aign, and for fear
that they also might take the side of the Medes, if they heard that the
Spartans were putting off their action. Afterwards, however, when they
had kept the festival, (for the festival of the Carneia stood in their
way), they intended then to leave a garrison in Sparta and to come to
help in full force with speed: and just so also the rest of the allies
had thought of doing themselves; for it chanced that the Olympic
festival fell at the same time as these events. Accordingly, since
they did not suppose that the fighting in Thermopylai would so soon be
decided, they sent only the forerunners of their force.

207. These, I say, had intended to do thus: and meanwhile the Hellenes
at Thermopylai, when the Persian had come near to the pass, were in
dread, and deliberated about making retreat from their position. To the
rest of the Peloponnesians then it seemed best that they should go to
the Peloponnese and hold the Isthmus in guard; but Leonidas, when the
Phokians and Locrians were indignant at this opinion, gave his vote
for remaining there, and for sending at the same time messengers to the
several States bidding them to come up to help them, since they were but
few to repel the army of the Medes.

208. As they were thus deliberating, Xerxes sent a scout on horseback
to see how many they were in number and what they were doing; for he had
heard while he was yet in Thessaly that there had been assembled in
this place a small force, and that the leaders of it were Lacedemonians
together with Leonidas, who was of the race of Heracles. And when the
horseman had ridden up towards their camp, he looked upon them and had
a view not indeed of the whole of their army, for of those which were
posted within the wall, which they had repaired and were keeping a
guard, it was not possible to have a view, but he observed those who
were outside, whose station was in front of the wall; and it chanced at
that time that the Lacedemonians were they who were posted outside.
So then he saw some of the men practising athletic exercises and
some combing their long hair: and as he looked upon these things he
marvelled, and at the same time he observed their number: and when he
had observed all exactly, he rode back unmolested, for no one attempted
to pursue him and he found himself treated with much indifference. And
when he returned he reported to Xerxes all that which he had seen.

209. Hearing this Xerxes was not able to c