Herodotus, The Histories (ed. A. D. Godley)

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CIX. The Athenian generals were of divided opinion, some advocating not fighting because they were too few to attack the army of the Medes; others, including Miltiades, advocating fighting. [2] Thus they were at odds, and the inferior plan prevailed. An eleventh man had a vote, chosen by lot to be polemarch¹ of Athens, and by ancient custom the Athenians had made his vote of equal weight with the generals. Callimachus of Aphidnae was polemarch at this time. Miltiades approached him and said, [3] “Callimachus, it is now in your hands to enslave Athens or make her free, and thereby leave behind for all posterity a memorial such as not even Harmodius and Aristogeiton left. Now the Athenians have come to their greatest danger since they first came into being, and, if we surrender, it is clear what we will suffer when handed over to Hippias. But if the city prevails, it will take first place among Hellenic cities. [4] I will tell you how this can happen, and how the deciding voice on these matters has devolved upon you. The ten generals are of divided opinion, some urging to attack, others urging not to. [5] If we do not attack now, I expect that great strife will fall upon and shake the spirit of the Athenians, leading them to medize. But if we attack now, before anything unsound corrupts the Athenians, we can win the battle, if the gods are fair. [6] All this concerns and depends on you in this way: if you vote with me, your country will be free and your city the first in Hellas. But if you side with those eager to avoid battle, you will have the opposite to all the good things I enumerated.”

¹ One of the nine archons, all chosen by lot.

Further comments from W. W. How, J. Wells, A Commentary on Herodotus:
book 6 (general note)
book 6, chapter 109 (general note)
book 6, chapter 109 (general note)
book 6, chapter 109, section 2: ho tôi kuamôi lachôn
book 6, chapter 109, section 2: to palaion
book 6, chapter 109, section 3: polis ... prôtê
book 6, chapter 109, section 5: sathron

Cross references from Perseus Encyclopedia:
miltiades-kimonos [Biography]

Cross references from Raphael Kühner, Bernhard Gerth, Ausführliche Grammatik der griechischen Sprache (ed. Ildar Ibraguimov):
355 [Kopulaartige Verben.]
382 [a) Praesens.]

Cross references from Raphael Kühner, Bernhard Gerth, Ausführliche Grammatik der griechischen Sprache (ed. Ildar Ibraguimov):
473 [b) Infinitiv ohne Artikel als Ergänzung von Satzgliedern und Sätzen.]

Cross references from T. G. Tucker, Commentary on Thucydides: Book 8:
8, 66, 1

Cross references from Perseus Vase Catalog:
Würzburg L 515 [Würzburg L 515]

Cross references from W. Walter Merry, James Riddell, D. B. Monro, Commentary on the Odyssey (1886):
3, 127 [Book 3 (g)]
6, 197 [Book 6 (z)]

Cross references from Sir Richard C. Jebb, Selections from the Attic Orators:
Lysias, 24, 13 [Huper tou adunatou]
Isocrates, 3, 24 [Nikoklês ê Kuprioi]

This text is based on the following book(s):
Herodotus, with an English translation by A. D. Godley. Cambridge. Harvard University Press. 1920.
OCLC: 1610641
ISBN: 0674991303, 0674991311, 0674991338, 0674991346

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