That when he came the second time, unable to cope with him by land we went on board our ships with all our people, and joined in the action at Salamis.

This prevented his taking the Peloponnesian states in detail, and ravaging them with his fleet; when the multitude of his vessels would have made any combination for self-defence impossible.

The best proof of this was furnished by the invader himself.

Defeated at sea, he considered his power to be no longer what it had been, and retired as speedily as possible with the greater part of his army.
"Such, then, was the result of the matter, and it was clearly proved that it was on the fleet of Hellas that her cause depended.

Well, to this result we contributed three very useful elements, viz., the largest number of ships, the ablest commander, and the most unhesitating patriotism.