Histories

Now I cannot with exactness say whether they came at the Thessalians' desire to slay the Phocians, but when they saw the men preparing to defend themselves, they feared lest they themselves should suffer some hurt, and so rode away (for such was Mardonius' command),—or if Mardonius wanted to test the Phocians' mettle.

When the horsemen had ridden away, Mardonius sent a herald, with this message: “Men of +Phocis (department), Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Phocis, be of good courage, for you have shown yourselves to be valiant men, and not as it was reported to me. Now push this war zealously forward, for you will outdo neither myself nor the king in the rendering of service.”[*](That is, serve us and we will serve you.) This is how the matter of the Phocians turned out.

As for the Lacedaemonians, when they had come to the Isthmus, they encamped there. When the rest of the Peloponnesians who chose the better cause heard that, seeing the Spartans setting forth to war, they thought that they should not lag behind the Lacedaemonians in so doing.

Accordingly, they all marched from the Isthmus (the omens of sacrifice being favorable) and came to +Eleusis [23.5583,38.0417] (Perseus) Eleusis. When they had offered sacrifice there also and the omens were favorable, they continued their march, having now the Athenians with them, who had crossed over from Salamis (island), Attica, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, EuropeSalamis and joined with them at +Eleusis [23.5583,38.0417] (Perseus) Eleusis.

When they came (as it is said) to Erythrae in Boeotia (department), Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Boeotia, they learned that the barbarians were encamped by the Asopus. Taking note of that, they arrayed themselves opposite the enemy on the lower hills of Cithaeron.