CHAPTER XI. OF THE PREPARATIONS OF THE GREEKS.

why he gave this commandment about the spies was this. If these spies be put to death, the Greeks will not know that my power is greater by far than all that they have heard, nor shall we harm them much slaying three of their men. But if these spies return to Greece, then will the Greeks hear the truth about this my host, and of their own free will they will give themselves to us and surrender their freedom, and we shall be spared the trouble of this great business. At another time, also, Xerxes spake much in the same fashion. When he was in Abydos he saw three corn ships coming from the Black Sea and sailing down the Hellespont, carrying wheat to Ægina and the Peloponnesus. And they that sat by him when they knew that the ships belonged to the enemy had thought of taking them, and looked to the King that he should give the word. Then said Xerxes, “Whither do these ships sail?” And the men answered, “To thy enemies, O King, carrying corn to them.” Then the King said, “And are we not sailing to the same place, taking with us corn as well as many other things? What wrong therefore do these men carrying food for us?” So it came to pass that the spies returned safe to Greece.