The professed intent of the king's march was to attack Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens, but in truth all Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas was his aim. This the Greeks had long since learned, but not all of them regarded the matter alike.

Those of them who had paid the tribute of earth and water to the Persian were of good courage, thinking that the foreigner would do them no harm, but they who had refused tribute were afraid, since there were not enough ships in Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas to do battle with their invader; furthermore, the greater part of them had no stomach for grappling with the war, but were making haste to side with the Persian.