Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 1.djvu/208

92 THEMISTOCLES AND ADMETUS [l He chanced to be absent from home, but Themistocles presented himself as a suppHant to his wife, and was instructed by her to take their child and sit at the hearth. Admetus soon returned, and then Themistocles told him who he was, adding that if in past times he had opposed any request which Admetus had made to the Athenians, he ought not to retaliate on an exile. He was now in such extremity that a far weaker adversary than he could do him a mischief; but a noble nature should not be revenged by taking at a disadvantage one as good as him- self. Themistocles further argued that he had opposed Admetus in some matter of business, and not when life was at stake; but that, if Admetus delivered him up, he would be consigning him to death. At the same time he told him who his pursuers were and what was the charge against him. 137 Admetus, hearing his words, raised him up, together Admeiiis gives hint with his own son, from the place where protection, and when he sat holding the child in his arms, the officers arrive tn , . , ,, , , r r pursuit, sends him to ^^hich was the most solcmu form of Pydna, whence he sails supplication. Not long afterwards the to Ephestis. Athenians and Lacedaemonians came and pressed him to give up the fugitive, but he refused ; and as Themistocles wanted to go to the King, sent him on foot across the country to the sea at Pydna (which was in the kingdom of Alexander). There he found a merchant B.C. 466. vessel sailing to Ionia, in which he embarked ; it was • "J ' 3- driven, however, by a storm to the station of the Athenian fleet which was blockading Naxos. He was unknown to his fellow passengers, but, fearing what might happen, he told the captain who he was and why he fled, threatening if he did not save his life to say that he had been bribed to take him on board. The only hope was that no one should be allowed to leave the ship while they had to remain off Naxos; if he complied with his request, the obligation should be abundantly repaid. The captain agreed, and after anchoring in a rough sea for a day and