Send us back into
our city, and keep us there immured until we have perished of hunger.
Any fate is better than falling into the hands of the Thebans, the
enemies of Plataea, and of all Greece."
The orator had indeed spoken in vain, or if his words had made any
impression on the minds of the judges, it was speedily obliterated by
a fierce and bitter tirade which was delivered by a Theban speaker in
reply. As soon as he had finished his harangue, the prisoners were
called up again in turn, and questioned as before. When each of them
had answered, in the only manner possible, he was led away and put to
death; and not one of them was spared. The number of those slain was
two hundred and twenty-five, and of these twenty-five were Athenians.
The city was then levelled to the ground, and the territory left at
the disposal of the Thebans. Thus was this brave little community
sacrificed to the rancour of Thebes, and the selfish policy of Sparta.
CAPTURE OF A HUNDRED AND TWENTY SPARTANS AT SPHACTERIA
I
The result of six years of desultory fighting had fully justified the
forebodings of Archidamus, and the sanguine anticipations of Pericles.
In spite of the terrible ravages of the plague, Athens had easily held
her own against the whole power of the Peloponnesian league.
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