Then the old men cried out, bewailing themselves that they had lived to see this day.  And the messenger told them how he had himself seen this great trouble befall the Persians, and had not heard it from others, and that it was at Salamis that the army had perished, and the city of Athens that had been chief among their enemies, the old men breaking in upon his story as he spake with their lamentations.  But after a while the Queen Atossa stood forward, saying, “For a while I was dumb, for the trouble that I heard suffered me not to speak.  But we must bear what the Gods send.  Tell me, therefore, who is yet alive? and for whom must we make lamentation?”

“Know, O Queen,” said the messenger, “that thy son, King Xerxes, is yet alive.”

And the Queen cried, “What thou sayest is as light after darkness to me; but say on.”

And when the messenger had told the names of many chiefs that had perished, the Queen said, “Come, let us hear the whole matter from the beginning.  How many in number were the ships of the Greeks that they dared to meet the Persians in battle array?”

Then the man made reply, “In numbers, indeed, they might not compare with us; for the Greeks had three hundred ships in all, and ten besides that were chosen for their swiftness; but King Xerxes, as thou knowest, had a thousand, and of ships excelling in speed two hundred and seven.  Of a truth, we wanted not for strength; but some God hath destroyed our host, weighing us against our enemies in deceitful balances.”

And the Queen made reply, “’Tis even so:  the Gods preserve the city of Pallas.”

“Yea,” said the man, “Athens is safe, though it be laid waste with fire; for the city that hath true men hath a sure defence.”

“But say,” said the Queen, “who began this battle of ships?  Did the Greeks begin, or my son, trusting in the greatness of his host?”

Then the messenger answered, “Some evil demon set on foot all this trouble.  For there came a man from the army of the Athenians to King Xerxes, saying that when night should come the Greeks would not abide in their place, but, taking with haste to their ships, would fly as best they could, and so save their lives.  And he straightway, not knowing that the man lied, and that the Gods were jealous of him, made a proclamation to all the captains.  “So soon as the sun be set upon the earth and the heavens dark, order your ships in three companies, and keep the channels this way and that, and compass about the whole island of Salamis; for if by any means the Greeks escape, know that ye shall pay your lives for their lives.”  This commandment did he give in his pride, not knowing what should come to pass.  Whereupon all the people in due order made provision of meat and fitted their oars to the rowlocks; and when night was come, every man-at-arms embarked upon the ships.  And the word of the command passed from line to line, and they sailed each to his appointed