well believe that the vote of Themistocles was for prompt and
decisive action. [See the character of Themistocles in the 138th
section of the first book of Thucydides, especially the last
sentence.] On the vote of Aristides it may be more difficult to
speculate. His predilection for the Spartans may have made him
wish to wait till they came up; but, though circumspect, he was
neither timid as a soldier nor as a politician; and the bold
advice of Miltiades may probably have found in Aristides a
willing, most assuredly it found in him a candid, hearer.

Miltiades felt no hesitation as to the course which the Athenian
army ought to pursue: and earnestly did he press his opinion on
his brother-generals. Practically acquainted with the
organization of the Persian armies, Miltiades was convinced of
the superiority of the Greek troops, if properly handled: he saw
with the military eye of a great general the advantage which the
position of the forces gave him for a sudden attack, and as a
profound politician he felt the perils of remaining inactive, and
of giving treachery time to ruin the Athenian cause.

One officer in the council of war had not yet voted. This was
Callimachus, the War-Ruler. The votes of the generals were five
and five, so that the voice of Callimachus would be decisive.

On that vote, in all human probability, the destiny of all the
nations of the world depended. Miltiades turned to him, and in
simple soldierly eloquence, the substance of which we may read
faithfully reported in Herodotus, who had conversed with the
veterans of Marathon, the great Athenian thus adjured his
countryman to vote for giving battle:--