that are near to the Greek sea, and the islands which are neighbours to them.  But these loved him not, hating to fight against their brethren, but were constrained to join with him by fear.  And when these were gathered together, being as the sand that is on the seashore for multitude, he marched into the land of Greece; and the ships also, being in number a thousand and more, sailed along as near as might be to the army, that there might be no escape for the Greeks either by land or sea.

But when the King had been gone now many days, and there came no tidings of him and the army, the old men, counsellors and princes, to whom had been committed the care of the realm while he should be absent, were gathered together before the palace in Susa, the royal city.  Not a little troubled were they in mind, for the whole strength of the land was gone to the war.  “Invincible,” they said, “is the host of the Persians, and the people is valiant; but yet what man that is mortal can escape from the craft of the Gods, when they lure him to his ruin?  Who is so nimble of foot that he can spring out of the net which they lay for his feet?  Now of old the Persians fought ever upon the land, but now have they ventured where the waves of the sea grow white with the wind; and my heart is sore afraid, lest there come evil news that the city of Susa is emptied of her men.  Then should there be heard great wailing of women; and the fine linen of the daughters of Persia, who even now sit at home alone, would be rent for grief.  But come, let us sit and take counsel together, for our need is sore, and reckon the chances which of the two hath prevailed—­the Persian bow or the spear of Greece.”

But while they thus spake together there came forth to them from within the palace Queen Atossa, borne in a litter.  And the old men did obeisance to her, bowing their heads to the ground. (Now Queen Atossa had been wife to Darius, and was the mother of King Xerxes.) And when they had greeted her, she told them for what cause she had come forth from the palace, for that she feared greatly lest the wealth which King Darius had gathered together should be overset.  “For I know not,” she said, “which is the worse thing, store of wealth without manhood, or lack of riches to them that are strong.”

Then the old men bade her speak on, for that they would give her with all willingness such counsel as they could.  After this the Queen set forth the matter to them, saying—­

“I have been visited with many dreams and visions of the night since the day when King Xerxes my son departed hence with his army, purposing to subdue the men of Greece; but never have I seen vision so clear as that which I beheld in this night that is last past.  I saw two women clothed with fair garments, the one being clad in Persian apparel, and the other in that which Grecian women used to wear.  Very tall were they, above the stature of women in these days, and fair, so that no man might blame their