Epeisodion 5
Darius
Since dread long ingrained in your mind restrains you,
cease, noble woman, venerable partner of my bed, from your tears and laments, speak to me with all frankness. Afflictions ordained for human life must, we know, befall mankind. For many calamities from the sea, many from the land, arise to mortal men if their span of life is extended far.
705
Atossa
O you who in prosperity surpassed all mortal men by your happy destiny,
since, so long as you gazed upon the beams of the sun, you lived a life of felicity, envied of all, in Persian eyes a god, so now too I consider you fortunate in that you died before you beheld the depth of our calamities. The whole tale, O Darius, you will hear in brief space of time: the power of Persia is ruined almost utterly.
710
Darius
How did it happen? Did some stroke of pestilence or factional strife come upon the State?
715
Atossa
Neither; but near Athens our whole host has been brought to ruin.
Darius
Tell me, what son of mine led our army there?
Atossa
Impetuous Xerxes, depopulating the whole surface of the continent.
Darius
Was it by land or sea that he made this mad expedition, the reckless man?
Atossa
By both. There was a twofold front of double armies.
720
Darius
But how was it that so vast a land force won a passage to the farther shore?
Atossa
By a clever device he yoked the Hellespont so as to gain a passage.
Darius
What! Did he succeed in closing the mighty Bosporus?
Atossa
Yes indeed. One of the divine powers must have assisted him in his purpose.
Darius
Alas! Some mighty power came upon him so that he was not able to think clearly.
725
Atossa
Yes, since we can see the outcome, what ruin he wrought.
Darius
And how then did they fare that you now lament them?
Atossa
Disaster to the naval force brought ruin to the force on land.
Darius
And did the whole army utterly perish by the spear?
Atossa
Yes, and it is for this reason that the whole city of Susa groans at its desolation.
730
Darius
Alas for the loss of our warriors’ valiant force and defence!
Atossa
And the host of the Bactrians is lost, wholly destroyed: not even an old man is left.
Darius
Unhappy man, since he has brought to ruin the youth of our allies.
Atossa
But Xerxes, alone and forlorn, with scanty train, they say—
Darius
Met his end, how, tell me, and where? Of his safety is there any hope?
735
Atossa
To his joy he reached the bridge yoking the two continents.
Darius
And reached our continent in safety? Is this certain?
Atossa
Yes, a proven report establishes this. Doubt there is none.
Darius
Alas! The fulfilment of the oracles has indeed come swiftly, and it is my son upon whom
Zeus has caused their issue to descend. Yet I was confident that, only after long lapse of time, the gods would in some way bring them to accomplishment; nevertheless, when man hastens to his own undoing, the god too participates with him. A fountain of misfortune has now, I think, been discovered for all I love. A son of mine it was who, in his ignorance, brought these things to pass through youthful recklessness;
740
for he conceived the hope that he could by shackles, as if it were a slave, restrain the current of the sacred Hellespont, the Bosporus, a stream divine; he set himself to fashion a roadway of a new type, and, by casting upon it hammer-wrought fetters, made a spacious causeway for his mighty host. Mortal though he was, he thought in his folly that he would gain the mastery of all the gods,
745
yes, even over Poseidon. Must this not have been a disease of the soul that possessed my son? I fear that the plenteous treasure amassed by my toil may become the prey of the spoiler.
750
Atossa
This lesson impetuous Xerxes learned through conversation with evil men. For they kept telling him that, whereas you
won plentiful treasure for your children by your spear, he, on his part, through lack of manly spirit, played the warrior at home and did not increase his father’s wealth. Hearing such taunts many a time from evil counsellors, he planned this expedition and army against Hellas.
755
Darius
Therefore a calamity
dreadful and unforgettable has been caused by him, a desolating calamity such as never before befell this city of Susa since our Lord Zeus first ordained that one ruler should bear sway over all Asia with its flocks and wield the sceptre of its government.
760
For Medus was first to be the leader of its host; and another, his son, completed his work since wisdom ruled his spirit. Third, after him, Cyrus, blessed in good fortune, came to the throne and established peace for all his people.
765
The Lydians and Phrygians he won to his rule, and the whole of Ionia he subdued by force; for he won the favor of the gods through his right-mindedness. Fourth in succession, the son of Cyrus ruled the host. Fifth in the list, Mardus came to power, a disgrace to his native land
770
and to the ancient throne; but he was slain in his palace by the guile of noble Artaphrenes, with the help of friends whose duty this was. Sixth came Maraphis, and seventh Artaphrenes.This interpolated or corrupt verse possibly comes from a variant list of the conspirators against the Smerdis (in l. 774 called Mardus), whom the Magian rebels planned to put in the place of the real prince of that name, who was slain by his brother Cambyses. The name Maraphis does not occur elsewhere in connection with this event, and neither he nor Artaphrenes was ever king. Herodotus names Intaphernes as the chief conspirator against the false Smerdis. And I in turn attained the lot I desired,
775
and many a campaign I made with a valiant force; but disaster so dire as this I brought not upon the state. Yet Xerxes my son, youth that he is, has the mind of youth and does not remember my injunctions. Be sure of this, my age-mates:
780
all of us who have held this sovereign power cannot be shown to have wrought ruin as great as this.
785
Chorus
What then, O king Darius? What is the intention of your words? How, after this reverse, may we, the people of Persia, best prosper in time to come?
Darius
If you do not take the field against the Hellenes’ land, even if the forces of the Medes outnumber theirs. The land itself is their ally.
790
Chorus
What do you mean? In what way their ally?
Darius
It wastes with famine an enemy force which is too large.
Chorus
But we will dispatch a force of select and easily managed troops.
795
Darius
Not even the host which now remains in Hellas will be able to return to safety.
Chorus
How is that? Will not the whole barbarian army cross from Europe over the Hellespont?
Darius
Few indeed out of many, if it is right to put any faith in the oracles of Heaven, with regard to what has just been brought to pass; for they are fulfilled, not just some, while others fail. And if this is truth, it is through persuasion of vain hopes that he is leaving behind a body of picked troops.
800
They are now lingering where the plain is watered by the stream of Asopus which nourishes Boeotia’s fields. Here they will meet their crowning disaster in requital for their presumptuous pride and impious thoughts. For, on reaching the land of Hellas,
805
restrained by no religious awe, they ravaged the images of the gods and set fire to their temples. Altars have been destroyed, statues of the gods have been thrown from their bases in utter ruin and confusion. Therefore, since they wrought such evil, evil they suffer in no less measure; and other evils are still in store:
810
the spring of their woes is not yet quenched, but it still wells forth. For so great will be the mass of clotted gore spilled by the Dorian lance upon Plataean soil that heaps of dead will reveal, even to the third generation, a voiceless record for the eyes of men
815
that mortal man should not vaunt himself excessively. For presumptuous pride, when it has matured, bears as its fruit a crop of calamity, from which it reaps an abundant harvest of tears.
Bear in mind that such are the penalties for deeds like these, and hold Athens and Hellas in your memory. Let no one of you,
820
through disdain of present fortune and lust for more, squander his abundant wealth. Zeus, in truth, is a chastiser of overweening pride and corrects with heavy hand. Therefore, now that my son has been warned to be prudent by the voice of God,
825
instruct him with admonitions of reason to cease from drawing the punishment of Heaven on himself by his vaunting rashness. And as for you, beloved and venerable mother of Xerxes, withdraw to the palace and bring from there clothing which is suitable for him, and prepare to meet your son. For
830
through grief at his misfortunes, the embroidered apparel which he was wearing has been torn into tattered shreds. Soothe him with words of kindness; for it is to your voice alone, I know, that he will listen. As for me, I depart to the darkness beneath the earth.
835
Farewell, Elders, and despite your troubles, rejoice while each day is yours; for wealth does not profit the dead at all. The ghost of Darius descends
840
Chorus
I grieve as I hear the many misfortunes that are now, and are yet to be, the lot of the barbarians.
Atossa
O God! How much grief assails me! But most of all this sorrow wounds me, to hear of the shameful clothes which are now worn by my son. But I will depart, and when I have brought appropriate garments from the palace,
845
I will make attempt to meet my son; for I will not forsake him whom I love so well in his affliction. Exit
850