72.
To this appeal Archidamus rejoined:—
'What you say, Plataeans, is just, but your acts should correspond to your words.
Enjoy the1 independence which Pausanias granted to you, but also assist us in freeing the
other Hellenes who were your sworn confederates in that time of danger and are now in
subjection to the Athenians.
With a view to the emancipation of them and of the other subject states,
this great war has been undertaken and all these preparations made.
It would be best for you to join with us, and observe the oaths yourselves which you
would have us observe.
But if you prefer to be neutral, a course which we have already once proposed to you,
retain possession of your lands, and receive both sides in peace, but neither for the
purposes of war;
[2]
and we shall be satisfied.'
The Plataean ambassadors then returned to the city and reported these words of
Archidamus to2 the people, who made answer that they could not do what they were asked without
the sanction of the Athenians, in whose power they had left their wives and children,
and that they also feared for the very existence of their state.
When the Lacedaemonians were gone the Athenians might come and not allow them to carry
out the treaty; or the Thebans, who would be included in the clause requiring them 'to
receive both sides,' might again attempt to seize their town.
[3]
To this Archidamus, wanting to reassure them, made the following
answer:—
'Then deliver over your city and houses to the Lacedaemonians; mark the boundaries
of3 your land, and number your fruit-trees and anything else which can be counted.
Go yourselves whithersoever you please, while the war lasts, and on the return of peace
we will give back to you all that we have received.
Until then we will hold your property in trust, and will cultivate your ground, paying
you such a rent as will content you.'
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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