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After Egypt was subdued, Xerxes, being about to take in hand the
expedition against Athens, called together an assembly of the noblest
Persians to learn their opinions, and to lay before them his own
designs. So, when the men were met, the king spake thus to them:
"Persians, I shall not be the first to bring in among you a new
custom - I shall but follow one which has come down to us from our
forefathers. Never yet, as our old men assure me, has our race
reposed itself, since the time when Cyrus overcame Astyages, and so
we Persians wrested the sceptre from the Medes. Now in all this God
guides us; and we, obeying his guidance, prosper greatly. What need
have I to tell you of the deeds of Cyrus and Cambyses, and my own
father Darius, how many nations they conquered, and added to our
dominions? Ye know right well what great things they achieved. But
for myself, I will say that, from the day on which I mounted the
throne, I have not ceased to consider by what means I may rival those
who have preceded me in this post of honour, and increase the power of
Persia as much as any of them. And truly I have pondered upon this,
until at last I have found out a way whereby we may at once win glory,
and likewise get possession of a land which is as large and as rich as
our own nay, which is even more varied in the fruits it bears - while
at the same time we obtain satisfaction and revenge. For this cause I
have now called you together, that I may make known to you what I
design to do. My intent is to throw a bridge over the Hellespont and
march an army through Europe against Greece, that thereby I may
obtain vengeance from the Athenians for the wrongs committed by them
against the Persians and against my father. Your own eyes saw the
preparations of Darius against these men; but death came upon him,
and balked his hopes of revenge. In his behalf, therefore, and in
behalf of all the Persians, I undertake the war, and pledge myself
not to rest till I have taken and burnt Athens, which has dared,
unprovoked, to injure me and my father. Long since they came to Asia
with Aristagoras of Miletus, who was one of our slaves, and,
entering Sardis, burnt its temples and its sacred groves; again,
more lately, when we made a landing upon their coast under Datis and
Artaphernes, how roughly they handled us ye do not need to be told.
For these reasons, therefore, I am bent upon this war; and I see
likewise therewith united no few advantages. Once let us subdue this
people, and those neighbours of theirs who hold the land of Pelops the
Phrygian, and we shall extend the Persian territory as far as God's
heaven reaches. The sun will then shine on no land beyond our
borders; for I will pass through Europe from one end to the other,
and with your aid make of all the lands which it contains one country.
For thus, if what I hear be true, affairs stand: the nations
whereof I have spoken, once swept away, there is no city, no country
left in all the world, which will venture so much as to withstand us in
arms. By this course then we shall bring all mankind under our yoke,
alike those who are guilty and those who are innocent of doing us
wrong. For yourselves, if you wish to please me, do as follows:
when I announce the time for the army to meet together, hasten to the
muster with a good will, every one of you; and know that to the man
who brings with him the most gallant array I will give the gifts which
our people consider the most honourable. This then is what ye have to
do. But to show that I am not self-willed in this matter, I lay
the business before you, and give you full leave to speak your minds
upon it openly."
Xerxes, having so spoken, held his peace.
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