The Good Book_ A Secular Bible - A. C. Grayling [131]
22. She sought to fulfil her promise by addressing Darius as follows, when next she had been summoned to his bed for the night:
23. ‘My Lord, it seems strange that with the mighty power that is yours as the foremost ruler of men in the world,
24. ‘You sit idle and neither make new conquests nor advance the power of the Persians.
25. ‘Surely one so young and rich, with great armies, should undertake some noble achievement to show that Persia is governed by a man.
26. ‘Moreover it is good that you should protect your position from enemies within, because idleness in the state breeds revolt.
27. ‘Now while you are young you must accomplish some great exploit; for as the body grows in strength the mind too ripens; and as the body ages the mind’s powers decay, till at last both body and mind are too dull for anything.’
28. Darius replied, ‘Dear lady, you have given voice to the very thoughts in my mind.
29. ‘I propose to build a bridge which shall join our continent to the other, Asia to Europe, and carry war into Scythia. Very soon what you suggest I shall do.’
30. But Atossa said, ‘Leave Scythia for a while; you might conquer the Scythians any time.
31. ‘Take war first into Greece, whose states are famed for their climate and good life.
32. ‘I long to be served by some of those Lacedaemonian maids of whom I have heard so much. I want also Argive, and Athenian, and Corinthian women.
33. ‘You have here in the court Democedes, who can tell you better than anyone whatever you need to know about Greece, and can serve you as a guide.’
34. ‘Since it is your wish that we first try the valour of the Greeks,’ said Darius, ‘we shall do so.
35. ‘I will straight away send some Persians to spy out the land, in company with Democedes;
36. ‘And when they have learned all, they can give us a more perfect knowledge of the people and the territories.
37. ‘Then I will begin the war.’
Chapter 35
1. Having spoken, Darius wasted no time between words and deed, but when dawn broke he summoned fifteen Persians of note, and told them to take Democedes as their guide and explore the sea coasts of Greece.
2. And he instructed them to bring Democedes back with them, on no account allowing him to escape.
3. Then he called Democedes, and told him what was afoot; and offered him treasures for himself,
4. And a ship full of gold and precious things to take as gifts to his father and brothers in Greece,
5. Both bounties on condition that he would promise to return to Persia when the work of surveying was done.
6. Democedes considered that Darius was trying his loyalty by this offer, and replied that he would leave behind in Susa the treasures offered to himself, to be enjoyed on his return;
7. But that he would accept the gracious gifts for his family.
8. Thereupon Darius sent him and the chosen Persians away to the coast, to Sidon in Phoenicia,
9. Where they fitted out two triremes and a trading vessel loaded with valuable merchandise, and set sail for Greece.
10. The small fleet sailed along the shores of Greece, the crews making careful notes of all they saw, and in this way explored the greater part of the country until at last they reached Tarentum in Italy.
11. There Democedes told his story to its king, Aristophilides, and what the Persian ships were doing;
12. So the king ordered the rudders to be removed from the Persian ships and arrested their crews as spies, and allowed Democedes to hasten to Crotona, his native city.
13. When Democedes had left, Aristophilides released the Persians and gave them their rudders.
14. Immediately the Persians sailed to Crotona in pursuit of Democedes, and found him in the marketplace, and laid hands on him to drag him to the ships.
15. Some of the Crotoniats, who greatly feared the power of the Persians, were willing to give him up;
16. But others resisted, held Democedes fast, and even struck the Persians with their walking