Xerxes asked who
this man of such wealth was. He was answered:
"This is the man, O king! who gave thy father Darius the golden
plane tree, and likewise the golden vine; and he is still the
wealthiest man we know of in all the world, excepting
thee."--_Herodotus, book 7, par. 27._
"Richer than they all," Xerxes, "through his riches," was able, as the
prophecy had foretold, to "stir up all against the realm of Grecia."
Forty-nine nations marched under his banners to the attack. The Greek
poet, AEschylus, who himself fought against the Persians, wrote of
Xerxes' mighty host,
"And myriad-peopled Asia's king, a battle-eager lord,
From utmost east to utmost west sped on his countless horde,
In unnumbered squadrons marching, in fleets of keels untold,
Knowing none dared disobey,
For stern overseers were they
Of the godlike king begotten of the ancient race of Gold."
--_"Persae," Way's translation._
Xerxes boasted that he was leading "the whole race of mankind to the
destruction of Greece." But his invasion ended in the total rout of his
forces by land and by sea.
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