Histories

His uncle Artabanus perceived this, he who in the beginning had spoken his mind freely and advised Xerxes not to march against Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas. Marking how Xerxes wept, he questioned him and said, “O king, what a distance there is between what you are doing now and a little while ago! After declaring yourself blessed you weep.”

Xerxes said, “I was moved to compassion when I considered the shortness of all human life, since of all this multitude of men not one will be alive a hundred years from now.”