Page:Key to Easy Latin Stories for beginners.djvu/88

80 KEY TO EASY LATIN STORIES. [part iv. 232.There were, moreover, men of the wandering tribes, called Sagartii These do not use arms, with the exception of daggers. But they use ropes, trusting in which they set out to war. Now the manner of fighting of these men is as follows. When they fight with enemies they cast the ropes, at the end of which are nooses. Whatever the rope catches, whether it be a horse or a man, the horseman drags it to him, and being entangled in the noose it is slain.

233.Then Xerxes set out for Greece. The Athenians, having heard that the Persians were approaching, sent ambassadors to Delphi to consult the oracle. They were told 'that divine Salamis would be a destruction to many, but that a wooden wall would save them’ (lit. be for safety). Having heard this answer, some thought that there was need of a wooden wall in the citadel; others thought that ships should be prepared. Now among the chief men was Themistocles, a distinguished man. He eagerly advised them to prepare themselves for a sea-fight. And this opinion prevailed; so a fleet was prepared.

234.Then, indeed, the Greeks took counsel how they should manage the war. The opinion prevailed that the defile of Thermopylae should be guarded ; but they did not even know of the existence of the path by means of which the Greeks at Thermopylae were cut off. It was resolved (lit. pleased them) that a fleet should be sent to the promontory of Artenusium. Now the defile in its narrowest part does not extend wider than 50 feet. On one side there is a very high mountain, on the other the sea and marshes. Moreover, there are in this defile hot springs, over which has been erected an altar to Hercules. There was also a wall in the pass which the Greeks determined to rebuild. These places, therefore, seemed suitable; so, because they thought that the enemy could not make use there of their large forces nor of their cavaliy, they resolved to await in the