BATTLES OF FLAT^A AND MYKALE. 1(39 ment of this sort, undertaken by night against the pass called the Oak Heads, was eminently successful : a train of five hundred beasts of burden with supplies, was attacked descending into the plain with its escort, all of whom were either slain or carried prisoners to the Persian camp : nor was it safe for any farther convoys to approach the Greeks^ Eight days had already been passed in inaction befoi-e Timegenidas suggested, or Mar- donius executed, this manoeuvre, which it is fortunate for the Greeks that he did not attempt earlier, and which afforded clear proof how much might be hoped from an efficient employment of his cavalry, without the ruinous risk of a general action. Never- theless, after waiting two days longer, his impatience became uncontrollable, and he determined on a general battle forthwith.^ In vain did Artabazus endeavor to dissuade him from the step, — taking the same view as the Thebans, that in a pitched battle the united Grecian army was invincible, and that the only suc- cessful policy was that of delay and corruption to disunite them : he recommended standing on the defensive, by means of Thebes, well fortified and amply provisioned, — which would allow time for distributing effective bribes among the leading men through- out the various Grecian cities. This suggestion, which Herodo- tus considers as wise and likely to succeed, was repudiated by Mardonius as cowardly and unworthy of the recognized superior- ity of the Pei-sian arms.^ But while he oveiruled, by virtue of superior authority, the objections of all around him, Persian as well as Greek, he could not but feel daunted by their reluctant obedience, which he sus- pected might arise from their having heard oracles or prophecies of unfavorable augury. He therefore summoned the chief officers, Greek as well as Persian, and put the question to them, whether they knew any prophecy announcing that the Persians were doomed to destruction in Greece. All were silent : some did not know the prophecies, but others, Herodotus intimates, knew them full well, though they did not dare to speak. Receiving no answer, Mardonius said, " Since ye either do not know or ' Herodot. ix, 38, 39. * Herodot. ix, 40, 41.
- Herodot. ix, 42.
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