Meeting of the Ionian fleet and the Persian army by unknown artist 1900

"The army of Darius reached the banks of the Danube at last, and they found that the fleet of the Ionians had attained the point agreed upon before them, and were awaiting their arrival. The vessels were soon arranged in the form of a bridge across the stream, and as there was no enemy at hand to embarrass them, the army soon accomplished the passage. They were now fairly in the Scythian country, and immediately began their preparations to advance and meet the foe. Darius gave orders to have the bridge broken up, and the galleys abandoned and destroyed, as he chose rather to take with him the whole of his force than to leave a guard behind sufficient to protect this shipping. These orders were about to be executed, when a Grecian general, who was attached to one of the bodies of troops which were furnished from the provinces of Asia Minor, asked leave to speak to the king. The king granted him an audience, when he expressed his opinion as follows:

"It seems to me to be more prudent, sire, to leave the bridge as it is, under the care of those who have constructed it, as it may be that we shall have occasion to use it on our return. I do not recommend the preservation of it as a means of securing a retreat, for, in case we meet the Scythians at all, I am confident of victory".

-History of Darius the Great, by Jacob Abbott

Meeting of the Ionian fleet and the Persian army by unknown artist 1900.

Source/Quote:

https://archive.org/details/historyofdariusg01abbo/page/148/mode/2up

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Meeting_of_the_Ionian_fleet_and_the_Persian_army.jpg