A source-book of ancient history - The Search For Mecca

250 The Supremacy of Sparta
midst of our peaceful pursuits; at any moment, whilst we
supped or slept or marketed, sentence of banishment was
passed upon us. We had done no wrong,—nay, many of
us were not even resident in the country. To-day therefore,
I repeat, the gods do visibly fight upon our side; the
great gods, who raise a tempest even in the midst of calm,
for our benefit, and when we lay our hand to fight, enable
our little company to set up the trophy of victory over
the multitude of our foes. On this day they have brought
us hither to a place where the steep ascent must needs
hinder our foes from reaching with lance or arrow further
than our foremost ranks; but we with our volley of spears
and arrows and stones cannot fail to reach them with
terrible effect. Had we been forced to meet them vanguard
to vanguard on an equal footing, who could have
been surprised? But as it is, all I say to you is, let fly
your missiles with a will in right brave style. No one can
miss his mark when the road is full of them. To avoid our
darts they must forever be ducking and skulking beneath
their shields; but we will rain blows upon them in their
blindness; we will leap upon them and lay them low.
But, O sirs! let me call upon you so to bear yourselves
that each shall be conscious to himself that the victory
What victory was won by him and by him alone. Victory which, God
will bring us. -n- i n i •
i
willing, shall this day restore to us the land of our fathers,
our homes, our freedom, and the rewards of civic life, our
children, if children we have, our darlings, our wives!
Thrice happy those among us who as conquerors shall
look upon this gladdest of all days. Nor less fortunate
the man who falls to-day. Not all the wealth in the
world shall purchase him a monument so glorious.
At the
right instant I will strike the keynote of the paean; then
with an invocation to the God of battle, and in return for