The histories of Herodotus;

99-102] VICTORY AT MYCALE 527
might be at a distance from the army. Those of the Ionians,
then, who they suspected might attempt something new if they
had the power, the Persians took such precautions against;
and they themselves brought their bucklers together to serve
as a rampart.
When, therefore, the Greeks were prepared, they advanced
toward the barbarians ; and as they were marching, a rumour
flew through the whole army, and a herald's staff was seen
lying on the beach : the rumour that spread among them was
this, that the Greeks had fought and conquered the army of
Mardonius in Boeotia. Thus the interposition of heaven is
manifest by many plain signs ; since on this same day on
which the defeat at Plataea took place, and when that at Mycale
was just about to happen, a rumour reached the Greeks in this
latter place ; so that the army was inspired with much greater
courage, and was more eager to meet danger. There was also
this other coincidence, namely, that there was a temple of
Eleusinian Ceres near both the engagements. For at Plataea,
as I have already said, the battle took place near the Temple
of Ceres ; and at Mycale it was about to happen in like man-
ner. The rumour that a victory had been obtained by the
Greeks under Pausanias turned out to be correct ; for the battle
of Plataea was fought while it was yet early in the day, and
that of Mycale toward evening: and that both happened on
the same day of the same month, not long afterward became
manifest on inquiry. Before the rumour reached them great
alarm prevailed among them, not so much for themselves as
for the Greeks, lest Greece should stumble in the contest with
Mardonius. When, however, this report flew among them,
they advanced with greater readiness and alacrity. Accordingly,
the Greeks and the barbarians hastened to the battle,
as both the islands and the Hellespont were held out as
reward of victory.
the
The Athenians, and those who were drawn up next them,
forming about half the army, had to advance along the shore
over level ground ; but the Lacedaemonians, and those drawn
up near them, along a ravine and some hills. So that while
the Lacedaemonians were making a circuit, those in the other
wing were already engaged. Now, so long as the bucklers
of the Persians remained standing, they defended themselves
strenuously, and had not the worst of the battle ; but when
the Athenians and those next them, having mutually encouraged
one another, in order that the victory might belong to
them, and not to the Lacedaemonians, applied with more vigour
to the battle, then the face of affairs immediately changed
;