Sardis, the capital of the Westernmost Satrapy/province of Emperor Darius, where the royal road from Susa ended.

KING DARIUS SAYS: 

Athenian piracy, larceny, my treasury will unaffected remain, 

Wanton slaughter, Lydian innocents, can’t unpunished remain. 

Burning homes, women, children, unpardonable in our domain, 

The infliction, crime of Greek hoptiles can’t unavenged remain. 

Greek wealth, opulence, we Persians had no requirement, need, 

Retribution, reprisal’s need of hour, their odious, heinous deed. 

Manservant from Sardis was employed, Emperor Darius’ pay, 

“O King what have you decided about Athenians?” would say, 

Exasperate, infuriate, irritate Darius, lest he forgot, he’d say, 

Before king’s each afternoon, evening meal, three times, day. 

Quell rebellion incited by Athens, Eretria was a pressing task, 

Rout Greeks who’d Sardis burnt, Datis’d Persian cavalry ask. 

Athenians,20, Eretrians,5 triremes aid for Ionian revolt sent, 

Vengeance, reprisal for this on the Persians was incumbent.  

 Lament of the Immortal soldier/ Persian soldier from Sardis  

Athenians burnt our lives, temple of Hybebe, most hallowed, 

Whoever survived conflagration, was by the river swallowed.

In dead of night, we’d fearlessly, dauntlessly Ahriman attack, 

Fear, dread, trepidation fills us if the Emperor orders us back. 

Soldier, Susa, Ecbatana, discharge from army, eagerly waits, 

For Sardis’ Persian soldiers, nothing, nobody, only ash waits. 

O for honourable death in Greece! The emperor’s campaign, 

Life without family, home, unrelenting torment, anguish, pain