§4.1At Xerxes Thermopylis expugnatis protinus accessit astu idque nullis defendentibus interfectis sacerdotibus, quos in arce invenerat, incendio delevit.
But Xerxes, having captured Thermopylae, immediately advanced to the city, and since there were no defenders, he destroyed it by fire, after killing the priests whom he had found on the citadel.
§4.2cuius flamma perterriti classiarii cum manere non auderent et plurimi hortarentur, ut domos suas discederent moenibusque se defenderent, Themistocles unus restitit et universos pares esse posse aiebat, dispersos testabatur perituros, idque Eurybiadi, regi Lacedaemoniorum, qui tum summae imperii praeerat, fore affirmabat.
The sailors, terrified by its flames, did not dare to remain, and while most of them urged that they should depart to their own homes and defend themselves with their walls, Themistocles alone resisted and said that if united they could be a match for the enemy, but if dispersed they would perish, and he affirmed to Eurybiades, the king of the Lacedaemonians, who was then in chief command, that this would indeed happen.
§4.3quem cum minus quam vellet moveret, noctu de servis suis quem habuit fidelissimum ad regem misit, ut ei nuntiaret suis verbis, adversarios eius in fuga esse: §4.4qui si discessissent, maiore cum labore et longinquiore tempore bellum confecturum, cum singulos consectari cogeretur: quos si statim aggrederetur, brevi universos oppressurum.
When he could move him less than he wished, he sent by night the most faithful of his servants whom he had to the king, to announce to him in his own words that his adversaries were in flight: that if they should depart, he would finish the war with greater labor and in a longer time, since he would be forced to pursue them individually; but if he should attack them immediately, he would crush them all in a short time.
hoc eo valebat, ut ingratiis ad depugnandum omnes cogerentur.
This was aimed at forcing everyone to fight to a finish against their will.
§4.5hac re audita barbarus, nihil doli subesse credens, postridie alienissimo sibi loco, contra opportunissimo hostibus adeo angusto mari conflixit, ut eius multitudo navium explicari non potuerit.
On hearing this, the barbarian, believing that no trickery lay underneath, clashed the next day in a place most unfavorable to himself, but on the contrary most advantageous to the enemy, in a sea so narrow that his multitude of ships could not be deployed.
victus ergo est magis etiam consilio Themistocli quam armis Graeciae.
He was therefore defeated even more by the counsel of Themistocles than by the arms of Greece.