The Good Book

by A. C. Grayling

29. The Persians, having thus subjected Eretria, set sail for Attica, planning to deal with the Athenians as they had dealt with the Eretrians.

  30. And, because there was no place in Attica so convenient for their horse as Marathon,

  31. And Marathon lay moreover quite close to Eretria, Hippias, son of Pisistratus, took them there.

  32. When news of this reached the Athenians, they likewise marched their troops to Marathon, and there stood on the defensive,

  33. Having at their head ten generals, of whom one was Miltiades.

  Chapter 54

  1. Now Miltiades’ father, Cimon, son of Stesagoras, had been banished from Athens by the tyrant Pisistratus.

  2. During his banishment he had won the four-horse chariot race at Olympia, whereby he gained the very same honour which had before been carried off by his half-brother on his mother’s side, also called Miltiades.

  3. At the next Olympiad Cimon won the prize again with the same mares; upon which he caused Pisistratus to be proclaimed the winner,

  4. Having made an agreement with him that on yielding him this honour he should be allowed to come back to his country.

  5. Afterwards, still with the same mares, he won the prize a third time; whereupon he was put to death by the sons of Pisistratus, whose father was no longer living.

  6. They set men to lie in wait for Cimon secretly by night, and they murdered him near the government-house.

  7. He was buried outside the city, beyond what is called the Valley Road; and right opposite his tomb were buried the mares that had won the three prizes.

  8. The same success had likewise been achieved only once before, by the mares of Evagoras the Lacedaemonian.

  9. At the time of Cimon’s death Stesagoras, the elder of his two sons, was in the Chersonese, where he lived with Miltiades his uncle;

  10. The younger, who was called Miltiades after the founder of the Chersonesite colony, was with his father in Athens.

  11. It was this Miltiades who now commanded the Athenians, having been elected general by the free choice of the people.

  12. Before they left Athens the generals sent a herald to Sparta, one Pheidippides, who was by birth an Athenian, and by profession and practice a trained runner.

  13. By sustained fast running he reached Sparta on the very next day after leaving Athens: a famous feat of speed and endurance.

  14. On his arrival he went to the rulers and said, ‘Men of Lacedaemon, the Athenians ask you to hasten to their aid, and not allow that state, which is the most ancient in all Greece, to be enslaved by the barbarians.

  15. ‘Eretria is already carried away captive; and Greece is weakened by the loss of no mean city.’

  16. The Spartans wished to help the Athenians, but were unable to do so immediately because they were in the midst of an important civic festival which had to be completed, obliging them to wait several days before marching.

  17. Even as the Athenians arranged themselves in order of battle they were joined by the Plataeans, who came in full force to their aid.

  18. The Plataeans had in former times put themselves under the rule of the Athenians, who had already undertaken many labours on their behalf.

  19. The Athenian generals were divided in their opinions: some advised not to risk battle, because they were too few to engage such a host, while others were for fighting at once;

  20. And among these last was Miltiades. He therefore, seeing that opinions were divided, and that the less worthy counsel appeared likely to prevail, resolved to go to the Polemarch, and have a conference with him.

  21. For the man on whom the lot fell to be Polemarch at Athens was entitled to give his vote with the ten generals. The Polemarch at this juncture was Callimachus of Aphidnae.

  22. To him Miltiades went, and said: ‘It rests with you, Callimachus, either to bring Athens to slavery,

  23. ‘Or, by securing her freedom, to leave to all future generations a memory beyond even Harmodius and Aristogeiton.

  24. ‘For never since the time that the Athenians became a people were they in such great danger as now.

  25. ‘If they submit to Persia, the woes they will suffer under the revenge of Hippias are already decided;

  26. ‘If, on the other hand, they fight and win, Athens may become the first city in Greece.

  27. ‘Now, we generals are ten in number, and our votes are divided; half of us wish to engage, half to avoid a combat.

  28. ‘If we do not fight, I look to see a great disturbance at Athens which will shake men’s resolution, and then I fear they will choose to surrender.

  29. ‘But if we fight before such failure of resolve shows itself among our citizens, we can win.

  30. ‘On you we depend; add your vote to my side and our country will be free, and the first state of Greece.

  31. ‘If you vote with the others, the reverse will follow.’

  32. Miltiades won Callimachus over, and his vote gave the decision for combat.

  33. At this the other generals who were in favour of battle gave the full command to Miltiades.

  Chapter 55

  1. In the Athenian battle array Callimachus the Polemarch led the right wing;

  2. After this followed the tribes, according as they were numbered, in an unbroken line; last of all came the Plataeans, forming the left wing.

  3. As they marshalled on the field of Marathon, in order that the Athenian front might be of equal length with the Persian,

  4. The ranks of the centre were diminished, and it became the weakest part of the line, while the wings were both made strong with a depth of many ranks.

  5. When the army was set in array Miltiades gave the order and the Athenians charged the barbarians at a run.

  6. Now the distance between the two armies was little short of eight furlongs. The Persians, therefore, when they saw the Greeks coming on at speed, made ready to receive them.

  7. But it seemed to them that the Athenians had lost their senses, and were bent on their own destruction;

  8. For they saw a mere handful of men running at them unaccompanied by horsemen or archers.

  9. Such was the opinion of the barbarians; but the Athenians in close array fell on them, and fought in a manner worthy of being recorded.

  10. They were the first of the Greeks who introduced the custom of charging the enemy at a run,

  11. And they were likewise the first who dared to face men clad in Persian garb.

  12. Until this time the very name of the Persians had been a terror to the Greeks.

  13. The two armies fought together on the plain of Marathon for a length of time;

  14. And in the mid battle, where the Persians themselves and the Sacae had their place, the barbarians were victorious,

  15. And broke and pursued the Greeks into the inner country; but on the two wings the Athenians and Plataeans defeated the enemy.

  16. Having done so, they allowed the routed barbarians to flee at their ease, and joining the two wings in one,

  17. Fell upon those who had broken their own centre, and fought and conquered them. These likewise fled,

  18. And now the Athenians pursued the runaways and cut them down, chasing them all the way to the shore, where they laid hold of the ships and called for fire.

  19. It was in the struggle here that Callimachus the Polemarch died, after greatly distinguishing himself;

  20. Stesilaus too, the son of Thrasilaus, one of the generals, was slain;

  21. And Cynaegirus, the son of Euphorion, having seized on a vessel of the enemy’s by the ornament at the stern, had his hand cut off by the blow of an axe, and so perished;

  22. As likewise did many other Athenians of note and name.

  23. Nevertheless the Athenians captured seven of the vessels, while in the remainder the barbarians pushed off to sea,

  24. And taking aboard their Eretrian prisoners from the island where they had left them, doubled Cape Sunium, hoping to reach Athens before the return of the Athenians.

/>   25. The Alcmaeonidae were accused by their countrymen of suggesting this course to them;

  26. They had, it was said, an understanding with the Persians, and made a signal to them, by raising a shield, after they were embarked in their ships.

  27. The Persians accordingly sailed round Sunium. But the Athenians with all possible speed marched back to the defence of their city,

  28. And succeeded in reaching Athens before the appearance of the barbarians, and encamped at Cynosarges.

  29. The barbarian fleet arrived, and anchored off Phalerum, which was at that time the harbour of Athens;

  30. But after resting awhile on their oars, seeing that the Athenian army had arrived before them, they departed and sailed away to Asia.

  31. There fell in this battle of Marathon, on the side of the Persians, about six thousand four hundred men. The Athenians lost one hundred and ninety-two.

  32. Shortly after the departure of the Persians, two thousand Spartans arrived at Athens, having marched as quickly as they could to join the fight.

  33. So eager had they been that their march took three days only.

  34. Though too late for the battle, they wished to see the Persians, and so went to the battlefield of Marathon to look on the slain.

  35. After giving the Athenians praise for their achievement, they departed again for home.

  Chapter 56

  1. When news of the defeat at Marathon reached Darius, his anger against the Athenians grew even fiercer, and he became more eager than ever to conquer Greece.

  2. Instantly he sent heralds throughout his empire to raise fresh levies at an even greater rate than before, with ships, horses, men and provisions in yet greater abundance.

  3. For three years all Asia was in commotion, readying itself for war; the best and bravest were enrolled for service, and made preparations accordingly.

  4. In the fourth year of preparations there was a revolt in Egypt.

  5. Enraged, Darius resolved to send an army against Egypt as well as Greece, and chose to lead it himself.

  6. Immediately a contention arose among his sons, because it was the tradition in Persia that if a king was about to go to war, he should appoint an heir.

  7. Darius had three sons by his first wife, a daughter of Gobryas.

  8. By Atossa the daughter of Cyrus he had four sons. Artabazanes was the eldest of the first brood, and Xerxes the eldest of the second.

  9. Artabazanes claimed the inheritance as eldest of all the sons, while Xerxes pointed out that he was the grandson of Cyrus, first liberator of the Persians and founder of their royal house.

  10. Before Darius had pronounced on the matter, it happened that the Spartan Demaratus, the son of Ariston, who had been deprived of his crown at Sparta,

  11. And had afterwards, of his own accord, gone into banishment, came to Susa, and there heard of the quarrel of the princes.

  12. He went to Xerxes and advised him, in addition to all that he had urged before, to argue that when he was born Darius was already king,

  13. But when Artabazanes came into the world, Darius was a mere private person.

  14. It would therefore be neither right nor seemly that the crown should go to anyone but Xerxes.

  15. ‘For at Sparta,’ said Demaratus, ‘the law is that if a king has sons before he comes to the throne, and another son is born to him afterwards, the latter child is heir to his father’s kingdom.’

  16. Xerxes followed this counsel, and Darius, persuaded that he had justice on his side, appointed him heir.

  17. Many say that even without this, the crown would have gone to Xerxes; for his mother Atossa was all-powerful.

  18. Having appointed his heir, and made his preparations, Darius was ready to depart in conquest of Greece and the reconquest of Egypt; but death intervened, ending his thirty-six years of reign.

  19. Xerxes mounted the throne, and at first was indifferent to the idea of conquering Greece, which seemed unimportant and marginal, whereas the loss of Egypt concerned him far more.

  20. But Mardonius, who had great influence with him, persuaded him otherwise, saying,

  21. ‘Sire, it is not fitting to let the Athenians escape without punishment, after doing Persia such a great injury.

  22. ‘Subdue Egypt, yes; but then lead the army against Athens. In this way you will prevent future rebellions and insults, by showing that the Persian will never leave either unpunished.’

  23. Mardonius also said, ‘Europe is a wondrous beautiful region, rich in all kinds of cultivated trees, and the soil excellent: no one, save you, is worthy to be king of such a land.’

  24. He said this because he longed for further adventures, and hoped to become satrap of Greece under the king.

  25. He was helped by the coincidence that at the same time the kings of Thessaly sent an invitation to Xerxes to enter Greece,

  26. Promising him all their assistance in the venture. And further, the Pisistratidae, who had come to Susa, urged the same, and persuaded him even more than the Thessalonians.

  Chapter 57

  1. When therefore Egypt was subdued, Xerxes undertook to conquer Greece.

  2. He called together an assembly of the noblest Persians to hear their opinions, saying,

  3. ‘I need not remind you of the deeds of Cyrus and Cambyses, and my own father Darius, how many nations they conquered, and added to our dominions.

  4. ‘You well know what great things they achieved. For myself, I will say that, from the day I mounted the throne,

  5. ‘I have not ceased to consider by what means I may rival those who have preceded me in this post of honour, and increase the power of Persia as much as any of them.

  6. ‘I have decided on a way to win glory, and at the same time get possession of a land which is as large and as rich as our own,

  7. ‘Indeed, which is even more varied in the fruits it bears; while at the same time we obtain satisfaction and revenge.

  8. ‘My intent is to throw a bridge over the Hellespont and march an army through Europe against Greece,

  9. ‘That thereby I may obtain vengeance from the Athenians for the wrongs committed by them against the Persians and my father.

  10. ‘Your own eyes saw the preparations of Darius against these men; but death came upon him, and foiled his hopes of revenge.

  11. ‘On his behalf, therefore, and that of all Persians, I undertake the war,

  12. ‘And pledge myself not to rest till I have burned Athens, which has dared to injure me and my father.

  13. ‘I see many advantages added to this war. Once we have subdued Athens, and those neighbours of theirs in Sparta,

  14. ‘We shall extend the Persian territory as far as the sky reaches. The sun will then shine on no land beyond our borders;

  15. ‘For I will pass through Europe from one end to the other, and with your aid make all the lands it contains into one country.

  16. ‘For thus there will be no city, no country left in all the world, which will withstand our arms.

  17. ‘By this course we shall bring all mankind under our rule, alike those who are guilty and those who are innocent of doing us wrong.

  18. ‘For yourselves, if you wish to please me, do as follows: when I announce the time for the army to meet, hasten to the muster with good will.

  19. ‘To the man who brings with him the most gallant array I will give the gifts which our people consider most honourable.

  20. ‘But to show that I am not self-willed in this matter, I lay the business before you, and give you full leave to speak your minds openly.’

  21. Then Mardonius spoke. ‘You have spoken truly; and best of all is your resolve.

  22. ‘It were indeed a monstrous thing if, after conquering and enslaving the Sacae, the Indians, the Ethiopians, the Assyrians, the Egyptians and many other mighty nations,

  23. ‘Not for any wrong that they had done us, but only to increase our empire, we should then allow the Greeks, who have done us such injury, escape our
vengeance.

  24. ‘What is it that we fear in them? Not surely their numbers, not the greatness of their wealth? They have neither!

  25. ‘We know their way of fighting; we know how weak their power is; already we have subdued their children who dwell in our country, the Ionians, Aeolians and Dorians.

  26. ‘I myself have had experience of these men when I marched against them by order of your father;

  27. ‘And though I went as far as Macedonia, and came not far short of reaching Athens itself, yet not a single person ventured to come out against me to battle.

  28. ‘And yet, I am told, these same Greeks wage wars against one another in the most foolish way.

  29. ‘For no sooner is war proclaimed than they search out the smoothest and fairest plain, and there assemble and fight;

  30. ‘Whence it comes that even the conquerors depart with great loss: I say nothing of the conquered, for they are destroyed altogether.

  31. ‘Now surely, as they are all of one speech, they ought to interchange heralds, and make up their differences by any means rather than battle;

  32. ‘Or, at the worst, if they must fight, they ought to post themselves as strongly as possible.

  33. ‘But, notwithstanding that they are so foolish in warfare, yet these Greeks, when I led my army against them to the very borders of Macedonia, did not so much as think of offering me battle.

  34. ‘Who then will dare, O king! to meet you in arms, when you come with all Asia’s warriors at your back, and all her ships?

  35. ‘For my part I do not believe the Greek people will be so unwise.

  36. ‘Grant, however, that I am mistaken, and that they are foolish enough to fight us;

  37. ‘In that case they will learn that there are no such soldiers in the whole world as we.

  38. ‘Nevertheless let us spare no pains; for nothing comes without trouble; but all that men acquire is got by taking pains.’

  Chapter 58

  1. The other Persians were silent; all feared to raise their voice against Xerxes’ plan.

  2. But Artabanus, the son of Hystaspes and uncle of Xerxes, trusting to his relationship, was bold to speak.

  3. ‘O king!’ he said, ‘it is impossible, if no more than one opinion is uttered, to make choice of the best: a man is forced then to follow whatever advice may have been given him;