Page:History of Greece Vol V.djvu/17

CONTENTS. iX tack. — Battle of Salamis — confusion and complete defeat of the Per sians. — Distinguished gallantry of Queen Artemisia. — Expectations of the Greeks that the conflict would be renewed — fears of Xerxes for his own personal safety — he sends his fleet away to Asia. — Xei-xes resolves to go back himself to Asia — advice and recommendation of Mardonius, who is left behind, as general, to finish the conquest of Greece. — The Greeks pursue the Persian fleet as far as Andros — second stratagem of Themistokles by secret message to Xei-xes. — Themistokles with the fleet — levying money in the Cyclades. — Xerxes evacuates Attica and returns home by land, with the larger portion of his army. — Retreating march of Xerxes to the Hellespont — sufferings of his troops. He finds the bridge broken, and crosses the strait on shipboard into Asia. — Joy of the Greeks — distribution of honors and prizes. — Honors rendered to Themistokles 104-147 CHAPTER XLII. BATTLES OF PLAT^A AND MTKALE. — FINAL REPULSE OF THE PERSIANS. The Persian fleet, after retiring from Greece, winters at Kyme, and collects in the spring at Samos. — The Greek fleet assembles in the spring at Mfrina. — General adherence of the medizing Greeks to Mardonius — re- volt of Potidsea — which is besieged in vain by Artabazus. — Mardonius, after wintering in Thessaly, resumes operations in the spring in Boeotia. He consults the Boeotian oracles. — Mardonius sends Alexander of Mace- don to Athens, to offer the most honorable tenns of peace. — Temptation to Athens to accept this offer — fear of the Lacedcemonians that she would accept it — Lacedemonian envoys sent to Athens to prevent it. — Resolute reply of the Athenians, and determination to carry on the war, in spite of great present suffering. — Selfish indifference displayed by Sparta and the Peloponnesians towards Athens. — The Spartans, having fortified the Isthmus, leave Attica imdefended : Mardonius occupies Athens a second time. — Second migration of the Athenians to Salamis — their bitter disappointment and anger against Sparta for deserting them. — Second offer of Mardonius to the Athenians — again refused — intense resolution which they display. — Remonstrance sent by the Athe- nians to Sparta — ungenerous slackness of the Spartans. — Large Spar- tan force collected under Pausanias at the Isthmus. — Mardonius, after ravaging Attica, retires into Boeotia. — Discouragement in the ai-my of Mardonius generally : Thersander of Orchomenus at the banquet : jeal- ousies between Mardonius and Artabazus, the second in command — zeal and eagerness of the Thebans. — Numbers of the Greeks collected under Pausanias. — March of Pausanias over Kitha3ron into Boeotia. — He is at- tacked by the Persian cavalry under Masistius, and much harassed — su- perior efficiency of the Athenians against cavalry — Masistius is slain. — The Greeks quit the protection of the mountain-gi-ounds and take up a position nearer to Plattea, along the Asopus. — Mardonius alters his po- sition, and posts himself nearly opposite to the Greeks on the other side of the Asopus. — Unwillingness of both armies to begin the attack — the prophets on both sides discourage first aggression. — Mardonius annoys the Greeks with his cavalry, and cuts off their supplies in the rear. — Im- patience of Mai'donius — in spite of the reluctance of Artabazus and other