Polymnia   

ten men, nor with two- nay, had I the choice, I would rather not fight
even with one. But, if need appeared, or if there were any great cause
urging me on, I would contend with right good will against one of
those persons who boast themselves a match for any three Greeks. So
likewise the Lacedaemonians, when they fight singly, are as good men
as any in the world, and when they fight in a body, are the bravest of
all. For though they be free-men, they are not in all respects free;
Law is the master whom they own; and this master they fear more than
thy subjects fear thee. Whatever he commands they do; and his
commandment is always the same: it forbids them to flee in battle,
whatever the number of their foes, and requires them to stand firm,
and either to conquer or die. If in these words, O king! I seem to
thee to speak foolishly, I am content from this time forward
evermore to hold my peace. I had not now spoken unless compelled by
thee. Certes, I pray that all may turn out according to thy wishes."
Such was the answer of Demaratus; and Xerxes was not angry with
him at all, but only laughed, and sent him away with words of
kindness.
After this interview, and after he had made Mascames the son of
Megadostes governor of Doriscus, setting aside the governor
appointed by Darius, Xerxes started with his army, and marched upon
Greece through Thrace.
This man, Mascames, whom he left behind him, was a person of
such merit that gifts were sent him yearly by the king as a special
favour, because he excelled all the other governors that had been
appointed either by Xerxes or by Darius. In like manner, Artaxerxes,
the son of Xerxes, sent gifts yearly to the descendants of Mascames.
Persian governors had been established in Thrace and about the
Hellespont before the march of Xerxes began; but these persons,
after the expedition was over, were all driven from their towns by the
Greeks, except the governor of Doriscus: no one succeeded in driving
out Mascames, though many made the attempt. For this reason the
gifts are sent him every year by the king who reigns over the
Persians.
Of the other governors whom the Greeks drove out, there was not
one who, in the judgment of Xerxes, showed himself a brave man,
excepting Boges, the governor of Eion. Him Xerxes never could praise
enough; and such of his sons as were left in Persia, and survived
their father, he very specially honoured. And of a truth this Boges
was worthy of great commendation; for when he was besieged by the
Athenians under Cimon, the son of Miltiades, and it was open to him to
retire from the city upon terms, and return to Asia, he refused,
because he feared the king might think he had played the coward to
save his own life, wherefore, instead of surrendering, he held out
to the last extremity. When all the food in the fortress was gone,
he raised a vast funeral pile, slew his children, his wife, his
concubines, and his household slaves, and cast them all into the
flames. Then, collecting whatever gold and silver there was in the
place, he flung it from the walls into the Strymon; and, when that was
done, to crown all, he himself leaped into the fire. For this action
Boges is with reason praised by the Persians even at the present day.
Xerxes, as I have said, pursued his march from Doriscus against
Greece; and on his way he forced all the nations through which he
passed to take part in the expedition. For the whole country as far as
the frontiers of Thessaly had been (as I have already shown)
enslaved and made tributary to the king by the conquests of Megabazus,
and, more lately, of Mardonius. And first, after leaving Doriscus,
Xerxes passed the Samothracian fortresses, whereof Mesambria is the
farthermost as one goes toward the west. The next city is Stryme,
which belongs to Thasos. Midway between it and Mesambria flows the
river Lissus, which did not suffice to furnish water for the army, but
was drunk up and failed. This region was formerly called Gallaica; now
it bears the name of Briantica; but in strict truth it likewise is
really Ciconian.