spontaneously, from the earth, to succor Hercules, when be was burning. A third river, called Melas, flows at the distance of twenty furlongs more.

Within five furlongs of this last river, stands the town of Trachis. In this part, the country is the widest, extending from the mountains to the sea, and comprehending a space of twenty-two thousand plethra.* In the mountainous tract which encloses Trachinia, there is an opening, to the west of Trachis, through which, the Asopus winds round the base of the mountain.

To the west of this, another small stream is found, named the Phoenix; it rises in these mountains, and empties itself into the Asopus. The most contracted part of the country is that, which lies nearest the Phonix, where the road will only admit one carriage to pass. From the Phoenix to Thermopyla, are fifteen furlongs : between the Phoenix and Thermopyla, is a village named Anthela; passing which, the Asopus meets the sea. The country contiguous to Anthela, is spacious. Here may be seen a temple of Ceres Amphictyonis, the seats of the Amphictyons, and a shrine of Amphictyon himself.

Xerxes encamped in Trachinia, at Melis; the Greeks, in the Straits. These Straits, the Greeks, in general, call Thermopyla; the people of the country, Pyle, only. Here, then, were the two armies stationed; Xerxes occupying all the northern region, as far as Trachinia, the Greeks, that of the south.

The Grecian army, which here waited the approach of the Persian, was composed of three hundred Spartans, in complete armor; five hundred Tegeatæ, and as many Mantineans; one hundred and twenty men from Orchomenus of Arcadia; a thousand men from the rest of Arcadia; four hundred Corinthians; two hundred from Phlius; and eighty from Mycena. The above came from the Peloponnesus. From Boeotia, there were seven hundred Thespians, and four hundred Thebans.

In addition to the above, the aid of all the Opuntian Locrians had been solicited, together with a thousand

* A plethron is one hundred feet.

Phoceans. To obtain the assistance of these, the Greeks had previously sent emissaries among them; saying, that they were the forerunners only of another, and more numerous body, whose arrival was every day expected. They added, that the defence of the sea was confided to the people of Athens and Ægina, in conjunction with the rest of the fleet; that there was no occasion for alarm, as the invader of Greece was not a god, but a mere human being; that there never was, nor could be, any mortal superior to the vicissitudes of fortune; that the most exalted characters were exposed to the greatest evils. He, therefore, a mortal, now advancing to attack them, would suffer for his temerity. These arguments proved effectual, and they accordingly marched to Trachis, to join their allies.

These troops were commanded by different officers, of their respective countries; but the man, most regarded, and who was intrusted with the chief command, was Leonidas, of Sparta. His ancestors were Anaxandrides, Leon, Eurycratides, Anaxander, Eurycrates, Polydorus, Alcamenes, Teleclus, Archelaus, Agesilaus, Doryssus, Leobotes, Echestratus, Agis, Eurysthenes, Aristodemus, Aristomachus, Cleodæus, Hyllus, and Hercules.

An accident had placed him on the throne of Sparta, for, as he had two brothers, older than himself, Cleomenes and Dorieus, he had entertained no thoughts of the government; but Cleomenes dying without male issue, and Dorieus not surviving, (for he ended his days in Sicily,) the crown came to Leonidas, who was older than Cleombrotus, the youngest of the sons of Anaxandrides, and who had married the daughter of Cleomenes. On the present occasion, he took with him, to Thermopylæ, a body of three hundred chosen men, all of whom had children. To these, he added those Theban troops, whose number I have before mentioned, and who were conducted by Leontiades, son of Eurymachus. Leonidas had selected the Thebans to accompany him, because a suspicion generally prevailed, that they were secretly attached to the Medes. These, therefore, he summoned to attend him, to ascertain whether they would actually

contribute their aid, or openly withdraw themselves from the Grecian league. With sentiments perfectly hostile, they nevertheless sent the assistance required.

The march of this body, under Leonidas, was accelerated by the Spartans, that their example might stimulate their allies to action, and that they might not make their delay a pretence for going over to the Medes. The celebration of the Carnian festival* protracted the march of their main body; but it was their intention to follow, with all imaginable expedition, leaving only a small detachment for the defence of Sparta. The rest of the allies were actuated by similar motives; for the Olympic games happened to recur at this period; and, as they did not expect an engagement would immediately take place, at Thermopyle, they sent only a detachment before them.

Such were the motives of the confederate body. The Greeks, who were already assembled at Thermopyla, were seized with so much terror, on the approach of the Persian, that they consulted about a retreat. Those of the Peloponnesus were, in general, of opinion, that they should return, and guard the isthmus; but, as the Phoceans and Locrians were exceedingly averse to this measure, Leonidas prevailed on them to continue on their post. He resolved, however, to send messengers round to all the States, requiring supplies, stating that their number was much too small, to oppose the Medes with any effect.

While they thus deliberated, Xerxes sent a horseman, to examine their number and their motions. He had before heard, in Thessaly, that a small band was collected at this passage; that they were led by Lacedæmonians, and by Leonidas, of the race of Hercules. The person employed performed his duty: all those, who were without the intrenchment, he was able to reconnoiter; those who were within, for the purpose of defending it, eluded his observation. The Lacedæmonians were, at that pe

* A festival celebrated at Sparta, in honor of Apollo, the heathen god of the fine arts, of medicine, poetry, music, and eloquence. This festival lasted seven days. It was so called, from Carneus, one of the names of Apollo.

riod, stationed without; of these, some were performing gymnastic exercises, while others were employed in combing their hair. He was greatly astonished; but he leisurely surveyed their number and employments, and returned, without molestation, for they despised him too much to pursue him. He related to Xerxes all that he had seen.

Xerxes, on hearing the above, was little aware of what was really the case; that this people were preparing themselves, either to conquer or to die. The thing appeared to him so ridiculous, that he sent for Demaratus,* the son of Ariston, who was then with the army. On his appearing, the King questioned him, on this behavior of the Spartans, expressing his desire to know what it might intimate. "I have before, sir," said Demaratus, "spoken to you of this people, at the commencement of this expedition; and, as I remember, when I related to you what I knew you would have occasion to observe, you treated me with contempt. I am conscious of the danger of declaring the truth, in opposition to your prejudices; but I will, nevertheless, do this. It is the determination of these men to dispute with us, and they are preparing themselves, accordingly. It is their custom, before any enterprise of danger, to adorn their hair. Of this, you may be assured, that, if you vanquish these and their countrymen in Sparta, no other nation will presume to take up arms against you; you are now advancing to attack a people whose realms and city are the fairest, and whose troops are the bravest, of Greece." These words seemed to Xerxes preposterous enough; but he demanded, a second time, how so small a number could contend with his army. "Sir," said he, "I will submit to suffer the punishment of falsehood, if what I say does not happen."

Xerxes was still incredulous: he accordingly kept his position, without any movement, for four days, in expectation of seeing them retreat. On the fifth day, observing that they continued on their post, merely, as he supposed,

* Demaratus had been king of Sparta, but, having been deposed from that dignity, had joined Xerxes.

from the most impudent rashness, he became much exas perated, and sent against them a detachment of Medes and Cissians, with a command to bring them alive to his presence. The Medes, in consequence, attacked them, and lost a considerable number. A re-enforcement arrived; but, though the onset was severe, no impression was made. It now became universally conspicuous, and no less so to the King himself, that he had many troops, but few men. The above engagement continued all day.

The Medes, after being very roughly treated, retired, and were succeeded by the band of Persians, called, by the King, the immortal,' and commanded by Hydarnes. These, it was supposed, would succeed, without the smallest difficulty. They commenced the attack, but made no greater impression than the Medes; their superior numbers were of no advantage, on account of the narrowness of the place; and their spears, also, were shorter than those of the Greeks. The Lacedæmonians fought in a manner, which deserves to be recorded; their own excellent discipline, and the unskilfulness of their adversaries, were, in many instances, remarkable; and not the least so, when, in close ranks, they effected a retreat. The Barbarians,* seeing them retire, pursued them, with a great and clamorous shout; but, on their near approach, the Greeks faced about to receive them. The loss of the Persians was prodigious, and a few also of the Spartans fell. The Persians, after successive efforts, made with great bodies of their troops, to gain the pass, were unable to accomplish it, and obliged to retire.

It is said of Xerxes, himself, that, being a spectator of the contest, he was so greatly alarmed, for the safety of his men, that he leaped thrice from his throne. On the following day, the Barbarians succeeded no better than before. They went to the onset, as against a contemptible number, whose wounds, they supposed, would hardly permit them to renew the combat: but the Greeks, drawn up in regular divisions, fought, each nation on its respective post, except the Phoceans, who were station.

* The Greeks called the inhabitants of foreign nations, Barbarians