The Good Book_ A Secular Bible - A. C. Grayling [172]
20. The barbarians reached Aphetae early in the afternoon, and then saw, as they had previously heard reported, that a fleet of Greek ships, few in number, lay at Artemisium.
21. At once they were eager to engage, fearing that the Greeks would flee, and hoping to capture them before they could escape.
22. They did not think it wise to make straight for the Greek station, in case the enemy saw them approaching, and thus escaped;
23. In which case night might fall before they overtook the fugitives; for the Persians were resolved not to let a single person slip through their hands.
24. They therefore contrived a plan to send two hundred ships around Euboea by Caphareus and Geraestus, so reaching the Euripus without being seen because they sailed outside the island of Sciathos.
25. This was to enclose the Greeks on every side; the ships detached would block the Greeks’ line of retreat, while the rest of the Persian fleet would attack from the front.
26. Now the Persians had with them a man named Scyllias, a native of Scione, who was the most expert diver of his day.
27. At the time of the shipwreck off Mount Pelion he had recovered for the Persians much of what they lost, at the same time taking care to obtain a good share of the treasure for himself.
28. He had been wishing to go over to the Greeks for some time, but no good opportunity had offered itself till now.
29. So he slipped away, and no sooner reached Artemisium than he gave the Greek captains a full account of the damage done by the storm,
30. And likewise told them of the ships sent to make the circuit of Euboea.
31. On hearing this the Greeks held a council, at which they resolved on a plan: to remain at their moorings until midnight, then put out to sea, and attack the ships which were on their way round the island.
32. Later in the day, when they found that no one meddled with them, they formed a new plan, which was to wait till near evening,
33. And then sail out against the main body of the barbarians, for the purpose of testing the Persian mode of fighting and skill in manoeuvring.
34. When the Persians saw the Greeks boldly sailing towards them with their few ships, they thought them mad, and went out to meet them,
35. Expecting, as indeed seemed likely enough, that they would capture all their vessels with the greatest ease.
36. Such of the Ionians as wished well to the Grecian cause but served unwillingly in the Persian fleet, seeing their countrymen surrounded, were sorely distressed; for they felt sure that not one of them would escape.
37. On the other hand, such as saw with pleasure the attack on Greece, now vied eagerly with each other who should be the first to make prize of an Athenian ship, and thereby secure himself a rich reward from the king.
38. For through both the fleets none were so much admired as the Athenians.
39. The Greeks, at a signal, brought the sterns of their ships together into a small compass, and turned their prows on every side towards the barbarians;
40. After which, at a second signal, although enclosed within a narrow space, and closely pressed upon by the foe, yet they fell bravely to work,
41. And captured thirty ships of the barbarians, at the same time taking prisoner Philaon, the son of Chersis, and brother of Gorgus king of Salamis, a man of much repute in the Persian fleet.
42. The first to capture a Persian ship was Lycomedes the son of Aeschreas, an Athenian, who was afterwards given the prize for valour.
43. Victory was still doubtful when night came, and put a stop to the combat. The Greeks sailed back to Artemisium,
44. And the barbarians returned to Aphetae, much surprised at the result, which was far different from what they expected.
45. In this battle only one of the Greeks who fought on the side of Xerxes deserted and joined his countrymen.
46. This was Antidorus of Lemnos, whom the Athenians rewarded for his desertion by a present of land in Salamis.
Chapter 76
1. Evening had barely arrived when heavy rain – it was about midsummer – began to fall, which continued