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The Persians took this path, and, crossing the Asopus, continued
their march through the whole of the night, having the mountains of
Oeta on their right hand, and on their left those of Trachis. At
dawn of day they found themselves close to the summit. Now the hill
was guarded, as I have already said, by a thousand Phocian
men-at-arms, who were placed there to defend the pathway, and at the
same time to secure their own country. They had been given the guard
of the mountain path, while the other Greeks defended the pass below,
because they had volunteered for the service, and had pledged
themselves to Leonidas to maintain the post.
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