hen this was done,
they carried on brushwood, and having set the brushwood also in place,
they carried on to it earth; and when they had stamped down the
earth firmly, they built a barrier along on each side, so that the
baggage-animals and horses might not be frightened by looking out over
the sea.

37. When the construction of the bridges had been finished, and the
works about Athos, both the embankments about the mouths of the channel,
which were made because of the breaking of the sea upon the beach, that
the mouths of it might not be filled up, and the channel itself, were
reported to be fully completed, then, after they had passed the winter
at Sardis, the army set forth from thence fully equipped, at the
beginning of spring, to march to Abydos; and when it had just set forth,
the Sun left his place in the heaven and was invisible, though there was
no gathering of clouds and the sky was perfectly clear; and instead of
day it became night. When Xerxes saw and perceived this, it became a
matter of concern to him; and he asked the Magians what the appearance
meant to portend. These declared that the god was foreshowing to the
Hellenes a leaving 40 of their cities, saying that the Sun was the
foreshower of events for the Hellenes, but the Moon for the Persians.
Having been thus informed, Xerxes proceeded on the march with very great
joy.

38. Then as he was leading forth his army on its march, Pythios the
Lydian, being alarmed by the appearance in the heavens and elated by
the gifts which he had received, came to Xerxes, and said as follows:
"Master, I would desire to receive from thee a certain thing at my
request, which, as it chances, is for thee an easy thing to grant, but
a great thing for me, if I obtain it." Then Xerxes, thinking that his
request would be for anything rather than that which he actually asked,
said that he would grant it, and bade him speak and say what he desired.
He then, when he heard this, was encouraged, and spoke these words:
"Master, I have, as it chances, five sons, and it is their fortune to
be all going together with thee on the march against Hellas. Do thou,
therefore, O king, have compassion upon me, who have come to so great
an age, and release from serving in the expedition one of my sons,
the eldest, in order that he may be caretaker both of myself and of
my wealth: but the other four take with thyself, and after thou hast
accomplished that which thou hast in thy mind, mayest th