e, now cried aloud that this change of position was no
better than a cowardly flight. He refused to leave his post, and said
that he and his company would stand where they were, and withstand
Mardonius alone. When Pausanias came and assured him that the Greeks
in council had decided upon this measure, Amompharetus heaved up a
huge stone with both his hands and flinging it down at the feet of
Pausanias, said, "With this pebble I give my vote for battle, and for
disregarding the cowardly counsels of other Greeks." Pausanias, not
knowing what to do, sent to the Athenians, who were already on the
march, begging them to wait and support them, while he set off with
the rest of the Spartans in the direction of Plataea, hoping thus to
make Amompharetus move.

While these movements were being executed day broke, and Mardonius,
who had perceived that the Greeks were leaving their camp, at once
marched in order of battle to attack the Lacedaemonians, the Persians
shouting and clattering their arms as though they were not going to
fight, but to destroy the Greeks as they retreated, which indeed they
very nearly succeeded in doing; for Pausanias, when he saw what was
taking place, halted his own men, and placed them in battle array, but
either because of his anger at Amompharetus, or his excitement at the
suddenness of the attack, forgot to send any orders to the main body
of the Greeks.

For this reason they came up not in a regular body, but straggling,
and after the Lacedaemonians wore already engaged. Pausanias was busy
sacrificing to the gods, and as the sacrifices were unfavourable, he
ordered the Lacedaemonians to hold their shields quietly rested on the
ground at their feet and await his orders, without attempting any
resistance, while he sacrificed again. The enemy's cavalry was now
close at hand, their arrows reached the Lacedaemonians and killed
several of them. It was at this moment that Kallikrates, the tallest
and handsomest man in the whole Greek army, is said to have been
mortally wounded by an arrow. When dying, he said that he did not
lament his death, for he left his home meaning to lay down his life
for Greece, but that he was grieved that he had never exchanged blows
with the enemy before he died. At this time the Lacedaemonians were
offering no resistance to the assaults of the enemy, but were standing
still in their ranks, shot at by the arrows of the enemy, awaiting the
time when it should be the will of th