out far before the rest and besought them in a loud voice in the name
of the gods of Greece not to hinder the Athenians when they were going
to assist those who were venturing their lives on behalf of Greece.
But when he saw that they took no notice of his appeal, he no longer
attempted to help the Lacedaemonians, but attacked these troops, who
numbered about fifty thousand. Of these the greater part gave way at
once and retreated, because they saw their barbarian allies
retreating, but a fierce battle is said to have raged where the
Thebans were, because the best and noblest men of that state had
eagerly taken the Persian side from the beginning, while the common
people followed them, not of their free will, but being accustomed to
obey the nobles.

XIX. Thus was the battle divided into two parts. The Lacedaemonians
were the first to rout the Persians. A Spartan, named Arimnestus,
killed Mardonius by a blow on the head with a stone, as the oracle in
the temple of Amphiaraus had foretold to him. For Mardonius sent a
Lydian thither, and another man, a Karian, to the oracle in the cave
of Trophonius. This latter was spoken to in the Karian language by the
prophet, but the other slept in the sacred enclosure round the temple
of Amphiaraus, and in his dreams saw a servant of the god standing
beside him and bidding him begone. When he refused to go, the figure
cast a great stone at his head, so that he dreamed that he died of the
stroke. This is the story which is told of Mardonius. The Persian
fugitives were now driven to take shelter within their wooden
fortification. Shortly after these events took place, the Athenians
defeated the Thebans, who lost three hundred of their noblest citizens
in that battle. After this there came a messenger to them, telling
them that the Persians were being besieged in their fortified camp.
Hearing this, the Athenians allowed the renegade Greeks to escape, and
marched at once to the assault of the camp. Here they found the
Lacedaemonians, who were not pressing the enemy, because they had no
experience in sieges and attacks on fortified places. The Athenians
forced their way in and took the camp with an immense slaughter of the
enemy. It is said that out of three hundred thousand only forty
thousand under Artabazus escaped. On the side of the Greeks fell only
thirteen hundred and sixty men. Of these there were fifty-two
Athenians of the Aiantid tribe,[23] which, we are told by Kleidemus,
dis