382
THE INTELLECTUAL LIFE OF GREECE
of Salamis, put in the mouth of a Persian messenger
may perhaps serve (Per. 384):—
“So all night long the masters of the ships
Held all their folk to labour at the oar,
Thridding the narrow seas; and night waned fast
Yet never did the Hellenes raise a sail
Or seek to make a secret way of flight.
But when the white car of the risen day
Held all the earth with the sweet rays of dawn,
First rang there forth from the Hellenic host
A loud clear note, like to some joyous hymn;
And sharp and clear from rock and island came
An answering echo. Cold on Persian hearts
Struck sudden fear: for other than we deemed
The tale that paean told! Not as for flight
This solemn strain issued from Grecian lips,
But as of men with hearts of high resolve
Eager for battle. Then rang shrill and clear
A clarion, filling all the bay with sound:
And straight with even stroke of dashing oars,
That fell responsive to the master's voice,
They smote the yielding bosom of the deep,
And in brief space stood out before our eyes
Full plain to see. The right wing led the way
In order fair; and following hard astern
The whole long fleet streamed on, not silently,
But with shouts manifold and plain to hear;
‘Sons of the Greeks arise! your country free!
Free home, and wife> and child, your grandsires' tombs,
And all the seats loved of your fathers' gods!’
Nor were we silent: Persian lips gave back
Challenge for challenge. And now the hour was come.”
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In Sophocles (B.C. 495–405) we find less
insistence on the religious aspect of life, though little
rebellion against Providence. To him the highest
study of mankind is man. Human passions,
