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When Mardonius formerly held his camp in Boeotia, all the Greeks of
those parts who were friendly to the Medes sent troops to join his
army, and these troops accompanied him in his attack upon Athens.
The Phocians alone abstained, and took no part in the invasion;
for, though they had espoused the Median cause warmly, it was very
much against their will, and only because they were compelled so to
do. However, a few days after the arrival of the Persian army at
Thebes, a thousand of their heavy-armed soldiers came up, under the
command of Harmocydes, one of their most distinguished citizens. No
sooner had these troops reached Thebes, than some horsemen came to
them from Mardonius, with orders that they should take up a position
upon the plain, away from the rest of the army. The Phocians did
so, and forthwith the entire Persian cavalry drew nigh to them:
whereupon there went a rumour through the whole of the Greek force
encamped with the Medes, that Mardonius was about to destroy the
Phocians with missiles. The same conviction ran through the Phocian
troops themselves; and Harmocydes, their leader, addressed them thus
with words of encouragement - "Phocians" said he, "'tis plain
that these men have resolved beforehand to take our lives, because of
the accusations of the Thessalians, as I imagine. Now, then, is
the time for you all to show yourselves brave men. 'Tis better to die
fighting and defending our lives, than tamely to allow them to slay us
in this shameful fashion. Let them learn that they are barbarians,
and that the men whose death they have plotted are Greeks!"
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