the history-第92章
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he was prevented by death while his preparations were still proceeding。 He died in the year following the revolt of Egypt and the matters here related； after having reigned in all six…and…thirty years； leaving the revolted Egyptians and the Athenians alike unpunished。 At his death the kingdom passed to his son Xerxes。 Now Xerxes； on first mounting the throne； was coldly disposed towards the Grecian war； and made it his business to collect an army against Egypt。 But Mardonius； the son of Gobryas； who was at the court； and had more influence with him than any of the other Persians； being his own cousin； the child of a sister of Darius； plied him with discourses like the following：… 〃Master； it is not fitting that they of Athens escape scot…free； after doing the Persians such great injury。 Complete the work which thou hast now in hand； and then； when the pride of Egypt is brought low； lead an army against Athens。 So shalt thou thyself have good report among men； and others shall fear hereafter to attack thy country。〃 Thus far it was of vengeance that he spoke； but sometimes he would vary the theme； and observe by the way； 〃that Europe was a wondrous beautiful region； rich in all kinds of cultivated trees； and the soil excellent： no one； save the king； was worthy to own such a land。〃 All this he said； because he longed for adventures； and hoped to become satrap of Greece under the king； and after a while he had his way； and persuaded Xerxes to do according to his desires。 Other things； however； occurring about the same time； helped his persuasions。 For； in the first place； it chanced that messengers arrived from Thessaly； sent by the Aleuadae； Thessalian kings； to invite Xerxes into Greece； and to promise him all the assistance which it was in their power to give。 And further； the Pisistratidae； who had come up to Susa； held the same language as the Aleuadae； and worked upon him even more than they； by means of Onomacritus of Athens； an oracle…monger； and the same who set forth the prophecies of Musaeus in their order。 The Pisistratidae had previously been at enmity with this man； but made up the quarrel before they removed to Susa。 He was banished from Athens by Hipparchus； the son of Pisistratus； because he foisted into the writings of Musaeus a prophecy that the islands which lie off Lemnos would one day disappear in the sea。 Lasus of Hermione caught him in the act of so doing。 For this cause Hipparchus banished him； though till then they had been the closest of friends。 Now； however； he went up to Susa with the sons of Pisistratus； and they talked very grandly of him to the king； while he； for his part； whenever he was in the king's company； repeated to him certain of the oracles； and while he took care to pass over all that spoke of disaster to the barbarians； brought forward the passages which promised them the greatest success。 〃'Twas fated；〃 he told Xerxes； 〃that a Persian should bridge the Hellespont； and march an army from Asia into Greece。〃 While Onomacritus thus plied Xerxes with his oracles； the Pisistratidae and Aleuadae did not cease to press on him their advice； till at last the king yielded； and agreed to lead forth an expedition。 First； however； in the year following the death of Darius； he marched against those who had revolted from him； and having reduced them； and laid all Egypt under a far harder yoke than ever his father had put upon it； he gave the government to Achaeamenes； who was his own brother； and son to Darius。 This Achaeamenes was afterwards slain in his government by Inaros； the son of Psammetichus； a Libyan。 （SS 1。） After Egypt was subdued； Xerxes； being about to take in hand the expedition against Athens； called together an assembly of the noblest Persians to learn their opinions； and to lay before them his own designs。 So； when the men were met； the king spake thus to them：… 〃Persians； I shall not be the first to bring in among you a new custom… I shall but follow one which has come down to us from our forefathers。 Never yet； as our old men assure me； has our race reposed itself； since the time when Cyrus overcame Astyages； and so we Persians wrested the sceptre from the Medes。 Now in all this God guides us； and we； obeying his guidance； prosper greatly。 What need have I to tell you of the deeds of Cyrus and Cambyses； and my own father Darius； how many nations they conquered； and added to our dominions？ Ye know right well what great things they achieved。 But for myself； I will say that； from the day on which I mounted the throne； I have not ceased to consider by what means I may rival those who have preceded me in this post of honour； and increase the power of Persia as much as any of them。 And truly I have pondered upon this； until at last I have found out a way whereby we may at once win glory； and likewise get possession of a land which is as large and as rich as our own nay； which is even more varied in the fruits it bears… while at the same time we obtain satisfaction and revenge。 For this cause I have now called you together； that I may make known to you what I design to do。 （SS 2。） My intent is to throw a bridge over the Hellespont and march an army through Europe against Greece； that thereby I may obtain vengeance from the Athenians for the wrongs committed by them against the Persians and against my father。 Your own eyes saw the preparations of Darius against these men； but death came upon him； and balked his hopes of revenge。 In his behalf； therefore； and in behalf of all the Persians； I undertake the war； and pledge myself not to rest till I have taken and burnt Athens； which has dared； unprovoked； to injure me and my father。 Long since they came to Asia with Aristagoras of Miletus； who was one of our slaves； and； entering Sardis； burnt its temples and its sacred groves； again； more lately； when we made a landing upon their coast under Datis and Artaphernes； how roughly they handled us ye do not need to be told。 （SS 3。） For these reasons； therefore； I am bent upon this war； and I see likewise therewith united no few advantages。 Once let us subdue this people； and those neighbours of theirs who hold the land of Pelops the Phrygian； and we shall extend the Persian territory as far as God's heaven reaches。 The sun will then shine on no land beyond our borders； for I will pass through Europe from one end to the other； and with your aid make of all the lands which it contains one country。 For thus； if what I hear be true； affairs stand： the nations whereof I have spoken； once swept away； there is no city； no country left in all the world； which will venture so much as to withstand us in arms。 By this course then we shall bring all mankind under our yoke； alike those who are guilty and those who are innocent of doing us wrong。 （SS 4。） For yourselves； if you wish to please me； do as follows： when I announce the time for the army to meet together； hasten to the muster with a good will； every one of you； and know that to the man who brings with him the most gallant array I will give the gifts which our people consider the most honourable。 This then is what ye have to do。 But to show that I am not self…willed in this matter； I lay the business before you； and give you full leave to speak your minds upon it openly。〃 Xerxes； having so spoken； held his peace。 （SS 1。） Whereupon Mardonius took the word； and said： 〃Of a truth； my lord； thou dost surpass； not only all living Persians； but likewise those yet unborn。 Most true and right is each word that thou hast now uttered； but best of all thy resolve not to let the Ionians who live in Europe… a worthless crew… mock us any more。 It were indeed a monstrous thing if； after conquering and enslaving the Sacae； the Indians； the Ethiopians； the Assyrians； and many other mighty nations； not for any wrong that they had done us； but only to increase our empire； we should then allow the Greeks； who have done us such wanton injury； to escape our vengeance。 What is it that we fear in them？… not surely their numbers？… not the greatness of their wealth？ We know the manner of their battle… we know how weak their power is； already have we subdued their children who dwell in our country； the Ionians； Aeolians； and Dorians。 I myself have had experience of these men when I marched against them by the orders of thy father； and though I went as far as Macedonia； and came but a little short of reaching Athens itself； yet not a soul ventured to come out against me to battle。 （SS 2。） And yet； I am told； these very Greeks are wont to wage wars against one another in the most foolish way； through sheer perversity and doltishness。 For no sooner is war proclaimed than they search out the smoothest and fairest plain that is to be found in all the land； and there they assemble and fight； whence it comes to pass that even the conquerors depart with great loss： I say nothing of the conquered； for they are destroyed altogether。 Now surely； as they are all of one speech； they ought to interchange heralds and messengers； and make up their differences by any means rather than battle； or； at the worst； if they must needs fight one against another； they ought to post themselves as strongly as possible； and so try their quarrels。 But； notwithstanding that they have so foolish a manner of warfare； yet these Greeks； when I led my army against them to the very borders of Macedonia； did not so much as think of offering me battle。 （SS 3。） Who then will dare； O king！ to meet thee in arms； when thou comest with all Asia's warriors at thy back； and with all her ships？ For my part I do not believe the Greek people will be so foolhardy。 Grant； however； that I am mistaken herein； and that they are foolish enough to meet us in open fight； in that case they will learn that there are no such soldiers in the whole world as we。 Nevertheless let us spare no pains； for nothing comes without trouble； but all that men acquire is got by painstaking。〃 When Mardonius had in this way softened the harsh speech of Xerxes； he too held his peace。 （SS 1。） The other Persians were silent； all feared to raise their voice against the plan proposed to them。 But Artabanus； the son of Hystaspes； and uncle of Xerxes； trusting to his relationship； was bold to speak：… 〃O king！〃 he said； 〃it is impossible； if no more than one opinion is uttered； to make choice of the best： a man is forced then to follow whatever advice may have been given him； but if opposite speeches are delivered； then choice can be exercised。 In like manner pure gold is not recognised by itself； but when we test it along with baser ore； we perceive which is the better。 I counselled thy father； Darius； who was my own brother； not to attack the Scyths； a race of people who had no town in their whole land。 He thought however to subdue those wandering tribes； and would not listen to me； but marched an army against them； and ere he returned home lost many of his bravest warriors。 Thou art about； O king！ to attack a people far superior to the Scyths； a people distinguished above others both by land and sea。 'Tis fit therefore that I should tell thee what danger thou incurrest hereby。 （SS 2。） Thou sayest that thou wilt bridge the Hellespont； and lead thy troops through Europe against Greece。 Now suppose some disaster befall thee by land or
