|
Now Xerxes, on first mounting the throne, was coldly disposed
towards the Grecian war, and made it his business to collect an army
against Egypt. But Mardonius, the son of Gobryas, who was at the
court, and had more influence with him than any of the other
Persians, being his own cousin, the child of a sister of Darius,
plied him with discourses like the following:
"Master, it is not fitting that they of Athens escape scot-free,
after doing the Persians such great injury. Complete the work which
thou hast now in hand, and then, when the pride of Egypt is brought
low, lead an army against Athens. So shalt thou thyself have good
report among men, and others shall fear hereafter to attack thy
country."
Thus far it was of vengeance that he spoke; but sometimes he would
vary the theme, and observe by the way, "that Europe was a wondrous
beautiful region, rich in all kinds of cultivated trees, and the soil
excellent: no one, save the king, was worthy to own such a land."
|
|