The Good Book_ A Secular Bible - A. C. Grayling [166]
23. And there never had been, and never would be, a man who was not liable to misfortunes from the very day of his birth,
24. And those misfortunes greater in proportion to his own greatness. The assailant therefore, being only a mortal, must needs fall from his glory.
25. Thus urged, the Locrians and the Phocians had come with their troops to Trachis.
Chapter 69
1. The various states each had captains of their own under whom they served;
2. But the one to whom all especially looked up, and who had the command of the entire force, was the Spartan, Leonidas.
3. Now Leonidas was the son of Anaxandridas, who was the son of Leo, who was the son of Eurycratidas, who was the son of Anaxander, who was the son of Eurycrates, who was the son of Polydorus, who was the son of Alcamenes, who was the son of Telecles, who was the son of Archelaus, who was the son of Agesilaus, who was the son of Doryssus, who was the son of Labotas, who was the son of Echestratus, who was the son of Agis, who was the son of Eurysthenes, who was the son of Aristodemus, who was the son of Aristomachus, who was the son of Cleodaeus, who was the son of Hyllus, who was the son of Hercules.
4. The force with Leonidas was sent forward by the Spartans in advance of the main body, that the sight of them might encourage the allies to fight,
5. And hinder them from going over to the Persians, as it was likely they might have done had they seen that Sparta was backward.
6. They intended presently to leave a garrison in Sparta, and hasten in full force to join the army.
7. The rest of the allies intended to act similarly; for it happened that the Olympic festival fell exactly at this same period.
8. None of them looked to see the contest at Thermopylae decided so speedily;
9. Wherefore they were content to send forward a mere advance guard. Such accordingly were the intentions of the allies.
10. The Greek forces at Thermopylae, when the Persian army drew near to the entrance of the pass, were seized with fear;
11. And a council was held to discuss a retreat. It was the wish of the Peloponnesians generally that the army should fall back to the Peloponnese, and there guard the Isthmus.
12. But Leonidas, who saw with what indignation the Phocians and Locrians heard of this plan, gave his voice for remaining where they were,
13. While they sent envoys to the several cities to ask for help, since they were too few to make a stand against Xerxes’ army.
14. While this debate was going on, Xerxes sent a mounted spy to observe the Greeks, and note how many they were, and see what they were doing.
15. He had heard, before he came out of Thessaly, that a few men were assembled at this place, and that at their head were certain Lacedaemonians under Leonidas.
16. The horseman rode up to the camp, and looked about him, but did not see the whole army;
17. For such as were on the further side of the wall, which had been rebuilt and was now carefully guarded, it was not possible for him to behold;
18. But he observed those on the outside, who were encamped in front of the rampart.
19. It chanced that at this time the Spartans held the outer guard, and were seen by the spy,
20. Some of them engaged in gymnastic exercises, others combing their long hair.
21. At this the spy greatly marvelled, but he counted their number, and when he had taken accurate note of everything, he rode back quietly;
22. For no one pursued him, or paid any heed to his visit.
23. On hearing his report Xerxes, who had no means of surmising the truth – namely, that the Spartans were preparing to do or die manfully – thought it laughable that they should be engaged in such employments.
24. He sent for the Spartan Demaratus, and told him what he had heard, and questioned him about it, for he wished to understand the meaning of the Spartans’ behaviour.
25. Demaratus said, ‘I told you before, O king! about these men, when we had just begun our march upon Greece;
26. ‘You only laughed at my words, but I tried to tell you the truth.
27. ‘These men have come to dispute the