en they spoke of it in private, one
man standing by another, and they marvelled at the ill-counsel of
Eurybiades; but at last it broke out publicly. A meeting accordingly was
held, and much was spoken about the same points as before, some saying
that they ought to sail away to Peloponnesus and run the risk in defence
of that, and not stay and fight for a land which had been captured by
the enemy, while the Athenians, Eginetans and Megarians urged that they
should stay there and defend themselves.

75. Then Themistocles, when his opinion was like to be defeated by the
Peloponnesians, secretly went forth from the assembly, and having gone
out he sent a man to the encampment of the Medes in a boat, charging him
with that which he must say: this man's name was Sikinnos, and he was
a servant of Themistocles and tutor to his children; and after these
events Themistocles entered him as a Thespian citizen, when the
Thespians were admitting new citizens, and made him a wealthy man. He at
this time came with a boat and said to the commanders of the Barbarians
these words: "The commander of the Athenians sent me privately without
the knowledge of the other Hellenes (for, as it chances, he is disposed
to the cause of the king, and desires rather that your side should gain
the victory than that of the Hellenes), to inform you that the Hellenes
are planning to take flight, having been struck with dismay; and now it
is possible for you to execute a most noble work, if ye do not permit
them to flee away: for they are not of one mind with one another and
they will not stand against you in fight, but ye shall see them fighting
a battle by sea with one another, those who are disposed to your side
against those who are not."

76. He then having signified to them this, departed out of the way; and
they, thinking that the message deserved credit, landed first a large
number of Persians in the small island of Psyttaleia, which lies between
Salamis and the mainland; and then, as midnight came on, they put out
the Western wing of their fleet to sea, circling round towards Salamis,
and also those stationed about Keos and Kynosura put out their ships
to sea; and they occupied all the passage with their ships as far as
Munychia. And for this reason they put out their ships, namely in order
that the Hellenes might not even be permitted to get away, but being cut
off in Salamis might pay the penalty for the contests at Artemision:
and they disembar