Изображения страниц
PDF
EPUB

that of Herodotus, who lived in the same age this expedition was made, and who repeats the inscription engraved by the order of the Amphictyons upon the monument of those Grecians who were killed at Thermopylae, which expressed that they fought against three millions of men.

[ocr errors]

For the sustenance of all these persons, there must be every day consumed, according to Herodotus's computation, above one hundred and ten thousand three hundred and forty medimnis of flour, (the medimnis was a measure, which, according to Budæus, was equivalent to six of our bushels,) allowing for every head the quantity of a chenix, which was the daily portion or allowance that masters gave their slaves among the Grecians. We have no account in history of any other army so numerous as this; and amongst all these millions of men, there was not one that could vie with Xerxes in point of beauty, either for the comeliness of his face, or the tallness of his person. But this is a poor merit or preeminence for a prince, when attended with no other. Accordingly Justin, after he has mentioned the number of these troops, adds, that this vast body of forces wanted a chief: Huic tanto agmini dux defuit.

We should hardly be able to conceive how it was possible to find a sufficient quantity of provisions for such an immense number of persons, if the historian P had not informed us, that Xerxes had employed four whole years in making preparations for this expedition. We have seen already how many vessels of burden there were, that coasted along continually to attend upon and supply the land army; and doubtless there were fresh

• Herod. I. vii. c. 187.

P Ibid. c. 20.

ones arriving every day, that furnished the camp with a sufficient plenty of all things necessary.

'Herodotus acquaints us with the method they made use of to calculate their forces, which were almost innumerable. They assembled ten thousand men in a particular place, and ranked them as close together as was possible; after which they described a circle quite round them, and erected a little wall upon that circle about half the height of a man's body; when this was done, they made the whole army successively pass through this space, and thereby knew to what number it amounted.

Herodotus gives us also a particular account of the different armour of all the nations this army consisted of. Besides the generals of every nation, who each of them commanded the troops of their respective country, the land army was under the command of six Persian generals, viz. Mardonius, the son of Gobryas; Tirintatechimus, the son of Artabanes, and Smerdonus, son to Otanes, both near relations to the king; Masistus, son of Darius and Atossa; Gergis, son of Ariazers; and Megabysus, son of Zopyrus. The ten thousand Persians, who were called the immortal band, were commanded by Hydarnes. The cavalry had its particular commanders.

There were likewise four Persian generals who commanded the fleet. In Herodotus' we have a particular account of all the nations by which it was fitted out. Artemisa, queen of Halicarnassus, who, from the death of her husband, governed the kingdom for her who was still a minor, brought but five vessels

viisc.

Herod. 1. vii.c. 60.

Ibid. c. 89, 90.

along with her; but they were the best equipped, and the lightest ships in the whole fleet, next to those of the Sidonians. This princess distinguished herself in this war, by her singular courage, and still more by her prudence and conduct. Herodotus observes, that among all the commanders in the army, there was not one who gave Xerxes so good advice and such wise counsel as this queen: but he was not prudent enough to apply it to his advantage.

When Xerxes had numbered his whole forces by land and sea, he asked Demaratus, if he thought the Grecians would dare to expect him. I have already taken notice, that this Demaratus was one of the two kings of Sparta, who, being exiled by the faction of his enemies, had taken refuge at the Persian court, where he was entertained with the greatest marks of honour and beneficence. "As the courtiers were one day expressing their surprise that a king should suffer himself to be banished, and desired him to acquaint them with the reason of it: "It is," says he, "because the law is more powerful than the kings of Sparta." This prince was very much considered in Persia but neither the injustice of the Spartan citizens, nor the kind treatment of the Persian king, could make him forget his country. As soon as he knew that Xerxes was making preparations for the war, he found means to give the Grecians secret intelligence of it and now, being obliged on this occasion to speak his sentiments to the king, he did it with

Plut. in Apoph. Lacon. p. 220.

* Amicior patriæ post fugam, quam regi post beneficia. Justin.

such a noble freedom and dignity, as became a Spartan, and a king of Sparta.

'Demaratus, before he answered the king's question, desired to know whether it was his pleasure that he should flatter him, or that he should speak his thoughts to him freely and truly. Xerxes having declared that he desired him to act with entire sincerity, he spoke in the following terms: "Great prince," says Demaratus, "since it is agreeable to your pleasure and commands, I shall deliver my sentiments to you with the utmost truth and sincerity. It must be confessed, that from the beginning of time, Greece has been trained up, and accustomed to poverty: but then she has introduced and established virtue within her territories, which wisdom cultivates, and the vigor of her laws maintains. And it is by the use, which Greece knows how to make of this virtue, that she equally defends herself against the inconveniencies of poverty, and the yoke of servitude. But, to speak only of the Lacedemonians, my particular countrymen, you may assure yourself, that as they are born and bred up in liberty, they will never hearken to any proposals that tend to slavery. Though they were deserted and abandoned by all the other Grecians, and reduced to a band of one thousand men, or even to a more inconsiderable number, they will still come out to meet you, and not refuse to give you battle." Xerxes, upon hearing this discourse, fell a laughing; and as he could not comprehend how men in such a state of liberty and independence, as the Lacedemonians were described to enjoy, who had no master to force and compel them to it, could be capable of exposing themselves

a Herod. 1. vii. c. 101-105.

in such a manner to danger and death; Demaratus replied, "The Spartans indeed are free, and under no subjection to the will of any man; but at the same time they have laws, to which they are subject, and of which they stand in greater awe than your subjects do of your majesty. Now, by these laws they are forbid ever to fly in battle, let the number of their enemies be ever so superior; and are commanded, by abiding firm in their post, either to conquer or to die.”

Xerxes was not offended at the liberty wherewith Demaratus spoke to him, and continued his march.

SECTION IV.

THE LACEDEMONIANS AND ATHENIANS SEND TO THEIR ALLIES IN VAIN TO REQUIRE SUCCOURS FROM THEM. THE COMMAND OF

THE FLEET IS GIVEN TO THE LACEDEMONIANS.

LACEDEMON" and Athens, which were the two most powerful cities of Greece, and the cities against which Xerxes was most exasperated, were not indolent or asleep, whilst so formidable an enemy was approaching. Having received intelligence long before, of the designs of this prince, they had sent spies to Sardis, in order to have a more exact information of the number and quality of his forces. These spies were seized, and as they were just going to be put to death, Xerxes countermanded it, and gave orders that they should be conducted through his army, and then sent back without any harm being done to them. At their return, the Grecians understood what they had to apprehend from so potent an enemy.

[blocks in formation]
« ПредыдущаяПродолжить »