night, having on their right hand the
mountains of the Oitaians and on the left those of the Trachinians: and
when dawn appeared, they had reached the summit of the mountain. In
this part of the mountain there were, as I have before shown, a thousand
hoplites of the Phokians keeping guard, to protect their own country and
to keep the path: for while the pass below was guarded by those whom I
have mentioned, the path over the mountain was guarded by the Phokians,
who had undertaken the business for Leonidas by their own offer.

218. While the Persians were ascending they were concealed from these,
since all the mountain was covered with oak-trees; and the Phokians
became aware of them after they had made the ascent as follows:--the day
was calm, and not a little noise was made by the Persians, as was likely
when leaves were lying spread upon the ground under their feet; upon
which the Phokians started up and began to put on their arms, and by
this time the Barbarians were close upon them. These, when they saw men
arming themselves, fell into wonder, for they were expecting that no one
would appear to oppose them, and instead of that they had met with an
armed force. Then Hydarnes, seized with fear lest the Phokians should
be Lacedemonians, asked Epialtes of what people the force was; and
being accurately informed he set the Persians in order for battle. The
Phokians however, when they were hit by the arrows of the enemy, which
flew thickly, fled and got away at once to the topmost peak of the
mountain, fully assured that it was against them that the enemy had
designed to come, 218 and here they were ready to meet death. These,
I say, were in this mind; but the Persians meanwhile with Epialtes and
Hydarnes made no account of the Phokians, but descended the mountain
with all speed.

219. To the Hellenes who were in Thermopylai first the soothsayer
Megistias, after looking into the victims which were sacrificed,
declared the death which was to come to them at dawn of day; and
afterwards deserters brought the report 219 of the Persians having gone
round. These signified it to them while it was yet night, and thirdly
came the day-watchers, who had run down from the heights when day was
already dawning. Then the Hellenes deliberated, and their opinions were
divided; for some urged that they should not desert their post, while
others opposed this counsel. After this they departed from their
assembly, 220 and some went away and