HERODOTUS

BOOK VI 11. 140-142for it is not to be lightly regarded by you that youare the only men in Hellas whose offences thegreat king is ready to forgive and whose friend hewould be."141. Thus spoke Alexander. But the Lacedaemonianshad heard that Alexander was come toAthens to bring the Athenians to an agreement withthe foreigner and; remembering the oracles, howthat they themselves with the rest of the Doriansmust be driven out of the Peloponnese by the Medesand the Athenians, they were greatly afraid lest theAthenians should agree with the Persian, and theystraightway resolved that they would send envoys.Moreover it so fell out for both, that they made theirentry at one and the same time for the Athenians;delayed, and tarried for them, being well assuredthat the Lacedaemonians were like to hear that themessenger was come from the Persians for an agreement;and they had heard that the Lacedaemonianswould send their envoys with all speed therefore it;was of set purpose that they did it, that they mightmake their will known to the Lacedaemonians.142. So when Alexander had made an end otspeaking, the envoys from Sparta took up the tale,and " said, We on our part are sent by the Lacedaemoniansto entreat you to do nought hurtful toHellas and accept no offer from the foreigner. Thatwere a thing unjust and dishonourable for anyGreek, but for you most of all, on many counts it;was you who stirred up this war, by no desire of ours,and your territory was first the stake of thatbattle, wherein all Hellas is now engaged and;setting that apart, it is a thing not to be borne thatnot all this alone but slavery too should be brought149