Their tyranny under these circumstances would become more oppressive and galling.

At the same time the popular mind could not fail to associate together the native despot and the foreign lord, who (it was clear to all) supported and befriended each other.

If the Greeks of Asia, like so many of their brethren in Europe, had grown weary of their tyrants and were desirous of rising against them, they would be compelled to contemplate the chances of a successful resistance to the Persians.
And here there were circumstances in the recent history calculated to inspirit them and give them hopes.

Six hundred Greek ships, manned probably by 120,000 men, had been lately brought together, and had formed a united fleet.

The fate of the Persian land-army had depended on their fidelity.