PLATZA’S FAMOUS DAY. 173

by a striking coincidence, on the same day that the
battle of Platea was fought, the Grecian fleet won a
brilliant victory at Mycale, in Asia Minor, and freed
the Ionian cities from Persian rule. In Greece,
Thebes was punished for aiding the Persians. By-
zantium (now Constantinople) was captured by Pau-
sanius, and the great cables of the bridge of Xerxes
were brought home in triumph by the Greeks.

We have but one more incident to tell. The war
tent of Xerxes had been left to Mardonius, and on
taking the Persian camp Pausanias saw it with its
colored hangings and its gold and silver adornments,
and gave orders to the cooks that they should pre-
pare him such a feast as they were used to do for
their lord. On seeing the splendid banquet, he
ordered that a Spartan supper should be prepared.
With a hearty laugh at the contrast he said to the
Greek leaders, for whom he had sent, ‘“ Behold, O
Greeks, the folly of this Median captain, who, when
he enjoyed such fare as this, must needs come here
to rob us of our penury.”

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