The realm: and now Xerxes, my son, because
His thoughts are a young man's thoughts, remembers not
My precepts: for I call ye all to witness,
Friends and coevals, not a man of us
Had ever by misuse of so much power
Made it the instrument of so great a woe.
Chorus.
O King Darius, whither tends the scope
Of thy discourse? What may we thence conclude?
How may this land of Persia best emerge
From these sore trials and yet see good days?
Darius.
Wage no more wars 'gainst Hellas, wage no more,
Not though the Medic power were mightier yet;
For verily her soil is her ally.
Chorus.
How sayst thou 'her ally'? How can her soil
Take arms for her and fight upon her side?
Darius.
The power of numbers, be they ne'er so vast,
She wears away by famine.
Chorus.
Few and choice
Shall be the muster, with all manner store
Plentifully provided.
Darius.
They that are left
In Hellas even now shall not escape
Nor see their homes again.
