the history-第127章
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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。 （SS 1。） Whereupon Mardonius took the word； and said： 〃Of a truth； my lord； thou dost surpass； not only all living Persians； but likewise those yet unborn。 Most true and right is each word that thou hast now uttered； but best of all thy resolve not to let the Ionians who live in Europe… a worthless crew… mock us any more。 It were indeed a monstrous thing if； after conquering and enslaving the Sacae； the Indians； the Ethiopians； the Assyrians； and many other mighty nations； not for any wrong that they had done us； but only to increase our empire； we should then allow the Greeks； who have done us such wanton injury； to escape our vengeance。 What is it that we fear in them？… not surely their numbers？… not the greatness of their wealth？ We know the manner of their battle… we know how weak their power is； already have we subdued their children who dwell in our country； the Ionians； Aeolians； and Dorians。 I myself have had experience of these men when I marched against them by the orders of thy father； and though I went as far as Macedonia； and came but a little short of reaching Athens itself； yet not a soul ventured to come out against me to battle。 （SS 2。） And yet； I am told； these very Greeks are wont to wage wars against one another in the most foolish way； through sheer perversity and doltishness。 For no sooner is war proclaimed than they search out the smoothest and fairest plain that is to be found in all the land； and there they assemble and fight； whence it comes to pass that even the conquerors depart with great loss： I say nothing of the conquered； for they are destroyed altogether。 Now surely； as they are all of one speech； they ought to interchange heralds and messengers； and make up their differences by any means rather than battle； or； at the worst； if they must needs fight one against another； they ought to post themselves as strongly as possible； and so try their quarrels。 But； notwithstanding that they have so foolish a manner of warfare； yet these Greeks； when I led my army against them to the very borders of Macedonia； did not so much as think of offering me battle。 （SS 3。） Who then will dare； O king！ to meet thee in arms； when thou comest with all Asia's warriors at thy back； and with all her ships？ For my part I do not believe the Greek people will be so foolhardy。 Grant； however； that I am mistaken herein； and that they are foolish enough to meet us in open fight； in that case they will learn that there are no such soldiers in the whole world as we。 Nevertheless let us spare no pains； for nothing comes without trouble； but all that men acquire is got by painstaking。〃 When Mardonius had in this way softened the harsh speech of Xerxes； he too held his peace。 （SS 1。） The other Persians were silent； all feared to raise their voice against the plan proposed to them。 But Artabanus； the son of Hystaspes； and uncle of Xerxes； trusting to his relationship； was bold to speak：… 〃O king！〃 he said； 〃it is impossible； if no more than one opinion is uttered； to make choice of the best： a man is forced then to follow whatever advice may have been given him； but if opposite speeches are delivered； then choice can be exercised。 In like manner pure gold is not recognised by itself； but when we test it along with baser ore； we perceive which is the better。 I counselled thy father； Darius； who was my own brother； not to attack the Scyths； a race of people who had no town in their whole land。 He thought however to subdue those wandering tribes； and would not listen to me； but marched an army against them； and ere he returned home lost many of his bravest warriors。 Thou art about； O king！ to attack a people far superior to the Scyths； a people distinguished above others both by land and sea。 'Tis fit therefore that I should tell thee what danger thou incurrest hereby。 （SS 2。） Thou sayest that thou wilt bridge the Hellespont； and lead thy troops through Europe against Greece。 Now suppose some disaster befall thee by land or sea； or by both。 It may be even so； for the men are reputed valiant。 Indeed one may measure their prowess from what they have already done； for when Datis and Artaphernes led their huge army against Attica； the Athenians singly defeated them。 But grant they are not successful on both elements。 Still； if they man their ships； and； defeating us by sea； sail to the Hellespont； and there destroy our bridge… that； sire； were a fearful hazard。 （SS 3。） And here 'tis not by my own mother wit alone that I conjecture what will happen； but I remember how narrowly we escaped disaster once； when thy father； after throwing bridges over the Thracian Bosphorus and the Ister； marched against the Scythians； and they tried every sort of prayer to induce the Ionians； who had charge of the bridge over the Ister； to break the passage。 On that day； if Histiaeus； the king of Miletus； had sided with the other princes； and not set himself to oppose their views； the empire of the Persians would have come to nought。 Surely a dreadful thing is this even to hear said； that the king's fortunes depended wholly on one man。 （SS 4。） 〃Think then no more of incurring so great a danger when no need presses； but follow the advice I tender。 Break up this meeting； and when thou hast well considered the matter with thyself； and settled what thou wilt do； declare to us thy resolve。 I know not of aught in the world that so profits a man as taking good counsel with himself； for even if things fall out against one's hopes； still one has counselled well； though fortune has made the counsel of none effect： whereas if a man counsels ill and luck follows； he has gotten a windfall； but his counsel is none the less silly。 （SS 5。） Seest thou how God with his lightning smites always the bigger animals； and will not suffer them to wax insolent； while those of a lesser bulk chafe him not？ How likewise his bolts fall ever on the highest houses and the tallest trees？ So plainly does He love to bring down everything that exalts itself。 Thus ofttimes a mighty host is discomfited by a few men； when God in his jealousy sends fear or storm from heaven； and they perish in a way unworthy of them。 For God allows no one to have high thoughts but Himself。 （SS 6。） Again； hurry always brings about disasters； from which huge sufferings are wont to arise； but in delay lie many advantages； not apparent （it may be） at first sight； but such as in course of time are seen of all。 Such then is my counsel to thee； O king！ （SS 7。） 〃And thou； Mardonius； son of Gobryas； forbear to speak foolishly concerning the Greeks； who are men that ought not to be lightly esteemed by us。 For while thou revilest the Greeks； thou dost encourage the king to lead his own troops against them； and this； as it seems to me； is what thou art specially striving to accomplish。 Heaven send thou succeed not to thy wish！ For slander is of all evils the most terrible。 In it two men do wrong； and one man has wrong done to him。 The slanderer does wrong； forasmuch as he abuses a man behind his back； and the hearer； forasmuch as he believes what he has not searched into thoroughly。 The man slandered in his absence suffers wrong at the hands of both： for one brings against him a false charge； and the other thinks him an evildoer。 （SS 8。） If； however； it must needs be that we go to war with this people； at least allow the king to abide at home in Persia。 Then let thee and me both stake our children on the issue； and do thou choose out thy men； and； taking with thee whatever number of troops thou likest； lead forth our armies to battle。 If things go well for the king； as thou sayest they will； let me and my children be put to death； but if they fall out as I prophesy； let thy children suffer； and thyself too； if thou shalt come back alive。 But shouldest thou refuse this wager； and still resolve to march an army against Greece； sure I am that some of those whom thou leavest behind thee here will one day receive the sad tidings that Mardonius has brought a great disaster upon the Persian people； and lies a prey to dogs and birds
