Atossa. Other strength than numbers have they? wealth enough within themselves?
Chorus. They can boast a fount of silver, native treasure to the land.
Atossa. Are they bowmen good? sure-feathered do their pointed arrows fly?
Chorus. Not so. Stable spears they carry, massy armature of shields.
Atossa. Who is shepherd of this people? lord (ἐπιδεσπόζει) of the Athenian host?
Chorus. Slaves are they to no man living, subject to no earthly name.
Atossa. How can such repel the onset of a strong united host?
Chorus. How Darius knew in Hellas, when he lost vast armies there.
[Blackie’s translation]
From a dramatic standpoint these questions are out of place, since Atossa’s ignorance is improbable and is shown to be feigned by vss. 348 and 474 f. The first question is especially artificial. Nevertheless, point by point Atossa has drawn out all the distinctive points of pride in her son’s enemies: their commanding influence, their numbers, their resources, their national weapon, their freedom, and their previous exploits. Aeschylus valued dramatic verisimilitude less highly than the fervent response that each of these couplets would evoke in every Athenian breast.