Page:History of Greece Vol V.djvu/32

 g mSTORY OF GREECE. settled in his own mind. Tiie speech which Herodotus puts into the mouth of Artabanus is that of a thoughtful and rehgious Greek : it opens with the Grecian conception of the necessity of hearing and comparing opposite views, prior to any final de- cision, — reproves Mardonius for falsely depreciating the Greeks and seducing his master into personal danger, — sets forth the probability that the Greeks, if victorious at sea, would come and destroy the bridge by which Xerxes had crossed the Hellespont, • — reminds the latter of the imminent hazard which Darius and his army had undergone in Scythia, from the destruction — averted only by Histiaeus and his influence — of the bridge over the Danube : such prudential suggestions being further strength- ened by adverting to the jealous aversion of the godhead towards overgrown human power.i The impatient monarch silences his uncle in a tone of insult and menace: nevertheless, in spite of himself, the dissuasions work upon him so powerfully, that before night they gradually alter his resolution, and decide him to renounce the scheme. In this latter disposition he falls asleep, when a dream appears : a tall, stately man stands over him, denounces his change of opinion, and peremptorily commands him to persist in the enter prise as announced In spite of this dream, Xerxes still adheres to his altered purpose, assembles his council the next morning, and after apologizing for his angry language towards Artabanus, acquaints them to their great joy that he adopts the recommen- dations of the latter, and abandons his project against Greece. But in the following night, no sooner has Xerxes fallen asleep, than the same dream and the same figure again appear to him, repeating the previous command in language of terrific menace. The monarch, in a state of great alarm, springs from his bed and sends for Artabanus, whom he informs of the twice-repeated vision and divine mandate interdicting his change of resolution. " If (says he) it be the absolute will of God that this expedition against Greece should be executed, the same vision will appear to thee also, provided thou puttest on my attire, sittest in my throne, and sleepest in my bed." 2 Not without reluctance. ' Herodot. vii, 10.
 * Herodot. vii, 15. Et (I)V i?e6f tan 6 innrefiTTUv koI oi rrdrrwf if i'^imr}