the history-第138部分
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
dwelt in the Peloponnese； we marched out to the Isthmus； and pitched our camp over against the invaders； then； as the tale goes； that Hyllus made proclamation； saying… 'It needs not to imperil two armies in a general battle； rather let one be chosen from the Peloponnesian ranks； whomsoever they deem the bravest； and let him engage with me in single combat； on such terms as shall be agreed upon。' The saying pleased the Peloponnesians； and oaths were sworn to the effect following：… 'If Hyllus conquer the Peloponnesian champion； the Heraclidae shall return to their inheritance； if； on the other hand； he be conquered； the Heraclidae shall withdraw； lead back their army； and engage for the next hundred years to make no further endeavours to force their return。〃 Hereupon Echemus； the son of Aeropus and grandson of Phegeus； who was our leader and king； offered himself； and was preferred before all his brothers…in…arms as champion； engaged in single combat with Hyllus； and slew him upon the spot。 For this exploit we were rewarded by the Peloponnesians of that day with many goodly privileges； which we have ever since enjoyed； and； among the rest； we obtained the right of holding the leading post in one wing； whenever a joint expedition goes forth beyond our borders。 With you then； O Lacedaemonians； we do not claim to compete； choose you which wing ye please； we yield and grant you the preference： but we maintain that the command of the other wing belongs of right to us； now no less than formerly。 Moreover； set aside this exploit which we have related； and still our title to the chief post is better than that of the Athenians： witness the many glorious fights in which we have been engaged against yourselves； O Spartans！ as well as those which we have maintained with others。 We have therefore more right to this place than they； for they have performed no exploits to be compared to ours； whether we look to earlier or to later times。〃 Thus spake the Tegeans； and the Athenians made reply as follows：… 〃We are not ignorant that our forces were gathered here； not for the purpose of speech…making； but for battle against the barbarian。 Yet as the Tegeans have been pleased to bring into debate the exploits performed by our two nations； alike in carlier and in later times； we have no choice but to set before you the grounds on which we claim it as our heritage； deserved by our unchanging bravery； to be preferred above Arcadians。 In the first place； then； those very Heraclidae； whose leader they boast to have slain at the Isthmus； and whom the other Greeks would not receive when they asked a refuge from the bondage wherewith they were threatened by the people of Mycinae； were given a shelter by us； and we brought down the insolence of Eurystheus； and helped to gain the victory over those who were at that time lords of the Peloponnese。 Again； when the Argives led their troops with Polynices against Thebes； and were slain and refused burial； it is our boast that we went out against the Cadmeians； recovered the bodies； and buried them at Eleusis in our own territory。 Another noble deed of ours was that against the Amazons； when they came from their seats upon the Thermodon； and poured their hosts into Attica； and in the Trojan war too we were not a whit behind any of the Greeks。 But what boots it to speak of these ancient matters？ A nation which was brave in those days might have grown cowardly since； and a nation of cowards then might now be valiant。 Enough therefore of our ancient achievements。 Had we performed no other exploit than that at Marathon… though in truth we have performed exploits as many and as noble as any of the Greeks… yet had we performed no other； we should deserve this privilege； and many a one beside。 There we stood alone； and singly fought with the Persians； nay； and venturing on so dangerous a cast； we overcame the enemy； and conquered on that day forty and six nations！ Does not this one achievement suffice to make good our title to the post we claim？ Nevertheless； Lacedaemonians； as to strive concerning place at such a time as this is not right； we are ready to do as ye command； and to take our station at whatever part of the line； and face whatever nation ye think most expedient。 Wheresoever ye place us； 'twill be our endeavour to behave as brave men。 Only declare your will； and we shall at once obey you。〃 Such was the reply of the Athenians； and forthwith all the Lacedaemonian troops cried out with one voice； that the Athenians were worthier to have the left wing than the Arcadians。 In this way were the Tegeans overcome； and the post was assigned to the Athenians。 When this matter had been arranged； the Greek army； which was in part composed of those who came at the first； in part of such as had flocked in from day to day； drew up in the following order：… Ten thousand Lacedaemonian troops held the right wing； five thousand of whom were Spartans； and these five thousand were attended by a body of thirty…five thousand Helots； who were only lightly armed… seven Helots to each Spartan。 The place next to themselves the Spartans gave to the Tegeans； on account of their courage and of the esteem in which they held them。 They were all fully armed； and numbered fifteen hundred men。 Next in order came the Corinthians； five thousand strong； and with them Pausanias had placed； at their request； the band of three hundred which had come from Potidaea in Pallene。 The Arcadians of Orchomenus； in number six hundred； came next； then the Sicyonians； three thousand； then the Epidaurians； eight hundred； then the Troezenians； one thousand； then the Lepreats； two hundred； the Mycenaeans and Tirynthians； four hundred； the Phliasians； one thousand； the Hermionians； three hundred； the Eretrians and Styreans； six hundred； the Chalcideans； four hundred； and the Ambraciots； five hundred。 After these came the Leucadians and Anactorians； who numbered eight hundred； the Paleans of Cephallenia； two hundred； the Eginetans； five hundred； the Megarians； three thousand； and the Plataeans； six hundred。 Last of all； but first at their extremity of the line； were the Athenians； who； to the number of eight thousand； occupied the left wing； under the command of Aristides； the son of Lysimachus。 All these； except the Helots… seven of whom； as I said； attended each Spartan… were heavy…armed troops； and they amounted to thirty…eight thousand seven hundred men。 This was the number of Hoplites； or heavy…armed soldiers； which was together against the barbarian。 The light…armed troops consisted of the thirty…five thousand ranged with the Spartans； seven in attendance upon each； who were all well equipped for war； and of thirty…four thousand five hundred others； belonging to the Lacedaemonians and the rest of the Greeks； at the rate （nearly） of one light to one heavy armed。 Thus the entire number of the light…armed was sixty…nine thousand five hundred。 The Greek army； therefore； which mustered at Plataea； counting light…armed as well as heavy…armed； was but eighteen hundred men short of one hundred and ten thousand； and this amount was exactly made up by the Thespians who were present in the camp； for eighteen hundred Thespians； being the whole number left； were likewise with the army； but these men were without arms。 Such was the array of the Greek troops when they took post on the Asopus。 The barbarians under Mardonius； when the mourning for Masistius was at an end； and they learnt that the Greeks were in the Plataean territory； moved likewise towards the river Asopus； which flows in those parts。 On their arrival Mardonius marshalled them against the Greeks in the following order：… Against the Lacedaemonians he posted his Persians； and as the Persians were far more numerous he drew them up with their ranks deeper than common； and also extended their front so that part faced the Tegeans； and here he took care to choose out the best troops to face the Lacedaemonians； whilst against the Tegeans he arrayed those on whom he could not so much depend。 This was done at the suggestion and by the advice of the Thebans。 Next to the Persians he placed the Medes； facing the Corinthians； Potidaeans； Orchomenians； and Sicyonians； then the Bactrians； facing the Epidaurians； Troezenians； Lepreats； Tirynthians； Mycenaeans； and Phliasians； after them the Indians； facing the Hermionians； Eretrians； Styreans； and Chalcidians； then the Sacans； facing the Ambraciots； Anactorians； Leucadians； Paleans； and Eginetans； last of all； facing the Athenians； the Plataeans； and the Megarians； he placed the troops of the Boeotians； Locrians； Malians； and Thessalians； and also the thousand Phocians。 The whole nation of the Phocians had not joined the Medes； on the contrary； there were some who had gathered themselves into bands about Parnassus； and made expeditions from thence； whereby they distressed Mardonius and the Greeks who sided with him； and so did good service to the Grecian cause。 Besides those mentioned above； Mardonius likewise arrayed against the Athenians the Macedonians and the tribes dwelling about Thessaly。 I have named here the greatest of the nations which were marshalled by Mardonius on this occasion； to wit； all those of most renown and account。 Mixed with these； however； were men of divers other peoples； as Phrygians； Thracians； Mysians； Paeonians； and the like； Ethiopians again； and Egyptians； both of the Hermotybian and Calascirian races； whose weapon is the sword； and who are the only fighting men in that country。 These persons had formerly served on board the fleet of Xerxes； but Mardonius disembarked them before he left Phalerum； in the land force which Xerxes brought to Athens there were no Egyptians。 The number of the barbarians； as I have already mentioned； was three hundred thousand； that of the Greeks who had made alliance with Mardonius is known to none； for they were never counted： I should guess that they mustered near fifty thousand strong。 The troops thus marshalled were all foot soldiers。 As for the horse； it was drawn up by itself。 When the marshalling of Mardonius' troops by nations and by maniples was ended； the two armies proceeded on the next day to offer sacrifice。 The Grecian sacrifice was offered by Tisamenus； the son of Antiochus； who accompani
