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their Greek allies to begin the battle… these Greeks had their own soothsayer in the person of Hippomachus； a Leucadian… and when soldiers continued to pour into the opposite camp and the numbers on the Greek side to increase continually； Timagenidas； the son of Herpys； a Theban； advised Mardonius to keep a watch on the passes of Cithaeron； telling him how supplies of men kept flocking in day after day； and assuring him that he might cut off large numbers。 It was eight days after the two armies first encamped opposite to one another when this advice was given by Timagenidas。 Mardonius； seeing it to be good； as soon as evening came； sent his cavalry to that pass of Mount Cithaeron which opens out upon Plataea； a pass called by the Boeotians the 〃Three Heads；〃 called the 〃Oak…Heads〃 by the Athenians。 The horse sent on this errand did not make the movement in vain。 They came upon a body of five hundred sumpter…beasts which were just entering the plain； bringing provisions to the Greek camp from the Peloponnese； with a number of men driving them。 Seeing this prey in their power； the Persians set upon them and slaughtered them； sparing none； neither man nor beast； till at last； when they had had enough of slaying； they secured such as were left； and bore them off to the camp to Mardonius。 After this they waited again for two days more； neither army wishing to begin the fight。 The barbarians indeed advanced as far as the Asopus； and endeavoured to tempt the Greeks to cross； but neither side actually passed the stream。 Still the cavalry of Mardonius harassed and annoyed the Greeks incessantly； for the Thebans； who were zealous in the cause of the Medes； pressed the war forward with all eagerness； and often led the charge till the lines met； when the Medes and Persians took their place； and displayed； many of them； uncommon valour。 For ten days nothing was done more than this； but on the eleventh day from the time when the two hosts first took station； one over against the other； near Plataea… the number of the Greeks being now much greater than it was at the first； and Mardonius being impatient of the delay… there was a conference held between Mardonius； son of Gobryas； and Artabazus； son of Pharnaces； a man who was esteemed by Xerxes more than almost any of the Persians。 At this consultation the following were the opinions delivered：… Artabazus thought it would be best for them to break up from their quarters as soon as possible； and withdraw the whole army to the fortified town of Thebes； where they had abundant stores of corn for themselves； and of fodder for the sumpter…beasts。 There； he said； they had only to sit quiet； and the war might be brought to an end on this wise：… Coined gold was plentiful in the camp； and uncoined gold too； they had silver moreover in great abundance； and drinking…cups。 Let them not spare to take of these； and distribute them among the Greeks； especially among the leaders in the several cities； 'twould not be long before the Greeks gave up their liberty； without risking another battle for it。 Thus the opinion of Artabazus agreed with that of the Thebans； for he too had more foresight than some。 Mardonius； on the other hand； expressed himself with more fierceness and obstinacy； and was utterly disinclined to yield。 〃Their army；〃 he said； 〃was vastly superior to that of the Greeks； and they had best engage at once； and not wait till greater numbers were gathered against them。 As for Hegesistratus and his victims； they should let them pass unheeded； not seeking to force them to be favourable； but； according to the old Persian custom； hasting to join battle。〃 When Mardonius had thus declared his sentiments； no one ventured to say him nay； and accordingly his opinion prevailed； for it was to him； and not to Artabazus； that the king had given the command of the army。 Mardonius now sent for the captains of the squadrons； and the leaders of the Greeks in his service； and questioned them：… 〃Did they know of any prophecy which said that the Persians were to be destroyed in Greece？〃 All were silent； some because they did not know the prophecies； but others； who knew them full well； because they did not think it safe to speak out。 So Mardonius； when none answered； said； 〃Since ye know of no such oracle； or do not dare to speak of it； I； who know it well； will myself declare it to you。 There is an oracle which says that the Persians shall come into Greece； sack the temple at Delphi； and when they have so done； perish one and all。 Now we； as we are aware of the prediction； will neither go against the temple nor make any attempt to sack it： we therefore shall not perish for this trespass。 Rejoice then thus far； all ye who are well…wishers to the Persians； and doubt not we shall get the better of the Greeks。〃 When he had so spoken； he further ordered them to prepare themselves； and to put all in readiness for a battle upon the morrow。 As for the oracle of which Mardonius spoke； and which he referred to the Persians； it did not； I am well assured； mean them； but the Illyrians and the Enchelean host。 There are； however； some verses of Bacis which did speak of this battle：…
By Thermodon's stream； and the grass…clad hanks of Asopus； See where gather the Grecians； and hark to the foreigners' war…shout… There in death shall lie； ere fate or Lachesis doomed him； Many a bow…bearing Mede； when the day of calamity cometh。
These verses； and some others like them which Musaeus wrote； referred； I well know； to the Persians。 The river Thermodon flows between Tanagra and Glisas。 After Mardonius had put his question about the prophecies； and spoken the above words of encouragement； night drew on apace； and on both sides the watches were set。 As soon then as there was silence throughout the camp；… the night being now well advanced； and the men seeming to be in their deepest sleep；… Alexander； the son of Amyntas； king and leader of the Macedonians； rode up on horseback to the Athenian outposts； and desired to speak with the generals。 Hereupon； while the greater part continued on guard； some of the watch ran to the chiefs； and told them； 〃There had come a horseman from the Median camp who would not say a word； except that he wished to speak with the generals； of whom he mentioned the names。〃 They at once； hearing this； made haste to the outpost； where they found Alexander； who addressed them as follows：… 〃Men of Athens； that which I am about to say I trust to your honour； and I charge you to keep it secret from all excepting Pausanias； if you would not bring me to destruction。 Had I not greatly at heart the common welfare of Greece； I should not have come to tell you； but I am myself a Greek by descent； and I would not willingly see Greece exchange freedom for slavery。 Know then that Mardonius and his army cannot obtain favourable omens； had it not been for this； they would have fought with you long ago。 Now； however； they have determined to let the victims pass unheeded； and； as soon as day dawns； to engage in battle。 Mardonius； I imagine； is afraid that； if he delays； you will increase in number。 Make ready then to receive him。 Should he however still defer the combat； do you abide where you are； for his provisions will not hold out many more days。 If ye prosper in this war； forget not to do something for my freedom； consider the risk I have run； out of zeal for the Greek cause； to acquaint you with what Mardonius intends； and to save you from being surprised by the barbarians。 I am Alexander of Macedon。〃 As soon as he had said this； Alexander rode back to the camp； and returned to the station assigned him。 Meanwhile the Athenian generals hastened to the right wing； and told Pausanias all that they had learnt from Alexander。 Hereupon Pausanias； who no sooner heard the intention of the Persians than he was struck with fear； addressed the generals； and said；… 〃Since the battle is to come with to…morrow's dawn； it were well that you Athenians should stand opposed to the Persians； and we Spartans to the Boeotians and the other Greeks； for ye know the Medes and their manner of fight； since ye have already fought with them once at Marathon； but we are quite ignorant and without any experience of their warfare。 While； however； there is not a Spartan here present who has ever fought against a Mede； of the Boeotians and Thessalians we have had experience。 Take then your arms； and march over to our post upon the right； while we supply your place in the left wing。〃 Hereto the Athenians replied… 〃We； too； long ago； when we saw that the Persians were drawn up to face you； were minded to suggest to you the very course which you have now been the first to bring forward。 We feared； however； that perhaps our words might not be pleasing to you。 But； as you have now spoken of these things yourselves； we gladly give our consent； and are ready to do as ye have said。〃 Both sides agreeing hereto； at the dawn of day the Spartans and Athenians changed places。 But the movement was perceived by the Boeotians； and they gave notice of it to Mardonius； who at once； on hearing what had been done； made a change in the disposition of his own forces； and brought the Persians to face the Lacedaem