How did it happen? Did some stroke of pestilence or factional strife come upon the State?
 Atossa Neither; but near Athens our whole host has been brought to ruin.
 Darius Tell me, what son of mine led our army there?
 Atossa Impetuous Xerxes, depopulating the whole surface of the continent.
 Darius Was it by land or sea that he made this mad expedition, the reckless man?
 Atossa By both. There was a twofold front of double armies.
 Darius But how was it that so vast a land force won a passage to the farther shore?
 Atossa By a clever device he yoked the Hellespont so as to gain a passage.
 Darius What! Did he succeed in closing the mighty Bosporus ?
 Atossa Yes indeed. One of the divine powers must have assisted him in his purpose.
 Darius Alas! Some mighty power came upon him so that he was not able to think clearly.
 Atossa Yes, since we can see the outcome, what ruin he wrought.
 Darius And how then did they fare that you now lament them?
 Atossa Disaster to the naval force brought ruin to the force on land.
 Darius And did the whole army utterly perish by the spear?
 Atossa Yes, and it is for this reason that the whole city of Susa groans at its desolation.
 Darius Alas for the loss of our warriors’ valiant force and defence!
 Atossa And the host of the Bactrians is lost, wholly destroyed: not even an old man is left.
 Darius Unhappy man, since he has brought to ruin the youth of our allies.
 Atossa But Xerxes, alone and forlorn, with scanty train, they say—
 Darius Met his end, how, tell me, and where? Of his safety is there any hope?
 Atossa To his joy he reached the bridge yoking the two continents.
 Darius And reached our continent in safety? Is this certain?
 Atossa Yes, a proven report establishes this. Doubt there is none.
 Darius 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.
 Atossa 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 .