Book 9
7B.1
but what of you, who once were in great dread lest we should make terms with the Persian? Now that you have a clear idea of our sentiments and are sure that we will never betray Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas, and now that the wall which you are building across the Isthmus is nearly finished, you take no account of the Athenians, but have deserted us despite all your promises that you would withstand the Persian in Boeotia (department), Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Boeotia, and have permitted the barbarian to march into Attica [23.5,38.83] (department), Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Attica.
7B.2
For the present, then, the Athenians are angry with you since you have acted in a manner unworthy of you. Now they ask you to send with us an army with all speed, so that we may await the foreigner's onset in Attica [23.5,38.83] (department), Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Attica; since we have lost Boeotia (department), Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Boeotia, in our own territory the most suitable place for a battle is the Thriasian plain.”
8.1
When the ephors heard that, they delayed answering till the next day, and again till the day after. This they did for ten days, putting it off from day to day. In the meantime all the Peloponnesians were doing all they could to fortify the Isthmus, and they had nearly completed the task.
8.2
I cannot say for certain why it was that when Alexander the Macedonian came to Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens cp. Hdt. 8.135 the Lacedaemonians insisted that the Athenians should not join the side of the Persian, yet now took no account of that; it may be that with the Isthmus fortified, they thought they had no more need of the Athenians, whereas when Alexander came to Attica [23.5,38.83] (department), Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Attica, their wall was not yet built and they were working at this in great fear of the Persians.
