§9.18.1ὃ μὲν ταῦτα παραίνεε· οἱ δὲ ἱππέες ἐπεί σφεας ἐκυκλώσαντο, ἐπήλαυνον ὡς ἀπολέοντες, καὶ δὴ διετείνοντο τὰ βέλεα ὡς ἀπήσοντες, καὶ κού τις καὶ ἀπῆκε.
He encouraged them thus; and the horsemen, when they had surrounded them, charged as if to destroy them, and indeed they were aiming their missiles as if about to discharge them, and indeed someone even discharged one.
καὶ οἳ ἀντίοι ἔστησαν πάντῃ συστρέψαντες ἑωυτοὺς καὶ πυκνώσαντες ὡς μάλιστα.
But they stood facing them, drawing themselves together on all sides and packing themselves as closely as possible.
ἐνθαῦτα οἱ ἱππόται ὑπέστρεφον καὶ ἀπήλαυνον ὀπίσω.
Thereupon the horsemen turned back and rode away.
§9.18.2οὐκ ἔχω δʼ ἀτρεκέως εἰπεῖν οὔτε εἰ ἦλθον μὲν ἀπολέοντες τοὺς Φωκέας δεηθέντων Θεσσαλῶν, ἐπεὶ δὲ ὥρων πρὸς ἀλέξησιν τραπομένους, δείσαντες μὴ καὶ σφίσι γένηται τρώματα, οὕτω δὴ ἀπήλαυνον ὀπίσω· ὣς γάρ σφι ἐνετείλατο Μαρδόνιος· οὔτʼ εἰ αὐτῶν πειρηθῆναι ἠθέλησε εἴ τι ἀλκῆς μετέχουσι.
But I cannot say with certainty, whether they came indeed to destroy the Phocians at the request of the Thessalians, but when they saw them turning to defense, fearing lest they themselves also should suffer casualties, they thus rode back (for so Mardonius had commanded them); or whether he wished to make trial of them, to see if they possessed any courage.
§9.18.3ὡς δὲ ὀπίσω ἀπήλασαν οἱ ἱππόται, πέμψας Μαρδόνιος κήρυκα ἔλεγε τάδε. θαρσέετε ὦ Φωκέες· ἄνδρες γὰρ ἐφάνητε ἐόντες ἀγαθοί, οὐκ ὡς ἐγὼ ἐπυνθανόμην.
And when the horsemen had ridden back, Mardonius sent a herald and said these words: "Be of good courage, O Phocians; for you have shown yourselves to be brave men, not as I was informed.
καὶ νῦν προθύμως φέρετε τὸν πόλεμον τοῦτον· εὐεργεσίῃσι γὰρ οὐ νικήσετε οὔτʼ ὦν ἐμὲ οὔτε βασιλέα. τὰ περὶ Φωκέων μὲν ἐς τοσοῦτο ἐγένετο.
And now carry on this war zealously; for in benefits you will not surpass either me or the king." Thus far went the affair of the Phocians.