The histories of Herodotus;

372 HERODOTUS—BOOK VII, POLYMNIA [10
whenever it shall seem fit to you, having considered with
yourself, proclaim what appears to you to be most advantageous.
For to deliberate well, I find is the greatest gain.
For if the result prove unfortunate, the matter has, nevertheless,
been well deliberated on, but our deliberation is defeated
by fortune; but he who has deliberated badly, if fortune
attend him, has met with a success he had no right to
expect, but has, nevertheless, formed bad plans. Do you see
how the deity strikes with his thunder the tallest animals, and
suffers them not to be ostentatious, but the smaller ones do
not at all offend him ? Do you see how he ever hurls his bolts
against the loftiest buildings, and trees of the like kind ? For
the deity is wont to cut off everything that is too highly exalted.
Thus, even a large army is often defeated by a small
one, in such manner as this : when the deity, through jealousy,
strikes them with terror or lightning, whereby they perish in
a manner unworthy of themselves ; for the deity will not suffer
any one but himself to have high thoughts. Again, to
hasten any matter produces failures, from whence great losses
are wont to follow ; but in delay there are advantages, which,
though not immediately apparent, yet one may discover after
a time. This, then, O king, is the advice I give you. But
do you, Mardonius, son of Gobryas, cease to speak vain words
of the Grecians, who do not deserve to be lightly spoken of.
For by calumniating the Greeks you urge the king himself to
lead an army against them ; and to this end you appear to me
to exert all your efforts. But may it not so be. For calumny
is the worst of evils : in it there are two who commit injustice,
and one who is injured : for he who calumniates another,
acts unjustly by accusing one that is not present ; and he acts
unjustly, who is persuaded before he has learned the exact
truth ; and he that is absent when the charge is made is thus
doubly injured, being calumniated by the one, and by the
other deemed to be base. But if, at all events, it must needs
be, that war must be made on these people, come, let the king
himself remain in the abodes of the Persians ; let both of us
risk our children, and do you lead the expedition, having selected
what men you choose, and taken with you as large a
force as you think fit; and if matters succeed to the king
in the manner you say, let my children be put to death, and
me also with them. But if the event prove such as I foretell,
then let your children suffer the same, and you also with them,
if ever you return. If, however, you are unwilling to submit
to these terms, and will at all events lead an army against
Greece, I affirm that some of those who are left in this country