THE ATHENIANS AT MARATHON, 131

an important episode to relate. Athens—as was
common with the Greek cities when threatened—
did not fail to send to Sparta for aid. When the
Persians landed at Marathon, a swift courier, Phi-
dippides by name, was sent to that city for assist-
ance, and so fleet of foot was he that he performed
the journey, of one hundred and fifty miles, in forty-
eight. hours’ time.

The Spartans, who knew that the fall of Athens
would soon be followed by that of their own city,
promised aid without hesitation. But superstition
stood in their way. It was, unfortunately, only the
ninth day of the moon. Ancient custom forbade them
to march until the moon had passed its full. This
would be five days yet,—five days which might cause
the ruin of Greece, But old laws and observances
held dominion at Sparta, and, whatever came from
it, the moon must pass its full before the army could
march.

When this decision was brought back by the
courier to Athens it greatly disturbed the public
mind. Of the ten generals, five strongly counselled
that they should wait for Spartan help. The other
five were in favor of immediate action. Delay was
dangerous with an enemy at their door and many
timid and doubtless some treacherous citizens within
their walls.

Fortunately, there was an eleventh general, Calli-
machus, the war archon, or polemarch, who had a
casting vote in the council of generals, and who,
under persuasion of Miltiades, cast his vote for an
immediate march to Marathon. The other generals