show him the terrible manner in which the men of
Lacedaemon knew how to die.

As they passed from the shadow of the mountain, the sun sprang over the
hills of Euboea, making fire of the bay and bathing earth and heavens with
glory. In their rear was already shouting. Hydarnes had reached his goal
at Alpeni. All retreat was ended. The thin line swept onward. Before them
spread the whole host of the Barbarian as far as the eye could reach,--a
tossing sea of golden shields, scarlet surcoats, silver
lance-heads,--awaiting with its human billows to engulf them. The Laconians
halted just beyond bow shot. The line locked tighter. Instinctively every
man pressed closer to his comrade. Then before the eyes of Xerxes's host,
which kept silence, marvelling, the handful broke forth with their paean.
They threw their well-loved charging song of Tyrtaeus in the very face of
the king.

"Press the charge, O sons of Sparta!
Ye are sons of men born free:
Press the charge; 'tis where the shields lock,
That your sires would have you be!
Honour's cheaply sold for life,
Press the charge, and join the strife:
Let the coward cling to breath,
Let the base shrink back from death,
_Press the charge, let cravens flee!_"

Leonidas's spear pointed to the ivory throne, around which and him that
sat thereon in blue and scarlet glittered the Persian grandees.

"Onward!"

Immortal ichor seemed in the veins of every Greek. They burst into one
shout.

"The king! The king!"

A roar from countless drums, horns, and atabals answered from the
Barbarians, as across the narrow plain-land charged the three hundred--and
one.

CHAPTER XXII

MARDONIUS GIVES A PROMISE

"Ugh--the dogs died hard, but they are dead," grunted Xerxes, still
shivering on the ivory throne. The battle had raged disagreeably close to
him.

"They are dead; even so perish all of your Eternity's enemies," rejoined
Mardonius, close by. The bow-bearer himself was covered with blood and
dust. A Spartan sword had grazed his forehead. He had exposed himself
recklessly, as well he might, for it had taken all the efforts of the
Persian captains, as well as the ruthless laying of whips over the backs
of their men, to make the king's battalions face the frenzied Hellenes,
until the closing in of Hydarnes from the rear gave the battle its
inevitable ending.

Xerxes was victorious. The gate of Hellas wa