Herodotus - The Histories.pdf

The Histories–Book Nine V 5
signals along the islands, that he was master of
the place. However, he did not on his arrival in
Attica find the Athenians in their country- they
had again withdrawn, some to their ships, but the
greater part to Salamis- and he only gained possession
of a deserted town. It was ten months
after the taking of the city by the king that
Mardonius came against it for the second time.
Mardonius, being now in Athens, sent an envoy
to Salamis, one Murychides, a Hellespontine
Greek, to offer the Athenians once more the same
terms which had been conveyed to them by
Alexander. The reason for his sending a second
time, though he knew beforehand their unfriendly
feelings towards him, was,- that he hoped,
when they saw the whole land of Attica conquered
and in his power, their stubbornness
would begin to give way. On this account, therefore,
he dispatched Murychides to Salamis.
Now, when Murychides came before the council,
and delivered his message, one of the councillors,
named Lycidas, gave it as his opinion- “that the