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suffer defeat； they would be pent up and besieged in an island； while their own country was left unprotected。 The same night the land army of the barbarians began its march towards the Peloponnese； where； however； all that was possible had been done to prevent the enemy from forcing an entrance by land。 As soon as ever news reached the Peloponnese of the death of Leonidas and his companions at Thermopylae； the inhabitants flocked together from the various cities； and encamped at the Isthmus； under the command of Cleombrotus； son of Anaxandridas； and brother of Leonidas。 Here their first care was to block up the Scironian Way； after which it was determined in council to build a wall across the Isthmus。 As the number assembled amounted to many tens of thousands； and there was not one who did not give himself to the work； it was soon finished。 Stones； bricks； timber； baskets filled full of sand； were used in the building； and not a moment was lost by those who gave their aid； for they laboured without ceasing either by night or day。 Now the nations who gave their aid； and who had flocked in full force to the Isthmus； were the following： the Lacedaemonians； all the tribes of the Arcadians； the Eleans； the Corinthians； the Sicyonians； the Epidaurians； the Phliasians； the Troezenians； and the Hermionians。 These all gave their aid； being greatly alarmed at the danger which threatened Greece。 But the other inhabitants of the Peloponnese took no part in the matter； though the Olympic and Carneian festivals were now over。 Seven nations inhabit the Peloponnese。 Two of them are aboriginal； and still continue in the regions where they dwelt at the first… to wit； the Arcadians and the Cynurians。 A third； that of the Achaeans； has never left the Peloponnese； but has been dislodged from its own proper country； and inhabits a district which once belonged to others。 The remaining nations； four out of the seven； are all immigrants… namely； the Dorians； the Aetolians； the Dryopians； and the Lemnians。 To the Dorians belong several very famous cities； to the Aetolians one only； that is； Elis； to the Dryopians； Hermione and that Asine which lies over against Cardamyle in Laconia； to the Lemnians； all the towns of the Paroreats。 The aboriginal Cynurians alone seem to be Ionians； even they； however； have； in course of time； grown to be Dorians； under the government of the Argives； whose Orneats and vassals they were。 All the cities of these seven nations； except those mentioned above； stood aloof from the war； and by so doing； if I may speak freely； they in fact took part with the Medes。 So the Greeks at the Isthmus toiled unceasingly； as though in the greatest peril； since they never imagined that any great success would be gained by the fleet。 The Greeks at Salamis； on the other hand； when they heard what the rest were about； felt greatly alarmed； but their fear was not so much for themselves as for the Peloponnese。 At first they conversed together in low tones； each man with his fellow； secretly； and marvelled at the folly shown by Eurybiades； but presently the smothered feeling broke out； and another assembly was held； whereat the old subjects provoked much talk from the speakers； one side maintaining that it was best to sail to the Peloponnese and risk battle for that； instead of abiding at Salamis and fighting for a land already taken by the enemy； while the other； which consisted of the Athenians； Eginetans； and Megarians； was urgent to remain and have the battle fought where they were。 Then Themistocles； when he saw that the Peloponnesians would carry the vote against him； went out secretly from the council； and； instructing a certain man what he should say； sent him on board a merchant ship to the fleet of the Medes。 The man's name was Sicinnus； he was one of Themistocles' household slaves； and acted as tutor to his sons； in after times； when the Thespians were admitting persons to citizenship； Themistocles made him a Thespian； and a rich man to boot。 The ship brought Sicinnus to the Persian fleet； and there he delivered his message to the leaders in these words：… 〃The Athenian commander has sent me to you privily； without the knowledge of the other Greeks。 He is a well…wisher to the king's cause； and would rather success should attend on you than on his countrymen； wherefore he bids me tell you that fear has seized the Greeks and they are meditating a hasty flight。 Now then it is open to you to achieve the best work that ever ye wrought； if only ye will hinder their escaping。 They no longer agree among themselves； so that they will not now make any resistance… nay； 'tis likely ye may see a fight already begun between such as favour and such as oppose your cause。〃 The messenger； when he had thus expressed himself； departed and was seen no more。 Then the captains； believing all that the messenger had said； proceeded to land a large body of Persian troops on the islet of Psyttaleia； which lies between Salamis and the mainland； after which； about the hour of midnight； they advanced their western wing towards Salamis； so as to inclose the Greeks。 At the same time the force stationed about Ceos and Cynosura moved forward； and filled the whole strait as far as Munychia with their ships。 This advance was made to prevent the Greeks from escaping by flight； and to block them up in Salamis； where it was thought that vengeance might be taken upon them for the battles fought near Artemisium。 The Persian troops were landed on the islet of Psyttaleia； because； as soon as the battle began； the men and wrecks were likely to be drifted thither； as the isle lay in the very path of the coming fight… and they would thus be able to save their own men and destroy those of the enemy。 All these movements were made in silence； that the Greeks might have no knowledge of them； and they occupied the whole night； so that the men had no time to get their sleep。 I cannot say that there is no truth in prophecies； or feel inclined to call in question those which speak with clearness； when I think of the following：…
When they shall bridge with their ships to the sacred strand of Diana Girt with the golden falchion； and eke to marine Cynosura； Mad hope swelling their hearts at the downfall of beautiful Athens Then shall godlike Right extinguish haughty Presumption； Insult's furious offspring； who thinketh to overthrow all things。 Brass with brass shall mingle； and Mars with blood shall empurple Ocean's waves。 Then… then shall the day of Grecia's freedom Come from Victory fair； and Saturn's son all…seeing。
When I look to this； and perceive how clearly Bacis spoke； neither venture myself to say anything against prophecies； nor do approve of others impugning them。 Meanwhile； among the captains at Salamis； the strife of words grew fierce。 As yet they did not know that they were encompassed； but imagined that the barbarians remained in the same places where they had seen them the day before。 In the midst of their contention； Aristides； the son of Lysimachus； who had crossed from Egina； arrived in Salamis。 He was an Athenian； and had been ostracised by the commonalty； yet I believe； from what I have heard concerning his character； that there was not in all Athens a man so worthy or so just as he。 He now came to the council； and； standing outside； called for Themistocles。 Now Themistocles was not his friend； but his most determined enemy。 However； under the pressure of the great dangers impending； Aristides forgot their feud； and called Themistocles out of the council； since he wished to confer with him。 He had heard before his arrival of the impatience of the Peloponnesians to withdraw the fleet to the Isthmus。 As soon therefore as Themistocles came forth； Aristides addressed him in these words：… 〃Our rivalry at all times； and especially at the present season； ought to be a struggle； which of us shall most advantage our country。 Let me then say to thee； that so far as regards the departure of the Peloponnesians from this place； much talk and little will be found precisely alike。 I have seen with my own eyes that which I now report： that； however much the Corinthians or Eurybiades himself may wish it； they cannot now retreat； for we are enclosed on every side by the enemy。 Go in to them； and make this known。〃 〃Thy advice is excellent；〃 answered the other； 〃and thy tidings are also good。 That which I earnestly desired to happen； thine eyes have beheld accomplished。 Know that what the Medes have now done was at my instance； for it was necessary； as our men would not fight here of their own free will； to make them fight whether they would or no。 But come now； as thou hast brought the good news； go in and tell it。 For if I speak to them； they will think it a feigned tale； and will not believe that the barbarians have inclosed us around。 Therefore do thou go to them； and inform them how matters stand。 If they believe thee； 'twill be for the best； but if otherwise； it will not harm。 For it is impossible that they should now flee away； if we are indeed shut in on all sides； as thou sayest。〃 Then Aristides entered the assembly； and spoke to the captains： he had come； he told them； from Egina； and had bu