- Source
- Herodotus. Godley, Alfred Denis, editor. Cambridge, MA; London: Harvard University Press; William Heinemann, Ltd., 1920-1925 (printing).
- Translation
- AI-generated (gemini-3.5-flash) — machine translation; may contain errors
- Languages
- 日本語 · English · 简体中文 · 한국어
- CTS URN
- urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:7.49.1-7.49.5
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-08
Artabanus points out that the greatest enemies to Xerxes' massive army are "land" and "sea," explaining the danger of lacking safe harbors and the threat of famine caused by endless advance, and emphasizes the importance of cautious planning combined with bold action.
ὃ δʼ ἀμείβετο λέγων ὦ βασιλεῦ, οὔτε στρατὸν τοῦτον, ὅστις γε σύνεσιν ἔχει, μέμφοιτʼ ἂν οὔτε τῶν νεῶν τὸ πλῆθος· ἢν δὲ πλεῦνας συλλέξῃς, τὰ δύο τοι τὰ λέγω πολλῷ ἔτι πολεμιώτερα γίνεται. τὰ δὲ δύο ταῦτα ἐστὶ γῆ τε καὶ θάλασσα.
He replied, saying: “O King, neither would anyone who has understanding find fault with this army, nor with the multitude of the ships; but if you gather more, those two things of which I speak become even far more hostile to you. And these two things are land and sea.
οὔτε γὰρ τῆς θαλάσσης ἐστὶ λιμὴν τοσοῦτος οὐδαμόθι, ὡς ἐγὼ εἰκάζω, ὅστις ἐγειρομένου χειμῶνος δεξάμενός σευ τοῦτο τὸ ναυτικὸν φερέγγυος ἔσται διασῶσαι τὰς νέας. καίτοι οὐκὶ ἕνα αὐτὸν δεῖ εἶναι τὸν λιμένα, ἀλλὰ παρὰ πᾶσαν τὴν ἤπειρον παρʼ ἣν δὴ κομίζεαι.
For neither is there any harbor of the sea anywhere, as I guess, which, if a storm arises, will be capable of receiving this navy of yours and keeping the ships safe. And yet, there must needs be not just one such harbor, but along the whole coast along which you sail.
οὔκων δὴ ἐόντων τοι λιμένων ὑποδεξίων, μάθε ὅτι αἱ συμφοραὶ τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἄρχουσι καὶ οὐκὶ ὥνθρωποι τῶν συμφορέων. καὶ δὴ τῶν δύο τοι τοῦ ἑτέρου εἰρημένου τὸ ἕτερον ἔρχομαι ἐρέων.
Since, then, there are no harbors capable of receiving them, understand that circumstances rule men, and not men circumstances. And indeed, now that one of the two things has been spoken of, I am going to speak of the other.
γῆ δὲ πολεμίη τῇδέ τοι κατίσταται· εἰ θέλει1 τοι μηδὲν ἀντίξοον καταστῆναι, τοσούτῳ τοι γίνεται πολεμιωτέρη ὅσῳ ἂν προβαίνῃς ἑκαστέρω, τὸ πρόσω αἰεὶ κλεπτόμενος·2 εὐπρηξίης δὲ οὐκ ἔστι ἀνθρώποισι οὐδεμία πληθώρη.
And the land becomes hostile to you in this way: even if nothing adverse should stand in your way, it becomes so much the more hostile, the further you advance, being constantly deceived by what is further ahead; for of prosperity there is never any satiety for men.
καὶ δή τοι, ὡς οὐδενὸς ἐναντιευμένου, λέγω τὴν χώρην πλεῦνα ἐν πλέονι χρόνῳ γινομένην3 λιμὸν τέξεσθαι. ἀνὴρ δὲ οὕτω ἂν εἴη ἄριστος, εἰ βουλευόμενος μὲν ἀρρωδέοι, πᾶν ἐπιλεγόμενος πείσεσθαι χρῆμα, ἐν δὲ τῷ ἔργῳ θρασὺς εἴη.
And indeed, even with no one opposing you, I say that the land, becoming more as more time passes, will breed famine. But a man would be best in this way, if in planning he should be fearful, reflecting that he might suffer every kind of trouble, but in action he should be bold.”
- 7.49.4εἰ θέλει
The conditional phrase εἰ θέλει here functions concessively ("even if [fortune] should will that...") or impersonally ("if it should happen that..."), introducing a hypothetical best-case scenario where no external obstacle or enemy arises.
- 7.49.4τὸ πρόσω αἰεὶ κλεπτόμενος
The passive participle κλεπτόμενος ("being deceived" or "being stealthily deprived of") indicates that the marching army is insensibly led on, losing track of distance or time. τὸ πρόσω is an adverbial accusative meaning "further onward".
- 7.49.5τὴν χώρην πλεῦνα ἐν πλέονι χρόνῳ γινομένην
An accusative phrase serving as the subject of the infinitive τέξεσθαι (will breed). πλεῦνα (more) modifies χώρην (the land), describing the "land becoming greater" (in extent to be traversed) as more time passes (ἐν πλέονι χρόνῳ).