_Mess._ The author of the mischief, O my mistress, Was some foul fiend or Power on evil bent; For lo! a Hellene from the Athenian host[34] Came to thy son, to Xerxes, and spake thus, That should the shadow of the dark night come, The Hellenes would not wait him, but would leap 360 Into their rowers' benches, here and there, And save their lives in secret, hasty flight. And he forthwith, this hearing, knowing not The Hellene's guile, nor yet the Gods' great wrath, Gives this command to all his admirals, Soon as the sun should cease to burn the earth With his bright rays, and darkness thick invade The firmament of heaven, to set their ships In threefold lines, to hinder all escape, And guard the billowy straits, and others place 370 In circuit round about the isle of Aias: For if the Hellenes 'scaped an evil doom, And found a way of secret, hasty flight, It was ordained that all should lose their heads.[35] Such things he spake from soul o'erwrought with pride, For he knew not what fate the Gods would send; And they, not mutinous, but prompt to serve, Then made their supper ready, and each sailor Fastened his oar around true-fitting thole; And when the sunlight vanished, and the night Had come, then each man, master of an oar, 380 Went to his ship, and all men bearing arms, And through the long ships rank cheered loud to rank; And so they sail, as 'twas appointed each, And all night long the captains of the fleet Kept their men working, rowing to and fro; Night then came on, and the Hellenic host In no wise sought to take to secret flight. And when day, bright to look on with white steeds, O'erspread the earth, then rose from the Hellenes 390 Loud chant of cry of battle, and forthwith Echo gave answer from each island rock; And terror then on all the Persians fell, Of fond hopes disappointed. Not in flight The Hellenes then their solemn pæans sang: But with brave spirit hasting on to battle. With martial sound the trumpet fired those ranks; And straight with sweep of oars that flew through foam, They smote the loud waves at the boatswain's call; And swiftly all were manifest to sight. 400 Then first their right wing moved in order meet;[36] Next the whole line its forward course began, And all at once we heard a mighty shout,— “O sons of Hellenes, forward, free your country; Free too your wives, your children, and the shrines Built to your fathers' Gods, and holy tombs Your ancestors now rest in. Now the fight Is for our all.” And on our side indeed Arose in answer din of Persian speech, And time to wait was over; ship on ship 410 Dashed its bronze-pointed beak, and first a barque Of Hellas did the encounter fierce begin,[37] And from Phœnikian vessel crashes off Her carved prow. And each against his neighbour