Polymnia   

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 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