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Two of the three hundred, it is said, Aristodemus and Eurytus,
having been attacked by a disease of the eyes, had received orders from
Leonidas to quit the camp; and both lay at Alpeni in the worst stage
of the malady. These two men might, had they been so minded, have
agreed together to return alive to Sparta; or if they did not like to
return, they might have gone both to the field and fallen with their
countrymen. But at this time, when either way was open to them,
unhappily they could not agree, but took contrary courses. Eurytus no
sooner heard that the Persians had come round the mountain than
straightway he called for his armour, and having buckled it on, bade
his helot lead him to the place where his friends were fighting. The
helot did so, and then turned and fled; but Eurytus plunged into the
thick of the battle, and so perished. Aristodemus, on the other
hand, was faint of heart, and remained at Alpeni. It is my belief
that if Aristodemus only had been sick and returned, or if both had
come back together, the Spartans would have been content and felt no
anger; but when there were two men with the very same excuse, and one
of them was chary of his life, while the other freely gave it, they
could not but be very wroth with the former.
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