xes had been persuaded to make an expedition against
Hellas, then in the next year after the death of Dareios he made a march
first against those who had revolted. Having subdued these and having
reduced all Egypt to slavery much greater than it had suffered in the
reign of Dareios, he entrusted the government of it to Achaimenes his
own brother, a son of Dareios. Now this Achaimenes being a governor of
Egypt was slain afterwards by Inaros the son of Psammetichos, a Libyan.

8. Xerxes then after the conquest of Egypt, being about to take in hand
the expedition against Athens, summoned a chosen assembly of the best
men among the Persians, that he might both learn their opinions and
himself in the presence of all declare that which he intended to do;
and when they were assembled, Xerxes spoke to them as follows: (a)
"Persians, I shall not be the first to establish this custom in your
nation, but having received it from others I shall follow it: for as I
am informed by those who are older than myself, we never yet have kept
quiet since we received this supremacy in succession to the Medes, when
Cyrus overthrew Astyages; but God thus leads us, and for ourselves tends
to good that we are busied about many things. Now about the nations
which Cyrus and Cambyses and my father Dareios subdued and added to
their possessions there is no need for me to speak, since ye know well:
and as for me, from the day when I received by inheritance this throne
upon which I sit 6 I carefully considered always how in this honourable
place I might not fall short of those who have been before me, nor
add less power to the dominion of the Persians: and thus carefully
considering I find a way by which not only glory may be won by us,
together with a land not less in extent nor worse than that which we now
possess, (and indeed more varied in its productions), but also vengeance
and retribution may be brought about. Wherefore I have assembled you
together now, in order that I may communicate to you that which I have
it in my mind to do. (b) I design to yoke the Hellespont with a bridge,
and to march an army through Europe against Hellas, in order that I may
take vengeance on the Athenians for all the things which they have done
both to the Persians and to my father. Ye saw how my father Dareios also
was purposing to make an expedition against these men; but he has ended
his life and did not succeed in taking vengeance upon them. I however,
on behalf of