Histories

When they were assembled and before Eurybiades had a chance to put forward the reason he had called the generals together, Themistocles spoke at length in accordance with the urgency of his request. While he was speaking, the Corinthian general Adeimantus son of Ocytus said, “Themistocles, at the games those who start before the signal are beaten with rods.” Themistocles said in justification, “Those left behind win no crown.”

He answered the Corinthian mildly and said to Eurybiades nothing of what he had said before, how if they put out from Salamis (island), Attica, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, EuropeSalamis they would flee different ways, for it would be unbecoming for him to accuse the allies in their presence. Instead he relied on a different argument and said,

“It is in your hands to save Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas, if you will obey me and remain here to fight, and not obey the words of these others and move your ships back to the Isthmus. Compare each plan after you have heard. If you join battle at the Isthmus, you will fight in the open sea where it is least to our advantage, since our ships are heavier and fewer in number. You will also lose Salamis (island), Attica, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, EuropeSalamis and +Megara [23.35,38] (Perseus) Megara and +Aegina [23.433,37.75] (inhabited place), Aegina, Attica, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Aegina, even if we succeed in all else. Their land army will accompany their fleet, and so you will lead them to the +Peloponnese [22,37.5] (region), Greece, Europe Peloponnese and risk all Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas.

But if you do what I say, you will find it useful in these ways: first, by engaging many ships with our few in the strait, we shall win a great victory, if the war turns out reasonably, for it is to our advantage to fight in a strait and to their advantage to fight in a wide area. Second, Salamis (island), Attica, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, EuropeSalamis will survive, where we have carried our children and women to safety. It also has in it something you are very fond of: by remaining here you will be fighting for the +Peloponnese [22,37.5] (region), Greece, Europe Peloponnese just as much as at the Isthmus, and you will not lead them to the +Peloponnese [22,37.5] (region), Greece, Europe Peloponnese, if you exercise good judgment.

If what I expect happens and we win the victory with our ships, you will not have the barbarians upon you at the Isthmus. They will advance no further than Attica [23.5,38.83] (department), Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Attica and depart in no order, and we shall gain an advantage by the survival of +Megara [23.35,38] (Perseus) Megara, +Aegina [23.433,37.75] (inhabited place), Aegina, Attica, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Aegina, and Salamis (island), Attica, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, EuropeSalamis, where it is prophesied that we will prevail against our enemies. Men usually succeed when they have reasonable plans. If their plans are unreasonable, the god does not wish to assent to human intentions.”

As Themistocles said this, Adeimantus the Corinthian attacked him again, advising that a man without a city should keep quiet and that Eurybiades should not ask the vote of a man without a city. He advised Themistocles to contribute his opinion when he provided a city—attacking him in this way because Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens was captured and occupied.