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When Mardonius had thus declared his sentiments, no one ventured to
say him nay; and accordingly his opinion prevailed, for it was to
him, and not to Artabazus, that the king had given the command of the
army.
Mardonius now sent for the captains of the squadrons, and the leaders
of the Greeks in his service, and questioned them: "Did they know
of any prophecy which said that the Persians were to be destroyed in
Greece?" All were silent; some because they did not know the
prophecies, but others, who knew them full well, because they did not
think it safe to speak out. So Mardonius, when none answered,
said, "Since ye know of no such oracle, or do not dare to speak of
it, I, who know it well, will myself declare it to you. There is
an oracle which says that the Persians shall come into Greece, sack
the temple at Delphi, and when they have so done, perish one and
all. Now we, as we are aware of the prediction, will neither go
against the temple nor make any attempt to sack it: we therefore shall
not perish for this trespass. Rejoice then thus far, all ye who are
well-wishers to the Persians, and doubt not we shall get the better
of the Greeks." When he had so spoken, he further ordered them to
prepare themselves, and to put all in readiness for a battle upon the morrow.
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