§7.150.1αὐτοὶ μὲν Ἀργεῖοι τοσαῦτα τούτων πέρι λέγουσι· ἔστι δὲ ἄλλος λόγος λεγόμενος ἀνὰ τὴν Ἑλλάδα, ὡς Ξέρξης ἔπεμψε κήρυκα ἐς Ἄργος πρότερον ἤ περ ὁρμῆσαι στρατεύεσθαι ἐπὶ τὴν Ἑλλάδα·
The Argives themselves say this much about these matters; but there is another story told throughout Greece, that Xerxes sent a herald to Argos before he set out to march against Greece.
§7.150.2ἐλθόντα δὲ τοῦτον λέγεται εἰπεῖν
ἄνδρες Ἀργεῖοι, βασιλεὺς Ξέρξης τάδε ὑμῖν λέγει.
It is said that this man, having arrived, spoke as follows: "Men of Argos, King Xerxes says this to you.
ἡμεῖς νομίζομεν Πέρσην εἶναι ἀπʼ οὗ ἡμεῖς γεγόναμεν παῖδα Περσέος τοῦ Δανάης, γεγονότα ἐκ τῆς Κηφέος θυγατρὸς Ἀνδρομέδης.
We believe that Perses, from whom we are descended, was the child of Perseus, son of Danae, born of Cepheus' daughter Andromeda.
οὕτω ἂν ὦν εἴημεν ὑμέτεροι ἀπόγονοι.
Thus, then, we would be your descendants.
οὔτε ὦν ἡμέας οἰκὸς ἐπὶ τοὺς ἡμετέρους προγόνους στρατεύεσθαι, οὔτε ὑμέας ἄλλοισι τιμωρέοντας ἡμῖν ἀντιξόους γίνεσθαι, ἀλλὰ παρʼ ὑμῖν αὐτοῖσι ἡσυχίην ἔχοντας κατῆσθαι.
Therefore, it is neither fitting for us to march against our own ancestors, nor for you, by helping others, to become opposed to us, but you should remain quiet by yourselves.
ἢν γὰρ ἐμοὶ γένηται κατὰ νόον, οὐδαμοὺς μέζονας ὑμέων ἄξω. §7.150.3ταῦτα ἀκούσαντας Ἀργείους λέγεται πρῆγμα ποιήσασθαι, καὶ παραχρῆμα μὲν οὐδὲν ἐπαγγελλομένους μεταιτέειν, ἐπεὶ δὲ σφέας παραλαμβάνειν τοὺς Ἕλληνας, οὕτω δὴ ἐπισταμένους ὅτι οὐ μεταδώσουσι τῆς ἀρχῆς Λακεδαιμόνιοι μεταιτέειν, ἵνα ἐπὶ προφάσιος ἡσυχίην ἄγωσι.
For if things go according to my mind, I shall hold none in greater esteem than you." It is said that the Argives, having heard this, regarded the matter as highly important; and though at the moment they made no demand, yet when the Greeks sought to enlist them, they then made the demand, knowing well that the Lacedaemonians would not share the command, so that they might remain quiet under a pretext.