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When the Persian commanders and crews saw the Greeks thus boldly
sailing towards them with their few ships, they thought them possessed
with madness, and went out to meet them, expecting (as indeed seemed
likely enough) that they would take all their vessels with the greatest
ease. The Greek ships were so few, and their own so far outnumbered
them, and sailed so much better, that they resolved, seeing their
advantage, to encompass their foe on every side. And now such of the
Ionians as wished well to the Grecian cause and served in the Persian
fleet unwillingly, seeing their countrymen surrounded, were sorely
distressed; for they felt sure that not one of them would ever make his
escape, so poor an opinion had they of the strength of the Greeks.
On the other hand, such as saw with pleasure the attack on Greece,
now vied eagerly with each other which should be the first to make prize
of an Athenian ship, and thereby to secure himself a rich reward from
the king. For through both the hosts none were so much accounted of as
the Athenians.
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