tle in defence of
Athens. (c) If however thou hasten to fight forthwith, I fear that
damage done to the fleet may ruin the land-army also. Moreover, O king,
consider also this, that the servants of good men are apt to grow bad,
but those of bad men good; and thou, who art of all men the best, hast
bad servants, namely those who are reckoned as allies, Egyptians and
Cyprians and Kilikians and Pamphylians, in whom there is no profit."

69. When she thus spoke to Mardonios, those who were friendly to
Artemisia were grieved at her words, supposing that she would suffer
some evil from the king because she urged him not to fight at sea; while
those who had envy and jealousy of her, because she had been honoured
above all the allies, were rejoiced at the opposition, 40 supposing
that she would now be ruined. When however the opinions were reported
to Xerxes, he was greatly pleased with the opinion of Artemisia; and
whereas even before this he thought her excellent, he commended her
now yet more. Nevertheless he gave orders to follow the advice of the
greater number, thinking that when they fought by Euboea they were
purposely slack, because he was not himself present with them, whereas
now he had made himself ready to look on while they fought a sea-battle.

70. So when they passed the word to put out to sea, they brought their
ships out to Salamis and quietly ranged themselves along the shore in
their several positions. At that time the daylight was not sufficient
for them to engage battle, for night had come on; but they made their
preparations to fight on the following day. Meanwhile the Hellenes
were possessed by fear and dismay, especially those who were from
Peloponnese: and these were dismayed because remaining in Salamis they
were to fight a battle on behalf of the land of the Athenians, and being
defeated they would be cut off from escape and blockaded in an island,
leaving their own land unguarded. And indeed the land-army of the
Barbarians was marching forward during that very night towards the
Peloponnese.

71. Yet every means had been taken that the Barbarians might not be able
to enter Peloponnesus by land: for as soon as the Peloponnesians heard
that Leonidas and his company had perished at Thermopylai, they came
together quickly from the cities and took post at the Isthmus, and
over them was set as commander Cleombrotos, the son of Anaxandrides and
brother of Leonidas. These being posted at the Isthmus had de