r Aristeides.

VIII. However, three years afterwards, when Xerxes was advancing upon
Attica through Thessaly and Boeotia, the Athenians annulled their
decree, and permitted all exiles to return, being especially afraid of
Aristeides, lest he should join the enemy and lead many of the
citizens to desert with him. In this they took a very false view of
his character, for even before this decree he had never ceased to
encourage the Greeks to defend their liberty, and after his return,
when Themistokles was in sole command of the forces of Athens, he
assisted him in every way by word and deed, cheerfully raising his
bitterest enemy to the highest position in the state, because the
state was benefited thereby.

When Eurybiades and his party were meditating a retreat from Salamis,
the Persian ships put to sea at night and hemmed them in, surrounding
both the strait and the islands. No one knew that escape was
impossible, but Aristeides sailed from AEgina, passed safely through
the enemy's fleet by a miracle, and while it was still night proceeded
straight to the tent of Themistokles. Here he called him out, and when
they were alone together, he said: "We two, Themistokles, if we are
wise, must cease our vain and silly rivalry with one another, and
begin a more generous contest to preserve our country, you acting as
general and chief, while I help and advise you. Already I perceive
that you alone take a right view of the crisis, end desire to fight a
battle in the narrow waters as quickly as possible. Now, while your
allies have been opposing you, the enemy have been playing your game,
for the sea, both in our front and rear, is full of their ships, so
that the Greeks even against their will must play the man and fight;
for no way of escape is left for them." To this Themistokles answered,
"I would not willingly, Aristeides, be overcome by you in generosity
on this occasion; and I shall endeavour, in emulation of this good
beginning which you have made, to surpass it by the glory of my
exploits." At the same time he explained the trick[20] which he had
played on the barbarian, and begged Aristeides to argue with
Eurybiades, and point out how impossible it was for the Greeks to be
saved without fighting; for he thought that the opinion of Aristeides
would have more weight than his own. Consequently, when in the
assembly of the generals Kleokritus the Corinthian attacked
Themistokles, and said that even Aristeides did not appr