§8.26.1ἧκον δέ σφι αὐτόμολοι ἄνδρες ἀπʼ Ἀρκαδίης ὀλίγοι τινές, βίου τε δεόμενοι καὶ ἐνεργοὶ βουλόμενοι εἶναι.
Now there came to them a few deserters from Arcadia, lacking livelihood and wishing to be employed.
ἄγοντες δὲ τούτους ἐς ὄψιν τὴν βασιλέος ἐπυνθάνοντο οἱ Πέρσαι περὶ τῶν Ἑλλήνων τί ποιέοιεν· εἷς δέ τις πρὸ πάντων ἦν ὁ εἰρωτῶν αὐτοὺς ταῦτα.
Bringing them into the presence of the king, the Persians inquired concerning the Greeks, what they were doing; and there was one in particular who asked them these things on behalf of all.
§8.26.2οἳ δέ σφι ἔλεγον ὡς Ὀλύμπια ἄγουσι καὶ θεωρέοιεν ἀγῶνα γυμνικὸν καὶ ἱππικόν.
They told them that they were celebrating the Olympic games and watching athletic and equestrian contests.
ὁ δὲ ἐπείρετο ὅ τι τὸ ἄεθλον εἴη σφι κείμενον περὶ ὅτευ ἀγωνίζονται· οἳ δʼ εἶπον τῆς ἐλαίης τὸν διδόμενον στέφανον.
Then he asked what the prize was that was set before them, for which they contended; and they said it was the crown of olive that was given.
ἐνθαῦτα εἴπας γνώμην γενναιοτάτην Τιγράνης ὁ Ἀρταβάνου δειλίην ὦφλε πρὸς βασιλέος.
Thereupon Tigranes, the son of Artabanus, having expressed a most noble opinion, incurred the charge of cowardice from the king.
§8.26.3πυνθανόμενος γὰρ τὸ ἄεθλον ἐὸν στέφανον ἀλλʼ οὐ χρήματα, οὔτε ἠνέσχετο σιγῶν εἶπέ τε ἐς πάντας τάδε. παπαῖ Μαρδόνιε, κοίους ἐπʼ ἄνδρας ἤγαγες μαχησομένους ἡμέας, οἳ οὐ περὶ χρημάτων τὸν ἀγῶνα ποιεῦνται ἀλλὰ περὶ ἀρετῆς. τούτῳ μὲν δὴ ταῦτα εἴρητο.
For when he learned that the prize was a crown and not money, he could not bear to remain silent, but spoke among them all as follows: "Good heavens, Mardonius, what kind of men have you brought us to fight against, who hold their contest not for money but for virtue!" Thus indeed it was spoken by him.