herodotus

quarrel, but the question before us is whether we shall do or whetherwe shall suffer; whether all these regions shall come to be under theHellenes or all those under the Persians: for in our hostility thereis no middle course. It follows then now that it is well for us,having suffered wrong first, to take revenge, that I may find out alsowhat is this terrible thing which I shall suffer if I lead an armyagainst these men,--men whom Pelops the Phrygian, who was the slave ofmy forefathers, so subdued that even to the present day both the menthemselves and their land are called after the name of him who subduedthem."12. Thus far was it spoken then; but afterwards when darkness came on,the opinion of Artabanos tormented Xerxes continually; and makingnight his counsellor he found that it was by no means to his advantageto make the march against Hellas. So when he had thus made a newresolve, he fell asleep, and in the night he saw, as is reported bythe Persians, a vision as follows:--Xerxes thought that a man tall andcomely of shape came and stood by him and said: "Art thou indeedchanging thy counsel, O Persian, of leading an expedition againstHellas, now that thou hast made proclamation that the Persians shallcollect an army? Thou dost not well in changing thy counsel, nor willhe who is here present with thee excuse thee from it;[13a] but as thoudidst take counsel in the day to do, by that way go." 13. After he hadsaid this, Xerxes thought that he who had spoken flew away; and whenday had dawned he made no account of this dream, but gathered togetherthe Persians whom he had assembled also the former time and said tothem these words: "Persians, pardon me that I make quick changes in mycounsel; for in judgment not yet am I come to my prime, and they whoadvise me to do the things which I said, do not for any long timeleave me to myself. However, although at first when I heard theopinion of Artabanos my youthful impulses burst out,[14] so that Icast out unseemly words[15] against a man older than myself; yet now Iacknowledge that he is right, and I shall follow his opinion. Considerthen I have changed my resolve to march against Hellas, and do yeremain still." 14. The Persians accordingly when they heard this wererejoiced and made obeisance: but when night had come on, the samedream again came and stood by Xerxes as he lay asleep and said: "Sonof Dareios, it is manifest then that thou hast resigned thisexpedition before the assembly of the Persians, and that thou hastmade no account of my words, as if thou hadst heard them from no oneat all. Now therefore be well assured of this:--if thou do not makethy march forthwith, there shall thence spring up for thee thisresult, namely that, as thou didst in short time become great andmighty, so also thou shalt speedily be again brought low." 15. Xerxesthen, being very greatly disturbed by fear of the vision, started upfrom his bed and sent a messenger to summon Artabanos; to whom when he