the history-第170章
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hich may bring Greece to ruin。〃 Such was the counsel which Chileus gave： and the Ephors； taking the advice into consideration； determined forthwith； without speaking a word to the ambassadors from the three cities； to despatch to the Isthmus a body of five thousand Spartans； and accordingly they sent them forth the same night； appointing to each Spartan a retinue of seven Helots； and giving the command of the expedition to Pausanias the son of Cleombrotus。 The chief power belonged of right at this time to Pleistarchus； the son of Leonidas； but as he was still a child Pausanias； his cousin； was regent in his room。 For the father of Pausanias； Cleombrotus； the son of Anaxandridas； no longer lived； he had died a short time after bringing back from the Isthmus the troops who had been employed in building the wall。 A prodigy had caused him to bring his army home； for while he was offering sacrifice to know if he should march out against the Persian； the sun was suddenly darkened in mid sky。 Pausanias took with him； as joint…leader of the army； Euryanax； the son of Dorieus； a member of his own family。 The army accordingly had marched out from Sparta with Pausanias： while the ambassadors； when day came； appeared before the Ephors； knowing nothing of the march of the troops； and purposing themselves to leave Sparta forthwith； and return each man to his own country。 They therefore addressed the Ephors in these words：… 〃Lacedaemonians； as you do not stir from home； but keep the Hyacinthian festival； and amuse yourselves； deserting the cause of your confederates； the Athenians； whom your behaviour wrongs； and who have no other allies； will make such terms with the Persians as they shall find possible。 Now when terms are once made； it is plain that； having become the king's allies； we shall march with the barbarians whithersoever they choose to lead。 Then at length you will perceive what the consequences will be to yourselves。〃 When the envoys had spoken； the Ephors declared to them with an oath：… 〃Our troops must be at Oresteum by this time； on their march against the strangers。〃 （The Spartans say 〃strangers〃 for 〃barbarians。〃） At this the ambassadors； quite ignorant of what had happened； questioned them concerning their meaning； and when； by much questioning； they had discovered the truth； they were greatly astonished thereat； and forthwith set off； at their best speed； to overtake the Spartan army。 At the same time a body of five thousand Lacedaemonian Perioeci； all picked men and fully armed； set forth from Sparta； in the company of the ambassadors。 So these troops marched in haste towards the Isthmus。 Meanwhile the Argives； who had promised Mardonius that they would stop the Spartans from crossing their borders； as soon as they learnt that Pausanias with his army had started from Sparta； took the swiftest courier they could find； and sent him off to Attica。 The message which he delivered； on his arrival at Athens； was the following： 〃Mardonius；〃 he said； 〃the Argives have sent me to tell thee that the Lacedaemonian youth are gone forth from their city； and that the Argives are too weak to hinder them。 Take good heed therefore to thyself at this time。〃 After thus speaking； without a word more； he returned home。 When Mardonius learnt that the Spartans were on their march； he no longer cared to remain in Attica。 Hitherto he had kept quiet； wishing to see what the Athenians would do； and had neither ravaged their territory； nor done it any the least harm； for till now he had cherished the hope that the Athenians would come to terms with him。 As； however； he found that his persuasions were of no avail； and as their whole policy was now clear to him； he determined to withdraw from Attica before Pausanias with his army reached the Isthmus； first； however； he resolved to burn Athens； and to cast down and level with the ground whatever remained standing of the walls； temples； and other buildings。 His reason for retreating was； that Attica was not a country where horse could act with advantage； and further； that if he suffered defeat in a battle； no way of escape was open to him； except through defiles； where a handful of troops might stop all his army。 So he determined to withdraw to Thebes； and give the Greeks battle in the neighbourhood of a friendly city； and on ground well suited for cavalry。 After he had quitted Attica and was already upon his march； news reached him that a body of a thousand Lacedaemonians； distinct from the army of Pausanias； and sent on in advance； had arrived in the Megarid。 When he heard it； wishing； if possible； to destroy this detachment first； Mardonius considered with himself how he might compass their ruin。 With a sudden change of march he made for Megara； while the horse； pushing on in advance； entered and ravaged the Megarid。 （Here was the furthest point in Europe towards the setting sun to which this Persian army ever penetrated。） After this； Mardonius received another message； whereby he learnt that the forces of the Greeks were collected together at the Isthmus； which tidings caused him to draw back； and leave Attica by the way of Deceleia。 The Boeotarchs had sent for some of the neighbours of the Asopians； and these persons served as guides to the army； and led them first to Sphendale； and from thence to Tanagra； where Mardonius rested a night； after which； upon the morrow； he bent his course to Scolus； which brought him into the territory of the Thebans。 And now； although the Thebans had espoused the cause of the Medes； yet Mardonius cut down all the trees in these parts； not however from any enmity towards the Thebans； but on account of his own urgent needs； for he wanted a rampart to protect his army from attack； and he likewise desired to have a place of refuge； whither his troops might flee； in case the battle should go contrary to his wishes。 His army at this time lay on the Asopus； and stretched from Erythrae； along by Hysiae； to the territory of the Plataeans。 The wall； however； was not made to extend so far； but formed a square of about ten furlongs each way。 While the barbarians were employed in this work； a certain citizen of Thebes； Attaginus by name； the son of Phrynon； having made great preparations； gave a banquet； and invited Mardonius thereto； together with fifty of the noblest Persians。 Now the banquet was held at Thebes； and all the guests who were invited came to it。 What follows was recounted to me by Thersander； a native of Orchomenus； a man of the first rank in that city。 Thersander told me that he was himself among those invited to the feast； and that besides the Persians fifty Thebans were asked； and the two nations were not arranged separately； but a Persian and a Theban were set side by side upon each couch。 After the feast was ended； and the drinking had begun； the Persian who shared Thersander's couch addressed him in the Greek tongue； and inquired of him from what city he came。 He answered； that he was of Orchomenus； whereupon the other said… 〃Since thou hast eaten with me at one table； and poured libation from one cup； I would fain leave with thee a memorial of the belief I hold… the rather that thou mayest have timely warning thyself； and so be able to provide for thy own safety。 Seest thou these Persians here feasting； and the army which we left encamped yonder by the river…side？ Yet a little while； and of all this number thou wilt behold but a few surviving！〃 As he spake； the Persian let fall a flood of tears： whereon Thersander； who was astonished at his words； replied… 〃Surely thou shouldest say all this to Mardonius； and the Persians who are next him in honour〃… but the other rejoined… 〃Dear friend； it is not possible for man to avert that which God has decreed shall happen。 No one believes warnings； however true。 Many of us Persians know our danger； but we are constrained by necessity to do as our leader bids us。 Verily 'tis the sorest of all human ills； to abound in knowledge and yet have no power over action。〃 All this I heard myself from Thersander the Orchomenian； who told me further； that he mentioned what had happened to divers persons； before the battle was fought at Plataea。 When Mardonius formerly held his camp in Boeotia；
