The Good Book (61 page)

  2. And crossed the channel from Trachis to Histiaea, waited there for three days,

  3. And then sailed down through the Euripus, in three more days reaching Phalerum.

  4. The Persian forces both by land and sea when they invaded Attica were not less numerous than they had been on their arrival at Sepias and Thermopylae,

  5. Despite their losses in the storm and at Thermopylae, and again in the sea fights off Artemisium.

  6. For various nations had since joined the king: the Malians, the Dorians, the Locrians and the Boeotians,

  7. Each serving in full force in his army except the last, who did not number in their ranks either the Thespians or the Plataeans;

  8. And together with these, the Carystians, the Andrians, the Tenians and the other people of the islands, who all fought on this side except the five states already mentioned.

  9. For as the Persians penetrated further into Greece, they were joined continually by fresh nations.

10. Reinforced by the contingents of all these various states, the barbarians reached Athens.

11. The rest of the sea forces came safe to Phalerum, where they were visited by Xerxes, who had conceived a desire to go aboard and learn the wishes of the fleet.

12. So he came and sat in a seat of honour, and the sovereigns of the nations and the captains of the ships were sent to appear before him,

13. And as they arrived took their seats according to the rank assigned them by the king.

14. In the first seat sat the king of Sidon; after him, the king of Tyre; then the rest in their order.

15. When the whole company had taken their places, one after another, and were set down in orderly array, Xerxes, to try them, sent Mardonius and questioned each, whether a sea fight should be risked or not.

16. All said that the Greeks should be given battle at sea, all except Artemisia, who said, ‘Spare the ships, and do not risk a sea battle;

17. ‘These people are far superior to yours in seamanship. Anyway what need is there to risk it? You are master of Athens, which is the purpose of your invasion;

18. ‘And the whole of Greece lies subject at your feet. If you keep the fleet close and march on the Peloponnese, you will easily accomplish all your aims.

19. ‘But if you fight at sea and lose, I tremble to think of the danger to your land army.'

20. The friends of Artemisia were anxious for her, in case her words offended the king,

21. And her enemies rejoiced, that having been in such favour with Xerxes she might now even forfeit her life.

22. But he was pleased beyond all others with the reply of Artemisia; and whereas, even before this, he had always esteemed her, he now praised her more than ever.

23. Nevertheless, he gave orders that the advice of the majority should be followed; for he thought that at Euboea the fleet had not done its best, because he himself was not there to see its work;

24. Whereas this time he resolved that he would be an eyewitness of the combat.

25. Orders were now given to the Persian fleet to stand out to sea; and the ships proceeded towards Salamis, and took up the stations to which they were directed, without hindrance from the Greeks.

26. The day, however, was too far spent for them to begin the battle, so they prepared to engage on the morrow.

27. The Greeks, meanwhile, were in great distress and alarm, more especially those of the Peloponnese, who were troubled that they had been kept at Salamis to fight on behalf of the Athenian territory,

28. And feared that, if they should suffer defeat, they would be besieged in an island, while their own country was left unprotected.

29. The same night the land army of the barbarians began its march towards the Peloponnese, where, however, all that was possible had been done to prevent the enemy from forcing an entrance by land.

30. As soon as news reached the Peloponnese of the death of Leonidas and his companions at Thermopylae, the inhabitants flocked together from the various cities,

31. And encamped at the Isthmus, under the command of Cleombrotus, son of Anaxandridas, and brother of Leonidas.

32. Here their first care was to block up the Scironian Way; after which it was decided to build a wall across the Isthmus.

33. The number assembled amounted to many tens of thousands, and there was not one who did not give himself eagerly to the work, bringing stones, bricks, timber and   baskets filled with sand.

34. Not a moment was lost therefore, and the work was soon finished.

 

Chapter 81

  1. The Greeks at Salamis, on the other hand, when they heard that Xerxes was marching towards the Isthmus, were greatly alarmed for the Peloponnese.

  2. At first they murmured together in low voices, each with his fellow, secretly, and marvelled at the folly shown by Eurybiades;

  3. But presently the smothered feeling broke out, and another assembly was held, at which the former debate was resumed,

  4. One side maintaining that it was best to sail to the Peloponnese and risk battle there, instead of abiding at Salamis and fighting for a land already taken by the enemy;

  5. While the other, which consisted of the Athenians, Eginetans, and Megarians, was urgent to remain and have the battle fought where they were.

  6. Themistocles, when he saw that the Peloponnesians would carry the vote against him,

  7. Went out secretly from the council, and, instructing a certain man in what to say, sent him on board a merchant ship to the Persian fleet.

  8. This man was Sicinnus, one of Themistocles' household slaves, who had served as tutor to his sons;

  9. In after times, when the Thespians were admitting persons to citizenship, Themistocles made him a Thespian, and rich.

10. When Sicinnus reached the Persian fleet he delivered his message to the leaders in these words:

11. ‘The Athenian commander has sent me to you privily, without the knowledge of the other Greeks.

12. ‘He is a well-wisher to the king's cause, and would rather success should attend on you than on his countrymen;

13. ‘So he bids me tell you that fear has seized the Greeks and they are meditating a hasty flight.

14. ‘Therefore it is open to you to beat them in battle if you will hinder their escaping.

15. ‘They no longer agree among themselves, so they will make little resistance – indeed, it is likely you may see a fight already begun between such as favour and such as oppose your cause.'

16. The messenger, when he had thus expressed himself, departed and was seen no more.

17. Then the Persian captains, believing what the messenger had said, proceeded to land a large body of troops on the islet of Psyttaleia, which lies between Salamis and the mainland;

18. After which, about midnight, they advanced their western wing towards Salamis, so as to enclose the Greek fleet.

19. At the same time the forces stationed near Ceos and Cynosura moved forward, and filled the whole strait as far as Munychia with their ships.

20. This advance was made to prevent the Greeks from escaping, and to keep them in Salamis, to take vengeance on them for the battles fought near Artemisium.

21. The Persian troops were landed on the islet of Psyttaleia, because, as soon as the battle began, the men and wrecks were likely to drift in that direction, as the isle lay in the very path of the coming fight;

22. And they would thus be able to save their own men and destroy those of the enemy.

23. All these movements were made in silence, so that the Greeks would be unaware of them; and they occupied the whole night, so that the men had no time to get their sleep.

24. Meanwhile, among the Greek captains at Salamis, the strife of words was growing fierce.

25. As yet they did not know that they were surrounded, but imagined that the barbarians remained in the same places as the day before.

26. In the midst of their arguing, Aristides, the son of Lysimachus, who had crossed from Egina, arrived in Salamis.

27. He was an Athenian, and had been ostracised by the community, even though there was not a man so worthy and just in all Athens as he.

28. He arrived at the council, and, standing outside, called for Themistocles.

29. Now Themistocles was not his friend, but his most determined enemy. However, under the pressure of the great dangers impending, Aristides forgot their feud,

30. And called Themistocles out of the council, since he wished to confer with him, because he had heard before his arrival of the impatience of the Peloponnesians to withdraw the fleet to the Isthmus.

31. As soon as Themistocles came out, therefore, Aristides addressed him in these words.

32. ‘Our rivalry at all times, and especially at the present season, ought to be a struggle, which of us shall most advantage our country.

33. ‘I have seen with my own eyes what I now report: that, however much the Corinthians or Eurybiades himself may wish it, they cannot now retreat;

34. ‘For we are enclosed on every side by the enemy.

35. ‘Go in to them, and make this known.' ‘This is good news,' said Themistocles; ‘and know that what the Persians have done was at my instance;

36. ‘It was necessary, as our men would not fight here of their own free will, to make them fight whether they would or not.

37. ‘But come, as you have brought the news, go in and tell it. If I speak to them, they will not believe me.'

38. So Aristides entered the assembly, and spoke to the captains: he had come, he told them, from Egina, and had but barely escaped the blockading vessels;

39. The Greek fleet was entirely enclosed by the ships of Xerxes, and he advised them to get ready to fight. Having said so much, he withdrew.

40. And now another contest arose; for the greater part of the captains would not believe the news.

41. But while they still doubted, a Tenian trireme, commanded by Panaetius, the son of Sosimenes, deserted from the Persians and joined the Greeks, bringing full intelligence.

42. For this reason the Tenians were inscribed upon the memorials as among those who overthrew the barbarians.

43. With this ship, which deserted to their side at Salamis, and the Lemnian vessel which came over before at Artemisium, the Greek fleet was brought to the full number of three hundred and eighty ships.

 

Chapter 82

  1. The Greeks now, no longer in doubt, made ready for the coming fight.

  2. At dawn all the men-at-arms were assembled, and speeches were made to them, of which the best was by Themistocles;

  3. Who throughout contrasted what was noble with what was base, and bade them, in all that came within the range of man's nature and constitution, always to make choice of the nobler part.

  4. Then he told them to go at once on board their ships, which they accordingly did; and the Greeks now put to sea with all their fleet.

  5. The fleet had scarcely sailed when it was attacked by the Persians.

  6. At once most of the Greeks began to back water, and were about to reach shore, when Ameinias of Palline, one of the Athenian captains, darted out in front of the line at an enemy ship.

  7. The two vessels became entangled, and could not separate, whereupon the rest of the fleet came up to help Ameinias, and engaged with the Persians.

  8. Against the Athenians, who held the western extremity of the line towards Eleusis, were placed the Phoenicians;

  9. Against the Lacedaemonians, whose station was eastward towards the Piraeus, were placed the Ionians.

10. Of these last a few only followed the advice of Themistocles, to fight backwardly; the greater number did far otherwise.

11. The names of trierarchs who captured vessels from the Greeks include Theomestor, the son of Androdamas, and Phylacus, the son of Histiaeus, both Samians.

12. For this service Theomestor was made tyrant of Samos by the Persians, while Phylacus was enrolled among the king's benefactors, and presented with a large estate in land.

13. By far the greater number of the Persian ships engaged in this battle were disabled, either by the Athenians or by the Eginetans.

14. For as the Greeks fought in order and kept their line, while the barbarians were in confusion and had no plan in anything they did, the issue of the battle could not be other than it was.

15. Yet the Persians fought far more bravely here than at Euboea, and indeed surpassed themselves; each did his utmost through fear of Xerxes, for each thought that the king's eye was upon himself.

16. Artemisia distinguished herself more than any other Persian leader, and in such a way as raised her even higher than before in Xerxes' esteem.

17. For after confusion had spread through the king's fleet, and her ship was closely pursued by an Athenian trireme,

18. She, having no way to fly, since in front of her were a number of friendly vessels, and she was nearest of all the Persians to the enemy, resolved on a measure which in fact proved her safety.