§3.1Eisdem temporibus Persarum rex Darius ex Asia in Europam exercitu traiecto Scythis bellum inferre decrevit.
At the same time, Darius, king of the Persians, having transported his army from Asia into Europe, decided to make war on the Scythians.
pontem fecit in Histro flumine, qua copias traduceret.
He built a bridge over the river Hister, by which he might cross over his forces.
eius pontis, dum ipse abesset, custodes reliquit principes, quos secum ex Ionia et Aeolide duxerat, quibus singularum urbium perpetua dederat imperia.
As guards of this bridge, while he himself was away, he left the chiefs whom he had brought with him from Ionia and Aeolis, to whom he had given the perpetual rule of individual cities.
§3.2sic enim facillime putavit se Graeca lingua loquentes, qui Asiam incolerent, sub sua retenturum potestate, si amicis suis oppida tuenda tradidisset, quibus se oppresso nulla spes salutis relinqueretur.
For in this way he thought he would most easily keep under his power the Greek-speaking people who inhabited Asia, if he should hand over the towns to be guarded to his friends, to whom, if he were crushed, no hope of safety would be left.
in hoc fuit tum numero Miltiades.
In this number at that time was Miltiades.
§3.3hic, cum crebri afferrent nuntii male rem gerere Darium premique a Scythis, hortatus est pontis custodes, ne a fortuna datam occasionem liberandae Graeciae dimitterent.
He, when frequent messages brought word that Darius was faring badly and was hard pressed by the Scythians, exhorted the guards of the bridge not to let slip the opportunity of freeing Greece offered by fortune.
§3.4nam si cum iis copiis, quas secum transportarat, interisset Darius, non solum Europam fore tutam, sed etiam eos, qui Asiam incolerent Graeci genere, liberos a Persarum futuros dominatione et periculo.
For if Darius should perish with those forces which he had transported with him, not only would Europe be safe, but also those of Greek race who inhabited Asia would be free from the domination and danger of the Persians.
id facile effici posse: ponte enim rescisso regem vel hostium ferro vel inopia paucis diebus interiturum.
This could easily be accomplished: for if the bridge were cut down, the king would perish within a few days, either by the sword of the enemy or by want.
§3.5ad hoc consilium cum plerique accederent, Hestiaeus Milesius, ne res conficeretur, obstitit, dicens non idem ipsis, qui summas imperii tenerent, expedire et multitudini, quod Darii regno ipsorum niteretur dominatio: quo exstincto ipsos potestate expulsos civibus suis poenas daturos.
When most were agreeing to this plan, Hestiaeus of Miletus, lest the matter should be accomplished, opposed, saying that the same thing was not expedient for themselves, who held the chief power, and for the multitude, because their own domination rested on the reign of Darius: if he were destroyed, they, expelled from power, would pay the penalty to their own citizens.
itaque adeo se abhorrere a ceterorum consilio, ut nihil putet ipsis utilius quam confirmari regnum Persarum.
Therefore he so far dissented from the plan of the others that he thought nothing was more useful to them than that the kingdom of the Persians should be strengthened.
§3.6huius cum sententiam plurimi essent secuti, Miltiades non dubitans tam multis consciis ad regis aures consilia sua perventura, Chersonesum reliquit ac rursus Athenas demigravit.
When very many had followed his opinion, Miltiades, not doubting that, with so many being privy to it, his plans would reach the ears of the king, left the Chersonese and emigrated back to Athens.
cuius ratio etsi non valuit, tamen magno opere est laudanda, cum amicior omnium libertati quam suae fuerit dominationi.
Whose plan, although it did not prevail, is yet greatly to be praised, since he was more friendly to the liberty of all than to his own domination.