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Artabazus, the son of Pharnaces, who had disapproved from the first
of the king's leaving Mardonius behind him, and had made great
endeavours, but all in vain, to dissuade Mardonius from risking a
battle, when he found that the latter was bent on acting otherwise than
he wished, did as follows. He had a force under his orders which was
far from inconsiderable, amounting, as it did, to near forty thousand
men. Being well aware, therefore, how the battle was likely to go,
as soon as the two armies began to fight, he led his soldiers forward
in an orderly array, bidding them one and all proceed at the same
pace, and follow him with such celerity as they should observe him to
use. Having issued these commands, he pretended to lead them to the
battle. But when, advancing before his army, he saw that the
Persians were already in flight, instead of keeping the same order,
he wheeled his troops suddenly round, and beat a retreat; nor did he
even seek shelter within the palisade or behind the walls of Thebes,
but hurried on into Phocis, wishing to make his way to the Hellespont
with all possible speed. Such accordingly was the course which these
Persians took.
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