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After Xerxes had thus spoken, and had sent Artabanus away to return
to Susa, he summoned before him all the Persians of most repute, and
when they appeared, addressed them in these words:
"Persians, I have brought you together because I wished to exhort
you to behave bravely, and not to sully with disgrace the former
achievements of the Persian people, which are very great and famous.
Rather let us one and all, singly and jointly, exert ourselves to the
uttermost; for the matter wherein we are engaged concerns the common
weal. Strain every nerve, then, I beseech you, in this war.
Brave warriors are the men we march against, if report says true; and
such that, if we conquer them, there is not a people in all the world
which will venture thereafter to with. stand our arms. And now let us
offer prayers to the gods who watch over the welfare of Persia, and
then cross the channel."
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