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Then said Artabanus - "If, sire, thou art determined that we
shall not fear anything, at least hearken to a counsel which I wish to
offer; for when the matters in hand are so many, one cannot but have
much to say. Thou knowest that Cyrus the son of Cambyses reduced and
made tributary to the Persians all the race of the Ionians, except
only those of Attica. Now my advice is that thou on no account lead
forth these men against their fathers; since we are well able to
overcome them without such aid. Their choice, if we take them with us
to the war, lies between showing themselves the most wicked of men by
helping to enslave their fatherland, or the most righteous by joining
in the struggle to keep it free. If then they choose the side of
injustice, they will do us but scant good; while if they determine to
act justly, they may greatly injure our host. Lay thou to heart the
old proverb, which says truly, 'The beginning and end of a matter
are not always seen at once.'
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