168 HISTORICAL TALES.

avert what God has decreed. No one will believe
the revelation, sure though it be. Many of us Per-
sians know this well, and are here serving only under
the bond of necessity. And truly this is the most
hateful of all human sufferings, to be full of knowl-
edge, and at the same time to have no power over
any result.”

Not long had the lukewarm Persians to wait for
their foes. Soon the army of Greece appeared, and,
seeing their enemy encamped along the little river
Asopus in the plain, took post on the mountain de-
clivity above. Here they were not suffered to rest
in peace. The powerful Persian cavalry, led by
Masistius, the most distinguished officer in the army,
broke like a thunderbolt on the Grecian ranks. The
Athenians and Megarians met them, and a sharp
and doubtful contest ensued. At length Masistius
fell from his wounded horse and was slain as he lay
on the ground. The Persians fought with fury to
recover his body, but were finally driven back, leav-
ing the corpse of their general in the hands of the
Greeks.

This event had a great effect on both armies.
Grief assailed the army of Mardonius at the loss of
’ their favorite general. Loud wailings filled the camp,
and the hair of men, horses, and cattle was cut in
sign of mourning. The Greeks, on the contrary,
were full of joy. The body of Masistius, a man of
great stature, and clad in showy armor, was placed
in a cart and paraded around the camp, that all
might see it and rejoice. Such was their confidence
at this defeat of the cavalry, which they had sorely