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they had determined to attack before any other state； the Naxians； instead of encountering them； took to flight； and hurried off to the hills。 The Persians however succeeded in laying hands on some； and them they carried away captive； while at the same time they burnt all the temples together with the town。 This done； they left Naxos； and sailed away to the other islands。 While the Persians were thus employed； the Delians likewise quitted Delos； and took refuge in Tenos。 And now the expedition drew near； when Datis sailed forward in advance of the other ships； commanding them； instead of anchoring at Delos； to rendezvous at Rhenea； over against Delos； while he himself proceeded to discover whither the Delians had fled； after which he sent a herald to them with this message： 〃Why are ye fled； O holy men？ Why have ye judged me so harshly and so wrongfully？ I have surely sense enough； even had not the king so ordered； to spare the country which gave birth to the two gods… to spare； I say； both the country and its inhabitants。 Come back therefore to your dwellings； and once more inhabit your island。〃 Such was the message which Datis sent by his herald to the Delians。 He likewise placed upon the altar three hundred talents' weight of frankincense； and offered it。 After this he sailed with his whole host against Eretria； taking with him both Ionians and Aeolians。 When he was departed； Delos （as the Delians told me） was shaken by an earthquake； the first and last shock that has been felt to this day。 And truly this was a prodigy whereby the god warned men of the evils that were coming upon them。 For in the three following generations of Darius the son of Hystaspes； Xerxes the son of Darius； and Artaxerxes the son of Xerxes； more woes befell Greece than in the twenty generations preceding Darius… woes caused in part by the Persians； but in part arising from the contentions among their own chief men respecting the supreme power。 Wherefore it is not surprising that Delos； though it had never before been shaken； should at that time have felt the shock of an earthquake。 And indeed there was an oracle； which said of Delos…
Delo's self will I shake； which never yet has been shaken
Of the above names Darius may be rendered 〃Worker；〃 Xerxes 〃Warrior；〃 and Artaxerxes 〃Great Warrior。〃 And so might we call these kings in our own language with propriety。 The barbarians； after loosing from Delos； proceeded to touch at the other islands； and took troops from each； and likewise carried off a number of the children as hostages。 Going thus from one to another； they came at last to Carystus； but here the hostages were refused by the Carystians； who said they would neither give any； nor consent to bear arms against the cities of their neighbours； meaning Athens and Eretria。 Hereupon the Persians laid siege to Carystus； and wasted the country round； until at length the inhabitants were brought over and agreed to do what was required of them。 Meanwhile the Eretrians； understanding that the Persian armament was coming against them； besought the Athenians for assistance。 Nor did the Athenians refuse their aid； but assigned to them as auxiliaries the four thousand landholders to whom they had allotted the estates of the Chalcidean Hippobatae。 At Eretria； however； things were in no healthy state； for though they had called in the aid of the Athenians； yet they were not agreed among themselves how they should act； some of them were minded to leave the city and to take refuge in the heights of Euboea； while others； who looked to receiving a reward from the Persians； were making ready to betray their country。 So when these things came to the ears of Aeschines； the son of Nothon； one of the first men in Eretria； he made known the whole state of affairs to the Athenians who were already arrived； and besought them to return home to their own land； and not perish with his countrymen。 And the Athenians hearkened to his counsel； and； crossing over to Oropus； in this way escaped the danger。 The Persian fleet now drew near and anchored at Tamynae； Choereae； and Aegilia； three places in the territory of Eretria。 Once masters of these posts； they proceeded forthwith to disembark their horses； and made ready to attack the enemy。 But the Eretrians were not minded to sally forth and offer battle； their only care； after it had been resolved not to quit the city； was； if possible； to defend their walls。 And now the fortress was assaulted in good earnest； and for six days there fell on both sides vast numbers； but on the seventh day Euphorbus； the son of Alcimachus； and Philagrus； the son of Cyneas； who were both citizens of good repute； betrayed the place to the Persians。 These were no sooner entered within the walls than they plundered and burnt all the temples that there were in the town； in revenge for the burning of their own temples at Sardis； moreover； they did according to the orders of Darius； and carried away captive all the inhabitants。 The Persians； having thus brought Eretria into subjection after waiting a few days； made sail for Attica； greatly straitening the Athenians as they approached； and thinking to deal with them as they had dealt with the people of Eretria。 And； because there was no Place in all Attica so convenient for their horse as Marathon； and it lay moreover quite close to Eretria； therefore Hippias； the son of Pisistratus； conducted them thither。 When intelligence of this reached the Athenians； they likewise marched their troops to Marathon； and there stood on the defensive； having at their head ten generals； of whom one was Miltiades。 Now this man's father； Cimon； the son of Stesagoras； was banished from Athens by Pisistratus； the son of Hippocrates。 In his banishment it was his fortune to win the four…horse chariot…race at Olympia； whereby he gained the very same honour which had before been carried off by Miltiades； his half…brother on the mother's side。 At the next Olympiad he won the prize again with the same mares； upon which he caused Pisistratus to be proclaimed the winner； having made an agreement with him that on yielding him this honour he should be allowed to come back to his country。 Afterwards； still with the same mares； he won the prize a third time； whereupon he was put to death by the sons of Pisistratus； whose father was no longer living。 They set men to lie in wait for him secretly； and these men slew him near the government…house in the night…time。 He was buried outside the city； beyond what is called the Valley Road； and right opposite his tomb were buried the mares which had won the three prizes。 The same success had likewise been achieved once previously； to wit； by the mares of Evagoras the Lacedaemonian； but never except by them。 At the time of Cimon's death Stesagoras； the elder of his two sons； was in the Chersonese； where he lived with Miltiades his uncle； the younger； who was called Miltiades after the founder of the Chersonesite colony； was with his father in Athens。 It was this Miltiades who now commanded the Athenians； after escaping from the Chersonese； and twice nearly losing his life。 First he was chased as far as Imbrus by the Phoenicians； who had a great desire to take him and carry him up to the king； and when he had avoided this danger； and； having reached his own country； thought himself to be altogether in safety； he found his enemies waiting for him； and was cited by them before a court and impeached for his tyranny in the Chersonese。 But he came off victorious here likewise； and was thereupon made general of the Athenians by the free choice of the people。 And first； before they left the city； the generals sent off to Sparta a herald； one Pheidippides； who was by birth an Athenian； and by profession and practice a trained runner。 This man； according to the account which he gave to the Athenians on his return； when he was near Mount Parthenium； above Tegea； fell in with the god Pan； who called him by his name； and bade him ask the Athenians 〃wherefore they neglected him so entirely； when he was kindly disposed towards them； and had often helped them in times past； and would do so again in time to come？〃 The Athenians； entirely believing in the truth of this report； as soon as their affairs were once more in good order； set up a temple to Pan under the Acropolis； and； in return for the message which I have recorded； established in his honour yearly sacrifices and a torch…race。 On the occasion of which we speak when Pheidippides was sent by the Athenian generals； and； according to his own account； saw Pan on his journey； he reached Sparta on the very next day after quitting the city of Athens… Upon his arrival he went before the rulers； and said to them：… 〃Men of Lacedaemon； the Athenians beseech you to hasten to their aid； and not allow that state； which is the most ancient in all Greece； to be enslaved by the barbarians。 Eretria； look you； is already carried away captive； and Greece weakened by the loss of no mean city。〃 Thus did Pheidippides deliver the message committed to him。 And the Spartans wished to help the Athenians； but were unable to give them any present succour； as they did not like to break their established law。 It was then the ni