the history-第178章
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e up。 Thus placed； they proceeded to strengthen the defences as well as they could； and when the Lacedaemonians arrived； a sharp fight took place at the rampart。 So long as the Athenians were away； the barbarians kept off their assailants； and had much the best of the combat； since the Lacedaemonians were unskilled in the attack of walled places： but on the arrival of the Athenians； a more violent assault was made； and the wall was for a long time attacked with fury。 In the end the valour of the Athenians and their perseverance prevailed… they gained the top of the wall； and； breaking a breach through it； enabled the Greeks to pour in。 The first to enter here were the Tegeans； and they it was who plundered the tent of Mardonius； where among other booty the found the manger from which his horses ate； all made of solid brass； and well worth looking at。 This manger was given by the Tegeans to the temple of Minerva Alea； while the remainder of their booty was brought into the common stock of the Greeks。 As soon as the wall was broken down； the barbarians no longer kept together in any array； nor was there one among them who thought of making further resistance… in good truth； they were all half dead with fright； huddled as so many thousands were into so narrow and confined a space。 With such tameness did they submit to be slaughtered by the Greeks； that of the 300；000 men who composed the army… omitting the 40；000 by whom Artabazus was accompanied in his flight… no more than 3000 outlived the battle。 Of the Lacedaemonians from Sparta there perished in this combat ninety…one； of the Tegeans； sixteen； of the Athenians； fifty…two。 On the side of the barbarians； the greatest courage was manifested； among the foot…soldiers； by the Persians； among the horse； by the Sacae； while Mardonius himself； as a man； bore off the palm from the rest。 Among the Greeks； the Athenians and the Tegeans fought well； but the prowess shown by the Lacedaemonians was beyond either。 Of this I have but one proof to offer… since all the three nations overthrew the force opposed to them… and that is； that the Lacedaemonians fought and conquered the best troops。 The bravest man by far on that day was； in my judgment； Aristodemus… the same who alone escaped from the slaughter of the three hundred at Thermopylae； and who on that account had endured disgrace and reproach： next to him were Posidonius； Philocyon； and Amompharetus the Spartan。 The Spartans； however； who took part in the fight； when the question of 〃who had distinguished himself most；〃 came to be talked over among them； decided… 〃that Aristodemus； who； on account of the blame which attached to him； had manifestly courted death； and had therefore left his place in the line and behaved like a madman； had done of a truth very notable deeds； but that Posidonius； who； with no such desire to lose his life； had quitted himself no less gallantly； was by so much a braver man than he。〃 Perchance； however； it was envy that made them speak after this sort。 Of those whom I have named above as slain in this battle； all； save and except Aristodemus； received public honours： Aristodemus alone had no honours； because he courted death for the reason which I have mentioned。 These then were the most distinguished of those who fought at Plataea。 As for Callicrates；… the most beautiful man； not among the Spartans only； but in the whole Greek camp；… he was not killed in the battle； for it was while Pausanias was still consulting the victims； that as he sat in his proper place in the line； an arrow struck him on the side。 While his comrades advanced to the fight； he was borne out of the ranks； very loath to die； as he showed by the words which he addressed to Arimnestus； one of the Plataeans；… 〃I grieve；〃 said he； 〃not because I have to die for my country； but because I have not lifted my arm against the enemy； nor done any deed worthy of me； much as I have desired to achieve something。〃 The Athenian who is said to have distinguished himself the most was Sophanes； the son of Eutychides； of the Deceleian canton。 The men of this canton； once upon a time； did a deed； which （as the Athenians themselves confess） has ever since been serviceable to them。 When the Tyndaridae； in days of yore； invaded Attica with a mighty army to recover Helen； and； not being able to find out whither she had been carried； desolated the cantons；… at this time； they say； the Deceleians （or Decelus himself； according to some）； displeased at the rudeness of Theseus； and fearing that the whole territory would suffer； discovered everything to the enemy； and even showed them the way to Aphidnae； which Titacus； a native of the place； betrayed into their hands。 As a reward for this action； Sparta has always； from that time to the present； allowed the Deceleians to be free from all dues； and to have seats of honour at their festivals； and hence too； in the war which took place many years after these events between the Peloponnesians and the Athenians； the Lacedaemonians； while they laid waste all the rest of Attica； spared the lands of the Deceleians。 Of this canton was Sophanes； the Athenian； who most distinguished himself in the battle。 Two stories are told concerning him： according to the one； he wore an iron anchor； fastened to the belt which secured his breastplate by a brazen chain； and this； when he came near the enemy； he threw out； to the intent that； when they made their charge； it might be impossible for him to be driven from his post： as soon； however； as the enemy fled； his wont was to take up his anchor and join the pursuit。 Such； then； is one of the said stories。 The other； which is contradictory to the first； relates that Sophanes； instead of having an iron anchor fastened to his breastplate； bore the device of an anchor upon his shield； which he never allowed to rest； but made to run round continually。 Another glorious deed was likewise performed by this same Sophanes At the time when the Athenians were laying siege to Egina； he took up the challenge of Eurybates the Argive； a winner of the Pentathlum； and slew him。 The fate of Sophanes in after times was the following： he was leader of an Athenian army in conjunction with Leagrus； the son of Glaucon； and in a battle with the Edonians near Datum； about the gold…mines there； he was slain； after displaying uncommon bravery。 As soon as the Greeks at Plataea had overthrown the barbarians； a woman came over to them from the enemy。 She was one of the concubines of Pharandates； the son of Teaspes； a Persian； and when she heard that the Persians were all slain and that the Greeks had carried the day； forthwith she adorned herself and her maids with many golden ornaments； and with the bravest of the apparel that she had brought with her； and； alighting from her litter； came forward to the Lacedaemonians； ere the work of slaughter was well over。 When she saw that all the orders were given by Pausanias； with whose name and country she was well acquainted； as she had oftentimes heard tell of them； she knew who he must be； wherefore she embraced his knees； and said… 〃O king of Sparta！ save thy suppliant from the slavery that awaits the captive。 Already I am beholden to thee for one service… the slaughter of these men； wretches who had no regard either for gods or angels。 I am by birth a Coan； the daughter of Hegetoridas； son of Antagoras。 The Persian seized me by force in Cos； and kept me against my will。〃 〃Lady；〃 answered Pausanias； 〃fear nothing： as a suppliant thou art safe… and still more； if thou hast spoken truth； and Hegetoridas of Cos is thy father… for he is bound to me by closer ties of friendship than any other man in those regions。〃 When he had thus spoken； Pausanias placed the woman in the charge of some of the Ephors who were present； and afterwards sent her to Egina； whither she had a desire to go。 About the time of this woman's coming； the Mantineans arrived upon the field； and found that all was over； and that it was too late to take any part in the battle。 Greatly distressed hereat； they declared themselves to deserve a fine； as laggarts； after which； learning that a portion of the Medes had fled away under Artabazus； they were anxious to go after them as far
