§4.118.1ἐπὶ τούτων ὦν τῶν καταλεχθέντων ἐθνέων τοὺς βασιλέας ἁλισμένους ἀπικόμενοι τῶν Σκυθέων οἱ ἄγγελοι ἔλεγον ἐκδιδάσκοντες ὡς ὁ Πέρσης, ἐπειδή οἱ τὰ ἐν τῇ ἠπείρῳ τῇ ἑτέρῃ πάντα κατέστραπται, γέφυραν ζεύξας ἐπὶ τῷ αὐχένι τοῦ Βοσπόρου διαβέβηκε ἐς τήνδε τὴν ἤπειρον, διαβὰς δὲ καὶ καταστρεψάμενος Θρήικας γεφυροῖ ποταμὸν Ἴστρον, βουλόμενος καὶ τάδε πάντα ὑπʼ ἑωυτῷ ποιήσασθαι.
Therefore, the messengers of the Scythians, having arrived at the place where the kings of these aforementioned nations were assembled, spoke and explained to them that the Persian, since all things on the other continent had already been subjugated by him, had crossed over to this continent after throwing a bridge over the neck of the Bosporus, and having crossed and subjugated the Thracians, was now bridging the river Ister, wishing to bring all these lands as well under his own dominion.
§4.118.2ὑμεῖς ὦν μηδενὶ τρόπῳ ἐκ τοῦ μέσου κατήμενοι περιίδητε ἡμέας διαφθαρέντας, ἀλλὰ τὠυτὸ νοήσαντες ἀντιάζωμεν τὸν ἐπιόντα.
"Therefore, do not by any means sit aside and allow us to be destroyed, but with one and the same mind let us advance to meet the invader.
οὔκων ποιήσετε ταῦτα;
Will you not then do this?
ἡμεῖς μὲν πιεζόμενοι ἢ ἐκλείψομεν τὴν χώρην ἢ μένοντες ὁμολογίῃ χρησόμεθα.
For if we are hard pressed, we shall either abandon our country or, remaining, come to an agreement with them.
§4.118.3τί γὰρ πάθωμεν μὴ βουλομένων ὑμέων τιμωρέειν;
For what would become of us if you are unwilling to help?
ὑμῖν δὲ οὐδὲν ἐπὶ τούτῳ ἔσται ἐλαφρότερον.
Nor will it be any easier for you on this account.
ἥκει γὰρ ὁ Πέρσης οὐδέν τι μᾶλλον ἐπʼ ἡμέας ἢ οὐ καὶ ἐπʼ ὑμέας, οὐδέ οἱ καταχρήσει ἡμέας καταστρεψαμένῳ ὑμέων ἀπέχεσθαι.
For the Persian has come no less against you than against us, nor will he be satisfied, after subjugating us, to hold aloof from you.
§4.118.4μέγα δὲ ὑμῖν λόγων τῶνδε μαρτύριον ἐρέομεν.
We shall tell you a great proof of these words.
εἰ γὰρ ἐπʼ ἡμέας μούνους ἐστρατηλάτεε ὁ Πέρσης τίσασθαι τῆς πρόσθε δουλοσύνης βουλόμενος, χρῆν αὐτὸν πάντων τῶν ἄλλων ἀπεχόμενον ἰέναι οὕτω ἐπὶ τὴν ἡμετέρην, καὶ ἂν ἐδήλου πᾶσι ὡς ἐπὶ Σκύθας ἐλαύνει καὶ οὐκ ἐπὶ τοὺς ἄλλους.
For if the Persian were marching against us alone, wishing to take vengeance for his former servitude, he ought to have left all others alone and gone straight against our land; and he would thus have made it clear to all that he was marching against Scythians and not against the others.
§4.118.5νῦν δὲ ἐπείτε τάχιστα διέβη ἐς τήνδε τὴν ἤπειρον, τοὺς αἰεὶ ἐμποδὼν γινομένους ἡμεροῦται πάντας· τούς τε δὴ ἄλλους ἔχει ὑπʼ ἑωυτῷ Θρήικας καὶ δὴ καὶ τοὺς ἡμῖν ἐόντας πλησιοχώρους Γέτας.
But now, as soon as he crossed over to this continent, he is subjugating all who continually come in his way; and indeed, he already holds under himself the other Thracians, and especially the Getae, who are our neighbors."