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(Extract)
Translated by E. H. Plumptre
FROM Ecbatana departing, | |
| Or Susa, or the Kissian fortress, | |
| Forth they sped upon their journey, | |
| Some in ships, and some on horses, | |
| Some on foot, still onward marching, | 5 |
| In their close array presenting | |
| Squadrons duly armed for battle: | |
| Then Amistres, Artaphernes, | |
| Megabazes and Astaspes, | |
| Mighty leaders of the Persians, | 10 |
| Kings, and of the great king servants, | |
| March, the chiefs of mighty armies. | |
| Archers they and mounted horsemen, | |
| Dread to look on, fierce in battle, | |
| Artembares, horse-controller, | 15 |
| And Masistres and Imæos, | |
| Archer famed, and Pharandakes, | |
| And the charioteer Sosthanes; | |
| Neilos mighty and prolific | |
| Sent forth others, Susiskanes, | 20 |
| Pegastagon, born in Egypt, | |
| And the chief of sacred Memphis; | |
| Great Arsames, Ariomardos, | |
| Ruler of primeval Thebæ, | |
| And the marshmen and the rowers, | 25 |
| Dread and in their number countless, | |
| And their fellow crowds of Lydians, | |
| Very delicate and stately, | |
| Who the people of the mainlands | |
| Rule throughout,—whom Mitragathes | 30 |
| And brave Arkteus, kingly chieftains, | |
| And Sardis, gold-abounding, send forth, | |
| Riding on their many chariots, | |
| Three or four abreast their horses, | |
| Sight to look upon all dreadful! | 35 |
| And the men of sacred Tmolos | |
| Rush to place the yoke of bondage | |
| On the neck of conquered Hellas. | |
| Mardon, Tharybis, spear-anvils, | |
| And the Mysians, javelin-darting, | 40 |
| Babylon, too, gold-abounding, | |
| Sends a mingled crowd, swept onward, | |
| Both the troops who man the vessels, | |
| And the skilled and trustful archers; | |
| And the race the sword that beareth, | 45 |
| Follows from each clime of Asia, | |
| At the great king’s dread commandment. | |
| These, the bloom of Persia’s greatness, | |
| Now are gone forth to the battle; | |
| And for these, their mother country, | 50 |
| Asia, mourns with mighty yearning; | |
| Wives and mothers faint with trembling | |
| Through the hours that slowly linger, | |
| Counting each day as it passes. | |
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