if
they found the occasion, the Persians sought to secure themselves in
the manner mentioned; and they themselves then brought together their
wicker-work shields to serve them as a fence.

100. Then when the Hellenes had made all their preparations, they
proceeded to the attack of the Barbarians; and as they went, a rumour
came suddenly 110 to their whole army, and at the same time a herald's
staff was found lying upon the beach; and the rumour went through their
army to this effect, namely that the Hellenes were fighting in Boeotia
and conquering the army of Mardonios. Now by many signs is the divine
power seen in earthly things, and by this among others, namely that now,
when the day of the defeat at Plataia and of that which was about to
take place at Mycale happened to be the same, a rumour came to the
Hellenes here, so that the army was encouraged much more and was more
eagerly desirous to face the danger..

101. Moreover this other thing by coincidence happened besides, namely
that there was a sacred enclosure of the Eleusinian Demeter close by the
side of both the battle-fields; for not only in the Plataian land did
the fight take place close by the side of the temple of Demeter, as
I have before said, but also in Mycale it was to be so likewise. And
whereas the rumour which came to them said that a victory had been
already gained by the Hellenes with Pausanias, this proved to be a true
report; for that which was done at Plataia came about while it was yet
early morning, but the fighting at Mycale took place in the afternoon;
and that it happened on the same day of the same month as the other
became evident to them not long afterwards, when they inquired into
the matter. Now they had been afraid before the rumour arrived, not for
themselves so much as for the Hellenes generally, lest Hellas should
stumble and fall over Mardonios; but when this report had come suddenly
to them, they advanced on the enemy much more vigorously and swiftly
than before. The Hellenes then and the Barbarians were going with
eagerness into the battle, since both the islands and the Hellespont
were placed before them as prizes of the contest.

102. Now for the Athenians and those who were ranged next to them,
to the number perhaps of half the whole army, the road lay along the
sea-beach and over level ground, while the Lacedemonians and those
ranged in order by these were compelled to go by a ravine and along the
mountain side: so whil