llow water had been produced,
endeavoured to get by into the peninsula of Pallene, 96 but when they
had passed through two fifth-parts of the distance, and yet three-fifths
remained, which they must pass through before they were within Pallene,
then there came upon them a great flood-tide of the sea, higher than
ever before, as the natives of the place say, though high tides come
often. So those of them who could not swim perished, and those who could
were slain by the men of Potidaia who put out to them in boats. The
cause of the high tide and flood and of that which befell the Persians
was this, as the Potidaians say, namely that these same Persians who
perished by means of the sea had committed impiety towards the temple of
Poseidon and his image in the suburb of their town; and in saying that
this was the cause, in my opinion they say well. The survivors of his
army Artabazos led away to Thessaly to join Mardonios. Thus it fared
with these who escorted the king on his way.

130. The fleet of Xerxes, so much of it as remained, when it had touched
Asia in its flight from Salamis, and had conveyed the king and his army
over from the Chersonese to Abydos, passed the winter at Kyme: and when
spring dawned upon it, it assembled early at Samos, where some of the
ships had even passed the winter; and most of the Persians and Medes
still served as fighting-men on board of them. 97 To be commanders of
them there came Mardontes the son of Bagaios, and Artayntes the son of
Artachaies, and with them also Ithamitres was in joint command, who was
brother's son to Artayntes and had been added by the choice of Artayntes
himself. They then, since they had suffered a heavy blow, did not
advance further up towards the West, nor did any one compel them to do
so; but they remained still in Samos and kept watch over Ionia, lest
it should revolt, having three hundred ships including those of the
Ionians; and they did not expect that the Hellenes on their part would
come to Ionia, but thought that it would satisfy them to guard their
own land, judging from the fact that they had not pursued after them
in their flight from Salamis but were well contented then to depart
homewards. As regards the sea then their spirit was broken, but on land
they thought that Mardonios would get much the advantage. So they being
at Samos were taking counsel to do some damage if they could to their
enemies, and at the same time they were listening for news how t