§9.1Scio plerosque ita scripsisse, Themistoclem Xerxe regnante in Asiam transisse.
I know that most writers have written that Themistocles crossed over into Asia during the reign of Xerxes.
sed ego potissimum Thucydidi credo, quod et aetate proximus de iis, qui illorum temporum historiam reliquerunt, et eiusdem civitatis fuit.
But I believe Thucydides in preference to others, because he was both the nearest in point of time among those who have left a history of those times, and was of the same state.
is autem ait ad Artaxerxen eum venisse atque his verbis epistulam misisse: §9.2'Themistocles veni ad te, qui plurima mala omnium Graiorum in domum tuam intuli, quamdiu mihi necesse fuit adversum patrem tuum bellare patriamque meam defendere.
Now he says that he came to Artaxerxes and sent a letter in these words: 'I, Themistocles, have come to you, who brought more disasters upon your house than any other of the Greeks, as long as it was necessary for me to make war against your father and to defend my own country.
§9.3idem multo plura bona feci, postquam in tuto ipse et ille in periculo esse coepit.
But I also did him far more favors after I myself began to be in safety and he in danger.
nam cum in Asiam reverti vellet proelio apud Salamina facto, litteris eum certiorem feci id agi ut pons, quem in Hellesponto fecerat, dissolveretur atque ab hostibus circumiretur: quo nuntio ille periculo est liberatus.
For when, after the battle at Salamis, he wished to return to Asia, I informed him by letter that it was being proposed that the bridge which he had made over the Hellespont should be destroyed and that he should be surrounded by his enemies; by which information he was delivered from danger.
§9.4nunc autem confugi ad te exagitatus a cuncta Graecia, tuam petens amicitiam: quam si ero adeptus, non minus me bonum amicum habebis, quam fortem inimicum ille expertus est.
But now, pursued by all Greece, I have fled to you, seeking your friendship; which if I obtain, you will find me no less valuable as a friend than he experienced me as a formidable enemy.
te autem rogo, ut de iis rebus, quas tecum colloqui volo, annuum mihi tempus des eoque transacto ad te venire patiaris. '
I request of you, however, to grant me a year's time concerning those matters on which I wish to converse with you, and, when that is elapsed, to permit me to come to you.'