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Nor is the courage which these men hereby displayed alone worthy of
wonder; but so likewise are the following speeches which were made by
them. On their road to Susa they presented themselves before
Hydarnes. This Hydarnes was a Persian by birth, and had the
command of all the nations that dwelt along the sea-coast of Asia.
He accordingly showed them hospitality, and invited them to a
banquet, where, as they feasted, he said to them:
"Men of Lacedaemon, why will ye not consent to be friends with the
king? Ye have but to look at me and my fortune to see that the king
knows well how to honour merit. In like manner ye yourselves, were ye
to make your submission to him, would receive at his hands, seeing
that he deems you men of merit, some government in Greece."
"Hydarnes," they answered, "thou art a one-sided counsellor.
Thou hast experience of half the matter; but the other half is beyond
thy knowledge. A slave's life thou understandest; but, never having
tasted liberty, thou canst not tell whether it be sweet or no. Ah!
hadst thou known what freedom is, thou wouldst have bidden us fight for
it, not with the spear only, but with the battle-axe."
So they answered Hydarnes.
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