were +assembled there came over from Ægina a certain +Aristides, a man of Athens, that had been banished +by the people (yet was he the best and most righteous +man in Athens). This Aristides, coming to the +council, would have Themistocles called out to speak +with him. Now Themistocles was no friend to Aristides, +but an enemy and very bitter against him; +nevertheless, for the great trouble that had come +upon the land, he took no count of this enmity, but +came and called for him, wishing to speak with him. +And when Themistocles was come forth, Aristides +said to him, “We two, O Themistocles, have contended +together aforetime concerning other things, +but now let us contend who shall do the better +service to his country. What I am now come to say +is this: Let the men of the Peloponnese say little or +say much about sailing hence, it is all one. For I +affirm, of my own knowledge, that the Corinthians +and Eurybiades himself cannot now depart, if they +would, for that the barbarians have closed us in. But +go thou and tell this thing to the captains.” And +Themistocles made answer, “This is good news thou +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</span>hast brought, telling of your own knowledge the +things that I greatly desired should come to pass. +What the barbarians have done was indeed of my +doing, because if the Greeks would not fight of their +free will there was a necessity that they should be +made to fight against their will. But as thou hast +brought good news, tell it to the captains thyself, for +if I tell it they will deem that I am lying to them. +Tell it therefore thyself, and if they believe thee, +well; but if not, yet can they not escape, if as thou +sayest, the Persians have closed us in.”</p> + +<p>Then Aristides went in to the assembly and told +them that he was come from Ægina, having barely +escaped the watch ships of the barbarians; and that +they were closed in by the Persians. And he counseled +them to make ready for the battle. Having so +spoken he departed. Then there arose a great disputing, +the greater part of the captains not believing +these tidings. But while they doubted there came a +ship of war from Tenos, which a certain Panætius +commanded. This man told them the whole truth +of the matter. For this cause the men of Tenos were +written on the offering among them that destroyed +the barbarians. And now the number of the ships of +the Greeks was made up to three hundred and eighty.</p> + +<p>The Greeks, learning that the words of the men of +Tenos were true, made themselves ready for battle. +And when it was morning there was called an assembly +of the crews, and Themistocles spake to them +very noble words, how that men should always +choose good rather than evil, and honorable things +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</span>rather than base things. When he had ended his +speech he bade them embark on their ships; and +while they were embarking there came from Ægina +the ships that brought the children of Æacus. Then +all the Greeks began to move their ships from +their place. But so soon as they began to move +them, the Persians advanced against them, and the +Greeks backed their oars, so that they would have +beached the ships, only one Ameinias, a man of +Athens, bade his men row forward, and coming forth +before the line, drave his ship against a ship of the +barbarians. Then others went to the help of Ameinias, +and so the battle was begun. This is what the +Athenians say; but the men of Ægina affirm that the +ship that went to fetch the children of Æacus first +began the battle. Also this story is told, that there +was seen the likeness of a woman who cried with a +loud voice, so that all the Greeks could hear her, +“How long, ye simple ones, will ye back your +oars?”</p> + +<p>The order of the battle was this. The Phœnicians +were on the right wing, towards the west and towards +Eleusis, and the Athenians were ranged over against +them; and the Ionians were on the left, towards the +east and towards the Piræus, having the Lacedæmonians +over against them. Of the Ionians a few only +followed the counsel of Themistocles, and held back +from the fighting; for many of their captains took +ships of the Greeks, of whom was Theomestor, that +for this service was made lord of Samos by the Persians, +and Phylacus, who also was of Samos, that +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</span>had lands given to him and was written among the +benefactors of the King. But for the most part the +ships of the Persians were destroyed by the Greeks, +and especially by the Athenians and the men of +Ægina. For the Greeks fought in good order and +kept their plans, but the barbarians were without +order, neither had they any purpose in what they did. +Wherefore they must needs have been worsted in the +battle. Nevertheless they this day surpassed themselves, +bearing themselves more bravely than at Eubœa; +for every man was very zealous, having the +fear of the King before his eyes, and deeming that +the King saw what he did.</p> + +<p>How the rest of the Greeks and of the barbarians +behaved themselves cannot be described, but of Artemisia +of Halicarnassus this story is told. The fleet of +the King being now in great confusion, it so chanced +that the ship of Artemisia was pursued by an Athenian +ship. And she, not being able to escape, for she +was the nearest of all to the ships of the enemy, and +had many of her own friends in front of her, devised +this means of saving herself, and also accomplished +it. She drave her ship against the ship of the lord +of Calyndus, being one of the fleet of the King +(whether she had a quarrel against this man, or the +ship chanced to be in her way is not known for certain), +and had the good fortune to sink it. And thus +she gained a double gain. For when the captain of +the Athenian ship saw what she did, judging that her +ship was of the fleet of the Greeks, or that it had deserted +from the King, he left pursuing her; and also, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</span>having done this ill service to the Persians, yet she +got the greatest glory from the King. For Xerxes, +as he looked upon the battle, saw not her ship smite +another. And one said to him, “O King, seest thou +how bravely Queen Artemisia bears herself, sinking a +ship of the enemies?” Then said the King, “Was +this verily the doing of Artemisia?” And they affirmed +that it was, knowing the token of her ship; +but the ship that was sunk they judged to be one of +the Greeks. It so chanced also, that her good fortune +might be complete, that not a man of the ship +of Calyndus was left to tell the truth. As for Xerxes, +he is reported to have said, “My men have become +women, and my women have become men.”</p> + +<p>In this battle fell Ariabignes, being brother to the +King, and also many other famous men of the Medes +and the Persians. Of the Greeks indeed there perished +not many; for even though their ships were destroyed, +yet being able to swim they saved themselves; +but of the barbarians the greater part perished, for +they were not able to swim. And so soon as the first +of the Persian ships began to fly before the Greeks +then there followed a great destruction. For they +that were behind pressed forward, seeking to show +some deed of valor before the eyes of the King, and +drave against the ships that fled, and so both did and +received great damage. This thing also happened. +Certain of the Phœnicians, whose ships had perished, +came to the King and made a complaint against the +Ionians that they had betrayed them. But while +they were yet speaking, a ship of Samothrace drave +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</span>against an Athenian ship and sank it; then there +came a ship of Ægina against the ship of Samothrace +and wounded it sorely; notwithstanding, while it +was sinking the Samothracians, being throwers of +javelins, smote down the men of Ægina, and boarded +their ship and took possession of it. This thing was +the salvation of the Ionians. For Xerxes, seeing that +these Greeks had wrought a great deed and being in +great vexation of spirit, and ready to blame all men, +commanded that they should cut off the heads of the +Phœnician captains, that they might not any more +bring accusations against men that were better than +they. All the time of the battle the King sat on the +hill that is over against Salamis, and when any deed +of valor was done by his ships, he would ask the +name of the captain, and the scribes wrote it down, +with the names also of his father and of his city.</p> + +<p>Such of the ships of the barbarians as sought to +escape by way of Phalerum the men of Ægina dealt +with, waiting in the strait, and behaving themselves +most valorously. For the Athenians destroyed such +as yet fought and such as fled, and the men of Ægina +fell upon them that would sail out, so that if any +escaped from the Athenians they fell into the hands +of the men of Ægina.</p> + +<p>In this battle the men of Ægina were judged to +have shown most valor, and next to them the Athenians; +and among the men of Ægina Polycritus, and +among the Athenians Eumenes and Ameinias. It +was this Ameinias that pursued Artemisia. And indeed, +had he known whom he pursued, he would not +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</span>have left following her till he had taken her, or himself +been taken; for there was proclaimed a reward +of ten thousand drachmas to the man that should +take Artemisia alive, the Athenians being very wroth +that a woman should presume to bear arms against +their city.</p> + +<p>Of Adeimantus the Corinthian the Athenians tell +this story, that in the very beginning of the battle, +being wholly mastered with fear, he hoisted his sails +and fled; and that the other Corinthian ships, seeing +the ship of their commander flying, fled also; and +that when they were come in their flight over against +the temple of Athene of Sciron, they met there a +pinnace, that came not by any bidding of men; and +that when it was close to their ships the men in the +pinnace cried out, “Thou indeed art flying, O Adeimantus, +and showing thyself traitor to the Greeks; +but they are winning the victory over their enemies.” +When Adeimantus would not believe, the men said +that they were willing to answer for it with their +lives that their words were true. Then Adeimantus +turned back his ship, and he and his companions +came to Salamis when the battle was now finished. +This is the story of the Athenians concerning the +Corinthians; but the Corinthians deny it, affirming +that they fought among the first. And in this they +are confirmed by the testimony of the other Greeks.</p> + +<p>On that day Aristides the Athenian did good service. +He took with him many men at arms, Athenians, +that had been drawn up along the shore of +Salamis, and landed them on the island of Psyttaleia, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</span>so that they slew all the Persians that had been set to +keep the place.</p> + +<p>When the battle was ended the Greeks drew to +Salamis such of the broken ships as yet floated, and +prepared to fight yet again, for they thought that the +King would not fail to use the ships that remained to +him. But many of the wrecks the wind—for it +chanced to blow from the west—carried to the shore +of Attica, which is called the shore of Colias. Thus +was fulfilled a certain oracle of Lysistratus the Athenian.</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“That Colian dames their bread may bake,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Full many an oar that day shall break.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>And this came to pass after the King had departed.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIX"> + CHAPTER XIX. + <br><br> + <span class="fs80">OF THE FLIGHT OF XERXES.</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>When King Xerxes perceived what damage his +ships had suffered he resolved that he would +flee without delay to Persia. Yet, to hide this purpose, +he made as if he would carry on the war, making +a mound across the channel that is between +Salamis and the mainland, and doing other things. +But though he deceived others he did not deceive +Mardonius.</p> + +<p>In the meanwhile he sent a messenger to Susa, +whither he had before sent the tidings of how he +was master of Athens, and as before the people had +rejoiced, strewing myrtle boughs in the streets, and +burning incense, and feasting and making merry, so +now they were greatly troubled, rending their garments, +and making much ado with weeping and +wailing. Nor was it for the damage of the ship that +they lamented, but for fear lest the King himself +should suffer harm. Nor would they be comforted +till he came back in safety.</p> + +<p>Now when Mardonius saw that the King purposed +to flee, fearing lest he should suffer punishment for +that he had advised the marching against Greece, he +made this resolve, that either he would himself conquer +Greece—and this indeed he hoped to do—or +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</span>perish honorably. Wherefore he said to Xerxes, +“Trouble not thyself overmuch, O master, for this +loss that has befallen us; for these fellows, whom +thou thinkest to have conquered us, will not dare to +stand against us. And, if we wish, we may deal with +them without delay, or, if we will, we may wait +awhile. But if, O King, thou art minded to depart +straightway, hear my counsel. Make not thy Persians +a laughing-stock to the Greeks. For if the +Phœnicians and Egyptians and the like have played +the coward, yet have not the Persians so done. Depart +then, therefore, if thou art so minded, but let +me choose out three hundred thousand men of the +army, with whom I may conquer these Greeks.”</p> + +<p>Xerxes when he heard these words was very glad, +and made answer to Mardonius that he would deliberate +about these things. And because before Artemisia +only had perceived what should be done, he +sent for her, and when she was come, sent away his +other counselors, and inquired of her what he should +do, setting before her the counsel of Mardonius. To +this she made answer in these words: “I counsel +thee to depart straightway, O King. And if Mardonius +promises to conquer Greece for thee, let him +stay behind and do it. For if he succeed, thine will +be the gain; and if he fail, there will follow no great +damage, so that thou and thy house be safe. For of +a surety, so long as these remain, the Greeks will +often be in peril of their lives. And if they prevail +over this Mardonius, he is nothing more than thy +slave.” This counsel seemed very good to the King, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</span>being altogether to his mind, and if all the men and +women in the world had counseled him to remain, +hardly would he have done it, so terrified was he. +He commended therefore Artemisia, and sent her on +to Ephesus with certain of his children in her charge, +in which charge was joined also one Hermotimus of +Pedasus. The people of Pedasus say that when a +mischance is about to befall any of their neighbors +the priestess of Athene in their city has a beard, and +that this has happened twice.</p> + +<p>The next day Xerxes commanded the ships to sail +with all speed to the Hellespont, that they might +guard the bridges against his coming. So they departed; +and sailing by Cape Zoster, where certain +rocks jut out from the land, they took the rocks for +ships, and fled far away. But afterward, when they +knew the truth, they gathered themselves together +again.</p> + +<p>For awhile the Greeks, seeing the army of the barbarians +in the same place, supposed that the ships +also remained, and made ready for battle. But when +they knew the truth, they pursued after them; but +having sailed as far as Andros, and not seeing them, +they held a council of war. Then Themistocles +would have had them make with all speed for the +Hellespont that they might break down the bridges, +but Eurybiades was of the contrary opinion, saying, +“There can no worse thing befall the Greeks than +that we should break down the bridges. For if the +Persians be thus cut off and driven to remain, see +what will follow. If they be quiet they must come +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</span>to ruin, for their host will perish of hunger; but if +they bestir themselves they will conquer all Europe, +city by city, and for food they will have our harvests. +Now, indeed, because his ships have been vanquished, +he is minded to depart; and this we should suffer +him to do. Only when he has departed, we may, if +we will, strive with him for the mastery of his own +country.”</p> + +<p>To this counsel the other leaders of the Peloponnesians +consented. And when Themistocles saw that +he could not persuade them, he changed his purpose, +and said to the Athenians, for these were vexed beyond +all the rest that the Persians were suffered to +escape, “Often have I seen with my own eyes or +heard from others that men having been worsted and +driven to despair have recovered their own and +become conquerors in their turn. Now we have +found great good fortune, saving ourselves and +Greece from this mighty host of men. Let us therefore +be content and not pursue them when they flee. +For we have not done this of our own might. The +Gods and the heroes have done it, having jealousy +that one man should be lord both of Asia and +Europe, and he, too, a destroyer of images and temples, +and that scourged the sea and threw fetters into +it. Let us, therefore, now that the barbarians have +departed, return each man to his home and sow our +land, and in the spring will we sail to the Hellespont!”</p> + +<p>With these words he persuaded the Athenians; +but he did it that he might bind the King to him by +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</span>this service, desiring to have a refuge, if any evil +should come upon him at Athens. Wherefore he +sent certain men to Attica, faithful men that would +not betray him even under torture, and among them +the man Sicinnus. This Sicinnus went to the King +and said, “Themistocles the Athenian, wishing to do +thee a service, has sent me to tell thee that he has +restrained the Greeks who would have broken the +bridges of the Hellespont, and that thou mayest +return at thy leisure.”</p> + +<p>After this the Greeks laid siege to Andros. For +Themistocles had demanded money of this city for +the Greeks, saying, “You must needs pay the money, +for we come bringing with us two great gods, even +Persuasion and Necessity.” But the Andrians made +answer, “Well may Athens be great and happy, seeing +that it has such gods; but we have two that are +unprofitable, yet dwell with us and will not leave us, +even Poverty and Helplessness.” For this cause the +Greeks besieged their city. As for Themistocles, he +ceased not to get riches for himself, without the +knowledge of the others, taking money from the +islanders and others that the fleet should not sail +against them.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Mardonius chose out of the host such +as he would have for his army. All the Immortals +he chose, save Hydarnes, who was not willing to +leave the King, and such of the Persians as wore +corslets, and the thousand horsemen, and the Medes +and the Sacæ and Bactrians and the Indians, both +horse and foot. These nations he took wholly, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</span>out of the rest of the host he chose such as excelled +in stature or had done some valiant deed. The number +was three hundred thousand in all. This choosing +was done in Thessaly; and before it was finished +there came a herald from Sparta, seeking satisfaction +from the King for the death of Leonidas and his +companions, for the god at Delphi had bidden the +Spartans seek for it. The herald stood before Xerxes +and said, “King of the Medes, the Spartans and the +sons of Hercules ask of thee satisfaction for blood-guiltiness, +because thou didst slay their King Leonidas +when he defended Greece.” The King laughed; +but after a while he pointed to Mardonius, who +chanced to be present, and said, “This man will give +such satisfaction as is due.” And the herald said, +“I accept the satisfaction,” and so departed.</p> + +<p>After this Xerxes, leaving Mardonius in Thessaly, +made for the Hellespont with all haste. In forty and +five days he came to it, having but a small part of his +army. These had laid their hands on all the corn in +the countries through which they passed; and where +corn was wanting they had devoured the bark and the +leaves of all manner of trees, leaving nothing at all, +so that many died of sundry diseases, and some were +left behind sick in the cities on the way. When they +came to the Hellespont they found the bridges +broken, and crossed over in ships as they best could. +And many, when they had abundance of food and +drink, using these without measure, so died.</p> + +<p>There is told another tale of the flight of Xerxes. +He left Hydarnes, it is said, to have charge of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</span>army, and himself embarked on a Phœnician ship, +and so sailed to Asia. But as he sailed there fell upon +the ship a great wind from the north; and, being +overladen, it was ready to sink, for there were many +Persians with the King upon the deck. Then Xerxes +cried aloud to the helmsman, saying, “Is there +any help?” And the helmsman answered, “There +is no help except we be rid of these many passengers.” +Then said Xerxes to the Persians, “Let now any that +will, show that he cares for his King, for my life is +in your hands.” Then the Persians made obeisance +to him and leaped into the sea; so the ship being +lightened came safe to Asia. And when Xerxes was +come to the shore he dealt thus with the helmsman. +For that he had saved the life of the King he gave +him a crown of gold; but for that he had caused the +death of many Persians, he commanded that he +should be beheaded. But this story is scarcely to be +believed. For why did not the King rather send +down these Persians, being the first men in the realm, +into the lower part of the ship, and cause the like +number of rowers, being Phœnicians, to leap into the +sea? But in truth Xerxes returned by way of the +land, whereof we have a proof that he passed through +Abdera, and making a covenant with the people of +that city, gave them a cimeter of gold and a turban +broidered with gold.</p> + +<p>And now the Greeks were assembled at the Isthmus +that they might adjudge the prize of valor to +him that of all the Greeks had shown himself most +worthy in the war. The captains then being met +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</span>laid their votes on the altar of Poseidon, a vote for +the first place and a vote for the second. Each man +gave the first place to himself, but the greater part +gave the second to Themistocles. But though the +captains could not agree for jealousy, yet was Themistocles +commonly reported among the Greeks to +have shown himself by far the wisest man of all in +the war. And when he went to Sparta the Spartans +received him with great honor. The prize of valor, +indeed, which was a crown of olive, they gave to +Eurybiades; but the prize of wisdom and dexterity, +also a crown of olive, they gave to Themistocles. +Also they gave him the fairest chariot that was in all +Sparta; and when he departed three hundred chosen +men, that are called the Knights, went with him so +far as the borders of Tegea. Nor has any man, save +Themistocles only, been so sent out of their country +by the Spartans.</p> + +<p>When he came back to Athens a certain citizen of +Aphidnæ, that came from Belbis, being his enemy, a +man of no repute, reproached him, saying, “Thou +hast these honors from the Spartans for Athens’ sake, +not for thine own.” And when the man said this +many times, Themistocles answered him, “Surely I +had not been so honored had I been of Belbis, nor +thou hadst thou been of Athens.”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XX"> + CHAPTER XX. + <br><br> + <span class="fs80">OF THE PREPARING OF THE PERSIANS AND OF + THE GREEKS FOR THE WAR.</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Mardonius and his host had their winter quarters +in Thessaly. When he was now about to +leave them, he sent one Mys, a man of Caria, to inquire +of the oracles. This Mys inquired of the oracles +and of Amphiaraus in Thebes. (No Theban +may inquire of Amphiaraus, for he gave them their +choice whether they would have him for their prophet +or their helper; and they chose to have him for their +helper.) But when Mardonius read the answer that +had been given to Mys, he sent an envoy to Athens, +even Alexander of Macedon, choosing him because +his sister was married to a Persian, and because he +was a friend to the Athenians.</p> + +<p>Of the ancestors of Alexander there is told this +story. Three brothers of the royal house of Argos +came into the land of Macedonia and took service +with the King, one tending the horses, and one the +cows, and one the smaller cattle. In those days not +the people only, but the kings also were poor, so that +the King’s wife was wont to bake the bread. And +when she baked it she saw that the loaf of Perdiccas, +that was the youngest of the brothers, grew to be +twice as large as the other loaves. And as this happened<span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</span> +day after day she told it to her husband. Then +the man perceiving that it was a miracle, and signified +no small matter, bade the three depart out of the +country. But when they would have had their wages, +he said to them, for it chanced that the sun was shining +down the chimney into the house, “Here are +your fit wages. This I give you;” and he pointed to +the sunshine, for the Gods had taken his wits from +him. The two elder stood astonished and said nothing, +but the youngest, having a knife in his hand, +drew a line with it on the floor round the sunshine, +and made as if he would draw it up into his bosom +three times, and so departed and his brothers with +him. Now when they were gone, one went and told +to the King what the youngest had done; and the +King, when he heard it, was angry, and sent horsemen +after them to slay them. But a certain river +swelled so high when the three brothers of Argos had +safely crossed it, that the horsemen could not follow. +(Their descendants yet do sacrifice to this river as +to their saviour.) The brothers took up their abode +in a place which they call the Gardens of Midas. +(Here are roses so great as can not be found elsewhere, +having each sixty leaves, and over the gardens +a mountain so cold that none can climb to the top.) +From this place they went forth till they had conquered +the whole land of Macedonia. From this +Perdiccas came Alexander the Macedonian in the +seventh generation.</p> + +<p>Alexander said, “Men of Athens, Mardonius bids +me say that there has come to him this message from +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</span>the King, ‘I forgive the Athenians all their trespasses +against me. And do thou this, Mardonius. Give +them back their land and add to it any other that +they will, and build again the temples that I burned +with fire, if they will make agreement with me. +And they shall live under their own laws.’ Mardonius +also says, ‘This will I do unless ye on your part +hinder me. And why do ye stand out against the +King? Do ye not know his might? See this great +host that I have. If so be that ye prevail over this, +which indeed ye can not hope to do, there will come +against ye a host many times greater. Why then +will ye resist, losing your country and going always in +danger of your lives?’ These are the words of Mardonius; +and I, Alexander, for that I am your friend, +beseech you to give ear to him, and to make agreement +with the King, who has chosen you out of all +the Greeks to make friendship and alliance with +you.”</p> + +<p>Now the Spartans knew that Alexander had been +sent by Mardonius to Athens. Whereupon they also +sent ambassadors; and it was ordered that they should +have audience of the people on the self-same day. +When therefore Alexander had spoken, the Spartans +stood forth, and urged them that they should not +listen to the words of Mardonius, nor betray the +Greeks. Also they promised that they would give +sustenance to their women and children so long as +the war should continue. To Alexander the Athenians +made this answer: “We know how great is the +power of the barbarians, yet will we resist it to the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</span>uttermost, holding fast to our freedom. Seek not +then to persuade us, but say to Mardonius, ‘So long +as the sun shall go by the path which now he goeth, +we make no agreement with Xerxes, but will stand +against him, the Gods and heroes whose temples he +has burned with fire helping us.’ And thou, Alexander, +come not again to Athens with such words as +these, for thou art our friend and we would not willingly +do thee hurt.”</p> + +<p>To the Spartans they said, “It is like enough that +ye should be fearful about this thing. Nevertheless, +ye, knowing what manner of men we are, did us +great wrong. Know then there is no store of gold in +all the world, nor land so fair that would tempt us to +make agreement with the Persians. For first we can +have no peace with them that have burned with fire +our temples and the images of our Gods. And next +we can not betray our brethren the Greeks that have +one tongue with us and worship the same Gods. +Know therefore that so long as one Athenian shall +remain alive we will make no agreement with Xerxes. +As for your kindness to us, we thank you; but we +will not be burdensome to you. Only lead out your +army with all speed. For we doubt not that the barbarians +will invade our land a second time. Therefore +should we meet him in Bœotia, and there join +battle with him.”</p> + +<p>When Mardonius heard the words of the Athenians +he marched forthwith into Attica, nor would he +hearken to the Thebans when they counseled him to +tarry in Bœotia and seek to divide the Greeks against +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</span>themselves. For they said, “If the Greeks be at one +no power on earth can subdue them; but if thou wilt +send gifts to the chief men in each state, thou wilt +easily prevail.” But Mardonius greatly desired to be +master of Athens a second time. This he did, but +the Athenians had departed, some to their ships, but +the greater part to Salamis.</p> + +<p>After this he sent another messenger with the same +words that Alexander of Macedonia had brought, for +he thought, “Now that they have lost their country +a second time they will surely listen to him.” When +the man—he was a Greek from the Hellespont—was +brought into the council, a certain councilor, Lycidas, +said, “Let us bring this matter before an assembly +of the people.” But when the Athenians, both +the councilors and they that stood without, heard +these words, they were full of wrath, and rose up +against Lycidas, and stoned him with stones that he +died. And the women ran with one accord to his +house and slew his wife and his children in the same +fashion. But the messenger the Athenians sent away +without hurt.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the Athenians had sent ambassadors to +Sparta, complaining that the Spartans had not sent +an army to defend Attica from the barbarians. Now +the Spartans were keeping holiday, for it was the +feast of Hyacinthus, and had no thought for any +thing besides. Also the wall which they were building +across the Isthmus was now well advanced, so +that they were putting on it the battlements. The +ambassadors therefore, being brought in before the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</span>Ephors, said, “The King was willing to make peace +with us, and to give us back our country, and to add +to it any other country that we would. But we would +not betray Greece, though we knew that it should be +more to our profit to make peace with the Persians +than to continue fighting against them. We therefore +have been true to you, but ye have been false to +us, caring nothing for us now that ye have come near +to finish your wall across the Isthmus. But come; +now that Bœotia is lost we shall best fight in the +plain of Thria.”</p> + +<p>To these words the Ephors made no answer, but +put off the matter to the morrow; and on the morrow +they did likewise, and so for ten days.</p> + +<p>But on the tenth day there came to the Ephors a +man of Tegea, one Chileus, that had more weight +with the Spartans than any other stranger. This +Chileus said, “The matter stands thus, ye Ephors. +If the Athenians be not your friends, but make agreement +with the Persians, then how strong soever shall +be your wall across the Isthmus, there will be many +doors open into the Peloponnese. Hearken therefore +to what these men say while it is time.”</p> + +<p>This counsel they took to heart. To the ambassadors +they said nothing, but that same night they sent +five thousand Spartans, and with each seven helots, +their captain being Pausanias, the son of Cleombrotus. +The next day the ambassadors came unto the +Ephors, being minded to depart to their own country, +and said, “Ye Spartans stay at home and keep +holiday and leave the Greeks to perish. We Athenians<span class="pagenum" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</span> +will make agreement with the King, and will +go with him whithersoever he will lead us.”</p> + +<p>To this the Ephors made answer with an oath, +“The men are gone against the strangers (for they +called the barbarians <i>strangers</i>), and are now in +Oresteum of Arcadia.” When the ambassadors heard +this they also departed; and at the same time there +went five thousand men of Laconia, chosen men and +fully armed.</p> + +<p>When the men of Argos knew that the Spartans +had departed they sent a messenger to Mardonius, +the swiftest runner they could find—for they had +promised to keep the Spartans from coming—saying, +“The Spartans have set forth, neither could we stay +them. Take heed therefore to thyself.” When Mardonius +heard this he would tarry no longer in Attica, +but departed straightway, having first burned with +fire and destroyed all that yet stood, whether house +or temple. For Attica was not fit for horsemen, and +if he should be worsted in the battle, there was no +escape save by one narrow pass only. Wherefore he +was minded to go back into Bœotia, for this country +was fit for horsemen, and also was the country of +friends. But while he was on his way there came +another messenger saying that there was a thousand +Spartans in the land of Megara, having come in advance +of the army; and, thinking that he might cut +them off, he changed his purpose and marched +toward Megara, while the horsemen ravaged the +country. Nor did the Persians make their way +toward the setting sun further than this. And now +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</span>there came another messenger saying that the whole +army of the Peloponnesians was at the Isthmus. +Therefore he turned his course, and came into the +territory of the Thebans. And here he encamped +his army along the river Asopus from Erythræ to +Platæa. And though the Thebans were friends to +the Persians, he cut down all the trees in the country, +not from hatred but from need, because he would +have a rampart and a place of refuge if the battle +should go against him. Such a rampart he made of +ten furlongs every way.</p> + +<p>While the Persians were building this defense a +certain Theban made a great feast to Mardonius and +the Persians. Concerning this feast Thersander, a +notable citizen of Orchomenus, told this story to +Herodotus: “I was called to this feast with other +Thebans, fifty in all, and there were called also fifty +Persians. We were not set apart, but on each crouch +a Persian and a Theban; and when we had dined and +were now drinking, the Persian that was on the same +couch said to me in the Greek tongue, ‘Whence +art thou?’ and I said, ‘I am of Orchomenus.’ Then +said he, ‘Since thou hast eaten with me from the +same table and poured out a libation from the same +cup, I will leave with thee a memorial of my belief, +and this the more that thou mayest look after thine +own life. Thou seest these Persians that are feasting +with us and this army that we left encamped on the +river. Of all these thou shalt see in a short time but +few remaining.’ And when the Persian had so +spoken he wept bitterly. And I said to him, for I +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</span>marveled much at his words, ‘Shouldst thou not tell +this to Mardonius and to the Persians that are in +high place with him?’ But the Persian answered, +‘O my friend, that which the Gods order a man can +not change, for though he speak the truth no one +will hearken to him. Many of the Persians know +these things that I have said unto thee, but are constrained +by necessity to follow whither we are led. +But of all the griefs in man’s life none is so sore as +this, to know much and to have power to do nothing.’”</p> + +<p>This story did Thersander tell to Herodotus, as he +told it to many others also, even before the battle of +Platæa.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXI"> + CHAPTER XXI. + <br><br> + <span class="fs80">OF THE BATTLE OF PLATÆA.</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>The Spartans pitched their camp at the Isthmus, +whither came the other men of the Peloponnese +also, so many as followed the good cause, not being +willing to be left behind when the Spartans went +forth to the war. And from the Isthmus they +marched to Eleusis. Here the Athenians, having +crossed over from Salamis, came up with him. When +they saw that the barbarians were encamped on the +Asopus, they ranged themselves over against them +on the slope of Mount Cithæron. Here Mardonius +sent his cavalry under Masistius their captain to +attack them. This Masistius was in great repute +among the Persians, and he rode on a horse of Nisa, +that had a bit of gold, and was otherwise richly +adorned. The horsemen charged the Greeks by +squadrons, and did them much damage.</p> + +<p>Now it so chanced that the men of Megara had +been set in the place where the cavalry could most +easily approach; and these, as they received much +damage, sent a message to Pausanias, saying, “Send +over and help us, for without help we can not hold +our place.” Then Pausanias inquired whether any +would take the place of the men of Megara, but none +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</span>were willing, save the Athenians only. Of these, three +hundred chosen men, having with them the archers, +took the place of the men of Megara. And after a +while, the barbarians still charging by squadrons it +chanced that an arrow struck the horse of Masistius +on the flank, he being a long way in front of the +others. And the horse reared by reason of the pain +and threw off its rider; which when the Athenians +saw, they ran forward and slew Masistius where he +lay. For a while they could not kill him, for he had +a breast-plate of scales of gold and a tunic of scarlet +over it, and this could not be broken through by any +blows; which when one of the soldiers perceived he +drave his weapon into the man’s eye and so slew him. +When the Persians saw that he was dead they charged +with their whole force, seeking to get back his dead +body, and the Athenians, on the other hand, called to +their comrades to help them. So the battle waxed +hot; and while the three hundred were alone they +could not hold their ground; but the others coming up +the Persians turned their backs, and, being now without +a leader, returned to the camp.</p> + +<p>Mardonius and the Persians made a great lamentation +over Masistius, cutting the hair from their heads, +and the manes from their horses and beasts of burden, +and making all Bœotia resound with their crying, +for they had lost a man whom the army honored +next after Mardonius himself. But the Greeks put +the dead body in a cart, and caused it to be carried +through the army, and indeed it was worthy to be +looked at, both for beauty and for stature. The +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</span>cause why it was thus carried was that the men +would leave their ranks to look at it.</p> + +<p>After this it seemed good to the Greeks to leave +their place on the slopes of Cithæron and to come +down to the territory of the Platæans. Here they +set themselves in array, nation by nation, nigh to +the fountain of Gargaphia and the precincts of the +hero Andocrates, and they stood partly on certain +small hillocks and partly on the plain.</p> + +<p>But while the army was being set in array there +arose a very sharp contention between the Athenians +and the men of Tegea, who should be set on the left +wing. The men of Tegea affirmed that this place +had always been theirs of right, saying, “When first +the sons of Hercules came back to the Peloponnese +we, with others that then dwelt therein, went forth +to meet them.” Then Hyllus the son of Hercules +said, “There is no need to put these two armies in +peril. Let the men of the Peloponnese choose a +champion that he may fight with me.” And an +agreement was made, “If Hyllus slay the champion +of the Peloponnesians, the children of Hercules shall +return to their inheritance; but if the champion of +the Peloponnesians slay Hyllus, then will the children +of Hercules swear an oath that they will not +again seek to return for the space of a hundred +years. Then Echemus, that was King of Tegea, +offered himself for champion, and slew Hyllus in +battle. For this cause we have always had our place +in one of the wings when the men of the Peloponnese +go forth to battle.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</span></p> + +<p>To this the Athenians made answer, “We are come +hither not to make speeches, but to fight against the +barbarians. But as the men of Tegea will have a +comparison of deeds we must of necessity set forth +our claims. To the children of Hercules, whose +leader they affirm themselves to have slain, we alone +of all the Greeks gave shelter; and when the Thebans +would not give up for burial the bodies of the +Argives that had been slain in the siege of their city, +we took them and buried them at Eleusis, and we +fought against the Amazons, and in the war of Troy +were not one whit behind any. But why should we +speak of ancient things? Surely for what we did at +Marathon, when we, alone of all the Greeks, fought +against the Persians, and conquered them, putting to +flight forty and six nations, we are worthy to have +this honor, yea, and many other honors also. +Nevertheless—for at such a time it is not fitting to +dispute about places—we are ready to do as ye command, +ye men of Sparta, and take our place wheresoever +ye will, and there quit ourselves like men.”</p> + +<p>Then all the Spartans cried out with one voice that +the Athenians were the more worthy to have the +place.</p> + +<p>The whole number of the Greeks was of heavy-armed +men thirty-eight thousand and seven thousand, +and of light-armed sixty and nine thousand.</p> + +<p>Mardonius also set his battle in array. Over against +the Spartans he set the Persians; and since these far +excelled the Spartans in number he drew them up +with their ranks deeper than common, and also so +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</span>ordered it that they stood opposite to the men of +Tegea; only the best of them he set to deal with the +Spartans. Next to the Persians he set the Medes, +and next to the Medes the Bactrians. These stood +over against the other dwellers in the Peloponnese. +But against the Athenians he set such of the Greeks +and Macedonians as had joined themselves to him.</p> + +<p>Both armies being now ready for battle, the soothsayers +offered sacrifice. The Spartans had with them +one Tisamenus, a man of Elis. To this Tisamenus, +inquiring about his childlessness, there was given an +oracle that he should be the winner in five very great +contests. This he understood of the contests of the +games. But when he had exercised himself for the +fivefold contests at Olympia but had failed, being +vanquished in wrestling by a man of Andros, the +Spartans perceived that the oracle spake not of contests +in sport but, of contests in battle. Then they +sought to hire the man that he might go with them +to battle. But he said, “Give me the citizenship of +your city.” This they could not endure, but when +the fear of the Persians hung over them they sent to +him again. And Tisamenus, perceiving that they +were changed, said, “Ye must give the citizenship +not to me only but to my brother also.” To them +only have the Spartans given their citizenship. So +Tisamenus offered sacrifice, and the signs were for +good luck if the Greeks stayed in their place, but for +bad if they crossed the Asopus.</p> + +<p>To Mardonius also were given the same signs when +he sacrificed before the battle. For he too had a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</span>soothsayer, who divined after the Greek manner, a +certain Hegistratus of Elis. This man had been +taken by the Spartans and condemned to die, but set +himself free in a marvelous way. The Spartans had +set him with one foot in the stocks, these being of +wood, but bound with iron. But some one giving +him a tool of iron, he cut off with his own hand so +much of his foot that he could draw that which was +left through the hole. And after making his way +through the woods, for he was watched by watch-men, +he escaped to Tegea, traveling by night and +hiding himself in the woods by day. And though +the whole people of the Spartans sought for him he +came safe on the third night to Tegea; for Tegea was +in those days at enmity with Sparta. And now he +served Mardonius right willingly, partly for gain, +and partly for hatred of the Spartans.</p> + +<p>And for eight days the two armies sat over against +each other doing nothing, save that the horsemen of +the Persians laid hands on a convoy of five hundred +beasts that brought food from the Peloponnese to the +Greeks.</p> + +<p>Again they sat quiet for two days. On the eleventh +day the Persians held a council. Then Artabazus, a +man held in high esteem among the Persians, said, +“Let us break up our camp, and bring our army to +Thebes, where is a fenced city, and food in plenty for +ourselves and our beasts. And when we are there, +seeing we have gold, coined and uncoined, in abundance, +and silver, and cups, let us take of these without +stinting and send gifts to the Greeks, especially +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</span>to them that bear rule in the cities. Speedily will +they give up their freedom.”</p> + +<p>But Mardonius, being of a contrary opinion, was +very fierce and obstinate, saying, “We are much +stronger than they. Therefore let us fight as speedily +as may be. As for the signs of the soothsayer we +will not heed them, but will give battle as the Persians +are wont to do.” And the opinion of Mardonius +prevailed, for it was he that was captain of the +host.</p> + +<p>That night came Alexander of Macedon to the +camp of the Greeks and desired to speak with the +generals. Then ran some of the guards and said, +“Here is come a horseman from the camp of the +Persians, who would speak with the generals, naming +them by name.” And when these had gone to the +outposts they found Alexander, who said to them, +“Men of Athens, tell to no man, save to Pausanias +only, what I shall say unto you. For surely I had +not come but that I had a great love for Greece; +and indeed I am a Greek by descent, but would +fain see this land free rather than enslaved. Hear, +therefore. Mardonius can not get the signs as he +would have them; else he would have given battle +long since. But now he is minded not to heed the +signs any more but to fight. Be ye not then taken +unawares, but make ready to receive him. But +if he still delay, then abide in your place, for he +can not long hold out, having but a few days’ provision. +And if the end of this war be as ye would have +it, remember me and the kindness I have done you. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</span>I am Alexander the Macedonian.” When he had +so spoken he rode back to his own people.</p> + +<p>After this Pausanias said to the Athenians, “It +would be well that you should deal with the Persians, +of whom ye have had experience, having prevailed +over them at Marathon, and we with the Bœotians +and the other Greeks. For we know nothing of the +Persians and of their manner of fighting, but the +Greeks we know well. Let us therefore go to our +place in the line, and ye shall come to yours.”</p> + +<p>The Athenians answered, “We had this very thing +in our minds, and would have spoken ourselves, but +that we doubted whether it would please you. But +now let it be done.”</p> + +<p>So Pausanias, it being now morning, began to lead +his men to the left wing. But the Thebans perceiving +it, told it to Mardonius, who changed his order also, +which, when Pausanias saw, he led the Spartans +back and stood as before. Then Mardonius sent a +herald to the Spartans, saying, “Ye said that ye are +braver than other men, never leaving your place, +but remaining till ye slay your enemies or are yourselves +slain. But this we now see to be false; for ye +leave your place before ever the battle is joined. +But come now. Will ye fight with an equal number +of Persians, ye for the Greeks and they for the +King?” When the herald had waited a while, and +no man answered him a word, he departed.</p> + +<p>Then Mardonius, being greatly puffed up by this +victory of words, commanded his horsemen that +they should charge the Greeks. This they did, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</span>doing much damage with the throwing of javelins +and the shooting of arrows, for they used the bow +while they rode, so that the Greeks could not deal +with them hand to hand. Also they choked the +fountain of Gargaphia, from which all the Greeks +drew water. The Spartans only had their place near +to the fountain, but all the Greeks used it, for the +horsemen and the archers of the barbarians kept +them from the river. Then the captains held a +council; and it seemed good to them, if the Persians +should not fight that day, to change the place of their +camp to the Island. This is before the city of Platæa, +and men call it the Island because a certain +river, coming down from Mount Cithæron, divides +here into two streams which flow for a space three +furlongs apart, and after join together again. So all +that day they stood in their place, suffering grievously +from the horsemen of the barbarians, and when it +was night they began to change their place. And +when the greater part of the Greeks had departed—but +they went not to the Island, but fled straight to +Platæa, and encamped by the temple of Here, which +is before the city—Pausanias commanded the Spartans +that they also should depart. The rest of the +captains were willing to obey, but one Amompharetus, +that led the men of Pitana, would not move, +saying, “I will not fly from the strangers, nor bring +disgrace upon Sparta.” Pausanias took it very ill +that the man should not obey his command, yet he +would not leave him and his company alone, lest +they should be destroyed. For this cause he kept +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</span>the Spartans and their army in its place, and sought +to persuade Amompharetus. And when the Athenians +saw that the rest of the Greeks had departed, +but that the Spartans remained, knowing that it was +their custom to think one thing and say another, +they sent a horseman to inquire whether they were +minded to go or to remain. When the horseman +came he found them in the very heat of the dispute, +for Amompharetus took up a very great stone with +both his hands and laid it at the feet of Pausanias, +saying, “With this pebble I vote not to fly from the +strangers” (for the Greeks give their votes with +pebbles), and Pausanias affirmed that he was a fool +and mad. And turning himself to the Athenian +horseman, he said, “Ye see how things are with us; +go and tell this to your captains.” So the men departed; +but the Spartans ceased not to dispute till +the day began to dawn. And then Pausanias gave +the signal to depart, expecting that Amompharetus, +when he found that they had departed, would also +leave his place and follow them. And in this he +judged rightly, for the man, thinking that he had +been in truth forsaken, commanded his men that +they should take their arms and follow the rest of +the army. This they did, and came up with them +in the space of ten furlongs, near to the temple of +Demeter of Eleusis; for the army had waited for +them there. The Athenians also left their place, but +these marched all along the plain, while the Spartans +kept to the hill for fear of the horsemen of the +Persians.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</span></p> + +<p>When Mardonius heard that the Greeks had departed +in the night, and beheld their place that it +was empty, he called the sons of Aleuas, and said to +them, “What say ye now, seeing this place is empty? +Ye would have it that the Spartans fled from no man; +yet ye saw before how they would have left their station, +and now in this night now passed they have fled +altogether. You indeed I can excuse, for ye know +nothing of the Persians; but I marvel at Artabanus +that he feared these men, and would have had us follow +a coward’s counsel, even to break up our camp, +and to suffer ourselves to be besieged in the city of +Thebes. Verily the King shall hear of this matter. +And indeed we must not suffer them to do as they +would, but must pursue after them till we overtake +them, and exact punishment for all the wrong that +they have done.”</p> + +<p>When he had thus spoken he led the Persians +across the Asopus, and followed the Spartans at full +speed, as if they were verily flying from him; the +Athenians he saw not, for they were hidden from him +by the hills. And the other barbarians, when they +saw the Persians moving, took up their standards +and came after them, as quickly as they could, without +any order, as though they would have swallowed +up the Greeks.</p> + +<p>When Pausanias saw that the horsemen of the Persians +were pressing him hard, he sent a messenger to +the Athenians, saying, “Now that the hour is come +when we must fight for Greece, whether she shall be +enslaved or free, we and you, men of Athens, are all +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</span>alone, for our allies have fled. We must therefore +help the one the other as best we may. If these +horsemen had fallen on you, then had we and the +men of Tegea—for they are faithful to Greece—have +helped you; and now must ye help us; and because +we know that ye have been more zealous than any +other nation in this present war, we ask you with the +more confidence.”</p> + +<p>When the Athenians heard these words they made +ready to go to the help of the Spartans; but the +Greeks that fought for the King fell on them and +hindered them. The Spartans therefore being left +alone, made ready to fight against Mardonius and the +Persians. But for a while the signs did not favor +them, and while they tarried many fell, and many +more were wounded, for the Persians had made a +rampart of wicker shields and shot their arrows from +behind it, troubling the Spartans grievously. But +still the signs were evil, till Pausanias, lifting up his +eyes to the temple of Here of Platæa, cried aloud, +“O goddess, disappoint not the hopes of the Greeks.” +And as he prayed, the men of Tegea ran forward, and +the Spartans—for at the last the signs favored them—advanced +also. The Persians left shooting and +came to meet them. First there was fighting at +the rampart of the wicker shields; and when this +was broken down a very fierce battle by the temple +of Demeter, wherein they fought against each other +hand to hand. Many a time did the barbarians lay +hold of the spears of the Greeks, seeking to break +them; for in courage and strength the Persians were +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</span>not one whit behind the Greeks, only they had not +armor of defense, and were unused to battle, nor any +match for their enemies in skill; but running forward, +now one by one, and now in companies of ten, +or, it might be, of more or less, threw themselves +upon the Spartans, and so perished. Where Mardonius +himself fought, riding on a white horse, having +about him the thousand who were the bravest of +all the Persians, the Greeks were hardest pressed. So +long indeed as Mardonius lived his men held out, and +smote down a few of the Spartans; but when he had +fallen and his companions with him, the rest of the +Persians fled before the Greeks, for their equipment, +being without armor, was a grievous hindrance to +them. And indeed they were light-armed men, fighting +with heavy-armed.</p> + +<p>Thus did Mardonius and his host pay due penalty +for the death of Leonidas, and Pausanias won a victory +more glorious than any man had ever won before. +As for Mardonius himself, he was slain by one +Æimnestus, that perished afterward, he and three +hundred Spartans with him, fighting against the +whole host of the Messenians.</p> + +<p>The Persians, being now put to flight by the Spartans, +fled without any order to their camp, to the defense +of trees which they had made. As to the precinct +of Demeter, though many fell round about it, +none fell within it, or so much as entered it, the goddess, +it is to be supposed—if it is lawful to suppose +any thing about the Gods—herself keeping them from +it, because they had burned her dwelling at Eleusis.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</span></p> + +<p>Artabazus having sought to hinder Mardonius from +giving battle, when he found that he could not prevail, +took counsel for his own safety. He commanded +his men, of whom he had forty thousand, to +follow at such speed as they should perceive him to +use. Then he made as if he would have joined the battle, +but seeing the Persians already in fight, he turned +round and made with all speed for the Hellespont.</p> + +<p>As for the Greeks that fought for the King, they +all played the coward of set purpose, saving the +Bœotians. These fought very fiercely with the Athenians, +so that three hundred of them were slain.</p> + +<p>Of the rest of the barbarians some stood against +the Greeks, but fled so soon as they saw the Persians +giving way. Nevertheless the horsemen, both Persian +and Theban, did good service, coming between +them that fled and the Greeks.</p> + +<p>As for the rest of the Greeks, none did good service +save the Spartans, and the Athenians, and the men of +Tegea only. For when they heard that Pausanias +prevailed, they hastened from Platæa with great haste +and without order, which a captain of the Theban +horsemen perceiving, he charged the men of Megara +and of Phlius, that were marching along the plain, +and slew six hundred of them, and drave the rest to +Mount Cithæron. So these men perished without +honor.</p> + +<p>The men of Mantinea and of Elis came when the +battle was now finished, greatly lamenting that they +were late. These, when they had returned to their +cities, banished their captains.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</span></p> + +<p>For none of the Greeks fought in this battle of +Platæa save the Spartans and the Athenians and the +men of Tegea only.</p> + +<p>Now the Persians that had fled to the camp were +able to climb into the towers before the Spartans +came up; and being there, they held the wall as best +they could. And indeed before the coming of the +Athenians the barbarians kept back the Spartans, +who are but little skilled in fighting against fortified +places. But after the coming of the Athenians the +wall was attacked yet more fiercely than before. +These after a while prevailed, climbing to the top of +the wall, and making a breach, so that the Greeks +could enter in. And of all the Greeks the first to +enter were the men of Tegea. These spoiled the tent +of Mardonius, taking therefrom the mangers of brass +from which his horses had eaten. And so the barbarians +held out no longer, but were slaughtered as +sheep, so that of the whole host there were left three +thousand only. But Artabazus had taken with him +forty thousand. Of the Spartans there perished ninety +and one; of the men of Tegea sixteen; of the Athenians +fifty and two.</p> + +<p>Of the barbarians the bravest were the Persians +among the foot soldiers, and the Sacæ among the +horsemen; but of all Mardonius fought the best. +Among the Greeks the Spartans excelled, and among +the Spartans Aristodemus, that had come back from +Thermopylæ, and Posidonius and Philocyon and +Amompharetus. But of Aristodemus the Spartans +said that he had manifestly sought for death by reason<span class="pagenum" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</span> +of his disgrace, and they paid no honor to him; +but to the others that had not desired to die they paid +honor.</p> + +<p>As for Callicrates, that was the goodliest man not +among the Spartans only, but among all the Greeks, +he was slain, but not in the battle. For while Pausanias +was sacrificing, and he sat in his place in the +ranks, an arrow smote him in the side. Therefore, +when his comrades went forward to the battle, men +carried him out of the battle, being very loth to die, +for he said to a Platæan that stood by, “It does not +trouble me that I die for Greece, but that I die without +putting my hand to the fight, or doing such +worthy deeds as I had desired.” Of the Athenians +the bravest was Sophanes of Decelea, of whom they +say that he had an anchor fastened to his belt by a +chain of brass; and that when he came near to the +enemy, he threw out his anchor so that he might not +be able to be driven from his post; and that when +the enemy fled, he took up his anchor and pursued. +But others say he had the device of an anchor on his +shield.</p> + +<p>Of Pausanias they tell this story, that coming into +the camp of the Persians, he found the war-tent of +Xerxes, for Xerxes had left it with Mardonius. And +when he saw it with its furniture of gold and silver, +and adorned with hangings of divers colors, he commanded +the bakers and the cooks that they should +prepare a feast as they were wont to do for Mardonius. +And when he saw the couches of gold and silver with +their dainty coverlets, and tables of gold and silver, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</span>and all the furniture of the feast very rich, he was +astonished; and for mirth’s sake bade his servants +prepare a dinner in the Spartan fashion. When they +had so done, Pausanias laughed, seeing how great +was the difference between them; and, sending for +the other captains of the Greeks, he said to them, “I +have brought you here that I may show you the folly +of these Persians, who, having such fare as this, +came to rob us of our poverty.”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXII"> + CHAPTER XXII. + <br><br> + <span class="fs80">OF THE BATTLE AT MYCALE.</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>While these things were being done in the land +of Bœotia, the fleet of the Greeks lay at +Delos, Leotychides of Sparta being its chief captain; +but the fleet of the Persians was at Samos. And +there came from Samos three men whom the people +of the land sent to the captains of the Greeks; but +neither did the Persians know of their going, nor +Theomestor the lord of the land, for the Persians had +made him lord.</p> + +<p>When these men were come into the presence of +the captains, they were very urgent with them, saying, +“If the Ionians do but see you, they will revolt +from the Persians; nor will these abide your coming; +or, if they abide it, ye will find such a prey as ye +could not find elsewhere. It is right that ye should +help men that are Greeks and worship the same gods. +Right is it and easy withal, for the ships of the Persians +are no match for yours. And if ye doubt +whether we come in good faith, take us with you in +your ships as hostages.”</p> + +<p>Then Leotychides asked the chief speaker of the +three, “Man of Samos, what is thy name?” asking +either because he sought for a sign or by chance and +by inspiration of God. And the man said, “Hegesistratus,”<span class="pagenum" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</span> +which is by interpretation “Leader of +armies.” Then said Leotychides, “I accept the sign +of this word—leader of armies. Only you must +pledge your word, you and these others, that the +men of Samos will be zealous and true.” Then the +three pledged their word with an oath. And the +Greeks sailed to Samos, taking with them Hegesistratus, +for they took his name for a good sign. Also +they had with them a soothsayer, one Deiphonus, the +son of Evenius of Apollonia. Of Evenius they tell +this story. The men of Apollonia have a flock of +sheep that are sacred to the sun. And these feed by +day by the river that flows from Mount Lacmon, and +by night they are kept by men wealthy and noble, +chosen from among the citizens, each man keeping +them a year; for the men of Apollonia by reason of +a certain oracle make much account of these sheep. +They are folded by night in a cave that is far distant +from the city; and it chanced that this Evenius, +having the charge of them on a certain night, fell +asleep, and that while he slept wolves entered into +the caves and devoured sixty of them. Evenius indeed +sought to keep the matter secret, purposing to +put another sixty in the place of these, but it came to +the knowledge of the people; and they brought him +to judgment for his misdeed and condemned him to +lose his eyes. But lo! after they had blinded him, +the sheep bare no more any young, nor the land its +wonted increase. And when the men of Apollonia +inquired the cause of the oracle of Dodona, the +prophet answered them, “Ye have done wickedly, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</span>blinding Evenius, the keeper of the sheep. The +Gods sent these wolves; nor will they cease to +avenge the man’s cause till ye shall make him such +satisfaction as he shall himself demand of you. And +when ye have done this, then will the Gods themselves +give him such a gift that all men shall call him +blessed.”</p> + +<p>When this oracle came to them, the men of Apollonia +kept the matter close, and sent certain citizens +to make an agreement with Evenius. This agreement +they made in this wise. They found Evenius +sitting on a bench. Then they sat down by him, and +when they had spoken of other things, came at the +last to condole with him for his mishap. And they +asked him, saying, “Evenius, if the men of Apollonia +were minded to give thee satisfaction for this +injury, what wouldst thou demand?” Now Evenius +had not heard of the oracle, and he said, “If they +will give me such and such lands,” and he named the +two citizens that he knew to have the best lands in the +country, “and such a house,” and he named a house +that he knew to be the fairest in the whole city, “I +will lay aside my wrath, holding that I have had due +satisfaction.” Then they that sat by him answered, +“Evenius, the men of Apollonia give thee the satisfaction +that thou demandest, according to the words +of the oracle.” Evenius, indeed, was very wroth +when he heard the whole matter, and knew how he +had been deceived; but the men of Apollonia bought +the lands and the house from them that possessed +them and gave to Evenius the things which he had +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</span>desired. Immediately after this there fell upon him +a gift of prophecy, so that he became famous throughout +Greece. Deiphonus, son of this Evenius, was +now soothsayer to the Greeks. But some say that +Deiphonus was not truly his son, but had taken his +name and plied the trade of a soothsayer for hire.</p> + +<p>The Greeks, finding the signs to be good, sailed to +Samos; but when the Persians knew of their coming +they left their place and sailed to the mainland, having +first sent away the ships of the Phœnicians, for +they judged that they could not meet the Greeks in +battle, and they desired to have the help of their +army that was on the mainland; for Xerxes had left +at Mycale, that is over against Samos, sixty thousand +men, under Tigranes, a Persian of notable beauty and +stature, to keep guard over Ionia.</p> + +<p>So the captains of the Persian ships came to Mycale, +and drew their ships up on the shore and made +a fence round them of stones and wood, cutting down +the fruit trees that were in the place, and setting +stakes in the ground about the fence.</p> + +<p>When the Greeks knew that the barbarians had fled +to the mainland, they were greatly troubled that the +men had escaped out of their hands, and doubted +whether they should go home or sail to the Hellespont. +But in the end they did neither the one thing +nor the other, but sailed to the mainland, having got +ready boarding bridges and other things needful for +a sea-fight. But when they were come to the place, +there were none to meet them, but they saw the ships +drawn up within the ramparts, and a great army sat +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</span>in array along the shore. First of all Leotychides +sailed in his ship along the shore, keeping as close to +the shore as might be, and crying with a loud voice, +“Men of Ionia that chance to hear me, listen to that +which I now say, for the Persians will understand +none of my words. When we join battle, remember +all of you first Freedom, and then our watchword, and +this is Hebe. And if there are any that chance not +to hear me, let others tell my words to them.” Now +the purpose of these words was the same as of the +words which Themistocles wrote upon the rocks at +Artemisium. If they came not to the knowledge of +the Persians, then they might persuade the Ionians; +but if they came to their knowledge they would +cause the Persians to put no trust in their allies. +When Leotychides had ended speaking these words, +the allies brought their ships to the land and disembarked, +and set themselves in array for the battle.</p> + +<p>But the Persians, when they saw how the Greeks +set themselves in array, considered the words which +had been spoken to the Ionians. And first of all +they took away from the men of Samos their arms, +suspecting that they favored the Greeks. This they +did because the men of Samos had paid the ransom +of five hundred Athenians whom the armies of the +King had found lingering in the land of Attica, and +had carried away captive into Asia. Next after this +they sent the men of Miletus to keep the ways that +led to the heights of Mycale, for they knew the +country. This they said, but in truth they desired +to keep them outside the camp. Thus did the Persians<span class="pagenum" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</span> +seek to guard themselves against the Ionians, +if these were minded to help the Greeks; and after +this they made a rampart of wicker shields to be a +defence against the enemy.</p> + +<p>And now the Greeks, all things being ready, began +to go forward against the barbarians. And lo! as +they went there ran a rumor through the whole army +and at the same time they saw a herald’s staff lying +on the sea-shore. And the rumor was this, that the +Greeks were doing battle in the land of Bœotia with +the army of Mardonius, and were prevailing over it. +And this is one of the many proofs that the gods +have a thought for the affairs of men; for how else, +when it had chanced that this battle at Mycale and +the ruin that fell on the Persians at Platæa should +fall out on the self-same day, came this rumor to the +Greeks making them to be of a good courage and +willing to put their lives in jeopardy? At Platæa +the battle was in the morning, and at Mycale it was +toward evening. And before the rumor came they +had been fearful, not so much for themselves as for +the Greeks, lest they should flee before Mardonius. +But now their fear ceased, and they ran forward both +quicker and with better courage. And indeed both +the barbarians and the Greeks had much eagerness +for the battle, whereof the prize was the Hellespont +and the islands.</p> + +<p>Now the Athenians and they that were with them, +being altogether one-half the army, marched along +the shore where the way was level, but the Lacedæmonians +with the rest of the army marched over hills +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</span>and the channel of a stream. And thus it came to +pass that while these were making their compass the +Athenians had now joined battle. So long as the +wicker rampart was standing the Persians held their +own and were not worsted in the fight; but when the +Athenians and their fellows, desiring to have the +victory for themselves, encouraged each other and +attacked the Persians more fiercely, things went +otherwise. For the Greeks burst through the rampart +and fell in one body upon the Persians. These +indeed awaited their coming and held out for a time, +but at last fled into the fort. And the Athenians +with the men of Corinth and of Sicyon and of Trœzen—for +these had been set next to the Athenians—entered +into the fort along with them. And now +when their fort was taken, the barbarians made no +more resistance, but fled all of them, save the Persians +only. But while these still held out against the +Greeks, a few fighting together, there came up the +Lacedæmonians and the others, and slew them all. +Not a few of the Greeks fell in this battle, especially +among the men of Sicyon.</p> + +<p>The men of Samos, from whom the Persians had +taken their arms, did good service to the Greeks +while they were fighting. As for the men of Miletus, +they did not what had been commanded them, but +led the Persians astray, so that they went into the +hands of the enemy, and at last fell upon them with +their own hands. Thus did Ionia revolt that day a +second time from the King.</p> + +<div class="chapter transnote"> +<p class="center"><b>Transcriber’s Notes</b></p> + +<p>Perceived typographical errors have been silently corrected.</p> +</div> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78980 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/78980-h/images/cover.jpg b/78980-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8b2614f --- /dev/null +++ b/78980-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6c72794 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This book, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. 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