ow
the Parians had remained behind at Kythnos waiting to see how the war
would turn out),--when all the rest, I say, had come to Phaleron, then
Xerxes himself came down to the ships desiring to visit them and to
learn the opinions of those who sailed in them: and when he had come and
was set in a conspicuous place, then those who were despots of their own
nations or commanders of divisions being sent for came before him from
their ships, and took their seats as the king had assigned rank to each
one, first the king of Sidon, then he of Tyre, and after them the
rest: and when they were seated in due order, Xerxes sent Mardonios and
inquired, making trial of each one, whether he should fight a battle by
sea.

68. So when Mardonios went round asking them, beginning with the king of
Sidon, the others gave their opinions all to the same effect, advising
him to fight a battle by sea, but Artemisia spoke these words:--(a) "Tell
the king I pray thee, Mardonios, that I, who have proved myself not to
be the worst in the sea-fights which have been fought near Euboea, and
have displayed deeds not inferior to those of others, speak to him thus:
Master, it is right that I set forth the opinion which I really have,
and say that which I happen to think best for thy cause: and this I
say,--spare thy ships and do not make a sea-fight; for the men are as
much stronger than thy men by sea, as men are stronger than women. And
why must thou needs run the risk of sea-battles? Hast thou not Athens in
thy possession, for the sake of which thou didst set forth on thy march,
and also the rest of Hellas? and no man stands in thy way to resist, but
those who did stand against thee came off as it was fitting that
they should. (b) Now the manner in which I think the affairs of thy
adversaries will have their issue, I will declare. If thou do not
hasten to make a sea-fight, but keep thy ships here by the land, either
remaining here thyself or even advancing on to the Peloponnese, that
which thou hast come to do, O master, will easily be effected; for the
Hellenes are not able to hold out against thee for any long time, but
thou wilt soon disperse them and they will take flight to their several
cities: since neither have they provisions with them in this island, as
I am informed, nor is it probable that if thou shalt march thy land-army
against the Peloponnese, they who have come from thence will remain
still; for these will have no care to fight a bat