133.
He showed the letter to the Ephors, who were now more inclined to believe,
but still
they wanted to hear something from Pausanias' own mouth, and so, according to a plan
preconcerted with them, the man went to Taenarus as a suppliant and there put up a hut
divided by a partition. In the inner part of the hut he placed some of the Ephors, and when
Pausanias came to him and asked him why he was a suppliant, the whole1 truth was at once revealed to them. There was the man reproaching Pausanias with the directions which he had found in the
letter, and going into minute details about the whole affair; he protested that never on
any occasion had he brought him into any trouble when sent on his service in this matter
to the King: why then should he share the fate of the other messengers, and be rewarded
with death? And there was Pausanias, admitting the truth of his words, and telling him not to be
angry at what had happened, offering to raise him by the hand that he might safely leave
the temple, and bidding him start at once and not make difficulties.
1 His servant takes sanctuary at Taenarus, where he conceals some of the Ephors. Pausanias coming to enquirer the reason reveals the whole.
Thucydides translated into English; with introduction, marginal analysis, notes, and indices. Volume 1. Thucydides. Benjamin Jowett. translator. Oxford. Clarendon Press. 1881.
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