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For ten days nothing was done more than this; but on the eleventh day
from the time when the two hosts first took station, one over against
the other, near Plataea - the number of the Greeks being now much
greater than it was at the first, and Mardonius being impatient of the
delay - there was a conference held between Mardonius, son of
Gobryas, and Artabazus, son of Pharnaces, a man who was esteemed
by Xerxes more than almost any of the Persians. At this consultation
the following were the opinions delivered: Artabazus thought it would
be best for them to break up from their quarters as soon as possible,
and withdraw the whole army to the fortified town of Thebes, where
they had abundant stores of corn for themselves, and of fodder for the
sumpter-beasts. There, he said, they had only to sit quiet, and
the war might be brought to an end on this wise: Coined gold was
plentiful in the camp, and uncoined gold too; they had silver moreover
in great abundance, and drinking-cups. Let them not spare to take of
these, and distribute them among the Greeks, especially among the
leaders in the several cities; 'twould not be long before the Greeks
gave up their liberty, without risking another battle for it. Thus
the opinion of Artabazus agreed with that of the Thebans; for he too
had more foresight than some. Mardonius, on the other hand,
expressed himself with more fierceness and obstinacy, and was utterly
disinclined to yield. "Their army," he said, "was vastly superior
to that of the Greeks; and they had best engage at once, and not wait
till greater numbers were gathered against them. As for Hegesistratus
and his victims, they should let them pass unheeded, not seeking to
force them to be favourable, but, according to the old Persian
custom, hasting to join battle."
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