CHAPTER XVII. OF THE GREEKS AT SALAMIS AND OF THE CITY OF ATHENS.

things, so that Adeimantus of Corinth cried out to him, “Themistocles, in the games they that start too soon are scourged.” “Yea,” said Themistocles, excusing himself, “but they that linger are not crowned.” Thus he answered the Corinthian softly. And to Eurybiades he spake, not indeed after his former manner how that the ships would be scattered from where he should have sailed to the Isthmus, for the allies were present, and he thought it not seemly to say this thing in their ears, but rather in some such fashion as this: “It is in thy hands to save Greece, if thou wilt hearken unto me and abide in this place, and so give battle to the barbarians, not heeding those who would have thee depart hence to the Isthmus with thy ships. For hear now, and set these two things one against the other. If the host give battle at the Isthmus, then shall we fight in the open sea, than which there could be nothing less to our advantage, seeing that our ships are fewer in number and these heavier. Also we shall lose Salamis and Megara and Ægina, though we prosper in the battle. For remember that the army of the barbarians will follow, together with their fleet, and that thou wilt thus bring both the one and the other