a smaller history of greece-第14节
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heir fleet was ranged behind them on the beach。 The Athenians occupied the rising ground above the plain； and extended from one side of the plain to the other。 This arrangement was necessary in order to protect their flanks by the mountains on each side； and to prevent the cavalry from passing round to attack them in rear。 But so large a breadth of ground could not be occupied with a small a number of men without weakening some portion of the line。 Miltiades； therefore； drew up the troops in the centre in shallow files； and resolved to rely for success upon the stronger and deeper masses of his wings。 The right wing； which was the post of honour in a Grecian army； was commanded by the Polemarch Callimachus； the hoplites were arranged in the order of their tribes； so that the members of the same tribe fought by each other's side； and at the extreme left stood the Plataeans。
Miltiades； anxious to come to close quarters as speedily as possible； ordered his soldiers to advance at a running step over the mile of ground which separated them from the foe。 Both the Athenian wings were successful； and drove the enemy before them towards the shore and the marshes。 But the Athenian centre was broken by the Persians； and compelled to take to flight。 Miltiades thereupon recalled his wings from pursuit； and charged the Persian centre。 The latter could not withstand this combined attack。 The rout now became general along the whole Persian line； and they fled to their ships； pursued by the Athenians。
The Persians lost 6400 men in this memorable engagement： of the Athenians only 192 fell。 The aged tyrant Hippias is said to have perished in the battle； and the brave Polemarch Callimachus was also one of the slain。 The Persians embarked and sailed away to Asia。 Their departure was hailed at Athens with one unanimous burst of heartfelt joy。 Marathon became a magic word at Athens。 The Athenian people in succeeding ages always looked back upon this day as the most glorious in their annals； and never tired of hearing its praises sounded by their orators and poets。 And they had reason to be proud of it。 It was the first time that the Greeks had ever defeated the Persians in the field。 It was the exploit of the Athenians alone。 It had saved not only Athens but all Greece。 If the Persians had conquered at Marathon； Greece must； in all likelihood； have become a Persian province； the destinies of the world would have been changed； and oriental despotism might still have brooded over the fairest countries of Europe。
The one hundred and ninety…two Athenians who had perished in the battle were buried on the field； and over their remains a tumulus or mound was erected； which may still be seen about half a mile from the sea。
Shortly after the battle Miltiades requested of the Athenians a fleet of seventy ships； without telling them the object of his expedition； but only promising to enrich the state。 Such unbounded confidence did the Athenians repose in the hero of Marathon； that they at once complied with his demand。 This confidence Miltiades abused。 In order to gratify a private animosity against one of the leading citizens of Paros； he sailed to this island and laid siege to the town。 The citizens repelled all his attacks； and having received a dangerous injury on his thigh； he was compelled to raise the siege and return to Athens。 Loud was the indignation against Miltiades on his return。 He was accused by Xanthippus； the father of Pericles； of having deceived the people； and was brought to trial。 His wound had already begun to show symptoms of gangrene。 He was carried into court on a couch； and there lay before the assembled judges； while his friends pleaded on his behalf。 They could offer no excuse for his recent conduct； but they reminded the Athenians of the services he had rendered； and； begged them to spare the victor of Marathon。 The judges were not insensible to this appeal； and instead of condemning him to death as the accuser had demanded； they commuted the penalty to a fine of fifty talents。 Miltiades was unable immediately to raise this sum and died soon afterwards of his wound。 The fine was subsequently paid by his son Cimon。 The melancholy end of Miltiades must not blind us to his offence。 He had grossly abused the public confidence； and deserved his punishment。 The Athenians did not forget his services at Marathon； and it was their gratitude towards him which alone saved him from death。
Soon after the battle of Marathon a war broke out between Athens and AEgina。 This war is of great importance in Grecian history； since to it the Athenians were indebted for their navy； which enabled them to save Greece at Salamis as they had already done at Marathon。 AEgina was one of the chief maritime powers in Greece； and accordingly Themistocles urged the Athenians to build and equip a large and powerful fleet； without which it was impossible for them to humble their rival。 There was at this time a large surplus in the public treasury； arising from the produce of the silver…mines at Laurium。 It had been recently proposed to distribute this surplus among the Athenian citizens； but Themistocles persuaded them to sacrifice their private advantage to the public good； and to appropriate the money to building a fleet of 200 ships。
The two leading citizens of Athens at this period were Themistocles and Aristides。 These two eminent men formed a striking contrast to each other。 Themistocles possessed abilities of the most extraordinary kind； but they were marred by a want of honesty。 Aristides was inferior to Themistocles in ability； but was incomparably superior to him in honesty and integrity。 His uprightness and justice were so universally acknowledged that he received the surname of the 〃Just。〃 Themistocles was the leader of the democratical； and Aristides of the conservative party at Athens。 After three or four years of bitter rivalry； the two chiefs appealed to the ostracism； and Aristides was banished （B。C。 483）。 We are told that an unlettered countryman gave his vote against Aristides at the ostracism； because he was tired of hearing him always called the Just。
CHAPTER VIII。
THE PERSIAN WARS。THE BATTLES OF THERMOPYLAE； SALAMIS； AND PLATAEA； B。C。 480…479。
The defeat of the Persians at Marathon served only to increase the resentment of Darius。 He now resolved to collect the whole forces of his empire； and to lead them in person against Athens。 For three years busy preparations were made throughout his vast dominions。 In the fourth year his attention was distracted by a revolt of the Egyptians； and before he could reduce them to subjection he was surprised by death； after a reign of 37 years （B。C。 485）。 Xerxes； the son and successor of Darius； had received the education of an eastern despot； and been surrounded with slaves from his cradle。 In person he was the tallest and handsomest man amidst the vast hosts which he led against Greece； but there was nothing in his mind to correspond to this fair exterior。 His character was marked by faint…hearted timidity and childish vanity。 Xerxes had not inherited his father's animosity against Greece； but he was surrounded by men who urged him to continue the enterprise。 Foremost among these was Mardonius； who was eager to retrieve his reputation； and to obtain the conquered country as a satrapy for himself after subduing Egypt （B。C。 484）； Xerxes began to make preparations for the invasion of Greece。 For four years the din of preparation sounded throughout Asia。 Troops were collected from every quarter of the Persian empire； and were ordered to assemble in Cappadocia。 As many as forty…six different nations composed the land…force； of various complexions； languages； dresses； and arms。 Meantime Xerxes ordered a bridge to be thrown across the Hellespont； that his army might march from Asia into Europe： and he likewise gave directions that a canal should be cut through the isthmus of Mount Athos； in order to avoid the necessity of doubling this dangerous promontory； where the fleet of Mardonius had suffered shipwreck。 The making of this canal； which was about a mile and a half long employed a number of men for three years。
In the spring of B。C。 480 Xerxes set out from Sardis with his vast host。 Upon reaching Abydos on the Hellespont the army crossed over to Europe by the bridge of boats。 Xerxes surveyed the scene from a marble throne。 His heart swelled within him at the sight of such a vast assemblage of human beings； but his feelings of pride and pleasure soon gave way to sadness； and he burst into tears at the reflection that in a hundred years not one of them would be alive。 Xerxes continued his march through Europe along the coast of Thrace。 Upon arriving at the spacious plain of Doriscus； which is traversed by the river Hebrus； he resolved to number his forces。 He found that the whole armament； both military and naval； consisted of 2；317；610 men。 In his march from Doriscus to Thermopylae he received a still further accession of strength； and accordingly when he reached Thermopylae the land and sea forces amounted to 2；641；610 fighting men。 The attendants are said to have been more in number than the fighting men； but if they were only equa
