os himself and fifty of the Persians who were of
most account; and these being invited came; and the dinner was given at
Thebes. Now this which follows I heard from Thersander, an Orchomenian
and a man of very high repute in Orchomenos. This Thersander said that
he too was invited by Attaginos to this dinner, and there were invited
also fifty men of the Thebans, and their host did not place them to
recline 17 separately each nation by themselves, but a Persian and
a Theban upon every couch. Then when dinner was over, as they were
drinking pledges to one another, 18 the Persian who shared a couch with
him speaking in the Hellenic tongue asked him of what place he was, and
he answered that he was of Orchomenos. The other said: "Since now thou
hast become my table-companion and the sharer of my libation, I desire
to leave behind with thee a memorial of my opinion, in order that thou
thyself also mayest know beforehand and be able to take such counsels
for thyself as may be profitable. Dost thou see these Persians who
are feasting here, and the army which we left behind encamped upon the
river? Of all these, when a little time has gone by, thou shalt see but
very few surviving." While the Persian said these words he shed many
tears, as Thersander reported; and he marvelling at his speech said
to him: "Surely then it is right to tell Mardonios and to those of the
Persians who after him are held in regard." He upon this said: "Friend,
that which is destined to come from God, it is impossible for a man to
avert; for no man is willing to follow counsel, even when one speaks
that which is reasonable. And these things which I say many of us
Persians know well; yet we go with the rest being bound in the bonds of
necessity: and the most hateful grief of all human griefs is this,
to have knowledge of the truth but no power over the event." 19 These
things I heard from Thersander of Orchomenos, and in addition to them
this also, namely that he told them to various persons forthwith, before
the battle took place at Plataia.

17. Mardonios then being encamped in Boeotia, the rest of the Hellenes
who lived in these parts and took the side of the Medes were all
supplying troops and had joined in the invasion of Attica, but the
Phokians alone had not joined in the invasion,--the Phokians, I say,
for these too were now actively 20 taking the side of the Medes, not of
their own will however, but by compulsion. Not many days however after
th