Here the Persians rested for a few days ere they embarked for Attica.
II.

Unsupported and alone, the Athenians were not dismayed.

A swift-footed messenger was despatched to Sparta, to implore its prompt assistance.

On the day after his departure from Athens, he reached his destination, went straight to the assembled magistrates, and thus addressed them: "Men of Lacedaemon, the Athenians supplicate your aid; suffer not the most ancient of the Grecian cities to be enslaved by the barbarian.
Already Eretria is subjected to their yoke, and all Greece is diminished by the loss of that illustrious city." The resource the Athenians had so much right to expect failed them.
The Spartans, indeed, resolved to assist Athens, but not until assistance would have come too late.

They declared that their religion forbade them to commence a march till the moon was at her full, and this was only the ninth day of the month [275].