Question 1

ἀκούων δὲ Ξέρξης οὐκ εἶχε συμβαλέσθαι τὸ ἐόν, ὅτι παρασκευάζοντο ὡς ἀπολεόμενοί τε καὶ ἀπολέοντες κατὰ δύναμιν·

Accepted Answer

But Xerxes, hearing (this), was not able to understand the situation, that they were preparing themselves to be killed and to kill to the best of their ability;

Question 2

ἀλλ᾽ αὐτῷ γελοῖα γὰρ ἐφαίνοντο ποιέειν, μετεπέμψατο Δημάρητον τὸν Ἀρίστωνος, ἐόντα ἐν τῷ στρατοπέδῳ·

Accepted Answer

But since they seemed to him to be doing ridiculous things, he sent for Demaratus the son of Ariston, who was in his camp;

Question 3

ἀπικόμενον δέ μιν εἰρώτα Ξέρξης ἕκαστα τούτων, ἐθέλων μαθεῖν τὸ ποιεύμενον πρὸς τῶν Λακεδαιμονίων. ὁ δὲ εἶπε

Accepted Answer

And when he arrived, Xerxes began to ask him about each of these things, since he wished to learn what was being done by the Spartans. And he (Demaratus) said

Question 4

‘ἤκουσας μὲν καὶ πρότερόν μευ, εὖτε ὁρμῶμεν ἐπὶ τὴν Ἑλλάδα, περὶ τῶν ἀνδρῶν τούτων· ἀκούσας δὲ γέλωτά με

Accepted Answer

'Indeed you have already heard from me about these men, when we were setting out against Greece; but when you heard, you mocked me

Question 5

ἔθευ λέγοντα τῇ περ ὥρων ἐκβησόμενα τὰ πρήγματα ταῦτα. ἐμοὶ γὰρ τὴν ἀληθείην ἀσκέειν ἀντία σεῦ, ὦ βασιλεῦ, ἀγὼν μέγιστός ἐστι.

Accepted Answer

Although I told you just how I saw these things would turn out. For it is my greatest goal, o' king, to employ the truth in your presence.

Question 6

ἄκουσον δὲ καὶ νῦν. οἱ ἄνδρες οὗτοι ἀπίκαται μαχησόμενοι ἡμῖν περὶ τῆς ἐσόδου καὶ ταῦτα παρασκευάζονται.

Accepted Answer

But listen to me now. These men have arrived to fight with us for the pass and they are preparing themselves for these things.

Question 7

νόμος γάρ σφι ἔχων οὕτω ἐστί· ἐπεὰν μέλλωσι κινδυνεύειν τῇ ψυχῇ, τότε τὰς κεφαλὰς κοσμέονται.

Accepted Answer

For they have a custom which is like this; whenever they are about to risk their lives, at that time they comb their hair.

Question 8

ἐπίστασο δέ εἰ τούτους τε καὶ τὸ ὑπομένον ἐν Σπάρτῃ καταστρέψεαι, ἔστι οὐδὲν ἄλλο ἔθνος ἀνθρώπων τὸ σὲ, βασιλεῦ, ὑπομενέει χεῖρας ἀνταειρόμενον·

Accepted Answer

And be assured that if if you conquer these men and those who remain in Sparta, there is no other race of men who will stand firm and make war against you, o' king;

Question 9

νῦν γὰρ πρὸς βασιληίην τε καὶ πόλιν καλλίστην τῶν ἐν Ἕλλησι προσφέρεαι καὶ ἄνδρας ἀρίστους.’

Accepted Answer

For you are attacking both the finest kingdom and the finest city of all those among the Greeks, and they bravest men.'

Question 10

κάρτα τε δὴ Ξέρξῃ ἄπιστα ἐφαίνετο τὰ λεγόμενα εἶναι καὶ δεύτερα ἐπειρώτα ὅντινα τρόπον τοσοῦτοι ἐόντες τῇ ἑωυτοῦ στρατιῇ μαχήσονται.

Accepted Answer

And the things which he had said seemed to Xerxes to be very unbelievable and, secondly, he was asking how they (the Spartans) would fight his army, being so few in number.

Question 11

ὁ δὲ εἶπε ‘ὦ βασιλεῦ, ἐμοὶ χρᾶσθαι ὡς ἀνδρὶ ψεύστῃ, ἢν μὴ ταῦτά τοι ταύτῃ ἐκβῇ τῇ ἐγὼ λέγω.’ ταῦτα λέγων οὐκ ἔπειθε τὸν Ξέρξην.

Accepted Answer

But he (Demaratus) said "O' king, treat me like a liar, if these things do not turn out for you in the way I say they will." Although he said these things, he did not persuade Xerxes.

A-Level Greek

Histories Book 7: 209

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