The histories of Herodotus;

386 HERODOTUS—BOOK VII, POLYMNIA [49-51
advance, as you are continually drawn on unawares ; for men
are never satiated with success. And even if I should grant
that no one will oppose you, I say that the country, becoming
more extensive in process of time, will produce a famine. A
man would therefore thus prove himself most wise if in deliberation
he should be apprehensive and consider himself
likely to suffer every misfortune, but in action should be bold."
" Artabanus, you have dis-
Xerxes answered in these words :
cussed each of these particulars plausibly; but do not fear
everything, nor weigh every circumstance with equal strictness.
For if in every matter that is proposed you should
weigh everything with equal care, you would never do anything
at all ; it is better, being confident on all occasions, to
suffer half the evils than, fearing everything beforehand, never
suffer anything at all. But if you oppose everything that is
proposed, and do not advance something certain, you must fail
in your plans equally with the person who has given a contrary
opinion. This, therefore, comes to the same. Can any
one who is a man know for a certainty what ought to be
done? 1
I think, certainly not. To those, however, who are
ready to act, gain for the most part is wont to accrue ; but to
those that weigh everything and are timid, it seldom does.
You see to what a degree of power the empire of the Persians
has advanced; if, then, they who were kings before me had
entertained such opinions as you do, or not entertaining such
opinions, had such counsellors, you would never have seen
their power advanced to this pitch. But now, by hazarding
dangers, they carried it to this height. For great undertakings
are wont to be accomplished at great hazards. We, therefore,
emulating them, set out at the most favourable season
of the year, and having subdued all Europe, will return home,
without having met with famine anywhere, or suffered any
other reverses. For, in the first place, we march, carrying with
us abundant provisions, and, in the next place, whatever land
and nation we invade, we shall have their corn; and we are
making war on men who are husbandmen, and not feeders
of cattle." After this Artabanus said : " O king, since you
will not allow us to fear anything, yet hearken to my advice
for it is necessary, when speaking on many topics, to extend
one's discourse. Cyrus, son of Cambyses, subdued all Ionia
except the Athenians, so as to be tributary to the Persians.
I advise you, therefore, on no account to lead these men
1 I have followed the reading and punctuation of Matthiae and Baehr.
The latter, though he approves the mark of interrogation, omits it in his
version of this passage.
;