State of affairs at Eretria.
192.But the men of Eretria, when they knew that they were being sought by the Persians, begged the Athenians to send auxiliary forces. So forces were at once sent as an assistance to them. But among the men of Eretria there was no sound counsel Those who had summoned the Athenians were themselves divided between two opinions: for some intended to abandon the city and betake themselves to the higher ground of Euboea: but others, hoping for private gain from the Persians, were preparing to betray the city. On ascertaining this, one of their chiefs begged the Athenians to return home, lest they should perish together with the men of Eretria. So all returned at once to Athens, and escaped the danger.
The taking of Eretria.
193.But the Persians on arriving at Eretria, having disembarked their forces, attacked the city. The townsmen, indeed, did not dare to sally forth and fight, but it was their care to defend the city, since the opinion that the city should not be abandoned had prevailed. Now, while the wall was being vigorously assailed, many fell on both sides in six days: but on the seventh day some of the citizens betrayed the city to the Persians. And they having entered the city, spoiled the temple and burnt it, repaying this punishment on account of the temple burnt at Sardis; but they, carried off the inhabitants into slavery, as Darius had ordered.
The Persians land in Attica.
194.After subduing Eretria, the Persians sailed to Attica. And since Marathon was the place best suited for cavalry in the whole of Attica, Hippias, who was formerly tyrant of Athens, ordered them to disembark their forces. He had lived for a long time at the court of Darius, having been expelled from the kingdom by his own citizens. Having ascertained this, the Athenians also went forth themselves to Marathon to meet the enemy. Now, ten generals led them, and of these Miltiades, of whom we have before spoken, was the tenth.
