a smaller history of greece-第19章
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will illustrate the terror and confusion which reigned among the Persians。 Artemisia； queen of Halicarnassus in Caria； distinguished herself in it by deeds of daring bravery。 At length she turned and fled； pursued by an Athenian galley。 Full in her course lay the vessel of a Carian prince。 Instead of avoiding； she struck and sunk it； sending her countryman and all his crew to the bottom。 The captain of the Athenian galley； believing from this act that she was a deserter from the Persian cause； suffered her to escape。 Xerxes； who from his lofty throne beheld the feat of the Halicarnassian queen； but who imagined that the sunken ship belonged to the Greeks； was filled with admiration at her courage； and exclaimed 〃My men are become women； my women men！〃
Two hundred of the Persian ships were destroyed and sunk when night put an end to the engagement。 But notwithstanding this loss the fleet was still formidable by its numbers。 The Greeks themselves did not regard the victory as decisive； and prepared to renew the combat。 But the pusillanimity of Xerxes relieved them from all further anxiety。 He became alarmed for his own personal safety； and his whole care was now centred on securing his retreat by land。 The best troops were disembarked from the ships； and marched towards the Hellespont； in order to secure the bridge； whilst the fleet itself was ordered to make for Asia。 These dispositions of Xerxes were prompted by Mardonius。 He represented to his master that the defeat； after all； was but slight； that having attained one of the great objects of the expedition by the capture of Athens； he might now retire with honour； and even with glory； and that for the rest he （Mardonius） would undertake to complete the conquest of Greece with 300；000 men。 While the Persian fleet sailed towards Asia； Xerxes set out on his homeward march。 In Thessaly Mardonius selected the 300；000 men with whom he proposed to conclude the war； but as autumn was now approaching； he resolved to postpone all further operations till the spring。
After forty…five days' march from Attica； Xerxes again reached the shores of the Hellespont； with a force greatly diminished by famine and pestilence。 On the Hellespont he found his fleet； but the bridge had been washed away by storms。 Landed on the shores of Asia； the Persian army at length obtained abundance of provisions； and contracted new maladies by the sudden change from privation to excess。 Thus terminated this mighty but unsuccessful expedition。
Greece owed its salvation to one manThemistocles； This was virtually admitted by the leaders of the other Grecian states； when they assembled to assign the prizes of wisdom and conduct。 Upon the altar of Poseidon； at the isthmus of Corinth； each chief deposited a ticket inscribed with two names； of those whom he considered entitled to the first and second prizes。 But in this adjudication vanity and self…love defeated their own objects。 Each commander had put down his own name for the first prize； for the second； a great majority preponderated in favour of Themistocles。 From the Spartans； also； Themistocles received the honours due to his merit。 A crown of olive was conferred upon him； together with one of the most splendid chariots which the city could produce。
On the very same day on which the Persians were defeated at Salamis the Sicilian Greeks also obtained a victory over the Carthaginians。 There is reason to believe that the invasion of Sicily by the Carthaginians was concerted with Xerxes； and that the simultaneous attach on two distinct Grecian peoples； by two immense armaments； was not merely the result of chance。 Gelon； the powerful ruler of Syracuse； defeated Hamilcar； the Carthaginian general； with the loss it is said of 150；000 men。
In the spring of B。C。 479 Mardonius prepared to open the campaign。 He was not without hopes of inducing the Athenians to join the Persian alliance； and he despatched Alexander； king of Macedon； to conciliate the Athenians； now partially re…established in their dilapidated city。 His offers on the part of the Persians were of the most seductive kind； but the Athenians dismissed him with a positive refusal； whilst to the Lacedaemonians they protested that no temptations； however great； should ever induce them to desert the common cause of Greece and freedom。 In return for this disinterested conduct all they asked was that a Peloponnesian army should be sent into Boeotia for the defence of the Attic frontier： a request which the Spartan envoys promised to fulfil。 No sooner； however； had they returned into their own country than this promise was completely forgotten。
When Mardonius was informed that the Athenians had rejected his proposal； he immediately marched against Athens； accompanied by all his Grecian allies； and in May or June； B。C。 479； about ten months after the retreat of Xerxes； the Persians again occupied that city。 With feelings of bitter indignation against their faithless allies； the Athenians saw themselves once more compelled to remove to Salamis。 Mardonius took advantage of his situation to endeavour once more to win them to his alliance。 Through a Hellespontine Greek； the same favourable conditions were again offered to them； but were again refused。 One voice alone； that of the senator Lycidas； broke the unanimity of the assembly。 But his opposition cost him his life。 He and his family were stoned to death by the excited populace。 In this desperate condition the Athenians sent ambassadors to the Spartans to remonstrate against their breach of faith； and to intimate that necessity might at length compel them to listen to the proposals of the enemy。 The Spartans became alarmed。 That very night 5000 citizens； each attended by seven Helots； were despatched to the frontiers； and these were shortly followed by 5000 Lacedaemonian Perioeci； each attended by one light…armed Helot。 Never before had the Spartans sent so large a force into the field。 Their example was followed by other Peloponnesian cities； and the Athenian envoys returned to Salamis with the joyful news that a large army was preparing to march against the enemy； under the command of Pausanias； who acted as regent for the infant son of Leonidas。
Mardonius； on learning the approach of the Lacedaemonians； abandoned Attica and crossed into Boeotia。 He finally took up a position on the left bank of the Asopus； and not far from the town of Plataea。 Here he caused a camp to be constructed of ten furlongs square； and fortified with barricades and towers。 Meanwhile the Grecian army continued to receive reinforcements from the different states； and by the time it reached Boeotia； it formed a grand total of about 110；000 men。 After several days' manoeuvring a general battle took place near Plataea。 The light… armed undisciplined Persians； whose bodies were unprotected by armour； maintained a very unequal combat against the serried ranks； the long spears； and the mailed bodies of the Spartan phalanx。 Mardonius； at the head of his body…guard of 1000 picked men； and conspicuous by his white charger； was among the foremost in the fight； till struck down by the hand of a Spartan。 The fall of their general was the signal for flight to the Persians； already wearied and disheartened by the fruitless contest； nor did they once stop till they lad again crossed the Asopus and reached their fortified camp。 The glory of having defeated the Persians at Plataea rests with the Lacedaemonians； since the Athenians were engaged in another part of the field with the Thebans。 After repulsing the Thebans； the Athenians joined the Lacedaemonians； who had pursued the Persians as far as their fortified camp。 Upon the arrival of the Athenians the barricades were stormed and carried； after a gallant resistance on the part of the Persians。 The camp became a scene of the most horrible carnage。 The Persian loss was immense； while that of the Greeks seems not to have exceeded 1300 or 1400 men。
It remained to bury the dead and divide the booty； and so great was the task that ten days were consumed in it。 The booty was ample and magnificent。 Gold and silver coined； as well as in plate and trinkets； rich vests and carpets； ornamented arms； hor
