er length. Cyrus the son of Cambyses subdued all Ionia except the
Athenians, so that it was tributary to the Persians. These men therefore
I counsel thee by no means to lead against their parent stock, seeing
that even without these we are able to get the advantage over our
enemies. For supposing that they go with us, either they must prove
themselves doers of great wrong, if they join in reducing their mother
city to slavery, or doers of great right, if they join in freeing her:
now if they show themselves doers of great wrong, they bring us no
very large gain in addition; but if they show themselves doers of great
right, they are able then to cause much damage to thy army. Therefore
lay to heart also the ancient saying, how well it has been said that at
the first beginning of things the end does not completely appear."

52. To this Xerxes made answer: "Artabanos, of all the opinions which
thou hast uttered, thou art mistaken most of all in this; seeing that
thou fearest lest the Ionians should change side, about whom we have a
most sure proof, of which thou art a witness thyself and also the
rest are witnesses who went with Dareios on his march against the
Scythians,--namely this, that the whole Persian army then came to be
dependent upon these men, whether they would destroy or whether they
would save it, and they displayed righteous dealing and trustworthiness,
and nought at all that was unfriendly. Besides this, seeing that they
have left children and wives and wealth in our land, we must not even
imagine that they will make any rebellion. 50 Fear not then this thing
either, but have a good heart and keep safe my house and my government;
for to thee of all men I entrust my sceptre of rule."

53. Having thus spoken and having sent Artabanos back to Susa, next
Xerxes summoned to his presence the men of most repute among the
Persians, and when they were come before him, he spoke to them as
follows: "Persians, I assembled you together desiring this of you, that
ye should show yourselves good men and should not disgrace the deeds
done in former times by the Persians, which are great and glorious; but
let us each one of us by himself, and all together also, be zealous in
our enterprise; for this which we labour for is a common good for all.
And I exhort you that ye preserve in the war without relaxing your
efforts, because, as I am informed, we are marching against good men,
and if we shall overcome them, there will not