Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 1.129

[1] These were the contents of the writing. 129erxes, being pleased with the letter, sends away Artabazus the son of Pharnaces to the seaside with commandment to take the government of the province of Dascylis and to dismiss Megabates, that was governor there before, and withal gives him a letter to Pausanias, which he commanded him to send over to him with speed to Byzantium and to show him the seal and well and faithfully to perform whatsoever in his affairs he should by Pausanias be appointed to do.

[2] Artabazus, after he arrived, having in other things done as he was commanded, sent over the letter;

[3] wherein was written this answer: Thus saith king 129erxes to Pausanias: For the men which thou hast saved and sent over the sea unto me from Byzantium, thy benefit is laid up in our house indelibly registered forever; and I like also of what thou hast propounded. And let neither night nor day make thee remiss in the performance of what thou hast promised unto me. Neither be thou hindered by the expense of gold and silver or multitude of soldiers requisite, whithersoever it be needful to have them come. But with Artabazus, a good man whom I have sent unto thee, do boldly both mine and thine own business as shall be most fit for the dignity and honour of us both.

[1] This was all that was revealed in the writing, and Xerxes was pleased with the letter. He sent off Artabazus, son of Pharnaces, to the sea with orders to supersede Megabates, the previous governor in the satrapy of Daskylion, and to send over as quickly as possible to Pausanias at Byzantium a letter which he entrusted to him; to show him the royal signet, and to execute any commission which he might receive from Pausanias on the king's matters, with all care and fidelity.

[2] Artabazus on his arrival carried the king's orders into effect, and sent over the letter,

[3] which contained the following answer:—‘Thus saith King Xerxes to Pausanias. For the men whom you have saved for me across sea from Byzantium , an obligation is laid up for you in our house, recorded forever; and with your proposals I am well pleased. Let neither night nor day stop you from diligently performing any of your promises to me, neither for cost of gold nor of silver let them be hindered, nor yet for number of troops, wherever it may be that their presence is needed; but with Artabazus, an honorable man whom I send you, boldly advance my objects and yours, as may be most for the honor and interest of us both.’

So stand in dem Brief geschrieben. Xerxes aber freute
sich sehr über denselben und schickte den ArtabazoS, des Pharnakes
^Sohn, an die Meeresküste mit dem Befehl, den Megabates abzulösen
und an seiner Stelle die Statthalterschaft von Daökylion sMoskille
am Marmora-Meer^ zu übernehmen, und gab ihm zugleich ein
Antwortshcreiben unter Vorweisung des Siegels so schleunig als möglich
an den Pausanias nach Byzanz zu bestellen; und wenn ihm Pausa­ ¹
niaS in seinen Angelegenheiten einen Auftrag gebe, so solle er ihn
treulichst und auf das Beste ausrichten. Dieser Artabazos kam an,
that wie ihm besohlen war und übersandte auch den Brief, der
Folgendes als Antwort enthielt: „Also spricht XerxeS der König zu
Pausanias. Was die Männer betrifft, welche du mir von jenseits des
MeereS aus Byzanz wohlbehalten zugeschickt hast, so ist dir in
unserem Hause diese Gefälligkeit für immer angeschrieben^). Ich finde
aber an deinen Worten Gefallen. Und so sei auch nun weder bei Tag,
noch bei Nacht säumig, das zu betreiben, was du mir versprichst, und
es soll weder an Gold oder Silber ^), noch an Heeresmenge fehlen,
wenn dessen etwas von Nöthen ist. Benimm dich in deinen und
meinen Angelegenheiten mit dem Artabazos, den ich zu dir geschickt habe,
einem treuen Mann, offen und vertrauensvoll, so wie es für uns Beide
am Schicklichsten und Zuträglichsten fein wird."

CXXIX. Tel était le contenu de la lettre. Xerxès en fut charmé et députa vers la mer Artabaze, fils de Pharnace. Il lui ordonna de prendre le commandement de la satrapie de Dascylion, en remplacement de Mégabatès qui en était alors investi. En même temps il lui remit une réponse écrite, pour Pausanias, avec mission de l’expédier à Byzance au plus vite, de montrer à Pausanias le sceau royal, et, dans le cas où il ferait quelques ouvertures sur ses propres affaires, d’agir pour le mieux et en sujet dévoué. A son arrivée, Artabaze exécuta les ordres qu’il avait reçus, et envoya la lettre. Cette réponse était ainsi conçue :

« Ainsi parle le roi Xerxès à Pausanias : pour ce qui est des hommes que tu as sauvés à Byzance, et que tu m’as renvoyés à la côte opposée, ma reconnaissance envers toi reste gravée dans ma maison 1 et à jamais ineffaçable. Quant à tes propositions, je les agrée. Que ni le jour, ni la nuit, ne t’arrêtent et n’interrompent un instant l’exécution de les promesses ; que la dépense en or et en argent n’y soit pas un obstacle, ni le nombre des troupes, partout où leur appui te serait nécessaire. Je t’envoie Artabaze, homme sûr et fidèle ; traite en toute sécurité avec lui mes affaires et les tiennes, et fais ce qu’il y aura de mieux et de plus convenable pour tous deux. »

Tel était le contenu de ce message. Xerxès en fut ravi, et délégua vers la mer Artabaze, fils de Pharnacès, avec ordre de prendre le gouvernement de la satrapie Dascylitide ¹ , en remplacement de Mégabatès qui en était gouverneur. Il le chargea d’une lettre en réponse à celle de Pausanias. Artabaze devait au plus tôt la faire passer à Byzance en montrant le sceau royal ; et, si Pausanias lui adressait quelque demande relative à ses propres affaires, y satisfaire de son mieux et en toute fidélité. Dès son arrivée, Artabaze exécuta ces ordres et transmit la lettre dont voici la teneur :

« Ainsi dit le roi Xerxès à Pausanias. La conservation des hommes pris à Byzance et que tu m’as renvoyés d’outre-mer est un bienfait qui demeure à jamais inscrit dans notre maison ² . Je me plais aux paroles qui viennent de toi. Que ni la nuit ni le jour ne t’arrêtent dans l’accomplissement de tes promesses. Ne sois retenu ni par la dépense de l’or et de l’argent, ni par le nombre des troupes qui pourraient être necessaires; mais traite en toute assurance avec Artabaze, homme de bien que je t’envoie, de mes affaires et des tiennes, et règle-les de la façon la meilleure et la plus avantageuse à nous deux. »

[1] Xerxes was pleased with the letter, and sent Artabazus son of Pharnaces to the sea, commanding him to take over the satrapy of Dascylium, superseding Megabates, who was governor before; and he charged him with a letter in reply to Pausanias, bidding him transmit it to him in Byzantium as quickly as possible and to show him the seal, and if Pausanias should give him any direction about the King's affairs, to execute it with all care and fidelity.

[2] And he on his arrival did other things as he was told and transmitted the letter. And this reply of the King ran as follows:

[3] " Thus saith King Xerxes to Pausanias: As touching the men whom thou didst save for me out of Byzantium beyond the sea, a store of gratitude is laid up for thee, of record, in our house forever, and with thy words also I am pleased. And let neither night nor day stay thee to make thee remiss in performing aught of what thou dost promise mee; and let nothing hinder thee, either expense of gold and silver or number of troops, if there be need of their presence anywhere; but with Artabazus, a good man, whom I have sent to thee, transact with confidence my business and thine as shall be most honourable and best for both of us."

[1] Such was the purport of the writing; and Xerxes was pleased with the letter, and sent Artabazus, the son of Pharnaces, to the sea, and ordered him to succeed to the satrapy of Dascylium, superseding Megabates, who was governor be fore; and gave him a letter in answer, to send over as quickly as possible to Pausanias at Byzantium, and to show him the seal; and whatever message Pausanias should send him on his own affairs, to execute it in the best and most faithful manner possible.

[2] On his arrival he did every thing as had been told him, and also sent over the letter; the following being written in reply to him:

[3]

[1] Atque haec eunt, quat in illa epistola verbis disertis continebantur. Xerxes vero laetatus est hac epistola, et Artabazum Pharnaci filium ad mare misit, eumque jussit accipere provinciam Dascylitin, Megabate, qui ei ante praeerat, dimisso; eique vicissim epistolam ad Pausaniam dedit, imperans, ut eam Byzantium quam celerrime mitteret, illique sigillum ostenderet; et, si quid Pausanias de suis negotiis mandaret, quam rectissime et quam fidelissime conficeret.

[2] Ille vero profectus cum alia fecit, quemadmodum imperatum erat, tum etiam epistolam misit Hoc autem responsum in ea scriptum erat.

[3] « Sic respondet Xerxes rex Pausaniae : Quum ob viros, quos mihi trans mare incolumes Byzantio remisisti, beneficii gratia in domo nostra tibi perpetuo manebit reposita, scriptisque nunquam delendis mandata; tum etiam tua verba mihi placent. Ac te neque nox neque dies remoretur, ita ut remisse agas quicquam eorum, quae mihi polliceris, neque auri et argenti impensis impediare, nec ulla copiarum multitudine, si quo sit veniendum; sed cum Artabazo viro probo, quem ad te misi, age confidenter meas tuasque res, prout maxime e dignitate et utilitate utriusque nostrum erit.

[1] Diesen Grundsätzen, die wir von unsern Vätern überkommen und selber stets bewährt erfunden haben, lasst uns nicht ungetreu werden und nicht binnen weniger Stunden über so viel Menschenleben und Eigenthum, über Staatenglück und Ehre einen übereilten Beschluss fassen, sondern uns Zeit nehmen. Wir haben den Vortheil der Macht, um nichts zu versäumen. Nach Athen also sendet wegen Potidäas und wegen der Beschwerden der Bundesgenossen, besonders da sie eine gerichtliche Entscheidung nicht ablehnen. Wer diese anbietet, den hat man kein Recht als bereits Verurtheilten anzugreifen. Aber zugleich rüstet euch auch zum Kriege. Dies ist das Beste, was ihr beschliessen könnt, und wird bei dem Feind am meisten Eindruck machen.

Serse ne ebbe allegrezza, e manda Artabazzo figliolo di Farnaco sulla costa con ordine di succedere nella satrapia di Dascilite, congedandone Megabate che prima la governava. Gl’ impose ancora ricapitasse sollecitamente a Pausania in Bizanzio la lettera di risposta ; gli mostrasse il suo sigillo e si adoperasse colla massima accuratezza e fedeltà secondo gli avvertimenti di Pausania concernenti gli affari suoi. Artabazzo al suo arrivo esegui gli ordini ricevuti, e spedi la lettera, ove era scritta questa risposta. Cosi replica il re Serse a Pausania. Non solamente per la gente che d’ oltre mare salva m’ hai rimandata da Bizanzio la tua beneficenza resterà eternamente scritta in seno di mia famiglia , ma ho ancora gradito le tue profferte. Nè notte nè giorno ti impedisca si che rallenti la premura di compiere alcuna delle promesse tue. Non sia di ostacolo spesa d’ oro o d’ argento , nè quantità di soldatesca ovunque possa abbisognarti. Ma d’ accordo col fido Artabazzo che ti ho spedito, tratta animosamente gli affari miei e tuoi, nel modo il più decoroso ed utile per tutt e due ».