under the command of Themis'tocles and Aristei'des. 18. The Persians, availing themselves of this circumstance, attacked the centre with great bravery, and were just upon the point of making it give way, when the two wings, having now become victorious, suddenly wheeled about, and falling upon the enemy on both flanks at once, threw them into disorder. 19. The Persians fought with swords and battleaxes; the Greeks used the spear. When their dense line of lances fell upon the hostile flanks, the shock was irresistible; the rout became universal, and the enemy fled to their ships with great precipitation. The Athenians pursued them as far as the beach, and even set several of their ships on fire. 20. It was on this occasion that Cinægei'rus, the brother of the poet Æs'chylus, seized one of the enemy's ships with his right hand, as they were pushing it off from the shore. When his right hand was cut off, he laid hold of the vessel with his left; and that likewise being lopt off, he at last seized it with his teeth, and in that manner expired.* 21. Seven of the enemy's ships were taken, and above six thousand men left dead upon the field of battle, not to mention those who were drowned as they were endeavouring to escape, or were consumed in the ships that were set on fire. 22. Of the Greeks there fell not above two hundred; and among these was Callim'achus, who gave the casting vote for A.M. fighting the enemy in the field. Hip'pias, who 3514. was the chief cause of the war, is thought to have perished in this battle; though some say he escaped, and afterwards died miserably at Lem'nos.t 23. Such was the famous battle of Mar'athon, one of the most important that is to be found in history, as it first taught the Greeks to despise the power of the Persian monarch, bravely to maintain their independence, and to go on cultivating those arts and sciences which had so evident a tendency to polish and refine their own manners, and which have since diffused their benign influence over all the rest of Europe. 24. Of the marble which the Persians had * The Athenians received the first news of this important victory from a soldier, who, though wounded, ran to Athens to announce the joyful event. On his arrival he could merely exclaim, "Rejoice, rejoice, the victory is ours!" and immediately expired. Now Stalimene, an island in the Archipelago. Immediately after the full moon, the Lacedæmo'nians began their march, and proceeded with such expedition, that in three days they com The Persians pursued to their ships after the battle of Marathon. brought with them for the erection of a monument to perpetuate the memory of their expected victory, the Athenians now caused a statue to be made by the celebrated sculptor Phid'ias, to transmit to posterity the remembrance of their defeat. This statue was dedicated to the goddess Nem'esis, who had a temple near the place. 25. Monuments were at the same time erected to the memory of all those who had fallen in the battle; and upon these were inscribed their own names, and the name of the tribe to which they belonged. 26. Of these monuments there were three kinds: one for the Athenians, one for the Platæ'ans, their allies, and one for the slaves who had been enrolled among the troops upon this pressing emergency. 27. To express their gratitude to Milti'ades, the Athenians caused a picture to be painted by one of their most eminent artists, named Polygno'tus, in which that great commander was represented at the head of the other generals, animating the troops, and setting them an example of bravery. 28. The Persian fleet, after having received the fugitives on board, doubled the cape of Su'nium and made an attempt to surprise Athens, but this had been foreseen by Milti'ades, pleted a journey of one hundred and fifty miles. Notwithstanding this astonishing celerity, however, they arrived too late to share in the glory of a victory which had delivered Greece from the most imminent danger to which she had ever as yet been exposed. After viewing the field of battle, covered with the bodies and spoils of their enemies, and congratulating the Athe'nians on their success, they returned to their own country. K who had brought his victorious army from the field of battle to the capital. The fame and influence which Miltiades had thus acquired eventually proved the cause of his ruin. He obtained from the Athenians an armanient of seventy ships, without mentioning the manner in which he designed to employ them, but simply declaring that he wished to execute a project, which would bring great riches to Athens. With this force he sailed against the island of Pa'ros, under the pretence of punishing the inhabitants for the assistance they had been compelled to give the Persians, but in reality to avenge a private quarrel of his own. Не demanded from the islanders one hundred talents as the price of his retreat, but the Pa'rians heroically refused to purchase safety, and set him at defiance. After a vain attempt to storm the town, Miltiades returned to Athens wounded and disappointed. 29. For this disgraceful expedition he was brought to trial by Xanthip'pus, a nobleman of high rank. His wound prevented him from making a vigorous defence; but the sight of the hero of Marathon extended on a couch, for he caused himself to be thus brought to the assembly, was more calculated to produce an effect on the multitude, than the most eloquent oration. The crime laid to his charge was capital, but the Athenians were unwilling to inflict the punishment of death on one who had performed such essential services to the republic. They fined him fifty talents, (about 10,000l.,) which being unable to pay, he was thrown into prison. Miltiades died of his wounds in a few days after his imprisonment, but the fine was paid by his son Ci'mon. 30. Many historians have quoted this as an instance of the ingratitude shown by the Athenians to their public men, but assuredly the unjustifiable attack on the Pa'rians, and the lavish expenditure of the public treasures and the blood of the citizens, in prosecuting a private pique, merited a severe punishment; and if we take into account the manner in which the resources of the state were wasted, the fine does not appear extravagant. Questions for Examination. 1. What means had the Athenians to oppose these formidable invaders ? 2. Were they commanded by experienced generals ? 3. What were their names and characters ? 4. On whom did the storm first fall? 5. Did they make a successful defence? 6. What treatment did they experience from the Persian king? 7. What were the next movements of the Persian army? 8. What means did the Athenians adopt? 9. To whom did they next apply, and what success did they experience? 10. Did these disappointments discourage them? 11. Did this arrangement prove convenient? 12. In what way was it determined to oppose the enemy? 13. By what means was the inferiority of numbers compensated for? 14. Were the Persians aware of these advantages? 15. Did the Athenians await the attack? 16. Was this fury soon spent? 17. What was the Athenian order of battle? 18. What advantage did the Persians take of this? 19. What was the result? 20. What intrepid action was performed by an Athenian? 21. What was the loss sustained by the Persians? 22. What was the loss of the Greeks? 23. What were the consequences of the battle of Marathon ? 24. How was the memory of the battle preserved ? 25. By what means were the names of the slain rescued from oblivion ? 26. How many kinds of monuments were there? 27. How did the Athenians express their gratitude to Miltiades ? 28. Did Miltiades engage in any expedition disgraceful to his charac ter? 29. How was he punished? 30. Has this occurrence been misrepresented? CHAPTER V. FROM THE DEATH OF MILTIADES TO THE RETREAT OF XERXES OUT OF GREECE. SECTION I. 1. DARI'US, rather enraged than intimidated by the loss he had sustained in the battle of Marathon, was preparing to invade Greece in person, when, happily for the peace of that country, death put an end to his ambitious project. 2. His son Xerx'es, however, who succeeded him on the throne, was determined to execute the plan his father had formed. 3. Having just returned from a successful expedition he had made into Egypt, he expected to meet with the like good fortune in Europe. 4. But before he would engage in so important an enterprise, he thought proper to consult the principal officers in his court. 5. Mardo'nius, his brother-in-law, well knowing his secret sentiments, and willing to flatter him in his favourite pursuits, highly applauded the resolution he had taken. But Artaba'nus, his uncle, whom years and experience had rendered wise, en deavoured to divert him from his rash design. 6. His arguments, however, instead of producing the d sired effect, drew from the haughty monarch a stern reprimand, as unbecoming as it was unjust. 7. While these hostile designs were in agitation, the Athenians were assi duously employed, under the conduct of Themistocles, in subduing their more domestic enemies. 8. The smaller islands in the Æge'ian sea had through his exertions been already reduced to obedience; but the possession of these remained precarious, while the fleet of Ægi'na covered the sea, and bid defiance to that of Athens. 9. That they might be enabled to seize or destroy this fleet, Themis'tocles persuaded the Athenians to devote the produce of the silver mine at Laurei'um, in Attica, to the purpose of building ships of war. This prudent advice was of infinite service, as will appear in the sequel. B.C. 10. Xerx'es, having thus resolved upon his ex480. pedition into Greece, began to make preparations for carrying it into execution; and the greatness of these showed the high sense he entertained of the power and bravery of the enemy. 11. Sardis was the general rendezvous for his land forces: and the fleet was ordered to advance along the coasts of Asia Minor, towards the Hel'lespont.* 12. On his way thither, in order to shorten its passage, he cut a canal through the neck of land that joined Mount A'thos to the continent; and, while this was doing, he addressed the mountain with all that pomp and ostentation for which the eastern princes have ever been remarkable. "Athos," said he, "thou proud aspiring mountain, that liftest up thy head to the heavens, be not so audacious as to put obstacles in my way. If thou dost, I will cut thee level with the plain, and throw thee headlong into the sea." 13. In his march to Sardis he gave a shocking proof of the cruelty of his disposition. Having required the eldest son of Pyth'ias, a Lyd'ian prince, to attend him in the war, the father offered him all his treasure, amounting to about *Those narrow straits, now called the Dardanelles, which separate Europe and Asia. |