129-131] STORY OF PAUSANIAS 87 entrusted to hhn, which he was to send as quickly as possible to Pausanias at Byzantium ; he was to show him at the same time the royal seal. If Pausanias gave him any order about his own affairs, he was to execute it with all diligence and fidelity. Artabazus came down to the sea, as he was desired, and transmitted the letter. The answer of the King was as follows : —
- Thus saith Xerxes, the King, to Pausanias. The bene-
fit which thou hast done me in saving the captives who were taken at Byzantium beyond the sea is recorded in my house for ever, and thy words please me. Let neitlicr day nor night hinder thee from fulfilling diligently the promise which thou hast made to me ; spare not gold or B.C. 477 silver, and take as large an army as thou wilt, wheresoever 01 '^75, 4 it may be required. I have sent to thee Artabazus, a good or 76 ft'. man ; act with him for my honour and welfare, and for thine own, and be of good courage.' Pausanias received the letter. He had already acquired 130 a high reputation among the Hellenes p,„,,^„.„,^ ,^,,^,j when in command at Plataea, and now aivay by pride, mam- he was so great that he could no longer /'^'^ /lis ambitions de- contain himself or live like other men. '■^ Whenever he marched out of Byzantium he wore Persian apparel. On his way through Thrace he was always attended by a body-guard of Medes and Egyptians, and he had his table served after the Persian fashion. He could not conceal his ambition, but indicated by little things the greater designs which he was meditating. He made himself difficult of access, and displayed such a violent temper towards everybody that no one could come near him ; and this was one of the chief reasons why the confederacy transferred themselves to the Athenians. The news of his behaviour soon reached the Lacedae- 131 monians; who had recalled him in the finst instance on this ground =*. And now, when he had sailed away in the ship
- Cp. i. 93 init.
