Far from here, to the west where the last rays of our Lord the Sun set.
 Atossa Can it then really be that my son had the keen desire to make this city his prey?
 Chorus Yes, for then all Hellas would be subject to the King.
 Atossa Does their army have such a multitude of men?
 Chorus Yes, it is an army of such magnitude that it has caused great disaster for the Medes.
 Atossa And what else have they besides? Do they have sufficient wealth in their homes?
 Chorus Of silver they possess a veritable fountain, a treasure chest in their soil.
 Atossa Is the bow-stretching arrow particularly suited to their hands? Chorus Far from it; they have lances for close fight and shields that serve them for armor.
 Atossa And who is set over them as shepherd and is master of their host?
 Chorus Of no man are they called the slaves or vassals.
 Atossa How then can they withstand the attack of an invading foe?
 Chorus So well as to have destroyed Darius’ great and courageous host.
 Atossa In truth, your words have given the fathers and mothers of those who are now on their way there dire food for thought.
 Chorus No, rather I think that you will soon learn the truth of the matter. For here comes one who is beyond a doubt a Persian courier. He bears clear tidings of some issue, be it good or bad.
 Messenger O cities of all the land of Asia , O realm of Persia , and bounteous haven of wealth, at a single stroke all your plenteous prosperity has been shattered, and the flower of the Persians has fallen and perished! Ah, it is a terrible task to be the first to deliver news of disaster. And yet, Persians, I must relate the entirety of the calamity —the whole barbarian host is lost.
 Chorus Grievous, grievous disaster, strange and cruel. Alas, Persians, weep now that you hear of this calamity.
 Messenger Yes, weep, for you hear that the whole army is utterly destroyed; and I myself unexpectedly behold the day of my return.
 Chorus The life which has been given to us elders is too long, for we have now heard of this unexpected misery.
 Messenger Since I myself was present and did not merely hear what happened from the report of others, I can tell you exactly what kind of disaster was wrought.
 Chorus Alas, alas! In vain did our vast and variously armed host go forth from the land of Asia against the hostile soil of Hellas .
 Messenger Full of the bodies of men who perished by a miserable fate are the shores of Salamis and all the neighboring coasts.
 Chorus Alas, alas! You say that the bodies of our loved ones, battered by the brine and drenched, are tossing, washed back and forth among the reefs.
 Messenger Our bows were of no use, and the whole host has perished, overwhelmed when ship charged on ship. Chorus Raise a doleful and mournful wail for the Persians, the wretched Persians, since they have met with complete and utter ruin. Alas for the destruction of our host!