a smaller history of greece-第16节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ted 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 to the sword。 The temples and houses on the Acropolis were pillaged and burnt； and Xerxes thus became undisputed master of Athens。
About the same time the Persian fleet arrived in the bay of Phalerum。 Its strength is not accurately known； but it must have exceeded 1000 vessels。 The combined Grecian fleet at Salamis consisted of 366 ships； of which 200 were Athenian。
At this critical juncture dissension reigned in the Grecian fleet。 In the council of war which had been summoned by Eurybiades the Spartan commander； Themistocles urged the assembled chiefs to remain at Salamis； and give battle to the Persians in the narrow straits； where the superior numbers of the Persians would be of less consequence。 The Peloponnesian commanders； on the other hand； were anxious that the fleet should be removed to the isthmus of Corinth； and thus be put in communication with their land…forces。 The council came to a vote in favour of retreat； but Themistocles prevailed upon Eurybiades to convene another assembly upon the following day。 When the council met； the Peloponnesian commanders loudly expressed their dissatisfaction at seeing a debate re…opened which they had deemed concluded。 Adimantus； the Corinthian admiral broke out into open rebukes and menaces。 〃Themistocles；〃 he exclaimed； 〃those who rise at the public games before the signal are whipped。〃 〃True；〃 replied Themistocles； 〃but they who lag behind it never win a crown。〃 Another incident in this discussion has been immortalized by Plutarch。 Eurybiades； incensed by the language of Themistocles； lifted up his stick to strike him； whereupon the Athenian exclaimed； 〃Strike； but hear me！〃 Themistocles repeated his arguments and entreaties； and at length threatened that he and the Athenians would sail away to Italy and there found a new city； if the Peloponnesians still determined to retreat。 Eurybiades now gave way and issued orders for the fleet to remain and fight at Salamis； but the Peloponnesians obeyed the order with reluctance。 A third council was summoned and Themistocles； perceiving that the decision of the assembly would be against him； determined to effect his object by stratagem。 He secretly despatched a trusty slave with a message to Xerxes； representing the dissensions which prevailed in the Grecian fleet； and how easy a matter it would be to surround and vanquish an armament both small and disunited。 Xerxes readily adopted the suggestion； and ordered his captains to close up the straits of Salamis at both ends during the night。 On the council assembling in the morning； Aristides arrived with the news that the Grecian fleet was completely surrounded by that of the Persians； and that retreat was no longer possible。 As the veil of night rolled gradually away； the Persian fleet was discovered stretching as far as the eye could reach along the coast of Attica。 The Grecian fleet； being concentrated in the harbour of Salamis； was thus surrounded by the Persians。 Xerxes had caused a lofty throne to be erected upon one of the projecting declivities of Mount AEgaleos； opposite the harbour of Salamis； whence be could survey the combat； and stimulate by his presence the courage of his men。
As a battle was now inevitable the Grecian commanders lost no time in making preparations for the encounter。 The Greek seamen embarked with alacrity； encouraging one another to deliver their country； their wives； and children； and the temples of their gods； from the grasp of the barbarians。 History has preserved to us but few details of the engagement。 The Persian fleet； with the exception of some of the Ionic contingents； fought with courage。 But the very numbers on which they so confidently relied； proved one of the chief causes of their defeat。 Too crowded either to advance or to retreat； their oars broken or impeded by collision with one another； their fleet lay like an inert and lifeless mass upon the water； and fell an easy prey to the Greeks。 A single incident will illustrate the terror and confusion which reigned among the Persians。 Artemisia； queen of Hal
