he Persians, and others from the leaders themselves
of Hellas warring together for supremacy. Thus it was not unreasonable
that Delos should be moved, which was before unmoved. [And in an oracle
it was thus written about it: 87
"Delos too will I move, unmoved though it hath been aforetime."]
Now in the Hellenic tongue the names which have been mentioned have this
meaning--Dareios means "compeller," 88 Xerxes "warrior," 89 Artoxerxes
"great warrior." 90 Thus then might the Hellenes rightly call these
kings in their own tongue.
99. The Barbarians then, when they had departed from Delos, touched at
the islands as they went, and from them received additional forces and
took sons of the islanders as hostages: and when in sailing round about
the islands they put in also to Carystos, seeing that the Carystians
would neither give them hostages nor consent to join in an expedition
against cities that were their neighbours, meaning Eretria and Athens,
they began to besiege them and to ravage their land; until at last the
Carystians also came over to the will of the Persians..
100. The Eretrians meanwhile being informed that the armament of the
Persians was sailing to attack them, requested the Athenians to help
them; and the Athenians did not refuse their support, but gave as
helpers those four thousand to whom had been allotted the land of the
wealthy 91 Chalkidians. The Eretrians however, as it turned out, had no
sound plan of action, for while they sent for the Athenians, they had
in their minds two different designs: some of them, that is, proposed
to leave the city and go to the heights of Euboea; while others of them,
expecting to win gain for themselves from the Persian, were preparing to
surrender the place. Having got knowledge of how things were as regards
both these plans, Aischines the son of Nothon, one of the leaders of
the Eretrians, told the whole condition of their affairs to those of the
Athenians who had come, and entreated them to depart and go to their own
land, that they might not also perish. So the Athenians did according to
this counsel given to them by Aischines..
101. And while these passed over to Oropos and saved themselves, the
Persians sailed on and brought their ships to land about Temenos
and Chioreai and Aigilea in the Eretrian territory; and having taken
possession of these places, 9101 forthwith they began to disembark their
horses and prepared to advance against the enemy. The Eret
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