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The fleet had scarce left the land when they were attacked by the
barbarians. At once most of the Greeks began to back water, and were
about touching the shore, when Ameinias of Palline, one of the
Athenian captains, darted forth in front of the line, and charged a
ship of the enemy. The two vessels became entangled, and could not
separate, whereupon the rest of the fleet came up to help Ameinias,
and engaged with the Persians. Such is the account which the
Athenians give of the way in which the battle began; but the
Eginetans maintain that the vessel which had been to Egina for the
Aeacidae, was the one that brought on the fight. It is also
reported, that a phantom in the form of a woman appeared to the
Greeks, and, in a voice that was heard from end to end of the fleet,
cheered them on to the fight; first, however, rebuking them, and
saying - "Strange men, how long are ye going to back water?"
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