Herodotus - The Histories.pdf

The Histories–Book Seven V 135
from their territory, or they should be treated as
enemies.
Such is the account which is given of these matters
by the Argives themselves. There is another
story, which is told generally through Greece, of a
different tenor. Xerxes, it is said, before he set
forth on his expedition against Greece, sent a herald
to Argos, who on his arrival spoke as follows:
“Men of Argos, King Xerxes speaks thus to you.
We Persians deem that the Perses from whom we
descend was the child of Perseus the son of
Danae, and of Andromeda the daughter of
Cepheus. Hereby it would seem that we come of
your stock and lineage. So then it neither befits us
to make war upon those from whom we spring;
nor can it be right for you to fight, on behalf of
others, against us. Your place is to keep quiet and
hold yourself aloof. Only let matters proceed as I
wish, and there is no people whom I shall have in
higher esteem than you.”
This address, says the story, was highly valued by
the Argives, who therefore at the first neither gave