124 HISTORY OF GREECE. Eurybiades then explained to the synod that doubts had arisen in his mind, and that he called them together to reconsider the previous resolve : upon which Themistokles began the debate, and vehemently enforced the necessity of fighting in the narrow sea of Salamis and not in the open waters at the Isthmus, — as well as of preserving Megara and -^gina : contending that a naval victory at Salamis would be not less effective for the defence of Peloponnesus than if it took place at the Isthmus, whereas, if the fleet were withdrawn to the latter point, they would only draw the Persians after them. Nor did he omit to add, that the Athenians had a prophecy assuring to them victory in this, their own island. But his speech made little impression on the Pelo- ponnesian chiefs, who were even exasperated at being again sum- moned to reopen a debate already concluded, — and concluded in a way which they deemed essential to their safety. In the bosom of the Corinthian Adeimantus, especially, this feeling of anger burst all bounds. He sharply denounced the presumption of Themistokles, and bade him be silent as a man who had now no free Grecian city to represent, — Athens being in the power of the enemy : nay, he went so far as to contend that Eurybi- ades had no right to count the vote of Themistokles, until the latter could produce some free city as accrediting him to the synod. Such an attack, alike ungenerous and insane, upon the leader of more than half of the whole fleet, demonstrates the ungovernable impatience of the Corinthians to carry away the fleet to their Isthmus : it provoked a bitter retort against them from Themistokles, who reminded them that while he had around him two hundred well-manned ships, he could procure for himself anywhere both city and territory as good or better than Corinth. But he now saw clearly that it was hopeless to think of enforcing his policy by argument, and that nothing would suc- ceed except the direct language of intimidation. Turning to Eurybiades, and addressing him personally, he said : " If thou wilt stay here, and fight bravely here, all will turn out well : but as related iu Herodotus, though to Herodotus himself it was unknown. I cannot think that this is correct, since the stoiy will not fit on to the narra- tive of that historian : it does not consist with his conception of the rela- tions between Eurybiades and Themistokles.
