|
After Xerxes had thus determined to go forth to the war, there
appeared to him in his sleep yet a third vision. The Magi were
consulted upon it, and said that its meaning reached to the whole
earth, and that all mankind would become his servants. Now the vision
which the king saw was this: he dreamt that he was crowned with a
branch of an olive tree, and that boughs spread out from the olive
branch and covered the whole earth; then suddenly the garland, as it
lay upon his brow, vanished. So when the Magi had thus interpreted
the vision, straightway all the Persians who were come together
departed to their several governments, where each displayed the
greatest zeal, on the faith of the king's offers. For all hoped to
obtain for themselves the gifts which had been promised. And so
Xerxes gathered together his host, ransacking every corner of the continent.
|
|