The fact of Miltiades having so ruled in the Chersonese was undeniable; but the question which the Athenians assembled in judgment must have tried, was whether Miltiades, although tyrant of the Chersonese, deserved punishment as an Athenian citizen.  The eminent service that he had done the state in conquering Lemnos and Imbros for it, pleaded strongly in his favor.  The people refused to convict him.  He stood high in public opinion.  And when the coming invasion of the Persians was known, the people wisely elected him one of their generals for the year.

Two other men of high eminence in history, though their renown was achieved at a later period than that of Miltiades, were also among the ten Athenian generals at Marathon.  One was Themistocles, the future founder of the Athenian navy, and the destined victor of Salamis.  The other was Aristides, who afterward led the Athenian troops at Plataea, and whose integrity and just popularity acquired for his country, when the Persians had finally been repulsed, the advantageous preeminence of being acknowledged by half of the Greeks as their imperial leader and protector.  It is not recorded what part either Themistocles or Aristides took in the debate of the council of war at Marathon.  But, from the character of Themistocles, his boldness, and his intuitive genius for extemporizing the best measures in every emergency—­a quality which the greatest of historians ascribes to him beyond all his contemporaries—­we may well believe that the vote of Themistocles was for prompt and decisive action.  On the vote of Aristides it may be more difficult to speculate.  His predilection for the Spartans may have made him wish to wait till they came up; but, though circumspect, he was neither timid as a soldier nor as a politician, and the bold advice of Miltiades may probably have found in Aristides a willing, most assuredly it found in him a candid, hearer.

Miltiades felt no hesitation, as to the course which the Athenian army ought to pursue; and earnestly did he press his opinion on his brother generals.  Practically acquainted with the organization of the Persian armies, Miltiades felt convinced of the superiority of the Greek troops, if properly handled; he saw with the military eye of a great general the advantage which the position of the forces gave him for a sudden attack, and as a profound politician he felt the perils of remaining inactive, and of giving treachery time to ruin the Athenian cause.

One officer in the council of war had not yet voted.  This was Callimachus, the War-ruler.  The votes of the generals were five and five, so that the voice of Callimachus would be decisive.

On that vote, in all human probability, the destiny of all the nations of the world depended.  Miltiades turned to him, and in simple soldierly eloquence—­the substance of which we may read faithfully reported in Herodotus, who had conversed with the veterans of Marathon—­the great Athenian thus adjured his countrymen to vote for giving battle: