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The Athenian generals were divided in their opinions; and some
advised not to risk a battle, because they were too few to engage such
a host as that of the Medes, while others were for fighting at once;
and among these last was Miltiades. He therefore, seeing that
opinions were thus divided, and that the less worthy counsel appeared
likely to prevail, resolved to go to the Polemarch, and have a
conference with him. For the man on whom the lot fell to be Polemarch
at Athens was entitled to give his vote with the ten generals, since
anciently the Athenians allowed him an equal right of voting with
them. The Polemarch at this juncture was Callimachus of Aphidnae;
to him therefore Miltiades went, and said:
"With thee it rests, Callimachus, either to bring Athens to
slavery, or, by securing her freedom, to leave behind thee to all
future generations a memory beyond even Harmodius and Aristogeiton.
For never since the time that the Athenians became a people were they
in so great a danger as now. If they bow their necks beneath the yoke
of the Medes, the woes which they will have to suffer when given into
the power of Hippias are already determined on; if, on the other
hand, they fight and overcome, Athens may rise to be the very first
city in Greece. How it comes to pass that these things are likely to
happen, and how the determining of them in some sort rests with thee,
I will now proceed to make clear. We generals are ten in number, and
our votes are divided; half of us wish to engage, half to avoid a
combat. Now, if we do not fight, I look to see a great disturbance
at Athens which will shake men's resolutions, and then I fear they
will submit themselves; but if we fight the battle before any
unsoundness show itself among our citizens, let the gods but give us
fair play, and we are well able to overcome the enemy. On thee
therefore we depend in this matter, which lies wholly in thine own
power. Thou hast only to add thy vote to my side and thy country will
be free, and not free only, but the first state in Greece. Or, if
thou preferrest to give thy vote to them who would decline the combat,
then the reverse will follow."
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