the spies had been put to death, the Hellenes
would not have been informed beforehand of his power, how far beyond
description it was; while on the other hand by putting to death three
men they would not very greatly have damaged the enemy; but when these
returned back to Hellas, he thought it likely that the Hellenes, hearing
of his power, would deliver up their freedom to him themselves, before
the expedition took place which was being set in motion; and thus there
would be no need for them to have the labour of marching an army against
them. This opinion of his is like his manner of thinking at other times;
133 for when Xerxes was in Abydos, he saw vessels which carried corn
from the Pontus sailing out through the Hellespont on their way to Egina
and the Peloponnese. Those then who sat by his side, being informed that
the ships belonged to the enemy, were prepared to capture them, and were
looking to the king to see when he would give the word; but Xerxes asked
about them whither the men were sailing, and they replied: "Master, to
thy foes, conveying to them corn": he then made answer and said: "Are we
not also sailing to the same place as these men, furnished with corn as
well as with other things necessary? How then do these wrong us, since
they are conveying provisions for our use?"

148. The spies then, having thus looked at everything and after that
having been dismissed, returned back to Europe: and meanwhile those
of the Hellenes who had sworn alliance against the Persian, after the
sending forth of the spies proceeded to send envoys next to Argos. Now
the Argives report that the matters concerning themselves took place
as follows:--They were informed, they say, at the very first of the
movement which was being set on foot by the Barbarian against Hellas;
and having been informed of this and perceiving that the Hellenes would
endeavour to get their alliance against the Persians, they had sent
messengers to inquire of the god at Delphi, and to ask how they should
act in order that it might be best for themselves: because lately there
had been slain of them six thousand men by the Lacedemonians and by
Cleomenes the son of Anaxandrides, 134 and this in fact was the reason
that they were sending to inquire: and when they inquired, the Pythian
prophetess made answer to them as follows:

"Thou to thy neighbours a foe, by the gods immortal beloved,
Keep thou thy spear 135 within bounds, and sit well-guarded beh