97.
A garrison was left in the place.
The Boeotians, after raising a trophy, took up their own dead, and despoiled those of the1 enemy. They then left them under the care of a guard, and retiring to Tanagra concerted an attack upon Delium.
[2]
The herald of the Athenians, as he was on his way to ask for their dead, met a Boeotian herald, who turned him back, declaring that he would get no answer until he had returned himself. He then came before the Athenians and delivered to them the message of the Boeotians, by whom they were accused of transgressing the universally recognized customs of Hellas.
[3]
Those who invaded the territory of others ever abstained from touching the temples, whereas the Athenians had fortified Delium and were now dwelling there, and doing all that men usually do in an unconsecrated place. They were even drawing, for common use, the water which the Boeotians themselves were forbidden to use except as holy water for the sacrifices.
[4]
They therefore on behalf both of the God and of themselves, invoking Apollo and all the divinities who had a share in the temple, bade the Athenians depart and carry off what belonged to them.
1 The Athenians are refused permission to bury their dead, on the ground that they have been guilty of sacrilege.
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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