Persians (715-755)

How did it happen? Did some stroke of pestilence or factional strife come upon the State?

Neither; but near Athens our whole host has been brought to ruin.

Tell me, what son of mine led our army there?

Impetuous Xerxes, depopulating the whole surface of the continent.

Was it by land or sea that he made this mad expedition, the reckless man?

By both. There was a twofold front of double armies.

But how was it that so vast a land force won a passage to the farther shore?

By a clever device he yoked the Hellespont so as to gain a passage.

What! Did he succeed in closing the mighty Bosporus?

Yes indeed. One of the divine powers must have assisted him in his purpose.

Alas! Some mighty power came upon him so that he was not able to think clearly.

Yes, since we can see the outcome, what ruin he wrought.

And how then did they fare that you now lament them?

Disaster to the naval force brought ruin to the force on land.

And did the whole army utterly perish by the spear?

Yes, and it is for this reason that the whole city of Susa groans at its desolation.

Alas for the loss of our warriors’ valiant force and defence!

And the host of the Bactrians is lost, wholly destroyed: not even an old man is left.

Unhappy man, since he has brought to ruin the youth of our allies.

But Xerxes, alone and forlorn, with scanty train, they say—

Met his end, how, tell me, and where? Of his safety is there any hope?

To his joy he reached the bridge yoking the two continents.

And reached our continent in safety? Is this certain?

Yes, a proven report establishes this. Doubt there is none.

Alas! The fulfilment of the oracles has indeed come swiftly, and it is my son upon whom

Zeus has caused their issue to descend. Yet I was confident that, only after long lapse of time, the gods would in some way bring them to accomplishment; nevertheless, when man hastens to his own undoing, the god too participates with him. A fountain of misfortune has now, I think, been discovered for all I love. A son of mine it was who, in his ignorance, brought these things to pass through youthful recklessness;

for he conceived the hope that he could by shackles, as if it were a slave, restrain the current of the sacred Hellespont, the Bosporus, a stream divine; he set himself to fashion a roadway of a new type, and, by casting upon it hammer-wrought fetters, made a spacious causeway for his mighty host. Mortal though he was, he thought in his folly that he would gain the mastery of all the gods,

yes, even over Poseidon. Must this not have been a disease of the soul that possessed my son? I fear that the plenteous treasure amassed by my toil may become the prey of the spoiler.

This lesson impetuous Xerxes learned through conversation with evil men. For they kept telling him that, whereas you

won plentiful treasure for your children by your spear, he, on his part, through lack of manly spirit, played the warrior at home and did not increase his father’s wealth. Hearing such taunts many a time from evil counsellors, he planned this expedition and army against Hellas.