hey to
Dorian doltishness and immobility, after a ten days' delay and excuses
that "they must celebrate their festival the Hyacinthia," the ephors
called forth their whole levy. Ten thousand heavy infantrymen with a host
of lightly armed "helots"(11) were started northward under the able lead
of Pausanias, the regent for Leonidas's young son. Likewise all the allies
of Lacedaemon--Corinthians, Sicyonians, Elians, Arcadians--began to hurry
toward the Isthmus. Therefore men who had loved Hellas and had almost
despaired for her took courage. "At last we will have a great land battle,
and an end to the Barbarian."

All was excitement in the Athenian colony at Troezene. The board of
strategi met and voted that now was the time for a crowning effort. Five
thousand men-at-arms should march under Aristeides to join against
Mardonius in Boeotia. By sea Themistocles should go with every available
ship to Delos, meet the allied squadrons there, and use his infallible art
in persuading the sluggish Spartan high admiral to conduct a raid across
the AEgean at Xerxes's own doors. Of the ten strategi Democrates had called
loudest for instant action, so loudly indeed that Themistocles had
cautioned him against rashness. Hermippus was old, but experienced men
trusted him, therefore he was appointed to command the contingent of his
tribe. Democrates was to accompany Aristeides as general adjutant; his
diplomatic training would be invaluable in ending the frictions sure to
arise amongst the allies. Cimon would go with Themistocles, and so every
other man was sent to his place. In the general preparation private
problems seemed forgotten. Hermippus and Democrates both announced that
the betrothal of Hermione had been postponed, pending the public crisis.
The old Eleusinian had not told his daughter, or even his wife, why he had
seemed to relax his announced purpose of forcing Hermione to an unwelcome
marriage. The young widow knew she had respite--for how long nothing told
her, but for every day her agony was postponed she blessed kind Hera. Then
came the morning when her father must go forth with his men. She still
loved him, despite the grief he was giving her. She did him justice to
believe he acted in affection. The gay ribbons that laced his cuirass, the
red and blue embroidery that edged his "taxiarch's" cloak, were from the
needle of his daughter. Hermione kissed him as she stood with her mother
in the aula. He coughed gruffly when he