the history-第115章

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y　Neptune　and　Minerva；　when　they　had　their　contention　about　the　country。　Now　this　olive…tree　had　been　burnt　with　the　rest　of　the　temple　when　the　barbarians　took　the　place。　But　when　the　Athenians；　whom　the　king　had　commanded　to　offer　sacrifice；　went　up　into　the　temple　for　the　purpose；　they　found　a　fresh　shoot；　as　much　as　a　cubit　in　length；　thrown　out　from　the　old　trunk。　Such　at　least　was　the　account　which　these　persons　gave。　　　　　Meanwhile；　at　Salamis；　the　Greeks　no　sooner　heard　what　had　befallen　the　Athenian　citadel；　than　they　fell　into　such　alarm　that　some　of　the　captains　did　not　even　wait　for　the　council　to　come　to　a　vote；　but　embarked　hastily　on　board　their　vessels；　and　hoisted　sail　as　though　they　would　take　to　flight　immediately。　The　rest；　who　stayed　at　the　council　board；　came　to　a　vote　that　the　fleet　should　give　battle　at　the　Isthmus。　Night　now　drew　on；　and　the　captains；　dispersing　from　the　meeting；　proceeded　on　board　their　respective　ships。　　　　　Themistocles；　as　he　entered　his　own　vessel；　was　met　by　Mnesiphilus；　an　Athenian；　who　asked　him　what　the　council　had　resolved　to　do。　On　learning　that　the　resolve　was　to　stand　away　for　the　Isthmus；　and　there　give　battle　on　behalf　of　the　Peloponnese；　Mnesiphilus　exclaimed：…　　　　　〃If　these　men　sail　away　from　Salamis；　thou　wilt　have　no　fight　at　all　for　the　one　fatherland；　for　they　will　all　scatter　themselves　to　their　own　homes；　and　neither　Eurybiades　nor　any　one　else　will　be　able　to　hinder　them；　nor　to　stop　the　breaking　up　of　the　armament。　Thus　will　Greece　be　brought　to　ruin　through　evil　counsels。　But　haste　thee　now；　and；　if　there　be　any　possible　way；　seek　to　unsettle　these　resolves…　mayhap　thou　mightest　persuade　Eurybiades　to　change　his　mind；　and　continue　here。〃　　　　　The　suggestion　greatly　pleased　Themistocles；　and　without　answering　a　word；　he　went　straight　to　the　vessel　of　Eurybiades。　Arrived　there；　he　let　him　know　that　he　wanted　to　speak　with　him　on　a　matter　touching　the　public　service。　So　Eurybiades　bade　him　come　on　board；　and　say　whatever　he　wished。　Then　Themistocles；　seating　himself　at　his　side；　went　over　all　the　arguments　which　he　had　heard　from　Mnesiphilus；　pretending　as　if　they　were　his　own；　and　added　to　them　many　new　ones　besides；　until　at　last　he　persuaded　Eurybiades；　by　his　importunity；　to　quit　his　ship　and　again　collect　the　captains　to　council。　　　　　As　soon　as　they　were　come；　and　before　Eurybiades　had　opened　to　them　his　purpose　in　assembling　them　together；　Themistocles；　as　men　are　wont　to　do　when　they　are　very　anxious；　spoke　much　to　divers　of　them；　whereupon　the　Corinthian　captain；　Adeimantus；　the　son　of　Ocytus；　observed…　〃Themistocles；　at　the　Games　they　who　start　too　soon　are　scourged。〃　〃True；〃　rejoined　the　other　in　his　excuse；　〃but　they　who　wait　too　late　are　not　crowned。〃　　　　　Thus　he　gave　the　Corinthian　at　this　time　a　mild　answer；　and　towards　Eurybiades　himself　he　did　not　now　use　any　of　those　arguments　which　he　had　urged　before；　or　say　aught　of　the　allies　betaking　themselves　to　flight　if　once　they　broke　up　from　Salamis；　it　would　have　been　ungraceful　for　him；　when　the　confederates　were　present；　to　make　accusation　against　any：　but　he　had　recourse　to　quite　a　new　sort　of　reasoning；　and　addressed　him　as　follows：…　　　　　〃With　thee　it　rests；　O　Eurybiades！　to　save　Greece；　if　thou　wilt　only　hearken　unto　me；　and　give　the　enemy　battle　here；　rather　than　yield　to　the　advice　of　those　among　us；　who　would　have　the　fleet　withdrawn　to　the　Isthmus。　Hear　now；　I　beseech　thee；　and　judge　between　the　two　courses。　At　the　Isthmus　thou　wilt　fight　in　an　open　sea；　which　is　greatly　to　our　disadvantage；　since　our　ships　are　heavier　and　fewer　in　number　than　the　enemy's；　and　further；　thou　wilt　in　any　case　lose　Salamis；　Megara；　and　Egina；　even　if　all　the　rest　goes　well　with　us。　The　land　and　sea　force　of　the　Persians　will　advance　together；　and　thy　retreat　will　but　draw　them　towards　the　Peloponnese；　and　so　bring　all　Greece　into　peril。　If；　on　the　other　hand；　thou　doest　as　I　advise；　these　are　the　advantages　which　thou　wilt　so　secure：　in　the　first　place；　as　we　shall　fight　in　a　narrow　sea　with　few　ships　against　many；　if　the　war　follows　the　common　course；　we　shall　gain　a　great　victory；　for　to　fight　in　a　narrow　space　is　favourable　to　us…　in　an　open　sea；　to　them。　Again；　Salamis　will　in　this　case　be　preserved；　where　we　have　placed　our　wives　and　children。　Nay；　that　very　point　by　which　ye　set　most　store；　is　secured　as　much　by　this　course　as　by　the　other；　for　whether　we　fight　here　or　at　the　Isthmus；　we　shall　equally　give　battle　in　defence　of　the　Peloponnese。　Assuredly　ye　will　not　do　wisely　to　draw　the　Persians　upon　that　region。　For　if　things　turn　out　as　I　anticipate；　and　we　beat　them　by　sea；　then　we　shall　have　kept　your　Isthmus　free　from　the　barbarians；　and　they　will　have　advanced　no　further　than　Attica；　but　from　thence　have　fled　back　in　disorder；　and　we　shall；　moreover；　have　saved　Megara；　Egina；　and　Salamis　itself；　where　an　oracle　has　said　that　we　are　to　overcome　our　enemies。　When　men　counsel　reasonably；　reasonable　success　ensues；　but　when　in　their　counsels　they　reject　reason；　God　does　not　choose　to　follow　the　wanderings　of　human　fancies。〃　　　　　When　Themistocles　had　thus　spoken；　Adeimantus　the　Corinthian　again　attacked　him；　and　bade　him　be　silent；　since　he　was　a　man　without　a　city；　at　the　same　time　he　called　on　Eurybiades　not　to　put　the　question　at　the　instance　of　one　who　had　no　country；　and　urged　that　Themistocles　should　show　of　what　state　he　was　envoy；　before　he　gave　his　voice　with　the　rest。　This　reproach　he　made；　because　the　city　of　Athens　had　been　taken；　and　was　in　the　hands　of　the　barbarians。　Hereupon　Themistocles　spake　many　bitter　things　against　Adeimantus　and　the　Corinthians　generally；　and　for　proof　that　he　had　a　country；　reminded　the　captains；　that　with　two　hundred　ships　at　his　command；　all　fully　manned　for　battle；　he　had　both　city　and　territory　as　good　as　theirs；　since　there　was　no　Grecian　state　which　could　resist　his　men　if　they　were　to　make　a　descent。　　　　　After　this　declaration；　he　turned　to　Eurybiades；　and　addressing　him　with　still　greater　warmth　and　earnestness…　〃If　thou　wilt　stay　here；〃　he　said；　〃and　behave　like　a　brave　man；　all　will　be　well…　if　not；　thou　wilt　bring　Greece　to　ruin。　For　the　whole　fortune　of　the　war　depends　on　our　ships。　Be　thou　persuaded　by　my　words。　If　not；　we　will　take　our　families　on　board；　and　go；　just　as　we　are；　to　Siris；　in　Italy；　which　is　ours　from　of　old；　and　which　the　prophecies　declare　we　are　to　colonise　some　day　or　other。　You　then；　when　you　have　lost　allies　like　us；　will　hereafter　call　to　mind　what　I　have　now　said。〃　　　　　At　these　words　of　Themistocles；　Eurybiades　changed　his　determination；　principally；　as　I　believe；　because　he　feared　that　if　he　withdrew　the　fleet　to　the　Isthmus；　the　Athenians　would　sail　away；　and　knew　that　without　the　Athenians；　the　rest　of　their　ships　could　be　no　match　for　the　fleet　of　the　enemy。　He　therefore　decided　to　remain；　and　give　battle　at　Salamis。　　　　　And　now；　the　different　chiefs；　notwithstanding　their　skirmish　of　words；　on　learning　the　decision　of　Eurybiades；　at　once　made　ready　for　the　fight。　Morning　broke；　and；　just　as　the　sun　rose；　the　shock　of　an　earthquake　was　felt　both　on　shore　and　at　sea：　whereupon　the　Greeks　resolved　to　approach　the　gods　with　prayer；　and　likewise　to　send　and　invite　the　Aeacids　to　their　aid。　And　this　they　did；　with　as　much　speed　as　they　had　resolved　on　it。　Prayers　were　offered　to　all　the　gods；　and　Telamon　and　Ajax　were　invoked　at　once　from　Salamis；　while　a　ship　was　sent　to　Egina　to　fetch　Aeacus　himself；　and　the　other　Aeacids。　　　　　The　following　is　a　tale　which　was　told　by　Dicaeus；　the　son　of　Theocydes；　an　Athenian；　who　was　at　this　time　an　exile；　and　had　gained　a　good　report　among　the　Medes。　He　declared　that　after　the　army　of　Xerxes　had；　in　the　absence　of　the　Athenians；　wasted　Attica；　he　chanced　to　be　with　Demaratus　the　Lacedaemonian　in　the　Thriasian　plain；　and　that　while　there；　he　saw　a　cloud　of　dust　advancing　from　Eleusis；　such　as　a　host　of　thirty　thousand　men　might　raise。　As　he　and　his　companion　were　wondering　who　the　men；　from　whom　the　dust　arose；　could　possibly　be；　a　sound　of　voices　reached　his　ear；　and　he　thought　that　he　recognised　the　mystic　hymn　to　Bacchus。　Now　Demaratus　was　unacquainted　with　the　rites　of　Eleusis；　and　so　he　inquired　of　Dicaeus　what　the　voices　were　saying。　Dicaeus　made　answer…　〃O　Demaratus！　beyond　a　doubt　some　mighty　calamity　is　about　to　befall　the　king's　army！　For　it　is　manifest；　inasmuch　as　Attica　is　deserted　by　its　inhabitants；　that　the　sound　which　we　have　heard　is　an　unearthly　one；　and　is　now　upon　its　way　from　Eleusis　to　aid　the　Athenians　and　their　confederates。　If　it　descends　upon　the　Peloponnese；　danger　will　threaten　the　king　himself　and　his　land　army…　if　it　moves　towards　the　ships　at　Salamis；　'twill　go　hard　but　the　king's　fleet　there　suffers　destruction。　Every　year　the　Athenians　celebrate　this　feast　to　the　Mother　and　the　Daughter；　and　all　who　wish；　whether　they　be　Athenians　or　any　other　Greeks；　are　initiated。　The　sound　thou　hearest　is　the　Bacchic　song；　which　is　wont　to　be　sung　at　that　festival。〃　〃Hush　now；〃　rejoined　the　other；　〃and　see　thou　tell　no　man　of　this　matter。　For　if　thy　words　be　brought　to　the　king's　ear；　thou　wilt　assuredly　lose　thy　head　because　of　them；　neither　I　nor　any　man　living　can　then　save　thee。　Hold　thy　peace　therefore。　The　gods　will　see　to　the　king's　army。〃　Thus　Demaratus　counselled　him；　and　they　looked；　and　saw　the　dust；　from　which　the　sound　arose；　become　a　cloud；　and　the　cloud　rise　up　into　the　air　and　sail　away　to　Salamis；　making　for　the　station　of　the　Grecian　fleet。　Then　they　knew　that　it　was　the　fleet　of　Xerxes　which　would　suffer　destruction。　Such　was　the　tale　told　by　Dicaeus　the　son　of　Theocydes；　and　he　appealed　for　its　truth　to　Demaratus　and　other　eye…witnesses。　　　　　The　men　belonging　to　the　fleet　of　Xerxes；　after　they　had　seen　the　Spartan　dead　at　Thermopylae；　and　crossed　the　channel　from　Trachis　to　Histiaea；　waited　there　by　the　space　of　three　days；　and　then　sailing　down　through　the　Euripus；　in　three　more　came　to　Phalerum。　In　my　judgment；　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。　For　against　the　Persian　loss　in　the　storm　and　at　Thermopylae；　and　again　in　the　sea…fights　off　Artemisium；　I　set　the　various　nations　which　had　since　joined　the　king…　as　the　Malians；　the　Dorians；　the　Locrians；　and　the　Boeotians…　each　serving　in　full　force　in　his　army　except　the　last；　who　did　not　number　in　their　ranks　either　the　Thespians　or　the　Plataeans；　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。　For　as　the　Persians　penetrated　further　into　Greece；　they　were　joined　continually　by　fresh　nations。　　　　　Reinforced　by　the　contingents　of　all　these　various　states；　except　Paros；　the　barbarians　reached　Athens。　As　for　the　Parians；　they　tarried　at　Cythnus；　waiting　to　see　how　the　war　would　go。　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。　So　he　came　and　sate　in　a　seat　of　honour；　and　the　sovereigns　of　the　nations；　and　the　captains　of　the　ships；　were　sent　for；　to　appear　before　him；　and　as　they　a