Library of E. a. Barnes 6-29-40 20v. THE Percy Anecdotes. ANECDOTES OF HEROISM. "On valour's side the odds of combat lie, The wretch who trembles in the field of fame, POPE. HEROES OF THERMOPYLÆ. IT having been resolved, at a general council of the government of Sparta, to defend the Straits of Thermopylæ against the Persians, seven thousand foot were put under the command of Leonidas, of whom, however, only three hundred were Spartans. Leonidas did not think it practicable to defend the pass against such multitudes as the Persian king commanded; and therefore privately told his friends, that his design was to devote himself to death for his country. Xerxes, advancing near the straits, was greatly surprised to find that the Greeks were resolved to dispute his passage. Still entertaining hopes that they would betake themselves to fight, he waited four days without undertaking any thing, on purpose to give them an opportunity. He at length sent a herald to Leonidas, to command him to deliver up his arms. Leonidas, in a style and with a spirit truly laconical, answered, "Come thyself and take them." Xerxes, at this reply, transported with rage, commanded the Medes and Cissians to march against them; take all alive, and bring them to him in fetters. The Medes, not able to stand the shock of the Greeks, soon betook themselves to flight. Hidarnes was then ordered to advance with a body of ten thousand chosen men, called, by way of supreme distinction, the Immortals; but when these came to a close with the Greeks they succeeded no better than the Medes and Cissians, being obliged to retire with great slaughter. The next day, the Persians, reflecting on the small number of their enemies, and supposing that so many of them must have been wounded, that they could not possibly maintain a second fight, advanced with great confidence to another assault. The Greeks, however, exerted themselves in a manner so extraordinary, that, instead of giving way, they put the Persians, for a third time, to the rout. Xerxes is said to have three times leaped from his throne, so great was his apprehension of the entire destruction of his army. Xerxes, having lost all hopes of forcing his way through troops that were determined to conquer or die, was extremely perplexed as to the measures he should take; when one Epialtes, in expectation of a great reward, came to him, and discovered a secret passage to the top of the hill, which overlooked and commanded the Spartan forces. The king imme diately despatched Hidernes thither, with his select body of ten thousand Persians, who, marching all night, arrived by a circuitous route at the mountain by the break of day, and possessed themselves, without difficulty, of that advantageous post. Leonidas, being now satisfied of the impossibility of bearing up against the enemy, desired his allies to retire, while he remained himself with his three hundred Lacedemonians, all nobly resolved to brave the extremity of fate. The Oracle had foretold, that either Sparta should be destroyed, or the king lose his life; and Leonidas did not hesitate a moment to make the sacrifice, which was to secure the safety of his country. The Thespians, with their leader Demophilus, were the only body of the allies who could not be prevailed upon to abandon Leonidas and the Spartans. The augur Megistias, who had foretold. the fate of this enterprise, being pressed by Leonidas to retire, sent home his only son; but remained himself by the side of Leonidas. Those who staid, did not feed themselves with any hopes of conquering or escaping, but looked upon Thermopyla as their graves; and when Leonidas, exhorting them to take some nourishment, said that they should all sup together with Pluto, they set up, with one accord, a shout of joy, as if they had been invited to a banquet. Xerxes at the rising of the sun began to move forward with the whole body of his army. On their approach, Leonidas advanced to the broadest part of the passage, and fell upon the enemy with such uudaunted courage and resolution, that the Persian officers were obliged to stand behind the divisious which |