馬拉松戰役

The Battle of Marathon was fought in 490 BC, when the Persians became enervated by luxury and servitude, and the Athenians were animated by their freedom. In this battle, 9,000 Athenians defeated the invading army of 25,000 Persians, and pursued them to their very ships, of which they took seven.

One Cynegirus, after performing prodigies of valour in the field, endeavoured to prevent a Persian galley from putting to sea. He held it fast with his right hand; when his right hand was cut off, he seized the galley with his left, which being also cut off, he fought the enemy with his teeth until he was killed. Another soldier, all covered with the blood of the enemy, ran the 26 miles from the battlefield to Athens to announce the victory. After crying out,"Rejoice, we are conquerors!" he fell dead.

馬拉松戰役發生於公元前四九○年。當時波斯人在驕奢、勞役之下，頹墮委靡；雅典人則在自由之中，發揚蹈厲。是役雅典以九千人，打敗入侵的二萬五千波斯軍，一直追到波斯船停泊處，奪去七艘。

有個士兵叫西奈吉魯斯，戰場上已見一身是膽，這時力阻一艘波斯戰船逃回海上。他用右手抓緊戰船，右手被砍下之後，改用左手，左手也被砍斷，就用牙齒作戰，終於戰死。還有一個士兵，渾身是敵人鮮血，從戰場跑了二十六英里回到雅典報捷，高喊「慶祝吧，我們戰勝了」之後，倒地死去。

【附注】馬拉松平原位在雅典以東，東臨愛琴海。

（古德明）