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The Greeks, when they understood that the barbarians had fled to the
mainland, were sorely vexed at their escape: nor could they determine
at first what they should do, whether they should return home, or
proceed to the Hellespont. In the end, however, they resolved to do
neither, but to make sail for the continent. So they made themselves
ready for a sea-fight by the preparation of boarding-bridges, and
what else was necessary; provided with which they sailed to Mycale.
Now when they came to the place where the camp was, they found no one
venture out to meet them, but observed the ships all dragged ashore
within the barrier, and a strong land-force drawn up in battle array
upon the beach; Leotychides therefore sailed along the shore in his
ship, keeping as close hauled to the land as possible, and by the
voice of a herald thus addressed the Ionians:
"Men of Ionia - ye who can hear me speak - do ye take heed to what
I say; for the Persians will not understand a word that I utter.
When we join battle with them, before aught else, remember Freedom
- and next, recollect our watchword, which is Hebe. If there be
any who hear me not, let those who hear report my words to the
others."
In all this Leotychides had the very same design which Themistocles
entertained at Artemisium. Either the barbarians would not know what
he had said, and the Ionians would be persuaded to revolt from them;
or if his words were reported to the former, they would mistrust their
Greek soldiers.
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