rtunate, by wrecks became exceeding rich; for
the misfortune he had in killing his son much afflicted his mind."
(Herodotus, vii. 190.) This indeed is manifest to every one, that he
brought this golden treasure and this wealth cast up by the sea into his
history, that he might make way for the inserting Aminocles's killing
his son.

Now Aristophanes the Boeotian wrote, that Herodotus demanded money of
the Thebans but received none and that going about to discourse and
reason with the young men, he was prohibited by the magistrates through
their clownishness and hatred of learning; of which there is no other
argument. But Herodotus bears witness to Aristophanes, whilst he charges
the Thebans with some things falsely, with others ignorantly, and with
others as hating them and having a quarrel with them. For he affirms
that the Thessalians at first upon necessity inclined to the Persians,
(Ibid, vii. 172.) in which he says the truth; and prophesying of the
other Grecians that they would betray the Lacedaemonians, he added, that
they would not do it willingly, but upon necessity, one city being
taken after another. But he does not allow the Thebans the same plea
of necessity, although they sent to Tempe five hundred men under the
command of Mnamias, and to Thermopylae as many as Leonidas desired, who
also alone with the Thespians stood by him, the rest leaving him after
he was surrounded. But when the barbarian, having possessed himself of
the avenues, was got into their confines, and Demaratus the Spartan,
favoring in right of hospitality Attaginus, the chief of the oligarchy,
had so wrought that he became the King's friend and familiar, whilst the
other Greeks were in their ships, and none came on by land; then at last
being forsaken did they accept conditions of peace, to which they were
compelled by great necessity. For they had neither the sea and ships at
hand, as had the Athenians; nor did they dwell far off, as the Spartans,
who inhabited the most remote parts of Greece; but were not above a day
and half's journey from the Persian army, whom they had already with the
Spartans and Thespians alone resisted at the entrance of the straits,
and were defeated.

But this writer is so equitable, that having said, "The Lacedaemonians,
being alone and deserted by their allies, would perhaps have made a
composition with Xerxes," he yet blames the Thebans, who were forced
to the same act by the same necessity. But when he coul