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§8.101.1-8.101.4

Xerxes Consults Artemisia on Withdrawing

Upon hearing Mardonius's proposal, Xerxes consults with Persian advisers and decides to summon Artemisia, who had previously given him good counsel, to ask for her advice on whether he should withdraw or stay.

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§8.101.1

ταῦτα ἀκούσας Ξέρξης ὡς ἐκ κακῶν1 ἐχάρη τε καὶ ἥσθη, πρὸς Μαρδόνιόν τε βουλευσάμενος ἔφη ὑποκρινέεσθαι ὁκότερον ποιήσει τούτων. ὡς δὲ ἐβουλεύετο ἅμα Περσέων τοῖσι ἐπικλήτοισι, ἔδοξέ οἱ καὶ Ἀρτεμισίην ἐς συμβουλίην μεταπέμψασθαι, ὅτι πρότερον ἐφαίνετο μούνη νοέουσα τὰ ποιητέα ἦν.

​On hearing this, Xerxes was as glad and pleased as could be expected after his misfortunes, and, said to Mardonius that after deliberating he would reply which of these two things he would do. But as he was deliberating with the summoned councillors of the Persians, it seemed good to him to send for Artemisia as well for a consultation, because on the previous occasion she alone appeared to have understood what ought to be done.

§8.101.2

ὡς δὲ ἀπίκετο ἡ Ἀρτεμισίη, μεταστησάμενος τοὺς ἄλλους τούς τε συμβούλους Περσέων καὶ τοὺς δορυφόρους, ἔλεξε Ξέρξης τάδε. κελεύει με Μαρδόνιος μένοντα αὐτοῦ πειρᾶσαι τῆς Πελοποννήσου, λέγων ὥς μοι Πέρσαι τε καὶ ὁ πεζὸς στρατὸς οὐδενὸς μεταίτιοι πάθεος εἰσί, ἀλλὰ βουλομένοισί σφι2 γένοιτʼ ἂν ἀπόδεξις.

​When Artemisia arrived, Xerxes, having removed the others, both the Persian councillors and the bodyguards, spoke as follows: “Mardonius urges me to remain here and make an attempt on the Peloponnese, saying that the Persians and the land army are in no way responsible for our misfortune, and that they would gladly give a demonstration of their prowess.

§8.101.3

ἐμὲ ὦν ἢ ταῦτα κελεύει ποιέειν, ἢ αὐτὸς ἐθέλει τριήκοντα μυριάδας ἀπολεξάμενος τοῦ στρατοῦ παρασχεῖν μοι τὴν Ἑλλάδα δεδουλωμένην, αὐτὸν δέ με κελεύει ἀπελαύνειν σὺν τῷ λοιπῷ στρατῷ ἐς ἤθεα τὰ ἐμά.

​Therefore, he either urges me to do this, or he himself wishes to select three hundred thousand from the army and deliver Greece to me in servitude, while urging me myself to march away with the rest of the army to my own home.

§8.101.4

σὺ ὦν ἐμοί, καὶ γὰρ περὶ τῆς ναυμαχίης εὖ συνεβούλευσας τῆς γενομένης οὐκ ἐῶσα ποιέεσθαι, νῦν τε συμβούλευσον ὁκότερα ποιέων ἐπιτύχω3 εὖ βουλευσάμενος.

​Do you then—for indeed on the occasion of the sea-fight that took place you gave me good advice in forbidding me to fight—now also advise me which of the two courses I should take to plan well and achieve success.”

Syntax notes3 items
  1. 8.101.1ὡς ἐκ κακῶν

    The particle ὡς modifies the prepositional phrase ἐκ κακῶν, expressing a restrictive or qualifying sense, meaning "considering the bad circumstances" or "as well as could be expected after such misfortunes." It functions as an adverbial phrase of qualification.

  2. 8.101.2βουλομένοισί σφι

    The dative of interest/reference σφι ("for them") is in agreement with the participle βουλομένοισι. This is an idiomatic use of the dative expressing volition or condition ("if they so wish"), which, combined with the potential optative γένοιτʼ ἂν in the main clause, means "a demonstration (of prowess) would be possible if they desire it."

  3. 8.101.4ὁκότερα ποιέων ἐπιτύχω

    The interrogative pronoun ὁκότερα ("which of the two") and the participle ποιέων ("by doing") depend on ἐπιτύχω, which is a deliberative subjunctive. The verb ἐπιτυγχάνω means "to succeed" or "to hit the mark," and here, combined with the participle, it implies succeeding in performing the action. Accompanied by the adverbial aorist participle εὖ βουλευσάμενος ("having deliberated well"), the structure means "by doing which of the two I might succeed after having planned well."

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25) · Revision history (1, latest 2026-09-21)
  • 2026-09-21 AI review — translation 1
urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:8.101.1-8.101.4