Herodotus. Book 9, Chapter 16.
16. What follows was recounted to me by Thersander, a native of Orchomenus, a man of the first rank in that city. Thersander told me that he was himself among those invited to the feast, and that besides the Persians fifty Thebans were asked. And the two nations were not arranged separately, but a Persian and a Theban were set side by side upon each couch. After the feast was ended, and the drinking had begun, the Persian who shared Thersander's couch addressed him in the Greek tongue, and inquired of him from what city he came. He answered, that he was of Orchomenus; whereupon the other said:
"Since you have eaten with me at one table, and poured libation from one cup, I would like to leave with you a memorial of the belief I hold, so that you may have timely warning yourself, and be able to provide for your own safety. See these Persians feasting here, and the army which we left encamped yonder by the riverside? Yet a little while, and of all this number you will behold but a few surviving!"
As he spoke, the Persian let fall a flood of tears. Upon which Thersander, who was astonished at his words, replied, "Surely you should say all this to Mardonius, and the Persians who are next to him in honor." But the other rejoined, "Dear friend, it is not possible for man to avert that which God has decreed shall happen. No one believes warnings, however true. Many of us Persians know our danger, but we are constrained by necessity to do as our leader bids us. Verily it is the sorest of all human ills, to abound in knowledge and yet have no power over action." All this I heard myself from Thersander the Orchomenian. Who told me further, that he mentioned what had happened to different people, before the battle was fought at Plataea.
16. What follows was recounted to me by Thersander, a native of Orchomenus, a man of the first rank in that city. Thersander told me that he was himself among those invited to the feast, and that besides the Persians fifty Thebans were asked. And the two nations were not arranged separately, but a Persian and a Theban were set side by side upon each couch. After the feast was ended, and the drinking had begun, the Persian who shared Thersander's couch addressed him in the Greek tongue, and inquired of him from what city he came. He answered, that he was of Orchomenus; whereupon the other said:
"Since you have eaten with me at one table, and poured libation from one cup, I would like to leave with you a memorial of the belief I hold, so that you may have timely warning yourself, and be able to provide for your own safety. See these Persians feasting here, and the army which we left encamped yonder by the riverside? Yet a little while, and of all this number you will behold but a few surviving!"
As he spoke, the Persian let fall a flood of tears. Upon which Thersander, who was astonished at his words, replied, "Surely you should say all this to Mardonius, and the Persians who are next to him in honor." But the other rejoined, "Dear friend, it is not possible for man to avert that which God has decreed shall happen. No one believes warnings, however true. Many of us Persians know our danger, but we are constrained by necessity to do as our leader bids us. Verily it is the sorest of all human ills, to abound in knowledge and yet have no power over action." All this I heard myself from Thersander the Orchomenian. Who told me further, that he mentioned what had happened to different people, before the battle was fought at Plataea.
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Text source: Herodotus. Translated by George Rawlinson, first issued in 1858. Grammar and spelling updated by Michael Presky, 1993.
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