The histories of Herodotus;

I09-112] MARATHON 355
were first a people. And if they succumb to the Medes, it
has been determined what they are to suffer when delivered
up to Hippias ; but if the city survives, it will become the first
of the Grecian cities. How, then, this can be brought to pass,
and how the power of deciding this matter depends on you,
I will now proceed to explain. The opinions of us generals,
who are ten, are divided : the one party urging that we should
engage; the other, that we should not engage. Now if we
do not engage, I expect that some great dissension arising
among us will shake the minds of the Athenians, so as to induce
them to a compliance with the Medes. But if we engage
before any dastardly thought arises in the minds of some of
the Athenians, if the gods are impartial, we shall be able to
get the better in the engagement. All these things, therefore,
are now in your power, and entirely depend on you.
For if you will support my opinion, your country will be free,
and the city the first in Greece ; but if you join with those
who would dissuade us from an engagement, the contrary of
the advantages I have enumerated will fall to your lot." Miltiades,
by these words, gained over Callimachus, and the opinion
of the minister of war being added, it was determined
to engage. Afterward the generals whose opinions had been
given to engage, as the command for the day devolved upon
each of them, gave it up to Miltiades ; but he, having accepted
it, would not come to an engagement before his own
turn to command came.
When it came round to his turn, then the Athenians were
drawn out in the following order for the purpose of engaging
The war minister, Callimachus, commanded the right wing,
for the law at that time was so settled among the Athenians
that the war minister should have the right wing. He having
this command, the tribes succeeded as they were usually reckoned,
adjoining one another; but the Platseans were drawn
out last of all, occupying the left wing. Now, ever since that
battle, when the Athenians offer sacrifices and celebrate the
public festivals which take place every five years, the Athenian
herald prays, saying, May blessings attend both the
Athenians and the Plataeans ! " At that time, when the Athenians
were drawn out at Marathon, the following was the
case: their line was equal in extent to the Medic line, but
the middle of it was but few deep, and there the line was weakest
; but each wing was strong in numbers. When they were
thus drawn out, and the victims were favourable, thereupon
the Athenians, as soon as they were ordered to charge, advanced
against the barbarians in double-quick time, and the
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