THE WOODEN WALLS OF ATHENS. 159

country to ‘fight for. You must have the council
meet again; this vote must be set aside; if it be
carried out the liberty of Greece is at an end.”

So strongly did he insist upon this that Themisto-
cles was inspired to make another effort. He went
at once to the ship of Eurybiades, the Spartan who
had been chosen admiral of the fleet, and represented
the case so earnestly to him that Eurybiades was
partly convinced, and consented to eall the council
together again.

Here Themistocles was so excitedly eager that he
sought to win the chiefs over to his views even be-
fore Eurybiades had formally opened the meeting
and explained its object. For this he was chided by
the Corinthian Adeimantus, who said,—

“Themistocles, those who in the public festivals
rise up before the proper signal are scourged.”

“True,” said Themistocles; “but those who lag
behind the signal win no crowns.”

When the debate was formally opened, Themisto-
cles was doubly urgent in his views, and continued
his arguments until Adeimantus burst out in a rage,
bidding him, a man who had no city, to be silent.

This attack drew a bitter answer from the insulted
Athenian. If he had no city, he said, he had around
him two hundred ships, with which he could win a
city and country better than Corinth. Then he
turned to Hurybiades, and said,—

“Tf you will stay and fight bravely here, all will be
well. If you refuse to stay, you will bring all Greece
to ruin. If you will not stay, we Athenians will
migrate with our ships and families. Then, chiefs,