ove of his
plans, because he was present and said nothing, Aristeides answered
that he would not have been silent if Themistokles had not spoken to
the purpose, but that as it was he held his peace, not for any love he
bore him, but because his counsel was the best.

IX. While the Greek admirals were engaged in these discussions,
Aristeides, perceiving that Psyttaleia, a small island in the straits
near Salamis, was full of the enemy, placed some of the boldest
Athenians on board of small boats, attacked the Persians, and slew
them to a man, except a few of the chiefs, who wore taken alive. Among
these were the three children of Sandauke the sister of the Persian
king, whom he at once sent to Themistokles, and it is said that in
accordance with some oracle they were sacrificed to Dionysus
Omestes,[21] at the instance of the prophet Euphrantides. Aristeides
now lined the shores of the islet with soldiers, ready to receive any
vessel which might be cast upon it, in order that neither any of his
friends might be lost, nor any of the enemy take refuge upon it.
Indeed, the severest encounter between the two fleets and the main
shock of the battle seems to have taken place at that spot; wherefore
the trophy that marks the victory stands on the isle of Psyttaleia.

After the battle was won, Themistokles, wishing to feel Aristeides's
opinion, said to him that they had done a good work, but that a
greater one remained, which was to shut up Asia in Europe by sailing
as quickly as possible to the Hellespont, and destroying the bridge of
boats there. Aristeides answered that he must never propose such a
plan, but must take measures to drive the Persians out of Greece as
quickly as possible, for fear that so great a multitude, shut up there
without the means of retreat, should turn to bay and attack them with
the courage of despair. Upon this, Themistokles again sent the eunuch
Arnakes, a prisoner, on a secret errand to tell the Persian king that
when all the Greeks wished to sail to the Hellespont and destroy the
bridge of boats, he had dissuaded them from doing so, wishing to save
the king's life.

X. At this Xerxes became terrified, and at once hurried back to the
Hellespont. Mardonius, with about three hundred thousand of the best
troops remained behind, and was a formidable enemy, trusting in his
land force, and sending defiant proclamations to the Greeks. "You," he
said, "with your ships have beaten landsmen that knew not h