Page:Key to Easy Latin Stories for beginners.djvu/92

84 KEY TO EASY LATIN STORIES. [part iv. to retire. On the other hand, if he remained, great glory awaited him, and the fortune of Sparta was not (to be) destroyed. For the priestess of Apollo had answered the Spartans, when consulting the oracle dunng the commencement of this war, ‘that Sparta would either be overthrown by the barbarians, or their own king would perish.’ 244.Then Xerxes attacked the Spartans surrounded from every side. The leaders of the companies, assailing them with whips from behind, and striking every one, stimulated their men. So many slipped into the sea and perished, many were trampled on alive by each other; nor was any account taken of those that were perishing. Already most of the Greeks had their spears broken, and they were despatching the Persians with their swords. There falls Leonidas, lighting most bravely; and over his corpse was a keen struggle. Thus they fought till those arrived who were with Ephilates. Then defending themselves with swords, as many as had swords left, others fighting desperately with hands and teeth, they were all killed to a man.

245.Though thfe Spartans showed themselves such (heroes), yet of these Dieneces is said to have been the bravest; and they say that he, before they began to fight with the Medes, made a good remark, when he had heard a certain Trachinian saying, ‘that when the barbarians discharged their darts the sun would be darkened by the multitude of weapons; for so great was the number of the foe.’ So they say that he, in nowise alarmed, but despising the multitude of the Medes, replied, ‘that the Trachinian was announcing good omens; since, if the sun was darkened by darts they were likely to fight in the shade.’ These, and other remarks of the same kind, they say that Dieneces left as memorials of his gallant courage.

246.Meanwhile the ships of the barbarians had betaken themselves to Aphetae; but the Grecian fleet was off Artenusium.