But when shortly after the Persian fleet began to approach, and the sea appeared covered with innu- ' merable vessels, their courage again wavered, and a general disposition prevailed to set sail, without de lay, for the isthmus. Themistocles, ever fertile in expedients, adopted on this occasion a most singular one. By means of a Persian captive, whom he had with him, he sent a message to Xerxes, expressing his attachment to that monarch, and informing him of the intended retreat of the Grccke. He advised him, therefore, to send two hundred vessels round the islands of ]Egina and Salamis, which, placing them selves in the rear of the confederates, might prevent the meditated escape. To a monarch so confident of his own power, the advice appeared plausible, and it was therefore adopted without hesitation. Next night, therefore, when the Grecians were deliberating on retreat, news arrived that it was no longer practi cable ; that they were completely surrounded. This intelligence was confirmed by a most respectable au thority. Themistocles, forgetting in this emergency his private resentments, had persuaded the Athenians to recal his rival Aristides ; and that distinguished patriot having made his way through the Persian fleet, arrived while the council was yet sitting. The intelligence he brought was confirmed by others ; so that the Greeks now saw that they had no alternative but to prepare for immediate battle.
The Athenians were stationed on the left wing, nearest to the coast of Attica, and were opposed to the Plurnicians, the first naval power under the do minion of Persia. The Peloponnesians, on the right of the Greeks, were opposed to the Ionians, and other Asiatic Greeks, who occupied the left of the Persians. Themistocles judiciously delayed the at tack till the hour when a customary breeze sprung up from behind, under favour of which he bore down upon the Persians. Although he was not the nomi nal commander, yet the universal opinion of his skill made his example the rule to every one. The Gre cian fleet amounted to three hundred and eighty ves sels, while that of the Persians exceeded twelve hun dred. In consequence of the confined situation, how ever, in which the battle took place, the latter could not bring a much greater number into the action, but were obliged to arrange their vessels in succes sive lines, one behind the other. The first and se verest shock was on the right, between the Athe nians and Plicenicians. But besides the glorious mo tives by which the former were animated, they acted in an orderly manner, and on a regular plait ; while their adversaries fought blindly, and without concert. Victory therefore soon declared on their side. On the other wing, where the Asiatic Greeks fought for Xerxes, it was still sooner decided. These nations, remembering their origin and ancient liberty, were little ambitious of imposing on kindred tribes the same servitude under which they themselves groaned.
They soon either deserted or fled. The whole of the first line thus discomfited, fell back on those be hind, among whom they spread dismay and disorder. There were no means of rallying such a confused mul titude ; in a short time the whole fleet took to flight, and the victory of the Grecians was complete. A body of select Persian infantry, which had thrown themselves on the rock of Psyttalcia, to cut off such of their enemies as might seek shelter there, were themselves snrrounded and cut to pieces.
Thus terminated this battle, so memorable in the annals of Greece and of mankind. Xerxes, from the shore, %vivre he had seated himself, beheld this mighty disaster, which levelled his towering hopes in the dust. Themistocles at first entertained a plan of de taching a squadron to occupy the Hellespont, and prevent the return of the Persians. But Aristides prudently observed, that their object was far less to destroy this armament, than finally to rid Greece of it ; and that it was dangerous to reduce such a host to despair. Themistocles then adopting an opposite policy, sent by his former channel an intimation to Xerxes, that such a design was entertained by the Greeks, exhorting him to lose no time in effecting his retreat. Xerxes, in whom the impression of fear was then as predominaht as that of false confidence had before been, made no hesitation in taking the ad vice ; and, with the great mass of his army, made a tumultuous retreat to the Hellespont. He left Mar donius, however, with three hundred thousand men ; a number which included perhaps all the real strength of that formidable army, freed from its useless incum brances.
The Athenians had now returned to their city ; and Mardonius hoping to gain them over by the dread of a second time losias- it, sent Alexander, king of Macedon, to urge them to submit. The Athe nians firmly rejected his proposal ; but this magnani mity did not meet with its proper return on the part of the Peloponnesians. They again resolved to con fine themselves to the defence of their own peninsula, by drawing a wall across the isthmus. The conse quence was, that Athens was a second time taken and plundered. The remonstrances of the Athe nians, however, and perhaps the dread of their deser tion, at length recalled Sparta to more honourable 'sentiments. She collected her own force and that of her allies, marched it beyond the isthmus, and joined the Athenians. The combined armies, next summer, fought the battle of Platxa, in which, though the Lacedemonians took the leading part, yet the ser vices of Athens were considerable. She engaged those Greeks, a numerous body, who, to the shame of their country, fought on the side of its enemies. The signal services they had rendered to the common cause, seen r,d them the command of the left wing, which had before been uniformly conferred on the Tegeans.