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It is said that the following circumstance happened likewise at this
time. Xerxes, when he fled away out of Greece, left his war-tent
with Mardonius: when Pausanias, therefore, saw the tent with its
adornments of gold and silver, and its hangings of divers colours, he
gave commandment to the bakers and the cooks to make him ready a banquet
in such fashion as was their wont for Mardonius. Then they made ready
as they were bidden; and Pausanius, beholding the couches of gold and
silver daintily decked out with their rich covertures, and the tables
of gold and silver laid, and the feast itself prepared with all
magnificence, was astonished at the good things which were set before
him, and, being in a pleasant mood, gave commandment to his own
followers to make ready a Spartan supper. When the suppers were both
served, and it was apparent how vast a difference lay between the two,
Pausanias laughed, and sent his servants to call to him the Greek
generals. On their coming, he pointed to the two boards, and said:
"I sent for you, O Greeks, to show you the folly of this Median
captain, who, when he enjoyed such fare as this, must needs come here
to rob us of our penury."
Such, it is said, were the words of Pausanias to the Grecian generals.
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