THE BATTLE OF MARATHON 316
the very first city in Greece. How it comes to pass that these things are likely to happen, and how the determining of them in some sort rests with thee, I will now proceed to make clear. We generals are ten in number, and our votes are divided : half of us wish to engage, haK to avoid a combat. Now, if we do not fight, I look to see a great disturbance at Athens which will shake men's resolutions, and then I fear they will submit themselves ; but if we fight the battle before any unsoundness show itself among our citizens, let the gods but give us fair play, and we are well able to overcome the enemy. On thee there- fore we depend in this matter, which lies wholly in thine own power. Thou hast only to add thy vote to my side and thy country will be free, and not free only, but the first state in Greece. Or, if thou pre- ferrest to give thy vote to them who would decline the combat, then the reverse will follow."
Miltiades by these words gained Callimachus ; and the addition of the polemarch's vote caused the deci- sion to be in favor of fighting. Hereupon all those generals who had been desirous of hazarding a battle, when their turn came to command the army gave up their right to Miltiades. He, howe'er, though he ac- cepted their offers, nevertheless waited, and would not fight, until his own day of command arrived in due course.
Then at length, when his own turn was come, the Athenian battle was set in array, and this was the order of it. Callimachus the polemarch led the right wing, for it was at that time a rule with the Atheni- ans to give the right wing to the polemarch. After this followed the tribes, according as they were num- bered, in an unbroken line ; while last of all came
