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Themistocles, as he entered his own vessel, was met by Mnesiphilus,
an Athenian, who asked him what the council had resolved to do. On
learning that the resolve was to stand away for the Isthmus, and there
give battle on behalf of the Peloponnese, Mnesiphilus exclaimed:
"If these men sail away from Salamis, thou wilt have no fight at all
for the one fatherland; for they will all scatter themselves to their
own homes; and neither Eurybiades nor any one else will be able to
hinder them, nor to stop the breaking up of the armament. Thus will
Greece be brought to ruin through evil counsels. But haste thee now;
and, if there be any possible way, seek to unsettle these resolves -
mayhap thou mightest persuade Eurybiades to change his mind, and
continue here."
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