The Good Book_ A Secular Bible - A. C. Grayling [152]
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