infantry, which alone had time to form, awaited the Athenian
charge. On came the Greeks, with one unwavering line of levelled
spears, against which the light targets, the short lances and
scymetars of the Orientals offered weak defence. The front rank
of the Asiatics must have gone down to a man at the first shock.
Still they recoiled not, but strove by individual gallantry, and
by the weight of numbers, to make up for the disadvantages of
weapons and tactics, and to bear back the shallow line of the
Europeans. In the centre, where the native Persians and the
Sacae fought, they succeeded in breaking through the weaker part
of the Athenian phalanx; and the tribes led by Aristides and
Themistocles were, after a brave resistance, driven back over the
plain, and chased by the Persians up the valley towards the inner
country. There the nature of the ground gave the opportunity of
rallying and renewing the struggle: and meanwhile, the Greek
wings, where Miltiades had concentrated his chief strength, had
routed the Asiatics opposed to them; and the Athenian and
Plataean officers, instead of pursuing the fugitives, kept their
troops well in hand, and wheeling round they formed the two wings
together. Miltiades instantly led them against the Persian
centre, which had hitherto been triumphant, but which now fell
back, and prepared to encounter these new and unexpected
assailants. Aristides and Themistocles renewed the fight with
their re-organized troops, and the full force of the Greeks was
brought into close action with the Persian and Sacian divisions
of the enemy. Datis's veterans strove hard to keep their ground,
and evening [ARISTOPH. Vesvoe 1085.] was approaching before the
stern encounter was decided.

But the Persians, with their slight wicker shields, destitute of