I say, that with no one to stand against thee the country
traversed, growing more and more as time goes on, will produce for
thee famine. Man, however, will be in the best condition, if when he is
taking counsel he feels fear, reckoning to suffer everything that can
possibly come, but in doing the deed he is bold."

50. Xerxes made answer in these words: "Artabanos, reasonably dost thou
set forth these matters; but do not thou fear everything nor reckon
equally for everything: for if thou shouldest set thyself with regard to
all matters which come on at any time, to reckon for everything equally,
thou wouldest never perform any deed. It is better to have good courage
about everything and to suffer half the evils which threaten, than to
have fear beforehand about everything and not to suffer any evil at all:
and if, while contending against everything which is said, thou omit to
declare the course which is safe, thou dost incur in these matters the
reproach of failure equally with him who says the opposite to this. This
then, I say, is evenly balanced: but how should one who is but man know
the course which is safe? I think, in no way. To those then who choose
to act, for the most part gain is wont to come; but to those who reckon
for everything and shrink back, it is not much wont to come. Thou seest
the power of the Persians, to what great might it has advanced: if then
those who came to be kings before me had had opinions like to thine, or,
though not having such opinions, had had such counsellors as thou, thou
wouldest never have seen it brought forward to this point. As it is
however, by running risks they conducted it on to this: for great power
is in general gained by running great risks. We therefore, following
their example, are making our march now during the fairest season of the
year; and after we have subdued all Europe we shall return back home,
neither having met with famine anywhere nor having suffered any other
thing which is unpleasant. For first we march bearing with us ourselves
great store of food, and secondly we shall possess the corn-crops of all
the peoples to whose land and nation we come; and we are making a march
now against men who plough the soil, and not against nomad tribes."

51. After this Artabanos said: "O king, since thou dost urge us not to
have fear of anything, do thou I pray thee accept a counsel from me;
for when speaking of many things it is necessary to extend speech to a
great