Persians
Aeschylus
Aeschylus, Volume 1. Smyth, Herbert Weir, translator. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1922.
- 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.
- How did it happen? Did some stroke of pestilence or factional strife come upon the State?
- Neither; but near Athens our whole host has been brought to ruin.
- Tell me, what son of mine led our army there?
- Impetuous Xerxes, depopulating the whole surface of the continent.
- Was it by land or sea that he made this mad expedition, the reckless man?
- By both. There was a twofold front of double armies.
- But how was it that so vast a land force won a passage to the farther shore?
- By a clever device he yoked the Hellespont so as to gain a passage.
- What! Did he succeed in closing the mighty Bosporus?
- Yes indeed. One of the divine powers must have assisted him in his purpose.
- Alas! Some mighty power came upon him so that he was not able to think clearly.
- Yes, since we can see the outcome, what ruin he wrought.
- And how then did they fare that you now lament them?
- Disaster to the naval force brought ruin to the force on land.
- And did the whole army utterly perish by the spear?
- Yes, and it is for this reason that the whole city of Susa groans at its desolation.
- Alas for the loss of our warriors’ valiant force and defence!