Page:Key to Easy Latin Stories for beginners.djvu/90

82 KEY TO EASY LATIN STOKIES. [part iv. less than 400 vessels of the barbarians perished by this calamity. For the tempest continued to rage for three successive days; on the fourth day it ceased. When this destruction was known the Greeks rejoiced greatly; they offered vows and wine to Neptune the Preserver.

238.Meanwhile the Greeks were awaiting the Persians near Thermopylae. There were 300 Spartans and allies (to the number of) about 400. Leonidas, king of the Spartans, commanded them. Meanwhile Xerxes sent a scout, to find out both their number and what they were doing. When he arrived at the wall, he saw some of the Greeks; some of whom were amusing themselves with gymnastic exercises, others were combing their hair. On his return he told Xerxes everything that he had seen.

239.Having heard these things Xerxes called to himself Demaratus, a deserter from the Spartans, desiring to ascertain from him what it was that the Spartans were doing. And Demaratus said to him, ‘These men are here intending to fight with us that they may prevent us from entering, and they are preparing themselves for this. For there is this custom among them: when they are on the point of incurring (lit. approaching) danger, then they dress their hair. If thou conquerest (lit. shalt have conquered) these men, and those who remain at Sparta, there is no other race of men, king, which will dare to raise a hand against thee. For now thou hast to fight with a kingdom and people most illustrious among the Greeks, and vith most gallant men.’

240.Having said this Demaratus did not persuade Xerxes. So the king let four days elapse, hoping that the Greeks would take to flight. But on the fifth day being enraged he sent the Medes against them, having given orders to take them alive, and bring them before him. But when they charged the