the history-第172章
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heir ground against the attacks of the horse； but had even compelled them to beat a retreat。 They therefore placed the dead body of Masistius upon a cart； and paraded it along the ranks of the army。 Now the body was a sight which well deserved to be gazed upon； being remarkable both for stature and for beauty； and it was to stop the soldiers from leaving their ranks to look at it； that they resolved to carry it round。 After this the Greeks determined to quit the high ground and go nearer Plataea； as the land there seemed far more suitable for an encampment than the country about Erythrae； particularly because it was better supplied with water。 To this place therefore； and more especially to a spring…head which was called Gargaphia； they considered that it would be best for them to remove； after which they might once more encamp in their order。 So they took their arms； and proceeded along the slopes of Cithaeron； past Hysiae； to the territory of the Plataeans； and here they drew themselves up； nation by nation； close by the fountain Gargaphia； and the sacred precinct of the Hero Androcrates； partly along some hillocks of no great height； and partly upon the level of the plain。 Here； in the marshalling of the nations； a fierce battle of words arose between the Athenians and the Tegeans； both of whom claimed to have one of the wings assigned to them。 On each side were brought forward the deeds which they had done； whether in earlier or in later times； and first the Tegeans urged their claim as follows：… 〃This post has been always considered our right； and not the right of any of the other allies； in all the expeditions which have been entered into conjointly by the Peloponnesians； both anciently and in later times。 Ever since the Heraclidae made their attempt； after the death of Eurystheus； to return by force of arms into the Peloponnese； this custom has been observed。 It was then that the right became ours； and this was the way in which we gained it：… When； in company with the Achaeans and Ionians who then dwelt in the Peloponnese； we marched out to the Isthmus； and pitched our camp over against the invaders； then； as the tale goes； that Hyllus made proclamation； saying… 'It needs not to imperil two armies in a general battle； rather let one be chosen from the Peloponnesian ranks； whomsoever they deem the bravest； and let him engage with me in single combat； on such terms as shall be agreed upon。' The saying pleased the Peloponnesians； and oaths were sworn to the effect following：… 'If Hyllus conquer the Peloponnesian champion； the Heraclidae shall return to their inheritance； if； on the other hand； he be conquered； the Heraclidae shall withdraw； lead back their army； and engage for the next hundred years to make no further endeavours to force their return。〃 Hereupon Echemus； the son of Aeropus and grandson of Phegeus； who was our leader and king； offered himself； and was preferred before all his brothers…in…arms as champion； engaged in single combat with Hyllus； and slew him upon the spot。 For this exploit we were rewarded by the Peloponnesians of that day with many goodly privileges； which we have ever since enjoyed； and； among the rest； we obtained the right of holding the leading post in one wing； whenever a joint expedition goes forth beyond our borders。 With you then； O Lacedaemonians； we do not claim to compete； choose you which wing ye please； we yield and grant you the preference： but we maintain that the command of the other wing belongs of right to us； now no less than formerly。 Moreover； set aside this exploit which we have related； and still our title to the chief post is better than that of the Athenians： witness the many glorious fights in which we have been engaged against yourselves； O Spartans！ as well as those which we have maintained with others。 We have therefore more right to this place than they； for they have performed no exploits to be compared to ours； whether we look to earlier or to later times。〃 Thus spake the Tegeans； and the Athenians made reply as follows：… 〃We are not ignorant that our forces were gathered here； not for the purpose of speech…making； but for battle against the barbarian。 Yet as the Tegeans have been pleased to bring into debate the exploits performed by our two nations； alike in carlier and in later times； we have no choice but to set before you the grounds on which we claim it as our heritage； deserved by our unchanging bravery； to be preferred above Arcadians。 In the first place； then； those very Heraclidae； whose leader they boast to have slain at the Isthmus； and whom the other Greeks would not receive when they asked a refuge from the bondage wherewith they were threatened by the people of Mycinae； were given a shelter by us； and we brought down the insolence of Eurystheus； and helped to gain the victory over those who were at that time lords of the Peloponnese。 Again； when the Argives led their troops with Polynices against Thebes； and were slain and refused burial； it is our boast that we went out against the Cadmeians； recovered the bodies； and buried them at Eleusis in our own territory。 Another noble deed of ours was that against the Amazons； when they came from their seats upon the Thermodon； and poured their hosts into Attica； and in the Trojan war too we were not a whit behind any of the Greeks。 But what boots it to speak of these ancient matters？ A nation which was brave in those days might have grown cowardly since； and a nation of cowards then might now be valiant。 Enough therefore of our ancient achievements。 Had we performed no other exploit than that at Marathon… though in truth we have performed exploits as many and as noble as any of the Greeks… yet had we performed no other； we should deserve this privilege； and many a one beside。 There we stood alone； and singly fought with the Persians； nay； and venturing on so dangerous a cast； we overcame the enemy； and conquered on that day forty and six nations！ Does not this one achievement suffice to make good our title to the post we claim？ Nevertheless； Lacedaemonians； as to strive concerning place at such a time as this is not right； we are ready to do as ye command； and to take our station at whatever part of the line； and face whatever nation ye think most expedient。 Wheresoever ye place us； 'twill be our endeavour to behave as brave men。 Only declare your will； and we shall at once obey you。〃 Such was the reply of the Athenians； and forthwith all the Lacedaemonian troops cried out with one voice； that the Athenians were worthier to have the left wing than the Arcadians。 In this way were the Tegeans overcome； and the post was assigned to the Athenians。 When this matter had been arranged； the Greek army； which was in part composed of those who came at the first； in part of such as had flocked in from day to day； drew up in the following order：… Ten thousand Lacedaemonian troops held the right wing； five thousand of whom were Spartans； and these five thousand were attended by a body of thirty…five thousand Helots； who were only lightly armed… seven Helots to each Spartan。 The place next to themselves the Spartans gave to the Tegeans； on account of their courage and of the esteem in which they held them。 They were all fully armed； and numbered fifteen hundred men。 Next in order came the Corinthians； five thousand strong； and with them Pausanias had placed； at their request； the band of three hundred which had come from Potidaea in Pallene。 The Arcadians of Orchomenus； in number six hundred； came next； then the Sicyonians； three thousand； then the Epidaurians； eight hundred； then the Troezenians； one thousand； then the Lepreats； two hundred； the Mycenaeans and Tirynthians； four hundred； the Phliasians； one thousand； the Hermionians； three hundred； the Eretrians and Styreans； six hundred； the Chalcideans； four hundred； and the Ambraciots； five hundred。 After these came the Leucadians and Anactorians； who numbered eight hundred； the Paleans of Cephallenia； two hundred； the Eginetans； five hundred； the Megarians； three thousand； and the Plataeans； six hundred。 Last of all； but first at their extremity of the line； were the Athenians； who； to the number of eight thousand； occupied the left wing； under the com
