t when
the words are spoken suffers wrong in the matter thus,--both because he
has been slandered by the one and because he has been believed to be
bad by the other. (h) However, if it be absolutely needful to make an
expedition against these men, come, let the king himself remain behind
in the abodes of the Persians, and let us both set to the wager our
sons; and then do thou lead an army by thyself, choosing for thyself
the men whom thou desirest, and taking an army as large as thou thinkest
good: and if matters turn out for the king as thou sayest, let my sons
be slain and let me also be slain in addition to them; but if in the way
which I predict, let thy sons suffer this, and with them thyself also,
if thou shalt return back. But if thou art not willing to undergo this
proof, but wilt by all means lead an army against Hellas, then I say
that those who are left behind in this land will hear 11 that Mardonios,
after having done a great mischief to the Persians, is torn by dogs and
birds, either in the land of the Athenians, or else perchance thou wilt
be in the land of the Lacedemonians (unless indeed this should have come
to pass even before that upon the way), and that thou hast at length
been made aware against what kind of men thou art persuading the king to
march."

11. Artabanos thus spoke; and Xerxes enraged by it made answer as
follows: "Artabanos, thou art my father's brother, and this shall save
thee from receiving any recompense such as thy foolish words deserve.
Yet I attach to thee this dishonour, seeing that thou art a coward and
spiritless, namely that thou do not march with me against Hellas, but
remain here together with the women; and I, even without thy help,
will accomplish all the things which I said: for I would I might not be
descended from Dareios, the son of Hystaspes, the son of Arsames, the
son of Ariaramnes, the son of Teispes, or from Cyrus, 12 the son of
Cambyses, the son of Teispes, the son of Achaimenes, if I take not
vengeance on the Athenians; since I know well that if we shall keep
quiet, yet they will not do so, but will again 13 march against our
land, if we may judge by the deeds which have been done by them to begin
with, since they both set fire to Sardis and marched upon Asia. It is
not possible therefore that either side should retire from the quarrel,
but the question before us is whether we shall do or whether we shall
suffer; whether all these regions shall come to be unde