The ancient Greek historians (Harvard lectures) by J. B. Bury.

60 ANCIENT GREEK HISTORIANS LECT.

the removal of the arms presented itself to us
for criticism-supposing the fact were assured
beyond a doubt, and supposing human agency
were absolutely excluded by the circumstanceswe should regard it as something incomparably
more extraordinary than the unquestionably wonderful coincidence of the storm of lightning.' Here,
in fact, Herodotus has failed to draw the line at
what is physically impossible. The truth is that
his faith and doubt are alike instinctive; he had
never thought the problem out for himself; he
had never clearly defined the border between the
domains of the credible and the incredible. And
so in this episode he has no sooner given us a
lesson in faith than he relapses into reserve. For
there was yet another marvel to be told. It was
said that two armed warriors of superhuman
stature pursued the flying Persians and dealt death
among their broken ranks. But Herodotus carefully avoids the responsibility of accepting this
story. Hie gives it on the authority of the
Persians; he qualifies it by the phrase "as I
am informed"; and he adds that the Delphians
identified the two warriors with local heroes. )
The contrast of the na'ivete of Herodotus with
his scepticism imparts to his epic a very piquant
quality. Credulity alternates with a cautious reserve, which is especially noticeable when he is
1 I do not add the fall of the rocks; for this might have been engineered.
The rocks were shown to Herodotus in the temple of Athena Pronaia
(ch. 39); this was just the sort of evidence which would impress him.