f Cyrus, and that Cyrus was he who had won for the Persians
their freedom.

3. Now while Dareios did not as yet declare his judgment, it chanced
that Demaratos also, the son of Ariston, had come up to Susa at this
very same time, having been deprived of the kingdom in Sparta and having
laid upon himself a sentence of exile from Lacedemon. This man, hearing
of the difference between the sons of Dareios, came (as it is reported
of him) and counselled Xerxes to say in addition to those things which
he was wont to say, that he had been born to Dareios at the time when he
was already reigning as king and was holding the supreme power over the
Persians, while Artobazanes had been born while Dareios was still in
a private station: it was not fitting therefore nor just that another
should have the honour before him; for even in Sparta, suggested
Demaratos, this was the custom, that is to say, if some of the sons had
been born first, before their father began to reign, and another came
after, born later while he was reigning, the succession of the kingdom
belonged to him who had been born later. Xerxes accordingly made use of
the suggestion of Demaratos; and Dareios perceiving that he spoke that
which was just, designated him to be king. It is my opinion however that
even without this suggestion Xerxes would have become king, for Atossa
was all-powerful.

4. Then having designated Xerxes to the Persians as their king, Dareios
wished to go on his expeditions. However in the next year after this and
after the revolt of Egypt, it came to pass that Dareios himself died,
having been king in all six-and-thirty years; and thus he did not
succeed in taking vengeance either upon the revolted Egyptians or upon
the Athenians.

5. Dareios being dead the kingdom passed to his son Xerxes. Now Xerxes
at the first was by no means anxious to make a march against Hellas, but
against Egypt he continued to gather a force. Mardonios however, the son
of Gobryas, who was a cousin of Xerxes, being sister's son to Dareios,
was ever at his side, and having power with him more than any other
of the Persians, he kept continually to such discourse as this which
follows, saying: "Master, it is not fitting that the Athenians, after
having done to the Persians very great evil, should not pay the penalty
for that which they have done. What if thou shouldest 2 at this present
time do that which thou hast in thy hands to do; and when thou hast
tamed the land o