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There is likewise another account given of the return of the king. It
is said that when Xerxes on his way from Athens arrived at Eion upon
the Strymon, he gave up travelling by land, and, intrusting
Hydarnes with the conduct of his forces to the Hellespont, embarked
himself on board a Phoenician ship, and so crossed into Asia. On
his voyage the ship was assailed by a strong wind blowing from the mouth
of the Strymon, which caused the sea to run high. As the storm
increased, and the ship laboured heavily, because of the number of the
Persians who had come in the king's train, and who now crowded the
deck, Xerxes was seized with fear, and called out to the helmsman in
a loud voice, asking him, if there were any means whereby they might
escape the danger. "No means, master," the helmsman answered,
"unless we could be quit of these too numerous passengers." Xerxes,
they say, on hearing this, addressed the Persians as follows: "Men
of Persia," he said, "now is the time for you to show what love ye
bear your king. My safety, as it seems, depends wholly upon you."
So spake the king; and the Persians instantly made obeisance, and
then leapt over into the sea. Thus was the ship lightened, and
Xerxes got safe to Asia. As soon as he had reached the shore, he
sent for the helmsman, and gave him a golden crown because he had
preserved the life of the kings - but because he had caused the death
of a number of Persians, he ordered his head to be struck from his shoulders.
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