secure to the Spartans alone, the glory of this memorable action.

CCXXI. To me it is no small testimony of the truth of this supposition, that among those whom Leonidas dismissed, was Megistias himself. He was of Acarnania, and, as some affirm, descended from Melampus; he accompanied Leonidas on this expedition, and from the entrails had predicted what would happen: he refused however to leave his friends, and satisfied himself with sending away his only son, who had followed his father on this occasion.

CCXXII. Obedient to the direction of their leader, the confederates retired. The Thespians and Thebans alone remained with the Spartans, the Thebans indeed very reluctantly, but they were detained by Leonidas as hostages. The Thespians were very zealous in the cause, and refusing to abandon their friends, perished with them. The leader of the Thespians was Demophilus, son of Diadromas.

CCXXIII. Xerxes early in the morning offered a solemn libation, then waiting till the hour of full forum, he advanced from his camp: to the above measure he had been advised by Ephialtes. The descent from the mountain is much shorter than the circuitous ascent. The Barbarians with Xerxes approached; Leonidas and his Greeks proceeded, as to inevitable death, a much greater space from the defile than they had yet done. Till now they had defended themselves behind their intrenchment, fighting in the most contracted part of the passage; but on this day they engaged on a wider space, and a multitude of their opponents fell. Behind each troop of Persians, officers were stationed with whips in their hands, compelling with blows their men to advance. Many of them fell into the sea, where they perished; many were trodden under foot by their own troops, without exciting the smallest pity or regard. The Greeks, conscious that their destruction was at hand from those who had taken the circuit of the mountain, exerted themselves with the most desperate valour against their Barbarian assailants.

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CCXXIV. Their spears being broken in pieces, they d recourse to their swords. Leonidas fell in the gagement, having greatly signalized himself; and th him, many Spartans of distinction, as well as hers of inferior note. I am acquainted with the mes of all the three hundred. Many illustrious Peruns also were slain, among whom were Abrocomes d Hyperanthes, sons of Darius, by Phrataguna, the ughter of Artanes. Artanes was the brother of Das, the son of Hystaspes, and grandson of Arsamis. aving married his daughter to Darius, as she was an ly child, all his wealth went with her.

ČCXXV. These two brothers of Xerxes fell as they ere contending for the body of Leonidas: here the nflict was the most severe, till at length the Greeks their superior valour four times repelled the Perns, and drew aside the body of their prince. In is situation they continued till Ephialtes and his rty approached. As soon as the Greeks perceived em at hand, the scene was changed, and they reeated to the narrowest part of the pass. Having passed their intrenchment, they posted themselves, except the Thebans, in a compact body, upon a l, which is at the entrance of the straits, and where ion of stone has been erected in honour of Leonidas. this situation, they who had swords left, used them ainst the enemy, the rest exerted themselves with eir hands and their teeth. The Barbarians rushing -on them, some in front, after overturning their wall, hers surrounding and pressing them in all directions, ally overpowered them.

CCXXVI. Such was the conduct of the Lacedæonians and Thespians; but none of them distinished themselves so much as Dieneces the Spartan. speech of his is recorded, which he made before ey came to any engagement. A certain Trachinn having observed, that the Barbarians would send rth such a shower of arrows that their multitude ould obscure the sun; he replied, like a man ignont of fear, and despising the numbers of the Medes, our Trachinian friend promises us great advantages;

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them in the shade, and be protected from the heat." Many other sayings have been handed down as monuments of this man's fame.

CCXXVII. Next to him, the most distinguished of the Spartans were, Alpheus and Maron, two brothers, the sons of Orsiphantus; of the Thespians, the most conspicuous was Dithyrambus, son of Harmatidas.

CCXXVIII. All these were interred in the place where they fell together with such of the confederates as were slain before the separation of the forces by Leonidas. Upon their tomb was this inscription:

"Here once, from Pelops' sea-girt region brought,
Four thousand men three hostile millions fought.'

This was applied to them all collectively. The Spartans were thus distinguished:

Go, stranger, and to list'ning Spartans tell,
That here, obedient to their laws, we fell."

There was one also appropriated to the prophet Megistias:

"By Medes cut off beside Sperchius' wave,
The seer Megistias fills this glorious grave:
Who stood the fate he well foresaw to meet,

And, link'd with Sparta's leaders, scorn'd retreat.”

All these ornaments and inscriptions, that of Megistias alone excepted, were here placed by the Amphictyons. Simonides, son of Leoprepis, inscribed the one to the honour of Megistias, from the ties of private hospitality.

CCXXIX. Of these three hundred, there were two named Eurytus and Aristodemus; both of them, consistently with the discipline of their country, might have secured themselves by retiring to Sparta, for Leonidas had permitted them to leave the camp; but they continued at Alpenus, being both afflicted by a violent disorder of the eyes: or, if they had not thought proper to return home, they had the alternative of meeting death in the field with their fellow-soldiers. In this situation, they differed in opinion what conduct to pursue. Eurytus having heard of the circuit made by the Persians, called for his arms, and putting them on, commanded his helot to conduct him to the battle. The slave did so and immediately

fled, whilst his master died fighting valiantly. Aristodemus pusillanimously staid where he was. If either Aristodemus, being individually diseased, had retired home, or if they had returned together, I cannot think that the Spartans could have shown any resentment against them; but as one of them died in the field, which the other, who was precisely in the same circumstances, refused to do, it was impossible not to be greatly incensed against Aristodemus.

CCXXX. The safe return of Aristodemus to Sparta is by some thus related and explained. There are others who assert, that he was despatched on some business from the army, and might, if he had pleased, have been present at the battle, but that he saved himself by lingering on the way. They add, that his companion, employed on the same business, returned to the battle, and there fell.

CCXXXI. Aristodemus, on his return, was branded with disgrace and infamy; no one would speak with him; no one would supply him with fire, and the opprobrious term of trembler was annexed to his name; but he afterwards, at the battle of Platea, effectually atoned for his conduct.

CCXXXII. It is also said that another of the three hundred survived; his name was Pantites, and he had been sent on some business to Thessaly. Returning to Sparta, he felt himself in disgrace, and put an end to his life.

CCXXXIII. The Thebans, under the command of Leontiades, hitherto constrained by force, had fought with the Greeks against the Persians; but as soon as they saw that the Persians were victorious, when Leonidas and his party retired to the hill, they separated themselves from the Greeks. In the attitude of suppliants they approached the Barbarians, assuring them what was really the truth, that they were attached to the Medes; that they had been among the first to render earth and water; that they had only come to Thermopyla on compulsion, and could not be considered as accessary to the slaughter of the king's troops. The Thessalians confirming the truth of what they had asserted, their lives were preserved. Soine of them however were slain; for as they approached,

the Barbarians put several to the sword; but the greater part, by the order of Xerxes, had the royal marks impressed upon them, beginning with Leontiades himself. Eurymachus, his son, was afterwards slain at the head of four hundred Thebans, by the people of Platea, whilst he was making an attempt upon their city.

CCXXXIV. In this manner the Greeks fought at Thermopyla. Xerxes afterwards sent for Demaratus, and thus addressed him: "I have already, Demaratus, had experience of your truth and integrity, every thing has happened as you foretold; tell me then, how many of the Lacedæmonians may there be left, how many of like valour with those who have perished, or are they all alike?" "Sir," replied Demaratus, "the Lacedæmonians are a numerous people, and possessed of many cities. But I will answer your question more particularly. Sparta itself contains eight thousand men, all of whom are equal in valour to those who fought here; the other Lacedæmonians, though inferior to these, are still brave." "Tell me, then," returned Xerxes, "how we may subdue these men with least trouble? you who have been their prince, must know what measures they are likely to pursue."

CCXXXV. "Since, sir," answered Demaratus, you place a confidence in my opinion, it is proper that I should speak to you from the best of my judgment: I would therefore recommend you to send a fleet of three hundred vessels to the coast of Lacedæmonia. Contiguous to this is an island named Cythera, of which Chilon, the wisest of our countrymen, observed, that it would be better for the Spartans if it were buried in the sea; foreseeing the probability of such a measure as I now recommend. From this island your troops may spread terror over Sparta. Thus, a war so very near them,may remove from you anyapprehension of their assisting the rest of Greece, which will then be open to your arms, and which, if subdued, will leave Sparta hardly able to oppose you. If my advice be disregarded, you may expect what follows. There is a narrow isthmus in the Peloponnese, in which all its people will assemble in resistance to your arms, and where you will have far more violent contests to sus