|
Envy, however, hindered the chiefs from coming to a decision, and
they all sailed away to their homes without making any award.
Nevertheless Themistocles was regarded everywhere as by far the wisest
man of all the Greeks; and the whole country rang with his fame. As
the chiefs who fought at Salamis, notwithstanding that he was really
entitled to the prize, had withheld his honour from him, he went
without delay to Lacedaemon, in the hope that he would be honoured
there. And the Lacedaemonians received him handsomely, and paid him
great respect. The prize of valour indeed, which was a crown of
olive, they gave to Eurybiades; but Themistocles was given a crown
of olive too, as the prize of wisdom and dexterity. He was likewise
presented with the most beautiful chariot that could be found in
Sparta; and after receiving abundant praises, was, upon his
departure, escorted as far as the borders of Tegea, by the three
hundred picked Spartans, who are called the Knights. Never was it
known, either before or since, that the Spartans escorted a man out
of their city.
|
|