themistocles-第3部分

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　　Themistocles；　being　at　a　loss；　and　not　able　to　draw　the　people
over　to　his　opinion　by　any　human　reason；　set　his　machines　to　work；
as　in　a　theatre；　and　employed　prodigies　and　oracles。　The　serpent　of
Minerva；　kept　in　the　inner　part　of　her　temple；　disappeared；　the　priest
gave　it　out　to　the　people　that　the　offerings　which　were　set　for　it
were　found　untouched；　and　declared；　by　the　suggestion　of　Themistocles；
that　the　goddess　had　left　the　city；　and　taken　her　flight　before　them
towards　the　sea。　And　he　often　urged　them　with　the　oracle　which　bade
them　trust　to　walls　of　wood；　showing　them　that　walls　of　wood　could
signify　nothing　else　but　ships…　and　that　the　island　of　Salamis　was
termed　in　it；　not　miserable　or　unhappy；　but　had　the　epithet　of　divine；
for　that　it　should　one　day　be　associated　with　a　great　good　fortune
of　the　Greeks。　At　length　his　opinion　prevailed；　and　he　obtained　a
decree　that　the　city　should　be　committed　to　the　protection　of　Minerva；
〃Queen　of　Athens；〃　that　they　who　were　of　age　to　bear　arms　should
embark；　and　that　each　should　see　to　sending　away　his　children；
women；　and　slaves　where　he　could。　This　decree　being　confirmed；　most　of
the　Athenians　removed　their　parents；　wives；　and　children　to　Troezen；
where　they　were　received　with　eager　good…will　by　the　Troezenians；
who　passed　a　vote　that　they　should　be　maintained　at　the　public　charge；
by　a　daily　payment　of　two　obols　to　every　one；　and　leave　be　given　to
the　children　to　gather　fruit　where　they　pleased；　and　schoolmasters
paid　to　instruct　them。　This　vote　was　proposed　by　Nicagoras。
　　There　was　no　public　treasure　at　that　time　in　Athens；　but　the　council
of　Areopagus；　as　Aristotle　says；　distributed　to　every　one　that
served　eight　drachmas；　which　was　a　great　help　to　the　manning　of　the
fleet；　but　Clidemus　ascribes　this　also　to　the　art　of　Themistocles。
When　the　Athenians　were　on　their　way　down　to　the　haven　of　Piraeus；　the
shield　with　the　head　of　Medusa　was　missing；　and　be；　under　the
pretext　of　searching　for　it；　ransacked　all　places；　and　found　among
their　goods　considerable　sums　of　money　concealed；　which　he　applied
to　the　public　use；　and　with　this　the　soldiers　and　seamen　were　well
provided　for　their　voyage。
　　When　the　whole　city　of　Athens　were　going　on　board；　it　afforded　a
spectacle　worthy　alike　of　pity　and　admiration；　to　see　them　thus　send
away　their　fathers　and　children　before　them；　and；　unmoved　with　their
cries　and　tears；　passed　over　into　the　island。　But　that　which　stirred
compassion　most　of　all　was；　that　many　old　men；　by　reason　of　their
great　age；　were　left　behind；　and　even　the　tame　domestic　animals
could　not　be　seen　without　some　pity；　running　about　the　town　and
howling；　as　desirous　to　be　carried　along　with　their　masters　that　had
kept　them；　among　which　it　is　reported　that　Xanthippus；　the　father　of
Pericles；　had　a　dog　that　would　not　endure　to　stay　behind；　but　leaped
into　the　sea；　and　swam　along　by　the　galley's　side　till　he　came　to
the　island　of　Salamis；　where　he　fainted　away　and　died；　and　that　spot
in　the　island；　which　is　still　called　the　Dog's　Grave；　is　said　to　be
his。
　　Among　the　great　actions　of　Themistocles　at　this　crisis；　the　recall
of　Aristides　was　not　the　least；　for；　before　the　war；　he　had　been
ostracized　by　the　party　which　Themistocles　headed；　and　was　in
banishment；　but　now；　perceiving　that　the　people　regretted　his　absence；
and　were　fearful　that　he　might　go　over　to　the　Persians　to　revenge
himself；　and　thereby　ruin　the　affairs　of　Greece；　Themistocles　proposed
a　decree　that　those　who　were　banished　for　a　time　might　return　again；
to　give　assistance　by　word　and　deed　to　the　cause　of　Greece　with　the
rest　of　their　fellow…citizens。
　　Eurybiades；　by　reason　of　the　greatness　of　Sparta；　was　admiral　of　the
Greek　fleet；　but　yet　was　faint…hearted　in　time　of　danger；　and
willing　to　weigh　anchor　and　set　sail　for　the　isthmus　of　Corinth；
near　which　the　land　army　lay　encamped；　which　Themistocles　resisted；
and　this　was　the　occasion　of　the　well…known　words；　when　Eurybiades；　to
check　his　impatience；　told　him　that　at　the　Olympic　games　they　that
start　up　before　the　rest　are　lashed；　〃And　they；〃　replied　Themistocles；
〃that　are　left　behind　are　not　crowned。〃　Again；　Eurybiades　lifting　up
his　staff　as　if　he　were　going　to　strike；　Themistocles　said；　〃Strike　if
you　will；　but　hear；〃　Eurybiades；　wondering　much　at　his　moderation；
desired　him　to　speak；　and　Themistocles　now　brought　him　to　a　better
understanding。　And　when　one　who　stood　by　him　told　him　that　it　did
not　become　those　who　had　neither　city　nor　house　to　lose；　to　persuade
others　to　relinquish　their　habitations　and　forsake　their　countries；
Themistocles　gave　this　reply：　〃We　have　indeed　left　our　houses　and
our　walls；　base　fellow；　not　thinking　it　fit　to　become　slaves　for　the
sake　of　things　that　have　no　life　nor　soul；　and　yet　our　city　is　the
greatest　of　all　Greece；　consisting　of　two　hundred　galleys；　which　are
here　to　defend　you；　if　you　please；　but　if　you　run　away　and　betray
us；　as　you　did　once　before；　the　Greeks　shall　soon　hear　news　of　the
Athenians　possessing　as　fair　a　country；　and　as　large　and　free　a
city；　as　that　they　have　lost。〃　These　expressions　of　Themistocles
made　Eurybiades　suspect　that　if　he　retreated　the　Athenians　would
fall　off　from　him。　When　one　of　Eretria　began　to　oppose　him；　he　said；
〃Have　you　anything　to　say　of　war；　that　are　like　an　inkfish？　you　have　a
sword；　but　no　heart。〃　Some　say　that　while　Themistocles　was　thus
speaking　upon　the　deck；　an　owl　was　seen　flying　to　the　right　hand　of
the　fleet；　which　came　and　sate　upon　the　top　of　the　mast；　and　this
happy　omen　so　far　disposed　the　Greeks　to　follow　his　advice；　that
they　presently　prepared　to　fight。　Yet；　when　the　enemy's　fleet　was
arrived　at　the　haven　of　Phalerum；　upon　the　coast　of　Attica；　and　with
the　number　of　their　ships　concealed　all　the　shore；　and　when　they　saw
the　king　himself　in　person　come　down　with　his　land　army　to　the
seaside；　with　all　his　forces　united；　then　the　good　counsel　of
Themistocles　was　soon　forgotten；　and　the　Peloponnesians　cast　their
eyes　again　towards　the　isthmus；　and　took　it　very　ill　if　any　one
spoke　against　their　returning　home；　and；　resolving　to　depart　that
night；　the　pilots　had　orders　what　course　to　steer。
　　Themistocles；　in　great　distress　that　the　Greeks　should　retire；　and
lose　the　advantage　of　the　narrow　seas　and　strait　passage；　and　slip
home　every　one　to　his　own　city；　considered　with　himself；　and　contrived
that　stratagem　that　was　carried　out　by　Sicinnus。　This　Sicinnus　was　a
Persian　captive；　but　a　great　lover　of　Themistocles；　and　the
attendant　of　his　children。　Upon　this　occasion；　he　sent　him　privately
to　Xerxes；　commanding　him　to　tell　the　king　that　Themistocles；　the
admiral　of　the　Athenians；　having　espoused　his　interest；　wished　to　be
the　first　to　inform　him　that　the　Greeks　were　ready　to　make　their
escape；　and　that　he　counselled　him　to　hinder　their　flight；　to　set　upon
them　while　they　were　in　this　confusion　and　at　a　distance　from　their
land　army；　and　hereby　destroy　all　their　forces　by　sea。　Xerxes　was　very
joyful　at　this　message；　and　received　it　as　from　one　who　wished　him　all
that　was　good；　and　immediately　issued　instructions　to　the　commanders
of　his　ships；　that　they　should　instantly　set　out　with　two　hundred
galleys　to　encompass　all　the　islands；　and　enclose　all　the　straits
and　passages；　that　none　of　the　Greeks　might　escape；　and　that　they
should　afterwards　follow　with　the　rest　of　their　fleet　at　leisure。　This
being　done；　Aristides；　the　son　of　Lysimachus；　was　the　first　man　that
perceived　it；　and　went　to　the　tent　of　Themistocles；　not　out　of　any
friendship；　for　he　had　been　formerly　banished　by　his　means；　as　has
been　related；　but　to　inform　him　how　they　were　encompassed　by　their
enemies。　Themistocles；　knowing　the　generosity　of　Aristides；　and　much
struck　by　his　visit　at　that　time；　imparted　to　him　all　that　he　had
transacted　by　Sicinnus；　and　entreated　him　that；　as　he　would　be　more
readily　believed　among　the　Greeks；　he　would　make　use　of　his　credit
to　help　to　induce　them　to　stay　and　fight　their　enemies　in　the　narrow
seas。　Aristides　applauded　Themistocles；　and　went　to　the　other
commanders　and　captains　of　the　galleys；　and　encouraged　them　to　engage；
yet　they　did　not　perfectly　assent　to　him；　till　a　galley　of　Tenos；
which　deserted　from　the　Persians；　of　which　Panaetius　was　commander；
came　in；　while　they　were　still　doubting；　and　confirmed　the　news　that
all　the　straits　and　passages　were　beset；　and　then　their　rage　and　fury；
as　well　as　their　necessity；　provoked　them　all　to　fight。
　　As　soon　as　it　was　day；　Xerxes　placed　himself　high　up；　to　view　his
fleet；　and　how　it　was　set　in　order。　Phanodemus　says；　he　sat　upon　a
promontory　above　the　temple　of　Hercules；　where　the　coast　of　Attica
is　separated　from　the　island　by　a　narrow　channel；　but　Acestodorus
writes；　that　it　was　in　the　confines　of　Megara；　upon　those　hills
which　are　called　the　Horns；　where　he　sat　in　a　chair　of　gold；　with　many
secretaries　about　him　to　write　down　all　that　was　done　in　the　fight。
　　When　Themistocles　was　about　to　sacrifice；　close　to　the　admiral's
galley；　there　were　three　prisoners　brought　to　him；　fine　looking　men；
and　richly　dressed　in　ornamented　clothing　and　gold；　said　to　be　the
children　of　Artayctes　and　Sandauce；　sister　to　Xerxes。　As　soon　as　the
prophet　Euphrantides　saw　them；　and　observed　that　at　the　same　time
the　fire　blazed　out　from　the　offerings　with　a　more　than　ordinary
flame；　and　a　man　sneezed　on　the　right；　which　was　an　intimation　of　a
fortunate　event；　he　took　Themistocles　by　the　hand；　and　bade　him
consecrate　the　three　young　men　for　sacrifice；　and　offer　them　up　with
prayers　for　victory　to　Bacchus　the　Devourer；　so　should　the　Greeks
not　only　save　themselves；　but　also　obtain　victory。　Themistocles　was
much　disturbed　at　this　strange　and　terrible　prophecy；　but　the　common
people；　who　in　any　difficult　crisis　and　great　exigency　ever　look　for
relief　rather　to　strange　and　extravagant　than　to　reasonable　means；
calling　upon　Bacchus　with　one　voice；　led　the　captives　to　the　altar；
and　compelled　the　execution　of　the　sacrifice　as　the　prophet　had
commanded。　This　is　reported　by　Phanias　the　Lesbian；　a　philosopher　well
read　in　history。
　　The　number　of　the　enemy's　ships　the　poet　Aeschylus　gives　in　his
tragedy　called　the　P