The Colian dames on Afric's shores Shall roast their food with Persian oars.
Mardonius.--His apprehensions after the battle.--Depression of Xerxes.--Mardonius's address to him.--Mardonius offers to complete the conquest of Greece.--Effect of Mardonius's address.--Xerxes consults Artemisia.--Artemisia hesitates.--Her advice to Xerxes.--Xerxes adopts Artemesia's advice.--His anxiety increases.--Xerxes commences his retreat.--He sends his family to Ephesus.--Excitement in the Greek fleet.--The Persians pursued.--Debate among the generals.--Themistocles outvoted.--Another stratagem of Themistocles.--His message to Xerxes.--Duplicity of Themistocles.--Retreat of Xerxes.--Horrors of the retreat.--Sufferings from hunger.--Famine and disease.--Xerxes crosses the Hellespont.--Fate of Mardonius.--Xerxes arrives at Susa.--Xerxes's dissolute life.--His three sons.--Artabanus, captain of the guard.--He assassinates Xerxes.--Artaxerxes kills his brother.--He succeeds to the throne.
Mardonius, it will be recollected, was the commander-in-chief of the forces of Xerxes, and thus, next to Xerxes himself, he was the officer highest in rank of all those who attended the expedition. He was, in fact, a sort of prime minister, on whom the responsibility for almost all the measures for the government and conduct of the expedition had been thrown. Men in such positions, while they may expect the highest rewards and honors from their sovereign in case of success, have always reason to apprehend the worst of consequences to themselves in case of failure. The night after the battle of Salamis, accordingly, Mardonius was in great fear. He did not distrust the future success of the expedition if it were allowed to go on; but, knowing the character of such despots as those who ruled great nations in that age of the world, he was well aware that he might reasonably expect, at any moment, the appearance of officers sent from Xerxes to cut off his head.
His anxiety was increased by observing that Xerxes seemed very much depressed, and very restless and uneasy, after the battle, as if he were revolving in his mind some extraordinary design. He presently thought that he perceived indications that the king was planning a retreat. Mardonius, after much hesitation, concluded to speak to him, and endeavor to dispel his anxieties and fears, and lead him to take a more favorable view of the prospects of the expedition. He accordingly accosted him on the subject somewhat as follows: