Page:Light and truth.djvu/165

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ANCIENT KINGS AND WARS.
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was directed by one commander. The Ionians, whom Themistocles had advised by characters engraven upon stones along the coasts of Eubœa to remember from whom they derived their original, were the first that betook themselves to flight, and were quickly followed by the rest of the fleet. But queen Artemisa distinguished herself by incredible efforts of resolution and courage, so that Xerxes, who saw in what manner she had behaved herself, cried out, that the men had behaved like women in this engagement, and that the women had shewed the courage of men. The Athenians, being enraged that a woman had dared to appear in arms against them, had promised a reward often thousand drachmas to any one that should be able to take her alive; but she had the good fortune to escape their pursuit. If they had taken her, she could have deserved nothing from them but the highest commendations, and the most honorable and generous treatment.


The manner in which that queen escaped ought not to be omitted. Seeing herself warmly pursued by an Athenian ship, from which it seemed impossible for her to escape, she hung out Grecian colors, and attacked one of the Persian vessels, on board of which was Damasithymus, king of Calynda, with whom she had some difference, and sunk it: this made her pursuers believe that her ship was one of the Grecian fleet, and give over the chase. [Rollin.]



ARABIAN KINGS.


King Philip the Great, the son of Amyntas and father of Alexander the Great, an Arabian. He mounted the throne of Macedon; the battle of Cheronea was fought by him, 338 years B. C. In this battle, the liberty of all Greece was at stake. He subjected all the Grecian states to his dominion. The reign of this warlike personage first brought Macedon into notice. He met the Grecians at Cheronea, and the fortunes of that day fixed the condition of Greece. It was not, however, his policy to treat them as a conquered people. Their separate and independent government they retained, while he controlled all the