the history-第173章
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ine； were the Athenians； who； to the number of eight thousand； occupied the left wing； under the command of Aristides； the son of Lysimachus。 All these； except the Helots… seven of whom； as I said； attended each Spartan… were heavy…armed troops； and they amounted to thirty…eight thousand seven hundred men。 This was the number of Hoplites； or heavy…armed soldiers； which was together against the barbarian。 The light…armed troops consisted of the thirty…five thousand ranged with the Spartans； seven in attendance upon each； who were all well equipped for war； and of thirty…four thousand five hundred others； belonging to the Lacedaemonians and the rest of the Greeks； at the rate （nearly） of one light to one heavy armed。 Thus the entire number of the light…armed was sixty…nine thousand five hundred。 The Greek army； therefore； which mustered at Plataea； counting light…armed as well as heavy…armed； was but eighteen hundred men short of one hundred and ten thousand； and this amount was exactly made up by the Thespians who were present in the camp； for eighteen hundred Thespians； being the whole number left； were likewise with the army； but these men were without arms。 Such was the array of the Greek troops when they took post on the Asopus。 The barbarians under Mardonius； when the mourning for Masistius was at an end； and they learnt that the Greeks were in the Plataean territory； moved likewise towards the river Asopus； which flows in those parts。 On their arrival Mardonius marshalled them against the Greeks in the following order：… Against the Lacedaemonians he posted his Persians； and as the Persians were far more numerous he drew them up with their ranks deeper than common； and also extended their front so that part faced the Tegeans； and here he took care to choose out the best troops to face the Lacedaemonians； whilst against the Tegeans he arrayed those on whom he could not so much depend。 This was done at the suggestion and by the advice of the Thebans。 Next to the Persians he placed the Medes； facing the Corinthians； Potidaeans； Orchomenians； and Sicyonians； then the Bactrians； facing the Epidaurians； Troezenians； Lepreats； Tirynthians； Mycenaeans； and Phliasians； after them the Indians； facing the Hermionians； Eretrians； Styreans； and Chalcidians； then the Sacans； facing the Ambraciots； Anactorians； Leucadians； Paleans； and Eginetans； last of all； facing the Athenians； the Plataeans； and the Megarians； he placed the troops of the Boeotians； Locrians； Malians； and Thessalians； and also the thousand Phocians。 The whole nation of the Phocians had not joined the Medes； on the contrary； there were some who had gathered themselves into bands about Parnassus； and made expeditions from thence； whereby they distressed Mardonius and the Greeks who sided with him； and so did good service to the Grecian cause。 Besides those mentioned above； Mardonius likewise arrayed against the Athenians the Macedonians and the tribes dwelling about Thessaly。 I have named here the greatest of the nations which were marshalled by Mardonius on this occasion； to wit； all those of most renown and account。 Mixed with these； however； were men of divers other peoples； as Phrygians； Thracians； Mysians； Paeonians； and the like； Ethiopians again； and Egyptians； both of the Hermotybian and Calascirian races； whose weapon is the sword； and who are the only fighting men in that country。 These persons had formerly served on board the fleet of Xerxes； but Mardonius disembarked them before he left Phalerum； in the land force which Xerxes brought to Athens there were no Egyptians。 The number of the barbarians； as I have already mentioned； was three hundred thousand； that of the Greeks who had made alliance with Mardonius is known to none； for they were never counted： I should guess that they mustered near fifty thousand strong。 The troops thus marshalled were all foot soldiers。 As for the horse； it was drawn up by itself。 When the marshalling of Mardonius' troops by nations and by maniples was ended； the two armies proceeded on the next day to offer sacrifice。 The Grecian sacrifice was offered by Tisamenus； the son of Antiochus； who accompanied the army as soothsayer： he was an Elean； and belonged to the Clytiad branch of the Iamidae； but had been admitted among their own citizens by the Lacedaemonians。 Now his admission among them was on this wise：… Tisamenus had gone to Delphi to consult the god concerning his lack of offspring； when it was declared to him by the Pythoness that he would win five very glorious combats。 Misunderstanding the oracle； and imagining that he was to win combats in the games； Tisamenus at once applied himself to the practice of gymnastics。 He trained himself for the Pentathlum； and； on contending at Olympia； came within a little of winning it； for he was successful in everything； except the wrestling…match； which was carried off by Hieronymus the Andrian。 Hereon the Lacedaemonians perceived that the combats of which the oracle spoke were not combats in the games； but battles： they therefore sought to induce Tisamenus to hire out his services to them； in order that they might join him with their Heracleid kings in the conduct of their wars。 He however； when he saw that they set great store by his friendship； forthwith raised his price； and told them； 〃If they would receive him among their citizens； and give him equal rights with the rest； he was willing to do as they desired； but on no other terms would they ever gain his consent。〃 The Spartans； when they heard this； at first thought it monstrous； and ceased to implore his aid。 Afterwards； however； when the fearful danger of the Persian war hung over their heads； they sent for him and agreed to his terms； but Tisamenus now； perceiving them so changed； declared； 〃He could no longer be content with what he had asked before： they must likewise make his brother Hagias a Spartan； with the same rights as himself。〃 In acting thus he did but follow the example once set by Melampus； at least if kingship may be compared with citizenship。 For when the women of Argos were seized with madness； and the Argives would have hired Melampus to come from Pylos and heal them of their disease； he demanded as his reward one…half of the kingdom； but as the Argives disdained to stoop to this； they left him and went their way。 Afterwards； however； when many more of their women were seized； they brought themselves to agree to his terms； and accordingly they went again to him； and said they were content to give what he required。 Hereon Melampus； seeing them so changed； raised his demand； and told them； 〃Except they would give his brother Bias one…third of the kingdom likewise； he would not do as they wished。〃 So； as the Argives were in a strait； they consented even to this。 In like manner the Spartans； as they were in great need of Tisamenus； yielded everything： and Tisamenus the Elean； having in this way become a Spartan citizen； afterwards； in the capacity of soothsayer； helped the Spartans to gain five very glorious combats。 He and his brother were the only men whom the Spartans ever admitted to citizenship。 The five combats were these following：… The first was the combat at Plataea； the second； that near Tegea； against the Tegeans and the Argives； the third； that at Dipaeeis； against all the Arcadians excepting those of Mantinea； the fourth； that at the Isthmus； against the Messenians； and the fifth； that at Tanagra； against the Athenians and the Argives。 The battle here fought was the last of all the five。 The Spartans had now brought Tisamenus with them to the Plataean territory； where he acted as soothsayer for the Greeks。 He found the victims favourable； if the Greeks stood on the defensive； but not if they began the battle or crossed the river Asopus。 With Mardonius also； who was very eager to begin the battle； the victims were not favourable for so doing； but he likewise found them bode him well； if he was content to stand on his defence。 He too had made use of the Grecian rites； for Hegesistratus； an Elean； and the most renowned of the Telliads； was his soothsayer。 This man had once been taken captive by the Spartans； who； considering that he had done them many grievous injuries； lai
