rmy given him by the king. He summoned therefore the commanders of
the divisions and the generals of those Hellenes who were with him, and
asked whether they knew of any oracle regarding the Persians, which
said that they should be destroyed in Hellas; and when those summoned to
council 49 were silent, some not knowing the oracles and others knowing
them but not esteeming it safe to speak, Mardonios himself said: "Since
then ye either know nothing or do not venture to speak, I will tell you,
since I know very well. There is an oracle saying that the Persians are
destined when they come to Hellas to plunder the temple at Delphi, and
having plundered it to perish every one of them. We therefore, just
because we know this, will not go to that temple nor will we attempt
to plunder it; and for this cause we shall not perish. So many of you
therefore as chance to wish well to the Persians, have joy so far
as regards this matter, and be assured that we shall overcome the
Hellenes." Having spoken to them thus, he next commanded to prepare
everything and to set all in order, since at dawn of the next day a
battle would be fought.

43. Now this oracle, which Mardonios said referred to the Persians, I
know for my part was composed with reference with the Illyrians and the
army of the Enchelians, and not with reference to the Persians at all.
However, the oracle which was composed by Bakis with reference to this
battle,

"The gathering of Hellenes together and cry of Barbarian voices,
Where the Thermodon flows, by the banks of grassy Asopos;
Here very many shall fall ere destiny gave them to perish,
Medes bow-bearing in fight, when the fatal day shall approach them,"--

these sayings, and others like them composed by Musaios, I know had
reference to the Persians. Now the river Thermodon flows between Tanagra
and Glisas.

44. After the inquiry about the oracles and the exhortation given by
Mardonios night came on and the guards were set: and when night was far
advanced, and it seemed that there was quiet everywhere in the camps,
and that the men were in their deepest sleep, then Alexander the son of
Amyntas, commander and king of the Macedonians, rode his horse up to
the guard-posts of the Athenians and requested that he might have speech
with their generals. So while the greater number of the guards stayed at
their posts, some ran to the generals, and when they reached them they
said that a man had come riding on a hor