MINUTE
GREEK FRONTIERS There came now a few deserters from Arcadia to join the Persians — poor men who had nothing to live on and were in want of employment. The Persians brought them into the King’s presence and there inquired of them, by a man who acted as their spokesman, “what the Greeks were doing?” The Arcadians answered—“ They are holding the Olympic games, seeing the athletic sports and the chariot-races.” “And what.” said the man, “is the prize for which they contend?” “An olive-wreath,” returned the others, “which is given to the man who wins ” On hearing this. Tritantaechmes, the son of Artabanus, uttered a speech which was in truth most noble, but which caused him to be taxed with cowardice by King Xerxes. Hearing the men say that the prize was not money but a wreath of olive, he could not forbear from exclaiming before them all: “Good heavens! Mardonius, what manner of men are these against whom thou hast brought us to fight?— men who contend with one another, not for money, but for honour!” —HERODOTUS: Rawlinson’s translation.
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25270, 23 August 1947, Page 7
Word Count
181MINUTE Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25270, 23 August 1947, Page 7
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