A Spartan soldier
17. Some of the Greeks retired, but a few resolved to stay with the brave Spartans. And now the Greeks under Leonidas did not wait to be attacked in front and rear, but marched out into the wide part of the pass and assailed the Persians. The Persian officers drove their soldiers forward with whips. The poor wretches were pierced with the Greek spears, hurled into the sea, or trampled under foot.
18. The Spartans, knowing that death awaited them, were desperate, and displayed the utmost possible valor. When their spears were broken, they assailed the Persians with their swords. And when the swords gave out, they fought with their daggers, and even with their hands and teeth, till not one living man remained among them.
19. When the sun went down, there was only a mound of slain, bristling with spears and arrows.
The heroic Spartans were buried on the spot where they fell, and over them was raised a column with the inscription: "Strangers, go tell at Sparta that we lie here obedient to its laws."
20. The column and its inscription have long since perished, but the glory of the Three Hundred will endure forever.
I. Xerx´es. Hu mil´i a´tion: shame; disgrace. Ther mop´y læ. Lē ŏn´ĭ das. As sured´: sure; certain. Val´iant: brave.
II. Ȧ băn´dȯn: give up. Băde: ordered. Sōre´ly̆: greatly. Rē̍ tīred´: went away. Ăs sāiled´: attacked. Văl´or: courage. In scrip´tion: that which is inscribed or written, especially on a building or monument.