the history-第158章
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eating himself at his side； went over all the arguments which he had heard from Mnesiphilus； pretending as if they were his own； and added to them many new ones besides； until at last he persuaded Eurybiades； by his importunity； to quit his ship and again collect the captains to council。 As soon as they were come； and before Eurybiades had opened to them his purpose in assembling them together； Themistocles； as men are wont to do when they are very anxious； spoke much to divers of them； whereupon the Corinthian captain； Adeimantus； the son of Ocytus； observed… 〃Themistocles； at the Games they who start too soon are scourged。〃 〃True；〃 rejoined the other in his excuse； 〃but they who wait too late are not crowned。〃 Thus he gave the Corinthian at this time a mild answer； and towards Eurybiades himself he did not now use any of those arguments which he had urged before； or say aught of the allies betaking themselves to flight if once they broke up from Salamis； it would have been ungraceful for him； when the confederates were present； to make accusation against any： but he had recourse to quite a new sort of reasoning； and addressed him as follows：… 〃With thee it rests； O Eurybiades！ to save Greece； if thou wilt only hearken unto me； and give the enemy battle here； rather than yield to the advice of those among us； who would have the fleet withdrawn to the Isthmus。 Hear now； I beseech thee； and judge between the two courses。 At the Isthmus thou wilt fight in an open sea； which is greatly to our disadvantage； since our ships are heavier and fewer in number than the enemy's； and further； thou wilt in any case lose Salamis； Megara； and Egina； even if all the rest goes well with us。 The land and sea force of the Persians will advance together； and thy retreat will but draw them towards the Peloponnese； and so bring all Greece into peril。 If； on the other hand； thou doest as I advise； these are the advantages which thou wilt so secure： in the first place； as we shall fight in a narrow sea with few ships against many； if the war follows the common course； we shall gain a great victory； for to fight in a narrow space is favourable to us… in an open sea； to them。 Again； Salamis will in this case be preserved； where we have placed our wives and children。 Nay； that very point by which ye set most store； is secured as much by this course as by the other； for whether we fight here or at the Isthmus； we shall equally give battle in defence of the Peloponnese。 Assuredly ye will not do wisely to draw the Persians upon that region。 For if things turn out as I anticipate； and we beat them by sea； then we shall have kept your Isthmus free from the barbarians； and they will have advanced no further than Attica； but from thence have fled back in disorder； and we shall； moreover； have saved Megara； Egina； and Salamis itself； where an oracle has said that we are to overcome our enemies。 When men counsel reasonably； reasonable success ensues； but when in their counsels they reject reason； God does not choose to follow the wanderings of human fancies。〃 When Themistocles had thus spoken； Adeimantus the Corinthian again attacked him； and bade him be silent； since he was a man without a city； at the same time he called on Eurybiades not to put the question at the instance of one who had no country； and urged that Themistocles should show of what state he was envoy； before he gave his voice with the rest。 This reproach he made； because the city of Athens had been taken； and was in the hands of the barbarians。 Hereupon Themistocles spake many bitter things against Adeimantus and the Corinthians generally； and for proof that he had a country； reminded the captains； that with two hundred ships at his command； all fully manned for battle； he had both city and territory as good as theirs； since there was no Grecian state which could resist his men if they were to make a descent。 After this declaration； he turned to Eurybiades； and addressing him with still greater warmth and earnestness… 〃If thou wilt stay here；〃 he said； 〃and behave like a brave man； all will be well… if not； thou wilt bring Greece to ruin。 For the whole fortune of the war depends on our ships。 Be thou persuaded by my words。 If not； we will take our families on board； and go； just as we are； to Siris； in Italy； which is ours from of old； and which the prophecies declare we are to colonise some day or other。 You then； when you have lost allies like us； will hereafter call to mind what I have now said。〃 At these words of Themistocles； Eurybiades changed his determination； principally； as I believe； because he feared that if he withdrew the fleet to the Isthmus； the Athenians would sail away； and knew that without the Athenians； the rest of their ships could be no match for the fleet of the enemy。 He therefore decided to remain； and give battle at Salamis。 And now； the different chiefs； notwithstanding their skirmish of words； on learning the decision of Eurybiades； at once made ready for the fight。 Morning broke； and； just as the sun rose； the shock of an earthquake was felt both on shore and at sea： whereupon the Greeks resolved to approach the gods with prayer； and likewise to send and invite the Aeacids to their aid。 And this they did； with as much speed as they had resolved on it。 Prayers were offered to all the gods； and Telamon and Ajax were invoked at once from Salamis； while a ship was sent to Egina to fetch Aeacus himself； and the other Aeacids。 The following is a tale which was told by Dicaeus； the son of Theocydes； an Athenian； who was at this time an exile； and had gained a good report among the Medes。 He declared that after the army of Xerxes had； in the absence of the Athenians； wasted Attica； he chanced to be with Demaratus the Lacedaemonian in the Thriasian plain； and that while there； he saw a cloud of dust advancing from Eleusis； such as a host of thirty thousand men might raise。 As he and his companion were wondering who the men； from whom the dust arose； could possibly be； a sound of voices reached his ear； and he thought that he recognised the mystic hymn to Bacchus。 Now Demaratus was unacquainted with the rites of Eleusis； and so he inquired of Dicaeus what the voices were saying。 Dicaeus made answer… 〃O Demaratus！ beyond a doubt some mighty calamity is about to befall the king's army！ For it is manifest； inasmuch as Attica is deserted by its inhabitants； that the sound which we have heard is an unearthly one； and is now upon its way from Eleusis to aid the Athenians and their confederates。 If it descends upon the Peloponnese； danger will threaten the king himself and his land army… if it moves towards the ships at Salamis； 'twill go hard but the king's fleet there suffers destruction。 Every year the Athenians celebrate this feast to the Mother and the Daughter； and all who wish； whether they be Athenians or any other Greeks； are initiated。 The sound thou hearest is the Bacchic song； which is wont to be sung at that festival。〃 〃Hush now；〃 rejoined the other； 〃and see thou tell no man of this matter。 For if thy words be brought to the king's ear； thou wilt assuredly lose thy head because of them； neither I nor any man living can then save thee。 Hold thy peace therefore。 The gods will see to the king's army。〃 Thus Demaratus counselled him； and they looked； and saw the dust； from which the sound arose； become a cloud； and the cloud rise up into the air and sail away to Salamis； making for the station of the Grecian fleet。 Then they knew that it was the fleet of Xerxes which would suffer destruction。 Such was the tale told by Dicaeus the son of Theocydes； and he appealed for its truth to Demaratus and other eye…witnesses。 The men belonging to the fleet of Xerxes； after they had seen the Spartan dead at Thermopylae； and crossed the channel from Trachis to Histiaea； waited there by the space of three days； and then sailing down through the Euripus； in three more came to Phalerum。 In my judgment； the Persian forces both by land and sea when they invaded Attica were not less numerous than they had been on their arrival at Sepias and Thermopylae。 For against the Persian loss in the storm and at Thermopylae； and again in the sea…fights off Artemisium； I set t
