A source-book of ancient history - The Search For Mecca

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The Confidence of Xerxes 169
men they would not very greatly have damaged the enemy;
but when these returned back to Hellas, he thought it
likely that the Hellenes, hearing of his power, would deliver
up their freedom to him themselves, before the expedition
took place which was being set in
motion; and
thus there would be no need for them to have the labor
of marching an army against them.
This opinion of his
is like his manner of thinking at other times; for when
Xerxes was in Abydos, he saw vessels which carried corn
from the Pontus sailing out through the Hellespont on
their way to Egina and the Peloponnese. Those then who
sat by his side, being informed that the ships belonged
to the enemy, were prepared to capture them, and were
looking to the king to see when he would give the word;
but Xerxes asked about them whither the men were sailing,
and they replied: "Master, to thy foes, conveying to
them corn": he then made answer and said, "Are we not
also sailing to the same place as these men, furnished with
corn as well as with other things necessary? How then
do these wrong us, since they are conveying provisions
for
our use?"
III.
The Battle of Salamis
From Susa, from Ecbatana they went,
From the ancient Cissian fortress were they sent
Seamen, riders upon horses,
Steady-tramping footman-forces
Close-marshalled in the battle-armament.
Amistres, Artaphemes, led them on:
Megabates and Astaspes forth are gone,
Persian kings and princes royal.
And the Great King's vassals loyal,
Chiefs that weld his thousand armies into one.
Marshalling
ho^t
Aschylus,
Com-
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