The Tale of the Great Persian War From the Histories of Herodotus - Tapa blanda

This historic book may have numerous typos or missing text. Not indexed. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1861. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAP. IX. THE GATHERING AT PUTJLS. MABDONIUS ATONES FOE THE DEATH OF LEONTDAS. THE STOBMING OF THE PERSIAN CAMP. THE FLIGHT AND TBICK OF ARTA BAZUS. While Mardonius was encamped in Boeotia, all the Greeks who took the side of the Medes sent men to help him, and with him all marched against Athens except the Phokians. These took the king's side not of their free will but only of necessity, and a thousand of their hoplites joined Mardonius a few days after he reached Thebes, under Harmokydes, a man of great note among the citizens. As soon as they came, Mardonius placed them in the plain apart from all others; and immediately all the horsemen of the Persians rode up to them, and a rumour went through all the camp of the Greeks that the Phokians were to be shot down with arrows. The same rumour spread through the Phokians, THE TRIAL OF THE PHOKIANS. 183 and Harmokydes, their leader, said, "It is clear, 0 ix. Phokians, that the enemy are about to slay us, because, as I suppose, we have been slandered by the Thessalians. Be strong, then, and of good courage, every one of you, for better is it to die fighting bravely for our lives than to be butchered quietly like dogs; but let the barbarians at least learn this, that they are attacking Greeks." So 18 when the horsemen had made a circle round them, they rode up fiercely and stretched their bows as if they were going to shoot, and one or two shot their arrows. And the Phokians faced them, being drawn up in one close mass, and the horsemen wheeled round and drew off; nor is it certain whether they went to slay the Phokians at the request of the Thessalians, and then fell back on seeing that they were ready to defend themselves, or whether they did so merely to try their courage. But as soon as the horsemen were go...