The Good Book_ A Secular Bible - A. C. Grayling [159]
2. Sumpter beasts, camp followers, and at their head the choice Ten Thousand of the Persian army, followed by troops of many other nations, crossed over.
3. On the second day the cavalry crossed, and the regiments of spearmen, and Xerxes himself, and the rest of the army.
4. At the same time the fleet sailed to the far shore. As soon as Xerxes had reached the European side, he stood to contemplate his army as they crossed under the lash.
5. And the crossing continued during seven days and seven nights, without rest or pause.
6. It is said that here, after Xerxes had made the passage, a Hellespontian exclaimed,
7. ‘Why has the whole race of mankind come to the destruction of Greece? What has Greece done, to deserve such a vengeance?’
8. For Xerxes had brought one million seven hundred thousand men from many nations of Asia, India, Arabia and Africa, each with its own type of weapon and clothing, and its own skills in war.
9. In the fleet were one thousand two hundred triremes, and each ship had a company of soldiers alongside the seamen.
10. There were many men of note and courage in the army and navy, and many noble rulers.
11. And there was one woman, Artemisia, who ruled over the Halicarnassians, the men of Cos, of Nisyrus and of Calydna;
12. She brought five triremes to the Persian fleet and they were, next to the Sidonian, the most famous ships in the fleet.
13. She likewise gave to Xerxes sounder counsel than any of his other allies.
14. So Xerxes began his march into Macedonia. Every city he passed added men to his army, and the coastal towns provided yet further seamen to his fleet.
15. Every city, in response to the demand he had sent by heralds before him, had made food and drink ready for him and his forces.
16. No sooner had the heralds brought their message, than in every city the inhabitants made a division of their stores of corn,
17. And proceeded to grind flour of wheat and of barley for many months together.
18. They purchased the best cattle and fattened them; and fed poultry and waterfowl to be ready for the army;
19. While they likewise prepared gold and silver vases and drinking-cups, and everything else needed for the service of the table.
20. These last preparations were made for the king only, and those who sat with him; for the rest of the army plain food was provided.
21. On the arrival of the Persians, a tent ready pitched for the purpose received Xerxes, who took his rest therein, while the soldiers remained under the open sky.
22. When the dinner hour came, great was the toil of those who entertained the army;
23. While the guests ate their fill, and then, after passing the night at the place, took down the royal tent next morning, and packing its contents, carried them all off, leaving nothing behind.
24. At last Xerxes reached Therma, to which he had ordered his fleet,
25. And from there he could see the Thessalian mountains, Olympus and Ossa, both very high.
26. He took a boat to view the mouth of the River Peneus, which collects all the waters of the rivers of Thessaly, a land ringed by its mountains, and discharges them into the sea.
Chapter 62
1. When Xerxes returned to Therma he found waiting for him the heralds he had sent to the cities of Greece, demanding earth and water; and learned which had complied, and which had refused.
2. Among those who sent earth and water were the Thessalians, Dolopians, Enianians, Perrhaebians,
3. The Locrians, Magnetians, Malians, Achaeans of Phthiotis, Thebans, and the Boeotians generally, except those of Plataea and Thespiae.
4. In the cities that had refused to submit there was great alarm and anxiety, for news of the vast host of the Persians had reached everywhere in Greece.
5. In Athens the citizens debated whether to abandon their city and fly, or to stay and fight.
6. Among them a citizen of the first rank, Themistocles, nerved them by saying, ‘We are defended by the best circuit of wooden walls of any city;
7. ‘I mean our fleet.’ He said this because he had previously given