History of the Peloponnesian War

But the Athenians had fortified Delium, and were living in it, every thing that men do in profane ground being done there; and they drew and used for ordinary purposes the water which was never touched by themselves, except to use in the laver of purification.

In the god's behalf, therefore, as well as their own, the Boeotians appealed to the associated deities and to Apollo, and charged them to retire from the sanctuary, and then take back [*]( Or, as Hobbes and Bloomfield take it, to carry away their property with them. But I think that there is a reference to this paragraph in the 7th and 8th of the next chapter; and in that case it can only bear the meaning which I have given to it.) the dead which belonged to them.

The herald having spoken to this effect, the Athenians sent their own herald to the Boeotians, and said, that as for the sanctuary, they had neither done it any injury, nor would they in future voluntarily damage it; for neither had they originally entered it for that purpose, but to avenge themselves from it on those who were rather injuring them.