the history-第93章
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and lead thy troops through Europe against Greece。 Now suppose some disaster befall thee by land or sea； or by both。 It may be even so； for the men are reputed valiant。 Indeed one may measure their prowess from what they have already done； for when Datis and Artaphernes led their huge army against Attica； the Athenians singly defeated them。 But grant they are not successful on both elements。 Still； if they man their ships； and； defeating us by sea； sail to the Hellespont； and there destroy our bridge… that； sire； were a fearful hazard。 （SS 3。） And here 'tis not by my own mother wit alone that I conjecture what will happen； but I remember how narrowly we escaped disaster once； when thy father； after throwing bridges over the Thracian Bosphorus and the Ister； marched against the Scythians； and they tried every sort of prayer to induce the Ionians； who had charge of the bridge over the Ister； to break the passage。 On that day； if Histiaeus； the king of Miletus； had sided with the other princes； and not set himself to oppose their views； the empire of the Persians would have come to nought。 Surely a dreadful thing is this even to hear said； that the king's fortunes depended wholly on one man。 （SS 4。） 〃Think then no more of incurring so great a danger when no need presses； but follow the advice I tender。 Break up this meeting； and when thou hast well considered the matter with thyself； and settled what thou wilt do； declare to us thy resolve。 I know not of aught in the world that so profits a man as taking good counsel with himself； for even if things fall out against one's hopes； still one has counselled well； though fortune has made the counsel of none effect： whereas if a man counsels ill and luck follows； he has gotten a windfall； but his counsel is none the less silly。 （SS 5。） Seest thou how God with his lightning smites always the bigger animals； and will not suffer them to wax insolent； while those of a lesser bulk chafe him not？ How likewise his bolts fall ever on the highest houses and the tallest trees？ So plainly does He love to bring down everything that exalts itself。 Thus ofttimes a mighty host is discomfited by a few men； when God in his jealousy sends fear or storm from heaven； and they perish in a way unworthy of them。 For God allows no one to have high thoughts but Himself。 （SS 6。） Again； hurry always brings about disasters； from which huge sufferings are wont to arise； but in delay lie many advantages； not apparent （it may be） at first sight； but such as in course of time are seen of all。 Such then is my counsel to thee； O king！ （SS 7。） 〃And thou； Mardonius； son of Gobryas； forbear to speak foolishly concerning the Greeks； who are men that ought not to be lightly esteemed by us。 For while thou revilest the Greeks； thou dost encourage the king to lead his own troops against them； and this； as it seems to me； is what thou art specially striving to accomplish。 Heaven send thou succeed not to thy wish！ For slander is of all evils the most terrible。 In it two men do wrong； and one man has wrong done to him。 The slanderer does wrong； forasmuch as he abuses a man behind his back； and the hearer； forasmuch as he believes what he has not searched into thoroughly。 The man slandered in his absence suffers wrong at the hands of both： for one brings against him a false charge； and the other thinks him an evildoer。 （SS 8。） If； however； it must needs be that we go to war with this people； at least allow the king to abide at home in Persia。 Then let thee and me both stake our children on the issue； and do thou choose out thy men； and； taking with thee whatever number of troops thou likest； lead forth our armies to battle。 If things go well for the king； as thou sayest they will； let me and my children be put to death； but if they fall out as I prophesy； let thy children suffer； and thyself too； if thou shalt come back alive。 But shouldest thou refuse this wager； and still resolve to march an army against Greece； sure I am that some of those whom thou leavest behind thee here will one day receive the sad tidings that Mardonius has brought a great disaster upon the Persian people； and lies a prey to dogs and birds somewhere in the land of the Athenians； or else in that of the Lacedaemonians； unless indeed thou shalt have perished sooner by the way； experiencing in thy own person the might of those men on whom thou wouldest fain induce the king to make war。〃 Thus spake Artabanus。 But Xerxes； full of wrath； replied to him：… 〃Artabanus； thou art my father's brother… that shall save thee from receiving the due meed of thy silly words。 One shame however I will lay upon thee； coward and faint…hearted as thou art… thou shalt not come with me to fight these Greeks； but shalt tarry here with the women。 Without thy aid I will accomplish all of which I spake。 For let me not be thought the child of Darius； the son of Hystaspes； the son of Arsames； the son of Ariaramnes； the son of Teispes； the son of Cyrus； the son of Cambyses； the son of Teispes； the son of Achaemenes； if I take not vengeance on the Athenians。 Full well I know that； were we to remain at rest； yet would not they； but would most certainly invade our country； if at least it be right to judge from what they have already done； for； remember； it was they who fired Sardis and attacked Asia。 So now retreat is on both sides impossible； and the choice lies between doing and suffering injury； either our empire must pass under the dominion of the Greeks； or their land become the prey of the Persians； for there is no middle course left in this quarrel。 It is right then that we； who have in times past received wrong； should now avenge it； and that I should thereby discover what that great risk is which I run in marching against these men… men whom Pelops the Phrygian； a vassal of my forefathers； subdued so utterly； that to this day both the land； and the people who dwell therein； alike bear the name of the conqueror！〃 Thus far did the speaking proceed。 Afterwards evening fell； and Xerxes began to find the advice of Artabanus greatly disquiet him。 So he thought upon it during the night； and concluded at last that it was not for his advantage to lead an army into Greece。 When he had thus made up his mind anew； he fell asleep。 And now he saw in the night； as the Persians declare； a vision of this nature… he thought a tall and beautiful man stood over him and said； 〃Hast thou then changed thy mind； Persian； and wilt thou not lead forth thy host against the Greeks； after commanding the Persians to gather together their levies？ Be sure thou doest not well to change； nor is there a man here who will approve thy conduct。 The course that thou didst determine on during the day； let that be followed。〃 After thus speaking the man seemed to Xerxes to fly away。 Day dawned； and the king made no account of this dream； but called together the same Persians as before； and spake to them as follows：… 〃Men of Persia； forgive me if I alter the resolve to which I came so lately。 Consider that I have not yet reached to the full growth of my wisdom； and that they who urge me to engage in this war leave me not to myself for a moment。 When I heard the advice of Artabanus； my young blood suddenly boiled； and I spake words against him little befitting his years： now however I confess my fault； and am resolved to follow his counsel。 Understand then that I have changed my intent with respect to carrying war into Greece； and cease to trouble yourselves。〃 When they heard these words； the Persians were full of joy； and； falling down at the feet of Xerxes； made obeisance to him。 But when night came； again the same vision stood over Xerxes as he slept； and said； 〃Son of Darius； it seems thou hast openly before all the Persians renounced the expedition； making light of my words； as though thou hadst not heard them spoken。 Know therefore and be well assured； that unless thou go forth to the war； this thing shall happen unto thee thou art grown mighty and puissant in a short space； so likewise shalt thou within a little time be brought low indeed。〃 Then Xerxes； greatly frightened at the vision which he had seen； sprang from his couch； and sent a messenger to call Artabanus； who came at the summons； when Xerxes spoke to him in these words：… 〃Artabanus； at the moment I acted foolishly； when I gave thee ill words in return for thy good advice。 However it was not long ere I repented； and was convinced that thy counsel was such as I ought to follow。 But I may not now act in this way； greatly as I desire to do so。 For ever since I repented and changed my mind a dream has haunted me； which disapproves my intentions； and has now just gone from me with threats。 Now if this dream is sent to me from God； and if it is indeed his will that our troops should march against Greece； thou too wilt have the same dream come to thee and receive the same commands as myself。 And this will be most sure to happen； I think； if thou puttest on the dress which I am wont to wear； and then； after taking thy seat upon my throne； liest down to sleep on my bed。〃 Such were the words of Xerxes。 Artabanus would not at first yield to the command of the king； for he deemed himself unworthy to sit upon the royal throne。 At the last however he was forced to give way； and did as Xerxes bade him； but first he spake thus to the king （SS 1。）：… 〃To me； sire； it seems to matter little whether a man is wise himself or willing to hearken to such as give good advice。 In thee truly are found both but the counsels of evil men lead thee astray： they are like the gales of wind which vex the sea… else the most useful thing for man in the whole world… and suffer it not to follow the bent of its own nature。 For myself； it irked me not so much to be reproached by thee； as to observe that when two courses were placed before the Persian people； one of a nature to increase their pride； the other to humble it； by showing them how hurtful it is to allow one's heart always to covet more than one at present possesses； thou madest choice of that which was the worse both for thyself and for the Persians。 （SS 2。） Now thou sayest that from the time when thou didst approve the better course； and give up the thought of warring against Greece； a dream has haunted thee； sent by some god or other； which will not suffer thee to lay aside the expedition。 But such things； my son； have of a truth nothing divine in them。 The dreams that wander to and fro among mankind； I will tell thee of what nature they are… I who have seen so many more years than thou。 Whatever a man has been thinking of during the day is wont to hover round him in the visions of his dreams at night。 Now we during these many days past have had our hands full of this enterprise。 （SS 3。） If however the matter be not as I suppose； but God has indeed some part therein； thou hast in brief declared the whole that can be said concerning it… let it e'en appear to me as it has to thee； and lay on me the same injunctions。 But it ought not to appear to me any the more if I put on thy clothes than if I wear my own； nor if I go to sleep in thy bed than if I do so in mine… supposing； I mean； that it is about to appear at all。 For this thing； be it what it may； that visits thee in thy sleep； surely is not so far gone
