and for the splendor of the men now cut off by Fate! The land bewails her native youth, slaughtered for Xerxes, who has crowded Hades with Persian slain.Many warriors, masters of the bow, our country’s pride, a great multitude of men, have perished. Alas, alas, for our trusty defence! The land of Asia, the leading power of the earth,has piteously, yes piteously, been bowed to her knees.

XerxesBehold me, alas, a fitting subject for lamentation, born a source of ruin to my race and fatherland. ChorusAs a greeting for your return home I will lift up an ill-omened cry of woe, the voice, versed in lamentation, of a Mariandynian mourner,a wail attended by many a tear.

XerxesUtter a strain of lamentation, plaintive and discordant. For Fortune has now veered and turned against me. ChorusI will indeed utter the song of lamentationin commemoration of your sufferings and of our strongly-manned ships, buffeted by waves; the plaintive strain of our land which mourns its sons. And I will cry aloud in lamentation, shedding many a tear.

XerxesYes, for the Ionian naval force, turning the tide of battle, swept them away, the Ionian host, ravaging the dark sea and the shore of doom. ChorusWoe! woe! cry aloud, learn about the whole disaster. Where is the rest of the multitude of your comrades? Where are those who stood by your side, such as Pharandaces, Susas, Pelagon, Dotamas, andAgdabatas, Psammis, and Susiscanes of Agbatana?

XerxesBy the shores of Salamis, dashing against its rugged shore,I left them, fallen in death from a Tyrian ship. ChorusWoe! woe! cry aloud! Where is your beloved Pharnuchus, and the courageous Ariomardus? Where is prince Seualces,or Lilaeus of noble lineage, Memphis, Tharybis and Masistras, Artembares and Hystaechmas? This I ask you.

XerxesWoe, woe is me!They beheld ancient and hateful Athens and with one convulsive struggle (alas, alas !) poor wretches, they lie gasping on the shore.