Histories

“The Athenians have sent us with this message: the king of the Medes is ready to give us back our country, and to make us his confederates, equal in right and standing, in all honor and honesty, and to give us whatever land we ourselves may choose besides our own.

But we, since we do not want to sin against Zeus the god of Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas and think it shameful to betray Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas, have not consented. This we have done despite the fact that the Greeks are dealing with us wrongfully and betraying us to our hurt; furthermore, we know that it is more to our advantage to make terms with the Persians than to wage war with him, yet we will not make terms with him of our own free will. For our part, we act honestly by the Greeks;

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.