Page:Key to Easy Latin Stories for beginners.djvu/69

 181.But afterwards, when the Ionians were assembled at the island of Lade, and others had spoken among them, then Dionysius, one of the generals, said: ‘Now, since our affairs are on a razor’s edge, whether we be free or slaves; if indeed, you are willing to undertake toil, that will be indeed troublesome to you now, but you will be able to be free after conquering the enemy; but if, relaxing military discipline, you give yourselves up to ease, I, for my part, have no hope that you can escape the penalty of revolting. But listen to me; and I promise you that the enemy will receive a great blow.’

182.Hearing this, the lonians entrusted themselves to Dionysius. Then he each day, drawing out the vessels in a long line, after exercising the oarsmen in running about in one vessel between two others at a time, and ordering the soldiers to stand in arms on the deck, used to keep at anchor the rest of the day. And they, indeed, continued to obey him until the seventh day; but on the day following, being impatient of such toils, annoyed by troubles and the heat of the sun, began to utter these words among themselves: ‘Why do we undergo these toils? for we have in our foUy entrusted ourselves to a vain braggart, who has only contributed three ships to the common stock. How better were it to endure anything else than these evils! Come, let us obey this fellow no longer!’ After saying this, no one was willing any longer to perform the commands, but as if they were a land force, having pitched camps on the island, they spent their time in the shade, being unwilling to embark on board their vessels and be trained.

183.Meanwhile the Persians advanced against them with their fleet. Then the lonians also drew up their vessels in a long line. When the battle began some of the leaders having set sail deserted the line of battle, and betook themselves to flight. But the rest, when they saw very many of their allies