the history-第106章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


the　part　of　the　Athenians　Themistocles；　the　son　of　Neocles。　They　did　not　however　maintain　their　station　for　more　than　a　few　days；　since　envoys　came　from　Alexander；　the　son　of　Amyntas；　the　Macedonian；　and　counselled　them　to　decamp　from　Tempe；　telling　them　that　if　they　remained　in　the　pass　they　would　be　trodden　under　foot　by　the　invading　army；　whose　numbers　they　recounted；　and　likewise　the　multitude　of　their　ships。　So　when　the　envoys　thus　counselled　them；　and　the　counsel　seemed　to　be　good；　and　the　Macedonian　who　sent　it　friendly；　they　did　even　as　he　advised。　In　my　opinion　what　chiefly　wrought　on　them　was　the　fear　that　the　Persians　might　enter　by　another　pass；　whereof　they　now　heard；　which　led　from　Upper　Macedonia　into　Thessaly　through　the　territory　of　the　Perrhaebi；　and　by　the　town　of　Gonnus…　the　pass　by　which　soon　afterwards　the　army　of　Xerxes　actually　made　its　entrance。　The　Greeks　therefore　went　back　to　their　ships　and　sailed　away　to　the　Isthmus。　　　　　Such　were　the　circumstances　of　the　expedition　into　Thessaly；　they　took　place　when　the　king　was　at　Abydos；　preparing　to　pass　from　Asia　into　Europe。　The　Thessalians；　when　their　allies　forsook　them；　no　longer　wavered；　but　warmly　espoused　the　side　of　the　Medes；　and　afterwards；　in　the　course　of　the　war；　they　were　of　the　very　greatest　service　to　Xerxes。　　　　　The　Greeks；　on　their　return　to　the　Isthmus；　took　counsel　together　concerning　the　words　of　Alexander；　and　considered　where　they　should　fix　the　war；　and　what　places　they　should　occupy。　The　opinion　which　prevailed　was　that　they　should　guard　the　pass　of　Thermopylae；　since　it　was　narrower　than　the　Thessalian　defile；　and　at　the　same　time　nearer　to　them。　Of　the　pathway；　by　which　the　Greeks　who　fell　at　Thermopylae　were　intercepted；　they　had　no　knowledge；　until；　on　their　arrival　at　Thermopylae；　it　was　discovered　to　them　by　the　Trachinians。　This　pass　then　it　was　determined　that　they　should　guard；　in　order　to　prevent　the　barbarians　from　penetrating　into　Greece　through　it；　and　at　the　same　time　it　was　resolved　that　the　fleet　should　proceed　to　Artemisium；　in　the　region　of　Histiaeotis；　for；　as　those　places　are　near　to　one　another；　it　would　be　easy　for　the　fleet　and　army　to　hold　communication。　The　two　places　may　be　thus　described。　　　　　Artemisium　is　where　the　sea　of　Thrace　contracts　into　a　narrow　channel；　running　between　the　isle　of　Sciathus　and　the　mainland　of　Magnesia。　When　this　narrow　strait　is　passed　you　come　to　the　line　of　coast　called　Artemisium；　which　is　a　portion　of　Euboea；　and　contains　a　temple　of　Artemis　（Diana）。　As　for　the　entrance　into　Greece　by　Trachis；　it　is；　at　its　narrowest　point；　about　fifty　feet　wide。　This　however　is　not　the　place　where　the　passage　is　most　contracted；　for　it　is　still　narrower　a　little　above　and　a　little　below　Thermopylae。　At　Alpini；　which　is　lower　down　than　that　place；　it　is　only　wide　enough　for　a　single　carriage；　and　up　above；　at　the　river　Phoenix；　near　the　town　called　Anthela；　it　is　the　same。　West　of　Thermopylae　rises　a　lofty　and　precipitous　hill；　impossible　to　climb；　which　runs　up　into　the　chain　of　Oeta；　while　to　the　east　the　road　is　shut　in　by　the　sea　and　by　marshes。　In　this　place　are　the　warm　springs；　which　the　natives　call　〃The　Cauldrons〃；　and　above　them　stands　an　altar　sacred　to　Hercules。　A　wall　had　once　been　carried　across　the　opening；　and　in　this　there　had　of　old　times　been　a　gateway。　These　works　were　made　by　the　Phocians；　through　fear　of　the　Thessalians；　at　the　time　when　the　latter　came　from　Thesprotia　to　establish　themselves　in　the　land　of　Aeolis；　which　they　still　occupy。　As　the　Thessalians　strove　to　reduce　Phocis；　the　Phocians　raised　the　wall　to　protect　themselves；　and　likewise　turned　the　hot　springs　upon　the　pass；　that　so　the　ground　might　be　broken　up　by　watercourses；　using　thus　all　possible　means　to　hinder　the　Thessalians　from　invading　their　country。　The　old　wall　had　been　built　in　very　remote　times；　and　the　greater　part　of　it　had　gone　to　decay　through　age。　Now　however　the　Greeks　resolved　to　repair　its　breaches；　and　here　make　their　stand　against　the　barbarian。　At　this　point　there　is　a　village　very　nigh　the　road；　Alpeni　by　name；　from　which　the　Greeks　reckoned　on　getting　corn　for　their　troops。　　　　　These　places；　therefore；　seemed　to　the　Greeks　fit　for　their　purpose。　Weighing　well　all　that　was　likely　to　happen；　and　considering　that　in　this　region　the　barbarians　could　make　no　use　of　their　vast　numbers；　nor　of　their　cavalry；　they　resolved　to　await　here　the　invader　of　Greece。　And　when　news　reached　them　of　the　Persians　being　in　Pieria；　straightway　they　broke　up　from　the　Isthmus；　and　proceeded；　some　on　foot　to　Thermopylae；　others　by　sea　to　Artemisium。　　　　　The　Greeks　now　made　all　speed　to　reach　the　two　stations；　and　about　the　same　time…　the　Delphians；　alarmed　both　for　themselves　and　for　their　country；　consulted　the　god；　and　received　for　answer　a　command　to　〃pray　to　the　winds；　for　the　winds　would　do　Greece　good　service。〃　So　when　this　answer　was　given　them；　forthwith　the　Delphians　sent　word　of　the　prophecy　to　those　Greeks　who　were　zealous　for　freedom；　and；　cheering　them　thereby　amid　the　fears　which　they　entertained　with　respect　to　the　barbarian；　earned　their　everlasting　gratitude。　This　done；　they　raised　an　altar　to　the　winds　at　Thyia　（where　Thyia；　the　daughter　of　Cephissus；　from　whom　the　region　takes　its　name；　has　a　precinct）；　and　worshipped　them　with　sacrifices。　And　even　to　the　present　day　the　Delphians　sacrifice　to　the　winds；　because　of　this　oracle。　　　　　The　fleet　of　Xerxes　now　departed　from　Therma；　and　ten　of　the　swiftest　sailing　ships　ventured　to　stretch　across　direct　for　Sciathus；　at　which　place　there　were　upon　the　look…out　three　vessels　belonging　to　the　Greeks；　one　a　ship　of　Troezen；　another　of　Egina；　and　the　third　from　Athens。　These　vessels　no　sooner　saw　from　a　distance　the　barbarians　approaching　than　they　all　hurriedly　took　to　flight。　　　　　The　barbarians　at　once　pursued；　and　the　Troezenian　ship；　which　was　commanded　by　Prexinus；　fell　into　their　hands。　Hereupon　the　Persians　took　the　handsomest　of　the　men…at…arms；　and　drew　him　to　the　prow　of　the　vessel；　where　they　sacrificed　him；　for　they　thought　the　man　a　good　omen　to　their　cause；　seeing　that　he　was　at　once　so　beautiful；　and　likewise　the　first　captive　they　had　made。　The　man　who　was　slain　in　this　way　was　called　Leo；　and　it　may　be　that　the　name　he　bore　helped　him　to　his　fate　in　some　measure。　　　　　The　Eginetan　trireme；　under　its　captain；　Asonides；　gave　the　Persians　no　little　trouble；　one　of　the　men…at…arms；　Pythes；　the　son　of　Ischenous；　distinguishing　himself　beyond　all　the　others　who　fought　that　day。　After　the　ship　was　taken　this　man　continued　to　resist；　and　did　not　cease　fighting　till　he　fell　quite　covered　with　wounds。　The　Persians　who　served　as　men…at…arms　in　the　squadron；　finding　that　he　was　not　dead；　but　still　breathed；　and　being　very　anxious　to　save　his　life；　since　he　had　behaved　so　valiantly；　dressed　his　wounds　with　myrrh；　and　bound　them　up　with　bandages　of　cotton。　Then；　when　they　were　returned　to　their　own　station；　they　displayed　their　prisoner　admiringly　to　the　whole　host；　and　behaved　towards　him　with　much　kindness；　but　all　the　rest　of　the　ship's　crew　were　treated　merely　as　slaves。　　　　　Thus　did　the　Persians　succeed　in　taking　two　of　the　vessels。　The　third；　a　trireme　commanded　by　Phormus　of　Athens；　took　to　flight　and　ran　aground　at　the　mouth　of　the　river　Peneus。　The　barbarians　got　possession　of　the　bark　but　not　of　the　men。　For　the　Athenians　had　no　sooner　run　their　vessel　aground　than　they　leapt　out；　and　made　their　way　through　Thessaly　back　to　Athens。　　　　　When　the　Greeks　stationed　at　Artemisium　learnt　what　had　happened　by　fire…signals　from　Sciathus；　so　terrified　were　they；　that；　quitting　their　anchorage…ground　at　Artemisium；　and　leaving　scouts　to　watch　the　foe　on　the　highlands　of　Euboea；　they　removed　to　Chalcis；　intending　to　guard　the　Euripus。　　　　　Meantime　three　of　the　ten　vessels　sent　forward　by　the　barbarians　advanced　as　far　as　the　sunken　rock　between　Sciathus　and　Magnesia；　which　is　called　〃The　Ant；〃　and　there　set　up　a　stone　pillar　which　they　had　brought　with　them　for　that　purpose。　After　this；　their　course　being　now　clear；　the　barbarians　set　sail　with　all　their　ships　from　Therma；　eleven　days　from　the　time　that　the　king　quitted　the　town。　The　rock；　which　lay　directly　in　their　course；　had　been　made　known　to　them　by　Pammon　of　Scyros。　A　day's　voyage　without　a　stop　brought　them　to　Sepias　in　Magnesia；　and　to　the　strip　of　coast　which　lies　between　the　town　of　Casthanaea　and　the　promontory　of　Sepias。　　　　　As　far　as　this　point　then；　and　on　land；　as　far　as　Thermopylae；　the　armament　of　Xerxes　had　been　free　from　mischance；　and　the　numbers　were　still；　according　to　my　reckoning；　of　the　following　amount。　First　there　was　the　ancient　complement　of　the　twelve　hundred　and　seven　vessels　which　came　with　the　king　from　Asia…　the　contingents　of　the　nations　severally…　amounting；　if　we　allow　to　each　ship　a　crew　of　two　hundred　men；　to　241；400…　Each　of　these　vessels　had　on　board；　besides　native　soldiers；　thirty　fighting　men；　who　were　either　Persians；　Medes；　or　Sacans；　which　gives　an　addition　of　36；210。　To　these　two　numbers　I　shall　further　add　the　crews　of　the　penteconters；　which　may　be　reckoned；　one　with　another；　at　fourscore　men　each。　Of　such　vessels　there　were　（as　I　said　before）　three　thousand；　and　the　men　on　board　them　accordingly　would　be　240；000。　This　was　the　sea　force　brought　by　the　king　from　Asia；　and　it　amounted　in　all　to　517；610　men。　The　number　of　the　foot　soldiers　was　1；700；000；　that　of　the　horsemen　80；000；　to　which　must　be　added　the　Arabs　who　rode　on　camels；　and　the　Libyans　who　fought　in　chariots；　whom　I　reckon　at　20；000。　The　whole　number；　therefore；　of　the　land　and　sea　forces　added　together　amounts　to　2；317；610　men。　Such　was　the　force　brought　from　Asia；　without　including　the　camp　followers；　or　taking　any　account　of　the　provision…　ships　and　the　men　whom　they　had　on　board。　　　　　To　the　amount　thus　reached　we　have　still　to　add　the　forces　gathered　in　Europe；　concerning　which　I　can　only　speak　from　conjecture。　The　Greeks　dwelling　in　Thrace；　and　in　the　islands　off　the　coast　of　Thrace；　furnished　to　the　fleet　one　hundred　and　twenty　ships；　the　crews　of　which　would　amount　to　24；000　men。　Besides　these；　footmen　were　furnished　by　the　Thracians；　the　Paeonians；　the　Eordians；　the　Bottiaeans；　by　the　Chalcidean　tribes；　by　the　Brygians；　the　Pierians；　the　Macedonians；　the　Perrhaebians　the　Enianians；　the　Dolopians；　the　Magnesians；　the　Achaeans　and　by　all　the　dwellers　upon　the　Thracian　sea…board；　and　the　forces　of　these　nations　amounted；　I　believe；　to　three　hundred　thousand　men。　These　numbers；　added　to　those　of　the　force　which　came　out　of　Asia；　make　the　sum　of　the　fighting　men　2；641；610。　　　　　Such　then　being　the　number　of　the　fighting　men；　it　is　my　belief　that　the　attendants　who　followed　the　camp；　together　with　the　crews　of　the　corn…barks；　and　of　the　other　craft　accompanying　the　army；　made　up　an　amount　rather　above　than　below　that　of　the　fighting　men。　However　I　will　not　reckon　them　as　either　fewer　or　more；　but　take　them　at　an　equal　number。　We　have　therefore　to　add　to　the　sum　already　reached　an　exactly　equal　amount。　This　will　give　5；283；220　as　the　whole　number　of　men　brought　by　Xerxes；　the　son　of　Darius；　as　far　as　Sepias　and　Thermopylae。　　　　　Such　then　was　the　amount　of　the　entire　host　of　Xerxes。　As　for　the　number　of　the　w