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And now Mardonius, perceiving that Xerxes took the defeat of his
fleet greatly to heart, and suspecting that he had made up his mind to
leave Athens and fly away, began to think of the likelihood of his
being visited with punishment for having persuaded the king to undertake
the war. He therefore considered that it would be the best thing for
him to adventure further, and either become the conqueror of Greece -
which was the result he rather expected - or else die gloriously after
aspiring to a noble achievement. So with these thoughts in his mind,
he said one day to the king:
"Do not grieve, master, or take so greatly to heart thy late loss.
Our hopes hang not altogether on the fate of a few planks, but on our
brave steeds and horsemen. These fellows, whom thou imaginest to have
quite conquered us, will not venture - no, not one of them - to come
ashore and contend with our land army; nor will the Greeks who are
upon the mainland fight our troops; such as did so have received their
punishment. If thou so pleasest, we may at once attack the
Peloponnese; if thou wouldst rather wait a while, that too is in our
power. Only be not disheartened. For it is not possible that the
Greeks can avoid being brought to account, alike for this and for
their former injuries; nor can they anyhow escape being thy slaves.
Thou shouldst therefore do as I have said. If, however, thy mind
is made up, and thou art resolved to retreat and lead away thy army,
listen to the counsel which, in that case, I have to offer. Make
not the Persians, O king! a laughing-stock to the Greeks. If thy
affairs have succeeded ill, it has not been by their fault; thou canst
not say that thy Persians have ever shown themselves cowards. What
matters it if Phoenicians and Egyptians, Cyprians and Cilicians,
have misbehaved? - their misconduct touches not us. Since then thy
Persians are without fault, be advised by me. Depart home, if thou
art so minded, and take with thee the bulk of thy army; but first let
me choose out 300,000 troops, and let it be my task to bring
Greece beneath thy sway."
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