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"True," said Xerxes; "human life is even such as thou hast
painted it, O Artabanus! But for this very reason let us turn our
thoughts from it, and not dwell on what is so sad, when pleasant
things are in hand. Tell me rather, if the vision which we saw had
not appeared so plainly to thyself, wouldst thou have been still of the
same mind as formerly, and have continued to dissuade me from warring
against Greece, or wouldst thou at this time think differently? Come
now, tell me this honestly."
"O king!" replied the other, "may the dream which hath appeared to
us have such issue as we both desire! For my own part, I am still
full of fear, and have scarcely power to control myself, when I
consider all our dangers, and especially when I see that the two
things which are of most consequence are alike opposed to thee."
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