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ὁρῶντες δέ κτλ. There is a remarkable coincidence between the language (the sentiment also) of this passage and the description of the Persian mind at Marathon, 6. 112 οἱ δὲ Πέρσαι ὁρέοντες (sic) ... δρόμῳ ἐπιόντας . . μανίην τε τοῖσι Ἀθηναίοισι ἐπέφερον καὶ πάγχυ ὀλεθρίην, ὁρέοντες αὐτοὺς ὀλίγους καὶ τούτους δρόμῳ ἐπειγομένους. If Stein's readings are correct the Atticism of this passage—the earlier in order of composition, if my theory (Introduction, §§ 7, 8) holds—is the more pronounced: as is natural, on that theory.
οἰκότα κάρτα ἐλπίσαντες: for two reasons, their ships being more numerous, and better sailers (ἄμεινον πλεούσας): a notable admission, perhaps not frec from exaggeration, especially under the circumstances, the Persian ships having been so long in the water, even if the storm had not already occurred to damage them. They had, however, perhaps been carefully overhauled at Doriskos, and at Therme.
καταφρονήσαντες ταῦτα: the verb has not yet aequired its dyslogistic force; cp. 1. 59, 66.
ἐκυκλοῦντο αὐτοὺς ἐς μέσον, ‘they attempted to surround them in a circle’ (cp. c. 85 infra), and were apparently in the first instance successful. This was a περίπλοος of another sort to that conducted by τῇσι περιπλεούσῃσι τῶν νεῶν above: could it be that there is some confusion up above in the report of the resolution of the Greeks ἀπαντᾶν τῇσι περιπλεούσῃσι to front, or attack, the ships which were surrounding them? ὅσοι μέν νυν τῶν Ἰώνων: there were, then, some of the Ionians in the Persian ranks well-disposed, loyal (εὔνοοι), to the ‘Hellenic’ cause: an important admission, and indicating a weakness, with which the Persian admirals just before have failed to reckon; cp. 7. 51.
περιεχομένους: imperfect, ‘in course of being surrounded’: so τὸ γινόμενον just below. ἐπιστάμενοι: the word seems used by Hdt. in reference to the strength rather than the truth of their certitude, not without a touch of irony herein.
πρήγματα: c. 4 supra. ὅσοισι δέ: sc. τῶν Ἰώνων: or was it rather the Dorians, and that set? Artemisia par exemple and the Halikarnassians? Or is the reference wider still, covering all the components of the fleet, who were pleased with what was going on, and ambitious, every man of them, to capture an Attic ship and to receive rewards from the king therefor? With the construction cp. ἀσμένοισι c. 14 infra, ἡδομένοισι 9. 46 Blakesley cps. Tacitus Agric. 18, quibus ... bellum volentibus erat.
Ἀθηναίων γάρ: the unblushing Atticism of the passage suggests the ultimate source, if not the channel, of these reports. There is some slight inconsequence in the rewards offered for the capture of a Greek, or at least an Attic ship, and the sure and certain confidence of victory, but the rewards are likely to be historical. The Athenians liad been victors at Marathon; the Athenians had supported the Ionic revolt; Athenian exiles were on the Persian fleet, or in the kings camp. ἀνὰ τὰ στρατόπεδα. Stein refers to the navy, and to the Persian navy alone, which was of a composite character. στρατόπεδον can certainly denote a naval force, perhaps especially when brought to land (cp. 5. 36), but the mention of the king in the immediate context, and the considerations urged in the previous note, justify the extension of the term here to cover the forces in front of Thermopylai. The phrase thus becomes a homage to the solidarity of the parallel operations.
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