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aristides-第4部分

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other wing of the battle。
  All Greece being in suspense; and especially the affairs of the
Athenians unsettled; certain persons of great families and possessions
having been impoverished by the war; and seeing all their authority
and reputation in the city vanished with their wealth; and others in
possession of their honours and places; convened privately at a
house in Plataea; and conspired for the dissolution of the
democratic government; and; if the plot should not succeed; to ruin
the cause and betray all to the barbarians。 These matters being in
agitation in the camp; and many persons already corrupted;
Aristides; perceiving the design; and dreading the present juncture of
time; determined neither to let the business pass unanimadverted upon;
nor yet altogether to expose it; not knowing how many the accusation
might reach; and willing to set bounds to his justice with a view to
the public convenience。 Therefore; of many that were concerned; he
apprehended eight only; two of whom; who were first proceeded
against and most guilty; Aeschines of Lampra and Agesias of
Acharnae; made their escape out of the camp。 The rest he dismissed;
giving opportunity to such as thought themselves concealed to take
courage and repent; intimating that they had in the war a great
tribunal; where they might clear their guilt by manifesting their
sincere and good intentions towards their country。
  After this; Mardonius made trial of the Grecian courage; by
sending his whole number of horse; in which he thought himself much
the stronger; against them; while they were all pitched at the foot of
Mount Cithaeron; in strong and rocky places; except the Megarians。
They; being three thousand in number; were encamped on the plain;
where they were damaged by the horse charging and making inroads
upon them on all hands。 They sent; therefore; in haste to Pausanias;
demanding relief; as not being able alone to sustain the great numbers
of the barbarians。 Pausanias; hearing this; and perceiving the tents
of the Megarians already hid by the multitude of darts and arrows; and
themselves driven together into a narrow space; was at a loss
himself how to aid them with his battalion of heavy…armed
Lacedaemonians。 He proposed it; therefore; as a point of emulation
in valour and love of distinction; to the commanders and captains
who were around him; if any would voluntarily take upon them the
defence and succour of the Megarians。 The rest being backward;
Aristides undertook the enterprise for the Athenians; and sent
Olympiodorus; the most valiant of his inferior officers; with three
hundred chosen men and some archers under his command。 These being
soon in readiness; and running upon the enemy; as soon as Masistius;
who commanded the barbarians' horse; a man of wonderful courage and of
extraordinary bulk and comeliness of person; perceived it; turning his
steed he made towards them。 And they sustaining the shock and
joining battle with him; there was a sharp conflict; as though by this
encounter they were to try the success of the whole war。 But after
Masistius's horse received a wound and flung him; and he falling could
hardly raise himself through the weight of his armour; the
Athenians; pressing upon him with blows; could not easily get at his
person; armed as he was; his breast; his head; and his limbs all over;
with gold and brass and iron; but one of them at last; running him
in at the visor of his helmet; slew him; and the rest of the Persians;
leaving the body; fled。 The greatness of the Greek success was
known; not by the multitude of the slain (for an inconsiderable number
were killed); but by the sorrow the barbarians expressed。 For they
shaved themselves; their horses; and mules for the death of Masistius;
and filled the plain with howling and lamentation; having lost a
person; who; next to Mardonius himself; was by many degrees the
chief among them; both for valour and authority。
  After this skirmish of the horse; they kept from fighting a long
time; for the soothsayers; by the sacrifices; foretold the victory
both to Greeks and Persians; if they stood upon the defensive part
only; but if they became aggressors; the contrary。 At length
Mardonius; when he had but a few days' provision; and the Greek forces
increased continually by some or other that came in to them; impatient
of delay; determined to lie still no longer; but passing Asopus by
daybreak; to fall unexpectedly upon the Greeks; and signified the same
over night to the captains of his host。 But about midnight; a
certain horseman stole into the Greek camp; and coming to the watch;
desired them to call Aristides; the Athenian; to him。 He coming
speedily; 〃I am;〃 said the stranger; 〃Alexander; king of the
Macedonians; and am arrived here through the greatest danger in the
world for the goodwill I bear you; lest a sudden onset should dismay
you; so as to behave in the fight worse than usual。 For to…morrow
Mardonius will give you battle; urged; not by any hope of success or
courage; but by want of victuals; since; indeed; the prophets prohibit
him the battle; the sacrifices and oracles being unfavourable; and the
army is in despondency and consternation; but necessity forces him
to try his fortune; or sit still and endure the last extremity of
want。〃 Alexander; thus saying; entreated Aristides to take notice
and remember him; but not to tell any other。 But he told him; it was
not convenient to conceal the matter from Pausanias (because he was
general); as for any other; he would keep it secret from them till the
battle was fought; but if the Greeks obtained the victory; that then
no one should be ignorant of Alexander's good…will and kindness
towards them。 After this; the king of the Macedonians rode back again;
and Aristides went to Pausanias's tent and told him they sent for
the rest of the captains and gave orders that the army should be in
battle array。
  Here; according to Herodotus; Pausanias spoke to Aristides; desiring
him to transfer the Athenians to the right wing of the army opposite
to the Persians (as they would do better service against them;
having been experienced in their way of combat; and emboldened with
former victories); and to give him the left; where the Medizing Greeks
were to make their assault。 The rest of the Athenian captains regarded
this as an arrogant and interfering act on the part of Pausanias;
because; while permitting the rest of the army to keep their stations;
he removed them only from place to place; like so many Helots;
opposing them to the greatest strength of the enemy。 But Aristides
said they were altogether in the wrong。 If so short a time ago they
contested the left wing with the Tegeatans; and gloried in being
preferred before them; now; when the Lacedaemonians give them place in
the right; and yield them in a manner the leading of the army; how
is it they are discontented with the honour that is done them; and
do not look upon it as an advantage to have to fight; not against
their countrymen and kindred; but barbarians; and such as were by
nature their enemies? After this; the Athenians very readily changed
places with the Lacedaemonians; and there went words amongst them as
they were encouraging each other that the enemy approached with no
better arms or stouter hearts than those who fought the battle of
Marathon; but had the same bows and arrows; and the same embroidered
coats and gold; and the same delicate bodies and effeminate minds
within; 〃While we have the same weapons and bodies; and our courage
augmented by our victories; and fight not like others in defence of
our country only; but for the trophies of Salamis and Marathon; that
they may not be looked upon as due to Miltiades or fortune; but to the
people of Athens。〃 Thus; therefore; were they making haste to change
the order of their battle。 But the Thebans; understanding it by some
deserters; forthwith acquainted Mardonius; and he; either for fear
of the Athenians; or a desire to engage the Lacedaemonians; marched
over his Persians to the other wing; and commanded the Greeks of his
party to be posted opposite to the Athenians。 But this change was
observed on the other side; and Pausanias; wheeling about again;
ranged himself on the right; and Mardonius; also; as at first; took
the left wing over against the Lacedaemonians。 So the day passed
without action。
  After this the Greeks determined in council to remove their camp
some distance; to possess themselves of a place convenient for
watering; because the springs near them were polluted and destroyed by
the barbarian cavalry。 But night being come; and the captains
setting out towards the place designed for their camping; the soldiers
were not very ready to follow; and keep in a body; but; as soon as
they had quitted their first entrenchments; made towards the city of
Plataea; and there was much tumult and disorder as they dispersed to
various quarters and proceeded to pitch their tents。 The
Lacedaemonians; against their will; had the fortune to be left by
the rest。 For Amompharetus; a brave and daring man; who had long
been burning with desire of the fight; and resented their many
lingerings and delays; calling the removal of the camp a mere
running away and flight; protested he would not desert his post; but
would there remain with his company and sustain the charge of
Mardonius。 And when Pausanias came to him and told him he did do these
things by the common vote and determination of the Greeks;
Amompharetus taking up a great stone and flinging it at Pausanias'
feet; and 〃By this token;〃 said he; 〃do I give my suffrage for the
battle; nor have I any concern with the cowardly consultations and
decrees of other men。〃 Pausanias; not knowing what to do in the
present juncture; sent to the Athenians; who were drawing off; to stay
to accompany him; and so he himself set off with the rest of the
army for Plataea; hoping thus to make Amompharetus move。
  Meantime; day came upon them; and Mardonius (for he was not ignorant
of their deserting their camp); having his army in array; fell upon
the Lacedaemonians with great shouting and noise of barbarous
people; as if they were not about to join battle; but crush 
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