Page:Key to Easy Latin Stories for beginners.djvu/85

PART IV.] THE THIRD INVASION OF GEEECE. 77 number of 674, they placed them (in line). Between these in three places they left a passage, that the merchants might be able to pass into the Black Sea, and return thence. Next, having laid timbers across the vessels, they piled brushwood on them, and earth on the brushwood. Finally, they provided either side of the bridge with a fence, lest the beasts of burden and horses should be terrified on seeing the sea.

223.After it was announced to Xerxes that the bridge and canal were ready, he resolved to set out at once. And he was already on the point of setting out on the journey when the sun left its (usual) station and disappeared; the sky was covered by no clouds, but was as fine as possible, and night came at mid-day. When Xerxes had looked on this the occurrence caused him anxiety, and he inquired of the Magi what that portent meant. The Magi replied, ‘That the god was foretelling to the Greeks the destruction of their cities; for the sun foretold future events to the Greeks, but the moon to the Persians.’ Xerxes, delighted at hearing this, began to lead out his forces.

225.Then a certain Pythius, fearing the portent, begged Xerxes to leave him one of his five sons who were in the army. And the king, being exceedingly angry, answered him, ‘worthless creature, though I am taking with me my sons and brothers, thou hast dared to make mention of thy son! I will indeed give thee thy son!’ Having given this answer, he gave orders that the eldest of Pythius’s sons should be cut in two across the middle, and that half of the mutilated body should be placed on the right hand of the road, and half on the left, and that the army should cross over by that road.

226.But Xerxes desired to review before him (lit. with his eyes) the whole of his army. And there a lofty throne made of white marble had been prepared on purpose, which the men