The Orations of Lysias | Page 4

embarked and helped at Artemisium, and the
Lacedaemonians and some of the allies met at Thermopylae, thinking
on account of the narrowness of the pass they could check their
advance. 31. But when the crisis came, at the same time the Athenians
conquered in the naval battle, but the Lacedaemonians (perished), not
failing in courage, but deceived in the number (of the enemy). For they
thought they would ward off the enemy and so risk (their lives), (and
they were) not worsted by the enemy, but died where they were ordered
to fight, (32) and in this way the Spartans were unfortunate while the
Persians gained entrance. They marched to this city, and our ancestors,

learning of the misfortune of the Spartans, and in perplexity in the
dangers which surrounded them, knowing that if they should attack the
enemy by sea they would sail with a thousand ships and take the city
deserted, and if they embarked on triremes they would be taken by the
land army, and they could not do both, ward off (the enemy) and leave
sufficient guard behind, (33) while these two questions were before
them, whether it was best to leave their country or going over to the
barbarians to enslave the Greeks, they believed that freedom with virtue,
poverty and exile was better than slavery of the country with disgrace
and plenty, so for the sake of Greece they left the city, that against each
in turn but not against both they might risk their forces. 34. So they
placed the children and women in Salamis, and collected the naval
force of the allies. Not many days after, the infantry and the sea-force
of the barbarians came, (a force) which any one would fear, considering
how great and terrible a danger was encountered for the sake of the
freedom of Greece. 35. And what feelings had those who saw them in
those ships, while their safety was hazardous and the approaching
conflict of doubtful issue, or those who were about to contend for their
loved ones, for the prizes in Salamis? 36. Such a multitude of the
enemy surrounded them from all sides that the least of their impending
dangers was the prospect of death, and the greatest calamity was what
they expected to suffer in subjection to the victorious barbarians. 37.
Doubtless through their trials they frequently pledged one another, and
probably commiserated their own fortunes, knowing how few were
their own ships and seeing many of the enemy's, and realizing that the
city was being devastated and filled with barbarians, and the temples
burned, and ruin close at hand. 38. They heard together the paean of
Greek and barbarian, the exhortations of both and the cries of the
vanquished, the sea full of the dead, wrecks coming together, both
friend and foe, and because the battle was long undecided, thinking
now they have conquered and are saved, now they are worsted and lost.
39. Surely through their fear they thought to see much they did not see,
and to hear much they did not hear. What prayers did not rise to the
gods, or reminders of sacrifices, compassion for children, longing for
wives, pity for parents and meditations on what would result in case of
defeat? 40. What god would not pity them for the magnitude of the
danger? What man would not weep? Who would not wonder at their

daring? Truly these surpassed all men by far in point of courage, both
in their plans and in the face of the danger, leaving the city, embarking
upon the ships, opposing their own lives, few as they were, to the
Persian host. 41. And they showed all men by their naval victory that it
is better to struggle for freedom with a few than for their own slavery
with many subjects of the king. 42. These made the greatest and most
honorable contribution in behalf of the freedom of the Greeks, the
general Themistocles, best able to speak, to understand and to act; more
ships than the allies, and men of the most experience. And who of the
other Greeks would have claimed to be equal in intelligence, numbers
and courage? 43. So that justly they took without dispute the rewards of
the naval battle from Greece, and gained success in proportion to their
dangers and proved to the Asiatic barbarians that their courage was
genuine and native.
44. So in the naval battle they conducted themselves thus and incurred
the greatest part of the danger, and by their own valor gained freedom
for themselves and the rest. Afterwards when the Peloponnesians were
putting a wall across the Isthmus and were content with their own
safety, supposing they were rid of the danger by sea, and intending to
watch the rest of the Greeks