informed, he drew up the Persians in order of battle. The Phoceans, not able to sustain the heavy flight of arrows, retreated up the mountain, imagining themselves the objects of this attack, and expecting certain destruction. But the troops with Hydarnes and Ephialtes did not think it worth their while to pursue them, and descended rapidly the opposite side of the mountain.

To those Greeks stationed in the Straits of Thermopylæ, Megistias, the soothsayer, had previously, from inspection of the entrails,* predicted that death awaited them in the morning. Some deserters had also informed them of the circuit the Persians had taken; and this intelligence was, in the course of the night, circulated through the camp. All this was confirmed by their sentinels, who, early in the morning, fled down the sides of the mountain. In this predicament, the Greeks called a council, who were greatly divided in their opinions. Some were for remaining on their stations, others advised a retreat. In consequence of their not agreeing, many of them dispersed to their respective cities; a part resolved to continue with Leonidas.

It is said, that those who retired, only did so in compliance with the wishes of Leonidas, who was desirous to preserve them: but he thought that he, himself, with hist Spartans, could not, without the greatest ignominy, forsake the post they had come to defend. I am myself inclined to believe, that Leonidas, seeing his allies not only reluctant, but totally averse, to resist the danger which menaced them, consented to their retreat. His own return, he considered as dishonorable, while he was convinced, that his defending his post would equally secure his own fame, and the good of Sparta. In the very beginning of these disturbances, the Spartans, having consulted the oracle, were informed, that either their King must die, or Sparta be vanquished by the Barbarians. The oracle was communicated in hexameter verses, and was to this effect:

*The ancient heathens had several modes of divination, one of which was, by the entrails of animals killed for sacrifice.

"To you who dwell in Sparta's ample walls,
Behold, a dire alternative befalls;

Your glorious city must in ruins lie,

Or, slain by Persian arms, a king must die;
A king, descended from Herculean blood.
For, lo! he comes, and cannot be withstood;
Nor bulls nor lions can dispute the field,

'Tis Jove's own force, and this or that must yield."

I am unwilling to presume of the allies that departed, that, differing in opinion from their leader, they dishonorably deserted. I should also suppose, that the conduct of Leonidas was the result of his revolving the oracle in his mind, and of his great desire to secure to the Spartans, alone, the glory of this memorable action.

To me, it is no small testimony of the truth of the above, that, among those whom Leonidas dismissed, was Megistias himself. He was of Acarnania, and, as some affirm, descended from Melampus. He accompanied Leonidas on this expedition, and, from the entrails, had predicted what would happen: he refused, however, to leave his friends, and satisfied himself with sending away his only son, who had followed his father on this occasion.

Obedient to the direction of their leader, the confederates retired. The Thespians and Thebans alone remained with the Spartans: the Thebans, indeed, very reluctantly; but they were detained by Leonidas, as hostages. The Thespians were very zealous in the cause, and, refusing to abandon their friends, perished with them. The leader of the Thespians was Demophilus, son of Diodromas.

Xerxes, early in the morning, offered a solemn libation, then, waiting till that period of the day, when the forum is fullest of people, he advanced from his camp. To the above measure, he had been advised by Ephialtes. The descent from the mountain is of much shorter extent, than the circuitous ascent. The Barbarians, with Xerxes, approached. Leonidas and his Greeks proceeded, as to inevitable death, a much greater space from the defile than he had yet done. Till now, they had defended

* About nine o'clock in the morning.

themselves behind their intrenchment, fighting in the most contracted part of the passage; but, on this day, they engaged on a wider space, and a multitude of their opponents fell. Behind each troop, officers were stationed, with whips in their hands, compelling, with blows, their men to advance. Many of them fell into the sea, where they perished; many were trodden under foot by their own troops, without exciting the smallest pity or regard. The Greeks, conscious that their destruction was at hand, from those who had taken the circuit of the mountain, exerted themselves, with the most desperate valor, against the Barbarian assailants.

Their spears being broken in pieces, they had recourse to their swords. Leonidas fell in the engagement, having greatly signalized himself; and with him, many Spartans of distinction, as well as others, of inferior note. I am acquainted with the names of all the three hundred. Many illustrious Persians, also, were slain, among whom, were Abrocomes and Hyperanthes, sons of Darius, by Phrataguna, the daughter of Artanes. Artanes was the brother of Darius, the son of Hystaspes, and grandson of Arsamis. Having married his daughter to Darius, as she was an only child, all his wealth went with her.

These two brothers of Xerxes fell, as they were contending for the body of Leonidas. Here the conflict was the most severe; till, at length, the Greeks, by their superior valor, four times repelled the Persians, and drew aside the body of their prince. In this situation, they continued, till Ephialtes and his party approached. As soon as the Greeks perceived them at hand, the scene was changed, and they retreated to the narrowest part of the pass. Having repassed their intrenchment, they posted themselves, all except the Thebans, in a compact body, on a hill which is at the entrance of the Straits, and where a lion of stone* has been erected, in honor of Le

* Two epigrams on this subject may be found in the Analecta Veterum Poet. Græc. vol. i. 132, vol. ii. 162. The bones of Leonidas were carried back to Sparta, by Pausanias, forty years after his death; they were placed in a monument, opposite the theatre. Every year they pronounced, in this place, a funeral oration, and celebrated games, at which Spartans only were suffered to contend.

onidas. In this situation, they who had swords left used them against the enemy; the rest exerted themselves, with their hands and their teeth. The Barbarians rushing on them, some in front, after overturning their wall, others surrounding and pressing them in all directions, finally overpowered them.

Such was the conduct of the Lacedæmonians and Thespians; but none of them distinguished themselves so much, as Dieneces the Spartan. A speech of his is re corded, which he made before they came to any engage ment. A certain Trachinian, having observed, that the Barbarians would send forth such a shower of arrows, that their multitude would obscure the sun, he replied, like a man ignorant of fear, and despising the numbers of the Medes," Our Trachinian friend promises us great advantages if the Medes obscure the sun's light, we shall fight with them in the shade, and be protected from the heat." Many other sayings have been handed down, as monuments of this man's fame.

Next to him, the most distinguished, of the Spartans, were, Alpheus and Maron, two brothers, the sons of Orsiphantus. Of the Thespians, the most conspicuous was Dithyrambus, son of Harmatidas.

All these were interred in the place, where they fell, together with such of the confederates as were slain before the separation of the forces by Leonidas. On their tomb, was this inscription:

"Here, once, from Pelops' sea-girt region brought,

Four thousand men three hostile millions fought."?

This was applied to them all, collectively. The Spartans were thus distinguished:

"Go, stranger, and to listening Spartans tell,
That here, obedient to their laws, we fell."

There was one also appropriated to the prophet Megistias :

"By Medes cut off, beside Sperchius' wave,
The seer Megistias fills this glorious grave:
Who stood, the fate he well foresaw, to meet,

And, linked with Sparta's leaders, scorned retreat."

All these ornaments and inscriptions, that of Megistias

alone excepted, were here placed by the Amphictyons. Simonides, son of Leoprepis, inscribed the one to the honor of Megistias, from the ties of private hospitality.

Of these three hundred, there were two, named Eurytus and Aristodemus: both of them, consistently with the discipline of their country, might have secured themselves, by retiring to Sparta, for Leonidas had permitted them to leave the camp; but they continued at Alpenus, being both afflicted by a violent disorder of the eyes; or, if they had not thought proper to return home, they had the alternative of meeting death in the field with their fellowsoldiers. In this situation, they differed in opinion, what conduct to pursue. Eurytus, having heard of the circuit made by the Persians, called for his arms, and, putting them on, commanded his helot to conduct him to the battle. The slave did so, and immediately fled, while his master died, fighting valiantly. Aristodemus pusillanimously stayed where he was. If either Aristodemus, being individually diseased, had retired home, or if they had returned together, I cannot think that the Spartans could have shown any resentment against them; but, as one of them died in the field, which the other, who was precisely in the same circumstances, refused to do, it was impossible not to be greatly incensed against Aristode

mus.

The safe return of Aristodemus to Sparta is by some thus related and explained. There are others, who assert, that he was despatched on some business from the army, and might, if he had pleased, have been present at the battle, but that he saved himself, by lingering on the way. They add, that his companion, employed on the same business, returned to the battle, and there fell.

Aristodemus, on his return, was branded with disgrace and infamy. No one would speak with him; no one would supply him with fire; and the opprobrious term of trembler, was annexed to his name: but he afterwards, at the battle of Platææ, effectually atoned for his former conduct.

It is also said, that another of the three hundred survived; his name was Pantites, and he had been sent on