The victory at Marathon was viewed by the people as a deliverance by the gods themselves. It is fabled that before the battle the voice of the god Pan was heard in the mountains, uttering warnings and threatenings to the Persians, and inspiring the Greeks with courage. Hence the wonderful legends of the battle, in which Theseus, Hercules, and other local heroes are represented as engaging in the combat, and dealing death among the flying barbarians. In the following lines MRS. HEMANS has embraced the description which the Greeks gave of the appearance and deeds of Theseus on that occasion: There was one, a leader crowned, And armed for Greece that day; But the falchions made no sound On his gleaming war array. In the battle's front he stood, With his tall and shadowy crest; But the arrows drew no blood, Though their path was through his vest. His sword was seen to flash Where the boldest deeds were done; But it smote without a clash; The stroke was heard by none! His voice was not of those Who swelled the rolling blast, And his steps fell hushed like snows-- 'Twas the shade of Theseus passed! Far sweeping through the foe With a fiery charge he bore; And the Mede left many a bow On the sounding ocean-shore. And the foaming waves grew red, And the sails were crowded fast, When the sons of Asia fled, As the shade of Theseus passed! When banners caught the breeze, When helms in sunlight shone, When masts were on the seas, And spears on Marathon. It is said that to this day the peasant believes the field of Marathon to be haunted with spectral warriors, whose shouts are heard at midnight, borne on the wind, and rising above the din of battle. Viewed in the light of such legends, the following poem on Marathon, by PROFESSOR BLACKIE, is full of interest and poetic beauty: From Pentel'icus' pine-clad height [Footnote: Pentelicus overhangs the south side of the plain of Marathon.] A voice of warning came, That shook the silent autumn night With fear to Media's name. [Footnote: After the absorption of the Median kingdom into that of Persia, the terms Mede and Persian were interchangeably used, with little distinction.] Pan, from his Marathonian cave, [Footnote: Pan was said to have a famous cave near Marathon. For the somewhat prominent part which Pan played in the great Persian war, see Herodotus, vi. p.105.] Sent screams of midnight terror. And darkling horror curled the wave On the broad sea's moonlit mirror. Woe, Persia, woe! thou liest low--low! Let the golden palaces groan! Ye mothers weep for sons that shall sleep In gore on Marathon.