PLATA’S FAMOUS DAY. 167

Mardonius, selfishly withheld their asistance, and
the completion of the wall across the isthmus was
diligently pushed. Fortunately for Greece, this self-
ish policy came to a sudden end. “ What will your
wall be worth if Athens joins with Persia and gives
the foe the aid of her fleet?” was asked the Spartan
kings; and so abruptly did they change their opinion
that during that same night five thousand Spartan
hoplites, each man with seven Helot attendants,
marched for the isthmus, with Pausanias, a cousin
of Leonidas, the hero of Thermopyle, at their head.

On learning of this movement, Mardonius set fire
to what of Athens remained, and fell back on the
city of Thebes, in Boeotia, as a more favorable field
for the battle which now seemed sure to come.
Here his numerous cavalry could be brought into
play, the country was allied with him, the friendly
city of Thebes lay behind him, and food for his great
army was to be had. Here, then, he awaited the
coming of the Greeks, and built for his army a forti-
fied camp, surrounded with walls and towers of
wood.

Yet his men and officers alike lacked heart. Ata
splendid banquet given to Mardonius by the Thebans,
one of the Persians said to his Theban neighbor,—

“Seest thou these Persians here feasting, and the
army which we left yonder encamped near the river?
Yet a little while, and out of all these thou shalt
behold but a few surviving.”

“Tf you feel thus,” said the Theban, “thou art
surely bound to reveal it to Mardonius.”

“ My friend,’ answered the Persian, “ man cannot