Steers his own ship: and first the mighty flood Of Persian host held out. But when the ships Were crowded in the straits,[38] nor could they give Help to each other, they with mutual shocks, With beaks of bronze went crushing each the other, Shivering their rowers' benches. And the ships Of Hellas, with manœuvring not unskilful, Charged circling round them. And the hulls of ships 420 Floated capsized, nor could the sea be seen, Strown, as it was, with wrecks and carcases; And all the shores and rocks were full of corpses. And every ship was wildly rowed in fight, All that composed the Persian armament. And they, as men spear tunnies,[39] or a haul Of other fishes, with the shafts of oars, Or spars of wrecks went smiting, cleaving down; And bitter groans and wailings overspread The wide sea-waves, till eye of swarthy night 430 Bade it all cease: and for the mass of ills, Not, though my tale should run for ten full days, Could I in full recount them. Be assured That never yet so great a multitude Died in a single day as died in this. _Atoss._ Ah, me! Great then the sea of ills that breaks On Persia and the whole barbaric host. _Mess._ Be sure our evil fate is but half o'er: On this has supervened such bulk of woe, As more than twice to outweigh what I've told. 440 _Atoss._ And yet what fortune could be worse than this? Say, what is this disaster which thou tell'st, That turns the scale to greater evils still? _Mess._ Those Persians that were in the bloom of life, Bravest in heart and noblest in their blood, And by the king himself deemed worthiest trust, Basely and by most shameful death have died. _Atoss._ Ah! woe is me, my friends, for our ill fate! What was the death by which thou say'st they perished?