The histories of Herodotus;

17-20] ADVANCE OF THE GREEKS 497
who were with the Medes, that they were going to despatch
them with their javelins ; this same rumour also spread among
the Phocians themselves. Whereupon their general Harmocydes
encouraged them, addressing them as follows : " O Pho-
cians, it is plain that these men are about to deliver us up to
certain death, we having been calumniated by the Thessalians,
as I conjecture. Now, therefore, it is fitting that every one
of you should prove himself valiant, for it is better to die
doing something, and defending ourselves, than expose ourselves
to be destroyed by a most disgraceful death. Let some
of these men learn, then, that, being barbarians, they have
plotted death against men who are Greeks." Thus he encouraged
them. But the cavalry, when they had surrounded them
on all sides, rode up as if to destroy them, and brandished
their javelins, as if about to hurl them ; and one here and there
did hurl his javelin. They, however, faced them, forming
themselves into a circle, and closing their ranks as much as
possible : whereupon the cavalry wheeled round and rode
away. I am unable to say with certainty whether they came
to destroy the Phocians at the request of the Thessalians, and
when they saw them prepared to defend themselves, were
afraid lest they might receive some wounds, and therefore rode
off (because Mardonius had so ordered them), or whether he
wished to try whether they had any courage. But when the
cavalry had ridden back, Mardonius sent a herald and spoke
as follows : " Be of good heart, O Phocians, for you have
proved yourselves to be brave men, contrary to what I heard.
Therefore sustain this war with resolution, and you shall not
surpass me or the king in generosity." Such were the events
in regard to the Phocians.
The Lacedaemonians, when they arrived at the isthmus,
there encamped. And the rest of the Peloponnesians, who
favoured the better cause, when they heard of this, and others
also who saw the Spartans marching out, thought it would
be a disgrace to absent themselves from the expedition of the
Lacedaemonians. Accordingly, the victims having proved
favourable, they all marched out from the isthmus, and advanced
to Eleusis. And having consulted the victims there
also, when they were again favourable, they continued their
march ; and the Athenians with them, they having crossed
over from Salamis and joined them at Eleusis. When they
reached Erythrae in Bceotia, they learned that the barbarians
were encamped on the Asopus, and having thereupon consulted
together, they formed themselves opposite, at the foot
of Mount Cithaeron. Mardonius, when the Greeks did not
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