1st ParagraphTranslationAnd so the Athenians were in very great difficulty; but Themistokles persuaded them not to yield to the barbarians but to fight for freedom. And so they took their women and children and old people to the Peloponnese and Salamis, [after] abandoning Attica and their town (=Athens) to the enemy. And they themselves (=the menfolk), having embarked upon their ships, sailed towards Salamis and got ready to fight by sea. ἔπεισεν aorist he persuaded, convinced them, he really DID. The emphasis is on what he achieved.ἔπειθεν imperfect he urged them, was trying to persuade them. Did he succeed or not? We neither know nor care.
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