:--We hold that
Perses, from whom we are descended, was the son of Perseus, the son of
Danae, and was born of the daughter of Kepheus, Andromeda; and according
to this it would seem that we are descended from you. It is not fitting
then that we should go forth on an expedition against those from whom we
trace our descent, nor that ye should set yourselves in opposition to us
by rendering assistance to others; but it is fitting that ye keep still
and remain by yourselves: for if things happen according to my mind,
I shall not esteem any people to be of greater consequence than you."
Having heard this the Argives, it is said, considered it a great matter;
and therefore at first they made no offer of help nor did they ask for
any share; but afterwards, when the Hellenes tried to get them on their
side, then, since they knew well that the Lacedemonians would not give
them a share in the command, they asked for this merely in order that
they might have a pretext for remaining still.

151. Also some of the Hellenes report that the following event, in
agreement with this account, came to pass many years after these
things:--there happened, they say, to be in Susa the city of Memnon 137
envoys of the Athenians come about some other matter, namely Callias the
son of Hipponicos and the others who went up with him; and the Argives
at that very time had also sent envoys to Susa, and these asked
Artoxerxes the son of Xerxes, whether the friendship which they had
formed with Xerxes still remained unbroken, if they themselves desired
to maintain it, 138 or whether they were esteemed by him to be enemies;
and king Artoxerxes said that it most certainly remained unbroken, and
that there was no city which he considered to be more his friend than
Argos.

152. Now whether Xerxes did indeed send a herald to Argos saying that
which has been reported, and whether envoys of the Argives who had gone
up to Susa inquired of Artoxerxes concerning friendship, I am not able
to say for certain; nor do I declare any opinion about the matters in
question other than that which the Argives themselves report: but I know
this much, that if all the nations of men should bring together into one
place the evils which they have suffered themselves, desiring to make
exchange with their neighbours, each people of them, when they had
examined closely the evils suffered by their fellows, would gladly carry
away back with them those which they had brought. 139 Thu