a smaller history of greece-第14部分

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nding　troops　at　the　southern　end　of　the　pass。

The　Grecian　fleet；　under　the　command　of　the　Spartan　Eurybiades；　took　up　its　station　off　that　portion　of　the　northern　coast　of　Euboea　which　faces　Magnesia　and　the　entrance　to　the　Thessalian　gulf　and　which　was　called　Artemisium；　from　a　neighbouring　temple　of　Artemis　（Diana）。　　It　was；　however；　only　a　small　land…force　that　was　sent　to　the　defence　of　Thermopylae。　　When　the　arrival　of　Xerxes　at　Therma　became　known；　the　Greeks　were　upon　the　point　of　celebrating　the　Olympic　games；　and　the　festival　of　the　Carnean　Apollo；　which　was　observed　with　great　solemnity　at　Sparta　and　in　other　Doric　states。　　The　Peloponnesians　therefore　sent　forward　only　300　Spartans　and　3000　hoplites　from　other　Peloponnesian　states；　under　the　command　of　the　Spartan　king　Leonidas；　a　force　which　they　thought　would　be　sufficient　to　maintain　the　pass　till　the　festivals　were　over。　　In　his　march　northwards　Leonidas　received　additions　from　the　Thespians；　Phocians；　and　Locrians；　so　that　he　had　under　his　command　at　Thermopylae　about　7000　men。

Meanwhile　Xerxes　had　arrived　within　sight　of　Thermopylae。　　He　had　heard　that　a　handful　of　desperate　men；　commanded　by　a　Spartan；　had　determined　to　dispute　his　passage；　but　he　refused　to　believe　the　news。　　He　was　still　more　astonished　when　a　horseman；　whom　he　had　sent　to　reconnoitre；　brought　back　word　that　he　had　seen　several　Spartans　outside　the　wall　in　front　of　the　pass；　some　amusing　themselves　with　gymnastic　exercises；　and　others　combing　their　long　hair。　　In　great　perplexity；　he　sent　for　the　exiled　Spartan　king　Demaratus；　who　had　accompanied　him　from　Persia；　and　asked　him　the　meaning　of　such　madness。　　Demaratus　replied；　that　the　Spartans　would　defend　the　pass　to　the　death；　and　that　it　was　their　practice　to　dress　their　heads　with　peculiar　care　when　they　were　going　to　battle。　　Later　writers　relate　that　Xerxes　sent　to　them　to　deliver　up　their　arms。　　Leonidas　desired　him　〃to　come　and　take　them。〃　　One　of　the　Spartans　being　told　that　〃the　Persian　host　was　so　prodigious　that　their　arrows　would　conceal　the　sun：〃　〃So　much　the　better〃　（he　replied）；　〃we　shall　then　fight　in　the　shade。〃

At　length；　upon　the　fifth　day；　Xerxes　ordered　a　chosen　body　of　Medes　to　advance　against　the　presumptuous　foes　and　bring　them　into　his　presence。　　But　their　superior　numbers　were　of　no　avail　in　such　a　narrow　space；　and　they　were　kept　at　bay　by　the　long　spears　and　steady　ranks　of　the　Greeks。　　After　the　combat　had　lasted　a　long　time　with　heavy　loss　to　the　Medes；　Xerxes　ordered　his　ten　thousand　〃Immortals；〃　the　flower　of　the　Persian　army；　to　advance。　　But　they　were　as　unsuccessful　as　the　Medes。　　Xerxes　beheld　the　repulse　of　his　troops　from　a　lofty　throne　which　had　been　provided　for　him；　and　was　seen　to　leap　thrice　from　his　seat　in　an　agony　of　fear　or　rage。

On　the　following　day　the　attack　was　renewed；　but　with　no　better　success：　　and　Xerxes　was　beginning　to　despair　of　forcing　his　way　through　the　pass；　when　a　Malian；　of　the　name　of　Ephialtes；　betrayed　to　the　Persian　king　that　there　was　an　unfrequented　path　across　Mount　OEta；　ascending　on　the　northern　side　of　the　mountain　and　descending　on　the　southern　side　near　the　termination　of　the　pass。　　Overjoyed　at　this　discovery；　a　strong　detachment　of　Persians　was　ordered　to　follow　the　traitor。　　Meantime　Leonidas　and　his　troops　had　received　ample　notice　of　the　impending　danger。　During　the　night　deserters　from　the　enemy　had　brought　him　the　news；　and　their　intelligence　was　confirmed　by　his　own　scouts　on　the　hills。　　His　resolution　was　at　once　taken。　　As　a　Spartan　he　was　bound　to　conquer　or　to　die　in　the　post　assigned　to　him；　and　he　was　the　more　ready　to　sacrifice　his　life；　since　an　oracle　had　declared　that　either　Sparta　itself　or　a　Spartan　king　must　perish　by　the　Persian　arms。　　His　three　hundred　comrades　were　fully　equal　to　the　same　heroism　which　actuated　their　King；　and　the　seven　hundred　Thespians　resolved　to　share　the　fate　of　this　gallant　band。　　He　allowed　the；　rest　of　the　allies　to　retire；　with　the　exception　of　four　hundred　Boeotians；　whom　he　retained　as　hostages。　　Xerxes　delayed　his　attack　till　the　middle　of　the　day；　when　it　was　expected　that　the　detachment　sent　across　the　mountain　would　arrive　at　the　rear　of　the　pass。　　But　Leonidas　and　his　comrades；　only　anxious　to　sell　their　lives　as　dearly　as　possible；　did　not　wait　to　receive　the　attack　of　the　Persians；　but　advanced　into　the　open　space　in　front　of　the　pass；　and　charged　the　enemy　with　desperate　valour。　　Numbers　of　the　Persians　were　slain；　many　were　driven　into　the　neighbouring　sea；　and　others　again　were　trampled　to　death　by　the　vast　hosts　behind　them。　　As　long　as　the　Greeks　could　maintain　their　ranks　they　repelled　every　attack；　but　when　their　spears　were　broken；　and　they　had　only　their　swords　left；　the　enemy　began　to　press　in　between　them。　　Leonidas　was　one　of　the　first　that　fell；　and　around　his　body　the　battle　raged　fiercer　than　ever。　　The　Persians　made　the　greatest　efforts　to　obtain　possession　of　it；　but　four　times　they　were　driven　back　by　the　Greeks　with　great　slaughter。　　At　length；　thinned　in　numbers；　and　exhausted　by　fatigue　and　wounds；　this　noble　band　retired　within　the　pass；　and　seated　themselves　on　a　hillock。　　Meanwhile　the　Persian　detachment；　which　had　been　sent　across　the　mountains；　began　to　enter　the　pass　from　the　south。　　The　Spartan　heroes　were　now　surrounded　on　every　side；　overwhelmed　with　a　shower　of　missiles；　and　killed　to　a　man。

On　the　hillock；　where　the　Greeks　made　their　last　stand；　a　marble　lion　was　set　up　in　honour　of　Leonidas。　　Another　monument；　erected　near　the　spot；　contained　the　memorable　inscription：

　　〃Go；　tell　the　Spartans；　thou　that　passest　by；　　　That　here　obedient　to　their　laws　we　lie。〃

While　Leonidas　had　been　fighting　at　Thermopylae；　the　Greek　fleet　had　also　been　engaged　with　the　Persians　at　Artemisium。　　The　Persian　fleet　set　sail　from　the　gulf　of　Therma；　and　arrived　in　one　day　at　almost　the　southern　corner　of　Magnesia。　　In　this　position　they　were　overtaken　by　a　sudden　hurricane；　which　blew　upon　the　shore　with　irresistible　fury。　　For　three　days　and　three　nights　the　tempest　raged　without　intermission；　and　when　calm　at　length　returned；　the　shore　was　seen　strewed　for　many　miles　with　wrecks　and　corpses。　　At　least　four　hundred　ships　of　war　were　destroyed；　together　with　a　countless　number　of　transports；　stores；　and　treasures。　　The　Greek　fleet　had　been　seized　with　a　panic　terror　at　the　approach　of　the　Persians；　and　retreated　to　Chalcis　in　the　narrowest　part　of　the　Euboean　straits；　but　upon　hearing　of　the　disaster　of　the　Persian　fleet；　they　took　courage；　and　sailed　back　with　the　utmost　speed　to　their　former　station　at　Artemisium。　　Being　now　encouraged　to　attack　the　enemy；　they　gained　some　success。　　On　the　following　night　another　terrific　storm　burst　upon　the　Persians。　　All　night　long　it　blew　upon　the　Thessalian　coast　at　Aphetae；　where　the　Persian　ships　were　stationed；　thus　causing　little　inconvenience　to　the　Greeks　upon　the　opposite　shore。　　Notwithstanding　these　losses；　the　Persian　fleet　still　had　a　vast　superiority　of　numbers；　and　determined　to　offer　battle　to　the　Greeks。　　Quitting　the　Thessalian　coast；　they　sailed　towards　Artemisium　in　the　form　of　a　crescent。　　The　Greeks　kept　near　the　shore；　to　prevent　the　Persians　from　bringing　their　whole　fleet　into　action。　　The　battle　raged　furiously　the　whole　day；　and　each　side　fought　with　determined　valour。　　Both　parties　suffered　severely；　and　though　the　Persians　lost　a　greater　number　of　ships　and　men；　yet　so　many　of　the　Greek　vessels　were　disabled　that　they　found　it　would　be　impossible　to　renew　the　combat。　Under　these　circumstances　the　Greek　commanders　saw　that　it　would　be　necessary　to　retreat；　and　their　determination　was　hastened　by　the　news　which　they　now　received；　that　Leonidas　and　his　companions　had　fallen；　and　that　Xerxes　was　master　of　the　pass　of　Thermopylae。　　Having　sailed　through　the　Euboean　strait；　the　fleet　doubled　the　promontory　of　Sunium；　and　did　not　stop　till　it　reached　the　island　of　Salamis。

Meanwhile　the　Peloponnesians　had　abandoned　Attica　and　the　adjoining　states　to　their　fate；　whilst　they　strained　every　nerve　to　secure　themselves　by　fortifying　the　isthmus　of　Corinth。　　The　Athenians；　relying　upon　the　march　of　a　Peloponnesian　army　into　Boeotia；　had　taken　no　measures　for　the　security　of　their　families　and　property；　and　beheld　with　terror　and　dismay　the　barbarian　host　in　full　march　towards　their　city。　　In　six　days　it　was　calculated　Xerxes　would　be　at　Athensa　short　space　to　remove　the　population　of　a　whole　city：　　but　fear　and　necessity　work　wonders。　Before　the　six　days　had　elapsed；　all　who　were　willing　to　abandon　their　homes　had　been　safely　transported；　some　to　AEgina；　and　others　to　Troezen　in　Peloponnesus；　but　many　could　not　be　induced　to　proceed　farther　than　Salamis。　　It　was　necessary　for　Themistocles　to　use　all　his　art　and　all　his　eloquence　on　this　occasion。　　The　oracle　at　Delphi　had　told　the　Athenians　that　〃the　divine　Salamis　would　make　women　childless；〃yet；　〃when　all　was　lost；　a　wooden　wall　should　still　shelter　the　Athenians。〃　Themistocles　told　his　countrymen　that　these　words　clearly　indicated　a　fleet　and　a　naval　victory　as　the　only　means　of　safety。　　Some　however　gave　to　the　words　another　meaning；　and　a　few；　especially　among　the　aged　and　the　poor；　resolved　to　shut　themselves　up　in　the　Acropolis；　and　to　fortify　its　accessible　or　western　front　with　barricades　of　timber。

On　his　march　towards　Athens；　Xerxes　sent　a　detachment　of　his　army　to　take　and　plunder　Delphi。　　But　this　attempt　proved　unsuccessful。　　The　god　of　the　most　renowned　oracle　of　the　Grecian　world　vindicated　at　once　the　majesty　of　his　sanctuary　and　the　truth　of　his　predictions。　　As　the　Persians　climbed　the　rugged　path　at　the　foot　of　Mount　Parnassus；　leading　up　to　the　shrine；　thunder　was　heard　to　roll；　and　two　crags；　suddenly　detaching　themselves　from　the　mountain；　rolled　down　upon　the　Persians；　and　spread　dismay　and　destruction　in　their　ranks；　Seized　with　a　sudden　panic；　they　turned　and　fled；　pursued；　as　they　said；　by　two　warriors　of　superhuman　size　and　prowess；　who　had　assisted　the　Delphians　in　defending　their　temple。

On　arriving　before　Athens；　Xerxes　found　the　Acropolis　occupied　by　a　handful　of　desperate　citizens；　who　made　a　brave　resistance；　but　they　were　overpowered　and　put　t