- 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-grc2:7.51.1-7.51.3
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-08
Artabanus advises Xerxes not to employ the Ionians against their ancestors, the Athenians, explaining the strategic risks. He also urges caution by citing a proverb about how the end of an undertaking is not clear at its beginning.
λέγει Ἀρτάβανος μετὰ ταῦτα ὦ βασιλεῦ, ἐπείτε ἀρρωδέειν οὐδὲν ἐᾷς πρῆγμα, σὺ δέ1 μευ συμβουλίην ἔνδεξαι· ἀναγκαίως γὰρ ἔχει2 περὶ πολλῶν πρηγμάτων πλεῦνα λόγον ἐκτεῖναι. Κῦρος ὁ Καμβύσεω Ἰωνίην πᾶσαν πλὴν Ἀθηναίων κατεστρέψατο δασμοφόρον εἶναι Πέρσῃσι.
After this Artabanus said: “O King, since you do not allow us to fear any matter, do you then accept my advice; for it is necessary to extend our speech further concerning many matters. Cyrus, the son of Cambyses, conquered all Ionia, except for the Athenians, to be tributary to the Persians.
τούτους ὦν τοὺς ἄνδρας συμβουλεύω τοι μηδεμιῇ μηχανῇ ἄγειν ἐπὶ τοὺς πατέρας· καὶ γὰρ ἄνευ τούτων οἷοί τε εἰμὲν τῶν ἐχθρῶν κατυπέρτεροι γίνεσθαι. ἢ γὰρ σφέας, ἢν ἕπωνται,3 δεῖ ἀδικωτάτους γίνεσθαι καταδουλουμένους τὴν μητρόπολιν, ἢ δικαιοτάτους συνελευθεροῦντας.
Therefore, I advise you by no means to lead these men against their fathers; for even without them we are able to get the upper hand of our enemies. For if they follow us, they must either become most unjust by enslaving their mother-city, or most just by helping to set it free.
ἀδικώτατοι μέν νυν γινόμενοι οὐδὲν κέρδος μέγα ἡμῖν προσβάλλουσι, δικαιότατοι δὲ γινόμενοι οἷοί τε δηλήσασθαι μεγάλως τὴν σὴν στρατιὴν γίνονται. ἐς θυμὸν ὦν βάλευ καὶ τὸ παλαιὸν ἔπος ὡς εὖ εἴρηται,4 τὸ μὴ ἅμα ἀρχῇ πᾶν τέλος καταφαίνεσθαι.5
Now, if they become most unjust, they bring no great advantage to us, but if they become most just, they become capable of doing great damage to your army. Therefore, lay to heart also the ancient saying, how well it is said, that the end of every matter does not appear at the very beginning.”
- 7.51.1σὺ δέ
The particle δέ used at the beginning of the main clause after a subordinate clause (ἐπείτε ...), known as apodotic δέ. It serves to emphasize or contrast the main clause following a temporal or causal clause.
- 7.51.1ἀναγκαίως γὰρ ἔχει
The impersonal expression ἀναγκαίως ἔχει is equivalent to ἀναγκαῖόν ἐστι ('it is necessary' or 'it is unavoidable'), taking the infinitive ἐκτεῖναι.
- 7.51.2ἢν ἕπωνται
The conditional clause (ἢν + subjunctive ἕπωνται) is embedded within the accusative and infinitive construction (σφέας ... γίνεσθαι) governed by the impersonal verb δεῖ.
- 7.51.3ὡς εὖ εἴρηται
An indirect question clause introduced by ὡς ('how'), explaining the preceding noun phrase τὸ παλαιὸν ἔπος appositively or via prolepsis.
- 7.51.3τὸ μὴ ἅμα ἀρχῇ πᾶν τέλος καταφαίνεσθαι
An articular infinitive phrase with the neuter singular article τὸ, expressing the concrete content of the proverb and standing in apposition to the preceding τὸ παλαιὸν ἔπος.