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Three Millennia of Greek Literature
 

William Smith, A Smaller History of Ancient Greece

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER VII

The Persian Wars. - From the Ionic Revolt to the Battle of Marathon, B.C. 500-490

ELPENOR EDITIONS IN PRINT

HOMER

PLATO

ARISTOTLE

THE GREEK OLD TESTAMENT (SEPTUAGINT)

THE NEW TESTAMENT

PLOTINUS

DIONYSIUS THE AREOPAGITE

MAXIMUS CONFESSOR

SYMEON THE NEW THEOLOGIAN

CAVAFY

More...


Page 13

Miltiades, anxious to come to close quarters as speedily as possible, ordered his soldiers to advance at a running step over the mile of ground which separated them from the foe. Both the Athenian wings were successful, and drove the enemy before them towards the shore and the marshes. But the Athenian centre was broken by the Persians, and compelled to take to flight. Miltiades thereupon recalled his wings from pursuit, and charged the Persian centre. The latter could not withstand this combined attack. The rout now became general along the whole Persian line; and they fled to their ships, pursued by the Athenians.

From Aeschylus' Persians

   (Queen of the Persians) Indulge me, friends, who wish to be inform'd Where, in what clime, the towers of Athens rise.
   (Chorus) Far in the west, where sets the imperial sun.
   (Q.) Yet my son will'd the conquest of this town.
   (Ch.) May Greece through all her states bend to his power!
   (Q) Send they embattled numbers to the field?
   (Ch.) A force that to the Medes hath wrought much wo.
   (Q.) Have they sufficient treasures in their houses?
   (Ch.) Their rich earth yields a copious fount of silver.
   (Q.) From the strong bow wing they the barbed shaft?
   (Ch.) They grasp the stout spear, and the massy shield.
   (Q.) What monarch reigns, whose power commands their ranks?
   (Ch.) Slaves to no lord, they own no kingly power.
   (Q.) How can they then resist the invading foe?
   (Ch.) As to spread havoc through the numerous host, That round Darius form'd their glitt'ring files.
   (Q.) Thy words strike deep, and wound the parent's breast Whose sons are march'd to such a dangerous field.

Aeschylus, Nobody's slaves

The Persians lost 6400 men in this memorable engagement: of the Athenians only 192 fell. The aged tyrant Hippias is said to have perished in the battle, and the brave Polemarch Callimachus was also one of the slain. The Persians embarked and sailed away to Asia. Their departure was hailed at Athens with one unanimous burst of heartfelt joy. Marathon became a magic word at Athens. The Athenian people in succeeding ages always looked back upon this day as the most glorious in their annals, and never tired of hearing its praises sounded by their orators and poets. And they had reason to be proud of it. It was the first time that the Greeks had ever defeated the Persians in the field. It was the exploit of the Athenians alone. It had saved not only Athens but all Greece. If the Persians had conquered at Marathon, Greece must, in all likelihood, have become a Persian province; the destinies of the world would have been changed; and oriental despotism might still have brooded over the fairest countries of Europe.

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