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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> |