l for the fatherland, for they will all take their way to their
several cities and neither Eurybiades nor any other man will be able
to detain them or to prevent the fleet from being dispersed: and Hellas
will perish by reason of evil counsels. But if there by any means, go
thou and try to unsettle that which has been resolved, if perchance thou
mayest persuade Eurybiades to change his plans, so as to stay here."

58. This advice very much commended itself to Themistocles; and without
making any answer he went to the ship of Eurybiades. Having come thither
he said that he desired to communicate to him a matter which concerned
the common good; and Eurybiades bade him come into his ship and speak,
if he desired to say anything. Then Themistocles sitting down beside
him repeated to him all those things which he had heard Mnesiphilos say,
making as if they were his own thoughts, and adding to them many others;
until at last by urgent request he persuaded him to come out of his ship
and gather the commanders to the council.

59. So when they were gathered together, before Eurybiades proposed
the discussion of the things for which he had assembled the commanders,
Themistocles spoke with much vehemence 36 being very eager to gain his
end; and as he was speaking, the Corinthian commander, Adeimantos the
son of Okytos, said: "Themistocles, at the games those who stand forth
for the contest before the due time are beaten with rods." He justifying
himself said: "Yes, but those who remain behind are not crowned."

60. At that time he made answer mildly to the Corinthian; and to
Eurybiades he said not now any of those things which he had said before,
to the effect that if they should set sail from Salamis they would
disperse in different directions; for it was not seemly for him to bring
charges against the allies in their presence: but he held to another way
of reasoning, saying: "Now it is in thy power to save Hellas, if
thou wilt follow my advice, which is to stay here and here to fight a
sea-battle, and if thou wilt not follow the advice of those among these
men who bid thee remove the ships to the Isthmus. For hear both ways,
and then set them in comparison. If thou engage battle at the Isthmus,
thou wilt fight in an open sea, into which it is by no means convenient
for us that we go to fight, seeing that we have ships which are heavier
and fewer in number than those of the enemy. Then secondly thou wilt
give up to destruction