And I do not profess that I am able to fight either with ten men or
with two, nay, if I had my will, I would not even fight with one; but if
there were necessity or if the cause which urged me to the combat were
a great one, I would fight most willingly with one of these men who says
that he is a match for three of the Hellenes. So also the Lacedemonians
are not inferior to any men when fighting one by one, and they are the
best of all men when fighting in a body: for though free, yet they are
not free in all things, for over them is set Law as a master, whom they
fear much more even than thy people fear thee. It is certain at least
that they do whatsoever that master commands; and he commands ever the
same thing, that is to say, he bids them not flee out of battle from
any multitude of men, but stay in their post and win the victory or lose
their life. But if when I say these things I seem to thee to be speaking
at random, of other things for the future I prefer to be silent; and
at this time I spake only because I was compelled. May it come to pass
however according to thy mind, O king."

105. He thus made answer, and Xerxes turned the matter to laughter
and felt no anger, but dismissed him with kindness. Then after he had
conversed with him, and had appointed Mascames son of Megadostes to
be governor at this place Doriscos, removing the governor who had been
appointed by Dareios, Xerxes marched forth his army through Thrace to
invade Hellas.

106. And Mascames, whom he left behind here, proved to be a man of such
qualities that to him alone Xerxes used to send gifts, considering him
the best of all the men whom either he himself or Dareios had appointed
to be governors,--he used to send him gifts, I say, every year, and so
also did Artaxerxes the son of Xerxes to the descendants of Mascames.
For even before this march governors had been appointed in Thrace and
everywhere about the Hellespont; and these all, both those in Thrace and
in the Hellespont, were conquered by the Hellenes after this expedition,
except only the one who was at Doriscos; but Mascames at Doriscos none
were ever 98 able to conquer, though many tried. For this reason the
gifts are sent continually for him from the king who reigns over the
Persians.

107. Of those however who were conquered by the Hellenes Xerxes did not
consider any to be a good man except only Boges, who was at Eion: him
he never ceased commending, and he honoured very highly