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Herodotus · Histories §7.51.1-7.51.3

Artabanus Warning against Using the Ionians

Passage 1114 of 1577 · Greek

Summary

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.

§7.51.1λέγει Ἀρτάβανος μετὰ ταῦτα ὦ βασιλεῦ, ἐπείτε ἀρρωδέειν οὐδὲν ἐᾷς πρῆγμα, σὺ δέ μευ συμβουλίην ἔνδεξαι· ἀναγκαίως γὰρ ἔχει περὶ πολλῶν πρηγμάτων πλεῦνα λόγον ἐκτεῖναι.
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.
Κῦρος ὁ Καμβύσεω Ἰωνίην πᾶσαν πλὴν Ἀθηναίων κατεστρέψατο δασμοφόρον εἶναι Πέρσῃσι.
Cyrus, the son of Cambyses, conquered all Ionia, except for the Athenians, to be tributary to the Persians.
§7.51.2τούτους ὦν τοὺς ἄνδρας συμβουλεύω τοι μηδεμιῇ μηχανῇ ἄγειν ἐπὶ τοὺς πατέρας· καὶ γὰρ ἄνευ τούτων οἷοί τε εἰμὲν τῶν ἐχθρῶν κατυπέρτεροι γίνεσθαι.
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.
ἢ γὰρ σφέας, ἢν ἕπωνται, δεῖ ἀδικωτάτους γίνεσθαι καταδουλουμένους τὴν μητρόπολιν, ἢ δικαιοτάτους συνελευθεροῦντας.
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.
§7.51.3ἀδικώτατοι μέν νυν γινόμενοι οὐδὲν κέρδος μέγα ἡμῖν προσβάλλουσι, δικαιότατοι δὲ γινόμενοι οἷοί τε δηλήσασθαι μεγάλως τὴν σὴν στρατιὴν γίνονται.
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.
ἐς θυμὸν ὦν βάλευ καὶ τὸ παλαιὸν ἔπος ὡς εὖ εἴρηται, τὸ μὴ ἅμα ἀρχῇ πᾶν τέλος καταφαίνεσθαι.
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."

Notes

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.

Cite this passage

Herodotus, Histories §7.51.1-7.51.3. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:7.51.1-7.51.3

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