556 HISTORY OF GREECE. the far greater actual sacrifices which they cheerfully underwent ten years afterwards, at the invasion of Xerxes, without falter- ing in their Pan-Hellenic fidelity ; and it strengthened them at home by swelling the tide of common sentiment and patriotic fraternity in the bosom of every individual citizen. It was the exploit of Athenians alone, but of all Athenians without dissent or exception, the boast of orators, repeated until it almost degenerated into common-place, though the people seem never to have become weary of allusions to their single-handed victory over a host of forty-six nations. 1 It had been purchased with out a drop of intestine bloodshed, for even the unknown traitors who raised the signal-shield >n Mount Pentelikus, took care not to betray themselves by want of apparent sympathy with the triumph : lastly, it was the final guarantee of their democracy, barring all chance of restoration of Hippias for the future. Themistokles 2 is said to have been robbed of his sleep by the trophies of Miltiades, and this is cited in proof of his ambitious temperament ; but without supposing either jealousy or personal love of glory, the rapid transit from extreme danger to unparalleled triumph might well deprive of rest even the most sober-minded Athenian. Who it was that raised the treacherous signal-shield to attract the Persians to Athens was never ascertained : very probably, in the full exultation of success, no investigation was made. Of course, however, the public belief would not be satisfied without singling out some persons as the authors of such a treason ; and the information received by Herodotus (probably about 450-440 B.C., forty or fifty years after the Marathonian victory) ascribed the deed to the Alkmrconids ; nor does he notice any other re- ported authors, though he rejects the allegation against them upco very sufficient grounds. They were a race religiously 1 So the computation stands in the language of Athenian orators (Herodot. ix, 27.) It would be unfair to examine it critically.
- Plutarch, Themistokles. c. 3. According to Cicero (Epist. ad Attic, ix,
10) and Justin (ii. 9) Hippias was killed at Marathon. Suidas (v, 'I-r/uf) Bays that he died afterwards at Lemnos. Neither of these statements seems probable. Hippias would hardly go to Lemnos, which was an A*.henian possession; and had he been slain in the battle, Herodotus would have been likely to nmntion it.
