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onidas. In this situation, they who had swords left used them against the enemy; the rest exerted themselves, with their hands and their teeth. The Barbarians rushing on them, some in front, after overturning their wall, others surrounding and pressing them in all directions, finally overpowered them.

Such was the conduct of the Lacedæmonians and Thespians; but none of them distinguished themselves so much, as Dieneces the Spartan. A speech of his is re corded, which he made before they came to any engage ment. A certain Trachinian, having observed, that the Barbarians would send forth such a shower of arrows, that their multitude would obscure the sun, he replied, like a man ignorant of fear, and despising the numbers of the Medes,-"Our Trachinian friend promises us great advantages if the Medes obscure the sun's light, we shall fight with them in the shade, and be protected from the heat." Many other sayings have been handed down; as monuments of this man's fame.

Next to him, the most distinguished, of the Spartans, were, Alpheus and Maron, two brothers, the sons of Orsiphantus. Of the Thespians, the most conspicuous was Dithyrambus, son of Harmatidas.

All these were interred in the place, where they fell, together with such of the confederates as were slain before the separation of the forces by Leonidas. On their tomb, was this inscription :

"Here, once, from Pelops' sea-girt region brought,

Four thousand men three hostile millions fought.

This was applied to them all, collectively. The Spartans were thus distinguished:

"Go, stranger, and to listening Spartans tell,

That here, obedient to their laws, we fell."

There was one also appropriated to the prophet Megistias :

"By Medes cut off, beside Sperchius' wave,
The seer Megistias fills this glorious grave:
Who stood, the fate he well foresaw, to meet,

And, linked with Sparta's leaders, scorned retreat.”

All these ornaments and inscriptions, that of Megistias

alone excepted, were here placed by the Amphictyons. Simonides, son of Leoprepis, inscribed the one to the honor of Megistias, from the ties of private hospitality.

Of these three hundred, there were two, named Eurytus and Aristodemus: both of them, consistently with the discipline of their country, might have secured themselves, by retiring to Sparta, for Leonidas had permitted them to leave the camp; but they continued at Alpenus, being both afflicted by a violent disorder of the eyes; or, if they had not thought proper to return home, they had the alternative of meeting death in the field with their fellowsoldiers. In this situation, they differed in opinion, what conduct to pursue. Eurytus, having heard of the circuit made by the Persians, called for his arms, and, putting them on, commanded his helot to conduct him to the battle. The slave did so, and immediately fled, while his master died, fighting valiantly. Aristodemus pusillanimously stayed where he was. If either Aristodemus, being individually diseased, had retired home, or if they had returned together, I cannot think that the Spartans could have shown any resentment against them; but, as one of them died in the field, which the other, who was precisely in the same circumstances, refused to do, it was impossible not to be greatly incensed against Aristode

mus.

The safe return of Aristodemus to Sparta is by some thus related and explained. There are others, who assert, that he was despatched on some business from the army, and might, if he had pleased, have been present at the battle, but that he saved himself, by lingering on the way. They add, that his companion, employed on the same business, returned to the battle, and there fell.

Aristodemus, on his return, was branded with disgrace and infamy. No one would speak with him; no one would supply him with fire; and the opprobrious term. of trembler, was annexed to his name: but he afterwards, at the battle of Platææ, effectually atoned for his former conduct.

It is also said, that another of the three hundred survived; his name was Pantites, and he had been sent on

some business to Thessaly. Returning to Sparta, he felt himself in disgrace, and put an end to his life.

The Thebans, under the command of Leontiades, hitherto constrained by force, had fought with the Greeks, against the Persians; but, as soon as they saw that the Persians were victorious, when Leonidas and his party retired to the hill, they separated themselves from the Greeks. In the attitude of suppliants, they approached the Barbarians, assuring them, what was really the truth, that they were attached to the Medes; that they had been among the first to render earth and water; that they had only come to Thermopyla on compulsion, and could not be considered as accessary to the slaughter of the king's troops. The Thessalians confirming the truth of what they had asserted, their lives were preserved. Some of them, however, were slain; for, as they approached, the Barbarians put several to the sword; but the greater part, by the order of Xerxes, had the royal marks impressed on them, beginning with Leontiades himself. Eurymachus, his son, was afterwards slain, at the head of four hundred Thebans, by the people of Platææ, while he was making an attempt on their city.

In this manner, the Greeks fought at Thermopylæ. Xerxes afterwards sent for Demaratus, and thus addressed him: "I have, already, Demaratus, had experience of your truth and integrity; every thing has happened, as you foretold; tell me, then, how many of the Lacedæmonians may there be left? how many of like valor with those who have perished? or, are they all alike ?” "Sir," replied Demaratus, "the Lacedæmonians are a numerous people, and possessed of many cities; but I will answer your question more particularly. Sparta, itself, contains eight thousand men, all of whom are equal in valor to those who fought here; the other Lacedæmonians, though inferior to these, are still brave." Tell me, then," returned Xerxes, "how we may subdue these men, with least trouble: you, who have been their Prince, must know what measures they are likely to pursue.

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"Since," answered Demaratus, "you place a confidence in my opinion, it is proper that I should speak to

you from the best of my judgement; I would, therefore, recommend you to send a fleet of three hundred vessels to the coast of Lacedæmonia. Contiguous to this, is an island named Cythera, of which Chilon, the wisest of our countrymen, observed, that it would be better for the Spartans, if it were buried in the sea, foreseeing the probability of such a measure as I now recommend. From this island, your troops may spread terror over Sparta. Thus, a war so very near them, may remove from you any apprehension of their assisting the rest of Greece, which will then be open to your arms, and which, if subdued, will leave Sparta hardly able to oppose you. my advice be disregarded, you may expect what follows. There is a narrow isthmus in the Peloponnesus, in which all its people will assemble, in resistance to your arms, and where you will have far more violent contests to sustain, than you have here experienced. If you execute what I propose, you may, without a battle, become master of the isthmus, with all the cities of the Peloponnesus."

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Achæmenes, the brother of Xerxes, and commander of the fleet, was present at this interview. Fearful that the King might do as he had been advised, he thus delivered his sentiments: "You seem," said he, "too much inclined to listen to a man, who either envies your prosperity, or wishes to betray you. It is the character of Greeks, to envy the successful, and to hate their superiors. We have already lost, by shipwreck, four hundred vessels; if we detach three hundred more to the Peloponnesus, the force of our opponents will be equal to our Our united fleet will be far superior to theirs, and, with respect to any efforts they can make, invincible. If your forces by land, and your fleet by sea, advance at the same time, they will be able mutually to assist each other if you separate them, the fleet will not be able to assist you, nor you the fleet. It becomes you to deliberate well on your own affairs, and not to concern yourself about those of your enemies, nor to inquire, where they will commence their hostilities, what measures they will take, or how numerous they are. Let them attend to their affairs, we to ours. If the Lacedæmonians shall

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presume to attack the Persians, they will be far from repairing the loss they have already sustained."

"Achæmenes," answered Xerxes, "I approve your counsel, and will follow it. The sentiments of Demaratus are, I well know, dictated by his regard to my interests; but your advice, to me, seems preferable. I cannot be persuaded, that he has any improper intentions, events having proved the wisdom of his former counsels. One man frequently envies the prosperity of another, and indulges in secret sentiments of hatred against him; neither will he, when he requires it, give him salutary advice, unless, indeed, from some surprising effort of virtue; but a friend exults in a friend's happiness; has no sentiments for him but those of the truest kindness, and gives him always the best advice. Let no one, therefore, in future, use any invective against Demaratus, who is my friend."

When Xerxes had finished, he went to view the dead, among whom was Leonidas. When he heard that he had been the Prince, and leader of Sparta, he ordered his head to be cut off, and his body to be suspended on a cross. This incident is no small proof to me, among many others, that Xerxes indulged the warmest indignation against Leonidas, while he was alive. He otherwise would not have treated him, when dead, with such barbarity. I know that the Persians, of all mankind, most highly honor military virtue. The orders, however, of the King, were executed.

I shall now return to the thread of our history. The Spartans were the first who were acquainted with the King's designs against Greece; they sent to the oracle, on the occasion, and received the answer I have related. The intelligence was communicated to them in an extraordinary manner. Demaratus, the son of Ariston, had taken refuge among the Medes, and, as there is every reason to suppose, was not friendly to the Spartans. He, however, it was, who informed them of what was meditated, whether to serve or insult them, must be left to conjecture. When Xerxes had resolved on this expedition against Greece, Demaratus, who was at Susa, and ac

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