The pursuers, who were close at
their heels, made fast the doors, and then the question arose what
they should do with their captives. Some proposed to set fire to the
building, and to burn it down, with the Thebans in it; but at last
those who were thus taken, and the few who were still straggling in
the town, were allowed to surrender at discretion.
Meanwhile a strong reinforcement of Thebans, who had started after the
three hundred, were on the way to Plataea; but being delayed by the
state of the roads, and the swollen condition of the Asopus, which
they had to cross, they arrived too late. Being informed of what had
happened, they prepared to plunder the property of the Plataeans
outside the walls, and seize any of the citizens who crossed their
path, to serve as hostages for their own men in the town. The
Plataeans, perceiving their intention, sent a herald to remonstrate,
threatening that unless they desisted, all the Theban prisoners should
at once be put to death. And they promised further, under an oath,
that if the Thebans would withdraw their forces, the captives should
be restored--at least this was the account which was afterwards
current at Thebes, though the Plataeans denied that they had made any
such promise unconditionally, and declared that they had sworn no
oath.
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