The sea-fight began as the day dawned. Xerxes had erected a great throne for himself from which he could watch the events of the day; "and full in view of all the host the throne stood on a high knoll hard beside the sea." Aeschylus, a great Athenian poet, who was himself present at the battle, wrote a play called the _Persians_ in which a messenger takes the news of Salamis to the mother of Xerxes, waiting at Susa for the return of her son. Never before had he been defeated, but now she must listen to a tale of woe: 'Twas this began all our disaster, Queen: A demon or fell fiend rose--who knows whence?-- For from the Athenian host a Hellene came, And to thy son, to Xerxes, told this tale, That when the mirk of black night should be come, The Greeks would not abide, but, leaping straight Upon the galley thwarts, this way and that In stealthy flight would seek to save their lives. Soon as he heard, discerning neither guile In that Greek, nor the jealousy of heaven, This word to all his captains he proclaims, That, when the sun should cease to scorch the earth, And gloom should fill the hallowed space of sky, In three lines should they range their throng of ships To guard each pass, each sea-ward surging strait; {164} And others should enring all Aias' Isle: Since, if the Greeks should yet escape fell doom, And find their ships some privy path of flight, Doomed to the headsman all these captains were. Thus spake he, in spirit over-confident, Knowing not what the gods would bring to pass. With hearts obedient, in no disarray, Then supped our crews, and every mariner To the well-rounded rowlock lashed his oar. But when the splendour faded of the sun, And night came on, each master of the oar A-shipboard went, and every man-at-arms. Then rank to rank of long ships passed the word: And, as was each appointed, so they sailed. So all night long the captains of the ships Kept all the sea-host sailing to and fro. And night passed by, yet did the Hellene host Essay in no wise any secret flight. But when the day by white steeds chariot-borne, Radiant to see, flooded all earth with light, First from the Hellenes did a clamorous shout Ring for a triumphant chant; and wild and high Pealed from the island rock the answering cheer Of Echo. Thrilled through all our folks dismay Of baffled expectation; for the Greeks Not as for flight that holy paean sang, But straining battleward with heroic hearts. The trumpet's blare set all their lines aflame. Straightway with chiming dip of dashing oars They smote the loud brine to the timing cry, And suddenly flashed they all full into view. Foremost their right wing seemly-ordered led In fair array; next, all their armament Battleward swept on. Therewithal was heard A great shout--"On, ye sons of Hellas, on! {165} Win for the home-land freedom!--freedom win For sons, wives, temples of ancestral gods,