Eurybiades, on account of the prestige of Sparta, held the chief command of the fleet, but was unwilling to risk a battle, preferring to weigh anchor and sail to the Isthmus where the land army of the Peloponnesians was assembled.  This project was opposed by Themistokles; and it was on this occasion that he made use of the following well-known saying:  When Eurybiades said to him, “Themistokles, in the public games they whip those who rise before their turn.”  “True,” said Themistokles, “but they do not crown those who lag behind.”  And when Eurybiades raised his staff as if he would strike him, Themistokles said, “Strike, but hear me.”  When Eurybiades, in wonder at his gentle temper, bade him speak, he again urged Eurybiades to remain at Salamis.  Some one then said, that a man without a city had no right to tell those who still possessed one to abandon it, but Themistokles turning upon him, answered, “Wretch, we Athenians have indeed abandoned our walls and houses, because we scorn to be slaves for the sake of mere buildings, but we have the greatest city of all Greece, our two hundred ships of war, which now are ready to help you if you choose to be saved by their means; but, if you betray us and leave us, some of the Greeks will soon learn to their cost that the Athenians have obtained a free city and a territory no worse than that which they left behind.”  When Eurybiades heard Themistokles use this language, he began to fear that the Athenians might really sail away and leave him.

When Eretrieus tried to say something to Themistokles, he answered, “Do you too dare to say anything about war, you, who like a cuttle-fish, have a sword but no heart.”

XII.  It is said by some writers that while Themistokles was talking about these matters upon the deck of his ship, an owl was seen to fly from the right-hand side of the fleet, and to perch upon his mast; which omen encouraged all the Athenians to fight.  But when the Persian host poured down to Phalerum, covering the whole sea-shore, and the king himself was seen with all his forces, coming down to the beach with the infantry, the Greeks forgot the words of Themistokles, and began to cast eager glances towards the Isthmus and to be angry with any one who proposed to do anything else than withdraw.  They determined to retire by night, and the steersmen were given orders to prepare for a voyage.  Themistokles, enraged at the idea of the Greek fleet dispersing, and losing the advantage of the narrow waters, planned the affair of Sikinnus.  This Sikinnus was a Persian who had been taken prisoner, and who was fond of Themistokles and took charge of his children.  He sent this man secretly to Xerxes, ordering him to say that Themistokles, the general of the Athenians, has determined to come over to the king of the Persians, and is the first to tell him that the Greeks are about to retreat.  He bids him not to allow them to fly, but to attack them while they are disheartened at not being supported by a land force, and destroy their fleet.