than enslaved. Hear, therefore. Mardonius can not get the signs as he would have them; else he would have given battle long since. But now he is minded not to heed the signs any more but to fight. Be ye not then taken unawares, but make ready to receive him. But if he still delay, then abide in your place, for he can not long hold out, having but a few days’ provision. And if the end of this war be as ye would have it, remember me and the kindness I have done you. I am Alexander the Macedonian.” When he had so spoken he rode back to his own people.
After this Pausanias said to the Athenians, “It would be well that you should deal with the Persians, of whom ye have had experience, having prevailed over them at Marathon, and we with the Bœotians and the other Greeks. For we know nothing of the Persians and of their manner of fighting, but the Greeks we know well. Let us therefore go to our place in the line, and ye shall come to yours.”
The Athenians answered, “We had this very thing in our minds, and would have spoken ourselves, but that we doubted whether it would please you. But now let it be done.”
So Pausanias, it being now morning, began to lead his men to the left wing. But the Thebans perceiving it, told it to Mardonius, who changed his order also, which, when Pausanias saw, he led the Spartans back and stood as before. Then Mardonius sent a herald to the Spartans, saying, “Ye said that ye are braver than other men, never leaving your place, but remaining till ye slay your enemies or are yourselves slain. But this we now see to be false; for ye leave your place before ever the battle is joined. But come now. Will ye fight with an equal number of Persians, ye for the Greeks and they for the King?” When the herald had waited a while, and no man answered him a word, he departed.
Then Mardonius, being greatly puffed up by this victory of words, commanded his horsemen that they should charge the Greeks. This they