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 IONIC FLEET AT LADE. 301 extreme infliction from the Persians if they persisted in armed efforts. Though these communications were sent to each with- out the knowledge of the rest, yet the answer from all was one unanimous negative. 1 And (he confederates at Lade seemed more one, in heart and spirit, than the Athenians, Spartans, and ( 'orinthians will hereafter prove to be at Salamis. But there was one grand difference, which turned the scale, the superior energy and ability of the Athenian leaders at Sala- mis, coupled with the fact that they were Athenians, that is, in command of the largest and most important contingent through- out the fleet. At Lade, unfortunately, this was quite otherwise : each sepa- rate contingent had its own commander, but we hear of no joint commander at all. Nor were the chiefs who came from the larger cities Milesian, Chian, Samian, or Lesbian men like Themistokles, competent and willing to stand forward as self- created leaders, and to usurp for the moment, with the general consent and for the general benefit, a privilege not intended for them. The only man of sufficient energy and forwardness to do this, was the Phokasan Dionysius, unfortunately, the captain of the smallest contingent of the fleet, and therefore enjoying the least respect. For Phokaea, once the daring explorer of the western waters, had so dwindled down since the Persian con- quest of Ionia, that she could now furnish no more than three ships ; and her ancient maritime spirit survived only in the bosom of her captain. When Dionysius saw the lonians assembled at Lade, willing, eager, full of talk and mutual encouragement, but untrained and taking no thought of discipline, or nautical practice, or cooperation in the hour of battle, he saw the risk which they ran for want of these precautions, and strenuously re- monstrated with them : " Our fate hangs on the razor's edge, men of Ionia : either to be freemen or slaves, and slaves too, caught after running away. Set yourself at once to work and duty, you will then have trouble indeed at first, with certain victory and freedom afterwards. But if you persist in this carelessness and disorder, there is no hope for you to escape the king's re- venge for your revolt. Be persuaded and commit yourself to 1 Herodot, vi. 9 10