Thalia   

breast, which, after it burst, began to spread and increase. Now so
long as the sore was of no great size, she hid it through shame and
made no mention of it to any one; but when it became worse, she sent
at last for Democedes, and showed it to him. Democedes said that he
would make her well, but she must first promise him with an oath
that if he cured her she would grant him whatever request he might
prefer; assuring her at the same time that it should be nothing
which she could blush to hear.
On these terms Democedes applied his art, and soon cured the
abscess; and Atossa, when she had heard his request, spake thus one
night to Darius:-
"It seemeth to me strange, my lord, that, with the mighty power
which is thine, thou sittest idle, and neither makest any conquest,
nor advancest the power of the Persians. Methinks that one who is so
young, and so richly endowed with wealth, should perform some noble
achievement to prove to the Persians that it is a man who governs
them. Another reason, too, should urge thee to attempt some
enterprise. Not only does it befit thee to show the Persians that a
man rules them, but for thy own peace thou shouldest waste their
strength in wars lest idleness breed revolt against thy authority.
Now, too, whilst thou art still young, thou mayest well accomplish
some exploit; for as the body grows in strength the mind too ripens,
and as the body ages, the mind's powers decay, till at last it becomes
dulled to everything."
So spake Atossa, as Democedes had instructed her. Darius
answered:- "Dear lady, thou hast uttered the very thoughts that occupy
my brain. I am minded to construct a bridge which shall join our
continent with the other, and so carry war into Scythia. Yet a brief
space and all will be accomplished as thou desirest."
But Atossa rejoined:- "Look now, this war with Scythia were best
reserved awhile- for the Scythians may be conquered at any time.
Prithee, lead me thy host first into Greece. I long to be served by
some of those Lacedaemonian maids of whom I have heard so much. I want
also Argive, and Athenian, and Corinthian women. There is now at the
court a man who can tell thee better than any one else in the whole
world whatever thou wouldst know concerning Greece, and who might
serve thee right well as guide; I mean him who performed the cure on
thy foot."
"Dear lady," Darius answered, "since it is thy wish that we try
first the valour of the Greeks, it were best, methinks, before
marching against them, to send some Persians to spy out the land; they
may go in company with the man thou mentionest, and when they have
seen and learnt all, they can bring us back a full report. Then,
having a more perfect knowledge of them, I will begin the war."
Darius, having so spoke, put no long distance between the word and
the deed, but as soon as day broke he summoned to his presence fifteen
Persians of note, and bade them take Democedes for their guide, and
explore the sea-coasts of Greece. Above all, they were to be sure to
bring Democedes back with them, and not suffer him to run away and
escape. After he had given these orders, Darius sent for Democedes,
and besought him to serve as guide to the Persians, and when he had
shown them the whole of Greece to come back to Persia. He should take,
he said, all the valuables he possessed as presents to his father
and his brothers, and he should receive on his return a far more
abundant store. Moreover, the king added, he would give him, as his
contribution towards the presents, a merchantship laden with all
manner of precious things, which should accompany him on his voyage.
Now I do not believe that Darius, when he made these promises, had any
guile in his heart: Democedes, however, who suspected that the king
spoke to try him, took care not to snatch at the offers with any
haste; but said, "he would leave his own goods behind to enjoy upon
his return- the merchant-ship which the king proposed to grant him
to carry gifts to his brothers, that he would accept at the king's
hands." So when Darius had laid his orders upon Democedes, he sent him